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Tain grandma NEWS found bound, strangled in home

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June 18, 2020 - Vol. 13 No. 24 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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Kaieteur News

Thursday June 18, 2020

Thursday June 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 03

The Next Steps towards Swearing in to what the numbers will be on this report, with reference being made to the alternate figures Lowenfield had offered in his previous submission made last weekend. The argument has been offered that the CEO's opinion on what constitutes a valid vote, based exclusively on the unsubstantiated claims made by APNU+AFC, can be used as the basis for declaring the election. This is wrong.

The establishment of valid votes has already been established by virtue of the certified tabulations of each region as signed off by competing parties during the recount process. It is these votes that Lowenfield has to report on and this constitutes his advice as defined in Article 177 of the Constitution.

By Ruel Johnson

O

n Tu e s d a y, GECOM Chair Claudette Singh directed Chief Election Officer, Keith Lowenfield to prepare and submit a report “pursuant to article 177(2)(b) of the Constitution and Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act Chapter 1:03'.

That single instruction was the final act triggering a series of steps that will lead us to the swearing in of Irfaan Ali as the 9th Executive President of Guyana. The list that preceded him consists of, in consecutive order: Forbes Burnham; Desmond Hoyte; Cheddi Jagan; Samuel Hinds; Janet Jagan; Bharrat Jagdeo; Donald Ramotar and de facto current president, David Granger.

Today at 1 pm is the deadline that Lowenfield has to submit that report. In our article, below, Kaieteur News outlines the next steps ahead.

Step One - The CEO's Report In her letter to Lowenfield, Chairwoman Singh asks that the GECOM CEO prepare his report “using the results of the recount”, one that is in keeping with Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act.” This is what section 96 of the Act says: “96(1). The Chief Election Officer shall, calculating the total number of valid votes of electors which have been cast for each list of candidates, on the basis of the votes counted and information furnished by returning officers under section 84(11), ascertain the result of the election in accordance with sections 97 and 98.

(2) The Chief Election Officer shall prepare a report manually and in electronic form in terms of section 99 for the benefit of the Commission, which shall be the basis for the Commission to declare and publish the results under section 99.”

What this means, is that this is a simple arithmetical issue in which he applies a pre-established formula to the valid votes cast, as established by the recount in order to allocate both parliamentary (general) and regional democratic council (regional) seats.

There has been deliberate misinformation as

Step Two - Consideration by the Commission Article 177 speaks to what happens “… after such advice has been tendered to the Elections Commission at a duly summoned meeting.”

Step Two of what happens next has to do with that meeting.

With the CEO compelled to deliver his report, the Commission meets either today or tomorrow latest for that “duly summoned meeting” to review and

The Certificate of Tabulation for District (Region) Four for the General Elections. It should be noted in the top two highlighted areas that the term “Valid Votes” is used; that GECOM certified, as highlighted in the middle, the tabulation; even though, as highlighted in the lower part of the document, APNU+AFC decided not to sign off. It is these certificates, for both general and regional, that Lowenfield is compelled to apply a formula and allocate seats.

deliberate upon that report.

They will examine it for compliance with the relevant legislation and, more importantly, for accuracy in the calculations.

Here the political nature of the appointments of the commissioners is a doubleedged sword. On the one hand, partisan vigilance can result in preventing deliberate miscalculation of seat allocations – for example, in the 2011 elections, governmentnominated Commissioner, Vincent Alexander, had highlighted a miscalculation in the seat allocations by then Chief Elections Officer, Gocool Boodhoo.

Boodhoo's initial calculation would have awarded an extra seat to the PPP at the expense of the Alliance For Change (AFC).

If Boodhoo's error, which Alexander has said was intentional, was allowed to stand, not only would the AFC have gotten only six instead of seven seats, but that one seat would have been enough to assure the PPP a parliamentary majority. Instead, the AFC was given its full complement of seats and the PPP was, for the first time in twenty years, denied a parliamentary majority with the combined opposition (continued on page 15)

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Thursday June 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Returning to normalcy Returning to some state of normalcy here is going to be a severe challenge. Though we wish for it, some level of normalcy returning quickly suffers from more than the usual post-elections fears and anxieties.

There is sure to be the regular bitterness and the fallouts from that routine. On this occasion, however, there is a huge overhanging factor: it is best described as the unsteadiness and weakness that come from a long illness, from which this entire nation has been bedridden, had to be spoon-fed, given bed baths, and helped with the bath(room).

Notwithstanding this, it is not premature to talk about yearning for some returning to normalcy now, if only to appreciate the challenges that are embedded in the social fabric. It is doubtful whether this would follow the substance of the usual racial break up and societal make up that putters along after elections, for the rages are too raw and the remembrances too bright. Cooperation under the winner-take-all system is a wasted hope, with this society reduced to tagging along at half speed. We have either seen in passing, or are familiar with the cold, sullen, distancing that cleaves us into a power class and resistant class, on anything from necessary reforms to racial reconciliation to economic development, with the result of being our own worst enemy. The only normalcy promised in this area would be the usual emotional tearing apart of the social fabric. Elections represent the bitterest of pills for the politically vanquished to swallow in this country.

In the economic realm, the commercial sector took many heavy hits following the no-confidence motion of late 2018, and further severe blows were felt throughout most of 2019, and the lost first half of this year. On the other side of the business coin, consumer sentiment and confidence were never at full throttle at any time during this extended interval of national malaise. The tensions of one political and environmental stare down after another contributed to more slowdowns following in an almost uninterrupted sequence.

With tensions flaring, people held back and postponed their business plans. These things add up with both the small man and many small and medium-sized businesses feeling sharp pains. Normalcy will take a long time to return to this sector.

We say this, despite relieving electoral developments coming out of GECOM on Tuesday, and which now wait on final confirmation. It is because the economic goose currently looks scrawny for the rest of 2020. It will merely hobble along with one nervous eye on the street, and other nerves focused on personal safety and security, through much distancing from the centers of commerce, with business possibly remaining in a slump, and any single menacing rumor enough to see shops and shoppers shuttering doors and heading for home respectively. This society is poised on tenterhooks and this should now be recognized as part of its unwanted normalcy going forward.

Still, as this is presented, we recognize that there is much dirty money bursting at the seams to get back into the business streams to generate some action through spending and consumption. This could quickly squeeze some strength back into the economy from the blight of 2020. If there are any doubts, the untold millions (hundreds and more of them) in political financing should serve as the necessary proofs. Men and women with frustrated economic interests were either pressed or willingly stepped forward to record lucrative support. Time will tell whether the normalcy of the free rein and protections of the past will return with renewed vigor.

And, of course, there is that existential threat named COVID-19. In terms of fatalities, Guyana appears not to have fared too poorly. On Wednesday, however, there was the startling and worrying development of twelve new cases confirmed out of the blue. After creeping along so long with a case here and a couple there, there is this cascade of a dozen new confirmed cases, as if plucked out of a hat.

Just as there emerged cautious hopes of a partial relaxation of restrictions and gradual reopening, the roof fell on Guyana’s head.

As we ponder these realities, returning to some state of normalcy looks remote and unpromising.

Govt. should congratulate Dr. Irfaan Ali DEAR EDITOR, It is time for the coalition to end the resistance and congratulate Dr. Irfaan Ali as the President Elect. The coalition risks losing support in its base. There is an interesting groundswell (voters) reaction to the government response of the count and recount of the election. The mood in the country has shifted against the coalition even among its own supporters for its intransigence in accepting defeat.

The President, PM, Ministers, government, party echelons, and lawyers should send people out to mingle on the ground among supporters to hear the indecencies being uttered about them. Too many in the party base feel they have been taken for a ride for too long, misled about the election outcome. Thus, many no longer pay heed to the spokespersons as opinions swing against government.

More and more supporters are accepting that their party lost.

Some respond: “Dey think we stupid”.

Faith and confidence in the APNU leadership are being eroded.

The government should do the honourable thing – concede defeat, congratulate Ali and help with national reconciliation. Otherwise, party supporters will abandon ship never to return.

The President boxed himself in a corner. His own

several postures since election day have come to chain him: Only Caricom interlocutors matter (they advise acceptance of results); and Caricom (recount) report must be taken into account (report shows coalition lost).

The image of honesty and decency that Granger created or acquired for himself is perhaps haunting him more than anything else. Now he must be pondering: What is the honest thing to do if not to concede defeat and resign and allow Dr. Irfaan Ali to swear in. Granger is also torn between party and family. His wife, children, and son in law are pulling him away from APNU to do the honourable thing, perhaps prepping him to resign. The hardliners in the party are doing their best to keep his feet in the fire and not give up power. In the end all is not lost. Like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, he would also; the PPP is known to make mistakes in government. And as several American Congress persons advised his name and legacy are recorded in history. Why jeopardize it for a few hardliners? His destiny and legacy lie in his own hands.

From my conversations with Guyanese and as interviewers inform me of their interactions with people on the ground and workers in the public service, while the spokespersons of the coalition change their narrative from claiming victory twice to increased

margins at the start of the recount to fraud during the recount, their supporters don’t have pleasant words for some in the government.

People joked that this is the only election in the history of Guyana that was rigged three different times – twice by the incumbent and once by the opposition.

Government supporters suck their teeth when spokespersons in response to the recount say that the coalition was cheated and that the opposition engaged in electoral fraud. Among the police service and even the para-military and army, there is a cynical smile when one begins to talk of state of politics. Why is the coalition going ahead with this pretension? Government workers and police and army officers are worried about losing their US visas.

On the other side, supporters of the opposition shake their head in disbelief when they hear what they describe as ‘nonsense’ emanating from the mouths of government spokespersons that the PPP rigged the election. Both sides are mocking, jeering, and making snide remarks against the leadership of the government.

“Why don’t dey throw in the towel”, many remarked. Any other narrative but concession is not selling, not gaining currency.

Government supporters say they have been misled and they voice their opinions

openly; they accept their party lost the election. No amount of denial would change that fact. In reacting to government spokespersons or when they engaged in discussion on politics, they say: “Have they no shame? Dey (names mentioned) deh pun serious joke”.

There is widespread rejection of the latest narrative of electoral fraud among public servants. The attitude among public servants is that government people are embarrassing themselves. Public servants are even more irritated when contractors come for payment and money not available.

And the nation is seriously hurting from the politics, suffering a double whammy with the coronavirus. At the business level, there is almost complete shutdown. Many have lost their income. The demand for public service has not been met. Even hospitals are affected unable to meet demands for health care. The business community is complaining that business is virtually dead.

The entire country is in pain. And too many are ridiculing the administration.

It is better for the government to give up rather than extend the suffering by rejecting the recount numbers as pronounced by Caricom.

Yours truly Dr. Vishnu Bisram

All is fair in love and war, and Guyanese politics, too DEAR EDITOR, Short of full-scale confrontation, this nation and its inhabitants have gone through more than any should be asked to bear. I had hoped that the end is near now that the clock has less than one full circle to go by the time of reading. As it ticks, many are on pinpricks. I think that the relief and resolution hoped for will prove to be elusive. These are my thoughts.

The CEO of GECOM has until 13:00hrs on Thursday by written order of the chairwoman to do his part.

