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UK Govt calls Wednesday Edition NEWS on Pres. Granger to ensure free and fair electoral process AIETEUR

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March 11, 2020 - Vol. 15 No. 10

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Online readership yesterday 173,038

80-plus global organizations tell oil companies and financial institutions:

Don’t conduct business with an unlawful Govt Shuman appears in court with traditional wear

GECOM Chair seeks compromise between commissioners SUV plunges off Demerara Harbour Bridge Ministry assures Guyana still coronavirus free - awareness symposium billed for NCC today

Four Caricom Prime Ministers arrive in Guyana over

unresolved elections results

Court to rule on future of 2020 elections today

Wednesday March 11, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Court to rule on future of 2020 elections today Chief Justice, (Ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire yesterday listened to oral presentations from lawyers embroiled in the lawsuit against GECOM over unverified vote counts for Region Four- the nation’s largest voting population.

The Court is set to rule on the matter at 14:00 hours today.

The case stems from contentions raised by the main political opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic, (PPP/C) that the votes raised must be verified before they are declared.

On one side, Reaz Holladar, a private citizen is represented by a legal team led by Trinidadian Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, backed by lawyers from the PPP/C. He is challenging the Guyana Elections Commission, (GECOM) its Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, and Clairmont Mingo, the Returning Officer for Region 4.

On the other side, GECOM lead counsel, Neil Boston S.C is contending that his clients did comply with the law in accordance with what is required before the declaration is made.

In his less than an hour oral submission, Trinidadian Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes asked the Court to examine statements as it relates to the events which transpired prior to when the

Chief Justice, (Ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire purported declarations were made by the Returning Officer of Region Four, Clairmont Mingo.

Mendes noted that GECOM presented six affidavits in the case, from a number of persons including Aubrey Norton, the Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Meyers, and attorneys-at-law James Bond, and the Returning Officer Mingo.

Mingo and GECOM’s CEO Keith Lowenfield sat side-by-side in the courtroom yesterday as Mendes argued that the R.O failed to comply with Section 84 (1) of the Representation of the Peoples Act. Mendes told the Court that based on the affidavit provided, Mingo left Senior

Clerk Michelle Miller to assist with the electoral process after he suddenly fell ill Tuesday night.

“The votes were processed in Mr. Mingo’s absence after he took ill and was rushed to the hospital.

When he returned, all the data had been inputted into a computer by Ms. Miller and other clerks who assisted her.

Ms. Miller had supervised the data entry process.”

Mendes said that Section 86 (1) of the aforesaid Act states that the Returning Officer can decide which elections officer can assist him.

However, he clarified that Miller did not fall into that category and as such could not be designated to perform such duties by the Returning

Officer.

“Anyone else doing the calculation is in breach and violation of the articles set out in the Act.” the Senior Counsel added.

The Senior Counsel explained further, that Mingo’s declaration for Region Four had 897 polling stations and he only allowed for the tabulation of 421 Statement of Polls (SoPs).

“He clearly aborted the process.” “He then purported to have gone ahead and prepared a final report for the 10 electoral districts despite contentions raised about the stark disparity between the SOPs he had in his possession and the one presented by Sonia Parag— a PPP candidate.”

The next question, the lawyer posited is “whether calculation of the votes was done according to the formula prescribed by law.”

Relying on precedence from the case of Joseph Hamilton versus GECOM the lawyer said it is his view Mingo flouted his duties.

He therefore asked the Court to find the declaration unconstitutional, illegal, null, void and of no effect.

Mendes stressed, too, that the court should issue an order mandating Mingo to follow the relevant electoral laws; it will ensure public trust and confidence in the country’s electoral system.

In response to the

arguments presented, Boston told the Court that the R.O could adopt whatever method he wishes to use. “In which case, he used spreadsheets, instead of SOPs,” the lawyer said. Further, he contended that the PPP’s main issue is with the discrepancies between SoPs. “There is a remedy provided for this; a recount pursuant to Section 84 (2) of the said Act,” the lawyer added.

Boston sought to specifically tackle the argument that the verification process had been incomplete.

He noted that in his view failure to do the verification process does not in any way invalidate the declaration.

The attorney pleaded that the R.O was in “substantial compliance with the law.”

Mendes countered the argument noting that substantial compliance does not constitute “compliance.”

“It is like saying that I am supposed to run a 100 meters race and completed 50 meters and won on the basis of substantial compliance,” he said.

Justice George-Wiltshire said that in her view, the law seems not to suggest any uniform method for counting votes.

According to the Judge, the law seems to imply that it is left up to each Returning Officer to kind of figure out what technique is best.

UK Govt. calls on Pres.

Granger to ensure free and fair electoral process

Shuman appears in court with traditional wear Presidential Candidate of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) Lennox Shuman, created quite a stir yesterday at the Georgetown High Court.

He turned up dressed in what he called his traditional Indigenous wear to listen to the arguments in the ongoing elections case.

Upon entry, Shuman was prohibited from mounting the stairs as he was told by court officers that he was not permitted in the courtroom.

They claimed that his dress did not coincide with the code of dress for the court.

When Kaieteur News arrived at the court, the Presidential Candidate was standing at the bottom of the stairs, with officers blocking his every attempt at going further. He explained that he was waiting for more than 20 minutes; well after the court proceedings had started.

A crowd of onlookers had gathered and could be heard heckling and laughing but Shuman was unfazed and persisted.

He told the media that such an act by the officers constitutes to discrimination.

“My rights are being violated. My constitutional rights are being violated.”

Shuman being prevented from moving further on the court corridors.

Shuman stated, “I came in my traditional wear because it is my constitutional right to

do that.”

He further said, “Under Article 149 of the

constitution, I have a right as every other ethnicity in this country to enter into the court traditionally attired.

“People don’t stop people when they walk in with a dhoti; they don’t stop you when you walk in with traditional African or Chinese attire.

“But yet, here we have an Indigenous person dressed traditionally and I am being stopped.”

The former Vice Chairman for the National Toshaos Council was questioned whether his attire of a traditional headdress, wooden staff and cloth was akin to indecent exposure.

In reply, Shuman stated “You can’t see my butt; you can only see my cheeks.”

Shuman stressed that the constitution talks about one’s right to live in a society that is free from discrimination but yet he is being prevented.

“You don’t see anyone else being stopped from coming in and I am the only Indigenous person that has a stake in this, yet I am not being allowed to go in.”

He eventually was able to get to the upper level and after a brief standoff with the officers; he was able to enter the courtroom.

UK Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab Guyana’s former colonial master has weighed in on the political situation, through its foreign secretary, Dominic Raab.

The United Kingdom, in a statement from Raab, yesterday, expressed deep concern about the events, which followed the March 2 elections.

It called upon President David Granger to “preserve the principle of free, fair and credible elections” by

ensuring that proper procedures are followed before embarking on a transition of government.

“Allegations of electoral fraud and premature declarations of victory prior to the completion of a credible process pose a grave threat to the democratic principles of Guyana,” Raab said.

The UK foreign secretary said that it stands ready to offer assistance to ensure a credible election is produced.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 11, 2020

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

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

EDITORIAL

A wretched state There is a national holiday that is usually of widespread family and community cheer, and it has all the fizz of concentrated grapefruit juice: flat but sharply acidic, scorching to some constitutions, bitter to rejecting palate and psychologically battered personage.

In this climate, there is nothing national about this holiday, even partisan and parochial celebration is enfeebled and signals the wasting of our precious time, the undivided priorities of our energies.

It is that kind of time today in Guyana, and it promises to remain so unchanging and uncaring on the day after today, and the others that follow. What hope can there be to explore the vast promise that lies before us?

There are only the sounds of our domestic abuses and diseases now metastasized to a national scale. It is the dreadful state of this wretched state where nothing else matters.

Nothing else matters. For there is a sickness--frightening and fatal--that sweeps across the globe, that has impacted severely many advanced societies and claimed many victims.

It draws alarmingly and perilously near, it is just outside our many borders, and we are not bothered.

We have neither time nor interest. To be blunt, we do not have a care for such mundane things of the world, that scares the rest of the world into borderline panics in some overwhelming instances. And yet we are as unruffled and unheeding as a perpetual drunk lost in the deepest of hazes.

Elections are our drink of choice, our enduring narcotics fix to be repeated day after day, and by the hour, as needed.

Well, now the fixes of elections developments and elections ebbs and flows--be such from media or courts or rumour-furnish the crutches on which we, as double amputees, lean on and live on for the next step forward. There is nothing else.

Sooner than later, we are going to have to come down from this incomprehensible, senseless, self-destructive high and face reality. We are going to be forced to face the reality of our circumstances, the holes that we keep digging for ourselves, and into which we tumble blindly, drunkenly, unconsciously. The long, lost weekend is going to be over and we had better be ready for what comes: the terrible withdrawal, the unbelievable agonies that await us when we emerge from our deep funk.

We are going to have to wake up and recognise that we have to live with one another, next to one another, and with the pungent truths and revealing deformities that are an inseparable part of our coexistence.

It is the most simmering of distorted coexistences. After all the flights of adrenaline, the voicing of venom and vehemence, we remain fastened inextricably in the stickiest of places: unlearning, untroubled, and unwise to the unthinking cores of our increasingly unpromising convergences of circumstances. Oil prices, now below breakeven, remind of the fragility of wealth; even that fails to stir. This is the dreadful state of this wretched state.

We have journeyed a long time and a long way to get nowhere—nowhere as a nation, nowhere as a people united towards a single destiny. We are not even a tale of two peoples anymore. We are a tale of two tragedies and their accompanying torments. The solutions are right before us: not one alone, but many shoulders devoted to the heavy duties of national designing and national building.

We need statesmen of a singular calibre and we need them now. What we have, rather regrettably, are selfish and ambitious men, who are unable and unwilling to break out of their old molds, who are trapped by narrow partisan visions, and who compel all of us to consent to being dragged along in their voyages of the self-defeating.

We go along willingly in our respective tribal camps, for this is all we have, all we have ever known. Now it is all that we desire with the most fevered intensities. This is decimating us, making fools of all of us. Unless we commit to healing ourselves cold turkey, then today will be like yesterday with tomorrow the same with the same shakes and the same fixes craved.

This is the dreadful state of our wretched state.

Persons are behaving as if we can withstand these sanctions DEAR EDITOR, I have observed with consternation the flippant way persons have been addressing the issue of possible sanctions being imposed on our country by the ABC countries and the European Union. Persons are behaving as if we can withstand these sanctions and that they will not cause any hardships on our citizens.

I believe that it is important that we edify ourselves on the effects sanctions could have on us.

According to a study by Neuenkirc and Nuemeier (2015), the US and UN economic sanctions had a statistically significant impact on the target country’s economy by reducing GDP growth by more than 2 percent a year.

The study also concluded that the negative effects typically last for a period of 10 years amounting to an aggregate decline in the target country’s GDP per-capita of 25.5 percent. The study also noted that sanctions are the only measure separating a country from military action being taken against them.

Here is a list of 7 usual effects of economic sanctions

on a country: 1. Economic sanctions lead to an increase in the poverty gap and depressed sections of the population feel the most impact.

2. Elites manage to negotiate the adverse effect to a greater level than the poorer citizens.

3. Sanctions have a damaging effect on income inequality and impact ordinary people more than the sanctioned country leaders.

4. Sanctioned regimes selfishly attempt to magnify the sanctions’ negative effect on the economy to prevent the population from revolting.

5. The negative impact that sanctions have on economic growth affect women, minority communities and other marginalised groups to a greater extent.

6. Sanctions have a significant negative impact on the living standards and humanitarian situation of the population in the sanctioned state.

7. Sanctions lead to less aid getting through, which further exacerbate the situation.

That said, there must be an understanding about sanctions imposed against a country, and sanctions

imposed against offending individuals.

For example, sanctions were imposed on Major General Gabriel Amisi Kumba and John Numbi, a former senior police officer of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2019 by the United States. These two were seen as the major contributors to the delaying of elections and the suppression of the opposition.

All their and their families’ financial assets in the US were blocked and Americans were banned from engaging in any financial transaction with them.

In 2019 also, officials of the Venezuelan government were also sanctioned by the United States.

All assets held in the United States were blocked and were restricted from being transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn or otherwise dealt with.

All business transactions with those officials were prohibited.

This therefore forced countries and companies to choose between doing business with the US or the Venezuelans.

After the less than credible elections in Belarus in 2019, the ABC countries along with the European Union imposed sanctions on

the following individuals: - all the government officials who made up the new government; persons from the Election Centre who seemed to have participated in assisting with the fraudulent elections; and journalists who promoted the government’s fraudulent position.

These individuals were banned from travelling to any of the countries that imposed the sanctions, along with restriction from travelling on airlines owned by companies domiciled in any of those countries.

These are just three examples; there are much more that can be used.

These examples, however, highlight that once it is deemed that you in any way played a role in electoral fraud, there are consequences and the possibility of individual international sanctions.

It is my sincerest hope that good sense prevails and GECOM completes the process of verifying votes using the Statements of Poll, in accordance with the law, or returns to the ballot boxes to conduct a full recount so that the 2020 General and Regional Elections can be deemed credible.

Yours truly, S. Greaves

Support this verification process (even if it means a full recount) DEAR EDITOR, The campaign for elections is over now; the evidence is written on Statements of Poll (SOPs) and contained in well-secured ballot boxes. The legal, honest and decent way forward is clear; a Returning Officer from GECOM has to work with party agents in the presence of observers to tabulate a credible result for District/ Region Four.

I suggest that all the containers with ballot boxes be transported to a central, secured location, such as the TSU tarmac at Eve Leary; in the (now likely) event of a discrepancy between GECOM and party SOPs, the relevant ballot box can be retrieved and counted on the spot, in the presence of party agents, observers and media operatives.

