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April 24, 2020 -Vol. 22 No. 16
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Elections 2020 - Day 52...
GECOM spends another day in meeting pussyfooting about recount details
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TB patients urged to take extra precaution P.
NO Social Distancing!
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- as COVID-19 cases increase to 70
In spite of gloomy market conditions, Guyana should continue pumping oil P. 7
- makes less economic sense to do otherwise - University of Houston Instructor
Authorities relying on census to help 13. determine relief for vulnerable citizens P
Despite calls for social distancing in wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, customers gathered in their numbers to access the services of Republic Bank on Camp Street yesterday. (Photo Credit: Joseph Allen)
Uitvlugt utilizes “Political situation” US commits nearly 300 tonnes could stall int’l $100M to cane to produce aid to Guyana Guyana to aid one tonne sugar - Moses Nagamootoo COVID-19 fight P. 2
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Guyana’s oil will make it one of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters of all time- German NGO P.
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Friday April 24, 2020
US commits $100M to Guyana’s oil will make Guyana to aid COVID-19 fight it one of the biggest The United States Government will be releasing some $100M to the authorities in Guyana to aid the fight against the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Via statement posted to its website, the US Embassy in Guyana announced that the US Government through the Regional Caribbean Office of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is releasing $100 million (US$475,000) to help address Guyana’s priority areas of laboratory diagnostics and systems strengthening and supplies, surveillance, infection prevention and control, and emergency operation centres. “Through the generosity of the American people and
the leadership of the U.S. government, the United States continues to lead the public health and humanitarian assistance to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement added. It was also revealed that
the funds being released is part of a regional funding package of US$3,000,000 provided to support the current COVID-19 Response.
It is also part of the US’s ongoing commitment to Guyana through the U.S. Caribbean Resiliency Partnership. Further, it was noted that the CDC will coordinate with the Guyana Ministry of Public Health and its regional partners to disburse these funds rapidly and implement the activities. In recent weeks, Guyana has made several requests for international aid from several organizations. An approach was also made to the People’s Republic of China, and that assistance was forthcoming. An estimated 30,000 masks and a number of ventilators and other essential medical equipment are reportedly en route to Guyana.
“Stop toying with the psyche of the nation and start the recount!”
– LJP to GECOM Chair
The Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) front runner, Lennox Shuman, has called on the Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Ret’d Justice Claudette Singh, to cease toying with the nation and speedily commence the recount of ballots cast at the March 2, 2020 polls. Shuman in a statement on Wednesday blasted the Chair and Elections body for the slothful pace at which they are moving to execute the National Recount. According to him, Guyana is battling with a global pandemic that requires undivided attention. BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT. The Liberty and Justice Party hereby calls on the Guyana Elections Commission to cease toying with the psyche of the nation and to move to expeditiously recount the votes. It has been over seven weeks since the ballots were cast on 2 March, 2020 in the Regional and General Elections and yet the country waits for legitimately and transparently tabulated electoral results in keeping with the Representation of the People Act. With the current pandemic slowly engulfing the country and the looming mental health and economic crises that are on our doorsteps, we are offended, as the rest of the nation is, of the sloth’s pace at which the Commission is dragging and torturing this nation through this process.
Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party, Lennox Shuman The offensive act of Mr. Nagamootoo in his actions against the High-Level Team from CARICOM is as offensive to the nation as much as it was offensive to our CARICOM Partners. To abdicate one’s governing responsibility to the likes of Mr. Nagamootoo; GECOM has finally removed the final veneer and pretence of being an “Independent C o n s t i t u t i o n a l Commission.” By its actions, the Guyana Elections Commission has clearly demonstrated its bias.” Having witnessed workers working on the APNU aligned Ocean View Hotel beyond 6 pm daily and confining the recount of the Nation’s votes to the dictates o f M r. N a g a m o o t o o demonstrates a genuine and desperate act by this administration to deny the Guyanese people of their legitimately elected government. That a recount of 479,453 votes, when calculated based on GECOM’s last presented framework, will take
upwards of 46 days, and the fact that no start date has yet been announced nor any logistics put in place further exacerbates the impending mental health crisis from the pandemic, the economic meltdown and these poorly executed elections. We further call on the GECOM to present to the nation, a clear plan on the recount, inclusive of the proposed end date of recount and to take every action necessary to exclude Mr. Clairmont Mingo and all the associated partisan figures from these recounts. It is time that Madam Chair showed her calibre, live up to her name, stop playing PNC games and stop toying with the nation.
greenhouse gas - German emitters of all time NGO
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long with the title of being the only country in the Latin America and Caribbean Region to see positive growth for 2020 thanks to the emerging oil sector, this industry is also poised to make Guyana one of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters of all time. This was recently noted by German Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Urgewald. In one of its briefs on Guyana, the Human Rights Organization said that the oil field off the coast of Guyana is one of the largest crude discoveries of recent years. It noted that over 12 billion barrels of oil and 32 trillion cubic feet of natural gas could potentially be drilled by oil companies. If all were exploited and burnt, the NGO calculated that the resulting emission could get close to 860 million tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) from oil and 1.7 billion tons of CO2 from natural gas. Even if only half of the fossil reserves in the Stabroek block were burnt, the NGO said that the resulting emission would most likely still surpass one billion tons of CO2. Urgewald said that this scale of drilling would transform Guyana from a carbon sink with negative CO2emissions - thanks to its dense rainforests - to a country with the highest per capita emissions in the world. On top of the detrimental
effect on the global climate, the NGO noted that a potential oil accident would cause severe damage to the entire Caribbean and its precious ecosystems. In this regard, it said that a major spill would also seriously damage the Caribbean ecotourism sector, which is worth US$16 billion annually and creates 650,000 jobs. It was keen to
adding that it provided over US$50 million in public assistance. On this front, Ute Koczy, who serves as the Finance Campaigner at Urgewald, commented that Guyana’s development aim has been to have 100% renewable energy by 2025. In light of this, the official finds it outrageous that the World Bank is now pushing
remind that Exxon itself was responsible for one of the biggest oil spills in history – the Exxon Valdez in which 11 million gallons of crude oil devastated the pristine Alaskan coast in 1989. But what alarms the NGO as well, is the role of the World Bank in helping Guyana increase its carbon footprint. The NGO noted that the financial institution is one of the major sponsors in Guyana’s oil industry while
Guyana to become one of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters of all time. When the foregoing is carefully considered, Koczy said that Urgewald is calling on all shareholders of the World Bank to take a closer look at Guyana’s case. The official concluded, “This devastating public assistance to oil has to be stopped before it irretrievably damages Guyana, the Caribbean and the global climate system.”
Kaieteur News
Friday April 24, 2020
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TB patients urged to take extra precaution Twelve individuals have recovered from the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), even as the number of confirmed cases has increased to 70. This announcement from the Public Health Ministry y e s t e r d a y w a s complemented by a urgent appeal for persons suffering from tuberculosis to take extra precaution since they are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19. Focal Point of the N a t i o n a l Tu b e r c u l o s i s Programme, Dr. Quacy Grant, highlighted that persons who have been diagnosed with Tuberculosis (TB) are at an increased risk of developing the most complicated form of COVID-19. Dr. Grant noted that the symptoms of TB include a cough that lasts over three weeks, fever, chest pain while breathing or coughing, all indicators similar to that of COVID-19. He said persons with TB
may require treatment in an ICU and are at greater risk of dying if they contract the virus. “TB is an opportunistic disease, which simply means that it attacks those persons whose immune systems are already weak. So, your chances of becoming infected with this virus are much higher. If you are affected by both diseases, your immune system will not produce the full response needed to fight.” Dr. Grant underscored. He further explained that both TB and COVID-19 mainly affect the lungs therefore a co-infection means the lungs will not be able to survive such an attack. Persons living with TB are advised to stay on their medication while keeping t h e C O V I D - 1 9 precautionary measures; chief among them is staying home. “Your room should be well ventilated, so open the
-as COVID-19 cases increase to 70 windows and use your fan pointing it towards the window. For you, wearing a mask even while at home is a must, especially if you live with others,” Dr. Grant advised. Additionally, he noted that they must observe strict self-care measures to reduce the chance of contracting the virus. “A balanced diet will assist you with full recovery so make it a priority,” he urged. Meanwhile, Minister Lawrence in updating the nation about the local COVID-19 situation yesterday revealed that the number of related deaths remains at seven. Lawrence disclosed that thus far 375 persons have been tested for the virus of which 305 returned negative. She revealed too that 17 persons are now in
Ramadan fasting to begin tomorrow -CIOG The Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) wishes to inform the Muslim Community that the Crescent for Ramadan has NOT been sighted; therefore, fasting begins on Saturday, April 24, 2020. Taraweeh prayers will commence this evening (Friday, April 24, 2020).
institutional quarantine and 51 in isolation, while five are seeking treatment in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU). She noted that while 23 persons in total were admitted to the COVID-19 ICU since the outbreak of the disease here, 12 have improved and have been moved down to a “stepdown” facility. The Health Minister was keen to point out too that the health agency continues to face challenges of underreporting with persons who have been in contact with COVID-19. She linked this “unadvised” practice to
Dr. Quacy Grant (Photo Credit: DPI) shame of being tested and the associated stigma that comes with it. Against this backdrop Minister Lawrence stressed, “I assure you Guyanese that this attitude will take us
nowhere, except to add to our death toll. If we all stand together, we will stand stronger. So for those who might be afraid of the associated stigma, I encourage you to be brave.”
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Friday April 24, 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
Coronavirus and confidence in government It is said that politics is war by another name. Coldblooded political leaders many times view citizens in clinical military terms, specifically collateral damage. And in the war against the coronavirus enemy, some of this has surfaced through the casual, sloppy, and irresponsible ways in which some governments responded. We start with China, where the government had but withheld timely, vital information. Suspicions and speculations first fuelled now look more solid. Conspiracy theories and the blame game aside, this has led to heightened fears, about what else is known, what is being held back, and how many were really stricken and fatally felled. In India, the real numbers are unaccounted for, may even be officially unknown. The government has implemented a national lockdown. But how enforceable is that in the teeming slums where there is no space, besides shoulder to shoulder movement all day and daily. Of course, the gritty school of hard knocks breeds its own immunities. What is not being said or shared? In America, the president is trapped in continuing battles with state governors, with manufactured enemies, with contradiction leading to conflict. This is while people are dying and can’t even be buried. It is a case of ego trumping the urgencies of circumstances, with the pointless coming from the clueless, and the latest storm being over when to reopen the economy. Why is the governance leadership, so powerfully needed now, so lacking? In contrast, Israel recorded lower impacts because government acted early. It warned citizens in late January against non-essential travel to China. On January 30, it suspended all flights to China, and in mid-February, that travel ban was extended to much of Asia. And from March 9, all incoming passengers were mandatorily quarantined. Why did we not do earlier what had to be done here? Similarly, the New Zealand and Australian governments imposed early lockdowns; the former did not even have a reported case when it did so. Additionally, good official communications and encouraging citizen cooperation kept virus numbers down. Nearby, Trinidad took the bull by the horns through initiating a move aimed at a virus recovery plan. That is the priority of Prime Minister Keith Rowley, who will chair the charge, peopled by a small cross-section of his country’s stalwarts. Why are our political stalwarts at cross purposes currently? From Barbados, the indomitable Mia Mottley, postsurgery found the strength to issue a resounding call for a unified approach. The honourable lady Prime Minister invited her two predecessors in national leadership to release the Finance Ministers who had served during their tenures to work with the holder of that portfolio in her government who, in turn, has been instructed to work closely with anyone answering the call to patriotic duty. Why are we committed to division right now? Where is the Guyana government in this regard? Where is our esteemed opposition in its thinking and actions? Where are the rest of the contestants, who ran for national office? Guyanese leaders do not inspire relative to what is being done. The endless traumas of elections and the happenings at GECOM interfere with total focus and channeling of energies aimed at minimizing the presence and effects of the virus. Both government and opposition have signalled that, when a united front is needed, each is content with division. Operating separately denies this country the comprehensive and potent approach required. This is dilutive, selfdefeating, not workable. It is clear that governments, including those in the region, have reacted strongly, seriously, and spiritedly against a viral foe that has no friends and needs no allies. It would have been most gratifying to observe the same
The health care workers are selflessly putting their lives on the line DEAR EDITOR, Health workers are risking their lives, and the least we can do for them is to make sure they can go to work with personal protective equipment - PPE. They need masks; some need high-quality masks like N95 masks. They need gowns, gloves, goggles. They need simple equipment like thermometers and pulse oximeters. They need ventilators and medicines and reagents for laboratory testing. The Guyana government, almost two months since the first COVID-19 case, has failed to ensure these health workers have adequate PPE and other things they need to fight COVID-19. Every day, doctors and nurses are calling us for help. Different people are providing whatever help they can to our saviours. I am thankful that the National Multi-Stakeholders Forum established by Dr. Irfaan Ali was able to deliver to the GPHC and other institutions some PPE. While citizens are stepping up to help, the Government seems increasingly paralyzed. Guyana is at war with an invisible, silent enemy COVID-19. The SARS CoV2 virus is the enemy. It is all over the world, leaving a trail of bodies. Close to 3 million people have been confirmed infected and close to 200,000 have been confirmed dead around the world.