That unwitting choice of time is a bad omen, even for an unsuperstitious character like me. More importantly, and though there was no way around it, my experience has been that give some people some space and time, no matter how minimal, and they come up with the wickedly astonishing. Last Saturday stands as a case in point of the mental mysteries and the macabre electoral machinations that make a living here, and which would have made one Niccolò

applaud in admiration. It is why I am bracing for the unexpected and unsurpassed witching hour of on or before 13:00hrs on Thursday. If the shocking does not happen, then I would be left numb in disbelief; this is what elections in this country do to us. I am expecting more than some mirage of someone riding a bicycle in seeming midair; I expect to learn of a man walking on water, where there is no sign of either man or water.

As I arose on Wednesday and received my first confirmation, which is disturbing for a man long baptized. Say what? Say it is not so. Not at this time, this peculiar but convenient time.

But there it was in black and white computer lights: 12 new confirmed COVID-19 cases. I sense the first ace in the hand kept close to the vest, and in reserve for a contingency just like this, now being revealed, when other men are reaching for the rich pot with claims of victory. Not so fast, cowboy!

My instincts are telling me that there is more from where that came, and which cannot

be matched.

Now, I am gearing up for the next phase in this tense standoff, with a flush of new confirmed cases before any document changes hands between the CEO and chair of GECOM. And suddenly, in the blink of an eye, this country would have gone from elections cataclysms to a viral emergency. I detect a national one in the making. It is intriguing that, with less than 24 hours to the deadline given by the chair, no senior political figure is anywhere near what is a staggering COVID-19 development, one that calls for an authoritative and soothing press presence.

I call it the element of surprise maintained and cloaked nicely and in the most nuanced political manner. That is, until it is time for the hammer to drop in the nuclear option held in abeyance; all of this is a little too clever and too coincidental for my liking.

Except that it may not be so, particularly, when the president did hint in a restricted press conference held on Sunday last, at being left no choice, but to take

emergency measures. What could be better than this, as a perfect cover, as a fine example of responsible leadership, and as the fallback option to remain in office?

I have no issue with going out on a limb on this, since the political leader that I favour has sawed off the tree on which I once rested. For those who could read and understand, on more than one occasion over the past 4-6 weeks at least, I had expressed misgivings in two publications with national reach over the fact of political people being too intimately involved in the chain of communication for laboratory results of COVID-19 cases. I would have objected if they were only part of the directory of personnel, since they are not medical and had no business in anything besides the related statistics resulting from the population tested for positives or negatives. My alarms rang louder when I understood that the lab results were to be channeled exclusively to the political player(s) than the waiting and (Continued on page 6)

Thursday June 18, 2020

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Kaieteur News

I do not believe that it would be Customer Service and Human Rights too much to postpone the NGSA DEAR EDITOR, With the way now cleared for a new administration, I write to support and reiterate the call made in a letter by Omchand Madhu titled “Incoming Minister of Education should postpone National Grade Six Assessment” that appeared in many of our newspapers.

This letter effectively outlines the reasons behind the many calls for the Ministry of Education to postpone the sitting of these examinations. These reasons include the readiness of these young boys and girls to sit these exams in such a short turnaround and serious health risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The writer also noted a lack of public consultation with parents and guardians before setting the dates of these exams. We are clearly not ready to roll out this examination. This statement is not a challenge to the Ministry of Education but rather an acknowledgement of the many issues confronting us at this time.

The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) has advised its teachers not to support the sitting of these examinations for the same reasons mentioned. The Amerindian People’s Association (APA) and other important indigenous groups such as the National Toshaos’ Council have highlighted the unreadiness of hinterland students to sit examinations.

This week, the Region 10 Regional Health and Emergency Committee (RHEC) asked the Education Ministry to further delay the NGSA citing overcrowding at schools and the severe financial pressures of implementing changes to make them safer. This is a serious issue that highlights the damage of prematurely holding these examinations.

Are the children of Region 10 currently turning out to school in unsafe conditions?

COVID-19 is still on the rise in Guyana. The Ministry of Public Health’s announcement on 16th June, 2020 that 12 new cases have been recorded was indeed a

sobering reminder of this. We have seen reports of at least one teacher in Moruca infected with COVID-19. I have diligently kept my family at home throughout the entire lockdown period and I am now having the risk of my daughter prematurely returning to school to write an exam forced on her. Like all parents, I also want this exam to be over with. However, not at the expense of my family’s safety. I do not believe that it would be too much to postpone this exam even for a few weeks to make sure that all stakeholders are satisfied.

Other countries in the region, like Trinidad and Tobago, have done this. Please let us make a sensible decision to do so. The incumbent Prime Minister, Brigadier Mark Phillips, recently advised the Ministry of Education to “take a second look” at its plans to conduct the NGSA in early July and highlighted a number of similar concerns. I trust the new administration will act accordingly.

Sincerely, Ruth A. Morgan

An end to division is opportune DEAR EDITOR, I arrived in Guyana on February of 2020, just after 1am. Prior to my arrival I met many Guyanese while travelling throughout the Caribbean and North America.

After our conversations I was pleased to hear the pride expressed in the country and things to look forward too.

Most if not all showed favour in the food, vast amount of natural resources and the overall beauty of Guyana’s landscape. The emphasis on good food was further confirmed when I arrived on the same flight as

world renown chef Gordon Ramsey.

After clearing customs and retrieving my luggage I exited through the arrival doorway.

I saw banners coloured with red, green, black, yellow, and white.

Colours representing the Guyana “golden arrowhead” flag. A flag in its inception meant to symbolize agriculture, water potential, mineral wealth, nation building and perseverance.

After putting my luggage on the bus I sat in a window seat for the three hour ride to Berbice. While driving down

the highway I noticed flags nailed to every post for 150 kilometers. The presence of two flags displayed an obvious divide amongst the people. Ironically the colours of both flags combined; make up the Guyana national banner.

It is my hope for Guyana nationals that the next president doesn’t further separate the people but rather works diligently to solidify the country as one people, one nation with one destiny as outside entities strategically work to divide and conquer.

A Remigrant

Gains that should be maintained DEAR EDITOR, Over the past five years the media has seen significant gains in press freedom. This freedom has allowed for many to share their perspective without fear of retaliation. This is essential to fostering a constructive debate on key topics affecting our nation. Thus allowing decision makers to have a more complete perspective which helps in better decision making from which we all benefit as a nation.

In addition, there have been substantial gains in the use of peaceful means for conflict resolution. One must remember the circumstances prior to resolution of this lengthy election conflict. Many of our citizens were in the street and in some cases on the verge of armed

conflict. Also prior there have been questionable circumstances that have led to the death of innocent protestors which had spurred change and concern over the course that Guyana was on. It is paramount that any leader who aspires to take our nation forward in unity and peace that the use of peaceful resolution to conflict continues to be the preferred path.

My fellow Comrades, the positive gains we have seen in these two critical areas should not be lost during the next five administrative years and it is important that we all remain both vigilant and vocal if such progress begins to be lost.

The continued strengthening of our justice system and our institutions must

continue to be a high priority for ensuring that these two pillars (press freedom and peaceful reconciliation of conflict) of a unified and peaceful society are sustained.

Best regards, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman

DEAR EDITOR, As an octogenarian with more physical indispositions, including poor vision, with which I can cope, it is not feasible for me to go ‘online’.

I still have to resort to appropriately expert help to transform my manuscript to meet the technological requirements.

Alone, I reflect on how many variations of this theme exist, but for whom I feel compelled to speak. I keep wondering how we must cope with all the recordings to which we must now listen from our ‘service’ providers only to hear at the end how busy they are and will return the call at some indefinite later time.

My reflections take me back to 1965 when I opened my first bank account with the Royal Bank of Guyana, a colonial edifice truly represented at the managerial levels; while clerks were all adequately light-skinned. As it turned out I was then the youngest local executive in then Bookers Sugar Estates

– the reason I was welcomed by the Bank Manager who personally documented the opening of my first account.

It was the Booker connection that influenced such an expeditious exercise, and indeed other later encounters.

Yet one came away with the satisfaction of being known as a person, an authentic customer.

It has been virtually the same experience throughout most of the years of my ‘banking’ life – indeed up to last year when I had coffee with one manager whom I got to know as a person. He was about to leave the job because, amongst his reasons, the human contact was drying up in face of advancing technology. I could not help agreeing with him, young as he was comparatively.

So I continue to ponder on the inherent distancing between service providers and their unrecognisable clients – contradictorily expressing their concern for the caller in a recording that

exasperatingly proclaims how ‘important’ the unidentified ‘customer’ is to their unidentified selves.

Almost irrelevantly perhaps, advantage is being taken of the COVID-19 crisis to increase the distancing between providers (even possibly in breach of implied contracts) and dear (online) customer. So there is the puzzlement in this situation as to the extent to which the two are ‘in line’ with each other.

From this personal generational perspective, it would appear that in the current environment inheres more than a little authoritarianism in the attitude of the provider in his/ her relationship with the ineffectual ‘customer’. In brief, the customer has no say – particularly in the case of relationship with our banks – a situation which, regrettably, is being totally overlooked by the Bank of Guyana.

So just what is left of our human rights in this pandemic environment?

E.B. John

Democracy is alive and kicking DEAR EDITOR, Now that the March 2 elections are finally over, it is time for all Guyanese to put whatever political differences they may have behind them and begin in earnest the task of nation building.

This election has demonstrated that democracy in Guyana is alive and kicking. This can only auger well for the country, especially in the context of our new status as an emerging petroleum state. A democratic Guyana will enjoy the goodwill of the local and international community and optimize our developmental potential.

This is a victory not only for the PPP/C but for all Guyanese. The country wins when

democracy prevails. It is unfortunate that the APNU-AFC continues to sell a misleading narrative of being ‘cheated’ out of office when the facts prove otherwise. This is unhelpful from the standpoint of forging a cohesive society which remains a challenge for the new administration. I take this opportunity to call on President David Granger to concede that his Coalition has lost the elections and offer congratulations to the newly-elected President Dr. Irfaan Ali. This will send the right signal to his supporters and the country as a whole and will certainly go a far way in advancing the cause of national cohesion and political maturity.

Hydar Ally

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Kaieteur News

ERC meets with “Guyanese Critic” on racial statements

Dialogue is the way forward

DEAR EDITOR, The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), having received a number of complaints, yesterday met with Mr. Mikhail Rodrigues popularly known as Guyanese Critic regarding statements made by him on 15 June, 2020 during his live Facebook programme. Those statements were viewed as insensitive, unethical and anti- Guyanese and caused outrage among the Christian and Black communities. It was an attack on the religious beliefs of the Christian community and insulted the intellectual intelligence of Afro-Guyanese.

Such conduct is an affront against the bedrock of a unified Guyana.

Mr. Rodrigues has accepted his wrongdoings and it is in light of this that he offered a public apology. He has also made an undertaking to the Commission to do all that is necessary under his platform to promote amity.

One of the mandates of the Commission is to encourage mediation in amicably resolving disputes whenever necessary.

One of the purposes for punishment is to foster the rehabilitation of offenders.

Restitution is not always of paramount concern, and it is in these circumstances that Mr. Rodrigues has been sternly cautioned that any recurrence of his irresponsible remarks will warrant prosecutions against him by the Commission for his

conduct.

