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No sanctions NEWS yet on Guyana: EU Ambassador

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April 21, 2020 - Vol. 13 No. 16

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Elections 2020 - Day 49...

Online readership yesterday, 219,169

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CARICOM high level team - Pres. will not be quarantinedGranger Region 10 authorities probe alleged hoarding of COVID-19 medical supplies

Best friends perish in Bagotstown accident

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Health Ministry encourages public to use more home-made masks p.

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A portion of supplies authorities found stashed in a backroom at Wismar Hospital

Extended period p. of school closure... 3

Guyana would be lucky if it Parents urged to gets anything around US$60M utilise e-learning, - Finance for next three oil lifts Minister other resources Using Exxon's affiliates to draft Guyana's laws and policies will have significant consequences p.

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- German NGO calls for urgent intervention

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Kaieteur News

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Tuesday April 21, 2020

Manhunt launched as four inmates escape from Lusignan Prison

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manhunt has been launched to locate four inmates who jumped the eastern fence of the Lusignan Prison and escaped early yesterday morning.

According to prison officials, the men escaped around 03:46 hrs during very heavy rainfall.

At roll-call, around 06:15hrs, the men were discovered missing since they didn't answer to their names.

Two of the escapees are murder accused, one is being held for the possession of narcotics and the other for robbery and robbery under arms.

When contacted, Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels confirmed that Anthony Padmore, Kenraul Perez, Sasnarine Bisnauth, and Ganesh Dhanraj, all escaped from the Holding Bay at Lusignan Prison.

Padmore, 26, of Ogle Street, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, was serving a three-year sentence for trafficking narcotics.

According to a release from the prison service, Padmore was admitted to the prison on February 28, 2020, and his next of kin is his mother, Juliet Cameron of Juicetown, Berbice.

Perez, 26, of Mabaruma, North West District, was on remand for murder, he was admitted to the prison on January 24, 2020. His father Kendall Perez, of Timehri, is listed as his next of kin.

Bisnauth, 24, of 22 Tuschen Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara, is charged for two counts of robbery and armed robbery.

His next of kin was listed as his mother Bibi Inshanal, of 9 Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara. He was admitted to the prison on January 6, 2020.

D E T N A W Ganesh Dhanraj And Dhanraj, 32, of Facade, Parika, West Coast Demerara, was on remand for murder. He was admitted to the prison on April 4, 2017, his next of kin was listed as his mother Pearl Perrier, of Parika, West Coast Demerara.

Sasnarine Bisnauth Prison officials say that the relevant CCTV footage has been examined, and the Guyana Police Force was alerted. All the ranks that were on duty at the time when the prisoners escaped have been interviewed and are said to be cooperating.

Kenraul Perez “So far, no rank has been found culpable. Every effort is being made to effect the

Anthony Padmore recapture of the four escapees,” prison authorities say.

Guyana records 66th case of COVID-19

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he Ministry of Public Health announced yesterday that Guyana has recorded its 66th case of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Up to press time last evening, the deaths remained at seven.

These cases have been spread across Regions 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7. The surveillance report by the health ministry revealed that 328 individuals have been tested thus far for the disease, of which 262 came back as negative results.

The number of persons in the health ministry's institutional isolation facilities continues to rise, as a total 50 persons were recorded yesterday. However the numbers in the quarantine facility decreased yesterday from 21 on Sunday, to 17 y e s t e r d a y. F i v e h a v e developed worsened conditions and seeking further treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Region Four still accounts for more than 80% of cases in the country.

There have been 2,202 calls made to the COVID-19 hotline. Globally, WHO has recorded 2,241,359 confirmed cases with 152,551 deaths. While in the Region of the Americas there are 821,860 confirmed cases with 38,258 deaths.

“Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol-based rub frequently and not touching your face.

The COVID-19 virus is spread primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it's important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow),” the World Health Organization (WHO) has advised.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 21, 2020

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COVID-19 and collapsing oil prices...

Guyana would be lucky if it gets anything around US$60M for next three oil lifts - Finance Minister A

s a result of the n o v e l coronavirus, oil prices have been collapsing at an alarming rate. In fact, the price of oil has been below US$20 for the past few days.

When one considers this predicament, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said he does not anticipate Guyana getting anything close to US$30M for the next one million barrels of oil it will lift from the Liza Phase One Project in the Stabroek Block.

This would be significantly lower than the first sale Guyana made in mid-February. In that sale that was executed with Shell Western Supply and Trading Limited (SWSTL) which is based in Barbados, the local authorities were able to lock in US$55M. Guyana has four million barrels of oil left to collect for 2020. The second lift of one million

barrels is due next month.

According to the Minister, Guyana would be lucky if it gets anything around US$20M for that sale.

During an interview with the Department of Public Information, the economist said, “...In all, it is five shipments but the last one, the payment for it would not come in until the next year.”

Focusing his attention on the three sales for which payment would be received this year, the Finance Minister said Guyana is looking at raking in approximately US$60M. When added to the first sale, this brings to the total to US$115M. The Minister said that if the government was able to access half of that for the COVID-19 fight, it would certainly go a far way in

assisting small businesses in particular and the vulnerable in society, such as those who lost income as a result of the lockdown.

He was keen to note that while those funds would have helped greatly at a time when the nation's resources are “slender”, the “political pandemic” that is in play restricts access to the oil revenue that is safely tucked away in the Natural Resource Fund.

In the meantime, the Minister said that requests have been made for funding from several international financial agencies. He said, however, that access to that kind of international assistance is still not automatic or disbursed immediately, as there are several hoops to jump through.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan As a result of this, Jordan said that the government would have to be dependent a lot on the generation of domestic resources and how efficiently those can be used.

Like Minister Jordan, the I n t e r- A m e r i c a n Development Bank (IDB) has said that it is highly unlikely that the government

will be able to rake in huge oil-related profits, especially the kind that was projected before the market was plunged into economic turmoil by the coronavirus.

Considering current market conditions, the bank anticipates that the government will experience a 40 to 60 percent decline in the estimated value of its oil exports. In one of its most recent reports, the financial institution specifically said, “The government is expected to make four more sales in 2020, potentially at much lower prices.

Under oil price scenarios varying between US$20/barrel and US$35/barrel, the estimated value of oil exports (US$2.4billion ) could decline by 40% – 60%, leading to terms–of–trade effects affecting the GDP growth estimate.”

Such a decline is equivalent to a loss of

US$1.4B or $280B. To understand the significance of this loss, one only needs to remember that Guyana's 2019 budget was US$1.5B. Further to this, the bank said that Guyana's expected oil–related revenues, some US$230 million, could decline by 15 percent to 40 percent, which would be the main impact on Guyana from the oil price fallout between Russia and Saudi.

It should be noted that it was the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that originally estimated that Guyana's oil production would contribute to achieving oil exports worth US$2.4 billion, oil – related government revenue of approximately US$230 million, and a GDP growth rate of 86% on an assumed price of oil of US$ 64/barrel.

As the IDB noted, these will be affected in light of the coronavirus and the effects from the oil price war.

Extended period of school closure…

Parents urged to utilise e-learning, other resources

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s a consequence of the extended closure of schools, the Ministry of Education is to provide guidance to parents and g u a r d i a n s f o r homeschooling their children.

As was previously announced, the Ministry of Education is encouraging parents and guardians to visit the Ministry of Education's w e b s i t e o n https://bit.ly/39Y698S to access National Grade Six (NGSA) Practice Test Papers in the four core areas (English, Science, Social Studies and Mathematics).

Parents and guardians are also advised to take advantage of the textbooks and other learning material that can be accessed on the Ministry's website for specific guidance Nursery T e x t B o o k s https://education.gov.gy/…/ nursery-school…/nurserytext-books, Primary Text B o o k s ; https://education.gov.gy/…/ primary-school…/primarytext-books and Secondary T e x t B o o k s ; https://education.gov.gy/.../s

econdary-text-books.

The Ministry also recommends other Educational Websites such the Math Games website, S t u d y J a m s ! studyjams.scholastic.com/st udyjam; Khan Academy www.khanacademy.org; Fun Fonix - www.funfonix.com; Starfall - www.starfall.com; O x f o r d O w l w w w. o x f o r d o w l . c o . u k ; Brain Central www.braincentral.online and the learning Hub www.learninghub.online.

In addition to those measures outlined above, the Ministry of Education has taken the following actions at the secondary and tertiary levels: Teachers are advised under the guidance of the Chief Education Officer to engage students via Zoom, Skype and other similar electronic means.

The Technical Team at the Ministry is continuously working to upgrade the support provided to teachers and students. In this regard, the Ministry is in discussion with international development partners to establish additional elearning platforms including

e-testing for students.

E d u c a t i o n a l programmes will also be aired on the radio stations at Mahdia, Bartica, Essequibo, Mabaruma, Lethem and Annai.

Students can continue to listen t o B r o a d c a s t s t o s c hools for Grade 3 - 6 at 13:00h daily on NCN Radio.

National Grade Six Past Papersw i l l b e a v a i l a b l e

i n t h e Tu e s d a y a n d Thursday editions of the Guyana Chronicle.

The University of Guyana remains closed as was previously announced.

In communities with limited opportunities for elearning platforms (i.e. regions one, seven, eight and nine) and selected rural communities, workbooks for learners have been provided.

The Ministry said that it

has acquired and is in the process of distributing learning materials for special needs learners, primarily at the nursery and primary levels.

It will continue to provide updates via radio and television.

Students can tune into the Guyana Learning Channel (Channel 42/Cable 29) to access the following, Nursery Programme (06:00h

- 09:00h), Primary Programmes (09:00h 12:00h) and Documentaries (12:00h - 13:00h) and Secondary Programmes (13:00 - 15:00h).

To continue listening to the radio broadcasts of the Interactive Radio Instruction for Grades 1 – 3 daily, the timings are Grade 1 09:30h – 10:00h, Grade 2 10:30h – 11:00h and Grade 3 13:00h – 13:30hrs.

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Tuesday April 21, 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

Elections - Guyana’s own national sport This might be found jarring, but there are no sports.

And since there are no sporting events, there is nothing else for the multitudes following teams and heroes engaged in competitive combat. For many across the globe, life has lost its many planks, its main callings, its many meanings.

There are no stirring television programmes, no rocking stadiums, no howling hordes of people, whether in India (cricket), the USA (basketball), or the UK (football). The distractions and obsessions enabled by betting are gone, zero excitement is the name of the only game in town after town.

The bars (a good thing) and restaurants (necessary) have been taken away, leaving many nervous wrecks and lacking in moorings, since they have no other life, but the sporting life lived for and now longed for in the hope of some return to normalcy. Many are left in a bad state: agitated, upended, and not knowing what to do with themselves. Armchair psychiatrists they have become, analyzing themselves, and shrinking from what they discover of themselves.

Unlike the rest of the world, this is not the case in Guyana.

Guyanese inhale a different air, imbibe from a different jug.

Their booze reminds of the sweet nectarine of the gods, has all the instantaneous effects of earthy crack cocaine, plus the identical harrowing hangover, the tortured withdrawals forced upon those who were reckless and now must deal with the dangerous.

We have our Olympics and world championships rolled into one: elections they are called. This is our sport, our fascination, our lifework that makes the blood boil at individual and national level, the sum of the life loved. We do not need any scoreboard, since we already have one driven by the voices screaming in our fevered minds, our pierced existences.

Elections season thrill and chill, blow up and blow away, build up and then let down. Still, we the people, declare ourselves vastly contented with the way things are, and would not do a single thing that changes anything. We plod along in the impenetrable smog of the mutual resentments from our narrowed world. It is about who cheated, who is seeking to trick and snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat.

Our national sport, which connects all willingly or unwillingly, entraps all easily and without any degree of difficulty. Our scorecards tell the public stories: how many days and counting since that fateful contest on March 2nd.

How many votes stolen or attempted to stuff down throat and consciousness, via the desired rapid closure from a still more hurried count. It has been the longest of long counts, to grab a line out of sporting lore.

And how many, mainly in GECOM, who have allegedly besmirched themselves by condoning or, worse yet, actually participating in deceiving first and then covering up afterwards. In a nation with an unacknowledged alcoholism problem, bars are helpful and a sturdy crutch to have open in a time of stress, fears of losing, and uncertainty as to what follows next. But they are not necessary, not when we have our own national sport, which is the circus and allconsuming spectacle of national elections.

That is music to our ears, the hit parade made up of one song only: we win, only we must win. That is our fight song and battle song, the nourishing ambrosia of citizens arrayed on both sides of a storm-battered divide. The virus may have taken away our liquids and our hold on life, but as long as it does not impede our elections, then all is well with the world, as is seen through Guyanese eyes.

There is still another characteristic that makes Guyanese citizens unique in the sporting annals. At the end of regular games, spectators and team supporters pick up the pieces, go home, and refocus on the things that matter, such as living well and living right.

