Kaieteur News

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“We stand with the Tuesday Edition people of Guyana NEWS who want to protect the integrity of their democracy”

AIETEUR

March 24, 2020 - Vol. 13 No. 12

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Jagdeo requests disclosure of SOPs in legal battle over elections recount The Suddie High Court

Suddie High and Magistrate Court officials remain at home over possible coronavirus was on flight with country's first victim; exposure - staffer no one has shown any symptoms to date Coronavirus precaution…

Limited shoppers at a time Popular Dental in Trini market to prevent Lab and Clinic spread of COVID-19 closes for 3 weeks COVID-19 forces more offshore Health Ministry mulls companies to slash exploration strict guidelines to and production budgets limit public gatherings

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday March 24, 2020

COVID-19 forces more offshore companies to slash exploration and production budgets

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everal oil majors operating offshore Guyana are gearing up to shave billions of dollars off their exploration and production (E&P) budgets.

This course of action is in response to the coronavirus outbreak which continues to keep demand on the world market at low levels.

French multinational, Total S.A, has already made it clear that in the context of oil prices being at US$30 a barrel, it would have to make major cuts to its budget. Specifically, the company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Patrick PouyannĂŠ said that the company will cut its 2020 budget by more than US$3 billion or 20%, thereby reducing 2020 net investments to less than US$15 billion.

Kaieteur News understands that the company anticipates US$800 million of savings in 2020 on operating costs instead of the US$300 million previously announced.

It also will suspend its US$2billion buyback

programme.

In February, the company had announced plans to continue disciplined spending as well as the continuation of its cost reduction programme with an objective of more than US$5 billion in cumulative savings this year.

With respect to Frontera Energy which holds a significant working interest in the Corentyne and Demerara licenses, it is projected to cut its 2020 Capital Expenditure budget by 60 percent to US$130-US$150 million from US$325-US$375 million.

It is also expected to streamline an Executive team on cost saving initiatives which would be applicable for the lower priced oil environment.

According to Frontera, expenditure will be primarily focused on development and maintenance activities in the company's core assets as well as its light and medium oil business unit in Colombia.

The company also revised its average annual production

for 2020. It is expected to produce 55,000 to 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent resource per day which works out to a decrease of 8% compared to its 2020 guidance. The company has also shut-in a number of wells that are not economic to operate at current prices, and is also actively working to reduce production and transportation.

As for Tullow, which has a working interest in the Orinduik and Kanuku Blocks, it is expected to cut its investment budget by about a third to US$350 million this year and reduce exploration spending - historically the group's focus - by almost half to US$75 million. It also said the oil price fall to US$30 a barrel might jeopardize a plan to sell US$1 billion in assets to refill its coffers.

As for the major producer offshore Guyana, ExxonMobil, it has announced that significant cuts are underway. It had previously budgeted $30 billion to $33 billion for projects in 2020.

Several oil majors are operating offshore Guyana

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 24, 2020

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Suddie High and Magistrate Court officials - staffer was on flight with remain at home over possible country's first victim; no one has shown any symptoms to date coronavirus exposure

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judge and magistrate seconded to the Courts at Suddie, Essequibo, are among others who remain in isolation, following concerns that a court staffer may have come into contact with the country's first coronavirus victim.

The judicial officials and other staffers have been in isolation since last week Monday, while the Suddie High Court and Magistrate Courts remain closed. The buildings have also been sanitised.

Kaieteur News understands that none of the individuals have shown signs of having contracted the COVID-19 strain, and the courts are likely to reopen next Monday.

A legal spokesperson confirmed that the concerns surfaced after it was discovered that a female court staffer had travelled on March 7 on the same flight with Ratna Baboolall, who succumbed to the COVID-19 strain, at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to a spokesperson, the staffers contacted Ministry of

Public Health officials “and were told to isolate themselves” as a precautionary measure.

“As a precautionary measure it was advised that everyone who had potential contact with the person who came off the flight should stay at home,” another source added.

A March 16, 2020 release from the Supreme Court of Judicature Protocol and Communications Unit had indicated that the two courts would have been closed until March 23rd 2020.

The release stated that the decision had been taken since a staff member of the courts, may have been exposed to the Coronavirus.

The release stated that “consequent on medical advice, the Essequibo High Court, Suddie and Anna Regina Magistrates' Courts will be closed with immediate effect.

The courts will be opened on Monday March 23rd, 2020. This decision has been taken due to the possible exposure of a staff member to the corona virus”.

“These courts will be fumigated and the Supreme Court protocols in relation

The Suddie High Court to continued sanitization and the court's response to the virus will be followed scrupulously. Constant review and assessment of the situation will be undertaken and court users will be provided updates.”

Meanwhile, in Georgetown and elsewhere, the judiciary has also implemented several precautionary procedures at all courts.

Kaieteur News had reported that visitors now have to subject themselves to being sanitized prior to entering the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts compound Persons are only allowed to enter the courtyard if they

Poverty levels in Guyana still relatively high - IDB Report

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ccording to one of the latest assessments of the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), poverty levels in Guyana are relatively high and suggest important regional disparities.

In the March 2020 report which speaks to the state and evolution of inequality in the Caribbean region, it was noted that the poverty rate in Guyana declined from 43.2% in 1992 to 36.1% in 2006, the last year of available data from household surveys.

Pointing to a more recent measure by the Guyana Labour Force Survey, the IDB noted that the estimate stood at 41.2% in 2017 based on a poverty line of US$5.50 a day. With this in mind, the IDB assessed that poverty rates in Guyana exceed the Latin American (LA) and the IDB's Country Department Caribbean regional averages of 26.54% and 25.23%, respectively .

Expounding on this front, the IDB said that the poverty data capture large disparities within Guyana. According to the 2012 Census, the Bank said that approximately 89% of the population lives in the administrative regions along the coast,

which includes the capital city, Georgetown, with approximately 26% of the population. The remaining 11% of the population resides in the rural interior, also known as the hinterland.

The Bank noted that the urban coastal areas have generally had lower levels of poverty, ranging between 27% in 1992 and 35% in 2017, while rural coastal areas have similar levels of poverty to the national levels.

The financial institution said that the rural interior areas recorded poverty rates greater than 70% in 1992 and 2006 and 55% in 2017.

The Bank said that this is indicative of regional and ethnic disparities, as about 65% of the population in hinterland areas is indigenous, based on data received from the Bureau of Statistics.

have matters in court.

Clerks and police officers working with the Magistrates are now wearing gloves and the building is being regularly sanitised.

Some prisoners are now required to wear masks when they are brought to court, and only a limited number of individuals are being allowed into the premises.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 24, 2020

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

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

EDITORIAL

Are we seriously prioritising taking precautions?

The news from most places is not encouraging, most alarming, definitely upheaving. Spain and Italy in Europe, New York and California in the United States, and many other places and states in between are under virtual lockdown because of the coronavirus scourge. Once crowded and bustling metropolises have been transformed into wildernesses lacking in people, commerce, and gaiety.

It’s as if the life has been sucked out of the centres of modern civilization.

It is no different in this region, though the scale of the outbreak is still muted. May it stay so, though our neighbours in Trinidad and Tobago have reported, as of Sunday, forty new cases of the virus. Numerous other countries in the Caribbean and Latin America have been affected.

Amidst this unending onslaught of disturbing developments from near and far, impacting in one way or another most of the world, where are our Guyanese citizens at this most challenging of times? Where are they when they learn through emails and WhatsApp about the restrictions placed on family and friends and the tolls that those are taking?

Somehow, it is our sense at this paper that many citizens are not treating the presence of this still unmanaged and, in many instances, unmeasured plague, with the urgency and priority that it demands. Our thinking is that too many in Guyana are not responding to this global viral assault, with the good sense and good conduct that are immediately required at the individual level.

Family and community do not deserve this: the possible accidental exposure which has the potential to infect and spread. If there is one thing for which the authorities should be commended, it is the flow of information across many channels and on a near continuous basis. They have done their part in this regard, with the rest up to us, and with the expectation that each citizen will commit to do his or her part and then do so.

At this stage, very few could claim ignorance of what is involved, and of where things could lead, given the high risks, the uncontainable nature of this COVID-19 enemy.

In spite of all of this, too many citizens have reacted with what may only be accurately described as nonchalance, even dismissal. Of course, to repeat the unnecessary, it is widely known and seen and heard of those who throw caution to the wind and challenge the devil in his own lair.

That is a loser’s hand. The problem is that those in the vicinity pay the consequences, which could be endless, as this raging sorcerer’s brew of a sickness knows no limits, no heights, no exceptions. Just look at some of those sickened, and the places that it has invaded.

Our citizens in this fragile domain have to be more responsible, more in charge of their movements, more cognizant of what they have to do and give at this time. As sacrilegious as this sound at this time in Guyana, elections must be consigned to a lower scale of personal priority. We say this not to dilute the intensity of anyone’s support for their choice, but to offer what we believe is the ordinary wisdom that the advancing circumstances call for, and which all of us must deliver, and deliver starting right now.

The first order of precaution is the self-protection of distancing from gatherings.

Since this has been largely disseminated and very familiar, it flies in the face of all that is rational that there are those who congregate unwisely and, hence, render themselves vulnerable to infection and then becoming an unwitting carrier. We have to do more; we must do more if only for family and community.

This is shared because if the proper measures are taken, then the degree of containment that is so vital can be had, with the safety and wellbeing of loved ones almost assured, and the larger environment also reaping the shared benefits for which we yearn.

As we tighten our belts, there is another matter to be avoided at all costs: we urge not to descend into the depths and point fingers at any group as having or carrying what hurts. All are diminished by such vulgar senselessness.

No time for obstructionist politics in light of amount. Failure to adhere about using soap and water being a major player in this COVID-19 that to the restrictions put in place to wash your hands or hand society he is not unaware of DEAR EDITOR, The coronavirus (COVID19) is a threat to all Guyanese.

It requires to a large degree social isolation, avoidance of crowd, and staying in doors to break the transmission of the virus. Countries have shut borders; schools, churches, gyms, restaurants, barber shops, beauty and other businesses have been shut down. People are lining up or standing six feet apart.

For instance, I read that New York as of 21st March is on compulsory shutdown except for essential services, pharmacy and groceries. I note also other states and countries have similar or more restrictive policies where police and other security forces are keeping people off the road.

Closer home, in Jamaica in the Bull Bay of St. Andrew where the virus was identified the area has been quarantined and under police and army guard to control movement and by extension spread. Jamaica has imposed a restriction where there will be no gathering in any public space of over 20 persons and minibuses have been asked to carry passengers that meet

by the Government of Jamaica will amount to a fine of one million dollars or 12 months in prison. This kind of response requires maturity and the absence of obstructionist politics.

