K
AIETEUR NEWS
Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
Wednesday Edition Swear in legitimate Govt. June 03, 2020 - Vol. 15 No. 22
Online: www.kaieteurnews.com
from recount results
Price $80
- says Former World Leaders Group Following Kaieteur News’ Exposé...
Online readership yesterday 175,256
Exxon’s lobbyist
bolts from contract to rewrite Guyana’s oil laws
7 more boxes expose Mingo’s 1200
rigging
1140
Chart showing Mingo's rigging of seven more East Bank Demerara Boxes
1000
848
840
P P P / C
A P N U + A F C
800
600
400
200
0
Statements of Poll
847
839
P P P / C
A P N U + A F C
Statements of Recount
798
P P P / C
A P N U + A F C
Clairmont Mingo
Mingo added 300 votes to APNU+AFC and subtracted 50 from PPP/C in seven more EBD ballot boxes.
Mingo’s Figures
5 more come Marcus Bisram Harmon sends three more lists forward to refute walks free a top cop info second time to GECOM Chair NGSA exams set for July 1 & July 2
sent to GECOM Emergency measures - police alleged persons returned illegally extended to June 17
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday June 03, 2020
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL TEL:624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Of lockdowns, parallel tracks and political indifference
O
n March 19, the governor of California, Gavin Newsom, issued a state-wide order for all 39 million California residents to stay home. He accompanied the order with the comforting. “This is not a permanent state; this is a moment in ti1me” (Business Insider, March 22). California was the first state to do so, with many others following suit, like New York and Washington. Lockdown is a new reality and may be defined as restriction on personal movement to and from destinations of choice. It is but one of the words and phrases that have sprung up to capture official reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other new ones include social distancing, and shelter-in-place, with old ones like travel bans and quarantines to register the clear dangers posed. Also, a longstanding bond market “flattening the curve” (New York’s Governor Cuomo), while “the fire started by the pandemic is starting to come under control” (Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez), and seeing “the light at the end of this tunnel” (US Surgeon General Jerome Adams) have gained currency. In contrast, life in Guyana largely manifests civil disbelief and lack of urgency, which a curfew largely ignored. In this emotional rollercoaster of a society, ongoing elections impasses have seized national attention and unleashed numerous suspicions about trickery and positioning for rigging. There is the strong sense that the recount process is being narrated and manipulated to perpetrate many deceptions. As we see it at this paper, the environment is ripe for such distrusts, which have now become the order of the day and dictate most conversations. We believe that the evidence gives sturdy grounds for such harsh conclusions, since daily developments seem to confirm hard intentions for perverse purposes. In other words, what has unravelled provides the foundation for political stone-walling and a very convenient cover for misusing health fears. Our dispute riddled, never-ending, elections stand as a temptation waiting either to be manipulated or exploited. On Wednesday, the media noted a Guyanese-born academic attached to UWI emphasizing that care must be exercised so that the COVID-19 pandemic is not misused to extend extraordinary state powers. The temptation is strong, and as a shield, there is no better one that could be found than COVID-19. Our controversies provide such an irresistible attraction. Meanwhile, back home, the field general of Guyana’s COVID-19 National Task Force recently gave assurance that a total lockdown is not under consideration at this time. That is helpful and encouraging, but it is subject to circumstances holding steady, as the qualifier of “at this time” makes clear. This position is coming under severe stress with numbers and fears heating up over Aranka, Bartica, Moruca, and elsewhere in Region 9. Should matters spiral downward, the current position may be rendered impractical and make a total (or targeted total) lockdown compulsory. We would hope that matters do not deteriorate to this, which could be near terminal for many Guyanese workers and families trapped in dire economic straits. On the plus side, a lockdown and other restraining measures have their advantages, particularly for a vulnerable place like Guyana, with its crowded public transportation network, its congested marketplaces, and the generalized waywardness and indifference of many. The difference is registered through honest and decisive leadership, like New Zealand and Australia. Separately, our healthcare system is weak and limited, which is exacerbated by an apparent state of unreadiness, which alarms unendingly. This is not helped by the lack of a fully coordinated national approach to confront together.
There were several attempts at establishing a national unity government DEAR EDITOR, The following is just a selection of a long list of attempts at national unity that may be of interest to readers in the light of new issues raised by people in or out of political organisations. The following report comes from an issue of the WPA’s broadsheet front and back paper, “DAYCLEAN”, dated December 23, 1989: “GUYANA BELONGS TO ALL HER PEOPLE On Wednesday December 20, 1989, the National Assembly passed, with all voting “Yes” for the WPA, a motion tabled in December 1988. The motion reads as follows: · TAKING into account Guyana’s deep economic and social crisis which affects every class of the population, especially the poor and every part of the country, and which has an influence on the economy of the CARICOM region; · ACCEPTING also the proposition that all social forces can make a contribution to the economic and social revival of Guyana and should be involved not only in the performance phase of the recovery, but also in the planning phase as far as possible; · CONSIDERING also that the method of national consultation and dialogue is a superior method for approaching national crisis in order to strengthen the country’s psychological defences and remove all suggestion of the exclusion of any political class, religious, ethnic or other
group interest in the conception of the reconstruction; · BE IT RESOLVED that the National Assembly respectfully request the Government to consider as a matter of urgency the initiating of serious and open dialogues and consultations with all interested political parties, with all the representatives of organized labor and with all the representative organizations of business and religion; in fact with all interested social forces and organizations on the important issues of the day, including democratization, economic and social policy, a bearable income-prices relationship and other issues, thus upholding the proposition that Guyana belongs to all her people and allowing the recovery of Guyana’s economy to be accepted as a personal challenge by all Guyanese. WE CANAGREE ON SOME THINGS The mover of the motion, Brother Kwayana, restated the view of the WPA that without national reconciliation, Guyana will not be able to move out of its crisis. He had withdrawn all previous motions, in order to show the importance the party attached to the present motion. The mover said that the request for talks was not aimed at seats in the Cabinet. This could not be considered without free and fair elections. He warned that in Guyana’s situation, it was unfair for the Government to be satisfied to talk only with
its friends and those in its employ, or people who depended on it for a career or for business advantages. “The Government must speak with the adversaries, if Guyana’s interests are to be put first.” He listed some of the things, which could form the basis of the proposed talks: Amerindians selfdetermination, an insufficiently integrated society, social crisis, economic failure, divestment and investment, freedom of association, freedom of the individual, freedom of religion, as distinct from freedom of worship, democratization. “All opposition parties claim something is rotten in the election system; something is crooked in the conduct of the elections”, said the WPA MP. These claims deserve to be examined in deep dialogue. He referred directly to the composition of the Elections Commission, with a 2-1 ruling party majority. The motion was supported by Mr. Reepu Daman Persaud, who strongly recommended the method of dialogue and consultation, reminding the House that the PNC had once proclaimed a Consultative Democracy. In accepting the motion, DPM Parris argued that several of the provisions of the Constitution laid the basis for dialogue and consultation and criticized the opposition (PPP and WPA) for not attending meetings of the Supreme Congress of the people. He
listed a number of conditions for the right atmosphere for dialogue, mentioning ‘loyalty’ to Guyana, ending boycotts, and others. He said it would not work if any party came to the talks with a hidden agenda. He hoped it was not a Trojan horse move. (End of report).” The motion had been tabled one year earlier in 1988 and it was intended to seriously encourage all political parties to admit the existence of the serious state of affairs in the nation. The parties must come together with “all social forces” to look at ourselves, face our blunders and, as Guyanese of many origins and many opinions, make an effort to improve the situation and move into a higher system in which everyone counted. The motion avoided in its text accusations of guilt and hostile language, but included in its scope all the violations, omissions and irregularities that had plagued the nation for decades. It is fair to note that before and after the coalition of the PNC and the UF, which lasted from 1964 to 1968, there had been proposals for overcoming the sharp and unsustainable divisions in Guyanese society. In 1964, proposals for a coalition between the PPP and the PNC had been made. The most important of these was a series of consultations between the PPP and the PNC, proposed by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, President of Ghana, who with the agreement of the two parties sent a highlevel political mission to Guyana to mediate the (Continued on page 6)
Is the GuySuCo White Sugar Plant still on for 2022? DEAR EDITOR, I refer to pronouncements made by GuySuCo on the construction of a plantation white sugar processing facility (KN: 11/22/19; SN: 12/ 5/19) to produce sugar of Codex ICUMSA 45 specification. The revelations thus far indicate that the Albion factory will be modified to produce this product and first production should be around end of 2022. Editor, this is a great
initiative in reorienting the sugar business; however, Guyana must remain vigilant on implementation and its ability to deliver as per design. One remembers clearly the plethora of commentaries on the Skeldon Sugar Factory (and the Enmore Packaging Plant to a lesser extent) for shortcomings and inability to deliver on design objectives. The criticisms on these projects were intense and numerous to the point where decision-makers happily justified closure of both
To make matters worse, there is wide suspicion that the official numbers about confirmed cases are not accurate, and may be tainted by politics. Moreover, it is unconstructive, even dangerous, given the political response(s) to the virus threat. It is the height of foolishness, for there to be a government and an opposition programme running near simultaneously on how to address what this nation faces. To have two programmes on-stream is a waste of skilled manpower and scarce resources. It is why we persist in asking for some returning to senses, some strong and genuine efforts to bridge this hurtful divide at this troubling of times, even if it is on a temporary basis only. The nation needs help now.
