K
AIETEUR Guyana not among Wednesday Edition 93 countries NEWS benefitting from May 06, 2020 - Vol. 15 No. 18
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Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
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World Bank’s COVID-19 aid
Online readership yesterday 125,797
Recount
starts today p.17
Ballot containers being unloaded at the recount venue
Cost Recovery Audit for ExxonMobil’s US$460M pre-contract costs extended p. 3
p. 11
Liza Destiny experiences operational slippages GPHC establishes COVID-19 Maternity Unit - To facilitate delivery of p. babies from suspected and 12 confirmed COVID-19 patients
Another car ploughs into “jinxed” p.2 Bagotstown residence
- Dr. Bynoe
Pensioner killed on pedestrian crossing…
Frustrated p.3 family accepts financial offer
Faulty kits cause major COVID-19 testing delays p. 8
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Wednesday May 06, 2020
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL With so many loving Guyana, why the irreconcilable partisanship? To this date, there are few, if any, Guyanese who have professed publicly anything but deep love for this country. There is no unpatriotic citizen, no partisan, only those who glowing with great interest and comforting concern for the wellbeing of this society. It is where love of country transcends love of party. If this is really so, then the issue becomes this: how is it that we are so determined to maintain the status quo, meaning ascendancy, of this or that raciallybent group at the expense of all that is constructive and uplifting for the whole of this land? We say that if their love for this country is really true, then it should and would compel the honesty to owning up to part played, through silence, through absence, or through failure to put country before party, when it counts the most, which should be now. It seems to us to be a continuing case of hypocrisy, of pretending at what is not present within, and the playing of games, when what Guyana needs is for its sons and daughters to be honest and straightforward and nothing more. There must be objectivity, that concern postured, that prompts questioning, calling out one’s own group by laying all one’s cards on the table, with none secretly and calculatingly withheld. From what could be gathered in public representations, many are quick to claim that they are not supporters of any party. If that were so, then why the unresolved electoral recount speaks to such a percentage of the eligible exercising the franchise? Why all these ferocious disputes about who cheated, and who won? Why are they not more of a potent centrist presence that is undeniably neutral and distinctively independent, which seeks what is best for country above all else? A centrist presence that is feared and has what it takes to be a respected local mediator forced to be recognized and reckoned with through listening and compromising? Why is all of this not happening, if there is so much love for this country, when it is obvious that no one political group would be allowed to govern smoothly and efficiently? And that only more chaos and calamities are promised in the aftermath of any elections finalized? Given the degree of love professed, there should be a sizable block of a viable middle ground, which could be the difference maker(s) so longed for, so much needed. It is either there is a small subset of genuinely devoted Guyanese to country above all else or that there is a bunch of earnest well-meaning people who have perfected the art of persuasive self-deception (at best) or, at worst, there are those who possess extreme mastery of a peculiar kind of bland hypocrisy. Though many say that they hold no brief for either PNC or PPP, there is still another vital component that heightens the perplexities of March 2. It is that the gaggle of new groups stand as forlorn silhouettes of those ignored and dismissed. Whence all those who said that they were so disgusted, so much against this one or that one, that they did not lift a finger to complete two crisscrossing strokes with a pen in favour of newer faces? To where did the neutrals and patriots disappear on Monday, March 2? We are still looking for all the younger ones, the more educated ones, the more supposedly thinking and sophisticated ones, who clamoured loud and long about their pain and their shame at what has dominated the history of this country. Where were all the disillusioned-on March 2?They are nothing else if not their political parents’, political children in thinking and action. At the naked core, those who claim to love this country with a passion (and they mostly likely do in their special way) and those who stand up to articulate that they are of no political party (meaning the two monstrosities) faithfully followed the historical racial scripts and cultures. They contributed in no small measure to the way things are precariously poised in this society at this time. There is the temptation to ponder again that now ancient Guyanese paradox: what if it were otherwise…
There are ways in which we can tackle cyber-bullying DEAR EDITOR, I know Guyanese are occupied currently with all things elections, but as a previous target of cyber-bullying, I would appreciate the opportunity to share some observations and advice related to the issue with your readers. As the use of the Internet grows, cyber-bullying and cybercrime are inevitably on the rise. The longer we take to fix the problem, the greater the consequences are. First, however, we need to understand, harassment is harassment, whether it is done person to person or whether from behind the veil of the Internet via social media.Sadly, in Guyana, online bullying is somewhat downplayed. Victims are either stigmatized or people are unwilling to accept that victims can be seriously hurt by this behaviour. I speak from experience when I say that Internet harassment and libel is not only real and damaging, but it also represents a threat to the most vulnerable among us. Cyber-bullying statistics collected from an indepen-
dent research done by The Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications, examines the high cost of online harassment. From increased depression and suicide rates to social anxiety and alienation, the pain and consequences of online harassment and libel are as severe as they are undeniable. However for Guyana, research in this area is very much lacking, and as such, reliance has to be personal anecdotal experiences and the experiences of friends, family and associates for information gathering and data analysis. Today’s cyber-attacks are changing, an evolving spectrum moving from commercial and governmental to individual victimizations. I want to highlight a few key ways you can deal with personal cyber-bullies: 1. Ignore and do not respond—more often than not, those who attack people online do it for the rush that comes with the shock and the response. Those who really matter to you know the truth, or will try to get it from you if they are unsure. 2. Gather your proof—
screenshots, recordings, videos and writings. For the proof to hold any worth, they must mention your name and be directed towards you. Save this proof, it will come in handy, in the future. It is evidence for your arguments. Usually, when a cyber bully is exposed for their lies, they exhibit a tendency to disappear, only to resurface later, after rethinking their responses and strategies. Also, make hard copies, inclusive of the date, and time stamps. 3. Also, gather as much information possible on the bully’s personal data. While many cyber-bullies like to use fake names, many do not. Try to get their full name, telephone number, and address, if possible. 4. If you are taking the route of criminal charges, take the evidence gathered to your nearest police station, requesting to make an official report under the current cyber-crime legislation. 5. If you are going the civil route, contact your lawyer and have them send a lawyer’s letter with a stern warning to the individual/s.
Their libelous contents, if not found criminal, can still be fought within the civil courts of Guyana. 6. Garner support from your family, friends, and within your networks. Genuine support is a necessity during this period. Therapy and counseling are also recommended, especially in severe cases. 7. Follow up your reports with the relevant authorities. Do not waver, be stern and steady and see your course of action through. Any hesitation will likely see the person resuming the harassment but with more careful strategy. 8. Finally, continue to be a more successful, amazing, beautiful, better version of you! The object of cyberbullying is to break you down, and so nothing defeats a bully’s purpose more than you achieving the opposite. These are lessons that I had to learn the hard way, but as a survivor, I have healed and am ready to spread awareness and hope. Yours truly, Umadevi Bux
Democracy is more than counting votes correctly DEAR EDITOR, I admire the intent of Kowlasar Misir’s letter “They should prioritize democratic ideals” (SN, May1, 2020), which is a response to my letter “ `Malicious, mischievous and reckless editorial’ (SN April 29). And I endorse his call for “transparency, credibility, and accountability over partisan agenda”. However, I wish to remind him that democracy is more than counting votes correctly, and it cannot be built on subversive politics. It is our collective responsibility to create an environment of reasonableness, mutual respect, and social trust, to facilitate the development of democracy. Not every element of democracy could be legislated. Much depends on our attitudes, behaviour, and adherence to democratic ethics. If we want a democratic society, we all must learn and practice democracy. One fundamental principle of democratic thought is that you must give the other side a fair and reasonable opportunity to be heard. A related principle is that we allow facts to guide our judgment, not what we think or feel. What you think or feel are reflective of your own biases and prejudices. Facts transcend that and permit you to be fair. As we follow facts, we follow accurate knowledge and understanding. A professional media house operates on this foundation.That GECOM’s inefficiencies were exposed is without doubt. That
GECOM’s performance raised suspicions is without doubt. That actions of the Foreign Minister and the Police Force raised suspicions is without doubt. But inefficiencies and suspicions are never equivalent to fraud unless proven. No evidence of electoral fraud was established in the High or Supreme Court. No observer claimed fraud. They suggested that the lack of transparency questions the credibility of GECOM’s tabulation. A lack of transparency, while suspicious, is not equivalent to wrongdoing once consistent with the law. The standard of transparency in Guyana is not necessarily the same as in observers’ countries. Note, elements of the observers’ allegations were proven wrong in the
courts. The only thing that Stabroek News, or anyone else who was not involved in the tabulations process could prove at this time, is that GECOM’s tabulation differs from the PPP/C’s. There is no validated evidence to support or reject either tabulation. APNU/AFC did not release theirs. Speculation on that is not evidence. In the absence of conclusive evidence, no professionalized journalist would malign GECOM as riggers and implicitly impugn the competence of the professional scrutineers from the Caribbean, the party representatives, elections commissioners, and others, who would be monitoring the recount process from beginning to end. None of the editors I worked
with in North America would have accepted that. They would have asked, “What if the recount evidence proves that I was misled? What if there are unintended consequences such as assault or death of GECOM officials, bombings, and civil unrest? How would I correct the damage? Do I understand my moral and social responsibility? Finally, GECOM’s obligation is to the people of Guyana not any political party or observer. There are issues across the political spectrum, which must be answered. Whether the forensic recount starts from Region 10 to 1 or from 1 to 10, Region 4 would still be counted. Yours truly, Lin-Jay Harry-Voglezon
Objective observation, transparency critical to acceptable recount results DEAR EDITOR, It would appear that those in charge of the recount are not really interested in producing credible results. There can be no good reason for refusing to allow the Carter Center and the International Republican Institute to observe the recount.It will therefore only be reasonable for the US Embassy to declare that, since its accredited observers were not allowed to be present to observe and report on this recount, it will reserve the right to decide whether to accept the results of this recount, as the basis of forming the new government.In the absence of objective observers reporting on the results of the recount, the entire process will be useless. Observers, acting in unity, have the opportunity now to make sure the recount follows a process that will be simple, transparent and without opportunities for confusion, rigging and corruption.
