Kaieteur News

K

p.

7 Tuesday Edition Understaffed AIETEUR NEWS and underfunded EPA will always be at June 23, 2020 - Vol. 13 No. 25

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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

Price $80

ExxonMobil's mercy- Conservationist

Online readership yesterday 177,415

Appeal Court rules GECOM must calculate election results based on valid votes p.3

Justice Dawn Gregory

GECOM Chair Justice Claudette Singh

GECOM CEO: Keith Lowenfield

Region 4 RO: Clairmont Mingo

Justice Brassington Reynolds

Table showing GECOM's certified General Elections valid votes as determined by the recount in the originally submitted Lowenfield report

Justice Rishi Persaud

1 records 18 new COVID cases…

Cop among Nothing stopping RegionTask Force p.8 p. two arrested GECOM from 8 announces for Friendship making declaration mining halt in p. robbery 8 now - Jagdeo specific areas

$587M bucket trucks…

GPL says no money paid to contractor; purchase order says otherwise p.12

PAGE 02

Kaieteur News

Tuesday June 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

Tuesday June 23, 2020

PAGE 03

Appeal Court rules GECOM must calculate election results based on valid votes I

n a majority decision, the Court of Appeal yesterday ruled that the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission Keith Lowenfield must determine the results of the election based on a calculation of valid votes.

The order is in keeping with the request outlined in the Notice of Motion filed on behalf of Eslyn David.

David had approached the Appeal Court seeking orders in several matters including one which sought to prevent Lowenfield from submitting the recount report to make way for the final declaration of the winner of the 2020 Regional and General Elections.

The applicant had also asked for the Court's interpretation on a number of matters including the question of if the phrase “more votes are cast” in Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution should be interpreted to mean “more valid and credible votes cast” – an issue which was contemplated by order number 60 for the elections recount.

The 2-1 decision in the case was rendered by the Appeal Court's President Justice Dawn Gregory, High Court Judge Brassington Reynolds and Appellate Judge Rishi Persaud yesterday. Justices Gregory and Reynolds both agreed that the Appeal Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine the case under Article 177(4) of the Constitution.

Both Judges alluded to the exclusive jurisdiction of the constitutional provision in Article 177(4), which states, “The Court of Appeal shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any question as to the validity of an election of a President in so far as the question depends upon the qualification of any person for election or the interpretation of this Constitution; and any decision of that Court under this paragraph shall be final.”

Both Judges also held that an interpretation of the words “more votes are cast” in the context of Article 177

Attorney-at-Law Kashir Khan (2) (b) of the Constitution of Guyana to be construed to mean more “valid” votes cast.

GECOM with powers and responsibilities – the remedies for which some GECOM officials in some respects are akin to those of the High Court and in others the ordinary jurisdiction and in others other akin to that of an elections Court.

“As a necessary consequence, GECOM's actions and omissions pursuant to order Number 60 of 2020 are impacted by the constitutional and statutory provisions of both the original and new electoral regime,“ he added.

According to the Judge, it is those specific constitutional provisions that the applicant seeks to the

ISSUES TO CONSIDER In granting the wishes of the applicant, Justice Reynolds considered two main issues—whether the Appeal Court has jurisdiction to entertain the Notice of Motion and whether Order Number 60 of 2020 meant that GECOM had to determine the credible count of the elections.

The Judge held that under Article 177 (4) established a separate exclusive jurisdiction to hear matters regarding the qualification of any person for the Office of President or the interpretation of the Constitution on such matters.

He stressed that the provision is peculiar to the Guyana Constitution and is not be found anywhere else in the Commonwealth Region.

In an overview of the applicant's case, Justice Reynolds said in his view Order 60 of 2020 vests

Court's interpretation of specific words mentioned.

Further, Reynolds said that the Court could not grant injunctive reliefs at this time since the Court could not determine whether Lowenfield's report is valid or not. He noted that the

Justice Brassington Reynolds

Justice of Appeal Rishi Persaud

President of the Appeal Court, Justice Dawn Gregory

question of jurisdiction is first and foremost.

Meanwhile, Justice Gregory's ruling mirrored the views of Justice Reynolds. According to her,

the court would not be venturing out of its jurisdiction in giving an interpretation, Justice Gregory underscored as she placed emphasis on Article

177 (4) of the Constitution.

She said “more votes cast” has to be interpreted within the terms of the Order which she said has sufficient (continued on page 16)

PAGE 4

Tuesday June 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL - Tel: 624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

We need a reset Guyana needs to restart right away. We, all of us, need to start living again. After a long season of the most devastating storms, the hope is that the needed calm comes and comforts us in this grievously wounded society. There are the many scattered fragments of our individual and national existence waiting to be picked up and put back together.

Our thinking and hoping is that the stirring inspirations will be discovered, and that they will help us to construct a better canvas, a cleaner and more constructive one, that captures the possibilities and move the population of this country to greater effort of what could be had, given what we have in stock.

The tangibles are ever present, and they are of the heaviest demands. In the same vein, the intangibles are many, they can be deterring, and this is from the pondering only. Relative to the tangibles, the first order of business has to be leadership. It must be of one kind only: diverse and inclusive, harmonizing and unifying.

It will require the rarest caliber of men and women to not look back at the many ills that plagued, but to the arduous demands of the immediate present, on which a prospering future could be erected. Any leadership, be such from government or opposition ranks, cannot be of the recriminative, since only the restorative stands some chance of lifting this society.

Though we have not had the restorative before, we must find it now, whether by trying and exploring, or in manifesting the investing of time and painstaking effort to make us mend and help us to heal. It has to be less of self and more about the greater good of the many across this land, who have been betrayed and left behind.

This has not been genuinely and comprehensively attempted at any time before; it must be done now. Our leaders, in their new roles, must go beyond words and the usual empty political platitudes; they should not add insult to the layers of prior injuries.

The second tangible that must be addressed immediately is how to inject some strength into our depressed economy to provide relief to citizens. They hurt, they cry out for help, any level of help would grant solace. This is shackled to the politics that is sure to continue to simmer, and a pandemic that chases most towards closed doors.

The challenges are to get the many empty handed citizens and workers back on the road, to incentivize shuttered businesses reduced to struggling to stay as a going concern, and to generate some greater level of investing and spending by companies and countrymen respectively.

The flow of strong, consistent, and clean commercial activity must take hold now, through business turnover, government programmes and projects, and private endeavours. When families earn, they eat; they are able to clear the bills that have piled up and weigh down the many who could not make a living. There should be a lot of cash (clean hopefully) in corporate treasuries, which could do much and mean more.

Third, and this is related to the economy and the objectives of its captains, there must be the tangible of order: in our institutions and the servants who man them, and in the streets and for the citizens who ply those. The disorderliness of the visible free-for-alls that most took for granted as part of the national culture must be brought to a stop. A disciplined and civil society can make bricks without straw, while an undisciplined and uncivil one fails to realize the fullness of its potential and cheats itself out of bread and board.

If this country is going to succeed at tourism, negotiate and partner more spiritedly for a greater portion of our natural wealth, and contribute to lifting the lot of all in the population, then leaders and citizens must convert to a more responsible way of life. If nothing else, this hardest of elections interlude reinforced the requirements of respect for the law and the personal self-control that is linked to it.

The one intangible, which we shrink from as a nation, cannot be held of much longer.

It is the patient knitting of the collective spirit and nursing the shattered soul to some healing and strength. Of healing and reconciling, there is so much to be said. And it will follow soon on this page and in the choices that Guyana prioritize. Whether to good governance, or the CCJ (which may turn back), this country needs to start living again. It must.

The kind of tone and message direly needed DEAR EDITOR, I took the time to read the message from His Lordship, Francis Alleyne, OSB, Bishop of Georgetown, which was published yesterday in those sections of the media I view.

I went through it slowly and carefully, and came away encouraged, for it is the kind of appeal that is so direly needed in this country, and by all of us. I need it.

There was much to appreciate and embrace in what Bishop Francis took to the public to share. There were many messages embedded in his epistle, and all of which if adhered to in this society, could make so much of a difference. The way we view each other. The way we listen to and seek to understand one another, through our interest, our postures, our actions practised and refined. I wish that there are more such messages, rich in the temperance, sobriety, and civility so absent in our local environment. I can only think of how infinitely better the possibilities if more church leaders, more civic leaders, more opinion leaders, and every other group of leaders that I have not mentioned, were to be concerned enough to find it in themselves to articulate publicly the same kind of messages.

I regret that the steady voices towards what is

prudent, wholesome, and healthy for this society, have been largely missing. Instead, the few voices that venture forward are quickly overwhelmed and submerged by the relentless tides of rancor and rage, of hatreds and hostility, and the naked underbellies that point to the individual contaminations and contributions toward national self-destruction.

This country needs calming voices that present the messages and narratives that give it some hope, some opportunity, and some energy to get us out of the gutter.

When the civil and the measured presences in this society, those with and without the underpinnings of spiritual focus and priorities, retreat into silence before the barbaric, and allow the incendiary to take hold and dominate, then the herds of controversy and division gather and gain strength. It is only a matter of time, before herds are transformed into massed mobs bent on setting matters right, according to the misconceptions and passions cultivated so long.

It would be so much better to hear more voices shifting the emphasis and primacy from who won, who lost, and who cheated. Because all that we succeed in doing is fuelling more distrust and more animosities to the

detriment of the greatest many. I say this because whenever one wins, so many others lose. This we know, but as to disowning this, just about every Guyanese shrink; somehow, there is the confidence that we can change our political and social world, while leaving it absolutely untouched in its foundations, constructs, and divisive promises.

I would like to hear more voices, see more people from our ranks of believers and unbelievers, show initiative and courage to take back this country from the few who have hijacked it and misused it for their own nefarious objectives. Those few in the political cabals (all are included) surround themselves with numerous loud and sturdy Praetorian Guards.

They heavily influence, and for the worse, the direction, the thrust, and the mindless fanaticisms that consign those with minds to states of the narrowest thoughtless prejudices, and those without minds to think for themselves to still worse bigotries and partisanship that dilute national aspirations and lay waste national potential.

This is where church and civil leaders-significant societal presences all-need to shake off the shackles of weakening political

allegiances and take a stand.

A stand for what is right and rational. For what is different and idealizing for the peoples of tortured Guyana. The visions of the patriotic, the dogged strength of the altruistic should and must overpower political loyalties, which are forced to take a second chair to the wisdoms that all know could help us rise, make us truly live. Too many preach stirring messages in public, only to change clothes and assume the disfiguring cloaks of the fiendish and frightening in private.

It is why our politics is not easily (or willingly) separated from but attached to more fervently. We are too flexible with the falsehoods and hypocrisies that maim. It is why so many say so little.

Why so many find cover under the spurious and dubious.

I think we can be and do better. But only if we want to, because it means so much more to us, than politics and its promises. I look forward to hearing more making such offerings, and then living all they say they represent. Only then, do we stand a chance to be a better society. Having walked through the fires first, we are then in a position to hold the feet of others to the purifying heat.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Trini Observer exposed fraud early on DEAR EDITOR, Dr. Noel Kalicharan, former Senior lecturer at UWI, and currently commissioner of T&T Elections Commission, right after the election presented his analysis of the results based on Statements of Poll (SOPs) posted by GECOM and the opposition (Express March 24).

Kalicharan, a Caricom observer in Guyana, exposed fraud early on.

Kalicharan seemed to have recognized the electoral machinery and inner workings of Guyana Elections Commission and expected trouble. Guided by institutional knowledge and experience, he was able to accurately pronounce on the integrity and credibility of the electoral process. It is amazing that he virtually predicted the results to almost its arithmetical accuracy from the recount.

He calculated that the PPP/C won the election by 15,801 votes over the incumbent APNU+AFC coalition. The recount in Guyana has the PPP/C ahead of APNU by 15,416

votes, a difference of 385, virtually nil statistical significance for those of us who study statistics or conduct polling exercises.

Given that there were about 2300 polling stations, that’s an average difference of one vote for every six polling stations. That’s a remarkable level of accuracy given that, in any recount, some votes that were counted previously are now rejected and some that were rejected previously are now accepted.

W h i l e K a l i c h a r a n ’s accuracy is noted, he really showed that the result of the Guyana elections was available all this time for anyone interested in the truth. The result was in plain sight as forces made strenuous attempts to distract from the truth trying to hoodwink the world with a conflicting and false narrative of which party won.

One wonders what APNU/AFC and GECOM had to gain by “hiding” their SOPs when asked by the media and observers.

All parties and observers

had copies of SOPs that were posted outside of polling stations. All SOPs would have had to match.

Kalicharan’s calculations a n d G E C O M ’s r e c o u n t were so close that they lend credence to the opposition claim that the posted SOPs were genuine from the start.