Not so Guyanese, for in the sport that is of Elections Guyana, it is the other interests and priorities of life that are forced to give way. Elections takes precedence, elections matter, all else must give way. It is a hell of a national sport: one that makes losers of us all.

Where is the logic in spending all that money?

DEAR EDITOR, Having read Sunday’s Kaieteur News headline captioned “More than US$5M needed to retrofit Ocean View Hotel” I couldn’t help but wonder where is the logic in spending all that money to fix someone else’s property when much less can be spent on your own with better result: - The Government owned incomplete and abandoned building at High and Princes street should have been repurposed for the COVID-19

Hospital.

Less taxpayer’s money - The government owned 60000 sf building can be structurally and functionally fixed and fitted out at between USD 50 to 60/sf for an overall cost of USD 3 to 3.6M The less than 60000 Ocean View Hotel is in excess of 20 years old and will have many hidden faults that will only become known as the works are opened up and the extent of any damage becomes visible. These

unknown can result in cost escalations that normally range between 50 to 100%. So be warned what is now a USD 5M project could very quickly become USD 10M through no fault of the contractor.

Quick and easy adaptation -The Government owned building is an open shell and therefore could be easily and quickly be fitted out for its intended purpose without the cost and time associated with demolition works. - Not so with the Ocean View where a substantial amount of

demolition has to take place if it’s to be purpose built as intended.

No acquisition cost - Selecting this building should have been a no brainer. Where is the logic in spending unknown millions to acquire property, spend a further 5M and counting to fix it, when you have an idle building of your own that could be fixed, repurposed and fitted out for much less?

Concerned Building Professional

In a crisis, the language of life DEAR EDITOR, As the arc of coronavirus tightens its girdle around the globe, and stretches to Guyana, I confess to being stirred by the language of life, the grasping for life, that is incorporated in the careful and inspired words and phrases springing forth in the midst of crisis. They come from a leader here and there rising to meet the fearsome challenges that have to be faced with the bravest of unyielding fronts.

There is the boundless optimism amidst the frank and fearful reporting of the numbers and embedded in the harrowing stories of loss and grief, and this is despite the remorseless rush of the still stalking, savaging virus.

I reflect on the leadership of New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo and I am intrigued, even helped, by his indefatigable readiness to see the silver lining, to reach for any ray that could gleam amongst his peoples and before a world made to weep by the lethal afflictions that leave few unscathed.

Having spent so many decades in different sections

of that crowded city and state, there still is, and always will be, a part of the umbilical cord remaining there. Having half a dozen siblings and their families residing there adds the personal and cherished to the considerations of what is present, what is faced. So, when I hear Governor Cuomo search and find the right words to deliver, it is of more than my own appreciation for the stirring power of the language, it is of the regard I have to give to a leader rising to the occasion to share any scintilla of truth, of clarity, and of hope that he can muster in a very terrible time.

I read of him saying of “past the high point” (April 19) and the “worst is over” (April 13) and “we are flattening the curve, we must continue to bend the curve” (April 12), among other determined efforts to deliver any sliver of the optimistic.

Without a doubt, in aggregate, it is not the incomparable transcendent flair or the awesome rolling thunder of the Churchillian. Not by a long shot, there are too rudimentary and sterile; but together they suffice to lift sagging spirits

searching for any flickering candle, no matter how feeble, in the deep darkness that abounds.

The good governor, a surefooted political animal of unlimited vision, looks better, despite his sometimes mano a mano combat (verbal, of course) with New York City’s mayor and his own president; the former talks a little out of turn sometimes, while the latter talks too much all the time, with most of it of the megalomaniacal variety. Though I have lost much faith in political characters, domestic and foreign, I must recognize a man trying his best to rally his people by grabbing at any speck of the positive that may be gleaned from the circumstances that lay waste and leave stockpiles of fallen bodies and frighteningly depleted stockpiles of defensive weapons.

To be sure, he has only bland numbers to work with, and they are all relentlessly grim and gruesome in their hard, wanton, and ruthless finality. But out of the numbers, he parses for and finds less intubations, less ICU situations, less admissions, less confirmed cases, and less of anything

negative and draining from the medical charnel house that is today’s New York.

I have to give him his due.

He has risen above occasion, seized the high plains.

Already, the politician in him has to be thinking of 4 years into the future. His prospects look good. Now he has to maintain his fidelity to the facts, which he has proven to be good at; watch his steps, which could be much trickier; and watch his own national star rise. Yet even as I say this, I wonder if America has the stomach for another New Yorker.

I, for one, don’t have much of that left for the local heroes around. What have their language been about here in this time of the mystery and crisis, other than of more division, more disfigurements, and more despair? Things are so unhealthy here that dual citizens head from the frying pan that is here to the still uncontrolled fires over there.

Clearly, the language uttered lacks power or persuasion.

Truth, too.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Nothing good can come out of this tangled web of corruption DEAR EDITOR, As each day goes by Guyana and Guyanese regress deeper and deeper into limbo. I like many, see no point in the shameful charade which the PNC, APNU/AFC and GEOCOM have subjected us to.

There is nothing good to come out of this tangled web of corruption while all the recent talk and hopefulness of a better place is being dashed as each day passes by. One must question with bitter disgust the caliber of ruthlessness the incumbent has come up with to hold on to governance against the will of the people. Their likely objectives scares me.

To use one of Freddie

Kissoon’s famous terms, the “asininities” are beyond the understanding of even the averagely educated person.

Mr. David Granger, a person I once considered upright and of unquestionable character has not only let me down but all of Guyana. I was in full support of the AFC and even helped in their early campaign.

When Mr. David Granger was being promoted as leader of the PNC, I wrote to him supporting and offering to help wherever I could as I felt that his leadership and the high moral position I thought he represented would change the tarnished face of the PNC

and that he, if anyone would be instrumental in mending our ethnic political division.

The formation of the APNU and later AFC coalition gave some measure of hope to our country as evidenced by the 2015 elections that under new leadership and management the old PNC stigma would be forever erased.

Today I am not only disappointed but deeply concerned that our country is on a likely path of devastation of which we have never, ever before seen and you know I am not talking about COVID19.

As for those who currently lead or otherwise hold sway in the APNU, AFC or PNC it will take a monumental effort to rebuild, if ever again, theirs or their

respective party’s image.

One must ask was all the meandering and orchestrated efforts to pull the wool over our eyes after the NCM and now our General Elections worth it? Where are your advisors, did they not see or anticipate the destruction which would be forthcoming?

Guyana has been dealt some very bad hands since Independence and at times showed signs of recovery but this time it’s going to be very different as even darker days unfold.

How could an incumbent who clearly loses an election, then seek to impose itself upon its people, ever hope to have the trust and confidence that they are working in their interest.

Respectfully, Bernard Ramsay

Tuesday April 21, 2020

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Kaieteur News

UXORICIDE – A National tragedy in an already fragile society DEAR EDITOR, Have we become a nation of sleepers and not our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers? Domestic violence damages the prospects for economic and social development of every country, not just the lives of the victims.

In Guyana domestic violence has been recognized as crossing all boundaries, including racial and socioeconomic lines, and also categorized as the most prevalent form of interpersonal violence. The 1993 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and the 1994 Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women (Convention of Belem do Pará) were developed to explicitly guarantee women’s right to live free from violence. In 2003, the World

Health Organization in its efforts to raise global awareness declared domestic violence as one of the world’s leading public health threats, rivalling tuberculosis and malaria as the leading cause of death and disability. Sadly, this public health threat has become a reality in politically torn, socially worn Guyana.

While citizens the world over battle the pandemic, doing their utmost best to survive, women in Guyana are daily losing their lives. It is an abhorrent and discernible fact that for many women home is the least safe place. Instead it is the very same place that is being daily converted into battlegrounds and grisly crime scenes. The government has already instituted legislation and policies to deal with cases of domestic violence even to the point of providing facilities that would offer shelter to victims of abuse.

There are also private

organizations that provide some measure of counselling.

On June 12, 2008 Priya Manickchand, the then Minister of Human Services and Social Security, launched the National Domestic Violence Policy (DVP) under the theme “Break the cycle – take control.” The launched policy sought to have the root causes of the problem (domestic violence) identified, and in addition drive home to the nation that the behaviour should be seen and treated as the violation of fundamental and collective rights. According to the Minister, the National Policy should be seen as a milestone in the long battle, and a significant achievement considering that, in the past, there has only been a lot of talk albeit that Guyana passed the Domestic Violence Bill 1996, which was acquiesced to by the then President Bharrat Jagdeo. At

the crux of the Domestic Violence Policy is the transformation of attitudes that condone or normalize such violence, such as gender stereotyping and discrimination. The intent of the policy is to move away from, “just talking” and guide future intercessions as they relate to prevention and support services for victims of domestic abuse. The provision of legal aid services for victims and counselling services were also among other specific measures that were expected to fall under the acumen of the national policy.

There was also expected to be an education aspect included in the policy, in that the Ministry of Education that would be mandated to work in collaboration with the Human Services Ministry to design public awareness actions. Additionally, it was alluded to that at teachers training colleges and in the

Religious leaders’ voices are not inaudible DEAR EDITOR, It is in direct response to your editorial “Where are our Religious Leaders?” that I composed this letter. It is encouraging that you have emphasized the significance of the voice of religious leaders in the context of the political strife our country is experiencing. Consequently, please allow me to address three pertinent points emerging from your editorial related to pronouncement, protest and priority.

First, let me say that the conclusion of the editorial that “Guyanese religious voices are silent. They silenced themselves” is not correct in all details. For example, yours truly, Pastor Richard Avert James, former president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Guyana (May 2011 to April 2019) did prepare and issue at least two letters to the editors of our four dailies, on his own behalf, as a religious leader. To be exact, the Kaieteur News published my letters: “What the credible recounting of ballots is expected to achieve?” on March 18, 2020 and “An Open Letter to the GECOM Chair and CEO – break the ice after the court rules” on March 25, 2020. These two letters focused attention on electoral integrity and truth in regard to the 2020 elections.

Besides, a considerable amount of time and effort have been devoted to fasting and prayer and interceding with God to guide our nation and politicians before, during and after elections, on the part of many religious leaders and followers.

However, that being said, it’s important for us to

acknowledge and embrace the reality that only the omnipresent God is best position to make any valid pronouncement on the total credibility of what happened within the 2,339 polling stations or places across Guyana on Monday March 2, 2020. Not religious leaders!

Not business leaders! Not western diplomats! Not political analysts and commentators!

Not politicians! Not judges! Not even election observers! This is not to be inferred that Guyanese are incapable of conducting a credible national election, but rather to emphasize our individual limitation. Yet, religious leaders’ voices are not inaudible.

Second, you said that “when our religious leaders should be in the forefront of civil society pleading, or pressuring, or pouring out dissatisfaction and displeasure at what Guyanese political leaders are doing to the people, they are absent and silent.” This statement invites an obvious question – what should be the role of religious leaders in a multiracial, multi-faith democracy, in regard to the political question or the conduct of public business?

Or to be more specific - what should be the role of religious leaders during times of political strife?

Editor, although an active political life is the right of all citizens, religious leaders should use their power and influence in the interest of the public as a whole and not just for a preferred few. Besides, the focus of most religious leaders is on issues that are

clearly moral rather than partisan politics. Furthermore, it’s ill-advised for religious leaders to express public disapproval of or objection to an electoral process that is incomplete. Religious leaders, who take the liberty to express their political preferences or prejudices for or against politicians and to ventilate their opinions on political questions, will contribute to more division in the religious community and the wider society. In addition, Jesus refused to interfere in legal and political questions when he was asked to decide on such matters. His remarkable statement “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21 NKJV) is a case in point.

However, this doesn’t mean that religious leaders have no voice in matters of public morality. It’s just that the way of the world is not the way of the cross.

Third, you argued that “Clearly, our religious men and women have lost their way in their priorities and their prostrations, which render them unable to be the distinguishing presences so much demanded right now.”

Editor, it may very well be true that some religious leaders have lost their way and ability to be that distinguishing presence.

And, as you have said, this may be so because they “have compromised themselves by identifying too closely with the worldly men of politics.” But this exact point may very well be equally true for some business leaders, lawyers,

diplomats, newspaper editors, columnists, political analysts and commentators etc. and everyday citizens. We all need to acknowledge that we are not always right. We need to admit that we all make mistakes; it is a part of what makes us human. But we must not allow our mistakes to define who we are as a nation.

What is needed right now is for our political leadership and politicians to find the way to good governance, when the process of electoral integrity is completed. They need to discuss and decide upon a more excellent way to govern Guyana. As religious leaders our basic duties to government are to pay taxes, obey the law, pray for those holding public offices and support good government.