In Guyana, where we barely test for COVID-19, there are 67 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 7 confirmed dead as of April 22. We do not really know how many people are affected, because we barely test. We do not know if there are other deaths, since people might have died of other “causes” because they were never tested. In this war, Guyana, like the rest of the world is not fighting an army; it is fighting a more powerful enemy. Our frontline defenders are not soldiers, they are health workers. They have no guns or war tanks or military planes or military boats. They have themselves, their selflessness, their generosity, their technical knowledge, their dedication and commitment. They put their lives and the lives of their family at risk every minute of the day. The least we can do is to help them fight the enemy with PPE. Worldwide, as millions of people stay at home to minimize transmission of the COVID-19 virus, health-care workers - doctors, nurses, medical technologists, pharmacists, other support staff, including janitors prepare to do the exact opposite. They go to clinics and hospitals, putting themselves at high risk from COVID-2019. Figures from China’s National Health Commission show that more than 3300 health-care workers were infected as of early March and, according to local media,
by the end of February, at least 22 had died. In Italy, 20% of responding health-care workers were infected, and some have died. More than 100 doctors died in March in Italy. More than 1,000 nurses have died in America. Reports from medical staff in different countries describe physical and mental exhaustion, the torment of difficult triage decisions, and the pain of losing patients and colleagues, all in addition to the infection risk. The Guyanese health workers are facing these same challenges, these same risks. I highlight this matter not to cast blame. But to ensure that the authorities get their act together. We need PPE for our frontline heroes, the people who must go to work every day to ensure we win this battle against COVID-19. It is not enough for Guyana to await a shipment of masks from China. It is not enough to ask India to send Guyana some help. We had a billion dollars to rehabilitate a building owned by some private person, and this rehabilitated building will not be available soon. We have money to hire a lobbying firm. My God, we can do better. Sometime ago, the authorities claimed that a set of ventilators that were delivered, were ordered in December through solesourcing, because Guyana “had started to prepare for COVID-19”. Why then is Guyana so desperately
short of PPE? The temptation will be to insist that there is no shortage. This will be an insult to our heroes, the men and women, mostly young people, who every day put their lives and those of their families at risk. The Ministry of Public Health cannot claim they have enough PPE when staff at various hospitals and health centres are calling and begging for PPE. By insisting there is no shortage, the Ministry will be repudiating these brave souls, deeming them liars. The truth is plain for everyone to see. In the meantime, we have depended entirely on PAHO/ WHO for testing. Guyana obtained not a single test kit by itself. Now the private sector has been given the goahead in a loose arrangement. Because there is no coordination between the government and the private sector, there is now evolving a wild-west in testing. Many pharmacies and private doctors and some laboratories are offering tests that are of questionable quality. Now that the barn doors have been thrown open, Guyana’s Food and Drug Department has warned that it will prohibit the importation of rapid tests. But there already are rapid tests that are being sold for $20,000 per test in Guyana. The National COVID-19 (Continued on page 6)
I urge the Coalition and President Granger in particular, to graciously accept the will of the electorate DEAR EDITOR, I think the vast majority of Guyanese know which party has won the March 2 General and Regional elections. The recount when completed, will only confirm what is already known, namely that the PPP/C has won the elections with a comfortable majority of the votes. Provided, of course, that there is no skullduggery in the recount exercise. It is against such a
backdrop that certain elements are doing everything within their power to stall the recount and introduce unnecessary procedural bottlenecks with a view to create some element of doubt in the integrity of the voting process. The fact that there are so many dissenting views within the APNU-AFC camp is symptomatic of a schism within the coalition on a possible way out of the
occurring in Guyana. Who knows, it even may have offered a note of rare harmonies. It would have been good to hear and observe the Granger government and the Jagdeo opposition (other political participants, too) step forward for cohesive action. It would have been for the exclusive objective, no matter how temporary, during a mutually agreed-upon and enforced elections truce, to confront the scourge that rents asunder all in its invisible and invincible path. We recommend learning from other countries that did right, did so early, consistently. We are not collateral damage, not elections fodder.
current dilemma it is now being confronted with. It underestimated the weight of international condemnation over the infamous District Four count and the rulings of the Court, the combined effect of which has seemingly resulted in a serious rethink by President Granger on a possible swearing in ceremony that manifestly lacks legitimacy and due process. The decent thing for Granger and the Coalition to now do is to come up with an exit strategy that would save face and allow for a transition of power after having sold a false narrative to its supporters that it won the elections. The attempt by a few misguided elements to lobby the US State Department is indicative of a level of desperation that is playing out in the
corridors of power. As all right-thinking Guyanese know, such action will not change the views of the international community that the PPP/C has won the elections. In any rulesbased contest, there will always be winners and losers. There is nothing wrong or undignified in losing. By the same token, the winning party must acknowledge a good contest and avoid any tendency at triumphalism. Humility is one of the greatest elements of victory. I urge the APNU-AFC Coalition, and President Granger in particular, to graciously accept the will of the electorate and spare the country and its citizens any further pain and agonizing wait. COVID-19 is already proving too much for us to endure. Hydar Ally
Friday April 24, 2020
Individual sanctions now! DEAR EDITOR, Personal sanctions should be applied immediately by international communities to APNU/AFC members and GECOM officials who have continued to derail Guyanese democracy. Since the close of Polls on March 2nd, 2020, and continuing to date, their actions to cultivate “getaway ideologies” from a democratic process, is evident to all rational Guyanese. Further, most of us will agree to the fact that the democratic and ethical principles associated with the electoral process have diminished. In this context, can we as Guyanese’s accept as gospel that Mr. Ramjattan will
congratulate Dr. Ali, our new president, when the recount process is over? I am sure that Mr. Ramjattan knew that the PPP/C won the elections since March 3rd, 2020. He should have accepted the results and congratulated Dr. Ali almost seven weeks ago. Do we believe this seemingly sober and democratic portrait that they are seeking to present to our nation - a new, defined thinking - when we all know their speeches contradict democratic action? After all the undemocratic events that have unfolded since the 2018 NCM to present, the recount process and conclusion of the 2020 general and regional elections seems far from over. Are we
to believe that the related architects will ensure that a transparent and uninterrupted recount process will be done, after all their sinister motives embedded with deeply undemocratic tactics are evolving as the new normal daily? The evidence is clear that key architects are ascribing to have power at any cost, whereby derailing our democratic values and principles. The international community should apply personal sanctions now to these individuals for the beginning of restoration of democracy in Guyana. Yours sincerely, Richard Moore
There are many more exciting things to be written about the 300+ Club DEAR EDITOR, I recently perused two articles in the local press in relation to Brian Lara’s world record- breaking 375 and 400 not out test innings. The articles contained several interesting issues. This has titillated me to briefly do a bit of research and analysis on some of the batsmen who scored 300 or more runs in a single test innings, starting from April 3, 1930, when Andy Sandham scored the first t r i p l e c e n t u r y, 3 2 5 , t o November 2019 when David Warner pulverized the Pakistan bowlers for 335 not out. It is apposite to note that 26 batsmen scored 30 triple centuries and 1 blasted a quadruple. Four batsmen twice scored over 300 runs in a single test innings. They are: Donald Bradman 334 and 304; Brian Lara 375 and 400 not out; Virender Sehwag 309 and 319 and Chris Gale 319 and
333. Donald Bradman scored his triple centuries in July; Brian Lara in April; Virender Sehwag in March, while C h r i s G a l e b r o ke the sequence by making his triples in April and November. Two triple centuries and one quadruple were recorded at the Antigua Recreation Ground, St. John’s. Lawrence Rowe, Brendon McCullum and Azhar Ali each scored 302 runs in a single test innings. Apparently the 330s appears to be a corridor of death for batsmen. Here are the batsmen who perished in that virus-infected corridor: Donald Bradman 334; Wally Hammond 336 not out; Hanif Mohammad 337; Graham Gooch 333; Mark Taylor 334 not out; Chris Gayle 333 and David Warner 335 not out. Perhaps, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Michael Clarke were afraid of the deadly virus, so they stopped batting at 329. Matthew Hayden, who
We cannot build a future without trust DEAR EDITOR, We hear often that Guyana has a wealth of commodities. The reality is, with an economy still based on the export of unrefined commodities, we are invariably victim to the vagaries of the markets. (And perhaps those who felt that oil was somehow immune to this syndrome have now learned that it is among the most unpredictable of assets). There is one commodity that has always been in scarce supply on these shores: trust. Trust in government, trust in public institutions, trust in
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public office holders, trust in each other. Trust is the thread that binds our social fabric. It has been depleted, almost to vanishing point, by the events of the last six weeks (some would say 18 months). Oil is a fickle companion on the road to nationbuilding. Trust is an indispensable one. Guyana can build a future without oil if necessary. We cannot build a future without trust. This is what is at stake. This is what is being squandered. Yours faithfully, Isabelle de Caires
scored 380, was very fortunate to survive the virus, as he was dropped at longon at 336. Sanath Jayasuriya escaped the 330s virus by the skin of his teeth. He departed at 340. No other batsman ended his score in the 340s or 350s. The next highest score was 364 by Len Hutton, the world record. Garfield Sobers broke that record with 365 not out. Brian Lara dethroned Gary Sobers with 375, which was broken by Matthew Hayden’s 380 against Zimbabwe at the WACA Ground, Perth. Six months later Brian Lara again climbed back to the apex with an astonishing 400 not out. He is still basking there. Mahela Jayawardene made a spirited effort to take away the crown from Brian Lara when he slammed 374 against South Africa. There are many more exciting things to be written about the 300+ Club. One can find much more great information by checking out Cricinfo, or reading ‘400 Not Out. A History Of World Records’ by Guyanese, Vijay P. Kumar. Somehow, I feel that this is a good point for me to stop. Yours faithfully Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)
Why would City Council be piling on more pressure at this time? DEAR EDITOR, I was deeply disturbed to see in this time of severe crises of the Covid-19 pandemic, the political impasse with the elections still incomplete, and the country being buffeted by a world that is experiencing declining global economic activity, that the Public Relations Officer of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown would be badgering property owners to pay up their rates, through the letters columns of the daily newspapers. Most private businesses have had to be shuttered causing untold financial hardships to the owners and the employees who were involuntarily laid off, the vendors have had to stay home and stop plying their trade, the proceeds of which they normally use to cover their daily expenses — with no money leftover and no money in savings, they are now struggling to keep the pot boiling as they say. Then there are the pensioners who have to join
long lines at post offices at great risk to their health to uplift their pittances which just cover the barest of essentials. Also, the circumstances surrounding the greatly reduced need for minibus and taxi services, virtually bringing public transportation in the city to a standstill, and the privation that has caused the owners, drivers and conductors. I cannot therefore understand why amongst all this austerity the City Council expects persons t o r u s h down to City Hall or to some bill-paying service provider to pay up their rates as a priority at this time? And for what are they rushing to pay up their dues to the Council? The Day Care service has halted, restaurants, barber shops etc., have closed, thus no longer needing the requisite public health licences, the Abattoir roof has caved in bringing meat processing there to a halt, construction in the city has all but stopped, thus nullifying the necessity for engineering services. Bridges
and roads are not being built, yards are not being visited by Environmental Officers nor are they spraying for mosquitoes, rodent or vectors. And the list goes on and on. Some cities around the world are donating thousands of masks to residents as a public health initiative; Georgetown has not even given personal protective equipment to its own employees. Other cities are helping the elderly, the homeless and migrants - providing from food to hygiene kits - our capital is doing no such thing. While banks and other financial service providers, utility companies etc., are offering to reduce interest rates, defer loan payments and to relax bill payment schedules, our city fathers and mothers are chasing us down and demanding that we make as a priority the payment of property rates from the few pennies that we have in hand, while not knowing where the next ones will come from. Sincerely, Anu Bihari
The COVID-19 task force is creating a mess DEAR EDITOR, After paying taxes to the government for decades, it is disappointing that basic needs cannot be provided to those who are affected in this season of COVID-19. Or maybe we should accept that the decision-makers do not want to care for the citizens. It seems as though the task force is keen on creating a situation to test the breaking point of our health care system. Lives would have been saved and fewer resources required in the long run, if decisive and immediate actions were taken by this task force. A real plan was needed, which would have avoided the situation we are currently in. Even if it cost over 10 billion dollars in the short term, it would be less than what we will spend based on where we are heading at this time. It is fitting to point out
we are renovating a building for 1 billion dollars plus millions per month in rent, for cases we can simply avoid. We also have to consider the cost of caring for those who are infected. For a country that has a poor health care system, a completed lockdown was and is needed for at least three weeks. Only essential businesses should have been allowed to function during this time. By doing so, the hot spots would be identified and appropriate action taken. During and after the lockdown period, those who are vulnerable should be
cared for. I am not just referring to giving food items, but we need to work alongside the utility companies, landlords and other entities to reduce the burdens, especially for those who are vulnerable. Support should also be given to businesses in whatever way possible. I am convinced that the task force that is in place is clueless and careless as to what they are doing, and, as a result, they are creating a mess that has resulted in wasting of resources and, most importantly, the loss of lives. S. Singh
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Friday April 24, 2020
Kaieteur News
Let our children be children during Covid-19 Pandemic DEAR EDITOR, Since March 2nd we have been in uncharted waters in Guyana. Now, with schools closed, the zoo, various places children go during school breaks are now offlimits and parents are working at home (or wishing they were working). We are living through a global pandemic. What is a parent to do in Guyana? Yes, even as we are together with our children 24/ 7, this is to remind ourselves to let the children be children! The good news is: Children don’t need constant stimulation. The idea that parents have to enrich every second of their child’s life was a crazy lie even before the COVID-19. Children never needed all that scholarly stimulation and all those online classes and “teachable” moments. Do you know how Einstein spent much of his time as a child? His Father
apparently gave him a compass when he was five. Story has it that he marvelled at the fact that no matter what position he put the compass in, the needle always pointed north. And he spent hours with that compass and…building houses using cards! That’s right! Just imagine young Albert, balancing cards and learning absolutely n o t h i n g . Except…well…patience…and concentration…science and physics. The point being, not that you should run out and get your little munchkins a compass or a pack of cards so they can win the Nobel Prize before school physically resumes. (In fact in these times, don’t run out for anything!) The point is that children have always been bored, and they’ve always come up with things that seem like a total waste of time to adults (I’m instantly thinking
of that ridiculous “slime”!) but maybe they aren’t. I’m sure there are the parents right now, of older children, who are worried their children are turning into video games fanatics. But is that terrible? Nothing is interesting to children (or any of us) if it’s not at least a little challenging. So even if a child is working on passing a level or achieving the goal of whatever is the biggest video game out now (I have a few more years before my toddler reaches this stage - in my days it was Mario on a N64, Pacman and duck hunt) he is learning focus, frustration, tolerance and determination. Those are transferable skills, not wasted hours. Video games are absorbing, because they turn kids on, not off. So don’t worry about those. Don’t worry, either, if a child seems to be slacking off in the homework department.