Could any imagine if Guyana were to be like USA or Jamaica the political fallout that would arise. Notwithstanding this, the Government of Guyana is being called to ensure and enforce appropriate measures to contain the spread and protect lives.

Unfortunately, political leaders are encouraging their supporters to gather in large crowds, supposedly to guard GECOM’s ballot boxes which are secured in containers, with each ballot box sealed and locked. Any effort to enter the boxes would require collaboration by all parties to open their own locks.

GECOM’s practice allows for a party representative along with relevant police official to stand guard.

At this point in time, given the presence of COVID-19 one expects that better judgment will prevail surrounding this watch with large crowds gathered together. This is not only

sanitizers; it is about the droplets and possible airborne risk.

The Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with the Government of Guyana must ensure social distancing.

Even if some feel the need to watch the containers, they must do so in compliance with Public Health guidelines so as not to risk spread, endangerment of themselves and the lives of others.

Fumigation/disinfecting is another way to control spread. It was noticed when this effort was applied to the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, during the period when a recount was to have taken place, the action attracted a political attack by Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo. He said during a press conference last week that “you don’t fumigate for coronavirus. You can’t fumigate for coronavirus”. This is irresponsible and misleading because fumigation is a cautionary measure used to contain spread and is being utlisied worldwide.

Mr. Jagdeo has national influence and his words have weight.

They carry consequences. With his party

the impact of his words. As such he is being called on when speaking to this pandemic to let his words be used for the good of Guyana and the health of her citizens.

There was an incident last week of some confusion or resentment at effort to manage social distancing.

This was during the hearing of the injunction brought against the recount of the votes. In Justice Franklyn Holder ’s court room, an advisory was given as to the number of persons that would be allowed in the same space. Apparently, this did not sit well with some and social media was a buzzed, and some whom we least expect saw it as an attempt to destroy press freedom. It is encouraging to know the Courts have moved to implement the World Health Organisation’s advisory of social distancing.

In fighting the spread of COVID-19 all forces should be united as one and pay heed to the advisories, local and international. If ever there was a time to set aside political differences in the last 60 years, it is now.

Lincoln Lewis

Coronavirus, recounting of votes and shared government CARICOM oversee the reDEAR EDITOR, The coronavirus forced hundreds of millions the world over to buckle down at home fearing as to their future since more and more persons are affected and the death rate keeps rising. Guyanese are no exception, but it might turn out that the virus might be beneficial to the outgoing President David Granger and his so called Cabinet because the virus will prevent or significantly delay a recount.

National and Regional elections were held on March 2 and up to today some 20 days later the results are not known. This is because there is controversy about the manner in which the votes were counted. The opposition parties are contending that GECOM and the three APNU/ AFC appointed Commissioners railroaded the operation and declared that the incumbent polled an overwhelming number of votes in Region Four which will make them the winner of the general elections. However, the PPPC and other opposition parties vehemently objected and demanded a recount, but GECOM used numerous strategies in order to prevent a fair and accurate account. After days of back and forth discussions it was agreed by all the parties including David Granger the head of the caretaker government that

counting and as a result Chairperson of CARICOM Mia Mottley, OR, SC Prime Minister of Barbados was invited to Guyana. She came with other Prime Ministers, Keith Rowley, Ralph Gonsalves, Keith Mitchell, and Rooseveldt Skerrit, but were unable to carry out their task because of legal litigations and they were forced to return to their respective countries. Besides CARICOM team, all the Observers from the Carter Center, OAS, Commonwealth Secretariat and other international organizations left Georgetown very dissatisfied and they all criticized GECOM in the manner in which they handled the situation. They all issued statements stating that the electoral process was not credible.

CARICOM Chairperon Mottley said, “it is clear that there are forces that do not want the votes recounted for whatever reason... any government which is sworn in without credible and fully transparent vote count process would lack legitimacy” the Barbadian Prime Minister said. The US Government has also threatened sanctions if an illegal government takes control of the Republic especially at this time when billions of dollars worth of oil is on the horizon.

There is a huge problem, for the past few days, the bal-

lots were being moved from venue to venue without proper supervision by agents from the opposition parties.

Legal proceedings are now in process in relation to the recounting and it is not likely that these High Court cases would be concluded speedily because steps will be taken to stall the process. More so, with the virus intensifying in Georgetown and its environs, movements of residents will be restricted which will prevent a speedy recount. This might be welcomed by the Granger administration because they want to stall the process as long as possible.

The so called caretaker government is in full control.

The former Ministers are still termed as Ministers and they carry out their duties normally. They should have been out of office a long time ago.

The no confidence motion was passed since December 2018 and Granger and his so called Ministers are still in office fully paid and enjoying the perks. In the meantime one of their strong supporters is lobbying support from the diaspora to take steps to block threats for sanction by the United States government. In the meantime several prominent Guyanese including former GDF Brigadier Joe Singh, who served as Chairman of GECOM; former Foreign Affairs Minister and highly respected diplomat,

Rudy Insanally; Professor Clem Seecharan, highly respected writer and commentator, are calling on Granger and GECOM to ensure that all the votes are fairly counted and there be a peaceful resolution to the issue.

It seems to me that Granger and his team are not keen to bring an early closure to this situation; they are convinced that they lost the elections hence the reason they do not want a fair recount because when this is done there will be no more pay and benefits. I feel that in the circumstances steps should be taken to prevent remuneration to these former government officials. This will not be an easy task and no doubt will take quite some time because the legal process will be protracted by appeals and cross petitions and vigorous protests. The best way to resolve the impasse is a shared government which was contemplated decades ago. Racial conflict is too deep rooted and now with billions of dollars worth of oil in the horizon neither side will want to give in. They should all remember that there is a lot to share if there is unity, but if the battle continues, EXXON and the other oil companies will use the conflict for their own benefit and Guyanese will be the ultimate losers.

Oscar Ramjeet

Tuesday March 24, 2020

Kaieteur News

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We have lost reasoning and mooring

Obsession for power seems blinding to the realities of sanctions

DEAR EDITOR, I refer to the letter titled “GHK Lall letters abetting the riggers of the 2020 general elections” (in another newspaper on March 23).

I have not read beyond the caption, and against my better judgment and wiser counsel, I have decided to respond.

If I were to do otherwise I would be remiss, and thus contribute to what provides revealing evidence of how much our senses have deserted us, how we have lost not only our moorings, but also how much the narratives and visions that pervade will brook no other position. If this is agreeing to disagreeing, then the logic eludes me.

First, I congratulate the way in which the letter was published for its choice of caption; as low blows go and unkind cuts may be, it doesn’t get any lower or any unkinder than that; I did opine on previous occasions that it is polluting to be in the public arena.

Yet that price has to be willingly paid, if only to continue with what and how I see is our way forward.

I plan to stay the course and run the race through the now more impenetrable thickets of prejudices which bedevil us and damn us, and never more so than during elections times.

I should know better, but I am too stubborn to be different; too determined to retreat.

Second, and more to the point, I watched and waited while Elections 2020 went about its wicked ways.

And that they were, with each passing day, sometimes hour. It is astonishing that I could be “abetting the riggers” when I am on public record in the same newspaper on March 15 under the title of

“Elections results not credible” in stating, “I voted for the coalition. I want to see it emerge victorious. But I want to see it do so cleanly, persuasively, and irrefutably.

I desire to be in a position where I can stand for any result, for any party, and say: I am satisfied.

But I can’t.”

This was also carried by KN and another media outfit.

If there is anything ambiguous about that (“I can’t”), then there are difficulties that I am unable to address..

I don’t think that I could have been clearer as to what is acceptable to me; I don’t know how any “riggers” worth their salt would be comforted by such a specific call.

If there is anything in there (or in any other written position of mine), that is “abetting the riggers” then we are in the worst possible place that may be contemplated; we are not listening, there is no understanding; and especially when what is offered conflicts with our own.

My position repeated for the record, and from twenty years ago, is that of God, country, and family.

I trust that somebody in this troubled forsaken society will have the honesty to recognize first and then acknowledge my unflagging emphasis on country.

It is of country first, and not of any party, be it that of mine or anybody else’s; it is of country foremost and always and never f o r a n y party.

I am not that attached to the latter, not that blind, not that supporting nor unthinking.This still infantile process of democracy of ours, now under the severest pressure here, as interpreted here is of nothing other than

the results of numbers.

The numbers are sharply disputed in most places, with those of Region 4 being the sharpest and most poisonous.

It leaves us in the worst of spaces.

For when the process of democracy (the count) is finally declared to be over, there still remains the daily process of the reality of living and coexisting together.

Regardless, of whichever side wins, I foresee a horrendous future to be lived in this dismal place in the interlude before the circuses, cultures, and cleverness are resurrected a few years hence.

For all these reasons, I can never be a part of the passions and prejudices that poison us and render us comatose, if not mortally maimed. I did say that I have neither fear nor concern about being contrarian.

Well, it has got me where it has got me: a possibly bigger abettor to the riggers than any Returning Officer; a bigger and better aider and abettor and condoner than those who rage ceaselessly about the merits of their respective sides.

I ask myself so simple a question that even I can understand: why is that?

To ask and answer, I have always said that the middle ground leaves at the whims and ruthlessness of the pincer’s jaws: the suffocation of the viselike comes from diametrically opposed directions.

I promise this one thing: the narrative as contributed by me will remain unchanged: God, family, country.

It is what serves all three best and without conflict.

Now if that is abetting the riggers, then count me guilty.

This is where I stand, so help me God! Sincerely, GHK Lall

DEAR EDITOR, Contemporary history has identified the “saving grace” of democracy to victory over the persians in the battle of Salamis and Plataea by the alliance of Greek city states, 2500 years ago. It is anticipated that had the Persians defeated the Greeks, the Roman Empire and all the innovative advances in science and technology that came after, from that area in the following eras, would have never existed. Democracy may have never existed as a word or a condition that is now alluded to as “ Government of the people for the people and by the people.”

The world has change rapidly over the last 50 years.

Brutal dictatorships that had replaced colonialism in independent nations have been slowly smothered by the rising international community of nations and the quest for Democratic norms. In short, the nations of the world are more aligned on a “paradigm shift” towards becoming each other ’s “brother’s keeper”. This brotherhood does not ask too much of each

other. It requires that Governments adhere to their Democratic structures and principles of their respective countries for the benefit of their people or in short, respect the will of the electorate or face the consequences - personal and economic sanctions and non recognition by the international community.

