Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR CCJ's decision in Thursday Edition NEWS Guyana's elections recount case set for p. next Wednesday 7 July 02, 2020 - Vol. 13 No. 26

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US Govt. instructs State

Dept. to take action against persons undermining Guyana's democracy

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High turn-out at NGSA

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Guyana postpones re-opening of airports after sharp rise in COVID-19 cases p.

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Man, 42, is Guyana’s thirteenth COVID-19p. fatality 18

Cop detained at 4.00 A.M p.7 Top Cop and Deputy still on the jobp. horse and bike - Pres. 8 races claims he supervising special operation Granger was a spectator

I cannot concede without a declaration - President Granger

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Kaieteur News

Thursday July 02, 2020

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 02, 2020

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I cannot concede without a declaration - President Granger I

n lieu of calls internationally and regionally for de facto President David Granger to concede defeat in the March 2 Elections and demit office, the President has said that he cannot do so until an official declaration is made by the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Ret'd Justice Claudette Singh.

“I cannot claim victory, which I have not done, and I cannot concede defeat, which I have not done unless I am notified formally by the Chairman of the Elections Commission what the results of the elections of 2nd March, 121 days ago I think, over 17 weeks…” the incumbent told media operatives following an event at State House.

Granger's comments emerge days after Campaign Manager, Joseph Harmon said during a radio interview “For those persons who are calling for Mr. Granger to concede, that is not going to happen!”

While his refusal to concede align with the pronouncements made by

Harmon, Granger said that he has never claimed victory in the elections, in the absence of a declaration from GECOM using figures from the National Recount which show that the Opposition People's Progressive Party (PPP) won

for the honesty, decency and integrity which he embodies.

And it is evident that after a successful first term as President, the electorate of Guyana reposed confidence in his leadership and reelected him for a second term. The government looks

“

I cannot claim victory, which I have not done, and I cannot concede defeat, which I have not done unless I am notified formally by the Chairman of the Elections Commission what the results of the elections of the 2nd March, have been.

- Incumbent President David Granger.

”

the March 2 Elections.

However, this contrasts with the statement the APNU+AFC Coalition released on May 16, congratulating President David Granger on both the fifth anniversary of his swearing in to office as well as what it referred to as his re-election to office, while the recount was still ongoing.

“The people of Guyana,” the statement said, “in 2015, elected President Granger

forward, with optimism and anticipation, to President Granger's second term in office and wish him greater success in the next five years as he leads the delivery of the good life for all Guyanese.”

Additionally, executive members of the APNU+AFC Coalition have made numerous social media posts claiming that the party won the elections along with a victory parade held just a few days.

Notwithstanding this,

US Govt. instructs State Dept. to take action against persons undermining Guyana's democracy

T

he United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo has instructed the Department of State to take action against individuals who undermine Guyana's democracy.

This was revealed by Pompeo yesterday in a press briefing. As the Secretary of State congratulated Guyana's neighbour, Suriname for the culmination of their elections and a peaceful transition of power to a new national assembly, he stated “In contrast, it's now been four months since Guyana's election, long past due for a peaceful transition of power.”

He noted that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of American States (OAS) have certified the recount results. Those results show that the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) has won the general

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo election with 233,336 valid votes, while A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) trails behind with 217,920 valid votes.

“They should get on with it,” Pompeo said, as the tabulation of the recount results was completed since early June.

“I've instructed my department,” he added, “to ensure those who undermine Guyana's democracy are held accountable.”

Kaieteur News recently interviewed a Washingtonbased political consultant, José Cárdenas who said that the US is likely to impose sanctions on specific persons who are complicit in thwarting the will of the Guyanese people.

Government and Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) officials are likely subjects of such sanctions.

Cárdenas had said that if the situation gets worse, and the conspiracy is discovered to be government-wide, then sanctions are likely to be sectoral and far-reaching.

No declaration can be made at this juncture, as the recount case is in Court. It was heard yesterday by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and ruling(s) are expected on Wednesday.

Head of the Justice For All party, CN Sharma

Director of Business, Dominic Gaskin

De facto President David Granger

President Granger stated that he is unaware what declaration will be made by GECOM and reiterated that he would accept whatever result is produced.

“Like all Guyanese,” he said “we have been subject to various reports, but the only authentic report will come from the Chairman of the Elections Commission to me and that has not happened. In that regard, I encourage all the spokespersons and commentators to wait patiently on the Chairman of the Elections Commission, who when she is ready will make a declaration and I have said before, I will abide by that declaration.”

Calls for Granger to concede have increased since the results of the recount confirmed a win for the Opposition. Calls emerged from CARICOM Chair, Mia Mottley, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, the Organisation of American States, the

Embassies and Ambassadors of Canada, United Kingdom, European Union, and the United States; several independent bodies in Guyana, including the Guyana Human Rights Association, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, religious organisations and even partners within the APNU + AFC coalition, namely Director of Business, Dominic Gaskin and head of the Justice For All party, CN Sharma.

JFA party head, Sharma had said in a June 19 statement that “A national recount was carried out under the eyes of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). All votes were counted. There was a clear winner. The recount shows that the PPP/C has won the election. Therefore, Mr. Irfaan Ali should be allowed to be sworn in without delay.”

On that very evening, Gaskin made his statement,

saying that he could “no longer wait quietly and politely while our country gets hijacked, ridiculed and torn apart.”

Gaskin also said “It was never a valid assumption that, having won the 2015 elections by a slim majority, the APNU+AFC Coalition would easily win the 2020 elections. It was always going to be a tough fight.”

Declining to respond to Gaskin's comments, Granger said that “I don't have any comments on what the former Minister said, I have comments on what active members say.”

With regards to the statement made by Sharma, the President stated that “I am not responsible for what they say, but what I do know, is that the JFA party acted on its own accord, and at our meetings, we have always clearly outlined the policy of the partnership, and if it is at variance, then well, then we must ask the President and (continued on page 7)

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Thursday July 02, 2020

Kaieteur News

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL TEL:624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Whatever happened to moral and transformational leadership?

For the longest while, citizens of this society spoke at length of a different kind of leadership urgently needed in all areas of endeavor in this country. At the height of the pyramid considered, was for such leadership to be at its highest in the political arena.

In governance, through standards, by personal ethical example, it had to be from man or woman, some sterling son or daughter of the Guyanese soil, the singular in moral and transformational leadership. It is worth saying one more time: what this society yearned for with a passion was the extraordinary expression and exemplification of the kind of moral and transformational leadership never seen here before, never experienced and lived through here in Guyana before.

Moral and transformational leadership of a rare kind and to an outstanding degree was what numerous citizens of this land signed up for, hoped for, and feverishly anticipated, and what resulted is what Guyanese live with again and languish in again.

As was the case during almost all the times before, they have been sharply disappointed again, with this time being no exception. It was not to be. And after all the errors and failures down through the decades, to be in the same place, once again, is almost too much to bear for those who did hope and did trust. It was not to be, and it is crystal clear from where we are today. Many looked for the bright and bigger things of a man and others bigger than their times, and look at what we got for our pains.

Many now live with the personal disillusionment that has always been an inseparable aspect of wishing and waiting and losing out again and again.

In earlier days, the many expectant looked for this kind of leadership from the newer and younger, but it did not happen when deterioration became the order of the day.

That much is now indisputable from near the start of this millennia to just a literal handful of years ago. And from then, it was the older, the sterner, the believed wiser, and look at what we have now.

Where has all the talk and stirring about moral and transformation leadership gone? When ethics went, honor and principle and legacy sailed out the window. It was the old story of the new day with new hopes, and at the side of those the old norms through our age-old leadership behaviours and examples.

Stop and take stock of the sinking feeling that sums up the history and currency of Guyana: cheating and rigging, and delaying and blocking, then dispiriting and defeating, and all through means most foul. United States Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said something that went like this: when we conduct ourselves in a particular way, through our faithful regard for the law, it is transformed into a “witness and external deposit of our moral lives.” The external deposits witnessed at the leadership level in the past hundred days and counting have been not of the moral but of the immoral, not of the principled but of the dishonorable.

We are all besmirched before the world, before the future, and before our sorry selves.

For when the nitty-gritty of Elections arrived over a hundred days ago, then true leadership vows and intents disappeared. The bottom fell out of men, who swore that they are for what is right and for the people by the hand of the people. And then those same men pulled the rug from under the feet of Guyanese (115,000 of them) and a mountain fell heavily and unbearably upon country and citizen, and all that was just within the grasp.

For a man to prove trustworthy, he has to be trusted to do what is best, what is ideal for one and all, and this is best expressed by unconditional nobility of first self and

Have an open mind to the possibility that what was accepted as the truth might not be the truth DEAR EDITOR, I am a Guyanese. I voted in the last election. I watch and wait and wait for the results of that election. There is a result. It is contained in the ballot boxes. The numbers are there. This issue that is being raised now, about which of the votes in the boxes are valid and which are not, well, I can’t see how it could possibly be up to one man to decide that, without at least giving a hearing to those who he attempts to disenfranchise.

My understanding is that it is the process of an election petition that determines the issue of whether or not a vote already in a ballot box is valid or not.

A process where evidence is led, and tested and challenged, a process where submissions are made, and where a trained judge makes

the decision on whether or not even one vote should not be counted. But here we have a situation where one man, without following any kind of due process, is saying more than one hundred thousand votes should not be counted because he alone does not consider them “valid”. This one man who months ago was ready to declare results that were found to be fraudulent, and who now is putting forward a new set of numbers based on his own secret assessment. That defies all logic and common sense to me.

But that’s just my opinion. Many people do not share my view. Two court of appeal judges do not share my view. Politics can be such a nasty business. But, does it have to be? Humans all have inherent biases, I don’t

deny that I too have them.

That is why I make allowances for those who do not share by view. I listen to them, try to follow their reasoning, and then see if my view should not be changed given what others are saying and the evidence they are showing me. But when it comes to this particular issue, when I try to listen to people with different views from mine, I hear mostly hateful banter and generalized slogans, like “fraud is fraud.”

That is not reasoning and that is not logical argument. That is people trying to make a loud enough noise to drown out anything that is not in conformity with what they want you to believe, and what they themselves might be trying to believe. I also hear arguments from them that ignore the most damning evidence against their view,

and just them sticking to what they are interpreting the law to mean. I wonder though, what is the evidence they need to change their mind.

Does it even exist? Would it even matter? Or is it that they want a win, no matter what the cost? If I were in their shoes, would I be any different?

But all that aside, apart from being a Guyanese, I am someone who lives in hope of there being a God out there.

I see a lot of people praying on social media for all kinds of things that clearly show what they want the outcome of this election to be, that is, who they want to win. There is nothing wrong with praying for what you want, it is written that you should let the desires of your hearts be known to God. But every now (Continued on page 6)

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord DEAR EDITOR, What is an allegation? The Oxford dictionary defines it as a claim that someone has done something wrong but this accusation is typically made without VERIFIABLE PROOF. The key phrase in separating opinions from facts is “verifiable proof”.

Under Section 87 of the Representation of the People Act, Chp 1:03, a ballot is “rejected as invalid” once it fulfills any of the following criteria: 1. It does not have an official mark (meaning it was not stamped with the unique sixdigit stamp at the back of each ballot paper).

2. It has not been marked for any party symbol.

3. It was marked in such a manner that it cannot be es-

tablished for whom the candidate has voted.

4. It was marked for more than one party symbol.

5. It is marked in such a manner that the voter can be identified.

The law does not provide any other back door means to invalidate a valid ballot.

When the GECOM Counting Officials conducted the count on E-Day and the recount process in May/June 2020, they followed the lawful process and invalidated or rejected ONLY 4,213 of the votes cast in the presence of several non-GECOM stakeholders. This process in accordance with the law ensured that credibility was preserved.

Despite this legal process, the PNC led APNU-

last on every occasion, when the self-sacrifice must be made for others, most, can move forward and flourish. As we at this paper look at where Guyana is today, with its contortions and convulsions laid before the awed CCJ, this is what we have transformed into, this is what we have been reduced and humiliated, when we are compelled to lay the family laundry, in all of its rottenness, before the whole world. Such is the truth of the moral and transformational leadership for which we hoped, and this is what we got.

These DS voters are members of the joint services who were selected to be on duty on EDay. In the 2020 elections across all 10 regions, some 8,086 DS voters (14.7%), cast their ballots a week before Elections Day. Those ballots were inter-mixed with 46,932 civilian ballots (85.3%) in 249 ballot boxes aggregating to 55,018 ballots cast (see table below).

AFC continues to dissemination a series of false narrative and misleading information such as “thousands of members of the joint services were disenfranchised on Elections Day because the GECOM staff failed to stamp their ballots….” What is unfortunate is that a month after this PNC fantasy surfaced, the APNUAFC has failed to provide any “VERIFIABLE PROOF” but recklessly continued to peddle this blatant untruth in a press release issued on June 26, 2020, which states “The Elections Commission recorded anomalies, discrepancies, and irregularities that included ballots improperly stamped at locations where members of the discipline services voted…” For one to properly understand the ab-

However during the recount process, only 456 ballots (0.8%) cast in these 249 ballot boxes were rejected for a variety of legal reasons, one being the failure to have an official mark.

I have had a chance to study all 249 of these SoRs where the DS ballots were inter-mixed with civilian ballots

surdity of this allegation made by the PNC in their attempt to “evoke feeling” among the ranks, as admitted to by Mr. Joseph Harmon, one has to understand the process.

