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Pres. Granger Sunday Edition NEWS refuses to commit to recount declaration AIETEUR

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June 07, 2020

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- Says electoral process was ‘intentionally manipulated’

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Crackdown on flaring…

ExxonMobil’s flaring EPA slashes releases 1 kilo of Carbon ExxonMobil’s Dioxide for every man, production woman and child daily by 60 percent p.

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Almost 7,000 votes in limbo due to missing documents p. 3

- DRO says he acted on Mingo’s instructions

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Man in 49p. custody after killing brother 109 returning Guyanese head p. straight to 45 self-isolation

3 recoveries, one new 49p.

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Granger being referred to in Caribbean as 'Sanctimonious Gangster'- John Beale p. 8

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Kaieteur News

Sunday June 07, 2020

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

Honouring recount results, let there be no disagreeing The end to this long, much-disputed elections recount process is almost over, with only 167 ballot boxes left to count, as of Saturday morning. Suddenly, the finish line is in sight and almost within reach. The ABC and EU plenipotentiaries went public to thank the current leader of the nation and the Leader of the Opposition “for their support of the recount” and to remind them both of “their clear commitment to abide by the results” (KN June 6). It is our hope that leadership abiding by whatever result is declared by GECOM will grace the end of this tortured elections season.

We say this, even amidst great uncertainty and concern with some of the issues that have been raised and which do not build the needed confidence that this is going to climax and conclude smoothly and cleanly. In the last several days, the nation was reminded, time and again, of what was attempted with inflated numbers, and claims and counterclaims of deceptions and frauds on a massive scale.

There is watchfulness at every action and every position of each of the political contestants, particularly the Coalition, as voiced by its agents on the ground at the Arthur Chung Convention Center and its other public spokespeople.

Something is not adding up, no matter how favourably viewed, through tactically laid building blocks that present an increasingly discomforting picture. It is as though there is slow methodical preparing for dropping the hammer on the nation in a way still largely disbelieved.

One day it is about the state, contents, and disposition of the ballot boxes, and who did or didn’t do what in relation to them. On another, the position is that dead people voted, many of them. Then, there are claims that overseas-based Guyanese voted by the droves. And then more arguments and clashing positions about the ballots for the Joint Services. Thus, the masonry is being erected towards unclear and unstated objectives. But there is one problem on which we zero in: Amidst all the talk, the claims, the allegations, a persuasive body of evidence is noticeably missing, with only the immaterial delivered. What is being served up lack substance, accuracy, and persuasive power.

To be clear: anyone - coalition, opposition, committed supporters, fence sitting citizens, neutral observers, objective contributors - can express any kind of allegation and protestation that comforts. It is a right and one to be well-received and respected, but only if such is accurate and built on sound bases; it is permissible and acceptable only, when it is supported by facts and evidence, the more the better. To this point, the Coalition has been a persistent study in allegations and objections, but it has also been a revelation in that it has had little of quantity or quality that materially contradicts where the credibility of the recount stands.

In spite of its lack of material or consequential elements of proof, the coalition’s narrative does not change. Instead, there is temporary retreating to gather breath, and early returning with what turns out to be the distractions of still more red herrings. Nobody with a measure of reasonableness about them is buying. With this said, it has to be appreciated that many in this society do not thrive on truth or accuracy, but what is found appealing to the fixed political and racial mindset that has long been nurtured. Reasoning and logic do not matter, emotional pulls and tribal allegiances are the things that find firm footing in this country, which tear us apart, and do help to set the stage for further challenges to the detriment of all.

It is why we are alarmed at ongoing developments in the recount process now almost over. All Guyanese should join with us in being similarly agitated when we conclude that the positions of the coalition are sketchy and devoid of strength: The strength of the evidence, the strength of the truth, the strength that comes from the power of credibility.

The bottom line is this: The Coalition either has facts and supporting evidence or it needs to stop going off on

tangents to contest the recount. Since it does not appear to have any facts, or much of anything, it would be wise to retreat and regroup. Let the process move along without these unhelpful and unproductive interventions.

There is much that is wrong with what the Coalition keeps bringing to the table of the recount. To begin with, what the Coalition is doing amounts to obvious delaying tactics, and the introduction of positions that make its leadership look deceptive, when there is this continuing grasping for either the imaginary or the feeble. None other than the leader of the Coalition has gone on record to say that he will accept “whatever” result is declared by GECOM. That leaves no room for misreading or misinterpreting. For emphasis, we repeat our prior assertion: Like any other involved or interested party, the Coalition has every right to question and challenge whatever it detects to be against its interests, either in what is crooked or what is so blatant as to fly in the face of reason and standard practice.

But by the same token, whatever is put out before the public must not be spurious, it must be authentic, and all of it.

It has an obligation to do so, and we call upon the Coalition as a responsible political group of national standing to do so.

That is, deliver on the proofs and authenticity of its claims, for in so doing, the authenticity of its associated strategic objectives will then not be subject to any critical consideration.

In terms of the latter (its objectives), and we do not hesitate to go there, there is considerable space to detect and appreciate that all of the allegations about ‘massive’ fraud are intimately related to possible calculations aimed at subverting the recount. Put differently, that after repeatedly articulating and spreading the myths of being cheated that it is prepping to dispute the recount by not adhering to any result that goes against it. We trust that nothing of the sort is contemplated.

With less than one week to go with the now extended

recount, and given all of the destabilising developments, the Coalition’s endgame, whatever it is, will become obvious soon enough. We are hard pressed to visualise how anything less than the constructive and cooperative could be helpful to the nation, given how divided and suspended has been for so long.

It is our hope that the Coalition is not objecting so much to the point and for the purpose where the credibility and reliability of the entire 2020 elections are called into stormy disarray and endless disrepute. This can only have the worst consequences for this society. Many significant segments of the Guyanese populace and the international community would be much provoked and further unsettled that this country could descend into an irreversible nosedive.

As part of the watching and concerned international community, the OAS, on Friday, noted that “recount so far credible”. Separately, members of the US Congress pointed out that “Granger’s place in Guyana’s history at stake” (KN June 5), while other sections of the media encouraged the president to ensure “internationally recognised” declaration of results. Because of such clear positions, to deny the recount results would condemn this country into numerous crises. This kind of thinking would be ill-advised and illfavoured by everyone starting with us at this paper. It should not be any part of any consideration or projection, and totally off the table. Let us not go there or get there.

What Matthew Arnold said a long time ago has poignant and extraordinary relevance for Guyana: “wandering between two worlds, one dead, the other powerless to be born”.

That sums up how and where we are. Come next week, and originally, the official end of the recount did promise to be the satisfying closure of this harrowing national journey, with the doorway to different and uplifting ones beckoning.

In spite of our uncertainties and fears, we hope that it would be so. And as we do so, patriotic Guyana should do so, too.

Sunday June 07, 2020

Where are they now?

Dear Editor, During the 2015 elections campaign, leading members of the AFC were asked how they could justify joining with the PNCR, given its history. Those AFC leading lights responded that they would hold the PNCR’s feet to the fire and, if the need arose, use the AFC’s 40% parliamentary seats to remove the government should there be return to corruption, mismanagement and election rigging.

In light of what is happening presently in the recount process, we ask why the AFC has not honoured its promise to hold the PNCR accountable? Because of its silence and its refusal to disassociate themselves from electoral rigging, we publicly summon Messrs.

Khemraj Ramjattan, Raphael Trotman, Moses Nagamootoo and Mme. Cathy Hughes to explain their party’s failure to keep its word.

From the thunderous silence it maintains, it is obvious that the AFC has been compromised. This is the same political group that once gave Guyanese hope as a force for

a brighter future. Where are its leaders now?

Why are they so silent? What of all those vaunted promises and commitments to be a force for betterment?

The leaders of the AFC, with the notable exception of Dominic Gaskin, have refused to stand up for anything detrimental to the Coalition’s flimsy narratives, its shaky positions and its crooked interests. It has declined to speak out against rigging and cheating perpetuated at the hands of Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo.

As such, the betrayed public has to now hold the AFC’s feet to the proverbial fire in the hope that the conscience of its leaders will be scorched and they will be moved to condemn their main Coalition partner for its devious and undemocratic actions.

Messrs. Hughes, Ramjattan, and Trotman and Mme. Hughes where are you? Guyana cries out to you to do the honourable thing and disassociate yourselves from attempts to subvert democracy.

Chris Lall

Mr. Kissoon is revealing a tendency to malice that I never detected before Dear Editor, In my most recent response to columnist Freddie Kissoon, I had intended to let him have the last word. And had not until now returned to the subject.

Today however, he has taken our conversation to a different level by describing me as “giving support to” the present chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission. He called my support unashamed.

Under the Guyana constitution the Chairperson of the GEOCOM, described as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission is selected after consultation between the two most powerful political actors in the Republic, namely the President of Guyana and the Leader of the Opposition.

Other persons including me have no responsibility in the filling of this office.

I remember responding to Freddie Kissoon’s invitation to me to condemn the newly appointed chairperson of GEOCOM by saying that I accepted or respected her public undertaking to deliver a fair election to the Guyanese people.

I also remember wondering whether the officials responsible for appointing her had taken the trouble to ensure the respective bodies of supporters to act in such a way as not to frustrate the aspirations of the GECOM head for a fair election. I used different words but this was my clear meaning.

My immediate concern is for the reputation of the recently elected head of the Guyana Elections

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Commission. Let me explain this. The whole commission is acting in relation to the March 2 Elections in a very charged local and international atmosphere.

My fear is that Freddie Kissoon may prejudice the chairperson’s reputation by selecting me, a 95 year old activist with a lot of baggage, as a supporter of this official.

I believe that in doing this, Freddie Kissoon is being very deliberate.

Over the years, I, the supposed supporter, and the only supporter named of the head of the Elections Commission have been labelled as “Guyana’s leading racist”, “partitionist”, “extremist”, and by a leading member of the PPP someone who has “migrated” to the PNC. During the 1980 election campaign boycotted by WPA, Mrs. Janet Jagan told an election meeting at Leonora, a village where WPA was very active, “ask Sidney King what he did at Wismar in 1964.” It should be noted that a report of the PPP appointed Commission into the Wismar Disturbances disclosed no involvement by me in the events reported.

Moreover, I had previously been described by Eyewitness, a writer in Guyana Times, as “chief cook and bottle washer” in the 1962 disturbances in Georgetown and by a reverend journalist in New York in the Guyana Journal as someone who had chained himself to a metal fence with a placard reading “partition or death.”

I state here for interested readers that there is no document, photograph,

report or even rumour surrounding the 1962 disturbances implicating me as a reading of the Wynn Parry Commission report will easily establish. I had attempted to challenge the findings of “Eyewitness”, but refrained.

I did respond to the Rev Seeopaul who insisted that he relied on his report. I have to say that I have no remedy if a journalist and man of faith cannot distinguish a very witty cartoon from a photograph in his charitable accusation of another person.

Mr. Kissoon may not understand what I mean when I say that I am a curious observer, from a great distance, of what I can hear and not read because of my impaired vision of the March 2 Elections and what followed it including the present recount process. I have heard some of the allegations of interested parties and I have heard opinions from public discussions that regard most of the officials concerned as acting according to rules. I do not think there is any doubt about what the Region 4 count is revealing or confirming allegations against a much discussed figure in the process but I do not regard it as my responsibility to rush to support Freddie Kissoon or any other person present in Guyana with allegations they feel empowered to make.

During my years of activity, I have never knowingly made allegations against persons without satisfying myself that these allegations were fair. As I have said or implied before, neither one side not the other (Continued on page 6)

The Coalition’s diversionary tactics and attempt to hold on to power will not work Dear Editor, The Coalition leaders are now clutching at the proverbial straws since the electorate has not only spurned them but guarantee their ultimate demise as a Government and maybe as a political force.

This was evident by the massive defeat at the LGE in 2018, the disgraceful defeat by the vote of no confidence in that same year and the most shameful acts to rig the 2020 Elections when faced with imminent defeat. The fraudulent acts which the Coalition has attempted so far will remain indelibly in the annals and in the memories of Guyanese and the world at large.

What is even more disgusting is that the Coalition does not know when to stop its effort to rig the elections. Having agreed for a recount, the Coalition now wants to destroy the credibility of the elections, to annul it and call fresh elections having accepted that the OLE was credible and the election on March 2 was free, fair and credible. The Coalition must be aware that accepted and insignificant variances will never annul an election and furthermore such claims can only be entertained by way of an election petition.

But as usual, the Coalition is not interested in the success of the legal action but they enjoyed the borrowed time until such time that they will announce their dictatorial rule. However, their games are now an open secret.

The Coalition will never be able to convince anyone that the PPP/C rigged the Elections. From all evidences available, it is the Coalition, which has attempted to rig and the Recount has exposed that fact. No amount of white washing will erase that. There is also evidence to substantiate Mingo’s rigging in favour of the Coalition. He produced his own spreadsheet from ‘doctored’ figures which such an amateurish way to rig an election. The nation is waiting to see how the GECOM’S Chair addresses this criminal act once the recount is completed.

What is equally disgraceful is the act of trying to kill democracy in this country by debarring the world renowned Carter Center from completing its observation of the Elections.

The Carter Center has been in this country since January this year and has set the foundation for a transparent, credible, and free and fair elections.

A most glaring attempt by the Coalition to kill democracy is to claim ‘interference ‘by the USA, Britain, Canada and the EU. Even international bodies such as the OAS are being accused of ‘interfering ‘in the internal affairs of our country but when the Coalition was the opposition, they had welcomed such ‘interference’ since it suited their political agenda.

More recently, Joseph Harmon, the man for all

seasons accused the OAS of ‘interfering’ in Guyana’s internal affairs simply because that organisation stated that the elections recount would be credible enough to declare a winner.

He even suggested that the OAS has usurped the role of GECOM. If Harmon can say so, what are the roles and functions of such observers?

His party agreed to the recount and signed accordingly. His party had lauded the elections as free, fair and credible and they had wanted to swear in Granger.

There must be a winner so the OAS did not pre-empt the ruling of GECOM since even the GECOM’S Chair had said that the Elections were free and fair. The OAS did not state that the PPP/C is the winner.

On the other hand, Harmon said that the report of the CARICOM team will be ‘persuasive’ to determine the credibility of the elections.

How do we reconcile the two different views? One is deemed ‘interference’ and the other is ‘persuasive’.

It would seem that Harmon believed that Mingo’s fraudulent tabulation is the product of the PPP/C. It would seem also that he is still unaware that those who voted did not migrate and the dead did not vote.

The Coalition’s diversionary tactics and attempt to hold on illegally to power will not work.

Yours sincerely Haseef Yusuf

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Sunday June 07, 2020

Kaieteur News

Credibility and integrity The ABCE countries should stop speaking about of the electoral process sanctions and speak of a National Front Alliance Dear Editor, Since March 2, 2020 there has been much activity around the Recount Process.

There are questions of its legality and some see it as an act of commitment and good faith by His Excellency David Granger. The Recount Process was gazetted and all political parties were getting into gear. GECOM itself had to be in a state of readiness.

In any electoral process, only a simpleton or persons not committed to fairness would negate or purposefully avoid the embrace of Credibility of the electoral process. And so when a decision to embark on a Recount, the simpleton’s view is irrelevant and cannot be considered.

So what are the principles, which should guide this process? First and foremost, it is the Legal framework under which the election was conducted.

That framework has provided GECOM with the power to conduct the process, ensure the credibility and integrity of the process and declare the results of the process.

These are very important processes, which must be operationalised by well trained and committed persons. Persons who are not easily corrupted should be identified as part of the process because there are a number of processes, which (Continued on page 7)

Plea from a Guyanese stranded in Aruba Dear Editor, I am a Guyanese stranded in Aruba, I have applied to the COVID-19 Task Force and filled the form that the Ministry has on its website, waiting for an approval to return home.

However, my greatest concern is that should approval be granted and a particular time is also granted and I am not able to charter a flight or to board an airline that goes to Guyana within the specific period given to me by the Task Force, what should I do?

Am I to remain stranded here? However, Aruba has not opened its airport as yet so should approval be granted

within a specified time that is within the closure of Aruba’s airport, how am I to get out?

I therefore ask the Government and the Task Force to exercise some amount of leniency as to the time span given upon approval of my application to return home.

I cannot charter a flight, I have a reservation with Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines is not working.

I therefore ask the Government and the Task Force to consider my plea to return home and grant my approval to return at my convenience.

Yours respectfully, Sheik Omar

Dear Editor, The United Republican Party (URP) challenges the two major political parties to form a National Front Government.

The United Republican Party (URP) Leader Dr. Vishnu Bandhu is calling on the two major political parties to put away the decades-long ‘winner takes all’ political tradition and establish a National Front Government where shared Governance will be the order of the day.

Racial strife has destroyed our country as it continues to destroy the world. How long must we continue to allow our citizens to become caught in the tangle of racial segregation and political greed?

Reflecting on the two major parties’ commentary about the results coming out of the recount, it is obvious that Justice (Retired) Claudette Singh, Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will have an angry commission to preside over when both sides meet to discuss the various narratives, which we have

been hearing in the media up to this stage of the recount.

Thus far (as per time of writing), 2172 ballot boxes out of the total 2339 completed, which leaves 167 boxes to be recounted. This being approximately 80 percent of the ballots cast at March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections.

A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) has been raising several anomalies in the various workstations and has charged that the March 2 Elections were not credible.

The APNU+AFC has been raising concerns of deceased and migrated persons voting and missing statutory documents in ballot boxes in the March 2 General and Regional Elections in areas known to traditionally support the People Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C).

The PPP/C, on the other hand, is maintaining that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has “no jurisdiction” to investigate the allegations of “electoral fraud” being

The sky will not fall Dear Editor, My letter of February 22 was published under SN’s heading “Do not squander the goodwill of the electorate” and, in KN and GT, under my heading “New beginnings”. In that letter, I wrote, “The coalition has support, no doubt but, from what I can see, the PPP has the momentum and is poised to return to power”.

In the circumstances, GECOM has only one course, which is to declare the PPP as the winner of the Election.

Swearing in of M.I. Ali as President should follow swiftly.

To President Granger and his supporters, I say, there is no shame in losing an election.

It happens all the time around the world. Your political grouping will have a very substantial presence in Parliament. The sky will not fall.

Love to all my Guyanese brothers and sisters.

Yours faithfully, Sieyf Shahabuddeen

leveled by the APNU/AFC Coalition, this should be done via an election petition after the results of the election has been declared.

Dr. Bandhu is reminding both the APNU+AFC and PPP/C leaders that they were both in agreement; hence, they both will accept the results of the recount.

Both of the major parties also said at the end of balloting on March 2, that the elections were free, credible and transparent.