The Bible says: ”I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;”1 Timothy 2:1-3(KJV). Religious leaders must pray and intercede for our honourable men and women in political positions enabling them to achieve a common goal, that of good governance. In that way we might be able to provide that distinguishing presence needed right now.

After all, as excellently expressed by Dalai Lama “If you can, help others; if you can’t do that, at least don’t harm them.”

Pastor Richard Avert James

distance education programme for teachers, a standardized curriculum on domestic violence would be introduced, so that trainees would be trained and equipped to teach the prevention of domestic violence, recognizing signs of abuse in children/students, and referring such cases appropriately. There would also be the preparation of a database on domestic violence incidents, and reports with the source data coming from the hospitals and health facilities, the Guyana Police Force, the courts and the Ministry of Legal Affairs, among other bodies. In an attempt to ensure the success of the National Policy, it was learnt that there is expected to be a decentralization of responsibilities for the relevant Act. The policy would see “each of the 10 administrative regions setting up, within the regional and local government system, domestic violence committees that will be tasked with the responsibility of initiating and monitoring strategies, activities and support services. On the surface while measures such as these do some good, yet they have openly failed to stem the tide of domestic violence.

Women are being killed daily almost as if the very act in itself is a rite of passage.

Now there is a call to merely find out, ‘Who dropped the ball and allowed these men to have a free for all?’

Recently 21-year-old Vanessa Benjamin, a resident of Ithaca and mother of two, was brutally stabbed by her husband, who also attacked her mother as she came to her daughter’s rescue. The suspect then unsuccessfully attempted suicide. On April 11, the battered body of 23year-old Deveika Narinedatt, also called Vanessa was discovered in a blue plastic barrel that was submerged in a trench. She had been killed by her reputed husband, Suraj Veersammy, a 30 year old labourer. It is blatantly evident that in the face of the plethora of measures put in

place over 24 years ago, the incidence of domestic violence has escalated, almost to the point of it being declared a national problem.

There is a lot wrong.

A similar sentiment was articulated in the Alliance For Change (AFC) August 2006 manifesto, “one of our goals is to restore national pride and dignity to the people of Guyana”. In pursuit of this goal we call on the government and civil society to team with us as we recognize that domestic violence has grown to be a national problem arising out of complex causes. Whilst we should implement appropriate legislation and punish offenders guilty of this crime we need to look at its causes and work in collaboration to root out these causes. As all can see we are in the 21st century, listening to the same song, still wondering what went wrong.

Domestic contentions remain a noxious problem, and the manner in which they are managed will determine its containment or future intensification as the world around us changes. There abound several factors that contribute to these upheavals than are usually mentioned, and regrettably are not usually considered in the reference pool in respect to this national problem.

The prevalence or ubiquity of domestic violence suggests that it is neither random nor isolated, nor can it be explained by abnormal characteristics of the abuser or the victim.

All out efforts have been made at governmental levels re laws, policies and facilities to counter domestic violence with some degree of satisfaction, but wherein lies the problem? Is the answer embedded in the failure of those responsible for implementation? Where can we trace the database? Have the hospitals and health facilities information shared, regarding abuse victims for whom they may have cared?

(Continued on page 6)

Kudos and hats off to all the authors DEAR EDITOR, Kudos and hats off to all the authors, who have diligently registered their protests to the electoral fiasco in our dear land of Guyana by way of written submissions to the various newspapers, over the past antagonizing weeks, made possible by the coalition of anarchists whose intention is to destabilize the

legal swearing in of the rightful party to govern once again. I join in adding my penmanship also.

Please make possible to the Guyanese readership.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Regards for a safe and healthy Guyana.

Jai Lall NY

PAGE 6

Tuesday April 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

GECOM’S role in declaring the winner should be a mere formality DEAR EDITOR, The way the law has been setup since 1992 (with the counting of ballots at place of poll) has made the role of GECOM in the declaration of the winner a mere formality.

Consider these steps: (1) At close of polling, ballots are counted at the polling station, supervised by Presiding Officer, assisted by counting agents, and witnessed by party agents.

The votes earned by parties are recorded on Statements of Poll (SOPs).

SOPs are officially stamped, signed by several officials and copies are given to party agents.

Copies are forwarded to Returning Officers of each district. One copy is posted outside every polling station.

(2) Returning Officers’ job (one for each of 10-

districts) is to tabulate the numbers in columns for all the SOPs in his district – and then forward those numbers to Election HQs. (3) Elections HQs receive the numbers from each of 10-districts, tabulate them in columns (one column for each party) – and then announce the winners.

It is a very simple process.

No oversimplification is intended here. Counting, recording on SOPs and transmission of the numbers to ROs, and from ROs to HQs - all of these processes cannot take more than 3-4 hours.

And, therefore the law should require that the winner must be declared by midnight on the day of the elections.

There is no room for breakdowns.

Modern technology – computers, I-phones, regular

telephones – can guarantee the transmission of numbers of votes won by each party before midnight on polling day.

Most important of all. By midnight on the day of polling, the parties’ HQs already know the votes won by all parties – they had collected copies of SOPs from their agents and did their own tabulations. And, they sit and wait for the official declaration from GECOM. Gecom’s declaration is a mere a formality.

So, what has broken down to cause Guyana not to know the results of the election, now 7-weeks after the election? GECOM is the problem. It is not a bona fide Electoral Commission. All Guyanese can identify the one specific area where the system broke down. RO

Clarimont Mingo refused to tabulate the SOPs. He was determined to sabotage the tabulation process.

Mingo’s malfeasance in itself, though a felony fraud, is in itself not so bad as GECOM’s refusal to replace him with another officer who would have completed the tabulation of SOPs and declare the R4 results within a reasonable time slot.

What is also awful is that the ruling party the PNC (or APNU) has refused to be truthful about what the SOPs in their possession say.

PNC is complicit in the electoral fraud. And, it is clear to all Guyanese – and indeed to the 5-teams of International Observers that GECOM is itself a criminal agency of the State.

Mike Persaud

Making the most of the current situation DEAR EDITOR, Sugar prices are reaching a three- year high due to the output shortage in top sugar producing countries of Thailand, India and Brazil caused by drought. This is great news for GuySuco as it comes at a time when there is also a deficit in sugar beet output in the USA. At the time of rebound from the Coronavirus Guyana will have an opportunity to accelerate the recovery of the

sugar belt, recreating jobs and reopening estates. It’s also an opportunity to secure long term overseas supply contracts with the necessary price protections in place while astutely carving out a strong position at the high end of the market where a premium is paid for Demerara Brown Sugar.

Most local Guyanese would agree that the Enmore Crystal is the best our industry has to offer. Thus

supporting the call for the Enmore Estate reopening.

The current oil price pressure should also be providing the lessons to be learned for improved financial security across our multiple commodity markets via price hedging and use of other sound financial instruments.

It is unfortunate that the current administration did not hedge the oil prices for the year, which have now hit a 45 year low. Luckily gold is on

the upsurge.

Hopefully the opportunity will be taken to leverage the current market dynamics to our favour by using the appropriate financial instruments to reduce the nation’s financial risk exposure while securing top dollar for our products.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

UXORICIDE – A National tragedy in...

From page 5 Let it not be forgotten that domestic violence is also inflicted upon children, whether they are witnesses to the abusive behaviour or themselves victims of it.

So to the teachers were you also reachers? Did you know each student well, and if his/her life after school was sheer hell? Or did you wait until the parent had died to realize that you could have tried? Shame on those who saw that the male was criminal bent, and preferred instead to remain silent.

Prison sentences for wife killers should be the harshest yet so that instead of prison the abuser would prefer death.

We are still left with the unanswered question, why with all the measures in place, we are not stemming the tide of domestic violence? The

answer lies in the fact that the laws are punitive, not preemptive. Plainly put the law can only punish a domestic abuser after the fact; it cannot prevent the act from happening. Conclusively we must now think about how to effect the kind of societal change needed to eliminate domestic violence.

This kind of change can only take place through renewed collaboration across sectors, government, legal, judicial, police, social, education, judicial, medical and with the sustained political will necessary to implement a long – term and coherent plan of action. If we fail to act in a corrective manner now we may be seeing more of this type of human devastation in our already frangible society.

Yvonne Sam

We want peace not conflict

DEAR EDITOR, It never stops with the PPP until they get their o w n w a y. T h a n k f u l l y, someone succeeded in getting GECOM to recognise that with the coronavirus social distancing is critical to prevent catching the virus and spreading it.

T h e Wo r l d H e a l t h Organisation, the Government of Guyana, you name it, have all been pointing to this important guideline and calling for strict obedience. This opportunity is taken to thank CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque or getting GECOM to accept this dose of truth.

20 workstations are the ideal environment to risk contracting and spreading the virus because this would mean hundreds will be in the same space at the same time. This is suicidal.

The Government has said no more than 50 persons should be gathered at one place.

O p p o s i t i o n Commissioners Robeson Benn, Bibi Shadick and Sase Gunraj know this but still proposed 20 work stations. They are even upset GECOM did not accept the 20. They sound as though they do not care how many people and their families lives they are putting at risk just to get what they want. It is heartless and unconscionable.

Another concern is the safety of the containers, ballot boxes and the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

We c a n n o t h a v e b a l l o t boxes in the yard being opened and the votes counted.

We c a n n o t h a v e t o o many persons in the compound and building at the same time. We cannot have the Centre swarmed.

We cannot have a repeat of the hooliganism that happened when the counting was operating out of Ashmin building. This is a security risk and recipe for disaster.

How can we forget what Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo; prime ministerial candidate, Mark Phillips; presidential candidate, Dr. Irfaan Ali and other members of the PPP leadership did? How can we forget the bullyism and the vile threats to GECOM staff? How we can forget the fear Chairwoman Justice Claudette Singh may have felt when she heard or saw the video of

these persons storming the building and trying to breakdown her office door on some nancy story about having an interest in her safety? GECOM must not allow for a repeat. GECOM must obey COVID guidelines and ensure the safety of those assisting with the recounting of votes cast in Region One to Region 10.

How can we forget young unarmed policemen and women looking fearful for their lives in the presence of opposition bullyism, threats and insults? I don’t think these officers can forget local observer and attorney-atlaw Glen Hanoman trying to force his way pass security to gain entry to the upper floor. How can we erase from our memory him turning to the PPP presidential candidate and saying “Dr. Ali, you must mark these police faces when the government change, they must know their jobs in jeopardy?” He was threatening those policewomen’s jobs.

How can we forget it was the bad behaviour of the PPP leaders in the Ashmin’s building which made their supporters feel they can attack police officers in the streets? How can we forget what happened in Bush Lot on the West Coast Berbice when protesters pelted the police with bottles and bricks?

How can we forget when police had to run away to save their lives?

How can we forget the protestors chopping the police and police in defence shooting one of them? How can we forget the school buses in West Coast Berbice that were stoned by protesters, injuring innocent children going home from school?

These images haunt.

We w a n t p e a c e n o t c o n f l i c t . We w a n t t o maintain the security of the boxes and count all votes.

We want GECOM staff to be safe, to work in an environment where they don’t have to worry about obeying physical distancing.

We want these agents and CARICOM team to do their work free from the fear of opposition bullyism and threats to their lives and s a f e t y. We w a n t t h e observers to respect their fellowman and obey the laws.

Yours Sincerely, B. Beniprashad Rayman

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 21, 2020

PAGE 07

Using Exxon's affiliates to draft Guyana's laws, policies will have significant consequences - German NGO calls for urgent intervention

B

y giving its approval for ExxonMobil affiliates to draft Guyana's laws and policies that will be used to regulate ExxonMobil's behaviour and that of other oil companies, the World Bank is clearly not improving governance in that country, says German Human Rights Organization, Urgewald.

The Non-Governmental Organization made this known in its letter of appeal that was recently sent to the Directors of the World Bank Group.

In the letter seen by this newspaper, Urgewald said that the bank, through its US$20M Guyana Petroleum Resource Governance and Management Project, funded two ExxonMobil affiliates to write Guyana's Local Content Policy and revise its oil laws.

By giving its blessings in those instances, Urgewald said the Bank is not only

violating its rules on conflict of interest and procurement but also undermining governance in the country.

Urgewald said, “Guyana is currently in a fragile position. There is much strain and dispute surrounding the unresolved results of the March 2 election.

Exacerbating this fragile situation, the New York Times reports 'Opposition party suspicions have added to a growing number of voices within Guyana and abroad who worry that Exxon's corporate muscle is overwhelming the country's small and inexperienced government.”

Urgewald said that the World Bank-funded, Exxonlinked contractors are only adding to this strain.

Unless there is urgent intervention, the NGO said that the Exxon-linked contractors will continue to draft new petroleum legislation and continue

advising on new oil permits and contracts that will have significant consequences for the people of Guyana and the global Paris Climate Agreement goals.

Urgewald is therefore of the firm view that all funding via this project must be halted until a thorough investigation is completed.

