Kaieteur News

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Sunday Edition

AIETEUR

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

March 22, 2020 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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Price $140

- as T&T records 40 new cases of COVID-19

Stabroek Block contract allows ExxonMobil to weather storm at Guyana’s expense p.

3

Who will pay for the damage?

This cement truck toppled yesterday while it was being driven along the East Coast Demerara public road in the vicinity of Happy Acres.

Reports suggest that the driver of the vehicle, who

sustained minor injuries, was heading east at a fast rate when he lost controlled of the vehicle. As a result, sections of the roadway have been damaged as well as the fence of a private residence.

Energy Dept. fails It is not Presidential orders p. to reveal key 8 too late for on coronavirus details on crude Guyana 55p. not tantamount to jail time 11p. sale to GY-EITI - Canadian High Commissioner - Deputy Chief Medical Officer

Online readership yesterday 166,599

Guyana needs a fresh start General and Regional Elections, held every five years, are divisive and disruptive. They end up in legal challenges, protests and the muddying of Guyana’s international image. They polarize our people, with the losing side feeling excluded and alienated.

We cannot continue like this. Guyana will go nowhere unless it fixes this problem immediately.

Both of the two main political parties, the PNCR and the PPPC, represent primarily ethnic constituencies. Putting an Indian Prime Ministerial candidate in one and an African Prime Ministerial candidate in the other does not address the root of the problem.

We have pussyfooted for far too long.

We must not wait until the next election, or the next crisis, to commence the search for a governance model which would allow all ethnic groups to feel comfortable and to attenuate their fears of racial domination and discrimination.

In this regard, we echo the recent sentiments expressed by the former Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, who has called for a new model of governance which works for the country and which does not incite the level of divisiveness which we are presently witnessing in our country.

He said, “This is not something which can be left to any incumbent [or incoming] to address. It will never happen. There must be a binding commitment from all parties as part of a packaged resolution of the current situation.”

Kaieteur News supports this proposal. Creating a model of governance that is truly inclusive cannot be left to the goodwill of either APNU+AFC or the PPPC. It will not happen once either is sworn in to office.

A new model of governance must be the outcome of political negotiations which run concurrent with resolving the present impasse over the election results.

Guyana needs a fresh start. The old model of distrust and division will take the nation down the road to disaster. Let us agree now on a model which will ensure ethnic, economic and personal security and one in which everyone wins.

Such a model will ensure that no race feels that it has lost after an election. It is the only recipe for progress and peace in Guyana.

Only credible and transparent counting can produce - European Union legitimate results Ambassador p. 3

Kaieteur News

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Sunday March 22, 2020

Put politics aside, come together and fight COVID-19 - GTUC urges T

he Guyana Trade Union Congress [GTUC] has weighed in on the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, calling on citizens and workers to embrace all measures that have been put in place by government, health care experts and supporting international agencies. These measures, the union body noted, are important to stop the spread of the disease.

“Guyana is at risk of facing a national health care crisis as a result of COVID19 if it fails to adequately respond to this public health risk,” the GTUC noted even as it pointed out that “this country is reported to be

among the least prepared countries for this pandemic that is resulting in countries scrambling to shut borders, business and others shutting down.”

“In the United States of America, the world's superpower, there are grave concerns about the adequacy of supply to meet the needs of the people. Not only of those who fall sick but the consequential needs, as a result of this disease and the potential pervasive impact it has on societies,” the GTUC added.

As such it was underscored that “We the people of Guyana and the GTUC want this government to place no hindrances in the

way, political or otherwise, in addressing the public health safety and well-being of every single Guyanese.”

The GTUC went on to note, “This is not the time for politicking. This is not the time for divisions. This is not the time, GTUC dares to say, to question the potential of corruption. It is not a time to compromise the lives of Guyanese citizens or attempt to affect the performance of this government in addressing the needs in fighting this pandemic that threatens our health care facilities, our limited health care resources and our tiny nation.” “ We s e e w h a t i s happening in other

WHO using messaging service to share COVID-19 facts

T

he World Health Organisation has been taking full advantage of modern ways to share facts about the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to billions of people around the world. On Friday, the WHO launched a Health Alert messaging service with WhatsApp and Facebook.

The app is an easy-to-use messaging service with the potential to reach two billion people, enabling WHO to get information directly into the hands of those who need it.

A recent update from WHO indicated that the reach will be cross-cutting, “from government leaders to health workers and family and friends, this messaging service will provide the latest news and information on the coronavirus including

details on symptoms and how people can protect themselves and others.”

The messaging service also provides the latest situation reports and numbers in real-time to help government decisionmakers protect the health of their populations.

The service can be accessed by inputting the WhatsApp number +41 798 931 892 and then typing “Hi” to activate the conversation, prompting a

menu of options that can help answer questions about COVID-19.

While the app is seen as providing accessibility to general updates on the coronavirus worldwide, in Guyana the Ministry of Public Health's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages are reliable sources for upto-date information specific to Guyana.

Also persons can contact ministry officials via its hotline numbers for further details if they think they may have been exposed to someone with the virus or if a person has recently travelled from a country where cases have been confirmed.

The Ministry's hotline numbers are: 227-4986, 229-7490, 231-1166, 2267480, 624-9355, 624-6674, 624-2819 and 624-3067.

countries. In the USA for instance, state governors begging a reluctant federal government to support them in their fight against this virus,” the GTUC noted, adding that “In our case the Guyana government has responded to make sure that adequate preparation can be put in place without financial constraints.”

In this respect, it noted, no region must be treated differently from another.

Referencing the US again, the GTUC highlighted that there is grave concern about the availability of ventilators required for respiratory support and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Invariably many of those coming down with the virus are likely to require such support and management.

“The potential for our

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) capacity throughout this country being taxed is real,” the union body noted as it emphasized “No unnecessary administrative procedures and concern that can be addressed in review must stop the government's endeavour to safeguard the life of every single person.

This is crisis management time.”

Also the GTUC has commended the effort by the Bank of Guyana to cushion or minimise the economic fallout. In this regard too, the GTUC is calling on Government to examine a stimulus package, not excluding of tax incentive and VAT exemption for essential goods and services, for workers and citizens whose economic well-being would be impacted in this crisis, one way or the other.

Further, it said that it calls on “all concerned to put politics aside, come together and focus on protecting the lives of health care workers and every individual trapped within the borders of Guyana.

We expect the relevant government agencies and the business community to join in, lend full support. In this situation it is not about the fittest and richest surviving, it is about all being at risk and facing the potential exhaustion of limited human and material resources, even death.”

Stressing that the safety of all lies in the safety of one, the GTUC noted that “In Guyana it only took one person arriving on a plane to spread the virus.

The possibility exists, with the hundreds exposed from this one source, Guyana's figure is likely to escalate.

Therefore, there must be no obstruction, no delay in fighting this virus to save every single life currently locked down, with no choice of leaving even if they stand a better chance of survival in another society.

All attempts at cheap politics with COVID-19 and the health of all must stop.”

Fiery disaster averted at Georgetown Prison

T

wenty-six-year- old Odel Roberts a prisoner at the Camp Street Prison, on Friday around 16:30hrs lit a newspaper and a piece of mattress and threw it at an inmate who refused to lend him his cell phone and DVD player.

It was the swift actions of officers stationed at the prison that allowed for the fire to be extinguished before things got out of hand.

According to Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, Roberts is a convicted prisoner who is serving three years for trafficking in narcotics. He is also to stand trial for murder.

According to the Prison Director, it is alleged that Roberts lit newspaper and a piece of his mattress and threw these on the catwalk outside the door of the inmate with whom he had the dispute.

Officers of the Guyana Fire Service later Odel visited the scene and declared the prison Roberts compound safe. An investigation has been launched into the matter.

Kaieteur News

Sunday March 22, 2020

PAGE 03

Stabroek Block contract allows ExxonMobil to weather storm at Guyana's expense C

By Kiana Wilburg

risis or not, the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) will always leave ExxonMobil and its partners with good outcomes all at Guyana's expense.

And the prevailing trouble in the oil market where ExxonMobil is forced to make budget cuts in the face of the coronavirus is no different.

Any changes it makes to CapEx (Capital Expenditure), it will be done to ensure its Stabroek Block operations, arguably the crown jewel of its portfolio, is preserved. ExxonMobil's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Darren Woods, will disclose the details of these cuts soon. In the meantime,

ExxonMobil's partner on the Guyana license, Hess Corporation, is also walking the same line. Earlier last week, Hess' CEO, John Hess, announced that the company shaved off some US$800M from its budget so that it can preserve its “great investment opportunity in Guyana”.

On March 16, 2020, the company also entered into a US$1 billion three-year term loan agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. It should be noted that any financial maneuverings, done by these two American oil giants for the sake of its Guyana investment, would not result in a loss.

This is all thanks to a sweet provision in the 2016 PSA that allows them to recoup all financing costs as well as the interests taken on

Only credible and transparent counting can produce legitimate results - EU Ambassador

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the European Union (EU), Fernando Ponz Cantó

A

mbassador Extraordinary a n d Plenipotentiary of the European Union (EU), Fernando Ponz Cantó said that only credible and transparent counting can produce legitimate results.

The Ambassador was, at the time, commenting on a statement from the European Union Observer Mission that it had taken a decision to withdraw from Guyana due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the decision the team took to leave, Cantó iterated, “Our Election Observation Mission calls to complete the electoral process in a credible and transparent manner. The European Union remains

engaged in Guyana and firmly determined to support all efforts to this end.”

The European Union is just on e i n t e r n a t i o n a l mission to have pointed out that the tabulation process which led to the Region Four declarations could not have produced credible results that can withstand public and international scrutiny.

The first time, at the Hadfield Street office of the returning officer, Clairmont Mingo, as well as the second time at Kingston when Mingo's office was moved, were marred by a lack of transparency and accusations of electoral fraud.

Though the international

missions were willing to assist Guyana in its facilitation of a CARICOM supervised full recount, that recount has been obstructed by a series of interim injunctions filed for by a candidate of A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), Ulita Grace Moore, and approved by Justice Franklyn Holder.

Many local entities have now called for the recount to be executed, but whether the law will allow it, remains to be seen.

loans to support its operations.

According to the document, “Interests, expenses and related fees incurred on loans raised by the parties comprising the Contractor for petroleum operations and other financing costs provided that such expenses, fees and costs are consistent with market rates” are recoverable by without need for approval by the Minister.

CROWN JEWEL Both ExxonMobil and Hess have been ecstatic about their investment in Guyana as it has chalked up 16 successful discoveries to date. Particularly Hess Corporation's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John Hess, has said that the string of successful

discoveries Guyana has seen is “world class” as it works out to about 500 million barrels of oil per discovery.

On numerous occasions, he has praised the Stabroek Block for being very low cost in terms of development while delivering high returns for investors.

Speaking specifically to the Liza field, Hess has said that it offers “high financial returns and more rapid cash paybacks since it carries the lowest development costs of all the major global offshore projects.”

Hess Executives have also bragged about the company becoming a free cash flow engine for shareholders by 2022 thanks to its 30 percent stake in Guyana's Stabroek Block.

Even as Hess and Exxon make budget cuts following

the implications of the coronavirus, they are still pursuing a fourth development project on the Stabroek Block while awaiting permission for a third.

ExxonMobil's fourth development project on the Stabroek Block will roll out at the Hammerhead well and will see the production of 150,000 to 190,000 barrels of heavy oil per day.

This was revealed in project details ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), recently submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In that document, EEPGL noted that Hammerhead is located in the eastern portion of the (continued on page 50)

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Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

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

Now we’re alone, with our destiny in our own hands Almost all of significance who came from afar are now gone, returning to the relatively comforting civility of where they belong. Though this was going to happen at some time, they did not have to leave in the way that they did.

And now we are all alone and on our own. It was inevitable that matters had to come to crystallize to where we are hopelessly mired.

And where we are is in an inestimably worse place, an unparalleled place, never really lived before, despite earlier harrowing disturbances and difficulties. It is staring across the sharper, more piercing, more segregating fence that leaves us shredded, makes us foolish, and damns us to helplessness.

Our electoral disappointments, our racial inflammations, our cleaving visions consume us. The situation is so taut and menacing today that the dividing, unapproachable razor-wired fence threatens to collapse upon us and set free the worst of the raging tides that surge within the great majority of Guyanese.

This is what Guyanese are left with, how citizens face each other angrily and maliciously, even hatefully. With the international community now mostly gone, we have to find a way to deal with each other through this, and to manage what is before one and all.

At the crux, it is to find a way to coexist with each other in some less dangerous manner, to find some smattering of the healthy, the inspiring, and the energizing.

At this time, one of our historic and major relief systems, our exit strategy and escape route, is all but sealed off, and at every familiar, official point. Migration, whether legal or otherwise, is not an option today.

Guyanese cannot hurry to anywhere, since selfprotecting national barriers spring up all over, and with deterring finality. The walls have closed in around us and left us to our own devices, to contemplate our fate. There is nowhere to go or stay but here. Perhaps, it may be the best place for Guyanese, since it may compel us, against our reflexive impulses and wishes, to work out our differences between ourselves.

We say this much and unequivocally: elections and elections results (in whatever incarnation they assume) are not going to transform or eradicate the ugly, crippling deformities that are inside of us, or tame the palpably perilous beasts outside of us, which is what is now embodied and projected by more than 9 out of every 10 of us. Elections without conversation or any hint of progression is the surest sign of the way to perdition.

We are harming our prospects grievously, when we reject what offers a passageway through which to carve a collective destiny towards some other place than where we are now trapped, to some other vision than those harboured. When there is stubborn persistence for continuing by hook or crook, then there is no new summit of hope, only the usual feared spectres of domination, and where those have always led.

It is our view that this is deeply self-destructive, not only for the local political forces for and against, but for all Guyanese.

Those that are for would be unable to withstand the entirety of what comes, those who are against cannot overcome. To both sides of the divide, whatever the level of self-confidence, this much is said: the hodgepodge of peoples that make up this nation are heading towards a far more terrible place than when this all started.

We are not the sum of our pieces, which none could now put together. We are pieces of people, which only we can bring together and put together again, but only if we so desire, so prioritize. We could argue and malign each other endlessly, but when the bickering and squalling are over, there is no improving, little mending. For what has been achieved is a resetting of the national clock to the

Whatever comes out from the courts will not solve our ingrained and destructive political problems Dear Editor, This is my second letter to the newspapers in all of my more than threescore years. I wish to refer to my first letter, which was published in July 2019. The subject of that letter was “A call for a government

of national unity” Please allow me to be reiterative. All of us must put our shoulders to the wheel to make our Motto a reality. My hypothesis in July 2019 is unchanged. It is that a vast majority of Guyanese would

1960s. Examine what has been the fate of this society since then.

Separately, there are calls for, and hope in, international sanctions. There is the peculiar belief that such would bring to the senses - to the knees, yes; to any degree of resolution and societal reconstruction, no. Both prospects are foregone conclusions, as seething rages coalesce, flare, and force to flat on faces.

This infallible truth must be faced: international sanctions possess irrefutable potency. But through the long dismal days of their applications, it is the ordinary man who pays the highest price, bears the heaviest burdens.

It is why we say this: rather than reach for strangers to force our hands, it is better to reach out for and hold our own hands. This could pave the way to moving hearts and lifting heads. There is widespread consensus that corporal

support the working together of the PPP and the APNU/ AFC, in the formation of a national patriotic government, for an agreed period. We are in troubled times, and the call is for President Granger and leaders

of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change [APNU/AFC], and Opposition Leader Mr. Jagdeo and leaders of the People’s Progressive Party[PPP] to put Guyana (Continued on page 7)

punishment is counterproductive, and that patient rehabilitation is better than the force-feeding that originates with the draconian.

Sanctions would punish ordinary citizens and make hard men dig in their heels harder and deeper.

Today, we face not one, but two national crises. Before both, we are in the worst state of unreadiness. Whatever we conceive for the electoral is sure to fail, what we hope for will not work, but simply make us weaker, more wretched, definitely mostly wrathful.

At present we exist not in a state of flux or suspension, but in one of hard denial of harder reality.

Urgent times demand the most extraordinary wisdoms, inclusive of political ones. The issue is: do we have that, to give that? And if we do, are we willing to so demonstrate?

This is where we are now at this hour when we are all alone.

Sunday March 22, 2020

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

Response to David Granger 20th March 2020 Statement Dear Editor, I read President David Granger’s 20th March, 2020 statement and despite the little ray of hope I may have held that he would act in a way that would place country before party so that there would be a sensible resolution to this international embarrassment, the consequence of which will affect all Guyanese, that is now lost.

Before I dissect President Granger’s statement, it must be stated that the true neutral party in this election saga, the many international observers (the Cater Center, OAS, Commonwealth, the EU Observers etc.), have all said that the declared result for District 4 was not transparent and not in compliance with the law so, the election as it stands would not be credible.

The USA, UK, Canada, and EU have also issued joint statements one of which expressed “deep concern over credible allegations of electoral fraud” urging Granger not to swear in on the declared results as he and his government would be viewed as unconstitutional.

Consequently, none other than the Secretary of State for the USA, Mike Pompeo, has warned of sanctions and serious consequences for persons who form illegitimate regimes and those who benefit from electoral fraud.

For the record, for the ones who may have framed the foregoing as an “imperialist motive to intervene in our internal affairs” or a “racist agenda”, CARICOM has also echoed similar statements stating any government sworn in on results which are not credible would not be legitimate.

As it relates to President Granger’s statement, it is not accurate for him to say that we must await the ruling of the Court. The only Court case seeking to prevent the only accepted solution to this international embarrassment, i.e. a recount of the votes, is filed by a candidate of the APNU of which Granger is the leader of the main party.

Granger, as President and as leader of the main party can instruct the applicant to withdraw the Court proceedings immediately. He has not done so and never will.

Even if he does not possess the political authority or the personal courage to instruct the applicant to withdraw the Court proceedings, then just like all other persons who applied to intervene in those Court proceedings, he, as leader of the list for the APNU-AFC, can also make a similar application and swear an affidavit that he would like to have a recount and/or seek the dismissal of these Court

proceedings so that there can be a recount. He has not done so and never will.

The fact is that Statements of Poll are public documents, and the APNUAFC would have in their possession all their copies of the Statements of Poll for District 4. As the leader the list for the APNU-AFC, President Granger could have instructed the publication of their copies of the Statements of Poll to refute any or all Statements of Poll published by the PPP/C. He has not

done so and never will.

As President, if he believes the Statements of Poll published by the PPP/C are fraudulent as many candidates of the APNU-AFC claim, he could immediately request a criminal investigation from the Guyana Police Force. He has not done so and never will.

Granger, as President who made appointments of persons on GECOM and leader of the list of the APNUAFC, can, in the interest of transparency, call publicly on

GECOM to publish all of their Statements of Poll used to make the declarations as his own son-in-law who is a former Minister in his Cabinet did. He has not done so and never will.

Granger’s statement also shows how ill-advised he is and how ill-suited he remains for the responsibility of executive President. He states that persons should desist from attacks on the Chairman, Commissioners and members of the Commission.

The

Constitution at Art. 161 clearly prescribes that the Chairman and the six Commissioners constitute the Commission – there are no other members of the Commission – so who are the other members of the Commission he refers?

Second, he states that “persons have approached the Supreme Court of Judicature for judicial review of our electoral laws”. This is also incorrect.

The approaches to the Court were made for judicial review on a (Continued on page 7)

A political solution is needed to what has become a political problem Dear Editor, Guyana’s election results are no longer a count problem. The count would reveal a winner and other (defeated) side would reject it. The behaviour of the government over the last couple weeks suggests it is seeking a political solution to the declaration of the results of the March 2 elections.

The government and Gecom as well as the observers and diplomats know the outcome of the elections.

The preliminary count from the authentic SOPs revealed to all and sundry who won. It would be

untenable for the Presidential candidate of a defeated party to claim victory and be sworn in as President even if Gecom were to declare the defeated party victorious.

The international community already pronounced on any attempt of such a misadventure. No party leader will risk the consequences of being sworn in on a fraudulent count.

The ruling APNU led coalition had ample opportunities to request a political solution. The five Caricom heads came to Guyana and offered their service and urged the

government and opposition to allow the SOPs for Region 4 to be correctly counted in accordance with the law. This was rejected.

Then Caricom Chair Mia Mottley of Barbados offered her personal intervention to find a solution to the count.

But Caricom’s proposed solution of a correct count would have found favor with one side over the other; one party would have won and the other side is not prepared to concede defeat.

A political solution is needed to what has become a political problem. Some towering personality from America (say a Jesse Jackson,

or Bill Clinton, or Barack Obama, or Colin Powell, or some other such figure or even in combination) would be needed to find a resolution of what has now become a political problem.

Such a personality would have to convince the defeated side to chuck in the towel and simultaneously convince the winner to offer a share of the government to the loser.

The loser should signal that it is prepared to accept a brokered solution if given a role in government.

And any solution must have a role for the smaller parties that stood on the side of democracy.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

PAGE 6

The crafters of our Constitution foresaw the likelihood of citizens ignoring measures to thwart the spread of infectious diseases Dear Editor, I wish to thank Ms Sherlina Nageer (MPH) for her queries concerning a statement attributed to me this week in your newspaper about measures the Ministry of Public Health can implement to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in Guyana.

In her letter she referred to a paragraph in which I am quoted as saying that “as an extreme measure, the Ministry will employ methods to forcibly detain persons in the interest of public safety”.

I do not deny this assertion.

My statement was made prior to the recent Presidential Orders and premised on the extant Public Health Ordinance (Chapter 145) which stated, inter alia, in article 139 (1) (g) that the Constitution provides “that a person may be deprived of his or her personal liberty as may be authorised by law for the purpose of preventing the spread of an infectious or contagious disease”.

Article 148 (3) (b) also stated that “A person may

Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

be deprived of his or her freedom of movement through an imposition of restriction by law on the p e r s o n ’s m o v e m e n t o r residence within Guyana that are reasonably required in the interest of public health” The crafters of our Constitution did foresee the likelihood of citizens ignoring or actively resisting containment measures to help thwart the spread of infectious diseases, endangering the lives of other citizens, and deliberately promoting the circulation of ailments such as COVID-19, thus those aforementioned measures among others in the Health Ordinance.

Earlier in the week, the President Orders gave legislative ‘teeth’ to those extant Constitutional provisions.

While infected persons who deliberately/maliciously ignore public safety requirements, thus jeopardising the lives of other citizens , c a n h a v e t h e i r liberties severely restricted, that is not tantamount in my

estimation to incarceration or being ‘jailed’ to use Ms Nageer’s term.

The Public Health M i n i s t r y h a s i d e ntified places to house infected persons who need to be isolated, but might have difficulties doing so in their homes, and any of those can suffice to house willful transgressors “in the interest of public safety”.

The Ministry of Public Health hopes that better sense prevails in these “troubling times” to prevent the use of trained security personnel as further precautionary measures. Should those additional robust measures be necessary, collaboration with the Public Security Ministry will assure that their “human rights and dignity” (Ms Nageer’s phrase) are respected and safeguarded.

The Public Health Ministry and her local and international partners such as PAHO/WHO are committed to ensuring that Guyana beats the spread of COVID19 and are grateful for the overwhelming positive response and support of the nation.

We wish to thank you in advance for your continued support.

Sincerely, Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle DCMO, Ministry of Public Health

Damage has been done and that may not be repairable Dear Editor, I look back this first time at Elections 2020 and cringe that some of the things that I had identified have come to pass. I would have preferred to be embarrassingly wrong on all counts; it turns that I was closer to the reality than I could have imagined.

First, several times late last year and early this year I had opined that the voting situation post-March 2nd would indicate straight down the middle along racial lines.

Today, the numbers, no matter how disputed, still confirm that now inarguable record.

This is the sum of us; there is no remainder from the division now made most pronounced by elections.

Second, when almost all were focused on process and count and result, I had positioned the priority as I sensed it on how I saw the outcome and where it would lead us; there was the fear, as shared, that all of 2020 could be lost. Well, it is, isn’t it? I had pointed to outcome and the reality checks of the aftermath, and that is where we are, also. Whereas most were firmly fixed on the routines that they thought would bring us to a comforting and acceptable point, I went ahead and articulated that one side may not be prepared to relinquish power, while the other would be unable to assume it. All Guyanese citizens should know where we are with this at present.

Third, I had hoped and so

expressed, that the new and smaller political arrivals (especially ANUG) would make a dent in the national racial voting armor and earn a seat or two and, thus, be spoiler and difference maker.

Even that proved to be wishful thinking; the ballot box evidence for the newcomers (the only aspect not contested nor clashed over) served to prove the racial doubletalk and racial hypocrisies so saturating and enduring in this society. It was where everybody and their great grandmothers were so disgusted that they wanted change, cried out for change, shouted in every forum about change, while all the time, they themselves stood immovably and irreversibly devoted to the racial voting patterns and racial traditions that have led us nowhere but to where we are today. The younger, the more concerned, the more educated all ended up in the same two places, to which we have long condemned the multitudes for lacking the wisdom to avoid.

Without belaboring the point, I must say that Guyanese voters have learned to take a page out of the deceptive book of the political juggernauts: they lie, they dissemble, they mislead, and they engage in every subterfuge that devastates truth and anything having to do with principle. With voters like these, then what kind of leaders can we get? Perhaps, more pointedly, what manner

of leaders do we deserve?

What creatures did we dream of when we ourselves are the epitome of those falsities and farces? Many intentionally misled the new people with a glimmer of hope that they may be able to break the ice, may make a start in changing the course of the conversation, if not remap the outlines of the direction of this society towards where it so desperately needs to go, in realizing that destiny, which has always slunk away on racing feet.

Fourth, I knew, suspected, and heard about a local racial universe that was highly populated with the hateful, the hostile and aggressive, and the perilously antagonistic. To be frank, though I was aware of what was there in our midst, I am overwhelmed today with the volume, the degree, the amount, and the powerful intensity of the passions and prejudices that prevail from both quarters. At the slight risk of exaggeration, there are no neighbours anymore, no colleagues anymore, no fellow travelers anymore, no common partakers of common space anymore.

There are only blood enemies. I want no part of this, knowing full well that the fleas lodge close to home.

What price power? What price dreams of ascendancy and dominance? What price honesty and integrity resuming a toehold (that only) in this grievously wounded (Continued on page 7)

Sunday March 22, 2020

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

Whatever comes out from the courts will not solve our ingrained and...

From page 4 ahead of party politics. The motivation for my first letter was a letter to the papers also in July 2019 by an outstanding son of the soil, Mr. Rashleigh Jackson. He lamented that, “a truce-a pause- may be helpful if it were to be used in our domestic

politics in attenuating abrasiveness which we have endured for a prolonged period.” In the same letter, Mr. Jackson worried that “the boat may already have sprung its moorings and is heading inevitably to the rapids.”

I replied to Mr. Jackson

Damage has been...

From page 6 society? I am not near social media, but I am near fellow citizens. The body language is nuanced, it is not of the national. It would be better if people do not try to insult me, by pretending that all is well, that we would rebound and return to normalcy. When and by whose initiative and instrumentality?

Last, and this is painful, even the media channels with which I have had a lengthy relationship have hurled caution to the winds, to rush down a road that drags one and all further down. There is no time nor patience for the reserve of temperateness, in the face of appalling atrocity.

There are insistent energies that seek to maintain a narrative that is most unhelpful. I agree that this is a deathlike struggle for truth and justice and understand some of the efforts. But it does not mean that we lose our own sense of equilibrium.

Because when we do so, then we are part of the mob, and leave nothing from which to restart and recalibrate. Lost are the ingredients of strength and reputation that once stood, and which should have been maintained at all cost.

Although few are listening, or care to appreciate where I am heading, I think some damage has been done and that may not be repairable. This I did not see coming. We have a lot of pieces to pick up. The questions are: when? By whom? And to what ends?

They are so many pieces that the task of national reviving just might be too unconquerable.

My own challenge is that I feel tainted by merely writing about what has happened here and in being near to it.

My problem is that I do not wish to be elsewhere.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Response to David Granger 20th March...

From page 5 determination of compliance with our electoral laws not a judicial review of our electoral laws. This is totally different and an important difference which a President must know before making any such written statement.

President Granger then goes on to state that GECOM has the sole authority for the conduct of General and Regional elections and urged all citizens to await the final declaration of results but ignores his own advice when he paraded himself as the victor of these elections to his supporters outside his party headquarters on Lamaha Street on the night of the 5th March, 2020 before GECOM made a final declaration which to date has not made a final declaration.

President Granger goes on to state his commitment to respect the Constitution but neglects to mention that he is required to obey it. He then absurdly states a commitment unknown to

the functions of the Office of President to protect the integrity of the Chairman and Commissioners. It is not G r a n g e r ’s responsibility to protect anyone’s integrity other than his own. The Chairman and Commissioners are Constitutional office holders and intelligent adults who are solely responsible for their integrity and the protection thereof.

