Kaieteur News

K

OAS says NEWS recount so far credible

Friday Edition

AIETEUR

June 05, 2020 -Vol. 22 No. 22

p.

15

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

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Price $80

Online readership yesterday 137,707

Guyana foots the bill for any oil spill/disaster by - Contract signed by ExxonMobil Raphael Trotman p.

7

250000

200000

150000

100000

50000

0

236990

A P N U + A F C

229489

P P P / C

According to previous declarations, the APNU+AFC secured 236,990 votes and the PPP/C secured 229,489 votes.

However, figures from the recount so far, show the PPP/C in the lead with 195,185 votes while APNU+AFC has 188,112.

188112

A P N U + A F C

195185

Granger’s place in Guyana’s history at stake p.

3

- says US Congress members

P P P / C

Previous declarations Recount to date

GECOM supervisor refuses to note 12p.

Mingo’s inflation during recount -TCI 24 now refute p.

Top Cop’s 8 immigration

report

- Harmon demands answer from GECOM today

108 votes rejected for Ogle ballot boxp. for lack of stamp 15

Exxon’s daily flaring equivalent to the destruction of 2000

p.

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acres of forest per day - Conservationist

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Kaieteur News

Friday June 05, 2020

Kaieteur News

Friday June 05, 2020

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Granger’s place in Guyana’s history at stake - Members of US Congress

Members of Congress: Paul Cook, Donna Shalala, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Darren Soto, Alcee Hastings

F

ive members of the law-making US congress have written incumbent President, David Granger, about the acceptance of the recount results.

According to the letter released yesterday, at stakes for Granger now is a place in the country’s history books.

The letter would follow other statements from US officials, including from the State Department, calling for the elections process to be followed and the results accepted by all.

It has been a month since a national recount is underway with more than 90 days since the March 2 elections.

The incumbent

Coalition, led by Granger, is facing a loss in its first term, with the next government to hold reigns on the emerging oil and gas sector.

However, there is deep worry that the Coalition is not going to easily give up.

They have been accused of throwing up hurdles all along the way, and on Wednesday said results so far from the recount are not credible.

The letter from the congress members were signed by Alcee Hastings, Paul Cook, Darren Soto, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Donna Shalala. ”As the recount of Guyana’s disputed March Presidential election continues, we write to commend your commitment to honor the

results and your attempts to address the concerns of the Guyanese people. We remain hopeful that the recount will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner, instilling confidence in the r e s u l t s a n d G u y a n a ’s democratic institutions with the support of credible international observers that can verify the integrity of the process and the final result,” the congressional members said.

They acknowledged that the Coronavirus pandemic continues to pose challenges for all countries. “…and we understand that you have taken many unprecedented steps to slow the spread of the virus, including closing your

GECOM completes recount for Regions 6 and 10

O

n Day 30 of the N a t i o n a l R e c o u n t exercise, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) managed to complete an additional 83 ballot boxes, thereby completing the recount for Regions Six and 10.

This now increases the total number of recounted ballot boxes to 2,582, with 243 remaining to be counted.

G E C O M ’s P u b l i c Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward, informed the media last evening that the distribution of boxes was 81

for Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); as well as the two remaining boxes, one each for Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Notably, the recount for Regions One, Two, Three, Seven, Eight and Nine have also been completed.

According to Ward, of the total number of Statements of Recount, 2,063 were tabulated for the General Election and 2,068 for the Regional Election.

T h e G E C O M spokeswoman was keen to

Table illustrating processed and outstanding ballot boxes

note that the national recount could be completed by Sunday, paving the way for a national declaration of the recount exercise possibly by next week Thursday.

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 e a c h d a y, i n c l u d i n g weekends and holidays, from 08:00hrs to 19:00hrs at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) at Liliendaal on the East Coast of Demerara.

It additionally stated that the recount shall proceed with 12 workstations until its conclusion, an increase of two workstations from what was stated in the order.

airport. Even so, all countries implementing measures to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus have also acknowledged that some work is so essential that it must continue.”

According to the US representatives, the legitimacy of elections are essential to the health of democracies everywhere and credible international observers will ensure that the people of Guyana and their friends around the world can trust and be proud of the final result in the ongoing recount.

“Your leadership role during the recount process is c r i t i c a l t o G u y a n a ’s continued respect for the rule of law. Your place in Guyana’s history will be secured by ensuring an internationally-recognised Declaration of Results consisted with the laws of Guyana,” the letter said.

The correspondence would be part of a growing

Legacy at stake: President David Granger number of calls by the local and international community for the Granger-led coalition to recognize the recount.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic is claiming that it has won the elections, by more than 15,000 votes.

The PPP/C lost the elections in 2015 after 23 years in power.

Guyana is facing tough times, like the rest of the world, with the borders and airports closed because of the virus.

Private Sector urges acceptance of recount results As the nation nears the conclusion of the recount of the votes cast in the March 2 General and Regional Elections, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) is calling on all the people of Guyana and the contesting parties to recognise and accept the results.

The PSC noted that the recount, agreed to by both President David Granger and General Secretary of the PPP/C Bharrat Jagdeo,

recognised the results as the final decision and declaration of the Guyana Elections Commission.

“The Private Sector especially calls upon the people of our country, regardless of political preferences, to respect and uphold the rule of law and to keep the peace in their individual and collective well-being and in the interest of our beloved country.”

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Friday June 05, 2020

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Recount not credible We must always pay close attention whenever the president speaks. Reports are that President David Granger and that of his party is that the “recount is not credible” (KN June 4). We beg to respectfully disagree with the learned and wise leader of Guyana. On this one, he looks before a disbelieving world as not so learned and not as wise as he is known to be. We regret this immensely, and we are disappointed by this newest position of the president.

After all the exposures in every channel and forum of the sleights-of-hand of one Mr. Mingo, and the shortfallsindeed, the blatant deceptions—in numbers in one ballot box and one polling place after another, for this “recount not credible” stance to emerge is unbelievable. To emphasize our position: for anyone at any level with any information about Guyana’s Elections 2020 to arrive at such a conclusion evades both commonsense and wisdom.

Before going any further, we at Kaieteur News wish to make something abundantly clear: we make no advocacy for, nor stand in defense of, any political party in Guyana, not one. What we do stand for is a clean and fair elections process that would make all of us proud, and a clean slate of governors piloting a governance machinery that is about the best interests of all the citizens of this country. We will recognize, appreciate and applaud them and that when such occur. And along the same lines, we will go after and disagree and expose weaknesses and any wickedness that lay waste the assets and promise of this society. With that in mind and made clear, we return to this matter of the recount not being credible.

We are compelled to ask of the president: how can it not be? How can it be otherwise, as in what he is saying? And what will it take for this recount process, the entire elections disaster, and agonies of this land to be ended? For if what has unfolded in the past few days and weeks with embarrassing regularity has not been eye-opening enough and persuasive enough, then what is or what would be? We dare to ask, even though we are sure that we are not going to like the answer: can anything be?

Apparently, the president and his group have their own ideas and definitions of what credible means.

Rather regrettably, whatever is in mind runs into sharp headwinds; and that whatever would be found acceptable would betray statistics, logic, and all that is basic and not as complex and crooked as the president may wish for the rest of the world to believe and accept.

The president and his coalition of parties are alone on this most indefensible of positions. As leader, he stands on one weak leg and on the shakiest of grounds.

It has already begun to cave in around him. And this is how his group’s now publicized position of “recount not credible” seems before the world at large.

It is a world that keeps believing that, given all the exposures of deviousness that have come to light up to this point, it cannot see anything more or anything new with this most bizarre of Guyanese elections. Yet the fantastical and the feeble keep coming up with more promised in the few remaining days left in this recount.

It can only get stormier and more dispute riddled, which is the concern of one of the more vocal observers and participants in this elections season.

It was the chairman of ANUG, Mr. Timothy Jonas, no longer some remote stranger to Guyanese, who said that “we are being placed at a homestretch where it’s at a stage that it’s the contentious ballots to count…” The key words which we pinpoint are “homestretch” and “contentious ballots” for in those reside only the most scorched of territories to be crossed. With “contentious” already acknowledged, then only the worst could be expected.

We, though, have still not given up hope, and expect the same crystal-clear process to continue and that all will be ready to respond honourably from there. It goes without saying that President Granger has to take the lead with this.

In the age of misinformation, we must demonstrate respect for truth Dear Editor, One of the greatest threats facing peace and cohesion in the world today is disinformation. In recent years, the world has seen what havoc a sophisticated disinformation campaign can wreak – from enabling wholly unqualified persons to lead powerful countries to fueling continued discrimination against minorities.

Disinformation spreads quickest on the Internet and social media where alternate “facts” are peddled by “truth” merchants who have access to empirical data that the established media, relevant experts, principle actors and the universal laws of mathematics do not. Thanks to confirmation bias, persons are likely to only listen to the “facts” that support their already held views. This is catastrophic for highly partisan communities, particularly during moments of crisis during which all hands are needed.

In a closely-knit society like Guyana’s, one of the most popular methods of sharing information is “He say, she say” – hearsay.

This is problematic even for innocuous purposes.

When I was a student at Sacred Heart Primary, a teacher once led my class in a game of what she called “Chinese Whispers.” We formed a large circle and a message was whispered to one student who then turned

to her neighbour and repeated it in her ear. This series of whispers continued along the circle until the last child was prompted to report the message out loud. To great laughter and amusement, we heard words that were so transformed, they no longer resembled what many of us had heard.

The lesson was powerful in its simplicity.

When I was considerably older, I observed Guyana’s 2020 General and Regional Elections. I visited dozens of polling stations, from East to West Bank. At all but two stations, everything was running smoothly.

The first controversial incident occurred late in the day at Goed Intent. Shouting persons lined both sides of the road. We stopped briefly to make queries and were told that fake IDs were being handed out. What was the evidence? A man was seen in a bus, checking a list and talking to persons.

When confronted, he drove away. “Why would he leave if he wasn’t doing anything wrong?” we were asked. Some claimed a woman was seen with said bus driver.

She was duly produced and her handbag rifled through in front of us.

Nothing out of the ordinary was found. The scene was so turbulent that extra police had to be called in to calm the crowds. Other independent observers and

party officials also turned up to verify with station agents if there had been reported cases of ID fraud. There was none.

We continued to Wales Primary School. There we were met by a young woman who told us, unprompted, that there was a woman in the vicinity who had tried to vote more than once. Did she see it? No, but she had heard from someone else who saw it.

Another young woman approached us with the same story and produced photos on her phone of the alleged attempted multiple voter.

Then she pointed the woman out to us.

She was wearing a different top in person than in the photos. Why would she have changed her clothes unless she had wanted to attempt some act of deceit?

The photographs and story were very compelling.

We spoke with the Information Clerk to clarify the matter. She told us that she had turned away three persons who did not have IDs, including the woman in question, because they did not match their photographs in her folio. A small crowd of persons gathered nearby and began repeating en masse that the woman had voted multiple times – even though they too had heard the IC say that she had not been allowed to vote even once.

During this time, a passerby told us that she had

just come from a station where someone had attempted to vote for the second time. Her evidence?

“The man behind me in line said he saw that man before.”

When we went to the identified station, the man in question was being scrutinized by the observers and GECOM. The Presiding Officer stated that this was the first time the man had appeared at his station and his name was unchecked on the list.

This was not enough for one of the observers. His finger was checked for ink.

Out of six observers, including myself, and the entire GECOM team, one person, an APNU/AFC observer, said she could see a trace of ink on his finger.

She wanted her objection recorded. The man happened to be Indo-Guyanese. Just like the woman turned away by the IC. And the woman at Goed Intent whose handbag had been searched by strangers.

We returned to the case of the multiple voter to find the woman who had shown us photographic ‘evidence’ sitting with the IC. We spoke with the alleged fraudster. It turns out that she tried three times to vote, once with her brother who had vouched for her. She was turned away thrice. And the change of clothes? After the second failed attempt, she reportedly (Continued on page 6)

David Granger should do the honourable thing and avoid international condemnation Dear Editor, David Granger, on 17th May, 2020, at a Press Conference across the road from the Conference Centre, where the election Recount is coming to a conclusion, told the nation when asked “to what extent would your Coalition accept the result coming from the Recount” evaded the question. His answer was ”whatever declaration is made by the Chairman of the Elections Commission would be regarded as legitimate by the Coalition government”.

When David Granger was pressed further on an earlier declaration by Basil Williams and Roysdale Forde that the Recount is illegal, again, stated, this time emphatically, ”as President of Guyana and Leader of the Government, it is my policy that any declaration coming from the Chairman of GECOM will be accepted by the Government of Guyana”.

But David Granger’s

party, last night (3rd June), in an e-mail, declared that APNU+AFC would not accept the result of the ballot Recount, a statement which we must presume has the approval of David Granger, even before the Chairman of the Elections Commission can deliver her Commission’s verdict on the ballot Recount.

If, as she should, the GECOM Chairman declares the result of the ballot Recount to be that, which the world can already see, the PPP/C has won the Elections, David Granger’s party have now told her in advance that they will not accept any such decision. In fact, the APNU+AFC have gone further in stating that “any results emanating from this process cannot be considered credible because of the high incidence of fraud”, thereby rejecting the entire Recount process. It, therefore, immediately becomes incumbent on Granger to either reject the APNU+AFC

statement, or be seen to have lied to the nation.

