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“Stay home, NEWS wear mask in - health officials warn public - as COVID-19 cases jump to 63 AIETEUR

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Saturday Edition April 18, 2020 - Vol. 14 No. 15

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GECOM Chair's “decision” says nothing Elections 2020 - Day 46...

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- Decision still to be made on:

Precise number of counting stations to be used Daily working hours for recount Live-streaming of recount Duration of recount Start date for recount Exclusion of controversial officials Govt. denies hiring US PR Firm, USA Federal documents say otherwise GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh, during a field visit at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre

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Failing to conclude 12p. PAHO/WHO Rep. govt. not 2020 elections prevents warns to lift COVID-19 adequate fiscal response restrictions p.

15 to COVID-19 crisis - IDB too soon

Those involved in attempts to rig 2020 elections should face criminal prosecution - Goolsarran p.

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Saturday April 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Elections 2020 - Day 46…

GECOM Chair's “decision” says nothing - Decision still to be made on: Duration of recount Precise number of counting T stations to be used Start date for recount

By Kemol King

oday marks 18 days since the Full Court threw out the High Court injunctions blocking a national recount of the votes cast in last month's elections.

That means the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has had 18 days – to date – to plan and operationalise this recount.

Yet, it has failed to do so.

The Chair, Ret'd Justice Claudette Singh, was expected to communicate via email to Commissioners yesterday, on day 46 of Elections 2020, putting a much needed end to weeks of argument at the level of the Commission over a multitude of issues. The contents of the email correspondence she sent out, forwarded to Kaieteur News by a Commissioner and regurgitated in a GECOM press release, did not even give clarity on the most pivotal argument the Commissioners have had in the past week, i.e., the number of counting stations.

Daily working hours for recount Live-streaming of recount Since April 8, Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, presented a plan to the Commission for a recount to last 156 days. The Commissioners have, ever since, argued over whether it should be five, eight or 20 counting stations, after a public outcry communicated to GECOM that the three stations in Lowenfield's initial proposal just couldn't get the job done soon enough. The Commissioners could not find consensus.

The Chair said “that there should be no more than ten (10) work stations, subject to the availability of the requisite equipment and technology to display the ballots”.

The Chair also decided that each work station should

tabulate its own results and that, for security reasons, all the workstations should be located inside the Arthur Chung Conference Centre Building.

All these decisions, Singh said, were made in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the requirements of social distancing.

Her email ended by saying that she has contacted Prime Minister and Chair of the National COVID-19 task force, Moses Nagamootoo, with some specific requests, and that he has since indicated that an urgent meeting of the task force would be convened to discuss same to provide a response shortly.

This is all that was said.

Exclusion of controversial officials

The Chair's decision of “no more than ten (10) work stations” is ambiguous.

There is a general lack of clarity which was not lost on Opposition-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj.

He told Kaieteur News that the email was “scant on details and created more uncertainty”.

There were several other issues being discussed at the level of the Commission, and Gunraj has noted that decisions on those are outstanding.

These include, he said, the number of hours per day during which the recount will proceed, the livestreaming of the recount to ensure maximum transparency, and the extent of the process.

There was also no noted determination of the estimated duration of the recount, the most hotly discussed matter in the past week. Nor was there any word on when the public could expect the recount to begin.

Gunraj told Kaieteur News that, even as “the nation waited anxiously on the decision of the Chairman”, GECOM seems content to “drag this process and by extension, the anguish of the nation, beyond the extent of its patience”.

Calls to Governmentnominated Commissioners Vincent Alexander and Charles Corbin to solicit comments on the email correspondence were

unsuccessful.

The People's Progressive Party (PPP), a major stakeholder in the election, expressed in a statement its disappointment with the contents of the email sent out by the GECOM Chair.

“Unfortunately, the email addresses merely one of the many outstanding issues and even this singular issue [number of counting stations] is inadequately and incompetently addressed,” the party stated.

“This is absolutely unacceptable. This email has done nothing to advance the process and indeed, raises greater concerns for the future of the process.”

The PPP said that it will dispatch a letter to the Chair, detailing its concerns, and that a copy of same will be published.

A joint statement was also issued by five political parties: A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Change Guyana (CG), Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), The New Movement (TNM) and the United Republican Party (URP).

It noted the Chair's statements and said that, instead of there being no more than ten, there should be “no less than 10” counting stations.

Then, in the absence of information on the daily (continued on page 18)

Kaieteur News

Saturday April 18, 2020

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Those involved in attempts Virtual town hall meeting to to rig 2020 elections should help guide Caricom countries' response to COVID-19 face criminal prosecution

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h a r t e r e d Accountant and former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran, is of the firm view that the actors involved in the attempts to rig the 2020 General and Regional Elections, whether directly or indirectly, should face criminal prosecution.

According to the columnist, the attempts Guyanese have witnessed at electoral fraud, and the scale at which they occurred, represent a crime against humanity and should not be ignored or swept under the carpet.

But Goolsarran was keen to note that this is not the first time such attempts at electoral fraud would have occurred.

In fact, the columnist noted that Guyana's history is littered with instances of those who tampered with the electoral process and the results.

Goolsarran said that this can be traced back to the 1968 elections while adding that it would have ended with the 1992 elections due to the intervention of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

Goolsarran articulated that prior to that period the citizenry saw the installation of an authoritarian regime that

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- Goolsarran brought the country to its knees economically, socially and otherwise.

He posited as well that this occurred during the height of the Cold War when the Western Powers conspired to keep the People's Progressive Party (PPP) out of office because of its communist leanings.

Goolsarran said that when the Cold War ended in 1989 with the fall of the Berlin Wall, there was no longer any interest in keeping the PPP out of office – hence the restoration of democracy through the conduct of free and fair elections in 1992.

Further to this, Goolsarran said that the period 1968 to 1992 had brought immense suffering to the Guyanese population that caused so many of the nation's best minds to seek refuge in North America, the Caribbean and elsewhere, to provide a better way of life for themselves and their families.

U p o n r ef l e c t i o n o n Guyana's history and the turmoil that resulted from election rigging, Goolsarran

Chartered Accountant and former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran questioned, “Are we going to allow the country to be taken back to the pre-1992 days?”

The local columnist said he has no difficulty in stating that attempts to undermine the will of the people to elect the government of their choice is perhaps the greatest act of betrayal and lack of patriotism.

He added that it is the duty of all citizens who have the national interest at heart to speak out and let their voices be heard especially on this matter that is of grave national importance.

O V I D - 1 9 continues to h a v e a devastating impact on the world and the global economy. But just how is the CARICOM region dealing with this pandemic and the crisis it has brought about?

To answer this, the Guyanese American Chamber of Commerce (GACC) has organised a virtual town hall meeting.

At the planned meeting, it is expected that recommendations will be provided as to how best CARICOM member states can plan and work collectively to cushion the worse impacts of the crisis on the people and economies of the region.

The meeting is scheduled for 16:00 hours (4pm) today (Saturday, April 18) and can be accessed via Zoom by r e g i s t e r i n g a t : https://us02web.zoom.us/ webinar/register/WN_So CRVgI6QwqOxp79cEgI1 g.

The meeting will also be streamed live on the Chamber's Facebook page:

https://www.facebook. com/GuyaneseAmericanC hamberofCommerce.

The meeting will feature an elite panel including former Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur; current CARICOM Assistant Secretary General Douglas Slater; former Guyana Health Minister, Dr. Richard Van West Charles; West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA) and DDL Chairman, Komal Samaroo; Emmy award winning television news anchor, Laverne McGee; hospitality management expert and former General Manager of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Eldon Bremner and University of the West Indies economist, Professor Claremont Kirton.

The GACC is of the firm view that there must be a collaborative regional response to the coronavirus crisis and its consequences for life in the future for the people of the region.

As such, the body in a statement said that, “it is critical that the region examines how it will deal with issues such as assistance for displaced workers; strategies to avoid the collapse of the region's tourism industry; maintaining exports to markets like the US and Europe; developing the region's agri-business sector to address import substitution and food security and adjusting to life in what will be the new normal for our societies.”

Region 10 begins contacting tracing to combat COVID-19 - urges persons who might have been exposed to self-quarantine

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he Regional Health and Emergency Committee (RHEC) of Region 10, through the Regional Health Officer (RHO), has issued a passionate and urgent plea for persons who have been in contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases to commence self quarantine.

Dr. Pansy Armstrong, the RHO for Region 10, disclosed that after investigations of the two COVID-19 cases recorded in the region, it was recognised that both might have been infected by a common associate. As such, Dr. Armstrong is appealing to anyone who may have had contact with either of the two individuals (the confirmed cases) over the past two weeks to immediately selfquarantine. This, she said, is because there is a possibility that they too are infected.

The RHO said that the first victim had visitors from overseas who came for a

funeral, while the second victim is related to a known associate of the first victim.

The appeal comes as part of the region's continued proactive approach at c o n t a c t t r a c i n g . D r.

Armstrong noted that contact tracing is pivotal in seeking to curtail the potential spread of the disease in the Region and beyond. “What we are aware of is that both individuals were infected by a known associate of them and there is a possibility that others may have been infected,” the RHO said.

“We are appealing to those persons to immediately self-quarantine at home to protect their families and others,” she stressed.

The RHO is also appealing to anyone within the Region who may be demonstrating signs and symptoms of COVID-19 to immediately contact the hotline numbers: 444-3007, 444-6127 or 444-6137. Once

persons make contact via any of the hotlines, they will be able to speak with a public health nurse or doctor. Let me say, “Do not visit any health facilities, call the hotline and someone will reach out to you,” she reminded.

She added, “It is widely

known that there is no known cure for COVID-19 but if the medical personnel within the Region are made aware of your situation then immediate medical attention and assistance can be rendered.”

She also said that the members of the public

should not take the current situation lightly. According to her, the Ministry of Public Health continues to aggressively disseminate information regarding the disease and the required measures and guidelines should be followed. “As your RHO, I am personally

appealing to everyone to follow the instructions as it is the only way of keeping us safe. Remember social distancing, wash your hands regularly and wear your mask when you are out, we must and should follow the guidelines to stay safe,” she urged.

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Saturday April 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Politics is important, but never should be an obsession Quite a few adults and older children in this country say that they have no interest in nor care anything about politics. That is true as far as it goes, because politics covers almost every aspect of our lives, our plans, our standards and the places to where we aspire and actually go. Politics cares about us, be it for better or for the worse.

By any measured and unbiased accounting, the worse has been our story, memory, and history, with still worse feared for our future.

The vital cogs of life: heath care, education, privacy, quality of life, taxes, and employment are influenced and, also powered to a high degree by the politics that operates in any land, even the most individualistic, open, least intrusive communities. It is an absolute right, and it is right, to be engaged and involved intelligently, constructively, and on a principled basis. That is the duty of every citizen, be it from inside the challenging combustion chamber of the machinery, or from the armchair of the periphery.

It is the height of irresponsibility to distance and maintain that there is neither spark for nor drive towards the political affairs of one’s country. It makes no sense to display such indifference for that, which makes so much of a difference, one way or another, in the domain where one exists with the challenges of life, with the political pluses or minuses that help to overcome its burdens or add to them respectively. Children, family, community, and future are all impacted, and in this wasted society, it has been largely to the accumulated deficits of citizens, regardless of which political party has been in power. Changes, if and when they do come, have been so minute as to be unrecognizable, largely meaningless.

That is one side of the political coin, which speaks to the obligations of citizens, which sometimes have to be forced, with the result that, too many times, involvement and interventions come way too late, because things are so far gone as to be irreversible. On the other hand, there is what could only be described, and most accurately, as the obsessions that saturate and dominate many first, then cripple and condemn them all to a slavish existence. Those obsessions intensify to the point of stalking others, of following blindly, of falling for every falsehood and deception and subterfuge and, in process and result, lashing out at neighbour and perceived enemies. This is most unhealthy, so much so that it is unnatural what impassions and imperils in this country.

A great majority of citizens, supporters all, think so much about things political that they are unable to think at all. To think cleanly and constructively; to think beyond the seduction and thrill of the moment, which never ends. Too many have lost control of their senses, of their balance and reasoning, of their independence and of the sum of themselves. Most regrettably, unlike a crippling addiction, there is great joy and pride in displaying publicly the political obsessions by individual and group. It is worn as a badge of special honour, not due to fidelity to the issues of the day, but because of lifelong allegiance to leader and group. This contributes powerfully to the mindless obeisance that has taken hold of soul and society.

In this country, the obsession of racial politics means that there is no place for serious discussion of issues. There is no allowance made to approach honestly and objectively the obstacles that stand in our way to move ahead. There is scornful dismissal of any thinking of, calls for, and investing in, the strategies, energies, and commitments needed to deal constructively with the formidable tasks of racial healing, of nation building, of quality of life enhancing.

When we convert politics into the narrow group and wider local obsessions into what they have become, then that endangers not only body and spirit, but also impairs the ambience of the environment, and the vast promises of this country. Because we are so fanatically fixated with that which sates our lusts for power, or nearness to it, we care not for anything else.

Not issues, not prospects, not where the madness leads.

Let the recount quickly take place and save our country from the awful consequences of dictatorial rule DEAR EDITOR, The world has witnessed, through the international community, its Observers and Heads of Missions in Guyana, a criminal conspiracy to prevent the real results of our General and Regional Elections being declared and the substitution of a fraudulent result carried out by several officers of GECOM on behalf of the political party clinging to power.

I personally witnessed this criminal conspiracy taking place at GECOM. It is obvious that this conspiracy is intended to serve only one beneficiary, APNU+AFC, under the leadership of David Granger.

Why obvious?

By the evening of the 2nd March the election results at every District, from 1 to 10, except District 4, were completed and Statements of Poll recording those results were posted outside of every polling place and in the possession of the two major contesting political parties and in the possession of some of the International Observer groups.

By early Tuesday morning, APNU+AFC and the PPP/C had tabulated all of the Statements of Poll, including District 4, and knew the results of the election. At this point in time, none of the political parties had raised

any objections to the counting and posting of the results in any of the Districts.

