Kaieteur News

K

AIETEUR NEWS

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

“Law does not give me power

Tuesday Edition March 31, 2020 - Vol. 13 No. 13

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Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

to lockdown city”

Price $80

- G/town Mayor Ubraj

Online readership yesterday 161,052

INSIDERS’ KNOWLEDGE?

Ventilators to fight COVID-19 arrived in Guyana before disease declared a pandemic p.

18

- same company that supplied expired HIV test kits now accused of being single Injunction against elections recount...

Marcus Bisram freed Full court to

by Berbice Magistrate; rule today on rearrested hours later jurisdiction p.

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CCJ closed until P. further notice 16 due to COVID-19 p.

Penalties for 12 infractions, a slap

on the wrist

Marcus Bisram [second from right] in the company of his lawyers moments after being freed

- EPA Head

COVID-19 putsp. brakes on two2 Exxon projects Two patients, who14p. tested positive for COVID-19, now in ICU

Begin the ‘everyone wears - Doctor says a mask’ campaign to save lives

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Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

Tuesday March 31, 2020

COVID-19 puts brakes on two ExxonMobil projects

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s a result of the n o v e l Coronavirus (COVID-19), approvals for two major ExxonMobil projects in the Stabroek Block have been stalled.

This was confirmed with head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams.

During an interview with this newspaper, Dr. Adams recalled that ExxonMobil would have initiated steps to pursue a fourth development project at the Hammerhead well by way of an application to the EPA. This was done in early March. The company, he said, had submitted project details and the public had 28 days since then to submit questions after perusing the project documents. “But given the current situation, we would have to extend the time for the

Hammerhead review. Exxon and the EPA have been working together on this. We had meetings planned but there is no practical way of doing this now.

Everything to do with Hammerhead is on hold.

They (Exxon) would obviously be affected by that,� the official said.

The EPA head also confirmed that approval for the American company to move forward with its third project called Payara has not been issued by his agency.

He confirmed as well that the green light was also not provided by the Energy Department.

The official said that all government agencies have to take precautions at this point in time while noting that some are already rotating members of staff. He said that this would obviously affect the delivery of services.

HAMMERHEAD PROJECT ExxonMobil's Hammerhead project is expected to see the production of 150,000 to 190,000 barrels of heavy oil per day. The project is expected to last for 20 years and will see 26 to 30 wells being drilled to support extraction of the oil from below the seafloor. Each well will be drilled to some 3500 to 5300 metres below sea level.

Kaieteur News understands that Exxon's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) will install some of the oil production facilities on the sea floor at approximately 800 to 1500 metres water depth. These subsea facilities include various types of pipes and hardware.

The subsea facilities allow the oil from the wells to be gathered and moved to the surface of the ocean for further processing.

It was noted that EEPGL

will use a Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessel (FPSO) which will have the capacity to produce up to an average of approximately 4,500,000 to 5,200,000 barrels of crude oil per month. The operator noted that these estimates are preliminary and are subject

to change.

In addition, it was noted that approximately every seven to eight days, the oil will be pumped from the FPSO to a conventional tanker which is owned and/or operated by others.

The tanker will then bring the oil to buyers.

At peak, EEPGL will utilise approximately 1200 personnel offshore during the stage where wells are being drilled and the offshore oil production facilities are being installed.

It was keen to point out that this number will decrease to (continued on page 7)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 31, 2020

PAGE 03

Begin the ‘everyone wears a - Doctor say mask’ campaign to save lives

By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine

B

y now, we are all aware of the local and worldwide impacts of the coronavirus infection.

Guyana is now beginning to see its share of the infection.

Given the global devastation of this pandemic, we need to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

Since we are still in the early phases of this infection in Guyana, our best chance of preventing a disaster lies in preventing its spread as much as possible. It is with this in mind that I wish to introduce the concept of everyone wearing a mask.

Why is this important?

A recent research by the

Columbia University found that when the coronavirus infection initially took off in China, 86 percent of the c a s e s w e r e “undocumented”; that is, asymptomatic or only had mild symptoms.

They found that while these asymptomatic people were only 55 percent as contagious as symptomatic people, they were the source of 79 percent of further infections.

This was because there were more of them and since they were asymptomatic, there was higher likelihood of them being out and about.

There are therefore many people who are spreading the infection but do not have any symptoms. To add to this complexity, researchers from the Massachusetts

Dr. Zulfikar Bux Institute of Technology (MIT) found that viral droplets expelled from coughs and sneezes can travel in moist, warm atmosphere at speeds of 10-

Marcus Bisram freed

by Berbice Magistrate; rearrested hours later

T

hings took a surprising turn for Marcus Brian Bisram yesterday when he arrived at his Number 70 Village home. This was hours after being freed by Magistrate Renita Singh.

Police ranks showed up at Bisram's residence with instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to re-arrest him. Commanderin-Charge of Region Six, Calvin Brutus, confirmed that based on instructions handed down by the DPP, his ranks were instructed to re-arrest Bisram.

Bisram was freed yesterday after Magistrate Singh upheld a no case submission and ruled that a Prima Facie case was not made out thus forcing her to discharge the case.

However, the office of the DPP has since made it pellucid that there was sufficient evidence for Magistrate Singh to have committed Bisram to trial in the Berbice High Court.

“The DPP, in compliance with the law, requested the Court Documents from the Magistrate, and having been satisfied that there was sufficient evidence contained therein for him to have been committed, has directed the

Magistrate to re-open the Preliminary Inquiry (Pl),” the DPP said.

Bisram is currently being held at the Springlands Police Station while arrangements are being to have him reappear at the Whim Magistrate's Court before the same magistrate “at the earliest possible time”.

Confirming this state of a ff a i r s y e s t e r d a y w a s Commander of Region Six, Calvin Brutus.

Meanwhile, at the court, mere minutes after exiting the court a free man after three years, Bisram, in the company of his lawyer, told reporters that, “this wasn't a case of merit; this wasn't a case of law”.

He added that, “this was a case with political direction and religious persecution from the DPP because the deceased is Muslim.”

Bisram confidently proclaimed that the case was “fabricated by the state and the DPP” and threatened to sue the State “and bring private criminal action”.

Bisram further stated that he believes that “justice was served, they cannot break me; I will continue with my humanitarian work, there must be consequences for this illegal action that is taking

place in the 21st century in this country.”

B i s r a m ' s A t t o r n e y, Sanjeev Datadin, while addressing media operatives had said that, “there was no evidence.

The Magistrate was very clear in her ruling and the witness said that the police and the state pressured him to do this so there could be no evidence; we have been saying this all along.” Also representing Bisram yesterday was Attorney's-atlaw Dexter Todd and Bernard DaSilva while the State was represented by Senior Lawyer and Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Stacy Goodings.

Bisram, well known for his philanthropic ways, was extradited to Guyana and was charged on local shores with counselling, procuring and commanding Harri Paul Parsram, Radesh Motie, Niran Yacoob, Diodath Datt and Orlando Dickie to murder Faiyaz Narinedatt between October 31, 2016 and November 1, 2016.

Narinedatt's battered and bloody body was found on the Number 72 Village public road clad in just his trousers while his body bore apparent marks of violence.

30 meters per second, creating a cloud that can span 7-8 meters.

Researchers also found that droplets circulate from people's mouth when they speak or sing. Now, how can we combat this in the social space when we were initially told one meter was sufficient? The simplest and most logical answer is for us all to wear mask once we are leaving our home.

What would happen if everyone wears a mask?

If all of us in Guyana wear a mask, we will cough into it and will minimise/stop the virus from spreading. If the virus cannot spread freely, it cannot infect as many people and we should be able to decrease its potency and save many lives.

There will be less particles with virus in the air and less contaminated surfaces.

What's the advantage of everyone wearing a mask?

While wearing regular

masks do not guarantee that someone will be free from catching the COVID-19 infection, it does increase the likelihood of preventing spread to the entire population. If the entire population benefits, then you will also benefit.

Wearing a mask will: · Stop infected persons from expelling the coronavirus · Help remind you to not touch your face and therefore, decrease the risk of you getting the infection into your body · If you still get infected while wearing the mask, there is a much better chance of starting with a lower inoculum of the virus and a better disease outcome Is there evidence out there of “everyone wearing a mask”?

A few weeks ago, the Government of the Czech Republic initiated a mandatory regulation, which made everyone wear a mask

when they leave home.

Almost 100% of the country responded and they are now boasting of an 80% decrease in the coronavirus spread.

Other countries are also taking similar steps and seeing lower rates of infection.

How can we ensure our masks are worn safely? · Ensure your hands and mask are clean before putting on your mask · When you leave home with your mask on, avoid touching it as much as possible · If you have to take your mask off when you are out, wash or sanitize your hands first. Take your mask off by grabbing the attachments on your ear, do what you have to do and then put your mask on as soon as you are finished. · Clean your hands again · Only touch the earpiece portion of your mask · Use a different mask every day or clean your mask (continued on page 16)

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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

Even a crisis fails to galvanise us

A

fter an interminable interval, finally and slowly, coverage relative to the coronavirus has nudged other priorities from the headlines of Guyanese media. Despite the menaces of this global scourge, the local reactions have left much to be desired.

This merely suffices to reinforce how limited, backward, and far gone are a great many in this irresponsible society.

Not even a crisis - real, not overblown, lethal and not just fleeting - is able to wrest us by the scruff of the neck to compel some understanding in locals.

At this time, some reality checks may be helpful.

Countless Guyanese have close relations living in the United States, with the greatest number clustered in New York City, particularly in the borough of Queens.

WhatsApp has contributed immensely to making us aware of furloughs, rotations, and fears impacting people, which are not the news of strangers, but of people known and loved. This is in an advanced society, which despite its many advantages is reeling under the weight of the viral onslaught. The problem is that the peak may still be ahead.

But still we in this country linger in a state of continuing unpreparedness, as though daring the Fates to come forward for a wrestling match.

There is only one loser resulting from any such encounter.

At the individual level, there is lamenting about lack of direction, though there have been streams of cautionary information, elections brawls notwithstanding. While many play the fool, and we are incomparably good at this, there is yet another consideration that eludes personal interest and urgency, as well as the required responsibilities that come with such.

It is as if, and this is based on reactions from broad sections of the populace, this most worrying of health scourges does not really exist, is somewhere over there in foreign locales, is not here as yet and, should it do so, then we are ready to beat it into quick submission. This is despite the fact that there has been real news of one fatality, with a still truly undetermined number of unaware infected to be recognised.

Last Thursday, the media reported that Guyanese, who were stranded in the region, had agreed to mandatory quarantine as part of the arrangement to allow home, proceeded to promptly breach that agreement upon arrival at the international airport.

Against better judgment and restraining voices, the incoming had to be near to and touch close family members, who had gathered to greet. Something has to be terribly wrong with us.

Here it is that a salvaging operation was set in motion and concluded, and the hoped-for benefits of that development were being squandered almost immediately, and without a thought or concern in the world.

Wiser people than us the world over are committed to doing the opposite, if only to increase the chances for selfpreservation, and to manage the downstream effect through doing personal part to limit the potential for spread.

Our world threatens to fall apart and stay so for an extended period, but still we insist, in either idiotic bravado or misplaced arrogance to remain unheeding.

Tropical heat slows, not eradicates. In the face of all this, it seems more than reasonable to take the position that this confirms the primitive mindsets that prevail here and the real world that exists here in Guyana.

We do so to our great peril.

This is said because on March 25, the Wall Street Journal carried a story titled, “Coronavirus is advancing on poor nations, and the prognosis is troubling” with the secondary caption of, “The pandemic is taking off in vulnerable countries that join the battle with fewer weapons than developed countries.” Undoubtedly, that is a snapshot of Guyana’s circumstances. For oil or no oil, we are currently “poor” and vulnerable and are limited by “fewer weapons” at our disposal to fight.

Tuesday March 31, 2020

Power sharing is the only way out of our draining problems DEAR EDITOR, Though I am pessimistic about the prospects of power sharing in this country, I see it as the only way out of our draining problems. The winner-take-all results over each elections cycle have left us in a darker, more dangerous place.Our society is more polarized, leaving citizens more disgruntled, more uncooperating, and more undermining. We cannot go anywhere like this; we are unable to extract the best out of our pool of talented human resources, or the most out of our many natural resources.

But we have to find a way that offers a chance to minimize this self-defeating cycle.

The first thing that comes to mind is the governance arrangement in Northern Ireland. For sure, it is shaky and subject to continual efforts by hardliners to weaken, if not derail it; think of the Sudan and the stops and starts that plague its efforts.

I envision power sharing as involving a multi-party presence, and to which I would add an influential civic component. By civic, I mean representation from the main religious blocs, with possible others to include trade unions, reputable commercial voices, maybe even diaspora

elements. The main thing is that everybody thinks and feels that they are part of the governing and decisionmaking agency.

Second, and because this is the way I see such arrangements, any power sharing arrangement has to be temporary, a marriage of convenience to pave the way out of a distrustful, fragile, and perilous situation.

