K
Live stream Tuesday Edition NEWS of recount will be ultimate public confidence booster- Commissioner Benn p. 8
AIETEUR
April 28, 2020 - Vol. 13 No. 17
Online: www.kaieteurnews.com
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CARICOM team gets approval to come Thursday - Nagamootoo My contract was not renewed because of Guyana’s - Chris politics Gayle p. 15
Int'l Cricketer Chris Gayle
p. 11
Financial crisis looms after April p. 3
- Former Auditor General, Goolsarran
Lawyer submits petition for US to sanction Granger; GECOM and other officials p. 16
Kaieteur News
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Tuesday April 28, 2020
US commits additional Guyana Goldfields to be acquired by Canadian US$1.7M to Guyana, Region for COVID-19 fight silver mining company
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he United States Government has committed an additional US$1.7 million to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean. “The United States, via USAID, is providing lifesaving support by coordinating with the Government of Guyana, international humanitarian partners, and other stakeholders to identify priority areas for investment,” the US Embassy in Georgetown announced yesterday. “The United States Government is committed to assisting the people of Guyana to combat the spread of COVID-19 to prevent illness and deaths associated with the dreaded pandemic and ultimately improve the quality of life and the economic outcomes of this wonderful country and its people,” remarked Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch.
US Ambassador, Sarah-Ann Lynch Through this assistance USAID will support: infection prevention and control in health-care facilities; communications to help educate people on steps they can take to prevent and respond to the spread of the virus, through countryspecific media campaigns and surveillance and rapid response with case-finding and event-based surveillance for COVID-19. USAID also helps countries train and support rapidresponse teams to
investigate cases and conduct contact tracing. Previously in Guyana, the United States Government said it has contributed substantially to improving the healthcare services, systems and infrastructure with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Cervical Cancer and Zika infections. “Support through USAID and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) resulted in Guyana being the first country in the region to attain the First pillar in the goal to achieve epidemic control of HIV; by diagnosing at least 90% of those persons estimated to be living with HIV. Because an infectious-disease threat anywhere can become a threat everywhere, the United States calls on other donors to contribute to the global effort to combat COVID-19, #COVID19,” the Embassy said. Guyana currently has 74 positive cases with eight deaths.
- Govt. to conduct due diligence exercises - Union concerned about workers' benefits
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u y a n a Goldfields, the parent company of Aurora Gold Mines Inc. (AGM), is set to be acquired by a large primarily silver mining company called Silvercorp Metals Inc. A Government statement noted that the agreement for the acquisition was signed on Sunday April 26, 2020. Silvercorp is gearing up to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Guyana Goldfields after a special meeting of Guyana Goldfields shareholders, expected to be held by the end of June 2020. Silvercorp and Goldfields both tout that the transaction, with an implied equity value of C$105M, will create a diversified precious metals producer with two profitable underground silver mining operations in China and a gold mining operation in
Guyana with a strong balance sheet to fund growth opportunities. Government said that it will be carrying out the necessary due diligence exercises as required by law, prior to approval being granted. It said that special attention will be paid to adherence to workers' rights requirements, a matter that has been a sore spot for AGM Inc. The Union representing AGM's workers, National M i n e Wo r k e r s ' U n i o n (NMWU) said yesterday that it met with its workers on t h e m a t t e r. N M W U President, Sherwin Downer, told Kaieteur News that the workers reported questioning whether the union was told about the
acquisition, and being told that the Union “did not have to know”. Downer expressed concern about this attitude, adding that it is necessary for the union to be informed and involved in the process. He said that a growing concern is whether the workers' benefits will be affected in any way by the acquisition. “The National Mining Workers' wishes to register its disappointment at the conduct of the management at this time and hope that there can be an amicable resolution between management and Union,” the union said. Silvercorp is a producer of silver, lead and zinc metals in concentrates in China.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday April 28, 2020
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Financial crisis looms after April A
ccording to former Auditor General and Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran, Guyana may very well be facing a financial crisis due to the political shenanigans which have left the nation without a credible conclusion to its March 2 General and Regional Elections. In explaining his analysis of this worrying issue, Goolsarran reminded that since May 23, 2019, there has been no sitting of the National Assembly. The former Auditor General said that this was mainly due to the December 21, 2018 vote of no confidence in the Government and the prolonged court battle to establish its validity, among other issues. On that note, Goolsarran pointed to the possible implications for the national budget. According to the Chartered Accountant, Article 218(1) of the Constitution states that no
- Former Auditor General, Goolsarran withdrawals can be made from the Consolidated Fund except to meet expenditure charged upon the Fund by the Constitution or any Act of Parliament; or where issues are authorized by an Appropriation Act. By Article 219, he posited that the Minister of Finance is required to prepare and submit to the N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y, Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure within 90 days of the commencement of the fiscal year in respect of that year. After the Estimates are approved by the Assembly, Goolsarran said that an Appropriation Bill is prepared and approved by the Assembly authorizing withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund to meet expenditure contained in the Estimates. The Appropriation Bill becomes Appropriation Law
when it is assented to by the President. For the years 2017, 2018 and 2019, Goolsarran said that the budget for the following year was tabled in the Assembly and approved before the close of the fiscal year, a move that was considered a progressive one. Unfortunately, Goolsarran noted that the President proceeded to dissolve Parliament on December 30, 2019 without first ensuring that a budget is in place for 2020. Pending the passing of an Appropriation Act, he said that the Minister of Finance can authorize withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund up to four months to meet the cost of essential services. He said that the amount withdrawn is limited to onetwelfth of the preceding year's expenditure by each
budget agency for each of these months. These are provided for under Article 220(1) of the Constitution and Section 36 of the FMA Act. By Article 220(3), where Parliament is dissolved before any provision or insufficient provision is made to meet the cost of public services, Goolsarran noted that the Minister can authorize similar withdrawals for up to three months. The Chartered Accountant said, “In all probability, the Minister would have used Article 220(1) to access funds up to April 30, 2020. With no Parliament currently in place to approve of the 2020 Estimates, there is no provision for the Minister to access the Consolidated Fund for the month of May onwards.”
He added, “By Article 220(4), he nevertheless has recourse to the Contingencies Fund to meet expenditure that is urgent and for which no other provision exists. Section 41 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability (FMA) Act elaborates by stating that the expenditure must also be unforeseen and unavoidable, and cannot be deferred without jeopardizing the public interest.” The former AG noted that the total of the amounts to be withdrawn is limited to two percent of the preceding year's approved Estimates while adding that for 2019, it amounted to $300.7 billion. Considering this, he said that the maximum amount that could be withdrawn from the Contingencies Fund in 2020 is $6.014 billion. Even if no funds were
China aids Guyana's COVID-19 fight
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he Ministry of Public Health yesterday received several items from the People's Republic of China to aid in its efforts to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The Ministry's Permanent Secretary (PS), Collette Adams, accepted the supplies which included protective facemasks, PPEs and 100 infrared thermometers, medical goggles, disposable gloves and isolation shoe covers.
Meanwhile, Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign A f f a i r s , F o r b e s J u l y, explained that the timely gesture by the Chinese government is as a result of the two countries' international bond. “The Ministry has been involved with the Chinese Embassy in terms of facilitating an exchange by Chinese experts on COVID-19. The ministry is also engaged with other
international partners in terms of accessing supplies for COVID-19,” the Director disclosed. In his remarks, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy, Chen Xilai, also not e d t h e relationship between the two countries, which dates back to 1972 and emphasised the necessity for the two nations to collaborate to fight the pandemic. “This is why the first batch of PPEs has arrived in
Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy, Chen Xilai, and PS Collette Adam at the handing over ceremony yesterday
Guyana and we can have this transfer ceremony,” Xilai said and assured that there will be more assistance from his government. The virus reportedly
emerged in Wuhan, a capital in one of China's province. It has not paralysed the world, the Department of Public Information reported.
Chartered Accountant and former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran withdrawn for the year, Goolsarran said that the amount of $6.014 billion will be insufficient to meet the cost of essential services until the next session of Parliament is convened. “How the difference to be funded is anyone's guess!” the Chartered Accountant concluded.
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Tuesday April 28, 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
Oil prices, hedging strategies and Guyana’s position Oil prices keep plummeting amid deepening gloom in the sector, where supply cuts are lagging, shrinking demand by approximately 25% in a continuing catchup struggle. Though it is bad news for Guyana, there still may be a silver lining that graces the many ominous clouds hanging over this country’s future. The saving grace rests in the Futures market, where various sophisticated hedging strategies are available for producers and speculators. In this instance, we are focused solely on producers and what they should have done, or actually did, to limit losses due to volatility in the tricky oil markets. Producers-oil companies, farmers, gold companies-take advantage of the protections offered by the Futures market. It makes for sound business sense and characterizes prudent financial management over the core activities of companies. Apparently, this is what Hess Corporation, which has a 30% investment in the enormous Stabroek Block here in Guyana, did. The article in the Wall Street Journal of April 24 titled, “Some oil producers have secret weapon in hedging” ought to provide some comfort to Guyanese leaders, speculators, industry watchers, and its hopeful citizens. All may not be lost, as there is hope that there could be rising from the ashes. From the Journal, the word is that “New York-based Hess Corp. says it has hedged about 80% of its oil production, most of it at $55 per barrel for West Texas Intermediate, the main U.S. benchmark. That means the company will make a profit on most of the 200,000 barrels a day it plans to pump this year and will be able to fund its contribution to an 8-billion-barrels Guyana project” along with ExxonMobil and CNOOC. Since Hess shared in a big bet on our oil promise, which confirmations made it the darling of Wall Street, it would have been not only naïve and negligent but most reckless if it did not hedge that investment. Now that stands as a lifeline for Guyana. This was publicly voiced in the same Journal article, by Hess’s Chief Executive when he said that compliments of its hedging programme, spending cuts and a new loan, “our company is well positioned for this low-price environment,” and that “Our focus is on…protecting our world-class investment opportunity in Guyana.” With some 80% of the company’s production locked in at around “US$55 per barrel” that helps to reinstate some hopes here that went south last week. Though it is not clear how much of Guyana’s production is hedged at that price, it should be sizable. And though ExxonMobil is silent as to its own hedging activities in the Futures markets (companies usually are, which reference to Mexico should confirm), it would be grossly irresponsible to be found naked in the oil world at this time. To cut a fine point on this, it would be surprising if companies of this stature, and with so much money on the line, do not protect against price risk, as well as political and sovereign risks, which are high here. Whether it did or not, and on what scale, would be slow in forthcoming. But if Hess Corp did engage in protection for its 30% stake, then it is highly likely that some percentage of Exxon’s investment is hedged. Guyana may get “lucky” after all to quote Finance Minister Jordan. Still, we offer words of caution to maintain balance amidst guarded optimism. Strategies could be as far as three years ahead. They are expensive, which inhibits 100% protections, leading to the usual cost-benefit balancing act, with a slew of intricate considerations weighed. The main objective is this: protect the company and its investment against most downside risk. In the instance of the underlying oil asset, there would be a predetermined price at which the futures contracts would be sold. To maintain protective hedges, the contracts would be, in the parlance of the trade, “rolled over” prior to expiration towards future periods. An additional strategy would be to buy puts to set a floor on any downside exposure. With production started and projections aimed at 220,000 barrels per day by 2022 by Hess, Guyana could still salvage something out of the recent price massacres, which look likely to continue, barring a war somewhere.