EXXON-LINKED CONTRACTORS Part of the Bank's financial assistance targeted the drafting of new policies and laws, including the Local Content Policy and Petroleum Taxation and Fiscal Regulations.

In 2019, the coalition administration had announced that an oil consultant, Mr. Michael Warner, was hired to finish the drafting of the new Local Content Policy which would apply to new oil projects' requirements surrounding the participation of Guyanese labour, services,

a n d g o o d s . U rg e w a l d brought this to the attention of the World Bank Directors while noting that there was public criticism of the hiring of Mr. Warner, as he is the same contractor who was hired and paid by ExxonMobil to run the oil giant's Local Content Centre for Development on South Road, Georgetown.

Urgewald also highlighted that the law firm Hunton Andrews Kurth that was hired for US$1.2 million to draft new petroleum laws for Guyana, is the very law firm which has been representing ExxonMobil for some 40 years.

Urgewald is a non-profit environmental and human rights organization that is

based in Sassenberg, a small town in western Germany. It also runs an office in Berlin.

For 25 years, Urgewald has been fighting against environmental destruction and for the rights of people harmed by corporate profit interests. During these 25 years, Urgewald has evolved from a small group of people to a powerful organization.

Health Ministry encourages public to use more home-made masks

W

h i l e encouraging the use of masks as a form of protection against the spread of the highly infectious COVID-19 disease, the Health Ministry says that home-made masks should be the preferred option of the general public.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) Dr Karen Boyle explained that the use of the surgical masks and N95s by the public only depletes the already limited supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) available for frontline health workers.

Boyle noted that the issue of limited supplies is a universal one—it is happening all over the world.

“So, we are encouraging the use of face masks by the public, but we want people to use the home-made cloth masks as a preferred option to the surgical and N95s which is much needed by frontline medical professionals at this time.”

Further, Dr Boyle said that the Health Ministry is encouraging the public to use the prescribed forms of

DCMO Dr Karen Boyle protection in addition to practicing social distancing which will help the country flatten the curve of COVID19.

“The cloth masks do not offer 100% protection it's not foolproof, but what is does is help to stop the spread of droplets from someone already infected with the disease preventing it from spreading to another person,” added Dr Boyle.

The DCMO said that the Health Ministry is nonetheless heartened that Guyanese have taken the initiative to practice methods

which will safeguard them against the infectious disease.

“It 's encouraging to see more people wearing masks and practicing good personal hygiene (hand washing and social distancing) since it will go a long way in helping Guyana in its fight against COVID-19.”

The DCMO's statement comes weeks after, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Dr Zulfikar Bux initiated the 'everyone wear a mask' campaign in Guyana.

Dr. Bux in a newspaper column noted that wearing a face mask when you go out can help to protect others and it will come back to protect you and your loved ones.

“It is very evident that if everyone wears a mask, we will be able to drastically slow this infection and prevent many complications and deaths. We have all seen what the COVID-19 (coronavirus) infection is doing worldwide. Guyana and Guyanese are not immune to this infection.

Let's be responsible and fight this together before it's too late and we are all

overwhelmed and affected,” Dr Bux had said in his appeal to the public.

He also noted that we need to prevent shortages of masks as the healthcare providers need them daily, especially the N95 masks.

“We should let our healthcare providers use

those, and use the regular masks when we are in the public. The people of the Czech Republic came together and started making their own masks and sharing with those who didn't have.

Face masks that prevent the virus spread are easy to make.” “You can use cloth

made of cotton and sew two layers together, attach a hairpin to adjust it to fit your nose, and attach two elastic hair ties to fit on your ears.

There are numerous videos on YouTube that show how to make a facemask even with coffee filters,” the doctor added.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Tuesday April 21, 2020

Elections 2020 - Day 49...

CARICOM high level team - Pres. will not be quarantined Granger

By Kemol King

T

he CARICOM high level team will not be quarantined when they arrive in Guyana. They will be tested in the countries they are coming from, and be allowed entry to Guyana, once found negative. This decision was made after President David Granger responded to a public outcry, and decided to overturn the decision of the Chairman of the National COVID-19 Ta s k F o r c e , M o s e s Nagamootoo.

The Chair of Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), (ret'd) Justice Claudette Singh SC confirmed yesterday that the high level team will be physically present in Guyana to witness the recount. She was, at the time, leaving a field visit at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre with the technical experts from the National COVID19 Task Force who examined the property.

The Chair explained that the experts were there to ensure the safety of the persons who will be present at the venue for the recount, by informing GECOM of safe social distancing requirements. The officials are expected to provide GECOM with a written report.

Commissioner Sase Gunraj said that the technical experts approved 10 workstations for the recount and that GECOM will work with 10. Singh said that she had said 'no more than 10' because she had to take the safety of the CARICOM team into consideration, and that she could not guarantee their safety in 20 workstations.

The CARICOM High Level Team

“We need to ensure and guarantee the safety of the CARICOM team. As soon as that is finished, we have to communicate what we have done to ensure the safety to the Secretary-General. The people are virtually afraid of contracting the virus. So that is why we are leaving no stones unturned to ensure their safety.”

But Gunraj does not believe that GECOM should have had to depend on the Government for approval of the recount procedures, as it is an independent Commission. He said that, like the Supreme Court, it has to power to craft and direct its own procures, even with regard to the COVID19 pandemic.

“So we had no duty or obligation to seek guidance or clarity or permission from the COVID-19 task force,” Gunraj said. It has always been his position that GECOM need only inform the Task Force of its decisions.

He said that the involvement of the Task Force is a “naked attempt at political interference [where] the very persons who seem disinclined to having this [recount] proceed, are the very persons who are tasked with the responsibility of crafting policy under which this process must go on.”

He believes that while the COVID-19 pandemic is a serious issue, it is being overutilised to fetter the recount process.

“It was seven weeks since we voted, and we are unable or perhaps unwilling to deliver credible results to the people of this nation, and that is unacceptable,” he said.

Singh told reporters yesterday said that she cannot yet come up with a start date, because that depends on whenever the CARICOM team arrives.

Commissioner Vincent Alexander said that an order should be drafted overnight,

Prime Minister and Chair of National COVID-19 Task Force, Moses Nagamootoo for the commentary of the Commissioners, which will have an indication that it will start when the CARICOM team arrives.

On the working hours, Alexander said he was informed by Singh that through further interaction with the COVID-19 task force, GECOM was able to secure permission to have the recount be conducted from 8am to 6pm.

Singh said she could not have decided on the working hours before, because she had to consult with the task force with the idea of working beyond curfew. She also said that she would not be able to inform the public of a timeline for the recount at this time, but said that it could start in a matter of days.

Speaking to criticisms of her, Singh said that she is doing everything possible – “I am the person who spoke

GECOM Chair, (ret'd) Justice Claudette Singh SC about the recount. I made that commitment and I'm going to see it through, and shortly too. I'm like them. I want to see it over.”

Commissioners were asked about the time taken to examine one ballot box, and Alexander said that a suggestion was for the first day to be utilised as a trial run, to have a more accurate idea of how long it will take.

Asked about the presence of the returning officers for the count, Alexander said that there is no designation called the returning officer that will be used in the recount exercise, but that persons who served as returning officers may be activated to work in the recount. He would not say whether the controversial district four returning officer, Clairmont Mingo, would be utilised.

A matter still on the tale for the decision of the

President David Granger Chairman is the live streaming of the recount to the public. Gunraj said that that proposal predated the proposal to stream the recount for the CARICOM team. In advocacy for that, Gunraj said that the electoral process does not belong to GECOM or any small number of persons alone.

“It is not dogs and cats who are voting in these elections. They are people like you and I,” Gunraj said.

“As a consequence, the people, the electorate own this process.”

He said that maximum transparency would only redound to the benefit of the credibility of the process, as that credibility is currently in the doldrums.

“It's important to ensure people see what is happening, so that the suspicion and distrust that pervades the system can be minimized.”

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 21, 2020

PAGE 09

Key institutions have been corrupted

T

he presence of international observers for the recount of the ballots cast during the 2020 general and regional elections is crucial to the transparency of the process and for wider public acceptance of the results.

The Guyana Elections Commission cannot be trusted to undertake a transparent process unless there are independent eyes watching its every move. It does not matter if it takes a week to get all the observers here.

Their presence must be insisted upon, because without them there are likely to be attempts at corrupting the process.

The senior officers of GECOM must voluntarily withdraw from the process so as to support greater public confidence in the recount. The absence of t h e s e o ff i c e r s , notwithstanding their positions within GECOM, will enhance create greater comfort and reduce the possibility of complaints in the process.

It may be asking the impossible, but the rabble rousers and mischief-makers from the political parties should be asked to selfisolate during the recount.

This will ensure an orderly recount The Chairperson of GECOM Justice Claudette Singh has made a simple task more complex by her illadvised decision to approach the Prime Minister in relation to the recount. She is a legal mind, and ought to know that the Prime Minister has no locus standi when it comes to providing derogation from the COVID-19 social restrictions.

The Prime Minister is only the Head of the COVID 19 Task Force. He does not have the authority to designate the recount as an essential service. It is outside of his remit. The restrictions were made under the Public Health Ordinance, and were done under the hand of the de facto Minister of Public Health. It is she who ought to have been approached to designate the recount as an

essential service.

Fortunately, the President intervened and provided the necessary assurance concerning the hours of operation and the testing of those who will be arriving to observe the recount.

There are still to be many twists in the drama. No one is yet convinced that further attempts will not be made to rig the recount.

The international community has a fair idea of who won the elections. They have asked for a transparent and credible count of the votes.

A total recount has been agreed to, even though this is unnecessary - since it is only District 4 results which were contentious. But in the interest of satisfying everyone, a full recount it shall be.

Guyana has to move forward after this recount. It will not move forward if there is further jiggerypokery during the recount.

The international community will not stand idly by and allow for a President to be sworn in

Dem boys seh...

The Iron Lady getting rusty

D

em Boys lose f a i t h i n Fraudette. She tell dem boys how all the oil in Guyana can't buy she hintlegrity.

Dem boys notice how coconut oil now worth more than crude.

Dem boys seh if the future of Guyana is in she hands, den we future looking mo bleak than de price of oil.

Dem boys seh she slip been showing from day one.

When she shuda have been downstairs, she been upstairs. Dem boys now know why.

When she shuda stop Mingo, she play blind and deaf. Dem boys now know why.

When she shuda have been awake, dem boys find she sprawl off pun the floor in she office. Dem boys now know why.

Dem boys seh rememba that she pull back de affidavit. Dem boys now

know why.

Dem boys recall that the Court of Appeal cleared the way for recount since April 6th. Two weeks pass and deh count nah start yet. Dem boys now know why.

She been seh how dem boys used to call she the Iron Lady. Well like the Iron get rusty.

Dem boys see through she tho'. Dem can't b fool so many times.

Talk half and leh we watch she next move.

based on results which lack credibility.

President Granger and Irfaan Ali are mature enough individuals to know the implications of an illegitimate regime. Guyana will be unable to avoid serious international sanctions, unless there is a clean and transparent recount process.

The past 46 days have revealed the extent of the damage which was done to key institutions. GECOM's credibility has taken a hit this institution, into which billions of dollars was pumped, has been perverted and corrupted by dishonest and corrupt persons within its Secretariat.

The entire GECOM has to be rebuilt if electoral democracy is to survive. It is doubtful whether this can happen with new leadership on the Commission itself.

During the electoral impasse, the conduct of the Guyana Police Force left much to be desired. It failed

t o d e m o n s t r a t e independence. But then it has never done so. The Guyana Police Force will have to be reformed if democracy is to survive.

The least said about the justice system at this stage is best.

Coalition politics has taken a serious blow. The losers of the elections lost because of a fallout in public confidence in coalition politics. The small parties, underprepared and underfinanced, performed extremely credibly in District 4. This augurs well for them. Political parties as

institutions have some reflecting to do.

While they are doing that, they should give Guyana a chance to live. The coronavirus is already doing untold damage to the economy, and it will be like adding injury to injury if there is an attempt to steal the elections during the recount, as so many expect.

(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

Tuesday April 21, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Nagamootoo's nagana and Granger's grandevity

T

here is a serious virus named nagana, whose rampage resembles that of COVID-19. It is transmitted, like the coronavirus from animals. Nagana produces

the same symptoms as COVID-19.

Caretaker or former prime minister or de facto prime minister, Nagamootoo was probably thinking of the disease that closely

resembles his name when he made three preposterous edicts about the foreign observers and the Caricom team coming for the ballot recount.

First, he wants them to be

quarantined for 14 days.

Then he wants a medical team to survey them to ascertain if they are observing the required social distance guidelines. Thirdly, he doesn't want them at the counting place after six because of the COVID-19 curfew.