Long before Mingo’s March 14 fraudulent declaration, all parties would have known who won the elections. With all the SOPs in their possession, it needed only a few hours work to determine the accurate results. But instead of concluding the count, forces spent time devising a plan to thwart the will of the people. Every action, especially Mingo “falling sick” on March 4, was a carefully orchestrated plan of fraud.

Widely reported were the several attempts to defraud the electorate by persons within and outside GECOM m a c h i n e r y.

Attempts were made to perpetrate massive fraud at various stages post election day. These led to

numerous court challenges. Interventions by Caricom and tremendous international pressure culminated in a national recount exercise.

Even during the recount, various machinations were employed to prevent the will of the people.

Eventually, the recount concluded and the Chair ordered the Chief Election Officer to make a declaration of the valid recount votes. Even the declaration is being challenged in a frivolous suit.

The inevitable is in sight as official declaration will show PPP won leading to swearing in of Dr. Irfaan Ali as President.

Kalicharan is saluted for his eloquence, integrity, and statistical accuracy and the role he played as an observer in Guyana. His experience in elections no doubt was b r o u g h t t o bear on the scrutiny of voting and vote count and exposing fraud in Guyana Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram (Pollster)

Tuesday June 23, 2020

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

Guyana will become a better nation with better people if only our politicians can comply DEAR EDITOR, Like the old people say, “easy lesson good fuh dunce”, “yuh hard ears,” “yuh go learn when yuh feel” and “if yuh play with mud yuh gon get dirty.” Isn’t politics a dirty game? But does it necessarily have to be this way? Why can’t it be like putting on your Sunday best, keeping your mouth clean and staying out of trouble? But then, we are living in a real world and we have to be practical. The guy in the street will say, “get real man.”

Different schools of thought have multiple explanations and interpretations for the creation of this world and man, but our favourite quotation is, “this or that took place since creation.” With this phrase, we either seek consolation, use it to advance a debate, hide behind this expression, justify an action, become complacent, depend on this analogy as an explanation, or we expect everyone to compromise with its iteration.

The days of spanking are bygone. There once was an era at school when, it was

“licks like peas” to make you learn or detention or extra work. Many children were scared of going to school because of this reason, some left to go to school but never reached school (skulking). At home, as a child, some were subjective to various punishments for wrong doing or not listening to your parents, including, whipping with a belt or stick, denial of something desired, a mouth full of words, a slap on the head or face, sent in isolation or applying other degrading means (unwarranted to mention).

In this modern day society, it is still expected to look up to elders for them to do the right thing and set the example for others to follow.

The senior generation belonging to the old school, this trend of example setting is, perhaps, still prevalent, alive, kicking and reaping bountiful dividends in certain areas and with a number of families. While, on the other hand, with other families, this is, sadly, a thing from the past and quickly fading and of less meaning. But then, some

would counter this request with, “do as I say and not as I do.” This past Sunday was Father’s Day, it was the perfect day for reflection and reminiscing.

If the observation of this day retained its true significance, then, a number of people, especially fathers, would have pondered, bisected and dissected its rational, as they analyzed if the expectations of their responsibilities have materialized positively or negatively and to gauge on a scale of one to ten, measuring their degree of success or failure. They say “honesty is the best policy” and there is no day better than Father’s Day to incur a self-analysis.

If this need did not arise because your performance is a mirror of perfection, then I hope you were able to lay back in a hammock, relaxed and smiled. But, on the contrary, if you had to entertain a room of doubt or uncertainty, then do question yourself for the reasons for the shortcomings and pursue a programme where you can redeem yourself.

On Sunday too,

A crime has been perpetrated against our nation DEAR EDITOR, The Muslim Youth Organisation of Guyana (MYO), like the rest of Guyana, acknowledges that the nation has been held at ransom by a few persons who want power for their own personal gain and selfish interest under the guise of exposing electoral fraud.

A national recount of votes cast on March 2nd was done under the watchful eyes of the Caricom observers. The conclusion of that recount identified the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C)

as the winner of the elections with 233,336 valid votes and the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition with 217,920 valid votes.

Enough is enough, three months and counting, Guyana sails like a rudderless ship in uncharted waters.

The latest saga involves a feeble attempt to prevent the CEO of GECOM to hand over the report based on the recently concluded recount.

The theft of an election while invoking the dead and the migrated is the greatest

crime that can be perpetrated against our nation.

We are at the end of this road paved with thorns and every conceivable obstacle.

Therefore, the Muslim Youth Organization of Guyana calls for a practical demonstration of h o n e s t y, d e c e n c y a n d leadership of integrity to stop the gerrymandering and immediately pave the way for the swearing in of H.E. Dr. Irfaan Ali. The nation awaits.

Azad Ibrahim President Muslim Youth Organisation of Guyana

GAWU expects sugar workers to receive all outstanding NIS benefits DEAR EDITOR, The GAWU refers to an article titled ”NIS denies cutting benefits to sugar workers” which appeared in another section of the media on June 21, 2020 wherein the NIS’ Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ms. Dianne Lewis, clarified that the Scheme hasn’t suspended benefits to sugar workers from the beginning of this year.

On this matter, as we shared before, the Scheme’s local offices we interact with have communicated a 180 degree position from that of the PRO. We recognized that Ms. Lewis did not specifically advise whether it is all claims, irrespective of the date of submission, would be honoured or there has been a restriction based on date of submission as we have been previously advised. We presume

it’s the former rather than the latter and would not wish to engage in splitting hairs on the issue.

We, nevertheless, are heartened by this clarity and expect that this instruction will clearly and unambiguously be communicated to all local offices. The GAWU expects too that the several claims by sugar workers, which have been held back on the supposed instruction will be quickly processed and payments prepared for the workers concerned.

Similarly, from the utterances of the PRO, we suppose that workers NIS contributions are credited accurately to their records.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

coincidentally, Yoga International Day was observed throughout the world. Globally, the practice of this ancient art is revered and appreciated for its valuable significance and its remedial benefits and is vigorously pursued at all levels and walks in life. There is no discrimination for the followers and is embraced by both male, female or other gender, young or old, rich and not so rich, race or ethnicity and country or location. Yoga and meditation represent a unique gift from the East and is widely sought after by the West. It is so much respected that even the United Nations has a special division dedicated for this purpose and many international personalities, world leaders, the rich and famous and ordinary people from the everyday life, subscribe to its practice. This practical exercise has succeeded in creating an inner realization that contributes towards the awakening of a conscience that appreciates how beautiful life can be when we can live peacefully, harmoniously, lovingly; removing the negativities that present themselves in different form and shape and from various directions from multiple sources. Harnessing

of the mind affords you to control not only desires but also generate your thoughts to propel the brain, directing your actions to be filled with the components of purity, honesty, selflessness and sincerity.

As Guyana awaits the end of the electoral process, how wonderful and helpful the art of yoga and meditation would provide, if practised by all these key players. For many in today’s society, especially the politicians, their way of life, the attitudes, behaviour and their reasoning and performance leave much to be desired and are very questionable for the moral upbringing of society, in particular the younger generation and the children.

Do these politicians enjoy any peace of mind or are they progressively disturbed by their guilty conscience for lies, deceits and dishonesty while still pretending to hold a straight face when confronting the public to believe them? This election has indeed taught this nation whom to trust and what level politicians will go to retain power. The bitter lessons will remain as a stigma and will be the guiding force to make a choice when voting in the future.

To sit quietly, especially

in the night or early morning, in the comfort of solitariness, creating an ambience of peace and tranquility with the eyes closed, concentrating on an elusive light flashing, listening to your breathing and feeling the pounding of the heart, empty the mind of all thoughts, let go of all distractions and concentrate on the point at the center of your forehead, there and then you will find a realization that never occurred or perceived before and a serenity that will bathe you with a mirrored reflection. Try it, you will not only like it but also you will discover something that was lacking and missing and introduce you to view life with a new perspective, adding another dimension and finding a meaning of flavoured variety.

I am positive your life will change for the better, don’t be scared or skeptical for you have nothing to lose and much to gain. Guyana will become a better nation with better people.

If only our politicians can comply, life will not be so complicated and difficult. The future of Guyana lies in the hands of the politicians, may peace and unity with love prevail.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

Democracy must prevail DEAR EDITOR, Power is defined as the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behaviour of others or the course of events.

The PNC led APNU+AFC has power over its supporters and is wielding power against Guyana Democracy.

Why is the PNC (forget APNU+AFC) behaving this way?

The PNC needs to demonstrate to its supporters that it still has power and relevance or it will implode.

The PNC power does not come from citizens consenting to be governed by them as in a democracy.

The PNC power comes from the threat of the use of force.

We need to stand up and not be bullied or Guyanese live with tyranny for the rest of our lives.

Democracy must prevail.

Say “NO to the PNC”.

Yours faithfully, Sean Ori

PAGE 6

Tuesday June 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

Victory will be on the side of truth DEAR EDITOR, The religion I subscribed to says, “be patient, persevere, and pray, for God is with those who patiently persevere.” From my readings and the videos that I watched on the internet, I noticed many of my fellow Guyanese brothers and sisters were very upset and furious with my brother, Nigel the Mathematician. Nigel came up with the mathematical confabulation that 34, not 33, must be had to represent the majority of 65. I want to thank him sincerely for his mathematical confabulation. I will state my reasons why I want thank Bro. Nigel many times over.

Because of Nigel’s Math, the APNU + AFC got the necessary fuel in their bellies to move the NCM (No Confidence Motion) that was passed in December of 2018 through the courts of Guyana which finally ended at the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Not only the NCM was heard by the CCJ but the case involved the unilateral appointment of the chairman (James Patterson) of the GECOM. The Caribbean Court of Justice ruled that James Patterson was illegally appointed by David Granger.

After the CCJ ruling, Jagdeo got a chance to make his input in choosing a chairperson of GECOM. Jagdeo found Claudette Singh to be favourable and recommended her to Mr. Granger. Claudette Singh was appointed GECOM’s chairperson by Mr. Granger, without prejudice.

Imagine! If Mr. Granger had called elections within the three months after the NCM with his man, James Patterson, as the head of GECOM and did not pursue the court actions, the elections would be long finished with APNU+AFC back in Government, because the rigging machinery at GECOM

An unintended consequence DEAR EDITOR, For once, there is an unintended consequence that is supremely positive. The economic havoc that coronavirus is visiting on the world has surely reduced greenhouse gas emissions in a way that no coordinated actions by nations could have hoped for.

We will come out of this pandemic. The world will survive. But the recovery will require sacrifice, and therein

lies the second unintended consequence.

We, the citizenry of the world, can tell corporations and governments alike that if they want our participation in this shared sacrifice, then these are our conditions: Sustainability is part of everything we do from now on, and we must engineer and innovate our way out while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

Yours, Rooplall Dudhnath

would have been unhinged.

Nigel’s mathematics made the difference, it energized Mr. Granger to flout Guyana’s constitution. He did not call election with the three months statutory time after the passage of the NCM. Mr. Granger opted for the courts which eventually birthed Claudette Singh as the head of GECOM. Mr. Granger overplayed his hand because of Bro. Nigel’s math. This is the work of God. Evilness cannot triumph over truth and justice.

Claudette Singh stopped the house-to-house registration which if it were allowed to be completed, large sections of the Guyanese population would have been disenfranchised, especially in the opposition’s strongholds. Claudette Singh allowed the recount of the elections after Mingo’s bingo. I am confident James Patterson as the head of

GECOM would not have allowed a recount.

After the recount Mr. Lowenfield, the CEO of GECOM, was asked to tabulate the results and produce a report of the recount. Mr. Lowenfield submitted a correct tabulation but a distorted report to GECOM. The commissioners of GECOM met, the APNU+AFC commissioners moved a motion to annul the election because they claimed the elections, which was clandestinely ran by APNU+AFC had too many irregularities, dead voters and overseas Guyanese voted, none of which was proven.

Claudette Singh along with the PPP commissioners concluded that the election must be officially declared and an election petition can be filed subsequently to address any election irregularity. Mr. Lowenfield was asked to

produce a report by Thursday June 18, 2020 no later than 1:00 pm to pave the way for a formal declaration and swearing in of the PPP presidential candidate. Mr. Lowenfield never did. The matter is in court again.

I want to be clear I am not advocating for nor am I against Claudette Singh. I am just stating anecdotally what I read and saw on the Internet.

I do not support any political party in Guyana but I support free and fair elections. Matter of fact, in 2015, I encouraged many of my relatives in Guyana to support the AFC but they told me AFC was old wine in new bottles; they refused to heed my call. In retrospect, I believe the AFC was the fraud of the century on the people of Guyana.

