Kaieteur News

K

Urgent NEWS matters will be heard - CCJ AIETEUR

p.

3

Tuesday Edition July 28, 2020 - Vol. 13 No. 30

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Price $80

Online readership yesterday 170,812

Our world has lost a statesman - CARICOM Chair, p.3 Ralph Gonsalves on death of Owen Arthur Ministry report reveals...

Lowenfield, the Conjurer:

Troy Resources failed How the GECOM CEO to report 12 cases of unilaterally made votes occupational diseases appear and disappear p.

8

p.

17

Police probing Juveniles Suriname's Ex-Finance Guyana among 13 Minister missing, records 19 bribery allegation accused new COVID-19 believed to be cases, total against senior of killing Berbice cop Sophia man hiding in Guyana now 389 p.

7

p.

7

Three weeks p. later...2 awaits

p.

7

p.

17

Auditor General still

Ocean View $1B hospital contract

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

Tuesday July 28, 2020

Auditor General still awaits Ocean View $1B hospital contract Three weeks later...

A

lmost three weeks after requesting from the Ministry of Public Health a copy of the $1B Ocean View COVID-19 Hospital contract, the Auditor –General (AG) is yet to receive word from officials as the audit into the incumbent government's novel coronavirus expenditure gets underway.

AG Deodat Sharma in an

invited comment relayed to Kaieteur News that the engineers from his office wrote the Health Ministry to get answers to several questions surrounding the COVID-19 Hospital, but up to press time, they were awaiting answers.

“We are,” Sharma stated, “gathering information. We had written to the Permanent Secretary to give us information in terms of the

expenditure and how the contracts were awarded and we are waiting a response on that.” According to the AG, they had met with the PS and were promised that they would be in receipt of the information “shortly.”

“That's what they said,” Sharma added.

Back in May, the AG had announced that an audit would be conducted to probe government's expenses on

Ocean View COVID-19 Hospital

the fight against COVID-19, with special attention being paid to the flagship infrastructural project.

F i n a n c e M i n i s t e r, Winston Jordan had said that more than $1B will be spent on rehabilitating the property to make it a state of the art COVID-19 hospital.

Additionally, an order was signed by Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence for compulsory acquisition of the property. Works are near completion at the hospital, but one question remains unanswered – where is the government sourcing the funds?

Kaieteur News had previously reported that almost 65% of the large sum was paid to contractors for works said to be completed at the site. This publication is in receipt of the Memorandum to the Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, from the Permanent Secretary of the Public Health Ministry, Collette Adams in correspondence to

Auditor General Deodat Sharma the Chairman of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board ( N P TA B ) , B e r k l e y Wickham seeking approval to 'single source' bidders for the conversion of the old Ocean View International Hotel into a state-of-the-art Hospital for the incubation, isolation and quarantine of persons infected with the novel Coronavirus (COVID19) along with the

documents from the Finance Ministry giving approval.

As spelt out in the Procurement Act of 2003 Chapter 73:05, Section 11(1), details of the Contract Award should have been forwarded to the NPTAB immediately so as to facilitate publishing on its website www.npta.gov.gy within five days of the signing. However, a quick search of the NPTAB website, under 'Tender Awards', turned up no results for this contract.

Concerns have also been raised about the long term justification for the use of the hotel and the arrangements that government has entered with the owners. In recent years, spring tides have been causing overtopping causing flooding to areas nearby.

Due to the hotel's close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, back in 2013, the facility took a hit after high tides resulted in significant damage amounting to millions.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 28, 2020

PAGE 03

Our world has lost a statesman - CARICOM Chair, Gonsalves on death of Owen Arthur

F

ollowing the sudden death of former Prime Minister of Barbados, Owen Seymour Arthur, tributes have poured in praising the man described as one of the pantheon of Caribbean statesmen.

Arthur, who served as PM for three consecutive terms from 1994 to 2008, passed away at the age of 70 on Monday at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Bridgetown. He was previously reported as having been admitted there last week for heart complications. He had most recently served as chief of the Commonwealth Observer Mission for Guyana's General and Regional Elections.

Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was one of the first to sing praises of Arthur yesterday.

“Our Caribbean” Gonsalves said, “our hemisphere, and our world have lost a statesman and intellect of the highest quality.

From left, Prime Minister of St Vincent, Dr Ralph Gonsalves; Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne; and former Prime Minister of Barbados Owen Arthur We shall miss him. I shall miss my dear friend, Owen, a progressive soul who applied his heart to wisdom. I am personally enveloped in profound sadness, grief, and pain at his death, yet full of fond and uplifting memories of him.”

Gonsalves reminded that Arthur was the chief architect, advocate, and intellectual guide of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy

(CSME). He shared that Arthur was deeply committed to making the union in the Caribbean more perfect, the best practicable institutional political and economic expression of Caribbean civilisation. Against this, the CARICOM Chair expressed that the region owes him an immense debt of gratitude.

Prior to his brief hospitalisation, Gonsalves disclosed, Arthur was deeply

CCJ says urgent matters will be heard

D

e s p i t e proceeding on its two-month vacation in August, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has disclosed that matters considered urgent will be heard by the court.

“Please be advised that term 3 for the CCJ closes on 31 July 2020,” the Court stated on its Facebook page y e s t e r d a y. “ U n t i l t h e following term resumes on 5 October 2020, our e-Filing system remains open and any matter considered urgent by the Court will be heard.”

T h e u p d a t e d announcement came yesterday. Kaieteur News had reported in our Sunday edition on the closure against the backdrop of potential litigation in the latest round of Guyana's election drama.

The CCJ had recently played a critical part in Guyana's election saga after it made a historical ruling in the Irfaan Ali vs. Eslyn David's election recount case. The CCJ's ruling followed after the Appeal

CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders Court agreed with the position of the applicant David, in that “more votes cast” should be interpreted as “more valid votes” in Article 177 (2) of Guyana's constitution – an article which speaks to the election of a President. The Appeal Court had also ruled that this interpretation should form the basis of the elections report to be submitted by Chief Elections Officer

(CEO), Keith Lowenfield.

This report had invalidated some 115,000 voters.

Dissatisfied with the Appeal Court's ruling, the People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) sought an appeal with the CCJ. After hearing submissions from multiple parties, the CCJ unanimously ruled that the majority decision handed down by the Court of Appeal was made without jurisdiction and should therefore be set aside along with Lowenfield's report.

The judgment was wrought by a five-member panel of judges inclusive of the Court's President Justice Adrian Saunders, Justice Jacob Wit, Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee, Justice Peter Jamadar and Justice Denys Barrow.

The CCJ vacation is set to begin just days after Guyana's Court of Appeal (CoA) is expected to render a ruling in the Misenga Jones Appeal, the latest electionsrelated litigation, on Thursday, July 30.

agitated about the imminent threat to democracy in Guyana. He went on to state that Arthur had reserved some of his finest and most biting barbs against those in that CARICOM member-state who, without right reason or principle, verbally abused current Barbadian PM, Mia Mottley and Gonsalves because of their stance in defence of free and fair elections.

PM Mottley herself hailed him as a “man for the times”. She remembered how proud he was, to sign on to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), the regional flagship programme for which Barbados holds responsibility in the CARICOM Quasi-Cabinet.

In her statement, she shared that Arthur, from the early 1990s, molded a new class of politician in Barbados and changed in many ways how those representatives would serve their constituents for the better.

“My friends,” Mottley

Owen Arthur and his successor, PM Mia Mottley said, “our country, Barbados, is the poorer for his passing.

His intellect was larger than life, believe you me. His love for his country as constant as a northern star. The last title bestowed on him was the most fitting – Professor of Practice. For Owen was first and foremost a teacher.

Taking the most complex economic issues and stripping them down to be understood by the average man and average woman in the shop. His keen sense of history and of politics shared daily with an emerging class of politicians that he would claim responsibility for bringing to public life.”

She added that Arthur was a man of his time and for the times in which he served, who discharged his duty as Prime Minister of Barbados and as a Caribbean leader with distinction. “He shall remain in that pantheon of Caribbean leaders,” Mottley said.

President David Granger, in a brief statement yesterday,

had also extended his sympathy to Arthur's wife Julie, daughters Sabrina and Leah, friends and the people of Barbados.

Other Caribbean leaders such as T&T PM Keith Rowley; Jamaica's PM Andrew Holness; St Lucia's PM Allen Chastanet; PM of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne; CARICOM Secretary-General, Irwin LaRocque; Former CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General, Dr. Edward Greene, Sir Ronald Sanders of the Organization of American States; Guyana's Sir Shridath Ramphal and many others have offered condolences to the people of Barbados on the passing of Owen Arthur. In light of the passing of Arthur, the Barbados government has announced that there will be a period of national mourning for three days, which began yesterday, and all flags will be flown at half-mast as Arthur's remains are interred.

PAGE 4

Tuesday July 28, 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 Theatre of Political Inclusion is no substitute for Democratic Elections The last five months have witnessed widespread calls for the APNU+AFC government to respect electoral democracy. The period has also seen calls – from the usual suspects – for a more inclusive democratic process. This latter demand for shared governance is primarily a tactic to deflect attention from blatant rigging of the March 2nd elections, taking advantage of our racially-polarized society in a shameless attempt to convert an electoral crisis into an ethnic conflict.

In some ways, those making a pitch for a more inclusive democracy, are right - elections in this country have proved themselves winner-take-all- affairs, even under the incumbent multiracial coalition. The competition for state power creates winners and losers. Those who win gain control of government, and those who lose must settle for the relative exile of the opposition benches.

Framed in this manner, the winner-take-all argument places the cart before the horse. There can be no inclusive government unless there is a winner and a loser. How else does one identify the principal parties to power sharing? There can be no shared governance unless there is a legitimate government and a legitimate opposition. The very notion of shared governance involves a relationship between contesting parties.

According to the President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, JusticeAdrian Saunders, free and fair elections are the lifeblood of democracy. Free and fair elections are also the foundation of sovereignty since it is through free and fair elections that the people decide who should rule them and in so doing, give their consent to the exercise of sovereignty.

The people of Guyana voted in elections on 2nd March.

They were asked to choose a government and they did so.

They were not being asked to participate in a referendum for power sharing. To suggest therefore that the democratic will of the people be discarded in favor of shared governance is oxymoronic to democracy and national sovereignty.

Unfortunately, the APNU+AFC is attempting to sustain itself in office through fraud and deceit. How can this assault on democratic elections become the foundation for the establishment of political inclusion? Those who disrespect the people’s votes are not likely to respect their right to political inclusion, Free and fair elections are a prerequisite for democratic governance. Citizens decide on who will rule them by voting.

They also can use their ballot to remove those with whom they have lost favor. This right to elect and remove governments is the root of democratic governance. Take away the ballot and democracy dies. Political inclusion is the tonic which sustains democracy. It facilitates democratic participation by allowing for citizens a role in government but it cannot displace democratic elections. Political inclusion, without democratic elections, becomes nothing more than elite rule.

The ethnic security dilemma, in which one grouping could be permanently locked out of power, had in the past created a basis for power sharing. But that basis no longer exists since the results of the 2015 elections have shown that it is possible for any of the two large political groupings to win power through free and fair elections. None of the two large ethnic groups in Guyana can lay claim anymore to being permanently locked out of power. Each can gain power through democratic elections.

The APNU+AFC, however, wishes to close the door to democratic change. It is doing so even as it pretends to be open to inclusive governance. The Coalition, over the past five months, has made no attempt to dialogue with the opposition political parties. Now, isolated regionally and internationally, and facing the imminent declaration of the elections’ results which would boot it from power, it is calling for dialogue.

The APNU+AFC wants to use the fig leaf of dialogue to remain in office. The APNU+AFC is so craven and obsessed with power that it will do anything and resort to any form of trickery to retain political office. The opposition parties have rejected this call and rightly so. The opposition parties are standing firm. They are insisting on respect for the results of the elections as a precondition for dialogue. The demand for dialogue will enjoy greater support and legitimacy if it is part of a democratic

The sour taste of lemon has to be a thing of the past DEAR EDITOR, Guyana is currently enjoying, temporarily, “the calm before the storm.” Mr. “G” and his cabal of rogues have refused to accept the CARICOM creditable election recount result. They have categorically stated that they will not bend to anyone and insist on recognizing, accepting and using Mr. Keith Lowenfield’s personified and incriminating report with Mingo’s fraudulent figures, disrespect the Courts’ decisions, including the CCJ, continue to disregard the international community’s appeal to allow democracy to survive in Guyana and to abide with the valid recount result.

They are thwarting the will of the people, frustrating GECOM to complete the election process, denying the declaration of the duly legitimate elected President, shunning the US sanctions and continue to attack the national and international communities for speaking out against the APNU+AFC’s political defiance, their fraudulent election tactics and their tongue twisting, lies and deceits.

As the nation faces the COVID-19 pandemic, the caretaker officers, with the help of the police, continue to flout the law, rules and regulations in the country.

The APNU+AFC Party’s would have issued a threat to the nation, demanding a ransom by directing its remarks via the PPP/ C Party. They have announced that they are ready and willing to entertain peaceful dialogues with the PPP/C Party but, in the same breath, made it pellucid that they will not accept any election result

other than what Mr. Lowenfield, GECOM’s CEO, had submitted to the Madam Chair that she should be guided by, containing his mathematical mumbo jumbo that gives the APNU+AFC Party a win instead of the certified CARICOM election recount result, confirming a PPP/C Party win.

