Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR NEWS

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Guyana's poor

Thursday Edition

systems spell

May 21, 2020 - Vol. 13 No. 20

p. Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online 3 Price $80

disaster for oil money

readership yesterday 209,100

As recount continues more skulduggery unearthed... Justice Singh p. doesn't think it's 17 GECOM's role to probe claims of anomalies 13p.

Mingo altered Grove Primary School votes in favour of coalition - Commissioner Gunraj - SOR and SOP reveal 3500

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2658 2396

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Statements of Poll

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Statements of Recount

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Coalition refuses to sign off Region 2 recount p. results 7 Group highlights dire situation of over 200 Guyanese stranded in the p.

US, Caribbean 2 - appeals made to Covid-19 Taskforce

Teen said he fled scene before friend killed female guard in cemetery p.

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Eight Presidential Guards test positive also more than 30 Reg. 9 for Covid-19 residents in home quarantine s See storie on pages 3 and 18

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Kaieteur News

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Thursday May 21, 2020

Group highlights dire situation of over 200 Guyanese stranded in the - appeals made to US, Caribbean Covid-19 Taskforce

T

he recent green light by the National Covid19 Taskforce (NCTF) to allow several Guyanese stuck overseas to travel home is stirring optimism among over 200 citizens stranded in the United States and the Caribbean.

The citizens are now hopeful that they too will be allowed to return soon.

The stranded Guyanese have since formed a group, collectively lobbying to the NCTF to get approval to be re-united with their families.

However, while permission was given for foreigners in Guyana to return to their countries, as well as initiation of repatriation flights for Guyanese in the Caribbean, multiple requests for the return of Guyanese

stranded in Miami, Washington and New York, have all been rejected.

Dr. Bibi Hussain, a surgical resident seconded to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, (GPHC) is currently among nationals stuck in the US. Dr. Patrick Lindo, Dr. Latchmi Nandalall , Kimmey Buchoon ,Mohamed Hussain, Saiyad Hussain,

Bibi Hussain and her relatives in Miami Devika Lall , Kelvin Sitaram , Azim Abrahim , Hansranie

Stranded: Kelvin Sitaram Abrahim , Rehana Abrahim, Kairav Arshad Khatoon and Vaneeta Ajodhea are also listed among a group that has been leading efforts to get persons home. Speaking to Kaieteur News, Dr. Hussain said that she has been in constant contact with the Guyana Consul in Miami and with the NCTF. She said she has written to the task force four times appealing to them about the dire situation. In her fifth letter, Dr. Hussein pleaded with taskforce again, outlining the difficulty that fellow Guyanese stuck in the US and Caribbean have been forced to endure.

She noted: “There are persons who have now become financially paralyzed as a result of being compelled to live in a foreign land, with no source of income since we cannot legally work here, and hence are on the brink of starvation.

“Some persons are left with no other option but to solicit financial aid from family and friends, most of whom are also facing intolerable levels of economic hardship due to COVID 19.

“Majority of persons are also seeking accommodation at relatives and friends, and this is becoming extremely uncomfortable with such an extended period of time.

“Due to the continuous extension of border restrictions, some persons have either overstayed their

Stranded: Damian Jagroop permitted time with a few who now have expired visas and are impelled to be illegal in the United States, since most persons cannot afford to apply for extension of their visas.”

Further,Dr. Hussain noted that her group includes students, doctors, engineers and pregnant women, who merely came for vacation or on business trips, and with all intentions to return home within one month or less.

Two individuals have also indicated that their pregnant wives are alone in Guyana and urgently need their support. “We are all worried about our families that desperately need us to return home,” she added.

Added to this, the doctor said there are citizens who need medical attention from their health care providers in Guyana. Some are left without prescription medications for chronic illnesses, since they do not have health insurance in the United States.

According to her, since many of them are the sole breadwinners of their home and are now at risk of losing their jobs in Guyana, the fear of being forced into bankruptcy has crept in.

“Experts have emphasized the importance of mental health and the catastrophic influence that this pandemic will imprint on everyone. Indeed this virus has brought the world to its (continued on page 16)

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 21, 2020

PAGE 03

Eight Presidential Guyana's poor systems Guards test positive spell disaster for oil money for Covid-19

By Kiana Wilburg

E

ight ranks from the Presidential Guard Unit are now in quarantine after they recently tested positive for Covid-19.

According to a statement from the Police Public Relations Department, officials from the Ministry of Public Health carried out random testing exercises on ranks from the unit.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Guyana Police Force stressed that the ranks are not responsible for personally protecting the president.

He explained that their roles are to guard the president's office, his

residence and state house.

A statement released by the Ministry of the Presidency also echoed the PRO's advisory that President David Granger was not in contact with the eight ranks who have now tested positive. The statement iterated that the Uniform Section is not part of the protective arm of the President.

It also stated that the President has been working remotely for some time now and has not been in the presence of these guards, who are normally stationed at the President's office on Vlissengen Road.

It was also advised that

these are not new cases but cases that have already been recorded by the Ministry of Public Health.

In just a matter of two days Guyana's confirmed Coronavirus cases have jumped from 117 cases to 125.

On May 16th, The Ministry of Public Health reported on its Facebook page that there were 117 confirmed cases in Guyana.

However in a subsequent report on May 18th that number rose significantly to 124 cases. One more case was added to the list on May 19th bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Guyana to 125.

Table posted by the Ministry of Public Health tallying the Number of Confirmed Coronavirus cases as of May 20

GECOM to pay Elections Day workers in two weeks

P

ersons who were contracted to provide meals and transportation for Guyana Elections Commission staffers on elections day will receive their payments in two weeks' time.

This assurance was given by the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Wa r d o f t h e G u y a n a Elections Commissions

(GECOM) yesterday afternoon.

Ward said that the reason for the long delay has to do with wrongly written contracts.

She explained that contracts sent in from the various districts contained multiple errors. As a result the GECOM Administration and Finance Department had to resend the contracts to be

corrected.

This announcement comes after two contracted persons, expressed frustration over not being paid for two months.

Arvinda Singh of Goed Fortuin, said that he was promised $65000 to transport workers, ballot boxes and meals to polling stations. The man said that he (continued on page 17)

G

uyana ushers in its newfound oil wealth in an era of poor systems for governance, procurement and management that has existed for decades.

The reports from the Audit Office, the guardian of the nation' purse, testify to this on an annual basis.

Those reports speak to numerous cases of rampant corruption and procurement breaches across ministries and regional departments. Up to last year September 2019, Auditor General, Deodat Sharma expressed dismay with the fact that the majority o f h i s y e a r l y recommendations to Ministries, Departments and Regions to improve systems and practices for governance and accountability are not acted on. In fact, Sharma said that 76 percent of his recommendations were not fully implemented with many of them being repeated each year. As a result of the inaction, Sharma has said that weaknesses and issues that impact negatively on Government's governance and accountability mechanisms continue to occur.

This state of affairs remains an area of serious concern for many transparency advocates, especially when taken in context of advice recently provided by Trinidadian Energy Expert, Anthony Paul. During a recent taping of Kaieteur Radio's Programme, “Guyana's Oil

TT Petroleum Expert, Anthony Paul and You”, Paul said it is critical that Guyana gets proper management systems for the expenditure of oil money; otherwise, it will risk losing significant revenue.

Further to this, Paul said that proper management systems for governance and procurement would help to ensure Guyana does not find itself in the same boat with other major oil producing nations such as Nigeria and Angola that are now at the doorsteps of international financial institutions with appeals for funding to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Energy Expert, who is currently helping the government of Mozambique, said that there are several mistakes these countries made but there is a key one Guyana should pay attention to. He said, “Governments tend to track their budgets with their revenues rather than, and I would suggest, the ability to spend money efficiently and that has been

a challenge in countries that have oil and gas. They have high budgets, high levels of spending and high levels of inefficiency. So I would say the lesson for Guyana is to understand the level of capacity you have to manage efficiently...”

The Trinidadian warned that high levels of spending, even on the most crucial projects, would essentially be a recipe for disaster if the weaknesses of the governance and procurement systems are left unaddressed.

Further to this, Paul said, “The local authorities also have to bear in mind that the price for oil will fluctuate. So ask yourself, what the right level of revenue expectation is and pitch your budget below that so whatever surplus you get, you can save it for rainy days like the one that is upon us.”

Using his home country as a point of reference, the Local Content Expert said that Trinidad and Tobago's problem has never been access to revenue but rather , poor management of expenditure. He said that one of the things Trinidad's authorities said they would do is bring legislation that would ensure the transparent management of the oil money while getting high value with contracts. He said that this unfortunately, was not done.

“Once governments do that, you know their intentions aren't always the best. I would suggest Guyana should take its cue from this,” the international consultant concluded.

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Thursday May 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Recount timetable – looks out of reach The timetable originally finalized and decided upon as what was required to complete the elections recount process underway at GECOM now looks way underestimated and woefully inadequate. Twenty-five days is almost guaranteed to fall short, extremely short at meeting that deadline. We will now go out on a limb, and assert from this early juncture, that not just a few days more may be needed but several weeks. Here is why we think so and state so.

A start is made by examining the numbers, as they have been recounted and confirmed so far. Before proceeding further, we take a bow before much more sophisticated efforts and extrapolations presented in the public domain, as to the sufficiency, or the deficiency, of the 25-day limit.

We will keep things as simple as possible.

At the close of counting on Day 14, the media reports are of 718 out of 2339 ballot boxes have been recounted and completed (KN, May 20). That is just over 30% of the total number at the end of Day 14. We must acknowledge that, indeed, the pace of the recount has increased. But, even as we do so, we recognize that almost 60% (56%, to be precise) of the agreed upon days for the recount have elapsed. We hope that the rest of Guyana appreciates what we have seen, what we are saying, and where we are going with this. That is, there is more than a narrow mismatch in recounted and completed boxes and the days gone, and the smaller number of the latter left. It is the warning situation that with a mere 30% of ballot boxes finished in 56% of the days, it might be the tautest of stretches to complete the other 70% of still to be recounted boxes in the 44% time left.

To be reasonable, we make allowance for the two additional workstations now in operation, as they provide much timely help. The insistent calls from several corners have been for many more of such workstations to be added early, as in now, to that small figure recently introduced.

They could make a significant difference and enable completion of the recount within the 25-day ceiling embodied in the Recount Order to be a real possibility. If this is not done at the earliest moment, we are unable to comprehend how the 25-day deadline will be met, given the current pace of things.

At this point, we proceed from the largely quantitative to the more qualitative aspects of what is involved in the recount. To begin with, disagreements and objections have occurred over one aspect of the ballots or the other, but they have been largely sporadic and managed authoritatively by GECOM. Though that may have been so, we suspect that the larger, more intense clashes, and the real battleground will be as recounting goes deeper into the thorny Region 4 territory and its associated ballot boxes. We anticipate that the protests and disputes will increase exponentially and that there will be the inevitable push-backs. These could slow down the recount process more often than not and significantly, but not necessarily fatally.

Thus, we have problems from now with GECOM’s ability to fulfill the Recount Order timeline, given where matters stand.

As we do so, there is appreciation that ballot boxes for the lesser contested regions will be smaller in the number of ballots cast and involved and, therefore, be completed more smoothly and rapidly; the contentiousness should be lesser. Moreover, in view of the known demographic spreads and areas with thinner numbers of eligible voters, there are grounds to think that the number of additional days that would be required could be smaller than greater.

This is our hope.

But to reiterate our position, we do not think that with the total number of current workstations in action, that this recount could be completed within the allotted 25-day time period. Something will have to give. It would have to be either the number of new workstations put into early action, or the number of days needed by way of an extension. The two are dependent upon each other: more workstations mean lesser days required. Otherwise, the 25-day deadline looks unattainable.

The beast that comes out of the abyss DEAR EDITOR, I read of the recent histrionics-more like antics-of ranking coalition figures publicly exhibiting what they believe are spirited and persuasive defenses of its elections position. The more I read the more I was reminded of the frolics of the Three Stooges colliding with each other as they rushed pell-mell across one unfamiliar and unwisely chosen pathway after another. The three immortals usually fell over one another, or flat on their faces in unceremonious piles. This is what I saw as I observed their gyrations, e x a g g e r a t i o n s , protestations, and whatever else was drummed up to support an increasingly troubled position.

But in the midst of all those verbal gymnastics, there was something that should be given attention.

It gave me pause, for in it I sense a long and winding road ahead. The little gem did not come with the f l o u r i s h o f a t r u m p e t ’s blast, but on quiet purposeful feet, a whisper almost.