In selected ballot boxes, there is a sealed envelope containing the ballots of disciplined services (DS) voters.

and found that only 52 of these 456 rejected ballots were invalidated “for want of official mark”. There is also no process by which GECOM or any other source can determine if any of these 52 rejected ballots were DS ballots, civilian ballots or a (Continued on page 6)

Thursday July 02, 2020

Caricom and GECOM Chair hailed DEAR EDITOR, Caricom and GECOM Chair Claudette Singh are applauded for standing by the people of Guyana in their struggle for consolidation of electoral democratic gains that was first made in 1992 after the long struggle to win the right to vote in free and fair elections. Other regional bodies like OAS and UNASUR also support electoral democracy in Guyana.

Guyana became the last among Caribbean countries that allowed free and fair elections, years after Haiti and South American countries ended dictatorship.

Guyanese and other pro-democracy activists and commentators had expressed skepticism Caricom’s position on the ballot in Guyana but the organization did not disappoint when it called on the government to respect the will of the people.

During the period of the dictatorship (1966 to 1992), Caricom did not condemn electoral fraud and authoritarian persecution in Guyana.

The right to vote after 1992 was never in doubt until the elections in March 2020 when rigging returned. All elections between 1992 and 2020 were democratic and certified by

observers. All elections between 1966 and 1992 were rigged. Guyanese and other Caribbean people feel the country’s return to democracy in 1992 should never be under threat again as when the colonial power departed in 1966.

In taking a united position on the ballot in Guyana and threatening firm action against swearing in of a government based on electoral fraud, Caricom is reinforcing Guyana’s shift towards a democratic system. Caricom, under PM Mia Mottley’s leadership, signals that it takes (Continued on page 6)

Have an open mind to the possibility...

From page 4 and then, we need to analyze those desires, and if they are not good ones, should we not pray to want or desire what is good? I see people who consider themselves Christians praying for bad things to happen to others and for painful judgment to fall on those who they perceive to be wrong. But the God that I read about in the bible is all about love, forgiveness, truth, justice, patience, compassion, kindness, peace and goodness. He gets angry and upset too, he punishes and teaches some hard lessons.

But ultimately, he gets to decide who will be punished and what their punishment should be. The thing he tells us to do here in this life however, is to love each other.

I see people who interpret the last court of appeal decision as something that God wanted the court to decide. I do not know how God works exactly, but I suspect that just because God allowed something to happen, that does not mean that he wasn’t hoping we do better.

People make decisions every day that are not in conformity with what God teaches us, that cannot mean that God wanted us to do them, does it? I personally do not agree with the Court of Appeal decision, but I bear no ill will toward the judges who made the decision. If their decision was sound, and based on the actual law, and made free from biasness, then great, if not, well, then it’s God job to decide what he will do with them.

So bearing in mind my views on the situation which I very well know may be wrong, this is my prayer.

Father of us all, please help us. I pray that you place in all of our hearts a desire to love you, and love each other; a desire to learn the truth, speak the truth, and to open our minds to the possibility that what we accept currently as the truth might not be the truth. I pray

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Kaieteur News

that you remove the biases that we have in our minds and hearts, and I pray that when it comes to the people who do not share our views currently, that we can be patient with them, that we can listen to them, and if they say things that we find upsetting, that we forgive them. Father, I pray for the politicians in this country.

Those who are currently under the grip of evil forces, and who may be controlled by love of power, I pray that you soften their hearts to the truth; that you fill them with a desire to truly serve this country; that you open their eyes to reason and that you bless them with humility and wisdom.

I pray that you free them from negative influences that might surround them, and that you free them to think for themselves. I pray that you bless them with the courage to do what is just and right, even if it is hard for them; that you bless them with the courage to admit when they are in the wrong and to ask the people for forgiveness when they slip up. I pray that the ones who are currently misleading their supporters, that they, quite simply, stop it.

I pray for the members of the media, that you bless them with a desire only to publish what is true; that they can do so without fear of punishment from those who currently have power, or those who may one day have power. I pray that you instill them with not only the desire to publish only the truth, but also the strength to do so. The media is a powerful

source of influence Father, and I ask that it is a tool that is used responsibly by all who have access and control over it.

I pray that you search us all, and anything that we desire that is not pleasing to you, that you remove it. I pray that you protect us though these trying times and bless us with your peace that surpasses all understanding.

I am thankful for your past lessons, lessons from which I have learnt, that though bad things might happen, things that I do not want to happen, with you in charge, you can somehow turn those bad things into good. I am reminded of the worst thing in the bible, where persons used lies to have your son killed. But you used that event, bad as it was, to teach the rest of the world lessons until this day, and to save many souls. You alone know the outcome of this situation that we as a country are currently enduring, and whatever the outcome is Father, please let it be just, fair and based on truth. Please let us all be able to accept it with peace. I know full well that I may not get what I am asking you for, but many times, when you did not give me what I prayed for, you sent instead a lesson or situation that ultimately led to my growth and that drew me closer to you. Whatever the outcome, let us all benefit somehow.

So that is my prayer, as a Guyanese who watches and prays, and then prays some more. God bless us all.

Thank you, A Praying Guyanese

The law does not give powers to the CEO to determine anything DEAR EDITOR, Kaieteur news reported on June 30, 2020 in an article captioned, Granger agrees with Lowenfield’s report – hopes for declaration this weekend – resents all threats of sanctions. By now most are aware that Lowenfield took it upon himself to alter the Statements of Recounts submitted by the Returning Officers, which statements stated the number of valid votes obtained by the political parties and which statements were published for the public consumption as required by law. I addressed this in a letter in the Kaieteur News captioned, “There is no loophole that allows the Chief Elections Officer to make valid votes invalid” and dated June 29, 2020.

He claims that the Court of Appeal decisions that “more valid votes” gave him the right to adjust the statements and substitute what in his sole discretion he determines to be valid votes.

First it is recognized that the Court of Appeal did not and cannot give such authority to him. Also, in doing so he refused to comply with a written direction to him from the Chairman of the Commission and falsely claims that the Elections Commission’s function is to provide “policy” and “guidance to the Chief Elections Officer for the implementation of the Secretariat.” He also said that his is a constitutional position which was another untruth as he is simply an employee of the Commission. We need to examine these claims by looking at what the laws say. So as to have no doubt I am copying the Sections in the constitution and I am sure the average persons unlike some seasoned politicians can understand.

162. (1) The Elections Commission shall have such functions connected with or relating to the registration of electors or the conduct of elections as are conferred upon it by or under this Constitution or, subject thereto, any Act of Parliament; and, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Commission –– (a)shall exercise general direction and supervision over the registration of electors and the administrative conduct of all elections of members of the National Assembly; and (b)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 on the part of persons exercising powers or performing duties connected with or relating to the matters aforesaid.One can see the importance of this section which gives the Commission the right to issue instructions… to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the Constitution ….”To reinforce this let’s look at “Elections Law (Amendment) Act 2000”.

Section 17 States, “17. (1) There shall be a Permanent Secretariat to the Commission to ensure institutional memory and capacity and the Commission shall be responsible for the efficient functioning of the Secretariat”.

Section 18 states, “The Chief Elections Officer and the Commissioner of Registration shall notwithstanding anything in any written law be subject to the direction and control of the Commission”.Can anyone doubt the intention of law to ensure that we do not have a runaway employee of the

Humanity will ultimately pass through this ordeal DEAR EDITOR, However difficult matters are at present, with the coronavirus alarm and however close to the limits of their endurance some sections of societies are brought, humanity will ultimately pass through this ordeal, and it will emerge on the other side with greater insight and with a deeper appreciation of its inherent oneness and interdependence.

Yours, Rooplall Dudhnath

commission doing what he wants even to disobey lawful orders of the Commission.

Now if there is still doubt maybe we should examine order 60 of 2020. Section 9 states, “The tabulation of Statement of Recount… shall be input into a matrix …. information from this tabulation should be broadcast periodically”Section 11 says that the signed Matrix produced shall be transmitted to the CEO with copies given to all including the chair and made available to the public.

Section 12 states “ the matrices for the 10 (10) Electoral Districts shall then be tabulated by the CEO and shall be submitted in a report, together with a summary of the observation report for each district to the Commission”Section 14 states “The Commission after deliberating on the report at paragraph 11 (note not the report of the CEO but the matrices of the districts) shall determine whether it should request the CEO to use data compiled in accordance with paragraph 11 as the basis for submission of a report under Section 96 of The representation of Peoples Act Cap 1:03.Section 15 adds support and makes the powers of the Commission definitive without a doubt. It States, “For the avoidance of any doubt, the CEO and every person appointed or authorized to perform any act or function by virtue of this order, are and shall remain subject to the general supervisory power of the Commission.I am of the opinion that that as of Section 14 which says “the Commission shall after deliberating determine whether it should request the CEO” means that it does not necessarily have to but could use the matrices submitted to determine the elections. In any event it is clear that the Commission can instruct the CEO. Like in any organization disobeying a lawful order that derives from the basic function of that organisation creates the basis for immediate dismissal.Now so there can be no doubt the Representation of People Act says that the Returning officer shall and as stated in Section 89 (1) (Continued on page 6)

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Thursday July 02, 2020

Kaieteur News

AN ALIEN MENTALITY DEAR EDITOR, The strangest of lands is this Guyana of ours. The more I consider it, the more I think it might be the greatest place around, and not for the better things in life, but of the worst.

There are good reasons for me saying so.

For, there we were on Tuesday, with our border controversy before the International Court of Justice, and it is as if nothing of any groundbreaking significancewith the real potential for the disturbing and disruptive to our national existence-was happening. I say this because a great number of citizens were as normal and nonchalant as ever, as they went about their daily affairs.

I am disgusted and appalled. Here it was that some two thirds of our rich land-and all that was under it and around it and above it-was being coveted by a bigger and more powerful neighbour, a greedy one, and most citizens did not give a hoot. From what I could observe, I sensed that it may be safe and accurate to say that way over two thirds of our population were disengaged and unconcerned from what was in front of the ICJ. In the next instance, on Wednesday, just about every Guyanese (and their unborn children and departed ancestors) would have tuned in and on the edge of their seats in nail-biting tenseness, when the CCJ convened to hear-what else?-but more of our elections’ farces and humiliations. Talk about a

place and people that always seem to get its priorities tangled into an unholy mess, and Guyana and Guyanese stand at the head of the line.

Where is our patriotism?

Where is our sense of self and our self-worth? I dare to compare this against the grounded and soaring passions, the unflagging energies, surrounding elections, and the right to access power, and our border matter pales into nothing. Just about every citizen is fixated and consumed (helplessly addicted even) by anything and everything related to Guyana’s elections, and it is almost the complete opposite when engagement in and prioritization of our thorny border dispute with neighbouring Venezuela is the matter at hand, and when there is a probability, no matter how slight, that we could lose a whole lot of what rightly belongs to us, inclusive of all that rich promise.

Where are all the loud muscular people, who are swarming and billowing around elections matters and GECOM, and who have made themselves armchair experts of the nation’s constitution, with the countless local versions of jailhouse interpretations? Why is there not a single citizen peacefully picketing and protesting in front of the Venezuelan Embassy over this longstanding affront to Guyana, if only to remind its officers that we Guyanese take this very seriously and most unwelcomingly? Where are the sturdy patriotic

amongst us? I would even make allowance for the jingoistic, given what is involved, and how much of it. As I sift through these questions, and a host of others, it is clear that we reserve and charge(up) our hostilities and bellicosities (saber rattling, too) for each other, and particularly as such pertains to elections.

Nice people, we are! And no better people to have in the foxholes next to us. But only on elections related issues, nothing else. No wonder we are trapped behind our Maginot Line.

I have concluded a long time ago that we are an alien race, us Guyanese.

We fight over the wrong things. We select and settle for the wrong enemies.

We harbour visions that are wrong in origins, wrong in content, and wrong in their promises. As much as I am loathe to admit it, we are a wrongheaded set of people, who go about living this life in a wrongfooted way, and which, of course, leads nowhere but along the wrong roads, and to the worst of wrongly chosen terminals. I do not have much by way of hope for us.

Come to think of it, I would hardly be surprised if my fellow Guyanese were too deeply exercised if, by some remote occurrence, the ICJ were to rule against us. It is just the way we, this most alien of races that is Guyanese brethren.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Lying lips are an abomination ...

From page 4 combination of both.

So it is most unfortunate that, former Lt Colonel (rtd) George Gomes, could have engaged in such ungentlemanly behaviour by stating in a letter to the media on May

30, 2020, that “over eight thousand (8,000) Disciplined Services votes were not stamped in the PPP strongholds in Districts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6….” It is this sort of false narrative that is being peddled in the PNC’s quest

to support an illegality being perpetuated today by the CEO in order to invalidate 115,844 valid votes.

My name is Sasenarine Singh and I have a message for the entire PNC led APNUAFC Cabal, especially Ms. Volda Lawrence who sought to peddle this untruth on her Facebook Page a few days ago. My message is a quote from Proverbs 12:22 “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord….”

Regards, Sasenarine Singh

Another Case Of Double Standards DEAR EDITOR, I wish to refer to Kaieteur Newspapers article dated July 1, 2020 “Top Cop, Deputy should have gone; still on the job”.

I would also like to reference an article in the Guyana Chronicle dated July 23, 2015, titled “Public servants annual leave – ‘use it or lose it’ in which public servants were being urged to take their annual leave when it is due or it will be forfeited. This was the message from the then Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who was quoted to have said “We are saying, as a general statement, as from 2015 going forward, that when you are entitled to your leave, you have to take it in the year. If you don’t use it, you are going to lose it”.

The then Minister further went on to state that the Government was facing significant challenges with regard to public servants and their leave, particularly as it relates to senior officers who have accumulated hundreds of days leave.

Given the above statement from the then Minister, and if what is stated in the Kaieteur Newspapers article referenced above is true, where it pointed out that the Commissioner of Police has 306 days annual leave and his retirement date is May 5, 2021, why hasn’t the Commissioner of police proceeded on his pre retirement leave?