In Guyana, I would suggest a two-year time frame; one that is three years in length would be stretching things too long, while one year is too short for the priorities that have to be specified, agreed upon, and finalized. There would not be enough time in a year to put in place processes to resolve the many disputes that are sure to arise; or to lay the groundwork for measuring the rate and degree of progress made, if any.

There needs to be enough time and space to scrap the existing constitution and start over.As a work of political craftsmanship, what we have is unparalleled; as a means of managing a divided society, it makes possible every conceivable manner of trickery. There are just too many loopholes and opportunities to interpret to one’s own satisfaction, which weakens the already

suspicious fabric of society, and builds towards more of the politically and personally painful. Most important, the provisions and structure of any new constitution must set out with its main objective being to dismantle and destroy the political processes and arrangement that enable racially dominant governance. Parties must be made to start over in racial formats different from those that exist; they must reflect demographic and cultural and regional ingredients, with heavy emphasis on the first.

The new engineering must include limiting the time that any one leader, or party, or combination of parties, is constitutionally allowed to rule, and with clear authority furnished on how to block attempts to circumvent through the courts or any other way.

I would recommend overhauling the way parliament is set up, with either a unicameral or two-tier house in place; also, who is eligible to serve there, with age limit identified.

The appointments of Chancellor and Chief Justice, Auditor General, and Commissioner of Police, among others, should all be stripped from political hands.

The oversight boards and commissions must be nominated and dominated by people from civil society ranks. These are a good start, with much more I believe

needed to be added.

Here is another key: Whatever is finalized has to be laid out in the most unambiguous language possible. This must then be put to a referendum requiring at least 66% ratification by the population age 16 and older.

Before we can be made to get to anywhere near to any of this, there has to be powerful people who could serve as recognized contributors, who are truly independent mediators.

I regret to say that I believe that even the most respected Guyanese would be looked at by local political parties (one or the other of the major ones) as biased, hence unacceptable.

This is regardless of where they may be located and how well they have done. It is a shame and the ugly reality of our racial and political deformities. This leaves only outsiders, and those are whom it will have to be.The Americans (along with their Canadian and European companions) have a long history here and a large stake; all have to be part of any mediating presence to bring us to the table to implement a power sharing structure. Additionally, these have the prestige, power and means to make people move and things happen. Our neighbours from Caricom have to be among the intermediaries, and I would (Continued on page 5)

Guyana Elections and the Constitution DEAR EDITOR, I have been looking on with interest at the PPP and their alignment with Foreign governments (United States, Canada, Britain and the Organization of American states) seeking to have Guyanese agree with a position that we must put aside our Supreme Law and go with their own agendas.

Our Constitution has worked very well for us in the past at resolving electoral issues, and suddenly it is not good enough. Not only can we not tell those countries to bypass their Supreme law, but it brings to mind the highly contentious 2000 United States election between George W. Bush and Al Gore.

There was the issue of “hanging chads” in the crucial state of Florida, and the American people allowed the US Supreme Court to find a solution as to who won the election. George W. Bush was

declared the winner. But the PPP and the West are of the view that our Supreme Court must not participate in solving the problem.

It reminds me of the death of Patrice Lumumba – the first Prime Minister of the Independent Democratic Republic of the Congo from June to September 1960. He resisted Belgian colonialism and white corporate interests - (due to the vast natural resources of the Congo) - and was imprisoned and tortured.

He was murdered in a coup supported by the Belgians, the United States and the United Nations. His death left upheaval in the Congo and by the time it ended in 2003 - and it is still in upheaval - about 5 1/2 million people had died.

But what is interesting from our perspective is that John F. Kennedy had promised Eleanor Roosevelt that he planned to use his powers to

The realities are before us: test kits - where are we today versus when awareness first came? Official response (refer to earlier airport incident mentioned) - how compelling or controlling is this? Relative to comprehensive readiness should the floodgates bow under this viral assault - where do we really stand? Lastly, responsible leaders - how about daily briefings, like Gov. Andrew Cuomo?

Clearly, even a crisis fails to galvanise us wisely.

have Lumumba released from jail and let the Congolese Parliament decide whether or not he would remain Prime Minister. But three days before his inauguration, the conspirators moved with extraordinary haste to preempt Kennedy’s alleged intention.

The attitude of the Western powers reminds me of the Peloponnesian War when the Greeks told the Melians: “The strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must.”

Yours faithfully Professor Kean Gibson

Let Democracy and the Will of the people prevail DEAR EDITOR, I do not subscribe to the idea of shared governance or an inclusive government as a result of March 2, 2020 General Elections impasse, as some Guyanese have been ventilating of recent. Such calls at this stage in our country’s political accounts can be viewed as an artificial imposition and premature stance to appease the present electoral crisis.

First, there must be a democratic transition of government by way of a transparent and credible electoral process, and the will of the Guyanese people must be respected.

Secondly, should the PPP by virtue of being victorious at the just concluded national polls have to form a govern-

ment, then it should be noted that the PPP already has a Civic component on its slate as part of inclusiveness (and just to reflect back to the runup to the 1992 General Elections, it was due to the collapse of the Patriotic Coalition for Democracy (PCD) that the Civic slate was birthed.) Third and finally, an opposition party or parties should be allowed to function in such capacity and maintain that level of independence, as this gives rise to a clear and stronger political mandate, as it holds the government accountable and ensures appropriate checks and balances are in place for a sound government structure.

Sincerely yours, Paul Ramrattan

Tuesday March 31, 2020

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

Guyana’s future is to become the Singapore of South America!!!

DEAR EDITOR, I wish to contest some of the views expressed in an article published in the Kaieteur News on 25 March 2020, titled ‘Bloomberg Paints Gloomy Economic Picture of Guyana’. I find the analysis on the economic future of Guyana to be very thin.

Here is my prediction of Guyana’s economic future.

Firstly, Guyana will become the Singapore of South America. I am very happy that ExxonMobil is not being distracted with the politics in Guyana, but the company is continuing with its operations.

The article states that ‘Exxon, meanwhile, continues to see Guyana as its golden ticket in tough times, with billions of barrels of oil at play’.

The role of ExxonMobil is fundamental to the design, development and implementation of Guyana’s current and future economic and development strategy. So, Exxon, please do not get dis-

tracted, we are ‘working out our own salvation, perhaps with fear and trembling’. We are trying to get our governance and leadership.

The article stated that ‘In November, the International Monetary Fund gave Guyana the nod as the world’s fastest growing economy on the strength of Exxon’s oil finds.

Since then, a fight for political control has led to a disputed election…’

This statement is inaccurate, it is important to understand the source or core of the problems in the Guyanese society, because if theory and analysis is faulty, then the solutions proposed will be wrong also. Guyana’s political problem is over 70+ years old, which is essentially ethno-political.

A major part of the problem in Guyana is that Guyanese have been serving the agenda of our politicians, instead of our politicians serving the agenda of the Guyanese people. We intend

to change that order so that the politicians will serve the agenda of the Guyanese people. The point that ‘Guyana risks limiting its oil riches and becoming another Venezuela, a neighbouring country that’s an economic and humanitarian disaster zone’; that will not happen.

Our examples which we intend to follow for resourcerich countries are Botswana and Chile as developing countries, and Norway, Canada, Australia and the United States.

Another aspect of the article stated that, “This is the first step of the oil curse, “said Schreiner Parker, the Vice President for Latin America at consultant Rystad Energy, citing the political clash.” The first thing that you can do wrong has been done wrong.” My view is that too much space in the press is given to frame Guyana in the context of a country that could become a resourcecurse country; while I under-

Power sharing is the only way...

From page 4 extend the circle to include the UN, the OAS, and the Carter Center. Specifically, I would love to see and welcome back the esteemed and Honourable Mia Mottley leading a Caricom presence, with others being Dr. Ralph Gonsalves (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), Portia Simpson or PJ Patterson (Jamaica), and one of the retired Chiefs of the CCJ. Now I must go out on a high, slender, and shaky limb that is sure to be sawed off at the point of greatest danger.

I clamber up. From Guyana’s children (sure to be disowned), I would recommend Moses Bhagwan and Elder Eusi Kwayana. The latter should be an automatic, but age may be a factor. To those names, I add Baroness Amos, and Sir Shridath, if only for the considerations that must be given to the international weight that he would bring, the helpful influences he could assemble.

All local residents are out (OUT!): too much suspicions of bias and the worst motives.

Since we are not willing to listen to one another, or to trust any Guyanese outside of our group, then it must be

the foreigners. That, too, is shame, and brings great personal regret. But it is one we have to endure, and to accept, if we seriously desire to move forward by giving ourselves a push start to another direction in the search for higher ground.

Secondarily, I think that illustrious Guyanese could be gathered to contribute to the vital supporting sociopolitical-economic-legal ‘think tank’ mechanism that would be essential.

As I share this, I am aware that, for certainty, there would emerge those from both sides, who are totally against any power sharing talk and movement. It is not a matter of genuine considerations of what gives the best chance of digging us out a deep hole,

not about country, nor of relief for the widest cross section of its peoples and the greatest number of them.

At the heart, it is about them: what they have to give up, how their ambitions will be thwarted, and their calculations, relative to power and the assets of this country, would be subject to scrutiny and severe squeeze. That is unacceptable; and the loss of party and racial primacy means everything to them and for them.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

stand that some of it is intended to show what Guyana should not do, I am of the firm view that more space needs to be given to the positive examples, like the countries I mentioned above.

What has Botswana done and is doing to avoid being a resource-curse country?

What can we learn from Botswana and Chile as developing countries? What can we learn from Norway, which seems to be at the higher end of countries that used their resources to develop the country in a sustainable manner?Further, the article states that ‘President David Granger is accused of miscounting votes to stay in office and fighting a recount even after the U.S. and regional groups said the March 2 vote was flawed. But Granger’s challenger, Bharrat Jagdeo, said his supporters won’t recognize Granger as president, “and we will not participate in the parliament.”

Instead, they will work with the international community and push for sanctions.

Many of us do not agree that the approach by any political party that does not win the elections, is to stay out of parliament, and be involved in activities that will disadvantage the Guyanese people.

Having been a Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) for decades, the second poorest in the Western hemisphere; this is an opportunity for the people of Guyana to realize the Guyanese Dream and our politicians have to work harder to find solutions which will be

in the best interest of the country and its people.

I recently reviewed the National Development Strategy (NDS) from the early 2000’s which is a very comprehensive economic and development policy document.

The four objectives were: economic growth, poverty alleviation/reduction, satisfaction of basic social and economic needs and sustainment of a democratic and fully participatory society.

If I had my way, I would incorporate aspects of this NDS with the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) and with my own thinking of framing Guyana’s economic and development policy and strategy into six pillars: Green Economy, Oil and Gas Economy, Natural Resources Economy, Agricultural Economy and Service Economy. This would be my approach for the short, medium and long term towards the country becoming the ‘Singapore of South America’ and providing strong leadership nationally, regionally and internationally.

As a citizen of Guyana, I

invite investors to come because ‘Guyana is open for business.’ We are changing the order of our politics and development. We will deepen and widen and broaden our democracy as well as strengthen the rule of law.

I particularly like the statement by ExxonMobil in the article, “We are invested in a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship with the people of Guyana.” I wish to emphasize, ‘with the people of Guyana’. I believe, however, that Exxon needs to enlarge that relationship with the Guyanese people.

My point is that, as a people, we have recognized that we have not done enough to create a more stable internal environment for the growth and development of our country, and we intend to do so now. There is a lot of serious talk going on among us behind the scenes.

I sincerely hope that we will get the support to bring more balance between our politics, economics and development.

Yours faithfully, Citizen Audreyanna Thomas

On leadership and the pursuit of unity

DEAR EDITOR, If the coming of a global pandemic which may take millions of lives in its path does not foster goodwill and unity among us, then unity is not our leaders hearts’ true objective.

Obtaining power without deep consideration for those we aspire to lead is to lose power over those that we serve as leaders.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

PAGE 6

Recount votes in Region 4 and establish a Table of Patriotic Governance DEAR EDITOR, This is a historic moment for the best display of Guyanese Ethical and Transformational Leadership of the highest calibre.

The Roraima Institute (TRI) is a Washington-based, Guyanese ‘Think Tank’ that supports Democracy and the Rule of Law. Further, we believe that democratic norms and institutions is an integral part of a country’s growth and development; and that for underdevelopment and racism to die, democracy must live and flourish.

In a modern democracy, no citizen should be disenfranchised from his/her right to vote, or the right to have that vote counted.

To this end, we are calling for a recount of all votes cast in Region 4 and the declaration of a winner.

Whoever is sworn in as President must immediately convoke all political parties and civil society organizations to a Table of Patriotic Governance (TPG) to agree on an agenda to address the imminent threat of Coronavirus Pandemic to all, Ethnic Justice - Equality and Democratic Governance Bottom Top - Top Bottom.

Guyana must move forward not backwards. There must be implementation of achievable goals within 100 days.

This must not be entangled by bureaucracy, or

Tuesday March 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

the narrow interests of, personality, political parties and civil society organizations.

First, we call on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to complete the tabulation of all votes in a credible and transparent manner using the official Statements of Poll (SOPs) signed

by GECOM’s returning officer and by all contesting parties.