This is what is meant by verification. This process must be followed meticulously before any declaration of results can be made; a bona fide report written by the Chief Elections Officer made for GECOM Commissioners to consider and then make a

final pronouncement, then and only then, can any legitimate government be installed and a President sworn to serve. All else is noise.

G u y a n a ’s e l e c t i o n s must be deemed credible by the international observers present and our next government be recognised as legitimate.

Today, the world enters the third day of an economic meltdown attributed to the COVID-19 outbreak and Saudi Arabia and Russia have begun a vicious war of oil sales which have sent prices

plummeting hourly – US$32 at the time of writing for Brent crude with analysts predicting US$15 as the final price for the rest of the year.

Guyana is about to face financial hardships not seen in a generation. The bet on oil has backfired and it cannot be relied on as the pillar upon which we can stand, much less build our future upon.

Guyana’s reserves of foreign currency are seriously depleted and our gold reserves are now minimal following the Granger administration sell-off. Utterances from senior United States State

Department figures leave no doubt that any government installed without a transparent verification of the District/Region Four votes will not be recognised as legitimate.

I urge all Guyanese to support this verification process (even if it means a full recount) in the interest of our safety, security, and place among the legitimate nations of the world.

The road ahead for our nation will be difficult and cannot be done as a rogue state; should we become a pariah, we the citizens will endure untold suffering.

Guyanese have been (Continued on page 5)

GECOM officials can be charged for making false declarations DEAR EDITOR, Regarding the fiasco at GECOM, specifically the premature declaration of results, Guyanese are asked to note that it is a chargeable offence for a GECOM official to make a false declaration.

Refer to the following section: LAWS OF GUYANA Representation of The People [Act] Cap. 1.03 [pg] 157

PART XVI MISCELLANEOUS ELECTION OFFENCES 137. (1) Every person who: - (i) in any Form, or in any certificate on the reverse side thereof, makes any declaration or statement that he does not believe to be true, or has reasonable grounds to believe to be false, in any material respect; shall be guilty of a misdemeanour,

and be liable on conviction— (i) if he is an election officer or other person exercising powers or performing duties connected with or relating to the conduct of elections, to a fine of sixty-five thousand dollars and to imprisonment for two years; Regards, Craig Sylvester

Wednesday March 11, 2020

An electoral process was set in motion with flaws from the beginning DEAR EDITOR, In a recent document, I advanced the point that the integrity of anything, a bridge for example, depends on the integrity of each of its components. The same also applies when trying to establish the integrity of any academic writing. All standards must be met.

Voting on election-day was peaceful and efficient.

The international observers declared that our elections were ‘credible’. But was this the case? A numerical problem at the end must now draw our attention to a systemic fault, which was there at the beginning of the electoral process – that of the incomplete house-to-house registration and a faulty voters’ list. These came about because of protests.

An electoral process was set in motion with flaws from the beginning. But we are now only focusing on the flaws manifesting at the end.

Remember, on a matter of ‘principle’, the integrity or credibility of the whole depends on the integrity or credibility of each of its components (referenced to my opening paragraph).

A very clear example can be drawn from the problems now facing an airline manufacturer. One of its planes had a design fault, but was cleared to fly. After two fatal crashes, should we blame the pilots or the flawed computer system on that specific model of aircraft?

Guyana put to ‘flight’ a flawed electoral system. Now that we have problems, we are looking to blame the ‘pilots’.

Let us scrap these elections and put a more reliable system in place, ensuring that all of its components are credible and remain credible throughout the process. A flawed system can never give accurate results – period! This leads us to the point of having

electronic voting with facial recognition and fingerprint scanning to match each voter’s ID card.

The international community can assist in helping Guyana to acquire a state-of-the-art computerised voting system in the shortest possible time. In the interim, the government remains, but with special parliamentary accommodation for the opposition.

Guyana will be here forever, so what would it cost to wait just a few more years to fix the electoral system?

Every good political party will have a chance to govern in time.

Thanks to the international observers whose presence here and around the world has helped in the quest for peace and transparency.

Finally, it must be reemphasized that “wisdom is better than weapons of war”.

Leonard Marks

Why must the electorate accept that these Statements of Poll are authentic?

DEAR EDITOR, It has been brought to the national attention, that the Opposition’s request to have a total recount done for the Region 4 General and Regional Elections results was rejected by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Mr. Lenox Shuman, presidential candidate of the Liberty & Justice Party reportedly told Kaieteur News that the rejection was because of a technicality. Please refer to article, “Opposition parties request for recount rejected” March 8, 2020.

The rejection of the

recount as Mr. Shuman noted, came after the statutory period and the request was not made by a counting agent. As Guyanese seek to understand what is happening, it would be helpful to know Sections 84 (2) and 88 of the Representation of the People Act (1964) requires compliance with specific protocols, which were apparently not met.

Citizens would remember in the 2006 Elections when GECOM awarded a Region 10 seat won by the AFC to the PPP/C. The AFC could not have had that seat accorded to them because the party

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made a request for a recount of the Region 10 Statements of Poll outside of the legally stipulated period. The AFC was advised by the thenChief Elections Officer Mr. Gocool Boodhoo to pursue the voting recount request via the Court, which the party did.

Another point to note is that APNU+AFC and the PPP/ C were the only two parties who contested the elections in all of the ten administrative regions and fielded polling agents for all of the 879 polling stations in Region Four.

It would be helpful if the (Continued on page 6)

Guyana – One Way Forward DEAR EDITOR, It was expected that both the PPP and APNU would do their best to get elected into Government. They both gave it their best and should be contented with the results.

Frankly, for APNU to not know the depth of the betrayal felt by the supporters of the AFC since the last election is an extreme form of denial. The reality of that betrayal can be seen in the way the PPP has picked up increase in support throughout the country.

The PPP and APNU should not wait for the court to order that the counts for Region 4 be verified.

This would put all of Guyana in a very bad place.

Leading members of civic society are calling for dialogue.

I support dialogue and agreement before the Chief Justice should render her decision.

I do not believe dialogue should be about shared governance, because a vibrant opposition is always necessary to give the people a different perspective. In Guyana, politicians are not generally known to put the people first; as such, shared governance can also mean that more politicians will share in the pie, leaving much less for the people. This will not do.

I put on the table for discussion interim measures in the form of Inclusive Governance as follows: 1. All Civil Servants, Public Servants, Teachers, the Armed Services, Government Corporations and Government-owned

entities employing people must subscribe to a code of conduct that requires them to be non-political.

Since they are beneficiaries of the State and have control of State resources; they must not have any political associations or exercise influence in favour of any political party.

Agree to purge the services of anyone who cannot subscribe to this code of conduct Employment must be by merit – this should eliminate racial discrimination and political marginalisation, incompetence and corruption.

Under this system, everyone can be included in governance for the people.

You can also address things like gender representation etc.

2. Create a National Advisory Council comprising representatives from all the political parties not in power.

This council must be given legal status and authority such that government must involve them in decisionmaking and cannot act contrary to their advice and recommendations.

3. With immediate effect, parliamentarians should be allowed to vote against their party without any restrictions and repercussions.

Parliamentarians can cross the floor.

4. With immediate effect,

persons from the diaspora should be allowed to be members of parliament.

5. Constitutional Reform.

Commit to a National Consultation of reform.

Implement Reforms before the next elections.

6. Election should be held under the new/reformed constitution.

7. After elections, the National Advisory Council can be discontinued if not required.

I see this as easy to agree to and to implement, and will provide for a form of shared governance while retaining effective opposition, as I believe that governments should change regularly.

Yours respectfully, Sase Shewnarain

Support this verification...

From page 4 down this road before and survived, but it is not the one we ever wanted to see our children tread.

There is still time to get the verification started, there is no need for GECOM to be fighting a court case at this time; all that is required is the integrity of persons and political maturity to accept the verified count.

The Ides of March are upon us.

Respectfully Robin Singh

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 11, 2020

Allow the law to take its course; stay calm, respect each other and have patience DEAR EDITOR, Thinking …

So, in 2011, John (now my husband) and I had our first discussion and disagreement about politics. I embraced this because I am never one to follow the masses, or to be swayed by popular culture, and neither is he. It was my first ‘political’ experience on several counts: my first ‘Election Season’ in Guyana, my first ownership of an ID card and my first time voting.

I remember there was a Presidential debate held at the GWLT auditorium at the University of Guyana. I attended because I wanted my vote to have merit. I wanted to make an informed decision. The auditorium was filled to capacity and chants roared from all across the room as people rooted for whichever party they thought was the best fit to lead the country.

I remember seeing many youths standing and sitting at the front-right of the room.

These were PPP/C supporters and representatives decked

in red T-shirts, hats and flags, enthusiastically hitting on the desks, stomping and shouting to affirm whatever points were raised by their Presidential Candidate, who did not have to worry whether his points were substantial or not. His support base was very reassuring!

On the other side of the room were APNU supporters who were just as enthusiastic and behaved in the same manner when points were raised by their Presidential Candidate. Immediately, I knew that these two parties were major and probably in existence for a longer time than the others. My eyes were filled with glee and excitement. I had never seen anything like this before! As I looked around, there were many like me, who had not yet decided on a party, but came with an open mind to hear them out.

AFC was fresh on the scene. Mr. Ramjattan spoke exceptionally well—I was not persuaded per se, but I was

Why must the electorate...

From page 5 other small parties can advise Guyanese which Statements of Poll they are using to question the credibility of Region Four numbers coming out from GECOM? From where have they gotten their statements and why must the electorate accept that theirs are

authentic? They have the burden to prove that their claims are sincere, and not the result of misinformation and being bandwagoners.

Members of the international observers’ missions are being equally apprised of the foregoing.

Eslyn Harris Candidate - APNU+AFC

overwhelmingly impressed! I don’t remember him having as many supporters, but what he had to say commanded one’s attention. Before I continue, let me just plug this in here: TUF’s Presidential Candidate was the most outstanding, ‘if ya know, ya know’.

From my perspective, it was at this point that political discussions took a turn and had several views from several angles, because the head table now had new guests who had just as much to offer the people of this country.

So John and I talked and we definitely had disagreements and differences, but we had an understanding (to this day, I am not sure that we voted for the same people that year and that’s fine).

I have unshakable respect for people who think for themselves and make decisions based on their own convictions. I believe that is the correct way to exercise one’s democratic right, but with all that has been happening recently, I have been thinking that the reality of the situation is, everyone will not think independently.

Hear me out.

Throughout this life, I have identified four types of people in our society that are equally important, but play very different roles: 1. LEADERS: people who have that innate ability to inspire and influence the decisions made by those around them. These are very powerful people. Mr. Bharat Jagdeo is a born leader! That man is intellectual, tactful, very calculated, and has the ability to accomplish! Good or bad, he gets things done! I have many friends who stand by his leadership because of how business-oriented the man is. However, Mr. Jagdeo’s agenda, priorities and methods are totally different from His Excellency David Granger who is also a born leader!

Mr. Granger ’s mere presence demands respect and those who have been around him can attest to this.

His hands have been soft and caring towards this nation and I believe that his nature coupled with the fact that he is family-oriented is what encourages that passion he

has to clean, develop, educate and father this nation. We have seen the evidence and as a young person, this affects me directly.

2. CHALLENGERS: those who delight in thinking for themselves. You cannot lead these people by their noses. Challengers fact check, do their research, ask questions and make informed deductions that also greatly influence those around them.

Challengers can be leaders but, ‘deh don’t fight up with dat’. They know their place and strengths and usually serve as activists in society in one way or another. If what you’re talking about is right up their lane, expect some traffic before you reach your destination.

3. CHALLENGERS WITH AN AGENDA: For these people, though they are brilliant, money talks! Their biggest motivation is money and position, and once that is in order they will argue to the dust, even if it means arguing senselessly. They have the intelligence to swing things in their favour.

Often times, challengers with an agenda take extreme measures to make what they are doing believable, because too much is at stake for them!

These people have no regards for right and wrong. They will destroy your reputation if you oppose them. They answer questions with

questions and justify wrongdoing by highlighting wrongdoing.

I deem challengers with an agenda as very dangerous because they too bear great influence.

4. THE LAYMAN: These people are the vast majority of any population.

The economy cannot survive without them! They work hard and many times all they want to hear is about house lots, increased minimum wage, ‘propa’ healthcare and how ‘deh’ children getting to school. These people can be very loyal—if you care for them, they care for you. Some tend to be gullible though, easily influenced and manipulated. They will believe what you believe and preach what you tell them.

Unfortunately, these are the easy targets in society. The layman is not always an independent thinker so he/ she looks to leaders who seem trustworthy. The sick cycle in Guyana is a repeat of the notion that “the leader I can trust is the one who looks like me.”

The chaos I see today involves irresponsible leaders preying on challengers with an agenda, who have no love or respect for the layman.

They will continue to brainwash these people and drag them through the mud to fulfil their dirty hidden agendas. This is where my heart bleeds.

Violence and race hate can

never be the way! How can that possibly be the way to go when diversity of our cultures and six peoples, unity and love is what we sell to the world as a tourist attraction? The law exists so that order can remain! There is a legal process for matters such as these. Allow law and order to take its course.

Put aside race, political differences, put aside even the history of who did and said what in the 1970’s 80’s and 90’s. This is 2020, and the world is watching Guyana and waiting to see if the oil will make us or break us. There are nations also wanting to sift us as wheat and make us believe that their opinions are superior to our laws. That is wicked disrespect to this sovereign land. People open your eyes, I beg!

I already feel ashamed for those who will read and venture to insult; may comprehension and respect for others’ views be your portion this good day. I perceive that this matter is bigger and deeper than our socialization will allow us to fathom at this point but the truth exists, it has life and it will find its way to the surface.

