K
AIETEUR
Submission of third report on elections results... Saturday Edition
Lowenfield says “I acted in conformity with the law” but cites no provisions
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June 27, 2020 - Vol. 14 No. 25
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US Senate Foreign Relations - Says recount
Committee calls on
Granger to concede
p. 3
results should be declared and transition begun
[From left] US Senators Jim Risch, Bob Menendez, Ben Cardin and Marco Rubio
Quarterly report reveals... Coalition p. Prime lands p. p. 2 backs Interest on 8 $74M added to 13 development Lowenfield’s Natural Resource $278M bid was for behind Houston; alternate p. Fund suffers blow residents 13 numbers additional works - Says he answers to kept in dark due to COVID-19 no one but Constitution - Public Infrastructure
BK’s $352M sea defence project…
Energy Dept. selects several tainted oil traders to market Guyana’s oil p. 8
Saturday June 27, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Coalition backs Lowenfield's - Says he answers to no alternate numbers one but Constitution T
h e D a v i d Granger-led A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition has thrown their support behind the alternative figures produced by Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield which grants them a win for the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections while also scrapping more than 115,000 votes. The Coalition pointed to Article 177(2) which speaks to the role of the CEO advising the GECOM C h a i r, R e t ' d J u s t i c e Claudette Singh before a declaration for the elections result is made along with the ruling of the Appellate Court in the Eslyn David case that the words “more votes cast” in that very Article should mean “more valid votes.” “In keeping with the guidance set out by the
Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield
President David Granger
Court of Appeal in Eslyn David v. Chief Election Officer, et al., and as he is required to do by the Representation of the People Act [at section 96], the CEO prepared and submitted his Election Report on 23rd June 2020,” the Coalition said in their statement.
Lowenfield's report however, did not use the figures from the recount as he was instructed by the GECOM Chair – he used alternate figures. The recount numbers would show that the Opposition People's Progressive Party (PPP) won the March 2, 2020
General and Regional Elections with 233,336 votes. The Coalition, according to recount figures amassed 217,920 votes. Wi t h L o w e n f i e l d ' s alternate figures, the win went to the Coalition with 171,825 votes while the Opposition received 166,343; those are “of the valid and credible votes cast at the General and Regional Elections,” the Coalition said in their statement. In that report, Lowenfield scrapped a total of 115,844 votes, tabulated during the recount and reducing the total valid votes cast in the General Election from 460,352 to 344,508 – disenfranchising thousands of voters who exercised their democratic right on March 2. The recount figures would have given the PPP/C 33 parliamentary seats to form a government, with 31 going to the APNU+AFC Coalition and the remainder
handed to the Tri-party Joinder, to complete the 65seat National Assembly. With Lowenfield's new figures, 33 seats in the National Assembly were handed to the APNU+AFC Coalition while 31 seats went to the PPP and the remainder to the Joinder. The CEO and his report, after being made public, came under heavy scrutiny from a string of stakeholders, with many questioning where he got his figures. The Coalition came to his defense citing that he discharged his functions as CEO within “the ambit of the law.” Further, the party stated that, “The CEO, clearly, is empowered and instructed by the Constitution and Laws of Guyana, not by any other entity or person.” According to the party, “The Report of the Chief Election Officer on the Recount Exercise is a substantial report which
assessed all the 2,339 ballot boxes.” The Coalition noted the i n s t a n c e s o f “irregularities”, they claimed were uncovered during the recount, to say that the results disclosed “did not meet the standards for credible elections.” They also referenced the CARICOM Report in which instances of “anomalies” were pointed to. Kaieteur News should point out that the “instances of irregularities” including allegations of migrant were unsubstantiated claims made by the Coalition during the recount process with no evidence provided to support them.
Kaieteur News
Saturday June 27, 2020
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US Senate Foreign Relations Committee - Says recount results calls on Granger to concede should be declared T
he US Senate Foreign Relations Committee is calling on President David Granger to concede, since his party, the APNU+AFC coalition has lost the elections. The senators say that the results of the recount reflect the will of the people and should be used to make a declaration, before a democratic transition of power. The statement comes from U.S. Senators Jim Risch (Republican) and Bob Menendez (Democrat), Chairman and Ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, respectively; and Marco Rubio (Republican) and Ben Cardin (Democrat), Chairman and Ranking member respectively of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues. “We share in the frustration expressed by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organization of American States (OAS), and other international stakeholders,” they said. The CARICOM Chair and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley spoke in support of the report which was produced by the CARICOM Scrutineer
US Senators Ben Cardin and Marco Rubio
US Senators Jim Risch and Bob Menendez Team, who pronounced that the elections were credible and that the recount results are “completely acceptable”. The report drew commendation from several international organizations which had observed Guyana's elections,
including The Carter Center and the OAS, but condemnation from elements within the APNU+AFC coalition. GECOM Chair, ret'd Justice Claudette Singh had attempted to move toward a lawful declaration of the
Farmer remanded on gun, ammo charges
A
Berbice man was on Thursday remanded to prison for allegedly having in his possession an illegal firearm and ammunition. The defendant, Cloyd Davis, 59, a farmer of Limlair Village, Corentyne, Region Six, made a virtual appearance before Magistrate Renita Singh at the Whim Magistrate's Court when the charges were read to him. According to the facts of the charges, on June 23, 2020, police were on patrol in Limlair Village when they noticed the defendant carrying a haversack and acting in a suspicious manner. The defendant was intercepted and a search was
Remanded: Cloyd Davis carried out on his person and the haversack. The police discovered the gun and ammunitions resulting in the charge that he
had in his possession one .22 revolver and 39 live rounds of .22 ammunition, when he is not a licensed firearm holder. Davis was also charged for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking in relation to 5 grammes of cannabis found in his possession at the time of his arrest. He pleaded guilty to that charge. After listening to the facts of the charge, Magistrate Singh remanded the defendant to prison for the gun and ammunition charges, and fined him $10,000 for the narcotics charge. Davis is expected to make his next court appearance on July 27, 2020.
results, but was inhibited by resistance from the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield and coalitionendorsed Court action. “Recent reports suggest,” the senators stated, “questionable maneuvers by interested parties designed to continue forestalling a final declaration of results, which members of the press say indicates a defeat for the incumbent government.” The senators had written to the President in May to commend him for his willingness to abide by the recount results. The results of the recount show that the PPP/C has won the elections, with 233,336 valid votes, ahead of the coalition's 217,920 valid votes. “We extend our support and solidarity to the people of Guyana,” the Committee said, “who have borne more than their fair share of patience during this process. For their sake, the future of democracy and the rule of law in our hemisphere, the ongoing uncertainty and gamesmanship must end.” D e m o c r a t i c Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, a member of the lower rung of America's bicameral legislature, had made comments divergent from this. Two weeks ago, Clarke had expressed concern about foreign interference in Guyana's electoral process.
and transition begun The Brooklyn Congresswoman is quoted as saying, “We know what's at stake in Guyana right now. It's not just the sovereignty, it's the wealth. We have some corrupted, I called them pirates governing the United States right now. And I'm very concerned about undue influence of corporations and entities outside of Guyana determining the fate of the Guyanese people. That cannot happen. I would encourage everyone, Guyanese Americans, to let your voices be known.” Clarke's colleague, fellow New York Democrat Congressman Hakeem Jeffries had made similar comments back in May, when he condemned foreign interference in Guyana's elections. Jeffries had drawn a connection between the Ukraine scandal, in which US President Donald Trump has sought to gain information on Democratic rival, Joe Biden, and his position on the Trump administration's current policy on Guyana's elections. “The Ukrainians,” Jeffries stressed, “shouldn't be involved in an American election, the Chinese shouldn't be involved in an American election, the Russians shouldn't be
involved in an American election – that's a settled principle. At the same time, if we are alarmed at foreign interference in our electoral process, why in the world is the United States government engaging in foreign interference in the affairs of an independent nation in Guyana? It's outrageous.” While both Jeffries and Clarke have condemned what they consider foreign interference in Guyana's affairs today, their view on the matter seem to have changed since 2015, when they urged the US government to investigate then President Donald Ramotar after he had dissolved Parliament to avoid a No Confidence Motion. Most notably, yesterday's statement said clearly: “President Granger should honor the will of the Guyanese people and concede.” This coming from a bipartisan group of members from the Foreign Relations Committee is the strongest single intervention yet from the US legislature, and one that both Democrats and Republican agreements have found rare consensus in agreeing with White House policy on.
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Saturday June 27, 2020
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL - 624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Reopening - cautiously, gradually, wisely We think that, other than the hotspots of Regions 1 and 7, implementation of a phased reopen should be readied now. It is not premature to think of reopening slowly, gradually, cautiously. A reasonable expectation is reopening early in July in slightly affected regions. It is a guarded expectation, which hinges upon how circumstances favour such contemplations. At the crux is how to weigh and balance, correctly, wise safety measures, with a view to kick starting the national economy back into some form of life. Undoubtedly, the health and safety of the whole population are of utmost significance. Neither is to be given short thrift, nor subject to any ideas of reopening for the sake of reopening, or of appearing to be on top of events though manifesting daring leadership initiative, while gambling with fate. For that would be the height of unwise and irresponsible leadership decision-making. It would be the most unacceptable of rationales. Presently, aside from Regions 1 and 7, there is a slow trickle of new cases. Also comforting are the days when there are no new cases. We note that the death rate remains in an almost flat pattern. May both confirmed cases and death rate stay just where they are: near zero! Also, given local disdain for the prudent precautions of social distancing and curfews, any expectation of achieving the standard of 21 days without any new cases appears remote. Accordingly, there are some grounds for decisive action from those steering the ship of state. It is our position that if other variables, those not talked about much in this country, are all heading in the right direction, then it is time for limited reopening for a start. Among those other variables would be: lower ICU hospitalizations, lower coronavirus related hospital admissions, lower intubations, and a generally declining volume of calls to the hotlines about fears of sickness from the COVID-19 virus. We recommend that should the lower numbers be in tandem across these carefully watched measurements, then reopening should be rolled out and executed efficiently. But before there is moving to there, there also ought to be prudent considerations by Guyana’s health authorities of the intangibles. More specifically, that there is official confidence in the fallback options should any early July reopening prove to be a long step attempted too quickly. Those fallback options include: the availability of supporting systems and equipment to enable rapid reversing of course and quick applying of the brakes on proceeding any further. At this time, those domestic authorities studying the coronavirus presence, its potential worst-case scenario reach, the quantity, and reliability of available supplies should be confident as to what could be delivered. When what is in hand harmonizes with the decreasing presence of the virus, there would be justified premises on which to move toward a partial retreat from the restrictions in place. We say this, even with concerns over alarming developments in Moruca, and Aranka. It is a tightrope walked, with lives involved. To repeat: reopening considerations must be implemented cautiously, gradually, and wisely. It would be better to err on the side of caution than to be accused of poor judgments or hurrying. This country has experienced much of this in many sectors of life. Today, it can ill-afford any of this in this delicate and challenging time. For this is a pandemic that confines not one person or one area or one pursuit. Rather, it has left the disastrous in many places across the globe, including Guyana, with damaging winds that punish not only the health sector, but brings everything else to a crippling halt. Workers are not earning (GuySuCo menaced), businesses are not turning over (restricted), and the State is not collecting (extensions approved). Entire societies suffocate under many burdens from dealing with pandemic seizures. Guyana is no exception and is hurting still more when compared to other places. This is due to our sticky and unceasing electoral troubles that hang over the nation’s head and hobble us. Guyanese need to get back on track, to resume some state of normal existence, and early. We hope that the coronavirus will retreat, and that this will advance the timeline to restart living normal again.
