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AIETEUR

UN Resident Coordinator says… Saturday Edition

‘Prevention is critical and urgent’

NEWS

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

March 28, 2020 - Vol. 14 No. 13

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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13

- Calls on Govt. to put tougher measures into effect for COVID-19

GECOM can order recount p.

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- Chairperson contends in affidavit “Once there is evidence that the electoral process was compromised, then to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the Constitution, the Commission is constitutionally mandated to intervene to ensure public confidence in the electoral process.” - retired Justice Claudette Singh

Online readership yesterday 162,782

Front page comment

T

his newspaper believes that the time has come for the government to immediately order a lockdown of the country for two weeks, except for essential services, as has been done in Trinidad and Tobago.

A lockdown is necessary at this stage to protect the people from the further spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Other countries have assessed the dangers to their populations and have ordered lockdowns.

Guyana should follow suit immediately. Time is of the essence.

Patient’s death amid worrying secrecy at West Dem. Hospital causes concern

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D E L TOPP

- Man said to have attended first COVID-19 victim’s wake p.17

In the light of coronavirus…

Don’t discriminate against health care workers 12p.

-GPHC advises businesses, taxi and bus operators

Man allegedly shot and injured by police after being foundp. with gun 2

A malfunction on a container sidelifter resulted in this vehicle toppling, and resulted in major damage to the vehicle, luckily no one was injured.

Oil market crisis… Guyana would still get Cops working

US$250-300M from first year of oil if royalty is at fair 15% - Dr. Jan Mangal p.

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closely with Region Six COVID-19 p.8 task force

Court to hear recount case; rejects request for GECOM to produce SOPs p. 3

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Kaieteur News

Saturday March 28, 2020

Three Cubans test positive for Man allegedly shot and COVID-19 after returning from injured by police after Guyana last week: reports being found with gun

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everal Cuban publications have reported their health authorities as having confirmed up to 80 cases of Coronavirus, as of yesterday.

Kaieteur News has confirmed that three people who travelled from Guyana to Cuba last Saturday, have tested positive for Coronavirus.

Taken from Cubainformacion.tv, the country's authorities reported yesterday that an eight-year-old Cuban girl from the Cárdenas municipality in Matanzas province has tested positive.

Her mother who came with her from Guyana had also tested positive the day before, the publication reported.

They are both hospitalized at Mario Muñoz Monroy Hospital.

On Thursday, the publication also reported that a 31-year-old who lives in the same area arrived from Guyana, and later tested positive for COVID-19.

That individual reportedly starting displaying with symptoms on March 22 and 23 last, and was detected with respiratory symptoms by a family doctor. The doctor

Cuba's National Director of Epidemiology, Francisco Durán García referred the patient to the same hospital, where he remains isolated.

The revelations were made during press conferences by Cuba's national director of epidemiology, Dr. Francisco Durán.

These persons all travelled from Guyana, which has confirmed five cases so far.

Mandela Avenue, Phase One Resident was yesterday allegedly shot and injured by police after he was reportedly found with a weapon in his possession. The injured man was identified as 25-year-old Shemar Bobb.

When Kaieteur News arrived at the scene of the shooting, residents were washing off blood from the spot where Bobb was shot.

A male cousin of the young man, who requested anonymity, disclosed to Kaieteur News that they were at his Uncle's home, celebrating his birthday.

“We was hanging out inside, playing music and chilling, so apparently some guys were running coming from the front and screaming 'police police', probably they do something and they running through.”

According to Bobb's relative, they all ran in separate directions, and then he heard gunshots.

“My cousin run behind some banana trees and I heard the shots, about six, and I ran around to see what was going on, and when I look, I see Shemar on the ground bleeding, like he can't move, and he begging them not to shoot him, and hollering 'don't kill meh.'”

The cousin said that they then picked up his cousin and transported him to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he remains under police guard.

Kaieteur News saw video footage of the young man lying on the public road in a

A screenshot of the video showing the injured Shemar Bobb being dragged towards a minibus to be transported to the hospital. bloodied state, and being dragged towards a bus. Up to press time, the police have not issued on official release on the incident.

Kaieteur News

Saturday March 28, 2020

PAGE 03

Elections 2020 legal battle...

Court to hear recount case; rejects request for GECOM to produce SOPs request for GECOM to produce SOPs J

ustice Franklyn Holder is expected to proceed with hearing a case filed by A Partnership for National Unity – Alliance for Change (APNU-AFC) candidate, Ulita Moore, following a ruling that the High Court has jurisdiction to hear the Fixed Date Application (FDA).

Justice Holder also handed down a decision yesterday refusing a request

by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to have the Statements of Poll (SOPs) garnered from the March 2, 2020 elections disclosed in Court.

The Judge had previously granted an interim injunction to put the recount process on hold.

The interim injunction granted to Moore restrains the Chairman of GECOM, and the Chief Elections Officer, from setting aside or varying the declarations already made by the 10 electoral districts with any other documents or declarations, until the

Justice Franklyn Holder hearing and determination of the judicial review of the application.

According to the interim injunction, it restrains GECOM from permitting or authorising “any person or persons to any agreement between the President of Guyana and the leader of the determination of the judicial review application”.

“The interim decision also restrains the Chief

Elections Officer, CEO, from submitting any report of the total votes cast for each List of 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 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 application filed herein.

Lawyers representing the Leader of Opposition, People Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Bharrat Jagdeo, who filed a joint application with Reaz Holladar, a private citizen, have challenged Moore's injunction.

In his representation of the PPP/C, Trinidad- based

Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes challenged the application on the grounds that court has no jurisdiction to hear the action.

In the ruling yesterday, Justice Holder noted that Jagdeo's lawyers in their arguments of whether the Court has jurisdiction had cited section 140 of the Representation of the People Act. “I do recognize that Section 140 does prescribe for an alternative statutory remedy in the form of an elections petition where persons are aggrieved relative to any of the issues provided for in Article 163.

This is a limited alternative remedy to treat with only those issues provided for in Article 163.

He added that “This is a true statement of law where the provision such as in Section 140 of the Representation of the People

Act, the court could provide an alternative statutory remedy.”

“An alternative statutory remedy relates to questions provided for in Article 163, where GECOM may be acting in the ambit of its jurisdiction…in Section 140 (1) of the Representation of the People Act by itself …does not oust the jurisdiction of the court, in its ordinary jurisdiction, for Judicial Review where the Elections Commission has alleged to have done or intends to do something that it has no jurisdiction to do.

As such, Holder stated that the court has jurisdiction to hear the application brought by Ulita Moore.

Outside the Courthouse, Attorney -at- law Neil Boston S.C, who represents Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, in the matter, told the court that the decision of the Court not to

allow Jagdeo 's request for the SOPs is in keeping with the argument that such issues can only be sorted out by way of an elections petition.

“This is after the final results are declared and everything is finalized. Not in a matter that is set for judicial review; it cannot happen. That would be unlawful.”

Meanwhile, PPP Executive Member and Attorney -at –law, Anil Nandlall said other members of his legal team would appeal the decision by Holder to hear the case, on the basis of the Representation of the People Act. Nandlall said that the Act bars the court from enquiring into decisions by the sevenmember GECOM. According to him, the appeal is likely to go all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice.

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Saturday March 28, 2020

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

A concerning threat within an already threatening situation A number of places, public and private, have taken laudable action as part of their response to the COVID-19 threat. What they have done is comforting, and helps to reduce the presence of workers and citizens in public places, along with the time they are in the open. The new standard for most sensible people - who are taking seriously this threat which has still not registered here significantly - is in and out and little by way of lingering in between.

This ought to be the norm for everyone, but it is not so.

We say this because there is a small section of the population that is out there, who are unaccounted for, and which poses a viable threat that should not be neglected. It is the milling, circling, roving individuals and clusters of them that make up the population of addicts and homeless. They represent a possibly sharp threat as this society braces for a coronavirus storm, which it is hoped will take a different, fast moving, and quickly distancing course of travels. We do not want it to stay, no malingering. Just go!

While there are those hopes, the reality is that our little bands of homeless are not going anywhere. This is whether they congregate around the Post Office, markets, shopping places, or elsewhere.

First, they do not observe social distancing, and may even take offence at being so cautioned. Second, because of their physical condition(s), they may be vulnerable to whatever comes, since their immune systems are compromised, which makes them unable to counter what endangers.

The constant realities of addictions, poor nutrition, and exposure to the raw elements leave them severely exposed to COVID-19. They could be prime targets, who are easy to infest. They hold high probability of being unwitting carriers, which is the heart of the problem and concerns.

It is well known that the homeless and drug-riddled are not homebodies. They are roamers or fixed presences near many crowded places and close up. For those are where the opportunities to grab the attention and gain a little fleeting comfort are greater. Somebody in the shopping and spending crowds would have some spare change. This is what counts.

On the other hand, what counts for worried citizens at this time is taking every precaution to protect self, family, and immediate environment, as in the home.

Nobody wants to get anything or to carry anything. But with the strong chance and actual situation where a homeless and sick brother is almost up in the face, negates all the good intentions and sturdy efforts undertaken at the personal level.

Think of this: somebody coughs lightly outside of the home and just about everybody looks up in alarm, and watches, maybe even glares. Don’t bring that here. Keep whatever is had to self. Do the right thing: stay away from us and protect us. That works when dealing with rational and grounded fellow workers and others. It does not, however, work when confronted at close range by those looking for a helping hand, any kind of fix to ease their sharp needs.

As stated earlier, our less fortunate brethren are not in the healthiest of conditions. This makes them the ideal receptors, with many on the higher side of years, and those who are not that old have aged far beyond their actual years.

None of this is helpful to the peace of mind of those going about their daily business and associated interactions on a hurried basis. There are sure to be fears over what could rise to the level of a stealth threat - one in the midst of the milieu - that holds the potential for some degree of spread.

Now the skeptics and humane amongst us may shrink from what the urgencies of the moment demand. Drastic times and circumstances necessitate and justify drastic steps. After all, and as is now proven beyond doubt, this is not the regular flu that surfaces occasionally. This is a very serious situation that calls for serious, immediate steps.

And the vital step required is to arrange to remove and re-house our homeless from in the pathways of daily life.

This does not come easily, but the hour calls for it.

Understanding the concept of Summoning Ambassador was summoned A summoning needs to be an Ambassador to a foreign Ministry of an- backed up by other action to DEAR EDITOR, Your front page news item (March 27) reported that the Guyana ambassador was summoned to the State Department. This concept is studied in International Relations or International Politics in courses on Diplomacy or Foreign Affairs. I did doctoral studies in both fields and as such understand the concept and when it is used.

Summoning an Ambassador is a diplomatic tool that a host country has when it wants to make its anger felt to another country. An Ambassador is a representative of a country to another country; relations between countries are normally carried out by the Ambassador (and staff) and the foreign Ministry (State Department). “Summoning” an Ambassador (of a home government) simply means that the host state ‘orders’ an Ambassador (or his representative based in the capital) to the foreign ministry (diplomatically if not legally obligated to appear) usually to express displeasure and warn of consequences of an act (policy) carried out by

the country of the Ambassador. The disapproval can be verbal and or written. It is the highest level in the host country of a show of disapproval of an act. Normally, there is a dress down (the Ambassador gets an earful) of the act or policy of the country. If the Ambassador is unavailable, the deputy goes in. Summoning an Ambassador is a serious action by the host state; it is usually the last verbal warning before actions are taken. A summoning is not normally or lightly taken by a host state or ignored by a home state (especially if it is small and weak). And the US hardly summoned Ambassadors of small countries to deliver messages for their governments. The Ambassador can refuse to attend a summoning. But it will lead to serious consequences like banning from all social events and trigger more serious actions like withdrawal of aid, instructing the Ambassador to leave the country, etc.

The US summoning of the Washington-based Ambassador is the first time in Guyana’s history that her

other state. The summoning of the Ambassador has to do with the election. The State Department official was blunt that fraudulent results of the election will not be accepted.

There would be serious consequences for a government that swears in from a farcical count of ballots. The Ambassador had an obligation to report that message to his government. And the State Department made the act of summoning and the message public so that government and the population in Guyana and the diaspora are aware that the US means business about its intolerance for rigged elections. If it was not that important, the US would not have made it public.

The summoning signals a strain in relations. It is the first act of upbraiding with more to follow. Such an act is not normally followed by a second warning although it is possible that the Secretary of State could intervene more directly and give another serious warning to the Guyana government. If there is continued intransigence, sanctions could be the next step.

send a clear message that the host country means business. In short, the message from the summoning means the US would not accept a fraudulent electoral outcome declared by Clairmont Mingo.

And if Gecom and the government continue on that path, both will suffer serious consequences for their action.

The Ambassador of the home government would brief his superior (Minister) and get instructions on the most appropriate way to respond.

But no explanation would suffice; the US wants a government based on the real outcome of the elections not Mingo’s declaration of the count of region 4. Nothing else matters to the US at this time! It will become more serious if the correct result is not declared within days. The Guyana government and Gecom are urged to act quickly and decisively in bringing the electoral count to an end, declare the real winner, and let relations with America return to normal.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

OUR WRITING HAS TRANSFORMATIVE POWER DEAR EDITOR,In these troubled times when Guyana seems to be hit by a double Tsunami – tensions over the disputed results of the 2020 Elections, and fears associated with the COVID19 pandemic – the mass media has a responsibility to ensure that whatever information is disseminated to the public is not inflammatory. Those in particular who are privileged to share their thoughts and opinions to the public have an obligation to be tactful and objective without compromising facts that support their viewpoint.