If there are disagreements over the official SOPs then we suggest opening the ballot boxes and recounting the votes in the presence of impartial observers and political parties’ representatives.

Given the high stakes and the contentious nature of these elections, The Roraima Institute (TRI) firmly believes that anything less than full transparency and a credible recount process will invite an avalanche of protests, condemnations, allegations of fraud and deception, and would call into question the legitimacy of the winner.

The cold war is over.

Guyana cannot sustain itself with an illegitimate government at this juncture: Coronavirus Pandemic, decreasing revenues from oil and other commodities in a global recession, the Guyana/ Venezuela Border Problem, the Geopolitical escalation in the relations between the Western World and Venezuela; and a President in Brazil who will work very closely with the President of USA to

ensure stability and Security in the Guyana Geo-Political Neighbourhood.

The resulting chaos would curtail the country’s growth and development and set Guyana back for many, many years to come.

Regardless of the outcome, this election has underscored the crucial need for a national dialogue on Racial Equality-Justice, Democratic Governance and Structural Transformation.

From Independence to the present moment, the delicate balance of race relations has festered like a sore that no one wanted to touch.

Now this sore has been exposed, engulfing us all and threatening to destabilize our fledgling democracy. No one will be spared. In the words of Martin Carter “all are involved, all are consumed”.

The discovery of oil in Guyana’s Atlantic basin has exacerbated the underlying racial tensions and has brought to the fore the palpable fear of permanent marginalization or domination by either of the major ethnic groups over the rest of the country.

In light of these developments, The Roraima Institute (TRI) is reiterating its call for a recount of all votes cast in Region 4, the declaration of a winner; followed immediately by the convoking of all political parties and civil society organizations to a Table of Patriotic Governance (TPG).

It is our firm belief that the winner take-all model with its pernicious underpinnings has failed Guyana miserably.

What we have witnessed is a game of political football between the two major ethnic groups where there are no winners, only losers, i.e. the people of Guyana of all ethnic backgrounds without exception. It is time to offer a new approach, one that offers hope to all of Guyana’s citizens The Roraima Institute Floyd Haynes, Paul Tennassee

Our country needs a legitimate and proactive government to with gloves and masks and we have enough ventilators. protect our people The US, EU, and ComDEAR EDITOR, What would be our best position to counter a Venezuelan incursion into Guyana to capture our oil?

We would want a government, which can quickly tap powerful allies to stop Venezuela in its tracks.

The Coalition has been pandering a narrative over the last few years that we should accept the atrocious oil deal with Exxon, because the US would help defend the company and our country.

But it is now hard to contemplate that the Coalition believed its own rhetoric?

Given its recent defiance of many foreign powers to ensure a free and fair election process, does the Coalition still believe foreign powers would come to its rescue in Guyana’s time of need?

We now have a more immediate threat to worry about, and that is the coronavirus.

Essential armour against the coronavirus is ventilators.

The cost for ventilators runs around US$30,000.

We know the Coalition is seeking about US$5 million from the World Bank to fight the coronavirus. If the entire amount were to be used to

buy ventilators that would mean, we could only afford 166. For a country of 780,000 citizens that number seems alarmingly inadequate.

Foreign powers that are usually willing to help poor countries for one-off disasters are now occupied with their own local disasters.

Countries like US and Britain are locked in battles to protect their own citizens; hence, it may be months before they can send help to a country like Guyana.

On June 1, 2019, Dr. Mangal estimated, in a letter in the press, that Guyana should have received a US$1 billion signing bonus. If we had been proactive about renegotiation, we would not be in this reaction mode begging for US$5 million to fight this virus.

What is one of the main purposes of a government? It is to ensure the safety of its people.

The local press, bloggers and others have been doing their part to educate Guyanese how to fight this invisible enemy. But we need a proper and proactive government to protect us from this enemy. We need to ensure our hospitals are stocked

monwealth have warned about sanctions if an illegal government is sworn in. Is the Granger Caretaker government delusional to think that if our country spirals into a medical crisis, foreign entities that have supplied aid in the past would rush to our rescue?

No, as can be seen in the press, these foreign powers are spending their efforts warning about an illegal government being sworn into office here in Guyana instead of worrying about sending us critical medical supplies.

The need to have a legitimate government to fight the real and immediate threat of the coronavirus is urgent. But the Coalition seems obsessed with tying up the elections process in the courts than protecting the Guyanese people.

We cannot afford our country to be in a weakened position because of a handful of power hungry and deceitful people.

Let the voices of the Guyanese people be heard in a peaceful manner that our country immediately needs a legitimate and proactive government to protect our people.

Darshanand Khusial

LET’S BE SENSIBLE DEAR EDITOR, Viruses are older than human existence. In 1918, we had the Spanish flu which infected 500 million and killed 20 million to 50 million people.

We had the SARS outbreak of 2002 to 2004. It infected 8,098 and killed 774 people from China, other Asian countries, the UK (4) and Toronto, Canada.

In 2014, the Ebola outbreak killed 11,315 in 5 African countries and the US. So why wasn’t the world prepared? Maybe because it is not profitable, because they occurred over a decade apart;

but that can change.

For Caribbean countries, it’s like a hurricane. Its time of impact is uncertain but unpreparedness means death.

All countries capitalist, socialist and communists are unprepared. The US has more cases of Covid-19 than China, which has about 4 times its population. The worst prepared country in the world is the United States, because its health care system is profitdriven and the most expensive in the world. It is the only advanced nation that has such a system - Europe, UK, Russia, China, Canada, Japan, have a Healthcare system that’s government-driven.

I think that the shutting

down of the economy will not stop the spread of the pandemic. Many people are poor and cannot self-isolate. They must hustle food or they will die. I use South Korea as the model.

They are at work. We need to test everyone and then quarantine the infected.

Everyone wears masks to work and practices proper hygiene. Take in a lot of vitamin C from oranges etc.

Let’s be sensible. Every mouth must be fed. This current method will lead to social upheaval like what is starting to occur in Italy or worse.

Yours truly, Brian E Plummer

Do not bring sanctions down on us!

DEAR EDITOR, I am begging “the newly established parties,” ANUG, TCI, CG, TNM, LJP, URP and PRP, as stated in the letter to the foreign powers, dated March 27, to desist from calling down sanctions on our beloved Guyana.

These sanctions will hurt and starve and deprive mostly the poor, innocent citizens of Guyana. If you love your country and our people, come up with another way of registering your dissatisfaction and please distance yourself, your party and its followers from this letter. Our people are already hurting.

David Correia Former resident of Region One

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 31, 2020

PAGE 07

Injunction against election recount...

Full Court to rule today on jurisdiction

T

he Full Court has stayed the proceeding filed against the elections recount until the determination of an appeal challenging the jurisdiction of Justice Franklyn Holder to hear the case. The Full Court comprised of Chief Justice (Ag) Roxane George and Justice Nareshwar Harnanan is set to rule on the point of jurisdiction at 11:00 am today.

The judges yesterday heard oral arguments from lawyers involved in the matter. Senior Counsel from Trinidad Douglas Mendes argued against the court's jurisdiction to inquire into matters of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) based on the application made by APNUAFC candidate, Ulita Moore.

Mendes, who is among attorneys representing leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, had challenged the application by Moore to

block the recount of votes cast in the elections on March 02, 2020.

The case filed before Justice Franklyn Holder was challenged on the grounds of jurisdiction. Justice Holder had previously granted interim injunction to Moore.

The injunction restrains the Chairman of GECOM and the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) from setting aside or varying the declarations already made by the 10 electoral districts with any other documents or declarations, until the hearing and determination of the judicial review of the application. Holder had ruled that the High Court has jurisdiction to hear the case.

However, Jagdeo's legal team appealed the ruling in Full court.

In his argument before the Full Court yesterday, Mendes relied on Section 140 of the Representation of the People Act that states that “no question whether as a

function of the Elections Commission or any of its members has been performed validly or at all shall be enquired into in any court.”

He stressed that the Court cannot be given jurisdiction in a case which does not have one adding, “The question is, can the court entertain those submissions and can the court actually enquire into a decision of GECOM?” He contended that the only method provided under the law is by way of Elections Petition, pointing out that “The only way the applicant can approach the Court is way of an election petition to say whether an act or omission which leads to the fraudulent result of the elections; in this case, the act would be the recount.”

The Senior Counsel held that at this juncture, the applicant does not have the right to interfere via the Court or otherwise with the operations of the Elections Commission.

COVID-19 puts brakes on two...

From page 2 200 personnel during the production operations phase. Further to this, a smaller number of personnel will be utilised at the onshore support facilities.

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

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

EEPGL noted that it will drill approximately 35 to 45 wells offshore to support extraction of the oil from below the sea floor. It said that each well will be drilled using a floating drill ship.

Also, each well will be directionally drilled to specific reservoir targets generally 4,000 to 5,500 meters (m) below the sea level.

Further to this, EEPGL said it will install some of the oil production facilities on the sea floor at approximately 1,500-1,980 m (4,900-6,500 ft) water depth. It said that these subsea facilities include

various types of pipes and hardware.

Kaieteur News understands that the subsea facilities allow the oil from the wells to be gathered and moved to the surface of the ocean for further processing.

EEPGL will then install other oil production facilities on a vessel which floats on the surface of the ocean. The vessel is called a Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO). It will be moored on location in approximately 1,800-1,980 m (5,900-6,500 ft) of water depth and will remain on location throughout the life of the facility. EEPGL said that oil production facilities on the FPSO will further process the oil extracted from below

the sea floor.

The operator also stated that the FPSO will have the capacity to produce up to approximately 180,000 to 220,000 barrels of oil per day. During the early stage of production operations, the FPSO is anticipated to produce up to an average of approximately 5,700,000 to 6,600,000 barrels of crude oil per month. These estimates are preliminary and are subject to change.

Further to this, it was noted that the Project is expected to employ up to 600 persons during development well drilling, approximately 600 persons at the peak of the installation stage, and up to about 140 persons during production operations.

Chief Justice Roxane George

Justice Nareshwar Harnanan

Meanwhile, Moore's legal team, which was led by Grenadian Queen's Counsel, Dr. Alexis Francis, and Dr. Keith Scotland, argued that the Court has supervisory role.

“I think we can all agree that the Court can deal with certain matters outside of an elections petition,” Dr. Scotland said. He referenced the case brought by Reaz Holladar against GECOM and Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo. Dr. Scotland noted in that case, the Court was asked to examine the issue of compliance, “Whether the Returning Officer had complied with the law as

relates to the tabulation of the votes.”

In that vein, he argued that Moore has the right to approach the Court on the basis of whether an agreement between two political figures in the person of President and the Opposition Leader can order a recount of votes, a function that is solely conducted by GECOM. Dr. Scotland stressed that the application before the Court is purely on this basis.

The applicant is challenging any supposed right of the politicians to interfere in the affairs of GECOM. Further, he said that, “Jagdeo waived his right to an

appeal early in the matter. By filing application in the matter, parties from the other side submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of the court, only to later on challenge the very authority to which they submitted. We say that what they have done by participation, they have waived their right to raise the issue of jurisdiction,” he said.

But the Chief Justice did not quite agree with that argument. She instead noted that even Justice Holder agreed that the issue is a “live one”. Justice Holder had granted an interim injunction, which 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 GECOM's 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.

PAGE 08

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 31, 2020

PAGE 09

GUYANA IS HEADING INTO A STORM

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here are about 25 c o u n t r i e s severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The United States, the world's most powerful nation is now the epicenter of the pandemic but most of the severely affected states are in Europe.

There is a striking similarity in the graphs of total cases, new cases and deaths in all of the severely affected countries.

Yesterday, one of the experts on the Task Force advising Donald Trump noted that in all of the US states, the patterns are similar.

These patterns suggest that there is a sudden uncontrollable and

exponential rise in the number of cases and deaths.

Countries have been lulled into complacency by initially only having a few cases, only to see a sudden lift-off of new cases and deaths. And when this happens, the situation can become uncontrollable, as it is now in Spain and Italy.

It takes on average more than six weeks after social restrictions – lockdowns, social distances and selfisolation – before there can be any significant reduction in the number of cases and deaths. This has been the experience of China and is what data modeling is predicting in the USA. This is one of the reasons why the

US does not expect the curve to turn until the end of April by which time thousands more are going to die.

Guyana therefore has to look at the trends. Even without the benefit of its own data experts and epidemiologists, Guyana can predict what is likely to happen: the situation will get worse before it gets better but it will get far worse unless drastic action is taken now.

Guyana has lost critical time. The first coronavirus case, an imported case, was recorded, almost three weeks ago. Immediately, the borders should have been closed but it was not until the 19th that this was done. As a result, we had other

Dem boys seh...

Cow nah kay weh he drop he load

D

em boys know dat when cow ah guh' slaatta house, him nah kay weh ee drop he load. The Man wah part de Red Sea seeing the end of he political career and he nah kay wah he seh.

Dem boys seh wah supposed to come out he behind, ah come out of he mouth. He talkin' tupidness'.

He call fuh international investigation into foreign interference in the elections.