Of statues and icons and other transparent pretenses DEAR EDITOR, The caption was remarkable, “BET founder Robert Johnson slams protesters for toppling Confederate statues” (NY Post June 26). He described them as “borderline anarchists” and took the courageous position that such public actions mean “absolutely nothing” for Black Americans. Truer words could not have been said, and I wished that more voices of similar stature, both Black and all other pigments, could have been a part of the chorus disagreeing honestly and bluntly. For what is raging in America and Europe from Mt. Rushmore and its iconic figures to London and its slave traders is too much of the pretensive, shaded with too much righteous indignation, characterized by the mindlessness of mobs, and lacking in any persuasive power. At least, that is how these outpouring appear to me: these substantial overdoses of visible hypocrisy. I say so for several reasons, which cover in short order. There is some justification for bringing down some statues, given the soaring definitions of current truths and awakenings. Some took
Black concubines (most likely unwilling ones) and were slave owners and part of that great American Bible: the US Constitution; it is one I hold high. By such standards prevailing, most of the Founding Fathers, and every street and road and whatever else would have to be renamed, maybe even remade. For what could be more heinous than classifying slaves as a fraction of a whole human being? Then there is the Julian calendar; or anything named after the Spanish conquistadores, who virtually exterminated the Native Indian population of the Americas. Or what about the Roman Catholic Church (of which I am member) and its partnership with Castilian monarchs, which provided the opening for men like Bartolomeo and others to bring Jesus to the heathen. Coming closer to home, do I dare to identify and knock down Houston, the Texas oil capital and its machinations that impact us Guyanese so much here, since it is named after someone the Mexicans loathe more than revere? If I come here and dare some more and say do the same thing with anything named after men like LFS Burnham and CB Jagan, then does make me a condoner and upholder? I say leave them alone, whether here or Martin
Luther King and his peccadilloes or Mohandas Gandhi and his expressed utterances on race and caste. In our haste towards joining the mob in exercises of political correctness, and holiness suddenly discovered, we lose sight of the bigger picture, wherever we may be. For all of these men named by me, and more of them, did much good, despite their human weaknesses. As the pretenders and hypocrites rail and wreck this and that, the bigger setbacks sail on serenely. Setbacks that wound and neutralize Title VII of the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act, from which so much flowed and followed: opportunity, education, immigration, and employment. How many of those protesting and breaking public symbols would like to have as neighbours in their pristine suburban communities, the same people of colour, who get sucked into the madness? Have as neighbours in their high corporate offices? To both of these I can attest to a limited extent. But while the bigger existential challenges take shape, the easy and convenient physical is mobbed and smashed. Just the other day, Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, succeeded in
reshaping the US Federal Courts along more conservative lines; it is whiter, younger, righter. By the latter, I mean right wing, and all that that promises. All that is needed now is a ‘law and order’ president and the goose of minorities would effectively be burnt to an unrecognizable blob. Prime candidates are continuing rollbacks and dilutions of equal opportunity, immigration protections, and crime control. Others can highlight abortion, but in that I have passing interest only. I am concerned about the things I pinpointed because I have six siblings who live in the US along with their now adult children; I have friends left behind; and I have colleagues that I remember, and how they have been pushed around and their dreams smashed. Of course, as I write, I recognize that it is of distant leaves falling in the deep forest, when all in this nation know of nothing else, listen for only newer determinations about declaration, jurisdiction, and what valid and credible means, or should mean. We focus energies and hurl ourselves at public conveniences. In the meantime, our house rots from the inside and from the soul outward. Sincerely, GHK Lall
Guyana, Politics and God’s Forgiveness DEAR EDITOR, I think by now everyone knows that I stand neutral on politics but I follow the news every day to know what is happening in my country. Every day I get what is called “breaking new” but each one of the breaking news has a short life with some becoming a jigsaw puzzle, which no one seems to have the ability to put together. I conclude that only God knows the future of Guyana because He sees the intent of every human heart. This is what the wise King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes Chapter 7 and verse 29. “This is what I have found. God has made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes.” A Trinidad and a Guyanese met at the sea wall and started a conversation. The Trinidadian said that the worst problems in the twin island are the Government and the opposition to which the Guyanese replied, “you are better off than us because we do not know to count and read to determine the winning party. We go to the court but then someone files an injunction to stop legal
process.” Really said the Trini, “How will you know the winning party?” To this, the Guyanese replied ”only God knows”. A politician asked his mother what the bible says about lying to which the mother replied, “The bible says that lying is your present help in times of trouble.” My last letter focused on lying but I would like to revisit this subject again to answer the question from God’s word. Proverbs 12: 22: “The Lord detests or hates lying lips but He delights in men who are truthful.” Someone wrote in the Kaieteur News that Guyana has a Christian Government because the members faithfully attend church every Sunday. That is great news and I want to congratulate those concerned. But is that how we describe a Christian? If a cat gets kitten in an oven does that make them bread or biscuit? The bible informs all of us that being a Christian is establishing a relationship with Jesus where His word is a mirror through which we see ourselves and make no mistake, God does not
negotiate His standards to accommodate anyone. Instead, He has stern warnings for the consequences of violators. Guyana’s politics reminds me of an old song, ‘O yes, I am the great pretender’ sung by The Platters and introduced to the world on November 3, 1955 with over 10,622,000+ views. ‘The Great Pretender’ talks about a man who is heartbroken but tries to deny it and pretends to be okay. The song says, “My need is such I pretend too much. I’m lonely but no one
can tell. I’ve played the game to my real shame.” Take this from me, pretense is difficult, dangerous and destructive and is equal to an addiction that leaves you in bondage for life. I know losing an election is painful and leaves you heartbroken but we are all aware that trying to deny the truth with pretense is choosing the most destructive path in life but there is hope and forgiveness in God who loves us enough to allow Jesus, a sinless Saviour to die for sinful man. Harold Beharry
Guyana has no place for desperate dictators DEAR EDITOR, I applaud Kaieteur News for disseminating the important elections developments in a manner that is unambiguous. There must be no beating around the bush when it comes to exposing the shameless attempts by the caretaker administration of Mr. David Granger to hold on to power by any means
necessary. There have been so many different variations put forward by this embarrassing group as to why they won, or - if that doesn’t work didn’t lose the March 2 General Elections. They have been rightfully unmasked and found to be power drunkards. Guyana in 2020 has no place for desperate dictators. Alicia B
Saturday June 27, 2020
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Kaieteur News
Relations: Industrial, Human, Public, Customer DEAR EDITOR, The earliest of the above must be ‘Industrial Relations’ which initially consisted, more than less, of confrontational interactions between employees (represented by Unions) and employers. Not only did the latter grow to recognise the rights of unions to bargain, to the extent of recruiting specialist Industrial Relations Officers but importantly, relevant laws were enacted to institute stages of conciliation and arbitration – leading to the settlement of disputes. Then assertive employers around the world, who learnt to be more selective of whom they recruited, instituted the specialist Personnel Function – which, amongst other things, ensured prior agreement, first with nonunionised employees on terms of salary and other conditions of service; and interestingly, commitment to a Disciplinary Code, from which unionised employees were not necessarily exempted. As recognition grew to greater equality between the parties, and employees were increasingly accepted, as ‘people’ being “more important than ships, shops and sugar estates” (to quote Lord Campbell then Chairman of the Booker Group worldwide). ‘Personnel’ was elevated to ‘Human’ Relations – consistent with the universal affirmation of the employee being treated as the human being he or she always was. Oddly enough however, the Guyana experience remains a steadfast contradiction of the
philosophy and practice of Human Resources Management. Apart from Private Sector Employers and their more proactive Public Sector counterpa r t s , t h e Government, now the largest single employer in t h e c o u n t r y, i n s i s t s o n indulging in the anachronistic practice of Personnel ‘Administration’ (hardly ‘Management’) – regardless of the levels and nature of employment, except in a miniscule adventure of just two appointees in Human Resources Management, amongst some fifteen thousand public servants – more so totally indifferent to specific recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service, which it appointed in 2016. But this is not to say that some of its component agencies are insensitive of its relationships with the ‘public’. Just note the plethora of ‘Public Relations’ Officers who claim to be authentic outlets for composed scripts, but less convincing of how truly informed they are of the historicity of the agency itself. Personally, they can hardly contest the better informed observers. One indicator of individual depth of commitment is the relatively high turnover of the signatories published. Meanwhile, in another breadth, private sector organisations in particular speak to Customer Relations – a function too often preoccupied with a preconceived vocabulary aimed at responding to equally preconceptualised situations, compounded with
the enunciation by persons not required to be of any specific analytical depth. The fact is that the exercise is driven largely by a technologically designed process that makes little provision for the individual employee’s interpretive ability; but then it is, more often than not, a recording – a pattern of social distancing that has been accepted long before the current health pandemic. And yet inherent in these technologically driven relationships with customers who are unseen, misplaced, unverified, (regardless of age and/or health) is the service (?) providers’ authoritarian stance – which advises the ‘dear customer’ of what little choice he or she has – unlike the old days when the latter was ‘always right’. There is this compulsive assumption of the provider, that since the customer now has so little or no choice, the latter is entitled only to exactly the same amount and quality of ‘say’ – certainly true in the case of Guyana where exist minimal proactive consumer associations. In the case of utility agencies, one is uncertain how assertive the Public Utilities Commission is authorised to be – for instance in terms of initiating surveys and obtaining feedback that can be effectively utilised on behalf of the customer. More recently, the banking services have preempted the decision-making process about relationships, in which ‘dear valued customer’ is confidently expected not to object, most overdoing the resort to
The hypocrisy that has unravelled in the past days DEAR EDITOR, Since the General and Regional Elections began, we have seen all sorts of dramas unfold by the various stakeholders contesting the elections. Not only have dramas unfolded but the HYPOCRISY of a certain stakeholder (party) contesting the elections and some of its supporters have come to light. The 2015 General and Regional Elections was observed by International Observers, Local Observers and all stakeholders that contested the elections. The very same observers called for and urged for “Free, Fair and Credible Elections”, which was later reported to be “Free, Fair and Credible” by all the International, Local
and Party Observers. Back then, International Observers weren’t told to “Stay out of Guyana’s Internal Affairs” by any of the Stakeholders (Parties) Contesting the Elections, nor was any of the International Observers and Local Observers verbally abused via social media about their gender or physical appearance. The HYPOCRISY has surfaced and unfolded from the recent statements made by the Members and some supporters of a certain political party verbally abusing and condemning the ABC countries, EU and most importantly the C A R I C O M C h a i r, t h e Honourable Mia Mottley for doing their jobs rightly with honestly.