Again, allow the law to take its course, play your role by praying and encouraging others to stay calm. Respect each other and have patience.

We are unfolding nicely!

Rochelle Maxius-Benn

Let’s complete the verification and kill the wild conspiracy theories DEAR EDITOR, Conspiracy theorists are clamouring as a horde that somehow the topmost personnel in GECOM and APNU+AFC have stolen the 2020 election. That almost all of these theorists are also established critics or loathers of the government should surprise no one.

But to sell their conspiracies, they are asking us to swallow two pills, the size of which is too large to pass the throat.

First, they ask us to gullibly accept that the GECOM and coalition riggers can distribute 24,000 votes across 450 SOPs (using approximate numbers) in a

manner that can escape detection or suspicion. That is an average of 53 to 54 votes per an SOP. These numbers come from the following simple reasoning. Should we accept the PPP/C’s claim of a 17,000 victory margin as a truth, and should we take the GECOM-declared 7,000 victory margin for the coalition as a fraud, then to arrive at the “true” result of a 17,000 PPP/C win, the imagined riggers would need to perpetrate a turnaround of 24,000 votes (17,000 +7,000).

And if all SOPs for all regions except Region 4 have been verified as untampered, as they have. And if 430 SOPs for Region 4 have been verified as untampered as they have, then the purported fraud could only be executed with the remaining unverified 450 SOPs for Region 4. So, according to the conspiracy theorists, the fraudsters have to mastermind the concealment of 24,000 votes within these 450 SOPs, a task that is impossible to achieve as it is stupid to attempt. We can therefore spit that pill out.

As regards the second

oversized pill, the conspiracy theorists, led here by ANUG, claim that the roughly 51,000 vote advantage that the PPP/ C enjoys over the Coalition when the votes of all the regions (except Region 4) are summed cannot be surpassed by the Region 4 input.

On the contrary, that advantage could easily be wiped out and surmounted.

In 2015, the Coalition won Region 4 by roughly 43,000 votes. In 2020, with a demonstrated larger turnout of Coalition supporters (for instance, 3,000 more votes in Region 10), overcoming a 51,000 vote deficit is well within striking range.

No need here for phantom voters, as ANUG ridiculously asserts. Higher registration and higher turnout among Coalition supporters in 2020 can easily explain the 7,000 margin of victory for the party. That conspiracy pill too we can spit out.

Let’s complete the verification and put an end to these wild conspiracies.

Yours faithfully, Sherwood Lowe

Wednesday March 11, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Ministry assures Guyana still coronavirus free - awareness symposium billed for NCC today

C

ould Guyana be struggling to implement its contingency plan fully, which is intended to ward off the novel coronavirus [COVID-19] from these shores?

This question has emerged on the heels of multiple reports that have reached this publication which suggest that there are persons currently here in Guyana who travelled from places where the virus was diagnosed but were not screened upon entry.

Among the passengers who were not screened, is Public Health Consultant, Mr. Collin Haynes, who gave a candid account of his experience at one of the two major ports of entry - the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

Haynes, who resides in the United States and arrived in Guyana just over one week ago, has worked for eight years as a field expert with the United Nations, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and Global Fund.

The United States has recorded in excess of 800 cases of the virus. More than a score have reportedly died as a result. Across the globe, there have been more than 80,000 persons infected and in excess of 2,000 have died.

Noting that there are several flights between Guyana and the United States on almost a daily basis, an in-

formed Haynes said that some of what has been proposed as part of the local health sector’s response plan is not being implemented, at least not around the clock.

Commenting on what obtained when he arrived, Haynes said, “I think there is a difference between what is being said and what is being done. I hear that they are going to have these screenings and they are going to ask people where did they come from and so forth...

“I didn’t see that when I came in,” Haynes said, admitting that he was not screened in any sense of the word.

Another health professional, who spoke off the record, shared similar sentiments with this publication.

This is not to say that the Ministry has not been screening passengers. According to Chief Medical Officer [CMO], Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, among those who meet the criteria are “...anyone who has travelled to China within the last 21 days and we have extended even for persons coming from that region [Asia].

“A lot of times persons may go through, because of travel routes and airlines and so on, Korea, Japan or to Singapore; there are various ways, so we track those also,” said Dr. Persaud.

The CMO has, however, publicly stated that Guyana’s response to the virus includes

having passengers screened upon arrival.

That process, he explained, should entail health checks including a temperature check and the completion of a detailed questionnaire to acquire necessary information about their travels.

Thus far, there have been reportedly been in excess of 53 persons who were flagged and screened. According to information out of the Ministry, all reported suspected cases have been ruled out as coronavirus.

Ascertaining this, Mr. Terrence Esseboom, the Ministry’s Public Relations and Health Promotions Officer assured, “As of 4:28 pm [yesterday], two [new] suspected cases were ruled out as negative.”

Suspected cases, according to Esseboom, can only be confirmed after all protocols are followed, including preliminary and subsequent tests.

Guyana has the capacity to complete preliminary tests of samples.

Further tests are conducted by other laboratories including the Caribbean Public Health Agency in Trinidad, which caters to member states of the Caribbean Community.

Speaking of measures to shore-up Guyana’s response, Haynes said that keen attention must be directed to the Eugene F. Correia Airport at

Police ranks recovering following injuries during disturbances Ranks of the Guyana Police Force who were injured during protest actions on Friday March 6, 2020 are recuperating satisfactorily.

On Monday March 9, 2020, Executives of the Guyana Police Association, a body which represents approximately 96% of the Force’s strength from the rank of Constable to Chief Inspector visited the injured ranks.

The delegation headed by its Chairman, Inspector Rose Ann Forde, during the visit, offered moral support to the ranks and urged them to be strong.

She also reiterated the Force’s promise to ensure that they be given all the necessary assistance and guidance required. They were all recipients of hampers from the Association.

The ranks had been previously visited by a number of Senior Officers including Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’ Maxine Graham, DSM; Commanders of Regional Police Divisions 5 & 6; Superintendent Yonette Stephens, and Senior Super-

intendent Calvin Brutus.

They were also visited by the Force’s Welfare Officer, Deputy Superintendent Jewel Hayles-Sullivan.

Sergeant Punit Nuth Ibaran who is the only hospitalized rank, is due to do a Computerised Tomography

(CT) scan and also a surgery to one of his arms which was severely wounded.

Those discharged have been making regular medical check-ups and are said to be receiving counseling from members of the Cops and Faith Community Network.

GTU condemns “most cowardly act” “Report any suspicious acts and be on the alert at all times,” is the appeal made by the Guyana Teachers Union [GTU] to teachers and parents as it condemned “the unruly behaviour of our citizens, in various parts of this country and the threat to limbs and lives of our teachers and public servants and especially students.”

According to the GTU, it has watched with dismay video footage of innocent children who were traumatised and injured by riotous individuals.

In voicing its concern, the union called attention to a state of affairs where harm is caused to innocent children on their way to school and teachers in the course of executing their duties.

“We condemn this most cowardly act and wish to urge everyone who may still be entertaining such thoughts, to desist immediately in their thoughts and actions, from any activity which can lead to inciting fear, tension and violence or cause damage to limbs, property or even lost of lives.”

Added to this, the union is calling on parents to help protect teachers since “without them your children’s educational output can be hampered.”

Ogle, East Coast Demerara as well.

His remarks were forthcoming yesterday and shortly news about Jamaica confirming its first imported case of the virus was trending.

“Folks are coming from the islands as well; people are travelling through from places like London and Europe into Barbados and across here from Trinidad. Therefore, we need to strengthen our ports.

“We need to have a system where people are screened entirely to ensure that they [do not have] any sickness of any kind [whether] it is a cough, or cold or any suspected [coronavirus] symptoms,” said Haynes.

The virus is manifested with flu-like symptoms including cough and can develop into pneumonia.

Essentially, the virus is of such that it can tremendously batter an already weakened immune system, hence elderly persons and those with underlying conditions are encouraged to stay away from anyone suspected to be infected or avoid places where the virus might have contami-

Public Health Consultant, Mr. Collin Haynes nated.

This is particularly important to note, Haynes said, since it has been established that the virus can be transmitted from one person to another even without them coming into physical contact.

But Haynes is convinced that Guyana may have a natural advantage that could possibly help to prevent an outbreak of the virus.

“I don’t think we should hit the panic button...One of the things I want to mention; we have something good working for us. Coronavirus lives in anything [host] be-

tween 20 and 30 degrees Celsius approximately; it gets hotter here...Pretty much in South America, we are seeing some cases but not a lot of alarming cases.

That’s a plus that we have,” Haynes theorised.

He has moreover lauded the move by the Ministry of Public Health, which together with its partners, will today from 09:00 to 11:00 hours host a coronavirus symposium at the National Cultural Centre [NCC] aimed at raising more awareness about the national response and other related matters.

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Wednesday March 11, 2020

Kaieteur News

80-plus global organizations tell oil companies and financial institutions:

Don’t conduct business with an unlawful Govt

More than 80 global organizations have released a joint statement calling on ExxonMobil and other oil companies, as well as financial institutions contributing to the development of Guyana’s petroleum sector, to publicly and unequivocally declare that they will only conduct business with a lawfully installed government.

The organizations include Global Witness, International Federation for Human Rights,

and Amazon Watch.

They worry that it could also risk rewarding corruption and repression being “the too recognizable hallmarks of the oil curse”.

The statement opines that against the backdrop of global concern for the legitimacy of the electoral process, the silence of the oil industry “provides stark evidence that oil companies are more concerned about the future of Guyana’s oil than the future

of the nation and the people who own that oil.”

In clear support for the statements of the international community, which has called for the electoral process to be handled in a fair and credible manner, the signatories said that oil companies should take a stand.

It said that as the silence of oil companies extends to the financial institutions that are financing the development of the local oil sector –

such as the World Bank and the Inter American Development Bank. It is very disconcerting that those institutions have not taken a stand on the political unrest that the extraction of oil appears to have exacerbated, the organisations said.

“We call on the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and all other financial bodies to join the international community in calling for a fair and transpar-

ent tabulation of the votes and the installation of the legitimately and democratically elected government.”

The 80-plus organizations are a group of human rights, environmental and democratic organizations who have expressed their intention to stand in solidarity with the people of Guyana, on the need to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.

“We have watched with rising concern as the process of tabulating votes in the March 2 elections has witnessed an accelerating wave of procedural irregularities, unexplained discrepancies, threats against impartial observers, and the premature declaration of the ruling party as the victor in this vital election.”

The signatories applauded the international

community, including the Caribbean Community, the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth and the joint representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union.

“Vitally, we call on all involved to work expeditiously to calm rising tensions, avoid further violence, and ensure the safety of all Guyanese people, and to pay special care to the situation of environmental and human rights defenders, who are too often targeted during periods of social and political turmoil.”

The complete statement can be viewed at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/ vgmmpuc Kaieteur News reached out to ExxonMobil for a response, but up to press time, none was furnished.

GECOM Chair seeks compromise with commissioners

W

ith the aim of completing their work with urgency, Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh, says that she is anticipating greater compromise by the government and opposition appointed commissioners, following the decision that is to be made by Chief Justice, Roxane George.

According to a statement issued to the press, Chairperson Singh said, “It is important for all relevant parties and members of the public to note that while GECOM is a constitutional agency, it is still subjected to the laws of Guyana.

As a result, the mandatory injunction granted against the Commission and Chief Elections Officer (CEO), on Thursday March 5, 2020, has affected the finalisation of the

GECOM Chair, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh Commission’s work at this point.”

Clarification on media being prohibited from entering GECOM media centre Last week, Kaieteur News reported that media operatives were prohibited from entering the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) media centre, which was housed at the Ashmin Building on High and Hadfield Streets.

However, it recently became known by this publication that GECOM only intended to allow journalists into the building for media engagements, according to their Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward.

Further, Ward said that she was surprised to find out that a National Communication’s Network (NCN) news team was allowed in the building, even though it was not for a media engagement.

Wednesday March 11, 2020

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Kaieteur News

THE MASKS ARE COMING OFF The President’s position in relation to the election is untenable. The President is seeking refuge in legalese – the formal and technical language of the law. What the President does not seem to understand is that had the law been complied with, there would have been no controversy and the elections would have already been decided fairly and squarely.

In a statement issued on Monday, the President was quoted as saying, “GECOM is an independent constitutional agency over which I and the Executive have no control. I assure you that as President, I cannot, did not, and will not interfere in the work of GECOM.” In other words, the President is pleading helplessness.

He is saying that he is prevented by law from interfering with the work of GECOM

and has no intention of doing so.

No one is asking him to interfere in the work of GECOM. The fact that the Commission is independent does not preclude him from demanding particular courses of action. As a political leader, he is entitled to make such demands and representations.

The Commission’s independence did not prevent him from demanding credible elections and for insisting on house-to-house registration in the past. On 13th March 2019, the President wrote to then Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson, requesting that the Commission present him with a work programme in the shortest possible time.

In his letter to the Commission, he is reported to

have written, “I urge you to present your plans, programmes and financial needs which will guide my proclamation of a suitable date for elections.” The President obviously did not see his demand for a work programme as interference in the work of GECOM. Following the decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) that the no-confidence motion was valid, the President demanded houseto- house registration. He alleged then that the voters’ lost was invalid, expired and corrupted. Since GECOM is the agency responsible for managing the elections, his comments could only have been directed to that body.

The President obviously did not see his request for house-to-house registration as constituting interference in the work of GECOM. Yet he

Eastern begins NY flights in a week

In just over a week, Eastern Airlines will join a number of other airlines on the high demand New York to Georgetown route.