It was not scriptural, but there it was: the beast that comes out of the abyss; for Guyana, it could mean the apocalyptic.

From the lips of Hon. Minister Cathy Hughes, of the caretaker/interim/ makeshift government,

there are those three letters OLE, as in the Official List of Electors. It had to come up sooner or later, and there it is, this monster in the midst, a raging beast like before, and a more ravenous one it will be in the stormy days ahead.

It was just a matter of time, before this long disputed and long unsettled OLE came back to dump a lorry of sand in the engine room of Elections 2020. If not now, then later. I promise.

As relevant as it is to the national conversation on credibility of any national elections, with this one taking the cake, I tack a course away from speaking to anything about bloated, though it definitely is nothing else.

I simply say that it has been exhumed at the worst possible time and it has to be dealt with, since it forms the basis for so much sharp and unmoving contentiousness.

The questions are these: what do we do in the days ahead?

I ask this, because the folks raising a ruckus currently will use as weapon and incitement via different manifestations; traction comes easily.

I say this, because this OLE has its disciples, many loud undisciplined children. They will have t h e i r s a y, t h e i r f u r i o u s voices heard clearly. For those who care to pay attention to what was

waiting for ventilation, it sounds like this: that list cheats us and we will not be cheated or stay cheated.

There is a determined ring to that chant, which does not require either much encouragement or any imagination as to its considerable power to put a damper on the way things unfold down the road, presidential guarantee and all.

Whoever thought that this was not going to happen and that the r e c o u n t would sneak by without accounting for that, shall I say, material aberration and monstrosity needs an overdose of strong laxatives, a daily one. As it stands, the existence of the OLE in its current considerable bulk will be an essential component of the conversations and developments later. As the still honorable minister did remind her immediate audience, as well as the unseen one: “if there was a claims and ob j e c t i o n s period… We would have made all these objections and it would have been sorted,” and after she was corrected, “There was a c l a i m s a n d o bjections period…but remember that period was halted.” In other words, stonewalled and sabotaged. That, too, sounds like rich soil.

For emphasis, I think what I am hearing on the coalition’s position is this: we had severe

concerns about the list (OLE), we objected strenuously and repeatedly, and we were patronized for a little bit, only for the plug on efforts to trace and remedy the list pulled too soon. The whole of Guyana may have forgotten the thorny issues from the coalition camp with the OLE. Now it is back and fuels further the hovering storms.

I doubt that it is going to disappear gently again.

This understanding has to come rapidly: the matter of the OLE is not some untidy and inconvenient loose end.

On the contrary, it was one of the cornerstones of elections clashes prior to March 2nd, and now it rises again, but this time as the chief cornerstone propping up the whole edifice that is Guyana Elections 2020. There are no two ways around this, and now to our tremendous detriment, it is possibly the worst haunting that has to be handled head-on and without equivocation or any of the earlier evasions that brought us to this fateful juncture.

The chickens come home to roost, if not before “acceptance” then down the road.

There is no great profoundness in any of this, merely the basics of where we fell short and were foolish enough to believe that the OLE had died a natural death.

I do not think that it did.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Lessons to guide our politically and ethically charged environment DEAR EDITOR, As the recount of the votes progresses, it is becoming increasingly evident that the Region Four Declaration by Mr. Mingo is not matching those contained in the ballot boxes.

This must be a matter of concern to all Guyanese more particularly the APNU-AFC which is now seeing a gradual and systemic erosion of its votes based on the flawed Region Four declaration.

This reality is not lost to President Granger who in a recent Radio interview acknowledged that the contest is extremely close even as he remained optimistic that the recount will re-affirm a ‘victory’ for the Coalition.

President Granger appeared sober and at times conciliatory calling for matured and inclusive governance.

It is my opinion that President Granger is gradually coming to terms with the reality that the PPP/C has won the elections. His most recent pronouncements are sober

and measured, an apparent attempt to manage expectations from his supporters who were led to believe that the APNU-AFC Coalition had won the elections and which is now unravelling before their very eyes with each passing day.

Interestingly, President Granger is now coming up with a narrative that the complex social structure of Guyana does not allow for any ‘landslide’ victory by any political party. This is generally true, and except

for the rigged elections during the 1968-1885 period, no political party has attained power by way of a landslide. As an historian, President Granger is aware that the only landslide victory took place in the 1953 elections, the first under Universal Adult Suffrage which was won by the PPP with Cheddi Jagan as Party Leader and Forbes Burnham as Party Chairman.

I thought of highlighting these historical facts if only to make the point that it is

possible to have political unity as happened during the early 1950s when the PPP was formed as a nationalist and multi-ethnic party with a working class orientation.

The lessons of that period are timely and relevant in our existing politically and ethically charged environment. This is one of the main challenges that the new government will have to address as soon as the recount is over and a new democratically elected government assumes office.

Hydar Ally

Rigging to cling to power DEAR EDITOR, Having read Freddie Kissoon column “Mercury and the Russians rigged the elections for the PPP” (KN, 19th May 2020) in which he alleges that there was a grand scheme by the PPP to purchase some 35,000 ID cards mostly of dead people I am astounded that Freddie

Kissoon could be taken in so easily.

Logistically speaking for 30,000 dead people to vote would require that at least 10,000 PPP supporters would be willing to vote at least 4 times.

The only grand scheme has been the rigging of the 2nd March 2020 elections by Clairmont Mingo in favour of

the PNC-led APNU+AFC which all the international observers can attest to. The APNU+AFC has tried to use this rigging to cling to power.

Yours faithfully, Sean Ori Editor’s Note: Mr. Kissoon’s “Mercury and the Russians rigged the elections for the PPP” column was a satirical piece.

Thursday May 21, 2020

My government is locking me out of my country DEAR EDITOR, Growing up my mother would lock me out of the house when I came home late and I would sleep near the door.

Editor, fast forward many decades and today I’m being locked out again. Now my government is locking me out of my country.

Like many of the citizenry of Guyana, I have been waiting patiently with the patience of the prophet Job to come home, to be let into my country.

What is more discouraging is to see other countries with far worse Covid-19 cases allowing their

citizenry to repatriate.

For example, on May 19, in Jamaica, about 1,044 Jamaicans arrived in the country (Jamaica Gleaner, May 20).

Why is it that the citizenry is always treated like a “lappy-dog,” stepchild, and a refugee? Does our government not care about us? Do they have no compassion for human life?

Does our government realize that we’ll not forget how badly they treated us when we go to vote?

Does our government not love us? Is our government truly called by God to be in government? Are they

government for the people and by the people?

Does the government want us to beg them to let us come home like I used to beg my mother to let me enter the house?

I deserved to be locked out of my mother’s house because of my disobedience.

But do I deserve to be locked out of my country? How can the government justify locking me and thousands of its people out of the country?

To be honest with you, most people are more likely to die by accidents, domestic violence and homicides than

by Covid-19.

Desperate Citizen

Now is the time for country first DEAR EDITOR, President David Granger over the past few days has shifted from his position of general silence and has now engaged the media and appeared on a radio programme. Unfortunately, his public utterances demonstrate a dedication to a narrative that is less than honest.

Editor, I will address one aspect of what President Granger talked about on a radio programme on Monday the 18th of May. He talked about “hooliganism” at the Ashmin’s Building.

How can he expect his comments to be trusted when the media has informed Guyanese clearly on what took place?

Also, there are dozens of video recordings of what took place at the Ashmin’s Building. The only act of hooliganism was the attempt

by Mr. Mingo to declare results that were not verified in keeping with the laws of Guyana.

Only last week, Barbados’ Noel Lynch, the same CARICOM official used by President Granger in his comments this week, said clearly that the controversy in this election took place because of “irregularities” in the “presentation of the count” after Election Day. Mr. Lynch also said – “Had these Observer Missions not persevered in Guyana, a result might have been declared that would not

have commanded the acceptance of the Guyanese people, or the respect and approval of the international community.”

The hooliganism that President Granger has to condemn is the actions of Mr. Mingo and those in his APNU-AFC Coalition, like Volda Lawrence, whose signature was on the Declaration of results for Region 4.

President Granger, even as leader of the APNU-AFC, has an obligation to the people of this country. Now is the time for country first.

As a leader, this is the standard by which he will be judged.

Regards, Erin Northe

Guyana would be a better place when we reject efforts to sink us DEAR EDITOR, It is persons like Robin Singh who make it difficult for all Guyanese to live in peace and harmony. I read his letter “Something must be rotten” (KN May 19, 2020). It is wicked, divisive and dishonest.

Robin is being wicked when he says President David Granger’s meeting on Sunday with GECOM Chair Justice Claudette Singh and three of the Secretariat top tier staff “ has compromised the integrity of the Chair and staff by the most callous and indecent abuse of Presidential privilege.”

Last week Friday L e a d e r o f t h e P P P M r.

Bharrat Jagdeo met with Justice Singh in similar manner. Then after he held a press conference. Robin sees no problem with Mr. J a g d e o ’s m e e t i n g o r doesn’t feel this

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Kaieteur News

meeting has compromised the integrity of the Chair and staff by the most callous and indecent abuse of former President privilege.

I suspect he wants Justice Singh to be as rude as some in the society. Her respect for persons big and small seems to bother him.

Her decency, many like him despise.

On Monday 18th C o m m i s s i o n e r Vi n c e n t Alexander while talking to the press at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre r e m i n d e d u s a b o u t M r.

J a g d e o ’s m e e t i n g w i t h Justice Singh.

The PRO Yolanda Ward later in the day told us what the meeting was about- a thank you and words of appreciation from the President for what GECOM is doing. The President also met the CARICOM scrutineers and expressed

his gratitude.

Robin ignores these and seemingly does not understand or care for civility. I suspect he thinks such human decency would not make political mileage and would not succeed in dividing us. The Nation is watching.

Imagine civility has now a divisive issue. What next Robin may I ask?

Those who seek to score points being rude, disrespectful, dishonest and uncivil, shame on them. Guyana would be a better place when we reject their efforts to sink us in this morass.

Yours Sincerely, B. Beniprashad Rayman

The recount has already established the Mingo fraud DEAR EDITOR, I am saddened to see that Adam Harris, someone I considered a friend and regarded with respect, now writing for the Chronicle, has abandoned all pretenses as a professional journalist to become a paid mouthpiece of the PNC’s grab for fraudulent political power.

He attacks me, the Private Sector and anyone else who defends the right of our people to a free and credible elections as “aligned to the PPP”. I witnessed the Mingo fraud first hand, twice, along with every International and Local Observer present. I have also seen the published SOPs of the elections

showing that the PPP/C has clearly won the elections. The Recount has already established the Mingo fraud.

Label me as you wish, Adam, it will not change the facts, will not change the electoral result and it will not make you right.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

Stranded family pleads for help DEAR EDITOR, I’m writing on behalf of 18 family members who have been stranded in Aruba for almost 3 months consisting of 5 children below the age of 10, among them are 12 adults awaiting to reach home, we are pleading with the national task force to adhere to our plea in reaching home safe, we have expired our stay which would have been a two week family reunion turned out to be 3 months, we are short on a lot of amenities which are necessities for our daily basic

lives e.g. prescription drug, which is not easily accessible since we are not citizens of Aruba. We were focusing on accommodation for only 2 weeks.

We have written to various ministries and even tried calling but we haven’t receive a positive feedback as yet, and its confusing and frustrating with Guyana borders been closed and there’s not a definite date when it will be reopened. Since we are far away from home we have little or for some, no

money at all to spend.

We are all citizens of Guyana most of us have employment in Guyana awaiting our return, again I’m pleading with the ministries to look into our plea to reach home.

We are aware of the pandemic situation and the crisis our country is facing presently with Covid 19.

Currently Aruba consists of 3 active cases with strict protocol in place to protect its citizens.

F. Ally

Growing Confidence in GECOM Chair & President on Recount DEAR EDITOR, The Chair of GECOM and the President have been gaining greater confidence among the population in the recounting exercise of ballots for the March 2 elections.

This is a finding from an informal survey exercise on the post election controversy.

This writer spent weeks in Guyana prior to and well after the elections and interacted with voters all over the country. I conducted tracking surveys utilizing the service of interviewers on issues pre and post election.

The election outcome was disputed over the validation or certification of Statements of Polls (SOPs) for Region 4.

The validation of SOPs for the other nine of the 10 regions received a stamp of approval from the parties and observers. Local and international observers as well as agents for every opposition party and ABCE diplomats based in Guyana

describe the certification of SOPs from Region 4 as fraudulent and not reflective of those in their possession as obtained at the closure of polls, a copy of which was posted at the place of polling.

