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May 16, 2020 - Vol. 14 No. 19
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Carter Center blocked by Govt. for the 3rd time p. 2
Stabroek Market returns to semi-normalcy in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions
World Bank fast tracks COVID -19 relief funding for developing p. countries 13 - No word on Guyana's request for US$5M
New Amsterdam prison inmate in failed sprint p. to freedom 18 Coalition reengages ‘Government’ Region One p. Washington, DC congratulates recount 7 p. p. completed lobbying firm 3 13 Granger on - Commissioner Gunraj claims COVID-19 - Significant differences in controversial “re-election” briefing attached to new contract Taskforce stymieing additional workstations
Cathy Hughes, Aubrey Norton contradict Pres. Granger on credibility of elections p. 11
Saturday May 16, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 02
Carter Center blocked by Govt. for 3rd time By Mikaila Prince
T
he incumbent Government of Guyana has, for the third time, denied the approval for the return of the Carter Center, which was accredited to observe the March 2 General and Regional Elections. In two letters dated on May 15th and addressed to Sarah-Ann Lynch, the US Ambassador to Guyana and to five Senators of the United States, Karen Cummings, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who wrote on behalf President David Granger, explicitly stated that “…it may not be possible for the Carter Centre [sic] and the IRI Advisor to participate in the overseeing of the recount of the voted cast on the 2nd March General and Regional Elections which as you are aware had already commenced.” The Foreign Affairs Minister went on to justify why the Center's reentry was not approved, making note of the travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 virus. She also stated that there is the three-member high-level scrutinizing team which was
nominated by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) currently monitoring the elections, noting that, “The Caribbean Community sees itself as the most legitimate interlocutors in the Guyana situation.” This is effectively the third time that the government has denied reentry to the Carter Center. An initial application to the COVID-19 Task Force in late April was not responded to, prompting a May 4 appeal to the President from US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, which was rejected in a May 6 letter sent by Cummings on Granger's behalf. The next day, a group of bipartisan US Congressional representatives had released a public statement lobbying for their return. In a joint statement shared via a twitter account, Reps. Albio Sires (D-NJ), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Francis Rooney (R-FL), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), and Jennifer González-Colón (R-PR) said that while they appreciate the recount and the role of the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM) in the process, they still want the Carter Center and International Republican Institute (IRI) back in Guyana. “We appreciate the vital role that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has played in advancing democratic principles in Guyana. At the same time, we urge the Government of Guyana to allow the observation team from the Carter Center and technical advisory team from the International Republican Institute to return to the country to join CARICOM in observing the recount process,” the group said in its appeal. There were also previous appeals from agents of several foreign governments and i n t e r n a t i o n a l o rg a n i z a t i o n s including: Assistant Secretary for the US Department of State's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Michael Kozak; Organisation for American States (OAS) Secretary for S t r e n g t h e n i n g D e m o c r a c y, Francisco Guerrero; United Nations Representative in Guyana,
Mikiko Tanaka; European Union Ambassador, Fernando Ponz Canto; and Guyana's Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee. The Private Sector Commission had also issued a call for the Carter Center Observer Mission to be present. In a release, the PSC noted that they are aware of the valuable contribution of the Carter Center to democracy and free and fair elections in Guyana for more than 20 years. “The Carter Center is an accredited observer to the March 2020 election which remains incomplete until the declaration of the results,” the PSC said. Further, they pointed out that the foreign observers were invited by the President to participate in the 2020 elections “by virtue of Section 3. (1) of the Representation of the Peoples Act after consultation with the Chairman of the Elections Commission”. Joseph Harmon, the Chief Executive Officer of the NCTF, on May 9 had told the press that the Carter Center was free to reapply to the government to fly to Guyana
Co-head of the Carter Center, Jason Carter to observe the recount exercise. Notably, even as the COVID-19 airport lockdown has been cited as the reason for blocking the observers' reentry, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has granted special authorised flights for six to eight flights of workers from the oil and gas industry over the past two weeks. Subsequent to hearing, the latest developments, High Commissioner Chaterjee, tweeted late last night: “Guyana refused Carter Center with ties to Guyana since 1990s, to return although they will comply with same COVID-19 requirements as the CARICOM team. GECOM invited the Carter to return. Why doesn't the government want them back?”
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 16, 2020
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Coalition reengages Washington, DC - Significant differences in controversial lobbying firm briefing attached to new contract J
ust one month after initially engaging in an agreement with Washington-based lobbying firm John, James & Bart Limited Liability Company (JJ&B LLC), the APNU+AFC Coalition had signed what appears to be amended and extended contract with the firm. According to documents filed with the United States Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), and seen by this publication, a contract was signed on April 20, 2020 by Joseph Harmon representing the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and David Patterson for the Alliance For Change (AFC). The Federal documents also contained a briefing of “The Guyana Situation”, a 14-page document that was circulated to US State Department employees Brad Freden of the Eastern European Affairs, and Kevin O'Reilly of the Bureau of We s t e r n H e m i s p h e r e A ff a i r s ; a n d M a t t h e w Pottinger, Deputy National Security Advisor, National Security Council, all on April 28. The new engagement while containing minor similarities differs heavily from the prior agreement in critical areas. For example, the initial agreement listed 'The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana' as the client of JJ&B, while the new contract lists the 'APNU+AFC Coalition'. The new agreement addresses both Harmon and Patterson saying, “We look forward to working with the APNU + AFC Coalition ("Coalition") on issues related to the electoral disputes now confronting Guyana. The issues confronting your Coalition require experienced public policy experts with direct relationships with the principals in the U.S. Government responsible for managing the U.S. -Guyana relationship.” In relation to the purpose of the hire, the initial agreement stated that, “We will be seeking to facilitate resolution of disputes regarding the recent presidential election in Guyana, and to improve relations between Guyana and the United States. In
Screenshots of the new contract between JJ&B LLC and the APNU+AFC
doing this, we will be contacting officials in the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. Government, as well as providing information to news media.” However, per the new engagement, the scope of services differs with the firm stating that they seek to “promote the interest of the Coalition” through six lobbying projects.
Those projects are listed as “Contacts with the Executive Office of the President of the United States, including the National Security Council, regarding the importance of the U.S partnership with Guyana; Contacts with the U.S. Department of State regarding the importance of the U.S. partnership with Guyana; Contacts with the U.S. Department of Justice
regarding the legitimacy of the current Government of Guyana, including legal advice regarding the activities of GECOM; Contacts with key Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee regarding the importance of the U.S. partnership with Guyana; Contacts with media designed to improve the
perception of your party; and Economic development efforts related to needed infrastructure projects, including contacts with U.S. companies, as required.” The cost of both
agreements remained the same, a monthly retainer of US$40,000; however, the duration of the new agreement moved from one month to a year-long (continued on page 15)
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Saturday May 16, 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
The annulment of elections is not an option
W
hat has started out as suspenseful drama has transformed into a full-out horror show. Alfred Hitchcock, Stephen King, and Brian DePalma of Hollywood lore would have been proud of this particular production. That can be the only verdict relative to Elections 2020, while this hanging nation waits for the climax of this melodrama. In Guyana’s elections count and recount, we have deteriorated from the bizarre to the ghoulish, and with everything else in between. The latest spectre that threatens to haunt this already too macabre spectacle is that there are plans afoot to scuttle Elections 2020, as was alleged by the opposition PPP (KN May 15). If that is not a sick joke – a rash cruel one – then we are hard-pressed to find its equivalent. We would hope that that was just a political covering of the bases, is based on some tactical political preemption by the opposition and that it is completely out of the considerations of its mortal political foes. Regardless of the source of such a conjecture, or the possible political calculation behind such premeditation awaiting introduction, the reality of an annulment would be the absolute worst thing that could happen to this society at this time. This country and its peoples are not ready for any such thing. Considering what we have been subjected to over the past few months, this would be as unconscionable as it would be untenable. As is, the population of this country is simultaneously at its most tense and its weakest. The mere contemplation of having to go through such a grueling exercise once again is unsettling and savaging to the psyche. Moreover, we are faced with the additional storms of a crippling economic slowdown and a rising pandemic for which we are ill-prepared. Surely, we cannot be this shameless before the world, or uncaring before the local voting populace. And just as surely, we would hope that no political group is this far gone to subject the citizens of this country to returning to the same well for still more punishment; still more abuse and humiliation from regional and wider international community at the national and leadership levels, and such dismissive scorn from contemporaries, wherever they may be. Surely, we can do better, and have what is required to see this existing process honestly and all the way through to the end of what has been more than nightmare and living daylight torture combined. For certainty, it has had more than its share of revealing ugliness and acrimonious partisanship, and all the rest that have become standard features of Guyana’s elections. There is nothing essentially new about this acrimony, only the greater intensity in expectation for the greater stakes ahead, which we all know is all that oil money. There is nothing essentially new about this year’s elections, save that it is longer and more problem plagued than its priors. To start over would question Guyanese wisdom, seriousness, and any sense of fair play and justice. Worse, as this farce plays out before the world, it would question our capacity for self-determination, even as our apparent inability to add and subtract has already been the subject of regional embarrassment for the past year and a half. What is necessary going forward is not annulment but the adherence to a credible, mutually agreed recount process and a commitment by all actors to respect the final outcome as first step towards an acceptable, if not outright happy, ending.
May this media solidarity continue without Not as defined by me or more of the same in an fear or partisanship incurs uninterrupted cycle that ob- anyone else, but as deterDEAR EDITOR, I commend the media professionals, who rose to the occasion and took a powerful stance during a press gathering on Wednesday (KN May 13). At the very least, two objectives were achieved, with messages sent, both of which should resonate warningly into the future. The first objective cum message was that we, the media representatives will stand together in support of a fellow practitioner trying to fulfill his or her duty professionally and appropriately, whether that practitioner is interpreted as being for or against. And the second related intent(s) was to signal that ranks will be closed when the questionable and the unacceptable occurs, regardless of the source. My hope is that such a laudable posture will be seen more, without regard to which media house is found disagreeable. We need more of the critical here: temperate and balanced, but critical and revealing, nonetheless. I think that Wednesday’s development has special significance in this era of raw,
many times unconcealed, partisanship. Although the state media and its agents come in for scorn and curses almost routinely, I am glad that there were those senior journalists, who were sufficiently exercised to stand and voice their disagreement with what took place and how it took place. We have had too much of that in the past, those coarse and vulgar instances that I mistakenly thought were over. I keep trying to see the better angels in some, but I continue to fail, since even those have long abandoned some folks, no matter the public reimaging. For what the senior media professionals did was to deliver their own ultimatum: it has to go this (our) way or no way. I am encouraged that somehow the better sense prevailed. My hope is that this sets the stage for things to come, where the members of the fourth estate will band together to ensure appropriately respectful and dignified treatment of their guild. We can disagree sharply, but we must never let matters diminish to the palpably dirty, the personally nasty. Rancor
scures the purposes of such gatherings. We cannot, nor must we insist, that the narratives always align sweetly with what we hold out as truth and scripture. On another note, I am concerned that after all the prattling about the ideals of democracy and the virtuous practices of democratic ways, that such malicious conduct could be exhibited so publicly and so spitefully. It was surprising, as I had erroneously believed that there was some learning, a little growing from the mistakes of before. So it is that we are back to the square one of what was always under the surface. I regret that in spite of all the cosmetic chattering, there was that unfortunate incident where the dagger is stuck deeply and twisted. It is disappointing in what it could promise for Guyana. It came too naturally, reflexively, with elements of the abusive obvious. For if this happened on Wednesday, then what about later? What about those sturdy planks of the democracy professed to be so beloved? What about the role of a free press?
mined by some common standard that absorbs the critical, the obnoxious. I remind all about freedom of thought and freedom of expression; those freedoms apply also to the offensive. I would be the first to acknowledge that presences in Guyana’s media sector are biased to the point of unabashed bigotry, due to the backwardness of sturdy partisanship that can be sorely trying. Some media output I would not use to wrap fish. Still, in sum, it is part of the territory of a free country not in name only, but in what should be the broadest norm. The bigoted and the partisan and the objectionable must all be tolerated and accommodated. It is the statesman like way that offers every courtesy even when under the most withering fire. The churlish and truculent deliver little that is positive. The mature is what the protocols and realities of democracy demand. I wish that the media members did not feel compelled to rise as they did. I hope that a strong standard has been set. Sincerely, GHK Lall
THE RECOUNT: ASSESSING THE RIG!!