GECOM Chair’s vote to suppress the Region Four SOPs is a worrisome development DEAR EDITOR, The recent vote by the GECOM Chairperson Ms. Claudette Singh to suppress the Region Four Statements of Poll should be a worrisome development for all persons who are interested in the preservation of democracy in Guyana. The Statements of Poll are documents which are critical to the transparent transmission of election results from the polling stations to the Elections Commission and their use in the tabulation process, and by extension in arriving at the final election result, is mandated in Article 84 of the Representation of the People Act. These documents do not belong to any one individual to withhold from the public just because they do not like the information contained therein. Ms. Claudette Singh, as the GECOM Chairperson, has abdicated her responsibility to protect the custody of these vital documents and has in effect rendered them redundant to the electoral process. Her justification, if the Guyana Chronicle is to be believed, is that she had already committed to a recount of the votes. Thus, she has set the stage for making counting at the place of poll a mere formality in future elections
since any incumbent government ,displeased with the results contained in the Statements of Poll, may now arbitrarily call for a recount and may, justifiably, rely on the cooperation of GECOM in this regard. The recount is actually centralized ballot counting in disguise, which is the system that kept the PNC illegitimately in office for twenty-eight years. One needs only to connect the dots to understand why APNU-AFC, having previously been opposed to it in the courts, is now, all of a sudden, very vocal in their demands for the recount process to be implemented. Proponents of free and fair elections in Guyana fought assiduously for this system to be dismantled, and with a single vote, Ms. Claudette Singh has undone all their hard work. An account of the events leading up to the necessity for this recount is unnecessary at this stage, since this has been ventilated ad nauseam in the press and on social media. Suffice it to say, however, that the problem stemmed from the persistent refusal by Returning Officer Mingo to declare the results for District Four in accordance with the Statements of Poll from the polling stations in this
district. In its current design, to judge from the emanations of the APNU-AFC commissioners at GECOM, which are bolstered by the assenting votes of the Chairperson, this recount is purely intended to provide the proof, hitherto suspiciously unforthcoming from the APNU-AFC, that this party won the March 2 elections. Further, the APNU-AFC is hoping that their sanctimonious embrace of the recount as being suddenly critical to the maintenance of democracy in Guyana will provide the stamp of legitimacy, so far lacking in their eight weeks of de facto governance, that they require from the international community in order to stave off the dreaded sanctions, personal and otherwise, and for them to rule effectively. If the PPP/C thinks otherwise, and that the recount will culminate in them being vindicated and being proffered the reins of government by APNU-AFC, they should immediately disabuse themselves of these notions. Whether the de facto APNU-AFC government will achieve their goal of acquiring legitimacy in the eyes of the international community through the proposed
recount, depends on the credulity of the governments comprising this community, and on how low they have set the standard for democratic elections in this part of the world. Ms. Claudette Singh’s performance as the GECOM Chairperson will be judged by many criteria, not least of which is the delivery of an election that has been certified as being free, fair and credible by the various election observer missions. Her performance in this regard, thus far, is sadly lacking, as evidenced by the observer missions’ unanimous rejection of GECOM’s declaration of results that show APNU-AFC as the winner of the March 2 elections, on the grounds that the tabulation of the Region Four votes lacked credibility. One awaits with fearful anticipation, the next actions of the Chairperson as she presides over a recount that, from all logic, is being carried out solely for the purposes of perhaps providing legitimacy to the current de facto APNU-AFC government, which has no intention of relinquishing the power it usurped in the aftermath of the March 2 elections. Yours faithfully, Marcel Gaskin
The challenge for a second-term coalition government DEAR EDITOR, The two major parties persist in claiming election victory. Needless to say, the recount will identify the loser. Should the recount confirm a PPP defeat, the party has already activated the excuse that the process has been rigged. We can therefore expect various voices to chant eternally “cheated, not defeated.” On the other hand, APNU+AFC’s victory claim presents a more intriguing case. The coalition, it seems, has pre-purchased no political parachute should its claim crash. It has shown absolutely no interest in setting up a “cheated, not defeated” smokescreen. Quite the opposite, we hear it daringly asserting that the recount will give it a wider margin of victory. Nowhere in the coalition’s official challenges to the results in the PPP strongholds of Regions 3, 5 and 6, or in its broader allegation of PPP fraud, is it even hinting that the PPP has thereby swindled itself into
office. From its composed management of the COVID-19 pandemic to the long-term policy statements from a few key ministers, this is a government adopting a second-term posture, concerned only with the true size of its parliamentary majority. For supporters of the coalition, if this behaviour does not reflect outright confidence in victory, then what does? For those in opposition, however, the bullishness signals that the coalition must have a diabolic plot to derail the recount and to forever bury the truth. The Monday editorial of Stabroek News (“There will be riggers at the recount”), for instance, displays this paranoia. The newspaper expects the coalition scrutineers to create “confusion and controversies” by using every opportunity to be disruptive during the recount. Maybe, in fairness, we
should apply this test to all the political parties. For what it’s worth, let’s digress to remind ourselves that the nation has conducted a successful national recount before, viz., the Caricom Electoral Audit of 1998 (the Cross Audit). This recount ensued amidst near civil war, in circumstances that make the present dispute look like a storm in a teacup. Yet, for ten weeks at GECOM Headquarters, with minimum security and no local or international observers, and in the presence of zealous PNCR activists (myself included), the ballot papers were counted in an atmosphere of placidity. Plainly, those who have now invested heavily in the coalition-rigging theory would blame the coalition for anything they do not like, even should a freak storm blow out the power at Arthur Chung. No deep analysis is required to predict that should the recount confirm a
coalition victory, the government would still be seen as illegitimate by too many. Even with Caricom’s validation, a coalition government would face an excessive acceptance deficit among masses of PPP supporters, and much of the local news media and civil society. While diplomatic recognition would clear a critical path, the unabated attacks from losers and loathers would surely put the government and country under stress. To counteract, a secondterm coalition government will have to do three things well: (i) upheave and invigorate its anemic political and PR strategy and operations, (ii) competently execute a national exit strategy from the COVID-19 pandemic, and (iii), most critically, radically rethink Guyana’s politics, economics and society (a Guyana 2.0). Even initial steps to point the country in these directions can detoxify and vitalize the nation’s innards. Sherwood Lowe
Tuesday April 28, 2020
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Kaieteur News
The COVID-19 Task Force has neither the respect nor confidence of Guyanese DEAR EDITOR, COVID-19 is a killer. It threatens the lives of every Guyanese, no matter what political party we support, no matter our ethnicity, religion or where we live in Guyana. The government’s COVID-19 Task Force is not supposed to be a political tool, not supposed to be an opportunity for dishonesty. In my opinion, this body has utilized it in pursuit of electoral fraud, thus, rendering the task force another political tool for APNU+AFC. Most Guyanese have had no confidence in it from the very start. David Granger, who has not once been out leading the COVID-19 fight, even with 74 people confirmed with the disease and eight people dead, has now appointed Joe Harmon as the COVID-19 Task Force Chief Executive Officer, the man with
responsibility for the day-today COVID-19 response. He has a staff of persons who have presumably been seconded from other government positions. The task force secretariat, administrative and technical staff is still a secret. Most Guyanese are now finding out that the Task Force was not just a committee overseeing the response, but an actual response unit. Who are the staff members? How many staff members? Are they fulltime employees? If seconded, from which government departments were they seconded? These questions concern the Guyanese people. Now that Mr. Granger has confirmed Joe Harmon is no longer the Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency and is now the CEO of the COVID-19 Task Force, the Guyanese people
would like to know the terms under which he is serving. What is his remuneration package for this newest of jobs? While we are at it, we would like information about the rest of the staff. Who are they? Information has reached us that the staff members of the Task Force are being paid about $300,000 per month as a top-up to their existing salaries for serving on the Task Force. Why is there a need for this top-up? Are doctors and nurses and other frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19 benefitting from any financial incentive for putting their lives at risk every minute of the day? Something is not right in the way the COVID-19 response is now an opportunity for a small group to benefit from, while many of our health workers must put their lives at risk every single
Confusion surrounding the recount has distracted attention away from the real problem DEAR EDITOR, After nearly 8 weeks of delay, it is easy to forget what we have achieved electorally, and to start to reopen closed issues. Guyana had free and fair elections on 2nd March 2020. Every single ballot has been counted and allocated to the relevant party (with the exception of spoiled ballots). Every polling station has prepared a statement of poll (SOP) showing those votes. Every SOP has been signed by APNU+AFC, PPP/ C and where present, the smaller parties. The returning officers for 9 regions have added up the votes from the SOPs and declared the results. So far, there are 152,400 votes for the PPP/C and 100,871 for the APNU+AFC. The time for challenging those declarations under the Representation of the People Act (RoPA) has expired and those results cannot be altered. In Region 4, the returning officer has not finished adding up the SOPs. Mr. Mingo’s 2 purported declarations have been rejected by all 8 opposition parties, the Guyanese people (apart from a tiny minority) and the international community. There was a national and international consensus that there must be “credible results” from Region 4 before anybody can be sworn in as president. That is the only acceptable position, because it is based on the twin pillars of electoral integrity and respect for the
electorate. On 15th March 2020, Mr. Jagdeo agreed to a recount of every vote in every region. In doing so, he undermined the integrity of the electoral system which depends on the SOPs that have been signed off by the political parties, undermined the international observers who stopped electoral fraud in Region 4, and wrong-footed the international community, who have consistently demanded “credible results” from Region 4. The proposed recount has created confusion across the electorate, in the diaspora and among the international community. Your paper’s reference (25 April) to the “hotly disputed March 2 General Elections” demonstrates that confusion. The elections are over. The ‘dispute’ is not about the general elections, but about the refusal of the returning officer in Region 4 to add up the votes correctly. Since 15th March 2020, there has been absolutely no progress in finishing Region 4 so that the election results can be declared and a new government formed. Every day’s delay is an advantage for the unconstitutional, illegitimate, de facto APNU+AFC administration, and is to the detriment of the Guyanese people. The confusion surrounding the recount has distracted attention away from the fact that the Guyanese people are waiting
for the returning officer for Region 4 to add up the votes. Section 84(1) ROPA says, “As soon as practicable after the receipt of all the ballot boxes and the envelopes and packets delivered to him in pursuance of section 83(10), the Returning Officer shall, in the presence of such of the persons entitled under section 86(1) to be present as attend, ascertain the total votes cast in favour of each list in the district by adding up the votes recorded in favour of the list in accordance with the Statements of Poll, and thereupon publicly declare the votes recorded for each list of candidates.” [my emphasis]. There is also a court order instructing Mr. Mingo to comply with section 84. The returning officer for region 4 must fulfill his statutory duty; he must obey the court. Otherwise, he must be replaced by someone who will add up the votes correctly from the SOPs and declare the result for Region 4. Then the chief elections officer must add up the votes from all regions, ascertain the results and report to the Commission. The Commission must announce the elections results. Then the government can be sworn in. After that, Mr. Jagdeo and Mr. Granger can have their recount and they can count the ballots themselves for all I care. Yours sincerely, Melinda Janki
day. APNU+AFC has used the COVID-19 crisis for political purposes, but also for other unethical purposes. The $1B transaction for the rehabilitation of the Ocean View Hotel is a prime example. Outside of the rehabilitation cost, there is the rental cost of $22M per month and the retrofitting cost as a hospital, if that ever happens. The choice of the Ocean View Hotel at that cost is highly suspicious. We could have extended Diamond Hospital for less, and then that would have led to a longterm improvement of the Diamond Regional Hospital. We could have improved the Guyana School of Agriculture Dormitory or the Cyril Potter Dormitory or the UG Student Dormitory or any number of other dormitories that are presently empty, because these institutions are under lockdown. Clearly, the choice of Ocean View was made with a crooked set of lens. In the meanwhile, the
COVID-19 Task Force and the government have done nothing meaningful since it was established, and since the first case was identified almost 50 days ago. The CDC started a timid hamper distribution with foodstuff donated by the private sector. After distributing 1,750 hampers, they stopped because the government said it wanted a long-term plan. What does this mean? People need help now; they cannot wait until tomorrow. Japarts, a private company, has been able to distribute at least twice as much as the CDC. The Irfaan Ali-led COVID-19 MultiStakeholders Forum, established to help in the fight against COVID-19, has distributed more than 30,000 facemasks so far, and has distributed hampers with foodstuff and sanitizers to thousands of people. Other individuals and NGOs are doing the same, none of which was mobilized by the Nagamootoo/Harmon-
led Task force. We need a genuine Government response. All we have had from the government is gamesmanship and show. The time has come for a reckoning. We need a government that can take leadership and fight COVID19. We need to test, test, test, so that our doctors and nurses and other health workers can do their job. We need to provide health workers with PPE and with medicines and other things to provide safe, quality health care. We need proper quarantine facilities and isolation programmes. We need socio-economic support for the masses, for poor people who need support now, for small businesses that are threatened with bankruptcy. We need to energize the economy. We need the Guyanese people to be inspired by a legitimate government. We need these things now. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
A time to build and heal Dear Editor, The daily shenanigans of David Granger and his cohorts are a test of the resolve of the Guyanese people like never before; the determination to disenfranchise Guyanese and subvert democracy is relentless and patience is wearing thin. The question of what course of action should be taken is asked countless times as the frustration builds. I firmly believe this is a time for healing and building. The PPP has always been a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural party; under the stewardship of Bharat Jagdeo there have been honest and frank conversations in public of the perceptions of the PPP as a party of mainly IndoGuyanese; there has been great effort put into making the membership more reflective of the make-up of the nation. There have been great gains in this direction and these must be protected and improved upon. We should use this time
to build, to start conversations about the way forward, inclusivity must be with sensible, honest, decent people who hold great values for family and fellow man; it cannot be with this criminal cabal who are willing to use the COVID-19 pandemic to enrich themselves. The APNU/AFC coalition shut down the delivery of relief hampers to our vulnerable and needy citizens. A fellowship of the willing has formed, Irfaan Ali’s National Stakeholders Initiative, Rotary, AMCHAM, the ‘new’ parties, and numerous other individuals and organizations have been working to fill the void left by the coalition of the unwilling. These are the cornerstones of Guyana’s inclusive future being laid before our eyes. The Robber Barons of APNU/AFC must not be allowed to think that they have a God-given right to plunder the resources of the nation. As APNU/AFC stands unmasked as the worst
incarnation of the PNC, this is the time for all activists of the PPPC to seek the company of persons who may have been ambivalent or those who supported the collation but now have seen the true faces behind the masks; let us seek those who are willing to listen to the message of an inclusive future for all Guyanese and who may want to join/ participate in making this a reality shortly. All Guyanese are suffering from the doddering and dithering in Shiv Chanderpaul Drive; there is much to unite us for “No cause is left but the most ancient of all, the one, in fact, that from the beginning of our history has determined the very existence of politics, the cause of freedom versus tyranny” - Hanna Arendt. Let us use this testing time to build and to heal, and defeat those who want to break down the ties that bind us together. Respectfully, Robin Singh
Remembering Komal Chand DEAR EDITOR, It is with profound sadness that I feel compelled to add my bit on the passing of Mr. Komal Chand in Cuba where he was undergoing medical treatment. Our last chat was late last year at a funeral at Canal #1 and although he was not as robust as in earlier years, he still exuded the camaraderie and spirit that characterized
him since I knew him in the early seventies. Candidly, we were never on the same side of the fence. I was Economic and Statistical Advisor to the Manpower Citizens Association (up to Crane Arbitration Tribunal of 1974) when GAWU was battling to dethrone it as the recognized Union for field and factory employees in the sugar industry.