More so, why was the Commissioner allowed to accumulate such a large amount of leave and not be advised to utilize same in keeping with the Government’s principle on this issue?

These are the inconsistencies which have become evident within this caretaker Government.

Further, only recently it was widely reported in the media, including the Guyana Chronicle in its June 30, 2020 edition that the Caretaker President who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has granted approval to Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Patrick West, to

Caricom and GECOM Chair hailed From page 5 democracy seriously.

Other international bodies and the powerful ABCE countries have taken a similar position.

The whole world is in unison on democracy in Guyana, electoral fraud will not be tolerated.

Between 1966 and 1992, the autocratic rulers of Guyana felt confident they could get a pass from their fellow Caribbean rulers and the ABCE countries on electoral fraud to keep out the communist PPP. But when communism collapsed in 1990 and Jagan’s PPP transformed itself and no longer posed a threat to western interests, free and fair elections were allowed. Caribbean leaders began to say no to electoral fraud in Guyana and appear to mean it now.

Caricom leaders since March 4 have stepped up the pressure on Guyanese authorities to respect the will of the voters and call on

GECOM to use the recount to make a declaration of the outcome. Guyanese accuse GECOM chair of pussyfooting on the declaration of the results.

The regional body proclaims a policy of zero tolerance for electoral fraud, violations of human and democratic standards, and military prop up of a dictatorship as happened between 1966 and 1992.

After this electoral impasse is resolved, Caricom must promote good governance especially in Guyana where people suffered some three decades of authoritarianism and malgovernance ever since the country obtained political independence in 1966.

The region must encourage political pluralism, individual rights, civil liberties, and human rights that are indispensable to a thriving democracy.

But for now, a declaration of the outcome of March free

The law does not give powers to ...

From page 5 (e) “publicly declare the final result of the counting” and 89 (1) (f) states, “deliver to the CEO a return in writing in respect of the final counting in form 24 which shall set out the number of (i) valid votes cast for each list of candidates as aforesaid,” it continues to list spoilt, tendered ballots, etc.Note Number of Valid votes cast.

Now it is clear that the law does not give to the CEO powers to determine any-

proceed on accumulated leave which will also take him into retirement.

Why then wasn’t Commissioner James also granted the same approval to proceed on his pre retirement leave?

The records would also show that the previous Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud who also had accumulated annual leave was sent off on his leave prior to his retirement, so what’s the reason for the APNU+AFC regime wanting to keep Leslie James as Commissioner when in fact he should be enjoying his pre retirement leave at home. I’m sure the Guyana Police Force has other capable officers any of whom can take up the mantle of Commissioner until a suitable replacement is appointed.

This is another example of the Caretaker Government’s double standards.

It would seem if something doesn’t suit their agenda they find ways to get rid of it.

Regards, Ronley Kendall

thing. His job is to tabulate but who has the authority so we go to the Constitution and Section 163.(1) States subject to the provisions of this article, the High Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to determine any question –– (b)whether :(i)either generally or in any particular place, an election has been lawfully conducted or the result thereof has been, or may have been, affected by any unlawful act

or omission;I tried to put here the sections of the relevant laws to make it easy for us to understand the issues that we are facing and deliberating on at this point I time.It is now in the hands of the Chairman to follow the laws of this country. Failure to declare which party everyone locally and internationally recognize to be the victor in this election would be an atrocity ad would sink Guyana for a long time to come.

Rajendra Bisessar

and fair election is critical as it is synonymous with democracy. It cannot be business as usual, closing one’s eyes, to electoral fraud as happened during the era of Burnham and Hoyte. Political parties in Guyana don’t pose any threat to western interests. And it is for this reason that ABCE countries are backing democracy in Guyana.

The declaration of the result must be good enough to stand up scrutiny and satisfy the international community so that the country can avoid international sanctions. Comments by ABCE, Caricom, Commonwealth, and OAS countries on the March 2 election cannot be seen as an empty gesture.

GECOM inspired little confidence among Guyanese for its handling of the count of votes after the election recovering its reputation during the recount.

The Chair, Claudette Singh, herself, was commended for her position not to disenfranchise any voter during the recount exercise on account of election day errors of GECOM staff. The global community and Guyanese urge her to act noble and honourably. They pin their hope on the Chair to act decisively in rejecting the Lowenfield report disenfranchising 115K voters. They feel she should prepare the final result herself or get another staff member to do it and declare the right winner in order to strengthen electoral democracy in Guyana.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 02, 2020

PAGE 07

CCJ decision in Guyana elections recount case set for next Wednesday

By Rehanna Ramsay

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fter a single m a r a t h o n session of oral submissions, yesterday, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has scheduled its decision in the Guyana recount case for next Wednesday.

Opening the arguments, Trinidadian Senior Counsel, Douglas Mendes, in his representation of the People Progressive Party Civic, (PPP/C ), asked the Court to reject every contention that the decision rendered by the Court of Appeal in the Guyana election recount case is final.

Mendes sought to convince a five-member bench at the Regional Court inclusive of President of the Court Justice Adrian Saunders, Justice Jacob Wit, Justice Maureen RajnauthLee, Justice Peter Jamadar and Justice Denys Barrow, of their inherent jurisdiction to hear and determine the issues outlined in the election recount appeal.

The matter which concerns the outcome of Guyana's closely watched

President of the CCJ Justice Adrian Saunders

Justice Jacob Wit

Regional and General Election is derived from a complaint by a Sophia, Georgetown resident Elsyn David.

David had approached the Court of Appeal in a Notice of Motion (NoM) questioning the credibility of the CARICOM-supervised GECOM recount which placed the PPP/C Opposition 15,000 votes ahead of the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC)

coalition.

She sought the Court 's interpretation on a number issues , chief of which was whether the words “more votes cast“ in Article 177(2)(b) of the Constitution, when taking Order Number 60 of 2020 (establishing the Recount) should be interpreted to mean “more valid votes”.

The Appeal Court had rendered a decision answering a single question posed by the applicant. The

Justice Peter Jamadar decision under Article 177(4) which purports the Court of Appeal's judgment is final. The question of the Court's exclusive and final jurisdiction as it regards David's application has been put to the CCJ in an appeal filed by the PPP/C and several adjoining small political parties who participated in the March 2, polls.

COURT'S JURISDICTION During the omnibus

Cop detained at 4.00 A.M horse and bike races claims he was a spectator Some of the impounded motorcycles at the Brickdam Police Station

Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee

Justice Denys Barrow

hearing of the case held via zoom conference at the CCJ yesterday, Mendes tackled several issues raised as a result of his application.

The lawyer was firm in his stance that the jurisdiction of the Appeal Court under Article 177(4) was prematurely and wrongfully invoked by the applicant who sought the Court's relief to questions of the validity of the elections.

He stressed that the Court in the exercise of its limited jurisdiction under that section, through the mistaken understanding or application of the law, may encroach or abrogate other parts of the Constitution and in particular exercise a jurisdiction vested exclusively in the High Court. “ Yo u r H o n o u r s , ” Mendes argued, “the question raised by the applicant falls outside the ambit of Article I77 (4).

That Article deals with the narrow and basic issue of the qualifications of an elected President 'and gives the Court of Appeal's finality in dealing with that

matter.”

David, he said, was in essence questioning the validity of the elections based solely on allegations of discrepancies and anomalies made by APNUAFC Party Agent, Joseph Harmon.

“If you look at the application there is a common theme – that the Guyana Election Commission was supposed to determine a final credible count or the credibility of the elections in accordance with Order Number 60 for 2020 but it did not do so,” Mendes said, countering that the issues raised by the applicant hold no novelty.

“These are occurrences,” he noted, “which happen all over the world, people complain about the credibility of an election elsewhere.

These circumstances are not special to Guyana but I submit to this honourable Court that there is a way in dealing with such matters and it is by way of an elections court which is in the High Court.”

The Attorney held (continued on page 18)

I cannot concede...

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policeman is under close arrest a f t er h e a n d several civilians were caught last Sunday at a 4:00AM horse and motorbike race on Homestretch Avenue.

Police had arrested 135 persons and impounded several motorcycles and a horse at the Brickdam Police

Station. The civilians were released on station bail and are expected to appear in court next week to answer charges for multiple offences, including breaching the Covid-19 6:00 A.M-6.00 P.M curfew.

The detained rank has claimed that he “was only a spectator” at the event.

Commander of 'A' Division, Phillip Azore explained that because he is a member of the Guyana Police Force, the rank cannot yet be placed before the court.

He explained that there is a procedure that must be followed as required by the law to deal with cops who misbehave or break the law.

In this case, he said, a report was filed and sent to the Commissioner of Police.

The commissioner will then give advice regarding what charges this rank may face. Commander Azore said that “based on what advice comes back,” the rank can be charged and disciplined internally.

From page 3 Secretary of the JPA and the members.”

Asked whether the party head ever raised concerns with the executives of the Coalition, Granger said: “I have no record of any concerns being expressed.”

“We always explained the process,” he said “which is being pursued and the line which our partnership was taking.

There was no secret and

all six parties are aware of the positions which have been taken, in our approach to the elections commission.

We don't have any hidden agenda, within the Coalition, and what was said is a matter for the JPA party and you can ask the leadership of the JPA the motivation for making those statements. But they are not in accord with the matters which were discussed with the APNU executive council.”

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Thursday July 02, 2020

Top Cop, Deputy still on the job supervising special operation P

resident David Granger yesterday s a i d t h a t Commissioner of Police Leslie James and Deputy Police Commissioner Maxine Graham have been asked to stay on the job to oversee “a special operation.”

That special operation is Guyana's four month long electoral impasse.

Granger was responding to queries as to why the Top Cop and his Deputy were still holding public office when they should have been on accumulated leave, “We are in a very abnormal period of Guyanese history, and the Commissioner of Police was required to supervise a special operation to ensure that there was no disturbance of the peace or disruptions during the elections,” Granger told the press.

He made reference to the February riots in Region Five where one man lost his life, while many others including law enforcement

- Granger officers and children were injured.

President Granger said: “That is why he is still at this post.

As you know, on Friday, 6th of March, there was violence in Region 5 and the police had to be deployed, so there was a specific operation which had been started to tackle this.”

According to the President, when the period is o v e r, a n d t h e s y s t e m returned to normalcy, the Commissioner and Deputy would proceed on leave.

The issue came to the fore, after it was revealed that the President had granted permission for Chief Of Staff Brigadier Patrick We s t t o p r o c e e d o n accumulated pre-retirement leave effective from yesterday. His leave is expected to end in March 2021 at which time his retirement will commence.

Back in 2015, when the Coalition administration took office, all public servants were ordered to take their annual leave or forfeit same, since it was recognized that taking payment in lieu of leave was putting a financial strain on government's coffers.

Then State Minister, Joseph Harmon, in a message to those holding public office had stated: “We are saying, as a general statement, as from 2015 going forward, that when you are entitled to your leave, you have to take it in the year. If you don't use it, you are going to lose it.”

Questions were raised after it was revealed that James and Graham should have proceeded on accumulated leave since early June. Both, according to reports, have more than 16 months of accumulated leave.

Top Cop, Leslie James

Deputy Commissioner, Maxine Graham This publication was also privy to copies of documents, confirming that both the Top Cop and his Deputy should have been sent on leave.

According to the documents, Commissioner James has accumulated 306 days of leave, and should have proceeded on leave on June 28.

His retirement date, according to the documents seen, is May 5, 2021. With regards to Deputy

Commissioner Graham, she has accumulated 172 days of leave and should have left her post since June 11 since her retirement date is December 1, 2020.

Responding to queries, Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan had told an online media outfit: “Look, I don't know why they are still on the job, I will have to check that out to see what exactly is happening over there, I am not aware of that…I know nothing about

that.”

H o w e v e r, M i n i s t e r Ramjattan yesterday stated that both Commissioner James and Deputy Commissioner Graham are “validly there”.

Traditionally, any public servant who attains the age of 55 is required to retire from his or her post. The system, moreover, caters for public servants with accumulated leave to proceed on same into their retirement.

Oil related activities, expansion in mining, push Guyana's GDP growth rate to 5.4 percent in 2019

G

uyana's Gross D o m e s t i c Product (GDP) for 2019 attained a notable 5.4 percent growth rate on account of increasing activities in the oil industry as well as expansion in the mining and quarrying sector.

This was noted in the

nation's latest end of year report that was prepared by the Ministry of Finance.

Kaieteur News understands that the GDP was calculated based on the most recent update that was done to the methodology used by the Bureau of Statistics. The revised system now brings

- Finance Ministry's end of year report Guyana in line with international best practices for calculating such statistics.

Expounding on the details of the economy's

growth, the Ministry of Finance noted that real GDP for 2019 is estimated to have grown by 5.4 percent, with the non-oil real GDP increasing by 4.3 percent.

The estimated real GDP for 2019 was supported by significant expansions across most major sectors, including mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction and services.

The Ministry noted that stronger growth was constrained by a marginal decline of 0.5 percent in the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry, despite gains in rice, other crops and fishing.

With respect to the rice industry, the Ministry said that the quantity of paddy harvested in 2019, reached 1,049,874 metric tonnes, the highest level since 2015, when the industry attained record production of 1,058,129 metric tonnes.

Production in 2019 surpassed the 2018 harvest by 8.8 percent, or 84,755 metric tonnes, resulting in growth in the rice cultivation industry of 1 percent, in 2019.

In the other crops subsector, pumpkin, cocoa,

g i n g e r, p e p p e r s a n d pineapple, expanded by 0.3 percent.