DEAR EDITOR, The recount is now showing up Ringo’s and GECOM’s handiwork in all of its glory, GECOM can’t escape accountability now, they must have been complicit in this! So here is what has to happen in the next few days as the recount continues to show the results, and reveal the true depth of the rigging. They had the National Statements of Poll all the time, so
they cannot possibly explain to anyone how they were not part of the rig!! When I compiled Regions 1 to 9 from the GECOM Website, in March and posted it on my Facebook page and the newspapers, the total for the two main parties in Regions/Districts 1-9 was APNU/AFC: 110,871 Votes and the PPP/C: 152,280 votes. Therefore, in Regions 1-9 the PPP/C led by 51,409 votes, the
GECOM published result for Region/District 4 [which is still on their website] was APNU/AFC: 136,057 votes, and the PPP/C: 77,231 votes, a difference of 58,826 votes, so if the PPP’s SOP’s tell us that they won by [a round figure] 17,000 votes counting all 10 regions, then Ringo and GECOM, rigged the result of Region 4 by 17,000 + 7,417 [i.e. 58,826-51,409] = 24,417 votes, this will be revealed in the re-
count in the coming days. With the small differences, we are seeing in the recount, spoilt votes, etc. Twenty-four thousand people could not have died or migrated in Region 4 since 2015! When the truth is known, it will be discovered that the APNU/AFC actually lost support in Region 4, as I discovered when I totalled the (Continued on page 5)
UGSS to issue over 200 students with additional care package
A video dealing with the issue of foreign electoral observers
DEAR EDITOR, Targeted students of the University of Guyana will benefit from a care package designed by the current UGSS council. Approved at the last council meeting, students from all over the country that are a part of the University of Guyana will be able to access such a package by virtue of applying to the UGSS email at ugss@uog.edu.gy. Coming out of the UGSS, students are to apply for the special package via email. Students are expected to state their name, age, year of study, telephone number along with a brief synopsis as to why they are qualified enough for such a package. Each application received will be vetted by the current UGSS council to ensure that applicants have been deemed in need of this system of assistance. Due to the government-imposed lockdown, many persons are now unemployed as a few organisations had to apply cuts to staff to sustain the burden caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Laid off workers, of which some students are, are now left without any job, and no income to sustain them. The UGSS sees this as assisting and protecting those vulnerable students. Jafar Gibbons
DEAR EDITOR, As the recount marches on and the Statements of Recount continue to match the copies of GECOM’s Statements of Poll posted online by the PPP, a video of LFS Burnham was sent to me simultaneously by several persons. The video shows Burnham dealing with the issue of foreign electoral observers, Burnham is captured saying: “We are not a colony, we run Guyana, let us settle our differences in Guyana. It is our right to say when they may come and when they may not come, I am tired of these busy-bodies, let them go and mind their own farmyards”. I made a few inquiries as to the source and timing of this video clip and was surprised at the feedback. The Ministry of the Presidency has a new Director-General, but the information arm and machinery remains unchanged, this arm is being used by those who are urging President Granger to be sworn-in using Mingo’s fraudulent declarations. This video shows Burnham at his zenith as he strong-arms the foreign powers and dismisses electoral observers as ‘colonizers’; all of the ingredients are there to inspire Granger to be like LFSB, a Kabaka among men. Respectfully, Robin Singh
Saturday May 16, 2020
DIMENSIONS ************** By Clement J. Rohee FEAR: Afraid of being detected, Ignorance, driver of fear of being infected, Neither the brave nor the cowardly, young or old, the strong nor weak, rich or poor are spared, A malady we all have the potential to share; To safe havens we run for fear of being decimated; ‘Tis the locking down that makes all feel demotivated. OBEDIENCE: In companionship with COVID tho’ by stealth, Enforced on a populace no option but obediently to consent; A fear based on obedience no reason to repent, With scant attention, denial of rights, one day to lament; Law enforcement beckons, with a thousand threats to contend. DISCONNECT: The worst can ever happen, To humans who with COVID have survived, The longing for physical contact so unceremoniously denied; Severed by COVID a distance imposed, a three-foot pole forbidden less we end up decomposed. Family and friends, all who once together did blend, Comrades in arms in the trenches and in solidarity did defend, Now stand disconnected as if in a season that has no end. LONELINESS: Creeping up on us comes feelings of loneliness Ushered in by COVID in its dreadful awfulness, Day and night, night and day in our loneliness we sit, Fearful of someone breaching our emptiness as if adrift, Was it the same loneliness for Adam why Eve was created in ponder, As COVID continues with ravages at home and far yonder. DESPAIR: A human condition that COVID breeds, Fighting with strength no desire to concede; dissonance, desolation no faults of theirs, In quiet contemplation what the future holds only bring tears; To many their loved ones taken away in wheel chairs, The only escape is in daily prayers, where is HE they cry out, why to us, they ask, has fallen this nightmare? LIBERATION: Alas! the story of life is not yet over, No more the need to act as if undercover, Just as mankind triumphed in all spheres of human endeavour So with science, on command human development at the center, No longer victim to this social aberration, Intervening as if to stop humanity’s march everlasting towards preservation, perpetuation and rejuvenation.
The recount: Assessing... From page 4 PPP/C’s SOP’s of Region/ District 4, 2 months ago. Regions/Districts 1-9 will not show any differences from the SOP’s. Only Region/ District 4 will. In view of Mr. Golding’s corroboration, there is no longer any cause for pretense, the PPP/C won the election and they and their supporters have been deprived of their win for nearly two and a half months. GECOM is now obligated to correct this grave error; they should just recount Region/District 4 and declare the winner. The APNU/AFC has embarrassed us enough; they are welcome to go to the election petition, which they have been harping on with the drivel they have b e e n saying and doing,
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Kaieteur News
thereby delaying the process of declaring a winner. In nearly one and a half years, this country has been without a proper Government, that is no Parliament, no Budget, no oversight whatsoever, we don’t even know where they are getting the money to pay themselves their salaries and to run the routine operations of Government, whilst spending billions on a sanitarium which we don’t need and are allowing the COVID19 virus to escalate even n o w, t h r o u g h t h e m o s t incompetent policies, of doing eve r y thing except testing aggressively, despite warnings from the WHO local representatives, when islands like Tr inidad and Tobago are showing very few new infections. Tony Vieira
HISTORY MIGHT BE KINDER DEAR EDITOR, When the history of the 2020 elections is recorded, a number of persons will come to the fore. The accolades will be bequeathed via the lens of political, personal or other views. Time and place throw up persons, known or unknown, who unwittingly become heroes or villains for posterity. My personal list for this election reads like Sergio Leone’s western The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. In the movie, the title roles played by Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach epitomized the characters and immortalized into popular culture the respective roles. Eli Wallach once said he regretted playing his role, as ever after, upon introduction, nine out of ten times, he would be acknowledged with “Oh yeah, you’re the guy from
The Good The Bad and the Ugly.” That was his accolade for posterity. My A-list on our elections stars are former Jamaican Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, for his “I have never seen a more transparent effort to alter the results of an election.” Ian McDonald for leaving his Stabroek News column blank in protest. Anil Nandlall for not wasting the court’s time. Timothy Jonas for his breathing exercises in the time of COVID-19. Neil Boston for his “substantial compliance”. Dominic Gaskin for his initial public baby step then utter oblivion. Neil Marks, for his calm and collected demeanour during live streaming. James Bond for Operation Eagle Eyes. David Granger for his “silence is golden” rule, his unique interpretations of the constitution and orders of
court and his “fit and proppa” appointments. My list continues with Bharrat Jagdeo whose tenacity is akin to Dr. Walter Rodney’s “ferocious Doberman” description of LFS Burnham in the 70s. His epic press conferences and calling a spade a spade. Irfaan Ali waiting patiently in the wings. The final curtain call beckons. Joe Harmon, the consummate director. Volda Lawrence and David Patterson for the ‘If Wishes were Horses’ category. Vincent Alexander, Carol Joseph and Justice Claudette Singh, the ‘let us try any and every thing’ crew. Mortimer Mingo, the man of the hour and his best supporting actor, Keith Lowenfield. Others who will be remembered by history are The Guyanese Critic, Kian Jabour, Don Singh and the others
@#social media. The Man of Steel (Buns) for standing his ground. The comic relief, Moses Nagamootoo, Khemraj Ramjatttan and Cathy Hughes. The APNU/AFC supporters, chanting and calling on the dead for intervention, led by Annette Ferguson. And of course, the prequel must be given a lifetime award, the one man act, Charandass Persaud. Who will be the good, the bad and the ugly will depend on who’s writing the history. The good guys will have corroboration by independent parties. The bad guys will continue to shoot themselves in the foot. And the ugly will just remain ugly. However, it is not too late for some to be nominated in different categories. History might be kinder. Yours faithfully, Sadie Amin
The Guyanese people are far more discerning DEAR EDITOR, In the media agencies under the control of the Coalition, a curious question is being asked. It is: What is the basis for saying the declaration made by the Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo on March 13 is fraudulent? On May 15, 2020, another newspaper in a report headlined ‘Cheap Politics’ said: “(Bharrat) Jagdeo had claimed that Region Four Returning Officer (RO), Clairmont Mingo’s second declaration was deemed fraudulent when, in fact, the High Court has ruled only on the first.” This latest move is nothing if not transparent. Yes, the High Court ruled that
Mr. Clairmont Mingo’s declaration of results for Region 4 was fraudulent since it did not follow the procedures spelt out in the law. Secondly, there is a national recount that is ongoing and the results of that exercise are clear for all to see – Mr. Clairmont Mingo’s second declaration, made on March 13, was fraudulent. Mr. Clairmont Mingo on the afternoon of March 13, at the GECOM head office, according to recordings that are in the public domain, said: “The numbers I have on my spreadsheet are the numbers I have extracted from the original Statements of Poll that were issued to me…I am the Returning Officer.
I am saying that my Statements of Poll are credible.” What the national recount has exposed so far is that this was not the case. The numbers on Mr. Clairmont Mingo’s spreadsheet were not the numbers of the original Statements of Polls. His numbers inflated the votes for the APNU+AFC Coalition by an average of 70 votes per Ballot Box – considering data available from at least 26 Ballot Boxes for Region 4, which have been recounted so far. It is not only Guyana’s Courts that can pronounce on the fraudulent nature of Mr. Clairmont Mingo’s declaration of March 13. The national recount can
do so and is doing so, as well. It is a fact that the ongoing national recount exercise has discredited Mr. Clairmont Mingo’s March 13 declaration of results for Region 4 and these spins by the Coalition-controlled media agencies will not change that fact. So to answer the question What is the basis for saying the declaration made by the Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo on March 13 is fraudulent – the national recount is the basis. The Guyanese people are far more discerning than the APNU+AFC Coalition is giving them credit for. S i n c e r e l y , Nalinie Singh
IS E-NETWORKS WORKING? DEAR EDITOR, “Your call is important to us – so please hold until one of our staff can attend to you. Waiting time is likely to be just two minutes.” Such optimism, which in most cases is never realised, has been even more undermined by the pandemic by which customer service is currently afflicted. E-Networks is a case in point. After reporting a malfunction of its equipment in which a correction was advised by telephone and followed, the malfunction persisted further. On enquiring again, the recommendation was that the equipment should be brought in for checking and correction. That I explained my very senior age and physical immobility made no impact on this first class (?) service provider, who
explained their sensitivity to the health situation, to the extent that they preferred that their staff be not exposed, but in turn offering the complainant the choice to do so instead, ignoring the information that I also lived alone. That the record would show that the monthly bill was always paid on time was not a consideration. Quite the co n t r a r y, t h i s ‘ i m p o r t a n t ’ c u s t o m e r w a s n o w s e e n o n l y a s a n i m p o r t u nate health hazard by the Manager, E-Networks, who in any case could only provide service within seven (7) to ten (10) E Working Days – a condition acceptable only if it were equally self-imposed. All that is needed is to replace the faulty equipment. E.B. John
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IMPORTANCE OF FLOATING VOTERS DEAR EDITOR, The ongoing recount process at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre has been couched as a battle between the incumbent APNU-AFC coalition, and the opposition PPP-Civic coalition. Third parties have been framed as either guardians of the democratic - will of the majority looking for change, or agent provocateurs of the opposition, depending on the point of view. Battle lines are being drawn between not just parties but the ethnic groups that dominate the support of the main parties in these coalitions, the PNC and the PPP. This scenario seems to mirror similar battles that have been occurring in the elections in Guyana since before independence. In reality, however, the situation is far more complex and heterogenous than this simple two-way battle for power between ethnic groups and their related parties. There is, and always has been, a third force at play in Guyana’s society and elections, a group comprising minority and mixed ethnicities, and members of the two ethnic groups that have become disillusioned with this ‘winner-takes-all’ battle. This third group has been instrumental throughout Guyana’s history in determining elections, and forming third parties, that have all too often been
swallowed up in the duopoly of the PPP and the PNC – largely because of the inadequacies of the constitutional and electoral systems in the country. In a forthcoming paper, we use data on population and voting patterns in Guyana to examine how important this ‘third force’ is, and has been – and draw recommendations for much needed changes in the constitutional and electoral systems, to move power away from this two-way battle, towards a system that can better reflect the varied make-up of Guyana’s society and political beliefs. Examination of population data shows a pattern of a stagnating and aging population, caused by waves of out-migration. This is however, contrasted by a pattern of growing registered voters, and growing voter activity across elections, with the most dramatic increases occurring in the last three elections – especially in hinterland areas. Although the population as a whole has stagnated, two crucial groups have grown dramatically: mixed ethnicity and Amerindians, at the expense of the two main ethnic groups, especially east Indians. It is our hypothesis that these growing communities often form a class of ‘floating voters’ – moving between the two dominant coalitions, or forming third parties that have
been a crucial part of Guyana’s political environment since the 1950s. We isolate the size of this ‘floating voter’ set in recent years and show that capturing (and losing) this vote was crucial to the election success (or otherwise) of especially PNC but also the PPP. By conducting a polling station level analysis between publicly available data on the 2015 and 2020 elections we show that a swing from APNU-AFC to PPP-C in ‘mixed polling stations’ – those in which neither of the two forces dominate – could have played a critical role in determining this election. Our analysis highlights that it is this third electoral force that often unknowingly wields the power in Guyana’s elections - yet are excluded from the institutional structures at GECOM, are marginalised in an ethnic winner-takes-all battle between the main two political parties, and are largely under-represented in the political dialogue that emerges from elections. Urgent electoral, and constitutional reform, is therefore required, not just to deal with the aftermath of the chaos of the 2020 elections (whatever the final result may be), but also to deal with this missing element in the electoral mix. Regards, Rory Fraser and Timothy Laing
This is the time for us all to
come together
DEAR EDITOR, This virus and lockdown is frustrating for us all, though we see some good changes coming out of this like the improvement in air quality, less pollution, slowing down and people helping each other. I personally would rather start a new kind of economy that doesn’t need people risking other people’s lives in order to work or working for corporations who are destroying the environment.
