K
AIETEUR
Letter to Commissioner of Police... Tuesday Edition
Claudette Singh acted on own accord p. 9
NEWS
Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
June 02, 2020 - Vol. 13 No. 22
Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Price $80
- PRO says wasn't a Commission's decision
Online readership yesterday 152,412
Top Cop gives false information to Claudette Singh centre
Justice Singh's Endgame
- Three persons already contradict info
J
ola
anna Andre ersaud P Indira
s Bh o m A . Mr
Mingo still p.3 Alleged killer of employed by elderly woman flushed out p.7 GECOM - PRO - Currently working as a of ceiling Region Five registration officer
If present and future generations are to benefit from oil, Guyana has to embrace radical transparency
p. 16
- Natural resources sector governance pioneer, Daniel Kaufmann
ustice Claudette Singh must cease with her double standards. It is contemptible that she should be pursuing frivolous and unsubstantiated allegations while she refuses to summon the police to take action against the downright and deliberate fraud committed by Clairmont Mingo. Justice Singh is no stranger to law. She was a former judge and a legal advisor to the police. The recount has provided irrefutable evidence, of a blatant and barefaced attempt to rig the elections in favour of APNU+AFC.] Instead of moving with alacrity on the fraud perpetuated during the tabulation of the votes of District 4, Justice Singh is now looking into the fairy tale about migrated persons voting. She ought to know that this is virtually impossible given the systems that are in place. It is incomprehensible that she should be writing to the Commissioner of Police, who is the Chief Immigration Officer, asking him to verify whether certain persons were in the jurisdiction on Elections Day, without first verifying that these persons voted. The latter would have at least established a prima facie basis for probing the allegations. It was Justice Claudette Singh who had intoned that “He who alleges must prove”. Yet, without any proof she has proceeded to investigate and, of all things, without first determining whether those alleged to be out of the jurisdiction had indeed voted. This is an effective retreat from her demand that those who allege must prove. Mingo's rigging is no allegation. There is indisputable evidence of this in the possession of GECOM. The GECOM Chair is looking but not seeing. She cannot be unaware that the Secretariat has been compromised. She should not be blind to the fact that her own performance has raised questions about where she stands. Her most recent actions are incendiary and serve to cast unnecessary further suspicion over the very Elections Day which she described as grand, and with only a few hiccups which were quickly resolved. Justice Singh has an obligation to be fair and evenhanded. She must be made to answer why the fraudulent declarations of Mingo are not being investigated by the police. The question that must be asked is: What is her end game?
Kaieteur News
PAGE 02
Continental Park man accused of driving away from Leonora roadblock - threatening police with hockey stick
A
n East Bank Demerara man who police accused of driving away from a control point earlier last week has been slapped with a number of charges. The driver, Keron Daniels, 26, was caught on camera abusing police and even waving a hockey stick at them. According to the police in a statement, the driver of motor car PYY 4683, and a female occupant, would have allegedly had several encounters with ranks of the Guyana Police Force at Leonora and on the western end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge. They were charged for breaching of the curfew and disorderly behaviour, and appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Vreed-enHoop Magistrate's Court on Thursday. T h e d r i v e r, K e r o n Daniels, 27, of lot 136 Continental Park, East Bank Demerara and the female
Drove away: Keron Daniels
occupant, Latoya Stanford, 32, a teacher of lot 19 U i t v l u g t , We s t C o a s t Demerara, were charged with two counts of breaching the curfew. They both pleaded guilty to the charges and fined a total of $26,250. According to the police, Daniels was
also charged with disorderly behaviour – he pleaded not guilty and was released on $15,000 bail. His case has been adjourned to August 27, 2020 for trial. The police said that the defendants' first encounter with the police was in front of the Leonora Police Station
about 20:40hrs on May 27th where the driver was “very abusive” towards the ranks who exercised “much restraint after which he drove away”. However, the vehicle was later intercepted, at about 21:30hrs, at the Harbour Bridge approach. Stanford was in the car as well. “The driver's actions at Leonora was [sic],” the Police stated, “ recorded and posted on social media platform, Facebook by someone. It must be noted that the driver has been summoned by the police recently for similar breaches.” In the video, Daniels was heard telling the police officers to come and move him and demanding his keys, which police had taken. He was heard using expletives and was shown one time wielding a hockey stick threateningly. He eventually wound up his window with the video ending shortly after.
Tuesday June 02, 2020
101 persons arrested for breaching curfew in Berbice - Regional Commander Brutus
R
e g i o n a l Commander for C Division of the Guyana Police Force, Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus stated, during a press briefing that there have been 101 arrests to date for the breaching of the COVID-19 curfew order Police in Berbice have had their work cut out during the curfew period thus far. Amid the rising number of novel coronavirus cases in Guyana, there has been a cause for concern but citizens appear to be carrying about their lives as normal, despite the risks of contracting the virus that has killed hundreds of thousands worldwide and 12 in Guyana. Brutus disclosed that since the publishing of the gazetted order to implement the 6:00 am - 6:00 pm curfew "there are persons who have still not familiarised themselves with the curfew rules and that is understood because not everyone looked
Berbice commander, Calvin Brutus at the news or read the newspapers so we are still exercising some amount of flexibility depending on the excuse provided at the time". He added that as of Sunday they have made 101 arrests with some appearing before the court and charged while the others still waiting (continued on page 7)
Kaieteur News
Tuesday June 02, 2020
PAGE 03
Mingo still employed by - Currently working as a Region GECOM - PRO Five registration officer C
lairmont Mingo, the Returning Officer (RO) for Region Four – and the man at the centre of manipulating votes of his district's electoral to favor the governing coalition, APNU+AFC – has been discovered to still be under the employment of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), as disclosed by the GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward. During a long awaited briefing with the press yesterday, Ward was keen to highlight that Mingo has been relocated to fill the position as the registration officer at one of GECOM's Region Five offices. She noted that she was unaware of the reporting aspects of his office, while adding that, “…as you know we at our respective offices
Region Four RO, Clairmont Mingo have been complying with the COVID-19 guidelines too, and so the frequency at which staff report at those outlying areas and regions, I will not be able to say.” Ward could also not say whether the Commission,
which is headed by Justice (ret'd) Claudette Singh, is moving in the direction of requesting explanations from Mingo regarding his two infamous declarations, dated March 5th and 13th. Chief Justice Roxanne G e o r g e - Wi l t s h i r e h a d declared Mingo's first declaration as unlawful on the basis that he did not follow Section 84 of the Representation of the People Act. The Act outlines a process whereby the tabulation of the votes is done in the presence of certain persons required to be there. Subsequent to her decision the Chief Justice George-Wiltshire issued an order for Mingo to return to the legally prescribed procedure for tabulating the votes for the Region. Mingo's second declaration, which is marked
by what multiple stakeholders have outright labeled “rigging” is currently in abeyance, and with the governing coalition arguing that it should still be used to declare them as victor for the March 2 General and Regional Elections. So far, this newspaper has verified Mingo's vote manipulation to have impacted 25 ballot boxes, all coming from polling places on the East Bank of Demerara. The manipulation occurred during the tabulation process when instead of calling out the numbers reflected on the original SOPs at various polling stations, the Returning Officer produced figures that invariably added votes to the Coalition and in many instances subtracted votes from the opposition.
Kaieteur News' analysis of the 25 ballot boxes shows that Mingo's tabulation subtracted 341 votes from PPP/C, and added 1,214 votes to APNU+AFC. This amounts to a total variance of 1,555 votes from the corresponding statements of poll. Kaieteur News' analysis is based on audio recordings, published by The Citizenship Initiative (TCI) Executive Member, Shaz Ally, of Mingo's General Election numbers being called out during the Kingston tabulation, for 21 ballot boxes, and figures supplied for four ballot boxes by the Head of the Organization of American States (OAS) Observer Mission, Bruce Golding, in the mission's preliminary report on Guyana's 2020 Elections to the OAS Permanent Council.
Presidential Candidate of the Liberty & Justice Party (LJP), Lenox Shuman on Sunday called for an investigation to be launched into the conduct of Mingo. During a press briefing Shuman expressed, “Instead of examining the unsubstantiated allegations of the Coalition an investigation should be conducted by the Court on Mingo's wrongdoings… We have seen in this tabulation centre is that Mingo's numbers in themselves were completely flawed, inflated. Yet there has been no attempt made to address that issue—the fraudulent declaration by Mr. Mingo. We are curious to know if Madam Chair is going to ask the police to conduct a criminal investigation into the conduct of Mr. Mingo, and whoever else his cohorts may be.”
Aubrey Norton's false claim about Joint Services ballots debunked By Shikema Dey
A
false claim by P N C R Executive Aubrey Norton that in APNU+AFC strongholds, a vast majority of unstamped ballots were discovered including the more than 8,000 ballots cast by members of the Joint Services was debunked by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward. Norton on May 22, during an engagement with the press had claimed that “that there is a close correlation between unstamped ballots and APNU+AFC strongholds.” The PNCR Executive told the press that “We have seen that, wherever there is intermixing for the Joint Services, a large amount of ballots have not been stamped. Let us understand that the joint services is 8,000+ votes.” He alleged that it was a “strategic plot” by the Opposition People's Progressive Party (PPP) and Presiding Officers at varying polling stations where the Joint Services ballots were
intermixed. “I believe strategically, the PPP chose those intermixing centres, and worked with the POs they control, to ensure that those ballots weren't stamped. So I come back to the theme, clearly, these are not anomalies. Clear evidence of fraud and rigging,” Norton said. His claim was also published on May 22 by the Department of Public Information (DPI) who outright claimed in an article, that the “irregularities” discovered by the party are instances of “electoral fraud” which included “the more than 8,000 unstamped ballots of the disciplined forces.” Wa r d d u r i n g a n appearance at the Recount Media Center on Monday clarified that most of the ballots rejected were for varying reasons other than the missing GECOM sixdigit stamp. So far, for the recount, a total of 1,536 rejected ballots across the five tabulated regions were discovered. Of that figure, 380 came from District One; 251 from District Two; 485 for District Three; 256 for District Five
and 164 from District Seven. For the regional elections, there were a total of 1,927 rejected ballots. The total number of rejected ballots as given by Ward is nowhere in the 8,000 ballpark of unstamped ballots as claimed by the Coalition. Representatives of political parties including the PPP, A New And United Guyana along with The
Citizenship Initiative and The Liberty and Justice Party have all condemned the allegation made by the Coalition and called on the members of the Joint Forces to reject it and focus on the facts. Various representatives from these parties have argued that it would be impossible to pinpoint the votes by the Joint Services
due to the intermixing process. Ward explained that the void ballots discovered, including unstamped ballots, were rejected in some cases because the identity of the voter could be determined while, in other cases, the intention of the voter may not have been clear or a voter may have marked the ballot (continued on page 7)
PNCR Executive Aubrey Norton
PAGE 4
Tuesday June 02, 2020
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Injustice and lawlessness The heat is on as anger flares uncontrollably in America over the George Floyd murder. And that is what it was plain and simple: murder in the first degree. This has gone on too long, been too condoned in many places, too improperly addressed, and too glaring when minorities are victimized and none more than black targets and black sufferers. And, in a similar vein, the venting of wrath, the burning, and the looting have all played out for too long before first a sympathetic, and now appalled, American and global audience. After a time, the prolonged violence against despised authorities and mostly minority property rises to the level of the senseless and counterproductive. It hurts most those who have already felt the stings and wounds of racism, police brutality, poverty, and the disrespect that flows so fluently to bottom-of-the-barrel citizens. This was the view of the Wall Street Journal’s Editorial Board Editorial June 1st editorial titled, “Justice and disorder”. The Journal’s subhead to that editorial reads, “The violence and looting across the US harm poor and minority neighbourhoods the most”. There is a time for everything: To speak up, to protest, to pressure, and to know when to retreat with strong messages sent. The unjustified homicide of George Floyd represents the kind of unwanted situation, one too many, that called for the most furious and energized of reactions. A knee on the neck is already unsanctioned cruelty, and to keep it there for the eternity of eight minutes is an unspeakable, unpardonable and premeditated evil. It would be interesting to watch what will be the judicial disposition of the serious charges against the main perpetrator, Derek Chauvin. What is not so interesting, no longer understandable or laudable, are the sights and sounds of mobs that have succeeded in dominating the news narratives at the expense of everything else. The actions of the concealed provocateurs, the clearly criminal, and the opportunistic exploiters undermine the sturdy efforts of the numerous peaceful people who show solidarity, grief, and outrage via legitimate and no less effective presence. What the violent and the vengeful do is to turn the legitimate concerns and furies into mockeries by the mayhem wreaked. No interests are served, saved for the calculations of those who operate either from a safe distance or behind helpful masks. They have nothing at stake, nothing to lose, and much to gain. There is much booty, distraction from bigger criminal ambitions and projections, and keeping the rages burning at a fever pitch. These function as perfect cover for other present and future unlawful plans and activities. As the Journal’s editorial pointed out, “There are also consequences for black lives when police retreat from policing.” Harvard economist, Roland Fryer, noted that on those occasions when serious police misconduct makes its way into the public sphere, with the attendant investigation by the US Justice Department, police step back, with consequential increases in homicides and felonies in black communities. “It’s costing black lives,” wrote Bryer. All the attention and emphasis are in the post-riot post-mortems, which highlight damage done and the other physical scars that silhouette the aftermath and blight neighbourhoods for decades to come. In this manner, protests feed crime, which leads to still more crime and grimness for those living in wrecked communities. Insurance coverage goes up, prospective business owners are scared and hesitant to invest in such ominous places, and the immigrants and poor and wretched are left to fend for themselves with fewer facilities and less hope. So far, there have been few voices raised in condemnation of the runaway lawlessness. This only fuels the police’ sense of siege, with payback promised. The point of all this is that sharp protest is constructive and progressive, depending on the situation, which the George Floyd murder fits. But when it goes on too long, and too destructively, the interests of the very people being given a voice to are silenced and demeaned. They will be made to feel more and hurt further, through more subtle pressures applied. It is time to pull back.