I am strongly lobbying my politicians in these United States to help my fellow Guyanese to enjoy what I

never experienced in the country of my birth, free and fair elections. Again, I want to extend my sincere thanks to Bro. Nigel whether consciously or unconsciously, through his mathematical confabulation led Mr. Granger to drag the NCM through the courts which resulted with Claudette Singh as chairperson of GECOM. In my opinion, Claudette Singh as an unintended consequence of the NCM sided with truth and gave the party (PPP) that won the March 2020 election a fighting chance to get their presidential candidate sworn in as the president of Guyana.

I urge every Guyanese to be patient, persevere, and pray. Victory will be on the side of truth, not falsehood.

Thank you.

Sincerely, Habib, Z New York

Message from GPSU President/CEO, Mr. Patrick M. Yarde, on the Occasion of United Nations Public Service Day 2020 The United Nation has designated June 23 each year to mark the occasion of Public Service Day. This date was specifically occasioned to bring recognition to and celebrate the values, virtues and visibility of public service, to the community; the delivery of quality public service in the development process and recognizes that democracy and successful governance are built on the foundation of a competent and professional public service.

June 23 was also identified by the United Nations for the reason that it coincided with the anniversary when the International Labour Organization adopted Convention 151 – Labour Relations (Public Service) 1978. This Convention determines the framework for working conditions of all civil servants across the world.

Public Service Day 2020 celebration is centered around the theme: ’Action Today, Impact Tomorrow:

Innovating and Transforming Public Services and Institutions to Realize the Sustainable Development Goals 2030".

Public Service Day 2020 would be celebrated under a contagion of enormous proportions, as the coronavirus continues to affect lives worldwide, health care systems are left strained, the education and school systems are disrupted and businesses and economies are uncertain about sustainability in the future.

Combating the aftermath demands an approach grounded in technology, boundary-breaking collaboration and innovative ways of working. Public Service organizations would need to find and adapt critical solutions that are flexible and robust to the new reality. This will be a turning point for government. A time to build even more meaningful, trustbased relationships with the citizen.

In transitioning to the new environment, the

International Labour Organization’s standards can serve as a decent work compass in the response to the COVID-19 health and social crisis. The key provisions of these standards particularly, as it relates to safety and health working arrangements, protection of specific categories of workers, non-discrimination, social security and employment protection, would ensure that governments, employers and Unions (workers’ representatives) can maintain decent work while adjusting to the socio-economic consequences of the pandemic.

The socio-economic response, recovery and spending must not come at the expense of workers and stagnation in the public service where workers are faced with inadequate or frozen wages, rising cost of living and austerity guttered public sector.

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) wishes to encourage all workers to be safe, to adapt to the new ways, contexts, technology and digital/ virtual capabilities available to ensure smart and safe work. The Union is in the vanguard negotiating appropriate measures to national conditions, where necessary, to encourage and promote the full development and utilization of machinery for negotiation

of terms and conditions of employment for workers nationally. The social and mental health of workers is of paramount interest to the Union and therefore workers are encouraged to put health and security first.

At the international level, the GPSU has been involved and contributed to the development of new techniques and strategies to confront all these challenges, including climate change and effective strategies to mitigate its adverse effects on workers; that training and retraining of all categories workers in an effort of just transition. The Union further wishes to encourage all workers to keep themselves relevant, to adopt safe and healthy practices in light of the new and changing world of work.

The Guyana Public Service Union salutes all public service workers on this Public Service Day 2020 for their sterling contribution to the nation’s progress, despite the prevailing inadequacies, and urge them to continue to deliver, in an efficient and professionalism manner, quality public service to the nation. You are also encouraged, particularly in the prevailing environment of political instability, to be steadfast in the execution of your duties and to understand that your roles and functions must be consistent with the policy framework of public institutions.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday June 23, 2020

PAGE 07

Understaffed and underfunded EPA will always be at ExxonMobil's mercy

By Kiana Wilburg

G

uyana has been an oil-producing state for over six m o n t h s y e t t h e Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which is tasked with ensuring ExxonMobil's operations are not a clear and present danger to the nation's environment is severely understaffed and underfunded. In such c i r c u m s t a n c e s , conservationist Annette Arjoon-Martins recently noted that the EPA would always be at the mercy of the American oil giant.

Arjoon, known for her staunch environmental advocacy protection, made these and other remarks during an appearance on Kaieteur Radio's show, Guyana's Oil and You. There, she was asked to comment on the preparedness of the EPA to monitor the growing oil industry.

Arjoon-Martins was keen to note that if the EPA were given adequate resources such as those required to properly scrutinize Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), then Guyana would not be in a much better position.

“I recognize,” ArjoonMartins said, “that while we had Dr. Vincent Adams take over the helm of the EPA and he brings years of experience, without the resources to get the assessments he needs, he will always be hamstrung. He has also been honest about the challenges he faces but unless we have an EPA that is staffed and resourced, we will always have an agency that is at the mercy of ExxonMobil.”

In agreement with her was international lawyer, Melinda Janki who stated that the agency is totally unprepared. Janki said that the EPA has an impossible task to monitor what

- Conservationist ExxonMobil is doing offshore Guyana, much less other companies.

The lawyer said, “I mean how many boats do they have? How many drones?

How many environmental officers are stationed on the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel? What equipment does the EPA have to test water and air quality? How much does the EPA know about the damage that is being done to the species on the sea bed?”

Janki also pointed out another major weakness of the EPA in that it does not even know, independently, how much gas ExxonMobil has flared. She stressed that the agency has to rely on numbers provided by company.

From December last to now, ExxonMobil has flared over nine billion cubic feet of gas and on a daily basis, it burns 12 million cubic feet.

Those figures are what the EPA collects from the oil giant and feeds to the public for consumption. By flaring the gas, ExxonMobil releases toxic chemicals into the atmosphere and significantly increases Guyana's carbon footprint.

EXXON AMONG THE WORST Janki was also keen to point out that the flaring of reports in Guyana should come as no surprise as ExxonMobil is noted as one of the worst culprits for burning off natural gas in the United States' top oil fields, despite presenting itself as leaders in ta ckling the problem. This particular issue was exposed by

Greenpeace, a nong o v e r n m e n t a l environmental organization with offices in over 55 countries. Greenpeace said that ExxonMobil along with British Petroleum (BP) have both committed to drastically rein in flaring as a key part of their response to the climate crisis.

In spite of its promises, investigations showed that they are among the worst performers when it comes to minimizing emissions from their operations in one or more of the United States' “Big Three” oil fields.

Kaieteur News understands that independent fracking firms, Marathon Oil, Whiting Petroleum and Hess Corporation also dispose of unprecedented volumes of natural gas, either by releasing it directly into the atmosphere or burning it off. (https://unearthed.greenpea ce.org/2019/10/17/exxonbp-flaring-united-statesclimate-change/).

CLOSING LOOPHOLES H e a d o f t h e Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Vincent Adams has told Kaieteur News that the situation where Exxon Mobil continues to burn gas offshore Guyana is indeed embarrassing.

He was adamant however that the regulatory body will be putting measures in place for more accountability, starting with improving the permit that allowed for ExxonMobil to flare in the first place.

Speaking on an earlier edition of Guyana's Oil and You, Dr. Adams said the

Man stabbed to death parting fight

A

man was stabbed to death on Sunday after he intervened in a fight between a Brazilian miner and his reputed wife.

The man whose, only name was given as 'Rakesh' of Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was slain at around 16:00 hrs at Turtle Creek Landing, Mazaruni River, Region Seven. Police said that the Brazilian miner and his

wife were involved in a heated argument which became physical. The victim who was close by at the time went over to make peace by attempting to part the fight.

However, the suspect turned his attention to the victim and dealt him several stabs with a knife towards the neck and body causing the victim to collapse to ground. The suspect then

fled the scene. Ranks who were at the time carrying out investigations at the Puruni Landing were notified of the incident and made their way to the area.

When they arrived, they examined the victim's body and made arrangements for it to be transported to Bartica.

The suspect's reputed wife is assisting officers with their investigations.

Conservationist, Annette Arjoon-Martins regulatory body has learned that it is the broad language in ExxonMobil's permit that gave the oil giant the leverage to flare over 12 million cubic feet of gas per day without a single repercussion.

According to the permit, ExxonMobil is allowed to flare or burn some amount of associated gas during the start up of its operations.

The permit is silent on what occurs during the case of mechanical issues and how long a start-up period is expected to last. In the

EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams absence of those clear terms, ExxonMobil was allowed to continue its business as usual and burn the associated gas until it can fix the issues it is experiencing with the gas compressor system for the Liza Destiny oil vessel.

Dr. Adams revealed that ExxonMobil has been informed that such loopholes in its current permit will be closed.

He also said that future permits will also have much tighter and clearer conditions for flaring.

Contrary to the

International Lawyer, Melinda Janki perception some may have, the EPA Head said that ExxonMobil is also embarrassed by this matter and is working very diligently to address it.

“We appreciate them doing all that we asked for but we need more accountability hence we have informed them that we are tightening the language in the current permit and future permits where there is going to be no room for misinterpretation about what the intent of the permit is,” expressed Dr. Adams.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Tuesday June 23, 2020

Region 1 records 18 new COVID-19 cases…

Nothing stopping GECOM Task Force announces from making declaration mining halt in - more checkpoints, now - Jagdeo increased screening specific areas in hinterland O

G

uyana yesterday recorded 21 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours taking the total amount to 205 new cases. Speaking with Kaieteur News late last evening, Public Relations O ff i c e r ( P R O ) o f t h e Ministry of Public Health, Te r r e n c e E s s e b o o m , confirmed the new cases and specified that all are from the hinterland regions.

Eighteen of those positive cases are from Moruca, a sub-district of Region One, North West District (NWD) while the others are from Regions Seven and Nine, respectively.

This publication later learnt that the positive cases from Region Nine are two students-one writing the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA)

scheduled to commence in July. Contact was made with the Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Nine, Carl Parker, for details.

Not only did he verify that this was true but he explained that the two students had recently returned with their parents from Bonfim in neighbouring Brazil.

He told Kaieteur News that the COVID-19 Task Force of Lethem had decided to allow Guyanese living in Brazil, the opportunity to come home. However, these individuals would have had to agree to a 14-day period of quarantine.

Likewise, these two students along with their parents were and still are quarantined. It was decided that these individuals must be tested and in so doing officials were able to

confirm the one positive case so far. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health is urging people from regions near Suriname, Brazil and Venezuela to be vigilant as these countries are recording a hike in their cases.

With many of these citizens engaging in crossborder activities, the fears have been real.

Records show that most of the victims are women between 20 and 29.

The Ministry of Public Health said that the 21 cases emerged from out of 39 tests that were conducted. Some 24 persons remain in institutional quarantine while none are currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Guyana has recorded 103 recoveries and 12 deaths bringing the total amount of active cases to 90 persons.

2,147 persons have been tested so far with 1,942 persons negative for the virus. Citizens are still being urged to wear masks, maintain social distancing as well as continue sanitary practices to prevent further spread of the virus.

There will be mobile testing units in Georgetown at the Merriman's Mall this (continued on page 16)

pposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo is of the view that, following yesterday's Court of Appeal ruling, there is nothing preventing the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) from moving ahead and declaring the results of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

“We believe that the declaration should be made now on the basis that there is nothing preventing the Commission from moving forward,” Jagdeo said during a live update on his Facebook page.

The Appeal Court yesterday, ruled on the Motion filed by private citizen Eslyn David, that in determining the results of the March 2, 2020 Elections, Chief Elections O ff i c e r ( C E O ) , K e i t h Lowenfield must do so based on who received the most “valid” votes.

She sought from the Appeal Court, a declaration that GECOM failed to act in accordance with the Recount Order, in that they failed to determine a final credible count of the result of the March 2, 2020 Elections, along with an interpretation of the words “more votes are cast” in Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution, and an order restraining the CEO from complying with the instructions of the Chair to prepare his final report without determining the credibility of the General and Regional Elections.

The determination of valid votes, however, according to Jagdeo was already done.

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

He referenced both the Statements of Recount (SORs) and the Tabulation Certificates accumulated at the end of the recount, which clearly states the word “valid”. This now sets the stage for a declaration to be made. He said, “They had already determined what valid votes were. The validity of the votes have already been determined and they have recorded in all of the statutory forms. So there is nothing that stops the declaration at this point in time. No Court ruling, No Court order.

They cannot take away the powers of the Commission and vest it in Lowenfield or in Congress Place.” While Jagdeo noted that the ruling did not sway in their favour, he did agree with the court when they ruled that 'more votes' meant 'more valid votes'. Those valid figures, according to him, would emerge from the recount numbers.

The Chairman of

GECOM, Ret'd Justice Claudette Singh had instructed Lowenfield to submit his final report using the figures from the recount. Those figures would show a victory for the People's Progressive Party (PPP) with a total of 233,336 votes, making Irfaan Ali the next President of Guyana.

However, David's Motion against him prevented that report from being submitted.