But David Granger has other problems. Not once, but twice, prior even to the Recount beginning and based entirely on the fraudulent Lowenfield Report from the Mingo tabulation, David Granger told his party followers that APNU+AFC had won the Elections. The ballot Recount has proved already that he lied to his followers.

It is already patently clear that none of the so-called anomalies listed by APNU+AFC have any credibility and remain, not only unsubstantiated, but proved to be false. For instance, the ridiculous claim that absentee persons from Guyana were impersonated and voted. These persons were, in fact, in Guyana. As I write, fourteen (14) of these persons have given the lie to the information sent to the GECOM Chairman by the Commissioner of Police.

Many more will be revealed.

The claim by Aubrey Norton that the members of the Defence Force have been disenfranchised has, also, been proved to be entirely false.

As for these so-called anomalies, everyday being claimed at the Recount stations by APNU+AFC Party Agents, these amount to minor infractions having no bearing on the overwhelming result of an election process, which all of the International Observers found credible and which Granger himself originally gave his blessings.

It is time, as I have said before, for David Granger to do the honourable thing.

Accept that he has lost the Elections and concede before he is ultimately forced to do so by the international condemnation which will come his way and to our country if he doesn’t.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

Friday June 05, 2020

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Kaieteur News

It is hoped that Justice Singh will do the right thing in the end Dear Editor, Given everything that has transpired in the months leading up to her nomination, the appointment of Justice Claudette Singh as Chairwoman of Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) brought a sigh of relief to the majority of Guyanese. Much was expected of her before, during, and after what many deemed the “mother of all elections”. However, her actions and/or inactions since then have raised many questions and concerns regarding her perceived partisanship, especially since the March 2nd elections. Her latest escapade seems to further undermine the prospects of bringing these elections to a fair, transparent, and credible conclusion. This begs the question, how will Justice Claudette Singh vote on the final recount results?

In taking the oath of office, Justice Claudette Singh solemnly promised to honor three principal obligations to the Guyanese people. First, she swore true faith and allegiance to the people of Guyana. Second, she promised to discharge her duties and responsibilities without fear or favor, affection, or ill will. Third, she pledged to honor, uphold, and

preserve the Constitution of Guyana. With over four decades of experience in the legal arena, Justice Singh was reasonably expected to abide by the sanctity of her oath and letter and spirit of the law.

However, her recent tenure has been tainted by one faux pas after another.

By bearing true faith and allegiance to all Guyanese, Justice Singh inherently acknowledged that the sovereignty of the people cannot be denied or taken away. Hence, she pledged unconditional loyalty to the people in discharging her duties and responsibilities.

However, her actions throughout this ordeal have painted a less than flattering picture. Her overall reluctance to exude control and leadership during and in the aftermath of Mr. Mingo’s atrocious acts suggests a flagrant disregard for the will of the people. As a result, the true will of the people has so far been denied and may never be respected following a credible recount.

In swearing to execute her duties and responsibilities without fear or favour, affection or ill will, Justice Singh was reasonably expected to act impartially and without malice. More importantly, she was

expected to pursue a common good for all Guyanese. Yet, her posture in the last few months remains extremely controversial and suggests a degree of prejudice. For example, her vote against releasing GECOM’s Statements of Poll to the Commissioners showed her disinterest in a course of action that was in the best interest of Guyana. Her failure to discard the fictitious and discredited numbers declared

by Mr. Mingo suggests unjustified favor. Similarly, her vote against removing Mr. Mingo and other questionable characters from the recount process illustrates her apathy and misguided intent.

Perhaps even more egregious was Justice Singh’s cavalier attitude towards the Constitution.

Although the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) cleared the way for regional and general elections to be held within ninety days, Justice Singh showed contempt for the Constitution that she had sworn to uphold and defend. Instead of ensuring elections were held by September 18, 2019, her constant dithering meant that this deadline was missed.

Also, the dissolution of parliament on December 30,

President must Accept Recount Outcome Dear Editor, Thank you for the update on the recount (KN Jun 4). I applaud your reporting. The emerging trend is clear that the Coalition lost. The AFC and some pro-democracy individuals in APNU are resigned to the fact that the coalition has lost and are accepting the outcome. The President must follow suit.

The AFC has been quiet since the recount began a month ago telling friends “we lost”. APNU defenders of fraud, on the other hand, those opposed to the President conceding defeat, are shamelessly seeking nullification and demanding shared governance amidst threatening action. Threats won’t alter the result and must never be considered as a condition for shared governance.

Those who know they lost the vote, like AFCites, tend to behave honourably while others who know they were defeated behave like sore losers. The nation will remember those who claimed victory three months ago but accept defeat now. They respect democracy, completely opposite to their behaviour when Mingo rigged the vote count to create

a victory for the Coalition.

Since President Granger slapped down Basil Williams two weeks ago when the AG stated the Coalition won’t accept the outcome of the recount, he has been quiet.

The President contradicted him saying he would accept the outcome of the recount as declared by GECOM Chair.

Lincoln Lewis, David Hinds, Volda Lawrence, Joe Harmon, Roysdale Forde, James Bond, Amna Ally, Jermaine Figueria, Nigel Williams, Henry Jeffrey, among a few others are still holding out hoping to reverse the tabulations of the recount through another intervention or to void the elections. The international community won’t accept anything less than a declaration of the outcome of the recount.

The defeat of the Coalition is inevitable from the recount. I voted for the Coalition and am

accepting the outcome. The honourable thing for the APNU leadership is to join AFC and concede defeat.

The President seems willing to accept defeat as he stated two weeks ago when he stated he would accept the declaration of the GECOM Chair, but defenders of fraud who wish ill for the President don’t plan to concede easily. They lack morality. They are power drunk and self-serving using governance for self-enrichment.

They fool supporters all along telling them they won. They are unwilling to accept reality.

They now say they were cheated rather than gracefully accept defeat. The Chair must act impartially. She must elevate herself above fraudsters and conmen, conclude the count, and declare the winner.

Yours truly, Shawn Simmons

2019, meant that the constitutional deadline for reconstituting parliament was April 30, 2020. Once again Justice Singh’s indecisiveness resulted in another constitutional deadline being ignored.

While the examples above are not exhaustive, they show a clear pattern of Justice Singh’s indifference towards the oath of office she duly swore to uphold. She has had multiple opportunities to redeem herself but continues

to let her people and country down.

This brings us back to the question, how will Claudette Singh vote on the final recount results? By secretly asking the Commissioner of Police for information regarding wild and unsubstantiated allegations made by the APNU+AFC, Justice Singh has once again shown this nation that she cares less about her reputation and more about appeasing those

who conspired to rig the elections.

With GECOM commissioners divided along political lines and APNU+AFC proclamation that the March 2nd elections were not credible, all eyes will be on Justice Singh. However, her track record does not bode well for Guyana. Let’s all hope she does the right thing and restore a semblance of respectability to Guyana.

Yours truly, Omchand Mahdu

Despite Harmon’s ultimatum, the Coalition has no direct say in the running of GECOM Dear Editor, Today (4th June, 2020), I listened to a press conference with Joseph Harmon where he was asked at the end how confident is the Coalition that GECOM will address the (alleged but unproven) irregularities which the APNU-AFC has claimed; Harmon responded that they are demanding that GECOM address them by tomorrow (Friday 5th June, 2020) and that if GECOM does not address their demands then they “will go and meet with them and insist that our demands are met.” Effectively, Harmon is saying that if they do not get what they want, they will go and pay GECOM a visit and see that it happens.

Well, for a government and political outfit, which constantly maintains that they have not interfered with the electoral process or with

GECOM, this sounds very much as an attempt or possibly a threat to do exactly that. Since Harmon may have forgotten despite their constant chorus, GECOM is an autonomous Constitutional Commission which is not subject to the demands of any political party let alone the “insistence” thereof even in circumstances where there is an attempt to strong-arm demands by unwarranted or unsolicited “visits”.

In fact, I would invite Harmon to read Art. 161B of the Constitution, which specifically prohibits the role of political parties and their nominees in the management of the electoral process.

Fortunately for Harmon and the Coalition, there is an avenue to address their alleged but unproven irregularities and that is

through an elections petition after a declaration of a winner is made which, incidentally, GECOM is required to do (See Art 177 where GECOM is required to declare a winner even when there is a tie). This is, in fact, the only legally prescribed avenue to address any of those alleged but unproven allegations (See Art. 163 of the Constitution and S.140 of the Representation of the People Act CAP 1:03). GECOM knows this and since Harmon is an Attorney-at-Law, I am sure he knows this as well.

Nonetheless, should the Coalition require any further elucidation on the point, I would direct their attention to the recent Court of Appeal decision in the Ulita Moore matter in which their political acolyte would have appeared.

Yours truly, Charles Ramson

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Friday June 05, 2020

Kaieteur News

Will not end until it ends and that is...

Dear Editor, A man who has lived here almost all of his life, a friend of longstanding, the other morning asked me if I don’t know better, and why I am not learning, and am even concerned about where things are, and where they could end up; where they will end up, all things and parties considered.

He then proceeded to share with me, and remind me, of an old way in this country. It went like this.

In the community, there are neighbours living either side by side or a little more apart, or a family of husband and wife and children right next door. Over the years, there was sporadic and lowlevel quarreling. In time, as the years passed, the parties not only grew older and bolder, they became lesser and lesser restrained as both sides diminished to more hostility and more aggression directed at each other. Given the now very public and

undeniable national scourge of domestic violence, many in this society are familiar with existing next to such warring parties. And this is the sad circumstances of what is happening in our national politics.

First, in an effort (repeated and patient, but fatiguing, efforts, to be more accurate) the older folks used to intervene and introduce calm and peace. That is, temporary quiet and peace until the next flare up and blowout and beatdown.

These helping hands from the outside village would have started with the father, with the mother following in quick succession.

After a while, it became the mother alone, then some older children or child. And then, there was no one, who cared enough anymore to squander any of their precious time and energies to try to salvage the unsalvageable. That would be the conclusion of dispirited

and disgusted neighbours, who acted as helpers and peacemakers. But no longer, since they have had enough, are disinterested, and have their own challenges and priorities to face and overcome.

But unsaid in that conclusion and resignation of neighbour and village, or friend and family in the city, which my own friend imparted to me was this: after all this time and no learning and adjusting, at this rate, there could be only one outcome: at some time, somebody is going to kill somebody, and that is when it is going to be over, with some new tragic chapter beginning.

I have long used the seething and dangerous circumstances of bad domestic partnership, so

familiar here nowadays, to illustrate our local political situation, inclusive of disputes and impasses and the whole sordid litany of animosities.

However, I have never gone to this level of granularity before. The most I have offered is that we have to resolve our heated differences on our own at some time. And this is because at one time or another the outsiders, be they concerned regional neighbours or more distant foreign friends, similarly troubled by our situation, would have to move on. Or they would just throw up their hands and give up in disgust, while leaving us to our own devices.

What I have never said is

Freddie Kissoon is the voice of Guyana Dear Editor, I never met Freddie Kissoon but I know many Guyanese at home and abroad who can say, without reservation, their most credible and direct link to Guyana is only via Freddie.

All you need to do to get in sync with current relevant affairs in Guyana is to simply read Freddie’s column.

Nobody owns Freddie. He has no allegiance to the PPP or the PNC (there is no coalition).

Freddie is the principal singular force that toppled the PPP in 2015. Three of Guyana’s finest minds, Lincoln Lewis, Eusi Kwayana and Dr. David Hinds used

their precious God-given intellect and knowledge to circumvent the central issue of elections rigging. They tried to deflect Freddie. They failed. No one can assimilate Freddie Kissoon. With strokes of his pen that man can deliver crushing blows.

Freddie is a juggernaut moving through space and time. Fascinating Freddie is the voice of Guyana. He is the central core. He is the most extraordinary Guyanese who ever lived. The day his voice goes silent is the day Guyana will never be the same again.

God bless you, Mr. Kissoon.

God Bless You indeed.

Yours truly, Dr. Peter Merai

that, unless amicably resolved by the contentious neighbours or unhinged domestic couple, somebody is going to kill somebody and then matters will have to go from there to wherever they lead.

For the children. For the name of the family. For the future and whatever shattered prospects were still in store. As we spoke and I weighed (both of us), I sense that this is where we are as a nation, as hard and as baffling and troubling as this sounds to me and most likely many more Guyanese.

For as I look at our tragic politics, this is where we are heading: where somebody is going to kill somebody, to use that crude Guyanese expression. I do not envision how it can be otherwise, when

everybody is holding on to the claim that they are right and that their cause is righteous. In effect, not only they are right, but that they are righter than everybody else. I ask pardon for wounding (‘righter’) the language so cavalierly. There is no give, no decreasing of the volume, no lessening of the intensity of raging passions. This thing could only end one way. The man from Trinidad and Tobago said it best: “this is not going to end well.” I think I knew that all along, which is why I keep wondering why I have not simply moved away (like those neighbours of yore) and go about some more rewarding undertakings. It could be because I am still hopeful…

Sincerely, GHK Lall

In the age of...

