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AIETEUR NEWS

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Stop attacking GECOM Chair

-JAGDEO

Wednesday Edition June 10, 2020 - Vol. 15 No. 23

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Price $80

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Online readership yesterday 190,288

Region 4 results - Coalition refuses sign on certified Twoto new COVID-19 Dr. Paloma Mohamed is UG’s first female Vice Chancellor UG’s 11th Vice Chancellor Dr. Paloma Mohamed-Martin

cases after seven-day hiatus Mingo’s contempt case to be heard tomorrow via zoom

GuySuCo’s money runs out - Chairman says accountants resign; credit being refused

Interreligious Organisation calls for peace and acceptance of elections results

Almost 90% of the world will be worse off by year end - IMF’s Managing Director

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 10, 2020

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL, TEL: 624-6456 Editor: SHARMAIN GRAINGER Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

The scorching EU Elections Observer report The EU’s Elections Observer Final Report is scorching in its pointed references.

The one saving grace was the “fair reporting by Kaieteur News and Stabroek News” with a couple of other media outlets specifically named and put to shame. We will take that rare positive, while we highlight that from which we think we should work hard to get some more.

There are eight priority recommendations in the EU’s observer report, and today we focus on the media, how it was evaluated, and what needs to be done to fix it.

Sections of the media came in for dishonourable mention in the EU report on Guyana’s elections. Specific entities were hauled over the coals for partisanship, irresponsibility, and failing to exemplify objective journalistic standards. It confirms what is widely known and believed in many corners, particularly of state-owned media. Accordingly, much emphasis is placed today on the state-controlled media.

Regardless of which political group governs, the state media is largely converted to a virtual propaganda arm of that group.

This has been the history of the state media in Guyana, where taxpayers’ dollars are used to indoctrinate, pressure, or mislead and push citizens around. On the one hand, adversaries are attacked, and critics silenced, with almost all dissenting voices blocked out. On the other hand, the ruling group’s positions and messages are allowed room and opportunity to dominate thinking and influence swaying; it is given the freest access and the greatest space. This is never more obvious than during the run-up before elections; especially in the aftermath of elections results, with much intensifying of tensions and existing racial divisions.

This norm has been the troubling history of state media in Guyana, used for provocative and cunning political objectives, unashamed and unapologetic objectives. No political group at the helm has been principled, democratic, and idealistic enough to ever escape this blemish, and this elections season has been overflowing. The report noted “considerable bias” in both the privately owned Guyana Times and the state-owned Guyana Chronicle.

Though professional courtesy frowns about commenting negatively on sister entities, media obligations do not mandate giving a total free pass, given there is documented notice from a reputable international body that things are poor, and require addressing.

In terms of what should be done to remedy defective state-owned media, it is helpful to quote the EU’s third priority recommendation in full: “Introduce a legal and regulatory system that transforms the state-owned media into a genuine public service broadcaster.

This includes provisions granting editorial independence, financial autonomy, clear separation from any government institution, and an open and competitive selection process of its board members.” In that single recommendation, we picked up seven improvement steps which, if taken, could lift state-owned media bodies-oral or written, physical or cyber-from they are and put them on a better footing. Private media should listen and implement a thing or two, such as “editorial independence” and (possibly) outside board members. Only positives follow when such elements become the norm. The media, private or public, has an awesome and thankless responsibility: it must be faithful to truth and accuracy.

Despite the personal preferences of practitioners, those must be superseded always by the calling to communicate from the critical to the constructive, and nothing else in between.

State media (and private ones also) must be legally and regulatorily equipped to not participate (to say NO) in what is the equivalent of a local political arms race with

Hopefully the new government will be inclusive and staffed with qualified young people DEAR EDITOR This year we celebrate our 50th Republic in such a desolate ambience. A nation at siege since December 21st 2018.

However with the conclusion of the recent recount process I am hopeful. Hopeful for the future of my beautiful country. Contesting these last elections was an absolute joy; being a part of the democratic struggle gives me such a deeper understanding of everything that has transpired.

As a young person it was heartwarming to see many

other young people in the fight. I was truly amazed by how many young people came from both the older parties, which gives me hope for Guyana, hope that one day we can move away from this partisan politics and actually develop my country.

From my earliest memories I remember our parliament being the PNC and the PPP. I used to equate it with the American congress, Democrats and Republicans. However the twelfth parliament in my beautiful land will be a unicameral parliament with an independent 3rd party voice.

The Alliance for Change had this opportunity in 2011 and quickly squandered it. I would like to take this space and thank everyone that voted for a small party, with the joiner agreement the 65th seat of the twelfth parliament will be going to the three parties who signed on.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic have earned a clear majority in Parliament, which means any bill they want they can just pass. It is my ardent hope that they use this opportunity to practice what they preach and truly include all voices in the legis-

lature when passing bills.

I want to point out to the general public that having the small parties in the fight is actually helping our democracy.

Finally, it is my sincere hope that the newly formed executive arm of government is based on meritocracy and that the PPP/C equip their new cabinet with qualified young people, and we not see a shake out of the same recycled faces from 2015.

Yours truly, Dr. Josh Kanhai, General Secretary The New Movement.

GECOM is engaged in the unfair and illegal DEAR EDITOR, The decision made by the Guyana Elections Commission to include, in its tabulation, ballots which are patently unverifiable, threatens to make a mockery of the entire recount process.

The Guyanese public was well schooled regarding the purpose of the recount an exercise aimed at determining the credibility of the voting and results of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. Indeed, as the third recital of the Order authorising the recount makes clear, the recount exercise is aimed at “…determining a final credible count”. Against the background of calls for transparency, all Guyanese prepared themselves to be spectators at an event that promised to judge harshly any suggestion of impropriety or dishonesty.

Party scrutineers stood as linesmen and women to blow the whistle at any infraction, or any breach of elections laws and regulations.

Then came the Lower East Coast saga and 41 boxes that

appeared to have ballots but none of the statutorily required supporting documents. These documents are required for the specific purpose of eliminating voter fraud. It strains credulity to accept that the absence of verifying documents in all these 41 boxes is of no consequence and does not boldly scream electoral fraud. It is shocking therefore that GECOM decided that the votes in those offending 41 boxes were to be included in the tabulation of the recount process. Fundamental questions cannot be answered.

Are those votes valid? Are the persons who cast those ballots legitimate voters?

What documentation supports the legitimacy of those ballots? This recount process is not merely about counting votes, it is about counting valid votes. If one is merely counting votes, then what is the point of this recount process with its meticulous reconciliation requirements?

Paragraph 14 of the Order

Single Parent DEAR EDITOR, I am a single parent of 3 children. My eldest boy is taking the NGSA examination.

He catches a bus at the top of Duncan Street and goes to the Stabroek Car Park.

He transfers to another bus. Who will help him choose between two buses where the driver and passengers have on masks? Who will

give him the correct space on the buses? Who will make sure that he has on his mask?

I have struggled to pay for extra lessons and if I don’t send him, he will be dumped in a Grade 2 school, should I risk my son’s life and our lives when he brings home the virus?

Yours truly, Sheila Grogan

the media as willing ally. This cannot continue to be so, where each side uses the media at its disposal to deploy verbal missiles intended to deter, to deny, or to demonize the other side. The media, whether state or private, must not be recruited as knowing partners where opposing sides try to damage and outdo opponents with the outrageous.

In Shakespeare’s King Lear, one passage captures vividly the despair of the betrayed monarch, as seen through the eyes of another: “As flies to wanton boys are we to gods; they kill us for their sport”. Local political gods use public and private media as sport, through which to kill the voices of the others; they kill the prospects of Guyana. The EU warned: cease and desist.

of May 4, 2020 which authorises the recount makes it clear that the recount is about valid votes and not simply votes. Paragraph 14 requires submission of a report under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act. Section 96 requires a report to be completed by the Chief Elections Officer “…after calculation the total number of valid votes of electors”.

The distinction between simply a vote and a valid vote is thus specifically made in our electoral law and incorporated by reference into the Order authorising the recount.

The Cambridge English Dictionary defines valid as based on truth or reason.

Ascribing the ordinary meaning to the word valid therefore makes it clear that the votes cast in the 41 questionable boxes do not pass the validity test. There is no evidence in the boxes that the votes are based on truth or reason.

While GECOMs authority to issue the Order authorising the recount derives from Ar-

ticle 162 of the Constitution and Section 22 of Act 15 of 2000, the power so derived is not limitless. Article 162(1)(b) requires that any action taken by GECOM must be “necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality and fairness”. By no measure could the inclusion of votes whose validity is patently suspect be considered necessary to achieve impartiality or fairness.

This is especially true since all the questionable votes were purportedly cast from a well-known stronghold of one party and overwhelming favour that party. After all, the hue and cry that gave rise to the recount in the first place arose from far less well documented allegations of tabulating of invalid votes.

How could GECOM then, with all the documentation provided and virtually unchallenged by anyone, include votes that are clearly not valid. To do so is not only unfair but also illegal.

Yours truly, B. Mayo Robertson

Henry Jeffrey and David Hinds do not have any credibility between them DEAR EDITOR, Henry Jeffrey and David Hinds have not an iota of credibility between them. Henry was part of various governments for almost two decades, yet now he wants the Chancellor to head a government of unity.

Has he forgotten, the Chancellor was one of the Guyanese that was unable to determine the majority of 65?

Henry also wishes that the PNC was able to sanitize the list for the elections. Has he forgotten the ample opportunity they had to do so since Justice James Patterson was sworn in illegally as GECOM Chair in 2017?

David Hinds says the ballot and democracy are a knee on the necks of Black Guyanese.

However, he was on the bal-

lots and he used the same democracy to rule for five years. Does this mean the knee on the necks of Black Guyanese is in fact Hinds’?

I’d be willing to bet a lot of money that David Hinds wouldn’t think the ballot boxes and democracy were a knee on the necks of Black Guyanese, had he been victorious in these elections.

David Hinds and Jeffrey make extraordinary claims, behind which is an extraordinary absence of evidence. Just as Twitter fact checks Trump’s tweets, and provides the evidence to rebuke his clear lies, I urge the newspapers that publish the inflammatory articles by these two shameless opportunists to do the same.

Yours truly, Shazad Sookram

Wednesday June 10, 2020

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Kaieteur News

David Granger is either a weak leader of complicit in the actions of his party officials DEAR EDITOR, A columnist in another section of the press who has rarely written on Guyana’s politics, must have been thoroughly peeved to take the unusual step to pen an article on May 10, 2020 captioned” Something rotten in the State” in which he questions “Why does the President not lead the way in restoring at least something of Guyanas shattered regional and international reputation?

Why does he put up with the stalling and obfuscation which is destroying our democracy and prospects?”

Since the publication of that article, Mr. Granger has himself joined his party officials in questioning the credibility of the election process although earlier he had declared the elections to be free and fair.

An editorial of June 6, 2020 in that publication captioned “Declare the recount result” has now provided the answer to the very pertinent questions raised by the columnist.

The editorial notes “True to form, Guyanas caretaker President since December 21st 2018 has offered his own jaundiced version of the recount of votes from the March 2nd general elections.

In an address on June 6th to the nation, Mr. David Granger said two things which have extinguished the last vestiges of plausible deniability over who should be held accountable for the incumbent APNU+AFCs tawdry attempt to defy the will of the people

as expressed on polling day.

Mr. Granger must now be seen as the conductor of this cacophony of bewildering and unfounded claims about the elections”.

Mr. Granger’s actions since the No Confidence Vote (NCV) of December 2018 leave one with the impression that he is either a weak leader, or he is complicit with the actions of his party’s officials, or both.

With reference to the NCV, there was no need to have had this matter taken through the courts and have the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) admonishing counsels for the APNU+AFC that commonsense informs that 33 is the majority in a 65-seat parliament.