The March 2nd elections in Guyana is in checkmate.

Based on the shenanigans that took place at Gecom in the verification of the results, the Guyanese people and the international community was privy to what they consider to be a conspiracy by the incumbent APNU/AFC Coalition and Gecom to distort the will of the electorate to give the Coalition a new mandate.

The international community has threatened to unleash sanctions if a president is sworn in on the flawed declaration of region 4 results by RO Mingo but that does not seem to deter the Coalition’s obsession for power.

The failed attempt by Granger to have a high level Caricom team supervise a recount of the votes, on ac-

count of a member on his candidate list, filing an injunction to stop the recount, does not absolve the president from what seems like collusion and the embarrassment ensued by the nation. If a president cannot control the people on his would be team, he is a fake unworthy of being president.

The signs are evident! A dictatorship runs hand in hand with a police state. The police attempting to have Giftland owner train his security cameras away from the containers containing the ballot boxes at the ACCC, offers a glimpse of the future. The ballot boxes are being jockeyed around like pawns on a chestboard by directives unrelated to Gecom without informing the relevant stakeholders, reeks of sinister motives by the president - given that his position alone survives the dissolution of parliament for elections.

It seems imperative that we are being taken on the road to sanctions and we must welcome them as a necessity in the struggle to salvage our democracy Rudolph Singh

Shared governance a Red Herring; Fair Elections is The Issue DEAR EDITOR, As the Guyana elections drama continues, some political power seekers as well as academics have been calling for power sharing as the way out of the current political crisis. This is simply a “red herring”, a fallacy common among illogical thinkers.

Shared government, which has been discussed by major parties for decades, maybe a model to explore for governance in Guyana’s plural setting.

But editor, let us not allow ourselves to be distracted by this call for power sharing. The central issue is about the counting or recounting of the votes, specifically for Region Four. The issue is about free, fair and transparent elections and the preservation of democracy in the South American Repub-

lic.

When this issue is settled and the legitimate winner takes the rein of government, then it will be time to return to the subject of constitutional reform and shared government as a way to avoid tragedies in later elections.

Yours truly, Dhanraj Bhagwandin

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Kaieteur News

FREE UG? FREE MONEY? DEAR EDITOR, For many years students and lecturers alike have both questioned the accountability of the University of Guyana’s expenditure and finances. In fact, as recent as February 12, 2019, a news article published by another newspaper stated that “UG lecturers demand financial audit.” I also recall attending my first faculty board meeting a few months ago where lecturers were concerned as to why the Bursar proceeded on leave without providing an audit of the faculty’s account.

My other revelations may very likely result in the entire University being audited. It only makes sense for this to be done because making UG free means that the Government of Guyana will be pouring millions of dollars into the University; they already do with super subventions every year. Why is it that Guyana’s largest state university is going through this crisis?

At least there seemed to be some alleviation when Former Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Griffith took office in 2016, the same year I started UG. UG’s Renaissance period instituted by Professor Griffith saw new and improved lecture rooms and new facilities such as the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI), its own Parking Lot and the Centre for Behavioural Research and Sciences in 2019. It’s unfortunate that he did not con-

tinue his contract as he truly had a vision for the University.

At present, I am a final year environmental studies student and also a former student representative of the University of Guyana Students’ Society. As the artist behind the new and current logo of the UGSS, justice served in an equal and peaceful manner following all protocols is represented by the palm leaf, which the Harpy Eagle carries in its beak.

However, this was not the case when a voice recording revealed someone embezzled over $200,000 dollars from the ‘Slippery AF’ student fundraiser held on December 20, 2018. This was reportedly done with aid of others, one of whom was quick to send me legal threats. I still await them. Certainly, things are sliding downhill with this Slippery Fiasco.

The voice recording had a lot of mix reactions. Of course, friends of the person at the centre of this situation claimed it was fake and they needed to know the other side of the story. I was a lone wolf in the situation and was viciously rebuked even by fellow colleagues of the UGSS. Therefore, I took the issue to the UG administration where Professor Paloma Mohamed willingly and respectfully requested for the President of UGSS, Jafar Gibbons, to start an investigation into the matter. An entire day passed and nothing was done. I again

raised the issue with the UGSS finance committee and again with the Council and yet no responses. So, I tendered my resignation and sought to collect all possible, available evidence. One day would have been enough time for the person in question and his henchmen to destroy this valuable evidence. This was indeed a sad situation until a week later I was in conversation with Mr. Gibbons about the issue. There are amounting and strong evidence of the alleged fraud. I was also rebuked and ignored by lecturers of my own faculty.

The question remains; why it is the person at the centre of this situation still an active UGSS official. Is there no respect for this office, the Council and the almost 8000 students who attend the University of Guyana? The UGSS’ Constitution (1973) is 47 years old. It is time for constitutional reform and progress in order to properly facilitate the revenues from Guyana’s Oil and Gas Industry. I implore for other students like myself to take a stand and make this happen.

Many have tried in the past but have failed. Rest assure that I can make this possible using students who practice law right at UG. All we need is your candid support to stop these leviathans. I gladly intend to serve as the protector of students’ justice.

Micheal Morrison, CEO and Founder Green Deer Guyana

ROAD CONGESTION DEAR EDITOR, A few years ago, I wrote on the chaos on the East Bank Demerara road and suggested a three-lane road in the morning going to Georgetown and two lanes between Ruimveldt and Punt Trench.

First, the ultimate solution is a secondary road on the East Bank but that will take time. Secondly, with joint discussions between the police and public service ministry during the Desmond Hoyte era, he changed the time from 7:00am to 8:00am for public and civil servants to begin work because of early morning thieves or pick pockets, bearing in mind there was no traffic congestion then I feel we must go back 7:00am and schools at 9:00am so that there will be a spread in traf-

fic.

Parents taking school children in their vehicle to school early because of their changed working schedule should not be worried about their children’s security; for there will be security guards to control the children even senior teachers can be rotated everyday to come early to help supervise the children.

We have to make sacrifices.

Millions of dollars in man hours are lost every day.

This solution must be taken seriously and put into practice. Return the working hours to 7:00am.

Another important concern is the 50km per hour. I dare say no vehicle and that means no vehicle even trucks travel on the East Bank Road from Diamond to Ruimveldt

Police Station at 50kmh. I am a regular user of the road and if I drive at 50kmh I am singled out for a good cuss down.

So, I drive at 80kph to 100kph.

At 50kph you crawl even trucks pass you at that speed.

Only when drivers see cops or passing vehicle blink their light then you slow to 50k and as soon as you pass the cops you drive at 80 and above again.

It does not make sense if every vehicle drives at 50k there will be lines from GT to Timehri. My recommendation is 70k. At one time C. Rohee increased it from 40 to 50 not now for with the amount of vehicle travelling that road now it must be increased. Remember there is a solid median so obviously no head on collision. I did my homework on the computer projector and it desperately helps congestions. Mr Security Minister, Traffic Chief, Ministers of Education and Public Service, I urge you to examine and proceed with the changes as quickly as possible.

Thank you in anticipation Yours, H, Balram Diamond Scheme

Tuesday March 24, 2020

Eusi Kwayana responds to Freddie Government. In the words of world.

This is why I have not Ralph Ramkarran, “they did Kissoon’s involved my colleague, not go that route”.

DEAR EDITOR, I am replying to one or two questions put to Brother Moses Bhagwan and me by the columnist, Mr. Freddie Kissoon, in a publication in Kaieteur News dated March 13, 2020 and I am copying this letter to him. I am replying alone without consultation, because although we have issued a joint appeal in relation to Guyana’s future, what we thought and did over the last decade was done as two individuals.

Mr. Kissoon’s question is: why did I not, after the 2015 Elections, when the Coalition won with a one-seat minority, raise the issue of powersharing? I welcome the question and I am answering it on my own for a reason that my answer will make clear to readers.

My own relationship to the issue of power-sharing goes back to 1961, as can be verified on the internet by a search of Guyana Chronicle of July 21, 1961. That publication carried a statement with my signature made on behalf of a small group. Guyanese scholars have found that it was the first recommendation for powersharing in the post-colonial

Moses Bhagwan, in this answer.

I have and acknowledge my own baggage.

In 2011, a week or so after the General Elections of that year, my wife and I came home to Guyana for my younger brother’s funeral. During my stay, a newspaper journalist, asked me for an interview on the Elections just held. The results were so close between the two main contenders that President Ramotar, could write recently (2019) that he had a one-seat minority in the Parliament. In my newspaper interview, I argued that, from my point of view, the people had at last put an end to all the arguments of many of us and voted for a national Government.

There were objections that it would be necessary to amend the Constitution to permit such a Government from being assembled. I had to point out that the existing Constitution empowered the President to “appoint Ministers from among the members of the National Assembly”. For reasons best known to them, the winners of the 2011 elections did not see the need to appoint a national all-party

It is well known that I have long seen the politics of Guyana as influenced by ethnic competition and insecurity. I have written and spoken on these matters to the extent that they become, in a way, my hallmark.

In my feeble understanding, the choice of the PPP in 2011 to run a oneparty Government, after the General Elections, meant that any proposal from me of a similar solution, after the 2015 General Elections, would be seen by the winners, the Coalition, as impertinent, regardless of their slim majority.

Mr. Kissoon, with his wide knowledge of Guyanese culture, has certainly heard the proverb, “duh fu duh nah obeah”. I understand it in the African-Guyanese Wisdom tradition to mean, “it is no evil to treat others as they treat you.” The Carpenter of Nazareth taught differently and was admired by Mahatma Gandhi, but His teaching is not widely practiced in political life. I can find other references from our experience, but I’ll leave it at that.

Yours Respectfully, Eusi Kwayana

Fiscal and monetary implications of COVID-19 with some predictions DEAR EDITOR, Globally, central banks and governments are scrambling to salvage the economic impact of the COVID-19 virus. Governments are seeking massive fiscal stimulus with the hope of salvaging market confidence and activities.

Likewise, central banks a r e u s i n g e x p a n s i o n a ry monetary policies to put more liquidity into the system with the hope of stimulating economic activities or at least soften the landing.

While both of these measures are welcomed and would certainly have an impact on the margin, they are unlikely to have the kinds of macroeconomic impact that policymakers are hoping for, impact that in ordinary times would be considered an appropriate policy response.

And this is the best case scenario.

Why would all this stimulus and liquidity not have the kind of impact as expected?

This answer is because the current market meltdown and collapse of aggregate demand are not due to market forces but from environmental factors for which the market has very little (if any) influence.

