Kaieteur News

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Monday May 25, 2020

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: SHARMAIN GRAINGER Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Resist, rethink, and rebuild these deals with foreign exploiters The latest blast to strike Guyanese was last week’s news that Guyana Goldfields is scheduled to terminate 160 of its workers. This could not have come at a worse time with businesses shuttered and little replacement employment available to impacted workers. We feel for our fellow citizens as they cry out for help. We also cry for this country that keeps allowing itself to be ripped off and made fools of again and again by one foreign partner after another; fine partners they are, when at the first hint of a pinch, Guyanese workers are made to feel the lash of no work. The list of foreign agencies that reap a continuing harvest from Guyana’s rich resources is endless. These so-called friends of this country and its workers form a pantheon of the exploiting ranging from Omai to Bai Shan Ling to Rusal. There are others, who have done their share of injury to Guyanese workers and their families. The communities that depended upon them are also terribly stricken. They operate from a standard playbook. At the beginning they come and promise jobs, that enticing soundjobs-which is music to the ears of negotiators acting on behalf of poor Third World countries. This makes the locals dance with a regular welcoming chant: Come! Come and bring investment and equipment and calculations that promise much. To date, and as repeated over and over and sickeningly, it has been largely unfulfilled on the receiving side for Guyana. The record has been that of a one-way street: Resource production shipped out and the swollen profits, too. Our fellow citizens are thrown a few bottomof-the-barrel jobs, and that is the end if the story. In the instance of one Chinese company, workers came along to fill some of those same entry level jobs. Responsibility for these abuses (as well as numerous others) rests at one doorstep. The cooperating culprits are none other than our leaders and negotiators in government after government, who have sold Guyanese wealth and Guyanese workers down the drain, when they fall for the seductions of craven and ruthless overseas operators. They promise jobs, then they take them away, with the latest example being that of Guyana Goldfield workers. Business they call it; laid off Guyanese call it death: no earnings, no prospects, no hope. We pay sharp, repeated prices for refusing to learn. Perhaps the time has come for the foreigners to keep their jobs. Instead, let there be comprehensive and ironclad agreements for a much bigger percentage share of the output coming to Guyana. We will take care of our workers. We think that the old mold must be cast aside and that our partnership agreements with foreign companies must be rebuilt from the ground up, and indicative of major provisions (and related protections) towards a more robust and rewarding share of whatever is extracted from our soil or our seas. Enough is enough, since these weak arrangements, sweetheart deals for the foreigners, leave us wounded and helpless, and vulnerable before the next predatory exploiter. It is time that Guyana and Guyanese leaders learn from Saudi Arabia and Libya. It took those countries a long time to shake off the chains, but the precedents have been set. Guyana needs to develop a hybrid arrangement that: limits its responsibilities for costs; enhances its participation in workforce at all levels and profits; and leaves this country with some security and dignity. For clearly, when our political governors give away the nation’s treasures for a couple hundred measly jobs, they have not engaged in any grand bargains, but in grander conspiracies that hold hostage workers and the prospects of this society. We cannot continue to go on with these cheap deals that leave our people empty handed and open mouthed. These are not partners; they are schemers and squeezers and spillers of this nation’s blood. Our people bleed and pay harsh prices when Guyanese political chieftains hail these deals. For sure, it is great, but not for Guyana. Just look at the sorry record. It is about time that the leaders of this country come to their senses. We have had enough of them, both the local ones and their corporate partners from overseas.

We need an inclusive think-tank to chart a course for the future Dear Editor, After the dust is settled and we have a government, whether legitimate or not, as only half the people in our country will agree that the results would have been fair, we need to ask ourselves, what now? We, the citizens of this country, need to demand change to the way government works, how we are managed. For too long, politicians and political parties have hijacked the will of the people with zero accountability. Politicians need to realize that while they may be put there by half the population of this country, their jobs are to look after the concerns of 100% of its citizens, not by lip service but by deeds, laws, actions and thought. With our upcoming oil wealth, and once things return to near post Covid19 normal, there is absolutely no reason Guyana cannot become the envy of the world, surpassing Dubai and Singapore; all we need is the right people in the right places with a vision of where we

want to go and a plan on how we achieve it. This will involve persons outside the political parties participation, even in the short term I urge our leaders to fill the permanent secretary positions in all ministries with competent qualified persons and not party faithful, placed as rewards for loyalty and with no thought to the damage they are inflicting on the country. We need a central think tank of the best and brightest Guyanese from all walks of life and political persuasion, working together to chart the future of our country. We should no longer exclude people because they are not in “our party” because this country is owned by all of us, If you can look around the world you can see that everyone is moving forward yet we have Ministers who are trying to reinvent the wheel, without embracing the technology of the changing world, we are stuck by dogmatic rendering and adherence to ancient customs and laws, some

which were developed as far as hundreds of years ago, and have absolutely no relevance today, and instead of updating these we “obey the Laws” which sets us as a country even more backwards. I would venture to say that most Ministers in my experience are not even acquainted with their job description, let alone having the capacity and capability of carrying out the task. Thought has to be given to way decisions affect the citizens: closing of roads, spurious public holidays etc., needs to have consideration of the impact and discomfort which such actions caused and if they are warranted. In the long run we need to scrap this electoral system that we have and put in place voting for individuals as against parties in each district, which will allow a greater degree of qualified candidates, based on their personal achievements and philosophy rather than having party lackeys with no distinguishing attributes

being fostered upon us. The cream will rise to the surface and all these unqualified people who end up running ministries, and even heading major government positions can be rewarded by serving in some lower capacity where their lack of ability will not affect the overall development of our country. Can you imagine even with the backing of a political party that we the people, will end up voting for a drunk or someone of low morals and or questionable reputation, as compared to a polished successful candidate of high and unblemished standards for the same district?, This will force the political parties to elect competent intelligent persons in order to be elected to Government and not some of these present party members masquerading around the place as authorities on everything when in fact they know very little and most would have a hard time in the private sector even getting a secretarial job. Yours truly Roy Beepat .

I apologise for the sole error in my letter, but stand by what I said about David Granger Dear Editor, David Granger ’s “ Ministry of the Presidency” has demanded of me and the media that has published my letter of May 22nd, an apology for what they claim are “several untruths and numerous inaccuracies”. I wrongly believed, from a picture showing Claudette Singh sitting at Granger’s side that was carried in the same report of his press conference, that Ms. Singh had attended that press conference. I apologize unreservedly for that mistake to David Granger and Ms. Singh. I have absolutely no apology to make for anything else I have said in my letter, all of which is evidentially accurate. If David Granger believes, as his Ministry claims, that I have published falsehoods “ designed to besmirch” his “good name”, then like any other citizen, he can sue me for liable. I am sure that there are many many lawyers in Guyana who would be pleased to rush to defend me in Court and be delighted at the opportunity to cross examine David Granger. So what did I say that they want me to apologize for? I said that he arrived at the Convention Centre “ with a

