Saturday July 18, 2020
Kaieteur News
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President refuses to elaborate on response to sanctions threat E
ver since the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo on Wednesday announced that top officials in the incumbent Coalition regime would face visa sanctions, de facto President David Granger is yet to offer a direct response to the threat. O n We d n e s d a y, America's chief diplomat
had announced that the upper eulachon of the Coalition part along with financiers and family members will be subject to visa restrictions, for their involvement in the rigging of the March 2020 Elections. Pompeo also called on President Granger to step aside and allow the rightful winners of the March 2 Election to take office.
Shortly after, an unsigned statement emerged from “the Government of Guyana” expressing “regret” that such a move was taken by the US. The statement said that “The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana [Executive Branch] regret the decision announced by the Department of State of the United States of America.”
It added that “The conduct of Guyana's General and Regional Elections is the responsibility of the Elections Commission, which is an independent authority under the Constitution of Guyana. The Executive Branch does not conduct elections. The Commission has made no declaration of results.” “A challenge to matters
arising out of those elections is still before Supreme Court and is entirely the responsibility of the judicial branch. The Executive Branch of Government has not participated in undermining the electoral process and urges all countries interested in Guyana's development to await the logical and legal conclusion of the process which is being managed by the Elections Commission, in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana. The Executive arm has not interfered in the functioning of the Elections Commission,” the statement from the Government said. On Thursday, Kaieteur News contacted the President through his Director of Public Information and Press Service, Arianna Gordon, with direct questions relating to the pronouncements made by Mike Pompeo and other issues. On the issue of the threat of sanctions, Kaieteur News asked President Granger to give a direct response as the incumbent Head of State. The answer given was that “The Government of Guyana [Executive Branch] has issued a response to the decision taken by the United States Department of State on the matter of visa restrictions. President David Granger sits at the helm of the Executive Branch.” A copy of the very statement sent out on We d n e s d a y w a s a l s o attached with no other answer given. Next, the President was also asked to share his sentiments on Canada and the UK signaling sanctions on the Coalition as well. The response was that, “President David Granger has maintained that he will abide by the Constitution, decisions of the Court and any declaration made by the Elections Commission. The President cannot comment on sanctions that may be implemented by other countries.” Attacks Among the other pressing electoral matters
Incumbent President David Granger President Granger was asked to comment on were the blatant attacks by coalition supporters and executives on international and regional government officials and others who sought to weigh in on Guyana's political situation or who are involved in the elections process. Over the past few weeks, citizen have borne witness to attacks on the Former CARICOM Chair, Mia M o t t l e y, t h e c u r r e n t CARICOM Chair, Ralph Gonsalves, Former Barbadian Prime Minister Owen Arthur, the GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh, her attorney; Kim Kyte Thomas among others. These attacks have been carried out by executive members of the Coalition. Against that backdrop, the President was asked whether such attacks were approved by him and if not, what reprimand would be had for the offenders. The answer given to this was “President David Granger has not attacked any international, regional or local official nor has he sanctioned any attacks.” Kaieteur News asked directly whether the President was going to directly condemn the attacks, in particular the mock funeral of the GECOM chair in effigy which took place near State House by APNU+AFC supporters. “It is not the policy of the APNU+AFC administration to indulge in such conduct,” the President replied.
Kaieteur News
Saturday July 18, 2020
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Ruling set for Monday...
Claudette Singh wants case thrown out, so she can declare results “Lowenfield cannot go off on a frolic of his own and put himself above GECOM, the laws of Guyana and even the Constitution” - Lawyer By Rehanna Ramsay
A
ttorney for G u y a n a Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson, Kim KyteThomas yesterday made a stirring presentation for Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire to throw out the case filed to compel GECOM to rely on nothing but the disputed figures presented by Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield. The Chief Justice is scheduled to hand down a decision on Monday at 4:00 pm via live stream on the Supreme Court website. During a six hour long hearing before Justice George- Wiltshire at the Georgetown Supreme Court, Kyte-Thomas was among several attorneys who presented arguments in opposition to the case filed
by Misenga Jones seeking declarations to prevent the CEO from using the recount figures as the basis for the final declaration. The recount figures show a victory for the Opposition People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) over the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity +Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC). Jones, a registered voter and APNU+AFC counting agent during the recount, is seeking orders to prevent the CEO from using the recount figures as the basis of the final declaration. In her submission yesterday, Kyte-Thomas noted the matter is the only thing seeking to stop GECOM's Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh, from declaring the final results based on the results of national vote recount. She stressed that
contrary to Jones' complaint, Section 18 of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act of 2000 specifically provides that the Chief Elections Officer shall be subject to the direction and control of the Commission. She argued that Lowenfield cannot go off on a “frolic” of his own and put himself above GECOM, the laws of Guyana and even the Constitution. Kyte-Thomas stressed it would be unthinkable that one man, an employee of GECOM, could be vested with such absolute and unchecked power. Further, the lawyer advanced that the Chief Elections Officer is a statutory officer subject to the disciplinary control of the Commission and that Article 161 (1) A, Section 2 of Representation of the People Act (ROPA) and Section 18 of the Election
Laws (Amendment) Act of 2000 bear this out. In this regard, she stated that Guyana's Constitution and electoral laws never contemplated that the CEO would be a power unto his own and dictate to GECOM. RES JUDICATA Additionally, the lawyer argued that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Guyana's final court of appeal made a decision in a similar case, hence Jones' application tramples on the principles of Res Judicata and should be thrown out. Her arguments were supported by attorney Kashir Khan, representing The Citizen Initiative (TCI) and Change Guyana (CG); attorney Timothy Jonas, representing The New Movement (TNM), and Sanjeev Datadin representing the United
Bar association condemns attacks on attorney at law Mrs. Kim Kyte-Thomas in her execution of duties
T
he Bar Council of The Bar Association of Guyana yesterday condemned the recent social media attacks on Attorneyat-law Mrs. Kim Kyte-Thomas in wake of the lawyer's representation of GECOM Chair Claudette Singh in legal proceedings before the Court, concerning the March 2 General and Regional Elections. The Bar Council, in its statement yesterday, highlighted that the “embarrassingly protracted election process has resulted in a heightened political atmosphere which has seen a pattern in personal attacks being levied against persons in the exercise of their profession and duties.” The Council further noted that “such attacks are wholly unacceptable, inappropriate and must be denounced.” The Bar Council furthered caution members of the public to desist from making inflammatory, threatening and libelous statements which in addition to undermining the administration of justice and rule of law, could form the basis for the institution of legal proceedings and charges against such perpetrators.
Attorney representing GECOM chair, Mrs. Kim Kyte-Thomas Kyte-Thomas, who is representing the GECOM Chair in a case filed by Misenga Jones to compel Singh to set aside the National Recount figures, received many personal attacks from APNU+AFC party supporters across social media sites. Previously, the Bar council had also condemned attacks on the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ahead of their ruling on the Jagdeo, Ali et al appeal case adding that “even greater offence is
the use of social media by members of the society to launch unnecessary, malicious and contemptuous attacks on sitting members of our Apex Court.” Further, the statement asserted that “Attorneys-at-Law are, by statute, officers of the Court and appear for their clients in discharge of their professional duty, under oath, without fear or favor.” In addition to the Council's warning, the United States Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch also condemned recent personal attacks on GECOM Chairperson and urged continued support to the chair in a virtual press conference. “I am shocked and appalled at the dangerous statements and actions that I have seen directed at the Chairwoman,” Ambassador Lynch said in the conference. Previously, the Bar Council had condemned attacks on the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ahead of their ruling on the Jagdeo, Ali et al appeal case adding that “even greater offence is the use of social media by members of the society to launch unnecessary, malicious and contemptuous attacks on sitting members of our Apex Court.”
Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire
PPP/C lead Counsel Douglas Mendes
Attorney, John Jeremie Republican Party (URP). The lawyers all supported the argument that the case before the High Court is in breach of the principle of Res Judicata. In her argument on this point, Kyte-Thomas referenced the judgment of the CCJ. She noted that the Court was pellucidly clear when it concluded that the valid votes which were recounted must be used. “In the words of President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders: 'Unless and until an election court decides otherwise, the votes already counted by the recount process as valid votes are incapable of being declared invalid by any person or authority',” the lawyer said. She noted that and issues raised before the High Court were really about the impact of Order 60 and the conduct of GECOM. As such, KyteThomas said that the issues are therefore res judicata having already been
ventilated and addressed by the CCJ. Kyte-Thomas said therefore that the matter should be dismissed on the grounds that it amounts to an abuse of the court's process. “These issues are just crafted differently but were ventilated and determined by courts of competent jurisdiction to so do,” she told the court. Refuting the contentions of Neil Boston and John Jeremie – the lawyer representing Lowenfield and Jones, respectively – that the mechanism by which the recount figures were derived are unconstitutional, KyteThomas contended that the Recount Order was in keeping with the law. She stressed that the recount results cannot therefore be replaced by the declarations contained in Lowenfield's report of March 13, 2020 or any other alternate report to the request for the recount report made by the Chair. The lawyer therefore urged the Court to reject the application so that the Commission could be permitted to execute its constitutional role and functions to bring finality to the March 2020 Elections. JURISDICTION Lead counsel for the main Opposition Party – the People Progressive Party/Civic, Douglas Mendes sought to have the case thrown out on the point of Jurisdiction. He said given the arguments raised about Res Judicata, the High Court is without jurisdiction to handle the matters filed by Jones. The lawyer noted that (continued on page 18)
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Saturday July 18, 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