The economic deceleration (hopefully not a full stop) is a

deliberate and necessary decision to address the environmental (more like existential) risks and not a natural or market consequence of it. In this regard, the economic slowdown is not the same slowdown that occurs during market-induced recessions.

The implication of this is that the traditional fiscal and monetary tools are not likely to provide an effective and sizable stimulus response.

Put differently, even if people are given money to spend, their ability to spend is physically and naturally constrained.

The supply chain and physical movement of people and goods are grinding to a halt. If this virus is like a sneeze which is heavy but short, then maybe we might be able to salvage most of our way of life.

But if this is more like a flu (the irony here) then I believe at the end of this we will be closer to the bartering and agrarian ages than we have ever been since leaving those economic states.

Where does this leave us?

I don’t have the answer to that question.

But I will offer some broad predictions. Even after this nightmare has ended, economic life would be forever

altered and a new normal will take shape, one that we have no idea or at best vague ideas about.

That our current real economic infrastructure will be able to adapt quickly is more of a wish than a healthy expectation.

Second, whatever the future looks like we will certainly not be able to rely on traditional fiscal and monetary tools for effective responses of this nature and will have to develop new ones.

I suspect with global climate change being the potential elephant in the room, our economic troubles of the future will have much more to do with the natural and built environment than the typical market forces that we are accustomed to.

There is a lot more to be said on this issue and I am sure economic historians and forecasters, pundits and noble thinkers will have lots to say about this.

These are just my two cents on how I see this playing out.

Sincerely, Dhanraj Singh, MBA., MSc., BSc. Economist and Executive Director Guyana Budget Policy Institute

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 24, 2020

PAGE 07

Jagdeo requests disclosure of SOPs in legal battle over elections recount

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awyers for Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, have requested disclosure of the Statement of Polls (SOPs) for the votes cast at the Regional and General Elections on March 2.

Attorney-at-law Neil Boston S.C., who is representing the Guyana Elections Commission

(GECOM), told the media following a closed hearing before Justice Franklyn Holder at the Georgetown High Court yesterday, that the request has met with strong objections from his team.

Boston has submitted that the request by Jagdeo can only be made in an election petition case.

Jagdeo's team of lawyers has

filed their defence in the case against the elections recount.

The Court has already granted an application to consolidate hearings for the matters filed by Jagdeo and Reaz Holladar, and the case filed by A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) candidate Ulita Moore.

The matter is scheduled to continue today for further

Alness family coronavirus-free - Regional Health Director

T

he Alness, Corentyne family of four who were requested to self isolate after it was discovered that they travelled on the same flight as the country's first COVID-19 victim, were deemed Coronavirus-free as of yesterday.

This information was disclosed to Kaieteur News by the Director of Regional Health Services, Region Six, Jevaughn Stephens.

Stephens via telephone interview stated that the family was asked to isolate for two weeks. According to him, “the family was given a clean bill of health, they were tested and they do not have the coronavirus.”

After health officials in Berbice discovered that the family was on the same flight as the first victim, they were immediately contacted and briefed on the situation. The family was then asked to self isolate for a fortnight to see if they would exhibit any symptoms of the virus, with health officials making daily visits.

In light of COVID-19, Guyana has since closed its airports from flights coming from international destinations.

Along with that measure, the Ministry of Public Health has also identified isolation centres to keep and monitor persons who may have been exposed to the coronavirus.

arguments in relation to the defence filed.

In the interim, the Court is still in the preliminary stages of hearing the application by Moore to block the national recount of the ballots cast on March 2.

Last Friday, Justice Holder approved applications by the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), A New and United Guyana (ANUG) and The New Movement (TNM) to be joined as parties to the proceedings S o f a r, a n i n t e r i m injunction has been granted to put the recount process on hold.

The interim injunction granted to Moore restrains the GECOM from setting aside or varying the declarations already made by the 10 electoral districts with any other documents or

declarations, until the hearing and determination of the judicial review of the application.

Further, the interim injunction granted by Justice Holder, restrains GECOM from permitting or authorising “any person or persons to any agreement between the President of Guyana and the leader of the Opposition and or any agreement between GECOM and the Caribbean Community or at all, to count or recount any ballots cast by electors at the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections until the hearing and determination of the judicial review application.”

“The interim decision also restrains the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, from submitting any report of the total votes cast for each List of

Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo Candidates pursuant to Section 96 (1) and (2) of the Representation of the People Act, save and except the votes counted and the information furnished by the Returning Officer under Section 84 (1) of the Representation of the People Act until the hearing and determination of the judicial review application filed herein.”

Attorneys Mayo Robertson and Roysdale Forde are representing the (continued on page 15)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Tuesday March 24, 2020

Health Ministry mulls strict guidelines to limit public gatherings

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he Ministry of Public Health is looking to establish firm guidelines to safeguard members of the public amid concerns about the coronavirus (COVID19). Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) Dr. Karen

Boyle told Kaieteur News that while Guyana is still ahead of the curve in terms of the number of cases that have tested positive for the virus, the Ministry is seeking to implement firm guidelines to limit public gatherings as part of preventative methods

recommended for keeping the virus at bay.

Dr. Boyle noted that proposals have been made to the Ministerial Task Force on how the public could practice social distancing to stop the infection from spreading.

Social distancing or physical distancing is a nonpharmaceutical infection control action intended to stop or slow down the spread of a contagious disease.

“At present, all our confirmed cases of the virus are imported; that is, persons who came from overseas.”

She stressed, nonetheless, that locals must practice precautions to steer clear of the disease.

She noted that at present, the Ministerial Task Force has a list of suggested strategies put forward to help curb the incidence of coronavirus.

According to the DCMO, the recommendations include suggestions for entities which interface with the public on a daily basis.

“For example for public transportation workers such as the minibus, hire car, taxi and speedboat operators, it was recommended that those persons allow less passengers in each seat to facilitate the three feet distance between each person.” Dr Boyle said “We also suggested the use of sanitisers for minibus drivers, conductors, and those collecting or handling m o n e y. ” “ F o r p u b l i c buildings, we suggest having hand sanitisers or a hand sink with running water available for public use. We suggest the use of liquid soap where sinks are installed, but no sharing of hand towels.”

“If business is to be conducted in a public space, it is recommended that the accommodation is limited to

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Boyle

not more than twenty persons at a time; it could be fewer people depending on the size of the space.”

“The idea is to implement systems conducive to social distancing,” Dr. Boyle posited. “So for instance when persons visit the health centres or supermarkets, we have recommended that those facilities accommodate fewer people at a time.” “As it relates public events like weddings, wakes and funerals that usually attract crowds, we recommend smaller gatherings of persons who absolutely need to attend.”

The DCMO emphasized that is important that locals adopt cautious behaviour while Guyana's coronavirus situation is still under control. Boyle admitted that Guyanese have not been too mindful of the precautions, at this point.

“However, while we don't have any (confirmed) local cases and we hope to keep our population virus-free.

We are hoping that the nation quickly adopts to prevent any possible spread” Dr Boyle noted that while the recommendations have been made, the ministerial task force is responsible for a p p r o v i n g a n d

implementing the measures set out. In the meantime, Kaieteur News understands that the Ministry has been meeting every forty-eight hours to determine the best methods of addressing the public health issue. Guyana reported its first coronavirus case on March 11 last.

Since then, a number of public entities have been ramping up precautionary measures to guard against the infection.

A series of government agencies and privatelyowned businesses have issued information on the preventative measures that will be undertaken as the nations strives to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The information outlines a number of protocols to ward off respiratory viruses.

These measures include “frequently clean hands using soap and water or an alcoholbased hand rub if your hands are not visibly dirty; when coughing and sneezing cover your mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue.

Given the nature and characteristics of the novel coronavirus, social distancing and self isolation a r e a m o n g t h e recommendations pegged globally to prevent its spread.

Reopening of schools further deferred

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onsidering the current situation, the Ministry of Education in a statement yesterday advised that schools will be closed for an additional week (March 30 April 03). This will lead into the Easter Term vacation (April 06 -April 17).

The commencement of the third term for the current academic year remains as scheduled, April 20.

Meanwhile in a subsequent statement, the Ministry of Social Protection expressed concern that the current contingency plans of some employers, companies and corporations in the fight against spread of COVID-19 may result in reduced employment opportunities

for workers. “As a natural consequence of reduced employment opportunities is reduced spending power for workers, which may eventually impact the entire economic structure of the nation. We are advised that some employers are providing work on a rational basis while some are considering temporary closure.”

The Social Protection Ministry noted that from a national perspective, this situation can be described as rare, but can be adequately addressed within the parameters of the labour legalisation.

In the circumstances, employers who have questions about how to

respond to the various challenges associated with the development are advised to visit the labour department and engage any senior officers for clarifications. In the meantime, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has noted that Guyana has six COVID -19 cases.

The WHO is the authorised provider of global statistics on the virus.

According to the WHO, Guyana currently has five active cases of the disease which originated in China in December 2019 and has spread to 189 countries.

COVID-19 is responsible for 14,510 deaths while there are 332,935 confirmed cases worldwide.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 24, 2020

PAGE 09

RIGGING IS AN OFFENCE AGAINST EVERYONE!

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ersons have asked about the purpose of the most recent statement made by Sir Shridath Ramphal, concerning the situation in Guyana.

T h e f o r m e r Commonwealth Secretary General and Attorney General of Guyana would be the best person to answer that.

He along with others, I am sure would not like to see Guyana become the only non-free state in the western hemisphere, something which was alluded to in a recent statement by the Secretary of State of the United States of America.

It is extremely bizarre that forces within GECOM and APNU+AFC actually feel that they could have gotten away with highway robbery.

I am convinced, however, that having played a role in resolving a previous election controversy in 1997, the eminent former diplomat feels that he should lend his voice to the search for a democratic resolution to the present impasse.

It should be recalled that this column had supported the purposive interpretation of the Representation of the People Act and for a liberal interpretation of the Constitution when it comes to election matters.

Sir Shridath's letter has a

bearing on the latter. He recalled that when Guyana became an independent state there was a collective pledge which the people made to each other and which was reflected in the country's independence Constitution and succeeding versions.

The pledge, according to the former legal luminary, was that the people acknowledged and affirmed that 'respect for the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all persons are the foundations of freedom, justice and peace in society'; 'the entitlement of all to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual'; and `'recognised that these rights and freedoms are best established and secured in a democratic society founded upon the rule of law'”.

