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Guyana still being ignored as World Bank gives aid to 100 countries

May 20, 2020 - Vol. 15 No. 20

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As recount continues more skulduggery unearthed...

3 more boxes differ 3500

3000

from Mingo’s3269 tabulation 2582

2561 2331

2341

A P N U + A F C

A P N U + A F C

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

P P P / C

0

Statements of Poll

P P P / C

Statements of Recount

A 2230 P N P U + P P A F / C C

Clairmont Mingo Today, Kaieteur News continues our series of in-depth investigative and analytical articles on the 2020 elections recount. In addition to our follow up lead on the manipulation of statements of polls by Region Four Returning Office Mortimer Mingo during the tabulation process, we present our ongoing reportage on the recount itself.

Mingo’s Figures

Couple Coalition claimed Cops on trail of suspects who strangled woman, was “out of country” was present and voted on E-day dumped body in mining pit COVID-19 cases 76 ballot boxes Guyana consulting with China to mount - 51 persons completed on to 125 tested in 24 hrs Day 14 of recount fight COVID-19

Coalition beats PPP 250-3 at Belladrum but still complains 24 votes fraudulent

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday May 20, 2020

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

Dividing and hating at the worst possible time

W

hen we show the most by way of commonsense, we demonstrate in unequivocal terms, that we possess the least, maybe none at all. We exhibit this appalling standard, on an almost national level, when we shrug in misplaced smugness and dangerous recklessness, at the alarming presence and devastating potential that are part and parcel of the coronavirus pestilence.

It is not an exaggerated scare tactic; it is very real and could lead to the catastrophic.

Despite this, we remain proud and loud about what contributes immensely in dividing us, in that which solidifies even more unbreakably into the cycles of hating.

Divided and hateful, we are from the tense sanctuary of our homes, as we look and listen to whatever the technology brings or spews into our laps and hearts: it is ‘dem people’. Reinforcing of the ancient is assured, now a mandatory ingredient in the bubbling sizzling mess that is political and racial Guyana.

This was never good at any time, now it is incontestable how we are and the hurtful negatives that we have allowed ourselves to become more enmeshed in is occurring at the worst of possible times.

We peer across our fences and turn away, for the sentiment in the heart is that there are no neighbours anymore, only the imagined or manufactured reality of what is now regarded as enemy territory. It is but one manifestation of our way of thinking, our settled conditioning that has now metamorphosed in our fixed way of life.

We are about deliberately dividing from the other by separating ourselves and hating the other because those once recognised and embraced as former friends, now stand in the pathway to ascendancy and supremacy. Whoever thought that some racial progress as made now feels despair, since none is ever made.

For this is the same savaging way that characterises our views from through the windows and windshields of our waiting vehicles.

Those feelings are returned in spades from whoever is the breathing dissenting object that stares (or studiously ignores) along roadways. Things are closer in the narrow confines of markets, where body language shimmers with the reciprocal sweats of who are found agitating, chilliness oozes.

In our places of prayer, the passions may be more muted, postures more careful, the personal placement more distant, more protective, and this is how we come before God on High to tell him how low we have fallen.

That is, if we care enough, if our consciences accuse us, and if our conduct condemns us for what we are: the worst of hypocrites, the greatest of pretenders. Somewhere along the line, the great teachings about brotherhood and fellowship have been superseded by the dividing and hating that flows so effortlessly now from our polarizing politics: those people are treacherous.

Our pious assemblies of reaching for the Almighty, the lynchpin of our belief systems are closed.

Long before those compulsory closures, our own hearts were closed to appreciating those next to us, who may be different.

Things are now so far gone in Guyana that even tolerating is a heavy burden that too many find undesirable, hence unlivable in the distances and coldness that we construct so reflexively to wall each other out so completely.

And this is at this most testing of times when we need each other like never before.

In this most difficult time, our minds should be engaged at delivering by our hands the promises of our words. We need every hand at this menacing hour, this unending interlude that has made us retreat into feared silos of hostility and the hatreds cultivated and refined to where our environment overflows with what endangers still further in this hour of great challenge.

Our leaders stand as examples of what is dividing, from

Considerations of inclusive governance should be linked to honest declaration of elections results – Havelock Brewster DEAR EDITOR The articles on the Guyana elections that have been published recently in the Jamaican press are not very helpful. They give the impression that commitment to democracy in Guyana is not only in question, but is simply a matter of winner takes all (WTA). Even if that winner scrapes in with a oneseat majority.

WTA has been, under both parties, and indeed for the past 70 years of acrimony and stagnation, an unworkable, ineffective form of governance in Guyana, and would be more so now when newly found huge petroleum wealth is at stake.

Seven decades of racial strife, leaving Guyana, a country of immense human and natural resources, among the poorest of the poor in our hemisphere, cannot be ignored.

More than flag- waving slogans of “democracy” are essential. Indeed, even the Carter Center who first brokered free and fair elections (FFE) in Guyana recognized in their election

monitoring Statement that not only must irregularities be corrected, but that the parties should now return to constitutional reform, that is, towards negotiating a more inclusive form of democratic governance.

None of the contributors in the Jamaican press articles have recognized or even mentioned this fundamental prerequisite. Indeed, this was the original premise under which FFE was negotiated, only to be ditched when one or the other of the parties was elected.

The PPP reneged on this understanding for the 23 years when they were in power. And so too the PNC (APNU+AFC) when they were in power for the last 5 years. WTA was never intended to be a permanent form of democratic governance in Guyana. It will not be acceptable either to the Afro-Guyanese people or to the Indo-Guyanese people — whichever party rightly wins the election. It can only be a recipe for continued ineffective governance, at best, or eventually for the

outbreak of violence.

Many countries, all over the world, where there are deep-rooted, irreconcilable divisions –usually religious, tribal, racial – have found it necessary to devise forms of inclusive democratic governance that accommodate their particular circumstances. And the International Community, notwithstanding the lofty pronouncements and implicit threats of representatives of the US, UK and some Caribbean Community governments, have understood this, and in some instances have assisted such societies in devising those inclusive democratic structures (and in a few extreme instances have even gone so far as to legitimise partitions).

For example, national unity governments, of various kinds, have been put in place, to name but a few countries, in Ireland, Croatia, Israel, Kenya, Lebanon, Nepal, Palestine, Sri Lanka, and most recently Afghanistan.

In the present context of Guyana, this means that an honest determination of the results of the election should proceed concurrently with a time-bound commitment to the negotiation of constitutional reform towards an inclusive form of democratic governance — whichever party should honestly win the election.

True, there is no foolproof system of effective, harmonious governance, but after 70 years of stagnating dysfunction something else deserves to be tried.

National governance is of course much more difficult work than one-party rule, and more reliant on quality of leadership, but there are several working models. To proceed with business as usual, paying lip service to so-called “democracy” would be an invitation to disaster.

Yours truly, Havelock Brewster CCH (former Ambassador of Guyana to the European Union, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands)

Justice Singh had ruled that an election is not invalidated if anomalies do not substantially change the outcome DEAR EDITOR, Apart from making Guyana win top spot in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest count of election votes on both an absolute and per capita basis, GECOM’s conduct of the recount has not been short of clownishness. Some weeks ago, I referred to Claudette Singh, GECOM’s Chairman as heading a circus.

Claudette is helped by a huge pool to draw from. As the defeat of the APNU+AFC is confirmed by each ballot recounted, both desperation and clownishness seem to have affected the Coalition’s leaders and their surrogates.

The most recent victim is Amna Ally, General Secretary of the PNC-R who on Friday told the media that one dead voter would invalidate the elections - the APNU+AFC’s Plan D after the Mingo/ Lowenfield skit failed to

deliver the swearing in of their leader David Arthur Granger.

Had Ally used her recent attempts to engage Claudette Singh to ask her about the case brought by PNC-R supporter Esther Perreira adjudicated by the same Claudette Singh, she would have learnt that Singh said in that case the following: “In other words, even if an unlawful act or omission is proved, the election would be valid if the conduct of the election was substantially in accordance with the electoral laws and the unlawful act or omission did not affect the result.”

Ally might also not have learnt about the part of the Esther Perreira decision in which Claudette Singh stated that in election petition matters, the petitioner has to prove her case on “a preponderance of probability”. What is coming

which come the enriching fuels that electrify their respective supporters to the point of madness. It is the worst, most deplorable, convergence of fanaticisms. Today, they make our prospects at overcoming dimmer, more frightening, more confidence shattering.

There is urgent need for self-examination by leaders and supporters if only to comprehend that we cripple ourselves, we diminish ourselves, as we keep on dividing and hating.

One nation cannot be built on this.

out from people like Coretta McDonald, James Bond, Ayodele Roach, Carol Joseph, Kidackie Amsterdam, Christopher Jones and Sherrod Duncan are mere fishing expeditions, meant to waste time and stretch the life of a twice-illegal government.

They are of no evidentiary value.

And shortly before Ally, elections cognoscente and GECOM’s self-appointed spokesperson Vincent Alexander told the media that if the votes in one of a hundred boxes could not be counted because the box was soaked, then there should be a by-election! No Mr. Alexander, the national PR system does not work that way. Both Alexander and the Chair know that the only problem facing GECOM is the fraudulent tabulation of the Region Four votes by Mingo and Lowenfield inchoate attempt to act upon it. This circus, and the waste of taxpayers’ money, could have ended long ago if Singh and Alexander were committed to doing the right thing and demand the SOP’s from the Mingo/Lowenfield duo.

Of course, the first aspirants to Claudette Singh’s pool was crime sleuth

extraordinaire Khemraj Ramjattan who, using his special lens, detected the work of Russian hacks who were able to penetrate the homes, offices and safes of all the officials holding the original copies of the statements of polls, cleverly erasing and inflating the APNU+AFC’s numbers and deflating the PPP/C’s numbers so that they could match Mingo’s! Ramjattan’s astuteness was emulated by his colleague David Patterson who opposed live streaming because it was an industrial relations/human rights issue. And showing a facility with maths invented by the AFC leadership, he argued against the consecutive counting of the Regions votes because “to recount each region one at a time doesn’t make sense. By the time you get to Region Four, we will be probably in day 35.” Poor David, a quantity surveyor with a supposed facility with figures, is infected with fake maths, which tell him that the duration of the count will be shortened if the votes of the Regions were recounted concurrently rather than consecutively. The (Continued on page 6)

Wednesday May 20, 2020

The Western powers have chosen a side in elections impasse DEAR EDITOR I have differed from much of the commentary and analysis of the current political impasse in Guyana, which have tended to confine the issue to a problem electoral democracy. I believe that that is a narrow and inadequate reading of the situation.

My fear is that if there is a narrow or what I refer to as a minimalist diagnosis of the problem, then there would logically be a narrow solution.

I think that at the heart of the problem is a convergence of multiple factors.

First, there is the issue of electoral democracy whereby the country continues to struggle with the problem of credible elections, which are acceptable to all parties. This is an old problem that dates back to 1961. Both of the major parties have accused the other of electoral rigging.

There is enough evidence that given our ethnic geography both parties have benefited from tampering with the process in areas where their support base predominates.

The on-going recount seems to be supporting this thesis. Of note is that the party that is in opposition more often than not has been able to pin the label on the ruling party. This was so in 1961 when the PNC was able to “prove” that the PPP had rigged that election.

The tables turned on the PNC from 1968 to 1985 when the PPP and others were able to paint the then ruling PNC as chronic riggers.

With the change in government in 1992, the tide swung the other way as the PNC became more vocal with charges of rigging by the PPP. Finally, in 2015 and 2020 the PPP has been louder in its charges of rigging by the PNC. Former President Donald Ramotar on a recent programme in which I participated revealed that he

still believes that the 2015 elections were rigged in favour of the APNU+AFC and called for an investigation of that election.

I have recounted the above to correct the narrative that is being promoted that electoral rigging is a onesided phenomenon. It is not.

And to give the younger generation the impression that it is only one party that has been accused of rigging elections is a blatant falsification of history. True, one party has been more successful in pinning the tag on the other one. But that does not erase the fact that both parties have been accused of the infraction.

What appears to be unfolding before us in 2020 is that for the first time both parties are bent on simultaneously exposing the fraud of the other.

The second factor at play is the underlying ethnic problem which both parties know exists but for obvious reasons they downplay. All elections since adult suffrage was introduced beginning in 1953 have been sites of ethnic contestation.

This is not unique to Guyana; it is the case in all ethnically divided societies.

In Guyana, winning control of the government is the ultimate prize because it gives the party the power to distribute economic and cultural resources.

And each ethnic group has more confidence in their ethnic party to steer recourses to their group. Now for the first time, the outcome of an election would give the winning party control of enormous economic wealth.