In fact, the ruling of the local court which caused this matter to reach the CCJ will forever remain an embarrassment to Guyanese.

In relation to the March 2 elections, we see Mr. Granger inviting international observers to witness the process.

When these eminent individuals saw the now infamous Mingo fiddling with the numbers and called him out, the Foreign Minister came and threatened to revoke their credentials.

Yet Mr. Granger remained silent on their treatment. This is akin to someone inviting eminent guests into his/her home and then allowing the helper to threaten to chase them away.

Matters got worse. After agreeing with CARICOM Chairperson, Barbadian Prime

The sanctimonious gangster description is apt DEAR EDITOR, Regards, David Granger has been correctly and aptly described as a sanctimonious Gangster by the Barbadian diplomat. Not only that. He has been talking out of both sides of his mouth. On one hand talking about the rule of law and Constitution and on the other instructing or turning a blind eye to what his minions are doing and saying. The guy is a Charlatan and a fraud. To add he will go down as probably the most incompetent leader the Caribbean has seen. Singlehandedly ruining the sugar, rice, gold, bauxite, lumber, and fishing industries. Among countless other small business that have gone under. The treasury is bare and probably bankrupt. Not a single achievement to talk about. The buck stops with him. Nobody else.

Yours truly, Aryan Ghosh

Minister Mia Mottley, to send a CARICOM team to oversee the recount agreed to by him and the leader of the Opposition, with the arrival of the team members, a candidate on his party list petitioned the court for a stay of the recount.

The lawyer representing the petitioner was another member of his team. How could Mr. Granger, a man who once held top posts in the Guyana Defence Force, allow subordinates on his team, to undermine his authority and embarrass him in the eyes of his CARICOM counterparts?

We also see APNU+AFC supporters and officials abusing US Ambassador, Ms. Sarah-Ann Lynch, among others, and accusing her and her government of meddling in Guyana’s internal affairs for simply speaking the truth.

This is unpardonable considering the US’s role through

the International Republican Institute (IRI) in helping the APNU+AFC to win the 2015 election and Mr. Brian Hunt, then Chargé dAffaires, U.S. Embassy, in defending the victory against protests by the PPP. Mr. Granger’s silence in not defending Ambassador Lynch or her government is even more noteworthy when one considers the close relation he shared with the US government even before entering politics.

He is a 2000 alumnus and former adjunct professor of the US William J. Perry Center For Hemispheric Defense Studies, a key institution of the US Government, and in 2015 he was a speaker at the Center’s graduation ceremony. (https://www.ndu.edu/ News/Article-View/Article/ 611531/president-of-guyanadavid-granger-speaks-atperry-center-cdsc-graduation-ceremo/).

Further, we note the General Secretary of APNU, the

most powerful minister in Mr. Granger’s administration, Joseph Harmon, retained a US law firm to lobby US politicians and government officials, with documents filed with US authorities claiming the firm was to act on behalf of the Guyana Government.

Subsequently, after local uproar, this claim was amended to indicate the lobbying would be on behalf of APNU. Worse yet, Mr. Granger is identified in these documents as a US citizen, a point he has vehemently denied.

The obvious question is: how has Mr. Granger, leader of APNU and caretaker President, allowed this situation to occur?

With a second CARICOM team finally allowed to scrutinize the votes recount, as the process neared completion, APNU+AFC officials became more and more strident with unproven claims of fraud on election day.

This is in-spite of the fact that all international and local observers commended

FOR PRESIDENT GRANGER DEAR EDITOR This has been the clarion call of all civilizations of the world over time. It stood as a beacon to the human species as he sought to fulfill the quest of both physiological and higher inner purpose.

The concept is both material and spiritual.

The acceleration of scientific inventions is testimony to this truth. Our country, and by extension the world, will only be a better place once we grasp and efficiently execute this ancient doctrine.

Many philosophers go so far as to underpin that by our very actions, even our descendants are bound. Some call it the ancestors’ sin. This seems scary but an honest evaluation of many descendants, of people of historic significance and import, still

carry brunt scars from their predecessors’ transgressions.

The reverse side is also true of those with noble deeds.

From a philosophical standpoint, and Guyana being blessed as a highly religious nation, one may even want to consider when are the fruits of righteousness or unrighteousness reaped, especially when done in one’s latter part of his/her life.

When is justice served? Is it here or hereafter?

My preamble concerns President Granger, an historian and a man of God. I would like to most humbly urge that the good name you carry in many circles, locally and internationally, be not besmirched by actions or inactions. Your name should

always live on and be etched in our History as being an upholder of Truth and Righteousness.

I pray that your descendants and the children of this Nation will carry your name hoisted high above their heads. Life, Your Excellency, as we all know it, is very short and whatever footprint we can leave behind us, let it be a beacon for the future. May God continue to inspire and bless you.

Yours truly, Pandit Haresh Tewari

the process as being free and fair. Moreover, there was no dissenting voice from the thousands of APNU+AFC scrutineers who were present at polling stations to verify the authenticity of each voter by comparing each person to his/her photograph on file before the person could vote.

Sadly, Mr Granger has now joined the bandwagon with these baseless claims.

It is unfortunate that a person who came to power in 2015 with much goodwill from the international community and voters who were prepared to eschew voting along racial lines, squandered a glorious opportunity to make Guyana a better place for all its citizens.

The votes recount shows that Mr. Granger and his coalition lost the trust of the majority of Guyanese. Yet, APNU leaders seem determined to hold on to power.

The next few weeks will reveal whether Guyana remains a democracy or become a pariah nation with unimaginable consequences to its citizens.

The future now lies in the hands of GECOM Chairperson, Ms. Claudette Singh.

Yours truly, Harry Hergash

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 10, 2020

In Nagamootoos world, Mingos crass behaviour is redeemable DEAR EDITOR, If there was an iota of doubt that Moses Veerasammy Nagamootoo, the man who claims to be an elder statesman, has any residue of dignity and honesty remaining then that doubt has dissipated with great alacrity having read his “My Turn” trash in the Guyana Chronicle.

Albeit, this does not surprise me at all. Since he became an APNU/AFC member all he has been doing is spinning yarn and relating tall tales to appease his PNC masters, caring less for facts and evidences, en-

joying the Cadillac lifestyle.

Nagamootoos latest spin reads thus, “I have admitted how ashamed I am to know that the PPP, with which I have been associated for 50 years, could become a party to blatant electoral fraud”.

He further claimed that, Jagan would have felt betrayed to see this vulgarity and betrayal and accused the PPP/C of trashing the principles of democracy, nationalism, patriotism and the ideals of freedom and liberty and have joined forces with foreign interests and agencies and local reactionaries to disrupt the national democratic

order in a vulgar and desperate power grab.

When Moses received these revelations I am sure he was not on Mount Sinai but in the twilight zone.

How can Moses ignore the evidence that supported the fact that the Coalition on the night of March 3rd at Ashmins Mall attempted to rig the 2020 Elections using Mingo to fraudulently create a spreadsheet which did not match the SOPs? How can Nagamootoo now reconcile the fact that Mingo created conjured or invoked 15,514 non-existent or ghost voters from thin air in favor of the Coalition? How can he reconcile the fact that Mingo decreased the PPP/C valid votes by 3,689?

Is Nagamootoo blind to the fact that Mingo and Lowenfield disregarded a court order in order to follow the laws in the tabulation of the Region 4 SOPs? Is Nagamootto deaf to the reports of attempted from all the local and foreign observers fingering Mingo? No! Nagamootoo knows fully well

the correct answers to this question but he has been utterly consumed by the acts of the Sanctimonious Gangster and has become one himself.

In his world of fantasy Nagamootoo concluded that, such crass behaviours is redeemable.

We can revisit our mistakes, and we can correct them before they create schisms that we would be unable to heal, now or in the near future. Never before has a man written something which applies to him in its entirety than to anyone else.

His entire article can be seen as a true reflection about how he feels about himself and what he should do.

He has become a party to the blatant electoral fraud perpetrated by the Coalition, and the late Dr. Jagan has felt betrayed by his vulgarity and betrayal forsaking and kicking all principles which the PPP has stood for.

Nagamootoo now seemed to be oblivious in his haste to spin that it is the same foreign interests and

agencies and local reactionaries which were instrumental in bringing democracy after 28 years of PNC dictatorial rule.

Furthermore, it is Nagamootoo and the Granger cabal who are now engaged in desperate power grab not the PPP/C and that has been on-going ever since the passing of the successful no confidence motion on 21st December 2018.

In conclusion, Nagamootoo must admit that the PPP/C has continued to intensely and vigorously fight for Guyanas freedom being led by a greater statesman than Nagamootoo ever was and will ever be and who has taken up the mantle from Dr. Jagan. Dr Jagan would have been proud to have such a prodigy.

Dr. Jagdeo has competently led his team and rescued Guyana from the brink of a worse dictatorship than that which Burnham had unleashed on this nation. In so doing he has once and for all provided irrefutable evidence to expose the PNCs innate

rigging propensities for the world to see.

We will always remember that on a weekly basis he brought to light the corruption and mismanagement of the Coalition. In addition, he has completely destroyed the PNC and no baptismal name changes can resurrect either the PNC or the AFC. In conclusion, Nagamootoo left the PPP to destroy the PPP not to uphold Jagans legacy.

His hate knew no limit and could make any sacrifice.

He embraced Burnhams legacy and in the end he has become a national and international disgrace who will be remembered for his nefarious acts to kill the same democracy which he fought to bring about.

He has squandered 50 years of his legacy just to destroy the Party which had moulded him and fashioned him. He now pays the ultimate price of betrayal-to be hated and scorned even in the village of his birth.

Yours truly, Haseef Yusuf

Wednesday June 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

Stop attacking GECOM Chair - Jagdeo urges all GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

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eader of the Oppo sition, People’s Pro gressive Part/Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo, has made a call to both supporters of the PPP/C and the A Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition to refrain from attacking the Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Ret’d Justice Claudette Singh.

“I’ve noticed very harsh comments by supporters of the APNU+AFC and PPP/C directed at the Chairperson of GECOM, Justice Claudette Singh. I wish to urge our supporters and well-wishers to refrain from ad hominem attacks against Justice Singh,” Jagdeo said in a statement yesterday.

According to the opposition leader, “The last few months have been a difficult period where the Chair has had to contend with key ele-

ments within the Secretariat and the three APNU+AFC Commissioners, who are bent on undermining every effort aimed at producing a credible result which reflects the will of the electorate.”

He lauded the GECOM Chair for her commitment to see that the national recount of ballots cast at the March 2 General and Regional election was concluded without a hitch.

“The fact that she was present at the Arthur Chung Convention Center throughout the entire process is testimony to her commitment to ensuring its completion in keeping with the undertaking that she had given to the court,” Jadgeo noted, adding that “The recount could not have been completed without her leadership and steadfastness.”

The results of the final tabulation of the recount

show that the PPP/C has won with a grand total of 233,336 votes against the APNU+AFC Coalition’s 217,920 votes.

An unofficial estimation of the results gives the PPP/ C 33 seats in Parliament, with 31 seats going to the Coalition, and the remaining seat to a tripartite joinder of A New and United Guyana, The Liberty and Justice Party, and The New Movement.

As the country awaits the official declaration, Jagdeo urged supporters to “exercise restraint” while the Chief Elections Officer of GECOM, Keith Lowenfield, compiles his report to present to the Commission.

The Commission will then meet to deliberate on Lowenfield’s report and the final results should be declared in accordance with the Order, on or before the 16th of June.

Mingo’s contempt case to be heard tomorrow via zoom The contempt case of Reaz Hollader versus Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo, and others is set for June 11th, 2020 at 11:00am. The hearing is to be conducted via zoom, a Supreme Court communiqué released to the press said yesterday.