He noted that the very first Article of all of Guyana's Constitutions from 1966 to 1980 was the declaration: Guyana shall be a sovereign democratic State”. He said that the present Constitution commits the nation to the establishment of a democratic state.

A more authoritative source cannot be found. Sir Shridath was one of the architects of the 1966 and 1970 Constitutions which retained the collective pledge to establish a sovereign and democratic

state.

Constitutional interpretation – the role of the court – cannot ignore these foundational principles and values.

It follows therefore that any interpretation of the Constitution must be of such that it gives expression to the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution.

A Constitution established on an affirmation of support for democratic values must, of necessity, be interpreted liberally, so as to give effect to this democratic foundation.

I would go as far as asserting that it is now settled dogma that Constitutions must be given the widest possible amplitude, so as to give effect to its fundamental values.

As part of the democratic values of a state, every citizen has a right to choose a government of his or her choice at elections held, in the case of Guyana, every five years. This is also part of the agreement which was forged after Independence, but which we know was denied the people from 1968 to 1992.

Rigging is an offence against every citizen. While it is political parties which contest elections, the rigging of elections does not disadvantage just those parties who were the victims of electoral malpractice.

Dem boys seh...

Corona running things!

D

em politicians like to feel dat dey in charge and dat dey are de boss and d i r e c t i n g d e s h o w.

Coronavirus come and put all ah dem to shame. Some ah dem who used to feel dat dey 'big and bad' suddenly become small and humble.

De coronavirus gat dem doing all manner ah crazy things.

Some of dem washing dey hands more than dem breathing. Everything dey touch, dey hustling fuh disinfect and den hurry fuh wash dey hands. No wonder de Lysol sold out.

One man go to a public bathroom at a restaurant. He ain't want to touch de door 'cause he frighten he catch de coronavirus. So he open it with he elbow and he raise de toilet seat with he left foot. When he finish, he

used a piece of tissue fuh turn on de tap and wash he hands. He use he elbow again fuh open de bathroom door. When go back to he seat, he notice all de other costumers staring at he. Is den de man realise dat he ain't pull up back he pants.

De coronavirus got a lot of people pull up dey socks.

People trying dem best fuh practice social distancing.

People get long distance conversations wid dem wife and children in de house.

Dey keeping dem distance as if dey gat de plague. Dem boys seh all joke and skin teeth aside, dis coronavirus is serious business. We glad fuh see nuff Guyanese tekking it seriously.

De only thing some people mo' worried about is de election results. De result ain't come out yet and some people done get fever and

cold sweat. Some of dem can't sleep when de night come, because dem wondering whether dem gun gat to go back and practice law.

With de coronavirus around, some people ain't know whether dey gun live fuh see who gon be sworn in as de new President.

Simple Maths end up turning court matter! Is suh when you gat plenty lawyer in dem political parties. Dey love fuh argue but don't' know wuh dem arguing about. And fuh mek matters worse, dey getting pay fuh argue.

People praying and asking de Creatah fuh save dem. Dey suddenly claim dat dem don't care who win elections. All dem want is fuh not get de corona.

Tek half and leff de other half fuh de corona!

Rigging affects every citizen, regardless of how that person voted. It says to them that their choice does not matter; that what matters is what the riggers decide.

Rigging deprives a person's right to elect a government of his or her choice. When an election is rigged, it nullifies that person's choice. It effectively means that someone else will choose for you.

And the consequences of this are obvious.

Those who do not respect the people's choices will not be accountable to the people and may not respect their fundamental human rights.

They cannot be trusted with respecting the Constitution and the independence of the judiciary, as we saw in the past.

It is expected that those entrusted with interpreting the country's Constitution

would do so in a manner which acknowledges the pledge which, according to Sir Shridath, our people made to each other to establish a sovereign democratic state.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Tuesday March 24, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The hidden image in the WPA's recount canvas I

was on Kaieteur Radio with the Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Gerry Gouveia, and the social media personality known as “Guyanese Critic” when the latter asked me to explain the things some APNU+AFC were doing that seem so illogical.

I said to him, we will never understand humans, and I gave him an example from Germany during the Second World War. At the height of Germany's domination in the war, Hitler's deputy, Rudolph Hess, took a plane and flew straight into the UK, a country that Germany was at war with. No one at the time in Germany knew why Hess did what he did. Hess was

captured and remained in prison until his death at age 95. That action remains a world mystery.

Trying to understand why people do things that appear so illogical will be with civilization until civilization ceases to exist. It is becoming more incomprehensible with each passing day to understand how a party like the WPA, whose leader and other cadres died in the fight for free and fair elections in Guyana, could participate in election tampering whose barefaced stratagems were far more depraved than the actions of presidents Burnham and Hoyte.

When one reads the WPA's statement that it wants a full verified recount of the 2020 votes and the results

must be accepted, the reaction was that it is becoming clear that organizations aligned with APNU+AFC are becoming realistic that only that pathway is available to Guyana. WPA had joined the Justice For All Party (JFAP) and African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA).

But there is a crucial missing link in the WPA's position that is not present in the attitude of ACDA and JFAP. These two bodies are not represented on the GECOM commission; WPA is. The general manager of WPA's office (a position he holds for over 20 years now) and its co-host of the WPA's public relations programme, “Walter Rodney

Groundings” is Desmond Trotman.

In the absence of David Hinds who lives abroad, the WPA's office is virtually kept alive by Mr. Trotman. With Rupert Roopnaraine and Clive Thomas in retirement from active politics, Trotman is the key person in the WPA. If the statement is official and true, it would not have been issued by the WPA without Trotman's input and approval.

The hidden factor in the WPA's statement lies in the role of its GECOM Commissioner since March 4 when things broke down after Region 4's returning officer, Mr. Mingo, stopped the tabulation of the statements of poll. Only five commissioners have spoken to the press the past sixteen days – Benn, Shadick and Gunraj from the PPP and Corbin and Alexander from the PNC. Mr. Trotman has not faced the media.

The pattern has been, since March 4, of the three PPP commissioners critical of GECOM's role in the current impasse, and Corbin and Alexander always in defence

of GECOM. One now has to ask, with the publication of the WPA's call for a recount, how would this play out with Trotman?

The key to solving the election puzzle is a clean, transparent and verified recounting of the ballots. That is where we are at the moment.

Many lawyers h a v e a rg u e d t h a t t h e constitution gives GECOM legal authority to order partial or full recount.

If you have four commissioners voting for a recount (Trotman responding to his party's call) then the only way the recount could be rejected is if Chairman Singh vetoes it. I am not sure if there is a four versus two votes, the chairperson could intervene and reject the majority decision. I am not sure if the chair has that authority.

Given the WPA's position on a recount, it is virtually impossible for Trotman to decline an advocacy for such a direction. I reiterate; he had to be a party of consent to the WPA's recount statement.

One does not know if the WPA's statement is a

Frederick Kissoon desperate attempt to stave off the climax – the end of its legacy – but it is difficult to see how the WPA could survive this crisis, given the fact that one of its top leaders is a GECOM commissioner.

Sunday evening I went back and read the chapters written by Rupert Roopnaraine and Clive Thomas in the book, 'Walter Rodney: A promise of Revolution' and the chapter in Roopnaraine's, 'The Sky's Wild Noise' titled “Walter Rodney and the Answer of Power” and a chill went down my spine.

How could one reconcile the descriptions in those books about the struggle for free and fair elections, and what GECOM is doing to Guyana, and the WPA has a GECOM commissioner?

F u n n y, s t r a n g e o r ghastly?

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

Tuesday March 24, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 24, 2020

Defence files High Court action in ex-cop's extradition matter

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esterday, three months after the prosecution closed its case against ex-cop Shawn Neblett, who is wanted in the United States of America for drug trafficking, Neblett's attorney, Darren Wade informed the Magistrate that he has filed a high court action for the extradition matter to be determined by the Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George.

However, the court heard that a stay has not yet been granted by the High Court, and Wade asked for an adjournment. Principal Magistrate McGusty adjourned the matter to April 8. Attorney-at-law Stacy Goodings, who is representing the Government of the United States in the matter, said that the defence attorney had enough time to present his case, but he had chosen not to and is only using delaying tactics at this stage.

Goodings pointed out that the court has not yet ruled whether there is a prima facie case against the defendant. She added that the Magistrate has not ruled if the matter is to be discharged or if the defendant would be extradited.

Ex-cop Shawn Neblett A wanted bulletin was issued for Neblett in the United States in connection with a matter involving trafficking of narcotics through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.

Principal Magistrate McGusty is presiding over the proceedings in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts. The court heard that on February 2, 2017, the police had issued a bulletin for Neblett.

Neblett had been evading the police, but was arrested at Moleson Creek, Berbice, while illegally attempting to cross over to Suriname, eight days before his first court appearance.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 24, 2020

Man remanded for allegedly committing three robberies in one day

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wenty-nine-year-old Akeem Rajkumar, called 'Barney' of Leopold Street, Georgetown, was yesterday hauled before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts, to answer to three armed robbery charges.

An unrepresented Rajkumar denied all the charges after they were read to him.

All three of the incidents allegedly happened on November 11, 2019 at Leopold Street, Werk-en-rust, Georgetown.

The court heard that armed with a gun, Rajkumar robbed Julia Elexey of an iPhone 11 and a gold chain valued $800,000. It is also alleged that he robbed Ajay Mahadeo of a wallet valued $8,900, a phone valued $80,000 and $37,000 cash.

Rajkumar also allegedly robbed Timothy Morrison of a phone valued $98,000, a gold ring valued $60,000 and $158,000 cash.

Rajkumar then told the court that, “Every week I does keep a party in Leopold Street.

They does come to my party, so why would I rob them?

This is total victimization. I have four kids to look after, I don't have any reason to rob those people.�

According to information, on the day in question, Elexey, Morrison and Mahadeo were in Leopold Street, when Rajkumar approached them, pulled out a gun and pointed it towards them before relieving them of the items. He then made good his escape.

Akeem Rajkumar The matters were reported, an investigation was launched, and Rajkumar was later arrested and charged for the offences. He was put on an identification parade and was positively identified by the victims.

Objections were made by the police prosecutor to bail being granted, based on the serious nature of the allegation and the penalty the charge attracts. The Prosecutor highlighted that the defendant was previously charged with similar offences, and the fact that a weapon was used to commit the robberies.

After listening to the defendant and the prosecutor, Principal Magistrate Marcus, remanded the defendant to prison and adjourned the matter to March 30.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 24, 2020

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 24, 2020

“We stand with the people of Guyana who want to protect the integrity of their democracy” - White House Nat'l Security Council

T

he United States White House National Security Council has affirmed its commitment to having all nations in the Americas be fully free, and says that it stands with the people who want to protect the integrity of Guyana's democracy.