All that was left to do in order to declare the winner of the election was to complete the District 4 count.

However, by the time District 4 Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, had completed roughly six (6) hours of the District 4 count, at about 08:30 hours on Wednesday 4th March, he stopped the count, eventually claiming to be sick and was later taken away in a stretcher.

The District 4 count was not to be resumed until early Wednesday afternoon, but, not by Mingo, as he had promised when he had stopped the count and who had miraculously recovered and had returned to GECOM, but by GECOM Clerks assigned by the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Loewnfield. These Clerks, instead of calling the count from the Statements of Poll as required by the law, resorted to the use of a mysterious spreadsheet.

Not surprisingly, all of the contesting party representatives strenuously objected to this process except APNU+AFC. The count, however, continued.

As an Accredited Observer for the Private Sector Commission, I was

present and witnessed this fiasco taking place and I ask myself why? The answer was simple enough. The District 4 result was already known and the losing party could not live with it and needed time to fix it.

Eventually, at about 6:00 p.m., Lowenfield returned and sought to unlawfully justify the use of the spreadsheet as an “administrative decision”.

Under protest, Lowenfield was forced to compare the spreadsheet figures with the official Statements of Poll which were exposed as fraudulent, giving votes to APNU+AFC. I witnessed this wickedness.

What happened after this has already been widely reported. Every ruse had been employed by the GECOM officials to further delay the count, including even a bomb scare to get Observers out of the building.

At about 2:30 p.m. Mingo made the first of his attempts to declare an illegal election result without the District 4 count being completed. I was there and witnessed the uproar. So, too, was the entire international community.

Had it not been for the Injunction served on GECOM and the ruling of the Chief Justice preventing the declaration and the commitment to the Court by Justice (Ret’d) Claudette

Singh to continue the count of the District 4 votes, David Granger would have happily been sworn in and an illegal APNU+AFC government installed.

Completely un-phased by the repeated directions of the Chief Justice, Mingo, once again, on 13th March, resumed the count using a spreadsheet which bore no relationship to the Statements of Poll in the possession of the contesting parties and the Observers.

I again witnessed this determined attempt at fraud as I sat alongside the Accredited Observers of the Carter Center, the USA, the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union and the Commonwealth, together with the Ambassador of the USA to Guyana, the Ambassador of the European Union to Guyana, the High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana and the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Guyana.

I also sat alongside representatives of all of the contesting parties, including APNU+AFC, but only, amongst all of us, present and witnessing this deliberate criminal activity to steal our elections, one party, the APNU+AFC, continually supported the fraudulent behaviour taking place (Continued on page 5)

Fire response in Guyana needs massive improvements and resources DEAR EDITOR, Over the years, I’ve seen the numerous media reports of families losing their entire life possessions, and I’ve witnessed the trauma that fire creates in people’s lives.

Unfortunately, yesterday I had the misfortune of coming close to having that experience myself.

On 16 April 2020, persons proceeded to set alight the rice field adjacent to the Boodhoo Housing Scheme (Schoonord, WBD) where my home is located. This is a common occurrence that seems to have no end, much to the annoyance of residents.

Around 1 p.m., I called 912 as the smoke created by the fire intensified. The operator told me that the fire service was already responding and that it would be dealt with. Unfortunately, it would later become evident that the operator was not paying attention to what I had to say, because the fire tender

was actually attending to a fire elsewhere on the West Bank.

As the smoke got worse, we decided to take a drive, with the hope that the smoke would dissipate once we returned home. Around 2:50 p.m. as we neared home, we realised that not only did the fire intensify, but it leapt from the rice field into the housing community, and was tearing through empty lots.

At 2:53 p.m. I called 912 again. The operator was very dismissive and said that the fire truck (apparently the only available one on the West Coast/Bank) was occupied, and suggested that we try to put out the fire ourselves. I asked for her assistance in getting the contact numbers for La Grange Fire Station and she refused.

We stood in helpless disbelief as we watched a massive bush fire quickly approach our home. I wouldn’t want anyone to ever be in my position where

you have to prepare yourself mentally to completely lose your home and belongings.

How does anyone prepare for this?

More frantic calls were made to 912 to explain the urgency. No help! We even drove to La Grange Fire Station. No help (one truck was parked up, doesn’t work).

Around 3:10 p.m., I called Leonora Fire Station. The person that answered the phone did try to help. The best was trying to get a truck from West Ruimveldt to show up (it never did).

Contact was even made with Diamond Fire Station and no help. This went on until the one truck on the West Bank showed up just before 4 p.m. (after dealing with another fire).

They came in the nick of time, and I’m super thankful that my home has only suffered soot and smoke damage. It could have been immensely worse.

The Fire Service in

Guyana needs resources urgently. It’s a disaster that there are not enough fire tenders to serve a massive area like Region 3. It is appalling that the 912 service is dismissive of a caller, unhelpful, and quite unprofessional.

It was also upsetting to see that the firemen showed up and did not have adequate protective gear for themselves. I’m also mindful that these men had to fight two fires back to back, in the space of five hours. The firemen deserve better than this. Citizens deserve better than this.

For years, persons that have faced these losses have repeatedly called for better.

I’m only adding to their calls.

I hope someone in the right place finally pays attention.

Salima Bacchus-Hinds Gender & Development Specialist Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

Saturday April 18 , 2020

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Kaieteur News

There is neither honour nor dignity in being Chair of GECOM DEAR EDITOR, As I watch and weigh, I come to this unswerving conclusion: no citizen - no one citizen, in no place at no time under no circumstances should be put in such a stark and unresolvable situation that redounds to utter discredit, save from those delighted. The current chair of GECOM is in such a set of circumstances at present. I now elaborate and caution that graphic terms may be used for emphasis.

Whatever this GECOM chairwoman, or any other, decides will be damned. She will be demonized and cursed to kingdom come, by some sizable sector of this society.

There is no winning, no appealing to the dictates of reason and sober judgment; we are long past and too far gone from any such considerations, such niceties.

There is neither honour nor dignity in being chair of GECOM; come to think of it, no patriotism could be summoned to tender in defence of wanting to, and seeking towards, serving in that accursed post. However she rules, she will be pilloried, given the way GECOM is constructed, given the

fevered expectations, given the politically (and racially) fundamentalist madness.

It was why, as warned, there were so many difficulties with agreeing on who was/is fit and proper for filling the position. Oh yeah! Fit and proper pursuant to one outcome and one outcome only. It is that ‘I, and I alone’, will emerge triumphant in whatever process, whatever protocols procedures employed.

To emerge victorious - by any methodology, by any innovation, by any concoction - was the one and only finality that mattered, when all the arguing and hedging and supposedly sagacious debates and discourses were over and done.

The proof stares and glares at us from controversies and conflicts galore. And in the dead centre of every fusillade and the furies is the chair. It might as well be the electric chair of the Big House, except that there are no reprieves, including last-minute ones, which are never part of the barbaric and savage Guyanese electoral picture.

It makes for the most

harrowing of sights, catapults into a place where the fate of multitudes reside in hands that can either save or destroy. The examples of 75 years ago snatched from the hard, painful history of two men, who found themselves in just such a position, should illustrate where our own GECOM chair is in today’s Guyana.

Robert J. Oppenheimer, creator of the atomic bomb, looked on at Los Alamos on that dawn and was reported to have said: “Now I am become death destroyer of worlds….” He did; and however and wherever retired Justice Claudette Singh, chairwoman of GECOM, decides and leads the way, she would have transformed into a death-like creature and destroyed somebody’s world in Guyana, many such ‘somebodies’.

This is pulverizing to the psyche, but I must proceed to the second example, who was President Harry S. Truman. He had to make a decision, and when he did, he ended up destroying the worlds of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Almost a hundred years later, those environments have still not

Let the recount quickly take...

From page 4 before our very eyes. Why? Because they were the only party which stood to benefit.

At a Private Sector Commission Press Conference following the debacle, which I had just witnessed at GECOM, I presented a detailed report of what I had seen and heard. It has never been disputed.

Further perfidy occurred at the GECOM Head Office compound where I was prevented at police barriers from being present, even though an officially Accredited Observer and surrounded by noisy and aggressive green-shirted APNU+AFC supporters without police intervention or protection.

As has been reported, Mingo, once more, declared a fraudulent General and Regional Election result.

We are all aware of David Granger’s invitation to Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, for Caribbean intervention, the subsequent visit of a CARICOM team with the agreement of the PPP General Secretary, the royal runaround, rudeness and ultimate insult to the CARICOM visitors by GECOM officials, and their departure from Guyana. All of this was orchestrated to give time for APNU+AFC’s election candidate, Ulita Grace Moore, to file an

Injunction to block GECOM from holding a recount.

Since then, we all know, and the world with us, of the persistent attempts of APNU+AFC lawyers to prevent a recount of District 4.

It is only the failure of GECOM to deliver a credible result for District 4 that has denied the country a fair and honest election result. It is only District 4 that needs a recount.

APNU+AFC now faced with an international demand for a recount, stalls for further time by advocating a national recount.

The Private Sector Commission was perfectly right to dub this a waste of time. Not satisfied with this, however, we now hear cries from the APNU+AFC Commissioners and APNU+AFC-inspired editorials and letters in the Chronicle for an audit, not merely a recount, to further extend the imposition of unelected APNU+AFC rule, conveniently supported by a supplicant military and obedient police force.

As I write this letter, both in total disgust and deep apprehension of what is yet to follow from the ugly and unveiled determination of the APNU+AFC leadership to prevent the conclusion of an election which they know that they have lost, I read of an

appalling attempt by Granger and his party to invent a narrative which reads as a tissue of lies.

I find it unbelievable that David Granger and other people who I held in respect and regarded with some affection as friends, would lend their names to the garbage they have paid taxpayers money, my money, to an American PR Company to present in Washington DC as the “new narrative”. All of this is a futile attempt to reverse the international condemnation they have brought down on our country and our people.

I am deeply conscious of the fact that those who refuse to accept the results of these elections perceive it all as a matter of one race dominating over another and the rest be dammed.

Fortunately, I am not afflicted with that disease and I, therefore, ask this question of those who are.

Over what kind of country do you expect to wield power that the majority of the people do not support and for how long and at what cost and for what future?

I can only ask that David Granger come to his senses, let the recount quickly take place and save our country from the awful consequences of dictatorial rule.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

fully recovered.

This is where the GECOM Chair is right now. Whatever she decides and does will result her becoming the destroyer of some significant segment of Guyanese society.

But that fateful decision will have to be made, and then her personal convulsions will begin all over again. I feel for her. No one person should ever be put in such a position that damns wherever turned, whatever is delivered.

I offer this because though sections of Guyana are not done with her yet, the Iron Lady has already been condemned to the scrap-iron yard: seriously tarnished and rusted in many eyes; steel now unrecognisable, and now rendered worn and warped by the worst of local political disfigurements.

Every floor has been yanked from under her; now she dangles by a thread; or,

depending on the denouncer, in effigy; or, still further, through the equivalent of a full-scale Guyanese political lynching.

It is a tough word, with numerous searing malignancies. But, after I consider all of what has transpired (with more guaranteed to come) , that most injurious and most revealing of words applies through and through. I wish it were otherwise, but we just don’t have it within us to regard anything or anyone with some humanity anymore; it is evidence of the national rabidity that rages.

Through all this, the GECOM Chair has maintained silence mostly, held her peace steadfastly; those alone are enough to confirm assigned guilt, and condemn her to the political gallows by the political rogues, who come out of the woodwork to lay

claim to honesty and purity. I see a crowd of criminals baying for blood, unless they get their own truth, and a head on a platter.

Today, I say this: let this daughter of the soil parse and programme and pilot the way forward.

There cannot be two winners or joint winners, and to that we had better start conditioning ourselves.

Let her get there first.

Thereafter, we can resume the bloodletting and engage to our heart’s content in the blood sport that is Guyanese elections watch, elections wisdom, and elections judgments. Then, when the final bell has rung, we can take it from there. I sense that when that time comes, the guts needed to continue would be severely missing in action.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

We must ensure that our students are still actively engaged in their academics despite COVID-19 DEAR EDITOR, In retrospect, I will go out on a limb and say that we were totally unprepared for a pandemic of this magnitude, globally. And why not, after all, our powers of clairvoyance are not that well developed.

I must confess that I have heard, and briefly glossed over the literature for the infamous and virulent Ebola, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), but from what we are seeing, it may be fair to surmise that these pale in comparison to COVID-19.

However, being a teacher and someone who has an esoteric interest for education, my focus is on how the dreaded disease is impacting this sector, with emphasis on our school children.

Understandably, because of its mode of transmission and contagiousness, many schools worldwide have had to be closed for an indeterminate period, to prevent the spread of the virus. As a matter of fact, it is no newsflash that there have been innumerable postponements of examinations and shifting of schedules to deal with this crisis, which we have no control over.

However, how do we prevent our students from being intellectually sterile?

How do we keep their minds active in these trying times?

How are teachers disseminating information

and conveying concepts to them?

After all, they are not on vacation, and we are not sure when the situation will return to normalcy.

Hence, I think that the time is opportune now for them to catch up on SBAs, missing assignments, and try to stay abreast before school recommences, whenever that may be. This is where the use of technology comes in.

I do not know how well the students are reaching out to the teachers or vice versa. But I do know that there are lots of useful platforms which can be used to actively engage students, but of course this is contingent upon the availability of devices and the access to the internet.

One such platform which I have been introduced to and

found very useful, is Zoom.

Nonetheless, from hearsay, I am aware that some teachers here in Guyana are using this to teach their students. I personally find it very useful.

Understandably is it not the same as the physical classroom , b u t i t i s a n innovative way to teach, share information and interact with the students, more so since this is the technological age, and the internet has revolutionised the way we access and share information.

In planning for future pandemics, virtual classrooms may be the way to go, and our country will be able facilitate this, since our economy is projected to grow despite this pandemic.

Yours truly, Raul Khan

PAGE 6

Saturday April 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

The moon belongs to us all The unsung heroes of the March 2 elections

DEAR EDITOR, The purpose of the United Nations is being undermined by the United States of America.