All parties, except APNU+AFC, have rejected the certification and declaration of the certification of Mingo and Lowenfield. A large majority of voters also rejected the two counts of Mingo and his and Lowenfield’s declarations that ended up in court challenges. A recount of ballots, negotiated by Caricom between the President and the Opposition Leader and approved by GECOM and the Appeals Court, began on May 6. The Chair undertook in a sworn affidavit before the Chief Justice to execute out a recount of ballots to avoid contempt charges for Mingo failing to carry out the court’s orders.

Interaction with voters in Guyana since the election, especially after the attempted fraud on March 4, provided several important findings on people’s views of the count and recount of the ballots. A large majority of voters, including those who cast ballots for APNU+AFC, feel the election was relatively free and fair and a reflection of the will of the electorate. A large majority also feel the opposition PPP won the elections. There is near unanimous approval of the recounting of the ballots to resolve the dispute of the official winner of the elections. However, many voters feel there was no need for a total recounting exercise of all ballots saying that only a recount or a completion of the certification of SOPs (for Region 4 should have been undertaken since the other regions were certified).

Nevertheless, barring a few (Continued on page 6)

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Thursday May 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

A bad joke or a farce DEAR EDITOR, I was incredulous after listening to the Benschop interview of Mr. Granger on May 18, 2020 and reading the May 19th 2020 Guyana Chronicle report of the same interview headed up “I am confident …President Granger not expecting a landslide victory but confident.”

Here was Granger, the former military officer, again at work. When all his minions were botching up their public relations narrative, here the man himself stepped forward to set things straight for his supporters.

I would not be wrong, nor anyone else in Guyana, in assuming that Mr. Granger, as head of the APNU+AFC Coalition, is fully aware of the results of the SOPs of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections in his party’s possession that showed that not only did it not win, even by a margin, but, that it was resoundingly defeated by approximately 17,000 votes! Yet he continues this masquerade to fool his supporters.

For him to say, 78 days after the elections, that he did not expect a landslide victory, but now advocates that “We have to aim at a form of

government that is inclusionary…let’s not bother with landslide. …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 vote must not behave as if they won 100 per cent of the vote and people who only got 49 per cent of the vote 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…one where we can sit down in a mature environment and discuss the issues facing our country. That is the only way forward” is nothing but a bad joke or a farce.

Other than laughing uncontrollably at this farce being perpetuated on the Guyanese people, I am flabbergasted that Mr. Granger would expect the majority of Guyanese to conveniently forget what his administration stood for, and, still continues to stand for, since the May 11, 2015 elections.

His assumption of office was predicated on a less than 1% (4,000 odd votes) victory at the said polls. With such a hairbreadth difference, this “eureka moment” with regards to an inclusionary

form of government clearly alluded him when he assumed office.

Who can forget the “ahwe first” and “we time now” policies of his administration?

Just to name a few:• Terminated of 1,872 Amerindian Community Service Officers; • Terminated thousands of public servants for their ethnic and/or political affiliation; • Terminated 99% of Guyana’s representatives at our Foreign missions; • Terminated Chief Executive Officers and high level managers in all state corporations; • Terminated 99% of all Permanent Secretaries and Regional Executive Officers; • Replaced and stacked state boards with APNU+AFC activists; • E n s c o n c e d APNU+AFC activists as advisers in the Ministry of the Presidency and in every Ministry; • Held up appointments of judges for almost a year in violation of the constitution; • Revoked farmers’ land leases in contravention of court rulings; • Closed 4 sugar estates leading to the

“collateral damage” of 7000 sugar workers being put on the breadline; • Neglect of communities that were aligned to the PPP/C; • Neglect of Amerindian communities generally and especially those that are sympathetic to the PPP/C; • Allocation of jobs and resources in the public sector based on affiliation to the APNU+AFC Coalition; • Using SARA and SOCU as political tools to hound down PPP/C leaders; • Aborted the Commission of Inquiry into the assassination of Dr. Water Rodney; • Ignored and or attacked any civil society individuals or bodies that were critical and didn’t fall into line; • Turned the state media into the “rag sheet” of the APNU+AFC Coalition; • Gave himself and his Ministers 50-100% increases in salaries, benefits and allowances; • Introduced Antiworking people tax measures, thereby increasing levels of poverty; • Introduced Antibusiness tax measures; • Appointed the Chairman of GECOM in violation of the constitutional provisions until forced to correct this by the CCJ ruling and orders; • E x c l u d e d contractors and businessmen in the procurement process unless they were seen as “politically correct” a la APNU+AFC Coalition; • Violated the constitution on repeated occasions, most recent article 106, following the defeat of his

government with the NO Confidence Vote; • Established a partisan National Task Force on COVID 19 in a time of a national health crisis; • Has done nothing to stem the astounding levels of corruption in his administration, which continue unabated to date.

In the National Assembly, a place in parliamentary democracies where there is some modicum of “give and take” based on long standing norms and conventions, his administration hogged it all from June 2015: • Defeated every motion brought by the parliamentary opposition, even those which were nonpartisan e.g. suicide prevention, rice farmers, sugar industry, interior roads, crime; • Defeated every amendments brought by the parliamentary opposition on any bill; • Suspended the Standing Orders to rush through large and complex bills at first reading, such as the Cybercrime bill, amendments to the AMLCFT bills, and the Anti-Terrorism bill; • Refused to send bills to Parliamentary Special Select Committees for scrutiny; • Ignored the findings of the Auditor General reports and took no corrective action.

Even as I write Granger’s caretaker administration continues unrelentingly with the same polices of political and ethnic discrimination, exclusivity, highhandedness, and “party paramountcy” started in May 2015—the very same policies that led to

his defeat at the March 2, 2020 polls.

Is it because defeat is now staring him in his face that he has chosen opportunistically to pander to “an inclusionary form of government”?

No Mr. Granger. In 2015, the two parties were 50.3% versus 49.7%; there was the golden opportunity to prove his commitment to an inclusionary government which he squandered. Why should anyone trust Granger now?

The Granger administration has taken this country down a treacherous path of political division, economic collapse, undermining the rule of law and the constitution as it merrily went along, confident that their time would last forever. Granger’s “eureka” moment has come five years too late. This will never be possible under Granger’s tutelage.

I have no doubt that there will be inclusionary governance, and, we shall as a people and a nation work together to develop an inclusionary form of government, not by divvying up the spoils as Granger and others’ advocate, but through a national inclusive consultative process.

Whenever the recount is finished and the new President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, is sworn in, then the work will begin to reconstruct our country, to repair the damage of APNU+AFC Coalition’s five years of incompetence and party paramountcy , and, to find a way forward and start the process that is truly inclusive.

Yours sincerely, Gail Teixeira

Growing Confidence in GECOM...

From page 5 holdouts, there is endorsement for the comprehensive recount.

Initially skeptical, because of the court cases and various other obstacles, of whether the recount process would actually commence and/or derailed (brought to a completion) after it begins, and with the recounting underway, voters now feel increasingly confident that the President and the Chair of GECOM would see the recount to its logical end that reflect the true will of the electorate. Almost every voter is pleased with the Chair’s action on the recount. However, a large majority feel she should undertake to substantially increase the number of recounting stations so as to hasten the process to a

quick end. Almost every voter feel the chair would take the correct and honourable action by declaring the real winner of the election.

Voters are also pleased with the recent statement by the President that he would accept the declaration of the Chair. The President’s statement has r a i s e d h i s political stock in how he has been (positively) viewed by the country since the election. Right after the election, a large majority felt the President was condoning electoral fraud although they praised him for no t s w e a r i n g - i n o n a fraudulent count. Now with his recent statement that he would accept the recount numbers announced by the Chair and that he is not supportive of contradictory remarks

made by party colleagues, voters are changing their views of the President. Voters now say they are confident that the President would accept the recount outcome even if he were not declared the winner.

Voters also express confidence that the Opposition Leader would also accept the outcome of the recount. Voters praise both the President and Opposition Leader for the agreement to have the Caricom recount.

Initially distrustful of the Chair, almost every voter now expresses faith in the GECOM Chair that she would do the honourable thing, affirming the recount numbers as the final results.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram (Pollster/Analyst)

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 21, 2020

PAGE 07

Coalition refuses to sign off Region 2 recount results - Protests labelling total votes as “valid”

T

abulation agent f o r t h e APNU/AFC Coalition, Daniel Seeram yesterday refused to place his signature on the final recount certificate for District Two over the use of the word “valid” to describe the ballots cast.

The rationale behind the refusal reportedly stemmed from the use of the word “valid” to describe the votes because of the coalition's claims that persons who have died or migrated were ticked off as having voted.

No evidence has been presented to support these allegations.

In the initial declaration, People's Progressive Party (PPP) secured 18,788 votes while the Coalition secured 7,343 in the General Elections. However, the Statement of Recount (SOR) showed that the PPP secured 18, 785 votes while the

Coalition secured 7, 340 votes.

This represents a vote drop of three for both the Opposition and the Coalition.

Seeram, according to an ANUG tabulation agent, said that the party has issues which are still pending at the Commission level, which is why they cannot sign off on a document that is not reflective of a complete process.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e tabulation agent for The Citizenship Initiative (TCI) Rondha Lam posted on her Facebook that “He [Seeram] says there are anomalies in the vote count which has the attention of the commission and will not sign on principle.”

When contacted via telephone, Seeram told Kaieteur News that he “would not be able to comment on the issue.”

Declaration of results for the General Election from District Two after recount (left) and declaration made after the election (right) All other political parties have signed off on the document.

Despite not signing the final results, Seeram did place his signature on the 105 Statements of Recount (SORs) tabulated at the end to get the final recount numbers.

PNC Executive Member, Aubrey Norton had told reporters that he doesn't see his party signing off on any final declarations due to 'credibility issues'.

He was at the time giving a preliminary review of the Region One count. Norton stated that “a signature is dependent on us accepting that it is credible and so far,

Declaration of results for the Regional Election from District Two after recount (left) and declaration made after the election (right)

its credibility is in question.”

Nevertheless, his party eventually signed off on the Region One results but this did not go without comment.

Seeram was said to have preferred that the boxes read 'total votes cast instead of 'total valid votes cast' before he signed off.

Questions were raised on whether his refusal to sign the final result would have an impact on the declaration but according to Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner S a s e G u n r a j , “Failure/refusal of a party to sign a Certificate of Tabulation does not render it invalid.”

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Thursday May 21, 2020

Teen said he fled scene before friend killed female guard in cemetery

I

n a chilling statement to investigators, a 17-year-old boy has said that he heard security guard Margaret Dawson pleading that she had “no money”, as an acquaintance of his attacked the elderly woman in the desolate Le Repentir Cemetery last Sunday evening.

The teen has also said that he watched his acquaintance strip his victim of her jewellery and other valuables.

But the teen insists that while his friend gave him

one of the stolen rings “to hold”, he did not participate in the robbery, and fled when his acquaintance began to drag his 68-year-old victim further into the cemetery.

Mrs. Dawson's battered body was found the following day in the cemetery. Her rings, cell phone and other valuables were missing. A postmortem performed yesterday revealed that she had been strangled.

Apparently leaving nothing to chance in their attempt to build their case,

investigators have reportedly taken samples for DNA testing from the slain woman and their suspects.

In custody are the 17year-old who claimed he witnessed the attack; a 16year-old friend, and a taxi driver, whose vehicle was found in the cemetery.

The taxi driver was detained after his vehicle was found a short distance from the slain guard. Police have reportedly found nothing to connect him to the case. However, he has reportedly given conflicting

statements about his presence in the cemetery.

Investigators are likely to seek legal advice as early as today regarding murder charges.

Kaieteur News has confirmed that the two teens were held after one of the youths sold one of the slain woman's gold rings to an Albouystown resident.

The suspicious resident learnt about the murder and contacted the police.

Police allegedly then found Mrs. Dawson's cell phone at the home of the 17-

Dead: 68-year-old Margaret Dawson year-old.

They have also recovered other gold rings belonging to the dead woman along with her cell phone, ID card and Bank Card.

Dawson, of 158 Curtis Street Albouystown was slain while heading to work last Sunday. The 17year-old has indicated that she was taking a short cut through Le Repentir Cemetery when she was attacked.

PICKED UP FRIEND ON MOTORCYCLE He has reportedly told police that he was riding a relative's CG motorcycle on Sussex Street on Sunday evening when an acquaintance asked for a ride.