T h e C o u n c i l (@WHNSC) made its position known in a tweet yesterday, commenting on statements by Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, about the need for the tabulation of Guyana's votes to be credible.

The tweet reads: “The U.S. is committed to the Americas becoming the 1st fully free hemisphere. We stand with the people of #Guyana who want to protect the integrity of their democracy, maintain peace, & preserve regional stability

while we collectively confront #COVID2019.

Below the tweet is a link to Secretary Pompeo's Remarks to the Press in Washington, D.C., on March 17.

The White House National Security Council is the forum used by the President of the US to consider military, security and foreign policy matters.

The National Security Council's tweet is one in a series of public statements from high level US officials about the electoral process in Guyana.

Secretary Pompeo had said that the nation is closely monitoring the tabulation in Guyana, and that swift action would be taken to ensure that those who seek to benefit from electoral fraud and an i l l e g i t i m a t e government/regime would

face serious consequences.

The Council has joined calls by the Organisation of American States, the Commonwealth, the European Union, CARICOM and other democratic partners, for an accurate and credible count.

The Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo, has produced declarations on two separate occasions, for which the tabulation processes are marred by an alleged lack of transparency and accusations of electoral fraud. The first one was even vitiated by the Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire in a recent ruling. The second is also about to be under the court's contemplation, as People's Progressive Party (PPP) general secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, has challenged the legality of the declaration.

Jagdeo requests disclosure of SOPs...

From page 7 applicant. Respondents to the court matter are the GECOM, the Chairman of the Commission and the Chief Elections Officer.

The GECOM was, prior to the injunction, scheduled

to recount ballots in the elections following an agreement by President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. The decision for a recount was made following an intervention by the

Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley.

Prior to the injunction by the Court, Mottley had provided a high-level team to supervise the recount.

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Tuesday March 24, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Arima Public Market the market, as others are let in. Precautions like this are increasingly being adopted by many countries.

Some countries have been harder on the citizens than others. Italy, for instance, has banned most movement in the country,

according to a report by The Guardian. It has also closed all non-essential factories and businesses.

While Guyana has taken some measures already, like the closure of its borders, its approach remains relatively relaxed thus far.

Tuesday March 24, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday March 24, 2020

COVID-19 precaution…

Popular Dental Lab and Clinic closes for 3 weeks - Proprietor advises all non-essential businesses to do the same Management of the popular C. Persaud (Anand) Dental Lab and Clinic at Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara, has made the decision to close for 21 days, effective today, as a necessary measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Its proprietor, Cobeer Persaud told Kaieteur News of the decision yesterday.

Persaud said that he has spoken with dentists from other private practices and they have started closing too.

He has even spoken with the Dental School, and its management has indicated that it will only be treating emergency cases.

The clinic has a staff of

just over forty persons, but Persaud explained that caution has caused him to have the clinic work recently with “skeleton staff”. Leading up to today, Persaud said that the clinic had been taking very serious precautions to protect against the virus.

Information on its Facebook page indicated that a “wash up” and sanitising area had already been set up in front of the building. They would ask every person to wash their hands and to wipe their shoes on the disinfectant “bleach” mat before entering the building.

A photo on the page shows two sinks provided

Sinks and hygiene substances were provided for all entrants to the clinic.

The proprietor is seen in the photo washing his hands. The patrons would later leave as the uniformed man [at right] opens the door with a gloved hand

Cobeer Persaud with running water, Dettol soaps, sanitisers and paper towels.

The entrants were not

even permitted to open the doors themselves.

Persaud told Kaieteur News that the clinic tends to see about 100-200 clients a day on a regular basis, but that business has decreased by about 70 percent.

The proprietor said that he

would advise most businesses to close, as he now as, save and except for supermarkets and pharmacies.

The public, Persaud said, deserves to be updated about the statuses of the patients who have tested positive, and government needs to be more

forthcoming about new confirmed cases.

The wider effect on the society of the spread of the virus, Persaud contemplates.

He said that more needs to be done by the Ministry of Public Health in terms of public relations and disclosures.

Tuesday March 24, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Tokyo 2020 delay looms after Canada and Australia exit TORONTO/TOKYO (Reuters) - Major sporting nations Australia and Canada withdrew from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics yesterday as organizers faced global pressure to postpone the Games due to the coronavirus crisis for the first time in their 124-year modern history.

Putting back the July 24Aug. 9 event, as is looking inevitable, would be a massive blow for host Japan which has pumped in more than $12 billion of investment.

Huge sums are also at stake for sponsors and broadcasters.

But a groundswell of concern from athletes - already struggling to train as gyms, stadiums and swimming pools close around the world - appears to be tipping the balance, along with the cancellation of other major sports

events.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Japanese government have both edged back from weeks of blanket insistence the Games would go ahead, announcing a month-long consultation over other scenarios including postponement.

The Olympics have never before been delayed, though they were canceled altogether in 1916, 1940 and 1944 during the World Wars and major Cold War boycotts disrupted the Moscow and Los Angeles Games in 1980 and 1984 respectively.

“The moment the IOC indicates that it is thinking about other solutions, it has already decided to delay the Games,” said French Olympic Committee president Denis Masseglia.

Canada and Australia both

bluntly said they would not participate if the Games were not put back to 2021, and Britain may follow suit.

“We are in the midst of a global health crisis that is far more significant than sport,” said Canada’s Olympic Committee (COC) and Paralympic Committee (CPC) in a statement.

“STRESS AND UNCERTAINTY” “Our athletes have been magnificent in their positive attitude to training and preparing, but the stress and uncertainty have been extremely challenging for them,” said Australia’s Olympics Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman.

Paralympic athletes were considered at particular risk from the epidemic given some had underlying health problems. More than 14,600 people have died globally from the

Tuesday March 24, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) If you've been thinking about taking a trip, Aries, this isn't the day to make plans. Whatever you learn today about airline schedules or hotels may not reflect the situation as it really is.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) A letter or phone call regarding money that you may be expecting may still not come today, Taurus. This could put you in a panic and cause you to want to phone those responsible to see what's going on.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) An invitation to a social event could come today, Gemini, and you probably won't want to go. The people involved may not have anything in common with you, and you'll probably feel the event will be tedious and boring.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Are you feeling a little under the weather, Cancer?

You may have been burning the candle at both ends.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) A long-anticipated visit from a close friend or love partner may have to be postponed, Leo. This could be rather disheartening.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Career matters may be put on hold today, as important communications you're expecting fail to come on time, Virgo. As you're anxious to conclude the matters involved, you could make yourself crazy with frustration.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Short trips in your neighborhood may be rendered nearly impossible today by factors above and beyond your control, such as traffic, construction, or both, Libra.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This isn't the day to take care of paperwork, Scorpio, particularly if it involves money. Your mental processes are slower than usual, and you may find that you're easily distracted.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Communication with partners is likely to be poor to nonexistent today, Sagittarius. This isn't the time to enter into contract negotiations or other discussions that could affect your future in a major way.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Whatever work you do today could go more slowly than usual, Capricorn, as you're apt to be a bit distracted.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Phone calls and emails between you and your friends may get misplaced or otherwise go astray, Aquarius. A little patience is called for when trying to reach anyone at this time, especially if modern technology is involved.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Delays and frustrations could plague you throughout the day, Pisces, especially regarding communications.

A banner for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics is seen behind a traffic sign, following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Tokyo, Japan, March 23, 2020. (REUTERS/Issei Kato) coronavirus.

Russia urged global sporting authorities to avoid “panic” over the Olympics and U.S. President Donald Trump expressed confidence in Japan to make the “proper” call.

But a raft of other nations pressed for a quick decision from the IOC, which is led by its powerful president, Thomas Bach, a German lawyer

and former Olympic fencing champion.

Athletes were broadly supportive of postponement though sad.“Competing in the Olympics is my #1 goal but I fully support this decision and I commend our leadership for taking a stand,” tweeted Canadian tennis player Gabriela Dabrowski.Monday’s announcements followed growing pressure from big stake-

holders including U.S. Track and Field, UK Athletics and other national Olympic committees.

“An Olympic Games in July this year is neither feasible nor desirable,” World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe said. “We owe it to our athletes to give them respite where we can.”

ABEAND BACH UNDER PRESSURE Japanese authorities seemed to be bowing to the inevitable despite the losses and logistics headaches it would entail.

“We may have no option but to consider postponing,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was hoping for a boom in tourism and consumer spending, told parliament.

The organizing committee was already scaling back the torch relay to avoid crowds, NHK broadcaster said.

Both Japan and the IOC have stressed that calling off the Games entirely is not an option.

But finding a new date could be complicated as the summer 2021 calendar is already crowded, while 2022 will see the soccer World Cup and the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Japanese sponsors, from Toyota Motor Corp to Panasonic Corp, were nervously watching. But Tokyo stocks sensitive to the success of the Olympics surged yesterday, after sharp falls in prior weeks, thanks to expectations of a delay rather than a cancellation.

Ad agency Dentsu Group shares jumped 12%.

Postponement could be a major blow to the IOC’s prestige after weeks of saying the Games would go ahead as planned.

Many athletes already felt disrespected during the Russian doping scandal when Bach ensured Russians could carry on competing, albeit as neutrals. Now his iron grip on the IOC could weaken after various national committees at the weekend distanced themselves from his stance.

“IOC President Thomas Bach’s stubbornness and arrogance have spectacularly failed in this instance and he has weakened the Olympic movement,” Britain’s Olympic gold medal track cyclist Callum Skinner wrote on Twitter.

Bach is up for re-election in 2021.

Global Athlete Group said the IOC’s planned, monthlong consultation was irresponsible. “Over the next four weeks the world is going to increasingly shut down, the COVID-19 virus will sadly take more lives, and without a clear answer, athletes are still being indirectly asked to train,” it said.

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Kaieteur News

No immediate plans to shift CPL: organisers GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – Caribbean Premier League organisers said yesterday they had taken no decision to reschedule the upcoming tournament due to the coronavirus pandemic, but would continue to monitor the “evolving situation” in coming months.

The eighth edition of the domestic Twenty20 tournament is set to bowl off from August 19 to September 26 but the outbreak of the virus has now disrupted most global sporting leagues, forcing postponements and some cancellations.

“CPL has been in constant communication with our medical advisors in recent weeks, as well as speaking with Cricket West Indies about the current situation with regard to cricket around the world, and at present there has been no discussion about moving the event,” a CPL statement said.