Jagdeo hinted at the possibility of the matter reaching to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) – a court he believes has the jurisdiction to hear an appeal.

“We believe we know that the CCJ has jurisdiction on this matter, we believe even that this ruling will be set aside and this ruling itself has not injuncted or does not prevent from making a declaration now on the basis on what they have already determined and on the basis of total valid votes.”

Cop among two arrested for friendship robbery

A

police rank is among two persons detained in connection with a robbery that took place on June 19 at Friendship, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The robbery took place at around 20:00 hrs at a snackette located along the Friendship Railway Embankment.

In a video footage seen by this publication, a man walked into the snackette and approached the owner.

He then took out a handgun from his waist and pointed it at the individual and relieved the person of an undisclosed

amount of cash and valuables while the other customers ran away in fear.

The bandit then made good his escape in a white car, which pulled up shortly after. The matter was reported and a manhunt was launched by police for the suspect; however, residents from a nearby village were able to locate the suspect before police.

He was captured by the said residents beaten before being handed over to investigators. It was during an interrogation carried out by the ranks that the suspect told police that one of their

fellow officers was his accomplice in the said robbery.

The suspect alleged that the officer was the driver of the white get-away car. He also made allegations that this same cop was involved in multiple armed robberies.

Commander of Division 'B', Royston Andries-Junor said that the rank has since been detained and is currently under investigation for the allegations made against him.

He also detailed that the rank is part of a special patrol unit from the Cove & John Police Station.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday June 23, 2020

PAGE 09

The valid votes have already been determined

T

he Court of Appeal has ruled by a 2-1 majority that it has the jurisdiction to interpret the Constitution in relation to the election of a President, under Article 177(4) of the Constitution.

This column respectfully does not agree that the Court has any such jurisdiction.

Article 177(4) states: "The Court of Appeal shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any question as to the validity of an election of a President in so far as that question depends on the qualification of any person for election or the interpretation of this Constitution…"

The article is selfexplanatory and requires no legal training for its comprehension. The Court of Appeal has the jurisdiction to hear and determine questions as to the validity of an election of a President. Let us stop there.

If there is no election of a President, it means that there is no jurisdiction.

The second part of the article qualifies what sort of questions can be determined by the Court of Appeal should there be “an election of a President.” Those questions relate to the qualifications of the President or the interpretation of the Constitution. But a condition

precedent is set by the first part of Article 177 (4) and that condition is that the President must first be elected before jurisdiction can be invoked The Court in my humble estimation has erred in assuming that it has jurisdiction. I respectfully submit that if this decision is appealed to Caribbean Court of Justice it will be overturned.

The Court of Appeal decision, however, does not prevent the Guyana Elections Commission from moving ahead with the final declaration of the results by its Chairperson. The Court of Appeal has only ordered that when the Constitution at Article 171(2)(b) makes reference to “ if more votes are cast:, it means : “if more valid votes are cast”.

No one should have any problem with this. It is clearly understood that when that Article speaks to votes cast that it could only mean valid votes cast. Elections in Guyana have always be determined by valid votes.

A valid vote is a vote which is cast in an election which bears the official mark and where the intention of the voter (in terms of who he or she is voting for) is clear.

This applies also for the recount of votes cast and is provided for in the law.

The valid votes for the 2nd March have already

been determined. It was first determined by the Presiding Officer at the polling stations when the votes were counted. This is accordance with the law.

The Representation of the People Act at Section 83 (4) states: “The decision of the presiding officer as to the validity or otherwise of a ballot paper shall be final, subject to review by the returning officer.”

The results of the Recount mimicked the processes used at the place of poll. Votes are deemed valid in a recount so long as they bear the official marks and are marked for a list of candidates.

This is provided for under Section 87 of the Representation of the People Act. The results of the recount as certified on the Statements of Recount (SORs) and as tabulated by the Returning Officers constitute the record of the valid votes cast.

The Chief Elections Officer has already submitted matrices of the valid votes cast to the Commission. He is thus obligated to declare the Recount results as the valid votes, as provided for in the law.

The Chief Elections Officer cannot contradict his report on the tabulation of the results of recount. He does not have the authority

..........................................................

Dem boys seh...

De court try to confuse de whole Guyana

Y

esterday's Court of Appeal session on elections nah change nuttin.

At least dat is wha dem boys believe after dem listen to dem three judges.

De David gal who file de motion to de court ask fuh declaration that GECOM breach its own Recount Order. Dem boys nah hear de Court seh dat.

She ask fuh an order restraining de Chief E-lecions Officer from complying with the direction of the Chairman without first determining the credibility of the elections. Dem boys nah hear de court order dat.

She ask fuh an order restraining de Chief E-lections Officer from submitting

an election report which contains non-credible votes.

Dem boys nah hear de court order dat.

De only thing which dem boys hear was ordered was de interpretation of “more votes cast.”

De court seh when de Constitution talk about more votes cast, it mean more valid votes.

Lolo-field already tabulate and submit he report bout de total valid votes. All he gat fuh do now is to use de farm-ula to determine how de seats in de National Assembly gon be allocated.

Dem boys nah know why some people getting all worked up about de court ruling. De court ruling can't change de recount results

and it certainly nah give de CEO any power fuh do dat.

If he try to Mingo-ise de numbers, is jail. De whole world watching.

But is suh we stay. We like get excited about nuttin.

Dem boys want we get excited about all dat money wha spending fuh nice up de rundown hotel.

Dem boys wan know who gon check fuh see how credible is de spending pon de quanrantine building.

Dem boys also want y'all to check out the price fuh dem bucket trucks wha Patto seh cost $83 million. Dem gat wan old saying…moon does run till day catch am.

Talk half and prepare to watch Lolo-field try some illegal magic.

to pronounce on the validity of votes. That can only be done by the High Court via an election petition. The CEO has to use the valid votes as determined by the Recount.

There is no injunction preventing the CEO from submitting his report and for the Chairperson to declare the results of the elections.

But we know in Guyana that the CEO will face his own challenges in so doing.

The CEO is an officer of GECOM. Section 18 of The Elections Laws

(Amendment) Act 2000 provides that, The Chief Election Officer is subject to the direction and control of the Commission and at Section 19 GECOM has the authority to issue directions and exercise supervision to any officer of GECOM concerning the conduct of elections.

The Commission therefore will have to make a decision should the CEO fail to submit a report on the basis that he cannot determine the number of valid votes cast.

Since he does not have the authority to invalidate any votes, any failure to submit a report in accordance with the results of the Recount will amount to statutory negligence and would subject him to sanction by the Commission and the law.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Tuesday June 23, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

My opinion: Claudette Singh is not restrained by the court's decision I

am typing this piece here before I could read the different interpretations of the legal minds on the Court of Appeal decision. But this I know as a layman, the CCJ will not accept the 2020 election as fraudulent if it does not see the evidence in front of it.

This is my position on the Court of Appeal decision. If Claudette Singh does not declare a winner, which she legally can, the PPP will go to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Once more the CCJ will give a decision that reflects purely on Guyana's jurisprudence. First we had the Court of Appeal affirming President Granger's right to appoint a GECOM chairman on his own after he did not find a fit and proper person from an opposition's compilation of 18 names.

The CCJ clearly showed that the Carter-Price formula in the Guyana constitution

was explicit in its intention to remove the u n i l a t e r a l capacity of the president and that he had to make a selection based on the Carter-Price article in the Constitution.

Next was the question of what constituted a majority of 65. The judges in the Court of Appeal ruled that a majority of 65 starts at 34 and not 33.

When the appeal was heard before the CCJ, one judge had no-nonsense words to say about the fiction of 34 constituting a majority of 65.

We will now go to the CCJ on Lowenfield's macabre declaration that a substantial majority of ballots were fraudulent without substantial evidence. Once you are dealing with a court of law, evidence becomes the fundamental requirement that guide judges.

The main dimension of the election drama that one must bear in mind at all times is the fact that the

international community will not take into consideration any court pronouncement in its foreign policy decision on the legitimacy of the reelection of David Granger.

The die is cast as I write.

International society believes that the APNU+AFC lost the 2020 election and it will not recognize a Granger presidency. The list includes the EU, USA, Canada, Commonwealth, and the OAS. CARICOM has not pronounced on its attitude if Granger is sworn in but two issues are important when one looks at how CARICOM will move. One is the pronouncement of the CARICOM recount team that the election reflected the will of the electorate.

Secondly, the incoming chairman is of the opinion that Granger has lost. How against those two graphic facts CARICOM is going to accept a swearing in of

Granger?

Whatever GECOM does after this court decision, the important international actors that are essential for the survival of Guyana will not accept an APNU+AFC government because of two reasons; it opens the door to a flourish of rigged elections in the world and as a spin-off from that it gives legitimacy to unelected regimes.

One of the constituents in the APNU+AFC entity, the Justice for All Party, has called upon his own party to acknowledge defeat. The leader of the AFC has virtually conceded defeat.

Why then would international society disregard the validity the CARICOM report and the documentation from their own observer-missions and recognize a government of ANU+AFC? It is not going to happen.

I don't believe even in their wildest imagination, the

APNU+AFC leadership will sit comfortably in office if GECOM for one reason or the other catapults the APNU+AFC into power based on the miasmic tampering of the election.

They know such power will be fleeting, lastly perhaps only months.

I don't know what GECOM will do; it is anyone's guess. Speaking personally, I am not a fan of Claudette Singh. My layman's knowledge tells me that the court's ruling imposed no restraint on Singh. It simply tells her how she must interpret what “valid� votes mean.

She has the power to do that and in doing so, she cannot be faulted because the court recognizes that GECOM has the constitutional authority to make its own interpretations.

Again, from my layperson's knowledge, I think GECOM can arrive at valid votes

Frederick Kissoon count because there is nothing in the Court of Appeal decision that prevents an interpretation of valid votes based on the CARICOM report.

Here is my take. Singh should summon Lowenfield, collect his report, interpret what valid means based on the CARICOM recount process, and declare a winner. If there is no quorum, then another meeting does not require a quorum but a simple majority of commissioners. I know in my heart Singh is not going to do that but I believe in my heart that is the legal and morally right thing to do.

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

Tuesday June 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

$587M bucket trucks‌

GPL says no payments made to contractor; purchase order says otherwise

S

tate- owned c o m p a n y, t h e Guyana Power & Light Incorporated (GPL), in response to an article published last week by Kaieteur News, says that it has not yet made any payments to Massy Motors, the contractor selected to procure eight bucket trucks at price tag of $587 million, despite a purchase order illustrating otherwise. In addition to this, GPL highlighted that the total does not only cover the cost of the vehicles.

According to documents seen by this publication last week, GPL had paid $253,337,460 for four IVECO trucks. These are the 'Versa SST 40 Bucket Truck (45 feet)' model, or $63,334,365 per vehicle.

However, according to quotes from suppliers when that article was published, one of the new trucks could

be acquired for less than $25M. GPL would therefore, for these four trucks, paid more than $30M each or $130M. Furthermore, more research would later reveal that these trucks, could be procured in the United States for as low as USD$40,000, o r a s h i g h a s USD$90,000—figures that carry a significantly less sum than what was stated on the document seen by Kaieteur News.

Kaieteur News has not yet received the quotes for the bigger, longer-reach IVECO/VST 5500 Utility Truck (65 feet) models, acquired at a total cost of $333,766,320 or $83,441,580 each. The price

difference, though a few millions more, would definitely not attract the $83M that GPL said it paid, the newspaper was told.

It is in response to the paper's reporting that the company, in a statement issued to the press yesterday, explained that the cost of the trucks constitutes approximately 35% of the overall cost of the equipment to be supplied. They stated that the balance is made up of the cost of the lifting equipment, ancillary equipment, retrofitting costs (installing the lifting equipment onto the trucks), and the freight and insurance costs to deliver the lifting equipment and trucks from USA and Europe, r e s p e c t i v e l y, t h e n retrofitting, certifying and commissioning in Guyana.

In addition, they informed that costs are also included (continued on page 16)

Tuesday June 23, 2020

Local purchase order by GPL

Kaieteur News

Tuesday June 23, 2020

PAGE 13

Parika smash-up…

Bikers were seen riding recklessly N

ew evidence reach this paper indicates that the bikers involved in the horrific Father's Day smashup at Parika, East Bank Essequibo were riding recklessly shortly before the accident.

Based on a video seen by Kaieteur News, about an hour before the accident, the group of bikers was seen without helmets or any protective gears on Middle Street, Pouderoyen, performing stunts while riding up and down the street.

In the video, while a biker was testing out the motorcycle before they went on the road, another biker is heard saying, “Bai, that thing don't have propa brakes”, followed by another biker shouting “Man, you good bai.”