The Brigadier in his Labyrinth In his literary masterpiece fictionalizing the final months of the life of Simon Bolivar, Gabriel Garcia Marquez takes us on at times harrowing journey of the famed and fading liberator of South America into irrelevance, obscurity and exile. This portraiture of Bolivar at his decline is antithetical to the iconography that remains, the renowned generalissimo either standing erect or astride a rampant steed, in the form of innumerable statues and illustrations. For this sad portrayal of the man who liberated much of the continent from Spanish colonial occupation, Marquez would spend many months of research, and many more of sheer imagination, resulting in one of foremost interrogations of power and its loss. Guyanese today need not engage in so much effort. The country is presented today with a real time spectacle of the decline of a previously historical leader into what will be recorded as one of the most tarnished legacies in regional political history. When Brigadier David Granger was elected to office in 2015, it was hailed – and rightfully so – as an historical achievement. Entering national politics late in life, at least formally, Granger was able to emerge at the head of not just one but two coalitions. The initial coalition, APartnership for National Unity (APNU) was perhaps more in tune with George Bush’s Iraq invasion ‘Coalition of the Willing’ in that it was made up of fairly insignificant players around a central satellite. Still, the inclusion of Walter Rodney’s Working People Alliance with Forbes Burnham’s People’s National Congress could be seen as a good sign for the possibilities of national reconciliation – we, after all, can only make peace with our enemies. When the Cummingsburg Accord was signed on Valentine’s Day of 2015, between APNU and the Alliance For Change (AFC), a certain hope was kindled that the politics of hegemony, of ethnic domination, would give way to the politics or partnership, of equity, of integration and of reconciliation. Guyanese were told that “It is time” and enough believed it and so this invested in it, both hopes and votes. What happened in the past five years will be the subject of a great deal of historical interrogation for some time to come. For the purposes of this editorial, it would be enough to examine where we are at this present moment under the rule of the Brigadier. Another South American literary giant, Borges, who notably lived under the autocracy of another dictator, General Juan Peron, said once in a speech that: “Dictatorships breed oppression, dictatorships breed servility, dictatorships breed cruelty; more loathsome still is the fact that they breed idiocy. Bellboys babbling orders, portraits of caudillos, prearranged cheers or insults, walls covered with names, unanimous ceremonies, mere discipline usurping the place of clear thinking.” And that is where we are in Guyana today. Intermixed within the creeping oppression upon the will of the people and the cruelty of an increasingly crushing economic circumstance, we have the absurd fiasco, what has been rightfully referred to as a political circus, of the incessant babbling of low-tier coalition operatives online; the leering and increasingly eerie and ironic billboards of the caudillo proclaiming with Orwellian simplicity and irony, “Honesty Integrity Decency”. In the middle of a record-breaking electoral process, artificially prolonged by subterfuge, temporizing and brazen attempts at cheating conducted by a machinery headed by David Granger himself, we are seeing the real time portrait-creating of a lesser Bolivar. Like Bolivar, the once historically popular Brigadier has suffered a remarkable descent in personal reputation in a very short time, most notably – as the national recount shows – losing his first incumbent election by 25,000 votes. Regionally and internationally, once celebrated as a refreshing change to his predecessors in the PPP, Granger’s entire government has achieved the remarkable feat of uniting CARICOM, the OAS, the Commonwealth, the European Union, and the UN, in addition to our key Western allies against him. It is unprecedented in this country’s history, even during both the excesses of Burnham and the excesses of Jagdeo, that the entire executive government of Guyana, or most of them, would be subject to visa sanctions from the United
Never before in our country’s history has the erosion of our nation’s democratic values eroded to such an alarming extent DEAR EDITOR, Caretaker President David Granger and his three plus seven cabal have pushed Guyana and its people to the precipice. He has his knee on the throat of the nation staring down an abyss fraught with disastrous consequences. What we are witnessing is an attempt to wheelbarrow Guyana back to the past with some changes to the script and in the cast, but the objective remains the same, stay put! It’s like backwards ever, forward never. This time around however, the Guyanese people have repudiated electoral banditry and have refused to willingly participate in their own suppression and surrender to authoritarian rule. Guyana’s parliamentary democracy faces grave danger of collapsing into tyrannical rule by a bureaucratic elite bent solely on personal power and material aggrandizement. As the masquerading at court by the jesters continue, Guyana stands delicately poised a few steps away from being branded a pariah or rogue state by the international community thanks to the selfish and power
hungry clique of three plus seven. Mr. Granger must know that just because he’s not smelling it, means he’s not making it. In other words, he cannot feign ignorance of the treacherous waters into which he has consciously steered the ship of state due to his reckless, quasi constitutional actions and his refusal to concede his loss of power. Mr. Granger has put Guyana to shame especially when consideration is given to the fact that other nations have held their elections long after ours and have already sworn in their Head of State or Prime Minister. Viewed in today’s context, two video clips of March and May 2015 respectively, currently circulating on social media, reveal the unashamed hypocrisy of Mr. Granger, who, as the then Opposition Leader, could be seen and heard crowing over the speed with which a declaration of the results of elections ought to be made and how sanctions can impact Guyana. And as if to add insult to injury, Mr. Granger unabashedly, keeps peddling the myth to the gullible and unsuspecting, that with his magic potion and his abra ka dabra incantation, he can
work a miracle that would allow his disreputable coalition to remain in office. It is called, living in a fool’s paradise. When consideration is given to the track record of the three plus seven cabal since the passage of the No Confidence Motion, they certainly cannot be categorized as sensible, rightthinking politicians. Any attempt to assess the cabal through the eyes of a normal person would be flawed, since we are dealing with a bunch of individuals who seem to be either Amtorians or Pfifltriggians visiting from Mars or Venus. This brings us to the rather strange, if not bizarre uttering by Mr. Granger outside State House, to what he described as “some bad elements” who attempted to “manipulate” the votes. This is not only a far cry from the truth, it is phantasmic, crude and an unadulterated attempt to deceive. Here we have legitimate voters who won the elections being labelled ‘bad elements’ by those who try barefacedly to steal an election. It is logic turned upside down. To condemn the winners of the March 2, elections as ‘bad elements’ is to be totally insensitive and insulting with
sanctimonious mockery towards hundreds of thousands, who voted the APNU+AFC out of office and to harbour a delusion that ‘It is I who am the victor, not the vanquished.’ Within the meaning of CARICOM’s ‘Charter for Civil Society’, and the OAS ‘Inter-American Democratic Charter,’ Granger’s behaviour is a reflection of the extent to which the coalition’s threadbare ethical and moral values have fallen. Never before in our country’s history has the erosion of our nation’s democratic values eroded to such an alarming extent. Efforts to pull our country away from the precipice was vividly demonstrated thus far, by the people’s choice during the count at the place of poll and the recount at the Convention Center; at the High Court, the Appeal Court and the Caribbean Court of Justice where learned Counsels representing the opposition parties fought tenaciously to win legal battles in the name of justice and fair play as well as by the thousands in the letter (Continued on page 5)
It is time we concede that accepting fraudulent results is not the way to go DEAREDITOR, I wish to encourage the Coalition to step back from its attempt to install itself against the wishes of the will of Guyanese as expressed at the polls. The Coalition is especially cautioned that our state media are now being used to peddle propaganda and gross misrepresentations of the outcome of our recent elections. The only betrayal here is that achieved by the Coalition, in their commitment to upholding our democracy, and during their term, to deliver on their promise of better economic management. We should all be reminded that our March 02, 2020 elections were completed without so much of a complaint, with both local and international observers expressing satisfaction with the events on election day. All efforts to upend our democracy
have already been copiously documented in our local press. The coalition committed to accepting the results of the recount and went so far as to bar other parties interested in playing their part in the National Recount. They reneged on this also, claiming voter fraud involving tens of thousands of voters, even against the backdrop of all participating observers confirming that the elections were conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner. The decision to reinterpret the meaning of votes cast by our Court of Appeal, which clearly had no jurisdiction on this particular matter, which was used by Lowenfield to prepare another set of fraudulent results, this time disenfranchising in excess of 115,000 voters in the process, as tossed out by the Caribbean
States. In the next week, Guyana faces censure not only from the OAS but CARICOM as well. From a mortar of lies, of flaunting of the constitution, of the very corruption he vowed to fight against, of impunity and of sheer obstinacy when it comes to relinquishing power, the Brigadier has built himself a labyrinth from which it is apparently impossible to emerge. In the days to come, the rest of the country, including those few of his closest remaining allies who are still untainted, need to decide whether they will remain in it with him.
Court of Justice, Guyana’s alternative court for settling disputes which cannot otherwise be agreed to at home. It should be noted that the Caribbean Court of Justice further observed that the results of the National Recount were and remain the only valid set of results for our March 2020 elections. The evidence is clear that the coalition lost the elections, and we must be mature enough to accept the results of our elections without our strategic bilateral partners along with CARICOM, the OAS, the Commonwealth and the European Union, having to weigh in on the matter. I nevertheless take this opportunity to extend my personal gratitude for their objective observations if only to assist us in determining the true outcome of the election and steer the coalition to a more productive path for Guyana. It should be further observed that even the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission has twice summarily rejected the recent submission of fraudulent results by the Chief Elections Officer. Clearly there must be something quite wrong with declaring fraudulent results which
misrepresent the will of the Guyanese people. Based on the results of the National Recount, the Coalition garnered more than enough seats to give it ample political power to represent the interests of its constituents in Parliament. I am also sure that the PPP/C has learnt much during the last five years, and will make greater efforts to ensure that it delivers more inclusive policies and representation for all Guyanese. As gruesome as our past has been, it is instructive to recognize that both of our major parties were complicit in the grievances many Guyanese still, and will continue to hold, going forward. However, for the sake of the opportunity to progress and develop, I urge us all to concede that the PPP/C won, and prepare to engage with them across all fronts of our national development agenda. Achieving the welfare status of the developed nations can only be accomplished by strengthening our capacity for constructive dialogue and negotiation. And in this we can all play our part. Yours Faithfully, Craig Sylvester
Saturday July 18, 2020
Non-existence weapons of mass destruction DEAR EDITOR, I find no comfort in discourse in the Letters‘ Column since it is often used to personalize issues as well as to spew dogma and subjectively pontificate. However, for the records and those who are disposed to hearing what others have to say, it occurred to me that I should make the following facts public. I listened to the press conference of the American Ambassador. When asked
about the fraud uncovered during the recount, she referenced the CARICOM report. That report indicated that there was no evidence of fraud. Prime Minister Mottley also relied on that element of the report in her statement on the matter. In a meeting at GECOM on July 13, I referenced the evidence pertaining to the dead for whom votes were cast. A PPP/C nominated commissioner retorted that there was no such evidence.
The Chairperson responded that GECOM was in receipt of death certificates for persons for whom votes were cast. In an earlier submission to the Commission: The Case for Non-Declaration, I indicated that at least 61 death certificates were availed to GECOM, during the recount, of dead persons for whom votes were cast. I also opined that this information must have been withheld from the CARICOM observers for them to have reported that
there were allegations of dead voters but no evidence. There is a song sheet out there that reminds me of the Weapons of Mass Destruction that was the reason for the invasion of Iraq. Alas, no such weapons were found nor evidence of their existence. But regime change was achieved; thousands killed and Iraq is yet to return to stability and civility. Yours truly, Vincent Alexander GECOM Commissioner
Humble Appeal to President DEAR MR. PRESIDENT, I humbly appeal to you to end the electoral legal proceedings and concede defeat. I voted for you. Supporters I interacted with say they want this matter to end. We are tired of it being prolonged. There is nothing that can be done to extend your stay in office or provide an opening for your victory. It is all over. Out of your own decency, accept the result of the recount and congratulate the winner.
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Kaieteur News
You are embarrassing yourself, family, party, government, supporters, Africans, and country. Why would you want to be considered President out of electoral fraud? Not because your mentor, Forbes Burnham, engaged in electoral riggings, you must follow suit to remain in office. Now is a different time period. Electoral fraud is not permissible like how we got away with it in 2015 through fake SOPs. The entire world is against your administration.