Some prophesies say that the Native Americans will lead us out of this eventually. I believe they have had the wisdom to give to us to establish a more humane economy, perhaps based on an agrarian society. We’ve already passed the eleventh hour as far as saving the earth from destruction. This is the time for us all to come together and make a better world, not fight each other but consult with each other. Yours, Rooplall Dudhnath
Push up productivity, then push wages DEAR EDITOR, Over the decades, there has been a tendency in Guyana to push up wages even when productivity is falling. This eventually leads to a fall in the value of money...inflation. This is why there is persistent poverty in Guyana. What is needed is for productivity per person to be
Saturday May 16, 2020
Kaieteur News
pushed up...then push up wages instead of pushing down productivity and pushing up wages. There will come a time when Guyana may need to mechanised further to be competitive. But this will require inward investment in our industries. No one wants to invest in
a country where wages keeps increasing, the currency keeps depreciating and there is instability. We need a long-term development plan on raising productivity in all sectors of the Guyana economy as the oil money is not going to solve our problems. Yours faithfully, Sean Ori
Cancelling elections should be out DEAR EDITOR, Sections of the media carried coverage of moves to cancel the 2020 elections. I should be surprised, but I am not, given my cynicism over any statement, any development, from any political figure or corner. There is always more than meets the eye, more that requires not just a critical mind, but one that thinks along the lines that the devious operate. As I consider this cancellation development, I am reminded of a saying, which I particularly like, because this latest grenade, lobbed into the laps of unsuspecting Guyanese captures the contemplations and conduct of local politicians; almost all of them, and certainly the main ones from both sides. The saying goes like this: to understand a thief, act like a thief. I interpret this to mean think like a thief, and since this Guyana’s politics being discussed, there is much material with which to work. I have gotten so good at this that I might end up being a better political thief than the best of them. So, as I read this news about a possible plot to cancel the 2020 elections, my first reaction was: by whose dirty hands? From whose nasty, calculating minds? Once again, because I am dealing with a large bunch of disreputable Guyanese politicians, I am unable and unwilling to segregate the characters from any one side, relative to the source of such a devious manoeuvre. For emphasis: I will not give either the PPP or PNC any benefit of any doubt on this; there are no reserves left. With that as context, and my position, I proceed to look at this latest vulgarity about possible manipulating circumstances for the cancellation of the elections. First, we as a society, do not have the
stamina for another series of elections machinations; we do not have the mental capacity nor patience for another elections; we may not even have the time, while our people are trapped at home without sustenance, prospects, and spirit. Second, I go along and pretend (pretend only) that, indeed, the PNC have constructed plans and harbour visions towards an endgame of cancellation of elections. I think that that would be selfdefeating, particularly given its longstanding insistence that it won. It is difficult for me to think that it would retreat or divert when that victory is almost within the grasp, since that would be counterintuitive, if not selfdefeating. And if that bone of contention about it cheating is becoming more and more provable, then I have problems with its brass easing determination to stay the course. The party’s record has shown that it is not squeamish, or overly concerned, with whatever fallouts could come on its head. Further, it is taking the unswerving stance that it has been robbed, so surrendering the electoral high ground under those circumstances would be one thing that it is not its political DNA. Not when it has the perceived upper hand. Not when its leader has asked his supporters to be patient. Not when it can unleash forces to compel its ascension, cheating or no cheating. Still, assertions that it is moving in the direction of cancellation may not be altogether without merit. For, from the opposition standpoint, all of this business about ‘clear pattern’ of contamination of elections is so much smoke and mirrors to cover-up numerical elections deficits, at which the PNC are
also past masters. There is none better than it with talents and skills. According to the opposition’s train of thought and its own additions, it does not have leg to stand on, so the PNC has manufactured this latest subterfuge to confuse and mislead still further. Red herrings, they call that in the environment from which I hail. To push the envelope, the PPP sees this as a Black Swan event. That is, the probability of the PNC honestly and actually winning to be summed up this way: not in millennia. On the other hand, it could be that the PPP leadership is engaging in own games of deep deception. The word, also from the beginning, was that it had cooked up a grand stew, one thick with many corrupting ingredients, some of which are supposed to be coming to light soon. Thus, the way I see this, is that the PPP is engaging in its own defensive manoeuvre, by going on the offensive and pinning the dirty deed (cancellation) on the tail of the donkey, which is the only one standing in the ring, meaning the PNC. In the circumstances, if the claims of the PNC are on the money, then the PPP has some swift damage control to do. It cannot allow that to gain purchase in the sights of the international community, for its members would look like the biggest fools in Christendom, or anywhere else. The PPP would no longer have any trust or goodwill in its wing. All things considered, it would be better to have the elections cancelled, if only to conceal tracks and the extents of the evils wreaked upon vulnerable and gullible Guyanese. I am totally against any such thing. Sincerely, GHK Lall
OBSCENE ALLEGATIONS DEAR EDITOR, The blatant attempt by the APNU+AFC Coalition to besmirch the characters of thousands of GECOM staff who worked on Election Day, March 2, 2020, should be condemned by all. These staffers were widely praised for their work on that day, as the voting process on Election Day was deemed by all stakeholders in the electoral process, including the international election observer missions, to be conducted in a free and fair manner. Even the APNU+AFC Coalition, in their now widely circulated dossier, said the same thing. They said, “The various comments from the observer missions convey that the
voting process in the election was well managed, peaceful, proceeded largely without incident and was free, fair and transparent. It is therefore reasonable to conclude then that the voting process was not fraudulent.” Editor, most of these staffers would have been enjoying their first employment and would have been proud to place that experience on future resumes. Unfortunately, through the efforts of the APNU+AFC Coalition, these young people are now stained with the allegations that they conspired with other GECOM staffers, party agents, including those from the Coalition, the police officers at the polling stations and the
local and foreign observers to allow unauthorised persons to vote for persons who either migrated or are deceased. The APNU+AFC Coalition agents at the various recount stations and the leadership of the Coalition who concocted this false narrative should be ashamed of the potential damage, which they are causing to these young people. I would recommend that these young people join together and bring a class action suit against the Coalition forcing them to provide evidence of their wrongdoing or withdraw the obscene allegations. Yours truly, Sherwyn Greaves
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 16, 2020
PAGE 07
Region One recount completed - Commissioner Gunraj claims COVID-19 Taskforce stymieing additional workstations Table showing the declarations compared to the recount of the General Elections
T
he Guyana E l e c t i o n s Commission (GECOM) yesterday completed the recount of all 99 boxes for the Region One district, during the National Recount Exercise which is currently being conducted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), at Liliendaal on the East Coast of Demerara. GECOM was initially expected to complete the recount for that district on Thursday, but were stalled due to the soaked condition which one ballot box was discovered in on the first day of the recount exercise. Yesterday, however, the contents of that box were dried and the completion of the recount was subsequently ordered. According to figures on GECOM's site, the APNU + AFC acquired 3905 votes, while the PPP/C gained 8,022 votes on March 2 in the General Elections. With regards to the Regional Election, the Coalition secured 3, 839 votes, while the PPP/C secured 7, 996. The final Region One tabulation showed a 20-vote reduction in the People Progressive Party/ Civics' (PPP/C) General Election total. When questioned about what could cause such a reduction, GECOM's Public Relation Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward said that, “It's a recount and things are likely to change for any party. Rejected votes become valid. Valid votes become spoilt or rejected.” The Coalition claimed yesterday that some of their votes were found in the PPP/C's file, but Ward could not confirm since she was unaware of the specifics in the tabulation. Furthermore, Aubrey Norton, an executive of the Coalition claimed that during the recount process, his party managed to secure an additional 120 votes. H o w e v e r, w h e n t h i s publication compared the declarations to the recount
GECOM PRO, Yolanda Ward
Number of ballot boxes to be counted by region figures it was discovered that they only gained an additional four. Ward went on to say however that on Day 10 of the exercise, the Elections Commission managed to complete the recount of 58 ballot boxes—13 in Region 2; 17 in Region 3; 15 in Region 4 and 12 in Region 5. Combined, these figures represent some 479 of the ballot boxes, which have been processed thus far. Meanwhile, despite assuring the Chair of GECOM Ret'd Justice Claudette Singh of a prompt response to the approval of six new work stations for the National Recount, the Commission is yet to receive word from the National COVID-19 Task Force. GECOM intended to add six new workstations to the ten already in place at the site of the National Recount; the Arthur Chung Conference Centre with the aim of increasing the pace of the recount to meet the 25-day timeline set. Commissioner Sase Gunraj told the media yesterday that the Commission daily meeting was not held because of this. “The reason for us not meeting today is the failure of the COVID-19 Task Force to provide a report of our
visit yesterday,” Gunraj said. Gunraj said that it was expected by the end of yesterday morning that GECOM would have received a correspondence
from Task Force in relation to the walk through they had at the facility, but no such correspondence was received. This now puts the Commission in a difficult
position as according to Gunraj, as they would need the report before moving ahead to implement the additional workstations with
COVID-19 safety measures in mind. He reiterated his view that the progress of the recount is being stymied by the Task Force.
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Kaieteur News
Saturday May 16, 2020
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 16, 2020
PAGE 09
NICIL predicts Guyana will rebound stronger from COVID-19 G
uyana will r e b o u n d stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic according to Colvin HeathLondon. “We as a country and more so as a people can rebound in a significant way after the passage of COVID19”, said HeathLondon who is the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of state-owned agency National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL). L a s t m o n t h , International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, warned that the coronavirus pandemic could eat away 3 percent of the global economy, the steepest fall since the Great Depression of the 1930's.
Georgieva's pessimistic global economic forecast could miss the mark however, because of the erratic nature and behaviour of the contagious and deadly COVID-19 virus, which the IMF official said is proving difficult to predict. The online version of the Guardian recently quoted the top IMF executive as saying: “With no immediate medical solutions, more adverse scenarios might unfortunately materialise for some economies.” Georgieva noted that, “it is the unknown about the behaviour of this virus that is clouding the horizon for projections.” L o c a l l y, N I C I L i s providing financial assistance and is pursuing a wide range of economic projects, without fanfare, to
help counter economic hardships on Guyanese, which are directly tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. Finances have slowed to a trickle into NICIL's coffers, but Heath-London said the government-owned agency remains resolute. “Recognising that many individuals and organisations will need assistance… during this time (of hardship) we (are) playing our part too,” the CEO (ag) said. “It's evident that several persons are experiencing difficult times and NIICIL hopes that the resources that we are making available especially to those who are quarantined and are in isolation centres will demonstrate that the Government of Guyana remains committed,
Dem boys seh...
A man still fighting fuh ee pension
I
s who seh Adam resign from the Waterfall paper? Dat person gat to get dem head examine. Adam get transfer to de Kranicle paper…with a sign marked, “Not returnable”. Dem boys hear how people seh he get tired after tellin' lies fuh 25 years. So he gone over to de Kranicle to speak de truth. Dem boys know he was an honest and good man. He seh he wuk many places and de last place he wuk before de Waterfalls paper was de Kranicle. He complain bitterly how when the PeePee-Pee-Cee come in power in de early 90s, dem knack
he off and refuse to give he de pension. After 23 years, the PNCR come back in office and dem too still nah give he de pension. De Waterfalls bossman promise to give he a big pension package but only after he collect he pension from the Kranicle. Dem boys agree with the bossman. Dem boys note de PeePee-Pee-Cee didn't pay he pension; the Pee-Hen-See-R and the Hay-Eff-See come and dem too nah pay he pension. So why should de Waterfalls paper pay he pension before dem odders? De bossman set aside a nice package after Adam seh
he tired and he want give dem young reporter a chance. But de bossman insisting dat de Kranicle wah owe he for nearly 30 years now to pay he fuss. De bossman of the Waterfall paper seh when he dun collect wah the Kranicle owe he, he should check back with the Waterfalls paper. But dem boys know the bossman of de Waterfalls paper miss he drinkin' partner. Dem boys know he nah gon do Adam like wha dem others do. Talk half and watch some people sweat to pay de pension while others sweat fuh collect it.
dedicated and cognizant that people need help and we at NICIL are providing that help,” Heath-London continued. NICIL has already drafted a post COVID-19 economic recovery blueprint and the CEO and other executives are upbeat that the country “willbounce back again (and) in a bigger way”. For now, NICIL will not disclose the nature or cost of the recovery projects, but Heath-London reiterated that “we as a country…can rebound in a significant way after the passage of COVID19.” Almost US$3 trillion is needed in external financing to manage the twin economic and health crisis resulting from COVID-19.