I come to the third factor—the external factor.

Unfortunately, from 1953 to the present external forces, in particular the USA and Britain, have always exerted tremendous influence on Guyana’s domestic affairs. It is partly due to Guyana’s

status as a small dependent country, partly due to the Guyanese political leaders inability to work out their differences on their own and partly because for a long time Guyana presented a threat to the ideological interests of the Western countries. Now in 2020, the primary interest of the West in Guyana is its newly found oil wealth. All other interests are in the service of that primary interests.

Thanks to our own Walter Rodney, Clive Thomas, and other dependency theorists we know that the wealth of rich countries is directly linked to the exploitation of the wealth of smaller, weaker countries.

I am on record as saying that the ABCE countries have openly chosen a side in the current standoff—they have taken the PPP’s side.

Speaking on a Globespan 24/ 7 programme on Monday May 18 Anil Nandlall boasted that the PPP has all the diplomatic community, including CARICOM, on its side. It is no idle boast. Of course, no country will say openly it is backing a party in another country.

They always shelter their support under some noble principle like democracy.

This is what is happening now in Guyana, but it is not new.

In the PPP-PNC conflict of the early 1960s, the USA and Britain openly sided with the PNC. The saw the PPP then as a threat to Western democracy. For two decades, they supported the PNC authoritarian regime — the very authoritarianism that they are now threatening to sanction the PNC for. And during that period, the PPP cursed the West left, right and centre for interference in Guyanese affairs in order to keep the PPP out of power. It is the irony of ironies to hear the Caribbean’s foremost (Continued on page 6)

We cannot rid ourselves of corruption until we rid ourselves of political patronage

DEAR EDITOR, I have examined politics in Guyana and notice corruption is rampant regardless of which party is in government. Politicians who have serious allegations of corruption often have a huge margin of victory in election following the scandal. I formulated a hypothesis that it is because of political patronage and not based on the politician’s performance for national development.

I have seen a list of over a hundred voters who get regular payment from a particular politician.

I also received information of a politician who was paying the rent of a voter. So it does not matter what politicians do to the nation as

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long as they patronize their voters, they will win elections.

As a country, Guyana must address political patronage or corruption will remain rampant. We either have a social safety net for the poor or create employment for the lower socioeconomic population.

It is not that politicians who are successful in electoral politics are doing an awesome job but that they are good at political patronage of their political constituent. People who vote for politician who are known to be corrupt are accomplices, although circumstances might encourage it.

Yours truly, Brian E Plummer

The legality of the current recount is sound in law DEAR EDITOR, A number of comments were made over the weekend, which have most likely left the citizens of this country confused as to the legality of the current recount.

In the interest of clarity, I would like to remind all Guyanese that these are the facts: 1. The Gazetted Order (No. 60 of 2020) has the power of law; and 2. At Section 1(f), it states that, “The role of the Commission shall include but not limited to determine AND DECLARE THE FINAL RESULTS of the General and Regional Elections 2020.”

It would be ludicrous to

assume, as reflected in Commissioner Alexander’s remarks, that the final results would not be based on a recount which, according to the Orders, reflects GECOM’s efforts to “remove difficulties connected with the application of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03, in implementing its decisions relating to the conduct of the aforementioned recount of all ballots cast at the said elections...”

I am appealing to all Guyanese to resist the temptation to take a position on the legitimacy of the results of the recount, and any declaration flowing there

from, which is based solely on whether the party of their choice emerges as the winner or loser in this election.

Unfortunately, whatever the outcome, a substantial portion of Guyanese will always feel like they have lost, have been shut out, silenced, isolated.

Therefore, whatever the outcome, I w i s h t o encourage all Guyanese to support any movement for comprehensive reforms to t h e democratic process entrenched in our Constitution that will ensure citizens in all corners of the country are given a voice.

Yours truly, Aruna Budhram

Mr. Subhan is still a serving member of the Ethnic Relations Commission DEAR EDITOR, I refer to an article from the above-captioned date of your newspaper with the caption: “More Awareness Can Help Eliminate COVID-19 Stigmatization-Neaz Subhan”.

The aforementioned article claims that Mr. Neaz Subhan is a former member of the Ethnic Relations Commission, (ERC). Mr. Subhan is actually one of ten Commissioners presently serving on the ERC since it was reactivated in 2018. A new board of ten Commissioners was sworn in

by President David Granger

in February, 2018 and Mr. Subhan was among those who took office.

Kindly make the necessary correction for your readers.

Thank you.

Kind regards, Shiv Nandalall Public Relations Officer Ethnic Relations Commission Editor’s Note. We regret the error.

St. Kitts elections next month might be resolved before ours

DEAR EDITOR Sister CARICOM nation, St. Kitts, heads to the polls on June 5 2020 (KN May 19). Their new government might be installed long before ours ever is.

Yours truly, Shamshun Mohamed

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Wednesday May 20, 2020

The time has come for a conversation on constitutional reform DEAR EDITOR, From all indications, de facto president Granger seems unconvinced that there is any reason to believe he is wrong in doing or condoning what followed in the aftermath of the no confidence motion and the March 2nd elections.

The president’s constant refrain to the tune that; “GECOM is an independent constitutional agency over which I and the executive have no control.”

As well as his fallacious assurance that “... as President, I cannot, did not and will not interfere in the work of GECOM” reeks of deception and the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon.

Mr. Granger’s position rings hollow because of the spanner he recently threw in GECOM’s works thereby preventing the Commission from benefiting from the presence of the Carter Center to observe the recount of the votes.

Caught up in a whirlwind of his surreal world, Mr. Granger’s reasoning seems to be that it is his political opponents, not he, who have it all wrong starting with the NCM and all that flowed therefrom, culminating in Mingo’s twice questionable declaration of ‘results’ for votes cast at the March 2 elections.

Sources say that persons close to the presidency have asked rather puzzlingly; ‘what is the disagreement over the results all about’ when the president has said “I have always stood by the Constitu-

tion, upheld the rule of law, never interfered in the work of GECOM and have always defended Guyana’s national sovereignty?”

‘What wrong has he done?’ Others have asked rather cynically.

What are these moral values he lacks that people are talking about? Some query.

And, as if in prayer, they seek absolution. The rule of law in Guyana today, regrettable, relies on the diktat of a bureaucratic elite who, on the one hand, claim to uphold the constitution and the rule of law, while on the other, it is they themselves who violate the constitution as a means to an end.

The impending collapse of our fledgling democratic process began with persistent and consistent assaults on the constitution beginning with political interference in constitutional bodies and the drive to control those bodies by placing politically connected persons to head them.

What we are faced with here in Guyana, are expressions of a mindset of an elite, fettered by attributes and habits formed by previous experiences. Small wonder why it is not unusual to hear and read views that the genesis of the Granger administration is to be found in the Burnham era.

In the circumstances, we are made to believe that, based on their public utterances, the Coalition has had

enough time to reflect on the electoral process. Thus, by way of noises emanating from their Tower of Babel, coalition spokespersons have not been bashful in making it known that they may brand the entire electoral process discredited and the recount illegal notwithstanding Granger’s public admonition that he is prepared to accept “any declaration” by GECOM’s chairwoman.

In all their mental meanderings, the coalitionists have failed to realize that their immoral actions have made it easier for the populace to recognize the true nature of the beast they have been saddled with for the past five years.

But for those in the leadership of the Coalition, it is the humongous salaries, the perks, the bribes, the land grabbing, the corrupt practices, the fear o f l o s i n g power, of being saluted to, the cutting of ribbons, the ceremonial events, and traveling first class to faraway exotic places that play tantalizingly on their minds as well as those in the kitchen cabinet, the hangers-on and petit officials.

Some call it drama, but in effect, it is psychological warfare that is being played out between an elitist rigging cabal and the opposition parties whose sole interest is to have transparent, credible and internationally acceptable declaration of the results of the elections.

The Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce is calling for more recount workstations DEAR EDITOR, As if the global pandemic COVID-19 is not enough to do battle with, Guyanese have to fight tooth and nail to get the Guyana Elections Commission to declare the results of an elections held 77 days ago which in itself is a major failure of the Chairperson and her Commissioners.

It is extremely disgraceful when one considers just over 450k people voted. Now having dilly and dallied for close to a month, they set a time frame of 25 days to recount the ballots.

With ten counting stations, they counted 643 boxes at the end of 13 days, averaging say 50 boxes daily or 5 boxes per station. This means in the other 12 remaining days of their target date, they have to count 1696 boxes or say 141 boxes daily. What does GECOM, a constitutional body that failed the people to deliver the elections result after 77 days now do?

GECOM can and must

stick to their timelines of 25 days! Many people in this country cannot provide food for their family as they are out of jobs, businesses are closed, people are fed up, frustrated, downright demotivated and depressed.

Yet GECOM is limping along without any urgency! They are woefully behind schedule and what do they do? Close the stations at 5pm and 5:30pm It is simply ludicrous that instead of increasing the hours, they are reducing it.

GECOM must do better! The country cannot afford to wait another 28 days with just 2 more stations added.

They must add another 4 more stations to take it to 16 stations. Even with 16 stations with an average of 80 boxes daily will take us 21 more days from May 19. And pray, can someone explain why they did not allocate the 2 more stations to Region Four?

At the end of Day 13, Re-

gion Four still had 714 out of 879 boxes or approximately 81% to be counted.

We will end up exactly where we started. All the regions would be completed and Region Four would remain and this is where the elections fiasco started.

Seems the Chairperson and the Commissioners have not learned anything or are going where they want to be. It is extremely difficult to figure out the happenings at GECOM. The Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce is urgently calling the Chairperson Justice Claudette Singh and the commission to put an additional 4 more stations and also increase the hours up to 9:00 pm. At least these two measures would take us not too far away from the original 25 days for the recount.

Yours truly M. Raffik President Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce

That aside, a major humbug to a speedy resolution of the election debacle is the herd instinct manifested by the political has-beens and wannabes who are fighting tooth and mail to ward off their impending political demise.

We Guyanese have arrived finally at a stage where there is an emerging consensus that our electoral system is broken and that the solution lay in a revamped system within the meaning of constitutional reform.

The new government has in effect received a resounding mandate to make fundamental institutional reforms based on the public outcry for these changes to be effected.

It would not have gone unnoticed, that since the assumption to office by the Coalition Administration, an unofficial national conversation began in this country on a matter pertain-

ing to constitutional reform, and an inclusive form of governance.

This conversation has intensified following passage of the NCM and current elections debacle.

In fact, this virtual national conversation has laid the basis for a slew of fundamental changes in our political culture and institutional arrangements.

Coupled with occurrences during the current electoral period, the voices of revolutionary change have been loud and clear.

The newly elected government would do well to take on board those voices for real change irrespective of how modest their contribution was to the triumph of democracy.

R e g r e t t a b l y, i n t h e course of the virtual national conversation, race and ethnicity, peddled by a few, are put on the front burner making their resolu-

tion a sine qua non for any advancement in our economic, social and political life. The trend has accelerated in recent times. It is a poisonous trend that must be rejected.

This unhelpful narrative, compounded by a combination of prolonged agony and yearning for freedom, demands first and foremost; a speedy end to elections fatigue and secondly, a phasing out of the COVID 19 lock down.

Absence of these fundamental ingredients to life and liberty, I again emphasize, only serve to breed anger and rebellion and, the emergence of extremist groups who, realizing that it’s a waste of time to effect a change of government through the ballot box, take matters into their own hands and chose other routes to do so.

Yours truly, Clement J. Rohee

The Western powers have chosen...

From page 5 ant-imperialist party calling for Western sanctions in Guyana. I wonder whether the Cheddi and Janet Jagan are turning in their graves.

In 1992, the West switched their support away from the PNC towards the PPP. The Cold War had ended, and Guyana was less of a threat to their interests and of little concern to their overall global calculations. So, through the Carter Center, they pursued more of a mediatory role. But now with the coming of oil, all that has changed. Guyana is once again central to Western interests.

And once again the West has overtly taken a side.

I pen the above not to curse out the Western

countries. There is no benefit in doing that. In international relations, all countries seek to maximize their interests. But the big countries have the strength and power to do so.

That is just the way it is.

What is of concern for me is this.

I think the Western countries are making a mistake in so overtly showing their hands. They have dealt with Guyana long enough to know that our problem is not one of simply democratic deficit—it is essentially an ethnic conflict. And it is always dangerous for outsiders to immerse themselves in one side of a domestic conflict.

I still think that the West could pursue their economic

and political interests while serving as a mediator. And my warning to the PPP which is inviting sanctions on Guyana is that so long as they cannot sit down with the PNC and look for common solutions, we would never be truly independent. And the oil wealth that each side craves would never materialize to Guyana’s benefit so long as we remain as divided as we are.