From page 4 took a shower because it was late in the hot day. By this time, the P.O. of her station was alerted to the incident and invited her inside. The proper procedures were followed, requisite questions asked, photograph confirmed, and no objections were raised. She was allowed to vote.

One of our greatest strengths as a country is how interconnected we are. This facilitates rallying support in a moment’s notice, the pursuit of collective goals, and, often, personally knowing many of the leaders that govern us.

We are not a community of strangers.

Unfortunately, strength of relationship is not sufficient evidence of fact. When we hear stories about friends or neighbours, we should always be aware that our informant might be on the tail end of a long line of Chinese whispers. Before we believe what we hear, we must think for ourselves. Is our source credible? Where did they get their information? Does this information support a cause of theirs? What observable evidence is there to support their story? Are there other persons, not tied to our source, who can confirm the story? When it comes to politics, doubt must be doubled or tripled – especially,

when listening to someone from our own party. While it’s difficult to be absolutely certain about anything, we can still determine when we have enough evidence to hold certain beliefs or take particular courses of action.

We must not settle for evidence that we only hear of but never see. We must not allow political agendas to turn us into people who “believe everything and nothing, think that everything was possible and that nothing [is] true” (Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism). Guyana will not benefit from a population divorced from reality. We cannot build a lasting peace on deception. It may be tempting to think of it as a short cut, but our ends will not be sustainable, as the last 50 years has shown us.

Human beings are capable of remarkable feats of reasoning when we put our minds to it. In the end, we all want what is best for our families and communities. We must use our trademark social ties for good.

We must put the community – the entire community – first.

We must demonstrate respect for the truth, whether it serves our purposes or meets our preferences or not, and act upon it.

Yours truly, Krysta Bisnauth

Friday June 05, 2020

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

US-based businessman ready to take Guyana foots the bill for any oil advantage of Public Private Partnership spill/disaster by ExxonMobil

-Contract signed

by Trotman

By Kiana Wilburg

I

n environmental law, it is standard practice that the oil company pays the country for any harm it causes to the environment. But when it comes to ExxonMobil, it appears a different benchmark has been set.

According to the provisions in the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed by Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, in 2016, ExxonMobil can recover all costs associated with the cleanup of an oil spill or any other disaster. By allowing the company to recoup those costs, Guyana is ultimately footing the bill.

Annex C of the PSA outlines all costs ExxonMobil is allowed to recover without the need for the approval of the Minister.

One of those costs is insurance which is listed on Page 11 of Annex C. It states, “Insurance premium and cost incurred for insurance pursuant to Article 20 provided that if such insurance is wholly or partly placed with an

Raphael Trotman

EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams

Affiliated Company of the parties comprising the contractor, such premium and costs shall be recoverable only to the extent generally charged by competitive insurance companies other than an Affiliated Company of a party comprising the contractor. Costs, losses, and damages incurred to the extent not made good by insurance, are recoverable, including costs, losses or damages resulting from the indemnities in Article 2 of the agreement unless such costs, losses or damages have resulted solely from an act of willful misconduct or gross

negligence of the contractor.”

For Guyana to prevent the company from recovering money spent to clean up an oil spill or to address any other environmental damage, it would have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the act resulted from not just mere negligence, but “gross negligence.” If the matter is taken before the courts for interpretation on what accounts for “gross negligence” or “willful misconduct”, the lopsided deal holds provisions which allow for all of ExxonMobil’s legal costs to

Border communities remain on high alert for COVID- 19 -Ministry reports no new cases in four days; 77 recover The Ministry of Public Health continues to be on high alert for border communities at risk of COVID-19 even though no new case of the disease has been recorded in four days.

In a daily update on the situation, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Gordon- Boyle, made this disclosure.

A c c o r d i n g t o D r.

Gordon-Boyle, of the 20 tests done yesterday, there were no new cases.

She said that the COVID-19 deaths remain at 12 and the number of confirmed cases 153.

“To date, the total number of persons tested is 1,719 with the total number of negative cases being 1,566. We currently have 77 persons who have recovered, 64 active cases in institutional isolation, three patients in the COVID ICU and 25 persons in institutional quarantine.”

Further, Dr. GordonBoyle said that in the Region of the Americas [of which Guyana is a part], the total number of cases is

DCMO Dr. Karen Gordon- Boyle 2,949,455 with 165,311 deaths.

As such, she noted that the Health Ministry continues to ask that the residents of Regions One, Six, Seven, Eight and Nine remain on high alert recognising that “our neighbours Brazil and Suriname are reporting new cases”.

“In the last 24 hours, Brazil recorded 11,598 cases and 623 deaths. So, your adherence to health guidelines is imperative.

Also, Suriname has

recorded 26 new cases in the last 24 hours. Once again, the Ministry is encouraging residents to take extra precautions to protect themselves against COVID19,” she said.

Meanwhile, the DCMO noted that the Ministry continues to focus on the regional preparedness and response to COVID-19.

“We must commend the work of the health team in Region [Three], recognising that they have been one of the first regions to participate in the COVID-19 response. We must also thank the agencies that have come on board as well as the residents. It is evident that with adherence to the guidelines put forward by the Ministry the ability to contain this disease is possible.

[The] United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has donated 48 Prefab Housing Units to the Government of Guyana to help in the fight against COVID-19.

Region Five is the first to (Continued on page 15 )

The Liza Destiny FPSO which operates in the Stabroek Block be covered by Guyana.

Last year October, there was much celebration when Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), D r. Vi n c e n t A d a m s , disclosed that he was able to get ExxonMobil to cover costs its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is unable to cover with its US$2B insurance policy.

Wi t h E x x o n M o b i l agreeing to same, Dr. Adams had said this results in Guyana having unlimited insurance coverage for the operations in the Stabroek Block. It appears however that Dr. Adams might not have been aware that there is a critical loophole in the Stabroek Block PSA which allows the company to recover every penny.

DECADE OR MORE If an oil spill occurs at the Liza Phase One Project, it could take a decade or more for the country to “fully recover.” This gloomy possibility was well

documented in the operator’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which examines how Exxon’s operations would affect the environs.

The document was prepared by Environmental Resources Management (ERM). In the EIA, the international company states, “Although the probability of an oil spill reaching the Guyana coast is very small, a spill at a Liza well would likely impact marine resources found near the well, such as sea turtles and certain marine mammals that may transit or inhabit the area impacted by a spill. Air quality, water quality, seabirds, and marine fish could also be impacted…”

The document also states that a spill could potentially impact Guyanese fishermen.

It said that the magnitude of this impact would depend on the volume and duration of the release of oil as well as the time of year, the release was to occur (e.g., whether a

spill would coincide with the time of year when some species are more common).

The EIA goes on to state that although a large oil spill is considered unlikely, other resources that could be potentially impacted by a spill include Shell Beach Protected Area, marine mammals, critically endangered sea turtles, and coastal Guyanese and Amerindian communities reliant on ecosystem services for sustenance and their livelihood.

G i v e n t h e aforementioned, Environmental Resources Management said it is critical that ExxonMobil commits to regular oil spill response training exercises, document the availability of appropriate response equipment on board the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Unit, and demonstrate that offsite equipment could be mobilised for a timely response.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Friday June 05, 2020

24 now refute Top Cop’s immigration report - Coalition demands answer from GECOM on ‘irregularities’

By Shikema Dey The APNU+AFC Coalition maintains that the information sent by the Immigration Department to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is accurate, even after 24 persons have now emerged with evidence to refute that information.

APNU+AFC campaign manager, Joseph Harmon, yesterday at a press conference, only attended by a lone private media house and broadcast live on the p a r t y ’s o ff i c i a l p a g e , remained resolute that the information on ‘migrant voters’ was of high accuracy.

“We have submitted several lists on migrated voters to GECOM for investigation and the Immigration Department has confirmed 90% of those named on the list,” Harmon said.

Kaieteur News has seen two lists submitted to GECOM by Joseph Harmon, totaling 517.

One list submitted on 30 May had 310 persons. There is no evidence that this list, though submitted to the GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh, was forwarded to the Department of Immigration.

A previous list, containing 207 names was submitted on May 21, and forwarded to the Commissioner of Police. A list containing 172 of those names was returned and ‘confirmed’ as being out the country on Elections Day by the Deputy Chief Immigration Officer, Ewart Wray.

In response to Kaieteur News reporting on this, an initial three persons:

Andreanna Persaud, Amos Bhola and a 38-year-old woman, came forward debunking the claim that they were out of the jurisdiction. The Police Force had responded, insisting on the accuracy of the information given to GECOM. Kaieteur News then published a further 11 persons as of yesterday’s edition.

During his press conference, Harmon stated that, “The selective extraction of one or two persons by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) cannot change the fact that, a vast number of persons who were not in Guyana voted on March 2, 2020.”

Yesterday, however, a further 10 persons, presented evidence to Kaieteur News to refute the allegation that they departed Guyana and never returned, bringing the total to 24.

False claim further debunked Chaitram Bharat, born on March 23, 1976 is listed as #20 on the Top Cop’s list.

The Immigration Department claimed that he departed Guyana on September 13, 2014 and never on/before Elections Day. Bharat presented a signed affidavit to Kaieteur as evidence that he was indeed in Guyana and voted at the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

In the affidavit certified

by Commissioner of Oath of Affidavit, Rudolph G. Williams, Bharat swore that he resides at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, that he is a bearer of an identification card and that he voted at the March 2 polls at the CV

Nunes Primary School polling station.

Number #78 on the list was Ms. Khaawtie Naipaul.

Born on October 17, 1953, the Immigration Department claimed that she departed Guyana on August 29, 2019 and never returned on/before Elections Day. In the signed affidavit, Naipaul swore that she resides at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara and that she was present in Guyana on March 2 and voted at the March 2 Elections.

Dhanwantie Singh was listed as #81 on the list. The Immigration Department claimed that Singh, born on March 14, 1977, departed Guyana on February 3, 2018 and never returned on/before Elections Day. In her signed affidavit, Singh swore that she was present in Guyana and voted at the March 2 polls. Balram Pardasie was listed as #34 on the Top Cop’s list. The Immigration Department claimed that he left Guyana on October 20, 2017 and never returned on/before Elections Day. Pardasie, in his affidavit swore that he was present in Guyana and voted at the March 2 polls.

When contacted, he told Kaieteur News that he was shocked at the news that his name was on a list of migrated persons. According to him, he ventured bright and early to the Parika Community High School to cast his ballot.

Number #36 on the list was Anthony Persaud and in a signed affidavit, he swore that he was present in Guyana on March 2, and cast his ballot at the elections.

Persaud told this newspaper that neighbours saw his

CHPA extends Republic Jubilee promotion until June 30 The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has extended its Republic Jubilee promotion until June 30, 2020.

The promotion was initially to run for a period of three months - March 1 to May 26, 2020.

Reports coming out of the agency state that due to the recent CO V ID -19 pandemic, the decision was taken to allow house lot owners who may have been affected, more time to make their payments.

This means persons who

were allotted house lots costing $2.5M or less, will be able to cash in on the fifty percent discount on the cost of their land.

The extension allows these persons until June 30, to make their first 50 percent down payment of the value for the lot. Thereafter, they have until August 31, 2020, to cash in on the fifty percent off promotion.

The “50 percent off Republic Promotion” will benefit those individuals who received lands for residential purposes in

housing schemes that were either established or regularised by CH&PA. The promotion amounts to an additional $90M in subsidies from the CH&PA which is already selling some lands as low as $92,000. This initiative is in keeping with CHPA’s efforts to make housing affordable for Guyanese.

It was noted that the CH&PA staff are continuing to work from home but will be in office to process land applications when necessary. (DPI)

Police Commissioner, Leslie James

Joseph Harmon

GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh

name on the list and informed him. “I know I vote on Elections Day, I went to Parika Secondary School and voted so how they saying I ain’t in the country and didn’t vote.” The Immigration Department alleged that Persaud, who was born on May 21, 1984, left Guyana on July 12, 2019 and never returned on/before Elections Day. “I was the last person that voted at Parika Nursery School,” were the words Zahaid Baksh who was listed as #27. Baksh who was born on November 5, 1998, told Kaieteur News that despite, having a passport, he has never left Guyana.

The Immigration Department claimed that he left the country on May 22, 2017, and never returned on/before Elections Day. In a signed affidavit, Baksh swore that he was in Guyana on March 2 and voted at the Elections.

Mohamed Muntaz Ali, born on May 29, 1963 was listed as #28. Ali told Kaieteur News that his passport expired since 2018 and it was never renewed.

“Me passport expire since 2018 and me never renew it so me never travel anywhere sweetheart. I went Suriname since 2014 and me never go way, so whoever seh I leff, dem gah fuh mad,” he said. The Immigration

Department claimed that he left Guyana on July 1, 2011 and did not return on/before Elections Day. Ali presented Kaieteur News with a signed affidavit where he swore that he was in Guyana on March 2 and cast his ballots. “I vote, I vote, at Hyde Park Village Office around 10 in de morning,” he told this newspaper.

Otis Jaigobin was listed as #33. The Immigration Department claimed that he left Guyana on October 12, 2018 and never returned.