Dem boys thought was only Rum-jaattan deh pon dem tupidness'. Dem didn't know it was also the Man who part the Red Sea. Rum-jaattan did want investigation into Russian interference in de elections.

Dem boys had to remind he dat is he is the one who have to investigate. Dem boys ask

he why he didn't do it all along.

The man who part the Red Sea foget' dat the Cold-ation sehing dat dem win the elections. Well if dem win the elections, how come he want investigation into interference?

Dem boys want know if dis is the next plot in de drama over the elections. Dem boys asking if dis thing gon stretch out and if de world will find a vaccine for the coronavirus before we know who is the President-elect of Guyana.

The Man who part the Red Sea should 'kancentrate' on the coronavirus. Dem boys want ask he, how come is only 46 people get tested suh far and the country gat more than 1,700 testing kits.

Dem wan know why the Red Sea Man nah calling for an

investigation into testing fuh the virus.

Dem boys hear dat Guyana come up with a new way to test for the virus. Dem boys hear how nuff pharmacies run out of thermometers.

A n d s u h d e m recommend dat persons with a fever insert 3 dry grains of corn into the sick person's behind. If pop-corn comes out, call the COVID 19 hotline immediately.

Better yet, call the Man who part the Red Sea because he could do with some corn so dat instead of crap coming out he mouth, it gon come out the same place weh it does be ejected from dem cows who going slaatta house.

Talk half and pray dat de Man who part the Red Sea nah go guh moo moo too.

NA man nabbed with cocaine and cannabis

A

Tr i n i t y S t r e e t , N e w Amsterdam resident, who also resides at Third Avenue, Bartica, Region Seven, was on Sunday nabbed with a quantity of narcotics.

According to police, the 30-year-old man, who said that he is employed as a labourer, was arrested at a Police Check Point at Itaballi. At the time of his arrest, the man had one gram of what is suspected to be cocaine and 977 grams of suspected cannabis.

He was taken into custody and the substances were tested and weighed and were found to be cocaine and cannabis.

He is being processed for court.

The seized narcotics

suspected imported and local cases. By yesterday, there were eight confirmed cases.

This may not appear like a bad situation. Except that testing levels have been so low that no one is sure how many infected persons are in the general population.

However, we can look at the patterns in other countries and predict that there is a high possibility of a large number of unreported cases within the society, which can lead to a sudden and disastrous spike.

There is supposed to be an Inter-Ministerial Task Force addressing this pandemic. But what we find is that the Task Force has not been the one providing any briefings or advisories on the matter. This is being done by the Ministry of Health, which has been giving insufficient information on the local situation.

We are hearing about 1,000 calls to the hotlines.

But there has been no breakdown provided as to how many of these calls

were deemed to have unearthed suspected cases and how many persons, from these calls were advised to self-quarantine. This is important data to which the public is entitled in order to better und e r s t a n d t h i s pandemic.

It would appear from an examination of the statistical graphs in the 25 most affected countries that Guyana should have long increased social restrictions.

This newspaper has called for a lockdown similar to what is taking place in Trinidad and Tobago and in Suriname where only essential services are being allowed.

The curfews, which have been implemented in Linden and New Amsterdam, are not evidence-based. They will be ineffective because they impose social distancing during a period when more than 80 percent of the catchment population are in their homes.

This idea that large numbers of persons are out partying, dining and

imbibing is misplaced.

Things are tough for the average citizen. There are people who are struggling to find money to put food on the table every day. They have to work every day to do this and this is something that will not be easy for many. Only on weekends, there is a significant number of persons who are in the restaurants and bars.

This is one of the main challenges of any lockdown - people have to earn a livelihood and any lockdown will impose grave hardships.

But unless there is some form of a lockdown, except for essential services, Guyana will be in big problems when the coronavirus curve launches upwards as it is doing in Spain, Italy and the USA. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Tuesday March 31, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Mingo, Mackintosh, Police Commissioner: Moral standards

I

n the course of my newspaper career spanning 31 years, I have examined the philosophical pursuit to define moral values. It is a complex philosophical subject that is best left to the university classroom. I taught two philosophy courses at UG as prerequisites for 26 years and I doubt whether my students, many of whom are academics today, could and will define what moral standards are.

I can't recall how many times in that career I have penned columns on the topic, but I do recall the one in which I quoted the seminal philosophers extensively would be, “What is Moral Judgement,” of November 6, 2005. It was in reply to a

fellow KN columnist, Stella Ramsaroop.

I remember another piece, “Are moral values measurable and definitive?” of May 28, 2018, and recently I touched on the issue in “Irfaan's qualification: What is moral judgement?” of February 22, 2020.

I will not dwell further on t h i s d i ff i c u l t a r e a o f knowledge, because I, too, am not adequately versed in its complex nuances. But the arrest of “social media activist” Brian Mackintosh, against the backdrop of the never-ending shenanigans (by GECOM and certain ruling politicians) to prevent the birth of a transparent method of determining who won the 2020 general poll, brings into sharp focus the

longstanding question of moral standards in civilized society.

Here is a question in relation to the moral criteria society uses. Should the police have picked up Mackintosh, locked him up for a night, put him on station bail for childish ranting, and not Clairmont Mingo, the harm, danger and insanity in whose actions threaten the very civilized fulcrums on which modern Guyana rests?

Let's compare Mingo's behaviour with Mackintosh's.

Gerry Gouveia sat next to me on Kaieteur Radio and said that GECOM was responsible for the death of the protestor whom the police killed after he attacked their ranks. Gouveia added that if GECOM had done its job

fairly, the kid would not have been on the streets protesting for his vote to count.

Gouveia is right. The kid should not have attacked the police, but he would have been somewhere else if Mingo did not perform his infamies from Wednesday March 4 onwards.

Mingo went beyond his balloting tricks. The court ordered him to tabulate the election's statements of poll in a mode that the world can see and verify. To date he has not done that, and is before the courts for contempt.

What has Mackintosh done that has led to violence and innocent people getting hurt and a teenage shot dead by the police?

In a rambling tone of voice, Mackintosh's bravado had a distinct air of infantile emanations and puerile boasting. He urged a fight between certain PNC bigwigs, one of whom is James Bond (how can humans in this country find Kwame Mc Koy's behaviour unacceptable and not Bond's; why do the PPP and PNC tolerate these two persons in their midst?) and his crew in front of GECOM's head

office, because he wants to show them what a badman is like.

One glance at that video recording and it is not hard to put down the antics to the theatre of the absurd. But does Mingo practice the Thespian art or the conspiracy of treason? Where does this leave moral criteria in judging behaviour?

Enter the Commissioner of Police. One of the mysteries that has passed without national concern is the treatment meted out to Assistant Commissioner, Edgar Thomas, when he declined to evict a GECOM commissioner, Sase Gunraj, from the commissioner's place of work – GECOM command centre.

Who gave the order in the police force to remove Thomas from his duty at the centre? A GECOM commissioner is a very protected constitutional person. A GECOM commissioner has permanency of tenure. A GECOM commissioner, Vi n c e n t A l e x a n d e r, challenged his party leader Robert Corbin for headship of the PNC. He lost, and

Frederick Kissoon Corbin requested his resignation from GECOM. Alexander refused, citing the constitution. His refusal, he said, was based on the reality that he sits at the pleasure of the constitution and not the leader of the PNC. By what logic did the police request Mr. Gunraj to be removed from the command centre where he had a constitutional right to be? We still do not know who in the police hierarchy issued the edict. The Police Commissioner has not spoken publicly on the incident.

So we end with the use of moral criteria in judging human behaviour. Did Mackintosh's outrage pose more of a grave danger to social stability than Mingo's outrageous tabulation? Was it morally right for the police force to treat one of its senior ranks like that?

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

Tuesday March 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Tuesday March 31, 2020

Penalties for infractions, a slap on the wrist - EPA Head

E

ven though Troy Resources Guyana Inc. has been fined $1M for the spill of 5000 litres of fuel at its Karouni Mine, Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams, says this is “nothing but a slap on the wrist.”

The EPA Head said that the fine enforced is the maximum that that can be meted out based on the law.

“But this is certainly not

sufficient in my eyes. I would have preferred to have flexibility to go beyond that $1M not only in this instance but others too.”

Dr. Adams is of the firm conviction that $1M is not enough to discourage companies against taking a lax approach towards the protection of the environment.

He said that these companies should “be made to feel some amount of pain”

to their bottom line. “Only then you will see a true sense of respect and compliance with what the law requires,” the official added.

The EPA official also noted that he is in the process of reviewing the antiquated law governing the regulatory body while noting that he will be paying particular focus on improving provisions regarding penalties. “What we are looking to do is to increase

our flexibility so that we can deter certain actions. We don't need Troy Resources alone to understand that we mean business but Repsol and all the others that are taking safety procedures for g r a n t e d , ” D r. A d a m s concluded.

The EPA Head had told Kaieteur News that Spanish oil exploration and p r o d u c t i o n c o m p a n y, Repsol, had contracted Valaris, an offshore drilling

EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams

contractor headquartered in London, United Kingdom, to drill an exploratory well in the Kanuku Block last year.

Dr. Adams had said that the operation in the Kanuku Block was not conducted in conformity with rigid safety procedures or else a valve would not have been left open resulting in mud spilling into the ocean.

Dr. Adams said he subsequently sent a threeperson team, which included one official from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), at the end of November to conduct several interviews.

He said that inquiries revealed that there was, as he

suspected, no PROPER procedures in place. “If they did, they would have known the position of every valve.

This is a matter of adhering to safety procedures. It could have been worse…,” added the EPA Head.

He further noted that all oil companies were summoned to a “serious discussion” about what is expected of them. Going forward, the EPA head said that the agency would be checking the safety procedures for all the oil companies. Like Troy Resources, Repsol was fined $1M but for the spill of 84 barrels of drilling mud into the ocean.

Man remanded for allegedly lashing stepfather to the head

T

wenty-six-yearold Darren Simpson of 8 Plum Park, Sophia, Georgetown was yesterday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts.

Simpson, a construction worker is charged for attempting to kill his stepfather.

It is alleged that on March 24, 2020, at Plum Park, Sophia, Georgetown, with intent to commit murder, Simpson caused grievous bodily harm to Morris Hinds.

The defendant was not required to plea to the indictable charge.

According to the facts of the charge, on the day in question, the defendant and the virtual complainant had a misunderstanding and about 08:00hrs, while Hinds was leaving for work, Simpson threatened to kill him.

When Hinds returned home around 21:15hrs, Simpson approached him from behind while he was exiting his vehicle and dealt him a lash to his head with a piece of wood.

An alarm was raised and

Hinds was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was admitted in a critical condition.

The matter was reported and an investigation was launched. Simpson was later arrested and subsequently charged for the offence.

Police prosecutor Matthews, made objections to bail being granted to Simpson based on the serious nature of the offence and the fact that the victim is still hospitalised in a serious condition.

It was highlighted in court by the defendant's sister that he [Simpson] would normally smoke a lot and that would cause him to behave in a violent manner.

Simpson then became annoyed with his sister and chased her out of the courtroom. After listening to the prosecutor and the defendant's sister, Chief Magistrate McLennan remanded the defendant to prison and the matter was adjourned to April 7, 2020.

The Chief Magistrate also ordered that a psychiatric evaluation to be conducted on the defendant.

Tuesday March 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Tuesday March 31, 2020

Two patients, who tested Residents adhering to positive for Region 10 curfew - officials COVID-19, now in ICU

T

he 8pm to 5 am curfew that has been implemented by the Linden Mayor and Town Council in collaboration with the Regional Democratic Council has been hailed as highly successful.

This was the sentiments expressed by the

Regional Chairman, Renis Morian, Mayor Waneka Arrindell and Regional Executive Officer Orrin Gordon who all said that a number of communities based in Region 10 have recognised that the curfew is one that seeks to protect them through their cooperation and involvement.

Linden's Main Road

Minister Volda Lawrence addressing reporters at the COVID-19 Update press briefing yesterday

T

he Public Health M i n i s t r y y e s t e r d a y revealed that two of the eight confirmed COVID-19 patients in Guyana have been placed in Intensive Care Unit under critical conditions.

This was reported by Health Minister, Ms. Volda Lawrence, at a press conference to update the nation on the status of the v i r u s . H o w e v e r, t h e r e remains a level of secrecy as it relates to the details of the patients in ICU. When reporters enquired whether the two patients were from among the first set of confirmed cases, Minister Lawrence stated that “this is health, there are some barriers in terms of information that we can give out.”

“We cannot in any way trample on the privacy of our patients, and the question asked will do so,” she said.

In her report, Minister Lawrence explained that Guyana's number of confirmed cases remains at eight as of yesterday with one death so far. The cases are as followed; six from Region Four, with the remaining two coming from Regions Three and Six. However, she reported that there is one inconclusive test result. This she explained, means the test could not confirm whether the victim has the novel strain of the Coronavirus.

These confirmed COVID-19 cases include seven adults younger than 60 years, one adult over the age of 60 and a 13-year-old girl.