The Presidential candidates of the two major parties Brigadier (Retired) David Granger and Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali should surprise Guyana by appearing together at a press conference with hands joined in victory, not for any political party, but to show a victory for all citizens of Guyana.

All the other parties that contested the March 2 Elections should join them in an act of solidarity for a safe and modern Guyana.

According to the Leader of the URP, all political leaders must exercise political maturity and stop thinking about self and political alliance, and begin to think about the country. “Unless an alliance that bridges the racial divide in our country is fostered, our people will continue to feel marginalized”. If one of the smaller parties that contested the General and Regional

Elections got only a single vote, it means that they have a constituent they are representing. Therefore, we must not allow sections of the electorate who have voted to go unrepresented because the party they voted for did not get a seat in parliament.

Our constitution needs reform; it needs to have policies to ensure that every constituent is catered for. Our reformed constitution must also focus on the element of segregation and division that has destroyed the fabric of our culture, which is a hate crime. Hate crimes must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and persons guilty of such crime must be subjected to jail time.

Electoral reform must also be at the core of the reform process and all political parties, which contested the March 2, 2020 Elections must be a part of the reform process.

I am calling on the ABCE countries to stop speaking about sanctions against our country and begin to speak of Shared Governance and a National Front Alliance situation. Let us all begin a movement that will heal our country of the vicious act of self-aggrandizement Dr. Vishnu Bandhu Leader of the United Republican Party (URP)

Mr. Kissoon is...

From page 5 seems to be solely responsible for violations of the process. As I see it now, only the smaller and new parties will ultimately be able to claim compliance with the letter and spirit of the electoral laws.

I began making the point

that Mr. Kissoon in selecting me, a subject of much adverse comment as a supporter of the current chairperson of the Elections Commission is revealing a tendency to malice that I never detected before now.

Eusi Kwayana

Sunday June 07, 2020

GECOM has a critical role to play in the preservation and consolidation of democratic rule Dear Editor, The PPP/C had mounted a much more robust, well organised and issue-oriented campaign than any of its political rivals. This was manifested in the number of well-attended and massive rallies it held throughout the country including in many of traditional APNU-AFC strongholds such as Linden, New Amsterdam and Bartica.

For the APNU-AFC to now cry foul and accuse the PPP/C of ‘fraudulent’ practices before and during polling day is at best disingenuous and at worst, a blatant attempt to mislead the nation and the entire international

community on the fact of its defeat at the March 2 poll.

The APNU-AFC is now blaming the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the entire Secretariat for facilitating widespread ‘fraud’ on Elections Day. Nothing could be further from the truth! This is highly unfair and a slap on the face of the entire GECOM m a c h i n e r y, including the Chairperson herself, the Chief Elections O ff i c e r, t h e R e t u r n i n g Officers and all the hardworking and professional staff who worked on polling day.

Credibility and integrity...

From page 6 would allow the Guyanese citizenry to conclude whether the process is wholesome with credibility and integrity.

Much of what must be followed by the staff of GECOM and the citizens is clearly defined in the Law or the Administrative Manuals of GECOM. For example, all statutory documents must be placed in each Ballot box before being sealed. Clearly, there is a reason why this is required.

There is no room for the description of violation of the process as an anomaly or an irregularity.

In the electoral process, the violation of these processes is fraudulent. In the words of the Former Attorney General Mr. Anil Nandall, “Fraud is fraud and everything committed or tainted by fraud makes it a nullity Ab initio.” When the process as defined is not met in part or in the whole, how can anyone accept that all the processes related to the box bears an iota of credibility and integrity.

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When a box arrives without any documents in many instances, it is only the simpleton or the intellectual retard who would not understand that credibility and integrity has been trampled on.

Had this Recount Agreement not taken place, fraudulent violations would not have come to the fore.

Any electoral process consists of two phases (1) Qualitative phase the elements of which speak to the Credibility and integrity of the process; (2) the Quantitative or numerical phase.

The qualitative influences the second. And the words of Anil Nandall ring through and true. Hence, an iota of fraud compromises the credibility and integrity of the first phase and hence voids the second phase. Also in a country where the voting pattern is racially charged, one cannot risk the acceptance of descriptions of anomalies and irregularities.

Richard Van WestCharles

The results of these Elections, h o w e v e r, transcends party politics.

It is a struggle to protect the democratic fabric of our society and prevent a return to the days of authoritarian and undemocratic, which had characterised a significant part of our postindependence political life.

Our country is at the c r o s s r o a d s . We e i t h e r move forward as a democratic, law-governed state or we drift in the wasteland of pariah states.

Suriname, our neighbour on the East has already declared a winner even though elections were held only days ago. By contrast,

elections in Guyana were held over three months ago and we are still to have a declaration made. This will go down in our political history as a lasting shame.

The Guyana Elections Commission, more particularly the Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh has a critical role to play in the preservation and consolidation of democratic rule in Guyana.

All that is required of her is to do the right thing and declare the results emanating from the current recount exercise in keeping with her mandate.

The world is watching!

Hydar Ally

More needs to be done for our ‘furry friends’ Dear Editor It is tough being a man in this world but imagine what it is like being an animal. So much of our existence is focused on bettering the lives of ourselves and loved ones that we are not mindful of the suffering endured by the stray dogs and cats that roam the streets of our city. These animals depend on the charity of a few noble souls who actually take the time to care and make the effort to better their lives, however meaningless it may seem to most.

The institutions in our country that are supposed to assist in this regard are few in number and in my view overwhelmed. Just a few days back, I sent some cats to a shelter. After one day passed, I paid a visit to the shelter to see how these animals were getting along but I saw no trace of them.

The shelter’s explanation was that the cats were either all

adopted or may have been put down but they cannot say which. I am doubtful that in one day all the cats were adopted and the thought of me sending them to their deaths when I thought I was doing them a good deed has left me distraught. The cats in this shelter were all aesthetically appealing and the thought of a shelter deciding which cats to keep by basing it on their appearance is disturbing.

I will end this letter by urging whatever government institution is in charge of monitoring the activities of these shelters to pay more heed to their operations. I will also urge my fellow citizens of this beautiful country to be more mindful of the plight of our furry friends and if we cannot help them, at least do not harm them.

Vishal Singh

SOUND OF RIGGING Hello Davo my old friend Checking in on you again.

You’ve been so quiet in this rigging Some are saying it’s not you, it’s just your bidding.

But that is false, you know it’s you.

Yet you abet The rigging.

Have you played dominoes with Nic? Asking pleading and repeating.

Have you looked at sand raptly since this rigging?

And heard some devious silence tangled deeply in your being.

It is wrong, you know that too.

Yet you condone The rigging.

Your reputation’s now in tatters In squalid harmony with a tainted coat And vulgar law res ipsa loquitur without speaking.

Moseying a no go motor downhill without braking.

Indubitably, it is true.

Yet you incite The rigging.

The sovereign card is your pretense But Share an inch has only trumps.

One sanction will lase Dev Attar Ganga Or by whatever alias you choose to hide your face forever You will feel the sanctions dealt to you.

Still you provoke The rigging.

Hello Davo my old friend Checking in on you again.

Country, Covid, oil and order All require urgent action by the winner of the nation’s vote And yes, you can stop the circus.

Yes, you can stop The rigging.

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Sunday June 07, 2020

Kaieteur News

Granger being referred to in Caribbean as ‘Sanctimonious Gangster’ - fmr. Bajan Ambassador to US, John Beale, says violation of democracy here has regional implications Former Barbadian Ambassador to the United States and the Organisation of the American States (OAS), John Beale, yesterday launched a broadside against President David Granger, warning that a breakdown in democracy in Guyana would have repercussions across the region.

In a press release issued yesterday, Beale, referred to the recent report from the OAS that cited the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) refusal to release “important documents” to the OAS observer team.

In that report, the OAS had specifically cited GECOM’s repeated refusal to furnish the Region Four Statements of Poll (SoPs), despite several requests, particular after the revelation of the manipulation of the recorded votes by Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo.

“Numerous opportunities have been given to the President of Guyana, David

Granger,” Beale stated, “to come clean and while he gives the impression that he supports free and fair elections, his actions do not.

Indeed, he is being described in Caribbean political circles as a “Sanctimonious Gangster”.”

Beale is the second senior level former regional diplomat to have explicitly harsh words for the President’s conduct over the past few months.

Writing in Trinidadian daily, Newsday, at the end of March, former Trinidadian Ambassador to the United States and the OAS, Reginald Dumas, in a column entitled, ‘Confusion now hath made his masterpiece’, had argued: “I would be hard pressed to find anyone in TT who doesn’t believe that a determinedly cynical and focused attempt is being made by the David Granger administration and its votaries to stay in office.”

That sentiment is repeated and expanded upon on in

Beale’s release.

“Based on his actions,” wrote Beale, “I am prepared to predict that Granger will not accept the results of the elections (the recount, so far, shows that he will lose), and he will do everything possible, including disregarding the rule of law, to remain in power.

His actions could include fomenting civil strife in order to declare a state of emergency and martial law, allowing him to rule by decree with the backing of a cabal around him.”

As the month-long recount draws to a close, expected as early as today, the Granger administration has been facing increasing pressure to commit to the outcome of the recount.

The President himself has deliberately and repeatedly avoided making such a commitment, insisting instead of saying that he will abide by the decision of the GECOM, or “any declaration” that the Commission makes.

Almost 7,000 votes in limbo due to missing documents From page 3 with missing documents could be resolved expeditiously.”

Additionally, they refuted reports in the media which stated that decision to not count or tabulate the ballot boxes with missing official documents was taken by the GECOM’s Secretariat in particular, the Chief Election Officer (CEO), Mr. Keith Lowenfield.

“For the sake of clarity, the votes cast for list of candidates contained in those ballot boxes were counted. The absence of documents could only have been detected after the boxes were opened and the contents sorted,” they said.

The matter was brought to the attention of the Commission since there were some objections to the Statements of Recount (SOR) generated for those ballot boxes being included in the tabulation exercise.

In this regard, Chairperson convened a brief meeting yesterday with the Commissioners present at the national recount centre, as well as the CEO. Following the discussions, the Commission decided that the SORs prepared for those ballot boxes should not be included in the tabula-

tion at this point in time.

The CEO was advised to investigate the reasons why the documents were not included in the ballot boxes and to ascertain where the documents could be found.

“It must be stated categorically,” the Commission said yesterday, “that none of these missing documents are in the possession of the CEO. However, at the conclusion of the meeting, it was discovered that 28 of the 29 SORs were already tabulated.

The tabulation supervisor was advised to highlight those figures during the livestream on the ongoing tabulation for Region 4 pending a decision of the Commission.”

GECOM said that the poll bags have been checked but the documents were not found.

The CEO has also contacted some of the DROs responsible for those areas for a meeting and while they had committed to meet with the CEO yesterday at 16:00hrs, none showed up to be interviewed.

However, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C), the biggest opposition party, which is in the lead, posited in a statement to the press last evening that: “It is clear that the Secretariat in-

tend to create unnecessary public confusion and excite tension in the public domain by including these issues in a press statement.”

The opposition party argued that: “Rather than deal with the issue internally, with what is clearly an in-house matter, the GECOM Secretariat chose to make a public statement that it received yet another letter from a group of Deputy Returning Officers, apparently from the East Coast of Demerara but it is unclear who these DROs are and whether they are from the same geographical area under review, where the DROs’ dispute the controversial instructions.”

The party stated that it strongly believes that: “This public statement seems to be in concert with the narrative and false allegations peddled by the APNU+AFC, aimed at disenfranchising electors in PPP/C strongholds.”

Calculations by this publication show that the 29 ballot boxes account for close to 7,000 ballots cast, votes now caught in a state of uncertainty following the decision not to tabulate those boxes at this point in time. As of today, 74 boxes remain to be counted.

Complementary and concurrent to this refusal to the outcome of the recount, the President’s party representatives have repeatedly attacked the legality and the credibility of the process.

Before the recount got off to a start, one of the President’s candidates in the 2020 regional component of the elections, Ulita Moore, had filed a court case to stop the recount on the basis that it was allegedly unconstitutional, even though Granger had held up the process on the premise that he was seeking legal advice, before signing off on it. Moore, through her attorney and fellow Granger Coalition candidate, Roysdale Forde, had appealed her loss of the case and lost again.

In the middle of the recount, the President’s principal legal advisor Attorney-General, Basil Williams, had made the claim that the recount was illegal, and the Coalition was engaging in the recount simply for diagnostic purposes, a position Forde would give support to.

When confronted with the apparently contradictory message from his two candidates, Granger did not specifically refute that position, saying instead that he was the person to speak on behalf of the Coalition and that he would abide by whatever declaration would emerge from GECOM. Coalition spokespersons and surrogates subsequently started making the case that the recount results could not be used for a valid declaration.

In the past week, the call has escalated to an annulment of the election, with functionaries as high as former Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, and Prime Minister, Moses

Former Bajan Ambassador to US, John Beale, (right) with ex US president Barack Obama.

Nagamootoo, making the case for the annulment of the elections, even as Granger himself not been seen in public since a brief media appearance two weeks ago.

Beale addressed the Granger administration’s apparent attempt to undermine the recount, noting that, “In the event that Granger does not abide by the official outcome of the elections, CARICOM must act swiftly, not waiting for other countries and institutions, such as the US, UK, Canada, the European Union, the Commonwealth and the OAS to act first, dragging CARICOM in their wake. If Granger does not relinquish power, should the current recount show that his party has lost, CARICOM should immediately suspend Guyana from membership, pending a full return to democracy, and move the headquarters of CARICOM from Guyana to another CARICOM country.”

Like Sir Ronald Sanders, who Beale referred to in his statement, the senior regional diplomat outlined the possible regional repercussions of any departure from democracy in Guyana.

“What Granger does is not just a matter for him and the people of Guyana,” Beale argued, “as a member of CARICOM what happens in Guyana directly impinges on the region as a whole,

particularly as Guyana is bound by the CARICOM Treaty and the Charter of Civil Society. Therefore, under no circumstances should CARICOM tolerate violations of democracy, the rule of law and political and civil rights. The latter is a cancer. Once it is not excised in one limb of the CARICOM Group, it will spread to all others.”

Appointed originally in 2009 under the administration of the late Barbadian PM David Thompson, Beale has had a storied career as a toptier regional diplomat.

A former senior banker, he has been outspoken on various regional issues from regional finance to governance.

“If Granger does not relinquish power,” he closed his statement, “should the current recount show that his party has lost, CARICOM should immediately suspend Guyana from membership, pending a full return to democracy, and move the headquarters of CARICOM from Guyana to another CARICOM country. Not since the 1960s, when former Prime Minister of Barbados, Errol Barrow, described certain Eastern Caribbean leaders as “bandits”, have CARICOM leaders criticised let alone acted against one of their number. It is time for that silence to stop, in the interest of the peoples of the area.”

Black Bush woman pleads guilty to ganja in energy drink bottle A 54-year-old Black Bush Polder, Corentyne woman who was caught with a quantity of ganja has pleaded guilty.

Bibi Habida Yakub of Johanna North, Black Bush Polder appeared bef o r e Magistrate Alex Moore at the Mibicuri Magistrate’s Court.

The case for the

prosecution was that, acting on information, the police went to the woman’s home and conducted a search.

During the search, they found two plastic bottles concealed in a gas stove.

Upon examination of the bottles which were marked ‘Boom Energy Drink’, police ranks found several foil wrappings which contained

what appears to be leaves, seeds and stems of the cannabis sativa plant.

The woman was told of the offence and taken into custody.

The substance was tested and weighed. It was found to be 65 grams of marijuana.

She pleaded guilty and was fined $30,000, or three weeks in jail.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Sunday June 07, 2020

Miners' body urges credible conclusion of national vote recount T

he Guyana Gold and Diamond M i n e r s Association (GGDMA) is calling on all political parties to support the speedy and credible conclusion of the national vote recount of the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

In a statement yesterday, the GGDMA noted that once this is accomplished, Guyana must move forward in a democratic and peaceful environment.

The GGDMA said it represents some 100,000 Guyanese adults who are involved either directly or indirectly in the local mining industry- a source of significant political influence --25 to 30 percent of the voting population.

According to the statement, the association once again calls on all parties to respect the process of the recount and follow the laws of Guyana.

“Any government that is sworn in based on noncredible results will not receive desired public support and international recognition.

We need the support and backing of our international partners to not only purchase our exports, but also, as a net importer, to give us access to many of the goods we rely on in our daily lives. It is concerning that Guyana

Representatives of the GGDMA at a meeting last year

could face sanctions that would cripple our fledgling economy,” the organisation led by miner, President Adron Alphonso said in a statement.

The GGDMA had repeatedly called for the transition of government to only take place in line with transparent and democratic principles that lead to credible results.

Further, the statement added that, “The current

global pandemic has placed our country in an even more precarious position, which we desperately need international backing and funding. Thus far, no significant funding for our fight against the COVID-19 disease has been forthcoming and it is unlikely that substantial assistance will be given to an illegitimate regime.”

The GGDMA noted, too, that all Guyanese will face

the harsh consequences as access to the funding made available by the World Bank, the IDB, the United Nations, and other global partners will be meager at best and non- existent at worst.

“We urge all parties to work diligently towards concluding a sound process that provides the democratic outcome that all Guyanese need and deserve,” the group said.

The Miners' Association

had previously warned the Guyana Elections Commission to follow the legally sanctioned process that would allow for the credible and transparent declaration of the results.

The GGDMA had noted a cloud of suspicion hanging over any future government would not augur well with the international community.

The GGDMA had called o n t h e G E C O M Chairwoman, Justice

(Retired) Claudette Singh, for an expression of integrity by publicly denouncing any illegal proceedings and a return to an agreed process that fosters transparency. “ We f u r t h e r u r g e GECOM and all parties to complete the verification and tabulation process using the statement of polls and ensure that the final results are free from suspicion and doubt,” the association added.

Two more refute police data on 'overseas' voting T

wo more persons, Alan Gomes and C h r i s t i n a Seetaram, have verified that they were in the country and voted at the March 2, 2020 Regional and General Elections contrary to claims of the APNU+AFC. Alan Deon Gomes, whose name was published on a list of persons purportedly out of the country on March 2, visited Kaieteur News with his identification card and passport to prove that the information is false.

This paper verified that Gomes last reentered Guyana from Suriname in July of 2019 and had not been stamped out as leaving the country since then. An exit record, unmatched by a corresponding subsequent

reentry is the only way that the Department of Immigration could claim that Gomes, or any other person, left Guyana and did not return during any period.

Gomes told Kaieteur News that he works at Puruni, Region Seven but he travelled home to Moruca, Region one in time to cast his ballot on Elections Day. “I had travelled home days before election, I even asked by boss for time off to go home and vote,” he said.