operations citing business reasons. The fanciful concept of “Transitioning into a Resilient Business” was the buzz title that regaled us and projected GuySuCo going down an educated, well-planned pathway to success with many new ventures. Here we are in June 2020 and the Resilient Business train seems to have run out of steam. Poverty in sugar communities are on the rise and cane crops have been replaced by cannabis crops in sections of once thriving cane fields. Guyana cannot and must not allow history of this sort to repeat itself at Albion. As GuySuCo embarks on this project to manufacture ICUMSA 45 color, every Guyanese hopes (in absence of information) that proper technical analysis and reviews are completed to (1) Guarantee availability of lost cost raw sugar at Albion (2)
Ensure appropriate process philosophy and quality of equipment are employed in the modified factory to realize ICUMSA 45 color. It is hoped that technical analysis and reviews of the project design are not assigned to GuySuCo’s Technical Department or Board of Directors. This grouping has already bungled operations of a miniaturized GuySuCo and must not be given the opportunity to do same with a project full of opportunities. Albion’s overall performance has been deteriorating at a rapid pace over the last few years. GuySuCo should give the public on update on Albion’s performance and progress made on the realisation of the White Sugar Plant in 2022. Elections 2020 and COVID-19 should not make scapegoats for this performance update. Yours truly, Sookram Persaud
Wednesday June 03, 2020
Those claiming that elections were credible are acting from one source Dear Editor, Guyana is not an isolated state but one operating within the confines of a regional and geopolitical frame with established diplomatic relationships and seeking to demonstrate an abidance for international laws and conventions. As a result, the support and assistance rendered by the international community must be consistent with the Constitution and relevant Laws of Guyana, including the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM). This is important in order to arrive at a credible recount as determined within our legal frame work. The Law is the only mechanism in ensuring mutual respect and peaceful coexistence, local and international. It is not to be violated by Guyanese nor by those who believe “international dictatorship” is the new format for bilateral encounters. It is evident some within the diplomatic community lack diplomatic finesse and are no longer about nations exercising choice, but rather about nations kneeling before their dictates and delivering without question in accordance with their wishes. Guyana might as well be a colony of those who embrace this new trend of “international dictatorship.” It is in this rather disturbing context Ambassador for the European Union Fernando Ponz Canto is condemned for his recent pronouncements in sections of the media that Guyana’s elections “was impossible to cheat.” As far as he was concerned, every other observer was of the same opinion therefore that was sufficient proof of the credibility of the process. What his intellect fails to recognise is that many Guyanese are smart enough to recognise that what appears to be many sources speaking in unity is in fact emanating from one source. He ignores the observation reports emanating from the recount process that shows anomalies after anomalies. Not only pertaining to alleged votes by dead persons and persons not in the jurisdiction but also more votes cast at certain locations than voters on the Official List
of Electors; missing documents to determine the validity of the vote cast against an official identified voter, votes cast without proper identification or an affidavit of identity, absence of polling books to validate the many questionable occurrences that transpired within the particular polling station; boxes without seals and boxes at various polling stations with documents from another polling station. The stated anomalies seemed to escape the Ambassador or are not according to his intellectual understanding evidence of cheating. Yet the same Ambassador is quick to pontificate on the process, which he and other observers witnessed in the Region Four count which he considers wrong. A process of tabulation that was no different than that which occurred in several other regions as reported in a court of law but which was only found to be wrong for and challenged in the Region Four process. From where does Ambassador Canto get the authority to determine how Guyana must move forward in its elections declaration? This is yet another show of lack of integrity and total disregard for the Order governing the recount, which expressly sets out among other considerations the following: “AND WHEREAS the Guyana Elections Commission, in exercise of the authority vested in it under Article 162 of the Constitution and pursuant to Section 22 of the Elections Laws (Amendment) Act, No. 15 of 2000, seeks to remove difficulties connected with the application of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03, in implementing its decisions relating to the conduct of the aforementioned recount of all ballots cast at the said elections, including the reconciliation of the ballots issued with the ballots cast, destroyed, spoiled, stamped, and as
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deemed necessary, their counterfoils/stubs; authenticity of the ballots and the number of voters listed and crossed out as having voted; the number of votes cast without ID cards; the number of proxies issued and the number utilised; statistical anomalies; occurrences recorded in the Poll Book.” As per said Order, this consideration along with others will collectively serve to determine any declaration to be made. The foregoing clearly establishes the recount is not about simple numbers but a more complex and complete evaluation to determine factors impacting the count. The opposition and the international community speaking the same language is now limiting the credibility of the elections to a numerical count in direct rejection of the gazetted Order. This is lawlessness and we should be disturbed by it. Unfortunately, Guyanese have become so polarised that it is being ignored how important law and order are for our mutual well-being, here and abroad. Some in the diplomatic community have shifted the goal post from screaming transparency on the 5th of March. When transparency was met in accordance with the court’s ruling, they screamed credibility. Now that GECOM has sought to establish credibility, for them it is only about a numerical count equivalent to doing a math problem and arriving at a correct answer using a very flawed process. Some are making the same mistake that they made in interpreting the Consequential Order of the Caribbean Court of Justice on the no confidence vote. This is not accident; it is designed to influence thinking and action not premised on law and order that will not augur well for us in the long run. Yours truly, Lincoln Lewis
The President turned a blind eye to ungodly governance and it has come back to haunt him DEAR EDITOR, Thank you for exposing the contradictions, lies, and deceits relating to matters arising out of the March 2 Elections – outstanding KN investigative reporting to help the nation understand unfolding events. Fantastic work by your reporter(s). The behaviour of my APNU disappoints me – first, it declared we won the elections and now when the truth is being exposed, it is claiming it was defrauded, preparing the base for non-acceptance of the transparent outcome. My party was almost completely in charge of the elections, but it is claiming another party defrauds it – what does that say about the leadership and performance of my party? I am appealing to my President not to endorse that false narrative of ungodly people and be misled into supporting action that would compromise or reject the outcome of the recount. Also, the GECOM Chair must not allow distractions to the recount and quickly bring it to a conclusion. It is not shocking that my party lost. The writing was on the wall two years ago. Warnings from within the church were ignored. During the 28 years, we were in government, the supporters were used as fodder to prop up an illegal regime. They were indoctrinated into supporting electoral fraud, their education neglected, and lulled into a false sense of security that the party would take care of them because it would remain in government forever. They became underdeveloped and
unprepared to compete in the real world. Thru the lord’s grace, my party returned to government five years ago and the base became privileged with resources. But hardly anything was done to improve lives – there was little progress on youth employment, a cornerstone of the 2015 campaign and criminality did not decrease. The base was being socialised into thinking and acting to prop up the government while a handful enriched themselves. The President turned a blind eye to ungodly governance. Now, it has come to haunt him. The recount is confirming our party lost the elections, and the base is being galvanised to reject the outcome. It is unfortunate that the bulk of our support base can be so easily misled into blindly believing untruths peddled about the election. The base voted for Granger and not some scoundrels in the party defying the Lord and seeking to derail democracy. The election was free and fair as my party itself stated on March 3. My party claimed victory on March 3 and declared victory on the evening of 4th March amidst fraud. When it appeared that my party lost, Mr. Mingo was called upon to create a magic victory twice. It can’t now claim fraud when ballots are confirming defeat. That in itself would be considered as fraud. If the party lost, we have still won because democracy becomes strengthened affirming elections decide who governs. In
an election, there can only be one winner. Whoever gets a majority wins the government. If it is not my leader, then so be it. We will rebuild and return next election. The Chairperson Claudette Singh is a Christian. She must upheld values of honesty, decency, and integrity. She must not be a party to skullduggery or effort to derail the process or entertain conspiracy of Election Day fraud. She must not pay heed to misinformation and various shenanigans to delay or compromise the recount. I have faith that she would not allow herself to be wowed by deception as being propagated by corrupt political actors whose interest is to continue control over the public purse for self-enrichment. These lost souls don’t care about party, supporters, nation, or the President. They only care about themselves. It is better for us to accept defeat in a dignified way than to hold on to power through deceit. We must turn the page and restart the campaign to clean up our party for true representation and development of the support base. Regardless of the outcome, the recount must be used as the basis for the declaration and the swearing in of the President. The Chair must not allow herself to be distracted from the recount. If my party loses, I appeal to my President to concede defeat and congratulate the winner for peace and harmony, the will of the Lord. Yours truly Bro. Joshua Emmanuel
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THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PRESENTS SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES DEAR EDITOR, The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present significant challenges for vulnerable communities, including women, girls, youth, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other queer (LGBTQ+) persons, persons with disabilities, persons living with HIV, migrants, the elderly and those in extreme poverty. A key element to these challenges is the pandemic of gender-based violence, which disproportionately affects one in three women globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The sad reality is that many women and girls who are trying to reduce the contraction of COVID-19 by
observing quarantine and lockdown measures, are confined to their homes with abusers. In many countries, there has been a significant increase in the number cases of sexual and gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence, as data from UNFPA. Further to this, SASOD Guyana is concerned about the increase in incidents of cyber-bullying against LGBTQ+ persons in Guyana. Many of these cases are unreported and perpetrators are not held accountable. We are aware of the devastating and traumatic effects, which these acts of violence have on the mental health of persons. Against this background, SASOD Guyana with support from the
Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC) is offering free counselling sessions utilising Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) platforms, as we continue to practise physical distancing. For survivors of genderbased violence, free legal services are also offered by our pool of CARIBONO lawyers through our Community Paralegal Services Programme. SASOD Guyana remains a leading defender of human rights for all people in Guyana and the Caribbean. We are in this together. Yours truly, Kobe Smith Human Rights Coordinator, SASOD Guyana
There were several attempts at establishing... frome page 4 division between the two parties. The discussions involving these highpowered teams were conducted in secret and records of the proposals made and the responses to them have not been made public. The mission from Ghana departed without achieving the desired agreement and each of the two parties has given the impression that the other was the unreasonable party. The design of these talks did not permit any interaction between those involved and the general public. Periodically, the PPP in particular threw out feelers for a coalition with its opposite number. The next notable development came in 1976 when the PNC had been making great headway in the African Liberation Movement and in the Non-Aligned Movement. It was the offer by the PPP of Critical Support to the Government, which it had regarded as not legitimate. Again in 1977, the PPP published its proposal for a National Patriotic Front. The only party that responded favourably, though critically, was the WPA. It later became known, and there are documents to verify this, that the PPP and the PNC had entered into negotiations at Belfield House, the country residence of the Prime Minister, to negotiate a new relationship, including shared
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Kaieteur News
Government between the two parties. In case of any attempt at denial, it is stated here that minutes of such meetings, with the names of top brass members of both parties, have come into the possession of scholars. In fact, Mr. Alim Majeed attracted much hostility for writing and publishing a book dealing with the progress of talks between the PPP and the PNC. In 1979, Dr. Walter Rodney presented to the Working People’s Alliance and put into general circulation a draft proposal for a Government of National Unity and Reconstruction (GNUR). In 1984, the TUC convened a forum at Critchlow Labour College at which the PNC, PPP and WPA were invited to make presentations on the topic, “Socialist Guyana: the way forward and upward.” At this forum, the WPA’s presentation was titled “Towards a democratic Republic.” The Patriotic Coalition for Democracy, founded after the 1985 general elections, was a union of opposition parties opposed to the still ruling PNC Government. The WPA motion for a dialogue of all social forces, including all political parties, took efforts at moving in the direction of national unity to a level not approached previously. It brought the subject into open public debate among contending parties in what is regarded as the country’s highest forum. The motion sought to have the four parties in the National Assembly discuss, examine and authorise a national conversation, which could release known and