Formerly Dynamic Airline which ran into financial troubles, Eastern will be conducting non-stop flights on the route, it was announced yesterday.

The first flight begins on March 19, 2020.

“Eastern’s nonstop flights, at the lowest fares, make it possible for more people to fly

than ever before. The liberal bag policy begins with one free checked bag up to 70 pounds.

The flights will be operating twice weekly, with service on Thursdays and Sundays and capacity for 200 passengers.”

Eastern will join with Caribbean Airlines and American Airlines.

It is a route which has been jostled for with thousands of Guyanese living in the New York area.

DEM BOYS SEH

Coronavirus got Exxon shaking De Coronavirus put a stop to de exploitation Guyana. If is one time dem boys welcome a disaster is now. Dis past year nuff people was talking about de oil. If dem live overseas dem get vex because dem seh Guyana gon get rich.

De situation mek Guyana spend nuff money to protect de oil. It had to hire foreigners to draft local content policy. Then it had to hire people to sit on de Energy Department. All of dat cost money.

Dem boys start to press Soulja Bai to call Exxon fuh dem to renegotiate de oil contract. De man huum and haw. Then people tun to Exxon and ask dem to tek

shame out of dem eye and renegotiate de oil contract.

Nutten ain’t happen.

Well! De Maker don’t sleep.

He send de Coronavirus to save Guyana.

Exxon was going full speed ahead to draw oil to mek its profit as big as possible. All over de world when investors satisfied wid fifteen percent profit, Exxon was tekking 75 percent and more.

Every odda day was a new well and plans to build a big FPSO fuh millions of dollars.

Things was going full speed ahead till de Coronavirus slow down everything. It mek de price of oil fall so low dat Exxon now wondering if it should continue drilling.

Exxon now finding out dat

water might be more expensive than oil so all de money it planning to mek from Guyana gone through de window. Dem boys now willing to bet dat Exxon gon try to renegotiate because it will want to avoid de royalty since de oil money gon be slow.All over de world, de price of oil drop real low.

Trinidad start to holler and dem odda countries dat does produce oil now know dat dem facing hard times.

De Man above was listening to every word dem boys was saying; He was hearing de voice of de Guyanese people.

Talk half and watch how Exxon shaking because of de Coronavirus.

now wants us to believe that his expressing his and his coalition’s support for verified elections results for Region Four constitutes interference in the work of GECOM. He can tell that to his supporters. I am not buying that nonsense.

The President was the Presidential candidate of the APNU+AFC. As the Presidential candidate, he has an interest in ensuring that the tabulation process is done in the presence of all the parties.

Why would he have allowed his party’s polling agents to observe the process in nine regions, yet not insist that this also be done to completion for all the polling stations in District Four?

Why have an election if unverified data is going to be used as the basis for the re-

sults? Why spend all those billions to conduct an election when the only result which one party is going to accept is a result favourable to that party? Why not just spin a coin every five years?

If the shoe were on the other foot, would he have accepted unverified results? So why does he expect that the other political parties would?

These elections have unmasked a great many persons.

And the public is seeing for themselves the true image behind the masks. And what they are seeing is not necessarily what many of them expected.

There will be a great deal more unmasking in the days ahead. A truer picture will emerge.

The United States Department of Treasury publishes

the names of every citizen of that country who has relinquished his or her citizenship.

The list is published every quarter.

The Peeper has been perusing the lists for last year and for this year so far. I have been looking for a particular name. I am not finding that name. I really cannot explain why I am not finding it. Perhaps, I too am looking at unverified data. Or perhaps another mask has been removed.

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

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Wednesday March 11, 2020

Kaieteur News

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The election mysteries keep piling up

I have been co-hosting the “Election Watch” programme on Kaieteur Radio for eight days now and each night generates more mysteries in the air. As we interview the different stakeholders, they tell us things that paint a portrait of a post voting scenario that may never have happened before in the modern world.

Of course, all of these

emanations have so far not been responded to by personnel from the APNU+AFC because they are not responding to requests to come the studio.

Here are some of the things I have interpreted as mysteries that were said on Kaieteur Radio. Along with these are some other inscrutable situations not found in the real world.

Mystery 1- The police ordered all persons to leave the GECOM Command Centre.

But who is responsible for that request to the police or did the police act on their own?

M2 – Two private sector guests told us that when the building was cleared. Persons were seen putting up blinds on the windows.

M3- The Chief Election

Officer, Lowenfield, came out of a room and appeared to be listening to the requests of the different stakeholders when his deputy, Roxanne Myers, came out of another room, contradicted the CEO and from then took over the command centre.

M4Chairperson Claudette Singh was locked in a room for hours. What was happening in that room with her? Why no one could have entered the room? Why the police stopped even persons that she asked to see?

M5- How did the police know she was in fit and proper physical health thus felt right in their decision not to allow anyone in?

M5 – Did Ms. Singh know after she left the room that the police were stopping her visitors and has she publicly dealt with the matter?

M6- Where are the five hundred statements of poll that have not been verified?

Who have them?

M7- When the verification of the SOPS for Region Four resumed after it was stopped, GECOM verification officials began to read the results from a spreadsheet. After the votes allocated to each party in seventeen SOPs differed from the spreadsheet, there were protests and Lowenfield agreed to use the SOPs directly.

Which CARICOM official made up that spreadsheet?

Was that person blind, drunk or mentally incapacitated when they prepared the spreadsheet? A simple analogy should suffice.

Each employee in a company has a pay slip for work done. The boss requires a spreadsheet to record the amount for each worker. If Singh was paid $2000, Brown, $3000; De Jesus, $4000, the person putting down that figure the clerk is liable to make mistake but could the clerk make seventeen continuous mistakes before he was ordered to stop putting down his figures?

M8- Are Returning Officer for Region Four, Mr. Mingo, and Lowenfield in the country? And if Lowenfield is, why do he and Singh not see the need to meet with a selected group of reporters?

M9- Why is no one from the APNU and AFC speaking about the need to verify the remaining 500 SOPs? If the ANPU+AFC won the election then the verification of those 500 SOPs would shut the mouth of the world.

M10- Why Mr. Granger keeps addressing the nation on the election controversies in his capacity as president when as president he did not participate in the election?

Does the head of APNU have views on the stoppage of the verification process?

Does the head of APNU agree or not on the question of resuming the verification process?

M11- At the time of writing, The US Secretary of State spoke about his communication with the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada about the “democratic transition” (those two words were used) in Guyana but mysteriously,

Frederick Kissoon there has not been a package of reaction presented to powerful international stakeholders that offer evidence that the APNU+AFC won the election and that the grey areas are deliberate fictions by the opposition parties.

Isn’t that what the winner should do in such a situation of exigency?

M12- There has been no organisational statement from any credible, independent entity endorsing the “victory” of the APNU+AFC. If there is one or several, I have not seen them in any of the daily newspapers including the Chronicle.

M13- One week after former Prime Ministers, Bruce Golding of Jamaica and Owen Arthur of Barbados as international observers and the rest of the foreign observers assembly that have rejected GECOM’s official Region Four results, there hasn’t been a change in their position. Maybe this last one isn’t a mystery after all.

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

Wednesday March 11, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Immigrants charged for illegal entry Fifteen foreign nationals were yesterday arranged before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrate Courts to answer to an illegal entry charge.

Four of the defendants are Bangladeshis while the remainders are Sri Lankans.

The men pleaded guilty to the charge, which stated that on March, 8, 2020 at Springlands, Corentyne, they entered Guyana by sea and disembarked without the consent of an Immigration Officer.

The court was able to communicate with the defendants through the use of an interpreter.

According to the facts of the charge, the defendants arrived at Springlands, from Suriname, and were destined for Brazil. Police acting on information, apprehended the defendants at Lethem, Region Ten. According to information, on the day of the incident, immigration ranks working in the Lethem area stopped a route 92 minibus and carried out a routine search. The police then checked the passports of the defendants and it was discovered that there were no entry stamps, showing that they entered Guyana legally.

They were arrested and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters, and were subsequently charged for the offence. The defendants were each fined $60,000

or in default 14 days’ imprisonment.

18 months for selling iPhone 11 for $8,000

Jailed: Philbert Cush (right) “Your worship, I sold the phone for next to nothing. I get $8000 for it... I does usually work hard. I have two children to look after; I don’t do these kinda things. I’m begging you for a fine and some time to pay back for the phone,” an excavator operator told the court after he admitted to stealing and selling an iPhone 11.

He was jailed for 18 months for the offence.

Philbert Cush, 53, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when the charge was read to him.

It is alleged that on February 26, 2020, at Robb Street Georgetown, he stole an iPhone 11 valued $260,000, property of Ronda Harry.

According to the charge, on the day in question, Harry was cleaning while her phone was on a table at her boutique at Lot 48 Robb Street, Georgetown.

The court heard that Cush then entered the store and started pricing items.

When Harry turned her back and continued cleaning, the defendant picked up the phone and made good his escape.

The matter was reported

and an investigation was launched, the investigating rank later obtained video footage from the nearby business.

On March 6, 2020, at High Street, Georgetown, police on patrol saw the defendant with a group of men when they arrested him and took him to the Brickdam Police Station.

The defendant was positively identified by Harry when she arrived at the police station.

The defendant was cautioned and the allegation was put to him and he told the police that he sold the phone under the clock at Stabroek Market.

The defendant then begged the court for mercy and swore that he would never rob again if given a fine and the chance to repay the virtual complainant.

After the defendant’s explanation, Chief Magistrate McLennan in handing down the sentence, told the defendant that she took into consideration his early guilty plea, the fact that he apologised and that he promised he would never steal again. The Magistrate noted that she also took into consideration the prevalence of the offence and the value of the article.

The illegal immigrants on their way to court.

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Wednesday March 11, 2020

Kaieteur News

Vagrant murder PI…Police unable to locate final witness The prosecution has closed its case into the murder of Andrew Benjamin after the police were unable to locate the final witness Euchid Gill of Alberttown, Georgetown.

During the last hearing of

the matter, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan issued an arrest warrant for the witness.

However, yesterday when the matter was called, the court was informed that the police couldn’t locate Gill.

The defendant, 24-yearold Devon Johnson, of Cummings Street, Bourda, Georgetown, was deemed fit to stand trial last month for two counts of murder as he appeared in the Georgetown

Taxi driver remanded on armed robbery charge Thirty-one-year-old Nicolas Chow, of 254 Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown was yesterday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Chow denied that on February 28, 2020, at Lamaha Street, Georgetown while in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Neil Dutchin of $500,000 in cash, a cell phone and a knife.

The police prosecutor based her objection to bail being granted to Chow, because Dutchin was bedridden. Shortly after he was discharged, he was rushed back to the hospital and is still hospitalised.

He is nursing two gunshot wounds, one to his abdomen and the other to his right leg.

According to the facts of the charge, on the day in question, Dutchin and his friends were at Blue Martini Nightclub when the defendant and Dutchin had a misunderstanding and an argument ensued.

Remanded: Nicolas Chow

Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan who is conducting the preliminary inquiry into the murder.

The Magistrate ruled that the oral statement that was given to the police by the defendant was free and voluntary. She stated that she is of the opinion that the police officers did not trick, threaten or use any form of inducement. The matter was adjourned to March 12, 2020.

Johnson made his first court appearance on December 4, 2019, before the Chief Magistrate when the two indictable charges were read to him.

The first charge stated that on November 11, 2019, at

Regent Street, Georgetown, he murdered Andrew Benjamin. The second charge alleges that on the same date, and at the same location, he murdered Raymond Samaroo.

However, according to advice from the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), two separate preliminary inquiries should be conducted for the killing of Benjamin and Samaroo both of whom were killed just hours apart.

According to information, on the day in question, around 02:30hrs, Benjamin was asleep on the pavement when a male individual, who was armed with a knife, approached him and dealt him several stab wounds about

his body before making good his escape.

Benjamin was discovered lying in a pool of blood at the junction of Regent and Light Streets, Georgetown.

Later that day, about 21:30hrs, Samaroo was standing on the pavement by Household Plus when a man approached him, whipped out a knife and dealt him several stabs before making good his escape.

When Johnson was revealed as the suspect, he was arrested; there were reports of him being mentally unsound. However, based on advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions, the defendant was charged for murder.

Lindeners celebrate International Women’s Day The defendant left and subsequently returned in the company of his two accomplices, one being armed with a gun.

An argument then ensued between the defendant and Dutchin, which turned into a fight and resulted in Dutchin being shot twice by one of the defendant’s accomplices.

The defendant and his accomplices then relieved Dutchin of the cash, cell phone and knife before making good their escape.

Dutchin was rushed to the

hospital and the matter was reported. An investigation was launched and the defendant was later arrested and charged.

The police prosecutor highlighted that the two accomplices are still at large and that the police obtained CCTV footage, which captured the entire incident.

Chief Magistrate McLennan remanded the defendant to prison and he is expected to make his next court appearance on March 25, 2020.

As women the world over celebrated International Women’s Day, on Sunday, their counterparts from the mining town of Linden, celebrated on both Sunday and Monday.

On Monday, scores of women, converged at the Linden/Georgetown bus park to celebrate, worship and praise God. They also gave thanks and offered up prayers for the continued peace and tranquility that is evident in the Town, after the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

The APNU+AFC garnered some 19,000 votes of the 22, 808 ballots that were

…pray for continued peace! cast on March 2, ensuring a landslide victory, for Region Ten. Monday’s event was coordinated by members of the National Congress of Women, (NCW) and saw the participation of religious Leaders, from several denominations, across the community.

Participants prayed, sang and danced their way into the hearts of their captive audience, who was admonished to continue to “keep the peace and prepare for victory!”

RATE US!