They must insist that the following conditions exist for them to participate: 1. Count only one region at a time. 2. Have present the polling officers from each polling station to open their box and to answer any queries that may come up during the recount, including declaration if the box has been tampered. If there is evidence that any box was tampered, stop the recount. 3. Live stream the recount. 4. No GECOM personnel that was part of the Mingo declaration to be allowed to participate. 5. The Carter Center must be allowed to field an observation team. It is my position that GECOM can accommodate these conditions. If GECOM wants the results from this process to be recognized, then it must meet these demands. Yours truly, Sase Shewnarain
Wednesday May 06, 2020
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Kaieteur News
Western countries, organizations are pushing the boundaries of international principles DEAR EDITOR, At the time of penning this letter (Tues. morning, 5th May), there has been a media rampage across the communication spectrum claiming Government’s denial of a return of the Carter Center and a GECOM /Government collaboration to rig elections. A PPP organised protest was even held in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs calling on the government to stop hindering the Center from returning, along with other unsavoury statements. Days after this phase of misinformation began, mainstream media and all who are making these statements, have not provided any evidence to show that the Center has sought approval to return and was denied entry by the Government and/or the GECOM. The absence of this evidence fuels the belief of the less critical amongst us and plays the cards in favour of the campaign of misinformation and deceit. It does more harm than good in this volatile environment to our body politics and relationship, local and external. On Sunday, 3rd May a soft statement issued by the United States (US) Ambassador, snowballed to the members of the US State Department and other members of the international community adding further ferocity to the issue, leading members of the PPP and supporters in the media, private sector and elsewhere to become firmer in their conviction mischief was afoot. Coalition supporters reacted to the allegations with varying emotions. Consequently, social media became a battleground, with a crescendo of vitriol. Instructively, at the break of the story media never mentioned any effort to solicit government’s perspective, whether the Center sought permission or not. Thus, the society was deprived from hearing the other side(s) in arriving at a complete understanding of the issue, fueling
the ongoing misinformation overwhelming the nation. Whereas the international community is condemned, equal attention is placed on Government’s failure to immediately address the issue for no doubt they would have been au fait with circulation of this news, be it from mainstream or social media. Once again, the weakness of its PR was exposed, allowing for proliferation of misrepresentation as they remained inanely silent. The same should be said for GECOM. On Monday, save for the nation being reminded by two GECOM commissioners that observers once accredited for this election remain so until the election is over, otherwise the matter was not addressed. After all the created confusion, the Carter Center’s tweeted a press statement on Monday which revealed, “The Center deployed an observer to Miami who was prepared to travel to Georgetown today, but unfortunately, the flight was denied approval to carry international election observers. The Carter Center continues to reach out to government officials to understand what is required to allow Center Observers to return to Guyana to witness the recount process.” Said statement made no reference to being denied entry but seeking to engage “government officials to understand what is required to allow Center Observers to return to Guyana to witness the recount process,” which it should continue to do. The acknowledgment of this does not constitute evidence that a request was made and said was denied in an effort to prevent the Center from being in Guyana to fulfill its desire to observe the election. Rather, it suggests the Center was not au fait with the flight requirements and public health protocols required to satisfy entry give the COVID-19 safeguards. It appears they may have attempted or taken for granted
they could come to Guyana unprepared. In response to COVID-19 many countries, including Guyana, have locked down their air space to international travel in effort to contain spread of the virus. A pre-condition for the arrival of CARICOM scrutinising team is that they had to meet World Health Organization (WHO)’s recommended requirements on COVID-19 safety precautions. Similar guidelines must be set and met by all who seek entry to Guyana while on lock-down, without exception. Reportedly, as of to date Guyana’s death rate has exceeded 9 percent (based on the cases), which is above the WHO’s average of 2-4 percent. Some positions taken by our Western allies and international election observers are not only pushing the boundaries of “good diplomacy,” time-honoured principles, and mutual respect but openly set out to act in contravention of the International Code of Conduct pertaining to observing elections. We are witnessing engagement that no longer prides itself on formal private communication (i.e. letter, face-to-face or telephone call) to the responsible agency seeking to address issues. It seems as though privacy of the communication, particularly on matters of such import and diplomatic
sensitivity is no longer valued, hence the tweeting diplomacy, which allows for open and flagrant negativity to some and support to others. This is not ‘good diplomacy’. This kind of interaction with contempt for our rules, laws and sovereignty is more representative of a thug-like diplomacy, that is, diplomacy that fronts raw, naked aggression and bullyism; diplomacy that desires no negotiation only compliance; a diplomacy of disrespect of others who are considered lesser than; a diplomacy that suggests we are not capable of internal resolution of differences. Whether the government is interim, caretaker or substantive, they are the legal status quo responsible for day-to-day administration of the state. Our international diplomats know this and we expect them to respect this. Yours truly, Lincoln Lewis Editor’s Note: As communicated in our reporting, Kaieteur News has repeatedly sought direct clarification from government, through multiple official sources, on the exact reasons for withholding permission for reentry from the observers. None has been given so far, whether relating to continued accreditation or COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
TRUST ISSUES WITH GECOM
DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me space to highlight some possible issues, which may arise during the days of the highly anticipated recount /election 2020 audit. I have little to no trust in the Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) as an organization and also, more specifically, the “trained”, handpicked staff they have selected to conduct the recount of our sacred ballots. Having highlighted this, I would like to advocate publically for a few additional security measures. They are as follows: 1. Each day before the recount commences, I would appreciate if the commissioners conduct a check on all counting stations, leisure rooms, rest rooms, security hut and any other part of the building they see fit to examine for stashed ballots. 2. Each day before the respective parties’ counting agents and GECOM’s handpicked staff enter the Arthur Chung Convention Center (ACCC), I would like for them to be appropriately pat down by two security professionals and have all bags, pockets, satchels, device cases, etc. examined. Every time an individual leaves the compound (this should be highly limited to a specific number of times) and reenters, this security pro-
Some skepticism about GECOM’s Covid-19 precaution measures DEAR EDITOR I was examining the idea that masks have to be changed every hour during the recount and would like to pose a few questions for clarification. For example, would persons just take off their masks within the confines of the building and replace them with new ones? And if this is so would it not expose them to possible infection? Who would monitor this? Would
they ring a bell, time to change? This is not safe so maybe every hour the bell rings, people go out into the yard, space themselves out and change their masks. This would take at least 15 minutes so 8 times would be two hours. But observers would not want to leave the ballots unattended, so what’s the solution? And whatever modus operandi, how would it be monitored to ensure the rules
are complied with? Maybe we would have to summon a special meeting of the commission to determine how we would ensure this rule is adhered to and how it would be monitored. What I do know this is not fair to the health workers who have to make do with inadequate masks while if what I consider to be a ridiculous rule is enforced. Yours truly Rajendra Bisessar
cess must be conducted on them. In addition to these security measures, which might not have been considered, I will reiterate my positions on having the entire processes of the recount live-streamed with additional cameras at each station, since I anticipate some sort of confusion with intentions to distract other counting agents. To the counting agents of the new parties and opposing party, they will try to intimidate you but do not fall for it. Walk away from any sort of confrontation since they can use that confrontation to restart or not carry on a recount. Also, you will not be replaced if they put you out of the compound, therefore that team you were on will have extra load which decreases their ability to focus on fraudulent acts. GECOM has boasted about their code of conduct but they failed to enforce it when it was most needed. I plead with GECOM to have those codes of conduct and penalties printed and taped on the desk of each counting station. I may sound somewhat paranoid but I’d prefer to be called paranoid than feel insecure and cheated upon. As Martin Carter puts it, “This is the dark time, my love…” Therefore, let us be vigilant as counting agents and let’s hold our heads high as Guyanese, for Guyana, with love. Yours truly Dr. Josh Kanhai
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Donald Trump deserves praise, re- election for Covid-19 response DEAR EDITOR, It is most fortunate that Donald Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States in 2016; had he lost, the current pandemic would have been catastrophic to the western world. Trump’s leadership has been bold and innovative; it has not been stymied by the weakness of politically correct liberalism. In 2016, I wrote a Note on Facebook to explain to my friends why I supported Trump, entitled “The Ideological Divide: A Conservative View” in which, I said, “I think Trump is running for President because he is simply alarmed at the state of the Union, it has been degenerating at a rapid pace, weak foreign policy, weak trade deals, weak, weak, weak, America, everyone’s policeman, being taken advantage of by ‘friends’ he understands that America has paid an enormous price for these friendships and cannot continue to do so, world stability depends on a strong America and its friends must pay their share of the bill.” ‘45’ has delivered on his promise to make America great again, and now he is making a difference in the COVID 19 pandemic with real leadership. President Donald Trump closed the borders/airports to China much earlier than anyone else suggested, Trump labeled COVID 19 the ‘China virus’ and the ‘Wuhan virus’ and the liberals shouted “racism” and tiptoed around the Chinese in that politically correct way of theirs. We are now finding out that the Wuhan Institute of Virology is a mere nine miles away from the ‘wet market’ where China claims the virus originated. Only the naive would believe that is a coincidence. Trump’s instincts are unmatched and were spot on early in this crisis and many lives were saved as a result. Liberals would rather have left the airports open than offend the Chinese, hundreds of thousands would have died because they can’t handle the truth. Democrats in America have blindly fought every word uttered by Trump in a display of ignorance unmatched in my lifetime; when Trump said “So, supposedly we hit the body
Wednesday May 06, 2020
Kaieteur News
with a tremendous, whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light, and I think you said that hasn’t been checked, but you’re going to test it. And then I said supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way” it was spun and made fun of but it turns out that Trump is capable of understanding creative thinking and science much better than most, Trump was referring to the Healight Platform Technology being developed by researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, a medical device which consists of LED lighting that would be inserted down the trachea of COVID-19 patients to bring controlled ultraviolet light into the patient. The LA Times described it as “UV light to be used as a disinfectant in treating COVID-19 patients,” It is no surprise that such an innovative idea would catch the imagination of ‘45’. While the liberals were busy appeasing the Chinese with platitudes, China was engaging in a PR campaign to suggest that the virus did not originate in Wuhan. From the beginning, China has been lying to the World about the origin and characteristics of the virus. The Chinese lied about every aspect of the outbreak and they continue to lie; these lies have made the death tolls higher and the search for a cure/vaccination that much harder. Given that China has been bold enough to tell bald-faced lies about the origin of the virus, the world must hold China accountable for its actions that have cost trillions of dollars in economic losses. The only world leader that will be able to stand up to China and make them pay is Donald Trump; no doubt others will hastily join the line behind him to collect their pound of flesh. The world should be thankful for Trump’s leadership in ridding us of the Chinese virus and his innovation will be well appreciated when it comes time to make them pay for the damage done. The greatest gift America can give the world will be a second term for the greatest President they have ever seen. Re-elect 45. Respectfully Robin Singh
The late Jim Bacchus served Guyanese travelers well DEAR EDITOR, It is with sadness I read of the passing of Mr. Jim Bacchus, owner of the travel agency of same name. His name is widely known. He is remembered for his service to Guyanese and other West Indian travelers. I remember well his agency in Howard Beach, Queens that served the needs of the large West Indian community. Jim Bacchus was well respected in the travel industry. Many knew the name perhaps more than any other agency. He, the individual, had a stamp on his agency among clientele. The Guyanese and West Indian American travel industry has lost a good man. I learned about Jim Bacchus Travel in the community newspapers in the mid 1980s when he took advertisements promoting his business. I used to write for several community papers from the late 1970s and Jim supported some of the papers. Guyanese and other Caribbean nationals looked forward for the publications and patronized that travel business, among others. Jim, as he was popularly called, was a salesperson, a marketer, a promoter of his product, an accountant, a secretary, and a customer service rep all wrapped into one. He had high standards for sales service and was a professional in every sense of the word. He was excited and pas-
sionate about his service and never disappointed. People knew him very well for exceptional service and maintained their loyalty to that agency for decades. Every client of his spoke well of the man. .Jim put in some forty years in the business in New York providing a vital service to West Indians and at a time when there were hardly any Guyanese travel agencies in NY. People of all ethnicities did business with Jim Bacchus, and he patronized all communities with which he did business. He produced huge volumes of sales for BWIA (later CAL), Guyana Airways (that was not reliable), Universal, North American, Delta, and others and received appropriate recognitions, citations, and awards from them. Agents of these carriers would regularly visit it on strategies to boost sales and his commission revenues and thanking him for the business. He knew of me through my writings and found time for interactions when I first phoned him and later visited his office. He wanted to meet me in person for my courageous writings on Guyana and the diaspora in America and to praise my efforts in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in the homeland. Because of the nature of his business and not wanting to alienate clients, he did not
dabble publicly in politics or made his political views known, but he spoke in confidence with me and knew he could trust me about his views. He poked fun at corrupt Guyanese politicians. He condemned electoral fraud and the authoritarian regime of 1960s thru 1992. He respected Dr. Jagan and his wife for their honesty but not their ideology that brought so much destruction to Guyana. He was most disappointed with politicians especially those who championed socialism or communism and bankrupted the economy. He cheered Jagan for moving towards market economics after his return to office in 1992. Jim recognized, as did many of us, it was the tussle over power and communist ideology that wrecked the country and drove people like Jim, myself and hundreds of thousands of other Guyanese to migrate to America and other countries. In NY, Jim took great care to build his travel clientele. He had the expertise in the industry. Jim sold air tickets to Trinidad, Jamaica, and other destinations. He grew his business and was at one time the leading travel agency in New York for Caribbean nationals. I saw Jim at several holiday events and travel promotions in Manhattan, Queens, and Long Island. He was invited to some rare and exclusive events, including one where Butch Stewart (of Sandals and Air Jamaica) was honored, at which I was invited among a few media persons. I recall Jim’s agency winning trips and prizes. I was invited to several trip promotions to Jamaica and Jim’s agents were there, but I don’t recall if he was on any of several trips I took to Jamaica in the late 1980s and early 1990s organized by Jamaica Tourist Board with flights arranged by Air Jamaica. Jim was a down-to-earth person, a gentleman, simple, humorous, cheerful, and helpful on virtually any matter. He loved interaction when time permitted. One could not meet a nicer person. He was also a man of integrity. The West Indian community would want to thank him for the years of dedicated service in a business for which there was not much money to be earned. He remained committed to serving people. The traveling public will miss his nice, warm, charming smile and laughter, his goodhumored nature, and his expertise. Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram
Wednesday May 06, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Food For the Poor spearheads initiative to cushion economic impact on Solus Christus families The farming project at Solus Christus has proven to be a success.