The entire world has accepted that you lost the elections. No court will provide you an opening to have GECOM declare you victorious. GECOM has already stated that the recount would be used to declare the winner. The CCJ ruled that only the recount must be used for a declaration; the numbers can’t be adjusted. Those numbers clearly showed our party lost. Why are you allowing underlings to delay the process and frustrating the
A reason for much concern DEAR EDITOR, There is much impatience in the world today. Many economies are faltering, people are dying by the thousands and war appears to be on the horizon. The fuel of the global economy, which is oil, has reflected its slowing and economic Giants are much closer to bankruptcy than they have ever been since the great depression. It is with caution that we must consider the path forward for Guyana. No one wants a government that will bow to the wishes of Venezuela and its Allies. Each major party should be reaffirming commitment to a Guyana that will include Essequibo and will not allow for their gifting in exchange for power and control over the
country. It is refreshing to see that old tricks of the past are not reoccurring. Who would have thought that the USA would not have supported the non Communist Party during these uncertain times. It is refreshing yet curious that the basis for warrants and sanctions for Venezuelan top officials is being overlooked in Guyana. Maybe the next step is to clean house independent of who is in power. Hopefully there isn’t a land grab in the works as there was in the past. Best regards, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana
God will not honour wrongdoing! DEAR EDITOR, As a servant of the living God, I strongly condemn the recent mock funeral carried out by Coalition followers against the ÌECOM chairman, Ret’d Justice Claudette Singh. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I rebuke President David Granger for having allowed this occult, dangerous and ungodly behaviour by his supporters . Mr. President, I remind you Sir that promotion comes neither
from the East nor the West not the South. GOD is the righteous judge of all the earth. He sets up and He puts down rulers. The Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever He wills, even to the basest of men, for His purpose. I counsel you to turn from wrongdoing and seek His forgiveness. God will not honour wrongdoing. Sincerely in Christ’s service, Bernice Walcott
nation from moving on. Tell your underlings who have approached the court to stop and desist. Instruct them to withdraw the case before the Chief Justice. I advise that you instruct your man, our man, GECOM CEO Lowenfield, to follow the instruction of the chair and bring the process to closure. Give the right numbers as requested by the Chair. Desmond Hoyte did the right thing in 1992 and would have done so again were he the incumbent now. Your entire reputation has now been damaged in refusing to accept defeat. You can still salvage your reputation by bringing the process to an end. More legal battles and shenanigans would make it very difficult to salvage our party and return it to government come next election. It is better to concede now so we can start rebuilding. Yours truly, Nigel Philadelphia
Never before in our country’s history has the erosion of... From page 4 columns of the dailies and social media, who wrote in support of democracy, free and fair elections, for democratic and inclusive governance. The international community has thrown out a lifeline to rescue Guyana from the clutches of the cabal. These antecedents if not halted, pose a serious threat to our democratic way of life. Cumulatively, they hang ominously like the sword of Damocles over the nation. This ignominious trajectory must be rejected, less too late! too late be the cry. Guyanese, irrespective of race, class or political persuasion must not allow the three plus seven cabal to make us gaze helplessly into the abyss of failure and destruction. When one of Mr. Granger’s own supporters shouted out aloud, “Tell us what we want to hear, not what you want to tell us,” during the fracas outside State House that afternoon, what was he signalling to his leader? What was it he wanted hear? And, what was it he was not interested in hearing from Granger? Was the man responding to his violent impulses? Did he feel morally obligated to do something after what he was continuously fed by Granger? Was he asking Granger to tell him to take to the streets to uproot the peaceful lives of law abiding
Guyanese and to terrorize and drive fear in the business community? Had the man lost faith in his leader in light of the constant lies and elections fatigue knowing that Granger had lost the elections but was not prepared to concede so that the nation could move on? Did the man go away feeling satisfied with what Granger told him about the ‘bad elements’ and that “we will continue to fight to make sure your votes are counted?” Did this make sense to the man whose common sense told him otherwise? In the current circumstances, Mr. Granger must recognize that a large body of his supporters has come to the realization that the coalition has lost the elections. Compounded by the excruciating conditions imposed on the nation as a result of COVID-19, the cabal of three plus seven must, hard as it might be, console themselves with the thought that conceding defeat might be a better option and a source of comfort because with it ‘comes a calm passage made across many a bad night.’ The longer the cabal of three plus seven refuses to concede, the longer we will stare into the abyss. And if we gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into us. Yours faithfully, Clement J. Rohee
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Trees which do not bend are normally uprooted in a storm DEAR EDITOR, It is time that Granger and his gang of blatant riggers come to full realization that the world will not tolerate the making of another dictator and despotic regime in Guyana. The days of Burnhamism effectively came to an end in October 1992 thanks to the Carter Center, the USA and other countries which stood to uphold democracy. The Carter Center in its report after the 1992 Elections had categorically stated that ‘for the first time in 28 years, all of the political parties of Guyana and the international observers agreed that the election was free and fair’. In the foreword of that report former President Jimmy Carter made a solemn promise to the people of Guyana. He concluded by stating that, ‘We, the members of the Council, consider ourselves privileged to have had a chance to help the people of Guyana find their path toward democracy, and we remain ready to be helpful as it moves down that path’. Unfortunately, the Carter Center was not allowed to conclude its observer mission when they were shamelessly blocked from entering the country despite numerous requests from the US, Canada, UK, UN and the OAS, among others. The COVID-19 was used by the desperate Coalition despite assurances that the Carter Center will comply with all the safety requirements but what is most ironic was the number one reason proffered by de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen
Cummings, for debarring the Carter Center. Cummings had identified CARICOM as ‘the most legitimate interlocutors in the Guyana situation…and that Guyana…is confident in the legitimacy, credibility and competence of the CARICOM Team to perform its task’. She was adamant that these legitimate reasons must be respected. As was played out later this was just a deceitful ploy to get rid of the Carter Center. They felt that without the Center they could rig the Elections with impunity, since Granger underestimated CARICOM’s commitment to a fair and credible election. After the recount, the Coalition began a barefaced and flagrant attack on the ‘most legitimate interlocutor’. The CARCOM High Level Team had dared to pronounce that the 2020 Election was free, fair and credible and that the recount figures reflected the will of the people of Guyana which showed a victory and overall majority for the PPP/C by over 15,000 votes. This was not in the favour of the Coalition and they singled out Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, for harsh personal attacks. CARICOM thus ceased to be the ‘legitimate interlocutor’. I am sure that CARICOM will support any measures imposed to stop these attempts to rig by the Coalition. Heedless of the agonizing cries of the Guyanese people for justice and ignoring the severe and clear warnings of
the US, UK, Canada, the EU and other countries including many local and international organizations, the Coalition went full steam ahead and intensified its efforts to rig the elections after the RECOUNT using the courts and the GECOM’s CEO who produced a potpourri of fraudulent reports. The latest court circus to block the declaration based on the recount figures will not fool anyone anymore, since the CCJ had ruled definitively that ‘Unless and until an election court decides otherwise the votes already counted by the recount
process as valid votes are incapable of being declared invalid by any person or authority’. The international community cannot be hoodwinked and passively stand by and believe the Granger cabal about there being no Executive interference in GECOM’s CEO many attempts to declare the Coalition as the winner. Granger’s hooliganism is now universal knowledge. The CEO and the REO for Region 4 have worked tirelessly to hijack the results of the 2020 Elections on behalf of the Coalition. By what stretch of
imagination can Granger exhort the world to believe him? After months of agony, Guyanese have felt safe once again that the US has led the fight for democracy in Guyana, giving life to the promise made by former President Carter in the aftermath of the 1992 Elections. We do hope that the UK, Canada, EU and CARICOM will follow by making tangible sanction against those who have been undermining our democracy. Revocation of visas must be followed by the freezing of
assets. Granger should listen to the ‘benefits’ of sanctions which he outlined in his speech as Opposition Leader in 2015 and learn a lesson. He highlighted that they are necessary to change a Government’s undemocratic behaviour so why is he upset now that his advice has been taken? Joseph Harmon needs to understand that trees which do not bend are normally uprooted in a storm. That storm is coming! Granger and his cabal will be uprooted! Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf
There is heartbreak already; there will be crying in this land DEAR EDITOR, I continue to observe our elections and confess to being awed. There is so much that is so smooth and slick, as we craft and then come up with one creation after another that tilts into a world of fictional fantasies. This is what is insisted, must be accepted as real, as the real truths of matters that help us to recognize the lies and the lying liars who tell them, who make cartoonish caricatures of them, and mockery of us all. If this were jazz, I would laud the improvisations that surpass the cool genius of Miles Davis, that would shrivel him to crescendos of muteness. But this is not jazz, it is the blues of Guyanese elections. There is heartbreak already; there will be crying in this land. Our music sheets register notes and scales that soar with sourness and rancidness. Those archetypical musical sheets are our elections papers waved before the High Court by maestros lacking clothing, lacking authenticity, lacking integrity and one shred of credibility. It is the rhapsody
of coalition’s imbecilic frivolities and unscrupulous ingenuities. Might have been the sublime if it was innovative music. But this is not music, but about a nation and its governance future, a set of diverse peoples and their individual and collective destinies. Senior judges are trained by time and experience to recognize the execrably heinous nature of man in high criminal affairs. But even this from the realm of the electoral has to bring shrinking from the Chief Justice (ag). It is advocating the featherbrained and is most demeaning to coalition leadership. The opposition simply has to sit back and allow coalition leaders and defenders to self-destruct. At the higher level of the CCJ, the jurists uttered such studied insults that any civilized and educated figure would be determined to never get there again. At least, that would be the reaction of any legal agent of even the dimmest luminosity. Instead, another bite of the judicial apple is essayed in the hope
of getting lucky, of finding favourable reception. Somebody has got to be kidding. Not me! but themselves and a whole lot of gullible and trusting people. The other day, I left the vicinity of the cathedral and travelled with the first available taxi. As is my custom, and in an effort to get a sounding from the ground, I engaged. The driver was a mature man without any trace of an accent, who spoke in the tempered tones of civilized discourse. In response to my question of how he was doing, I received a live stream of the educational in a calm and lengthy delivery. His words were: I am looking on at what is our version of the Academy Awards, the Grammy Awards, the Cannes Film Festival, Woodstock, and the Nobel Prize. Those are the highpoints of what I can remember, which he did begin with our own Order of Excellence. In other words, what this ordinary working citizen was articulating is the sum of the state of our national existence. What we have here is one marvelous acting job after the other, in costumed staged performances on the world’s
stage. The reception is not even lukewarm or cool; it is critical. I have read of a “long running soap opera” and to that I add that it comes from singing a song of sixpence. Talk about political machinations and legal imaginations. Whatever happened to being honest with clients, no matter how well rewarding the result, and telling them the finality embedded in the simplest of truths. They don’t have a case. I close with the United States. At the height of its political pyramid, there is a virtuoso, who gets rid of those who do not endorse his ‘nancy stories’. He is the sole standing expert on things as far apart as climate change, and now COVID-19. He had used a vile expletive to describe a CARICOM member. Should have been Guyana. Power intoxicates and corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is what is before us right here right now. It is of men who make morons of themselves and seek to do the same with me and you, too. Sincerely, GHK Lall
Kaieteur News
Saturday July 18, 2020
PAGE 07
“Do you want to be remembered as a Statesman or Rogue President?” By Shikema Dey
W
ith heavy sanctions casting a dark shadow on Guyana's future, two former United States government officials have stated that incumbent President David has a clear chance to be remembered in history as a “Statesman” if he concedes to his loss or crumble or as “Rogue President”. The officials, Deborah Misir, former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Policy, US Department of Labour and Douglas Meurs, former Political Advisor and Director for Somalia in the Office of the Secretary of Defense appeared on Kaieteur Radio's Room592 and posed the question to the incumbent after the US, United Kingdom and Canada signaled the commencement of sanctions
- Former US Govt. officials to Granger on top coalition officials, who had a hand in rigging the March 2, 2020 Elections. So far, the US has announced visa restrictions but these sanctions could become harsher as Guyana's electoral stalemate continues. According to Misir, those sanctions will be “warranted” due to the process being dragged out four months after Guyanese went to the polls. “What is happening is ridiculous,” Misir added, “when you factor in the constant delays, frivolous litigations brought by officials in the A Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition and Guyana's apex court, the Caribbean Court of Justice
(CCJ) speaking in support of the will of the electorate.” “Do you want to be remembered as a Statesman or a Rouge President? You have that choice to be remembered respectfully and in history,” the former bureaucrat said. S a n c t i o n s o n government officials should come as no surprise to the coalition, Misir said, considering that they too supported heavy sanctions on Venezuela, and had called for then People's Progressive Party (PPP) government in 2015 following then President Donald Ramotar's prolonged prorogation of Parliament. What was remarkable was the alacrity at which the sanctions were imposed,
Incumbent President David Granger
Douglas Meurs, former Political Advisor and Director for Somalia in the Office of the Secretary of Defense according to Douglas Meurs, former Political Advisor,
Deborah Misir, former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Policy, US Department of Labour noting the speed and coordination by the US, UK
and Canada. Granger, Meurs added, needs to realize that this represents an almost global consensus including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of American States (OAS) who are (continued on page 8)
Finance Ministry says will come clean on external COVID-19 funding 'in due course' By Shivanie Rampersaud
W
hile over the past five months the Guyana Government has made several approaches to the international community for COVID-19 Relief Funding, to date the citizens are still unaware of the status of these requests and the expenditures of the monies received. Kaieteur News requested an update from the Ministry of Finance on all request proposals, including a list of the institutions approached, an account of the monies received, along with a breakdown of the
expenditure, but was unable to receive the information requested. Instead, the Ministry's Public Relation Officer (PRO), Wanita Huburn responded saying that, “the Ministry of Finance continues to work assiduously with donors.” In March, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan during an interview with the National Communications Network (NCN) had said “We have already sent a request to the World Bank to access funding under their (the bank) Rapid Response Facility and we know the request is being considered…I got a letter confirming that the request is being processed, so we are
hoping that we can get access to the funds.” During the interview Jordan had also noted that the government was also “examining other options”, listing engagements with Islamic Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). He had added that while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had developed a COVID-19 relief financing mechanism, the government would not reach out to the IMF for funding, unless it was for a grant. In April, the Department of Public Information (DPI) had reported that Prime
Foulis man sentenced to two years for armed robbery against pensioner
S
eelall also called “Papo” was sentenced to two years in prison for armed robbery yesterday at the Vigilance Magistrate Court. According to the charge, on Monday, July 13, the 47year-old resident of Lot 19 Foulis Housing Scheme East Coast Demerara, robbed a
man of a gold bangle valued at $80,000 GYD. The victim is a 61-year-old Mahadia Arjune, a resident of Lot 528 Foulis Housing Scheme, where the incident occurred. Seelall was arrested the following day, charged by a police constable, and he later appeared at the Vigilance Magistrates' Court in front of
Magistrate Ms. Rushell Liverpool where the charge was read to him. The man pleaded guilty in violation of the Criminal Law Offences Act under Chapter 8:01 and was subsequently sentenced to two years in prison. Seelal is said to be a farmer and with no known prior felonies.
Minister Rubberstamp Nagamootoo had “related t h a t F i n a n ce Minister Wi n s t o n J o r d a n h a d approached a number of institutions, some of which are in the process of 'dealing with the request for assistance'”. The Prime Minister had also stated that Guyana is pursuing assistance from India through the Indian Grant to Caribbean Countries. Since then, of the US $5M requested in March from the World Bank's dedicated COVID-19 Fast Track Facility, only US $1M was approved. It is still unknown whether the full sum granted was received and expended and, if it was, what it was expended on. On April 2, the first group of projects using the Facility, amounting to US$1.9 billion and assisting 25 countries, was rolled out. As of July 17th the Bank's listed beneficiaries under this project in Latin America and the Caribbean are Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Paraguay, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay. Guyana is not listed. Most of the countries listed have received US $20M each,
while Argentina received US $35M emergency loan funding. Also in April, the United States released GD$100 million (US $475,000) to help address Guyana's priority areas including laboratory diagnostics and systems strengthening and supplies, surveillance, infection prevention & control, and emergency operation centres. The funds were part of a US$3,000,000 allocation to support the current COVID-19 Response in the Region through the Regional Caribbean Office of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Further, the Indian Grant to Caribbean Countries is the first such initiative to be undertaken by the Indian Government. According to an article published on September 26, 2019 in The Economic Times, “Modi announced a $ 14 million grant for community development projects in the CARICOM and another 150 million Line of Credit for solar, renewable energy and climate- change related projects.” This announcement was made on the sidelines of the United
Nations General Assembly. Present at the meeting was Heads of Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Vice President of Suriname, and Foreign Ministers of Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Haiti and Guyana. It is unclear whether any of these countries have since accessed these funds. To date the IMF has provided a total of US $50,907 million to Guyana's Caribbean partners including Dominica, Barbados, Chile, Columbia and Jamaica under its Emergency Funding Initiative. While Jordan had said in March that he would not approach the IMF, it is unclear whether this position has changed. T o d a t e , n o comprehensive information on external financial support for COVID-19 has been released by the government of Guyana. Ms. Huburn in her response to Kaieteur News's request also stated that “we will provide a progress report in due course.”