GECOM Chair should act to reduce tension DEAR EDITOR, The GECOM chair Claudette Singh has come under a lot of fire over recent revelations, some not justified. It may be wise for the chair to hold a press conference to address some concerns raised. This is necessary to reduce tension. I have read harsh criticisms against the Chair with some going as far saying she is compromised and loyal to APNU-led coalition. Many I spoke with cannot concur with this assumption as this is not the Judge I got to know from my readings of court judgments and comments I obtained from engagements with people in the legal profession about the recount process and her professionalism. While my colleagues in various universities and institutions and even election officials in other countries around the world and some
opposition politicians are laying the blame on the Chair for the problems of the original count, one must take cognizance of the challenges facing the chair. Guyana is not a normal country of law and order. It takes courage for someone like Justice Singh or any GECOM chair (Dr. Surujbally had his share of abuses) to stand up to some political figures and members of the commissioners. And it takes significant courage and fortitude to stand up to them and order a recount. All legal luminaries I conversed with, including several in Trinidad and Jamaica, note that inquiring about elections day improprieties does not fall within the remit of a recount. They do not know the rationale behind the query to the Police Commissioner. She may have written the police commissioner to clarify an issue for her personal comfort
and not necessarily for information to be used in the commission. She must be given the benefit of the doubt. There is also a claim that the votes of disciplinary services were not stamped and as such not counted. Thus far, as revealed by the recount, some 2,600 ballots were rejected; of these, less than 100 rejected ballots were not stamped. Legal luminaries note that the Chair’s decision to pursue an investigation of voters would not compromise the recount or prevent a declaration. The law does not allow for an election nullification by GECOM; that can only be done by the court. A press conference would help to clarify this and several other concerns. The chair should face the critics in the media. She must do whatever it would take to make people have greater confidence in GECOM and in her leadership in particular.
She must also act to end all the negative rumours so as to reduce political tensions. Those who dealt with Judge Singh say overall she is a professional who would not be inclined to compromise her integrity. They feel she would make the right decision. Also, people in the legal profession, who I conversed with, feel the Chair will bring the recount to a conclusion. There is no reason to feel otherwise. There are also some political figures who do not think the Chair will do anything to scuttle the recount process. I rather believe the Chair will walk on the right path and be remembered as the mother of democracy in Guyana. To do otherwise would be suicidal to her legacy. It is critical to bring the recount process to an end and let GECOM do the inevitable. Yours Truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram
The word “impossible,” unlike many allows no ambiguity DEAR EDITOR, I am surprised, if not saddened by the strong statement made by the EU Ambassador Fernando Ponz-Canto. He noted that “Election Day process so impressive that it was impossible to cheat,” and then he went on to tell us how simple the electoral process is in his home country, Spain. Things must have changed, but certainly, no Diplomat or any realist can say publicly, that it is impossible to cheat. The word “impossible,” unlike many allows no ambiguity. Impossible therefore, it either flows from a person who is, either, very simple or unaware that unless you have one hundred percent data and information, you ought not to arrive at the dictum that “it was impossible.” As a kind person, I can forgive the Ambassador and say that he is either following the song sheet of an expert choir master or unaware of the genius of citizens, when it comes to General Elections. This genius, skill or proclivity to give your Party an advantage applies to both sides of our political divide and no one including foreigners should succumb to this “holier than Thou” rhetoric bellowed daily by all political parties. His statement of course, has become familiar, coming from the baton of the conductor and choir master. Second, the recount
process, is now in its final stage and it is baffling that the EU Representative should wish to comment at this junction. “Impossible to cheat?” Cheating in its several forms could start long before Election Day and after. Everywhere, if you go to Elections with an imperfect list, you provide opportunities for voter manipulation. To say “it is impossible to cheat,” is either being naïve or just plain, naughty. In Guyana, we are entertaining Ambassadors and others from every continent. These are times of uncertainty and we cannot ignore the diversity of criteria and beliefs extant. So why this dictum from a European high official and Spanish citizen? Excellency Fernando Ponz-Canto, must know that for a plethora of reasons, National Elections don’t always bring a settlement. In his own country Spain, there are political lock-downs (forgive the term). There is an argument among the parties, but who represents democratic socialism, or western style democracy. Because of these contortions, his country has had to walk the torturous road of four elections in four years, in an effort to break the stalemate. Like Guyana, his country remains deeply divided and I don’t know why with this background, he should step out of his crease to say “it is impossible to cheat,” and make statements which
appear to be in tandem with views expressed by only one side of the political divide. I repeat, for the benefit of outsiders and fellow travellers, elections and politics are not the business of angels and saints. Since 1957, every election in Guyana experienced dissatisfaction and the emergence of warring factions and worst, racial divide. Some of us continue to plea that we must recognize the division along ethnic lines, which has been the curse of our nation and only serious dialogue with the purportedly leaders can bring an end to this self-destructive nonsense. Ambassadors and high officials from other countries must have been briefed about our history including the dark, dangerous days of the early 60s and the murderous period, we experienced recently. Not having diplomatic skills, I cannot help feeling that much of the hype, statements and threats coming from certain folks is likely rooted in a deep innate disdain for certain folks. This goes to several centuries where the Europeans exploited Africans and later created a clever divide and rule policy within the Manumitted Africans and Immigrants. This of course has produced conditions where it is alright for representatives of the First World to talk down to us and dismiss our concerns. The Trans-Atlantic Trade with immigration from Madeira, India and China,
were ideal conditions to show distrust and division. Diplomats must be reminded that poor as we may be with no military might, all we ask is to respect our sovereignty and our pride as a people. It might be useful if my hunch is anywhere correct to remember an analysis by Professor Ali A. Mazrui, when he observed “The Martyr in the religious and ideological sphere suffers victimization for his or her beliefs. The martyr in the racial sphere suffers victimization for his or her identity. Christians in ancient Rome were pure belief-martyrs. Africans, during the slave trade were pure identity-martyrs. The Jews in Hitler’s Germany were a combination of the two, since being a Jew is in part a religious thing and partly an ethnic phenomenon. Perhaps, because of that, the Jews have managed in turn their suffering under the Nazis into a religious doctrine, as well as a political resource. But Blacks have neither sacralised their suffering into a sacred doctrine nor exploited it as a political fund.” I hope I can be proved wrong, but are the attitudes and views of those who are exploited and exploiters are still intact centuries after but with much sophistication these days? Look around the world and we still face the old boogey-man by the powerful of “do as I say, not like as I do.” Hamilton Green
Tuesday June 02, 2020
GECOM cannot be responsible for disenfranchising a particular class of elector DEAR EDITOR, The National Recount of ballots cast at the March 2, 2020 elections has revealed a tsunami of questioned ballots that must be resolved before a final declaration. Questioned ballots generally arise during the counting process when a counting agent, or candidate, questions or disputes the allocation of votes to a particular political party. These ballots are marked with a “Q” at the back for a later determination, when a recount is granted, and the initial allocation may be overturned or varied. Counting agents for APNU+AFC have questioned and disputed the allocation of a large number of votes to the PPP/C on the following basis: 1. Elector is deceased; 2. Elector was absent from the jurisdiction and
could not present himself/ herself at the polling station on Election Day; 3. The absence of the Poll Book, with the pertinent entry, and accompanying Oath of Identity form invalidates the vote cast by elector voting without ID; and 4. The absence of the Poll Book, with the pertinent entry, and accompanying Certificate of Employment (COE) invalidates vote cast by elector voting with COE. It is my contention that these are all legitimate and valid reasons to question the allocation of these votes to the PPP/C, or any other political party, and to demand that these votes be nullified and taken away. It is also my understanding that GECOM’s decisions in these matters are final and not subject to the jurisdiction of any court.
With regards to the question of the rejection of Disciplined Services ballots for want of official mark, it is my understanding that the rejection of unstamped ballots was intended as a measure to forestall the unauthorized placement of ballots into the ballot box or “padding” and not a cynical ploy to disenfranchise genuine electors. I do not believe that the non-action, accidental or intended, by a Presiding Officer, whose responsibility it is to affix the official stamp to every ballot paper, should be the basis for disqualifying an otherwise valid ballot. GECOM cannot be responsible for disenfranchising a particular class of elector. This, too, must be reversed. Sincerely, Oscar Dolphin
Desired facility conditions for COVID-19 quarantining DEAR EDITOR, From all reports the Coronavirus maybe airborne and is very aggressive. Based on my training and experience as a healthcare facility engineer please allow me to outline some desired quarantining conditions which ought to apply in this case. Quarantining should be done in single rooms (one person), with standard floor dimensions of 12’ X 10’. The rooms should be under negative pressure and all air should be exhausted, preferably through a hepafilter. Negative pressure can be tested by applying a puff of smoke/powder at the base of the closed room door. If the smoke/powder enters the room this is an indication that the room is under negative pressure.
PAGE 5
Kaieteur News
The reason for this requirement is to prevent contaminated air for entering the hallways/corridors or other parts of the facility where other staff work and so stave off the breathing of infected air. For facilities equipped with central airconditioning systems no return air must be allowed from the rooms being used for quarantining. There should be no ‘raw’ surfaces in the room. This is meant that all surfaces must be painted, tiled, lacquered, laminated, or polished as may be appropriate. Applying such treatment to the surfaces provides for easier and better sanitization. In recent copies of our daily newspapers were photographs of facilities to be used for quarantining. One was an open ward with four
or more beds, another was referred to as an ‘isolation room’ with two dingy looking cots. These do not meet the standards outlined above. These choices were most likely due to the combination of financial stringency, design and/or construction without the requisite healthcare input. Also, from news reports two hotels will be used as quarantine facilities. Normally, hotels too are not constructed to meet such stringent standards. In comparison, it is my opinion that in some cases home quarantining may offer just as good or an even better alternative. To this end the authorities should assess the homes of persons to be quarantined in order to make a more informed decision. Yours faithfully, Abraham David
Am I A Crime To You? A George Floyd Tribute Is my head only filled with rhymes to you? Am I really all but a crime to you? Like, do you only see me as a rapist, murderer, etc? Am I only the negative connotations all the time to you? We share the same food, religion, arts, entertainment, am I really a different kind to you? Do you not sense my fear of dying? I can’t breathe, do I sound fine to you? How can you see the fear in your strength, but not see the fear in my weakness, I am not suppose to have a mind to you? Or I’m still expected to turn the proverbial cheek to your oppressive agendas, clearly I’m suppose to act as ‘blind’ to you?