The case surrounds orders of the court that are alleged to have been intentionally breached by Mingo.

According to the application of contempt filed, Mingo is accused of acting in violation of the ruling by Chief Justice Roxane GeorgeWiltshire by refusing to ascertain the votes recorded in favour of the lists of candidates in accordance with the Statement of Polls (SOP).

He is also accused in the

Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo document of failing to commence compliance with section 84(1) of the Representation of the People Act. Further, Mingo is accused of failing and/or refusing to ascertain the votes recorded in favour of each list of candidates in accordance with the

statements of poll, “but instead, chose to use a pre-prepared spreadsheet, as the basis for the ascertaining and adding up of the said votes.”

The application purports the respondents to be Mingo; Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield; and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) through its servants and agents, GECOM Chair, Claudette Singh, and the three government-nominated Commissioners, Vincent Alexander, Desmond Trotman and Charles Corbin.

It requests an order that the respondents stand committed to the Georgetown Prison or such place of confinement for one month, and a fine of no less than $750,000 for being in contempt of the Court.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 10, 2020

Don’t mix disinfectants with detergents – Food and Drugs Dept. warns - to carry out inspections on eating houses, manufacturers The Government Analyst – Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD), in collaboration with the Environmental Health Unit (EHU) of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), is advising the general public on the principles of cleaning followed by disinfection of environmental surfaces and objects in households, institutions, eating houses/food service establishments and manufacturing premises.

This is to reduce the risk associated with the spread of the COVID-19 virus, where strict cleaning and disinfect-

ing measures must be employed, it was explained.

“Cleaning is the process of applying energy to remove dirt (organic matter) from frequently touched or used surfaces and objects using soap and water or detergents, along with some mechanical action (brushing, wiping or scrubbing). Cleaning does not kill microorganisms (germs) such as the COVID19 virus but it reduces significantly the number of germs that may be present on a surface or an object thereby reducing its spread,” GA-FDD

explained.

It was pointed out that disinfection is the process of using chemicals to kill microorganisms – germs such as the COVID-19 virus.

“For the process of disinfection to be effective it must be applied after surfaces or objects are cleaned. Also, the length of time the disinfectant is in contact with the surface or object (contact time) must be over one minute or as is otherwise stated on the label.”

The department reminded citizens not to mix cleaning

Director of GA-FDD, Marlan Cole

solutions with disinfectants in an attempt to clean and disinfect surfaces or objects at the same time because fatal or dangerous gases can be created with such mixtures.

“More importantly, the effect of the disinfectant will be reduced when it is mixed with a detergent, resulting in microorganisms (germs) such as the Covid-19 virus not being killed. Consumers are reminded also to pay close attention to the Instruction of Use section of labels when applying disinfectants,” it was noted.

It was pointed out too that commonly used surfaces and objects that must be cleaned followed by disinfection to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus are tables, doorknobs, light

switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks.“Even though the COVID-19 respiratory virus spread – at the time of this advisory – has not been conclusively linked to contaminated surfaces or objects, evidence of past coronaviruses’ mode of transmission makes the abovementioned points relevant in the interest of the public’s health.”

The department said that the New England Journal of Medicine in published research findings and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the USA suggest that the COVID-19 virus can remain on surfaces or objects such as copper for four hours; on cardboard, cloth and wood for one day, on glass for two

days, and stainless steel and plastic for as long as four days.

“Therefore, as Guyana is about to ease out of restrictions established to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the GA-FDD and EHUMoPH are aware of an upsurge in the manufacturing, importation and distribution of cleaning and disinfectant solutions.”

Moreover, the department said it will continue work towards actively sampling and analyzing disinfectants to determine inter-alia, percent alcohol, percent free chlorine and phenol coefficient – to determine disinfectant’s germicidal strength.

“Disinfectants tested that are found not to comply or follow established standards will be removed from circulation on our local market and those imported will be restricted from being released for use in Guyana.”

It was also disclosed that inspectors and environmental Health Officers in the regions and other municipalities of Guyana will be actively inspecting and swabbing surfaces in eating houses/food service establishments and manufacturing premises to ensure they are properly disinfected (sanitised–meaning being free of germs) to prevent or reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus on contaminated environmental surfaces or objects.

Wednesday June 10, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Rodney knew he was going to die

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ext Saturday, June 13th will mark the 40th death anniversary of Dr. Walter Rodney, one of the most brilliant Guyanese who ever lived. This week, this column pays tribute to one of Guyana’s finest and noblest sons who, like Che Guevara, was cut down in the prime of his life.

At the end of 1979, Rodney sensed that the Burnham regime was going to kill him. Six months prior to his death, he had begun to put his affairs in order.

Rodney was the co-leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) which was formed in opposition to the then People’s National Congress (PNC) regime headed

by Forbes Burnham. Rodney, an internationally renowned scholar, was assassinated on June 13, 1980, in Georgetown.

Rodney may not have foreseen the exact form his death would have taken, but he knew that he was going to be killed.

Declassified documents have given details of a meeting between Rodney and a senior member of the United States Embassy in Guyana,

during which Rodney conveyed the impression that he knew he was facing imminent extinction by the Burnham regime.

Rodney met with a senior official of the United States Embassy in Guyana on December 5, 1979. At the end of that meeting, the official was of the view that Rodney had a premonition of his impending death.

The purpose of the meeting was to assure the Embassy that the WPA had no bad intentions towards the United States.

It was also to bring it up to date with developments in the country from the perspective of the WPA. However, during the meeting, Rodney essayed a request for the embassy to grant permanent alien status to his wife and children should he be killed.

In the event of his death, Rodney wanted to make certain that his wife and children would not have to remain at the mercy of the Burnham government.

He said that he did not like to ask favours, but would do so where the welfare of his

family was concerned. He emphasized that he was not seeking assistance for himself.

The US embassy official in his comments to his superiors about the meeting noted that Rodney “had the premonition of a man of imminent death.

He was not shrinking from that fate, but he was trying to put a few affairs in order before it came upon him.”

At that meeting, the WPA coleader brought to the attention of the embassy, the constant harassment, victimization and violence faced by him and his party.

His wife, who was a university graduate, could not get a job.

He related that for merely attending a WPA meeting, persons could face transfer to remote areas, outright dismissal and victimization. Even some of his friends who were not politically active were subject to harassment and victimization.

Meetings of his party were broken up and activists attacked. Rodney related to the embassy official that the WPA had received information that the then Prime Min-

Dem boys seh ...

De Coalition had 54 cards in de pack Dem boys seh how whatever de Creatah wan happen with de elections, gun happen.

But dem boys know dem gat some people who believe dat de world is dem own fuh do with as dem please.

Dat will only be fuh a time, tho. De Man above does watch everything and whatever he decide gun happen…will happen.

Nuff a dem wha think dem powerful, now realize dat dem gat wan man above wha mo powerful dan dem.Dem boys hang dem belly out fuh de HAP-New+HAY-Eff-See. Dem boys thought dat dem would ah bring change but dem boys find out dat all dem bring was exchange. Dem try fuh outsprint de Pee-PeePee-C when it cum to wrongdoing.

Some of dem feel dat them could do as day want with de elections.

But de Man above watchin’ dem every move. And when he mek he move, dem plans gun scatter like dust in de wind.

Dem boys wan tell Soulja Bai and Lil Joe dat dere is no way out.

De HAP-New+ HAY-Eff-See play out all dem cards. Is 52 cards in a pack.

But dem Coalition had 54 cards.

Dem mix in de two jokers in de pack. Now dem nah gat no more cards in dem hands.

Is no use dem trying mo ‘fuffuckle’. It over and done with.

De Man above tek charge of de pack of cards. He gun separate de jokers from de rest of de pack and he gun deal we a good hand fuh de future. Trust in de Creatah.

Talk half and leff de rest in de hands of de Creatah!

ister, Forbes Burnham, had issued instructions that future confrontations with the WPA were to be fateful.

According to Rodney, his travel outside of Georgetown had to be limited, because every time he was discovered in another area, he was picked up by the police and held.

The constant surveillance and attacks on the WPA had forced the party to go under-

ground for protection, since even routine meetings about the organization of the party, its finances and political strategy, had to be clandestinely held.

Rodney died at the youthful age of 38.

The party which he established is now part of the very government which halted the inquiry into his death.

(The views expressed in

this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

PAGE 10

Wednesday June 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

WPA and AFC: People’s Power, No Dictator

S

ince the debate be tween me and Eusi Kwayna, I have been receiving emails from several persons who are arguing that Kwayana has shown his “true self” over the controversial dimensions of the 2020 elections. One of the correspondences is from John Peters.

He is in his eighties, lives overseas, knows Kwayana well, and was close to Walter Rodney.

John Peters is on the front page of the Guyana Graphic and the Daily Chronicle of Friday, March 3, 1972. He was

one of the investigating policemen in the Abdul Malik, AKA, Michael X homicide case. Malik was arrested in Guyana for the murder of British socialite, Gail Ann Benson, committed in Trinidad. Malik made headlines around the world. He was tried and executed in Trinidad.

Peters has a wealth of information on Kwayana, Rodney, etc. At this moment, he is in a torrid exchange with David Hinds, accusing him of creating ethnic confusion, heightening ethnic incitement and betraying Walter

Rodney. Peters believes that Kwayana was never faithful to multi-racial politics and his perspectives on the 2020 election saga reveals that he never really changed.

He told me he knows dimensions of Kwayana’s younger political career that have never been made public. In one of my exchanges with Peters, I told him that I was wearing my historian’s hat and not the cap of a social activist in making the following point. I revealed to him what I truly feel in my historian’s mind.

The WPA and AFC have produced political leaders that have turned out to be far worse than any flawed politicians the PPP and PNC have birthed; this goes up to the present time. I will make an exception for Hamilton Green.

He is irredeemable.

I believe many in the current leadership of the PPP and PNC have better character traits in them than their counterparts in the WPA and AFC. I write with the meticulous

awareness I am not going to allow people to libel me. I can pen descriptions that are not defaming and libelous. So here goes.

I believe Rupert Roopnaraine, Bonita Bone and Joycelyn Dow of the WPA are of lesser quality than the past and present leadership of the PPP and PNC. I believe no PPP and PNC leader is as a politically horrible as Tacuma Ogunseye.

At the height of the internecine troubles in Buxton, no PNC or ACDA leader, at the first and second tier leadership, made public statement in support of the degenerate, senseless violence, the criminal minds perpetuated on Guyana as Ogunseye did.

Ogunseye sued me for libel over what I knew he did in Buxton. His lawyer, Mortimer Coddette, looked at the evidence and declined to continue.

The evidence in court would have shocked the world though not the WPA. Give ACDA and Eric Philips credit. They both denounced Ogunseye for a racially inciting public speech he gave at Beterverwagting.

It was this same Ogunseye that the WPA invited to rep-

resent it at the funeral service of Andaiye at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

The main organizers and decision makers were the triumvirate of Joycelyn Dow, Dr. Alissa Trotz and Karen De Souza.

No other party has proven to be so uncaring about the future of Guyana than the AFC. I believe the PNC’s hierarchy and the PPP’s leadership have more patriots in them than the AFC’s. Countless souls come up to me all the time and demonize the PPP and PNC leaders, totally oblivious to how demonic, destructive, degenerate, power-drunk is the AFC top brass.

There are more politicians in the PPP and PNC who would show more fondness for ordinary people than you would find in the AFC. No female minister of the PPP and PNC ever practice the infamy of having their driver open any door for them in any building.

I have heard AFC leaders, the top ones, say condescending things about ordinary people that no, I repeat no, PPP or PNC leader would ever say. None of those things were ever said in my

Frederick Kissoon presence else I would have ended up in the Camp Street jail. People say I am crazy and have a loud mouth. I don’t doubt them.