The Commission reminds all and sundry that it is a criminal offence under the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03 and the Racial Hostility Act, Chapter 23:01 for anyone to incite racial hatred or violence against any person or against any segment of a society.

Racial prejudice is not merely a wrongdoing against morality but it is conduct contrary to the laws which were instituted to abolish and eradicate the antiquated, disruptive, divisive weapon of racism. Anyone convicted of an offence under the Representation of the People Act shall be fined a sum of one hundred thousand dollars together with two years of imprisonment.

Anyone convicted of an offence under the Racial Hostility Act shall be fined the sum of five hundred thousand dollars and seven years of imprisonment.

It is imperative that Guyanese understand the seriousness of exciting any form of hate. The Ethnic Relations Commission encourages the understanding and acceptance of diversity in all aspects of national life as we aim to eliminate the issue of racial and religious profanity.

Irrespective of the differences in our beliefs, ethos and culture we are and continue to be “One People, One Nation and One Destiny”.

Ethnic Relations Commission

DEAR EDITOR, I had the opportunity of listening and watching politicians on the election 2020 campaign trail. The world’s number one citizen, the late Nelson Mandela, said in three of his Quotes. “We understand still that there is no easy road to freedom, we know it well; none of us acting alone can achieve success.

We m u s t t h e r e f o r e a c t together as a united people, for national reconciliation, for nation building, for the birth of a new world.”

“Let there be justice for all” “Let there be peace for all “ “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity; it is an act of justice” No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his

background, or his religion.

I would like to suggest that what is at stake in negotiating norms are not simply the niceties of the procedural form.

At stake is realisation of how a genuinely democratic society has to function in practice at the level of its political relations and at other levels, if we are to avoid a mindless regimentation on the one hand or a senseless anarchy on the other.

Power in a modern society does not reside in any single source. In virtually every important context, if the underlying approach is simply an effort to determine who can wield greater countervailing power; who can threaten more or browbeat better or coerce

A nation still waits for justice to be served!

DEAR EDITOR, Forty years may have elapsed since the sorrowful departure of a great son of Guyana’s soil. But his memory lives on in the struggle for real freedom, justice and equality. During this demoralizing and testing period of election, his name should be daily printed to remind the destabilizers of this nation of the horrible murder that was committed and approved by many of the guilty ones still lurking on the face of this country. Those who have soiled their hands with his blood must live to regret, repent and confess.

Let this incident be remembered as a warning to

the public that danger still lurks and such an act can be repetitive by culpable ones parading with smiling faces and sweet words in our society. How can anyone live, eat, sleep, walk, talk and work with you and then stab you in the back even after you’re dead by joining forces with your terminators? And now to sing your praise? Et tu Brute? We wait for Mark Anthony. Let his name, memory and work be immortalized in the annals of history of this nation and in the hearts of the people. A nation still waits for justice to be served!

Respectfully, Jai Lall

Thursday June 18, 2020

more effectively, then the laws of nature – and the history of politics – suggest that sooner or later, the side with greater underlying strength and better strategy will emerge ‘victorious’.

Both logic and history teach us – if we are disposed, that is, to learn –at the political level, most of such ‘victories’ are pyrrhic one.

Politically, the ‘victor’ may simply find himself presiding over a sea of bitterness, a landscape from which morale is conspicuously absent, and an overall condition in which human alienation is such a pervasive factor that the notions of greater laissez-faire become empty, meaningless slogans, wholly incapable of practical realisation.

Either, much intellect or much imagination, to work out likely political consequences of ‘victories’ of the kind I have described.

My view is that modern societies, especially those that wish to preserve some functioning model of democracy as distinct from empty rhetoric should diligently seek a better way of resolving serious differences, whether at the political or any other substantive level. This is especially true of developing countries like our own, beset with a multitude of fundamental economic problems.

I am once more saying, in public, that for societies like Guyana, given our history, our traditions, the reality of our

ethnic diversity, the sombre and adverse nature of our economic condition, our acute political sensitivities and complexities given all this, there is no viable alternative way forward other than the kind dialogue I am advocating, for the resolution of important national and sectoral differences in this society.

I believe that a majority of the citizens of Guyana, if given an opportunity to express themselves freely on the way forward for this country, would endorse the model which exalts dialogue and compromise and rejects the model which must inevitably lead to violent confrontation and to pyrrhic victory.

In speaking on behalf of workers, my fundamental position, I believe in an open, democratic society by which l mean one in which the legitimacy of the governing authorities clearly derives from the free, periodic, unfettered content of all those ordinarily eligible for the exercise of the franchise.

I believe in a society where the broad mass of the people can be actively involved in the decisions which actually affect their lives, whether at work, or in their legislatures.

But this fear cannot be allowed to stand in the way of the only solution which will guarantee racial harmony and freedom for all.

Yours Sincerely, Sherwood Clarke General President Clerical and Commercial Workers Union

A government for all is needed DEAR EDITOR, As a young Guyanese having observed the 2020 electoral process, which took over approximately 100 days, this nation still awaits the official declaration from GECOM to conclude. Many Guyanese and a wide crosssection of civil society remain perplexed on how to bridge the racial division which has plagued this great land since post-Independence 50 years ago.

This shows that time has

not positively and practically impacted the vote preferences of the country’s primarily Black and Indian population.

Hence, Guyana remains a divided nation. Our people must understand that our political choices should and must not affect the best pathway for Guyana’s development. The chosen government must be a government for all Guyana.

Yours sincerely, Odayson Ashby

All is fair in love and war...

From page 4 hampered medical ones. I had hoped to be wrong on this; of course, all is fair in love and war, and Guyanese politics, too. For it now looks as though I may not have been that far off the mark.

Meanwhile, the clock ticks with unrelenting inevitability

in the monotony of the minutes counting down the rounds.

Last Saturday, there was high theater, between now and Thursday, I suspect what could assume the features of electoral hijinks.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 18, 2020

PAGE 07

Exxon’s flaring reduced, production up at Liza One Project - EPA Head H

ead of the Environmental Production Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams, confirmed yesterday that ExxonMobil has been able to significantly cut back on the gas it has been burning since last Christmas at the Liza Phase One Project in the Stabroek Block.

According to Dr. Adams, ExxonMobil has moved from flaring approximately 20 million cubic feet of gas per day to less than 15 million cubic feet. As a result of re-injecting the gas instead of burning it, ExxonMobil is now able to stimulate the migration of more oil to its production wells. In fact, Dr. Adams said that the oil giant has returned to previous production figures which stood at 80,000 barrels of oil per day.

Dr. Adams said, “If you recall, they were experiencing issues with the gas compressor system for

the Liza Destiny and were burning about 20 to 15 million cubic feet of gas…The good news is that the flaring is even less now because they are getting the equipment to work.

“The flaring is now around 12 million cubic per day. They have been able to ramp up production too.

They are back at previous levels. I am hoping that they get to 100 percent reinjection of gas by monthend.”

Initially, ExxonMobil was flaring over 80 million cubic feet of gas per day due to issues it had been experiencing with a gas compressor for the Liza Destiny oil vessel. As a result of travel restrictions stemming from the national COVID-19 measures, Exxon faced a number of logistical issues that stymied the speed at which ExxonMobil was expected to get experts on board the oil

ExxonMobil's Public and Govt. Affairs Advisor, Janelle Persaud vessel so that the compressor could be fixed.

By the time the media exposed the issue a few weeks ago ExxonMobil had already flared over nine billion cubic feet of gas. The American oil giant and even

“Dive and shoot” remanded for allegedly trafficking $110M worth narcotics

A

fter evading the police for almost two years, 44year-old boat captain, Farook Baksh, called 'Dive and Shoot' of Mon Repos North, East Coast Demerara, was on Monday remanded to prison for allegedly trafficking 201 lbs of cocaine and 123 lbs of cannabis.

Baksh was arraigned in the Sparendaam Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool, who read the charges to him, which he denied.

The charges alleged that on July 14, 2018, at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, Baksh attempted to smuggle 56.008 kg of cannabis and 91.132 kg of cocaine with a street value of $110M, on to a vessel.

According to the details of the charge, on the day in question, ranks intercepted the fishing vessel at Mon Repos. A search was conducted and a quantity of cocaine and cannabis were discovered.

While the ranks were carrying out the search, Baksh managed to make good his escape. A wanted

Remanded: Farook Baksh

bulletin was issued for him in July 2018, but he was recently nabbed at his Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara home.

On Friday, June 12, 2020, police received a 'tip off' and went to the location where Baksh was arrested and later handed over to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU).

CANU Prosecutor Narissa Leander, made objections to bail being granted to the defendant based on the fact that Baksh is a flight risk and he evaded

the police for almost two years.

After listening to the prosecutor Magistrate Liverpool remanded Baksh and the matter was adjourned to July 8, 2020.

Azim Baksh, 55, called “Bato” a furniture maker, of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, was arrested on the day when the search was being carried out on the vessel. He was charged and later sentenced to five years in prison along with a fine of $221 M for trafficking cocaine and marijuana.

EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had faced a wave of criticism from local and international stakeholders on the issue. On the local platform, Conservationist Annette Arjoon-Martins spoke extensively about the dangers of flaring which releases harmful toxins into the atmosphere. She also reminded of treaties Guyana signed onto which require that it keeps its carbon emissions low. With this in mind, the Conservationist

asserted that Guyana's authorities have to ensure that the nation upholds its obligations and get ExxonMobil to cease flaring forthwith.

On the global platform, an organization called the Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL) said that Guyana's authorities are perhaps oblivious to the harms of flaring while noting that the authorities need to be more aggressive on the issue.

During an exclusive interview on Kaieteur Radio's Programme, Guyana's Oil and You, CIEL's President, Carroll Muffett said that the flaring of over nine billion cubic feet of gas is equivalent to more than a kilogramme (kg) of Carbon Dioxide (C02) for every Guyanese.

At room temperature, one kg of CO2 can occupy the trunk of a large car.

Taking this into consideration, he too insisted that Guyana makes every effort to bring an end to the flaring by ExxonMobil.

In a brief comment, Public and Government Affairs Advisor for ExxonMobil, Janelle Persaud said, that the

company has been able to reduce flaring to a significant degree while noting that it is working attentively towards addressing the matter.

P e r s a u d s a i d , “ We continue to safely complete final commissioning of the gas handling system. We have two of the three gas handling systems online and are currently injecting or using 85% of the produced gas from the reservoir. With gas reinjection online, we are able to ramp up production and reduce flaring. Once the system is fully commissioned, we will be able to produce at full capacity.”

Persaud also said that both the safety of the people working on the Liza Destiny and the company's efforts to minimize flaring are key priorities for ExxonMobil G u y a n a . “ … We w i l l continue to work with the government of Guyana, including the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy, to operate safely and in accordance with our environmental impact assessment and permit,” the ExxonMobil official concluded.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Thursday June 18, 2020

Security firm’s gate keeper Curfew remains except for Regions 5, 8 only arrested for threatening - citizens allowed 90-minutes video - company weapons seized

P

olice yesterday arrested a former security guard who had posed with a cache of firearms in a widely circulated video on social media, in which he appeared to incite violence.