At what lengths will you go to protect your local terrorists that terrorize my community daily? These Criminals that you give these badges to, they don’t protect, they don’t protect me, and if they do – rarely. We’re scared when we see them, innocent or not. But imagine being scared by the one who suppose to protect me – It’s Crazy! But my numbers are less than that of yours, you passed your unjust laws and bills and policies, you lessen the work I get access to, but turn around and call me lazy. But you say I am a criminal and it is not your hate. You oppress successful regimes, case in point, Haiti. I really just thought it was (Continued on page 6)
Regain the confidence and support of the people instead of doing everything possible to divide us DEAR EDITOR, The APNU+AFC coalition continues to push the narrative that they lost votes due to the number of rejected ballots identified in the March 2, 2020 elections. Listening to the coalition’s agents, one would be led to believe that there was some sort of conspiracy to take votes away from them by rejecting ballots that were cast in their favour. Nothing else could be further from the truth. Ballots are rejected for basically four reasons. 1. Want of an official mark (the six digit stamp) 2. Marked or void for uncertainty (no visible mark for any party) 3. Marked for more than one candidate (self explanatory)
4. Elector identified (Elector writing their name on the ballot) An examination of the last three General Elections clearly shows that the number of rejected ballots have been reducing, as people become more educated of the voting process. The rejection is as follows: In 2011 - 4,481 ballots were rejected. In 2015 - 4,000 ballots were rejected. In 2020 - 3,983 ballots were rejected. The 2020 figures clearly show that the numbers being bandied about by the coalition are a figment of their wild imaginations. An examination for the reasons why those ballots
were rejected clearly shows that roughly 90% are for reasons 2 and 3. Reasons 1 and 4 are the least common reasons for the rejection of ballots. This clearly illustrates that the narrative being peddled by the coalition are all lies. It should also be noted that that for reasons 2 and 3, which are the main reasons why votes are rejected there is no way of knowing who the voter intended to vote for. One would wish that the coalition instead of spouting these fallacies would use the same energy to examine why they lost the elections and work on regaining the confidence and support of the Guyanese population instead of doing everything possible to divide us. Yours truly, Sherwyn Greaves
Breaking historical ground indeed DEAR EDITOR, The claim that Madam Chair is breaking historical ground (“Justice Singh is once again breaking historical ground” KN May 31), has a ring of truth with the alleged secret, clandestine and hushhush letter to the head of
immigration of which it is alleged the opposition commissioners knew nothing about and which only became public knowledge very recently. Breaking historical ground indeed! In an unrelated matter ‘some say Mingo, some say Jagdeo’ rigged elections mantra, (“GTUC wants
recount to reflect “true will” of the people” in another news agency’s report of May 31), all said and saw Mingo not once but twice even defying a court order issued by none other than the Chief Justice. And every day the recount of Region Four brings out the Mingo mantra. Shamshun Mohamed
PAGE 6
Where are those LARGE sums of money going? DEAR EDITOR, Once more the Georgetown Municipality is singing the tune that the old cow died on, which is that they are again broke and will be unable to foot its monthly salaries bill going forward which amounts to a whopping $120 million a month. This time they are blaming the Covid-19 pandemic and I guess will be showing up at the doorsteps of the Communities Ministry and the National Task Force, cap in hand. So why does the city need all of this money for just salaries alone when they hardly provide any municipal services to the residents and businesses of the capital city? The Abattoir has been out of commission for several months now due to its roof caving in as a result of a crane accident, so cattle owners are not benefiting from slaughtering and other food hygiene services. The incinerator ceased to operate many moons ago with the central government having to take over the solid waste disposal responsibilities for the city. Several Day Care Centers and Crèches have been
Tuesday June 02, 2020
Kaieteur News
shuttered in recent years resulting in scores of working mothers in the capital being unable to access care and supervision for their infants and young children whilst they are at work. The municipal markets are not properly secured and are extremely unhygienic, buildings are going up all over the city in violation of building codes and at odds with approved plans. The City Constabulary have all but abdicated their responsibility of securing the city and handed over these duties to the national police. For years now, sanitary inspectors have stopped visiting the premises of both private and business property owners to conduct routine inspections of yards to ensure adequate, safe and healthful conditions and to identify deficiencies and violations, neither are routine inspectional activities of food service establishments to assure safe, wholesome and sanitary food and food products, wherever produced, processed, distributed, transported or served in Georgetown is being carried out, the city is not being fogged for mosquitoes, nor is rodent and vector prevention
being practiced. Maintenance is also wanting when it comes to roads bridges, street lighting; stray animals are not being impounded. Just look at the awful state of the cemetery. All of our drains and gutters are not being dug, nor are all of our parapets being weeded. So why does the city need to dole out $120 million a month for salaries and wages? Should they not just slash their human resources by half? Mr. Mayor do you need all those bloated departments, managers, directors and senior staffers? And, by the way, if one should divide a hundred and twenty million dollars by eight hundred employees, one would get an average of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars per employee which we know the constables, sanitation workers, weeders, clerks, grave diggers, drivers, etc, do not get. So where are those LARGE sums of money going? To the Bigwigs at City Hall or to phantom workers who might have died or migrated? Sincerely, Jermain Johnson
Mr. Ram can revise his figure to 11,928 without fear of contradiction DEAR EDITOR, Christopher Ram’s missive of 31st May asked ”What is the statistical probability of not one of these 9,589 persons detecting a single one of the many thousands who according to Harmon, Norton and Williams committed impersonation on March 2, 2020?” to that number Mr. Ram can add 2339 PPPC agents who certainly would not participate in any attempt to commit electoral fraud. I have participated in numerous PPPC poll agent training sessions and can testify that it is quite detailed in election-day procedures and fraud prevention tips. We have been lectured ad nauseam on keeping a meticulous record of the count, ticking, or drawing lines through the names of those who have already voted, and importantly what rights we have a party poll agents. These rights include
asking to examine ID cards, asking a voter to come closer to compare folio pictures, and/or raising an objection to anyone we suspect to have voted previously as evidenced by remnants of indelible ink on any finger. Vigilance and vociferousness are the strongest themes in those training sessions. APNU/AFC poll agents have been characterized as incompetent by their party and can make their defense of their intelligence and integrity, for me, I can only restate my objection to the implication that I and my fellow PPPC agents would participate in electoral fraud by any action, passive or active. Mr. Ram can revise his figure to 11,928 without fear of contradiction or being accused of using ‘Mingo mathematics’. Respectfully, Robin Singh
...Am I A Crime To You? From page 5 something I said, maybe something I did, but since those equates to nothing, it is clear to me that you just hate me! You call that a constitution, but it defines the builder of this land, me, as less than a man! But history has proven, and science will back me, your science, that I am a man, more than you ever can. Side bar, you not even indigenous in your own land!But you done got me upset, pissed at minimum, you make me sick, I want to scream Like, are my cries not loud enough, are my tears not real? How realer than this do I need to make it seem?My mother cried. Father died. Brother lied, and really and truly, all I ever do is try But nothing is ever enough for you. It’s never good enough to you and all I can ask is why? I’m getting emotional, y’all done made me cry. But From MacBrides to Cooper, Amaud to Tray, or from Bland to Mike Brown It seems as though we are fated to be put
untimely into the grounds, leaving our families with nothing but a frown. Damn how I wish I got to see my mom in that beautiful white gown! She was going to get married, it was to be this weekend, but you decided, that it was time to put her down, but not this time around! I am making a sound!And as I leave, I’ll leave you with a few things; there can be no justice without peace and no peace without justice Then, we ask for constitutional equality, make us 100% humans. All I want is literally JUST THIS! You have trivialized and criminalize my physical existence, for centuries, and you afraid of the looting? And you make that an excuse, call in your National Guards, and you tell them “start the shooting!” You’ve successfully killed our every mother, brothers, sisters and my very son Just Remember, an injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere, to everyone! Jafar Elsadiq
The Chairperson must demonstrate the leadership needed to prevent untruths from taking hold and becoming accepted as truth DEAR EDITOR, The claim by George Gomes, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) and President, Guyana Veterans Legions, in his May 30, 2020 letter in another section of the press, is cause for concern and points to the need for GECOM to take a proactive stand in countering such falsehoods being perpetuated which, if not addressed now, could have serious consequences should the PPP be declared the winner of the elections after the recount is over. In his letter, Mr. Gomes claims that “PPP agents did not stamp the Disciplined Services ballots, as they were required to” and “over eight thousand (8,000) Disciplined Services votes were not stamped in the PPP strongholds”. The Disciplined Services voice “is crying out loud against the effort by the PPP to have GECOM not count their votes in the current recount, because they are unstamped”. These are serious charges which should not be taken lightly as they could have undesired influences on members of the Disciplined Services who are expected to serve loyally any government that is democratically elected. Timothy Jonas, ANUG’s
Chairman, in responding to Mr. Gomes on May 31, 2020, in that paper has debunked these falsehoods being peddled by Gomes and others. In his letter, Mr. Jonas writes “I am alarmed that Col. Gomes would claim that ‘over 8,000 DS votes were not stamped.’ This is an untruth. So far, there have been only 2,673 rejected ballots, and only a minority of those would be as a result of lack of a stamp. Where does Gomes get his number from? I am alarmed that Col. Gomes would add to his lie by blaming imaginary nonstamping on ‘PPP agents’ and locating it in ‘PPP strongholds’. More untruths, but incendiary untruths. The duty to stamp is on the Presiding Officers (PO’s), and from all evidence so far, those PO’s have kept that duty.” GECOM needs to recognize the seriousness of such false claims and have an effective and timely strategy to communicate the facts in its possession, thereby correcting such misinformation before it is too late. If GECOM does not adequately manage its communication with timely factual information, it will be culpable if its final declaration leads to mayhem. The events of February 16, 1962, though
not election related, should be a reminder how misinformation could do great harm to the country. On that fateful day misinformation that a child was killed by police who had fired teargas to disperse a mob surrounding the power plant at Kingston as they protested against the PPP budget, was used by opposition politician to incite a crowd of protesters in the heart of Georgetown. This led to the unprecedented fire, looting and destruction of 1962 and the beginning of hardening of the racial divide which became increasingly worse over the years. The news of the death of the child was false. One way or the other, the future of Guyana rests in the hands of GECOM. More importantly, with the equal split of the Commissioners between the APNU+AFC and the PPP, the future lies in the hands of the Chairperson. Like her predecessors, it is she who will be remembered by posterity. It is said ‘if you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes accepted as truth’. One hopes that finally the Chairperson will demonstrate the leadership needed to prevent untruths from taking hold and become accepted as truth. Harry Hergash
No justice, no peace DEAR EDITOR, Almost 40 cities have imposed curfew and 15 states have activated the National Guard in the United States. The people are defying curfew and claim police brutality. There was protest in London and Berlin by the US embassy about the unjustified killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US. I don’t get the impression the ruling elites realize this incident is massively eroding US soft power or moral authority. They can no longer criticize China over Hong Kong when they are treating protesters equally or more brutal. When you live in the US, one realize they view the world in terms of white and others. The rift in several Caribbean countries between Indian and Black are irrational in their worldview. The US is facing an economic, social and political crisis and needs unity to have all hands on deck. This
socioeconomic turmoil is playing out just before a presidential election so it will be part of the matrix of electioneering. I watch with astonishment that no Caribbean Leader has advised the US that it acting like an authoritarian. I don’t know if they are scared or they would handle the situation with equal brutality. What is sure to occur is US$ billions in damage to
property, many jailed and brutalized and possible lives lost. This could have been avoided if the situation was handled properly before it spread global. The meme and motto of the protest is “no justice, no peace”. This will be the mantra of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Caribbean leaders should take note. Yours truly, Brian Ellis Plummer
CRYING FOR MAMA DEAR EDITOR, The lights were on for the world to see. But vile darkness in one man Who tore the heart of a brave nation. And my heart bleeds, like a child I weep at the way Floyd was murdered. What manner of evil, An infernal deed— The cord of life was
slowly squeezed of one who begged for air of one who cried for MAMA. Oh! America! behold the faces and the river of tears flowing the pain that keeps coming, the distrust and boiling anger— Floyd was another brother. Cecil Ramkirath
Kaieteur News
Tuesday June 02, 2020
PAGE 07
Alleged killer of elderly woman flushed out of ceiling Alleged killer being whisked away by police
Dead: 61-year-old Sattie Singh
A
man who allegedly bludgeoned a 61-year-old woman to death in her own home was “flushed out” with tear gas after he was reportedly found hiding in the ceiling. The incident took place around 15:00 HRS yesterday at the victim, Sattie Singh's residence located at 152 Begonia Avenue, Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara. Kaieteur News understands that the victim
was beaten to death with a heavy padlock by her alleged killer over a money dispute. Neighbours detailed that the man pulled up earlier that afternoon in a silver Toyota Raum, parked and entered the woman's house. Not long after a highpitched argument was heard coming from the victim's residence. The neighbours began to suspect the worst and contacted the nearest police station when the victim began screaming “Murder! Murder”. The
police responded quickly and were able to arrive before the suspect could have escaped. Sources close to the investigation revealed that the woman's body was found in her living room lying facedown in a pool of blood. Police told reporters that after they discovered that the alleged murderer was hiding in the ceiling he was told to surrender. However, he failed to comply and ranks resorted to the use of tear gas to flush
him out of his hiding place. He was immediately arrested and taken into custody by police before the victim's body was removed. Kaieteur News learnt that the victim's killer is known to her and often frequented her house in recent times. In fact, it was revealed that he often acted as a helper to the woman and would normally conduct business errands for her. Meanwhile relatives close to the victim denied knowing the suspect
Sattie's house where the murder took place
101 persons arrested for Aubrey Norton's false breaching curfew in... claim about Joint... From page 2 to face charges. The delay he said may be due to the "court guidelines and schedule". Brutus stated that there have been many "house parties and celebrations" that are essentially breaching curfew orders but adding that "to a lesser extent there have been breaches of domestic travel and non-essential shops opening and operating along with breaches from
religious organisations." On Sunday there appeared to be a BBQ event at a carwash located at Alness Village where there were over 50 persons in attendance. Brutus stated that when they received word of the event his ranks were summoned and six arrests were made while some ran away. Police also stopped another 'house party' in the said village.