Now that one of the APNU candidates has filed these proceedings, President Granger once again sits back and will allow the proceedings to conclude so that if the Court Orders GECOM to make a final declaration e v e n o n D i s t r i c t 4 ’s discredited declaration, he can be sworn in and claim the Court is an independent body. The end game for Granger is the same – swearing in.

The content of his statement must be seen for what it really is, that is simply a red herring and smoke and mirrors.

Charles Ramson (Jnr)

that “we will not go down. The young people of this land will save us.” I sincerely apologise to him for not grasping the gravity of his message back in July 2019. I am now in total agreement.

“We need a truce-a pause.”

Whatever comes out from the courts and recounting of votes would not solve our ingrained and destructive political problems.

I think it was Mr. Eusi Kwayana, who sometime ago said, “there was no innocent party”. The Holy Bible states in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned.” Most commentators are focusing on problems relating to the elections of March 2. It is expected, but we need to look much further ahead.

This is a call to the leaders

of both groups, let us show our youths that we care about their future. They are very concerned at this time. They need to see a paradigm shift immediately.

This is an appeal to President Granger and Opposition Leader Mr. Jagdeo to publicly announce an agreement in principle to form a government of national unity. One or both need to rise to the occasion and put Guyana first, we do not need outsiders to map this out for us. We have talented, patriotic Guyanese who can put together a framework to take us out of this quagmire.

Some names that come to mind are Sir ShridathRamphal, Rashleigh Jackson, Yesu Persaud, Ralph Ramkarran, Harold Lutchman, Desiree

Bernard, Carl Singh, Moses Bhagwan, Eusi Kwayana, Clarissa Riehl and many others.

Some influential Guyanese need to take the initiative to invite those who see the urgency and have the capacity to contribute to what is absolutely necessary now – an agreement to work together for the benefit of Guyana by the APNU/AFC and the PPP. None of the two groups has the human resources to successfully move this

country forward. Together they would have a wider and more diverse group to manage our affairs.

Mr. Editor, I note a similar call by Mr. EusiKwayana and Mr. Moses Bhagwan for unity to save our country. We need to get past our immediate conundrum, but more importantly, we need a lasting solution. So please, President Granger and Mr. Jagdeo, make a move that would change the direction of our beloved Guyana.

Charles Vandyke

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Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

Energy Dept. fails to reveal key details on crude sale to GY-EITI

By Kiana Wilburg

W

hen it came to the fore that Guyana would be selling three million barrels of its share of oil from the Liza Phase One Project to Shell Western Supply and Trading Limited (SWSTL), the local chapter of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) was adamant that it needs to know the details of this transaction. According to the GY-EITI Head, Dr. Rudy Jadoopat, its desire to be informed would be in keeping with the rules of the EITI which states that natural resource sales must be disclosed.

But since making the request in January to the Energy Department, Dr. Jadoopat said that he has not received the information that was promised. In fact, it was clear during the interview that Dr. Jadoopat and his Secretariat were not even informed that Guyana had received US$55M for the sale of crude to SWSTL which is based in Barbados.

Prior to contacting Dr. Jadoopat, Kaieteur News had confirmed with Bank of

Guyana officials that the money for the sale of one million barrels was received and deposited into the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) which is being held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

This information was not reported to the Secretariat which has a responsibility of noting all payments received by the government.

Speaking to the request he made, Dr. Jadoopat said, “We requested information in January and they (Energy Department) pledged to give it to us. We were supposed to get a detailed step-by-step account on the agreed price for Guyana’s oil as well as its quality. We also wanted information which would help us determine if we actually got the best deal and the best price. I am concerned about that. Guyana needs to know that the best efforts were put into this sale and that we got the best possible return.”

Further to this, Dr. Jadoopat said he had expected to receive the information long before any deposit was made into the NRF account. The official was also keen to remind that the disclosure of information to the

Energy Dept. Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe

GY-EITI Head, Dr. Rudy Jadoopat

GY-EITI is in keeping with the rules Guyana’s government said it would honour.

According to Requirement 4.2 of the EITI Standard, “Where the sale of the State’s share of production of oil, gas and/or mineral resources or other revenues collected in kind is material, the government, including state-owned enterprises, are required to disclose the volumes received and sold by the state (or third parties appointed by the state to sell on their behalf), the revenues received from the sale, and the revenues transferred to the state from the proceeds of oil, gas and min-

erals sold. Where applicable, this should include payments (in cash or in kind) related to swap agreements and resource-backed loans.”

The Standard goes on to state that , “The published

data must be disaggregated by individual buying company and to levels commensurate with the reporting of other payments and revenue streams (4.7). Multi-stakeholder groups, in consultation with buying companies,

are expected to consider whether disclosures should be broken down by individual sale, type of product and price.” (SEE LINK FOR MORE DETAILS : https:// eiti.org/document/eiti-standard-2019#r4-2)

WPA joins call for a national -but wants ending to “winner recount takes it all” governance

Member of the governing coalition, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has joined the calls for a national recount of ballots from the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. Furthermore, the WPA wants a national unity government, with a mandate for constitutional reform ending the “winner takes all” governance system.

In a statement to the press yesterday, the WPA reiterated the demand for a verified recount of all electoral districts as legally permitted under the Constitution. “ We call on all political parties to accept the results of a recount and will call on them to do so if necessary,” the WPA appealed.

Furthermore, following the examination of the ballot boxes which would reveal the

credibility of the elections, the WPA said that it wants whichever party wins to form a government of national unity for an agreed period with a clear mandate to complete constitutional reform and ending the “winnertakes- all” governance system.

According to the WPA, the ridding of such a system is the “only” way out of the “historical entrapment”,

which hinders economic and social progress as well as racial unity. Local activists and international observer such as the Carter Centre all share the same sentiments as the WPA. In addition, the WPA said that it rejects violence in all its forms and especially as occurred since Elections Day directed at children, women and law enforcement personnel.

Sunday March 22, 2020

Police seeking help to identify man who died in hit and run accident Investigators at the scene of accident

Police are pleading with the public to assist them in identifying a man who was killed in a hit and run accident.

The body is presently at the Lyken Funeral parlour.

The accident is said to have occurred Saturday around 03:30hrs on the Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

According to a police source, the man who was a pedestrian at the time, sustained injuries to his head and back.

The suspect is still on the run.

An eyewitness, who was at the scene of the accident, stated that it was a white car that struck the pedestrian and then sped away.

taly deaths jump by almost 800 from coronavirus rus has no borders and the European Union is stronger when we show full solidarity,” EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen told Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper.

Reported infections in Italy rose to 53,578 from 47,021, the Civil Protection Agency said. There were 2,857 people in intensive care, up from 2,655. Late on Friday the EU Commission moved to formalize a deal reached by EU finance ministers on March 5 to suspend EU budget rules that limit borrowing,

giving hardest-hit Italy and other governments a free hand to fight the disease.

Italy’s failure to reduce its huge debt of 134% of gross domestic product would normally have drawn a rebuke from the EU executive, but von der Leyen said there were now other priorities.

“The Italian government will be able to put as much money into the economy as needed. Normal budget rules, debt rules for example, will not be applied at this stage,” she said.

Dem boys seh...

Mingo de Ringo declared BINGO numbers!!!

Kaieteur News ain’t playing BINGO. It playing quiz. It offering a free trip to China via first class to whoever can first answer the question: Who is the President-elect of Guyana?

Dem gat some people who believe dem smart. De coronavirus gat many companies asking dem workers to stay home fuh prevent de spread of de virus.

Some people tek dis as licence fuh get pay without wuking. A fellow named Gildarie decide fuh try a thing pun de boss man at Kaieteur News. He send ah email to de bossman. It seh: Dear Glenn, I sick with the coronavirus. I want you to grant me paid leave for one month.

Yours truly, Gildarie The Bossman replied:

Dear Gildarie, After learning that you are infected, I decided to immediately ask all the other employees to work from home. Therefore you can come to the office and start working. Your request for paid leave is rejected.

Yours truly, Glenn Den de next day, de Bossman received one mo’ email from anoda worker.

That worker tuh decide fuh try ah thing.

In an email, the worker tell de boss man, he sick with de coronavirus and he want wuk from home like all de other staff.De Bossman write he back and say, “No need to come back to work. Stay home until de coronavirus comes tuh ah complete halt!”

Some people asking whether de elections we had was really ah election or trick-

Know the facts about COVID-19 and help stop the spread of rumors FACT 1 Diseases can make anyone sick regardless of their race or ethnicity.

Fear and anxiety about COVID-19 can cause people to avoid or reject others even though they are not at risk for spreading the virus.

FACT 2 For most people, the immediate risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low.

Someone who has completed quarantine or has been released from isolation does not pose a risk of infection to other people.For up-to-date information, visit CDC ’s coronavirus disease situation summary page.

FACT4 There are simple things you can do to help keep yourself and others healthy. · Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially

· Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

FACT 5 You can help stop COVID19 by knowing the signs and symptoms: · Fever · Cough · Shortness of breath Seek medical advice if you · Develop symptoms AND · Have been in close contact with a person known to

Older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions [heart disease, diabetes and lung disease] may be at higher risk for more serious complications from COVID19.

FACT 3

after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food. · Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. ·Stay home when you are sick.

have COVID-19 or live in or have recently travelled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19. Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room. Tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms. [Source: CDC]

When Kaieteur News arrived at the accident scene, this publication was told that the deceased did not have a fixed place of abode and would usually wander on the streets at night.

Investigators are now scouring CCTV footage to find concrete information that could possibly lead to someone being charged.

CORONAVIRUS HOLDS WORLD UNDER SIEGEI

ROME (Reuters) - Italy recorded a jump in deaths from coronavirus of almost 800 yesterday, taking the toll in the world’s hardest-hit country to almost 5,000.

Italy on Thursday overtook China as the country worst affect by the highly contagious virus.

Italy’s fatalities jumped by 793 to 4,825 in their largest one-day rise since the contagion emerged a month ago.

“What we all understand is that no member state can face this threat alone. The vi-

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Kaieteur News

ery.

Dey remind dem boys dat long ago, dey used to play BINGO at Freedom House.

Dey asking whether Mingo used to go to dem BINGO because de numbers he declare look like it pull from ah BINGO card.

One man already singing, “Mingo pull BINGO and he looking like Ringo!”

Elections done but people still looking fuh de freeness.

Dem hear dem seh that how during de elections campaign dem party bin sharing out jersey, cap, flag and horn. Dem boy hear dem supporters asking how come now dat de coronavirus hit, nobody ain’t sharing out face mask, hand sanitizer and hand wash.

Dem boy seh stay safe and remember: No tricks; no living!

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Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

Caribbean Airlines grounds int’l flights -as T&T records 40 new cases of COVID-19 Under threat but unrelenting, the world has been gradually taking up a battle stance to combat the pernicious impact of COVID19, the novel coronavirus.

The tactical response, ranging from closure of borders to social distancing, has been so impacting that it is literally threatening to cripple economies.

From all indication, only the most resilient among us will last. In order to give even more a fighting chance, some hard decisions are being made. One was announced just yesterday.

By way of a statement, the Trinidad and Tobago-based Caribbean Airlines, which has been flying the friendly global skies for many years, has taken a decision to restrict its international flights.

This has come on the heels of an announcement made by the twin-island Government, “that effective 12.01 a.m. on Monday March 23, 2020 the borders of Trinidad and Tobago will be closed to all international commercial services until further notice”.

This, from all indications, has stemmed from concerns surrounding recently

confirmed cases of COVID-19 there.

According to the Trinidad Guardian, Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh has confirmed that there are 40 new cases of the novel coronavirus in Trinidad and Tobago, taking the overall national figure to 49 cases.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Deyalsingh said the 40 new cases were from among the batch of 68 nationals who were immediately quarantined at Camp Balandra after they returned home from an illfated Caribbean cruise in Guadeloupe on Wednesday.

Deyalsingh said the results of the latest tests were received Friday night and the patients were transferred immediately to the Couva Hospital around 1 am Saturday.

The 40 new cases were among 70 nationals who were on board the cruiseliner Costa Favalosa, which was denied entry to Martinique after leaving Guadeloupe when several passengers aboard tested positive for the virus.

Two women who were also among the T&T travellers onboard the vessel returned

the day before the batch of 68 and tested positive for the virus on their way home and were immediately hospitalised.

Chief Medical Officer, Roshan Parasram, said the 40 patients were at this stage showing different stages of mild symptoms of the virus, including sore throats, fever, runny noses and coughing, and will continue to be treated at the Couva Hospital.

He said the other 28 nationals at Camp Balandra

will continue to be monitored closely and will now be put on a fresh 14-day quarantine cycle.

Parasram also said there is no immediate risk of transmission of the virus from the Balandra location to the national population as the 68 nationals had been fully contained there because they had come from an environment where the virus existed.

Noting, however, that the 70 nationals had travelled to go to the cruise on March 3, when COVID-19 had already begun to peak globally, Deyalsingh said he was extremely disappointed that nationals continued to make

bad choices which were putting the national community at risk. He reiterated that the virus was spread by contact and could only be eradicated by cutting out unnecessary human contact.As such, he continued to ask all citizens to follow the COVID-19 protocols announced by the Government.

Meanwhile Caribbean Airlines said that its domestic operations will continue.

The airline has advised too that customers holding tickets for international services beyond March 23, 2020 can place tickets on hold for future travel, adding that “further instructions from the

government of Trinidad and Tobago may mean that this information changes.”For the latest information persons can check the airline’s website - www.caribbeanairlines.com; its mobile app; its flight notifications service and social media pages since “due to the high volume of calls the airline is currently receiving, there may be long waiting times to access the call centers”.Even as it takes necessary precaution, the airline said that it “remains committed to its customers and thanks all stakeholders for their continued support, as the company deals with this evolving and unprecedented situation.”

Cops probe torching of Bush Lot butchery The torched butcher shop

Police are attempting to identify the culprits behind the torching of a butcher shop at Bushlot Village, West Coast Berbice.

Investigators revealed that the shop, which was owned by Latchmin Azeez, 51, and her husband, was deliberately set alight shortly after midnight yesterday.

Sources indicate that fires were set at two areas of the property.

Mrs. Azeez, who is a Community Development Officer, said that ranks on patrol

alerted her at around 00:45 hrs that her business was on fire. By the time the fire service arrived, the small structure had already been completely consumed by the flames.

Azeez explained that the butcher shop is operated by her husband, and that he also stored his equipment there.

Police confirmed that the owners had complained previously of individuals vandalizing the shop. The family is receiving assistance to rebuild the structure.

Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Presidential order on coronavirus not tantamount to ‘jail time’ - Deputy Chief Medical Officer

Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle

D

eputy Chief Medi cal Officer (DCMO), Dr Karen Gordon- Boyle, is seeking to address concerns about the Presidential orders issued recently in wake of the coronavirus cases.

According to the DCMO, the presidential orders are not tantamount to ‘jail time’.

In response to questions about the authority of the government to forcibly detain persons in the interest of public safety, the DCMO noted that the crafters of our Constitution did foresee the likelihood of citizens ignoring or actively resisting containment measures to help thwart the spread of infectious diseases, endangering the lives of other citizens, and deliberately promoting the circulation of ailments such as COVID-19, thus those aforementioned measures among others in the Health Ordinance.

She noted as such that earlier in the week, the presidential orders gave legislative ‘teeth’ to those extant Constitutional provisions.

According to Dr GordonBoyle “The Presidential Orders premised on the extant Public Health Ordinance (Chapter 145) which stated, inter alia, in article 139 (1) (g) that the Constitution provides “that a person may be deprived of his or her personal liberty as may be authorised by law for the purpose of preventing the spread of an infectious or contagious disease.”

“Article 148 (3) (b) also stated that “A person may be deprived of his or her freedom of movement through an im-

position of restriction by law on the person’s movement or residence within Guyana that are reasonably required in the interest of public health.”

She explained further, “While infected persons who deliberately/maliciously ignore public safety requirements, thus jeopardising the lives of other citizens, can have their liberties severely restricted that is not tantamount in my estimation to incarceration or being ‘jailed’.”

In the meantime, Dr. Gordon – Boyle noted that the Public Health Ministry has identified places to house infected persons who need to be isolated, but might have difficulties doing so in their homes, and any of those can suffice to house willful transgressors “in the interest of public safety”.

The Ministry of Public Health hopes that better sense prevails in these “troubling times” to prevent the use of trained security personnel as further precautionary measures.

“Should those additional robust measures be necessary, collaboration with the Public Security Ministry will assure that their “human rights and dignity are respected and safeguarded”.

D r. G o r d o n – B o y l e noted that the Public Health Ministry and its local and international partners such as PAHO/WHO are committed to ensuring that Guyana beats the spread of COVID19 and are grateful for the overwhelming positive response and support of the nation.

Sunday March 22, 2020

Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

$150,000 bail for man who allegedly shared nude photos of women Twenty-eight-year-old Todd Brown, a security guard of Wortmanville, Georgetown, was on Friday arraigned before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. He was charged for allegedly sharing nude photos of three women.

Brown pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that between November 4 and 5, 2019 at Georgetown, he used a phone to transfer pictures of Tasiana Richmond, Abigail Alexander and Michelle Alexander with intent to humiliate and cause distress and to damage their reputation.

While the facts of the charge were not read to the court, the police prosecutor made no objection to bail being granted to Brown.

Senior Magistrate Daly then granted the defendant bail in the sum of $150,000, and advised him to not continue this type of behaviour.

Charged: Todd Brown The matter was adjourned to May 8, 2020.

Two Fridays ago, two women who were also charged under the cyber crime act made their court appearance before Senior Magistrate Daly and were sentenced to serve three years jail time and fined $5M each for humiliating their friend by sharing a sex tape on social media.

Manslaughter charge for security guard accused of killing Linden man

Dead: Akeem Caesar Two weeks after 24-yearold Akeem Caesar of Wismar, Linden, Region 10, was fatally shot and killed in Mahdia, the accused made his first court appearance before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.

The court heard on Friday that 40-year-old Devon Harris, a security guard of Public Road, Friendship East Bank Demerara was charged with manslaughter.

He appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, with his attorney, Adrian Thompson.

Harris was not required to plea to the indictable offence which stated that on March 4, 2020, at Blackwater Landing, Konawaruk, Mahdia, he unlawfully killed Akeem Caesar, a human being.

No objection was made by the police prosecutor to bail being granted to the defendant, however, he asked that conditions be attached to the bail if granted. Chief Magistrate McLennan granted Har-

Charged with manslaughter: Devon Harris ris bail in the sum of $200,000, with the condition attached that he report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters every Friday until the completion of the matter.According to the facts of the charge, on the day in question, around 15:30hrs, the deceased and Harris were at a shop at Blackwater Landing, imbibing when they got into an argument. The argument quickly escalated into a physical altercation, but public spirited persons stepped in and separated the men.

The court heard that Caesar then left the shop and later returned with two broken bottles which he used to attack Harris. Harris then pulled out his work-issued firearm and shot Caesar to his left leg.

Around 23:30 hrs the deceased was taken to the Mahdia District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The matter was adjourned to April 9, 2020.

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Sunday March 22, 2020

Sunday March 22, 2020

This week's beauty is the mesmerizing Nalicia Ramdyal.

According to Missosology Guyana, she is a Special Education Teacher and is currently working for the Department of Education in New York City. She enjoys modeling and spreading joy to the less fortunate.

Kaieteur News

a i c i l a N yal Ramd

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Sunday March 22, 2020

Young author and entrepreneur, Nekisha Prince-Haynes,

By Rehanna Ramsay

B

arbados-based G u y a n e s e Nekisha PrinceHaynes is hoping to leave her mark on the world through her efforts as an administrative service provider, motivational speaker and writer.

This week's Special Person is a published author.

Her book “Your Client is not Your Friend,” remains in the top 100 best sellers list on the online retail website, Amazon.

In her book, PrinceHaynes offers practical advice to entrepreneurs and small business owners on how to use their resources to maximize their performance and output. Drawn from her own experiences, the young author and entrepreneur, teaches her clients how to navigate the tricky world of business and personal relations.

In simple terms, PrinceHaynes says that her book spells out methods to avoid the pitfall of “mixing business with pleasure.”

“If you are anything like me; friendly and quick to empathize with people, they tend to take advantage of you. That can compromise an otherwise professional

is a 'Special Person' relationship and be detrimental to your business.”

Prince-Haynes said that the advice contained in the volumes of her book, literally saved her life and career.

“Had it not been for those

father to me during my upbringing.”

During her childhood, Prince-Haynes said that her dream was become a teacher.

S h e a t t e n d e d Mocha/Arcadia Primary School where she wrote the Common Entrance exams

“

I taught myself most of what I know and the rest I learnt from working with past clients and employers. Most times, I had to find ways to motivate myself to keep going.

errors and bad experiences, I would not be able to help others. My business survived by trial and error.”

N o n e t h e l e s s , Prince–Haynes says that she is thankful for those experiences.

“It shifted me into my purpose,” reflected the 31year-old who spent her childhood in the small village of Mocha/Arcadia on the East Bank of Demerara.

Prince-Haynes grew up in a single-parent household.

“My mom was a cook.

She was like mother and

”

and was awarded a place at St. Johns College. She later attended the University of Guyana's Institute of Distance and Continuing Education.

“I have two older brothers and one younger than I am. Given that my father was not a part of my life. My eldest brother Keon Smith filled that gap.

Naturally I wanted to follow in his footsteps. I remember, while my brother was pursuing Accounting, I wanted to become an Accountant as well, which

meant I pursued many Accounting courses. Then he switched to Business Management, and guess what? I switched too.”

Prince-Haynes said that her brother was later involved in public speaking and “so I wanted a career that involved that sort of thing.”

The young author noted that her book has created the platform for her to do just that.

“It continues to open opportunities for me to share with the world. It has given me a platform to speak out publicly and educate people on how to effectively manage their business. So in a way I am also fulfilling my desire to teach.”

SELF-MADE Though she considers herself a self-made businesswoman, Prince–Haynes noted the people in her life that continue to motivate her.

“My close family members; my mom, my brother, husband and son continue to be a source of motivation.”

Nonetheless she said, “I taught myself most of what I know and the rest I learnt from working with past

Nekisha Prince–Haynes clients and employers. Most times, I had to find ways to motivate myself to keep going.”

As a virtual assistant, P r i n c e - H a y n e s accomplishes most of her work from behind a computer desk in her home based in Christ Church, Barbados--her adopted homeland.

“I have clients from Barbados, Canada and New York. I am a virtual assistant.

People hire me to do the bookings, make orders, write speeches, letters, proofreading material and other administrative tasks.”

She explained that her work is similar to that of a personal assistant, only that (continued on page 47)

Nekisha and her best friend Karen Jagroop

A photo op with Barbados' Energy Minister, Wilfred Abrahams

Kaieteur News

Sunday March 22, 2020

PAGE 19

Power sharing is not a substitute for free and fair elections

T

h e l a t e Satnarayan Maraj, the Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha of Trinidad and Tobago, and a close personal friend of former Guyanese President Desmond Hoyte, appeared once on a television program with others to discuss race relations. During the course of the discussion, the issue of power sharing emerged.

Maraj, at this point, interjected and asked rhetorically why it was that only when an Indian government is in power that the calls for power sharing are intensified.

It is an observation worth repeating again, now that it appears as if the PPPC has won the 2020 general and regional elections but is being denied its right to assume the government.

The calls for power sharing are once again being intensified. The official results have not yet been declared, yet the calls have

been vocal for power sharing, including its euphemism, a new model of governance.

But where were those calls when APNU+AFC won a razor-slim majority of less than 5,000 votes in the 2015 elections? If ever the results of an election suggested the need for power sharing, it was the 2015 polls. Those who under the PPPC were vocal in advocating power sharing and shared governance became muted.

APNU+AFC had promised that when they won the elections, the PPPC would have been part of the government. They did not keep this promise.

The PPPC was never keen on sharing executive power. They argued that there was first a need to establish trust among the contending parties. The architect of the PPPC's paper on power sharing, which emphasizes the need for trust, was a member of the APNU+AFC government.

The PPPC failed during

its tenure to foster the political trust which they claimed was needed. They did make substantive changes to the constitution, including reducing the powers of the presidency and requiring greater consensus in certain appointments to public offices.

These changes were never going to be enough to remove the mistrust which has traditionally characterized the relationship between the PPPC and APNU+AFC. That mistrust shows no sign of abating. Even as the country faces its gravest crisis ever in the form of the coronavirus threat, the two are still locking horns over who won the 2020 elections.

Not even the threat of a deadly pandemic can bring these two parties together.

Power sharing appears to be an attractive proposition for multiracial countries like Guyana where there are two major ethnic blocs. But power sharing also has its disadvantages. For one,

there are not enough successful examples of power sharing around the world to provide comfort that it will work here in Guyana. Critics have suggested that it will lead to gridlock in decision-making.

Secondly, as Desmond Hoyte once argued, it removes an important democratic check, the role of an Opposition. Thirdly, it institutionalizes race-voting and has the potential of m a rg i n a l i z i n g s m a l l e r political parties.

It has become quite the norm for Westminster-style democracy to be pilloried in order to establish the need for an alternative model. But without electoral democracy there can be no means of assessing the will of the people or even determining their consent for power sharing.

It would amount to rule by political elites, to refuse to ask the people to approve of any power sharing model via a referendum. And small parties must be

accommodated within any system of shared governance.

Sharing power cannot become the basis for one side staying in power against the will of the people.

Electoral democracy must not become a victim of shared governance; power sharing must be based on democracy, helping to determine the relative configurations around which power and decision-making will be apportioned.

It is untenable to ask the PPPC and APNU+AFC to sit down and work out a model of power sharing when one side feels cheated at the elections. It is like asking a woman and man to reconcile while the man continues to have an ongoing affair and refuses to give up his illicit affair outside of his marriage.

Before, therefore, Guyana attempts to relaunch another round of dialogue on shared governance or power sharing, it has to first settle

its electoral woes. Shared governance cannot be established on autocracy.

The government operates at times in an autocratic manner with little or no checks.

Just look at the unprofessional manner in which the police evicted those persons from the Convention Centre. That is a sign of a brewing dictatorship.

Power sharing is necessary, but let us first give democracy a chance. Settle this electoral quagmire so that no side feels cheated and then re-launch a dialogue of an inclusive model of governance, and put it to the people in a free, fair, credible and transparent referendum.

No rigging allowed!

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Sunday March 22, 2020

Guyana: future leader or outcast?

By Sir Ronald Sanders

G

uyana is in grave danger of being ostracised in the regional, hemispheric and global communities. As I write, the General Elections, which were held on March 2, still have no final count, and certainly not one that

international observers have declared as credible, transparent and lawful.

I have seen many comments, statements and assertions from some who should know better, and those who seem to have adopted a herd mentality, that international approval is unnecessary and international disapproval, however demonstrated, is both unimportant and incapable of harming the country. Nothing could be further from reality.

Should the Guyana general elections be declared, and a government established, without the blessing of the international organisations that the Government invited to observe those elections,

Guyana could face suspension from the Commonwealth and from the Organisation of American States (OAS) – two of the most important organisations to which it belongs, for breaches of the Commonwealth 1991 Harare Declaration on the protection and promotion of the fundamental political v a l u e s o f t h e Commonwealth, and the Inter-American Democratic Charter that guides the OAS. Once the machinery of the Commonwealth and the OAS are invoked – as it certainly will be – suspension of Guyana from the councils of both organizations will assuredly follow.

The European Union will also take separate

action that will be directed at suspending normal terms of trade, aid and investment relations.

The latter will have an immediate effect that will be immediately apparent in Guyana.

Of great significance is that both the Commonwealth and the OAS Observer missions were led by two former Caribbean Prime Ministers, Owen Arthur of Barbados and Bruce Golding of Jamaica. Therefore, those who look to racism to blame for positions of these organisations that don't suit them, are hardly able to do so in this case.

And, those who might say that suspension of Guyana from the Councils of the OAS and the Commonwealth is of no account, it is worth reminding that these two Organizations have been extremely important to Guyana in defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity in face of claims by Venezuela. When Guyana does not have a voice in these organisations, it is in no position to argue its case and to secure the support it has received in the past.

Note should be taken that, in the OAS, the ostensible representative of Venezuela is Juan Guaidó's nominee, and the opposition in Venezuela has been especially virulent in its claim to two-thirds of Guyana.

Therefore, in the OAS, Guyana will have left the OAS field clear for the Venezuela opposition to sow its seeds.

Similarly, if the Guyana elections are condemned by the international community, Guyana's high moral standing in its case against Ve n e z u e l a a t t h e International Court of Justice, on the border contention, will be weakened.