This is the second manifestation of gross ignorance that has overtaken the minds, literally, of the election conspirators. I honestly believe that when this crisis is over, there is going to be serious mental disequilibrium in many of these conspirators.

Look hard at the politics of any politician since World War 2 in any part of the world, and you will not find a parallel with David Granger.

The closest power-wielder in the Cabinet to Mr. Granger is his Director-General, Joe Harmon. Even though he hasn't got the official title of minister - since he had to resign because of his American citizenship Harmon runs the Ministry of the Presidency.

With that kind of state authority, he signed a contract with an American public relations firm. He defended the contract to reporters while attending an event at the Civil Defence Commission. President Granger knows what agreement Harmon entered into. The document is in wide circulation.

With amazing ineptitude, Granger has denied the existence of Harmon's legal

rendezvous with an American firm on behalf of the Granger Government.

This is pitiful stuff that has no parallel in modern politics.

Granger's grandevity (he's in his mid-seventies) had to instruct him that denial was not an option.

Denial was only possible if he had accused Harmon of pursuing a direction for which he was not consulted, thus Harmon had to resign.

So if Granger did not know and he hasn't fired Harmon, then to use Maurice Bishop's yard fowl accusation against Tom Adams, this is a yard fowl government in Guyana.

Is Granger losing it? A dossier is submitted to the PR firm on behalf of his government, and it describes Granger an American citizen. In the same press statement denying that his government entered into a PR covenant with an American government, G ranger chas tis es the Guyanese people for not checking their facts when they refer to him being a US citizen.

How can any president be so barefacedly inept? The dossier was prepared by people approved by his government. Harmon paid for the project. The project lists Granger as an American citizen. How in quoting from the Harmon-approved dossier, Guyanese are not checking their facts? This is not only barefacedness, but arrogance and contempt.

You are described as an

Frederick Kissoon American citizen and when people quote from your document, you castigate them for peddling misleading statements. Has David Granger exhausted his usefulness to Guyanese politics?

T h e s e c o n d manifestation is Nagamootoo's nagana.

Guyanese must be disturbed at the insanities cascading down from the corridors of power. After Granger's gargantuan banality, just three days after comes Nagamootoo's idiocy. Why would you want to have a technical team monitoring the CARICOM mission and the foreign observers to see if they are maintaining social distance requirements?

Nagamootoo's pomposity is imbecilic. If he Nagamootoo hasn't picked up the virus and is alive and well to perambulate Guyana talking nonsense, why does he think the CARICOM team and foreign observers are suicidal that they would come to Guyana and behave irresponsibly thus endangering their lives?

This same person wants the recounting hours to stop at curfew time. But any schoolboy can tell Nagamootoo that there are sections of Guyana that are allowed to work after six.

The same Nagamootoo as head of the COVID-19 task force (Why did they not put a medical doctor or trained health specialist instead of a mediocre politician to head the force?) has exempted lawyers from the curfew.

So if lawyers can be out after six; if police and soldiers can be out after six; if journalists can go to work after six; if pharmacies are allowed to open after six; why can't people be in the Convention Centre counting ballots after 6?

Within four days, we h a v e t w o m o r e manifestations of gross stupidities from the corridors of power. As night follows day, Guyana will wake up tomorrow to see another one.

It is a daily occurrence.

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

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 21, 2020

PAGE 11

CJIA doing internal work during downtime

T

he Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) is using the current downtime to attend to internal work as lockdown measures remain in place at the country's two international airports.

Both the CJIA and E u g e n e F. C o r r e i a International Airports were closed to international flights at midnight on March 18 to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Guyana. Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson was present on Saturday for the departure of 150 Canadian citizens as part of COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts.

“We are taking this opportunity to do as much work internally that we can,” he stated. “The airport is a 24-hour operation, and it is quite difficult to get to certain places, so we are taking the opportunity.”

He added that once the restrictions were lifted, it would be back to regular operation at the country's main port of entry.

“When the Ministry of Health [and] the National COVID-19 Task Force assesses the whole country, we will decide whether to reopen the airport or not. Right

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee

The CJIA is using the opportunity of the mandatory closures for COVID-19 to carry out much-needed repairs. (Mike Charles photo)

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson now, it is closed until May 3.”

Initially, the airports were to be closed for 14

days; however, the Ministry of Public Health and the COVID-19 Ministerial Taskforce subsequently extended that period.

Saturday's humanitarian flight by airline, WestJet, was the first time the airline had ever made a direct trip to Guyana. Another flight is scheduled for Monday when more Canadian nationals

No sanctions yet on Guyana: EU ambassador

T

he European Union has not s t a r t e d considering sanctions for Guyana as yet, as there are still hopes that the ongoing political situation can be resolved democratically.

This was stressed yesterday by Ambassador of the European Union to Guyana, Fernando PonzCantó.

The official was a guest o n t h e p o p u l a r Elections/COVID-19 Watch on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5fm yesterday being hosted by Senior Journalist Leonard Gildarie and Dr. Yog Mahadeo.

Asked pointedly whether the EU is considering sanctions on Guyana, after the tabulation process for general elections held on March 2nd ran into hurdles when the Opposition claimed that the process was fraudulent, the Ambassador said it is too early.

There have been several court matters, and a recount process is scheduled to commence as early as this week. At the moment, it has

EU Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz-Cantó been eight Mondays since the elections, with no recognized declarations that will pave the way for a president to be sworn in.

There have, however, been two controversial declarations of Region Four which have both been challenged successfully in court by the Opposition.

Ponz Cantó explained that the relation between the EU and Guyana is based on what is called the Cotonou Agreement, which is also the

framework between the EU and 79 countries from the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

It was pointed out that the agreement is based on fundamental principles.

The agreement allows for suspension provisions to be invoked if the principles are not fulfilled.

According to the Ambassador, who was speaking via Zoom, one such principle is democracy.

One sanction could be a suspension of cooperation with Guyana.

Ambassador Ponz Cantó said that the EU has slapped sanctions on a number of countries in Africa, with himself involved directly in a number of cases.

The EU also slapped sanctions on Haiti, a Caribbean territory.

“If there is a breach of democracy, we will have to do it, because we are bound by those provisions.”

He stressed that cooperation is one area that can be affected.

The EU has been funding (continued on page 15)

will be departing.

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Lilian Chatterjee said 600 Canadians stranded here had indicated their wish to return to Canada.

The Ambassador said her embassy will review the

number of Canadians left and will work with the National COVID-19 taskforce to get approval for those who wish to return to Canada.

She thanked the government for helping and “understanding the need and

being very accommodating with us.”

The High Commission of Canada to Guyana is reminding that Canadians in Guyana can still contact its offices at telephone numbers 660-8712 or 608-7012 for assistance.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Tuesday April 21, 2020

Best friends perish in Bagotstown accident - Driver critical

Best friends Courtney Marcus (left) and Ronaldo Simmons died in the accident

The mangled car after the accident (Fizal Razack photo)

T

wo young men tragically lost their lives after the car in which they were travelling, crashed into a

median, a concrete fence and a utility pole on the Bagotstown Public Road, East Bank Demerara.

Recognised by villagers

as two best friends, the victims were identified as 19-year-old Courtney Marcus and 20-year-old Ronaldo Simmons, both of

Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara.

The accident occurred around 21:15 hrs on Sunday.

At the time of the

accident the car was being driven by 29-year-old Steven Roberts.

According to police reports, the car bearing registration number PVV 7570 was proceeding south along the eastern drive lane of the Bagotstown Public Road at a fast rate when the right side front of the vehicle collided with the concrete median on the road.

As a result of the impact, Roberts lost control and careened into a concrete fence on the eastern side of the road and then slammed into a utility pole.

The fence that the men slammed into has seen its fair share of collisions, with this being the eighth time it was struck by a speeding vehicle.

Owner of the home, Fizal Razack, is at his wits' end, as to why this has been the case.

He called on drivers to take heed when traversing the roadways.

Razack told Kaieteur News that he was not sleeping when the accident occurred. He said that he was up watching television when he heard a loud impact. Upon checking, he saw his fence damaged once again and carnage beside it.

According to Razack, every time his fence is badly damaged or destroyed, he attempts to reinforce it,

hoping that it would withstand impact, but this has been to no avail.

A worrying factor, he noted, is that the family is always “hyper aware” of when vehicles pass, due to previous accidents.

He said that they would “hear the speed the vehicles come with and brace for impact”.

Kaieteur News understands that after the accident all three men were picked up by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where Marcus and Simmons were pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver of the car, due to the severity of his injuries, was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he is being treated for a punctured right lung, broken ribs and head injuries. His condition is listed as critical.

When contacted, relatives of Ronaldo Simmons were in an emotional state and were unable to give any information pertaining to the accident.

H o w e v e r, a f a m i l y member of Courtney Marcus stated that "they are best of friends; they left to go out when the accident happened.

It really hurts to see them like that".

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 21, 2020

Region 10 authorities probe alleged hoarding of COVID-19 medical supplies

Some of the boxes of face masks that were recovered. Nurses said they were limited and even were forced to work without.

R

e g i o n 1 0 authorities and the Ministry of Public Health are now pondering whether to call in the police after finding a large quantity of medical supplies and other critical items stashed in a Wismar hospital backroom.

The discovery was made over the weekend after a high-level team journeyed to the Region 10 to make spot checks on the preparations for COVID-19. While this newspaper was unable to make contact with Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, multiple officials from her ministry and the Region 10 administration expressed anger over the situation which had pitted nurses and frontline health workers against government.

Yesterday, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Collette Adams, would only confirm that a probe has been launched after complaints were filed about the shortage of supplies in Region 10.

She insisted that the ministry was mystified at the claims of shortages, as it had sent truckloads of supplies to the region. She said that more details will be forthcoming.

However, Region 10 officials yesterday afternoon said that the situation was an embarrassing one, with serious implications for the lives of frontline workers.

It was disclosed that Minister Lawrence, the Permanent Secretary and other health ministry staffers went to the Wismar Hospital on Saturday. It was supposed to be a one-day visit but ended up an overnight stay for the minister and her team.

The team was told that nurses and other workers at the hospital were not given protective clothing, and even cleaning liquids and sanitisers were short.

Nurses of the hospital had even gone on Facebook earlier this year to complain of shortages, forcing the government to deny.

On Saturday, somehow the team and other staffers managed to gain access to a backroom that was controlled by a senior official of the institution.

“It was a sight they could not believe. They found a large quantity of bleach and protective clothing, paper towels and toilet papers, and masks,” a regional official disclosed. In fact, nurses and others were complaining of being limited to sanitisers.

“We found a large quantity of hand sanitisers and other items also.”

“What we do know is that supplies were sent weeks now as part of the COVID-19 fight and it never ended up in the hands of the frontline health workers of Region 10 as it should.”

A portion of the supplies that authorities found stashed in a backroom at Wismar Hospital.

PAGE 13

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday April 21, 2020

Guyanese man, 21, killed in NY crash after friend speeds through stop sign Dead: Satesh Permaul

New York (New York Daily News) – A 21-year-old Queens man died in a horrific crash early Sunday after an unlicensed driver he knew from high school sped through a stop sign and slammed into his car, friends and authorities said.

Satesh Permaul was driving a 2003 Nissan Maxima east on 107th Ave. in South Ozone Park when a 2020 Nissan Altima flying south on 109th St. ploughed

through the stop sign and into his car just before 1:30 a.m., surveillance video shows.

Permaul, a hard-working mechanic who lived five blocks from the crash, was rushed to Jamaica Hospital but couldn't be saved.

"It's painful,” said the victim's devastated father, Arjunun Permaul, 49. “He was just 21 years old.”

“It's shocking,” he added. “They said he had a

Health Ministry refutes claims of not helping all regions in COVID-19 fight

M

inister of Public Health V o l d a Lawrence in a statement has refuted claims that were made by some health care workers, of not receiving help from the Government in the fight against the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“It is disheartening that there are some serving in administrative positions in the Health Sector, who would on numerous occasions publicly state that they received no support from the Government in the national fight against the spread of COVID-19. This is a blatant untruth,” the Health Minister said.

She added that “during this time the leadership of our country will be tested.

Despite one's personal views and postures the protection, advancement and development of the people should be our major concern”.

The Health Minister said that in keeping with its mandate, the Ministry will continue to effectively deliver quality health care

throughout the length and breadth of Guyana.

According to Minister Lawrence, the Health Ministry has provided medical supplies and equipment to every region to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The statement highlighted that Region 10 was not excluded from the assistance provided by the Government. On Sunday boxes of supplies were delivered to the Regional Health Administration in Region 10.

While reassuring the nation's citizens, Minister Lawrence said that the Ministry of Public Health will continue to support its Administrators and Health Care Workers in their critical efforts of protecting the Guyanese public against COVID-19.

Minister Lawrence also expressed her gratitude to the Health Care workers for their yeoman service.