By signing “the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act (CSLCA, or H.R. 2262) into law” the Obama Administration started the USA down a path that allows them to mine the moon. This is a global resource that impacts all nations and has a direct impact on our oceans.

They claim that it will take a long time before any impact could be felt on our oceans.

Whether true or not, this is a matter that requires a global decision-making body to decide.

In a report published by Universe Today it states that “On April 6th, the Trump administration took things a step further by signing an executive order that formally recognizes the rights of private interests to claim resources in space.” By doing so, President Trump has turned his back on the “Outer Space Treaty of 1967.”

The treaty states that, “Outer space, including the moon, is not subject to national appropriation.”

Clearly if a nation is not allowed to own it, much less a private citizen. Instead, people are hiding behind semantics and trying to circumvent the law.

First, we have the reckless disregard for the climate, as seen when the USA withdrew from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and now disregard is being shown for the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, not to mention the potential disastrous impact that mining of the moon can have on the oceans of the earth.

It should be required by the United Nations that the United States, as one of the top polluters on the planet, be held accountable to clean up the mess they have made here on Earth, before being given consideration to play elsewhere. There is also a larger potential of making a mess in space. History has

shown that without supervision our environment suffers. Some examples are the large amounts of plastic in the ocean and the large amounts of satellite debris in space.

Greed is the polar opposite of sustainability, and if the United Nations doesn’t put a stop to such bullying, strong-arm tactics and lack of global consideration, the USA runs the risk of isolation and increased exclusion in international trade. Other sovereign nations will start to align themselves against USA interests in order to weaken the nation economically, so as to prevent the further destruction of the environment and their sovereign national security.

The United Nations must consider relocation to a nation that is considered neutral, so as to increase their autonomy to deal with the disrespectful position that the Obama and Trump administrations have taken against its authority.

Being alongside the International Court of Justice (another important entity whose protocol the USA has recently walked away from) may prove to be a good decision, as the mining of the moon may result in crimes against humanity over the long term. This will also reduce the influence of a powerful host country on UN activities.

It is quite unfortunate that the USA, who has been a global leader for the fight for “Democracy”, would take these undemocratic positions on issues that have such a tremendous global impact. It is important that the Senate and Congress of the United States of America ensure that the global rule of law is upheld, and global democratic values are not neglected by the USA government.

If the current direction with regards to outer space and climate change persist, it is to be expected that the world will view America and American citizens as selfish, uncaring and most

importantly undemocratic.

This is not the worldview that U.S. citizens want for a nation that stands for “Liberty and Justice for All” All involved must resist the temptation to pursue individual interests at the neglect of a democratic process that takes into account the views of all those impacted.

This leaves the question, ‘Why hasn’t this matter of mining the moon been brought forward again for debate and a vote at the United Nations?’ It is clear; the answer of other sovereign nations would be a resounding NO! It would be foolish for an individual nation to think that it can take on the entire world and do as it pleases while all other sovereign Nations in the world are not in favour of their actions, due to the high level of risk to their sovereign national security.

The USA is a nation of immigrants, and the taking of unilateral actions which negatively impact the entire Earth will not bode well with the majority of its citizens.

Many of whom have family members outside of the USA. If democracy and democratic values are important to the sustainability of World Peace, then it is essential that a democratic process be used for decisions which impact the entire Earth. The Moon, now and always will be a beautiful global asset with no individual owner, no matter how many flags and space ships land upon it.

It is also heartbreaking that the great nation of America, which has produced so many beautiful contestants for Miss Universe, one of whom could have been the gorgeous Ivanka Trump, has forgotten romance.

President Trump, who I also respect and admire, especially during his time with the Miss Universe pageant, has forgotten the romance and beauty of the Moon. No one wants to see mining operations on such a beautiful and romantic surface. I would encourage the brave President Trump and his beautiful First Lady to take a romantic moonlit stroll in each other’s embrace before embarking on such a foolish and heartbreaking venture.

Why is the love of Ish and Isha or Adam and Eve, being forsaken for unneeded wealth? There is no greater love than that for the Earth or Adamah from which we came, and there has been no greater celestial accolade given than that to the moon and its romantic pull upon all of us.

Best regards, Mr. Jamil Changlee

DEAR EDITOR, In his April 15, 2020 column, Mr. Freddie Kissoon noted that Guyanese should be grateful to Lynch, Quinn, Chatterjee, Paet, Carter, Arthur and Golding. Indeed, words cannot begin to describe the sense of gratitude that Guyanese owe to these noble individuals.

By lending their voices, our cry for democracy to prevail has been heard around the globe. It is because of these individuals the entire world knows of the woeful acts committed by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), which were aided and abetted by APNU/AFC. But what about Guyanese heroes? The despicable acts following the March 2 elections also brought out some unsung home-grown heroes that we ought to appreciate. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge a few individuals that stood out in the fight to protect o u r d e m o c r a c y, w h i l e ensuring that Guyanese remained well informed.

I was very impressed w i t h h o w M r. L e n o x Shuman expressed himself during these trying times.

He appeared cool, calm, and collected during impromptu interviews with the media, following various unnerving developments at GECOM. Despite a highly toxic atmosphere, he was informative and very professional. And even

when he was wrongly accosted at the High Court while wearing his traditional attire, he remained polite yet resolute regarding his constitutional rights in his interactions with members of the Guyana Police Force.

Despite the various attempts at misinformation by some individuals, Mr. Timothy Jonas has been a voice of reason over these last several weeks. He has confidently and consistently called out those who have tried repeatedly to change the narrative and/or pedal falsehoods.

From one of his very first interviews where he challenged a reporter in front of the GECOM Region Four Command Centre to his recent appearance on Globespan 24x7, his nononsense approach has been refreshing. He is very knowledgeable and well spoken and above all, has not been afraid to challenge the status quo in Guyana.

A s s i s t a n t Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr. Edgar Thomas’ single act of defiance sent a strong message to the Guyanese people, his superiors, and their political handlers.

Although it cost him his command, it is reassuring to know that there are members of the Guyana Police Force who are only interested in lawfully doing their jobs and are willing to

push back against political directives.

Mr. Brian Mackintosh’s determination to assure the Guyanese people that the containers holding their votes are safe and sound is commendable. Not even harassment and detention by certain elements in the Guyana Police Force has shaken his resolve.

Mr. Jonathan Yearwood’s solitary act challenging the Region 4 Returning Officer during the second fraudulent declaration is also noteworthy. He made it abundantly clear that Guyanese are ready, willing, and able to speak out against the wrongs that are being committed.

I would also be remiss if I did not mention the collective “Guardians of Democracy”.

Created out of shared necessity, this group of individuals and those that have supported them with meals and refreshments have sent a chilling message to those who are hard at work to subvert our democracy.

With individuals like these, all is not lost in Guyana.

I fervently hope that when the dust settles, these outstanding citizens are duly recognised and remembered for their unwavering courage and determination during the most testing of times in our country’s history.

I think all civil-minded Guyanese can learn a thing or two from these individuals.

Yours faithfully, Omchand Mahdu Blacksburg, Virginia, USA

The Dossier takes the cake! In the clear light of day, how could anyone justify such fantasy?

DEAR EDITOR, With the COVID-19 lockdown, I stave off cabin fever being entertained on a daily basis by APNU/AFC’s hilarious antics - clutching at any straw to stay in government.

Some were innovative, like the fumigation of the Convention Centre, but by and large, the majority was unimaginative and old hack.

Reading social media’s response to the various exploits has been a great destresser.

However, I have to admit The Dossier takes the cake. I doff my hat to the author.

Whatever he, she or it was imbibing or smoking while composing said document had to be some good stuff.

Geez, I’m jealous. Pass the Dutchie on the left hand side.

S u r e l y, T h e D o s s i e r

could not have been written by anyone with all faculties intact. In an induced haze, almost anything will sound good.

I can almost hear the collective “yeah man.”

But in the clear light of day, how could anyone justify such fantasy? Much less spend hard-earned cash on a bloodsucker lobbyist group who must be laughing all the way to the bank. My late father always said “the easiest thing to do is to spend another man’s money.”

Justification must be “we try a thing.”

Mind-boggling as the stated ‘facts” are, my question is: who came up with this crap? How can anyone spew this narrative and still consider him or herself a person of integrity, decency and honesty? With such a bag

of paltry tricks, dregs of the bottom of the barrel, how are these persons facing their families, friends and fellow Guyanese?

I can only fathom that “by any means necessary” is the rationalization.

During the height of the Cold War in the 1960s, the US was swayed by the Communist bogeyman, thus worked against the PPP led

by Dr. Cheddi Jagan, citing his Marxist Leftist ideology.

It’s laughable that with the Iron Curtain lifted since 1989 such a strategy would be envisioned as workable.

If red herrings such as fictitious Russians, Libyans and Cubans in association with Maduro are the best The Dossier can scare up. Well “like I fed up.”

Yours faithfully, Sadie Amin

Kaieteur News

Saturday April 18, 2020

PAGE 07

Guyana's coronavirus test meets WHO standards - official T

he Ministry of Public Health's Director of Disease Control, Dr. Nadia Liu, has given assurance that Guyana's testing for COVID-19 is in keeping with the World Health Organization's (WHO) protocols.

Appearing on the NCN programme COVID-19 Conversations, Dr. Liu stated that Guyana's test is the Gold Standard and meets that of the WHO. She explained that the test takes six to eight hours to produce results using the real-time method. There are rapid tests available which provide faster results, but Dr. Liu cautioned that those were not WHO approved and have a higher chance of faulty results.

“Guyana is using the Berlin-based real-time methodology, and that is recommended by the World Health Organization and

what we would have received training for.”

Guyana's method also has a 95 percent specificity and sensitivity rate, while the acceptable standard is 85 percent. This means that the test can detect a wide range of microorganisms, as well as the one being investigated.

Currently, the Ministry has five qualified lab technicians performing testing for COVID-19 at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory - the only recommended institution for testing – which can produce up to 96 test results within 24 hours.

Dr. Liu explained that for the testing to occur at the laboratory, the individual would have to be considered a suspected case.

This means, they must

h a v e a f e v e r, c o u g h , difficulty breathing within the past 14 days or since the onset of the disease, have a recent travel history, may have been exposed to community transmission, exposed to a health facility, or have an acute respiratory illness.

A sample would be taken from the individual if it is suspected they were in contact with the virus.

“The preferred sample is a nasal pharyngeal swabs sample that's been taken right up the nasal pharynx [nose] or oral pharyngeal swabs that are taken in the mouth.” Dr. Liu said.

She explained that the swab is sterile and placed into a viral transport medium to be taken to the Reference Laboratory under controlled conditions.

Director of Disease Control, Dr. Nadia Liu

“You open it and you bury the swab inside, then you close it tightly. This viral transport medium has to be accompanied with the name of the suspected case, the age, the time of collection, the date of collection, and who collected it.

“The swab that was placed into the viral transport medium is then placed into a biohazard bag with the accompanying requisition form that goes

inside so that we know uniquely that this is identifiable for one case and there is no mix-up,” Dr. Liu stated.

The viral transport medium is also accompanied by a laboratory investigation form that has to include the suspected case's information and the individual's contact information.

In the case of a positive result, the patient is put into institutional isolation. A

negative result leads to further tests for Influenza A and B (the flu) to rule out other possibilities, and the patient may also be quarantined.

With the number of confirmed cases in Guyana increasing, Dr. Liu is encouraging the general public to adhere to social distancing guidelines, the use of personal and protective equipment, and the necessary hygienic practices. (DPI)

Over 100 Canadians repatriated to their homeland

T

h e H i g h Commission of Canada to Guyana has announced the departure of two humanitarian flights, operated by Canadian A i r l i n e , We s t J e t , t o repatriate Canadian citizens from Guyana to Canada.

According to a statement from the Canadian High Commission, these flights are a part of the Government of Canada's efforts to help Canadians return home after commercial flights were stopped on March 18 in efforts to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These flights complement the previous efforts made by the High Commission of Canada to support Canadians returning to Canada through Barbados and the USA. Over 100

Some Canadians who were repatriated to their homeland recently

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chaterjee Canadian citizens were repatriated through those efforts.

The statement added that Canada would like to extend its gratitude to the

Government of Guyana for facilitating these humanitarian flights for Canadian citizens.

“The flight will be departing the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Saturday, April 18, 2020 at 15:30 hours. This is the first time WestJet has ever flown to Guyana. The second flight will be departing on Monday April 20 at 15:30,” the statement added.

The Canadian High Commission is not the only entity facilitating travel of its nationals to their homeland.

The American Citizen Services Embassy in Georgetown has also worked tirelessly over the past few weeks to take close to 1000 Americans and their families' home.

The flights are facilitated

by Eastern Airlines and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.

The Embassy has been providing procedure for citizens living in Guyana who want to return home. “The State Department is rising to meet the historic challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, every day, all

over the world. The US Government has no higher duty than to protect American citizens,” said the Embassy said on its Facebook page.

O n l y r e c e n t l y, U S Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch, released a statement, telling all Americans in Guyana how hard the

Embassy has been working to assist those who would like to return home.

“Our diplomats and Guyanese colleagues at the US Embassy in Georgetown are working around the clock to help US citizens in Guyana who need assistance at this historic time in our world's history,” she said.

Saturday April 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Failing to conclude 2020 elections prevents adequate fiscal response to COVID-19 crisis - IDB

A

ccording to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Guyana faces several constraints when it comes to adequately addressing the impending health crises resulting from the novel coronavirus. But

the primary issue of concern for the financial institution is the ongoing political dispute over the General and Regional Elections which were held on March 2, last.

According to the bank, this issue essentially hinders the design and implementation

of an adequate fiscal policy response that is needed during this time.

With Parliament currently dissolved, the bank asserted that no legislation can be passed. It said that this situation is aggravated by the legal dispute over the

elections while pointing out that this affects any potential fiscal stimulus supporting the health sector or social policy providing relief to the vulnerable.