I have seen the attacks on the Honourable Caricom Chair Mia Mottley which were targeted to her physical appearance, by most of a certain political party members and supporters. These attacks deserve high condemnation from the relevant authorities namely the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) for such a deplorable act. Now that the International Observers have done and are doing their jobs, they are being condemned and verbally abused by the very same political party that praised them back in 2015. Is that Decency and Integrity? I leave that for the readers to decide. Yours truly, Randy Da Silva
technological communication against the convenient (for them) background of the current health pandemic, overlooking how their own customers (and families) could be otherwise discomfited. It is in this regard that one takes the opportunity to bring to attention the more sensitive reaction, banks in Canada for instance have brought to current challenges in customer relations. Hopefully, the following would be instructive – on the subject of a Code of Conduct for the Delivery of Banking Services to Seniors – it applies to banks operating under the Canadian Bank Act, and who are also member banks of the Canadian Bankers Association. For the purposes of the Code, Senior
refers to persons 60 years and over. Banks are required to incorporate the Code into their regulatory compliance management framework. In this regard, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada is responsible for monitoring the banks’ compliance with the Code. Very briefly, the commitments involved include the following: a member of the management be trained to promote the interests of Seniors Identification of circumstances where Seniors may require additional assistance with their banking activities Banks to implement measures to facilitate effective communication with
Seniors Banks to provide employees and representatives with appropriate resources to help them assist seniors Banks to endeavour to mitigate potential financial harm to seniors Banks to publicly disclose the steps they have taken to support the Principles of the Code Here is hoping that this commitment will catch not only the eye but the conscience of the local banking community, and more so the determination of the Bank of Guyana to dedicate some form of enforcement. In the meantime, we desperately need a Seniors Consumers Association. A disabled senior bank account
Dismissal for good and sufficient cause DEAR EDITOR, Guyana’s labour laws provide for summary dismissal from employment by the employer for good and sufficient cause relating to an employee’s conduct and performance on the job. Good and sufficient cause include refusal to carry out lawful instructions on a timely basis, providing fictitious and fraudulent information and reports to the employing authority, misconduct, inefficiency, dilatory tactics, and unprofessional conduct and behaviour in the execution of contractual and statutory duties. Why is there apparent inaction and paralysis or
hesitation by GECOM in relation to the conduct and performance of some of its officials GECOM’s CEO, Lowenfield, Deputy CEO, Myers, RO Mingo and other recalcitrant and colluding senior staff of the Secretariat? Why is there no prompt disciplinary action taken by GECOM to replace these obvious recalcitrant public employees who are public servants, paid by tax payers? GECOM must obey the Constitution and the relevant election laws and discharge its statutory responsibility on a timely manner and declare the winner of the 2nd March 2020 elections, based on the
verified recounts of votes cast without further delay? These are valid votes cast. Everyone knows that the votes cast in the ballot boxes and counted and certified at the end of polling day by all the contesting political parties and accredited local and international observers, are VALID votes cast. Those GECOM’s employees, who breached the Constitution and any election law, separate and apart from employment disciplinary actions, must be prosecuted in the courts, and bear the full force of the law. With thanks Joshua Singh
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The CCJ and jurisdiction argument DEAR EDITOR, As was reported (KN June 26), the CCJ gave several directives and instructed the lawyers to be guided by their submissions on four points: Why the court has jurisdiction if it assumes jurisdiction; what would be consequences if it rejects jurisdiction; what would be the consequences; and the substantive arguments of why it must accept or reject jurisdiction and a potential ruling with orders. The government argues that CCJ has no jurisdiction because the Burnham constitution states Court of Appeal (CoA) ruling is final. I studied and taught American Constitutional and International Law. From my extensive studies, final courts (like CCJ, Privy Council, India Supreme Court, etc.) are hesitant to visit rulings of CoAs whose judgments are considered final especially on election issues because elections and results must not be delayed. However, when matters pertaining to fundamental voting rights are raised, superior courts with final authority do assume jurisdiction and adjudicate on lower court rulings but on narrow fundamental issues.
India Supreme Court, Privy Council, Australia Supreme Court, New Zealand Court, Canada Supreme Court, South Africa Supreme Court, etc. visited matters to affirm or set aside CoA rulings on election matters. And time is not an issue as a country is waiting four months for the results. The CCJ has original (though not on election) and appellate jurisdiction. Celebrity attorney Ramesh Maharaj of Trinidad challenged rulings on (unstated) fundamental rights with court claiming lack of jurisdiction and he won at the Privy Council reversing lower court judgments. He showed the court how it can intervene on basic rights issues even when laws prohibit such intervention. So CCJ can be approached when fundamental rights (as voting is) are breached; there are countless precedents of such judicial interventions by higher courts to correct what were considered final rulings. For example, when the votes of Black Americans were rigged, analogous to what has happened in Guyana, the Supreme Court intervened and corrected it. The CCJ has an historic opportunity to
claim original jurisdiction with a novel ruling and build credulity of its jurisprudence. Also, CCJ may claim jurisdiction since the Act of Incorporation (2005) of the CCJ replaced Guyana’s CoA (1980) as its final court of appeal. Before 2004, appeals were not permitted outside of CoA. After the rigged election of 1968, Burnham abolished all appeals to the Privy Council. An amendment to the constitution took place in 2004 by then President Jagdeo with the CCJ replacing the CoA as final court of appeal effective April 2005. That gives CCJ jurisdiction. Also, jurisdiction can be claimed by human values (rights). A society is organic and dynamic. The law’s meaning must adapt to changing circumstances as in the US. Constitutions are subjected to interpretation (elasticity of law) by learned judges of final court to meet the needs of changing times. The US Supreme Court is known for its changing interpretation of the constitution. So even if the constitution says the CoA is the final court of appeal on some election matter, it can be appealed if a person’s vote would be rendered invalid without due process. Some 115K votes are not being counted, a violation of a fundamental right. This gives CCJ jurisdiction to visit the CoA ruling. One cannot invalidate a valid vote by whim or fancy or on some personal prejudice or personal interpretation. For a people who came out of indentureship, slavery, and decimation of natives in the Anglophone Caribbean, the ability to choose a government is a fundamental right. It cannot be taken away through fraud and
shenanigans or personal interpretation of election officers. It would appear that the majority ruling in CoA treated the jurisdictional issue lightly, using recount to hear the case and make an order. But the recount exercise is subsidiary or subservient to a parent legislation. The court erred in issuing an order that trumps the constitution. And, it was premature for any party to go to court unless harm was committed. The issue of harm did not arise as GECOM did not make a declaration as yet. One could only approach the court after the GECOM declaration. And this is done via a petition. Thus, the CCJ may assume jurisdiction determining that the CoA erred in law. In addition, there is a long-standing principle (based on stare decisis) in law in which a CoA erroneously accepts (or exceeds) jurisdiction of a matter and pronounced on it – in this case interpreting Article 177, it can be reviewed. The CoA accepted jurisdiction of an extraneous matter that does not fall within its remit and made an order outside of its powers. This gives the CCJ the jurisdiction to visit the ruling and may very well set it aside if so proven by appellants. The clause under which the CoA claims jurisdiction deals with qualification of being elected President. It is not about valid or credible votes. Matters pertaining to credible or valid votes or fraud are dealt with in an election petition. These matters go to the High Court after the declaration of the results, not the CoA. It must be noted that the CEO has no power to decide what are valid votes; that is decided by ROs or the recount agents and
were already decided upon. The CEO or GECOM cannot overturn valid votes after a legitimate exercise; only the court can. The entire world will be watching the CCJ in action as it pronounces on leave to appeal, jurisdiction, and the substantive matters raised in the appeal. The CCJ would be mindful that its establishment has given rise to speculation concerning its approach to judgments handed down by CoAs. Having disposed of Guyana’s arithmetic case, now the court is asked to examine a case having to do with basic English – what does “more votes than” mean. The CoA took pain to stress ‘valid’ to law that is already in the law. Guyana’s constitution already states that only valid votes are used to declare the results of an election (The Caricom witnessed recount
also refers to valid votes in its legal SORs. Between 1966 and 1992, invalid or bogus votes were used to declare outcomes as is being attempted now). One must keep in mind that the CCJ is still in its infancy as compared with other final courts like Privy Council or India Supreme Court. The CCJ has an opportunity to elucidate on ambiguity in the meaning of clauses in a constitution especially pertaining to the declaration of the outcome of an election that is considered to be final in CoA. Rulings would help foster the development of an indigenous Anglophone Caribbean jurisprudence. It would not disappoint and would render a profound judgment. Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram
Solidarity Within DEAR EDITOR, It was refreshing to read of His Excellency’s recent speech to the new Military Officers. He emphasized the importance of solidarity and the protection of our country. The current global economic and political context in which we find ourselves today makes the need for national solidarity to be a top priority. I fondly remember my time at Queen’s College when I was fortunate enough to lead my school in the Parade before His Excellency L.F.S. Burnham and a number of Generals at The Square of the Revolution. On my feet were very comfortable Bata shoes and Guyana in my heart. We were an embargoed country at the time, but love of country was more important than access to external goods. Love of country brought with it solidarity and unity amongst those of different races, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. There was peace and low levels of crime in the country and a high level of contentment with what we had which was ours. Anything seemed possible at the time. Our allies were secure and Guyanese ingenuity provided the solutions needed to any problem that would arise. It is with this spirit of
solidarity that I echo the call for unity amongst our people and the rebuilding of trust. Our national resources are many and as a people, we know how to make a little go far during hard times. There is no need for extensive conflict over control of the national purse. Guyana has sufficient wealth for all of its people. Let humility and solidarity lead us all towards a resolution of our internal disagreements and may the outcome be a strengthening of our nation’s unity so that our external foes will disband any plans they have to conquer our nation. Venezuela is a larger foe, which is weakening, and the matter of Essequibo should take precedence. If and when the ruling of the International Court of Justice comes in our favour, we must be prepared and strengthen our united guard against any potential retaliatory moves. Independent of who becomes our next President, please ponder on the need for solidarity within our borders as the elections process comes to a conclusion. Best regards, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana
Kaieteur News
Saturday June 27, 2020
PAGE 07
Submission of third report on elections results…
Lowenfield says I acted in conformity with the law but cites no provisions
I
n attempt to defend his actions as it relates to the submitting an elections results report to the commission, Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Keith Lowenfield yesterday noted that he acted in conformity with the law. In a release to the press, Lowenfield sought to defend his position to submit a report in which 115,000 votes were invalidated from a count of the March, 2 Regional and General Elections. The CEO however failed to pinpoint which legal provisions give him the powers to act outside of the direction of the Commission. The report represented a third document submitted by Lowenfield which placed the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity +Alliance For Change (APNU+ AFC) administration in a considerable lead ahead of the Opposition, People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C). Lowenfield was initially instructed to submit a report based on the CARICOM-supervised election recount. That report places the PPP/C in the lead by some 15,000 votes. In a response to an article published in another section of the news in which he is accused on acting
insubordinate of the instructions of the Commission, Lowenfield said that the accusation seem to have come from a source that only read the Constitution in part. He claimed that the article conveniently failed to recognise the sections that dictate the functions of the Chief Election Officer. “While the Commission makes certain policy decisions and provides guidance to the Chief Election Officer for implementation by the Secretariat, I have to execute my duties as a Constitutional Officer, particularly in the conduct of Elections,” Lowenfield said. Lowenfield noted that the contents of the news article suggest that the CEO must only act as the Commission instructs and flout the Constitutional requirements. “At all times, I have acted in conformity with the laws and therefore my action cannot be 'seen as clear act of insubordination' as articulated in the ill informed article,” the CEO added. The latest report submitted by Lowenfield to GECOM would hand the victory in the March 2 polls to the APNU+AFC coalition, giving it a one-seat majority in the parliament. To do this, the CEO report dumps
115,844 of the valid votes tabulated during the National Recount, reducing the valid votes cast in the General Election from 460,352 to 344,508. Moments after Lowenfield sent out a statement responding to the a l l e g a t i o n s o f insubordination, the APNU+AFC followed suit. The Party in a lengthy statement stated that the CEO is clearly empowered and instructed by the Constitution and Laws of Guyana, not by any other entity or person and that he has discharged his functions within the ambit of the law. “In keeping with the guidance,” the release noted, “set out by the Court of Appeal in Eslyn David v. Chief Election Officer, et al., and as he is required to do by the Representation of the People Act [at Section 96], the CEO prepared and submitted his Election Report on 23rd June 2020.” However, in a statement which followed, the Opposition People's Progress Party/Civic ( PPP/C) noted Section 18 of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act 2000 states: “The Chief Election Officer and the Commissioner of Registration shall notwithstanding anything in any written law be subject to the direction and control of
Guyana records another 15 COVID-19 cases, total now at 230
G
uyana now has a total of 230 r e c o r d e d COVID-19 cases; the country yesterday saw an increase of 15 new cases from a total of 68 tests. According to the Ministry of Public Health's daily update, a total of 109 persons have recovered, while the number of deaths remains at 12, in institutional isolation, there is 109 active cases and in institutional quarantine, there is 16 persons. Meanwhile, one patient remains in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU). From Thursday June 18, Guyana began seeing an upward spiral in the number of confirmed cases, to be exact 58 new cases; beginning with an increase
of 12, followed by 21 on Monday June 22, followed consecutively by 1, 3, 6 and 15 yesterday. Over the last few days, there have been an alarming number of increases in cases in the interior regions. Up to June 25, 73 persons have tested positive from Regions 1 and 7, with Region 1 accounting for 42 cases and Aranka in Region 7, 31 respectively. Bartica also recorded its first case on Thursday. During the daily update Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) said, “I wish to make special mention of the frontline workers in Regions #1 and #7 and the staff of the National Public Health Reference Laboratory for
your continued efforts in this fight. Our workers are continuing to put themselves at risk to ensure that we can detect this disease early and isolate those persons who are sick so that we can contain this pandemic. We call again on the residents of Moruca and those of the mining communities in Region #7 to heed the warning. This disease is easily transmitted when you are in close contact with someone who is positive.” According to the World Health Organization, the total number of cases globally is 9,296,202 with 479,133 deaths while in the Region of the Americas, the number of cases is 4,604, 134 with 230,165 deaths.