Komal officially joined the Union in 1975 and at year’s end GAWU trounced the MPCA by almost 80% (there was no need for a recount!) when there was arguably the best combo of Minister of Labour and Chief Labour Officer (Winslow Carrington – Freddie Eytle). His tutelage under GAWU’s President Ram Karran (snr.) (Continued on page 6)
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Tuesday April 28, 2020
Kaieteur News
Justice Singh ignores Region 4 SOPs and adopts a head-inthe-sand approach DEAR EDITOR, The ten motions supported by the PPPappointed Commissioners at the Guyana Elections Commissioners’ meeting on Friday, April 24, 2020 were prudent and necessary, yet Justice Singh decided to reject most of the motions that would have greatly accelerated the obligations of GECOM to deliver election results that to this day have been denied the Guyanese people and International Stakeholders. Three of the ten motions that were rejected will be used herein to highlight how less than convincing the Madam Chairperson has been throughout the March 2, 2020, Post-Election Period of Crisis. Motion number 1. a): The originals of all Statements of Poll for District 4 received by the Chief Election Officer be provided by the said Chief Election Officer to the Commissioners for examination. Motion number 1. b): Copies of all the
Statements of Poll for District 4 received by the Chief Election Officer be provided to Commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission by the said Chief Election Officer. Rejected by Justice Singh: In justifying her decision to reject the motion, Justice Singh in an interview with Guyana Chronicle, explained that the Elections Commission, having agreed to proceed with a National Recount on April 3, 2020 cannot backpedal on its decision, noting that the production of the SOPs, at this stage, will be of little value to the process. “I committed to a recount. I made a commitment to the Court to have a recount; and if you have the SOPs that will not resolve the problem,” the GECOM Chair said. Comment: Justice Singh is ignoring the bird in her hand represented by the Region 4 SOPs and instead seeks to use a convoluted system led by several discredited
GECOM individuals, who are bent on denying the democratic will of the Guyanese people. The provision of the GECOM SOPs for Region 4, will swiftly bring an end to the rigging game while a national recount will open the Pandora boxes and provide open season for more fake ailments, excessive security barriers, extreme requirements to sanitize, disinfect and fumigate, unnecessary and false coronavirus test results, disappearing acts, miscounting, more rigging, court hearings, violence, looting, extend the presence of an illegitimate government, stifle aid to Guyana and worsen the impact of COVID19 in Guyana. Motion Number 5: That all members of staff of the Guyana Elections Commission who were involved in the activities which resulted in controversy, allegations of fraud and legal proceedings in the High Court after Elections Day 2020, be removed from active participation in the recount process. Rejected by Justice
Guyanese being ridiculed over Election Count DEAR EDITOR, West Indians are insulting Guyanese telling them they can’t count numbers because of the boldface fraud perpetrated by some at GECOM. When I was a university student during the 1970s and 80s studying among West Indians at City College, they used to poke fun at Guyanese at varied interactions, including at social gettogethers or meetings of the Caribbean Students’ Association, or in regular discourse on campus. Guyanese and other West Indians were in large numbers at CCNY and at Brooklyn College and the junior twoyear colleges. West Indians would remind us that Guyana was supposed to be the breadbasket of the region and instead the region had to literally send bread to Guyana. They laughed at us over electoral frauds. They poked fun at the number of Guyanese who were deported from their islands violating immigration laws and how many were embarrassed being sent to sit at a bench specially reserved for Guyanese seeking entrance at various airports in the region. Some endured abuses and insults as they waited processing of their entrance
stamp. I know about these abuses meted out to Guyanese because I visited the islands and interacted with West Indians in New York as a student over many years. I used to be an elected representative in undergraduate and graduate student governments (serving in various titles including Vice President, President, Senator, Councillor, etc.) from 1978 and thru the 1980s and would hear their sarcastic remarks about Guyana at government meetings or during Club Hours (every Thursday from noon to 2 PM). I also served as a rep of my student government at the Citywide monthly university student governments’ gathering (some 14 campuses at that time which now has expanded to some 22 campuses) held in midManhattan (somewhere around 76th Street) Westside. West Indians used to cluster together at these monthly policymaking forums to address issues impacting students from the lower classes. And even there I was subjected to sardonic sneers or jokes about Guyana. Even when I attempted to get refreshments, some would comment, “You better take enough, because you won’t
get any in Guyana”. It was all done in good jest to evoke laughter about the terrible state of affairs of our Guyana during the period of dictatorship, when starvation had really set in. I used to also hear sneering remarks about Guyana when I served for over a decade as my teachers’ union rep at monthly citywide meetings. Those snide remarks of the past have now given away to a new mockery. “You all can’t count numbers. After two months, you all still can’t count 450K ballots”. One remarked, “My grandchildren can count the ballots in two days”. That is the kind of ridicule that GECOM has subjected us to – those of us living in the region and in the diaspora. I should note that just four years ago, islanders were in praise of Guyana over oil discovery and prospective wealth. Earlier this month, they jeered, “your oil is worth nothing” as the oil market collapsed. And now we are back to the period of being taunted relating to electoral fraud. GECOM please do the right thing and spare Guyanese of further abuses of derision by correctly counting the votes. Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram
Singh: Justice Singh was referenced as saying that there was no evidence before the Elections Commission, which support the basis of the motion. Both Gunraj and Alexander confirmed that the GECOM Chair advised that it would be unwise to have District 4 Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo involved in the process. Mingo was responsible for the tabulation of the SOPs for his electoral district, when the electoral process was repeatedly disrupted, and allegation of fraud leveled against him and GECOM. Comment: The core players responsible for the fraudulent speed reading of the amended Region 4 SOPs are still ominously present in the Recount Cast, except for Mingo, allowing the other tainted players, to continue by any means necessary, to frustrate and undermine the recount process. How can the Chairperson logically discard Mingo - yet keep Mingo’s outlandish Region 4 declaration, along with his enablers and willful assistants in the fraudulent process. Clearly a case of inverse logic by Justice Singh. Motion Number 10: That the declaration of the election results of Electoral District number four (4) by Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, made on the 13th day of March 2020, and the Consequential Report prepared and submitted to the Commission by the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, pursuant to the provisions of Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act, Cap 1:03, be set aside, revoked, annulled and rescinded by the Guyana Elections Commission. Rejected by Justice
Singh: The Chair refused to pass the motion, on the grounds that there is nothing to replace them. She reportedly posited that the declarations will be nullified when the recount provides new declarations. Justice Singh told the Guyana Chronicle that the declaration of the results for District 4 or any other district cannot be nullified at this stage of the electoral process. “The declarations are in abeyance, we put them in abeyance because I cannot replace them until after the recount. They only can be replaced by a new declaration from the recount,” the GECOM Chair explained. Comment: A null and void declaration cannot be nullified, it cannot be replaced as it does not legally exist. The non-adherence to the Representation of the People Act in the adding and tabulation of Region 4; as recognized by Guyana’s High Court and evidenced by the common sense observations of the Local and International Observers and the International Community, ought to have stirred some mental acuity in Justice Singh’s thinking. And prevented her from saying that she has to put in abeyance, a declaration of Region 4, which is a known nullity and further saying that she cannot replace the Region 4 declaration, which the Madame Justice has already declined by pledging to the Chief Justice to have a recount of Region 4. It boggles the mind why the obvious irrationality of accepting the fraudulent Region 4 declaration still finds credence in Justice Singh’s mind, even after dumping Mingo. It is beyond the point of logic. In concluding, it is pertinent to note that on
Thursday, March 12, 2020, as reported in Stabroek News, The European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission requested from GECOM the Statements of Poll that were used for the declaration of results for Region 4. The letter signed by EU Deputy Chief Observer, Alexander Matus, said that the request was being made pursuant to Section 4 (1) and (3) of the General Elections (Observers) Act, as well as Sections 6,7, 8 and 9 of the Administrative Arrangement between the Delegation of the European Union in Guyana and GECOM. Matus wrote “I am hereby requesting to examine the Statements of Polls based on which you have prepared the spreadsheet of results before the ascertainment of results for Region Four is completed”. Guyana’s Private Sector Commission made a similar request for Statements of Poll, after the EU request. Both requests were made on solid legal grounds, yet GECOM has failed to respond in both instances to the soliciting parties, as they have failed in many other instances to comply with their legal obligations. The use of the Statements of Poll is an essential requirement (sine qua non) under the Representation of the People Act, to validate the adding and tabulation process for Region 4. Instead of using these most needed GECOM Statements of Poll to quickly allow for a democratic transition, the constitutionally-empowered Justice Singh has denied access to the stakeholders by seeming to bury her head in the sand to find an interminable series of messy solutions, all combined together in an order for gazetting that will implode. Nigel Hinds
...Remembering Komal Chand From page 5 then became the genesis of what we now regard as his legacy. Alas! We were again on opposite sides of the fence, since I became Secretary of the Corporation’s Industrial Relations Committee for a year, which included the famous 135-day general strike. Thereafter, I served on five sugar estates as Personnel Manager so we still were very much engaged along with the Union’s officials – Albert Boodhoo in Berbice and Jewan Jankie at Uitvlugt readily come to mind. Komal’s leadership qualities were always at the fore as General Secretary by then, and often kept overzealous followers in line. The central point in the
above is that Komal has always put principles above personalities and his ardent pursuit of workers’ welfare and upliftment later saw him playing a pivotal role in the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and on the world stage as well, when he became a member of the World Federation of Trade Unions’ (WFTU) Presidential Council. While I could never be mistaken for a Marxist– Leninist, some conversations I have had with Komal on my visits (most when GAWU was still headquartered in Regent St.) often veered into politics, but there was never any animosity; his keen intellect and sociable personality always prevailed.
In view of the current pandemic, I am sure the appropriate authorities have what it takes to arrange Komal’s rema i n s t o b e brought for a decent funeral. I note a Guyanese boxing contingent is also stranded in Cuba along with any number of students who wish to r e t u r n h o m e f o r n o w. Additionally, I understand specialist personnel are being sought (hopefully in immunology, epidemiology and pulmonology among others) who will also have to be flown here. I share his family’s grief and look forward to a speedy closure. Yours sincerely, Jagdat Persaud, B.Soc.Sc., MBA
Kaieteur News
Tuesday April 28, 2020
PAGE 07
City Council collaborating with PAHO to help curb spread of COVID-19
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he Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) yesterday met with representatives of the PanAmerican Health O r g a n i s a t i o n ( PA H O ) yesterday to discuss enforcement techniques and additional measures that can be implemented to fight the spread of COVID-19 in the city. The discussion was especially focused on the municipal markets. According to City Mayor, Ubraj Narine, a communication team, consisting of members from PAHO and the M&CC, was formed. It is expected that the team will communicate frequently to assess the effectiveness of measures implemented to fight the spread of COVID-19 in Georgetown. At present, the municipal markets have limited the number of shoppers to 15. The shoppers are also restricted to using two gates – one for entry and another for exit at each market.
The Council had implemented the restrictive measure as a method of ensuring social distancing is practised to help combat the spread of the infectious disease. At the interim, the M&CC has been appealing to the public to practice health precautions, as it remains steadfast in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. “Let us join in the effort to flatten the curve by practising good hygiene, social distancing and the use of a facemask if we must leave our homes. Otherwise, let us remain within the confines of our homes, it can save our lives,” the Council said in a statement. For this purpose, the Council said hand-washing sinks were placed at the entrances of Municipal Markets and its contiguous areas, to be used by all members of the public, free of charge. Notwithstanding this, the Council also used the
Members of the Council met with PAHO representatives yesterday opportunity to debunk some reports that have appeared in sections of the media. The Council stressed that it is neither involved in nor has it granted permission to anyone for the collection of monies to enter its markets or for the use of hand washing
sinks. The Council said therefore that the unauthorized collection of monies by unknown individuals is a crime punishable by law and “the Council wishes to encourage the culpable persons to desist
from this dishonest act”. In addition, actions to solicit funds in the name of the organization, from citizens in this regard should be reported immediately to the City Constabulary Headquarters, City Hall Compound, Regent Street,
Georgetown or to the Guyana Police Force. Also, the Town Clerk (ag), Sherry Jerrick, has instructed the Chief Constable (ag) Peter Livingstone to carry out a full investigation into this matter.
Suspect nabbed in Canal Man charged with ganja No.1 murder, confesses possession, walks free
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he suspect behind the gruesome murder of a 52year-old woman of Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara (WBD) has confessed t o t h e b r u t a l m u r d e r. According to sources close to the investigation, the 22-yearold suspect known as “Gepper” or “Kevin” was nabbed by law enforcement officers at the De Kindren Public Road, West Coast Demerara hours after committing the crime. Commander, Assistant C o m m i s s i o n e r, S i m o n McBean confirmed that the suspect has been arrested and is assisting with investigations. Kaieteur News understands that the now dead woman, Tameshwarie Sonilal of Lot 2, Goed Hope, Canal Number One Polder was hacked to death in the bedroom of her home at around 9pm on Sunday. According to reports, Sonilal was reportedly attacked by the young man who frequents the village. Sources say that the man attempted to rape the woman but investigators are unsure what led to the brutal attack.