According to a resident of Middle Street, “Those boys don't hear when people

Gerald Rampersaud and Tyrese Maycock-Beckles

talk to them about them stunts they does be performing. They don't wear helmet and them things, they act like they don't care… many times I does see that same set of boys riding wild, wild on the road now watch how them two lost their life.”

Those two young men were 19-year-old Mickle Jones a mechanic of Middle Road Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara (WBD) and 21-year-old Shar Scott of

Samaroo Dam Pouderoyen, WBD. On Sunday, Jones and Scott met their demise around 15:00 hrs, after a car licence plate PXX 9662, collided with their motorcycles along the EBE Public Road. Scott and Jones had left their homes just before midday on their motorcycles to join a gang of riders on a trip to Bushy Park, Parika.

This newspaper (continued on page 15)

Fragments of the motorcycles and the mangled car after the Parika smash-up

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday June 23, 2020

Top cop ordered to release man caught in video with guns

Pregnant teen fished out of Berbice River died from - Weapons were not returned to security firm drowning, blunt trauma to head Detained boyfriend: Dequan Adams

Jermaine Kingston

F

our days after he was arrested for posting a video on social media allegedly making comments that appeared to incite violence while posing with a cache of firearms, former security guard Jermaine Kingston was yesterday released from custody as a result of a court order.

Commissioner of Police, Leslie James was on Sunday served with the order to release the 26-year-old man from custody since the statutory maximum 72 hours of detention had passed and no application was made for an extension to keep Kingston beyond it.

Joshua Marcus, through attorney-at-law Everton Lammy Singh, made an application of habeas corpus in favour of Kingston. The matter was heard by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall via Zoom who on Sunday ruled that Kingston should be immediately released from

custody and for the costs of $150,000 be awarded to the applicant. Thursday, police arrested Kingston who had posed with a cache of firearms in a widely circulated video on social media.

According to the police, they were able to identify 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 Auto Sales, the security firm's parent company, location in Georgetown and apprehended Kingston.

They subsequently seized high-powered rifles were seized from the security firm's inventory located in Berbice.

Yesterday, Kaieteur News contacted a senior official at Jumbo Jet, who stated that they are aware that Kingston was released without being charged and added that they

Commissioner of Police, Leslie James did not receive back their weapons that were seized.

NM Security services had 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 whose job was to stand at the gate and sanitize customers.

The suspect had 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 KGM head of security who revealed that Kingston only worked for four months before quitting just before the recently held March 2 General and Regional Elections.

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

Dead: Melissa Soman

G

overnment Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh has determined that Berbice teen, Melissa Soman, died from drowning compounded by blunt trauma to the head.

The post mortem examination carried out on the body of 17-year-old Soman of 58 Stanleytown was done by dissection at the Le Repentir Crematorium, Georgetown.

Police had arrested Dequan Adams, Soman's boyfriend, who confessed to investigators that he became irate after he noticed her gyrating on another male at a party in Gaettroy Village,

Berbice River. He told investigators that he then proceeded to assault her and the gentleman who she was seen with tried to intervene but was beaten as well.

Adams said he used a boat paddle and dealt Soman several lashes about her body and head before she plunged overboard to escape his assault; the man who she was seen with also jumped into the river but while he managed to surface the teen disappeared. Soman, who is also the mother of a 2-yearold, had left her home in Stanleytown a few months ago to live with the suspect who has been identified. Her

sister had told the media that Adams appeared to be controlling and her nowdead sister was planning on severing the relationship.

Soman went missing in the Berbice River Wednesday night and her body was discovered floating in the vicinity of G a e t t r o y, T h u r s d a y afternoon. The flesh on her face and right hand appeared to be "eaten away by piranha fish", police sources had said but the father of the teen, Paul Soman believes that his daughter's face was burnt.

Charges are expected to be laid shortly against Adams.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday June 23, 2020

Ship “arrested” in Trini's waters after Guyana's court warrant T r i n i d a d (newsday.co.tt) -A HIGH Court judge has set $1.8 million bail for the release of a ship that was arrested in TT waters. J u s t i c e F r a n k Seepersad on Monday granted an order, setting bail for the vessel MV Mabrooka's release.

Bail was set in the sum of US$270,000. He also ordered that an appropriate bond or security in that sum must be provided by a reputable financial institution that will be furnished to a Jamaican ship repair company, German Ship Repair Jamaica, and a copy to the Registrar of the High Court.

In the interim, until the bond or security s provided, Seepersad gave permission for the vessel to be transported, under the supervision of the Admiralty Marshal, from its Pointe-a-

Pierre anchorage to the Port of Spain anchorage. The location is to be provided to the marshal five hours before it is moved and after the bond or security is paid, the Mabrooka will be released from arrest.

The ship, a container vessel, was arrested on June 9 by Justice Kevin Ramcharan after German Ship Repair Jamaica sought an arrest warrant on a claim for payment of US210,000 which it said it was owed for repairs and equipment, i n c l u d i n g a n a n c h o r, provided to Mabrooka.

The Mabrooka is owned by a Panama-based company and is run by a company based in Istanbul, Turkey.

In its claim for payment, the Jamaican company said the ship was the subject of a warrant issued by the Guyana Supreme Court on

May 29.

However, before the warrant of arrest could be executed, the vessel left Guyana's territorial waters and, according to the claim filed on June 9, anchored in the waters of Pointe-aPierre.

Before Justice Ramcharan, the Jamaican ship repair company expressed fear that it was likely to leave TT's waters after taking bunkers and its owners will try to take the ship out of the Caribbean, since it trades between Qatar and various Caribbean territories.

German Ship Repair Jamaica was represented by attorney Nyree Alfonso.

The owners of the Mabrooka were represented by attorneys Gilbert Peterson, SC, and Stacy Benjamin-Roach.

In support of their

application for bail, the ship's owners asked for permission to shift anchorage to Port of Spain,said the proceedings in Guyana were never served on the Mabrooka and they were not aware of the costs relied on by the ship repair company.

In the bail application, the owners said bail of US$270,000 would be more than reasonable and would cover the costs claimed by the ship repair company.

It added that pending the posting of bail, the vessel was accruing losses, costs and now that it is under arrest in Pointe-a-Pierre, there were daily customs duties and other harbour fees to be paid.

It claimed that the arrest of the vessel was wrongful and the claim by the ship repair company was overstated.

PAGE 15

Enmore teen killed, cousin critical in hit-and-run

A

16-year-old lad was killed and his cousin, 14, hospitalised after they were reportedly struck down on the Enmore Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The dead teen was identified as Sheldon Major, while his injured cousin's name was given as Christopher Pollard.

Kaieteur News understands that both boys are from Lot 76 Enmore, North ECD. The two teens were discovered lying on the road motionless by passersby a little after 19:00hrs on Sunday.

Scattered debris from a vehicle were also seen close to where the injured lads were found. Police were contacted and an ambulance was called in immediately.

The boys were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where Major was

Dead: Sheldon Major (Photo courtesy of Inews) pronounced dead on arrival and his cousin admitted in a critical condition.

The police said they are investigating.

According to reports, the lads were struck while returning from a visit at a relative.

IDB donates US$750,000 to Two hospitalized in Corentyne support CARPHA's COVID-19 shooting incident - one suspect in custody response in the Caribbean

T

T

he Guyana Police Force in Berbice is investigating the alleged shooting of two males that resulted in them being hospitalised at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital with gunshot wounds to their bodies.

Injured are Joel Fraser, a 22-year-old farmer of Alness Village, Corentyne, Berbice and Bhoopaul Roopnarine, a 36-year-old self-employed man of Lot 1585 Glasgow Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice. Doram Narine called "Papo", 18 years, and a farmer of Lot 42 Friendship Village Corentyne, Berbice was taken to the Whim Police Station by a group of persons who identified him as one of the alleged suspects. He was arrested and is presently in police custody.

According to Nicholas Nandlall called

Injured: Joel Fraser Chanderpaul, an electrician/ businessman of Lot 21-22 L i v e r p o o l Vi l l a g e , Corentyne, he was in the company of his brother "Melville" and another "Joel" at Joel Fraser family friend's house at Friendship.

They were all imbibing together under the bottom house when a heated

Injured: Bhoopaul Roopnarine

argument erupted between Fraser and the four unidentified males. It was during the argument that a shot was fired at Fraser by one of the men armed with the shotgun.

R oopnarine who was standing in close proximity was also injured. This publication understands that

Bikers were seen riding recklessly From page 13 understands that the riders were heading to the area to attend a Father's Day event.

However, on their way back, it was alleged that a driver lost control of his car and slammed into the boys and two pillion riders.

Scott and Jones received

the full impact and died on the spot. Persons who saw what transpired immediately contacted police and an ambulance.

When paramedics arrived, the friends were pronounced dead and the two injured were rushed to a hospital in critical condition.

One of the pillion riders, Tyrese Maycock-Beckles, was sent home from the hospital yesterday with a fractured leg and other injuries to his body, while Gerald Rampersaud, a Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) employee is still hospitalized but in a stable condition.

after Fraser was shot, he was then dragged by the men on to the street and dealt several lashes with pieces of wood.

T he suspects then escaped on foot.

F raser was subsequently taken to the Whim Police Station by his uncle Garfield Gray and he was given a medical certificate and escorted by the police to the Port Mourant Hospital.

Rooparine was also taken to the same hospital and both were referred to the New Amsterdam Hospital where they remain patients.

F raser is said to be in a stable condition with multiple injuries about his body while Roopnarine is nursing an injury to his right side knee and pubic area.

he Caribbean Public Health A g e n c y (CARPHA) received a grant of US$750,000 from the I n t e r- A m e r i c a n Development Bank (IDB) to support the agency's COVID-19 response in the Caribbean region.

The grant, which was made available through the IDB Japan special fund, will be used to support the laboratory response capacity at CARPHA, and mobilize, surge and strengthen realtime disease surveillance and response through the CARPHA Regional Travelers Health Program (THP) for all 26 of the Agency's member states.

It will also facilitate the training of Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) in participating countries to provide regional and national responses to COVID-19 and other public health emergencies.

The grant will also aim strengthen COVID-19 detection capacities in participating countries such as Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica as well as Trinidad and Tobago, This grant will fund the expansion of CARPHA's Regional Travelers Health Program (THP) and the modification of its early warning and

response surveillance Travel Health information System (THiS) to participating countries to facilitate realtime reporting, monitoring, and response to COVID-19.

This component will also facilitate the development and implementation of the Caribbean travel health mobile app for real time information sharing.

Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency, Dr. Joy St John noted that “the beneficiary countries will gain from CARPHA's collective public health epidemiology and disease surveillance and prevention knowledge, convening capacity and project management expertise in coordinating their individual responses to the COVID-19 virus.

However, it is expected that the outputs and work conducted under this grant will be shared with all CARPHA Member States (CMS) which include the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States; and in keeping with its mandate, CARPHA will work with its Member States in both their collective and individual COVID-19 responses,” in a press release. Activities under the grant are scheduled to begin from July 2020 and run until June 2022.

PAGE 16

Tuesday June 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

Appeal Court rules GECOM must...

From page 3 force to impact the interpretation of those words as it relates to the March 02, 2020 elections.

The Judge explained that, “in light of the foregoing words more votes cast have to mean more valid votes.”

DISSENTING VEIW SERVICES Visa Forms Preparer.

Tel#626-7040, Publish your Death Annoucements & In Memoriams online. Email: dthmemo@gmail.com ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

WANTED 1 Diesel Mechanic to work in the interior, interested persons. Tel#625-5136 MonFri 8am-4pm Typist,Written application due 1st July,2020 Cameron & Shepherd 2 Avenue of the Republic.Email: Csmain @cameronandshepherd.com Wanted: Land to Buy:Parfaite Harmoni, Tuschen , Providence, Herstelling, Farm and Uitvlugt. Call# 699-3357.

Justice Persaud in a dissenting judgment noted held that the Notice of Motion filed under Article 177 (4) is without effect as it lacks the necessary enabling provisions.

According to Justice Persaud, the enabling legislation was outlined as a necessity in Article 177(5) (b) a section that follows immediately after the 177(4). Justice Persaud stressed on” its critical and determinative importance” to complete powers of the Court.

Installation, Repairs and parts for AC,Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc.Call Nick#630-1600,627-3206 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezer-Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158

Domestic. Contact # 2235273/223-5274 or rtilak@ adamantiumholdings.com

Affordable construction and renovation services .Telephone#603-5124.

Sales Representative. Contact # 223-5273/223-5274 or rtilak@ adamantiumholdings.com

VACANCY

FOR RENT 1 bedroom apartment for working couple/single person $32,000 & $35,000 monthly, light & water included,2 months security.Tel#6230076.

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: Excavator Operators, Cooks, 216-1043; 677-6620 Miners, GM. Contact#600Business/Office: South Road, 2455 Hadfield Street, Saffon St One sales clerk to work in Residence: Diamond & Pearl Party store.Tel#691-7123.