unknown talents, energy and expertise of all Guyanese, at home and abroad, to do for ourselves what no one else can do. The motion succeeded. What happened to the dialogue is a warning, which we can dare to ignore, only if we see ourselves as beyond redemption. A resolution of the National Assembly is, in theory, an order to the Executive. President Hoyte who could not miss the potential of such a process, as outlined in the motion and the debate, began to promote the dialogue by seeking with each political party in turn its ideas of how the dialogue should be configured and conducted. After the leader of the opposition, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, had made his opening statement in the opening session of the dialogue, President Hoyte announced that the subject elections would not be part of the dialogue. The WPA promptly announced that if that was the case then the dialogue was dead. It leaked out that hardliners in the PNC had rebelled against the content and the intent of the National Assembly resolution. Acting as an independent citizen, Dr. Bertrand Ramcharan had drafted and released a work plan aimed at ensuring a sustainable future for Guyana. It touched on many sectors, including the environment, and stressed the need for national unity and cooperation. On a visit to Guyana with his late wife, Dr. Lily Ramcharan, he presented a printed version of his proposal to all parties in Parliament. Yours truly, Eusi Kwayana
The country is demoralized and handicapped in its quest for a common destiny In Guyana, as recounting of the ballots cast painfully drags on at a snail’s pace and is too often punctuated annoyingly by unnecessary stoppages, Guyanese at home and abroad anxiously await finality and a justified conclusion to the election of March 2, 2020. The country and the Guyanese people have experienced many periods of mental trauma from the time of foreign rule to current times where even locally appointed and oath-taken election officers find themselves compromised and unprepared or unwilling to deliver the credible election results the electorate crave. A people at times with glimpses of hope are again rendered downtrodden, demoralized or perhaps even hopeless. A nation handicapped in its quest for harmony, and cannot yet determine a common destiny, is stunned.What has transpired in Guyana following the elections of 2020 did catch the attention of patriotic Guyanese in the Canadian Diaspora and led to the formation of an apolitical ad hoc committee dubbing itself DEMOCRACY WATCH 2020. The chosen mandate of this committee is to join with the democratic-minded, everywhere, in the struggle to
stave off an impending return to dictatorial rule in Guyana. Cognizant of the history of rigged elections in order to hold on to power, the committee anticipated since mid March 2020 that it would require international intervention with possible threat of sanctions against key actors in Guyana who are actively engaged in denying the people their will and a government of their choice. A letter seeking sanctions was forwarded on March 28 to several MP’s, the PMO and the DPMO. It was to encourage the Canadian Government to join with other major Governments in implementing punishing individual sanctions until a legitimate Government was installed in Guyana. Advised and assisted by prominent Guyanese-Canadian professionals, DEMOCRATIC WATCH 2020, which does not solicit funds nor accept donations, intends to remain active and vigilant paying keen attention not only in the heavily interfered with recount process but to also focus its attention on the behaviour of the de facto government and its less than impressive manoeuvres in preventing internationally recognized and highly reputable election observers from entering Guyana to assist in bring
about a credible declaration of the election result. The Committee will advocate for the return of the Carter Center and others. Also of grave concern is the mistreatment of foreign diplomats and especially the campaign by known operatives and supporters of the de facto Guyana government for the recall of the Canadian High Commissioner. Her yeoman service to Canada and to Guyana is highly laudable and an enormous gratitude is owed to her. The committee calls on all relevant authorities in Guyana to help in the progress of the recount, albeit slow, and to not engage in any effort to thwart or abandon the recount exercise. The security of Diplomats and Observers active in Guyana must also be guaranteed. It is “now or never”, for real progress and the “one destiny” that all Guyanese so painfully look forward to soon attain. Yours truly, R. Singh, Mississauga ON H. Ragnauth, Waterloo ON N. Megnauth, Brampton ON Rick Persaud, Mississauga. ON S. Alexander, Toronto ON S. Bernard, Mississauga ON N. Hanif, Toronto ON
GHK Lall should provide evidence of his claims of ‘manipulations and massive cheating’ DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me to make reference to a letter you chose to publish in your June 1, 2020 edition written by Mr. GHK Lall entitled “George Floyd protest should make all Guyanese pay attention”. I must admit to some amount of intrigue in a particular statement contained in said correspondence: “When I sift through and analyse all the shrouded mysteries of the
pre-elections period, it is crystal clear that the PPP engaged in wholesale and clever preparations that set the stage for the manipulations and massive cheating that is now claimed by the PNC.” In the face of the multitude of back and forth accusations, which we have been subjected to during this non-ending election period, some proven and some not so. I am sure that
Mr. Lall would appreciate that it is unfair to leave us readers with such a “hanging” statement. It would appear that he is in possession of voluminous corroborating evidence to support his claims. I hereby respectfully request that Mr. Lall educate us readers with some substantial elaboration of these claims. Yours truly, Navin Sankat
Corporations need to be more considerate during the COVID-19 crisis DEAR EDITOR, The prevailing COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated, for me at least, the sincerity of many companies. I make this statement against the background against the steady cry of many workers seeing their pay cut as they and their families face difficulty and hardship. While I will refrain from stating names, many of these well-known enterprises boast of their Corporate Social Responsibility but fail to remember that charity begins at home. They
sadly forget that their successes and massive profits over the years came from the efforts of the very workers who they are now treating so shabbily. I heard the basis of their actions is to preserve their enterprises. I see that as a weak explanation and the reality is they are seeking to protect their profits at the expense of their workers. This is indeed a sad time for thousands of workers and their families. Yours truly, Liebert Alleyne
Wednesday June 03, 2020
Aviation authority impacted by pandemic -revenue losses recorded by reduction in overflights Guyana is coming to grips with revenue losses brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the global health crisis has caused a 2-3-year setback for the regulatory body. Speaking with NCN’s on the Context programme, GCAA’s Director General Lt. Col. Egbert Field stated there has been a 95 percent drop in revenue generated by overflights. These flights usually pay to pass through Guyana’s airspace when en route to other destinations and these monies would form the bulk of the GCAA’s revenue. With global travel restrictions in place and reduced air travel by people amid COVID-19, revenue, generated from overflights, has been affected. As such, DG Field said the regulatory body intends to approach Government to assist with providing support for the next 3-4 months to execute its mandate. Other impacts sustained by GCAA are the halt on staff
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GCAA’s Director General, Lt. Col. Egbert Field going abroad for training and a reduced pace of construction of its new headquarters. In January, GCAA had announced that Guyana performed well on a recent International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit of the authority’s standards and recommended practices. The nation sits at number 4 in the region with a score of 76.96 percent.
NGSA exams set for July 1 & July 2 Having received the official time table from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) for the sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), the Ministry of Education (MoE) has announced that the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) will be held on the 1st and 2nd July, 2020. The announcement by the Ministry comes as the dates of CSEC and CAPE have been given as 13th July, 2020 - 4th August, 2020 and 13th July - 31st July, 2020 respectively. The Ministry said that the examinations will be written using the paper-based modality. The official Examination Order will be gazetted and published today June 3, 2020. The order will address the public health protocols to be implemented for these examinations. With the closure of schools due to COVID-19, NGSA originally set for April 8 and 9 was postponed. Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, said that in light of the curfew and other measures put in place by President David Granger and the National COVID-19 Task Force, schools will not re-
Minister Henry interacts with NGSA students.
open before June 3. Minister Henry noted that her office recognises the importance of the exam and is working to ensure that no child is disenfranchised. “The Ministry would have to get the blessings of the National Task Force and the Ministry of Public Health
when the plan is finalised,” she stated. At the interim, the Education Ministry said it will be providing continued academic learning online via social media platforms along with more traditional media, such as television and radio. Persons can visit the
Ministry’s website (https:// www.education.gov.gy/web/) to access NGSA Practice Test Papers in the four core areas. The Guyana Learning Channel (Channel 42/Cable 29) is also providing several programmes for Primary School students from 09:00hrs – 12:00hrs
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Wednesday June 03, 2020
Kaieteur News
ExxonMobil lobbyist bolts from contract to rewrite Guyana’s oil laws By Kiana Wilburg After being hammered for three months by Kaieteur News regarding its close relationship with ExxonMobil, US law firm, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP has disclosed that it has dropped the contract it won in February to rewrite the nation’s outdated oil laws. The law firm made this known via an email to this news agency yesterday. In that correspondence, the law firm’s Director of Public Relations, Lisa Franz, said that the newspaper “mistakenly” reported that it is representing the Government on law reform for the petroleum sector. Franz continued, “Hunton Andrews Kurth has performed no legal work for the Government of Guyana, and informed the Government in March that it would not represent the Government in the matter that was the subject of your article.” It should be noted that Kaieteur News was not “mistaken” on any information it provided as suggested by Franz. In early February of this year, it was Energy Depart-
ment Director, Dr. Mark Bynoe, who informed the nation that Hunton Andrews Kurth, had been selected, “with the blessings of the World Bank”, to modernize Guyana’s legal and regulatory framework for the oil industry. It was also noted by Dr. Bynoe that the company would be working closely with Guyanese firm, Cameron & Shepherd on the US$1.2M contract which was supposed to last for one year. The Energy Director had said that the firm would also provide legal advice to the Department of Energy on all matters related to the oil and gas sector. One month later, one of the UK’s top publications, The Guardian, noted that the firm which was selected by the Energy Department enjoys a 40-year-old relationship with ExxonMobil. In that March 8 article, The Guardian reported that Hunton Andrews Kurth was contacted for a comment. Instead of informing the news agency, like it did to Kaieteur yesterday, that it would not be representing Guyana on the matter, it declined to comment citing “client confidentiality concerns.”
Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe
Former Presidential Advisor, Dr. Jan Mangal
Charles H. Knauss, one of the partners at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
By mid-April, a non-governmental organization in Germany called Urgewald, wrote the World Bank demanding an investigation into the award of the contract to the US law firm. Urgewald expressed deep concern about the use of Hunton Andrews Kurth, as it noted that such an arrangement represents a conflict of interest and would only undermine Guyana’s attempt to strengthen its governance framework. Following several articles, which struck at the heart of
this matter, Dr. Bynoe held a virtual press conference to update the media fraternity on developments within the sector since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis. During that May press meeting, Kaieteur News challenged Dr. Bynoe on the use of the US firm which has such close ties to ExxonMobil. At no point did Dr. Bynoe reveal to the media that the company informed his department since March that it will drop the contract to rewrite Guyana’s laws. He did acknowledge however that there are concerns about the relationship shared between the two American power houses. He noted as well that the department is indeed concerned about issues of conflict of in-
terest while stating that he has no qualms about such matters being addressed. Importantly, there was not a single word from Hunton Andrews Kurth in clearing the air on this matter. In fact, it said nothing about previous articles from March to May, which barely scratched the surface of the true extent of its relations with ExxonMobil. A response was only received after Kaieteur News published an article this month on the depth of its connection with the oil giant. On June 1, last, this newspaper carried a news item featuring former Presidential Advisor, Dr. Jan Mangal, who condemned the use of the law firm, stating that it is a recipe for failure. His comments were
premised on a Kaieteur News exposé, which showed that Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP was registered as an ExxonMobil lobbyist since 2016. The registration form, which this newspaper published, noted that the law firm represents ExxonMobil on a range of environmental issues. The lawyer who is listed on the document to represent the client is Charles H. Knauss. He is a partner at the firm. (See Link for registration form: https:// disclosurespreview.house.gov/ ld/ldxmlrelease/2016/RR/ 300814978.xml). With the foregoing in mind, Dr. Mangal said it is clear the Coalition government does not want to hire the right people to protect Guyana’s interests. He said, “They are letting the very companies we need to regulate dictate the country’s business. This is a recipe for failure. And as you can see, we are failing.” Dr. Mangal reminded that Guyana’s leaders already gave away US$55 billion of the people’s wealth with the lopsided Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). By allowing an ExxonMobil lobbyist to take charge of Guyana’s legislative and regulatory framework, he opined that more value would have been given away.