As for fishing, the Ministry noted that this sector experienced mixed outcomes in 2019, with finfish production increasing by 19.7 percent over the previous year, and shrimp production declining by 28 percent, on account of the sargassum weed invasion, among other factors. In spite of these issues, the Ministry noted that this subsector expanded by 0.7 percent.

Turning its attention to sugar production, it was noted that this sector contracted by 11.8 percent in 2019, with Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) falling significantly short of its production.

Apart from this, the Ministry noted that there were remarkable gains in the livestock subsector with egg production growing by 45.3 percent, beef production 32.6 percent, pork by 66.8 percent, and mutton and chevon by 8.1 percent.

Poultry production the (continued on page 16)

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 02, 2020

PAGE 09

Talking through both sides of one's mouth

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t does not require a formal declaration of the elections' results for any of the Presidential candidates to concede defeat. In fact, the very concept of conceding presupposes that the candidate conceding has recognized that the results of the elections are not likely to end in his or her favour.

In November 2016, Donald Trump won the American election. On the very night of the election, his opposite number, Hilary Clinton, called him to offer her congratulation. She publicly conceded defeat the next day. She did not wait on a formal declaration.

She told her supporters “This is painful and it will be for a long time,” she said, “but I want you to remember this, our campaign was never about one person or even one election. It was about the country we love.”

Last December, Jeremy Corbyn the United Kingdom's Labour Party realized that he had lost the elections to Boris Johnson.

He immediately conceded defeat and, later, he resigned as leader of his party. He too did not wait on the formal announcement of the elections Frendual Stuart lost the

election in Barbados to Mia Mottley in May 2018. He did not wait on the official declaration; he immediately conceded and accepted full responsibility for his party's loss.

There is therefore no mandatory requirement for a formal declaration to be made before conceding defeat. It is considered the honourable thing to concede when a candidate realizes that he or she has lost an election.

Guyana would not have been in its present predicament if those who lost the 2020 General and regional elections had acted honourably and conceded that they had lost. A formal declaration was not necessary to determine who had won and who had lost.

The two main parties would have known the outcome by the following day based on their Statements of Poll.

The President of Guyana has signed an agreement, brokered by the Caribbean Community, agreeing to respect the results of the Recount of the ballots cast in the elections of 2nd March. It was President Granger who invited the Caribbean Community to scrutinize the Recount of the ballots. The President and the Leader of

the Opposition agreed “To abide by the outcome of a fair and transparent process for the recount.”

The Caricom Team which came to scrutinize the process has certified the process as being fair and transparent. The Team pronounced that the Recount was transparent. President Granger is therefore bound to abide by the results of the Recount.

Those Results are known. The Chief Elections Officer has submitted the matrices of the results of the Recount to the Guyana Elections Commission. In calculating the allocation of seats, however, the CEO engaged in creative mathematics by invalidating more than 115,000 of the valid and certified votes.

The President is on record as saying that he accepts the Report of the Chief Elections Officer. But which report? The one that gave the actual recount results or the contorted r e p o r t w h i c h disenfranchised one on every four electors who cast their ballots?

The President cannot eat his cake and have it too. If he has committed to abide by the results of the Recount he cannot at the same time be

Dem boys seh...

De music now start Some people in de HAPNew +HAY-Eff-See think that de Americans bluffing.

Dem nah tek it serious when de Americans warned that there will be serious implications for people and dem family who benefit from electoral fraud. Dem think dat was only fat talk or rum shop gyaff.

De Americans send a message to all dem who planning fuh rig dem way back into guvment.

But dem bannas in de Coalition feel that dem could get away with de rigging, de frigging and de jigging. And dem had some elements supporting dem and dem nasty ways.

Yesterday, de Big Man in de State Department, de Pompeo man, who is in charge of foreign relations all over the world fuh he country, signal that is time fuh heavy manners. He nah playing nah mo. He nah talking nah mo. Is action

time. De man mek it known that he dun pass instructions to de State Department dat all those who undermine democracy gun feel de heat.

If yuh don't know this is the last stage. Talks done.

De pressure coming down. Playtime done. De music gun now start.

De State Department does start with visas and then move to dem people family.

Den the attention would start on the bank accounts and properties and if you does do business, it gun stop. A one day trip to New York or Miami not happening because the visas cancelled.

Is no longer just about who benefitting from de rigging. De hammer can now fall pun all them who undermining democracy – dis mean it can fall pun some ah dem in GEE-CUM, plenty in de guvment, nuff ah dem in de Coalition and some ah dem wha signing petition for de Rig-adier to

stay in power by all means.

All who been trying fuh bring back de Coalition through de back door gun get a rude awakening – through de front door.

All ah dem wha deh pun social media dishonestly calling fuh de Rig-adier fuh get swear in gun get a surprise when dem and dem family discover that dem can't travel no more to dem western countries. And when dem go fuh collect dem money wha dem family does send fuh dem, dem gun find out dat it freeze even though is summertime.

De Americans done gat dem list. And de names dem miss, dem boys gun supply.

Dis na lang time. All who doing dutty tings and trying to sell off or give to dem friends, nuttin don't hide for long.

Talk half and watch how sanctions does mek some people ketch sense because de Pompeo man call de bluff.

accepting fraudulent numbers. If he accepts the latter, then he is saying that his Coalition has won the elections and therefore he is nullifying the results of the Recount which he agreed to abide by.

While it is true that the President has not claimed victory, his acceptance of a flawed Report implies that he has accepted the numbers which gives his party a one-

seat majority, and by extension rejects the results of the Recount. The Caricom Report has indicated that the results of the Recount can be accepted as the will of the electorate.

The President is not required by law to concede.

There is no obligation on him to do so. But given the shameless and dishonest attempts which have been made to steal the elections,

conceding would have put distance between him and those who are part of a grand but hopelessly incompetent conspiracy at electoral banditry.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Thursday July 02, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The pathetic, unbelievable, political decline of Eusi Kwayana

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have carried with me throughout my life the belief that the historiographical imprints of the most heroic, iconic persons should be open to question and if we find lapses we should not gloss over them because of sentiments.

I have long viewed Eusi Kwayana as someone far from the heroic types I admire like Walter Rodney, Maurice Bishop, etc. But his

iconic status was immense.

Two traits in Kwayana deterred me from seeing him as a hero. One was his obsession with not divulging information. He has an obsession with keeping things secret, things which should be in the public domain.

Secondly, he deliberately obscures history by withholding specificities.

For example, he informed us two months ago that he was

at the trial each day of Donald Rodney who was convicted by “a magistrate” (his words). I believe he intentionally withheld the magistrate's identity.

At age 95, Kwayana has atavistically reverted to the type of personality he was when he was Sydney King, that is, he sees Guyanese sociology through the prism of ethnically based competition for power and he must take a side. The 2020

election impasse has revealed this atavism and it must be a prodigious chagrin for those who long admired him.

My analysis here is on his shameless defence of the role of Tacuma Ogunseye during the violent mayhem that took over Buxton between 2002 and 2006.

Kwayana wrote yesterday that he objected to Ogunseye calling the violent criminals in Buxton liberators and he apologized to Ogunseye because Ogunseye said he used the term African resistance fighters and not liberators. It never occurred to Kwayana that Ogunseye lied to him. But obviously, Kwayana knew that.

Ogunseye used the term “liberation movement” several times.

Ogunseye knew I was exposing his activities in Buxton from my journalistic investigations so he tried to shut me up through a libel writ. His lawyer was Mortimer Coddette. What Ogunseye didn't know was that Morty was very fond of me and admitted to me the libel put him in a bind. It was Morty who contacted me. I remember his words vividly today; “Freddie, Tacuma is meh friend, I'm a black man but is wuh wrang with you two, how it come to dis?”

My response was simple.

I told Morty, I wrote what I

knew what Ogunseye was doing in Buxton; what he was doing was racist and evil. He asked me to bring proof. The next day, I turned up at his office with my proof.

He was not there and I left a message. I heard back from him three days after.

We met in his office and I showed him what I had. I can recall his exact words; “wuh rass is dis, Freddie, weh yuh get dis ting from?” As the conversation went on, I told him more of what I knew and that will be my defence.

Coddette declined to pursue Ogunseye's libel and failed to show up each time it was called. It was then struck out. Here is my belief why Morty acted that way. I honestly believe he did not want to pursue me for libel but he could not have told that to Ogunseye so he took the diplomatic way out.

But more importantly, Morty knew that people he functioned with politically would have been damaged by the court case and he was not prepared to take that chance. I told him food for the gunmen was cooked by a certain cultural organization in Georgetown and sent up to Buxton where it was coordinated by a woman I knew who would testify in court. Morty did not want these huge sensitivities being produced in court.

The WPA including, Kwayana, Desmond Trotman, Bonita Bone, Rupert Roopnaraine and Clive Thomas knew what

Frederick Kissoon Ogunseye did in Buxton.

They also knew what Ronald Waddel did in Buxton. So did Andaiye. She walked out of a meeting in Chris Ram's office when Ogunseye turned up. I couldn't believe it when a person like Dr. Alissa Trotz who organized the speakers for Andaiye's funeral could have selected Ogunseye to represent the WPA. It was clear to me from that day the WPA had degenerated into the worst form of political nihilism.

Kwayana should apologize to the people of this country for telling us he believed Ogunseye. I conclude with Kwayana's appreciation for my journalistic investigation in to Buxton. He wrote in his book, “The Morning After”; “I have found the essence of his (Kissoon) findings on the East coast disturbances with few exceptions well founded and based on information too detailed in particulars to be discounted. His knowledge of the personalities in and around the Taliban exceeds mine.”

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

Thursday July 02, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Thursday July 02, 2020

Berbice pupils confident of Landlord's son remains in success in Grade 6 exams Cummings Lodge fatal Inferno‌

custody as new information points to prime suspect

At the Cropper Primary School, Berbice yesterday.

I

nvestigators are said to have additional information pointing them towards a suspect who caused the deaths of a teenage boy and his parents after torching a two-storey apartment building at Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara.

Meanwhile, the landlord's son who was reportedly seen leaving the building minutes before the blaze started, remains in custody.

He has reportedly now refusing to speak with investigators unless an attorney is present.

Nevertheless police are reportedly receiving more information of an alleged

The landlord's son (centre) who still remains in custody property dispute that may be a primary motive for the building being set on fire.

Investigators have concluded that the arsonist used a flammable liquid.

On Saturday last the building which housed more

than nine apartments went up in flames at E-Half Sixth Street Cumming Lodge East Coast Demerara.

Marvin Lewis, 46, Beverly Miller, 40 and their son Duwhaul Ifill, 14 yrs., perished.

All that remains of the building

A

s hundreds of Grade Six pupils turned out across the country to write the National Grade Six Assessment examinations during a pandemic, many were optimistic of their success while a few had mixed feelings.

Down at the Cropper Primary School in Albion, Corentyne, Berbice, pupils were seen masked up and standing at least five feet apart as they waited to enter the school compound. A health professional checked temperatures before students were allowed to enter the gate. Students were also required to have sanitizers.

Desks and benches were placed six feet apart while invigilators, the guard and teachers had masks, face

Social distancing: A classroom prepared for the Grade Six exams shields and sanitizers.

Afterwards, a few students said that the first day of exams was easy. They stated that while they were unable to attend school in the months leading up to the exams, they were studying daily at home.

While some said they liked it better that they were given a chance to study at home, many preferred to be at school.

Staff and students at other schools also appeared to be adhering to the strict health guidelines.

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 02, 2020

PAGE 13

PAHO & CCCU donate masks Guyanese encouraged to and testing kits to MOPH structure daily activities

- 1,120 face masks, 15,000 testing kits - In response to increasing COVID-19 - to provide some normalcy amid pandemic our daily routines provided uyanese are cases in Regions 1 and 7 some structure. The encouraged to

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create structures to navigate their daily lives to provide some normalcy and control, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was posited by University of Guyana (UG) Lecturer and Psychologist Wil Campbell on Tuesday evening, during NCN's airing of the programme Social Cohesion in Action which focused on 'Social Distancing and its effects” Campbell noted that the virus has restricted the way persons can interact daily; be it working or socialising, “Everyone was not at home all of the time, so we have a dynamic in many homes where everyone is restricted to the home, all the time at the same time. This

University of Guyana (UG) Lecturer and Psychologist Wil Campbell provides us with challenges and opportunities.”

He underscored the need for structure to navigate the daily activities in the home.

“Before the coronavirus,

pandemic has taken that away. Therefore, we need to reconfigure our current schedules (in the home) as a step to providing normalcy and control.”

Highlighting the role of working fathers who are now at home, the Psychologist Campbell posited that it provides them with an opportunity to reconnect.

“Most fathers are accustomed to getting out of our homes daily to earn a living. This can in some cases cause a disconnect between themselves and the r e s t o f t h e i r f a m i l y.

Therefore, they can now reclaim the lost time by creating necessary conversations and (continued on page 15)

University of Guyana (UG) Lecturer and Psychologist Wil Campbell and host Natasha Singh-Lewis, Programme Coordinator within the Department of Social Cohesion

From left, Representative Director of CCCU, Carol Harding, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of the MOPH, Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle, and Dr. William Adu-Krow of PAHO

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s positive cases of the novel coronavirus again begin to rise, the Ministry of Public Health received a generous donation of 1,120 N95 face masks and 15,000 testing kits from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions (CCCU).

This donation of medical supplies is in response to the spike in COVID-19 cases in Regions One and Seven.

Representative Director of the CCCU, Carol Harding specified that the

establishment is pleased to lend a helping hand towards the Public Health Ministry amid the pandemic.

Harding said, “We hope that this donation helps in the frontline work for persons who have been exposed and for regions that have been the epicentre throughout the pandemic.”

Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) of the Public Health Ministry, Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle, explained the importance of partnerships in the fight against COVID-19. “Unless we have the necessary tools and resources, we are limited

in how effective we can be. It is very heartwarming to know that we have partners such as CCCU and PAHO, who recognize the need and come forward to offer their support,” the DCMO reiterated. Dr. Gordon-Boyle encouraged other organisations to join the Ministry in promoting a healthier and COVID-19 free Guyana.

“I want to encourage others to recognise that we need support and partnerships. We're all in this together and we all have to respond,” Dr Gordon-Boyle stated. (DPI)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Thursday July 02, 2020

President Granger presents Brig. Godfrey Bess with Instruments of Commission Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess

President David Granger pining Brigadier Godfrey Bess' insignia to his shoulder lapels

N

ewly appointed Chief of Staff Brigadier Godfrey Bess yesterday received his instruments of commission from Commander in Chief, President David Granger during a simple ceremony at Baridi Benab State House.

The appointment was made in keeping with the Head of State's powers, as the Minister of Defence,

vested within the Defence Act. “Today's ceremony has a two-fold purpose. First, it is to present the Instrument appointing a senior officer to perform the functions of the office of Chief of Staff and, second, to promote Colonel Godfrey Bess to the rank of Brigadier to perform those functions,” President Granger stated.

In his remarks, he noted

Brigadier Godfrey Bess and his wife Shandelle Bess that the Chief-of-Staff must communicate, coordinate and collaborate with his subordinates while leading and managing efficiently, “Leadership, unlike command, cannot be mandated by law. It is an essential element in military command and involves motivating the force's manpower to achieve

success in its operations and missions.

“The Chief of Staff, in this regard, is expected to possess the qualities of success, intelligence and prudence, and to set the values and standards expected of the force and its members,” Granger said.

A former Chief of Staff himself, the President reminded that Brigadier Bess will be now tasked with leading the force forward as it protects the nation's patrimony while promoting national defence and security.

According to the incumbent, it is anticipated that the GDF's top officer will continue the progress initiated by the Guyana Defence Board and the Coalition Government, “in reorganizing and reequipping the Force, i m p r o v i n g i t s responsiveness throughout all ten administrative regions, and intensifying defence cooperation and defence diplomacy with friendly countries.”

Management of the Defence Force, this year, President Granger noted will be challenging.

“The Chief of Staff is assuming command of the Force as Guyana embarks on a Decade of Development which will include investments aimed at the continuous retooling and strengthening of the Defence Force. Emphasis will be placed on strengthening the technical corps – Air, Engineer, Intelligence, Signals and Coast Guard – and on expanding the Militia and intensifying field training in long-range jungle operations.”

The new acting Chief-of-

Insignia Rank of Brigadier of the Guyana Defence Force President David Granger addressing attendees

Staff Brigadier Bess began his military career in 1990 serving in Command, Administrative, Staff and Training appointments. He has been serving as Quarter Master General since January 1, 2018.

Colonel Bess is the holder of a Bachelor of Social Science Degree in Business Management and Level Two Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

President Granger thanked substantive Chief of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West, who has proceeded on preretirement leave.

“He assumed the leadership of the Force during a period of transformation. The Force, during his tenure, has been

reorganized and reequipped to become a more professional organization.

The Defence Board wishes Brigadier West a happy retirement.”

Brigadier Patrick West will proceed on accumulated leave with effect from Wednesday, July 1. Brigadier West's leave concludes in March 2021, at which point Bess would be appointed substantively as Chief-ofStaff.

The Head of State also recently formally appointed Colonel Trevor Bowman, Inspector General; Colonel Sherwin Anderson, Quartermaster General; and Colonel Raul Jerrick, Adjutant General with effect from 1st July 2020.

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 02, 2020

PAGE 15

Guyana cancels re-opening of airports after sharp rise in COVID-19 cases The CJIA has been preparing for a phased re-opening but it has been pushed back until August 1st,

T

he local aviation authority has canceled plans to re-open the country's international airports after a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases.

Instead of a planned July1opening, the process has been pushed back to August 1st, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said yesterday.

The country's borders and airports were closed in March as the world battled the virus pandemic which has crippled flights.

The two international airports are the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the E u g e n e F. C o r r e i a International Airport.

“The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) after consultation with the Ministry of Public Health adjusted its 'Four Phase Reopening Plan' for international airports. This decision was made after careful assessment of the current COVID-19 situation in Guyana and other international ports where

flights to Guyana originates.

In recent days, Guyana saw steep increases in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases,” the authority said in a statement yesterday.

Guyana's confirmed cases stood at 245 on Tuesday with 10 new cases.

Ten persons have died.

GCAA's Director General, Lt. Col. Egbert Field, noted yesterday that the GCAA and the National COVID-19 Task Force considered the health of Guyanese and the nation as top priority. Thus, it was imperative to adjust the 'Four Phase Reopening Plan'.

“Phase one which would have ended on June 30, 2020 is now extended to July 31, 2020 and Phase two will now commence on August 1, 2020. The proposed dates in the GCAA Four Phase Reopening Plan will continue to be dictated by the COVID-19 situation.”

Under Phase one, GCAA has been permitting limited repatriation flights; outgoing flights ; cargo flights ;

medivac flights; technical stops and special authorised flights.

“In light of the foregoing, no airline has been granted approval for the conduct of scheduled commercial operation.”

The authority said it has drafted regulations and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to guide aviation stakeholders on the measures which are expected to aid in mitigation of the spread of COVID-19 and the full resumption of aviation-related activities.

“The GCAA in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Health and the National Covid-19 Task Force will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation. The Authority asks for the travelling public's understanding and patience during these unprecedented times.”

The CJIA has introduced a number of measures including installation of wash sinks, signs and eq u ip men t to mo n ito r temperatures of passengers.

Guyanese encouraged to...

From page 13 interactions with their partners and children,” Campbell explained.

This he noted can also extend to participation in household chores as it will help to create connections and strengthen relationships.

Additionally, Campbell noted a key to maintaining this family connection is “unplugging” for a while.

“Sometimes it is important to turn the Wi-Fi off and reconnect on a

m ore human-to-human level, more conversations around the table as we eat together, these are very meaningful. Families are a strong foundation of society and once we have strong families, we will have strong communities and if we have strong communities, we will have a strong nation.”

On the question of adherence to the health guidelines implemented by the Public Health Ministry, Campbell advised that persons “arm themselves

with credible facts” so they can protect not only themselves but their families as well.

The half-hour programme – Social Cohesion in Action – hosted by the Department of Social Cohesion aims to share information to assist persons to navigate the ongoing pandemic.

It is hosted every Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 pm on NCN and the Department's Facebook and YouTube pages.

PAGE 16

Thursday July 02, 2020

Kaieteur News

Guysuco gets $250M from NICIL syndicated bond - to receive another $750M if companies “engage in solutions-driven discussions” SERVICES

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F

ollowing several calls for assistance to the The National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) has released $250M to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

A press release issued by NICIL stated that “this sum represents a partial response from NICIL to GuySuCo’s request to government for a ‘bailout,’ and brings the total disbursements to GuySuCo from July 2018 to date to $9,970,759,568; in addition to the close to 40 billion it has received from the government.”

Over the past weeks GuySuCo and the Guyana Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU), has been calling on NICIL to release monies collected in bonds for the struggling sugar corporation.

In a recent press release

GAWU stated that through several sources it had learnt that the sugar company did not have funds to pay salaried workers.

It added that “when we asked about the promised release of resources from the Government-holding company, NICIL, our sources confirmed that, so far, none of the touted monies have been released to the sugar company.

Persons in the GuySuCo, we have learnt, are very anxious, at this time, considering production has halted and income from the sales of sugar and molasses have ceased.

One source indicated that if NICIL does not release any monies soon, the Company will be forced to close its doors.”

Additionally, “GAWU was informed that with several more weeks before the second crop commences, the

industry requires about $1B to meet wage and salary expenditures while additional monies are required to meet other operational expenses.”

In response, NICIL stated that GuySuCo “should seek to resolve its financial challenges through professional engagements with NICIL and by extension the Government, rather than resort to petty disclosures and half-truths in the press, none of which is providing the solutions to its myriad of problems.

We strongly advise the Directors of GuySuCo to obey the terms and conditions of the bond and to seek to ensure compliance with same.

In particular, we urge that it honours the reporting of its expenditure schedule to NICIL and the bond holders.”

NICIL added that it will in the very near future make available a further G$750 M.

However, this disbursement can only be possible when NICIL and GuySuCo can engage in solutions-driven discussions about making GuySuCo a commercially viable entity.

However, it is unclear whether this money credited to the sugar company’s bank account is for the purpose of paying salaries.

Efforts by this newspaper to contact Mr. Colvin HeathLondon NICIL’s, Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for clarification, proved futile.

NICIL has approximately $21B outstanding for GuySuCo after it raised $30B in bonds but only gave the company approximately $10B. This is in addition to $30M recently raised from the sale of prime lands, which was said to be used for GuySuCo.

Oil related activities, expansion in mining, push...

From page 8 Ministry said, did not recover sufficiently to overcome the decline recorded at the halfyear. This resulted in a 7.8 percent decline in poultry production, in 2019 which, in turn, led to a contraction in the livestock subsector of 3.5 percent.

With respect to the forestry subsector, it recorded notable gains at the half-year that persisted into the third quarter.

These were however, undone in the final quarter of 2019, resulting in a contraction of 3.9 percent for the entire year.

Further to this, the Ministry reminded that in late 2019, Guyana became an oil producing country. It noted that this development contributed to the 124.2 percent expansion in the petroleum and gas and support services subsector, which, in turn, drove growth of 10.6 percent in the mining and quarrying sector.

In providing more details on this front, the Ministry said that the Guyana Industrial Minerals Inc. scaled up bauxite production ahead of

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan the official commissioning of its mine and processing plant, scheduled for 2020. The Finance Ministry said that their output was enough to offset the lower production recorded by the two incumbent companies.

Additionally, the Ministry said that the two large mining companies in the gold subsector, Troy Resources and Guyana Goldfields Inc., recorded lower production, in 2019, largely as a result of operational setbacks that included the suspension of one

company's activities for almost three months. Kaieteur News understands that small and medium scale miners, on the other hand, increased declarations by 25 percent, in 2019, the highest since 2016.

The Ministry said that this significant improvement was attributed to improved road and weather conditions as well as favourable prices. Like gold, the other mining subsector recorded growth for a second consecutive year, driven by an expansion in sand mining – a key input

of the construction industry.

This was strong enough to offset a contraction of 11.5 percent in diamond declarations With respect to the manufacturing sector, the Finance Ministry said that it realized significant growth of 14.7 percent, in 2019, the highest rate since 2013, when the sector grew by 8.2 percent.

This achievement was bolstered by rice and other manufacturing, which expanded by 26.4 percent and 14 percent, respectively.

Construction the Ministry noted, expanded for a fourth consecutive year, with growth reaching 3.1 percent, which was 0.2 percentage points above the rate achieved in 2018.

Like construction, the services sector expanded for a fourth consecutive year, in 2019, growing by 4.2 percent, the highest growth rate over the four-year period.

Driving this growth was wholesale and retail trade and repairs, administrative and support services, and transport and storage, which grew by 5 percent, 5.8 percent, and 6.9 percent, respectively.

Kaieteur News

Thursday July 02, 2020

NGSA begins amid COVID-19 restrictions

PAGE 17

Not nervous: Students preparing for exams

-14,730 pupils registered to sit exams

O

bserving the health protocols outlined and gazetted by the Ministry of Education, the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) commenced yesterday at several Primary Schools across Guyana.

Pupils were seen outfitted with their masks entering their respective school compounds and being screened before entering the building.

Some parents shared their thoughts on their children's performance and the safety measures implemented.

Nicole Junor watched her daughter walk through the gates at the North Georgetown Primary School. With much anticipation, Junor said, “I await her results and, on that day, I will run to Queens College with her pass papers.”

“I have worked very hard with my daughter and I am expecting success; we got up early every morning at 2.00 A.M to study and I

encouraged her right through,” a very emotional Junor emphasised.

Jared Pellew's mother, Nicola Prince-Pellew explained that with the interest illustrated by her son's teacher during the stayhome period, she is confident that her child will

perform exceptionally.

“I think the pandemic has had some impact on their minds but with the help of the teachers, they will make it. Up to last night, they were calling, talking with the children and rendering comforting words,” PrincePellew related.

Another parent, Nikesha Taylor, said she is satisfied with the precautionary health measures at the North Georgetown Primary School. She added, “I would have done my part as a parent and today is his turn to do his part. I am expecting that he knows what he's about and makes me proud.”

Sharing similar sentiments like PrincePellew, Taylor is pleased with the contributions made by teachers amidst Guyana's COVID-19 epidemic.

“His teacher Miss Austin has done a great job because she stayed in contact with us

through the entire preparation period and continued to share work. I believe that Grades One to Five was where they had all the time to learn and Grade Six is for revision. So, I think he is fully prepared!” Taylor stated.

A total of 14,730 pupils are registered to sit the four core NSGA subjects —Mathematics, English Language, Science and Social Studies — between today and Thursday.

Senior Public Relations O ff i c e r ( P R O ) a t t h e Ministry of Education, Brushell Blackman told

media operatives that several Education Officers from the various districts will be visiting the primary learning institutions to ensure that all students adhere and comply with the examination order.

“The importance of the exams cannot be overstated but the health and well-being of the students and everyone in the school compound is also important,” the PRO added.

Education Minister, Nicolette Henry has extended best wishes to all students sitting the 2020 National Grade Six Assessment.

High turn-out at NGSA despite COVID-19 fears

T

he Ministry of Education is reporting a high turnout by students for the National Grade Six Assessment examinations, which commenced yesterday. A total of 14,730 students were set to write the examination. However, some students did not turn out due to concerns of COVID-19.