Of great concern to the world is Mr. Lowenfield’s sleazy actions, trying to introduce different sets of figures on at least four different occasions to the GECOM Secretariat and, twice accepting Mingo’s fraudulent figures which all the observers attested to. He is not only inconsistent but he also juggles his figures and cannot provide any substantial clarification as to the source of his figures nor his valid proof of any acceptable and valid methodology.

He also continues to be recalcitrant to the Madam Chair, Ms. Claudette Singh, and guilty of insubordination, refuses to comply with her specific instructions and remain in defiance of the CCJ rulings. As a result of his continuing to be misguided by APNU+AFC’s legal advisors, he now faces three private criminal charges, including fraud and willful misconduct. This case is booked to be heard next month.

But the world has seen through the APNU+AFC Party’s disguised demand and all the opposition parties are refusing to meet with them unless they first, concede to the will of the people now. It is transparently clear that the APUN+AFC Party does not desire any “dialogue” but instead wants a “monologue” to dictate to the nation their terms to maintain power or face their wrath.

There will be no room for negotiation and all will be required to agree to their preset conditions. It is either their way or the highway. Putting the public at risk with their public outreach is their way of continuing to spread their propaganda and letting the people know in no uncertain terms, what their ultimate intentions are.

The management of COVID19 and peoples’ lives take second place to their precedence of squatting in office and maintaining control of the Presidency and the government.

Their bullish behaviour spells the indecent behaviour of tyranny and their dishonest and guile attitude infests the air with the smell of dictatorship.All will recall their callous and villainous questions of “concede to what?” and “concede to whom?”

The history of the PNC Party ruling Guyana by foul means from driving fear in the hearts of defenseless Guyanese continues to incarnate in the form of the merry band of a handful of APNU+AFC Party’s guys and gals, vicious and greedy to extort the very lives of an impoverished nation, regardless of their political belief and or conviction or affiliation.

They will trample on their own kit and kin in order to succeed with their evil agenda and are able and willing to sacrifice anyone, including their own, families, relatives, friends and supporters, so that their evil goals may materialize.

It simply has to do with covering their grounds for all their illegitimate contracts and agreements, their corruption and

collusion from economic mismanagement, their illegal financial transactions and the hunger for more perks and benefits, especially from the oil industry. They cannot afford to have their secrets discovered from any audited approach, whether now or later.

They must remain in power for many years to come so that the basic ground work has to be established by sticking their feet in the ground firmly and lay a solid foundation now for their own good and future.

Their trump card of course, is the current control of the media, the treasury, the autonomy of the government sector, influence over the securi t y forces and the fragility of the shaky judiciary.

By arming themselves in all essential areas and disarming the nation in all key areas, obviously give them a monopoly.

But all is not lost and there is more hope than despair. The united front from all the opposition parties speaks volumes and their resilience to thwart the APNU+AFC Party rigorous and perpetual oppressive advancement, provides a light at the end of the tunnel. The US sanctions and probable more extreme ones to come, also gives reassurance. The guarantee espoused by the entire international community to support the just cause of the suppressed Guyanese, again assures the re-establishment of democracy.

The APNU+AFC Party’s nonchalance has been undermined and this is visible in their hollow cry pleading (Continued on page 6)

Guyana will not be removed from the precipice of success DEAR EDITOR, I recently read a letter in your newspaper titled: “Guyanese youth are losing hope because of the politics of the old”. The author is a young man, known to me personally of which I hold no malice.

Notwithstanding, I find the urge to reply to his letter due to the several “dangerous” assertions made; by someone who in the same letter showcased his panoply of work in political activism.

The author urged the political leaders on all sides to do better. While this statement in itself is a constructive one and

one I support, given the context of the 2020 elections, this statement is grossly misplaced and quite frankly there is NO need to call on “all sides”.

There is only one side responsible for the almost fivemonth election impasse. In no uncertain terms, that side is the incumbent APNU+AFC which has evidently tried to rig these elections on at least five occasions with five different results. Their sixth attempt is currently on display as they appeal the Chief Justice’s decision.

The author of the letter goes on to say “Whoever takes up

environment in which election results are respected. This newspaper will support political dialogue so long as the legitimate results of the elections are respected.

We therefore call for the results of the recount to be declared and for there to be a peaceful transition to a new government. No electoral democracy, no political inclusion. .The theatre of political inclusion, as is presently being constructed and advocated for, can never be a substitute for democratic elections. To quote the man who gave his life for this fundamental concept, “People’s power, no dictator!”

government, and those who become opposition Members of Parliament I call on you to demonstrate to our youth that you truly hear us and want better for our futures. I call on you all to first apologize to this nation and to our young people especially.”

I am perturbed by this statement; it is even more dangerous than the first.

Is the author trying to assuage the supporters and leadership of the coalition faction or has he not seen the plethora of evidence, the rulings of the apex court, the statements from the most legitimate interlocutor and other electoral observer missions which all confirm what I have promulgated earlier – APNU+AFC has lost these elections but continually try to steal it?

Given the extensive political engagement referenced by the author in his letter, it is astonishing that the author would not join in the call for the Granger regime to resign and for democracy to prevail.

Therefore, the title of his letter is accurate but the arguments are disingenuous at best – Guyanese youth are [indeed] losing hope because of the politics of the old. This politics of the old must refer to the nearly three decades of Guyanese history where democracy was trampled on, where elections did not reflect the will of the people.

In 2020, leaders from the political party responsible for those years of electoral theft, now try to invoke the same ideology and gamesmanship.

As such, many of us are understandably losing hope that this situation will yield a positive outcome.

But rest assured my fellow young people, another illegitimate Government will not be formed in Guyana. The will of the people reflected in the votes cast on March 2nd will be respected and Guyana will not be removed from the precipice of success.

Yours Truly, John Edghill

Tuesday July 28, 2020

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

Praising the heroism of John Lewis and Guyanese freedom fighters DEAR EDITOR, I can’t help but compare and contrast the way Americans and Guyanese honour their (dead) heroes who championed freedom for their people. There were similar struggles in both societies against racism and the right to the ballot (electoral fraud) — Black Americans were denied right to vote and when that right was given, similar to how the Whites gave the right to vote in Guyana, but their ballots were not counted as there were electoral frauds similar to what took place in Guyana (1966 to 1992) and what has been taking place right after the March 2 vote.

Our Guyanese heroes like those of America’s like MLK and John Lewis gave all they had to fight racism and redeem the unmet promise of equality and counting of the ballots that was so long denied to Black Americans as it was denied to Guyanese.

The Guyanese and American heroes answered brutal violence and fought for a better life for all.

Americans join with the nation in honouring the Black

civil rights champion John Lewis on his passing. Lewis body was taken to the area where he was savagely beaten by police. This brings back memories of accounts of several of our freedom fighters who were beaten by police and paramilitary units all over Guyana, some even killed.

There should have been similar momentous tributes to those who experienced violence when their funerals were held.

Lewis is deservedly being given a hero’s funeral for his contribution to the (largely non-White) freedom movement in America that helped secured rights of all regardless of race and national origin, including the seven hundred thousands Guyanese Americans.

Blacks and other Americans give a fitting funeral farewell to their civil rights heroes.

There are countless Guyanese heroes of all ethnicities who gave their lives for the ballots to be counted during the period of dictatorship. Some lost their lives or limbs and still have

deep scars from the brutality unleashed on them not dissimilar to what happened to Lewis.

Our Guyanese heroes were and are also ‘Lewis like’ in their struggle. When will Guyanese give ‘a Lewis type tribute’ to honour their heroes of our freedom movement against racism and electoral banditry?

Lewis, the Alabama Black native, persevered in the fight for the ballot and other rights for Blacks. He was savagely beaten by Whites not dissimilar to the brutal onslaught that our heroes suffered during the ethnic dictatorship in Guyana. Lewis went on to get elected to represent a Black district in Congress.

He was never shy to champion the rights of Black Americans. He spoke up for and in defense of his people, and the world took note honouring him for fighting against white racism against Blacks and people of colour.

Several heroes, not the least being Cheddi and Janet Jagan, Walter Rodney, Edward Dublin, Father Darke, Feroze Mohammed, Ohene

Koama, Komal Chand, Reepu Daman Persaud, Isahak Bashir, Josh Ramsammy, et. al. gave their lives to the freedom movement and the struggle against racists and electoral fraudsters who persecuted us for 28 years denying us the right to the correct count of the ballots. Some of our heroes are still around, beaten by police, like Clement Rohee, Ravi Dev, Leyland Roopnarine, Paul Tennassee, Nand Gopaul, et. al. for championing the right to the vote. And we must not forget the heroes of the 1976 and 1977 student dissension on the Corentyne for standing up to injustice and those heroes who fought in the diaspora like Arjune Karshan, Baytoram Ramharack, Vassan Ramracha, Chuck Mohan, et. al. They loved their country so much that they risked their life for what was right and for the promise of a better Guyana. A few heroes like David Hinds and Tacuma Ogunseye have gone back to the perpetrators of racism and defending electoral fraud; Lewis would be disappointed in their behaviour.

As a student of American

I publicly express my regrets for these words DEAR EDITOR, Last week, in reply to a hypothetical question posed to me on the popular Mark Benschop programme, ‘Straight Up,’ I did use the words set ‘aside the Constitution and Laws.’

Standing by itself, these words are inappropriate.

They are neither reflective of

my beliefs nor stance in the context of Guyana.

As such, I publicly express my regrets for these words.

I am wedded to the concept and utility of the three branches of governance, the Executive, Parliament and Judiciary.

With respect to the last

Hamilton Green is complicit in supporting an illegal government DEAR EDITOR, It is widely being publicized in the media that Hamilton Green who was a former Mayor of Georgetown, had in his Radio talk aided and abetted and goad the De facto President David Granger to stay and hold on to power. Since Hamilton

Green is living in the United States and complicit in supporting an illicit and illegal Government I call on the American Embassy in Guyana and United States Secretary of State to revoke Green’s Visa.

Respectfully, Ari Nayara

named, we remain wedded to its importance of the Judiciary, even though, we ordinary folks occasionally worry about the way some judicial officers interpret laws, but this is a universal problem.

For decades, I have promoted the idea of a National Front Government to forge unity, buttressed by a moral and spiritual revival.

A country where our political, religious and civic leaders have a moral sense guided by a sense of decency and are true patriots where

Guyana is first and foremost, never yielding to the blandishments or temptations from external forces.

The above to be energized by a responsible and credible fourth estate, a media, that gives good guidance whilst seeking the truth.

Hamilton Green

history, I recall Lewis courageous struggle and the savage beating he endured and it brought back memories of the ballot martyrs, heroes, shot down by soldiers in cold blood 47 years ago.

They were opposed to the theft of their ballots of Indian voters not dissimilar to Lewis objection of the theft of ballots of Black Americans.

Lewis lived and went on to get elected but the martyrs were never able to see parliament.

I also remember those who were maimed and beaten as they demand the right to vote between 1965 and 1992.

The perpetrators of violence were Burnham’s police and paramilitary units and gangs of goons that operated everywhere; some are holding office today and behaving in like manner 30 years later.

And we must also remember the young man killed on the East Coast on March 5 for taking to the street demanding that his

vote be accurately counted not dissimilar to Lewis. He was a hero who gave his life to focus attention on electoral fraud. The Guyanese people must pay respects to those who made tremendous sacrifices for our freedom and comfort.

They are/were heroes.

What would have happened if they had not fought for free and fair elections? They stood up for justice as they braved batons and bullets of the racists and fraudsters.

Those who seek to annul the 2020 elections or reverse the outcome through fraud and who engaged in rigging between 1966 and 1992 are no different from the racists, KKK, and Jim Crow purveyors that Lewis fought against.

They ought to be ashamed of themselves of wanting to remain in office knowing fully well they lost.

They have no decency and Lewis would not want to come close to them.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

An utterly heinous act DEAR EDITOR, Help and Shelter condemns in the strongest possible terms the 26 July arson attack on the Guyana Human Rights Association building - the latest in the spate of such attacks during the last few weeks that must be attributed to the current tense political situation.

Arson is a cowardly act and an attack on a nongovernmental organisation that has defended and

promoted our human rights for over 40 years is utterly heinous.

We extend our sympathy to and stand in solidarity with the GHRA. Yours faithfully, Gaitrie Shivsankar Danuta Radzik Linda Hustler-Gray Selina Lepps Colin Marks Pamela Nauth Niveta Shivjatan Shondelle Branche Josephine Whitehead

PAGE 6

Tuesday July 28, 2020

Kaieteur News

We must stand up against wickedness and lawlessness DEAR EDITOR, The Guyana Public Service Union in a recent media release called for the General and Regional Elections of March 2, 2020 to be negated based on their observed irregularities.

Perhaps the union was in a delusional state to think that any information it issued would be accepted as credible. As the only observer that saw what no one else observed, might I ask what credible and scientific analysis did the union undertake to come to its conclusion that voter irregularities took place. Was it the erratic intermittent calls by the coalition representatives while the recount was being undertaken or did they conduct an investigation of those claims to arrive at that conclusion? Or was it the Chief Immigration Officer’s claim that the list of 172

persons were out of the country and which he stated, as reported in the media, may have returned “back track” and voted. Did the observers of the union check to verify if those listed had voted, etc?

As a matter of fact several of those persons were in Guyana and some even mentioned that they never held a passport nor have they ever travelled. A pertinent factor in proper industrial relations and grievance handling procedures is investigating and producing evidence, facts, to substantiate claims; not willy nilly hollering.

Wasn’t the union ‘observing’ when the Mingo fiasco took place, when he, like a magician pulled fictitious numbers out of a hat and presented them as credible?