If this is simply about PPP vs. PNC, then… DEAR EDITOR, I follow a few social media groups so as to get an idea of how people are thinking on both sides of our ethnic division. As a non-Indian or African person, I get to hear and feel the temperature of both sides, and what is very clear is how similar they are when it comes to defending their respective parties and leaders. While we all accept that the young are our hope and future, the truth is that most are not interested, especially since they have different social distractions. Many share those interest/ distractions with their friends, whether or not they are of the same ethnicity. Additionally, the young are not concerned for the most part about the past political influences of their elders Without doubt, their political interest may change as they grow older and are exposed to the realities which they will undoubtedly face, and which in turn may likely expose them to this diabolical cycle for some time yet to come. While there are a few among those who are currently more interested and better educated, that would get passionate and involved with either party irrespective of their ethnicity, we can reasonably assume that they are in the national minority. Party politics are still dependent on and guided by a few who are glued to ideological doctrines of the past, while the younger ones
simply go along biding their time to shine We still are not open or willing to examine in a frank way why one party finds it necessary to rig elections while the other does not. These hidden reasons must be examined in depth by both sides in an open forum and debated, based on fact and history. After all, whichever way you turn or twist it, these two groups must first learn to see eye to eye with each other, otherwise the burden of fear will forever dog them and progress will be forever elusive. No real peace, unity or development will have a ghost of a chance of success if these issues are not examined and death with. Each side’s leadership thinks it has the solution to solving our problems, but this is based on their narrow and flimsy individual views rather than hard facts and information. Guyana as a mixed population is largely dominated by those of Asian extraction and those of African extraction. The numbers of the former have
dwindled due to immigration, and it will in time to come change the ethnic dynamic. However, these changes will bring their own difficulties between the two if they do not reconcile them now, or they will continue to be stuck in race fear. First, I believe we ought to embark on a few factfinding surveys to determine and accurately guide us as to the deep-seated views, fears and other considerations which are of grave concern on both sides. This information can be used to inform the open forum and debate I earlier suggested. One of those national surveys should seek to find answers to the desires and expectations of all groups, insofar as their welfare and other issues are concerned, and what needs to be done to address them, and in what order. If however, this is simply about PPP vs. PNC and by extension Asian vs. African or us vs. them, then we must leave it where it is, and let the chips fall where they may. Yours Sincerely, Bernard Ramsay
The health care workers... From page 4 response has been knee-jerk and reactionary; a loose and “let’s see what happens” approach. The National MultiStakeholders Forum established by Dr. Irfaan Ali has had a more cohesive approach. Individuals in civil society have stepped up. The
government is flailing like a beached whale, confused and desperately trying to save itself. The Guyanese people have been abandoned. But in this abandonment, the health workers must bravely put their lives on the line every day. We must stop the nonsense now. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
Think back on how much you loved Easter, August and Christmas vacations. Wasn’t it a huge relief to finally not worry about grades and tests? Before COVID-19, childhood anxiety levels were going through the roof. In a July 2019 Pew Research Centre report, 7 out of 10 teens said anxiety and depression were “major problems among their peers.” Now children have, basically, a long, strange, twisted vacation. Yes, for many, school is still continuing, with all these online classes the Ministry and schools implemented, but it’s not taking the same number of hours, and all their after-school activities are cancelled, too. This opens up a vast swath of free time that many children have simply never had before! I urge you to take advantage of this potential of turning it into a
period of growth — mentally and emotionally. Though not every youngster will become an Einstein while under this lockdown, many seem to be turning into the children they would have been had they grown up a generation or two earlier, with more time to discover their real interests and hobbies (remember those days?), before childhood got so structured and busy. It really hit me on Wednesday evening as our son had simple joy in tossing little shredded paper from a homemade Easter basket at me shrieking excitedly “Got you!” He then proceeded to go look for his Father and he did the same with him, with it landing smack on his Dad’s plate. A month or two ago, it would never have reached that stage, but that evening we were both so chill, and he was just being a child exploring and
playing...Gleefully. What I mean to convey is: It’s all okay. Our children will be fine. In fact, they’re growing, simply because children are always growing and learning from everything — building houses of cards, imagination pretend games, running in the backyard in the mornings, climbing a tree, playing with dirt and mud, doing chores with Mommy, baths, helping with projects with Daddy, building something, jumping in muddy puddles, seeking out insects outdoors, looking at videos, but most of all from that vital resource more rare and precious than toilet paper: free time. I urge you all to think of the lockdown as a Master’s Programme in chilling. You can help your children so much by simply stepping back. Sincerely, Mommy V
Misleading food remedies to fight coronavirus DEAR EDITOR, Texts and emails are flooding social media about home food and beverage consumption as potential remedies to tackle the coronavirus. No one knows for sure what works, but one could try anything that is not potentially harmful to health. However, people must be circumspect, as some information can be misleading. For example, one bit of advice suggests that the virus does not survive in high PH (potential hydrogen) values (alkaline). Thus, one is advised to consume foods or drinks with high PH values. It is not scientifically proven that consuming high PH goods successfully fight off the coronavirus. In general, high PH foods are good, but there must be a balance. Anyone who studies chemistry or even biology would know about PH values. Guyanese Chemists should have been in the forefront to discuss this issue to guide people on health. I studied Bio-Chemistry (pre-med requisite with intention of going on in medicine) for my undergraduate degree before pursuing post grad (and doctoral) studies in the social sciences and educational administration. I also taught Chemistry, Biology, Physics, hygiene, nutrition, and health education, and worked in a Bio-Chem lab for several years. So I know about a little about PH, etc. PH tests the acidity and base or alkalinity of products.
A PH of about 7.0 or even up to 7.5 is considered neutral (good either way). The PH goes up to 14 (very difficult to stomach). The lower the value, the more acidic is the product. The higher the value, the more alkaline or base it is. Any value less than 7.0 is considered acidic (like acids, vinegar, etc.). A PH of 1 is unbearable to consume unless diluted. Any value higher than 7.0 is considered to be basic or alkaline. Soapy products are alkaline; the virus dies in soaps, and that is why it is recommended that we wash out hands regularly with (frothy) soaps. So alkalinity does damage the virus. Water’s PH is around 7.0 which is excellent for the body; some people ionize water to give it higher PH of between 8 and 9. Ionized water is good but costly. A list of juices making rounds in social media gives incorrect alkalinity. For example, lemon, lime, tangerine, pineapple, mango, and orange juices are listed as 9.9, 8.2, 8.5, 12.7, 8.7, and 9.2 respectively. These values are not correct. During studies for my degree in Biochemistry, some forty years ago, a required laboratory course was to analyze PH values of various juices and foods. Almost all juices are acidic and are generally not advised for diabetics, except in small quantities. Almost all oils are alkaline. The approximate PH values for above juices are 2.2, 1.8, 2.5, 3.1, 4.0, and 3.3
respectively. They are very high in sugar; the body biochemically process juices (and all starches) into sugar that can be dangerous to a diabetic patient. Mango is very high in sugar content, but has healthy fibre as do some other fruits. Some relatively high PH value (healthy) foods are avocadoes, watermelon, sweet potatoes, squash or loukie, milk, eggs, baigan, roti (high sugar), butter, beans (like dhal or channa or black eye), rice (high sugar), saijan, ochro or bindhi, kareila, various bhajis (chowrai, poi, saijan, etc), among others. Tea has a high PH value of 7.2 – that is a good liquid to drink (warm) to tackle the virus. People should consume warm water or tea throughout the course of the day – very good for health. Most importantly, one should double check information with health officials (doctors, scientists, nutritionists) or with others who experimented already with proven homemade remedies. So far, citrus peel (high alkalinity) boiled water seems to be working to ward off virus (but not scientifically proven). Neem, tulsi, kareila leaves boiled water (consumed raw better – no harm done to body) seem to be lowering blood sugar as per my experience. But these have to be tested scientifically; chemists and biologists at UG need to do some research on above. Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram
Friday April 24, 2020
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Kaieteur News
In spite of gloomy market conditions, Guyana should continue pumping oil In spite of COVID-19’s devastating impact on the global petroleum industry, where declining demand for crude and low oil prices have forced some countries to shut off wells, there is no reason why Guyana should contemplate same says University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro. In an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News recently, the international consultant who specializes in contract negotiation and renegotiation, said that Guyana must continue pumping oil in spite of gloomy market conditions. Mitro was adamant that it
makes less economic sense to do otherwise. Expounding further, the University of Houston Instructor said, “...I see that Exxon has demobilized a rig in Guyana. That is (one of the things) that tends to get cut or deferred in any new exploration or appraisal drilling during a low price period.” Be that as it may, he said, “It is much more difficult and makes less economic sense to shut down an ongoing field development such as in Guyana. For one, the companies usually have contractual obligations to pay the subcontractors.
- makes less economic sense to -University of do otherwise Houston Instructor
University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro Deferring the projects would result in the company having to pay penalties and demobilization costs as per their contracts.” Adding
$300,000 bail for couple busted with weed at Berbice Bridge A man and his reputed wife, both ex-members of the Guyana Police Force, were placed on $150,000 bail each after they were charged jointly at the New Amsterdam Magistrate Court before Magistrate Peter Hugh. Kushyal Grant and Rokeisha Collins, of Sheet Anchor Village, East Canje, Berbice made their appearance yesterday and were slapped with the joint charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. They both pleaded not guilty and the case was adjourned to the May 12, 2020. The couple was busted at the Berbice River Bridge checkpoint with a quantity of cannabis in their car by police ranks on duty. According to reports, a “salt bag” was discovered covered with a multicoloured cloth in the left section of the back passenger seat of the vehicle.
Granted bail: Rokeisha Collins Reports suggest that a police rank upon observing the covered bag decided to open it in the couple’s presence at which point seven bulky parcels wrapped with transparent plastic containing portions of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis. Two of the couple’s children were also in the car at the time. Collins however made a daring a dash for it
Granted bail: Kushyal Grant while ranks were engaging Grant about the suspected cannabis. The woman, this publication had reported, sped off with her children still in the car, leaving behind Grant to deal with the police on Monday. The parcels were weighed in Grant’s presence at the Central Police Station and it amounted to 9 kg.Collins was subsequently arrested at home on Tuesday.