Irresponsible writing could rattle frayed nerves and ignite a firestorm of bitterness and anger, the flames of which may be difficult to douse.

Recently, a regular columnist of this prestigious newspaper exploded into a rant, first admitting his anger and then identifying his ethnicity, which from observation seems to have coloured his opinions, even if some of his thoughts were intended to convey a universal appeal.

His general contention that individuals and groups have the constitutional right to seek redress in the courts on issues relevant to their interests can hardly be disputed. However, if legal action is used as a tactic to obfuscate, stall and create diversion when a pre-court remedy is in place and endorsed by your leader, then your action raises suspicion,

particularly if your leader expresses lamentation over such action. Conversely, if legal action is taken to correct a wrong witnessed and criticized universally, then legal redress has an incomparable justification.

That fair-minded, morally upright citizens decry the former action and support the latter is hardly a cause to stir anyone’s ire, unless the issues are viewed through jaundiced lens.Uncertainty hanging over the 2020 Guyana Elections, occasioned largely by the contumacious defiance of the Chief Justice’s pointed legal direction on how Region Four verification should

proceed, is cause for alarm. It should be recalled that the deafening silence of GECOM’s Chairperson, notwithstanding a repeat bungling of the process by one of its officials, and the immediate unanimous condemnation from accredited observers prompted a call from Mr. Granger to Ms. Mia Mottely for CARICOM to participate in a solution. I need not repeat what subsequently followed, which has left the country in a disquieting limbo.It is unfortunate, that the columnist is silent on the verification fiasco, GECOM’s ineptitude, and the stubbornness by a Returning

Officer to follow the use of SOPs, as was used for verifying results of the other nine regions. Additionally, if the direct recount of the votes for Region 4 is the unvarnished best approach to verify the results, why is there such great resistance by GECOM and APNU/AFC. According to the law, GECOM is an autonomous body, but its recent actions hardly reflect its touted independence.

Additionally, politicians with vested interest may put on the façade of detachment, and noninterference, but an unholy s i l e n c e could be the character of a Machiavellian (Continued on page 6)

We need leaders of impeccable integrity DEAR EDITOR, I was a young lad in 1966 when we raised the Golden Arrowhead for the first time.

I have lived continuously in Guyana since that time and so I have witnessed firsthand these 50 odd years of an independent Guyana.

Other than slight glimmers of hope, firstly with President Hoyte in 85-92, then President Jagan in 92-96, the two principal political parties have not served us well. They are very similar in many respects, ‘two peas in a pod,’ or more aptly, ‘wings from the same bird of prey.’

However, I recognize that there are morally upright individuals in those political

parties, and in Guyana generally. I appeal to the politicians, who still have a moral compass, to put Guyana first, and to work within their political party structures to find a solution to our current impasse, for the good of Guyana.

Despite an abundance of both human and natural resources, most of our people have remained poor. As we can already see, this oil is a curse. Are we going to fight and kill each other for this ‘black gold’?

The call for shared governance is good, but it’s no panacea. We need leaders of impeccable integrity who can lead by example. Where

are they? We need respect for our constitutional offices and our laws. We all recognize that the Constitution and many of our laws need to be reformed. Again, we need wise leadership to initiate those processes and see them through.This GECOM is a bloody disgrace. Its conduct has not inspired confidence in its claims to be impartial.

We need to respect the vote, even as more and more of us now understand that ‘one person, one vote’ is a deficient way to run a country, with two major ethnic groups that vote along ethnic lines.

Howard Bulkan

Saturday March 28, 2020

APNU now openly posturing for support to remain illegally in power DEAR EDITOR, Carl Greenidge’s letter is the clearest sign that this illegal regime wants Venezuelan, Russian and Chinese help to remain illegally in power (see “Gov’t takes dim view of the actions of Mr Guaido and the National Assembly of Venezuela towards Guyana”, SN, Mar 19, 2020). Greenidge should read articles 113 and 186 of the constitution to know the Permanent Secretary is a handpicked political knave, not an impartial civil servant. And yes, this regime is illegal and its actions are illegal, particularly when pronouncing on matters of national security, sovereignty and interest.

Greenidge’s position is lurid and more critically, destructive to our sovereignty and security for several reasons.

Greenidge is up in arms about Guaido’s national assembly rejecting the UNSG’s decision to refer the dispute to the ICJ and Guaido’s exhortation for the armed forces to defend Venezuela’s interests. In classic con artistry, Greenidge fails to mention that this very position mirrors Maduro’s positions. Even worse, Maduro used his gunboat to disrupt drilling in Guyana’s waters and escalated military tensions on the border under APNU’s rule. Yet Greenidge finds Gauido far more hostile than Maduro!

How was this man foreign affairs minister again?

Here’s the truth about this peurile adventure into nonsense from Greenidge and APNU: it is all about trying desperately to get support

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Kaieteur News

from Venezuela, Russia and China. The writing is on the wall from everywhere else.

America’s military might is a growing threat. It recently summoned APNU’s US ambassador to warn about consequences of an illegal swearing in of David Granger.

The US just today declared Maduro guilty of narcotics trafficking. Yet, this regime continues to excoriate Guaido and favour Maduro.

Greenidge tries to shift this to the PPP. I detest the PPP but the PPP hasn’t unequivocally denied Guiado while implicitly recognizing Maduro. Nor is the PPP trapped having blatantly stolen an election and seeking a lifeline to desperately hold onto power.

Carl Greenidge and APNU, you’re not smart enough to play this game and we see exactly where this is going.

You electoral bandits are trying everything to get Putin, Maduro and Xi to bite and come to your rescue. However, unlike APNU power players, Putin and Xi are Mensa minds when it comes to geostrategic thinking. Your attempted electoral heist is so comical that it is tragic. Even Putin and Xi cannot salvage that kind of rank incompetence.

There are clear reasons why Russia and China support Maduro but will not support APNU. Maduro has one of the strongest armies in the region. The GDF will be obliterated in an hour by any superpower. Most importantly, Maduro directly controls one of the most powerful and established oil industries in the world. Guyana has a fledgling oil industry and has zero control over its oil. Zero. Exxon literally controls the taps.

There is no way Russia and China can get control of Guyana’s oil over the US. Maduro had longstanding close connections with Russia and China even before his descent into raw authoritarianism. APNU was actively kowtow-ing to the West before it pulled this electoral nastiness. Maduro initially won power legitimately before despotism set in.

APNU didn’t. Supporting any regime with that dismal support is too much for even superpowers, especially with heightened American presence worried about growing Russian and Chinese influence in the region and ticked off about the Venezuelan situation.

Why would Russia and China risk their delicate (Continued on page 17 )

The need for firm reprimand DEAR EDITOR, I had written to the United States Department of State a couple of weeks ago to ask them to summon the Guyana Ambassador in Washington DC to give him a firm reprimand.

They did exactly as I asked. Wow! Michael Rahaman Chicago

A Democracy Under Threat LONG right of Guyanese to elect a Before the Elections government of their choice DEAR EDITOR, By now the whole world knows what the APNU-AFC and PPP/C knew by the evening of March 3, 2020.

That is, the winner of the general elections held on March 2, 2020. The voting was deemed free, fair, and peaceful by GECOM, the contesting political parties, and the observer groups. Yet, the APNU-AFC with the help of GECOM is still not prepared to accept the results and gracefully vacate office some three weeks later and counting. Honestly, the time to gracefully accept defeat and leave office has long passed but there is still time for them to leave and allow for normalcy to be restored in Guyana. However, we are way past who won and who lost and who should go and who should stay. The fight is now focused on protecting and preserving our fledgling democracy which was under threat long before March 2nd.

If I may dare say, the attempt to illegally influence the outcome of these elections began with the unconstitutional appointment of Patterson as GECOM’s chair and the subsequent highly questionable hiring of the Deputy Chief Elections Officer. The notable but failed efforts to appoint the Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice would have rounded things off if not for the constitutional requirement that the leader of the opposition must agree with both appointments.

Then came the successful no-

confidence motion and the infamous 33 is not the majority of 65 argument. If these were not clear signs of things to come, then the actions in recent weeks ought to leave no one in the dark.

The series of sloppy and dastardly attempts to subvert the will of the Guyanese electorate with the international community in full view appears to be just the tip of the iceberg. Starting with the abrupt ending of the Region 4 tabulation to the most recent court case by an APNU candidate challenging the recount, it seems that the APNU-AFC will stop at nothing to illegally occupy public office. Are they afraid they will be held accountable for their past and ongoing actions? Are they hoping to be rewarded for bad behaviour by brokering a deal with the collective opposition in the form of some shared governance?While some may be more reserved on pronouncing on what should become of these cowards, let me answer both questions with great alacrity. All those who willingly participated and facilitated subverting the

should be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible. They should be held accountable for their atrocious actions and should not be rewarded in any way, shape, or form.

While I fully support farreaching constitutional reform (actually a new constitution would be better) and a shared governance model (whatever that would look like in the Guyana context), such conversations should not be entertained until and unless democracy and the will of the people are fully restored. To accept any other arrangement is tantamount to rewarding and encouraging further bad behaviour.In closing, I join the many commentators and letter writers both near and far in calling on David Granger to act presidential and let the recount proceed.

Alternatively, you do not need to wait on an infiltrated GECOM to confirm what everybody including you already know; concede defeat and allow Guyana to move forward. Either way, time is running out.

Yours faithfully, Omchand Mahdu

PAGE 6

Guyanese Politicians must exercise with Exxon Mobil which caused Guyana Political Maturity ing Billions of US Dollars which could have been DEAR EDITOR, The following views and recommendations expressed by the Guyana United Artists (G.U.A) as relates to our present Electoral impasse is founded on the experience of some of our members who participated in the struggle for free and fair Elections since 1979.

Enormous sacrifices were made by the sugar workers, bauxite workers, and Guyanese working people. The combination of Political parties later referred to as the Patriotic Coalition for Democracy (PCD). The Trade Unions, the Churches and the GUARD Movement, many members of the WPA and from its Distribution Unit the “Brigade” lost their lives, among whom was our beloved brother, eminent Guyanese Historian, Dr. Walter Rodney.

Recognized around the world for his contribution to the struggle of the oppressed and in Guyana for the promotion of National Unity.

Walter’s Assassination is what set the stage for free and fair elections in Guyana in 1992 as the free world and those engaged in the struggle for National Liberation condemned the actions of the PNC. The Carter Center did play an important part in having the PNC concede to Electoral defeat by the PPP led by the late Dr. Chedi Jagan.

The untold story that social historians will someday record is how the PPP hijacked the democratic process, sidelined its PCD partners (the WPA being part of that grouping).

The PPP between 2002 – 2004 behaved as though Guyana was their personal property.

In May 2015 the PPP was defeated at the polls by the APNU+AFC Coalition. It shattered its credibility and uncertainty caused the party to summon its support. In this way, the PPP was assured of victory in 2020. The APNU+AFC popularity was short-lived, in less than 4 years people realized that they were no better than the PPP, and this was compounded by the incompetence shown in deal-

used for Guyana’s development in Agricultural Diversity, infrastructure, manufacturing industries, trade and investment in South America, the construction of the Georgetown – Lethem Highway, the deep-water harbour and an end to Blackouts.

The March 2nd, 2020 General Elections was Judgement Day for the Coalition. Almost one month later it is resorting to all manner of subterfuge in order to return to power. It is a long time since the ’60s, ’70s and 80’s when the PNC could manufacture Election Results and claim victory and the Civilized world turn a blind eye.

The ABC countries, EU, the CCC, International Observers, contesting political parties and Civil Society are all calling on President Granger to do the right thing. It is not defeat for the Coalition it is allowing the free flow of the Democratic Process, to do otherwise would invite great misfortune to the Coalition and the People of Guyana.

The PPP will not be able to rule in the old way, there are many Guyanese Stakeholders who have come to the fore and Guyana has gained the attention of the International Community.

This is a time when all around the world countries are closing their borders and cities shutting down, for Guyanese Politicians to exercise Political Maturity and Guyana embrace National Reconciliation. A common agenda that will bring our Nation together would be to open our vast lands to all Guyanese, to engage in Agricultural production, livestock rearing, etc. this would unleash Guyana’s potential, save our Nation, save our Young Generation, save the people of the Caribbean and the Americas.

Yours Faithfully, Desmond Alli (General Secretary Guyana United Artists GUA)

Our writing has transformative ...

From page 4 touch.The columnist’s wrath seems to be directed against “internal and external forces manipulating our ethnic differences to stir up animosities.” I do hope that if he assesses the situation with dispassion, he would agree that the condemnation of GECOM’s verification process in the 2020 elections has been universal, excepting for a completely opposite reaction from APNU/AFC. Is this a grand conspiracy? If so, what may be the grounds for it? If we remember, when the results of the 2015 Elections were declared, and foreign observers deemed the outcome as free and fair, the cry of foul was from the PPP/ C. Was there any condemnation then by the columnist or APNU/AFC? In a prior article titled “Int’l Observers are not arbiters to the electoral process in Guyana,” the columnist decried the presence of foreign observers, and went on to state that “events… suggests that the time has come in our dear land of Guyana when we must ask ourselves whether some observers are overreaching their mandate.” In relation to the vigilance and diligence of the observers who voiced

Saturday March 28, 2020

Kaieteur News

their disapproval of GECOM’s mismanagement of the verification process, our wise columnist declared, “We must ask whether these behaviours are not in effect a transgression of our sovereignty under the guise of “observation and reporting.” His true sentiments and leanings were exposed, and the target of his fury is known.