Where were the union’s observers when the coalition cabal were making mischief at

the Ashmin’s building? It was all over the press yet the union issued a statement and blamed the PPP. Is this cronyism?

The recount was undertaken due to the inaccuracy of the tabulation process by the Returning Officer of District 4; there was no question of validity of votes. Space does not permit to explore the illogical and nonsensical claims which the GPSU presented as facts, but mere allegations since it was not stated what investigation was conducted, a situation similar to that of the Coalition.

GECOM has already stated its investigative inability in this matter – that it should be taken to an elections court.

The GPSU’s own controversial 2017 elections resulted in the entire membership of GGMC, among others, to leave the union, as reported in the media headlined “Counting of

There is nothing to talk about at this point DEAR EDITOR, The APNU+AFC continues to drain the emotional capital of the nation. In their latest propaganda statement, the APNU+AFC claimed that there is “a carefully orchestrated plan to oust a legitimately elected government and to implement regime change”. In reality, the rest of Guyana and the international community are bearing witness to a carefully orchestrated plan by the APNU+AFC to deny a legitimately elected government from rightfully assuming office. No amount of spin or propaganda will change this fact and any alternative narrative will continue to be a figment of the APNU+AFC’s imagination.

Contrary to the APNU+AFC’s claim, there is a genuine desire to assist Guyana at this difficult juncture. This is why the

international community has insisted that the will of the people be respected and the declaration of the results be based on the recount.

Without a legitimate government in place, the international community will not channel resources to Guyana through the APNU+AFC government.

This much is very clear. Do you think that the World Bank or any other international financial institution (IFI) would have shunned our request for funds to help fight the Coronavirus had there been a legitimate and internationally recognized government in place?

It appears that the APNU+AFC is growing increasingly uneasy following the recent visa restrictions and the promise of more sanctions to come.

How else can you explain their recent call for dialogue?

The time for dialogue was five years ago when the APNU+AFC won a razor-thin majority, not now when they lost by approximately 15,000 votes. And the time for dialogue will come again after the duly elected president and his government take their rightful place.

That David Hinds has also suggested that “the leaders must begin to talk” and that “the so-called civil society organizations” facilitate the conversations is yet another apparent act of desperation.

This is the same person who not so long ago suggested burning the ballot boxes but is now advocating for leadership and compromise.

The electorate spoke clearly on March 2, and their voices must now be respected first and foremost. Until then, there is nothing to talk about at this point.

Yours faithfully, Omchand Mahdu

The sour taste of lemon has to be a...

From page 4 for help, as a wounded animal when cornered, would distinctly react in a brutal manner. Daily, more and more individuals, organizations and societies in Guyana and abroad, are publicly voicing their disgruntled distrust and disgust of the APNU+AFC Party and are vociferous in venting their anger and frustrations over their deliberate interference in preventing GECOM from concluding the election process.

The APNU+AFC Party is somewhat surprised by this retaliation from the public, especially when their key supporters are denouncing their behaviour and taking to the media to vent their aggravation and poverty.

This reaction solidifies the unity of all Guyanese, regardless of ethnicity and, the majority of the nation is based in the ground roots in a common plight. The Guyanese public is wide awake as they try to sleep and finally, they are conscious

that they have been taken for a ride by the heartless and reckless APNU+AFC Party and no longer will they allow themselves to be fooled. At this sad juncture, the people have applied the brakes, installed a red light and blocked the green light from the APNU+AFC Party. Amber is no longer applicable. The sour taste of lemon has to be a thing of the past, it will not last and the mass has cast their votes with a blast.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

GPSU’s votes drags on, raising concerns about voter fraud” - Demerara Waves of April 28, 2017.

The Caribbean Public Service Association and the Public Services International may have considered the current elections fiasco here in Guyana and the derailment of democracy since these organisations stand for fairness, justice and respect the democratic process, the fundamental bedrock of society. The international community, called for respect for the electoral process and the declaration of the recount results which was adopted at the recent OAS general meeting that democracy must prevail, failing which sanctions would be instituted against those who seek to aid and abet the manipulative authors of fraudulent and rigged elections. Several media houses reported on the impending sanctions, which process may have already begun by the US State Department.

The GPSU was nonexistence when the coalition was in power, many cries and wailings could be heard of unkept promises. It speaks of

disappointment and neglect.

The union failed to understand one principle of politicians, that they would say anything to get into power. Is the Sports Complex a reflection of unanimous decision-making and powerful utterances?

Guyanese must not allow fraudulent crooks to pervert the rule of law and subvert the course of justice to prevail. It is suggested that in terms of clarification and enlightenment that the Caribbean Court of Justice’s decision on the Eslyn David case and the recent Chief Justice ruling on Misenga Jones case be read. Many of the issues that the union seeks to put forward as reasons for annulment has been dismissed by the court of law, the competent authority to determine such matters.

I wish to advise the GPSU that the Constitution stipulates that such instances that were propelled to the public as irregularities, a procedure exists to enquire into after a declaration is made.

The declaration is inevitable.

Provide that information to the APNU+AFC to support

their elections petition case.

With every good wish I encourage that you proceed along this path rather than the recommendations that the elections be negated. In a matter of such national importance, the union must not be seen as an abdicator of social justice, of democracy and in collusion to disenfranchise voters and derail democracy. The union’s exaggerated statement is full of ludicrous and outrageous speculations; speculations because NO INVESTIGATIONS were conducted to ascertain that they are credible, since this is a stringent exercise that has to be conducted by an elections court, where investigation and evidence must be produced to substantiate claims. This process has not commenced as yet.

We as Guyanese have to be careful when making public utterances since our country is already destabilize and hanging on a fragile race relations system. We must stand up against wickedness and lawlessness, less we all be consumed also.

M. Persaud

Legacies to be remembered for generations to come DEAR EDITOR, US congressman John Lewis, the civil rights leader passed away on July 17, 2020.

Mr. Lewis met Rosa Parks when he was 17, and Martin Luther King Jr. when he was 18. No doubt, these popular figures at that time would have impacted, shaped and determined his future fight and involvement for equality in the wider society during a time of serious institutionalized segregation.

Lewis would be remembered for organizing bus boycotts and other nonviolent protests in the fight for voter and racial equality.

He fought against systems that seek to subvert democratic processes that seek to deny an equal right of every citizen to be part of the process that would impact their lives and livelihood, stating “You cannot be at home with something that you feel that is wrong, is not right….that’s not fair. That’s not the open, democratic process”, as “… demagogues are pretty dangerous, really...

We shouldn’t divide people, we shouldn’t separate people”.

Owen Arthur, the longest serving Barbadian Prime Minister passed away on July 27th, 2020. He served as Prime Minister from 1994 -2008.

In passing the torch to

this deputy he stated “I believe that it would be in the very best interest of the future development…of democracy in our country if the transition to new leadership…is made immediately”.

Under his perspicacious leadership Barbadians enjoyed prosperity and compelled respect regionally and internationally, where the people displayed a sense of pride and national identity.

The island nation was rated by the United Nations Human Development Index as the world’s top developing country with international standings.

It earned highest marks for the relatively low level of corruption by Transparency International, e c o n o m i c policies were working and democratic institutions were strong and independent. The country was on its way in achieving the sustainable development goals.

Mr. Owen Arthur was the Chairman of the Commonwealth Observer Group to observe Guyana’s March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The Commonwealth Charter recognizes the ‘inalienable right of individuals to participate in democratic processes, in particular through free and

fair elections in shaping the society in which they live’.

The Commonwealth action and global value has a set of standards for elections observation, with election observers contributing to the entrenchment of democratic practices across the world…where voters can have confidence that an independent, impartial and public view will be taken on the integrity of an electoral process, and that the culture of democracy in their country will be strengthened as a result.

Mr. John Robert Lewis 80 years and Mr. Owen Seymour Arthur 70 years departed this earth mere days apart. They have both made enormous strides in the development of community and country for the benefit of all, where all are equal in a free and just society; where leaders are accountable to the people they govern; where democracy prevails and democratic values are respected; where human rights and the rule of law are upheld; where political freedom is sacrosanct! Their legacies would be remembered for generations to come.

May your souls rest in peace.

With regards, Indira Thakurdin

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 28, 2020

PAGE 07

Police probing bribery allegation against senior Berbice cop - accused alleged visited home of complainant's relatives, issued threats

A

n Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) is the latest police officer attached to the Guyana Police Force that has found himself on the wrong side of the law, accused of accepting a bribe. Regional Commander Calvin Brutus confirmed that a report was made by the complainant and a probe has been launched while the accused rank remains on duty.

The ASP who was the officer in charge of the No.2 sub-division in Region Six and previously stationed at the Whim Police Station, has since been removed from that post and is currently stationed at the Central Police Station, New Amsterdam, while the investigation is on-going.

The senior officer is accused of accepting a bribe of $100,000 to “sweep under the carpet” a matter involving a pregnant 14year-old girl and an 18-year-

old young man from Region 5.

The father of the underage girl, told this publication that his daughter visited a clinic after she informed them that she was pregnant. It was during her visit to the clinic that the nurses on duty raised questions about the circumstances of the girl's pregnancy, following which the Child Protection Agency was contacted.

The father disclosed that the agency contacted them on the 14th July and he was subsequently given a letter to visit the New Amsterdam Police Station to meet with a police officer, which he did the following the day.

“When I reached the police,” the man said, “the police sent me to Whim Police Station.

Dem tek statements from me, my wife, daughter and the boy. They lock up the boy the said night and the next day I went and search for the

[Officer-in-Charge] for advice.”

According to the man, when he got the chance to do so and explained his dilemma to the ASP, the officer told him that the boy will be charged with the offence of rape.

“So me ask he if he can do anything about it,” the man told this paper,” and he ask me if me get $100,000 so me explain to him that me na get $100,000 but me can get the money so me come home and borrow $50,000 from me neighbour and however me mek up the rest and give he. He tek the money and tell me that everything will be ok and that the matter will drop, and he give me his number.”

Three days later, the man said that the grandparents of the 18-year-old boy contacted him and told him that they were told to visit the station to provide statements and at that point he became confused as to

what was taking place since he felt as though he had already paid the officer a huge amount of money to deal with the matter.

“When me call he pon the phone, he answer and tell me let me na mek he get vex and cut off the phone on me,” the man said.

This further frustrated him and he then decided to report to the Divisional Commander that the officer took the money from him with a promise that the matter would be settled.

“Me report that he tek the money from me and that he fool me and he na do it. Me never go to the station for nothing and me go for really ask he for advice and he tell what me can do, me sickly with me heart and me and me wife does work in people garden so me na bin want me daughter got to mind the baby alone so he gimme he number and he tell me if me get any problem let me call”, he said.

THREATS That report was made last Friday. On Sunday, the man revealed, a young man showed up at his house around 15:00 hrs and identified himself as a relative of the senior officer.

The young man reportedly told the father of the teen girl “go to the station and tell dem that me mek a false allegation against the officer and that he gon give me back the money” but he refused to do such.

Later that night the senior rank himself along with the same young man showed up at the home of the complainant's mother and brother and asked them to “collect the money and me brother tell he no that he na know what kind of business transaction me and he get and he na collect no money.

He use threatening words to me brother that if he got to lose he job for $100,000 he na know what deh behind me”. A report of that incident

was also made at the Central Police Station yesterday. The mother of the pregnant teenage girl expressed fear that the senior officer may want to harm her family since he showed up at her inlaw's house.

Kaieteur News understands that this is not the first controversy linked to the officer in question.

There were allegations that the ASP and a Corporal were accused of operating a strip club at Diamond.

It was alleged that the corporal had assaulted a taxi driver and the ASP detained the taxi driver after he threatened to “spill the beans” about him running the illegal strip club. The ASP was charged and transferred to Berbice after that incident where he continued to perform regular duties while the investigation was on-going.

The charges were subsequently withdrawn by the DPP in 2018.

Juveniles among 13 accused Suriname's Ex-Finance Minister missing, believed for killing Sophia man to be hiding in Guyana

T

he newly elected government of Suriname is searching for the former Finance Minister who is being investigated for alleged crimes against that country's Central Bank. Gillmore Hoefdraad, Finance Minister under the recently ousted government of Desi Bouterse, is believed to have crossed into Guyana, sources told Kaieteur News.

According to Suriname daily newspaper, De Ware Tijd, Hoefdraad has been identified as a suspect in the criminal investigation into malpractices allegedly committed at the Central Bank of Suriname (CBS) by the then governor Robert van Trikt.

The Public Prosecution Service wants to hear from the former minister in the ongoing investigation.

At the beginning of this week, the Attorney General, Roy Baidjnath-Panday, sent a motion to Parliament for Hoefdraad to be charged. An earlier attempt in May was

Suriname's ex-Finance Minister, Gillmore Hoefdraad

struck down when the then coalition, led by Bouterse, voted against granting the claim.

Hoefdraad has reportedly been informed by Parliament that a renewed action has been filed against him.

De Ware Tijd reported yesterday that bailiffs were unable to serve the former minister summons since he was not found at his address.

The Parliament is preparing to deal with the matter again next week.

Yesterday, Guyana's Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan did not respond to questions about

whether authorities would have been alerted to the former minister likely being illegally in Guyana; other senior security officials in Guyana said yesterday that they are unaware of the matter.

Guyana's border with Suriname has been problematic when it comes to monitoring illegal crossing, whether movement of persons or illicit trade. There have been reported cases of breaches even as Guyana has closed it borders for four months now as part of the national measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

One of the suspects accused of being involved in the brutal murder of Campbell

J

uveniles aged 13 and 14 are among a group of thirteen men accused of brutally murdering a B-Field Sophia man on March 21, 2020.