massive security akin to an Idi Amin”. The fact is that Granger has surrounded himself, as a “President” ruling a tiny Country with an amount of security larger than any of our previous Presidents and, certainly, of the kind employed by military dictators such as Idi Amin of Uganda infamy, Sadam Hussein of Iraq, Fidel Castro of Cuba, General Gowan of Nigeria, all of whom I can speak of from my personal experience, having met with them all at one time or another in my past. The Ministry says that I “must know that President Granger remains President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana until another President is sworn in”. Yes, I also know that David Granger has held on to the Presidency long after, more than a year since another President should have been sworn in. He has spent millions of tax payers dollars paying lawyers to keep him in office by refusing to recognize the legitimacy of the No Confidence Motion against his Government and, even after the CCJ ruling against him, further delaying the holding of an election. David Granger, we also know, hangs on to a caretaker, de facto Presidency 83 days,

as I write this letter, after the election was held on March 2nd,2020 because GECOM, rather than rejecting Mingo’s fraudulent attempt at rigging the elections result, has taken us into a Recount. In my view and many others, David Granger used his dubious Presidential authority to force himself upon the Chairman of GECOM and her staff and the Caricom Scrutineers in meeting which should never have been held. I did not, in my letter, say that David Granger, as the Ministry claimed refuse “to answer questions” at his Press Conference. What I said in my letter is that when Granger was asked “whether he would recognize and accept the results of the Recount” “he refused to recognize that the recount of the ballots must deliver the results of the elections” . Granger was asked the question twice and preferred instead to answer it by saying that “whatever declaration is made by the Chairman of the Elections Commission would be recognized as legitimate by the Coalition”. What I have written is on the record and was seen and heard by all. Ms. Singh, of course, does not necessarily have to recognize the Recount, hence

Granger’s answer. At the Press Conference, Granger also refused, when asked, to recognize that the Lowenfield declaration is fraudulent and should be rejected. That too is on the record. Granger too refuses to admit to the evidence in the Statements of Poll in his possession that he has lost the Elections. I challenge him to publish those Statements. I have the utmost respect for the Office of the President. I have little or no respect for a man who holds on to it, knowing that he has lost and endangers the entire nation by doing so. If David Granger’s character and good name is in question he has only himself to blame. As I concluded in my letter, and stand firmly behind, “Granger hangs onto power from a fraud committed and embraced in GECOM by the very people he has appointed to the Commission and which is embraced by the leading spokespersons of his own party. I repeat, Granger can no longer claim to be innocent. He must do the decent thing. He owes it to the people of this country. He must concede that he has lost. Let his country free. Yours sincerely Kit Nascimento

Monday May 25, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Harry Hergash’ response The silence of the Christian community is conspicuous to Dr. Hinds contains its own inaccuracies Dear Editor Editor, reference is made to a letter by one Harry Hergash, “David Hinds presents a skewed perspective on electoral rigging” (Kaieteurs News, May 24, 2020). In this letter, the author suggested to readers that Dr. Hinds presentation was centered on mere claims about rigging by some political actors and entities in Guyana. He makes a clear distinction between ‘facts’ and ‘claims.’ Hergash states, “Unfortunately, his letter conflates two issues, i.e. actual rigging of elections based on evidence and accusations of riggings from a disgruntled loser in an election.” It is therefore useful that we examine this distinction that the writer brings to the issue of historic rigging of elections in pre and postindependence Guyana. Here, the assertion is that one side brings facts and truth to the debate while, on the other hand, others bring unsubstantiated claims about rigging. Editor, this is a clever and well trotted out device by those who themselves are selective or, simply dishonest when it comes to the history of rigging and elections in Guyana. Harry Hergash regales us about documented rigging of the then PNC administration in the 1968 and 1973 general elections. Indeed, as conceded by most Guyanese of that time, those elections were rigged for the benefit of the government of the day. However, in constructing his “mere claim” arguments, Hergash, referenced the 1961 elections, and the documented electoral fraud

case of the Houston constituency. There was a court proceeding where evidence was presented and accepted by all parties that the PPP engaged in using ineligible (under the legal age) voters and imposters to vote for its list in that constituency. In sum, the PPP was the beneficiary of an executed electoral fraud. As the result, the learned judge voided the elections in the Houston constituency and ruled that a by-election take place so as to determine a credible winner. The court result was unambiguous, yet, the author pushes his “mere claim” narrative. Editor, if the court proceedings in the Houston constituency were not enough, the writer introduced Governor Sir Ralph Grey in this tortured logic in this facts vs claim narrative. Let us be clear, at no time was Sir Ralph Grey a member of the PPP, therefore a beneficiary either singularly, or, collectively of that electoral fraud. It was the PPP as a party and its members who authored and engaged in electoral fraud. To introduce the then Governor and the administrations of those elections into the issue of rigging is an adventure in intellectual dishonesty. Indeed, what is skewed and dangerous, is that of the deliberate efforts on the part of some to project and present their narratives as facts. Certainly, Harry Hergash is entitled to his own opinions. No one will deny him of that. What he is not entitled to is his desire to present said opinions as actual facts. Yours truly, Leroy Nelson

Any provision of evidence to GECOM should be time-bond Dear Editor The invitation to present evidence in keeping with ‘who asserts must prove’ has to be time bound. It cannot be open ended. But with the twenty five days timeline running out and the recount crawling along, somehow I see several rounds of legal arguments

taking centre stage from here on, starting with whether Gecom can arrogate unto itself the role and function of the Court. Where does this leave in particular the CARICOM Team? As the man said this will not end well. Yours truly, Shamshun Mohamed

Dear Editor, I commend the courage of a handful of Christians in Guyana who have taken a stand to call out Mr. Granger’s transgressions regarding the attempts to scuttle the electoral process. Brother Joshua Emmanuel ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2020/05/04/the-quicker-youconcede-the-faster-you-canrebuild-the-party-to-returnto-government/) and Jerry Singh (https:// g u y a n a t i m e s g y. c o m / a n open-letter-to-my-pnc-apnuafc-brethren/) have had the fortitude to let APNU/AFC leaders know that though they have supported that party, it is time to give up attempts at skullduggery, and that party should exit gracefully. Apart from them, the Christian community has been silent on the shenanigans orchestrated by government supporters to skew election results.

The ‘Global Prayer for Guyana’ session on the Globespan Youtube facility on May 21 is a case in point. Apart from Dr. Punalall, who made references in her prayer to the “corrupt counting of the ballots”, and prayed that God should “cancel fake tabulations”, no one touched on the recount debacle that has been plaguing Guyana. Instead, some of the participants patted themselves on the back and made some outrageous claims. Pastor Alvin claimed that that was a “historic night” and that they (the pastors) were doing “an awesome work of the Lord”! Similarly, Mr. McAllister asserted, “We are the legislative authority on the earth... we are taking the affairs of our nation by force”! (If that is the case, why is there much corruption in the country? Why hasn’t that “legislative authority” put in place a system for politicians to respect what Mr. Granger has repeatedly referred to as “the supreme and sacrosanct” document of the land? Why do

they allow operatives to (blatantly!) fraud the system?) Rev. Clarke prayed regarding social ills of the country: illiteracy, poverty, prostitution, violence, women who have to leave their children and work, love for all races, nepotism and discrimination, and corruption, and for a “greater heart of love.” However, she was careful not to mention topics of thievery and fraud, which are on every Guyanese mind these days. Instead of condemning the President’s sin, Mr. McAllister chose to pray affectionately for “our dear, beloved President!” His spiritual tone was remarkedly different when he referred to the Opposition Leader, because God needed to “take hold of his life”. Mr. Duncan was more manifest in demonstrating his partiality and prejudice; he seemed disgusted that they (the opposition party) “will

oppose everything just for the sake of it”. He went further to pray that “justice may characterize the operations of the Opposition – characterized by dealing and scheming for one’s own ends”; there was no such prayer for Mr. Granger or any of his operatives – nothing even close to it. The deafening silence of the large Christian denominations are also conspicuous; one hears their cacophony only when the PPP is in power. Perhaps Guyana would find itself out of the political, social and spiritual morass when those who identified as “God’s people” would humble themselves as they pray. When they truly seek his face and call ‘sin’ for what it is regardless of who is the transgressor, then God will listen, and forgive their sins, and heal our land. Yours truly, Dr. Devanand Bhagwan