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Dead: 52-year-old Tameshwarie Sonilal On the night of the attack, neighbours recalled hearing the woman's piercing screams and rushed to her aid. There, they met the suspect in the woman's room, while she lay on her bed bleeding profusely from several stab wounds. Residents attempted to subdue the suspect but the man was armed with a cutlass and fought before
making his escape. Investigators relayed that the woman was not wearing any underwear when she was found. Her body is presently at the Ezekiel's Funeral Home awaiting an autopsy. According to reports, nothing was stolen from the woman's home. Persons living in the area described the suspect as a drug addict and a troublemaker.
rian Howard yesterday had a possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking charge dismissed against him on the grounds that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he committed the crime. The matter was being done at the Providence Magistrate's Court before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman. Howard, who was represented by attorneyat-law, Bernard DaSilva, was charged for the offence in February 2019. On his first court appearance, he denied the charge which stated that on January 29, 2019, at Hyde Park, Timehri East Bank Demerara, he had in his possession 214 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. When the matter was called for ruling yesterday, Principal Magistrate Latchman handed down her ruling via video. The Magistrate ruled that the prosecutor failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Howard is
responsible for the 214 grams of cannabis, which he was charged for. As such, the charge was dismissed against Howard. It was reported that on the day in question, police ranks went to Hyde Park, Timehri, East Bank
Demerara, where they met Howard. A search was conducted and 214 grams of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be marijuana was found. Howard was cautioned, arrested and taken into custody.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 08
Tuesday April 28, 2020
Region 10 sets up COVID-19 checkpoints A checkpoint at the Bamia Police Station, Soesdyke/Linden Highway to screen persons entering Linden, Region 10
A checkpoint at the Kwakwani Waterfront, Upper Berbice River area
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from 08:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs. The Bamia screening station caters for persons travelling from Georgetown while the Kwakwani screening outpost caters for persons travelling from Linden, Ituni and other communities. The screening station at 58 Mile caters for persons travelling from Region Nine and other
communities. In addition to being screened, passengers are also given hand sanitisers and
Caribbean Airlines launches cargo charter service
live stream of the recount for the world to see isn't just a good decision. It is the ultimate boost of public confidence in the credibility of the process. So says Opposition nominated Commissioner, Robeson Benn, who penned a letter, expressing disappointment at some of the decisions made by Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chair, Justice Claudette Singh. These include her decision not to have the national recount streamed live to the world. The Chair premised her refusal on Section 90 of the Representation of the People Act, which she said do not permit her to live stream the count. Benn is on the side of arguments made against the Chair's claim, explaining that he and his colleagues nominated by the Opposition, are of the view that the lack of a live stream would see the recount being conducted under circumstances less transparent and, therefore, less credible than should be. Not only this. He said that it would be the ultimate confirmation of the process, should the process be live streamed. Benn said that the current situation requires the dispassionate performance of constitutional and
he Region 10 Regional Health Emergency Committee (RHEC) in conjunction with the Region's Department of Health has started screening persons entering the Upper Demerara-Berbice area for the novel Coronavirus. The RHEC has established screening
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a r i b b e a n Airlines has introduced a cargo charter service to support supply chains within the Caribbean region. This is according to a statement issued by the airline. It was revealed that the airline launched this new option to meet the growing demand for cargo uplift to a number of Caribbean islands, which are now experiencing significantly reduced cargo capacity with the closure of borders to passenger aircraft, due to the COVID-19
stations at the Bamia Police Outpost, 58 Mile Police Outpost and the Kwakwani Waterfront. Healthcare workers have noted that incoming passengers have been very cooperative. Persons are screened for above normal temperature and if necessary are referred to the nearest health facility. The operation is conducted
pandemic. Caribbean Airlines Cargo will utilize the airline's fleet of Boeing 737800 and ATR-72 aircraft, offering up to 18,000 pounds for the movement of essential goods to and from destinations, including but not limited to, Antigua, Barbados, Curacao, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Nassau, St. Lucia, St. M a a r t e n , S t . Vi n c e n t , Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Charter flights will be subject to the regulatory approvals of each jurisdiction and airport, the
airline's statement added. Meanwhile, the airline noted that it will continue to operate its scheduled 767 freighter flights, offering up to 120,000 pounds of cargo capacity to and from its hub in Miami. M a r k l a n M o s e l e y, General Manager Cargo, Caribbean Airlines stated “In these unprecedented times, our cargo operations are crucial to securing the urgent supply of essential goods within the Caribbean. We will continue to adapt our business in order to meet the evolving needs of our valued customers.”
informed how to prevent the spread of the virus. The health facilities in the Region - Linden Hospital
Complex, the Kwakwani Hospital, the Upper Demerara Hospital - are also practising screening.
Live stream of recount would be ultimate public confidence booster - Commissioner Benn
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Opposition nominated Commissioner Robeson Benn professional duties, without fear or favour, by all concerned so that democratic governance is restored. A domestic observer of the March General and Regional Elections, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has argued that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has the authority to take action as it sees fit to ensure the fairness and impartiality of the process. That authority is rooted in Article 162 of the Constitution, which states that the electoral commission “shall issue such instructions and take such action as appear to it necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the provisions of this
Constitution or of any Act of Parliament” where the Commission's general direction and supervision over the electoral process are concerned. Another provision that grants GECOM the authority to ensure the recount's streaming is not hindered by Section 90 is Section 22 of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, which speaks to GECOM's authority over 'Removal of D i ff i c u l t i e s ' . S o s a y s Attorney-at-Law Christopher Ram. It states “If any difficulty arises in connection with the application of this Act, the Representation of the People Act or the National Registration Act or any relevant subsidiary legislation, the Commission shall, by Order, make any provision, including the amendment of the said legislation, that appears to the Commission to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty; and any such order may modify any of the said legislation in respect of any particular matter or occasion so far as may appear to the Commission to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty.” Both of these provisions have been cited by Commissioner Vincent Alexander as grounds for GECOM to conduct the recount itself.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday April 28, 2020
PAGE 09
A Patient Spirit A
reporter went to heaven and saw two lines. Over one line was a sign that read “For men who were dominated by their wives”. There were hundreds of men in that line. The other sign had a sign which read, “For men who dominated their wives.” There was only one man standing in that line. Being a reporter, he went up to the man and asked, “Sir, could you tell me why you're the only man in the line for “Men who dominated their wives?” “Sure”, the other man responded. “My wife told me to stand here.” Guyanese do not like lines. This may have something to do with the experience of the past when there were shortages and people would see a line, join it and then ask what the line
was about. That experience taught patience. People developed the patience to stand in line all day, not knowing when their turn came whether they would get whatever was being sold. Perhaps, it is because the present generation was spared those hard times that so many Guyanese have become impatient. Some motorists run the red light at junctions just because they do not wish to wait sixty seconds. Banks are usually very quiet places and the atmosphere influences the mood. Even loud- mouthed persons are constrained from speaking audibly in banks. Despite this, one can hear grumblings in the lines leading to the tellers. People complain, despite the airconditioned atmosphere, that the lines move too
slowly. They are impatient; they want to get out of there. Waiting 10 minutes in a line these days can lead to frustration and at times anger, especially when someone jumps the queue. This is a regular practice in Guyana. You are standing patiently in a line and then someone comes up and forms a conversation with the person ahead of you. And the next thing you know is that the latecomer gets into your space. When others see this, they do the same and the entire line is thrown into chaos. Whenever there are big events, being in a queue can be a problem. Order can easily turn into confusion simply because people do not wish to form a line and wait their turn. It was amazing a few years ago to see the queue in Libya of persons lining up to
see the body of the murdered Muammar Gaddafi. One would have expected there to be a mad rush to see the body of the slain leader. This was however not the case. The people lined up orderly and calmly to see the remains of the late leader. Even though the majority of those who went to view the body could not be considered supporters of the slain leader, there was calmness about the whole procession of persons. Those in line were patient and waited their turns. The one time that Guyanese seem to exercise tremendous patience is during elections period. The number of persons eligible to vote at any polling station is kept within limits so as to avoid the excuse that someone could not vote because of the long lines. Yet we find that there are
long lines early in the morning as voters heed their parties request to go out and vote early and late in the afternoon just as the polls are about to close. For the remainder of the day, it is just a trickle of persons that can be seen in and out of the polling stations. The vast majority of Guyanese vote early in the morning and late in the afternoon. And you would be amazed that despite having to stand in line, there are few protests about the length of the line or the time taken. People take voting seriously in Guyana, so seriously that they do not complain about the lines. Interestingly, there are hardly any cases of persons trying to jump the queue. There is so much patience in the election line. If we can do it for
elections, we can also do it for normal situation. There is no reason why people should get frustrated at standing a few minutes in a line for a service. They do it for election without complaining but when it comes to paying a bill, they want to get out of the line quickly. Perhaps they should try gardening. It takes time, it takes efforts and it takes a lot of patience to get a garden going. It is one activity that relaxes you and teaches patience. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
No new case of COVID-19 in 2 days - Ministry says
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or the past two days (April 26 and 27), there has been no new case of COVID-19 recorded locally. At least this is according to the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH). In fact up to press time, the number of confirmed cases and fatalities linked to the disease remain at 74 and eight, respectively. Volda Lawrence, the Minister responsible for public health in Guyana, was keen to highlight yesterday that three more persons have recuperated from COVID19, which now takes the number of recovered cases to 1 5 . A d d i t i o n a l l y, 4 6 4 persons have been tested
- as 15 recover
thus far for the disease, of which 390 have returned negative. Minister Lawrence went on to state that five persons are now seeking further treatment in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital, while noting that
there are 24 individuals under institutional quarantine and 51 in isolation facilities. “For the global report, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are over three million cases of COVID-19, with over 200,000 deaths. In
Dem boys seh...
Man sanitize he neighbour chicken
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is COVID-19 virus serious, it gat some Big Man crying. And is nah because dem get infected. A wife come home from de market and see de husband crying. She ask: “Honey wha u doing?” He answered: “Ah reading a book.” “Den why yuh crying?” she asked he. De husband tun to her and seh: “De end of the book sad.” “Wha is the name of dat book?” de wife asked.
He replied: “My Bank Book.” Dem boys meet another man. He nah been crying. He been quarrelling. Dem boys ask he why he so 'hangry'. He turned to dem boys and ask: “Is it wrong to sanitize me neighbour's chicken with hot water and quarantine it in me fridge?” But de best was the man wah went home and tell he wife he want to do a video for all he friends and family. He tell she dat he tested positive for COVID-19 and wanted to warn people how it easy fuh catch de virus.
While he recordin' de video and telling people to be careful and be tested he produce wah he seh was de certificate which show dat he test positive for COVID-19. He hold up de paper. While he talking, he wife tek de paper from he and read it. She den turned to he and dig a slap in he and seh: “Dis paper seh dat you test positive fuh cocaine on the 19th, not COVID-19.” Talk half and remember: “Lets' stay apart today so dat we can stay together tomorrow.”
the Region of the Americas, the number of confirmed cases is 1,094,846 with 56,063 deaths,” the health official added. “As you are aware, Georgetown is the epicenter of the Coronavirus Disease with 55% of all confirmed cases residing in C e n t r a l G e o rg e t o w n , ” Minister Lawrence stressed. The Ministry has also put in place testing mobile units, the Minister noted. “In light of this, my fellow Guyanese, you need to be brave and come forward and let us help you. As these units are put in place, I urge you to make use of this opportunity; utilize our services and help us to
flatten the curve, contain this disease and get back to normalcy.” Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health is again calling on all citizens to heed the health advisories and observe the correct hygiene
measures and precautions. Citizens are also asked to always practice social distancing in the workplace, public spaces, and while using public transportation so as reduce the spread of the coronavirus disease.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 10
Tuesday April 28, 2020
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Eusi Kwayana knows a little of me, nothing of Claudette Singh
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have unlimited respect for Eusi Kwayana. He is a Guyanese icon. Out of reverence one does not want to criticize an icon on little
mistakes and out of that very reverence, you just let things go by. There is another side to that perspective. Academics, writers, biographers, also
have a duty to future generations. These little notes here in this column should be part of my contribution to posterity, to scholars, researchers and ordinary Guyanese who after 50 years, studying the past heroes of Guyana would want to know who Eusi Kwayana was and what were his strengths and weaknesses. I thought long on commenting on his reply to me in Kaieteur News of last Sunday with the title, “I run the risk of widespread disapproval.” Readers need to know his letter was in response to my column on him two Sundays ago under the caption: “Eusi Kwayana: Edward Said on Sartre.” In that piece I queried why he would want a tribunal into one day of post election violence rather than six weeks of an unfolding tide of election rigging the type of which he has never seen in his life time. His perspective has
disappointed me. I am inflexible in my belief that many of us who love him will not want to point out the flaws in his perspective on the 2020 election impasse simply out of reverence. For me, the flaws in his outline are so worrying that I cast aside my hesitation and am fully convinced that I should highlight his contradictions I will concentrate only on one aspect of his thinking which is not germane to the election horror house Guyanese are living in at the moment but more concerned with his way of looking at people and events. The rest of this analysis will focus on a juxtaposition of the action that he attributes to me and his acknowledgement that he does not know about Claudette Singh's role in the election conspiracy. I begin with his quotes on me then I will go to his quotes on Claudette Singh. He writes; “I thank the columnist for noticing the sins of omission and commission by people like me….” He goes on and here I will alert readers to the word “false” and the following four words, “bears out this concern” that he uses in describing a particular mode in my polemics.