Sadly, the distinguished former Heads of the Armed Forces, Police Force, Foreign Ministry, and the business community, among a host of other reputable Guyanese, who have urged for an untainted electoral process, have come under the wrath of the columnist, though not specifically named. They “set themselves up as morally upright…. and cover their deeds with a pretensive cloak of uprightness.”What we write in the mass media could influence the thinking of thousands. Some prefer to throw Molotov cocktails that constantly ignite bitterness and rage. For decades Guyana has succumbed to race politics which has left the country starkly divided. Fear, doubts, mistrust, and cynicism have plagued this beautiful country for too long causing it to languish in poverty. Language is a

power weapon that could either provoke hate and division or build bridges of trust and harmony. We can still hold strong opinions and assess situations from different perspectives, but the honesty and sensitivity with which we write can make us instruments for positive change.

Ramdular Singh

SANCTIONS ARE COMING DEAR EDITOR, Guyana is a sovereign country. But it is also part of the global partnership committed to freedom, democracy and human rights. Guyana is a signatory to the Sustainable Development Goals - 2030.

Two hundred countries have signed on to the SDGs - a global partnership to honoUr human rights, to end poverty.

One of its goals is for every country to be democratic. But Guyana has signed on to many UN treaties and agreements obligating Guyana to democracy. Guyana by virtue of its membership to CARICOM, the OAS and the Commonwealth must abide by agreements within these organizations to conduct free and fair elections.

These agreements are not declaratory. Our constitution recognizes these agreements as part of our laws.

This means that rigged elections expose Guyana to sanctions and punishment, not because these other countries and organizations want to punish us, not because anyone in Guyana demand sanctions, but because our constitution demands Guyana face penalties for violating these agreements.

Unless APNU+AFC and GECOM change course and return to counting the ballots, sanctions are coming.

The US Government calling in the Guyanese Ambassador to the US in Washington is the latest and surest sign that America and the ABCE countries are not in any mood to tolerate the thieving of the March 2, 2020 elections. CARICOM, the OAS, the Commonwealth have warned Guyana about electoral fraud. Diplomats, Governments, the Commonwealth, the OAS, CARICOM have made threats of sanctions. Just like Guyana joined

Safety should be GT&T’s first priority DEAR EDITOR As GT&T’s call centre supervisor is always in a meeting no matter what day or time of day you call, I am writing to you in hope that he or she may read this letter. On 17 March a high vehicle hit our telephone cable, dislodged it and left it dangling dangerously over our street. I effected a temporary repair to avoid further damage from passing traffic. Since then my wife has telephoned GT&T on a daily basis asking them to send someone to permanently and professionally secure the cable to make it safe. It is now 27 March and nothing has happened despite the daily calls. Every day it’s as if she is calling for the first time. Her concerns do not appear to have been recorded, she has not been given a reference number and no one has ever called her back. Today a GT&T technician passed and I asked him if we were on his job list. The answer was no. He kindly phoned his supervisor but there was no answer.GT&T’s attitude appears to be to ignore a concerned customer if their telephone, like ours, is still working. Ours is a safety concern. What if my temporary repair fails, the cable drops and injures a child passing on a bicycle?

Safety should be GT&T’s first priority. I am told that GT&T only take action quickly if you don’t pay your bill. They cut you off.

Robert Perks

for the OAS to sanction Venezuela a few months ago, so would the OAS members sanction Guyana. Just like Guyana joined in the Commonwealth to have countries suspended for electoral fraud, so must Guyana expect it will be suspended. Just as we saw recently terrible national and individual sanctions by the Americans against Congo and Venezuela, we must expect these sanctions will come, sooner than later. We can avoid these by counting the votes now.

Electoral fraud was and continues to occur in plain sight. Everyone saw it since it was done in front of the whole world. It continues to be done for the whole world to see. It might have been the most brazen thieving of an election since it happened on live streaming through hundreds of smart phones. It happened in front of Guyanese observers.

It happened in front of international observers. It happened in front of diplomats, including the US Ambassador, the High Commissioners from Canada and the UK and the EU Representative. It happened with three former international Prime Ministers present.

It was not just brazen, it was barefaced. The stench is so strong, it is stinking up the whole world. The barefaced efforts to change the narrative to make this a race issue, a Russian interference issue, a re-colonization issue, a discourse over national unity government and other extraneous issues cannot change the brazen thieving of an election.

Joseph Harmon and Raphael Trotman held a press conference on March 26, 2020 begging that the PPP and others should not be asking for international sanctions. He completely ignored that these sanctions are not coming because anyone in Guyana has asked for them.

They are coming because the Granger-led APNU+AFC, with GECOM, have tried to thief the election. So far the partnership of Guyanese political parties outside APNU+AFC and independent Guyanese have fought them and blocked them. In spite of the overwhelming resistance from Guyanese, the Granger-led APNU+AFC has not given up. GECOM continues to bob-and-weave as they try to find ways to complete the wicked thieving of the election.

This is the reason why sanctions are coming. It is not the PPP. It is not the private sector.

It is not the small parties.

It is APNU+AFC/GECOM and their brazen thieving of the election. When the time

come, the big ones will absolve themselves leaving the little ones to carry the burden.

Some of the international agreements that our constitution recognizes and which demand Guyana conduct free and fair elections or face sanctions are United Nations agreements, such as the 1948 UDHR (Universal Declaration on Human Rights) ARTICLE 21, the 1976 ICCPR (International Convention on Civil and Political Rights) ARTICLE 25, ICERD (International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination), CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women), UNCAC (United Nations Convention Against Corruption), CRPD (Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities).

There are also the Organization of American States (OAS) 1978 American Convention on Human Rights and the 1954 Inter-American Convention on the Granting of Political Right to Women.

In 1991 the General Assembly of the OAS established a process by which the OAS will take action if the democratic order is interrupted in any member country. In 1992 the Protocol of Washington, (in ratification), strengthened the mechanisms for defending democracy. In 2001, the OAS strengthened its commitment to free and fair elections by adopting the Inter-American Democratic Charter. Guyana was present and voted for adoption.

As Guyana fought against Apartheid in South Africa and the then Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Guyana played an important role in the Commonwealth adopting the Harare Declaration 1991.

Based on the Harare Declaration, many countries have been sanctioned and suspended from Commonwealth membership.

Particularly since 1992, Guyana has played an important role in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). In 1994, the IPU adopted the Declaration on Criteria on Free and Fair Elections. Guyana is in total violation of this declaration. Finally, Guyana is in violation of the Treaty of Chaguaramas and the Nassau Declaration, two important part of the agreements that established and strengthened the CARICOM. Sanctions are coming because a group of power-hungry men and women led by David Granger is determined to thief an election.

Whether there are political parties and others asking for sanctions, these are coming ultimately because of electoral fraud.

Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

Kaieteur News

Saturday March 28, 2020

PAGE 07

Oil market crisis…

Guyana would still get US$250-300M from - Dr. Jan first year of oil if royalty is at fair 15% Mangal

F

ormer Petroleum Advisor to the President , Dr. Jan Mangal has said that Guyana would still get a substantial revenue share from oil even when the price is sent crashing, once royalty on every barrel is set at a fair level of 15 percent.

He made these and other comments in a recent Facebook post.

Initially, it was projected that 2020 would see Guyana getting about US$300M in revenue from the two percent royalty, and 50 percent profit share after

costs are recovered by the oil companies.

Attorney-at-Law Charles R a m s o n J r. h a d l a t e r revealed to Kaieteur News that the crisis in the oil market, which caused prices to crash, has severely cut down Guyana's short term revenue share.

He had said that when Guyana calculated its take from the Liza project, calculations were done using the US$55 a barrel oil price.

But the oil price has dropped so far that Bloomberg yesterday had the price of Brent crude at less than

US$25 a barrel.

The crash is due to fear of the coronavirus and a continuing oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

D r. M a n g a l s a i d “Guyanese are worried that the crash in oil price means they will receive much less than the initial estimate of US$300M in the first year.”

“Correct, the worry is justified,” Mangal added.

Guyana has already collected almost US$55M from oil production in the Stabroek Block, but that benefit was gained before

Several Guyanese stranded in St. Maarten seek Foreign Ministry's assistance to come home

S

everal Guyanese who are stranded in St. Maarten in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic are appealing for assistance to come home.

Many of them had reportedly travelled there on business or on vacation.

Some are said to be in dire straits, having reportedly run out of funds. According to some of the Guyanese, they have contacted the Guyana Consulate for assistance in returning home. A source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged that officials are aware of the situation.

Although all international flights are grounded, the Guyanese are hoping that a flight can be chartered for

them, as was recently done for Guyanese who were stranded in Barbados and Suriname. If this is done, they will most likely have to be taken to quarantine facilities here.

St. Maarten has recorded at least two confirmed coronavirus cases.

Last Wednesday, some 17 Guyanese, including three children and one elder, were taken via bus to special quarantine facilities at Madewini, on the SoesdykeLinden Highway.

They will have to remain there for the stipulated 14-day period. Some had expressed dismay at having to be quarantined, while others had complained about the conditions at Madewini.

Responding to some

complaints from the passengers, Minister of P u b l i c H e a l t h Vo l d a Lawrence, said that mandatory quarantine was necessary to safeguard the public against any possibility of a spread of COVID -19.

She also explained that after the 14 days, persons will be evaluated by a medical officer. They will either then be cleared or placed on additional days of quarantine.

“For those persons in isolation, they will be held for 14 days after which, if no new symptoms develop, within in three days prior to the 15th day, they will be tested twice in 24 hours. If negative, they will be cleared but those with positive results will remain in further isolation,” she added.

Petroleum Consultant, Dr. Jan Mangal the effect of the oil market crisis set in.

Dr. Mangal explained that Guyana's share for the year would still total in the

vicinity of US$250US$300M if the royalty is set at a fair 15 percent.

“This is why royalty is so important to countries like Guyana.”

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman had negotiated a royalty of two percent, with ExxonMobil and its partners for the production of oil in the Stabroek Block, among a series of provisions widely criticized as lopsided and unfair to Guyana.

Kaieteur News had learnt from a report by Wall Street Journal that Trotman ignored expert advice on multiple occasions to demand 10-15 percent royalty.

Both major parties have been urged to renegotiate the Stabroek Block production

sharing agreement with ExxonMobil, as well as other oil contracts.

D r. M a n g a l s a i d , commenting on the current political situation, that “an illegitimate government has no chance of renegotiating with Exxon. We need a legitimate and strong government which the people support.”

As it stands, the results released by Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) have been adjudged by political parties and electoral observers as not credible.

Guyana has been urged by the international community to avoid swearing in a president, and by extension a government, on a flawed result.

PAGE 08

Kaieteur News

Saturday March 28, 2020

Police working closely with Region Six COVID-19 task force

A

COVID-19 task force which was set up at the Regional Democratic Council level in Region Six is working closely with the Guyana Police Force (Region 6) to assist when needed, this is according to Commander Calvin Brutus.

Brutus during an interview with reporters via telephone, explained that while there has been no curfew announced and implemented by the Town Commander Calvin Brutus officials from Rose Hall Town and Corriverton, New are continued difficulties,” Amsterdam Town Council he stated.

The Commander further has theirs in effect, and as such they are working along mentioned that there are some new measures put in place by with the council.

“They have introduced the commercial banks in the some measures, closing off ancient county.

Kaieteur News businesses at a particular time during the evening (18:00) understands that a limited while Pharmacies are given number of persons can enter up to 20:00 hrs to close daily. the bank, but there has been a We have been working along build up of persons outside with them since Monday”, the locations lined up in numbers. This was visible he said.

According to Brutus, yesterday during a drive since the formation of the task about the town of Rose Hall.

Brutus stated that the force about a week now, there have been a few difficulties police had to assist in quelling with some business persons a situation at one of the bank adhering to the curfew set out locations in Rose Hall after by the NA Town Council. persons grew frustrated This, he said, has been the waiting for long periods of only minor hurdle, but after time outside.

“The pace which the having talks with the business owners they have customers were being dealt with caused a build-up of promised to co-operate.

“I had a talk with them to persons outside, so the police help them to understand that it were called in to assist”, is not a forever something and Brutus explained.

In addition, he noted that they promised to cooperate.

We want to give a fair chance when the task force visits a to educate them first before suspected case of the novel we take further action if there coronavirus, ranks would also

accompany to assist.

While the world adjusts to stringent measures put in place to tackle COVID-19, Guyanese, and by extension Berbicians, have still failed to adhere to basic precautionary measures. Yesterday at the local banks in Rose Hall Town persons were grouped together while others stood bracing each other in lines to access the bank and the ATM. In light of the pandemic sweeping across the globe at a fast rate, persons are being advised to practice social distancing, staying at home, leaving home only when urgent or necessary, and practicing healthy habits at home by keeping surfaces and hands sanitized.