It was also keen to note that the electoral woes also affect access to the recently

created Natural Resource Fund (NRF) which could also provide support through the budget. The NRF has strict withdrawal rules in place and accounts for the possibility of emergency financing in the event of a major natural disaster.

Despite these challenges, the bank recalled that the government announced making funds available to the Ministry of Health, potentially to strengthen its preparedness in terms of testing, facilities, intensive c a r e c a p a c i t y, a n d respirators.

Along with that, the bank said other policies that may be important to consider include expanding cash transfer programmes, especially if social distancing policies are strengthened and household incomes fall, which could contribute to reducing the risk of social unrest. It said that similar support for small and medium scale businesses could be considered.

The IDB said that the Bank of Guyana has indicated that its capacity to respond through reserve

requirements or policy rates is minimal or none because of the financial sector's generally high level of liquidity and little need to borrow. It also noted that the main policy response from the Bank of Guyana has been to ask financial institutions to provide flexibility in the form of lower interest rates, deferring loan payments, as well as promoting measures to reduce in - person transactions.

Several banks have adopted these measures including reduced opening hours and deferring loan repayments for a period of up to six months on a case - by case basis.

The IDB recommended nonetheless that supporting liquidity in the deteriorating market conditions will be key.

The IDB also noted that the main recommendation for Guyana has been proposed by the World Health Organization, which is to urgently introduce more stringent measures limiting people's movement in urban areas. The IDB said that up to now, this has been relatively unaltered.

Sub-committee to guide social assistance efforts of COVID-19 task force

T

o provide effective relief services the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) yesterday announced the formation of a sub-committee to advice on social assistance.

The sub-committee is chaired by Director General, Joseph Harmon. It also comprises Ministers Catherine Hughes, Amna Ally and Haimraj Rajkumar, along with the NCTF’s Secretary, Imran Khan, and a designated senior official from the Ministry of Finance. This is according to a statement disseminated by the task force.

The sub-committee is expected to create a more strategic and effective approach to the force’s relief efforts.

R e c e n t l y, H a r m o n announced that a similar

approach is being taken by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

To ensure that a more strategic long-term structure is put in place, he explained that the Commission’s hamper distribution exercise will be put on hold.

This is to allow the implementation of the new structure, which will see the distribution of food vouchers and cheques to the vulnerable population.

Under this new system, individuals requesting assistance will have to register in the government’s database system providing all the necessary information. Once this is done, the Ministry of Social Protection will verify the information after which the most appropriate type of assistance will be provided.

(Shivanie Rampersaud)

Kaieteur News

Saturday April 18, 2020

PAGE 09

ALL THAT JAZZ A

report in another section of the media indicated that former Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary, Mr. Carl Greenidge, was no longer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It quoted a source as saying that he “just wants to listen to his Jazz and think for a while”.

The public is now also getting to listen to jazz… this time compliments of the de facto government. It is now being reported that there is a protocol that after elections the slate has to be wiped clean. It is said that Mr. Greenidge's removal from the Foreign Ministry is part of that protocol of cleaning the slate. This explanation sounds like 'jazz'.

How does one reconcile there being such a protocol but only Mr. Greenidge appears to have been affected by its implementation. By extension should the post of Director- General of the Ministry of the Presidency not also been wiped off the slate?

There is no need to wipe anybody off of any slate.

Once the election results are declared, the entire slate is going to be wiped clean regardless of which party is declared the winner. So why has only one person been wiped off the slate and why was this done before the results of the elections have been officially declared?

If that were not sufficient jazz, we now have this cockand-bull explanation about the payment for a lobbying firm. The government has no authority to contract. It is no longer a caretaker government. Elections have

been held; it is now merely in a 'holding' mode- this is the mode which kicks in between elections and the swearing-in of a new President. In most countries, this is one or two days but in Guyana more than one month has passed and still a new government is not in place.

Political parties contest elections, not governments.

And therefore any “Dossier” which bears the stamp of the APNU+AFC is not a document which can purport to represent the government.

It represents that political grouping which contested the elections.

APNU+AFC is free to hire whoever it wants to lobby for its. But it cannot do this in the name of the Government of Guyana. The lobbying firm which it has hired cannot lobby on behalf of the government. It can lobby on behalf of the political grouping which is its clients and which contested the elections and whose supporters are reportedly paying for the lobbyist's services.

Funds by supporters of the Coalition cannot be deployed to protect the image and reputation of the government. It would amount to misrepresentation if the lobbying firm purports to represent the Government of Guyana. The firm's mission is not to salvage the image of the government; it is to undertake a counternarrative to the effect that the PPPC would be part of a Russian-China axis in the Caribbean region. This is case of jazz and more jazz.

But if that were not enough jazz, we now have

the suspension of the food hampers which were being distributed by the Civil Defence Commission. The 'pause' of this initiative is said to be because of the need to ensure sustainability as to ensure that the right people get the hampers or so the public is being told.

What the public is not being told is that there is simply no money available for this exercise. Any government can only spend a certain amount (I believe it may be one-twelfth of the previous year's expenditure) during the period from the start of the fiscal year to the approval of the Budget. With wages and salaries to be paid, there is simply no money available to be put into the CDC to share out hampers.

All this talk therefore about putting different systems in place sounds like jazz. If there are no funds to pay for the supplies, then there can be no hampers.

And no one wants to take a chance of breaching the financial regulations to purchase items for distribution when there will be question marks as to the legality of such funds.

All of these things are happening because of the long delay in having a transparent and credible declaration of the results of the elections. Once there is a transparent and credible declaration, the slate will then be wiped clean and monies will be made available for food hampers and all the other things needed to fight the pandemic. The longer it takes to resolve the elections, the longer it will take for

Dem boys seh...

Dem boys want a likkle Dem boys nah understand how de oldest profession in de world not being considered an essential service.

Dis is a time of stress for dem boys and dem boys really need to ease dem stress.

But dem boys can't find dem gyals fuh ease dem stress.

Dem gyals seh dat is not de Coronavirus alone dat gat dem on lockdown. Is also Soulja Bai who issue an order which seh dat de oldest profession in de world not an essential service.

Dem gyals want protest. Dem claim dem does pay tax. When dem boys ask wah tax dem does pay, dem gyals seh: “Him-Cum Tax”.

Dem boys can't even thief something. All dem short-time and strip-bars close down.

And fuh add insult to injury, you can't even go by de seawall.

Dem boys vex with Soulja Bai. Dem boys seh he should ah know better.

He was a soldier. He, out of all the people in Guyana, should know if you keep loading yuh weapon, it gon gat to get fire sometime or de other.

Dem boys seh Soulja Bai spiteful.

Dem boys wan know if is because he old and cold and he frikken dat when he fire, it gan go “Poooffff!” rather than “Banggg!”

Talk half and bear yuh chafe.

Stay apart today so dat we can stay together tomorrow!

monies to be released to deal with the pandemic and its effects. The longer it takes for a new parliament, the longer it will be before funds can be sourced locally. The longer it takes for a legitimate government to be in place, the longer will be the wait for international help.

The Nick Straker Band

once sang these lyrics: “A little bit of Jazz tonight.

Makes you feel alright.”

You can feel alright listening to the APNU+AFC's jazz but unless the elections are concluded, there will be more jazz than you can handle. And none of it can be taken to the bank or can fill your children empty bellies.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Saturday April 18, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Granger, Harmon, Nagamootoo and their version of Millie, the macaw

J

oe Harmon was the chief of intelligence in the army in the seventies. David Granger achieved the rank of brigadier. This experience their colleagues lack. The exception is Nagamootoo.

He may not have had the kind of experience working in a sensitive, power institution like the army but he was around as a practicing politician in the seventies holding cabinet office in the PPP government for several years after 1992.

The rest of the PNC and AFC crew are relative

newcomers without any longstanding careers except Trotman and Ramjattan in law. It is extremely worrying that people like Granger, Harmon and Nagamootoo could display such arid and awful incompetence since March 4 when Mingo started his descent into electoral skullduggery.

For four consecutive weeks, conspirators in GECOM, the PNC and AFC made one ugly blunder after another that are below their dignity and open them up to permanent ridicule. There is no question that after this

crisis is over, people like Roxanne Myers, Clairmont Mingo, Keith Lowenfeild, Claudette Singh, Vincent A l e x a n d e r, t h e e n t i r e leadership of the PNC and AFC, and the remnants of the WPA, will never be able to repair their tattered credibility.

Time will pass and they will hope people forget but I cannot see this happening.

Even if by some miracle the APNU+AFC remains in p o w e r, t h e s e p e o p l e ' s standing in Guyana would disappear. Mr. Granger has to know that if he retains the presidency, he will end up being the most disrespected head of government the British West Indies ever produced.

What took place in the 2020 elections in Guyana after the voting was done has no parallel in modern democratic countries and particular in Guyana where we had rigged elections in 1968, 1973, 1980 and 1985

plus a rigged voting in the 1978 referendum to have a new constitution.

There are no elements in those fraudulent landscapes that come close to resembling what characterize the ongoing efforts to rig the 2020 poll.

How could Granger and Harmon with their high military background and Nagamootoo with his immense political experience allow themselves to be laughed at in the way they are planning to continue this rigging? Simply put; no human mind is capable of making such asinine mistakes.

So many asininities stand out that you do not know where to begin but I think three inventions were so comical that they virtually convinced those who didn't want to believe that GECOM and APNU+AFC planned the rigging. Now we have a fourth. The three are – Mingo's use of a cardboard and bed sheet to tabulate the results of a national election in the 21st century.

The second one was the lady who filed a writ to stop the recount that her party leader asked CARICOM to validate. Nothing wrong with

what the lady did. She exercised her democratic right but the very lawyers for GECOM and APNU+AFC took on the lady's case to stop the recount. Surely man, Granger has no more credibility after this comical fiasco. Thirdly, Lowenfield actually and consciously put d o w n o n p a p e r, a n d consciously submitted this paper for the world to see in which he proposed 156 days to count just under 500,000 ballots.

My contestation is that he had to show Alexander, Granger, Harmon and the rest of the crew his paper. To think none of them said that it would appear to be the most laughable thing to come out of Guyana since the cussing macaw, Millie, from Guyana at the 1967 Canadian Expo.

And Granger, Harmon and Nagamootoo allowed Lowenfield to publicize his version of the cussing macaw.

Now the fourth one. I am assuming that Michael Granger who compiled the dossier that he submitted to the PR firm, JJ&B, is a close relative of the president.

Questions are bursting out about this dossier. He listed

Frederick Kissoon the president as a US citizen.

Was this a Freudian mistake?

Is Granger in fact a US citizen? If he is not then do we have another display of asinine behaviour by the election conspirators?

What makes this equally comical as Mingo and his bed sheet and the lady and her writ is that Granger, Harmon, and crew (crew meaning Raphael Trotman, Nagamootoo and others in the PNC/AFC war room) had to see the dossier that Granger compiled.

Did they not see that the president is listed as a US citizen? It may well turn out that this was just not another display of asininity and idiocy. It may have serious consequences for Granger.

Surely, given the legal consequences, the US should tell the nation if Mr. Granger is a citizen or not. It is not sufficient for the PNC to deny it.

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

Saturday April 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Saturday April 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Govt. denies hiring US PR Firm, USA Federal documents say otherwise

T

he government, it would appear, has pulled a Shaggy “It wasn't me” move in denying reports that it contracted United States Lobbying Firm, JJ & B LLC, to dispel the “false narratives” being peddled by the Opposition People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) in the international community.

A statement released yesterday by the President's office clashes with pellucid evidence in the US Federal documents submitted by the firm.

In fact, the statement directly clashes with those made by the Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, who, it was believed, gave confirmation that government was behind the hire.

Signed US Federal Document The release from the President's office yesterday stated that, “the

Government of Guyana has not hired JJ&B, LLC and has no contractual arrangement or affiliation with the said firm.”

However, the documents released by the lobbyist firm sings a different tune.

On the first page of the US Federal registration form, “The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana” is listed as the client or “foreign principle” with the address given as “Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Bourda, Georgetown, Guyana” – the same address as the Ministry of the Presidency.

Along with that, when asked to indicate whether the “foreign principle” was either a government of a foreign country, a foreign political party or a foreign or domestic organisation, 'government of a foreign country' is selected.

Further, it stated, “if the foreign principal is a foreign government, please state the branch or agency

Snapshot of the agreement between the lobbyist firm and its client “The Government of Cooperative Republic of Guyana”

represented by the registrant along with the name and title of the official with whom the registrant engages.”

To these, the “Ministry of the Presidency” and “Joseph Harmon, Director-General, Ministry of the Presidency”

are stated.

On the second half of the agreement between the lobbyist firm and their client, “The Government of Cooperative Republic of Guyana” is listed again along with other pertinent details of the arrangement.

The date of the agreement is listed as March 26, 2020 and it is stated that the firm would provide services on a monthly basis, “as requested, in return for an initial retainer of US$40,000 for the month of April”.

The purpose of the arrangement between the firm and the government is stated as “we will be seeking to facilitate resolution of dispute regarding recent presidential election in Guyana, and to improve relations between Guyana and the United States. In doing this, we will be contacting officials in the

executive and legislative branches of the U.S. Government, as well as providing information to news media.”

The scanned agreement bears the signature of Bart S. Fisher. Fisher, Kaieteur News understands, is the lead counsel at the firm.

FURTHER CONFIRMATION Hours after the documents were circulated, Director General Joseph Harmon and incumbent Coalition both issued statements which many concluded suggested that the government hired the firm.

Harmon said, “as a government, we have a duty to ensure our country is not portrayed as the PPP were trying to do.”

Though Harmon did not contextualise his statement, he sent it to Kaieteur News in response to a request for him to comment on the news of the hire.

Further, the Director General stated, “we believe as government that it was our duty, our responsibility to ensure that our narrative,

the facts as they occur should be placed there in these capitals and therefore we felt it was necessary to have a company that has that access to be able to put out our side of the story.”

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e statement from the President's office addressed claims that government funded the hire. The Director General had cleared this up at a recent forum stating that “upset” Coalition supporters were the ones providing the funds.