Police said that they were able to identify 26year-old Jermaine Kingston as the main actor in the video.

Ranks also received information that the man was attached to the Nazerdeen Mohamed (NM) Security firm and made their way down to the Jumbo Jet location and apprehended

Kingston.

High-powered rifles were also seized from the security firm's inventory at Berbice.

However, NM Security services denied that the weapons seen in the video belong to their company. A senior official even stated that the suspect was not employed as a security guard but as a 'gate man' at the Jumbo-Jet. In fact, Kaieteur News learnt that his job was to stand at the gate and sanitize customers.

This media house was also reliably informed that

the suspect has only been working with NM Security Services for about three months now and is not licensed to carry weapons.

He was however previously employed as a security guard and authorized to carry weapons with KGM security. This was confirmed by the head of security who revealed that the Kingston only worked for four months before quitting just before recently held March 2 General and Regional Elections.

KGM officials also denied that the weapons in the video were theirs.

exercise in open spaces

W

ith no new COVID-19 c a s e s recorded yesterday and 102 recoveries, the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) announced the commencement of a sixphase re-opening of Guyana, with Phase 1 slated to begin today and to last until July 2, 2020.

A release from the Task Force stated that the current Covid-19 curfew of 6pm to 6am will remain in effect for Phase 1 in all administrative

regions. However, the noncurfew measures will be lifted in Regions 5 and 8 which, to date, have not been affected by COVID-19.

The amended Gazetted Order for the curfew was also released, listing a few new measures which included Ninety (90) minutes of exercise for citizens, Monday to Friday from 6am to 6pm in open public spaces.

During Phase 1, all food establishments (including street vendors) will be

permitted to operate takeout and delivery services from 6am to 5pm. No dine-in services will be permitted at these locations. Hardware, plumbing and electrical stores will be allowed to operate from 6am to 5pm. “ A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is now classified as an essential service. This is especially necessary for the timely opening and closing of sluices which is critical at (continued on page 13

Palms celebrates as three elderly residents beat COVID-19

T

he elderly are known to be among the most vulnerable in the fight against C O V I D 1 9 . H o w e v e r, yesterday three residents of the Palms Geriatric Home celebrated their incredible journey of recovering from the virus that has killed over 400,000 worldwide.

Zorie De Mattos, 105; Sheila Gill, 78 and Fazil Mohamed 64 were joined by the doctors and nurses for a celebratory treat in the

Home's Infirmary before they are integrated into the general ward later today.

While the trio was indulging in their chocolate treats, the staff of the Palms including resident doctors, Dr. Laura Perera and Dr. Iliana Reyes and the nurses were enthused that their hard work paid off since they had worked feverishly to ensure the affected residents received the best medical care.

Dr.Perera disclosed that a

specialized diet, vitamins, round the clock care and love were the main attributing factors for the successful recoveries.

A total of 12 residents were infected with the virus.

Unfortunately, two died but the remaining seven, whose ages are between 55 and 90 are being monitored continuously and will be retested on Friday, June 19, 2020. Doneth Mingo, COVID 19 Coordinator for the Home, is optimistic that

The three residents of share a moment after beating COVID-19

the results will be negative.

She revealed that once the green-light is given by the doctors, all safety measures will be implemented to ensure the residents join the others in the general ward.

The Ministries of Social

Protection and Health were applauded by the Coordinator and Resident Doctors for providing crucial expertise and equipment to the Palms to fight the spread of the virus.

The Ministry of Health,

through the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), has 30 doctors in its Intensive Care COVID-19 Unit (ICCU), and two doctors from the said Unit visit and monitor the Palms' patients on a daily basis.

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 18, 2020

PAGE 09

Blow her mind!

I

met a friend a few days ago. He looked all stressed out. I asked him what was the problem, and he replied that he just could not decide what to give his partner as a gift.

Here was a guy who was not short on cash. He could buy whatever he wanted.

The problem he faced is that he did know what to buy. He could not choose the appropriate gift that would express just how he felt.

I know quite a few men who have the same problem. My advice to them always is to do something that would blow their partners' mind -impress them overtly. Do something that would have them all starryeyed. In the process, you may also be doing something for yourself.

There are some women who feel that you can best show your love by the type of gift you give to them. The more expensive the gift, the greater is tthe love. I know quite a few men who dig deep into their accounts to buy that super expensive gifgift for their loved ones. If that is what it takes to blow their partners minds, well, so be it.

This reminds me of an older, white haired Guyanese who walked into a jewellery store one Friday evening with a beautiful young lady at his side. He told the jeweller he was looking for a special ring for his girlfriend.

The jeweller looked through his stock and brought out a $50,000 ring.

The old man said, “No, I'd like to see something

more special.”

At that statement, the jeweller went to his special stock and brought another ring over. “Here's a stunning ring at only $400, 000,” the jeweller said.

The young lady's eyes sparkled and her whole body trembled with excitement.

The old man, seeing this, said, “We'll take it.”

The jeweller asked how payment would be made and the old man stated, “By cheque. I know you need to make sure my cheque is good, so I'll write it now, and you can call the bank Monday to verify the funds, and I'll pick the ring up Monday fafternoon.”

Monday morning, the jeweller phoned the old Guyanese man. “There's no money in that account.”

“I know,” said the Guyanese man, “But let me tell you about my weekend!”

Some years ago, I wrote an article about blowing a woman's mind. It was a big hit on feminist blogs. I ended that article with the following observation: When men are courting and they are serious about a girl, they are on their best behaviour. They shower her with gifts, say the nicest things, and are always kind and considerate.

But no sooner does the wedding ring go on the finger of the bride that her suffering begins.

Some men suddenly begin to take their partner for granted and at times will even try to belittle theirwives in front of their friends .

I urge all the men in

Guyana to treat their partners with respect. Pamper them and make them feel loved and wanted.

One night, I watched an interview on NBC with Billy Bob Thornton. He was speaking about his ex-wife, the stunning Angelina Jolie, and he took all the blame for their split.

He told the interviewer that it was entirely his fault.

Then when he was asked why the two split up, he said it had nothing to do with his unfaithfulness.

He added, “I was afraid of her. She was too beautiful for me. She was too smart for me. She had too much integrity for me. I felt so small next to her.” That line, sincere and exact, would blow any woman away. No woman could ask for a

greater compliment from a man, even one that she is divorced from.

I believe that most women would rather have love and affection than the most expensive gift in the world. The greatest gift you can give a woman is your undying love and respect.

Blow her mind, not by the value of the gift, but by the value of the love and respect behind it.

And remember Fathers' Day is Sunday.

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

Several Region Nine communities on evacuation watch list due to severe flooding

S

everal Region Nine communities h a v e b e e n severely hit by severe flooding due to heavy rainfall and are currently being prepared for a possible evacuation.

Town Clerk of Lethem, Keisha Vincent said over the past few days the water levels in the Takatu River have risen rapidly.

As a result the bridge connecting Lethem with the

Tabatinga Housing Scheme has been inundated.

The flood waters estimated to be at levels of four to five feet have also affected 15 households in the village.

Meanwhile, the Lethem to Hiawa Village road and the surroundings of the Lethem Market have been submerged and residents of M a n g o G r o v e a re on standby to be evacuated if floodwaters continue to rise.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e inundation of the Manari Bridge has resulted in large vehicles being prohibited from entry to Lethem until the water recedes, while small trucks and pedestrians are being asked to detour.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has noted the situation and has since mobilized resources to assist affected area.

The CDC is also actively monitoring areas in Regions

Dem boys seh...

HAP-New gat man leffin woman

D

uring de partial lockdown, de wife of a man named David call he and put he fuh sit down. She tell he dat life short and is time is tun to de Lord. She ask he fuh get baptized since dat was de only way fuh encourage he fuh ease off de drinks.

David went to de pastor and de pastor duck he head in water three times and tell him: “You are now baptized.

Your sins are forgiven. You are a new creation. Your name is now Jacob. No more drinking alcohol”.

Jacob went home. He go

to the refrigerator and takes out all dem beer and rum bottles. He duck them in water 3 times and said: “You are now baptized. Your sins are forgiven. You are a new creation. Your name is now fruit juice”.

One man lose he wife during the pandemic. He friend meet he and tell he: “I am sorry about your wife's death. But how come you marry her sister?”

De man reply: “I don't' have the strength to cope with a new mother-in-law.”

De election done and de partial lockdown is being

relaxed despite dem having 12 new cases.

On Monday, Guyana get de highest daily toll since de pandemic start. That is Guyana fuh yuh. Guyana so developed dat people seeing dem death certificate even before they dead. How yuh gun beat dat?

A girl meet she boyfriend pun de road yesterday and say: “Hi babe, why you didn't call me?” The boy answer: HAP-New seh you dead, so I move on….”

Talk half and hope Guyana is able to move on after today.

5 and Six, which have been affected by flooding as well.

In Region Six alone, it is reported that at least 30 households have been heavily affected.

Regional Chairpersons

are also responsible for monitoring flood situations in their respective regions and are in contact with the CDC. Residents who are experiencing flooding

during this period are also advised to contact the National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) 24-Hour Hotline Service on (592) 623-1700 and 600-7500 for assistance.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Thursday June 18, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Had David Hinds become psychotically racist?

D

id you listen to the words of David Hinds in the midst of a raging c o n t i n u a t i o n of white paranoia against non-White in which born Americans, who are not white, are being told to go back to their country?

In the context of what

Hinds said, American Blacks should denounce him. Here are his words on his reaction to the CARICOM recount report which has gone viral and which first came to my notice because Ruel Johnson posted it: “…we (Africans) have an instinct against domination, an instinct against other people coming

in and telling us what to do and I suppose we have that task now to push back.”

Dissecting his emanations (and there is more if space allows), these are my conclusions. African Guyanese came from a long tradition of oppression and do not want non-Africans to dictate to them. How does

that apply to Guyana when the Portuguese, Chinese and Indians also came and when they came they met the Amerindians?

By push back, I interpret that to mean that now the CARICOM report is in, and the official declaration cannot be denied, African Guyanese should not accept the election result. Here is more of Hinds, “What is left now is for supporters of the coalition to hold the line and to defend Guyana's sovereignty.”

I am a Guyanese living in Guyana, while Hinds belongs to the US. I do not know of any prominent NGO, media house, civil society grouping, opposition party that see Guyana's sovereignty under attack.

If a poll was taken today, the resounding outcome would be the world, including friendly countries and our CARICOM partners, saved Guyana from election rigging and domination by the APNU+AFC, Hinds' party of which he was a candidate in the 2020 election.

Here is more that calls into question if Hinds has lost his sense and sensibility: “… it (the election) is not just about who wins or loses but about the very sovereignty of Guyana.”

Then he contradicts himself in the most vulgar way by saying this: “…if the coalition wins the election…it may be the best thing for Guyana because it is very clear once the PPP gets into office our

s o v e re i g n t y w o u l d b e compromised….”

The first question is who is it clear to? I repeat, I live in Guyana, Hinds does not. It is not clear to me, and it is not clear to a majority of people in this country that if the PPP wins, Guyana's sovereignty will be compromised. I think the majority of people would like to have that explained. I can explain it.