These things happened between 2015 and 2019 in the AFC. Simply put; the AFC just wanted power, got a taste of it and became insane with it. Some AFC leaders were simply corrupt. I guess we have reached a stage in the evolution of Guyana where in the coming weeks and months, there will no longer be a WPA and AFC. If you think the PPP and PNC were/are bad for Guyana, what do you say about the WPA and AFC? (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Wednesday June 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Wednesday June 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

GuySuCo’s money runs out - Chairman says accountants resign; credit being refused The smaller-sized stateowned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) says it has no money and wants the Government to help.

According to the largest union for sugar workers, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) yesterday, it has learnt that GuySuCo is facing the prospect of closure having exhausted its finances and was desperately requiring the support of the Government.

In a letter of May 15, 2020 from GuySuCo’s Chairman, John Dow, appealed to President David Granger for his intervention “…to use your good offices to arrange for funding to prevent the impending closure of the Industry”.

In the letter, Dow told President Granger that “…GuySuCo needs funds now to be able to survive

after the second week June 2020.”

The GAWU said that it learnt through its representative on the GuySuCo Board, that the President did not respond to the corporation’s request.

“For the thousands of Guyanese who directly and indirectly still depend on the sugar industry for their livelihoods, this is most disturbing news at this time.”

Since coming to office in 2015, the Coalition Government closed four estates across the country, leaving three, placing about 7,000 workers on the breadline.The coalition said the corporation was bleeding billions from the treasury, placing a strain on the economy.

According to the letter from GuySuCo asking the President for help, the last two crops fell below

expectations, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the financial situation.

The corporation said it can only afford labour, fuel and cane farmers payment

until mid-June. It has no money for spares and materials for the mid-year outof-crop maintenance.

The situation, unless checked, will severely impact the second crop, GuySuCo said.

Dow said it has a backlog of $2.1B owed to creditors with likely scenario of further credit being halted.

GuySuCo has so far expended $9.6B in a bond.

GuySuCo said it is facing closure after running out of money.

Dow said that the Government-established Special Purpose Unit has been selling GuySuCo’s assets- scrap iron, tractors, punts, etc. GuySuCo said it has not been told how much was paid. ”A provision for a subvention is desperately needed from the 2020 budget.

This budget is obviously months away, whereas GuySuCo needs funds now to be able to survive after the

2nd week June 2020.”

The financial situation is so dire that the two accountants on the board, Ramesh Persaud and Paul Cheong, have both resigned.

The three-estate GuySuCoUitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion- have over 10,000 workers.

Sugar has been the biggest foreign currency earner for decades before sliding and overtaken by gold and rice.

Wednesday June 10, 2020

PAGE 13

Kaieteur News

Protect vulnerable groups from effects of COVID-19 pandemic - PAHO Director Washington D.C., May 19, 2020 (PAHO)—The Director of the Pan American Health Organization, Carissa F. Etienne, has warned of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on groups such as poor and indigenous people in the Americas, saying, “If we want to slow the spread of the pandemic and put our region on a path to recovery, we must protect vulnerable groups from COVID-19.”

“The virus is surging across our region. We are increasingly worried about the poor and other vulnerable groups at greatest risk of illness and death from the virus. The recent spike in cases and fatalities is partly due to the virus taking root in these groups,” she said in a press briefing from PAHO headquarters Monday.

More than two million cases and more than 121,000 deaths due to COVID-19 were reported in the Americas as of May 18 – a 14 percent in-

crease in both cases and deaths from last week.

Dr. Etienne called for improved access to effective public health measures, the strengthening of health system capacity to better serve vulnerable populations and for strong social and economic protection.

“During a pandemic, we must overcome the structural inequalities that limit access to services. This means establishing mechanisms that support universal access to health regardless of income, pooling resources with the private and not for profit sector, eliminating payment at point of service and setting up emergency hospitals that add surge capacity where it is most needed.”

COVID-19 impact in certain communities In the Amazon basin, among both isolated villages of indigenous groups and densely populated cities such as Manaus, Iquitos and

Leticia, the incidence of COVID-19 is twice as high as in other provinces in the same countries. “Without immediate action, these communities will face a disproportional impact,” she said.

Vulnerable communities in large cities are also hard hit by the pandemic, where “poor social and economic conditions provide a fertile breeding ground for COVID19” along with the economic impact of people losing their jobs.

Women, who make up 70% of the health workforce in the Americas, are also vulnerable, as they are on the frontlines and disproportionately affected by COVID 19, Dr. Etienne noted. In addition, they face income disparity, inadequate access to health services and are often subject to gender-based violence.

“Far too often, we fail to prioritize the health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable among us. This must

change if we want to stop the spread of COVID-19 and be ready to face future pandemics,” Dr. Etienne said.

“People of African descent in Latin America struggle to access appropriate care in normal circumstances, a reflection of structural discrimination and racial inequity, which put them at greater danger of contracting COVID-19 and facing the most severe consequences of the disease,” the PAHO’s director said.

Migrants in temporary settlements and prisoners in crowded jails with poor sanitation are also in vulnerable situations and seeing higher rates of spread of COVID-19, she said.

Reaching them is a special challenge that countries must face, she indicated.

An important vulnerable group consists of people with underlying health conditions like heart disease, diabetes and obesity, who “are par-

Dr. Carissa F. Etienne (Caricom) ticularly susceptible to hospitalization, severe illness and death due to COVID-19” and face disruptions in treatment for their diseases because health systems are overwhelmed, she said. This risk group accounts for around 221 million people in the Americas, she said.

She continued, “It is only by ensuring human rights for all, when all peoples have uni-

versal access to health and it’s socioeconomic determinants, when we guarantee social protection for the vulnerable, and when our economic development addresses the eradication of poverty and the achievement of the sustainable development goals only then will the world be prepared to face future pandemics. But we need to begin this work now.”

PAGE 14

Wednesday June 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

Caribbean Ministers explore funding options to mitigate effects of COVID-19 on agriculture

T

he ministers and secretaries of Agri culture of 14 Caribbean countries learned about funding opportunities they will be able to access to implement recovery actions in the agriculture and rural sectors to address the impact of Covid-19.

During a videoconference, representatives of financial institutions, development organisations and donors informed the ministers of funding alternatives and resources available to strengthen agriculture, with special emphasis on food security, resilience, economic recovery, technological innovation, sustainable use of resources and the preservation of biodiversity, among other areas.

The meeting, according to a news story posted on the Caribbean Community (CARICOM’)s website, was organised by the Inter-Ameri-

can Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Caricom Secretariat, as part of their efforts to strengthen agriculture in the region.

“We have sought to respond to the needs and demands of the region to mitigate the problems facing agriculture in the Caribbean, laying the groundwork for a more resilient and robust sector,” stated Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA, a hemispheric organisation specialising in agriculture and rurality.

“The pandemic is an unprecedented shock to the region, which is crying out for investments to boost resilience and food security. Certain plans require the participation of development partners. We are committed to emerging stronger from this crisis, and the only way to do that is through regional integration,” explained Irwin LaRocque, Secretary General

of CARICOM. During the event, authorities from Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay also confirmed their willingness to collaborate and share experiences with Caribbean countries through South-South cooperation in areas such as good agricultural practices, research and development, genetic improvement, sustainability, efficient use of soils, capacity building, business and agricultural trade.

The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), the World Bank (WB), the European Union (EU) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) presented their credit lines and opportunities for mon-

Region 4 results certified From page 3 in the OR. It is the coalition’s view that this could derail the declarations.

Daniel Seeram, an agent of the coalition told the press, “I think that the OR has already cast more than a shadow of doubt on the recount process. From day one when we went into the first box we saw numerous anomalies and it has been coming to front. So yes, I believe that that has already been done.”

GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, will now be tasked with taking the tabulations from all 10 electoral districts in order to prepare and submit a report entailing a summary of the observations. This should be completed on or before June 13, 2020. The Commission will have three days to deliberate over the report, after which a

national declaration is expected.

The CARICOM scrutinizing team is expected to submit a report to the Commission, as is stated in the gazetted order, which may include their observations, recommendations and conclusions.

Opposition-nominated Commissioner, Sase Gunraj, told the press that he was unsure when the team would be submitting their report.

In fact, he highlighted that the order does indicate or make the CARICOM report a precursor to the Commission’s deliberations.

“We can proceed to deliberate. No doubt if we will have that CARICOM report at the time of the deliberations, it does not detract from us conducting that full meeting,” Gunraj explained.

Region focuses on agriculture in wake of COVID-19. (Caricom)

etary support.

“Engaging in dialogue with financial agencies is very important. Submitting project proposals is what we must do to secure funding; revitalise our sector, which is key to economic recovery; and provide producers with the support they require,” stated Yolande Bain-Horsford, Minister of Agriculture and Lands of Grenada.

On the other hand, Michael Pintard, Minister of Marine Resources and Agriculture of The Bahamas, and Floyd Green, Minister of State at the Ministry of Industry, Trade, Agriculture and Fisheries of Jamaica, agreed on the importance of reducing bureaucracy, which generally hinders swift access to funds.

“The lack of funding is one of the constraints we face in developing the sector. In

this regard, a practical, comprehensive plan that combines credit opportunities at the regional level would be very helpful. The fact that IICA and CARICOM are synthesising the opportunities available is extremely valuable, given that agriculture and marine resources are a beam of hope for economic recovery in our countries,” remarked Pintard.

“Having a list of regional and international partners, so that we can be aware of the opportunities available to us, is very useful; we appreciate IICA’s efforts in this regard.

There is no doubt that, now more than ever, we must have adequate agricultural insurance in the region, which would allow for accessing funds more rapidly and avoiding bureaucracy, which is often an obstacle. This would

be very helpful,” added Green.

The Caribbean agricultural authorities also acknowledged the fact that having multiple funding alternatives is crucial to meet the challenges facing the region’s agriculture, such as fostering trade, driving regional integration, expanding market access, improving the transportation of products, boosting the resilience of production systems to climate change, investing in innovation and technology transfer, building capacities, implementing sanitary measures, and linking youth to farming activities.

“After COVID-19, funding for recovery processes in agriculture will be in high demand. We are grateful for the support, because we must continue to focus on guaranteeing food security and commit to resolving the various challenges facing agriculture in our region. Now is the time to collaborate and undertake a joint commitment,” stated Noel Holder, Minister of Agriculture of Guyana.

IICA, in turn, reiterated its commitment to assisting CARICOM countries in implementing the Food Security Plan, which seeks to mitigate the consequences of COVID19 in the region and increase agricultural production in the region by 25% over the next five years.

“We have the political will of CARICOM and the ministers, and IICA is committed to offering its internal and technical capacities to carry out this plan,” concluded the Director General of IICA, Manuel Otero.

IICA is the specialised agency for agriculture in the Inter-American system, with a mission to encourage, promote and support its 34 Member States in their efforts to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being through international technical cooperation of excellence.

Wednesday June 10, 2020

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

Untimely payment of CIIP workers ERC distances self from elections irks Region 10 Chairman Regional Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Region 10, Renis Morian, has issued a stern warning to the Permanent Secretary (PS) within the Ministry of Communities, Emile McGarrel, over his failure to pay workers on time.

During a recent Regional Health and Emergency Committee (RHEC) meeting, Morian highlighted the Ministry’s callous treatment of the Community Infrastructure Improvement Programme (CIIP) workers.

According to a statement from the Region, Morian told the meeting that the workers have been under paid for some time now.

He stressed the act has resulted in increased economic hardships for several workers, some of whom are single mothers.