B a s e d o n t h e recommendations of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group and the OAS Permanent Council, members of the 55-nation Commonwealth and the 34nation OAS will be strengthened in taking any individual actions against Guyana that they consider appropriate.

Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, has already said that “individuals who seek to benefit from electoral fraud

and form illegitimate governments/regimes will be subject to a variety of serious consequences from the United States”.

That is usually a first step before the U.S. unleashes sanctions against the operations of state-owned companies and their operations. Guyana would be hurt by actions taken against individual states from the EU, the Commonwealth and the OAS. Sadly, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries – 12 in the Commonwealth and 14 in the OAS – that would normally defend and fight for the interests of Guyana, as they have consistently done in the past, will be estopped from doing so by the shabby treatment accorded to CARICOM in its attempt to help to resolve the general elections process at the request of both President David Granger and Opposition Leader, Bharat Jagdeo.

Current CARICOM Chair, Mia Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados, led a high-level team to Guyana of four other Prime Ministers that included three of the longest-serving leaders, Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Keith Mitchell of Grenada, Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica and Dr Keith Rowley of Trinidad and To b a g o , G u y a n a ' s immediate CARICOM neighbour. In good faith, the leaders thought they had brokered an agreement with President David Granger and Opposition leader, Bharat Jagdeo.

Essentially, it was agreed that the tabulation process had been widely viewed as not being transparent or credible, and CARICOM was invited to supervise a recount as an independent body and one that wanted Guyana to come out of the situation, boasting legitimacy of the electoral process.

A CARICOM team, dispatched to supervise tabulation of the votes on March 15, was forced to leave the country after three days of patiently waiting in vain.

Mottley was compelled to conclude that, despite CARICOM's valiant efforts, “It is clear that there are

Sir Ronald Sanders forces that do not want to see the votes recounted for whatever reason”.

She did not end there, she pointedly added: “Any Government which is sworn in without a credible and fully transparent vote count process would lack legitimacy”.

So, there is now the matter of what CARICOM will do.

Given all these circumstances, it is unlikely to be business as usual with a government, established on the back of elections that are not deemed credible and transparent by any of the international Observers, including CARICOM. Even the continuation of the CARICOM Secretariat in Guyana could come into question.

No one in CARICOM wishes this fate for Guyana.

At a moment in history when Guyana's fortunes are set to be transformed by the exploration of oil and gas, all in CARICOM were looking forward to a vibrant Guyana, taking-up the leadership role it played in the Community's original formation.

By the time this commentary is published in some places (it was written on 19 March), measures may have been taken to take the action necessary to tabulate the votes in Guyana through a transparent and credible process – with CARICOM re-invited to supervise it.

If that happens, Guyana will enjoy international respect amid its newfound wealth; if it doesn't, the path ahead will be strewn with difficulties and hardships.

(The writer is Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto.

The views expressed are entirely his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)) Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com

Sunday March 22, 2020

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

---Hinds’ Sight by Dr. David Hinds---

Count your votes and declare your winner: I will see you in 2025 shouting for democracy again

L

et me start today’s column with a plain and unambiguous statement. I support free and fair elections. I am constantly reminded that back in the day, I was part of a brigade that laid down our lives for free and fair elections. And may I remind the younger ones especially, that the offending government of that time looked like me.

So, I want nobody to question my commitment to democratic elections and a democratic Guyana.

But I have been around long enough to know, to learn the hard way that democracy in a place like Guyana is not always democratic. So, my critique today is not a dismissal of free and fair elections. Rather it is a critique of an aspect of our political culture that uses the cry for free and fair elections to either settle political scores or to satisfy ourselves that we are democrats.

Every country has its moments of crisis. Guyana has known its fair share. It has to be that way. The manner in which our country was cobbled together means that unless special care is taken to address the inevitable outcomes of that process, we are doomed to lurch from crisis to crisis. From 1953 when the British sent gunboats to turn back the outcome of the election of that year to the current scenario, democracy has been what the myriad political forces have deemed it to be.

Unfortunately, we live in a country that has ignored the

lessons of its history, including recent history. Perhaps that is our lot, because if we dare face our history, we will have to admit our collective failures and the fallacies we have adopted to mask those failures.

Some Guyanese want to be like the rest of the world, but we fail to recognize the many ways in which we depart from the norms that govern most of the rest of the world. So, as I opined in a previous column, we tie ourselves in knots from which we cannot be untangled. In the end, Guyana becomes a space of a particular kind of logic that is steeped in mystery and mystique.

One just has to listen to the chorus about democracy and democratic norms that has filled the air, the airwaves and the public media these past three weeks, to realise how historical and non-contextual a country we are. One must ask—where have these people been? Which country are they talking and writing and mourning about? What democracy are they talking about, may I ask?

One hears of free and fair elections with such frequency, such authority and self-righteousness that it all begins to sound like a thing without meaning. Or is it that we have become a country without meaning?

I mean no disrespect for those who have exercised their right to question the fairness of the count of the votes from Region Four. There have always been questions about every election in Guyana—

every single one of them from 1953. My God, why are we acting as if our questions and charges of electoral fraud are new?

Did the PPP not question the fairness of the elections before a single ballot was cast? Did the PPP not question the fairness of the 2011 and 2015 elections? Did they not charge the “White People” with helping the Coalition to win in 2015? Did the PNC not question the fairness of every election from 1992 to 2006?

And did we not all question the “crooked elections” from 1968 to 1992? Did the PNC not charge Carter and the “White People” with putting the PPP in power in 1992?

And did the PPP not charge one set of ideological “White People” with putting the PNC in power in 1964?

Have we not learned anything from that scenario? Are we really capable of learning anything from our own history? Again, I don’t mean to disrespect the voices which are shouting for free and fair and democratic elections, because I respect most if not all of those persons. But I have to ask—what do you want from Guyana. Do you want blood from stone?

I don’t want to dismiss these Guyanese, because they mean well. But I cannot join their bandwagon. It leads to nowhere—absolutely nowhere. Well, not really. It leads to the coronation of a oneparty government of one side—one race—just as it did in 1992 and to some extent in 2015.

Yes, nobody cares where their free and fair elections democracy takes us. Just count the votes, declare a winner and proclaim a victory for democracy. And what happens after that is not their business - never was and never will be their business.

Their concern is with free and fair elections and their newfound slogan—the rule of law.

They don’t care of the rule of the people—all the people.

Who cares what democracy throws up? If they lose, they lose.

This is democracy at work.

Majoritarian democracy replete with its spreadsheets and Statements of Poll. And don’t forget the injunctions.

Let the rule of law prevail.

Way back in 1961, Kwayana saw 2020 coming and he suggested power sharing. They turned it into partition. After the 1997 debacle, some of us of a then

younger generation again saw 2020 coming, and like Kwayana did before us, we put power sharing on the table. We were asked all kinds of questions—how will it work? We were laughed out of town as idealists and impractical people. And we went our merry way.

Corbin, Roopnaraine and Thomas put APNU together as a first step towards power sharing. Once the Coalition took power, it governed as an anti-power sharing government and the others labeled it a PNC government. And here we are in 2020 on the edge once again. Kwayana, at age 95 and Moses Bhagwan again advance power sharing. The “democrats” again pour scorn on it.

All they want is to count the votes in Region 4 and declare the winner - that would solve our 70-year-old problem.

So here is my thing. Count

Dr David Hinds your votes. Declare your winner. And carry on. Satisfy your “democratic” urges. See you in 2025 or when you call another election when you will be shouting for democracy again.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper) More of Dr. Hinds’ writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his w e b s i t e www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.news.

Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

PAGE 22

Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

The murdered ‘ghetto girls’

By Michael Jordan hey were both in their late teens.

They both lived in a squalid little street in the city. And within a year, they were both dead.

It was around 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 15, 1994, that the phone rang at the East La Penitence Police Station and an anonymous caller said: “The body of a woman on the ‘dump’ (playground) at the Multilateral School”.

The caller then hung up.

On receiving the message, a detective from the station hurried to the school, which was a short distance from the station.

He summoned the school’s caretaker, and the two men began to scour the playground, which was overrun with tall grass. Within minutes, they had found the nude body of a girl lying among a clump of bushes.

Word quickly got around about the discovery, and the playground was soon crammed with people, eager to get a glimpse of the body.

Unfortunately, the detective was unable to control the crowd, which trampled any forensic evidence that might have been there.

What lay on the ground was not a sight for the squeamish.

The body of a teenage girl of mixed ancestry was lying facedown on the grass.

Her hands and feet were tightly bound. The victim’s tongue protruded and a sock

T

was knotted around her face in the vicinity of her nostrils.

A Ziploc bag, containing some clothing, was near the corpse.

An autopsy conducted next day by forensic pathologist Dr. Leslie Mootoo confirmed that the girl had been subjected to a slow and painful death.

Not only had she been raped and sodomised, but the teen’s attackers had also stuffed a plastic bag down her throat while she was still alive. She had been struck in the face with a blunt instrument and there were abrasions on her breasts and back.

Detectives surmised that she had been slain the previous night while walking through the playfield which served as

a shortcut to Stevedore Housing Scheme and Tucville.

A squatter living on a dam near the school recalled hearing screams coming from the vicinity of the playground at around 9.00 p.m. on December 14.

Usually, when a corpse is found, wailing relatives would turn up at the scene or at the mortuary to claim the body.

But although persons from as far away as Buxton and Linden came to view the corpse at the mortuary, no one came forward to claim the ‘mystery girl.’ Acting on information, detectives detained two cobblers from Bourda Market, but found nothing to link them to the killing.

On Saturday, December 17, 1994, the still-unidentified

victim was given a pauper’s burial.

One week later, on December 24, in a desperate attempt to have her identified, police, led by Crime Chief Winston Felix, allowed an artist to sketch a likeness of the victim from a photo that was taken of her distorted face.

The photograph was published in the Guyana Chronicle, but Christmas came and went without anyone identifying the ‘mystery girl’.

However, while the case appeared to be all but forgotten, the staff from a small fortnightly newspaper, the Guyana Guardian, was quietly working on the case.

Finally, on Thursday, February 2, 1995, the Guardian, run by journalist Nills Campbell, revealed that they had identified the victim.

She was Beatrice Bobb, a 14year-old who had lived in one of the small shacks that a group of squatters had set up behind what is now the Water Street Arcade. .

Beatrice had lived with her mother and stepfather in a plywood and plastic structure

that barely had enough sleeping space for the three.

Her mother, Joan Davis, would later tell me that Beatrice began using drugs at the age of 12 and would often beg in the streets. According to her, someone had informed her that Beatrice was the murdered ‘mystery girl.’ But she said that police had already buried the corpse by the time that she was preparing to come forward to identity it.

However, police had kept the clothing found near the body and Ms. Davis managed to identify a brown skirt as one that a friend had given her daughter.

According to the Guardian’s story, Beatrice and another girl were walking along Mandela Avenue one night when they were attacked by a group of young men.

There are reports that the girls had just left a ‘bubble session’ when they were attacked.

The friend barely managed to escape. Beatrice was not so fortunate.

The Guardian reported that the girls were familiar with their attackers.

Mr. Campbell alleged that after receiving the information, he contacted a very senior police official, indicating that he had information that would help the police to solve the crime. However, he said that the official never attempted to contact him.

Detectives visited the home of the now-identified victim and questioned her mother. They also took two young men and a woman into custody. But by then the trail

had gone cold and the persons who had killed Beatrice Bobb were never caught.

Again, interest in the murder waned.

But then on Saturday, October 28, 1995, the body of another young woman was found in the area of the Lamaha Conservancy near North Ruimveldt Housing Scheme. The victim had been strangled with her own dress.

The day after the body was discovered, a young woman visited the Le Repentir mortuary to view the corpse. She identified the victim as her friend, 19-year-old Joy Douglas.

She recalled that Joy had followed a young man to the backdam to pick jamoon, but had not returned.

A police inspector who headed the investigation became intrigued when he learnt that Joy Douglas had lived in the same squatting area as Beatrice Bobb. He had also investigated the Beatrice Bobb murder, and he wondered if the two were connected.

Joy Douglas had run away from home at the age of 16. At one point, she had lived in an abandoned house with other runaway girls. She had eventually moved to the squatting community. By 17, she was a mother and lived in a shipping container with her baby daughter who eventually died.

A few days after Douglas’s body was identified, police took four young men, including a former soldier, into custody.

The former soldier was eventually charged with Douglas’s murder. But the case never made it past the preliminary inquiry stage.

There was just too little evidence to incriminate the accused, and he was eventually released.Today, if you pass the area where Beatrice Bobb and Joy Douglas lived, you will find no trace of those tiny plywood and plastic shacks.

Nobody around there remembers the two girls.

It is as if the two victims, and the ‘ghetto’ they once called home, had never, ever existed.

If you have any information about this or any other unusual case, please contact Kaieteur News by letter or telephone at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown office. Our numbers are, 2258491 and 22-58473. You need not disclose your identity.

You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email a d d r e s s : kamarangnight@gmaill.com

Sunday March 22, 2020

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==

Has my political life been a complete failure?

I am in my late sixties and my life has seen only three dimensions – educational security, marital infrastructure and political praxis. Of the first one, my family never had the resources to enable me to make high school. I studied privately for my GCEs, passed and never looked back. My educational journey ended at the University of Toronto in the doctor of philosophy programme. Service in the Grenadian government of Maurice Bishop prevented me from completing my dissertation.

I married my girlfriend, Janet, in 1978, and our marriage has been constant but punctuated with large periods of nightmarish and disastrous journeys. Don’t raise your eyebrows. Those nightmares and disasters were not about the essence of my marriage, but about the third dimension of my existence – political struggle.

If my wife was not a unique woman, my marriage would have been buried in obscurity decades ago. This is because the third dimension of my ontology has virtually determined my existence on Planet Earth.

I know no other life but the tumultuous, dangerous

world of Guyanese politics. It began when I was sixteen and it hasn’t stopped since then.

But what I have seen in March 2020 in my country had led me to ask myself – has my praxis failed over these five decades?

The chronicle of my struggles for justice and freedom in Guyana would take definitely more than one volume of my memoirs. Will I ever do it? I don’t know and don’t care. I have seen the past two weeks a country that I have given so much to, just aimlessly drifting with the raging, uncontrollable tide into the chasm of deep burial.

Windmills in my souls were spinning out of control when I saw video clips last Friday night in Kingston of APNU+AFC supporters literally and visibly manhandling opposition party officials and media workers (both cameramen and journalists) and there were graphic video clips of policemen laughing as the victims ran from intended violence.

This was not the Guyana I gave 50 years of struggle to.

This was not the Guyana that Dr. Dennis Canterbury and I ran from in 1979, locked up in a stink room in First Federation Building, while violent

thugs from the PNC with huge sticks and knives searched room by room for us, while outside the building, Father Bernard Darke was attacked and killed.

Unfortunately this is my Guyana in 2020. Dennis has long gone, taking a journey into the world of professorship, while I kept in overdrive mode in my own country. So I ask myself; what has changed in my country since the incident in First Federation Building? The day after Father Darke was murdered, I would never forget that issue in the Chronicle.

The paper reported that the priest was killed in a scuffle with other men. As I type this reflection here, on Saturday morning, on the Chronicle’s front page is one of the leads with the headline, “Carter Center pulls out, citing PPP disruption of declaration.”

The Chronicle headline on Father Darke was in 1979 was sickening because the entire world knew it was not true. Today, the entire world knew that Chronicle caption is not true. From 1979 to 2020 is 41 years and when I read that Chronicle story I am compelled to ask myself if the third dimension of my life as

stated in the opening paragraph of this reflection here has not been a failure.

Really! What have I achieved after 50 years of praxis when I see what happened at Kingston last Friday? Put yourself in my place.

Fifty, forty, years ago, I saw Kingston. Fifty, forty years ago, I saw the Ashmin’s building. In 2020, I am seeing the same old tale, the same old sadness, the same old tragedy, all wrapped up in a country named Guyana. How do you think I feel? I repeat – put yourself in my place.

I end with a story on Thursday morning. I live one

minute drive from Giftland Mall. I went to the supermarket to buy a kind of bread that is rare – pan bread. It is the same loaf bread only it isn’t sliced. As I was driving out, I saw this couple who have to be in their mid-seventies.

The wife sat in a chair, canopied with a small umbrella, facing the Arthur Chung Convention Centre.

The husband braced against the red station wagon. I stopped and chatted with him.

They were monitoring the containers that contained the ballot boxes. As I drove off, I looked at that lady again. And I died. My 50 years of struggle

Frederick Kissoon failed her, me and my country.

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

PAGE 24

Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

Don’t wash our hands of the problem sure, outages, dry taps.

Empty reservoirs, dry streams, withered crops. This situation is unfortunately all too familiar in the region. Barbados, St. Lucia and St Kitts and Nevis are among several countries in the region that have been under droughttriggered restrictions or a perpetual lack of water access

to say drought is the normal condition with a few scattered hurricanes.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in their 2018 Special Report asserted that limiting global warming to 1.5°C above the pre-industrial era “is expected to substantially reduce the probability of extreme drought, precipitation deficits,

The IPCC also states that small islands and economically disadvantaged populations are particularly at risk for multiple and compounding climate risks which will exacerbate vulnerabilities in the energy, food and water sectors. In October 2019, the Ministers with responsibility for water in the Caribbean, unanimously endorsed the Regional Strategic Ac-

across segments of the country for the last few years.

Now experiencing our fourth drought spell since 2009, it may be more accurate

and… water stress”. The prolonged lack of adequate clean water supplies has dire implications for health, hygiene, sanitation and food security.

tion Plan for the Governance and Building Climate Resilience in the Water Sector (RSAP).

Unequivocally, climate resilience is articulated as the cornerstone for securing the sector’s future, being embedded in every pillar – governance, resource management, decision support systems, services and capacity build-

By Danielle Evanson and Magdy Martinez Soliman BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – The most repeated public health advice since the outbreak of the New Coronavirus has been “wash your hands thoroughly with soap”.

Most governments who have decided to close down schools have done so because, in addition to the social distancing strategy to avoid community spread through children and teachers, colleges in poor districts had little to no access to drinking water, making the advice to wash one’s hands a moot one. Wherever we look, water is as necessary as the air we breathe and the food we eat. It is the basis of human society. Most human settlements have developed in locations where water was available and disappeared with the liquid element that sustained their lives and livelihoods.

Today’s water management situation shows all symptoms of stress and depletion of a scarce and precious natural resource around which, the foresight analysts have bet, future wars will be fought. The Caribbean Islands are no exception to a planetary tension. Low pres-

ing.

Antigua and Barbuda, adept in dealing with water scarcity, has desalination as a key source of potable water. As a capital and energy intensive technology, the feasibility of desalination has significant financial considerations, which is among the factors influencing Barbados’ decision regarding a second plant. With the majority of agriculture in the region being rain-fed, irrigation, water storage and controlled environments must be part of the sector’s climate resilience strategy to secure water supply and guard against crop failure.

UNDP continues to partner with several farming communities in Grenada, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia to expand the availability of irrigation systems, water storage facilities, greenhouses, hydroponics and drought-resistant varieties of crops and livestock to strengthen this critical sector.

Similarly, many communities are either entirely reliant on rainwater storage, such as Mayreau in the Grenadines or suffer perpetual limited supply such as Clarendon in Jamaica. In such cases, UNDP has supported community storage systems to give more reliable access to this precious resource.

Physical development planning must carefully consider its impact on, for instance, biodiversity, air qual-

ity, waste management systems and water resources, especially tourism ventures which are notoriously water intensive, using 2,000-7,500 litres per tourist per day.

We must also be ready to capture those inevitable deluges from tropical systems to ensure availability in the aftermath. Atmospheric water extractors (or similar technology) literally condense water vapour from the air to produce drinking water. One such was on demonstration at the 2019 Renewable Energy Expo in Barbados and is available commercially.

We must also intensify and accelerate our actions to combat the climate crisis and keep temperatures below 1.5°C. Already having reached 1°C, the window is narrowly closing before the world reaches an irreversible tipping point.

What we have learned from the COVID-19 crisis is that, among other things, we can’t survive without water.

So please use it frequently with soap to kill the virus, but don’t wash your hands of the problem!

(The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper) *Danielle Evanson, is head of the Sustainable Solutions and Energy Cluster and Magdy Martinez Soliman, Resident Representative. UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean

Sunday March 22, 2020

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

CCJ issues its first advisory opinion on freedom of movement

T

he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Wednesday last, provided its first advisory opinion concerning the interpretation and application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC).

The CARICOM Heads had requested the Court’s advice on two specific questions relating to freedom of movement within the Community.

The questions concerned a decision by the Heads: a) to enlarge the list of CARICOM workers who were entitled to seek employment in each other’s country by including agricultural workers and security guards (“the enlargement decision”) and b) to agree to the requests made by the states of Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis to opt out of that decision for a period of five years.

The Court was asked to give its opinion on two issues: firstly, whether a Member State could lawfully opt out of that decision of the Conference and secondly, whether the principle of nonreciprocity would allow nationals of any such Member State opting out to gain the benefits of the decision.

The principle of reciprocity means that privileges, favours, or benefits that are granted by one state to the citizens or legal entities of another state should be returned in kind. A principle of non-reciprocity means that such returns are not to be expected.

Article 27(4) of the RTC enables Member States to opt out of commitments arising from the decisions of a competent CARICOM body or Organ provided that the fundamental objectives of the Community, as laid down in the Treaty and are not negatively affected.

A “fundamental objective” may be regarded as an issue that is of central importance. In this instance, the Court took the view that a “fundamental objective” would be an issue that lies at the core of the spirit, nature and aspirations of the Community.

The CCJ noted that five conditions are needed for the effective implementation of an opt out.

Firstly, one or more of the Member States must make a

request to opt out of a decision as the states of St Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda did respectively.

Secondly, the decision maker must be a competent organ of the Community and here, there was no dispute that the Conference of Heads was a competent organ.

Thirdly, the Conference must agree to the request of the Member State(s) to opt out of the relevant decision.

It was also clear here that such an agreement was made and that the two Member States were permitted to opt out of the enlargement decision.

Fourthly, in keeping with Article 27(4) of the RTC, the Member State opting out is entitled only to opt out of the obligations arising from the decision.

Fifthly, an opt out is permitted only if the “fundamental objectives” of the Community, as laid down in the RTC, are not prejudiced or undermined by the opt out.

The question of whether the enlargement decision prejudiced the fundamental objectives of the RTC was crucial to the Court’s opinion.

Ultimately, the Court determined that freedom of movement was a fundamental objective of the Caribbean Community laid down in the

RTC. The CCJ closely regarded the facts that: i) the opt out was made available to two Member States, each of which is categorised as a less developed country; ii) the duration of the opt out in each case was temporary, lasting for a five-year period; and iii) the opt out related only to two categories of skilled nationals.

In response to the first question, the Court advised that it was lawful for Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis to request an opt out of the obligations arising from the enlargement decision of the Conference. It was also lawful for the Conference to grant the opt outs in all the circumstances.

The said opt outs did not prejudice the fundamental objective of freedom of movement of skilled nationals.

On the second question of whether the principle of non-reciprocity should be applied to security guards and agricultural workers of Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis respectively, the Court considered the uniqueness of the Caribbean Community, where each Member State could veto a Conference decision.

The Court stated that the

request for and grant of an opt out further the interests of the Community because they allow decisions of the Conference to be taken and implemented in circumstances where those decisions might otherwise have been vetoed. The Court ex-

plained and examined the principle of reciprocity and how it applied in the context of the RTC. The Court then concluded that an opt out is to be treated as being nonreciprocal in character and advised that the principle

of non-reciprocity applies to enlargement decisions so that nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis who are security guards and agricultural workers are entitled to enjoy the benefits of the enlargement decision. [CCJ]

PAGE 26

Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

The President on public health David Granger’s Public health is a public good: Risk and response in a small state, highlights the dilemma which post-colonial states often face in balancing the need for universal public health coverage with guarantees of quality healthcare and enhanced responsiveness to emerging health threats.

Transnational communicable diseases – such as Chikungunya, Dengue, COVID-19 corona virus, Malaria, Severe Acute Respira-

(A review of David Granger’s Public health is a public good: Risk and response in a small state.) tory Syndrome (SARS) and Zika – are among those emerging threats. The Guyanese President has had the foresight to recognize the dangers these diseases pose to his country’s population and public health system.

Transnational communicable diseases often inflict unsustainable burdens on the slender budgetary resources of small states. This can lead

to diversion, or reduction, of resources from other areas of the public health system. Access to, and the quality of, healthcare can decline as a consequence. There are similar consequences when countries have to stretch their slim budgets to finance universal public health coverage.

Developing countries, however, have little alternative than to pursue the goal

of universal public health coverage. Primary health care often is not readily available to all sections of the population and meeting this basic need becomes a public health necessity.

Universal public health coverage has become the centrepiece of his country’s national health policy. David Granger has set his sights on ensuring universal public

health coverage. He wants every citizen, in every region of his country, to have easy access to primary healthcare.

His book, Public health is a public good: Risk and response in a small state highlights the emphasis which he attaches to ensuring universal public health coverage. The book consists of the texts of four addresses he delivered over the past four years.

The first was at the commissioning ceremony of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s staff quarters on 2020.02.19. The second was delivered at a Dinner and Awards Ceremony to celebrate Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary, hosted by the Pan American Health Organization-World Health Organization, on 2016.05.14. The third address was delivered at a health exposition, hosted by his Ministry of Public Health, on2018.05.30. The fourth address was delivered at at the inter-faith service for the 50th anniversary of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre, on 2017.01.19.

The President iterated his concern about transnational health threats, the most recent of which was the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus, at the commissioning ceremony of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s staff quarters. He argues in favour of his Government’s policy of universal health coverage while noting the burdens which these threats can place on the country’s health systems.

The Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana guarantees free medical care to all citizens. This is a key goal of international community also. He acknowledges that universal public healthcare coverage requires”…resources and a system that are acceptable, accessible, affordable, appropriate and manned by competent medical professionals, including doctors, nurses and other trained professionals.”

The President may well find that the cost of delivering universal health coverage can come at the expense of quality healthcare, as other countries which provide free medical care to their citizens have discovered.

The President’s address to the Dinner and Awards Ceremony hosted by the Pan American Health Organization-World Health Organization to commemorate Guyana’s 50th Independence

Anniversary was dominated by references to the threats posed by vector-borne diseases. The President, in his stirring address, proposed a practical approach to halt the transmission of vector-borne diseases.

He argued for these diseases to be considered not only as a public health problem but also an environmental threat since it was the abuse of the environment which often provided breeding grounds for vectors. The President, in recommending this approach, suggested that a ‘green’ trajectory of development can effectively limit the spread of vector-borne diseases. It is sound advice which should be reflected more in his country’s public health policies.

Guyana’s health system functions at three levels –national, regional and neighbourhood. The President, in his address to a Health Exposition, urged that quality, reliable and inclusive health services be provided at all three levels. Resource scarcity, however, can impede the achievement of this objective.The country can be proud of its past record of overcoming epidemics, however. British Guiana overcame two major poliomyelitis epidemics between 1957-58 and 1962-64. An institution was established in 1967 to provide rehabilitative care to those who survived the epidemics.

The institution, now known as the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017 and the occasion was commemorated by a ceremony which was addressed by President David Granger. He highlighted the important contribution which the institution has made to rehabilitative care and its expansion of such services over the years.

Universal health coverage, including providing facilities for rehabilitative health care is costly. David Granger is not discouraged, however.

He has set his sights on ensuring that, at the minimum, every citizen can have access to primary health care. Guyana may emerge as a model health provider in the Caribbean if his resolve can be matched by his health ministry’s responsiveness.

Public health is a public good: Risk and response of a small state should be read with this in mind. The book defines the direction in which Guyana’s public health policies are proceeding.

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

Sunday March 22, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Chronic Pains: There are more treatment options than you may know

By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine We all experience pains from medical conditions or injuries. Most of the time, the pain is self-limiting. For some, their pain can persist and become a chronic pain that overwhelms them.

Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than 3 to 6 months. In many cases, this means that pain continues even after the injury or condition that first caused it has healed.

We often think that medications can cure all pains— this is not always the case especially with chronic pains.

WHAT CAUSES CHRONIC PAIN? The cause of chronic pain is not always clear. Sometimes it is caused by an ongoing medical problem, such as arthritis or diabetic neuropathy (a form of nerve damage from diabetes).

But doctors cannot always find the cause of chronic pain. In some cases, people with chronic pain must

accept that their pain will never be explained. This means that they have to work with their healthcare team to address the pain, even if they don’t know its cause.

WHATARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC PAIN? The main symptom of chronic pain is, of course, pain. But the pain can affect the body in different ways.