They then rode into Le Repentir Cemetery and he saw Mrs. Dawson walking.

He alleged that as they were passing the woman, the friend asked him to stop.

He complied, and his acquaintance then “pulled something from his waist” and confronted the female guard. On seeing his friend approaching, Mrs. Dawson reportedly said: “I don't have any money; I now going to work.”

But according to the teen, his acquaintance began to strip the woman of her gold rings, and allegedly gave the teen some of her belongings “to hold.”

But the teen claimed that he fled the scene on the motorcycle after his acquaintance began to drag the woman further into the cemetery.

Dawson's body was discovered battered, halfnaked and sprawled in a clump of bushes in the cemetery the following day.

ExxonMobil Guyana Names New President

E

xxonMobil Guyana disclosed yesterday via a statement to the media that its current President, Rod Henson, will be leaving Guyana in the coming months to take up a new position as Vice President of Wells for its parent company, ExxonMobil, in Huston, Texas. There, he will be responsible for all of the company's drilling activities around the world.

Henson, who was assigned to Guyana in 2017, will be replaced by Alistair Routledge, the current President and General Manager for ExxonMobil Qatar Limited.

During Henson's tenure, he presided over a number of important operational milestones, including the production of Guyana's first oil in December 2019.

Alistair Routledge, current President and General Manager for ExxonMobil Qatar Limited

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 21, 2020

PAGE 09

Losing is part of the winning formula

S

uccess in life, in great measure depends upon winning. Whether it is in education, sport, business or politics.

One thing which is common to all successful persons, however, is losing.

The road to success is littered with failures.

Presently, the PNCR and most of its supporters are traumatized. They know they lost the elections but they do not want to accept the results.

They view losing as devastating rather than as an opportunity to learn, to become stronger and to use that experience to improve.

It is understandable, but not acceptable, why some of the party's leaders are traumatized. Many of them are too old to wait around for 2025. This may be the end of their political careers.

They are traumatized and it is evident in their behaviour. One leader was seen on video claiming that the PPPC said it won Georgetown.

The PPPC never said that. The PPPC not only lost Georgetown by a massive margin but it also lost District 4, but not by a large enough margin to lose the overall elections.

Misinformation is being pedaled. One leader told reporters that the PPPC killed more than 500,000 persons. These are the typical symptoms of emotional trauma following

an election loss.

In 1992, a PNC strongman was highly traumatized by the party's loss in the elections of that year. Desmond Hoyte had to dispatch an envoy to counsel the strongman.

Another symptom of post-election trauma is attacking and blaming others, rather than taking responsibility.

We see it right now where persons are lashing out at the western nations.

One individual is now pushing a new narrative. He is accusing the western nations of taking sides in the Guyana elections.

Of course, they have taken a side. They have taken the side of free, fair and transparent elections.

They are siding with democracy. What side has this critic taken? Has he taken the side of dictatorship, dishonesty and disruption?

The PPPC supporters displayed the same symptoms after their 2015 election loss. They too blamed the western nations for taking sides in the elections.

What you are witnessing therefore are the signs of traumatic depression. And this is a problem which is not just confined to politics.

Small children are placed under severe pressure to do well at examinations; athletes must push their bodies to extreme limits in order to win; and

competition in the business environment follows Darwinian rules: the fittest will survive.

Its therefore not surprising that competitive political processes, such as elections, can lead to emotional trauma for the losers. Losers end up being traumatized because they have failed to accept that preceding every triumph have been many losses.

Ask any top athlete and they will tell you that you can never become a winner unless you learn first how to lose. Losing teaches you what you need to do to win.

The APNU+AFC will eventually have to do the analysis, as the PPPC did internally after the 2015 elections.

There are many factors which contributed to the Coalition's loss.

There were many missteps which were made.

If the APNU is to rebound in 2025, it will have to candidly assess its mistakes over the past five years and especially during the election campaign.

It will have to weigh each of the factors to determine the most decisive reasons for its electoral loss to the PPPC by more than 17,000 votes.

The truth is staring the APNU in the face. But in its traumatized mode, it is not willing to accept that it made mistakes.

The hardest thing for most people is to admit they

Dem boys seh...

Soulja Bai fixing dog pen

D

em boys want to know wha Soulja Bai deh pun really. Nobody hear from him a lang, lang time.

Dem boys start to fuget what he face look like and some of dem even start wondering if somebody holding he hostage.

Other people wonder if he was like one of dem voters who he party seh migrate.

Dem boys believe he gat nuff questions fuh answer.

But dem boys nah getting' chance to ask he dem questions. Rather, he go into a backroom and talking to one man and de two of dem laffing by themselves. Is a big gyaff.

Dem boys wan know if

he still in control or odder people calling de shots.

Dem boys can't understand how the country spending all dat money to fix up de dog pen to fight COVID-19.

Dem boys remember de story of a man who mooma and poopa sick. De man had the money fuh pay de hospital bill fuh help dem.

But de man use de money fuh renovate he dog pen.

He then end up at he neighbor fuh borrow money fuh help he pay de he parents hospital bill.

Is jus suh wha happening in Guyana. De guvment wasting billions of dollars fuh renovate a dog pen which owned by a private man.

Dem boys seh dat is stupidness when you think how much building guvment own all round de country.

De guvment seh how dem fixing the dog pen up fuh fight de virus. But dem gat to go and beg dem farrin' people fuh borrow money.

Dem farrin' people seh that dem nah lend because de guvment nah fit and prappa yet.

Dem boys wan ask Soulja Bai if he instead of fixing he own roof wha ah leak, whether he would spend de money fixing a dog pen and whether dat gun mek sense to he.

Talk half and wait fuh see when next Soulja Bai gun surface.

were wrong. The APNU will have to face up eventually accept that it made mistakes.

The proof of what went wrong are in the results.

And it is simple. The PNCR held its base but the AFC failed to deliver.

This was evident in the results in District 4 where, even though the Coalition won, they did not garner the

necessary lead to overcome the PPPC. And the main reason for this is the AFC did not deliver. It lost support to the new small parties which garnered 4,471 votes in District 4 in this year's elections as compared with only 709 in 2015.

The APNU will have to analyze whether its poor m a n a g e m e n t o f i n t e rcoalition dynamics and its

humiliation of its Prime Ministerial candidate contributed to the AFC becoming 'dead meat'. And consequently to the Coalition's defeat (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Thursday May 21, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Tuesday, May 19 was a sad day for the Guyanese nationality W

hen I typed my satirical, f u n n y , comical, fictional piece last Tuesday, I never would have

believed the reaction I received that made me sad. It was a sad day for the nationality that goes by the name of Guyanese.

Titled, “Mercury and the Russians rigged the election for the PPP,” the column was meant as satire, sarcasm and a cynical joke on the clowns

inside the leadership of both PNC and AFC. Everything about that article was comical. Everything about that article was so outlandish that a mongoloid idiot that hasn't got an IQ had to know I was joking and poking fun at the APNU+AFC election circus.

Not hundreds; please believe me, not hundreds but thousands of Guyanese believed that the details written in that column were true and that the story happened. The Kaieteur News was deluged with enquiries. The editor-inchief called and requested an explanatory note at the end of my column for the next day. I did that yesterday.

I don't have a Facebook account but I was reliably informed hundreds of persons were cussing me down and others were praising me. Those angry with me were supporters of the PPP. They thought I had done a propaganda piece against their party. PNC supporters saw me as a splendid journalistic investigator who found out how the PPP rigged the election.

Guyanese, in and out of Guyana, would be shocked to know who some of the people who contacted me, to ascertain if the article was factual, were. The list includes highly (yes highly educated people who went to foreign universities of

repute) educated Guyanese, business people and politicians. I would love to tell you who these people are. They are basically fools who have no IQ. I ask readers forgiveness if I will now come across as immodest. I could understand a semi-literate person not comprehending the satirical saturation in Tuesday's column but not intelligent and educated people. How can humans be so foolish, so stupid? The list also includes persons that if the PNC wins the 2020 election, will have substantial state jobs. Names also include persons, if the PPP wins, who will have state jobs that call for profound understanding of life.

Yes, Tuesday was a sad day for the nationality of Guyanese. Yesterday, I was at Massy Supermarket buying their superb, d e l i c i o u s , l o v e l y, inexpensive breakfast, when this gentleman came up to me and said, “Freddie, you lighted up Facebook yesterday”. I asked him how people can be so ignorant.

He said he found that the ignorance was not in people's acceptance that the article was true but in their insistence that the contents were true even though people were posting explanations pointing to them that I was just joking and they must see it that way.

Frederick Kissoon He told me PPP supporters were not buying the explanations. They simply accused me of wanting the PPP to look bad.

He went on to add that PNC supporters were gloating that Freddie exposed the PPP's rigging. I feel sorry for those people who couldn't see that my Tuesday column was one big, fat joke.

When I was very young; just entering the teenage period, I heard an exchange between two persons on the Parade Ground where I use to go every night to watch basketball. There was an insulting exchange going on.

One guy finished the argument by asking his opponent: “do you have children? Then if you do, I'm sorry for the world”.

That thing has left a permanent imprint on the door of my mind. I have used it countless times since I was fourteen years old. For those persons, those thousands of Guyanese who read the funny, fictional story I wrote in my column on Tuesday that was so outlandish that, that mongoloid idiot would have understood, I say to you – if you have children then I am sorry for this world we live in.

There were just too many jokes in that article for any sane person to believe it was real. First, Kaieteur Falls does not have farmers.

Secondly, how can the Russians bring in a container of chemicals to make masks resembling the faces of 30, 000 dead people?

Thirdly, why would the Russians bring into Guyana a set of television sets measuring 110 inches and persons can go up the Linden highway and take how many television sets they want?

How can the PPP go around Guyana buying 35, 000 ID cards and it would not be known in Guyana. All I can say to those who believe what I was joking about did happen in Guyana; honestly, I say to you – for the sake of your children, take your mind out of the gutter.

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

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 21, 2020

PAGE 11

Twenty persons arrested in Bartica for - Region mulls total lockdown flouting partial curfew over non-adherence

These pictures were taken of Bartica Stelling after the 6:00 pm curfew on May 21, 2020

T

he authorities at Bartica (Region Seven) have been proactive in their bid to prevent the spread of COVID -19 in Bartica and its surrounding areas.

In fact, Bartica's Regional Democratic Council (RDC) issued a statement warning the public against the persistent non -adhere to the 6:00 pm curfew. According to the RDC, the police have been arresting persons for a number of violations of the National COVID-19 Prevention Policy.

The RDC said “Many of those persons have been placed before the court and arrangements are being made for vehicles to be impounded at the Community Centre Compound for violations of t h e 6 : 0 0 p m c u r f e w. ” Divisional Commander, Linden Lord confirmed with this newspaper that about 20 persons have been arrested and charged for flouting the guidelines.

“F i f t e e n h a v e b e e n charged and about five more will pass through the court,” he said. In the meantime, the Council continues to appeal to Barticans and those in the region to be extremely vigilant to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

“Up to the time of the writing of this article, the number of confirmed cases, nationally, stood at (over) 125, resulting in 10 deaths…Yet at Bartica, the behaviour of residents reflects a lack of knowledge of the dangers, or a blatant disregard for the safety of self, family and community.

“How much longer will Bartica continue to dodge the bullet, while residents openly flirt with the world's most deadly virus?” the RDC said, emphasizing that the highly contagious disease is not one to be reckless with. Region Seven has been touted as among the districts having the most robust approach to preventing the spread of COVID-19.

So far, at least one case

was recorded as linked to Region Seven, at Aranka in the Cuyuni. However, given the disregard by the residents, the RDC noted that the Regional Health Emergency Committee is now inclined to support a total lockdown at any time to contain the Covid-19 spread.

In addition, the Council also outlined a number of high-risk activities which continue among residents on a daily basis.

These include excessive t r a v e ling to and from Georgetown; normal activities at numerous boat landings with huge gatherings and few face masks; crowding at the market, with shoppers and vendors alike operating without face masks; many persons out in public without face masks; many persons refusing to wash hands before entering places of business.

“Mass disregard for the 6:00pm curfew, where persons can be seen after 6:00pm still walking kids, walking dogs, jogging or going about business as usual. “We have reports of secret parties and locked up building; gatherings at beaches, falls and other places of recreation; persons hopping from the ParikaBartica boats directly into the Itaballi boats to avoid the Covid-19 checkpoint at the Bartica Stelling.” The RDC therefore warned residents Covid-19 is an enemy pounding at the gates.