Yours truly, David Hinds Editor’s Note. There has been no credible evidence of the Coalition’s claims and several instances of clear falsification of information as carried in stories in today’s edition of this paper.

Justice Singh had ruled that an...

From page 4 mathematical fabric of this country has been destroyed for a generation or two – thanks to the AFC leadership and the Court of Appeal.

Harmon, Trotman and Broomes held up Granger on March 5 in Lamaha Street and told him that he had won the elections.

He seemed a bit dazed, spoke hurriedly and made a quick exit. Now, after all the clownish displays, subterfuges, denials of international observers and most pathetic attempts to discredit the voting on March 2, Aubrey Norton, PNC-R Executive Member and no stranger to rigged elections by his party, is claiming that the same results under which they were vigorously clamouring to

install Granger - in a historic use of other people’s language - is now questioning the credibility of the elections.

But let me explain Norton.

His incredibility about the elections is that with just about every advantage conceivable, the APNU+AFC lost the elections by no small margin.

GECOM was clearly in its corner, if not its pocket.

Indeed, had it not been for such partisanship and quite a bit of fraud, the APNU+AFC would already have been confirmed as losers, sparing the country the risk of international sanction.

Having the elections regulator on your side is clearly worth a bit. Sadly, I have to state that I think that the Court’s failure to act sensibly in some

cases and decisively in others also gave GECOM and the APNU+AFC time to play with the Voters List and consumed in no small measure the energy of the opposition.

The Coalition had the Consolidated Fund at its disposal, and the big contractors in their corner – all worth millions of real dollars.

It had incumbency – that too worth a few percentage points. It had and continues to have the executive, including the Government, the State agencies, the Army, the Police, the streets. You are right, Norton. Not only is it incredible that they could lose, they really deserved to lose.

Yours truly, Christopher Ram

Wednesday May 20, 2020

Ministry predicts possible July date for NGSA

NGSA will likely be in July, the Education Ministry says.

The National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) is expected to be held within the next two months. This disclosure was made by Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry.

According to a release from government, the Minister explained that ample time will be given to parents and students to prepare, and urged parents to work along with their children.

“The technical officers are working on that… they’re planning to roll it out and to get the students to write that examination [soon],” Minister Henry said.

The NSGA was originally set for April 8 and 9 but was postponed amid concerns about COVID-19.

The Minister said that in light of the curfew and other measures put in place by President David Granger and the National COVID-19 Taskforce, schools will not reopen before June 3.

Minister Henry noted that her office recognises the importance of the exam and is working to ensure that no child is disenfranchised.

“The Ministry would have to get the blessings of the National Task Force and the Ministry of Public Health

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Kaieteur News

when the plan is finalised,” she stated.

The Education Ministry said it will be providing continued academic learning online via social media platforms along with more traditional media, such as television and radio.

Persons can visit the Ministry’s website (https:// www.education.gov.gy/web/) to access NGSA Practice Test Papers in the four core areas.

The Guyana Learning Channel (Channel 42/Cable 29) is also providing several programmes for Primary School students from 09:00hrs – 12:00hrs

Cops on trail of suspects who strangled woman, dumped body in mining pit

P

olice yesterday con tinued their hunt for two suspects in the murder of 28-year-old Rosella Smith, whose body was found in a mining pit at Karrau Backdam, Mazaruni, last Friday.

Detectives are said to be looking for two men with whom the victim was seen in the company of, a day prior to her death.

One of the individuals, known only as ‘Black Boy’, reportedly resides in an East Coast Demerara community.

The other suspect is known only as ‘Rocky.’

“We are getting assistance from ranks on the East Coast of Demerara and Georgetown to locate them,” an official said.

A postmortem, carried out on Monday, revealed that

Rosella Smith Smith was manually strangled and submerged in the waterfilled pit in which she was found.

The victim is from Bamford Point, Bartica, Region Seven.

According to sources,

Smith had visited her motherin law’s home at Second Avenue, Bartica, at around 18:30 hrs last week Monday to see her children, aged nine, seven and five.

She reportedly left $3,000 and a snack for the children. It is believed she headed to Karrau Backdam, Mazaruni, shortly after and set up a camp in the mining area.

Persons reportedly saw her “chatting and laughing” with two men last Thursday.

According to reports, a 23-year-old miner was heading to a worksite at around 12:30 hrs last Friday and had called out to Smith while passing her camp.

He got no response and was continuing his journey when he spotted the woman’s body floating in an abandoned mining pit.

PAGE 8

Kaieteur News

Wednesday May 20, 2020

Two months later… Guyana still being ignored

as World Bank Gives aid to 100 countries T

he World Bank has reached a milestone in its quest to ensure countries respond effectively to COVID-19.

Its emergency operations to fight COVID-19 have reached 100 developing countries. But Guyana is excluded.

It has been more than two months since Guyana went to the Bank with open arms, asking for US$5M to aid its COVID-19 response. There has been no response.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had, in response,

claimed that even the countries that got earmarked so far would have to wait months to get their aid, but the Bank said that its assistance has already reached these countries.

Concerns continue to mount that the US-based Bank, which has been instrumental to the development of Guyana’s petroleum sector, may now be restricting aid from Guyana due to its protracted election process.

The electoral process has dragged on for two and a half

months, and Guyana has barred the Carter Center from coming back to observe the recount.

The restriction has been noted by American, British, Canadian and European Ambassadors to Guyana.

They have all floated the likelihood of sanctions for any electoral fraud.

Guyana holds its hand out for aid, while the World Bank continually scales up its response to help other countries.

“The scale and speed of

the Bank Group’s response is critical in helping countries mitigate the adverse impacts of this crisis and prioritize the human capital investments that can accelerate recovery,” the Bank said In a statement yesterday, the Bank said that the aid it started rolling out since March, now reaches 70 percent of the world’s population, especially the poor and vulnerable.

The aid is meant to shore up countries’ health response and to keep the global private

sector buoyant.

“This assistance, the largest and fastest crisis response in the Bank Group’s history, marks a milestone in implementing the Bank Group’s pledge to make available $160 billion in grants and financial support over a 15month period to help developing countries respond to the health, social and economic impacts of COVID-19 and the economic shutdown

in advanced countries,” the Bank said.

World Bank Group President, David Malpass, is quoted as saying that the pandemic could push 60 million people into extreme poverty, and that efforts to tackle the health emergency by the bank and its partners must provide cash and other expandable support to protect the poor and strengthen economic resilience.

COVID-19 cases mount to 125 - 51 persons tested in 24 hrs Fifty-one persons were tested for COVID-19 within 24 hours with one test returning positive. This brings Guyana’s total confirmed cases to 125.

According to information released by the Department of Public Information (DPI), this was the disclosure of Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton, Director of Primary Health Care Services in the daily COVID-19 Update.

Of these 125 cases, it was reported that Guyana has re-

and three critical patients are housed in the COVID-19 ICU at the GPHC. The virus has continued to spread to several communities along the coast and more recently, the Hinterland.

Seven of the 10 Administrative Regions now have positive cases of the virus.Central Georgetown continues to be the epicentre of the virus.As of May 19, 2020, the World Health Organization has reported that globally, there are 4,735,622

corded 10 deaths and 46 recoveries.Since March a total of 1,269 persons have been tested with 1,144 testing negative.

Sixty-nine active cases remain in isolation at various facilities across Guyana while six others are in quarantine

confirmed cases with 316,289 deaths. In the Region of the Americas, the number of confirmed cases stands at 2,082,945 with 124,668 deaths.

According to DPI, the Public Health Ministry is reminding that there are necessary steps that must be adhered to by everyone. These include staying at home and only going out for essential services; maintaining physical distancing in public spaces; washing/sanitising hands before eating, touching your face and before engaging in activities with others and reaching out for medical attention when unwell or coming into contact with a positive case.

Wednesday May 20, 2020

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

The election controversy is holding up COVID-19 relief

I

t is mind boggling that the country is in the midst of its deadliest health crisis and yet the ruling Coalition is pussyfooting with the recount of the ballots of the March 2nd General and Regional Elections.

It is sickening that while people are suffering, this process is being stymied by spurious and unsubstantiated allegations.

This newspaper yesterday reported on the case of a Berbice couple which the APNU+AFC Coalition claimed was out of the jurisdiction on Election Day yet was recorded as having voted.

The Coalition even presented the dates on which they claimed the couple departed Guyana.

As it turned out, the couple is in Guyana and was in the country on 2nd March 2020.

The husband and the wife have confirmed that they were in the jurisdiction and voted on Election Day. It is incomprehensible why GECOM would allow this sort of objection.

The secrecy of the ballot forbids any identification of those who voted or did not vote. These sorts of objection should not be entertained.

Most of the objections, which are being made have no bearing in terms of the gazette process which mainly requires reconciliation of the total votes cast with counterfoils and with the statements of polls and the counting of the ballots.

And while the delaying tactics are occurring, the country is being starved of resources to combat the deadly coronavirus.

The poor are suffering.

Health workers are not yet

fully protected. The quicker this recount comes to an end the faster assistance will be forthcoming to help resolve these problems.

Guyana cannot at the moment source international assistance, apart from the meagre humanitarian assistance offered by some countries.

The United States of America has provided humanitarian assistance to the tune of US$475,000 for laboratory diagnostics and systems strengthening and supplies, surveillance, infection prevention and control, and emergency operation centers.

None of this will allow for a hamper for the poor.

This money essentially goes to the de facto government. Those who are unable to make ends meet during this period will not benefit from this sum.

The Caribbean Development Bank is providing countries with two lines of assistance.

It has already approved US$74M to seven regional countries to ramp up their anti-COVID-19 fight. And they have a US$100,000 grant facility to assist those affected in the creative industries.

Guyana has not been blacklisted from the former facility. But the country cannot access the assistance available because of the de facto status of the government.

The government had applied for a US$5M loan from the World Bank. No word has been forthcoming, most likely because of the same reason.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has set aside US$100B in its Rapid Credit Facility and Rapid Financing Instrument to help countries.

So far, 57 countries have secured more than US21.6B in financial assistance from the IMF for the fight against COVID-19.

There is no shortage of funds available to countries to bring about relief during the pandemic.

St. Lucia, Jamaica, Haiti, Grenada and Dominica have all received assistance.

Guyana has not because Guyana has a de facto government in place.

The country has US$55M in its Natural Resource Fund.

This was accrued from the first one million barrels of oil shipped.

This money cannot be accessed because there is no parliament in place to approve the release of the funds from the Fund.

Another million barrels are soon to be shipped but the revenues are not likely to be substantial. Cost recovery was not deducted from the first million barrels. And the price of oil has plummeted to below US$35 a barrel from the US$55 per barrel when the first million barrels was sold.

The de facto government therefore is a one-handed government.

It does not have the legislative authority to expend the sums which need to be expended to bring relief to the people.

And as a de facto government, it really will not be able to mobilize much international assistance.

Norway has frozen some funds, which it owes Guyana.

Norway is not likely to release these monies until a legitimate government is sworn-in.

The swearing-in of any government will not allow for a release of funds. It is only when the rightful winner of the elections is declared that the

Dem boys seh ...

De Cold-N-Ation object to dem own people De HAP-New+Hay-Eff-Cee object to 24 voters at polling station in District 5.

Dem seh de 24 voters dead.

It tun out dat de Pee-Pee-Pee-C only get 3 votes at dat polling station. So it gat to be dat dem dead people vote fuh de HAP-New+HayEff-See. Dem boys disappointed in Rum-jattan and Nah-Ga-Much-Fuh-Do. Dem boys expect better from dem two. But from day one when dem get in, dem mouth seize up and dem eyes shut tight.

Dem used to criticize dat scamp Jagdeo and de Pee-Pee-Pee-C fuh dem wrang tings wha dem do.

But de Cold-N-Ation tun out to be wuss.

Dem out do, in 5 years, wha de Pee-Pee-PeeC do fuh 23 years.

De number of scandals too much fuh dem boys count.

But dem boys remember de Sussex Street Bond scandal, de drugs purchase scandal,

de ventilators’ scandal, de exercise books scandal, de fuel license scandal, de new bridge scandal, de containers with steel scandal, de Bai Shan Lin scandal, de D’Urban Park Scandal, de oil contract scandal, de video scandal, de signing bonus scandal and de Mudflats scandal.

Dem boys seh is sheer scandal go on and dem Hay-Eff-See nah complain.

It gat to be dat some of dem on de gravy train or some ah dem hand done deh in de cookie jar.

Dem start out pon de wrang foot and now dem nah gat legs fuh stand on.