The statement also addressed the President being listed as a US citizen in a government dossier provided to the firm. But in response yesterday, the President's office assured that “the President is not a citizen of the United States of America or any other foreign country” for that matter.

The statement concluded with the President's office urging citizens to “be responsible” when making public statements and “at all times seek out the truth rather than disseminating spurious claims.”

Kaieteur News

Saturday April 18, 2020

Hike in Bartica boat fare irks passengers

S

$3,000.

A number of passengers contacted Kaieteur News to share their concerns about the hiked fare. “This decision to raise the speed boat fare during this COVID-19 season even though there is a drop in fuel prices at the pumps as announced by government is h e a r t l e s s a n d unconscionable,” bemoaned a passenger who use the speed boat service regularly.

The passengers complained that over the years, they have dealt with the random increases but on this occasion, they are very

perturbed since all are affected by the pandemic.

“They raise the fare without consultation and the fare never reduces, it always remain the same way...Barticians have been supporting the privately operated boat service over the years and never had a say or even given the opportunity to be consulted on the issue of raising fares which continues to climb over the last decade and a half,” they said.

The frustrated passengers relayed that with the drop in fuel prices, they (continuied on page 15)

Two in custody for attempted robbery under arms at Port Mourant

T

wo suspects presently in police custody are being questioned in connection with the attempted robbery committed on a couple at Port Mourant that left one person nursing a gunshot wound to the arm.

A senior police source disclosed that the individuals were picked up sometime yesterday based on information provided to them; however, they have not yet been placed on an identification parade.

Meanwhile, the injured victim identified as Roshnie Singh called "Coreen" is still hospitalised. On Thursday April 16 around 20:30hrs at Lot 88 Free Yard Port Mourant, Berbice, two men armed with a cutlass and a gun invaded the home, which Singh shares with her partner, Joel Benn, and demanded cash and jewellery. Reports are that Singh was in her hammock in the lower flat of the twostorey wooden building and Benn had just stepped out of the bath when he observed two men, one brandishing a

Restrictions on Corentyne River halt food supplies to Orealla

Orealla, a village up the Corentyne River, is likely to get help from the CDC after reporting food shortages because of the border restrictions on the Corentyne River.

Bartica boat operators have hiked their fare. everal passengers who ply the Parika to Bartica route have issued complaints over the hike in the fare by boat operators. Kaieteur News was informed that the increase was not approved by the relevant authorities.

A c c o r d i n g t o information received, the normal fare is $2,500 but since the implementation of the COVID-19 orders, which includes social distancing, the operators are forced to reduce the number of passengers carried on each trip. This has led to them increasing the fare to

PAGE 13

cutlass and the other a gun.

He told police that one of the men had a foreign accent and both wore masks. He stated that the men began to demand money and in an effort to ward them off his premises, he grabbed a spade and dealt one of them a lash. In retaliation, the other bandit discharged a round in Singh's direction.

She sustained a gunshot

wound to her right hand. The men then fled the scene.

Singh was rushed to the Port Mourant Public Hospital and was thereafter referred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where she was admitted. This publication understands that .32 rounds and one .32 spent shell were recovered by police ranks who visited the scene shortly after.

V

illagers of Orealla, a B e r b i c e Indigenous village about three dozen miles from Crabwood Creek, are appealing for assistance with restrictions on the Corentyne River affecting food supplies. Yesterday, villagers took to social media, calling on authorities to act quickly.

The matter is actively engaging the National Taskforce on COVID-19 and the Civil Defence Commission, says Sydney Allicock, Minister of Indigenous People's Affairs.

He disclosed that residents are being blocked from traversing the river and that Surinamese authorities want the Foreign Affairs or his Ministry to issue written permission for the villages to use it. A villager, in a social media complaint, said that Councillors from Orealla, which has about 1,000 residents, are tough on the guidelines laid out by National COVID-19 Task Force.

It was pointed out that the Surinamese have also taken strict control of their border, along the Corentyne River, to stop persons from crossing illegally to and from both countries. The restrictions

would have seen the villagers also blocked from using the river, which separates Guyana and Suriname.

“Now it's already difficult in here because the boats are not travelling and that is our only means of getting the essential items in the village and for some it's their means of earning an income…”

In fact, the villagers of Orealla are not even allowed to fish in the Corentyne River. According to the villager, the boats will be allowed to travel when they have permission from Surinamese authorities.

It was made clear by the Surinamese COVID-19 Task Force that for the boats to travel, they would have to get permission from them

through the Ministry of Indigenous People's Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after they (ministries) would have requested for permission.

The villagers said they have been trying to get in contact with the relevant authorities for permission to be granted but there has been little progress.

“With that said, we have families here that are already going through a rough time.

They are anxious as to what will happen in the next few days.”

There is a countrywide restriction on the opening of businesses with a nighttime curfew in place. The borders and airports remain closed because of the COVID-19 measures.

Saturday April 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

SleepIn Hotel offers staff relief amidst COVID -19 pandemic

SleepIn Hotel is offering relief to its staff amid the COVID-19 pandemic

I

n light of the current novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and in keeping with the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR), the management of the Sleep In Group of Hotels, has delivered to its staff food hampers. The SleepIn Group

of Hotels has over 150 staff.

F u r t h e r, t h e Management of the SleepIn Group of Hotels said in a release that it wishes to express its concern and solidarity with the Guyanese public and indeed, the rest of the world, especially their valuable local and overseas customers during this

difficult time.

“We sincerely hope that everyone is taking all necessary precautions to avoid infection and the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). We take this opportunity to remind all to follow the guidelines set forth by the World Health Organization (WHO) and

those of your respective governments and local authorities.”

In keeping with the established guidelines, the

respective management of the SleepIn Group of Hotels has closed its pool bar and dine-in restaurant to the public. However, the hotel

still offers take-out.

In the statement, SleepIn took the opportunity to wish everyone good health and safety during this period.

Lions Club of Bel Air lends support to COVID-19 fight

T

he Lions Club of Bel Air, in its effort to help in the fight against COVID-19, yesterday installed two hand-washing stations outside the Bourda City Constabulary and the Kitty Market for public use.

M r s . F a l u s o Vangronigen, chairperson for the Environmental

Committee, stated that “as part of the club’s social r e s p o n s i b i l i t y, t h e committee thought that it was necessary to make these facilities available to the general public to encourage citizens to wash their hands as a precautionary measure as we continue to fight the virus.”

The hand sinks were

handed over by the Club’s President Mrs. Candace Forde and Mrs. Vangronigen in the presence of other club members.

The plumbing works and the supply of water were put in place by the Guyana Water Authority following the granting of approval for the noble gesture from the Georgetown municipality.

Kaieteur News

Saturday April 18, 2020

PAGE 15

“Stay home, wear mask in public” “We need persons to persist with staying home and wear a mask when out,” was the warning of a health official in the heat of the COVID-19 battle. The health official has also observed with concern that “people are starting to be relaxed and moving around more.”

In fact, a number of health officials have shared similar sentiments in recent days, especially with the recent increase in the number of cases this week.

The number of cases based on a Public Health Ministry update yesterday now stands at 63.

Despite a series of measures being implemented to restrict the spread of the disease, Guyana still managed to confirm 18 cases of the disease in one week—the highest figure that has been issued since the country announced its first case on March 12.

During her update to the nation yesterday, Volda Lawrence, the Minister of

- health officials warn - as COVID-19 cases jump to 63 Public Health, disclosed that the current number of confirmed cases represents an increase of six in just 24 hours. However, up to press time the deaths remained at six.

Of the 63 positive COVID-19 cases, four are imported and the other 59 contracted the virus in Guyana. The confirmed cases in Region Four represent 87.7 percent of the cases in Guyana, with the majority of them originating from Georgetown.

The Health Minister went on to reveal that between February 26 and April 17, two hundred and eighty-three (283) individuals were tested for COVID-19, of which 220 returned negative. Thus far, nine have recovered.

Meanwhile, the number of persons in the Health Ministry's isolation unit has increased to 48, while 15 are

now in its quarantine facility.

Four have developed worsened conditions and are now patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital seeking further treatment.

The Minister revealed too that the 30 – 49 age group accounts for the country's highest number of positive cases, with a 4:1 ratio of males to females.

She further added that those who tested positive by the use of self- reporting are part of the COVID-19 surveillance follow-up protocol.

Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 2,078,605 confirmed cases with 139,515 deaths. While in the Region of the Americas, there are more than 700,000 confirmed cases with over 30,000 deaths.

Also during the update

Lawyers want permission to work during curfew - airports reopening on May 3 to be assessed

T

he legal fraternity has appealed to authorities for lawyers to work during curfew hours. The application is being considered by the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF).

On Thursday, the Task Force held another virtual meeting and a wide range of matters were considered.

“The NCTF announces that the Ministry of Education will not re-open schools on Monday, April 20 as was previously planned and that all schools will remain closed until further notice. E-learning will continue,” a statement from the Task Force said.

It was disclosed that the NCTF has appointed a subcommittee to advise on social assistance.

There has been increasing calls for the Civil Defence Commission and government to consider measures to help vulnerable family grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thousands of workers are believed to have no idea where their next pay cheque is coming from.

“This sub-committee is

chaired by Director-General, Joseph Harmon, and includes Ministers Amna Ally, Catherine Hughes and Haimraj Rajkumar along with NCTF Secretary, Imran Khan, and is to also include a designated senior official from the Ministry of Finance.”

Meanwhile, with regards to foreigners stranded here, the Task Force said that it has received application for specially approved flights to repatriate them.

A request from the Canadian High Commission to repatriate Canadian nationals using WestJet has been approved.

“The advice and guidance of the Ministry of Public Health and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority are critical in the NCTF decision-making in this regard,” NCTF said.

The NCTF also announced yesterday that it has received a formal request from the Guyana Bar Association to classify attorneys-at-law as essential workers who are required to work during the curfew hours of 6pm to 6am.

“This request is under consideration.”

With regards to Guyanese stuck abroad, the Task Force said that it continues to receive information of Guyanese citizens who are in various parts of the world and are seeking to return home.

The body made it clear that while it is sympathetic to their situation, it considers it a priority to ensure that all citizens in Guyana are protected from the spread of COVID-19 and reiterates that Guyana's international airports remain closed to incoming passengers until May 3. “An assessment is to be done, prior to May 3 to determine whether the airports can reopen to passenger traffic or whether it is necessary for the closure to be extended.”

The NCTF also appeared for citizens to continue and intensify practising social distancing, to adhere to the curfew and stay at home order and all official COVID-19 advisories.

“The NCTF remains concerned about the increasing numbers of confirmed cases of COVID19 in Guyana, now up to 63 in total, with 6 deaths and 9 recovered cases,” it added.

yesterday, the Director of Food Policy with the Ministry, Dinete Conway, took the opportunity to inform the public of foods found in Guyana, which they can consume to boost their immune systems.

“Vitamin A maintains the structure of the cells, respiratory track, skin, gut, and some common foods with Vitamin A in Guyana are eggs, cheese, oily fish such as sardines and

mackerel, whole grains and beans, nuts and whole wheat flour,” Conway explained.

She went on to share that Vitamin B6, B9 and B12 contribute to the body's first response once it recognises that a pathogen has entered.

She noted too that nuts, green leafy vegetables, fish, chicken and meats are needed to build the body's system to fight off foreign bacteria.

With regards to fruits rich in Vitamin C, the Director highlighted that one cherry has enough of the daily recommended intake of the supplement. “So you

don't need another supplement if you eat just one cherry,” she assured.

“So, let me wish you a safe weekend with these reminders...eat healthy and boost your immune system; remember to cover your nose and mouth as you're about to step out; wash your hands thoroughly, do the elbow move as you cough and sneeze or use a tissue that you must discard immediately; and most importantly, stay six feet away from each other. Stay home! Stay safe! Save lives!” Minister Lawrence appealed.

PAHO/WHO rep. warns govt. not to lift COVID-19 restrictions too soon

By Mikaila Prince

G

overnment has been warned not to lift the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions too soon. Dr. William Adu- Krow, the PanAmerican Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO-WHO) representative in Guyana, yesterday warned the government that removing the restrictions and curfews too early would not be in favour of restricting the spread of the disease.

“If at the 1st of May, the Government relaxes all of the curfews, and everything else, then the Government would record positive cases at an exponential rise. We will be getting over 5,000 cases in no time,” Dr. AduKrow highlighted during a virtual press conference yesterday afternoon.

He was keen to point out that since the Government implemented measures to restrict the spread of the disease on April 3, it has significantly reduced the projections made by PAHOWHO, which estimated that Guyana was set to record

20,000 cases of the coronavirus.

“The measures that have been put in place are working, the measures that individuals are also taking… is working,” he said, while noting that national measures must be enforced for those who are found to be in contempt of the orders made by the authorities.

I n a d e t a i l e d presentation, Dr. Adu-Krow noted that the projected number of COVID-19 cases would only occur if nothing was done to contain the transmission. And with measures already in place, Guyana is below the average projection of cases.

He explained that, “On April 15, two hundred and ninety-five (295) cases were projected; we had only 55.

That means 240 persons were spared. A lot is happening with the measures that have been put in place, and I think we need to also ensure that they are accepted by the population.”

T h e PA H O - W H O representative sympathised with those being both economically and socially by the partial lockdown that has

been instituted, but emphasized that it is important to have the restrictions in place.

“We cannot say that we are fighting for lives and people should not be home for two years and then they have no livelihood. We also cannot say that because of livelihood, businesses are hurting and therefore, we would not think about lives and then open too quickly…

We have to find a middle ground, and it is that middle point that is key and I am hoping we all come together to do what it is necessary,” he explained.

He also reminded individuals of their responsibility to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from possibly contracting the virus.

“Let us continue the social distancing, the physical distancing, the sneeze and cough etiquette, staying at home, if you don't have anywhere to go, don't go out. Let's do the right thing so we can flatten the curve as early as possible so that we can go back to our normal lives,” Dr. Adu-Krow urged.

Hike in Bartica boat fare...

From page 13 thought that the fare would remain the same; however, this was not the case.