“Several of these workers are single parents who depend on this money to take care of themselves and family, but what is heart rending is that they are forced to wait in many cases until three weeks [late] for their salaries,” he said. Morian said that the complaints from the workers have increased since the start

statements of its commissioner

Region 10 Chairman, Renis Morian

T

PS Ministry of Communities, Emile McGarrel of COVID-19.

The Regional Chairman therefore called on the PS to pay the workers on time considering the current pandemic. According to the release, Morian said the CIIP workers should not wait longer than seven days for their monies. He noted that his intervention has averted protest action by the workers.

Morian further warned that failure by the PS to take remedial actions will result in the CIIP workers of Region 10 taking to the streets.

“Let me make this very clear to PS McGarrel that the CIIP workers in this region are not prepared to wait no more

than seven days because if they continue to receive their monthly salary late then there will be protests… I am appealing to him to allow common sense to prevail,” he stressed.The Regional Chairman said too that taking into consideration the Government constraints in these difficult times, the Ministry of Communities needs to be mindful that there will continue to be increased challenges.

He said that a meager $25,000 a month is way limited but at least efforts should be made to pay these workers on time.

“I want the PS to under-

stand that this as it is, is a bread and butter issue and some compassion should be extended to those who are experiencing challenges.”

Meanwhile, Regional Executive Officer (REO), Orrin Gordon, reiterated the views that the workers should be paid earlier, stating that paying them earlier would help them cushion some of the economic challenges that they are experiencing.

he Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) yesterday distanced itself from statements made on the elections by its Commissioner, Roshan Khan.

According to the commission, Khan made the statements at a press conference held on Monday, June 8th, at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre.

The commissioner was reportedly addressing matters pertaining to the recount of ballots and final tabulation of votes following the March 2nd elections.

“The Commission would like to categorically state, that the views expressed by Commissioner Khan at that forum, were solely his, and not that of the ERC. Even as the Commission awaits the official declaration of the results by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), - citizens are urged to exude patience, calm and respect for each other,” ERC urged.

The commission pointed out that on Elections Day, i t w a s g r a n t e d o b s e r v e r status for several of its commissioners.

In participating, they witnessed many Guyanese across the country exercising their franchise to vote for a party of their choice.

“As a Commission, we look forward to working with all Guyanese, for the greater good of our nation and its people.”

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 10, 2020

Mechanic placed on $100,000 Police thwart mini-protest bail for possession of narcotics by Coalition supporters APNU+AFC supporters protesting in front of the Arthur Chung Conference Center

A 31-year-old mechanic of Litchfield, West Coast Berbice who was arrested on June 7, 2020 was yesterday charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Owen Lewis appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate Court before Magistrate Peter Hugh and pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was placed on $100,000 bail. The matter was adjourned to June 31, 2020.

According to facts of the matter, police acting on information received intercepted a public transportation vehicle at the Police Checkpoint located at the eastern end of the Berbice River Bridge. The mechanic was found in possession of 5,000 grams of suspected cannabis.

The seized ganja.

Charged: Owen Lewis

Police ranks standing guard outside of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) yesterday were forced to stop a protest staged by a small group of Coalition supporters. The protesters congregated at around noon.

Armed with placards in support of A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), the protesters claimed that the recently held General and Regional elections were not credible.

They demanded that an immediate investigation be carried out by the Guyana’s Election Commission (GECOM) and stated that

they are of the belief that the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) made a blatant attempt to rig the elections.

However, their protest only lasted a mere 10 minutes after the police officers instructed them to leave.

Interreligious Organisation calls for peace and acceptance of elections results The deadline for the declaration of the results of the elections is just a week away, and the Inter Religious Organisation (IRO) is calling on all to maintain peace, no matter the victor.

“In the name of God, the Most Glorious, the Most High! For the last 18 months, our country has been gripped in a political vice. Now the end seems to be in sight,” said the IRO in a statement.

In that statement too, the IRO said that there will be unhappy citizens no matter who wins. In this regard, it hopes that all citizens would accept the results of the recount process when it is declared.

At this time, the organization considers the importance of unity particularly important, as the country is also battling a deadly pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has given us tremendous insight into our oneness, interdependence, and the importance of unity and solidarity,” it said.

“The majority of us Guyanese are spiritual people and we understand how the

Inter Religious Organisation logo (Facebook photo) will of God works. We are confident that God will take care of us no matter who forms the Government of Guyana. Bearing this in mind, we call on all God-fearing citizens to dig deep and find the resolve to refrain from, avoid and condemn any and all forms of violence and social unrest.”

The results of all districts have been certified, and the Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has until June 13 to hand over a report of those results to the Commission. The Commission has until June 16 to make a declaration.

Dr. Paloma Mohamed ...

From page 17 wishes to Dr. MohamedMartins for a productive and successful tenure, the UG Council also offered its sincere appreciation to all applicants and short-listed candidates and to the Search Committee and Teams of Evaluators for their months of diligent service.

Dr. Mohamed- Martin’s appointment comes after UG‘s 10th Principal and Vice Chancellor of UG Professor Ivelaw Griffith’s contract ended last year. Griffith held the position from June 2016June 2019.

Ahead of Dr. Mohamed-

Martins’ appointment, a new Chancellor, Professor Edward Greene, former UN Special Envoy and CARICOM Deputy Secretary General, was appointed. This was during UG’s Convocation on November 16, 2019.UG has a current enrollment of some 8,000 students and has graduated more than 20,000 students many of whom have gone on to successful careers locally, regionally and internationally.

The University is also a major contributor to the national economy and to business and industry.

(Rehanna Ramsay)

Wednesday June 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

PAGE 22

Wednesday June 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

Stabbing of Linden school girl …

Charged teen released on $100,000 bail

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On Monday, almost five months after a video surfaced in which a young girl was stabbed in the back, a 15-yearold girl of Mackenzie, Linden was charged for felonious wounding.

The teen virtually appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune in the Linden Magistrate’s Court, where she pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on January 23, 2020, at Amelia’s Ward, Linden, she wounded a child.

Magistrate Fortune granted the teen bail in the sum of $100,000, and the matter was adjourned to June 15, 2020.

The incriminating video footage of the incident was widely circulated on social media platforms.

On the day in question, around 15:00hrs, one female student of the Linden Foundation Secondary School was stabbed in her back with a Rambo knife by another female student while she was pinned to the ground by another.

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ported on the incident which was described as “horrific”.

It was pointed out in that report that the video showed others students cheering as the fight went on.

They even formed a circle around the fierce brawl.

But things took a turn for the worse, after when a female student pulled out a jagged black-handled Rambo knife from her bag and stabbed the student.

The onlookers started to scatter as the injured student, with the knife still stuck in her bloodied back, pleaded for help.

Persons could be heard in the video pleading with the

injured student to not remove the knife to prevent further damage.

One adult could be heard saying “ah tell ayo go home…y’all doan hear.”

While most of the students ran away from the scene, a few with the help of an adult managed to stop a passing taxi to transport the injured girl to the hospital.

At the hospital she was admitted in a critical condition with severe injuries to her ribs, lung, spleen and stomach. She underwent surgery to have the blade removed and is said to be recovering.

(Renay Sambach)

Wednesday June 10, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Haiti records 3 000 virus Ramnarine projects mixed cases in one month bag for TT energy sector Daily Nation - PORT AU PRINCE Haiti has recorded more than 3 000 cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) during a one-month period as the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country announced that 262 cases had been confirmed over 24 hours on Monday.

The Ministry of Public Health said the new cases, more than 100 per cent on the previous day, bring the total to 3 334 since the first case was detected on March 19 It said that in the past 30 days, there had been 3 205 positive cases more cases and that the death toll had increased by one to 51.

The Ministry of Health said that there were 3 259 active cases, while the number of suspected cases since March 19: is 7 351 cases.

Meanwhile, the group, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said that it believes the real figures regarding the number of people testing positive for the virus “are probably much higher”.

MSF, which opened a 45bed Covid-19 treatment centre here last month, said it is currently treating 25 patients, mainly of whom are “seriously ill”.

MSF chief of mission in Haiti, Hassan Issa, said that the group is also following 60 other patients on an outpatient basis in the capital and surrounding areas.

“Some patients come to us with positive test results, and others who need oxygen or hospitalization are treated while we send their test to a government-run laboratory,” Issa added.

MSF said it is also concerned that many people with COVID-19 symptoms are not going to the hospital for treatment, thereby spreading the virus in communities and reducing the chances of survival for individuals.

“As the spread of the virus accelerates, so does the stigma around it,” said Issa, adding “many people with symptoms of COVID-19 are slow to come or forgo treatment.“A dozen patients died on arrival and many more were in critical condition and in light of this, we continue to carry out health promotion activities and call those with symptoms of COVID-19 to seek immediate care, as this can significantly improve their chances of being treated successfully,” Issa added.

(CMC)

Teachers divided in adherence to GTU’s ‘stay ...

From page 18 respective exams. Teachers were also reminded that if they are victimized, the union will resist such in the strongest possible way.

Nevertheless, some teachers have chosen to ignore the GTU’s appeal.Teachers from a few city schools told Kaieteur News that at least 60 percent of their colleagues turned out to work Monday.

For one school 10 out of 26 teachers reported for a staff meeting. A decision was made to open the schools’ doors from 09:00 to 13:00hrs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Some schools have set aside this week to brief teachers on the necessary COVID-19 precautionary measures listed in a gazetted order published by the Education Ministry. Meanwhile, other schools have decided to start accepting students as early as Wednesday.

Kaieteur News also learnt that a routine visit was made to various schools by officials attached to the National COVID-19 Task Force (NTCF).

The intention of the visit, this publication understands, is to ensure that schools are following the guidelines outlined by the NCTF and the Public Health Ministry.

However, this was not the case in Region One, North West District (NWD). Teachers from Moruca and Port Kaituma for instance did not show up for work, this publication was informed.

“The schools’ doors were not even opened; they remained shut,” this publication was told. Teachers from these regions are said to be adhering to the GTU’s calls because of fear of the deadly coronavirus.

Meanwhile, in a press statement yesterday, the Ministry announced that schools

across the country have started preparation for the return of NGSA, CSEC, CAPE students who are required to return to school next Monday (June 15, 2020).

The Education Ministry had closed schools across the country on March 16, last with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Education had announced on June 2, 2020, that beginning June 8, 2020 teachers and auxiliary staff will return to work. This, it said, was to facilitate the adequate and correct prepa-

ration of schools as is outlined in the gazetted and published examination order.

“In addition to the public health protocols that will be implemented in all schools, cleaners across the country are undergoing training in Infection Prevention and Control Practice all to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” the Ministry said.

According to the Ministry, this year NGSA will be written on July 1 and 2, while CSEC and CAPE will be administered from July 13 2020 August 4, 2020.

NEWSDAY - Former energy minister Kevin Ramnarine is predicting a combination of historic losses and opportunities in TT’s energy sector in the period 2020 to 2023. Ramnarine made his predictions during a virtual meeting hosted by the Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute last week.

Noting that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecast negative growth of 4.5 per cent for TT this year, Ramnarine said, “That seems conservative.”

He also believed 2021 would be the same as or worse than 2020, as local energy companies carry forward losses as deferred tax assets.

Ramnarine said that would have consequences for tax revenue in 2021. He also said, “Government may not collect any Supplemental Petroleum Tax (SPT) from March 2020 into 2021.”

Ramnarine said that was be-

Kevin Ramnarine cause oil prices should generally remain under US$50 per barrel and SPT is only payable if prices are above US$50 per barrel.Ramnarine said TT’s methanol and ammonia plants are among the highest cost producers in the world.

“They were among the first to shut down and, as prices go back up, they will be the last to start back.”

He said the cost to produce a tonne of methanol in TT was around US$175 per

tonne which made most methanol production at Point Lisas uneconomic in the current price environment.