East Bank. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685 Diesel Mechanic.Contact:2235273/223-5274.

(1)Two bedroom apartment for Rent Durban Street $60,000 Welder.Contact:223-5273/223- per month.Tel#666-9494.

5274.

Single rooms for rent.Shared Cook.Contact:223-5273/223- Accommodations.Call#6845274.

2846.

Cook/Baker for interior location, applicants must be experienced with verfiable references. Call: 618-2020 TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE.24 HRS CALL: 219-5000; 2272100,225-7878 or 227-1982

CAR RENTAL

Apartments for rent in Peters Hall.Call#648-1391/698-5800.

PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS & SUV’S CALL:656-0087/6435 1 2 2 , E MAIL:PROAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM HEALTH Herbal Remedies- Diabetes, Hypertension, Hyplori, Gall & Kidney Stones, Respitory illness, PCOS etc. Contact Sparman# 676-5924 LAND FOR SALE Parfaite Harmonie main road corn lot $3.2M , 1.6M, Herstelling $4.3M, Schoonard main road $4.5M.Call#6662326.

VEHICLE FOR SALE Volkswagon Jetta PYY Model.Tel#689-0999.

1 Suzuki Escudo.Excellent condition, Low Mileage (50,000Km).$3.4M Neg.Call #649-0956.

One Toyota super custom Mini bus BTT Series fully loaded.Price:2.5M Neg. Tel#627-1216,698-1216.

FOR SALE 1 Toyota Pitbull (15 Seat) bus @$2.4M neg..Also best quality on all windows and wooden/steel doors.Contact: 654-3736/276-1463.

PEN PAL Male seeks female (18-35) to live with or marry. Call: 6430067

“Article 177 (5) (b) provides subject to the provisions of this constitution Parliament may make provision for giving effect to the provision to this title without prejudice...”

He said that “A proper lawful interpretation of Articles 177 (4) and 177 (5) of the Constitution leaves to his mind “an inescapable conclusion that this Court is without jurisdiction to entertain this motion...”

He said that further that the Article cited deals specifically with the validity of an election of a President based the qualification.

The Judge stressed therefore that the questions about the credibility of the elections ought not to be brought to the Court under Article 177(4). He noted that the purposely vested such powers with the High Court.

Justice Persaud said in this regard, he finds himself persuaded if not bound to agree that the High Court has the inherent jurisdiction to deal with matters challenging the credibility of the elections.

Describing the motion as unsustainable, he said the questions raised in the mo-

tion can only be answered by way of an elections petition at the High Court.

“Only if there is a difficulty with the decision then can the matter then be brought to the Court of Appeal,” the Judge posited.

STAY OF ORDERS Despite the majority ruling on jurisdiction to hear the substantive case, towards the end of the judgment Justice Gregory granted a request for a stay of the orders by Attorney-at-Law, Kashir Khan, for joined respondents, The Citizenship Initiative (TCI) and Change Guyana (CG).

His applications was briefly opposed by David's Attorney, John Jeremie who noted an appeal would not plausible given that the decision of the Appeal Court is final. He noted that the Constitution forbids an appeal.

“The Constitution clearly states that this decision is final,” the lawyer said. Khan's three day stay of the orders was therefore acceded to by the Court.

The case is one which the applicant sought the Court's understanding on a number of

issues including whether the Constitution the CEO powers to advise the Chairman of the Elections Commission as to the Presidential Candidate that was deemed to be elected based on the issue of more votes cast in favour of that list.

David also wanted to know whether the CEO is required after calculating the total number of valid votes of electors which have been cast for each list of electors on the basis of the votes counted and the information furnished by Returning Officers to ascertain the results of the election.

The applicant questioned too whether the issue of if more votes are cast” in Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution should be interpreted to mean “more valid and credible votes cast” –an issue which he says was contemplated by order Number 60 for the elections recount.

“It is therefore submitted that under Article 177(2) (b) of the Constitution of Guyana the CEO is empowered to determine valid votes cast in respect of the election of a President and to tender such advice to the Guyana Elections Commission,” she noted in the application.

Task Force announces mining...

From page 8 week and citizens showing various symptoms of the virus are being urged to utilize it.

Meanwhile, the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF), the Ministry of Public Health and various other ministries and government agencies along with non-governmental organisations last evening held an emergency multistakeholder meeting on the alarming increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases in parts of Regions 1 and 7.

“Decisions were taken to implement enhanced containment measures within the affected areas in these regions and these will be gazetted shortly. The enhanced containment measures will include

cease work orders for specific areas in the mining sector, screening, wider testing, checkpoints and other measures in several locations within regions 1 and 7. Specific details will be provided subsequently.”

According to the task force, these measures are necessary and urgent by the medical experts so as to prevent the wider spread of COVID19 in these two regions along with other regions.

The emergency meeting was chaired by Chairman of the NCTF, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and attended by Vice Presidents Khemraj Ramjattan (Minister of Public Security) and Sydney Allicock (Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs),

Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, Minister of Education Dr. Nicolette Henry, Pan-American Health Organisation-World Health Organisation (PAHO-WHO) Country Representative Dr. William Adu-Krow, UNICEF Country Representative Sylvie Fouet, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle, multiple Permanent Secretaries and several technical and medical experts from the Ministry of Public Health, the Health Emergency Operations Centre and the Guyana Defence Force, the Task Force said.

GPL says no payments made to...

From page 12 for operator training of GPL staff in Guyana on the new equipment and preventative maintenance for one year.

The release further stated that the supplier had advised GPL that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, “both the manufacturer of the trucks in Europe and the manufacturer of the lifting equipment in the USA had encountered issues which affected their respective operations resulting in temporary delays in their supply chain processes.

GPL has now been advised that the manufacturers have recommenced operations and completed units are being prepared for shipment.”

The procurement process An open tender process was used, the release noted but the bid documents were first published on GPL's website on April 30, 2019 and during the months of May and June 2019. They said that a total of 12 paid advertisements for the supply were made in the national newspapers including this publication, Stabroek News and the Guyana Chronicle. Additionally, GPL said also that they advertised the tender on the United Nations Business Development Website.

Notably when Kaieteur News checked through the GPL's website, it found that there were no bids for those

vehicles published on April 30, as stated by GPL. Instead, there was one Invitation for Bids, dated at February 2019, for one new bucket Truck, one new utility vehicle and one new rotating Digger Derrick.

Following completion of the evaluation process, GPL's Tender Board approved the award to Massy Motors during the month of December 2019. The Purchase Order (PO) was then issued on January 31, 2020.

In the interest of clarity, this paper reached out to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) under GPL, Shevion SearsMurray, who informed the publication that those inquiries would be answered today.

Tuesday June 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Tuesday June 23, 2020

Tuesday June 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Tuesday June 23, 2020

Tuesday June 23, 2020

Pakistan trio test positive for COVID-19 ahead of England tour

Shadab Khan pumps his fists after picking up a wicket. (ICC)

(Reuters) - Pakistan cricketers Haider Ali, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan have tested positive for COVID-19 after being screened in Rawalpindi ahead of their tour of England next month, the country’s cricket board (PCB) said yesterday.

“The players had shown no symptoms until they were tested in Rawalpindi on Sunday,” the PCB said in a statement. “The PCB medical panel is in contact with the three who have been advised to immediately go into selfisolation.”

The PCB said Imad Wasim and Usman Shinwari, who were also screened in Rawalpindi, tested negative

for the virus.

The PCB added that other players and staff apart from Shoaib Malik, bowling coach Waqar Younis and physio Cliffe Deacon were tested in Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi on Monday, with the test results expected today.

Pakistan’s test and limited overs squads are set to tour England for three tests and three Twenty20 internationals. They were due to fly out later this month to quarantine themselves ahead of the first test on July 30.

Earlier this month, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

West Indies batsmen...

Tuesday June 23, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your heart may feel extra loving today, which is good, since you will probably need it. There is most likely someone close to you who needs a lift of some sort.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Be careful of exerting your will too strongly toward someone who really isn't receptive to it. Be conscious of other people's feelings.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You may feel a bit protective today, Taurus, and with good reason. Others are likely to be aggressive when it comes to moving in on your territory. Be strong.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Overall, this should be a pretty good day for you, Scorpio, as long as you don't get overly sensitive about certain things.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may be a bit confused today, Gemini. More than likely, it will be hard for you to get an accurate read on your emotions.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Secure your emotions and make sure you're set in your mind before you take action today, Cancer. This is a terrific time to get things started.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Break through the potential moodiness of the day, Leo. Burst into song while walking down the street. Encourage others to sing back to you, as if your life were an opera.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may be plagued with restlessness, to the point that you may not be able to get anything done. If you sense that this is happening to you even in the slightest degree, stop whatever you're doing and take a break. Yo u r w o r k i s n ' t worth the sacrifice of your sanity.

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) This is one day in which your heart pounds with excitement. For some reason, Sagittarius, there's a quiet voice inside warning that you may be getting yourself into a great deal of trouble.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Be more aggressive when it comes to your intentions in a romantic situation, Capricorn. It would be a great idea to impress your lover with a delicious home-cooked meal on a night like this.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) It would be a good idea to socialize with others today in a comfortable, open setting. Say what you feel instead of just concentrating on what you think. Be just as good a listener as you expect others to be for you.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Stick with what comes naturally, Pisces. If something feels difficult or abrasive, this is a sign that your energy is better used elsewhere.

From page 21 their own camp in Southampton on Tuesday.

Simmons, a former opening batsman, said the cricketers would show their backing for the Black Lives Matter movement, following the lead of the Premier League.

“We definitely are thinking about things we can do to show our solidarity for the movement,” said the coach, who added the Caribbean side would talk with their England counterparts over what action to take.

Simmons said he had experienced racism in league cricket in England, though not at the county level.

“I have encountered it in the leagues,” he said. “It’s not a nice thing to face, especially in the leagues where you are by yourself sometimes. It affected my wife when I was up there.”

CWI special tribute to World...

From page 23 best sports team in the world, no one could beat us. We were admired everywhere we went. The Caribbean has produced some truly great people in several fields of endeavour and we formed part of that, we were the symbol of sporting success. Our victories were for the many supporters who we represented.

It wasn’t just for us as players; our victories touched many people all across the world.”

Please see links to scoreboards from World Cup Finals h t t p s : / / www.windiescricket.com/ matches/166408/ h t t p s : / / www.windiescricket.com/ matches/144950/ The squad lists for both World Cup 1975- Sir Clive Lloyd (captain), Keith Boyce, Roy Fredericks; Maurice Foster, Lance Gibbs, Sir Gordon Greenidge, Vanburn Holder, Bernard Julien, Alvin Kallicharran, Rohan Kanhai, Collis King, Deryck Murray, Sir Andy Roberts, Sir Viv Richards; Sir Clyde Walcott (manager) 1979: Sir Clive Lloyd (captain), Faoud Bacchus, Colin

Croft, Joel Garner, Larry Gomes, Sir Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Michael Holding, Alvin Kallicharran, Collis King, Malcolm Marshall, Deryck Murray, Sir Viv Richards, Sir Andy Roberts; Sir Clyde Walcott (manager) List of West Indies global cricket titles; June 21, 1975: Cricket World Cup – beat Australia at Lord’s, London June 23, 1979: Cricket World Cup – beat England at Lord’s, London September 25, 2004: ICC Champions Trophy – beat England at the Oval, London October 7, 2012: ICC T20 World Cup – beat Sri Lanka at Premadasa Stadium, Colombo February 14, 2016: ICC Under-19 World Cup – beat India at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, Dhaka April 3, 2016: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup – beat Australia at Eden Gardens, Kolkata April 3, 2016: ICC T20 World Cup – beat England at Eden Gardens, Kolkata The West Indies also won the Cost Cutter U15 World Challenge, beating Pakistan in the final at Lord’s in 2000.

PAGE 22

Tuesday June 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

NASCAR investigation underway after noose The key strengths of Liverpool’s title found in Bubba Wallace’s garage stall at Talladega winners elect LONDON (Reuters) Liverpool could be crowned champions of England for the first time in 30 years tomorrow having turned the Premier League title race into a procession.

They could yet go on and set a host of records too, including most wins, most points and biggest winning margin.

It will go down as a season for the ages, but what makes Juergen Klopp’s side such an unstoppable force?

A CORE OF STEEL All truly great sides are constructed on unshakeable foundations and Liverpool are no exception.

When Manchester City splashed out 35 million pounds on keeper Ederson in 2017 it raised eyebrows but a year later Liverpool paid nearly double that for another Brazilian shot-stopper, Alisson Becker. It was a masterstroke.

Becker kept 21 clean sheets last season as Liverpool and Manchester City went head-to-head in an epic title race, more than any other keeper. He has 11 this time despite being out injured early in the season.

He exudes calm, distributes the ball like a cultured libero and make the difficult look remarkably routine.