Our nation is going through challenging times and God is watching Dear Editor, I write this letter hoping that it will get the attention of our President, members of his party, the opposition, GECOM officials and all others who have an input in the solution to our political crisis. Our nation is going through self-inflicting challenging times, and a challenge always results in a winner and loser. Some people who are considered wise take on challenges that they cannot win and this includes royalty and leaders of nation. For example, before Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of England, contracted coronavirus he boastfully said “I shake hands with everybody. I was in the hospital the other night and there were a few coronavirus cases and I shook hands with everybody.” Prince Charles did not boast but, as royalty, he continues to mix with and

shake hands with everyone and we all know that they both tested positive. Mr. Johnson ended in ICU. Hugh Crosskill of Jamaica rose to prominence at the early age of 18 but lost the challenge to hard drugs and was shot at the age of 47 by a security guard. Brenda Nyhan, a health policy researcher of the University of Michigan and Jason Reifier, a political scientist at the University of Georgia, published a paper documenting that, when people are presented with verifiable facts and history that contradicts firm beliefs (hence opinions), the facts often fail to convince otherwise. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as research have found that when people are given facts that refute erroneous opinions, many people actually become further entrenched in their incorrect views, hence the notion “a man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still and there is no one so blind

like the one who does not want to see.” Nyhan went on to conclude that “most people don’t seek out information to challenge their beliefs: more often than not, they look for “evidence” to support their own views. When I discovered that I had prostate cancer a few years, instead of challenging this big C, I surrendered to 45 daily radiations and I decided to look for the best way to travel though this challenge and decided to use the opportunity to encourage myself, fellow patients and medical staff. At the conclusion, I saw every day as a precious gift from God for more opportunities to be a blessing to others. I will be extremely foolish to spurn God’s mercy and take His extended time for granted because if I have to face another challenge, I don’t know how I will explain ingratitude. We suffered under slavery and indentureship but since independence our political

leaders choose to rule and divide instead of using the opportunity to lead and heal the nation. Why are our own bringing us back to those dark days? The election revealed a lot, which is too embarrassing to mention, but I want to inform our leaders that our actions are a direct challenge to God’s holy standards, and we are going to reap the consequences. The reality of life can be best explained in God’s word. Galatians 6: 7 says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, will reap destruction. The one who sows to please God, will reap eternal life.” Proverbs 29:1 outlines that “A man who chooses to be stubborn after many rebukes, will suddenly be cut off without remedy or a second chance”. I conclude by sharing Hebrews 10: 31: “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Yours truly, Harold Beharry

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Monday May 25, 2020

Kaieteur News

The coalition is creating a false narrative to discredit the 2020 election Histories are narratives that people construct in order to decipher the meaning of past events. The extent to which those narratives closely approximate the past can be problematic because narratives can be entirely fabricated, partially authentic or can withstand scrutiny when documented by historical evidence. That the PNC has historically rigged national elections to remain in office illegally since 1968 to 1992 is an historical fact that is irrefutable. Ironically, the current accusations, now with PNC executive Aubrey Norton claiming his incumbent party has observed ”anomalies to clear fraud and rigging”, is yet another desperate attempt by leaders of the PNC, AFC and the WPA, to change the historical narrative by concocting a fake one to deceive their supporters. The coalition has embarked on this path for primarily two main reasons. One, it is part of a clumsy attempt to recapture American support in a post-Cold War era, thereby, hoping to stave off impending US-imposed personal, political and economic sanctions. Two, this false narrative is just another transparent, albeit, more elaborate attempt to nullify the March 2 elections in which both major parties had a fair chance of winning.

To date, David Granger, the leader of the APNU+AFC coalition, has not condemned the most glaring actions taken by RO Clairmont Mingo to defraud the Guyanese people by nullifying their votes. The July 16th, 1973 shooting of Jagan Ramessar and Bholanauth Parmanand by members of the Guyana Defence Force is not based on a fictional narrative, but it was a real attempt by citizens to protect their sacred voting rights. The table below of electoral results from 1961 to 2020 (extracted from a forthcoming book by Dr. Ramesh Gampat) exposes a deep-rooted Guyana tragedy consistent with the false coalition narrative.

rigged. An excerpt from The New York Times (Sep. 3, 1990) summarized it this way: ”Electoral frauds and the scale of fraudulent elections in Guyana have been documented by the annual United States country reports on human rights practices (1980, 1987); the Lord Avebury report (1980); the joint report of the British Parliamentary Human Rights Group; Americas Watch (1985); numerous newspaper articles, and two Granada TV documentaries, ‘Trail of the Vanishing Voters’’ and ‘’The Making of a Prime Minister’’(1969).” This is the case with the attempted rigging of the 2020

convenience to form the APNU+AFC. Had the APNU not thrown the AFC under the bus and had the AFC genuinely championed the cause of the 11% Indians they brought into the coalition, the APNU+AFC could have likely won the 2020 elections with what Rory Fraser and Timothy Laing referred to as “floating voters” (the socalled third force) (SN, May 16 2020). Both scholars have argued that the 2015 and 2020 elections demonstrated a swing from APNU+AFC to PPP/C in ‘mixed polling stations’. Second, the PPP won all its fair and free national elections with a continuously declining ethnic Indian support base. It is likely that

First, observers, both local and international, were present at general elections in Guyana and all national elections “won” by the PNC were declared fraudulently

elections. Only once did the PNC win an election fairly. That was in 2015 when it joined forces with the AFC and several smaller political parties in a coalition of

the “floating voters” opted to support the opposition in 2020. Third, all PPP terms in office were either shorter than or confirmed to the

stipulated 5 years duration according to the Constitution, while some PNC terms were longer than the stipulated duration. The massively rigged elections, with a well-oiled PNC machinery in control of the state and its coercive arms, occurred most glaringly when the PNC allocated itself a “win” of over 70% in the elections of 1973, 1980 and 1985. Not shown in the table is the fact that elections which the PNC lost often saw violence perpetuated against perceived PPP supporters and destruction of private property. Additionally, these figures do not include the 1978 referendum which was designed “to end all referendums” and strengthen the PNC’s paramountcy over state institutions and the government. However, regarding the 1978 referendum, held despite a total boycott by all opposition forces, even though 14 % of the electorate turned out, the PNC declared that 71.45 %t of the electorate voted, claiming a 97.7 % support for the PNC referendum. During that same year, the Minister of Home Affairs, Vibert Mingo, acting upon instructions from Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, refused to meet with representatives of the opposition forces. The opposition forces were calling

for electoral reforms, including a non-involvement of the paramilitary forces in the electoral process, and counting of the votes at the place of poll. Interestingly, while the figure for the referendum was given by the PNC government at 609,522, government figure for the total population in 1975 was 780,000. This historical evidence lends credence to the Guyanese cliché that “Rigging elections is in the PNC’s DNA”. If Justice Claudette Singh and the PNC-appointed GECOM commissioners sanction a coalition “win” of the 2020 election based on fabricated anomalies (which, incidentally, can be tested at an election petition after the results are declared), the coalition would have successfully moved closer towards coopting the Churchillian truism that “history is written by the victors”. Our hope at preserving our fragile democracy and arresting the slide towards ethnic domination lies with a consistent effort at exposing the fraud, pursuing political sanctions against ruling coalition leaders and encouraging the former “colonizers” to intervene to foster a brokered solution – one consistent with the election results. Yours truly,, Baytoram Ramharack