Some people have aches deep inside their muscle or bone.

Some people have stabbing or shooting pain, often with tingling or numbness. And others have dull, throbbing pain.

People who have chronic pain might have a hard time doing their usual activities, such as bathing or dressing.

This can lead to depression and anxiety, and it can cause problems with sleep.

ARE THERE TESTS FOR CHRONIC PAINS? When you first start having pain, your doctor might do tests to figure out the cause. You might get: % Blood tests to check for infection, signs of inflamma-

tion, or diseases that can cause pain * X-rays or other imaging tests to check for bone fractures, joint damage, cancer, or other changes in your body that could cause pain * Nerve tests to check whether the nerves are working normally However, tests cannot always show the cause of pain.

Scientists think that in some people, the pain signals in the brain stop working normally.

The signals get “stuck” in the on position, even when the source of pain is gone.

HOW IS CHRONIC PAIN TREATED? Treatments for chronic pain include both medicines and activities. No single treatment works for everyone. Your doctor or nurse will help you find the right mix of treatments for you. Treatment options include: * Medicines to relieve pain, improve sleep, or improve mood * Physical therapy to learn exercises and stretches * Working with a counselor

* Relaxation therapy *Massage therapy * Injections of numbing or pain-relieving medicines into the spine or area with pain *Acupuncture *Devices that affect nerve signals * Surgery If your doctor suggests a medicine that seems out of place, keep an open mind.

Sometimes, doctors treat pain with medicines made to treat other medical problems.

For example, doctors can use medicines for depression to treat pain because they work on areas of the brain that process pain. Doctors can also use medicines for seizures to treat pain, because they help with overactive nerves.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP? Some options you can try on your own include: * Use a heating pad or a cold pack on the painful area.

Check with your doctor before trying this to make sure it is OK for your individual condition. * Practice relaxing. You

can learn methods to relax your body, such as doing deep breathing exercises. Ask your doctor or nurse about these methods. Relaxing the mind can help with how the body feels pain. People can learn to quiet their pain or make it less bothersome. * Stay as active as possible. Walking, swimming, meditating, or cycling can all help ease muscle and joint pain. If you are not active, your pain might get worse.

If you haven’t been active for a while, start slowly. Make small increases in the intensity and amount of time you spend exercising. If exercising increases your pain, talk with your doctor.

They might recommend a program that can help you get more active. * If you feel depressed, talk to your doctor or nurse about it.

Chronic pain and depression often go together, and each can make the other worse. Getting treatment for your depression can make it easier to cope with your pain As you can see, there are

Dr. Zulfikar Bux many options other than medications to treat chronic pains. If you or someone you know suffer from this condition, try the options that we discussed today and do not depend on medications alone to help your chronic pains.

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Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

SUNDAY PRESIDENT GRANGER AND JAGDEO AGREE TO RECOUNTALLVOTES CARICOM TEAM TO OVERSEE PROCESS CARICOM Chairman and Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, has announced that President David Granger and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, have agreed for a CARICOM team to oversee the recount of the all ten electoral districts.

Mottley said that the Independent High Level Team will be chaired by Francine Baron, former Attorney General and Foreign Minister; and comprise Mr. Anthony Boatswain, former Minister of Finance of Grenada, and Ms. Cynthia Barrow-Giles, Senior Lecturer in Department of Government of UWI. They will also be accompanied by the two Chief Election Officers from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

Both President Granger and the Leader of the Opposition have agreed that the recount should commence once the CARICOM team is on the ground.

The CARICOM Chairman said she can confirm that all efforts are being made to have the team in Guyana as soon as possible. A further announcement will be made about the exact details once the team is on the ground.

Kaieteur News understands that the presence of the team was based on the request Granger made to Mottley during discussions on the morning of March 14, 2020. Jagdeo had also agreed to this.

Mottley said, “We believe that this is a giant step in being able to determine the will of the Guyanese people in the Election of March 2, 2020. It will also allow the electoral process to regain the confidence of all locally, regionally and internationally…”

She added, “I have spoken directly to both the President and the Leader of the Opposition and they have both committed to abide by the results of a fair and transparent recount of each and every ballot, as supervised by the CARICOM team. “We also agreed that there needs to be steps taken to secure the integrity of the ballot boxes until the recount takes place.”

GUYANA’S CORONAVIRUS TOLL JUMPS TO FOUR All ports of entry remain open but the Ministry of

Public Health has assured that it is aiming to significantly ramp up its COVID-19 response efforts. This is in light of the Ministry’s confirmation of a second case of the novel coronavirus on March 14, 2020.

It wasn’t long after, that this publication was advised that the country’s total coronavirus infection toll had jumped to four. The first case of the virus, which was confirmed on Wednesday, was that of a 52-year-old woman who recently travelled with family members from the United States.

She died the same day that that Ministry announced the confirmed case.

The three other confirmed cases, this publication has learnt, are the woman’s husband, her son and another relative. They are all said to be in full quarantine, a Ministry official intimated.

Self-quarantine has also been recommended for other family members who were in contact with those who tested positive. There are, however, reports that suggest that some of them have not been strictly adhering to the rules of quarantine.

Although cautioned not to allow entry to one of the dead woman’s daughters, the woman arrived here a few days ago from the United States. She too was advised to self-quarantine. She had displayed symptoms of the disease.

According to Deputy

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Boyle, as many as 200 persons could have been exposed to the dead woman alone since she arrived in Guyana.

Dr. Boyle revealed that among those who have since been quarantined are 41 health workers who attended to the woman at the GPHC. The dead woman, this publication reported, was rushed from a Good Hope, East Coast Demerara residence to the hospital with pneumonia-like symptom consistent with an advanced phase of the virus on a weakened immune system.

Pneumonia or difficulty breathing is one of the symptoms associated with the coronavirus. The virus can also manifest with symptoms including a runny nose, sore throat, cough and fever.

It was revealed that after she started developing worrying symptoms, she was first rushed to a private doctor’s clinic. The doctor was not available at the time.

The woman was then taken to a private hospital where her condition was assessed and a decision was made to refer her to the GPHC, the country’s lone tertiary health facility. There she died.

CARICOM INTERVENTION BRINGS GREAT RELIEFFOR GUYANA – DOMINIC GASKIN For this politician, no

effort must be spared to assure Guyanese that what took place with the counting of the votes and subsequent tabulation was fair and acceptable in the eyes of everyone entitled to witness it.

In this vein, Gaskin said he was pleased to note that a high level CARICOM team will be in Guyana shortly to oversee the recounting of the votes for all electoral districts.

CARICOM’s Chairman and Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley said on March 14, 2020 that the request for a team to oversee the recount was made by President David Granger and agreed to by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

Upon noting this, Gaskin told Kaieteur News that this brings some level of relief for Guyana as the previous situation of impasse on the integrity of the declared results for Region Four was doing more harm than good.

Gaskin said, “I was relieved to see that the leaders have agreed to this CARICOM-led team coming to oversee the recount. It is a relief for Guyana and I think it shows a level of concern for what took place. It is a sign of maturity and genuine desire to bring about a resolution to this situation.”

The AFC Executive Member also stated that the agreement between the two, Granger and Jagdeo, is a positive sign and it gives him a great deal of hope. “I want

to commend both of them on agreeing to this extension or addition to the process as well as the effort to restore confidence.

This is important,” Gaskin added.

Further to this, Gaskin said that he is happy that it is CARICOM leading the intervention and not a team from far away.

In this regard he said, “This is our problem to resolve and no one from outside who doesn’t understand our culture and our people and ethnic relations, could really adjudicate responsibly at this time.

MONDAY RECOUNT EXPECTED TODAY – TO START WITH REGION FOUR A total recount of all votes cast in the 2020 general and regional elections is expected to begin today, according to Commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The Commission met with a high-level CARICOM delegation Sunday to work out the modalities of that recount, and the extent of the CARICOM team’s supervisory role in this process. Among those modalities is that Region Four will be the first district to be counted.

GECOM’s chief elections officer, Keith Lowenfield provided for the Commission and the CARICOM team a

framework under which he contemplated the mechanism for the recount, according to Commissioner Sase Gunraj.

At that point, those parties collectively fine-tuned the work-plan, incorporating suggestions to improve its efficiency, thereby producing an operable plan.

Barbados Prime Minister and CARICOM Chair, Mia Mottley had said that the Independent High Level Team from CARICOM will be chaired by Francine Baron, former Attorney General and Foreign Minister; and comprise Mr. Anthony Boatswain, former Minister of Finance of Grenada, and Ms. Cynthia Barrow-Giles, Senior Lecturer in Department of Government of University of the West Indies.

They will also be accompanied by the two chief elections officers from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

Gunraj told reporters Sunday night that it had become necessary for CARICOM to intervene, as GECOM has failed to produce credible elections results which could withstand scrutiny.

Generally, the recount is expected to fall in line with the normal process for same.

Kaieteur News has been informed that a document denoting the terms of reference has been drafted to govern the nature of the mechanism for the recount. It is expected that this and (Continued on page 29)

Sunday March 22, 2020

From page 28 other pertinent details will be communicated to the public

by GECOM early Monday morning.

What is known now is that the officials expected to observe the process are already mostly prescribed in law. According to Gunraj, this lot includes representatives of the political parties, duly appointed observers, the GECOM Chair and her Commissioners, and the highlevel CARICOM team.

Gunraj and his colleague, Commissioner Vincent Alexander, told reporters Sunday night that the CARICOM team will accompany Lowenfield to the proposed location for the recount, the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, to determine its suitability for the process.

HEALTH MINISTRY TRACKS HUNDREDS WHO MINGLED WITH RELATIVES OF DEAD CORONAVIRUS VICTIM – SEVERALATTENDED GOOD HOPE WAKE Hundreds of people may have exposed themselves to the deadly Coronavirus after mingling with relatives of Ratna Babolall, the woman who succumbed Wednesday, March 11, 2020.

The Ministry of Public Health is now saddled with the task of trying to track them down, while seeking to impose more stringent measures to ensure that individuals who are infected remain isolated.

Babolall had tested positive for the virus on Wednesday and by Saturday three more of relatives, her husband, son and another relative tested positive for the Coronavirus (COVID -19).

Officials attached to the Ministry of Public Health, (MoPH) has since revealed that steps have been taken to ensure that the confirmed cases are in full quarantine.

According to the Health Ministry, a surveillance team is actively working with others who are said to have come into contact with the victims. These individuals are recommended to self isolation until they were deemed safe for public interaction again.

However, Kaieteur News has learnt that despite the warning against public interactions, scores of people attended a wake held for the deceased woman at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara on Thursday. The publication understands that the wake was hosted by the woman’s husband and other relatives , all of whom were present and tested positive for the virus.

This newspaper was told that residents, friends and

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Kaieteur News

extended family members attended the gathering. In a Facebook post, one woman said that she attended the wake “to investigate whether the claims of Coronavirus were true.”

In a lengthy post shared multiple times on social media, the woman said that the family members that the MoPH announced were in self isolation, “were very much present: at the wake, and had vehemently denied that Babolall’s death was a case of the COVID -19.

PUBLIC SERVANTS TO WORK SHIFTS SYSTEM AMID COVID-19 CONCERNS In a move to protect the health and wellbeing of public servants in light of global concerns over the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Department of Public Service has instituted a shift system.

The following is a circular memorandum that was addressed to Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Departments and Regional Executive Officers on Saturday: On the directive of President David Granger, to coordinate the Public Service response to COVID-19; the Department of Public Service has approved the following Staff Rotation measures to

prevent clustering at the workplaces during the period March 16 – 27, 2020.

1. Managerial staff/Heads of Units are expected to be present at work every day. All other staff are to be placed on rotation via a roster system and are expected to be at work on alternate days, to maintain an operational Public Service.

On those days when staff are not in office, they are expected to be ‘On Call ‘ and be prepared to work at short notice, should the need arise.

2. Staff with flu-like symptoms should be reminded to call the emergency hotline and NOT go to the hospitals. Please note that Public Service RuleH45 which requires the officer to produce a medical certificate after being sick for three (3) consecutive days is still in effect. Further, Public Servants who are absent due to a mandatory COVID-19 quarantine for 14 days must be cleared by a Medical Practitioner prior to assuming duty.

3. To contain the spread or COVID-19, every Ministry/ Department/Region has a responsibility to sanitize the work environment intermittently during working hours to protect all stakeholders. Please follow all guidelines set out by the Ministry of Public Health regarding containing the spread ofCOVID-19.

The Department of Public Service would be grateful for the cooperation of all Ministries /Departments/ Regions as we strive to manage this pandemic.

PROXIMITY OFAPACHE DISCOVERY IN SURINAME BASIN BODES WELL FOR CGX – FRONTERA ENERGY In mid-January, the Government of Suriname disclosed that operators, Total and Apache, made a material oil discovery on Block 58. But the discovery in the Surinamese concession is not only good news for that nation but also for operators in Guyanese waters, Frontera Energy and CGX Resources Inc. The proximity of the Maka Central-1 well, which was drilled to a water depth of about 1,000 metres and encountered more than 123 metres net pay of high-quality, light oil and gas rich condensate, in multiple stacked reservoirs, was up for discussion during Frontera Energy’s fourth quarter and full year 2019 results conference call.

During the question and answer segment with participants on the call, Frontera officials reminded that they are in a basin that is extremely prolific.

They recalled that

ExxonMobil had announced over eight billion barrels of oil equivalent discoveries in the Stabroek Block while noting that the Apache well was drilled on trend with that, just across the border in Suriname and right next to its Corentyne block which Frontera shares with CGX. So geologically, the Corentyne block they said, is in a very similar territory.

The officials said they remain encouraged by Apache’s results, as they play very well for CGX’s position in Guyana, especially in the Corentyne block which contains 1,125,000 net acres offshore Guyana in shallow water, adjacent to the ExxonMobil Stabroek block.

TUESDAY RECOUNT STALLED – COALITION GOVT. SILENT – NANDLALL SAYS GRANGER SEEKING LEGALADVICE The national recount of ballots of the March 2, 2020 General and Regionals Elections was slated to have begun Monday at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre at 12 noon.

But despite having a high level delegation from the Caribbean Community at the request of the incumbent President David Granger, that recount was delayed due to

several events, with no word on when it will be started.

That high level team consists of Chairman Francine Baron, Former Attorney General and Foreign Minister; with Anthony Boatswain, the Former Finance Minister of Grenada, along with Cynthia Barrow-Giles, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government at the University of the West Indies. The team will also be accompanied by the two Chief Elections Officers from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Guyana Elections Commission on Sunday met with the team from CARICOM which will be overlooking the recount process and at the end of that meeting, the modalities of the recount were discussed and agreed to by all parties involved.

One such modality was that the recount will follow no number structure and would commence with Region Four; the largest district and the most problematic.

Kaieteur News understands that the team despite having agreed to the terms of the recount did not yet sign the “aid memoire”, the legal document that spells out the terms and conditions of the recount.

This is according to Opposition Party Executive Anil Nandlall. Nandlall told (Continued on page 36)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

Sunday March 22, 2020

g ts in s... re ure e t t In rea C

Corallus

hortulanus

C

o r a l l u s hortulanus is a non-venomous boa species found in South America. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Adults grow to an average of 5 and 6.5 feet (1.5–2 m) in length. This species exhibits an immense variety of colours and patterns.

The basic colour can be anywhere from black, brown, or grey, to any shade of red, orange, yellow, or many colours in between. Some are totally patternless, while others may be speckled, banded, or saddled with rhomboid or chevron shapes.

Some reds will have yellow patterns, some yellows red or orange patterns.

Generally, there are two colour 'phases' that are genetically inherited, but are not ontogenic as with the emerald tree boa, C. caninus and the green tree python, Morelia viridis. The 'garden phase' refers to boas with drab coloration, mostly brown or olive, with varied patterning, while the 'coloured phase' refers to animals with combinations of red, orange, and yellow colouring.

Found in South America in southern Colombia east of the Andes, southern Ve n e z u e l a , G u y a n a , Suriname, French Guiana, Amazonian Brazil, Costa Rica Ecuador, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago and Bolivia. The type locality given is "America."

Typically found below

300 m elevation, these reptiles are notorious for being very aggressive, although as with all snakes this varies. They also have very long needle-like teeth which makes their bite quite painful.

However these snakes tend to give some warning of being inclined to bite, and will usually give fairly gentle bites (which can still draw blood) unless they are given reason to give a full strike.

The aggressiveness is in part due to the species feeding cycle. The snakes are night time hunters, so they are in hunting mode when they are most likely to be handled by an owner. Being in a hunting mood and being that an owners hands are usually nice, hot and prey sized (Amazon Boas hunt mainly using their heat sensors) people do get bitten, although as with most snakes, they will soon realize their mistake and let go, since they can recognize the smell of their owner.

It is uncommon for a constrictor snake that knows the person handling it to strike and constrict the person, as they would a food item, unless the snake is very agitated.

These snakes are quite slim and don't have the mass of some of their other constrictor cousins such as the terrestrial Python, Boa and Rat/Corn snake species.

Prospective owners however should be advised that while the snake is quite lightweight

and gracile in comparison to some other species, it in no way means the Amazon Tree Boa is a weakling. It is more than capable of resisting being moved by both using its strength to anchor itself to the local surroundings, and if agitated striking to defend itself.

Male snakes also have spurs under their tail by the vent (the bony remainder of the hips and back legs) and will flail their bodies to bring these into play. The spurs are also used to assist in mating.

A good tip to protect oneself from bites is to wear gloves of some description over the hands, this can shield the heat of the hands and therefore the snake is less likely to strike since it doesn't have a hot target to aim for.

(Source: Wikipedia)

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Kaieteur News

PAGE 34

K O

BO

Book: Jamaica's Gifts to the World (Volume 2) Author: Lloyd Eubank-Green Critic: Glenville Ashby, PhD Lloyd Eubank-Green's 'Jamaica's Gifts to the World,' is concisely and punctiliously delivered.

While included in this roster are legendary figures, such as Jimmy Cliff, Courtney Walsh and Michael Norman Manley, others are hardly household names; still their Herculean accomplishments cannot be ignored.

Foundational to EubankGreen's work is the incontrovertible excellence of its honorees, each recognized, their worth showcased in education, politics, sports, education, law, medicine, engineering, literature, and the arts; each equally impressive.

Choosing one over the other is a futile exercise. Indeed, this is an illustrious, exhaustive field.

In this monumental tribute to Jamaica, the writer

Sunday March 22, 2020

Treasures of a Nation

deliv ers the first salvo with the prodigiously erudite Peter B l a i r H e n r y, d e a n o f economics at New York University, who has the distinction of serving on President Barack Obama's transition team that reviewed the role of international economic bodies including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Etched in the annals of great Jamaicans is the inimitable sociologist Horace Orlando Patterson, an intellectual that penned seminal works, in particular, 'The Sociology of Slavery,' 'Slavery and Social Debt' and 'Freedom and the Making of Western Culture.'

Overtime, athletic excellence has defined Jamaica, surpassing bigger countries that have injected immeasurable resources to t h e i r s p o r t s i n d u s t r y.

Jamaican athletes, though, have persevered, astounding the world and winning the admiration of a global audience. The gargantuan feats of Olympian Shelley-

Ann Fraser Pryce are renowned and she deservedly earns a place in this book. “Shelly-Ann,” we learn, “is proud to acknowledge that she came from one of Kingston's less affluent communities and attributes her success to hard work, clean living, and remaining focused on her goals,” and “she has used her success to create her own charitable foundation which works with other local organizations to assist young people with talent.”

Notable in the field of entrepreneurship is Raymond Chang who “has used his privately owned company, G. Raymond Chang Ltd. to pursue numerous enterprises, including the development of hydrogen fuel cells, medical diagnostic devices and equipment, wireless networks and the manufacturing and distribution of packaging material and investment and finance.”

A n d e q u a l l y distinguishable is Glen Christian, Chairman and founder of Cari-Med and Kirk Distributors, who emerged from “the obscurity of deep rural Jamaica, [rising] to the pinnacle of

business success and achievement through grit, sweat and tears.”

In the creative arts, there is no brighter star than Olive Senior who has contributed to writing programmes at the University of Toronto, St. Lawrence University, and Bernard College, Columbia University in New York. The University of the West Indies has also benefitted from her work.

In music, the late Peter is extolled, not only for his

immense musical talent but for his revolutionary position against apartheid that was immortalized in his song, 'Equal Rights.'

The ascension of Portia Lucretia Simpson-Miller to the highest political office is deservedly noted and being the first and only woman to have attained this feat is laudable and inspirational.

In offering a divers tapestry of immensely gifted personages, readers, especially young men and

woman, will reshape their view of their culture, their nation and themselves.

Eubank-Green's work is no doubt a boon for the young mind.

Mention of every personage lauded by the author is impractical, but every story is worth telling.

The author's spirited account of accomplished Jamaicans is testament to an exceptional nation of no more than three million people, a people that over centuries have proven to be resourceful and tenacious.

The intrepidity of the Jamaican is arguably their signature characteristic, and it has served them well.

'The proof of the pudding is in the eating,' according to one famous dictum. Surely, Jamaicans have risen to every occasion; their global contribution indisputable.

Eubank-Green's compilation of Jamaica's best proves that much.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper) F e e d b a c k : glenvilleashby@gmail.co m or follow him on Twitter@glenvilleashby Jamaica's Gifts to the World (Volume 2) by Lloyd Eubank-Green (C) 2019 Lloyd Eubank-Green Publisher: Ian Randle Publishers, Kingston ISBN: 978-976-637886-8 Available at Amazon Ratings: Highly recommended

Sunday March 22, 2020

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Kaieteur News

I feel I have all right to be angry‌ Listen to my story

I

am Guyanese. I am a man. I am black. I am angry. Some would describe me as an angry, black Guyanese man.

I have no control over being Guyanese, being black, and being male. The only thing I have control over is being angry or not be angry.

With the circumstances surrounding me I feel I have all right to be angry, and in this column I will express to you the basis for my anger.

Some of you will not see with me, but bear with me awhile. Listen to my story.

How could one not be angry seeing your country on the brink of economic power, knowing what that could mean for all your brothers and sisters throughout the length and breadth of this land, only to see at this moment of economic enrichment, Guyana is being torn asunder by actions of internal and external forces manipulating our ethnic differences to stir up animosities, hate and destructive thoughts.

How can one not be angry when some operate in ways to suggest that they are the guardians of right and wrong in society, even as they blatantly violate those basic tenets that dictate right and wrong, and cover their deeds with a pretensive cloak of uprightness.

Anger is an appropriate emotion when one observes that those who set themselves up as morally right, as victims, themselves are amongst the worst who seek to deny others their right.

Our recent example is a case in point, where one group exercises their right to file an injunction to stop GECOM from declaring results until a recount was done, yet they turned around and sought to denigrate a sister for similarly filing an injunction to stop an act that she believes was wrong. The body fabric of our society has become so tattered.

We now witness persons society looked up to, being silent and condoning the transgression of right and violation of due process in a court of law. How can one not be angry when you look around and see persons of social standing supporting the disregard for the role of the court to weigh in on a matter placed before it? How can they not expect anger at

efforts to mask support for an action on the pretext of getting it over and done with or based on a signed agreement.

Doesn't the court matter anymore or only for some?

Have we lost our sense of right and wrong and appreciation for the role of the judiciary in aiding r e s o l u t i o n o f conflict/concern through peaceful means? Shouldn't I be angry with what is morphing to be an undermining of its function, though vital in democratic societies, and the right of all to seek its service, any time and every time.

Each branch of government - Executive, Legislature and Judicature has a function, yet some take objection in the exercise of this, particularly when it is perceived its activation will not deliver what they want or hinder their pursuit of an agenda. It is the role of the judiciary to adjudicate on any issue placed before it by any individual or agency.

Period.

The court has been asked to pronounce on an aspect of the electoral process. This is notwithstanding any agreement between President David Granger and Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo as brokered by CARICOM on the invitation of the President. No matter how well intent that agreement was inked, it has to be determined within the confines of the law, not how anyone feels.

Why shouldn't I be angry when a President is on record, repeatedly committed to noninterference into GECOM, to respect its constitutional independence, the Laws of Guyana, and the rulings of the Court guiding its function, yet he is being called upon by some to disregard these and deliver to the nation a recount in the absence of the court having pronounced.

My anger is justified at the conduct of those who proclaim 'uprightness' and 'decency' but expect not to be held to the standards they project. They too have an obligation to respect the laws and call on all parties to follow its mandate. Seeking extra judicial means, whether peaceful or otherwise, to resolve our difference, raises questions

about commitment to democratic practices, even though they may voice this.

Every Guyanese has a right to aspire to leadership, hold an opinion, pursue and express same.

I'm angry because some among us honestly feel that the way you look, means you must not lead nor have an opinion, or leadership has be given to you and the opinion

you have must be formulated by them.

What we ought to be wary of is leadership devoid of substance and opinion used to sow seeds of discord.

Sometimes I get angry when the lines become blurred or good men act in a manner that will divide rather than weld the nation.

This Guyanese man has a right to anger over the

indiscretion of those who conveniently cast aside timehonoured principles, laws and rights in furtherance of an agenda.

The only thing that has kept this nation, in spite of periodic tension and conflict, as a unitary body and will guarantee our individual and collective peace, safety and harmony is adherence to the law.

Resolution of our differences if not legally pursued will and can result in a Guyana that our children would not benefit from.

Avoiding this means the judiciary must be allowed to do its work.

(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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Sunday March 22, 2020

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From page 29 the media that this was one of the main hurdles that prevented the recount from starting.

According to him, the document was sent to President David Granger since Monday evening to be reviewed but they have since learned that he is seeking legal advice before signing off on it.

“The leader of the opposition approved it and it was sent to the President and he is apparently claiming that he needs legal advice.”

IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS… GUYANA SLOWLY GRINDS TO A HALT Given the nature and characteristics of the novel coronavirus, a number of public entities in Guyana are implementing precautionary measures as the country slowly grinds to a halt.

A series of advisories disseminated to the media Monday by several government agencies and privately own businesses provided information on the measures that will be undertaken as the nations strives to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, now known as COVID -19.

The new preventative measures have been listed in what seems to be a sequence of statements.

Follow Public Health guidelines – DoC In a statement issued Monday, the Department of Citizenship (DoC) called on members of the public to follow guidelines provided by the Ministry of Public Health, (MoPH) for re infection, prevention and control.

Following consultations, the DoC said that it has adjusted a previously issued statement detailing the steps.

According to the new statement, the DoC requests that citizens visiting its offices minimise the risks involved when large numbers of persons are congregated. It also noted that persons will be attended to in smaller groups and will be permitted entry on this basis.

“Members of the public are advised that masks are only required if they are caring for a person suspected of being infected with COVID19 or if they are coughing or sneezing.

Persons who do not display any symptoms of COVID-19 and who are not caring for anyone suspected to have contracted COVID-19 need not wear masks to access services at the DoC or the General Registrar’s Office.”

These precautions are

especially necessary for the DoC since a significant number of persons who utilise its services on a daily basis are foreign nationals, many of whom would have engaged in recent overseas travel and may have been exposed to the COVID-19.

HIGH COURT HALTS CARICOM-SUPERVISED RECOUNTS High Court Judge Franklyn Holder this afternoon granted an injunction to set aside the national recount of votes cast in the March 02, 2020 Regional and General Elections.

The decision comes after an agreement for a national recount was reached by President David Granger, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and the CARICOM Secretariat. The national recount was scheduled to take place under the supervision of a high level team from CARICOM. The team was scheduled to commence the recount of ballots from all ten regions Monday.

Their efforts were nonetheless met with several delays, as the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) mulled the legal implications of a national recount at this time.

The commission had announced earlier today that they were seeking legal guidance on the way forward.

However there was no word on that advice, as GECOM was served with the injunction to block the recount this afternoon.

According to the document, Justice Holder

granted an interim order blocking the Elections Commission from setting aside the declarations made by the ten electoral districts.

An order was also made restraining the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission, Keith Lowenfield, from preparing and submitting a report to the commission, except the votes counted and the information furnished by the Returning Officer under the Representation of the People Act. The injunction is in force until the hearing and determination of the matter.

The hearing is set to commence on Friday, March 20, 2020.

WEDNESDAY COURT BLOCKS CARICOM-SUPERVISED RECOUNT – HIGH LEVEL TEAM WITHDRAWS “It is clear that there are forces that do not want to see the votes recounted for whatever reason. Any Government which is sworn in without a credible and fully transparent vote count process would lack legitimacy” – Chairman of CARICOM Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados The CARICOMsupervised recount of ballots in the March 02, 2020 Regional and General Elections was blocked Tuesday, when High Court Judge Franklyn Holder granted interim injunctions to prevent the Guyana Elections Commission from proceeding The decision comes after an agreement for a national recount was reached by President David Granger,

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and the CARICOM Secretariat.