GTT introduces bundled services to help customers spend less The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) on Wednesday launched its ‘2 for 2 Covid-19 response campaign’ in a bid to curb customer costs and provide bonus data during the current pandemic. In a statement, the telephone company’s Vice President of Customer Experience and Quality, Orson Ferguson, said, “Customers who combine their internet and mobile accounts under one name will receive a bonus 2GB of mobile data every month at no additional cost.” The special offer will enable GTT subscribers being able to bundle their GTT services to benefit from a special offer. “This package was created especially for customers who are always on the go and need
to stay connected with their friends and family and their work place. We are trying to make this period less stressful for our customers and help lower their spending, through bundling,” Ferguson added. The offer applies to all internet users and both prepaid and postpaid mobile customers once both accounts are under the same name. “We appreciate that we are all trying our best to function and stay connected during a challenging time. We are in this together - and GTT will continue to do what it can to offer added value to our loyal customers,” Ferguson stated. To sign up for this generous offer, customers are invited to visit the GTT website (www.gtt.co.gy).
another point for consideration, Mitro said that a deferral in the middle of a development just ends up delaying when the operator starts producing oil. Further to this, Mitro said that the local authorities would be wise to pay attention to very small companies that participate in offshore projects as they may run out of financing at low oil prices and have to sell their interests, drop out of projects or even go b a n k r u p t . A d d i t i o n a l l y,
Mitro said that ExxonMobil and the government will have similar interests during this low price period, that is, “neither wants to produce at a loss.” The University of Houston Instructor also said that this is a period when it helps to have a good marketing team or connections into refineries. In this regard, he commented, “One advantage of an Exxon or Hess is that they do have a refining system and they will typically give priority to
crude oil that they produce in their upstream rather than buying other people’s oil.” Mitro said that the Government of Guyana will need to pay extra attention to the reported transfer price during this period of uncertainty. He also said that this will be a difficult time for the government trying to sell its own share of profit oil because it has no refining system to connect to. “They may have to make big discounts in order to sell,” Mitro said.
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Friday April 24, 2020
Station bail for drivers involved in Berbice fatal accident The two drivers, who were placed in custody following an accident that killed a 68-year-old woman and badly injured her husband, have been released on $200,000 station bail each. This is according to a senior member of the Guyana Police Force. Shevon Stewart, driver of motorcar PGG 6698, who is a law enforcement officer attached to the Guyana Revenue Authority and Yo g e s h w a r D h a n i r a m , driver of motorcar PMM 6565, have both been released on bail. Kaieteur News was informed that the injured man, Rishiram Rambaran called Rishi of Number 73 Village, Upper, Berbice, has sustained broken bones to both legs, arms, damage to his spinal cord and other internal and external injuries about his body. However, a relative disclosed that the man who is a patient at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital is responsive following a surgical procedure. The
Rishiram Rambaran and his wife, Lalita, in happier times.
The motorcycle and one of the cars that were involved in the accident man, according to reports, has been asking for his wife, Lalita Rambarran, who died in the accident. According to the
relative, “he keep asking why she not calling to see how he doing and how she deh because we have not told him as yet”. The distraught
relative noted that at some point, the man will have to be informed about the demise of his wife. The relative also stated that Rambaran, since he awoke, has been providing some details of what took place that unfortunate day. The man has told relatives that he was heading in the direction of (Skeldon) while
the two cars, which were involved in the accident, were travelling in the opposite direction. According to the injured man, he had put on his light to indicate that he was crossing the road and it was while he was making his way over on his motorcycle, with his wife as the pillion rider, that one of the cars slammed into his bike. The car was reportedly travelling at a fast rate leading up to the point of impact. As a result of the hit, both Rambaran and his wife were thrown several feet into the air and fell on to the road surface. Motorcar PMM
6565 driven by Dhaniram then reportedly drove over Lalita Rambaran which caused her right foot to be severed.She was picked up in an unconscious state while her husband was picked up in a semi-conscious state. They were rushed to the Skeldon Public Hospital to seek medical attention. Lalita Rambaran was pronounced dead on arrival and her body was taken to the said hospital mortuary. A post mortem is expected to be conducted on the woman’s body shortly, police said. The accident occurred just after noon Tuesday last.
Two in custody for killing Mahaica man The family of 40-year-old Zahir Ali is now in a state of grief after he was reportedly murdered by neighbours around 19:30 hours Wednesday. According to reports, the same neighbours were earlier in the day seen throwing stones at his home. The incident occurred at Mosquito Hall, Unity, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara. Two persons have since been arrested in connection with the brutal murder. Kaieteur News understands that prior to the incident, Ali was in the house he shared with his wife and four children when he heard what sounded like repeated banging on his roof. Upon investigating, he found that it was some neighbours who were throwing stones. Ali then reportedly confronted the neighbours and a heated argument ensued. According to reports, it was during the argument that the neighbours pulled Ali into their yard and brutalized him. He was reportedly chopped and beaten which caused him to sustain injuries to his left side chest and abdomen. According to sources, about 10 minutes after the assault, Ali was seen running out of the neighbours’ yard covered in blood. He was rushed to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. When contacted, Regional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Royston AndriesJunor, stated that a teenager and an adult were
Dead: Zahir Ali
arrested in connection with the incident. Another police source revealed too that since last year many reports were made by villagers about the bad attitude of the suspects who have been described as “drugs sellers”. However, no further investigations followed. Ali leaves to mourn his wife, Sunita Rampersaud, and four children. (Anastacya Peters)
Kaieteur News
Friday April 24, 2020
PAGE 09
Order the body bags!
G
uyanese do not fully understand the extent of the human tragedy which is taking place around the world as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic. Over the last fifteen days, there have been more than 400,000 confirmed cases and more than 27,000 deaths in the United States alone. Over the past week, almost 12,000 persons have died in that country. This is more than one death and more than 20 confirmed cases every minute. As frightening as these n u m b e r s a p p e a r, t h e y understate the true extent of infections and deaths. CNN yesterday reported that based on anti-body testing, it is estimated that 13.9% of the population of New York State have contracted the virus and as many as one in every five New York City residents either have or have contracted the virus. With a population of 19.4 M persons, the random testing done suggests that almost 2.7 million New Yorkers have the virus. In New York City – where thousands of Guyanese live – as many as 2 million persons may have contracted the virus. At present, the number of confirmed infections in New
York State, the epicenter of the spread of the virus in the USA, stands at 268,581. The actual number of persons who have the virus or have had the virus is now believed to be ten times this number. Guyana’s testing rate is extremely low. At present, there are 67 confirmed cases locally. Using the USA as a guide, we can estimate that we may have at present more than 700 persons walking around the country with the virus. Based on global estimates, 1/5 of these are likely to require hospitalization and 10% are likely to die. Those who have rebuked in the name of God my suggestion that if Guyana’s death rate mirrors that of Spain, the death toll could be higher than 300, should take a look at this new data which is coming in. While it points to the fact that the actual death rate in the USA is likely to be under 1% of those infected, the number of infected is likely to be 9-10 times higher and therefore the total number of deaths is likely to be higher. Guyana’s Ministry of Health, along with PAHO, has used a model which estimates that more than 20,000 Guyanese are likely to be infected if nothing is done to mitigate the spread.
You do not need Mingo to do the Math to show if 5% of those infected die, what will be the final death tally. It will surpass, multiple times, the estimated 300 deaths if Guyana’s death rate approaches 416 deaths for every one million persons (the present death rate in Spain, which has a superior health system to Guyana). There is no comfort to be found in the fact that Guyana only has 70 confirmed cases at present. Guyana’s 70 is higher than the Cayman Islands (66), Bahamas (65), Haiti (58), St. Martin 38, Antigua (24), Belize (18), Dominica (16), St. Kitts and Nevis (15), St. Lucia 15, Curacao (14), Grenada (14), St. Vincent and the Grenadines 13, all of which because of their tourism sectors are at higher risk of imported infections. Neighbouring Suriname, which shut down before they had a single case, only has 10 cases. When therefore nonessential businesses, which continue to open their stores for customers despite the social restrictions in place, can be so barefaced to tell the media that they are not aware that they were not supposed to open, it shows the high level of irresponsibility of those who are putting a buck in front of a life. Guyana has acquired
Dem boys seh...
Wha’ de lil gyal tell de big man Dem boys hear a story dat dem want share fuh mek yuh laugh… A man who nah believe dere is a Creator sit down next to a lil gyal on an airplane. He turn to she and ask: “Do you want to talk? Flights go faster if yuh start a conversation wid de person next to you.” De little girl who had just start read she book ask he: “What you want talk about?” “Oh, I don’t know,” said de man who don’t believe in de Creator. “How ‘bout we talk about why dere is no God, no heaven or hell or no life after death?” de man suggested, giggling. “Ok,” said de lil gyal. “Dat is a
interesting topic but lemme ask a question fuss. A horse, a cow and a deer all eat de same stuff…grass. But a deer does pass out lil pellets and de cow…flat patties. De horse does drop clumps. Why yuh suppose dat happen?” De man who ain’t believe in God was surprised at de gyal question. He think about ‘bout it long and hard. “Hmm,”…he said, “I don’t know.” “Suh is how you wanna talk dere is no Creator, heaven and hell, or life after death when yuh ain’t know s%t? Talk half and wait fuh more nice stories like this during de lockdown.
some additional test kits, according to a report on Kaieteur Radio. The Ministry of Public Health should take about 150 of these and conduct a random sample of the Regions in which confirmed cases of the virus already exist. From this, it would be
able to estimate exactly how many persons are infected throughout these Regions. From that data, it would be able to determine how many body bags to order. The selfish and irresponsible behaviour of Guyana will mean that we may need far more than the Health Ministry estimated.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.
Kaieteur News
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Friday April 24, 2020
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Why was Granger listed as a US citizen?
P
resident David Granger said his government did enter into a contract with the PR firm JJ&B of the US. But why would a ruling party enter into an arrangement for a white American citizen to compile a political analysis o f G u y a n a ’s e l e c t i o n
controversies with a background assessment of the country and not inform the head of the party? That does not happen in modern politics. When a country is going through a volcanic crisis as Guyana is with the election depravities, its war room
meets maybe more than once as day. The Prime Minister, or the President who heads the ruling party, is on the phone every minute with his trusted lieutenants. My contestation is if Granger did not know (and I believe he didn’t), then this
is by any standard a serious scandal for which Mr. Granger will obviously kill his political career if he does not discipline his party leaders. Such dramatic aberrations do not occur and the head of government accepts the contempt shown
to him. The scandal has two dimensions, one of which is sordid; the other is related to high moral standards. First the intellectual bankruptcy of the PNC. The PNC (I don’t think the AFC was ever consulted out of contempt the PNC has for it) went to a white American man by the name of Michael Granger to prepare a dossier on Guyanese politics. If you read the dossier, it is not only an argument that is justification for the APNU+AFC victory in the election, it is much more than that. It is an analysis of contemporary politics of Guyana. I am not aware that M i c h a e l G r a n g e r ’s scholarship takes in Guyana. But Granger obviously has tasked out the project to junior researchers. None of these researchers can be Guyanese or students of Guyana’s sociology because the dossier is appallingly poor in analysis and facts, and in fact is self-destructive because it contains material that when examined meticulously could be used against the APNU+AFC government and APNU+AFC leaders. So the obvious question – why a white American? Well if Guyanese do not know the answer then the people of Guyana has to blame the mediocrity of G u y a n a ’s j o u r n a l i s t s . Michael Granger’s PR firm was hired by the PNC to advise the PNC on the 2020 campaign. He came here in August 2019 and set up business at Congress Place under a project named, “Operation Palm.” He left one of his subordinates in charge who had as her liaison in Guyana, t h e P N C ’s c a m p a i g n consultant, Dr. Mark Kirton. PNC leader, Granger, invited the AFC executive to meet with his namesake at State House. A quarrel broke out in the AFC because Cathy Hughes suggested that only a selected group meet with both Grangers so not to let information out on Granger ’s presence in Guyana. Ramjattan insisted that the invitation was to the AFC’s executive. The AFC leaders and their sycophants met the American Granger at State House in August 2019. Please see my column of Wednesday August 14,
Frederick Kissoon 2019. The press never asked Granger, the PNC and the AFC about that meeting at State House. The second dimension of the dossier relates to President Granger being named an American citizen. In February, a prominent Guyanese sent me an email stating that both Granger and his wife were American citizens. The person said the First Lady lived in the US for a number of years. I don’t know but I am kindly asking the First Lady if she ever lived in the US. I dismissed the email. I simply cannot remember who that person is. I get too many emails, a majority of which I delete. If that person reads this column, please make contact again. My phone number is 614-5927. My email is fredkissoon@yahoo.com. I cannot see a successful American PR firm wildly and stupidly listing the President as an American citizen. That is too serious to just put into your research. My right is to express my beliefs and I am expressing one now. I am not accepting President Granger’s denial until research proves otherwise. Politicians cannot be trusted. President Granger said at his second and only press conference in December 2017 that he has no intention of rigging elections. Khemraj Ramjattan told this nation on Tuesday at Kaieteur Radio that the AFC would no t accept rigged elections. I am older than Ramjattan and I am saying to him that I have seen rigged elections in my country and what I have seen from March 4 up to now is the worst form of election tampering in Guyana’s history. Both Granger and Ramjattan have accepted an APNU+AFC victory in an election that was horribly manipulated. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Kaieteur News
Friday April 24, 2020
PAGE 11
Uitvlugt utilizes nearly 300 tonnes cane to produce one tonne sugar One of the three remaining sugar estates in the country had a deeply worrying record of production yesterday. According to the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) yesterday, it learnt from workers yesterday morning that the Uitvlugt factory, over the last 24 hours, utilized on average, 296.6 tonnes of canes to produce a tonne of sugar. It would be a stark contrast to the previous day when the estate, located on the West Coast of Demerara, utilized just over 29 tonnes cane to produce a tonne of sugar. “In other words, the situation deteriorated by 921 per cent. To put the situation into perspective, according to the estate, this crop, had expected to utilize just over 12 tonnes of sugar to produce a tonne of sugar. The workers who, like us, are deeply upset about the situation, shared that mechanical breakdowns are at the root of the problem,” GAWU said. The union said too it has learnt that the factory suffered breakdowns aggregating to some 415 hours over its 11-week cropping period. “The breakdowns are equivalent to about 3.2 weeks of operations. At this time, Uitvlugt Estate is concluding its first crop with harvesting operations having come to an end earlier this week. Production for the crop at this morning stood at 8,425 tonnes sugar as against a crop target of 9,410 tonnes,” GAWU revealed yesterday. The union said that based on the canes remaining to be crushed, it is estimated that the estate will fall shy of its target by about 800 tonnes sugar and possibly even more if the disturbing situation of the last 24 hours prevails. “Uitvlugt factory woes are not unknown and our union on several occasions
has expressed concern about its functioning. The GAWU, not too long ago, learnt that the factory suffered 16 breakdowns over a 24-hour period. This is almost unimaginable and brings into question the efficacy of the Corporation’s enhanced factory operations department. Apart from its factory woes, the estate also suffered a shortfall in anticipated cane production this crop which contributed, in no small measure, to the production deficit recorded.” Meanwhile, the union said that the news at Uitvlugt comes at a time when the state-owned sugar company was considering approaching the administration for support to offset the payment of wages and salaries. “The situation of the Corporation has been exacerbated by the rudderless leadership of the Coalition as it concerns sugar and national life generally. It is now over two years since the Government
The Uitvlugt factory suffered major technical issues recently.