Further, of these cases, five were transmitted locally while the remainders were imported cases. Minister Lawrence stated that 46 persons were tested for the virus. In quarantine, there are approximately 36 persons.

Added to that, the

Ministry is expected to confirm 1,400 cases in Guyana at the end of the global pandemic. That estimation is based on a model by the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO).

Minister Lawrence was confident that the Health Ministry will be prepared to handle the COVID-19.

“Of that number (the expected 1,400) , we would be preparing for 100 requiring ICU, 300 isolation beds across the country along with the capacity for 730 beds for institutional quarantine,” Minister Lawrence said.

Further, in an effort to contain and mitigate the further spread of this virus, Minister Lawrence revealed that the Ministry would be strengthening its community and hospital surveillance and rapid surveillance response team.

One Mile, Linden

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 31, 2020

Italy is expected to continue its lockdown in response to COVID-19

PAGE 15

Amidst COVID-19 pandemic…

WHO issues guidelines to maintain essential healthcare

A

Italy's new virus cases decline and WHO sees progress (Bloomberg) - Italy appeared poised to extend its lockdown until Easter after it reported the smallest number of new coronavirus cases in almost two weeks and the World Health Organization (WHO) forecast some stabilization in Europe as the most-afflicted country.

Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza said in a statement late Monday that the government would follow the recommendation of its scientific advisers to extend the lockdown from the current deadline of April 3 until Easter at least.

New infections in the past 24 hours totaled 4,050, compared with 5,217 the previous day, civil protection authorities said Monday at their daily news conference in Rome. This is the lowest increase since March 17.

Fatalities from the disease rose by 812 on Monday compared with 756 on Sunday, bringing the total to 11,591. Italy now has 101,739 total cases, the most after the U.S.

Mike Ryan, head of health emergencies at the WHO, said “our fervent hope” is that Italy and Spain are approaching a peak, and that European lockdowns which started several weeks ago will start to bear fruit. New cases now reflect exposure to the disease about two weeks earlier, he said.

“In the same way when we're told that we're looking at galaxies through a telescope that we're seeing life from a billion years ago, we're seeing a reality that existed before,” Ryan said.

He warned that countries need to step up efforts to find and isolate patients to really fight the disease. “It won't go down by itself. We need countries to focus on what is the strategy.”

Italian health authorities voiced the same line in a press conference on Monday. Still, restrictions on economic activity to contain the coronavirus can't last too long, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in an interview with Spain's El

Pais Monday. Once the curve of new infections has started to descend, Italy will study measures to ease restrictions, he added. The head of Italy's public health institute ISS, Silvio Brusaferro, said in an interview with la Repubblica that he expects the lockdown to be extended to Easter. He added that, while there are encouraging signs of a contagion slowdown, it's too early to say and several days of diminished number of cases are needed to call it a trend.

Cases in Lombardy, the region around Milan that's most heavily hit, rose by 1,154 Monday to 42,161, the smallest advance since March 13. Deaths rose by 458, marking an increase from Sunday, when 416 fatalities were recorded. ”There's a significant drop in people going to the emergency rooms,” top Lombardy health official, Giulio Gallera, said in a video message. “The deaths daily count will be the last one to improve, unfortunately.”

s the world continues to battle the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has published guidelines to help countries balance their response to the virus while maintaining the delivery of essential healthcare services.

According to a Department of Public Information bulletin, Director-General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in an update yesterday noted that the virus has placed a strain on the health systems around the world with the increasing demand for health services.

“Previous outbreaks have demonstrated that when health systems are overwhelmed, deaths due to vaccine-preventable and treatable conditions increase dramatically,” he said, adding that even in the middle of a global crisis, essential health services must continue. “Babies are still being born, vaccines must still be delivered, and people still need life-saving treatment for a range of other diseases,” he said.

According to the WHO Director-General, the guidelines include, “a set of targeted, immediate actions to re-organise and maintain access to high-quality essential health services, including routine vaccination; care during pregnancy and childbirth; treatment for infectious and noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions; blood services, and more.”

This, he explained, includes ensuring an adequate health workforce to deal with the many health needs other than COVID-19. It will help countries manage the rise in COVID19 cases while maintaining essential services.

The WHO has also published a detailed,

WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus practical manual on how to establish and manage treatment centres for COVID-19.

This guide covers three major interventions: how to set up screening and triage at health facilities, using a repurposed building or a tent; how to set up community facilities to care for mild patients; how to set up a treatment centre, by repurposing hospital wards or entire hospitals, or by setting up a new hospital in a tent.

Dr. Ghebreyesus underscored that in addition to having adequate health facilities, the viability of supplies of diagnostics, protective equipment and other medical supplies in a country, is vital in the fight against this pandemic.

The Director-General called for increased production and free movement of essential health products along with equitable distribution of those products, based on need with specific attention being paid to low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 31, 2020

CCJ closed until further notice due to COVID-19 FOR RENT

SERVICES

FOR SALE

Visa Forms Preparer.

Tel#626-7040, Publish your Death Annoucements & In Memoriams online. Email: dthmemo@gmail.com

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ment.

Meanwhile, the court was keen to note that e-filing via CURIA is operational. Library

queries can be emailed to library@ccj.org and general queries can be forwarded to info@ccj.org.

‘Snatcher’ stabbed by victim after grabbing fake gold chains

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D

ue to the fluid en vironment caused by the COVID-19, a pandemic which has created ripple effects worldwide, the Caribbean Court of Justice, which is housed in Trinidad and Tobago, has closed its offices.

The closure, which was put into effect yesterday, will last until further notice.

“We remain guided by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and stand in solidarity with the Caribbean as we work together to overcome this global pandemic. We thank you for your patience and understanding at this time,” the CCJ said in a state-

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A chain snatcher has found himself hospitalised under police guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital nursing several stab wounds to his abdomen after he pounced on a Construction worker, on Sunday last.

Kaieteur News was informed that the incident occurred at the Grove Bus Park at around 13:46hrs just as the victim stepped off the vehicle.

It was reported that on the day in question, the victim and the 22-year-old suspect

of King Edward Street, Albouystown were both passengers in a Route 42 minibus.

As the bus pulled into the Grove Park, both parties existed with the suspect following the victim a short distance away and grabbing the three ‘gold coloured’ chains he was wearing.

According to police, the suspect told the victim “Don’t say nothing” before yanking the chains off his neck.

The victim in turn, pulled out a knife from his waist and dealt the chain snatcher several stabs to his abdomen causing him to collapse.

He then got up and escaped.

The victim then picked up his chains and made a report at the Brickdam Police Station.

The suspect was later taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was admitted and remains under police guard.

Begin the ‘everyone wears a mask’...

From page 3 before reusing it How can you clean your mask?

The most practical way to clean your mask and ensure that it still protects you, is to put it in a paper bag and place it in the oven for 30 minutes at 70°C. You can leave it to settle for a week in the sun but you will have to have extra masks while it's not in use.

What about mask shortages?

This is a real challenge worldwide. We need to prevent shortages of mask as our healthcare providers need

them daily, especially the N95 masks. We should let our healthcare providers use those and use the regular masks when we are in the public.

The people of the Czech Republic came together and started making their own masks and sharing with those who didn't have. Facemasks that prevent the virus spread are easy to make.

You can use cloth made of cotton and sew two layers together, attach a hairpin to adjust it to fit your nose, and attach two elastic hair ties to fit on your ears.

There are numerous vid-

eos on YouTube that show how to make a facemask even with coffee filters.

So does this mean that you can socialize casually?

No! You need to still practice social distancing and other recommended hygiene as much as possible. Stay home if you don't have to be out.

Wearing a facemask does not mean that you can go about without necessity.

It is therefore very evident that if everyone wears a mask, we will be able to drastically slow this infection and prevent many complications and deaths.

We have all seen what the COVID-19 (coronavirus) infection is doing worldwide.

Guyana and Guyanese are not immune to this infection.

Let's be responsible and fight this together before it's too late and we are all overwhelmed and affected. Let's start the 'everyone w ears a mask campaign' in Guyana. Wear a facemask when you go out and encourage others to do it.

Wear a facemask to protect others and it will come back to protect you and your loved ones.

Tuesday March 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

Tuesday March 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

Ventilators to fight COVID-19 arrived in Guyana before disease declared a pandemic Insiders’ knowledge?

An East Bank Essequibo company that has been fingered in the supply of expired HIV rapid testing kits is to also face a probe by the Public Procurement Commission (PPC).

A complaint was filed yesterday by a Trinidadianbased company, Trans-Continental Medical Products Limited, which has raised the specter of insiders’ knowledge with regards to the supply a few days ago of 14 portable ventilators for use in the battle against the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

This latest twist would be part of the emerging side narrative in a case that has dragged in the World Health Organisation (WHO) and which has sparked investigations in Guyana and Kenya.

Ventilators are used by patients who have difficulties breathing on their own.

The Trini company also wants the regulator to investigate the supply of the 400 HIV test kits to the Ministry of Public Health in January and make its findings known.

The scandal involving the kits and now questions over the ventilators would come as Guyana has joined the world to battle the COVID-19. Already, Guyana has closed its borders with several communities under curfew as part of the measures to fight the spread.

With regards to the ventilators, from indications, Caribbean Medical had them in its possession since December.

Guyana only acknowledged that the COVID-19 was a pandemic in early March with immediate moves to secure equipment and other supplies.

With suppliers not normally purchasing and keeping

in stock large quantities of ventilators, there have been burning questions whether the company had knowledge beforehand of the need by the Ministry.

In fact, it seemed that the Ministry zeroed in on Caribbean Medical for the ventilators, without searching around.

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Yesterday, Trans-Continental in a complaint to PPC, addressed to The Chairperson, Mrs. Carol Corbin, said it has also come to its attention at this time that the Ministry has received 14 ventilators from its suppliers. (Department of Public Information release https:// dpi.gov.gy/covid-19-updateadditional-testing-kits-ventilators-received/) “As a supplier, capable of providing a range of ventilators, portable and otherwise, who have been working with the Ministry for many years, we were not made aware that the Ministry had sent out notices asking for the supply of ventilators. We must now question if these 14 ventilators were procured following proper procurement procedures.”

The company requested an investigation into the procurement procedures for those ventilators. “…specifically, we are asking for details of advertisements, and other public documents /notices which would help establish the validity of this transaction.”

The Trinidadian supplier also appealed for the PPC to use its good office to investigate this matter and make the findings known to the stakeholders.

Trans-Continental said it has had, from time to time, cause to complain about the

- same company that supplied expired HIV test kits now accused of being single-sourced

Charged: Davendra Rampersaud procurement system in Guyana when it comes to the supply of non-pharmaceuticals and other products.

“These correspondences were sent to Minister of Public Health, Hon. Minister Volda Lawrence, with copies forwarded to the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Collette Adams, Procurement Manager, Mr. Seewchan and other pertinent staff at the Ministry of Public Health. Specifically of concern to us, is that requirements, including need for credentials of authorised distributors, have not been complied with. Authorised distributors have been bypassed and contracts have been awarded to companies who are neither authorised distributors nor are affiliated with authorised and/or legal channels.”

Value for Money According to the company in its complaint, this raises questions about value for money and quality of healthcare for the hardworking taxpayers of Guyana as all manufacturer warranties are not upheld.

Regarding the issue with the HIV test kits, Trans-Continental said that the case has deep implications for not only the safety of Guyanese people, but also for the integrity of the Ministry of Public Health’s procurement system in Guyana.

The company said it noted that the Ministry has taken an immediate decision to cease all delivery of drugs to be supplied by Caribbean Medical.

Trans-Continental, which is the region’s authorised distributor of the Uni-Gold HIV test kits, said that the contract between the Ministry and the Caribbean Medical has been the focus of the recent controversy as well as other products, which were awarded to

Investigating: Chairperson of the Public Procurement Commission, Carol Corbin Caribbean Medical in 2015, “for which we are and have been the sole authorised distributor for Guyana since 2005. As we have informed the Hon. Minister, the Permanent Secretary and the Procurement Manager on numerous occasions, these kits were also misappropriated from international donors and should not have been commercialised by Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc,” CEO, Garth Richardson, said in his complaint.

Charged It was disclosed over the weekend that that the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) last month charged Davendra Rampersaud, the Area Manager of Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc. of Parika, East Bank Essequibo.

He reportedly appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court, West Coast Demerara, accused of supplying 400 of the testing kits with misleading representation, a violation of the Food and Drugs Act of 1971.

According to the particulars of the charge, on 16th January, 2020, Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc. allegedly sold and supplied 400 units (20 packs) of Uni-gold HIV Test Kits, Batch #HIV7120026.

A quantity was later seized by the GA-FDD from the Materials Management Unit of the Ministry of Public Health, at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, and from local hospitals and laboratories.

On Friday, Director of GAFDD, Marlan Cole, when contacted, was tight-lipped on the case, disclosing only that indeed an official of the company has been charged.

He said that there is an investigation ongoing with “other players” and he would be unable to comment further.

Permanent Secretary of the Health Ministry, Colette Adams, on Friday too said that she is “aware” of the matter, which is being investigated. She, too, did not give much detail.