Wednesday June 03, 2020
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Kaieteur News
Whatever happened to the tax confidentiality? It is unethical, unprincipled and unprofessional for any municipal official – whether elected or appointed – to be discussing in the public domain, the amount of rates, taxes or arrears which any specific ratepayer owes. No municipality should have reason to be naming and shaming any ratepayer. No one needs psychic powers to know that had the owner of Giftland Mall not made comments in support of democracy and transparent elections, his tax issues with the municipality would not have been in the media. The only reason that this is happening is because of the actions which he took in recent months, actions to which any
citizen is entitled.There is a bigger issue here involved when it comes to rates and taxes. That issue relates to the fairness of the municipal tariffs.Municipal rates and taxes are inequitable. The burden of rates and taxes falls disproportionately on the business community. Businesses shoulder the greatest burden of municipal taxes. The differential between rates and taxes charged to businesses as compared with private households is huge and is unfair. And one of the reasons for this huge differential is that rates are levied not only in relation to the value of property but also in relation to whether the use of the property is commercial, in-
dustrial or residential. Even when it relates to the use of the pavements, businesses are charged a higher rate than illegal vendors. The weekly cleaning fee which is charged to business owners during Christmas time was far higher than the fee which was charged to the vendors illegally squatting in front of businesses on Regent Street. Businesses who are in arrears with their rates and taxes have become whipping boys for municipalities. But without the taxes paid by businesses, town councils would have long collapsed. Even governments would not have been able to afford to bail them out. It is true that businesses
Dem boys seh ...
Soulja Bai like he concede When dem boys use to go to small school, dem learn de story of de Pied Piper of Hamelin. De town of Hamelin was full of rats. Dem people there had no clue how to fix de problem. Dem try all kind ah tings but de rats get more plenty. So when de Pied Piper tun up and seh he gon get rid of the rats for a fee, de town readily agreed. De story goes that de Piper mek some strange set of sounds on he pipe and de rats start to come to he. Still playing de pipe, de Piper led de rats to the river wheh deh all drown.
But de town refuse to pay de Piper and he punish dem. Hamelin gat its legend of the Pied Piper and Guyana gat its legend too. It gat a man who play wan harmonica. But instead of rats following he around, de man raise de dead from de cemetery. Dead people following de man around. De man seh how is dem dead people who vote. But he na seh who dem vote fuh. But if dem following he around, why dem gon vote fuh somebody else? Dem boys hear dat dem jumbie decide dem nah wan go back in cemetery. So de man wha playing de
harmonica now gat 86,000 jumbie following he around. De man with de harmonica is nat de only one seeing spirits. It look like de Kranicle deh in pon dis jumbie politics. When dem boys see de Kranicle front page yesterday, dem had to ask if Souja Bai concede de election. De Kranicle like dem run out of jumbie story. Dem boys seh dat de Kranicle might gat to hire somebody fuh help bring back jumbie story. Talk half and wait fuh see whether Claw-dette gon tek de wuk.
owe the largest sums outstanding in most municipalities because they are assessed huge sums. But tens of thousands of residential homeowners across Guyana are also in arrears. A few years ago, it was reported that as much as 1/3 of homeowners in the city were in arrears with their rates and taxes. And these residential property owners are charged a pittance for rates and taxes. Yet no one sees any municipal official going public on television to discuss the arrears of a particular residential property owner. The rates charged to businesses are so high, when this falls into arrears and attracts interests, the amount owed increased almost exponentially. When you consider that interest on arrears can be high as 20%, you can appreciate the problems this poses for businesses. Many businesses want to pay their rates and taxes but the interest is so prohibitive that they cannot. And so the amount increases year after year to the point where some-
times it surpasses the market value of the property and then there is simply no incentive for the business owners to pay. Many persons have lost their property because of the accrued arrears plus interest. It is time for greater equity in the system. Rates and taxes should bear some relationship to the value of services provided by municipalities. Many businesses have been forced in many instances to undertake infrastructural works, to pay for garbage collection and to high security fees simply because the municipalities cannot guarantee a reliable or effective service. Businesses should be entitled to deduct the cost of infrastructural work which they have been forced to provide because municipalities cannot do so. This would provide a greater incentive for businesses to undertake infrastructural work which the municipalities are unable to afford at any time. There is no equity also when it comes to vending. One reason why rentals for market stalls have been so
low is because market vendors complain that they are not making money. And they are not making money because there are just as many vendors plying their trade inside the markets as there are outside. Municipal rates and taxes need to be made more equitable. But this is not going to happen unless this is enshrined in our country’s municipal laws. If and when there is such a move, those responsible should use the opportunity to ensure greater professionalism on the part of municipal officers. There should be a prohibition on a person’s rates and taxes being publicly ventilated. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
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Wednesday June 03, 2020
Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Past and present destruction: Wilful or just happened?
I
n March 2016, I got into a big newspaper clash with Henry Jeffrey over a statement he made. I thought it was extremely misleading what he wrote though I believe he has a right to his interpretation. But if we let misinterpretations on important historical events go unanswered, then history gets into trouble and by extension the knowledge that future generations have to learn from. Here is what Jeffrey wrote; “I do not believe that our country is in this condition because over the last half
a century our politicians have been wicked and intended this kind of backwardness.” When I saw this expression, the first thing that came to my mind was that this gentleman is an academic and a long practising politician, holding important positions in the PNC and PPP administrations, how could he not see the brutal nature of ethnic competition in Guyana? So many examples of PPP and PNC’s deliberate destruction came tumbling down from my memories that I could never have seen Jeffrey’s scholarship in the same light
again. I don’t know if Jeffrey still holds to that perspective but I will continue to confront any similar view. Our political culture generates wilful destruction. It is for this reason, the country needed a Walter Rodney bandwagon, a multiracial party grounded in people’s struggle and a young generation that doesn’t care a damn about texture of hair, colour of skin, and last names. Why Jeffrey, who saw firsthand, as part of Burnham’s machinery and first hand as minister in the PPP government for sixteen years, the deliberate destruction, is incomprehensible or opportunistic. Here is a sad episode, I never wrote about since 2015. I am writing it for the first time. I only knew about it in January of this year but it occurred in the middle of 2015. In 1978, when I was courting my wife, we would stop quite often on our way from the seawall to Wortmanville and
drink coconut water directly at the junction of North Road and Orange Walk. This gentleman was a fixture there. Two generations in that family have carried on that business. It is still there. A few years back, it was featured in the newspapers because of its longevity. While having my nut, the grandson of the owner told me that after APNU+AFC came into power, the army and police force stopped buying water from him and started to patronage his African neighbour. He said for over 30 years, they supplied the State. He was talking to me with rage in his voice. He implored me to write about it. I asked if he was comfortable with the publicity. He said “why not?” Then, his brother chimed in and said; “you should write it Mr. Kissoon because you brought them to power” (his exact words).” Surely, the African vendor should get a part of the State’s purchasing order. You have to share the pie and I am an unashamed, unapologetic defender of African people getting their fair share of the nation’s wealth. But the way it was done to this Indian family was crass
and deliberate. I cannot see how Jeffrey could refuse to see the thousands of wilful acts of destruction in our post-colonial history. Was it not a cunning, carefully planned story when Forbes Burnham at his party congress at Sophia said this; “it was decided that the Party should assume unapologetically its paramountcy over the government which is merely one of its executive arms.” This was known as the Declaration of Sophia. A party that had less than forty percent of support from the population and never won a free election became paramount to the government. The inherent disaster was clear for Guyanese to see. This was no accidental occurrence. In 1974, the denial of a teaching job at UG was not accidental. From 2001, Jagdeo’s systematic discrimination against African Guyanese was not accidental. See my research paper, “Ethnic Power and Ideological Racism: Comparing presidencies in Guyana,” June 2010. The refusal by the Ramotar Government to put the 1823 slave uprising monument on Parade Ground was not accidental.
Frederick Kissoon This brings us to the three-month election fiasco that Guyana is drowning in and the destruction that has followed the rigging of the March 2 general poll. We are seeing huge acts of deliberation that are causing terrible disasters. APNU+AFC leaders are inciting people. These are wilful acts. Can you excuse the appeal by Joe Harmon to the security forces that their votes were not counted? Do you know the destruction that intended fiction can cause? Unless, ethnic rivalry in politics dies, deliberately planned evil will continue. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Wednesday June 03, 2020
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Kaieteur News
Emergency measures extended to June 17 The National COVID-19 Task Force has announced that the emergency measures currently in force will be extended to June 17, 2020. That will be one day after the deadline given for a declaration from the ongoing recount of ballots for the March 2 elections. It has been three months since the elections with the country in a state of suspension and now facing the COVID-19 measures. The country remains heavily divided. According to the notice by authorities yesterday, this
- repatriated Guyanese to face one week mandatory home quarantine latest order is being prepared for gazetting under the hand of the Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence. “The COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No.3) published in the Gazette 29th April 2020 and effective until 3rd June 2020 is extended to 17th June 2020.” According to the NCTF, in clarifying, Guyanese who are stranded overseas and who have received permission to return to Guyana are required to home
quarantine for seven days immediately following their arrival. Previously, it was the decision for about 300 Guyanese who have been stuck abroad and recently given permission to return home, to be quarantined for two weeks. However, it appears that the NCTF has relented and relaxed that two weeks to now one. According to the Task Force yesterday, this is in addition to the previously
Another two weeks of curfew, COVID-19 measures: The New Amsterdam, East Berbice area. (Sahadeo Bates photo)
announced requirements of completing the repatriation form and submitting, 48 hours prior to arrival, a PCR COVID19 test (in English). “The NCTF reaffirms that no person who tests positive for COVID-19 will be allowed to return to Guyana at this time. For the avoidance of doubt, home quarantine
means quarantining at their respective private residences. Persons are required to remain there for the duration of the seven-day period and not leave for any reason save and except to seek emergency medical care.” The COVID-19 measures have seen the closure of the country’s borders and
airports with a night-time curfew and closures of bars, schools and non-essential services.The country, like so many parts of the world, is facing tough times, with unemployment rising. The country has recorded 12 deaths with over 150 positive cases confirmed so far.
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Wednesday June 03, 2020
Kaieteur News
Swear in legitimate Govt. from recount results
410 ballot boxes remain to be recounted
- says Former World Leaders Group The Elders, an organization comprised of several former heads of state and other prominent world leaders, has signalled its interest in Guyana’s current political impasse. In a tweet yesterday, the organization said, “The Elders continue to view the situation in #Guyana with concern, especially the recent barring of @CarterCenter observers. The will of the people must be respected through the swearing in of a legitimate Government based on the recount’s results.” This represents the latest and most important intervention by an international organization regarding the current recount and surrounding electoral controversy, particularly the decision of the government of Guyana to ban the Carter Center observer team from returning to observe the elections recount. The Elders was founded in 2007 by renowned South African leader, Nelson Mandela, to tackle a series of global issues from climate change to conflict resolution. Based in London, the organization is currently chaired by Mary Robinson, the first
Nelson Mandela founded The Elders in 2007. female president of Ireland and includes high profile names such as former UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-Moon, and Nobel Peace Prize laureates Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former Liberian President; Archbishop Desmond Tutu, South Africa; Martti Ahtisaari, former president of Finland; and Juan Manuel Santos, former president of Colombia. Founder of the Carter Center, former US president, Jimmy Carter, is also a member of the group.
Table illustrating processed and outstanding ballot boxes. On Day 28 of the National Recount exercise, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) managed to complete an additional 93 ballot boxes. This now increases the total number of recounted ballot boxes to 1,920 with 410 remaining to be counted. GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward, informed the media last evening that the distribution of boxes was 36 for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); 34 for Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and 23 for Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice).