The concept of the violation of sovereignty in international relations means that an outside power has infringed on the Treaty of Westphalia of respect for the rights of nations to pursue their own goals. Violations of sovereignty since the Treaty of Westphalia have inevitably been done by big powers who subjugate smaller ones for imperialist purposes.

This has been the history of international Affairs. After decolonization, the United Nations further developed the value of sovereignty but the UN also incorporated an interesting article in its charter named collective security. All UN members subscribe to collective security. It means that international society can intervene to prevent a member state from committing acts of war against another.

There is of course another subtle form of sovereignty violation. This is when multinational corporations through manipulation of corrupt, local leadership, exploit the resources of weaker states. It is pathetic nonsense to deny a country's free elections because if one contestant wins, the sovereignty of that country is dissolved. But the absurdity of this goes even deeper

Frederick Kissoon when one takes Hinds' position even further. Why if the PPP wins, Guyana loses its sovereignty? I live here. I did not see any difference in the foreign policy of the PPP administration and the APNU+AFC's.

Here now is the real motive behind Hinds' exclamation of sovereignty lost. He has in mind international society which intervened to stop a cabal named APNU+AFC, of which Hinds is a part, from trampling on the sovereignty of Guyana and the rights of the Guyanese people.

Hinds is masking his support for ethnic domination and electoral terrorism in Guyana under the pretext that international society has trampled on Guyana's Independence.

This is not only foolish but dishonest. But it made sense to people like Hinds since the only way to deceive APNU+AFC supporters is to claim the White man is trampling on Guyana's sovereignty. The first group to sound this false alarm was ACDA which cried tears of re-colonization as early as March. International society saved Guyana from electoral terrorism which Hinds continue to defend.

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

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 18, 2020

Tain grandma found bound and strangled in home - two held

By Malisa Playter Harry

E

ighty-three year old Chandradai Bhudu, called 'Aunty Deyo' was yesterday morning found bound, gagged and strangled in the two story home at Tain Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice, where she had lived alone. She was lying on her bedroom floor and her home was ransacked.

A caretaker made the horrifying discovery at around 7:30 hrs yesterday while brining the elderly woman's breakfast.

Police have detained a 21-year-old labourer of Tain Settlement and a 31-year-old barber of Clifton Settlement, and are said to be seeking two other suspects.

Based on information police received, the slain woman's caretaker, Lilowtie Samaroo, went to the pensioner's home yesterday morning to deliver breakfast.

On arrival, she observed that a door to the bottom flat was ajar. Upon entering the building, she saw Bhudu lying motionless on the floor in her bedroom in the lower flat.

She was said to be lying on her side and was attired in a multi coloured dress. Her feet were bound with “a piece of burgundy cloth� and her hands were tied with strips of cloth.

A strip from her bedsheet was tied around her mouth and nose. A section of the same strip of bed-sheet was tied tightly around her neck.

Abrasions were visible around her neck, sources disclosed.

When Kaieteur News arrived at the scene several CID ranks were already at the house and were cordoning off the area.

Lilowtie Samaroo, the caretaker, said that Bhudu's sisters lived in the United (continued on page 16)

Killed: Chandradai Bhudu

PAGE 11

The slain pensioner's home

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 18, 2020

PAGE 13

Sir Shridath Ramphal reminds Granger of Caricom's legitimacy

S

ir Shridath Ramphal has r e m i n d e d President Granger about how he emphatically regarded CARICOM as “the most legitimate interlocutor on the Guyana situation”, f o l l o w i n g t h e pronouncement of its Recount Scrutineer Team that Guyana's elections were credible.

“As long ago as 2001, CARICOM Heads of Government (including Guyana's) have stressed that the Region had a longstanding tradition of respect for the will of the people expressed through free and fair elections on a regular basis and pledged to work together to maintain and strengthen the institution and processes essential to democratic Government,” Sir Ramphal said.

The CARICOM report had stated that the elections were credible, and that the results of the recount are “completely acceptable”.

But Government nominated Commissioner Vincent Alexander argued against the findings of the CARICOM team.

The team members had written in their report that the coalition provided “absolutely no evidence” to support the many claims of electoral fraud. In response, Alexander said that they were not privy to the information he was privy to about 'dead and migrant voters'.

He also argued that the recount the team observed was sufficient to reflect the will of the people, but insinuated that the team's report may not have been sufficient as the three had not observed the recount of all

integrity,” the President had said, “CARICOM is the most legitimate interlocutor on the Guyana situation.”

He had added “The CARICOM team is competent and I am very confident that the work that they will do is up to

Sir Shridath Ramphal

President David Granger 2,339 ballot boxes.

Alexander instead pointed to the report of the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, who said that the elections could not be ascertained to be fair and credible for any of the 10 electoral districts.

Yet, President Granger had touted CARICOM as “the most legitimate interlocutor” as pointed out

by Ramphal, after a visit to the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on June 7.

“I am very confident in CARICOM's ability and

COVID-19 curfew remains...

From page 8 this time of regular heavy rainfall,” the release said.

The previous measures are still intact, the NCTF said.

“Public transport will be permitted to continue to operate at 50% passenger capacity. Social distancing rules and the wearing of face masks must be maintained.

Bars are to remain closed. No contact or team sport is allowed.”

Gatherings of more than five persons remain prohibited and the “Stay-AtHome” order remains in effect. Persons are only

permitted to leave home if they are essential workers, for essential services, emergency medical care and for the 90 minute daily exercise allowance.

Of the eleven COVID-19 tests conducted yesterday, there have been no new cases. The total number of confirmed cases remains at 171 and the number of COVID-19 deaths remains at 12. A total of 2,006 tests were conducted and of that n u m b e r, 1 , 8 3 5 w e r e negative. Currently, there are 57 active cases in institutional isolation, and 24 cases in quarantine.

international standards. And I don't disparage the CARICOM team. I'm not dismissive of their efforts. I went to a lot of trouble. I hosted the Prime Ministers of Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent and Trinidad. And I would like to

see that mission succeed.”

Then, in an interview on June 14 at State House, the President told a select group of journalists that CARICOM's presence and role in the recount cannot be construed as interference, as its role is embedded in law (the gazetted order for the recount).

Speaking of the weight that should be given to the

CARICOM report, Granger said “it must be considered.”

Sir Ramphal also reminded that he had pleaded with Guyana not to “descend into the pit of lawlessness”; adding that the outcome of Guyana's March 2 polls, “must be an example – not only in Guyana but regionally and worldwide – of the strength of law and democracy.”

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Thursday June 18, 2020

Body with plastic bag over head‌

Two confess to killing victim with a hammer L

ured by an offer of a drink, construction worker Andy Williams went

to a house at De Willem Squatting Area, West Coast Demerara on June 6, where he was beaten to death with a

hammer then dumped in a trench.

That's the confession that a 34-year-old fisherman and

his friend gave to detectives yesterday, before leading the ranks back to the trench where they had disposed of

their victim and the murder weapon.

The 34-year-old fisherman and his 29-yearold accomplice were d e t a i n e d o n Tu e s d a y evening at a house in the A r e a ' G , ' D e Wi l l e m Squatting Area, West Coast Demerara.

The fisherman lives a short distance from the trench in which he and his accomplice dumped Williams. Police were up to late yesterday scouring the trench for the hammer.

Crime scene ranks have taken samples from the house where Williams was slain for possible evidence of blood.

As to motive, the fisherman has reportedly said that he and Williams had an altercation two months ago, during which Williams had punched him and broken one of his teeth.

LURED TO DEATH BY OFFER OF A DRINK The 45-year-old Williams was murdered on Saturday, June 6, shortly after he left a rum shop in Z e e b u r g , We s t C o a s t Demerara.

In their confession, the fisherman and his alleged accomplice said they were at 'a corner' in De William Housing Scheme when they saw Williams passing with his liquor and asked to join hm. Williams then joined his alleged killers in a drinking session at the same corner.

As it grew darker, the fisherman, his accomplice and Williams went to the fisherman's house, where the men continued to consume alcohol. But then the fisherman allegedly struck

Slain: Andy Williams Williams with a piece of wood.

When he collapsed, the fisherman repeatedly struck Williams in the head with a hammer on the head until his skull cracked. The killers then put a plastic bag over the slain man's head to stop more blood from leaking onto the floor.

They then dumped the body in a nearby trench, before returning to the murder scene to clean up all evidence of their crime.

The confession came after detectives traced Williams' last movements from the Zeeburg, West Bank Demerara home of relatives, to a rum shop in the area, then to the house where he was killed. Williams had worked with a cousin at a construction site on the east Coast of Demerara.

He left his sister's Zeeburg home on Saturday evening, June 6. When he failed to return, family members assumed that he was staying at the worksite.

They became concerned next day after he failed to answer his cell phone. Last Saturday, relatives learned that police had fished out a man's body from a canal at De Willem (and not MetenMeer-Zorg, as was previously stated).

Wi l l i a m s h a d r e migrated only four months ago from Venezuela after spending some 26 years there. He had intended to send money back home for his family.

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 18, 2020

Elections Saga...

'Get it over with' - says EU Observer Mission

Teen killed after struck by car

A

T

he Electoral Observer Mission of the European Union (EU EOM) said yesterday that it trusts the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to expeditiously conclude the electoral process using the data from the National Recount.

The Mission made this statement yesterday, in addition to welcoming the report of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Recount Scrutineer team, which found that the March 2 polls were credible, and that the results of the recount are “completely acceptable”. The EU team said that CARICOM's report reflects the findings it had made in its own final report on the elections; that voting and counting were well managed “all over the country, as was the tabulation of the results in nine of Guyana's ten regions.”

Like the CARICOM team, the EU team highlighted the Region Four tabulation, described by CARICOM as “disastrous”. The EU EOM said that the Region Four tabulation had “seriously compromised” the integrity of the electoral process.

Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo had twice produced fraudulent declarations. But the watchful eyes of a series of political parties and electoral observers had

GECOM Chair, (ret'd) Justice Claudette Singh caused the fraud to be unearthed on both occasions, and the National Recount has corrected the numbers.

Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield is expected to submit a report of the results of the National Recount under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act, pursuant to the order for the recount.

Upon receipt of this report, GECOM Chair, Justice (ret'd) Claudette Singh is expected to declare the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) victor of the March 2 polls, and Irfaan Ali President Elect.

PAGE 15

teenage boy was on Tu e s d a y a f t e r n o o n killed in an accident on Delph Avenue, Campbellville, after being struck by a car while riding a motorcycle.

The teen has been identified as 18-year-old Elijah Ballard, a motorcyclist of Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown.

Regional Commander Senior Superintendent, Phillip Azore, explained that the accident occurred around 14:10hrs. Azore said that the taxi driver was proceeding west on John Street, in car HC 1527.

While the driver was proceeding on the one way street, he failed to stop at the stop sign which caused him to crash into Ballard.

The teen landed several feet from the point of impact.

Ballard was picked up in an unconscious state by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).

He was then taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital but died while undergoing surgery.

The taxi-driver was detained, but tested negative for alcohol.

Dead: Elijah Ballard

The Next Steps towards Swearing in From page 3 gaining 33 seats.