Dem receive a threatening letter from ah con-tractor. And dem pay de man mo dan one billion dollar… all because of a letter.

Dem boys seh dem nah gat to beg fuh help fuh fight COVID-19 if all dat money was not given away because of one threatening letter.

Talk half and wait fuh de next objection, to buss annoda dutty laff.

monies which should be flowing to this country will be unlocked.

Those who therefore feel that all that matters is for GECOM to make a declaration and everything will be all right are grossly misguided Any government, other than the rightful winner of the 2020 General Elections, will be subject to the same constraints as presently exists.

For the sake of the work-

ers of this country, who are not able to get work at this time because of the social restrictions, let us hope that the recount process is completed quickly. Guyana needs to put the election crisis behind it and concentrate to beating COVID-19.

Without a legitimate government, the monies to do so will not be released.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the

author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

PAGE 10

Wednesday May 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Granger and Roopnaraine destroyed Guyana, then discovered it Here are the words of President Granger: “The parties are near equal...by formula — as has been laid out by my colleague Rupert Roopnaraine — people who win 51 per cent of the votes must not behave as if they won 100 per cent of the votes

and people who only got 49 per cent of the votes must not be treated as if they got no per cent of the votes and, I live by that. I would like to see an inclusionary form of government.”

Granger and Roopnaraine had five years of power, and

not even for a fleeting moment, Granger and his colleague, the “great” WPA leader, Roopnaraine, ever inputted into their exercise of power, inclusionary policies in at least one sector or area of life in Guyana or even one geographical district.

As for Roopnaraine, his legacy has dissolved into volcanic ash. He will be remembered for shameless, political conduct in office while representing the WPA. Here are two examples of Roopnaraine’s morbid hypocrisy and Granger was foolish enough to quote him. First, for the purpose of this article, I went and researched everything David Hinds wrote about how the WPA was treated by the PNC while they both held power from 2015.

The search was inadequate because I missed several letters in the newspapers which did not show up in my search. I found four times Hinds wrote that the WPA was ignored as a party that formed part of the government. I found five times Hinds lamented how the WPA was mistreated by the PNC from 2015. These nine examples are not the limit. I am sure he wrote that more than nine times.

This same Roopnaraine believes that when a party wins an election by 51 percent, it should reach out to the loser who got 49 percent. But this same (Roopnaraine’s) party and he were not included in the output of policies of a government of which he and his party were part of.

The WPA in a press release told the nation that after Roopnaraine’s resignation from government service, the WPA was not informed by Roopnaraine that he had cancelled his resignation.

The second manifestation of Roopnaraine’s hypocrisy has two aspects: one public,

the other private. Tacuma Ogunseye wrote a letter in the newspapers that Roopnaraine’s stated position to the WPA is that he cannot discuss government business with the WPA. Roopnaraine said the two are separate.

The private dimension relates to a meeting Hinds, Dr. Alissa Trotz and secretary of the WPA Overseas Group, Keith Branche, had with Minister of Education, Roopnaraine, in his office. So incensed was Branche with Roopnaraine’s approach to power that over lunch at the Tastee Dish restaurant on David Street, Kitty, he had extremely harsh words to say about Roopnaraine’s transformation. It would be good for history if these three WPA officials can tell us what Roopnaraine’s politics became after he got power.

What about Granger?

Does he believe in inclusive governance? He is a point three percent president. That is the margin by which he won the presidency. In actual vote counting, he won by less than 5,000 ballots in 2015. In 2011, in rejecting the theory that Moses Nagamootoo’s status created the PPP’s defeat in 2011, he cited the role of Charrandass Persaud in bringing votes to the AFC in 2011.

After 2015, Charrandass was made MP for Berbice. Yet Persaud did not know about the closing of the sugar estates in Berbice. Persaud told this columnist, he read about it in the press. So much for Granger’s belief in inclusive governance. It is not only Roopnaraine who is a hypocrite, but Granger is a bigger one. Two of the APNU+AFC supporters - David Hinds and Lincoln Lewis - chose to write

Frederick Kissoon an occasion criticism in the Chronicle and were removed.

In a conversation with the then board chairman of the Chronicle outside the Aquatic Centre, I found out why the two men were removed and the crucial voice that decided their removal.

Finally, Granger does not have the courage to publicly stand by his decisions. He hides under his underlings.

The amendment to the marijuana law never saw the light of day even though it was on the Order Paper of the House waiting to be debated and voted on. Guess why the amendment was never passed? Ask AFC parliamentarian, Michael Carrington. In an interview with the media, he said Granger was uncomfortable with its passage.

Granger broke a campaign promise and felt he had no obligation to the nation to explain. Both Granger and Roopnaraine have faded into history where they have become ephemeral footnotes.

COLUMNIST’S NOTE: Yesterday’s column was satire, mocking APNU+AFC’s claim of fake voting.

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

Wednesday May 20, 2020

Twist in murder of female guard in cemetery...

Teenage boys now prime - found with slain woman’s suspects gold rings, cell phone

The investigation into the brutal murder of 68-year-old Margaret Dawson of 158 Curtis Street Albouystown took an unexpected turn yesterday, with the arrest of two teenage boys who were found with the victims’ belongings.

Police sources confirmed that they have detained the two teenage boys, one of whom is from Albouystown, while the other is from La Penitence.

While stopping short of stating that the suspects had confessed, a source said that “they are providing us with valuable information” pertaining to the murder.

At present, they are the prime suspects.

Detectives are reportedly still trying to ascertain how the taxi driver, whose vehicle was found in the cemetery, may be linked to the case.

Initial reports suggested that a taxi driver was the prime suspect after residents told police that his car was seen traversing the area on Sunday Night.

It is believed that the slain woman might have hired the man to take her to work on the night she was killed.

But things unfolded differently yesterday after one of Dawson’s gold rings was found on one of the teens.

Sources claimed that after being taken into custody one of the teens revealed that he had bought the ring from a friend living in the Albouystown area. Police then went down to the friend’s home and carried out a search.

During the search, ranks recovered the remaining gold rings belonging to the dead woman along with her cell phone, ID card and Bank Card.

Also found tucked away in the friend’s

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Kaieteur News

Dead: 68-year-old Margaret Dawson bedroom was a soiled white vest with blood stains.

Dawson’s body was discovered battered, half-naked and sprawled in a clump of bushes at the Le Repentir Cemetery early Monday morning.

Guyana consulting with China to fight COVID-19

The Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has been hosting regular consultations with The People’s Republic of China to contain and mitigate coronavirus in Guyana.

This was disclosed by Director of International Cooperation, Forbes July, who told the Depa r t m e n t o f P u b l i c Information (DPI) that China has been reaching out and the Ministry has been ensuring Guyana’s response is “positive and expeditious.”

According to a DPI statement, July n o t e d t h a t a r e c e n t c o ntribution of testing kits and face masks was facilitated by his department.

The Director said the consultations are being facilitated to mobilise and access support from the international community.

This, he noted, will reap dividends in preparing the local health system during this vulnerable period.

“Only recently, a teleconference involving Chinese specialists with recently acquired experience in handling the COVID-19 situation in China was facilitated at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for our public health officials and members of the CDC,” July explained.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry along with overseas missions are in constant collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and other ministries, to engage international partners both at the bilateral and multilateral levels in the national effort to defeat the global pandemic.

“It will, therefore, require another level of international engagement to diminish and mitigate the effects of COVID-19 in our country,” July observed.

Director of International Cooperation, Forbes July (DPI Photo) The Director noted that with China’s commitment lessons learnt and measures implemented along with best practices can be shared allowing players in the local health system to capitalise on opportunities to save lives and stop the spread of the virus.

The virus, which has partially shut the world down, is said to have started in Wuhan, a bustling Chinese province.

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Wednesday May 20, 2020

Wednesday May 20, 2020

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Kaieteur News

CUT joins call to have CSEC exams pushed back to September T

Impact of COVID -19… he Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) a regional association under which the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) falls has expressed deep concerns at a decision taken by the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) to support the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) for the CSEC Examinations to be held in July 2020, despite its objections.

In a lengthy statement disseminated to the press, the CUT noted that this unfortunate decision places the lives of thousands of students and teachers at risk, as all the issues surrounding the administering of the examinations have not been addressed.

The statement by CUT comes weeks after President of the GTU, Mark Lyte, raised similar objection about the date and format of the exams proposed by CXC. Lyte, a trustee on the CUT told Kaieteur News that he had raised his concerns with the local Ministry of Education but never received a response about their stance in the matter.

In the statement on Monday, the CUT maintained its position. The regional body stressed on the recommendation to have the sitting of CSEC in September 2020.

“There is uncertainty as it relates to the COVID-19 in the region. In order to administer the examination, it is anticipated that educational institutions will be reopened.

We are not confident that the governments of the region have demonstrated the level of preparedness for the planned reopening of schools in order to create a safe environment for students and teachers to effectively operate,” CUT said in a statement.

Further, the Union said that it is cognizant of governments in the region that have reopened schools and some will in short order.

“We consider such a move to be reckless unless the

requisite health provisions have been made.

We must understand that teaching and learning must take place in an environment that is conducive for such activities. The health and well-being of students and teachers must take precedence over all other consideration at this time.

Undoubtedly, COVID-19 has dramatically impacted our local, regional, and international psyche as well as our accustomed ways of business transactions.

Importantly, the education sector has not been spared from the impact and it behooves ALL stakeholders to agree on mitigation measures that are proportionate, coherent, and inclusive. If nothing else, the crisis of COVID-19 has clearly identified glaring inadequacies, comorbidities if you will, in the region’s educational system and their ability to absorb pandemic shock.

But it has also presented an excellent opportunity to equip educational administration with the policies and procedures, to not only survive but also maintain quality and equity in education…CUT firmly believes that the September timeline for sitting,” the statement outlined.

The Union said too that it was firm in its position to write since April.

In a letter to the Registrar of CXC, dated April 16, the Union had been firm with the Examination Council that it was vehemently opposed to the administration of the CXC Examinations any time before September 2020.

“The letter outlines several concerns including: Health and Safety issues - The need for greater engagement on the format of the examination - The validity issues associated with the proposed format of the examination,” the Union added.

Added to this the regional advocacy body made a call for regional governments and educational administrations

to adopt and implement some benchmark protocols.

“We are therefore calling on the governments of the region to be mindful not to rush the process for the reopening of schools to facilitate the writing of CXC Examinations, unless they have instituted all measures outlined by the reopening of school protocol.”

The protocols have been established by Education International and include implementation of enhanced hygiene and cleaning practices and equipment in addition to enabling access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

“Formalizing appropriate support structures through

social and political dialogue, for vulnerable and affected members of educational communities to include counselling and funding; engaging teachers and their unions in designing/determining the pedagogies; digital tools and platforms that can be used to continue education during the temporary school closures and providing government secured information communication technology and digital technologies that will m a i n t a i n s t u dents’ engagement in times of crisis as well as requisite training for teachers in the new normal modalities,” the statement outlined.

CUT Trustee and GTU President, Mark Lyte

PAGE 14

Wednesday May 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

More accurate GDP measure possible as Govt. strengthens national statistical system Statistics that is accurate and comprehensive is at the heart of measuring the economic well-being of a nation; hence, the reason countries invest significant resources in strengthening their National Statistical System (NSS).

In Guyana, the Government has been working assiduously to strengthen and support the Bureau of Statistics (BOS) and other statistics producing agencies and departments to promote the development of the National Statistical System in a way that embraces international standards and best practices in data collection, compilation, analysis and dissemination.

And on the back of those efforts, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan who also holds the portfolio responsibility for the Bureau of Statistics, was particularly honoured to formally introduce just a few days ago, the new rebased series of Guyana’s National Accounts.

Rebasing an economy basically involves revising or updating the methods and the based data used to calculate a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It therefore means that with the rebased

series, Guyanese can look forward to a more accurate measure of the GDP. According to Minister Jordan, the rebased series is now part of the country’s National Accounts Estimates for the year 2019. The economist noted that the new series incorporates new data sources and adopts new international methodological and industrial classification standards. He said that the outcomes and publication of the new GDP series underscores the commitment of the Government to producing and disseminating high-quality statistics.

Further to this, Minister Jordan said that the newly rebased series replaces the current series at base year 2006, which was introduced exactly 10 years ago. He said also that the release of this new, rebased series is part of the routine statistical activities of the BOS, and is specifically linked to recent efforts to review and update statistical methodologies across the Bureau’s various data products. Other methodological reviews which are either on going or were recently concluded include unemployment, poverty, prices and

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan

trade statistics, and an agricultural census.