According to Ward, of the total number of Statements of Recount, 1,869 were tabulated for the General Election and 1,858 for the Regional Election.Notably, the recount for Regions One, Two, Three, Seven, Eight and Nine have also been completed, with Regions Six and 10 expected to be completed today. Kaieteur News reported on Saturday last that GECOM extended the date of the exercise to June 13, thereby providing an additional 14 days to complete the recount. This decision was triggered after
the Elections Commission failed to complete the recount in the initial 25 days. A Gazetted addendum stated that the recount shall be conducted continuously each day, including weekends and holidays, from 08:00hrs to 19:00hrs at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. It additionally stated that the recount will continue with 12 workstations until its conclusion, an increase of two workstations from what was stated in the order.
Seven more boxes expose Mingo’s rigging
From page 3 103 votes for APNU+AFC. Mingo’s tabulation added 90 votes to APNU+AFC, increasing the count to 193. The Statement of Recount showed a decrease of one vote for APNU+AFC, to 102, likely due to a previously valid vote now considered rejected at the recount. Finally, for ballot box 4158, the Statement of Poll showed 80 votes for PPP/C, and 132 votes for APNU+AFC. Mingo’s tabulation added 20 votes to APNU+AFC, increasing the count to 152. The Statement of Recount showed the same result as the Statement of Poll.So far, this newspaper
has verified Mingo’s vote rigging to have impacted 32 ballot boxes, with the inclusion of the aforementioned seven 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 32 ballot boxes shows that Mingo’s tabulation subtracted 391 votes from PPP/C, and added
1,514 votes to APNU+AFC. This amounts to a total variance of 1,905 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.
Wednesday June 03, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday June 03, 2020
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A
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the spread of COVID-19. Similar initiatives are being put in place at offices throughout the Caribbean Airlines net-
work.” Mr. Medera added, “The safety and wellbeing of our employees and customers is paramount and we re-
main vigilant and ready to do all that is necessary to protect and safeguard all our valued stakeholders.”
GTT doubles entry-level Blaze internet speed at no extra cost As part of its ‘in this together’ campaign, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) has announced plans to upgrade its entry-level Blaze internet-Ignite from 5Mbps to 10Mbps. This is according to a release issued by the phone company which informed that this doubling of the capacity to ensure customers experience faster internet speeds will come at no extra cost. “We aim to ensure that customers are connected to families and friends, and have accessibility to both learning and working platforms while keeping up with updates from around the world,” said Head of GTT Fixed Services, Jamal Inniss.According to Inniss, while the data offer was customized to suit customer’s needs during the pandemic, the company will make the offer permanent for all customers. This means that from now on, customers would have double the speed. “This
10Mbps internet speed allows you to carry out various tasks throughout your workday, including uploading and downloading files, operating multiple devices and running
customers by several public service initiatives. Some of the campaigns, the company said, include: making the COVID-19 as well as Help and Shelter hotline
basic web applications. Customers in Blaze ready areas are encouraged to take advantage of the upgraded offer to benefit from faster internet connections,” GTT announced. Since the first COVID-19 case being declared in Guyana, GTT said that it has taken measures to relieve its
numbers toll-free, offering free mobile services to doctors, nurses and hotline volunteers and donations to support the Health Emergency Operating Centre. There is also a special introductory Blaze promo offer in selected areas where Ignite Plan is priced at $6,999, the phone company’s release added.
Confirmed COVID-19 cases remain at 153 - 14 tests ber conducted in last 24 hours of tests done to 1,672 with disease.
As of June 2, 2020, the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) remains at 153. The Ministry of Public Health is also reporting that there are no new COVID-19 related deaths. This is according to the Department of Public Information, which revealed that of the 153 cases, Guyana has recorded 12 deaths and 70 recoveries. Fourteen more tests were conducted within the last 24 hours taking the total num-
the number of negative cases being 1,519. There are currently 71 active cases in isolation at various facilities across Guyana; two patients remain in the COVID-19 ICU at the GPHC and 25 persons in institutional quarantine. Citizens are asked to always practice social distancing in the workplace, public spaces, and while using public transportation to reduce the spread of the coronavirus
They are also reminded to practise frequent hand washing/sanitising and always wear a facemask if they have to go out. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has reported that as of June 2, 2020, globally, the number of confirmed cases has increased to 6,194,533 with 376,320 deaths. In the Regions of the Americas, positive cases number 2,905,432 with deaths climbing to 163,248.
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CPL submits proposal to stage tournament in Trinidad ESPNcricinfo - The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) organisers have submitted a proposal to Keith Rowley, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, to stage the entirety of this year’s tournament in the country, starting in midAugust. Last week, Rowley told the local press that he was waiting for a formal approach from the CPL, but said his government was “cautiously optimistic” about hosting the tournament, subject to clearance from the country’s health authorities. As part of the proposal, the CPL has said it would want to host the entire tournament, comprising 34 matches, at Trinidad’s two main grounds, the Queen’s Park Oval and the Brian Lara Academy. Games might be
played back-to-back on the same day at 10am and 6pm local time, meaning the tournament would be played over 25 days rather than last year’s 39. The tournament had initially been due to take place between August 19 and September 26. Tournament officials hope that overseas players will be willing to participate, with the first round of international signings due to be announced next week, and remain optimistic that some fans will be able to attend games while adhering to social-distancing protocols. Pete Russell, CPL’s chief operating officer, has said that officials will hold a virtual meeting with cabinet ministers on Thursday, June 4, in order to talk through details such as possible quarantine
periods upon arrival in Trinidad, health protocols, and any assurances that need to be given. “We’re ready to play,” Russell told ESPNcricinfo. “If you get the second wave that everyone hopes won’t come, we’d be back to square one, but the only other thing that will derail us is the government not allowing us to play for safety reasons. It’s just a case of getting the green light from them.” The cricketing part of the Caribbean has avoided the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, with death tolls remaining low after governments imposed strict lockdowns before the virus could spread. The region’s relative success in managing the pandemic has raised hopes that the CPL might be able to proceed, and
Wednesday June 03 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today you might need to execute some paperwork regarding money, Aries. Bills might need to be paid, deposits made, or checks collected. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Today you might be feeling particularly warm and loving toward a romantic partner, and the feeling is likely reciprocated. You could have trouble reaching each other, Taurus. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Ideas for creative, artistic, or service-oriented work might be coming thick and fast, although you could be torn between different possibilities, Gemini. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You have a great deal of physical energy, Cancer. At times, you may feel as if you have an endless wellspring of power. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You might be expecting some visitors to your home, Leo, and looking forward to it. However, your plans could be frustrated in some way through miscommunication, undelivered messages, delays due to traffic, or other obstacles. VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22) Today you might feel a powerful need to write down your thoughts, Virgo, but they could prove a bit too amorphous for you to put into words.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) A small financial windfall might have you in a bit of a quandary about how to spend it, Libra. You could have a bill you particularly want to pay, but you might also want to treat yourself to a minor luxury of some kind. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Communication with those closest to you might prove difficult today, Scorpio. You might end up playing endless phone tag. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today you might work on an artistic project of some kind. You'll put in a lot of effort, Sagittarius, yet the results may not turn out to be exactly what you wanted. This could result in many revisions. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Although you should be feeling especially close to friends, lovers, and family, Capricorn, you might find it hard to communicate with them today. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A desire to do some redecorating, perhaps in anticipation of hosting a future social event, might prove frustrating today. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Travel could be on your mind. You're probably excited about the possibility of a future vacation. You might need to finalize some arrangements today but find it difficult to reach people you need to speak to.
the tournament has appointed a medical board of four doctors who are putting health protocols in place. The Caribbean has already hosted competitive cricket in the form of the Vincy T10 Premier League at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex, where there were sanitising stations on and off the field. Under current plans, all six CPL teams would stay in the same hotel in Trinidad, with each team being cordoned off and treated as a single household. Within that household of around 25, teams would be broken down into ‘clusters’ of four or five, within which social distancing could be relaxed. Players and support staff would also be subject to daily temperature checks, as well as viral and antibody tests both in the days before they would fly to Trinidad and on arrival. While organisers had initially discussed the possibility of hosting games at Kensington Oval in Barbados, Trinidad is currently “Plan A” on account of the fact it has two internationalstandard grounds, which would reduce the prospect of pitches becoming worn and slow by the end of the tournament. Playing games in the morning will also be an attractive commercial proposition: the CPL’s business model relies heavily on India for broadcast revenue and sponsorship, and a 10am start time in Trinidad (7.30pm IST) would suit that market. The second game would be played at some point in the evening, with 6pm the provisional local start time. However, the government approval remains the main stumbling block. “We don’t have a proper handle yet but we are cautiously optimistic if the CPL authorities would like to host the tournament in
Trinidad,” Rowley had said last week. Rowley said that once the proposal was submitted, the country’s chief medical’s officer would need to give his approval, with public safety the top priority. “We have to be careful… but we want to look at [staging the CPL] positively and we will,” he said. Russell admitted that the tournament will make a financial loss this year, but said that all six franchises had confirmed they wanted to take part after being given the option not to. “They want continuity, and they want their teams to be represented,” he said. “Our thought was that if we had the option to play, we should; it’s good for the Caribbean. “The Caribbean relies on tourism, that’s its bread and butter. So it needs to show the rest of the world that it’s open, and beaming live cricket around the world is a very good way of doing that.” While plans to allow fans into grounds remain at an
early stage, the tournament’s organisers have developed various contingency plans for behind-closed-doors cricket. These include the possibility of having sociallydistanced cheerleaders, LED screens with videos of fans, and playing stadium sounds on the global TV feeds even if no fans are physically present. With Cricket West Indies announcing last week that players across the region would be asked to take a temporary 50% pay cut, Russell said that the CPL felt a “sense of responsibility” to get players earning again following the lockdown. “These guys’ livelihoods have been decimated through no fault of their own,” he said. “CPL isn’t just about the guys who have their IPL riches, but it’s about the journeymen, and the up-and-coming players who want to make a name for themselves. It’s very important for the whole cricketing ecosystem in the Caribbean that we get it on and these guys can earn money.”
Petterson-Griffith and Pluck complete ... From page 27 athletes have to in every sport must keep the focus and battle to keep their heads above water during these challenging times so that when they are back to some degree of normalcy, “We can all be back with a bang.” ”I must say that Mr. Jamie McDonald and Fitness Express have never stopped giving me that support, encouragement and motivation. I am always being encouraged not to give up or drop the sport with all the sweat, blood and tears that I have already put into it. Yes, it has been a disappointment that I have not been able to compete for the past year but that aside, I was capable enough to be on the body building stage as
well as the strong man competition; so I was able to keep in shape. But the return to the powerlifting stage for me is the eye of the tiger. Other than that, discipline for me is everything.” Meanwhile, Junica Pluck informed, “I’m more focused mentally, if wasn’t for covid19 I would’ve competed already and the next step would’ve been competing internationally.” “Absolutely I’m more focused, so much is happening. A day don’t pass me thinking how I miss competing. I can’t wait to get back out on that platform,” Pluck stated.