“The scary reality is that the next infection can very well be reported from your own home,” the Council said.

According to the Region, an average of 200 persons are processed at the COVID-19 checkpoint at the Bartica Ferry Stelling every day. Most of them come from Georgetown—the epicenter of the virus. The Region noted that figures released by the National Covid-19 Task Force, qualify Region 4 [Georgetown] as the epicenter of confirmed Covid-19 infections in the country.

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 21, 2020

PAGE 13

Police separate thief from Cow Justice Singh doesn't think The alleged cow thief

it's GECOM's role to probe claims of anomalies - Commissioner Sase Gunraj

C

The Stolen Cow at the Diamond outpost

R

anks from the D i a m o n d Outpost cornered an Agricola, East Bank Demerara man on Tuesday night at the Little Diamond Cemetery with a cow he had stolen from cattle farmer, Bertie Murray.

Police were alerted by residents that a group of young men were removing four cows from the man's Prospect, East Bank Demerara's ranch.

Ranks soon caught up with the group as they were about to enter the cemetery.

Upon seeing the ranks the cattle thieves scattered, but one fell and was immediately placed in handcuffs. The thief and one of the cows were taken away to the Diamond Police Station.

There, the police separated the two by placing the cow in the compound while the rustler spent the

night in the lock-ups. Murray told Kaieteur News that he is very grateful that he was able to recover his cows, except for one animal.

He said that he along with other cattle farmers from the same area have been losing their cows since last year but were never able to nab the culprits. Normally, he said when cows go missing cattle farmers would search the backlands and would often find the carcasses.

ommissioner Gunraj yesterday said that Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Justice Claudette Singh has expressed the view that it is not the role of GECOM to investigate the veracity of the anomalies claimed in the recount observation statements.

According to Gunraj, the Chair said that what is important is the numbers.

The coalition has been raising what it says are anomalies, since the recount began, and has changed its tone on the credibility of the elections.

It now argues that it is highly questionable. Its representatives have opined that GECOM must take on the responsibility of investigating the claims.

[from left] GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh and Commissioner Sase Gunraj But the Opposition is of the view that this is just a delaying tactic from the governing coalition.

Though the Commission has not officially decided

whether it will investigate the many anomalies the coalition claims the recount process is unearthing, the Chair's view on this matter is (continued on page 17)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Thursday May 21, 2020

Ethnic Relations probes Facebook rant, complaint against furniture store

T

he Ethnic Relations Commission, (ERC), has launched a probe into a Facebook video posted over the weekend that it says is laced with racially insensitive remarks towards another ethnicity.

“The Commission is particularly concerned that the post can contribute to unnecessary tension rising in the

society,” a statement said yesterday.

In the video, the woman is seen rocking in a hammock and berating a woman.

The commission also said it is investigating another complaint where a female activist complained that she was profiled while making purchases at a furniture store.

“The ERC Investigations Unit is also looking into a recent incident…involving alleged racial profiling of a customer.

The ERC is reminding citizens to desist entirely from making racially motivated remarks which can incite others.”

In fact, the Commission said, it wishes to point out that persons can be prosecuted for offences under

the Racial Hostility and Representation of the People Acts, as well as the country's Cyber Crime Laws.”

The body said it will continue to monitor Facebook and the various social media platforms.

“The body is pleading to all Guyanese to exercise tolerance and respect for each other throughout their daily lives.”

The woman who is being investigated for a racially-charged Facebook rant.

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 21, 2020

PAGE 15

Irfaan Ali shies away from commitment to inclusive executive governance

P

residential Candidate of the P e o p l e ' s Progressive Party (PPP), Dr. Irfaan Ali yesterday refused to define his party's position on inclusive governance.

Ali avoided in particular any endorsement of any structure of government where other parties are allowed to executively govern in a PPP-led government.

He also did not entertain too much discussion on the matter, stating “Right now, we are focused on the recount.”

His comments, made at the National Recount Media Centre yesterday, come at a time when calls have increased for inclusive and shared governance, as the country appears more divided than ever, due to the protracted electoral process.

The PPP Presidential candidate alluded to greater placement of decisionmaking and oversight into bi-partisan parliamentary committees, but when asked whether his notion of inclusive governance would include letting other parties into executive government, Ali said “Focus must not be on form. Focus must be on outcome.”

- Right now, we are focused on the recount

PPP Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali Asked again if a PPP government would allow another party to be part of the executive government, Ali only offered that other parties, among civil society and private sector stakeholders, would be allowed to participate with “ideas”.

“We will allow ideas,” he said.

“The future of our people must be one that is inclusive of ideas, must be one that is participatory, must be one that brings people together and not push people apart. As

we get past this hurdle [the recount], definitely, you will see a governance system that includes various stakeholders in the development process and in advancing our country.”

During his most recent press conference, PPP Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo had briefly addressed the proposals for inclusive governance, saying that the focus now should be on the recount. Jagdeo had said that, though he acknowledges that the future warrants more inclusionary governance, the new government should be sworn in, “then we can talk.”

One notable example of inclusive governance in Guyana's history involves Jagdeo himself, who, when elected to the Presidency in 2001, appointed The United Force (TUF)'s Manzoor Nadir as Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.

The Constitution allows a President to appoint M i n i s t e r s a n d Vi c e Presidents who are elected

members of the National Assembly. It also allows the President to appoint persons

who are not elected members of the National Assembly, up t o f o u r, o n c e t h o s e

individuals are qualified to be elected members of the National Assembly.

PAGE 16

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Thursday May 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Government has announced measures where persons requiring assistance can now apply. supported. The identification will be done through two means, that is, an online and manual application process, which will cater for households without telephone and internet access.

The online process will commence today, May 20, 2020 and the manual submission is scheduled to begin by May 27, 2020.” It was disclosed that application forms can be downloaded from the MOSP’s website at https:// mosp.gov.gy/ or https:// government.gy/eform/241.

Eligible applicants must submit the completed application forms online as well as the

required supporting documentation.

According to the government, only individuals/households who meet at least one of the following criteria will qualify for consideration: -Individuals/Households currently benefiting from Public Assistance provided by the MOSP. -Individuals/Households who applied for Public Assistance and are awaiting a response from the MOSP. -Individuals/Households who suffered a loss of income due to COVID-19.

-Households headed by senior citizens or persons with disabilities.

The Ministry of Social Protection said it will release additional information, including telephone numbers for citizens who qualify to call, at a later date.

Group highlights dire situation...

From page 2 knees, crippling us economically, socially and mentally.

The isolation, fear and uncertainty that we are inflicted with has left us in a despairing state of mind ....It is indeed a difficult and stressful time for everyone worldwide as we are battling a global crisis, with additional frustration for us who are stranded in foreign countries with uncertainty regarding our safe return home.

“We are therefore pleading with our leaders to allow us to return to our beloved country, easing this mental burden that has been bestowed upon us.”

Hussain said that the approval for the return of various groups of citizens stranded in Caribbean countries has given them renewed hope that they may soon be allowed to reunite with their loved ones.

She noted that the group is willing to comply with the strict travelling requirements of NCTF. According to Hussain, the NCTF has outlined the requirements that must be met for repatriation flights.

“Guyana's Consul in Miami, Mr Ramzan Ali, has indicated that he can arrange to have COVID 19 tests done at a cost that we will bear. The consul will also help organise a flight with Eastern Airlines, only for citizens of Guyana, again at a cost to us. We just need approval,” she added.

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 21, 2020

PAGE 17

Mingo altered Grove Primary School votes in favour of coalition

As recount continues more skulduggery unearthed...

Table showing Mingo's manipulation of figures from 21 ballot boxes – new box in Bold

By Kemol King

A

s the National R e c o u n t continues, yet another ballot box has been completed and verified to carry figures different from the tabulation of Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo.

Kaieteur News' analysis now covers 21 ballot boxes, showing that Mingo's tabulation subtracted 331 votes from PPP/C, and added 978 votes to APNU+AFC. This amounts to a total variance of 1,309 votes from the corresponding statements of poll, for those 21 boxes.

For ballot box #4159, the statement of poll showed 97 votes for PPP/C, and 65 votes for APNU+AFC. Mingo's tabulation added 40 votes to APNU+AFC, increasing the count to 105.

The statement of recount showed the same result as the statement of poll.

Ballot box #4159 came from Grove Primary School,

Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo Grove, and adds to a string of boxes all coming from the East Bank of Demerara, which were clearly manipulated in the Region Four Tabulation.

GATHER THE EVIDENCE, FOCUS ON THE RECOUNT Kaieteur News spoke to two Commissioners from GECOM yesterday, at the National Recount Media Centre, on the Mingo matter.

Both Commissioners Sase Gunraj and Vincent Alexander expressed the view that the recount is the focus at this point, and that anything else would have to be dealt with when it is over.

Gunraj said, speaking as a lawyer, that his preference is to wait until the entire body of evidence has been gathered before any action is taken.

Speaking to questions of criminal fraud, Alexander said that matters which require prosecution, where the electoral process is concerned, would be referred to the police, as GECOM does not have its own prosecutorial arm.

Alexander said that he doesn't know whether there is explicit legislation which expressly prohibits altering of election results, but figures there would be a provision which relates.

He noted that GECOM has not yet discussed the Mingo matter, as the recount is the focus.

Other matters, he said, will come after that.

GECOM to pay Elections...

From page 3 was told that payments will be made two weeks after the March 2 polling day.

However, Singh two weeks turned into two months without him being paid..

Yolanda Hercules , who provided meals for polling day staffs at Enterprise, East Coast Demerara said that she

had catered for elections before but has never waited this long to receive payment.

She added that the current lockdown had caused her employer to send her home.

Being a single mom of two kids, she told reporters that she is desperately in need of the extra cash to “make ends meet” until she

is recalled to work.

Responding, a GECOM Region Three District Supervisor related that no specific timeline was given as to when payments would be made.

But he did admit that this has been that GECOM took to pay its contracted workers.

Justice Singh doesn't think it's ...

From page 13 pivotal, as she is the tiebreaking vote on a divided Commission. Public Relations Officer of GECOM, Yolanda Ward yesterday confirmed that no decision has been made yet by the Commission on this matter and that there is no timeline set for such a decision. She said though, that discussions on the issue are active, at the level of the Commission.

The Governmentnominated Commissioner, Vincent Alexander had said that the Secretariat is actively summing up a report of all of the observation statements for the completed districts, Regions One and Two. He

and Commissioner Desmond Trotman have opined that GECOM should probe the claims.

But Gunraj, an Opposition nominated Commissioner, shares the reported view of the Chair, that what is important is the numbers. While the coalition has claimed that the anomalies it says are coming out of the process could question the credibility of the elections, it has shied away from producing verifiable evidence to support its claims.

PNC Executive, Aubrey Norton has said that, in politics, the party has to do everything strategically. He had once claimed that the

party has signed affidavits from persons claiming that the PPP paid them to vote in the party's favour, but would not show the press the evidence. He had said that it is not in the party's interest to put out all of its evidence yet, and that the party would do so at a strategic time.

PPP Executive, Anil Nandlall scoffed at Norton's comments, arguing that if Norton really did have such evidence, Congress Place would have spared no time releasing them.

The PPP has accused the coalition of trying to tank the credibility of the process, to effect an annulment of elections.

PAGE 18

Thursday May 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

$2M High Court bail for former Deep worry at Brazilian border…

More than 30 Region 9 GRDB accountant, pending appeal against conviction residents in home quarantine Former accountant of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Peter Ramcharran has been granted $2M High Court bail pending his appeal against his three- year conviction for fraud.

Ramcharran was sentenced in February, 2020, by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, for one of the fraud charges, several months after being extradited from Canada to face fraud allegations. Ramcharran was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for omitting $145M from the entity’s ledger. That was one of the first major convictions for the Special Organised Crime Unit (SSOCU) ,,.

The Chief Magistrate, in giving a synopsis of her ruling, held that SOCU Prosecutor Patrice Henry was able to prove all the elements of the offence beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Magistrate added that she is of the view that Ramcharran intended to willfully deprive the entity of the monies.

During a plea of mitigation, Ramcharran’s lawyer, Nigel Hughes, stated that his client’s actions had no ramifications on GRDB, the State or the Ministry of Agriculture.

In asking the court to exercise leniency, Hughes said that his client has an unblemished record and is “deeply remorseful” for what happened. In fact, the lawyer told the court that the monies were not stolen; just not recorded in the ledger.

In handing down the sentence, the Chief Magistrate took into consideration the fact that the defendant evaded the police for almost two years. She also considered the sum of monies involved and the prevalence of these types of

offences in society.