The national recount was scheduled to take place under the supervision of an independent high level team from CARICOM. The team was scheduled to commence the recount of ballots from all ten regions on Monday. Their efforts were nonetheless met with several delays, as the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) mulled the legal implications of a national recount at this time.

The team has since withdrawn, but was keen to emphasize that if their assistance is needed then they would return to Guyana.

The commission had announced Tuesday that they were seeking legal guidance on the way forward. However there was no word on that advice when GECOM was served with the injunction to block the recount in the afternoon.

According to the document, Justice Holder granted an interim order blocking the Elections Commission from setting aside the declarations made by the ten electoral districts.

The document drafted on behalf of Ulita Moore, a private citizen, also seeks to restrain the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission, Keith Lowenfield, from preparing and submitting a report to the commission, except the votes counted and the information furnished by the Returning Officer under the Representation of the People Act.

MAIN PORTS OF ENTRY TO CLOSE TONIGHT FOR TWO WEEKS AMID CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Egbert Field announced Tuesday at a Ministerial Task Force press conference that the country’s two main ports of entry – the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and Eugene F Correia International Airport – will be closed later this evening to international flights for two weeks, as part of the response to deal with concerns related to the coronavirus in Guyana.

Field said the closures will take effect from midnight.

Field said his department has been working closely with the Ministry of Public Health on the issue. In cases where arriving passengers might have been exposed to the coronavirus, he said that the Civil Aviation Authority has been providing the Health Ministry with the contact information for those passengers.

According to Field, the only exceptions will be cargo flights, planes that have to make technical stops and specially authorized flights.

While local air travel will still be allowed, Mr. Field said those will be closely monitored. Guyana joins Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname in closing off the airports to international flights.

American Airlines suspended its services to Guyana and a number of other countries as it steps up precautions against the coronavirus.

Locally, the Correia Group

of Companies, which includes Trans Guyana Airways (TGA), has implemented an immediate and comprehensive programme to ensure the maximum possible protection and safety of its customers and its employees in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the Group addresses an evolving situation.

“SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES” FOR THOSE WHO SEEK TO BENEFIT FROM ELECTORAL FRAUD – U.S. GOVT. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned Guyana that the individuals who seek to benefit from electoral fraud and form illegitimate governments/ regimes will be subject to a variety of serious consequences from the United States.

The high level U.S. official made this statement Tuesday at a press briefing held in Washington DC. Pompeo told the media that the United States has been closely monitoring the tabulation of votes in Guyana.

He said that the United States joins the Organisation of American States, (OAS) the Commonwealth, European Union, CARICOM and other democratic partners in calling for an accurate count. He added that the U.S. commends CARICOM’s role in seeking a swift democratic resolution.

The US has been issuing a number of statements since the 2nd March elections raising questions about the (Continued on page 37)

Sunday March 22, 2020

From page 36 credibility of the elections and the need for a proper count and tabulation of the Region 4 votes.

On March 13, 2020, US Assistant Secretary, Michael Kozak hinted that Guyana is likely to face sanctions for the conduct of the elections 2020.

“Under U.S. law and practice, those who participate and benefit from electoral fraud, undermine democratic institutions and impede a peaceful transition of power can be subject to a variety of consequences,” Kozak said in a Twitter post.

The warning came after a court ruling on March 11, 2020, following a challenge by a private citizen to the Region Four results in the recent general and regional elections held.

Kozak made it clear that the US is paying close attention to the electoral tabulation process for Region Four.

THURSDAY PRESIDENTIAL ORDERS GIVE SWEEPING POWERS FOR GOVT. TO TACKLE CORONAVIRUS A gazetted Order by President David Granger has granted sweeping powers to the government, particularly the Ministry of Public Health, to deal with matters related to the coronavirus.Under the direction of the President, the Public Health Ordinance has outlined an approved list of undertakings, empowering the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to take strong measures “to prevent and control the spread” of COVID-19 or the novel coronavirus in Guyana.

Among them, the Order gives the President powers to, as he may deem fit, one or more hospitals or camps for the reception, isolation and treatment of any person suffering from the infectious disease.

The Order cites sections of the constitution that provides for a person to be deprived of his or her freedom of movement through the impositions of restriction by law, reasonably required in the interest of public health.

The Order notes that under the definition provided in the Public Health Ordinance Act, COVID -19 constitutes an emergency that threatens national security, which requires a national response.

Moreover, the Public Health Ordinance Act provides that the President may in the case of emergency expend public funds of Guyana—such sums of money as may be necessary

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for the effectual carrying out of any and all of the provisions which concerns notifiable infectious diseases.

Accordingly, the Public Health Minister with the backing of the ‘Direction by the President’ shall take measures to “restrain, segregate and isolate persons suffering from the disease, or who may be likely, from exposure to the infection, suffer from the disease.

According to the Order, given the directive, the Public Health Minister shall also make decisions to “remove to the hospital and provide curative treatment of persons suffering from the disease”.

It said too that the Public Health Minister may “remove, disinfect, and destroy the personal effects, goods, buildings and any other article, material or thing exposed to infection from the disease”.

The Health Minister shall make decisions about the speedy burial or cremation of the dead; facilitate house to house visitation and inspection; facilitate the provision of medical aid and accommodation and promote cleanliness, ventilation and disinfection and “prevent the spread of the disease on the seas, rivers, waters of Guyana, and on the high seas within 12 miles from baseline and as well as on land”.

COMMONWEALTH OBSERVER GROUP SAYS… GECOM DID NOTHING TO RECTIFY BLATANT DISREGARD FOR RULE OF LAW “At no point did the leadership of the Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) halt or rectify blatant instances of disregard for the rule of law and electoral ethics, despite its vested authority to independently ensure credible elections.”

This is according to the details of a statement issued by the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG), one of the missions deployed to observe and monitor the March 2, General and Regional Elections. In its statement disseminated to the media, the observer group chronicled the irregularities encountered post- elections.

“It is the clear and considered view of the Group that the tabulation processes conducted by the Returning Officer (RO) for Region 4, Clairmont Mingo, were not credible, transparent and inclusive,” the COG asserted.

The series of events that the Group observed in the tabulation of Region 4 results between the 3rd and 14th of

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (AFP Photo)

March are of grave concern, they expressed. They were keen to note specific issues which included the repeated cessation of the tabulation process for a variety of “irregular reasons”; two unlawful declarations made

by Mingo; the continued failure of the RO to comply with the March 11 rules made by the Chief Justice; and the RO’s refusal to provide the Statements of Polls (SOP) during the resuming of the tabulation exercise.

The group disclosed that it did not observe any material or substantive impediments inside the tabulation room, which might have prevented the resumption of the tabulation process. However, they were keen to highlight that the robust exchanges between political party agents in the room only occurred when GECOM repeatedly halted the tabulation process.

“Despite the serious and persistent electoral malpractice observed by the Group from 3-14 March, the Group welcomed the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) initiative, at the invitation of President David Granger, to deploy a HighLevel Team to Guyana, to supervise a recount of the ballots,” the COG related.

GUYANAAPPROACHES WORLD BANK FOR US$5M TO HELP WITH RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS – FINANCE MINISTER SAYS EFFORTS BEING MADE TO GRANT MINISTRIES MONEY EXPEDITIOUSLY In an effort to boost Guyana’s efforts in implementing precautionary measures against the coronavirus , a request was

made to the World Bank for US$5M under its Rapid Response Emergency Facility. This was confirmed with Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, following several questions from Kaieteur News on whether Guyana has resorted to the Contingency Fund in light of the circumstances.

Minister Jordan said that there is no need to do this while noting that the Constitution allows for funding during these emergency activities. Further to this, he was asked to say if the Ministry of Public Health has been provided with additional funds to assist its efforts. He answered in the affirmative while adding that it has received more than $50M thus far. Jordan also confirmed that other ministries have made requests for moneys. He said that these will be dealt with expeditiously.

Kaieteur News also asked Jordan to speak on the effects the coronavirus has had on the economy, to say to what extent exports have been affected and if the growth rate has been revised downwards as yet. The Minister only said, “Unfortunately, this period doesn’t give me great latitude for comment and possible measures. At this stage, I’m just prepared to say an assessment will be made in due course.”

FRIDAY GUYANARECEIVES ALMOST US$55M FOR ONE MILLION BARRELS OF OIL SOLD – PAYMENTALREADY PLACED INTO NATURAL RESOURCE FUND – CENTRAL BANK Central Bank’s Senior

Officials confirmed Thursday that Guyana’s Natural Resource Fund “is all set” and already in receipt of the nation’s first oil payment from Shell Western Supply and Trading Limited (SWSTL), which is based in Barbados.

The officials declined to reveal how much Guyana received, but noted that the payment was deposited earlier this week into the account which is being held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

When contacted for further details, Finance Minister Winston Jordan promptly disclosed that Guyana received almost US$55M for the first million barrels of oil which was sold to SWSTL. It was in mid-February that local authorities witnessed the transfer of Guyana’s first million-barrel lift of crude onto the oil tanker Cap Philippe which was chartered by Shell. It had bought, in total, Guyana’s first three million barrels of crude from the Liza Phase One Project.

Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe had told this newspaper in a previous interview that Guyana is entitled to at least five million barrels of oil for 2020.

According to the Energy Department, the subsidiary of Shell, which is the thirdlargest company in the world based on 2018 revenues, won the bid on account of a number of factors. These included a competitive pricing that limits the Government’s exposure to market uncertainty; the size, scale and global reach of its trading operations; the company’s high level of integration between Upstream, Trading and Downstream; Shell’s strong foothold in the Latin

American markets and the size and scale of their shipping and storage operations in the region, allowing for multiple options on the Liza crude commercialization; and the range of new grades Shell recently introduced into the market.

The Department also took into consideration Shell’s willingness to share critical refinery information which it asserts Guyana needs, in order to understand the Liza crude behaviour.

Kaieteur News was also informed via a statement from the department that Shell’s readiness to support it in operating these cargoes, while it is strengthening its structures and in-house crude commercialization human resources, was also a determining factor.

IF GRANGER IS SWORN IN ON FLAWED TABULATION, PPP WILL DEMAND INT’L FUNDING BE CUT – NORWAY HAS ALREADYCURTAILED FUNDS – JAGDEO Sanctions should not be the only consequence if incumbent President David Granger is sworn in to office with the problematic elections results, according to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. The party will be calling for a cessation of all international funding.

Jagdeo stated the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C)’s resolute position Thursday during a press conference at Freedom House, where he outlined that the party will not recognize Granger as President if he is sworn in on a flawed tabulation of the results.

(Continued on page 38)

PAGE 38

From page 37 Jagdeo said “we will ask for a stoppage of all the funds flowing from the multilateral institutions.”

“We’re going to ask the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to shut down all disbursements to Guyana,” he stated.

Further, he mentioned that the Kingdom of Norway has already curtailed funding for Guyana.

“There is bilateral curtailment of funds, so Norway has made it clear that they [government] will not receive any money there.”

The Opposition Leader stressed that Guyana already risks the chance of being shunned by the international community, as signaled by high ranking officials such as the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo.

Only two days ago, Mike Pompeo issued a strong warning to Guyana that the individuals who seek to benefit from electoral fraud and form illegitimate governments/regimes will be subject to a variety of serious consequences from the United States.

“The US Secretary of State has made it clear and I don’t think you want any more unambiguous statements from one of the highest levels in the United States Government.”

Jagdeo said “that’s the Foreign Minister of the United States of America warning Granger and the others that if he is sworn in on the basis of these results, there will be serious consequences.”

BRAZIL CLOSES BORDER WITH GUYANA FOR FORTNIGHT Even as Guyana has developed capacity to conduct final test for COVID19 cases, Brazil has taken steps to close its border with the nation. Kaieteur News has learnt that the closure of the gate along the highway linking Lethem with Bom Fin will be closed to traffic for the next two weeks.

According to Brazilian online news publication Folha BV, the Brazilian government published an extra edition of the Official Gazette (DOU) Thursday, in which it indicates the closure of the borders with Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, French Guiana; Guyana, Paraguay, Peru and Suriname.

The ordinance, signed by the ministers of Health, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, and Justice, Sérgio Moro, also restricts foreigners from these countries to enter Brazil by

Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

road or by land. The deadline can be extended by technical recommendation from the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).

The news outlet said that the border with Venezuela remains partially closed. On Wednesday Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro had already announced this.

Uruguay was left out of the restrictions imposed by the Brazilian government.

Brazil’s Health Ministry said on Monday that the number of confirmed COVID19 cases in the country has reached 234, up by 34 from the previous day.

According to Xinhua News Agency, several states have already taken measures to mitigate transmission, such as suspending classes in schools and shutting theatres and concert halls. Several churches and religious temples have suspended activities as well.

“Cases are found in most states. Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the first and third most populated states, have seen sustained transmission.

The Health Ministry said it will not adopt mass testing for now, but is considering importing quick test kits.

The government has been facing criticism for not taking more severe measures, given that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country is sharply growing,” the news agency said.

According to Xinhua, President Jair Bolsonaro despite testing negative, was told to maintain isolation for a week and be tested again as 13 members of his entourage in a recent trip to the United

States have tested positive.

Meanwhile, the local Ministry of Public Health is no longer reliant on outside laboratory support to test for the novel coronavirus.

MAN MURDERS EX-WIFE, CARPENTER, 10 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING RESTRAINING ORDER – HAD THREATENED TO HACK OFF HER LIMBS A blood-splattered door told a tale of a gruesome double-murder that rocked the small community of Prosville, Wismar, Linden, on Wednesday night, leaving two people dead, and their assailant in police custody.

The deceased have been identified as 49-year-old Imogene Gordon, of 117 Prosville Housing Scheme, Wismar, Linden and 43-yearold Royston John called “Blacko”, also of Prosville Housing Scheme, and Kildonan Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

In a press release, Police reported that Imogene Gordon and Royston John were discovered motionless, with multiple suspected stab wounds, to their upper torso, at the entrance of Gordon’s premises, around 20:35hrs.

Both were pronounced dead, on arrival at the Linden Hospital Complex.

The release further stated that a 48-year-old businessman of Prosville Housing Scheme, Wismar, Linden, who once shared a relationship with one of the victims (Gordon), has since been apprehended.

He was admitted to the Linden Hospital Complex,

under guard, nursing a gaping wound to his right hand. He was later taken into custody.

A knife suspected to be the murder weapon was found at the crime scene.

A Prosville resident, who requested anonymity, told Kaieteur News that she was a good friend of John, who she said, was a carpenter from Berbice, and had come to Linden to ply his trade.

“I hear he only recently started working on the woman house…but if I de only know, I woulda advise he not to work there, because she man is a ignorant chap”, the woman related, as she fought back the tears.

According to the woman, John had told another friend, that he was going to Gordon to collect monies that she owed him, for work that he had done on her house.

It was reported by another source, that Gordon had only recently moved into the unfinished house with the murder suspect.

SATURDAY REGION FOUR RESULTS… I DON’T BUY MINGO’S NUMBERS; WHO VEX, VEX! – DOMINIC GASKIN – Investigate wrongdoing at GECOM Former Business Minister and Director of Business, Dominic Gaskin, has publicly stated that he does not “buy” the numbers used by District Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, in his recent declaration and called for a full investigation into the

wrongdoing at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

In a statement posted on his Facebook page last evening, Gaskin expressed his displeasure that it has been 18 days since Guyana went to the March 2, 2020 polls to cast their ballots and no declaration has been made.

This, he said, was a “relatively simple exercise” for Guyanese to “elect a government of their choice.”

According to him, the declaration made by Mingo on Thursday, 5th March for District Four, the largest district, was immediately rejected based on the procedural grounds and the fact that it lacked transparency.

To this, Gaskin said, “I too have taken a position (personal) on the Mingo Declaration – I don’t buy his numbers. Who vex, vex! I am not attempting to convince anyone that my position is the right one. I’ve gone beyond that.”

The Former Business Minister stressed that the post-elections conduct “has not been exemplary”, with little concern for the youths who are closely paying attention.

Gaskin highlighted too that there has been a lost in confidence of GECOM. He said, “regardless of who is wrong or right or good or bad, GECOM cannot purport to hold credible elections in the future unless it can satisfactorily address the major concerns that have been raised about its declared results and the post-election

processes leading to those declarations.”

Further, he opined that the APNU+AFC will be unable to win another election in the near future stating that “whether through public perception or bias, this is a very likely consequence of what has taken place and doesn’t bode well for our future.”

Gaskin also made mention of the damage to society caused by heighten “ethnic tensions.”

According to him, “all that has been said, implied and displayed since 2nd March has severely damaged the fragile but admirable coexistence of our two major ethnic groups.”

He went on to suggest that Guyana needs a new “model of governance”, one which does not “incite this level of divisiveness every five years.” “The real big men and women have to start talking to each other, or stop pretending to be leaders.

Various other stakeholders need to set aside their emotions and adopt a more conciliatory posture which puts the nation first,” he said.

In conclusion, Gaskin stated that all voters deserve to know the true result of the process in which they “innocently and dutifully participated.”

A full-fledged investigation into GECOM, he added, is needed to ascertain whether there was any wrongdoing on the part of individuals within the elections body as it relates to the integrity of statements of poll or the tabulation of results thereof.

Sunday March 22, 2020

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Ansa McAL introduces sweeping measures to combat coronaviru in Guyana, other regional and int’l offices

I

n keeping with its personal commitment to health, safety and the security of its 6000 employees, as well as associates, consumers, and communities, Ansa McAl has introduced several measures in response to the Coronavirus outbreak.

In a missive to the media yesterday, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for ANSA McAL Group of Companies, Anthony N. Sabga III, said that cascading plans and actions continue to be developed and implemented by Management and Leadership teams across its subsidiaries in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Barbados, Grenada, St. Kitts, Jamaica and the USA. To date, he said that Ansa McAL has formed a Crisis Management Team whose

members have been diligently working behind the scenes to best protect staff members and consumers against COVID-19.

Sabga said that efforts were also geared towards developing an Emergency Response, Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan while noting that they continue to develop plans which have to be implemented by Management and Leadership teams across companies and territories where they operate. Sabga also said that they issued a group wide ‘Coronavirus Protocol for the Ansa McAL Group’ on March 2.

Since the outbreak of the virus, the CEO for the Group of Companies said that Ansa has also ramped up deepcleaning and has set-up health monitoring mechanisms throughout the

Group.

It has also issued a Travel Ban on March 14, 2020 on both incoming and outgoing business travel until further notice; implemented isolation protocol for employees returning from abroad; activated remote working with special consideration for colleagues over the age of 60 and those who have preexisting medical conditions; and established Working from Home (WFH) Protocols.

Executives within the respective Ansa subsidiaries have also been asked to exercise discretion by allowing colleagues who have childcare needs to work from home given the closure of schools.

Kaieteur News understands that Ansa has given a commitment to its Standard Distributors Ltd

customers that it will work with each of them to create individualised and customised repayment solutions that will carry them through this difficult time.

Further to this, the CEO was keen to note that Ansa is strategically positioned to perform key functions of distribution for a wide range of food, household items, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment and supplies.

In this regard, he said, “We can also be of value through our Manufacturing Sector – specifically ANSA Chemicals, the largest producer of sodium hypochlorite in the Englishspeaking Caribbean. Our plant produces over 3 million litres of chlorine, caustic and bleach per month.

We also produce

Anthony N. Sabga III, Chief Executive Officer for ANSA McAL Group of Companies

Chlorine Gas and Sodium Hydroxide for Water Treatment Plants and industries.”

The CEO also added that Ansa is servers as an agent

for the Ecolab and Kemira products which supplies chemicals to the Food and Beverage Sectors and Municipal Water Plants across the region.

IDENTIFYING AND TREATING EATING DISORDERS You have heard persons talking about it; you have seen persons either in real life or on television suffering from it.

But what exactly defines an eating disorder?

Over the years, pictures have been circulated with young women and men suffering from anorexia and they seem quite gruesome. On the contrary, some of these images are meant to raise awareness about eating disorders among young people.

But did you know that anorexia is not the only eating disorder that persons can suffer from?

It is commonly thought that eating disorders are actually a lifestyle choice. In that, the sufferers can actually just snap out of it or choose to eat properly. This is a common perception in Guyana and the world over where there is not much focus on mental health issues of this sort.

However, it must be noted that eating disorders are grave and often fatal diseases that can cause severe disturbances to a person’s eating behaviors. Certain obsessions with food, body weight, and shape may also signal the presence of an eating disorder.

Eating disorders that frequently occur include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorders.

People with anorexia nervosa often times see themselves as being grossly overweight despite the fact that they are dangerously underweight. It is not uncommon for persons with anorexia to

constantly weigh themselves during the day, sometimes four to five times within a 24 hour period.

They also tend to severely restrict the amount of food they consume and at that, only eat very small quantities of just certain foods.

Of all the eating disorders and all the psychiatric disorders for that matter, anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate.

Most young people with this disorder tend to die from complications associated with starvation. However, due to the depression, others die of suicide. Suicide is much more common in women with anorexia than with most other mental disorders.

Symptoms of anorexia may include: · Eating extremely small amounts · Extreme emaciation (thinness) · The relentless urge to get thinner and unwilling to maintain a normal or healthy weight · A deep and intense fear of gaining weight · Distorted body image, a self-esteem that is heavily influenced by perceptions of body weight and shape ·Denial of the seriousness of low body weight Some other symptoms may develop over time due to the initial starvation. These would include: ·Thinning bones referred to as osteopenia or osteoporosis ·Anemia, muscle wasting and weakness ·Brittle hair and nails ·Dry and yellowish skin ·Growth of fine hair all over

the body (lanugo) ·Severe constipation ·Low blood pressure, slowed breathing and pulse ·Decreased heart function due to damage ·Brain damage ·Multi-organ failure ·Drop in internal body temperature, causing a person to feel cold all the time ·Lethargy ·Infertility Now, people with bulimia nervosa have frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food and having little to no control over them.

This binge-eating behavior is usually followed by a compensating behaviour for the overeating such as purging, overuse of laxatives or diuretics, prolonged fasting, excessive exercise, or a combination of all. Unlike anorexia, bulimia patients are usually able to maintain a healthy or relatively normal body weight.

Symptoms of bulimia nervosa may include: ·Chronically inflamed and sore throat due to purging ·Swollen salivary glands in the neck and jaw area ·Worn tooth enamel and increasingly sensitive and decaying teeth as a result of exposure to stomach acid ·Acid reflux disorder and other gastrointestinal problems ·Intestinal distress and irritation from laxative abuse ·Severe dehydration from purging of fluids · Electrolyte imbalance (too low or too high levels of sodium, calcium, potassium and other minerals) which can lead to stroke or

heart attack Finally, people with a binge-eating disorder lose total control over his or her eating habits.

Unlike bulimia, the periods of binge-eating are not followed by purging, excessive exercise, or fasting. As such, binge-eaters are commonly, very overweight or obese.

Some of the symptoms associated with binge eating include: ·Eating unusually large amounts of food in a specific amount of time ·Eating even when you’re full or not hungry ·Eating fast during binge episodes ·Eating until you’re uncomfortably full ·Eating alone or in secret to avoid embarrassment ·Feeling distressed, ashamed, or guilty about your eating ·Frequently dieting, possibly without weight loss What then are some of the risk factors associated with developing these disorders?

Research dictates that these disorders usually occur during the teenage years or into young adulthood but can also begin during childhood or later on in life.

They affect both genders, although women are two out of five times more likely to develop them as compared to men.

Unlike women who may tend to have body image distortions concerning being overweight, men may have muscle dysmorphia, a type of disorder marked by the need to become more muscular.

Research has shown that

eating disorders are caused by a complex interaction of genetic, biological, behavioral, psychological, and social factors.

So for those suffering from any of the above, it might not just be one trigger, it may be a combination, which is why not many Guyanese know how to deal with them when diagnosed.

Treatments and Therapies Ensuring that there is adequate nutrition, helping to reducing excessive exercise and putting an end to purging behaviors are the main-

stay of treatment. However, treatment plans are tailored to each individual’s needs and may include one or more of the following: ·Psychotherapy ·Medical care ·Counseling on nutritional ·Medications Medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood stabilizers have been found to be very helpful for treating eating disorders and illnesses occurring hand in hand such as anxiety or depression.

PAGE 40

Guyana Carnival team to meet with Ministry officials on Coronavirus concerns before making further decisions

T

he Guyana Carnival team has noted that on March 11, 2020, the Ministry of Health confirmed Guyana’s first case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The patient was in her 50’s with uncontrolled Diabetes and Hypertension and had recently returned from New York.

Unfortunately, she subsequently died at the Georgetown Public Hospital at 8:00am on March 11.

In light of this, the Guyana Carnival team said it is very concerned about the impact and risk factors of COVID-19.

In a statement to the press it said, “We are committed to doing our part to minimize the spread of the virus.

At this time, we will continue to monitor the situation on the ground and will be meeting with the relevant authorities to discuss the necessary steps and precautions to be adapted over the next few months.”

It added, “Our Guyana Carnival family, you can trust that we will remain vigilant and consistently on top of this situation as we continue to work diligently to achieve a big, better, and safer Carnival experience...”

Kaieteur Entertainment also understands that the team will wait a few more days in conjunction with holding several meetings with Ministry officials before making any permanent or temporary changes to its schedule.

Katy Keene is your ideal Friday night series A few days ago, Enetworks aired HBO’s highly anticipated show called Katy Keene and the American comedy-drama series was full of all the colour and pizzazz you would have expected.

In the series, Katy designs clothes for anyone she can, including her friend and roommate Josie, whose singing talent catches the attention of Alexander Cabot, a CEO who hopes to reboot the record label division of his father’s corporate empire. But Alexander’s dream of signing Josie to a recording contract meets resistance from Cabot Media’s powerful senior vice president Alexandra, who also happens to be his twin sister.

Josie and Katy’s roommate, Jorge, works at his family’s bodega and has his eye on Broadway, but after a series of rejections, he hopes to take his drag performance

Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

career as Ginger to the next level. The mysterious Pepper Smith plans to open her own version of Andy Warhol’s Factory. She has the connections, but no one seems to know where she got her money or if she really has any at all.

As these aspiring artists

take on the runway, the recording studio, Broadway and the New York social scene, they find more than just a career in the big city — they find long-lasting friendship.

Be sure to continue following this enthralling story line this and every Friday.

Magnum Xplosion 2020 postponed The Magnum Xplosion show which was slated for April 12 has been postponed until further notice. The event was expected to fea-

ture some of the most trending Guyanese and Jamaican Artistes. Confirmed on the list was the ‘King of Dancehall’ Beenie Man.

Home Entertainment...

Five easy cocktails to make with Grey Gosse Vodka is one of the most essential cocktails ingredients – its subtle taste makes it a great way to add alcohol to fruit juices or other mixers without overwhelming their flavours. But just because vodka is a delicate flavour, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t effect the taste of your cocktail! A quality vodka will be smooth and just a little bit sweet and will make for a finer tasting drink in the end.

Today, we’re sharing recipes for some simple, fruity vodka cocktails with one of our favourite vodkas – Grey Goose. Grey Goose (which is distributed by Ansa McAL Trading Limited) is known for being one of the classiest vodkas, with a crisp and clear taste and a subtle hint of almonds. It makes for great cocktails, so try it in one of the drinks below and you’re sure to be delighted.

Cosmopolitan This tart, fruity classic is always a hit at a party. The combination of sweet orange Cointreau and sharp cranberry juice is delicious with smooth Grey Goose, and the little hit of citrus adds an acidic note. When in doubt, you can never go wrong with a Cosmo.

3 parts Grey Goose Vodka 1 part Cointreau 2 parts Cranberry juice Squeeze of lime juice Orange rind twist to garnish Pomegranate Martini This variation on a Cosmopolitan uses pomegranate juice for a distinctive sour, slightly floral taste which complements the sweetness of Grey Goose. If you’re feeling really fancy, you can even get a fresh pomegranate, chop it open, and drop a few of the seeds into your drink.

This cocktail can be mixed in advance, so if you have a bunch of vodka lovers coming round you can prepare a pitcher of this ready for drinking.

2 parts Grey Goose Vodka 1 part Cointreau

2 parts pomegranate juice Squeeze of lemon juice Orange rind twist to garnish Caipiroska This is a twist on a Caipirinha, the classic cocktail of Brazil – but this version uses vodka in place of the Brazilian cachaça. A vodka like Grey Goose is less sweet than cachaça, so you might want to up the amount of sugar that you use if you have a sweet tooth.

You need to muddle the lime with the sugar – that means that you put them both in a class and crush them together to release the lime juices, before adding crushed ice and pouring the Grey Goose over the top.