GECOM has a responsibility to inform Guyanese as events unfold Dear Editor: Having observed the varying perspectives put forward by the political parties as to what the National Recount exercise entails, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has the responsibility to ensure the society is knowledgeable of events as they unfold. The agency cannot afford to wait until the process is ending then to attempt to deliver to people an understanding of the result or a final result that can contrast completely to the narrative(s) out there. They must seek to do this periodically. They owe that to society. As often as a misrepresentation is made just as often it has to be debunked. GECOM should not be giving the public the perception that it doesn’t

care about the impact of public perception on its processes for that is a major contributing factor influencing where we are right now. All that is being said, right and wrong, impact the credibility of GECOM and its officers and the credibility of the process. It is dishonest for any political party or its agent to stand in the media centre at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where the National Recount is being conducted, and argue that the exercise falls under the Representation of the People Act. This position is being repeated ad nauseum, seemingly with no regard for the evidence, and in some quarters accepted as the truth. The gazetted Order guiding this recount is clear that the exercise is

being conducted under Article 162 of the Constitution and Section 22 of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act of 2000. GECOM has a responsibility to put the information out, repeat same whenever necessary, and let the public discern whose truth is consistent with the a g e n c y ’s . Anything outside of this is creating the chaotic environment we have because few know or could recall. Also, it is not for both sides to determine they win, it is for GECOM to determine who has won. GECOM is the sole arbiter in this process, no t t h e P P P, n o t t h e APNU+AFC, not any other party but GECOM. The conduct of any exercise is impacted by the laws and conditions governing its activities. Effort(s) in

misrepresenting these are injurious to the exercise and the people who will be impacted by the outcome. Where each side continues to peddle their truths there is only one truth and that truth is GECOM. And whereas some media houses see responsibility in making known the laws and conditions guiding the process as they cover statements pertaining to the activities, others are content to report what they are told. GECOM should recognise this and the vital role it could play here in maintaining some semblance of order. By not immediately addressing falsehood the agency adds to the chaos and confusion in society. Another layer has been added to the confusion i.e. “fake fraud.” Fraud is fraud.

To the extent where the Order facilitates the examination of any allegation (numerical and observatory) these cannot be ignored. It is the process that determines the numbers and, in this situation, where sides are dissatisfied every element needs to be scrutinised with a view of correcting all deficiencies in the future. Noted also is the threat that there “has to be consequences” for providing evidence to support claims of alleged irregularities. GECOM Chair Claudette Singh is in order in her charge that “he who asserts must prove.” Opportunity must be given to those who accused to present their evidence to the Commission. People have short and/or convenient memory. Some may now be tuning in for the first time or after a long time. Then there is the constant effort to distort or create

different perspectives of what the reality is. Where the parties are saying something different and their supporters are likely to believe what they say GECOM has a responsibility to remind the nation of the truth. In instances such as these GECOM needs to clear the air as often as necessary and as often as misinformation is being repeated. It is GECOM that shoulders primary responsibility to reiterate the laws governing this exercise and what the Order entails. For democracy to stand this agency cannot fail. Critical to the success of the process is the truth being told, and as often as possible, particularly in our environment of heightened ethnic tension, distrust, alternative facts and division. Yours truly, Lincoln Lewis.

Monday May 25, 2020

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Recount results must be used to declare elections winner Former House Speaker and Presidential Candidate of A New And United Guyana (ANUG), Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran does not believe that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) can revert to the 10 declarations being held in abeyance to declare the winners of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. “It is not possible for GECOM to order a recount under the election laws amendment act and at the end of the process, to abandon a declaration of that recount and then return to the count and make a declaration based on the report that has been made to GECOM by the Chief Elections Officer in relation to his invitation to make a

ANUG Presidential Candidate Ralph Ramkarran declaration,” Ramkarran told the press during yesterday. Since the commencement

GPOC announces early pension payment for June

The Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) has announced that the payment of Old Age Pension for June 2020 will begin on Thursday, May 28, 2020, at all Post Offices countrywide. The GPOC disclosed that recently implemented alphabetized system will be in effect. The alphabetical system, using surnames/last names, will be employed for senior citizens to receive their payment during the first five payment days of the month at Post Offices in Regions 2,3,4,5,6 and 10. Seniors will be paid as follows: · Thursday, May 28 - Surnames/last names beginning with the letters A to D · Friday, May 29 - Surnames/last names beginning with the letters E to K · Monday, June 1- Surnames/last names beginning with the letters L to P · Tuesday, June 2 - Surnames/last names beginning with the letters Q to T · Wednesday, June 3 - Surnames/last names beginning with the letters U to Z Seniors will be allowed to cash their coupon on any day after the fifth payment day. It was also noted that the GPOC will continue to enforce a minimum distance of three feet between individuals accessing their services, to limit the number of persons entering the Post Office at any given time. Senior citizens as well as other persons who plan to visit any of the post offices across the country are reminded to wear their facemasks and sanitise their hands before entering the building. The GPOC assured that the public areas in post offices will also be sanitised regularly throughout the day. (DPI)

of the recount, the APNU+AFC Coalition have raised allegations that the elections are deeply flawed because of dead and migrated people having voted, leading many to question whether GECOM would use the final numbers from the recount to declare a winner. Ramkarran reasoned that based on those allegations made, should GECOM not use the final numbers from the recount and revert to the previous one, it would be equally “untenable” for the 10 declarations to be used. “If GECOM were to take the position that these elections, under the recount process, that these allegations have made it untenable for a declaration to be issued,” Ramkarran said, “then that declaration would be equally untenable under the count because the same votes b e i n g c o u nted in this recount are the same votes which were made under the count that the Presiding Officer counted.” “So if you can’t make a declaration under the recount, then you can’t make a declaration under the count.” Such a situation where no declaration is made, according to the ANUG

– Ralph Ramkarran Presidential Candidate would leave Guyana in a “Constitutional dead end.” Ramkarran said “Now the Guyana Constitution does not provide for a situation where no declaration is made after an election. The Constitutional process is elections, results, swearing in a President, convening of parliament or rather appointment of Prime Minister and Ministers, and the convening of parliament.” “If they are no results declared then that process cannot move forward, but there is no process to go backward either. Parliament is already dissolved and cannot be recalled so we are in what I call a Constitutional dead end or a Constitutional no man’s land.” Citing the objections being made by the Coalition at the recount, Ramkarran believes that the Commission should not have been accepting any ‘evidence’ to support the claims. “They have started and allowed these objections to be made and it is probably too late for the Commission to say

look, we are not going to take any more objections but they should not have accepted these objections from the beginning.” According to him, “They should have said, take your objections, make your objections and take them to the elections petition court.” “The Commission can’t, was not constructed to accommodate a trial, an investigatory process, to determine whether those allegations were true or not.