From page 3 for two political parties. The GECOM PRO said that the issue of unstamped ballots is still being ventilated at the level of the Commission including the claim put forward by the Coalition as the numbers found, were deemed “concerning.” She said, “Because of some of the numbers that were emanating from some of those boxes, it was believed that some of those could've been a case where the Disciplined Services ballots were not stamped.” Ballots for the Joint Services are not stamped when they voted ten days prior to March 2, 2020 Elections. Those are given the six-digit GECOM stamp at the time of intermixing at the polling stations where they have been gazetted to be intermixed.
but disclosed that the woman had migrated to Canada some time back but made frequent trips to Guyana. Relatives said that she made her last trip to Guyana in February month-end to cast her ballot in the recently held March 2, general and regional elections. The victim was scheduled to return to Canada early April but was prevented from doing so because of Covid-19 travel restrictions. Neighbours who knew
the late Sattie Singh described her as a hardworking individual who toiled years as a vendor in the Stabroek Market to raise her four children. They said that for the 30 years that Singh resided in the Atlantic Garden neighbourhood she never showed them an “ugly face” and demanded justice for her gruesome murder. Her children, who reside abroad, have been left in shocked with the news of their mother's sudden death.
Sattie Singh's body being removed by undertakers
Kaieteur News
PAGE 08
Tuesday June 02, 2020
Despite glitches, no evidence of fraud in Suriname's elections - departing CARICOM observer team
S
uriname's general elections have been conducted with no evidence of fraud, a report from an observer mission from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) says. Elections were held on May 25th, in the neighbouring country with preliminary indications that the incumbent president, Desi Bouterse, is facing a massive loss of about 10 seats. His return to power looks extremely bleak with his former justice minister, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, with a major lead. Bouterse, chairman of the Surinamese political alliance 'Megacombinatie' is the leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP).
Initial figures placed his party as plunging from 26 to 16 seats. Ye s t e r d a y, t h e CARICOM Electoral Observer Mission (CEOM) announced that it has encountered no evidence of fraud. The team is scheduled to depart Suriname today after having spent a full two weeks observing not only the elections day activities but also the pre and post-elections day phases. Head of the CARICOM Election Observation Mission (CEOM) to Suriname, Dora James, on the eve of the team's departure, said the mission is pleased to be able to report that its observations and experiences over the past two weeks confirmed that – up to this point in time – Suriname has successfully staged a “free, fair, transparent, and credible election”. “The CEOM urges all of the entities that are now
Suriname's elections has been deemed free, fair, transparent, and credible by the CARICOM observers' team.
Opposition leader, Chan Santokhi, is said to have amassed a massive lead over the incumbent Desi Bouterse.
Staring at defeat; Incumbent Desi Bouterse
currently engaged in completing the few outstanding tabulations of votes to commit themselves to concluding this process efficiently and speedily,” James said. According to the mission in a statement, it has made it a point of duty to meet with and to listen carefully to virtually all of the entities that were involved in the electoral process and, in particular to the many Opposition political parties, the Anti-Fraud Platform, the group of local election observers drawn from the private sector, and the Inter-Religious Council of Suriname. “The members of the CEOM,” the statement said, “took very careful note of the concerns and reservations that were expressed – inclusive of concerns pertaining to possible electoral fraud – and resolved to carefully scrutinize the electoral process for any evidence that would substantiate such concerns and reservations.” CEOM said that after an extensive period of scrutiny, its members are pleased to be able to report that, in spite of
some administrative and logistical glitches and some COVID-19 related delays, it has been concluded that “we saw and experienced no evidence of fraud in the elections”. The CEOM said it has also determined that Suriname's electoral system is fundamentally sound, and that there are many checks and balances built into the system. “The CEOM was also impressed with the transparency that characterises the electoral system, and the fact that at every stage of the process, representatives of the political parties are permitted to be present to scrutinize the proceedings.” Guyana has been paying close attention to Suriname as it has held its own elections three months ago. However, Guyana's results have not been officially declared with a recount underway with a final deadline for declaration being June 16. The tabulations in Suriname, like Guyana, is being held up by one of the biggest districts. In the case of Suriname, it is the tabulations of the capital city,
Parimaribo, that is delaying the process. The process has also been delayed with a sudden rise in COVID-19 cases, 11 over the weekend. “ T h e C E O M congratulates the people of Suriname for the manner in which they conducted themselves in expressing their democratic rights, especially in a very challenging COVID-19 environment,” the mission said. Bouterse was elected as President of Suriname with 36 of 50 parliament votes. From 1980 to 1987, he was Suriname's de facto leader after conducting a military coup and establishing a period of military rule. On 16 July 1999, he was sentenced in absentia in the Netherlands to 11 years' imprisonment after being convicted of trafficking 474 kg (1,045 lb) of cocaine. Last year, a Surinamese court convicted him on charges related to the December 1982 murders of 15 political opponents, sentencing him to twenty years. He has however never been arrested and is appealing the conviction.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday June 02, 2020
PAGE 09
Liars are dangerous “You hear lie? That is lie! Lie? You hear lie? Teacher Percy say if you tell a lie, you going to Hell as soon as you die.” – L o r d N e l s o n , 'King Liar’ All the holy books of the world denounce lying. The philosopher Immanuel Kant described a lie as a radical innate evil of human nature. People lie for all manner of reasons. Some to boost their ego, others to enjoy the favor of others, while others lie for nefarious purposes, including personal gain, trickery and selfpreservation. It is one thing to tell a lie
about one's achievements, show off or look good in front of others. It is another thing to give false witness against another person, especially if that person is innocent. It is another thing also to lie on someone just to prove that you have power and influence. Telling a lie about someone is not something which should be taken lightly. It can be dangerous. Falsely accusing someone is like plunging a dagger into that person. Many innocent persons have found themselves locked away in prison because of the lies and conspiracies of others. It is
for this reason that it is a crime to tell a lie against another in order to pervert the course of justice. Three years ago, the story broke of the freeing of a man who was falsely condemned and who spent forty years in prison because law enforcement officers coerced a witness to lie against a man. In 1975, a man called Rickey Jackson was sentenced to life imprisonment for a crime he did not commit. It turned out that one of the main witnesses in the case was threatened by detectives in the case to lie against Jackson and his coaccused. Jackson spent
Letter to Commissioner of Police…
Claudette Singh acted on own accord - PRO says wasn't a Commission decision
By Shikema Dey
C
hairman of the G u y a n a Elections Commission, Ret'd Justice Claudette Singh took the decision on her own accord to request from the Immigration Department, verification to support the claims being made by the APNU+AFC Coalition of migrant voters during the National Recount. This was confirmed by GECOM's PRO Yolanda
Ward who revealed that the decision taken was not that of the six-member Commission. “ I k n o w t h e commissioners were aware of the intent but specifically as it relates to a decision of the commission, I will not be able to say,” Ward told the media yesterday. It was Commissioner Vincent Alexander who brought the issue to the fore when he revealed that the GECOM Chair had received information from the
coalition about 'migrant voters' and that the Chair wrote to the Chief Immigration Officer to verify that information. Alexander had said that all of the Commissioners were present when Justice Singh stated that she had received information from the Coalition and that she had sent it off for verification. However, shortly after he made that disclosure, Opposition nominated Commissioner, (continued on page 16)
.......................................................... Dem boys seh...
Mouth-tar and guitar nah de same
D
e m b o y s watching wha going on in America. Dem boys see this before. Is nah just about the death of George Floyd. Is not just about racial stereotyping by de police. Is about inequality. When yuh nah equal, people does discriminate against yuh. Dem boys seh even de COVID-19 discriminating. De number of Blacks and Hispanics wha contracting de virus is far more dan dem share in de population. When yuh poor and disadvantaged, bad luck does deh behind yuh like follow-me bee.
If dem had greater equality, dem would ah gat less killings like George Floyd. Equality nah gun come easy. Dem trying all kind of action – wha dem call affirmative action- fuh years now but nuttin nah change because de rich dem too far ahead fuh de rest ah we catch up. De irony is dat the people in dis world wha does talk about equality nah want equality. Dem nah want everybody to be the same. Dem nah want catch up with the Jones. Dem want be better dan de Jones.
Dem boys know is not only in America de police does rough up poor people. It does happen right hay. When lass yuh see de police charge some of dem drivers wha does wuk fuh dem big firms wha gat dozens of trucks running pun de road? But wait till a small man mek wan small mistake. Dem police ready fuh throw the book at he. Dat is caused by inequality. De ting that everybody calling fuh but wha dem nah really want. Talk half and hope dat Soulja Bai nah seh dat de loser of de election equal to de winner!
almost forty years in prison during which time his father mother and other relatives died. And all because of a lie. In March of this year, a man named Richard Phillips of Michigan was freed after spending more than fortyfive years behind bars, and all because a witness lied during his trial. Phillips spent almost all of his productive years behind bars because of a lie. He was framed by a lie. Lies can convict the innocent, but they can only free the guilty. In 1955, two White men were charged with the brutal murder of a Black teenager. The men were subsequently acquitted of the charge. A key witness in the trial
which led to the acquittal of the men is reported to have told an author that she lied. This revelation has led to the reopening of the case even though both of the accused are now dead. Bearing false witness against another person is not innocent. It can have serious consequences. And this is why law enforcement agencies take such a strong view of those who lie against others, especially in order to pervert the course of justice. Be wary of those who bear false witness against others! They are dangerous. They can cause real harm to others. They can force people to be locked away for a long time. Liars are like thieves.
They snatch innocence and freedom. Those who are lying about the dead and migrated should not be trusted. Keep far from them. They are not fighting for you. They are fighting for their paycheck. Today is Remember the words of Lord Nelson: “You hear lie? That is lie! Lie? You hear lie? Teacher Percy say if you tell a lie, you going to Hell as soon as you die.” (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 June 02, 2020
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Claudette Singh and the deep-state conspiracy W e are entering the third month since the fateful day of March 4 when the 2020 election results were virtually aborted by a deep-state conspiracy. A digression is important. President Trump has latched on to the concept of “deep-state conspiracy” and people are giving him credit for its origin. Ironically, an extreme right wing, pro-capitalist president has co-opted a leftwing concept that goes way back to the beginning of the C o l d Wa r b u t g a i n e d currency during the antiVietnam war protests. Radical anti-war philosophers like Noam Chomsky, Herbert Marcuse ( s e e M a r c u s e ' s extraordinarily insightful work from the seventies titled, “One-Dimensional Man”) helped to popularize the theory. In fact, deep-state conspiracy as a theory about
the US government is accepted as gospel by Marxist radicals. B r i e f l y, d e e p - s t a t e advocates argue that within the US government – and similar other big capitalist, industrial societies – real power lies with an invisible entity referred to as the military-industrial complex. This is a sophisticated, complex labyrinth of super rich companies, highly placed military men, and the intelligence agencies. The military-industrial complex exercises power that can undermine liberal or left-wing presidents and prime ministers. In the UK, there is a theory that the deep state conspirators wanted to oust Labour PM, Harold Wilson and in the US, President John F. Kennedy. It is stretching the theory very far to apply it to a poor, Third World country like Guyana. I would thus caution readers to
understand that I am barefacedly stretching the concept to explain the nasty, ugly connections between the police, GECOM and the government to derail the 2020 election. For me, the incident that ended the 2020 election was the removal of Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Edgar Thomas by the top command of the police force from GECOM Region Four command centre. Readers may recall, that he was removed because he refused an order allegedly by a senior GECOM Secretariat functionary to remove GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj from the building. Thomas quite rightful ignored the edict because as a trained officer he is aware of the chain of command in any organization. Gunraj has more constitutional power than that functionary. Anyone who thought that
in the election quagmire the police was behaving professionally should have put extensive analysis on the Edgar Thomas incident. That little saga had gargantuan meaning. The meaning is that there is a deep state conspiracy to rig the election results. That has been happening since March 4. Claudette Singh cannot escape scrutiny in this scenario. The three prominent women who gave interviews to the Chronicle lamenting the attacks in the media on Singh are people who are unfortunate souls in this world. Eusi Kwayana has undermined a lifetime of work for his unashamed support for Singh. Singh has skipped from one ugly decision to another that is simply destroying this country. Another diversion is in order before I return to Singh. In my Tuesday, April,, April 7, piece with the headline, “Mingo is part of a deep state, conspiratorial labyrinth,” I argued that Mingo is a tiny dot in the d e e p - s t a t e c o n s p i r a c y.