Another voter, Christina Seetaram confirmed with this newspaper that she cast her ballot at the St. Paul's Retreat Centre (Polling Station 414121[e]), Vryheid's Lust, East Coast Demerara on Elections Day. Her serial number, 172, was, however, listed on the

recount observation report for the Retreat Centre ballot box as one of the persons an APNU+AFC agent had said to be out of the country on March 2, but still listed as voting. Seetaram told Kaieteur News that she indeed had travelled out the country but returned since last year.

Late last month, in a letter to the GECOM Chairperson Justice Retired Claudette Singh, APNU+AFC campaign cochair Joseph Harmon had claimed that “During the recount, agents of APNU+AFC made objections at the counting stations to the voting and counting of ballots by certain electors after the counting agents indicated that the said electors were recorded as

having voted at the March 2, 2020 General and Regional E l e c t i o n s . O u r investigations have revealed that electors were outside the jurisdiction and were recorded as voted.”

A list containing 207 names was submitted along w i t h t h a t l e t t e r, w a s forwarded to the Commissioner of Police. A list containing 172 of those names, including Gomes, was returned and 'confirmed' as being out the country on Elections Day by the Deputy Chief Immigration Officer, Ewart Wray. Kaieteur News saw and published a subsequent list submitted on 30 May that had 310 persons.

To date, 26 persons have come forward to refute the names submitted by the Commissioner of Police,

Alan Deon Gomes is among those refuting the claims of the police Leslie James to the GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh to confirm claims of fraudulent voting by David Granger's APNU+AFC Coalition. The Police Force had responded to the first article by Kaieteur News

featuring just three persons, insisting on the accuracy of the information given to GECOM. Requests for comment by the GPF on subsequent articles have gone unanswered.

Sunday June 07, 2020

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

---Hinds’ Sight by Dr. David Hinds---

There is a knee on Black Guyana neck too Today I may offend Guyana, especially non-black Guyana. But I have to speak it as I see it. The times demand it. I write this column full of emotions. I write it for me, but most of all I write it for Guyana—a Guyana that is often so hypocritical about its blackest citizens, that at times it becomes unbearable.

The last two weeks have been most emotional for Black people throughout the world. We have been forced to relive the slave plantation in real time as we watched a Black man, George Floyd, being killed like a non-human in the full glare of the world. He was killed by a White man who represented the State of America.

He was killed by America.

Since that day, the rest of America and the world have taken notice. Some of them have joined Black people in the streets to call on America to honour its promise of human equality to its darkest citizens. It is more than a passing observation that while America crusades around the world for democracy for others, it continues to kill its own darkest citizens at home in reckless abundance. As Dr.

Rodney King did some six decades ago, the world asks America to be true to what it put on paper. If all men are created equal, then how can some men kill others with such impunity?

George Floyd was murdered in America, but it could have happened in Guyana. As we in Guyana continue to grapple with our own version of race and its implications, the presence of America and other powerful forces are very much part of our landscape.

One sometimes gets the sense that our troubled 2020 election is being fought in a State in the USA or a province in Canada or a county in England.

The fingerprints of those countries are all over Guyana at the moment. They are protecting democracy in Guyana as the Black American is lynched in America.

As a Black man from Guyana who spends part of his activism trying to alert the rest of my country to the peculiar condition of Black Guyana, I feel a deep sense of hurt. It took the murder of a Black man in the light of day for the rest of America to realize that anti-Black racism is

alive and well.

How many times have they not proclaimed the end of race in America? How often have they chided Black America for being too preoccupied with race? How often have they not told Black America that their condition is due to their own failings as a group—the pathology of Blackness?

Here in Guyana we hear the same mantra from our Brown siblings and our own Black elites. They tell us there is no race problem in Guyana—it is an invention by David Hinds, Eric Phillips, Lincoln Lewis, Tacuma Ogunseye and other “racists”.

Our Brown siblings call us racists for proclaiming our blackness and for pointing to Guyana’s structural antiblackness. They tell us we are lying when we say we cannot get loans at the banks or contracts from the government, including from Black-dominated governments. They tell us we are lazy; we do not work hard. They tell us we spend our time in the dancehall and the rum shops while others work hard. They tell us in other words that we are lesser humans.

So, if you are lesser humans you can be killed with impunity. If you are lesser humans, you can be dictated to.

If you are lesser humans, you have to be taught democracy.

If you are lesser humans, you can be dominated.

If you are lesser humans, you cannot govern yourself.

If you are lesser humans, you have to be governed by others. If you are lesser humans, you do not matter. If you are lesser humans, you are not endowed with human traits— you cannot exist in a state of freedom.

As Black people we live with that curse wherever we are. And we sometimes join in cursing ourselves because if one is bombarded with narratives of inferiority, one ultimately develops a sense of self-hate. They tell me that I see everything through the prism of race. They tell me to stop being Black and be Guyanese. They tell me that I am a racist even though preach Black supremacy.

They tell me to shut up, so they can keep their knee on the neck of Black people undetected.

I can hear my Brown siblings saying here goes the racist David Hinds again. But I care not. For me, the murder of George Floyd is not theory and theorization. It is deeply real. We Black people have done our own wrongs to ourselves and others, but we are humans who deserve to be respected as such.

True, there are no Klu Klux Klan or White Supremacy in here. but there is anti-Black racism in Guyana.

It hides behind all kinds of masks. It hides behind Guyanese nationalism. It hides behind democracy. It hides behind its Black friends. It hides behind crooked notions of inclusivity. As I write it is hiding behind ballot boxes.

We Black Guyanese suffer in silence and rage because we know there is a knee on our collective Black neck

Dr David Hinds in Guyana too. To paraphrase, Rev Al Sharpton, get your knee off our necks Guyana.

All we ask for is to be treated equally and fairly and to be allowed to co-govern Guyana as joint citizens of equal standing.

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

More of Dr. Hinds’ writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his website www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.news.

Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Sunday June 07, 2020

THE EXECUTION OF

‘BIG SIX’

By Michael Jordan

I

t took me two days to find the spot where they killed ‘Big Six.’ After all, it had happened 17 years ago, near a narrow wooden bridge in Savage Street. This is a long road stretching from North-East La Penitence to the West La Penitence area known as ‘The Island.’

But I couldn’t find that bridge, and I eventually learned why. The authorities had torn it down years ago.

An ugly concrete bridge, located between Savage and Sussex Streets was now in its place.

I couldn’t help wondering whether ‘Big Six’ might still be alive if that concrete bridge had been there on the night the gunman ambushed him. He wouldn’t have had to dismount from his bicycle and present himself as an easy target.

But Big Six’s mom doesn’t believe in untimely deaths. So I guess she would just say that it was her only son’s time to go.

His real name was Adrian Williams, and at an early age he knew that he wanted to be a policeman like one of his uncles, whom he held in high esteem.

Immediately after leaving school, the18-yearold from Friendship, East Coast Demerara, enlisted in the Guyana Police Force. He was now Constable 15418 Adrian Williams.

Joan Williams had no concerns about her son’s safety, since, “at that time they weren’t killing police.”

But by 1996, after just two years in the Force, Constable Williams was wondering if he had made a career misstep. He had reportedly told some relatives that the job was becoming dangerous. His mother would later receive reports that her son was threatened after he and some colleagues had raided a house and found drugs on the p r e m i s e s .

He decided that he would enroll in the Guyana Technical Institute the following year. At around 8.00 p.m. on Saturday, July 6, 1996, Constable Williams

visited his mother at her stall outside the Stabroek Market.

He then set off on his bicycle to the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost to work the night shift.

He was immediately summoned to go out on duty.

A woman had alleged that someone was threatening her life. She pleaded with the ranks to accompany her to her West La Penitence home.

Williams, accompanied

by Rural Constable Sean Jack, set out on their bicycles to investigate.

According to reports, the woman suggested to Williams and Jack that they take the Punt Trench route to her home. Instead, Williams and Rural Constable Jack took another route through Savage Street. William and

from Sussex Street.

According to reports, the two ranks dismounted and were crossing the bridge when two men who were standing on the bridge confronted them. There was the sound of rapid gunfire and a bulletriddled Constable Williams fell dead. Rural Constable Sean Jack dropped his bike and escaped without a scratch.

Meanwhile, the woman who had made the complaint began to wonder why the police ranks had not turned up. She then returned to the East Ruimveldt Outpost, where she received the grim news.

But why had the gunmen murdered Constable Williams? There was no crime wave back then, and

The Savage Street area where Constable Williams was slain

The late Constable Adrian Williams (at left) with two colleagues

Jack eventually reached a narrow wooden bridge separating Savage Street

the killing of a policeman was a rarity.

Investigators questioned

the sole eyewitness, Rural Constable Sean Jack.

They found nothing to

implicate him in Williams’ death.

Detectives later received information that suggested that Constable Williams had an unfortunate encounter with members of the triggerhappy Michael Craig Gang.

Craig was one of the most feared gunmen of that era. He committed brazen armed robberies and he seemed to relish killing. In the late nineties, Craig and his gang trailed a jewel store owner’s son and gunned him down. They later turned up at a fair at Linden wearing the stolen jewellery. The local cops never caught him.

Craig fled to the United States but it was a short-lived stay. He entered a New York store and tried to stick up the owner. The New York cops riddled him with bullets.

But police believe that the individual who actually pulled the trigger on ‘Big Six’ was a Michael Craig associate known as ‘Green Man’. He was killed at N i s m e s , We s t B a n k Demerara. One cop suggested that Williams may have ordered the loitering men on the bridge to disperse, and they responded by killing the uniformed cop.

Joan Williams had received similar information about the identity of her son’s killers. But that doesn’t mean that she believes that the real perpetrators were ever apprehended. ”He might be out there still. People in the area called a name. One of his ( C o n s t a b l e Wi l l i a m s ’ ) friends called a name of a man who used to live in

Albousytown and escaped to French Guiana. I don’t know if there was any investigation. They go willynilly and kill about six people…some known criminals; one ‘Green-man’ and others. ”I kept going to Eve Leary and they say that they looking into it, and that they have no leads. They offered me a job, which I refused.

My son get kill and you want to kill me too? I asked for compensation.”

But Mrs. Williams said that she had to wait until 2002, when other policemen were being slaughtered, before the Home Affairs Ministry awarded her $1M in compensation.

She would later make the yearly journey to Eve Leary to lay a wreath for her son, during the memorial service for fallen police ranks. ”I remember him every day. He was a jovial person.

He would always say something to make you happy. I grieve no more. I don’t believe in untimely death. Death is inevitable, and you have to let go and hold onto the memory.”

If you have any information about these or any other unusual cases, please contact us by letter or telephone at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown office. Our numbers are 2258491 and 22-58473. You need not disclose your identity.

You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email a d d r e s s : kamarangnight@gmail.co m.

Sunday June 07, 2020

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==

A Trumpian narcissist calls me a Trumpian narcissist In my 50 years of struggle and 32 years in the media, I have been called nasty, vulgar, defaming things that I expected from sick minds once you decided to face the public with the extreme, unshakeable willingness to define your beliefs and your extreme, dedicated refusal to let other people dictate your narrative, define your life for you and shape the way you see philosophy, nature and the world.

It is a sad human who allows society and the world to do that to them. As for me, I really don’t care if I look through my car window and see you laughing at me. I will not even for a fraction of a second become curious as to why you would do so. I don’t care and never will. I am not bothered even for a tiny fraction of a moment what others think of me.

I was in a paroxysm of laughter for a long period when Henry Jeffrey described me as a Trumpian narcissist.

I thought he would have said I am a poor academic, a poor

columnist, a superficial activist. Or he could have got personal like the PNC youth leader Jermaine Figueira. He wrote that I have a disheveled appearance. I hope Figueira’s so-called, neat external appearance is matched by a neat internal appearance, but I doubt it. I hope Figueira’ s lust to look like Denzel Washington does not catapult him into the kind of person Burt Bacharach wrote about in the hit song of Dionne Warwick, “Do You Know to San Jose.”

Here is the relevant part of the song Figueira should pay attention to: “In a week, maybe two, they’ll make you a star, weeks turn into years. How quick they pass, and all the stars that never were are parking cars and pumping gas.”

Figueira’s party has lost the 2020 election. I am sure with the loss of resources that Denzel Washington look may take a beating. I may very well drive up to Linden one day and see him pumping gas. But back to Jeffrey. Of all things that Jeffrey could have used

against me, he chose to paint me as a Trumpian narcissist.

What an irony! A narcissist, especially a Trumpian one, by nature projects his personality and preserves that projection as a life and death goal.

The only things I project in Guyana are my little black dog that is the most beautiful thing in the world and my Kaieteur News column. I don’t socialize.

I eschew any kind of gathering. No one in this country can say they have seen me at this or that function. I don’t have a smart phone, a smart TV, a laptop, a Facebook account. I never participated in social media. Which part of my existence conforms to Trumpian narcissism?

It is the very Jeffrey who is a Trumpian narcissist. In a matter of months, he has projected his personality onto the stage by forming a political party, ANUG, contesting the national election, and in a weird psychic display of narcissism is now adumbrating that the 2020 election was characterized by intentional

rigging by the PPP, that the existence of any kind of anomalies, even if it is one or a hundred, calls into question the validity of the election.

Jeffrey is now singing from the songbook of the party he was born into – the PNC. I have always considered Jeffrey the most consummate political grasshopper Guyana produced. He joined the dictatorship of Forbes Burnham as a young man and became a propagandist for the regime, heading Burnham ideological college at Kuru Kuru. After Hoyte deburnhamized the PNC, he fell out with Hoyte and joined the PPP. He became a senior PPP minister from 1992 to 2009 when he was removed by President Jagdeo.

He was assigned the role of Ambassador to Suriname but a quarrel over salary de-

railed that status. In 2015, he joined APNU and spoke on their platform.

I recall listening to him at the Stabroek Market Square.

I thought he was trying to emulate his hero, Burnham.

In 2019, Jeffrey and Ralph Ramkarran founded ANUG. The party contested the election but Jeffrey could not have stood as PM candidate because of his English connection.

ANUG produced the dynamic PM in attorney, Timothy Jonas, who in charismatic ways exposed what Mingo, Roxanne Myers, Lowenfield and Claudette Singh and APNU+AFC are doing.

Then Jeffrey did his grass-

Frederick Kissoon hopper thing again. He wrote that the 2020 election could not have ended legitimately because of the bloated list. He has now concluded in his writing last week that the bloated list has vitiated the election.

This man calls me a Trumpian narcissist. Really Henry?

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

PAGE 20

Sunday June 07, 2020

Kaieteur News

Some amazing incidents of fraud, illegal activities and malfeasance have been uncovered during the recount Since Guyanese voted in the Regional and General Elections on March 2nd, the Caribbean, the Diaspora and beyond have been bombarded with claims by Guyana’s main opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) that they would have won those elections hands down but the evidence emerging from the national recount and audit of every ballot cast is pointing to a very different narrative, linked clearly to systematic and malfeasant efforts by the PPP to rig to the elections.

On February 29, three days before any vote was cast, the PPP, so confident that the decision by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to abandon the 2019 House to House

voter registration Exercise would have worked in its favour because the voters list was bloated, was able to publish a chart showing how it had already won the elections.

A point to note here is that the PPP had last year vigorously campaigned against the House to House registration exercise, a move by GECOM to cleanse the list of dead or long migrated people, because it was in possession of thousands of national identification cards belonging to those who were deceased or had left the voting jurisdiction.

In the end, the Guyana voters list ended up with a total of 660,000 voters from a population estimated officially at 780,000. This means

that when one added the national schools population of about 260,000 it meant that the national population would have skyrocketed to beyond one million people.

Guyana has never recorded a population in excess of 800,000.

So all the contesting parties approached March 2, 2020 knowing full well that the list was extremely bloated and that at least 200,000 extra ballots that would not have been needed in any circumstances whatsoever on voting day, were in fact printed and distributed by GECOM to Presiding Officers at polling stations.

This and the fact that the list was not cleansed of dead and long migrated people, meant that it was easy for

colluding polling day staff to conspire, to allow for these two categories of people to vote as the current recount and audit is revealing so glaringly. Most are known to have, incidentally, voted for the PPP. As we have seen during the recount of boxes on the East Coast, GECOM has found hundreds of ballots stuffed in these boxes for the PPP. There are no supporting documents whatsoever, no List of Electors, poll books, nothing. This is just a case of sheer, naked ballot stuffing.

No wonder the PPP was so confident that it had won.

These raw ballot stuffing incidents have of course been unearthed in areas along the coast which are known to vote for the PPP. This is also why the PPP had been pressing for a simple numerical recount of Region Four only, knowing what its agents would have done.

The recount and audit began under the watchful eyes of a monitoring team from the Caribbean Community on May, 6th - two months after Guyanese voted - with an initial 25-day agreed counting period that has since been extended.

Since then, some amazing incidents of fraud, illegal activities and malfeasance have been uncovered. For example, the ballot papers of thousands of votes by Guyana’s Disciplined Services have been found not to contain the official GECOM stamp that presiding officers must legally place on them to make them legal. The Disciplined Services have traditionally voted overwhelming for the Coalition or its predecessor party, the People’s National Congress (PNC). PPP agents say these were mere mistakes by polling day staff.

The Recount/Audit process has unearthed a number of cases where ballots cast with clear markings for the Coalition have mysteriously ended up in PPP folders.

This is part of the main reason why the PPP had so vigorously opposed the audit process, demanding that only a simple numerical count of votes in boxes be done, no auditing.

They wanted no examination of the process so that deliberate acts of fraud would have been missed, ignored by a simple count of ballots rather than an audit.

The Recount process has

also viewed instances of ballots cast for the Coalition in one Electoral Region ending up in ballot boxes of another.

This is designed to boost PPP numbers in the particular region so that it could win the region and control the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and gain an additional Member of Parliament.

This is yet another indication of the various political ruses used by the PPP to rob the Coalition of votes and to boost its own numbers.

The PPP is traditionally supported by Guyana’s Indo population, now down to 38.5 percent of the population from 51 percent 25 years ago, so even if every single Indian voted for the PPP it cannot win an election without support from other races and without engaging in acts of systematic cheating. This is the reason why it has gone to such lengths to steal the elections by any means necessary. The Coalition will fight to the end to ensure that the PPP does not get away with this.

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

Sunday June 07, 2020

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Kaieteur News

The Fine Line between ’Civilization’ and Anarchy - The George Floyd riots

By Glenville Ashby, PhD As echoes of the 1965 Watts Riots, the 1968 Washington D.C., Riots, and the 1991 LA Riots erupt through dozens of US cities, academicians, politicians and laypersons struggle to come to terms with the violent reaction to the murder of George Floyd by a police officer.

No one could look at the video of Floyd’s death without revulsion, that everyone agrees. But as legitimate protests surrender to those bent on laying waste to order and security, we are left with a host of questions, none more so than the issue of institutionalized prejudice and the deprivation of large segments of society.