Saturday July 18, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 08
State of Roraima, Brazil UK announces “consequences” recognises President for undemocratic Elect “Irfaan Ali” Guyana Govt. - GAP's Allicock says statement uninformed, premature
W
hile the State Government of Roraima, Brazil has in a statement expressed serious concerns about the developments of Guyana's 2020 electoral process, particularly in light of the fact that the “democratically elected candidate, Dr. Irfaan Ali” has not yet been so declared by the Guyana Elections Commission, the Guyana Action Party (GAP)'s Sydney Allicock has called the statement premature and uninformed. O n T h u r s d a y, t h e government of Roraima took the opportunity to throw its support behind the Caribbean Court of Justice, the Organisation of American States (OAS), the European Union, the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Canada, in calling for the will of the people to be respected. The recognition of Ali as the President-Elect in Guyana's March 2 polls, finds its grounds in the transparent count of the national vote recount, which found that the PPP/C, of which Ali is presidential candidate, gained 233,336 votes in the general election, 15,416 votes ahead of the second highest vote gained by the governing coalition, APNU+AFC. Subsequently, international observers condemned Lowenfield's false report and are mobilizing to take action. The statement from Roraima came one day after the government of Brazil also urged a resolution to the impasse and expressed support for the recount results. Roraima is the one Brazilian state that shares a border with Guyana and, as a result, benefits from a fruitful economic relationship with the Lethem community.
Leader of Guyana Action Party (GAP), Sydney Allicock The Guyana Action Party, one of the smaller players in A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), was founded two decades ago by Paul Hardy, a Guyanese businessman who lived and operated between Lethem, Region Nine, Guyana and Brazil – Roraima shares a border, defined by the Takutu River, with Region Nine. Allicock, de facto Second VicePresident and Minister of Indigenous Affairs in the Granger administration, told Kaieteur News last night that the statement from the Roraima Government is not as informed as it should be about the Guyana situation. He explained that he thinks such a statement, at this time, amounts to interference in the matters of a sovereign state, and that as an elections-related matter is currently in the High Court, all should be respectful and wait on its conclusion. As for Roraima, Allicock said that the Government would be better off throwing its energies behind addressing the needs of the indigenous people there, and handling the COVID-19 situation it is currently struggling with. Allicock
expressed worry that there has been a “general attack” from the international community, which is putting a lot of pressure on the Guyana government from all angles. “There is no killing or situation of emergency here,” he argued, adding that any pronouncement from a foreign state on Guyana's electoral situation should wait until after a final elections declaration is made. This is not the first time the state of Roraima State's leadership had found itself the subject of accusations of foreign interference. Weeks before the 2011 general elections in Guyana, in the wake of then Governor José de Anchieta Júnior appearing onstage at a PPP/C campaign rally in Lethem, the Alliance For Change (AFC) had called on the Roraima government to apologise to the people of Guyana, arguing that it was
F
Roraima State Governor, Antonio Denarium bad protocol for one state to openly seek to influence the politics of another. The PPP/C in response had said that the Governor merely used the platform to bring greetings from the neighbouring state to the residents of Region Nine, but the Government Information Agency (GINA) had reported then Governor lauding the leadership of former President Bharrat Jagdeo. Anchieta Júnior's party, Brazilian Social Democracy party, has since been voted out of Roraima state government, and was replaced by Denarium's Social Liberal party.
ollowing the imposition of sanctions on Guyana government officials from the United States on Wednesday, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, Dominic Raab, has announced that the country will not hesitate to inflict “consequences” for an undemocratic Guyana government. Raab, in a statement to the press yesterday, made highlight of the electoral impasse which has gripped the country for over four months. No electorate should have to wait that long for a final declaration of election results, the Foreign Secretary said, while adding that the UK is disappointed by the ongoing attempts to “frustrate the will of the people.” He also highlighted that the high-level team from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) had scrutinized the concluded national recount, thereby clearing the way to declare a legitimate result. “That,”
UK Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab Raab said, “should now happen.” It is against this that the Foreign Secretary went on to warn that any government sworn in on the basis of noncredible results will face “strong international condemnation and consequences”, noting that the UK has started the process of putting those consequences in place.
“Do you want to be remembered as a Statesman or Rogue President?” From page 7 rejecting the Granger administration's “pseudo legalistic tactics”, hiding behind “dubious interpretations of the Constitution”, and endlessly using the courts to stay in power and avoiding the recognition of the results of the March 2 Elections. “After four months, they know that the new government should be in power and the will of the people respected,” he said. Meurs stated that a lot of effort has gone into the coordinated efforts of sanctions, citing that the US government is not working alone and that it is not an isolated gesture that “should be shrugged off”. Visa sanctions and more
The question was posed to both US officials, of what other sanctions Guyana could face and answers given were grim. The country already runs the risk of being thrown out of CARICOM and the Commonwealth for failure to adhere to Civil Society Carters and Treaties that include the conduct of free and fair elections. If Granger refuses to heed to the calls for him to concede and demit office, visa sanctions would be the least of the country's worries. Meurs explained that, “Sanctions begin with targeting individuals because you want to inflict pain on the ring leaders and then it trickles down to the citizens who will face the
brunt of it.” The process, he said, has already started with visa restrictions, but immigration laws can also become strict for Guyana with officials running the risk of being placed on the US no-fly list and the terrorist watch list. “The Coalition officials have family members living abroad, holding green cards, and that can be revoked,” he added. Notwithstanding that, financial sanctions can be heavy for Guyana. “Assets will be frozen,” Meurs said “you will be blacklisted; persons will not want to work with you. They will not want the scrutiny of the US, UK, Canada and others on their financial affairs looking for illegal
assets, drug trafficking, transfer of state assets and the works. Sanctions can include a cut in foreign assistance, export import limitations, cut funding from World Bank.” These are things, he noted, that President Granger needs to be aware of because “they do not want what is going to come down on them”. Using Venezuela as an example, Meurs said that more than 700 officials from across 150 entities will face sanctions this month in Guyana's South American neighbour. “The reach of the US is far and strong and rightful because they want the will of the Guyanese people to be respected,” he concluded.
Kaieteur News
Saturday July 18, 2020
PAGE 09
The new normal is being treated as abnormal Y
ears ago, there w a s a government employee who was known to be an early bird. She turned up for work before all the other employees. It was later discovered that the reason why she came in early was because she would use the government telephone to check on her parents who lived in the countryside. She would call them every day to see how they were getting along. She made these daily out-of-town calls on her office telephone because she did not wish to incur the cost on her personal landline at home. When her employer eventually let her go, the savings from her office phone were significant. If she had to work from home, she would not have been able to rack up so many calls. The government has had enough time to assess the costs, benefits, advantages and disadvantages of remote working – that is working from home. It is now clear that the government has not undertaken such an analysis or, if it did, it has failed to incorporate the findings of such analysis into its decision making. The government has announced a return to work, on rotation for non-essential workers in the private and public sectors. The country has been running at quarter speed for the past four and one half months. Some workers, in both the public and private sector, have been forced or were asked to work remotely in light of the
COVID-19 pandemic. They have now been given the all clear to go back to work. The government, however, seems to have been oblivious to the new employment reality occasioned by the COVID19 pandemic. The world has changed and some changes will become permanent. Among those changes which will become part of the new normal is remote working, or working from home. The International Labour Organization estimates that as much as 260 million workers or almost 8% of the global workforce were already working from home prior to the pandemic. The pandemic has resulted in a drastic increase in remote work with as many as 42% of Americans working from home and another 33% not working. Working from home has economic, environmental, labour and personal benefits. A study undertaken by the Centre for Economics and Business Research and a software company, Citrix, estimated that flexible work would result in more than US$2 trillion in economic gains as well as impact positively on unemployment. The environmental benefits have also been significant. Remote working has reduced fossil fuel emissions and can potentially impact on traffic congestion. Studies have also found benefits for employers. Long before the pandemic, employers had begun to recognize the benefits of working from
home. Remote work saves on office space and overheads – telephone, electricity and janitorial costs. It has been found to reduce absenteeism and increase productivity without any reduction in quality. Employers also benefit from reduced recruitment costs since there are lower rates of attrition. Wo r k e r s w h o w e r e engaged in remote work enjoyed savings from not having to commute to and from work. In terms of worklife balance, some workers reported improvements while others did not. But most favoured the flexibility of working from home. U n f o r t u n a t e l y, t h e government of Guyana is stuck in orthodoxy. Its phase 3 directives makes no accommodation for persons working from home. The government instead opts for a system of rotation. The government appears oblivious to the new normal which has emerged as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic. Increased remote working is part of that new normal. In other parts of the world, the reopening of economies has led to a spike in coronavirus infections. There is no reason to disbelieve that the same will not happen in Guyana. In fact, the most recent local spike has occurred during a period when the people and businesses decided that they had no choice but to reopen. In circumstances where the economy has to be reopened, the least the
Dem boys seh...
Big men buss cry at de airport
D
em boys hear was one big scene at the airport when de media man and he big-shot friend, Mr. Kee-Bay tun up at de airport fuh go to America yesterday. De media man and he friend, Mr. Kee-Bay, each walk with 2 suitcases. Dem go up to de checkin counter and hand in dem documents. De check-in clerk ask de media man how much suitcase he gat fuh check in. He seh two. She ask him if he
pack it he self. He answer yes and said dat de 2 suitcases only gat bangamary, snapper and gillbacker wha he carrying fuh he family in de farrin. De girl go pun she computer and start type in dem two passport numbers. Den she tun to he and seh: “Mr. Awis, gillbacker is not allowed in America… and neither is you.” She then turn to him big-shot friend, Mr. KeeBay, and said: “Sir, you too have been denied entry into
the United States of America.” Dem boys hear dat there was a long pause. And den was sheer screaming and crying tekkin place. De man wha deh behind Eve was de fuss wan crying, while Mr Kee-Bay pick up he phone fuh call Lil Joe fuh see wha could be done. But when Lil Joe answer de phone he too bin crying. Talk half and nah ask dem boys wha happen to de gillbacker!
government can do is to try to protect the most vulnerable. In Italy and Spain, older workers and those with underlying conditions were allowed to stay away longer than younger workers. This was part of the strategy to minimize risks. The majority of public sector workers do not interface with the public. And therefore the majority of them could have been
asked to work from home. This would reduce the risk of infection. It would have also allowed for improved expenditure management, at a time when savings are desperately needed. Its costs taxpayers more than G$500M per day just to keep the public bureaucracy going. The new normal – working from home – could have led to considerable
savings, monies which could have been diverted to fight the pandemic and provide relief to those affected by it. But don't tell that to the COVID-19 Task Force. They are stuck in the old ways of doing things. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Kaieteur News
PAGE 10
Saturday July 18, 2020
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Coffee from rice: Goodbye forever, Osaze O
saze, one of the greatest foot soldiers of the WPA from the Walter Rodney era is gone. He died on Wednesday. I didn't know until I read a letter about his death in the newspapers. One of the reasons, I came to intensely dislike the WPA leadership after the fall of the PNC dictatorship with the rebirth of free and fair elections in 1992 is how they treated these working-class comrades who formed such an important fulcrum of the WPA's street activism. My dislike grew intensely after 2015 when the WPA formed part of the government. I grew up with Osaze in Wortmanville. He lived one block from me on D'Urban Street. I spent most
of my time in the WPA grounding with these working-class stalwarts. Most of them that I knew died in poverty after 2015. Not one of the WPA middle class leaders cared about them. There was Mobutu. He came regularly to visit me and had no one to give him even a penny. I remember one day, he came to my home and asked what I can do to facilitate an early date for surgery since he was in pain and the only date the Georgetown Hospital could give him was two months away. I contacted the CEO of the hospital, Michael Khan, and he received surgery two days after. Mobutu died penniless. I did what I could have done but I was never a moneyed
person. Mobutu's neighbours in Friendship beat him up badly and permanently mangled his right palm. The police did nothing because the police in that village knew the perpetrators. Mobutu complained to me hundreds of times for justice and I would say why not seek the assistance of Clive (Thomas) or Rupert (Roopnaraine) and he would just say; deh ain't gat time for people like me.” He was right. There was Todd when the infamous Desmond Trotman, of GECOM notoriety and the infamous Tacuma Ogunseye and I were looking for his funeral; we were directed to his home. This stalwart of the Walter Rodney era lived in a little hut unbecoming of a great revolutionary soldier.