On the other hand, an absence of representation on the Commission means that such vigilance is not necessarily extended to non-represented parties. In 2006, Boodhoo reportedly made a similar 'error' with an AFC seat in Region 10, wherein the calculation gave the seat to the PPP. With no representation on the Commission and that being the party's first election, the error was only noted after the

declaration.

Step Three - Declaration by the Chair After the deliberation by the Commission, the Chair is then required to make the declaration in favour of the Presidential Candidate whose list has gotten more votes than any other list, according to Article 177 of the Constitution. In the case of the 2020 elections, the candidate whose list has secured the most valid votes, according to the certified tabulations of the

recount, is IrfaanAli. The PPP has been calling Ali “President-Elect” but he is not yet technically so since it is only after the Chair's declaration, he becomes effectively the President of Guyana, or the President-elect.

That said, there is no legal barrier currently that stands in his way, the tabulated results, having been certified, showing him as 15,000 votes ahead of the incumbent. Granger still remains the de facto President, however, meaning that for the

short time between declaration and swearing in, Guyana will have two Presidents.

Step Four The next step is the swearing in, in keeping with Section 97(1) of the Representation of the People Act. This section reads: “A person elected as President shall assume the office of President upon being elected but shall, before entering upon the duties of the office, take and subscribe the

oath of office, such oath being administered by the Chancellor or such other Judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature as may be designated by the Chancellor.”

This is when Ali will become the President with full powers afforded to him. When Ali is sworn in, David Granger will no longer be President and all his ministers, as a consequence, no longer ministers. While there is no prescribed time between declaration and swearing in, the

precedent is usually a matter of hours. For example, in 2015, the elections were held on May 11, with David Granger being sworn in as President on May 16, the same day that the results were declared.

With the CEO report to be completed today, Guyana should have a new President sworn in before the new week, if not some time tonight, depending on when the meeting at step 3 is held and the declaration coming out of it is made.

PAGE 16

Thursday June 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

PSC calls on Granger to concede results of elections

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The Private Sector Commission (PSC) issued a call on de facto President and Leader of the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU+AFC) David Granger to “concede” to the results of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, “as he once promised” which show a clear victory for the People's Progressive Party (PPP).

“The Private Sector Commission calls upon de facto President, David Granger and Leader of APNU/AFC to recognize the decision of the Chairman of GECOM as promised by him and to publicly concede to the results of the Elections,” the PSC said in a statement yesterday.

The incumbent had stated during a rare media appearance on May 17, that he would accept 'any' declaration made by the

Miners from Aranka District, Cuyuni Mazaruni are among the twelve persons who tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday last.

Kaieteur News confirmed that a team from the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) went into the area earlier this week.

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total of 233,336 votes against the APNU+AFC Coalition's 217,920 votes. He did not offer a comment but released a statement the next day alleging that the electoral process was “intentionally manipulated.”

“Everyone is aware of numerous reports of irregularities including unstamped ballots, deceased and migrant voters and missing poll books. Those irregularities appear to have been committed intentionally, not accidentally, and demonstrate a pattern of manipulation of the electoral process,” Granger said.

The PSC expressed satisfaction that “Democracy has prevailed” and “that the peoples' voice has been heard and acknowledged and protected by the Constitution which governs our country.”

Further, the PSC called upon

the PPP/C, the APNU/AFC and all of the contesting political parties to ensure that their respective supporters recognize and accept the results of the elections and remain calm, peaceful and, now, join hands together to collectively meet the enormous economic, political and COVID-19 challenges to move our country forward.

GECOM Chair Ret'd Justice Claudette Singh on Tuesday directed the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield to prepare his report for the declaration of the results of the elections, in accordance with the law, from the results of the Recount as set out in the Representation of the People's Act, the Gazetted Order for the Recount. That report is scheduled to be presented today at 1pm with a declaration being made shortly after.

Seven miners from Aranka District among twelve new cases of COVID -19

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Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Ret'd Justice Claudette Singh.

His comments were against the backdrop of members of his party questioning the legality of the National Recount while others made claims about the credibility of the March 2, 2020 Elections.

The President was asked directly if he would accept the results emerging from the recount process.

To this, he said, “whatever declaration is made by the Chairman, [Justice Claudette Singh] of the Elections Commission would be regarded as legitimate by the Coalition Government.”

Weeks after, the President was asked by Kaieteur News whether he would commit to the results of the recount which showed that the PPP won the March 2 Elections with a grand

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Health, Terence Esseboom explained that the team had been conducting tests along the Cuyuni Mazaruni mining districts. “What I can confirm is that there are about seven miners among the lot that tested positive. The team is still working in the area so as the situation unfolds, the information will be made available to the public.

Regional Health Officer (RHO) for Region Seven Dr. Edward Sagala also confirmed that the team from the HEOC was in Aranka area conducting work.

“At this point we have no official word from the team. However, the Region has identified Aranka as Region Seven COVID-19 epicenter.

The mining district has at least fifteen active cases of COVID -19 recorded in a matter of weeks. The Aranka Mining Area has been identified as the epicenter of the disease in Region

Seven. The first seven cases were discovered after a threemember team from the Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC), led by Dr. Payne, visited the Aranka Mining Area on May 25, 2020. The team had conducted various activities including sensitizations, screening and testing for Covid-19.

The test samples were sent to the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) and seven of the tests were confirmed positive for coronavirus.

The seven positive results brought the total number of positive Coronavirus cases in Region seven to 15.

Dr. Sagala had warned that all are from individuals who have travelled to the Aranka Mining Area, making Aranka the epicenter of this COVID19 in the entire region.

Region Seven, one of Guyana's most sparsely populated regions, now accounts

for ten percent of Guyana's COVID-19 cases.

Following the discovery of the cases, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) attached to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) Dr. Shamdeo Persaud disclosed that the Regional Health Emergency Committee is awaiting word from the HEOC and the Ministry on policy decisions/recommendations as to how to address the COVID-19 current and future situation in Aranka.

The CMO had announced that the Public Health Ministry will be increasing its focus on the hinterland regions.

He said that the focus is particularly on Regions One and Seven, with the emergence of more positive cases and the implications for the bordering communities as COVID-19 continues to spread across the provinces of neighbouring Brazil.

Tain grandma found bound and ...

From page 11 States. She said they came to Guyana in March and had asked her to take care of the old woman. Samaroo said she would take food daily for 'Aunty Deyo' and help the woman with her chores.

“This (yesterday) morning like 7:30, I does go and sweep out every morning but when I go I see the chain deh on the gate, but I know she does sit down on the 'rocker' when I go every morning.

“So me calling “Aunty Deyo” and I walking going in the yard and when I walked and go to the back door I see it open so me think she deh in the bathroom but I keep calling and she not responding.”

Samaroo said she then

ventured into the kitchen but noticed household items were strewn around the floor.

Realising that something was amiss and too scared to go any further in the house, she ran outside called to two young men who were passing. Samaroo recounted that the two boys entered the house and eventually found the old woman's bound and battered body.

Ashton Deonarine, a nephew of the slain pensioner, said that his aunt was robbed and beaten twice in her home in late 2019 and mid-February of 2020.

The robbers made off with her jewellery and cash.

While no one was arrested but “she had told us that one

is short, and one is a bit tall, but she mention that she doesn't want me to go and get the police because they threatened that they will kill her if she did,” After those attacks, she had only kept her pension in the house. Deonarine explained that his aunt was a diabetic and used a walker.

Police have since stated that based on the preliminary investigations it appears that there was no forced entry on the external door or windows of the building. However, the killers entered by forcing a door to the inner step.

Neighbours had stated that Bhudu would normally get up around 4:00 hrs to make checks around her yard.

Thursday June 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 18, 2020

Thursday June 18, 2020

Sterling scores first Premier League goal since resumption as City win MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling scored the first Premier League goal in 100 days as the English top-flight season restarted yesterday following its suspension in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sterling capitalised on a mistake by Arsenal defender David Luiz to smash the ball past goalkeeper Bernd Leno in the closing minutes of the first half at Etihad Stadium.

Arsenal’s David Luiz was sent off in a performance riddled with mistakes as Manchester City secured a comfortable victory. Luiz, who

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

came on as a first-half substitute, failed to clear the ball before Raheem Sterling fired in City’s opener just before half-time.

The defender was then sent off after pulling back Riyad Mahrez in the second half to give away a penalty, which Kevin de Bruyne coolly slotted in for City’s second.

Substitute Phil Foden netted a third for the defending champions, capitalising on a rebound from Sergio Aguero’s strike.

Aston Villa and Sheffield United earlier played out a goalless draw at Villa Park, goalline technology denying a first-half goal for United.

Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring their first goal as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

(Dave Thompson/Pool via REUTERS)

Thursday June 18, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) People will understand and appreciate your desire to stand out from the crowd today, Aries. This isn't a sign of arrogance on your part.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You love everyone on this planet, Taurus, and this isn't the day to come bothering you with all the little details of everyday life.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Sometimes you make mistakes because of your lack of objectivity, Gemini. You have a certain tendency to wish that other people were just like you. Yet this won't be the case today.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You were once a creature of reason, Cancer. For you, everything had an explanation, a reason to exist, and a place in the world. You never missed a chance to share your viewpoint. Then all of a sudden, silence.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) As the real Libra that you are, you aren't in the habit of talking without saying anything constructive. Sometimes people accuse you of having nothing to say.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) The people around you would really appreciate it if you'd slow down and relax a little. You always seem to be running around, so much so, in fact, that you've been neglecting the people close to you, especially your family.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You did the right thing to put off those important decisions and not give in to pressure, Sagittarius. You know well that sometimes it's important to relax and rest for the busy times ahead.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You have a generous nature, Capricorn. You know how to give and devote yourself to solving the problems others that confide in you.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) How about changing roles today, Leo? It's true that you aren't one for idle chat. You prefer taking action rather than talking about grandiose ideas that never go anywhere.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) It's always like this at first with you, Aquarius. You know something is happening but have no idea what.

It's as if electricity flows through you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) How about changing roles today, Leo? It's true that you aren't one for idle chat. You prefer taking action rather than talking about grandiose ideas that never go anywhere.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Are you sure that other people wouldn't like you to be in another space than where you are right now, Pisces, or even be a different person than the one you always thought you were?

KMPA Foundation launches Radio Station The KMPA Foundation through its founder Andy Medas-King has indicated that they launched a radio station over the weekend.

The KMPA radio station can be accessed by visiting their website www.KMPASPORT.org.

The radio station is 100% online based and will be the first of its kind in Guyana to broadcast purely sports.

The KMPA boss, Medas-King has extended an invitation for all sports organisations to be part of the programming on the station and he noted that even though the radio station is up and running, there are still a few things to be worked out.

When quizzed why he

ventured to have a radio station, he explained that he encountered problems while he was promoting the KMPA Junior Olympic games in Guyana.

Medas-King divulged that you can only get an hour of airtime at various stations which he believes is not enough for him to broadcast all his promotional content.

The KMPA Radio will also serve as a forum for up and coming athletes where their voices will be heard.

Medas-King also revealed that the KMPA radio will be informative and educational with a 07:00hrs motivational chat session to start the listeners’ day the right way with positive thoughts.