According to information reaching Kaieteur News, Kevin Campbell,25, was chopped and stabbed several times about the body just after 08:00Hrs at his home by the 13-man gang, and

Another accused that was allegedly part of the 13-man gang died seven days later at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

This newspaper learnt from a reliable source that two out of the gang have since been apprehended by police and are currently being held at the Juvenile Detention Centre in Sophia.

However police are still trying to locate the rest of the gang who are believed to be

Dead: Kevin Campbell hiding.

Kaieteur News was told that on March 21, two men attacked Campbell's younger brother, Brandon, while he was standing in the yard of their home. Brandon was dealt two stabs with a scissors, one to the abdomen and another to the chest.

Campbell who saw what transpired rushed to his little (continued on page 17)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Tuesday July 28, 2020

Lowenfield, The Conjurer:

How the GECOM CEO unilaterally made votes appear and disappear G

uyana's Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield may be remembered in history as “The Conjurer” for his act of conjuring thousands of ghost votes and unlawfully subtracting thousands of valid votes all with the aim of granting a false win of the March 2, 2020 Elections to the A Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition.

Prior to the national vote recount, Lowenfield sought to present on two occasions, reports to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), which included patently false results, where Region Four was concerned.

Then, following the recount, though he is statutorily mandated to adhere to the directives of the GECOM and its Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, on three consecutive occasions, Lowenfield disregarded direct orders and produced three official 'final' election reports using falsified figures.

The CEO Keith Lowenfield, a former Army official, was unanimously appointed to his post back in March of 2014, replacing the previous CEO, Gocool Boodoo. On his appointment, both the then People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government and then opposition APNU+AFC

Keith Lowenfield, GECOM's Chief Elections Officer showed full support and confidence in the new CEO. An article done by Kaieteur News on Lowenfield's appointment in 2014 had quoted the then major parliamentary opposition party as saying that, “APNU is confident that during Mr. Lowenfield's tenure as Chief Elections Officer there will be noncontroversial and properly administered elections.”

The CEO's duties The duties of the CEO are captured in the Representation of the People Act (ROPA) 1:03.

The CEO controls the GECOM Secretariat and acts as the primary point of contact between the Commission and the staff members of the Secretariat, whose activities include the registration of registrants;

Lowenfield's newest tabulation of the votes

the distribution of ID Cards; and the provision of information and guidance on electoral operational matters to community organisations and other stakeholders.

Moreover, at the end of every electoral process, the CEO, as statutorily obligated under Section 96 of the ROPA, has to complete a simple calculation of fixed figures to determine the number of votes cast in totality, the total number of valid votes for each party that contested the election and most importantly, the allocation of parliamentary seats. That calculation is then given in the form of a report to the Chair and Commissioners, as spelt out in Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution.

This article states that “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 Election Officer, after such advice has been tendered to the Elections Commission at a duly summoned meeting.”

Neither the Constitution nor the Election Laws make any provisions for Lowenfield to subtract and add votes at his will but Lowenfield adopted this task for the March 2, 2020 Elections.

Lowenfield and Mingo A mere five days after the March 2 Elections, the

233,335 217,920

A P N U + A F C

Graph showing the Chief Elections Officer's revision of the recount results to place the Coalition in the lead

P P P / C

125,010

GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh CEO cemented his role in the attempt to rig the elections after he announced plans to prepare his final report using fraudulent figures that were declared on March 5.

Following the controversial declaration made by District Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, Lowenfield had written to the Commission, signaling his readiness to prepare his report using those very false

figures.

“In accordance with Cap 1: 03 Section 99, I have prepared the final report for submission to the Commission. In this regard, a request is made for a meeting of the Commission at your earliest convenience,” the CEO had said in an email to the Chair and six-member Commission.

This is despite there being extensive controversy over whether the results had been verified and tabulated in the presence of all of the entitled officials as specified under the law. That meeting h o w e v e r, w a s n e v e r convened as Opposition Commissioners refused to present themselves, following which Mingo was taken before the High Court.

The High Court had scrapped his initial fraudulent numbers, as he did not follow the legal procedures necessary for the tabulation process. The CEO

A P N U + A F C

56,627 P P P / C

got his chance to include a new set of fraudulent figures after another declaration was made by Mingo, in defiance of the court order to clearly display the tabulation process being used. A new declaration was made on March 13 and Lowenfield then compiled what he purported to be his final election report including those numbers.

Both reports sought to hand a false victory to the APNU+AFC coalition using what have now been proven to be inflated figures.

Because of the controversy surrounding this declaration, a national recount was agreed upon and executed, and the March 13 declaration was placed in abeyance.

Lowenfield's conjuring The CEO was ordered at the conclusion of the CARICOM-scrutinised recount to provide the Commission with a summation of the Observation Reports garnered and his final report to make way for a declaration under Section 96 of the Representation of People Act and Article 177 (2)(b).

This was stipulated by the recount order – Order No. 60 of 2020.

And so Lowenfield did just that, only with a twist.

The CEO did in fact submit his report to the Commission on June 13 containing the accurate results of the recount. Those recount (continued on page 16)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 28, 2020

PAGE 09

TELL ME LIES, TELL ME SWEET LITTLE LIES!

T

his is worth a repeat… I have a girlfriend. She supports one of the country's two main political parties.

She is not a member or an activist; she simply votes for that party and supports its policies.

I wish she could love me, the way she loves that party. I wish she could show me the same blind loyalty which she shows to her party. I wish she would overlook some of the mistakes I make the way she excuses the actions of her party. I wish she would forgive me for cheating the way she defends her party for their dishonesty.

Sometimes, I would tell her small, 'white' lies – like I am late because I had a punctured tyre, when the truth is that I was having a drink with the 'boys'. I never get away with such tales. She would give me a mouthful, lock me out of the bedroom, deprive me of food, and refuse to speak to me for days.

But when the political party which she supports sends her bouquets of big lies, she accepts them with a smile and passionately defends these lies. In fact, she begs them to continue to send her their lies. I end up

getting the worst of it, because when I refuse to accept these lies, I am also given a sound mouthwhipping, am thrown out of the bedroom, and told to make my own tea.

She is no different from the majority of the supporters of the country's two main political parties.

They know when they are being fed lies. They are not stupid.

They know when they are begin fed lies, regardless of whether these lies are big or small. But they want to hear the lies, because it is not the truth which they are seeking, but the things they want to hear.

This country would be such a beautiful place if everyone could love and be loyal to their partners the way the supporters are loyal to the country's two main political parties. They would all treat their partners with love and concern, and be willing to forgive more easily.

The majority of the supporters of both of the main political parties do not want to learn the truth about who won the elections.

They are not only interested in their party winning, and so they will

readily accept the lies which are fed to them about the polls, and they defend those lies better than the liar.

The majority of the supporters of the country's two main political parties only want to hear that their party has won. And so they accept whatever they are told. This is how it is, sad as it may seem.

The majority of supporters of each of the political parties are only interested in one side of any argument – their side. They are not going to be convinced of any argument to the contrary, regardless of its merits.

It does not matter to them whether their party has won fairly. Winning by any means necessary is the name of the game. And yet many of them would like us to believe that it is wrong to cheat in order to win.

When it comes to elections, the majority of supporters of each political party would condone cheating and find glory in winning by dishonest means.

My primary school teacher once told me that you will always be a loser if you have to cheat to win. There is no victory in winning dishonestly. Right now I

..........................................................

Dem boys seh...

Dem FDI giving we mo F than DI

G

uyana gat some farrin firm wah plundering we resources. Dem gat all kind of fancy names some dat sound nice, except when deh start fuh layoff dem workers.

We gat Bosai, Rusal, Troy Resources and Guyana Goldfields. De latter lay off so much workers dat dem almost change dem name to Guyana Firing Fields. Nuff of dem workers get send home.

And is dem small number of jobs wah dem does create wah does kerfuffle dem fools wah does run de country, fools like de Rigadier and Jaggy.

Dem head does leff dem body when dem hear about de jobs.

De easiest way fuh get tax concession in Guyana is fuh use de magic words: ' jobs' deh. Dem fools wah does run de country does tell de people how dem attracting FDI - foreign direct investment.

Dem boys seh dem FDI nah come hay fuh help we.

Dem come hay fuh rape we resources, exploit we workers and pollute we environment.

Dem like vampire and old higue. Dem does suck yuh dry. Dem boys nah wan hear about FDI no more.

Dem wan here bout LDI local direct investment. De local people gat de money fuh invest.

If dem invest in we gold and we diamond and we oil and we bauxite, den the

money nah gun get send to farrin. It gan remain right hay and mek we country rich.

De local banks flooding with money. Dem does talk how dem liquid. Dem gat de cash but not much to invest it in. And pun top of dat de government does gat fuh pay billions of dollars each year fuh sop up de money so that de cost of living nah raise.

Dem boys calling fuh LDI. Dem wan see locals get a piece of de action. Dem foreign company dredging out we gold and bauxite, digging out we diamond and when dem done, the country mo bruk than when de FDI did start.

Talk half and hope de leaders ketch sense after de declaration!

have come home. The bedroom door is locked. My girlfriend is in there listening to the lies on social media which are being peddled to her by her political party and their devout supporters. I still love her though.

Nothing can change that. I did not arrive home late. It is just that the lies which her party is telling her are more important tonight than me. I have to sleep on the couch.

Wish me luck! Hope I am served breakfast tomorrow!

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Tuesday July 28, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Trotz, De Souza and rigging: The imprisoned Freudian mind

T

w o W P A personalities, who may or may not hold membership card to what was once Walter Rodney's glorious organization, the WPA - Dr. Alissa Trotz and Karen de Souza, penned a long letter on what should happen after GECOM makes a

declaration. They want a referendum on unity in Guyana.

The letter is a goldmine for those who plan to study the vulturine mind the fivemonth old election rigging process has created in Guyana. The researcher must find Trotz and de Souza two amusing ladies.

The missive by these two so-called democratic activists lays bare the Freudian mind of those who were once part of the WPA or were associated with the WPA. To get a glimpse of this Freudian prison, let's quote from the commentary of these WPAites.

On what is taking place

with the rigged election theatre right now, they wrote: “And depending on what 'side' one is on, yesterday's demon is today's heroine, and vice versa.

Strange bedfellows are selfrighteously being made, with no regard for principles and with scant regard for truth.”

What Trotz and de Souza

left out was deliberate. And an analysis of that willful omission shows the deep Freudian prison these two women's minds are imprisoned in. But however deeply buried those minds are in their Freudian jail, they are dangerous and deceiving. Let's do some Freudian analysis. We start with Trotz.

She and Dr. Arif Bulkan penned a long commentary on the role of the PNC and PPP in perpetuating party and ethnic dominance against the background of the election impasse on June 30 in the column, “In the Diaspora”.

You read this thing and you would not believe that in Guyana at the moment, the very existence of the society is threatened by one of the worst manifestations of electoral fraud in the postWorld War II era and up to the present moment.

If you were from another planet and you read Trotz and Bulkan's writing, you would not believe Guyana is in the throes of imminent devastating instabilities.

Both Trotz and Bulkan could not and would not use the words “fraud” or “rigging” to describe what Guyana is in at the moment.

Trotz (this lady is barefaced) is at it again. This time her pal is de Souza. Yet another long commentary on the current problem but not a word on “rigging” or “fraud”.

Trotz and De Souza cannot bring themselves to use those words because they are trapped in their Freudian cocoon where the mind cannot bring up to the surface what is hidden beneath – that the preference is for the PNC because their party, the WPA, is part of the power structure.

Perhaps the most graphic evidence of the Freudian coffin of these two ladies are the words quoted above from their letter. They wrote that “yesterday's demons are today's heroines” The choice of words was deliberate.

It should have read this way; “yesterday's heroes are today's demons.” And the list of demons would include Eusi Kwayana, Tacuma

Frederick Kissoon Ogunseye, Rupert Roopnaraine, etc, a group that de Souza has an enduring camaraderie with.

We come now to de Souza. This woman who is mortally afraid to use the words “rigged elections” fought alongside Walter Rodney against rigged elections in the seventies and beyond. In that struggle she was arrested and charged by the Burnham government.

The era of denying Guyanese people their right to vote has returned and de Souza because of some psychic contortion cannot muster mental courage and psychological integrity to describe what is currently taking place. And what is taking place? A game of bestial politics where the return to Burnhamism is on the horizon. And who should be aware of the tentacles of Burnhamism? No less an activist like de Souza.

Let's return to the quote above and recite the last part of it; “Strange bedfellows are self-righteously being made, with no regard for principles and with scant regard for truth. This is where we are today.”

But Trotz and de Souza lift themselves out of that description, when in fact they are an essential part of the syndrome of the strange bedfellow syndrome denying facts and truths.

From fighting against rigged elections in the seventies by the same PNC entity, de Souza refuses to recognize rigged elections in Guyana in 2020 and joins her WPA colleague, Desmond Trotman who invokes the memory and legacy of Walter Rodney when in a sick, carnivorous way, says Rodney would support and endorse the positions he has taken since the March 2 elections. I end with an imploration. Please assist Trotz and de Souza out of their Freudian dungeon if they are willing to climb out.

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

Tuesday July 28, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 28, 2020

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 28, 2020

PAGE 13

Drivers see conflict with CJIA over new ID badge requirement A

group of drivers are now in a clash with Cheddi Jagan International Airport officials over their new ID badge requirement.

The drivers stated that while they are accustomed to being given a hard time by CJIA officials, the demand they are currently making has a massive impact on their livelihood.