Clairmont Mingo is gone. He was ordered to introduce statistical tampering. He obliged. Guyana will not hear from him again. The deep-state conspirators do not need Mingo any longer. Once the recount was imposed by CARICOM, Mingo's future died. Let's return to Singh and her acrobatics. Her latest d i s p l a y i s h e r communication to the Police Commissioner on a complaint APNU+AFC made. Singh didn't see it as ethical or decent to include the Commission in her decision, and the nation first heard about it from an APNU+AFC government commissioner. The PPP commissioners didn't initially know she had written to the police. Do you want any more evidence that a deep state conspiracy has destroyed the 2020 election? Singh with the Police Commissioner, Roxanne Myers, Keith Lowenfield and the APNU+AFC leadership will decide the shape of the election results in July (I doubt it will be in
Frederick Kissoon June). I repeat what I have written before (see my column of Thursday, May 7, 2020, “My prediction on how the 2020 drama will end”) on what the end result of the count will be. The APNU+AFC have virtually given up on an official declaration that it won. Lowenfield is going to submit a report of an election characterized by systematic anomalies. Vincent Alexander is going to table a motion to declare the election too tainted to have a definitive conclusion. Singh will vote for the motion. The APNU+AFC will stay in power. Sanctions will come. The opposition parties will go to court. The court battle will drag on for more than two years. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Tuesday June 02, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 11
Kaieteur News
PAGE 14
Tuesday June 02, 2020
Aranka identified as Region Seven COVID-19 epicenter as cases climb to fifteen
W
ith fifteen active cases of COVID 19 recorded in a matter of weeks, the Aranka Mining Area has been identified as the epicenter for the spread of the deadly disease in Region Seven. Regional Health Officer, (RHO) Dr. Edward Sagala said that seven new cases were discovered after a three-member team from the Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC), led by Dr. Payne, visited the Aranka Mining Area on May 25, 2020. “They conducted various activities,” he told Kaieteur News, “including sensitization, screening and testing for Covid-19. The test samples were sent to the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) and seven of the tests were confirmed positive for coronavirus.” According to Dr. Sagala, the seven positive results
- region now accounts for 1/10 of national infections brought the total number of positive Coronavirus cases in Region seven to 15; this figure accounts for ten percent of the national total of 152. The RHO warned that all are from individuals who have travelled to Aranka Mining Area, making Aranka the epicenter of this COVID-10 in the entire region. At present, he noted that the Region's township of Bartica has no active cases. The announcement by the RHO comes as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Shamdeo disclosed that the Regional Health Emergency Committee is awaiting word from the HEOC and the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), on policy decisions/recommendation s as to how to address the
COVID-19 current and future situation in Aranka. The CMO said that the Health Ministry is increasing its focus on the hinterland regions. He said that the focus is particularly on Regions One and Seven, with the emergence of more positive cases and the implications for the bordering communities as COVID-19 continues to spread across the provinces of neighbouring Brazil. “On the 21st May Moruca had its first case,” Persaud said, “Two days later, it had its second case; after eight days Moruca now has nine cases, with one death.” According to him, Region One has six percent of positively confirmed cases. Dr. Persaud, in
RHO Region Seven, Dr. Edward Sagala presenting the breakdown of infections by age group and gender, noted that the younger males among the 25-29 age groups are predominantly affected in Region One while in Region Seven it is the 30-39 age group. “As we can see from the statistics, our males continue to be the ones most affected by COVID-19 and contrary to popular Guyanese belief, that COVID-19 is a virus that mainly affects the e l d e r l y, o u r s t a t i s t i c s continue to show us that the young now constitute the most vulnerable. Where do we go from here? How do we deal with the challenges that are much more far reaching than we
ori ginally anticipa ted?” The CMO noted that for R e g i o n Seven it is known that y o u n g men have to go into the mines in order to provide for themselves and families. “This doesn't mean that you do this to the detriment of those around you,” he said, “If you practice social distancing, wear a mask and you participate in sanitizing and washing your hands as often as you should then it is guaranteed that the possibility of transmission will drop significantly. To those who are going home, you must look to the family that you are going home to and all the people you interact with on the way. Life is a treasure that we all need to appreciate, so don't let us throw it away r e c k l e s s l y, l e t u s collectively be considerate of each other.” Dr. Persaud stressed that
Region Seven, one of Guyana's most sparsely populated regions, now accounts for ten percent of country's COVID-19 cases.
the Public Health Ministry continues to plead with men to understand that the health of the nation is everyone's responsibility. “So once this remains our prime focus, it pains to see that our nation is being slowly ravished by this deadly disease. When we speak of the asymptomatic person we are referring to a healthy carrier that is actively spreading the disease without showing any signs or symptoms; this is the reason why we are asking to treat everyone as a healthy carrier and ensure that you follow the guidelines of physical distancing, hand washing and wearing a mask,” he said.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday June 02, 2020
PAGE 15
Region Six running out of money…
GECOM did not verify Defer utility bills, give stipend list before dispatching to Immigration Head - PRO to held citizens - Chairman The Black Bush Polder area, Region Six.
T
h e l o c a l government administration of Region Six is calling for the de facto administration to seriously consider a number of initiatives, including deferring the utility bills for citizens, to help deal with the economic fallout of COVID19. Region Six is the East Berbice area that stretches from New Amsterdam to Crabwood Creek, and is known especially for its agricultural produce. Speaking on Kaieteur Radio y e s t e r d a y o n Elections/COVID-19 Watch, Regional Chairman, David Armogan, said that there are welcome rains with rice farmers now venturing into their crop after a good first one. However, there is bad news. He said that the spending power is not there in Berbice as there is a high level of unemployment, worsened by the closure of two sugar estates and now COVID-19. There is a high level of dumping. The situation from COVID-19 has seen a clamping down of the Berbice markets, after the one case and death was recorded. Very shortly, persons will be screened before entering the municipal markets for high temperature and other signs. According to Armogan, with the Corentyne River locked down and the authorities from Suriname controlling the waters of that border river, farmers from remote communities like Orealla have been allowed access to the river to bring out their produce. Armogan confirmed reports of
Region Six Chairman, David Armogan produce being dumped because of no markets. Asked about official spending, he said that his administration has been operating on a tight 1/12 budget in light of the political situation, meaning the region does not even have a capital budget for emergency works, a deeply worrying situation. “If any emergency,” he told Kaieteur Radio, “I don't know what will happen as there is no money for emergency purposes. There is no capital budget.” He pointed to the much-used Black Bush Road which is potholed now. “We are still lucky in Berbice but resources stretched to limit,” Armogan said. He said that people are not working with about 50
percent of the citizens of Region Six barely surviving. According to the official, many small businesses will go under unless some assistance is given. He recommended immediate deferrals of the utility bills for a few months, a possible stipend and maybe monthly distribution of hampers.
T
he Guyana E l e c t i o n s Commission (GECOM) failed to crosscheck with their records, a list of 207 voters who the APNU+AFC claimed to be out of the jurisdiction on E-Day, before submitting said list to the Immigration and Citizenship Department for verification. During a briefing with the press yesterday at the national recount site at Liliendaal, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of GECOM, Yolanda Ward explained that the Commission did not exercise its powers to access the boxes which are housed in containers aback of the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC), despite its holding the power to do so. When asked about whether GECOM holds its documents illustrating the names of those people that were ticked off as having voted, Ward responded by noting that the Official List of Electors (OLE) that GECOM has is removed and replaced in the boxes after the count is completed. She specifically stated, “What happened, if you understand clearly the recount process, when a box has been counted, the content of that box is sealed back in that box including the list. A Statement of Recount is generated after the count but the box with the contents of that box as received from the container is sealed back and placed back into the container.” Ward noted that the list in their possession is accessible, but the seven-
GECOM Chair, Justice (ret'd), Claudette Singh member Commission has not made a decision on the way forward, although they sent off the list submitted to them since May 22. “This issue remains a discussion at the level of the Commission, she said while noting that the Commission met again yesterday after her briefing, and once a position is made the media would be advised. Previously Chairperson
GECOM PRO, Yolanda Ward GECOM, Justice Claudette Singh, announced that “He who asserts must prove,” with regards to the many claims, made by the coalition during the recount, of anomalies in the 2020 Elections process. The Chair was, at the time, responding to a Kaieteur News article quoting Commissioner Sase Gunraj, who had said that the (continued on page 16)
PAGE 16
Tuesday June 02, 2020
Kaieteur News
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Business: Hadfield Street, SERVICES Saffon Street. Residence: Visa Forms Preparer. Diamond & Pearl East Bank. Tel#626-7040, Publish your Contact Ray’s Realty: 627Death Annoucements & In 9685 Memoriams online. Email: dthmemo@gmail.com VACANCY ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 600- Receptionist. Contact# 2236887: We create A/works, 5273/223-5274 logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of 1 Female Office Assistance, must be computer literate, ads included. knowledge in PAYE, NIS etc PLANNING AN EVENT? 25 years up. Tel#615-7784 BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U A T I O N , D r i v e r / E x p e d i t e r. W E D D I N G S , Contact#223-5273/223-5274 ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: Senior Construction Supervisor, Junior Supervisor- Earthworks, 216-1043; 677-6620 Concrete works, Masons, Steel For House Plans/Building benders, Labourers, Guards Designs & Estimates. Contact with personal firearm. Tel#613Skylines Architecture @ 647- 9218/647-4427 1500/612-0468 Cook/Baker for interior location, applicants must be FOR SALE experienced with verfiable 1500 lb 5 inch palatine, 1 references. Call: 618-2020 winch. Tel#667-8921/220-7655 Vacancy exists for one driver/ Price Negotiable office assistant, must be Nonie leaves, mango leaves between the ages of 38-48. $100 per lb each, Soursop Send application cv to: leaves $150 per lbs. Tel#693- innovationsamericamng 3003 @gmail.com German Shepherd pups PROPERTY FOR SALE vaccinated & dewormed, pure breed. #622-0015/220-8559 Republic Gardens, Broad, Durban Street Georgetown, Liliendaal, Enterprise & Paradise ECD & Zeelot. Contact Ray’s Realty: 6279685 TAXI SERVICE WANTED GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225- Tailor & Cutter. Tel# 2316750/618-0845 7878 (24HRS) Caretaker/Gardener- (1) Male VEHICLE FOR SALE able bodied to plant garden and upkeep yard, accommodation 1 Suzuki Escudo.Excellent condition, Low Mileage available for family members. (50,000Km).$3.4M Neg.Call Contact#639-6648 #649-0956. 1 General Domestic. Call: 6153379 TO LET Minibus Driver to work route Self contain rooms for working 42. #646-8748 couple/single person $35,000 WANTED monthly. Light & Water, Lodge. Call #623-0076, 2 Labourers wanted.Contact months security #227-2022/680-9830 between 9am-3pm.Competitive Rates. LAND FOR SALE
If present and future generations are to benefit from oil, Guyana has to embrace - Natural resources sector governance radical transparency pioneer, Daniel Kaufmann By Kiana Wilburg If present and future generations are to benefit from the extraction and exploitation of Guyana's oil, its leaders have to look beyond the dollars and cents. World-renowned economist Daniel Kaufmann says that the authorities of the day need to embrace radical transparency and embark on a rigourous governance reform campaign. Kaufmann who has been at the head of the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) for seven years, made these and other statements during a recent webinar on the governance of natural resources during the COVID-19 crisis. In offering his perspective on Guyana, the pioneer in the field of governance and anticorruption worldwide, was keen to note that oil was discovered at breakneck speed by ExxonMobil while being overshadowed by a deal that is not considered to be in the nation's best interest. With the country producing oil in record
time, Kaufmann who received his PhD in economics at Harvard, said that Guyana's success goes beyond the matter of doing a proper cost-benefit analysis. “In terms of benefitting Guyana, and not only current but future generations with the major oil find is the improvement of governance frameworks. This is going to be critical,” the revered economist noted. Kaufmann said Guyana will have to also embrace every effort to increase accountability and safeguard its wealth while noting that a critical part of the puzzle will be a proper legal and regulatory framework. The Chilean said it is no secret that there are serious concerns about the political dynamic surrounding the elections which are yet to conclude. He cautioned however that if governance which has not been very high in the past continues to deteriorate, then Guyanese are not going to benefit from their resources which are overshadowed by risk. With the help of the World Bank, Guyana has been able to
access a US$20M loan to improve the legislative and regulatory framework which Kaufmann said is critical to Guyana's success. However, the law firm of the Energy Department's choosing is an ExxonMobil lobbyist. A recent exposé this newspaper published showed that American law firm, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, shares a very close relationship with ExxonMobil. Kaieteur's investigation found that on July 19, 2016, the law firm had filed a lobbying registration form to represent Exxon Mobil Corporation. The specific issues they would lobby for in ExxonMobil's interest included Clean Air Act Regulatory Issues, Clean Water Act, Regulatory Issues, Early Action Compact Legislation, Ozone NationalAmbient Air Quality Standard Deadline Harmonization Act, Clean Air Implementation Act of 2015, and the Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2016. The lawyer who is listed on the document to represent the client is Charles H. Knauss, a partner at the firm.
The 40-year relationship between ExxonMobil and theAmerican law firm was first raised by British news agency, The Guardian, and subsequently picked up by a German Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) called Urgewald. The NGO questioned how Guyana's authorities could allow an ExxonMobil affiliate to write the nation's laws when those very laws would be used to regulate Exxon and many of its subcontractors. Urgewald also questioned the World Bank's role in the matter. Urgewald said that an investigation is needed urgently as the use of an ExxonMobil sub-contractor to write laws for the country is an affront to genuine efforts to bring rigid governance frameworks into being. Despite being made aware of this potential conflict of interest, Guyana's authorities have failed to cut ties with the Virginia-based law firm and return to the drawing board for a company that does not share such a close relationship with Exxon.