There were so many of them that fought to protect the depraved, middle-class bohemian pseudo revolutionaries of the WPA; they were just cast into the wilderness. I saw many of these youthful cadres endured violence from the PNC thugs and House of Israel goons and look how they ended up today. None of the WPA elitist cabal that survived the Rodney era ever looked back at them. I acknowledge the role of Rupert Roopnaraine in providing a shelter for Osaze for decades now. But that was because of personal attachment not of ideological convictions. Of these working-class cadres of the WPA, I spent an inordinate amount of time with Mobutu and Osaze but particularly Osaze because we lived a block away from each other. There is one incident I always remember about Osaze that I will never ever forget because it forms part of my memory bank of
the seventies and the great Walter Rodney. One night after a WPA meeting, Osaze and I left to go to a place he was staying in West Ruimveldt. It was a smelly bottom house outfit. On a “fireside”, he put on a pot of coffee. After it was finished and I took the first taste, I spat it out right away shouting, “wuh de rass is duh?” Osaze boiled a pot of burnt rice, and called that brew, ground coffee. This is one of the memories of my Walter Rodney days I will always remember. Of all of these youthful cadres, my wife liked Osaze because she found him to be extremely funny. Osaze would tell you the stalest joke and would laugh loudly at his own joke. I would say Osaze is one of the few humans I met in this life that I never saw got annoyed. Looking back at those days, I knew in my soul and psyche that in the company of Todd, Osaze, Mobutu was
Frederick Kissoon where I belonged. Shortly after the coffee fiasco, I got married in 1978 and left to study in Canada. I kept in touch with most of them and renewed our camaraderie after I returned in 1984. By then I was a family man and working as an academic at UG so we saw less and less of each other. I remember when Mobutu died, his wife came to Kaieteur News looking for me to assist in any way I could. It was a heart-breaking moment for me because I knew what he did for the WPA way back in the Walter Rodney era. I guess, the poor will always suffer. Goodbye Osaze! (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Saturday July 18, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Saturday July 18, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 12
Baseline survey completed for Stabroek Block development areas - ExxonMobil's Deedra Moe By Kiana Wilburg
O
cean Infinity, an American marine robotics company, has successfully a baseline survey project for the ExxonMobil operated Stabroek Block. Kaieteur News understands that the project involved acquiring high-resolution geophysical and geotechnical data through the simultaneous deployment of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) in water depths of between 70m and 2150m over an area of approximately 3,100 square km. In a press release, the robotics company said that the approach of autonomous operations at scale ensured that the data was gathered at an industry-leading pace and with a significant reduction in environmental impacts
compared to conventional survey methods. In providing a bit more colour on the project, ExxonMobil's Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs, Deedra Moe, said that the baseline survey work was for the Stabroek Block's development areas which include the Liza field and the Payara project for which it is awaiting government approvals. Moe concurred that the baseline survey is done to ensure subsea infrastructure that would be installed is done in a cost effective manner with minimum disruption to the environment while adding that it is beneficial for all activities, including exploration, appraisal and development drilling. According to documents lodged at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), oil production from the Liza Phase Two Development is expected to last at least 20 years. ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) will drill approximately 35-40 wells offshore to support extraction of the oil from below the sea floor. Each well will be drilled to a depth which is over 5,000 metres (m) below the sea floor. EEPGL will then install some of the oil production facilities on the sea floor at approximately 1500-1900 m (4900-6200 ft.) water depth. These subsea facilities include various types of pipes and hardware. The subsea facilities allow the oil from the wells to be gathered and moved to the surface of
the ocean for further processing. Kaieteur News understands that EEPGL will also install other oil production facilities on a vessel, which floats on the surface of the ocean. The vessel is called a Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO). The FPSO, which has been given the name Liza Unity, will be moored on location in approximately 1,600 m (5250 ft.) of water depth and will remain on location throughout the life of the facility. The FPSO will have the capacity to produce approximately 190,000 to 220,000 barrels of oil per day. During the early stage of production operations, the FPSO is anticipated to
produce an average of approximately 5,700,000 to 6,600,000 barrels of crude oil per month. At peak, EPA documents note, EEPGL will utilize approximately 1,200 personnel offshore during the stage where the wells are being drilled and the offshore oil production facilities are being installed. Kaieteur News understands that this number will decrease to less than 200 personnel during the production operations phase. A smaller number of personnel will then be utilized at the onshore support facilities. With respect to Payara, oil production is also expected to last at least 20 years. The FPSO that will be supporting production will be called Prosperity and will have the capacity to produce up to approximately 180,000 to 220,000 barrels of oil per day. The project is expected to employ up to 600 persons during development well drilling, approximately 600 persons at the peak of the installation stage, and up to about 140 persons during production operations. Due to delays in government approval, the Payara project is expected to come on stream by 2026, a year later than was projected by the operator and its partners.
Kaieteur News
Saturday July 18, 2020
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OAS 35-state Permanent Council meets Tuesday on Guyana situation T
he Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States (OAS) meets virtually on Tuesday, July 21 to discuss the electoral situation in Guyana. The meeting was requested by OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro as Guyana's governing APNU+AFC coalition, its appointed electoral Commissioners, and the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield continued to work towards frustrating the declaration of the recount results. The coalition has since endorsed the use of fraudulent figures as the basis on which a final declaration is be made. The Permanent Council is one of the two main political bodies of the OAS, alongside the General Assembly, responsible for watching over the maintenance of friendly relations among the member
A 2019 meeting of the OAS Permanent Council, during which Guyana voted not to recognise the legitimacy of the Venezuelan Maduro regime, due to non-credible elections
OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro states, and assisting them in the peaceful settlement of their disputes. Honduras currently holds the Chairmanship of the Permanent Council, with i t s P e r m a n e n t Representative, Luis Fernando Cordero Montoya, serving in the post. The Permanent Council has far
reaching powers, which could see the powerful 35state union passing resolutions to condemn wayward states or even to proclaim a government sworn in on fraudulent results as illegitimate. The OAS had fielded an
electoral observer team to Guyana's elections and the national recount, and is in support of the recount results being used as the basis on which a declaration is made. It has stressed that this is the only acceptable resolution to the electoral impasse.
This became evident in a recent statement: “Let us be very clear – the only democratic solution for Guyana at this time is respect for the results of the national recount. No other figures – neither those prepared prior to the recount, nor those
recently invalidated by the Caribbean Court of Justice, nor any others that may be unilaterally devised by the Chief Elections Officer – can have any place in the final determination of results. A new electoral process is also (continued on page 18)
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Saturday July 18, 2020
Kaieteur News
Stop abusing everyone who dares to suggest that you lost the election I
n what he dubbed a final appeal to the A P N U + A F C government, former Business Minister and AFC Executive, Hans Dominic Gaskin last night called on the coalition to cease its attempts to rig Guyana's elections, and stop abusing everyone who suggests that it lost. The coalition has viciously attacked many who speak out against it, including CARICOM leaders who advocate for the region to maintain the highest democratic principles. “You are losing political ground,” Gaskin said. “You cannot win this battle. Find a way out today.” Gaskin, who is also the President's son-in-law, said
- Former Business Minister to APNU+AFC feel compelled, as the proud son of a black man, “toI comment on the future of Afro-Guyanese political the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gaskin warned. Noting that the leadership, in the context of the current situation. I major parties rely find it regrettable that the younger generation of heavily on raceAfro-Guyanese politicians, should they choose to voting to shore up their support further their political careers within APNU or the bases, Gaskin said AFC, will be saddled with the consequences of what t h a t i t i s has taken place over the last four months. This year, regrettable that the I have seen many bright shining young stars from y o u n g e r generation of all the political parties, and it is my sincere belief Afro-Guyanese that those in the APNU+AFC camp will pay the politicians “will heaviest price for what has occurred. be saddled with the consequences of what has taken “They only serve to it is very clear that the David Granger government has lost delay the inevitable and raise place over the last four its bid for re-election, and tensions among our people, months” should they choose t h a t “ n o f a n c y l e g a l while exacerbating the to join APNU or AFC. “I tend to shy away from adverse economic impact of maneuvers” can change that. race issues,” he stated, “because I believe that the process of enlightenment is an intergenerational one in which our actions speak louder than our words. Having said this, I feel compelled, as the proud son of a black man, to comment on the future of Afro-
Former Minister of Business and AFC Executive, Hans Dominic Gaskin
”
Incumbent President David Granger Guyanese political leadership, in the context of the current situation. I find it regrettable that the younger generation of AfroGuyanese politicians, should they choose to further their political careers within APNU or the AFC, will be saddled with the consequences of what has taken place over the last four
months. This year, I have seen many bright shining young stars from all the political parties, and it is my sincere belief that those in the APNU+AFC camp will pay the heaviest price for what has occurred. While I hope that this does not happen, I cannot ignore the PNC's prolonged stint in opposition post-1992.” At the time, Guyana had (continued on page 18)
Security guard arrested for shooting at unarmed fisherman
P
olice yesterday arrested a security guard and seized his weapon after he was seen, in a video posted on social media, discharging a live round at an unarmed fisherman. The confrontation took place at the Pritipaul Singh wharf located at McDoom, East Bank Demerara (EBD). In the video, the fisherman who was in a small boat tied to the wharf was seen exchanging harsh words with the security guard – Kaieteur News has been unable to find out the identity of either men. The fisherman speaking to him (the guard) appeared to have aggravated the situation. Things then escalated and the security guard began throwing an iron anchor attached to the end of a rope at the fisherman's boat, eventually hauling it in close to the wharf. When the fisherman was close enough, the guard let go of the rope, pulled a hand gun from his waist and fired a round at the fisherman.
Screen grab of the security shooting at the fisherman The unarmed fisherman avoided the bullet by taking shelter under the wharf. Sources told this publication that the security guard works at the wharf and is known for threatening
persons during disputes. He is currently held at the Brickdam Police Station where investigators are trying to ascertain what led to the confrontation between the two.
Kaieteur News
Saturday July 18, 2020
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Gary Best dangerous driving trial to commence on October 6th conducted on Best moments after the accident and it revealed that he was over the legal limit of alcohol which
Charged: Former Chief of Staff, Gary Best (front) and his attorney Nigel Hughes
F
our months after Former Chief of Staff, Gary Best, was charged for driving under the influence of alcohol and causing the death of national cyclist, Jude Bentley, his trial on the dangerous driving charge is set to commence on October 6, 2020. Best is out on $500,000, bail which was granted to him on his first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts. He was not required to plea to the indictable charge which stated that on February 8, 2020, at Clive Lloyd Drive, Georgetown, he drove motor vehicle PRR 8182 in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of Bentley. Best was also charged in the traffic court for driving under the influence of alcohol.