Food For the Poor Guyana Inc. has introduced an initiative to help boost the economic standing of some families in wake of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The initiative has taken the form of self-sustainable farming projects implemented at Solus Christus, Union village, West Coast Berbice, Region 5, according to information released by the humanitarian organisation. Solus Christus is a community built by Food For the Poor Guyana Inc. In order to ensure that the families there are able to survive and remain healthy during the pandemic, the organisation decided to implement a number of small projects aimed at boosting food security and increasing household income. In March 2020, a kitchen garden competition was launched to encourage residents to eat healthy, promote self-sustainability and food security. The competition, which is a collaborative effort between Food For the Poor and Farm Finders Global (an NGO located in Barbados which is dedicated to promoting food security in the Caribbean), was launched in Region 5. A
total of 34 families signed up to participate in the competition. Over 2,400 vegetable seedlings were distributed to the families and they were encouraged to also plant reusable seeds and stems. However, social distancing measures implemented by the Government to mitigate the spread of the virus made it difficult to monitor the competition, Food For the Poor revealed in a statement. Nonetheless, it was revealed that the families were encouraged to maintain their garden and care for their plants. They were provided with technical support from the National Agricultural and Research Extension Institute’s Regional Coordinator and Food For the Poor Guyana Inc. staff via telephone. “As the country closed down and social distancing measures began to adversely affect families and food security throughout the country, residents of Solus Christus are not fully impacted; families are harvesting fresh organic vegetables which they are consuming, sharing with their neighbours and selling to earn additional income,” Food For the Poor has announced.
In the last quarter of 2019, the organisation revealed too that, “33 families benefitted from small income generating projects; 17 received layer chicks 13 broiler chicks and three families had their shops upgraded and stocked. Families who benefitted from the broiler chicks each received 60 baby chicks, feed and materials for the construction of a coop while those who benefited from the layer chicks each received 24 baby chicks, feed and materials for the construction of their coop; the families provided sweat equity for the construction of the coops.” It was also noted that like the kitchen garden, these projects have provided safety nets for the families. The families, according to the Food for the Poor PR team “are consuming and selling eggs from the layer project and meat from the broiler project”. The village of Solus Children was constructed by Food For the Poor Inc. in 2018. This projected targeted 64 economically marginalized and vulnerable families in need of adequate shelter who were relocated to the (Continued on page 9)
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday May 06, 2020
Faulty kits cause major COVID-19 testing delays Hundreds of faulty kits are hampering the testing of suspected COVID-19 cases. According to well-placed sources, the Ministry of Public Health is working to fix the situation within the week. The enzyme kits reportedly spoilt while being t r a n s p o r t e d . It was donated by Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). PAHO/WHO Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow, yesterday said that a matter is before him and he wants to gather more details before pronouncing on it. There have been criticisms that Government has not been aggressive enough in carrying out testing on suspected cases. In fact, on Monday, it was reported that the number of positive cases so far have reached 92 with nine deaths. Some 639 tests were conducted with 56 persons in institutional isolation, seven in quarantine and 27 recovered cases. There have been calls for more tests to be conducted with a number of mobile units and site established around the country. With regards to the RT PCR test kits, Kaieteur news
Hundreds of the RT PCR test kits for COVID-19 are unusable because they were poorly stored, effectively hampering plans to conduct countrywide testing. was told that Guyana has in excess of 7,000 which include primers and probes. It was noted that the tests are a three-part one. One of the parts is what is known as the enzyme kits. The Ministry had under 2,000 of those enzyme kits. However, tests conducted found that enzyme tests did not meet the required quality level. It was widely believed that the kits were badly stored in temperature during transport, which made it ineffective.Permanent Secretary, Collette Adams, was not available for a
comment yesterday.However, Ministry officials said that they are hoping to have the matter resolved this week, so that a number of tests can be conducted. On the other hand, two sources who work in the Health Ministry shared different takes on why the Ministry failed to conduct any new testing during the previous weekend. Both sources revealed that the National Reference Lab, which is responsible for conducting COVID19 testing, ran out of primers and buffers—a component equipment of the testing kits. One source said, “The
COVID-19 testing kits consist of the primers, buffers, the swab and the two tubes which you insert your swab in. Step one is identifying your patient, after which you subsequently mark the patient, and then you go on to where the medical officials conduct swabbing. We… conduct the identification and swabbing and the Reference Lab would have the buffer, primer and the machine itself where they complete the testing.” The source explained that the Health Ministry was informed that there was a need of new primers and buffers
Mobile testing units have been deployed around the country. weeks before they ran out. He further noted that no measures are in place to substitute testing for COVID-19 without the equipment in place. Another source said, “A few persons have died but
because the results did not return in time, the information was not announced. Therefore, they died before their results came back; a 14-yearold was one of them. He was asthmatic… It’s quite scary right now…”
Wednesday May 06, 2020
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Kaieteur News
What you wish for others may turn against you! When people are unwilling to accept the truth about themselves, they resort to blaming others. Finding a scapegoat for our own flaws and faults, is one way of refusing to take responsibility for our own failings. In 1992, the PNC lost the first free and fair elections in more than 24 years. The supporters of the PNCR knew that their party had lost the elections. But some of the supporters did not wish to accept responsibility for its own failures and so it sought a scapegoat.It made former US President Jimmy Carter the scapegoat. The disaffected within the PNC camp claimed that it was former US President Jimmy Carter who came here and rigged the elections. This was a big lie and the people who were peddling it knew it was a massive concoction but in their desperation, they hung on to it in order to excuse the mistakes of their leaders. In 1997 elections, Desmond Hoyte felt humiliated that he had lost to a woman, Janet Jagan. Therefore, his supporters made her the scapegoat. This time, it was said that she had no right being President of Guyana. She was made the scapegoat, and in the most racist of ways. Some of the supporters of the PNC decided to ‘wuk pon she’. They would hold up a white doll, throw it to the ground and beat and stamp upon it. There was an interesting and tragic end to that
matter. One of the women who used to be beating and stamping on the doll ended up in an abusive relationship. Almost every day, so the story goes, she ended up being beaten and stamped upon by her partner. So careful what you wish on others; it may turn against you. After the 2015 elections, the PPPC supporters found a scapegoat for their party’s own failures. They claimed that the ABC countries instigated the PPP’s fall from power. They were unwilling to confront the realities that they neglected their base. The APNU+AFC supporters are now trying to find their own scapegoats. They are blaming ‘left, right and center’ without accepting any culpability for their electoral loss. They are blaming Russian hacking even though we have a manual election system; they tried to blame the foreign observers, going to the extent of threatening to rescind their accreditation. The APNU+AFC lackeys are now claiming foreign interference; and in their latest act of malevolence, they are now taking out their frustration on the Carter Center. Everybody else is being blamed but those who ultimately contributed to the loss. The APNU+AFC is refusing to accept that their actions in government contributed to their defeat in 2020. These actions included the scandalous Sussex Street
Food For the Poor spearheads... From page 7 village. Each family was provided with a two-bedroom wooden house outfitted with indoor sanitary facilities and a rain harvesting component. Potable water was also installed in the community to allow each family to have easy access to same, while a community centre and playground were constructed to promote life and skills training and recreational activities. The implementation of these projects was timely since their absence would have left these vulnerable families exposed to the harsh economic impact of COVID-19, Food For the Poor officials believe.
bond rental, the 50% increases in salaries to Ministers, the sell-out of the country’s oil resources, the public displays of arrogance by government Ministers, the dismissal of more than 5,000 sugar workers, the favouring of friends and cronies for jobs and the seizure of lands from citizens. The Coalition did not take steps to address its numerous shortcomings and the reasons for the two consecutive defeats, to the PPPC, in local government elections. Instead of consolidating after its local government defeats, the APNU picked a fight with the AFC. You would have thought the experience of the 2018 loss to the PPP would have made both the APNU and the AFC keen to reduce the schisms within the Coalition. Instead, these divisions widened. The AFC was forced to issue an ultimatum to the APNU. Even then, there was a reluctance to announce Khemraj Ramjattan as the Prime Ministerial candidate during the campaign. It was a suicidal political strategy given the fact that no ethnic group now has the numbers to win a free and fair election outright. The Indian vote alone cannot deliver an election to the PPPC and the African vote cannot deliver a victory for the APNU. In the end, the mistakes of the Coalition cost it the elections. The emasculation of the AFC meant that that party lost its appeal to voters. This was principally responsible for the Coalition’s loss. But instead of admitting this, the Coalition is looking for scapegoats to justify its brazen attempt to steal the elections. But right now, the leaders of the losers of the 2020 elections are not looking to their parties’ future. They are more interested in their own personal future
Dem boys seh ...