“This decision is not fair and right...this is exploitation of the people during the COVID-19 season....many business feeling the squeeze and the business is losing big time during the COVID-19 fallout...we understand that clearly and the boat service is no exception…but to raise

i t i s t o t a l l y unacceptable…everybody forced to make adjustments,” a passenger said. When contacted, head of the Bartica Speed Boat Association, Stephen Belle, stated that they discussed the fare hike with the Maritime Administration.

However, when Kaieteur contacted MARAD and was informed that this hike was not approved. The Public Infrastructure Ministry's

Public Relations Officer, Davina Ramdass, said that such a fare hike would have been publicised to make the travelling public aware.

“It's most likely a hike that the operators imposed to cushion the effects of COVID-19 on their earnings,” she speculated.

She reported that MARAD has been made aware of the situation and will be discussing the hike with the operators.

PAGE 16

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The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has partnered to introduce Guyana’s first-ever crisis management web and mobile app – HELPGuyana.

The app, which was developed by a stakeholder group of women from STEM Guyana in commemoration of International Day of Girls in ICT to benefit vulnerable groups, has now been customized for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through the app, households needing support, can register to access assistance, businesses can advertise their goods and services, and delivery services can register to promote their offering.

The app also enables users to anonymously report cases of domestic violence, fraud and other types of abuse.

“It is usually our vulnerable citizens who suffer most during a crisis. We wanted to use technology to better identify these persons and create a way to get them to help in an organised and reoccurring manner,” said Director of STEMGuyana, Karen

Abrams.

“There are more than 30,000 vulnerable households in Guyana who will need help during a crisis. Many Guyanese citizens and organisations are willing to help and the HELPGuyana tool can be used to bridge that gap between those needing help and those equipped and willing to offer assistance,” Abrams added.

GTT’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Justin Nedd, said the company is delighted to support the creation of the app.

“We are always on stream with STEM Guyana’s initiatives as it continuously aims to bridge gaps in society through technology.

I hope that persons utilise this app, especially during this time, to assist each other as we work to flatten the curve; we are in this together,” said Nedd.

The HELPGuyana app aims to enhance the lives of all citizens across Guyana through the use of technology. Persons can obtain more information on the app at www.helpguyana.com.

The HELPGuyana app was created by women from STEM Guyana

Guyana’s first COVID-19 victim finally laid to rest More than one month after passing away, Guyana’s first COVID-19 victim, Ratna Baboolall, was yesterday cremated at Memorial Gardens, Le Repentir.

Her children and loved ones were not allowed to see her remains as she was placed in a sealed coffin.

The 52-year-old woman, a mother of five, was one of six persons who have been confirmed as dead as a result of the virus in Guyana.

According to the latest figures, Guyana has recorded 63 confirmed positive cases of the virus.

Health officials have deemed Baboolall’s case an imported one.

According to her son, Suraj, 27, there was a handful of family members present at a funeral service in keeping with restrictions implemented by government.

Included in those saying farewell was Suraj’s father, and two siblings.

Another sister had returned to the US while other family members remain in quarantine. The case would highlight the stark reality of what surviving family members had to deal with.

The Ministry of Public Health had chipped in with assisting with funeral expenses.

According to Baboolall, the situation is a deeply traumatizing one.

Dead: Ratna Baboolall, and a few of her loved ones, in happier times.

In a Go Fund Me page, the son had disclosed that his mother came to Guyana on March 7 for an annual family Phagwah vacation. They had no idea of the unfolding events.

On March 9 – Phagwah day – the mother played with her grandchildren. She complained of not feeling well and it was later discovered that her blood sugar had spike to 548 and later rose to 598.

The woman was taken to a private facility, which refused to help as they noted she had a recent travel history from New York.

The mother was taken to

the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

She was rushed to Triage where, during the interventions, she suffered a heart attack.

According to Suraj, at GPHC, a tube was inserted into her throat to help b r e a t h i n g . ”On March 11 about 7 am I spoke to her doctor and they told me that mom is recovering well and she will be moved to the ICU and the tube will be removed from her throat and they said let me return at 12 pm.”

The son said he went home and was later told to

return to the hospital. “…when I went into the Triage area, they told me to sit and wait. I saw the nurses and doctor sanitizing themselves and immediately, I knew something was wrong. Then the doctor came and told me that my mom died at 9:01 am from her second heart attack…”

Scores of Guyanese in New York have been reported to be infected with COVID-19 with at least 50 persons dead.

New York is the hardest hit state in the US, accounting for about 40 percent of the cases there.

Saturday April 18 , 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

Saturday April 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

Trump’s coronavirus reopening plan China’s revised COVID has big holes, health experts say figures are a bid to ‘leave no case undocumented’: WHO

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The U.S. economy has imploded in the past month amid aggressive measures to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, with 22 million people filing for unemployment benefits and most factories, stores and other businesses at a virtual standstill.

The governors of Michigan, Florida and other states outlined tentative steps yesterday to reopen their economies, a day after the White House issued guidelines to help states decide when to lift lockdown orders and allow firms to restart and workers to return to their jobs.

President Donald Trump, a Republican who is running for re-election in November, touted the guidelines as a blueprint for a reawakening of the economy, saying growth would soar like a “rocket ship” after the restart.

But the guidelines, and the ways in which experts say they fall short, suggest that revving activity back up to pre-pandemic levels will be anything but smooth or speedy.

States may be ready to end lockdowns once infections have declined for 14 straight days, availability of tests to detect the virus is stable or rising, and if there is enough hospital capacity to treat everyone who gets sick, the guidelines say.

They also call on states to be ready to test all healthcare workers and anybody with symptoms, as well as to be able to trace contacts for people who test positive for the virus. How many states are ready for that?

None, according to Harvard epidemiologist Bill Hanage, who was among the many experts who took to Twitter on Thursday to criticize the guidelines.

Hanage says inadequate testing capacity is the main problem.

The United States has reported more coronavirus infections than any other country, with about 680,000 cases and more than 34,000 deaths.

U.S. testing has been delayed and chaotic largely due to bureaucratic roadblocks and mistakes at the federal level. Trump, who initially downplayed the threat of the coronavirus outbreak to the country, has pledged to ramp up testing.

States are “far from being able to do enough tests to enable us to move to the next phase of responding to the pandemic,” says Jen Kates of

President Donald Trump answers questions during an announcement of the Trump administration’s guidelines for “Opening Up America Again” at the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 16, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo the Kaiser Family Foundation.

She says there are no details in the guidelines on how much testing is needed.

State governments also need more people to track new infections through phone calls and visits.

Alphabet’s Google and Apple Inc are working together on software to make contact tracing easier. The software is expected to be available in mid-May. “Not one of the 50 U.S. states currently has surveillance capabilities sufficient to enable casebased interventions at the necessary scale,” Duke University researchers wrote in an extensive look at testing needs.

The White House guidelines don’t provide any information on how to get there.

Charmaine Yoest of the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank said the White House was right to leave decisions on reopening economies to state leaders.

“It has to be done based on the data that applies to their communities and their workforce,” she said.

But data on infections, and the means to deal with them, may be hard to come by.

“There is no - zero, zip, zilch - way to upscale testing, PPE (personal protective equipment) production, hospital readiness, the public health workforce ... without robust federal leadership,” tweeted Jeremy Konyndyk, senior policy fellow at the Center for Global Development. “States don’t have the capacity or resources to achieve these things on their own.”

‘FALSE START’ FEARS The White House guidelines call for a staged reopening, which is consistent with recommendations from many experts.

A study from McKinsey & Company, which is advising New York Governor Andrew Cuomo as he battles the nation’s worst

coronavirus outbreak, recommends opening a few sectors at a time, based on “both the risk of transmission and the relative importance” of each sector, as defined by number of jobs and contribution to the economy.

The guidelines also call for schools, factories, shops and restaurants to function differently than before the pandemic, again broadly consistent with a wide range of experts who say that maintaining social distancing, wearing masks, and frequent hand-washing and cleaning are critical to keeping the public safe. But those practices will slow commerce.

As for reopening gyms and entertainment venues, which the White House plan suggests is possible in “Phase 1” of a restart, former U.S. Food and Drug Administration chief Scott Gottleib urged caution.

“Those may not be permitted until we have seen that work can safely return without a resurgence,” tweeted Gottleib, who was FDA commissioner from 2017 to 2019 and was otherwise generally supportive of the guidelines.

Assuming the country weathers the first stage of a restart without a resurgence of coronavirus, it is not clear, based on the guidelines, how quickly states could move to the next phases - that is key to gauging how quickly the economy can rebound.

If each of the three phases in the guidelines lasts just two weeks, that’s “too fast,” tweeted Tom Inglesby, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

It also may not be smooth.

Economists warn that a “false start” - where the economy reopens, infections surge, and the economy needs to shut down again - could prolong the downturn.

But governors of some states, including California and Idaho, say that’s exactly what they’d do. And that would likely further slow economic recovery.

G E N E VA / Z U R I C H (Reuters) - A sharp upward revision in China’s coronavirus death toll yesterday was “an attempt to leave no case undocumented” after medical services in Wuhan were overwhelmed at the start of the outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

Nearly 1,300 people who died of the coronavirus in the Chinese city of Wuhan, or half the total, were not counted in death tolls because of lapses, state media said yesterday, but Beijing dismissed claims that there had been any kind of cover-up.

U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that China has understated its toll of coronavirus deaths, and has condemned the WHO for the support it has given to China’s approach in the crisis. He suspended funding to the U.N. agency this week.

The virus has infected more than two million worldwide and killed 150,000, according to a Reuters tally.

Maria van Kerkhove, a WHO epidemiologist who took part in an international mission to China in February, said of China’s revised figures: “This was done in attempt to leave no case undocumented.”

She said the Chinese authorities had gone back over data from funeral services, care homes, fever clinics, hospitals and detention centres, and patients who had died at home, in Wuhan, Hubei province where the outbreak began late last year.

“What they have reported is that the discrepancies in these cases were due to a number of factors. First is that

A logo is pictured on the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) ahead of a meeting of the Emergency Committee on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Geneva, Switzerland, January 30, 2020.

REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo the health care system in Wuhan was overwhelmed at one point. And some patients died at home,” van Kerkhove said.

“Secondly is that medical staff were delayed in reporting of these cases because they were focused on providing care for those patients and they didn’t fill out the forms in time,” she said.

Mild cases were treated in makeshift hospitals in Wuhan stadiums or other facilities, van Kerkhove said, adding: “In those situations the reporting wasn’t done in a timely manner and so those cases were added.”

It was important to know the number of people who had died from the disease and to have “accurate reporting”, which can be a challenge during an outbreak, she said.

“I would anticipate that many countries are going to be in a similar situation where they will have to go back and review records and look to see

did we capture all of them,” she said.

Dr. Mike Ryan, WHO’s top emergencies expert, said: “It is important that countries provide that data as quickly as they can in the interest of moving our collective efforts forward to control this pandemic.”

The virus is believed to have originated among wild animals on sale in a seafood market in Wuhan that has been closed since January. A common sight across Asia, wet markets traditionally sell fresh produce and live animals, such as fish, in the open air.

Any wet markets allowed to reopen after lockdowns must conform to stringent food and hygiene standards, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

“Governments must rigorously enforce bans on trade of wildlife for food,” he said.

GECOM Chair's “decision”...

From page 2 working hours of the recount – the parties suggested “two sessions of eight (8) hours each with one (1) break each for lunch and dinner”.

The parties also noted that the four month Constitutional deadline for the convening of a new Parliament is set to pass on April 30 and urged GECOM to ensure the Constitution is not violated, in this regard.

“It cannot be consistent with good administration and the rule of law for more inordinate delay to continue to frustrate the desire of the

Guyanese people for an early end to the elections process which started on March 2,” they stated. “The results are now six weeks overdue and our partners in the international community, including the Commonwealth and the OAS have noted the delay and urged a speedy resolution.”

Finally, the parties stated in light of developments during the tabulation of the Region Four results, that it is incumbent on GECOM to exclude the returning officer Clairmont Mingo and the staffers of the secretariat involved in the production of

the declarations.

This was also a key decision the Chair was expected to make, but was not communicated in her email.

Kaieteur News contacted GECOM's Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward yesterday in an attempt to find answers to the many lingering questions. Ward said, “Today's decision was on one aspect of the plan. The Chairperson did not commit to a decision on the entire plan.”

She added that she will communicate any subsequent decisions on the plan to the public.

Saturday April 18 , 2020

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

Progress in women’s football could be undone, warns FIFPRO

Olympique Lyonnais’ Sarah Bouhaddi and team mates celebrate winning the Women’s Champions League with the trophy. (REUTERS/Lisi Niesner)

Saturday April 18, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may be in a quiet, reflective mood today, Aries. You could receive a communication from an old friend that sets you remembering the good old days of your youth.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) This is going to be a rather busy day for you, Libra, and you're likely to love every minute of it. You can expect to meet many people as you go about your day.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Today, forget socializing, working, and answering the phone. Stay home and cuddle in a blanket by the fire. Get out your old yearbooks or photo albums and have fun reflecting on good times from your past.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You've been working hard lately and deserve the professional acclaim that comes your way, Scorpio. As a result of your efforts, it's likely you've received or will soon receive a bonus, raise, or promotion of some kind.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Don't be surprised if neighbors come to your door asking for a favor – and not just to borrow a cup of sugar!

While your initial response will be to say yes (it's your nature, after all), think twice.

CANCER(June21–July22) You're likely to wake up today with a compulsion to clean or organize something, Cancer.

This may be rather unlike you.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) To d a y s h o u l d b e a " n o holds barred" day as you strategize your next career move, Leo. If you were in the army, you'd be a fivestar general by now - your tactical sense is that good.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today might be largely devoted to household tasks, Virgo. It isn't exactly the most glamorous assignment, but you take a certain pleasure in attending to daily necessities.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) This is likely to be a day geared to fulfilling the needs of family. Lesser persons would resent the obligation, but not you. You have a nurturing spirit.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Guilt can be a powerful motivator, but it isn't a pure one.