Unquestionably, a genuine discussion on race relations in the US is paramount and can no longer be swept under the rug. Centuries of democracy have failed to correct structural inequities, a failure shared by every political party. Interestingly, “Black Lives Matter” was birthed during the administration of a Black president and a Black attorney general. Indeed, telling.

I believe, like Jean Jacques Rousseau, that man by nature is good, that kindness trumps material achievements and, in times past, benevolence and sound governance did prevail. Rousseau envisioned a society, a general will that was once void of egoism and driven by compassion.

Overtime, though, society has eroded that goodness by

entrenched, systemic injustice that derails hopes and dreams; that society has devolved into a state of unnaturalness. Society has turned on its head creating, many argue, a Hobbesian culture that warehouses the poor while corrupting the soul of men.

We have become predatory and unforgiving, “poor, nasty and brutish.” It is against this backdrop that apologists for leftist violence base their manifesto. They are the promoters of an apoplectic response to social injustice, and champion that the order of things must be shaken, torn down, and replaced by a new Zeitgeist. But as some march toward anarchy, we caution of the finest of lines that separate order from mindless, unpredictable destruction.

No less a personage than Karl Marx warned against the lumpenproletariat, a small percentage of rogues (today’s anarchists) that stymie the revolution we deserve. Anarchists have hijacked legitimate protests to advance their own agenda. Protesting the death of George Floyd was never on their agenda. Theirs is a counter cultural message, a violence-based strategy bent on uprooting social institutions.

With over two hundred businesses gutted in Minneapolis and scores of fires ignited throughout the city, recovery is that more foreboding given the contraction of the economy. As in the case of every riot in the US, cities

already deprived are hardest hit.

Then, to what end should anarchy be ever accommodated? Social activists in economically challenged communities have seen through the self-serving agenda of these operatives who cross state lines to peddle their poisonous wares.

Anarchy is a social phenomenon that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. addressed.

Seemingly at odds with his renowned ‘I have a Dream’ speech, some hold that he was empathetic to rioting when he spoke at the American Psychology Annual Convention in 1967. He said, “Urban riots should be understood. Urban riots are a special form of violence. They are not insurrections. The rioters are not seeking to seize territory or to attain control of institutions...[Urban riots] are a distorted form of social protest...”

Notably, he made a distinction between social rage and insurrection (anarchy).

The latter, he noted, “has no social function.”

In similar vein, we must not cede ground to those that do not have the genuine interests of poor communities.

A milquetoast, pandering approach to mob rule by city and state leaders leaves lawabiding citizens defenceless.

Moreover, it is an abdication of their constitutional duty to protect their citizenry. Sadly, the horse has left the barn making the restoration of order that more difficult.

The case of Black

Glenville Ashby, PhD firefighter, Korboi Balla, a resident of Minneapolis, best demonstrates this point. Balla, who was set to open a sports bar, saw his accomplishments engulfed in flames.

He can only muster, “I don’t know what we’re going

to do. It hurts, man. It’s not fair, it’s not right. We’ve been working so hard for this place.

It’s not just for me, it’s for my family.”

This is but one of many depressing tales of small businesses already reeling from the COVID-19 outbreak.

Since the outbreak of violence in that city, some 250 businesses have been vandalised or gutted.

Of the carnage, Minneapolis Mayor, Jacob Frey, commented, “What we’ve seen over the last two days, and the emotion-ridden conflict over last night, is the result of so much built-up anger and sadness, anger and sadness that has been ingrained in our Black community not just because of five minutes of horror but 400 years.

If you’re feeling that sadness and that anger, it’s not only understandable. It’s a reflection of the truth that our

Black community has lived.

While not from lived experience, that sadness must also be understood by our nonBlack communities. To ignore it, to toss it out, would be to ignore the values we all claim to have.”

While this is true, in no way does it justify looting and destruction of property.

Surely, we are not all brutes that Hobbes will have us believe. The images of residents picking up the pieces of what’s left are telling. Atlanta Mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, responding to the unrest in her city, said, “We are better than this as a country.”

I couldn’t agree more.

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

F e e d b a c k : glenvilleashby@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter@glenvilleashby

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Sunday June 07, 2020

Kaieteur News

A cautionary lesson that should not be overlooked in pursuit of development (A review of David Granger’s The The Rupununi Rebellion) David Granger’s The Rupununi Rebellion is an eye-opening account and analysis of an attempted secession which occurred in the Rupununi District in 1969. The book unravels the demographic, economic, geographic, strategic, political and sociological complexities of the Rebellion.

A group of rich ranchers, almost exclusively members of a single clan of relatives, executed an insurrection in the Rupununi – Guyana’s largest, remotest and southernmost district – on 2nd January 1969. The plan entailed the secession of the District and the declaration of a ‘Republic of the Rupununi’.

The intended new state was to be aligned to Venezuela which, at the time, had resurrected its territorial claim to more than two thirds of the country, including the District in which the rebellion occurred.

The insurrectionists launched their main attack on the town of Lethem, the administrative centre. They began their assault on the Town’s police station, killing four policemen and arresting other government officials, including the District Commissioner, who were impris-

oned in the abbatoir. The rebels held sway for almost two days until troops from the 2nd Battalion of the Guyana Defence Force were deployed from the military base at Atkinson Field to quell their rebellion.

The insurrectionists, although equipped with rifles, modern 50-caliber machine guns and anti-tank recoilless rocket-launchers, were outmaneuvered by the better armed and trained soldiers. Many rebels, including the masterminds and the presumptive ‘president’ of the ‘Republic of the Rupununi’, escaped and sought asylum across the borders.

Guyana, at the time of the Rebellion, had attained its Independence only thirty-one months earlier in May 1966.

The Rupununi Rebellion represented, therefore, “…the single most serious threat to national security and territorial integrity… [and]… the sternest test of statehood and social solidarity.”

The Rupununi District is frontier territory. Bordering both Brazil and Venezuela, its most notable feature is its sprawling grasslands which, though not very fertile, allow for large-scale cattle-rearing.

The District’s isolation and

stunted development created conditions for fomenting the Rebellion.

The Rebellion occurred against the backdrop of strained relations with the country’s western neighbour, Venezuela which had repudiated the 1899 Arbitral Award which had definitively settled the territorial controversy just prior to Guyana’s Independence in 1966.

The Geneva Agreement between the United Kingdom, Venezuela and British Guiana, the latter still a colony, provided for the establishment of a Mixed Commission which would examine the controversy which had developed as a result of Venezuela’s repudiation of the Arbitral Award.

Venezuela, despite the Geneva Agreement, resorted to forceful measures in the same Independence year, including the occupation of Guyana’s portion of Ankoko Island in the Cuyuni River which forms part of the border between the two countries.

Prime Minister Forbes Burnham addressed the nation two days after the Rupununi Rebellion. He accused the ranchers and Venezuela of complicity in the insurrection. It was revealed that the rebels had received training and support from Venezuela.

Prime Minister Burnham

pointed, also, to the relationship between the conspirators and the United Force, a local political party which was once in a coalition with the People’s National Congress.

He did not accuse the United Force out-rightly of complicity in the Rebellion, even though there were subtle suggestions to this effect. Certain officials of the United Force were prohibited from entering the District after the Rebellion.

The Rebellion is a riveting tale of conspiracy, intrigue and treason; it provides a captivating plot for an action-movie script. A book, however, can be just as entertaining and exciting as a movie. The task of narrating and analyzing the Rebellion has fallen to David Granger.

He has not disappointed.

Granger has produced a masterly and meticulously-researched work which dissects the complexities of the revolt.

The Rupununi Rebellion is arranged, conveniently, into five main sections, namely: . A new state – painting the broad historical, geographical and social canvas of the Rebellion; . The remote frontier – exploring the economic, geographical and sociological factors of the District; . A criminal conspiracy – detailing the secessionist plot and its execution; . The defence of the district – examining the daring military counter-offensive to the Rebellion; and . The aftermath of treason – examining the national reaction to the Rebellion.

Land access is an incendiary and emotive subject which can ignite insecurities and fears. This was less the case in the Rupununi in 1969 where ranchers had appropriated vast acreages and felt threatened when the Amerindian Lands Commission was established to examine the issue of the land rights of the Indigenous people throughout the country. The ranchers feared dispossession and displacement from their immense leases and ‘hacienda’ lifestyle and the granting of titles to the indigenous Makushi and Wapishana people many of whom they employed as ‘vaqueros.’

The book’s main shortcoming, perhaps, is that greater consideration was not given to the insecurities of the ranchers. Granger, notes, fairly and even-handedly, that one of the ranchers behind the Rebellion had expressed

concerns about the Government’s refusal to renew their land leases. The relative isolation of the Rupununi from the rest of the country would have contributed to the rancher’s fears of being uprooted from lands which their families had controlled for decades.

David Granger brings a unique perspective to this recounting of the Rebellion. He was, at that time in 1969, a young officer in the country’s Defence Force and the Adjutant of the Battalion which was deployed to quell the Rebellion. He had eye-witness experience and first-hand knowledge of the military operation launched to counter the rebel offensive.

He has scrupulously mined a wealth of sources, backed by personal experience, in producing this book.

Despite his own role in quelling the Rebellion, Granger has succeeded in producing a dispassionate analysis of the causes and consequence of the treason.

The Rupununi Rebellion is an outstanding work of scholarship. It is richly researched, citing Brazilian anthropological sources and the texts of statements by the Prime Minister, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Permanent Mission to the United Nations. It analyses

the convergence of geography, ethnography, economics, politics and international relations in fomenting a bloody insurrection in a small, newlyindependent state. The book’s text is complemented by illustrations, appendices and maps to help the reader gain a richer understanding of the Rebellion’s setting, its causes, execution and eventual suppression. The Rebellion is a cautionary lesson to those who overlook these factors in pursuing development.

The Rupununi Rebellion is not a new book. It was first published in 2009 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Rebellion. It was republished ten years later in 2019 to mark the 50th anniversary of the event. The book remains the most comprehensive, yet concise, and authoritative record of the Rupununi Rebellion.

David Granger, with this book, has provided an invaluable service to the recording of the country’s history. His account and analysis preserves the memory of the Rebellion and, in so doing, ensures that it will not be relegated to historical obscurity.

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

Sunday June 07, 2020

Kaieteur News

Coronavirus: The Tsunami that comes in waves

By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine As we may know, when a tsunami hits, it causes major devastation and often overwhelms countries and their systems.

The devastating effects of the Tsunami often lies in the waves that comes after the first wave; these waves tend to be larger and spread further.

Experts are concerned that the COVID-19 pandemic may act in a similar manner in some countries if they begin to relax and return to normalcy too fast.

Today, I will highlight our situation and the possibilities that await us depending on how we act.

WHEREARE WE NOW? As I pen this article, we have gone five days without any new confirmed infection.

While this seems to be a step

in the right direction, it does not mean that the virus is gone.

There are still active cases in Guyana and there is the possibility of infected persons that have not been detected or are in the incubation period of the infection. For us to have some amount of certainty that we have weathered the storm, we need to have a minimum of 14 days without any new case.

ARE WE THAT LUCKY? It seems that we have so far been very lucky. Our response to this pandemic has not been the “model” approach. It seems that we have been exposed to a weaker strain of the virus that is not as devastating as the other strains that are wreaking havoc in some countries.

Our climate (higher temperature) and lower population density have also made it more challenging for the vi-

rus to spread. This does not mean that its over for us. A stronger strain of the virus can be easily introduced by an infected traveller coming from a country with the said strain.

WHAT POSSIBILITIES AWAITS US? We have to be cautious and be prepared for the possibility of a second and third wave of infection which has the potential to be more devastating.

These waves can either come from an imported strain that’s more virulent or from us relaxing and starting to ease social distancing which causes an upsurge in the viral spread.

There is also the possibility of the current wave of infection dissipating and we manage to prevent new infections from occurring by working together to adhere to prevention guidelines.

WHAT CAN WE DO? If the current trend continues, we will have to find that balance between trying to sustain a semblance of societal normalcy but restrain ourselves sufficiently to minimize viral spread.

For us to do the latter successfully, we have to minimize our public appearance and only venture out for necessities, wear masks once we are out, practice social distancing and ensure we strictly adhere to hand and general hygiene principles.

CAN THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION RESULTS IMPACT THE SPREAD? We are currently winding down on the recount of ballots from our 2020 elections.

There will be winners and losers.

My concern is that supporters of the winning party may gather to celebrate vic-

tory, or the supporters of the losing party may gather to protest their frustration. None of these can be good for us as it will only make the environment conducive for the virus to spread. If this occurs, we may not be able to ride the waves of the tsunami to come.

Let us all be responsible and express our emotions in a responsible manner and focus on saving our country, our lives, and the lives of our

PAGE 23

Dr. Zulfikar Bux loved ones.

Countries with responsible citizens are the ones that are successful. Let’s all be responsible for the sake of our motherland.

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Sunday June 07, 2020

Kaieteur News

SUNDAY ELECTION DAY PROCESS SO IMPRESSIVE THAT IT WAS “IMPOSSIBLE TO CHEAT” – EU AMBASSADOR EU Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando PonzCantó, is of the view that the systems put in place during Guyana’s March 2 General and Regional Elections were so robust that it was impossible to cheat.

In fact, Ponz- Cantó pointed to the real credibility issue being the Region Four tabulation.

He made these and other comments in a recent interview with TVG Channel 28.

Describing the Election Day process, the Ambassador said: “It was quite impressive because when you are in one of those voting stations, you could see the agents from the different parties. You could see the presiding officers. You could see the members of the voting committee tables. And they were all extremely conscientious.”

The Ambassador even said that some of what were in place at the polling stations in Guyana weren’t available in his home country of Spain.

“One person came to vote. He or she has to identify himself, but then also, he has to be seen on the list and there are pictures, which in my country, we never had pictures. So I was quite positively impressed. And everybody could see everything. And at the end of the vote, he has to dip his finger in ink, which in my country, we never did. So I mean, it was safeguard after safeguard after safeguard. It was impossible to cheat.”

He said that though he is personally not a professional observer, it is important to note that the observer missions, including the EU observer mission, were unanimous in their judgment

on the Election Day process.

“And those guys are professionals. They know when things are going right or not,” he said.

But he pointed to issues arising out of the Region Four tabulation.

“We said it very clearly.

This tabulation process for Region Four was not credible.

It was not reflecting the will of the people. It had clearly followed a process which was not the right process. I saw it personally. I was there. I was in the tabulation centre (at Ashmins building).”

His comments echo a statement from Permanent Representative of Barbados to the OAS, Ambassador Noel Lynch on behalf of the CARICOM Group during a meeting of the OAS Permanent Council.

HARMON MAKES COALITION CASE FOR ELECTORAL FRAUD BUT… SOME STATEMENTS OF RECOUNT CONTRADICT ‘EVIDENCE’ In his second prerecorded press statement in a little over a week, former Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, doubled down on the APNU+AFC Coalition’s claims that the March 2nd elections were fraudulent as

evidenced by GECOM’s own records, even as some of the numbers he provided turned out to be false.

In his video presentation, and the transcript subsequently issued, Harmon claimed that: “Over the period 26th to the 28th of May, our agents have identified and from GECOM’s own records confirmed that there was massive voter fraud in District 7 and 8, and our election agent has written the Chairman of GECOM calling for urgent investigation and a response before the tabulated votes in the regions are announced.”

He said that over that period, the Coalition identified from GECOM records over 83 cases of irregularities.

Harmon is also the Election Agent and Campaign Manager for the incumbent APNU+AFC coalition.

“From these examinations we have formed a clear impression that Districts 1, 7, 8 and 9 has been specifically targeted for special operations by the PPP. I will focus on Electoral Districts 7 and 8 today. For example, in Ballot Box 7079, 352 ballots were issued on Election Day, yet 377 were discovered in the box at the recount.”

He also said that in Ballot Box 7024, fifty (50) counterfoils were missing from the ballots issued.

“This means that fifty (50) ballots have been casted elsewhere.

Similar occurrences were found in Ballot Box 7003, where the wrong list of electors was found in the box. In Ballot Box 7060, the list of electors ticked off for another station was found in this box.

Additionally, there were seven (7) extra ballots cast in excess of the list and any other procedure which would allow it. We noted the flagrant misuse of oaths of identity.”

According to Harmon, this meant that there were persons who casted ballots without any identification and

without evidence of an oath of identity.

“There were 326 such cases identified in 27 Ballot Boxes and might I remind you viewers and listeners that these emanate from GECOM’s own record at the recount and for which we have written requesting an investigation.”

GUYANANEEDS TO INVESTIGATE FLARING ON LIZA DESTINY – GAS DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR SAYS EPA, EXXONMOBIL EXCUSES HAVE NO SOLID BASIS Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams, had told Kaieteur News on numerous occasions that the flaring by ExxonMobil on the Liza Destiny oil vessel was due to mechanical issues experienced with a gas compressor.

As a result of the difficulties encountered, over nine billion cubic feet of gas was flared.

Dr. Adams had given assurances that the burning of the associated gas which releases harmful toxins into the environment would have come to an end since Friday last.

But up to two days ago, the American oil giant was still burning the gas that was supposed to be re-injected.

According to the EPA Head, ExxonMobil is still experiencing issues with the compressor.

He was happy to report, nonetheless, that the amount of gas being flared has been reduced significantly.

Adams said that the company was burning about 80 million cubic feet of gas per day but now it is down to 15.

He assured that ExxonMobil is working to address the issues being

experienced while noting that it could all be over in a matter of weeks.

While Dr. Adams appears unalarmed by ExxonMobil’s flaring activities, there are other industry experts who are convinced the Guyanese populace is being told halftruths.

One such person is senior gas development advisor, Millan A. Einstein, who has over 40 years experience working in the industry.

During an exclusive interview, the international expert who has worked in Venezuela, Mexico and Kuwait, categorically stated that the excuse offered by Dr. Adams for flaring has no solid basis. “…Every sensitive equipment leaving a manufacturing plant goes through a rigorous quality check. There are various levels of quality control in place. So if they claim the equipment they received was malfunctioning then whoever they are dealing with for offshore projects like Liza Phase One may not be established.”

MONDAY MORE OF MINGO’S MAGIC NUMBERS SURFACE… SO FAR 25 BALLOT BOXES SHOW MINGO ADDED 1,214 VOTES TO APNU+AFC AND SUBTRACTED 341 FROM PPP/C Kaieteur News on Monday reported evidence of a 25th ballot box that shows Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo manipulating the votes of his District’s electorate to favour the governing Coalition, APNU+AFC. This latest box, Ballot Box 4143, is one recounted last Sunday from a

polling place housed at a private dwelling, Tracey Matthew’s Residence at Kaneville, Grove Housing Scheme, used as a place of poll on Election Day. For this box, labelled 4143, the original statement of poll showed 72 votes for PPP/ C, and 120 votes for APNU+AFC. Mingo’s tabulation added 50 votes to APNU+AFC, increasing the count to 170. The statement of recount showed an increase from the statement of poll of one vote for APNU+AFC, 121, likely due to a previously rejected vote being now considered valid at the recount.