Brutus told this publication that such practices are also being implemented among his ranks, while they are still in line, and during the COVID fight. “The Ministry of Health came and washed out the whole area headquarters with whatever chemicals they are using, and that was done yesterday, and with the task force now we have created a schedule and submitted to them, so we will have the police stations throughout the region sanitized between now and Monday”.

He added that, “we are trying to install sinks at the entrance of every police station, and for those who are living in the barracks we provided detergents, hand sanitizers, gloves and so forth”.

Kaieteur News

Saturday March 28, 2020

PAGE 09

The rule of law must be respected T

rends around the world suggest t h a t t h e coronavirus threat is going to get worse in Guyana before it gets better. There can be some comfort in the fact that no new cases have been confirmed in one week.

But, as we now know from other countries, this does not mean that the virus is not spreading within society.

The virus can spread without people knowing it.

The country therefore has to take measures to protect itself, but these measures must be lawful.

The coronavirus pandemic is being compounded by the country's political crisis. A new government has not been sworn-in 3 weeks after the elections. None is likely to be sworn-in within the next months.

This political crisis is not good for the country.

Already, civil liberties are under threat, and there are signs of increasing arbitrary rule. These are more dangerous than the threats posed by the coronavirus.

When human rights violations take root in a society, their effects last for generations, unlike a pandemic which can dissipate within a year or two.

Citizens are duly

concerned about getting sick, but they should also be concerned about living in a sick state, on which arbitrary rule has a foothold. This is the surest path to dictatorship.

The Linden municipality has ordered a curfew in the town. We are told that this involves the closing of businesses at designated times.

But it also involves restrictions on persons being on the roadways after 8 pm at nights. Also, the curfew is reportedly extended outside of the boundaries of the town.

These measures, while they may enjoy public support, should be within the ambit of the law. Municipal by-laws allow for the regulation of the opening and closing business hours, but by no stretch do municipalities have powers to restrict freedom of movement nor do their powers extend beyond the boundaries of their towns to encompass entire regions.

T h e R e g i o n a l Democratic Councils were dissolved on 31st December 2019.

The President of Guyana issued a proclamation, effective that date, which brought an end to the life of these organs. As such, there is no Regional Democratic Council from which powers

of curfew can be extended throughout any Region.

A lot of persons are watching public television and may be seeing the measures being adopted by states within the United States of America. That country has a federal system in which great powers reside with governors.

The same does not apply here, and the assumption that municipalities have the legal right to impose restrictions on the movement of persons is misplaced.

Of even more concern is that the police are being asked to take steps to enforce certain measures, such as the closing of bars, and to stop, search and arrest persons who do not comply with social distancing directives.

There has been no reaction from the police topbrass to these suggestions, but it too ought to know that the force's powers are circumscribed by the law, and those who are asking them to take certain actions must point to the legal source of such instructions, otherwise the police can be accused of acting ultra vires of the law.

If the Public Health Ordinance – which deals primarily with sanitation – gives such license for all of these measures, then measures restricting the movement and assembly of

Dem boys seh...

Exxon still pumping!

D

em boys can't u n d e r stand how Exxon still pumping‌ oil. De price ah oil on de world market drop from almost US$60 per barrel a few weeks ago to about US$25.10 as at 6:45 last night.

Dem boys nah been far in school, but dem hear that de cost of production of oil in Guyana is about US$30 per barrel.

D e m b o y s understand that fuh mean that de cost of production is higher than de price de oil fetchin' now.

Wha dem boys nah understand is why if it costing Exxon mo' fuh produce a barrel dan wuh dem gun sell it fuh, why dem nah stop pumping de oil?

One man explain am' fuh dem boys.

He seh that de big s hip called the Floating Production, Storage and

Offloading vessel, is being leased and the lease amount to one-third the cost of production.

Wha he seh is that it mek mo sense for Exxon sell at a loss of $3 per barrel than to pay the US$10 per barrel for the lease and not produce any oil.

Dem boys ask he if he mad! Dem boys ask why dem don't cancel the lease.

He ask how that can't happen. Dem boys looking fuh Mingo fuh help sort out this problem with these numbers, because it nah mek sense fuh produce all that oil and losing money. Leh we hope Mingo ain't seh how he nah gat any counting kit.

Dem boys know that when yuh pumping at a loss, it mean no money fuh Guyana. It also mean higher debts!

Dem boys seh is the coronavirus to blame. The virus hit the world at the

same time that Russia and Saudi Arabia increasing oil production, and the world end up with mo' oil than it gah use fuh. So the price drap. And some economy gun fall brap!

The coronavirus hitting all dem country. But dem boys notice that one country nah gat one single case of coronavirus. The country named Burundi.

Dem boy read a story that how when dem ask a Burundi government official how come the country din have no case of the virus, he said that it was because they ain't have any testing kits.

The story tun out to be a joke, but ole people seh every joke gat some truth. If you nah test, you can't find cases.

Pray that Guyana gat enough testing kits and Exxon slow down with the pumping.

Talk half, lef half!

persons must be made by the Minister of Public Health a n d n o t b y t h e municipalities.

Concerns about the threats posed by the spread of the coronavirus are justifiable, but the rule of law must be respected. The measures which are being implemented must be done under the law.

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has not yet denied reports in the media which indicate that it has waived import taxes on

supplies to fight the coronavirus, but one must ask whether the GRA has such powers under the law.

The GRA is a tax administration department.

It cannot usurp the powers of the Minister of Finance and waive taxes.

So it must state under what authority it has waived these taxes.

The coronavirus will eventually disappear. It will leave in its wake huge losses in human life and to the economy. But all of that is

insignificant when compared to the economic, social and human costs associated with the arbitrary exercise of authority.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Saturday March 28, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Madmen ah run tings now M

y wife looked at “Dancehall Queen” for the second time recently (we kept the movie) because there is a one-second scene that she finds utterly hilarious.

The dancehall contestant put her mentally challenged brother to run the vending stall. When the rogue cop saw he was selling, overcome with disbelief, he exclaimed, “madman ah run tings now.”

One of the most macabre election processes, that perhaps has never been seen in modern times, took place in Guyana at the beginning of this month.

There have been countless election frauds over the past hundred years by military dictators and in Latin American banana republics.

But even in those places, the madmen that perpetrated electoral fraud went the usual way of rigging the

process.

The usual egregious stratagems include physical take-over of the operation then announcing that they won.

Prevent people from voting with barefaced denial. Using the military to hijack the ballot boxes then d e c l a r e v i c t o r y. R u s h thousands of persons into the ballot stations, coerce officials to let them vote, then include these fake ballots as part of the official

count.

I have seen some aspects of these things in my own country, but what has taken place in March this year was oxymoronic – comical yet bizarre.

I know that persons may not read all that I have written, because this is a daily offering, so just in case someone reads this piece here and not the other columns on the 2020 election monstrosity, I will describe the oxymoron once

more.

A normal tabulation is taking place and in a few hours, the results will be declared. The tabulation is mysteriously stopped for the day. It resumes the next day and the tabulator falls “ill.”

He puts another person to continue the process, but that person is not an authorized election official. He engages other officials. They become tired and want a rest. The tabulation is halted once more.

The tabulator returns and resumes operation, but he has a piece of paper that guides his enumeration and no one knows where he got it from and what's on it.

When he reads out what's on it, consternation pervades the room, because what he has on the paper does not correspond with what was published on the documents given to party officials and posted up on the walls of the polling stations. The operation goes into hibernation once more.

The original tabulator himself goes into hibernation.

Two persons doing the counting want a rest because of pregnancy, but are seen entering a room engaged in discussion rather than resting.

A young man enters the tabulation room, takes a laptop and flash drive and disappears with them. He is followed and discovered to be in a room doing things.

The next day, the original tabulator, announces election results from the balcony steps of the election centre. He says that is the only route to travel since the noise in the building has unlimited decibels.

It becomes funny because on many of the statements of poll (SOPs), there are more votes than electors for particular districts.

The court declares that what the tabulating man did

Frederick Kissoon was invalid and orders him to do it again with transparency. He leaves the election building with a projector, goes to another election building, throws a bed sheet over the projector and reads again from SOPs that are questionable. But this time, he reads so quickly that the average person can't catch up with him. He declares an election result again.

Things look so bad that the tabulator and his SOPs are swept aside. The real big man, the president, meets with the other big man from the other side – the opposition leader. They agree to recount all the ballots. This brings an end to the ignominy of a show that makes Guyana look like a tenth rate banana republic.

But the show doesn't end there. It goes on. The decision of the two big men is decapitated, because a lady doesn't want the recount. She asks a judge to stop it. He stops it.

The big man from the opposition asks the very judge to finally end the show by having all the SOPs brought before the court. The lawyers for the election officials say; “no, no, no.”

The judge says no too.

Against this oxymoronic backdrop, madmen continue to run tings. They ignore the concatenation of events that made the world laugh at us, and when the world stopped laughing, the world told Guyana that the show is funny alright, but it has a huge sickening ring to it and it must stop, or it will punish the madmen who at all cost want to run tings.

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

Saturday March 28, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Saturday March 28, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

In the light of coronavirus…

Don't discriminate against health care workers

By Anastacya Peters

T

he Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is advising all businesses, bus operators and taxi drivers to stop discriminating against health care workers, in the light of Coronavirus.

Kaieteur News understands that since Guyana has confirmed five cases of the deadly Coronavirus, several nurses and other health care workers, especially those working in the Emergency department at the city hospital, have been faced with harsh intolerance from certain sections of the public.

- GPHC advises businesses, taxi and bus operators In a press briefing that was held at the GPHC y e s t e r d a y, C h e l a u n a Providence, Head of Strategic Planning and Communications, stated that doctors and nurses working at the hospital have been lodging reports to the complaints departments about the discrimination they are facing when trying to access transportation or even when shopping.

“Nurses and doctors are complaining that taxi drivers are refusing to pick them up, and even when they enter supermarkets clad in their uniforms, they are asked to

leave and that is unfair. We basically want to let the public know that nurses especially are front line workers when it comes to responding to Covid-19, and even though we have not reached a state in Guyana where the health system is overwhelmed, our nurses and our doctors are routinely preparing for any possible situation in Guyana,” Ms. Providence stated.

Ms. Providence urged persons to extend courtesies to, and be considerate of all health care workers in face of Covid-19.

“When it comes to

Medical personnel prepared to carry out COVID-19 screening at the hospital's East Street entrance Covid-19, the threat is basically towards everyone, so we are asking that persons take the necessary precautions to avoid contacting the virus.

This is a new virus and our medical personnel here are looking at measures being put in place by other countries in order to combat the deadly virus locally, treat them with the respect they deserve.”

At the press briefing, Nurse Babb and Nurse Anthony, who work in the emergency department, stated that since that since Guyana confirmed its first

GPHC CEO Brigadier (Ret'd) George Lewis cases, they are being embarrassed and scorned by members of the public when trying to enter public transportation.

Sharing her experience, Nurse Babb stated that on several occasions she has been barred from entering minibuses and supermarkets while wearing her uniform. “ I h a v e b e e n discriminated against some

Chelauna Providence, Head of Strategic Planning and Communications at GPHC many times as a health care worker.

Persons are saying that because we choose this line of career we should not be complaining, but I am saying that the discrimination being thrown at medical personnel is wrong, because when an individual gets sick they still have to come to the hospital to seek medical attention,” (continued on page 17)

Kaieteur News

Saturday March 28, 2020

Suspected drug dealers nabbed in hire car at Berbice Bridge charged

COVID-19 awareness!

The nine parcels of compressed marijuana

A

male and female who were nabbed in a hire car on Friday with a quantity of drugs at the eastern junction of the Berbice River Bridge Crossing have been charged.

Orin Matthews, a hire car driver, 39, of 46 North Sophia, Greater Georgetown and Tabika Peters, 22 years, a cook, of 169, Paradise, East

Coast Demerara, were charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

The two were reportedly in a hire car which was stopped by the police at the checkpoint at the Berbice River Bridge. The vehicle was subsequently searched and nine parcels of compressed marijuana were found inside. They were

taken into custody at the Central Police Station and subsequently charged.

The defendants appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh in the New Amsterdam Magistrate's Court.

They pleaded not guilty and were released on $250,000 bail each. They are to return to court on the 14th April for a continuation of the matter.

Residents of Perth Village, Mahaica, have taken a stand against the COVID-19 pandemic by installing a sink, along with detergent in a public space, to help fight the spread of the virus.

UN Resident Coordinator says‌

'Prevention is critical and urgent' - Calls on Govt. to put tougher measures into effect for COVID-19

T

h e n o v e l coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic rages worldwide with 465,915 confirmed cases and 21,031 deaths - an unprecedented scale and speed.

Guyana is not insulated from the pandemic and even with the 5 cases and 1 death till today, there is no room for complacency, as we have seen rapid acceleration from low numbers in many countries.

Prevention is critical and urgent.

The Ministry of Public Health and national authorities initiated preventive measures in late January, starting with health and border quarantine procedures.

With the confirmation of the first case on 11 March, health response capacities have been enhanced and other measures were taken including the suspension of international commercial flights, temporary closure of schools, border closures and public information and advisories for hygiene and social distancing.

The private sector and religious community have

UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Mikiko Tanaka

started to take some voluntary measures to protect their staff and congregation and to help health workers and citizens.