Today you could feel obligated to help a family member with something you'd prefer to take no part in.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today you could feel overwhelmed with obligations and commitments to others.

There isn't a moment free for yourself, not even for a bathroom break!.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Those who know the real you find your lack of confidence frustrating. Your talents are startling to mere mortals, yet you rarely take credit for all your abilities.

(Reuters) - The recent progress of women’s football is at risk of being undone as the sport is brought to a standstill by the novel coronavirus, the players union FIFPRO told Reuters television in yesterday.

FIFPRO said in a report published Thursday that the women’s game could face an “existential threat” and many players could lose their livelihoods in the aftermath of the pandemic.

“I think it is fair to say that it (women’s soccer) is going to hit much harder (than the men’s),” said FIFPRO general secretary Jonas BaerHoffmann. “It is a massive hit to the game absolutely and we must also understand it’s not just the big tournaments.” “(It risks being) thrown

back many years of its development if we don’t pay attention to that now.”

Baer-Hoffmann said that, while club football was the main source of income in the men’s game, many female players were “very much dependant in terms of their income for representing their country.”

“They usually have a dual income stream between their club and their national team football,” he said. “Now, when there are no games played, many of those players will be struggling to receive that compensation from the federations which may just force them out of their professional careers.”

The women’s game also depended heavily on international tournaments for visibility, meaning that the

postponement of the Olympic Games, from 2020 to 2021, was a significant blow.

“We need those events to keep driving the public attention,” said,” he said.

Arsenal captain Kim Little added that many players had been left in a “vulnerable position.”

“The circumstances that a lot of players work in are very unstable in the sense of contracts aren’t particularly long, some players have to work another job because financially they can’t just live off their footballing wage,” she said.

PAGE 20

Saturday April 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

CPL eyeing on-schedule start, but wary of potential IPL clash ESPNcricinfo - Caribbean Premier League (CPL) organisers hope that the tournament can still take place as scheduled in September, but plans are being developed to stage it behind closed doors, without overseas players, or in a “social-distancing stadium” in Barbados if required.

With the Caribbean in lockdown and attempts to stop the spread of covid-19 proving successful so far - the death toll is yet to reach double figures in any of the six countries that host CPL games - it is possible that the CPL fixtures could be among the first staged globally, though chief operations officer Pete Russell confirmed the league would try to avoid a clash with a postponed IPL season.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Russell said he hoped that staging the tournament as planned could be “a sign that the Caribbean is open for business again” once the

worst effects of the pandemic have passed.

“It’s good that the Caribbean has locked down early, and it hasn’t been hit in the same way as the UK, for example,” Russell said.

“We’re looking at different permutations in terms of what could or couldn’t happen, but the lucky thing is that we’ve got a bit of time - we don’t have to force a decision.

“I don’t think there’s any question that we’ll be able to play it. We’re only going to play if it’s safe to do so, but we’ve been approached by a lot of the countries who want it to happen. The reason [for that] is that it’s a big sporting event, and it could act as a sign or a marker that the Caribbean is open for business again.”

With the IPL season currently postponed indefinitely, it has been suggested that the tournament could be staged at some stage in September or October, not least with the

T20 World Cup in October in doubt. Russell said that while the CPL would not try to compete for eyeballs with the most lucrative T20 league in the world, he hoped that the IPL could “figure out their own window”.

“We wouldn’t go up against it,” he said. “While I know the BCCI is all-powerful in these things, there has to be some sensible consideration around what players and other leagues are doing.

“I think IPL would want all the West Indian players to be playing in their tournament it wouldn’t make sense for them to play at the same time as CPL when a lot of their stars are playing with us. That would defeat the objective. I don’t think they need to do that, either. They can figure out their own window, for sure.”

If the tournament does go ahead as planned, it is possible that no overseas players will be involved due

to health concerns and restrictions on international travel.

The CPL’s organisers are also drawing up plans to hold games while maintaining social distancing within a stadium, a situation which would involve all players staying in the same hotels and the tournament being held at one or two venues instead of the planned six.

“That’s what people are going to have to look at: how would a stadium look if you were to follow all the guidelines on social distancing? Of course, it’s doable. For instance, in Barbados, we would probably be able to do a social-distancing stadium, and it could be at 25% capacity - there’s a lot of organisation that goes into that, but it’s viable.

“The player side is the important bit. It could be that CPL is played without international players this year, and there’s enough

Caribbean talent to play without if we have to - that’s not our preferred option, but it’s doable.

“And then obviously you have to go through the whole medical process. Would you quarantine players, or put them all in the same hotel?

How would that all work?

Even if we don’t necessary use [these plans] this year, it’s vitally important that we’ve done them. That’s my biggest focus at the minute.”

The picture may become clearer next week, following an ICC meeting via videoconference in which board CEOs will discuss contingency plans, and Russell has been in regular contact with WICB chief executive Johnny Grave to work out how West Indies’ fixtures might affect the competition’s staging. “[The WICB] obviously want to get back playing.

They’ve got the England tour - and I saw headlines today saying that is unlikely to take

place - and then South Africa would be the first team in the Caribbean in August. There’s so much juggling to go on that it’s difficult to know what’s going to come out.

“We know that in the West Indies, what’s good about CPL is that we’re employing cricketers and locals, while not many of them are getting paid at the minute. We’re an important part of that economic ecosystem, as much as we are about playing cricket.

“I wouldn’t put money on it, but we could we be the first cricket back if September is our window.

If we don’t play in September, then we can play probably in December.

Talking to all the owners, they definitely want to do it, and for players it’s important by that stage that they’re getting some income.

Our intention is definitely to play, but we would only ever do it if everything is right from a safety perspective.”

NBA, WNBA to sell face Laver Cup postponed until coverings to benefit hunger 2021 due to French Open clash The Laver Cup tennis tournament due to be held at Boston’s TD Garden in September has been pushed back to 2021. (Getty Images North America/AFP/File / Maddie Meyer)

A man walks past an NBA logo at an NBA exhibition in Beijing, China October 8, 2019.

(REUTERS/Jason Lee) Face coverings bearing NBA and WNBA team themes are being sold to benefit organizations focused on hunger relief.

Fanatics plans to sell the face coverings, which have been recommended by the CDC during the coronavirus pandemic, featuring the logos of all 30 NBA and 12 WNBA teams.

“As a global community, we can all play a role in reducing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic by following the CDC’s recommendation to cover our nose and mouth while in public,” said Kathy Behrens, NBA president for social responsibility and player programs. “Through this new product offering, NBA and

WNBA fans can adhere to these guidelines while joining in the league’s efforts to aid those who have been directly affected by COVID-19.”

Proceeds will go to organizations in the United States and Canada. Face coverings were expected to be available yesterday on team sites.

(Field Level Media)

AFP - The fourth edition of the Laver Cup has been postponed from September 2020 to 2021 because of scheduling conflicts with other tennis events in a year disrupted by COVID-19, organizers said yesterday.

The Europe v World men’s team tournament had been scheduled for Boston from September 25-27, but those dates clash with the new dates selected by the French Tennis Federation for the postponed French Open, now scheduled for September 20-October 4.

The tournament will now be held September 24-26, 2021, also in Boston.

“It’s unfortunate that the Laver Cup has to be pushed back a year, but at this stage

it’s the right thing to do for everyone concerned,” Roger Federer, a key backer of the Laver Cup, said in a statement released by organizers.

“Although disappointing, the good news is that TD Garden will still be able to host the event next year and I really look forward to finally playing in Boston for the first time at Laver Cup 2021.”

Men’s and women’s tennis has been put on hold amid the coronavirus pandemic, with both the ATP and WTA shut down until July 13 at the earliest.

Wimbledon has been cancelled, while the French Open’s new scheduled slot puts the clay court Grand Slam just a week after the US Open — normally the final Grand

Slam of the year — is due to be played at Flushing Meadows in New York.

Organizers said tickets purchased for the 2020 Laver Cup will be valid next year or fans can receive a full refund.

“We needed to make a decision now on our event,” Laver Cup chairman Tony Godsick said, adding that tournament organizers had been “monitoring the situation” with partners Tennis Australia and the US Tennis Association ever since Roland Garros was rescheduled. “We wanted to call it now to provide certainty for our fans as well as our players, sponsors, broadcasters, partners, staff, volunteers and of course the great city of Boston.”

Saturday April 18 , 2020

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

DOS Jones gives update on Boxers in Cuba - Says Guyanese must fight COVID-19 together as one Director of Sports of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Christopher Jones yesterday updated Kaieteur Sport on the latest news from Cuba regarding the stranded quartet of Olympic Boxing hopefuls.

Jones, who replaced Neil Kumar as Director of Sports in May 2015 after Kumar had served in that position since 1993, also spoke about the negative effects of COVID-19 on their programmes, while saying that it will take National unity as Guyanese fight the virus together as one.

Colin Lewis, Desmond Amsterdam, Dennis Thomas and Keevin Allicock arrived in the Caribbean’s largest Island for a three-month training stint back in early January and were scheduled to return home last month.

The Cuban trip was aimed at giving the pugilists every opportunity to properly prepare for the now suspended Olympic qualifiers in Argentina last month.

The 2020 Olympics scheduled for Tokyo Japan from July 24 to August 9 will now be contested next year due to the COVID-19 virus.

President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Steve Ninvalle said that the Boxers had benefitted from the training but both Airports in Guyana were closed due to the COVID-19 a few days before they were scheduled to depart Cuba.

Ninvalle had sought assistance from the Government, which had helped to fund the stranded Boxers’ trip.

“Being out of the Country, away from their families coupled with being in a lockdown in a strange Country is taking its toll on them, this I was told by team leader (Colin Lewis) today (yesterday). But with the support of Ambassador and the Embassy staffers in Cuba they are trying their best to keep them in high spirits,” informed Jones.

According to Jones the Boxers have been moved to the Capitol, Havana were they are a bit more comfortable.

“It has affected in a major way, our programme started January month end. Albeit with one twelfth of the budget to spend on the continuation of our light it up campaign, ground enhancements and the Coaches and organizers programme for the 10 regions, all have been suspended,” Jones said, speaking about the impact the outbreak of the virus on the NSC. When asked how much money he felt would be lost due to postponement of big Events slated for Guyana later this year like the CARIFTA Games and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) the Director of Sports said he did not have figures but confirmed it was a very significant amount.

The Bahamas will host

next year’s CARIFTA Games, while Guyana is set host the 2023 Games which will be the 50th Games, while CPL says in light of recent media reports and as the effects of the COVID-19 virus impacts people around the world there has been some understandable speculation with regard to the upcoming Caribbean Premier League season which is scheduled to take place from 19 August to 26 September 2020.

CPL has been in constant communication with our medical advisors in recent weeks, as well as speaking with Cricket West Indies about the current situation with regard to cricket around the world, and at present there has been no discussion about moving the event.

CPL believes it is too early to make such a decision, but this is an evolving situation and we are carefully watching how events unfold in the Caribbean and around the world.

At present, the CPL team are planning for the tournament to take place as scheduled, whilst also looking at alternative plans should they be needed.

However, with cases of the virus increasing, especially in Jamaica and Trinidad and Governments likely to be hard pressed to produce funding for matches to be hosted in their Countries after this shut down is lifted, makes the August/September

Cricket Australia lays off staff over virus shutdown AFP - Cricket Australia has announced it is laying off most of its administrative staff and will run a skeleton operation until at least midyear due to COVID-19’s impact on the game.

The governing body informed the majority of staffers on Thursday that from April 27 they would have to remain home on reduced pay — reportedly 20 percent of their regular salary — until June 30 at the earliest.

With international and domestic cricket postponed indefinitely because of the virus, CA chief executive Kevin Roberts said the game had to cut costs.

“The impacts on the sports industry of the coronavirus pandemic are bigger than any one sport,” he said in a statement.

“Cricket Australia — like all sporting bodies — is

planning for a return to training/play, although no one is certain when this will be possible at this stage, and many scenarios are being considered.”

Roberts said he hoped the situation regarding resumption of play would be clearer by June 30.

Cricket Australia’s website reported there were “ongoing discussions” between CA and the Australian Cricketers’ Association about potential financial implications for players. CA also said it was optimistic Australia’s 2020-21 home schedule — which includes the T20 World Cup and a blockbuster Test series against India — would proceed even if stadiums were empty.

Australian officials are reportedly so keen for the India series to go ahead that they are considering basing

Virat Kohli’s men at a new luxury hotel with training facilities while they undergo mandatory quarantine.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported the South Australian Cricket Association had offered to house India at the Oval Hotel, which is currently under construction at the Adelaide Oval.

Basing the team at the hotel, which is due to open in September, would allow the players to train at topclass facilities during a 14day quarantine period.

The Herald estimated television revenue from the India series was worth Aus$300 million (US$190 million) for Cricket Australia.

It said the plan would need approval from government and health authorities in Australia, as well as the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

date seems highly unlikely.

“Situations like these bring out the best and the worst in all of us. COVID-19 doesn’t care about our Race, Religion, Political persuasion, sexuality, education or social status, it is a killer and we are the cure.

Yes! We, all of us are the cure, this cure could only take effect when we follow those guidelines of washing our hands and Social and physical distancing. And key to all of this is to stay at home and lend support to each other, share food and assist in paying a bill. We can beat COVID-19 by following those guidelines. We must fight COVID-19 together as one,” encouraged Jones, who was the shadow Sports Minister when the PPP/C was in Government.

Jones also had some advice for Athletes during their time of inactivity due to the Corona break.

“COVID-19 is not a stop it’s a pause, a pause from your intense training.

That doesn’t mean you

Director of Sports Christopher Jones. can’t train on the inside, getting your exercise indoors at home, doing Research online for bettering your technique, research on your sport discipline and

reviewing your own performance. So don’t become a Couch potato” stressed Jones, who dabbled in Basketball in his younger days. (Sean Devers)

Jordan talks ‘Last Dance,’ Bulls final season Days before the premiere of ESPN’s “The Last Dance” documentary series, Michael Jordan opened up Thursday about the final season of his Chicago Bulls tenure in 199798, the central focus of the 10part series.