So far, this newspaper has verified Mingo’s vote manipulation to have impacted 25 ballot boxes, all coming from polling places on the East Bank of Demerara. The manipulation occurred during the tabulation process when instead of calling out the numbers reflected on the original SOPs at various polling stations, the Returning Officer produced figures that invariably added votes to the Coalition and in many instances subtracted votes from the opposition.

Kaieteur News’ analysis of the 25 ballot boxes shows that Mingo’s tabulation subtracted 341 votes from PPP/C, and added 1,214 votes to APNU+AFC. This amounts to a total variance of 1,555 votes from the corresponding statements of poll.

Kaieteur News’ analysis is based on audio recordings, published by The Citizenship Initiative (TCI) Executive Member, Shaz Ally, of Mingo’s General Election numbers being called out during the Kingston tabulation, for 21 ballot boxes, and figures supplied for four ballot boxes by the Head of (Continued on page 25)

Sunday June 07, 2020

From page 24 the Organization of American States (OAS) Observer Mission, Bruce Golding, in the mission’s preliminary report on Guyana’s 2020 Elections to the OAS Permanent Council.

ALLOWING EXXONMOBIL LOBBYIST TO REVISE GUYANA’S OIL LAWS IS A RECIPE FOR FAILURE – DR. MANGAL Guyana’s oil laws and regulations need to be revised with a great degree of urgency as they are more than 30 years old.

But hiring a registered ExxonMobil lobbyist for this critical task is certainly not the way to go says former Presidential Advisor, Dr. Jan Mangal. In fact, the international consultant told Kaieteur News that it is a sure recipe for failure.

Dr. Mangal’s comments come on the heels of a recent exposé this newspaper published, which showed that American law firm, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, shares a very close relationship with ExxonMobil.

Kaieteur’s investigation found that on 19th July, 2016, the law firm had filed a lobbying registration form to represent Exxon Mobil Corporation. The specific issues they would lobby for in ExxonMobil’s interest included Clean Air Act Regulatory Issues, Clean Water Act, Regulatory Issues, Early Action Compact Legislation, Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard Deadline Harmonization Act, Clean Air Implementation Act of 2015, and the Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2016.

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Kaieteur News

The lawyer who is listed on the document to represent the client is Charles H. Knauss. He is a partner at the firm.

GECOM CHAIR, IMMIGRATION EXCHANGE INFORMATIONABOUT COALITION’S ALLEGATIONS The Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice Claudette Singh has received information from the Immigration Department, to support her investigation into the claims made by APNU+AFC during the National Recount of votes.

A letter from the Commissioner of Police Leslie James, dated May 27, 2020, was sent to the Chair, in response to her earlier letter of May 22, 2020, seeking confirmation whether persons APNU+AFC alleges were out of the country, in fact were.

Kaieteur News was informed that Justice Singh forwarded a list of 200 names to Commissioner James, and that a report from the Deputy Chief Immigration Officer confirmed that 172 of those persons were in fact out of the country on Election Day. This conflicts with a claim made by APNU+AFC representative, Aubrey Norton last Friday that the Coalition sent a list of 600 names of which 90 percent were confirmed.

Norton had claimed “we have sent a first batch of 600 such information to GECOM… we are reliably informed that immigration has confirmed over 90 percent of them that were ticked, according to their records, are

out of the jurisdiction.”

The Chair’s list included 200 persons, not 600, and no proof was provided to indicate that these persons had voted on Election Day. In the picture this paper has seen of the Chair’s letter, there appears to be a part of the listed submitted attached, featuring names, a column for dates of birth, a column of featuring dates but with no discernible categorization for them, and a column simply filled with the text “-do-”.

It is unclear whether GECOM will return to the OLEs to ensure that the corresponding serial numbers and names were ticked off, or whether GECOM already did verify that the list of names

was already ticked off on the OLE to indicate that they have voted.

The Coalition has been making many objections during the recount process, and its ‘foreign voters’ claims account for 1,999 out of the 4,122 irregularities, which it claims have been unearthed.

TUESDAY TOP COP GIVES FALSE INFORMATION TO CLAUDETTE SINGH – THREE PERSONS ALREADY CONTRADICT INFO Commissioner of Police, Leslie James appears to have forwarded false information

to GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh in response to her request to verify claims made by David Granger’s APNU+AFC coalition, according to documents Kaieteur News has seen.

Correspondence In the letter to Singh, dated May 21, 2020, APNU+AFC Campaign CoChair, Joseph Harmon stated that “During the recount, Agents of the APNU+AFC made objections at the Counting Stations to the voting and counting of ballots by certain Electors after the Counting Agents indicated that the said Electors were recorded as having voted at the March, 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. Our investigations have revealed that Electors were outside the jurisdiction and were recorded as voted. I hereby supply a further list of Electors listed in the Appendix to this letter who were not in Guyana as at the 2nd of March, 2020, and were recorded as voted.”

Singh had subsequently written to the Police Commissioner on May 22, asking him to cause the Immigration Department to verify that the persons whose names were selected by the Coalition were out of the country on Election Day. “The APNU/AFC is alleging,” Singh told James in the letter, “that persons whose names and dates of birth appear on the list attached had migrated and could not have exercised their franchise on March 2, 2020.

In this regard I shall be grateful if you will be so kind as to cause the Immigration Department to verify whether

these persons were out of the country on March 2, 2020.”

James respond on May, 27 stating simply: “I refer to your letter dated May 22, 2020 and forward herewith report from Deputy Chief Immigration Officer for your information.”

The current Deputy Chief Immigration Officer is Senior Superintendent Ewart Wray.

IF PRESENTAND FUTURE GENERATIONSARE TO BENEFIT FROM OIL, GUYANA HAS TO EMBRACE RADICAL TRANSPARENCY – NATURAL RESOURCES SECTOR GOVERNANCE PIONEER, DANIEL KAUFMANN If present and future generations are to benefit from the extraction and exploitation of Guyana’s oil, its leaders have to look beyond the dollars and cents.

World-renowned economist Daniel Kaufmann says that the authorities of the day need to embrace radical transparency and embark on a rigourous governance reform campaign.

Kaufmann who has been at the head of the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) for seven years, made these and other statements during a recent webinar on the governance of natural resources during the COVID-19 crisis.

In offering his perspective on Guyana, the pioneer in the field of governance and anticorruption worldwide, was keen to note that oil was discovered at breakneck speed by ExxonMobil while being overshadowed by a (Continued on page 32)

PAGE 32

From page 25 deal that is not considered to be in the nation’s best interest. With the country producing oil in record time, Kaufmann who received his PhD in economics at Harvard, said that Guyana’s success goes beyond the matter of doing a proper cost-benefit analysis.

“In terms of benefitting Guyana, and not only current but future generations with the major oil find is the improvement of governance frameworks. This is going to be critical,” the revered economist noted.

Kaufmann said Guyana will have to also embrace every effort to increase accountability and safeguard its wealth while noting that a critical part of the puzzle will be a proper legal and regulatory framework. The Chilean said it is no secret that there are serious concerns about the political dynamic surrounding the elections which are yet to conclude.

LETTER TO COMMISSIONER OF POLICE… CLAUDETTE SINGH ACTED ON OWN ACCORD – PRO SAYS WASN’T A COMMISSION DECISION Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Ret’d Justice Claudette Singh took the decision on her own accord to request from the Immigration Department, verification to support the claims being made by the APNU+AFC Coalition of migrant voters during the National Recount.

This was confirmed by GECOM’s PRO Yolanda Ward who revealed that the decision taken was not that of the six-member Commission.

“I know the commissioners were aware of the intent but specifically as

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it relates to a decision of the commission, I will not be able to say,” Ward told the media Monday.

It was Commissioner Vincent Alexander who brought the issue to the fore when he revealed that the GECOM Chair had received information from the coalition about ‘migrant voters’ and that the Chair wrote to the Chief Immigration Officer to verify that information.

Alexander had said that all of the Commissioners were present when Justice Singh stated that she had received information from the Coalition and that she had sent it off for verification. However, shortly after he made that disclosure, Opposition nominated Commissioner, Sase Gunraj – when questioned if he knew of the letter sent by the Chair – told the media that he was unaware that such a decision was taken, and that if it was, it was not one taken by the Commission.

Ward, when asked to clarify how the Commission was informed about Justice Singh’s position said “This Commission meets regularly almost every day as the need arises; the day there was a meeting, it was discussed at the level of the meeting.”

WEDNESDAY FOLLOWING K/NEWS EXPOSÉ… EXXONMOBIL LOBBYIST BOLTS FROM CONTRACT TO REWRITE GUYANA’S OIL LAWS After being hammered for three months by Kaieteur News regarding its close relationship with ExxonMobil, US law firm, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP has disclosed that it has dropped the contract it won in February to rewrite the nation’s outdated oil laws. The law firm made

this known via an email to this news agency Tu e s d a y.

In that correspondence, the law firm’s Director of Public Relations, Lisa Franz, said that the newspaper “mistakenly” reported that it is representing the Government on law reform for the petroleum sector. Franz continued, “Hunton Andrews Kurth has performed no legal work for the Government of Guyana, and informed the Government in March that it would not represent the Government in the matter that was the subject of your article.”

It should be noted that Kaieteur News was not “mistaken” on any information it provided as suggested by Franz.

In early February of this year, it was Energy Department Director, Dr. Mark Bynoe, who informed the nation that Hunton Andrews Kurth, had been selected, “with the blessings of the Wo r l d Bank”, to m o d e r n i z e G u y a n a ’s legal and regulatory framework for the oil i n d u s t r y. I t w a s a l s o noted by Dr. Bynoe that the company would be working closely with Guyanese firm, Cameron & Shepherd on the US$1.2M contract which was supposed to last for o n e y e a r. T h e E n e r g y Director had said that the firm would also provide legal advice to the Department of Energy on all matters related to the oil and gas sector. One month later, one of the UK’s top publications, The Guardian, noted that the firm which was selected by the Energy Department enjoys a 40-year-old relationship with

ExxonMobil.

SWEAR IN LEGITIMATE GOVT. FROM RECOUNT RESULTS – SAYS FORMER WORLD LEADERS GROUP The Elders, an organization comprised of several former heads of state and other prominent world leaders, has signalled its interest in Guyana’s current political impasse.

In a tweet Tuesday, the organization said, “The Elders continue to view the situation in #Guyana with concern, especially the recent barring of @CarterCenter observers. The will of the people must be respected through the swearing in of a legitimate Government based on the recount’s results.”

This represents the latest and most important intervention by an international organization regarding the current recount and surrounding electoral controversy, particularly the decision of the government of Guyana to ban the Carter Center observer team from returning to observe the elections recount.

The Elders was founded in 2007 by renowned SouthAfrican leader, Nelson Mandela, to tackle a series of global issues from climate change to conflict resolution.

Based in London, the organization is currently chaired

by Mary Robinson, the first female president of Ireland and includes high profile names such as former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, and Nobel Peace Prize laureates Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former Liberian President; Archbishop Desmond Tutu, South Africa; Martti Ahtisaari, former president of Finland; and Juan Manuel Santos, former president of Colombia. Founder of the Carter Center, former US president, Jimmy Carter, is also a member of the group.

MARCUS BISRAM WALKS FREE A SECOND TIME – PLANS TO SUE STATE, DPP Guyana-born American businessman, Marcus

Bisram, has been freed of the murder charge brought against him by the State, a second time.

This time, he was acquitted after a High Court Judge found that the decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was unreasonable, unlawful and was made by ignoring relevant considerations for murder.

According to documents seen by this newspaper, Justice Simone Ramlall discharged several orders which, inter alia, quashed the DPP’s decision to direct the Magistrate to commit Bisram to stand a High Court trial for the offence of murder.

Bisram was rearrested and charged again for the murder of Berbice carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt hours after he was released on March 30, last.

He was rearrested based on instructions from the DPP that there was sufficient evidence for Magistrate Renita Singh to have committed Bisram to trial in the Berbice High Court.

However, Bisram, through his attorneys, Arudranauth Gossai, Sanjeev Datadin, Glen Hanoman, Bernard Da Silva, and Dexter Todd, petitioned the High Court to overturn the decision of the DPP. The lawyers contended that the DPP’s action was ultra vires, unreasonable and outside the relevant considerations that necessitates a charge of murder.

The lawyers also contended that Bisram’s arrest on the 30th March, 2020 and his incarceration since then should be deemed unlawful. In her ruling, Justice Ramlall upheld the contentions of the attorneys, ordering Bisram’s immediate release from the Camp Street Prisons.

Mingo, rigging the votes of his District’s electorate to favour the governing Coalition, APNU+AFC. The ballot boxes, which derived from the Diamond Nursery School on the East Bank of Demerara, IPE Private School in Golden Grove, the New Diamond/ Grove Primary School, as well as the Grove Primary School, illustrate how Mingo, across these seven boxes, subtracted 51 votes from the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and added 301 to the APNU+AFC. For ballot box 4115, the Statement of Poll showed 178 votes for PPP/C, and 133 votes for the APNU+AFC. Mingo’s tabulation subtracted 20 votes from the PPP/C, decreasing the count to 158, and added 30 votes to APNU+AFC, increasing the count to 163. The Statement of Recount showed the same result as the Statement of Poll.

For ballot box 4118, the Statement of Poll showed 160 votes for PPP/C, and 81 votes for APNU+AFC. Mingo’s tabulation subtracted 20 votes from PPP/C, decreasing the count to 140, and added 20 votes to APNU+AFC, increasing the count to 101.

The Statement of Recount showed a decrease of one vote for APNU+AFC, from the Statement of Poll, to 80.

For ballot box 4128, the Statement of Poll showed 119 votes for PPP/C, and 94 votes for APNU+AFC. Mingo’s tabulation subtracted 10 votes from PPP/C, decreasing the count to 109, and added 60 votes to APNU+AFC, increasing the count to 154.

The Statement of Recount showed the same result as the Statement of Poll.

SEVEN MORE BOXES EXPOSE MINGO’S RIGGING

WITH CURRENT 13,000 VOTE LEAD BY PPP, GRANGER’S COALITION SAYS RECOUNT RESULTS NOT CREDIBLE

Kaieteur News is today reporting evidence of seven additional ballot boxes which show Region Four Returning Officer (RO), Clairmont

THURSDAY

With Wednesday night’s updated recount numbers (Continued on page 33)

Sunday June 07, 2020

From page 32 projecting a significant lead for the opposition, the APNU+AFC late sent out a press release calling the recount results not credible.

According to this paper’s latest analysis of the numbers coming out of the recount exercise, 84% of ballot boxes have been counted so far, amounting to 369,770 votes for the General Elections. This number is 105,819 votes shy of the current total of votes from the original count, 475,589.

At present, GECOM holds a pair of declarations for each of the 10 regions. Those are being held “in abeyance”.

Commissioners and the Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward had said that the declaration coming out of the recount will automatically replace those which are held in abeyance. However, a declaration from the recount will not be produced until all regions have been counted, according to Commissioners and the order for the recount.

Before a declaration is made, GECOM has to consider the numerical results alongside the observation statements, which include thousands of claims by APNU+AFC of electoral fraud.

With the People’s Progressive Party currently leading the APNU+AFC coalition by 13,050 votes via recount, this means that the coalition would have to secure 12.3 percent of that 105,819 to catch up to the PPP, with the opposition gaining no more votes. And if the coalition were to emerge as the winner, in keeping with the previous declaration, it would have to also secure the majority of the remaining 87.7 percent or 92,769 to secure the 7,501 lead it enjoyed over the PPP according to the previous declaration.

That lead that the coalition enjoyed in the declarations currently in abeyance came from the 58,826 vote ‘win’ of Region Four, handed to them by the region’s Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo in tabulations that this paper has revealed as being pervasively fraudulent.

GUYANA, OTHER BORROWING NATIONS MUST BE TRANSPARENT WITH COVID-19 AID – WORLD BANK GROUP PRESIDENT The fiscal resources of international lending agencies such as the World Bank have been scaled up to help countries cope with the economic and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through its Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility (PEF), the bank has allocated

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US$195 million to more than 60 countries. Just recently, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan revealed to the media that Guyana is in receipt of a US$1M grant under the PEF. The financial institution has also pledged to deploy US$160B in financial support over the next 15 months in more than 100 countries. This includes US$50 billion in grants and highly concessional loans.

Even as it is eager to provide this much needed financial assistance, the World Bank has sent a strong message to all governments collecting its aid, to ensure transparency is at the heart of all spending. Making this point a few days ago was President of the World Bank Group, David Malpass. The official stated that transparency should cover all financial commitments and debt-like instruments while noting that and efforts should be made to reduce the use of non-disclosure agreements and instances where the lender knows more than the people in the borrowing country.

Malpass said that these steps toward financing, liquidity and transparency are important and will help a lot.

He noted however that it would not be enough.

Making reference to one of the Bank’s most recent reports on Global Economic Prospects for 2020, Malpass said it was found that a deep global recession is pending while adding that it would be accompanied by a collapse in global trade, tourism and commodity prices and extraordinary market volatility. Further to this, the World Bank Group President said that the pandemic will have severe and long-lasting socioeconomic impacts that may weaken long-term economic growth prospects, lower investment because of elevated uncertainty, and lead to the erosion of human capital.

SIX MORE COME FORWARD TO REFUTE IMMIGRATION INFO TOP COP SENT TO GECOM Six more persons have presented signed oaths of affidavits to refute the information sent by the Immigration Department to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) that they departed Guyana and never returned.

This now amounts to 14 persons who the Immigration Department incorrectly claimed left the country.

False information On the first list of 172 names, Kaieteur News exposed that eight persons were falsely named in the

claims made by the APNU+AFC Coalition. Now, another six persons whose names were published on that list have come out to refute those claims.

Kaieteur News received a signed affidavit from Safeek Anand Kumar, listed as #55.

The Immigration Department claimed that Kumar, born on March 22, 1976, residing at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, departed Guyana on September 27, 2013 and never returned on/before Election Day. In the affidavit, Kumar swore under oath that he was present in Guyana on March 2 and voted at the Elections on the said date.

An affidavit was also received from Sursattie Ramnarine listed at #54 on the Top Cop’s list. The Immigration Department claimed that Ramnarine, born on September 29, 1981, departed Guyana on June 4, 2019 and never returned on/ before Election Day. Ramnarine, of Philadelphia, East Coast Demerara swore that she was present in Guyana on March 2, and voted on Elections on the said date in accordance with the Statutory Declarations Act, Chapter 5:09 of the Laws of Guyana.