What is known is that the Irish manufacturer, Trinity Biotech, in late January, wrote Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, warning that it is aware that there are counterfeit Uni-Gold HIV test kits in Guyana.

In fact, the Irish company supplied photographic evidence, which indicated clearly that the kits expired since July last year.

Trinity Biotech, in its complaint, named Caribbean Medical Supplies.

It was alleged by the manufacturer that fake boxes were created with expiry dates extended by 17 months and the kits repacked in them.

Trinity said that it had previously complained about Caribbean Medical Supplies to the Ministry.

According to a Ministry letter to Rampersaud dated February 14, 2020 and titled “Investigation of Falsified Unigold HIV Test Kits”, it became clear that there were attempts to deal with the matter.

Summoned!

Rampersaud would have been summoned to the office of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Colette Adams, where he was asked to submit shipping documents for the Uni-Gold testing kits procured for the Ministry.

With regards to the actual supply of the 400 kits, from indications, it was an order that was part of a contract dating back since 2015 MMU10-2015-P6 (B) for $67,500,000.00 GYD. The Auditor General has been asking about the kits since 2016 after no evidence

was found that any kits were delivered.

Consecutive State Audit Reports flagged the transaction.

Yet, Caribbean Medical appeared to, at the inception, have collected the full contract sum paid by the Ministry.

In fact, after running short last year of the test kits, the Ministry insisted that Caribbean Medical fulfill its obligations or face consequences. It was then the 400 kits were delivered, Under regulations, GAFDD must give permission for food and drugs to be brought into the country.

It appeared from investigations, Health Ministry officials said, that GA-FDD was not even aware that the test kits had entered the country.

The case would probably have never made it to the court or caught the attention of the WHO had the Irish manufacturers and its authorised distributor in Trinidad not doggedly investigated the matter.

With regards to this transaction over the HIV testing strips, the WHO, in a rapid alert notice on Thursday, said in its alert that through its Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS) for substandard/falsified medical products, that it was informed that at least 8,240 falsified rapid diagnostic tests to detect HIV-1/2 have been distributed in Guyana at end-user level.

The WHO advised that users check to see if they have lot number “HIV7120026” and not to use them.Rather, persons should immediately contact the supplier or the manufacturer, Trinity Biotech.

The WHO urged that there be increased scrutiny within the supply chains of all countries, particularly at testing sites (health facilities, community-based), clinical laboratories, medical stores/ warehouses, and at the facilities of relevant economic operators (agents, authorized representatives, distributers, wholesalers, etc.).

From sources, it appeared that the kits were supplied to Kenya under financing from the US and were manufactured specifically for that area.However, the strips were stolen and sold on the black market around the globe, to countries including Guyana.

Kenyan authorities were reportedly investigating.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 31, 2020

PAGE 19

“Law does not give me power to lockdown city” - Mayor Ubraj

environs often and limit gatherings. We appeal for social distancing.”

His worship applauded the businesses that have so far gone the extra mile to ensure the safety of their

(Far right) Mayor of the City of Georgetown, Pandit Ubraj Narine, and two City Hall reps

M

ayor of the C i t y o f Georgetown, Pandit Ubraj Narine, called a press conference yesterday where he sought to make it clear that he will not lock down the City.

The Mayor said that he wanted to let it be known, as he has noted calls for the city to be locked down due to the advent of COVID-19 in Guyana. The country has already recorded eight positive cases, with one death.

Ubraj said that he would not venture to lock the city down because the law does not give him the authority to do so, or to stop businesses from operating.

It was pointed out that other municipalities are becoming increasingly cautious. For example, New A m s t e r d a m h a s implemented a curfew of 7:00PM for businesses. The town has announced that the partial lockdown will be strictly implemented by members of the police force once the need arises.

Ubraj refused to comment on the decisions of other municipalities, explaining that he can only speak for the City of Georgetown.

He said that the city is not a light bulb where it can be locked down by the flick of a switch. He expressed concern for the longevity of businesses and the

livelihoods of citizens of Georgetown, should such a lockdown occur. He said that the implications should be considered.

One such implication of the slowdown in business is already being realised, as the City is facing a “tremendous” decrease in revenue collection.

“We are working with residents and businesses and even our staff to have a more smooth flow… [of revenue],” Ubraj said.

“I can't see why people pressing for the city to lock down. You know if the city lockdown the crisis this country would face? That is why I continue to be guided by the government.”

If there is any more action to be taken by the City, the Pandit said that it will be guided by the Ministries of Health, Communities, Security and other relevant authorities, “[We] will meet and then take the decision to say let us move in this direction. This is not a one man business, this is everybody['s] business.”

The City will be working closely with the Ministry of Public Health, the Private Sector Commission, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), banks and other organisations, Ubraj revealed, to ensure the safety of the populace is maintained in the absence of

a lockdown.

Ubraj expressed his worry, in this regard, that though this pandemic is a threat to public health, some persons in the city seem to be fairly unconcerned about taking preventative measures, like social distancing.

The Mayor said that he has observed businesses and people operating normally, and he thinks this should not be.

He said that he will not force anyone, but that he hopes people pay attention to the guidelines of the Ministry of Public Health.

He urged that the public keep themselves informed on the actions they can take to safeguard themselves.

“We need to take this thing seriously, stay home, stay safe and practice social distancing.”

To businesses, he doesn't expect all of them to shut down: “Please stay home and practice all precautions against COVID-19. As Mayor, I appeal to all bars, beauty parlors, clubs, fish shops, hangout spots to take precautions.

Supermarkets and storeowners should put systems in place to limit gatherings. All Churches, Mosques, and Mandirs must take precautions. Buses, taxi drivers, must sanitize often and equip vehicles with sanitizers for passengers.

Vendors are asked to sanitize

employees and patrons. He hopes that all businesses would take up the mantle.

“We can defeat this virus by working together and not blaming each other.”

The Mayor revealed no

plan of action to curb the spread of the pandemic in case the situation worsens to more extreme levels, only saying that he will continue to be guided by the central government authorities.

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 31, 2020

Tuesday March 31, 2020

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Japan, IOC set July 23 next year for start of delayed Olympics TOKYO (Reuters) - The postponed Olympic Games will now begin on July 23 next year and run until Aug. 8, the head of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee said yesterday, as the coronavirus pandemic made it impossible to plan and prepare for them properly this year.

The Games were postponed last week - the first such delay in the 124-year history of the modern Olympics.

The move was a huge blow for Japan, which invested $13 billion in the run-up to the event and raised $3 billion from domestic sponsors.

Yoshiro Mori, the head of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee, confirmed the new dates after he made the decision with the International Olympic Committee. Mori said the Paralympic Games would run from Aug. 24-Sep.

5.“The Tokyo Olympics Games and the successful delivery of these Games will be how we overcome all the problems that the world is facing and that the Olympics could be a symbol for this,” Mori said. “These Games are going to have great historical significance.”

Earlier yesterday, the Games’ chief executive, Toshiro Muto, said the committee was moving “in the direction” of honoring tickets bought for the 2020 Games at the rescheduled event, or providing refunds in case of scheduling changes.

“We want to honor the hopes of all those who purchased the tickets amid high demand,” Muto told a news conference.It was too early to say what the additional costs of the delay would be, Muto said.The IOC and Japanese

government succumbed to intense pressure from athletes and sporting bodies around the world last Tuesday by agreeing to push back the Games because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The pandemic had already led to many sporting events around the world being delayed or canceled. After weeks of insisting the Olympics would go ahead, organizers bowed to what many said was the inevitable and delayed what is the world’s premier sporting gathering.

Sporting bodies including the World Athletics association, the International Triathlon Union, and FINA, the international swimming federation, all followed up with statements of support for the delay.The postponement “gives our athletes the time

Tuesday March 31, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today's planetary configuration will give you a strong urge to be out and about, Aries, but responsibilities could keep you at home or the office.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Are your views about certain intellectual or spiritual matters slowly changing, Taurus? If so, you may not be all that comfortable with the changes.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Business success may have come your way, Gemini, but today you could find yourself feeling a little sad and wondering why, since there's no real reason to feel this way.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You probably won't feel like working today, Cancer. You may not be tired, but you're probably bored, restless, and unable to focus.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Do you have the uncomfortable feeling that you've forgotten something but you have no idea what it is, Leo? Are you haunted by the memory of a seemingly insignificant past event, but can't figure out why?

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) If you've been thinking about starting a new creative project, Virgo, don't try to do it today. Friends and family could vie for your attention and distract you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Business might be going very well for you, Libra, but intense changes on the job could have you feeling stressed. Delays in starting new projects could prove frustrating.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Business success may have come your way, Scorpio, but today you could find yourself feeling a little sad and wondering why, since there's no real reason to feel this way.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Money matters could have you descending into a state of pure gloom, Sagittarius.

On the surface it might seem like you'll never be able to sort through all the paperwork, but you will. Don't give up.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Is your sweetheart out of town, Capricorn? If so, you're probably feeling a bit lonely and insecure. You need to ignore those f AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You probably won't feel like working today, Aquarius.

You may not be tired, but you're probably bored, restless, and unable to focus.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Love matters could appear to be moving far more slowly than you'd like, Pisces. Both you and your romantic interest may be overloaded with responsibilities now and unable to see each other much.

Fireworks explode during the closing ceremony for the Rio Olympics as the now delayed Tokyo games are highlighted. The games are now set for July23, 2021. (Reuters/Pawel Kopczynski file photo) they need to get back into training and competition,” World Athletics said. The association is also working on new dates in 2022 for the World Athletics Championships, it said.

The Athletics and Swimming world championships were scheduled to take place next summer around the new Olympics dates, presenting organizers with potential clashes in timing.

And problems have already arisen in planning for venues for next year, although organizers have yet to be told that they can not use any facilities, Muto said at the news

conference announcing the new date.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics must acknowledge the coronavirus crisis which forced their postponement and incorporate it into next year’s opening ceremony, executive producer Marco Balich told Reuters from his home in Milan.

More than 720,000 people have been infected around the world with about 34,000 deaths and governments are taking ever tougher measures such as lockdowns to try to halt the outbreak and support overburdened medical infrastructure.

PSG star...

From page 22 homeland to undertake his spell in quarantine, but caused controversy by uploading a picture to Instagram which showed him on a volleyball court with four other people and his son.

The 28-year-old has denied any wrongdoing, however, with his communications manager speaking out to clarify the Brazil international’s actions.

The statement reads: “The photo in question was published on Neymar’s Instagram and shows him with other people who are in quarantine with him, people who live and travelled together from Paris to Brazil.

“Neymar offered his home to all of them so they could spend the first 14 days there before meeting up with their respective families.

“The house where the athlete is doing his quarantine is totally isolated and provides peace and serenity so he can continue training and looking after his loved ones at this time of world pain and confinement.“There are no visits or business meetings at the house, above all because the residential estate it’s on only permits access to residents.

“The exception in terms of visitors has been his son, Davi Lucca, who came to the house to stay with his dad.

“David, his mum, his stepdad and his brother were in Paris days earlier to visit him.“Neymar is staying apart from other members of his family, like his mum, sister and grandmother, for example, because he understands this is a moment that demands an effort for the common good.

“The athlete continues with his daily work to prevent injuries and keep himself in shape with his trainer Ricardo Rosa, as he anxiously awaits the end of this sad moment for humanity and the restart of his professional activity.”

PAGE 22

Tuesday March 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

Kemar Mowatt was eyeing sub-48-second 400m hurdles at Olympics Jamaica Observer - The postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games due to the threat of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic came as a “tough blow” to 2017 World Championships men’s 400m hurdles finalist Kemar Mowatt, who says he was in the best shape of his life and was looking to go below the 48.00 seconds mark this year.

Despite the postponement of the Games, which were set to start on July 24, and the subsequent cancellation or postponement of several other meets, the former Munro College and University of Arkansas runner said

the 12-month suspension will force him to redouble his efforts as he seeks his first major global medal.

Mowatt, who placed fourth in the 400m hurdles in London in 2017 in 48.99 seconds, said the disruption has forced everyone, including athletes, to test the level of their own fortitude.

With a personal best of 48.49 seconds, the 11th-best ever in the event by a Jamaican, Mowatt along with Annsert White (48.07 seconds), Andre Clarke (48.29 seconds), Roxroy Cato (48.48 seconds), and two-time World Under-20 champion Jaheel Hyde (48.52 seconds) have been the country’s flag

bearers for the past five years.

“When you think about it, everyday we are out there we are pushing our bodies to the limit,” he told the Jamaica Observer last week.

“I am not exaggerating; we literally push our bodies to the limit because we know what it takes to get to the Olympics, what it takes to be an Olympian, what it takes to win medals, so it is tough. But I guess this is where as athletes it proves how strong you are, how tough you are, and how badly you really want to succeed.”

Mowatt admitted the setback has caused him some amount of worry. “It is definitely a tough blow for me

Hopkins, Mosley entry to Boxing Hall of Fame delayed to ’21 New York (AFP) - Legendary world champions Bernard Hopkins and “Sugar” Shane Mosley will have their inductions to the International Boxing Hall of Fame postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Both US fighters were to have been enshrined along with the complete Class of 2020 on June 11-14 in ceremonies at the facility in Canastota, New York, which has temporarily closed due to the deadly virus outbreak.