“CPL believes it is too early to make such a decision, but this is an evolving situation and we are carefully watching how events unfold in the Caribbean and around the world.”

CPL’s announcement comes following CWI’s decision to suspend all its competitions for 30 days starting from last week, including the last two rounds of its marquee first class championships.

While there has been no word on international fixtures, CWI chief executive Johnny Grave recently told CMC Sports that home series against South Africa and New Zealand could also be peril due to the ongoing crisis.

CPL will come at the back end of the home series but organisers said optional dates would be considered in the event changes need to be made.

“At present the CPL team are planning for the tourna-

ment to take place as scheduled whilst also looking at alternative plans should they be needed,” the statement continued.

“Our thoughts at this time are with the many CPL fans, players and staff from around the world who have been impacted by this crisis and we hope that they and their families stay safe and healthy.”

The coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has already led to the scrapping of several global tournaments, with organisers of the Indian Premier League – the world’s leading T20 tournament – last week announcing a delay in the original March 29 start until April 15.There was fresh speculation yesterday that the tournament could be further delayed or rescheduled until year-end.

The coronavirus has infected over 372,500 people worldwide and resulted in over 16,000 deaths.

Tuesday March 24, 2020

NBA League uses social media reach for informative campaign on coronavirus (Reuters) - The NBA may have been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak but that has not stopped the league from using its massive online reach to good effect by educating its followers, sharing important information and guidelines related to the pandemic.

The NBA suspended its season after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the virus and since then more players have tested positive, including two-time champion Kevin Durant, three of his Brooklyn Nets team mates and two Los Angeles Lakers players.

The campaign, called ‘NBA Together’, will share the latest health and safety guidelines while using its digital platforms to help people cope with the pandemic.

“Over the past week, 18 NBA and WNBA players created public service announcement videos to share important health and wellness information about ways to reduce the spread of the coronavirus,” the NBA said in a statement.

“Those videos have generated more than 37 million views across the league’s social media accounts.”

One feature is a web page cares.nba.com/coronavirus with all the necessary infor-

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/File Photo) mation required to tackle the pandemic, with useful links to updates from the World Health Organization and what fans can do to protect themselves.The league said players from the NBA and WNBA have already committed to pay more than $30 million to support both healthcare organizations fighting the pandemic and people impacted by the virus.

They aim to raise $50 million.

Basketball fans at home will also get to watch classic games streamed on the NBA’s social channels every day while one player will also sit down for a live interview with fans every weekday on Instagram.

Globally, the coronavirus has infected more than 337,000 people and over 14,600 have died. The United States has more than 33,600 cases with 421 deaths.

Olympic gold medalist Van der Burgh battling coronavirus CAPE TOWN (Reuters) Former Olympic swimming champion Cameron van der Burgh has said he has been battling the new coronavirus for the last two weeks and that athletes who continue to train for the Tokyo Games are exposing themselves to “unnecessary risk”.South African Van der Burgh won gold in the 100m breaststroke at the 2012 London Olympics and silver in Rio four years later before retiring in 2018.He said that while the most severe symptoms from the virus had passed he was still exhausted by any physical activity.

“I have been struggling with COVID-19 for 14 days today,” he said on Twitter.

“By far the worst virus I have ever endured despite being a healthy individual with strong lungs (no smoking/sport), living a healthy lifestyle and being young (least at-risk demographic).

“Although the most severe symptoms (extreme fever) have eased, I am still struggling with serious fatigue and a residual cough that I can’t shake. Any physical activity like walking leaves me exhausted for hours.”

Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa competes during the 14th FINA World Swimming Championships in Hangzhou, China. (REUTERS/Aly Song/file photo) More than 14,600 people have died globally since the coronavirus outbreak began.

Van der Burgh, 31, said athletes who contract the virus will struggle to get back in peak condition for the Games, which are scheduled to start on July 24, though there have been growing calls for the Olympics to be postponed.Canada became the first country to boycott the Games due to the coronavirus pandemic and Australia on Monday told its athletes to prepare for the Olympics to be postponed to 2021.

“The loss in body conditioning has been immense and I can only feel for the athletes that contract COVID19 as they will suffer a great loss of current conditioning through the last training cycle. Infection closer to competition being the worst,” he said.“Athletes will continue to train as there is no clarification regarding the summer Games and thus are exposing themselves to unnecessary risk — and those that do contract will try rush back to training most likely enhancing/extending the damage/recovery time.”

Tuesday March 24, 2020

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Julian Moore following in footsteps of Dad Feels lack of senior players at Clubs a reason for standard of local cricket

By Sean Devers When 36-year-old Berbician Julian Moore was selected as Manager and Assistant Coach for the Guyana Jaguars in the last two rounds of the CWI Regional Firstclass Tournament he joined his father Carl Moore as the only father/son pair to manage a Guyana Senior team.

In addition to winning the inaugural Sanford T20 Title which made him a Millionaire and the Caribbean T20 Trophy which earned Guyana a trip to South Africa for the Champions League, Carl Moore, who managed the U15 team, was the most successful Guyana three-day U19 manager before being appointed to that position for the Guyana First-class team.

Carl Moore was a very efficient Manager and young Moore will have to do a lot to fill his dad’s boots but he has another bow to his arrow which is coaching. “It feels pretty good to be linked with him in the game and continue, in a way, what he did,” said Julian who was born on October 8, 1985 in New Amsterdam to Carl and Ulex Moore and has an elder brother Micheal.

Julian, who attended the Viola Nursery, the All Saints Primary, New Amsterdam Multilateral and Berbice High school where he got seven CXC subjects, explained how he got interested in Cricket.

“Most of my holidays and weekends were spent with dad going to cricket matches across Berbice. Dad was the Secretary of the Berbice Cricket Board and I grew up watching (Clayton) Lambert, (Sudesh) Dhaniram, (Kevin) Darlington and Andre

(Percival) among other Berbice and Guyana players so I guess that’s where it all began,” the former Guyana under-15 batsman informed.

After playing for Berbice in the U-15 inter-county tournament he was selected for the Regional 2000 U-15 tournament in Trinidad and kept wicket when Tyrel Tull left the field.

Young Moore’s progressed as the left-handed batsman and was picked for Berbice at U-17 and U-19 levels and made his first division debut as a 15-year-old for the then Bermine Cricket Club.

When Bermine was renamed Tucber Park they were a young team with not many senior players.

“That meant on many occasions I had to assist with some of the younger kids with the basics of batting, bowling etcetera. I guess my father saw the potential in me and when the level 1 course came to Berbice in 2014, he implored me to take part. The rest is history,” Moore said.

“Playing the game obviously was my number one passion but after playing under-19s I didn’t really see myself moving into the senior set up, it was a reality I had to face. I still love the game and wanted to be involved and I thought of no better way than to pursue my new found passion whilst still contributing to the game. I rarely play now unless we are without our senior players,” Julian said.

Julian, whose favourite cricketer is Virat Kholi because of his commitment and drive towards greatness, disclosed that when he was not involved with cricket he enjoys

Julian (right) with his Parents and relatives during Christmas in NY (Carl Moore is wearing A on his sweater). watching some NBA Basketball and just relaxing at home.

“Spending time with my family and daughter Azaria is right up there as well,” added Julian who loves Macaroni and chicken.

Julian said the most challenging aspect for him as a coach is the lack of proper facilities. “During the rainy season especially there are not much concrete strips or indoor facilities readily available so you are kinda up against it in terms of putting the quality work that you would like,” said Julian, a former National U-15 Coach and National Junior selector.

“As a National Youth selector the first thing you look for is talent. Obviously you will look at other areas such as production, discipline, fitness and so on. I think once you have identified those

Joseph misses out on million-dollar derby win NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, CMC – Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph Jr just narrowly missed out on one of the biggest wins of his career when his entrant, Ny Traffic, finished second in Saturday’s feature US$ one million Grade Louisiana Derby.

Going off at the long odds of 27-1 under jockey Joe Bravo, the three-year-old bay colt followed home eventual winner, favourite Wells Bayou, by 1-1/2 lengths in the 1-3/16th miles trip, in the final race on the cash-rich 12race card at Fair Grounds.

“The last couple races he really stepped up to the plate and the horse is just getting good,” Bravo said.

“The thing that makes him

Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. so good is that he listens.

He broke great, put him in front, he relaxed off the other horse. He turned for home and my horse did not want to lay up.

“We are not fortune tellers, the horse is getting good and the sky is the limit.”

Saturday’s finish marked

yet another improvement for Ny Traffic who ran third in last month’s Risen Star at Fair Grounds.

More significantly, Ny Traffic now has 50 points and lies fourth in the Road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby – a series of races through which horses qualify for the prestigious first leg of the storied American Triple Crown.

The 33-year-old Joseph, who moved to Florida in 2011, logged a single winner at Gulfstream Park on Saturday when favourite French Quarter captured race five over six furlongs on the 12race card at the southeastern Florida oval.

French Quarter, a nineyear-old brown gelding ridden by Paco Lopez, completed the trip in one minute, 11.39 seconds.

things, it’s much easier to project players moving forward.

I think we have a good bunch of players in Guyana at the moment. Ashmead Nedd, Kevin Sinclair, Kelvon Anderson, Akshaya Persaud, Tevin Imlach, Gudakesh Motie, just to name a few, have what it takes to one day be in the West Indies set up.

Key thing for them is to continue working hard and improve every single day. Various opportunities will present itself to these guys so it’s about being ready to grab it with both hands,” Coach Moore said.Due to world-wide pandemic COVID-19 the Regional First-Class season has been suspended. “Sports not only in Guyana but around the world; Persons are very responsible at this time even to practice… sessions are off. I guess players will have to take the initiative of doing their

personal work,” the Jaguars assistant Coach advised his

charges.

As one of two qualified Coaches at Tucber Park Cricket Club (the other is West Indies female player Tremaine Smartt) Julian give his views on the standard of local cricket.

“We can argue that the standard of our local cricket is not quite where we would like it to be. I think we have lost the presence of a lot senior players for various reasons in the club setting so for the most part there is not much experience being shared.

In saying that I think we have got to focus on Coaching. Clubs have got to equip themselves with Coaches and ensure that there is a system whereby players can develop and improve, not just skillwise but other aspects of the game,” concluded Julian.

PAGE 24

Tuesday March 24, 2020

Kaieteur News

Alone, world champion Coleman GFF pushing ahead with next trains through the uncertainty phase of development at National MoH precautionary Training Facility measures being adhered to

(Reuters) - Nearly 400 miles away from his coach, world 100 meters champion Christian Coleman trains for an Olympics that may never take place in 2020.