He wrote; “Mr. Kissoon sometimes gives the false impression that I am the only person of my age group available for his examination…I note in passing that Mr. Kissoon seldom mentions me without reminding readers of my age. For some reason age is an important factor in his analysis and the conclusions that he draws… his present article bears out this concern.” So there are three things said about me that Kwayana uses his knowledge of Guyana and Guyanese to arrive at. Now let us read what he has to say about election rigging and his position on Claudette Singh. On what is taking place for the past two months with barefaced rigging of the 2020 election, Kwayana wrote; “I for one, consider it unhelpful to prattle about facts I do not have…the impressions I am getting are not founded on facts that may pass my own test.” Here is the part on Claudette Singh that contradicts the above quote by Kwayana. On the goodly lady, after two months have passed and her role has been exposed to the world (but perhaps not Eusi), he wrote;
Frederick Kissoon “I cannot pretend to be unaffected by the statement of (Singh) that she intended to deliver to the public a valid election. I have often wondered to what extent those who appealed to her public spiritedness…have taken the necessary steps to support her started aspirations.” Well, well! I am lost for words. Is this the Eusi Kwayana that so many of us love and admire? But let us examine Kwayana's knowledge of two persons who are publicly known in Guyana – me and Claudette Singh. In relation to me, he knows that, (1) I gave the false impression that I singled out him as the only person of his age available for my examination, (2) I am concerned with people's age in my analyses and (3) he discerned that concern in one of my articles recently. What false impression has Singh given this nation that Kwayana does not know about? What concerns Singh has in relation to two months of election rigging? What stated aspiration Singh has and why after two months of election rigging should any decent citizen show appreciation for those false aspirations? Stay good Eusi. You still have my love. Always! (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Kaieteur News
Tuesday April 28, 2020
PAGE 11
My contract was not renewed because of Guyana's politics - Int'l Cricketer Chris Gayle
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nternational cricketing superstar, Chris Gayle, unleashed a barrage of allegations concerning the decision by the Hero CPL franchise team, the Jamaica Tallawahs, including the claim his fate was linked to Guyana's politics. In a three-part video, released on his Youtube channel titled “Chris Gayle's Breakdown of Release from Jamaica Tallawahs”, Gayle attacked Tallawah's CEO Jeff Miller and former West Indies teammate Guyanese Ramnaresh Sarwan of being involved in influencing the decision to release him from the CPL team. In Part One of the video, Gayle alleges that Miller was less than forthright with him on the conditions of the renewal of his contract with the franchise team, releasing him without informing him that he was no longer on the player listing. Gayle then makes the claim that the real reason that he was released from the team stemmed from an incident last year related to Guyana's politics. “Let me tell you why,” Gayle says, “the Tallawahs didn't really retain me now.
This is all politics right now. I am not a politics person. Never been in politics. I am not a part of politics and I don't support politics… This is all politics and this is personal as well. I'll tell you why. This is all coming from one visit in Guyana. Apparently Guyana had their election and one visit, the minister of the country invite me to his community and I made a visit to his community and the other side, which the owner is part of as well, get offended and they all take it personal, so that is how it actually started.” Last October, a controversy arose over Gayle's visit to Linden in the company of former Minister of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, during a PNCR rally. Gayle was at the time in the country representing the Tallawahs against the Guyana Amazon Warriors. Pictures of the visit started a social media storm in which the player was accused of in effect endorsing the major coalition partner in the lead up to the 2020 election. Gayle in response would release a statement that read
in part: “I, Christopher Gayle, would like to make it very clear that I in no way, manner or form endorse or support any individual or political party in Guyana. I have noted the many Social Media comments in relation to my recent presence in Linden and I wish to set the record. I was invited to Linden to participate in a community outreach. As a sports personality, I relish the opportunity to meet with my fans and also to reach out to any community under the neutral banner of sports.” Shortly after, a recording was released of PPP General-Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, in an expletive-filled tirade against Gayle saying that the star cricketer was now in his 'f#4ing bad books.” In January of this year, PPP member Charles Ramson, Jr. made the claim that Gayle was paid for his appearance at the rally, with Gayle responding ordering Ramson to retract his statement through attorney Roysdale Forde, a candidate on the coalition list in the 2020 elections. In the video, Gayle says that he has known both sides
Int'l Cricketer Chris Gayle
for years. “I've had dinner with the other party,” he said, “Everyone take photos, they put it up on their Facebook. I've known everyone for years.” The cricketer had high p r a i s e f o r Ta l l a w a h s franchise owner Chris Persaud, saying that the businessman was a good man, but said that someone had to be influencing him to drop Gayle from the team. “This decision,” said Gayle, “wasn't from the owner, Chris Persaud, I can tell you that. Other people
were in his ears. You might come and say, 'Hey, it has nothing to do with the politics', but it was a big thing in Guyana.” In Part Two, a visibly upset Gayle details a long friendship with Sarwan, one that he indicated was officially over. He alleges that the former cricketer betrayed their 25-year friendship in his alleged influence on the management of the team. “We no friends, alright. You stay on your side, I stay on my side. We social distancing, not by six feet -
we doing it couple miles.” In Part Three of the video, Gayle expands on the role other persons played in his departure from the team. Last week, it was revealed that following his leaving the Tallawahs, he would be signing on with the St. Lucia Zouks. See link for part one of the youtube video Chris Gayle posted: https://www.youtube.co m/watch?v=Ws5gpi_rvAk. Also see this link for part two:https://www.youtube.co m/watch?v=68CNXdkYT7 w
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday April 28, 2020
CDC receives donation of locally produced sanitizer
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s Guyana and the rest of the world continue to grapple with the Coronavirus disease (COVID 19) and its emergency measures, yesterday the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) received a large quantity of locally produced sanitizer from the Power Producers and Distributors Incorporated (PPDI). Director General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, who received the donation at the Kingston Power Plant, Georgetown from acting Chief Executive Officer, Gary Hall, said it is a welcomed and timely contribution to the Commission. He noted that the
sanitizer would be used at the CDC's headquarters, its storage facilities and will also be shared to the Convalescent and elderly homes across Georgetown. The Guyana Minibus Union also received a similar donation. Mr. Narine Beepat, who accepted on behalf of the Minibus Union, said the sanitizer would be used to aid in the safety of the travelling public on routes in Georgetown, East Coast, East Bank and West Bank Demerara, Berbice and Bartica. M r. H a l l , i n b r i e f comments, said the donation is not only part of the PPDI's corporate social responsibility but its desire to assist in any way it can during this period.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday April 28, 2020
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GTT observes Int'l Girls in ICT Day A number of young girls were on Friday given the opportunity to interact with several of GTT's women in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) via an online platform, as the company observed International Girls in ICT
Quality Lead Auditor, Tiffany Andrade
Senior Service Centre Clerk, Michelle Evans
Junior Business Analyst, Tisel Patterson
Malini Gourida
Day. According to a statement issued by the telephone company, the one-hour webinar was aimed at inspiring the next generation of girls to consider careers in ICT while offering clarity on misconceptions about the sector. The virtual interactive
session also allowed the presenters the opportunity to explain their roles at GTT and share from their experiences in the ICT sector. “This is the first time we hosted an activity of this nature and attendance and interaction was encouraging. We invited staff to have their children –
particularly girls – join and be a part of the event so they can benefit from the information and ask questions,” said Coordinator of the event, Diana Gittens. Among those presenting were Quality Lead Auditor at GTT, Tiffany Andrade; Junior Business Analyst, Tisel Patterson; Senior Service Center Clerk,
Michelle Evans and CEO of BitX, Malini Gourida. The internal activity includes an essay writing competition on the topic “Girls in ICT: The Future Me”. International Girls in ICT Day 2020 was observed under the theme: “Girls in ICT: Inspiring the Next Generation.”
Kaieteur News
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Tuesday April 28, 2020
Labourer remanded Marudi dredge owner murder... Manhunt launched for for murdering ex-common law wife “foreign nationals�
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Remanded: Jamal Angus
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24-year-old labourer of Number 30 Village, Corentyne, Berbice was remanded to prison yesterday for the brutal murder of his ex-common law wife. Jamal Angus called "Country" appeared at the Fort Wellington Magistrate's Court where the charge of murder committed on Vanessa Benjamin was read to him virtually. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison until June 10, 2020. Benjamin, who was 21 at the time of her death, was brutally stabbed by Angus. She was reportedly dealt 15
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Dead: Vanessa Benjamin
stabs about her body before she drew her last breath, leaving behind two children a three-year-old and a oneyear-old that she shared with her attacker. The now dead woman's mother, Debra Anibal, 52, was also stabbed by Angus after she tried to intervene to save her daughter. Angus, who also stabbed himself, remains hospitalised. Initial reports stated that Benjamin had struck up a relationship with the suspect some four years ago and they both lived at Number 30 Village, West Coast Berbice. However, the mother of two decided to sever the relationship with Angus and she had only recently
returned to her mother's home in Ithaca Village, West Coast Berbice with their two children. Angus had showed up at the Ithaca residence and tried to engage Benjamin but after she refused to entertain him, he reportedly became enraged and whipped out a knife, which he used to stab her. According to reports, he then turned his attention to Benjamin's mother and stabbed her too before stabbing himself. A post mortem examination conducted on Benjamin's remains revealed that she died as a result of perforations to the heart and lungs due to stab wounds inflicted by her attacker.
man hunt has been launched for five foreign nationals in connection with the murder of a dredge owner who operated in the Marudi Backdam, Region Nine (Upper Takatu, Upper Essequibo) during an alleged robbery Friday last. Sources close to the investigations revealed that the suspects may have travelled from Brazil to carry out the crime. Kaieteur News understands the 58year-old dredge owner, Brazilian National Fredson Da Cancercai of Madurai Mountain and Boa Vista, Brazil managed to kill one of the perpetrators before he was fatally shot. According to reports, the gold miner was at his mining camp building around 6pm when the incident occurred. Police said that the building was made of wood and was attached to a shipping container. The makeshift building also housed a safe. The six armed men, who were fully masked, reportedly accosted one of Da Cancercai's workers who had ventured a few distance away and took him back to the camp. Based on reports, the suspects did not anticipate the gold miner would be sitting in front of the building and immediately opened fire. Cancercai, who is a licensed firearm holder, according to sources, pulled out his weapon, a 9mm Glock 34 pistol, and returned
E C I T O N GENT
Dead dredge owner, Fredson Da Cancercai (Photo Credit: Quacy Munroe) fire sending the armed men and other workers scattering for cover. After a hail of gunfire, there was silence and the workers emerged minutes after to check on their boss. There, they found a bleeding Cancercai lying in front of his building while some feet away they discovered one of the bandits lying in a pool of blood. Both men were taken to the Aishalton Hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival. Sources disclosed that the bandit was struck twice – once to the head and the torso. Cancercai was shot four times to the left
shoulder, chest, left wrist and to abdomen. After scouring the crime scene, police discovered traces of blood which led to an old pit. There, they found a Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun loaded with five cartridges and a plastic bag containing 12 live cartridges, a black face mask along with a Global Positioning System (GPS). The victim's weapon was found next to his body while a pistol was found on the person of the suspected bandit. According to police, the safe was found empty and it is unclear who removed the contents from it.
Persons in need of T-Shore (wood) can uplift same free of cost at the construction site of a six-storey building on Regent Street (opposite the Guyoil Gas Station) between 9am and 5pm Monday - Friday.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday April 28, 2020
PAGE 15
PSC executives rally around chairman, Gerry Gouveia
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he current executive of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) is rallying around its Chairman, Captain Gerry Gouveia, who has come under fire in recent days for allegedly splitting the business body. Former Chair, Beni Sankar, in a public letter, in scathing comments last week, said that Gouveia has split the PSC, unnecessarily and made statements that did not have the support of all the executives of the body. The PSC has in recent years, been accused by the Coalition of having a political agenda with Gouveia singled out as having a close relationship with the main Opposition party, the People's Progressive Party. Coalition supporters have been making its clear on social media that it believes the PSC is politically tainted. However, the PSC in a statement defending its Chairman, said that it is aware that a number of
“reprehensible public statements” have recently been made aimed at the character assassination of the Commission's Chairman. Those statements have denigrated the “Commission for its public commitment to the free, fair, transparent and credible conduct and conclusion of the General and Regional Elections held on 2nd March, 2020,” PSC said. “The Commission's Constitution and Articles of Association ensure that the Chairman and Executive Committee of the Commission conduct the business of the Commission, including all public statements issued by the Commission, with the approval of the majority of the Executive Committee and, where required, the Council of the Commission.” PSC said too that it will continue to meet its obligations to all of its members to address all matters which relate to the good governance and security
and maintenance of the country as a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law. It was noted by the PSC that the statement has been issued and signed by the members of the Executive Committee including the Chairman, Vice Chairman, S e c r e t a r y, T r e a s u r e r, Corporate Coordinator and Chairmen of the following Sub Committees: Environment, Energy Trade
and Investment, I n f r a s t r u c t u r e , Governance and Security, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Public Communications and Human Resources Development. In his letter last week, Sankar whose family was once the biggest millers of rice on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two, insisted that Gouveia took the Commission into the political
CARICOM team gets approval to come Thursday- Nagamootoo
The Independent High-Level Mission (from left): Ms. Angela Taylor, Chief Electoral Officer, Barbados; Mr. Anthony Boatswain, former Finance Minister, Grenada; Ms. Francine Baron, Chair of the Team and former Attorney General and Foreign Minister, Dominica; Ms. Fern Nacis-Scope, Chief Elections Officer, Trinidad and Tobago; Ms. Cynthia Barrow-Giles, Senior Lecturer, Department of Government, UWI.
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he Caribbean Community (CARICOM) high level team has gotten approval to travel to Guyana on Thursday. This approval was granted by the National COVID-19 Task Force following its weekly statutory meeting yesterday. CARICOM Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin
LaRocque had written to the Chair of the National COVID-19 Task Force, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, requesting approval for a chartered flight from Guyana to transport the high level team. LaRocque also requested that similar arrangements be made for the team, upon the completed execution of its
PSC's chairman, Captain Gerry Gouveia
Former chairman, Beni Sankar
mandate here. The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) awaits the team to act as scrutineers for the recount. The Secretary General noted that arrangements would be made for the members of the team to be tested in their respective country, using the World Health Organisation (WHO)
approved polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 test. LaRocque has also requested for the test to be administered to the team before they depart Guyana. GECOM once assured that the team will arrive on Thursday, will be in a position to gazette the order for the recount.
arena. “For starters, like any stakeholder in the elections process the PSC applied for and was granted observer status. Gouveia was more than an observer. He became the transport officer for the diplomats stationed in Guyana. When the results of those elections were announced Gouveia, like the opposition forces in Guyana and the diplomats of the ABCE countries, claimed that the results for District Four lacked transparency and credibility.” Sankar pointed out that the matter was taken to court and in the end, a final decision w a s t a k e n . It was disclosed that Gouveia decided to write to a number of foreign organisations seeking to have them influence the outcome of the recount. “One letter was sent to the Organisation of American States which had fielded an observer team. That letter was sent on
behalf of the PSC but many in the PSC said that they were not consulted or shown the letter before it was sent. The letter, which was published in the local media, echoed the sentiments of the People's Progressive Party. Although the opposition agreed to a total recount, Gouveia like the opposition members wanted a recount of District Four (Region Four) alone.” Sankar said that based on information provided by the Commissioners, the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, produced a timetable that would see the recount taking 156 days. “This is still to be discussed by the Commission. But Gouveia, like the mouthpiece of the political opposition, criticized the duration of the recount. The opposition on its own did not voice an objection, publicly, but Gouveia made the opposition voice heard by writing on behalf of the PSC criticizing the recount.”