Nevertheless, Carol Benn, Assistant Chief Education Officer and Head of the primary sector within the Ministry of Education, said that based on preliminary reports, there was a high attendance recorded. She further expressed elation for parents giving their support despite concerns about the pandemic.

Benn also stated that she visited a number of schools yesterday and was pleased that they were following the

strict COVID-19 guidelines set out by the ministry.

Dr. Nicolette Henry yesterday encouraged Grade 6 pupils all across the country to read and comply with the guidelines and later wished them the best of luck in unprecedented and challenging times.

Benn thanked all teachers and staff that helped to prepare the schools and put the necessary systems in place to have the examination administered and is “satisfied that all the systems have been put in place to ensure the safety of students, invigilators and all authorized personnel allowed into the school compound”. She also noted that prior to the reopening of schools for these NGSA examination, the schools were “thoroughly sanitized and fumigated” to ensure a safe and clean environment for everyone.

Senior Public Relations Officer of the MOE, Mr. Brushell Blackman said, Education officers will be

visiting schools across the country throughout the examination process to ensure the compliance

observed yesterday continue.

The English and Science Paper One and Two were

administered yesterday.

Mathematics and Science Paper One and Two will be administered today July 2.

PAGE 18

Thursday July 02, 2020

Kaieteur News

CCJ decision in Guyana elections...

Man, 42, is Guyana’s thirteenth COVID-19 fatality - three more positive cases push figure to 248 The Ministry of Public Health is reporting that a thirteenth person has succumbed to the novel coronavirus, according to the Department of Public Information (DPI).

The victim is said to be a 42-year-old man, who died yesterday at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). .

The Health Ministry also reported that three more persons have tested positive for COVID-19, after 56 tests were conducted yesterday. The number of recorded cases is now 248.

Meanwhile, the number of recoveries has moved to 116.

There are currently 120 active cases in isolation at various facilities across Guyana, 16 persons in institutional quarantine and two patients in the COVID-19 ICU. To date, 2,634 tests have been conducted with 2,386 of those being negative.

Persons are again reminded to continue practising social distancing in the workplace, public spaces, and while using public transportation to reduce the spread of the coronavirus disease. They are also reminded to practise frequent hand washing/sanitising and always wear a face mask if they have to go out.

Globally, as of July 1, 2020, the WHO is reporting that confirmed cases stand at 10,357,662 with 508,055 deaths.

While in the Regions of the Americas, positive cases have reached 5,218,590 with a total of 249,318 deaths.

From page 7 therefore that the decision which was arrived at was ultra vires the powers of the Appeal Court under Article 177(4).

In response to a question by Justice Jamadar regarding which arm of the State the elections commission falls, the lawyer noted GECOM was a functionary of the Executive, and could not adopt the powers of the Judiciary, specifically the High Court and conduct investigations into the complaints raised by David.

Under these circumstances, he noted that the Appeal Court erred when it failed to give effect to the separation of powers doctrine by finding that the meaning of Article 177(2)(b) of Constitution was in effect amended by Order Number 60 of GECOM. The lawyer noted that by their interpretation, the Appeal Court in effect gave its blessing that Article 177 (2) of the Constitution could be amended by a subsidiary legislation. He asserted that for the Court to interpret of meaning of the Constitution which states “more votes are cast” should mean “more 'valid' votes are cast” in determining the winner of the elections is wholly erroneous and must be rejected.

QUESTIONS RAISED Attorney, John Jeremie, who followed Mendes in his presentation to the CCJ sought several ways to discredit those arguments.

Jeremie, also a Trinidadian Senior Counsel, is representing David in the case.

He strongly opposed any notion that the Appeal Court's decision was not final, citing the exclusive jurisdiction of the Appeal Court under Article 177(4). Jeremie, however could not provide the Court, with any precedent in which the validity of an election was determined before a President was elected.

Confronted with questions from the Court's President to furnish the case law references, Jeremie fumbled to provide a response.

“Have you been able,” Justice Saunders asked,” to cite any case where a question as to the validity of the election of some governmental official was heard and determined by the Courts, before the official was elected?”

Jeremie responded, after a significant pause, “My Lord,

I have not been able to find such a case.”

As he went on with his submissions as it regards the Court of Appeal's interpretation of Article 177(b) of the Constitution in the context of the recount Order by GECOM, he was asked yet another question by the CCJ's President: “Is it that you are saying, Mr. Jeremie, that the Constitution of Guyana can be influenced by or altered by a subsidiary legislation that came into being many years after the Constitution came into effect? Does that sound right to you?”

Jeremie responded in the negative, offering that this was somewhat the reasoning of the Court in interpreting the order by GECOM. As he continued his arguments in support of the finality of the Appeal Court's decision in the matter, Justice Witt posed another question, one he prefaced by saying that it would appeal to the logic behind Jeremie's argument: “Suppose the Court of Appeal made a completely absurd decision under Article 177(4), are you saying that decision is final and should not be appealed?”

To this, the lawyer pointed out that the Constitution is clear that functions of GECOM are subjected to the provisions of the Constitution, and that in his view GECOM has some legislative powers.

Justin Simon, Queen's Counsel representing the Attorney General, Basil Williams S.C, met with similar questions from Judges of the Court.

He dealt with the issue of jurisdiction.

“I think that we can all agree that the CCJ is not established by the Constitution of Guyana which we all agree is the Supreme Law… the powers of the CCJ was established by an act of Parliament,” he said.

He held too that Article 177(4) gives the Appeal Court jurisdiction to determine the validity of the qualifications of an elected President. His assertion met with questions from Justice Saunders who asked Simon “Who is the question of the validity of the elected President for? If we don't know the identity of the elected President how then can we address the issues of qualification for a person that we don't know?”

“I don't think that that is the proper way to look at it,“

Simon retorted.

He explained that, to his thinking, the article does not raise a question about a person but it is towards assisting the process of the elections of a President.

In his submission, Williams further added to Simon's contention that the Appeal Court's decision is final. The AG stressed that the CCJ does not have jurisdiction to hear the matter. He cited the several cases including a Guyana case involving Eusi Kwayana.

Williams recommended that based on that decision rendered in the Kwayana case that the CCJ should dismiss the appeal emanating from the Guyana Court of Appeal.

He held that CCJ should not interfere with a judgment proffered by Guyana's Court of Appeal as the nation's apex court. He said that he is hopeful that the CCJ doesn't enlarge its scope in the matter as it did in a number of other cases.

“We reserved this narrow issue of the Guyana elections for our Appeal Court. I don't believe that the Guyanese people would want matters of our elections to go beyond our Court of Appeal,” he added Towards the end of the submission, Attorney-at-law Reginald Armour S.C., who is representing Joseph Harmon in the matter, Section 163 of the Guyana Constitution, argued, inter alia, that the High Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to determine any question regarding the qualification of any person to be elected as a member of the National Assembly.

Also, he offered, Article 177 (4) which says that the Court of Appeal shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any question as to the validity of an election of a President in so far as that question depends upon the qualification of any person for election, or the interpretation of this Constitution, and any decision of that Court shall be final.

The lawyer's contention is that litigation utilising Article 163 can ultimately, and/or potentially lead to recourse to the CCJ, should an elections petition be filed in the High Court and subsequently appealed, while article 177 restricts such a recourse.

Justice Jamadar, however, questioned the retrospective

impact that could be introduced if an invalidation of votes is done and the figures are different from those that may be generated under 163, which implies such a challenge be formulated via an elections petition.

INNOCUOS DECISION Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran in his representation of A New and United Guyana (ANUG), The New Movement (TNM), and the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) supported Mendes' argument.

He noted that the ruling of the Court of Appeal's interpretation of the Constitution that more votes means valid votes is innocuous since “more votes cast” in the context of the constitution “can only mean more valid votes.”

Ramkarran asked the court to reject Lowenfield's decision to act on the interpretation of the Appeal Court, after the Court had stayed its decision. He asked that the report prepared by Lowenfield pursuant to the ruling of the Appeal Court be set aside and declared null and void. The lawyer cited the report of the recount by CARICOM and the actions of GECOM which followed as part of his arguments before the CCJ. He stressed too on the responsibility and functions of the CEO based on the Representation of the People Act. Ramkarran held that Lowenfield, based on the legal provisions, is subject to the instructions of the Commission chaired by Justice Claudette Singh.

He asked the Court to use its authority to bring relief to the more than four months of elections -related torment the people of Guyana. Meanwhile, Attorney -at- law Timothy Jonas who also appeared on behalf of the three parties, said that the CCJ Act gives the Court Jurisdiction to act as in the case of the Court of Appeal.

He noted that the issue of validity of votes does not lie within the ambit of the Appeal court. The lawyer noted that the Representation of the People Act outlined issues to consider when determining valid votes. He stressed that Court of Appeal does not have that function nor does the Chief Elections Officer.

The final decision of the case will be given at 3.00 pm, next Wednesday, July 8.

Thursday July 02, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

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Kaieteur News

Thursday July 02, 2020

Thursday July 02, 2020

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

James Bracey, Dan Lawrence steal spotlight in England’s warm-up

James Anderson in action.

James Bracey dug in for his 85.

Thursday July 02, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your solid footing may become a bit unstable today, Aries, but don't worry about it. Be a little more flexible and release your tightfisted grip on the situation.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today is a great day to go out and get things done, Libra. You might find that you're a bit indecisive, but don't sweat it. Don't feel like you have to make any great commitments.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) There's no excuse for laziness today, Taurus! Make sure you get out of bed before the day ends. You'll find that the more action you take, the happier you'll be.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) The name of the game for you today is action, Scorpio. The air seems to get clearer, and it feels as if a weight has been lifted off you.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Don't let things stagnate, Gemini. It's time to take action. In everything you do today, see how far you can go as opposed to how deep.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Take some of that knowledge you've picked up and processed over the past few weeks and spread it around, Sagittarius. It's time to put your communication skills to work.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You might feel like you've come out of the dark and into the light today, Cancer. A weight has been lifted, but there's still a great deal of emotional drama that needs to work itself out.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Take a break from your steady climb today and have a look at the world around you, Leo. Enjoy a night out with friends, if possible, and take an active role in the conversation.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22) Pay attention to the news today, Virgo. Be sure to check not just the mainstream news but also the offbeat independent publications and websites.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your physical stamina is apt to be quite strong today, Capricorn. You should consider working out to release some of that pent-up energy.

Engage in a sport or something that involves strategy and good coordination.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Take a break from the seriousness that has prevailed over the past couple days, Aquarius. You'll find that upbeat conversations are the way to navigate through today's waters.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Jump back onstage and say your peace, Pisces. Your active participation in the conversation of today is critical to maintaining .

ESPNcricinfo - Newcomers James Bracey and Dan Lawrence stole the spotlight as England’s leading red-ball players went head to head on day one of a rare intra-squad clash at the Ageas Bowl.

When growing concerns over the spread of coronavirus brought an early end to England’s last official outing 111 days ago in Sri Lanka, neither man was even in the country never mind the conversation.

But with circumstances, much changed and the national side was forced to schedule its own internal tune-up between ‘Team Stokes’ and ‘Team Buttler’ and it was the latter’s uncapped batsmen who gained most as their contrasting half-centuries underpinned a score of 287 for 5.

Gloucestershire’s Bracey batted diligently at the top of

the order, reaching 85 in 194 balls to make good on an opportunity few would have forecast at the start of the summer, while heavily touted Essex batsman Dan Lawrence turned in a sparkling 58.

Already a two-time county champion, and scorer of a century in the Lions’ victory over Australia A in Melbourne over the winter, he scored his runs with an unmistakeable swagger in 83 deliveries.

With regular Test skipper Joe Root missing next week’s series opener due to the birth of his second child, Lawrence made a strong pitch for the vacant number four spot and could ultimately find himself competing with Joe Denly.

Denly managed 48 here but, had Saqib Mahmood not overstepped when he took out his off stump on 12, the contrast between his contri-

bution and Lawrence’s would have been stark. As it was, he faced over 100 balls but failed to kick on to a major score, a well-worn trope of his 14 Test appearances.

In bowling terms, the 18 overs sent down by James Anderson will probably have the most impact on England’s immediate plans. The country’s record wicket-taker has not played since breaking a rib during the New Year Test in Cape Town, but looked reliable and fit as he returned two for 49.

The remaining wickets fell to the Overton twins, both of whom turned in impressive performances as they jostle for position in a packed seam attack.

Craig Overton got the first wicket of the day, finding Rory Burns’ outside edge in the morning session, and had Ollie Pope lbw for 25 in the evening. Brother Jamie was not initially included among the 27 players taking part, added to Stokes’ side only after Olly Stone reported a tight hamstring.

The younger Overton added some heat to the lineup after tea but got slightly lucky when Bracey flicked a leg-side delivery to the waiting Ben Foakes while in sight of a century.

The 23-year-old had been given a life early on, edging Craig Overton on 14 only for Stokes to parry the chance at second slip. He put that chance swiftly to one side, shaping up well against Anderson to reach 33 not out in a lunch score of 70 for one.

Denly and Bracey put on 98 for the second wicket, both men striking straight sixes off Jack Leach, with latter bringing up his half-century by successfully taking on Moeen Ali for a quick single.

Denly was hoping to follow suit but was pinned in front by Anderson to end a middling innings.

Lawrence scored just 10 more runs but did it with greater aggression and purpose, whipping Leach over midwicket for six, repeatedly getting the better of a battle against Moeen’s off-spin and dominating a stand of 53 with the settled Bracey.

Both had cause to regret their dismissals, Bracey feathering Jamie Overton off his pads after being forced back by the short ball and Lawrence’s ambition getting the better of him as he flicked Anderson to midwicket.