Jordan told “Good Morning America” that the name of the series, which debuts tomorrow on ESPN, comes directly from a message that head coach Phil Jackson gave the team before the campaign.

“At the beginning of the season, it basically started when [Bulls general manager] Jerry Krause told Phil that he can go 82-0, and he would never get the chance to come back,” Jordan said. “Knowing that I married myself to, obviously, and if he wasn’t going to be the coach, then I obviously wasn’t going to play.

“So Phil started off the year saying, ‘This is the last dance,’ and we played it that way. So mentally, it just kind of tugged at you through the course of the year, you know, that this had to come to an end. But it also centered our focus to making sure we ended it right. So as sad as it sounded at the beginning of the year, we tried to rejoice and enjoy the year and finish it off the right way.”

Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan in game two of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center. (Anne Ryan-USA TODAY) The 1997-98 Bulls finished the regular season 62-20 before winning the NBA title, capping their second threepeat in a span of eight years.

Jordan retired after the season, before returning for two years with the Washington Wizards beginning in 2001.

ESPN’s docuseries will run two episodes every Sunday for five weeks. It was initially expected to debut in late May, but that was moved up due to the absence of other sports programming during

the coronavirus pandemic.

Jordan, Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and Jackson agreed to let an NBA Entertainment film crew follow the team in 1997, providing much of the basis for the docuseries.

Footage from Jordan’s childhood, his arrival in 1984 and the growing pains that predated the six-time championship dynasty will be mixed amid the triumphs of a team that became a culturesweeping phenomenon.

(Field Level Media)

PAGE 22

Saturday April 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

Leeds great Hunter dies at 76 after contracting COVID-19 LONDON (Reuters) Former Leeds United and England defender Norman ‘Bites Yer Legs’ Hunter has died at 76 after contracting the new coronavirus, the Championship (second-tier) club said yesterday.

“Norman was taken to hospital last week after being diagnosed with COVID-19 and despite continuing to battle and the best efforts of NHS staff, he sadly lost his fight earlier this morning,” Leeds said on their website.

Hunter made 726 appearances for Leeds in 15 years at the Yorkshire club and earned his fearsome nickname for his tough tackling.

He won two top-flight league titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup with Leeds and played in their 1975 European Cup final defeat by German side Bayern Munich.

He was also part of England’s 1966 World Cupwinning squad, without playing, and came on as a substitute in the 3-2 defeat

by West Germany in the

Norman ‘Bites Yer Legs’ Hunter.

1970 World Cup quarterfinal.

Hunter, who won 28 caps for England, was also the first winner of the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award in 1974.

“He leaves a huge hole in the Leeds United family, his legacy will never be forgotten and our thoughts are with Norman’s family and friends at this very difficult time,” Leeds said.

The Professional Footballers Association

(PFA) said the game had lost a legend.

Former England team mate Alan Mullery remembered a man who never lost his competitive spirit, even when on holiday.

“We used to go on cruises together,” he told Sky Sports television.

“I remember we were on a trip once and we were playing the crew and I was the referee and he was playing. And he’s hit this fellow in a 50-50 tackle and

German MotoGP race seeks new date due to virus restrictions

Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez in action during the German Grand Prix race at Sachsenring, Hohenstein-Ernstthal. (REUTERS/Annegret Hilse) (Reuters) - The start of the MotoGP season has been pushed back further into the European summer after German Grand Prix organisers sought a postponement due to extended restrictions on major events as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The race at the Sachsenring in eastern Germany was scheduled for June 21 and was the first race on a calendar ravaged by

postponements.

The German government and regional state governors agreed this week, however, to extend a ban on big events until the end of August.

Organisers ADAC said in a statement that they were in discussions with M o t o G P ’s c o m m e r c i a l rights holders Dorna to find a new date.

“The health of fans and

everyone involved is always the top priority. The purchased tickets remain valid for the new date. We ask our loyal fans for some patience,” said ADAC. The next race after Germany is the Dutch TT at Assen on June 28, which is also uncertain, followed by Finland on July 12. MotoGP has said already that it is working on a revised calendar.

Leeds United’s Norman Hunter in action with Queens Park Rangers Terry Venables. (Action Images via Reuters) this fellow did three somersaults and landed on his backside.

“I said to him ‘Norman, these passengers have paid

a lot of money to come on it.’

And he said ‘We’ve still got to win, Alan. We can’t let them win’.

“To talk about him as a

footballer, he was probably one of the hardest footballers you would ever come up against. And off the field he was absolutely gentle.”

New South African cricket boss Smith rules De Kock out of Test captaincy Johannesburg (AFP) Former Test skipper Graeme Smith was yesterday confirmed as South Africa’s director of cricket –- and revealed that Quinton de Kock would not be elevated to the Test captaincy.

Jacques Faul, acting chief executive of Cricket South Africa, said Smith had been appointed for a two-year term, expiring at the end of March 2022. Smith was appointed in an acting capacity last December.

Smith, 39, captained South Africa in a world record 108 Test matches and in 149 oneday internationals. He also captained a World XI in a oneoff Test against Australia in 2005/06.

He told a teleconference that the debate over the Test captaincy was one of the challenges he faced during a period when no cricket can be played because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s not going to be Quinton,” he said, citing De Kock’s responsibility as the country’s limited-overs captain as well as being wicketkeeper and a key batsman.

“Quinton will be our white-ball captain but from a workload and mental capacity aspect we want to keep him fresh. From personal

experience I know that captaining all three formats is challenging and we don’t want to overburden him.”

Smith gave no indication of the likely replacement following the decision of Faf du Plessis in February to step down from the job.

“There’s no one person you can pinpoint,” he said.

“There are a lot of players on a similar level.”

South Africa’s next scheduled Test series is in the West Indies in July but Smith said that it had not been finalised due to the COVID19 outbreak.

South Africa are also due to go to Sri Lanka for a limitedovers tour in June but Smith said both tours could be postponed.

“We are in discussion with the boards of those countries and decisions will have to be made pretty soon,” he said.

- T20 World Cup the priority Smith said his immediate priority was the T20 World Cup in Australia in October and November, assuming it happened as planned.

He said South Africa hoped to host a Twenty20 series against India in August as part of the build-up to the world event. “There is a lot of doubt about what the situation will be by then but

we are in discussions with the Board of Control for Cricket in India,” he said.

Faul said he expected more clarity on the status of the T20 World Cup to emerge when the International Cricket Council hosts a video discussion between national chief executives next Thursday.

Smith’s temporary appointment last December was at a time of crisis in South African cricket following the suspension of chief executive Thabang Moroe, calls for the board of CSA to resign and in the wake of a poor performance by the national team in the 2019 Cricket World Cup, which was followed by a 3-0 thrashing in a Test series in India.

One of Smith’s first moves was to appoint former Test wicketkeeper and longtime teammate Mark Boucher as national head coach through to the 2023 World Cup. The team has had mixed results since Boucher’s appointment, losing Test series and Twenty20 series against England and Australia.

But they finished the 2019/20 season on a high, beating Australia 3-0 in an ODI series, shortly before cricket was shut down.

Kaieteur News

Saturday April 18, 2020

Annual Mayor’s Cup football hopeful of timely end of COVID 19 restrictions - Event’s end to coincide with Mayor Ubraj Narine’s birthday The Annual Mayor’s Cup Inter Ward, Village Knockout Football tournament 2020 edition is hopeful for a timely end on restrictions instituted following the global pandemic coronavirus (COVID 19) outbreak affecting the entire world.

Guyana like the rest of the world is on a virtual shutdown where social distancing is a necessity along with proper hygiene to help combat the spread of the deadly virus.

O r g a n i s e r, L e n n o x Arthur, the former national player and coach, told Kaieteur Sport yesterday that the conclusion of the event will coincide with the birth anniversary of Mayor of Georgetown, His Honour Ubraj Narine, who celebrates his birthday on October 12.

Mayor Narine has been doing an excellent job in the restoration of the beauty and upkeep of the Capitol City despite the struggle of limited resources at times and many Guyanese are of the view he is doing a very good job.

Arthur noted that a total 32 teams from the various Wards and Villages are listed to compete once the event is given the all clear like so many other events and programmes around the country and world.

Coronavirus KO: Thai fighters in despair as rings fall silent

Mayor Ubraj Narine (DPI)

Fighters must observe social distancing as they train. (AFP/Lillian Suwanrumpha)

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) as was mandated by governing body FIFA and regional head CONCACAF put a halt to all football activity until it becomes suitable for their resumption. Once activity resumes this tournament is expected to be given the all clear like many others and action will commence.

Arthur is hopeful of a start sometime in August once the all clear is given, and end the tournament prior to Mayor Ubraj Narine’s birthday on October 12. The venues slated to host games are the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Victoria ground, Den Amstel and Mahaicony grounds.

The teams expected to be turning out in the tournament

once all goes well are: Representing Georgetown – Bourda Blues, Tucville, Charlestown, North Sophia, South Sophia and Road Warriors.

East Coast – Victoria, Victoria Scorpions, Melanie, G o l d e n G r o v e , Beterverwagting (BV), Buxton Stars, Mahaica, Plaisance, Ann’s Grove and Lima Dam. Berbice – Paradise, Mahaicony, Airy Hall, Calcutta and New Amsterdam.

East Bank – Timehri and Kuru Kururu.

We s t D e m e r a r a – Pouderoyen, Stewartville, Den Amstel Kings, Hurry Ate, Uitvlugt, Crane, Wales, Den Amstel and West Side Spartans.

Cricket chiefs ‘exploring all options’ over T20 World Cup AFP - The International Cricket Council has played down speculation this year’s T20 World Cup in Australia could be pushed back to 2021 but admitted it was “exploring all options”.

Australia is due to stage the global tournament from October 18 until November 15 but the coronavirus p an d emic h as alr ead y created havoc for international sport and more events could suffer.

The ICC has time on its side and is preparing to stick to its schedule but plans could change.

“We are continuing with our planning for ICC events as they are, but given the rapidly evolving situation as a prudent and responsible measure we are also u n d e r t a k i n g a comprehensive contingency

PAGE 23

West Indies won the 2016 World Twenty20 in India. (AFP/File/ Dibyangshu Sarkar)

planning exercise,” said an ICC spokesman.

“This includes exploring all options available to us based on a range of scenarios connected to the pandemic.

“We will continue to take advice from experts and authorities, including the Australian government and will take decisions at the appropriate time.”

AFP - Training in masks, two metres apart, Thailand’s professional fighters are battling a new reality — shuttered gyms and cancelled tournaments after the coronavirus pandemic left them suddenly out of work.

Thailand’s brutal version of boxing, Muay Thai, features jabs, punches and kicks, with striking techniques using shins, knees and elbows.

But Thailand’s strict social-distancing rules mean former world champion Sarawut Prohmsut can only mime arm-blocks to a sparring partner jabbing at him from distance as they train in Bangkok.

“How can you box in these conditions? We no longer have any strong sensations, no adrenaline,” the 23-year-old Sarawut tells AFP at the Luktupfah Muay Thai gym in the nation’s capital.

Sarawut is used to earning 20,000-30,000 baht a month (US$600-$900) from tournaments, with most of it being sent sent home to support his family.

But the pandemic has hit Muay Thai hard, with tournaments and stadiums the first to close due to a cluster of infections discovered at one large-scale event in early March.

Without any income, many fighters have returned to their home provinces where training has stalled.

“Overnight, everything stopped,” says Somiong, a 24-year-old ethnic Karen boxer who returned to Kanchanaburi province after the stadium ban.

He and Sarawut have joined millions who are out of work because of the virus, which has ravaged T h a i l a n d ’s t o u r i s m , entertainment and restaurant industries.

The government promised a monthly cash handout of 5,000 baht ( U S $ 1 5 0 ) t o a ff e c t e d workers.

But boxers without a specific licence are not eligible for the aid, says Jade Sisisompan of the World Muay Thai Organization, who is also the co-owner of Luktupfah gym.

“It can quickly become catastrophic,” she says.

“Most have been fighting since they were children and can do nothing else.”

- ‘They are afraid’ Muay Thai tournaments in Bangkok are high-stakes spectacles, drawing hundreds to cheer — and bet — on prospective winners fighting in brightly lit rings.

A bout in early March at Bangkok’s military-owned Lumpinee stadium was no

Sparring is now taking place at a distance.

(AFP/Lillian Suwanrumpha)

different.

But the packed-out arena led to hundreds of infections, including a celebrity host, stadium staff, politicians and army officials.

The impact of the shutdown was immediate for Somiong, who was used to training seven hours a day and earning up to $600 a month.

Like most pro fighters in Thailand, the ring served as a way out of poverty for him and his family since he started training at 11.

But Somiong has no valid Thai ID and will not qualify for government assistance.

“Now I can’t help my parents with money,” he tells AFP as he helps his mother harvest coriander in Kanchanaburi. “It plays a lot on my mind.”

The boxing community must band together to help the most financially vulnerable fighters, says Youssef Boughanem, Muay Thai’s world middleweight champion and the owner of a Pattaya-based gym.

“Boxers strive for excellence every day — not having a goal may lead to deep depressions,” says the Belgo-Moroccan fighter, nicknamed the “Terminator” for his more than 120 wins by knockout.

They could also regress in their training, says former champion Samart Payakaroon, who has been offering free online lessons for the past two weeks to fill the void.

Thailand currently has more than 2,600 cases of the coronavirus, and the death toll is at 46 — considered low in relation to neighbours such as Malaysia and Indonesia.

But even as the health situation improves, “it will take time before Thais return to the stadium”, says Samart.

“They are afraid.”

Spo

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Cricket Australia is in talks with players’ representatives over their pay.

(AFP/Saeed Khan)

Steve Ninvalle (centre) and the boxers in Cuba prior to the lockdown.

Cricket Australia lays off staff over virus shutdown Cricket chiefs ‘exploring all options’ over T20 World Cup

DOS Jones gives update on Boxers in Cuba - Says Guyanese must fight COVID-19 together as one

The Barbados Tridents players celebrate their win. (Getty Images)

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