The Ministry of Public Health also reminded the public to adhere to the safety protocols that they have been issuing since the beginning of the pandemic.

A cousin of the deceased, left, grieves at the scene Sunday morning. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) head trauma, serious head injury."

Cops arrested the driver who allegedly struck Permaul. Christopher Garcia, 20, who lives around the corner from the crash scene, was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, authorities said.

Garcia's girlfriend told The News that he and Permaul were friends from their days together at Robert H. Goddard High School — and that Garcia, who was awaiting arraignment in Queens Criminal Court Sunday night, has no idea yet who he killed.

“He doesn't even know

that because I can't even call him or anything,” said Garcia's girlfriend, Evelyn Perez, 20.

Garcia had texted Perez minutes before the wreck telling her he was looking for a parking spot outside their apartment. She pleaded that he just park the car in the yard, but said Garcia didn't want to disturb the neighbours.

“He was like, 'I'm just going to keep looking a little bit more'. And then I heard the crash." said Perez.

After he was taken into custody, he called her again.

“He told me he was so scared because he just found out that the guy died”, said

Perez. "He said, 'I'm really scared about what's going to happen.'”

Perez said that her boyfriend has been giving her driving lessons — and telling her how to handle stop signs.

“You have to wait three seconds to stop and then go a little bit forward and then look for cars, and then you can go," Perez said he had coached her.

“He told me that's exactly what he did,” she said of the crash.

The surveillance video shows Garcia's car speeding through the stop sign without stopping or even slowing down.

The victim's family tried to see his body after the wreck, but were turned away from Jamaica Hospital as the facility struggles to combat the outbreak of coronavirus.

They were told to wait for a call on Monday.

After Permaul emigrated from Guyana with his family a decade ago, he fully embraced the American dream, according to his family.

He graduated high school, learned a trade as a mechanic in New Jersey and quickly joined the workforce fixing school buses, which he was continuing to do, as an essential worker, during the coronavirus shutdown.

Driver, porter jailed 4 years, fined for trafficking narcotics

T

wenty-eight-year-old Lawrence Harper, a porter, of 592 Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, and Stanley Mann, 32, a driver, of 7 Industry, East Coast Demerara, were yesterday jailed and fined for the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Harper and Mann were jointly charged with two counts of the offence. They appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune in the Linden Magistrate's Court.

The unrepresented men pleaded guilty to both charges after they were read to them.

They were then sentenced to four years' imprisonment on each charge and fined $240,300. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Stanley Mann

Lawrence Harper

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 21, 2020

PAGE 15

Adherence to COVID-19 social distancing measures still not as expected

W

i t h t h e number of COVID-19 cases now at 66, and the death toll at 7, it is expected that Guyanese will take heed of the necessary precautions implemented to protect themselves and their families against the novel Coronavirus.

The Government, in order to strengthen containment measures issued an order closing public gathering at places of entertainment, including bars, clubs, gymnasiums, night clubs, restaurants and swimming pools, between the hours of 18:00 hours and 06:00 hours (6:00 pm and 6 am). This order also included strict social distancing measures, only allowing a limited amount of persons to be gathered in a public place.

Head of the COVID-19 Task Force, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had reported that the compliance level with the social distancing measures across

the ten administrative regions was commendable.

However, there are still a few Guyanese who are failing to adhere to measures set in place by the Task Force. Even more worrying is that fact that the simple social distancing measures are not being observed.

Some persons are still operating as if it is business as usual.

In addition to everyday steps to prevent COVID-19, keeping space between you and others is one of the best ways available to avoid being exposed to this virus and slowing the spread locally and across the country. But during an examination of the hotspots in the capital city, persons are still gathered in relatively large gatherings, somewhat oblivious to the potential danger.

A number of shoppers gathered at the Bourda Market, flocking the stalls to buy fruits and other necessities. And while the

No sanctions yet on Guyana: EU ambassador From page 11 a number of projects, including in the power sector, with the Guyana Power and Light Inc. “We have a huge amount of cooperation with Guyana.

I would hate it personally to see that interrupted.”

Asked if the EU has any submissions at all on sanctions, Ambassador Ponz-Cantó insisted that he comes with a message of hope.

“The story is not yet finished…it is not the time yet to put forward this proposal, because this situation can still be remedied democratically.”

He explained that if not resolved democratically, then the EU has always the

duty and determination to act according to principles that are “shared”.

In fact, he said that like the US, Britain and Canada, the EU has sanctions which include the freezing of assets and visa suspensions.

“Again, this is something that we don't like to use; that I don't like to use.”

Ponz Cantó was one of the ambassadors who walked out last month from the Ashmin's building where the tabulation process for Region Four was suspended after questions about the process.

(See the full interview o n : https://www.facebook.com/ kaieteur.radio/videos/29053 03309564542/)

Shoppers at Bourda Market yesterday

majority wore masks on their face, the masks were covering their chins rather than their noses and mouths.

Further, on the East Bank of Demerara, a popular bar was seen packed with patrons, with beers in their hands and without masks.

At Patentia on the West Bank of Demerara, a religious function was packed with over 100 persons, some wearing masks and others without.

Citizens are being repeatedly asked to adhere to the COVID-19 measures in

place, to ensure that the mortality rate stays low. One important factor in aiding this is wearing a mask when out in the public. Wearing a mask can reduce the likelihood of transmission from early asymptomatic cases or asymptomatic

cases.

Wearing a face mask stops people from becoming infected by blocking most airborne droplets filled with virus from being inhaled.

Protection only comes when the masks are used properly.

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 21, 2020

String of break-ins at Number 56 Village

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Three homes and a business place were the targets of thieves yesterday morning at Number 56 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

According to Gansham Totaram who operates his liquor shop at Lot 17 A Number 56 Village, he was alerted around 3:00 am yesterday by a relative who was passing with his bus on the Number 56 Public Road, after he noticed that the front entrance to the business place was open earlier than the usual.

Totaram told Kaieteur News that he lives opposite the business place and only operates his liquor shop on the premises that was broken into.

He said that after he was alerted, he ventured over and noticed that indeed the front entrance was open, but the grillwork remained in place, so he decided to check around the back.

Upon checking, he noticed the back door ajar, prompting him to make further checks inside. Totaram said when he entered the entire place was ransacked.

He immediately contacted the police. Checks revealed that the burglars stole a quantity of expensive liquor and beer.

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- alcohol, home appliances and cash stolen

Approximately US$$4000 that he had stashed in the shop was also taken and a total of $14,000 in local currency.

Meanwhile, this publication was also informed that the homes of three overseas-based Guyanese were broken into and items were stolen.

In one of those incidents, it was disclosed that household appliances inclusive of a microwave, flatscreen television, pressure washer, water pump, gas bottles, cooking pots and pans amounting to approximately $700,000 were stolen.

It is unclear how many items were stolen from the two other buildings, but police launched an investigation, and reportedly recovered some of the items in a house in the said village yesterday morning.

Three persons of interest are said to be in custody.

Gansham Totaram’s business place

One of the homes that was broken into

Tuesday April 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 21, 2020

Tuesday April 21, 2020

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

Olympics: Organisers must be flexible if coronavirus vaccine not ready in time, experts say TOKYO (Reuters) - The Tokyo Olympics next July will be a “uniquely risky” event, demanding flexibility from organisers amid the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly if a vaccine has not been rolled out by then, medical experts say.

Japan and the International Olympic Committee made the unprecedented decision last month to delay the Games for a year, as the world battles the virus that has infected 2.3 million people and killed more than 150,000 globally.

But questions persist whether the Games can go ahead 15 months from now,

as a vaccine could still be at least a year away, according to the most optimistic estimates.

“When we talk about bringing sports back with packed stadiums, I really think that is something we are going to have to wait for a vaccine to be able to do,” said Zach Binney, an epidemiologist at Emory University in the United States.

Tokyo 2020 is set to run from July 23 to Aug. 8 next year, but organisers expect few changes to the original plan, including attendance by enthusiastic supporters.

But that might be over optimistic, Binney, a specialist

in aspects of athlete health, told Reuters.

“Every person that you add to a gathering adds risk,” said Binney, who expects vaccine development would take 1-1/2 years from the start of the outbreak, or until late 2021, at the earliest.

“So once you get up to 50,000, 70,000, 100,000 (fans)... that is an enormous amount of risk to be taking on without a vaccine.”

The Olympics was “a uniquely risky event”, he added, because of the threats represented by visitors streaming in from areas with a lot of infections, and the reverse flow when they return afterwards, perhaps carrying

Tuesday April 21, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Have you been reading about how a positive mental outlook creates a healthy body and a happy life, Aries? If so, you might just find that this attitude brings results.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Research that you've been doing for a particular project may finally be completed, Taurus. Now you're ready to finish your work.

Your mind is especially sharp right now.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Dreams and visions about your family paint a rosy picture of your future, Gemini.

These dreams could well be prophetic, but don't jump to that conclusion without first analyzing the symbols.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) If you play your cards right, you just might be able to turn what you're picking up psychically into an exalted creative effort. The emotions and images flowing into your brain might be obscure.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Expect to exchange a lot of phone calls and emails with friends today, Scorpio.

Communication with others is your top priority. You have a lot of news to deliver and you'll receive a lot in return.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Financial good fortune continues, Sagittarius, although old habits are hard to break and you might have difficulty adjusting to it.

CANCER(June21–July22) Tonight you might decide to attend a social gathering held in your community that involves a lot of people who are into psychic or spiritual matters, Cancer.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Are you going on a trip or possibly moving? Is education involved in some way?

Whatever your reasons for going away, you're going to gain whatever you hope for - and more.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) If you've been uncertain about the possibility of a raise in your salary, Leo, today you could finally be told for certain that it's coming. This is definitely cause for celebration.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You tend to be intuitive by nature, Aquarius, but today you could receive psychic impressions by the dozen. You might even experience visions or hear voices.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Love and romance take top priority with you today, Virgo. You might be feeling a little insecure about the stability of your current relationship, but you're wasting your energy.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Communication with friends and partners should be clear, open, honest, and supportive today, Pisces. Camaraderie flows freely, and affection is shown without restraint or overkill.

The giant Olympic rings are seen in the dusk at the waterfront area at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo, Japan, March 22, 2020. (REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo) home infections.

Although more hopeful for a vaccine to be found within a year, Jason Kindrachuk, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Manitoba in Canada, flagged a risk of further delay to the Games, as vaccinating people would take time.

“It is going to push the limits right up to the border of when the Olympics should be starting,” said Kindrachuk, who has worked on outbreaks of Ebola and SARS. “You want to get people vaccinated not right at the point of the Olympics, but a little bit beforehand, so they build up that protective immunity.”

Dr Kentaro Iwata, who drew international attention for his criticism of the Japanese government after a visit in February to the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined with thousands of passengers, expressed pessimism over the new date.

“I don’t think the Olympics is likely to be held next year, if held at any time,” the virologist told the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan in a teleconference.

“Japan might be able to control this disease by next summer, and I wish we could, but I don’t think that would happen everywhere on earth,” the Kobe University professor added.

FOCUS ON DELIVERING In response, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee said it was focusing purely on delivering the Games next year.

“The mission is to prepare the stage for next summer; we do not feel it is appropriate to respond to speculative questions,” spokesman Masa Takaya said in an email to Reuters on Monday.

Even if a vaccine were not ready, the organisers might still be able to hold the Games, as long as they were flexible and well prepared, Kindrachuk added.

“It is going to take some creative thinking, and hopefully some willingness from the public, to at least still partake in watching... understanding that it is just simply not going to look like what we have seen before.”

Binney said the safest option would be for athletes

to arrive in Tokyo four to six weeks in advance and follow rigorous isolation measures for two weeks before moving into the Olympic village to train for the remaining period.

“My goal would be to have the Olympic Village as a virus-free quarantine zone,” he added.

PAGE 20

Tuesday April 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

Japan virus expert ‘pessimistic’ Olympics can be held in 2021

Summer Olympics. (AFP/Vincent Lefai) AFP - A Japanese expert who has criticised the country’s response to the coronavirus warned yesterday that he is “pessimistic” that the postponed Olympics can be held even in 2021.

“To be honest with you I don’t think the Olympics is likely to be held next year,” said Kentaro Iwata, a professor of infectious diseases at Kobe University.

Japan and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) agreed last month to delay the Tokyo 2020 Games until July 2021 after pressure from athletes and sports federations.

But in recent days, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread worldwide, there have been questions about whether even a year-long delay will be sufficient.

Iwata told a press briefing that the virus would have to

be under control at home and abroad for the Games to take place “because you have to invite the athletes and the audience from all over the world”.

“Japan might be able to control this disease by next summer, I wish we could, but I don’t think that would happen everywhere on Earth, so in this regard I’m very pessimistic about holding the Olympic Games next summer.”