Top Cop gives false information to Claudette Singh From centre 2020 Election.” Kaieteur News also spoke to a 38-year-old woman requesting anonymity, whose name was included on both the list of 207 forwarded to James by Singh, as well as the list of 172 confirmed as not being in the country on E-day as claimed by the Coalition and 'verified' by immigration. The woman told Kaieteur News that her last trip out of the country was over five years ago, when she spent two weeks in Trinidad. She stated that she has not left Guyana since and voted on March 2nd. Kaieteur News checked her social media activity leading up to and around E-day and can confirm that she was in Guyana. ContradictoryActions The Chair's decision to forward the APNU+AFC list appeared to be in conflict with an earlier statement she made regarding the treatment of allegations brought to the Commission. In a statement on March 21, the GECOM Chair stated that “he who asserts, must prove”, adding that the Commission would deliberate and decide on “the trends based on the allegations in the observation reports” and
Eccles Front (Double Lot), Kuru Kuru, Moblissa, Dalgin 33 acres. Contact Ray’s From page 15 Realty: 627-9685 Chair is of the view that it is not GECOM's role to probe the claims of anomalies being made by the governing coalition, APNU+AFC. On PEN PAL May 21nd, when she had made the statement, Singh noted that the Male seeks female (18-35) to Commission was still deliberating on what to do with evidence of live with or marry. Call: 643- election irregularities, and that when a decision was made it would be communicated to the press. One day after Singh nonetheless dis0067 patched a letter to Head of the Immigration Authority, Commissioner Guyanese Male seeking Leslie James, requesting him to verify the claims migration claims as relationship with female. Call: put forward by the APNU+AFC, without prior consultation with the 638-9806 Commission.
GECOM did not verify list...
“claims of anomalies”. The allegations madebyHarmonweresent to her that same day and the very next day she sent off her letter to the CommissionerofPolice. In her letter to James, Singh had also claimed “The Commission would wish this matter to be urgently addressed”. However, as reported, the Commission itself had not deliberated on the issue nor were Commissioners given prior notice of the Chair's decision to send the list from Harmon for investigation by the Department of Immigration. (See story on page 9, 'Claudette Singh acted on own accord…') Additionally, GECOM's Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward yesterday reported to the press that GECOM did not check the list given to it byAPNU+AFC to ensure that the persons listed as being out of the country had actually voted. (See story on page 15, 'GECOM did not verify list before dispatching…') tion
A Clear Pattern of FabricaThese false claims are not the
first of such made by APNU+AFC. The governing coalition has embarked on a sustained campaign of misinformation since the beginning of the recount, well documented by Kaieteur News. Kaieteur News, over the past few days, spoke to a teacher from Region Two who requested anonymity. The young man verified his identity with his ID card, and provided photos of his passport, issued since July, 2015 which showed no stamp to indicate that he has travelled. In fact, the young man said that he has never left the country, even though APNU+AFC agent, Kidackie Amsterdam, objected to his serial number during the recount, and falsely grouped him with the set of persons the party is claiming could not have cast a valid vote because they were not in the jurisdiction. Kaieteur News verified that his serial number was objected to, using the corresponding observation report. It was also reported that the Coalition supplied a list to GECOM during the recount ex-
ercise, which falsely claimed that a Sisters Village, Berbice couple were out of the jurisdiction on Election Day. The married couple, Shirley and Aubrey Nicholson, have since confirmed that they voted at a Sisters Village Primary School polling station, and spent the rest of the day home with their grandchildren. After Kaieteur News exposed this, the Coalition's Leonard Craig attempted to double down on the false claim, and labeled this newspaper's reporting as propaganda. Kaieteur News then reached out to the couple again, who provided photos of their passport documents, proving that they were in GuyanaonElectionDay. The APNU+AFC's Aubrey Norton had claimed on June 31 last “we have sent a first batch of 600 such information to GECOM… we are reliably informed that immigration has confirmed over 90 percent of them that were ticked, according to their records, are out of the jurisdiction.” As covered in this story only 207 names were seen to be sent to GECOM.
Claudette Singh acted on own accord From page 9 Sase Gunraj – when questioned if he knew of the letter sent by the Chair – told the media that he was unaware that such a decision was taken, and that if it was, it was not one taken by the Commission. Ward, when asked to clarify how the Commission was informed about Justice Singh's position said “This Commission meets regularly almost every day as the need arises; the day there was a meeting, it was discussed at the level of the meeting.”
“Again,” she added, “I cannot say. I said that the commissioners were aware, maybe through one of their discussions at the meeting. As it relates to whether it was a decision of the Commission, as I would have indicated, I do not know as to whether it was a decision.” The GECOM PRO could not point to a reason why the Chair herself would bypass the Commission but she stated that the Chair has the power to act on her own: “The Chair has written to the Commissioner. I am
not sure as to the reason behind the request. I am sure that at some point the chair would be able to provide that detail.” “As the chair of the Commission,” she said “there is an amount of authority that a Chair has to act within her purview, and again, I do not want to speak on behalf of the Chair but I am sure that there is some wisdom behind her decision.” When asked whether legal advice was sought by the Chair on her decision, Ward said “I am not aware of any.”
Tuesday June 02, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 17
PAGE 18
Kaieteur News
Tuesday June 02, 2020
Tuesday June 02, 2020
PAGE 19
Kaieteur News
Kagiso Rabada: My wicket celebrations stem from ‘passion’
Kagiso Rabada celebrates a wicket. (AFP)
ESPNcricinfo - Kagiso Rabada believes that his enthusiastic wicket-taking celebrations, which have led him to fall foul of the ICC’s code of conduct several times, stem from “passion”, but he has suggested he is looking for ways to express himself differently. Speaking from lockdown, Rabada indicated he has been using some of his time to consult with mentors after what he called a “disappointing” past summer. “It’s passion, but everyone has their opinion and they are entitled to their own opinion,” Rabada said. “I have identified things that I needed to identify and I will address them with the people that are closest to me and who I feel should be helping me
Tuesday June 02, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today you might feel the need to be of service to others. Your humanitarian instincts are high, though you might tend to over-idealize the concept a little.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You're normally intuitive, but today you might feel more psychic than you ever dreamed you could. Information received from the media could have you picking up psychically on the thoughts.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) The arts might seem especially appealing today. Also, you could fall in love. If you're currently involved, expect circumstances to develop that show the exalted side of your partner that you sometimes forget.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today you could feel especially intuitive and more sensitive than usual to unacceptable social and political conditions. Ideas for new goals, perhaps humanitarian, might come to you.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A number of powerful events could increase the level of love and positive energy in your home, Gemini. Visitors with a spiritual or metaphysical focus could bring some new and exciting information. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may be in communication with some new people who appear interesting and excite your curiosit. Spiritual or metaphysical conversations could take place today over the phone or video chat. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Experiences you never expected could come your way today, Leo. A talent that you didn't know you had could come to light. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You usually tend toward rational and scientific ways of thinking, Virgo, but today you might be so intuitive that you're more likely to use your psychic abilities.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today you might toy with the idea of making either the arts and humanitarianism or the spread of higher consciousness your life's work. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your mind could be focused on exalted spiritual concepts today. You might decide to try to study spiritual or metaphysical materials, or attend a virtual lecture, workshop, or meditation session with people who share this interest. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Though you naturally tend to be sensitive to the feelings of others, today you might be so in touch with the needs and desires of those around you. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Today you might feel especially idealistic regarding your relationships. You're likely to see those closest to you in their best light. Romantic partners may seem like characters from a fairy tale.
address it.” Who those people are, Rabada did not get into, but it’s likely at least one of them is his father Dr Mpho Rabada, who is involved in everything from supporting his son from the sidelines to getting his musical side-hustle. Rabada senior released a single in February, the day before Rabada played what would be his last game for South Africa - a T20I against Australia before cricket came to a worldwide standstill. A groin strain ruled him out of the subsequent ODI series and South Africa’s aborted series in India, leaving him to reflect on the season as a tough one. “The past season was a disappointment,” Rabada said. “Even though I see that my stats are okay, I just felt really rusty and a bit out of place.” The 2019-20 season, in which South Africa lost Test series away to India and at home against England, was Rabada’s leanest to date in the longest format. He played six Tests, and took 21 wickets at 32.85 - it was the first time he had finished a season with an average above 30. He would have played a seventh Test but was suspended from South Africa’s final fixture against England in Johannesburg after picking up a demerit point for screaming in Joe Root’s face after dismissing him in Port Elizabeth. Rabada already had three other points to his name, thus forcing him to spend a Test on the bench. It was not the first time Rabada had been forced out of a match because of a codeof-conduct breach. In July 2017, he had to miss the second Test against England at Trent Bridge and in March 2018 he was due to sit out both the third and fourth Tests against Australia after a shoulder brush with Steve Smith but CSA hired a toplevel advocate to head up Rabada’s appeal. Rabada’s transgression was downgraded from a Level 2 offence to a Level 1 violation, but he acknowledged he needed to change his behaviour.
However, Faf du Plessis, until recently the Test captain, has consistently said South Africa don’t want Rabada to lose his aggression. South Africa’s coaching staff have echoed du Plessis’ thoughts, but voices from abroad, notably the commentator Michael Holding, who shares a close relationship with Rabada, have taken the counter approach and hoped Rabada reins himself in. Rabada is careful not to read to much into outside opinion. “Everyone will always criticise you in some way. It’s important that you don’t take what people say to heart,” Rabada said. “You will always have a lot of critics. Not everyone will agree with what you do. As long as you are true to yourself you can grow. What other people say about you shouldn’t affect you at all.” The insular nature of the lockdown period means that Rabada has had more than enough time to shut out the
noise, fully recover from his groin niggle, and even branch out into non-cricket-related projects. “I am really glad I can get a rest, not in the way that it has come but I am really enjoying my time,” he said. “It’s allowed me to think about what I really want and makes it easier to set goals.” Together with this friend Cameron Scott, Rabada has started a podcast called The Viral Wellness, which aims to raise awareness about issues arising from the coronavirus pandemic. The pair have also worked on creating a Healthy at Home handbook, to help people cope with the challenge of being under lockdown. Rabada is also looking at ways to help those who are in need of financial assistance at this time. “A lot of people in the country are economically challenged,” he said.” “South Africa is the most unequal country in the world, so it’s good to lend a helping hand, especially now.”
PAGE 20
Tuesday June 02, 2020
Kaieteur News
Steven Smith willing to play IPL if T20 World Cup is postponed ESPNcricinfo - Steven Smith suggested that he would be willing to miss the early part of the Australian domestic season to take part in the IPL should this year’s T20 World Cup be postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic and leave room for a delayed edition of the world’s most lucrative domestic T20 event. Contracted to Rajasthan Royals, where he was named captain for the 2020 tournament, Smith said that while international cricket took priority for him, he could see the sense in travelling to play in the IPL in October and November, should the event be postponed due to the complexities of hosting a global event this year. In a letter to the ICC revealed last week, Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings requested this year’s event be moved to 2021, with that year’s event, scheduled to be hosted by India, moved to 2022. Returning to training with his New South Wales squad members in Sydney yesterday, Smith said the Australian team would be led by expert and government advice about their own resumption of play, with CA currently mulling over a request from the ECB to tour England in September for a limited-overs series originally slated for July. “I think when you’re playing for your country at a World Cup, that’s the pinnacle for one-day or T20 cricket, so of course I’d prefer to play in
Smith would be willing to miss the early part of the Australian domestic season to take part in the IPL. (BCCI) that,” Smith said. “But if that doesn’t happen and the IPL’s there, and they postpone it, then so be it. IPL’s also a terrific tournament as a domestic tournament. So that’s out of everyone’s control at the moment, players are just doing what we’re told and going where we need to go and playing whatever’s on at that stage. “I guess there’ll be some more news about it soon, probably some decisions to be made soon, so I’m sure we’ll all find out and know where we’re going to be. I
personally haven’t really thought about it, I think it’d just be going off the advice of the professionals and the governments and essentially doing what we’re told. If that happens then great, if not then there’s just so much going on in the world right now that cricket kind of seems a little bit irrelevant. So we’ll get back when we’re told to and until then it is sit tight, get fit and strong and freshen up mentally.” In terms of the shape of cricket when it does resume in a fundamentally changed
universe, Smith said that he agreed new regulations restricting the use of saliva to polish the ball would affect the contest between batsmen and bowlers, noting too that his own habit of spitting on his hands for a bit of extra grip in the field virtually every ball would have to change. “I’ve always been one to want a fair contest between bat and ball, so if that’s taken away, even as a batter I don’t think that’s great,” Smith said. “Whether they can find other ways with certain things, it’ll be hard. I actually spit on my hands most balls and that’s
how I get grip and stuff. So that might take some adjusting to certain things like that, but that’s something for the ICC to figure out what they want to do going forward and different regulations. We’ll see how it all lands, everything is up in the air at the moment, but we’ll see where everything goes.” State squads have returned to training amidst a raft of cost-cutting at CA and at every state association other than Smith’s NSW, and he said that a period of adjustment would be required for players if they found themselves tended to by a reduced gaggle of support staff. Certainly, Smith’s own habit of needing to face hundreds of extra throwdowns in order to find his ideal rhythm before starting a Test series may need to change. “I think if that’s the case it’ll be about guys being able to help each other out as well, particularly senior players being able to take a bit of time off your own game and help someone else out at training or something like that,” he said. “We’ll see what happens, there’s still a fair while probably until we get back out there playing again and plenty of decisions that the hierarchy needs to make and things like that. We’ll just wait and see and play it by ear at the moment. “They [support staff] all have a role to play, particularly as the game’s evolved and got more professional, we’ve
got people in different areas of expertise to help the team prepare and get ready to play. If that happens it’ll take some adjusting and guys might have to throw some balls to one of the other batters or help out the bowlers in certain ways and different things. It’ll take a bit of adjusting, but there’s still a while until we’re back out there and plenty of decisions to be made.” One of those decisions will be around scheduling for the World Test Championship currently in limbo. Australia were originally scheduled to be playing a series in Bangladesh this month. With a victory over the hosts in that series, they would have been able to vault India and move into top spot on the table ahead of series against India at home and South Africa away prior to the final, originally set down for Lord’s in June 2021. Smith said that he wanted to see the championship retained, but as the World Cup and IPL dilemma shows, space is growing more limited by the day. “It’d be ideal if we can keep that going,” Smith said. “It’s the first one we’ve had and we’re all working towards hopefully playing at Lord’s in mid-June [2021], we were all working towards that, so it’d be good if we could carry on with that, but I don’t know, everything is sort of up in the air at the moment with everything going on around the world. So we’ll wait and see where everything lands.”