Linden and New Amsterdam have taken the initiative to enforce lockdown measures to limit social gathering and movements.

We commend the health workers who are working around the clock in a highstress and high-risk environment to respond to the outbreak. We have to protect the physical and mental health of these health

PAGE 13

workers and to keep the caseload manageable by stemming the spread.

Prevention is critical.

Social gatherings and movements of people are the biggest risk in the spread of COVID-19.

We are very concerned that social gatherings are continuing despite public advisories discouraging this for some time.

Reinforcing the advice f r o m PA H O / W H O Representative in Guyana Dr. William Adu-Krow, the (continued on page 15)

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Saturday March 28, 2020

GECOM can order recount - Chairperson contends in affidavit

“Once there is evidence that the electoral process was compromised, then to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the Constitution, the Commission is constitutionally mandated to intervene to ensure public confidence in the electoral process.” - retired Justice Claudette Singh

GECOM Chairperson Justice (Ret'd) Claudette Singh

I

n an affidavit filed in the High Court, retired Justice Claudette Singh has reaffirmed her commitment as Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission, (GECOM) to oversee a fair and transparent electoral process. Justice Singh has been listed as a respondent in the case filed by APNU +AFC candidate Ulita Moore to block a recount.

In her 22-page document laid over by her Attorney Kim Kyte, the GECOM Chair said that Article 161 (1) (b) of the Constitution provides clear and convincing authority for GECOM to take action it finds necessary and

expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the provisions of the Constitution or any Act of Parliament.

Contrary to the application by Moore, the Chairperson stressed that once there is evidence that the electoral process was compromised, then to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the provisions of the Constitution or of any Act of Parliament, the Commission is publicly mandated to intervene to ensure public confidence in the electoral process.

She cited the recent ruling of Chief Justice Roxane George, which outlined that in the exercise of statutory duties (persons) must do so transparently to “engender transparency and accountability and thereby to ensure impartiality and fairness.”

Justice Singh noted that the Chief Justice had proffered several legal bases for which Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo should employ a procedure which is accepted as transparent and credible.

Since this is disputed, the affidavit by the chairperson outlined that decision of the recount was taken at the level of GECOM.

She stated the full Commission, including the Chair, had agreed to the recount.

The former judge refuted Moore's contention that there is any attempt by political leaders (President's David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo) to usurp the functions of GECOM as an independent constitutional body.

She noted that the decision for a CARICOM High level team to oversee the process was simply the mechanism to ensure transparency.

“Section 162 (1) (b) of the Constitution which states that GECOM, “shall issue such instructions and take such action as appear to be necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance.

Thus, once there is evidence that the electoral process was compromised, then to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the Constitution, the Commission is constitutionally mandated to intervene to ensure public confidence in the electoral process.”

According to the sworn document, Justice Singh is adamant that the Commission has separate and independent powers under the Constitution to execute supervisory powers in respect to the electoral process.

“The intention of Parliament is to vest GECOM with independent supervisory powers to ensure fairness, transparency and impartiality of the electoral process. It is further submitted that Section 140 provides GECOM with a further protective shield to allow the body to act independently and unfettered to provide the nation with a

credible electoral process.”

“This means the Commission can order a recount,” Justice Singh stated.

Against the argument that the issue can only dealt with by way of an elections petition, Justice Singh argues that the electoral process is not yet completed.

Justice Singh also contends that GECOM was in the process of exercising its constitutional supervisory functions when it was stopped by the Court.

She noted then Chief Justice Desiree Bernard in a 2001 case when she stated: “In the present volatile situation which pervades our country, no effort must be spared to assure everyone that the process was fair and impartial. Lingering doubts that hang like a sword of Damocles over the head of the Commission must be removed. Confidence in the electoral process must be restored.”

Therefore, the GECOM Chair said, the application to block the recount should be rejected and the Commission should be permitted to execute its constitutional role and functions with or without the CARICOM agreement.

However, speaking to reporters outside the Courthouse yesterday, Attorney-at-Law Neil Boston SC, who is representing the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, contends that after the High Court matter is settled, GECOM cannot recount the votes.

“They can't do that. To do that is unlawful.

There is an election court that will have to review all the evidence by the persons who were there to determine whether there was some unlawful act or omission which affected the results,” the lawyer stated.

Kaieteur News

Saturday March 28, 2020

PAGE 15

Miner, mechanic remanded for Rasville man slapped with allegedly stealing $214,000 in jewellery 3 armed robbery charges

M

agistrate Dylon Bess yesterday remanded two men to prison when they appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts to answer to a joint break and enter charge.

Joel Johnson, 27, a miner of 179 Old Road, Eccles, East Bank Demerara, and Quincy Wilson, 22, a mechanic, both denied the charge which

stated that between March 23 and March 24, 2020, at First Street McDoom, East Bank Demerara, they broke and entered the dwelling house of Lisa Ahmad and stole a quantity of gold jewellery valued $214,000.

Police prosecutor Sanj Singh objected to bail being granted and added that Johnson was charged for attempted murder and has not been attending court.

Wilson then told the court that, “I was walking in the area when they accused me of the offence‌ I did not break into anybody house or break anybody windowâ€?.

Wilson then asked the Magistrate for self bail. The court heard that the jewellery box was recovered.

Magistrate Bess remanded both of the defendants to prison until May 29

Security guard charged for assault, discharging firearm

T

wenty-threeyear-old Nimran Persaud, a Security Guard, of 23 Middle Street, Albouystown Georgetown, who is charged for assaulting a man and discharging a loaded firearm was yesterday placed on $100,000 bail for the offences.

P ersaud made his appearance before Magistrate Dylon Bess in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts when the charges were read to him.

A n unrepresented Persaud pleaded not guilty to

charges, one of which stated that on August 27, 2019, at Hunter Street, Albouystown, he unlawfully assaulted Phillip Sealey.

I t is also alleged that on the same date and the same location he discharged a loaded firearm towards Sealey with intent to maim, disable, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm.

P olice prosecutor Sanj Singh made no objection to bail being granted to the defendant, but asked that conditions be attached and that bail be granted in a substantial amount.

M agistrate Bess then grant the defendant bail to the tune of $100,000 for d i s c h a rg i n g a l o a d e d firearm and $10,000 for the assault charge, with the condition attached that he report to the Ruimveldt Police Station every Monday at 9am.

P ersaud told the court that he is a single parent and asked the Magistrate to reduce the amount of bail that was granted.

M agistrate Bess then noted that he would be lenient and reduced the bail to $100,000.

'Prevention is critical and urgent' From page 13 United Nations (UN) System calls on the Government to urgently introduce more stringent measures to stem COVID-19.

This includes work-from-home in public and private institutions except for essential services, limiting people's movements to essential errands. The UN System stands ready

to provide advice and assistance in elaborating and implementing a national response plan that covers the health sector and other socioeconomic sectors to help citizens cope with the impact of the COVID-19 response, and in particular to protect the most vulnerable. This will build on the critical ongoing support from PAHO/WHO and other UN agencies.

T

wenty-three-year old Phillip English, of 4676 Rasville, Georgetown, who is charged for allegedly committing three armed robberies, was yesterday remanded to prison by Magistrate Dylon Bess.

English made his appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts where he denied the charges which stated that on February 10, 2020, at West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, while in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Chaitram

Sookram of a motorcycle CG 2308 valued $340,000.

It is also alleged that on March 16, 2020, at Roxanne Burnham Gardens, while in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Lorraine Howard of a gold chain valued $85,000.

And the final charge stated that on March 21, 2020, at West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, while in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Cleveland Glasgow of two cell phones valued $64,000, and a wallet valued $7,000.

Police prosecutor Sanj

Singh highlighted that English was convicted for a robbery.

The prosecutor then made objections to bail being granted to the defendant based on the fact that a firearm was used and that Lorraine Howard was shot during the robbery.

After listening to the prosecutor, Magistrate Bess remanded the defendant to prison until May 30. English then started to cry in court and explained that he has two children to look after, and begged the Magistrate to release him on self-bail.

PAGE 16

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LEGAL NOTICE 1

LEGAL NOTICE 1 CONTD

LEGAL NOTICE 2 CONTD

REPUBLIC OF GUYANA COUNTY OF BERBICE 2020 N.43-FD BERBICE IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND M AT R I M O N I A L JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION Petition No.43-FD/2020 Petition for Divorce and Other Matrimonial Causes Between: ROYSTON MC INROY Petitioner PATRICIA MC INROY nee JOHANNES Respondent TO: PATRICIA MC INROY nee JOHANNES OF LOT 8 CALCUTTA, MAHAICONY, EAST COAST, DEMERARA AND FORMERLY OF TRINIDAD. TAKE NOTICE that on the 27th day January, 2020 a petition for divorce was filed against you by ROYSTON MC INROY Petitioner in the family division of the high court in New Amsterdam, Berbice, Guyana AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of the order made on the 12th day of March,2020 the petitioner was directed to effect service of his petition for divorce, form “3” Notice of proceedings and form “4” blank acknowledgement of service, on you by publication of this notice in 2(two) consecutive issues of a newspaper in general circulation in Guyana and in 2(two) consecutive weekly issues of the newspaper in general circulation in Trinidad and Tobago AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or attorneyat-law at the registry of family division of the High Court at New Amsterdam, Berbice, where you will be issued with a certified copy of the petition for divorce together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to defend this divorce then upon receipt of the certified copy of the divorce petition you must file an acknowledgement of service/notice of intention to defend (forms are all available at the registry) answer and/or cross petition in the registry of the family division of the high court in New Amsterdam, Berbice, within 42(forty-two) days from the date of the second and final publication of this notice AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that the petition for divorce is fixed for directions hearing on the 28th day of May,2020 at 9:00A.M. in the direction hearing room of the family division of the High Court New Amsterdam, Berbice IN DEFAULT OF your filing and acknowledgement of service/notice of intention to defend

and answer and/or cross petition the court may proceed in your absence and may make any order if conditions appropriate including granting this divorce.

The Registry of the family divison of the high court is located at New Amsterdam, Berbice. This office is located to the public between 8:00 hours to 3:30 hours Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00 to 2:30 PM on Friday except on public holidays and on such days as the registry is closed.

upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), an Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 28 (twenty-eight) days from the date of the Second and final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Friday the 29th day May , 2020 at 9:30 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Damone Younge in the Directions Hearing Room of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown.

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts (Georgetown, Demerara). The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated this 23rd day of March, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE 2 2019-HC-DEM-CIV-FD1478 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. FD-1478 BETWEEN:(ROSS) EULA EMELDA nee LANFERMAN Petitioner -and- (ROSS) JAMES GEORGE Respondent TO: MOHENDARNAUTH SWAMBER (Last Known Address) 121 Riverglen Close, Calgary Alberta, T2C3W3 Canada TAKE NOTICE that on the 6th day of December, 2019 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by EULA EMELDA ROSS nee LANFERMAN the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 6th day of March, 2020 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) Consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web (Online).

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorneyat-Law at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then

Dated the 11th day of March, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE 3 2020-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-95 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. FD-95 BETWEEN:(MOHAMED ) SELOCHANIE nee INDERDEO Petitioner -and- (MOHAMED)AAZAM Respondent TO: MOHENDARNAUTH SWAMBER (Last Known Address) Lot 113 New Road Vreed-enhoop, West Coast Demerara, Guyana.

TAKE NOTICE that on the 23rd day of January, 2020 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by SELOCHANIE MOHAMED nee INDERDEO the Petitioner in the Family

Saturday March 28, 2020 LEGAL NOTICE 3 CONTD Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 3rd day of March, 2020 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) Consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web (Online).

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorneyat-Law at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), an Answer and/ or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 28 (twenty-eight) days from the date of the Second and final publication of this Notice.

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

Patient’s death amid worrying secrecy at West Dem. Hospital causes concern

A death which occurred at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) on Thursday night has become the source of concern for staffers attached to the institution.

Staff members who spoke to Kaieteur News on condition of anonymity related that a male individual of East Indian descent came into the hospital at 8:00 pm on Thursday, complaining of respiratory problems.

He died shortly after and his body was transported to a funeral parlour.

“The patient came in, and we were concerned, but we were afraid to incubate him.

He didn’t last long before he passed.”

According to the staffers, the death is cause for concern, given the concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.

Further reports reaching this newspaper indicated that staff members who arrived for work yesterday morning were told that they could not enter the premises Others, after hearing word of the death, expressed worry that the hospital is illequipped to deal with any such case, as the personal protective gear for staffers is lacking.

They told this newspaper TAKE NOTICE that the that the body of the man was divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Tuesday the 28th day of April , 2020 at 9:15 am before the Honourable Madam From page 5 Justice Damone Younge in balance already established the Directions Hearing Room in Venezuela for a backward of the Family Division of the bunch of backwater banana High Court at Georgetown. republicans in APNU whose IN DEFAULT of your filing an expertise is making serious Acknowledgement of Service/ blunders?

Notice of Intention to Defend Any Russian or Chinese sigAnswer and/or Cross Petition nal will prompt massive US the Court may proceed in your retaliation because Guyana is absence and may make any a very soft target. Such acOrder it considers appropriate, tion finally opens up Venezuincluding granting the ela to US force under the pretext of Venezuela meddling in Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Guyana’s sovereignty. Putin Division of the High Court is and Xi may like to gamble but located at the Law Courts this is a gamble that is sig(Georgetown, Demerara). The nificantly more risk than reoffice is open to the public ward.