IMF's chief economist, Gita Gopinath, commenting on the worsening hardships triggered by the contagious disease, noted that nascent markets and developing countries would need $2.5 trillion to manage the health and economic crisis. “This crisis is likely to last longer… and so the needs will go up, even above that number,” Gopinath predicted. The Public Health Ministry, which has the lead role in strategising the national answer to combat COVID-19 was lauded by NICIL for refusing to buckle under the daily pressure to r e s p o n d a d e q u a t e l y, appropriately and in a timely manner. “NICIL recognises that the work being done by the
Ministry of Public Health is of a high standard and we would also like to use this opportunity to express congratulations and thanks to all frontline workers throughout Guyana and to remind them that irrespective of the challenges and difficulties that they experience in the execution of their work that NICIL, its Board of Directors, Management and Staff and by extension all of Guyana salute them in a big way,” Heath-London said.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 10
Saturday May 16, 2020
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Someone has to advise APNU+AFC leadership not to talk I
f someone comes from another planet and wants to know about the election controversy, just a few hours of research dating back to March 4 would indicate to them that APNU+AFC is the mischievous culprit. One reason tells you why – the most asinine, illogical and irrational defenses are
coming out of their mouths and the world is still laughing but getting angrier as each day passes. In previous columns, in documenting these cascading asininities, I wondered out loud what other types we will see as each day is born. See my pieces of May 4; April 18; April 17; April 12. In those
four articles, I document briefly, the unbelievable idiocies that the APNU+AFC have been giving the world as defenses for their participation in election rigging. It is just not stopping. I am nor referring to sensible strategies but foolish things. If you want to delay the recount then don't cite snake
infestation, cite mosquito invasion. It is simple; when the authorities check, they will see no snake and the recount will continue. APNU+AFC leaders are just confused and the irrationalities have infiltrated their minds. Here is what Harmon told the press knowing that he would be laughed at because the
facts do not support his explanation; “The application was made for an aircraft to come and then at the last minute, we were advised that the Carter Center team would be on the aircraft. We didn't say 'take them off”, we didn't say that they should come. We didn't say anything like that. What we learnt is that when the aircraft arrived here, they were not on the flight.” It turned out in an exchange between the US Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that it was President Granger himself who rejected the Carter Centre re-entry. This is the same Harmon that told the world that the JJ&B PR firm was hired to put forward the government's case of election victory, in fact telling the world that for the f i r s t t i m e i n h i s t o r y, governments, apart from private political parties, actually contest elections. If Granger had even a modicum of leadership qualities, he would have consigned Harmon to be Ambassador to Timbuktu. Now we have an explanation for how dead people and immigrants, who were not in Guyana, voted. It is not just asinine but sad and tragic how humans that administer the affairs of a 21st century Caribbean country can descent to such pitiful levels. Here is how the fake votes were discovered. Now it is vital to keep in mind that these fake votes were cast in PPP strongholds, a depravity conducted by the PPP. APNU+AFC said it had agents in every village and town. It was these people that alerted the party to what the PPP did. Here now are the dimensions to this asininity. (1)- Why didn't these ubiquitous agents stop the illegalities on that very day of voting? APNU+AFC explained that many of these agents didn't properly understand their tasks and many made mistakes. So why then are you relying on such mediocre personnel to inform you that there were fake votes counted? (2) APNU+AFC did not present these fake vote
Frederick Kissoon allegations at anytime from March 2. Basil Williams is seen in a video clip during the first week of March, entering his car, telling reporters the election was clean and fair and APNU+AFC won. Did Williams know of the bogus ballots that were counted? And if he knew then, one must assume he didn't give it much thought. It is only on May 6, the nation was told APNU+AFC had this information since March 2. That is a two months period of silence. (3) – When asked what proof APNU+AFC has that some 'jumbies' and people not living in Guyana voted, the APNU+AFC leaders said they will only give the evidence to the Chief Elections Officer (CEO). Here is where things enter the realm of a circus. The same partner of Clairmont Mingo, that only Claudette Singh and APNU+AFC trust, will be in possession of sensitive information that helps the APNU+AFC. Who will believe that the man the satirical column, Dem Boys Seh in Kaieteur News, refers to as LoLoField has valid information when he still has in his possession invalid information on the results of the election with election documents signed by his partner Mingo and the General Secretary of APNU - Volda Lawrence? (4)APNU+AFC said that it only made the utterance that the 2020 election was free and fair as a general statement. (5) Finally, David Paterson said the recount synchronizes with the APNU+AFC's SOPs and GECOM should announce the results based on the March 14 declaration. Really! My God! (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 16, 2020
PAGE 11
Cathy Hughes, Aubrey Norton contradict Granger on credibility of elections
P
eople's National C o n g r e s s executive Aubrey Norton and Alliance For Change executive Cathy Hughes both contradicted President David Granger on the credibility of the March 2 elections during back to back interviews with reporters at National Recount Media Centre yesterday. When it was pointed out that the numerous complaints being brought by the Coalition regarding what they claim to be irregularities in the voting contradicted repeated assertions by the President that the elections were free, fair and credible, Norton responded that, “He never said that 'credible'. He said they were free, fair and orderly. Now they are two different things.” Norton then went on to deconstruct Granger's words, arguing against saying the elections were free, fair or orderly, at all. “ Yo u c a n ' t c h e c k credibility from what happened on Elections Day,” he said, “and it should be obvious to you that that is the case, because on Elections Day, you would see people, they go and vote, etc. and you see it is orderly. You might say it is fair but people in PPP strongholds told us that the PPP was intimidating them and putting pressure on them, and that puts 'free' into question.” “And what is being
[from left] AFC Executive, Cathy Hughes and PNCR Executive, Aubrey Norton revealed here is making fair questionable,” Norton added. In addition, he said that when an observer pronounces on the freeness, fairness and credibility of elections, they pronounce on an appearance, adding to a comment made by Leonard Craig that it was just a “general statement”. “Now when somebody pronounces on elections like observers do,” Norton said, “a lot of times, they pronounce from appearance rather than actuality because if you are an observer, you are moving from area to area. You wouldn't know all the shenanigans on the ground.” For her part, Hughes said yesterday that the parties noted issues since before Election Day when it was
time to revise the Official List of Electors. Reporters have asked on several occasions why the issues weren't raised before the recount. Hughes said that the “system that got us to where we are today did not allow for us to make an objection that we know is true”. Hughes said that the list would have been sanitized “if there was a claims and objections period… We would have made all these objections and it would have been sorted,” Hughes said. When it was pointed out by reporters that there was a claims and objections period, she responded “that's what I said” saying that she was likely misheard due to her speaking through her mask. “There was a claims and
objections period,” she continued, “but remember that period was halted. Guys, you remember that, right?
There was a claims and objections period, and it started and it went on for two to three weeks.” The claims objection period late last year was in fact originally slated for 35 days, but then was extended subsequently to 49 days, or seven weeks. Hughes claimed that the Coalition's research since then has unearthed many of the discrepancies it is now raising, and that the party did not have its opportunity to raise them then. However, Coalition executive, Joseph Harmon had said after the elections that the party wanted Granger to be sworn in on the basis of the declarations GECOM had made at the time – declarations produced from a count of elections the party is now claiming was rife
with issues before it even began. Pointed to Harmon's statement, Norton said, “That is a pronouncement, not a question. There is a difference between asking for somebody to be sworn in a n d m a k i n g a pronouncement based on what he saw about wanting the President to be sworn in.” Asked whether the Coalition has ruled out the use of the 10 current regional declarations to swear in a President, Norton said the Coalition is focusing on the r e c o u n t n o w, n o t t h e declarations. He said that the President has made it clear that he will accept the results of the recount once GECOM determines the elections to be credible and that the recount is a proper one.
Saturday May 16, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 12
Drug shortage Gunraj says not GECOM's a sore issue responsibility to investigate in Region 2 - diabetic patients observations overwhelmingly affected
- Alexander, Hughes differ
C
ommissioner Sase Gunraj yesterday has said, in his view as an attorney-at-law, that it is not the responsibility of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to investigate claims of discrepancies and anomalies occurring in the March 2 General and Regional Elections. Gunraj is of the considered view that such an investigation is in the domain of the Court. He made this view known after questions by reporters at the National Recount Media Centre about how the many discrepancies being claimed by the governing coalition would be dealt with. Commissioner Vincent Alexander had said that, at the end of the recount for every region, the Commission would examine the observations recorded and determine how to treat with
them. Pointed to Alexander's comment, Gunraj said, “That, perhaps, is Commissioner Alexander's view on it and I don't share that view. The statements of recount are the conclusive evidence of the result of the election, in our contemplation, and that is what focus should be on.” Gunraj said that all of the case law related to the conduct of the elections speaks to the investigations being done by the Court, “not at the Commission level”. “It's not the Commission's place to investigate those allegations. The investigation of those allegations, respectfully, is the domain of the Court. And all of the case law related to the conduct of the elections, etc. speaks to investigations or interrogations… to be done by the Court, not at the Commission level.”
Commissioner Sase Gunraj
Asked whether he is effectively saying GECOM should ignore the observations, Gunraj said that he would not use the word 'ignore' but would simply say that it is the Court's domain. This statement beckoned a response from AFC executive, Cathy Hughes, who told reporters that it is important for GECOM to address the claims. Hughes
said the party wants to know what GECOM will do with the information, and she took the opportunity to call on GECOM to explain, “how we're going to look at all these anomalies and discrepancies that we are seeing”. Hughes questioned if the Coalition should be handing over to GECOM the death certificates and other documents gathered as evidence to support the Coalition claims. She stated that there is one section of the legal fraternity saying that GECOM should investigate. Hughes said she thinks Guyana needs to wait a few extra days if that is what it will take for GECOM to investigate the claims and ensure that “everybody is confident”. She said, “if it is not GECOM's responsibility, somebody has to explain how that happens.”
T
he COVID-19 pandemic is apparently not the only issue hammering the Public Health sector, as health facilities on the Essequibo Coast are reportedly now short on key medication and supplies. Arnold Adams, who is the Vice Chairman of the Local Neighbourhood Democratic Council in the area, said that healthcare within Region Two has been suffering tremendously. Adams previously sat as Chairman of the Region Two Health Committee, when he served as a member of the Regional Democratic Council. Adams recently told this publication that health centres and hospitals within the region are short on main drug supplies. He went on to say, “Even as recent as this morning, you have residents went to the health centre and did not receive no medical supply… Instead, they asking them to go privately to access these things… This was a diabetic patient, his two toes almost severed, he went for dressing and they didn't even have anything to test the sugar.” Based on reports reaching Kaieteur News, a number of health centres w i t h i n t h e Pomeroon/Supenaam
region (Region Two) are totally incapable of treating diabetic patients. Reports are that for the past two months, a number of health centres have been short on insulin in particular. One diabetic patient who spoke to Kaieteur News late last week said that she has been unable to obtain insulin from the health centre in Anna Regina, for some two months. “I bin at the health centre in Regina, like in March and April time for insulin… all two time me gone, them seh them na got insulin and is real stressful cause is da I does depend on to control me sugar.” In Good Hope, which is located in the extreme south on the Essequibo Coast, patients have reported similar instances. In one case, an elderly man whose two toes are badly affected by diabetes was turned away from a health centre with little to no help, since there was an insufficient supply of dressings. Adams went on to say that having to access private health care can be an additional burden to Essequibians, especially since the local economy is being drained by the COVID-19 pandemic, and an unstable political climate.
ERC pushes for national harmony during elections impasse, COVID-19
A
s cases continue to climb in the number of individuals tested positive for COVID-19, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) says it is joining calls for Guyanese to practice social distancing and only to go out when it is absolutely necessary. “There is no existing playbook to combat this pernicious virus,” a release from the Commission said. “but what is known is that having fewer gatherings, wearing of facemasks, constantly washing of hands and the use of an alcohol based sanitizer daily, would slowdown the spread of the virus.” In spite of the pandemic, the ERC says it continues to work although its office remains closed due to the
unprecedented COVID-19 lockdown. According to the Commission, persons who feel they are being discriminated against based on their ethnicity can still file a complaint to the ERC: “Any accompanying evidence would also be useful. Letters with complaints can also be sent to the ERC Office: 66 Peter Rose and Anira Sts. Queenstown, Georgetown. A complaint can also be made by filling out an online form on the ERC website at erc.org.gy or by downloading MY ERC APP to one's mobile device.” The Commission also disclosed that it recently undertook initiatives to strengthen awareness and celebration of the Guyanese diversity. The Public Education and Awareness Unit of the ERC recently
launched the ERC 'Diversity Challenge' on its Facebook Page and is inviting Guyanese to celebrate their culture by visiting the page and connect especially with friends and family who are of different ethnic backgrounds. “Although a great amount of concern exists due to COVID-19 and the elections impasse,” it noted, “the ERC nevertheless urges Guyanese who are spending most of their time at home t o t a k e advantage of the 'Diversity Challenge' and celebrate our many cultures. The ERC remains resolute to promoting national harmony among the various ethnic groups and its work involves conflict resolution, public education, investigation and research.”
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 16, 2020
PAGE 13
World Bank fast tracks COVID-19 relief funding for developing countries - No word on Guyana's request for US$5M
E
ven as the World Bank rolls out a plan to fast-track COVID -19 relief packages to developing countries, there is no word on the status of Guyana's request for a US $5 M loan. It has been close to two months since Minister of Finance Winston Jordan announced that the Government had approached the international loan agency for the funds meant to aid in implementing measures to tackle COVID -19. Amidst concerns impending sanction over Guyana current political milieu, the Minister of Finance had expressed optimism that Guyana would secure funding. Jordan had promised to give an update on the status of the request several weeks ago. Ye s t e r d a y, w h e n a question on the status of loan was posed to the Minister via WhatsApp, it yielded no response, Kaieteur News
Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean reached out to Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Finance, Wanita Huburn. Similarly, the PR Officer was mum on the issue, only stating that, “MOF does not discuss negotiations with its bilateral and multilateral partners.” Asked directly if she could confirm whether it was
'Government' congratulates Granger on “re-election”
T
he Department of P u b l i c Information late last night issued a statement congratulating President David Granger on both the fifth anniversary of his swearing in to office as well as what it referred to as his reelection to office, even as the Guyana Elections Commission is in the middle of a recount of the 2020 General and Regional Elections. “The people of Guyana,” the statement said, “in 2015, elected President Granger for the honesty, decency and integrity which he embodies. And it is evident that after a successful first term as President, the electorate of Guyana reposed confidence in his leadership and reelected him for a second term. The government looks forward, with optimism and anticipation, to President Granger's second term in office and wish him greater success in the next five years as he leads the delivery of the
President and APNU+AFC Presidential Candidate, David Granger good life for all Guyanese.” The statement from the Executive conflicts with repeated statements by the President that he would both abide by the Constitution of Guyana and commit to the outcome of the recount, which would decide the final results of the elections. GECOM has not yet declared a winner of those elections since the recount has not yet been completed.
Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan a yes or no from the World Bank, she said that she could not state if loan had a positive response since an answer would be considered a comment on the 'negotiations'. The Ministry's failure to pronounce on the status of the loan application comes in the wake of a recent announcement by the World Bank that it will speed up support and technical assistance to developing
countries. According to the institution, the World Bank's package of immediate support will see US$14 billion in financing, complemented by policy advice and technical assistance, to help vulnerable countries cope with the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Through this new fast track package, the World Bank Group will help developing countries strengthen health systems, disease surveillance, and public health interventions, and work with the private sector to reduce the impact on economies,” it said on its website, while noting that it will be globally coordinating to support country-based responses. “The COVID-19 support package will make available $14 billion in new financing, on a fast-track basis: $2.7 billion from IBRD, $1.3 billion from IDA, $8 billion from IFC (including $2 billion from existing trade facilities), complemented by
reprioritization of $2 billion of the Bank Group's existing portfolio. It will also include policy advice and technical assistance drawing on global expertise and country-level knowledge,” it added. To date, countries in Latin America benefitting from the fast track facility include Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras and Paraguay, while those in the same jurisdiction benefitting from other forms of finance/redeploying of existing projects are Bolivia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic Honduras and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In addition, the World Bank provided US$412,000 to Suriname to purchase essential medical supplies for the country's emergency response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. In a statement last week, Tahseen Sayed, World Bank
Director for Caribbean Countries noted that as part of its rapid response at the onset of the pandemic, Suriname benefited from World Bank financing to procure and distribute personal protective equipment and medical supplies to key hospitals handling COVID-19 cases. “The World Bank is pleased that timely commitment of financing enabled rapid procurement and distribution of essential medical supplies and equipment to support the immediate needs of the Suriname health system,” she said. According to the information, over the next 15 months, some $160 billion in financial support will be deployed to help countries protect the poor and vulnerable, support businesses, and bolster economic recovery.
Saturday May 16, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Iwokrama Centre now MoPH receives critical requires travellers in its support to help diabetics forests to wear masks affected by COVID-19 The Linden/Lethem road that runs through Iwokrama's forest. (ibike.org photo)
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ith immediate effect, all p e r s o n s passing through the Iwokrama forest will be required to wear face masks, the Iwokrama International Centre said yesterday. The Centre, which manages the designated conservation area, stated the policy is necessary for the protection of its staff, members of the Guyana Police Force serving in the area, along with nearby community of Fair View Village. The Linden-Lethem trail passes through the forest. Dr. Raquel Thomas, Director Resource Management and Training of Iwokrama – in a correspondence to Iwokrama personnel, GPF, Fair View villagers and road users –
urged that the issue be taken “very seriously”. “You will not be allowed to pass without a mask at Kurupukari or at Corkwood. Police officers and I w o k r a m a rangers/checkpoint persons are required, at all times, to wear masks when dealing with road users and other members of the public,” Dr. Thomas cautioned in a release. She said that Iwokrama is aware that the region's first case – 'Patient Zero' for Region 9 – has passed through the area and may have had contact with many persons in the Rupununi. “Georgetown is also the epicenter for this disease,” she added, “and we have many persons travelling through the Iwokrama Forest
to Region 9 from Georgetown. Additionally, Brazil has a very high rate of infections so we also have to protect ourselves from the possibility of cases coming from Brazil as well.” The Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development (IIC) is an international not-for-profit organisation, governed by an International Board of Trustees and managed by a professional team of around 70 permanent staff in Georgetown and at the Iwokrama River Lodge and Research Centre at Kurupukari. It was established in 1996 under a joint mandate from the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat to manage the
From left: GDA President Glynis Beaton hands over a batch of the critical supplies to O'Neil Atkins, National Director of Pharmacy Services at MoPH
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he Guyana D i a b e t i c Association (GDA) is partnering with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to help distribute essential medical supplies to thousands of Guyanese affected by the disease. According to O'Neil Atkins, National Director of Pharmacy Services at MoPH, the donation of branded insulin from the GDA is timely given a delay in the shipment of the regular quota of supplies. “The pandemic has caused some backlog in the shipments … [but] we have received about 2000 tins and
short vials of insulin from the GDA which were shipped via DHL.” According to Atkins, the supply of insulin will aid greatly with diabetic patients particularly those battling COVID -19 – diabetes is one of the underlying conditions that causes further complications for those infected with the virus. He explained that the branded insulin is stronger than the generic type currently available. “[W]hich means it works faster,” he explained, “due to its high efficacy and will help patients get their blood sugar under control at a fast
Fitness, gun licence issuance set to recommence Monday
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ffective from May 18, 2020, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will recommence the issuance of certificates of fitness for motor vehicles and renewing of gun licences. The resumption of these services follows an announcement by the Guyana Revenue Authority to restart several services last Monday. These include the issuance of new and provisional drivers' licences, licence renewal, conductor's licences, motor vehicle licences, motor vehicle registration and off-premise examination of vehicles. All
licensed persons/businesses have until July 1 to get their documents updated. According to the Guyana Revenue Authority, the GPF will not take enforcement action on unlicensed motor vehicle or persons whose driver's licence expired during this period. The GRA noted that it will continue to monitor visits to their office and will only allow a limited number of persons to enter the building. Persons are also reminded that mandatory temperature checks, the wearing of facemasks and the sanitising of hands remain in effect. (DPI)
r ate w h ile th ey f ig h t COVID-19. These products are valuable and costly so we are very much appreciative of this donation.” Atkins said the Association usually partners with the Ministry to help distribute the medication to juvenile diabetics. However, the GDA has extended its reach to adults affected by the disease. “Given the situation created by COVID -19 globally,” he said, “the extended support of organisations like GDA is essentially to helping us fulfill our mandate as the nation's health service providers.” Atkins noted that the medication will be distributed to over a thousand diabetics. Meanwhile, President of GDA, Glynis Beaton told Kaieteur News that the Association is partnering with MoPH to also distribute test strips in addition to the insulin. She noted that it is important that persons with diabetes like her adhere to precautions. “As a diabetic, I am deeply concerned after learning that the coronavirus disease affects persons like me, and that we are at risk of developing the most complicated form of this disease and even death,” she noted. Those persons living with diabetes, who also have other complications such as kidney and nerve damage or cardiac issues, are also at risk.
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 16, 2020
21 T&T oil workers stuck in Guyana return home Tr i n i d a d ( Tr i n i d a d Guardian) - Twenty-one T&T nationals who had found themselves on the outside looking in when borders closed at midnight on March 22, returned to this country on Thursday. The citizens who had been working in the oil industry in Guyana were allowed to fly into T&T yesterday morning on two flights holding ten and eleven persons respectively. The first group arrived around 10:30 am at the Piarco International Airport. They were processed and
their luggage placed into Ministry of National Security buses that had been waiting at the airport for the group to arrive. Within an hour's time, they left the airport and were transported via convoy to the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua. The second set of passengers was also taken to the facility later in the day. They will spend the next 14 days in quarantine at the
facility. The Racquet Centre had only been vacated last Tuesday by 33 nationals who had been brought home from Barbados on March 22. On May 1, 69 citizens and one permanent resident were allowed to return to this country from Suriname. They had been placed in quarantine at the University of the West Indies South Campus in Debe and are set to complete their 14-day quarantine period yesterday.
Coalition reengages... From page 3 contract. There was speculation that government used public funds to hire the lobbying firm but Harmon had claimed that it was not government who hired the firm but “upset coalition supporters”. Incumbent President David Granger had later issued a statement distancing the executive government from the arrangement, despite claims to the contrary by the company on statutory federal, stating that at no time did he hire JJ&B, LLC and has no contractual arrangement or affiliation with the firm. It is unclear who is funding this current contract. Both agreements carried the signature of Bart S. Fisher, who this publication understands is the lead counsel at the lobbying firm. While the prior agreement contained the signature of one Michael Granger, the new contract carried the signatures of both Harmon and Patterson. Attached to the initial agreement was a 147 page Dossier, entitled “Guyana Elections 2020” which detailed its account of events that transpired from the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections onwards, including a briefing document titled “The Guyana Situation”; another edition of that briefing was submitted separately as additional information in support of the amended contract. An important point to note is the difference in the
language used between the briefings. Throughout the initial briefing, reference was made to the “incumbent Government”, “Granger Government” or the “Government of Guyana.” However, in the amended document, specific mention is made throughout of the APNU+AFC, the political party. The first briefing listed both President David Granger and Joseph Harmon as US citizens however, the amended document did not contain Harmon's name while the President did not have US citizen listed beside it. Additionally, the first briefing listed Guyana as a “Pro United States Friendly Government” while the amended document did not carry the same. Moses Nagamootoo was listed as the “Head of Government” in the first briefing while in the second listed him as “Prime Minister.” Guyana was also listed as “A member of the Lima Group and strong believer in democratic values” in the amended briefing while this was visibly missing from the first. In both dossiers, the APNU+AFC claimed to have won the March 2, 2020 Elections by a close margin. While the first said that the opposition refused to concede and sued for a recount, the new document states that, “the Elections Commission has not made a final declaration as is required by law.” The new briefing speaks
to the agreement between President Granger and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo to allow a CARICOM scrutinized recount, currently ongoing, something not referred to in the previous agreement. The allegations leveled at the” British Foreign Minister” (Dominic Raab) were also removed from the second briefing, including claims that his pronouncements on the elections were linked to connections to oil firms British Petroleum and Shell. Also missing from the amended briefing in this section were the claims that the PPP in their reign established a base for China in Guyana by gifting them “5% of Guyana's territory for logging and other unauthorized business ventures.” It was stated in the first briefing that Jagdeo offered Chinese nationals “expedited and preferential citizenship in Guyana”, a direction violation of the law. This too, was missing from the second. Sub-headings in this section of the briefing changed from “Guyana is in danger of falling into China's orbit” to “Guyana is in danger of reverting to its bygone era of governing.” On the final page of the new briefing, it was stated that the “material is distributed by JJ&B, LLC on behalf of the APNU+AFC Coalition” as opposed to the initial one which stated that “this material is distributed on behalf of Guyana.”
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The 21 T&T oil worker disembarking at the Piarco Airport on Thursday.
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Saturday May 16, 2020
Kaieteur News
CARICOM to first open borders for intra-regional travel
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Jamaica Observer Member states with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) plan on reopening borders to intra-regional travel in the first instance, hopefully by next month. This is according to Grenada’s cabinet minister with responsibility for CARICOM, Oliver Joseph.
“What we are discussing is to first allow regional travel, that is travel within the islands such as travel between Grenada and Trinidad or between Trinidad and Barbados, we are not looking at having international carriers come to the island yet,” said Joseph who last week chaired the 50th meeting of the Coun-
cil for Trade and Economic Development (COTED). During the virtual meeting, COTED approved a strategy for the re-opening of economies in the Caribbean Community. The council, which is made up of trade ministers and officials, agreed to a framework centred on the develop-
ment and adherence to defined metrics related to the COVID-19 virus, which will guide the reopening process. Grenada’s borders as well many regional ports of entry and exit were closed in March as part of efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell, in a national address on Sunday night, said that reopening of borders was a topic of discussion at recent meetings of Caribbean leaders at both the OECS and CARICOM levels and a regional approach is being considered. “We collectively agreed to start gradually relaxing the restrictions for travel, as the pandemic in the region has been largely contained. Governments, airlines, and hotels are now finalising the details of this phased re-opening. Assuming that the requisite protocols are in place, we expect to open our borders in the first week of June.” Mitchell who also holds the portfolio of Minister for National Security assured Grenadians that the health and safety of citizens remain a primary concern. “Borders were closed to prevent the spread of the virus and to save lives, and for now, we must maintain that status quo…I assure you, fellow Grenadians, we will not move unless we are satisfied that adequate health and safety guidelines are in place.” At the 10th Special Emergency Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government last week, a sub-committee was established to engage stakeholders in the tourism industry to agree on appropriate protocols that will ensure the safety of workers and visitors alike, once borders are reopened. “These protocols will be informed by a regional public health policy which the heads have agreed is necessary to guide the criteria for reopening. The health policy is being drafted and will be submitted to CARICOM Heads of Government for final approval” said a news release from the Government Information Service.