Ramcharran, 39, of Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara, is slapped with 39 fraud-related charges. The trial for the other charges is still ongoing.

The charges leveled against him alleged that he fraudulently converted and misappropriated funds. The offences, according to SOCU, took place between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2015, at GRDB’s Lot 16-17 Cowan Street, Kingston, Georgetown headquarters.

All the charges are related to his role at the GRDB. The rice entity was responsible for executing a major oil-for-rice deal worth billions with neighbouring Venezuela.

That deal ended suddenly in 2015 after this Coalition Government came into office. A forensic audit, one of several ordered by the Coalition Government, had found several alarming things at GRDB. The GRDB found itself in the spotlight after a forensic audit of that entity revealed among some of the “anomalies” found were loans without proper paperwork or promissory notes.

According to information, the former accountant was heavily implicated in the probe with regards to the six former GRDB board members who were also charged.

The officials charged are former General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Jagnarine Singh; former Deputy General Manager of GRDB Madanlall Ramraj; General Secretary of the Producers Association (RPA), Dharamkumar Seeraj; former Permanent Secretary of Ministry

- Marudi mining poses major challenges

Former GRDB Accountant, Peter Ramcharran of Amerindian Affairs, Nigel Dharamlall; former General Manager of the Guyana Oil Company Badrie Persaud and the Deputy Permanent Secretary Finance Ministry of Agriculture, Prema Roopnarine.

From about 2009 to 2015, Guyana, under the administration of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic, had entered into a multibillion-dollar oil-for-rice arrangement where GRDB was clearing out for farmers.

However, millions of dollars of those monies were reportedly siphoned off via third-party arrangements including rental of ships and other sweetheart deals for a few millers.

In Canada, Ramcharran had first applied for refugee status.

After he was turned down in December 2017, he sought a review of his extradition process, but this was turned down.

Ramcharran had reportedly been studying in Canada, when authorities swooped down on him in June 2017 following a request for his extradition.

Region Nine, which borders with Brazil, is facing major challenges with its COVID-19 pandemic fight.

More than 30 persons from Guyana’s biggest region have been ordered to take mandatory home isolation with the authorities scrambling to increase monitoring of the border.

The country’s biggest region recently recorded its first case of the virus after an itinerant vendor fell sick.

He managed to escape the Lethem facilities but was apprehended by authorities in Brazil.

Investigations found that the vendor crossed from Region 8 at Region 9 and would have engaged persons in several villages.

Speaking yesterday on Kaieteur Radio on ‘Election/ COVID-19 Watch’, Region 9 chairman, Bryan Allicock, acknowledged that the challenges are enormous.

Region 9 consists of 57 villages. It was disclosed that the vendor would have gone to several villages in the Rupununi. Authorities were only able to track down a few of the persons.

According to the chairman, back-tracking the movements of the region’s ‘Patient Zero’ is not easy with the distances and reluctance from persons major challenges.

Monitoring the persons in home isolation is also proving a difficulty with doctors and nurses assigned.

While tracking of persons who may have come into

contact with the vendor has been completed in the North Rupununi, the investigations are continuing in the South.

Allicock was this week appointed the chairman of the Region 9 Task Force.

The region is currently preparing its malaria centre as a holding area for COVID-19 patients.

Lethem is currently allowing goods and other essential supplies from Brazil but these are being sanitized by health officials before being allowed in.

Goods from the coastlands are also being allowed but there are checkpoints with screening along the Linden/Lethem trail/ According to Allicock, the region is now bracing for more problems…the rains are threatening with Konashen experiencing rising waters in the Savannahs.

The official, who disclosed that Region 9 has about 27,000 residents scattered in the Lethem township and the villages, admitted that a few military personnel and police would not be enough to monitor the over 1000 miles of open border with Brazil.

There are now moves to activate Community Policing Groups in the villages to increase the watchfulness.

He said that it is reported that the Brazilian miners have been proving a major headache with illegal crossings.

One of the problems is that persons are even equipped with satellite phones which helps to evade patrols from the Guyana side..

The situation of Brazilian and other miners have placed indigenous people’s villages in a vulnerable situation despite gates being erected to restrict movements, the Regional Chairman said.

France 24 reported yesterday that Brazil’s daily death toll from the new coronavirus jumped to a record 1,179 on Tuesday as President Jair Bolsonaro doubled down on chloroquine as a possible remedy and US leader Donald Trump said he was considering a travel ban from Brazil.

Brazil overtook Britain on Monday to become the country with the third-highest number of confirmed infections, behind Russia and the United States.

Brazil’s confirmed cases also jumped by a record 17,408 on Tuesday, for a total of 271,628 people who have tested positive for the virus.

Bolsonaro, an ideological ally of Trump, has been criticised for his handling of the outbreak, such as opposition to restrictions on movement he sees as too damaging to the economy.

Thousands of Brazilians live and work in Guyana.

Guyana has closed its borders and airports since March to limit the spread of the virus. The number of cases continues to rise, to now over 100 with the death toll at 10.

WHO reports most coronavirus cases in a day as cases approach five million GENEVA - (Reuters) - The World Health Organization expressed concern yesterday about the rising number of new coronavirus cases in poor countries, even as many rich nations have begun emerging from lockdown.

The global health body said 106,000 new cases of infections of the novel coronavirus had been recorded in the past 24 hours, the most in a single day since the outbreak began.

“We still have a long way to go in this pandemic,” WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference. “We are very concerned about rising cases in low and middle income countries.”

Dr. Mike Ryan, head of

WHO’s emergencies programme, said: “We will soon reach the tragic milestone of 5 million cases.”

The WHO has come under fire from U.S. President Donald Trump, who accuses it of having mishandled the outbreak and of favouring China, where the virus is believed to have emerged late last year.

This week Trump threatened to withdraw from the WHO and permanently withhold funding.

Tedros acknowledged receiving a letter from Trump, but declined to comment further.

Tedros said he was committed to accountability and would carry out a review into the response to the

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pandemic. Such a review was demanded by member states in a resolution this week that was passed by consensus, although the United States expressed reservations about some elements of it.

“I said it time and time again that WHO calls for accountability more than anyone.

It has to be done and when it’s done it has to be a comprehensive one,” Tedros

said of the review, while declining to say when it would start.

Ryan said such assessments are normally conducted after an emergency is over.

“I for one would prefer, right now, to get on with doing the job of an emergency response, of epidemic control, of developing and distributing vaccines, of improving our surveillance, of saving lives and distributing essential PPE to workers and finding medical oxygen for people in fragile settings, reducing the impact of this disease on refugees and migrants,” he said.

Tedros said he had long been looking for other sources of funding for the WHO, saying its $2.3 billion budget was “very, very small” for a global agency, around

that of a medium sized hospital in the developed world.

In comments that could further annoy Trump, Ryan, said people should avoid using the malaria medicine hydroxychloroquine to treat or prevent coronavirus infection, except as part of a clinical trial to study it.

Trump has said he is taking hydroxychloroquine to prevent coronavirus infection.

“At this stage, (neither) hydroxychloroquine nor chloroquine have been as yet found to be effective in the treatment of COVID-19 nor in the prophylaxis against coming down with the disease,” Ryan said.

“In fact, the opposite, in that warnings have been issued by many authorities regarding the potential side effects of the drug.”

Thursday May 21, 2020

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

Motor racing: Hockenheim ready to step in if Silverstone fails LONDON (Reuters) Hockenheim is ready to step in if British quarantine restrictions prevent Silverstone from hosting a Formula One race during the COVID-19 pandemic, the German circuit’s boss said yesterday.

Jorn Teske told Reuters that a decision needed to be made soon, however.

“We are talking with F1, that’s correct. We have spoken about the idea of having a race without spectators here at the circuit,” he said.

“We already checked if this could be possible, from dates as well as the legal general point of view. For us, it is an option.”

Formula One has said a planned 14-day quarantine for

General view as Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton leads at the start of the German Grand Prix race at Hockenheim. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo) most people entering Britain would rule out a British Grand Prix unless the sport, whose season has yet to start, was

granted an exemption.

Silverstone, which this year marks the 70th anniversary of hosting the

Thursday May 21 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) It's a good day to try relaxation techniques that are a little bit out of the ordinary.

Who knows? Maybe you'll even learn something from these unorthodox methods.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) There's an excellent day on the horizon, Libra. If you're feeling uncertain in your love life, you'll find the courage to discuss these matters with your mate.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Currently, you're in the midst of some profound questioning about your emotional attitudes. You'll probably find yourself totally free of inhibitions, much to your delight.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Tune into your growing interest in new technologies, Scorpio. What you once considered almost impossibly futuristic now seems much closer to reality.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Long confinement does strange and wonderful things to the mind. If your companions seem a bit too stodgy, jostle them out of complacency.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) For a while, various planetary configurations have been pushing you to become aware that you're a global citizen rather than just another resident in a city or neighborhood.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) It's likely that you've been a bit of a loner lately, a situation amplified by enforced social distance. You've been looking at things differently from everyone else, rejecting the individualistic viewpoint in favor of a more global one.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The current configuration of the planets makes you the bearer of a new philosophy.

This doesn't mean that you'll become New Age, but you'll see the wisdom of ideas that have evolved from that school of thought.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Is there a material need that's weighing on your spirit right now, Leo? If you can't solve the problem alone, why not discuss it with your friends?

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You're right to feel that you've made real progress in your relationships. "Evolution" best defines your current path.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today's prospects should suit the dynamic, idealistic being that you are, especially right now. There will be some criticism in the air.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Why not radically change the way you behave toward others, Pisces? You're in the process of establishing relationships that are more solid and enriching, with far fewer risks involved.

first world championship race, has been earmarked for two closed-door races following two in Austria in July.

Hockenheim, which hosted the German Grand Prix last year but could not agree a new deal on acceptable terms, is an obvious alternative.

Teske said Hockenheim was keen to help but needed

Smith aiming for national...

From page 20 Demerara in the final, Smith said that she will be looking to spend more time at the crease. “There is always room for improvement; I want to spend more time in the middle and keep rotating the strike, so I have to keep working on my concentration.”

Smith, who also plays softball for Mike’s Wellwoman, indicated that she would like to see more women’s cricket being played. “I would like to see more women’s cricket being played which will help us to develop into better players.

Softball cricket helps to keep us fit, but playing the hardball game would be better.”

When not playing on weekends, Smith officiates in the male softball competitions and wants to take up coaching after her playing days.

to make money and did not want to turn away business while waiting for a possibility.

“What is really crucial for us is not to be pending now for months. We have to get our circuit booked and there is a high demand on track days... but Formula One is aware and understands our situation,” he said.

REFERENCE POINT The circuit would need several weeks to organise track marshals, security and emergency services, Teske said, but could move fast on the technical side.

The return of Bundesliga soccer behind closed doors last weekend had also provided a reference point while the lack of an existing contract meant Hockenheim had a ‘blank sheet’.

“Others have a contract in place which might be a bit more complicated in regards to costs they had already and other costs coming up because of preparations which were initiated already,”

said Teske.

“We can just say OK, if we find a time slot then we have these costs. And then we come together or not. This might be a little advantage in our talks.

“But we will see what happens. I think the most decisive (thing) is the current situation with quarantine in the UK.” The chances of Hockenheim returning to the F1 calendar next year remained remote, said Teske.

“As long as we have no financial support from the government side, or from whomever else, we couldn’t manage the normal fee. The risk is by far too high,” he said.

“We found a solution for 2019, quite surprisingly, but this was a special situation. If we could find another solution for a mid-term agreement we would like to have it but at the moment we are concentrating on this season. This is challenging enough.”

PAGE 20

Thursday May 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

“A joke”: Bundesliga restart draws criticism from German sports community Berlin (AFP) - The restart of the Bundesliga last weekend has drawn criticism from the sports community in football-mad Germany with world champion rower Oliver Zeidler branding it “a joke” and criticised an “insane system”.

“It’s a joke,” Zeidler told AFP subsidiary SID. “If children cannot go to daycare and caterers are not allowed to use their full capacity, then allowing millionaires on the pitch sends the wrong signal.”

The 23-year-old, the 2019 world champion in single sculls, said he would like fans to turn their backs on the “insane system” and the “increasingly drifting parallel world” in which football exists.

The German Bundesliga became the first top European league to resume after the restart plan was approved by Angela Merkel’s government.

Regular testing of players, games played behind closed doors and replacements wearing face masks are part of the strict hygiene measures.