He denied the charge which stated that on February 8, 2020, at Clive Lloyd Drive, Georgetown, he drove motor vehicle PRR 8182 while his blood alcohol level was at .85 micrograms. Best was granted self-bail on that charge and released on his own recognizance. The PNCR Executive Member is being represented by attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes. On a previous hearing of the matter Hughes had told the court that his client has served his country for nearly 35 years. The lawyer went on to represent that Best also served as a presidential advisor, a member of the Legal Aid Clinic and is the recipient of a Medal of Service. Hughes also highlighted that his client is married and a father of one
Dead: National Cyclist, Jude Bentley who resides at 108 Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara with his family. Kaieteur News has reported that the accident occurred at around 5:00 am on February 8, 2020. Jude Bentley was struck by a black Land Cruiser which was being driven by Rear Admiral (ret'd) and Former Chief-of-Staff Gary Best. Reports indicate that Best and Bentley were heading in the eastern direction when the former slammed into the cyclist, taking down a utility pole located on a median at the same time. According to the facts of the charge, a breathalyzer test was
APA says Govt. can do better for Indigenous communities
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merindian P e o p l e ' s Association (APA) head Jean La Rose, has indicated that the government of Guyana can do a much better job and personal protective equipment (PPE) in terms of handling the current pandemic in indigenous communities, and that the absence of adequate relief in indigenous communities has led the organization to redirect over $29.5 million received from different partners to help in the fight against COVID-19. La Rose, in a video released on Wednesday, explained that several of the association's projects were placed on hold since the pandemic, including their land titling project, their tenure facility project and demarcation projects, all of which involved complementary input to ongoing government initiatives. With the advent of
- Redirects over $29.5M from their projects to fight COVID COVID-19 however, the high incidence of infection in indigenous communities, and the relative absence of government relief efforts, the APA's priority was shifted to providing relief in c o m m u n i t i e s a ff e c t e d . Permission was granted to use the funds raised for the on-hold projects to assist. The organization has since made significant donations to villages country-wide, including food hampers and sanitization products. La Rose stated that there is a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the community health centres so donations have been made towards PPE relief. In addition to food and essential supplies, APA has also been assisting in effective communication measures in hinterland communities to
spread awareness on the virus. Recently, for example, the APA donated fuel to power the health centre and radio stations in Orealla. She also mentioned receiving funds from the Nia Tero Organization to support sanitization and PPEs for Region 7 and 8. Funds were also received from the Amazon Emergency Fund which was set up swiftly after the outbreak of the virus in the indigenous communities of South America. Regions 7 and 8 also received donations out of that funding. La Rose said that the APA is trying to stretch these funds as much as they can to render help efficiently but the government needs to step up and pay more attention to these communities by providing basic but necessary assistance.
is .35. Best was asked to lodge his passport and to report to the Traffic Headquarters once per
month at 9am to the Officer-inCharge until the completion of the matter, as conditions attached to bail.
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Saturday July 18, 2020
Kaieteur News
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One Female cleaner. Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street Bourda Experienced Accounts Clerk. Must have passes in Maths & English. Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street Bourda LEGAL NOTICE 2020-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-131 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY , D I V O R C E A N D M AT R I M O N I A L JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. FD-131BETWEEN:(YOUNG)CORNELL RICHARD Petitioner -and(YOUNG) DONNA nee HAZEL Respondent TO: CORNELL RICHARD YOUNG (Last Known Address) Lot 71 Craig Public Road East Bank Demerara, Guyana TAKE NOTICE that on the 30th day of January, 2020 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by CORNELL RICHARD YOUNG, the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 11th day of March, 2020 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of his Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) Consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspapers,
LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE CONTD
LEGAL NOTICE 2 CONTD
a daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web (Online). AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorneyat-Law at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 28 (twenty-eight) days from the date of the Second and final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is re-fixed for Directions Hearing on Wednesday the 29th day of July , 2020 at 10:00am before the Honourable Madam Justice Damone Younge via Zoom Meeting ID: 722 9960 1793;Password:2RKaJQ at the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown. IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts (Georgetown, Demerara). The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed. Dated the 8th day of June, 2020
BETWEEN:- (MANGAL) AGNES nee ALGREE Petitioner -and- (MANGAL) SAHADEO Respondent TO: SAHADEO MANGAL (Last Known Address) Calle Zoilo 26 Centro, San Felix CD Guayana City, Venezuela. TAKE NOTICE that on the 21st day of November, 2019 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by AGNES MANGAL nee ALGREE, the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 26th day of June, 2020 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) Consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web (Online). AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 42 (Forty two) days from the date of the Second and final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is re-fixed for Directions Hearing on Tuesday the 8th day of September, 2020 at 10:00am before the Honourable Madam Justice Damone Younge in the Directions Hearing Room of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown. IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service /Notice of Intention to Defend Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts (Georgetown, Demerara). The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed. Dated the 7th day of July, 2020
LEGAL NOTICE 2 2020-HC-DEM-CIV-FD1419 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION
Cops implicated in death of taxi driver charged for manslaughter, attempts to obstruct justice Three police officers were charged today in the Suddie Magistrate Court in connection with the death of Lallbachand Bachand, a taxi driver who was found dead in the Suddie Police Station lockups last year. Two officers, Dwayne Braithwaite and Denzil Glasgow, were charged with the attempt to obstruct the court of justice while special lance corporal, Vanessa Milo, was charged with manslaughter. The trio appeared this morning in the Suddie Magistrate Court before Magistrate Esther Sam, who was connected via Whatsapp. None of the accused was asked to answer to the charges brought before them. The court heard that on Monday 1st July 2019 at Suddie, Braithwaite willfully attempted to obstruct the court of justice, by drafting a false Whatsapp message. The false message read that the deceased Bachand who was in custody of the Guyana Police Force at the Suddie Police Station, had no marks of violence or other injuries. This message was sent to senior ranks of the Guyana Police Force. The court also heard on Monday July 1st 2019, Glasgow, at Suddie, willfully attempted to obstruct the course of justice by dictating a statement for Jadon Baker, to write which was not the truth. Glasgow also wrote in his statement dated July 1st 2019, that he saw no marks of violence on the body of the now deceased. With regard to, Vanessa Milo, it is alleged that on or between 30th June 2019 and Monday 1st July 2019 at Suddie, she unlawfully killed Lallbachand Bachand. Braithwaite and Glasgow were both bailed in the sum of $50,000 each, \Milo was bailed in the sum of $400,000. The matters have been adjourned until August 7th 2020. LEGAL NOTICE 2 CONTD
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Kaieteur News
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Claudette Singh wants case thrown out, so she can declare results From page 3 in his view the case is a non starter since it relates to the validity of an election. “These are matters that must be dealt with in an elections Court, Milady, and Guyana's supreme law is clear such a petition can only be entertained after the declaration of an election,” Mendes explained Mendes noted too that the Representation of the People Act clearly states that the functions of the Commission cannot be questioned at this point. According to the lawyer, in the face of this uncontroverted evidence of botched figures, GECOM would be acting unlawfully and in violation of the electorate's constitutional right to vote and to representatives of their choice, if it gave effect to Clairmont Mingo's fraudulent declaration. “This Court would also be facilitating an illegality if it were to make any order which effectuates that declaration,” Mendes added. In light of the foregoing, Mendes stressed that it is clear the Chief Justice does not have jurisdiction. “In the event that madam assumes jurisdiction,” the lawyer noted “that act would
be unconstitutional.” A t t o r n e y, K a m a l Ramkarran in his representation of A New and United Guyana, (ANUG) also stressed on the point of the court's jurisdiction. He noted the proceedings concern decisions made by the Elections Commission or its members or decisions which are to be made by it or its members, arguing that the issue has been the subject of litigation recently. “In the recent litigation,” he said that “the Full Court determined that, in light of the clear and unambiguous provisions of section 140 of the RoP Act, Cap 1:03 together with section 3(1) of the National Assembly Validity of Elections Act, Cap 1:04, a challenge to the validity of decisions of members of the Elections Commission could only be made in an election petition.” Additionally, Ramkarran said that the Court of Appeal found, however, that section 1 4 0 w a s e ff e c t i v e i n excluding the Court's intervention in relation to functions that fall within the responsibilities of the Commission in its management of the election process. “The validity of those
acts would be matters to be dealt with under the exclusive jurisdiction reserved for election petitions,” he said. DISPUTE Ramkarran's contention was disputed by lead counsel for the applicant, John Jeremie. Jeremie held that the Court has jurisdiction to hear the matter. He claimed that the validity of the elections could be challenged at this point given that in his view Section 22 of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act --the mechanism by which the recount order is derived is unconstitutional. He likened the elections law to Humpty Dumpty – it was broken and cannot be amended. The lawyer based the substance of his arguments on Article 177(2) (b) of the constitution. He stressed that Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution states: “where there are two or more Presidential candidates, if more votes are cast in favour of the list in which a person is designated as Presidential candidate than in favour of any other list, that Presidential candidate shall be deemed to be elected as
President and shall be so declared by the Chairman of the Elections Commission acting only in accordance with the advice of the Chief Elections Officer, after such advice has been tendered to the Elections Commission at a duly summoned meeting.” Similarly Senior Counsel Neil Boston, Attorney for the Chief Elections Officer, argued that since Lowenfield, on March 13, presented a report of the declarations made in all ten regions, the GECOM chair must use that to declare the results and nothing else. “GECOM cannot, by subsidiary legislation, (Order 60, made for the recount) give itself the power to resolve election disputes that arise during the course of an election which said disputes the Constitution has placed in the exclusive jurisdiction of the Election Court,” Boston submitted to the court. He said, “Order 60 (the recount order) is unlawful and the results are invalid and no declaration from that recount can be made lawful…Order 60 is stillborn.” Further, Boston opposed the position that Section 22 is constitutional but Order 60 conflicts with Section 22.
Stop abusing everyone who dares... From page 14 had the first free and fair election in decades, which saw the PPP/C winning and retaining office until 2015 when it was defeated by a coalition of parties, the PNC being the largest. Gaskin is the most prominent member of the APNU+AFC coalition to have spoken out against the APNU+AFC's support of repeated attempts to rig the results of the elections in its favour. In the most recent attempt, the process has come just about full circle, back to the fraudulent declaration produced by condemned Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo on March 13. The APNU+AFC coalition has endorsed the use of that declaration as part of the basis on which a final declaration is made, in clear opposition to the legitimate results of the national vote recount, which shows that the PPP/C has won the elections. In endorsing the recount results as the accurate reflection of the will of the
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Kaieteur News
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people, Gaskin said that the coalition would have to explain clearly to its supporters why it has thrown its weight behind Mingo's “clumsy attempt to fraudulently alter the results” in its favour. He said “The coalition leadership needs to be honest with its supporters about the Mingo declaration, and answer the simple question – were Mingo's numbers accurate or not?” Its leaders have refused to acknowledge the fraud committed by Mingo, which led to the national recount. President Granger has, instead, falsely stated that “irregularities” as those alleged by the coalition during the national recount are what led to the national recount. In his post, Gaskin challenged the government to defend their support of those figures: “If they believe that Mingo's numbers were accurate, they need to explain clearly to their supporters: 1. Why the recount of the same ballots produced such a vastly different result; and
2. Why, up to now, neither they nor GECOM can provide a breakdown of the contentious Region 4 results; or better yet, copies of the corresponding Statements of Poll. The PPP was able to do so within forty-eight hours of the close of poll.” The media has repeatedly questioned officials representing the coalition about publishing its statements of poll, which it claims show it won the election. It has refused many times, with PNCR Executive Aubrey Norton telling reporters during the recount, that the coalition makes no apologies for keeping the statements of poll hidden from the public. Gaskin said that if the coalition finds Mingo's numbers to be accurate, then it must explain what possible cause could lead it to endorse a declaration based on those numbers. “While I empathize with many who do not wish to see the PPP return to power,” the AFC Executive added, “the harm that will certainly
ensue can never justify what is contemplated. Our political system may not be perfect, but trust in our electoral system is paramount.” Gaskin said that it is difficult to fathom how a country could be arguing over an election which was so smoothly conducted, four and a half months down the line. “The ballots were placed in sealed boxes, he said, “which in turn were stored in sealed containers, unboxed only during the recount process, and subsequently replaced. So the evidence remains intact. No amount of shifting narratives, specious arguments, contrived reports or court rulings can change the contents of those [2,339] ballot boxes, in which the net will of the people of this country is expressed.” Gaskin said that what the coalition should be focused on is ensuring that in 2025, the Guyanese electorate prefers an APNU+AFC government over the PPP/C, instead of trying to change what is already done.
Businessman arrested for contractor's execution
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suspect has b e e n apprehended in connection with the gunning d o w n o f c o n t r a c t o r, Kissoondath Premsukh, at one of his construction sites located on D'Urban Street, Georgetown. Kaieteur News learnt from a source that the suspect held is a businessman with whom Premsukh had some acquaintance, but they do not know what the exact relationship was between Premsukh and the suspect. It was confirmed that the deceased frequented the man's business place to imbibe alcohol with friends. Investigators did not reveal to this publication how they were able to link the businessman to the crime, but did say that he was cooperating with them. Nevertheless, information reaching this publication indicated that police were able to implicate the suspect by matching the spent shells found at the crime scene to a licensed firearm that was in his possession. Premsukh, the owner KP construction Services was shot and killed in the presence of one of his clients at his D'Urban Street construction site. Eyewitnesses had detailed that two men rode
EXECUTED: Kissoondath Premsukh up on a motorcycle, the pillion rider hopped off and approached Premsukh who was at the time conversing with his client and opened fire on him and fled. Premsukh fell to the ground. His workers and persons close by rushed him to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Doctors said that he had been shot five times, including a fatal gunshot to the head. The KP construction Boss was also attacked by gunmen just last month, and was reportedly shot twice in the leg. At the time of his demise police were still tracking down his attackers in the previous shooting incident.