GECOM's CEO Keith Lowenfield the Commission.” Additionally, the Party noted specifically that Order 60/2020 upon which he and APNU/AFC rely states in pertinent part as that The Commission shall, after deliberating on the report at paragraph 12, determine whether it should request the Chief Election Officer to use the data compiled in accordance with paragraph 12 as the basis for the submission of a report under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act Cap 1:03, provided that the Commission shall, no later than three days after receiving the report, make the declaration. Meanwhile, attorney-at-
law Charles Ramson in an invited comment pointed out several issues with which Lowenfield's response can be deemed defective. Ramson, who is a member of the PPP/C, first debunked the assertions that Lowenfield is a “Constitutional Officer.” According to him, Lowenfield should be advised that a singular reference to an officer in the Constitution does not make him a “Constitutional O ff i c e r, ” w i t h o u t t h e attendant provisions defining the office such as its genesis. He noted however that in fact, the Chief E l e c t i o n O ff i c e r i s a “statutory officer” which finds its genesis in the Representation of the People Act 1:04. “The insertion of the reference to the office in the Constitution came in the year 2000 after the issues which arose pertaining to the swearing in of former President Janet Jagan,” Ramson pointed out. He noted further that Lowenfield's assertion that there are “sections” of the Constitution, which “dictate the functions of the Chief Election Officer are both incorrect and misleading. There are no “sections”
in the Constitution which “dictate the functions of the Chief Election Officer”, Ramson stated, adding that all of the functions of the Chief Election Officer is contained in the ROPA 1:03. Additionally, Ramson noted that Lowenfield's statement that GECOM only makes policy decisions and provides guidance to the Chief Election Officer is entirely incorrect. “Article 162 of the Constitution,” he argued, “specifically states that GECOM 'shall issue such instructions and take such action as appears to it necessary … to ensure … compliance with the provisions of this Constitution or of any Act of Parliament on the part of persons exercising powers or performing duties connected with or relating to” either the conduct of elections or registration of electors. Before Lowenfield pursues a precipitous course of action which will lead inevitably to failure, he may also direct his attention to S. 18 of the Elections Laws Act and point number 15 of the Recount Order which state that the Chief Election Officer shall be subject to the “direction and control” and “general supervisory power” of the Commission.”
Saturday June 27, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 08
Energy Dep't selects several tainted oil traders to market Guyana's oil By Mikaila Prince
T
he Department of Energy (DoE) has shortlisted 19 oil traders out of 35 applicants to market Guyana's share of its light sweet crude from the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, the first oil production ship offshore Guyana. However, upon examining the list of traders which was publicized by the Energy Department, Kaieteur News found that 15 out of the 19 shortlisted companies have been linked to scandals, foreign bribery and widespread corruption—as previously highlighted in extensive articles published by this newspaper. These well-documented malpractices, which have resulted in convictions and fines, have ensnared senior executives of these oil companies and traders, while others are still under investigation.
The list of 19 traders which have been shortlisted by the Energy Dep't to market Guyana's crude Public documents show for example that three of the world's largest commodities trading firms – Vitol SA, Glencore PLC and Mercuria Energy Group – have used intermediaries to funnel over
US$31 million in bribes to corrupt Petrobras employees. This was done in order to win massive contracts, along with acquiring other benefits, and resulted in one of the largest
corruption scandals in recent history, the Operation Car Wash affair, the fallout of which was hundreds of indictments, and over a hundred corruption convictions including that of former President of Brazil, Luis Inacio 'Lula' Da Silva. When the Energy Department had advertised a few months ago for Expressions of Interest (EOI) to market Guyana's crude oil, it had asked all applicants to provide details of any pending litigation or to state if they are under investigation. What remains unclear, however, is if evidence pointing to a corrupt past would be seen as an immediate reason for disqualification, the DoE said in their statement yesterday. A five-member Evaluation Committee was formed and tasked with producing a shortlist of companies, after a “detailed check” of each firm's EOI for general and technical data in relation to qualifications and
Head of the Energy Dep't, Dr. Mark Bynoe experience pertinent to the assignment at hand, and as was required to be submitted in the request for EOI. Previously, Kaieteur News had asked Head of the Energy Department, Dr. Mark Bynoe to share details on who the evaluators were since that would be instrumental in selecting the winning company. This was
Quarterly report reveals…
Interest on Natural Resource Fund suffers blow due to COVID-19
I
n an effort to temper the economic blows of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York which holds Guyana's Natural Resource Fund (NRF) has lowered its interest rates, resulting in the profit on Guyana's deposits in the account being lowered by a considerable degree. This was noted in the first quarterly report on the Fund. The document, which was seen by Kaieteur News, notes that the Federal Reserve Bank lowered interest rates twice in the first quarter from a range of 1.50% - 1.75% to 1% - 1.25% and then again to a drastic 0% - 0.25%. As of March 2020, the Natural Resource Fund capital stood at $11.5B while the profit comprising of interest earned on deposits stood at $1.6M. This represented a return of 0.014% during the quarter. In March, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had disclosed to this news agency that Guyana had received almost US$55M for the first million barrels of oil which was sold to Bahamasbased Shell Western Supply Trading Limited (SWSTL).
The report figures cover that amount. Earlier this month, the nation received another US$35M from Shell for the second list of one million barrels of oil from the Stabroek Block. A third lift is expected soon. Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe, had told this newspaper in a previous interview that Guyana is entitled to at least five million barrels of oil for 2020. According to the Energy Department, the subsidiary of Shell, which is the third-largest company in the world based on 2018 revenues, won the bid for three lifts on account of a number of factors, including Shell's willingness to share critical refinery information which it asserts Guyana needs, in order to understand the Liza crude behaviour. Kaieteur News was also informed via a statement from the department that Shell's readiness to support it in operating these cargoes, while it is strengthening its structures and in-house crude commercialization human resources, was also a determining factor.
A detailed overview of the performance of the Fund
asked to ascertain the competence of the individuals and whether there were possible connections to who would be the eventual winner. Dr. Bynoe explained during a May 5 press conference that, “…This is not something that the Department of Energy can speak to. What happens normally in a procurement process is that we will make a recommendation to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and they will look at the evaluators and make a decision based on the names proposed. But I don't know that it is common practice for the names of the individuals to be divulged at this stage… I am not in a position to share those names and I would have to discuss it with NPTAB.” When Kaieteur News had questioned NTPAB about the identities and qualifications of the evaluators in May, it had declined to provide same. Meanwhile, Leader of the People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo is of the view that now is certainly not the ideal time to be signing on to these international contracts, especially considering the impasse the country has been caught in for the past 117 days in the aftermath of the March 2, General and Regional Elections. The tainted companies One of the companies shortlisted is China Offshore Oil International Pte Ltd. In 2015, this state-owned Chinese company had their former Deputy General Manager, Wu Zhenfang, under criminal investigation for accepting an undisclosed amount in bribes although it is unclear what the outcome of the case was. Another C h i n e s e c o m p a n y, Sinochem, saw Du Keping, the former Vice President sentenced last December to 11 ½ years in prison for accepting USD $1.8M in bribes. Russian energy c o m p a n y, L u k o i l O i l Company & Litasco, is currently being criminally investigated by Geneva's top prosecutor on suspicion of corruption of foreign officials and moneylaundering. Gunvor Group, one of (continued on page 18)
Kaieteur News
Saturday June 27, 2020
PAGE 09
The Gamesmanship must end T
he Guyanese people are being held to ransom because of the palpable failure of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). This is particularly true in respect to the failure of GECOM's Secretariat to act with honesty and integrity. The situation is becoming grim. International isolation and sanctions are looming. Worse is likely to follow should the country be subject to political and personal sanctions. These will affect not only the politicians but also the average citizen. The Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of GECOM is making a mockery of the electoral process and the Caribbean Community. It is no joking matter. His latest report turns the whole Recount exercise into a charade. What was the purpose of having a Recount if the CEO is going to take it upon himself to discard the results of the recount and to create his own numbers of
valid votes and to completely invert the assignment of parliamentary seats? The Caribbean Community, as it has done recently in Haiti, had sought to engage local stakeholders following the impasse which had developed over the Mingo Bingo. Six Prime Ministers – not one – despite their busy schedules, chose to come here in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic to help the country resolve its election crisis. They left without finding a solution but no sooner had they arrived back home in their respective countries, President David Granger proposed a recount to the Chairperson of the Caribbean Community. It was expressly stated that the decision of the recount was at the instrumentality of President Granger. An agreement was signed in which President Granger and Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo both agreed to abide by the results of the
Recount. A CARICOM Team was designated to come to Guyana to look over the process but when they arrived they were greeted with a court action which placed a halt on the recount. Keith Rowley, the Prime Minister of Trinidad said that he had a feeling that the situation was not going to end well and the CARICOM Chair, Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley had said there were forces which did not want the recount. Despite these reservations, CARICOM- stuck to the agreed process and the recount was commenced. When it was completed, the recount confirmed that the PPPC had won the elections. Just at the point when the country was supposed to move on, we then had a ridiculous report by the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield. His report now places his conduct under further scrutiny and, as some feel, has made his position untenable. Guyana will face
Dem boys seh...
Hay-Eff-See sit down in red ants nest
D
e Hay-Eff-See know dat dem l o s e d e elections. Rum-Juttan tell he staff how dem lose but Patto break de COVID regulations and keep meeting in Essequibo. He tell dem people how de election nah credible. But dem boys know dat was only sallawalla. Dem boys know why de Hay-Eff-See can only talk dem lose behind private doors. Dem bin go and sit dunk pun red ants nest and it now biting dem backside. Dem Hay-Eff-See leaders wan go back in parliament. Life sweet in deh.