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Tuesday April 28, 2020
Kaieteur News
Lawyer submits petition for US to sanction Granger; GECOM and other officials A lawyer has submitted a petition to the US Embassy in Georgetown calling for the State Department in Washington to slap personal sanctions on President David Granger and senior officials of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). SERVICES Yesterday, attorney-at-law Visa Forms Preparer. Randy Depoo, disclosed that in Tel#626-7040, Publish your addition to submitting the 6,500Death Annoucements & In Memoriams online. Email: dthmemo@gmail.com ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 PEN PAL Overseas Male seek Female, write with pic/phone number to M.P 7475 Goreway Drive 47 Mississauga on 4T 3T3 Canada. FOR SALE White German Shepherd pups.Ruimzeight Gardens W.C.D.269-0671.Whatsapp 688-1656.
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plus online signatures petition to the Embassy, arrangements are also in place to have copies hand delivered to the State Department in Washington. Depoo, a Guyanese who served as a US Consul Officer in Trinidad before coming back to live in Guyana this year, disclosed that the initiative for the petition came about as there were a growing number of persons frustrated over the March 2 elections. Seven weeks has passed since the elections with results mired in controversy and court cases. A recount is scheduled to start this week and would come as the country remains in lockdown over COVID-19. Depoo, during an interview on Kaieteur Radio yesterday said that the “illegal” Coalition was collaborating with “cohorts” in GECOM to frustrate the elections results. He pointed out that senior US officials, including Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and his deputy, Michael Kozak, have been expressing concerns about the process and the need for credibility. The lawyer said that within the first eight hours of the petition last week, 1,500 persons signed it. As of yesterday, this increased to 6,500 persons signing the petition online. The petition was handed over to the US Embassy with the
request it be forwarded to Secretary Pompeo. More than half of the persons who signed are living in Guyana with the rest coming from Trinidad, US, Canada, United Kingdom and Caribbean, Norway, Sri Lanka, among other countries. Depoo dismissed questions that the petition would be counter-productive in light of the imminent recount. He said that after March 2, all parties had copies of the Statement of Polls, which any school child could tally up. Then there was the many twists involving Clairmont Mingo, the Returning Officer of Region Four who because sick and then miraculously recovered and presented a questionable spreadsheet of tabulations. The lawyer insisted that the spreadsheet was more a cheatsheet and that the attempt to steal the elections was “ a m a t e u r i s h ” . Among the name listed in the petition for personal sanctions are President David Granger; Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo; former DirectorGeneral of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon; Attorney-General, Basil Williams; Health Minister, Volda Lawrence; Social Protection Minister, Amna Ally; Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan; businessman Brian Tiwarie; Chief Elections Officer,
Attorney-at-law Randy Depoo shortly before handing over the petition to the US Embassy in Kingston yesterday. Keith Lowenfield; Deputy CEO, Roxanne Myers; Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo and Chair of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh. According to Depoo, sanctions could include visa revocation for the persons and their immediate family members; and freezing of bank accounts and properties in the US.
The lawyer said it is a mild approach to send the message home with the criticisms widespread; there is not a single voice lending support. He said that the narrative of the PPP/C losing the elections and trying to frustrate the electoral process was not even laughable and is even dangerous.
Supreme Court of Judicature updates emergency directions for COVID-19 The Supreme Court of Judicature has updated its emergency COVID-19 directions, which were first Gazetted on March 23, 2020 and later updated by noticed on April 3, 2020 and then April 5, 2020. The precautionary measures outlined are slated to take immediate effect and shall last for a period of one month, unless it is revoked or extended by notice after an assessment of the current health situation of the public. COURT SITTINGS All 'in person' hearings shall continue to be suspended during the one-month period, sittings of the courts shall continue to be conducted remotely. The court shall include any place, whether or not at a designated court house, where a Judge or Magistrate elects to sit to conduct the business of the court. All time sensitive filings pursuant to Rules of Court or Orders of Court are suspended during the one-month period. Affidavits in support of applications must be sworn to and subscribed as required by law. Exhibits to affidavits must be similarly marked as
required. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS Where a matter is due to become statute barred under the Limitation Act, Chapter 7:02 or any other legislation during the one-month period when the Emergency Directions are in force, it may be filed by electronic means notwithstanding it is not urgent. The matter must be accompanied with an affidavit explaining the circumstances. COURT OFAPPEAL All Chamber matters and Full Bench sittings of the Court of Appeal are further suspended for the one-month period subject to the directions of the Judge or the Court. Hearing of urgent applications by the Court will be conducted remotely. HIGH COURT - Civil Trials Subject to the decision of the hearing Judge, all pending civil matters in the High Courts in Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice are further suspended for the onemonth period. Sittings will resume after the one-month period but will be subject to an assessment
of the prevailing public health conditions. - Criminal Trials The opening of the Demerara Criminal Assizes for the April Session is further postponed for the one-month period. The Berbice and Essequibo Criminal Assizes are further suspended for the one-month period. After the one-month period has ended, the reopening of sessions will be reviewed on the basis of the prevailing public health guidelines. SUPREME COURT REGISTRIES The Registries at the Supreme Court Registry in Georgetown, Demerara, and the Sub-registries at New Amsterdam, Berbice and Suddie, Essequibo remain in operation but the counter and 'in person' services continue to be suspended until Friday, May 22, 2020. Unless otherwise advised, these registries will reopen to the public on Monday, May 25, 2020. Filing of urgent matters, or of pleadings for the Court of Appeal and High Courts as directed by the Court, until May 24, 2020, must be done by email in accordance with
paragraphs 30 – 33. The Emergency Practice Directions to the following email addresses; Judicial Registry, High Court, Georgetown, Demerara – supremecourtguyana@gmail.com, Sub-Registry, New Amsterdam, Berbice High Court – subregistryberbice@gmail.com, Sub-Registry, Suddie, Essequibo High Court – subregessequibo@gmail.com, Family Court Registry, High Court, Georgetown – registryfamilycourt@gmail.com, Land Court, High Court, Georgetown – landcourtgy@yahoo.com, Probate Registry, High Court, Georgetown – probateregistrygy@gmail.com. Where urgent matters are required to be filed under these Directions, litigants and/ or attorneys-at-law must file an undertaking to present hard copies of their documents and pay the requisite filing fees on a date, as directed by the Registry, which shall be on or after May 25, 2020. Registry staffers are working remotely to provide services to attorneys-at-law, litigants and other court users.
Tuesday April 28, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News Wednesday April 29, 2020
Tuesday April 28, 2020
Tuesday April 28, 2020
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Kaieteur News
Formula One Motor Sport Revs up a July Restart Variety - Organizers of Formula One motor racing say that they expect Grand Prix racing to begin in July. The first race is likely to be held in Austria, but spectators may not be allowed to attend the circuit. The high-profile race series was set to have begun its 2020 season in Melbourne on March 15. But as events organizers around the world woke up to the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic that race was called off and the beginning of the season delayed.Since that time, numerous other Formula One races, including those in Vietnam and China, announced delays. The series organizers have scrambled to reschedule some of them, and are still not yet able to
Mercedes Lewis Hamilton in action during a race. (Hasan Bratic/SIPA/Shutterstock) announce how many will go ahead at different dates. Before yesterday, eight races had been postponed, but only one – the season’s most glamorous and prestigious, in Monaco – had been outright cancelled. Yesterday’s restart announcement, was
accompanied by a separate announcement that the French Grand Prix, at Le Castellet, is also cancelled and will not be held in 2020. “We’re targeting a start to racing in Europe through July, August and beginning of September, with the first race taking place in Austria on 3-5
Tuesday April 28, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Plans to work at home at least part of the time might be firming up for you, Aries. Your mind is very much on home and family right now TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Information about possible careers and investments might come to your attention today. You may give a lot of thought to these matters, especially since your thinking is changing along with the times. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Gemini, you're likely to be giving a lot of thought to your future. You're probably wondering how best to increase your financial standing. You may be thinking in terms of making some investments in land or property. CANCER(June21–July22) If communication has been difficult for you in the past, Cancer, today you may find things a bit different. You may have a deeper understanding of the motives of others, making it easier for you to deal with them.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You're by nature a person who likes to look toward the future. Today is a very special day for you. You might wonder what the next few months hold, Libra. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)Today your spiritual and career goals may come together, Scorpio, enabling you to make a living without compromising your ideals. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Sagittarius, you're looking forward to making a new start. Your intellect is working in harmony with your intuition. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) The position of the planets could have you doing a lot of soul searching, Capricorn. You're looking deep within to discern your true goals. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you find.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Inside information may come your way today that starts you thinking about improving your financial standing, Leo.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today you might take time out from all the recent excitement to take a good look at your working life, Aquarius. Is it satisfying? Is it contributing not only to your own well-being but also to that of the planet?
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You could meet new friends at a social gathering, Virgo, people who could become valuable business contacts. You might learn of new and different investment opportunities that reflect the changing times, and these could capture your imagination.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Increased communication between you and those around you, particularly the partner in your life, brings a new understanding between you. Your head and heart seem to be in better accord, so you're feeling especially optimistic right now.
July weekend. September, October and November, would see us race in Eurasia, Asia and the Americas, finishing the season in the Gulf in December with Bahrain before the traditional finale in Abu Dhabi, having completed between 15-18 races,” said Chase Carey, Formula One chief. “We expect the early races to be without fans, but hope fans will be part of our events as we move further into the schedule. We still have to work out many issues like the procedures for the teams and our other partners to enter and operate in each country.”
Umar Akmal banned for... From page 21 all professional cricketers to stay away from the menace of corruption and immediately inform relevant authorities as soon as they are approached. This is in their as well as their teams’ and country’s best interest,” Mahmood said. Akmal’s career has been marred by disciplinary problems since he made his test debut 11 years ago. He was sent home from England in 2017 when he failed a fitness test before the Champions Trophy that Pakistan won. Akmal made a century in his debut test against New Zealand in 2009. He played 16 tests to 2011, scoring 1,003 runs. He has played 121 oneday internationals and 84 Twenty20 matches. He was recalled last year for the threematch T20 series against Sri Lanka in Lahore, but didn’t score in the first two games and was dropped.
The logistics of restarting the season have been complicated not only by travel restrictions in the host countries, but also by the lockdowns in Europe, where the virus has killed thousands. Most race teams are based in the U.K., one of the worst hit countries, while Ferrari is based in Italy’s Lombardy region, also a virus epicenter. Current plans will see two races in Austria, on July 5 and a week later on July 12. They will be followed by two in the U.K., at Silverstone, on July 19, and July 26. The track operators have said that Silverstone will not allow public admission. Government health decisions and the reemergence of the virus as travel restrictions are eased
could yet change Formula One’s plans again. While the decision to keep fans away deprives the individual race organizers of ticket revenue, they and the teams may be able to earn from sponsorship, advertising and the TV rights. The cancelation of the Melbourne race was chaotic. Teams comprising cars, drivers and hundreds of mechanics had all flown from Europe to Australia ready to begin. But the decision to cancel was only announced to the public on what should have been the first day of practice – by which time some of the drivers had already flown out. Lewis Hamilton, reigning world champion, and six times winner of the title, remains favorite to win the shortened 2020 season.
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Tuesday April 28, 2020
Kaieteur News
Downtime critical to T20 World Cup R Ashwin, Keshav Maharaj, post-mortem, says chief selector Nicholas Pooran’s Yorkshire ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – West Indies Women chief selector Ann Browne-John says the Caribbean side will use the downtime during the break caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak to critically examine their recent performances, especially in the wake of a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign earlier this year. Playing in the 10-nation tournament Down Under, the Windies won just one of their four group matches to finish third in the preliminaries and miss out on the semi-finals for the first time in six appearances. “As you would be aware, the team did not do as good as we would have liked or we would have expected,” Browne-John said. “But with the coronavirus we have not been able to get together as we would have liked to and do our postmortems but we have been doing as much we can electronically. “So we have been having discussions and have been looking to see where we fell short, what we did good and how can we use this as a learning curve as we move forward.” West Indies Women won their maiden world title when they captured the T20 World Cup in 2016, beating multiple-
Chief selector Ann Browne-John. time champions Australia in the final in Kolkata. They failed in their title defence two years ago when the Caribbean played host to the tournament, bounced out at the semi-final stage. The Stafanie Taylor-led unit were also unconvincing in this year’s showpiece, beating minnows Thailand in their opener but then falling to Pakistan and England, before suffering a washout against South Africa in their final game. Browne-John said while the current COVID-19 lockdown was frustrating for the players as it kept them out of action, the time away from the game could prove useful. “We are not sure how soon we would be able to move forward because everyday we realise the dates
for lockdown or stay-inside order or going further and further back,” she pointed out. “I know it’s affecting a lot of sports people, I know it’s frustrating a lot of the girls and a lot of the cricketers but it is something that we have to do if we want to keep safe. “We’re going to do our work, we will look at what has happened in the World Cup, we will look at the areas we need to build on.” The coronavirus outbreak has disrupted sports globally and the effects have been also felt in the Caribbean, with Cricket West Indies forced to abort several development tournaments including the Women’s Super50 Cup scheduled to start last month in Guyana. Browne-John said the inability to stage the tournament had deprived authorities of the chance to assess emerging players. “We had hoped really that with the regional tournament coming up that we would’ve had a chance to look at so many other players and look at a wide expanse of persons and to see where we can move forward,” Browne-John lamented. “This has not been able to materialise right now but we hope that we will be able to do it as we move forward.”