Plane landing without passengers GEGONE people dem impossible. But dem easing we stress with joke fuh full yuh belly. GEGONE decide dat deh gon be audio-streaming the count. Dat mean yuh gon hear de counting but yuh can’t see who scratching dem head, dem foot, sleeping or counting de ballots. Dat gat fuh be de joke of de decade. Is like a firm wah does pack oranges. But instead of de manager seeing how the oranges
pack, he hearing when it happening. “Bossman, one bag pack… two bags pack …three bags pack …four bags pack…” Dem boys can imagine how the count gan go. “One vote for Claw-dette… two vote for Mingo… three votes for Lolofield…” But de best joke is de one bout de guvment. The Carter Centre want come back fuh be part of de recount. De US gyal, SarahAnn write for dem come
back. But the guvment tell dem: “De plane can come but nat de passengers.” Is like if you send yuh car to school without de children. Tek a good laugh, clear yuh belly and wait fuh mo joke from GEGONE. It will be comedy hour non-stop. Talk half and try peeping wha going on in de counting stations dem at Arthur Chung.
and that of their businessmen friends who have been able to gain prime real estate at dog-cheap prices. The scapegoating will continue and it will attract the usual band of merry men and merry women who prefer to
see Guyana go down the drain than admit to their leaders’ mistakes. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
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Wednesday May 06, 2020
Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Jagdeo’s libel, Nigel Hughes, my research, my life I have no respect for Lincoln Lewis as a person and a trade unionist. The only reason I am into an explanation of a fiction Lewis has published about me is because it involves Nigel Hughes. Nigel is an immense talent. Nigel is a personal friend. Nigel is someone I owe a debt to that I may never repay. Nigel is a human who has my deepest of respect and admiration. Lewis wrote the following; “Today he (Kissoon) toes the line due to Jagdeo dropping the court case and according to him he cannot reveal the agreement signed that resulted in the case being dropped. I say to Freddie, reveal the agreement.” Here is how the Jagdeo libel writ came to an end without any input from me or Nigel.
Mr. Jagdeo lawyers indicated to Justice Reynolds that the plaintiff would like to discontinue the trial because the era in which the writ was relevant has gone and there was no point pursuing the trial any further. The continuation of the case was based solely on my decision. In court, Nigel asked me what I wanted to do. I remember my exact output to him. I told him after eight years if this trial continues what happens to me if he is at the UN as ambassador or president of Guyana. There was a huge smile on his face. He told me not to worry but I told him life has seen too many things we never believe could happen and I don’t want the case to go on and he may not be around. Nigel is a brilliant ad-
vocate and I was not prepared to take a chance with the case in the future without him. I agreed with Mr. Jagdeo’s decision to discontinue the case. The lawyers for both sides signed the necessary non-disclosure document which binds me not to write about the discontinuation. Nigel is a party to the contract I signed. I would be insulting his legal standing if I write about the issue. I will only do so only if he indicates to me that he has no legal problem in me doing so. I now move on to the second fiction of Lewis. He accused me of taking money from UG to do my sabbatical research and did not do it. I forgive Lewis for not knowing how a university operates. If you do not submit a sabbatical research, it is
in your contract that you cannot continue at the university. My sabbatical research was completed in 2004. The PPP victimized me in 2012 when my contract was not renewed. I spent seven more years at UG after my sabbatical research. I never received one cent, even one cent from UG for my research My sabbatical project was titled; “The Great Paradox in Guyanese History: Indians’ Attitude to the PPP and the PNC.” The manuscript would have made an excellent book so I applied to UG to have it published. The excuses were many but I know UG administration was not interested. In journalism, you do not seek resource assistance. It is a sacred principle in journalism. I recently appealed in my column two weeks ago to start a fund for health workers. Business tycoon, Sattaur Gafoor and his wife contacted me with a donation. I asked both to channel it through Mr. Glenn Lall. I wanted the book
published so I approach a long time, special friend, Carl Singh, who at the time was Chancellor of the Judiciary. He was willing to help but it was stupid of me to ask him knowing the status he held. My friend Kampta Karran, at the time, the CEO of the Ethnic Relations Commission had recently published a book by Peepal Tree in London (“Race and Ethnicity in Guyana”), agreed to help. I gave the manuscript to Kampta and waited on him to do the necessary transaction. This was not to be. Kampta died suddenly. There are tall fictions in Lewis’ mediocre attempts to do what countless others have tried the past forty years to do - paint my character with mud. I am still here without any public evidence of wrong –doing. Lewis accused me of trying to influence the press not to publish his views. For obvious reason, he cannot name the media houses and their editors because he
Frederick Kissoon knows he would be embarrassed. Lewis also accused me for one long month in the newspapers of dictating the shape of the struggle of the two unions at UG. I don’t know where Lewis got the knowledge that I am so authority-laden that I can influence powerful media houses and esteemed professors at UG. If I had any influence. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Wednesday May 06, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday May 06, 2020
Caribbean Airlines planes sanitized above - to continue social distancing int’l standards after commercial flights resume
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aribbean Airlines is assuring that it has been sanitizing its aircraft in keeping with international standards. ”The airline advises that its aircraft cabins are cleaned above international standards and the chemicals used meet the requirements of the World Health Organization, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Centre for Disease Control as effective for use against viruses including COVID-19,” the (Continued on page 17)
CAL says it is sanitizing its planes and intends to continue social distancing when commercial flights resume.
Wednesday May 06, 2020
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Kaieteur News
Recount starts today By Kemol King
T
he National Re count of votes cast in the March General and Regional Elections starts today at 8am. It is expected to close at 7pm, and will continue within that period every day until the recount ends. The staffers of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will begin with simultaneous counts of the ballots for four regions. Two workstations have been committed to Region One; two have been committed to Region Two; three have been committed to Region Three; and three have been committed to Region Four. The three workstations assigned to Region Four, the largest district, will remain committed to that region. Regions Five to 10 will be counted sequentially after Regions One to Three are completed, as the workstations become available. Each workstation will be manned by at least four GECOM staffers, with facilitation for one local observer and one foreign observer. From all indications, there will not be enough international observers there to man all 10 stations. The Organisation of American States (OAS) has decided to send a few of its team members already in Guyana, but the Carter Center has not received approval from the National COVID-19 Task Force for their team to travel to Guyana. Political parties will also be allowed to have one representative at each station. However, eight of the workstations can only safely host 14 persons while two can safely host eight persons. One police officer will form part of each group to ensure the security of the station. The CARICOM scrutinizing team appointed by the Chair of CARICOM will have the privilege of examining all of the stations. The team consists of three members: Senior Lecturer at University of the West Indies, Cynthia Barrow-
Ballot containers being transported into the Arthur Chung Conference Centre
GECOM Chair, Claudette Singh Giles; Commissioner at Electoral Commission of Antigua and Barbuda, John Jarvis; and Supervisor of Electoral Commission of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sylvester King. They are expected to submit a report to GECOM at the end of the process for consideration by the Commission. One Commonwealth Observer has been retained by GECOM and will be observing the recount process. The recount is set to last 25 days, subject to a review in the first week. The review will be informed by the examination of the average time it takes to count one ballot box. To examine each of the 2,339 ballot boxes, the staffers will reconcile the contents of the box, as well as conduct a numerical count of all valid votes cast in favour of each list of each political contesting party. After each ballot box is counted, a form called a statement of recount is to be filled out and taken to a tabulation centre. The figures on the statements will be tabulated to determine the votes cast for each contesting political party in a certain district. Kaieteur News understands that GECOM will allow for ample scrutiny of the statements and the tabulation, including opportunity for the party representatives observing the count to seek clarifications and to object to any
CARICOM High Level Team: [from left] Senior Lecturer at University of the West Indies, Cynthia Barrow-Giles; Commissioner at Electoral Commission of Antigua and Barbuda, John Jarvis; and Supervisor of Electoral Commission of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sylvester King apparent disparity. GECOM’s work plan states that a District matrix will be prepared of the votes cast for each list of candidates. At the end of the recount, the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, is expected to compile a cumulative statement on the final count for all 10 districts for submission to the Commission to determine the finality of the count. GECOM’s order for the recount states that the Commission shall, after deliberating on the report, “determine whether it should request the Chief Elections Officer to use the data as the basis for the submission of a report to the Commission” for the declaration of the final elections results. GECOM has stated categorically that the Chief Elec-
Caribbean Airlines planes sanitized... From page 16 Trinidad-headquartered airline said. It has been flying for years on the New York to Georgetown route. However, recent COVID19 measures to restrict passengers to Guyana have seen local airports closed and CAL’s planes grounded with many countries taking similar precautions. Caribbean Airlines CEO, Garvin Medera, stated: “The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that we’ve had to make changes to our opera-
tions and in-flight service because nothing is more important than the security, safety and comfort of our employees and customers.” CAL said it is monitoring the air quality in the cabins with the Boeing 737 jet fleet equipped with state-of-theart high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that capture 99.97 percent of particles. “High contact surfaces such as tray tables, seatbelts and armrests are cleaned before every flight and at every station using internation-
ally approved cleaners.” The airline said it conforms that social distancing is in place on its domestic operations and once international service resumes, social distancing will be practised at check-in, on board and other areas. Caribbean Airlines has also indicated that passenger loads will be limited and its crew will operate in full compliance with the instructions of the Public Health and other authorities in the jurisdictions in which the airline operates.
tions Officer and every other person appointed or authorized to perform any act or functions by virtue of the Order are under the Commission’s general supervisory power. Ballot Boxes in place Members of the Tactical Services Unit of the Guyana Police Force, in conjunction with other ranks, were seen early yesterday morning removing the containers of the ballot boxes from the Kingston holding place, to transport them to the venue for the National Recount, the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. The containers were carried on large trucks, escorted by armed police vehicles. The political party representatives, allowed to keep watch on the ballot boxes at Kingston, are being facilitated at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. GECOM tests live stream apparatus The GECOM Chair only approved a partial live stream of the recount. The counting of the ballots will not be streamed visually. Only the audio will be streamed. As for the tabulation of the statement of recount (the form replacing statements of poll), that stream will be both visual and audible. GECOM will also publish photos of the ballot boxes as they are taken out, to assure the public that they have not been tampered with. GECOM’s Public Rela-
tions Officer, Yolanda Ward, said yesterday that the public can go to GECOM’s Facebook and YouTube pages, as well as its website, if they want to access the live stream. GECOM was observed testing the audio stream for some of the workstations yesterday on its Facebook page. Each workstation’s audio stream was accessible yesterday on the Facebook page, and is expected to remain for the duration of the recount. Tents set up for media operatives Ward told reporters that the media operatives are “important stakeholders” in the electoral process. While there was some consideration for tentage to accommodate media operatives in the compound of the Conference Centre, the National COVID19 Task Force has advised
against the long-term use of tents there. Commissioner Sase Gunraj said that he had advocated for arrangements to be made to accommodate the press. Ward, asked profusely about the accommodations, finally responded last night, indicating that two tents were erected at the entrance to the Centre to accommodate media operatives and that chairs are expected to be set up in the morning for their comfort. Ward said that the media will be advised when there are briefings and would be allowed access inside the Centre, provided that they have been accredited by GECOM. Kaieteur News/Radio will be providing on the ball coverage of the recount, including the open and close of the first day of the recount and any necessary breaking events.