Due to his unavailability, Jaigobin’s mother, Taitree Jaigobin signed the affidavit where she swore that he voted at the March 2 polls and was in Guyana on the said date. Due to the unavailability of Rameshwar Paul, listed as #35, his wife, Maria Lamazon, signed the sworn affidavit, which says that he was in Guyana on March 2, 2020 and voted at the March 2 polls. The Immigration Department claimed that he departed Guyana on April 29, 2010 and never returned.

The tenth person who came forward was Susan Natasha Narine, listed as #93. The Immigration Department claimed that she left Guyana on September 16, 2017 and did not return to Guyana. Narine, however, in a signed affidavit swore that she was in Guyana and voted

at the March 2, 2020 elections.

Coalition demands answer from GECOM on irregularities At his press conference, Harmon presented GECOM with an ultimatum, demanding an answer today on the many allegations of ‘fraud’ that they have brought to the fore.

The Coalition Campaign Manager said that the party has dispatched a total of 11 letters, “on investigations we requested on the irregularities unfolding” at the national recount.

No response was received for those letters, Harmon claimed, thus the ultimatum. “We will have to get a decision from GECOM on this matter and we are serving notice that we expect a decision by GECOM on these matters by the end of Friday, June 5, 2020 (today).

They must say to us how they will treat with these matters, it is very important,” Harmon stated.

Additionally, he said that the party sent five additional letters to GECOM on what he termed as the “fraud that is piling up”. Harmon stressed that the Commission must “with certainty, make its position known on issues that put the credibility of the votes in question.” Addressing the (Continued on page 15)

NIS announces measures to aid overseas pensioners The National Insurance Scheme (NIS) says it remains very cognizant of the essential services that it provides to pensioners and the effects an interruption of such services can have on the livelihood of this category of the stakeholders.

In light of the aforesaid, the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the system, the scheme said it will be implementing some measures with immediate

effect.For instance, NIS has announced that, “All pensioners residing in Canada and the United States of America are required to make contact with the respective consulate office in their country to have their status verified to facilitate the continuous payment of their pensions.”

NIS said too that pensioners residing in Canada can contact the consulate General of Guyana Toronto during 9:00 hrs to 12:00hrs Monday to

Friday on telephone numbers 416-494-6040 or 416-494-6059.Additional information can also be obtained from the website https://guyanaconsulatetoro nto.com/.Meanwhile, pensioners residing in the United States of America can contact the Guyana consulate New York via telephone number 212-9475110 or email address cgny@guyanaconsulatenew y o r k . o r g o r batherly@guyanaconsulate newyork.org.

Kaieteur News

Friday June 05, 2020

PAGE 09

An extraterrestrial experience

T

he members of the Caricom team w h o a r e observing the recount of the ballots of the 2020 elections will never forget their present experience. They can write a bestseller about the things they have seen and heard over the past few weeks in Guyana.

They will never experience anything like they are doing now. Not in their wildest imagination would they have imagined that they could be witnesses to the most palpable and pathetic display by a ruling Coalition which attempted to steal an election. This may appear all unreal but this is Guyana, the place where the most unimaginable things occur.

These observers would have seen a certain political party object to 24 names of persons who supposedly voted at a polling station in Belladrum, only to discover that the other parties only got

a total of five votes at that polling station. It means that the party was objecting to 19 of its own supporters.

Newsroom Guyana reported yesterday that the APNU+AFC in one instance objected to 81 names when a ballot box was opened.

GECOM staff had to go through the entire list to check off those names and, when they did, they found that only five persons of the 81 had actually voted. This is part of the tactic to delay and drag out the recount process.

Where else in the world would such crazy objections be made?

These objections are the primary reason why the Caricom team is still here rather than back home. A process which should have been concluded in 25 days has now had to be extended because of the innumerable, specious objections which are being made to concoct a narrative of irregularities.

Well, this time is not long

time. This time people are able to respond almost immediately to some of the allegations. This time the public and the media are doing far more fact-checking and doing so promptly. As we are seeing, the APNU+AFC is being exposed for what it truly is.

The Caricom team members must be bewildered by what they are witnessing. They would not have expected that these sorts of objections are being made in a simple recount exercise for an election which the ruling Coalition said they won and which they bragged would have been confirmed by the recount.

The team must be asking itself why a recount was necessary when the results of the districts so far completed – 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9 – more or less confirmed with the results originally declared by the Returning Officers of these districts.

Dem boys seh...

A law firm cut and run Dem boys seh...Dem boys nah know whether fuh laugh or whether fuh cry.

Dem watchin how dem politician fighting fuh control de oil wealth but dem nah realize dat de wealth dun sign way. So dem fighting over crumbs.

While dem fighting fuh power, dem oil company pumping out we oil and smiling all de way to de bank.

Dem gat ah man named Kuff-Man. De man is an expert on how fuh manage oil wealth. He seh de deal wha we sign is not in we best interest. De man know wha he talking. He seh if we want we pickney and dem pickney fuh benefit, we gat fuh ensure far mo transparency by changing we petroleum laws. De man seh de guvment gat to do tings mo in de open rather dan in secret.

And dem gat to do de right ting.

De same guvment doing de opposite.

Dem tek money from the World Bank and dem hire a firm fuh rewrite de country petroleum laws. De company gat ties with Exxon. Dem boys wan know, how de guvment expect ah company wah gat links to de oil company fuh write laws fuh benefit we?

De Waterfall paper skin-up wha happen, de guvment still refuse to break ties with de firm wha linked to Exxon. But de Waterfall paper continued to expose de contract with de law firm and how it not in we interest.

Thanks to de Waterfall paper, de company decide fuh cut ties with de guvment and walk.

Talk half and let dem oil people know dat dem boys watching with eagles eye fuh see who gon get de next contract.

The only controversy was Region 4 and all it would have taken was for the Chief Elections Officer to simply produce his statements of polls and compare those with M i n g o ’s n u m b e r s f o r District 4. This would have avoided having to do a recount.

They would have seen the most unfathomable decision of the Chairperson of GECOM sending a list of supposed migrated persons for verification by the Chief Immigration Officer without first verifying that these persons had actually voted.

What is the use of checking a list of alleged migrated persons when there has been no verification that these persons would have voted?

The observers would have been baffled just how given all the controls in place, the dead and migrated could have voted.

When they go back home, these observers are going to relay someday their experience of the recount and Guyana will not look good in the eyes of the Caribbean.

Guyana will continue to be shamed in the eyes of the

Caribbean just like it was in the 1980’s when Guyana destroyed one of the instruments, which facilitated the trade in goods.

Guyana bankrupted the Caribbean Multilateral Clearing Facility and this set back the integration movement like nothing else.

Guyanese used to be made fun of when they went to Caribbean countries. They were only allowed US$40 to leave with and the islanders used to laugh at Guyanese because of the foreign exchange controls which restricted the monies that persons could leave the country with.

When locals went abroad to conferences, their counterparts from the other islands would go shopping for nice gift items to take back home. Guyanese would go hunting for bread and cheese to bring back since these items were either restricted or in short supply.

Because of the economic crisis in Guyana, many persons left to find jobs in Caribbean islands. Many of them overstayed their time and stayed illegally in those countries. This too has given

Guyana a bad reputation.

Now that Guyana is an oil-producing state, it provided an opportunity for our people to reclaim some self-respect. But look at what the APNU+AFC is engaged in at the moment. This is disgraceful and infamous.

We will continue to be the laughing stock of the Caribbean.

When the dust settles on this elections process, Guyanese have some serious soul-searching to do. They will have to decide what sort of image they want for this country and how best they can avoid the shamefulness, which is taking place at the moment, whereby the losers of an election are claiming that the opposition rigged the elections for the ruling party to win.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Friday June 05, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Rodney, USA, 1992; Rodney, Guyana, 1992

U

S Senator, Kamala Harris, (East Indian and Jamaican; in Guyanese parlance, a dougla) speaking to CNN’s Don Lemon about the riots last week in the US, asked what has changed in the US after the violent conflagrations in 1992 that were sparked by four policemen who were acquitted after their merciless beating of a man named Rodney King .

Harris’ thoughts were centered on the fact that after King in 1992, one would have thought that the US had left those kinds of aberrations behind. But has the US left those things since 1992?

Obviously, the answer is no because the police mercilessly killed another black American generating

nation-wide violence in 2020.

Harris’ reflection is deeply moving and brings into focus how dynamic is the life of nations. Do nations follow dialectical logic or is life just one damn thing after another that follows no logical path?

While the US is in the throes of raging violence brought about by an incident, few Americans believe could lead to another rioting mayhem in Los Angeles after what the Rodney King riots did to that very city in 1992, Guyana is in the throes of a different kind of incredulous nihilism and the name Rodney is in the picture.

In 1974, after being denied employment at UG, Walter Rodney birthed a different kind of protest that

involved the fight for free and fair election. It would be a distortion of Guyanese history to minimize the role of the PPP in the uncontrollable rage of Guyanese from 1968 to have free and fair elections. But Rodney introduced unique circumstances in the Guyana struggle.

Whereas Jagan and his PPP were viewed as an Indian bandwagon thereby creating suspicion among African Guyanese, Rodney was able to tap into the psyche of a disappointed African people in post-colonial Guyana.

Rodney therefore had birthed a multi-racial platform against President Burnham.

The second element Rodney’s presence generated was that the dissipation of fear in the society. Though

fear was not pronounced in PPP cadres at the time, (from 1968 onwards), Burnham’s brutal dictatorship drove trepidation into the entire society including PPP personnel.

I t w a s R o d n e y ’s charisma, mesmerizing d e l i v e r i e s a n d proselytization of the youths that galvanized the society.

This is where some leaders rise above the rest of humans and change the course of history.

People were not afraid any longer to picket, to strike, to join marches, to attend rallies because Rodney was there and once he was there, Burnham had a force to contend with.

In the fight for free and fair election, Rodney became the hero in Guyana. He eclipsed Jagan and rural folks saw him as a more fearless confrontationist than Jagan.

Rodney was murdered by Burnham, though I don’t think space would allow for contextualizing the circumstances of his death

which cannot be reduced to the simple fact that Burnham just killed him. The facts are more complex than that.

The legacy of Rodney in Guyana is the legacy of King in the US that had Harris asking her question; what has changed since King in 1992.

Guyanese must ask the same question; what has changed since the power, passion, heroism and legacy of Rodney in this country?

It is not a nice answer when you remember the defeat of the chairman of the election commission, Harold Bollers back in Walter’s era.

Now, Bollers has reincarnated into Claudette Singh.

When you see Singh and the things she does, the way she carries on; the barefaced traits of this election commission chairman, then, Bollers, Burnham’s puppet, was an altar boy.

What has changed since Bollers was forced out as chairman of the election commission and Guyana joined the rest of the world in

Frederick Kissoon recognizing that its citizen has a right to vote and have its government change through that vote? Now here is the parallel with King and Rodney. King’s incident set off riots in 1992. Rodney’s heroism led to Bollers’ exile and free elections in 1992.

But Los Angeles saw similar riots in 2020 that took place in 1992.

In Guyana in 2020, Bollers from 1992 is back under a new name, Claudette Singh. So what has changed from 1992 in Los Angeles and in Guyana from 1992?

Sadly for Guyana, the set back will take a generation to dissolve. No doubt, Los Angeles will pick itself up and will retain the title of California being the fourth largest economy in the world.

King died by drowning.

Rodney was assassinated.

For Guyanese, the question is; did he give his life for nothing?

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

Kaieteur News

Friday June 05, 2020

PAGE 11

Education Ministry doing its part to ensure students, schools ready for exams - PRO T

he Ministry of Education (MoE) through its Senior Public Relations Officer, Brushell Blackman, made it clear yesterday that it will continue to do its part to ensure that students and schools are ready for the upcoming exams scheduled to begin in July.

These exams are the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

Despite major concerns raised by the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) about the readiness of hinterland students to sit these exams, Blackman told this publication via telephone that the Education Ministry made it a priority to ensure that learning materials were sent to these remote locations.

He did admit, however, that at times there have been difficulties regarding virtual learning because of connectivity issues. But he noted that a number of workbooks, among other learning materials, were transported and made available to students across Guyana.

Parents have also been worried about how safe schools are to house their children. Some are even of the

opinion that the Ministry’s plan to reopen schools on June 8 is too soon.

In fact, the Guyana Teacher’s Union (GTU) had objected to the proposed dates for the respective exams.

Nevertheless, Blackman assured that since schools were closed on March 16, his Ministry had embarked on a continuous countrywide sanitization exercise of all schools. “We have been preparing since then by planning and putting the necessary measures in place to safeguard students,” said Blackman.

“All that is left to be done now is to apply the final touches and open the doors of the schools in adherence to the safety precautions outlined by the official gazette released by the MoE on Wednesday,” the PRO asserted.

It was also expressed by Blackman that the scheduled July-August timeline for exams and the reopening of schools on June 8 was not an “isolated decision” taken by his Ministry.

He explained that numerous consultations were made with the National Covid-19 Task Force (NCTF) before making a conclusive decision which was later approved by the said Task Force.

With the approval from the NCTF and gazetted

guidelines, Blackman assured that the wellbeing of the nation’s children will be taken care of.

The Education Ministry had informed the nation on Wednesday that schools across Guyana will be reopened on June 8 to August 15 to facilitate students sitting the NGSA, CSEC and CAPE. The public was also notified of the specific dates when these exams will be held which are as follows: CSEC and CAPE July 13 to August 4, while the NGSA will be held on July 1 and 2.