Alberto Contador: Chris Froome is perfectly capable of winning a fifth Tour de France Cycling News - Alberto Contador believes Chris Froome’s chances of success at the Tour de France will in no way be diminished by the effects of COVID-19 and the postponement to September, with Froome benefitting from the two-month delay. The Tour de France is currently scheduled to start on August 29, two months later than originally planned, although as for all sporting events, the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on those dates remain to be seen. Contador is convinced, he tells Cycling n e w s , t h a t Froome will benefit from the delay: partly because with such a lengthy time gap between racing after his 2019 Critérium du Dauphiné crash, it means the Ineos leader will be even hungrier to win. The delay to racing will also equal out any advantage other riders might have had
Alberto Contador (left) and Chris Froome during the 2013 Tour. at the start of the season while Froome was still completing his rehabilitation and early training. “The change of dates for the Grand Tours will favour riders who are strongest
mentally,” Contador tells Cyclingnews. “It won’t be at all easy for riders to stay completely on track, all the way up until the start of the racing season in the second half of the year.”
contracts terminated
ESPNcricinfo - Yorkshire have announced that their three overseas signings for the 2020 season - R Ashwin, Keshav Maharaj and Nicholas Pooran - have had their contract terminated by mutual consent. Ashwin, who has previously played county cricket for Worcestershire and Nottinghamshire, had been due to play the majority of the County Championship season, while Pooran was set to re-join the club for the T20 Blast having played three times in the competition last summer. Maharaj had been due to play the first two games of the County Championship season. All professional cricket in England and Wales has been suspended until July 1 at the earliest due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and several counties have now cancelled contracts for their overseas players both as a cost-saving measure and as a reflection of
R Ashwin had been due to play for Yorkshire in the County Championship. (BCCI) the uncertainties surrounding international travel. “I really appreciate the players’ understanding in this matter,” said Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s director of cricket. “We have been in regular contact with the players and
their agents throughout this Covid pandemic. “They have been extremely professional and appreciate the uncertainty facing counties at present. We hope that we will be able to see them at Emerald Headingley in the future.”
Patrick Ford Memorial boxing tourney on the cards for later 2020 pending GBA approval The second annual Patrick Ford Memorial boxing tournament could be staged in the latter part of 2020 once the Guyana Boxing Association gives the green light. This was announced yesterday by promoter Alford ‘Boxer’ McDonald who collaborates with the GBA to put on the competition. McDonald assured that once hurdles are cleared his Promotional Company stands ready to push ahead with the hosting of the event. “There are a few reasons why we would have had to postpone this event. It was first scheduled for February 15, but in consultation with the GBA we felt it wise to push back to July as we didn’t want to clash with other national events around that time. Now we have the advent of the Covid19 which has KO’ed any plan for bringing it off in July. We at McDonald Promotion understand the seriousness of Covid19 and will follow all protocols relating to curbing the spread of the virus,” McDonald said. When the tournament
Steve Ninvalle birthed in February 2019, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago battled Guyana. This year it was planned that Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad, St. Lucia and Suriname compete against Guyana. McDonald reiterated that whenever the competition is staged the Jackman sisters Alesha and Abiola will be part of the headline. “My intention was and is to have international competition for these two young ladies. I am personally impressed of the Jackman’s achievements so far. We have to keep exposing these two young women and we at McDonald Promotions will continue to do our part to
assist in their development,” added McDonald. Meanwhile, GBA president Steve Ninvalle claimed that it is too early to nail down a date for the resumption of boxing in Guyana. However, the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) vice president hinted that the fistic sport may return in the last quarter. “At this point in time we can say nothing definitive regarding when any tournament will be staged. Once the coast is clear we will ring the bell. I don’t see that bell being rung within the next three months,” Ninvalle declared. The competition was organized by the Guyana Boxing Association to honour the contributions of featherweight boxer Patrick Ford, the first Guyanese to fight for a world title. It has been held in conjunction with McDonald Promotions ever since. Ford was the first Guyanese to fight for a world title when he challenged Salvador Sanchez on September 13, 1980. He lost via a point’s decision after 15 rounds.
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Ramdhani siblings doing well Academically & in Badminton - Explain how COVID-19 has affected them By Sean Devers Guyana’s top Badminton players, 20-year-old Narayan Ramdhani and his sister, 18year-old Priyanna Ramdhani are both on Scholarships in Canada as Student athletes representing the Kings University and the Olds College respectively. According to their father Gokarn Ramdhani, the siblings who began playing the sport at the age of four, are doing very well both academically and in Badminton. Ramdhani, a former Guyana Badminton player in the 1980s when the pool of good players was much wider than now, is also the President of the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) and the National Coach. The Ramdhani siblings are blazing the trail set by players like former Caribbean Men’s Champion Sean Barnwell and Female Caribbean Champion Korean Thomas. The late 1980s and early 1990s, outstanding National players like Peter Perone, Granderson Robinson and on the distaff side Sharon Lathmansingh, Nicola Devers and Amada Low were among those who represented Guyana in Badminton. The Ramdhanis are both doing business and Sports Management for their studies at their respective universities and were planning to return home for Easter but due to the COVID-19 resulting in many Countries, including Guyana, closing their Airports meant this cannot be done. “They both won the ACAC All Conference Awards this year, the both of them placed second at the ACAC provincial Championships, while they both placed fourth at the CCAA Nationals held in Mississauga,” disclosed Gokarn Ramdhani. Narayan won the MVP for the Kings University and Priyanna won the Rookie of the year award for Olds College and both also won the Athlete of the week four times each for their Schools. They both are doing exceptionally well on the ACAC & CCAA Badminton circuit where they both won many tournaments and awards for the year. The pair spoke about how the COVID-19 has affected them. “The most I can do is watch badminton since I have never been away from the game for so long. Due to the
virus the Olympic qualifying tournaments in Cuba and Guatemala has been cancelled. But the Olympics has been postponed to next year, so I still have time to qualify,” said Narayan who was born on June 3, 1998. “I’m actually pretty busy. I still have school, and because of the virus, everything is online. I have online classes twice a day, assignments and tests to do. But I’m still keeping active,” said Narayan who plays for Yonex in Guyana, Kings Eagles & Royal Glenora Club in Canada. Priyanna, who represents Yonex in Guyana and Olds College Broncos Alberta in Canada, lamented that COVID-19 restrictions made a big impact on her training schedule. “I usually train five times a week: three times a week on court and twice a week at the gym for strength training. In order to keep up this training schedule, I would have to be outside of my house to attend practice, which will have way more benefit for enhancing my Badminton skills,” noted Priyanna, born on January 2, 2002. “As an athlete, I find it very difficult to have to stay home for majority of the time, because I am more of an outgoing person and I like to socialize with my teammates and friends at the Badminton arena and also at school, but our education system has been switched to online classes, and this affects me from seeing my friends and teammates face to face,” informed Priyanna. “I have been trying my best to keep fit by doing some exercises daily at home, and sometimes I would go for a run around my neighbourhood when I get the opportunity to do so, because the weather here is really cold, which makes it difficult for me to exercise outside every day,” explained Priyanna, Guyana’s Junior Sportswoman of the Year 2011. Narayan’s list of Achievements AB Canada Current Kings University Ranking No.1 AB Canada Current ACAC Ranking No.2 Canada Current CCAA National Ranking No.4 4-Times Athlete of the Week Kings University (AB Canada) 2019-20 2-Times ACAC All Conference Award (AB Canada) 2019-20 ACAC Championship Ranking No.1 (AB Canada)
2019 CCAA National Ranking No.3 (Canada) 2019 MVP Kings University (AB Canada) 2018-19 Athlete of the Year Kings University (AB Canada) 201819 British Colombia Ranking No.3 (Canada) 2017 World Junior Ranking No.53 (2016) Pan American Junior Ranking No.3 (2016) Guyana’s Junior Sportsman of the Year 2016 South American Youth Games Ranking No.3 (2013) INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS 4th Place- CCAA National Singles Championships in Mississauga Canada 2020 Silver- (Singles) ACAC Provincial Championships in Alberta Canada 2020 Bronze- (Doubles) ACAC #3 Tournament in Edmonton Alberta Canada 2020 Bronze- (Singles & Doubles) ACAC #2 Tournament in Edmonton Alberta Canada 2020 Silver- (Singles) ACAC #1 Tournament in Olds Alberta Canada 2019 Bronze- (Mix Doubles) The Kings University Open Tournament in Edmonton Canada 2019 Gold- (Mix Doubles) Yonex Alberta Series # 1 CFlight Tournament in Calgary Canada 2019 Semi-Finals- (Singles) Yonex Alberta Series # 1 BFlight Tournament in Calgary Canada 2019 2-Quarter-Finals at the CAREBACO International in Barbados 2019 Qualified and participated at the Pan Am Games in Lima Peru 2019 Bronze- CCAA National Singles Championships in Nova Scotia Canada 2019 Gold- ACAC Singles Championships in Alberta Canada 2019 Silver- (Singles) & 5th Place (Doubles) - ACAC #3
The Ramdhani clan: (from left) Gokarn, Nayaran, Priyanna and Emily. Tournament in Alberta Canada 2019 Gold- (Singles) & 4th Place (Doubles) - ACAC #2 Tournament in Alberta Canada 2019 Priyanna’ list of Achievements: Guyana Current National Junior Ranking No.1 Guyana Current National Senior Ranking No.1 AB Canada Current Olds College Ranking No.1 AB Canada Current ACAC Ranking No.2 Canada Current CCAA National Ranking No.4 ACAC All Conference Award (AB Canada) 2020 Rookie of the Year Olds College (AB Canada) 2019/ 2020 4-Times Athlete of the Week Olds College (AB Canada) 2019-20 Caribbean International Under-19 Ranking No.1 (Triple Champion) 2019 Caribbean Regional Under-17 Rankings No.1 (Triple Champion) 2019 Caribbean International Under-19 Ranking No.1 (2018) South American Youth
Games Ranking No.4 (2017) Guyana’s Runner-up Junior Sportswoman of the Year 2012 Guyana’s Junior Sportswoman of the Year 2018 Highest World Junior Ranking No. 92 INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS 4th Place- CCAA National Singles Championships in Mississauga Canada 2020 Silver- (Singles) ACAC Provincial Championships in Edmonton Alberta Canada 2020 Bronze- (Singles) ACAC #3 Tournament in Edmonton Alberta Canada 2020 Bronze- (Singles) ACAC #2 Tournament in Edmonton Alberta Canada 2020 Silver- (Singles) Honolulu Open Tournament in Hawaii USA 2020 Bronze- (Singles) ACAC #1 Tournament in Olds Alberta Canada 2019 Bronze- (Mix Doubles) The Kings University Open Tournament in Edmonton Canada 2019 Gold- (Singles) Yonex Alberta Series #1 B-Flight
Tournament in Calgary Canada 2019 Gold- (Women Doubles) Yonex Alberta Series # 1 BFlight Tournament in Calgary Canada 2019 Gold- (Mix Doubles) Yonex Alberta Series #1 CFlight Tournament in Calgary Canada 2019 Semi-Finals- (Singles) Yonex Alberta Series #1 AFlight Tournament in Calgary Canada 2019 Semi-Finals-(Women Doubles)Yonex Alberta Series #1 A-Flight Tournament Calgary Can. 2019 Silver- Yonex AJC Junior Under-19 Tournament in Airdrie Alberta Canada 2019 3-Gold (Triple Champion) Caribbean International Under-19 Championships in Barbados 2019 1-Bronze & 2-QuarterFinals at the Caribbean International Senior Championships-Barbados 2019 Qualified and participated in the Pan Am Games in Lima Peru 2019 First Round- Jamaica International in Kingston 2019
Umar Akmal banned for 3 years after corruption hearing ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal was banned for three years from all forms of cricket yesterday for failing to report corrupt approaches before this year’s Pakistan Super League. The ban was announced by the chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board’s disciplinary committee, retired Justice Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan. The 29-year-old Akmal
decided to represent himself at the hearing at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore yesterday, while the PCB was represented by its legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi. Rizvi said Akmal could appeal against the ban to the PCB within 14 days of Justice Chauhan issuing the detailed sentence. Akmal was provisionally suspended on Feb. 20, just hours before he was due to
represent Quetta Gladiators in the PSL’s opening game at Karachi. Rizvi said he was not sure whether Akmal’s threeyear ban starts from Monday or from the day the batsman was provisionally suspended. “The time period will be clear once we receive the detail order of the Justice Chauhan,” Rizvi told reporters in a video conference. Akmal was issued a notice of the charge by the PCB under its Anti-
Corruption Code on March 17. Rizvi said Akmal’s response was very “vague” and that was the reason why Justice Chauhan wanted to conduct a hearing and listen to the batsman before making a verdict. The PCB director of anticorruption and security Asif Mahmood said the punishment was “once again a timely reminder to all who think they can get away by breaching the anticorruption code.” “I request (Continued on page 19)
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CrossFit’s ‘Fittest Man’ and ‘Woman on Earth’ offer tips on how to stay in shape at home Market Watch – Health Care - Gyms and fitness centers, like many other businesses that have been deemed nonessential during the coronavirus pandemic, have been shut down in most of the U.S. For some people, the closures are a convenient excuse not to work out, but for people who used to regularly go to a gym to stay fit, how can they work out at home and get similar results? MarketWatch asked the world’s fittest man and woman for tips. “My home gym is, I don’t want to say absurd, but if every gym in the world was shut down I wouldn’t really skip a beat,” Mat Fraser, the CrossFit Games’ “Fittest Man on Earth,” told MarketWatch. “I have everything I need right at my house. Even down to a massage table, a sauna, an ice bath, it’s all right there.” Fraser’s training regimen is tied to his livelihood, so it’s not surprising that he spares no expense. It pays off too. Fraser is the four-time CrossFit Games champion, winning the competition’s $300,000 prize last year. Here are suggestions on how to stay fit at home from Fraser and Tia-Clare Toomey, a CrossFit star dubbed the “Fittest Woman on Earth.” Work out in a group — digitally CrossFit workouts are oftentimes done in large groups, in a communal-type atmosphere. Fraser thinks that working out with others, even if it’s digitally, can be a powerful motivator.