One of the armoured police vehicles escorting the containers
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Wednesday May 06, 2020
Kaieteur News
CARICOM leaders meeting for follow up discussions on regional issues GEORGETOWN, Guyana - CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders met yesterday, more than two weeks after they had agreed on a way forward in the region’s battle against the coronavirus (COVID-19) that has severely affected economies, causing death and infection to several members of their populations. The meeting, which began at 10.00 am (local time) was a follow-up to their Ninth Special Emergency Meeting via videoconference, which had received presentations from the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the University of the West Indies (UWI), the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Archbishop of Port of Spain, Jason Gordon.
A spokesman for the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat said that the regional leaders’ meeting is one of several CARICOM-related activities to be held this week. Today, the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) comprising mainly trade and economic affairs ministers will meet, followed a day later by a meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR).On Friday, the Council for Human and Social Development (COSHOD) will meet to discuss issues including education given that many schools in the Caribbean have been closed as a result of the pandemic.Following their meeting on April 15, a statement issued afterwards noted that follow up discussions on a number of issues would be
Mia Mottley
Dr. Keith Mitchell
Ralph Gonsalves
Roosevelt Skerrit
discussed at a later date.The CARICOM statement said then that proposals on a Common Public Health policy would first be presented to the Ministers of Health and this would include proposals for joint procurement, including of pharmaceuticals and Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE) and sourcing of additional medical personnel. The statement said that the joint procurement would assist in addressing supply constraints being experienced.“There would also be consideration of a proposal for a protocol on reopening borders which all member states would adhere to at the same time when such a decision is taken,” the statement noted.Regional governments have implemented several initiatives including
lockdown of their borders, curfews and social distancing in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus.The statement said that issues related to food security would be considered in the context of the CARICOM COVID-19 AgriFood Risk Management Framework which has been circulated to member states following a meeting of Ministers of Agriculture last month.The statement said this would address in particular the production and supply
of food products.The transportation of people and goods by air and sea interregionally would also come under scrutiny with particular reference to the operations of the regional air carriers which have been adversely affected by the measures adopted to contain the virus.Proposals would also be formulated for building a robust digital architecture, including governance, to facilitate digital commerce and to assist in the fight against the virus, the statement said.
PPP opposed to Lowenfield having sole custody of statements of recount at any time The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has objected to Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield, being the sole custodian of the statements of recount at any time during the National Recount of votes, set to start today. A statement of recount is a document produced by the GECOM, which will serve the purpose during the recount that a statement of poll serves during General and Regional Elections. After each ballot box is examined, a statement of recount is to be filled out, including the number of votes cast in favour of each contesting party, and other particulars. The PPP is concerned that, for some time, during the recount, this document will be in the sole custody of the Chief Elections Officer. This is unlike the chain of custody of a statement of poll during elections, as they are prepared
at the place of poll and placed where the public can see. Like other occasions, the PPP is again registering its distrust for Lowenfield. It quotes, from GECOM’s order for the recount that “The Statement of Recount shall be signed by the person conducting the recount and by the representative of each contesting party present, in the presence of the CARICOM scrutinizing team, representatives of Political Parties that contested the said elections, international and Local Observers accredited by the Guyana Elections Commission and advisors to the Guyana Elections Commission. These documents shall be lodged with the Chief Election Officer and copies distributed to the signatories thereto, the CARICOM scrutinizing team, the Chairman and the Commissioners.” The main opposition party has interpreted this sec-
tion of the Order to imply that Lowenfield will have sole custody of the document for a period of time “without any oversight, whatsoever, before they are delivered to the other persons named in the provision.”“This is the very Chief Election Officer, who has unlawfully refused to make SOPs in his possession public and has also withheld them from the Commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) despite their repeated request,” the party said in a statement. The party submits that the copies of the statements of recount should be made and distributed first to all of the persons entitled to have them before they are signed, “so that if there is any discrepancy, it can be detected before the relevant persons sign them.”The party also used the statement to call on the governing coalition to not “derail, frustrate and undermine the recount process.”
“We must build on the success our fore parents... From page 13 normally would have gone there to celebrate the day,” he said. Armogan opined that because of the current situation, people are more understanding and have accepted the idea of observing the day from their homes. “We know how important the day is, but people will stay home and observe the day. It doesn’t have to erupt in any big celebration, once we observe the day and recognise why our foreparents came here, how hard they worked and what they contributed to our country, I think that is more important,” the Chairman underscored. He expressed that this particular experience has provided the opportunity “to reflect on how our ancestors
contributed to the development of Guyana. We must never forget the contributions that our foreparents made to this country and we must continue to be proud, observe and pay tribute to their hard work. We must continue to build on the success our foreparents fought for to make sure that their rights were preserved through their activities, they stood their ground and were able to stand up to the pressures. So, it is a lesson too so that we can learn that we must stand up in what we believe and stand up for the rights of the people and we must stand up for democracy.” While Armogan is sure that the world will never be the same after the pandemic, he believes that people will
now have to adapt to possibly a new way of living. He took the opportunity to implore Guyanese to follow the guidelines set out by the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Public Health and wished all Guyanese a Happy Indian Arrival Day. Along with the location at Highbury, there is also an Indian Arrival Day Monument at Palmyra Junction. On January 13, 1838, the Whitby left the shores of India with 249 immigrants on board and arrived in Guyana on the May 5, 1838 after a voyage of 112 days. Five immigrants died during the voyage. The MV Whitby left for Berbice and landed 164 passengers at Highbury, East Bank Berbice, nearly 12 miles from New Amsterdam.
Ministry records 10th COVID-19 death The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) last evening announced the 10th death in Guyana as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The particulars of that death, however, have not yet been released by the Health Ministry. According to the Health Ministry’s COVID-19 dashboard, 93 have thus far tested
positive for the disease, taking the number of conducted tests to 680. The number of persons in institutional isolation continues to rise, as the Health Ministry reported that 56 are now in their facilities, while six are in quarantine. Additionally, three have developed worsened conditions and are seeking further
treatment in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the numbers of recovered cases remain at 27. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 3,435,894 cases globally, with 239,604 deaths. In the region of the Americas, the number of confirmed cases is 1,433,756 cases with 77,827 deaths.
HAB-IT, Swiss Machinery introduce measures ... From page 11 credit card, we will shop for you and you will pay as directed without visiting our office,” it revealed. International Supply Chain It was also revealed that, “Our active supply chain can source almost any product that is not available in Guyana and ship to you in a time sensitive manner using the many shopping and shipping options available to us, and we want to remind Swiss customers that HAB IT uses the resources of Swiss Machinery to source almost any mechanical part to keep our customers productive by limiting your down time.” Once the item arrives in Guyana, “we will use the best transportation system to get your shipment to you regardless of where you reside. This includes, but is not limited to, aircraft or boat service for interior locations and Parika wharf for customers who use this way of transportation.” Swiss Machinery has an inventory of thousands of diesel engine and fuel pump parts for most engines and has introduced a “will call service” which will allows customers to call ahead with their request. “We will get your parts ready for you to
pick up at an agreed time or we will get the parts to you using the fastest and most convenient shipping method. If the part is not available locally, we will request the services of HAB IT to source and ship to you from U.S.A. in a time sensitive manner,” the released assured. A new pick-up and delivery service for repairs has also been introduced which is designed to accommodate customers living close or as far as interior locations, it was noted. Moreover, customers can “Just send your complete engine or engine components such as crankshaft, engine head, engine blocks, diesel fuel pump, water pump, turbo and any other component to us and we will collect from any car or bus park, Ogle airport, cargo boat travelling to Port Kaituma or Matthew’s Ridge or any interior location. We can also collect from Parika wharf to facilitate Essequibo islands such as Hog Island, Wakenaam and Leguan. We will repair and return your unit to you using the fastest and most convenient way to keep you productive.” Minibus and automotive discount Efforts are also being
made to reach out to the hurting owners of minibuses and taxis who are forced to carry less passengers resulting in lower revenue. As such, the release revealed the assistance forthcoming to this faction includes an offer of “10% discount on all machining services to your engines which include, but is not limited, to repairs to crankshaft, engine blocks, engine head, fuel pump and any machining jobs such as polyurethane bushing for steering, damage thread repairs and any other machining or fabricating jobs.” Payment With travelling restrictions, measures have been put in place to facilitate payment. “We have established accounts for you to be able to pay for both HAB and Swiss Services at any commercial bank or GTT mobile money. You can get that information by calling HAB IT at 233-2496, 233-2498, 2319578 or 231-9579. For Swiss customers call 233-2495, 2333821 or 233-2330,” the release quipped. This programme will remain active for one month or could be extended depending on the severity of the pandemic, it was revealed as “We’re in this together”.
Wednesday May 06, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Abuse suffered by Laurie Hernandez further tarnishes the Final Five’s 2016 gold medals Yahoo Sports - The 2016 women’s gymnastics team that the United States sent to the Rio Olympics might have been the most dominant team the sport has seen at the Games. The quintet of Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian and Aly Raisman didn’t just win another team gold medal for the U.S., following in the footsteps of 2012’s Fierce Five, they posted the highest combined score on each of the four event apparatus. In the individual portion of the meet, Biles, Hernandez, Kocian and Raisman each won at least one medal. And the American domination hasn’t stopped, with
Biles leading the women to a fifth straight world team title last October in Germany. But all of the medals and glory seem tarnished knowing that all five members of that famed 2016 squad — as well as at least one of the three alternates — suffered sexual, verbal and/or emotional abuse on the road to winning them. On Friday, the New York Times published an interview with Hernandez, who is now 19 years old, in which she discussed the abuse she’d suffered while training with coach Maggie Haney, and the effects of Haney’s abuse that she is still dealing with. A couple of days earlier, USA Gymnastics suspended
Haney from coaching for eight years, finding that the 42-year-old coach had failed “to provide a safe, positive and healthy environment with a culture of trust and empowerment.” In 2017, Biles, Douglas, Kocian, Raisman and Rio alternate Ashton Locklear all revealed that they were among Larry Nassar’s hundreds of victims. Nassar was the longtime USA Gymnastics team coach who sexually abused gymnasts under the guise of providing care. Hernandez and others testified about the incredibly abusive environment Haney cultivated at her New Jersey gym; for Hernandez, it meant weight-shaming from Haney
Wednesday May 06 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may feel indecisive, insecure, and stuck in the middle of a difficult situation, Aries. Your energy could be drawn in one direction while your self-confidence is pulled in another.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your indecisiveness may plague you, Libra. This is one of those times when you feel as if one second of hesitation will cost you dearly.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Communication with others should be very effective, Taurus, and your social calendar will be full. You're feeling good about yourself, thanks to a boost in confidence that reminds you that you can do anything.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You're now in a terrific position to make a significant move in your life, Scorpio. With a great deal of physical energy coupled with incredibly high self-esteem, you have what it takes to make a major push toward larger goals.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Relating to people may be difficult for you since you get the feeling that others don't see things as deeply or emotionally as you, Gemini.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You might feel as if you can't access your physical energy now, Sagittarius. You may experience frustration when you try to engage in an exercise routine.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) You have a great deal of physical energy, Cancer. At times, you may feel as if you have an endless wellspring of power.