Iwata said he could only see the Games being held next year if they were significantly altered, “such as no audience, or very limited participation”.

Iwata made headlines earlier this year for his public criticism of Japan’s handling of the coronavirus-wracked Diamond Princess cruise ship that docked off the country’s coast.

Japanese officials opted to carry out an on-ship quarantine, but more than 700

people on board ended up contracting the virus, and 13 died.

The decision to postpone the Olympics is unprecedented in peacetime, and followed a wave of complaints from athletes facing travel bans and lockdowns.

The postponement is a huge undertaking, but organisers have insisted they are working towards the new opening date despite ongoing uncertainty about when the pandemic will be over.

- ‘Speculative questions’ Asked about potential delays to the 2021 date, organisers said their “mission is to prepare the stage for next summer”.

“We do not feel it is appropriate to respond to speculative questions,” they told AFP. “ Wi t h regard to countermeasures against

Japan and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) agreed last month to delay the Tokyo 2020 Games until July 2021, after pressure from athletes and sports federations. (AFP/File/Behrouz Mehri) COVID-19, Tokyo 2020 and the IOC have a framework for information exchange and are cooperating c l o s e l y w i t h t h e Wo r l d Health Organization.

“We will continue to work closely with relevant organisations and review all n e c e s s a r y countermeasures.”

Last week, Tokyo 2020 spokesman Masa Takaya told reporters at an online briefing there is “no Plan B” for the Games being postponed again.

But Iwata is not the only expert to have raised questions about 2021, with Devi Sridhar, chair of global health at the University of

Chile’s Jarry gets 11-month doping ban LONDON (Reuters) Players should be wary of using health supplements made in South America, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said yesterday when banning Chile’s Nicolas Jarry for 11 months for an anti-doping violation.

Jarry was provisionally suspended in January after metabolites of two substances on WADA’s banned list — SARM LGD4033 (ligandrol) and the

anabolic steroid stanozolol — showed up in a urine sample he gave while playing for Chile at the Davis Cup Finals in Madrid at the end of last year.

After an investigation, the ITF said it accepted the 24-year-old’s explanation as to how SARM LGD-4033 and stanozolol entered his system — namely that he had taken “multi-vitamins” made in Brazil that his doctor had recommended because they were supposedly free from

banned substances.

Despite clearing him of significant fault or negligence for his violation, the ITF still imposed a sanction, although his period of ineligibility will be back-dated to start on the date of last occurrence of his violation (Dec 16 2019).

He will lose any prize money and ranking points earned at the Davis Cup and subsequent events. Jarry, who reached as high as 38th in the world last July, will be free to resume his career on Nov. 15. He is currently down at 89th.

“With a clear conscience I tell you that we were able to prove in the investigation carried out by the ITF that the prohibited substances identified in the test, were originated in the Brazilian laboratory which cross contaminated my vitamins,” Jarry said in a statement on his Twitter account.

“I have accepted the 11month sanction offered by

the ITF.” In a statement the ITF warned against the dangers of using supplements from South America.

“It is apparent that the consumption of bespoke supplements, in particular those made in compound pharmacies in South America, carries with it a significant degree of risk for sportsmen and women who are subject to antid o p i ng rules and the escalating bans that have been imposed on tennis players for such violations have not been adequate to deter other players from taking those risks,” it said.

“The ITF (i) urges all players to exercise extreme caution in considering whether to use supplements; and (ii) warns that any TADP violation that results from the ingestion of contaminated supplements will likely lead to a significant period of ineligibility.”

Edinburgh, warning last week that it was “very unrealistic” to think the Games could be held next year unless a vaccine is found.

“If we do get a vaccine within the next year then actually I think that (Olympics) is realistic. The vaccine will be the gamechanger - an effective, affordable, available vaccine,” Sridhar told the BBC. “If we don’t get a scientific breakthrough then I think that looks very unrealistic.”

The decision to delay the

Games was a painful one for organisers and the IOC, which came in for criticism for the drawn-out decision to postpone.

Initially both officials in Japan and at the IOC insisted the Games could go ahead as planned, even as lockdowns around the world meant athletes were shut out of training locations and forced to stay home.

The virus had already wreaked havoc with preparations, forcing the cancellation of qualifiers, and alterations to test events.

Cricket chiefs to discuss virus-hit global calendar London (AFP) - Cricket chiefs will this week discuss the future of some of the sport’s biggest events as they try to find a way through the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Thursday’s conference call will bring together the chief executives of the International Cricket Council’s 12 full member nations and three associate representatives.

The start of the English season and the lucrative Twenty20 Indian Premier League have both been delayed by COVID-19.

England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Tom Harrison has warned an entire season w i t h o u t cricket would cost the game there more than £300 million ($373 million) while Cricket Australia have laid off staff.

South Africa’s limitedovers tour of Sri Lanka in June became the latest series

to be postponed yesterday.

The virus could also threaten this year ’s T20 World Cup in Australia, meant to start on October 18.

And next year ’s inaugural World Test Championship final at Lord’s may have to be delayed if countries are unable to play their scheduled qualifying matches.

ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney said the meeting would be the first step in a “collective process”.

“We need to share knowledge and start to build a deep understanding of what it will take to resume international cricket,” he said.

“Countries will start to reopen at different stages and in different ways and we will need to respect that and have a holistic view of this to enable us to take wellinformed decisions that mitigate the various risks as much as possible.”

Tuesday April 21, 2020

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

“His leadership and philosophy served as a guiding principle,” - Ivor Carrington - On passing of former Pele FC President, William ‘Billy’ Braithwaite Former President of the Pele Football Club (PFC), William ‘Billy’ Braithwaite who succumbed to the rampaging and deadly coronavirus in New York last week was remembered by his family friends and the Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc. (GCANYI) during a moving celebration of his life on Saturday afternoon last.

The activity, which was carried live online via facebook among other social media platforms, witnessed the outpouring of love towards his family as many from across the world reflected on the life of a man whose positive impact on others was contagious.

Director of Pele Alumni Corporation, Ivor Denis Carrington, represented his entity during the near three hour long celebration which was hosted by Dr. Rose October of the GCANYI. Following is the full text of Carrington’s tribute: “On behalf of the past and current players and executives of Pele Football Club, we would like to extend our heartfelt sympathy to the entire Braithwaite family.

In December 1973 Billy became President of Pele Football Club after his coworker and best friend Frank Watson lost his life earlier that month, in the mountains of Guyana while co-piloting a Guyana Airways Corporation

Ivor Denis Carrington. flight.

Frank Watson, at the time of his death, was the President of Pele Football Club. William ‘Billy’ Braithwaite was introduced to our team by Mrs. Evelyn Watson mother of Frank Watson, and became the third (3rd) President of our organization.

Immediately, ‘Billy’ as he was affectionately called, began to implement his greatest assets, his administrative skills at both the executive and player levels. As he told us at our 40th Anniversary held in Guyana in 2011, he lived on the principles and philosophy of the four ‘D’s, of Discipline; Determination; Dedication and Dignity.

It was under his leadership as President and as Secretary, along with other key persons that our Club dominated football in Guyana during the following two (2) decades of his arrival with nine (9) players selected to multiple national teams.

His leadership and philosophy served as a guiding principle that would make the difference in helping to bridge the gap that blocked so many of our youth’s path to being outstanding citizens and athletes.

The classroom was equally as important to our Club as that decade saw eleven (11) players receiving Athletic Scholarships to different universities in the

Djokovic opposes compulsory coronavirus vaccination BELGRADE (Reuters) Novak Djokovic faces a dilemma if it becomes compulsory for players to get vaccinated before they can begin competing once the tennis season resumes following the hiatus created by the coronavirus pandemic, the world number one said on Sunday.

“Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel,” Djokovic said in a live facebook chat with several fellow Serbian athletes.

“But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision. I have my own thoughts about the matter and whether those thoughts will change at some point, I don’t know.

“Hypothetically, if the season was to resume in July, August or September, though unlikely, I understand that a

vaccine will become a requirement straight after we are out of strict quarantine and there is no vaccine yet.”

Last month, former world number one Amelie Mauresmo said the rest of the 2020 tennis season might be wiped out, saying that action should not resume before players can get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.

“International circuit = players of all nationalities plus management, spectators and people from the 4 corners of the world who bring these events to life. No vaccine = no tennis,” the two-time grand slam winner said in a widely shared tweet.

Medical experts have said that vaccines against the respiratory virus would not be ready until next year, raising doubts whether any further tennis tournaments can be contested this year.

This year’s Wimbledon championships have been

cancelled for the first time since World War II while the French Open, originally due to be held from May 24-June 7, was rescheduled for Sept.

20 - Oct. 4, shortly after the end of the U.S. Open.

Djokovic made a flying start to the 2020 season, winning the Australian Open in January for his 17th grand slam title and stretched his winning run to 18 matches before the pandemic brought sports events across the world to a halt.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the Euro 2020 soccer championship were among the events postponed until next year as the pandemic has caused 165,000 deaths worldwide.

So far the governing bodies of tennis have suspended all tournaments until July 13. In addition, the women’s Rogers Cup in Montreal, which had been due to be held in August, will also not take place this year.

USA and Canada. In addition, for e.g., there was a talented player that ‘Billy’ saw who had possessed much promise and upward mobility that he was able to utilize his resources to create an avenue for this young man to travel to the USA to pursue his education. That youth did not disappoint…he earned his Master ’s Degree in Accounting and is now the Director of a major Billiondollar corporation in the USA. Please note that this example does not indicate all of whom William ‘Billy’ Braithwaite was to the Pele organization. His humbleness came into play later even more at our Club when he suggested and brought John Yates into the organization as President and he moved to the Secretary position.

He {Billy} felt that, we as an organization can be much stronger from top to bottom by having stronger, more positive individuals as examples to guide our

youthful players between ages 12-20 years.

His humor was very infectious…as in 2011 fiftytwo (52) of us (Pele Alumni Corporation) traveled from North America and England to Georgetown to celebrate our Club’s 40th year of existence.

During one of our celebrations, ‘Billy’ recognised one of his primary school classmates, who happened to be my older sister. He remarked that, “Carrie if I knew that she was your sister, I would have treated you much better in our relationship.”

To say that Billy was a leader in all the ventures he undertook is saying it mildly.

His ability to lead did not start and end with one venture, but was demonstrated consistently as he moved through life, touching, and encouraging people along the way. May his family know that we, the Pele Alumni Corporation are with them at

Billy’ Braithwaite at GFC as part of Pele FC 40th Anniversary celebration. this moment and may the goodness of his life bring healing to you at this moment and fresh bountifulness in your lives in the future.

May God Bless him for the light he gave the not privileged and the needy, for he treated all with humility and Love.

Reifer set to take over at Tallawahs: report KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Former West Indies head coach, Floyd Reifer, is set to take over the top coaching role at the embattled Jamaica Tallawahs for this year’s Caribbean Premier League.

According to the Gleaner newspaper here, Barbadian Reifer is one of several changes expected to take place at the Kingston-based franchise for the August 19 to September 26 campaign, following a dismal last season which saw them finish bottom of the standings and miss out on the playoffs.

A former West Indies captain, Reifer oversaw the Windies disastrous World Cup campaign last year after replacing Englishman Richard Pybus.

“When you have a team that came last in the competition, obviously there are going to be changes, it can’t be business as usual,” chief executive officer, Jeff Miller, said.

Under head coach Donovan Miller, Tallawahs managed just two wins in 10 outings in their worst-ever showing in the seven-yearold Twenty20 domestic league.

This was in spite of a starstudded lineup which included the likes of superstars Chris Gayle and

Andre Russell, along with West Indies all-rounder Rovman Powell and New Zealander Glenn Phillips.

Jamaican Miller, who was part of the successful Tallawahs unit of 2016 before moving to St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and then returning home last year, says he was yet to be informed about any changes at the franchise.

However, he said he was already in talks with several other franchises and was confident of landing a key position for the upcoming tournament.

“I haven’t spoken to CEO Jeff Miller since November of last year,” Miller said.

“The last time we spoke, he had asked me to write a

report on the team’s performance from last season, which I did and sent to him and the owners, and that was it.

“What I can tell you, though, is that I have been in talks with two to three other franchises, and I am almost 99 per cent sure, once we get the green light, that I will be coaching in the CPL this season.”

Team manager Andrew Richardson is also expected to leave the Tallawahs, with reigning champions Barbados Tridents the likely destination.

Tallawahs have won the CPL twice, in the inaugural year in 2013 and then again in 2016.

‘Brazilian Ronaldo...

From page 23 worked with at Juventus and with the Italian national side to be the finest he played under. “At Juventus I say Marcelo Lippi, he was like a second father,” said a man who earned 49 caps for his country. “In Turin’s youth teams I was coached by the

great [Rosario] Rampanti, then by [Emiliano] Mondonico.