Quite apart from that, the law requires that these matters be raised at an elections petition.” Ramkarran also met with GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh and conducted a tour of the recount site and expressed hope that two additional workstations be established which would see the pace of the recount increasing. “If that happens and we hope it does, the madam Chair in her efforts, to get that to happen, we can see a speeding up of the count and a closing off of this process in another week or two.”

Woman dies after struck by car on Chateau Margot Public Road Police are seeking to identify a woman of East Indian ancestry who was struck down by a speeding car last evening near Chateau Margot, East Coast Demerara. Police said that the woman, estimated to be in her forties, was standing at the median when she decided to cross. She stepped out into the path of the car that was heading towards Georgetown. Nearby residents immediately called an ambulance and rushed the woman to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. According to a senior police official, the victim had no documents that would have enabled ranks to ascertain her identity. The driver has been detained.

PAGE 8

Monday May 25, 2020

Kaieteur News

NATIONAL YOUTH WEEK BEGINS!

Several virtual activities to be hosted (text and/or call). “The MissionPsych 592 is a group which comprises psychologists and social workers. The group has been the beneficiary of funding from the Youth Innovation Programme of Guyana (YIPOG),” Boyce Noted. Additionally, the Department will also be hosting a number of interactive panel discussions on May 27, 30 and June 3 at 13:00hrs; discussions will be focused on topics such as Entrepreneurship and Employment; Leadership and Life Skills Development; Good Health and Well-being among

FLASHBACK: National Youth Week, 2019. National Youth Week 2020 commenced yesterday, and will run until May 30, 2020. Due to the global COVID 19 pandemic, the Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport has been forced to suspend most of its programmes and activities that require mass gatherings and physical social interaction. However, given the significance of National Youth Week, a calendar of activities has been compiled and will be executed virtually, and in

accordance with the national guidelines for the prevention and elimination of COVID-19. “Apart from offering online skills-building initiatives such as the Financial Literacy and Small Business Training, the Ministry has also crafted a programme which seeks to ascertain the impact that this pandemic has had and continues to have on Guyana’s youth population,” Assistant Director of Youth, Ms. Leslyn Boyce noted. She explained that by utilizing various media

platforms, the Department of Youth is gearing up to provide psychosocial support to vulnerable and atrisk youths. “More specifically, the Department is pursuing collaboration with MissionPsych 592 to provide 24-hour counselling and mentorship services to young people throughout Guyana,” Boyce said. It was explained that these services will be offered via a customized online application which is currently being tested, as well as phone

other topical issues. These sessions will be streamed live on National Communications Network via radio, television and social media, providing the opportunity for young people throughout Guyana to call and join in the dialogue. “In the meantime, the Department of Youth continues to reach out to other key stakeholders capable of providing the critical support required for our youths to emerge from this pandemic both psychologically and physically healthy,” Boyce noted. Boyce said that even

though this year’s National Youth Week celebrations will not be as jubilant as previous years, it will provide safe outlets for Guyana’s youths to address a myriad of concerns. The Assistant Director further disclosed that recognizing young people who have done outstanding work in the area of youth development is also key during this period. She explained that the Department of Youth currently has a call for nominations out which allows persons from Continued on page 18

WBD murder suspect who escaped from police custody in 2016 arrested in Berbice After nearly four years on the run, Anthony Jhagroo was finally arrested yesterday for the murder of West Bank Demerara resident Yogeshwar Shivcharran. Jhagroo of Lot 35 Goed Intent, West Bank Demerara, was nabbed in Berbice. Jhagroo had escaped from La Grange Police Station, West Bank Demerara, in July 2016, following his arrest for Shivcharran’s murder. Yesterday police, acting on information, ventured to a house at Bonfield, Port Mourant, Berbice and arrested him. Regional Commander Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus disclosed that the suspect was living with a female and a child at the house. He was operating a

barber shop. The woman is also being questioned, while Jhagroo was handed over to authorities on the West Bank Demerara. Jhagroo is accused of killing Shivcharran who was his neighbour. The victim reportedly had a mental breakdown, took off his clothing and ventured over to Jhagroo’s yard where Jhagroo was imbibing with friends. Kaieteur News had reported that Jhagroo’s friends hurled beer bottles at Shivcharran and beat him into a state of unconsciousness. Shivcharran, who was a mechanic, was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he succumbed on the July 10, 2016.

Anthony Jhagroo Jhagroo was the only person detained. A post mortem examination revealed that Shivcharran died from blunt trauma to the head.

Monday May 25, 2020

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

THE PNCR IS NOT A WORKING CLASS PARTY! Five weeks ago, the government halted the distribution of relief hampers by the Civil Defence Commission. The government said that a new system had to be implemented which would identify the vulnerable populations. That was five weeks ago. If the government wanted to know who were the vulnerable that required immediate assistance, they should have talked to Bryan Max, Yog Mahadeo or those civil society organizations which have been distributing thousands of meals, more than 50,000 face masks and thousands of hampers to the poor. Four weeks ago, the government established a National COVID-19 Task Force Secretariat. The Secretariat has been stacked by ex-military personnel. Yet, to date it has not commenced distribution of any relief supplies, except to the

disabled. It is yet to be engaged in helping the poor to survive during these desperate times. It is now asking certain categories of vulnerable persons to apply to be registered for assistance. Four weeks after it had stopped the distribution of relief hampers. The poor people right now need meals, not necessarily hampers. The army should have already been cooking thousands of meals for distribution to the homeless and other poor persons. If the government really understood poverty, they would realize that the most vulnerable will not know how to go about applying for help and what will end up happening is that the most needy will not get any help. This confusing approach to human suffering reveals the gaps which exists between the ruling elite and the poor. It shows how far divorced the APNU and the AFC are from the people. The PNCR has never been a

working class party.nParadoxically, it has drawn its support from the working classes but the party, as an institution, has been controlled and dominated by the middle class and elements of the petit bourgeoisie to be found in the public bureaucracy and state institutions. The PNCR has never allowed for working classes to assume any solid foothold within the leadership of the party, even though it has allowed token membership to the lower classes within the party’s structures. The working classes, from which the party has derived its traditional support, have little or no say in the leadership of the PNCR. The PNCR was once the PNC. The ‘R’ was added as part of the rebranding of the party to create the illusion of a change from the entity which had brought the country to its knees politically and economically. The ‘R’ has stuck. The introduction of the ‘R’

Dem Boys Seh…

A man wallet get pick in de bus Gail and Amna went in a beauty contest. Amna come out de winner. Irfann and Harmon go in fuh a strong man contest. Irfann come out the winner. Jagdeo and Granger went in fuh see who gan get the most votes. Both ah dem come out and ask, “Who de hell is MINGO?” De Returning Officer for District 4 gat to be the Man of the Year fuh 2020. Even at the waterfall paper he gat he supporters. De entire staff went to the bossman and tell he dat dem want MINGO fuh prepare dem payslip. Wan a dem boys wuh does wuk at de Waterfall paper collect he pay and put it in he wallet. He living far so he join a bus fuh tek he down to the Stabroek Market so he can

ketch annada bus from deh to tek he home. While he in de fuss bus, he realize that somebody pick he wallet from out he pocket. He stand up in de bus and shout “Whoever steal meh wallet bring it back before wah happen in 2010 repeat itself.” De people in the bus get scared and the pickpocket bring back de wallet and give back the owner. And he apologize. A curious man sitting nearby tun to the owner of de wallet and asked, “But wah happen in 2010?” To which de man who does wuk at the Waterfall paper seh, “ Somebody thief meh wallet and I had to walk home.” Talk half and wait fuh mo laugh story from the Recount Center.