OAS 35-state Permanent Council meets Tuesday... From page 13 an unacceptable solution.” In support of its stance, the OAS pointed to Article 1 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, which states that “The peoples of the Americas have a right to democracy and their governments have an obligation to promote and defend it.” It has been four and a half months since Guyanese cast their ballots; the OAS stated that “It is past time that the current leaders of Guyana comply with their d e m o c r a t i c responsibilities and allow the newly elected government to take its place.” The APNU+AFC Government has previously demonstrated its commitment to the InterAmerican Democratic
Charter; in 2019, Guyana joined 18 other nations in the hemisphere on the successful resolution at the OAS, condemning the Nicolas Maduro government in Venezuela as illegitimate. It also joined 12 other countries in the Lima Group on a similar resolution to declare the May, 2018 Venezuelan electoral process “lacked legitimacy” and that “we do not recognise the legitimacy of the new presidential term of Nicolas Maduro.” The hemisphere has piled sanctions on Venezuela, resulting in the country's economy suffering, while countries refuse to conduct business with it, prompting a refugee crisis that has seen millions of its citizens leaving to neighbouring nations, including Guyana.
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Honda rider Marquez fastest in tight Jerez MotoGP FP1 session Autosport - Marc Marquez topped the opening MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix practice from Jerez in a session in which the entire 22rider field was split by 1.380 seconds. The first practice session since November’s Valencia GP got off to a frenetic start, with top sport changing hands several times in quick succession. Pramac Ducati’s Jack Miller set the benchmark pace on his first lap at a 1m39.673s, which was quickly toppled by Wednesday’s test pacesetter Maverick Vinales on the factory Yamaha. Vinales’ 1m39.426s was traded for a 1m38.496s with Miller, which the Yamaha rider responded to with a 1m38.215s - a laptime matched by reigning world champion Marquez
Marc Marquez topped the opening MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix practice. The Honda rider’s followup lap was better than Vinales’, which moved him into top spot, before the Yamaha rider dipped underneath the 1m38s bracket with a 1m37.988s. After 10 minutes of
running, Miller had returned to the top of the standings with a 1m37.942s, which stood as the reference lap until the final five minutes. Marquez began to light up the timing screens again as the session neared its
Saturday July 18, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may be in an especially nurturing mood today, Aries. You might reach out to every living thing around you, from plants to pets to friends, children, and romantic partners. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Social responsibilities might appear to be hitting you all at once. Everyone you know seems to crave your company. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Important communications regarding finances could come today, and it might be fortuitous if you follow up on them right away. Once that's done, you'll probably want to relax and delve into whatever interests you the most. CANCER(June21–July22) Your sensual side is likely to show itself today. You might find yourself viewing young folks in tight jeans more appreciatively than you usually do. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Ingenious techniques for growing your money could come your way today. While you aren't one to jump into anything, you're certainly likely to give these ideas serious thought. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today you're likely to be in just the right place at the right time to meet the right person. You're overdue for a lucky break and probably not expecting it. You may start the day in a restless and frustrated state of mind
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You might wake up this morning, look in the mirror, and decide that you hate what you see even though you probably look fine. This is a good day to shop for new clothes or get a haircut. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today you could find yourself seeking selfknowledge through relationships, especially through assisting those you love. Someone is troubled and needs your help. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Do you have a romantic evening planned for tonight, Sagittarius? If so, it's likely to turn out to be all you'd hoped for. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You could feel restless and anxious to get out in the open for a while today, but mundane tasks could force you to postpone it. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) At some point during the day you might find yourself involved in a project that piques your interest far more than usual. You could throw yourself more deeply into it than is necessary now. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) At some point during the day you might find yourself involved in a project that piques your interest far more than usual. You could throw yourself more deeply into it than is necessary now.
Marquez fastest in tight Jerez FP1 session. conclusion, and duly registered a 1m37.350s to head the standings. Despite another frantic salvo of laps in the final minutes, Marquez’s time went unchallenged, with Vinales ending up second with a 1m37.374s. LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow leaped up to third late on ahead of Suzuki’s Joan Mir and Miller, with Alex Rins trailing him in seventh on the sister Suzuki. Pol Espargaro led a trio of KTMs in eighth spot, with Tech3 rookie Iker Lecuona impressively jumping up from last to ninth late on with a 1m37.714s lap just 0.002s outside of Espargaro’s. Fellow rookie Brad Binder rounded out the top 10 on the second works team KTM, edging out the Avintia Ducati of the returning Johann Zarco and Petronas SRT’s Franco Morbidelli. Valentino Rossi was almost eight tenths off the pace down in 13th on his factory Yamaha, with Aleix Espargaro top Aprilia runner in 15th in a low-key session for the Spaniard following a strong showing on
Wednesday. Alex Marquez’s first official practice session as a MotoGP rider ended in 16th on the works Honda, with Fabio Quartararo frustrated at the end of FP1 after finishing up 17th. Owing to a penalty for riding an illegal French Superbike Championship-
spec Yamaha R1 at Paul Ricard last month as part of some training, Quartararo was forced to miss the opening 20 minutes of FP1 as punishment. Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci was 21st as he struggled with a neck injury he picked up in his fast test crash on Wednesday.
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Faf du Plessis on racism in SA cricket: ‘All lives don’t matter until black lives matter’ ESPNcricinfo - Faf du Plessis, South Africa’s Test and T20I captain until February this year, has admitted to having “got it wrong before” as he, alongside Dwaine Pretorius, Rassie van der Dussen, Anrich Nortje and Marizanne Kapp, became the first members of the white Afrikaans cricket community in South Africa to publicly voice their support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, joining Lungi Ngidi and 32 former players and five current coaches of colour. “In the last couple of months I have realized that we must choose our battles,” du Plessis, who along with Pretorius has indicated he will take a knee during the 3TC exhibition game on July 18, wrote in an Instagram post yesterday. “We are surrounded by many injustices in our country that require urgent attention and action to fix them. If we wait only for the ones that attack us personally, we will always live for ‘my way vs your way’ and that way leads us nowhere. “So I’ve remained silent, with the intent to listen, but not respond. Slowing down
my point of view, but quicker to hear the pain of someone else. I knew that words would be lacking and that my understanding is not close to where it needs to be. “I surrender my opinions and take the knee as an intercessor. I acknowledge that South Africa is still hugely divided by racism and it is my personal responsibility to do my best to emphasize, hear the stories, learn and then be part of the solution with my thoughts, words and actions.” Du Plessis acknowledged that his comment earlier this year, in which he had said the team did not see colour when talking about Temba Bavuma being dropped from the Test team - was naïve. “I have gotten it wrong before. Good intentions were failed by a lack of perspective when I said on a platform that - I don’t see colour,” he said. “In my ignorance I silenced the struggles of others by placing my own view on it. “A race problem is a human race problem, if one part of the body hurts, we all stop, we empathize, we get perspective, we learn and then we tend to the hurting part of the body. So I am saying that all lives don’t
Conversation is the vehicle for change, Faf du Plessis wrote. (Getty Images) matter UNTIL black lives matter. I’m speaking up now, because if I wait to be perfect, I never will. I want to leave a legacy of empathy. The work needs to continue for the change to come and whether we agree or disagree, conversation is the vehicle for change.” Pretorius, who was talked out of a Kolpak deal to play for South Africa late last year, also said he would get behind the BLM movement as a way to start taking steps against racism. “I will be proudly supporting the BLM movement and I will be taking a knee on Saturday. I honestly and wholeheartedly believe
it’s the right thing to do. I also believe taking the knee is only the start,” he posted on Facebook. “To me the BLM movement stands for the most basic right all people across the world deserve and that is the right to not be judged or segmented because of his/her colour. But rather for WHO they are. It’s not a movement that says: Black lives are MORE important than any other colour. It’s my brother from another mother asking me please see me for WHO I am and don’t persecute me because of my skin colour. Give me the same benefit of the doubt you would given
someone with the same colour as you. Yes, the movement says ‘Black’ but I believe it’s relevant to any color and race. As a person and a Christian, I believe it’s my responsibility to strive, to treat every person I come across with the same respect and not judge them. We are all equal and loved the same way by God. There are no exceptions. “I would love to see my boy one day live in a world where colour has no judgement. It’s time to be the change you would like to see in the world. Talk is cheap and action is more powerful. The knee for me means it’s time to take action. #blacklivesmatter.” Whether van der Dussen will join the pair is not yet known but he was the first white South African cricketer to show his support when he replied to a tweet by journalist Max du Preez. In Afrikaans, van der Dussen said that he supported BLM and rejected the notion that standing with the movement indicated support for violence. It has been a fractious fortnight, which started when Ngidi indicated he would be in favour of his team-mates “making a stand” like many others around the world since the BLM movement picked up steam.
Ngidi faced a backlash from four former players Rudi Steyn, Pat Symcox, Boeta Dippenaar and Brian McMillan - who called on South African cricketers to also acknowledge murders of predominantly white farmers around the county. But Ngidi has since received a swell of support. His stance, along with Michael Holding and Ebony-Jewel RainfordBrent’s moving documentary aired on Sky Sports before the first Test between England and West Indies, also prompted several players to speak out about issues of racial discrimination. That culminated in a statement from 31 former players, including Makhaya Ntini, Vernon Philander, JP Duminy and Ashwell Prince, and five coaches. Hashim Amla issued an independent statement on Instagram the following day. CSA has since sent out two statements expressing its commitment to being part of the BLM campaign, with the board’s director of cricket Graeme Smith, saying last week that the players were mulling a fresh means of showing support during the 3TC event that may not include the BLM logo on shirts, because the kits had already been printed.
Sebastian Vettel fastest in Hungarian Grand Prix second practice
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel headed Valtteri Bottas’ Mercedes in a wet second practice session at the Hungarian Grand Prix. (Reuters) BBC Sport - Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel headed Valtteri Bottas’ Mercedes in a wet second practice session at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Vettel was 0.272 seconds faster than Bottas, while Lewis Hamilton in the other Mercedes did not set a lap time. McLaren’s Carlos Sainz was third fastest, ahead of the Racing Points of Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll. In the morning’s dry first session, Hamilton was fastest,
0.086seconds quicker than Bottas. Only 13 of the 20 drivers set times in the session. The fastest times were all set on ‘extreme’ wet tyres. Several drivers - including Vettel, Bottas and Sainz - tried the ‘intermediate’ tyres but were not able to go faster. The weather forecast is for intermittent rain for the rest of the weekend in Budapest. A number of drivers ran wide, but there were no major
incidents despite the difficult conditions. The day offered no significant clues as to the true competitive order around the Hungaroring this weekend. Red Bull, M e r c e d e s ’ closest challengers so far this season, were off the pace in the dry first session, but their chief engineer Paul Monaghan later admitted they were running with their Honda engine turned down compared to the Mercedes.
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in action during practice, following the resumption of F1 after the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (Mark Thompson/Pool via REUTERS) Red Bull were also running on different tyres from Mercedes in the first session, preferring to focus on the ‘soft’ tyre, which they found wore out too quickly. Mercedes technical director James Allison said
that he expected a challenge from Red Bull over the weekend. “It was a great first session,” said Hamilton. “Got everything we needed to do. It’s a shame it rained today. It didn’t leave a lot for us to do
in the second session. “Don’t take too much from the first session everyone is doing a different programme. But it was going OK. I think it will be a lot closer when we get to P3 and qualifying.”
Saturday July 18, 2020
‘I want to leave the sport better than I found it’ - Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce SportsMax - A burning desire to leave the sport in better shape than when she found it was the driving force behind Shelly-Ann FraserPryce’s decision to become a board member of the newly formalized The Athletics Association. The 33-year-old FraserPryce, who is at the back end of an illustrious career, won an unprecedented fourth World 100m title in Doha, Qatar in September 2019 to go along with a 200m title in 2013, and two Olympic 100m titles during a decade of dominance. However, she recognises that the inequities that exist within the struggling sport of track and field make life difficult for many of those who have not enjoyed a similar level of success. The Athletics Association will seek to address many of these issues as well as attempt to restore the sport to its former glory. “The objective of The Athletics Association is to provide Track and Field athletes with a meaningful voice, to fight for stronger athletes’ rights, and to seek an athletes-first approach to our sport,” the association said in a statement released today.