F1 drivers speak out after Hamilton slams their silence LONDON (Reuters) Formula One drivers followed Lewis Hamilton’s lead yesterday after the six times world champion criticised his sport’s silence over the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a white U.S. police officer knelt on his neck. The death in Minneapolis triggered a wave of outrage and violent protests in the United States.
Britain’s Hamilton, Formula One’s first black world champion who spends much of his time in America, spoke out on Instagram on Sunday. “I see those of you who are staying silent, some of you the biggest of stars yet you stay silent in the midst of injustice,” wrote the Mercedes driver. “Not a sign from anybody in my industry which of
course is a white dominated sport. I’m one of the only people of colour there yet I stand alone,” he added. “I would have thought by now you would see why this happens and say something about it but you can’t stand alongside us. Just know I know who you... are and I see you.” In a second post, Hamilton added: “I do not stand with those looting and burning buildings but those who are protesting peacefully. There can be no peace until our so called leaders make change.” Mercedes retweeted the latter comment and issued a statement assuring Hamilton that they stood with him. “Tolerance is an elementary principle of our team and we are enriched by diversity in all its forms,” it added, condemning any discrimination. Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo said Floyd’s death was “a disgrace”.
“Racism is toxic and needs to be addressed not with violence or silence but with unity and action,” the Australian wrote on Instagram. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc said on Twitter he had felt “out of place and uncomfortable” sharing his thoughts on social media about the situation but realised he had been “completely wrong”. “I still struggle to find the words to describe the atrocity of some videos I’ve seen on Internet. Racism needs to be met with actions, not silence,” added the Monegasque. Williams driver George Russell echoed Leclerc’s words and said it was time to kick racism out. “We all have a voice to speak up for what’s right — and until now I didn’t know how to use mine in this situation,” said the Briton. “Ultimately, no matter how uncomfortable it may be to speak out, silence achieves
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton during press conference. (REUTERS/Loren Elliott) nothing.” There have been several nights of unrest over race and policing in many U.S. cities as a series of curfews failed to quell confrontations between
some protesters and police. Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was charged last Friday with thirddegree murder in the death of 46-year-old Floyd.
Tuesday June 02, 2020
PAGE 21
Kaieteur News
Player safety guaranteed for England series: Grave PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Cricket West Indies has outlined some of the strict protocols which will govern the proposed tour of England, stressing it would not have backed plans for the threeTest series unless it was totally convinced the novel measures could keep players and staff completely safe. Speaking here last weekend, CWI chief executive Johnny Grave said both the regional governing body and the host England and Wales Cricket Board had gone to extreme lengths to develop and implement critical social distancing and sanitisation protocols for the seven-week tour, to mitigate against the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Pointing to an increased touring party, a private charter to the United Kingdom, guaranteed “bio-secure” facilities, and the addition of a medical doctor to the touring party, Grave reiterated that the health and safety of players was the utmost priority and would not be compromised at any stage. “The plan at the moment
is to depart from Antigua where most of the LIAT aircraft are based at the moment so we have one charter that will come across from Kingston [with the Jamaican players] to Antigua and one aircraft will fly from here in Antigua down to Guyana and then work its way back up [with players from the southern Caribbean],” Grave told i95FM Sports here, adding that all 25 players and members of management would be tested for COVID19 in the Caribbean before flying out. “All of the players will immediately get on a transatlantic charter to the UK. It’s a private charter, the aircraft being completely remodelled with only 40 business class seats, with social distancing between each seat. “It’s a big plane but only 40 seats so there will be plenty of room and very safe, and it will only be the players and team management that are accompanying them on that flight.” He added: “Because we’ve got 25 players – and obviously we don’t want
anything to happen medically – we’re travelling with an extra physiotherapist and extra massage therapist. “There are two reasons to have an extra massage therapist and physio because they’re absolutely key especially for our fast bowlers in what will be three back-toback Test matches. “We’re also travelling with a doctor from the Caribbean as well so we’ll have a doctor/physician assigned to the team, full time dedicated to us. He will travel with the team and be with them all the time.” Grave said the other reason for the including the extra physio and therapist was simply to provide backup personnel. On arrival in the UK, the touring party will be transported in three to four separate coaches to Old Trafford in Manchester where they will then undergo quarantine in a hotel located at the storied cricket ground. During that time, players will kick off their final preparations for the f i r s t Te s t w h i c h i s scheduled for the Ageas
La Liga: Barcelona to resume title defence against Real Mallorca on 13 June
Barcelona beat Real Sociedad in their final La Liga match before lockdown. (Getty Images) BBC Sport - Barcelona will resume their La Liga title defence against Real Mallorca following the coronavirus shutdown. Football was suspended in Spain on 12 March but Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said it can restart. Leaders Barca will travel to Mallorca on 13 June (21:00 BST kick-off), two days after the season gets back under way with Sevilla v Real Betis (21:00). Real Madrid, two points behind Barca after 27 games, resume their campaign at
home to Eibar on 14 June (18:30). Organisers have only released scheduling details for the first two rounds of fixtures, although La Liga chief Javier Tebas confirmed there will be matches behind closed doors every day of the week until the season is completed on 19 July. Barca also host Leganes on 16 June and Real play at home to Valencia on 18 June. Weekday matches will kick off at 18:30 and 21:00, while weekend games will begin at 16:00, 18:30 and 21:00,
with an extra slot at 12:00 if it is not too hot. Applause from fans across the world will be played in stadiums in the 20th minute of matches to “show support for the heroes of the Covid-19 pandemic”, Tebas said. La Liga will be the second of Europe’s top five leagues to resume after the delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Germany’s Bundesliga started again in May, while the Premier League in England is set to resume on 17 June.
Bowl in Southampton. The last two Tests have been carded for Old Trafford, subject to final approval. “They will be the only team that’s there [at Old Trafford]. It will be completely private – private use for the West Indies team for three weeks,” the Englishman explained. “We’re flying over with as many as 25 players so we’ll be able to play practice matches and train during which will be a two-week official quarantine, followed by another week of training before we head down to what we think will be the venue for first Test at Southampton.” The tour had been scheduled for last month but became a casualty of the ongoing pandemic which has already forced the cessation of all cricket globally. If it comes off, the series
will the first set of international cricket played in nearly three months, and the first-ever “bio-secure” tour behind closed doors. For its part, the UK has been particularly hard hit by the virus, with 276 000 recorded infections and just over 39 000 deaths. But Grave said with the cases in the UK on a “sharp downward spiral”, CWI were convinced the tour could be success. “We wouldn’t have contemplated this tour at all, we wouldn’t have taken any recommendation to our Board of Directors [last Thursday] unless our medical advisory committee made up of some very experienced doctors who poured over hundreds of pages of detailed plans [hadn’t thought it was safe],” he said. “If this wasn’t safe, if we
thought the players were going to be at any greater risk than they would be if they were staying at home in the Caribbean, then we wouldn’t have contemplated this tour. “I think the cases in the UK seem to be on the sharp downward spiral so we hope that by the time the team get there the week after next, the situation in the UK is better and obviously throughout the tour it continues to improve.” He continued: “But within this bio-secure environment, on these private charters, staying in a cricket ground where this is a hotel where no one else will be able to get in unless they’ve been tested, I think they players will be very, very safe. “I’ve had assurances from very experienced doctors from within the UK and our whole medical panel here in the Caribbean.”
Skerritt allegedly refuses to circulate 2018/2019 CWI to Members - Source In an interesting revelation, Kaieteur Sport was informed that members and shareholders are yet to have sight of the CWI Audited Financials which is usually circulated in late February every year in preparation for the Annual General Meeting usually held in March each year. According to a reliable source, The Annual General Meeting for 2020 has been rescheduled twice and it is not yet certain if there will be an AGM. It is understood that despite the current financial constraints of CWI, Skerritt instructed that a payment of almost USD$400,000 be made to the Queens Park Cricket Club. Skerritt upon assuming office immediately appointed, the CEO of Queens Park Cricket Club to the CWI Chief Executive Committee thereby compromising discussions between the CEO’s of the territorial boards, as a club representative was now privy to those discussions. This to many seemed bizarre as this working committee usually meets before the board of directors’ meetings and advise on matters that influence policies and directives among members and directors. At a time when players are owed match fees for the PCL and many service providers are owed for years,
anyone would suggest that there were more pressing payments to be made. Significantly, Guyana Cricket Board received no development funding for the last 2 1/2 years, yet must complete all requirements and participate in all CWI tournaments. When contacted, Mr. Fizul Bacchus, President of the GCB, stated that the GCB would be issuing a comprehensive statement shortly. In another glaring development, it was revealed that St. Kitts was paid its entire budgeted amount for the recent 50 overs CWI hosting, while other territories are owed for hosting CWI events held over three years ago. Kaieteur Sport was informed that Barbados, Trinidad and Guyana are owed sums close to USD$1M each. It certainly appears that the Skerritt administration slogan of territories first has not found favour in itself. His year in office appears to see the CWI heading into bankruptcy, given its current announcements. One pundit predicted that with all the announcements of pay cuts of players and staff, it is unclear if Skerritt intends to cut his president’s allowance of about USD$6000 per month. The CWI audited financial statement should be circulated and posted on its website as was done for the last 4 years.
Japanese MotoGP round cancelled due to pandemic (Reuters) - Japan will not have a MotoGP round for the first time since 1986 after organisers yesterday cancelled the Oct. 18 race at Motegi due to the COVID-19 pandemic that will keep the series in Europe until midNovember. The race is a home one for champions Honda as well as manufacturers Yamaha and Suzuki. It is the sixth on the 2020 calendar to be cancelled. Carmelo Ezpeleta, chief executive of promoters Dorna, said in a statement that the championship would focus on doing as many races as possible in Europe until midNovember. “Overseas events, if at all possible, should
be scheduled after mid-November — which would be too late in the year for the Grand Prix of Japan to be held,” the Spaniard said. Kaoru Tanaka, president of circuit managers Mobilityland Corporation, said the situation in Japan and Europe was too unpredictable. “The extension of the international travel ban is expected. As a result of our discussions with Dorna...we agreed that we have no choice but to cancel the Japanese GP in order to complete the season.” MotoGP is hoping to begin racing in Spain, which usually hosts four rounds of the championship, at the southern Jerez circuit in July. Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Britain and Australia have all been cancelled while France, Italy and Catalunya (Barcelona) have been postponed.