Mohammed Sheik Ameer, born on March 26, 1967 was listed as #159. The Immigration Department claimed that he departed Guyana on June 4, 2019 and never returned on/before Election Day. Ameer of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, however, presented a signed affidavit as evidence to Kaieteur News, swearing that he was present in Guyana on March

2, and voted on Elections on the said date.

Anna Persaud, born on January 1, 1983 is #62 on the list. The Immigration Department claimed that she departed on August 15, 2016 and never returned on/before Election Day. Persaud of Tuschen East Bank Essequibo, in a signed affidavit swore that she was present in Guyana on March 2, and voted on Elections on the said date.

FRIDAY GUYANA FOOTS THE BILL FOR ANY OIL SPILL/ DISASTER BY EXXONMOBIL – CONTRACT SIGNED

BY TROTMAN In 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 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 be covered by Guyana.

OAS SAYS RECOUNTS SO FAR CREDIBLE – BUT POINTS OUT GECOM’S REFUSAL TO RELEASE ORIGINAL SOPS With days left in the National 2020 elections recount, the Organization of

American States General Secretariat Thursday 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 GECOM’s consistent 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.

GECOM SUPERVISOR REFUSES TO NOTE MINGO’S INFLATION DURING RECOUNT – TCI A supervisor working for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) National Recount has refused to note an observation by The (Continued on page 34)

PAGE 34

From page 33 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 Thursday.

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

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Kaieteur News

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.

SATURDAY EU RELEASES DAMNING ELECTIONS OBSERVER REPORT… GECOM ACCUSED OFACTING IN BLATANT VIOLATION OF THE LAW – CITES FAIR REPORTING

BY KAIETEURAND STABROEK NEWS With just estimated days left before the end of the recount exercise, the European Union Observer Mission Friday released a damning final report that had condemnations for the Guyana Election Commission post-poll behaviour, mixed reviews of the behaviour of other players, but commendation on the reporting by independent dailies Kaieteur News and Stabroek News.

The opening paragraph of the summary goes straight into what expands into a 64page scathing critique of certain aspects of the

process.

“The 2 March general and regional elections took place in a deeply polarised environment” the report begins, “Legal uncertainty, unregulated political finance, biased state media and lack of transparency in the administration of elections characterised the pre-election context, but overall the elections were competitive and contestants could campaign freely.

Voting, counting and the tabulation of results in n i n e o f G u y a n a ’s t e n regions were generally well managed. However, the

integrity of the entire electoral process was seriously compromised by the non-transparent and non-credible tabulation of results in the largest and decisive Region 4 by senior Guyana Elections Commission officials, acting in blatant violation of the law and High Court orders issued in this regard.”

Proving a background into the events leading up to the elections, including the No Confidence Vote and the subsequent legal battle, the report places ultimate blame for the current impasse squarely at the feet of

GECOM CLAUDETTE SINGH REFUSES TO ACCEPT MINGO’S FRAUD IN OFFICIAL OBSERVATION REPORT – INVITES SEPARATE SUBMISSION FROM ANUG GECOM Chair Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh has upheld a decision by CEO Keith Lowenfield presenting any reference to Clairmont Mingo’s fraudulent vote tabulation in recount observer reports, but has invited a separate submission from A New and United Guyana (ANUG) on Mingo’s actions.

During an interview with Kaieteur News Friday evening, representative of ANUG Kian Jabour chronicled an attempt made by his party to note numbers which have been unearthed from the national recount but differed from the declarations that have been made by Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo during his controversial tabulation of the region’s state of polls. During the attempt to record the information Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield had arrived during the week at one of the workstations and instructed the supervisors not to include in the observation report any claims of irregularities with Mingo’s infamous tabulations.

Against this Jabour said, “ I approached him on the matter and I brought up the provision in the order which clearly states that any party is allowed to make an allegation as long as it is correctly worded on the observation report. He let me know that this is a different scenario and that he could not allow that.”

The party representative

went on to say that there was a back and forth between him and Lowenfield in the context that GECOM was allowing unproven “evidence” of death certification and immigration records in those reports, but stanchly refused to note an observation which has been proven in numerous articles by Kaieteur News.

PPP LEADING RECOUNT

BY MORE THAN 16,000 VOTES – 167 BOXES LEFT TO BE COMPLETED On Day 31 of the National Recount exercise, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) managed to complete an additional 76 ballot boxes, with the opposition PPP gaining now 16,000 lead votes over the incumbent APNU+AFC. This now increases the total number of recounted ballot boxes to 2,172, with 167 remaining to be counted.

GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward, informed the media Friday evening that the distribution for boxes was 76 for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). The recount for all other regions has been completed.

According to Ward, of the total number of Statements of Recount, 2,153were tabulated for the General Election and 2,133 for the Regional Election.

So far, the recount at its current stage has put the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in the lead with a total of 210,310 while the A Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) accumulated a total of 193,939 votes. These are according to final totals as of Friday published by The Citizenship Initiative (TCI).

Those figures show the PPP leading by 16,371 votes, 10,000 votes more than the previous day’s total

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Ansa Mcal presents grand ENETWORKS ALL SET TO AIR “I MAY Stag-errific Father’s Day Promotion DESTROY YOU” SERIES TONIGHT For all the television fanatics in search of the next big hit, the Enetworks team has selected another promising series that you wouldn’t want to miss. It’s called, “I May Destroy You,” a sexual consent drama from rising British star Michaela Coel. Kaieteur Entertainment understands that it is set to debut on HBO on Sunday June 7 at 10:30pm.

The series, which was

previously known as January 22nd, explores the question of sexual consent in contemporary life and how, in the new landscape of dating and relationships, we make the distinction between liberation and exploitation. It was created by Chewing Gum creator and Black Earth Rising star Coel.

It also stars Weruche Opia (Inside No9), Paapa Essiedu (Kiri) Aml Ameen

(Yardie), Adam James (Belgravia), Sarah Niles (Catastrophe) and Ann Akin (Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams), Harriet Webb (Plebs), Ellie James (Giri/Haji), Franc Ashman (Peep Show), Karan Gill (Flesh & Blood), Natalie Walter (Horrible Histories) and newcomer Samson Ajewole. Make sure you mark your calendars for this one of a kind drama.

Berbice Beauty Ambassador is the new Miss Earth Guyana

For Father ’s Day, the management team for the Stag beer that is distributed at Ansa Mcal Trading Limited, has launched the most awesome “stag-errific” promotion that you don’t want to miss out on. To enter, all you have to do is purchase

a six pack of Stag, write your name, address and telephone number at the back of your bill, and place it into entry boxes that are available at outlets in Georgetown, East Bank Demerara, East Berbice, East Coast Demerara, Essequibo coast, Bartica and

Linden.

The prizes up for grabs include a bar-b-que grill, coolers filled with stag, two cases of stag and one 125 Honda Motorcycle. The promotion runs until monthend. The drawing date is set for July 4, 2020.

Like most events, the coronation for Miss Earth Guyana 2020 was cancelled due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19. But after several months of consideration and deliberation, the Miss Earth Guyana Organization had made the difficult decision to shift its 2020 applicants to its 2021 National Competition. In the meantime, Miss EcoGuyana 2019, Cintiana Harry was signed as Miss Earth Guyana 2020. Rightfully, Harry is next in line for the selection after her outstanding performance during the 2019 Miss Earth Guyana Competition. In 2018, Harry was crowned Miss Berbice “I am Big a Deal” 1st runner-up and in 2019, she was crowned as the first Miss Eco-Guyana. Miss Eco Guyana is significant to the Miss Earth Guyana brand as it comprises the responsibilities for the three elements air, water and fire.

The Organization is also pleased to welcome Dr. Omesh Balmacoon as the franchise’s new National Director.

Dr. Balmacoon served as the brand’s Managing Director for the period 2017June, 2020. With his years of experience and that of his team, and the partnership of NGO, rECOver, Guyana can soon expect to capture the Miss Earth title.

In a statement on Facebook, the brand’s new Director expressed the following sentiments to outgoing National Director, Mr. Dave Lalltoo “Miss Earth Guyana could not want for a better National Director. Your motivation and vision was what pushed both Guyana Premier and Miss Earth Guyana into new spheres. I

Cintiana Harry is the new Miss Earth Guyana know better than most people pageant. Nellys Pimentel of what justification there is for Puerto Rico will crown her your moving on to “greener” successor at the end of the avenues so kudos. When event. Guyana’s participation your heart leads you, and you at the 20th Edition of the Miss follow, you usually end up in Earth pageant will be carefully places where you grow examined taking into exponentially.” consideration the safety of its Miss Earth 2020 will be the team, sponsors and new 20th edition of the Miss Earth queen.

Sunday June 07, 2020

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The Amazing benefits of Pineapples http://www.whfoods.com: Pineapples have exceptional juiciness and a vibrant tropical flavor that balances the tastes of sweet and tart.

Although the season for pineapple runs from March through June, they are available year-round in local markets.

Pineapples are a composite of many flowers whose individual fruitlets fuse together around a central core. Each fruitlet can be identified by an “eye,” the rough spiny marking on the pineapple’s surface.

Pineapples have a wide cylindrical shape, a scaly green, brown or yellow skin and a regal crown of spiny, blue-green leaves and fibrous yellow flesh. The area closer to the base of the fruit has more sugar content and therefore a sweeter taste and more tender texture.

Health Benefits Potential Anti-Inflammatory and Digestive Benefits Bromelain is a complex mixture of substances that can be extracted from the stem and core fruit of the pineapple.

Among dozens of components known to exist in this crude extract, the best studied components are a group of protein-digesting enzymes (called cysteine proteinases). Originally, researchers believed that these enzymes provided the key health benefits found in bromelain, a popular dietary supplement containing these pineapple extracts. In addition, researchers believed that these benefits were primarily limited to help with digestion in the intestinal tract. However, further studies have shown that bromelain has a wide variety of health benefits, and that many of these benefits may not be related to the different enzymes found in this extract.

Excessive inflammation, excessive coagulation of the blood, and certain types of tumor growth may all be reduced by therapeutic doses of bromelain when taken as a dietary supplement. Studies are not available, however, to show these same potential benefits in relationship to normal intake of pineapple within a normal meal plan.

Bromelain extracts can be obtained from both the fruit core and stems of pineapple.

Potentially important chemical differences appear to exist between extracts obtained from the stem versus the core fruit. However, the practical relevance of these differences is not presently understood. Most of the laboratory research on bromelain has been conducted using stem-based

extracts, however.

Although healthcare practitioners have reported improved digestion in their patients with an increase in pineapple as their “fruit of choice” within a meal plan, we haven’t seen published studies that document specific changes in digestion following consumption of the fruit (versus supplementation with the purified extract.

However, we suspect that the core fruit will eventually turn out to show some unique health-supportive properties, including possible digestionrelated and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Antioxidant Protection and Immune Support Vitamin C is the body’s primary water-soluble antioxidant, defending all aqueous areas of the body against free radicals that attack and damage normal cells. Free radicals have been shown to promote the artery plaque build-up of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease, cause the airway spasm that leads to asthma attacks, damage the cells of the colon so they become colon cancer cells, and contribute to the joint pain and disability seen in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. This would explain why diets rich in vitamin C have been shown to be useful for preventing or reducing the severity of all of these conditions. In addition, vitamin C is vital for the proper function of the immune system, making it a nutrient to turn to for the prevention of recurrent ear infections, colds, and flu.

Manganese and Thiamin (Vitamin B1) for Energy Production and Antioxidant Defenses Pineapple is an excellent source the trace mineral manganese, which is an essential cofactor in a number of enzymes important in energy production and antioxidant defenses. For example, the key oxidative enzyme superoxide dismutase, which disarms free radicals produced within the mitochondria (the energy production factories within our cells), requires manganese. In addition to manganese, pineapple is a good source of thiamin, a B vitamin that acts as a cofactor in enzymatic reactions central to energy production.

Protection against Macular Degeneration Your mother may have told you carrots would keep your eyes bright as a child, but as an adult, it looks like fruit is even more important for keeping your sight. Data reported in a study published

in the Archives of Ophthalmology indicates that eating 3 or more servings of fruit per day may lower your risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults, by 36%, compared to persons who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily.

In this study, which involved over 110,000 women and men, researchers evaluated the effect of study participants’ consumption of fruits; vegetables; the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E; and carotenoids on the development of early ARMD or neovascular ARMD, a more severe form of the illness associated with vision loss. While, surprisingly, intakes of vegetables, antioxidant vitamins and carotenoids were not strongly related to incidence of either form of ARMD, fruit intake was definitely protective against the severe form of this vision-destroying disease. Three servings of fruit may sound like a lot to eat each day, but pineapple can help you reach this goal.

Add fresh pineapple to your morning smoothie, lunch time yogurt, any fruit and most vegetable salads. For example, try adding chunks of pineapple to your next coleslaw or carrot salad.

Description Pineapple, Ananas comosus, belongs to the Bromeliaceae family, from which one of its most important health-promoting compounds, the enzyme bromelain, was named. The Spanish name for pineapple, pina, and the root of its English name, reflects the fruit’s visual similarity to the pinecone.

Pineapples are actually not just one fruit but a composite of many flowers whose individual fruitlets fuse together around a central core. Each fruitlet can be identified by an “eye,” the rough spiny marking on the pineapple’s surface.

Pineapples have a wide cylindrical shape, a scaly green, brown or yellow skin and a regal crown of spiny, blue-green leaves. The fibrous flesh of pineapple is yellow in color and has a vibrant tropical flavor that balances the tastes of sweet and tart. The area closer to the base of the fruit has more sugar content and therefore a sweeter taste and more tender texture.

History Although thought to have originated in South America, pineapples were first discovered by Europeans in 1493 on the Caribbean island

that came to be known as Guadalupe. When Columbus and other discovers brought pineapples back to Europe, attempts were made to cultivate the sweet, prized fruit until it was realized that the fruit’s need for a tropical climate inhibited its ability to flourish in this region. By the end of the 16th century, Portuguese and Spanish explorers introduced pineapples into many of their Asian, African and South Pacific colonies, countries in which the pineapple is still being grown today.

Since pineapples are very perishable, and modes of transportation to bring them stateside from the Caribbean Islands were relatively slow centuries ago, fresh pineapples were a rarity that became coveted by the early American colonists. While glazed, sugar-coated pineapples were a luxurious treat, it was the fresh pineapple itself that became the sought after true symbol of prestige and social class.

In fact, the pineapple,

because of its rarity and expense, was such a status item in those times that all a party hostess had to do was to display the fruit as part of a decorative centerpiece, and she would be awarded more than just a modicum of social awe and recognition.

In the 18th century, pineapples began to be cultivated in Hawaii, the only state in the U.S. in which they are still grown. In addition to Hawaii, other countries that commercially grow pineapples include Thailand, the Philippines, China, Brazil and Mexico.

How to Select and Store Look for pineapples that are heavy for their size. While larger pineapples will have a greater proportion of edible flesh, there is usually no difference in quality between a small and large size pineapple. Pineapples should be free of soft spots, bruises and darkened “eyes,” all of which may indicate that the pineapple is past its prime.

Pineapple stops ripening as soon as it is picked, so choose

fruit with a fragrant sweet smell at the stem end. Avoid pineapple that smells musty, sour or fermented.

Pineapple can be left at room temperature for one or two days before serving.

While this process will not make the fruit any sweeter, it will help it to become softer and more juicy. Yet, as they are very perishable, you should still watch them closely during this period to ensure that they do not spoil.

After two days, if you are still not ready to consume the pineapple, you should wrap it in a plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator where it will keep for a maximum of three to five days.

Pineapple that has been cut up should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It will stay fresher and retain more taste and juiciness if you also place some liquid, preferably some juice from the pineapple, in the container.

Although pineapple can be frozen, this process greatly affects its flavor.

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Sunday June 07, 2020

Kaieteur News

STANDARD IN FOCUS

IMPROVING FOOD SAFETY ON WORLD ACCREDITATION DAY On Tuesday, June 09, 2020, Standards and Conformity Assessment Institutions like the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) across the globe will join in commemorating World Accreditation Day (WAD) under the theme “How Accreditation Improves Food Safety”.

Globally, WAD is an initiative established by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), to raise awareness on the importance of accreditation.

Accreditation is the process in which certification of competency, authority, or credibility is presented. It is essentially a quality check and it is important to food safety.

Food safety describes the handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent food-borne illness.

Unsafe foods can transmit pathogens, which can result in the illness or death of persons or other animals.

Each year worldwide, unsafe food causes 600 million cases of foodborne diseases

and 420,000 deaths. Thirty percent of foodborne deaths occur among children under five years of age.

WHO estimated that 33 million years of healthy lives are lost due to eating unsafe food globally each year, and this number is likely an under-estimation.

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has been playing a very significant role in ensuring food safety through the development of international food safety standards to which

many food-related organisations are accredited.

According to ISO, never has hygiene had so much attention, including that for food. This year’s World Accreditation Day focuses on food safety and ISO has new standards in the pipeline with that in mind.

Usually, we are all now clear about washing our hands, but what about everyone else? Are they doing so?

Even more importantly, how do we know that those in the food supply chain have taken all the right hygiene steps to

keep us safe?

While there are many laws and regulations to that effect, it is Conformity Assessment, including inspection, testing, and certification that assures those requirements are being met.

However, if the testing body is not in conformance to standards the whole system falls apart. This is where accreditation comes in, ensuring that those conducting the assessments are competent, impartial, and deliver the expected results.

ISO has developed many of the International Standards referenced by regulators for assessing the competence of inspection bodies, laboratories, and certification bodies throughout the food supply chain, from crop and animal production to distribution, storage, catering, packaging, and more.

These include ISO/IEC 17020, Conformity assessment – Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection,ISO/IEC 17021-1 Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems – Part 1: Requirements, and ISO/ IEC 17065, Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes, and services.

Responding to immediate industry needs, work is now underway on a set of common food-safety-specific requirements that shall be met in addition to existing standards.The upcoming ISO 22003-2,Food safety management systems – Requirements

for bodies providing audit and certification of food safety management systems – Part 2: Requirements for bodies providing audits of food safety management system elements in conjunction with safe food product/process certification, will specify additional tailored requirements that are to be used concurrently withISO/IEC 17065. It will include internationally accepted food safety principles and management system elements.

Also, the technical specification ISO/TS 22003-1, which defines requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of food safety management systems, is currently being revised and upgraded to an International Standard. It will provide common elements for food safety certification supplemental to ISO/IEC 17021-1.

The new additions are developed in response to changes in industry regulations that are moving towards greater harmonization and consistency of requirements, which, ultimately, will improve the conformity assessment process – and food safety.

To commemorate WAD 2020, the GNBS would be hosting a free Webinar on June 09 at 09:30h to discuss Food Safety through the use of standards. Stakeholders in the food sector can participate in this event by registering online at: gnbsgy.org/ bookings.