Yuh does get plenty perks even if yuh deh on de Apposition bench. Yuh does get duty-free car, fat salary every month and nice pension after a couple of years. Is easy wuk. And de only wuk weh yuh can sleep pun de job and de boss nah gun tell yuh nuttin'. Yuh could even snore. Nuff ah dem Hay-EffSee does get ketch pun camera sleeping and pulling punt in de parliament. But dem gat wan fly in de ointment. Dem Hay-Eff-See was so desperate fuh go back in guvament dat dem sign agreement with the Hap+New which mek Soulja Bai de head of de List. Dah
mean is Soulja Bai wah gat fuh pick, remove and replace who sitting pun the Coalition benches. Was wan big mistake de H a y - E ff - S e e d i d m e k because it mean dat dem put dem future in Soulja Bai hand. And dat is why dem can't go public and admit dem lose election. Dem afraid if dem talk wrang day some of dem gan lose dem parliamentary seat. Dem frikken de other seat wah dem could lose too. De one wah dem sitting pun and wah red ants ah clap bite pun. Talk half and wait fuh see who gan get pick fuh enjoy de perks in parliament.
sanctions if there is no resolution – legal or otherwise – to the present crisis. Consequently, the government will be subject to international isolation, including from the Caribbean Community. There is one view out there that Guyana will not be suspended from CARICOM because there is no democratic clause within the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. There is in fact a Civil Society Charter which forms part of the Revised Treaty of the Community. And the Charter does require the holding of free and fair elections. Guyana can therefore be suspended from CARICOM. Precedent exists for such a suspension. CARICOM suspended Haiti from all the organs of the Community following the overthrow of Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004. The incoming Chairman of CARICOM has made it clear that CARICOM will not tolerate rigged elections. Guyana therefore stands to be banned from the Caribbean Community if the
APNU+AFC is declared the winner of the elections. Should Guyana be suspended from the Caribbean Community, its exports to the Caribbean Community are going to suffer since these would not be eligible for Community treatment such as duty-free entry. This will hurt local producers and impact upon the economy. The western countries have already threatened serious implications for those who benefit from electoral fraud. Sanctions on government officials are likely to include visa and restrictions and the freezing of assets. The imposition of travel restrictions will mean that persons will not be able to visit their families overseas, go on vacations but more importantly, should it b e n e c e s s a r y, s e e k emergency medical treatment abroad. They will not be allowed to do any financial transaction with foreign banks. While targeted sanctions are aimed at the political elites, they also affect the average citizen. Since the
country's standing is affected, it means that citizens will find it difficult to get visas since there will be a higher risk of them not returning. As a result of the increased political risk, investments will dry up. This will mean fewer jobs and less business being done in the country. The oil revenues will not be released and therefore a financial crunch will result. The 'Mickey Mouse gamesmanship' therefore should cease. No country can flaunt itself as Guyana is doing in the face of the international community. Heavy hammers are going to come down. And it will affect everyone: from the youngest child to the oldest person. There is no way out other than to ensure that the results of the Recount are respected. (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
Saturday June 27, 2020
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Lo Lo has become a pathetic sight G
ECOM CEO K e i t h Lowenfield, after months of lying low while he does his nonsense, has issued a statement saying he is not bound to accept the instruction of the Commission. It is obvious, Lo Lo has stooped so low that he has put his IQ in the wrong place, perhaps where it always was. Even a moron can understand the role of the Commission. It is the acceptance of the Commission of the election results that allows for a legal presidency. If Lowenfield says he will not accept the instruction of the Commission to make a report from the CARICOM Recount, then the
Commission by law can accept the recount. What Lowenfield is essentially telling this nation that he is the only citizen in Guyana who is above the law. He can submit statistical depravities to the Commission and the Commission cannot say to him, you have given us 'jumbie' numbers. The President, the Commissioner of Police, Army head, Chancellor of the judiciary, etc are not above the law but somehow he is. Whoever wrote that statement for Lo Lo has low intelligence and their IQ is where Lo Lo has his. Is Lowenfield telling us that based on what he has, Granger could be sworn in? By whom? Let us look at the
scenario that is likely to unfold. If the CCJ's decision invalidates the Court of Appeal ruling, Claudette Singh then has to look at the election report from Lowenfield. If the PPP loses in the CCJ, then Singh still has to make a declaration from Lowenfield's paper work. But even though I will inflexibly hold on to my thinking of Singh creating the mess Guyana is in, I believe she will not accept Lowenfield's report. Of course, there is no imposition by the Court on her to accept the current declaration Lowenfield handed her. It has reached the stage where Singh's hands are completely tied. She cannot accept Lowenfield's assignment of votes. I don't know what she will do after her rejection but I know she will not make a declaration based on that Draculean tabulation of Lowenfield. What this means is that Granger cannot be sworn in. So the impasse means Granger cannot be the next
president. If Singh dissolves the impasse, APNU+AFC still cannot retain power because Singh's alternative is to accept the CARICOM approved recount. That pathway of course spells disintegration of APNU+AFC. The reality is therefore that APNU+AFC is gone. Granger has two alternatives to cling to power. If there isn't a government, he insinuated that he can invoke emergency powers so that Parliament can vote money for the state. I haven't seen anything from the opposition spheres that deny that he cannot go that route. Jagdeo says his party will not go to parliament anyway. But how long can his government hold on even if money is released to the Treasury? The sanctions will devastate the country. The second alternative is that Singh declares a winner based on the recount and Granger refuses to accept it. He then becomes an illegal president. By what mechanism can his presidency survive? Which part of the world is
going to recognize the Granger presidency? The embassies of India, China, Mexico and Russia have not been vocal in denouncing the rigged election. But India will n o t i g n o r e t h e Commonwealth and recognize the Granger presidency. Mexico is not going to go against the OAS and the Americans for a country like Guyana that is not an asset to Mexico. China and Russia are deeply involved in Venezuela and they will not burden themselves by supporting an illegal regime in Guyana. In geopolitics, anything is possible. Let us say the Chinese and Russians recognize an illegal Granger presidency, they will make formidable geo-political demands that will infuriate the Americans and you can actually have international arrest warrants for members of such a rogue government. Keith Lowenfield is either fooling himself or he has too low an IQ to understand the fix the APNU+AFC is in.
Frederick Kissoon He knows not a damn thing about law, the realities of Guyana's politics, the brutal realities of global politics. Lowenfield cannot get APNU+AFC into the seat of power. He does not have that constitutional power. He should ask himself why after four months he hasn't been able to move the APNU+AFC bandwagon even an inch closer to regaining office. Lowenfield's statement shows what an immensely ignorant person he is but also what a dangerous human he is also. Lo Lo knows very well that he has stooped so low that his lowly behaviour will get him into further trouble. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Saturday June 27, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Saturday June 27, 2020
Kaieteur News
Saturday June 27, 2020
PAGE 13
Prime lands behind Houston, Ruimveldt‌
Residents kept in dark on re-developments R
esidents of Plantation H o u s t o n Estates/Houston Gardens say that it appears as if key details of re-development plans for acres of prime lands behind them are deliberately being withheld. These residents have been seeking these details of the land plans since December last year when it was reported that Houston will be re-developed as part of a Georgetown Master plan for the Oil and Gas Industry. Chief Development Planner (CDP) of the Central Housing and Planning A u t h o r i t y ( C H & PA ) , Germene Stewart had made this revelation during a press conference. She had said that the land development process catering for the oil and gas sector had already begun. Stewart also stated that a first round of consultations with land owners and developers was completed by CH&PA. As result, she added, 44 applications were processed of which 39 were approved. Mention was also made of subsequent applications received from a total of 914
ent for re-developm The area allotted azetted Order G as stated in the
businesses. Out of the 914 applications, 905 were processed and out of the 905, 714 were approved. However, key details as to who are these land owners, developers and businesses were never revealed. Residents were never told what would be the major developments or detailed on the nature of the businesses approved to occupy these prime lands.
The Houston residents were also at a loss as to what provisions are in the development plans for the existing residential communities close to these lands. In fact, prior to this announcement, CH&PA had never consulted with the residents for their inputs as is required by the law for the re-zoning or redevelopment of the lands for industrial purposes. Residents were
outraged at this move and began to press CH&PA for answers. One resident told Kaieteur News that they were not going to sit down and take such disrespect from the Authority and the residents were called to meeting on January 21 of 2020. The meeting, however, only highlighted a previous concern that residents had over a permission being
solicited by an American chemical company to build a storage facility in the Houston area. Feeling dissatisfied the residents wrote a letter to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CH&PA, Lelon Saul dated January 31, 2020, demanding the key details of the re-development plans. In the letter, the residents requested that they be told who are the agencies responsible for re-zoning of
the land. Questions were also raised about the transparency of the rerezoning process of the lands from Agricultural to commercial or industrial. Residents demanded that the benchmarks and standards used for such planning be made known. Nevertheless, residents said, CH&PA ignored their questions and responded three months after via letter (continued on page 18)
BK's $352M sea defence project‌
$74M added to $278M bid was for additional works - Public Infrastructure T By Mikaila Prince
he Ministry of P u b l i c Infrastructure (MoPI) has defended a decision to pay Brian Tiwari's BK International Incorporated an additional $74M to the company's relatively high bid of $278M, for a project to construct riprap sea defences at Content, M a h a i c o n y, f o l l o w i n g massive floods in Region Five late last year. In response to an article published by Kaieteur News on June 25, the Public Infrastructure Ministry, headed by de facto Minister David Patterson, related that additional works to the initial scope of work for the project resulted in the $74M added to BK's bid for the $352M contract. Kaieteur News had reported that despite being the highest bidder for the
contract, BK International was nonetheless awarded the contract, which went to the tune of $352,121,250M, as documents seen by this newspaper show. BK International was one of the three companies who bid to secure the contract, the other two companies being MB Construction who bid $235,744,500 and Colin Talbot Contracting Services who submitted a bid of $247,599,600, while the engineer's estimate was $184,521,000. BK's precise bid was $278,876,300 – some $31M over the next highest bid and more than $90M over the engineer's estimate. Notably, procurement laws stipulate that when it comes to multi-million dollar contracts like the one BK was awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAP), it is recommended (continued on page 15)
Breaches in the sea defence in Region Five
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Kaieteur News
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Brutally assaulted Cummings Lodge woman rescued by neighbours By Sueann Wickham
A
5 6 - y e a r- o l d Cummings Lodge woman who was last Saturday brutally assaulted by a female relative has been rescued by neighbours. According to Madonna Ghanie, President of Mommy's Corner, an NGO that has been rendering assistance, the woman who goes simply by the name of
'Ms. Jean' suffered the attack last weekend, culmination of years of mistreatment. Ms. Jean had been living with her father who was accommodating her brother, his wife and his stepchildren. While the woman did domestic work to support h e r s e l f , s h e s u ff e r e d , according to those who knew her situation, a litany of abusive acts committed by her relatives. Finally, last week, the
day before Father's Day, a female relative with whom she lived beat her with a spade, lacerating her body and leaving a tooth painfully sticking through her chin. Tw o p u b l i c - s p i r i t e d residents from the area found her lying on the road helpless and whimpering and took her to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) to seek medical attention. She was admitted but (continued on page 16)
The injuries sustained due to the brutal attack
City Mayor introduces rates and taxes amnesty for rest of year
C
ity Mayor, Ubraj N a r i n e , announced that individuals and businesses will not be required to pay rates and taxes for the rest of t h e y e a r. T h e M a y o r explained that the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown have decided that in keeping with its COVID-19 response all rates and taxes will be lifted from June 22. A Thursday post on M&CC's Facebook state that, “The Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown is offering amnesty on interest on general rates for 2020 only. This amnesty takes effects from June 22, to December 30, 2020. The council is urging rates payers to make full use of this offer.” With reference to the
City Mayor, Ubraj Narine post, Mayor Narine told Kaieteur News, “We heard the cries of the people so we decided to extend the tax relief.” The Mayor added that the relief remains for the rest of the year even if the
curfew or precautionary measures are lifted in the coming months. The Mayor stressed that while the amnesty would be a great relief to individuals and businesses in the city, they are still required to pay their rates and taxes for the previous year and for the period before June 22 of this year. He urged persons and business owners to take advantage of the waiver. “We care about our businesses and I meet with the councillors every Thursday to discuss and implement new ways in which we can help persons and businesses in the city,” Mayor Narine noted. For further information, members of the public are encouraged to contact the office of the Town Clerk via telephone number 226-7717.