“I also have to say Cesare Maldini, he helped my break into the national team.

He was a magnificent person who trusted young people.”

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Tuesday April 21, 2020

‘It was difficult to play for West Indies in the 80s’ says former WI ‘B’ Batsman Andy Jackman

By Sean Devers Former Guyana and West Indies ‘B’ team batsman Andrew Fitz Donald Jackman was born in Georgetown on January 27, 1963 and is one of three brothers who played Youth Cricket for Guyana.

His eldest sibling, Errol played for Guyana in the 1969 and 1970 Regional U19 tournaments as a left-arm spinner, while Colin, eight years older that Andy, played as a batsman in 1973 and ’74 and was good enough to score a century and two fifties from seven matches.

While both of his brothers attended Queens College, Andy went to North Georgetown which produced former West Indies Test pacer Colin Stuart and former Guyana and USA First-Class batsman, the late Nezam Hafiz, who died in the Terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in New York.

The 57-year-old Jackman resides in England and played for GCC, Guyana U-19s, West Indies U-19s, Demerara, Guyana, West Indies U-23, West Indies President’s X1, West Indies ‘ B ’ t e a m a n d Nottinghamshire.

In 42 first-class matches, he scored 2,238 runs at a batting average of 37.93, with 9 half centuries and 5 centuries and a high score of 125.

Jackman made his List A debut for Guyana in 1984 against Jamaica and represented Guyana in 14 matches from 1984 to 1991 the last of which came against Barbados. He also played four List A matches for West Indies ‘B’.

He made his 50-over

Jackman and his daughters last year. debut for Nottinghamshire against Scotland in the 1999 NatWest Trophy and from 1999 to 2002, represented them in four matches, with the last being against Cumberland CC. Jackman played 22 career List A matches, scoring 466 runs at an average of 23.30, with four half centuries and a highest score of 73.

“In my opinion, it was a lot more difficult to get into a West Indies team back in the 1980s. We only had five First-Class games in which to impress and sometimes six, if there was an International team on a tour,” said Jackman, the unofficial Coach of the 1987 National U-19 team which toured Jamaica.

In those days the touring team would oppose the Regional teams but with the amount of cricket being played now that in no longer possible.

In the 1984 Shell Shield four-day match against Barbados which began on February 17, Jackman made an even 100 at Bourda before making his highest First Class Score (125) the next week against the touring Australians at Bourda. This game preceded the West

Indies/Australia Test match in Guyana.

“The WI team was very strong at that time and I remember being told by a selector that I need to score three centuries in the five games to be considered.

This was not always easy to do because sometimes we played a few matches away, then return home and our games would be rained off,” Jackman informed.

According to Jackman the game has changed a lot over the last few years.

“With the introduction of T20 cricket, there are more opportunities for players to make a comfortable living from the game.

As a result, a young player might decide to just focus on the skills needed to play T20 cricket, whereas in previous years, the focus was Test cricket and a long career in the game,” Jackman stated.

Jackman feels that one of the reasons for the decline in the standard of regional cricket is at club level.

“When I was growing up, most of the retired WI players were still turning out for their clubs on weekend and passing their knowledge on to the young players. I can remember playing against

The GCC team in the 1980s (Jackman is 2nd from left sitting).

Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon and Roy Fredericks.

In my team we had Faoud Bacchus and Steve Camacho. After the day’s play, we would all be in the changing room talking about cricket and sharing experiences. A great way to learn,” disclosed the former GCC stroke-marker.

“These days, our retired international players hardly play club cricket, so the young players are not learning as much. Also, the club teams were very strong with a number of national players in one team,” said Jackman, who added that at GCC, at one time we had eight first class players playing in the same game and other clubs would have a few of their own.

Jackman feels that once the coaches at the lower levels don’t pay more attention to proper technique, West Indies cricket will continue to struggle.

In the 80s, Jackman was among the National Senior players who were sent to Coach at Secondary schools.

Jackman was a stylish right-handed middle order batsman and was rated as one of best players of spin in Regional cricket in the 1980s.

“To be a good player of spin, you need to have very quick feet and the ability to play with soft hands. Picking length up quickly and being able to use the crease, so you can go right back to give yourself extra time, or to get down to the pitch of the ball.

Rotating the strike is also very important.

Spinners need to be able to form a plan against a batsman, so that they can set him up. They try to keep you at one end for their plan to work. If you keep changing ends, they find it difficult to make their plan work and you get more bad balls,” informed Jackman.

“One of the reasons why spinners take so many wickets in regional cricket is that most of these batsmen are heavy footed and allow the spinners to just land it on a spot, eventually one will bounce a bit more or turn more and get them out,” Jackman explained.

Jackman who never had the opportunity to play T20 cricket, feels this format could be the reason for young batsmen not being consistent in the longer

Andy Jackman celebrates a fantastic century in the 1984 Shell Shield tournament against Barbados at Bourda. version.

“I really think that all over the world, with the exception of India, we are seeing far less high quality young batsmen coming through. T20 cricket is probably the reason for that.

The young batsmen are not spending enough time working on their technique to be able to bat for a day, which is what is required of a test batsman,” lamented Jackman.

“In England, I follow their Test team and they are really struggling to find a top three. They rely on their middle order to get them decent totals. It is the same around the world,” said Jackman, who played six youth Tests for the West Indies and two youth ODIs between 1979 and 1982 after scoring two centuries and three fifties from eight matches for the Guyana U19 team during those years.

In the in 1985 InterCounty final against Berbice, Jackman was caught behind by Milton Pydanna off Deryck Kallicharran for 120, while his other four First-Class centuries were made for Guyana, including a magnificent 125 against Australia at Bourda.

Jackman made his firstclass debut for Demerara against Berbice in 1981/82 and from then to the 1989/90 season he represented Demerara in seven first-class matches. He also played 28 first-class matches for Guyana between the 1982 to 1991 with his final first-class appearance being against Barbados.

Jackman also played a handful of first-class

matches for West Indies B, We s t I n d i e s B o a r d President’s XI and West Indies Under-23s.

In March 1985 he played for the West Indies U-23 against New Zealand in St Kitts before he was selected for the President’s X1 to play against New Zealand the next month in St Lucia.

In October/ November 1986 Jackman was picked for the West Indies ‘B’ Team and played in four 50-over and four First-Class matches against Zimbabwe in Harare.

Carlyle Best was the Captain and the team included Phil Simmons, Rolston Otto, Carl Hooper, Eldene Baptiste and David Williams.

The UK is one of hardest hit places by the COVID-19, and there, the 55-year old Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent three nights in intensive care unit after he was infected by the virus which has badly hurt Global Economies.

COVID-19 has also had an impact on the UK based Guyanese who suffers from heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeats).

“The recent Coronavirus has had a huge effect on my life. Due to my illness, I am considered high risk, so I am told to stay away from my family. Being someone who has always been an outdoor and active person, it is a real struggle not interacting with people on a daily basis.

To my people of Guyana, please take the advice given to you by the medical experts and stay at home. Things will settle down and your lives will be back to normal e v e n t u a l l y, ” J a c k m a n concluded.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 21, 2020

PAGE 23

AAG content with hosting CARIFTA Games in 2022

Aubrey Hutson

T

he President of the Amateur A t h l e t i c s Association of Guyana (AAG) Aubrey Hutson has confirmed during an interview with Kaieteur Sport yesterday that the one year push back of the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) junior athletics championship will in no way adversely affect the local organising committee’s preparation for the 50th edition of the games.

Last week, the President of the North American and Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC); Mike Sands, confirmed that the 49th CARIFTA games which were scheduled for Bermuda earlier this month will be pushed back until next year which alternately

AAG okay is hosting 50th CARIFTA Games in 2022 instead of next year. means that the ‘land of many waters’ will host the historic 50th championship in 2022 instead.

Hutson commented that, “Although we were supposed to host the games next year, we have agreed to allow Bermuda the opportunity to host the event in 20201 instead.

It is important that we show regional unity especially during these times and allow the island the opportunity to be a part of the biggest regional youth track & field championships.”

The sport administrator added that, “We’ve been offered an additional year to

plan for the 50th games which in itself is a moment of significance in addition to being the first CARIFTA championships held in Guyana and we believe that the extra time will work in our favour to help us organise an event worthy of this important milestone.”

“It will also give our

athletes a little more elbow room to prepare for these championships.

More importantly, with the current political situation in Guyana and the Global economic crisis, it will allow for more time for things to stabilise before we can talk to sponsors.”

M o r e i m p o r t a n t l y,

Hutson, explained that it is the priority to flatten the covid-19 curve and as directed by health authorities, this can only be done by practicing social distancing. “There won’t be any CARIFTA games next year if this disease is not brought under control,” the AAG head concluded.

than Hamilton ready to stick with ‘Brazilian Ronaldo better - Ex-Inter star Vieri the Portuguese one’ ranks R9 above CR7 Mercedes ‘dream team’

A

FP - Lewis Hamilton has hailed Mercedes as his “dream team” as the world champion made it clear he has no plans to leave when his contract expires after the 2020 season.

The British driver was linked with a move to Ferrari after the six-time world title winner revealed in January he had yet to open talks over a new deal with Mercedes.

Ferrari chief executive officer Louis Carey Camilleri said in December that he was “flattered” that Hamilton had agreed to discuss his future in conversations with the team’s chairman John Elkann. But the 35-year-old appeared to end talk of a switch yesterday when he said his future remains with British-based Mercedes.

“There is no dream of another team. I am with my dream team,” Hamilton said on Instagram.

“There’s not a thing in my way, as I’m not trying to move. I’m with the people who have cared from day

G

Lewis Hamilton insists he is not trying to leave Mercedes.(AFP /William West)

one.”

Hamilton, who added that Mercedes were “the best team”, will have been aware that any opportunity to join Ferrari would be quashed if reports that Sebastian Vettel is moving towards a new contract are confirmed.

Four-time world c h a m p i o n Ve t t e l , l i k e Hamilton, is out of contract at the end of the season, while the German’s teammate Charles Leclerc has a contract with the Italian team until the end of 2024.

Vettel last week said he

had made it clear he wanted to stay at Ferrari beyond the end of this season.

“Whatever the deal will be like, it is whatever I and the team will be comfortable with. In terms of duration, normally the contracts I had in the past were all a threeyear deal,” Vettel said.

Hamilton’s future is being debated while Formula One waits to start the 2020 season, delayed by the coronavirus.

The first nine races were postponed or cancelled because of the pandemic.

oal.com Ronaldo is better t h a n h i s namesake Cristiano Ronaldo, says Christian Vieri, with the former Inter striker considered to be a more fearsome frontman than the Juventus goalscoring machine.

There is clearly something in that particular moniker when it comes to the art of finding the target, with two eras having been dominated by superstars with that name splashed across their back.

Through the late 1990s and early 21st century, the Brazilian two-time World Cup winner redefined the art of hitting the back of the net acros s s pells at P S V, Barcelona, Inter and Real Madrid. South American star Ronaldo, who will forever be remembered as O Fenomeno, is rightly assured of a place among the all-time greats.

He has been joined on that roll of honour by the Portuguese Ronaldo, who has also taken to re-writing

the record books. A five-time Ballon d’Or winner has excelled across stints with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, with his exploits raising the bar of individual brilliance even higher. Vieri, though, still ranks R9 over CR7, with the ex-Italy international having once formed a devastating partnership with the former at San Siro.

Asked to make his pick by the Daily Mail, Vieri said: “I am a friend of Ronnie and I was lucky enough to have him as a striker with me. He had it all. He was explosive, powerful and fast. He looked

like a dancer, he seemed to dance with the ball.

“I say that Brazilian Ronaldo is better than Cristiano Ronaldo.

“CR7 is a war machine, he is admirable for everything he does and for all the things he continues to do. Cristiano can play up to 40 years with a cigarette between his lips, as they say in Italy. He has a sculptural physique.”

Vieri enjoyed the most productive period of his career while on the books at Inter, plundering 202 goals, but considers coaches he (Continued on page 21)

(From left) Garfield Charles, Jackman, Colwin Cort & Jerry Angus in London.

rt o p S

Reifer set to take over at Tallawahs Former West Indies head coach Floyd Reifer.

: report

‘It was difficult to play for West Indies in the 80s’ says former WI ‘B’ Batsman Andy Jackman Cricket has been badly disrupted by the coronavirus (AFP Photo/Marty Melville)

Cricket chiefs to discuss virus-hit global calendar Djokovic opposes compulsory coronavirus vaccination

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic kisses the trophy after winning the Australian Open. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)

William ‘Billy’ Braithwaite (left) hands over a trophy to Founder of Pele, Lennox Arthur during the 40th Anniversary celebrations.

“His leadership and philosophy served as - Ivor a guiding principle,”Carrington - On passing of former Pele FC President, William ‘Billy’ Braithwaite

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