China and Russia will not between 8:00am and 3:30pm risk their dominance over the Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays world’s largest oil reserves in except on public holidays and Venezuela for a regime that on such other days as the has zero control over its oil.

US sanctions will effectively Registry is closed. hand Guyana’s oil to Exxon.

Dated the 10th day of March, And why in heaven’s name is China going to potentially 2020 kill off its lucrative minority stake in the Guyana sweetheart oil deal?

I’m sure Rosneft will seek a piece of the pie going forward using non-combative m e a n s .

What is APNU’s end game?

It’s the question of the times because this is going to end badly for APNU. Gravely put, these look like acts of sedition from APNU. By suggestively seeking Venezuelan,

taken to a funeral parlour, and there was secrecy about his particulars.

“Neither his identity – his name – nor his address was provided. It is being kept under wraps; it was not even given to the funeral home,” the concerned source added.

Meanwhile, an Official attached the Public Health Ministry noted that an investigation has been launched into the death.

The official said that a team from the Ministry has been meeting with the Region Three’s Health Officials “What we are told so far is that the individual is said to have attended a wake of patient zero Ratna Babolall — Guyana‘s first coronavirus victim. However, we have not been able to confirm anything,” the health official cautioned.

Meanwhile, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence in her daily update on efforts to tackle the virus, said the number of positive cases in Guyana remains at 5 with 1 death.

The total number of persons tested moved from 26 to 39. Of the 5 persons who have tested positive, 3 would have been imported cases and 2 local.

“Let me clarify on the dif-

- Man said to have attended first coronavirus victim’s wake ference between imported cases and local cases. Imported cases refer to those persons who became infected and travelled to Guyana. On the other hand, local cases are those persons who were infected in Guyana.”

The Minister said too that there are a number of persons quarantined by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH).

“Under institutional quarantine, the number of persons remains at 31, while those on home quarantine remains at 135. At present, our surveillance team is monitoring another 14 persons. Four persons remain in institutional isolation by MoPH.” Additionally, she said that psychosocial support continues as planned, for those persons who need these services.

“With regard to our capacity to respond, we currently have 4 facilities ready to provide services for 350 persons while our regions have already begun to identify and prepare quarantine facilities.

As of yesterday, calls to the COVID-19 hotline moved

APNU now openly posturing for...

Russian and Chinese support and knowing fully well that these powers are going to promote Venezuelan interests above Guyana’s, this is going to jeopardize our position on Essequibo just as the politically-driven ICJ is about to hear our case. Our moral support as a small state trying to stand up to mighty Venezuela is now dashed.

The actions of this cabal of APNU degenerates has imperilled Guyana’s sovereignty and national security.

The West is waiting for that final act of consummate stupidity and fate tempting where Granger swears himself in illegally and then we will see

some fireworks, literally and figuratively. Don’t tempt an erratic Trump desperate to wag the dog as his re-election chances vanish in this economic doom and gloom. Quite frankly, the only thing I can think of that is keeping up this perfidy from APNU apart from the wrong-and-strong idiocy that pervades APNU is possibly some signals from Exxon, possibly in contradiction to the State Department, that there is still support for APNU. That’s very dangerous for an illegitimate regime and an oil company benefiting from a terrible deal.

Yours faithfully, M. Maxwell

from 696 to 773 calls; these calls were received from 9 of the 10 administrative regions.

“I am happy to announce that the Ministry of Public Health has received an additional 1,100 Test Kits from

PAHO/WHO, bringing the total number of donated kits to 1,800.

We have also received 14 ventilators from our suppliers to boost the capacity of level three,” Lawrence added.

Don't discriminate against...

From page 12 Miss Babb explained.

In his speech, Nurse Anthony stated that in order to combat the discrimination being leveled against him, he is now carrying to work with him a change of clothes that he would normally wear when his shift is over.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GPHC retired Brigadier George Lewis noted with concern and consternation the recent circulation of a voice recording which purports to disclose that two COVID-19 positive patients escaped from the institution.

Mr. Lewis stated that internal investigations into the issue have confirmed that the recording and its contents did not originate from any doctor or any employee of GPHC. In Guyana there are only five confirmed cases of Covid-19 and the only authorized institution with the capacity for testing is the National Public Health Reference Laboratory.

“We know that it can be difficult to decipher factual information from fabrications.

Further, our ability to access

and utilize accurate information at this time can significantly impact the course of this national and global health crisis”.

In a statement, Mr. Lewis denounced “this mischievous act that can not only jeopardize the reputation of the city hospital, but insights unwarranted panic and skepticism in a time of national and global vulnerability. We urge the general public to inform their actions based on trustworthy information from reputable sources such as the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) Guyana, the PanAmerican Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC)”.The CEO concluded his statement by saying that “Nevertheless, the GPHC continues to work assiduously to contribute to national efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, I implore each of you to do your part to end this pandemic; practice regular hand washing, observe social distancing, avoid touching your face with unwashed hands and stay at home.

PAGE 18

COVID-19 claims second T&T patient [Trinidad Guardian] Trinidad and Tobago has recorded its second death and 66th COVID-19 case.

The Ministry of Health made the announcement in its first daily update on Friday.

“The Ministry of Health informs the population that today, Friday 27th March, despite the best efforts of the health care professionals, a second national of T&T who tested positive for COVID-19 has died,” the release said.

As per the ministry’s policy, it only revealed that the deceased T&T citizen was an elderly man with preexisting medical complications but Guardian Media understands he died on Thursday.

The news comes almost 48 hours after the ministry announced this country’s first death due to the virus on Wednesday night. That patient was identified as Hansel Leon, 77.

The release also stated that the 66th overall case is a Tobago health worker.

Guardian Media understands that the worker is attached to the Scarborough General Hospital and tested positive early Friday.

In a release, the Tobago Regional Health Authority that the worker has been isolated, staff meetings held and staff provided with psychological support. Contact tracing has also been initiated. It also noted that the hospital will be sanitised and the scheduled cleaning and dis-

Saturday March 28, 2020

Kaieteur News

House passes historic $2 trillion stimulus despite objections from GOP lawmaker US Congress passes huge financial stimulus package

Hansel Leon, 77, is the second COVID-19 casualty recorded by the twin island republic. infection will continue. This was the second case reported in Tobago. So far, 15 Tobago samples have been sent to CARPHA for testing.

Thus far, the Caribbean Public Health Agency has tested 453 T&T samples with 66 people testing positive.

Some 47 of these 66 patients

were from among a group of 68 nationals who recently returned home from an ill-fated Caribbean cruise and were immediately quarantined in Balandra.

Of those who were admitted with the virus, one person has recovered and has been discharged.

Barbados PM To Undergo Medical Procedure [Jamaica Gleaner] CARICOM chairman Mia Mottley is to take a break from Government to undergo a medical procedure.

Mottley, who is also the Prime Minister of Barbados, made the disclosure in a national broadcast on Thursday night.

She did not provide details but said the procedure would be done this weekend.

Barbados PM, Mia Mottley In her absence, Education Minister Sanita Bradshaw will act as Prime Minister.

In the meantime, the Mottley said Barbados’ COVID-19 team will continue operations.

“I know I will be well,” said Mottley adding that she was seeking to avert potential rumours.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday approved a $2.2 trillion aid package - the largest in American history - to help people and businesses cope with the economic downturn inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The massive bill, which was passed by the Republican-controlled Senate late on Wednesday and also will provide hospitals with urgently needed medical supplies, now goes to Republican President Donald Trump, who is expected to promptly sign it into law.

“Our nation faces an economic and health emergency of historic proportions due to the coronavirus pandemic, the worst pandemic in over 100 years,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said at the close of a three-hour debate on the House floor.

Democrats and Republicans in the Democratic-led House approved the package on a voice vote, turning back a procedural challenge from Republican Representative Thomas Massie, who had sought to force a formal, recorded vote.

Massie, an independentminded Republican who has repeatedly defied party leaders, wrote on Twitter that he thought the bill contained too much extraneous spending and gave too much power to the Federal Reserve. His fel-

low lawmakers overruled his request.

On Twitter, Trump called Massie a “third rate Grandstander” and said he should be thrown out of the Republican Party.

“He just wants the publicity. He can’t stop it, only delay,” Trump wrote as the House began debating.

Democratic and Republican leaders asked members to return to Washington to head off Massie’s gambit. Lawmakers from as far away as California were present for the debate. The session was held under special rules to limit the spread of the disease among members, who used hand sanitizer and in at least one case wore protective gloves.

Many of the House’s 430 current members were in their home districts because of the coronavirus outbreak, which could put them at further risk of contagion.At least three members of Congress have tested positive for the coronavirus and more than two dozen have self-quarantined to limit its spread.Older people have proven especially vulnerable to the disease, and the average age of House members was 58 years

old at the beginning of 2019, well above the average age of 38 for the U.S. population as whole.The rescue package is the largest fiscal relief measure ever by Congress.The $2.2 trillion measure includes $500 billion to help hard-hit industries and $290 billion for payments of up to $3,000 to millions of families.

It will also provide $350 billion for small-business loans, $250 billion for expanded unemployment aid and at least $100 billion for hospitals and related health systems.

The rare but deep, bipartisan support in Congress underscored how seriously lawmakers are taking the global pandemic as Americans suffer and the medical system threatens to buckle.

On Thursday, the United States surpassed China and Italy on as the country with the most coronavirus cases.

The number of U.S. cases passed 85,000, and the death toll exceeded 1,200.

Adding to the misery, the Labor Department reported the number of Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits surged to 3.28 million, the highest level ever.

Tobago Nurses Association Appeals For Calm As Hospital Worker Tests Positive SCARBOROUGH, Tobago, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nurses Association is calling for calm as a worker at the Scarborough General Hospital has tested positive for COVID-19.

The association made the call following a media release on Friday by the Tobago Regional Health Authority which stated that a healthcare worker at the institution is Tobago’s second coronavirus case.

The release noted that the staff member was informed and is being given psychological support.

The hospital is being “deeply sanitised”, sched-

uled cleaning continued and contact-tracing is taking place, the authority noted.

In an immediate response to the information, nurses association president Idi Stuart said all healthcare workers must remain calm.

“We understand that healthcare workers will be alarmed,” he said.

“However, we are calling for calm and for persons to follow the recommendations made by the Government and medical professionals, in this time of unease.”

He reiterated his call for the authority to undertake robust, active training of staff in the use of the required personal protection equipment.

Saturday March 28, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Saturday March 28, 2020

Saturday March 28, 2020

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Kaieteur News

‘Even Messi sits behind Neymar on technical ability’ -Cafu lauds PSG’s Brazilian superstar Neymar Brazil 2019-20

Goal.com - Paris SaintGermain forward Neymar is the most technically-gifted player on the planet, says Cafu, with even Barcelona icon Lionel Messi sitting behind the Brazilian when it comes to ability on the ball.

An exciting South American talent has built his reputation on being one of the most creative performers in the global game.

For Neymar, football is a form of entertainment and he rarely passes up an opportunity to break out his box of tricks.

The same can be said for many other elite players, including six-time Ballon d’Or

winner Messi, but Cafu believes his fellow countryman takes the art of ball manipulation to a whole different level.

The legendary World Cup winner told Fox Sports: “Technically, Neymar is the best player in the world.

“Today, technically, nobody can beat Neymar. Not even Messi, although I am a fan of him. But he does not surpass him in terms of technical quality.”

While Neymar’s individual excellence remains without question, Cafu admits that he needs to work on his leadership.

A man who captained Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002

added: “Today I don’t see any leader within the Brazilian team.

“Today I don’t see anyone who says this to Neymar: ‘Oh, don’t do this’ or ‘Do this’.

There is not!

“They gave him that responsibility, and it’s not his profile. It’s not that he doesn’t want to, but because it’s not his profile.

“Have you ever seen him catching Thiago Silva and Tite in a discussion and solving the situation? No, because it is not his profile.”

While Neymar is not the kind to bark out orders to those around him, he is capable of providing inspiration

through his actions on the field.

For Brazil, a nation starved of football’s biggest prize for what they consider to be far too long, the 28-yearold remains the man to carry the expectations of an entire country.

Cafu added: “I speak again here, he is our greatest hope for winning a World Cup. “With Neymar on the pitch, whether he wants it or not, eight opponents will stay connected to him.

“He is a reference, he makes room for others, he scores extraordinary goals, but, really, someone is missing who covers, someone is lacking the strength to fit in around him.”

Amir Khan donates ...

Saturday March 28, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Have you been thinking about taking a course in one of the arts, Aries? Whether your preference is painting, music, drama, dance, or creative writing, if you commit now, you'll probably continue with it.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) If you own your own home, Taurus, you may learn today that its value has increased substantially. If you don't own a home but want to buy one, this is the time to start looking.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Some down-to-Earth conversations with a love partner could result in advancing the relationship to the next level of commitment, Gemini.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) The desire to make a particular purchase could have you reworking your budget today, Cancer.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Suddenly you seem more glamorous than usual, Leo. You may exert a mysterious appeal that in the 1920s was called "it." Current and potential love partners may take a second look and be intrigued.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Your visionary tendencies are in the ascendant today, Virgo, although they take more of a practical than mystical bent.

You might look at your living room or backyard and suddenly find yourself .