Grey Goose Vodka Lime wedges Brown sugar

can add more or less simple syrup depending on how sweet you want the final drink to be, but we’ve found that using less syrup allows the almond flavours of the Grey Goose to shine.

3 parts Grey Goose Vodka 2 parts fresh lime juice 2 parts simple syrup Lime wheel to garnish Sea Breeze This cocktail is a summer classic; just as refreshing as its name suggests and ideal for a hot day. Now spring is finally here we’re getting ready for the warm weather, and this drink is at the top of our to-do list! Grab the Grey Goose and start mixing pitchers for those summer picnics.

1 part Grey Goose Vodka 1 part grapefruit juice 1 part cranberry juice Lime wedge to garnish

Vodka Gimlet Gimlets are usually made with gin, but this version uses vodka for a crisp flavour. You

Happy Mixing this weekend Guys and remember to drink responsibly. (https:// www.urban-drinks.co.uk/)

Kaieteur News

Sunday March 22, 2020

PAGE 41

Let us use this occasion to help in the fight against racism TEEN TIME

Amid all the problems we are now facing in the elections battle, we know that the biggest drawback, even though this is among political parties, stems from the fact that our Guyanese population is mainly made up of two ethnic groups. The problems arise because we believe that these two groups mainly make up the membership of the two biggest parties.

It will then be of great use if we can try at this time to remind ourselves, and all with whom we come into contact, that we should now make a special effort to get rid of this scourge that has always been the main problem in our country in all spheres of our living –

personal, how we deal with one another, social and communal, how we treat others in our communities, and national, how we deal with the general population, especially when it comes to choosing the best party to manage our affairs.

I said last week that children should try not to

become embroiled in the political situation that is causing so many problems, but that we should try to be patient and avoid any problems as seen happening around us, to stay clear of any incidents, and to pray to our Creator to assist us in Guyana at this time.

What we can do now is

to make a special effort to show that we fully understand that all people born on this earth are equal in the thing that really makes us human - our spirit. All the other differences that we can see outwardly, like one’s colour, way of living, from where we originated, are superficial, and it is not right to judge people by these.

I am therefore pleading with all our children to set an example to our fellow Guyanese by making a special effort in the time ahead to eradicate this curse of racism among our people, and deal with everyone as our brothers and sisters. I am sure that the Lord will bless you in any such attempt.

End the virus of racism I was thinking of the newest health scare, That has affected people everywhere The deadly virus COVID nineteen, For which we are still searching for a vaccine.

But when I think of the racist virus, That has been one of most vicious, For some there seems to be no vaccine to fight, As we pray that one soon comes to light.

It is urgent that we find an antibiotic To defeat this devil’s lethal kick — A virus that’s proved as dangerous, It has been one of most infectious.

Fortunately the most powerful vaccine, Is one we all have had from the beginning – It is the love that we must share To one and all everywhere. by Uncle Roy

We all have the vaccine for the virus of racism – love for one and all.

Use it liberally to get rid of this disease.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Solutions to last week’s

7 Principles of Government

Cryptograms Cryptograms are simple-substitution ciphers where every letter of the alphabet has been switched.

Your task is to use pattern recognition and your grammar and vocabulary abilities to decipher the hidden quote. Hint: start with the 1, 2 and 3 letter words, and remember that the most common letters in the English language are E-T-A-I-O-N, in roughly that order. Good luck!

k!

FPA REJAWF CUZGAE BUIZJ XZRQ NUIWF ASAEALF HG LUNAMUJQ XIF R GZRCLFHVT UW FUX. — Pete Dye

od

luc

AJO NBK ROTZTMA VTANZK JURV JFV GVBHRVK. NR PTWW ROTZ ZNRS, QJVVRQZ ZNRS, EVTMA ZNRS TM WTMR PTZN NTK PTWW BMO ZNRM NBMO ZNRS EBQD ZJ FK ZJ ER VRKFESTZZRO. — Stephen Crotts

Go

D AYQZS LNPSNPC RJV TDCX LYQXA ZP FRSDFUDPA LDSN NPC XYOPC'F GDJA DU FNP WJPL SNP LNYXP YU DS. — Anthony Trollope QXKWZ FVGMHZXL KH KP SPHEMGAZPE SP EOZ OKPCH VL NVC, ROV CVZH OSH VRP RVMI SP OSH VRP RKF. — Swami Ramdas

GERMS VIRUS HANDS WATER

SOAP DISEASE BACTERIA HEALTHY

Put a (-) between each word.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 42

THE GREAT HILL

by Daniel Errico Before time was time, there was a Great Hill.

And on the Great Hill there lived the Yolks.

The Yolks spent their entire lives climbing the Great Hill, trying to reach the top.

Some Yolks climbed fast.

S o m e Yo l k s c l i m b e d slowly.

One Yolk in particular was a very slow climber. He was different than the rest of the Yolks.

When he climbed, all the other Yolks passed him.

It was hard for him to watch them pass by.

He felt like the worst climber in the world.

Some Yolks made fun of him as they passed.

Others didn’t.

Some Yolks wanted to help him climb but he didn’t let them.

It was hard for him to climb. It was even harder when it rained because the g r o u n d g o t s l i p p e r y.

Sometimes it seemed like it was only raining on him.

But it wasn’t.

There were times when he felt like he wasn’t moving at all. But he was.Then one day he met another Yolk who climbed even slower than he did.

He helped the slower Yolk climb.

“Thank You,” said the slower Yolk.

“You’re Welcome,” said the slow Yolk, “I can’t be of much help to anyone else since I climb so slowly.”

“Slowly?” asked the slower Yolk.

“Well yes. I watch other Yolks pass me all the time.”

“I do not know if you are slow or fast, but I do know that you helped me, and that you are still climbing.”

T h e s l o w Yo l k s a i d goodbye to the slower Yolk, and kept climbing.

“Still climbing,” he thought to himself.

“That is true.”

And he smiled.

So the Yolk kept climbing.

He climbed when it was nice out, he climbed when it

rained, and he even climbed when it snowed.

As he kept climbing he got better and better.

Sometimes he would pass other Yolks and sometimes they would pass him.

He had stopped paying attention.

He also noticed that some Yo l k s w e r e n o l o n g e r climbing. When a yolk stops climbing it stays where it is.

Some Yolks stop climbing because they are happy with how far they have gone.

Others stop climbing because they don’t want to climb anymore.

T h e Yo l k s t h a t h a d stopped climbing did not like to be passed, and they made it harder to get by.

B u t t h e Yo l k k e p t climbing, right over them!

There were still times when the Yolk thought he was climbing an impossible hill, but he kept climbing.

Always, always, climbing.

Do you think he made the top?

Sunday March 22, 2020

Junior page Smiley and Frowny Emotions What You’ll Need ·S heets of cardboard ·Y ellow paint ·G lue ·W iggle eyes ·C henille sticks ·P ompoms ·F elt ·G litter What You’ll Do 1.

Cut out two 3inch cardboard circles.

Paint one side of each one yellow, and glue the unpainted sides together.

2.

Add chenille-stick lips and wiggle eyes. (Glued-on felt or pompoms are good alternatives to wiggle eyes if you have concerns about tiny objects.) Attach one chenille stick, ends up, for the cheerful

version, and the other stick, ends down, for the cranky fellow. Change colors and faces for additional emoticons.

3.

Cover all with glitter and call these your shimmering buddies.

INKIES Fill in the blank squares so that each row and each column contain all of the digits 1 thru .

The heavy lines surround areas (called cages) that contain groups of numbers that can be combined (in any order) to produce the result shown in the clue, either using addition (+) or subtraction (-) as shown in the clue. For example, 12+ means you can add the values together to produce 12.

Numbers in cages may repeat, as long as they are not in the same row or column.

FUN

WIT

ET O P H

RY

We are all one

by Uncle Roy Guyana is known as the country With people of six races, They all can look so different, We know they come from various places.

But these differences do not matter, When we know we are all human beings; We have the same bodies and minds, And to live all need the same things.

Then this means we must remember That we need to respect one another, Live in peace and love with all Guyanese, And treat everyone as a brother.

by Uncle Roy

Sunday March 22, 2020

*I have noticed that everyone who is for abortion, has already been born. *Thanks for explaining the word "many" to me, it means a lot. *That one liner 'i'm not drinking too much tonight' never goes as planned... *At what age is it appropriate to tell my dog that he's adopted? *God grades on the cross, not the curve. *It's better to let someone think you are an Idiot than to open your mouth and prove it. *Before I criticize a man, I like to walk a mile in his shoes.

That way, when I do criticize him, I'm a mile away and I have his shoes. *I bought some shoes from a drug dealer. I don't know what he laced them with, but I've been tripping all day. *Prayer: Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty! *Time waits for no man, time is obviously a woman.

"Doctor, there's a patient on line 1 that says he's invisible."

"Well, tell him I can't see him right now." *Don't spell part backwards. It's a trap. *Atheism is a non-prophet organization. *It's just a bad day, not a bad life. *It was only when I bought a motorbike that I found out that adrenaline is brown. *If you're still looking for that one person who will change your life take a look in the mirror. *Plan ahead - It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark. *A recent study has found that women who carry a little extra weight live longer than the men who mention it. *A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman's birthday but never remembers her age. *My dad died when we couldn't remember his blood type.

As he died, he kept insisting for us to "be positive," but it's hard without him.

Before I tell my wife something important, I take both her hands in mine. That way she can't hit me with them. *If you're going through Hell, keep going. *I tried to explain to my 4-year-old son that it's perfectly normal to accidentally poop your pants, but he's still making fun of me. *Improve your memory by doing unforgettable things. *When you get to your wit's end, You'll find God lives there. *In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma - but never let him be the period. *It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one. *If a church wants a better pastor, It only needs to pray for the one it has. *My girlfriend is always stealing my t-shirts and sweaters...

But if I take one of her dresses, suddenly "we need to talk". *Did you hear about the guy who got hit in the head with a can of soda? He was lucky it was a soft drink. an I have your picture so I can show Santa what I want for Christmas? *Smoking will kill you... Bacon will kill you... But, smoking bacon will cure it. *Pavlov walks into a bar. The phone rings, and he says, "Damn, I forgot to feed the dog." *My dream woman has a special combination of inner and outer beauty and is, most importantly, too naive to know she's way out of my league. *A mexican magician was doing a magic trick. He said, Uno, Dose, and he disappeared without a trace. *On a scale of North Korea to America, how free are you tonight? *I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather..

Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car. *The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails= 4 given. *I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down. *Can I borrow a kiss? I promise I'll give it back.

If God is your co-pilot - swap seats. *If you're not supposed to eat at night, why is there a light bulb in the refrigerator? *You may fall from the sky, you may fall from a tree, but the best way to fall... is in love with me. *What's the difference between a northern fairytale and a southern fairytale? A northern fairytale begins "Once upon a time ..." A southern fairytale begins "Y'all ain't gonna believe this shit ..." *How did I escape Iraq? Iran. *Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 43

PAGE 44

The Best Routines for Getting Rid of Dark Circles and Under Eye Bags Continued on from last edition that cause signs of aging like wrinkles. Before bed at night, apply a drop of oil (a little goes a long way) to your dark under eye circles, gently massaging it into the skin. Leave this on your skin overnight and in the morning, rinse with warm water.

11. Coconut Oil As a powerful natural and gentle anti-inflammatory, coconut oil is an effective method for lightening dark under eye circles.

It also moisturizes while it lightens to help prevent wrinkles and fine lines under the eyes. Use coconut oil like vitamin E oil: rub it into your under eye area, leave it on overnight and then rinse it off in the morning.

12. Turmeric As yet another powerful, natural antioxidant and antiinflammatory, turmeric minimizes dark circles. Mix some turmeric powder with pineapple juice to create a thick paste.

Apply this mixture to your under eye circles and leave for about 10 minutes before using a soft, warm and damp cloth to gently remove the paste. Practice this routine once a day.

13. Eat More Dark Chocolate Here’s your excuse to indulge: Flavonol-rich foods like dark chocolate protect against the harmful effects of UV radiation, thereby slowing down the aging process caused by too much time in the sun – a delightful little fact after hearing for so long that chocolate is bad for our skin!

14. Eat More Salmon Omega 3’s can be found in foods like salmon and walnuts.

These fatty acids improve blood flow to the skin, moving blood out and away from your eyes instead of allowing it to pool there and cause dark under eye circles.

15. Curb Salt Consumption + Drink More Water If you remember studying osmosis in high school biology, then you’ll recall that water in your body moves from places with the most water to those with the least.

The parts of your body that are low in sodium (salt) contain more water, while the parts of your body with more sodium contain less water.

When your body doesn’t have enough water but too much salt, you can look and feel puffy and bloated. The skin around your eyes is especially thin and vulnerable to dehydration.

When you eat a salty meal but don’t drink enough water, your body will literally “look” dehydrated – i.e., red, puffy eyes. So if you plan to enjoy a salty meal, counter the effects with plenty of water.

16. Curb Your Alcohol Consumption Salt is bad but nothing dehydrates you like alcohol.

Remember your last hangover?

That’s why your eyes look red and puffy the morning after.

Whenever possible, keep yourself to a two-drink maximum, drink plenty of water before you go to bed, and apply a night cream or heavy moisturizer around your eyes after a night out.

SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S WORD SEARCH

Kaieteur News

Sunday March 22, 2020

Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 45

Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

THE

PAGE 46

STORY WITHIN THE

Two evils!

By Leonard Gildarie “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” – John F. Kennedy.

T

he past three weeks have placed Guyana dangerously on the brink and exposed our deeply flawed capacity to think as one.

Tomorrow would be three weeks since that historic March 2nd elections, described as the mother of all.

Today, our leaders should be deeply ashamed. We have regressed and our nation is deeply divided. As if that is not enough, the world is grappling with possibly its worst crisis for the last century in the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

I am not sure whether as a people we have grasped the magnitude of the threat we are facing at the moment…from elections and the virus.

Countries have shut down. Several parts of the US have been on lockdown, with California asking its people to stay home.

Italy, a country that I once dreamed of visiting, on Friday recorded 627 deaths in one day. People are being left to die.

We wasted three weeks.

Our attention should have been on this crisis which has not only seen a mad rush to stock up by homeowners, but has seen authorities taking several actions in Guyana.

Our airports have been closed to commercial flights.

Our merchant ships are being allowed in with no crew being allowed on land.

Suriname and Brazil have closed their borders with Guyana. We have recorded one death - with a family quarantined after a number of them tested positive.

Prices have risen for

basic items and workplaces have introduced shift systems, with citizens consciously encouraging social distancing to reduce the spread.

There will be job losses.

Bars and restaurants are virtually empty and the city is complaining of more than 50 percent reduction in business.

Even the vendors at the iconic Stabroek and Bourda markets are complaining.

Analysts are predicting a crisis with the economy this year, compounded by the drop in oil prices which will severely dent this country's revenues. We will definitely see a fallout from oil and gas investments, as ExxonMobil revisits its project in light of cheaper gas on the market.

However, we are not only being beaten with those measures. The elections of March 2nd have raised a number of deeply worrying questions about our politicians.

The racists have come out of the woodwork and taken off the gloves. It is us and them now. I have never seen this country as polarized as it is now. Maybe it is social media, maybe it is what I am seeing.

We have taken on our international partners including the ABC and EU bloc. The events surrounding the tabulation of the Region 4 results will not be repeated here. The world knows what transpired.

GECOM has torn asunder our faith in the law and systems that work. We will never look at another state body the same way again. The deep division of this country will be laid squarely at the feet of the six commissioners and its chair and the secretariat.

The players will go down in history not for their good works, but for their conscious decisions that have created deeper fissures in our people. We will remember them, and the thoughts will not be good.

Our politicians have failed us. I met a number of the younger ones in the past week. My heart soared. The passion, the intensity of wanting a better Guyana is there.

It is the older politicians who have failed to make the

Leonard Gildarie cry to our people. Social cohesion has gone through the window, having been kicked to the curb.

JFK's wonderful urging would ring hollow, as there appears no concerted moves to end the standoff. How could one explain the inaction and the absence of a concerted call to find solutions?

While we may have our political differences, there is not one call by our leaders to meet halfway, for a moment, to take actions on Coronavirus.

We only have to look at I t a l y, a c o u n t r y w i t h resources, to understand the major threat we are facing and the ripple effects that will not go away anytime soon.

The criticisms for the elections have been coming fast and furious. From the US to EU, we now see a former minister, Dominic Gaskin, coming out swinging.

There were personal attacks on a foreign envoy and it appears that our foreign relations will take a nose dive.

We spent $6B for an elections that has delivered zilch in transparency.

Should there be an investigation or a Commission of Inquiry? It seems history has a way of repeating itself with GECOM. Every five years, Guyana is facing the hate and rhetoric with no attempts at reforms for more inclusivity.

Where is the country in all of this? It is not too late for our leaders to show that they have this country in their heart.

This week will be critical.

We have elections and Coronavirus. Would there be a continuation of silence or a joint stance on the shutdown?

History will be brutal for our leaders when the events of March 2020 are being written and reviewed. In the meantime, the people are watching and crying. We did not sign up for this.

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

Kaieteur News

Sunday March 22, 2020

PAGE 47

Young author and entrepreneur, Nekisha Prince-Haynes, From page 18 it is mostly online.

Under the name “Prestige Administrative Services,” Prince-Haynes singlehandedly assists a number of small businesses with the day-to-day management activities.

“I help small business owners and entrepreneurs. I help them because I realize that we all need help at some point in our lives, and we cannot do it alone. I chose this career because I have a strong passion for reading, writing and speaking.

Unfortunately, this was not my first choice, because I have worked in several other career paths including accountant graphic designing, marketing etc.”

Prince-Haynes became innovative after business at the company she was employed at, started to slow up.”

“I decided to start something on the side, after doing so I also volunteered to be an accountability partner for many persons who encouraged me to start doing mentoring as a paid job, since my services were well received with excellent results. I then included content creation, editing, and proofreading.”

Though she finds fulfillment in her career,

Prince-Haynes admits that the work can be overwhelming at times.

“There are days when I need to take a break because of the workload and pressure of meeting deadlines. I had to learn to effectively manage my time and develop coping mechanisms to work under the pressure.

A l l o f t h i s , Prince–Haynes compiled in her book which was launched last year.

PUBLISHED AUTHOR Before, she could have published her book, Prince–Haynes was in the habit of journaling. She would write down bits and pieces and keep them.

“And wherever I would share my experiences with people, they kept encouraging me to write a book.”

Prince-Haynes further stated that “When I started my business, I realized after some time of dealing with some of my clients that they took advantage of my services because I became too friendly with them, so I decided to do a reflection on my business, and it was then I realized that there were some things I needed to change if I wanted my business to be successful”.

Nekisha is flanked by (standing at the back, from left) her brothers Kevon Smith, Timothy Smith and Keon Smith, and just behind her, nephew Keron Smith, son Nichil Haynes and niece Ethany Smith

“One week later, I was browsing through my online groups and noticed I was not alone in this situation, so I thought to myself, maybe I should write a book on this.

Then one day a family friend visited me and I shared my idea with him, and we both laughed it off, but that night I thought about the idea all night and the very next day I called everyone in my circle and told them I would like to write a book, and they all encouraged me to do so.”

The book titled “Your Client Is Not Your Friend,” was launched last April in Barbados and Guyana. The initial launch took place at Police Alliance Toastmasters Club in Barbados and later at the Pegasus Hotel in Guyana.

Prince-Haynes cautions that the age-old idiom “do not mix business with pleasure,” should not be taken lightly. It has saved her relationships and career and can help save anyone who takes it seriously.

The young entrepreneur says that when she finds herself slipping into the friendship zone with a client, she usually stops, takes a reality check, and repeats the solemn affirmation, “Your Client Is Not Your Friend!”

MENTOR /COACH Despite her impressive accomplishments to date, Prince-Haynes continues to wake up hungry for success.

She shares that, “Each day I strive to be better than the day before.”

In this regard, she continues to pursue her other passions.

Prince–Haynes is also a coach and motivational speaker – something she also picked up from her older brother. She recalls vividly, the first time she saw her brother in a Toastmasters competition.

“He delivered an impromptu speech and won the competition. I was introduced to Toastmasters International after attending a District Conference held in Guyana.

I was so impressed and motivated that I quickly got enrolled in a club upon my return to Barbados.

There she found the courage she longed for, to be able to stand and speak confidently in front of crowds and not stutter or be With her mother Andrea ashamed.”

Prince (at right) and adopted As a motivational mother Marilyn Paton-Robinson

speaker, Prince–Haynes said that she found a way of helping people to realize their goals. These days, she has a number of public speaking engagements and seminars. She teaches her clients to protect their business reputation at all costs.

“Always strive to give your best service to your clients. Success will not come overnight; it is an ongoing process. I have been booked by top-ranking Government officials, right here in Barbados, to conduct workshops and seminars.

Unfortunately due to the current situation with the COVID -19, my projects had to be postponed.”

GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS Asked what she considers among her greatest accomplishments, Prince–Haynes said “becoming a self-published author and having my book attain #1 New Release rank in less than 12 hours was indeed a highlight. The book has opened many speaking opportunities for me; I have done several interviews,

locally, regionally and internationally”.

“To name a few, I have been interviewed by Cita Radio - Barbados, We room radio- Trinidad, Stabroek News - Guyana, Love2coach - London, Author to Authority - Canada, and XclusiVnests Entrepreneur New York.”

Outside of her

professional life, PrinceHaynes balances her time very well with her family.

“I am my own boss, which means I get to set my own schedule and I work only on appointments.”

She said that she spends as much quality time as she can with husband, Carlton Haynes, and their son, Nichil.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 48

&

Sunday March 22, 2020

Immigration Questions Answers

By Attorney Gail S. Seeram

T

hrough this “Question & Answer� column, our goal is to answer your immigration questions. We appreciate your comments

and questions. If you have a question that you would like answered in this column, p l e a s e e m a i l : Gail@GailLaw.com.

Question #1: I was in removal proceedings in the U.S. and took voluntary

departure but never left the U.S. I am currently married to a U.S. citizen, can I apply for a green card?

Answer #1: The answer to your question depends on when your voluntary departure order was issued.

However, in general, if you

agree to voluntary departure and do not leave the U.S. within the specified time, then the voluntary departure order automatically turns into a removal order. You will not be eligible for adjustment of status or to apply for a green card in the

U.S. once the removal order is active. A possible option is filing a motion to reopen your prior case and rescinding the removal order.

Question #2: I lost my wallet with my green card, driver's license and social security card. How do I apply for a new green card?

Answer #2: It is good practice to copy your green card (front and back) and keep it in a safe deposit box.

It is the law to carry your green card with you at all times, so don't think about leaving it at home or in a safe deposit box. Once you have your alien number, you can apply for a replacement green card. The process can take 3-6 months and there is a filing fee.

Question #3: I am a green card holder and every time I enter the U.S. the officer takes me into a room for secondary inspection where they ask me questions and look at the computer?

Answer #3: Secondary inspection is conducted when the U.S. Custom and Border Protection officer sees something in your alien file that indicates that you may be inadmissible into the U.S. or the officer has questions about a note in your file. If you believe there is an error in your alien file and you would like it corrected then file a redress claim by visiting www.dhs.gov/trip.

Question #4: I am married and living with a

Gail S. Seeram U.S. citizen and he has not filed a sponsorship petition for me? We have 2 children together who are U.S. citizens. I entered the U.S. with a visitor visa but overstayed and have no status.

My husband is verbally and physically abusive to me and the children. Do I have any options to self-petition on my own?

Answer #4: Yes, under the Violence Against Women Act, an abusive spouse can self-petition for a green card.

Note, you will be required to provide proof of the abuse and submit evidence to document it.

It is not required that you have a petition pending or that your spouse filed a sponsorship petition for you. Contact our office for a consultation.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper) Attorney Gail Seeram, LL.M., J.D., BBA call | text 407-292-7730 whatsApp 407-353-1363 e m a i l : Gail@GailLaw.com l i v e c h a t : www.GailLaw.com Download FREE App: Gail Law

Kaieteur News

Sunday March 22, 2020

PAGE 49

Hijacked car found stripped at Mocha

T

wenty –eight –year-old Kevin Persaud, a taxi driver, of South Ruimveldt Gardens, Georgetown is unable to work after he was robbed of his car and a sum of cash. The incident occurred around 01:30 hours yesterday in the vicinity of Sussex and

St Stephen Street, Georgetown.

The hijacked car was found later in the day at Mocha, East Bank Demerara (EBD) with several parts missing.

Kaieteur News understands that at the time of the accident Persaud was

transporting three passengers, a male and two females to a location in Albouystown.

However, after reaching the designated area the male passenger whipped out a gun which he pointed to Persaud's head and ordered him to hand over his car key and valuables. Persaud was also forced to exit the car.

After ordering Persaud out, the male passenger proceeded to the driver's seat of the car and sped away. The matter has since been reported to police and an investigation has been launched, this publication was told.

The car with some of its parts missing

Kaieteur News

PAGE 50

Country profile

H

eir to the ancient Khmer Empire, modern-day Cambodia is benefiting from two decades of relative stability, having endured civil war and the murderous rule of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s.

Cambodia

o v e r s e a s investment to replace aid.

Corruption is deeprooted and Cambodia is still one of the world’s poorest countries, with most of the workforce still employed in subsistence farming.

LEADERS

Painful memories still endure of the radical communist Khmer Rouge’s time in power under the leadership of Pol Pot between 1975 and 1978, when two million people died in the regime’s brutal pursuit of a rural utopia.

T h e c o u n t r y ’s o n l y significant opposition party was dissolved by the Supreme Court in 2017.

MEDIA Many Cambodian newspapers and private broadcasters depend on support from political parties. Prime Minister Hun Sen and his allies control several outlets.

Prime minister: Hun Sen

The economy is dominated by garmentmaking, but tourism is

expanding, and Cambodia hopes to tap into offshore oil and gas reserves and draw in

Sunday March 22, 2020

Head of state: King Norodom Sihamoni King Sihamoni - a trained ballet dancer - was sworn in as monarch on 29 October 2004, after his father, the widely venerated and long-serving King Sihanouk, abdicated because of poor health.

I m a g e copyrightGETTY IMAGES Cambodia’s kings once enjoyed a semi-divine status; today, the monarch’s role is mainly ceremonial.

Image copyrightAFP Hun Sen, one of the world’s longest-serving prime ministers, has been in power in various coalitions since 1985.

A former communist and - briefly - a member of the Khmer Rouge - he was last reappointed by parliament in September 2013 for a further five-year term, in the face of mass demonstrations and opposition allegations of fraud in the July elections.

Since seizing power from his then co-prime minister, Prince Ranariddh, brother of the then king, Sihanouk, in 1997, critics believe Hun Sen has become increasingly authoritarian, using a mixture of electoral fraud, corruption and intimidation to maintain quasi-dictatorial rule.

Cambodians regard their ancient temples as a key part of their identity

A crackdown on independent media in 2018 means that Cambodians “only have access to news provided by major media groups directly linked to Hun Sen”, says media watchdog Reporters Without Borders.

Angkor Wat is one of the main temples in the ancient capital of Angkor

Kaieteur News

PAGE 50

Sunday March 22, 2020

State pulls liquor license of Guyana restaurant in Queens for flouting governor's orders [New York daily News] New Oriental Guyana Restaurant on Liberty Ave. in Jamaica, Queens was shut down by the State Liquor Authority (SLA) on charges of violating Governor Andrew Cuomo's order barring on-premises sales of food and drink.

Sneaky restaurateurs in Queens lost their liquor license for serving patrons in violation of Gov. Cuomo's order barring eating and drinking on its premises, officials said Friday.

The operators of the New Oriental Guyana Restaurant on Liberty Ave. in South Richmond Hill shut its front gates — but in a Prohibitionera move, they let dozens of customers in through an alley door so they could wine

and dine the night away, the State Liquor Authority said.

Forty patrons ate and drank inside when the NYPD visited on Wednesday.

Restaurant workers ignored cops' orders that the eatery be emptied out, the SLA said.

SLA officials suspended the eatery's liquor license Friday for “operating in flagrant violation of the Governor's Executive Order to cease on-premises sales of food and alcoholic beverages to combat the spread of the coronavirus.”

"These directives are not helpful hints, they are not suggestions, they are mandatory and SLA will not hesitate to take immediate action to protect the public

health and safety against the spread of the coronavirus,” SLA Chairman, Vincent Bradley, said in a statement.

The SLA charged the restaurant with several violations, including failure to comply with Cuomo's order and failing to supervise the premises. The agency said it will begin immediately to permanently revoke the restaurant's license.

The restaurant's owners could not be reached Friday.

The New Oriental Guyana Restaurant was one of two city eateries summonsed for allowing patrons to congregate on their premises Wednesday.