While the short to medium term outlook appears gloomy, Ramnarine said: “I am an eternal optimist when it comes to TT.“We will survive this.

We’ve done it before in the 1980s after which we went on to 15 consecutive years of economic growth from 1993 to 2008.”Ramnarine saw enormous opportunities for TT in Suriname and Guyana, which do not have a deep-water harbours and are in the early stages of developing their deep-water hydrocarbon sectors.“Our greatest asset is the Gulf of Paria, which is like a lake in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.”Ramnarine also said the ISCOTT dock at Pt Lisas is underutilised and could become a centre for maritime services. He opined these services could become a big job creator and revenue generator for the country.

Diplomat questions incident involving Cuban nurses BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – The Barbados Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), David Comissiong says the attack on a chartered bus carrying Cuban nurses on Sunday was intended to portray Barbados in a bad light internationally.Police said they have launched a probe into the incident that caused

injuries to two Cuban nurses when an object was thrown into the bus. The nurses are part of a contingent that arrived here in April to help the island fight the coronavirus (COVID-19).“To unthinking people, it might even give the false impression that this was some negative expression by the people of Barbados. So I am very suspicious of this act.

I am very suspicious of who

is behind it and more importantly what is behind it and what negative propaganda effect they intended this incident to have,” said Comissiong.He told the on-line publication, Barbados TODAY that whoever carried out the unlawful act or whoever prompted them to do it, has calculated that it would make front page news in Barbados and eventually regionally and internationally.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 10, 2020

Wednesday June 10, 2020

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Kaieteur News

US Army veteran stunned by negative reaction to Kaepernick kneeling

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick prepares to take the field before an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, U.S. October 23, 2016. (REUTERS/Loren Elliott)

Wednesday June 10, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You shouldn't try to fight the feelings that run through you today. Don't even try to rationalize them.

These feelings are probably related to emotions dating back to your childhood.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may feel annoyed about the attitude of some of your group of friends. Unlike these people, you're very open-minded and you can deal with situations as they arise.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You'll be lost in your thoughts today, analyzing your life and relationships.

You'll be asking yourself if your existence is meeting your standards.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today, Scorpio, you'll be submerged under a lot of emotions. In a way, you'll be revisiting your childhood. You may be very edgy. This is a good disposition in which to analyze your life.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today you will have all the energy you need to deal with long-term family problems. Indeed, you'll probably clash with some of your relatives.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You enjoy caring for others and you intervene regularly in their lives to guide them.

Ironically, today you're the one who needs advice.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) We all have to make compromises in order to live in contemporary society. You may have strong beliefs, but it's difficult to combine your ideals and a social life.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22) You've always felt the need to free yourself from society.

You need to feel independent at any cost. You may need to face certain relationship problems at this time.

Perhaps you're hesitant to commit either at work or in your personal life.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You really know how to seduce, Sagittarius. There is a spark inside of you that spreads naturally to those around you. You have a big reservoir of sensitivity and emotion that could grow today.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You're a very active person, Capricorn, but today you'll probably be disappointed. If you ask those around you to help with your activities, they most likely won't understand your needs.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Nothing much is happening today, yet you seem worried and tense. You'll have to use this day to your advantage.

Think about your life.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You often need to thrive on personal emotions. Today will be no exception to the rule. For instance, you could try to captivate the attention of people you admire.

(Reuters) - A former member of the U.S. Army Special Forces who advised Colin Kaepernick that kneeling during the national anthem would be a more respectful protest than remaining seated on the bench says he had no idea the gesture would become so controversial.

Nate Boyer, who served six years in the Army and also tried out for Seattle as a long snapper, met with Kaepernick in 2016 when the then-San Francisco quarterback began his protests aimed at drawing attention to police brutality against minorities.

Boyer had written a piece in an Army newspaper about the protests, which involved the quarterback sitting on the sidelines during the customary pregame airing of the anthem, and said Kaepernick sought him out for advice.

“The thoughts that ran through my head about kneeling were of pictures in the history books of somebody kneeling before the king to be knighted, somebody proposing to their wife, taking a knee to pray in the Catholic Church,” Boyd told Reuters.

“I just couldn’t think in any way that it could be construed as disrespectful.”

Many did find it disrespectful, however.

U.S. President Donald Trump described it as “unpatriotic” and in 2017 Vice President Mike Pence walked out of an NFL game when some of the players knelt on the sidelines.

Kaepernick filed a grievance against the league in 2017 claiming collusion as no teams signed him after he parted ways with the 49ers.

The NFL and Kaepernick settled in 2019.

The issue has returned to the fore in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, a black man in Minneapolis who died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

On Friday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league made mistakes in not listening to players and denounced racism in the United States.

Boyer said he under-

stands why many consider the playing of the anthem before sporting events as sacred.

“Those symbols mean a lot to me,” Boyer said.

“But at the same time, I took an oath to defend the Constitution, which includes the First Amendment, freedom of speech, freedom of expression.”

Boyer said Kaepernick would go down in history as a galvanizing force for racial equality.

“He was standing up for — or taking a knee for — millions and millions of people that don’t have the platform and don’t have a voice.”

Guyana continues to represent ...

From page 31 and Hing in his first, scored 450/720 placing 8th. Singh commented that his scores improved compared with the last stage (9). This improvement he attributed to continued focus and the competitive atmosphere of the tournament. He also said that he is using this experience to improve on his consistency in scoring in his ends, thus improving on his overall scores.

Lawrence on her third venture in this competition scored 662/720 placing 9th in a group of 15 archers.

As previously mentioned, registration is done online and athletes choose which session and division they would shoot. Scaled-down target faces are used to suit

the specified distances for those shooting from home with limited space. Equipment inspection is done by taking a photo of bow and arrows, as well as target faces and sent online. A QR code is then sent for archers to log in and send sco r e s a f t e r e v e r y e n d along with pictures of arrows in target for scoring.The competition c o n t i n u e s n e x t S u n d ay, June 14 with stage 11, as Archery Guyana urges archers with access to ranges or home facilities to participate.

All archers are mandated to observe their National health and safety requirements and the PAHO/WHO guidelines for prevention of COVID-19.

Tendulkar, Lee back using ...

From page 27 developed a wax applicator to enhance shine and aid swing.

Lee said denying the bowlers an alternative would be “unfair”.

“Maybe try a new substance that they can potentially use that everyone agrees on, that the batsmen are happy with, that the bowlers are happy with,” said Lee, who retired from international cricket in 2012.

“I like the idea of having a tub of wax... it’s a very good idea.”

The Australian felt a saliva ban would be tough to police and match officials should be lenient.

“There has to be a lot of leniency, maybe 2-3 warnings per player because I can guarantee you, if the players are told they can’t do it, they won’t do it on purpose but I think it will happen through natural instinct,” he added.

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Wednesday June 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

Taekwondo: Olympic medalist adjusts to training in living room

Hedaya Malak Wahba, Egyptian Taekwondo practitioner and 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medallist, works out with her brother at her home as she trains for the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Cairo, Egypt June 4, 2020. (REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh) CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt’s Olympic bronze medalist Hedaya Malak says she imagines her living room is a taekwondo hall as she tries to adjust to training from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic and keep in shape for her third Games.

The 27-year-old, who finished third in the -57kg category at the Rio Olympics four years ago, has already qualified for the Tokyo Games, which were postponed for a

year to 2021 in March.

Since the new coronavirus outbreak her training partners at her Cairo apartment are her brother — who also practises taekwondo — and a human-shaped kicking pad donated by a sponsor.

“Most of it is mental because you have to challenge yourself and push yourself to keep on training every day, which is not so easy when you’re at home and

Hedaya Malak Wahba, Egyptian Taekwondo practitioner and 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medallist, works out at her home as she trains for the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Cairo, Egypt June 4, 2020. (REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)

everybody’s watching TV or studying, or playing around the house,” she said.

“So it’s challenging. But at the same time you know that everybody around the world is in the same situation.

“I try to imagine that this is my taekwondo hall, and this is where I am training and this is where I find my athletes and my friends, my team mates, as if they’re training with

me.”

Malak said she was shocked when she heard the Games had been postponed for a year, but is using the time to recover from injuries and study other athletes by watching videos.

She has also been cooking and drawing, and enjoys seeing more of her family.

Egypt has confirmed more than 35,000 coronavirus cases. Gyms as

well as cafes, mosques and schools have been closed. Malak is supposed to go back to an Olympic training center in mid-June.

“It’s not going to be easy,” she said. “We won’t have sparring or fighting with each other, I think we will be far from each other ... and I think everyone will be wearing their gloves, wearing their masks and everything, so everybody’s protected.”

ICC approves use of substitute if player shows Covid-19 symptoms in Tests ESPNcricinfo - The ICC has decided to allow substitutes only in Test cricket if a player shows symptoms of Covid-19, and has also introduced a system of issuing two warnings per innings followed by a five-run penalty for repeated use of saliva on the ball.

Those decisions were approved by the ICC’s Chief Executive Committee (CEC) based on the recommendations made recently by the ICC cricket committee. The CEC also approved the use of non-neutral umpires for all international formats and added the use of an unsuccessful review for each team in each innings of a match. All these are interim adjustments to the playing conditions owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Price of saliva: five—run penalty for batting side The ICC cricket committee, headed by former India captain Anil Kumble, had recommended that sweat and not any artificial substance

should be used to shine the ball. That sweat was a safer option than saliva was approved by the ICC’s chief medical expert Dr Peter Harcourt, who had highlighted that Covid-19 was an airborne respiratory infection and highly contagious.

The ICC has said that the match officials will penalise teams only after a period of “leniency” as players get used to the new playing conditions which comprise staying in a bio-secure environment and playing behind closed doors.

In case saliva was applied on the ball by the fielding team, the ICC said the umpires will first clean the ball before play recommences. “Players will not be permitted to use saliva to shine the ball,” the ICC said in a media release.

“If a player does apply saliva to the ball, the umpires will manage the situation with some leniency during an initial period of adjustment for the players, but subsequent instances will result in the

team receiving a warning. A team can be issued up to two warnings per innings but repeated use of saliva on the ball will result in a 5-run penalty to the batting side.”

Like-for-like substitutes only in Tests Teams will also be allowed to replace a player if he/she shows symptoms of Covid19, but only during a Test match. “In line with concussion replacements, the Match Referee will approve the nearest like-for-like replacement,” the ICC said.

Kumble’s committee had deliberated on the issue and was not in favour of such substitutes once Harcourt said that test results could come back in about half hour time.

Some of the cricket committee members had felt if testing could be done that quickly and a player was found infected that would mean both teams and coaching staff would need to go into isolation for two weeks as per the medical procedure.

The committee felt in that

case Covid-19 substitutes were not needed.

Home umpires; three reviews per innings in Tests, two in white-ball formats Neutral umpires will not be officiating in Tests for the first time since 2002. The CEC agreed that “owing to the current logistical challenges” home umpires would stand in all three formats. The local umpires would be picked from the ICC’s Elite Panel and International panel of match officials.

In order to remove the perception of bias, the cricket committee had recommended that an additional review should be granted to each team in every format, which the CEC has ratified.

“The CEC has also confirmed an additional unsuccessful DRS review for each team in each innings of a match, keeping in mind that there may be less experienced umpires on duty at times.

This will increase the number of unsuccessful appeals per innings for each

Umpires will be able to levy a five-run penalty after two warnings for saliva application under new regulations. (AFP) team to three for Tests and two for the white-ball formats.”

In addition, any code of conduct issues will be dealt with by the ICC’s cricket operations department and any code of conduct hearings will

be held by a neutral match referee via video call.

That means it is more than likely now that Chris Broad could officiate as match referee in a Test series during the English summer involving his son Stuart.