Jos Buttler and Sam Curran combined to see their side to stumps without further loss.

Scores: Team Buttler 287 for 5 (Bracey 85, Lawrence 58) v Team Stokes.

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Joshua Da Silva scores a ton as Jason Holder, Shannon Gabriel shine with the ball ESPNcricinfo - Jason Holder took a wicket in his first over of the England tour while Shannon Gabriel also shone on the penultimate day of the West Indies’ final intra-squad match before next week’s first Test.

After Joshua Da Silva carried his bat with a fine 133 not out, the first-string batsmen and bowlers went toe-to-toe in an entertaining final session and it was the pace men who emphatically came out on top at Emirates Old Trafford.

Gabriel, not officially in the 14-man Test squad but likely to be drafted in from the reserves list after this fourday fixture ends, prised out John Campbell and Shai Hope as a Kraigg Brathwaite XI slipped to nine for three.

Holder did not bowl in the first internal warm-up last week amid doubts over an ankle niggle but the captain showed little discomfort as he sent down five overs yesterday, snaring Shamarh Brooks with his sixth delivery.

In closing on 112 for 7 in response to the 272 all out posted by a side led by Holder, a harsh spotlight was shone on a top-order that may be the one that takes to the field at the Ageas Bowl next Wednesday.

There were mitigating circumstances, particularly with the floodlights on - they were on all day - but Da Silva’s

Thursday July 02, 2020

Kaieteur News

composed century spread across two days may yet lead to a rethink about the current batting order.

Da Silva may have got off the mark on Tuesday with a streaky flash over the slips but he grew in stature with some eye-catching drives and weathered a hostile barrage from Oshane Thomas yesterday afternoon.

He resumed on 60 not out - exactly half of his side’s overnight 120 for 5 - but faced only two balls before rain led to another delay.

The first two days had seen only 34 overs played because of the inclement weather.

Ninety minutes later, Da Silva was back at the crease.

He was more restrained than in the early part of his innings and a touch fortunate on 69, when a loose drive flew between fourth slip and gully. It was a rare misstep from the 22-year-old Da Silva, who negotiated an aggressive fourover spell from Thomas after lunch, getting treatment after being struck on the bottom hand on 75.

But he soldiered on and a crisp clip past midwicket was his 15th four, taking him to three figures which he celebrated with a fist pump and a scream of “Yes” to a smattering of applause.

Alzarri Joseph injected some impetus into the innings with some lusty blows in a dashing 38 from 32 balls, part of a 77-run stand that took the

side past 250 before he and the tail were cleaned up in short order.

That set up the prospect of a mouthwatering session in the evening gloom, and Kemar Roach and Gabriel did not disappoint as the intensity and noise levels immediately went up.

Gabriel (3 for 34) made inroads, bounding in with no lack of venom and inducing the edge of Campbell, which was easily caught by Holder at second slip. Holder had to juggle his next attempt, holding on after Brathwaite had miscued an attempted cut shot off Roach and it was 9 for 3 when Hope got an inside edge off Gabriel onto his stumps.

Holder made a near instant impact when he came on to bowl as Brooks got a leading edge to mid-off to depart for 16 while Joseph then got into the act when Roston Chase nicked to third slip.

Gabriel earned a loud clap from coach Phil Simmons, watching on from the balcony of his hotel in self-isolation, after a particularly fine diving stop at mid-on, and the fast bowler was only deprived a third top-order wicket when Holder put down a difficult chance in the slips to spare Kyle Mayers, who remained 40 not out.

Mayers dispatched Gabriel over deep square-leg for six a couple of balls later, much to the bowler’s evident chagrin, but he would be smiling again at the end of the day when Anderson Phillip slapped straight to gully.

Scores: Brathwaite XI 112 for 7 trail Holder XI 272 (Da Silva 133*) by 160 runs.

Shashank Manohar steps down, Imran Khwaja interim ICC chairman ESPNcricinfo - Imran Khwaja will be the interim chairman of ICC until elections are held for the post.

The decision was taken by the ICC Board yesterday after incumbent Shashank Manohar stepped down following two terms in the role.

Khwaja, who is a former president of the Singapore Cricket Association, was elected as ICC’s deputy chairman in 2017, a year after Manohar became the global cricket body’s inaugural independent chairman. The deputy chairman’s position was part of the new ICC constitution which came into effect from 2017. That constitution was drafted by a five-person working group which included Khwaja.

A lawyer by profession, Khwaja, 64, has been an everpresent but little-heard figure - publicly at least. He remains, however, a powerful voice on the ICC Board and is part of a number of influential committees. Currently, the committees Khwaja sits on include the Finance & Commercial Affairs, Nominations, Development (chair) and Membership.

It was Khwaja who played a significant role in convincing Manohar to continue as ICC chairman in 2017 after the former BCCI president had opted to step down even before finishing a year in the post. Although he is the chairman of Associates, Khwaja has had a say in significant reforms the ICC carried out under Manohar’s leadership, including the overhaul of the governance structure, the finance model and creating a democratic structure at the ICC board where even the smaller countries have had a say.

In the media release yes-

Imran Khawaja speaks at the ICC annual conference. (ICC via Getty) terday, the ICC said that the Board would finalise the nomination process to elect Manohar’s full-time successor “within the next week”.

Normally the new chair would have been installed at the ICC’s annual conference, which this year is believed to have been postponed indefinitely due to the Covid-19 pandemic, although the annual general meeting will still take place virtually.

Khwaja, Grave and Ganguly among contenders Khwaja, along with the outgoing ECB chairman Colin Grave, has been talked about as the frontrunner to replace Manohar on a full-time basis, although neither has made their desire to contest public.

Also in the reckoning could be BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, who became eligible after he participated in his first ICC Board meeting this March. A fellow ICC Director told ESPNcricinfo that Ganguly brought good cricketing arguments to the Board which has traditionally been populated by administrators who have not played the game. The BCCI has been actively looking for support for Ganguly, although the former India captain has not

Phil Simmons faces calls for sacking ...

From page 23 has so far undergone two Covid-19 tests since Friday both of which came back negative. He will have another test on Wednesday (yesterday) before he will re-join the squad as they prepare for the three-match #RaiseTheBat Series against England.”

Simmons’ movements have been barely noted in the UK press as of now. Joe Root, the England captain, has been given similar dispensation to leave the training bubble to attend the birth of his second child. He will miss the first Test as a consequence.

Riley’s email comes a week before West Indies begin the three-Test series in England with the first match scheduled from July 8 in Southampton. West Indies

hold the Wisden Trophy after their 2-1 win at home last year, but have not won a Test series in England since 1988.

There is wider context behind this. In 2019 Ricky Skerritt ended Dave Cameron’s sixyear reign as CWI president, winning the elections by an 8-4 margin with voting conducted through a secret ballot. However, the BCA was one of the boards to nominate Cameron. Cameron now also wants to contest for the ICC chairman’s position, which is up for grabs after incumbent Shashank Manohar recently said he would not be standing for another term. Although the CWI is yet to take a formal stance on whether to support Cameron’s nomination, on Tuesday Riley told the Mason and Guest Cricket

Show, hosted on Starcom Network, a Barbados-based radio station, that he would “certainly” support the Jamaican.

The relationship between Cameron and Skerritt’s administration has been tense, especially of late. Last month, Cameron threatened legal action against the board unless they handed over a copy to him of an audit which had been critical of Cameron’s time in office.

Simmons was also sacked as head coach by the board during Cameron’s time as president, and was reappointed to the same post by Skerritt. The coach subsequently won a legal case for unfair dismissal against CWI and received a significant payout.

made his intention known either in public or within BCCI circles.

Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith, now director of cricket at Cricket South Africa, said global cricket needed a “strong leadership” which Ganguly was “best positioned” to provide. Hours after Smith made his comments, CSA president Chris Nenzani said the South African board did not want to “anticipate any candidates to be nominated” until the process was finalised.

Over the last couple of months, a number of board heads have had their name attached to the chairmanship, though none have said anything of their intentions publicly and the process for how they are elected has not even been finalised.

The latest hat in the ring has been thrown by Dave Cameron, former president of Cricket West Indies (CWI).

Cameron, who lost the CWI presidency to Ricky Skerritt in 2019, has been recommended by the United States Cricket Hall of Fame. Cameron has been lobbying for support in the Caribbean and has at least one backer in Conde Riley, the president of Barbados Cricket Association, who also sits on the CWI Board.

Kishore Shallow, the CWI vice-president, said that he would not support Cameron, but said that was his personal decision, and a final decision would be taken by Skerritt.

The ICC last held elections for the chairman’s position in 2016, when Manohar was elected through a secret ballot. In 2018, Manohar retained his position for a second term having been elected unopposed as the sole candidate.

To be eligible, the candidate needs to be either a present or past ICC Director one who attends at least one ICC Board meeting - and has to be nominated by one current ICC Director. Nominees with the support of two or more Directors are eligible to contest an election.

Thursday July 02, 2020

Call for Simmons’ sacking unjustifiable, irresponsible

By Paul-Andre Walker (Sports Max) - President of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), Conde Riley, is wrong to ask for the immediate sacking of West Indies head coach, Phil Simmons.

I have great respect for Mr Riley, who has served Barbados and West Indies cricket admirably for more than 20 years, but his utterances this week were, in a word, irresponsible.

Mr Riley’s comments have created an issue where there should be none.Here are the facts as I understand them.

Simmons had a death in his family and there was a funeral which would, if he were to go, place him at risk of contracting COVID-19 because he is now outside of the biosecure controls at Old Trafford, Manchester where the West Indies cricket team is staying ahead of a threeTest series against England.

Once outside of the bubble, Simmons (and the coach must have been fully aware of this, put himself at the risk of adding to the 313, 483 cases of Coronavirus in the United Kingdom.

The CWI and the England and Wales Cricket Board had come up with a strategy for ensuring the safety of cricketers in this series, inclusive of protocols for when somebody has to leave the bio-secure environment.

Those protocols satisfied both parties that those inside the environment would be kept safe from those who come into it from outside.

Simmons would now be treated like somebody coming from outside and would have to self-isolate and go through testing before being re-integrated with those who had

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remained inside the bubble.

That being said, once all protocols are observed, there would be no risk to the players and/or staff, even if Simmons contracts COVID19. So far, he has tested negative on two occasions.

The BCA president pointed out that he had received a number of phone calls from concerned parents and members of the BCA with concerns about the safety of the players, given Simmons’ actions.However, as a member of the CWI board, Riley should have known that the protocols, put in place before the players left the Caribbean, would have meant no added risk because of Simmons’ exit and subsequent return. There should never have been this sort of knee-jerk reaction.

As a member of the CWI board, it should have been incumbent on Mr Riley to assure those calling, that the maintenance of the players’ safety had not been compromised.Instead, Mr Riley fuelled an unjustified panic regarding the situation and ‘put pen to paper’ in an email to the board, that clearly spoke to an uninformed position.“I just heard on the radio that our head coach Mr Phil Simmons attended a funeral recently and is now being quarantined as a result. If this is true, I am calling for his immediate removal as head coach,” read the email.

Simmons wasn’t being ‘quarantined as a result’. That was part of the protocol agreed to before he left. And the president of the BCA should never been using language like “if this is true.”

Why wouldn’t you get all the facts before penning such a potentially damaging missive?

Mr Riley went on to call Simmons’ behaviour “inconsiderate and reckless” but I submit that it was carefully planned and not reckless at all. There was no danger to anyone but Simmons himself.

Cricket West Indies had made a public statement about Simmons’ activities and Riley’s email runs in stark contrast to that.

“The entire process of his exit and re-entry to the biosecure location was approved and managed by the medical teams of the CWI and the ECB and strictly followed protocols set up prior to the tour which addressed such scenarios,” read the CWI statement.How could Mr Riley and the CWI be so divergent in their views?

Mr Riley also suggested that the CWI be pro-active in anticipation of backlash from the English press.

No such backlash has come.In fact, the only question that has come from the English press about Simmons’ actions, have had nothing to do with player safety.Alzarri Joseph was asked if Simmons’ self-isolation would impact the ongoing practice game the West Indies are now playing in preparation for the first Test on July 8.Joseph’s response was instructive.According to the young fast bowler, the team of coaches was prepared for Simmons’ absence and everybody, including the players, already know what their jobs are.Mr Riley should also know what his job is, and it isn’t to suggest that a coach be fired.Now let’s hope the West Indies can put this behind them and get back to the business of retaining the Wisden Trophy at the end of #RaisetheBat series.

Phil Simmons faces calls for sacking after leaving lockdown to attend funeral ESPNcricinfo - The president of the Barbados Cricket Association has called for the “immediate removal” of Phil Simmons as head coach of West Indies.Conde’ Riley, who is also on the board of directors of Cricket West Indies (CWI), has described Simmons’ decision to attend a family funeral as “inconsiderate and reckless” and claimed it has “endangered the lives” of the rest of the touring party.

Simmons, who is based in the UK, was allowed to leave the West Indies training base to attend the funeral of his father-in-law at the end of last week. As a consequence, he was obliged to go into quarantine in the team hotel upon his return.In an email to board members Riley wrote: “I just heard on the radio that our head coach Mr Phil Simmons attended a funeral recently and is now being quarantined as a result. If this is true I am calling for his immediate removal as head coach.

“I am being bombarded by concerned parents and members of the BCA. This behaviour is inconsiderate and reckless. It endangers the lives of those 25 young men in the UK and in fact the entire management team and

West Indies head coach Phil Simmons. (Getty Images) cannot be tolerated.

“The English press will have a feast on his judgement and I suggest we act swiftly.”

Nine members of West Indies’ 14-man Test squad are from Barbados, as well as four of the squad’s 11 reserve players. Three further players Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul and Darren Bravo - opted out of selection prior to the series due to their concerns about the pandemic.