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) As a person who enjoys being gregarious and outgoing, days like this provide a wonderful outlet for your energy.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Corporate kudos and increased income that you may have been working toward for a long time may finally manifest today, Scorpio.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) This is a great day to deal with legal matters of any kind, Sagittarius, including plans for a wedding, if one is in the offing!

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) A keen ability on your part to blend the worlds of intellect and intuition could well surface today, Capricorn.

The ability to focus both these methods of perception into material reality is apt to give a boost to your career.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Relationships of all kinds become stronger and more enduring today, Aquarius.

S u c c esses boost the strength of business partnerships; love relationships advance to the next level of commitment.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20) An interest in health and nutrition could come to the surface for you, Pisces. New discoveries regarding the benefits of certain nutrients, exercise programs, or other forms of alternative therapy could attract your attention.

From page 23 he plans to fight once or twice more before he retires.“My family wants me to retire now,” he said, laughing.

Khan won a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, and won a world title at super lightweight. He fought a long list of tough opponents, including Canelo Alvarez, who is No. 1 on the Yahoo Sports pound-forpound list, and Terence Crawford, who is No. 2. He has a win over Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera.

He never got a chance to fight either Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Manny Pacquiao, the two most iconic fighters of his generation, both of whom were in his weight class. He sparred a lot with Pacquiao and fought Crawford last year.

He had a surprising response when asked who’d win a fight between them.

“Crawford, without a doubt,” Khan said. “He could fight off his front foot and his back foot and … he’s a very complete fighter.”

He said while one could make a case for either Alvarez or Crawford as the pound-forpound best, he’d go with Crawford first and Alvarez second.

Those are opinion, and he may be right and of course he could be wrong.

But what is without doubt 100 percent correct is that he deserves to be lauded for his heroic action in stepping up when his country needed him most.

That’s the definition of a hero, and in this case, Amir Khan fits the bill as well as anyone.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday March 28, 2020

Already-qualified athletes will FIFA names normalisation committee keep spots at 2021 Games in Tokyo to oversee TTFA

The giant Olympic rings are seen through at the waterfront area at Odaiba Marine Park after postponing Games due to the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID 19), in Tokyo, Japan March 25, 2020. (REUTERS/Issei Kato) ATHENS (Reuters) - All athletes who had qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will keep their spots for the Games next year following their postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic, the International Olympic Com-

mittee said yesterday.

The IOC and Japanese organizers postponed the July 24-Aug 9 event earlier this week but confirmed that those among the 11,000 athletes set to compete in Tokyo who had already earned their

ECB saddened at the passing of Selman The Executive members of the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) have extended sympathy to the family of the late Managing Director of Guyana Beverage Company Inc (GBC) Robert Selman, who passed away in Trinidad and Tobago on Monday last. A release from the board stated that the members of the executive committee are all saddened at the passing of Selman. “Mr. Selman, through the Guyana Beverage Company, has contributed a lot towards the development of cricket in Essequibo and he will surely be missed.”

“Mr. Selman was an amazing human being who loved sport in general and he has left a void that will be hard to fill,” the release went on.

Under Selman leadership, the GBC Inc sponsored first division cricket in Essequibo for a number of years and also held inter club tournaments in Wakenaam.

spot would keep it.

The IOC also said that the amount of spots allocated for each sport at the Games would remain the same next year.

“The 57% that are qualified do remain in place and the goal is to maintain the same athletes quotas across the different sports,” an IOC official said.

The virus has wreaked havoc with sports schedules and forced the cancellation of many Olympic qualifiers across many sports. Athletes have also been restricted in their training due to measures taken to stop the spread.

Though a huge blow to Japan, which has invested $12 billion in the run-up to the Games, the decision to postpone was a relief to thousands of athletes fretting over training with the world heading into lockdown to fight a disease that has killed thousands of people.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Businessman Robert Hadad has been named to chair the normalization committee appointed by football’s world governing body, FIFA to run the affairs of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TFFA).

In a statement issued yesterday, FIFA said Hadad, the 53-year-old CEO of family-owned company Hadco, will chair the committee while Judy Daniel will serve as deputy chairperson.

Nigel L. Romano was also named a member of the committee and FIFA said that after consultation with continental governing body, CONCACAF, it will appoint two more members in the coming days.

“The members of the TTFA normalisation committee will assume their duties with immediate effect and, as per standard procedure, will have to pass an eligibility check. Their confirmation will be contingent upon the outcome of the eligibility check,” FIFA said.

Last Tuesday, the Zurich-based institution announced the decision to remove the TTFA Board and appoint a normalization committee after a had been taken following a joint assessment of the TTFA carried out by itself and CONCACAF, found “extremely low overall financial management methods, combined with a massive debt”, leaving the local body “facing a very real risk of insolvency and illiquidity”.The mandate of the committee is to: run the TTFA’S daily affairs; establish a debt repayment plan that is implementable by the TTFA; review and amend the TTFA Statutes (and other regulations where necessary) and to ensure their compliance with the FIFA Statutes and requirements before duly submitting them for approval to the TTFA Con-

Robert Hadad has been named chairperson of the FIFA normalisation committee. gress; and organise and to conduct elections of a new TTFA Executive Committee for a fouryear mandate.“The specified period of time during which the normalisation committee will perform its functions will expire as soon as it has fulfilled all of its assigned tasks, but no later than 24 months after its members have been officially appointed by FIFA,” the governing body said.FIFA added that the committee will act as an electoral committee, and none of its members will be eligible for any of the open positions in the TTFA elections under any circumstances.The appointment of the normalisation committee was criticised by TTFA president William Wallace who said the association would mount a challenge to the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Initial upgrading works commence on BFA ground at Vryman’s Erving, NA The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has indicated that it is very pleased to inform that works on the Berbice Football Association (BFA) ground, located at Vryman’s Erving in New Amsterdam, have commenced.

The land where the project is being undertaken would have been secured on a 30 years lease through the NDC last year and initial works would see the perimeter drain being dug and grading and leveling of the surface, exe c u t e d .

In an invited comment, GFF President Mr. Wayne Forde said, “I am very proud of the

progress we have made in infrastructure. We have added approximately 12 acres of land to our portfolio for exclusive football development. These are the fundamental priorities that will place Guyana’s football on a sustainable development trajectory.”

And BFA President, Shurwin Forde who is spearheading works at the facility, offered a comment: “The BFA’s aim is to make the ground habitable for occupation and football use in a couple of weeks, while we await major future infrastructural development by the GFF and FIFA.

Saturday March 28, 2020

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Rose looking for move to Narayan Ramdhani wins MVP Award NCAA despite mixed season

By Calvin Chapman Kaieteur Sport recently caught up with Stanton Rose; Guyana’s youngest ever senior men’s basketball team captain, who led the charge during the Golden Arrowhead’s first triumph in the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) championship in Suriname, 2018, where he was the event’s MVP. The 20-year-old currently attends the Panola College in Texas, USA, where he is on a sport scholarship majoring in Business Management.

Luckily, this star player’s season with the Panola Ponies was completed before the Coronavirus pandemic but, as he explains it, it could’ve gone a bit better.

Rose, who is an integral part of the team where he led last season in rebounds, steals and assists in the NJCAA Division 1 outfit, shared with Kaieteur sport that the Ponies started off the season on a high but they lost some pace in the back end of the competition, finishing with a 19-12 win-loss record.

“To me, I think I could’ve done more but with the system we had, I think I limited myself to make others around me feel comfortable with my unselfish style of play. I played hard every game without a doubt, something that recruits from the NCAA teams pointed out.

The 6’ 2" forward from Kwakwani further disclosed that he was being looked at by division one teams, namely, “Texas State, Chicago State, California Bakersfield and University of Texas Arlington (UTA) but they lost

Stanton Rose in action for Panola Ponies. interest due the fact that the Ponies finished the season poorly.”

However, Rose, shared some good news, after highlighting that he may seal potential moves to St. Mary’s or Berkeley, both of which are top universities, while his coach, Aaron Smith, has pledged to help get him into the NCAA, citing his tremendous potential.

Rose disclosed that since the coronavirus pandemic, he hasn’t practiced or worked out, “This is a serious virus and I am not taking any chances. I am indoors maintaining social distancing. All my classes are online as well so I am keeping up with

school. There will be more than enough time for me to work out after this thing is over.”

Later this year, Guyana is scheduled to defend their CBC men’s championship title with Jamaica having come forward as a candidate to host the tournament.

However, while the CBC has not announced whether the regional tournament will follow suit like other Caribbean sports events including the 49th CARIFTA games and the CWC regional 4-day, it won’t be much of a surprise if the tournament which is usually contested in JuneJuly biennially, is pushed back to a later date.

Health officials clear Jazz players, staff of coronavirus Utah Jazz players and staff have been cleared of the coronavirus, the team said yesterday.“The Utah Department of Health has determined that all Jazz players and staff, regardless of prior testing status, no longer pose a risk of infection to others,” the team said in a statement.The NBA suspended play after Utah center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 on March 11. His teammate, fellow All-Star Donovan Mitchell, also tested positive for the coronavirus.The players and staff members went through isolation and quarantine, as re- Utah Jazz fans look for information on their phones quired, the team said. They will following teams being sent to locker rooms and a practice social distancing and delay in the start of a game against the Oklahoma limit their time outside their City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. homes to “essential activities.”

(Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports) (Field Level Media)

Guyana’s Badminton Men’s Champion, Narayan Ramdhani, for the second year has won the MVP Awards for 2020 at The Kings University in Edmonton, Canada.

Narayan won that award for his stellar performances for the Season September 2019 to April 2020.

The Kings University Release stated: In the Sport of Badminton, The Singles discipline is the most coveted but also the most difficult. Simply put, a great singles player must be physically fit, mentally strong and have a mastery of the racquet and Shuttlecock. Our award recipient once again has gone above and beyond to make his teammates, coaches and the Kings University very proud. Whether it was late night fitness sessions or extra off-campus training, he took no shortcuts. He also places a great deal of pressure on himself to be the very best.

His back-to-back nationals appearance is a first for the Kings Badminton and we know he strides to extend that streak.

His hunger to succeed on and off court is evident during practices as he is always asking for more drills. His teammates and coaches know what he is capable of and we are excited to watch his continual growth.

Narayan won that award for his stellar performances for the Season September 2019 to April 2020 by: 1. Being in the top three at the ACAC (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference)

T o u r n a m e n t 2. Silver Medalist at the ACAC Provincial Championships 3. Winning the All Conference Award 4. Being in the Top 4 at the CCAA (Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association) National Championships His overall achievements for the 2019-2020 season are: Guyana Current National Ranking No.1 Canada Current CCAA National Ranking No.4 AB Canada Current ACAC Ranking No.2 AB Canada Current Kings University Ranking No.1 4-Times Athlete of the Week Kings University (AB Canada) 2019-20 2-Times ACAC All Conference Award (AB Canada) 2019-20 MVP Kings University (AB Canada) 2018-19 Athlete of the Year Kings University (AB Canada) 201819 ACAC Championship Ranking No.1 (AB Canada) 2019 CCAA National Ranking No.3 (Canada) 2019 British Colombia Ranking No.3 (Canada) 2017 World Junior Ranking No.53 (2016) Pan American Junior Ranking No.3 (2016) South American Youth Games Ranking No.3 (2013) Guyana’s Junior Sportsman of the Year 2016 International Achievements: 4th Place- CCAA National Singles Championships in

Mississauga Canada 2020 Silver- (Singles) ACAC Provincial Championships in Alberta Canada 2020 Bronze- (Doubles) ACAC #3 Tournament in Edmonton Alberta Canada 2020 Bronze- (Singles & Doubles) ACAC #2 Tournament in Edmonton Alberta Canada 2020 Silver- (Singles) ACAC #1 Tournament in Olds Alberta Canada 2019 Bronze- (Mix Doubles) The Kings University Open Tournament in Edmonton Canada 2019 Gold- (Mix Doubles) Yonex Alberta Series # 1 CFlight Tournament in Calgary Canada 2019 Semi-Finals- (Singles) Yonex Alberta Series # 1 BFlight Tournament in Calgary Canada 2019 2-Quarter-Finals at the CAREBACO International in Barbados 2019 Qualified and participated at the Pan Am Games in Lima Peru 2019 Bronze- CCAA National Singles Championships in Nova Scotia Canada 2019 Gold- ACAC Singles Championships in Alberta Canada 2019 Silver- (Singles) & 5th Place (Doubles) - ACAC #3 Tournament in Alberta Canada 2019 Gold- (Singles) & 4th Place (Doubles) - ACAC #2 Tournament in Alberta Canada 2019 The Guyana Badminton Association wishes him lots of success and support from the relevant sporting organisations.

Amir Khan donates building to UK’s health service to aid in fight against coronavirus Yahoo Sports - Heroes come in many different forms.

There are our firefighters, who rush into blazing buildings and risk their own lives to save others. There are our military, who fight for our freedom in distant lands.

And there are sports stars who score a dramatic last-second victory to win the big game or secure another championship.

Amir Khan has won an Olympic medal and multiple world championships, and he was proclaimed a hero many times over for those feats. Never, though, did Khan perform a more heroic act than he did for his country on Wednesday.