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport has placed five ‘happy or not’ feedback machines at the Timehri airport. The idea is to better track and manage service performance, CJIA said.

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, and advisor of NCW, Valerie Adams-Yearwood, who spearheaded the initiative, described the event as “truly awesome”!

Those sentiments were reiterated by several persons.

Adams-Yearwood has, over the years, spearheaded several activities involving women. She provided counselling and other vital services, in her capacity as senior executive of her church, “The Flourishing Place”.

Wednesday March 11, 2020

Four Caricom Prime Ministers arrive in Guyana over unresolved elections results ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell says that he will part of the team of regional prime ministers who will be accompanying the Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Motley, on a visit to Guyana, the purpose of which is to resolve the current crisis from last week’s election.

“I am one of those asked to lead a delegation of leaders to Guyana (Wednesday) to attempt to bring some semblance of peace and order to Guyana and this particular time,” he said.

He reminded reporters that in 1997, he was part of the similar undertaking while he was chairman of CARICOM. “We had a similar situation in Guyana where the re-

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell sult of the election was not accepted by the opposition and there was upheaval in the country at the time and I had to go in there and try to bring peace. We were able to resolve the issue as CARICOM,” he recalled.

The other Prime Ministers are Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica.

“Three of us considered three of the oldest serving leaders in the region, so we have been asked to join the Chairman of CARICOM on that mission to Guyana,” he added.

Guyana held elections on March 2 to vote for a 65-member National Assembly.

Before the official results were out, both of the major parties claimed a victory, but the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) announced results in which the incumbent president, David Granger, received a narrow win. The ongoing controversy surrounds a declaration of “unverified” results for the elections in Region Four.

IMF to hold conference call with region on COVID-19 CASTRIES, St. Lucia CMC – St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Allen Chastanet yesterday announced that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will hold a conference call with regional countries on Monday to discuss the economic impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) that has killed more than 4,000 people globally and posing economic problems for small island developing states.

In a statement to the Parliament on the island’s as well as the region’s preparation and strategies for dealing with the virus for which there is no vaccine, Chastanet also disclosed that his Tourism Minister, Dominic Fedee, who is also the chairman of the Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) was meeting with the Caribbean Hotel Tourism Association (CHTA) “under the supervision of the Bahamas, who is the lead Prime Minister on Tourism, has been working for the last two weeks to put together a Caribbean Tourism Conference with the World Tourism Organization, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the FCCA and the airlines.

“The purpose is to have a one-day discussion specifically on tourism and the coronavirus fall out, as well as preserve the global confidence in Caribbean Tourism,” Chastanet said, having earlier disclosed that the region had been holding discussions with cruise ship operators on a protocol to guide their relationship the COVID-19 era.

Chastanet said as his administration prepares to present the 2020-21 national budget “we are also monitoring what is happening on the world stage.

“The economic fallout in the last couple of days in the global stock market; which is a result of the continued spread of coronavirus, as well as the oil price war which has now erupted between Russia and Saudi Arabia. This has created economic anxiety.

“Hence we are in dialogue with the Central Bank, the World Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the IMF, on what measures and mechanisms we can put in place in order to maintain the confidence of the business community. A conference call with the IMF is scheduled with the region for Monday next week,” he told legislators.

Last week, the Washington-based financial institution said it would make available US$50 billion to help countries address the COVID-19.

Chastanet said the government would “have to delay the budget presentation until we have a full picture of the economic implications in order that our numbers can be adjusted to the new normal”.

He said that the Ministry of Finance will present him with a report by today “with possible ways we can support the tourism industry and the economy.

“I can report that we have run several different models in order to predict and prepare for the fall out, in particular with regard to tourism arrivals. We will not be caught off guard,” Chastanet said, disclosing earlier “we have had to make difficult decisions as it pertain to cruise ship calls to Port Castries.

“Over the last few weeks in consultation with the cruise ship industry we have denied entry of one ship and the re-

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Kaieteur News

routing of a few others.

“The preliminary calculations show that we have forgone approximately 18,721 cruise passengers coming to our shores. These are the difficult decisions we have had to make but always in the best interest of our citizens.”

He told the Parliament that he wanted to assure all citizens that the priority is on the health sector and in anticipation of what’s going to happen, “we are in parallel considering everything we can to give support to our economy.

“The good news is that the Government’s major capital investment programs – the airport, St Jude, the police headquarters, the road rehabilitation, our CDP projects and improvements in our healthcare sector – will continue and will help to cushion some of the negative impacts.”He said the government has taken the approach of viewing the coronavirus situation as it would a hurricane and has mobilized the National Emergency Management Advisory Committee (NEMAC).

“By treating the coronavirus as an impending hurricane, we are operating with the understanding that we have a potentially catastrophic event coming. Like a hurricane, there is uncertainty: it could hit us, or it may not hit us. When it is going to hit us and how strong it is going to be are all things that we cannot predict with any level of certainty.

“But we have all learnt how unpredictable hurricanes have become since the advent of Climate Change. Similarly, there is a tremendous amount that we don’t know. Hence, like a hurricane, we must be prepared,” he added.

Guyanese should remain calm The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) through General Secretary Amna Ally called on all Guyanese to remain calm.

She also called on them to desist from any activity which can lead to the heightening of tensions in society.

In a statement, Amna Ally condemned the violence unleashed on the innocent schoolchildren, women, citizens and police officers in Bath Settlement, Cotton Tree and Lusignan during the riots

last Friday.

“We wish to remind all Guyanese that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is an independent Constitutional agency and it must be allowed to do its work without political interference or intimidation,” the statement said. Further, the party called on their members and supporters to remain calm as they await the decision of the Court and the final declaration of the elections results by GECOM.

- Amna Ally

Jamaica records first case of coronavirus

Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton (centre) flanked by health officials during news conference in Jamaica (CMC Photo) KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – Jamaica has recorded its first case of the coronavirus (COVID-19) after a female born British citizen arrived here earlier this month, Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton announced yesterday.

He told a news conference that the unidentified female patient had returned from the United Kingdom on March 4 and had been in isolation since Monday after showing respiratory symptoms.“The person is Jamaican but has UK citizenship,” Tufton said, advising persons to exercise control over the propensity “to seek out to further inquire, or worse to be overly assertive in whatever way, shape or form around an affected individuals or home environment.

“I don’t want persons to be intimidated or abused in any way shape of form because they are unfortunate to have had the virus, not to mention other persons who are not affected but are from a similar home or family environment,” Tufton told reporters, adding “it is very important that I ask the public to exercise some care, we are all in this thing together and no matter how much we try we are not going to eliminate through aggression or otherwise the existence or the threat that is represented here with this virus”.

He said while he would not divulge particulars about the person who is living on the borders of St. Thomas and St. Andrews, south east of here, Jamaicans should note that the case is imported case. The person is expected to make a full recovery.

Tufton said Cabinet had

taken a decision last evening with the Ministry of Education as it relates to the Penn Relays in the United States in which Jamaica has traditionally participated “and schools by now should have been advised the government is taking a position to not participate in the Penn Relays this year because that travel and the location could involve levels of risk that we would like to discourage”.

He said as it relates to the local Boys and Girls Championships, a meeting has been scheduled involving various stakeholders, including the sponsor, the organisers and the Ministries of Sports and Education.“We anticipate that a decision will be taken and that decision will be within 24 hours,” he said, adding “needless to say the fact that we now have an imported case it alleviates the concerns as it relates to public gathering and that could be applied to all major public gatherings for the time being”.

Tudton defended the measures put in place to screen people arriving after it was disclosed that it took at least nine days before she came forward.“The country from where the person travelled, the UK, I think this person enjoys dual citizenship, they are Jamaican but with a UK citizenship….but the person travelled, they would have been screened as all passengers would be at the airport but they were not on the list of countries that would have been quarantined.“The UK even though it has the virus and it is getting worse would not have represented one of those high risk at the time. So

the person would have been screened in the normal course of activities at the port of entry, but having arrived one of the things that we tell persons …is that they must also selfassess and they are given documentation to that effect.”He said based on the investigations the person did not have symptoms until “days after arriving and having had those symptoms they went to see their doctor which led to all the other things that have transpired”.

Tufton made it clear that “there are no guarantees” as it relates to the spread of the virus, for which here is no vaccine, adding the only way to prevent the island having an imported case is to shut the island away from the rest of the world.“Even so under the legal framework you can’t shut Jamaica out from Jamaicans who are all over the world and want to come back home, what you do is quarantine them. So the reality is as the virus spreads it increases the possibilities and the exposure, which is why we said in the early stages of public education and information that a key part of the strategy was to delay to allow us time to plan for eventuality or the possibility of it coming,” Tufton added.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness said as of Monday, March 9, there were 241 travellers, who visited a country of interest, before arriving in Jamaica.“Notably, among that number, seven persons are in home quarantine, while some 23 are in quarantine at government facilities. In the meantime, there were 105,586 confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally and 3,584 deaths confirmed.”

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Wednesday March 11, 2020

Kaieteur News

“Dutty’ wanted for Berbice businessman’s murder - bulletin for other suspect in slaying of Buxton teen

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Police are seeking Daniel McLennon, called “Dutty,” for the murder of Port Mourant, Corentyne businessman Lomenzo Johnny, whose bound and battered corpse was found on a farm last February.

A release gave McLennon’s last known address as Lot 153 Third Street, Swamp Section, Rose Hall, Corentyne, Berbice.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Daniel McLennon C/D “Dutty” is asked to contact the police on telephone num-

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Contact #624-4633

Murdered: Lomenzo Johnny

Wanted: Daniel McLennon

Wanted: John France

bers, 226-6978, 225-8196, 2262870, 226-7065, 227-1149, 2267065, 226-9834, 268-2298, 6941664, 333-5564, 911 or the nearest police station.

Police said that Lomenzo Johnny, known as ‘Sham,’ was slain between February 26 and February 27, 2020.

Police arrested four other suspects last week and reportedly obtained a confession from one of the detained individuals.

Investigators also recovered a chest and some cash that were stolen from the victim’s home.

Johnny’s body was found on a farm that is owned by another Rose Hall Town businessman.

Two construction workers discovered the body while preparing to work on an unfinished building.

According to the police, one of the suspects confessed that they killed Johnny because he could

identify two of the robbers.

They used keys, which they found on their victim to enter the building, making off with a chest, cash and other items.

Meanwhile, police are also trying to locate John France, 25, in relation to murder on 18year-old Daniel Akeem Amore, on 2020/03/01 at Buxton, East Coast Demerara.

Amore, a labourer, of Section 20 ‘A’ Friendship, Buxton, East Coast Demerara, was stabbed to death during a family dispute.

Police said that two brothers – Haslyn Williams and James Dublin – were having a drink at Clyde Roopchand Drive, Friendship, Buxton, when an argument and a fight ensued between them.

Amore’s mother, Mellisia Garraway, intervened, and John France, said to be related to Williams, entered the yard and confronted Dublin.

The suspect left the yard,

but reportedly returned with a cutlass and a knife and began assaulting Dublin.

Garraway allegedly tried to intervene again, but France, the suspect, reportedly chopped her on her left hand and fingers.

Her teenage son, Daniel Akeem Amore, and the suspect began to fight and Amore was allegedly stabbed to the chest.

He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Police gave John France’s last known address as Lot 20 Section ‘A’ Friendship, Buxton, E.C.D. Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of John France is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers, 226-6978, 225-8196, 226-2870, 226-7065, 227-1149, 226-7065, 226-9834, 268-2298, 226-2222, 229-2557, 617-9660, 911 or the nearest police station.

P$300,000 bail for Lorry Driver who killed Rose Hall Town man in road accident The driver of a lorry yesterday made his first court appearance at the Springlands Magistrate Court before Magistrate Alex Moore to answer to three charges.

Trevor Narine appeared before the Magistrate and was slapped with failing to render assistance, failure to stop after an accident and failure to report an accident.

He pleaded not guilty to all three charges and was released on $300,000 bail.

The magistrate ordered that Narine’s passport be lodged with the court and that he reports twice a week at the Whim Police Station. He is set to return to court on April 28 at the Whim Magistrate’s Court.

Investigations into the death of the victim Shawn Smith are still incomplete, the police have said.

Shawn Smith, of Lot 17 Fingal Street, Rose Hall Town,

Trevor Narine was riding along the Letter Kenny Public Road when he was reportedly struck down by the sand truck (lorry) that was exiting a street two nights ago. The accident reportedly

occurred sometime around 23:00 hrs Saturday night.

He was taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries whilst receiving medical attention.The motorcycle CK 2517 with damage to the front and other parts was lodged at the Whim Police Station.A post mortem was also conducted yesterday by Dr. Nehaul Singh who gave the cause of death as multiple injuries consistent with that of a motor vehicle accident.

Meanwhile, the doctor who struck down three female youths on the Bush Lot Public Road resulting in the death of one is yet to be charged.

This incident occurred since February 14, last.

In addition, the Chinese National who struck down a pensioner on the pedestrian crossing located on the Nigg Public Road in January is also still to be charged.

Wednesday March 11, 2020

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Kaieteur News

DPP responds to KN’s rape cover up story The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has responded to a Kaieteur News story about the alleged cover-up of a series of gang rapes by police ranks.

A statement from the office of the DPP confirmed that police had sent files on the alleged gang rapes for legal advice.

However, the statement does not address the issue of the investigation that was launched into the alleged attempts by some ranks to cover up the matter.

Kaieteur News yesterday contacted police officials who again confirmed that police had sent reports to the DPP’s office regarding alleged attempts by some ranks to subvert the course of justice.

According to police sources, those reports about the ranks were sent to the office of the DPP some six months ago.