PAGE 22
Tuesday June 02, 2020
Kaieteur News
George Floyd death: Liverpool players take knee in picture at Anfield BBC Sport - Liverpool players took a knee around the centre circle at Anfield in a message of support following the death in police custody of African-American George Floyd in Minneapolis. The picture featuring 29 Reds players came with the caption “Unity is strength. #BlackLivesMatter”. Players reportedly requested the picture during training yesterday. Manchester United’s Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford added their voices to worldwide protests against racism. Protests have been held after Floyd, an unarmed black man, died on 25 May after being restrained by white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes to pin him down. Chauvin has since been charged with his murder and sacked. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first protested against racial injustice and police brutality by kneeling down during the United
States national anthem in the summer of 2016. Since then, that gesture has become symbolic to the Black Lives Matter movement. United midfielder and France World Cup winner Pogba said he felt “felt anger, pity, hatred, indignation, pain and sadness” in a passionate Instagram post. He added: “Sadness for George and for all black people who suffer from racism EVERY DAY! Whether in football, at work, at school, ANYWHERE! This has to stop, once and for all. Not tomorrow or the next day, it has to end TODAY! “Violent acts of racism can no longer be tolerated. I can’t tolerate, I won’t tolerate, WE WON’T TOLERATE. “Racism is ignorance, LOVE is intelligence, STOP the silence, STOP racism.” United team-mate and England footballer Rashford said he had been “trying to process what is going on in the world”. He added: “At a time I’ve been asking people to come together, work together and
be united, we appear to be more divided than ever. “People are hurting and people need answers. Black lives matter. Black culture matters. Black communities matter. We matter.” Liverpool players that tweeted the same picture and message included defenders Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, full-back Trent AlexanderArnold, midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, as well as James Milner and Andrew Robertson. British 200m world champion sprinter Dina Asher-Smith had tweeted on Thursday: “Racism, police brutality... all of this is something we all have to be vocal about. Irrespective of our race or nationality. “RIP George Floyd. Heartbreaking and sickening to have to be saying RIP to another black person in these circumstances.” On Sunday, England footballer Jadon Sancho unveiled a “Justice for George Floyd” T-shirt after scoring for Borussia Dortmund against Paderborn and Marcus Thuram took a knee
after scoring for Borussia Monchengladbach. Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster and tennis stars S e r e n a Wi l l i a m s , C o c o Gauff and Naomi Osaka also spoke out about Floyd’s death. ‘We have had enough’ Basketball legend Michael Jordan says he is “deeply saddened, truly pained and plain angry”. “I see and feel everyone’s pain, outrage and frustration,” he added. “I stand with those calling out the ingrained racism and violence toward people of colour in our country.” “We have had enough.” Vanessa Bryant, widow of basketball legend Kobe, shared an image of her late husband wearing an “I Can’t Breathe” T-shirt. “My husband wore this
shirt years ago and yet here we are again,” she wrote. “Life is so fragile. Life is so unpredictable. Life is too short.” F1 drivers answer Hamilton’s call Formula 1 drivers Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, George Russell and Daniel Ricciardo all issued anti-racism messages on social media after reigning F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton criticised those in his industry for not speaking out. “I’m one of the only people of colour and yet I stand alone,” the Briton, 35, who is the only black F1 driver, wrote on Instagram. “I would have thought by now you would see why this happens and say something about it but you can’t stand
alongside us.” Leclerc said he had been “completely wrong” not to speak out previously, saying he had not done so because he felt “out of place and uncomfortable”. Hamilton’s Mercedes team said in a statement they “stand with Lewis” and were “deeply saddened by the recent developments and hope to see a de-escalation soon”. They added: “Tolerance is an elementary principle of our team and we are enriched by diversity in all its forms. We welcome and encourage people from all races, cultures, religions, philosophies and lifestyles. “We condemn every form of discrimination as we work together to drive change forward.”
Hector cameo helps Breakers win inaugural T10 title
‘I don’t think I fulfilled my batting... From page 23 best young Keepers to play for Guyana, was found dead in a trench. “I got a call from Coach Albert Smith saying to turn up at Blairmont the day before the game since the first choice Keeper was ill. I was shocked at the news of my selection but scored 49. That’s how I began Keeping for Berbice,” said Vishal. “My most memorable moment playing for Guyana was winning the 2003 Red Strip Bowl in Jamaica under the captaincy of Shiv (Chanderpaul) when I was judged the best WicketKeeper in the tournament,” said Vishal, whose biggest disappointment was not representing the West Indies at the highest level. Vishal also spoke about his 198-run ninth wicket stand with Reon Griffith against West Indies ‘B’ in 2003. In that game, in St Croix, Vishal and Reon Griffith joined forces at 158-8 and took Guyana to 356-8 declared which is still a Guyana record. “Myself and Griffith batted together after we were in trouble. Was a great experience having my buddy friend in a record partnership. Throughout the innings we kept encouraging each other ...he said bat on Vish don’t get carried away it’s your first century. I ended on 115
and he 82, we declared. I was disappointed that he could not get a hundred but I guess the team comes first,” said Vishal, who added that the fastest bowler had ever faced was Franklin Rose. Vishal was a neat and nimble Keeper and competent batsmen but he never produced the runs his ability suggested he should have produced. “I don’t think I fulfilled my batting talent, also I batted very late for Guyana, most times at number nine. It was not until I came to the US and batted higher I started getting big scores consistently,” explained Vishal who said that Colin Stuart and Reon King were the quickest bowlers he kept to. Vishal, who said he enjoyed Keeping more than batting, said the best spinners he kept to were Neil McGarrell, Mahendra and Trinidadian Avidesh Samaroo. “The main difference between club cricket in Guyana now and when we played is the absence of former national players who are overseas or stop going to cricket. Another difference is the amount of club cricket being played now and the lack of three-day cricket. When I started playing we played for love. We played with pride, passion and respect. That’s not the case now. Because the standard of first division cricket has dropped, many U-19 players are now senior players in their
clubs and money seems the most important thing for most of them,” said Vishal who played first division Cricket for Port Mourant and Blairmont in Berbice, GCC in Georgetown and Monroe Road in Trinidad before going to New York. Vishal feels that for local cricket to improve you have start with schools. “Send Coaches to schools, if you have strong school teams and strong clubs, local cricket can improve but all the boards have to work together for this to happen,” said Vishal who attended some games when he was here last year. “My advice to young Keepers is to work hard, stay focus, stay fit, do a lot of Keeping drills, work on your batting since the modern Keeper has to score centuries and stay away from drugs.” Vishal said the main people who have helped him during his career are his parents, uncle’s Derrick, Alvin and Moses Nagamootoo, whom he lived with in Lilliendaal for most of his career. “I thank the late Lionel Peters, Mr Singh from SinghSports, Boyo Mohabir from Liberty Gold, Coach Albert Smith and the late Pat Legal and Ivor Mendoza, Dr Puran Singh from Barbados, Annand and Mohan from Jamaica for their help,” concluded Vishal.
The inaugural T10 tournament was played behind closed doors at the Arnos Vale Stadium. KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC – Former Windward Islands batsman Donwell Hector saved his best innings for last, as he helped Salt Pond Breakers beat La Soufriere Hikers by 19 runs and lift the inaugural T10 Vincy Premier League title here Sunday. Until Sunday’s final, the 31-year-old Hector had managed just 28 runs from seven innings, with a highest score of 10. In Saturday’s semi-final, he suffered the ignominy of being run out before he had faced a single ball. H o w e v e r, the experienced right-hander put his woes behind him to top score with a crucial 28 off 17 balls as Breakers, s e n t i n a t A r n o s Va l e Stadium, rallied to 100 for
six off their allotted 10 overs. B r e a k e r s l o s t Te s t batsman and leading scorer Sunil Ambris cheaply for 15 to find themselves struggling at 30 for three at the end of the fourth over but Hector arrived to put on 35 for the fourth wicket with Urnel Thomas (13) to rescue the innings. Hector, who played the last of his 26 first class matches three years ago, struck one four and a pair of sixes before perishing at the start of the final over. In r e p l y, Hikers slumped to 42 for seven at the start of the seventh o v e r w i t h Wi n d w a r d Islands Volcanoes batsman Dillon Douglas and Desron Maloney both perishing cheaply for five.
Breakers fielded brilliantly to effect four run outs in the innings, leaving Hikers to limp to 81 for nine off their 10 overs. Botanical Gardens Rangers’ Hyron Shallow, who played 13 first class matches for Windwards between 2005 and 2008, was the tournament’s leading scorer with 285 runs. Ambris, poised to tour England with West Indies in July, made 274 runs at an average of 39 and snared 10 wickets with his off-spin. The tournament, the first competitive cricket staged in the Caribbean since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was played behind closed d o o r s with strict social distancing measures and sanitary protocols enforced.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday June 02, 2020
PAGE 23
ITTF delays announcement T
he tennis world will have to wait at least a month more to know what is the plan of action by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). The global body pushed back the date in which they would’ve made an anticipated announcement, from yesterday (June 1) to July, on a possible schedule following the coronavirus pandemic. Head of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), Godfrey Munroe, shared with Kaieteur Sport that his association would’ve missed out on a few key tournaments inclusive of their first ever participation a t t h e Wo r l d Te a m s Championship which has been indefinitely postponed. The GTTA’s women’s team had qualified for the
tournament which was scheduled for South Korea. Although the GTTA, that was scheduled to host this year’s Caribbean Mini and Pre Cadet Table Tennis Championships, are still awaiting the ITTF directives on a schedule, the association has been guided by the ITTF, which has provided significant training, material and platforms to assist all affiliates in dealing with the negative impacts of Covid19. Currently, the GTTA, with guidance from the ITTF, is using the downtime for strategic planning. Munroe had noted that, “This time provides the opportunity to work on a few key projects for which the executive committee would not have had the time to work on in a normal environment.”
GTTA awaits ITTF directive on return to play.
‘I don’t think I fulfilled my batting talent’
- Vishal Nagamootoo
- Biggest disappointment not playing at highest level By Sean Devers Forty-three-year-old Vishal Nagamootoo may have the flashy looks of a Bollywood movie star but the former Guyana Keeper has a high pedigree of cricketing blood running through his veins. His uncle on his father’s side is the legendary Rohan Kanhai who was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009, while his mother’s brothers are former West Indies Captain Alvin Kallicharran, former Guyana and West Indies ‘B’ leg-spinner Derrick Kallicharran. His elder brother is
former West Indies Test legspinner Mahendra Nagamootoo and just for good measure his Uncle Mosses Nagamootoo is Guyana’s Prime Minister. Vishal migrated to the USA in 2005 and has a daughter; Simran Nagamootoo who was born on September 18, 2017 to Padmini Rambalak. Now a Barber in the US, Vishal first played for Berbice U-19s at age 16 before making his National U-19 debut in 1993. He played up to 2006 when he Captained Guyana to Championship honours. Vishal played during the
Vishal is flanked by his brother Mahendra (left) and Uncle Derrick Kallicharran who both played First-Class cricket.
period when Guyana dominated Regional U-19 three-day cricket. Guyana won a record six titles from 1992-1997. Vishal played five Youth Tests and six Youth ODIs for West Indies and toured Pakistan with the West Indies U-19 team. He was Vice-Captain when Pakistan U-19s toured the West Indies in October 1996. The Berbician played the last of his 61 First-Class matches against the Leewards in Essequibo on March 14, 2005 at age 28 after making his debut in February 1996, against Barbados. Vishal was Guyana’s first-choice wicket-keeper for almost a decade. However, he missed part of the 2002 season when he was recovering from a car accident. He scored just one century for Guyana; 115 not out against West Indies B during the 2003 Carib Beer Cup. Vishal scored 1,306 runs a century and two fifties and had 116 dismissals including 17 stumpings in First-Class cricket. He made 56 against England for Guyana in 1998 when Everest hosted its first ever First-Class match, while in 2002 against India ‘A’ he scored 78 for GCB President’s XI. He also made 32 against South Africa ‘A’ for Guyana in 2000.
In a 31-match List ‘A’ career which began in 1997 and ended against Barbados at Discovery Bay in Jamaica on October 19, 2003, he had 27 catches and 11 and Stumpings. In 2009, Vishal followed up his first round century with a brilliant unbeaten 103 for United Sports in the New York league and informed that his batting had improved tremendously since migrating to the USA. At that time, Vishal was not yet qualified to represent the USA Internationally and when he became qualified his best days were gone. He is no longer involved in cricket in NYC. In the US, Vishal played f o r E v e r e s t , Vi k i n g s , Empire, United Sports and Vikings in New Jersey, mainly as batsman who bowled off-spin. Anthony Bramble (256), Milton Pydanna (188), Derwin Christian (123), Vishal Nagamootoo (116) and Robert Christiani (108) are the Guyanese keepers with 100 First-Class dismissals. Cyril Christiani, Robert Christiani, Clifford McWatt, Ivor Mendonca and Rohan Kanhai are the only Guyanese to keep in a Test match. Pydanna played three ODIs. Vishal was born January 7, 1977, in the Village of Whim, Corentyne, Berbice, to Simon Nagamootoo and
Vishal Nagamootoo has been living in the USA since 2005. Mavis Kallicharran and attended the McGowan Primary and Corentyne Comprehensive High School. “I became interested in cricket because my father would take me and Mahendra to cricket when he played for Whim Nationals,” said Vishal. After Primary School, Vishal would play softball at the Whim ground which was opposite where they lived before joining Whim Nationals. Vishal became a keeper when Mahendra started bowling in the yard and had no one to stop the ball as Vishal wore electrical gloves. “My U-19 days were tough and challenging, you had to be disciplined and fit…. the coaches were not
easy and the selectors did not stand nonsense. There was no room for error,” revealed Vishal whose favourite cricketer is former West Indies Keeper Jeff Dujon. He said scoring 96 and effecting five dismissals against the Windwards was his most memorable game for Guyana at U-19 level. Vishal made his senior Berbice debut after Feroze Khan turned up late for practice after missing the ‘Blairmount Boat’ which crossed the Berbice River because he had to perform a chore for his wife. The depression of being dropped and the pressure of providing for his family trigged Khan into a state of mental instability resulting is him using ‘drugs’. A few years later, Khan, one of the (Continued on page 22)
rt o p S Skerritt allegedly refuses to circulate 2018/2019 CWI to Members - Source
Ricky Skerritt CWI President
West Indies will be based at Old Trafford, pictured in the background here.
Player safety guaranteed for England series: Grave
George Floyd death: Liverpool players take knee in picture at Anfield
Liverpool players took a break from training at Anfield on Monday for this picture. (LFC)
F1 drivers Steven Smith La Liga: Barcelona speak out after willing to play to resume title Hamilton slams IPL if T20 World defence against Real their silence Cup is postponed Mallorca on 13 June 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.