backed a $30B bond to modernize the remaining state-owned estates at Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt was secured. Notwithstanding, the lengthy period, not one of the touted modernization projects has broken ground nor has the necessary investments in the fields and factory really gotten underway.” The union said that had
this been done, the industry could be on the road to recovery with the seeming, unending procrastination being most harmful. “Even a commitment by President Granger in June, 2019 to have the sums quickly released to the industry was not realized as the NICIL-SPU, apparently overriding the President, has held on to the monies as it says it has concerns.”
The union said that the Guyana Sugar Corporation, which manages a smaller size industry now, including Uitvlugt, Albion and Blairmont, for its part, has said that it believed that it had provided satisfactory responses. “Nevertheless, the situation persists. The GAWU remains convinced that the ongoing disagreement has to be laid
squarely at the feet of the Government which rather than arresting the situation has allowed it to fester to the detriment of the industry and more so tens of thousands of Guyanese.” The union urged that at this time that the industry receives appropriate support. “Indeed, there is urgent need as we need to avoid further disruption in the
Kaieteur News
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Friday April 24, 2020
“Political situation” could stall int’l aid to Guyana - Moses Nagamootoo P rime Minister and Head of the National COVID-
19 Task Force, Moses Nagamootoo, is of the view that Guyana may not be able
to source as much international funding as it needs to aid the fight against
COVID-19 outbreak. This is due to the incompletion of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections process. It has been more than 50 days since Guyanese went to the polls to cast their vote for the elections and a legitimate government is yet to be sworn into office. That step is left stalled due to the controversy over the declaration of results for Region Four. Weeks later, Guyana began battling with the novel Coronavirus since the first confirmed case emerged in early March. Since that instance, the Government has applied for aid from several international lending institutions; most notably, a US$5M loan from the World Bank to which Guyana has not received any response. To this, the Prime Minister, during a virtual media conference, pointed out that Guyana’s current “political situation” may be putting a block on receiving the funds. Responding to questions on whether Guyana has received any word on funding, the head of the Task Force relayed that a few requests are still being processed. Nagamootoo further stated “I believe that also,
Head of the National COVID-19 Task Force, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo (Naga) because of the political situation, in Guyana while we are in transition to a government that emerged after March 2, 2020, that we cannot say for sure whether some of these international, multilateral lending agencies are going to be dealing with Guyana’s applications any time soon.” He opined that “they probably would want to sit it out and wait until the President is sworn in.” Nagamootoo noted too that the government will now redirect funds from other projects to aid in the COVID-19 fight. “We have an ongoing relationship with the InterAmerican Development Bank with regards to several
projects that would be reconfigured to COVID related projects…I’m told that this would be just under US$80M.” Added to that, the Prime Minister pointed out that government will also tap into funding from the International Funds for Agriculture Development (IFAD), that is, the US$14M grant offered by the Indian Government to Caribbean nations and others to assist in Agriculture production. “We are told that there is monies available from other international agencies that could be tapped for example IFAD, in the agricultural sector, livestock sector, could be converted for short term use,” he added.
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Friday April 24, 2020
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Authorities relying on census to help determine relief for vulnerable citizens As citizens continue to reel from the COVID-19 fallouts, authorities say they are redoubling efforts to generate a list of vulnerable family that it will dole out scarce relief to. Speaking during a press conference yesterday, head of the National COVID-19 Task Force, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, said that the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) is using information from the latest census to compile the list. A recent decision resulted in the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), which was spearheading relief efforts for Government, halting the distribution of hampers and other items to poor families. Yesterday, questioned about the process, Nagamootoo admitted that there is a continued pause on the distribution. He praised CDC for its initial efforts which saw almost 2,000 homes in several regions, benefitting. Nagamootoo explained that the distribution has been placed on hold as there is a need to have coordination and to ensure that the persons benefitting are indeed part of the vulnerable group.
There are consultations ongoing with the Task Force working with the NDMA. Nagamootoo explained that the census may not be “very, very accurate” but it does give an idea. “We have worked from data, from the Ministry of Social Protection, dealing with pensioners and persons receiving social assistance.” Also being included in the group targeted for assistance are persons in homes- geriatric and other homes that accommodate elderly people. A number of homes run by private organisations are also to receive relief.Nagamootoo said that the Ministry of Communities has been working in the various regions.It was pointed out that building a database is important in the short term but the pause would impact on proper planning for the long term.According to the Task Force head, hampers and handouts will never be enough to deal with the COVID-19 fallouts. Rather, there has to also be an accommodation of measures. It was noted that the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, alluded to long term measures with
The authorities are building a database that will guide the government on where to target its COVID-19 relief efforts. As of now, these efforts have been suspended.(CDC) attention to stimulus package and a budget with a government in place
that will stimulate the economy. This can only happen if the
country gets over the elections hurdles.
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Friday April 24, 2020
Elections 2020 – Day 52… GECOM spends another day in
meeting pussyfooting about recount details By Kemol King The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) spent all day yesterday discussing the draft workplan for the national recount. One Commissioner, Sase Gunraj, said that the way the discussions went through the “fine details… was almost like pulling teeth”. Another Commissioner, Vincent Alexander said that the engagement was like dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. He said that the “very lengthy meeting” which was extended due to “timewasting” could be attributed to the proclivity of one Commissioner to keep reinvigorating matters that were already put to rest, even though that Commissioner’s position is a minority one. Alexander said he would not be surprised if the Commission spent time again today discussing the work plan, or if a Commissioner brings up settled matters. One of the matters he said was rehashed yesterday is that of the number of GECOM officials to be present at each workstation. Alexander had pointed out previously that a decision was taken a few meetings ago for there to be four GECOM officials at each station. The Commissioner did not say who resurrected this matter, but Gunraj did mention yesterday his surety that the number of persons at each workstation can be reduced. Alexander also appeared
disgruntled by one Commissioner objecting to the instructions of the National COVID-19 Task Force. It is Gunraj who said that GECOM is an independent body that should craft its own recount procedures, even where COVID-19 guidelines are concerned. He said that he disagrees that the Task Force should have the ability to impose restrictions, and that he even disagrees with certain restrictions imposed by the Task Force. Commissioners also argued over whether it would be best to impose a duration on the recount before it starts. Gunraj said that the current parameters appear to set the recount duration well over a month. He posited that such a duration would be unacceptable, and advocated in favour of imposing a duration. He said that GECOM can attempt to work toward completing the count within the imposed duration, arguing that it is unfair to all concerned for there to be an open-ended process. On the other hand, Alexander said that the duration cannot be decided on yet. He appeared to espouse a suggestion for GECOM to use the first day of the recount as a litmus test to determine how long it will actually take to examine one ballot box. He noted a proposal for the recount to last 10 days, but said that the
Commissioner Vincent Alexander assertion for a recount of 10 days is based on premises which are intuitive, at best. On the matter of the draft order for the recount, it was expected that that would have been finalized y e s t e r d a y. H o w e v e r , discussions on the work-plan took up most of the time, and the order was only brought up at the end of the meeting, yesterday afternoon. Alexander said he tabled a new draft, making amendments to the draft that Gunraj originally handed the Commission. He said that the draft order, prepared by Gunraj, included attempts to integrate certain modalities into the recount procedure that were already decided on. For example, Alexander said there was an attempt to include that the results for the first regions to be counted, one and four, would be declared before moving on to the other regions. Alexander opposed this, arguing that the recount
Commissioner Sase Gunraj should be completed in its entirety so GECOM could have the whole picture before making the declaration of the results. He said that it would take too long to complete the Region Four declarations before moving to the other regions. Alexander said that the inclusion in Gunraj’s draft order indicated to him that it seems there are ulterior motives afoot, besides the timely execution of the process. His position is that all of the regions’ results should be declared simultaneously. GECOM also discussed the mechanisms surrounding the document which will replace the Statement of Poll. Gunraj referred to a document he called the ‘statement of recount’. He said that the document will be given to the Chief Elections Officer, the GECOM Chair and the Commissioners. He noted that the Chair will be in possession of the original documents. He added that party representatives will be presented with their own
copies of the documents, and that they will have an opportunity to go through the tabulation before signing off on it. Both Commissioners expressed frustration over how long GECOM is taking to begin the recount, and the slothfulness of the Commission. Alexander said he could only hope that the recount starts in the coming week. But he would not commit to that, because he said the Commission is not operating with the alacrity that would allow him to do so. Of the Secretariat, Alexander said he is of the view that it is doing all it can. The recount can only start when the CARICOM high-level team arrives. Though Commissioners indicated that the Chair is in communication with the CARICOM Secretary General, Commissioners are unaware when the team will arrive. Chair seems inclined to live-stream certain aspects of recount – Gunraj The question of the livestreaming of the recount is perhaps the most widely unaddressed issue by the Chair of GECOM. She has spoken to the press on just about every other matter but this one, even though calls continue to mount for the public to have live viewership of the count for maximum transparency. Gunraj told reporters yesterday that Singh has expressed “certain views” on the live-streaming of the process, and that she “seems inclined to certain aspects of the process being livestreamed”. He did not say
which aspects, but expects the Chair to give more details on that matter today, as GECOM expects to bring the work-plan to its conclusion. No role identified for Mingo yet – Alexander Alexander, in response to questions, told reporters yesterday that no role has yet been identified for controversial Region Four returning officer, Clairmont Mingo, in the recount process. Alexander had said that the post of returning officer is not one that will be activated for the recount, but that persons who served as returning officers may be used. It is unclear who the GECOM staffers are, who will be engaged for the recount. Those staffers are likely to be decided on by the Secretariat. He said that one Commissioner read out a list of about 12 names of persons who, in that Commissioner’s view, should not be involved in the recount process. Gunraj, for one, has been one of the foremost advocates for the removal of Mingo and certain others. Gunraj said the Chair told the Commission that certain officers are statutory, and that she is not inclined to remove them. Gunraj remained opposed to that position. Alexander said that there must be a basis for the exclusion of certain officials. “Have you brought specific allegations against these persons?” Alexander asked. He said that there is no basis for their exclusion, if (Continued on page 16)
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Friday April 24, 2020
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FAO urges protection of food supply chains amid COVID-19 threat early warning programmes, rapid emergency and humanitarian aid responses, and robust recovery plans very important, Qu said.
FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu The COVID-19 pandemic is not only a major public health concern but also a threat to global food security, one that can be mitigated by avoiding measures that disrupt food supply chains. This was the counsel of FAO DirectorGeneral QU Dongyu to Agriculture Ministers of the G20 countries. In a statement released to the media, he said, “Preserving access to safe food and nutrition is an essential part of the health response,” even as he stressed the need for countries to strengthen local production and shorten food supply chains.“We need to collaborate with every actor in the supply chain, build public-private partnerships and promote innovation”, Qu said at the Extraordinary G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting on Food Security and Nutrition, convened earlier this week by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
which holds the rotating G20 presidency. Speaking on behalf of the three Rome-based UN food agencies (FAO, WFP and IFAD), FAO’s DirectorGeneral also urged G20 ministers to include longterm goals in their policy frameworks. “The crisis opens an opportunity to accelerate food system transformation,” Qu said, pointing to e-commerce tools as a way to enhance local resilience and bolster direct links between producers and consumers. “New business models are needed. It is the time to speed-up e-commerce in agriculture and food systems across the globe,” he said. FAO is actively engaged in helping vulnerable countries bolster their food systems to counter shocks caused by COVID-19 along local, regional and global food supply chains. The COVID-19 pandemic makes
The Director-General also urged the ministers to support the broader use of timely tools such as the Agricultural Market Information System - a G20 initiative hosted by FAO that monitors world supply and price developments - and FAO’s Food and Agriculture Policy Decision Analysis (FAPDA), both of which are contributing to orderly functioning of global markets.The G20 meeting focused on pushing forward with the commitment made last month at a G20 Summit when leaders pledged to enhance global cooperation, and ensure and facilitate trade flows of agricultural products to safeguard global food security and nutrition.The Ministers of Agriculture of the G20 adopted a Ministerial Statement on COVID-19, which reaffirms “the importance of working to ensure the continued flow of food, products, and inputs essential for agricultural and food production across borders.” The declaration also points out that G20 countries “will work together to help ensure that sufficient, safe, affordable, and nutritious food continues to be available and accessible to all people, including the poorest, the most vulnerable, and displaced people.”The meeting was also attended by the heads of World Health
Body of missing Essequibo farmer recovered A two-day search for 32year-old Ryan Khayum e n d e d l a t e We d n e s d a y evening after his body was discovered floating in the Pomeroon River by a search party. Khayum, a farmer of Grant, Great Eastern, Lower Pomeroon River, Essequibo went missing after a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) vessel crashed into the boat he, his wife and other relatives were travelling in Monday evening. A post mortem examination was conducted on the body yesterday by state Pathologist, Nehaul Singh, who revealed Khayum’s cause of death was due to drowning compounded by multiple injuries.
Kaieteur News had reported that on Monday evening, Khayum, his wife and his two uncles were returning from Charity when a Guyana Defence Force vessel collided with his boat. Reports are that the vessel was at the time returning to the Coast Guard base at the mouth of the Pomeroon River. Without any warning, the Coast Guard vessel slammed into the farmer’s boat, immediately causing it to capsize. Relatives, who were trapped beneath the capsized boat, said that the last thing they saw was Khayum’s hands before he finally went down. The man’s wife and his two uncles were later rescued by a neighbour.
Dead: Ryan Khayum The Coast Guard ranks were subjected to breathalyzer tests and they were found to be way over the prescribed alcohol limit. A Board of Inquiry launched by the GDF to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident, is still ongoing.
Organization (WHO), World Trade Organization (WTO), Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Organization for
Animal Health (OIE) and a representative of the World Bank.
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Friday April 24, 2020
Kaieteur News
Trinidad four more recovered covid-19 patients discharged NEWSDAY - The total number of discharged, recovered covid19 patients is now 45 – four more than in
the Health Ministry’s 10am update yesterday. In its 4pm update, the ministry said three of the
patients had been sent home from the Couva Hospital, and one from the Home of Football Wellness Centre in Balmain, Couva. There was also an increase in the number of samples sent to the Caribbean
Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for testing. This total was 1,454 yesterday morning but is now 1,459. The number of confirmed cases remains at 115 and the number of deaths at eight.
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The Gleaner - The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica is reporting that it has so far raised more than $80 million through its COVID-19 Jamaica Response Fund. The Fund is a multisectoral, private, public
and social services initiative in partnership with the Council of Voluntary Social Services, United Way of Jamaica, American Friends of Jamaica and o t h e r stakeholders. It aims to raise an initial target of $250 million, to help
Jamaica’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. United Way chairperson Dr Marcia Forbes, says her organisation is committed to partnering with the PSOJ . “This global crisis affects us all and requires a united effort to bring urgent and
impactful relief,” said Dr Forbes. United Way is using its partnerships and network to disburse the Fund to organisations that will provide at-risk groups with resources. The Jamaica Response Fund will be targeting two critical areas – food security and health services.
GECOM spends another day in meeting... From page 14 specific allegations about them are not brought before the Commission. Asked whether it would be better to exclude certain officials to assuage public mistrust, Alexander said that public mistrust is often incited, to an extent even by Commissioners. COVID-19 Task Force submits report on field visit to GECOM Chair Public Relations Officer of GECOM, Yolanda Ward, told reporters yesterday that the National COVID-19 Task Force has submitted a report to the GECOM Chair on its visit to the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, the venue at which the recount is to take place.
Ward said that the report indicates the safe spaces to facilitate the 10 workstations it approved for GECOM to use. She said that the report notes that eight of the spaces identified should hold a maximum of 14 persons while the other two spaces should hold a maximum of 10 persons. That means, Ward said, that the Centre should hold a maximum of 132 persons. Ward added that the report also provided 14 guidelines for GECOM to implement. These include protocols for sanitization, disposal of garbage, rotation of lunch hours and meal breaks, hydration, and opening windows. Asked whether the protocols speak to sanitizing the ballot boxes, Ward said that
the sanitization protocols would likely include the sanitization of the boxes and the materials. Current declarations were legally made – Alexander The declarations made by the returning officers have not been nullified. They have only been set aside by the Commission. Alexander maintains that they were legally made. Asked when they would be nullified, Alexander said if the recount produces new declarations, they would supersede the current declarations. But at this point, the declarations have not been invalidated, not even the controversial Region Four declarations.
The first time Mingo made declarations for the Region Four General and Regional Elections, it followed a tabulation that was marred by a lack of transparency and accusations of electoral fraud. It was also found to be unlawful, and was vitiated by the Chief Justice. The second pair of declarations Mingo made for the Region Four General and Regional Elections has been similarly marred by a lack of transparency and accusations of fraud. The opposition has also challenged the declarations on similar grounds as the challenge to the first pair of declarations, but that matter is on hold pending the recount. GECOM meets again today.
Friday April 24, 2020
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COVID-19 puts Bermuda side out of ‘Right decisions’ will be... USL 2020 season
FC Bascome Bermuda joint owner, Andrew Bascome.
Hamilton, Bermuda, CMC – Officials of the island’s newest football outfit, FC Bascome Bermuda (FCBB), say after weeks of exploring various options they have made the “difficult” decision to withdraw from America’s United Soccer League (USL) Two with a commitment to return in 2021. The league announced in January that FCBB, jointly owned by head coach Andrew Bascome and businessman Henrick Schroder, would make their debut in the Mid Atlantic Division during the upcoming season.
Friday April 24, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) It's time to refill the well of your soul, Aries. You spend so much of your life in service to others that it's only natural that you feel drained sometimes. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You would make an excellent judge, Taurus. You're able to consider all aspects of a situation. This is a bit of a blessing and a curse, because it can make it difficult to come to a decision. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Just because one person is no longer a part of your life doesn't mean that all people are unreliable. People change, as do situations. CANCER (June 21–July 22) It can be hard to release old habits and beliefs even as new, better ways of thinking struggle to gain a foothold. It's time for you to do this, Cancer. You might find it difficult to confide your feelings to another.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) If you feel like you're trying to push a square peg into a round hole, you're probably right, Libra. Whether you're having personal or professional difficulties, there are times when it just doesn't pay to try so hard. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Things aren't always as they first appear. People you thought you knew well and circumstances that you thought you understood thoroughly now seem anything but straightforward. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Difficult as it may be for you to face all those projects you've left undone, know that you'll be free to move on once they're complete. People from your past figure prominently now. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You could have a “eureka!” moment today, as events from your past unexpectedly bubble to the surface of your mind and crystallize in a surprising new way.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You always suspected that your job was making you crazy, but it never occurred to you that it could make you sick, too. Is it really worth it, Leo? You may be asking yourself this question today.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Sometimes it's easier to tend to life's mundane details rather than lift your eyes and see the big picture, Aquarius. For example, it's likely that you've grown complacent at work.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Just how long has it been since you indulged in a big helping of your favorite guilty pleasure, Virgo? It's time to let the youngster in you come out and play today. Eat that chocolate, read those mindless magazines, or skip down the sidewalk.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Change is in the air, Pisces. Whether it's a dramatic change of faith or a major shift in your life's goals, prepare yourself for a profound transformation. It's likely due to the fact that you now have more freedom to do what you want.
But the global coronavirus pandemic, which has seen five deaths among 99 confirmed cases in Bermuda, has put an end to those dreams. “Our decision is directly related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty that accompanies it. Being one of the few international clubs outside of the United States, we face the additional challenge of international travel,” said FC Bascome Bermuda general manager Richard Calderon. “For the last 14 months, we have diligently worked towards the May 9 inaugural match, so there is a real sense of disappointment among everyone involved with FCBB. However, all are resolved to continuing the work with a view to the 2021 season. “We have already started the process of communicating our decision with sponsors, vendors, partners and selected players and will continue to engage with them over the next several months. “The amount of support we have received from everyone, especially local sponsors and donors, has been very encouraging, and our job is now to carry that momentum into an even better execution for the 2021 season.” Andrew Bascome, director of football and head coach of FCBB, said: “In the end, we have had to put this experience into perspective and, while we are disappointed with the outcome, FCBB appreciates that this pandemic has created an unprecedented challenge for us all and the safety and health of everyone involved goes before everything else. “The upside to this is that most of the organisational wrinkles have been ironed out, so preparing for 2021 should be significantly less stressful. If circumstances allow, we will introduce training sessions and internship opportunities for the targeted players starting this summer.” USL vice-president Joel Nash said the league had backed the decision. “We absolutely support FC Bascome Bermuda’s decision not to participate in the 2020 League Two season,” Nash said. “This decision is about much more than soccer and we look forward to their inaugural season in 2021.” FCBB were set to become the first Bermudian team to compete in USL since the now defunct Bermuda Hogges which went bust in 2013.
From page 23 the reigning T20 World champions and have been installed in Group 1 alongside the hosts, Pakistan, Zealand and two yet-to-bedetermined qualifiers. The ICC said like the men’s tournament, planning would also continue for the women’s 50-over World Cup, carded for February 6 to March 7 in New Zealand next year. At yesterday’s meeting, chief executives discussed the impact of the pandemic on the sports, while pledging their respective boards’ commitment to dealing with the challenges posed in coming months. With several tours already postponed because of COVID-19, the ICC also took the decision to review the Future Tours Programme over the next three years. However, the world governing body delayed any decisions on the World Test Championship and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League until gaining “a greater understanding of the impact of the cricket that has been lost on the competitions”.
ICC chief executive, Manu Sawhney, lauded the member boards for their “unified approach” and reiterated that all decisions on global events would be made in the best interest of all stakeholders. “I am grateful to my fellow CEOs for their clear commitment to a unified approach to steering cricket through this pandemic. We will work in partnership for the best outcomes for the sport in relation to both ICC events and bilateral cricket,” Sawhney said. “We agreed on the importance of taking well informed, responsible decisions in relation to the resumption of international cricket. “The complexities involved in being able to stage ICC global events are extensive to ensure we protect the health and safety of everyone involved and they will be carefully considered before any decisions are arrived at in the best interests of the game.”Chief executives of the 12 full members and three Associate boards attended the meeting staged via conference call.
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Bhutan building for new highs FIFA - Five continents are represented in the ten countries with the highest average elevation, but do you know which domestic league is played at the highest altitude? The answer is the Bhutan Premier League, the national competition of the mountainous kingdom of 740,000 inhabitants with an average elevation of 10,760 feet. A small landlocked country in South Asia located in the Eastern Himalayas; Bhutan has managed to maintain a unique national identity. Most matches are played at their Changlimithang Stadium, with its Bhutanese architectural features emblematic of the nation’s distinctiveness. The venue hosted the national team on the first day of global qualifying for Qatar 2022 with Bhutan collecting a
© Others 1-0 win over Guam. However, Guam - who conquered India during the previous FIFA World Cup™ cycle eventually ran out 5-1 aggregate victors to eliminate the Dragon Boys.