Instead, the 2020 inductees will be included in a double ceremony with the 2021 inductees on June 10-13, 2021, the Hall announced in a website posting.

“By combining the celebrations of the induction classes of 2020 and 2021, the Hall of Fame can honor inductees with all the bells and whistles that the Hall of Fame Weekend is known for,” Hall of Fame executive director

Former world champion Bernard Hopkins was among the fighters whose induction to the International Boxing Hall of Fame has been delayed to 2021 (AFP Photo/Donald Miralle) Edward Brophy said.

“By honoring the two classes in a one-of-a-kind induction weekend, the Hall of Fame will be able to put all the winning combinations to-

gether for the inductees, fans and the entire sport of boxing.”Official plaques for 2020 inductees will be displayed later this year.

Hopkins, who went 55-8 with two drawn and 32 knockouts, was an undisputed middleweight champion during a 10-year reign from 19952005 and became the oldest champion in boxing history during a light-heavyweight reign that ended at age 49 in 2014.Mosley, 49-10 with one drawn and 41 knockouts, was a former world champion at lightweight, welterweight and light middleweight.

The group also includes promoters Lou DiBella, Kathy Duva and Dan Goosen and Mexican fighter Juan Manuel Marquez, an ex-world featherweight, super featherweight and lightweight champion.

The 2021 inductees are set to be announced in early December.

PSG star Neymar issues statement after criticism of beach volleyball picture Goal.com - Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar has released a statement via his entourage in response to being criticised for posting an image of himself playing beach volleyball with friends in Brazil.

The coronavirus crisis has caused major disruptions to the sporting calendar across the globe, with the 2019-20 football season currently on hold.A number of countries have put strict measures in place in a bid to slow the rate of infection, as the number of confirmed cases and deaths continues to rise with each passing day.The majority of new Covid19 cases are coming from Europe, which was officially named as the new epicentre of the pandemic earlier this month.

France are among a number of countries currently in a state of lockdown, leaving citizens with no choice but to self-isolate in their homes and practice social distancing wherever possible.Ligue 1 is one of several major European leagues to have been suspended

PSG star Neymar issues statement after criticism of beach volleyball picture. indefinitely, with Premiere Ligue president Bernard Caiazzo insisting the current campaign will not resume until June at the earliest.

PSG talisman Neymar flew back to his (Continued on page 19)

Jamaica’s Kemar Mowatt (right) glides over a hurdle during the men’s 400m event at the London World Championships in this 2017 file photo.

(Jamaica Observer)

personally, and for, I am sure, other athletes around the world, especially those who were in the last year of their contract. A lot of athletes had something to prove; we have a lot on the line. This is how we make a living...it is our jobs, as simple as that.”

The cancellation of meets has resulted in not just loss of earnings but loss of the opportunity to work on aspects of their individual events as they prepare for major events such as the Olympics.

“With the other meets being put off such as the Diamond League, the Grenada Invitational, for example — the meets that will help you build up to the bigger meets — it’s tough, it’s really, really tough, and now we must be stronger more than ever. But, we must understand what is happening.”

With the majority of the rigorous background work out of the way and the season about to start, pulling the plug was a difficult pill to swallow, he said.

“We have been putting in the work since early September and it’s now late March, and to hear that the Olympics has been postponed you ask yourself ‘what do I do now?’

This is your life and your job.

What do you do, how do you pay bills? A lot of things come to your mind now, the sacrifices that you made, the goals that you set for yourself.”

Mowatt, who is coached by the renown Lennox Graham and has Commonwealth Games champion Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands as a training partner, said he was confident that he would have gone under 48 seconds and moved up to second in the Jamaican

rankings, only behind national record holder Winthrop Graham’s 47.60 seconds, set in 1993.“For me personally this year, with all else going good, no injuries or anything, I am in the best shape of my life and, all things considered, no injuries, I had something to prove. I still think that I have something to prove.

Since 2017 I have been there but I have not been able to show Jamaica and the world what I am really capable of doing because I still think I have so much more — and I thought this would have been the year when I would have finally broken the 48second barrier,” he said.

“I am still confident but I will have to stay healthy, keep on eating healthy, keep on doing the right things until training resumes for the 2021 Olympics, as that is when it is going to be now.”

UEFA to discuss Champions League fate in tomorrow’s meeting (Reuters) - UEFA will discuss the fate of this season’s Champions League and its other competitions that have been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic in a video conference meeting tomorrow, European soccer’s governing body said in a statement.

All UEFA competitions have been halted because of the flu-like virus that has killed around 34,000 people, while this year’s European Championship has been pushed back to 2021.

“UEFA has invited the general secretaries of its 55 member associations to a video conference on Wednesday, April 1... to discuss options identified with regards to the potential rescheduling of matches,” UEFA said.

Player transfers and contracts will also be discussed at the meeting, it added.

Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) football advisor and former footballer Luis Figo poses with the Champions League trophy in Rio de Janeiro. (REUTERS/Pilar Olivares) UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said over the weekend that the current season could be lost if it is

unable to re-start by the end of June, although he did not rule out extending it into the next season.

Tuesday March 31, 2020

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Dates in summer 2022 being sought for FIFA committee on no witch 2021 world championships hunt, says chairman Hadad (Reuters) - Athletics’ world champion-

ships have been postponed until the summer of 2022 and the global governing body is seeking new dates for the event in Eugene, Oregon that was originally scheduled for 2021.

“100% Oregon will be held summer 2022,” a World Athletics spokesman told Reuters yesterday.

World Athletics had earlier said in a statement: “We are now working with the organizers of the world athletics championships in Oregon on new dates in 2022 for our world athletics championships.”

The championships had been scheduled for Aug. 6-15, 2021.

World Athletics said it also was in discussions with the Commonwealth Games Federation and the European Championships.

The European Championships are currently scheduled for Aug. 26-30 in Paris. The next Commonwealth Games are set for July 27-Aug. 7 2022 in Birmingham, England.

World Athletics announced its plans for rescheduling the world championships after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Japanese officials said the new dates for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be July 23-Aug. 8, 2021.

The Games had been postponed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic that has killed thousands of people around the world.

“This gives our athletes the time they need to get back into training and competition,” World Athletics said of the new Olympics

IAAF President Sebastian Coe at a press Conference after a meeting of the World Athletics Council on November 22, 2019. (REUTERS /Eric Gillard/File Photo) dates. “Everyone needs to be flexible and compromise.”

The governing body added, “We would like to thank our Oregon 21 Organising Committee, their stakeholders and our partners for their collaboration and willingness to explore all options.”Oregon organizers were not immediately available for comment.

They had said last week: “(We) can reassure World Athletics that we will work with them to ensure that Oregon can still host the World Athletics Championships on alternative dates should that prove necessary.”

Athletes compete in the women’s 20 km race walk final during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China August 28, 2015. (REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo)

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Robert Hadad, chairman of the FIFA normalisation committee controversially set up to run Trinidad and Tobago’s football, has shot down suggestions there was any sinister intent to use the body to target certain administration officials.

In fact, the Trinidadian businessman said there was no vindictiveness or malice involved in the committee’s remit, stressing it had been established only for the purpose of overhauling the operations of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association and returning the organisation to sound financial and legislative footing.

Speculation here has been rife over the real purpose of the committee, especially with FIFA intervening to remove the TTFA executive which was only elected last November.

“We have a clear remit: it is to basically run the TTFA daily affairs,” Hadad told i95FM here.

“So the first order of business is to get in there and to get on top of the daily affairs of the TTFA – analyse the current financial situation, come up with a quick debt repayment plans and decide exactly how we’re getting there [and] where we’re getting this money to deal with all these people.

“I have to get into the office and work with all the employees, win them over and get them to all work along with me and see what we’re

Chairman of FIFA’s TTFA normalisation committee, Robert Hadad. doing here to get to where we need to get. After that, we’ll be looking at the statues and regulations so we can comply with FIFA’s statues – that’s very important for me.”

He continued: “At the end of the day, we’re not here to dig up any bones that have been buried over the years and go back and figure out who did what and what did who – we’re not interested in that. We’re really interested in taking a position of today and making a better organisation for us to be proud of.

“That (witch hunt) is not in my remit at all. In my remit is to basically … run the affairs of the TTFA and to work out a debt repayment plan for the debt that we have and to figure out exactly what that debt is. After that, we deal with the constitution of the TTFA, have an election and

Hundred ticket sale delayed due to coronavirus concern ESPNcricinfo - Tickets for the inaugural season of the Hundred will not go on general sale as planned on April 8, the ECB has announced.

Priority tickets for the new competition went on sale in a window in February, with the ECB reporting that initial sales had “surpassed expectations” as an initial allocation for men’s Finals Day tickets sold out within 24 hours.

But with the coronavirus pandemic delaying the start of the English season by at least six weeks and the ability to stage the Hundred in the planned window in doubt, the ECB have decided to delay the next two ticket windows, scheduled for the start of April.“In the midst of an epidemic which is affecting the nation in unprecedented ways, it would be wholly inappropriate for us to promote and sell tickets to the Hundred,” said Sanjay Patel, the competition’s managing di-

rector.

“We appreciate this may cause some disappointment to fans that were keen to purchase tickets in the April sales window, accessing early bird prices and securing tickets to the most in-demand games.

“When it is appropriate to go back on sale, we will of

course offer the same ticket offers and accessible pricing.

Like the rest of the nation, we all hope that it is not far away before cricket returns to our screens, stadiums, parks and clubs.”

Several counties had already taken their ticketing platforms offline due to the

uncertainty caused by the pandemic, with many clubs currently operating with a skeleton staff.

While Tom Harrison, the ECB’s chief executive, has signalled that the governing body’s intention is to prioritise the most lucrative competitions, i.e. the T20 Blast

View inside the studio ahead of the Hundred draft. (Getty Images)

and the Hundred, Durham chief executive Tim Bostock suggested last week that if the season is squeezed into a two-month window, it may make sense to delay the new tournament’s first season to 2021.“It’s pretty clear international cricket comes first, then after that it’s the Blast and the Hundred,” he told TalkSPORT. “That’s where the revenue is.“Protecting the Hundred is important, although in the conversations I’ve had with the ECB, if it ends up getting squeezed into a two-month season - which is possible - a view will be taken about whether this is really the right time to launch the Hundred.”Tom Harrison has been really pragmatic about this. I certainly get the impression if we get a twomonth season the pragmatic view would be: what’s the point of launching this competition now? Let’s launch it properly next year.”

we’re gone.”

FIFA’s intervention has been widely criticised here with several pundits of the view that football’s world governing body was not particularly in favour of William Wallace’s election as TTFA president.

In the buildup to elections, incumbent president David John-Williams appeared to have the support of FIFA president Gianni Infantino and CONCACAF president, Victor Montagliani, both of whom visited the island for the grand opening of its Home of Football complex in Couva.

In taking control of the TTFA operations earlier this month, FIFA said its actions had been necessary following an assessment of the association which found “extremely low overall financial management methods, combined with a massive debt”, leaving the local governing body “facing a very real risk of insolvency and illiquidity”.

Hadad, an experienced accountant, said he was not interested in football politics, however.

“I have spoken to Mr Wallace and I told him we would be in touch in the near future. It was a very cordial discussion,” he said.

“I don’t have anything much more to say about anybody in the TTFA at the present time. FIFA did what they had to do for whatever reasons they did – I am just seeing an opportunity to put Trinidad and Tobago Football Association back on the right track and give us a football team and many football teams – men, women, junior, senior – good football teams.”

He continued: “We keep talking about the debt repayment plan which is at the forefront of the problem here. You can’t run an organisation in deficit for this long and expect to make good decisions.

“You can’t be hiring coaches and [going] from one coach to the next, from one secretary to the next. You end up breaching the contract with that person and then you’re ending up in debt, so we have a big debt repayment plan and we need them (FIFA) to sit with us and work out how we’re getting to where we need to get.

“We need them to help us with our legalities and the statutes and the constitution of the TTFA to decide when we hire somebody and we put somebody after we finish, how do these people act in a manner that is of benefit to Trinidad and Tobago football.”

PAGE 24

Tuesday March 31, 2020

Kaieteur News

French football stares at financial black hole with broadcasters set to hold back payments AFP - The financial crisis facing football as a result of the coronavirus pandemic has been laid bare in France, where a decision to withhold payments due as part of a broadcast deal for Ligue 1 matches is set to leave clubs reeling.

Canal Plus, the pay TV giant and long-time broadcaster of France’s top flight, stated its intention to hold back a scheduled 110 millioneuro ($121 million) payment in a letter to the French league revealed by the country’s leading sports daily, L’Equipe.

The money is in theory due this weekend and is the equivalent of 15 percent of the total broadcast money for the season in Ligue 1.

“In case of force majeure, when matches are no longer played, then payments are suspended,” a senior management figure at Canal Plus told AFP. “This is the perfect example of force majeure. There are no more matches, so there are no more payments. We are

strictly applying the terms of the contract and we don’t see why we would do it any other way. Canal Plus is not a bank.”