PAGE 20

Thursday June 18, 2020

Kaieteur News

World 100m champion Coleman suspended and could miss Olympics AFP - Reigning world 100m champion Christian Coleman was provisionally suspended yesterday over a missed drugs test, putting him at risk of a two-year ban that would rule him out of next year’s Tokyo Olympics.

Coleman, who only narrowly avoided being banned last year after three violations of anti-doping “whereabouts” rules across 2018 and 2019, said in a statement on Twitter that he was the victim of “a purposeful attempt to get me to miss a test.”

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the anti-doping arm of World Athletics, responded by saying testers had followed the rules when they visited Coleman’s apartment on December 9, 2019.

Coleman said he was out shopping for Christmas presents.

“I was more than ready and available for testing and if I had received a phone call I could’ve taken the drug test and carried on with my night,” he said.

“I’ve been contacted by phone literally every other

Christian Coleman says he was set up. (AFP/File/Jewel Samad) time I’ve been tested,” said Coleman.

The AIU responded in an email to AFP in which they said “we will not comment on the specifics of an ongoing case” but that “a phone call is discretionary and not a mandatory requirement.”

“Any advanced notice of testing, in the form of a phone call or otherwise, provides an opportunity for athletes to engage in tampering or evasion or other improper conduct

which can limit the efficacy of testing,” the AIU added.

Coleman, 24, is now barred from competition pending a hearing under Wo r l d A t h l e t i c s a n t i doping rules.

The American escaped suspension on a technicality ahead of last S e p t e m b e r ’s Wo r l d Championships in Qatar after it emerged he had committed three whereabouts failures in a 12-month period.

Those offences were recorded on June 6, 2018 and

on January 16 and April 26 in 2019.

Coleman successfully argued that the first missed case should have been backdated to the first day of the quarter — April 1, 2018 — meaning the three failures fell just outside the required 12-month period.

Yesterday’s suspension for again missing a test was greeted with disbelief by the track and field community.

“After a close call last year for 3 whereabout failures or missed tests, for Coleman to allow this to happen again will lead people to believe either you’re doping or you don’t take seriously the antidoping efforts of the sport.

What reason do we have to believe otherwise?” tweeted Michael Johnson, Olympic gold medallist in the 200m and 400m and an eight-time world champion.

The news came 12 days after another 2019 world champion, Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, winner of the women’s 400m, was provisionally suspended for the same reason.

It is another blow to the image of athletics, a sport trying to improve a reputation damaged by doping scandals, particularly in the sprints.

- ‘Sneak up on my door’ Coleman’s two American predecessors as 100m world champions, Justin Gatlin, who won in 2005 and 2017, and Tyson Gay, 2007, were both banned for doping. Gatlin was banned twice and his second title came after he had served a four-year ban.

Coleman, who clocked 9.76sec to win 100m gold in Doha, said he had unsuccessfully challenged the latest AIU finding that he missed a test on December 9, 2019.

That missed test means that his offences in January and April of last year come into play.

Under World Anti-Doping Agency rules, any combination of three whereabouts failures — either missing a test or failing to file paperwork on time — within a 12-month period is deemed a doping offence punishable by a two-year suspension, which can be reduced to one year if there

are mitigating circumstances.

“Don’t tell me I ‘missed’ a test if you sneak up on my door (parked outside the gate and walked through...there’s no record of anyone coming to my place) without my knowledge,” Coleman said.

Coleman’s impassioned statement was accompanied by what appeared to be a copy of his formal notification from the AIU of a missed test.

“I was only made aware of this attempted drug test the next day on December 10th, 2019 by the AIU when I got this failed attempt report out of nowhere.”

The report from the doping control officer posted

by Coleman said the tester had arrived at his apartment but failed to get a response after “multiple, loud knocks were made every 10 minutes” for an hour.

Coleman said he was tested two days later and added: “I’ve been tested multiple times since, even during quarantine.

“But of course, that doesn’t matter, and the fact that I have never taken drugs doesn’t matter either.”

Ehsan Mani: T20 World Cup not ‘feasible’ in 2020 ESPNcricinfo - PCB chairman Ehsan Mani believes it is not “feasible” to host the men’s T20 World Cup in Australia in 2020, and that the tournament is likely to be “deferred” by a year. A final decision on the matter is likely in the next “three-four” weeks.

Mani becomes the second senior member sitting on the ICC Board in as many days this week to say that the T20 World Cup, scheduled between October 18 and November 16 in Australia, is unlikely to go ahead this year because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. On Tuesday Earl Eddings, Cricket Australia chairman, said that it would be “unrealistic” and “very, very difficult” to expect the event to go ahead as planned, considering the number of infections were still “spiking” in some of the 16 participating countries.

“The biggest challenge in Australia - although Australia and New Zealand they have controlled Covid-19 - their governments are very cautious,” Mani said at a virtual media briefing

yesterday. “If it is played this year they will likely insist it happens in a bio-bubble. Like with the Pakistan team in England, teams come, stay in a hotel, with no crowds. This is okay for one or two teams but when 12-16 teams play in a T20 tournament, it becomes an impossible thing. I don’t think it is feasible today that there is any ICC event in 2020.”

Apart from the ICC Board, Mani and Eddings also sit on the global cricket body’s second-most influential wing, the Finance & Commercial Affairs committee. Mani is the F&CA president while Eddings is one of six members on the panel, which also has ICC chairman Shashank Manohar and chief executive Manu Sawhney as ex-officio members.

The F&CA committee decides and allocates budgets for each of the world events for both men’s and women’s cricket and also looks after the distribution of money that members get annually from world events,.

That has been one of the main

concerns for the ICC and has contributed to the body continuing to delay officially postponing the men’s T20 World Cup this year.

With members needing clarity on the event in order to work on their own calendars, the ICC Board has already met virtually a few times over the last two months to discuss contingency planning for key world events which also includes the women’s ODI World Cup, scheduled in New Zealand for February-March next year. The Board met last week and is scheduled to do so again on June 25.

The ICC is keen to utlise 2022 - in which no ICC event is currently scheduled - within the current events cycle that stretches until the 2023 men’s ODI World Cup. India is scheduled to host that event as well as the 2021 men’s Twenty20 World Cup. However, CA is keen to host the 2021 edition of the event, something Eddings noted in his communication to the F&CA, contents of which were reported in the

Times of India. Eddings said that it would be “detrimental to cricket” in case Australia failed to host the T20 World Cup in October-November 2021. He also suggested India would be fit to host the event during the same period in 2022, since it was likely the country would have fully recovered from the pandemic by then.

The BCCI is yet to make any public comment on the matter, although it is understood the Indian board is concerned about hosting two back-to-back world events in the space of six months if it were to host the men’s T20 World Cup in October-November 2022, followed by the ODI World Cup, in February-March, 2023.

“In my opinion I think [this year’s event] will probably be deferred for a year,” Mani said. “The ICC has time because ICC events were supposed to happen in 2020, 2021 and 2023. The gap in the middle can be filled and this will be deferred. That is where the talk is headed towards. What event will happen first and where, those talks are happening.

“It is a big risk that God forbid, in the middle of a big tournament, if a player gets an infection, the panic from that will be too much so we

Ehsan Mani is currently the ICC’s head of finance and commercial affairs. (Harry How/© Getty Images) can’t take that risk.”

A number of stakeholders, Mani said, need to be on board, which is why a decision hasn’t been taken in haste. “Cricket boards are one stakeholder,” he said.

“Another stakeholder is the broadcaster - Star is the broadcaster, they will see their position, what is better for them. Other than Full Members, associates also get money from ICC events so discussions are on with as to what their priorities are.

“But you’ll see that in the next three-four weeks a decision will be taken on this.

There is a conference call next week. We’ve had four-five con calls on this in the last month. Obviously a decision will have to be made about where the first event will be.

Right now it was to be Australia, then India and then a gap of one year and then India for the World Cup. Now we have to see whether it will be Australia first, or India, to see who will host in 2022.”

Thursday June 18, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Archer receives Academic All-American award Following a successful 2019 season when the Monroe College Mustangs made history by landing five of just 14 total studentathletes on the first-ever College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic AllAmerica® College Division At-Large Teams, the Mustangs have made history once again in 2020 with two Guyanese contributing majorly to the school’s success.

Guyanese Sophomore middle-distance athlete; Joanna Archer, of both the women’s cross country and track and field teams was selected as the 2020 CoSIDA Academic All-America® Team Member of the Year for the women’s at-large division.

Archer becomes the first-ever Monroe College student-athlete to be named an Academic AllAmerica® Team Member of the Year. The 800m-1500m specialist boasts an i m p r e s s i v e 3 . 9 0 G PA through her two years as a criminal justice major at Monroe and she is a sixtime NJCAA Division I

Track and Field National Champion, having been a part of the national champion 4x800 relay teams at the 2019 Indoor, 2019 Outdoor and 2020 Indoor Track and Field Championships, the 2019 indoor distance medley relay championship team, and having won the national title in the 800m at both the 2019 Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Archer’s accolades also include being a seven-time NJCAA Track and Field AllAmerican, an eight-time United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-American, and a two-time USTFCCCA Atlantic Region Female Track Athlete of the Year (2020 Indoor, 2019 Outdoor).

Archer has earned Monroe President’s List recognition in all four of her semesters, qualified for the 2019 NJCAA All-Academic Second Team, and her perfect 4.00 GPA for the 2019-20 academic year will earn her a spot on the 2020 NJCAA AllAcademic First Team when

those teams are announced next month.

On the men’s side, triple jumper Lloyd McCurdy earned his spot on the 2020 CoSIDA Academic AllAmerica® College Division Men’s At-Large Team.

McCurdy has made a big impact at the national level in his two seasons at Monroe, while also amassing a 3.67 GPA in his major of computer information systems.

McCurdy won the national championship in the triple jump at the 2019 NJCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, and took second place in the event in both the 2019 NJCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and the 2020 Indoor Championships.

Because of his accomplishments, McCurdy is a three-time NJCAA Track and Field All-American and a three-time USTFCCCA Track and Field All-American.

During an invited comment with Kaieteur Sport, Archer shared, “I just want to let it be known to my fellow athletes back home that it is possible to be a scholar and a

Lamine Diack should serve four years in jail, French prosecutor tells court PARIS (Reuters) - French financial prosecutors yesterday sought a four-year jail sentence for Lamine Diack, the former head of athletics’ governing body, on trial for corruption and money laundering linked to a Russian doping scandal.

They told the three judges that Diack and his son, Papa Massata Diack, were at the heart of a scheme that solicited bribes worth millions of euros from Russian athletes to cover up failed doping tests and allow them to continue competing.

“It was corruption at all levels,” public prosecutor Arnaud de Laguiche said in closing remarks.

The prosecutors also said Diack obtained $1.5 million of Russian funds while negotiating sponsorship and television rights to help finance Macky Sall’s campaign for the 2012 Senegal presidential election, in exchange for slowing antidoping procedures.

The maximum sentence the prosecution could have sought was 10 years.

In his testimony, Diack, 87, said he had not sought to protect the athletes, some of whom later participated in the London 2012 Olympics, but to ensure the cases did not come

Former President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Lamine Diack, wearing a face mask, gestures as he arrives for his trial at the Paris courthouse, France, June 8, 2020. (REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo) to public attention at once and cause a scandal.