Saturday May 16, 2020
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UK firm grabs more interest in Canje Block as Exxon gears to drill first well In spite of the depressed environment, Westmount Energy Limited announced yesterday that it has purchased 1.3m common shares in JHI Associates Inc. This will represent approximately 12.7 percent of Westmount’s enlarged issued share capital in the company. The transaction prices the New Ordinary Shares in Westmount at 14.745 pence per share. It should be noted that JHI is a private, Ontario-registered company that was established in 2014. JHI’s main asset is the Canje block offshore Guyana. This block is strategically located next to the Stabroek Block which has delivered 16 discoveries since 2015 with reported recoverable resources in excess of eight billion. ExxonMobil is the operator of both blocks. In 2016, Exxon had acquired in excess of 6100km2 of 3D seismic data on the Canje Block. Subsequent
processing and interpretation of the dataset has been used to define a substantial prospect inventory on the block in which three prospects, Bulletwood, Jabillo and Sapote ,were named as highgrade potential targets for initial drilling. Kaieteur News also understands that as a result of a farm-out by Total in 2018, JHI is carried for the drilling of up to four wells and is funded for the drilling of additional wells. Subject to approvals from the government, drillship availability and disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is anticipated that the first well, Bulletwood-1, will be drilled before June month end with the possibility of an additional well by year-end. The Canje Block lies 180km offshore Guyana in deep to ultra-deep water. According to JHI’s website, Canje’s environment of deposition is unique among offshore Guyana blocks in that
it contains both continental slope and basin floor terrain. The company explained that the majority of the discoveries offshore Guyana to date have been made in the slope environment. Canje is expected to be the first block offshore to test prospects on the basin floor, which have the potential to contain larger accumulations of recoverable hydrocarbons. JHI was also keen to note that Canje’s source story is also unique in that it is blanketed by two world-class source rocks. The company explained that present across the Guyana-Suriname Basin is the Cenomanian/Turonian source, which is locally known as the “Canje source rock.” This source has been actively generating hydrocarbons for ~6 million years. The Canje Block is also covered by a much thicker and older Lower Albian source rock, which was in place and generating hydrocarbons for over
Map showing the location of the Canje Block and some of the high profile targets
40 million years. JHI notes that the proximity to these world-class source rocks means that res-
ervoirs on the Canje Block are in direct contact with the source, and are charged through vertical migration.
Effectively, Canje’s reservoirs are filled first before hydrocarbons migrate up-dip to other blocks.
Guyana’s COVID-19 cases climb Coalition makes “no apologies” for keeping SOPs private – Norton to 116 – DCMO Despite repeated calls for the A Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change Coalition (APNU+AFC) to release copies of the Statements of Poll (SOPs) in their possession, Executive Member, Aubrey Norton says his party makes “no apologies” for keeping these private. Norton was at the time responding to questions by the media at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on whether or not his party would be heeding the several calls made for them to make their SOPs public. Norton said, “When a party has its statements of poll, it is for its use. And it has to decide strategically and tactically when it releases it.” He pointed out that his party has taken a strategic position not to release their SOPs. “And we have no apologies for it,” Norton said. The same question was posed to David Patterson after the head of the observer mission of the Organisation of American States (OAS) Bruce Golding emerged with evidence to show that Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo had inflated the numbers for the APNU/AFC, and that more evidence of this was revealed in the ongoing national recount. Patterson, while he stated that Golding’s numbers do not match what his party has in their possession, he was reluctant to say whether the party would be releasing their SOPs. “We would [be] addressing this question more frontally,” is what Patterson said. Norton questioned the credibility of the OAS observer head, making the claims citing that he has a direct link to the Opposition Leader calling his impartially into question. “First of all, if you go to read the rules on International Observers, you would know one of the positions is that an observer should be impartial. An observer really should have no links to the contestants in the elections.” Asked why his party did not object to
Aubrey Norton
Golding as an elections observer if concerns were raised about his credibility, he said, “In the hustle and bustle of running an election, I don’t think anybody paid any attention to who the observers were.” Norton was asked by reporters whether it would be beneficial to release their SOPs to public to back their claims that the number matched with that of Mingo’s. To this, he said, “First of all, I believe that all statements of poll will have errors, for different reasons. And right now, I do not believe it is in our interest to get involved in the issue of statements of poll, or else we would have done that long ago.” Norton continued, “I can show you statements of poll from Region Three that I collected. And when you check it against what has happened now, you know it wasn’t correct.” He explained that any political process, “you have to recognise that anything you do will have negatives and positives.” “It is the leadership that weighs and decides at which point they will do what, and what will be efficacious for them.”
Three more cases of COVID -19 have been recorded, according to Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) Dr Karen GordonCampbell. The DCMO in providing the information on Guyana’s COVID-19 response noted that the situation in relation to the transmission of the corona virus locally has not improved. She noted that in addition to the three new cases, our fatality rate from this disease remains very high. “Our positive cases have grown significantly over the last two weeks as community transmission continues. We have tested 13 persons within the last 24 hours. The number of positive cases has climbed to 116 and the number of COVID deaths remains at 10. Recovered cases are now forty-three (43). In total, we have tested one thousand and sixty-five (1065) persons with nine hundred and forty-nine (949) being negative. We currently have five (5) persons in institutional quarantine and sixty-three (63) in institutional isolation. Our COVID-19 ICU has 3 persons.” During the live update, Dr. Gordon-Campbell made a special appeal to persons in the mining sector. “We ask that those of you on the coastland ensure that if you are unwell and have the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 that you seek medical assistance before return-
DCMO Dr. Karen Gordon-Campbell. ing to the mining community. We also ask that if any member of the mining camp has signs and symptoms of this disease that they are immediately isolated on camp and that contact is made with the nearest health facility so that guidance is given. We ask that persons avoid making self-diagnosis and treating themselves,” she added. Meanwhile as the Ministry expand testing, Dr Gordon-Campbell reminded the public to make use of the Mobile Units that are available in some communities. She said that “For the weekend and the upcoming week, our focus for this activity will be in La Parfaite Harmony on the West Bank
of Demerara and South Ruimveldt.” “We are pleased to announce that very soon residents of Regions 3 and 6 will have similar facilities available for their residents. Please refer to our Facebook page for a more detailed location of these units. We have mentioned to you that we are currently working on strengthening the health system to respond to COVID-19 on a longer term basis, the aforementioned activities are a part of the plan to have a comprehensive COVID-19 healthcare network where patients across the 10 administrative regions will be able to access these services,” added the DCMO.
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New Amsterdam prison inmate in failed sprint to freedom Prisons officers attached to the New Amsterdam Prison were forced to spring into action yesterday morning when one of their inmates attempted a daring escape act. Though the prison only managed to soak up 15 minutes of freedom, the incident surely caused a panic. Information reaching to this publication was that at just around 06:51 hrs Friday, while the prison was being unlocked, convicted inmate Rei Joseph made a run for it and scaled the tall prison fence enforced with barbed wires.Officers immediately sprung into action after ranks in the prison towers observed Joseph’s actions. An alarm was subsequently raised and the prisoner was pursued. Some 15 minutes later, Joseph was spotted and recaptured in the vicinity of Smithfield just a short distance away from the prison. The failed escapee is currently serving a fifteen months sentence for simply larceny and was expected to be released on December 11, 2020. An investigation has been launched.
Short-lived freedom: Rei Joseph
The New Amsterdam, East Berbice Prison
Saturday May 16, 2020
FIFA to choose 2023 women’s World Cup hosts on June 25 BERN (Reuters) - The hosts for the 2023 women’s World Cup will be chosen at an online meeting of the FIFA Council on June 25, the global soccer body said yesterday. FIFA will choose between Brazil, Colombia, Japan and a joint bid from Australia and New Zealand in what it said was the “most competitive bidding process” in the event’s 29-year history. None of the bidding nations have staged the event before. The hosts were originally due to be chosen at a FIFA Council meeting in Addis Ababa in June but that was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. “FIFA remains committed to implementing the most comprehensive, objective and transparent bidding process in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, said FIFA general secretary Fatma Samoura. FIFA said its evaluation report on the four bids will be published in early June. South Korea and South Africa dropped out of the race in December. The 2023 tournament will feature 32 teams for the first time, up from 24 in France in 2019.
McLaren boss expects Vettel to leave Formula One LONDON (Reuters) Daniel Ricciardo was McLaren’s first choice to replace Ferrari-bound Spaniard Carlos Sainz and Sebastian Vettel was never in the frame, the Formula One team’s chief executive Zak Brown said yesterday. He expected Vettel, who is leaving Ferrari at the end of 2020, to retire. “Obviously Seb’s an awesome driver and a four-time champion,” the American told Sky Sports television. “But I think we were pretty far down the path in the offseason and knew we would either land with Daniel or Carlos. “We never really enter-
Saturday May 16, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) It may be difficult to express yourself fully today, Aries. Somehow the words aren't coming out as clearly as you'd like. Powerful emotions are getting in the way. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You might need to hold your tongue today, Taurus. People's feelings are easily hurt during this time of fear and vulnerability, and the slightest criticism could be misinterpreted as a terrible insult.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) This is an excellent day for you, Libra. You'll find things running smoothly and to your advantage. Watch out for those who want to rain on your parade by bombarding you with data that doesn't really connect with your mood. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You may feel rather lazy and out of touch today, Scorpio. It could be that your emotions have taken a stronger hold on your psyche than your rational way of thinking.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You'll find yourself much better connected with the people around you, Gemini. Even if you're dealing with them remotely, your acute psychic ability is pulling in signals loud and clear through the phone and Internet.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today is a good day to dream, Sagittarius. Be aware that structured forces may try to convince you that the route you want to take isn't the most practical.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) Be persistent and don't give up the fight today, Cancer. It might seem as if you aren't making progress and that decisions are harder to make.
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your emotions are up in the air right now, Capricorn. As soon as your feelings kick in, there may be a more structured force telling you to be reasonable.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your current plan of attack may run into some snags today, Leo. This might be caused by an emotional need that you didn't recognize or ignored earlier.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your head is filled with passion today, Aquarius, and you may be feeling a bit more sentimental than usual.
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22) You should use the day to ponder your professional future, Virgo. Many forces seem to be working together to clarify your ideas on the subject.
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PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Try not to get weighed down by emotions today, Pisces, but allow them their time in the spotlight. You may discover a strong force at work trying to cover up the truth of what you really feel.
tained anyone beyond that, and especially with Seb’s late breaking news — we were pretty far down the path at that point.” Ferrari said on Tuesday that Vettel, who won all his titles with Red Bull between 2010-13, would be leaving after six years with them. McLaren announced two days later that Australian Ricciardo was joining them from Renault for 2021 with Sainz heading to Maranello on a two-year deal to partner Charles Leclerc. Former world champions McLaren had tried to sign Ricciardo in 2018, when the seven times race winner was at Red Bull mulling his options, and Brown said they had “stayed close”. Brown added that Vettel had limited options if he wanted to continue. “It doesn’t look like there’s a Mercedes or Red Bull opportunity for him,
McLaren team principal Zak Brown, poses for a photograph at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Britain November 21, 2018. (REUTERS/Will Russell) there’s not a McLaren opportunity for him, clearly not at Ferrari, so the next best is Renault,” he said.“And the next question is does Seb want to go with a team that is probably not going to win in 2021?“It’s a great team and they too should be moving up the grid but I think unless Seb wants to restart a journey with a team that’s back on a journey — then I think he’ll
end up probably leaving the sport unfortunately.” Renault finished fifth overall last year, a place behind McLaren who are switching from the French manufacturer’s engines to Mercedes in 2021. Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull are the only teams to have won races since Formula One started its 1.6 litre V6 turbo hybrid era in 2014.
Sinclair aims to repeat Super50 showing in ... From page 23 everyone wants the CPL to be played including me but I won’t be too disappointed if it is not held since safety and saving lives is more important than cricket,” added the former Berbice and Guyana U15, 17 and 19 cricketer.Due to the pandemic, which is seeing the increase of ‘known’ cases of infections raising, Guyanese are being urged to
stay at home and all Gyms and recreational facilitates are closed and Sinclair explained that he is doing strength and conditioning training on Zoom. “I do like all formats of the game and would say I am a batting all-rounder …. just have to balance it with the ball,” said Sinclair, whose favorite manner of dismissing a batsman is LBW, while he
Hetmyer, Paul & Permaul in... From page 23 could take place behind closed-doors for broadcast only from June 1. But in was noted that these plans will be reviewed often and postponed if there is a growth in the virus infection rate. The tour going ahead depends on the UK Government’s policy to allow the players into the Country and issuing of visitors Visas during the pandemic.
enjoys straight driving. Sinclair, who has three sisters and two brothers and lives with parents in Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, attended the Canje secondary school and bowled medium pace until, in a U-19 semi-final against Albion, his grandfather Carlton Sinclair saw him bowl spin and told him to be a spinner.Sinclair sees himself playing for the West Indies senior team in the next four years.Although Tucber Park is the closest first Division club from where Sinclair resides, they did not have a very strong youth system at the time when Sinclair opted to play for Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports club. “I called and ask Mr (Hilbert) Foster to play U-19 for the club but I eventually got to play first division as well,” Sinclair informed how his fledging career commenced. Sinclair wants to Coach after he is no longer playing cricket. “I want to become a coach since I always wanted to give back to the sport and help youngsters,” said Sinclair. He thanked his grandfather, his Cousin Kevin Darlington, Mark Balgobin, Canadian based Ramdhanie Narine, former Police B Division Commander Mr Joseph, Michael Newland, Floyd Reifer and the Emerging Players’ Coaching staff, and Esuan Crandon and the Guyana Jaguars Coaching staff for helping him at various stages in his short career so far.