Before starting their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, the national team of the Himalayan kingdom were bottom of the FIFA/ Coca-Cola World Ranking. But a pair of breakthrough
Virtual Kentucky Derby to decide greatest Triple Crown winner Reuters - From Sir Barton in 1919 to Justify in 2018 there have been just 13 winners of North America’s Triple Crown, which is made up of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. And all 13 will take to the gate at Churchill Downs on May 2 in a computersimulated ‘Run for the Roses’ to decide which was the greatest thoroughbred race horse. Horse racing is going online as the coronavirus crisis forces the cancellation or postponement of meetings, including this month’s Grand National in Britain, which was also turned into a virtual race
instead. The Grand National organizers also ran a Race of Champions featuring 40 of the best Aintree winners over the years, which was won by Red Rum. “The anticipation of which Triple Crown winner will emerge as the ultimate champion is thrilling,” Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Incorporated, said yesterday. The race, which will be carried on NBC, will be the highlight of a virtual Kentucky Derby with Churchill Downs hoping to raise $2 million for COVID-19 emergency relief. “We are proud to use this platform as a force for good
by raising money for these worthy COVID-19 emergency initiatives,” Carstanjen said. Data algorithms, including historical handicapping information about each of the 13 horses, will help to determine the probability of their potential finishing positions. With the Kentucky Derby forced from its traditional first Saturday in May by the coronavirus outbreak, the first jewel of horse racing’s real Triple Crown was postponed until Sept. 5. But there will still be action at a virtual Churchill Downs, with horses like Secretariat and War Admiral going head-to-head.
Justify with jockey Mike Smith aboard wins the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, U.S., June 9, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
wins in 2015 over Sri Lanka – their first in World Cup history – energised interest in the national team. Three years earlier the BPL was founded to replace the Bhutan Super League – a competition exclusively for clubs from its capital, Thimphu – its eight seasons have interestingly produced seven champions. “The Bhutan league was started off as a league that was played only in Thimphu in the early 2000s,” Bhutan Football Federation (BFF) general secretary Ugyen Wangchhuk told FIFA.com. “The capital was then the only district in the country that had the football club culture.” Unsurprisingly, Thimphu outfits have proved dominant, with only two teams from elsewhere getting their hands on the trophy. The first to break the hegemony were Ugyen Academy from
Punakha, the former capital. They emerged as the surprise BPL champions in 2013, edging Yeedzin by a point. Next came Paro FC, based in the historic town of Paro. Only founded in 2018, they took that year’s BPL by storm and finished second. Last year, they went even better and, despite it being historically competitive, finished ten points clear of second-placed Transport United. All the more impressive was their phenomenal goalscoring rate, which saw them score 98 goals in 18 outings – 5.4 per game on average. Spearheaded by star Bhutan striker Chencho Gyeltshen, Paro FC went on to shine in January’s AFC Cup 2020 playoff. Gyeltshen struck twice as they drew 5-5 with Sri Lanka’s Defenders over two legs, progressing on away goals, only to lose out to Indian giants Bengaluru in
the next round. “Bhutan football is still in its infancy,” said Wangchhuk. “Since we became affiliated to FIFA in 2000, BFF have received help from FIFA and the AFC. We have put more funds into the game’s development in our country. “We had initially targeted building a strong national team, but now we have realised that we must first build our football bases if we are to achieve this goal. Then we started focusing on building the game at the grassroots level and building the fan-bases of the clubs. “Our vision is to build a professional league in the future with participating teams from all 20 districts of the country. Thus, the football hopefuls will have the opportunity to showcase their talents and can build their future career toward professionalism.”
Woods, Mickelson, Brady, Manning confirmed for charity match Reuters - Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will join American football quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in a charity golf match next month, media company Turner Sports said on Wednesday. “The Match: Champions for Charity is coming soon exclusively on TNT. All proceeds will benefit COVID-19 relief,” Turner Sports said. No more details of the event were given, but it is expected to be a two-on-two contest, and there is widespread speculation it will be held at a Florida course. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently expressed support for the event. “You wouldn’t have a
gallery there. You wouldn’t have crowds, but to put that on TV, I think people have been starved for content,” he said. Woods and Mickelson are the two most successful golfers of their era, with 15 and five major championships to their names respectively. Neither has played since the PGA Tour cancelled the Players Championship due to the coronavirus pandemic after the first round on March 12, shutting down the tour indefinitely. Woods and Mickelson previously played a payper-view exhibition in November 2018 that was beset with technical difficulties and ultimately streamed for free. Mickelson won the $9 million event in Las Vegas
in 22 holes in a contest largely devoid of the trash talk that many viewers were hoping to witness. But the addition of Brady and Manning is likely to spice things up, and be a big television draw for a national and international audience starved of live sport due to the coronavirus shutdown. Brady is a six-times Super Bowl champion who has just signed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after spending his entire career with the New England Patriots. Manning, who retired in 2016, is the only starting quarterback to win Super Bowls with different teams — the Indianapolis Colts in 2006 and Denver Broncos in 2016.
Friday April 24, 2020
PAGE 21
Kaieteur News
Gauder, 1980 Olympic 50km race walk champion, dies
ISKF-Guyana pays tribute to the Muse of ISKF Karate - Shihan Teruyuki Okazaki - Took the count to Covid-19 on Tuesday last
Hartwig Gauder after winning the 50km race walk at the 1987 World C/Ships in Rome (Getty/Bongarts) World Athletics is saddened by the news that Hartwig Gauder, the 1980 Olympic and 1987 world champion in the 50km race walk, died from a heart attack on Wednesday (22). Gauder, who also won the 1986 European title, was 65. Born in 1954 in Vaihingen an der Enz, a town near Stuttgart in western Germany, Gauder and his family moved to Ilmenau, in the former German Democratic Republic, after inheriting property there in 1960. Gauder, who represented East Germany for most of his career, first attracted attention when winning the 10,000m race walk at the 1973 European Junior Championships before claiming national 20km titles in 1975 and 1976. He was seventh over 20km at the 1978 European Championships, his first national appearance as a
senior, just two years prior to his surprise triumph at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow where he clocked 3:49:24 to take gold in just his fourth race over the distance. He missed the 1984 Games due to a boycott but returned in 1988 to take bronze in Seoul in 3:39:45, a performance that would remain as his lifetime best. Gauder also took bronze at the 1990 European Championships and after German reunification, won bronze a t t h e 1 9 9 1 Wo r l d Championships before capping his career at the 1992 Olympics, finishing sixth. Gauder retired from competition in 1993 and continued work towards his degree in architecture but in 1995 was found to have contracted a viral heart infection, causing
cardiomyopathy. After living with an artificial heart for a year, he recieved a transplant in 1997. Gauder later completed several marathons including New York and Berlin and in 2003 become the first heart transplant recipient to climb Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain. He worked as an architect in Jena and Erfurt and remained a vocal campaigner for organ donation. In January, Gauder suffered kidney failure and was again in need of a donor. That transplant wouldn’t come to pass. “Thuringia has lost one of its most talented athletes and a tireless champion for organ donation,” said Bodo Ramelow, the MinisterPresident of the German state of Thuringia. “We mourn the loss of a great person. His memory lives on.”
Cyclists “suffer alone” in virtual Tour de Suisse Naters, Switzerland (Reuters) - It is a quiet spring evening at a typical Swiss housing complex in the village of Naters and on the balcony of a second floor apartment block, professional cyclist Kilian Frankiny is competing in the Tour de Suisse. Like nearly all sporting events around the world, the annual race has been called off this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, like the Tour de Flanders earlier this month, organisers instead decided to hold a virtual race. The 57 cyclists, from 19 teams, put their road bikes onto smart roller trainers at home which were hooked up to the virtual cycling platform. They were represented on the virtual course by avatars in their team uniforms. As the profile of the course goes up and down, the connected bicycles automatically reflect that in the resistance they offer to the turning of the pedals. The 26.6 kilometre virtual course — far shorter than a real one would be — led the cyclists from Agarn in the Rhone
valley, up a twisting mountain road to Leukerbad and featured 1,192 metres of climbing and descending. “It’s completely different. You don’t see the opponents,” Frankiny, who set up his bike on his balcony where he has a view of the surrounding hills, told Reuters after finishing 36th in the stage which was won by Rohan Dennis in 53.07 minutes. “You don’t see the other riders you don’t see their faces, how they suffer,” added the 26-year-old who rides for the Groupama-FDJ team. “You suffer alone. It’s more a kind of time trial effort, I think. You’re really on your own, and you see the others on the computer. “It’s not like in a real race, but it’s fun for one time and I liked it was a good idea from Tour de Suisse to make us ride like this.” Although it was not a long race, Frankiny said “it was pretty hard and tough and I was sweating a lot and suffered.” “I think everybody prefers to ride his bike on the real road, but I think maybe in winter, or in a situation like today, it’s a funny thing to do,” he said. The five-stage race ends on Sunday.
One of the rocks of ISKF Karate, decorated Master Shihan Teruyuki Okazaki referred to as the muse of ISKF died on Tuesday last in the year of his 88th birthday due to the dreaded Covid-19 virus complications that continues to rock the world. ISKF-Guyana takes a unified “Rae” (Japanese for Bow) and says “Ous” with a clarion voice as a sign of respect and recognition to his passing and legacy. “On behalf of our Country Director and Chief Instructor - Christopher Chaves, our Operating Committee, Instructors, Students and parents, we would like to convey our deepest condolences and pledge our support at this time to his family and home Dojo in Philadelphia, USA and our other brothers and sister in the Karate Fraternity.” The Concise Story of His Muse - Shihan Teruyuki Okazaki was born in 1931 in Japan. He started Karate at the age of 16 and by no means was his journey without challenges. He failed his Shodan (black belt) test twice before he attained his Dan rank as he needed to learn the subtle traits of humility. Nevertheless, with encouragement from his peers, he grew adamant in his love for Karate and maximised every training opportunity and a deep study for the art. As a direct student of Shotokan Karate’s Founder Shihan Gichin Funakoshi, one thing led to another for Okazaki. As he matured in his karate journey key positions befell him such as an appointment as Team Coach of his university’s Karate team, becoming the test subject for a budding Instructors course and being instrumental in the formation of the Japan Karate Association’s (JKA) Instructor Training Programme. Central to these achievements, Shihan Okazaki graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economics. Recognizing his Legacy - In 1961, Shihan Okazaki was sent to the USA for six months to promote the promulgation of Karate and the rest was history. He remained in Philadelphia and supported the spread of Karate internationally and would go on to form International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) in 1977 in Philadelphia,
Shihan Teruyuki Okazaki USA where he was the Chief Instructor. Shihan Okazaki retired in 2007 from the chairmanship of ISKF. In recognition of his international accomplishments and legacy, we sought to highlight his main ones below: * He was responsible for the formation of the Philadelphia HQ Dojo * He established the ISKF Master Camp and Goodwill Karate Tournament that is now in its 54th year * Responsible for the spreading of the ISKF organisation to more than 28 Pan American Countries and over 32 countries from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa with a combined membership of over than 75,000 worldwide * Published Material, “The Textbook of Modern Karate”, and “Perfection of Character: Guiding Principles For The Martial Arts & Everyday Life”. Sensei Chaves shares fond memories of Shihan Teruyuki Okazaki - Chief Instructor and Country Director of ISKF-Guyana Sensei Christopher Chaves
had the privilege of being graded for his first karate rank by Shihan Okazaki in 1988 as a teenager. His 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Dan ranks were also attained under Shihan Okazaki. Sensei Chaves recalled that Shihan Okazaki was responsible for the promotion of hundreds of Dan ranks in Guyana and thousands worldwide. Sensei Chaves further recalled that Shihan Okazaki was a remarkable human being, a teacher, a mentor, and a father like figure to thousands of students. “He embodied humility, gentleness and all the qualities of a true master. He was immensely loved and his passing is regretted. I owe a great deal of gratitude to Master Okazaki for the knowledge gained over the years and his continued love for the art. As such, we will continue to honor his legacy by promoting his philosophy as we share his fond memories and say Ous! Shihan Teruyuki Okazaki 10th Dan – you are loved and would be greatly missed.”
Wanda Diamond League... From page 22 Athletics president Sebastian Coe. “We are delighted to support the event by releasing the funds World Athletics makes to each Diamond League event but with one caveat, which is that the entire amount we are contributing goes to prize money for the athletes competing.” Oslo meeting director and Bislett Alliance CEO Steinar
Hoen said the athletes were “hungry for competitions”. “We want to give them a high-class event. We have had a very positive dialogue with both the municipality of Oslo and the infection prevention superior in Oslo, and have confirmed a concept that is well within the government’s infection control requirements,” he added.