Kaieteur News understands that the review of the national accounts series, for obvious reasons, is relatively more complicated and has therefore taken much longer than initially anticipated. Minister Jordan was keen to note that the introduction of this new series of the National Accounts completes another phase in the continued development of Guyana’s National Economic Statistics and sets the platform for further development and improvement in the country’s overall national

statistics databases. Jordan said it is in line with the Bureau’s renewed efforts in the last few years to ensure the availability of reliable and timely statistics, which are necessary for policymaking and business decisions.

The Minister said, “The field of statistics symbolizes one of the strongest examples of the depth of intra-agency cooperation and knowledge transfer that exist between national statistical offices (NSOs) and between the NSOs and regional and international statistical agencies and practitioners.”

He added, “Throughout this important undertaking, the Bureau of Statistics was supported by both of its regional and international partners. The Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC) continues to be a beacon of support in the areas of development, improvement and refinement of national economic statistics.”

On this note, Minister Jordan thanked CARTAC and its Real Sector Advisor for the extensive technical support provided during this exercise.

He also recognised the coor-

dinated support and contribution of the Canadian-Government funded Project for the Regional Advancement of Statistics in the Caribbean (PRASC) and the Regional Statistics Programme at the CARICOM Secretariat.

Minister Jordan said that the new, re-based GDP series will stand out in significance because it is the first time, since the production and publication of a continuous GDP series, which began some 60 years ago, that an activity like Petroleum and Gas, with support services, is being introduced in the measure of the Guyana economy.

From all indications, Minister Jordan said that the emerging Petroleum and Gas Sector, with its attendant linkages to other sectors of the economy, is set to catalyze the explosion of growth, expansion and development of the country.

Death of miner… Businessman claims he shot teen in his yard, eyewitnesses say victim was on road The businessman, who shot and killed a 17-year-old miner last Sunday at Puruni Landing, Mazaruni River, Region Seven, is alleging that he opened fire after seeing the teen in his compound.

But eyewitnesses have said that the young man was walking on a roadway when he was shot.

Police are to seek legal advice today about the incident.

Dane Jerrick of Lot 1 ‘A’ Ann’s Grove, East Cost Demerara, was allegedly slain at around 03:30 hrs during a confrontation with a 42year-old businessman. Police said that Jerrick was shot in the lower back.

The incident allegedly occurred near the businessman’s premises.

A police official told Kaieteur News that the businessman claimed that his son had alerted him that someone was in the family’s yard.The businessman alleged that he went to investigate and saw Jerrick on the premises.

He allegedly discharged “three of four rounds” at the fleeing youth.

However, individuals who claimed to have been present alleged that Jerrick was walking on road when the businessman discharged several rounds at him.

The businessman remains in custody and his licensed firearm has been confiscated.

Wednesday May 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday May 20, 2020

Wednesday May 20, 2020

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

A second infection may be worse than the first - CMO -insists precautionary measures must still be adhered to warns Dr. Persaud was changes in their lifestyles so measures we have put in minimum of 14 days after

T

he Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, has warned that persons who have recovered from the novel coronavirus have to make adjustments to their lifestyles.

addressing the misconception that since COVID-19 is a disease from which people recover; there is no need for total adherence to the health precautions.

The CMO cautioned that persons who have recovered need to make the necessary

as not to come into contact with other positive cases, since a second infection may be worse than the first. “I would like to caution that even though you might see persons recovering and not many more persons being identified that the

place, particularly in the health sector, must be maintained so that we can bring a speedy end to this outbreak and avoid any future attacks as it were from COVID-19.�

He explained that the recovery period takes a

which two negative test results are required for a person to be declared well enough to be sent home.

However, the recovery period for some is not limited to 14 days and could take as long as 28-50 days before a (Continued on page 23)

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud

PAGE 22

Wednesday May 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Ina Beryl Holder is celebrating a remarkable milestone. She is 112 years old today. The centenarian is believed to be the country’s oldest. An interesting fact about her is that she retired from being secretary at the age of 100 in 2008.

Every year, her loved ones usually gather around her to celebrate reaching another milestone. However, the circumstances caused by COVID-19 have put Aunt Ina’s celebration on hold. Dr. Claudette Harry who cares for her on a regular basis told Kaieteur News that the centenarian will mark the occasion quietly. She related that Aunt Ina has no major health concerns, given her age.

Dr. Harry told Kaieteur News that the 112-year old woman who is wheelchair bound, consumes all her food in liquid form. Her memory, these days, is not so good but

she spends a lot of time, during the afternoons, sitting in the verandah of her Lamaha Gardens home.

“For some reason, she didn’t want to come out today (yesterday). I hope she is in better spirits tomorrow (today) since it’s her birthday.

Though there will not be the usual gathering, she has many friends and well-wishers who normally join in observing the occasion with her,” Dr. Harry said.

Born on May 20, 1908, Aunt Ina, retired from Booker’s Drug Company in 1969. She thereafter was employed at the Diocese of Guyana under Bishop Randolph George, until she finally retired. She is believed to be the oldest member of the Anglican Community in Guyana.The centenarian is aunt to Noel Holder, Minister of Agriculture, and great aunt to Sheldon and Kaila Holder.

Ina Beryl Holder marks her 112th birth anniversary today

Miner charged with murder of Angoy’s Avenue man A man, who was recently arrested by police in Region 8, Mahdia, yesterday made his first court appearance at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court to answer the charge of murder.

Donald Shariff, 29, a miner of Lot 11 Patrick Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice appeared before Magistrate Peter Hugh where he was charged with the capital offence committed on Keron Nicholson of Angoy’s Avenue.

The charge read that the accused, between Monday May 8 and Tuesday May 17 at Patrick’s Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, murdered Nicholson. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison until the June 25, 2020 where disclosures are expected to be made.

Police from Region 8 Mahdia acting on information had ventured to Stone Creek Backdam, Mahdia, Region 8 and arrested Shariff.

Initial reports by this publication had detailed that Nicholson and Shariff were engaged in a heated argument at Angoy’s Avenue before a scuffle ensued. Shariff reportedly dealt Nicholson several blows and stabs about his body until he collapsed. Relatives, who were nearby, rushed to Nicholson’s aid FOR SALE 1500 lb 5 inch palatine, 1 winch. Tel#667-8921/220-7655 Price Negotiable 400 lb catguts 400,000, 5 inch catguts sane. #220-9826/6766002 1 month, price negotiable Nonie leaves, mango leaves $100 per lb each, Soursop leaves $150 per lbs. Tel#6933003

Charged: Donald Shariff and rushed him to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was admitted in a critical condition.

Killed: Keron Nicholson

However, due to the extent of his injuries, he was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he suc-

cumbed 10 days later. Shariff had escaped and a wanted bulletin was issued for his arrest.

Wednesday May 20, 2020

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Kaieteur News

CDC shifts stance on how COVID-19 spreads on surfaces (YAHOO) - Even before COVID-19 officially had a name, public health officials said the virus could be transmitted through infected respiratory droplets and by touching infected surfaces and then touching your nose, mouth, and possibly your eyes. So, people began snatching up face masks, wearing gloves, and ramping up hand hygiene to try to protect themselves.

While touching infected surfaces has always been part of the messaging on how the virus spreads, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently shifted its stance online. The CDC now says that COVID-19 spreads from person to person contact, and then lists touching infected surfaces under a section titled, “The virus does not spread easily in other ways.” The CDC adds: “This is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads, but we are still learning more about this virus.” The language is a

subtle change from the organization’s warning in early March, when it wrote simply that it “may be possible” to spread the virus through contaminated surfaces.

The CDC, which did not respond to Yahoo Life’s request for comment, still recommends that you wash your hands often with soap and water, and routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces to protect yourself and others from the virus.

The CDC’s lesser emphasis on infected surfaces as part of the spread of COVID19 is slightly different from that of the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO states online that “COVID-19 spreads primarily from person to person,” but adds that, “it can also spread if you touch contaminated objects and surfaces.” The WHO even breaks down for readers all of the commonly-touched surfaces to be wary of, like doorknobs, computers, elevator

buttons, and pens, noting that “If you touch something contaminated and then touch your face…you might fall ill.”

cluding how it spreads — and knowledge is increasing daily,” he says. With that, some guidance and informa-

The CDC has updated guidelines on coronavirus’ spread, saying that it’s “not likely” to spread through surfaces.

So what does this mean, exactly?

Dr. Richard Watkins, an infectious disease physician in Akron, OH and a professor of internal medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University, tells Yahoo Life that it’s important to keep in mind that COVID-19 is a new virus.

“We are still learning about this new coronavirus —in-

tion on the virus may change over time, he says.

There has been no new, major study to suggest that contaminated surfaces are less important in the spread of COVID-19, but epidemiological data (which is the method used to find the causes of health outcomes and diseases in populations) has simply found that person-

Couple Coalition claimed was “out of country” was present and voted on elections day

By Shikema Dey

The list submitted and signed by the coalition party agent

A

married couple that the A Partner ship For National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition claimed was out of the jurisdiction on Election Day is denying those claims.

Kaieteur News spoke to Shirley Nicholson who confirmed that she and her husband, Aubrey Augustus Nicholson, voted at a Sister’s Village Primary School polling station, and spent the rest of the day home with their grandchildren.

The APNU/AFC, since the commencement of the national recount, raised a string of allegations that persons who have supposedly migrated or were otherwise out of the jurisdiction appeared to have voted at the March 2, 2020 elections.

The party tasked with providing proof, submitted a list of five people, including the Nicholsons, to Workstation 3 of the National Recount.

That list, signed by APNU/AFC agent, Yonette Obermuller, contained also included the supposed dates of departure of those voters, all from ballot box 6007.

The list had what purported to be records of the couple b o t h l e a v i n g Guyana on July 29, last year at 10 AM. Shirley Nicholson explained to Kaieteur News that she and her h u s b a n d l e f t G u y a n a ’s shores on August 1, 2019 to visit her daughter who

to-person contact is more important, infectious disease expert Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, tells Yahoo Life.

“Based on the epidemiology, we know that the main way this virus is infecting people is from direct contact with other infected people,” Adalja says. “Contaminated surfaces play some role, but it’s likely much smaller.” It also makes sense, too, he says: “This is a respiratory virus, and respiratory viruses largely spread through breathing in infected respiratory droplets.”

Concerns about contracting the virus from infected surfaces mostly stemmed from a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in mid-March. That study found that SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can last on a variety of surfaces for anywhere from four hours (copper) to three days (plastic and stainless steel).

What the study didn’t find was whether people could actually become infected from touching those surfaces. But, since the study’s release, people have

been nervous about handling mail, groceries, and other high-touch surfaces like doorknobs.

But the CDC’s shift in guidance doesn’t mean you should stop being cautious with those things, Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, tells Yahoo Life. “If I had to pick the things to pick an emphasis on to reduce the spread of COVID-19, it would still be social distancing, wearing masks, and practicing good hand hygiene,” he says.

Schaffner compares the spread of COVID-19 to roadways. “Person-to-person contact is a highway, and the inanimate environment is a byway.

Touching infected surfaces are little paths, but they don’t carry the big viral traffic,” he says.

Watkins agrees. “It might be possible to become infected after touching a surface that has the virus, then touching one’s face,” he says.

“That is why handwashing and avoiding touching one’s face are important. However, this isn’t the main way the virus is spread.”

A second infection may...

From page 21 negative result can be determined.

As of May 19, there were 125 cases in Guyana, which represents a high infection rate for Guyana’s population. Dr. Persaud re-emphasised that the stay-at-home policy must be adhered to as it lowers the risk of coming into contact with persons who might be carriers of the virus.

As such, citizens are asked to only go out for essential services or to seek medical attention, continue practising social/physical distancing, regular hand-washing and sanitizing and cleaning of surfaces.

To date, 45 persons (36 percent) have recovered from the virus in Guyana. (DPI) lives in Suriname.

Th e c o u p l e r e t u r n e d to Guyana on August 29 and has been residing at their Sister’s Village family home ever since.

Mrs. Nicholson told Kaieteur News that she and her husband remain resident in Guyana and have not migrated.

She says that she was in fact tending to her garden when this publication contacted her.

The couple who was said to have migrated

76 ballot boxes completed on Day 14 of recount

T

he pace of the on going national re count has increased significantly with the end of day 14 seeing the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) completing a total of 76 ballot boxes.

The count for Region Seven commenced with eight of the 76 completed ballot boxes emerging from that District.

GECOM Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward, relayed to the media that 18 boxes were completed for District Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara); 14 for District Four (Demerara/ Mahaica); 18 for District Five (Mahaica/Berbice); 18 for District Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne) and the remaining eight for District Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni).