Senior Public Relations Officer, Brushell Blackman

The Ministry of Education on Brickdam

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Friday June 05, 2020

More stringent measures to help GECOM supervisor refuses protect against COVID-9 - Region 10 RHEC to note Mingo’s inflation Even as the Regional Health and Emergency Committee (RHEC) of Region 10 continues to seek ways to address the COVID19 pandemic, the committee has expressed grave concern over the public’s lack of fully understanding the dangers posed by the disease.

The RHEC members at a recent meeting expressed their views on the matter.

According to a subsequent release, it was the Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr. Pansy Armstrong, who disclosed that the region had recorded its 10th COVID-19 case.Dr. Armstrong revealed too that the family of six infected persons has seen two recoveries — the region has so far seen a total of three recoveries and one death.

During the meeting, both the RHEC’s Head, Orrin Gordon, and the Regional Chairman, Renis Morian, supported the notion of having more stringent measures in place to fight COVID-19.

They said that the public must know that they would have to stand firmly behind their actions as the law must be maintained. Gordon said,

“We must understand that the curfew related measures are not permanent and it must be adhered to by all.”

Regional Chairman Morian echoed the sentiments. He said the time has come for the public to determine the consequences of their actions — if they want to live or die.

“Whatever is needed in bringing this situation under control, I fully support as we continue to see irresponsible behaviour,” Moran said.

Deputy Regional Police C o m m a n d e r , Wa y n e Dehearte, who was also present at the meeting stressed that there is need for increased regulations.

He said that there continues to be need for a multi-sectoral approach to the current situation.

“We have been saying that the relevant authorities need to increase measures and restrictions and the police will certainly seek to ensure that the measures are implemented,” the Deputy Commander said.

Meanwhile, President of the Linden Chamber of C o m m e r c e , Vi c t o r Fernandes, noted that while

there are some persons complying, there continues to be the issue of those not adhering. He said that as the President of the Chamber, he understands the concerns and fears of several businesses. Fernandes noted that several businesses have been significantly affected by the current pandemic. He said that while he, like many business owners, would like to see things return to normal, the reality is that it is safer to wait until there is a definite flattening of the curve.“It is important to know that the Chamber stands committed and in s u p p o r t o f t h e recommendation by the RHEC to extend the curfew as we are seeing that things will not change easily and quickly. Therefore, it is important that businesses and everyone recognise that we can only get over this if we adhere and pay keen attention to the regulations,” he declared.

The Chamber Head stressed that the public must understand that they are either contributing to the prolonged restrictions or (Continued on page 15)

during recount - TCI

A

supervisor working for the G u y a n a Elections Commission (GECOM) National Recount has refused to note an observation by The Citizenship Initiative (TCI) that the tabulation by the Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, in one instance, inflated the votes of the governing Coalition, APNU+AFC. This was revealed by TCI Presidential Candidate, Rondha-Ann Lam, on Facebook yesterday.

Lam said that for Ballot Box 4589 attached to a polling station at Plaisance Primary School, she noticed that the number called by Mingo for the tabulation which led to his March 13 declaration was higher than the number arrived at, during the recount.

Lam indicated that she asked the supervisor to note the inflation.

“The supervisor sought clarity and came back to say, we are only dealing with what is found in the boxes,” Lam posted.

“All of the observations are recorded, but this is the first time that the small parties have been meted out with this. I have proof of 25 boxes that were ‘Mingo’ed’ and I saw that the PPP has more numbers.”

A New and United Guyana (ANUG) Chair, Timothy Jonas, had also pointed out the refusal by certain supervisors to note

observations being made by certain parties, an attitude he termed as “tyranny”.

“ANUG is keeping a close eye because it’s now getting hot. We are being placed at a homestretch where it’s at a stage where it’s the contentious ballots left to count,” Jonas told reporters on Wednesday.

He had also indicated that ANUG will request that GECOM note Mingo’s inflation on the observation reports and that he will inform the press whether the supervisor’s agree to note them.

Lam said that TCI has requested a meeting with the Chair to discuss the Supervisor’s refusal to note the observation, and other issues.

Lam added that the recount tally confirmed the numbers TCI had listed from the corresponding statement of poll. On her sheet of figures posted online, APNU+AFC got 305 votes from that polling station as of the number taken from the statement of poll. The recount showed that APNU+AFC got 304 votes, due to one previously valid vote rejected at the recount, Lam explained.

On her sheet posted online, 360 is written next to t h a t p a r t i c u l a r b o x ’s information, to indicate the number presented by Mingo.

Lam was present during the Region Four tabulation at GECOM’s Kingston head office. She explained that her

TCI Presidential candidate, Rondha-Ann Lam party had taken audio recordings as well as notes of the numbers being called out.

“Here is the issue that you are going to run into with the East Coast boxes; when we were rolling around to the second declarations, one by one the agents were starting to leave the room. I was the last party rep, other than APNU+AFC left in the room. What happened to me that day was GECOM realised that I was making recordings of the previous boxes and they kept hovering over me, and that’s when I started to make the notes.

So we have run out of audio now that we have reached the East Coast.”

Kaieteur News, using audio supplied by TCI, has verified that Mingo inflated APNU+AFC votes, and reduced PPP/C votes, for several East Bank Demerara polling stations.

Kaieteur News

Friday June 05, 2020

PAGE 13

ExxonMobil’s daily flaring equivalent to the destruction of 2000 acres of forest per day

By Kiana Wilburg

- Conservationist

T

o d a y, G u y a n a joins over 140 countries in c e l e b r a t i n g Wo r l d Environment Day. Instead of it being an occasion to be proud of, it is enveloped by s a d n e s s s a y s Conservationist, Annette Arjoon-Martins. She said her comment is premised on the fact that since last Christmas, ExxonMobil has been burning significant amounts of gas which releases toxins into the atmosphere.

Earlier this year, Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams, had said that some amount of flaring is allowed during the start of production while noting that it is catered for in ExxonMobil’s permit.

That permit notes that flaring is allowed for start-up, routine maintenance, and emergencies.

He had said that the burning of gas should have been over with since the end of December last but due to mechanical glitches with a gas compressor, over nine billion cubic feet of gas was flared. The EPA Head up to a few days ago shared that ExxonMobil is still flaring but at reduced levels. He said the American oil giant is flaring 15 million cubic feet of gas per day.

Arjoon-Martins was keen to note during her interview that the foregoing speaks v o l u m e s .

T h e Conservationist said that it exposes the country’s present state of unpreparedness for holding the oil sector accountable while noting that six months of flaring is certainly not routine.

What flaring looks like on an FPSO

Conservationist, Annette Arjoon-Martins She said, “...At 15 million cubic feet per day, this is equivalent to approximately 800,000 tonnes of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide). Given that Guyana deforests 10,000 hectares annually and this equates to approximately 10 million tonnes of CO2, it can be implied that this daily rate of flaring equates to 800 hectares (2000 acres) of forest being cleared daily...”

Arjoon-Martins who has dedicated her life to protecting the environment, is also of the firm belief that Guyana’s treatment of this matter is unacceptable. She told Kaieteur News that Guyana is showing the lowest level of environmental stewardship.

The Conservationist said, “It is completely unacceptable and needs to be investigated.

How could you have a sixmonth challenge with a gas compressor? Why aren’t they being asked to stop their

operations until it is fixed?

And where is the manufacturer of the equipment in all of this? That company should bear the cost of this problem too.”

Further to this, ArjoonMartins was keen to note that the issue of climate change remains a real and present danger to Guyana as the country is ranked as highly vulnerable due to its challenges to adapt.

Expounding further, the staunch advocate for the protection of the environment reminded that the country is a signatory to the Kyoto protocol and the Paris Agreement which require all countries—rich, p o o r, d e v e l o p e d , a n d developing—to do their part and slash greenhouse gas emissions.

Arjoon-Martins also

reminded that the Office of Climate Change (OCC) which was established in 2009 is tasked with ensuring Guyana fulfills its obligations as a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, including periodically updating a national inventory of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removal by sinks of greenhouse gasses.

Arjoon-Martins noted that the OCC is in the process of submitting its Third National Communication on Climate Change to the UN which requires the factoring in of carbon emissions and its contributions to climate change into national development planning.

Even as Guyana pursues the exploitation of its resources in the Stabroek

Block, the Conservationist categorically stated that the authorities of the day must not neglect the nation’s commitment to addressing climate change. ArjoonMartins said Guyana’s authorities need to at all times, factor in the environmental costs of projects.

The Conservationist said, “Environmental costs associated with flaring have a significant impact on our climate and is conveniently pushed aside since these costs are not monetized in our management of these sectors like oil and gas. This untenable situation is exacerbated by failing to account for medium and longer term impacts in planning with thinking of the current impacts.”

She added, “We may not

feel the impacts of flaring now but this is certainly affecting our climate for future generations. Thinking only of the current is short sighted to the detriment of our sustainable development of future generations.”

Arjoon-Martins also noted that Guyana has signed on to several international and bilateral agreements including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Guyana Norway Bilateral Cooperation on climate and forests.

The advocate for the protection of the environment said it is critical that every man, woman, and child understand that the recent spike in flaring puts these in jeopardy as it is counter to those commitments.

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Friday June 05, 2020

Kaieteur News

Friday June 05, 2020

PAGE 15

OAS says recounts so far 108 votes rejected from Ogle - but points out GECOM’s ballot box for lack of stamp refusal to release original SOPs credible With days left in the National 2020 elections recount, the Organization of American States General Secretariat last night sent out a statement commending the recount process but also highlighting Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM’)s refusal to release statement of polls.

“Despite some inconsistencies,” the statement read, “in the electoral materials reviewed during the recount, as is normally the case in any electoral process, the OAS Mission has no reason to doubt that the results emanating from the recount will be credible. A declaration based on these results would lead to the installation of a legitimate government.”

The OAS said that their observers have been at the recount daily and have reported that the process was done “in a professional, transparent and impartial fashion.”

It lamented however that G E C O M ’s c o n s i s t e n t refusal to provide original SOPS as legitimately requested.

The Organisation recalled the agreement between President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to invite high-level CARICOM

scrutineers and to accept the recount results as final.

The full statement is below: Statement from the OAS General Secretariat on the Elections in Guyana June 4, 2020 The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) is mindful that the recount of the votes cast in the March 2 General and Regional elections in Guyana, will be concluded in the next few days.OAS International Election Observers have been present at the recount center - the Arthur Chung Conference Center - each day of the national recount.

They have reported that the review of the ballot boxes was conducted in a professional, transparent and impartial fashion, which allowed members of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), political parties and other stakeholders to accurately determine the results for each polling station.

On the invitation of President David Granger and with the agreement of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, the recount was also conducted in the presence of three high-level and wellrespected scrutineers from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). OAS recalls that both President Granger

More stringent measures to help ...

From page 12 aiding in getting over the curve. He said that the Chamber fully understands dollar and cents but noted that in order to ensure that Guyana pulls through this, the public must look towards the long term and not the short term.“As businesses, we want to get things back to normalcy, but we understand the severe risks and dangers that it poses but remain steadfast that we will get over this,” he said.

and Dr. Jagdeo have agreed to accept the results of the recount, as conducted by GECOM and scrutinized by CARICOM, as final.

Cognizant of the several challenges experienced in the 2020 electoral process, particularly concerns about the presence of inaccurate information, the OAS Electoral Observation Mission has repeatedly requested copies of the Statements of Poll prepared at each polling station on election night, and the Statements of Recount prepared during the current process, in order to do its own analysis of the original and the recounted results.

Access to these materials is guaranteed by the electoral procedures agreement signed between the OAS and GECOM on February 26, 2020. Regrettably GECOM has refused to provide the Mission with these important documents.

D e s p i t e s o m e inconsistencies in the electoral materials reviewed during the recount, as is normally the case in any electoral process, the OAS Mission has no reason to doubt that the results emanating from the recount will be credible. A declaration based on these results would lead to the installation of a legitimate g o v e r n m e n t .

The people of Guyana have been patient and they now deserve a peaceful transition of government based on the majority vote as reflected in the recount and in support of democracy and the rule of law, which all OAS member states expect to be upheld.

24 now refute Top Cop’s immigration...

From page 8 citizens of Guyana, Harmon said, “You have a right to demand of your Elections Commission answers to questions, raised by your political representatives.” “We cannot go calmly into the end of a recount,” Harmon said “while your concerns go unanswered and a massive fraudulent operation carried out on your electoral process.” While Harmon laid blame on PPP elements for “enforcing delay on the pronouncement of

the issues” his party raised, no mention was made of the fraud carried out by Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo that was uncovered at the ongoing recount. Mingo, so far, on 34 occasions verified by this paper, deducted votes from the PPP and inflated votes for the APNU+AFC. It was on the basis of this manipulated tabulation that the initial calculation of all valid votes cast saw the Coalition coming out ahead of the PPP, before the recount was initiated.

Border communities remain on ...

From page 7 benefit from this initiative that will greatly assist the regions in their efforts to cater for patients affected by the Coronavirus Disease. These units will be set up in every region, with special attention to the very remote locations,” said the DCMO. Additionally she said, the Ministry must publicly acknowledge the donations and expresses its profound gratitude to UNHCR and looks forward to future collaborations.