Several drivers, speaking to Kaieteur News, alleged that they were contacted by airport officials who informed them that they will be required to lodge their badges, and the only time they could be uplifted is when they report for duty.

The drivers claimed that, upon refusing to do so, they were told that they could see serious repercussions for not adhering.

They also highlighted that travelling back to the airport after every job, to lodge the badges, is extremely uneconomical.

They lamented that due to the current pandemic, the

Taxi drivers lined off at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport

airport has been closed so there is hardly any work and they cannot fund the heavy amounts of gas required for the trips back.

They further added that previously, the only time the badges were taken from them was in the event of misconduct.

They are also of the opinion that they should not have to lodge these badges

since they usually pay a $2,270 GYD fee, every month to have them.

This publication approached the CJIA to confirm these claims and an official explained that they are requesting the badges to be lodged due to new security protocol.

The official stated that the badges allow these drivers restricted access to

the airport and since it is closed them having access is not a safe measure.

The individual further declared the lodging of their badges to be the only way the airport can ensure compliance.

The drivers also made claims of discrimination in the handing out of jobs as the “third system” they once used to ensure jobs were

equally distributed was not being implemented.

This system saw drivers being divided into groups of six to seven, and jobs would be distributed by group based on the flights coming in; however, the drivers claimed that the jobs were only being handed to particular persons.

The drivers stated that they have been out of work

since March 12 due to the airport's closure and in addition to the new ID badge requirement the “discrimination” being handed to them is making their life with COVID-19 significantly harder.

The CJIA also noted in their response that there is no attempt to discriminate or dismiss any driver at the airport.

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 28, 2020

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 28, 2020

PAGE 15

Cop jailed for giving conflicting Magistrate dismisses firearm, ammo charges against evidence against Maryann Daby

businesswoman

A

fter months of being on trial for perverting the course of justice in an attempted murder case involving businesswoman Maryann Daby, police constable John Holder, 28, of North Road Bourda, Georgetown, was recently sentenced to three months imprisonment by Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts.

The officer was the key witness in the matter involving Daby, who was charged for the possession of an illegal firearm, ammunitions and attempting to kill a police officer.

Holder was charged after he willfully attempted to pervert the course of justice by deviating from his statement in the case.

He was not required to plead to the charge which stated, that between August 10, 2018 and October 2, 2018, at Georgetown, he willfully attempted to pervert the course of justice by deviating from his statement dated May 13, 2018, in the case Police vs Daby.

Last year, the magistrate ruled that based on the evidence led by the prosecution a prima facie has

Jailed: Officer John Holder been made out against Holder, as such he had to lead his defense at trial.

According to the facts of the charge, Holder gave several statements in relation to the Daby matter. The court heard that while Holder was testifying in the attempted murder PI, he deviated from his statement and told the court that a top ranking officer instructed him to change his statement to support his colleague.

The attempted murder charge against Daby, along with the charges for having an unlicensed pistol and six live rounds on May 13, 2018, at Albert Street, Thomas

Lands, Georgetown, have all been dismissed as a result of insufficient evidence.

According to reports, on the day in question, Daby and her friends were at the Georgetown Motor Racing and Sports Club when Constable Kissoon, who was off-duty and was at the Club at the time, reportedly heard what appeared to be gunshots.

While checking for the source of the gunfire, he reportedly saw Daby firing rounds into the air. He said that he confronted her. Daby then allegedly pointed a firearm to the officer's head and pulled the trigger.

Maryann Daby

O

ne year after businesswoman, Maryann Daby had an attempted murder case discharged against her, Senior Magistrate Leron Daly recently dismissed two other charges against the businesswoman. Daby was charged for the possession of an illegal firearm and ammunitions, and attempting to kill a police officer.

The Magistrate ruled that the prosecution was unable to prove every aspect of the case that the businesswoman is charged for, and as

such, the gun and ammunition charges were dismissed against Daby. The charges came as a result of Daby allegedly pulling a gun on a police officer in an attempt to shoot him at the Georgetown Motor Racing and Sports Club.

The 25-year-old defendant of Lot 127 D'Aguiar Park, Houston, Georgetown, had pleaded not guilty to the two charges which stated that she had an unlicensed pistol and six live rounds on May 13, 2019, at Albert Street, Thomas Lands, Georgetown, while she was not the holder of a firearm license at the time.

Magistrate Daly, in July 2019, discharged the case which stated that Daby, on May 13, 2018 at Albert Street, Thomas Lands, Georgetown, with intent to commit murder, attempted to discharge a loaded firearm at police constable, Christopher Kissoon.

All the matters were conducted in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly. Attorney-at-law, Mark Waldron represented Daby.

According to reports, on the day in question, Daby and her friends were at the Georgetown Motor Racing and Sports Club, when constable Kissoon, who was off-duty and was at the club at the time, reportedly heard what appeared to be gunshots.

While checking for the source of the gunfire, he reportedly saw Daby firing rounds into the air. He said that he confronted her. Daby then allegedly pointed a firearm to the officer's head and pulled the trigger.

PAGE 16

SERVICES Visa Forms Preparer.

Tel#626-7040, Publish your Death Annoucements & In Memoriams online. Email: dthmemo@gmail.com ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Appliance repairs, spares & Service to refrigerator, washing machine / d r y e r, t r e a d m i l l , s t o v e , d i s h w a s h e r, d e e p f r y e r.

Call#694-9733.

HOUSE PLAN TO DRAW, OR ESTIMATE. GIVE USA CALL: 216-0671/6928464. WHATSAPP #6220267 We Sell and Plant trees and palms for shade and flowers.Call#612-1848.

Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158

How the GECOM CEO unilaterally made votes appear and disappear

WANTED Body work Technician.

Contact #668-7033 Neil.

Live in Maid,Boys & Girls to work in Interior.Call#684-7960/ 674-9999.

Mini Bus & Hire Car Drivers.Call#225-3234

FOR RENT 1 bedroom apartment for working couple/single person $35,000 monthly, light & water included, 2 months security.Tel#623-0076.

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Fully Furnished, Grill/Mesh Windows, Doors. North and Oronoque St Bourda, 3 bedrooms A/C. Domestic / Business #226-7012

AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL & TOW TRUCK SERVICE: PICKUP, 9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE#698-7807.

VACANCY Office Assistant/Inventory Clerk.Mima Decor.Maths & English required,mimadecor12 @gmail.com.Tel#227-0186.

Experienced Baker,Junior Baker,Bettencourt’s Diner 38 Durban Street,W/Ville.Tel #231-1368/223-1938.

Business -Hadfield, Saffon & South Road. ResidenceDiamond & Pearl East Bank.

Contact Ray’s Realty: 6279685

One Accounts Clerk. Must have passes in Maths & English. Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street Bourda

TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI . CALL: 219-5000, 227-2100 225-7878, 227-1982 LAND FOR SALE

One three bedroom house & Land.Located@Fifth Street,Windsor Forest WCD, For Serious enquiry.Call 6962841

discarded, he suggested, a total of only 182,260 “valid votes” would have been cast – 125,010 to APNU+AFC, 56,627 to PPP/C and 1,010 to the tripartite Joinder. This alternate calculation granted the win to the Coalition, while dumping a total of 275,092 valid votes, disenfranchising a large section of the electorate.

That report did not stick and Lowenfield, following the ruling of the Appellate Court in Eslyn David v Chief Elections et al litigation, returned to the drawing board to include “valid votes only” in his report.

Dumping valid votes On June 23, Lowenfield submitted a new report with what he purported to be “valid votes”, in defiance of a Court of Appeal stay on further action in the wake of its decision in the David case. That report dumped a total of 115,844 valid votes from the recount, equating to 25% of votes cast and reduced the total valid votes cast in the General Election from 460,352 to 344,508 – again disenfranchising thousands of voters who exercised their democratic right on March 2 to hand the win to the incumbent Coalition.

Lowenfield's newly revised numbers claimed that the APNU+AFC Coalition's votes have now been reduced to 171,825, a difference of 46,095; the PPP/C's reduced to 166,343, a difference of 66,993, and the Joinder's reduced to 3,348, a difference of 1,866.

With those new figures, the APNU+AFC would be positioned for 33 seats in Parliament while the PPP/C would be positioned for 31 seats, with the single remainder going to the Joinder.

Conjuring ghost votes Following the landmark ruling by Guyana's apex court, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Lowenfield was ordered by the GECOM Chair to subCook/Baker for interior mit his report. He was given a location.Applicants must be deadline of 11am on Saturday experienced with verifiable July 11 but failed to do so, references.Call 618-2020. claiming that he did not unNanny.Contact#223-5274/227- derstand what he was directed to do and sought “clar5003. ity.”

The CEO also claimed that Domestic.Contact#223-5274/ he received a threat to his life 227-5003 and this factored into why he Bond Clerk/Supervisor-Basic did not submit his report.

CXC,1 Yr work Kaieteur News had inquired experience.Mima Decor 8 with the Regional Commander, Sherrif Street.227-0176/ Phillip Azore to inquire 86.mimadecor12@gmail.com whether an official report was made, however he could not LEGAL NOTICE confirm. Nonetheless, the TO LET Chair provided Lowenfield Land for sale at Greenwich with the 'clarity' he sought and Park.Houses for rent.Call#684- ordered him once again to submit his report.

8520/675-5256/666-4153.

The next day, Lowenfield Rooms in Albertown. sent his report to the CommisCall#225-3234. sion and once again, it did not For person to assemble bicycle. Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street Bourda

Middle Road La Penitence, Georgetown.Paradise & Enterprise East Coast. Delgin PEN PAL Linden Highway 33 arce.

An Afro guyanese man is Contact Ray’s Realty: 627interested in a single woman, 9685 Ages 45-55.Text or Call#686FOR SALE 9719 VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Suzuki Escudo.Excellent condition, Low Mileage (50,000Km).$3.4M Neg.Call #649-0956.

From page 8 figures gave 233,336 valid votes to the PPP, 217,920 valid votes to the Coalition and the tripartite Joinder – A New And United Guyana (ANUG), The Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) and The New Movement (TMN) – 5,214 votes; a total of 460,352 valid votes were cast.

Those figures would give the PPP/C 33 parliamentary seats to form a government, with 31 going to the APNU+AFC Coalition and the remainder handed to the Joinder, to complete the 65- seat National Assembly.

However, what he also did was offer simultaneously an alternative set of figures, based on his opinion that 55% of the 2,339 ballot boxes used in the March 2 elections were so affected by instances of irregularities, voter impersonation and unreconciled documents that the total results for each district could not be ascertained to be derived from a fair and impartial election. If the tainted ballot boxes were

One two bedroom bottom flat to rent $50,000 per month.Tel#672-7194.

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS & SUV’S CALL :656-0087/643- 5122 E M A I L : P R O A U T O R E N TA L @YAHOO.COM

Tuesday July 28, 2020

Kaieteur News

reflect the figures amassed from the national recount. On his third attempt, the CEO did not scrap votes, but conjured them, adding a total of 14,766 votes to the total valid votes cast.

In his new report, the CEO claimed that a total of 475,118 valid votes were cast in the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. On his newest calculation of the votes, the Coalition got 236,777 valid votes while the PPP attained 229,330 valid votes with 5,090 going to the Joinder parties. Those figures would again give the Coalition the 33 majority seating in Parliament, with 31 seats going to the PPP and the remaining one to the Joinder.

While this final report presented numbers mostly identical to the March declarations, there were variations in the regional results that Lowenfield did not offer explanation for.

The effect nonetheless would give the same result in the allocation of seats based on the fraudulent Mingo declarations. The key difference is that, coming after the recount, Lowenfield's report would have added 15,000 votes that were proven not to have existed in the ballot boxes at all.

Consequences The actions of the CEO in submitting his fraudulent reports were condemned by both international and regional stakeholders paying close attention to Guyana's almost five month long electoral process. Lowenfield's, for example, was referred to by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) as “treasonous.”

The GECOM Chair in her submissions to the High Court in the Eslyn David ligation had argued against Lowenfield's actions, stating that any investigations of fraud allegations in the elections can only be done by way of an election petition and not by the CEO. “If GECOM is to embark on this credibility exercise,” the Chair asked, “what basis should be used to determine the issues of validity and credibility? The letters from one party? The opinion of the CEO? Can GECOM just use the CEO's opinion without giving interested parties an opportunity to be heard? Is GECOM to hold court and take evidence? The Applicant is asking GECOM to embark on a trial.”

When the David case reached the CCJ, the Judges had pointed out Lowenfield's unlawful actions in their ruling, stating that “it was inconsistent with the constitutional framework for the CEO or GECOM to disinfranchise

thousands of electors in a seemingly non-transparent and arbitrary manner.” As a consequence, his previous final election reports were deemed invalid.

The Chief Justice, Roxane George further reiterated what Guyana's Apex Court ruled: that while Lowenfield may be expected to act independently, “he cannot be a 'lone ranger' so to speak.”

Constitutional or statutory?

In a bid to defend himself, Lowenfield issued a release on June 26 claiming that he was not bound by the directives of the Commission and its Chair, and that he acted in conformity with the law. He however, failed to point out the legal provisions that allowed him to act outside of the directions of the Commission.

“While the Commission,” Lowenfield had written, “makes certain policy decisions and provides guidance to the Chief Election Officer for implementation by the Secretariat, I have to execute my duties as a Constitutional Officer, particularly in the conduct of Elections. At all times, I have acted in conformity with the laws and therefore my action cannot be seen as clear act of insubordination.”