In yesterday’s release, the DPP’s office stated that “pursuant to your published article headlined, “Six months later...file implicating cops in gang rape cover up still with DPP,” on page 13, Monday March 9, 2020, the Office of the Director of Public Pros-

-as police confirm files sent six months ago on corruption allegations against ranks ecutions wishes to inform you that on 26th February 2019, it received four police files for legal advice from the Guyana Police Force for an alleged gang rape.

“The police files contained statements from three suspects and four victims.

Based on the evidence contained in the four files, legal advice was given therein for the police to institute charges against one accused for the offences of rape, sexual assault and simple larceny.

The four police files were returned to the Guyana Police Force on 26th February, 2019.

The DPP’s Office further wishes to confirm that the accused was charged with the offence of Rape and placed before a magistrate.

The committal has been concluded and the accused is presently listed for trial before judge and jury in the Sexual Offences Court.

“The other matters involving the accused are presently receiving attention.”

Last Monday, Kaieteur News had stated that concern is being raised regarding the state of an ongoing investigation into the alleged coverup of a series of gang-rape incidents, reportedly committed by a policeman’s relative and others.

What is said to be a detained file reportedly implicates a retired policewoman, one of her female colleagues, and a policeman.

The report is said to include statements from a handwriting expert, who concluded that the retired female lance corporal forged the signatures of three of the victims.

The same rank is also accused of altering the young women’s statements to suggest that they had not identified their attackers. The victims had positively identified their attackers.

Two of the policewomen were attached to the Forces’ Sexual Offences Units.

Kaieteur News under-

ExxonMobil’s Hammerhead Project...

From page 19 Hammerhead contained heavy oil. Specifically, Hess Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John Hess made this disclosure at the 2019 Global Energy Conference.

He was at the time presenting the keynote address on Perspectives on Global Oil Outlook.

During the conference, the Hess CEO was asked by investors to state if there should be any cause for worry about Hammerhead which extends into the Orinduik Block.

At that time, the market was already informed that two wells on the Orinduik Block, Jethro and Joe, contained heavy oil, which is less valuable on the world market.

Hess maintained that there was no need for investors to be concerned while noting that ExxonMobil, which is the operator of the block, has drilled three wells in the Hammerhead area and would not have done so if it were not deemed commercial.

The CEO said, “…As you go into the shallow waters, Hammerhead is an indicator of this, the oil is definitely heavier. But what we have there is a pretty big tank of oil and…that is going to be a commercial development.

Plans are going ahead with that. The specifics of that I can’t get ahead of …”

The official added, “In the way the geology of the block works…as you go inboard, the oil tends to get heavier.

That’s the case with Hammer-

head. It doesn’t surprise me that even more inboard, Tullow (the Operator of the Orinduik Block) has a heavier outcome.”

The CEO said that the oil in Hammerhead is not only heavier than what is contained in Liza Phase One but also that in Phase Two and its potentially third field development project, Payara. “…But at the end of the day, it is very much commercial,” the CEO added.

According to Berenberg Bank, one of the world’s largest multinational investment banks, it projected that Exxon’s Hammerhead discovery holds 800M net recoverable resources, with the Orinduik Block operator

poised to cash in when production comes on stream.

Even as it pursues this fourth venture, ExxonMobil is yet to receive the green light from the EPA for its third development project on the Stabroek Block called Payara.

According to documents in the possession of the Environmental Protection Agency, EEPGL’s Payara development will be located in the eastern area of the Stabroek Block, which is approximately 190 km (118 miles) from Georgetown.

The operator notes that oil production from Payara is expected to last at least 20 years with startup of the facilities expected to occur approximately in mid-2023.

stands that some of the police ranks who were involved in aspects of the investigation claimed that their statements were switched.

The police expert reportedly verified that the handwriting in the altered statements matched samples of the female lance corporal’s handwriting.

A policeman who is related to one of the suspects is also accused of paying one of the victims $200,000 to settle the matter.

The female lance corporal from the Sexual Offences Unit is said to have acted as the go-between in handing over the ‘hush money’.

It is also alleged that one of the implicated policemen made a false statement in which he gave one of the suspects an alibi.

However, that statement contradicted another that the same rank entered into the station diary.

Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, said last July that the media will be informed of the findings of this and other investigations.

All of the implicated ranks

have been transferred.

The victims, all in their teens, claim that the policeman’s son and two others, gang-raped and robbed them earlier last year, after they were duped into going on dates with one gang member who drives a car.

The teens said that although the matter was investigated and the suspects apprehended, only one of the alleged rapists was charged.

They have suggested that policewomen who help in sex crime investigations, and who took their statements, were involved in the cover-up.

Kaieteur News was told that persons close to the alleged rapists gave one victim’s family some $200,000 to avoid prosecution.

It is reported that the alleged serial rapists, including the policeman’s relatives, moved around on a motorcycle and a car.

They allegedly contacted their victims via social media.

The gang would reportedly then arrange to meet the unsuspecting young women.

If a young woman responded, one of the gang members

would take her for a ‘date’ in a car.

Unknown to the teen, two accomplices of their ‘date’ would be hiding in the car trunk.

The ‘date’ would take the teen to a secluded area, where his accomplices would emerge from the car trunk.

The men would then take turns raping the teen, before relieving her of her cell phone and other valuables.

All the attacks are said to have occurred at secluded areas on East Bank Demerara.

From reports reaching Kaieteur News, the gang slipped up when they contacted another teen, who is a friend of one of the victims.

The young woman allegedly notified the police, who allegedly instructed the intended victim to meet her ‘date’ at a particular location while the ranks lay in wait.

The ‘date’ and his accomplices were arrested when they all turned up at the location.

It is alleged that the investigation took a disturbing turn when the police ranks realised that one of the suspects was the son of a police rank.

While the victims allegedly identified all of the suspects, and also provided statements, only one of the men was charged.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 11, 2020

Wednesday March 11, 2020

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Wednesday March 11, 2020

Kaieteur News

SUV plunges off Demerara Harbour Bridge Marine Traffic for the Demerara Harbour Bridge will be temporarily halted after an SUV crashed into the bridge’s Hydraulic Cabin on Monday evening.

That very cabin is responsible for all retractions.

Kaieteur News was informed that the accident occurred around 11:00pm.

The driver of the motorcar reportedly stated that while on the bridge, he lost control of the vehicle due to the rain and slammed into the cabin before plunging overboard. He was pulled from the vehicle, escaping without injury but the car is still submerged in the river.

According to the General Manager of the Demerara

Harbour Bridge, Rawlston Adams, considerable damage was done to the cabin preventing the bridge from being retracted on the western side. After a thorough assessment, Adams reported that the damage was done “to the hydraulic fuel tank along with the pipes.”

“We have to remove the entire cabin, take it into the workshop and have it fixed.”

Such a mishap can have devastating effects on fuel shipments and the sort, but Adams relayed that they have contacted the necessary companies to ensure that systems are put in place.

“We’ve had discussions with GuyOil, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and

GMof the Demerara Harbour Bridge, Rawlston Adams we’re going to be making contact with ESSO and some of the other large companies.”

Adams reassured that they are working assiduously to ensure that the damage is

Man who slammed miner to the floor, slapped with murder charge Tw e n t y - s i x - y e a r- o l d O’Neil Jeffrey, called ‘Six Boss’, a miner of Agricola, East Bank Demerara, was yesterday remanded to prison after he appeared in court for allegedly killing a man who refused to give him money.

Jeffrey was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on February 29, 2020, at 111 Miles Mahdia, Region Eight, he injured Roland Kanhai who died on March 3, 2020, as a result of the injuries.

According to the charge, on the day in question, Kanhai and his friends were imbibing when the defendant approached him and asked for money. Kanhai refused to give the defendant money and the defendant became annoyed.

The court heard that the

Dead: Roland Khanhai

Remanded: O’Neil Jeffery

defendant then lifted Kanhai and slammed him to the ground before going into his pocket and relieving him of an undisclosed sum of cash.

Kanhai was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to the Mahdia Public Hospital and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted a patient until he suc-

cumbed.

The medical certification of Khanhai revealed that he died as a result of a fractured skull.

After listening to the facts of the charge, Chief Magistrate McLennan remanded the defendant to prison and the matter was adjourned to March 23, 2020, for disclosure of statements.

Engineers want $26M for reconstruction of Lethem Maternal Waiting Home The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) yesterday opened ——-ten bids for two major governmental projects at their Ministry of Finance

office on Main and Urquhart Streets.One notable project included the —-procurement of services remodeling and rehabilitation of the Lethem Maternal Waiting Home in Region Nine.

Ministry of Public Security (MoPS) Design and supervision for the reconstruction of the Ruimveldt Police Station

Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) Remodeling/ rehabilitation of the Lethem Maternal Waiting Home, Region 9

The Hydraulic Cabin that was damaged in the accident corrected to resort back to normal programming.

While, marine traffic is halted, vehicular traffic will be allowed, including large trucks. This incident mirrors a previous mishap last year September when a tug and barge slammed into the bridge, rendering it inoperable for a number of days.

That incident resulted in widespread chaos as it occurred at the start of the new school term and work week, forcing many to abandon their vehicles, and make use of the water taxis.

But even this system created more chaos because of the influx of passengers.

Team of divers searching for the submerged car

Wednesday March 11, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Coronavirus prompts Ivy League to cancel U.S. basketball tournaments

Yale Bulldogs guard Eric Monroe brings the ball up court against North Carolina Tar Heels guard Jeremiah Francis (13) in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. (Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo)

Wednesday March 11, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Make sure that you're living consciously at this time, Aries. It could be that you're going through a period of denial and simply refusing to see the truth of the situation.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) In some ways, today could seem like a day of reckoning for you, Taurus. You might look in the mirror and see things that you really aren't very happy with.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Let today serve as a reminder of the importance of love. Don't just think of it as a commodity you fight for and conquer with conniving tricks and strategic dating tactics.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may be feeling a strong sense of guilt now because of something you did in an effort to feed your ego, Cancer. Be aware of how your actions have affected others and apologize.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Pure wisdom is an important quality for you to aspire to on this day, Leo. Know that the wisdom you seek should come from a point of calm knowing and strength.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Why keep fighting a fight that you know you can't win?

Why keep trying to fool yourself and others into thinking that you have all the answers when you're only aware of the tip of the iceberg? The mass of knowledge lies well beneath the surface.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Anger is apt to stir inside you today, Libra, so beware of any actions that might manifest as a result of this powerful feeling. Do what you can to find the deep source of this anger.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Show some gratitude to the people around you today. The seat of your personality is very strong at this time, and you're confident to your core.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Think of today as a restorative time for yourself in which you can come to a point of greater ease and comfort. Trust yourself and the people around you.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You may find yourself gravitating toward solid, grounded things, in hopes that these will provide you with the stability that you lack. A key word for you today is patience.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Try to come to a place of serenity today in which you free yourself from desire and jealousy. It's important that you take time to recognize the incredible growth that can spring from this position of calm and pure satisfaction.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) The key word for you today is boundaries, Pisces, so think for a minute about what this means to you. It's time to have a serious talk with yourself.

(Reuters) The coronavirus outbreak prompted the Ivy League college athletic conference yesterday to cancel its men’s and women’s U.S. basketball tournaments, the winners of which would have received automatic bids to the “March Madness” tournament, set to begin later this month.

The league also said it would restrict other athletic events as the outbreak upends major sporting competitions worldwide, but did not provide details.

“Regrettably, the information and recommendations presented to us from public health authorities and medical professionals have convinced us that this is the

Inspirational stories helping kick off the...

From page 26 eagerness to introduce his daughter to the delights of mountaineering, kayaking, skiing and other outdoor activities.

“I thought getting her into sport and into adventure would be far better for her as a person. I definitely believe in academic excellence - but sport and adventure is equally important,” he said.

Choma Eagles starting to soar The series concluded with a look at the uplifting story of the Choma Eagles. The team’s founders, Lt Col (Retd) Pradeep Kumar Chowdhri and his wife, former army school principal Anjana Chowdhri, explain how they’ve used football to help some of the poorest girls in the state of Haryana.

“The lives of these players have become completely different since getting into football,” explains Anjana.

“Now they feel they can do anything.”

Ramdhani siblings finish...

From page 30 Third/Fourth: Lost to Ann Hoang: 21-14,16-21, 21-14 In a release the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) noted that, “We are pleased with their performances and especially for being in the top 4 at Nationals.

Over-All Winners: Men 1 Pranav Satheesh 2 Ramnish Kumar 3 Roymond Kim 4 Narayan Ramdhani Women 1 Huyen Le 2 Takeisha Wang 3 Ann Hoang 4 Priyanna Ramdhani

most prudent decision,” Ivy League Executive Director Robin Harris said in a statement.

The cancellation means that the regular-season winners — Princeton’s women’s team and Yale’s men’s team — will automatically qualify for the NCAA tournament.

The league also includes Harvard, Dartmouth, Columbia, Cornell, Brown and Penn.

The announcement comes days ahead of the expected start of the wildly

popular “March Madness” NCAA Division I basketball tournament, which takes place in venues across the country, drawing millions of viewers and corresponding ad dollars.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association said last week that it was not advising the cancellation of sporting events at U.S. colleges and universities, urging “risk mitigation.”

The NCAA did not immediately respond to requests for comment yesterday.

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 11, 2020

Coronavirus Newsfile: No handshakes for South Africa while on tour in India ESPNcricinfo - South Africa and India are likely to avoid shaking hands with each other during their three-match ODI series, which starts t o m o r r o w, and will exchange fist bumps instead as a precaution against COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). The 11-day tour is going ahead after CSA conducted an expert assessment of the risk of traveling given the growing number of global coronavirus infections, and deemed it safe for the team to transit through New Dubai and Delhi and play in Dharamsala, Lucknow and Kolkata. The team has been briefed on precautionary measures and CSA’s chief medical officer, Dr Shuaib Manjra, will be traveling with the team.