Wednesday June 10, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Australian state lets sports fans back in stadiums as COVID-19 cases slow SYDNEY (Reuters) - As Australia moves ahead with relaxing a lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, a state government gave the all clear for more than 2,000 fans to attend an Australian Rules Football game at a stadium in Adelaide this weekend.

“Football and crowds are back in South Australia,” Steven Marshall, South Australia’s premier told reporters in the state capital yesterday, heralding the match between the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide.

Professional sport was allowed to resume in Australia last month after a two-month hiatus, but it will become one

of the first nations to admit spectators to stadiums as lockdowns begin to be relaxed in many countries.

Australia has suffered at least 102 COVID-19 deaths and about 7,200 infections, but it has not reported a death for more than a week, and new cases have dwindled to less than 20 daily.

The government has pledged to remove the bulk of social distancing restrictions by the end of July, though some states are moving slower than others.

Last Saturday, thousands of Australians marched in solidarity with U.S. protesters angered by the death of a black man in

police custody.

While the lockdown and social distancing measures have slowed the spread of COVID-19, the economy has taken a hit, with data released last week showing it had tipped into recession, but officials tried to strike a positive note.

“Given the improved health outlook for Australia, the impact of COVID-19 on the economy will be smaller,” Steven Kennedy, secretary to Australia’s Treasury department told lawmakers in Canberra.

“However, this will still be the single biggest economic shock Australia has faced in living memory.”

Kobe Bryant honored in Bosnia with giant mural on school wall

Artist Deni Bozic (27) paints the last details on his tribute mural honoring former Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant on a school building wall in Gradiska, Bosnia and Herzegovina June 8, 2020. (REUTERS/Dado Ruvic) GRADISKA, Bosnia (Reuters) - Kobe Bryant, the 18-time NBA All-Star who died in a helicopter crash in January, has been honored with a giant mural commissioned by sports enthusiasts and painted on the side of an elementary school building in northern Bosnia.

“Kobe was a basketball and sports legend and the athlete who deserves ... a modern 21st century monument,” said artist Deni Bozic, after putting the final touches to the 39-foot (12 meter) wide, 19-foot (6 meter) tall artwork in the town of Gradiska.

The initiative for the trib-

ute to Bryant, a five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers who won Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012, came from a group of local basketball players.

“This mural is a monument to the town in which basketball has been alive for the past 30-40 years,” said Igor Damjanovic, an ex-basketball player and one of the group of enthusiasts behind the project.

As he spoke, a group of boys played basketball on the school court next to the mural.

“We began the project in February, but the situation with coronavirus has delayed

it up until a few days ago,” Damjanovic said.

The image features the late player in his gold Lakers jersey preparing to take a shot against a background of a blue sky and clouds.

The “black mamba” logo with which he is associated appears in the top right-hand corner.

Bozic, who had to balance on a long ladder to paint the upper parts of the mural, said it was a major challenge to cover such a large surface.

Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash outside of Los Angeles on Jan. 26 along with his 13-year-old daughter and seven others.

Police officers patrol near the Sydney Opera House following the implementation of stricter social-distancing and self-isolation rules to limit the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Sydney, Australia, April 6, 2020. (REUTERS/Loren Elliott)

Allyson Felix among track stars set for meet spanning three continents NBC Sports - Allyson Felix will race 150m against Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo, each on opposite sides of the U.S., in a July 9 meet that will include at least 30 athletes spread across three continents.The “Inspiration Games” is an exhibition team event held by Diamond League organizers for a meet usually held in Zurich, Switzerland, that has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.The meet will include 30 “superstars” among eight disciplines spanning seven stadiums.

The format: a series of three-way clashes among Europe, the U.S. and “Rest of the World” teams. Organizers announced one of them Tuesday — a 150m pit-

Allyson Felix

ting Felix, Miller-Uibo and Swiss Mujinga Kambundi, the 2019 World 200m bronze medalist.Felix will race in California, Miller-Uibo in Florida and Kambundi in Switzerland.The meet follows Thursday’s “Impossible Games,” a repurposed

Diamond League meet held in Oslo with no fans and limited athletes, including solo races and some competing virtually from different countries.This year’s regular Diamond League season has been readjusted to start in August.

Tendulkar, Lee back using wax to shine ball NEW DELHI (Reuters) Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar and former Australia speedster Brett Lee have backed the idea of using wax as an alternative to saliva to shine the ball ahead of a crucial International Cricket Committee (ICC) meeting today.

The ICC is expected to announce a temporary ban on applying saliva on the ball — a time-tested practice to generate swing — as the governing body seeks to restart the game after the COVID-19 shutdown.

While cricketers can still use sweat to shine the ball, Tendulkar said players hardly perspired in countries with cooler climates, such as England and New Zealand.

General view of cricket ball during England nets at Birmingham. (Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra/File Photo) “If you’re not going to allow saliva, and there are places where you don’t sweat, why not use wax or some external substance?”

Tendulkar said during his chat with Lee in the Indian’s 100MB online app.

Teams could be given a “quota” of wax per innings, the former India captain recommended.

Australian cricket-ball manufacturer Kookaburra said last month it had (Continued on page 25)

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 10, 2020

Windies’ arrival in England a boost for cricket London (AFP) - International cricket will start to get back on its feet following the coronavirus shutdown when the West Indies arrive yesterday for a Test series in England.

Fans who have had to make do with months of television repeats can now look forward to the real thing again, with England captain Joe Root saying of the West Indies’ decision to tour: “It must be extremely scary and I think the whole cricketing world will be grateful to see some cricket again.”

The three-match contest was originally meant to be played in June but will now start on July 8 instead because of the pandemic.

But rather than games before crowds at the Oval, Edgbaston and Lord’s, a now back-to-back series will take place behind closed doors at the more ‘bio-secure’ Ageas Bowl and Old Trafford.

Whereas players usually spend evenings during a Test away from the ground, they will now instead find themselves in a protective bubble at two venues which both have onsite hotels.

Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl

will stage the series opener from July 8, with the next two Tests at Old Trafford.

Health measures, including a ban on applying saliva to the ball to aid swing set to be rubber-stamped at an International Cricket Council meeting on Wednesday, and repeated virus testing will be in place.

“Our main objective is to deliver a safe environment for all stakeholders,” said England and Wales Cricket Board events director Steve Elworthy.

- ‘Done us a favour’ Yet there is no escaping the financial impact of the virus.

Going ahead with major matches is seen as vital, with the ECB estimating it could lose £252 million ($316 million) if there are no fixtures at all this summer.

One of cricket’s poorest major teams in the West Indies is now helping one of its wealthiest, with former England captain David Gower saying the Windies had “done us a favour” at a time when the COVID-19 death toll in Britain had topped 40,000.

The West Indies, who hold the Wisden Trophy after

England Test captain Joe Root (left) and West Indies skipper Jason Holder (AFP Photo/Randy Brooks)

beating England in the Caribbean last year, have selected a 25-strong squad made up of 14 first-choice players and 11 travelling reserves.

They will complete a 14day quarantine period, combined with initial training, during several weeks at Old Trafford before heading south from Manchester for the first Test.

Despite the ECB’s efforts, three West Indies players —

2023 Women’s World Cup: Brazil withdraws tournament hosting bid

Brazilian star Marta is a six-time Fifa Player of the Year. (Getty Images) BBC Sport - Brazil has withdrawn its bid to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said the government did not consider it wise to offer financial guarantees in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Brazil will now support Colombia’s proposal, which is up against Japan and a joint bid from Australia and New Zealand to host the 32-team tournament.

Fifa will vote to select the hosts on 25 June.

“Because of the fiscal and economic austerity brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, [the government] thought it would not be recommended to right now sign the guarantees asked for by Fifa,” said a CBF statement.

Brazil has hosted a number of major international sporting competitions in recent years, including the

men’s World Cup in 2014, the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Copa America in 2019. But the CBF felt it was an outsider to host yet another big event.

The country has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than 35,000 deaths and in excess of 640,000 confirmed infections, but the latter number is believed to be much higher because of insufficient testing.

Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul — declined to tour, with Cricket West Indies insisting it will not hold this against them when it comes to future selection.

Bravo and Hetmyer’s absence deprives the tourists of two top-order batsman, with Paul less of a loss given he is

a back-up for fast-bowling allrounder Jason Holder, the West Indies captain.

It was a point emphasised

by CWI chief selector Roger Harper, who said at last week’s squad announcement: “I expect that the bowling unit will once again provide a serious challenge for England and our batting will have to

deliver.”

But it could be Root who is the most significant absentee from the first Test.

Root’s wife is expected to give birth to the couple’s second child in the first week of July.

The Yorkshireman plans to attend the birth but that may mean Root has to then self-isolate for seven days, putting a question mark against his participation at Southampton.

Root has backed vice-captain Ben Stokes to do a good job in his absence but Kevin Pietersen, recalling his own brief stint as England skipper, was wary of adding to the star all-rounder’s burdens and suggested wicketkeeper Jos Buttler for the role instead.

“Do I want to see Ben Stokes change from who he is and the current player he is?” Pietersen told talkSPORT. “Probably not.

“The entertainers and the guys that have to carry the mantle in the team sometimes aren’t the best captains and sometimes struggle with the extra added pressure.”

‘Guyana needs Nat’l Tennis Centre’ ...

From page 30 Guyana’s affiliation with the ITF allows the team to participate in team events and circuit tournaments throughout the year once they can afford to attend.

Shelly attended several Coaches’ conferences Worldwide, workshops and courses which included Sports Administration.

“This year unfortunately, we weren’t able to travel this year because of the pandemic which was very disappointed for the players.

We had lots more tournaments because of access to more facilities, almost every three months.

She reiterated the need for a National Tennis Centre in Guyana complete with, at least four tennis courts in one location.

“We are hoping they can see our plan. We have always had a five-year plan which includes the need for facilities.

Pegasus was the premier club, tennis was also played in Berbice and Linden. Today, Tennis is played only in Georgetown and that is not good for the development of the sport,” said Shelly.

Both the past and present Governments don’t seem to comprehend the important and value of sports in Guyana and are not doing enough to assist its development.

“In terms of facilities, No, I’m not satisfied...I think more attention should be placed

on fixing the Racket Centre, it’s in a prime location and has a rich history.

I was told that there were four grass courts on the eastern side of the ground. They could be changed to hard courts which is easier to maintain. I know that if we don’t have a Tennis Centre, we would not be able to expand and execute our programmes the way it should.

The GTA is affiliated to the ITF and it is mandatory for every association to have its own centre, it would be easier to have all the programmes, host tournaments locally and internationally and be able to have training on a daily basis with clubs,” said Shelly.

The Coach revealed that the ITF has funds available every year for facilities in each Nation.

“Guyana is eligible for those facility grants providing that we can show proof of ownership or lease.

I would love to one day see Guyana hosting international tennis tournaments again at the racket centre. If I’m correct, Guyana once hosted the Brandon and Phillips tournament at the Racket Centre many years ago.

We would be able to host international tournaments if we reach the ITF requirements,” Shelly stated.

As an ITF Coordinator Shelly has been able to travel overseas and witness firsthand the support govern-

ments there have been giving to help develop Tennis.

“At the club level, we had our annual tournament which included an international part with Suriname, our club camps and international tournaments in Trinidad and Jamaica.

The Covid 19 has affected us terribly because all our activities have to come to an abrupt end since all our planned events were cancelled...locally and internationally.

Some players are doing just physical exercises during this time because all facilities are currently closed,” Shelly lamented.

Females in Tennis have always been an issue, the GTA are always struggling to maintain females in tennis for several reasons.“My advice to young players is sports, is a very disciplined career, it can create opportunities which includes scholarships, it also allows you the chance to become a professional if you so desire. It’s a sport that you can play all your life unlike most other sports,” added Shelly, who can be described as Tennis fanatic.