Lowenfield's claim that he answers to no one but the constitution garnered the full support of the Coalition. It however, conversely clashed with his pronouncements back in February of 2019, during a televised interview, when he stated that it was the GECOM Commission who is constitutionally mandated to instruct the Secretariat which he controls.

“The Commission by order,” he had told reporters, “instructs the Chief Elections Officer for the conduct of all these subsets; they are contained in the constitution where the Commission shall direct the Secretariat to so do, so it is not a creation of an attitude on the part of the CEO that he have to be provided with guidance. So they direct – move, don't move, act, don't act – as is contained in the Constitution.”

Additionally, it was pointed out that while Lowenfield has a specific constitutional role to play according to 177(2), his position, according to Attorney-at-law, Charles Ramson Jr., is in fact a statutory, not a constitutional one as defined by the ROPA. The Court of Appeal decision in the current Misenga Jones appeal is e x p e c t e d to deliver the penultimate, if not final, directive to Lowenfield on precisely which figures he is bound to use in preparing his final elections report to the Commission.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 28, 2020

PAGE 17

Boss of Bushmaster Tours Troy Resources failed to report 12 Guyana found dead cases of occupational diseases Ministry's Report reveals…

T

at its mine field

A

probe conducted by the Ministry of Social Protection had revealed that the Australian mining company Troy Resources Guyana Inc. (TRGI) failed to report twelve cases of occupational diseases at its Karouni mining operations.

This was according to a leaked report on an investigation carried out by the Ministry of Social Protection's Occupational Safety and Health Department.

The leaked report comes in wake of a startling revelation made by the Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Dr. Vincent Adams, who in a letter to the Managing Director of TRGI, Ken Nilsson and President David Granger, pointed out several infractions by the company.

According to the ministry's report, said to be originally written late last year, “Charges are recommended against TRGI for failing to report 12 cases of Occupational Diseases (after being duly informed by the on-site medical practitioners) which were discovered during an inspection of the medical records for TRGI workers at the Karouni Project Site's medical Facility.”

In addition, the ministry recommended further charges against the company for obstructing an officer of its Occupational Safety and Health Department in the execution of his official duties, adding that the company had neglected to submit to the investigating officer documents formally requested during his visit to the mining site.

The company has been in several violations since its commencement of operations, having been

fined a sum of G$1M by the EPA in March for the spillage of over 5000 liters of oil at the Karouni project site.

Additionally the company was ordered by the EPA to cease its operation until an investigation was conducted by the Ministry of Social Protection.

In addition to this, the company came under fire by the government of Guyana after it had taken a decision to sack three hundred employees in November 2019.

This was seen as a flagrant breach of Guyana's Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, which speaks to payment of employees in lieu of notice and in dealings with unionized workers.

In October 2019, the Ministry of Social Protection's Occupational Safety and Health department along with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) had confirmed the death of Ryan Taylor, a geologist attached to the mining company who died as a result of a pit cave in. Both agencies had pledged to conduct investigations into the matter; however, those findings were never released until now.

In the report seen by this newspaper, it was concluded that Troy Resources Guyana Inc. was entirely responsible for the death of Taylor and that the company had failed to provide a safe, sound, healthy and secure working environment for Taylor which contributed significantly to his demise.

The company has since denied the accusations made against it, stating that it had been absolved of responsibility in Taylor's death by both agencies. The PRO of the company further

Managing director of Troy Resources Guyana Inc. Ken Nilsson stated that to date, the company has not seen or been in receipt of the report blaming them for the employee's death.

Ian Craddock, Managing Director of Bushmasters Tours Guyana.

Throughout his tenure as the company's boss he was also involved in externally produced television shows which showcased Guyana's jungles on BBC and other foreign channels. His company was also granted certification of conformity by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) in 2015. This recognition was to honour the Company's 100% compliance with Guyana's tourism regulations.

Guyana records 19 new COVID-19 cases, total now 389

T

he Ministry of Public Health in its daily briefing to the nation revealed that a total of 19 new COVID-19 cases have been recorded taking the total number of confirmed cases to 389.

In addition, the ministry reported that there are currently a total of 188 active cases in institutional isolations, with 34 persons in institutional quarantine and four patients in the COVID-19 ICU. The ministry further noted that a total of 181 recoveries have been recorded while the death toll

SAY NO TO DRUGS!

Juveniles among 13 accused...

From page 7 brother's assistance and managed to chase the two attackers out of the yard. Brandon was rushed to the hospital in a taxi by his sister and mother while Campbell remained at home with his grandmother and other siblings.

Sometime later the two attackers returned again but this time with 11 others, armed with knives, cutlasses and a pitchfork. Six of them barged into yard, walked into Campbell's house and dragged him out. They were then joined by the rest and began chopping and stabbing Campbell until he collapsed to the ground. The gang then made good their

he managing director of Bushmaster Tours Guyana, Ian Craddock was yesterday found dead along a roadway behind Culvert City Lethem, Central Rupununi, Region Nine.

Craddock's body was discovered at around 17:40Hrs by an anonymous individual who alerted police via phone.

Police arrived at the location shortly after and saw the boss of Bushmasters Tours lying face down clad in a grey and brown jersey, a red pair of trousers and a multicoloured Nike sneakers. His body was examined and a small scratch was observed by investigators on the face.

Police then transported the body to Lethem Regional Hospital where it was furthered examined by doctors before being transferred to the hospital's morgue.

Subsequent investigations revealed that Craddock would normally be seen jogging daily in the area where his body was found.

Craddock was an ex-British Army Special Air Services (SAS) officer who had migrated to Guyana in 2002 to organize jungle expeditions for a British conservation charity. He eventually founded an adventure and survival tourism company called Bushmasters Tours Guyana which he operated from Lethem.

escape before nearby neighbours rushed to his assistance.

One of the neighbours hired a taxi and transported Campbell, who was unresponsive, to GPHC. While doctors were attending his brother he was taken into the theatre for an emergency operation.

Campbell never regained consciousness and eventually died seven days later while receiving treatment at the city hospital. An autopsy was conducted and it was revealed that Campbell died from a punctured liver which was inflicted by a sharpened pitchfork plunged into his side.

remains at 20.

To date a total of 4,416 persons have been tested with 4,027 of those tests

returning negative.

The ministry further reminded citizens to continue practicing social

distancing when going about their daily routines in an effort to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Neighbours foil arson attempt on Guyana Human Rights Association building

Eccles family loses home to fire

A

family of six was yesterday forced to witness their Eccles East Bank, Demerara home destroyed by fire. The family's two-storey concrete house that was being renovated for a new look went up in flames just after 09:00Hrs. According to one of the family members, Kevin (only name given), it was his ten-year-old cousin who had raised the alarm that the house was on fire. He said that his grandmother, Carol Beaton, was in the yard conversing with a next door

Tuesday July 28, 2020

A

n arson attempt on the Guyana's Human Rights Association (GHRA) building located at Hadfield and Austin Place was foiled by publicspirited neighbours.

According to reports, the attempted arson

neighbour when his cousin who was also outside, decided to check up on his little brother in the bottom flat of the house.

Upon entering the house the child noticed smoke emanating from one of the rooms.

Driven by curiosity he investigated a little more and realized that it was fire. The child then rushed out to alert his grandmother.

Accompanied by her neighbour she entered the house to see if the child's claim was true and to rescue h i s l i t t l e b r o t h e r. A n emergency call was made to

the fire department.

Meanwhile the neighbour attempted to contain the blaze with a garden hose attached to a pipe in the yard, but the smoke was too much as the fire spread quickly forcing him to retreat.

Firefighters responded promptly to extinguish the blaze but could not save the house from being destroyed.

The family lost all their personal belongings and was only able to retrieve a few kitchen utensils and a bunch of keys for a house belonging to a relative living overseas. They have since relocated to that house.

The scorched front door of the building

The remains of the burnt tyre that was ignited at the front door of the building

attack took place at around 02:00Hrs on Sunday last.

In a press release sent out by GHRC, it was detailed that the perpetrator/s smashed thirteen of the building's glass windows and ignited a tire at its front door.

Neighbours were alerted by the sound of broken glass and began shouting causing the arsonist or arsonists to flee.

The nearby residents then quickly formed a bucket brigade and managed to extinguish the fire, saving the building.

Both fire officers, and policemen from the Alberttown Police Station, have since launched an investigation into the matter.

Tuesday July 28, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 28, 2020

Tuesday July 28, 2020

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

IPL 2020: Emirates Cricket Board waits for India government nod to ‘ink the final deal’ with BCCI

Twenty matches of the 2014 IPL were also played in the UAE. (BCCI)

Tuesday July 28, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You'll find that your brain is extra sharp today and you have a greater sense of clarity regarding your purpose in life. It could be that your nurturing instinct is high.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) One of the important lessons of the day for you is to remember that emotions are powerful things to recognize and honor. Don't discount your feelings.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You'll find that your brain is extra sharp today and you have a greater sense of clarity regarding your purpose in life. It could be that your nurturing instinct is high

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Someone may be calling you on certain behaviors today. It could be that your aggressive nature rubs someone the wrong way and they simply don't have thick enough skin to take it.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your thinking is clear today and you'll find that it's right in sync with who you are. Find your strength in conversations in which you display your keen insight into the situation at hand.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) It's OK to be wrong. If you know you've made a mistake, feel free to admit it. Don't let your ego stand in the way of progress.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Be careful about being too critical today, Leo. Yo u ' r e l i k e l y t o t u r n people away if you aren't careful with how you express yourself.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Your mental ability could be rather sluggish and lazy today. It could be that you aren't feeling as sharp as you'd like, Virgo. This is most likely a sign that you simply need to slow down and relax.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your mind is thinking quite clearly today, Sagittarius.

You'll discover that you have a keen ability to tune into the subtle energies that are moving through your life right now.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your receptivity to new ideas is stronger than usual today. Listen to what people say and remember that you can learn from every person you meet. There's a lesson in every situation.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your mental clarity is astounding today, Aquarius.

You'll find that your pattern of thinking reflects exactly who you are at the core of your being.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Tune into the thoughts of others, Pisces. Focusing only on yourself means you're missing the beauty and wisdom that come from other people.

ESPNcricinfo - The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) is waiting for the formal nod from the Indian government to “ink the final deal” with the BCCI, after receiving an official letter of intent from the Indian board for hosting the 2020 edition of the IPL. “Should get it [the permission],” as the IPL Governing Council chairman Brijesh Patel told ESPNcricinfo recently, the two boards have “fully mobilised and have instigated discussions with the relevant authorities, including their respective internal working-committees” to host the tournament between September 19 and November 10, Mubashshir Usmani, ECB secretarygeneral, said in a statement on Monday.

“There are many factors which influence the operations and logistics of hosting what is the world’s most exciting, popular and lucrative [cricket]

Regional track body bans...

From page 23 organising committee for the games. An email sent to a spokesperson for the ministry on Sunday night was not immediately returned.

Barnes said the sanctions are especially detrimental for Cayman’s professional athletes, like Kemar Hyman.

Hyman would be unable to participate in most – if any – international track meets until the matter is resolved.

“This has some kind of psychological effect on them as well,” Barnes said of Cayman’s athletes.

tournament. This is a massive movement of people and equipment and we now need to bring in the experts to discuss all aspects of UAE hosting the IPL,” Usmani said.

“This includes the Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah Sports Councils, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah Tourism Bodies and the respective Government entities - such as the Police Forces and the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, all who have had strong, proven experience in such activities and we will work together to ascertain the best practices to support and deliver on a successful edition.”

It’s not a completely new experience for the ECB, as the first 20 games of the 2014 edition were held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah because of the Indian general elections. This time, of course, the presence of Covid-19 has added a different dimension to the organisation.

“Firstly, we are extremely pleased with how the UAE government responded to the virus, which was as early as February and we continue to see encouraging numbers across the country - in decreasing cases and increasing recoveries,” Usmani said. “Secondly, we will fully support any requirements stipulated by the relevant Health Authorities in regards to Covid-19 safety measures and management.

“We have a sound, solid understanding of what is required, and to whom we need to consult and engage with from this early stage through to close of the tournament. UAE boasts some of the best practice facilities and stadia in the world across three-Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah), which we are confident will be more than adequate to support the eight-team tournament.”

PAGE 22

Tuesday July 28, 2020

Kaieteur News

England v Ireland to kick off World Cup Super League on July 30 ESPNcricinfo - It has been delayed by a couple of months, but the inaugural ICC Cricket World Cup Super League will finally get going on July 30 when England and Ireland face off in the first of three ODIs in Southampton.

Featuring 13 teams - the top 12 and Netherlands, who qualified by winning the ICC World Cricket Super League 2015-17 - the league will see each side play four home and four away three-match ODI series in a fixed timeframe, with the top seven sides apart from hosts India earning automatic qualification for the next 50-over World Cup, to be played in OctoberNovember 2023.

Each team gets ten points for a win, five for a tie, no result or abandonment and none for a loss. The five sides failing to qualify directly will play along with five Associate sides in the World Cup Qualifier 2023, with two teams from the Qualifier making it to the ten-team World Cup. “The league will bring

Andrew Balbirnie’s Ireland will take on England in Southampton. (PA Images via Getty Images) relevance and context to ODI cricket over the next three years, as qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is at stake,” Geoff Allardice, ICC’s general

Rain holds up England as West Indies ponder Wisden Trophy escape plan ESPNcricinfo - England’s attempts to push for victory in the decisive third Test against West Indies were held up by the Manchester weather, with no play possible on the fourth day. England must win the series to regain the Wisden Trophy before it is replaced by the new Richards-Botham version - but the sight of a sodden Old Trafford left West Indies the cheerier of the two teams.