The finances of World Athletics, then called the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), were at the time in bad shape and slowing the doping cases helped save a sponsorship deal with Russian bank VTB, Diack said.

The prosecutor said Diack became used to “living like an emperor”.

The prosecution sought a five-year prison sentence for Papa Massata Diack, who fled France for his native Senegal after the French investigation began and was tried in absentia.

A lawyer for World Athletics told the court the body sought 41.2 million euros in damages: “They destroyed athletics’ honour.

The big-time sponsors have gone. We had to jettison the IAAF brand.”

Lloyd McCurdy in triple jump action for Monroe College during the indoor season. superb athlete, you just have to want both bad enough. I’m not saying it’s easy but it definitely is worth it.

It’s important that we as student-athletes trust ourselves, trust the process and find a way to balance our passion (sports) with what I think will benefit us more in the future (education). People will doubt us, they will try to discourage us but we have to put on our mental blinkers and

focus on what we set to accomplish.”

“It feels awesome to make history off the track, so thank you to the people who never doubted me; my coaches, my family, my friends, my supporters but most importantly I would like to thank God for changing my perspective on life and giving me a purpose in both aspects of my life ( athletics and academics).

Special thanks you to my grandmother that ensured I got up and go to school every day even if it took her last dollar, she ensured the stigma attached to ‘market kids’ didn’t paste itself on me, she sacrificed herself many times for me to go to school and training and I dedicate this award to her because without her selflessness I wouldn’t have been who I am today.”

Champions League to be completed with eight-team tournament in Lisbon BERN (Reuters) - This season’s Champions League, suspended in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will be completed with an eight-team mini-tournament which will be held in Lisbon in August, European soccer’s governing body UEFA said yesterday.

The quarter-finals and semi-finals will be staged over one leg, instead of the usual two, with the final to be held on Aug. 23, UEFA deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti said after an executive committee meeting held by video conference.

The four last-16, second leg matches which still have to be played — Manchester City v Real Madrid, Bayern Munich v Chelsea, Juventus v Olympique Lyonnais and Barcelona v Napoli — will take place on Aug. 7/8, either at the originally scheduled venues or in Portugal.

Paris St Germain, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta and RB Leipzig have already qualified for the quarter-finals.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said he expected matches to be played without fans, although there was a small chance that could change.

“We don’t think we can have spectators but things are changing rapidly and we will

UEFA Deputy General Secretary Giorgio Marchetti during a press conference following the UEFA Executive Committee meeting at the UEFA headquarters UEFA. (Pool/Handout via REUTERS) assess the situation at the beginning of January.” he told a video news conference.

“One month ago, I couldn’t even say if we could play the competition.”

He added there was no plan B in case the public health situation in Portugal worsened although UEFA was monitoring the situation daily. The plan allows for a quicker completion of the season than the traditional two-legged home and away format.

Istanbul, which was due to host the 2020 final, will now instead be the venue for the

2021 edition, with all other scheduled hosts — St Petersburg, Munich and London — moving back a year, UEFA said.

A similar format will be used to decide the Europa League competition in Germany from Aug. 10 to Aug. 21, with matches in Duisburg, Duesseldorf, Gelsenkirchen and Cologne, which will host the final.

The women’s Champions League will be staged as an eight-team mini-tournament in the Spanish cities of Bilbao and San Sebastian with the final on Aug. 30.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Thursday June 18, 2020

Seon Glasgow aims to become 3rd Test player from Blairmont Glasgow cover drives at Blairmount.

By Sean Devers

E

ighteen-year-old batting allrounder Seon Glasgow has played for Berbice and Guyana at Under-15, 17 and 19 level and has been playing for West Berbice the Guyana Cricket Board three-day and one-day Franchise League for the past three years.

The left-handed Seon made his U-15 Inter-County debut at age 12, made the U17 team at 15 before making his U-19 Inter-County debut last year.

Seon, who has another year at the Regional U-19 level, played for Guyana at U-15 level in 2016, U-17 in 2018 and made his National U-19 debut in last year’s rain affected Tournament in which they only played three matches but Seon managed an unbeaten 38 against Barbados.

The talented Seon was MVP in his second and final year in the Inter-County tournament in 2018 when made a century and a half century and had five wickets.

In the GCB Franchise League Seon’s highest score is 54 against Lower Corentyne in 2018 and with the ball he took 4-32 against East Bank.

Seon was born on February 7, 2002 in the East Coast Demerara village of Annandale to Seon Glasgow Snr and Marva Alicia Glasgow.

Young Seon soon moved to Rosignol, a Village on West Bank of the Berbice River where he attended the Rosignol Primary and Bush

Lot Secondary in West Coast Berbice.

“Life was pretty good growing up here in the Village (Rosignol). The people are very helpful, kind and friendly and lives as a united community,” Seon, who has a younger sister, informed.

Seon participated in Athletics at school and got interested in cricket because of his Dad who played firstdivision cricket for Blairmount Cricket Club which produced two Test players; Roy Fredericks and pacer Brandon Bess who played his only Test in Barbados against South Africa in 2010.

“I played my first real match at the age of seven and since from then I have been hooked on cricket,” disclosed Seon, who also played for MYO in Georgetown.

Seon has been employed as a fourth form Teacher at the Belladrum Secondary School for the last eight months.

“No, being a Teacher does not affect my cricket. I took leave in October to play in the Franchise. So I got to play cricket and still have a job,” explained Seon.

“My ambition in cricket is to work hard and make sacrifices to eventually fulfil my dream of playing for the West Indies,” stated Seon, who also played for New Amsterdam team Tucber Park.

He says his most memorable U-19 game for Guyana was against Trinidad and Tobago when T&T had

- Joining Fredericks & Bess

to get five to win in the last over bowled by Kevlon Anderson as Guyana successfully defended their target.

Seon, whose favourite players are Brian Lara and David Warner, says the standard of first division cricket in Berbice is good.

“The Berbice club standard is high because there are a lot of Junior Guyana cricketers in that mix with the senior guys here, so like Albion, Young Warriors, Rose Hall Town and Port Mourant have very good players because the majority of guys are Guyana cricketers. So when you come up against them you have to play hard and smart cricket.

And the Berbice Cricket Board has a great system here because Mister Foster looks after the cricketing talent and implements d iff er en t s y s tems an d cricket tournaments so our talent can be utilised and we can become better cricketers,” continued Seon who enjoys batting over bowling.

The youngster, who has the potential to go all the way, says off the field and out of the class room he enjoys playing games and watching movies.

“The best players I have played with are West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer and First-Class left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, who both played with me in the West Berbice Franchise.

The best players I have played against are (Chris) Barnwell, (Veerasammy) Permaul and Jonathon Foo,”

revealed Seon.

Since last March there have been no sports throughout Guyana and gyms have been closed with a 6PM to 6AM curfew in place due to Global Pandemic COVID-19.

“The Pandemic has affected us in a huge way because cricket can’t be played and many things that people are accustomed to doing can’t be done.

I am training with Mr Shabeer (Baksh) I have a small Gym that I use to keep fit so when cricket starts back I am fit and ready to

Seon Glasgow after taking a 5-wkt haul. play to the best of my ability,” informed the budding youth.

Seon’s favourite shot is the ‘pull’ while his most enjoyable way of dismissing a batsman is by putting pressure on him with dot balls, then tempt him to play a big shot and set him up to give his wicket away, said the off-spinner.

Seon thanked Coaches Julian Moore, Andre Percival, Orin Bailey and

most importantly Shabeer Baksh who has been his mentor and Coach from the day he started to play cricket.

Seon will hope to join Fredericks and Bess as the third player from Blairmount Cricket Club to play Test cricket, but that could only happen if he remains focused, dedicated, hardworking, humble and committed to the game and maybe use Bess as an example of what not to do.

GFF President Forde donates blood to observe World Blood Donor Day 2020 Georgetown: President of the Guyana GFF President Forde Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde, donates blood in donated one unit of blood to the National Blood observance of World Transfusion Service as part of World Blood Blood Donor Day. Donor Day observance. The day was observed on June 14 under the theme “Safe Blood Save Lives” and carried the tagline “Give blood and make the world a healthier place.”

Following his donation, Forde shared a personal story highlighting the importance of giving blood: “I have had the first-hand experience of how frightening it can be for a patient when they are faced with the possibility of not being able to access blood for lifesaving medical procedures.

Almost 32 years ago, I watched my aunt, who eventually passed, having to wait until family members donated blood, before she could be treated. This can be any of us.” Forde urged persons to be regular and voluntary blood donors saying “… you could be saving your own life.”

World Blood Donor Day is set aside to honour blood donors and, among others, raise awareness of the importance of donating safe, voluntary, non- remunerated blood. It is believed that one unit of blood can save up to three lives.

Kaieteur News

Thursday June 18, 2020

Players take a knee as Premier League restarts General view as players kneel in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign before the match as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (REUTERS/Carl Recine / Pool)

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Premier League players, including champions Manchester City, took a knee before kickoff in support of the “Black Lives Matter” movement as the English season restarted yesterday.

The league returned after a 100-day hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the teams and match officials sent out a strong statement of support for the worldwide protests against racism.

Players at the opening game at Villa Park between Aston Villa and Sheffield United, which ended goalless, took a knee just before the kickoff along with the referee.

The same happened before Manchester City’s home game against Arsenal and came after a video presentation with anti-racist messages featuring City forward Raheem Sterling and manager Pep Guardiola.

All the players’ names on the back of their shirts were replaced with the words “Black Lives Matter” as the league formally joined the international protest

campaign sparked by the death last month of George Floyd, a black man, at the hands of Minneapolis police officers.

The kneeling protest followed a moment’s silence before kickoff in memory of those who died in the coronavirus pandemic.

The match at a rainy Villa Park was also the first in Premier League history to be played without fans, and with strict health protocols in place.

Only 300 personnel were allowed into stadiums divided into three different security zones to try to restrict any possible spread of the novel coronavirus, which has claimed close to 42,000 lives in the United Kingdom.

There was none of the traditional routine at the start of a match, with teams emerging from their changing rooms separately, players lining up two metres apart and handshakes banned. No ballboys were in attendance.

Both teams will be allowed to make five substitutions, in another first

for the game in England and following on from the allowances made by soccer’s world governing body FIFA for the leagues having to cram in matches after the lockdown.

The matches were the first of 92 to be played inside the next six weeks to finish the Premier League season.

PAGE 23

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KMPA Foundation launches Radio Station

Joanna Archer (Guyana Chronicle photo)

Joanna Archer makes Academic All-American team.

Archer receives Academic All-American award

From left, founder of KMPA Radio; Andy Medas King, and his daughters Kcaysha and Kunusasha along with wife Christine pose for a photo during the women’s Colgate games this year.

World 100m champion Christian Coleman is facing suspension after missing yet another drugs test. (AFP/Antonin Thuillier)

Lamine Diack should serve four years in jail - French prosecutor tells court

Former President of International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Lamine Diack arrives for his trial at the Paris courthouse, France, January 13, 2020. (REUTERS/Benoit Tessier)

World 100m champion Players take a Coleman suspended and knee as Premier could miss Olympics League restarts Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.