Ms. Jean after receiving treatment
Kaieteur News
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Teen charged with murder of pregnant Declaration should be made girlfriend who drowned in Berbice River on recount without delay - Mandela founded group
T
he 19year-old man of DeVeldt Village, Upper Berbice River and of Smithfield New Amsterdam was yesterday remanded to prison for the murder of his 17year-old girlfriend. Dequan Abrams was charged with the capitol offence o f m u r d e r committed on Melissa Soman of 58 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam. Dead: Melissa Soman He made his also present at the appearance via Z o o m a t t h e L i n d e n birthday reportedly Magistrate's Court where the noticed the young charge was read to him by woman in the company Magistrate Wanda Fortune. o f a n o t h e r m a l e , Abrams was subsequently gyrating on him. Her actions remanded to prison after he angered him and he ventured was not required to plead to over to her and began to the indictable charge and the assault her; the other male matter was postponed to 8th who saw the beating went over to intervene but he too July 2020. Abrams was arrested was reportedly assaulted. after the body of Soman was Abrams then grabbed a boat discovered floating in the paddle that was nearby and Upper Berbice River nine dealt Soman several lashes days ago. According to the about her body and head facts of the case, Soman was which caused her to tumble staying with Abrams in a into the river. The other male village in the Upper Berbice River and had attended a subsequently jumped in to birthday celebration in the rescue the teen but she had village. Abrams who was reportedly disappeared. This
T
Charged: Dequan Abrams
was told to police by the suspect. The incident happened one day before her body was found. When Soman's body was hauled from the water her face and right hands appeared to be eaten way by fish, police had said. A post mortem examination that was conducted on her body revealed that she died from drowning and blunt trauma to her head. She was pregnant at the time of her death and also leaves behind a two-year-old infant.
$74M added to $278M bid was for additional works From page 13 that the board selects the lowest bidder. In fact, the Procurement Act of 2003 under Chapter 34 6 (a) specifically states that, “All evaluation criteria for the procurement of goods, works and services in addition to price, will be qualified in monetary terms and the tender will be awarded to the lowest evaluated.” This decision in itself raises concerns, taking into consideration that Cabinet is needed to approve all bids over $15M. That c o n s t i t u t i o n a l b o d y, however, fell with the dissolution of Parliament in December of last year. The Public Infrastructure Ministry, in a statement to the press yesterday, wished to highlight that the $352M award does not relate to the restricted tendering process, which was initiated in April, and was subsequently annulled based on the
recommendation of the Evaluation Committee. “Whereas, the scope of works under the previous procurement process catered for the construction of 350m of rip rap revetment, the severity of the deterioration of the sea defences required that the scope of works be expanded to cover a 500 meters stretch of sea defences of which 200 meters was breached. S e v e r a l d e s i g n considerations were also taken into account in the revised scope of works,” the Ministry explained. This decision also raises further concern as the Evaluation Committee cannot adjust the scope of a project that is halfway completed. Meanwhile, BK International argues that there was nothing disingenuous about the additional $74M which was added to their bid. In a letter published in another section
of the media, BK explained that, “The breach was now 500 metres. New tenders were therefore required and because of the increased volume of work, the contractors were required to adjust their bids. The final tender from BK International was $352,121,250. The company was therefore sealing a 150 meters breach for a mere $74 million… A simple mathematical computation when the additional 150 meters of sea defence is priced would show that BK International's bid was certainly not the highest bid.” Even as the Public Infrastructure Ministry has defended its decisions, the public is still left in the dark regarding the specifics of the project; the contract between the government and BK is yet to be seen by the public, despite numerous attempts made by this publication to examine the document.
he Elders, an international organization of public figures, has said that an electoral declaration based on the recount should be made without delay. This it tweeted yesterday, noting that nearly four months have passed since Guyanese went to the polls on March 2. “The will of the people,” the organization said, “expressed in the elections and confirmed in the recount must be respected.” This statement follows news that Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield submitted a report to the Elections Commission, in which he conjured new numbers with no explanation. Lowenfield's new numbers seek to disenfranchise 115,844 voters, the give the APNU+AFC coalition the victory in the General Election, with a one seat majority in the National Assembly. The actual results of the elections, as tabulated and certified at the recount, show that the PPP/C got 233,336 valid votes, ahead of APNU+AFC's 217,920 valid votes. No declaration may be made now, as the Caribbean Court of Justice has ordered a stay, to maintain the status quo at GECOM. While the court case plays out, the statement adds to calls from international associations and Guyana's diplomatic partners for the recount to form the basis of a declaration of the results.
Nelson Mandela (Mirrorpix/Everett Collection) The Elders had also tweeted about Guyana's electoral process on June 2, when the recount was coming to a close. The organization had then said “The Elders continue to view the situation in #Guyana with concern, especially the recent barring of @CarterCenter observers. The will of the people must be respected through the swearing in of a legitimate Government based on the recount's results.” The Elders comprises of several former heads of state and other prominent world leaders.It was founded in 2007 by renowned South African leader, Nelson Mandela, to tackle a series of global issues from climate change to conflict resolution.
Suspect confesses to gunning down construction worker during Agricola vendetta - slain man's girlfriend, others also in custody
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n Agricola resident who was charged last year for shooting off a piece of another man's ear has reportedly confessed to gunning down Kitty construction worker Tyron Duesbury last Monday. According to sources, the suspect claimed that he returned fire after the occupants of a car, who included Duesbury and his girlfriend, shot at him. “He has claimed that he had a vendetta with the occupants of a car,” a source said. The slain man's girlfriend and others who were allegedly present during the shooting are also in custody. Duesbury, of William Street, Kitty, was shot dead between 12:30h and 01:00h Monday in Brutus Street, Agricola, East Bank
Tyron Duesbury Demerara. The shooting reportedly occurred at a party that was being held in the area,
despite the COVID-19 curfew. Police had initially received reports that Duesbury, his girlfriend and others were passing in a car when they heard explosions. Duesbury then said that he had been shot. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Sources confirmed that Deusbury's alleged killer was charged last year for shooting off part of the left ear of Kristian Jeffrey, son of popular motor-racer Kevin Jeffrey, during a robbery near Agricola. It is alleged that Jeffrey and a friend had just left a concert at the National Stadium, when two men robbed them at gunpoint. Jeffrey alleged that a confrontation during the robbery resulted in him being shot to the right ear.
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Herbal Remedies- Diabetes, Hypertension, Hyplori, Gall & Kidney Stones, Respitory illness, PCOS etc. Contact Sparman# 676-5924 VEHICLE FOR SALE Volkswagon Jetta PYY Model.Tel#689-0999.
One Toyota super custom Mini bus BTT Series fully loaded.Price:2.5M Neg. Tel#627-1216,698-1216. LEGAL NOTICE 2020-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-95 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. FD-130 BETWEEN:(BADRUDDIN) FEROZE Petitioner/Applicant -and(BADRUDDIN) SHEENA FEIONA REYNATTO nee PARDESI Respondent To the Respondent SHEENA FEIONA REYNATTO BADRUDDIN nee PARDESI Last Known Address Gafoors, Land of Canaan Complex, East Bank Demerara, Guyana TAKE NOTICE that on the 30th day of January, 2020 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by FEROZE BADRUDDIN, the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.
AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 16th day of March, 2020 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of his Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) Consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on t h e Wo r l d w i d e We b (Online). AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 28 (twentyeight) days from the date of the Second and final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Wednesday the 29th day of July , 2020 at 10:00am before the Honourable Madam Justice Damone Younge via Zoom Meeting ID: 722 9960 1793;Password:2RKaJQ at the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown. IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/ Notice of Intention to Defend Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts (Georgetown, Demerara). The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed. Dated the 8th day of June, 2020
Hindu Dharmic Sabha urges respect for democracy, declaration that respects will of the people The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has joined calls for the Government of Guyana to respect democracy and allow declaration of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections that respects the will of Guyana's electorate. “We must continue to insist on respect for democracy and accountability from GECOM in the declaration of the elections results reflecting all the votes and the will of the Guyanese people,” the Dharmic Sabha said in a statement yesterday. Expressing concern that Guyana's four month long electoral process has not reach its finality, the Dharmic Sabha pointed out that “the results of the recount were described by the CARICOM Observer team as being acceptable and constituting the basis for the declaration of credible results of the March 2, 2020 elections.” Additionally, the Hindu society noted the comments made by CARICOM Chair, Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley on Guyana's political situation and the attacks that followed, deeming those attacks as “reprehensible.” “As a Head of State,” the Dharmic Sabha said “Chair of CARICOM and an outstanding Caribbean woman, Prime Minister Mottley has the inalienable right to express her views on the current untenable post-election state-of-affairs in Guyana.” The report prepared by the high level CARICOM team that observed the recount process at
the behest and approval of President Granger, they stated, has provided the basis for Prime Minister Mottley as the sitting Chair of CARICOM, to give a statement on Guyana's unresolved elections. According to the Dharmic Sabha, “To spew vitriol and offensive remarks on this distinguished leader for speaking in her characteristic forthright manner about the “bizarre” nature of the post elections period, as well as the attempt by CEO of GECOM to manipulate the elections results by disenfranchising thousands(115,000) of voters is offensive and disrespectful.” Her comments, they said, mirror the sentiments of many Guyanese, global leaders, international organisations and the diplomatic community. “Leaders must be responsible and set a good example for their supporters. Everyone is entitled to express his or her views and differ but spewing hate is not going to change the fact that Guyana still remains in limbo four months after elections with a stagnant economy, concerns related to COVID-19 and many challenges facing our nation and its people as a result of this impasse,” the Hindu Society noted. The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha commended Guyanese for their patience throughout this period and urged all to let their words and conduct be free from hatred, resentment and ill will.
Brutally assaulted Cummings... From page 14 however released a day after, with doctors claiming that they could not remove the tooth and that she would have to seek help at a private facility. She claimed that the abuser was released from the station on Monday and went home only to start throwing verbal taunts at the still traumatized and injured woman. Ms. Jean was later accompanied by Ghanie to seek extraction of the tooth and procedures to remove infections that stemmed due to the rupture in her skin. Following those events, a neighbour of the woman has since took her in as they feared that she would be in grave danger staying there. It was said that after the woman received medical attention and returned home, the abuser was still throwing derogatory remarks at her. The organization, Mommy's Corner, along with the neighbour, decided that it would not be best for her to stay there and she has since permanently left the residence. The injured woman was
said to have placed a report at the Sophia Police Station but her attacker was released. It was also added that the police are awaiting another medical report from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation as the first medical was torn up by the husband of the abuser. They also destroyed much of her clothing in the process as well. A court date is yet to be announced so that the assailant could be charged. Ms. Jean has since received clothing from a few local small businesses but is still pleading with the public for more assistance to sustain her, as she will not be able to work with her injuries. She is currently on a diet that is limited to liquids only since the beating left her with a deep wound in her mouth that does not support the chewing of foods. The woman is calling for the donation of healthy beverages such as Ensure, clothing items such as skirts and dresses and any other donations that will aid in her welfare. Interested persons can contact Ms. Ghanie at +592-618-5666.
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Suriname coalition partners say they will examine a pardon for Bouterse S
uriname (CMC) –The leader of the Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Chandrikapersad Santokhi, says if a petition for a pardon for President Desi Bouterse comes before the planned coalition government, it will be examined within the constitution of the Dutchspeaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country. Bouterse, whose National Democratic Party (NDP) lost the May 25 general election, last November was convicted by a Military Court to 20 years in prison for his involvement Leader of VHP, in the 1982 murders of 15 Chandrikapersad Santokhi political opponents of his t h e n m i l i t a r y government.The trial had been going on for several years and in a lengthy verdict the Court did not order his detention. Santokhi, together with the chairman of the Algemene Bevrijdings- en Ontwikkelingspartij (APBO), Ronnie Brunswijk, Thursday met with Bouterse and that a number of matters were discussed with Bouterse to transfer political power without causing any President Desi Bouterse disturbance.
Brunswijk told a news conference that “a cat cornered makes strange jumps” and that “there was never talk of grace”. Santokhi told reporters that if a petition for a pardon comes from Bouterse, who has filed an appeal against his conviction, it will be examined and the Constitutional requirements would be taken into consideration.