The task for the tourists will now be to try and bat through the final day, against an in-form Stuart Broad - still one away from the 500-wicket mark - and a refreshed England attack.

Jermaine Blackwood’s 95 in the first Test remains the highest individual score for West Indies in the series - but Phil Simmons, the head coach, said after play on the third day that he would be challenging his batsmen to “set themselves targets of getting a big hundred on this wicket”, despite the difficulties of facing Broad and James Anderson, closing in on 600 wickets himself, in helpful conditions.

But while a draw will do for West Indies, England need to win - which makes forecasts for more rain today particularly worrying for the hosts and not the slightest bit dreary for the tourists.

Watching the rain fall at Emirates Old Trafford yesterday, the lyrics and droning chorus line of the Beatles’ “Rain” was particularly

apt.

Weather aside, West Indies had some further good news with confirmation that wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich has been deemed fit to bat after suffering a cut lip when he was hit in the mouth by a Shannon Gabriel delivery which deflected off his gloves on the third day.

They also have plenty of players with points to prove, not least the two men at the crease, Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope.

The trouble for them is they are facing a four-man pace attack with a mix of greatness, on the cusp of greatness, jawdroppingly talented and “Mr Dependable”. You know who they are. So, in the interests of a chance to witness something special from someone let’s hope that today, in the words of that other foursome - the fab kind it’s not so much “Rain, I don’t mind” and more “Shine, the weather’s fine.”

Scores: ENGLAND 369 (Ollie Pope 91, Jos Buttler 67, Stuart Broad 62, Rory Burns 57; Kemar Roach 472, Roston Chase 2-36, Shannon Gabriel 2-77) and 226 for two decl. (Rory Burns 90, Joe Root 68 not out, Dom Sibley 56).

WEST INDIES 197 (Jason Holder 46, Shane Dowrich 37, John Campbell 32, Jermaine Blackwood 26; Stuart Broad 6-31, James Anderson 2-28) and 10 for two.

manager (cricket operations), said in a statement. “The Super League gives cricket fans around the world even more reasons to watch as the drama of league cricket

unfolds.

“The decision last week to move the World Cup back to late 2023 gives us more time to schedule any games lost due to Covid-19 and preserve

the integrity of the qualification process, meaning it will be decided on the field of play, which is important.”

Ireland are already in England, and their preparations haven’t gone particularly well so far. After an intra-squad warm-up game on July 22, they lost to England Lions by seven wickets on July 26 - both matches were played at the Ageas Bowl, the venue for the three ODIs. “It’s a privilege to be playing in the inaugural series of the ICC Men’s World Cup Super League.

It is obviously going to be a huge challenge taking on the team that won the World Cup just a year ago but we have prepared well and have taken confidence from our form over the early months of 2020,” Andrew Balbirnie, the Ireland captain, said in the ICC statement.

“What is important is that we are getting back on the

field. I hope international cricket’s return is steady during these challenging times.

“I look forward to the Irish side putting on a good performance in the upcoming series as we start our campaign for World Cup qualification.”

Eoin Morgan, meanwhile, said, “Given the situation, it will be quite different to the last time we played at home, when we lifted the World Cup at Lord’s, but it’s nice to be starting our journey for the next edition of the tournament.

“I’m sure cricket fans all over the world will be excited to see white-ball cricket resume and we’re looking forward to the challenge.

Ireland are a talented team who have shown over the years that they can beat the best on their day. We look forward to what promises to be an interesting series.”

The three matches will be played on July 30, August 1 and August 4.

TV umpires to call front-foot no-balls in ODI Super League ESPNcricinfo - Front-foot no-balls will be monitored exclusively by the third umpire points and teams will be deducted points for slow over-rates in the ICC World Cup Super League, which begins later this week with the three-match ODI series between England and Ireland.The front-foot no-ball regulation will apply in both ODIs and T20Is and is another step towards taking oversight of the front out of the domain of the on-field umpire in all international cricket. The ICC has previously trialed the technology to monitor bowlers overstepping during the ODI series between India and West Indies. Positive results there led to the ICC deciding to leave the adjudication of front-foot noballs solely with the third umpire during the Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this year in Australia.

“It is something that will be used on Thursday [between Ireland and England] and for the series to be played,” Geoff Allardice, the ICC’s general manager cricket operations, said.

“Certainly there is the importance of the free hit in white-ball cricket, and getting no-balls called accurately.

That is considered to be an important feature. The Cricket Committee has recommended that and it’s in the playing conditions for the World Cup

Super League.”

No-balls for height will continue to be called by the on-field umpires, but their missing line-call no-balls has been a recurring issue in highprofile cricket in recent years.

The ICC first trialed the process in 2016, during Pakistan’s tour of England.

But it has taken time - as well as growing scrutiny of frontfoot calls - to roll it out on a broader scale. On England’s last tour of Sri Lanka, in November 2018, broadcasters counted as many as as many as 12 no-balls missed by the umpires.

In March 2019, umpire S Ravi missed a no-ball off the last ball of a tight IPL game between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

At the World Cup last year, umpires missed a no-ball in Australia’s game against West Indies; Chris Gayle was dismissed off the next ball, which should’ve been a free hit. The ongoing Test series between England and West Indies has also seen a number of no-balls not being called.

The points system in the Super League awards 10 points for a win and five for a tie, no-result or an abandoned game. But as with Test cricket and the World Test Championship, Allardice confirmed a competition points penalty will apply to sides who fail to keep up with the minimum over rates. In the case of the Super League,

The ICC had used the technology to monitor front-foot no-balls solely with the third umpire during the Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this year. (Getty Images) one point will be deducted for every full over a side has fallen short of bowling in the time allowed.

The league will also, Allardice confirmed, allow two DRS reviews per team per innings. That increase from one was announced in June and applies to T20Is as well.

That is part of an interim change to playing conditions - like the ban on using saliva to shine a ball - brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and is due to be reviewed every three months.

“Each format got one extra review,” Allardice said.

“That was the plan originally [that it was an interim measure]. We will see how it plays out, is it creating extra delays in the game or is allowing to get the right decision more often. I think it’s one that will have more debate as we get to the end of the interim period.”

No cut-off date has been finalised at the moment for when the league finishes, though it was envisaged as a two-year league. The top seven sides and India - as hosts - qualify directly to the 2023 World Cup. The ICC has moved that event from a February-March window to October-November, allowing more time for the league to be concluded.

“Obviously we start this league in a time when there is a lot of uncertainty around cricket fixtures generally,” Allardice said. “We bought some more time to be able to play or reschedule series but we’re expecting early 2023 as a cut-off. There is a World Cup Qualifier to be played during 2023 to identify the last two teams to go into the World Cup. But that will be finalised once we get more input from our members and their scheduling.”

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 28, 2020

PAGE 23

GOG need to see sports as tool for Nat development

By Sean Devers National Athletics Coach Lyndon Wilson noted that several things must be done

by Government and Corporate Guyana for Athletics here to improve.

“The difference with Guyana and other countries is that the other countries see sports as a business.

“It’s a business now and they invest lots of money to get there and if we are talking about tourism I think sports is the best way to go for Guyana,” noted Wilson “Government must see sports as a tool for National development. The Government and Corporate Guyana must combine and just don’t see as sport, see as putting us on the map,” Wilson opined.

“Jamaica did it, Usain Bolt, his name will keep ringing for another hundred years ….generations after generations for what he did in Athletics for Jamaica.

Years ago after Jessie Owens, Jamaica was not known in Athletics as a powerhouse they became a silent Island. Here comes Bolt, Veronica Campbell, Shelly Ann Fraser, Everybody wants to go to Jamaica, to train, to eat their food because they want to know what is causing Jamaica to rise to this level,” said Wilson, whose favourite female Athlete is Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce.

“It aches me to know we have Athletes in Guyana and we have businesses here who could use an Athlete for endorsements but they are not utilising that opportunity. I wonder if Government will give tax rebates for their sponsorship.

Athletes don’t only want

National Athletics Coach Lyndon Wilson. support when they going out to compete.

They need support from the day they start training, it’s very costly to train, they need at least three pairs of proper running shows for every three months and one pair costs about $18,000, they need supplements, the right food.

We are seeing more encampments now and that’s why our CARIFTA teams are doing so well but I want see more, even among the seniors,” added Wilson.

Wilson wants to see an All Sports University where our best sportspersons attend at a young age and focus on their sport and education with the best coaches, physiologists and Teachers in Guyana.

“They will know that the school will provide time for them to train and study in whatever sport they play, be it Football, Athletics, Cricket or whatever and get Government and sponsors to cover the cost.

That’s how the Americans and English develop. In 2012 when England won their most medals at the Olympics they had their major Athletes preparing for eight years to get there and took care of

everything for them.

That means Athletes will be comfortable and just focus on their studies and sport. Of course they will benefit but they are performing for their Country which will get the glory. We could produce top Athletes from right here,” continued the AAA level 3 Coach.

“Proper facilities and more qualified Coaches working with same development plan in their respective sport disciplines is needed. “ We d o n ’ t n e e d sportspersons who are just talented with a bat, a football or on the track, they must be highly educated that will help them develop technically and mentally at a much faster rate,” the 51year-old opined.

Wilson is not a big advocate for overseas scholarships.

“A lot of people think if an Athlete is running well they can earn a Scholarship but Scholarships go with ability and your education and a lot of people have this myth that sportspersons will turn out to be a dunce.

Even teachers now are refusing to sit behind someone who wants to make sports their career and help them develop academically.

For you to get a scholarship the Athlete has to be exceptionally good and show the inclination of being a leading runner in the world in two or three years.

If the Athlete does not possess those times or distances at that early age it will be difficult for them to get a scholarship without a sound educational background.

Some may be able to slip

in without that background because they show exceptional quality times.

Gaining a Scholarship is not as easy as some believe, they have to sit and talk to people like me; Coaches, Administrators.

Scholarships can be good and bad and I argue this a lot with my Administrators at AAG level, sometimes our own talent can be nurtured right here. We just need the right facilities, the right level of competition.

Scholarship where Guyana is concerned is not about building an Athlete it’s about building an individual to go out and live a better life.

They will gain a degree or diploma, they will be able to stay in the States and a job which is not a bad thing.

But the real reason for a Scholarship is debatable because many times those Colleges just want these Athletes to make a name for the College.

I do research on Colleges wanting Guyanese Athletes and a lot of times the Coach may want to maintain his job so he will try to sneak in two or three Guyanese there because they are exceptionally good at some Event in his area of coaching but after would that Coach stick with that Athlete to help to beyond College level? I can’t say yes.

Winston George qualified from here, they are other Athletes who can qualify from here, people like Daren Fraser, Leslain Baird the Javelin thrower.

We have the resources but we need facilities if we can get the two together we could produce world class Athletes right here.

“The difference with the

- Says Nat Athletics Coach Wilson Wilson with one of his Athletes.

sportspersons of today and in the 1980’s and 90s will be two-fold for me. This generation has technology at their fingertips. Technique wise you could go on you tube as see how something is done, they can go on their phone or go on the computer and see what to do.

Now they have replays showing how you came off the starting blocks or that you did not move your foot across enough and that is why you edged the ball.

In our time we listened more because there was no technology available to show you how it was done.

Back then we had a black and white TVs with no replays.

Back in the days the sportspersons were mentally tougher because they had to listen to sports on the Radio

and use the description of the commentators to imagine what technique was used for that particular play and go and try to execute it when you go to play. We read a lot also which develops concentration and better understanding of what you read.

The youngsters now watch sports on TV and only remember the end results; the six or the perfect finish to a 100 meters’ sprint and quickly forget the rest before those moments.

So I would say in our time we were mentally stronger, now they take things from granted since they get help from technology,” concluded Wilson who enjoys reading and watching sports and a bit of news on TV.

Regional track body bans Cayman’s athletics association Cayman Compass Cayman’s track and field athletes have been banned from participating in sanctioned competitions, according to a letter from Cayman Islands Athletics Association President Lance Barnes obtained by the Cayman Compass.

The North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) – the regional athletics governing body – has sanctioned the CIAA over money it says Cayman’s 2019 CARIFTA local organising committee owes to several countries’ athletics federations, Barnes said.

“It’s very embarrassing.

Not only is it embarrassing n a t i o n a l l y, i t ’s a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l embarrassment,” Barnes said.

The sanction prevents any athlete from the Cayman Islands from participating in any NACAC and World Athletics athletic event, including the Olympic Games, according to the letter.

The CARIFTA championships were held in April 2019.

Barnes said the issue stems from roughly US$50,000 NACAC says C a y m a n ’ s C A R I F TA organising committee needs

to refund other NACAC member federations. Those federations would have paid local organisers a “levy” of $150 per athlete, coach and other team official who planned to travel to Cayman for the CARIFTA games.

That fee is meant to help cover food and accommodations.

Some countries, however, brought “extra” officials with them, according to Barnes. Upon arriving, Barnes said, those federations should have paid the local organising committee the original $150 plus another $100 per official per night, according to NACAC policy. That

money would help the local organising committee offset the cost of housing those officials.

Instead, Barnes said, local organisers told visiting teams not to pay the additional $100 and instead to cover 100% of housing those officials. That “contravened NACAC standing policy”, according to the letter.

Barnes did not know how many regional member federations are involved, but estimated it to be fewer than 10.

Sports Ministry Chief Officer Joel Francis was head of Cayman’s local (Continued on page 19)

The sanction prevents any athlete from the Cayman Islands from participating in any NACAC and World Athletics athletic event, including the Olympic Games.