“It’s different and it is tough because I am not with my training group,” Coleman told Reuters in a telephone interview.

A volunteer coach at the University of Kentucky in Lexington where his coach Tim Hall is the sprint coach, Coleman works out alone in Atlanta these days, residing with his parents while school is closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I’m having to hop the fence at a high school around the corner” to use a closed track, the world indoor 60m record holder said.

Even essential weightlifting sessions do not come easy.

“Most gyms around here are closed,” Coleman said, “so you have to know somebody who knows somebody who owns a gym and is able to let me in.”

Workout plans are provided by his coach but Coleman said he misses the in-person contact.

“It starts to weigh on you mentally because you are not sure if you are doing the right things,” he said of the ab-

Christian Coleman of the U.S. at the World Athletics Championships before the Men’s 4x100 Metres Relay Final at the Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar. (REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel) sence of a coach and training partners to push him.

“It’s kind of nerve wracking because I am trying to prepare the best way I can and also stay safe.”

He is not alone.

“Everybody I have talked to has been extremely affected by these drastic times in some way,” Coleman said.

“Tracks are closed. They are having to go to a park and run on the grass. They are not able to be around their coaches and training groups.

And that’s just track athletes.

What about the swimmers who can’t find a pool that is open and wrestlers when people should not be in contact.“This is bigger than sports,” he said of the virus that has killed more than

15,000 globally.

PRESSURE While pressure grows to cancel this year’s Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said it will take up to four weeks before making a decision.

Canada on Sunday became the first nation to withdraw from the 2020 Games because of the coronavirus and Australia told its athletes to prepare for Games next year.

World Athletics has said an Olympics starting in July would not be feasible and other organizations are also pushing for a delay.

While Coleman is blessed to have a shoe contract, many athletes are struggling to work and train and fearful of bringing the virus home to families, he said.

The sprinter said he too has tried to exercise caution while living with his parents, his sister and her four-andhalf month old daughter.

“I try to stay in the house as much as I can, but I don’t have any choice but to get out and train so I will be prepared when this is all over,” said the 24-year-old.

Personally he hopes there are no Olympics this year.

“I hope they postpone it to next year and give everybody a clean slate and do it right,” said Coleman, who had set up his training and schedule to go for gold in both the 100m and 200m at Tokyo before the virus struck.

“Even if in four months this was to pass by, I don’t think a lot of people would feel comfortable everybody pounding into an Olympic village.”

Construction works ongoing at the GFF National Training Facility located at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

T

he benefits of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) National Training Facility located at Providence, East Bank Demerara has already been felt by the football family and has made an indelible impact on the national programme to date.

Unveiled less than a year ago (May 13th, 2019) by FIFA Director of Member Associations and Development, Mr. Veron Mosgengo-Omba and witnessed by a bevy of Caribbean Administrators, the FIFA Forward Project Pitch (all weather) / National Training

Center has been making its mark.

With a number of phases still to go before the facility which sits on 8.5 acres of land is fully completed, the Federation has disclosed that another phase of development is currently underway and the project is certainly on schedule despite the challenges being faced by all and sundry as a result of the COVID – 19 World Pandemic.

The relevant guidelines and advice that would have been put out by the Ministry of Health are being followed by the Contractor, GFF Presi-

dent Wayne Forde informed.

Current works include: 1. The construction of National Team Dorms; 2. Construction of a Gym; 3. Construction of a Resources / Training Centre for Coaching Education, Referees Development and Football Administration Programmes; 4. Team Dressing Rooms and Shower Stalls.

The foregoing works for this phase of the project are expected to be completed at the end of May, 2020, the Federation disclosed.

Jazz C Gobert says he’s temporarily lost sense of smell

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) takes a shot during pregame warmups prior to the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. (Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo)

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert said he has temporarily lost his sense of smell as he tries to recover from coronavirus.

Gobert, whose positive test kickstarted both the NBA and sports world shutdown, asked on social media if others are experiencing similar symptoms.

“Just to give you guys an update, loss of smell and taste is definitely one of the symptoms, haven’t been able to smell anything for the last 4 days. Anyone experiencing the same thing?” Gobert posted on his Twitter account.

Gobert, 27, was the first NBA player to test positive for COVID-19 on March 11, prompting the league to suspend its regular season indefinitely, just minutes after the Jazz and Thunder were set to tip off in Oklahoma City.

He since has apologized for acting carelessly before learning of the diagnosis.

Jazz teammate and fellow All-Star Donovan Mitchell tested positive the following day, and there are now 10 confirmed positive tests for COVID-19 among NBA players. Only five of those players have been identified: Gobert and Mitchell from the Jazz, injured Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant, plus the Detroit Pistons’ Christian Wood and the Boston Celtics’ Marcus Smart.

On March 14, Gobert pledged to donate a total of $500,000 for arena employees in Utah and Oklahoma City, as well as overall COVID19 relief in his home country of France.

(Field Level Media)

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 24, 2020

V and V All stars crowned Canada making ‘right call’ to Malvern SC T20 champs skip Tokyo Games: Trudeau AFP - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday praised Canadian Olympic officials’ decision not to send athletes to the Tokyo Summer Games due to the coronavirus pandemic, saying “everyone should follow their lead.”The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and its Paralympic counterpart announced on Sunday they will not be sending athletes to the Games and urged that they be postponed.

Trudeau at his daily coronavirus briefing from his residence in Ottawa — where he and his family are entering a second week of selfisolation after his wife Sophie was diagnosed with the virus — called it a “tough decision.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Members of the V and V All stars with their hardware.

V and V All stars were crowned champions of the Malvern Sports Club T20 competition following a 102-run victory over Belle Vue Sports Club in the final which was contested on Sunday last.

V and V All stars posted 228 for 5 after they were inserted at Belle Vue, West Bank Demerara.

Quazim Yusuf led with 57 which came off 31 balls and included five fours and four sixes, Ershad Ali made 46 off 21 balls with five fours and two sixes, while Anand Bharat

slammed three fours and two sixes in scoring 42 off 30 balls. C. Boucher picked up 2-33 from four overs, while R. Ramroop claimed 2-37 off four overs.

Belle Vue were bowled out for 126 in 17.3 overs in reply. K. Bernard scored 39 not out off 19 balls with one four and three sixes, while D. Asby made 20 off seven balls including one four and two sixes. Ricky Sargeant captured 3-21 from four overs, while David Alert took 2-12 off three overs.

Eight teams took part in the competition.

“I know this is heartbreaking for so many people — athletes, coaches, staff, and fans — but this was absolutely the right call,” Trudeau said. “And everyone should follow their lead.”Trudeau noted that he spoke to Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe earlier about the move.Abe told parliament Japan was committed to a “complete” Games, but acknowledged for the first time that a postponement “may become inevitable.”

“I know there are a lot of concerns about international events. Prime Minister Abe is very aware of these challenges,” said

said it was a “tough decision” not to send athletesto the Tokyo Olympics. (AFP / Dave Chan) Trudeau.Canada was the first country to take the decision not to send athletes to Tokyo if the Games are held there as scheduled July 24-August 9.Australia immediately followed suit.“While we recognize the inherent complexities around a postponement, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our athletes and the world community,” the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic authorities said Sunday.

Tokyo Olympics WILL be postponed until 2021, veteran IOC Dominant Bridgmohan wins member Dick Pound says

US$300,000 Muniz Memorial NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, CMC – Jamaican jockey Shaun Bridgmohan produced a dominant frontrunning effort aboard 9-1 choice Factor This to win the US$300,000 Grade 2 Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes at Fair Grounds here Saturday.

Going a mile and eighth for the four-year-olds and upward in race 10, Bridgmohan set a brisk pace with the five-year-old bay before storming to the wire in a track record time of one minute, 47.21 seconds.

Eleven-to-one chance Dontblamerocket finished three lengths behind in second while Rockemperor ran on for third, as favourite Instilled Regard was a disappointing sixth underneath John Velazquez.

“He ran his eyes out today,” said Bridgmohan who won twice on the day’s 12-race programme at the southern United States racetrack.

“He is a very cool horse to ride because basically, he does all the work himself.”

Bridgmohan had earlier opened his account in the $50 000 race two over a mile

w i t h f a v o u r i t e Dreamalildreamofu, bringing the bay filly from off the pace to snatch the lead at the five-sixteenth and beat the three-year-old maidens by three lengths.

However, it was race 10 – one of eight added-money races on the day’s card – where Bridgmohan took centre stage with the Brad

Secretary of War, who eventually finished last, sat comfortably in fourth.

Factor This bossed the backstretch but approaching the turn, Colby Hernandez brought Marzo to challenge as the race turned for home.

However, Bridgmohan roused the front-runner and she responded brilliantly, pulling away from the field

‘It will come in stages.

Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan.

Cox-trained Factor This. He emerged from a bunched up field to take the early lead, posting 23.49 seconds for the first quarter and 47.94 for the half.

Marzo tracked from second, Dontblamerocket stalked from third while

Daily Mail - Tokyo Olympics WILL be postponed until 2021, veteran IOC member Dick Pound says.

The International Olympics Committee member confirmed that the competition will not take place this year.

Pound told USA Today: ‘On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided.‘The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know.

with a gallant run and really had no challengers in the stretch run.

The victory marked the second straight graded stakes win in record time for Factor This following her capture of the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Stakes last month.

We will postpone this and begin to deal with all the ramifications of moving this, which are immense.’

It follows Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe has conceded that a delay to the Tokyo Olympic Games could be ‘inevitable’ as the world continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic.

Dick Pound (pictured) has confirmed today that the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Yesterday, Abe told will be postponed. (Reuters) parliament that Japan was postpone.’ still committed to hosting a The decision came as ‘complete’ Games, but added: ‘If that becomes Team Canada and Team d i f f i c u l t , i n l i g h t o f Australia announced they considering athletes first, it will not be sending athletes if may become inevitable that the games are staged this we make a decision to year.

Julian Moore following in t r o Sp footsteps of Dad

No immediate plans to shift CPL: organisers

Feels lack of senior players at Clubs a reason for standard of local cricket

Manager & Asst Coach Julian Moore with skipper Johnson and Head Coach Crandon at Providence.

There are no plans to shift the Caribbean Premier League.

GFF pushing ahead with next phase of development at National Training Facility MoH precautionary measures being adhered to

Artist’s impression of what this phase of works would look like when completed.

Tokyo Olympics WILL be postponed until 2021, veteran IOC member Dick Pound says Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8452, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.