The two new additional workstations allocated to Regions Six and Seven significantly impacted the count pushing the total counted ballot boxes to 718 or 25% of the 2,339 ballot boxes to be completed.

GECOM is now operating with 12 workstations inside of the recount venue, the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Wednesday May 20, 2020

Wednesday May 20, 2020

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Kaieteur News

10 COVID-19 cases wouldn’tcancel an F1 race, says the FIA

Ten COVID-19 cases wouldn’t stop F1 race – FIA.

Wednesday May 20, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your mood is good today, Aries, and you're well supported by the people you interact with. The key is bringing intense feelings directly to the virtual table as you experience them.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Today is one of those intense days in which you feel overpowered by the energy around you. Don't resist this feeling, Taurus.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) This is your day to shine, Gemini. Everyone else may be squirming under the moment's prevailing energy, but you should be perfectly equipped to deal with any events, global or personal, that come your way.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Give thanks to the people who are most precious to you, Cancer. It's truly a blessing that you're all alive and healthy.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Connect with the stabilizing force of the day, Leo. It's important to keep at least one foot on the ground, as powerful and intense emotions are likely to come sweeping through.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22) Strong opinions might come into conflict with strong emotions today, Virgo.

Fountains of intensity could spring from you as if you were a bottomless well.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Consciously accept that you're someone unique and special, Libra. Remember this affirmation through the day and let your actions reflect it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today's intensity could work for you in one of two ways, Scorpio. Either you can feel depressed and weighed down by the intense emotionalism that's likely to well up, or you can put this incredible intensity to good use.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Combine today's grounding force with a bit of emotional intensity from your heart to create a powerful combination of spirit that will surely make an impact on whatever you contact, Sagittarius.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your lighthearted attitude won't play well to people with serious things on their mind, Capricorn. It could make you seem detached and insensitive to the grim realities of COVID-19.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You should be able to put on your famous smile this morning and keep it on all day, Aquarius.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Chances are that today will carry an emotional bite that lends a hostile tone to anything you encounter, Pisces. The key is not getting so fixed in your ways that you avoid new experiences.

Autosport - The FIA is confident it would be able to manage positive coronavirus cases emerging in the paddock once the Formula 1 season resumes, avoiding the need to cancel races.

The Australian Grand Prix was called off just two hours before the scheduled start of practice after a McLaren employee tested positive for COVID-19.

A further nine races have since been called off, with plans now in place to create a “biosphere” at events to get the season underway, starting with the Austrian Grand Prix in early July.

The FIA held a meeting to discuss protocols for running the event this week, which would include paddock personnel being testing for COVID-19 every other day.

The president of the FIA’s medical commission, Gerard Saillant, is confident any positive COVID-19 test results could be handled in a way that would avoid the cancellation of the race as in Australia.

“I think the situation is quite different between Melbourne and now, because the knowledge of the virus is quite different,” Saillant told Sky Sports F1.

“It’s possible to prevent and anticipate quite a lot of things.

“If we have one positive case, or maybe 10 positive cases, it’s possible to manage perfectly with a special track, a special pathway for the positive cases.

“Medically speaking, it’s not a problem.”

But Saillant recognised there would be wider-reaching consequences in how F1 was perceived were there to

be a high number of positive cases, which could force action to be taken.

“In terms of sporting and media consequence, it’s quite different,” he said.

“We have to try and anticipate that, to know where is the right line beyond which it’s impossible to continue.

“But I think it’s not a problem for us now.”

FIA president Jean Todt added that he was eager to avoid a repeat of how events escalated in Australia.

“We want to make sure that arriving to the first event on the 2020 calendar, we don’t face another unpredictable

situation,” Todt said.

“Our experts are working on that.”F1 is working towards starting the season with back-to-back races in Austria on 5 July and 12 July, ending a break of seven months without a grand prix.

Silverstone was aiming to host two grands prix in late July and early August, but its plans have been thrown into doubt after the UK government confirmed F1 would not be exempt from new quarantine guidelines.

F1 is still planning to hold between 15 and 18 races this year, finishing the season in mid-December.

ITF plans on new relief fund to support lower-level players MUMBAI (Reuters) - The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has said it is working on additional measures, including a new relief fund, to support lower-ranked professionals who have been left in the lurch due to coronavirus-led lockdowns.

The professional tennis season was halted in early March and will remain shut until at least July end due to travel restrictions that numerous countries have implemented to contain the spread of the virus.

Earlier this month, the ITF, ATP, WTA and the governing bodies of the four Grand Slams raised over $6 million to help about 800 lower-ranked players, who depend solely on tournament winnings earn a living.

The ITF World Tennis Tour consists of lower-rung tournaments and serves as a transition circuit between the junior and senior games, al-

A logo is seen at the entrance to the International Tennis Federation headquarters in London, Britain January 18, 2016.(REUTERS /Toby Melville) lowing more professionals to make money as well as improve their rankings to qualify for the men’s ATP Tour or the women’s WTA Tour.

The ITF said its new measures will include a relief fund to help tour players ranked between 501 and 700, and are not covered under other relief programmes. Further details will be announced following its board meeting on June 2.

“We are doing everything within our power to ensure that the talented players climbing the ITF pathway receive the support they need and continue their development during these uncertain times,” ITF President David Haggerty said in a statement late on Monday.

Eligibility for the previous program took into account a player’s ranking as well as previous prize money earnings, according to criteria agreed by all stakeholders.

Over the last few years, governing bodies have attempted to improve the pay and conditions for a deeper pool of international players but it has not proved enough.

PAGE 26

Wednesday May 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

CAMERON THREATENS TO SUE CWI

Former President of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Dave Cameron has threatened to sue the board if he is not given a fair chance to respond to Pannell Kerr Foster (PKF) audit report before it is being published.

Cameron through his lawyer Loy L. A. Weste has written to the Chief Executive Officer of CWI, Mr. Jonathan Grave questioning the credibility of the report. Cameron has demanded, without prejudice to any rights he may now have a full copy of this report within 48 hours, and the right to respond fully to all of the questions, comments or allegations made by PKF, and statements made by Mr. Michael Holding on SportsMax and the President within 21 days.

The letter stated that, “Should CWI whether by way of the Board or management or otherwise seek in the meantime to publish the report, or refuse to meet Cameron’s demands for a copy of the report and time to respond, he will have no alternative but to seek the appropriate orders and remedies from the High Court.”

Here is a full copy of the letter that Kaieteur Sport managed to obtain:

May 18, 2020 Mr. Jonathan Grave Chief Executive Officer Cricket West Indies P.O. Box 616W Factory Road St. John’s, Antigua West Indies Dear Mr. Grave Re: The Matter of Mr. Whycliffe (Dave) Cameron PK.F AUDIT REPORT & CRICKET WEST INDIES We act for Mr. Whycliffe (Dave) Cameron, the former President of CWI together with Mr Anthony W. Astaphan, S C. We are instructed that CWI has secured a report, sometimes described as an audit, from Pannell Kerr Foster (PKF).

This report has not been disclosed to our client for his comments or reply. Nevertheless, on the 26th day of April 2020 month client received the following email: “From: George Dobell <georgedobell@gmail.com> Date: Sun, Apr 26, 2020 at 2:32PM Subject: PFK report To: Dave Cameron <DCAMERON@in{initicapitalja. com> Dear Mr Cameron, We, at ESPNcricinfo, intend to publish the contents

of a report compiled by P FK into your period as president of CWI in the next few days.

As you may be aware, this report identifies some serious concerns. A copy of our piece is attached.

We would like to offer you an opportunity to provide your perspective on the report and, perhaps, counter some of the suggestions made within it. To that end, are you available for an interview, please?

Yours sincerely, George Dobell.

Senior Correspondent, ESPNcricinfo UK: +44 (0)7941 421178" The communication from George Dobell made it clear that in his mind this report “identifies some serious concerns.” This was reflected in the several and serious allegations against our client whether express or implied, which were listed in the piece consisting of some three (3) pages.

My client instructs that notwithstanding he had not seen the report, and did not have access to any of the material allegedly reviewed by PKF, he informed Mr Dobell that the allegations directed at him were material misrepresentations of fact and false;

However, none of the allegations were made public by ESPNcricinfo or our client.

On or about the 15th day of May 2020, Michael Holding was on SportsMax addressing to the world some of questions raised or allegations made by PKF including the grave allegation of money-laundering by Directors or CWI. Mr Holding indicated that he received a copy of the report by email.

SportsMax’s story line referred to the report as “leaked.” There is no question that Mr Holding believed that the contents of one part of this PKF report raised the real prospect that the offence of money-laundering either occurred or may have occurred, and/ or exposed CWI to the risk of involvement in money-laundering.

At all material times our client was the President of CWI. These allegations have now gone viral throughout the region and elsewhere.

Further, on the 17th day of May 2020 the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday Online Newspaper published an article where Michael Holding alleges that (the then) West Indies Cricket Board withheld from past players the sum of US$500,000.00 presented to

the CWI as a gift by the BCCI to past West Indies players.

On the 17th day of May 2020 our client was informed of a public media release and statement by the President of CWI concerning this report.

The President said among other things “In carrying out their assessments P KF uncovered some illustrations of questionable executive standards and practices ... “ The President’s statement and especially the use of the word “uncovered” carries the imputation that PKF uncovered previously hidden and unknown material, which justified or warranted the making of serious questions, comments or allegations directed at or against our client as the President of CWI. That this is so is also fully satisfied by the piece for publication prepared by ESPNcricinfo. This is a grave imputation against management, the members of the then Board and the internal and external auditors at CWI, and our client.As indicated above, our client has not seen the report, nor has he been given any opportunity to respond to it, either by PKF or CWI. In fact, at no time did PKF seek to ascertain any fact or comment from him. How-

Monaco puts a marker down for 2021 with three race run (Reuters) - Monaco plans to hold three motor races in the space of five weeks in 2021 after the principality had to cancel this weekend’s showcase Formula One grand prix due to the COVID19 pandemic.

The Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) said yesterday the biennial Historic Grand Prix would be held on April 25, 2021, with an allelectric Formula E eprix on May 8 and then the return of Formula One on May 23.

“To organise three races in the space of one month will be a big first for us all at ACM,” said the club’s general commissioner Christian Tornatore.

“The logistical side promises to be complex, but not impossible to manage.”

He said work on setting up the metal-fenced street circuit would need to begin at the end of February, several weeks earlier than usual.

Monaco cancelled this year’s F1 race, a home grand

General view during the Monaco Grand Prix race at the Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco. (REUTERS/Benoit Tessier) prix for Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, in March after the Australian season-opener in Melbourne was also

scrapped due to the coronavirus crisis.The Mediterranean harbourside race featured on the first world

championship calendar in 1950 and had been held without fail since 1955.Formula One has yet to start the 2020

season, or issue a revised calendar, due to the pandemic and Monaco is the first date pencilled in for 2021.

Dave Cameron (flickr.com) ever, the report or parts thereof were made known to ESPNCricinfo, and Mr Holding” Thereafter, some of the questions, comments or allegations were made public by Mr Holding, and the President in his statement of the 17th day of May 2020.

Our client maintains that that he has serious concerns about the credibility of this report, which involved the Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee selected and/ or appointed by the President or Board.

In the circumstances, and having regard to the basic principles of fairness and the right of our client to protect his reputation, our client demands, without prejudice to any rights he may now have, a full copy of this report within 48 hours, and the right to respond fully to all of the questions, comments or allegations made by PKF, and statements made by Mr Holding and the President within 21 days. Should CWI whether by way of the Board or management or otherwise seek in the meantime to publish the report, or refuse to meet our client’s demands for a copy of the report and time to respond, our client will have no alternative but to seek the appropriate orders and remedies from the High Court.

We trust you will be guided accordingly, Yours faithfully, LOY L. A. WESTE Attorney-at-Law cc Mr. Richard (Ricky) Skerritt. The President CWI Dr. Kishore Shallow, The Vice President CWI The Board of Directors, CWI President Skerrit was a director on CWI for the entire four years that Cameron was president. A usually reliable source informed that Skerritt allegedly commissioned the report using his friend Wilbur Harrigan’s company, without the Board authorization and that the report has no evidentiary attachments, and appears to be more of a distraction from the current mismanagement at CWI.

Wednesday May 20, 2020

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

TTFA abandons CAS, turns Top European clubs commit to Basketball Champions League to High Court in fight against FIFA takeover PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The ousted executive of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has turned to the High Court here in its fight against FIFA’s decision to replace it with a normalisation committee.

The William Wallace-led United TTFA team said in a statement on Monday that it chose to go this route “after long and hard deliberations”, after withdrawing its appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) which it claimed had displayed bias against football’s world governing body.