solidified the role of the middle class within the PNC. But it also did something else. It allowed for the party to be penetrated by rich and powerful individuals whose agenda was mainly selfaggrandizement. Under Desmond Hoyte, they managed to influence the economic plans which the party touted while in opposition. Some of the proposed projects would have entailed infrastructural developments in close proximity to where some of the R elements had lands. They therefore stood to benefit greatly if these economic plans were ever implemented. Later, there was also a political dimension which would have involved overturning Forbes Burnham’s One China policy. At one stage, the PNCR came within fingertips of recognizing Taiwan. It was only after the Chinese Embassy intervened and there was widespread condemnation of the deviation from the One China policy that the PNCR backpedalled. The main architect of this attempt to overturn the One China policy is still around, albeit no longer active within the party or government. The PNCR is the only significant political force within the APNU. It would not be incorrect to say that the PNCR is the APNU since the other political groupings within that entity have little or no support bases within society and they have all

been politically marginalized with the partnership and government. Right now the APNU and AFC have joined together to hire a lobbyist in the USA. This is a most interesting development because it should be recalled that President Granger had nixed a previous contract with the said firm, in which his name had been used as a client. Granger is the head of the APNU. He is also the head of the APNU+AFC list, a development which gives him absolute control over the replacement of the Coalition’s parliamentarians. But is Granger really in charge of anything? The new contract which the APNU and the AFC signed with the foreign lobbying firm does not bear the signature of Granger. It has been signed by others, most likely without the authorization of the President. It needs to be explained how APNU can sign a contract on behalf of the partnership without the signature of its leader. Has the Leader consented to this process? It is doubtful given past developments. The APNU and the AFC are paying that firm approximately G$8M per month for the next 12 months. This totals more than G$100M annually at the present exchange rate. This money is said to be provided by supporters of the Coalition.

But ordinary supporters cannot raise this sum and are not likely to contribute to an initiative which is not likely to benefit them. The money for the payment of the lobbyist is believed to be coming from some rich and powerful backers of the APNU+AFC. These super-rich individuals are not doing this out of any kindheartedness. This is an investment for them for which they will expect a return in the forms of favours. Yet, we have a great many working class supporters of the PNCR who believe that they are presently engaged in a struggle for their own benefit. They should ask themselves some serious soul-searching questions about the priority which the parties have shown towards them during the pandemic. That eight million dollars which is going each month to the lobbying firm to undertake a mission impossible, could have provided 1000 persons with a daily meal for one month. But that would not be of any benefit to those rich supporters who are financing the lobbying firm’s fees. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

PAGE 10

Monday May 25, 2020

Kaieteur News

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The APNU+AFC losing the battle because of their insults In one of my columns (Saturday, May 16, 2020, “Someone has to advise APNU+AFC leadership not to talk”), I opined that APNU+AFC leaders should just shut up and hope that their surrogates in GECOM’s leadership continue to rig the election for them. Each time any APNU+AFC personality talk, (top leaders and second tier figures) what comes out is illogical, comical, irrational, deceptive, insulting, and utterly disgraceful. It is not stopping, and the world is watching and laughing. It is not only the party personnel but their intellectual supporters. It will take several columns to do an enumeration of these things. They are literally mountainous since March 4 when Mingo became Mandrake. Much to Mingo’s credit, he has gone

totally silent. Good for him but APNU+AFC bosses continue to self-destruct. One of the consistent threads in the defense of rigged elections by the APNU+AFC and their surrogates is the insulting shape of their output. A week ago I referred to a Facebook post in which one of Guyana’s leading academics opined that the international observers fell for the sermon scripted by the Mercury consultancy firm that the PPP had employed before the election. This lady cannot see she is insulting dozens of highly educated people, far more educated than she is. The international observers included one of Barbados’s longest serving Prime Ministers and a master politician of Jamaica – Bruce

Golding. Golding left the JLP and formed his own party. The JLP lost the election at that time. It brought back Golding, who won the subsequent contest and became the Prime Minister. All of these people were taken in by some group in the US that came to Guyana and successfully manipulated our thinking, except the lady who did the Facebook posting. These Mercury people have to be geniuses. The real fact is that these American PR firms do not know much about Third World politics and their cultures. Here is more insult. On a radio programme, a well known propagandist for APNU+AFC in the US publicly stated that when the former Barbadian PM, Owen Arthur, came here to head the Commonwealth Observer

mission, he stayed at Jagdeo’s residence. Really? Arthur is so stupid to have done that? The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth is that Arthur stayed at the Marriott Hotel. From designating the observers from Europe, Canada and the US as recolonizers (as ACDA did) and white imperialist, the defenders of rigged elections are now attacking Black people who have condemned the electoral tampering. Golding and Arthur are now in their sight. Here are two more examples of selfdestruction. On that radio programme, the gentleman said that when Mia Mottley observed that there are forces that do not want the recount she meant both sides – the PPP and APNU+AFC. This is not only insulting to Mottley but is an expression of gargantuan stupidity. The CARICOM supervised recount was stopped by a court writ filed by an APNU member and the attorneys that argued her case were APNU lawyers including an election candidate. No opposition

group supported the stopping of the CARICOM supervised recount. Finally, here is what one of Guyana’s most prominent diaspora supporter of APNU told me Thursday night. There will be no sanctions against Guyana should the Granger government remain in power because the congressional Black caucus in the US will not allow it. Here is my take on how they will stop it. These Black legislators will contact the State Department and demand that the sanctions be scrapped because this is tantamount to hurting a Black Government. Why is this insulting to the American legislators? Because my diaspora friend thinks they are stupid. They cannot see further than racial thinking, so they support a Black government in Guyana that rigs election. Is this how that gentleman thinks of these Black American legislators? But there is more to come. He said that the US administration will listen to the Black caucus because an election is around the corner

Frederick Kissoon and the Black vote is important. I was livid but I managed to keep my voice down, something I am incapable of. First, Blacks do not vote in any significant numbers for the Republican Party, so why this gentleman thinks because of sanctions against Guyana, the GOP will lose Black votes? Secondly, most of the constituencies in the districts where the Black caucus have their support do not know where Guyana is, except in certain parts of New York. There are Black voters in Southern US who elect Black congressmen who never heard of Guyana. I guess the insults will go on. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Minister Norton extends condolences on passing of Derry Etkins Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton has extended condolences on the passing of Guyanese musician and music educator, Mr. Derry Etkins. According to local media reports, Etkins passed away at the Georgetown Public Hospital following a minor surgery. Etkins, who was said to have been in his mid-60s, was a respected Music Lecturer at the Cyril Potter College of Education, as well as an impactful consultant attached to the Allied Arts Unit of the Ministry of Education.