Daren Sammy, Chris Gayle ... From page 31 Sarfaraz Ahmed being a prominent recent example. Sarfaraz received a four-match ban last January after he admitted to making a racist comment to South Africa allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo during an ODI in Durban. Nambia allrounder Christi Viljoen was penalised by the ICC in June last year, for “inappropriate” sledges directed towards Uganda players at the T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers. Ian Bishop, the former West Indies fast bowler who is now a prominent television commentator, also spoke out on Twitter, saying that the world, in its current state, was in pain and needed help healing.
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Wednesday June 03, 2020
FIFA adds voice to protests over Floyd’s death BERN (Reuters) - World soccer ’s governing body FIFA has joined sports leagues, teams and players around the globe to express solidarity amid outrage over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed in police custody in the United States. The National Football League, National Hockey League and National Basketball Association have put out statements about the racial injustice that sparked protests across the U.S. but Major League Baseball has yet to make an official statement. From those four leagues, 74 of 123 teams (60%) have
issued statements on the protests according to research by Axios. Only four of the NBA’s 30 teams have not issued releases while fewer than half (15) of the NFL’s 32 teams and just a third (10) of MLB’s 30 clubs made statements. Across those leagues the loudest support has come from the players, including Los Angeles Lakers’ Lebron James, New Jersey Devils defenseman PK Subban, Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowlwinning quarterback Patrick Mahomes and New York Yankees slugger Gincarlo Stanton. Charlotte Hornets and
owner and former NBA great Michael Jordan and golfer Tiger Woods, who rarely speak out on social issues, have also called for change. The voices of outrage, however, are being heard well beyond U.S. borders. Several soccer players protested during matches in Germany’s top-flight Bundesliga at the weekend, with Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho and Achraf Hakimi displaying undershirts with the message, “Justice for George Floyd” on Sunday. The German Football Association (DFB) said it was reviewing the incidents. England international
England-West Indies Test schedule confirmed ESPNcricinfo - The ECB has announced proposed dates and venues for England’s three-Test series against West Indies, subject to government clearance. The first Test will be staged at the Ageas Bowl on July 8, with the second and third Tests to be held at Emirates Old Trafford. All three games will be staged behind closed doors, with players staying at on-site hotels in biosecure conditions. As revealed by ESPNcricinfo, the West Indies squad will arrive in the UK on June 9, when they will travel to Emirates Old Trafford for a three-week period of quarantine and training. They will then travel to the Ageas Bowl ahead for the final stages of preparation before the first Test.The ECB said in a press release that the venues had been chosen after meeting criteria relating to biosecurity,
medical screening and testing provisions, their ability to uphold social distancing, and cricketing facilities. Four venues submitted expressions of interest, and Edgbaston has been selected as a contingency venue. It will also be used to stage training throughout July. The Ageas Bowl and Emirates Old Trafford will both receive an administration fee for staging the series, and additional costs will be met by the ECB. The three Tests had originally been scheduled for The Oval, Edgbaston and Lord’s, which will all have their staging fees reimbursed, and the ECB will claim for all lost ticket revenues through its insurance policy with fans entitled to full refunds. Steve Elworthy, the ECB’s director of special operations, said that the main objective was to deliver a safe environment for all those involved.
“We are in daily dialogue with government and our medical team, who have been incredibly supportive during this period,” Elworthy said. “These are our proposed dates and they remain subject to UK Government approval.” The ECB said it is continuing to work on how best to stage matches, with Ireland, Pakistan and Australia due for men’s tours later in the summer, and South Africa and India scheduled to play women’s series. There are also plans to stage a shortened domestic season, though it was confirmed last week that county cricket will not restart before August 1. England v West Indies fixtures: 1st Test: July 8-12, Ageas Bowl 2nd Test: July 16-20, Emirates Old Trafford 3rd Test: July 24-28, Emirates Old Trafford
Sancho was shown a yellow card after removing his shirt but the DFB said it was not due to his message but because he broke the rules on removing shirts. FIFA UNDERSTANDS FIFA, an organisation that has had zero tolerance for players expressing personal views about politics, religion and social issues on the field, has asked competition organisers to use “common sense” with athletes who show messages of protest over Floyd’s death. In a statement on Tuesday, the global soccer body said it “fully understands the depth of sentiment and concerns expressed by many footballers in light of the tragic circumstances of the George Floyd case”. It added that applying the laws of the game was the re-
sponsibility of competition organisers, such as domestic leagues, who FIFA said “should use common sense and have in consideration the context surrounding the events.“FIFA had repeatedly expressed itself to be resolutely against racism and discrimination of any kind... FIFA itself has promoted many antiracism campaigns which frequently carry the anti-racism message at matches organised under its own auspices,” it added. Former West Indies captain Daren Sammy has urged cricket’s world governing body, the International Cricket Council, and its member nations to speak out against social injustice. “@ICC and all the other boards are you guys not seeing what’s happening to ppl like me? Are you not gonna
speak against the social injustice against my kind...” he wrote in a series of tweets. “Now is not the time to be silent. I wanna hear u,” the St Lucia all-rounder, who led West Indies to Twenty20 World Cup titles in 2012 and 2016, said.His former team mate Chris Gayle also posted a statement on social media saying “Black life matters just as any other life!” Formula One drivers followed Lewis Hamilton’s lead on Monday after he criticised those in what he called the “white dominated sport” for failing to speak out about Floyd’s death. 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”.
F1 set for a series of firsts with revised race calendar
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in action during the Austrian Grand Prix at Red Bull Ring. (REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo) LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One is set for a series of firsts after publishing a revised eight-race schedule yesterday that will see Austria’s Red Bull Ring and Britain’s Silverstone circuit each host two grands prix without spectators in July and August respectively. The season, which originally envisaged a record 22 races, has been stalled since the March 15 Australian opener was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first race of the year will now be in Austria on July 5 with a second, designated the Grand Prix of Steiermark (Styria) after the region in which the Red Bull-owned circuit at Spielberg is located, a week later. It will be the first time a circuit has hosted two championship races in the same season, the first time a season has started in Austria and also the first time a race has been held behind closed doors. The 10 teams will then travel east to race on a third
successive weekend at Budapest’s Hungaroring on July 19 before returning home, all under carefully controlled conditions. Silverstone, which hosted the first F1 world championship race in 1950, is scheduled for the British Grand Prix on Aug. 2 followed by the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix on Aug. 9.A two week quarantine is due to come into force in Britain for most arrivals in the country from June 8 but Formula One is set to be part of an exemption for elite sports events.Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya will then host the Spanish Grand Prix on Aug. 16 to complete the tripleheader before another break and then two more back-toback races at Spa in Belgium and Italy’s Monza on Aug. 30 and Sept. 6. Formula Two and Formula Three races will also be held over the same weekends. “We are pleased to be able to set out our opening eight race calendar today and look forward to publishing our full calendar in the coming
weeks,” said Formula One chairman Chase Carey in a statement. “While we currently expect the season to commence without fans at our races we hope that over the coming months the situation will allow us to welcome them back once it is safe to do,” he added.Formula One is hoping to host between 15 and 18 races with the season ending in Abu Dhabi in December after also racing in Bahrain. Four races have been cancelled so far — Australia, Monaco, the Netherlands and France — while China, Azerbaijan, Canada and Vietnam are awaiting rescheduling.Races in Singapore, Russia, Japan, the United States, Mexico and Brazil remain uncertain.“The health and safety of all involved will continue to be priority number one, with Formula One and the FIA having a robust and detailed plan to ensure our races maintain the highest level of safety with strict procedures in place,” Formula One said.
Wednesday June 03, 2020
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Kaieteur News
Petterson-Griffith and Pluck complete respective one-year bans for violating IPF & GAPLF rules By Franklin Wilson Just over a year ago, the weekend of May 4th & 5th, 2019 to be exact, the powerlifting duo of Carlos Petterson-Griffith and Ms. Junica Pluck left these shores to compete at the StrongFit competition held in Barbados. Pettereson-Griffith won gold in the powerlifting segment, while Pluck, who became the first Guyanese woman to compete at such an event, achieved silver on the distaff side but their efforts all came to naught as Barbados is not a member of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF), thus their participation without the expressed permission of the Guyana Amateur Power Lifting Federation (GAPLF), was deemed illegal. The duo were found to be in violation by the Ed Caesar led GAPLF’s constitution (Section 12, Article 1, point 4) and IPF’s constitution, Article 14.9. At the time of the ban last year, Petterson was at the peak of preparations for his debut appearance at the World Classic Powerlifting Championships which was set for Helsingborg, Sweden. But that all came crashing
Carlos Petterson (left) and Vijai Rahim exchanging pleasantries at the 2018 GAPLF Senior Championships. These two gladiators will certainly be colliding in the near future. (Franklin Wilson photo) down to ground zero as the GAPLF had zero tolerance for the contravention of its rules and that of the IPF which would have offered guidance on the eventual penalties meted out to both PettersonGriffith and Pluck. Both athletes were obviously disappointed at the time at the level of punishment their disobedience brought on but they hadn’t a choice but to
accept. It is now well past the 12 months period and they are both still awaiting official word from the GAPLF as to their future in the sport granted, Covid-19 has brought things to a standstill at the moment. Petterson-Griffith to re-set and aim for Worlds again While he has accepted that he erred and he cannot change the past, Carlos
Petterson-Griffith says he would use the challenges of the past 12-months to boost his resolve as he is still eager to represent the Golden Arrowhead at the Worlds. The confident athlete says he has learnt his lesson and while he has not returned to training consistently, he is assured that greater days are ahead for him in the sport. He shared that while he was ban-
‘Rugby facilities are non-existent’ - Nat Captain... From page 28 a year after rugby restarts in the country, we should be seeing the results. Local rugby development has practically been in the backseat of the GRFU over the past decade. That is not to say nothing has not been done.” Jamal continued, “Laurence Adonis has been pushing youth development and has over the years been virtually responsible solely, for all of the youths that were elevated to national seniors in the past six years. However, rugby facilities are non-existent. Rugby players since 2016, have been squatting on the Athletic field as the rugby pitch in the National Park has been under “stagnant development” since then. The rugby restrooms in the Park are in a deplorable state; unreliable water and power supply. More is definitely needed for rugby to explode,” claimed Jamal. “Apart from rugby I enjoy watching and participating in sports especially volleyball which is also close to my heart, cooking, I’ve been told I make a mean lasagna and macaroni and cheese. I really enjoy hanging out with my
friends,” he said. “In the past we had teams on all levels but that has gone a bit haywire. We have a semblance of an U19 team but it’s mainly senior. Our new body has pinpointed the lack of youth rugby as a major aspect they plan to tackle. The sport is largely limited to Georgetown sadly, which limits our talent pool. Our new president Mr. Ryan Dey has stated it is a matter he intends to address. Sadly, as dominant as rugby is, it is not given enough recognition in Guyana generally,” Jamal feels. Jamal says that there is no way a player could make a living from just playing rugby in Guyana. “Biggest challenge for most of our players is just being able to practice properly, most of our players go to school, work or do both and many of the guys have families to take care of and as much as we love the sport it has no financial benefit for us as players, yet it comes with many risks attached, many times players are left to choose between job security and training time. I cannot and will not ask players to sacrifice their livelihoods for rugby. My one wish for the de-
velopment of rugby in Guyana is to have a high standard training and game facility. One of the hardest parts of our job is being asked to produce world class performances and results, while being hampered by substandard training facilities,” Jamal bemoaned. “Playing rugby in Guyana is very difficult because the players face more ridicule than celebration. We are more likely to be bashed when we lose than celebrated when we win, although it is part of the job that doesn’t make it any less difficult to take. I would like the public to know that losing hurts us more than they could imagine. I would also like to guarantee them that any team representing our flag does so with pride,” noted Jamal. Jamal said the main people who have helped him are his family. “I’ve been raised with love and they have done their best to steer me down the right paths. My family has always provided for me, scolded me when I needed it and stood up for me when necessary. I have never been short of food, clothing or shelter and I owe it all to the women in my life. Laurie Adonis my coach also
played a big part along with my team. He was out there keeping us out of trouble and on the right path. In my rugby club we’ve taught each other how to be honest with ourselves, we call out each other on mistakes and have learnt to accept responsibility for those mistakes,” Jamal added. “Like most sports around the world the pandemic has brought a halt to competitions and our preparation. The 2020 RAN men 15s, women’s 10s and U-19 competitions have all been cancelled by the governing body. Our coach and President have highlighted the areas that we should work on and have highlighted necessary exercises to help,” said Jamal. “In this time, I would encourage all rugby players to try their best to keep fit and active for some the motivation may be lacking but we must persevere. I would also encourage them to learn more about the game, read up on the laws, watch more games to get a better understanding of the interpretation of those laws. They should also occupy free time gainfully. I wish them and their families health and safety in these troubling times,” Jamal advised.