“We also want to remind persons who have underlying conditions, our pregnant

women and parents to ensure that you make contact with your nearest health facilities to maintain your clinic schedules. It is important that your conditions are controlled.

We continue to encourage all Guyanese to utilise the services available to you and call the hotline; make contact with the health facility nearest to you or visit one of the COVID-19 facilities if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or if you have been in contact with someone tested positive,” added Dr. Gordon-Boyle.

Y

e s t e r d a y, t h e s e c o n d consecutive day, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) disenfranchised a significant number of voters from the March 2 Elections. This was after it was discovered that 108 ballot papers lacked the official stamp of GECOM. These 108 ballots have now been deemed invalid and were therefore rejected from the national recount exercise.

From ballot box #4583 in d i v i s i o n 4 1 4 11 2 ( i i ) , containing ballots from the Plindora Nursery School in Ogle, it was illustrated on the Observation Report (OR) that these 108 ballots were rejected since they lacked the official mark of the Elections Commission. Details of the report showed that 97 of those votes went to the P e o p l e ’s P r o g r e s s i v e Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the remaining nine to the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) which were cast in the General Elections.

The report went on to state that for the General Elections, there was one unmarked ballot, two were rejected since they were marked for more than one party, and four spoilt ballots were written in the poll book but were not found in the ballot box.

The report went on to state that there were two unmarked ballots for the Regional Elections, one was marked for more than one party and 17 lacked the official stamp of GECOM—14 votes which were cast for the PPP/C and three for the governing

TCI Presidential Candidate, Rondha-Ann Lam Coalition.

P r e v i o u s l y, t h i s publication had written that human error of an Assistant Presiding Officer (APO) resulted in a total of 83 ballots being rejected from the Sophia Nursery School polling place, lower level polling station L-Z 41333Ciii.

At the recount on Wednesday, ballot box #4549 was opened and recounted and the alarming numbers of rejected ballots were discovered. Incidentally, this was the same box that APNU+AFC Coalition objected to on May 22, two weeks ago, despite the box not yet opened to be counted.

However, this was not the case with the recent 108 ballots says Presidential Candidate of The Citizenship Initiative (TCI) Rondha-Ann Lam, who told this publication that no explanation was given by GECOM as to why these ballots were unstamped.

She went on to highlight during an interview with this publication that the

unstamped ballots were not the only issue encountered with ballot box #4583, since there were missing documents which are needed to authenticate the votes.

“For instance, the counterfoil was missing, letters; while the votes were counted, there was no way to check back.

There is no explanation and we can’t say that it’s a similar situation like what happened at Sophia Nursery School, because there is no note.”

Notably, the A New United Guyana (ANUG) intends to meet today separately with the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield and Chairperson of GECOM, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh, to discuss what errors may have occurred on E-Day regarding those unstamped ballots.

Meanwhile, governmentnominated Commissioner, Vincent Alexander, told the press last evening that in the case of the ballots used at the Sophia Nursery School which weren’t stamped, these are “legitimate ballot papers because on one hand, the not-stamped corresponded in number to a similar number stamped.”

He continued, “If one is to make a judgment not merely based on what the law says but what the law intended, I could hardly see us not admitting those ballots as valid ballots. The Commission itself has not yet adjudicated on the matter but this clearly falls into one of the three scenarios I had earlier articulated and I’m looking forward to a sensible, rational and just decision to have those ballots counted.”

PAGE 16

Friday June 05, 2020

Kaieteur News

East Berbice sees increase in murder, burglary - decrease in all categories of accidents

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While there have been several horrific accidents in Berbice for the year 2020, Regional Police Commander, Calvin Brutus, has reported a decrease in all categories of accidents. However, there have been increases in cases of break and enter and murder.

Enlightening media operatives about the road accident situation, Brutus compared the 2019 and 2020 figures pointing out that there were 10 fatal accidents for this period for both years. In the area of serious accidents, there were 17 for this period in 2019 and 10 thus far for this year, reflecting a decrease of 41 percent. Overall, there have been 55 accidents for the year thus far compared to 81 for last year. According to him, Springlands, Upper Corentyne is an accident prone area. Also, Brutus revealed that an analysis was done by the traffic department in Berbice and the results showed that the two main contributing factors to the accidents were speed and the use of alcohol.

The Regional Commander disclosed too that a decision has been taken to warn

Linden Mining Enterprise (LINMINE) General Manager, Emmet Alves, is raising a “stink” over indiscriminate dumping of garbage in key locations which he blames for hastening deterioration and stymieing repair works to key bridges in the bauxite-mining community.

Alves is outraged by the “oxen stubbornness” of residents who turn a deaf ear to repeated pleas by officials of the Mayor and Town Council (M&TC), the Bridge Committee and LINMINE. “We have…identified an area not very far away that the Council provided for residents to dump their garbage and the Council can remove it on a weekly basis.

This suggestion has not been taken on board so we continue to struggle with getting residents not to dump around the bridge,” he said.

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enter...we believe that they are used by adults to perpetrate these acts. We have had reason to arrest a young person, an 11-year-old, for four counts of break and enter and larceny. Many of the stolen articles are sold up the river and some have been recovered during eradication exercises,” the Commander disclosed.

He credited the division’s success to deal with the cases successfully to the use of available technologies.

“We have been making use of the technologies available to us by using the fingerprint matching equipment; we do use crime scene ranks to process the scene and then of course we have been able to solve many of them using electronic means, the CCTV camera, etc.

Even though there has been an increase, we have had a lot of success in terms of interdicting and bringing closure to these matters, but some are pending still because of arrangements with the court. We have looked at the flow of information, cordoned and search operations and patrol system

Berbice commander, Calvin Brutus with more patrols in troubled areas,” he detailed.

In terms of narcotics, there have been several narcotics eradication exercises with specific targets in the Canje Creek and Berbice River “and this is in relation to assisting Region 10 since it is easier to access from this end,” he said.

Brutus said too, “We had over 32 arrests in narcotics eradication, two boats, two engines seized… among other equipment seized and the destroying of tents. We have had eradication on land and some in cordoned and search operations.”

Stink raised over garbage disposal in Linden

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operators of agricultural machinery, stressing, “They ought to wash the mud of the cage wheel before coming unto the public and we will be seeking to enforce this from now onwards.”

Meanwhile, Brutus said that as it relates to serious crimes, there has been an increase. In the category of murder, there has been an increase evident by a total of seven in 2019 compared to 10 already this year. Also, for break and enter/larceny, there has been an alarming increase, especially during the curfew period. According to Brutus “that has almost doubled.”

Notably, all forms of robberies have decreased evident by 11 in 2019 compared to seven in 2020, Brutus stated.

He added that the areas of concern for break and enter cases are New Amsterdam and Canje with some arrests made. “Two individuals were arrested for 19 counts and that is just for the central part of New Amsterdam alone.

Then we see the use of juvenile, young persons involved in break and

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LINMINE General Manager, Emmet Alves the Public Health Ministry to counter the contagious and deadly COVID-19 pandemic, has stalled plans by the Upper Demerara/Berbice (Region Ten) Bridge Committee. The intervention by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL) to help the M&TC to solve the garbage crisis has borne little fruit, Alves admitted. This, he said, is done every month to the tune of $3 - $4M to help the Council with its upkeep of the town.

“Nothing has materialised,” the

disappointed LINMINE official said.

“We have even suggested for the strategic placement of large bins…for residents to use but the Council, while embracing the idea informed us that they have no place to access such bins,” Alves explained.

He further said a contractor is currently manufacturing skid bins, which hopefully, residents would use to dispose household refuse The wanton dumping of garbage helps hasten rotting

of structures and delays effective and efficient maintenance of bridges, Alves explained referring to the Linden-Wismar Bridge linking the two Region 10 communities.

Officials are maximizing on the ongoing national COVID-influenced curfew to fix the problem.

“We have less people on the road and more are using the bridge so the situation will afford us an opportunity…to being able to better monitor what goes on around the bridge. The public must understand that their actions have long term and significant impact on the bridge’s operation,” the LINMINE official said.

He warned residents that the company will be forced to use tougher measures to force compliance with the rules to help preserve the life of the bridge. NICIL contributes financially to the M&TC to help with upkeep of the structure. Tolls also help cover operational expenses, including maintenance, which the dumping of garbage severely hinders, Alves reminded while making known his displeasure over their ongoing behaviour recently.

Friday June 05, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

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Kaieteur News

Friday June 05, 2020

Friday June 05, 2020

Tamas Ajan: IWF president ‘corrupt at highest level’, into the Russian systemic government failures independent report finds investigation doping scandal, which resulted and corruption at the highest BBCsport An independent report has found “corruption at the highest level” in international weightlifting. It said former International Weightlifting Federation president Tamas Ajan, 81, operated a “culture of fear”.

Investigator, law professor Richard McLaren, said Hungarian Ajan interfered in anti-doping efforts and oversaw financial mismanagement in his pursuit of “absolute control”. Ajan resigned from his role in April.

The investigation into the IWF began in February,

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Kaieteur News

following a documentary by German state broadcaster ARD called Secret Doping Lord of the Lifters, which featured alleged corruption within the sport.

Among the findings, it concluded that: * Ajan personally collected all the doping violation fines * There is an estimated 10.5 million dollars from IWF accounts that are unaccounted for. * 40 positive tests, including two athletes who won world championship gold and silver medals, were covered up.

McLaren, who is from Canada, also led the

in a four-year ban from all major sport for the country. He served 24 years as the IWF general secretary and 20 as president, joining the organisation in 1976.

“I found an organisation that had been subject for close to half a century to an autocratic leader, who dictated through various control mechanisms everything that occurred within the organisation,” said McLaren in a Zoom conference.

“His (Ajan’s) obsession with control made it a culture of fear that prevented a vibrant and robust sports administration. We found

Friday June 5, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) The desire to acquire more knowledge is front and center today. A virtual lecture or workshop might lead to plans for a future outing of some kind with friends or other members of a group you're affiliated with.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Enthusiasm for your own ideas as well as for those of others could catapult you into the spotlight today. You might become an expert perhaps on scientific or occult subjects.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) New circumstances could put you in touch with some interesting and exciting people from distant places. You might discuss business, but not boring shoptalk.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today you're likely to be more focused than usual on whatever it is you have to do, whether chores around the house and yard or important projects of your own.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Romance is center stage today as unexpected circumstances put you in touch with interesting people of both sexes, Leo. If you're already involved, expect to grow closer to your partner.

If you aren't, don't be surprised if someone new comes into your life.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) The possibility of the arrival of visitors, perhaps in relation to a group activity or social event you hope to host in the future, could put you in cleanup mode and perhaps encourage you to even do a little redecorating.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Romance intensifies as communication is enhanced by the energy, enthusiasm, and focus of you and your partner, Libra.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) An opportunity to do some extra work might come your way today. Don't turn it down - it might do you a lot of good. You'll probably enjoy being at home.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Communicating with others in your neighborhood brings good news your way, Sagittarius. Phone calls, emails, or time spent in the car could result in some kind of financial advancement.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Capricorn, today you might hear of opportunities coming from an unusual source and consider taking advantage of them. Values take a more spiritual turn as your material goals are reached.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Communicating with loved ones might prove especially intellectually and emotionally gratifying at this time, Aquarius. Relationships with old friends grow stronger, and new friends may also come onto the scene.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Friends in creative fields might join forces with you today to start a new project that makes a difference to all of you, Pisces. This could be planning something as mundane as a garden in a park or as exciting as a new rock band.

level of the IWF.” In a statement, the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) said it “welcomes the work that has been carried out” by McLaren. “Once Wada has had the opportunity to review that evidence as well as the report in full, the agency will consider the next appropriate steps to take,” it added.

‘Staggering detail’ – Analysis Alex Capstick, BBC Sport Professor Richard McLaren knows a thing or two about sport’s ugly secrets. It was his investigation that laid bare the extent of the Russian doping conspiracy. That inquiry followed allegations made by the German broadcaster ARD and it was the same network that uncovered the grisly specifics of the institutionalised corruption that has afflicted weightlifting for years.

The report is filled with staggering detail of what is described as his obsessive control of the organisation.

He ruled by intimidation, which might explain why so few members of the leadership group were prepared to assist in the investigation.

Even when suspended, shortly after the inquiry started, Ajan was still running the show.

As McLaren’s team arrived at the Federation’s headquarters in Budapest there he was, in charge, with nobody daring to say otherwise.

Ajan’s grip was eventually loosened and now he is gone with millions of dollars unaccounted for. He has left behind what has been described as a Federation in need of “resuscitation and restoration”.

The new leadership has vowed to make the necessary reforms but criminal proceedings have not been ruled out. The IOC says it is deeply concerned and Wada is looking into the anti-doping elements of the report. This is not over.

NBA approves plan to resume...

From page 20 according to plan, the NBA said the 2020-21 season would begin on Dec. 1. The league also said it plans to hold its 2020 NBA Draft Lottery to determine the order of the first 14 selections on Aug. 25. Lottery teams would be comprised of the eight clubs that do not participate in the restart and the six that go to Florida but do not qualify for the playoffs. The actual NBA Draft, typically held in June, is now scheduled for Oct. 15.