“We will be guided by the insights that exist with the judiciary. When it comes, we will decide that,” said the VHP leader. The opposition parties – VHP, (APBO, The National Party of Suriname (NPS), the Pertjajah Luhur (PL), and the Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP) together control 35 of the 51 seats in the National Assembly, while Bouterse's NDP won
the remaining 16 seats. The National Assembly is due to meet in August to elect a new head of state. The human rights group, Stichting December 8, 1982, has demanded that the new government in no way frustrate the legal process in the December murder trial. It also wanted the coalition partners to provide assurance that the they
would “fully cooperate with the execution of the verdict, whatever the outcome, in the December 8th murder process in higher profession”. “Everyone is equal b e f o r e t h e l a w. T h a t principle is the pillar of our democratic system. We count on respect for the Trias Politica,” said the founder of the human rights group, Sunil Oemrawsingh.
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Residents kept in dark on re-developments... Energy Dep't shortlists... From page 13 informing that it will move ahead with its plans. The response letter also advised the residents that they will be given a chance to make their input. On May 23 and official Gazette Order was published about the re-zoning and redevelopment of the prime lands. The Order stated that an area comprising of 3101 acres will be part of a special redevelopment scheme. It was also mentioned in the order that this area borders a number of residential communities such as Houston, South Ruimveldt, Cummings lodge, Agricola, Industry and Ogle. Reading the order further infuriated residents because CH&PA had still not informed them on the key details they had asked for. On June 14, a public notice was published in the State owned daily newspaper, Guyana Chronicle, inviting residents from the residential communities listed in the Gazetted Order to have their say in the development plans. The notice detailed that the period for consultations will end on June 30 at 16:30 hrs. Residents willing to make their inputs were advised to do so via telephone calls and through facilitated “Zoom online Platforms”. This notice was found to be distasteful by the residents, so much that they were forced to write a next letter to the authorities. Residents argued, in the letter dated June 22, that the time period of sixteen days is way too short for inputs on such a major redevelopment of the lands which involves multiple residential areas. They said that it was “disadvantageous to residents to assess and comment without key details as to what these future developments are”. The residents then concluded their letter by requesting that the details be provided to them urgently. Since this letter was sent, CH&PA has not given a response and final day for consultations is almost near. Houston residents told Kaieteur News that they are beginning to feel that CH&PA is deliberately keeping them in the dark. One resident explained that they are not against development but they must know the nature of these developments especially when it comes to the impact on the environment. The man noted, for example, that industrializing an area close to residential neighbourhoods risks human lives being lost to accidental explosions or toxic gases from chemicals.
First letter written to CH&PA on January 31 Second letter written on June 22
The Gazetted order dated May 23
From page 8 the world's top energy traders was found criminally liable for corruption in the Republic of Congo and the Ivory Coast, after failing to avert its employees and agents from bribing public officials. The trader was subsequently ordered to pay almost USD $94 million to the Swiss Attorney General (AG) in October of last year. According to Reuters, the settlement includes a fine of 4M Swiss francs, out of a maximum of 5M, as well as gross profit plus interest it gained from oil deals in the two West African countries from 2009 to 2011, worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Equinor, formerly known as Statoil, a Norwegian company was in 2018 fined ROK $20M for misconduct and extensive corruption in Iran in 2002/2003 attempting to secure lucrative oil contracts for the company in that country. The Director for International Operations, Richard John Hubbard was also ordered to pay NOK 200,000 in fines for his involvement in the case. This was mainly achieved by hiring the services of Horton Investments, an Iranian consultancy firm owned by Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani, son of former Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani. Horton Investments was paid US$15.2 million by Statoil to influence important political figures in Iran to grant oil contracts to Statoil. French oil major, Totsa Total Oil Trading SA, was found guilty of corruption in the United Nations' oil-forfood programme for Iraq during Saddam Hussein's rule. In 2016 the Parisian Court of Appeal found the company guilty of corrupting foreign officials and was fined USD $820,863. According to the Commodity Future Trading Commission (CFTC), an independent government agency in the U.S, British Petroleum Products agreed to pay a total of $303M in sanctions to settle charges of manipulation and attempted manipulation in the propane market in 2003 and 2004. Adding to the list of infringements, a BBC World Report exposed how BP agreed to pay billions for Petro-Tim, a West African oil company owned by Romanian businessman, Frank Timis. This West African corporation was found to be in the centre of corruption in Senegal. Documents showed that BP knew about the suspicious payments, which totaled to millions to the Senegalese President's brother, Aliou Sall, and it went ahead with the deal anyway. In 2015 Jiang Jiemin, the former chairman of PetroChina, International Brazil Trading Limited, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for taking bribes and
abuse of power. A report stated that authorities also confiscated about 1 million Yuan ($157,600) from Jiang, after he failed to explain where it came from. Later in 2017, the Chinese court found Liao Yongyuan, the former vice chairman guilty of corruption and sentenced him to 16 years imprisonment. According to Reuters Liao had abused his various positions in the energy industry between 1997 and 2014 for personal gain, and between 2003 and 2015 took 13.4 million Yuan ($1.95 million) in bribes, and was unable to account for the origin of 21 million Yuan in assets. Then there is the case of major, Stabroek Block partner, ExxonMobil. Another GW investigation conducted in 2018 uncovered that the US oil giant was complicit in corruption in Liberia, with the US $120 million purchase of Block 13 of the country's oil lands, a block the company allegedly was aware had been previously awarded through bribery. It also suspected the block was partially owned by former Liberian politicians who may have illegally granted it to themselves while holding office. But despite its concerns, Exxon went ahead with the deal. As has been covered by this paper, Exxon has also been linked to scandals in other countries, including the United States. Finally, there is the company contracted to buy Guyana's first three lifts of oil.: In 2011, Global Witness (GW) revealed how Shell Western Supplies & Trading Limited (Bahamas) participated in a vast bribery scheme for one of Africa's most valuable oil blocks, known as OPL 245. GW reported that Shell and Italian Oil Company Eni paid over US$1.1 billion in a murky deal for this lucrative asset located off the coast of Nigeria. Following a lengthy investigation by the NGO, it was able to access documents showing that this money did not go to benefit the Nigerian people. Instead, it went to convicted money launderer and former Oil Minister, Dan Etete, who had awarded himself ownership of the block in 1998 via a company he secretly owned, Malabu Oil and Gas. GW stated that the money paid for the block equals more than the African nation's 2016 health care budget. It is also one and a half times what the United Nations says is now needed to respond to the current famine crisis. The deal which allegedly paved the way for billions to be siphoned off to agents and middlemen in corrupt payments has also sparked law enforcement inquiries in six other countries.
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Klopp has done exceptional work – Bundesliga bosses hail title-winning Liverpool manager Sports Max - Jurgen Klopp has done “exceptional work” in leading Liverpool to the Premier League title, according to Bayern Munich head coach Hansi Flick. The Reds’ first domestic championship in 30 years was confirmed on Thursday when Manchester City’s 2-1 loss to Chelsea left Liverpool with an unassailable 23-point lead with seven games remaining. It represents Klopp’s third top-flight title in his coaching career after he led Borussia Dortmund to back-to-back championships in 2010-11
and 2011-12. Bayern have won each of the eight titles since and Flick – the man who guided them to their most recent one this season – is full of admiration for Klopp’s work on Merseyside. “We know each other and it is completely normal that you congratulate one another,” said Flick “He has done exceptional work at Liverpool. It’s great to see. Not only the way they play football, but also the way in which he mobilised the whole club and the fans with his style. He caused a lot of emotions. “It’s a shame, just like for us, that the fans could not be
part of it like they used to. “It will go down in history, but it is something that we must deal with during this corona[virus]-time. Nevertheless, we are both very happy that we could win the title.” Klopp was appointed Liverpool boss in October 2015, four months after departing Dortmund. He steered the Reds to a Champions League final in 2018 and though they lost to Real Madrid on that occasion, Klopp delivered the club’s sixth European Cup last year following a victory over Tottenham in Madrid. They came up short in
Saturday June 27, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) There's a conflicting pushpull aspect at play that may leave you feeling a bit unsure of how to proceed, Aries. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Get your chores done early today so you have time to play tonight. Plan a romantic evening with someone you love, if possible. Feel free to let your imagination carry you to a whole new realm of pleasure. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) This is an excellent day to tell people exactly how you feel. Your emotions are more stable than usual, so open up and let your heart speak. CANCER(June21–July22) Today may be tough for you, Cancer. It might seem like nothing is fitting into place. Could it be that you're trying to be someone you aren't? If things aren't working out, don't press the issue. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Enjoy yourself today, Leo. You have a great deal to be grateful for, so give thanks. Take pride in all that you've accomplished so far and share your joy with others. Feel free to let go of the reins and sit back and get comfortable. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today may be one of those days when you don't know which way to turn, Virgo. You're spinning around, and no direction looks good to you. For some reason, your engine won't turn off, and you just keep going in circles.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Romance is coming your way today as long as you stay levelheaded about the immediate situation. Take care of menial daily tasks and then let your heart soar. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your emotions may be a bit reserved today, Scorpio. It's OK to take a break from the activity and simply lay low. This is a good time to sit back and receive. Don't make any sudden moves. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Family issues play an important role today. Speak from your heart and tell your closest relatives how much they really mean to you. In general, you might feel a bit reserved with your energy. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You may feel some indecision regarding a loved o n e t o d a y. S o m e t h i n g could be urging you to act in this department, yet you might find that you just want to lay low. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today is a great day to work on getting yourself together. Your emotions are stable, leaving your heart free to soar in the clouds. Feel free to daydream. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) There's a somewhat conservative air to your feelings today, Pisces. You might be called on to get serious for a second and take care of business. This may not be a bad idea.
the 2018-19 Premier League title race – finishing second to Manchester City despite accruing 97 points – but this time Klopp’s men could not be stopped. Bayer Leverkusen boss Peter Bosz believes the Liverpool hierarchy deserve praise for giving Klopp time to build something special. “If he came from the Bundesliga or not – it’s just amazing what he has achieved at Liverpool,” Bosz said. “They won the league for the first time in 30 years and won the Champions League last season. “I think the most important thing is that the club gave him time. I think it’s his fourth [full] season there now. He got the time to build a team. “So if you work with a structure at a big club – and that was Liverpool before he got there – you can do great things.”
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Shamarh Brooks ‘seeing dividends’ of work with Floyd Reifer ahead of England Tests ESPNcricinfo - Shamarh Brooks thinks he is beginning to reap the rewards of his work with West Indies batting coach Floyd Reifer, and expects the time he has spent “thinking and visualising” because of the Covid-19enforced break to help him in the Test series against England. Brooks, 31, made his maiden international hundred in West Indies’ most recent Test, against Afghanistan in November, but endured a difficult run for Barbados in the regional Four-Day Competition before the pandemic brought the tournament to an early end. An innings of 116 against Leeward Islands was the only time he passed 50, as he ended the season with an average of just 18.78. But the lockdown brought an opportunity to
reflect on his game, and after hitting an unbeaten 66 in the second innings of this week’s intra-squad warm-up fixture, Brooks said he feels like he has put things right. “It wasn’t the best season for me. Thankfully for Covid, I had some time to reflect at home,” he said. “Coming here, I was doing a lot of thinking and visualising. We had two weeks in quarantine and doing work, and I had a chat with Floyd and we ironed out a few things. I’m seeing dividends now in this last innings today.” Brooks looks set to bat at No. 3 in this series, having broken into the Test team last year, and admitted that Shimron Hetmyer and Darren Bravo - both of whom opted out of the tour due to concerns about the virus would be “big misses” in the West Indian batting line-up.