The British boxer donated a 60,000-square foot building he is developing to the National Health Service in the United Kingdom to aid in the fight against the coronavirus.Khan is developing the building as a wedding hall, but he didn’t hesitate when he saw the need for more hospital beds. The building already has electricity, so not much work will be needed to retrofit it for the government’s use.

“This is a very serious situation here and everybody has to pitch in to do their part,” Khan told Yahoo Sports during a FaceTime call. “This country and the people have been great to me.

They’ve supported me for so long and done so much for me. This is just the right

Khan said on instagram that he was prepared to give his 60,000 square foot 4 story building which is due to be a wedding hall and retail outlet to…help people affected by the coronavirus. (Amir Khan Instagram) thing to do.“I’m able to do it and it just so happens that there is an urgent need, so I reached out and made the offer.”

Khan, who is 34-5 with 21 knockouts, said (Continued on page 19)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Coronavirus will not be opportunity for drug cheats says WADA chief (Reuters) - World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chief Witold Banka had a message yesterday for any athlete thinking they could take advantage of the gap in drug-testing created by the coronavirus outbreak — “we will catch you” and “eliminate you”.

WADA acknowledged last week that the coronavirus pandemic had created challenges for drug-testers with countries closing borders, cancelling flights, enforcing mandatory quarantines or isolations and the shutdown of the sporting calendar.

For unscrupulous athletes this represents a huge opportunity.

Out of reach of the anti-doping authorities, perhaps in some cases for months, some athletes may feel emboldened to boost their medal chances with the help of performanceenhancing drugs, with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics postponed for a year.

If they do Banka insisted they will be caught.“They are not athletes, if you are a cheat we will catch you, for sure we... will ...catch you,” the WADA president told Reuters in a phone interview.

“If you want to use this situation to cheat us we will catch you and we will eliminate you from sport.”

OTHER WEAPONS The coronavirus means, however, that testing is certainly in slumber and WADA conceded that it has been reduced in certain parts of the world although no figures are available.

In the absence of testing, WADA will have to rely on other weapons in its anti-doping arsenal including the athlete biological passport, long-term analysis and investigations.

“The world stops, this is a new and challenging situation for all of us but we have a lot of tools we are using and I hope we will return to full power very quickly,” said Banka.

“Anti-doping never sleeps, that is the message I would like to give to my fellow athletes. Testing is not the one weapon we have which we can use against cheats.

“It is important to know athletes remain subject to testing and they must provide whereabouts information.

“To the athletes and my colleagues we will do everything to maintain the integrity of the system and hope we return full power very quickly.”

Knowing where athletes are is one thing, getting to them during an epidemic is another,

WADA President-Elect, Witold Banka attends a news conference after a World Anti-Doping Agency extraordinary Executive Committee (ExCo) meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, December 9, 2019. (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse) with entire cities and regions quarantined or locked down.But the International Olympic Committee’s decision to delay the 2020 Games for a year has also bought WADA some time to plan and ramp up testing when it is safe to do so.

HUGE PROBLEM “This is a difficult situation, a huge problem, but we are doing our best to monitor the situation,” said Banka.

“The decision to postpone the Olympic Games was a helpful decision. I need to say it was a victory for commonsense and I think everyone agrees it was the right call.

“For ourt anti-doping program it was good.”While testing is down, WADA has made no cuts and is not planning any layoffs, said Banka adding; “Our financial situation, taking into account current situations, is very stable”.Banka, who helped Poland win a bronze medal in the 4x400 metres relay at the 2007 world championships, said WADA will use every resource available to ensure a level playing field in Tokyo.

“I am coming from an athletic environment and I will do everything to convince the athletes I am working with them and I am listening and I will do everything to create a fair environment for them.” he said.

“I will use a lot of tools to do this. We will use all the weapons which we have.”

Nadal calls on Spain’s athletes to raise 11m euros to fight coronavirus (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal has issued a rallying cry and called on Spanish athletes to help raise 11 million euros ($12.07 million) to help fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Spain is one of the most badly affected countries in the world with over 56,000 cases and the parliament voted to extend the coronavirus lockdown to at least April 12 after the death toll rose to over 4,000 by Thursday.

Nadal said he spoke with NBA’s Pau Gasol about what they could do to help and came up with the initiative to support the Red Cross in procuring protective equipment and infrastructure to assist vulnerable families in Spain affected by the virus.

“I think that we’re the ath-

letes that we are in large part because of your support and now is that time that your athletes don’t fail you,” Nadal said in a video.

“We reached the conclusion that now is the time to launch an initiative which we hope that all Spanish sports come together in a show of solidarity and a good example of unity to align ourselves with the Red Cross Responde.

“The objective is clear, it’s to raise 11 million euros to help 1.35 million people. We trust that all of Spanish sport comes on board... Pau and I have already made our donations and we trust in you to make sure that this is our best victory.”

Nadal joins a list of athletes helping out the needy, with Roger Federer also an-

nouncing on Wednesday that he was donating one million Swiss Francs ($1.03 million) to vulnerable families in his native Switzerland.

Lionel Messi and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola had each donated one million euros ($1.08 million) to help clinics and medical centres fight the outbreak while Cristiano Ronaldo donated lifesaving equipment to Portuguese hospitals.

Real Madrid said the club’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium will be used as a makeshift storage facility while Sergio Ramos and his wife Pilar Rubio donated 264,000 face masks and 15,000 coronavirus testing kits through charitable organisation UNICEF. ($1 = 0.9115 euros)

Saturday March 28, 2020

Olympic qualification process and late season being studied: Coe

General view of awards at the Diamond League at the Letzigrund Stadium, Zurich. (REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann) (Reuters) - World Athletics is working to restart a shuttered athletics season and studying any changes that may be needed in the qualifying process for the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics, president Seb Coe said yesterday.

The governing body is hoping to offer a series of meetings that may begin in August and run to October so athletes can get back in to competition as quickly as possible when it is safe to do so due to the coronavirus pandemic, Coe said in a letter addressed to the athletics community.

“We don’t yet know the date for the Games next year,” Coe said, “but once they (the International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government) have made it, we will look at what, if any, impact that decision has on our World

Athletics Championships Oregon 21.”

Many expect the championships in Eugene, Oregon, to be moved to 2022.

Athletics’ global governing body also hopes to provide an answer as soon as possible to any changes to the Tokyo Olympics qualifying process, Coe said.

World Athletics began reviewing its Olympic qualification process after the IOC and sports federations agreed that all athletes currently qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Games will remain qualified for next year’s event.

“In athletics the primary qualification avenue is by meeting the entry standards set out in March 2019,” Coe added.

“Once those places are allocated, the remaining athletes are drawn from the world

ranking list. As of today, all athletes who have met the entry standards for their event will remain qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. This is approximately 50% of the places.”

A major review is also underway of the global calendar of events, not just for the next two years which will see some major disruptions, but for the long term.

The decision comes as athletics’ Diamond League series announced yesterday it has canceled its meetings through June but hopes to have a late season.

“The priority for all of us right now is to contain the pandemic, stay healthy and stay home,” Coe said. “But where we can continue to drive our sport forward.

“The world will not be the same after this pandemic.”

Djokovic pledges 1 mln euros to help fight coronavirus in Serbia BELGRADE, (Reuters) Tennis world number one Novak Djokovic pledged one million euros ($1.10 million) to help buy ventilators and other medical equipment in his native Serbia yesterday, joining a list of other athletes in the fight against coronavirus.

The virus, which emerged in China late last year, has brought sporting events around the world to a halt and killed more than 24,000 people.

Rafa Nadal had called on Spanish athletes to help raise 11 million euros ($12.13 million) to help fight the pandemic while Roger Federer contributed one million Swiss Francs ($1.04 million) to vulnerable families in his native Switzerland.

“I wish to express my gratitude to all the medical staff across the world and in

my native Serbia for helping everyone infected by the coronavirus,” Djokovic told Serbian media over a video conference from Marbella, Spain.

“Unfortunately, more and more people are getting infected every day. My wife Jelena and I are putting together a plan how to best donate our resources to people in need.

“Our donation is one million euros for the purchase of ventilators and other medical equipment.”

Serbia has reported 457 confirmed cases of coronavirus and seven deaths.

Djokovic was in imperious form before the pandemic brought the tennis season to a halt with both the men’s ATP Tour and the WTA Tour, which runs women’s compe-

titions, suspended till June 7.

The 32-year-old Serb has won 18 straight matches this season, lifting the ATP Cup with Serbia before a recordextending eighth Australian Open title in Melbourne and then a fifth title at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

With countries going into lengthy lockdowns to arrest the spread of the virus, Djokovic said he had enjoyed spending an extended amount of time with his family.

“The situation is very unpredictable. There is a lot of fear and panic and I understand that completely because there is so much suffering. My family and I are trying to stay as positive and high-spirited as possible in battling this impostor of a virus,” he said. ($1 = 0.9072 euros)

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

Saturday March 28, 2020

Ex Windies batting Coach Radford Permaul disappointed helps cricketers during Corona break not to break his record

Says life in B’ce is not normal as people stay off streets

By Sean Devers uyana and West Indies lefts p i n n e r Veersammy Permaul ended the truncated 2020 Regional Frist-Class season with 50 wickets from eight matches, the third time he has 50 in a single season.

The tournament, won by Barbados, was called off in the wake of the deadly global pandemic caused by the Covid-19 virus, for which a cure has not yet been found, with two rounds remaining.

The 31-year-old from Albion in Berbice said it was disappointing not to have gotten the chance of breaking his own record of 67 wickets he captured in 2015 when Guyana’s fiveyear winning streak was halted this season.

“I am very disappointed that the two remaining matches were called off and I didn’t get the opportunity to break my record or even get another 60-plus season, but as I have said it was an excellent season for me with the ball,” said Permaul who has 535 wickets from 120 matches including 18 from six Tests.

Nickita Miller of Jamaica and Dominican Shane Shillingford are the only other bowlers with 500 First-Class wickets in Regional cricket.

Permaul said that he was looking at what was taking place across the Globe and it was evident the Corona virus is very serious and has now reached the Caribbean the tournament had to stopped.

“This thing is serious, seeing how many people are dying around the world and how fast one can get contaminated with this virus.

My family are all well and we are taking all necessary precautions,” Permaul added.

Permaul has 29 fivewicket and seven 10-wicket match hauls including 15-77 against Jamaica in Jamaica this season when he captured a career best 8-18 in the second innings to spin the Jaguars to victory in three days.

Most people in Berbice are taking the advice of the Ministry of Health and the

G

Permaul was hoping to get chance to break his 67-wkts record.

Former ace West Indies batting coach, Toby Radford has gone global to help cricketers stay focused during the killer Coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic.

Radford, who helped the region’s key Test batsmen for approximately eight years, has launched a unique “one-

Toby Radford Online Coach

to-one online coaching programme” to ensure players are ready when the game resumes.

Batsmen from every

World Health Organisation (WHO) and are staying in their homes with their families.“Some businesses are open to the public but life in Berbice is not as normal as it would be but it is good to see people taking precaution and staying away from the road,” informed Permaul.

Permaul disclosed that he is keeping himself active by doing strength exercise and some running.

“But apart from that I sleep and spend time with my family. My plan for the rest of the year is to keep training as hard as I can, keep improving my cricketing ability, try to do my best whatever cricket opportunities presents itself

and make full use of it,” Permaul noted.

His advice to Sportsmen and Women is to keep exercising at home since it is good to keep their fitness and strength up so they can fight the virus.

“Whenever the virus is gone, which I hope is soon, you are at least 80% ready to restart your various sporting activities. Take all the necessary precaution at this time while God is doing his work,” Permaul concluded.

He urged the entire public to be safe and try as much as possible to stay away from the road and don’t form large gatherings and to take all steps to sanitise themselves.

cricket nation are invited to contact him via his Website (tobyradfordcricketcoaching .co.uk) where he is studying footage from players, and quickly correcting their technical faults. West Indies captain, Jason Holder was one of the first to congratulate Radford by

email on a “great idea that will help batsmen all round the world.”

“Toby is very strong at spotting technical faults and

quick to come up with solutions to put them right,” said Holder.

“He has helped me a lot with my batting, and used techniques to install more confidence in me.”

The 48-year-old Radford s a i d : “ I t ’s t a k e n o f f s t r a i g h t a w a y, a n d I ’ m delighted to be able to offer batsmen of all abilities, and from anywhere in the world, the same technical and tactical analysis that I’ve been giving to international batsmen for many years. “ Wi t h i n t e r n a t i o n a l lockdowns currently preventing team practices and get-togethers, now is the perfect time for batsmen to put their game in top order for when the season begins,” he quipped.

R a d f o r d ’s t e c h n i c a l knowledge played a major part in West Indies beating England at Headingly in 2018, and again in the Caribbean in 2019, following a nine-hour technical meeting on how to cause a seismic shock.

Rose looking for rt o p S move to NCAA Narayan Ramdhani despite mixed wins MVP Award season Narayan Ramdhani won the Kings University Award for the second year in a row.

Rose layups for the Ponies during a NJCAA game last season.

Initial upgrading works commence on BFA ground at Vryman’s Erving, NA

Drainage works in progress at the BFA ground located at Vryman’s Erving, New Amsterdam.

Initial works have commenced at the BFA ground located at Vryman’s Erving, New Amsterdam.

Already-qualified athletes will keep spots at 2021 Games in Tokyo 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.