ished from the powerlifting platform, he did compete and won the Guyana Strongman competition as well as successfully defended his heavyweight title at the Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation Senior Championships, last year. ”I cannot gain what has already been lost; yes my aim
towards worlds is still there just that due to this pandemic situation everything has been on a pause or a pending position thus far. But soon I’ll resume training and re-focus on bigger things as my aim is to become the next world champion and be one of the greatest in the world.” He believes that all (Continued on page 25)
Hercules working on basketball coaches’ manual The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), while having a general structure, has always struggled to create a structural profile that can be standardised for coaches. And, according to the Technical director of the GABF, this may be connected to the fact that the profession locally has limited mobility scope. To this end, the project of a coach’s manual was conceptualised since 2014 by Hercules who was first introduced into the national programme as Guyana’s team manager for the 2014 Caribbean senior men’s championship held in the BVI before guiding Guyana to their first Caribbean Championship in 2018 in his debut as head coach. During the interview with Kaieteur Sport yesterday, Hercules described that 2014 tournament (Caribbean Championship) as one of Guyana’s most eventful in terms of happenings on and off the court. Hercules explained that, “Coupled with my experience on the tour and as the
Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association’s (GABA) President during that period, I recognized a strong need for a coaching structure at an elementary level.” “I hope to provide a working document that will be considerate of Guyana’s culture and resources. I hope to give both the federation and aspiring coaches with a foundation I never had before deciding on becoming a coach. This manual when completed, I intend to be accessible to all primary, secondary, university, clubs aspiring, and current coaches. The current coaches’ clinics serve to reconnect the desire and urgency for a document of this nature.” Hercules mentioned that while his focus is away from competitive play due to the coronavirus pandemic and he will be using his extra time to complete the coaches’ manual as soon as possible. In addition, he urged all basketball players to stay safe during time while adhering to the safety guidelines from health authorities.
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Wednesday June 03, 2020
Kaieteur News
‘Rugby facilities are non-existent’ - Nat Captain Jamal Angus Joins dad as Father/Son pair to lead Guyana Senior teams
By Sean Devers National Rugby Captain Jamal Angus was born on January 5, 1994 to former National Cricket Captain Jerry Angus and Diane George and attended St Christopher Nursery, Tucville Primary and the Bishops’ High. Jamal who said he didn’t even know about rugby until he was 16 or 17 represented Guyana in the North American and Caribbean Rugby Association U-19 Championships in 2013 when Guyana were runners up.The talented Angus made his National senior debut for Guyana in May, 2014 against Barbados in Barbados.With just over 11 National caps he was appointed Captain of the National 15s team for their clash with defending champions and host Cayman Islands on February 9, 2019 in a Rugby North Americas (RAN) eliminator match. But it was an inauspicious Captaincy debut for the 26-year-old as Guyana’s only win of the tournament was a 17-12 victory over the T&T. In the Plate Final, Guyana were once against beaten by the Cayman Islands 10-21 as they finished sixth among the eight teams. Later in the year, Guyana’s senior men’s 7s lost 59-nil to Brazil and 87-7 to Chile in their Pool A matches at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru after losing 62-nil to USA in their first game. Angus was the only player to breach the try line in the Chile game with Godfrey Broomes scoring the other two points. Angus joined his father who led Guyana in Cricket in 1988, as a rare father, son pair to lead Guyana’s senior teams in different sports. Jamal feels a good leader should be able to inspire, to communicate effectively with their team in sports and life, people and respond differently to tone. “A good leader must be able to discern which type of communication their ranks respond positively to. Some players are motivated by shouting and some by a soft word in their ear. They should also lead by example.”“I was interested in cricket at first but never pursued it at any higher level than school
Skipper Jamal Angus in action against Cayman Islands. (photo compliments of Angus) cricket or recreationally. I fancied myself an all-rounder but I don’t think I was exceptional in either aspect. I honestly didn’t even know about rugby until I was about 16-17, had no idea Guyana’s team was such a dominant force,” said Jamal. Guyana won Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens Championship seven times, as recent as 2016 and reached the finals in 2017 and 2018 where they lost to Jamaica both times.In school like any other Guyanese child, Jamal played cricket and football. He also played volleyball and a bit of basketball; which was his worst sport. Jamal played cricket in school in a few matches. “Growing up, life was great for me. I can’t think of many complaints. I was always surrounded by a loving family who always did an excellent job providing for me. My father moved away while I was very young, but would always support me. My mother, Aunts Denise and Beatrice played a major role in my development. My aunt Denise was a teacher so she took the role of educator and disciplinarian,” disclosed Jamal, who has represented Guyana in
Jamal & his dad former Guyana cricket Captain Jerry Angus.
Rugby in Trinidad, Barbados, Mexico, Colombia, Cayman Islands and Peru.Jamal said most of his most memorable holidays were spent in Essequibo with his late grandparents and cousins and still remembers his grandfather towing three or four of his grandkids to Capoey Lake for bush cooks. “I wouldn’t call rugby in Guyana a career per se but I decided to really follow it up after a few training sessions with my current club coach Laurence Adonis. I had been playing other sports but to a very limited level, I just saw rugby being played one day and it intrigued me, so I asked for a run. After a few sessions with the Panthers Rugby Club formerly the UG Wolves, I fell in love with the sport and the rest is history,” Jamal informed.“While my National senior team debut in Barbados was a victorious outing, I have mixed emotions about that game. I came off the bench in the late stages of the game and received a silly yellow card for repeated team infringements. I could still recall the referee saying ‘I’m sorry, I know you just came on, but you’ve got to go,” Jamal lamented. “My favourite sportsman is Cristiano Ronaldo because he once played for my favourite club, Manchester United. A naturally gifted player, he is noted as one of the hardest training players and that resonates with me because I have never seen myself as the most talented player but through hard work I have developed a great deal,” noted Jamal who said in the 15s format his main position is wing-forward aka flanker, but added that he has also played a few games at centre. “My most memorable moment playing for Guyana thus far has to be my home debut versus Barbados where we won convincingly and I scored two tries. It was memorable because it was my first National game seen by my family and friends,
Jamal Angus celebrates with the Guyana team. it meant so much to have them supporting,” remembered Jamal. “The standard of rugby in Guyana can be juxtaposed to the rest of the Caribbean and the region, once looking at it from output and achievements. While there may be clear disparities in the aforementioned comparison when it comes to preparation, standard is premised on achievements.
However, the standard of youth rugby is less than what is desired and below what the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) expects,” stated Jamal, who plays as a ‘hooker or prop’ in the 7s format. “Nevertheless, with the new dispensation of the GRFU, being headed by the competence of Ryan Dey, plans are already crafted to catapult the standard. So maybe within (Continued on page 25)
Jamal (2nd right standing) with his family.
Jamal & his Mom Diane George.
Wednesday June 03, 2020
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Kaieteur News
Lewis Hamilton hits out at Donald Trump for ‘turning off the lights and hiding in his bunker’ over George Floyd death The Independent (Yahoo Sport) - Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has condemned Donald Trump for his failure to control and lead the United States at a time of desperation. On Monday night, President Trump threatened to deploy the US military against protesters in the wake of the death of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man who died last week while in police custody. A video of Floyd’s arrest showed a police officer forcing his knee onto the victim’s neck for more than eight minutes, which has prompted a series of peaceful and violent protests across America and numerous clashes between protesters and police authorities. The officer, 44-year-old Derek Chauvin, was dismissed last week and has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Six-time F1 world champion Hamilton was one of many sports athletes to speak out over racial injustice and called on his own peers in the sport to use their platforms to do the same, which prompted a series of social media posts from the likes of Charles Leclerc and Daniel Ricciardo to show support for the Black Lives Matter campaign. But Hamilton has now
turned his attention towards President Trump, who continues to attract growing criticism for his failure to bring peace across the US. Instead, Trump encouraged governors on a conference call from the White House basement to aggressively target protesters, adding “you have to dominate or you’ll look like a bunch of jerks, you have to arrest and try people”. In response, Hamilton posted a viral image of the White House with the lights turned off, taken during protests on Sunday night, along with the message: “This is the visual that will define Trump. 100,000 dead, 40 million unemployed, cities under attack by violent police. “When his country needed a leader, Donald Trump turned off the lights and hid in his bunker.” Hamilton has taken a proactive stance towards racial injustice, having previously called out the sport of Formula One for the lack of black drivers and team personnel. He is the only black driver to win the F1 world championship, with just one other black man testing for a seat in the form of American racer Willy T Ribbs who drove a Brabham in 1986. On Sunday night, Hamilton spoke out against the silence from the sport on
Lewis Hamilton hit out at Donald Trump for his failure to lead the US following George Floyd’s death. (AP) the death of George Floyd. He wrote on Instagram: “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. “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. 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.” Hamilton added: “I do not stand with those looting and
Spain considering allowing soccer fans to return to matches MADRID (Reuters) Spain’s health ministry is weighing up whether to let fans back into soccer stadiums when the season restarts later in June after a threemonth pause due to the new coronavirus pandemic, Health Emergency Coordinator Fernando Simon said yesterday. Simon explained that regions which had moved into phase three of the de-escalation process could be authorised to hold matches with spectators but added that they might be prevented from doing so in the interest of sporting fairness. The top-flight is starting up again on June 11 with the Segunda Division resuming a day later, and organising body La Liga has said all matches should be played without supporters in order to prevent a second wave of the coronavirus outbreak. But second-tier Las Palmas have started a discussion about fans returning after their president Miguel Angel Ramirez said he hoped
fans could attend their first match back against Girona. Simon said the issue was discussed on Tuesday in an online meeting between Health Minister Salvador Illa, Sports Minister Irene Lozano and four La Liga players including Barcelona’s Gerard Pique and Atletico Madrid’s Koke. He added that the players and the department for sport do not want supporters at matches until every club is allowed to have them back. “The department for sport have agreed this with the players. That decision did not come from the health department as it’s not something we considered when evaluating the risks,” Simon said. “We haven’t given any firm answer as we are obviously not in a position to do so yet but it is true that the health minister has committed to evaluating the risks. And if a region is in phase three (fans attending matches) will be evaluated.” Spain, one of the countries
in Europe worst-affected by the virus, imposed a strict lockdown in March but has been easing restrictions according to progress made in each region. The majority of provinces are expected to move into phase three from June 8, with the exception of the region of Madrid, the province of Barcelona and some provinces in Castille Leon. La Liga president Javier Tebas has said the organisation is planning for supporters to return to stadiums in stages next season, which is due to begin on Sept. 12, as long as they get the green light from health authorities.
burning buildings but those who are protesting peacefully. There can be no peace until our so called leaders make change.” Following his outburst, fellow drivers Ricciardo, Leclerc and Lando Norris all posted messages of support for the campaign and spoke out against racial inequality, with Nicholas Latifi, George Russell, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez following suit.