To learn more about conformity assessment and accreditation, use the link: h t t p s : / / w w w. i s o . o r g / casco.html.

Sunday June 07, 2020

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CONSUMER CONCERNS

World No Tobacco Day Theme: “Protecting Youth From Industry Manipulation and Preventing Them From Nicotine and Tobacco Use” Informs Health Authorities Last Sunday, World No Tobacco Day was commemorated worldwide.

For the last three decades, the Guyana Consumers Association (GCA) maintained the struggle against tobacco use and was greatly helped by the impacting activities of PAHO/WHO. Two well-known issues of the struggle were to have pictorial warnings carried on the boxes and containers of cigarettes and to have enacted comprehensive tobacco control legislation. Both aims were achieved but it was somewhat a Pyrrhic victory since after three years, the State has failed to enforce the Tobacco Control Act. In this struggle against tobacco use and dissemination, the important contributions of Dr. William Adu-Krow, the head of PAHO/WHO in Guyana and Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, former Minister of Health must always be remembered.

Tobacco is one of the terrible scourges of humanity since it is a drug with a deadly and debilitating effect on users. It causes a large number of ailments including heart disease, blood pressure, cancers of various kinds, lung diseases, debility, diabetes and teeth and mouth deterioration.

Worse, it is a habitforming and addictive drug.

It results in poor workperformance, lack of promotion or even dismissal.

It leads to early deaths, leaving surviving families in

distress and poverty. With the large number of tobaccorelated illness, greater pressure and expenditure are imposed on the health authorities.

Approximately 8 million people die each year from tobacco-related illness and this is much higher than COVID-19 deaths. Though tobacco causes greater loss of life than COVID-19, the pandemic causes more fear and anxiety because of the speed with which some of the patients infected with it die and because, so far, no cure or vaccine has been discovered for it.

Tobacco use in the developed world has been steadily falling and this has led the tobacco companies to concentrate their attention on the developing world for which they have developed successful marketing strategies including focusing on young teenagers.

PAHO’s Assistant Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, recent comment succinctly sums up this situation: “The tobacco industry needs young people to buy their products which may result in nicotine addiction so they become lifelong consumers.

This creates the opportunity to replace the eight million people worldwide who die of tobacco-related causes every year. It is a matter of profits over people - an indefensible choice”.

The theme of this year’s World No Tobacco Day “Protecting Youth from Industry Manipulation and

Preventing Them From Nicotine and Tobacco Use” is encapsulated in Dr. Barbosa’s comment.

In its release for World No Tobacco Day, PAHO/WHO reminded the public “Youth are a significant market segment of the industry, since studies show nine out of ten smokers start before the age of eighteen. Globally, more than 40 million young people, aged 13 to 15, have already started to use tobacco”.

PAHO/WHO has disclosed that the tobacco industry and their allies in the e-cigarette and allied industries spend more than 9 billion dollars annually on aggressive marketing tactics to recruit new customers, especially children and youth.

PAHO/WHO and consumer bodies worldwide are committed and pledged to vigorously debunk the myths, which such marketing contrives and expose their deceptions.

In Guyana, when the Tobacco Control Act was passed by Parliament some three years ago, the Consumer Association and the consumer community in general rejoiced.

Unfortunately, the Act was not enforced and the consumer community and PAHO/WHO which had worked so hard for the Bill to be made law have expressed their disappointment.

Ms. Kesaundra Alves, the Chairman of the Public Hospital Corporation, speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Public Health,

empathized with PAHO/WHO and remarked: “A lot more needs to be done in relation to the enforcement of the Act. We have a comprehensive piece of legislation, which if implemented completely, can really fight the tobacco epidemic”.

When the Act is enforced, among its immediate activity

would be to unmask nicotine attractively disguised in different packaging and in different flavours; ban smoking in public places such as bus parks, public transport, bars and restaurants, amusement parks; as well as secondary smoking. Further, smoking would only be permitted five meters outside

of the boundaries of health care and educational facilities.

Ms. Alves further intimated that the main reason for inhibiting the enforcement of the Act had been shortage of finance. However, since all political parties are committed to enforcing the Act, it is expected it will be enforced in the near future.

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Retired MMA/ADA General Manager, Aubrey Charles, - recognises need for training reflects on outstanding tenure of more Land Surveyors

By Malisa Playter-Harry Aubrey Charles, an accomplished Land Surveyor

T

he term landsurveying, to some, may seem to be quite straight-forward.

However, when the complexities involved in the field and the responsibilities of such a profession are explained, there is a greater appreciation for the craft and its artist.

Retired General Manager of the Mahaica M a h a i c o n y Abary/Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), Aubrey Charles, understands all too well the intricacies of this profession. The Land Surveyor of Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice recently spoke candidly to this publication about his time serving at the MMA/ADA. In fact, he credits his years of being in the field to selfmotivation.

Born to parents Lindy Charles, a former Cane Harvester, and Ula Charles, he was raised in the village of Plaisance, East Coast Demerara. As the eldest of six children, he attended the Guyana Oriental College (no longer exists) located on Thomas Street, Georgetown.

Charles, now 68 years old, is enjoying being away from the hustle and bustle of work. He retired in December of last year.

A CAREER PATH Reflecting on his years leading up to his Land Surveying career, he recalled that after writing GCE O'Levels, he attained six subjects including English and Math. He then started teaching at the Roman Catholic School in Plaisance. He taught for two years and then left and started working at the Georgetown City Council as an Accounts Clerk in November of 1971. Charles said he worked there until 1976 when he was given a scholarship by the then government to study Land Surveying at the Government Technical Institute in the city. He left the institute in 1979 with a Diploma in Land Surveying and in 1981 landed a job as a Survey Technician with the City Council. In 1981, he qualified as a Land Surveyor.

That pivotal point in his life catapulted him to greater success in the field of Land Surveying.

Charles said he started working with the Guyana

“During those years with MMA, work was really challenging especially during the construction phase of the project because you had to be out there to ensure that the design is what was built,” he said.

HELPFUL ROLE Charles stated that one of his major accomplishments was seeing the completion of phase one of the Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) Project that helped persons,

An MMA/ADA General Manager who helped to make a difference

Lands and Survey Commission in 1981 and at the beginning of March 1982, he was seconded to the MMA/ADA project at West Coast Berbice.

“To be honest, in those times, they were deploying technical staff where they were needed... I was not happy when I learnt that I had to come to Berbice because I had no relatives here. Good thing, we were coming on the condition that the government would be providing a place for us to stay, etc.,” he recalled during a recent interview.

Charles arrived in Berbice during a crucial stage of development in the region.

“When I came up here with my family, those were the days when the project was active, so it was easy because as a surveyor, government would give us camp attendants, etc.,” he recalled.

MOVING UP THE RANKS He said he arrived in Berbice to work at the MMA in 1982 as a qualified surveyor but had worked with the Consultants of the MMA project Sir William Halcrow and Associates (consultants to the GOG on the MMA project). There, he added, he executed a lot of field work since the consultant's job was to design (drains, canals, dams,

bridges). There was also a Dutch contracting company, which executed the construction of the project.

“My job was to check to see whatever the contractor set out was done correctly. I was out in the fields daily. I was involved in a lot of engineering surveys. From 1982 to 1984 when phase one of the project ended,” said Charles. The project, he explained, was built in three phases.

According to him, when phase one ended, he worked with the MMA main office as a surveyor, but when phase two started a year after, he did not return. He remained at the main office and around 1987 was promoted to Senior Surveyor and worked in that position and, a few years later, was promoted to Chief Surveyor.

In 1991, Charles served as the acting Manager for the Lands and Surveys Division of MMA then decided to further his studies at the University of Guyana in the area of Public Management.

He subsequently returned to the MMA. There he continued to work in the Lands and Surveys Department.

In the year 1997, he started to function in the capacity as Secretary to the MMA Board of Directors and worked up to June 2003 at which point he served as General Manager up until his retirement last year.

particularly farmers, in Region Five. He stated that he understood the region had the potential for agriculture, mainly rice, cattle and sugar.

But according to him, “the problem was that there wasn't a reliable and efficient D&I network and many farmers during those days would lose a lot. Most people planted one crop a year but since the completion of phase one of the project, farmers started to do better.”

That project, he said, was

made possible after the then government made an approach to the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) for finances to execute the project. The funding was approved and the bank agreed to finance most of the project and the government had to come up with the remainder, he recalled. Execution of the project started in 1978 and it was done in three phases with: phase one catering to (continued on page 48)

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Sunday June 07, 2020

Kaieteur News

Custodian, Earl Langhorn, is our ‘Frontline Worker...

From page 43 accepted defeat, having tried and purportedly failed, Earl ran into a friend who after hearing of his plight told him about the availability of a job, nothing fancy, but one that would ensure he could pay his bills and stay fed.

Without hesitation, Earl said that he accepted an available post in a cleaning company called Cleaners ‘R’ Us

managed by Andrew Braithwaite and Dexter Williams with Tyrone Anthony as the Chief Executive Officer.

“It’s like family here; I am seeing a better side of me…I am more comfortable, they are a reliable and loving company,” said Earl of the Cleaners ‘R’ Us team which he joined in October of last year.

Earl was, moreover, energised to become an exceptional worker, ready and willing to take on whatever task thrown his way with eagerness. The company, he soon learnt, was contracted by the country’s premier health care facility, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), to perform regular sanitisation jobs. He, of course, was

expected to take on some tedious and very crucial assignments there.

FRONTLINE WORK Interesting to note though, is that while Earl was learning all there is to know to become a master custodian, a virus was building momentum across the world in Wuhan, China.

That virus, we all know, was the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Little did Earl know that a matter of months into 2020, he would have cause to be on the frontline at the very health care facility helping to keep the threat of COVID-19 at bay with his new-found cleaning skills.

“When the coronavirus came, they (the hospital) said they wanted people to help (to be on a dedicated team) and when management (of Cleaner’s R US) asked me if I wanted to work on the frontline, I said sure, once y’all can keep me safe I’m in,” related Earl in his still thick “Yankee” accent.

Being on the frontline means that he is required to clean designated COVID-19 sections of the hospital at specific times, and any other time in between as required by the hospital. “The usual thing is that I go in twice a day…I have to be there by 7am to start sanitising first the corona tent (where persons are tested before entering the hospital).

I spray that area and ensure that it is properly cleaned with a solution after that it is onwards to the wards where there is a COVID area, and then another COVID area called the isolation area. The solution I clean with is powerful,” said Earl as he assured with pride, that, thus far, there have been no complaints with the intensified efforts to keep the hospital in an enhanced sanitised state.

According to Earl, no

more than eight hours can pass before another bout of intense cleaning is required for the COVID-19 areas.

But, understandably, cleaning is nothing like it was in the past. Although donning cleaning gear is always a must, the contagious nature of COVID19 has augmented his need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).

Cleaning these days sees Earl dressed in scrubs, covered by a head to toe PPE bodysuit. “My PPE suit has a hoodie, then I put on my N95 mask, goggles, one pair of gloves first, which is taped on to the suit, then another pair of gloves covers that and is taped down too; so literally no part of my body can be exposed when I’m working,” said Earl.

Once he is done making the COVID-19 areas safe enough for both patients and health care professionals, Earl said that all materials removed are no longer simply disposed of in designated bins but are instead burnt to ensure that anything the virus may have come into contact with is annihilated. When his job is completed, Earl then undergoes a thorough decontamination process after which he is cleared to leave for his Forte Street, Kingston, Georgetown home.

SERIOUS BUSINESS Earl doesn’t take his job lightly, for he recognises that an entire health care facility is depending on him to ensure its safety from a deadly contagion that has already claimed the lives of far too many and could be subtly waiting to pounce on others if he doesn’t perform his duty with precision every time.

“I pray a lot these days…it is praying without ceasing for me these days,” he said, adding, “I ask the Father to allow his angles to walk with me because I don’t

know what the days hold…sometimes there are things that will come to distract me but I stay focus realising how important this job is.”

Earl doesn’t mind that these days, his life is centred around work, and so he keeps his phone nearby because “you never know when there will be an emergency and you have to rush over and start cleaning.”

Now a father of six, Earl has an unprecedented appreciation for life and so it comes naturally to him to help preserve life in whatever way he can. With the ease and the timing, he was able to join the Cleaners ‘R’ Us team, Earl is convinced that he was fated to endure circumstances, some not so flattering, just so he could return to the land of his birth and be ready to be on the frontline to wage war against COVID-19.

“I have gotten the chance to see patients on the ward, some of them with tube down their throat, and I understand this virus is no joke. I can see our health care professionals are doing a remarkable job because it is unbelievable when you see some of these people come in, in that state and they are able to walk out again…it makes me want to do my part even more,” said Earl.

Given his first hand view of what happens on the COVID-19 wards, Earl’s earnest appeal to the nation is “don’t take this thing for granted; it is serious…you have to protect yourself; strengthen your immune system, wear your mask, do what the health care workers are saying because they understand what’s going on.”

For remaining dedicated and focused when it counts the most, we here at Kaieteur News are indeed heartened to bestow Earl Langhorn with our title of ‘Frontline Worker of the Week’.

Retired MMA/ADA General ...

From page 47 all agricultural lands between the Berbice and Abary Rivers; phase two catering to Abary and Mahaicony Rivers, and phase three catering to Mahaicony and Mahaica Rivers.

However, only phase three was not completed due to the lack of finances, he said. Prior to the completion of the first phase, farmers were getting 10-12 bags of paddy per acre and after the D&I works were constructed to provide a network to drain the water off the land etc., farmers have been getting in excess of 30 bags of paddy per acre, Charles said.

“I played my part with the execution of the project. I worked my way up to the top, but I want to thank Mr. Ben Carter (first general manager),

Theopalus Earl and Rudolph Gajraj who I learnt a lot from,” said Charles. He emphasised, however, that self-motivation was always a key to moving forward to success.

As he considered his professional journey, he shared his belief that there is need for more Land Surveyors today and noted that this should be an area of study included in the University of Guyana's curriculum.

The MMA/ADA is responsible for the operations, management and maintenance of all drainage and irrigation works in Region #5 (Mahaica/ Berbice). It also holds responsibility for the administration of all State Lands within the region. All these fell under Charles' purview as General

Manager. “During my time working there at all times I made the job my priority because I realized the important roll MMA/ADA played in agriculture regarding national development,” he asserted.

The MMA/ADA was established when there were many challenges such as: a lack of adequate machineries to ensure that all drains, canals and dams were timely maintained; inadequate technical staff to carry out works and limited funds to execute works. But with the support of staff and sister agencies within the Ministry of Agriculture “we were able to overcome those challenges”, Charles said, a feat he believes can be repeated once like-minded individuals put their heads together.

Sunday June 07, 2020

Man in custody after killing brother

A man has reportedly surrendered to police after stabbing his brother to death over an alleged row over a door early yesterday morning.

Timothy Hodge, 22, a labourer of Sister's Village, West Bank Demerara was killed at around 04:00hrs during an altercation with his elder brother.

The incident occurred at the victim's home.

Kaieteur News understands that the suspect entered the house and allegedly slammed the door on the victim who was entering behind him.

The victim felt offended and started an argument over the issue with his mother who was home at the time.

The woman then left the house and the victim shifted his attention to the suspect.

They began arguing and soon got into a physical altercation.

The victim reportedly found a piece of wood and attacked his brother who retaliated by fatally stabbing him to the neck with a scissors. This caused Hodge to collapse on the floor.

Neighbours, who heard the commotion, alerted the police who arrived shortly after. When ranks arrived, the victim's body was found lying face down in a pool of blood but his brother was nowhere to be found.

Sometime later, however, the suspect made his way

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Kaieteur News

Dead labourer: Timothy Hodge down to the Wales Police Station and turned himself in.

Investigations are currently ongoing, police said.

Rice farmer pinned to death by toppled tractor

Relatives, close friends and colleagues are mourning the death of a Berbice man after he was crushed by the tractor, which he was operating in the Number 72 Village backlands.

The man has been identified as 49-year-old Ganesh Jahaman of Number 72 Village, Upper Corentyne, Berbice.

According to another farmer who has worked with Jahaman, he was in the rice fields in the backlands of Number 72 Village when the incident occurred.

He reported that the tractor, which Jahaman was operating encountered some

difficulties manoeuvring the slushy terrain and toppled.

Unfortunately, Jahaman fell and the tractor toppled on top of him and he was pinned.

“Well all me know is that he binna prepare the field and the tractor he binna drive, topple pon top he”.

Farmers, who were also working in the rice field, rushed to Jahaman’s assistance but were unsuccessful in freeing him.

This forced the men to contact the police who later arrived and assisted in removing Jahaman’s body.

He was taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital where he was pronounced

Killed: Ganesh Jahaman dead on arrival by a doctor on duty.

Diamond Insurance launches ‘hero pack’ for health workers Diamond Fire and General Insurance Inc. yesterday announced that it launched a tailor-made motor insurance package for health workers throughout the country.

General Manager, Tara Chandra, explained: “We need to as a people recognise that while we are all taking precautions and try to stay indoors, persons who provide healthcare brave the elements and risks to ensure that medical care is not compromised. As a company, we are proud to recognise this and make this gesture, where health workers will not only enjoy our supreme service experience, but save while doing so.”

The package caters for private motor comprehensive insurance for all persons

concerned with the provision of healthcare. According to the insurance company, it is offering

lower rates, disappearing excess/ deductibles, free auto glass coverage, reimbursements for medical expenses and alternative transportation during downtime, among other benefits.

Among one of the key benefits is that coverage includes extended perils such as flood, riot and strike as well as civil commotion.

‘No Claim Discounts’ can accumulate as much as 70%, which is beyond the traditional 60% maximum offered in the local industry.

Diamond Insurance is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2020 and is headquartered on Lamaha Street, Queenstown, Georgetown. It has branches in Corriverton, Port Mourant, Bush Lot (WCB) and at Henrietta on the Essequibo Coast.

The Ministry of Public Health has reported that three more persons have recovered from the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), taking the total to 80.

However, after five days in a row without any new cases recorded, the Ministry has confirmed one person has tested positive for the virusthis means the number of confirmed cases moves to 154.

Of the 154 cases, Guyana has recorded 12 deaths.

To date, 1797 persons have tested with 1643 of those yielding negative results.

There are 62 active cases in isolation at various facilities across Guyana; 3 patients in the COVID-19 ICU at the GPHC and 14 persons in institutional quarantine.

Citizens are asked to always practice social distancing in the workplace, public spaces, and while using public transportation to reduce the spread of the coronavirus

disease.

They are also reminded to practise frequent hand washing/sanitising and always wear a facemask if they have to go out.

Globally, the WHO has reported as of June 6, 2020, the number of confirmed cases has increased to 6,663,304 with 392,802 deaths.