In front of him, Dutch centre back Virgil van Dijk has been a colossus since joining from Southampton in 2018.

Rarely can a defensive signing have made such an incredible impact.

Van Dijk’s ability to pick a pass means Liverpool can turn defence into attack in the blink of an eye. And when it comes to defensive basics, he does everything with rare grace.

Then, in front of Van Dijk is Liverpool’s engine block.

Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Fabinho, with James Milner as backup, provide the relentless press that opposing sides find so suffocating.

Without them working in unison, Liverpool’s attacking maestros could not flourish.

WINGING IT When the impish Philippe Coutinho left for Barcelona in 2018, some feared Liverpool’s creative spark would fade.

Instead they have flourished.

Klopp’s early Liverpool sides

often came unstuck against the “low block” when lesser opponents sat in deep and let Liverpool pass themselves into knots.

Then something happened. Youth product Trent Alexander Arnold established himself as firstchoice right back and left back Andy Robertson joined from Hull for a paltry 8 million.

Operating like well-oiled pistons on each flank, they are arguably the best fullback pairing in the world, providing pace, penetration and creativity to open up even the most limpet-like defensive rearguards.

Alexander-Arnold is second behind only Manchester City magician Kevin de Bruyne in the assist charts this season with 12, while Robertson is fifth on the list with seven.

THEATTACKING TRIDENT In Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino Liverpool possess an attacking trio that is almost impossible to contain.

As well as searing pace and lethal finishing prowess, Salah and Mane are a midfielder’s dream, always making intelligent, unpredictable runs.

Salah and Mane bagged 30 league goals between them this season but the unsung hero of the attack is Klopp’s modern day number nine Firmino, running himself into the ground for the cause.

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC HENDERSON Klopp has ingrained a sense of collective responsibility at Liverpool — a characteristic of all great sides. But skipper Jordan Henderson is their talisman.

It took him an age to come out of the more naturallygifted Steven Gerrard’s shadow. Even now soccer analysis website transfermarkt.co.uk puts the 30-year-old down at 13th when comparing market values of Liverpool’s squad.

But his contribution is priceless.

Henderson’s passing range has expanded, his energy is relentless and above all, he will not tolerate a dip in standards from his team mates. Henderson shuns the limelight but no captain will be more worthy of raising the Premier League trophy aloft.

Yahoo Sports - NASCAR said late Sunday night that a noose was found in Bubba Wallace’s garage stall at Talladega and said it had launched an investigation to find out who put it there.

Wallace is the only Black driver who races full-time in NASCAR’s top three series and has been outspoken about racial injustice in the wake of George Floyd’s killing on May 25. Wallace was a strong advocate for NASCAR’s decision to ban the Confederate flag from its properties on June 10 and Sunday’s postponed race is the first race in the state of Alabama since the flag ban.

The noose was found before the race was set to begin at 3 p.m. ET. A statement from NASCAR informed, “Late this afternoon, NASCAR was made aware that a noose was found in the garage stall of the 43 team. We are angry and outraged and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act.

We have launched an immediate investigation and will do everything we can to identify the person(s) responsible and eliminate them from the sport. As we

have stated unequivocally, there is no place for racism in NASCAR and this act only strengthens our resolve to make the sport open and welcoming to all.”

The infield area at Talladega was not open to any of the 5,000 fans able to attend the race delayed to 3 p.m. Monday because of rain.

Anyone with approved access to the garage would be someone with a NASCAR credential at the race for workrelated reasons.NASCAR restricted fan access for the race to the grandstand area and the camping area outside of the backstretch and garage access for those approved to be in the infield areas has been modified because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wallace responded on Twitter after NASCAR’s statement.

“Today’s despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened and serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism,” Wallace wrote on Twitter. “Over the last several weeks I have been overwhelmed by the support from people across the NASCAR industry including

other drivers and team members in the garage.

Together our sport has made a commitment to driving real change and championing a community that is accepting and welcoming of everyone.

Nothing is more important and we will not be deterred by the reprehensible actions of those who seek to spread hate. As my mother told me today, ‘They are just trying to scare you.’ This will not break me, I will not give in nor will I back down. I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in.”

According to NASCAR’s weekend schedule, Cup Series team haulers began entering the infield at Talladega at 5:30 p.m. CT. The garage opened for health screenings for personnel at 7 a.m. on Sunday morning.

Wallace was born in Mobile, Alabama. He wore a shirt that said “I can’t breathe” and “Black Lives Matter” ahead of multiple races after Floyd’s death and drove a car in support of the Black Lives Matter movement at Martinsville.

The BLM car came less than two weeks after NASCAR president Steve Phelps spoke out against racial injustice in a pre-race

speech ahead of the Atlanta race. The sanctioning body hosted a moment of silence ahead of the race and multiple drivers teamed up to film a video standing up for equality.

Wallace has said that he’s encouraged others to speak out after Floyd’s death and has found his voice as a champion of social issues over the past month. He’s also been well aware of the pushback he’s received for being a vocal proponent for NASCAR’s flag ban. Wallace said last week that he’d have to be more careful going into the infield when fans return to races.

NASCAR’s Confederate flag ban came five years after the sport asked fans to refrain from flying the flag.

While the Confederate flag’s prominence had dissipated in recent years, it could still be spotted flying from vehicles at NASCAR tracks, especially those in the south.

Sunday morning, a plane flew over Talladega dragging a Confederate flag and a banner that said “defund NASCAR.” Per the Associated Press, the Sons of Confederate Veterans organization has claimed responsibility for the plane.

Murray says priority is to play at U.S. Open and French Open (Reuters) - Former world number one Andy Murray says he is looking forward to competing at the U.S. Open and French Open later this year but only if it is safe enough amid the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down the sport in March.

The U.S. Open will be staged without fans as scheduled from Aug. 31Sept. 13 in New York while the postponed French Open will be held from Sept. 27-Oct. 11.

Earlier this month, world number one Novak Djokovic said strict health protocols at the U.S. Open would prevent players from bringing more than one person on their support team to the venue but Murray said that was an arrangement he was fine with.

“Playing the Grand Slams would be my priority,” Murray was quoted as saying

by British media yesterday. “I think the schedule is tricky and I understand the reason why it is like that.

“I don’t mind what the situation is, providing it is safe. If I was told I could take

one person with me... you can make that work. I’d probably go with a physio and some coaching could be done remotely.”

The ATP and WTA Tours are set to resume in August but the spotlight is on the sport after Grigor Dimitrov and Borna Coric tested positive following their participation in Djokovic’s Adria Tour exhibition tournament.

M u r r a y, 3 3 , has not competed since playing in the Davis Cup in November due to complications with his hip but is set to return today at a behind-closed-doors tournament in London, the ‘Battle of the B r i t s ’ , organised by his brother Jamie.

“My hip has been feeling better for probably the past three or four weeks. It feels better than it did in March,” he added.

“Right now, I feel a little bit more confident because I’ve had more training under my belt, more practice. In March time, I’d only been practising for four or five weeks since I’d had the issues.”

Britain’s Andy Murray in action during his match against Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor. (REUTERS/Susana Vera)

F1 announces long-term exclusive deal with Sky Germany LONDON (Reuters) Formula One announced a long-term exclusive rights deal with Sky Deutschland yesterday starting next year and including Germany’s first 24/7 channel dedicated to the sport.

The announcement came after free-to-air broadcaster RTL confirmed its deal would end after the COVID-delayed 2020 season which starts in Austria next

month.

The two German broadcasters had previously operated in parallel.

Sky Deutschland will broadcast four selected races per season free-to-air and also present a half-hour highlights show after each race for free on Sky Sport News HD. Formula One did not reveal terms of the deal.

Tuesday June 23, 2020

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Ashmead Nedd moving up the cricketing ladder - Should join dad as father/son pair to play FC Cricket

By Sean Devers There are many Guyanese brothers who played firstClass cricket but since 1966 when Guyana gained Independence, Shiv Chanderpaul and his son are the only father/son pair to play First-Class cricket.

The feat was even more remarkable since they both played in the same match joining the Trinidadian Father/Son pair of Sir Leary Constantine and his as dad as the only other father/son pair to play together in the same game in West Indies Cricket.

At 19, Ashmead Nedd, was selected for the Leewards Hurricanes in the 2020-2021 West Indies Professional Players Draft for the Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 and fourday PCL tournament for the upcoming season.

He will hope to join his dad, former First-Class offspinner Garvin Nedd who took 29 wickets from 14 games between 1995 and 2000 as the only other Guyanese father and son pair to play at the First-Class level.

Born on January 10, 2001 in Georgetown to Garvin and Roxanne Nedd, Ashmead grew up in Albertown and attended the St Gabriel’s Primary and later Tutorial High and Chase Academy.

Ashmead literally grew up at DCC in Queenstown, a club which Lance Gibbs, Clive Lloyd and Roy Fredericks, three of the greatest West Indies Test players called ‘home’.

He loves playing football and represented Tutorial High in the Digicel School’s Football competition.

Ashmead Nedd at Everest.

Ashmead was also outstanding with both bat and ball in the National Secondary School’s Cricket League as he helped Chase Academy to North Georgetown Zone title.

Ashmead played his debut first division match for DCC against Police when he was only 13 and since then his cricket has progressed at a rapid rate.

When he was 14, Ashmead had his first taste of international conditions when the Tony Hartford U-17 Academy team of Trinidad & Tobago toured New Zealand.

Ashmead represented Guyana at U-15, 17 and 19 levels and played in two U-19 World Cups (2018 & 2020) before making his Regional 50-over debut in last year’s Super50 for the eventual Champions West Indies Emerging Players.

In six List ‘A’ games

Ashmead will to join his Dad Garvin Nedd to play First-Class cricket.

Ashmead has taken 11 wickets with a best bowling of 4-29 in the semi-finals of the Super50 at an Average of 10.27 and an economy rate of 3.27 which was the second lowest in the entire tournament behind his teammate Kevin Sinclair.

Ashmead participated in the Tri-Nation U-19 tournament involving host West Indies, Sri Lanka and England just after the Super50.

The youngster said he found out of his selection when he saw it on the CWI twitter account that he had been selected for the Leeward Island Hurricane.

Ashmead says he gained mostly experience from playing in last year’s Colonial Medical Super50 Cup tournament in Trinidad.

“I have learnt a lot from the Super50, playing against senior players like Daren Bravo, Jason Mohammed …. looking at them, they are batsman who can attack and defend at the times…it was looking and observing and learning as quickly as possible.

And going into the World Cup even though it was different conditions, I went with the same mentality, same belief that …yeah I will do this.

At first the conditions were challenging but after adapting to conditions it became easier,” said the former Guyana and West Indies U-19 left-arm spinner.

“Going into the Leewards Islands Hurricanes set-up, I will work on bowling at a slower pace now that I have gotten the opportunity to play four-day cricket because I haven’t played any red ball cricket for the past year or so.

I have played mostly one-day cricket so I have to change

over to something different.

I prefer to play any format once the opportunity comes for me to play. To be honest I like one-day more but I am getting the chance to play four-day and that is great for me,” the for Demerara U-19 Captain disclosed.

He says he sets goals but don’t really like saying what they are, explaining that he goes out and play ‘free minded’ and tries to enjoy the game and do his best for the team.

“I was not too surprised to be selected knowing that I had a good Super50 and U-19 World Cup. Looking at my stats I knew that one of the Islands or teams would pick me up in the draft,” a confident Ashmead stated.

“Personally I think the Franchise and club cricket in Guyana isn’t that much competitive, it’s very far away from places like Trinidad where their club system is much better. It’s more challenging there since they have so many players going to play there. Here in Guyana we don’t find that much competition in club cricket, especially in Georgetown,” said the hard working teenager.

He spoke about what he feels it will take for him to settle into a new environment living in the Leewards Islands.

“Well, heading into a professional set-up there are things you have to learn to

Ashmead Nedd bowls in the GCB Franchise League. deal with quickly. I think I will be ready and up for it. It’s about being mature and knowing how to handle yourself at a young age…. moving to another Country, a new environment, new people, it’s a lot of things you will have to learn.

I think the biggest challenge for me is playing First-Class cricket. That’s a standard just under Test Cricket so it prepares you mentally, physically and technically.

Playing First-Class cricket can be tough but the biggest challenge for at first will be the mental part,” said Nedd, whose favourite cricketer is Shakib Al Hassan.

“I’d consider myself a bowling all-rounder. In the

modern cricket you have to be capable of bringing something else to your game.

Yes, I do bat in the nets, batting is something I work on every day,” said Nedd who is one step closer to playing four-day cricket in the PCL. Garvin Nedd, one of best off-spinners after the Butts and Harper era, is very proud of his son’s achievement.