Lewis Hamilton hit out at Donald Trump on Instagram (Instagram/@lewishamilton)
USTA proposes U.S. Open-Cincinnati double-header in New York: report NEW YORK (Reuters) The Cincinnati Masters could be moved to Flushing Meadows this year as part of a double-header with the U.S. Open under a new plan proposed by the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA), the New York Times reported. The plan is designed to help the tournaments, two of the biggest annual tennis events in North America, move forward safely after the novel coronavirus outbreak wreaked havoc on the professional sports calendar. Both tournaments have previously said they plan to move forward as scheduled, with Cincinnati set to run until Aug. 23 and the U.S. Open’s main draw beginning on Aug. 31.The USTA and Cincinnati Masters organisers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The USTA plan would see both competitions played in New York’s Billie Jean King National Tennis Center back to back, according to the Times report, in order to minimise travel and risk for players and participants. The men’s and women’s tours have reportedly been notified of the proposal. The tennis world has
Serena Williams of the USA hits to Maria Sharapova of Russia in the first round on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo) slowly begun to resume action, with fans absent from stands.World number 12 Petra Kvitova claimed victory in the women’s draw at an allCzech tournament in Prague on Thursday, in a slot on the calendar that was originally
occupied by the French Open.French Open officials rescheduled the claycourt Grand Slam to begin on Sept. 20, the week after the U.S. Open was set to kick off, prompting frustration from many in the tennis world.
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Kaieteur News
Southampton, Manchester confirmed as venues for Windies ‘bio-secure’ series
Wednesday June 03, 2020
No pressure on players to play England series, says Grave
Old Trafford will serve as West Indies’ training base and the venue for the final two Tests.
LONDON, CMC – Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl and Old Trafford have been confirmed as venues for West Indies’ proposed threeTest series against England next month. The England and Wales Cricket Board said yesterday the opening Test would run from July 8-12 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton with the second Test carded for Old Trafford in Manchester from July 16-20 and the final Test staged at the same venue from July 2428. While the tour is almost certain to go ahead, the itinerary is still subject to approval from the United Kingdom government. The series will be played behind closed doors to safeguard fans amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “Our main objective is to deliver a safe environment for all stakeholders including players, match officials, operational staff, essential venue staff, broadcasters and media,” said ECB Director of Events, Steve Elworthy. “We are in daily dialogue with Government and our medical team, who have been incredibly supportive during this period. These are our proposed dates and they remain subject to UK Government approval.
West Indies players will not be forced to tour England.
“We would like to thank Cricket West Indies for their co-operation and dedication in making this tour a reality, and we all look forward to the prospect of cricket returning in the coming weeks.” The Ageas Bowl and Old Trafford were chosen from a list of four venues which submitted proposals to host matches during the series.Venues were asked to demonstrate the ability to provide a bio-secure environment comprising testing sites and screening areas, space to accommodate social distancing for players, officials and media, along with an onsite or nearby hotel. Edgbaston in Birmingham will be used as a “contingency venue” for additional training throughout July. The 25-man West Indies squad are scheduled to arrive here next Tuesday and will use Old Trafford as their base for quarantine and training over the first three weeks, before travelling to Southampton for the opening Test. West Indies had been originally slated to face England in May but the series was pushed back due to outbreak of the pandemic which has resulted in 276 000 infections and just over 39 000 deaths in the UK.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – No West Indies player will be forced to travel on the tour of England if they feel uncomfortable with arrangements, Cricket West Indies chief executive Johnny Grave has said. “We definitely will respect any player’s decision who for whatever reason doesn’t want to tour,” Grave said last weekend. “There will be absolutely no victimisation whatsoever. Clearly if a player doesn’t tour then it creates an opportunity for someone else to come in and represent the West Indies, and they would have their chance to play England in three Test matches and cement their place in the side.” A 25-man side is expected to be announced this week for the tour of England which will see the Caribbean playing three Tests starting July 8. The tour has been overshadowed by the coronavirus
pandemic which has already resulted in nearly 278,000 infections and nearly 40,000 deaths across the United Kingdom. For the first time, a cricket series will be played at biosecure facilities with strict, quarantine, social distancing and sanitisation protocols employed throughout. Grave said players had been included in the ongoing discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board, and their input had been invaluable.“The players have had lots of questions and rightly so about trying to understand what is completely new to sport and completely new to them as cricketers, in terms of what the environment will be like,” Grave explained. “Obviously seven weeks is a relatively long tour … and they wanted to know exactly where they were going to be, how they were going to be tested, what there would be
at the hotel in terms of facilities and amenities and also for some downtime, and what they could do outside of just training and playing cricket and what facilities and entertainment options would be available to them in the hotel. “[They also wanted to know] what happens if one of them gets, not necessarily ill from COVID-19, but if they get sick or injured and what are the options. There’s an enormous amount of detailed work that has gone into this tour, not just by the England and Wales Cricket Board but by our medical practitioners here in the Caribbean.” The tour was initially scheduled for May but had to be postponed with the UK hard hit by COVID-19, and the ECB forced to delay its entire domestic programme. But anxious to avoid a cricket blackout of cricket during the summer, the ECB has managed to convince West Indies, along with Pakistan, to follow through on previously planned tours. While critics have said the tour involves too many risks and little reward, Grave said it was important to CWI from a playing and commercial branding standpoint. “This is a big tour for England financially but it’s still an important tour for us and an important tour for our number one sponsors and huge supporters in Sandals Resorts, so it’s not fair to say there’s nothing in it for Cricket West Indies,” he stressed. “And for the players, they’re desperate to get back playing and get back training so it’s an opportunity for them to go and defend the Wisden Trophy they did so well to win back in 2019.” West Indies are scheduled to leave the Caribbean next Tuesday.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday June 03, 2020
Daren Sammy, Chris Gayle raise voice against racism in wake of George Floyd killing A memorial at the spot where George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Getty Images)
ESPNcricinfo - Former West Indies captain Daren Sammy and senior batsman Chris Gayle have become the first active cricketers to join a growing number of sports personalities worldwide in publicly raising their voice against the scourge of racism following the custodial killing of George Floyd at the hands of a policeman in Minneapolis.Sammy, in a series of tweets on Monday, urged both the ICC and cricket boards to stand up against the “injustice” of racism against “people of color”, an issue that his former team-mate Gayle said was prevalent in cricket. Yesterday, former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara also put out a thread of eight tweets on the issue, saying that the events in the USA were a “powerful lesson to us all”. Floyd, 46, a black man, died in Minneapolis on May 25 - a death now officially classified as homicide after a white police officer had held him down with his knee on his neck for over eight minutes while he was handcuffed. The incident, captured on video, has sparked widespread, angry protests across the USA. Several sportspersons have spoken out since then, with basketball great LeBron James putting out a social media post referencing Colin Kaepernick, the NFL
quarterback who famously kneeled during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice. O n M o n d a y, E n g l i s h Premier League football side Liverpool also “took a knee” while prominent players in the German Bundesliga wore t-shirts in solidarity with the protests. “Right now if the cricket world not standing against the injustice against people of color after seeing that last video of that foot down the next of my brother you are also part of the problem,” Sammy tweeted. Sammy said he was “frustrated” that black people continued to suffer on a daily basis and cricket needed to voice its protest. “Can you be part of the change by showing support? @ICC and all the other boards are you guys not seeing what’s happening to ppl like me? Are you not gonna speak against the social injustice against my kind. This is not only about America. This happens everyday.”The ICC said that it has always condemned racism and had “zero tolerance” towards it. “As part of the Code [of Conduct], the players not only get punished, but also have to go through an education programme to promote a better understanding and awareness of issues directly relevant to the offence that
he has committed. There is also a conciliation element to the proceedings,” the ICC told ESPNcricinfo, when approached for a comment. “We have a zero-tolerance policy towards this sort of conduct and it can be punished with a lifetime ban. We provide guidelines to our members and we also make it clear that no discriminatory behaviour of any kind will be tolerated by anyone at the event - staff, media, fans etc.”The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) tweeted a picture of Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid hugging, captioned: “We stand for diversity. We stand against racism.”Gayle said he had received “racial remarks” during his travels across the globe and that was
Experienced boxing official, Elton Chase, receives AIBA ITO certificate Elton Chase (left) receives the AIBA certificate from Steve Ninvalle.
Experienced local Referee/Judge Elton Chase was yesterday presented with International Technical Officer (ITO) certificate. The document was presented by Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) president Steve Ninvalle. Last year Chase was among a handful of Caribbean officials who were
successful at the ITO exams held in St Lucia. The accomplishment created history for Chase and local boxing as he remains the first Guyanese to be certified as an ITO by AIBA. Chase thanked Ninvalle and the GBA for providing the opportunity and assured that he will impart knowledge for the good of the sport.
only because “I’m Black.”“Racism is not only in football, it’s in cricket, too,” he said. “Even within teams, as a Black man, I get the end of the stick.” Sangakkara, in turn, called for a “world culture that has no place for ignorance and prejudice”. Last November, England pace bowler and World-Cup
winner Jofra Archer was at the receiving end of a racist comment from a spectator during the Test series in New Zealand. Archer later said that the person contacted him on Instagram. “I will never understand how people feel so freely to say these things to another human being. It baffles me,” Archer said. This January
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed that it had banned a 28-year-old man for two years from attending any cricket in the country following a police investigation into the matter. Several players have been sanctioned under the ICC’s anti-racism code with former Pakistan captain (Continued on page 25)
CPL submits England-West Indies proposal to stage Test schedule confirmed tournament in Trinidad
West Indies will tour England for three behind-closed-doors Tests in July. (Getty Images)
t r o Sp
The CPL trophy on display in Trinidad. (Getty Images)
Petterson-Griffith and
Pluck complete respective one-year bans for violating IPF &GAPLF rules
Hercules working on basketball coaches’ manual Junior Hercules - Technical Director and senior men’s coach of the GABF.
Flashback! Ms. Junica Pluck Deadlifts at the GAPLF’s 2018 Senior Championships. (Franklin Wilson photo)
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