While in the Regions of the Americas, positive cases have reached a total of 3,155,370 with 176,167 deaths.

General Manager: Tara Chandra

3 recoveries, one new COVID-19 recorded

President Grainger refuses to...

From page 3 other questions, a direct answer was not provided.

Instead, the President issued his statement.

The press conference on May 17 marked Granger’s first public appearance since March. The Granger presi-

dency has been criticised for his refusal to hold more, open press conferences with questions sent to his press and publicity team generally going unanswered. In 2018, for example, only after tremendous media pressure, including formal complaints by the

Guyana Press Association, did Granger hold only his third press conference since coming to power in 2015.

His first press conference was held five months into his tenure- in October 2015 with his second one being held over two years later in December of 2017.

The tractor under which the farmer was pinned

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Burns anticipating ‘stiff test’ from Windies LONDON, CMC – England opener Rory Burns expects a “stiff test” from West Indies in next month’s three-Test series here.

While West Indies have not won a Test series here in 32 years, they are holders of the coveted Wisden Trophy after stunning England 2-1 in the Caribbean last year.

“The last time we played them they won, they’re certainly no slouches,” said Burns, who struggled in that three-Test series with 145 runs from six innings.

“Their bowling attack caused us a lot of problems – they’re very skillful and have got some pace.

“There’s a lot of good cricketers there and think it’s going to be a stiff test no

matter what.”

West Indies entered the series last year as massive underdogs but crushed the top-ranked England by 381 runs inside four days in the opening Test at Bridgetown, before winning the second at St John’s by 10 wickets, to reclaim the Wisden for the first time in a decade.

West Indies’ defence of the trophy will come amid testing circumstances, as they oppose England in cricket’s first-ever “biosecure” series, with the United Kingdom battling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Caribbean side will arrive here by private charter next Wednesday, undergo a two-week quarantine at Old

Trafford in Manchester while training, before heading to the Ageas Bowls in Southampton ahead of the first Test starting July 8.

All matches will be played behind closed doors and players will not be allowed to have contact with the public during the seven-week duration of the tour.

Strict isolation, social distancing and sanitisation protocols will be enforced.

England and Wales Cricket Board’s projects director, Steve Elworthy, said the facilities being utilised were more than adequate to accommodate the training requirements of both teams.

“England are looking to move into the Ageas in and around the back end of June

Sunday June 07, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Long-buried emotions from the past, some of them pleasant and some in need of release, could well up from your subconscious today.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Some exciting activities could take place in your neighborhood today, Taurus. You'll definitely want to find out more about what’s going on. If possible, you may go with some close friends or a romantic partner.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your business and financial interests definitely get a big boost today, perhaps through contacts with friends. Career matters are skyrocketing, and your financial future looks promising.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Love and romance are apt to be your primary focus today, Cancer. If you're currently romantically involved, expect a wonderfully intense evening with your special someone if it’s possible you spend time together.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today dreams, visions, and intuitive insights enrich your innovative side and interactions with others.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) A neighbor or relative you haven't spoken to for a while might contact you out of the blue, Virgo.

Make the time to talk, as it could open up doors for you that you wouldn't normally expect.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Libra, your working life and income are likely to be enhanced today through the influence of people who live in distant states or foreign countries.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Romance is front and center today, as you're probably feeling especially passionate. This is a great day to plan an intimate evening with a lover, if possible.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You're likely to be feeling especially romantic today, Sagittarius. If you're currently involved, plan an intimate evening at home with your lover. If you aren't involved, anything goes.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Today you might find that your social life takes a definite turn for the better. You could receive more than one text or call that piques your interest, Capricorn.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Business and money matters may seem too good to be true, Aquarius. Success and good fortune in these departments are definitely indicated for you today.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You should be feeling especially passionate today, Pisces, so don't be surprised if you can't get sex and romance out of your mind. If you're currently involved, schedule an intimate evening with your lover, if possible.

in preparation towards the Test match,” he explained.

“When the West Indies come out of isolation at Old Trafford they will be brought inside the Ageas for some time too.

“It’s an incredible facility, with a full size training ground next to the main ground. We wanted them to be able to train, practice and prepare for the Test so having two full grounds available was key.”

West Indies have increased their touring party to include a 14-man squad and 11 reserves, a move aimed at ensuring injury replacements are readily available and to allow for warm-up matches among themselves.

Veerasammy Permaul omission from Windies...

From page 55 explanation. The GCB implores Veerasammy Permaul to stay motivated and committed and wishes him continued success in his cricket endeavors,” the release concluded.

Three leading players in Daren Bravo of Trinidad, Guyanese Shimron Hetmyer and Kemo Paul opted out of the tour sighting fears and family concerns in heading to England at this juncture amidst the present coronavirus, COVID-19,

pandemic with England being hard hit.

H o w e v e r, m e a s u r e s have been put in place for the players to have a biosecure environment and games will be played without any fans.

Despite the withdrawal of the trio there is still no place for the consistent Permaul who has been among the leading wicket takers over the years in regional cricket and is known to not be a slouch with the bat when necessary.

Sunday June 07, 2020

PAGE 53

Kaieteur News

Bayern crush Leverkusen to stay firmly on title course

Bayer Leverkusen’s Julian Baumgartlinger in action with Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (Matthias Hangst/Pool via REUTERS) BERLIN (Reuters) - Bayern Munich came from a goal down to ease past hosts Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 yesterday and remain firmly on course to retain the Bundesliga title with four games remaining.

The Bavarians are within touching distance of their eighth consecutive league crown and have also set a league record with 90 goals after 30 matchdays.

Leverkusen’s 17-year-old Florian Wirtz stole some of the spotlight at the end, becoming the youngest Bundesliga scorer when he netted in the 89th minute.

Lucas Alario fired the hosts into the lead after 10 minutes as Leverkusen, without the injured Kai Havertz, scored with the first chance of the game.

But Bayern recovered from the early shock and Kingsley Coman curled in the equaliser in the 28th minute before the visitors struck twice in three minutes to turn the game around.

Leon Goretzka completed a sensational passing move in the 42nd minute and Serge Gnabry chipped the ball over keeper Lukas Hradecky on the stroke of halftime.

Bundesliga top scorer Robert Lewandowski headed in Thomas Mueller’s 20th assist of the season.

Lewandowski took his tally to 30 league goals but is still 10 shy of the all-time league record of 40 set by Gerd Mueller in 1971-72.

Both he and Mueller were booked and will have to sit out their next game against Borussia Moenchengladbach.

“We needed a bit of time to get into the game and the goal was a wake-up call for us,” Bayern coach Hansi Flick, whose team has won 23 of the 26 matches since he took over earlier in the season.

“The way we came back from a goal down shows the attitude and mentality of the team.”

It was Bayern’s ninth straight win but there was also some cheer for Leverkusen despite their setback in the race for a Champions League spot.

German youth international Wirtz made a name for himself with a superb 89th-minute strike that beat keeper Manuel Neuer and made him the youngest Bundesliga scorer at 17 years and 34 days.

Leaders Bayern moved 10 points clear of Borussia Dortmund, who play Hertha Berlin later. RB Leipzig are third, also on 60, after conceding a last-gasp equaliser in their 1-1 draw with bottom club Paderborn. Bayer Leverkusen stayed fifth.

Saturday 6th June 2020 results: B Leverkusen 2 - Bayern Munich 4 RB Leipzig 1 – Paderborn 1 B Dortmund 1 - Hertha Berlin 0 Frankfurt 0 – Mainz 2 Düsseldorf 2 – Hoffenheim 2

Coronavirus: Djokovic labels US Open restrictions ‘extreme and impossible’ Omnisport - Novak Djokovic has described the restrictions that players would be subject to in order for the US Open to take place as “extreme” and “impossible”.

The Flushing Meadows grand slam is still scheduled to go ahead, with the main draw to run from August 31 to September 13.

However, the coronavirus pandemic has decimated the calendar on the ATP and WTA Tours and there are doubts over whether the tournament can take place given how hard COVID-19 has hit New York.

Rafael Nadal, who won the 2019 men’s singles title, recently expressed his misgivings over the 2020 competition being held, and world number one Djokovic has now voiced his doubts – pointing to proposals to cap the number of members of a support team allowed to attend Flushing Meadows as an area of concern.

Djokovic told Prva TV: “I had a telephone conversation with the leaders of world tennis, there were talks about the continuation of the season, mostly about the US Open due in late August, but

Djokovic labels US Open restrictions ‘extreme and impossible’. it is not known whether it will be held. “The rules that they told us that we would have to respect to be there, to play at all, they are extreme.

“We would not have access to Manhattan, we would have to sleep in hotels at the airport, to be tested twice or three times per week.

“Also, we could bring one person to the club which is really impossible.

“I mean, you need your

coach, then a fitness trainer, then a physiotherapist.

“All their suggestions are really rigorous but I can understand that due to financial reasons, due to already existing contracts, organisers [want the event to be] held. We will see what will happen.”

Djokovic has won three of his 17 grand slams at the US Open, most recently in 2018.

NBA: Players OK league negotiations on 22-team return-to-play plan

Jordan announces $100 million donation to fight for racial equality (Reuters) - Basketball great Michael Jordan and his Jordan Brand on Friday pledged $100 million over the n e x t 1 0 y e a r s t o organizations dedicated to ensuring racial equality.

The announcement came as protesters have taken to the streets in U.S. cities over systemic racism and police brutality, following the death last week of an unarmed black

man, George Floyd, while a white policeman knelt on his neck in Minneapolis.

“Black lives matter. This isn’t a controversial statement,” read a statement from Jordan and his Jordan Brand. “Until the ingrained racism that allows our country’s institutions to fail is completely eradicated, we will remain committed to protecting and improving the lives of Black people.”

Jordan, a six-time NBA

champion who led the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty in the 1990s, is a Basketball Hall of Famer who owns the Charlotte Hornets.

Earlier this week, Jordan voiced outrage over the Floyd incident, saying he was “truly pained and plain angry” and that he stood with t h o s e “calling out the ingrained racism and violence toward people of color in our country.”

The NBA logo is displayed as people pass by the NBA Store in New York City, U.S., October 7, 2019. (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo) NEW YORK (Reuters) - The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) agreed to further talks with the NBA on a proposed 22-team return-to-play format on Friday, another step towards resuming a season upended by the coronavirus outbreak.

“Various details remain to be negotiated and the acceptance of the scenario would still require that all parties reach agreement on all issues relevant to resuming play,” the NBPA

said.

The NBA’s Board of Governors approved a plan on Thursday to restart the season, with a tentative July 31 target date, at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Under the proposal, the 22 teams play eight seeding games to determine a 16-team playoff field that would follow the traditional post-season format with four best-of-seven series.

PAGE 54

Sunday June 07, 2020

Kaieteur News

‘Tortoise’ Kameko downs Pinatubo to take English 2000 Guineas

Dettori let out a scream of frustration after Wichita was passed late by Kameko. (AFP/File/Adrian Dennis) AFP - Kameko, whose name means “child of tortoise” in Japanese, was anything but slow yesterday as he stormed home to win the opening British horse racing classic of the season in the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Kameko, named by Qatari owner Sheikh Fahad al-Thani’s wife Melissa, picked up late under champion jockey Oisin Murphy to pass Frankie Dettori on the well-backed Aidan O’Brien runner Wichita to give the jockey and trainer Andrew Balding their first win in the race.

In the process, he ran the fastest time (1 min 34.72 sec) in the history of the race first run in 1809.

Odds-on favourite Pinatubo had every chance but his dominance of his rivals from last year — which earned him the rating as best two-year-old

for over two decades — had not carried over and he finished a well-beaten third.

“The first half (of the race) went to plan... Don’t know what Oisin was doing second half, but delighted with the end result,” said Balding.

Murphy let out a roar on crossing the line which carried a long way towards the empty stands.

The lack of spectators was one of the regulations imposed for the return of British racing earlier this week after being suspended on March 17 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I won’t remember when I look back that there was no crowd,” said Murphy.

“I will recall that Kameko gave me my first British classic victory.”

The 24-year-old Irishman said he had been tempted to ignore the social-distancing regulations when he

Kameko, whose name means “child of tortoise” in Japanese.

(JSC Communications/AFP/File/Laurence Squire) returned to the winners’ enclosure.

“I wanted to pick him up (Balding) and swing him round my shoulders,” said Murphy.

“But firstly, I am not strong enough, and s e c o n d l y, t h e r e w o u l d have been some bad press in the morning.”

- ‘My heart sank’ Balding — whose father Ian narrowly failed to win the race with Mill Reef in 1971 — also said he was not bothered by winning behind closed doors.

“Yes it was weird but frankly the elation I felt, there could have been 500,000 people here and I would not have noticed,”

Albion CCCC once again takes umbrage with non-selection of Veerasammy Permaul The Albion Community Centre Cricket Club (ACCCC), which is one of the top cricket club’s in Guyana, is expressing extreme disappointment yet again with the non-selection of Veerasammy Permaul on the Cricket West Indies’ team for the impending tour to England.

The club in a press release stated that Permaul’s omission is mindboggling, taking into consideration the young man’s dominance with the ball in both the Regional First Class and Limited Overs’ Cricket tournaments over the years.

It stated that the abbreviated just concluded 2019/2020 First Class season was no exception where he bagged 50 wickets.

The club is saying that,

“Selection must be based purely on merit and undoubtedly Permaul merits his selection based on his performance. What wrong has he done?

His performance speaks for itself year after year, season after season but yet still he is continued to be ignored by the selectors.”

In the last six years, the left-arm-spinner and more that capable lower-order batsman has taken 290 wickets at the regional firstclass level at a very impressive average of 16.90, inclusive of 18 five-wickets in an innings and 7 ten wickets or more in a match.

With over 536 first class wickets under his belt, Permaul’s performance is unmatched but was only able to represent the West Indies

in six test matches, the last of which was in 2015.

P e r m a u l ’s nonselection on the Cricket West Indies team for the tour of England is a disincentive to young cricketers not only at Albion but in Berbice, G u y a n a a n d t h e We s t Indies as a whole.

“We at the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club therefore demand an explanation from the Cricket West Indies’ selectors for Permaul’s non-selection as we are eager to know what more he must do to be selected.”

The club is saying that something is not right and previous utterances from a senior member of the GCB, who is a CWI director, is troubling. (Samuel Whyte)

said Balding.

A statue of Mill Reef, who later won the Derby and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, stands at the stables and Balding was delighted to have at last put the family name on the winners’ roll for the mile classic.

“My poor old dad will have forgotten the horse won this evening,” said Balding.

“One of his regrets was never winning the Guineas. It is good to have one on the family CV.” Kameko is now 3/1 for the Derby.

Sheikh Fahad — whose

family business Qatar Investment and Project Development Holding Company (QIPCO) sponsor the race — watched it from his home in England as owners cannot currently attend.

“To be able to win the 2000 Guineas in our 10th year of sponsorship is j u s t incredible and to be the fastest ever Guineas in history even more special,” he said.

“This gives me and my family a huge amount of pleasure and pride.”

S a t u r d ay would have been Derby day until the

rescheduling following the lockdown.

Dettori, according to Murphy, was the only other person to let out a scream after crossing the line and the Italian was left frustrated, having thought he had the race in the bag.

“I thought I was going to win after shaking off Pinatubo,” said Dettori.

“However, then I noticed this shadow coming alongside me and my heart sank.”

Pinatubo’s jockey William Buick had no excuses.

“I have no complaints,” he said. “We were just beaten by two better horses.”

Messi returns to Barcelona training, Suarez fit again AFP - Lionel Messi returned to the Camp Nou yesterday after missing two group training sessions with a slight leg injury, while Luis Suarez is set to be fit for the La Liga restart next week.

Messi trained alone indoors on Wednesday and Friday, but worked on the sidelines of a group session at Barca’s home stadium, according to Spanish press.

La Liga leaders Barcelona play their first match since mid-March at Real Mallorca next Saturday.

Suarez will be fit to play for the first time since undergoing knee surgery in January after reporting feeling no pain following training.

Messi and Suarez have scored 38 goals between them in all competitions this season.

Barcelona lead Real Madrid by two points at the top of the table with 11 matches remaining.

Lionel Messi was back training on the pitch Saturday after missing recent sessions.

(FC Barcelona/AFP/File/Miguel Ruiz)

Kaieteur News

Sunday June 07, 2020

PAGE 55

Hertha and Dortmund players kneel in tribute to George Floyd Borussia Dortmund and Hertha players take a knee before the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (Lars Baron/Pool via REUTERS DFL)

DORTMUND, Germany (Reuters) - Players of Borussia Dortmund and Hertha Berlin went down on one knee ahead of their Bundesliga game on Saturday in tribute to George Floyd, an unarmed black man whose death in U.S. police

custody has triggered protests around the world.

Both teams gathered around the centre circle and knelt ahead of their league game, which is being played in an empty Signal Iduna Park stadium in Dortmund due to the COVID-19

pandemic. The coaches and their staff on the benches also joined in. Earlier this week the German Football Association (DFB) ruled that players were free to show their support for protests over the death of Floyd. Several players last week lifted their

Veerasammy Permaul omission from Windies squad for England disturbing - GCB The Guyana Cricket Board said in a release that they are expressing bewilderment on the omission of Veerasammy Permaul from the Windies upcoming tour of England.

The release noted, “Permaul’s outstanding performances over the years have spoken for itself, and the GCB perceive performances as the strongest criteria for selection. In so doing, the GCB acknowledges that Permaul’s performances year after year has not only been exceptional, but unquestionable; and as such we are of the opinion that he should have been selected in the Windies squad.”

“In fact, the GCB finds Permaul’s omission from a Windies squad of 25 is very disturbing and as a result, the President of the GCB has since written to Johnny Graves, Chief Executive Officer of Cricket West Indies requesting a logical (Continued on page 51)

Veerasammy Permaul

shirts to show messages in support of the protests.

The DFB said it would take no action against symbols of solidarity with

the protests in the U.S. and across the world.

The protests have been sparked by the May 25 killing of Floyd in

Minneapolis after a white officer detaining him knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes as fellow officers stood by.

rt o p S

Burns anticipating ‘stiff test’ from Windies

Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan during a pre match press conference.

(REUTERS/Benoit Tessier)

Jordan announces $100 million donation to fight for racial equality

England are anticipating a strong test from West Indies.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Robert Lewandowski scores their fourth goal against Bayern Munich, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (Matthias Hangst/Pool via REUTERS)

Veerasammy Permaul omission from Windies squad for England disturbing- GCB

Messi returns to Barcelona training, Suarez fit again

Bayern crush Leverkusen to stay firmly on title course Lionel Messi was back training on the pitch Saturday after missing recent sessions.

(FC Barcelona /AFP/File/ Miguel Ruiz)

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