Germany currently has 175,210 cases of the coronavirus, which has so far claimed over 8,000 lives.

However, Bundesliga

German rower Oliver Zeidler says it is “a joke” that the Bundesliga has resumed in Germany during the coronavirus pandemic. (AFP Photo/Helmut Fohringer) clubs want the season completed by June 30 in order to claim 300 million euros ($327 million) in television money. While other sports are in the dark about when they can resume competitions, the restart of top tier football is controversial.

Zeidler says he is allowed to train “relatively normally” again, as Germany relaxes restrictions.

However, he feels the current situation is just confirmation of the

Smith aiming for national team return

By Zaheer Mohamed Following a three-year hiatus from the Guyana senior female team, all-rounder Latoya Tamicka Smith is working hard for a recall to the side.

Smith, who bats righthanded and bowls medium pace, admitted that due to an injury and inconsistent form, she has been in and out of the national team, but she is confident of cementing her place in the side for the next regional tournament.

The 24-year-old Smith represented the Guyana female Under-19 team in the 2013 female Regional Under19 Invitational tournament in Trinidad & Tobago, hosted by the Trinidad & Tobago Women’s Cricket Association, where she was successful with both bat and ball. She then went on to represent her country at the senior level with her last appearance being in 2018, while injury forced her out of the team in 2019.

Following her absence from the game due to the injury, Smith turned out for Demerara in the 2020 edition

of the Guyana Cricket Board senior female inter county tournament, and top scored with 49 in the final against Berbice. She was almost certain of a place on the Guyana team, but the Cricket West Indies Regional Women’s tournament which was scheduled to be played in Guyana was canceled due to the covid-19.

Smith told Kaieteur Sport that she is determined to do well for her country and is currently training on a daily basis, adding that she was pleased with her comeback.

“After being out of cricket for so long and getting a top score against Berbice in the final motivated me to work harder,” she added.

Smith stated that she is looking to become a better allround cricketer. “I am working to improve on my fitness which will help me to up my performances on the field.

Getting back on the national team and staying there will require consistency and hard work, so I am looking forward to the challenge.”

Despite top scoring for (Continued on page 19)

preferential treatment football enjoys in Germany.

Reigning Olympic javelin champion Thomas Roehler agrees. “It seems that it’s more important to politicians that the ball is allowed to roll than all sports being treated the same,” Roehler, who won Olympic gold for Germany in Rio de Janeiro, told Sport1 last month.

- ‘Justified and sensible’ However, top sprinter Gina Lueckenkemper says the Bundesliga’s restart gives

Sprinter Gina Lueckenkemper says the return of the Bundesliga helps give Germans a sense of a return to normality during the COVID-19 pandemic. (AFP Photo/Andrej Isakovic) most Germans the sense of a return to normality more than any other sport can.

“Even the ancient Romans knew how to make people happy: food and games,” Lueckenkemper, the 2018 European 100m silver medallist, told SID. Nevertheless, the 23-yearold finds criticism of the league’s restart “justified and sensible”.

Fencer Max Hartung said

the return of football gives other sports hope of a restart.

“When you see that football is being played again, it makes your fingers itch to go back to the planche,” said the 30-year-old, who was part of the Germany team which won the 2014 world title.

“Of course, football is now the only live sport on TV,” he added.

“As a fencer, I have always been concerned that

there is more to the media than just football.”

His sentiments were echoed by Zeidler.

“For the time being, football will stand alone in a wide open field,” said the rower.

“It’s only about money, not about who will become German champions. Nobody cares about that anyway during the coronavirus,” Zeidler added.

Monday matches back on La Liga agenda as tensions with federation cool (Reuters) - The fight over Monday night matches escalated a bitter dispute between Spain’s two main football bodies last year but the contentious time slot is set to return as organisers scramble to complete a season paralysed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales led a successful campaign to do away with fixtures on Mondays, delighting an army of fans who say the time slot prevents families or those who work late from attending matches.

A commercial court’s r u l i n g t o ban Monday matches deepened tensions between Rubiales and La Liga chief Javier Tebas, who claims that a variety of time slots makes the league more attractive to broadcasters.

But if the two institutions were deeply divided by their opinions on scheduling, they have been united by a desire to complete the final 11 rounds of matches without spectators and avoid potentially catastrophic

The match ball on display before the La Liga Santander match FC Barcelona v Real Betis at Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain.

(REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo) losses of one billion euros ($1.09 billion).

“I hope there will be matches on Mondays and that the federation shows some sensitivity. The situation with spectators isn’t

a problem any more,” Tebas said on Sunday.

Tebas has targeted resuming matches from June 12 and promised matches every day for five weeks to complete the season as soon

as possible, although the latter plan hinges on the federation agreeing to lift the ban on Monday games.

But while Rubiales said in February there would be no Monday fixtures on his watch, a federation source said that after holding an eight-hour meeting with Tebas and sports minister Irene Lozano last month, he was ready to soften his stance as a goodwill gesture in the national interest.

While Monday Night Football is one of the Premier League’s top television slots, many in Spain have long been hostile to the idea since it was introduced in 2010.

“Mondays are for hangovers and work, not football”, said a flag by Rayo Vallecano fans in 2012, while Alaves supporters boycotted the start of a Monday fixture against Levante last year, unfurling a banner saying “RIP Football”.

But while last year’s court case appeared to spell the death of football on Monday nights, the divisive time slot could now hold the key to Spanish soccer’s survival.

Thursday May 21, 2020

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Peter Sagan tops list of highest earners in pro cycling Cycling News - It may come as no surprise given his racing quality and star p o w e r, but BoraHansgrohe leader Peter Sagan is believed to be the highest-earning rider in pro cycling this season.

The Slovakian reportedly takes home €5 million (€4.47m) per season, though Cyclingnews has been informed that the real figure is still higher at €5.5m (£4.92m).

The figures come from a report by French newspaper L’ E q u i p e , which published a list of the 20 highest earning riders in the world.

F o u r- t i m e To u r d e France winner Chris Froome is second at €4.5m (£4.02m), while his Team Ineos teammates Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal are third and fifth at €3.5 million (£3.13m) and €2.7 million (£2.41m) Two further Team Ineos riders feature in the top 20, with Michaù Kwiatkowski in seventh place and the team’s new signing, Giro d’Italia champion Richard

Carapaz in tenth, both bringing home over €2m (£1.79m).

L’Equipe suggest the British team’s budget for 2020 is a massive €45m (£40.2m), up almost €20m since the 2015 season and almost tripling the team’s budget during their first season, 2010.

Julian Alaphilippe is predictably the biggest earner at the sport’s other super team, DeceuninckQuickStep. The Frenchman – who last year won MilanSan Remo, La Flèche Wallone, Strade Bianche, two Tour de France stages and enjoyed two weeks in yellow – lies just below Kwiatkowski, earning a reported €2.3 million (£1.90m) The list is dominated by Grand Tour stars, with 12 filling out the ranking and A s t a n a ’s M i g u e l Á n g e l López taking the 20th place spot at a reported €1.5m (£1.34m).

Perhaps surprisingly, given the number of wins they bring in year-on-year, only two sprinters feature – Fernando Gaviria on

€1.8m (£1.61m), Elia Viviani on €1.5m at his new team, Cofidis.

Slovenian wonderkid Ta d e j P o g a è a r i s t h e youngest rider among cycling’s top earners.

The 21-year-old isn’t o n L’ E q u i p e ’s list but Cyclingnews understands that he’s already taking home €2m a season after his stunning neo-pro season for UAE Team Emirates last year and agreeing a new contract with UAE Team Emirates that last until 2024.

Last year Pogaèar won the Tour of California and three stages of the Vuelta a España en route to third overall at his debut Grand Tour.

Read on for the full list, amended with the information gleaned by Cyclingnews.

The highest earning riders of 2020 1. Peter Sagan (BoraHansgrohe) €5.5m 2. Chris Froome (Team Ineos) €4.5m 3. Geraint Thomas (Team Ineos) €3.5m 4. Vincenzo Nibali (TrekSegafredo) €3m

Reggae Boy Mariappa stunned by coronavirus diagnosis LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Watford defender Adrian Mariappa said news that he had tested positive for coronavirus came as a “big surprise” as he has felt no ill effects.

The 33-year-old, who is also part of Jamaica’s senior football team — the Reggae Boyz, was one of three positive tests at Watford with the other two among staff members.

The Hornets accounted for half the six COVID-19 cases detected from 748 tests of Premier League players and staff ahead of a return to training in small groups this week.

“Ever since I got my positive result back on Tuesday, I’ve been scratching my head to try to work out how I might have got coronavirus,” Mariappa told The Telegraph.

“It was a big surprise because I haven’t really left the house, apart from some exercise and the odd walk with the kids. I’ve mainly just been homeschooling and keeping fit.”

Mariappa had been following a fitness programme prepared by the club without any trouble caused by the virus to his

Reggae Boy Adrian Mariappa. breathing.

“I’ve not had any symptoms and I’ve felt as fit as ever, probably fitter because I’ve been working really hard.

“I’ve been following my training programme and I’ve not felt out of breath or ill, or anything.

“We’ve been fully monitored the whole time and the club have been able to track our distances and things. I’ve been really excelling in all of that and feeling great.”

Burnley confirmed their assistant manager Ian Woan is also asymptomatic having tested positive for the virus.

Watford captain Troy Deeney has said he will not return to training this week for fear that he could contract COVID-19 and pass it onto his five-month-old son.

Other Watford players are reportedly set to follow Deeney’s example, but Mariappa did not rule out returning to training once he was gone through a period of seven days self-isolation.

“I will just follow the protocols and each of the steps, and decide what is right for me each time,” he added.

“My focus now is just on isolating for seven days and hopefully testing negative next time.”

5. Egan Bernal (Team Ineos) €2.7m 6. Fabio Aru (UAE Team Emirates) €2.6m 7. Micha³ Kwiatkowski (Team Ineos) €2.5m 8. Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) €2.3m 9. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) €2.2m

10. Richard Carapaz (Team Ineos) €2.1m 11. Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) €2m 12. Primo€ Rogliè (Team Jumbo-Visma) €2m 13. Tadej Pogaèar (UAE Team Emirates) €2m 14. Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic) €1.9m 15. Tom Dumoulin (Team

Jumbo-Visma) €1.8m 16. Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) €1.8m 17. Romain Bardet (Groupama-FDJ) €1.7m 18. Greg Van Avermaet (CCC Team) €1.6m 19. Elia Viviani (Cofidis) €1.5m 20. Miguel Ángel López (Astana Pro Team) €1.5m

Swiss launch impeachment process against attorney general over FIFA conduct ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber moved closer to being removed from office after a parliamentary committee started an impeachment process against him over his investigation into corruption surrounding world soccer body FIFA. The courts committee voted by 13 to 4 to proceed with the impeachment yesterday

against Lauber “on suspicion of serious breach of duty” after the country’s top prosecutor appeared before the panel and answered members’ questions about his conduct in the FIFA inquiry.

Lauber has been accused by anticorruption campaigners of bungling a fraud trial over payments linked to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Mayo Clinic, NBA partner for league antibody study Mayo Clinic research hospital will conduct a leaguewide study to determine how many NBA coaches and players have developed antibodies to the coronavirus.

ESPN repor t e d executives and staff also can participate in the study piloted by the renowned Rochester, Minn., facility.

All 30 teams are expected to participate.

Major League Baseball conducted a similar study in partnership with Stanford University but a mere 0.7 percent of 10,000

test subjects affiliated with MLB showed development of COVID-19 antibodies.

Mayo Clinic is researching the validity of using a finger prick to draw blood for the tests and plans to apply that method to the NBA tests, USA Today reported.

NBA games are on hold during a hiatus that has stretched beyond two months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Some teams are opening their practice facilities with oversight from the NBA and by adhering to

stringent sanitization and social distancing measures that allow for i ndividual workouts exclusively.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, whose practice facility is just over an hour away from the Mayo Clinic campus, are scheduled to open their facility for the first time on Thursday.

Timberwolves All-Star K a r l - A n t h o n y To w n s ’ mother, Jacqueline CruzTo w n s , d i e d f r o m t h e coronavirus on April 13.

(Field Level Media)

PAGE 22

Thursday May 21, 2020

Kaieteur News

West Indies beat Zimbabwe, lose to India&N/Z West Indies beat Zimbabwe at home in both games in their first series in 2013 before losing to India 2nil and 2-nil to New Zealand in away series to finish a year which had begun promisingly for the Caribbean side, on disappointing note.