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Saturday May 16, 2020
CWI was “broke” before COVID-19 Golf - World No. 1 McIlroy slams - source Trump for coronavirus response Rory McIlroy plays his shot from
President of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Ricky Skerritt said “CWI finances are in the ICU stage because of COVID-19,” however; Kaieteur Sport was reliably informed that the board was in a state of bankruptcy prior to the Covid-19 outbreak. Mr. Johnny Grave, CEO of Cricket West Indies had admitted that the tours affected, i.e. South Africa and Sri Lanka, were likely to cost millions to host and would have brought in little revenue in terms of gate receipts and broadcast rights. COVID-19 caused CWI to abandon the regional four-day tournament after the 8th round and the board is yet to settle players’ fees and other related expenses. Kaieteur Sport was reliably informed that at the time of abandoning this tournament, CWI had no money and COVID-19 may have saved them financial embarrassment. It is understood that the cancellation of the regional
under 15, 17 and maybe U19 boys’ tournaments and a possibility of no more regional age groups and women cricket for the remainder of the 2020 season certainly saved CWI about USD$5M. It has been circulating in the cricket circles that a Financial Impact Assessment was done by CWI and COVID 19 may have created a positive impact of USD$8M in savings. Despite these savings the CWI President thinks that its financials need ICU treatment. Kaieteur Sport was told that the initial action of President Skerritt upon taking office may have created the financial shock the CWI is now facing. While CWI was always going to have a bad year, instant repayment of a USD$10M facility to SAGICOR Bank created serious cash flow issues for the organisation. Many believe that a negotiated position on this unsecured loan facility may have given CWI some breathing space. Instead the Skerritt led management was forced to
borrow a further USD$15M from four different institutions at less favourable rates. Kaieteur Sport was informed that all these monies were spent without a budget presented to the Board of Directors for the Period March 2019 to March 2020. And in fact, a visit to CWI website would show financial statements for four years preceding 2019. It is important to note that all statements were posted on the site for the period of Dave Cameron’s time in office. It is imperative that the members of CWI (the Territorial Boards) take a keen look at the spending in Antigua as collectively they are owed in excess of USD$5M which the Skeritt administration is proposing to borrow against the Coolidge Cricket Ground (Stanford Ground) to do capital works while the territories suffer. The CWI member territories should solicit answers from the CWI management on its money status.
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EW YORK (Reuters) - Fourtime major champion Rory McIlroy criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for his response to the coronavirus outbreak, and said it was unlikely the pair would meet for another round of golf. “We’re in the midst of something that’s pretty serious right now,” McIlroy told the McKellar Golf Podcast. “The fact that he’s trying to politicize it and make it a campaign rally and say that we administer the most tests in the world, like it’s a contest - there’s some stuff that just is terrible. “It’s not the way a leader should act,” said McIlroy, who has won the U.S. Open and British Open as well as two PGA Championship titles. The world’s top-ranked golfer faced fierce criticism for playing with Trump shortly after the Republican president’s inauguration in 2017, but said the interaction
the fifth teeduring the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course - South Co. (Orlando Ramirez -USA Today)
was not an endorsement. “The day that I did spend with him and others was very enjoyable,” said McIlroy, who is from Northern Ireland. “That doesn’t mean that I agree with everything or, in fact, anything that he says.” Trump has played with several current and former pro golfers, including Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, 2016 U.S. Open winner Dustin Johnson and 2017 PGA Championship winner Justin
Thomas. “I don’t know if he would want to play with me again after what I just said,” said M c I l r o y. “ I p r o b a b l y wouldn’t again.” The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. McIlroy, 31, is set to compete in a two-on-two, $3 million charity skins match tomorrow to benefit COVID19 relief, teaming up with Johnson against Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff.
West Indies fast-bowler Beaton Boxers becoming frustrated in on board with food hampers Cuba, plead to be brought home
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est Indies fast-bowler Ronsford Beaton has joined a list of people on the Essequibo Coast to share out food hampers during this time of uncertainty owing to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Beaton, who has so far represented West Indies in two one-day internationals and 33 first-class matches for Guyana, collaborated w i t h N G O We l e a d Caribbean which is being run by his sister and President Abbigale Lonche. According to Beaton, who had featured for Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knight Riders in the annual Caribbean Premier League tournament, was ecstatic to come on board. “I grew up in Essequibo where everyone treated me like family; with everyone [is] being affected in some way by the Corona Virus I believe that family should always support family and that I why I opted to join the project of giving out hampers,” the 27-year-old Beaton related. Since the arrival of COVID-19 across the globe
several months ago, sporting events have been put on hold while the entire world is also more or less at standstill. Wi t h i s o l a t i o n a n imperative method to help curb the spread of the deadly disease, Beaton, a former Essequibo Inter-County
mentioned.Lonche stated that the project began in April, and she and her brother will continue to donate more food hampers throughout Region Two. She informed that Beaton, who has played for his country in limited overs cricket, always wants to
on Beat d r o f . ons pers kie R od ham c i u e fo es q Indi me of th t s e W so with skipper, encouraged people to be safe. “I also want to use this opportunity to encourage youths to stay home and to stay safe,” Beaton
give back to his community: Reliance and Bush Lot.Lonche declared that anyone wishes to contribute can contact her at telephone number 648-4302.
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he four Olympic hopeful boxers in Cuba for a training stint that should have ended several weeks now, but due to the coronavirus lockdown, are stranded on the island, are pleading with the local authorities to bring them home as frustration set in. The boxers are led by Team Leader Colin Lewis and include Desmond Amsterdam, Dennis Thomas and Keevin Allicock who were on a three-month training stint which started in early January and were scheduled to return home last month. President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Steve Ninvalle had written to the Chairman of the Covid19 Task Force, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, asking the body to favourably consider a request to have the fighters returned to Guyana before June 3rd, the probable date for the reopening of Guyana’s borders. In that letter, Ninvalle explained that the four
boxers are now, frustrated, depressed and facing psychological challenges after being stranded in Cuba for close to two months. Ninvalle reasoned that with no definitive date set for their return the situation in Cuba can only take a turn for the worst. Team Leader in Cuba, Colin Lewis, yesterday contacted Ninvalle and his sentiments were heart rending. In the message he said, “Good morning sir we can’t sleep at this point sir, we all are up and we very, very sad and restless we want to go home sir, the food we eat today come up back for us tonight we send it down back cause is the same thing happen again yesterday sir.” “Honestly personally we can’t take this no more sir, we have been keeping quiet for too long and it’s not well here sir, we represented Guyana with a good heart and spirit, but its time they need to let us go home sir,” the desperate plea from the young man highlighted. Kaieteur asked Ninvalle
for his thoughts on the issue and a pained GBA boss noted, “It’s painful having to be informed of the deterioration. We would have hoped that by this time we would have received a response from the Task Force, whether it’s no, yes or maybe. There is not a lot more that we can tell our boxers, we have asked them to hold on to be patient, but frustration has clearly stepped into the camp and we can’t say where it will go from here. I hope that in the very near future we will have a response, which if favourable, will be of a glimmer of hope to these young ambassadors.” “I can just imagine what is going on and I won’t wish that on anyone. We have carbon copied our letter to the Director of Sport and I will be checking in with him again to find out if there is any movements forward. It’s painful, it’s very painful to learn of the deterioration,” a clearly disturbed Ninvalle noted.
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India fine with playing entire Australia series in Adelaide
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EW DELHI (Reuters) - India captain Virat Kohli and his team will be open to playing the entire test series against Australia in a ‘bio-secure’ Adelaide Oval if the situation demands, a top official of the Indian cricket board told Reuters. India are scheduled to play four tests and three oneday internationals in December and January on a tour reportedly worth A$300 million ($193.77 million) in broadcast revenue for Cricket Australia (CA). Australia vice captain Travis Head on Thursday backed the idea of playing the entire test series behind closed doors at Adelaide Oval, where an on-site hotel
is under construction, to ensure it goes ahead amid restrictions forced by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The boys would be very keen to go back to the field,” Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) treasurer Arun Dhumal said in an interview. “If the situation allows only one venue for all the matches, so be it. Maybe when lockdown is lifted, it would be the new normal that everyone has to follow. “There’s talk of matches without spectators. Nobody would like that, but if it comes to that and there’s no other way, one may have to do that.” “It’s still six-seven months down the line. We’ll take the right call in the best
interest of the safety and health of our boys.” BCCI had to postpone this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) due to the pandemic and the world’s richest cricket board is staring at a potential $530 million loss if it fails to find another window for the lucrative competition. Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates have offered to stage the Twenty20 competition but BCCI is not keen on shifting it. “The Indian government has put in travel restrictions. So even if somebody makes an offer, you can’t travel there. Where is the question of holding the tournament?” Dhumal said. The pandemic has also jeopardised the Twenty20
Athletes now able to register for support from welfare fund (World Athletics) Professional athletes who are experiencing financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic will be able to register for a oneoff welfare grant from today until May 31. Two weeks ago World Athletics and the International Athletics Foundation (IAF) announced that a US$500,000 welfare fund had been created to support professional athletes who have lost a substantial part of their income due to the suspension of international competition this year. A working group was formed to oversee the distribution of the funds and it has now finalised the eligibility criteria and application process. World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, who chairs the working group, said it had been a challenging and complicated task to define the eligibility criteria to ensure that grants from the fund were delivered to the athletes most in need. “The IAF has allocated a substantial sum to the fund, and we hope to raise more through private donations from friends of our sport, but it has become apparent that the resources must be focused on athletes who are likely to be competing at the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year and are now struggling to pay for basic necessities due to loss of income during the pandemic,’’ Coe said. “We know this is a stressful situation for many
athletes and we are trying to provide meaningful assistance to as many as possible as quickly as possible so they can continue to train for the competition season we have now scheduled for August to October, and for next year’s Olympics.’’ World 1500m recordholder and Olympic champion Hicham El Guerrouj, who initiated this project and sits on the working group, said the loss of competition had had a huge impact on professional athletes because many relied on prize money to support themselves and their families. The Fund will support athletes who have met the Tokyo Olympic Games entry standard and will provide welfare grants to be used to cover basic living expenses. The level of grant will be dependent on the number of approved applications and up to a maximum of US$4000. It is anticipated that the grants will be distributed directly to athletes from June. Only athletes who have been impacted financially to the extent that they are unable to maintain their basic standard of living should apply. All applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria: · Must be qualified (by meeting the entry standard) for selection for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games · Must have never had an anti-doping rule violation · Must be able to
demonstrate a justifiable welfare need through significant loss of income in 2020 compared to 2019. To help ensure the fund goes to those most in need, please note the following athletes will not be eligible to apply: · Those ranked in the Top 6 in their event in the World Athletics World Rankings · Those who have finished in the Top 6 positions of any Gold Label Road Race in 2019 · Those who have earned more than USD 6,000 in prize money from the Diamond League in 2019 Athletes who, throughout the covid-19 pandemic, continue to receive an annual grant from their Government, National Olympic Committee, Member Federation or sponsors are not expected to apply unless they can demonstrate a justifiable welfare need as detailed above. To a s k q u e s t i o n s regarding eligibility, or to make a case for exceptional circumstances (such as injury in 2019 impacting on eligibility), athletes should c o n t a c t iaf@worldathletics.org. The first phase of the application process is for the IAF to assess eligibility and for athletes to describe the need for grant support and their proposed use of the grant. More detailed financial information will be requested in the second phase prior to confirmation of any grant award.
World Cup in Australia, which is set to begin in October. Dhumal suggested that the BCCI would consider slotting IPL in the OctoberNovember window if the global tournament cannot go ahead.“If IPL has to happen, there has to be a clear-cut window of 30-40 days,” he said. “If T20 World Cup does not happen, and there’s a window available, then it would be worked out, subject to restrictions of course.”With the cricket calendar getting increasingly crammed following a series of postponements, getting foreign players for the IPL would be a major headache in any other window, he said. “We may want our foreign players but there could be some tours happening, some bilateral
- official
India’s captain Virat Kohli (C) celebrates the dismissal of his Australian counterpart Steven Smith with his teammates. (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File Photo) series going on. “And their availability is subject to so many conditions - whether foreign boards would allow their players to travel. A few countries may still be in lockdown.“As of now,
everyone is engaged for the T20 World Cup. If that tournament is not there, then all boards have their players available (for IPL),” Dhumal added. ($1 = 1.5482 Australian dollars)
Positive efforts seen to resolve the Chris Gayle outburst issue In what could be deemed as a positive outcome stemming from the recent outburst from West Indies star batsman Chris Gayle involving the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and fellow Windies teammate Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chairman, CPL Tournament Committee, the Hon. P. J. Patterson, efforts have been made to address the issue and contact has been made with Gayle, who has issued a statement, which the committee has accepted and they have agreed to resolve the matter. The committee was in the process assembling a tribunal to look at the matter but following communication between Patterson and Gayle and his readiness to move forward the decision was taken to not assemble the tribunal and accept the statement which is seen as an apology from Gayle and close the matter. Here is the full statement from the Hon. P. J. Patterson followed by the response from Gayle. Statement from the most Hon. P. J. Patterson Chairman, CPL Tournament Committee: On May 6th, the CPL Tournament Committee received a formal complaint from the CPL alleging breaches of its Tournament
Rules & Regulations by Mr. Chris Gayle, arising from a series of videos which he had posted to his personal YouTube channel on April 27th. Having circulated the complaint, the CTC unanimously decided that it satisfied the prima facie test. In accordance with its Disciplinary Powers it authorised the establishment of an independent three (3) member Tribunal to hear the matter. Notwithstanding, intense efforts were made to settle the charges for the benefit of CWI, CPL and Mr. Gayle, before empanelling its members. These efforts have resulted in an acceptance by Mr. Gayle of the need to issue the statement attached hereto. This was received by the CTC and shared with the CPL & CWI to the satisfaction of all parties. Given the assurance of Mr. Gayle to act in good faith, it therefore is no longer necessary to empanel a Tribunal. The CTC, the CPL and CWI therefore consider the matter closed. Statement by Chris Gayle: Recently, I posted three videos on my personal YouTube channel, where I addressed the reasons for my departure from the Jamaica Tallawahs franchise ahead of the 2020 CPL tournament.