Other than the lack of handshakes - which will also

Virat Kohli and Quinton de Kock have a chat on their way to the coin toss. (BCCI) be the case for England in Sri Lanka - South Africa have not been given any other specific instructions. They will continue to interact with fans and have even taken some photographs with them,

including selfies. - Firdose Moonda March 9 One ticket per person for first T20I - BCB reacts to concerns The BCB has restricted

the sale of tickets - one per person - for the first T20I between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, to be played later today in Dhaka, in a bid to “discourage public gathering” following

concerns about the spread of COVID-19. With one person being sold only one ticket, the target is to keep the crowd to one-fifth of the capacity at the 25,000-seater Shere Bangla National Stadium.

March 6 CSA going forward with India tour after medical advice South Africa’s tour of India for three ODIs will go ahead after the organisation completed a risk assessment regarding the spread of COVID-19 across the world.

While South Africa reported its first confirmed case of the virus on Thursday, India’s health ministry has estimated infections are affecting around 30 people. But a team of experts have deemed the country and the team’s transit routes safe for travel. CSA’s chief medical officer Dr Shuaib Manjra will make the trip with the team.

March 5 Everest Premier League postponed The Everest Premier

League, Nepal’s foremost franchise T20 tournament, has been postponed following a government directive to refrain from mass gatherings amid fears about the transmission of COVID19.

March 4 PSL games to go ahead in Karachi as scheduled The Sindh provincial government has ruled out moving PSL games out of Karachi amid fears of the coronavirus outbreak.

According to reports, there have been five cases of the virus in Pakistan so far, including three in Federal Areas and two in Karachi, where a school has been shut down till March 13.

March 3 No handshakes for England in Sri Lanka England’s players will not be shaking hands with one another on their tour to Sri Lanka, captain Joe Root has revealed, using “the wellestablished fist bump” as a greeting instead.

Coronavirus fears trigger Inspirational stories helping kick off the suggestion that school C/Ships be held without fans Dream in India FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup

International Women’s Day was observed on Sunday last and, for India, there is another key milestone on the horizon. In November, the country will host the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup as part of an ongoing effort to boost the beautiful game’s development and women’s sport in general.

The ever-growing appreciation of the huge, wide-ranging benefits of participation in sport, and the importance of those benefits being available to both genders, has been conveyed this week in an uplifting video series from the India 2020 Local Organising Committee (LOC).

T h e s e #KickOffTheDream stories illustrate the changing face of female sport in India, showcasing inspirational women and girls, along with a few fathers who’re helping pave the way to equality.

A passion passed on Though he is a former captain of India’s national hockey team, Viren Rasquinha admits football is his “biggest love”. That passion, and his devotion to Liverpool, has been passed down to his daughter. And Rasquinha, who runs an organisation called Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), couldn’t be prouder to see this interest flourish.

“Girls all over the country

India is looking to have more girls and women involved in the beautiful game. © LOC need to be given the opportunity to play any kind of sport,” he says. “We must do everything we can to give them the opportunities. I love to see girls excelling in sport, and I’m sure my daughter will be really excited to see the U17 Women’s World Cup in India.”

A family of coaches “My father literally had no social life. He dedicated his life to us.” So says Dalimma Chhibber, one of two daughters to have benefited from the guidance of the passionate football coach, Om Chibber.

Dalimma represents India’s national team and has also moved abroad to play in Canada’s University League,

while sister Akanksha is a Match Commissioner and works with the All India Football Federation. In fact, the entire Chibber family – including Om’s wife and son – are certified football coaches. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Delhi league breaking new ground Growing up with a passion for football, Aneesha Labroo was shocked to find herself surrounded by other women who had never played sport of any kind. “Now they’ve come here and suddenly they’re obsessed with the sport and are playing three or four times a week,” she says with a smile. ‘Here’ is Kica Football League, Delhi’s first

amateur football league exclusively for women, of which Labroo is the founder.

In this league, passion is matched by diversity.

As Labroo says: “Our youngest player is 13, our oldest is 44 – we have moms, girls in school and people from all backgrounds and classes.”

The daughter-father duo who conquered Everest “We basically spent two years eating, sleeping, breathing Everest, “ says Deeya Bajaj, one half of the first parent-and-child duo to ascend the legendary mountain on its tougher north side. Father Ajeet, meanwhile, explains his (Continued on page 25)

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – A recommendation has come from the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) that the schools’ athletics championships scheduled for later this month should be closed to spectators, as fears about the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) throw major sporting events across the globe in doubt.

Several international sporting organizations have made a decision that events that continue as planned, including the European Champions and Europa Cups, will do so without any audiences; while others have been postponed.

On Monday, the Greek Olympic Committee announced that the Olympic Flame lighting ceremony for this summer’s Tokyo Games will be held without spectators, due to the COVID-19 outbreak. It said only 100 accredited guests from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee will be allowed to attend Thursday’s event in Olympia.In an interview with the Jamaica Observer on Monday, JAAA President Dr Warren Blake said the InterSecondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) should considering following suit for the March 24-28 national high schools Boy and Girls’ Athletics Championships at

the National Stadium.

The medical practitioner told the newspaper that given the rapid spread of the influenza-type virus that can be transmitted via person-toperson contact, and the lack of exhaustive testing by health authorities in the United States — from where a number of fans are expected to travel for the championships — it would be best for organizers to err on the side of caution.

“I am just saying we should keep an eye on what is going on…. If it becomes a situation of a public health concern and you cannot put a crowd together [without a threat], then there is the possibility of having the athletes compete without a crowd,” he said, although acknowledging that the absence of spectators would result in some economic fallout. “There is no…way that there would not be an economic fallout. It’s already having economic fallout around the globe as sports is big business, and we are not just talking about track and field but basketball and football.”

ISSA president Keith Wellington had previously told the Jamaica Observer that the organization has started to discuss the situation and a meeting of a newly formed committee would be held to determine the way forward.

Wednesday March 11, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 29

Khan’s Trading Enterprise overcome Second Street in softball fixture

Captain of Khan’s Trading Enterprise team Ashmini Ram (left) accepts the winning trophy and cash prize from Fazila Khan of Khan’s Trading Enterprise.

K h a n ’s Tr a d i n g Enterprise defeated Second Street by eight runs when the teams collided in a sixover softball fixture on Sunday last at Farm, East Bank Demerara.

Batting first, Khan’s Trading Enterprise posted 61 without loss after six overs. Czamme Reid struck three fours in a top score of 24, while Joy La Rose made 15. Second Street responded with 53-2 in six overs. Sharlene La Rose made 24 with two fours, while Narine Denisa scored 10 not out; Fazeela Khan took 1-7.

Reid received a prize for the highest individual score, while Khan took the best bowler accolade and Lisa Kissoon collected the best fielder prize. Khan’s Trading Enterprise received a trophy and $20,000 and Second Street a trophy and $15,000.

The game was organised as part of a dayof-sport sponsored by Khan’s Trading Enterprise of Herstelling.

Members of the Khan’s Trading Enterprise and Second Street teams with their accolades.

Lisa Kissoon (right) receives the best fielder award from Anna (only name given) of Khan’s Trading Enterprise.

Captain of Second Street XI Sharlyn La Rose (right) collects the runner up prizes from Nafeeza Kaleem.

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 11, 2020

CWI Regional four-day cricket

Several factors contributed to Jaguars showing this season

By Sean Devers Despite the last round win

by T&T over leaders Barbados Pride, Guyana Jaguars could only manage a draw against the Leewards Hurricanes at Providence leaving the Bajans with a 31.8 lead over second placed Jaguars heading into the eighth round.

Guyana, who battle Barbados in a top of the table clash from tomorrow in a Day/ Night encounter on home soil, sit on 85.8 points in a ‘must win’ game for the home team.

While Barbados has won five and lost two of their seven matches to earn 60 points for their wins, the rest of their points came from 14 batting points, 21 bowling points and 21 fast bowling points.

Without their West Indies pace pair of Romario Shepherd and Keemo Paul and the dominance of left arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul who 49 wickets so far, the Jaguars have managed just 9.8 fast bowling points in their three wins, two defeats and two draws.

The Jaguars, despite Permaul’s exploits and that of pacer Nial Smith with 20 wickets so far in his debut season, has three bowling points less than the Bajans, while their 42 match points have been accumulated from their three wins and two draws.

A team gets three points for taking all ten of the opposition wickets inside 110 overs, while each wicket taken by a pacer earns their team .2 of a point in both innings.

In the last three seasons Permaul had 46, 50 and 42

Skipper Leon Johnson has his eyes on a Jaguars win against B’dos. wickets but the pacers were all pentitrative which aided to the fast bowling points and the number of catches taken

by Wicket-Keeper Anthony Bramble.

This reduction of bowling and fast bowling points was one of factors affecting the Jaguars this season.

The Jaguars batsmen have passed 50 on 17 occasions but only Leon Johnson and Christopher Barnwell have converted into centuries.

The low conversion rate with batsmen being dismissed when well set; Vishaul Singh was twice out in the 90s, continues to be a major worry.

Johnson looks in good nick with 460 runs including an unbeaten 189 against the Windwards in Dominica. He

has two half-centuries to go with his ton and averages 41.81. But his strike of 45.58 is a bit on the low side in this modern era of First-Class cricket.

Barnwell, Guyana’s most consistent batsman this season, has 424 runs with a century and two half centuries and his strike rate of 66.56 is very good.

Singh (378 runs with three fifties and a strike rate of 41.22 from six matches), Chanderpaul Hemraj (329 runs with 3 fifties and a strike rate of 62.54 from 6 matches) and Bramble (317 runs with 3 fifties and a strike rate of 84.30) are the only other batsmen with over 300 runs.

Opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s 298 runs from 13 innings at an average of

27.9 with three fifties, has been a major disappointment, while his strike rate of 26.2 is unacceptable.

Raymon Reifer (229 runs at a strike rate of 38.55) is the only other batsman with 200 runs, while off-spinning allrounder Kevin Sinclair (127 runs from 10 innings at an average of 15.87) has been disappointing in his debut season.

The low strike rate is another reason why Jaguars have not yet managed to get the maximum five batting points.

Apart from Permaul who registered a career best 8-18 this season and Smith who had a five-wicket haul on debut, only Reifer (13) and Keon Joseph (12) has reached 10 wickets which is an indictment on our bowling attack’s capability on dismissing a team twice to win. Sinclair’s negative line and lack of flight makes him a ‘tight’ but unpenitrative offspinner which is another reason why Jaguars struggle to dismiss teams twice.

Another important reason for Guyana’s dominance in the past five seasons is that while a few Guyanese were selected for the West Indies

Veerasammy Permaul has 49 wickets. and our core was together for most of the time.

The other teams, especially Barbados, were depleted due to their players gaining West Indies selection.

But with the teams including most of their Test players who are not a part of the Sri Lanka ODI and T20 series, Jaguars have found the going a bit tougher this season.

Last year we lost three matches but still took the title while this season we already lost two with three matches remaining including tomorrow’s all important game against Barbados.

Assistant Coach Julian Moore declined to comment toKaieteur Sports on his debut First-Class game as Coach which Guyana drew with the Leewards on Sunday at Providence.

Motor Racing: Dexterity Challenge postponed The Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC), in a correspondence to Kaieteur Sport has noted that the much anticipated return of the ‘Dexterity’ event following its six-year hiatus from the club’s calendar will be delayed.

The event was set to get underway this Saturday at the National Stadium, Providence on the East Bank of Demerara from 16:00hrs but due to the current political situation in Guyana, the club saw it best to postpone the event to a later date to be determined by the club’s executive.

In an invited comment with Kaieteur Sport, vicePresident of the club, Shairaz Roshandin, noted that the event is aimed at having maximum fan participation, while the cost and ease of access location would have encouraged the patrons to come out in their numbers.

The main attraction of the Dexterity event will be the Race Challenge. A course will be plotted using cones and competitors will be given a map that shows how to maneuver with the driver that does it the fastest being the winner. The course race will be divided into three classes; the 1500cc, 2000cc and Unlimited.

This race will be open to

the public and any driver can challenge the pros with road cars in a controlled environment with entry to compete costing a mere $2000 per driver.

Roshandin explained that, “One car will be allowed at a time and you will be racing against the clock and your time will be taken to see who does it the fastest. The first 20 vehicles move on to the next round where a new course will be implemented.”

According to the executive, the event will be a maximum skill test of acceleration, braking and turning and in order to participate, a driver does not need a specially built race car, just the requisite skills.

GMR&SC’s Dexterity Challenge has been postponed.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul has been disappointing.

Wednesday March 11, 2020

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

Jamaican schools to stay out of world’s Seebarran shifts into largest relay meet due to Coronavirus Radical action this weekend

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton yesterday announced that Jamaica will not participate in next month’s prestigious Penn Relays in the United States, as he disclosed that the island has recorded its first case of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19).

A decision is also to be taken on the staging of the annual Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships, set for later this month at the National Stadium here, he added.

Minister Tufton made the announcements at a press conference where it was disclosed that a Jamaican woman who returned from the United Kingdom last week, had tested positive for the virus yesterday.

“I have confirmed that in terms of the Penn Relays, the Ministry of Education, through Cabinet instructions, has advised schools about not participating in the Penn Relays this year,” Minister Tufton said yesterday.

“We will comment further on the Boys and Girls champs and any other gathering in the days coming.”

The local schools championship is set for March 24-28.

The 126th staging of the

Jamaican high schools teams usually participate in the Penn Relays (File Photo) Penn Relays, the largest relay meet in the world, is scheduled for April 23-25 in Philadelphia, United States.