But he insisted that the side would be able to cope. “We have the tools to deal with it,” he said. “We have guys like Shai [Hope] with a load of experience, [Shane] Dowrich, the captain [Jason Holder], and Kraigg [Brathwaite], our most senior opener. “When I look around the dressing room, there’s no reason to feel shy or to feel like I’m behind the eight ball; these guys are always around. I personally believe the team who bats the best in this series will come up trumps. You look at the bowling and both sides are very strong.” In 2018, Brooks captained the West Indies A side in the first-class leg of their tour of England, where they played India A, in a squad that contained five other members of this year’s squad: Jermaine Blackwood, Rahkeem Cornwall, Chemar Holder, Raymon Reifer and John Campbell. While West Indies A lost the four-day series to India A 1-0 on that trip, Brooks finished as the leading run-
Shamarh Brooks: “The team who bats the best in this series will come up trumps”. (AFP) scorer, with his returns in the series including 91 in Beckenham and an unbeaten 122 in Taunton in the match his team lost. “During this week’s game, the weather’s been very good - similar to Caribbean conditions,” he said. “My time here in 2018 against the India A team, it was a good summer that time as well. Conditions were nice and warm, they were good batting pitches to play cricket on.
“It was a situation where I was coming off a good firstclass season in the Caribbean: I was full of confidence, and I guess it just flowed into the A team series in 2018. On this tour, it’s a different situation, in terms of being faced with the pandemic: getting time in the middle is key. “Sometimes the nets can be a bit monotonous and you need to get out to the middle and see where you’re hitting
the ball, your shape and that kind of stuff, so the last three days have been very good. “You know in England that the ball is always doing something. You never feel as though you’re set as a batsman, so you’ve got to stick to your game plan. The first 30 runs you might score, you might need to set up your innings to bat that way all the way through. I’m sure that once we get some more time out there, it’ll get easier.”
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West Indies play down Jason Holder concerns Swiss prosecutors widen PA Sports - West Indies head coach Phil Simmons insists there is nothing to worry about after captain Jason Holder played a peripheral part in his side’s first warm-up match ahead of the Test series against England. Holder captained one team in a drawn intra-squad match against Kraigg Brathwaite’s XI but did little more than stand at slip for the majority of game. He declined to bowl himself despite his side spending time in the field on each of the three days and, when he did make his way into the middle on Wednesday, he was dismissed lbw by Raymon Reifer for a golden duck. Holder did not promote himself to enjoy a second innings as the game meandered to an inevitable draw, Brathwaite’s side declaring 313 ahead and Holder’s men finishing 149 for three. After a highly competitive
first two days gave way to a softer battle on Thursday things should tick up a notch next week when a second internal match is likely to be awarded first-class status. And Holder is expected to play a much bigger part. “Jason has had a slight niggle on his ankle and that is what has held him back from bowling, but that was always the plan for this match,” Simmons told the PA news agency. “He will be back to bowling in the four-day game and should be bowling his full quota. As for the batting, if you get one ball and you’re out, that’s all you can do.” Simmons also suggested wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, who joined Shamarh Brooks and Sheyne Moseley in scoring unbeaten halfcenturies in Manchester, was not a major fitness concern. Dowrich left the field during the afternoon session after hurting his side, leaving Brooks and Shai Hope to split the glovework before the
CWI head Skerritt reported to CWI Ethics Committee President of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Ricky Skerritt could find himself before the CWI Ethics Committee after a report was submitted to the body accusing him of breaches of the CWI Code of Ethics as well as a violation of the memorandum of association. The committee is being chaired by Justice Winston Anderson and according to an article published in the Jamaica Gleaner, Anderson recently received a report in the form of a complaint from a CWI director which outlined several issues in relation to breaches of CWI’s Code of Ethics, arising from the nowcontroversial PKF consultants Business Situation Assessment and Financial Report. It was understood that sections of the report stated that Skerritt violated Article 102 of the memorandum of association, allegedly, entering into a contractual engagement with PKF without the prior knowledge, approval, or authorisation of the CWI board of directors. The report made mention of a second violation with regard to a breach of the Code of Ethics, Section 4, Subsection 4.1, where “... the President and the CEO refused and/or neglected to facilitate a reasonable request
of a Director to receive information pertaining to the operations of CWI”. Other breaches referred to were “the leaking and/or failure to keep the report confidential as well as the engagement in conduct giving rise to a conflict of interest.” There was no timeline given with regard to the handling of the report by the CWI Ethics Committee, which comprises Chairman Anderson, Madam Justice Desire Bernard, Archbishop Donald Reece, Justice Stanley John, and Nellen Rogers-Murdoch. This is not the first time Skerritt has found himself in such situation. Recently, Skerritt had to quash speculation linking the West Indies tour to England to a US$3 million loan to CWI by the England and Wales Cricket Board in May; this eventually became the subject of an International Cricket Council ethics inquiry. Skerritt told Cricinfo that the loan was a “helping hand” given the direness of CWI’s financial situation, which was made even worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. Skerritt said that CWI was transparent with ICC about the need for a short-term loan and ECB’s involvement.
FIFA probe to former UEFA president Platini
Shannon Gabriel did his Test claims no harm (Gareth Copley/PA). early conclusion. “Shane is fine. I’ll need to see the doctor to see exactly what is wrong but he seems to be doing fine,” added Simmons. Simmons confirmed that all of the squad’s latest batch of Covid-19 tests had come back negative, meaning both they and England have the all-clear at present. While nobody will have definitively secured or surrendered their place in the Test side yet, the lively performance of Shannon
Gabriel furthered his prospects of moving from the standby list to the first XI. The Trinidadian paceman, who has had ankle problems, bowled on all three days, found good pace and took four wickets. “He looks ready, that was evident here,” said Simmons. “When you see how he bowled in the first innings, then again yesterday and even more so this morning you could see he’s close to 100 per cent. Now we want to get him up to 100 just before the Test match.”
ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss federal prosecutors are targeting former European football head Michel Platini in a widening of their probe into a 2 million Swiss franc ($2.1 million) payment arranged by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) said yesterday. Swiss prosecutors have been probing Blatter over accusations he arranged a payment of two million Swiss francs ($2.06 million) from FIFA to then UEFA president Platini in February 2011. Blatter and Platini, who captained France to victory in the 1984 European Championship on home soil, were both banned in 2016 from soccer for six years over the payment, made with Blatter’s approval for work done a decade earlier. Both have denied any wrongdoing. The OAG yesterday said that in May it had widened its probe to cover other aspects of the matter and to investigate three additional people, including Platini. “The criminal proceedings have been extended against former UEFA President Michel Platini on suspicion of participation in disloyal management and on
suspicion of falsification of documents,” the OAG said in an emailed statement yesterday, noting the presumption of innocence applied. Platini said he was not aware of the subject of the investigation and had considered the matter already closed. “After five years, it is quite possible that FIFA will continue to harass me with complaints with the sole aim of keeping me out of football and smearing my reputation. FIFA’s best defense against me at the moment is to attack me,” he said in an emailed statement. World soccer’s ruling body FIFA in December filed claims in Swiss courts seeking to recover the 2 million Swiss francs, which it said were paid inappropriately. Swiss federal prosecutors in May ended another investigation into Blatter’s deals with the Caribbean Football Union to sell World Cup broadcasting rights and yesterday said an appeal had been filed against that discontinuation, to be decided by Switzerland’s Federal Criminal Court’s appeals board.
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Former boxing champ Roberto ‘Hands of Stone’ Duran infected with COVID-19 PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Former world boxing champion Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran tested positive for coronavirus after being admitted to a hospital center with flu-like symptoms, the
Saturday June 27, 2020
Kaieteur News
pugilist’s son said on Thursday. “My father’s exams have just arrived and confirm that he is positive for COVID-19,” Robin Duran said on his Instagram account.
“For now he still doesn’t show symptoms, beyond a simple cold, he is not in intensive care, nor on a respirator, he is still under observation,” he added. The 69-year-old Panamanian former boxer retired in 2001 and is considered one of the best lightweights in history. He fought over five decades, held four different world titles, and his record stands at 103 wins, with 70 knockouts and 16 losses.
Known for his aggressive punching power, Duran, who grew up in Panama City’s poor El Chorillo district and won his first title in 1972, is today regarded as a national hero. “The doctor tells us his lungs are fine and there are no signs of seriousness. Let’s continue to have faith that everything will turn out well,” said Robin Duran. Panama has recorded 29,037 known coronavirus infections and 564 COVID-19 deaths.
NBA: Sixteen players in ‘self-isolation’ after testing positive for COVID-19
Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) drives for the basket as Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12) defends during the first quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. (Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters)
Boxing legend Roberto Duran of Nicaragua waves as he is introduced at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada May 6, 2011. (REUTERS/Steve Marcus)
NEW YORK (Reuters) Sixteen NBA players tested positive for COVID-19, the league said yesterday, a little over a month before the 2020 season is set to resume in Florida on the same day the state reported a record of almost 9,000 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours. “Any player who tested positive will remain in selfisolation until he satisfies public health protocols for discontinuing isolation and has been cleared by a physician,” the National Basketball Association said in a statement. The 16 positive tests were out of 302 players tested on June 23. The league did not disclose the identities of the players. Jabari Parker and Alex Len of the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers’ Malcolm Brogdon were confirmed on
Wednesday to have tested positive, though it was not immediately clear when their tests took place. Kings forward Parker said in a team statement that he had received the diagnosis “several days ago.” The NBA and its players’ union said on Friday that they had approved plans to resume the season on July 30 at Disney World in Florida. Under the plan, 22 of the NBA’s 30 teams will play eight seeding games to determine a 16-team playoff field that would follow the traditional post-season format and crown a champion in October. Players would be living, practicing and playing at the Disney resort to minimize the risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus.
Vieira continues to impress in Canada Guyanese Elliot Vieira stormed the front row of the SOAR (Southern Ontario Association of Racing) championships and snagged his second chequered flag in as many weekends as superbike action continued in Canada last weekend. Vieira, a former Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) Superbike Champion, returned to the Grand Bend in Ontario last weekend for his second weekend of Prosport 600cc action where he earned his second win. Qualifying on P2 during the Saturday Session, the Guyanese took the lead early on Sunday and never looked
back as he continued his scintillating form. Vieira also did well in the 1000cc event with a second place finish aboard the same 600cc bike he had used earlier. The previous week Vieira picked up his first win on the Canadian circuit with a first place finish at the Canadian Superbike Championships (CSBK) Regional at the Grand Bend. The 2015 Caribbean Champ, who is studying in Canada, had qu a l i f i e d third but quickly made his way to the front of the pack by lap two, where he dominated for the remaining six laps.
Kaieteur News
Saturday June 27, 2020
Ivanisevic latest to test positive for COVID-19
Djordje Djokovic and Goran Ivanisevic on the court announcing the cancellation of the final match after Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (REUTERS/Antonio Bronic)
L
O N D O N (Reuters) F o r m e r Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic is the latest to announce he has tested positive for COVID-19 following the illfated Adria Tour organized by Novak Djokovic. Ivanisevic, who is part of Djokovic’s coaching set-up, said on Instagram that after two negative tests he had now tested positive.
“I feel good and don’t have any symptoms,” Croatian Ivanisevic, who w o n Wi m b l e d o n a s a wildcard in 2001 when he beat Pat Rafter, said. “I would like to inform everyone who has been in contact with me that I tested positive and ask them to take extra good care of themselves and their loved ones. “I will continue to selfisolate as I have been doing.”
Wo r l d n u m b e r o n e Djokovic has been criticized after he, Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, Croatia’s Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki of Serbia tested positive after playing in the exhibition tournament in the Balkan region. Djokovic’s wife Jelena also tested positive, as did his fitness coach Marco Panichi and Dimitrov’s coach Christian Groh. 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.
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Jason Holder (left) is expected to be fit in time for the start of the first Test.
rt o p S
CWI head Skerritt reported to CWI Ethics Committee
West Indies play down Jason Holder concerns Elliot Vieira in his element. (Mikey Spice photo)
CWI President Ricky Skerritt
NBA: Sixteen players in ‘self-isolation’ after testing positive for COVID-19
Swiss prosecutors widen FIFA probe to former UEFA president Platini
Vieira continues to impress in Canada
Former UEFA President Michel Platini waves after his speech before th e election of the new UEFA President in Athens, Greece September 14, 2016. (REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis/File Photo)
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