“As a parent and a Coach I am very proud of Ashmead success. I never told him to play cricket he just picked up a bat when he was very young and got hooked on the game and once I noticed his interest in wanting to play it seriously, I stepped in as both a father and a Coach,” said the 47year-old who is also a National Youth Coach.

West Indies batsmen must start strongly, says Simmons LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — West Indies coach Phil Simmons said his batsmen must hit the ground running in England to give their impressive pace attack totals to defend.

The tourists are stepping up their preparations for next month’s three-Test series with an informal three-day game between squad members that starts today.

That will be followed by an 11 v 11 match, more closely mirroring the conditions of a first-class game, in the run-up to the first Test, which starts in Southampton on July 8.

The West Indies attack features Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel and captain Jason Holder, with Alzarri Joseph — tipped by Simmons to be a “big hit” — also in the squad.

But their batsmen have struggled to build big totals in recent years.

The West Indies beat England 2-1 in the Caribbean last year but have not won a Test series in England since 1988.

Simmons said the batsmen were showing good form in practice and the training matches would help the West Indies decide how they would structure the team.

“We’ve had occasions when we’ve toured and only after the first game we start really playing cricket so it’s something we’re trying to get out of our system and make sure we’re ready to go when we get to Southampton,” he said.

“Most of the senior batsmen are seasoned players,” he added.

“Mentally, I think they’re tough. I just think we need to

continue working on our skills.”

- Stokes v Holder The series will feature a mouthwatering clash between the two top-ranked all-rounders in Test cricket — West Indies skipper Holder and England vicecaptain Ben Stokes.

“The rivalry is always there because I think Ben is the type of person who wants to be number one and Jason is up there,” said Simmons.

“They’re competitive in all aspects so I think that rivalry is going to be huge for this series.”

The West Indies coach said his players had taken about a week to settle in to their bio-secure camp at Old Trafford, which will host the second and third Tests.

England are set to enter (Continued on page 19)

PAGE 24

Tuesday June 23, 2020

Kaieteur News

Coric tests positive for COVID-19, poses questions for sport’s return

Croatia’s Borna Coric in action during his match against Serbia’s Pedja Krstin. (REUTERS/Antonio Bronic) (Reuters) - Croatia’s Borna Coric became the second player from Novak Djokovic’s Adria Tour exhibition tournament to test positive for COVID-19, raising serious concerns for tennis governing bodies in their bid to restart the sport after a lengthy shutdown.

The professional circuit was halted in early March as nations closed borders and

imposed lockdowns to contain the spread of the virus.

Last week the men’s ATP and the WTA, which runs women’s events, issued revised calendars for the resumption of the circuit from August while organisers of the U.S. Open said the Grand Slam will be staged without fans as scheduled from Aug. 31 to Sept. 13 in New York.

Those plans, however, could need to be redrawn with Coric’s positive test following that of Grigor Dimitrov, who said on Sunday he had contracted the novel coronavirus, highlighting the risks of athletes from different countries mixing without adhering to social distancing norms.

The ATP and the WTA did not respond to request for

Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, Dusan Lajovic, Austria’s Dominic Thiem, Germany’s Alexander Zverev pose for a photo with the ballkids during Adria Tour at Novak Tennis Centre in Belgrade, Serbia, June 12, 2020. (REUTERS/Marko Djurica) comments. Organisers of the Adria Tour could not be reached for comment.

Bulgarian Dimitrov flew in to play in Djokovic’s event in Belgrade and the second leg in the Croatian coastal resort of Zadar as did other top names like Dominic Thiem of Austria and Germany’s Alexander Zverev.

England players to honour key workers with names on training shirts (Reuters) - England players will wear training shirts bearing the names of key workers before the start of the first test against the West Indies next month to honour their service during the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s cricket board said yesterday.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said people whose names will feature on the shirts have been nominated by their local cricket clubs and include teachers, doctors, nurses, social workers and carers.

The first test is scheduled to begin in Southampton on July 8, with the last two matches at Old Trafford, as international cricket returns following its suspension in March.

“As we get back to playing the game we love, we want to take the time to honour the brave key workers who went into bat for their country under the toughest circumstances,” England skipper Joe Root said in a statement.

“It’s only fitting that we use this series as an opportunity to ‘raise a bat’ in their honour. We’ll wear their names with pride.”

England’s James Anderson celebrates taking the wicket of West Indies’ Kemar Roach. (Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers) The ECB said the series would be called the #raisethebat test series in honour of key workers.

“It has been a long and challenging journey to cricket’s return and while this pales in comparison to what the country has faced, we hope the #raisethebat test series will bring some enjoyment... to people’s lives,” ECB CEO Tom Harrison said.

The novel coronavirus has infected more than 304,300 people in the United Kingdom, causing more than 42,600 deaths.

Commenting on the #raisethebat Test Series, Tom Harrison, ECB Chief

Executive Officer said: “As we stage the first international sporting competition in the UK since COVID-19 began, we want to pay tribute to the people who have bravely played their part during this crisis.

Through the #raisethebat Test Series, we will show our gratitude to key workers.

“It has been a long and challenging journey to cricket’s return and while this pales in comparison to what the country has faced, we hope the #raisethebat Test Series will bring some enjoyment and light relief to people’s lives.”

Emily Blakemore, a nurse whose name will

feature on an England player’s shirt, said: ”It’s going to be an absolute honour to see one of the England Men’s players come out while wearing my name on the back of their shirt. It has been such a difficult time for so many people, and there’s still a lot of hard work ahead, but it’s exciting that we’ll be able to see some cricket again. The cricket family has really pulled together at a tough time and I can’t wait until we can get playing at my club again.

Until then, hopefully Joe Root and the team can give us something to cheer about.

Summer isn’t summer without cricket.”

Organisers of other sports looking to resume from the coronavirus shutdown will be watching developments with some trepidation as they try to find the safest way of getting competition back under way.

Coric, ranked No.33 in the world, revealed on Twitter that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

“I want to make sure anyone who has been in contact with me during the last few days get tested,” the 23-year-old said. “I am really sorry for any harm I might have caused. I’m feeling well and don’t have any symptoms.”

NO SOCIAL DISTANCING The tournament witnessed packed stands during the opening leg in Belgrade, players hugging at the net, playing basketball, posing for pictures and attending press conferences together.

Djokovic organised nights out in Belgrade for the players and himself and pictures and videos of him dancing with the other participants at his event were posted on social media.

With both Serbia and Croatia easing lockdown measures weeks before the event, players were not obliged to observe social distancing rules in either country.

“It is recommended that anyone who has been in close contact for more than 10 minutes with the tennis player be advised to selfisolate for 14 days and to contact their doctor,” the event organisers said in a statement on Monday.

With international tennis suspended, Djokovic

organised the Adria Tour as a charity event to be contested over four legs across the former Yugoslavia.

Djokovic’s fitness coach Marco Panichi also tested positive, Serbian daily Sportski Zurnal reported, quoting Croatia’s health institute.

The men’s world number one took the test yesterday after returning to Belgrade in the morning, Serbian media reported.

Zverev, Croatia’s Marin Cilic and Russian Andrey Rublev - who all played at the Adria Tour - said they tested negative for the virus but will follow self-isolation guidelines.

“Boneheaded decision to go ahead with the ‘exhibition’ speedy recovery fellas, but that’s what happens when you disregard all protocols.

This IS NOT A JOKE,” Australian player Nick Kyrgios said in a scathing social media post.

American tennis great Chris Evert also criticised the organisers for the lack of social-distancing, saying “... total physical contact, no face masks, even the fans were without masks.. I don’t get it.”

Thiem, the men’s number three, is currently playing in France in the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS), which is co-owned by Serena Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

Organisers of the UTS, which also features men’s top-10 players like Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas and Italian Matteo Berrettini, posted pictures on Friday of Thiem undergoing test after arriving at the Mouratoglou academy in Nice.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday June 23, 2020

PAGE 25

Jason Holder and Ben Stokes CWI special tribute to World rivalry ‘huge’ for series Cup heroes of 1975 and 1979

Ben Stokes, right, is second to Jason Holder in the ICC’s all-rounder rankings.(Getty Images) BBC Sport - West Indies coach Phil Simmons says the rivalry between Jason Holder and Ben Stokes will be “huge” during the upcoming Test series against England.

Windies captain Holder is ranked as the number one all-rounder in Test cricket, while Stokes was named as the leading cricketer in the world by Wisden.

“Ben is the type of person who wants to be number one. He’ll be doing his best to get Jason’s position,” said Simmons.

“I know Jason wants to be number one and wants to keep that.”

Holder, 28, was the leading runscorer on either side when West Indies defeated England 2-1 in the Caribbean in early 2019.

That was the beginning of the defining year of Stokes’ career, in which he was named man of the match in the World Cup final and followed that with a magnificent 135 not out that gave England a one-wicket victory in the third Ashes Test at Headingley.

Holder Stokes

Tests 40 63

Runs 1898 4056

“The rivalry will be there throughout the series,” added Simmons, who played 26 Tests for West Indies. “Whenever the two guys are playing, they want to be competitive in all aspects.”

The first match in the three-Test series, which will be played behind closed doors in a bio-secure environment, begins on 8 July in Southampton.

Before that, West Indies start the first of two warm-up matches between players in their squad today at Old Trafford, while England’s 30-man training group will gather in Southampton.

All England players and management staff will be tested for coronavirus on arrival, then will isolate individually for the first 24 hours as they await the test results.

They will begin training on Thursday, building up to an internal three-day warm-up match on 1 July, after which a squad for the first Test will be named.

How they compare Average High score Wickets Average Best bowling 32.72 202* 106 26.37 6-59 36.54 258 147 32.68 6-22

NexGen Golf Academy set to open shortly The local golf industry will be given a major boost when the NexGen Golf Academy opens its doors to the public.

The sport of golf has grown tremendously over the past few years here and this venture is expected to bring much excitement to starters and established golfers.

The Academy, which is being housed at the Scouts Association of Guyana on Wo o l f o r d Av e n u e , i s expected to be opened to the general public later this week.

President of the Academy Aleem Hussain indicated that some golfers are already using the facility and approval has already been granted for the sport to be taught in schools as part of Physical Education curriculum. Rudy Ramalingum is the academy’s director.

The NexGen golf Academy is expected to generate much excitement in the sport locally.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies today saluted the heroes of the famous Cricket World Cup triumphs of 1975 and 1979.

Sunday, June 21 marked 45 years since the West Indies won the inaugural World Cup at Lords. In that famous match they defeated Australia by 17 runs and Sir Clive Lloyd had the honour of being the first man to lift the coveted trophy. On June 23, 1979, Lloyd again hoisted the treasured prize as West Indies beat England by 92 runs at the historic venue.

Speaking on behalf of CWI, President Ricky Skerritt said: “This particular World Cup victory

by Sir Clive Lloyd and his legendary teammates brought a great deal of pride and esteem to thousands of West Indians everywhere.

That is why such proud memories of our past glory on the cricket field will never die. I join in celebration of this special anniversary with all those who truly love West Indies cricket.”

In the 1975 final Lloyd made a glorious century to earn the Man-of-the-Match award. He shared a century stand with Rohan Kanhai, who made an invaluable 55.

The West Indies were outstanding with the ball and in the outfield. Keith Boyce took four wickets and there

Sir Clive Lloyd with the World Cup trophy in 1975. were five run outs –three by Sir Vivian Richards – as they played unbeaten throughout the tournament and lifted the inaugural Cricket World Cup. Four years later Sir Viv put on a batting master class with a majestic 138 not out – one of the finest innings in ODI history. He was joined

by Collis King, who scored 86 off just 66 balls in memorable display of batting. Joel Garner then took five wickets to bring more glory to the allconquering West Indies and to win at Lord’s, the home of cricket, was another

remarkable achievement.

Sir Clive said: “Today is a memorable day for me and the members of the team which won that first World Cup back in 1975. It was one of the greatest days of my life. To see the way we performed – we played unbeaten throughout the entire tournament – and win at Lords was something remarkable. Our victories in those two World Cup finals were celebration of West Indies cricket and the many people who turned up to see us lift the cup.

He added: “We were the (Continued on page 19)

Ashmead Nedd with Chris Gayle in 2016.

t r o Sp West Indies batsmen must start strongly, says Simmons Phil Simmons and Jason Holder have a chat. (AFP)

Ashmead Nedd moving up the cricketing ladder

NASCAR investigation underway after noose Should join dad as father/son pair to play FC Cricket found in Bubba Wallace’s The key strengths of Liverpool’s garage stall at Talladega title winners elect Bubba Wallace waits for the start of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, June 14, 2020, in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin heads at goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (Jon Super/Pool via REUTERS)

CWI special tribute to World Cup heroes of 1975 and 1979

Coric tests Jason Holder positive for and Ben Stokes COVID-19, poses rivalry ‘huge’ questions for for series sport’s return

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.