But on Monday, organizers of the three-day event, which usually attracts more than 15,000 athletes and 110,000 spectators, said they were uncertain if it would be held this year because of the COVID-19 outbreak which has touched more than 100 countries and has affected international sports events, some of which have been cancelled, postponed, or held without spectators.

They said in a statement that the University of Pennsylvania was consistently monitoring the

global outbreak and was “working with experts across campus and coordinating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other government agencies”.

“Penn Athletics has not cancelled any home events or enacted any spectator restrictions due to the current novel Coronavirus concerns at this time. Travellers and visitors to campus are always encouraged to practice good hand hygiene to limit the spread of germs and illnesses.

As conditions evolve, the University will continue to review, update, and publicize its travel and event policies,” it added.

Bermuda on track to host games despite Coronavirus threat HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – President of the Bermuda National Athletics Association (BNAA) Donna Raynor says next month’s Carifta Games, which are set to attract more than 600 athletes from 27 Caribbean countries, should not be affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) that is spreading across the globe.

The virus has reached non-English speaking Caribbean countries, with a few cases in the Dominican Republic, Martinique, Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy.

The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, slated for July 24 to August 9, are under threat due to the spread of COVID-19 globally.

But as Bermuda prepares to host the 49th Carifta Games – the fifth time the island will be the location for the event – Raynor said she did not expect the COVID-19 situation would disrupt the staging.

“As of now, all systems are go for Carifta, the

countries are having their final trials…and we’re all moving ahead as if it is going to take place,” she told the Royal Gazette newspaper.

Raynor added that the matter was addressed at a recent meeting of the local organizing committee (LOC).

“Fortunately for us, most of the athletes are coming in from the Caribbean and flying in on charters, not flying through the United States….

We’re just really keeping our fingers crossed that we can get through the next couple of weeks and that Carifta is on,” Raynor said, adding that she was hoping none of the countries would pull out of the April 10-13 games.

“I just want to have the event, we’ve put a lot of work into it and are ready to go. Hopefully we can get Carifta off the ground.”

The BNAA will this weekend host a two-day trial meet at the National Sports Centre which is the venue for the Carifta Games. It will be the final opportunity for local athletes to reach qualifying

standards ahead of the March 16 deadline.

The Games, held under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC), features 150 separate events.

Meantime, the International Triathlon Union has confirmed that the April 18-19 MS Amlin World Triathlon Bermuda will go ahead as planned.

The Bermuda event is the next on the sevenseries circuit that will culminate in the World Championships and Grand Finals in Edmonton, Canada in August.

Go-kart and group one champion, Raymond Seebarran, is in the ‘land of the flying fish’; Barbados currently, where this weekend, he will be taking his racing career to the next level with his debut in the Caribbean SR3 Radicals Cup at the Bushy Park Motor Sport Inc. track.

Seebarran, after striking a deal overseas, is attached to Team Fast Parts out of the twin island republic of Trinidad & Tobago.

In a recent interview with Kaieteur Sport, Seebarran expressed delight with the opportunity and he posited that this is a welcomed challenge since he has basically conquered the local competition.

“I am getting the hang of the car fast, although this is

my first time behind the wheel of the radical, and I love it.

During my first training at Bushy Park (Barbados) I turned in some decent times with my best time in the mid 59 seconds and during my second outing I continued to improve.

I am learning as much as I can and I know I have a far way to go but I am confident that I will get there,” Seebarran noted.

He further shared that, “The car feels great. It’s very different from the cars I race in Guyana, much f a s t e r, a l o t m o r e responsive, but with a little more seat time, I’ll be able to give everyone a fight in the (Radical SR3) series.”

“I feel very confident going into the first race meet of the year this weekend. It

will be the first time I am racing these cars but my main goal is to gain as much experience as I can and learn everything I can.”

The Radical Caribbean Cup lasts six rounds with two each in Barbados and T&T with one each in Jamaica and Guyana (at the November International Race meet).

Apart from Team Fast Parts, Seebarran has received invaluable support from Fast Parts Limited, Garage 61, Richtune, C.R. Boodoosingh & Sons, Techpoint Tuning, H B 4 Tu n i n g , B h o l a ’s Marketing, Bushy Park Circuit Inc., Ray’s One Stop Auto Parts, Crumbs N’ Cream Café, Clearview Windscreen Repairs, Big Kahuna Hot Dogs and Express Designs. (Calvin Chapman)

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Kaieteur News

Judge rules Ronaldinho must remain in Paraguayan jail

Ronaldinho and his brother Roberto de Asis handcuffed and escorted by police at the Supreme Court of Paraguay. (REUTERS/Jorge Adorno) ASUNCION (Reuters) Former Brazil player Ronaldinho Gaucho, who was arrested for possessing a fake Paraguayan passport, must remain in jail in the South American country after a judge yesterday refused a request for him to be released into house arrest.

The former Barcelona forward and his brother and business manager Roberto Assis were arrested last Friday after they were caught carrying the false Paraguayan documents. Brazilians do not need a passport to enter Paraguay so it was unclear

why Ronaldinho had the fake documents in his possession.

The brothers will remain in a maximum security prison on the outskirts of Asuncion for as long as six months, or until the investigation is complete, judge Gustavo Amarilla said.

“Ronaldinho’s freedom could lead to an obstruction (of justice) or an escape,” Amarilla told reporters. “His presence in the country is necessary.”

The brothers offered a $770,000 property as a guarantee but prosecutor

Marcelo Pecchi argued they were a flight risk.

“The investigation is only beginning, we are looking into other conducts that may be related,” Pecchi told reporters.

“If these people leave right now they will not be able to be brought to face trial because Brazil does not extradite its own citizens.”

Although he last played professionally in 2015, Ronaldinho is still hugely popular with global football fans and advertisers and was invited to Paraguay by a local casino owner.

Horse racing: Maximum Security owner fires indicted trainer Servis (Reuters) - The owner of Maximum Security, the colt that won the world’s richest horse race last month in Saudi Arabia, yesterday fired Jason Servis after he was indicted in a doping scheme.

The owner replaced Servis with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Servis was among the 27 people who were charged on Monday in a wide-ranging scheme to drug horses and cheat bettors in the $100 billion professional horse racing

industry. “ Ye s t e r d a y, Jason Servis, a trainer we have used for five years was indicted on multiple charges regarding using an illegal substance in horses. This news is extremely disturbing and disappointing,” Maximum Security owner Gary West said in a statement.

According t o U . S . prosecutors, Servis covertly administered performance-enhancing drugs to Maximum Security and “virtually all of the

racehorses under his control.”

Maximum Security, who l a s t m o n th won the $20 million Saudi Cup, finished first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby but was later disqualified for interference.

West filed an appeal but it was denied by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

Baffert is one of the horse racing’s most celebrated trainers and has trained Triple Crown winners American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018).

Wednesday March 11, 2020

Barbados Rifle Association host RAFTRC on first leg of 220 Caribbean Tour As Caribbean teams continue preparations ahead of the 2020 edition of the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Championships (WIFBSC) set for Antigua and Barbuda in May, the Barbados Rifle Association (BRA) this past weekend hosted a team from the Royal Air Force Target Rife Club (RAFTRC) at the Paragon Ranges; the first leg of a two nation tour.

An official of the BRA informed that the standard

of the scores on the weekend was reflective of a high standard, all things being considered and they have been planning same for the past 18 months.

“The weather was very good (a gentle breeze constant from the left when you are on the left of the bank, and a constant breeze from the right, when you are on the right bank.

No rain. Not too hot for the visitors.”

Competition on Saturday

and Sunday saw the riflemen and women taking aim at the 300, 500 and 600 yards ranges. The RAFTRC team consisted of, Christopher Fitzpatrick (Tour Manager), David Calvert, Scott Glanville, Michael Silver, Michael Gregory, David Niblett, Jim Lindsay, Christopher Hockley, Steve Green, Jonathan Ford and Karen Ryan.

The team is now on the second leg of their tour in Antigua and Barbuda.

Following are the scores from the Barbados leg of the tour on Saturday and Sunday last: Individual Match RAFTRC Name 300 500 600 Total David Calvert 34.5 49.6 49.2 132.13 Christopher Fitzpatrick 35.5 48.3 49.4 132.12 Michael Silver 32.1 50.5 49.3 131.9 Christopher Hockley 35.4 48.5 46.4 129.13 Steven Green 34.2 46.4 45.4 125.1 Scott Glanville 32.1 47.1 45.2 124.4 Jonathan Ford 29.2 46.3 44.1 119.6 David Niblett 31.1 41.1 46.1 118.3 Jim Lindsay 29 42.1 46.1 117.2 Michael Gregory 31 40.1 43.2 114.3 Karen Ryan 26.1 43.2 41.1 110.4 Barbados Rifle Association Jason Wood 34 49.1 48.3 131.4 Shellyann Hinds 30.1 45.2 47.1 122.4 Francis Ifill 29 48.1 44.2 121.3 Javid Benjamin 26.2 46.2 45.1 117.5 Vercellice Ramsay 29 45.1 42.1 116.2 Tonia Edwards 26 46.1 42.2 114.3 Team Match RAFTRC Christopher Fitzpatric 34.3 49.6 48.4 131.13 David Calvert 32.1 50.6 49.4 131.11 Scott Glanville 33.1 48.5 48.3 129.9 Scott Green 35.3 46.3 48.1 129.7 Jonathan Ford 32.2 46.1 48.3 126.6 Christopher Hockley 32.2 46.3 47.4 125.9 Michael Silver 34.3 46.2 45.2 125.7 Michael Gregory 30.1 45.2 42.1 117.4 Karen Ryan 24.1 44 44 112.1 286.17 420.28 419.22 1125.67 Barbados Rifle Association Shellyann Hinds 31 48.3 46.3 125.6 Jim Lindsay 32.1 47.3 45.2 124.6 Jason Wood 33.1 47.1 44.1 124.3 Javid Benjamin 30 48.1 45.4 123.5 David Neblett 32.1 44.1 43.2 119.4 Lance Trotman 27 44.1 44.2 115.3 Vercellice Ramsay 31.1 41 38 110.1 Francis Ifill 26.1 45 36.1 107.2 Tonia Edwards 27 39 36.1 102.1 269.5 403.1 377.16 1049.31

Ramdhani siblings finish fourth in latest Canadian College competition Guyanese Badminton champions Narayan Ramdhani (the Kings University Eagles) and Priyanna Ramdhani (Olds College Broncos) won the men & women fourth place spots at the 2020 CCAA (Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association) Badminton National Championships held in Mississaguga, Canada from March 3-8, 2020.

Both Narayan and Priyanna won the Silver Medals at the ACAC Provincial Championships

held in Edmonton and qualified to represent Alberta at the CCAA Nationals.

Over 15-Colleges/ Universities participated to make it a very competitive Tournament with very high performances.

The results for the CCAA National Championships Group Round Robin were: Men Singles: Narayan Won 2/Lost 3 Defeated: Jack Gillies: 218, 21-9 Defeated: Ryan Chen: 2118, 21-18

Men Singles: SemiFinals: Lost to Pranav Satheesh: 21-16, 21-10 Third/Fourth: Lost to Roymond Kim: 21-8, 21-11 Women Singles: Priyanna Won 2/Lost 3 Defeated: Huyen Le: 218, 21-9 Defeated: Chole Moisan: 21-8, 21-8 Women Singles SemiFinals: Lost to Huyen Le: 21-8, 21-9 (Continued on page 25)

Wednesday March 11, 2020

WDCA/Beacon Cafe 50 overs cricket tourney

C

ornelia Ida and McGill Super Stars of Canal N u m b e r Tw o have secured their places in the final of the West Demerara Cricket A s s o c i a t i o n

Kaieteur News

PAGE 33

Cornelia Ida, McGill SC secure final berths (WDCA)/Beacon CafĂŠ 50 overs cricket competition following victories in their respective semi final games played on Sunday last.

Cornelia Ida beat Independence A by five wickets at Joe Vieira Park.

Prahalad Singh (left) and Travis Persaud

Batting first after winning the toss, Independence A posted 169 all out in 40.1 overs. Mahendra Dhanpaul scored 27, while Ceenauth Bisessar and Reaz Esau made 25 each. Arshad Azim claimed 3-27 and Naveed Ali 2-8. Cornelia Ida responded

with 170-5 in 26.3 overs.

Arshad Azim struck an unbeaten 51, while Naveed Ali made 35 not out and K h e l l w a n Tu l c a n 2 1 .

Bisessar claimed 2-19 and Jagnarine Etwaroo 2-66.

McGill Super Stars defeated All Youths Sports

Club by eight wickets at Wales. All Youths SC opted to bat and were bowled out for 64 in 25.4 overs. Rickey Persaud and Jadesh Persaud made 18 each as Travis Persaud gabbed 6- 12 from 8.4 overs and Sudesh Persaud 2-9 from three

overs.

McGill Super Stars replied with 69-2 in 8.3 overs. Prahalad Singh stroked three fours and four sixes in an unbeaten 45, while Diquan Murray scored 12. Narendra Persaud took 110.

Seebarran shifts into Radical action this weekend

rt Spo Narayan Ramdhani

Seebarran poses with his Team Fast Parts radical at Bushy Park Motor Sport Inc track.

Ramdhani Barbados Rifle Association siblings finish host RAFTRC on first leg fourth in latest of 220 Caribbean Tour Canadian College competition

The Royal Air Force Target Rife Club Team at the Paragon Ranges following the end of their Goodwill Tour of Barbados on Sunday last.

Jamaican schools to stay out of world’s largest relay meet due to Coronavirus

Priyanna Ramdhani

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