The French top flight is the fifth-richest league in Europe although its income lags some way behind those of Italy’s Serie A, the German Bundesliga, Spain’s La Liga and, in particular, the English Premier League.

French clubs, like their counterparts across the continent, have been hit hard by the health crisis which had already forced matches to be postponed or played behind closed doors before UEFA suspended all club competitions in Europe a fortnight ago.

Clubs will now have to absorb the shock of not receiving money for which they have budgeted, and income from broadcasters is a huge portion of their revenue.

Indeed, payments from television companies amounted to 36 percent of total revenue for Ligue 1 teams last season, by far their

biggest source of income, according to the DNCG, French football’s financial watchdog.

A further 25 percent came from player sales, which are

likely to be affected this year too.

“They have their problems and we have ours. There needs to be a dialogue so we

Billy Joe Saunders Media Work-Out.

fended,” he said on TalkSPORT. “I looked at it as a bit of a joke at first – I obviously wasn’t thinking right – but looking back at it now I can clearly see the destruction it has caused among the women suffering from domestic violence.

“It was a silly mistake but I didn’t intentionally mean to cause harm to anyone and I certainly wouldn’t promote domestic violence.”

Saunders was scheduled to face Mexican Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in a super middleweight unification bout on May 2 in Las Vegas before the outbreak of the coronavirus

million euros between now and the end of June, assuming the worst-case scenario in which no more games are played and all projected gate

French Ligue 1 clubs are set to miss out on 110 million euros if leading broadcaster Canal Plus holds back money that was due to be paid this week. (AFP/File / Kenzo Tribouillard)

British authorities suspend Saunders’ boxing license

(Reuters) - WBO super middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders had his license suspended by Britain’s boxing authorities yesterday after a social media post in which he advised men how to hit their female partners during the coronavirus lockdown.

The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) said in a statement that Saunders’ license would be suspended until a hearing could be arranged under its misconduct regulations.

Saunders had filmed himself punching a bag in a barn and advising “dads, husbands and men with girlfriends” how to deal with their female partners during the coronavirus lockdown.

“If your old woman is giving you a little bit of mouth and you try to be patient... but about the sixth day you’re just about to explode,” he said in the video, before demonstrating how to “hit her on the chin”.

Saunders apologized for the video on social media over the weekend and again on British radio station TalkSPORT yesterday, when he also pledged to donate 25,000 pounds ($31,000) to domestic abuse charities.

“I just want to say sorry again for everyone I’ve of-

can find solutions,” said a member of the board of the French league, the LFP. “I don’t think the decision by Canal Plus is irreversible.”

pandemic.

The Briton, who is unbeaten in 29 bouts and held a world title in the middleweight division before moving up to super-middleweight, was fined 100,000 pounds by the BBBofC in September 2018 for a previous social media post.

In that instance, Saunders posted a video on social media in which he offered a woman drugs to perform a sex act on another person.

The BBBofC said in a separate statement yesterday that it had further extended its suspension of the boxing tournaments under its jurisdiction for the month of May. ($1 = 0.8064 pounds)

- Uncertainty L’Equipe has claimed that Paris Saint-Germain, the Qatar-owned giants who dominate the French game, stand to lose as much as 215

receipts and Champions League revenues are also lost.

Several French clubs, including Lyon and Marseille, have placed their squads on partial unemployment to save

money, a move that means they only pay 70 percent of salaries with the state paying the rest, albeit limited to 4,850 euros per employee.

The problems may deepen if beIN Sports, the Qatari group which also holds domestic rights to broadcast Ligue 1, chooses to hold back its own scheduled payment of 42 million euros.

French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet called on all parties “to respect their commitments, football first of all but the broadcasters too”, in an interview with RTL radio.

However, with broadcasters also impacted by the crisis, further payments due to clubs in June could also be in doubt.

It also remains to be seen how the current situation impacts on next season with the French league having agreed their first broadcast deal worth over one billion euros a year starting in 2020/21 with Chinese-owned group Mediapro.

Stewart running towards Olympic Qualification

By Calvin Chapman Guyana’s sprint ace, Akeem Stewart, in a recent interview with Kaieteur Sport has announced that since the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games will not be contested until next summer, he will use this new opportunity to the best of his ability to qualify for the men’s 100m and/200 dash.

Stewart appears to have recovered well from his injury last season that saw him being unable to participate at the National Championships and the Aliann Pompey Invitational.

However, Stewart has finished his journey on the road to recovery and he turned in some decent performances at

the four Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) development meets held during this year, while stealing the show in the men’s the 200m dash at the Early Season Classic that was held this month.

The Early Season Classic, which also served at the final round of qualification for the 49th CARIFTA games which has now been postponed, was the last local track and field meet held at the National Track and Field Center, Leonora, and was also the last major sport activity held during the coronavirus pandemic. Stewart, who is a Corporal in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), registered 21.03 seconds to win the men’s

Windies female player is...

From page 25 my fitness and batting,” said Shabika.However, she has the natural talent and the experience of playing against India and Australia, the two toughest teams in Women’s cricket. With age on her side, and with hard work, passion and commitment the sky is the limit.Shabika, who also enjoys playing Volleyball, is among those Sports Persons affected by the suspension of all Sporting events because of the Global Pandemic COVID-19. The Regional Women’s tourney which was scheduled for Guyana last month was one of the Tournaments that were suspended.“I am a little disappointed since we are not getting play any cricket but the Coronavirus is bad and safety of the people comes first. During the break I will continue to practice and my advice to the other players is just to try and get in some work at home and try to stay off the streets,” Shabika concluded.

200m, while he finished third in the 100m behind Davin Fraser 10.29s and Emanuel Archibald 10.34s. Although those times are not what the Corporal would want them to be, he believes it is a good showing when you consider the fact he was injured.

During this pandemic, the diminutive speedster shared with Kaieteur Sport that he, like most athletes, has been involved mainly in core workouts and body weight exercises. “I have also been doing some long runs and hit the steps exercises on selected days.”

“The Covid-19 is a terrible disease and this much needed one-year delay of the Olympic games will give all athletes that weren’t in the best of fitness a second chance of qualify for the Olympics.

I obviously, will ensure that I take full advantage of the extra time that I now have to prepare to a qualification push.”

Stewart concluded after stating that, “I would like to encourage all athletes to stay focus and continue working towards their goals and dreams because no matter what, we must bounce back and we will fly the Golden Arrowhead with pride.”

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

Tuesday March 31, 2020

Windies female player is only female to score a ‘double’ Keep working at home during in Inter County cricket Covid-19 break says Shabika Gajnabi

By Sean Devers Born on July 14, 2000 at Chesney in Albion, Berbice to Albion Estate Factory worker Fajir Gajnabi and Zaleema, Guyana and West Indies all-rounder Shabika Gajnabi has three brothers and a sister and attended the Port Mourant Secondary School.

Her home is just in front of the Chesney ground and she soon became interested in cricket by seeing her brothers playing the game.

Because Albion did not have an active female cricket programme, Shabika joined the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC), joining Shemaine Campbelle and Erva Giddings as the three females to play for the West Indies from that club. She is the seventh female from Berbice to play international cricket.

Although RHTYC has the best female cricket structure in Guyana, the overall standard of female cricket in Guyana is not too high and Shabika says she plays in the boys’ team sometimes.

A 19-year-old right handed batter and medium p a c e b o w l e r, S h a b i k a captained Berbice at the U19 and also led Guyana at the youth level in her last two tournaments after making her U-19 debut in 2013.

Shabika’s rise to the International level is not too surprising from her early days in Chesney, which has produced Narsingh Deonarine, the best of the three Test batsmen from

2015 before making her Guyana senior team debut the next year.

At age 18 Shabika was selected in the West Indies Women’s training squad for a camp from April 30 to May 30 in preparation for the ICC Women’s World Cup and although she was not selected she gained valuable experience from that camp.

After outstanding performances at both the junior and senior levels for Guyana, she was included in a training squad for the tour of Ireland and England last May and the teenager again missed out on selection.

Shabika was one of five Guyanese women selected for the West Indies Women’s pre-World Cup training camp in Antigua in January in preparation for 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia. The others were Shemaine Campbelle, Kaysia Schultz, Cherry-Ann Fraser and Sheneta Grimmond. Campbell was the only Guyanese selected.

Hosts Australia won the tournament, beating India by 85 runs, to win their fifth title, while the West Indies managed just one win in four matches.

Shabika would have learnt a lot from rubbing shoulders with the senior players like West Indies Captain Stefani Taylor who is her favourite female cricketer.

“I just like everything she does in cricket, her captaincy, her bowling and most importantly, her batting. My dream is to one day be able to bat like her,”

-Gajnabi (left) and Campbelle at a West Indies training camp.

Albion.

Shabika whose favourite shot is the cover drive and, who loves eating Fried Rice and Bar-B-Q chicken, played her first game for her County’s senior team in

said Shabika, whose favourite male batsman is Rohit Sharma because of the way he bats.

Finally, last September, the RHTYSC pair of Shabika and Sheneta

Shabika Gajnabi on the go at Providence against the Leewards.

Shabika Gajnabi has a passion for cricket.

Grimmond made their International Debuts against Australia at the ODI and 20/20 levels.

September 5, 2019 is a day Shabika will never forget. On that day, on the 108 Square mile Island of Antigua, the teenager from the small Village of Chesney on the Corentyne ensured it got its second International cricketer when Shabika’s dream of playing for the West Indies became a reality.

She was finally in West Indies colours; making her ODI debut against Australia at Coolidge (the ground where the Stanford T20 matches were played).

Since then Shabika, who turns 20 in July, has played five ODIs and five T20s but has not managed to replicate her local performances at the International level.

Her highest score in her five ODIs is 22, while she has managed just three wickets, while in her five T20 her highest score is 11 and she has just one wicket.

“My most memorable game was the first ODI against India when I took two wickets in the same over to end with 2-25 in fours overs at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. It was very special because we won by one run.”

India were bowled out for 224 off the final ball of the 50th over replying to 225-7 made by West Indies in a sensational finish before India won the last two ODIs to take the series 2-1.

In February, Shabika warmed up for senior Inter-

County with a glorious 152 to lead Rose Hall Town Metro, to victory over West Berbice in the opening round o f t h e BCB/RHTY&SC/Nand Persaud Female 50-Over cricket tournament.

While she has been selected more as bowler and

lower order batsman for the Regional side, she plundered a magnificent unbeaten 215 against the National U-19s in the 2020 Women’s InterCounty tournament which remains her highest score.

This was after blasting 160 against Essequibo at Everest d u r i n g l a s t y e a r ’s

tournament. Shabika is the only female in Guyana to score a double century at the inter county level.

“I have learnt a lot from being with the West Indies team and not being picked for the World Cup means I have to work a bit harder on (Continued on page 24)

Guyanese boxer Jermaine “El LoCo” King wins fight in Mexico

Guyana’s United States base Guyanese Super middleweight boxer Jermaine Guyana’s United States based Guyanese Super middleweight boxer, Jermaine “El LoCo” King, won his recent fight which took place on March 14, 2020 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. King stopped Mexican

Javier Alejandro Sahagun with a vicious left Hook, straight right attack in the 1st Round of a scheduled 6 rounder.In photo Jermaine “El LoCo” King has his hands raised following the win in Mexico.

Stewart running towards rt o p S Olympic Qualification Akeem Stewart (winner) has vowed to use this extra year to better his chances of Olympic qualification.

National footballers stranded in Miami C

urtez Kellman and Jeremy Garrett, both whom have represented Guyana’s senior men’s football team, the ‘Golden Jaguars’, are currently stuck in Miami due to the current travel restriction for incoming passengers at Guyana’s ports.

The 22-year-old Kellman, who is a senior majoring in Business Administration at Eastern Florida State College, had a breakthrough debut season with the Florida State College Titans, being a rock in the defence as the team finished runnersup in the NJCAA championship.

Garrett’s University finished sixth in the NJCAA table.

Now, after a long season and amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the student-athletes are unable to get home. During an invited comment yesterday with Kellman via social media, the defender explained that they have been stuck in Miami for over a week. Initially, the flight back home was delayed because of a scheduled

transit stop in Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) that had closed off their Airport.

Furthermore, when an agreement was reached with Eastern Airlines that agreed to take Kellman, Garrett and the other stranded Guyanese passengers here with a direct flight, it came to the players’ attention that Guyana’s port had now been blocked for incoming flights. Luckily, after spending two days at the airport, the Guyanese consulate placed the sportsmen in a hotel until the travel arrangements could be sorted.

During the interview, Kellman pleaded that, “These are serious times and we are desperate to be home with our families. We hope that the relevant authorities can hear our plea and help us get home as soon as possible.”

Yesterday, a source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained to Kaieteur Sport that the players may have to wait at least two more weeks before returning home since the coronavirus cases are gradually increasing locally. (Calvin Chapman)

Jeremy Garrett

Curtez Kellman (on the ball) in action for Eastern Florida State College Titans.

Japan, IOC set July 23 next year for start of delayed Olympics 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.