Dominican off-spinner Shane Shillingford, Jamaican Chris Gayle and Guyana Shiv Chanderpaul were the architects of their series win against Zimbabwe.

In the first Test in Barbados which commenced on March 12, the visitors opted to bat and were bowled out for 211 despite a fighting 50 from opener Mawoyo.

Off-spinner Marlon Samuels (4-13) and Shillingford (3-58) shared seven wickets between them, while Kemar Roach had 2-31 on his home ground.

West Indies replied with 308 with Daren Sammy (73), Denesh Ramdin (62) and Samuels (51) getting halfcenturies, while Gayle made 40.

Man-of-the-Match Shillingford (6-49) and Shannon Gabriel (3-10) helped to skittle out Zimbabwe for 107 before West Indies reached 12-1 to win by nine wickets.

In the second and final Test in Dominica West Indies won by an innings and 65 runs with Shillingford wreaking havoc on home turf with his second consecutive Man-of-the-Match award performance.

Sent in to bat, Zimbabwe were dismissed for 175 with Shillingford (5-59) and Samuels (3-15) again exposing the African team’s vulnerability to off-spin.

West Indies replied with 281 with Gayle (101), Chanderpaul (110) and Ramdin (86) doing the bulk of the scoring.

Zimbabwe could only muster 141 as Shillingford (534) and Samuels (3-35) again orchestrated Zimbabwe’s demise.

West Indies then journeyed to India and in unfamiliar conditions and against a much stronger team, lost 2-nil in the TwoTest series which started on November 6.

In the opening game at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, I n d i a d e s t r o y e d We s t Indies by an innings and 51 runs.

West Indies elected to bat and although Samuels executed some elegant drives in his 65, only Chanderpaul who was ninth out for 36, reached 30 as West Indies fell for 234 as Mohammed Shami captured 4-71.

Denesh Ramdin attacks during his ton in New Zealand in 2013.

Led by centuries from Rohit Sharma (177) and M S Dhoni (124), India recovered from 83-5 to reach 453. Shillingford continued his fine form for the Caribbean; taking 6-167 including the wickets of Virat Kholi (5) and Sachin Tendulkar (10).

But in another inept batting performance by We s t I n d i e s n o b o d y reached 40 as the visitors were blown away again by Shami who bagged his second five-wicket haul of the match as West Indies were bowled out for 168.

The second Test was played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and India invited West Indies to bat and they were shot out for 182 as Kiran Powell top scored with 48. But Daren Bravo (29), Chanderpaul (25) and Guyanese Narsingh Deonarine (21) all wasted good starts.

Although Shillingford captured 5-179, centuries from Sharma who made an unbeaten 111 and Pujara (113) were supported by fifties from Tendulkar (74) and Kholi (54) India amassed 495 all out.

We s t I n d i e s w e r e dismissed for 187 with Ramdin ending undefeated on 53 as the game was done and dusted in three days and the visitors going down by an innings and 126 runs.

From the sweltering heat in India West Indies travelled to cold conditions of New Zealand where they lost both matches in the Two-Test series as West Indians fans had little to celebrate for Christmas.

The first Test at the University Oval in Dunedin began on December 3 and after consecutive defeats in India put up a much better

showing to draw the opening game.

West Indies asked the host to bat on a hard track with some bounce but by the end of the first day New Zealand were 367-3 with Ross Taylor on 103 and Brendon McCullum on 109 as the lads from the Caribbean chased leather for 90 overs.

The day belonged to the host on the back of a magnificent unbeaten 217 from Taylor and 113 from McCullum as they declared at 609-9 with Tino Best (3-148) and two wickets each for Sammy and Deonarine offering support.

West Indies in reply were all out for 213 despite 76 from Chanderpaul and 40 from Daren Bravo.

Asked to follow-on West Indies feared much better and were eventually bowled out for 507 after batting out 162 overs.

Bravo led from the front with a brilliant 218 from 416 balls with 31 fours, while Kurt Edwards (59), Sammy (80) and Deonarine (52) all got half centuries.

Set 112 to win from 30 overs on the final afternoon New Zealand struggled to 79-4 by the close, with Shillingford taking all four of wickets, to fall short for 26 runs from 15 overs.

I n t h e s e c o n d Te s t which commenced on December 11 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, it was back to square one a West Indies, who flattered to deceive, were soundly beat by an innings and 73 runs in three days.

West Indies won the toss and inserted New Zealand and led by 129 from the inform Taylor the home side made 441 as Best took 4-110 and Gabriel and Sammy had two wickets each.

West Indies, despite

fifties from Samuels (60) and Edwards (55), made 193 as Boult had 6-40.

New Zealand enforced the follow-on and West Indies were bowled out for 175 on the third day despite Chanderpaul’s dogged unbeaten 31 as Boult had 440.

The third and final Test was played at Seddon Park in Hamilton from December 19 and West Indies lost eight wickets.

West Indies were asked to bat and centuries from Chanderpaul (122 not out) and Ramdin (107) led the tourist to 367.

New Zealand responded with 349 as Taylor fashioned another high class century (131) as Sunil Narine had 6-91 in what was to be the last of his six Test matches.

Off-spinner Shane Shillingford was one of the outstanding bowlers for 2013 before he was banned during the NZ tour.

The Trinidadian had replaced Shillingford who had been reported during the second Test against India in Mumbai and was suspended during this tour after tests revealed his arm breached the 15-degree limit while bowling off-breaks and doosras.

West Indies, with a slim lead of 18 runs, were dismantled for 103 with

Chanderpaul top scoring with 20.

Set 122 to win, New Zealand, led by Kane Williamson’s 56 reached 1242 on the fourth day.

From November 2003 to 2013 West Indies had lost 51 of the 95 Tests they had played during that period.

They won 14 and drew 30.

(Sean Devers)

Daren Bravo scored 217 against New Zealand in 2013.

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 21, 2020

PAGE 23

England’s return to training held up by safety protocol complications

E

SPNcricinfo England’s bowlers have been obliged to delay their return to training due to complications in delivering safety protocols.

The ECB had hoped that bowlers in the enlarged training squad picked to prepare for an anticipated return of Test cricket in July would be able to return to training at their respective local county grounds yesterday.

But issues in establishing uniform practices that minimise the chances of infection have proved slightly harder to implement than envisaged and a spokesperson suggested training would now not start until Thursday “at the earliest”.

Among the issues understood to have contributed to the hold-up is a scarcity in personal protective equipment (PPE) to be worn by physios and a delay in some batches of balls reaching the bowlers (each will use their own supply for hygiene reasons).

All players will also need to

have completed the appropriate online awareness module before they can attend.

T h e E n g l a n d management remain hopeful training will resume later this week. The hiatus is not expected to cause any delay in the start date of the international season which remains July 8. It is understood the ECB has acquired an adequate supply of PPE, but it has not reached the various county grounds as yet.

At this stage, the aim was only for bowlers in the enlarged squad of around 30 players to return to action.

With England’s medical team suggesting it could take several weeks for the bowlers to build up to the fitness and intensity levels required to allow them to play international cricket with minimal risk of injury, the aim was for them to return to action first with the remaining players expected back in training at the start of June.

Coaches at various firstclass clubs will be taken off furlough as required to

oversee training, though the bureaucracy around that and a conversation around who should pay for them - is another factor in creating a delay.

The enlarged training group - the ECB has made sure to avoid the word ‘squad’ - is likely to contain several seamers with a view to ensuring an adequate supply of net bowlers and in recognition of the fact the revised summer schedule is likely to involve back-toback games. They also require enough players to stage inter-squad games as warm-up ahead of the internationals.

As things stand, West Indies are due to play a threeTest series to start the summer, with their captain Jason Holder admitting on Monday that there was a collective will to see “everybody getting back into the workforce” and to give players to opportunity “to actually make some money”. “ We ’ r e a g r e e i n g protocols at the moment for England squad members from Lancashire to come back into Emirates Old

England openers Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley have both been furloughed. (Stu Forster/Getty Images) Trafford to start training, and they will be starting training later this week,” L a n c a s h i r e ’s a c t i n g chairman, Les Platts, said. “I think we’re aiming for Friday at the moment. That’s not a guarantee, but it’s what we’re planning for at the moment.

We’ve a lot of protocols to work through.”

With an increasing likelihood that two squads will be required - one for Tests, the other for limitedovers games - some tricky decisions loom for the

selectors. Could Jonny Bairstow regain the gloves in limited-overs cricket, for example, if Jos Buttler is retained in the Test squad?

Or will Buttler and Bairstow play white-ball cricket and allow an opportunity in the Test side for Ben Foakes?

And if Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Buttler are absent from the limited-overs squad, could Alex Hales win a recall? The selectors are also understood to be considering placing further players on standby in case of illness or injury.

Other issues creating this delay include appointing a Covid-19 officer at each venue, as is required by government guidelines, and ensuring they are adequately briefed.

None of the issues are believed to be especially serious or likely to cause a substantial delay. Indeed, they might be viewed as some of the inevitable hurdles likely to be encountered as the enormity of the task of staging international sport behind closed doors becomes clear.

ATP launches partnerships to help players K League imposes with mental health, well-being 100 million won

M

U M B A I (Reuters) T h e m e n ’s tennis tour has joined up with Sporting Chance and Headspace to help players and its staff deal with mental health problems and look after their wellbeing during the COVID-19 shutdown, the ATP said yesterday.

The professional tennis season was halted in early March due to the pandemic and will remain suspended until at least the end of July, d e p r i v i n g l o w e r- l e v e l players who depend solely on tournament winnings of the chance to earn a living.

With no clarity on when the sport can resume again, many players have been left anxious as they struggle to cope with the uncertainty that lies ahead.

“Being mentally strong is just as important as physical strength in tennis and looking after the mental health of our players and staff is a key priority for us,” ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said in a statement.

fine on FC Seoul for sex doll spectators

Close up of the net and ATP logo during the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Stade IGA. (Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo) “Everyone has been adapting to periods of selfisolation and decreased physical activity during the pandemic, but this can have a particularly d e t r i m e n t a l e ff e c t o n professional athletes who are used to particular training structure and playing day in day out.”

The ATP’s tie-up with Sporting Chance, founded by former England and Arsenal soccer captain Tony Adams to help with

emotional welfare and addictive disorders, gives players access to therapists experienced in working with elite athletes.

“The challenges that all sports and sports professionals are experiencing in the light of this pandemic will be affecting all of us in different ways,” Adams said.

“Holding out our hand to those in need at this time is important to me and working with organisations like the

ATP is a pleasure – well done Tennis!”

As part of another partnership, Headspace will provide free subscriptions to ATP players and employees, giving them access to all 1200+ hours of meditation and mindfulness content.

Earlier this month, the ATP also announced a twoyear partnership with online learning platform Coursera which will allow players to access over 4,000 courses for free.

SEOUL (Reuters) South Korea’s K League said yesterday its disciplinary committee decided to impose a 100 million won ($81,454.45) fine on FC Seoul for using sex dolls instead of mannequins to fill empty seats in their stadium.

The club placed dolls in seats during a K League match on Sunday to make up for the absence of fans due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“The disciplinary committee decided to take heavy disciplinary action considering the graveness of the incident, caused by the ‘real doll’, that has greatly insulted and hurt female and family fans and to prevent similar incidents going forward,” K League said in a statement.

The club apologised on Monday saying they had failed to check the

consignment sent by the supplier, though adding it was not aware the dolls were “adult products”.

Though the incident was not intended, it was possible to distinguish the dolls from ordinary mannequins and the club has made a serious mistake by not removing them when it had enough time before the game started, K League added.

Some of the dolls had been dressed in the club’s kit while others were holding supportive placards. Fans watching the match on television took to social media to raise doubts about the inflatable spectators.

Latoya Smith

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Watford’s English-born Jamaican defender Adrian Mariappa controls the ball during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Chelsea at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London. (Photo: AFP)

Smith aiming Reggae Boy Mariappa stunned for national by coronavirus diagnosis team return

Peter Sagan tops list of highest earners in pro cycling

Peter Sagan of Slovakia and Team BoraHansgrohe Green Sprint Jersey Egan Bernal of Colombia and Team INEOS Yellow Leader Jersey Julian Alaphilippe of France and Team Deceuninck QuickStep during the 106th Tour de France 2019 Stage 21. (Photo by Peter De VoechtPoolGetty Images)

Swiss launch England’s return impeachment to training held process against up by safety protocol attorney general over FIFA conduct complications

Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber. (REUTERS/ Arnd Wiegmann)

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