I made these videos with one single intention – to explain to the fans in Jamaica the reasons behind what has now become my second departure from the Tallawahs franchise. It was my greatest wish to finish my CPL career in Jamaica – playing in front of my home crowd at Sabina Park with the franchise that I had previously led to two CPL titles. In so far as my resentment at the treatment, I stand by my comments in those videos. My words were spoken from the heart. Having said that, I must be honest and say that I now realize how portions of my comments may be viewed as being damaging to Cricket West Indies, and to the CPL Tournament and its brand – a tournament which I have sincerely enjoyed not just being a part of, but also helping to build and promote. It was never my intention to damage the T20 Tournament, as playing in the CPL has guaranteed an opportunity for the past 7 years to play in front of the great fans of the Caribbean. This is a privilege which I genuinely appreciate and have never taken for granted. Right now, my eyes are fixed firmly on the season ahead, and the new challenge which playing for the St. Lucia Zouks franchise will bring. I hope to see you there.
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Saturday May 16, 2020
In Haiti, football world backs federation boss accused of rape AFP - At a training facility outside the Haitian capital, where young female football players are living under a coronavirus lockdown, the atmosphere is heavy, following allegations that the head of the sport’s national federation raped several teenage girls there. But at the academy — once a ranch owned by Haiti’s former strongman Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier — players and staff are largely on Yves JeanBart’s side, calling him a father figure.President JeanBart is like a father to us all... he loves and respects everyone,” says Yvette Felix, a 38-year-old former national team captain who has worked as a coach since 2006. The claims stem from a report by The Guardian, in which the alleged victims and their relatives said the 73-year-old Jean-Bart had raped or sexually assaulted them over the past five years. Several alleged victims — who said they were pressured to keep quiet — told the British newspaper that at least two minors were forced to have abortions to cover up rapes.Haitian police have launched a probe into the allegations, first revealed late last month, and a judge has already summoned several federation employees to answer questions. Two women’s advocacy groups, SOFA and Kay
Kerly Theus, the 21-year-old goalkeeper for Haiti’s national team(AFP / Pierre Michel Jean)
Melissa Shelsie Dacius, 20, says she was never victimized. (AFP / Pierre Michel Jean)
Haitian football federation chief Yves Jean-Bart - seen Here in 2002 in Miami — stands accused of raping and sexually assaulting young girls over the past five years; he denies the allegations. (AFP/File / Rhona Wise) Fanm, have issued a statement in support of the alleged victims. - ‘Insult to the nation’ Nevertheless, at the Haitian Football Federation center, which was founded after the devastating 2010 earthquake, multiple people told AFP they were shocked by the claims.“The president treats us like his own children. I don’t think that all that really happened. I don’t believe it,” said one 12-yearold female player, who has lived at the facility since December.In the wider
sports community in the Port-au-Prince area, the view of Jean-Bart as a father figure spans generations.He has led the country’s football federation for two decades. His re-election in February for a sixth term was a mere formality — he ran unopposed.Reached by telephone, Jean-Bart categorically denied all allegations against him. “This is an insult to the nation,” he said, adding that he planned to file a complaint in Paris against the French journalist who
case was confirmed in Haiti, the players were already living in somewhat spartan conditions, crammed into dorms with crumbling walls. Hanging a sheet between the beds in the rooms is the only way to get a bit of privacy — and isn’t necessarily any guarantee of personal safety. “We share rooms. We’re together all the time, and we’re friends, but you might have a problem in your life that I know nothing about,” said Melissa Shelsie Dacius, who is 20. “I can’t really say that nothing ever happened to the people who live right here with me,” she noted, before adding: “Nothing ever happened to me.” Webens Prinsime, a former player on the men’s national team, says he’s known Jean-Bart for more than 30 years. “No one wants to be associated with anyone who would ever rape a minor, or make her have an abortion,” Prinsime said. “If the president is guilty, then he should pay, but let’s at least let football keep going... If he’s not guilty, we should leave him alone.”
co-wrote the Guardian piece. “He defamed our country. He left a stain on our flag. He insulted the girls.” - Player protest Football is revered in Haiti, and has given the impoverished Caribbean nation a few moments in the international spotlight. For some, attacking Jean-Bart — often referred to by his nickname, “Dadou” — is akin to attacking the country as a whole. he international athletics After the Guardian season is scheduled to resume article was published, in August and will conclude in several players organized a October this year with a series of one-day meetings after most of the Continental Tour Gold and Wanda Diamond League meeting directors have pledged their commitment to organise their events on rescheduled dates in 2020. And, the President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG); Aubrey Aubrey Hutson Hutson, has hailed this news as a step in AAG President the right direction with the first World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting of the year, the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, slated to be held on August, 11. Eight of the ten Continental Tour Gold meetings originally scheduled for 2020 have been confirmed for this year, although many have been rescheduled to fall between August and October with a total prize money purse of at least US$200,000 being offered for each Gold meeting. During an invited comment with Kaieteur Sport, Hutson explained that, “This will be good news for some of our senior athletes who are out of the college system in the U.S. and looking to use Track and Field as a means of income including Deandre Baker (Georgia) on the red Arinze Chance, Brenessa Thompson and Troy Doris to name a carpet prior to the first round of the 2019 few.” NFL Draft in Downtown Nashville. “What this announcement allows is for a pathway to the (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo) return to normalcy and an opportunity for up and coming athletes to showcase that they are high caliber, deserving to The arrest warrant added that there was a dispute at the compete at the international level which would lead to party in which the guests were gambling and playing cards invitations at future meets.” and video games. Baker took out a gun after the argument at Hutson continued, that he is approaching the news of the the card table and pointed it at another guest, the warrant said. International athletics seasons resuming competition with a bit The New York Giants cornerback then allegedly asked of optimism and athletes will also appreciate such, since they Dunbar and another man wearing a red mask to start would be able to gage what level they are at now, following a collecting money and some other belongings from people at layoff of competition caused directly by the coronavirus the party. pandemic.
Arrest warrants issued for NFL players over armed robbery allegations (Reuters) - Arrest warrants have been issued for National Football League (NFL) players Quinton Dunbar and Deandre Baker in Miramar, Florida, after they were accused of being involved in an armed robbery, local police said late on Thursday. Dunbar, a cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks and New York Giants cornerback Baker were accused of robbing guests at gun-point at a house party they attended near Miami a night earlier, according to the arrest warrant issued on Thursday by the Miramar Police Department. A police spokeswoman cited by the New York Times said that the players had not been arrested and that the police were in touch with the NFL and a lawyer representing one of the players. The police added that the two players allegedly stole over $7,000 in cash and at least two watches valued at $18,000 and $25,000 each. The Seattle Seahawks said they were aware of the situation and did not comment further. “We are aware of the situation involving Quinton Dunbar and still gathering information. We will defer all further comment to league investigators and local authorities”, the Seahawks said on Twitter.
protest at the training camp. Photos of them circulated on the internet.“We made signs to say ‘Stop sullying our image, stop sullying the image of the nation,” explained Kerly Theus, the 21-year-old goalkeeper for the women’s national team. - Rape culture W h i l e t h e # M e To o movement against sexual assault and harassment has flourished around the globe, it is still in its infancy in Haiti. Vi c t i m b l a m i n g i s common. The freedom to speak out against an assailant is not encouraged. “When we talk about abuse here, sometimes people think it’s the victim’s fault — that she wanted it, that she accepted it,” said Theus.“Before, when we posted a photo or video of us on social media, people were proud,” she added.“Now, because of what was published, if we post a picture, people say: ‘That’s the president’s woman.’” - ‘Nothing ever happened to me’ Before being confined to the facility as a safety measure in mid-March, when the first coronavirus
AAG boss hails opening of international athletics season
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Saturday May 16, 2020
Hetmyer, Paul & Permaul in WI 30-man provisional squad
Shimron Hetmyer Kemo Paul
But no room for Shepherd & Keiran Powell By Sean Devers The planning by CWI for the West Indies tour of the United Kingdom (UK) with the possibility of playing a Three-Test series set to start in July has included a 30-man squad being named for the possible tour. According to sources close to the CWI, the Roger Harper led selection committee has been charged with selecting 30players from which the touring squad will be named if the tour eventually goes ahead. The players selected in the 30-man have all been notified but when contacted Guyanese fast bowling allrounder Romario Shepherd confirmed that he was not among those selected. The 25-year-old Shepherd who plays for Tucber Park in Berbice, has taken 72 wickets and made three fifties in 23 FirstClass matches since making his debut against Jamaica in in 2017, while he has taken four wickets from five ODI games forWest Indies.
Essequibian fast bowling all-rounder, 22year-old Keemo Paul and the Berbice pair of 23-yearold opener Shimron Hetmyer and left arm s p i n n e r Ve e r a s a m m y Permaul have been included in the preliminary squad. This was confirmed to Kaieteur sports by Permaul who ended the truncated 2020 Regional First-Class season with 50 wickets from eight matches, the third time he has taken 50 wickets in a single season. The suspension of the season due to COVID-19 did not give the 31-year-old from Albion in Berbice the chance of breaking his own record of 67 wickets he captured in 2015. Permaul has 535 wickets from 120 matches including 18 from six Tests. Hetmyer scored 32 in his only match for the Jaguars on his return from Sri Lanka with the West Indies team, while Paul who has six wickets in his three Tests and 87 wickets from 21 First-Class matches, in
Veersammy Permaul Romario Shepherd which he also scored a century, was given a rest and did not play any match after returning from the same tour. Hetmyer has five fifties in his 16 Tests since making his debut against Pakistan in 2017 and just a single ton in 39 First-Class games. March 8, 2020 was the last time that any of these players played any competitive cricket. West Indies Skipper Jason Holder heads a list of 12 from Barbados in the 30, while there was no room in the provisional squad for Nevis and Leewards left-
hander Keiran Powell who was the leading run scorer for his team this season after scoring the most runs in the last Regional Super50. The 30-year-old Powell has scored three centuries and six fifties from 40 Tests but he has not played international cricket since December 2018. The Global COVID-19 Pandemic has badly affected sports in United Kingdom and the Caribbean Islands and Guyana on the South American Mainland and has put the English tour in
without spectators. It is also understood that CWI will ask the ECB to stand the expenses for the extra players. The larger than usual squad is to serve as cover for the eventualities of players getting ill or injured and players don’t have to be sent from the Caribbean since they will have to go through to two-week quarantine. As a part of the strategy to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Government announced that some sporting events (Continued on page 19)
Jeopardy. T h e r e i s n o confirmation of anything as yet but both the ECB and CWI Boards have had medical and cricket discussions. Another conference call has been fixed for Monday between the two Boards. There are plans to play three matches at venues with Hotels and the West Indies squad which could be as large as 25 players, the Coaching staff and team officials and even the West Indies Media, will have to be quarantined for 14-days and the games played
Sinclair aims to repeat Super50 showing in CPL Not disappointed if it’s suspended since saving lives more important than cricket By Sean Devers The Guyana Amazon Warriors announced earlier this week that the Franchise had retained its top players from their 2019 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) squad for this year’s season which is being threatened by the deadly COVID-19 Pandemic. This year, the six teams are allowed to retain as many players from their 2019 squads as they wish, transfer players to other teams and sign emerging players. The following are the Local and Regional players retained and signed by the Amazon Warriorsfranchise for CPL 2020: Nicholas Pooran ( Tr i n i d a d & To b a g o ) , Shimron Hetmyer (Guyana), Brandon King (Jamaica), Keemo Paul (Guyana), Sherfane Rutherford
(Guyana), Romario Shepherd (Guyana), Chandrapaul Hemraj (Guyana), Kevin Sinclair (Guyana), Odean Smith (Jamaica), Anthony Bramble (Guyana) and Emerging player. It was also disclosed that the talented Guyanese offspinner all-rounder Kevin Sinclair was the only new player contracted. Sinclair had best economy rate among all bowlers in last November’s Colonial Medical Super50 Cup as the West Indies Emerging Players won the title in their debut tournament by beating home team T&T in the final. Sinclair performed well with both bat and ball in his debut senior Regional tournament. In his seven matches, he delivered 294 balls,
conceded 152 runs, taken 11 wickets with a best of 4-20 and an amazing economy rate of just over two runs per over. The cousin of former Guyana fast bowler Kevin Darlington, Sinclair batted five times and scored 218 runs with top-score 44 and strike rate of 95.75. The Berbician made an inauspicious start to his First-Class career earlier this year. In his six matches he
Kevin Sinclair hit a cameo 28 before taking 4-20 as the WI Emerging Players won the Super50 tournament last night at the QPO.
played he failed to contribute any outstanding performances taking 12 wickets and making 113 runs. But the 20-year-old, who bowls defensively without extracting much turn, seems more comfortable bowling the white ball and says he is delighted to be involved in the CPL. Sinclair informed that when he saw his name on the CPL Emerging Players list
Watched by Umpire former Windies all-rounder Carl Tuckett and Kevin Sinclair, Devendra Bishoo bowls in practice at Providence. Coach Esaun Crandon is also in the photo. he knew that he would have been a part of this year’s Event but hoped to be picked in the local Franchise. “It feels really good after watching it (the CPL matches) from the outside and now being able to be a part of it. It’s fantastic. I am confident of doing well…. just looking to stick to the basics and work hard. “It should be more competitive but the same principle applies….
spending a bit of time at the crease and bowling tight,” informed Sinclair, who has not played any cricket since February. The 2020 Event is set to start in August but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it be could be rescheduled and played at one venue (maybe the Kensington Oval in Barbados) with no spectators or ultimately cancelled.“It’s obvious that (Continued on page 19)
CWI was “broke” before COVID-19
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Positive efforts seen to resolve the Chris Gayle outburst issue
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Hon. P.J. Patterson
Ricky Skerritt
Chris Gayle celebrates his hundred © CPL T20 via Getty Images
Steve Ninvalle (centre) and the boxers in Cuba. (From left) Colin Lewis, Dennis Thomas, Keevin Allicock and Desmond Amsterdam.
Boxers becoming frustrated in Cuba, plead to be brought home P. 20
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