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Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce The statement said the Athletics Association aims to engage in positive dialogue with the sport’s governing body, World Athletics, and their own athletes’ commission, but will, of course, hold World Athletics to account when necessary and challenge them if they are not acting in the best interest of the athletes. It is a mandate that falls in line with the objectives of woman many consider to be the greatest-ever female sprinter. “Years ago, I resolved that I wanted to leave the sport better than I found it. It is the reason I created my Pocket Rocket Foundation to effect lasting change for studentathletes at the secondary level. Of course, to truly impact the sport requires an
international platform so when the opportunity to be a part of The Athletics Association presented itself, I jumped at the chance,” Fraser-Pryce told Sportsmax.TV Thursday shortly after the association released its statement. “Representation matters. It’s the only way for us athletes to have a voice. The 24-member strong team is a diverse one and knowing that the Caribbean region will have a seat at the table is encouraging.” Like the association’s founder and president, Christian Taylor, Fraser-Pryce believes some decisions made at the administrative level of track and field have only served to hurt athletes who are already struggling to put food on their tables while facing bleak financial futures. The association, she said, will work to address the problematic issues that she feels work against the key stakeholders, its athletes. “Competing is our livelihood, so issues that deny athletes the participation to earn a living will be addressed. An example of that is the IAAF’s decision to eliminate certain field events from the Diamond League
schedule,” she said. A number of Caribbean athletes - Fedrick Dacres, Anderson Pieters, Danielle Thomas Dodd and Shanieka Ricketts - are just some of the athletes negatively impacted by recent World Athletics decisions. “This has significantly impacted the earning power of the affected athletes and what I consider a disservice to them and the spirit of the athletic community. Years of training is invested in improving our performance in our respective sporting arenas so it’s crucial that we protect the culture of inclusion,” said Fraser-Pryce, who represents the sprints on the board. “To command change requires collaboration and this is exactly what The Athletes Association represents and why I did not hesitate to step up. We are all still actively competing and can readily identify the issues that need to be addressed. The Caribbean has always been at a disadvantage as it relates to sporting infrastructure and training limitations. So finally having the chance to be heard. This is a step in the right direction.”
‘Roach just unlucky’ Brathwaite backs pace bowler to get wickets soon SportsMax - Windies vice skipper, Kraigg Brathwaite, maintains fast bowler Kemar Roach has been unlucky not to etch his name in the wickets taken column so far in the England series. Roach was the undisputed star of the series, with the ball, when the West Indies defeated England 2-1 in the Caribbean last year. Figures of 5 for 17, 4 for 52, and 4 for 48 routinely found a place on the scorecard for the pace bowler. So far, in the current England series, Roach has caused a few uncomfortable moments for the England batsman but is yet to secure any kind of breakthrough. The bowler has nonetheless enjoyed good spells. In the
first innings of the first Test, despite not claiming a wicket, Roach conceded just 41 runs in 19 overs for an economy rate of 2.15. In the second, he went for 50 off 22 overs, an economy rate of 2.27. On both occasions, the bowler was second to only Windies captain Jason Holder, in terms of economy rate. In the second Test so far, Roach has bowled 20 overs with 5 maidens, while conceding 38 runs. Brathwaite, however, backs the player to make a breakthrough soon. “I think in the areas he bowled he was just a little bit unlucky (to not get a wicket). Once he keeps up that pressure, I’m sure he will get wickets…,” Brathwaite said.
Embattled former FIFA executive Jack Warner to run in upcoming T&T general elections
Britain unveils plans to let fans return to sports events LONDON (Reuters) Snooker, horse racing and cricket will be the first sports to bring back spectators in England in coming weeks, the British government announced yesterday, in a trial of plans aimed at reopening elite sports to fans more widely from Oct. 1. The government will allow spectators at carefully selected trial events from late July to early August to ‘stress test’ new guidelines on a return to some kind of sporting normality. The pilot events include the re-scheduled World Snooker championships in Sheffield, the Goodwood horse racing festival and two county cricket friendly fixtures, including one between Surrey and Middlesex at London’s Oval ground. Elite sport in Britain returned without fans last month after a near threemonth shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “For months millions of us have felt the void of being unable to go to the match to support our team or attend a top-class sporting event,” Sports Minister Nigel
Jack Warner
General view during the match England v West Indies - Emirates Old Trafford, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (Jon Super/Pool via REUTERS) Huddleston said. “So I am pleased that we are now able to move forward with a plan to help venues safely reopen their doors to fans.” The events were selected to represent a range of sports and indoor and outdoor spectator environments, the government said in a statement. “I recognise that not every sport, team or club has the benefit of huge commercial revenue, and it’s
often their dedicated fans that are the lifeblood which keep them going,” Huddleston said. Strict operating standards will have to be met before reopening to the public, including rules about ticketing, transportation, crowd management and enhanced hygiene measures. The government’s guidance initially applies to elite sport in England only; other parts of the United Kingdom have separate rules. Horse racing has seen
both the Grand National and Epsom Derby run behind closed doors this year. The return of fans to Goodwood will be a major boost for the sport. “It marks an important day for the sports industry following a few challenging months,” Adam Waterworth, Sport Managing Director at the Goodwood Estate, said. “The Goodwood team will ensure the racecourse adheres to Government guidelines on social distancing and hygiene.”
SportsMax - Jack Warner, the embattled former FIFA Vice President and Independent Liberal Party (ILP) political leader, announced Thursday night that he will be contesting the Trinidad and Tobago general election set for August 10. The ILP said the 77-yearold Warner will contest the Lopinot/Bon Air West seat. The controversial former football official, who is fighting extradition to the United States where he is expected to face corruption charges, is to host a media conference at 3 pm at his constituency office in Arouca today. Warner served as a Government Minister under the former People’s Partnership administration. He resigned as the Member
of Parliament for Chaguanas West in April 2013. Warner had been a member of the FIFA Executive Committee since 1983 and CONCACAF President since 1990. He was re-elected for a new term in 2011. However, he was implicated in numerous corruption allegations dating back to the 1980s. In May 2011, Warner and Mohammed bin Hammam were provisionally suspended by the FIFA Ethics Committee pending the outcome of the investigation of corruption allegations against them. On 20 June 2011, FIFA announced Warner ’s resignation from all his positions in international football.
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Persistent Windies facing tall order after Stokes, Sibley hundreds
Fast bowler Kemar Roach reacts on a frustrating second day of the second Test at Old Trafford yesterday. MANCHESTER, England, CMC – West Indies were facing a daunting task to remain in the second Test after hundreds by Ben Stokes and Dom Sibley put England in command on day two at Old Trafford here yesterday. Replying to the hosts’ 469 for nine declared, West Indies finished the day on 32 for one, to trail by 437 runs heading into today’s day three. They suffered a blow when they lost left-handed opener John Campbell cheaply for 12, 20 minutes from the close, lbw to left-arm pacer Sam Curran courtesy of DRS. Experienced opener Kraigg Brathwaite was unbeaten on six while nightwatchman Alzarri Joseph played solidly for 14 not out. Stokes and Sibley had earlier taken centre stage, powering the innings in an excellent 260-run fourth wicket stand after England resumed the morning on 207 for three. Unbeaten on 86 at the start, Sibley continued in the same painstaking vein from Thursday’s opening day, and
needed another 59 balls to get the 14 runs needed for his second Test hundred – the slowest century by an England batsman in two decades. He raised his landmark in the third over before lunch, when he punched pacer Alzarri Joseph through mid on for three and all told, counted five fours off 372 balls in 9-¼ hours at the crease. Stokes, meanwhile, resuming the morning on 59, reached 99 at lunch before completing his 10th Test hundred in the second over following the interval with a reverse sweep for four off offspinner Roston Chase. The England vice-captain punched 17 fours and two sixes in a knock requiring 356 deliveries and spanning just over eight hours. West Indies bowlers toiled manfully but without reward and Chase proved the most successful bowler with five for 172 – his third fivewicket haul in Tests. Veteran seamer Kemar Roach, wicket-less in his previous 86.5 balls of Test
Roston Chase celebrates the wicket of Rory Burns © Getty Images cricket, grabbed two wickets in one over to break the jinx and end with two for 58. Needing early wickets to check England’s progress, West Indies was forced to go without success in the first session as Sibley and Stokes added 57 runs in laborious fashion from 24 overs sent down. The pair of Shannon Gabriel and Joseph proved ineffective inside the first hour and even when the second new ball was taken shortly after the first drinks break, captain Jason Holder and Roach also failed to find the breakthrough. On 264 for three at lunch, England upped their tempo once Stokes reached triple figures, adding 74 runs in the next hour before being separated.
Sibley was the first to fall, his toil ending in the first over following the drinks break when he picked out Roach in the deep off Chase. There was no long wait for another wicket as Ollie Pope lasted all of eight balls before playing back and finding himself trapped lbw to Chase for seven at 352 for five. Two partnerships then ensured England got their total beyond 450. First, Stokes added 43 for the sixth wicket with wicketkeeper Jos Buttler who made 40 from 79 balls with four fours, helping England to tea on 378 for five. When Stokes, unbeaten on 172 at the interval, was taken behind off Roach in the fourth over afterwards attempting to improvise and Chris Woakes edged the very next ball to Shai Hope in the
BCCI asked to pay Deccan Chargers substantial sum for wrongful termination ESPNcricinfo - Deccan Chronicle Holdings (DCHL), the promoter of the former IPL franchise Deccan Chargers, has won a substantial arbitration award - reported in the Indian media to be in the tune of INR 4800 crore (USD 640 million approx) plus add-ons - against the BCCI for their alleged wrongful termination from the IPL. O n F r i d a y, t h e c o u r t appointed arbitrator and retired Supreme Court Judge CK Thakkar reportedly found the BCCI’s termination of the one-time IPL champions wrongful and premature. The dispute dates back to October 2012, when Deccan Chargers were
terminated from the IPL for failing to put up the INR 100 crore (USD 19 million approx then) bank guarantee set by the Bombay High Court to stay in the league. The BCCI had then invited fresh bids for the Hyderabad franchise, which eventually went to the Sun Network that currently owns the Sunrisers Hyderabad. At the time, the arbitrator had put a stay on the termination, but the Bombay High Court overruled it following a BCCI appeal. A Decc a n C h r o n i c l e r e p o r t s a i d D C H L’s promoters considered the
BCCI’s show-cause notices for termination in 2012 to be over “trivial matters” and thought of the termination as u n f a i r, s u g g e s t i n g t h a t other franchises that had “actually indulged in illegal practices” were given meagre penalties. The report also alleges that the BCCI’s termination decision had come a day before the deadline given to DCHL to resolve the issues, and that DCHL had resolved them in the stipulated time. “BCCI had terminated the contract of Deccan Chronicle a day before. The challenge was in respect of illegal and premature termination and the tribunal has also come to
the conclusion that the termination was premature,” Ashish Pyasi, associate partner of Dhir and Dhir Associates, which represented DCHL, was quoted as saying in Moneycontrol. The compensation breakup reported in the media is understood to be around INR 4800 crore, along with an interest of 10% per year since the arbitration began in 2012 and a fee of INR 50 lakh (approx. USD 66,700). “We haven’t received the judgement copy yet, only after reading we will decide next plan of action,” Hemang Amin, the interim CEO of the BCCI, was quoted as saying in the Economic Times.
cordon, West Indies enjoyed a fruitful period as four wickets tumbled for just 32 runs. However, Dom Bess belted three fours and a six in a 26-
ball unbeaten 31 to inspire a 42-run, unbroken last wicket partnership with Stuart Broad (11 not out) to further frustrate West Indies.
Kaieteur News
Saturday July 18, 2020
Loyalty claim Hamid’s Family dominoes title L
oyalty of West Demerara were c r o w n e d champions of the Hamid’s Family dominoes competition which culminated on Sunday last at Tarla Dam, Zeeburg, West Coast Demerara. Loyalty marked 77 games with Orin Favourite scoring the maximum of 18 to earn the most valuable player prize, while Desmond Khan contributed 15. Gold for Money of Georgetown took the runner up spot after finishing on 70 g a m e s , w h i l e We s t Demerara’s Quiet Storm placed third on 65 games.
Clearance Whitehead and John Chance made 16 and 14 games respectively for the runner up side. Loyalty collected a trophy and $100,000, Gold for Money received a trophy and $60,000 while Quiet Storm pocketed $30,000. Among the sponsors were Hamish Mohamed and Ryan Boodhoo. Meanwhile, Mark Wiltshire in collaboration with Orin Favourite will be hosting another competition starting at 13:30hrs on Saturday at Turning Point. Entrance fee is $12,000 and the winning team will take home $120,000, runner
up $60,000 and third place $30,000. The competition will conclude on Sunday. Teams can contact Wiltshire on 659-8672 for registration.
A keen competition is expected this weekend at Turning Point.
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rt Spo Ben Stokes reserve-sweeps to bring up his hundred Š Getty Images
Roston Chase celebrates a wicket Š Getty Images
Persistent Windies facing tall order after Stokes, Sibley hundreds BCCI asked to pay Deccan Chargers substantial sum for wrongful termination
Deccan Chargers won the IPL in 2009 and were terminated three years later. (Associated Press) Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.