PAGE 24

Tuesday July 28, 2020

Kaieteur News

Champions Barbados Tridents open defence against SKN Patriots as CPL bowls off August 18 - Guyana Amazon Warriors tackle Trinbago SportsMax The Barbados Tridents will begin the defence of their Hero CPL title when they take on St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on the evening of August 18, as the 2020 season bowls off in Trinidad and Tobago next month. In the opening match on the day, 2019 runners up Guyana Amazon Warriors will take on three-time champions Trinbago Knight Riders.

All 33 matches will be played in Trinidad & Tobago, with all matches taking place across two stadia and behind closed doors. The Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba will host 23 games, including the semi-finals and final, while the Queen’s Park Oval in Portof-Spain will host the other 10 matches.

The tournament will take place behind closed doors in a bio-secure environment with a series of stringent protocols in place to protect those involved in the tournament and the wider

population from the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

“This year will be a different CPL, but the standard will be higher than ever,” said Damien O’Donohoe, the Hero CPL’s CEO. “We have seen the appetite for live sport since it has returned after a prolonged absence, and the interest in CPL will be higher than ever with it being the first franchise T20 tournament to return.”

Meanwhile, fans will have to wait until game 22 for a repeat of last year’s final with the Tridents taking on the Amazon Warriors.

CPL’s COO, Pete Russell expressed gratitude to the government of Trinidad and Tobago for hosting the tournament that had faced the possibility of postponement because of the pandemic.

“We would like to express our gratitude to the government of Trinidad &

Knight Riders in first match of the day

Tobago for helping us to put on this tournament in such difficult circumstances,” he said.

“We are delighted that we are able to deliver a tournament that is ensuring the safety of the public and the players and that will be of such a high standard.”

Hero CPL 2020 Fixtures: Brian Lara Cricket Academy Tues August 18: 10 am Trinbago Knight Riders v Guyana Amazon Warriors 5:30pm: Barbados Tridents v St Kitts & Nevis Patriots Wed Aug.19: 10 am Jamaica Tallawahs v St Lucia Zouks 5:30pm: Guyana Amazon Warriors v St Kitts & Nevis Patriots Thurs Aug 20: 10 am St Lucia Zouks v Barbados Tridents 5:30pm: Trinbago Knight

Qatar interested in hosting Olympics, possibly in 2032 DUBAI (Reuters) - Qatar, the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, announced on Monday it would also like to stage the Olympics, possibly in 2032.

The Gulf Arab state’s Olympic committee said it submitted a request to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to join the phase of “continuous dialogue” about hosting a future Games.

Oil-rich Qatar is increasingly keen to host major sporting events, and has already welcomed world athletics championships, though scorching desert temperatures during parts of the year have caused some anxiety in the sports world.

“It is this proven trackrecord and wealth of experience, along with our desire to use sport to promote peace and cultural exchange, that will form the basis of our discussions with the Commission,” Qatar Olympic Committee President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani said in a statement.

The Olympics have never been hosted in the Middle East, and Qatar will be the first nation in the region to host soccer ’s biggest showpiece.

It has invested billions of dollars in preparing for the 2022 soccer World Cup. However, human rights groups have criticised the treatment of migrant workers.

Riders v Jamaica Tallawahs Sat Aug 22: 10 am St Kitts & Nevis Patriots v St Lucia Zouks 5:30pm: Guyana Amazon Warriors v Jamaica Tallawahs Sun Aug 23: 10am Trinbago Knight Riders v Barbados Tridents 5:30pm: Guyana Amazon Warriors v St Lucia Zouks Queen’s Park Oval Tues August 25: 10am St Kitts & Nevis Patriots Barbados Tridents 5:30pm: Jamaica Tallawahs v Guyana Amazon Warriors Wed August 26: 10am St Lucia Zouks v Trinbago Knight Riders 5:30pm: Barbados Tridents v Jamaica Tallawahs Thurs August 27: 10am St Lucia Zouks v St Kitts &

Nevis Patriots 5:30pm: Guyana Amazon Warriors v Trinbago Knight Riders Sat August 29: 10am Barbados Tridents v Trinbago Knight Riders 5:30pm: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots v Jamaica Tallawahs Sun August 30: 10am Barbados Tridents v St Lucia Zouks 5:30pm: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots v Guyana Amazon Warriors Brian Lara Cricket Academy Tues September 1: 10am Jamaica Tallawahs v Trinbago Knight Riders 5:30pm: Guyana Amazon Warriors v Barbados Tridents Wed September 2, 10am Trinbago Knight Riders v St Kitts & Nevis Patriots

5:30pm: St Lucia Zouks v Guyana Amazon Warriors Thurs September 3: 10am Jamaica Tallawahs v St Kitts & Nevis Patriots 5:30pm: Barbados Tridents v Guyana Amazon Warriors Sat September 5: 10am Trinbago Knight Riders v St Lucia Zouks 5:30pm: Jamaica Tallawahs v Barbados Tridents Sun September 6: 10am St Kitts & Nevis Patriots v Trinbago Knight Riders 5:30pm: St Lucia Zouks v Jamaica Tallawahs Tues September 8: TBC Semi final 1 (1st v 4th) Tues 8 September, TBC Semi final 2 (2nd vs 3rd) Thurs 10 September, TBC Final

Bloomfield delighted with his fastest-ever 400m opener SportsMax - Despite a cramping hamstring Akeem Bloomfield uncorked his fastest ever season opener while winning the 400m at the Back To The Track: Clermont meeting in Florida on Friday.

The 22-year-old quartermiler ran a world-leading 45.07 to win ahead of Josephus Lyles, brother to 200m World Champion Noah Lyles, who was timed in 45.40. For Bloomfield, it was a solid follow up performance coming up after his 20.8 200m just over a week ago.

“I feel satisfied with my 45.07 season opener. It is the

fastest I have ever opened my season in the 400m,” said the former Auburn man, who suggested that he could have gone even faster.

“I could not execute the race in the manner I wanted to due to my hamstring cramping during the race but I just kept a steady pace and tried to finish strong so to see a time of 45.07 is a good enough result for me.”

Bloomfield, who has a personal best of 43.94, 0.01 outside Jamaica’s national record indicated that the run was a sign that training has been going according to plan,

despite the pandemic lockdown “Training has been going fairly well. We have been back on the track for about a month and we are just trying to make up for the time we lost during lockdown due to the coronavirus,” he said.

Bloomfield was not the only Jamaican winner at the meet last Friday night as World U20 silver medallist Britany Anderson racing against sisters Tiffany Porter and Cindy Ofili, ran 12.82 to take the 100m hurdles.

Porter was second in 12.92 while Ofili clocked 12.95 for third.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah celebrates after winning the Club World Cup versus Flamengo at the Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach) The Qatari government has said it does not tolerate unscrupulous treatment of workers. Qatar’s Doha had also unsuccessfully bid for the 2016 and 2020 Olympics.

“The IOC... welcomes the interest recently expressed by Qatar, which is the latest country to enter the new dialogue phase,” the International Olympic Committee said in a statement.

The IOC has changed the bidding process in recent years to reduce costs and make it more attractive to interested cities, who now enter into an initial discussion with the IOC to see whether the Olympics would be a fit for them.

“These are ongoing, noncommittal discussions that are not necessarily related to a specific edition of the Olympic Games or the Youth Olympic Games, and are an opportunity to explore a project without committing extensive time and resources,” the IOC said.

There is no deadline for a decision to be made, though usually cities are given at least seven years in advance to prepare for hosting the Games.

Several other countries have expressed an interest for the 2032 summer Olympics including Indonesia, Australia, India and Germany, among others.

Despite a cramping hamstring Akeem Bloomfield uncorked his fastest ever 400m season opener on Friday last.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday July 28, 2020

PAGE 25

Guyana Senior Men’s team to compete in new 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup preliminary round

T

he Guyana Senior Men’s National Team will compete in a new preliminary round of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup next July, under an expanded format which will effectively mark the Golden Jaguars’ second consecutive appearance at the region’s biggest football tournament.

Four out of 12 teams from the qualification round will progress to the final 16 round of the Gold Cup, with all preliminary and final stage matches to be played in the United States in July and August next year.

The Golden Jaguars made history in 2019 as the first senior men’s team from Guyana to qualify for the Gold Cup, finishing third in a tough group containing runners-up United States, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago.

The new preliminary Gold Cup round will be supported by the same level of production, match protocol and promotion as the final 16 round, offering a significant international

platform for Guyana and its football brand, with the Golden Jaguars’ matches to be made available to millions of viewers all over the world.

“I am very proud of the players, coaching staff and Technical Development team,” said Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde.

“The positive performance during the Nations League campaign, which allowed us to be in this position, was indeed a tremendous team effort.

M y h e a r t f e l t appreciation goes out to the fans, media, sponsors, the Government of Guyana and other stakeholders for their unwavering support.”

“This is truly a welcome announcement and I would like to invite all of Guyana to work with us over the next 11 months, to prepare our beloved Jaguars to make history once again at the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup.” Following a positive Nations League competition, including a memorable away draw

Guyana’s starting X1 vs Jamaica, CNL Sept. 9, 2019. against Jamaica, Guyana had been scheduled to compete in “Road to Gold Cup” final qualification matches in the

first half of this year, but the fixtures were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 12 teams due to compete in those matches

will now take part in the Gold Cup preliminary round, starting on July 2. The final round of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup will take

place between July 10 and August 1. Concacaf will announce further details of the format and match schedule in August.

GABA partners with Elaine Thomson-Herah on windy SRS for ‘Tricks for 10.73: ‘I have never lost confidence’ SportsMax - Elaine Kicks’ challenge Thompson-Herah never lost Elaine

Basketball players will get the chance to display their ability to make the trick shots but in a timely fashion if they are to win.

Strategic Recruitment Solutions Inc. and the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) announced yesterday the commencement of their first collaborative trick shot challenge of the year, titled, ‘Tricks for Kicks’.

In a release to the media, GABA described the challenge as a, “Fun one and at the same time very competitive.”

The challenge is open to all basketball players and they will be given a total of five ‘Trick Shots’ per week to complete within 10 minutes in any particular order.

The player to compete the challenge the fastest each week will walk away with a brand new pair of basketball sneakers, compliments of Strategic Recruitment Solutions Inc. (SRS).

The event will run for two consecutive weeks beginning July 27-August 1 (week one) and week two from August 2 to August 8.

Holly Persaud, Corporate Human

Resources Manager of SRS, explained that, “We are very excited to be part of this initiative and as a local content company we have a local tie with GABA. Since the prevalence of covid-19, we thought that it would be a great time to roll out this initiative so persons can have the exercise and I’m sure everyone will be excited to be part of this.”

Head of GABA; Jermaine Slater signaled players to get ready for this event and noted that if persons need any additional information, they can head over to GABA’s Facebook page.

See full details on how to win the challenge below: Complete the 5 trick shots the quickest before the ten minute time limit elapses.

Or If no participant completes all 5 trick shots within the 15 minutes time limit, the winner will be the person who completes the most shots the quickest before the time limit elapses.

belief in her abilities even after struggling with an injury that has caused her to miss out on podium finishes at the last two major championships.

That confidence was on display on Saturday at the third and final Velocity Fest meet at the Ashenheim Stadium at Jamaica College when the 2016 double Olympic champion sped to a win in the 100m in 10.73 leaving Sprintec’s Shashalee Forbes (11.05) and MVP’s Srabani Nanda (11.51) in her wake.

The only disappointment was that the time was aided by a trailing wind of 3.0 m/s but it was still the fastest time by a female sprinter under all conditions for 2020.

The time was an improvement on the 11.19s she ran on July 18 at the same venue.

“I have never lost confidence in myself. I always pray for health and fitness,” she told Sportsmax.TV, highlighting that pandemic lockdown has had her craving competition.

Thompson-Herah

“It feels great to return to the track,” she said. “You develop that hunger being not being able to compete after you’ve been training for so long. This helps to put more perspective on training and preparation as well as give benchmarks for the coach to work from,” she said.

Thompson-Herah was not the only standout at the meet on Saturday.

Her MVP club-mate, Julian Forte, followed up his impressive 10.03s while the 100m a week ago, broke through the 10-second barrier for the first time in three years, with 9.96 while defeating his celebrated compatriot Yohan Blake who was timed in 10.07s.

The times were aided by

a trailing wind of 2.1m/s just above the legal limit of 2.0 m/s.

Nesta Carter, who ran in a separate heat, had the fastest wind-legal time of 10.18s (1.6m/s).

The Women 200m also p r o d u c e d s o l i d performances as Bahamian Anthonique Strachan of MVP stopped the clock at 22.72s to defeat Natasha Morrison (23.68) and Michae Harriott of GC Foster (23.90).

Janieve Russell also seemed to be returning to full fitness as she ran 51.67 to win the 400m ahead of Shericka Jackson, 51.87.

Rushell Clayton, the 2019 World Championship 400m hurdles bronze medallist was third in 52.67.

Old Trafford in the rain.

(ESPNcricinfo Ltd)

rt S po

Rain holds up England as West Indies ponder Wisden Trophy escape plan

The umpires inspect the pitch as rain delays the start of play.

(Martin Rickett/Pool via Reuters)

Barbados Tridents will begin the defence of their Hero CPL title against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on August 18.

Champions Barbados Tridents open defence against SKN Patriots as CPL bowls off August 18 - Guyana Amazon Warriors tackle Trinbago Knight Riders in first match of the day

Guyana Senior Men’s team to compete in new 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup preliminary round 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.