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your physical vitality should be quite strong, Capricorn, and you're encouraged by greater self-confidence.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Finding the comfort point may be difficult for you, Leo. You might feel as if you aren't connecting with your ideals or goals.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Things could be moving more quickly than makes you comfortable right now, Aquarius. You may feel as if your own needs and agenda are getting swept away in the current.
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22) Your upbeat, lively nature is fueled by the fast-paced energy at hand. You have a great deal of physical strength available to you, Virgo, and you can make tremendous strides in your yearly goals with very minimal effort.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your physical strength is topnotch, Pisces. Now is a terrific time to either start a home work out routine or take a pre-existing one to the next level.Others will respect your leadership abilities. Your glow as a self-confident.
Simone Biles and Laurie Hernandez at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) that led to Hernandez wearing two sports bras to try to try to make her breasts look smaller and worse, engaging in disordered eating — bingeing and purging, and even trash-talking Hernandez’s own mother in front of her. Hernandez told the New York Times that she is still being treated for depression after enduring a decade of abuse. She left Haney’s gym after the 2016 Olympics, after finally telling her mother Wanda everything. Hernandez had told her mother about Haney’s abuse years earlier, but when Wanda called Haney and Haney responded with anger toward Laurie, Laurie stopped telling her mother about what was happening. It wasn’t until after Rio, when she overheard Laurie and a fellow gymnast discussing Haney’s behavior toward a third girl, that Wanda pressed Laurie and her daughter finally opened up. No medal, no national pride is worth what these
young women went through. Gymnastics, particularly women’s, is generally one of the most popular spectator sports at the Summer Games. Over the years, we’ve seen petite teenagers execute flips and spins of increasing difficulty, their sequined leotards and bright smiles putting a sweet face on a brutal sport. It’s hard enough to get to the level these young women get to: the hours of practice (at great financial expense to parents), competing through all manner of injury, sacrificing “normal” teenage things like school dances or supporting friends in musicals to be in the gym every day, perfecting every small detail, hoping they’re the right age and peaking during an impossibly small window that only opens every four years. Those things, those are what they know come with the territory. Being preternaturally talented at gymnastics leads to an abnormal life, if the Olympics is the goal. Waking up every morning so afraid to go to practice and
face the coach that berates you — loud, profanity-laced tirades — for the smallest miscue that you sometimes cry at the very thought of it, as Hernandez did, is not what anyone signs up for. It’s not what any athlete should deal with. Haney’s abuse was so frequent and happened for so long that it took a great toll on Hernandez. In language that will sound familiar to other abuse victims she told The Times, “I thought I deserved all of it. The toughest part about it was that there were no bruises or marks to show that it was real. It was all just so twisted that I thought it couldn’t be real.” Hernandez has a team gold and individual silver from Rio, medals that athletes everywhere dream of. Because of what she went through to get them, however, she regrets training with Haney and said, “I’m grateful that I got to the Olympics, but at what cost?” While it’s good to see that USA Gymnastics, which has dealt with a lot of self-imposed black eyes since the depth of Nassar’s depravity came to light, hand Haney a long suspension, it still took years for the group to get to that point. Wanda Hernandez filed a complaint with USAG well over three years ago. Riley McCusker, a current member of the Senior National team who began training with Haney in 2015, and others at her gym could have been spared years of potential abuse had USAG acted with more urgency. The Final Five, as the Rio quintet dubbed themselves, are athletes we should applaud and embrace for their grace under pressure. But it is heartbreaking to know what was really happening behind
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Kaieteur News
Closed doors could force Scottish UCI sticks to revised Tour de France start and football to seek bailout confirms first ever women’s Paris-Roubaix AFP - Scottish football could be forced to seek a government bailout if supporters are unable to attend matches for the forseeable future, the chief executive of the Scottish Professional Football League warned yesterday. Neil Doncaster said that the high reliance of the Scottish game on gate receipts compared to other top leagues around Europe made it more vulnerable to a prolonged period of playing behind closed doors.According to UEFA’s latest Club Licensing Benchmark report, gate receipts provided 43 percent of revenue for the 12 clubs in the Scottish Premiership, by far the highest in Europe’s top 20 leagues. “We gave the Minister a frank summary of the existential crisis our game is facing,” Doncaster said in a statement after a meeting with Joe FitzPatrick, Scottish Minister for Public Health, and leaders of other sports organisations.“Gate receipts make up a far higher proportion of our income than in England, which benefits from huge TV deals, so until we get back to playing in front of crowds, our game will remain in grave peril.” Rugby League clubs in England were granted a £16 million ($20 million) emergency loan last week to help with the financial consequences of coronavirus.
Scottish clubs could be forced to seek a government bailout if fans cannot attend matches. (AFP / Andy Buchanan) And Doncaster suggested a similar bailout might be needed for clubs from the Scottish government in the coming months. “We’ll continue to be guided by the Scottish Government’s health experts on when we are able to resume matches, but that looks to be some while away,” he said.“We have already seen the UK Government pledging £16m support to Rugby League in England to prevent it from being devastated by COVID-19. “The longer we are unable to play matches in Scotland, the more essential will be significant financial support for our hard-pressed national
sport.”Football has been suspended at all levels in Scotland until June 10.Leagues below the Premiership have been declared over for the 2019-20 season and it appears increasingly certain that the top-flight will follow suit. Talks are ongoing over league reconstruction for the 2020-21 campaign that would prevent any club from being relegated due to the early end to the season. According to reports, a proposal will be put forward later this week for the Premiership and Championship to expand to 14 teams and for Leagues One and Two to be merged into one 16-team division.
The Telegraph - The UCI has confirmed its intention to push ahead with the Tour de France on the revised dates which were announced last month, beginning on August 29 and ending on September 20. Other highlights of the new 2020 calendars announced by cycling’s world governing body yesterday are that the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana will overlap for five days in October, while there will be an inaugural women’s Paris-Roubaix on October 25 preceding the men’s race. The 2020 Tour de France had already been pushed back by two-months due to coronavirus. The revised dates were then put in jeopardy last week when the French government announced a ban on mass gatherings until September. ASO, the Tour’s organiser, has seemingly convinced both the French authorities and the UCI that it will be able to stage the race safely. In what a densely-packed and extremely ambitious three-month season, racing is set to begin with the Strade Bianche one-day classic in Italy on August 1 and end with the Vuelta on November 8. The Tour will be preceded by a shortened Criterium du
Dauphine from August 12-16. The Giro d’Italia runs from Octover 3-25, and the Vuelta from October 20 until November 8. Other major races include Milan-San Remo on August 8, Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Octonber 4, and the Tour of Flanders on October 18. The UCI said the calendar obeyed “a logic which provides a maximum of opportunities for different types of riders: alternating stage races and one-day races in August, which will enable the riders to gradually readapt to the rhythm of competition after three months of limited activity for some.” Of the inclusion for the first time of a women’s ParisRoubaix, it added: “The integration of this new Monument into the leading circuit for women’s cycling is excellent news: women now also have the possibility to tackle the “Hell of the North”, which will expand the calendar and make it even more appealing to the public.” All events are obviously still subject to the spread of coronavirus. French sports minister Roxana Maracineanu admitted yesterday: “We do not know what the epidemic will be like after [the easing of] lockdown.” UCI President David Lappartient declared in a
statement: “We have drawn up a solid, attractive and varied new calendar that is as realistic and coherent as possible. This has been achieved as early as was practicable and in line with information available today concerning the evolution of the pandemic. “Riders, teams and organisers now have the dates they need to anticipate the resumption of racing on 1st August. This is a very important step that the entire cycling community, financially impacted by the pandemic, has been waiting for to move forward. “I would like to acknowledge the spirit of solidarity and responsibility shown by all players – in this respect I thank Unipublic which accepted to reduce the length of the Vuelta Ciclista a España – and the courage that the families of professional cycling have demonstrated in these difficult times. “We will continue to move forward together towards the resumption of the season, nevertheless with the reminder that the health of riders and all concerned parties is still the overriding priority, and that the recommencement of our activities will remain dependent on the evolution of the world health situation.”
Trinbago Knight Riders going without NFL: Favre received $1.1 million Ramdin for 2020 season
for appearances he didn’t make Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre received $1.1 million from the state of Mississippi for public appearances he never made, an audit of the state’s Department of Human Services showed. The Mississippi Clarion Ledger reported that Favre received two lump payments totaling that amount and was supposed to make speeches for the money. Favre isn’t facing any criminal charges. The spending was uncovered as part of an audit that took place after former Human Services director John Davis and others were indicted and charged with embezzling about $4 million. In all, the audit showed $94 million in what the newspaper termed “questionable spending” by the agency, which is supposed to allocate its funds toward needy people in the state. “If there was a way to misspend money, it seems DHS leadership or their grantees thought of it and tried it,” state auditor Shad White said Monday. He said the audit showed “the most egregious misspending my staff have seen in their careers.” The Clarion Ledger said the report showed that in the instance of Favre, he wasn’t present at specified events and made no speeches. Neither Favre nor his longtime agent, Bus Cook, responded to the newspaper’s request for comment. Favre, 50, is a Mississipi native who played
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre talks to the media following their NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan January 2, 2011. REUTERS/ Rebecca Cook (United States - Tags: Sport Football) at Southern Miss before beginning his 20-year NFL career in 1991. He won the Super Bowl with the 1997 Green Bay Packers and also played for the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons. (Field Level Media)
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) have opted to head into the 2020 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) without wicketkeeper/batsman Denesh Ramdin, but have retained nine other players for the tournament. The former T&T and West Indies captain was notably absent from the list of Caribbean players TKR announced yesterday they would be retaining this season. The players who will stay with TKR are: Dwayne Bravo who missed last year’s tournament because of injury, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Darren Bravo, Lendl Simmons, Khary Pierre, Amir Jangoo, Tion Webster and Akeal Hosein. Emerging player Jayden Seales, who earned the ICC’s nod for Team of the Tournament after a spotlight-grabbing performance at the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa earlier this year, was the only new Caribbean player signed. “International retentions and signings will be announced at a later date,” TKR said in a statement. This year, franchises can retain as many players from their 2019 squads as they wish and also transfer players to other teams and sign emerging players. “Over the last five years, TKR has built the franchise by consciously bringing back players from Trinidad and Tobago and also developing local talent. We are delighted that all ten of our Caribbean players in the TKR squad for 2020 are from Trinidad & Tobago,”
Denesh Ramdin has not been retained by Trinbago Knight Riders after four years with the franchise. said TKR director Venky Mysore. In a post on Instagram on Tuesday, Ramdin thanked fans for supporting him during his last four years with two-time CPL champions TKR. “…. But things beyond my control so [I] am not going to be at TKR 2020. Thanks to management, staff [and] captain, also the owner for the opportunity at TKR. Now it’s time to move on,” he added in the post that included a video clip of him hitting a Hero Maximum in last year’s tournament. The CPL is scheduled to take place August 19 – September 26, but tournament organisers are watching the current COVID19 pandemic and liaising with medical advisors and governments to decide whether the tournament will proceed as planned.