“United TTFA assures the football community and the people of Trinidad and Tobago that we have carefully considered the options, the potential risks and the beneficial outcomes of this struggle to defend the sovereignty of our country and our football,” the team of Wallace, Clynt Taylor, Susan JosephWarrick, Joseph Sam Phillip, Anthony Harford and Keith Look Loy said.

“We are guided by the principles of freedom and democracy enshrined in the supreme and governing law of Trinidad and Tobago—the Constitution—under which TTFA is established.”

The association had complained that the Switzerlandbased CAS appeared to be taking sides, pointing out that the TTFA was asked to pay all the fees for the arbitration – in contravention of the court’s regulations which require that the parties split the cost, which FIFA refused to do – and that the court had accepted FIFA’s request for the case to be heard by three arbitrators which tripled the costs associated with the appeal.

The embattled TTFA team said they therefore decided to lodge a brief with the local High Court.

They are asking the court for: a declaration that FIFA’s removal of the TTFA executive, which was elected to office on November 24, 2019, is null, void and of no legal and/ or binding effect; a permanent injunction preventing FIFA from interfering in, and/or

seeking to override the fair and transparent democratic processes of the TTFA and/ or from attempting removing the duly elected executive from office; and a permanent injunction preventing FIFA and/or its agents and/or assigns and/or servants from interfering in the day-to-day management of the TTFA, including the association’s bank accounts and real property.

The latter request comes as the TTFA and the FIFAappointed normalisation committee fight for control of the association’s accounts at First Citizens Bank.

In March this year, FIFA replaced the TTFA executive with a committee led by local businessman Robert Hadad, on the grounds that a FIFA/ CONCACAF fact-finding mission had uncovered financial mismanagement and massive debt that left the local body facing “a very real risk of insolvency and illiquidity”.

FIFA had said such a situation put the association and development of football in the country at risk and corrective measures needed to be applied urgently.

However, in the statement on Monday, the executive insisted that within four months of entering office, it had discovered and raised that issue and submitted a report to FIFA outlining how it intended to deal with it.

“Ironically, our discovery is one of the two reasons FIFA used to remove us from office.

Even more ironically, FIFA conducts an annual audit at the TTFA and would have done so for the previous four years and never discovered this issue—or, if it was discovered, never demanded that it be fixed. “…The real reason for FIFA’s unwarranted and illegal interference in TTFA’s internal business is its desire to cover up the financial mismanagement and illegal actions of the last administration,” it charged.

Among the issues which the executive highlighted were the David John-Williams-led administration’s failure to provide contracts for the expenditure of TT$16 mil-

California, New York open door for...

From page 31 starved fans had their choice on Sunday of NASCAR’s return to racing at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, a charity skins game featuring golf greats Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson and Professional Bull Riding.

The NBA and MLS have opened training facilities for voluntary workouts under tight guidelines, while MLB is working on a plan to return to the field in the first week of July.

lion (1 TT dollar = US 16 cents) on the Home of Football, the issuance of dozens of bounced cheques against TTFA accounts, and failure to pay to relevant statutory authorities, the sum of TT$4 million deducted from employees’ salaries.

“The truth is that over the years, and certainly the David John-Williams years (20152019), FIFA showed no interest in good governance and proper financial management for the association, nor in its ballooning debt,” it added.

The TTFA executive insisted that FIFA was therefore complicit in the creation of the “financial quagmire” that plagues the association.

The association’s debt stands at approximately TT$50 million.

MIES (Switzerland) - The admission process for the 2020-21 season of the Basketball Champions League has begun, and some major European clubs have already signed up to play in the upcoming fifth season, with more champions and leading clubs from across the continent due to join.

In parallel to planning the 2019-20 season-ending Final Eight tournament, taking place on September 30 - October 4, the Basketball Champions League has initiated the process for admitting clubs into the 2020-21 season and a number of top European clubs have already confirmed their will to line up in the battle for European glory.

The Turkish club of Darüººafaka will make its Basketball Champions League debut in October, after a solid season in this year’s

Basketbol Süper Ligi. The club has strong domestic and European records and achievements (winners of 2 Turkish Championships and the 2018 EuroCup) being runners-up of this season’s Turkish Cup. In Spain, RETAbet Bilbao will also be joining the Basketball Champions League, after a successful season that saw them secure a position in the ACB Play-Offs and reach the Quarter-Finals in the Copa del Rey. The Lithuanian club of Rytas Vilnius will also be among the new clubs joining the competition. Rytas has an impressive set of records and a remarkable list of trophies, among which 5 Lithuanian championships, 3 LKF and 2 King Mindaugas Cups, and 2 ULEB Cup titles.

“We are delighted to welcome these top clubs, play-

ing in some of the strongest leagues in Europe, to the Basketball Champions League family, and I’m convinced they will bring something special to next year’s competition,” said Basketball Champions League CEO Patrick Comninos.

“Their presence underscores the successful growth and development of the competition, and we are pleased to see more clubs convinced by the truly pan-European nature of the Basketball Champions League and its focus on providing a great international competition for clubs based on sport results and merit.

We are also thrilled to see that more and more clubs with ambitions to win a top European trophy are choosing the Basketball Champions League to pursue their dreams,” he said.

PAGE 28

Wednesday May 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

Leon Johnson became West Indies’ 300th Test player in 2014 As West Indies won its 500thTest in St Lucia Guyana’s Captain Leon Johnson became a part of history when he scored 66 and 41 in St Lucia on debut in the second Test against Bangladesh on September 1316, 2014.

Johnson became 300th West Indian to play Test cricket in the 500th Test played by West Indies since their first in England in 1928.

The then 27-year-old Guyanese had recently scored four half-centuries in the ‘A’ team series against Bangladesh ‘A’ to earn him a place in the Test squad for the second Test against New Zealand in Trinidad but he failed to make the final XI as Jamaican Jermaine Blackwood was given his debut.

Johnson became the 48th Guyanese to play Test cricket and the first since Veerasammy Permaul made his debut against Bangladesh in 2012.

West Indies, led by an unbeaten 84 in the first innings and 101 not out in the second from Man-of-the– Match Shiv Chanderpaul and 5-42 in the first innings by Kemar Roach and 5-72 in the second from Sulieman Benn, won by 296 runs to take the Two-Test series, 2-nil.

Sent to bat on a track with

Courtney Walsh has the most wickets for the West Indies. a tinge of grass at the Beausejour Stadium, (now named after former West Indies Captain Daren Sammy), Johnson, asked to open the batting, shared in 143 runs opening stand with Kraigg Braithwaite (63).

Johnson, who had scored all of his runs for Guyana batting in the middle, reached his fifty with an array of attractive shots but when on 66 with the score on 145 he was rapped on his pad by Taijul Islam and surprisingly opted not ask for a revive, which showed the ball would have missed the wicket as the left-

FIBA on path for return to international competition General Secretary of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Patrick Haynes, shared with the media yesterday via email that the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) FIBA, has established a special Medical Advisory Group (MAG) to review the latest scientific knowledge regarding Covid-19 and to advise on the return of international basketball competitions.

The MAG includes the Chair and Deputy Chair of the FIBA Medical Commission, the NBA Director of Sports Medicine; the Senior Advisor to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Executive Director; a University of Melbourne Professor of Medicine specialised in immunology and vaccine research; and, as observer, the IOC Medical Director.

Considering the number of requests for information and consultation that FIBA have received, the MAG has met twice so far and is currently preparing a set of FIBA Guidelines to National

Federations on return to play as well as a basketball-specific Risk Assessment Tools which will be issued following the extraordinary Medical Commission meeting next week.

In the meantime, FIBA is urging the respective Federations to follow WHO directives, including the Mass Gathering Guidelines.

Haynes, who also sits on the FIBA 3x3 council, also revealed that the FIBA Americas Zone Board conducted a meeting last Friday via video conference to address the impact of the current pandemic and the recent adjustments of the Global Competitions in the FIBA Americas Competition Calendar.

Key decisions regarding adjustment to FIBA Americas calendar were presented and approved by the Zone Board with the FIBA men’s AmeriCup 2021 being rescheduled to be played between September 2nd and September 11th, 2022, while the women’s AmeriCup 2021 will bounce from June 20-27, 2021.

hander gave away a possible century on debut. Daren Bravo’s 46 and Chanderpaul unbeaten innings helped the hosts to 380.

Despite 53 from Mahmudulla, Roach dismantled Bangladesh for 161 before another solid opening partnership between Braithwaite (45) and Johnson (41) and his second undefeated innings of the game from Chanderpaul helped West Indies declare at 269-4.

Left-arm spinner Benn had 5-72 as Bangladesh fell for 192 as only Tamim Iqbal with 64 offered fight as West Indies, who won the first Test in St Vincent by 10 wickets, took the series 2-nil.

On June 23, 1928 at Lords, West Indies made its entry to the Test arena and lost the 3Test series to England 3-0 in England.

It was not until the third Test of the 1929/30 series at Bourda in British Guiana that the West Indies won their first Test match by beating England.

West Indies has now played 545 Tests, winning 174, losing 195 with 175 ending in draws and one; the first ever Tied Test in Australia, ending in a tie.

West Indies had played their first 100 Tests between June 1928 and March 1965 and had won 36 and lost 31 with 31 games ending in draws.

The next 100 Test were played between March 1965 and August 1980 with them winning 28, losing 25 and drawing 47.

Their 201st test to their 300thwere contested during the period of November 1980 and December 1993 when West Indies dominated world winning 53, losing just 13 and drawing 34.

The invincible West Indies played for 15 years without losing as single Test

series until 1995 in Jamaica Australia broke that remarkable streak when the Aussies took the Frank Worrell Trophy 2-1 in the four Test series.

From then West Indies win/loss ratio became progressively worse since in their 301st and 400th Test between February 1994 and November 2003 West Indies managed 30 wins, lost 44 times and Drew 29 matches.

In their last 100 matches West Indies have won only 17 Tests, lost 53 and drew 30 between November 2003 to June 2014.

Guyanese Clive Lloyd is the most successful West Indies Captain, winning 36 of his 74 matches as leader.

Lloyd a belligerent bespectacled left-hander only lost 12 of the games he led his team in and drew 26.

Leon Johnson collects his Cap from the most successful Windies Captain Clive Lloyd after making his debut in St Lucia.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul has played the most Test matches for West Indies.

Lloyd also led West Indies to the first two World Cup titles in 1975 &1979 and

Brian Lara has the most Test runs and tons for West Indies.

also to the 1983 final when India created the biggest upset in Sports at that time when Kapil Dev’s men beat the Mighty West Indies at Lords. Lloyd led the Regional team from 1974-1985.

Sir Vivian Richards, who was Captain from 1980-1991, is the only other person to lead the West Indies 50 times, winning 27, losing eight and drawing 15. The devastating Antiguan is the only West Indies Captain never to have lost a series.

Trinidadian Brian Lara, who has the most Test runs (11,912) and Test centuries (34) by a West Indian, is the only other player to captain the West Indies in more than 40 Test Matches. Lara who led the team from 1997-2006 (during three separate periods) was Captain in 47 of his 130 Tests but won just 10, lost 26 and drew 11.

Chanderpaul has played the most Test matches by a West Indian (164) and only Lara has more than his 11,499 Test runs, while Jamaican pacer Courtney Walsh has the Most Wickets by a West Indian (519) from 132 Test matches. (Sean Devers)

Wednesday May 20, 2020

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Manchester United urge fans to stay away from stadiums MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Manchester United have urged fans to stay away from their Old Trafford stadium should the venue be used for behind closed doors games during the Premier League’s resumption of play.

The league remains in talks with the government about whether matches in closed stadiums will be held at neutral venues or, as many clubs prefer, on the usual home and away basis.

In an email to supporters, United confirmed they will refund season ticket and ticket holders for games held behind closed doors and made a plea for supporters to stay away from matches.

“We share your disappointment that you will not be able to watch United in person from within the stadium, but we would encourage you to give your continued loyal support from the comfort and safety of your home. To help with that, the Premier League and their media partners will work to deliver the very best broadcast coverage of our games,” the club said.

“We also ask for your cooperation not to travel to any

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand walks back to his team mates after missing a penalty in a shootout against Everton during their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium. (REUTERS/Darren Staples/File Photo) stadiums at which we are playing on matchdays. By supporting from home and following government guidance, you will be playing your part to keep your friends, your family and all United fans

safe.”

The Premier League is exploring a number of options for broadcasting of behind closed doors games including use of audio effects and computer generated “fans”.

Jason Holder voices financial concerns as Windies contemplate England tour ESPNcricinfo - West Indies captain Jason Holder has admitted that the proposed tour of England in July will represent an opportunity for players “to actually make some money”, but insisted that no player would be forced to travel if they did not feel safe doing so.