Etkins, who has been hailed by his peers as a successful musician, also spent years working in Barbados and the British Virgin Islands. In expressing condolences Minister Norton stated: “It is hoped that Etkins’ relatives, friends and well-wishers will find comfort in the fact that his contributions to Guyanese and Caribbean music will forever be remembered and celebrated locally and regionally. May he find eternal rest.”

Monday May 25, 2020

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

GUYANESE HORROR FICTION KAMARANG…

Her eyes are red, her face as pale as the full moon BY Michael Jordan HE WAS in bed, staring at the moonlit window, when he saw the face. It came floating up like a full moon rising above the horizon; the face of a red-eyed, ancient woman who was smiling and hungry for him. She floated further up and he now saw that she was naked; so pale, so translucent that he could see her thin green veins, her ribs, her pulsating heart. One thin hand squeezed an almost non-existent breast before straying down to someplace between her thighs. She was smiling at him, expecting him to open the window like some fairy-tale prince letting in a secret lover. He saw the desperate hunger in her eyes and, despite himself, he felt a

stirring. But yet he wanted to run from that room, because he knew that she would entwine him with those white, veined arms and never, never, never, never let him go. And he knew, somehow, that there was no-one to help him, because his parents were either out, or dead; killed by something while he was asleep. The woman continued to stare at him, pleading to be let in so she could embrace him forever. Now she pressed herself against the window, her white body sinking in like the belly of a lizard’s against glass. Mommy…! He screamed in the empty house. Daddieee! The woman, still smiling, began to caress herself. She paused momentarily to touch the window, staining it with

a streak of her slime. Go away! He whispered to the woman at the window. I can’t let you in! The woman shifted back from the window, then suddenly lunged forward. She began to pluck and scrape at the window, her fingers moving with the frenzy of a trapped spider. He awoke just as she was scraping away the putty from one of the window panes. He let out a stifled squeak as he saw, at the window, something that looked like a face… But it was only the full moon staring back at him. * It was on a Friday night in mid-July that Vibert Sealey finally saw the girl. He had returned to the old Ritz Guest House, egged on by the thought that a woman who

resembled the girl who’d called herself Carmelita lived there. On that Friday night, he had stood by the step-rail, talking—rather, listening to a young chap who had bummed an ale out of him, when suddenly, there was an almost imperceptible hushhhh. And there she was, stepping out from the corridor, like a ghost, like someone returning from the dead, and for a moment her eyes had seemed to look into his, and something had seemed to flicker within them; but then she was looking through him as if he didn’t exist, and was, seemingly, floating past him to the bar, where she bought a cider. She then moved towards the punch-box. She glanced to the corner to her right, which the bar

obscured, but where Sealey knew there was a table and benches. Instead of going there, she sat near the punchbox, staring at nothing, just sipping her cider. He watched her like a tongue-tied schoolboy in a party. All the things he’d planned to say and do slipped away like smoke. Something about her had changed. She was paler, seemed thinner, and yes, she did seem somewhat older, though he wasn’t quite sure what made her appear that way. And these changes made him half-wonder whether the girl who had called herself Carmelita, and the one he looked at, were two different people. Maybe he had made a mistake. That could easily have happened. There were so many young Amerindian women who came from the interior and seemed to fall so easily into prostitution. They turned up at places like the Penthouse and Pakaraima, or you saw them liming outside Demico or near the Dredge Shop; women with a petite, doll-like beauty and an easy sensuality that brought out a stupid hunger in many a man. Christ…he should know…. But could two women look so much alike, that he was drawn back to that logie at Kamarang, with the wasted corpse inside? Could two women arouse such lust and that crawling sense of unease at the same time? Three things had remained the same. She only seemed to drink Woodpecker cider, and she wore that strange, musky perfume that had hung around him after she had gone to the corner, leaving him with a maddening erection he couldn’t control. The third thing was that she hadn’t tried to pick up anyone. One man had tried to strike up a conversation, but then had moved on. She had just sat by the punchbox, sipping occasionally at her cider. He had sensed a tenseness in her; a distractedness, as if part of her was somewhere else. She shifted occasionally in her seat. She pressed her thighs together. And when, sometime before midnight, she walked past him, her gait had seemed forced, her forehead beaded with sweat. He returned the next day, and the next, and she was there also, sitting alone, sometimes out of sight by the side of the bar, always passing him without a trace of recognition. He learned

from the talkative young chap that she had only one customer —a faircomplexioned chap in his teens. He wondered, with a mixture of curiosity and unease, who the boy was, and if, or when, he would appear. * Michael’s mother was sitting in the chair near the radio. She was engrossed in the drama on Shefton Ridge, and barely glanced at him when he mumbled, “Going out a bit, mommy.” He had skipped downstairs to bathe and now wore a pair of Buffalo jeans, an armless blue jersey and sneakers. He slipped the spare house keys into a pocket; shut the gate behind the dogs. He called out to his teenage neighbours, Gregory and Sean, who were standing on their bridge with a friend. He then caught a car to Stabroek Market. He walked towards High Street, automatically looking for anyone who might know him and wonder at him heading for the notorious area at this time of night. His pulse quickened as the now familiar street-sights greeted him: a tailor shop with two men bent over sewing machines … the smell of fresh sawdust…the strident Indian music from a brothel, inviting whoremongers all, to come … come. … He headed further into High Street, struck, as before, by a light-headed sense of unreality, as if the Georgetown that he knew by day was revealing a mysterious, secret face, and half-wondering, as he approached Harel Street, if he’d find that Lucille, and the old brothel, had vanished like a dream. * The stevedore was standing by the step-rail when Michael entered the Ritz at around eight-twenty. He grinned, his eyes widened in exaggerated surprise. “Hay, wha happen, dread?” Michael nodded coolly, searching the stevedore’s face for any sign of mockery. “The man just humble.” The stevedore leaned forward to touch one of Michael’s biceps. “You looking fit, man. You lift weights?” “A little.” His eyes had already scanned the crowd. No sign of Abby, thank God. No sign of Lucille, either. Maybe she was in the corner near the bar, or maybe upstairs…or maybe she was gone… Trying to stifle his disappointment, he moved to the bar. Desmond was

Cover design and illustrations by Harold Bascom serving a tall, heavy-set man in a Kangol, who Michael felt he’d seen before. The barman looked up, and Michael thought he caught a look of surprise and a hint of consternation on the man’s face, before he broke into a

grin. “Hayy, the youth-man come again!” Michael ordered a beer, then scanned the crowd as the barman groped in the freezer. There was an extra Continued on page 18

PAGE 16

Monday May 25, 2020

Kaieteur News

GHRA urges mining to be removed from ‘Essential Services’