Wednesday May 06, 2020
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Kaieteur News
Chinese swimming star Sun appeals against doping ban - report
Bundesliga set to be given green light for restart, sources say
Sun is a three-time Olympic champion. (AFP/File / Jean-guy Python)
Bayern Munich coach Hans-Dieter Flick with Jerome Boateng as players look on during training despite most sport being cancelled around the world as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID19) continues. (REUTERS/Andreas Gebert/File Photo)
AFP - Disgraced Chinese swimming star Sun Yang has lodged an appeal against his eight-year doping ban with the Swiss Federal Tribunal (SFT), according to a report which has been confirmed to AFP by a source close to the case.Sun, who also served a three-month doping suspension in 2014, was found guilty of refusing to give a doping sample and banned for eight years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in February, upholding an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against swimming’s governing body
FINA.All decisions made by CAS can be appealed to the SFT.Unless he is successful with the appeal, Sun will not be eligible for the Tokyo Games in 2021 and his career would be effectively over.The SFT did not confirm the information, but according to the report, “a case file has been opened with a number attached to the ‘Sun Yang Case’”.Sun remains suspended from competition during the appeal.Magazine Swimming World reported on Monday that Sun’s lawyers had filed the appeal with a day to spare on April 29.
Rugby coach launches COV-fit camp
N
ational rugby coach and fitness enthusiast, Theo Henry, has recently launched a COV-fit camp at the Durban Park in a bid to help persons stay healthy and active during the coronavirus pandemic. The certified fitness trainer and nutritionist’s initiative is welcomed since all gyms have been closed to help tackle the spread of this disease and Henry explained that the COV-fit camp is cognisant of the social distancing guidelines and is taking the necessary measures to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. During an invited comment with Kaieteur Sport, Henry noted that, “Even though it is a group activity, we keep persons in a relatively far distance away from each other and that is possible because we have tons and tons of space at Durban Park. In addition, it is not a
large group of persons I am working with. It’s a maximum of only 10 persons per session.” Henry shared that the COV-fit camp started only three weeks ago and it runs Monday to Friday with two one-hour sessions which begins at 05:30hrs. The former rugby champion who has won a total of eight titles playing with the Green Machine; Guyana’s senior men’s rugby team, reminisced that, “I was always passionate about health and fitness even before I got certified. If you check my track record, I have also competed in powerlifting, in addition to my known exploits on the rugby pitch.” “It’s a venture I have been looking to get into a long time and I used this opportunity during the serious covid-19 pandemic to do my part in help keeping persons’ immune systems up through exercise.”
The three-time Olympic champion has previously seen two appeals rejected by the SFT before the CAS decision.A vial of Sun’s own blood sample was smashed with a hammer during a testing session in 2018, but the swimmer was acquitted by FINA of anti-doping violations, agreeing that testers had failed to produce adequate identification. But the ruling outraged WADA which took the matter to CAS, demanding a ban of between two and eight years for missing the out-ofcompetition test.The Chinese Swimming Association (CSA) said after CAS announced Sun’s ban that it supported the 28-year-old and encouraged Sun to “continue to safeguard his legitimate rights”.Sun has been widely criticised by other swimmers, with some rivals refusing to share a podium with him during the 2019 world championships.Last month, WADA demanded answers after Sun was called up for national training for the Tokyo Olympics in an apparent breach of his ban.The CSA said the notice naming Sun for the training was “invalid”. Sun has kept a low profile since he was banned.The medals he won at last year’s world championships, including two golds, remain on his list of honours after CAS said it could not retrospectively strip him of titles.A lawyer for Sun said in February he would appeal.“February 28, 2020 was a dark day. It shows the scene where evil defeats justice and power replaces self-evident truths,” Beijing lawyer Zhang Qihuai said in a statement the day after CAS announced the swimmer’s ban.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany’s Bundesliga is set to be given the green light for a restart, probably from May 15, as part of measures to further ease the country’s coronavirus regulations, two people familiar with the preparations told Reuters. The Bundesliga would be the first of the five major European domestic soccer leagues to resume play after a stoppage which has seen almost all football put on hold around the world since mid-March.German states are set agree on the restart in a teleconference with Chancellor Angela Merkel scheduled for Wednesday, the sources said. Matches would take place under strict conditions - and with no fans in stadiums.So far Portugal, Poland and Hungary have given dates for restarting their national leagues, all towards the end of May.Germany’s professional teams have been training since mid-April, divided into small groups and under strict conditions which include extensive testing of all players and coaching staff.
The German Football League (DFL) has submitted a health safety plan for games without spectators which includes regular testing of players but no quarantines for entire squads in cases of positive tests.However, it says that if a player is infected, decisions on the measures to be taken lie with the local health authorities.On Monday, the DFL said that it had registered 10 positive cases in a blanket test of 1,724 players and staff at its 36 first and second division clubs.The DFL said a second round of tests would be carried out in the next week and there “may be isolated positive test results”.Some media reports suggested that hopes of a restart had been hampered by the behaviour of players at Hertha Berlin on Monday.Hertha forward Salomon Kalou posted a video on social media showing him shaking hands with players and interrupting a team mate’s medical exam. The club suspended the Ivorian, who apologised and said his behaviour did not reflect the club’s instructions to staff.
Mike Tyson back in shape as he considers years. So I didn’t expect to charity exhibitions see what I saw. I saw a guy (Reuters) - Mike Tyson’s decision to return to training has been met with enthusiasm from fans and some fellow fighters after the release of a short video that shows the 53-year-old still has plenty of speed and power as he ponders boxing in exhibition bouts.The former world heavyweight champion, who said he could return to the ring in exhibitions to raise money for charity, posted a training video on social media that has been viewed more than nine million times. The video shows American Tyson, the first heavyweight to hold the WBA, WBC and IBF titles, working the pads with trainer Rafael Cordeiro.“I’ve been working out, I’ve been trying to get in the ring, I think I’m going to box some exhibitions and get in shape,” Tyson said in an Instagram Live session with rapper T.I.“I want to go to the gym and get in shape to be able to box three or four-round exhibitions for some charities and stuff.“I do two hours on cardio, I do the bike and the treadmill for an hour, then I
Former boxer Mike Tyson before the fight Deontay Wilder v Tyson Fury for the WBC Heavyweight Title at the Grand Garden Arena at MGM Grand, Las Vegas. (REUTERS/ Steve Marcus) do some light weights, 300, 250 reps.”“Then I start my day with the boxing thing, I go in there and hit the mitts, 30 minutes, 25 minutes, start getting in better condition.” Cordeiro told ESPN “He hasn’t hit mitts for almost 10
with the same speed, same power as guys 21, 22 years old.”Tyson retired after a loss to Kevin McBride in 2005, but more than a decade on, there is already a buzz about his potential return to the ring. “Can’t believe, this is another level,” UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov said on social media after seeing the video. If Tyson does return to the ring, he will be following in the footsteps of Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao in coming out of retirement for an exhibition fight.Former heavyweight champion George Foreman, however, said ‘Iron Mike’ had given enough to the sport. “Tyson has done enough great things for boxing. No more is needed. He is in the Hall of Fame and was a mighty puncher,” Foreman told World Boxing News. Tyson, who became the youngest heavyweight champion of all time when he defeated Trevor Berbick in 1986 aged 20, won 50 of his 58 professional fights before retiring.
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Kaieteur News
Kookaburra develop wax applicator for saliva-free ball-shining Warne wants ESPNcricinfo - Australian ‘weighted’ balls manufacturers Kookaburra are developing a wax applicator that could be used to shine cricket balls without using sweat or saliva. ESPNcricinfo revealed last month that, in the wake of Covid-19, the ICC’s medical committee had discussed the dangers of using saliva to polish the ball. The ICC’s cricket committee and the MCC’s world cricket committee are due to follow suit. Decision-makers are open to the option of allowing for the use of an agreed artificial substance to shine the ball under the supervision of the umpires, and the new applicator is a potential solution to the problem. The wax formula, applied using a pocket-sized sponge, would be rubbed or polished in a traditional manner to enhance the ball’s shine, acting as a substitute for saliva or sweat. Brett Elliott, Kookaburra’s group managing director of the brand, told the PA news agency: “The most effective mitigating action to avoid risk would be to introduce a temporary ban on the traditional shining method. This could be immediately introduced, enabling cricket to resume as soon as it is safe. “This could be available within a month. However, it has yet to be tested in a match conditions as the ability to
Joe Root shines the ball. (Getty Images)
Wednesday May 06, 2020
Evra reveals death threats after Suarez racism row London (AFP) - Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has said he received death threats following a racism row involving then-Liverpool forward Luis Suarez in 2011. Uruguay striker Suarez was banned for eight matches by the English Football Association after being found guilty of misconduct for insulting comments to Evra, which included a reference to the left-back’s skin colour, at Anfield in October that year. Liverpool, however, mounted a prolonged and public defence of Suarez’s conduct as the row between the rival clubs escalated.
complete real trial matches at the moment is inhibited. “It may not be something we need to make forever, it’s designed to get cricket back and give administrators time to make decisions. Nobody was calling out for this 12 months ago so maybe it is more of an interim measure.” Current and former international fast bowlers have raised concerns about the prospect of being unable to shine the ball in recent weeks, with Ashish Nehra telling ESPNcricinfo that banning the use of saliva or sweat on the ball would equate to “mur-
dering bowlers”. Shane Warne, meanwhile, has suggested that the ball be “weighted on one side so it always swings”, as an alternative. “It would be like a taped tennis ball or like with the lawn bowls,” the former Australia legspinner told the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast. “It could swing and give the seamer something on flat wickets when it’s hot and the pitch is at its flattest on day two, day three.” Warne added that would help provide a “good competition between bat and ball”.
Ronaldo returns to Turin after coronavirus lockdown AFP - Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo flew back to Italy on Monday after almost two months in coronavirus lockdown in his native Portugal. Ronaldo and his family landed in Turin Airport just after 10.20pm local time, according to media reports in Italy. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner arrived by private jet from the Portuguese island of Madeira and will spend two weeks in quarantine. The 35-year-old played Juventus’s last Serie A game, a 2-0 win over Inter Milan behind closed doors at the Allianz Stadium on March 8, before the Italian football season was suspended amid the COVID-19 pandemic which has killed over 29,000 people in the country. Ronaldo returned to Madeira after the Inter Milan match to be close to his mother Dolores who had suffered a stroke. Juventus have recalled their 10 overseas players as Serie A clubs were given the green light to return to individual training on Monday. The Italian interior ministry’s go-ahead for players to return to club training facilities two weeks ahead of schedule has offered fans hope that the 2019-20 season might yet be salvaged. Juventus are leading Serie A, one point ahead of Lazio, as they target a ninth consecutive Scudetto.