Drew Brees apologises for kneeling comments Reuters - New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees issued a lengthy apology on Thursday for comments he made about kneeling protests being disrespectful to the American flag that drew criticism on social media.

Brees was asked during an appearance on Yahoo Finance’s On the Move on Wednesday about the possibility of players protesting against racial injustice by kneeling during the anthem when the NFL’s 2020 season kicks off in September.

The 41-year-old, widely regarded as one of the best passers in NFL history, said: “I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country.” Colin Kaepernick popularized the gesture of kneeling during pre-game renditions of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in 2016 while a member of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers.

Kneeling has become a symbol of the fight against police brutality used by protesters who have flooded the streets of U.S. cities in the wake of the death last week of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.

“I would like to apologize to my friends, team mates, the City of New Orleans, the b l a c k c o m m u n i t y, N F L

community and anyone I hurt with my comments yesterday,” said Brees in an Instagram post alongside a picture of white and black hands shaking.

“In speaking with some of you, it breaks my heart to know the pain I have caused.

“In an attempt to talk about respect, unity, and solidarity centered around the American flag and the national anthem, I made comments that were insensitive and completely missed the mark on the issues we are facing right now as a country. “They lacked awareness and any type of compassion or empathy.”

Moments after the original comments became public the backlash was swift with team mates and other sport greats slamming Brees for his insensitivity.

“WOW MAN!! Is it still surprising at this point. Sure isn’t! You literally still don’t understand why Kap was kneeling on one knee??” Los Angeles Lakers player and NBA great LeBron James posted on Twitter.

Brees said he took full responsibility for his remarks and felt “sick” over how they were perceived. “I recognize that I should do less talking and more listening... and when the black community is talking about their pain, we all need to listen,” he added.

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Friday June 05, 2020

Kaieteur News

World Athletics unveils four-year Strategic Plan and releases Olympic qualifying process WorldAthletics - With the reopening of its headquarters this week, World Athletics has taken the opportunity to discuss with its 214 Member Federations its new Strategic Plan to drive growth, the latest medical advice on the coronavirus pandemic, particularly as it impacts on athletes returning to training and competition, and the updated Olympic qualifying process for Tokyo next year.

In three online meetings that spanned the globe on Wednesday, World Athletics and its Member Federations discussed the direction athletics will take over the next four years and the shortterm challenges and opportunities the sport has as the world begins to emerge from lockdown.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, who chaired the meetings, said it was important to communicate regularly with the Member Federations in this unprecedented situation and to give direction for the future.

“Our head office may have been closed for 11 weeks but we have not been idle,” Coe said.

“We have used that time to continue to develop our strategy to grow athletics. A huge amount of work has been put into developing our four-year Strategic Plan, led by our CEO Jon Ridgeon and with input and involvement from all at HQ, our Executive Board, our Area Presidents, Commission Chairs and

Commissions. This is an exceptional body of work that brings together all the great things we do as a global sport body with a laser sharp focus on doing it better, and includes some innovative and creative ideas to drive growth in our sport. It is exactly the type of roadmap our sport needs to bring together all our stakeholders with a single vision, mission and clear priorities.

“Over the next few months we have an unprecedented opportunity on the back of the increased physical activity of people in lockdown. The latest research from runrepeat.com shows that exercise has increased 88% during lockdown and running and walking has topped the tables. We need to inspire these people to continue the habits they have learned and

NBA approves plan to resume season in July at Disney World

Some of the leading NBA players Reuters - The NBA’s Board of Governors have approved a plan to restart the suspended season with a tentative July 31 start at Disney World in Florida amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the league said yesterday.

The plan would see 22 of the NBA’s 30 teams play eight seeding games to determine a 16-team playoff field that would follow the traditional post-season format with four best-ofseven series that would crown a champion no later than Oct. 12.

“While the COVID-19 pandemic presents formidable challenges, we are hopeful of finishing the season in a safe and responsible manner based on strict protocols now being finalized with public health officials and medical experts,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a news release.

The league said approval from its Board of Governors, which came on the day originally scheduled for the start of the NBA Finals, is the first formal step among the

many required to resume the season.

According to ESPN, the vote on the format was 29-1, with the Portland Trail Blazers voting against the proposal.

All games, practices and housing would be at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex which is inside the Orlando resort and has multiple hotels and arenas, and would allow the league to limit outside exposure.

The NBA was the first North American sports league to suspend its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic after one of its players tested positive for the new coronavirus in mid-March with five weeks remaining in the 82-game regular season.

The 22 returning teams would be comprised of the eight teams from each of the two conferences currently in playoff positions plus the six clubs that are six games or fewer behind the eighth seed in their respective conferences.

SOME TEAMS DISAPPOINTED At the conclusion of the

seeding games, the seven teams in each conference with the best combined records across regular-season games and seeding games would qualify for the playoffs.

A play-in tournament would be used to determine the final playoff seed in each conference if the team with the eighth-best combined record is four games or fewer ahead of the team with the ninthbest combined record in the same conference.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, one of the teams excluded from the NBA’s return-to-play plan because of their record, expressed disappointment at not being able to play more games but said they understood and accepted the decision.

“It is important that we be a good team mate not only to the NBA, but to the other 29 teams to support the efforts to complete this season and prepare for next season in a healthy and safe manner,” the Timberwolves said in a statement. If everything goes (Continued on page 19)

World Athletics headquarters in Monaco (Getty Images) © Copyright we will with our own campaigns but also by embracing campaigns that many others in our sport are driving.”

Both Coe and Ridgeon will be working from the headquarters in Monaco from next week. The full strategic plan will be available by the end of June. World Athletics will continue to host regular online meetings with our Member Federations and stakeholders to keep everyone informed and discuss issues of mutual interest as we navigate our way through these challenging times.

Olympic qualification system Further to the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the qualification system in force has been adapted accordingly.

Key elements - Qualification principles remain unchanged: qualification through entry

standards (which also remain unchanged) and then world rankings - Athletes who have already met the entry standard since the start of the qualification period in 2019 remain qualified with other athletes to qualify within the extended qualification period - Suspended qualification period (for all events) 6 April to 30 November 2020 Amendments to the qualification system listed below Age requirements have been adapted to reflect new date: - Senior athletes born in 2001 or earlier - Junior (U20) athletes born in 2002 or 2003 - Youth (U18) athletes born in 2004 and 2005 - Athletes younger than 16 born in 2006 or later New entry standards qualification period and world rankings period: Marathon automatic qualifiers:

- The top 10 finishers in the men’s marathon and in the women’s marathon at the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 - The top 5 finishers at the World Athletics Gold Label marathons and the top 10 finishers at the Marathon Major Series (Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New Yo r k ) h e l d d u r i n g t h e qualification period from 1 January 2019 to 5 April 2020 - The top 10 finishers at the Platinum Label marathons and the winners of the Gold Label marathons held during the period from 1 December 2020 to 31 May 2021.

Relay teams automatic qualifiers: - The top 8 placed NOCs at the World Athletics Relays Silesia 2021, if not already qualified from Doha 2019, shall automatically qualify for the relay events at the 2020 Olympic Games

Friday June 05, 2020

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Harper unaware of any fitness or discipline issue with Permaul - Berbician says he was available for English tour

By Sean Devers Guyana and West Indies leftarm-spinner Veersammy Permaul is disappointed with his non-selection in a 25member touring party selected to tour England for a Three-Test series next month after finishing the truncated 2020 season with 50 wickets from eight matches.

The 2020 season was aborted with two matches remaining due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 Pandemic and this was the third time Permaul has captured 50 or more wickets in a single season.

Three Guyanese were selected in a 30-man squad for possible selection but batsman Shimron Hetmyer and fast bowling all-rounder Kemo Paul opted out due to

safety reasons. Trinidadian batsman Daren Bravo also made himself unavailable.

“I never told anyone that I was not available for the England tour so I take it that I was just not picked. Of course I am disappointed but my selection is not in my hands and all I can do is to continue to take wickets if I play for Guyana” Permaul said yesterday.

“I always say to myself ‘I will get back when God wants me there; God is my only hope,” said the 30-year-old from Albion, Berbice.

Chairman of the CWI Selectors, Guyanese Roger Harper had said during a Radio interview before the 30man squad was picked: “He (Permaul) has certainly put his hands up again, in a big

way. You know, taking 50 wickets in the eight matches, he has really put his hands up, and of course he would be seriously considered.”

Harper then added that the players would be picked on ‘current’ form. When contacted yesterday to inquire if Permaul has any fitness or discipline problems, Harper said ‘not to my knowledge’ which makes his non-selection even more baffling.

When asked about the omission of Nicolas Pooran, Harper said he had not discussed Pooran’s availability with the player but informed that the Trinidadian has not played four-day cricket for a while.

Permaul said it was disappointing not have the

Players who opted out of England tour could lose out, suggests former team manager Port of Spain, Trinidad, CMC – A former manager of the West Indies team has cautioned that all-rounder Keemo Paul and left-handed batsman Shimron Hetmyer may have taken a big risk opting out of next month’s tour of England.

Omar Khan, who is also manager of the Guyana Amazon Warriors franchise, which Paul and Hetmyer represent, said that while he understood the duo’s concerns, they should have been part of the three-match series that will be the first Test played in a “bio-secure” environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed Wednesday that the two Guyanese, along with Trinidadian Darren Bravo, had declined to be part of the 14-man team chosen to help West Indies retain the Wisden Trophy. A total of 25 players, including 11 reserves, will fly to England on private charters on June 8 and will live, train and play in a “bio-secure” environment during their seven weeks in England, which includes Test matches beginning on July 8, 16 and 24.

“A situation like this is mentally taxing on the player.

This is the first time that a series is being played under the present COVID-19 situation and, hence, the players are not sure how all will pan out,” Khan who managed the West Indies team from 2007 to 2010, told Guardian Media Sports yesterday.

Omar Khan “I could understand mentally that the players would want to be totally comfortable but, in my personal view, I think Hetmyer and Paul should have gone.” CWI said it fully respected the decision of those cricketers not to go on the tour, and assured that would not be held against them when consideration is given to future selection.

Khan said while that was comforting, the players who opted out could face another problem. “Other players have come in to replace them and if they perform and cement a spot, then it will be harder for them to break back into the team,” he cautioned.

However, he added: “They would have had to weigh all those options before making a decision.

Once they are comfortable that is important.” The centrally-contracted Paul, Hetmyer and Bravo, in declining selection, reportedly expressed concerns about their health and the wellbeing of their families, given that more than 281 000 people in the UK had been infected with COVID-19,

including almost 40 000 who succumbed to the virus.

According to ESPNcricinfo, CWI chief executive Johnny Grave said 22-year-old Paul had emailed the governing body for cricket in the region, explaining that he was the sole breadwinner for his household and wider family and was “really concerned if something happened to him how his family would cope”.

“He wrote a personal note to us to explain it was with a heavy heart that he had decided not to tour but that he just didn’t feel comfortable going to England. He wrote passionately about how hard a decision it was for him and how much he loves playing for West Indies, but with consultation with his family he doesn’t feel he can leave them and doesn’t want to go on the tour,” Grave told the cricket website.

He added that 23-year-old Hetmyer also “didn’t feel comfortable from a safety point of view, leaving his home, leaving his family and heading over to England”.

“Darren Bravo had concerns about his health and any consequences that it may have on his young family. He also mentioned he made his decision with great remorse as it was always a huge honour for him to play for West Indies. So, yes, perfectly valid reasons and the ones that we fully respect.

We were never going to force or try to coerce and we didn’t ask them to reconsider,” the CWI CEO added.

Veerasammy Permaul gestures as he lies on a stretcher after being injured, Pakistan v West Indies, 1st T20I, Karachi, April 1, 2018 © AFP chance of breaking his own record of 67 wickets he captured in 2015 when Guyana’s five-year winning streak was halted this season.

“I am very disappointed that the two remaining matches were called off and I didn’t get the opportunity to break my record or even get another 60plus season but as I have said it was an excellent season for me with the ball” said Permaul who has 535 wickets from 120 matches including 18 from six Tests.

Nickita Miller of Jamaica and Dominican Shane Shillingford are the only other bowlers with 500 First-Class wickets in Regional cricket. Permaul has 29 five-wicket and seven 10-wicket match hauls including 15-77 against Jamaica in Jamaica this season when he captured a career best 8-18 in the second innings to spin the Jaguars victory in three days.

Surely taking 50 in your last

tournament is ‘current form’ yet it is amazing that with three players who would have been automatic picks, pulling out, Permaul cannot make a 25-man squad even if, for rewarding his consistent performances at the Regional First Class level.

In 2015 when Guyana started their five-year winning streak, Permaul took 67 wickets from 10 matches which was the most ever taken in a single season.

In 2016 he bagged 40 wickets; in 2017 he added another 41 scalps to his tally before again reaching 50 victims in 2018. Last year Permaul took 42 before reaching 50 this year which means in the last six seasons he has taken 290 wickets at an average of 16.89. The Berbician has snared 18 five-wicket hauls and seven 10-wicket hauls during that period.

Some think that Permaul will not be able to replicate his performances in a sub-standard Regional tournament, where

most of the batsmen are uncomfortable to spin on pitches which favour the spinners, when bowls on good tracks against International batsmen.