Mat Fraser, CrossFit Games champion and “Fittest Man on Earth.” (The Fittest) Tia-Clair Toomey, CrossFit Games champion and “Fittest Woman on Earth.” (The Fittest) “Every CrossFit gym is doing online zoom classes,” he says, adding that joining a class provides “that sense of community and accountability.” CrossFit gyms are not alone in creating online workout groups during the coronavirus pandemic. For example, Blink Fitness is hosting daily Facebook Live workout sessions, Orangetheory posts daily workout videos with no equipment necessary, and Peloton is offering its app to new users for free. Fortunately for Fraser and Toomey, they don’t need to go online to find a workout buddy, because they are currently training together in Kentucky — Toomey is a three-time CrossFit champion in her own right. Make a designated space your mental “trigger”
Fraser says getting mentally focused is one of the most difficult aspects of home workouts, and where you workout is a big part of that. He contends that the “atmosphere change is almost like a mental trigger” for the brain. Being able to mentally differentiate where you eat or watch TV and where you exercise can be a big motivating factor. “Whether it’s a spare bedroom, get the mattress out of the way, whatever it is. Now that’s your exercise space, so there’s one less barrier to entry when you do decide to go workout.” And it isn’t always easy to adjust to working out at home. “Early in my career it was very difficult for me to do rowing at home,” Fraser says. “I had a rower at home and there was a rower at the gym, but I would still go to
the gym because it was easier to get my mental head space around it.” Create rewards for yourself Having some sort of reward for yourself for working out can be a big factor in making exercise a lasting habit, he adds, whether it’s allowing yourself an extra snack or more time to watch Netflix NFLX, -0.25%. “Set up a reward at the end of the day,” Fraser said. “Like, all right you did your workout, now you get to watch an extra 30 minutes of TV or whatever that is.” Science backs up Fraser when it comes to reward systems. The medical journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience looks into the relationship between rewards and habit-building. In a study, it shows that dopamine the brain receives from such rewards can help build longterm behaviors — like working out. Keep your mind fresh too
Part of staying physically fit is making sure you’re mentally fit. As more people are stuck at home, it’s easier to fall into sluggish routines. Toomey suggests that going outside can be a great way to change up your day. “One day I just decided I wanted to get a little earthy and workout barefoot in the grass,” Toomey told MarketWatch. “Stuff like that has been really fun to do.” Toomey knows that being able to do outside activities may not be possible for everybody, but she recommends that if it can be done safely, to mix things up by going outside for hikes and workouts. She says it helps her “get a little vitamin D and just get outside the house a little bit to avoid any of that cabin fever that we might be having,” Toomey said. Whether it’s going outside, putting together 500piece puzzles or making
TikTok videos, Toomey and Fraser have been keeping their minds fresh during their quarantine. One thing Fraser jokingly brought up is that he will be watching how many people get totally ripped during the coronavirus pandemic. He says people oftentimes claim that if they had the time, they could get ripped too. “We get it all the time. ‘Oh, if I didn’t have to go to work all day I could be a CrossFit Games athlete too. If I had the time to dedicate to it I would have a 6-pack.’ Now everyone has that time.” B o t h To o m e y a n d Fraser are featured in the recent documentary “The Fittest,” which takes a closer look at the 2019 CrossFit Games when athletes were forced to adapt to dramatic competition changes in how their sports discover the “Fittest Man and Woman on Earth.”
FIFA proposes up to five substitutions per match on a temporary basis BERN (Reuters) - FIFA has proposed that teams should be allowed to make up to five substitutions per match, instead of the usual three, as a temporary measure to help cope with potential fixture congestion in the aftermath of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Football has been at a standstill since mid-March but many leagues and federations are still hoping to complete the season but to do so they would have to cram fixtures into a shorter period than usual once play re-starts.
The proposal for more substitutes would have to be approved by soccer’s rulemaking organisation IFAB and the final decision would rest with competition organisers, the sport’s global governing body said in an emailed statement to Reuters. “One concern in this regard is that the higher-thannormal frequency of matches may increase the risk of potential injuries due to a resulting player overload,” FIFA added. “Each team would now be given the possibility to use up to five substitutions during
the match, with the possibility of an additional substitution remaining during extra time, where relevant,” it explained. FIFA added that the substitutions would have to be made in a maximum of three slots plus the halftime interval. The measure would apply to this season and next season plus all international matches until Dec. 31 next year. FIFA said that “football should only resume when the health authorities and governments say it is absolutely safe and nondisruptive of health services being delivered to the populations.”
The logo of FIFA is seen in front of its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland September 26, 2017. (REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann)
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Saliva or artificial substance? Five former quicks have their say ESPNcricinfo - In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, to avoid the dangers of rubbing saliva on the ball, cricket is deliberating the use of an artificial substance like wax or shoe polish to facilitate swing bowling. Effectively it is ball-tampering under the current set of Laws but the proposal says it will happen under the strict supervision of the umpires. ESPNcricinfo asked five former fast bowlers their thoughts on replacing spit or sweat with an artificial substance. This is what they had to say. Not allowing sweat or saliva, murdering the bowlers: Ashish Nehra What is ball-tampering? When you scratch the ball on one side with your nail, bottle cap, with your spikes or any other means. But that does not make the ball reverse. You have to use saliva, sweat, murray mints etc. to not just shine the ball, but also make the other side heavy. That is how you traditionally get reverse swing. The other significant thing to keep in mind is fast bowlers need to practise using the artificial substances that will be permitted during a match u n d e r t h e u m p i r e ’s supervision. You can’t just expect fast bowlers to arrive at a Test match and suddenly start swinging the ball even conventionally. Bowlers need to have the experience of using these artificial substances, like wax or shoe polish, you are talking about to shine ball and understand its behaviour. Also different balls - Kookaburra, SG Test, Dukes - will behave
Michael Holding talks during an interview with ESPNcricinfo. (Bipin Patel) Could ball-tampering under umpire supervision become a routine part of the game? (Getty Images) differently on different surfaces. So there are plenty of unknowns as far as I am concerned. How many times am I allowed to approach the umpire to use the artificial substance to shine the ball? When we put saliva, at times I would rub that after every second or third delivery. There are different ways to shine the ball. Sometimes you don’t shine the other side completely, especially if your ball has landed on the seam. Sometimes the ball goes to boundary or into the stands and comes back damaged, then you shine the ball in a different way. You shine a Kookaburra in a different way, a Dukes in a different way and you shine SG Test in a different way. You shine a new ball differently. When the ball is old and it is reversing. sometimes you put more sweat. When the ball is not reversing you are only using spit. When there is a new ball you only put very, very little spit wherever there is a scratch. What I’m trying to say is there are several different ways of shining the ball. Let’s say a Test match is on and the ball, SG Test, is semi-new, about 25 overs old. But it is not reversing and the ball has become a bit soft. Umpire is refusing to
Mitchell Starc has a chat with bowling coach Allan Donald. (AFP)
replace the ball. Now if you put too much spit on SG Test the ball gets more and more softer. Then you don’t get the zip as a fast bowler or even as a spinner. Also you have to make sure that your team-mates are not using too much sweat or spit in such a scenario. I was told by [Javagal] Srinath when I was young when to shine and not to and similarly I passed the tips to other youngsters - that it is better to keep the run-rate tight and once the ball starts to reverse when it is a bit more old then we can apply sweat or spit to facilitate further swing. So legalising use of some artificial substances to shine the ball under supervision is not suddenly going to help swing the ball. Because you are used to working on the ball naturally using spit and sweat at different points on different balls in different conditions on different surfaces. I feel a better choice could be to allow a team to pick one player who will be specifically in charge of using saliva on the ball when there is a need to shine. That is a much better alternative because that way we can continue to naturally work on the ball. By permitting artificial substances to aid swing, the ICC is going back on its own
rules. But as far as I am concerned allowing wax, vaseline etc on the ball is not exactly equivalent to balltampering. If it actually says go ahead and rough the ball from the other side, then probably the bowlers will welcome the move. Because with a bit of practice, the bowlers will dominate the batsmen, who are bound to say it is unfair. But if you are saying the artificial substance is allowed to be used only on the shiny side and the other side cannot be touched, then you might see more instances of teams piling huge totals. Personally I feel not allowing the use of sweat or saliva is once again murdering the bowlers. As told to Nagraj Gollapudi I don’t understand the logic: Michael Holding I have read that ICC is contemplating preventing people from using saliva on the ball due to Covid-19 and allowing them to use foreign substances on the ball to keep the shine on but in front of the umpire. I don’t understand the logic behind that. Before they got to that point they said, if they restart cricket, it has to be played in a bio-secure environment. They were saying cricketers, for instance, would have to isolate themselves for two weeks to make sure that everything was fine for when they got to the venue before the match started. And everyone involved (with the match) will have to do the same thing. Now if you are saying everyone is in the bio-secure environment, you are staying in the same hotel, you are not moving for the length of time you are playing the matches, if that is the case, why are you worried about someone’s saliva? That person, according to what you are doing, should be free of
Covid-19. If the ICC thinks that the two-week period to prove that you are free of Covid-19 is not foolproof, then that means you are putting everyone in that environment in jeopardy? Why would you want to play cricket under those circumstances? It’s either safe or it’s not. No guessing, please. As told to Nagraj Gollapudi Not possible to prevent a bowler using his sweat or saliva - Waqar Younis As a fast bowler, I reject this because this [using saliva and sweat] is a natural process. A ball exchanges hands all day. You run in, huffing and puffing, so you sweat and that gets on the ball. Also, using saliva is natural rather than on intent. It’s a habit and you just can’t control this aspect. I don’t know how this discussion came up, but I feel people who want the game to be played are frustrated with the lockdown. They are overthinking it. I doubt this new idea of using (artificial) substance instead of saliva is a solution. You can make a bowler use a predefined substance on the ball, but at the same time, practically it’s not possible to prevent a bowler using his sweat or saliva. As told to Umar Farooq Interested to hear what big-name batsmen have to say - Allan Donald I absolutely agree with legalising ball-tampering. I said so in an article sometime in the 2000s. It happens anyway. We see guys throwing the ball on the ground and umpires say to throw it up and it’s pretty obvious what they are doing. It could work if it is wellmonitored. There’s no reason why, if you are really struggling at the SCG and you are looking for reverse swing, you shouldn’t be able to try and get some by
working the ball. It evens the game out. I don’t mean you should be able to bring bottle tops onto the field or bite the ball, but I genuinely think there is scope for working on the ball, if it is well controlled. For example, maybe you could throw the ball into the ground for a period of time and that that time elapses. I had never thought of shoe polish. I suppose you’d take a whole box out there and get buffing. When I first started, I had a chat with the great Imran Khan and he told me they used to wet one side of the ball a lot, with moisture, with sweat and get it heavy and keep the other side shiny. It was hard work and it took a long time, so if there’s another way, that might also work. We know in baseball they use something, I think it’s still a mystery, to get the ball to swing in and dip. I’m quite surprised to hear this is being considered. It’s quite enlightening. I’d be interested to hear what the big-name batsmen have to say about this because I am sure there will be a few comments. But I say if there’s anything that can work, we might as well give it a crack. As told to Firdose Moonda How will they monitor what substance to be used - Azhar Mahmood I don’t mind such a move although I am more interested in how they will monitor what the substance to be used is. I think the ball manufacturers could have a big role to play in what is used, as they will know best what kind of substance is best suited to the leather that is being used on the ball. It could be that bowlers are allowed to use a small bottle, like a hand sanitiser bottle, of the substance to use as shine on the ball.” As told to Osman Samiuddin
rt Spo
Ramdhani siblings doing well Academically & in Badminton Priyanna in action in the ACAC Individual Championships 2020 Edmonton Alberta Canada.
- Explain how COVID-19 has affected them Narayan in action in the ACAC Individual Championships 2020 Edmonton Alberta Canada.
Nicholas Pooran completes a tumbling catch to send back Jos Buttler. (BCCI)
Umar Akmal banned for 3 years after corruption hearing
Pakistani Test cricketer Umar Akmal leaves the Pakistan Cricket Board office in Lahore, Pakistan, Monday, April 27, 2020. Akmal has been banned for three years from all forms of cricket for failing to report corrupt approaches before this year’s Pakistan Super League. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudhry)
R Ashwin, Keshav Maharaj, Patrick Ford Memorial boxing Nicholas Pooran’s Yorkshire tourney on the cards for contracts terminated later 2020 pending GBA approval Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.