While boards have admitted throughout the crisis that they need to return to play as soon as possible in order to bring in TV revenue, few players have spoken about their own need to earn.

West Indies players have felt the financial impact of the Covid-19 shutdown harder than most, with match fees from games earlier this calendar year delayed and CEO Johnny Grave accepting that Cricket West Indies “is facing a tough time financially”.

Speaking on the BBC’s ‘Tuffers and Vaughan’ show, Holder said the tour would allow for “everybody getting back into the workforce”.

“It’s no different from a frontline worker going into a hospital every day,” Holder said. “It’s the same risk that they’re… they’re putting their lives at risk and they’ve still got to make money. The longer we stay off the field, the longer it takes for us to actually make some money.”

England’s players will re-

turn to individual training today with the hope of starting a three-Test series against West Indies on July 8. West Indies have been in contact with an enlarged training squad of around 30 players to let them know more details about the tour, but Holder echoed the sentiments of Ricky Skerritt, CWI’s president, in saying that no player would be forced to travel to the UK if they did not feel safe.

“Each player has to be comfortable in making the step,” he said. “Certainly from my perspective, I wouldn’t be forcing anybody to go anywhere.

It’s been made clear that if we are to hop on a plane to go over to England and play, then it must be safe. We’re been given assurance from CWI that we wouldn’t go over to England unless they deem it safe to go over and play.

“It’s not only from a monetary standpoint. The first priority is everybody’s safety.

We’ve been assured that the only way that the tour will possibly go ahead is if everyone could be comfortable with the measures that the ECB are putting in place to roll the cricket out.

“But there’s obviously been a lot of ongoing discus-

sions, and for us as players to commit to going, we’ve just got to be assured of our safety.”

Holder also admitted that after a packed international schedule, the break had come at a good time for him personally as an opportunity to “recoup” before playing again.

“It has been a welcome break,” he said.

“It’s kind of unfortunate the kind of break it has been, but for us it’s an opportunity to reflect, relax, and recoup before we actually resume playing cricket again.

“No doubt, hopefully in the not too distant future we will have the opportunity to get out on the cricket field, but every cricketer around the world who has been on the circuit maybe for the last four, five years, hectically playing, would welcome this break.”

Pooran has eyes fixed on representing Windies in Test cricket PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Nicholas Pooran’s dream of playing Test cricket for West Indies is still very much alive, with the regular in the regional side’s T20I and ODI squads saying he is ready and just waiting for the call-up.

The talented left-hander, who has so far only represented the regional side in white ball cricket, suffered nearly career-ending injury in a car crash five years ago, and he says while he was forced to focus on the shorter formats in recent years, he believes he is back on track to achieving his ultimate goal in the red-ball format.

“Growing up, I always watched Test cricket and I’ve always wanted to play. I had an unfortunate accident, I had to make decisions and had to live with the consequences.

But now everything is alright with me and whenever I am called to play Test cricket, I am ready to play,” the 24-yearold Trinidadian said during a recent Windies Hangout on the @windiescricket Instagram page.

The rising star sustained ankle and knee injuries in the accident in January 2015. His left patellar tendon was ruptured and his right ankle was fractured.

Despite the setback, he said he remained focus on getting back to the game.

“Sitting down at the hospital and sitting at home, I knew my dream was to be a professional cricketer. Mentally, I was so strong. I decided that anything that happened to me, happened for a reason and I just started to believe,” Pooran recalled.

“Every time I saw improvement in myself, I started to believe that it was possible I will play cricket again. I didn’t believe I would be down forever. Every time I went to sleep and woke up, I just decided that today was going to be a better day.”

After two surgeries and several months of physiotherapy, he was able to walk again and eventually made his cricketing comeback.

“My girlfriend and her family, they came and prayed for me; started to teach me

about the Bible and religion.

They just told me to believe. I started to believe and I saw for myself that every day I was seeing improvement. I believe it’s because of my belief and trust in the Lord.

That changed everything for me, to be honest,” added Pooran who has played in several T20 franchise leagues around the world, including the Caribbean Premier League, the India Premier League, the Pakistan Super League, and the Bangladesh Premier League.

The aggressive middleorder batsman made his T20I debut for the West Indies, less than two years after his accident. He played for the regional side against Pakistan in September 2016.

Pooran made his ODI debut against England in February 2019.

He then went on to secure a place in the West Indies squad in the 2019 Cricket World Cup which he ended as the leading run-scorer for the regional squad, amassing 367 runs in nine matches, which included his first ODI century.

PAGE 30

UFC tags Woodley-Burns for May 30 main event Gilbert Burns and former welterweight champ Tyron Woodley are signed to square off in the main event at UFC Fight Night on May 30.

Now they just need directions to the venue.

Burns announced the main event via Twitter yesterday, noting he signed the contract.

UFC has not determined whether the event can be held in Las Vegas as planned at the APEX facility. UFC president Dana White is still considering a provisional arrangement to move the fights to Arizona, he said this week.

Woodley (19-4-1) has not competed since losing the 170-pound belt to Kamaru Usman in March 2019. The 38year-old had won seven consecutive fights, including a knockout of Robbie Lawler to become champion in July 2016.

The 33-year-old Burns (18-3) has five consecutive wins — four since Woodley’s last fight.

(Field Level Media)

Wednesday May 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

Premier League confirms six positive COVID-19 cases after testing

General view of a match ball held by Manchester United’s David de Gea during the warm up before the match Manchester United v Watford at Old Trafford. (Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo)

Tyron Woodley before his fight against Kamaru Usman during UFC 235 at T-Mobile Arena.

(Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports)

Sprinter to miss Olympics, World Champs after losing ban appeal LAUSANNE, Switzerland, CMC – Grenadian sprinter Bralon Taplin has lost his appeal against a four-year ban for dodging a doping test, which means he will miss the Tokyo Olympics if it comes off next year, as well as the next two World Championships.

After saying that it was “comfortably satisfied” that the athlete purposely evaded testing, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said in a statement issued here yesterday that the ban, imposed by the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO) last year, would remain in place until September 2023.

The ruling by CAS judge Hugh Fraser came just over a year after the incident that sparked the ban.

After winning the 400m at the Grenada Invitational Athletics Competition on April 13, 2019, Taplin left the stadium without completing doping control, despite being informed that he was to undergo a drugs test.

The 28-year-old appealed the Caribbean RADO’s decision at the CAS, claiming he had not been properly notified that he had been selected for the doping control test.

However, CAS said, Taplin was told by a chaperone from the Grenada National AntiDoping Organisation (Grenada NADO) during track-side media interviews that he was required to give a sample, yet he left the stadium and took an early flight out of the country the following day.

“The sole arbitrator found that the evidence given by the athlete that he was never approached, followed or accompanied by anyone from the Grenada NADO to be implausible,” the CAS press release said.

“Considering all of the evidence accepted in this procedure, the sole arbitrator was comfortably satisfied that the athlete was guilty of the offence of evading sample collection and confirmed the four-year period of ineligibility, which commenced on 25 September 2019, the date on which the provisional suspension began.”

(Reuters) - The Premier League said yesterday that six people from three different clubs had tested positive for COVID-19 out of a sample of 748 individuals.

The novel coronavirus tests were taken on Sunday and Monday ahead of the return to small group training.

“Players or club staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for a period of seven days,” the league said

in a statement.

“The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and transparency.

“No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the League and results will be made public in this way after each round of testing.”

On Monday, the Premier League voted to allow clubs to begin small group, non-

contact training with some clubs returning yesterday.

The league will decide early next week when to allow contact training as it looks for a June restart to the season which was halted on March 13.On Saturday, Germany’s top-flight became the first major European league to return to action.

The Bundesliga returned 10 positives out of 1,700 tests, on May 4, ahead of its return to training.

Ronaldo returns to Juventus training after two months

Bralon Taplin’s ban for dodging a doping test will remain in place until September 2023.

CAS had heard the case at the offices of the Grenada Olympic Committee on February 27 and 28 this year.

Taplin, who finished seventh in the 400m final at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, will therefore miss the next Summer Games that have been postponed, because of the COVID19 pandemic, to July 24-August 9; the 18th edition of the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, United States, that have been rescheduled for 2022; and the following World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, scheduled for August 19-27, 2023.

Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo gestures as he leaves Juventus Training Center following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Turin, Italy, May 19, 2020. (REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo/File Photo) TURIN, Italy (Reuters) - Five-times World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo rejoined Serie A champions Juventus for training yesterday after an absence of 72 days that included the last two weeks in quarantine.

The 35-year-old was filmed arriving at the Turin club’s Continassa training ground in a black car and was due to undergo a medical before joining coach Maurizio Sarri and his team mates.

Ronaldo flew back to his native Madeira after Juventus beat Inter Milan 2-0 behind closed doors on March 8, their final game before Serie A was suspended because of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

He returned to Turin in a private jet earlier this month but then had to spend two weeks at home under Italy’s quarantine rules.

Serie A clubs returned to training on May 4 but are restricted to training in small groups and must respect social distancing guidelines.

The government is still deliberating on whether to allow Serie A to restart but said on Monday that it would not happen before at least June 14, one day after the league had hoped to begin.

The squad is still without forward Gonzalo Higuain who only returned to Italy from Argentina last Thursday and must spend another 10 days in quarantine.

Wednesday May 20, 2020

Kaieteur News

California, New York open door for sports return (Reuters) - California governor Gavin Newsom cleared a path for the potential return of professional sport in the state, saying on Monday that an early June restart was possible under strict guidelines, including no fans.

Shuttered for nearly two months by the novel coronavirus outbreak, the NBA, NHL, MLS and MLB

are all working up scenarios to restart their seasons but any plans have had to factor in state pandemic guidelines and restrictions on large gatherings.

“Sporting events, pro sports in that first week or so of June without spectators and modifications and very perspective conditions also could begin to move forward,” said Newsom during his daily press

Correction

Yesterday we carried a story from the BBC Sport – on Chelsea and England winger Callum Hudson-Odoi being arrested on suspicion of rape. In error the wrong photo was used. We used the photo of Bartica sports awardee Calmeth Younge instead of Callum Hudson-Odoi.We extend our sincere apologies to Mr. Younge for the mistake.The correct photo of Hudson-Odoi, Callum Hudson-Odoi 19, who was arrested at the scene made his senior England and has since been released from custody, is attached.

debut in March 2019.

briefing on Monday.

New York governor Andrew Cuomo also green lighted the return of major sports in his state on Monday, saying that he has asked teams to prepare to reopen without fans.

“New York state will help those major sport franchises to do just that,” Cuomo said during his daily news conference at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo.

“Hockey, basketball, baseball, football, whoever can reopen, we’re a ready, willing and able partner.”

After a two month shutdown, professional sports slowly began to reemerge from under the COVID-19 cloud during the weekend as several events returned to television — all without fans in attendance.

Following an Ultimate Fighting Championship card aired live from an empty arena in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday, sport (Continued on page 27)

PAGE 31

Seon Bristol and GBA looking to offer more relief Grateful for previous assistance, hopeful for more The Guyana Boxing Association and Seon Bristol of Bris O Promotions are examining more ways in which they can collaborate to help cushion the economic effect of Covid19 on the local boxing fraternity.

Just over a week ago they combined to provide food hampers to boxers, referees, judges and coaches. Bristol who resides in New York stated that he will be exploring the possibility of supplying another set of hampers in the near future.

He however insisted that this venture will become a reality if there is support from persons and businesses both Guyana and the USA. Bristol and GBA president Steve Ninvalle extended gratitude to: Bounty Farm, Ivan and Pamela Evelyn, Dwayne Chase, Associated Packers, Reverend and Chaplain Dr. Orin Lewis, Randolph Lewis, Deborah and Vanessa Bristol, Daphne Hoppie, Lynette Philadelphia, Orin Van Rossum and Green

Seon Bristol of Bris-0 promotions

Path Foundation and Alford McDonald among others for assisting in making the first set of hampers available.

Pooran has eyes fixed t r o Sp on representing Jason Holder Windies in Test cricket voices financial p.

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concerns 29p. as Windies contemplate England tour

Nicholas Pooran.

Jason Holder said that the break offered a chance to “reflect, relax, and recoup”. (Randy Brooks - CPL T20 / Getty)

FIBA on path for return to international competition p.

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TTFA abandons p.

27 CAS, turns to High Court in fight against FIFA takeover

FIBA has established a medical advisory committee for the return to international competition. (FIBA.basketball photo)

Ousted TTFA president William Wallace.

p.

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Cameron threatens to sue CWI

10 COVID-19 cases 25p. wouldn’t cancel an F1 race, says the FIA Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8452, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.