Brooklyn cops on Thursday night handed criminal court summonses to The New Oriental Guyana Restaurant was shut down by the State Liquor Authority on charges of violating Governor Cuomo's order barring on-premises sales of food and drink. two men who refused to leave Dick and Jane's, a bar in Fort Greene. Both men were charged with disorderly conduct and failing to disperse.

The overwhelming majority of restaurants in the city are following the rules.

Cops inspected 5,242 bars, clubs and restaurants Thursday night, officials said. Out of that number, 3,838 were closed. The rest were operating in line with Cuomo's order by only offering food and drink for pickup or delivery, cops said.

Stabroek Block contract allows ExxonMobil to weather storm at ...

From page 3 Stabroek Block approximately 160km from Georgetown. The project is expected to last for 20 years and will see 26 to 30 wells being drilled to support extraction of the oil from below the seafloor. Each well will be drilled to some 3500 to 5300 metres below sea level.

Kaieteur News understands that EEPGL will install some of the oil production facilities on the sea floor at approximately 800 to 1500 metres water depth.

These subsea facilities include various types of pipes and hardware. The subsea facilities allow the oil from the wells to be gathered and moved to the surface of the ocean for further processing.

It was noted that EEPGL will use a Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessel (FPSO) which will have the capacity

to produce up to an average of approximately 4,500,000 to 5,200,000 barrels of crude oil per month. The operator noted that these estimates are preliminary and are subject to change.

In addition, it was noted that approximately every seven to eight days, the oil will be pumped from the FPSO to a conventional tanker which is owned and/or operated by others.

The tanker will then bring the oil to buyers.

At peak, EEPGL will utilize approximately 1200 personnel offshore during the stage where wells are being drilled and the offshore oil production facilities are being installed.

It was keen to point out that this number will decrease to 200 personnel during the production operations phase. Further to this, a smaller number of personnel will be utilized at the onshore support facilities.

Sunday March 22, 2020

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Sunday March 22, 2020

Sunday March 22, 2020

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Kaieteur News

World Water Day...

Tap into the requirements of int’l standards for water management and use

STANDARDS IN FOCUS Today March 22, we celebrate World Water Day, which is an annual UN observance that highlights the importance of freshwater and an opportunity to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. Using available international standards, the International Organisation for Standardisation proposes five top ways of using water to fight climate change: 1. Calculate your water footprint: Knowing the true environmental impact of an organization’s use of water is the first step in improving it.

ISO 14046, Environmental management – Water footprint – Principles, requirements, and guidelines, is the world’s first internationally agreed method for determining your organization’s water efficiency.

It covers everything from the quantity, quality, and location of water to changes in water due to land use or other activities. It also helps organizations identify opportunities to reduce potential water-related impacts associated with products at various stages in their life cycle as well as processes to become more water-efficient.

The result is not only reliable

data that can be used in environmental reports worldwide but a method to ensure continual improvement.

2. Manage your water efficiently: Climate change, increased populations and water-intensive methods in manufacturing and farming are all putting huge pressure on our water supply, thus we have no choice but to be more efficient with the water we have. According to the United Nations, over the last hundred years, the use of water worldwide has increased twice as much as the global population: this means that seven hundred million people risk being displaced due to lack of water by 2030. Knowing how much water we use, where and how, as well as having effective strategies in place to minimize consumption and maximize efficiencies, is the key objective of a water efficiency management system.

ISO 46001, Water efficiency management systems – Requirements with guidance for use, aims to help organizations of all sizes and status be more water-efficient. Through a clear framework and guidance on water efficiency management, it provides methods and tools for

assessing and accounting for water usage, as well as ways to identify and implement measures to optimize water use and continually improve ways of doing so.

3. Reuse wastewater in irrigation: Agriculture is a thirsty business, and increased populations mean even more water is used to irrigate crops. But there is another way. Reusing wastewater is a sure method of easing the pressure on limited water supplies and improving an organization’s water footprint. It can also provide a lifeline for agricultural communities where water is scarce.

Treated wastewater can be used for land reclamation, improving agricultural growth and reducing fertilization costs.

Environmentally productive use of treated wastewater can also prevent ecological damage to water sources.The four-part series ISO 16075, Guidelines for treated wastewater use for irrigation projects, is a key tool for the agriculture industry. It contains guidelines for the development and execution of treated wastewater projects, including design, materials, construction, and

performance, and covers a wide range of issues such as water quality, types of crops that can be irrigated, associated risks and main components (e.g. pipeline networks and reservoirs).

The standards in this series are currently being revised to make them even more effective and relevant to the industry, with the new versions due out later this year.

4. Solutions for sewers (where there aren’t any): Many people around the world rely on basic on-site sanitation systems like outhouses and latrines. On-site systems, where the wastewater treatment is done locally rather than off-site (i.e. in a sewage system), can be a hygienic low-cost solution if it is implemented correctly and

the waste is disposed of safely.

Yet in too many places, these systems are poorly made or just don’t exist and local streams, rivers, seas, and plants are polluted as a result.

ISO 24521, Activities relating to drinking water and wastewater services – Guidelines for the management of basic on-site domestic wastewater services, aims to change this situation by offering practical guidance on the management and maintenance of basic on-site domestic wastewater services.

The result is cleaner sanitation facilities and improved health for people and the environment.

5. Turning water into wine: Complementing ISO 24521 is a new technology that can not only treat human

waste in a clean and environmentally friendly way but turn it into useful resources such as clean drinking water. ISO 31800, Fecal sludge treatment units – Energy-independent, prefabricated, community-scale, resource recovery units – Safety and performance requirements, specifies requirements and test methods to ensure the performance and safety of units that can serve up to a hundred thousand people. Developed by an ISO expert committee in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, it is due to be published this year.

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

PAGE 54

CONSUMER CONCERNS PAT DIAL ver the last month, the Guyanese population had been distracted by election politics and had not been able to turn their attention to two issues of immense national importance.

The first is the Guyana Venezuela Controversy which will be coming before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 23 March and the other is the Coronavirus

O

Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

pandemic which had reached Guyana and had already caused a number of deaths.

The coronavirus pandemic, now known as COVID19 is one of the most fearsome diseases which have afflicted the world for a century.

The last time there was a pandemic was after World War II when the influenza pandemic killed off millions of people all over the world. A pandemic should not be con-

Protect yourself from COVID-19 (coronavirus) fused with an epidemic. An epidemic is when a disease affects one country or a limited area; a pandemic is when a disease affects the whole world.

There is pervasive fear of the disease all over the world because an infected person could die within days of contracting it and at the moment, no effective treatment or medication has so far been developed to deal with it.

The disease first origi-

nated with human beings consuming the meat of wild animals which contains viruses which the human body had never encountered and as such had never developed the capability of defending itself against them or developing any kind of immunity.

The beginning of the coronavirus disease is traced to a wet meat market in the Chinese city of Wuhan where the meats of all kinds of wild animals are sold.

The first deaths from the disease occurred in the district around the market and soon Wuhan became the epicentre of the disease.

Coronavirus is a large family of viruses which includes from the common cold to more serious respiratory diseases such as MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) originating from camel meat and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) originating from the civet cat.

The animal from which COVID-19 has originated has not been conclusively identified but bats have been suggested.

Eating the meat of wild animals is unsafe, for wild animals are far more diseased than farm animals.

The symptoms of COVID19 are fever, tiredness and dry cough. Some patients also have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat and diarrhea. These symptoms usually begin very mild but if one has fever, cough and difficulty in breathing one should seek expert medical help.

COVID-19 is very easily spread: If a patient coughs

or exhales, minute droplets are emitted and when these fall on surfaces which others may touch, they would have had the virus on their bodies and if they touch their eyes, nose or mouth they would be infected. Also, if one stands less than three feet away from an infected person, one could be infected when that person coughs and exhales.

There are a number of measures that could be taken to protect one’s self against the disease: One should keep abreast with the statements and advisories made by the various health authorities. Such statements may give the most recent developments about the disease, developments in treatment, areas where the disease is prevalent and protective measures.

Hands should be washed regularly with soap or rubbed with alcohol to kill the virus.

Shaking of hands should be avoided and could be replaced by a bow or by placing palms together as is the usual greeting in South and South-east Asia. Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth since one’s hands may have touched an infected surface.

Avoid crowds or gatherings of people and avoid unnecessary travel since the disease could easily be transmitted on buses, at airports and on airplanes. Standing about three feet away from infected persons could avoid inhaling infected droplets from their exhalations or having droplets on one’s person if they cough.

COVID-19 outbreaks could be contained but it is the efforts of governments which have achieved such relief. China is the main example of such recent containment.

Though the disease could be contained, it could quickly resurge.

There are various reports that scientists in various countries hope to produce a

vaccine in a month or two.

Citizens should therefore be aware of the pronouncements of the health authorities and cooperate with disease control efforts since these will then reduce the risk of contracting or spreading the disease.

It is estimated that 20% of those infected would be in a serious enough condition to require hospitalization. Older persons and especially those suffering from pre-existing medical conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and lung diseases are more liable to contracting the disease than children and younger persons.

The incubation period of the disease, that is from the time the virus infects the body to the time when the symptoms begin to appear, takes from one to fourteen days.

Accordingly, one should be in a position to very roughly evaluate whether one is infected or not. The virus survives from one to several days, depending on the surface and in the conditions it is in.

Before we end this offering, we would reiterate protective measures: Pay attention to the advisories from various Health Authorities; keep away from crowds or gathering of persons; stand or sit at least three feet away from infected persons; do not shake hands but bow or put palms together in Asian style; do not touch eyes, mouth or nose since by so doing one may be placing the virus in the body; wash hands regularly with soap or rub down with alcohol; do not travel unnecessarily; and lastly, if one is afflicted with body pains, nasal congestion or runny nose, fever and headaches, seek medical help.

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

Sunday March 22, 2020

PAGE 55

Kaieteur News

It is not too late for Guyana – Canadian High Commissioner FOR RENT

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Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee Centre’s hope for Guyana, that it could see the votes counted in a credible manner.

The Carter Centre had made note that if needed, it stands ready to observe the CARICOM supervised recount which was requested by leaders of the two major parties, David Granger and Bharrat Jagdeo.

Angola, Eritrea, Uganda confirm first cases as coronavirus spreads in Africa

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Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee has said that it is not too late for Guyana to respect the will of the Guyanese people and produce credible election results.

She was, at the time, expressing Canada’s pride in supporting the work of the Carter Centre electoral observer mission, in a tweet.

The mission recently announced that it would withdraw from Guyana due to several concerns. These include the coronavirus pandemic, the stalled electoral process, and a breakdown in security in the City which threatens the safety of international observers and the international community at large in Guyana.

Chatterjee and her respective American and British colleagues have seen a necessity for an increase in security at the locations of their local missions, due to threats made by persons supportive of the governing coalition, A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC).

Nevertheless, Chatterjee echoed the Carter

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by Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng. She said the man flew in to the country from Dubai on Saturday and was in stable condition.

More than 1,000 cases have now been reported across Africa, according to the World Health Organization.There are concerns that the continent will not be able to handle a surge in cases without the depth of medical facilities available in more developed economies.

Zimbabwe reported its first case on Friday, and a sec-

ond on Saturday, while the island of Mauritius, with 14 cases, reported its first death, a person who had traveled from Belgium via Dubai.

Many African countries have already shut their borders, closed schools and universities and barred large public gatherings.

In South Africa, which has the most cases in subSaharan Africa, more citizens have taken to wearing masks and gloves in public as the number of confirmed cases rose on Saturday to 240.

U.S. FDA approves first rapid coronavirus test with 45 minutes detection time (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first rapid coronavirus diagnostic test, with a detection time of about 45 minutes, as the United States struggles to meet the demand for coronavirus testing.

The test’s developer, California-based molecular diagnostics company Cepheid, said on Saturday it had received an emergency use authorization from the FDA for the test, which will be used primarily in hospitals and emergency rooms. The company plans to begin shipping it to hospitals next week, it said.

The FDA confirmed its approval in a separate statement. It said the company intends to roll out the availability of its testing by March 30.

Under the current testing regime, samples must be sent to a centralized lab, where results can take days.

“With new tools like point-of-care diagnostics, we are moving into a new phase of testing, where tests will be much more easily accessible

to Americans who need them,” U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said on Saturday.

The United States is not even close to meeting domestic demand for coronavirus testing. Many medical experts have predicted that delayed and chaotic testing will cost lives, potentially including those of doctors and nurses.

On Friday, Anthony Fauci, director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was asked whether the United States can currently meet demand for tests.“We are not there yet,” Fauci said.

The diagnostic test for the virus that causes COVID19 has been designed to operate on any of Cepheid’s more than 23,000 automated GeneXpert Systems globally, the company said.

The systems do not require users to have special training to perform testing, and are capable of running around the clock, Cepheid President Warren Kocmond said in the statement.

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Sunday March 22, 2020

Sunday March 22, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Social distancing has Serena ‘on edge’ amid Mbanda jumps from the back row to the... coronavirus pandemic

On edge: 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams says in a series of TikTok videos that social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic is causing her anxiety. (Getty Images North America/AFP/File/Abbie Parr)

AFP - Tennis great Serena Williams says she is “on edge” as she practices social distancing recommended by health experts in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion posted a series of videos on TikTok describing her concerns for her 2-yearold daughter, Olympia.

“Now I’ve been social distancing for actually a really long time, for probably two weeks now, and every little thing makes me crazy,” the 38-year-old superstar said.

“And by anxiety I mean I’m just on edge. Any time anyone sneezes around me or coughs I get crazy. I don’t

Sunday March 22, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Work on your own projects may be very much on your mind today. They could involve studies of some kind or the arts.

It's possible that you may be considering innovative ways of earning extra money.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may have plans to get together with friends, and you're probably looking forward to it. However, Libra, delays could get in the way, although you aren't likely to let them stop you.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Long-term investments, especially those involving real estate, could pay off now.

If you've been thinking of buying or selling a home, this is the time to do it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your hard work on the job may appear to be finally paying off, as all signs indicate that a raise, promotion, or other form of advancement is coming your way.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Kicking ideas around with colleagues today could lead to planning social events and bringing important people together in order to ensure cooperation on ambitious projects.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Studying in solitude may appeal to you today. A new interest has captured your imagination, so you may decide to sequester yourself at home or in the library to learn about it.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) A lot of paperwork, perhaps involving contracts, could lead to financial gain on the job. You could make or save some money for your employer, which could prove important.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Memories welling up today could trigger a desire to get in touch with old friends, Capricorn, or relatives you haven't seen in a long time.

Some of these recollections could be bittersweet.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today you might want to put your innate business sense into making a success of a pet project of your own. This is a good idea, Leo, because all signs indicate that whatever you begin today could well lead to success.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) New discoveries that capture your imagination could find you spending most of your day sequestered in your home and learning as much as you can. All indications are that you aren't going to want to do much else.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) New discoveries that capture your imagination could find you spending most of your day sequestered in your home and learning as much as you can.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your innate charm and good manners have brought you good relationships with both co-workers and superiors, and today you might find that this has served you well.

Authority figures may seem a little intimidating, but hang on to your self-confidence.

hang out with anyone, and when I say anyone I mean my daughter.

“She coughed, I got angry and gave her a side-eye. I gave her that ‘angry Serena’ and then I got sad.

“I was like, ‘Is she OK? Is there something wrong with my daughter? Is there anything I can do?’ I just don’t know what to do, so instead of being relaxed I’m really under a ton of stress.”

Williams said that like many people she first thought the coronavirus wouldn’t affect her.

“And then suddenly Indian Wells was cancelled and I was like, ‘Oh, OK, that’s weird but I have a little time off and I’m going to enjoy that time off,’” she said of her reaction when the prestigious ATP and WTA tournament in Indian We l l s , C a l i f o r n i a , w a s called off earlier this month.

But as more tournament cancellations followed, Williams said she found herself feeling more anxiety.

“It is what it is, we’ll get through this. We have to,” added Williams, who has used other social media platforms, including Instagram, to urge her followers to heed recommendations to stay home when health authorities deem it necessary.

Coronavirus: F1 champion...

From page 60 especially when I wasn’t showing any symptoms at all.

“So what I’ve done is keep myself isolated this past week, actually since practice was cancelled last Friday and kept my distance from people.”

Hamilton had initially expressed shock that the F1 season had been due to start on time in Melbourne last weekend despite many other events being cancelled owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Australian Grand Prix was eventually called off after one of McLaren’s crew members tested positive for COVID-19.

Subsequent races in Bahrain, Vietnam, China, the Netherlands and Spain have been postponed while the Monaco Grand Prix has been scrapped entirely for 2020.

The earliest the F1 season can now begin is on June 7 in Baku.

From page 59 room. He had never seen anyone die.”

You have to treat these patients “as if they were relatives or friends,” he said.

“But the terrible thing is that every time you touch them, a simple caress in the ambulance to comfort them, you must immediately disinfect your hands.”

“I started eight days ago, without a day’s break and with shifts of 12 or 13 hours. But faced with what I see in the infectious disease rooms, I tell myself that I can’t be tired,” he says.

He believes others could also help.

“Fear is normal. But there are little things that can be done safely that would give those on the front lines a half-hour or an hour’s rest. For them, an hour is crucial,” he said.

Accustomed, as an Italian international, to tackling stronger opponents, Mbanda said he won’t give up.

“As long as I’m strong, I’ll keep going. I’m here and I’m staying here. As long as there’s an emergency, I’m here and I’m staying here.”

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Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

‘Focus on your own cricket’ - PCB CEO Wasim Khan pulls up Mohammad Hafeez

PCB agreed to waive Sharjeel’s suspended sentence following his ‘unconditional apology’. (Umar Farooq/ESPNcricinfo) ESPNcricinfo - In a strongly worded reprimand to Mohammad Hafeez, the PCB chief executive officer Wasim Khan said the batsman should be “focusing on his own cricket” instead of giving opinions on “right and wrong” after Hafeez questioned the return of Sharjeel Khan to competitive cricket.

Sharjeel had received a five-year ban from the PCB for the role he played in the PSL corruption scandal from 2017.

The board suspended his sentence following an “unconditional apology” in August 2019, paving way for a sooner-than-expected comeback. Even so, it seemed unlikely that he would play in

this year’s PSL until the Karachi Kings bought him at the auction and deployed him as their opening batsman.

Sharjeel could only make 199 runs from 10 matches, which raised questions about whether he was physically fit enough to play at the top level. Hafeez was replying to one such question on Twitter when he said, “Shouldn’t we set Standards of Dignity & Pride Higher than any other “Extra Talent” to represent Pakistan.”

The PCB CEO didn’t take kindly to that. “Current players should not be going up on social media to criticise other players or talk about what policies the cricket board should or shouldn’t have,”

Wasim said through a video link from Lahore. “They can have their opinions about various things about world cricket and cricket in general but not about the rights and wrongs of players and the boards and they should leave that to cricket board to answer.

“I will be personally speaking to Mohammad Hafeez about that and I don’t think it’s his place to be doing it. No other player in the world does that so why should our Pakistani players do that? I don’t think they have any space to do that and I don’t think they should be doing that.

That’s my personal view.

Coming from an English environment, I never saw an English player tweet about policies, procedures, talking about other players’ right or wrong. My view is, he should focus on his own game, focus on the cricketing opinion he can give but don’t give personal opinion about other players.”

This is not the first time Hafeez has questioned a player on his return from a ban. In December 2015, he and current Test captain Azhar Ali stayed away from a training camp ahead of a tour of New Zealand because Mohammad Amir, who was returning from a spot-fixing ban, was picked to be a part of it. Both of them eventually joined training after the PCB intervened and have since played several matches alongside Amir.

Sharjeel was a promising talent for Pakistan before his ban. He played 25 ODIs, 15 T20Is and one Test and in that time cultivated a reputation for being a hard-hitting batsman.

PSL 2020 was his first taste of action in over two years. The 30-year-old had to miss the whole of the Pakistan domestic season since he was still undergoing the rehabilitation part of his

sentence.

“He has done his time, whatever was set,” Wasim said. “He has carried out that ban. He is back and was picked up by a franchise and he is available to play again.

In terms of him getting selected [for Pakistan] going forward, that is up to the selectors. There is a long way for Sharjeel Khan to go before he is considered to play for Pakistan again.

“First of all, there is an importance around fitness.

[Head coach] Misbah[-ulHaq] had said that verbally and he is emphasising the policy on fitness with us as well and [bowling coach] Waqar [Younis] has also spoken about it as well, that we are moving in a different direction.

“One of the things Sharjeel Khan could have done in his time when he wasn’t playing and inactive

is that he could have got himself fit. In your life, you have controllables and noncontrollables. Fitness is controllable, what goes in you mouth, what you do, how you keep yourself fit, that is all under your control.

If you are serious about playing for Pakistan, get yourself fit. There is no excuse.

“I am sorry but I am a stern believer that he turned up playing PSL unfit. He will not get selected for Pakistan as long as he stays the way he is. He now has a few months - get yourself fit, show that you have an ambition to play for Pakistan, show you have commitment and desire to get yourself fit and then you will be considered. I am sure Misbah and the selectors are looking it at that way - they have a policy and it’s important that people abide by that.”

LONDON (Reuters) Manchester United and Manchester City are the latest Premier League clubs to spring into action to help their communities during the coronavirus pandemic, joining forces to donate 100,000 pounds to support local food banks.

Responding to an initiative already run by fans of both clubs, City and United will donate 50,000 pounds each to the Trussell Trust, a support network of more than 1,200 food banks.

“We are proud of the role our supporters play in helping local food banks and recognise the increased strain likely to be placed on these charities by the impact of coronavirus,” a joint club statement said on Saturday.

“At a time of challenge for our community, we are pleased to come together with our fans to help vulnerable members of society in a City United.”

The donations will help food banks compensate for the loss of food donations the clubs usually provide on match days.

English soccer has been suspended until the end of April at the earliest due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Aston Villa distributed 1,000 packed lunches intended for matchday staff at their postponed game with Chelsea to local homeless organisations and sheltered accommodation units.

Newcastle United also donated 1,200 pies and a range of cold meats to a food

bank after last weekend’s postponed match.

Brighton and Hove Albion are ringing self-isolating elderly fans to offer support.

“We are a community club and it’s a small but practical thing we can do to support people that mean a lot to us and who have been there for the club over many years,” Brighton chief executive Paul Barber said.

Chelsea are allowing frontline medical staff to use their hotel at Stamford Bridge, while Burnley and Everton are supporting food banks and food delivery to vulnerable members of the community.

“We know there are going to be difficult times for people and their families with regards work and income,” Burnley captain Ben Mee

said.

Watford’s ‘Hornets At Home’ was set up to provide assistance to elderly and disabled supporters during the crisis while West Ham United have donated toiletries and toilet rolls to a local homeless shelter.

West Ham captain Mark Noble has donated money he receives from a newspaper column to a local food bank.

“We need to help the elderly, the vulnerable and the sick of our society and help minimise the effects of this illness,” Noble said.

“I can only try to imagine what it is like at the moment for an elderly person who lives on their own. We all need to chip in and help.”

Mohammad Hafeez celebrates. (Getty Images)

Michael Fatialofa: ‘Miracle’ Worcester lock walks unaided after serious neck injury Man United, City donate to food banks as Premier League helps communities

BBC Sport - Worcester lock Michael Fatialofa has walked unaided less than 11 weeks after a serious neck injury left him in intensive care. The 27-year-old has been in hospital since suffering the injury in a game against Saracens on 4 January.

“You’re witnessing a miracle that even medical professionals can’t explain,” wrote Fatialofa’s wife Tatiana with a video of him walking on Instagram.

“They are so shook by his progress given his critical level of injury.”

She added: “He was literally paralysed from the neck down just 10 weeks ago and currently spinal cord injuries do not have a clinical cure, but my amazing husband is proof that God is never limited to human wisdom.

So so so thankful.”

Fatialofa was diagnosed with a spinal contusion, which causes compression on the spine, and had surgery to relieve

the pressure on his spinal cord.

The forward spent more than a fortnight in intensive care at St Mary’s Hospital, London before being transferred to Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire.

Though Tatiana Fatialofa celebrated her husband’s progress, she added that the amount of time the couple can spend together will likely be reduced as the hospital makes changes to cope with the coronavirus outbreak.

“We’ve been advised by the hospital that visiting probably will be reduced to only one hour soon and while I understand completely it’s still so hard on the heart,” she explained.

Worcester Warriors’ home game against Harlequins on 11 April was due to act as a fundraiser for the New Zealand-born lock, but this game will not go ahead with the Premiership currently suspended until 14 April.

Sunday March 22, 2020

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Doping control facing challenges due to coronavirus, says WADA MUMBAI (Reuters) - The coronavirus pandemic is restricting the fight against anti-doping, the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) has said while issuing new guidelines to continue testing of athletes ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Since starting in China late last year, the flu-like disease has infected over 270,000 people and killed more than 11,000 across the world, bringing global sport to a virtual standstill. The Tokyo Olympics are due to run from July 24-Aug. 9, but organizers are under pressure to cancel or postpone them due to the coronavirus.

With most countries going into lockdown and closing borders to contain the spread of the virus, WADA said the anti-doping system was facing challenges.

“The sports world is dealing with an unprecedented situation.

COVID-19 has forced all antidoping stakeholders,

A man walks at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) venue on the eve of the Fifth World Conference on Doping in Sport in Katowice, Poland, November 4, 2019. (Agencja Gazeta/Grzegorz Celejewski via REUTERS) including WADA, to adjust the way daily operations are conducted,” WADA President Witold Banka said.

“But this matter goes way beyond anti-doping and sport – it is a global

Pooran, Ramnarine win Bhagelu pool tourney

Vickram Ramnarine (left) and Navishaul Pooran with their hardware.

Navishaul Pooran and Vickram Ramnarine emerged champions of the Throlokie Bhagelu pool competition which was contested yesterday at Carlosh Sports Bar in Good Success, Wakenaam.

Pooran and Ramnarine teamed up to beat Amit Ramnarine and Vijay Persaud by five points as they finished the final round with 15 ahead of their rivals on 10.

The final was contested over three rounds of games with Amit Ramnarine and Persaud winning the first round by 15 points to 12.

Pooran and Vickram Rambarine came back to win the second round 15-14, before prevailing in the final round.

Earlier, Pooran and Vickram Ramnarine overcame Keval Persaud and Arshad Aslam 15-12, 15-10, 15- 12.

Amit Ramnarine and Vijay Persaud beat Mahadeo Ramdeo and Ejaz Mohamed 15-11, 15-13, 15-12.

Proprietor of Carlosh Sports bar, Amit Ramnarine congratulated the winners and thanked Bhagelu, an overseas based Guyanese, for his support.

emergency – and our first priority must be public health, safety and social responsibility.”

WADA said it will

continue to provide guidance to the Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs), who must adhere to restrictions placed by local health

authorities and governments.

“It will also be crucial that the system can return to full power as quickly as possible once the various restrictions are lifted,” Banka said.

“During this time, I would like to acknowledge how difficult it is for athletes, too, who face disruptions to their training programs and uncertainty as to what the future holds for their competitions.”

WADA said sample collection officials must be healthy and have no symptoms related to the virus and should be provided with protective medical equipment.

If testing opportunities are limited due to local restrictions, ADOs should focus on targeted athletes from high risk sports and disciplines, WADA said.

The governing body also urged ADOs to remind athletes they can still be tested at any place and any

time and continue to provide whereabouts for their movements to be monitored.

With several accredited laboratories having suspended operations due to the crisis and more testing facilities expected to do the same, WADA instructed the ADOs to check the governing body’s website to determine the operational ones.

WADA urged the ADOs to inform the agency in case of changes made to doping control programs.

“While there are no plans to change existing requirements under the World An t i - D o p i n g P r o g r a m , WADA fully acknowledges the complexities of this unprecedented situation and will ensure its compliance monitoring program provides a level of flexibility and understanding based on the circumstances,” WADA said.

Mbanda jumps from the back row to the coronavirus front line AFP - Italian international Maxime Mbanda has leapt from the back row on the rugby pitch to the front line in the fight against the coronavirus, becoming a volunteer ambulance driver in Parma, and bears witness to a frightening reality on the pandemic.

Last Saturday, Mbanda was scheduled to face England in front of 60,000 people in Rome for his 21st Italian cap, but that match, like so many others, has been postponed.

Instead, wearing a mask and protective suit, he went out again as an ambulance driver with other volunteers from the Yellow Cross in Parma, in Emilia-Romagna, one of the areas most affected by the coronavirus.

By yesterday, almost 800 more people in Italy had died from the disease, taking the total in the country to 4,825.

“When everything was cancelled in rugby, I wondered how I could help, even without medical expertise,” Mbanda, who plays for Zebre Rugby, the Parma club, told AFP. “I found the Yellow Cross, which had a transport service for medicine and food for the elderly.”