Shelly pointed out that Coach Skeete, who lived and Coached in Trinidad but is now back home, was always there for her and invited her to train with the top juniors during her playing years. The national coaches then were Rene Phillips, Joseph Wong and Debbie Bunbury.

Wednesday June 10, 2020

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

West Indies arrive in England for unique Test series AFP - West Indies captain Jason Holder hailed a “huge step forward” for cricket as his side became the first international sports team to arrive in Britain since the coronavirus lockdown.

The three-Test series between England and the Caribbean side, originally due to begin on June 4, will start more than a month later at biosecure venues behind closed doors.

“This is a huge step forward in cricket and in sports in general as we travel over to England for this series,” Holder told the Cricket West Indies website.

“A lot has gone into the preparations for what will be a new phase in the game.”

All the West Indies players have tested negative for the virus, although they will be retested in Manchester, where they arrived yesterday.

The Ageas Bowl in Southampton will host the first match, starting on July 8, and Old Trafford will host the second and third Tests later in the month.

Players will be in a protective “bubble” at the two grounds.

- Saliva ban Several temporary rule changes in response to the pandemic, including COVID19 substitutions, were announced by the International Cricket Council on Tuesday.

The ICC has also issued a ban on applying saliva to the ball and approved use of nonneutral umpires because of travel restrictions.

International matches are vital to cricket’s finances.

The England and Wales Cricket Board estimated it

could lose £252 million ($321 million) if there were no matches at all this summer.

The West Indies, who hold the Wisden Trophy after beating England at home last year, have selected a 25strong squad for the series.

Three players — Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul — declined to tour.

The absence of Bravo and Hetmyer deprives the tourists of two top-order batsman, with Paul less of a loss given he is a back-up for Holder, the world’s top-ranked allrounder.

The tourists, who have taken a 50 percent pay cut, will complete a 14-day quarantine period combined with initial training at Old Trafford before heading south for the first Test.“There is expectation in the air that we will defend the Wisden Trophy and we will certainly put in the work and give it our all to keep hold of it,” said Holder.

Former England captain David Gower said the West Indies had “done us a favour” by agreeing to tour, with official data showing the number of confirmed and suspected virus deaths in Britain had risen to almost 50,000.

West Indies limited-overs all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite, who will be a member of the BBC radio commentary team, said the virus figures had caused “some scepticism” about the tour among some players.

But he told the BBC: “Ultimately, everybody has been champing at the bit not only to practise, but play.”

England captain Joe Root said last week “the whole cricketing world will be grateful to see some cricket again”.

But the skipper could be

CEO Johnny Greave talks with the players prior to their departure for England.

the most significant absentee from the first Test as he plans to attend the birth of his sec-

ond child, expected in the first week of July.

Root has backed vice-cap-

tain Ben Stokes to do a good job if he is absent.But Kevin Pietersen, recalling his own brief stint as England skipper, was wary of adding to the star all-rounder’s burdens.

“The entertainers and the guys that have to carry the mantle in the team sometimes aren’t the best captains and sometimes struggle with the extra added pressure,” Pietersen told talkSPORT. SQUAD – Jason Holder (captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane Dowrich, Chemar Holder, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer and Kemar Roach.

RESERVES – S u n i l Ambris, Joshua DaSilva, Shannon Gabriel, Keon Harding, Kyle Mayers, Preston McSween, Marquino Mindley, Shayne Moseley, Anderson Phillip, Oshane Thomas and Jomel

Warrican. · Team Management: Phil Simmons (Head Coach), Rawl Lewis (Team Manager), Roddy Estwick (Assistant Coach), Rayon Griffith (Assistant Coach), Floyd Reifer (Batting Coach), Dr Praimanand Singh (Team Doctor), Ronald Rogers (Strength & Conditioning Coach), Denis Byam (Physiotherapist), Neil Barry Jr (Physiotherapist), Zephyrinus Nicholas (Massage Therapist), Nkoyo Meade (Massage Therapist), Donald LaGuerre (Team Psychologist), A.R. Srikkanth (Team Analyst) and Dario Barthley (Media & Content Officer).

WISDEN TROPHY MATCH SCHEDULE July 8-12: 1st Test Match at Ageas Bowl, Southampton July 16-20: 2nd Test Match at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester July 24-28: 3rd Test Match at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 10, 2020

‘Guyana needs Nat’l Tennis Centre’ - Coach Daly-Ramdyhan

By Sean Devers The job of helping to develop Lawn Tennis in Guyana to International standards is far from done but the work of forty-seven-year-old former National Tennis player and Guyana Coach Shelly DalyRamdyhan is making a positive impact.

Shelly had no experience as a junior player since she only started playing competitively at 19 but the young lass played in the OECS senior tournament in Jamaica where she reached the semi-finals of the main draw in Singles and Doubles with a Jamaican player. She also played in an ITF Senior Qualifiers in Trinidad and Tobago.

Shelly was National Champion for four successive years during the 1990s and dominated locally from 1993 to 1997.

In 1998, Shelly got her first child but that did not stop her from putting in outstanding performances on the Court locally and representing Guyana well in the Caribbean.

In 2005, Shelly officially got involved in Coaching when she started the first P&P sponsored Tennis camp with Debbie Bunbury and soon after the pair started their club programme at the National Park.

The club produced all the top junior players that represented Guyana at ITF team events and also played against clubs in Suriname once a year.

After Bumbury migrated,

Shelly continued the programme and later changed the name to Sheltez Tennis Club, while in 2010 she attended her first regional conference in El Salvador.

Shelly was born on the October, 13, 1972 to Charles Henry Daly and Joan Lindo and spent the first three years of her life in Durban Street, Lodge before growing up in a single parent family in Laing Avenue with her mom and 15 siblings.

Regarded by many back then as a ‘Getho’ life in Laing Avenue which produced National Cricketers Neil Barry and Colwin Cort, who both attended QC, was not easy, but helped Shelly to appreciate the little things in life.

Her mom often reminded her that ‘It’s not where you come from but where you want to be that’s important’ and those words have always inspired her to bigger things.

Shelly attended the St Pius Primary and David Rose Secondary in West Ruimveldt before gaining a diploma in building and construction at the Government Technical Institute (GTI).

The talented teen explained how she got interested in Tennis.

“One day after dancing class, my younger sister Christina said she, along with a friend, were heading to tennis practice at North Ruimveldt Multilateral school and I went with them. Mr. William Skeete was the Coach.

“I always liked the sport but did not even know it was played in Guyana. I later

Players of a National Junior team with Coach Daly (standing left). found out through Rudy Grant and Harry Panday, that Guyana was playing an exhibition match and it would be on TV,” said Shelly, a certified level 2 Coach.

She said her mom never knew she played tennis until after a neighbour saw an article in the papers with her.

“She was very strict and never wanted us to play outside,” explained Shelly who played barefoot on hard courts for six months.

Shelly started at Multi school and then was transferred to the National Racket Centre in 1991 which was then named the Non Pariel Tennis Club, with Skeete as the coach.

At the ITFCOTECC Under -12 Development Championships in Trinidad (Coach Daly is back right).

Shelly & her 3 daughters.

She got involved in Coaching through the club in 2003 while still an active player.

“It was mandatory to give back to the club so I would say it started there. We were also involved in camps and outreach programmes,” disclosed Shelly who is married to André Ramdyhan and has three daughters (Nicola, Nathalie and Nandanee) who all play Tennis.

Her eldest daughter, 21year-old Nicola, has a tennis scholarship in the USA. “Nicola was selected to train at the Bill Adams Tennis academy in Florida and in 2018 gained a scholarship at the Clark Atlanta University for four years,” disclosed Shelly.

Shelly explained the main difference between being a player and being a Coach.

“When I was competing, I was giving it 100 per cent and always believing that I can win at all cost.

As a coach, success involves constant learning and improvement, rather than just wins and losses,” explained Coach Shelly, the National

Junior Tennis Coordinator.

“I had some really memorable games but some of my greatest matches were against Trudy Wong-U, Debbie Fung and Carol Humphrey....I loved the mixed doubles matches because it allowed me to play against the male players too which was even more competitive,” added Shelly who says her favourite players locally were Marvin Jeffrey (Junior) and Andre Lopes and Internationally, Steffi Graft and Pete Sampras.

“If I’m to compare tennis back then to now, I would say that the level is much higher and the opportunities are much more available for players.The players back then didn’t have a lot of opportunities compared to now...most players, if they travelled then, did it with their parents but the level was very good.The players now are more exposed to international tournaments because of our structure in the clubs and association,” noted Coach Shelly.Shelly informed that (Continued on page 28)

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday June 10, 2020

Guyana continues to represent at Sammy to confront ex-Sunrisers team International Remote Archery Competition mates on potentially racist language Continuing in the 60X ISOL Remote Shoot Competition, Guyana fielded three archers last Sunday, June 7 in the 10th stage of this novel virtual competition.

With the focus on maintaining fitness and competitiveness during the worldwide Covid-19

pandemic lockdown and quarantine measures, all athletes are required to maintain the strict safety guidelines while competing, either from home or other venues.

Competing on the 30m c a t e g o r i e s , Wi n n e t t e Lawrence and Robert Singh were joined by Nicholas

Hing, with Ms Lawrence in the Compound Division and Singh and Hing in the Recurve Division, both comprising 2 sessions of 36 arrows each.

Singh on his second venture at this competition scored 564/720 and placed 5th in a group of 8 archers, (Continued on page 25)

Official scoresheet for the 30m Recurve Division showing Robert Singh’s and Nicholas Hing’s placements and scores.

Official scoresheet for the 30m Compound Division showing Winnette Lawrence’s placements and scores.

Instagram. “... I was angry after listening to him describing a word that they use to describe black people, which he was saying is not in a g o o d w a y. . . a n d i t w a s degrading.

“Instantly I remembered when I played for Sunrisers in 2013 and 2014, I was being called the exact same word he described that was degrading to us black people.

“I will be messaging those people...

Because if it was in any way, shape or form what Minhaj said it meant, I’m very disappointed and I’d still be angry and deserve an apology from you guys.”

Several elite athletes have spoken out about racism in sport and society after the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man in police custody in Minneapolis.

Sammy said the word was also used to describe Sri Lankan team mate Thisara Perera.

“I assumed it meant something else that was uplifting. But every time I was called it, it was me and Thisara, there was always laughter in the moment. “... But you could understand my frustration and my anger when it was pointed out to me that it wasn’t funny at all.”

Sunrisers Hyderabad declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.

Daren Sammy playing for St Lucia Zouks in 2019. (Photo: Ashley Allen/Getty Images)

(Reuters) - Former West Indies captain Daren Sammy has sought clarification from his former Sunrisers Hyderabad team mates over potentially racist language directed at him when he was part of the Indian Premier League franchise from 2013-14.

Sammy said he did not know the meaning of a Hindi word that some unnamed Sunrisers team mates would call him and only became aware of its racial connotations after watching a TV show that discussed the issue.

“I was listening to (Indian-American comedian) Hasan Minhaj talking about how some of the people in his culture view or describe black people,” Sammy said on

West Indies arrive in England for unique Test series p.29

Members of the Windies team aboard the private charter Enroute to England.

The West Indies cricket team arrives at Old Trafford in Manchester. (AFP / Paul Ellis)

t r o Sp Archers Robert Singh and Nicholas Hing shooting at 30 metres in Stage 10 of last Sunday's 60x ISOL Remote Shoot

Shelly-Daly

‘Guyana needs Nat’l Tennis - Coach Centre’Daly-Ramdyhan p.

30

Guyana continues to represent at International Remote Archery Competition p.

31

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