Cristiano Ronaldo last played for Juventus against Inter Milan on March 8. (AFP/File / Marco Bertorello) The club has not yet given an official date for a return to training. Juventus began carrying out tests on their players at the club’s medical centre in Turin on Monday.The first to arrive were Federico Bernardeschi, Juan Cuadrado, Carlo Pinsoglio, Leonardo Bonucci and Aaron Ramsey, all wearing face masks. Juventus are also waiting the return to Turin of Dutch centre-back Matthijs de Ligt and midfielder Blaise Matuidi, who returned to France after recovering from the virus. Gonzalo Higuain remains in Argentina where he returned to be with his sick mother.
Evra said one consequence of the backlash included letters threatening the Frenchman and his family. “Manchester United received so many threatening letters about me,” Evra told the club’s UTD podcast. “People said: ‘We’re in jail, we’re Liverpool fans. When we get out, we’re going to kill you and your family’.”Evra said the nature of the threats meant he had to be protected by bodyguards.“For two months, I had security everywhere I went. They were sleeping in front of my house.
Suarez was banned for eight matches after the incident in 2011 (AFP Photo/Andrew Yates) Everywhere I went, the security followed me.“It was a tough time, but I wasn’t scared. My family were scared: my wife and brother, but I wasn’t.“I couldn’t understand why people hated me so much. They didn’t know the truth.”Evra, who saw his attempt to shake hands with Suarez before a match the following February rebuffed by the striker, said he had forgiven his old antagonist and even spoke to the now Barcelona star before the 2015 Champions League final when playing for Juventus.
But it was a very different story at the time, which saw Evra forcing himself to control his emotions after reporting the incident to match referee Andre Marriner, who said it would be dealt with after the game and that both players should continue. “I remember, during that game, I was talking to myself saying: ‘If you punch him now, people will see you as the bad one, people will forget about what he said’,” recalled Evra.“I was talking to myself: ‘Don’t do... do it...’ I wasn’t focused for the game.”
Umpires suffering ‘dislocation’ but looking to alternatives: Johnson ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – A top West Indies Cricket Umpires Association official says regional umpires have also been heavily impacted by the cessation of cricket, stemming from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vivian Johnson, who serves as secretary of WICUA, pointed out that with cricket at every level brought to a halt, the situation with umpires was “heartbreaking” as it had resulted in “dislocation” among the umpiring community. “Where this pandemic is actually concerned, it is a little heartbreaking to know that the cricket is sidelined,” Johnson told DBS Radio here. “And it’s not only the West Indies, it’s all over the world. We know we have a tour to England and therefore we’re not even sure that’s going to go on. “In Australia, their borders are closed. Just like countries in the Caribbean, their borders are closed to anyone coming in.” He continued: “Local cricket [in the Caribbean] ter-
ritories, there is no cricket so that impacts the umpiring aspect of the game and umpires are likely to get involved and are involved on a weekly basis [usually] because cricket generally in most countries of the Caribbean is all year round. “So this is something that has caused a lot of dislocation as we speak.” The fallout for regional umpires would have been especially felt after Cricket West Indies was forced last month to postpone a suite of tournaments. Apart from aborting the last two rounds of the 10round domestic first class championship, CWI postponed the Women’s Super50 Cup and inaugural Under-19 Championship, while completely scrapping the Under15 Boys Championship. South Africa Women were scheduled to arrive for five One-Day Internationals later this month while South Africa A were expected to follow in June for five one-dayers and three four-day “Tests” but both are now likely to be
called off.Deprived of opportunities to officiate, Johnson said that some umpires – particularly in Jamaica – were using the time to conduct small group seminars, to ensure that officials remained savvy on the laws and rudiments of the game. “It’s not only on the field of play that we train umpires for because a lot of the things about umpiring is judgement, management of the game and so on,” said Johnson. “I would hope that having spoken with a lot of the other territories that they would be embarking on training programmes to make sure their umpires are up to speed and are learning in the classroom, the fundamentals of umpiring and having discussions amongst each other. “Not only in small settings but using the technology – Zoom, Skype, and so on. So if everyone is not engaging that and over time, [they need to start] because we don’t know how long his pandemic will last, so we have to get umpires active in this regard.”
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Kaieteur News
The inspiring story of Wheelchair Racer ‘Differently abled Athlete’ dreams of Uttamkumar Isurdeen working again to provide for his family By Sean Devers
U
ttamkumar Isurdeen is a thirty-five-yearold unemployed father of one and depends on a wheelchair for his mobility after he was involved in a vehicular accident in 2010 that damaged his spinal cord. Before the accident Uttamkumar was a softball and Tapeball cricketer. This should have been a heart wrenching and depressing story but Isurdeen exudes positivity despite his disability and this is an inspirational tale of a man who is defying the odds and making Lemonade with the Lemons faith has thrown him. It is motivating and inspiring how the unexpected talent as a Wheelchair Racer has brought light back into his life and put smiles on faces of those who care about him. “In 2017 the Guyana Special Olympics partnered with Digicel to organise a day of sports for persons with disabilities at the National Park and where I began doing Wheelchair racing in my manual Wheelchair in the 5Km event,” said Uttamkumar, explaining how he got involved in Wheelchair racing. Isurdeen, who hails from Pomona Housing Scheme, Essequibo coast, remembered 10 years ago when he was in the front passenger seat of a minibus which was being driven at a reckless rate, resulting in it flipping several times and seriously injuring the passengers on board.
Uttamkumar’s dream is for his son Narindra to become a professional cricketer.
A 22-year-old Uttamkumar Isurdeen before his life changing accident three years later. Many would have drowned in self-pity but with the unflinching support of his wife Sharon, who is now the sole breadwinner of the family which include his son Narindra Isurdeen, Uttamkumar is now Guyana’s leading Wheelchair Racer. “Yes, my life changed completely due to taking part in wheelchair racing, I focus on fitness, health, eating right and I am always anxious for another event. Its takes away my horrible past, especially just being injured and how and what will happen after day by day,” Uttamkumar revealed. He races in his Wheelchair with ‘running’ athletes when competing in the South American 10k, Courts 10k, Burgette Williams Forde 10k, Aquatic Starz 5km and Andy Medas 5km road races. Uttamkumar also participates in the Cycle races in National Park with Hassan Mohammed regularly. Almost a year ago he received a prosthetics brace to support his hips, knees, ankles and feet to help him to stand. The Isurdeen family resides in Industry Railway Embankment, East Coast, Demerara but is presently with his family on the Essequibo Coast and is forever grateful to everyone
who has helped him, especially his wife who a Teacher. “I thank everyone who provided to make my life much better and I am looking forward for a brighter future. Being a wheelchair racer feels good because it helps me feel that I’m back to normal again despite not walking and eases the pain of being out of touch with friends. I always do my best in training and racing, it’s not easy but I believe and a positive mind-set is key. “I always believed that being injured and not lying down. We must be fit and healthy to have a longer life. I love to sweat and being fit is a part of the therapy,” informed Uttamkumar. “The training is lots of hard work plus very costly too and I have to take c h a n c e s Tr a i n i n g b y wheeling on the public road very early in the mornings between 5 to 6am. Sometimes I go to National park too,” the dedicated U t t a m k u m a r explained.“Due to my accident I couldn’t work due to spinal cord injuries I suffered. I’m trying my best to get a suitable job to work and support my family. Hoping for the best as soon Government is installed and Oil sector is booming. So things will be easy and there should be lots of opportunities,” added the wheelchair racer. He said his aim is qualifying for the Paralympics but he needs a Coach, the correct wheelchair, plus lot of training. “I would be glad for a proper functioning executive body, so Special Olympics can rise and everyone can have an enjoyable future. I would also like to see more meets and training,” continued Uttamkumar. “My most memorable moment at a sports event was watching live CPL games at Stadium with my family and meeting and greeting cricketers. My son who knows all cricketers. But I wish I can get E-Networks cable so I can watch other cricket on TV,” said the brave fighter who loves cricket. “I would love to see more to be done for Special
Olympics. We need a Coach, special accessible facilities, more funding and international Meets. “My dream is to work and provide for my family, also owning a proper manual wheelchair so my life can be easier and see my son playing professional cricket. I also dream of us being a happy family despite being in a wheelchair. Plus, another thing is that transportation is a major problem for me to move around, I used to drive before and acquired my license, so I can relearn to drive with an adaptive driving controls, it simple. I wish for a vehicle soon so my life will be easier,” informed Uttamkumar. Uttamkumar says people have to respect the Corona virus and disclosed that he now train indoors. “It’s affecting our family too, thankfully my wife is being paid her full salary although her Students can’t go to school. But the Rent and bills still have to be paid and she is the breadwinner,” concluded Uttamkumar.
The Isurdeen famliy with Indian batting maestro Virat Kholi. He urged all Guyanese to obey the guidelines set out by the Health Ministry and WHO and to stay at home unless they have urgent things to do and remember the social distancing. To a man who sees the
glass half full rather half empty, it would great if could see his dream come true but if not live a satisfied life with his wife, who has been his angel and see his son continue to improve his cricketing abilities.
WTA chief backs Federer’s ATP merger suggestion AFP - The head of the WTA Tour has voiced support for a merger with the ATP Tour following calls led by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to integrate the men’s and women’s circuits. In an interview with the New York Times published yesterday, WTA chief executive Steve Simon said a unified circuit made sense. “I’m not afraid of the full merger; I never have been,” Simon told the Times. “I would certainly be the first to support it ... Obviously it’s a long and winding road to get there, but I think it makes all the sense in the world.” Simon’s remarks came after Federer and Nadal voiced support for a merger last month. “Just wondering... am I the only one thinking that now is the time for men’s and women’s tennis to be united and come together as one?” Federer asked in a
posting on Twitter. Federer ’s statement drew enthusiastic support, with Nadal and trailblazing women’s tennis legend Billie Jean King among those aligning with the Swiss ace. “I agree, and have been saying so since the early 1970s. One voice, women and men together... Let’s make it happen,” King tweeted.“I completely agree that it would be great to get out of this world crisis with the union of men’s and women’s tennis in one only organization,” Nadal added.In his interview with the Times, Simon said that any unification was still some way in the distant future.However, the climate of uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic could provide the impetus to reach agreement on a merger. “This is a unique time,” Simon said. “Crisis and challenges can sometimes provide opportunity as well.
“There’s going to be no shortage of accountants, tax attorneys, attorneys and everybody else that is involved with it. It would take time, but conceptually it may not take as long. “If you agree on the goal, you can usually get things done quicker.” Both the ATP and WTA Tours have been forced to take cost-cutting measures since the COVID-19 pandemic erupted. Both tours have been on hiatus during the crisis, with several tournaments either canceled or postponed. Simon told the Times that a merger was not necessary to ensure the WTA Tour’s survival.“This isn’t about trying to save the WTA,” Simon said.“We’ll be fine, but look, if we’re going to do the right business thing and we’re finally going to bring the sport together, I think the W TA w o u l d b e v e r y supportive of this concept.