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Friday April 24, 2020
Kaieteur News
UEFA keen on sporting merit qualification method for European competitions BBCsport - Uefa has urged clubs to “explore all possible options” to finish domestic seasons and use “a different format” if needed in order for teams to qualify for European competitions. European football’s governing body wants clubs to qualify for European competitions through “sporting merit”. If league seasons cannot be finished it said national associations would need to select clubs to qualify for Europe. Uefa said it could “refuse or evaluate” selected teams if necessary. But after a video call meeting of all 55 national associations it is clear Uefa wants on-field performance to determine which clubs make up next season’s Champions League
Uefa - run by president Aleksander Ceferin - has urged national associations to finish their respective league campaigns and Europa League competitions despite the current shutdown of major leagues because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Spanish Football
Association suggested places being allocated on the basis of club coefficient, which calculates performance in European club competitions over a five year
Wanda Diamond League postpones meetings in June, Oslo announces ‘Impossible Games’ exhibition event Diamond trophies in Brussels (Diamond League) © Copyright
period. Had the method been taken up, Atletico Madrid, who are currently outside the top four in La Liga would have qualified for the Champions League at the expense of Real Sociedad, while in the Premier League Manchester United would have done the same at the expense of Leicester City. “Uefa urges National Associations and Leagues to explore all possible options to play all top domestic competitions giving access to Uefa club competitions to their natural conclusion,” Uefa said in a statement. “The ideal scenario, should the pandemic situation permit it, is to have the currently suspended domestic competitions completed enabling football clubs to qualify for Uefa club competitions on sporting merit in their original format. “Should this outcome not be possible, in particular due to calendar issues, it would be preferable that suspended domestic competitions would restart with a different format in a manner which would still facilitate clubs to qualify on sporting merit.” Uefa could reject European selections - Uefa
did not make clear what a “different format” would look like but it raises the prospect of mini tournaments or playoff style matches being used to decide European qualification if seasons cannot be finished. The Premier League has nine rounds of fixtures remaining but in Spain and Italy there are still 11 and 12 rounds left respectively. The Dutch Eredivisie announced it was unlikely to complete the current season because of an extension of government restrictions until 1 September, while Belgium’s top division, the Jupiler League, is also set to be cancelled despite there being just one regular-season game and play-offs to be played. Uefa said National Associations can select clubs if their leagues cannot be finished for “legitimate reasons”. If a season is not finished for reasons that do not meet Uefa guidelines then the body can reject the teams put forward by a national association. It said it could refuse selections if they were not deemed to have been chosen in a way which was “objective, transparent and nondiscriminatory” and can also
refuse entry to selected teams if “there is a public perception of unfairness in the qualification of the club”. Euro 2020 name will remain - At yesterday’s meeting Uefa also confirmed the postponed Euro 2020 tournament will still be known as Uefa Euro 2020 despite being moved to 2021. “This decision allows Uefa to keep the original vision of the tournament to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the European Football Championships (1960 2020),” Uefa added. “It will furthermore serve to remember how the whole football family came together to respond to the extraordinary circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic and the difficult times Europe, and the world, had to go through in 2020. “This choice is in line with Uefa’s commitment to make Euro 2020 sustainable and not to generate additional amounts of waste. A lot of branded material had already been produced by the time of the tournament’s postponement. A change to the name of the event would have meant the destruction and reproduction of such items.”
Concacaf Launches Concacaf Rewind for Fans to Enjoy Classic Matches at Home
The Wanda Diamond League today suspended a further two meetings in June as it continues to adapt the 2020 season calendar in the face of the coronavirus crisis, while Oslo’s Bislett Games are to be staged in an alternative format. In recent weeks, the Wanda Diamond League has been forced to suspend a number of its early-season meetings as a result of health and logistical concerns brought about by the global coronavirus crisis. Yesterday the series announced the postponement of further meetings in Eugene (scheduled for 7 June) and Paris (13 June). As with previous suspensions, this decision was reached in close consultation with all relevant parties and based on concerns over athlete safety
as well as widespread travel restrictions which make it impossible to stage the competitions as planned. Bislett to stage ‘Impossible Games’ exhibition - The Bislett Games also announced plans to host an alternative athletics competition, an exhibition event dubbed ‘The Impossible Games’, on 11 June, the original date of this year’s Oslo Diamond League meeting. The concept will see a number of world-class athletes take part in a one-off showpiece event in full observation of Norway’s coronavirus regulations and social distancing rules. The programme is currently set to include a world record attempt from Norwegian hurdles star Karsten Warholm and a long-distance pole vault battle between world record
holder Mondo Duplantis and record Diamond League Champion Renaud Lavillenie. Organisers were nonetheless keen to stress that the full programme is yet to be confirmed and subject to changes. The hour-long event will be shown live by Norway’s public broadcaster NRK, and will be partly financed by the Norwegian National Athletics Association and World Athletics. “This is really positive news for athletes and fans and promises, even in this early stage, to be another great night of athletics from the Bislett stadium. Congratulations to the Oslo Bislett Games for dreaming this up and following it through, working within the pandemic guidelines set out in Norway,” said World (Continued on page 21)
Miami, FL – Concacaf yesterday announced the launch of Concacaf Rewind. This exciting new initiative, which is part of the Confederation’s #HomeFans campaign, will offer fans the chance to relive some of the region’s most memorable club and national team matches and moments in recent years. On Friday nights, beginning tonight and until football activities resume in our region, Concacaf will stream two full matches from its premier competitions, including the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League, Scotiabank Concacaf League and multiple men’s and women’s senior and youth national team tournaments. To preview each Concacaf Rewind match, concacaf.com and the Confederation’s social media channels will provide exclusive interviews with players and coaches who were involved in these exciting games, and other fanfocused content including polls, Rewind clips and trivia questions. Fans can follow all the action every Friday
beginning at 7:00 pm ET, via the Concacaf Facebook page, Concacaf YouTube channel and the Concacaf Official App. The free mobile app is available for download in t h e i Tu n e s a n d G o o g l e Play stores. The Concacaf Rewind schedule for the upcoming five weeks is as follows: Friday, April 24 @ 7 pm ET 2018 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Finals: Toronto FC vs CD Guadalajara Friday, May 1 @ 7 pm ET 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Finals: Tigres UANL vs CF Monterrey Friday, May 8 @ 7 pm ET 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship Third Place Match: Panama vs Jamaica
2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship Final: Canada vs United States Friday, May 15 @ 7 pm ET 2018 Concacaf Men’s Under-20 Championship Qualification Stage Group H: Panama vs Mexico 2018 Concacaf Men’s Under-20 Championship Final: United States vs Mexico Friday, May 22 @ 7 pm ET 2018-19 Concacaf Nations League Qualifying: Montserrat vs El Salvador 2018-19 Concacaf Nations League Qualifying: Haiti vs Cuba Friday, May 29 @ 7 pm ET 2018 Scotiabank Concacaf League Second Leg Final: CS Herediano vs FC Motagua 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf League Second Leg Semifinal: Deportivo Saprissa vs CD Olimpia Concacaf will announce the next set of classic matches which will feature on Concacaf Rewind at a later date.
Kaieteur News
Friday April 24, 2020
Former ‘Golden Jaguar’ Ricky Shakes hangs up boots after 19-year career - Int. highlight was goal against T&T 11.11.11 @ Providence
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Team CAMS revving for big performance this November
F
ormer England based ‘Golden Jaguar ’ Ricky Shakes whose football career at the club level kicked off in 2004 and his International for Guyana in 2010 yesterday called it a day when he announced his retirement from the sport which has shaped his life. A fierce midfielder during his playing days which spanned eight clubs in England (Bolton Wanderers FC, Bury FC, Bristol Rovers FC, Swindon Town FC, Brentford FC, Ebbsfleet United FC, Kidderminster (KHFC), Borehamwood FC), Shakes also played briefly for Trinidad and Tobago against Iceland in 2006, coming on as a sub in the final 10 minutes of the match. In a facebook post, Shakes said that he was happy to announce his retirement from football stating that it was a long 19 years playing as a professional noting that the experience was phenomenal which allowed him to travel to meet friends for life whilst playing the sport he loves. Shakes, who played a total of 510 club matches and scored 55 goals first played for a Guyana select X1 in 2010 in a historic encounter against Cray Wanderers Football Club in England, the second oldest club there. The match which was played at the Dulwich Hamlet Football Club, Champion Hill Stadium and was watched by former West Indies Captain, Clive Lloyd. His third international
Team CAMS head Afraz Allie and his Toyota Starlet
Ricky Shakes (right) and Leon Cort, goal scorers against T&T on 11.11.11 appearance was his most memorable, it was Guyana’s 2–1 victory over Trinidad & Tobago on 11 November 2011 which sealed Guyana’s qualification to the third round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the first time in the nation’s history. In that game, Shakes scored the first goal and created the second for Burnley’s Leon Cort, before Kenwyne Jones’ consolation for Trinidad & Tobago. Shakes father who is Guyanese and his mother, Trinidadian, commented on his international career for Guyana.
“I would like to thank all the management team and all the members of staff around the Guyanese team and the federation. All the players I’ve played alongside and against. To the fans: the game isn’t the game without you. And being part of history beating Trinidad to qualify to the next stage was one of the best highlights of my career. A million thank yous for your unconditional support. I look forward to sitting in the stands cheering on the next g en er atio n o f G u y an a football, so stay safe and God bless. On to the next chapter, Ricky Shakes.”
By Calvin Chapman President of the Team Caribbean American Motor Sports (CAMS), Afraz Allie, has made a battle cry to all motor racers that come this November at the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) scheduled International race meet, it will be an all-out battle for top honours. Allie, who competes in group three and the Starlet Cup, during an exclusive interview with Kaieteur Sport, expressed hoped in the coronavirus pandemic being brought under control soon enough for motor racing to resume locally. Already, the GMR&SC’s dexterity event, along with the first round of the anticipated Drag racing championship has been cancelled. In addition, Allie, who currently sits second in the Starlet Cup championship behind Rameez Mohamed, posited that the round two of the National race of champions (NROC) that was scheduled for July is extremely unlikely to get
underway so an opportunity to gain valuable points in the attempt to catch Mohamed has been dusted. Currently, the overseasbased Guyanese explained that, “We can’t get out there; we can’t do what we love to do which is racing. Everybody wants to get back to their normal routine but people are losing their lives so we have to be careful and practice social distancing.” “The entire Team CAMS was looking forward or the July championship. We have done a lot of work on all of our machines and it would’ve served as a good place to see how our cars are running so we could’ve done the necessary calibrations for the big meet in November.” Allie posited that at the NROC round one in February he was running with a defective turbo which has since been resent to the manufacturers who acknowledged its defectiveness and replaced it, hence, the racer is confident of being unstoppable after managing two seconds and third place
with the faulty Turbo, last February. Allie continued, “Last November we had a team of seven racers with each driver experiencing some sort of problem. However, everybody is ready to go this time with Chris Lall scheduled to debut a new car in the group-four class although his Miata is running well.” He also highlighted that Mohan Rangasammy has finally resolved all issues with his group four RX-7 while Neil Persaud, Kamal Rahaman and Aaron Bethune all have their respective group two Honda cars in tip top shape. The motor racer concluded with some words of advice for Guyanese to deal with the pandemic, “Don’t take this disease lightly. It’s easy to not read the danger of something you can’t see with the naked eye. We need to maintain our social distancing to help flatten the curve. I am in the epicenter of the disease in New York here and social distancing seems to be working.”
‘Right decisions’ will be made on T20 World Cup: ICC London, CMC – Cricket Australia on Thursday committed firmly to taking “the right decisions at the right time” to ensure this year’s Twenty20 World Cup proceeded as planned, even as doubt continued to surround the showpiece amidst the raging coronavirus global pandemic. Speaking following an International Cricket Council’s chief executives meeting, Cricket Australia’s CEO Kevin Roberts said his governing body would
continue to monitor developments while also “exploring all other options”. Australia are scheduled to stage the T20 World Cup between October 18 to November 15 tournament but the event has been jeopardized by the onset of the COVID-19 virus which has already infected 2.6 million people worldwide and caused nearly 189 000 deaths.”Cricket Australia is working closely with the ICC, the Local Organising Committee and the
Australian government so we have a comprehensive understanding of exactly what it will take to be able to play the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 in October in Australia as planned,” Roberts said. “We are also jointly exploring all other options in relation to staging the event and will take the right decisions at the right time so we can host a wonderful celebration of the sport and keep everyone involved safe and well.” West Indies are (Continued on page 19)
Reigning T20 world champions West Indies.
ISKF-Guyana pays tribute to the Muse of ISKF Karate
Ricky Shakes
rt Spo
- Shihan Teruyuki Okazaki - Took the count to Covid-19 on Tuesday last
Former ‘Golden Jaguar’ Ricky Shakes hangs up boots after 19-year career Int. highlight was goal against T&T 11.11.11 @ Providence
Cyclists “suffer alone” in virtual Tour de Suisse
Shihan Teruyuki Okazaki
Woods, Mickelson, Brady, Manning confirmed for charity match
Tiger Woods
Professional cyclist Kilian Frankiny is competing in the Tour de Suisse
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