A statement from CWI at the time confirmed that Simmons had gained permis-

sion to attend the funeral ahead of the tour.“The entire process of his exit and re-entry to the bio-secure location was approved and managed by the medical teams of the CWI and the ECB and strictly followed protocols set up prior to the tour which addressed such scenarios,” the statement said.

“Following his return, Simmons has been in self-isolation away from other members of the squad, exactly as had always been planned. He (Continued on page 22)

Messi nets 700th career goal with ice-cool penalty against Atletico

Vishaul Singh aims for Windies recall From page 24 was lightning fast or unplayable as those guys in those moments when I was younger.

There is Guyana’s Nail Smith and Bajan Chemar Holder who bowled fast this season,” said Vishaul who revealed that the best spinners he has faced from the West Indies are “Rakeem Cornwall and Veerasammy Permaul, when conditions are favourable for them, they are a nightmare to face,” stated Vishaul.

The GCC Captain feels that a lot of factors have to be taken into account for the improvement of local club cricket.“Finance, practice and all-weather facilities…. once we can have those kind of things in place, club cricket will improve dramatically. A bit more emphasis has to be placed on the grass roots level. Identify a feeder system and what we want to feed our National System…school cricket or club cricket at the youth level, but these things are for the Administrators to do,” said Vishaul who wants to get involved in Coaching when his career in over. He is a level 2 Coach and says he intends to do level 3 soon.

“There are a lot of challenges playing cricket in Guyana, lack of finance, facilities, standard of grounds, pitches and umpires, all these things could be improved on. But if you can name something that can directly impact your development its pitches, whether it’s match or practice pitches. I guess that would could come down to clubs not having the money to pay a full time groundsman and then again having someone with specialist skills to prepare quality pitches” Vishaul lamented.

“Cricket takes up a lot of my time but when I get weekends off I love to go fishing and spend time with my family and son,” added Vishaul. He thanked his dad who taught him all the basics as he was growing up, Ragoonath for the role he played in T&T, Sarwan who he grew up alongside and helped him mentally, technically and provided him with gear, Leon Johnson who organised for him to get a contract in England, the late Dr Harold Dhanraj at GCC and later Guyana Jaguars Coaches Esuan Crandon and his Assistant Rayon Griffith.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in action with Sevilla’s Ever Banega, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (REUTERS/Albert Gea) BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona’s Lionel Messi scored his 700th career goal by converting a second-half penalty against Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou in La Liga on Tuesday.

The Argentine hit the landmark goal for club and country by netting from the penalty spot to give his side a 2-1 lead in the 50th minute, showing some nerve by chipping the ball into the net to deceive goalkeeper Jan

Oblak.Messi had moved on to 699 goals after netting a penalty against Leganes two weeks ago but drew a blank in his last three matches against Sevilla, Athletic Bilbao and Celta Vigo before finally reaching the milestone against Atletico.

Messi, 33, is Barca’s all-time leading scorer with 630 goals for the club where he has spent his entire career while he has netted a record 70 times for Argentina.

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Thursday July 02, 2020

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Vishaul Singh aims for Windies recall Feels CWI could take lots of positives from England tour

By Sean Devers (Cont’d from yesterday) “I hold myself to high standards and did not produce the goods and had no issues with being dropped.

However, when I look around and see the opportunities afforded to others who have done similar to me or even worse, I feel disheartened that I was never given that chance, while others have been afforded that luxury,” lamented Vishaul.

“I hope for recall. Everyone who plays cricket want to play Test cricket, that’s your goal and you want to continue playing for the West Indies. I still have a few years left in me to serve whoever it may be, Guyana and the West Indies.

I prefer Test cricket, that’s how my game is setup, it’s more suited to Test cricket and adapt to the other formats.

The comparison to Test cricket and First-Class cricket in the Caribbean I think it’s a big jump.

Technically yes… because guys test your technique more often than in FirstClass cricket but the mental side of it is so intense.

For me it’s really intense, the level you have to be concentrating if you are batting, bowling or in the field since the stakes are so high. So mental strength needs to be really high and the need to focus for long periods,” said Vishaul.

The dogged Vishaul spoke about some of the crucial attributes needed to make big hundreds.

“Everything revolves around your batsmanship; Patience, shot selection and concentration. Those are the things you need to fine tune

if you are to get a hundred.

You can only get a hundred if you bat long…bat time and play the balls on merit and chose the right balls. You also need some luck because Umpires are only human,” said Vishaul.

Vishaul gave his thoughts on the West Indies tour to England at a time with Covid19 is still around.

“With regards to the risk factor, playing cricket in general is a risk. With the Pandemic around it is probable a little bit more of a risk but we have to trust those in Administration to do the best they can to secure a safe environment.

I think this is a great opportunity for CWI, Marketing wise, this will be the only cricket on show and will pave the way for other nations to mimic how this is done if the Pandemic is still around so I think this is a good way for CWI to come out.

With regards to the Cricket itself, this is a good opportunity for us as a cricketing nation to prove ourselves against a power house in their own backyard so there are lots of positives,” continued Vishaul.

He feels ‘team cricket’ was the main reason for Guyana’s five-year winning streak. During that five-year span Guyana Jaguars had an unbeaten streak of 18 games after losing to Barbados in 2014 when Vishaul made his Captaincy debut.

“If you look at the composition of the team it would have been those guys that would have gained the experience from the previous years and they gelled together and played as a team.

A couple of seasons here

and there you would have an outstanding performer and the majority of players would back up whether in the batting and bowling department.

So I guess playing team cricket was the main reason why we dominated for five years.

While there were a few outstanding performances, you can’t really pin point one person that it was because of Tom Jones that we were so consistently successful, which is testimony of everybody contributing at one point or another to our success,” said Vishaul whose favorite sportsmen are Argentina and Barcelona Footballer Lionel Messi and New Zeeland Cricketer Kane Williamson.

He feels that CWI has made significant strides in the last few years in getting the Professional system and Franchise cricket in place and players getting paid to have a full time job to focus on their cricket and once they continue to find ways to develop the game and the players he believes cricket in the Region will grow from strength to strength.Vishaul said the fastest bowler he has ever faced has to put in context.

“I think it goes with experience and what stage you are in your career. When I came out of U-19 cricket I faced Nelon Pascal in a practice match against the Windwards at Bourda and he bowled lightning fast, it was like nothing I had never faced before then when I went into FirstClass cricket I faced a spell from Fidel Edwards with the second new ball that was also really fast. As I played more first-class and Test cricket I never found any bowler who (Continued on page 23)

Vishaul Singh bats for Sandwich Town CC in England where he played for four seasons.

Skipper Vishal Singh pulls during his first ton in 2014 against T&T.

West Indies cricket legend Sir Everton Weekes long innings come to an end at 95 Daily Mail - The iconic West Indies batsman Sir Everton Weekes has died at the age of 95.

A heartfelt social media post from Cricket West Indies read: ‘Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of an icon.

A legend, our hero, Sir Everton Weekes. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and many fans around the world. May he rest in peace.’

Weekes passed away after a prolonged illness at his Christ Church home in Barbados.

He had played 48 tests, with 4455 runs and 15 centuries to his name.

He was one of the finest batsman the West Indies has ever produced, and rounded off his glittering career with an average of 58.61.

Weekes is the only figure in history to have scored five successive Test centuries, having achieved the feat in 1948. The Barbadian was one of the legendary ‘Three Ws’ alongside Sir Frank Worrell and Sir Clyde Walcott.

The trio infamously guided the West Indies to a historic Test series victory in England - and made their Test debuts within weeks of each other in 1948.

He made his Test debut against England in 1948, retired a decade later and was then knighted in 1995.

Weekes worked as a

Weekes had passed away after a prolonged illness at his Christ Church home in Barbados.(twitter @windiescricket)

coach and an ICC match referee after his retirement.

England Cricket were among those to also remember Weekes. A post on Twitter labelled him a ‘true great of the game’, and added: ‘Our thoughts and condolences go out to Sir Everton Weekes’ family and friends.’

The MCC also paid tribute to Weekes on social media with a statement which reads: ‘Everyone at MCC and Lord’s are saddened at the news of Sir Everton Weekes’

passing.

‘He will forever be remembered as one of @windiescricket’s finest cricketers.‘Our thoughts are with his family and friends.’

After suffering a heart attack, Weekes was admitted into intensive care in hospital in June 2019.

He had been the third oldest surviving men’s Test star, after South Africa’s John Watkins and ex-England opener Don Smith - both of whom are 97.

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Thursday July 02, 2020

Guyana to participate in FIBA U17 Skills Challenge F o l l o w i n g F I B A’ s Executive Committee’s decision that the 2020 FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup cannot be held this year, it has been decided to offer an opportunity to the players of this age category to gather with their National Team, to train and compete without the need for international travel.

Several National Federations are already organising training camps for this age category in the coming months, depending on the local restrictions and in compliance with the FIBA Return to Basketball Guidelines.

Hence, FIBA felt that the 2020 FIBA U17 Skills Challenge 2020 could provide an additional motivation and incentive to those young players and strengthen their bonds with the National Team.

In addition, the FIBA U17 Skills Challenges 2020 will be broadcasted on

Guyana is set to contest in the regional qualifiers for the FIBA U17 skills challenge in August.

FIBA’s digital channels (YouTube) thus providing an opportunity also to the National Federations to be present and promote their brand and their activity during these challenging times.

The FIBA U17 Skills Challenges 2020 (both genders) are scheduled to take place during the second

week in August. The sixteen (16) teams already qualified for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2020 and FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball Wo r l d C u p 2 0 2 0 a r e automatically qualified for the FIBA U17 Skills Challenges 2020.

In addition to the 16 teams already qualified, FIBA has decided to also

Fast bowler Chemar Holder sends down a delivery during a warm-up match at Old Trafford.

MANCHESTER, England, CMC – Uncapped fast bowler Chemar Holder says he is confident but will not be putting himself under any pressure, as expectations surrounding a possible Test debut next week continue to mount.

The 22-year-old forced his way into the 14-man Test squad for the tour of England after impressing in the recent West Indies first class

championship where he emerged as the leading pacer with 36 wickets from eight games.

Some former players have called for his inclusion in the opening Test at the Ageas Bowl starting next Wednesday but Holder said it was important he remained grounded.

“I have a lot of confidence coming off the Regional four-day

offer an opportunity to participate to all interested National Federations around the world. Namely, each FIBA Regional Office will organise Regional Qualifiers to qualify one men’s and women’s team each from each Region.

National coaches; Junior Hercules and Lugard Mohan, have been identified

by the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) as the primary point of contact for the recruitment and execution of this qualifier. The GABF will be selecting five boys and five girls born on and after January 1st, 2003 to represent Guyana in this r e g i o n a l q u a l i f i e r. T h e GABF currently awaits

information regarding the final phase of the FIBA U17 Skills Challenges 2020 from the FIBA Americas Regional Office including the FIBA U17. Local players can begin to register via the federation’s website at http://guyanabasketball.com /en/2020/07/01/fiba-u17skills-challenge-2020americas-qualifiers/.

Rookie Holder avoiding pressure of expectations

competition that’s just gone but also I have to be mindful that it’s whole different conditions that I’m playing in so I’m still doing a lot of homework and a lot of preparation leading up to the first Test,” he told reporters via Zoom following the second day of the four-day practice match at Old Trafford here Tuesday.

“I’ve been here [to England]

more than once. The conditions, I’ve seemed to adapt to them, especially the cold weather so it’s just staying focussed and doing what I have to do.”

He added: “I know my ability, I know what I can do so going out there, if given the opportunity, I’m just going to stay focussed and do what I have to.

I won’t put a lot of pressure on myself going into whatever game I play so basically for me it’s just staying focussed and staying patient.”

Holder was included in the Test squad ahead of the recovering Shannon Gabriel who was named among 11 reserves for the tour after undergoing ankle surgery last December.

And with West Indies expected to boast a four-pronged pace attack for the three-Test series, Holder and Gabriel could be competing for that final spot with captain Jason Holder, Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph virtual certainties.

A member of the successful West Indies side which won the ICC Under-19 World Cup four years ago, Holder said the current tour was a major stepping stone, especially training alongside the likes of Gabriel, Roach and namesake Holder.

“It’s actually a big transition coming from youth cricket coming up but I’ve had a few experiences with senior level cricket in terms of A team and President’s XI …,” he explained.

“And I’ve also got a lot of information and a lot of guidance from Kemar Roach coming up playing for my franchise team back home in Barbados so I know that if anything happens during these Test matches, that I can easily go to either Shannon or Jason or Kemar and they will assist me in anything that I need.”

He added: “It’s great to be on the same team as Alzarri once again. It brings back memories of the West Indies Under-19 and I’m looking forward to playing with him.”

Holder has played 19 first class matches since making his debut two years ago and says his West Indies call-up had been a dream come true.

“It means a lot to me because coming up as a youngster, it is something I always wanted to do and being here now a couple years later, I still can’t believe it,” he stressed.

“I still can’t believe that it’s happening right now so it means a lot to me and my family.”

Call for Simmons’ sacking unjustifiable, irresponsible

From left: West Indies coach Phil Simmons and Barbados Cricket Association president Conde Riley.

West Indies cricket legend Sir Everton Weekes long innings come to an end at 95 England Cricket and the MCC have also paid touching tributes to Weekes (right) on Twitter. (twitter@windiescricket)

Guyana to participate in FIBA U17 Skills t r o Challenge Sp

Joshua Da Silva’s unbeaten 133 may yet prompt a rethink on West Indies’ batting order ahead of first Test against England (Photo –Getty Images)

Shannon Gabriel did his Test claims no harm. (CWI)

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