That is a fair point and the same can be said of Grenadian Devon Smith who continues to be a ‘Regional bully’. However, Smith was not selected in the squad of hopefuls and Permaul was which means that the Selectors felt that he was good enough to vie for a Test recall.

Permaul has 18 wickets from six Test matches but has been ignored since his last Test against Australia in Jamaica in June 2105. He has also played seven ODIs between 2012 and 2017. In 2018 Permaul bowled just three balls on his T20I debut against Pakistan at the National Stadium, Karachi before he pulled up with a twisted left-ankle and that was last taste of International cricket.

Japan to explore ‘simplified’ Games, says Tokyo governor Tokyo (Reuters) - Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike on Wednesday said it may be necessary to a stage a “simplified” Olympics next year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and that organisers were already discussing possible changes.

Koike’s comments came after the Yomiuri newspaper reported that various options, such as mandatory coronavirus testing and having fewer spectators, were being considered by organisers.

John Coates, the head of the International O l y m p i c C o m m i t t e e ’s (IOC) inspectorate for To k y o , has said organisers had to plan for what could be a “very different” Olympics if there were no signs of COVID-19 being eradicated.

“Holding the Olympic and Paralympic Games calls for sympathy and understanding of To k y o i t e s and the Japanese people,” Koike told reporters.

“For that, we need to rationalise what needs to be rationalised and simplify what needs to be simplified.”

T h e Yo m i u r i , c i t i n g government and organising committee sources, said making Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests mandatory for all spectators — in addition to athletes and staff — and limiting movement in and out of the athletes village were among the options Japan would discuss with the IOC. At a regular briefing Tokyo 2020 spokesman Masa Takaya did not confirm the details of the Yomiuri report but said stakeholders were

looking at ways to “optimise and streamline the scope and service levels in preparing for the Games”.

“At this stage, we have no concrete outcome yet but we are keen to continue the discussions,” said Takaya.

“The spread of the novel coronavirus ... is something very ambiguous and we have no ability to completely understand what the situation will look like next year.”

The IOC and Japanese government in March took the unprecedented decision to delay the Games, which had been due to start in July.

A further delay beyond 2021 has been ruled out.

The new coronavirus has infected more than 6.4 million people and killed about 380,000 around the world. Japan has had some 17,000 infections and 900 known deaths to date.

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Kaieteur News

Premier League: Five substitutes approved for rest of 2019-20 season BBCsport - Premier League teams will be able to make five substitutions, rather than three, in each match to the end of the season after clubs approved new rules.

Teams will also be able to name nine substitutes instead of the usual seven.

Football’s international law-makers gave competitions the option of increasing substitutes to protect player welfare on the sport’s resumption. Premier League football will return on 17 June after a three-month absence.

An announcement of the first few rounds of fixtures since the campaign was halted by coronavirus on 13 March is expected in the next 24 hours. Though teams can now make five substitutions, each will only have three opportunities to make

changes throughout the match in order to minimise disruption to the game.

Clubs have also agreed in principle to the use of neutral venues if required, although the vast majority of matches are expected to be played in their usual grounds, barring local spikes in coronavirus cases. A draft document detailing the extensive biosecurity measures required for each match has been circulated. It is believed the number of people in the stadium while each match is being played will be limited to about 300.

How to end the season, decide the league positions and the possible consequences should it prove impossible to play the remaining matches was discussed at a meeting of clubs, but any decision was

delayed to concentrate on the return of action.

The International Football Association Board said in May that the temporary changes to substitutions had been made for interrupted 2019-20 competitions as “matches may be played in a condensed period in different weather conditions, both of which could have impacts on player welfare”.

Concerns had been raised about the reduced preparation time that players have had before the season’s resumption with Premier League teams only returning to contact training at the end of May. Newcastle club doctor Paul Catterson told BBC Radio 5 Live on Tuesday that he was expecting more injuries as the intensity of training increased.

Drivers could miss part of race weekend if mechanics test positive, says Ross Brawn

The revised 2020 F1 season kicks off in Austria on 5 July.

BBCsport - A driver could have to miss part of a race weekend if one of his mechanics tested positive for coronavirus when the season resumes, Ross Brawn says.

Formula 1’s managing director said the chances of a positive test were “very low” because of the health and safety protocols that have been set up.

“If somebody comes down with the symptoms, you’d have to deal with it straight away,” Brawn said.

“We would have to isolate that group until they could all be tested.”

In a wide-ranging interview with BBC Sport, Brawn discussed: * the medical protocols that have been set up by F1 so it can start its season in Austria on 5 July, the first of eight European grands prix that were announced this week * the problems F1 has in trying to build a calendar of races further afield than Europe * the possibility of further grands prix in Europe if longhaul races cannot be held

* his frustration with Mercedes at their decision to veto qualifying ‘sprint’ races * his concerns for the future of Williams * his confidence in F1’s ability to ride out the coronavirus crisis The impact of a positive test - F1 has plans to create what Brawn has dubbed a “biosphere” environment to minimise the risk of spreading the coronavirus by re-starting its season, including extensive testing for everyone involved, medical support with every team, and an on-site test facility for rapid response.

Part of this plan is to create what Brawn calls “families and sub-families within teams” to limit contact between people as much as possible.

“If we do get a positive case then we can isolate that case and people who have been in contact with that person very quickly,” Brawn said. He added: “A group of mechanics working on a car, while they will be wearing PPE (personal protective equipment), it will be very difficult to socially distance.

“But there is no reason why that group of mechanics will necessarily be part of another family of mechanics working on the other car. So if we have somebody test positive in one of the groups, then we would have to isolate that group until they could all be tested. We would have to isolate that group until we could be sure the virus hadn’t spread but the rest of the team could still function.”

The testing procedures in place will take up to two hours to return a result, and anyone with a test group would have to isolate until the results come through. And would this mean a driver could not take part while that was happening? “Yes it would,” Brawn said.

This could mean a driver sitting out part of or even a whole practice session, but it is very unlikely a race would have to be missed in these circumstances.

That’s because no work can be done on cars after qualifying unless they are damaged, and teams could switch around mechanics to fulfil any essential tasks.

Premier League teams have been permitted three substitutions since the 1994-95 seasosn. (GETTY IMAGES)

Sammy urges ICC and cricket boards to support #BlackLivesMatter movement Castries, St Lucia, CMC – Former West Indies captain Darren Sammy has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its member cricket boards to speak out against social injustice and racism, amid public outrage in the United States and across the globe over the death of a black man in police custody.

Sammy, stressing that the issue was not an American one, took to Twitter to call on those in the cricketing world to make their voices heard as justice is demanded for 46year-old George Floyd who died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes, on May 25.

The incident, which was captured on video, has sparked protests across the US and triggered many across the world, including leading sportspeople, to join calls for an end to racism.

“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 [neck] of my brother you are also part of the problem,” 36-year-old Sammy said in a series of tweets.

“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 every day. #BlackLivesMatter now

Former West Indies captain Darren Sammy is not the time to be silent. I wanna hear u,” the St. Lucian all-rounder added.

Sammy, who led the West Indies to a T20 World Cup victory in 2016, encouraged cricketing bodies to show they cared by supporting the #BlackLivesMatter movement. “For too long black people have suffered.

I’m all the way in St Lucia and I’m frustrated if you see me as a teammate then you see #GeorgeFloyd Can you be part of the change by showing your support.”

Sammy’s former Windies teammate Chris Gayle, who said he had experienced racism first-hand in his cricketing career, also used his platform to draw attention to the issue. Posting on Twitter and Instagram, he wrote: “Black lives matter just as any other life!”

“I’ve travel(led) the globe and experience(d) racial remarks towards me because

I’m Black…. Racism is not only in football, it’s in cricket too!” added the 40-year-old whose has played cricket for more than two decades.

Meantime, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) tweeted a picture of Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid hugging, with the caption: “We stand for diversity. We stand against racism.”

The Barbadian-born Archer was the target of racist comments during the Test series in New Zealand last November and as recently as March this year, the England pace bowler spoke out against racist abuse and called for action against perpetrators.

The ICC has not issued a statement on the Floyd matter.

However, several players have been sanctioned under the governing body’s antiracism code.

Kaieteur News

Friday June 05, 2020

PAGE 23

Japan sets autumn 2021 for kick-off Coco Gauff demands change in of first women’s professional League powerful Black

I

nsideWorldFootba ll - The Japan FA (JFA)has taken the next steps towards the launch of its first p r o f e s s i o n a l w o m e n ’s league saying that its official name will be the ‘WE L E A G U E ( Wo m e n Empowerment League)’ and unveiling the league logo.

Scheduled to kick off in autumn 2021, the league will play through to May 21. The JFA said that the league will open with six to ten teams and will be played on a home and away format. There will initially be promotion to the league but there will unlikely be relegation “for several years” as the league establishes its credentials and sustainability.

Ta s h i m a K o h z o , president of the JFA said: “The purpose of the launch of the new league is not just the development of women’s football in Japan. Our aim is to contribute to build a sustainable society through promoting female social participation and enhancing

Lives Matter speech diversities and choices. How we contribute to the society through sports is an important mission for all of us in the sports world. We will work on to establish the c a r e e r o f w o m e n ’s professional footballer, which is the dream of many girls, and further promote women’s empowerment and solve social issues.”

The firs t teams to participate in the league will be announced this Autumn, said the JFA. The league comes with a strong vision and philosophy that promotes the opportunity for “Each individual to live in a world full of dreams and diversity to enhance and brighten the society through w omen’s football and sports.”

“The WE League will

offer ‘Professional Female Footballer ’ as a new profession in Japanese s o c i e t y. 0 F u r t h e r m o r e , coaches, referees, club management and league administration will also be given chances to thrive in a broader world, so “WE” can all participate and succeed in the WE League,” said a JFA statement.

Japan has long been a leader in the women’s international game having played at eight World Cups and winning against the US on penalties in the final in 2011, but losing four years later to the US in the 2015 final.

The WE League will position at the top of the women’s football pyramid in Japan, above the current 30year old Nadeshiko League.

Hamilton back on track next week in Mercedes F1 test

FILE PHOTO: Australia - March 12, 2020 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton during press conference on March 12, 2020 in Australia. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

L

ondon (Reuters) - Six-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton will be back on track at Silverstone next week for the first time since February as Mercedes gear up for the start of the delayed Formula One season.

Mercedes said on Twitter that Hamilton will be in his title-winning 2018 Mercedes W09 car on Wednesday; with team mate Valtteri Bottas driving on Tuesday, to practise protocols for the July 5 Austrian opener.

Formula One has published an initial calendar with eight races in 10 weeks, taking place without spectators and in carefully controlled conditions because of the COVID19 pandemic.

Silverstone, which hosts Hamilton’s home British Grand Prix, is due to host two back-to-back races in August when it will also celebrate the 70th anniversary of the first

world championship grand prix there.

Drivers have not raced since December, with the planned season-opener in Australia cancelled in March, and while they have been busy training during the lockdown some are concerned about preparedness.

Mercedes returned to work only this week after a long factory shutdown as part of costsaving measures.

“There is going to be so much rust, a combination of emotion, excitement, eagerness,” Australian Daniel Ricciardo said last month.

“Everyone is going to be ready to go. You are going to get some guys who perform on that level of adrenalin and others who might not,” added the Renault driver. “So you’re going to get some bold overtakes, some miscalculated ones. You’re going to see a bit of everything.”

Gauff was speaking at a peaceful protest in Florida.

B

BCsport - Sixteen-year-old American tennis player Coco Gauff has given an emotional speech at a Black Lives Matter protest saying she “demands change now”. Gauff, one of the sport’s rising stars, urged people to vote and speak out against racism, adding: “If you are choosing silence, you are choosing the side of the oppressor.”

Protests have been held across the United States and globally since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Speaking in her hometown of Delray Beach, Florida, Gauff said it is “sad” she was protesting against the “same thing” her grandmother did “50-plus years ago”.

“We must first love each other, no matter what,” Gauff added. “I have spent all week having tough conversations and trying to educate my non-black friends about how they

can help the movement. “Second, we need to take action.

“I am not of the age to vote - it is in your hands to vote for my future, my brothers’ future and for your future so that is one way to make change. “Third, you need to use your voice no matter how big or small your platform is, you need to use your voice.

“I saw a Dr [Martin Luther] King quote that said the silence of the good people is worse than the brutality of the bad people.”

She added: “It breaks my heart because I’m fighting for the future for my brothers. I’m fighting for the future of my future kids. I’m fighting for the future of my future grandchildren.”

Gauff rose to fame last year when she beat five-time champion Venus Williams at Wimbledon aged 15 in a run to the fourth round.

Veerasammy Permaul appeals successfully for Rohit Sharma’s wicket, India v West Indies, 1st Test, Kolkata, 3rd day, November 8, 2013 © BCCI

rt Spo

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike - Japan OUT/AFP/ JIJI PRESS/STR

Japan to explore ‘simplified’ Games - says Tokyo governor Tamas Ajan: IWF president ‘corrupt at highest level’, independent report finds

Tamas Ajan joined the IWF in 1976 and has served as president for the last 20 years.

World Athletics unveils four-year Strategic Plan and releases Olympic qualifying process

Harper unaware of any fitness or NBA approves discipline issue plan to resume with Permaul season in July - Berbician says he was available for English tour

at Disney World

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