After one day delivering masks, food and prescriptions, the physical strength of the 26-year-old forward was put to good use where it was most needed, “on the front line, at the heart of the problem”.

Maxime Mbanda, being tackled by Namibia’s Chad Plato at the World Cup, is accustomed to a battle. (AFP/File / Filippo Monteforte) “I found myself transferring positive patients from one local hospital to another. I help with the stretcher or if there are patients to be carried from a wheelchair. I also hold the oxygen,” he explains.

- ‘On the front line’ It is a situation of desperate urgency, where, he says, “95 per cent of hospital facilities are dedicated to coronavirus patients”.

“If people saw what I see in the hospitals, there wouldn’t be a queue in front of the supermarkets anymore,” he said.

“They would think two, three or four times before

leaving home, even to go running.”

“What I see are people of all ages, on respirators, on oxygen, doctors and nurses on 20- or 22-hour shifts, not sleeping one minute of the day and just trying to get some rest the next day,” he adds. “I wish I could say that the situation here has reached its limit. But I’m afraid I have to say that’s not the case.”

Mbanda has no medical experience, but he is working with the support of his girlfriend and his father, a surgeon in Milan, “also on the front line.”

- “I’ll keep going” Mbanda has had to

become a psychologist in contact with patients put in wards “where death is the order of the day”.

“When you see the look in their eyes... Even if they can’t speak, they communicate with the eyes and they tell you things you can’t imagine,” he said.

“They hear the alarms, the doctors and nurses running from one ward to the next.

“The first person I collected from the hospital told me that he had been there for three hours when the neighbour in the next bed died. And during the night, two other women died in his (Continued on page 57)

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Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

Cricket - Boards brace for Clamour grows to postpone Tokyo Games losses in the time of coronavirus LONDON (Reuters) - Calls from sporting organizations for this year ’s Tokyo Olympics to be postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic gathered pace yesterday with USA Track and Field (USATF), the French Swimming Federation and Brazil’s Olympic Committee the latest to join the throng.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo 2020 organizers still insist the July 24-Aug. 9 showpiece will go ahead as planned despite Europe and the U.S. struggling to control the spread of the flu-like virus.

Their optimism that the show will go on, however, is looking increasingly out of step with countries in lockdown and athletes around the world unable to train.

In a letter to United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) chief executive Sarah Hirshland, USATF urged USOPC to use its voice to “speak up for athletes”.

Chief executive Max Siegel said the USTAF understood the ramifications of postponing the Games for the first time ever in peace time but moving forward was not in the best interest of athletes.

“We acknowledge that there are no perfect answers, and that this is a very complex and difficult decision, but this position (to postpone the Games) at least provides athletes with the comfort of knowing they will have adequate time to properly prepare themselves

physically, mentally and emotionally to participate in a safe and successful Olympic Games,” he wrote.

USA Swimming wrote to USOPC on Friday calling for a delay of one year, with CEO Tim Hinchey saying: “We have watched our athletes’ worlds be turned upside down”.

The French Swimming Federation issued a statement saying that sending its athletes to the Games was “untenable” in light of the health crisis sweeping the world.

“The Federation believe that the priority is to fight the spread of the epidemic and that the current context does not allow us to calmly envisage the smooth running of the 2020 Olympics Games,” it said, adding that it was impossible to ensure equity in competition when athletes were prevented from training because of efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

A day earlier UK Athletics said the Olympics should be called off to spare athletes the stress of trying to train in the grip of a pandemic which has killed around 12,000 people since the virus surfaced in China.

Brazil’s Olympic chief Paulo Wanderley echoed those thoughts yesterday, saying athletes would not be able to arrive in Tokyo in top form because of the impact of the crisis.

“It’s clear that right now maintaining the Games for this year will impede (the athletes’) dream from being realized,” he said.

POLITICAL BOYCOTTS

Suggesting a year’s delay, he said the IOC was experienced in dealing with obstacles, citing the cancellations in 1916, 1940 and 1944 because of World Wars and the political boycotts of the Games in Moscow in 1980 and Los Angeles in 1984.

Norway’s Sports Federation and Olympic and Paralympic Committee (NIF) said it had written to IOC chief Thomas Bach calling for the Games to be postponed, even if the pandemic was under control in Japan by the summer.

“Given the highly unresolved situation in Norway and in large parts of the world, it is neither justifiable or desirable to send Norwegian athletes to the Olympics or Paralympics in Tokyo until the world community has put this pandemic behind them,” sports president Berit Kjoll said. The Sport and Rights Alliance (SRA) and the World Players Association (WPA) said a “deep review and broader consultation” with athletes was required regarding the decision over whether the Games could run as planned.

“The IOC needs to elevate its dialogue with the full range of those most affected beyond sponsors and governments to an open multi-stakeholder process that brings to the table as equals player associations as the representatives of athletes and others most at risk,” WPA executive director Brendan Schwab said in a statement.

Coronavirus: F1 champion Lewis Hamilton self-isolated after meeting Idris Elba Omnisport - Lewis Hamilton self-isolated after being at an event with two people who have tested positive for coronavirus, though the six-time Formula One champion assured fans he was “doing well” and had “zero symptoms”.

There were fears the Briton could have contracted COVID-19 after he was pictured at an event in London earlier this month with actor Idris Elba and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, the wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, both of whom have since tested positive for

coronavirus.

Hamilton explained that he has been in isolation as a precaution since last Friday, shortly before the Australian Grand Prix – the opening race of the new F1 season – was postponed.

However, the 35-year-old Mercedes driver said he has not been tested due to the limited number of tests available and stressed he was not showing any signs of the virus.

“There’s been some speculation about my health after I was at an event where two people later tested positive for coronavirus,”

Hamilton wrote in a message uploaded to his social media accounts.

“I wanted to let you know that I’m doing well, feeling healthy and working out twice a day. I have zero symptoms and it’s now been 17 days since I saw Sophie and Idris. I have been in touch with Idris and happy to hear he is okay.

“I did speak to my doctor and double checked if I needed to take a test but the truth is there is a limited amount of tests available and there are people who need it more than I do, (Continued on page 57)

NEW DELHI (Reuters) When the mighty Indian cricket board decided this week that only the chief among its national selectors would travel business class, it merely confirmed straitened times for the game amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The uncharacteristic austerity by the world’s richest cricket board follows its decision earlier this month to halve the winner’s purse at this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL), a cash cow with a brand value of $6.8 billion.

The franchise-based Twenty20 league was scheduled to begin on March 29 but has now been postponed until April 15.

To many, a condensed tournament, possibly without foreign players, later this year looks like a more realistic prospect.

A curtailed or cancelled tournament would mean significant losses for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which gets around 40 billion rupees (453.6 million pounds) annually from broadcaster STAR India and its central pool of sponsors.

“The loss at this stage is notional. The biggest loser in any economic dynamics is always its biggest gainer, which is BCCI in this case,” SportzPower co-founder Thomas Abraham, whose company monitors sports business in India, told Reuters.

“For STAR India, it’s also a loss of opportunity. It was building the India launch of its Disney+ OTT (streaming service) around the IPL.” A truncated tournament would necessitate renegotiation with Disneyowned STAR India, which was not available to share how it plans to dovetail the launch of its new platform with the IPL. Chinese smartphone maker Vivo, which bagged the 2018-22 title rights for 219 million rupees, is unlikely to suffer a big loss.

“They would have been preparing for new launches around IPL. They can still do it,” Abraham said.

Vivo did not elaborate if the truncation had disrupted their plans to leverage their tournament rights.

“In light of the global health risk ... we at Vivo completely support BCCI’s decision to postpone the series,” Nipun Marya, Director of Vivo India’s Brand Strategy, said in a statement to Reuters.

“We shall continuously evaluate the situation as it progresses.”

The shadow of a man falls on a backdrop with the logo of the India’s cricket board BCCI before the start of a news conference to announce its cricket team’s coach, in Mumbai, India, August 16, 2019. (REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas) MONITORING SITUATION The BCCI and IPL franchises also pay 20% of a player’s annual fee to his home board, which stands to lose that money if it does not allow the cricketer into the IPL due to fears about the coronavirus for example.

A shorter tournament will mean a smaller share from the shrunken central pool of revenues for the eight IPL franchises, not to mention a reduction in gate receipts.

Further afield, the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup narrowly escaped the health crisis but the outbreak has cast a shadow over the men’s event in Australia, which begins on Oct. 18.

The International Cricket Council (ICC), which runs the tournament, said it was monitoring the situation.

“We are planning for the event to go ahead as scheduled,” it said on the tournament website.

Cricket Australia stands to lose some A$300 million (150.4 million pounds) should the coronavirus outbreak derail their high-profile home test series against India later this year.

“We’re in uncertain times, and it’s difficult to project precisely what will transpire over the next number of months,” CA chief executive Kevin Roberts said this week.

“But we will be working through with advice from experts, externally as to what are the various scenarios that are plausible, how likely are they, and how would we plan to deal with each of them.”

IN THE BALANCE

In England, the fate of the inaugural ‘The Hundred’ championship hangs in the balance after the epicentre of the pandemic moved from Asia to Europe, shutting down most sport on the continent.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have invested heavily in promoting the competition in the 100-ball format, which is scheduled to begin on July 17.

“It is clear that every industry, including cricket, will be impacted by this unprecedented situation,” Tom Moffat, chief executive of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA), told Reuters.

“It’s more important than ever for the cricket industry to work together collaboratively at this time.”

Individually, top players from outside India risk losing IPL contracts worth millions of dollars if they are unable to travel or their boards deny them permission to play.

As far as FICA is concerned, Moffat said, the wellbeing of the players while the world deals with an international health crisis is far more important than cash.

“Governing bodies, employers, and leagues owe a duty of care to provide players with a safe workplace,” he added.

“And enforcing that players travel to, or work in conditions that are unsafe, would not meet that standard.”

Sunday March 22, 2020

Covid-19 Pandemic

Basketball coach urging his troops to stay fit and focused Junior Hercules, the head coach of the national men’s basketball team which he guided to Guyana’s first Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship win in July, 2018 in Suriname, during an interview with Kaieteur Sport, has called for his players to not get complacent during these troubling times.

The coronavirus (covid-19) has caused many sporting events to be halted, postponed or cancelled altogether since health officials have urged persons to avoid large crowds in an attempt to deter the continuous spread of the virus which has also affected team training.

Locally, the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has decree that all basketball related activities will cease until further notice.

This has affected the start of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association’s (GABA) Andrew Ifill knockout tournament which Hercules and players alike had cited as a big blow towards their preparation for the CBC Championship defence later in the year.

However, Hercules explained

Junior Hercules that despite the current dilemma, his players like all athletes should stay fit, “While the covid-19 pandemic is a dreadful virus among other things, I believe that for you as an athlete there is an opportunity to set a sort of a period of training, specifically conditioning. You should be running at least two to five miles at least three times a week.”

“Clearly, this presents an opportunity for you to work on simple things like free throws which has plagued Guyana at the national level. There is also something that

is an asset throughout basketball and it has evolved; the three-point shot, these are things you can work on as an individual to not only stay sharp but to up your game.”

Hercules, who also serves as the technical director of the GABF, further lamented that, “Cardio is also very important.

Do resistance training; pushups etc., ensure you enhance your strength. These are things that you can do or keep doing during these troubling times that this sad virus has given us.”

In an invited comment this week with General Secretary of the GABF; Patrick Haynes, he disclosed that, “As of direction of FIBA, all basketball activities has been postponed for 30 days”, following which an evaluation will be done and measures taken after based on the evaluation.

Haynes further explained that he CBC has not mooted to have their regional senior championships postponed or cancelled and 15 men’s team have showed interest in participating while Jamaica has offered to host the men’s championship.

Celtics’ Smart has coronavirus, warns young to take it seriously AFP - Boston Celtics star Marcus Smart said he has the new coronavirus and urged young people to take the threat seriously and practice social distancing.

Smart tested positive Thursday but said he was not showing any of the symptoms.

“I feel great. I feel fine. I feel like I can go play a game right now,” the 26-year-old from Texas told CNN Friday.

But he had a warning for young Americans like those shown partying on Florida beaches undeterred by the threat of COVID19.

“I advise my generation, I am 26, to take it seriously,” Smart said. “Be alert. Take precautions. By protecting yourself, you protect others.

“That’s the key. People are not showing symptoms so it is hard for anyone to know they have the virus.

But being around a group of people, friends, family and not isolating themselves, you are a carrier. You can spread the virus around without knowing.”

On Twitter he also stressed that the younger generation must selfdistance.

“This is not a joke. Not doing so is selfish. Together we can beat this, but we must beat it together by being apart for a short while. Much love!!,” he tweeted.

At least 14 NBA team members have so far tested positive for COVID-19, including Brooklyn Nets Kevin Durant and Utah Jazz’s Rudy

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Kaieteur News

Boston Celtics Marcus Smart urged young people to take the health threat seriously. (Getty Images North America/AFP/File / Maddie Meyer) Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.

On Wednesday, commissioner Adam Silver said NBA players should be considered “super spreaders” of the disease.

Silver’s comments came amid criticism that wealthy athletes were getting tested for the virus ahead of critically ill patients in US hospitals.

Smart said he was tested on Saturday and got the results five days later.

“I found out yesterday evening,” he said. “I was like, Oh wow! It makes you alert to what is

going on.”

Smart told CNN he was not worried about his symptoms getting worse.

“I talked to my doctors and they just told me that I have not experienced symptoms yet so I should be on the last curve of the ball. “I am just ready to get this behind and move on.”

In 53 games in 2019-20, Smart is averaging 4.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds per contest.

Smart is a first-round pick of the Celtics in the 2014 NBA draft.

CARIFTA Chess Championships postponed The CARIFTA Junior Chess Championships have now joined the Track and Field and Swimming Championships in being postponed in wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the Caribbean Region.

It had already been inferred that the Junior Chess Championships would be postponed or cancelled, but official notification came on Thursday through a correspondence from the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), wherein it was declared that the tournament has been postponed until further notice, due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The release noted that the Federation would be, “monitoring the progress of the pandemic with the hope of soon seeing a downward trend in the infection curve.”

Hosted by the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) in association with the Confederation of Chess for the Americas, this tournament was scheduled to take place from April 10th to 13th at the Ramada Hotel, and had attracted about 125 players from 10 Caribbean nations, as well as Suriname.

The organising committee is said to have been in contact with the

principal stakeholders, who have expressed full support for the GCF’s decision and have agreed to extend the franchise to a later date.

In these championships, Guyana plans to field 100 players whose ages range from 6 years old to 19 years old. These players have all been in training, or playing developmental tournaments for the past few months, and most of them are products of the GCF’s ‘Chess in Schools’ programme.

Formal training sessions over the past weeks have been cancelled, but the National Coaches have organized online training and tournaments to keep their skills sharp.

The GCF is assuring all sponsors, players, and parents or care-givers that the ninth CARIFTA Junior Chess Championships will be held in Guyana, and will be conducted with the health and safety of all players, delegates and officials as the primary priority.

The Organizing Committee plans to use this time of postponement to review all arrangements; hopefully, attract new sponsors; and to provide extended training for the junior players.

Pollard points to opportunity in COVID-19-forced break PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – West Indies white-ball captain Kieron Pollard says players should use the break from competition, prompted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, to reflect on their careers and how they can do better.

While acknowledging the health, economic and other implications of the spread of the virus which has reached the Caribbean and prompted the cancellation and postponement of several sporting events, Pollard pointed out the silver lining in the situation for cricketers.

“It is a good time for introspection, a good time for reflection, a good time to look at where you are as an individual in your career and what you want to achieve going forward,” he said on I955 FM’s ISports radio show here on Thursday. “You have to take this time in order to do that and also keep yourself in good physical shape, and mentally as well, because when the bell rings and they say ‘ok, everything is back to normal and we need to go on tour’, it might not be enough time to be prepared but you as an individual have to be prepared mentally in order for you to try to perform at your best.”

Cricket West Indies (CWI) recently announced that given the confirmed cases of COVID-10 in the region, the season has been delayed for 30 days.

That suspension took effect on Monday last.

The decision affected the final two rounds of the West indies Championship, the Women’s CMI Super 50 Cup in Guyana, and two youth tournaments – the Regional Under 15s Boys Championship in

Antigua and the Regional Under 19s Girls Championship in Trinidad.

On Friday, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also announced that the professional cricket season would not start before May 28 – two months later than scheduled – which would impact the West Indies planned tour of England.

The Caribbean men were to play a three-Test series from June 4, following warm-up matches against England Lions and Worcestershire on May 22 and 28, respectively.

Pollard said cricketers, particularly those who have fallen short of CWI requirements, should use the forced break to focus on fitness.

Last month, left-handed opening batsman Evin Lewis and strokemaker Shimron Hetmyer were dropped from the West Indies squad for the One-Day International series in Sri Lanka after they failed to meet CWI’s new minimum fitness standard.

Hetmyer subsequently got a call up to play against Sri Lanka in two Twenty20 Internationals, but 28-year-old Lewis remains on the outside.

While CWI’s requirements have been criticized, Pollard stressed the importance of maintaining fitness.

“In anything that you do there are rules and regulations and there are certain criteria that need to be met at different times in order for you to perform your rule. Some of us are looking at a small point of view of some guys being left out because of just fitness…

“But as a professional you want to be fit, you want to be able to perform at the optimal level,” said the 32-yearold skipper.

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Sunday March 22, 2020

Kaieteur News

BCB Congratulates Berbice Trophy Stall ‘GOA made ‘significant’ donation to U-15, Female teams for inter county titles Boxers in Cuba’ - Juman-Yassin The President and Executives of the Berbice Cricket Board is extending congratulations to the Management and players of the Berbice’s Trophy Stall Under-15 and Female teams for winning their respective inter county tournament organised by the Guyana Cricket Board, a release form the board informed.

The Under 15 team played unbeaten to lift the Dave’s Imports title, while the females brought home the Superbet 50 overs title. Additionally, the Under-17 team finished as runner up to Demerara in the Rubis inter county tournament. Special congrats to Managers Ameer Rahaman, Angela Haniff along with coaches Leslie Solomon and Winston Smith.

Our winning captains Rampertab Ramnauth and

Shabika Gajnabi led by examples and were outstanding role models to their charges. The BCB is quite delighted at the success of our teams as it is just reward for the hard work, dedication and combined effort of every board executives, club officials and the coaching staff, the release noted.

It further stated, ‘Special mention must also be made of the Balram Samaroo led Selection Committee who worked as a collective unit to select the best Berbice teams.

Over the last two years, the BCB has organised numerous cricket tournaments at all levels and has made a great effort to invest heavily in junior and female cricket. We have also organised countrywide coaching sessions as in effort to make

sure that they are able to be the best cricketer on the field.

The BCB would like to salute our main coaching sponsors Mr. Brian Ramphal and Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh of the United States.

This success was also made possible through the support of Mike’s Pharmacy, Lewison General Store, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Nand Persaud Co. Ltd and New York Business Group for their sponsorship of our junior and female tournaments.

We were a little disappointed in not winning the Under-17 inter county but has committed ourselves to working hard to do so in 2021.

Mr. Ramesh Sunich, the proud sponsor of all Berbice inter county teams also deserves to be recognized for his support of Berbice Cricket.’

Report: NBA won’t commit to players’ pay beyond April 1 NBA players will get their paychecks as scheduled on April 1, but the fate of salaries beyond that date is unclear, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday night.

The next payday after April 1 would be April 15. At that point, it’s possible the NBA could cut or suspend salaries with the league still shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a league memo sent Friday to the teams, Wojnarowski reported.

The lost revenue from the shutdown reportedly could prompt the league to invoke a clause in the collective bargaining agreement that permits reducing players’ salaries by 1/92.6 per canceled game due to “ c a t a s t r o p h i c circumstances.” The list of such conditions includes war, natural disasters and

epidemics/pandemics, per the report.

The NBA regular season had been scheduled to end April 15. While all teams have played between 63 and 67 of their 82 games (77 percent to 82 percent), ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported that players will have received approximately 90 percent of their salaries once they get their April 1 checks.

The league closed down on March 11, after a positive coronavirus test for Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert was shared with the team and the NBA. Commissioner Adam Silver announced March 12 that the hiatus would last at least 30 days.

Wojnarowski reported Sunday that NBA owners are preparing for a scenario in which games won’t resume before mid-June — the point when the playoffs are

normally concluding.

Silver said Wednesday in an ESPN interview that the league could consider restarting its schedule with games played in empty arenas. He added that it’s possible the 2020-21 season could end up running December through August instead of October through June.

Ten NBA players are known to have tested positive for COVID-19, though only five of those have been publicly identified: Gobert, Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, injured Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant, Detroit Pistons forward Christian Wood and Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart.

Three other Nets players and two Los Angeles Lakers players also tested positive.

(Field Level Media)

An NBA logo is seen on the facade of its flagship store at the Wangfujing shopping street in Beijing, China October 8, 2019. (REUTERS/Tingshu Wang)

- Virus is not yet a massive impact but will affect Boxers qualifying According President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) K JumanYassin the Global Pandemic Corona Virus has not yet had a massive impact in Guyana but it will affect our efforts to qualify our Boxers for Tokyo 2020.

The Olympics are scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020 in Tokyo, Japan, with preliminary events in some sports beginning on 22 July and IOC president Thomas Bach said at meeting on Friday that it is too early to make any decisions about the Games which is still four months to go.

“We have invested greatly in having four Boxers and two Coaches in Cuba for three months. We had brought a Cuban Coach to Guyana in 2019 and with the cancellation of the qualifying tournament in Argentina which should have been next week it will cause a setback,” said JumanYassin who has been at helm of GOA since 1996.

Both International Airports in Guyana have been closed for at least two weeks due to the Corona Virus (which has which infected five persons and caused one fatality) which has prevented Kevin Allicock,

K. A. Juman Yassin Denis Thomas, Desmond Amsterdam and Colin Lewis and their Cuban Coach from returning home.

“The GOA is working with Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) to assist the Boxers in Cuba and we have made a substantial donation in this regard,” informed the 73-yearold former Chief Magistrate.

Juman-Yassin, a former President of the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association, stated that table tennis player Chelsea Edgehill is also being disappointed as her quest to qualify has been put off.

“The AAG is, and continues to be focused and hats off to them. I will urge all those Athletes to one way or another fix a programme with their Coaches to stay fit, train

and be ready for the qualifying events.We are not alone in this dilemma as other Athletes around the world are facing the same problem,” the GOA head noted.

However, with our outdoor spaces in Georgetown and around the Country we can still move on and be focused.

My message to our Athletes and Associations is to acknowledge the problem and find adequate and safe alternatives,” concluded Juman-Yassin who was the first Guyanese to be a member of the Pan American Sports Organization and Regional Vice-President of the Americas for the Commonwealth Games Federation. (Sean Devers)

China international Wu tests positive for coronavirus HONG KONG (Reuters) - Spain-based China international Wu Lei has confirmed he has tested positive for coronavirus but says he is on his way to making a full recovery.

The Chinese Football Association announced on Saturday that Wu, who plays for Espanyol in La Liga, had contracted the coronavirus and the 28-year-old confirmed he is now selfisolating.

“Dear fans, as you might already know I indeed have got the virus,” said the striker, who joined the Spanish club last January from Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG. “Now I’m at home in selfquarantine. Mentally, I’m very well and my symptoms have almost all gone,” he added in a video on Weibo.

“My lungs have been checked, including with a CT scan and it showed that the situation has turned out very well.

“I believe we will defeat this virus and I can’t wait to

Espanyol’s Wu Lei during the warm up before the match versus Atletico Madrid. (REUTERS/Sergio Perez) be back playing matches.”

Wu is the first player from China to have contracted COVID-19, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

The start of the

Chinese Super League season has been delayed indefinitely and China’s Wo r l d C u p q u a l i f y i n g matches in March and June were postponed until October and November.

Kaieteur News

Sunday March 22, 2020

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AAG suspends all activities Aubrey Hutson - President of AAG.

T

he Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has become the latest sports association to suspend all activities following growing fears of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a release to the media o n F r i d a y, t h e correspondence noted that, “The Athletics Family in Guyana has been affected directly by the world – wide health phenomena caused by the Covid-19 virus.

From the postponement of the CARIFTA Games and the threat of suspension of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, it is a reflection of the negative effects of this virus on our sport, which is a major cause for concern for all in our fraternity.”

The AAG has suspended all activities until April 30th. “ To t h i s e n d t h e Athletics Association of Guyana will be suspending all activities (competitions, camps and meetings) until April 30th, 2020, where the council will do a further review based on the

prevailing conditions.

The office, however, will remain open to deal with correspondence and other issues coming from our International bodies, local clubs, coaches and athletes.

Our advice to members of the local fraternity is to kindly use the electronic means of communication at this time.”

Head of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson noted that, “Once the threat of this virus

is over, our Governing bodies will try to pull off competitions as soon as possible.

With this in mind, it is advised that the athletes find innovative ways of staying fit and prepared for this

eventuality.

It is asked that you heed the advice of our Health Minister as it relates to social distancing, but ensure that you work with your coaches in planning strategic ways of training.”

Former GuyanaNRA member Claude ‘Alfy’ Duguid passes on - Remembered as an accountable and meticulous person

F

ormer Executive member of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) and a former Smallbore Section Vice Captain, Claude ‘Alfy’ Duguid passed away on Tuesday last following a period of illness.

The loss of Duguid, who also represented the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council (WIFBSC), has plunged the local and Caribbean shooting fraternity into a state of shock.

While President of the GuyanaNRA Brigadier Patrick West has expressed sincere condolences to the family relatives and friends of the late Claude Duguid, Secretary, Ryan Sampson who also holds a similar position with the WIFBSC remembers his former colleague as an accountable and meticulous person.

“Claude could be described as cool, calm and collective, a humble and reliable person. He was always calm and with a smile

on his face. When he was having difficulty with the conditions on the range, he would stand or sit silently, working the equations in his head in preparation for the next range, with the intent of beating the odds second time around.”

Duguid fell ill some time ago and this would have restricted him from being active: “Being the shrewd thinker and problem solver Duguid was and after his illness restricted his movement, he most certainly would have been thinking, well how can I overcome this illness, how can I walk again, and be independent.

He could no longer be seen around town, he could no longer assist any of his teammates with electrical issues at their home, he could no longer be on the range each Sunday, enjoying a sport he so loved. I can also recall, in the midst of him shooting on Sunday’s, you would suddenly hear him say, Corey, did you eat...did you do your homework.

That’s the Claude we knew.”

Claude Duguid fired off his GuyanaNRA career around 1990 and over the years, he became a permanent member of the National Fullbore Team, representing Guyana r e g i o n a l l y a n d internationally.

In 2000 he was part of the West Indies Fullbore Team that participated in the Millennium Match at Bisley, England, where he p e r f o r m e d a d m i r a b l y, Sampson reflected.

On the regional front, Duguid always looked forward to battling with his West Indian friends on the range and to have a good laugh after, about the challenging or tricky conditions that they all would have experienced during the shoots. His last international engagement was in 2012.

Sampson further r e m i n i s c e d : “ C l a u d e ’s leadership qualities were utilised when he was appointed Vice Captain in the Association’s Smallbore (Handgun) Section. He was

also an elected Executive Council member of the Association for a number of years. In both capacities he distinguished himself. He was instrumental in recruiting many members for the Association and guided them in learning the sport.

His capacity for accountability and his meticulousness led him to being responsible for our ammunition and would balance each week both live rounds and used shells. On tours, he took care of checking all rifles with the relevant authorities upon arrival. This was his forte, accountability.”

Duguid’s longtime friend and Fullbore Team Captain Mahendra Persaud said he was shocked to have learnt of his friends passing.

Meanwhile, the shooting family from Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica and Bermuda were all shocked at learning of Duguid’s passing earlier this week.

WIFBSC President,

Claude ‘Alfy’ Duguid Major John Nelson conveyed sympathy on behalf of the Caribbean

fraternity. The funeral of the late Claude ‘Alfy’ Duguid will take place on Tuesday.

Chess action has also been suspended due to concerns over the coronavirus.

rt o p S

Pollard points to opportunity in COVID-19-forced break

CARIFTA Chess Championships postponed

Idris Elba has tested positive for the coronavirus disease.

(Photo: REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)

Coronavirus: F1 champion Lewis Hamilton self-isolated after meeting Idris Elba

West Indies white-ball captain Kieron Pollard.

F1 champion Lewis Hamilton self-isolated after meeting Idris Elba.

Clamour grows to postpone Tokyo Games A passerby wearing a protective face mask following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) walks past a screen displaying logos of Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan March 19, 2020. (REUTERS/Issei Kato)

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