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Co-President of GHRA, Mike McCormack By June of 1986, malaria had affected over 16,000 persons (PAHO estimates). The total number of cases reported between January and August 1987 was approximately 17,000 of which over 60% were falciparum cases. A coastal coalition of 12 religious, civic, professional and business organisations, including the Guyana Medical Association and the Gold and Diamond Miners Association took action. In conjunction with health workers in the communities, some threequarter million anti-malaria tablets were d i s t r i b u t e d from early 1986 to early 1989 to 36 Amerindian communities in the interior, under the supervision of the Christian churches. Additionally, 45,000 yards of mosquito netting materials were provided to w o m e n ’s g r o u p s i n t h e communities to make nets and information about malaria was circulated in Arawak, Patamona and Wa p i s h a n l a n g u a g e s i n Regions 1, 8 and 9. Collaborative actions of this nature are nowadays much easier to manage given the strengthened capacity for selfgovernance of indigenous communities and the regional and national coordination of Toshaos through the National Toshaos Council. However, despite this

multiplicity of representative Indigenous b o d i e s a t c o m m u n i t y, regional and national level, Indigenous influence and participation in the Covid19 Task Force appears nonexistent. At bottom, the National Covid-19 Task Force needs to recognize that cooperation from the communities is more vital for the success of its ultimate aims than from the miners. The multi-sectoral community collaborative response to the 1980s epidemic could not be more strongly contrasted with the current situation. The time for preparing this community-based foundation is slipping away. Training in contact tracing, working out effective measures, which all visitors to interior community must observe and ways of carrying them out cannot be developed in Georgetown by “experts”. It has to be done on the ground in conjunction with communities. Likewise, the rainy season has to be taken into account. The unwillingness of the MoPH and Task Force to resist pressure from miners is taken directly from the playbook of the HIV epidemic in the 1990s in which virtually nothing was done to curb miners or truckers until Guyana was overwhelmed with the highest HIV infection rates outside sub-Saharan Africa. Toshaos in Baramita and Chinese Landing in Region 1 and St. Ignatious, Shulinab, and Aishalton in Region 9, along with National and Regional Toshaos Councils have all failed to have their concerns related to mining activity addressed. Disruptive actions had to be mounted recently even to get a hearing of their concerns, much less action to redress them. Mining companies rather than Toshaos are authorizing miners to access communities, according to the Toshao of Chinese Landing in Region 1. This position was confirmed by

Local Government officials in Region 9 who reportedly stated that, “the Rupununi miners executive body will have to take responsibility for the actions of their members”. This devolution of ministerial discretion to the mining bodies is an inexplicable abdication of responsibility. Recent data released by the MoPH has shown that despite emergency measures, the rate of transmission continues to climb. Additionally, a MoPH senior health official on Friday May 22 in a televised report acknowledged that the increase in Covid-19 cases in the Puruni Region of Region 7 was linked to mining activity. Kaieteur News reports also highlighted the lively nightlife at Puruni Landing involving women trafficked from Venezuela. The withdrawal of personnel from the EPA, GFC and GGMC from interior areas and the influx of illegal miners in the other direction as a result of the current high price of gold is potentially devastating to Indigenous communities. The bottom line is that strong leadership is required to keep coastal interests from side-lining essential actions if the Covid-19 negative impact on Guyana is to be contained at its present level. Such leadership should focus on a unified and integrated plan in which the rules apply equally to all - on the cost, in riverain areas and in the interior. This implies that measures such as restrictions on mining and lock-down on all vehicles travelling inland from either Linden or Lethem. In this regard, the GHRA adds its voice to the calls for mining, which is neither essential nor a service, to be removed from the list of Essential Services. The GHRA extends solidarity to all interior communities, many of which have been active and vocal in protection of their communities to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Long awaited $959M Port Kaituma... From page 14 consultancy firm overseeing the project. The initial project was valued at $700M. It was abandoned due to many issues including the fact that there was no clear vision for the execution of the project. Former RHO for the region, Dr. Nigel Langhorne testified that in addition to the old structure being inappropriately located there were several occupational and environmental hazards hampering the efficient delivery of health care services. Also, the structure of the old hospital did not allow for expansion to accommodate new services. Dr. Langhorne said it was while he served

that the concept of the new hospital was birthed. Since the Coalition administration took office in 2015, the Port Kaituma hospital has been in their sight for development. The now Ministry of Public Health has injected additional sums of money to modify the existing structure, making it safe and more conducive to stand as the modern hospital the region needs. International Imports and Supplies is one of the firms contracted to complete all corrective works to the facility and works are ongoing. The contract period will run up until June 2020. (DPI)

Monday May 25, 2020

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Monday May 25, 2020

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Her eyes are red, her face as pale as the full moon... From page 15 liveliness about the place tonight. Someone had pressed Cheryl Lyn’s, Got To Be Real. He sensed that some of the customers were already past the stage of being just pleasantly high. He sighed. If only— A flurry of black hair, a white face, a red dress, and he felt his heart leap from its moorings, felt his legs suddenly weaken as if he’d seen a ghost, a pale, blackhaired ghost that was floating past two prostitutes who were peering into the punch-box; slanted black eyes looking past him at something…someone...then locking with his… The icy touch of something brushing his hand broke the spell. He turned away from the girl and reached for the bottle that the barman had thrust at him. But still he stood at the bar, not fully free from her spell, and now the air was thick with her scent as she floated nearer, and his senses reeled as she brushed his shoulder and headed to the bar. “Cider…” voice sweet and clear as a steel-pan played on a still night. He watched as the barman returned with the cider. Swirl of black…white…red, and she was floating past the staring customers, past a muscular, red-faced man sitting at a table near the punch-box with two other friends, shifting out of view in the corner—their corner, at the side of the bar. But yet, part of her seemed to remain swirling around him, leaving him numb and lightheaded. He turned to see the barman staring at him. Again, that speculative, almost worried look, followed by a forced smile. “Well, enjoy yuhself, youth-man,” Desmond said, eyes shifting meaningfully toward the corner where the girl now sat. Michael shifted away and headed for the punch-box, which seemed a lifetime away; thinking, why do I feel like this has happened before? Then remembering that it had happened before, that first time… He trembled a coin into the punch-box, then peered into the grimy case at the music list. The typewritten words seemed blurred, meaningless. The nape of his neck tingled as he sensed eyes on him. He selected Marley’s Kaya, and Get Down by Gene Chandler, then tried to look at the girl out of the corner of his eye. She was out of line of his angle of vision. All he was seeing was the empty bench at the opposite side of the table. He realised that his hands were trembling. He turned, and felt, for the second time that night,

as if someone had punched him to the gut. She was turned towards the punchbox, a hand in her thick black hair as she stared at him. The shadow of a smile touched her eyes and her wide mouth. He felt a tightness in his throat. He felt the prickling of something at his eyes that he knew couldn’t be tears. He stepped towards the table like a swimmer pulled by a tide that he knew would drown him, but not caring; not seeing the grinning, red-faced man sitting a few feet from the punch-box; unaware of the staring, middle-aged man with the Kangol. He stood at the table, again uncertain, but the girl’s smile was one of welcome. “Stranger,” she said. Her voice a song. He took a deep breath, then sat next to her. He sensed that something about her had changed. Somehow, she seemed slimmer and paler then he had remembered. Despite her smile, he sensed a tension in her. He hesitated for a moment, then placed a hand on hers. “Mi-kal…” Again, he felt a tightness in his throat, a prickling behind his eyes that he knew couldn’t be tears. “Lucille, I want to explain—” She squeezed his hand. “Mi-kal, it’s alright.” “Lucille, I didn’t—” “I know,” she said. Then she leaned forward, and the soft, wide mouth was on his; her arms encircling his neck, one smooth thigh on his. Suddenly she broke away and cried out softly in his ear. He clung to her, gorging himself on her softness, wondering how he’d been so foolish to stay away from her. “Mi-kaal.” Again, that pain-wracked cry. “I can’t—I can’t…” He felt her arms tighten around him. A kind of tremor ran through her, and he stifled a cry of surprise as she bit down hard on his shoulder. Holding her, he was suddenly seized with an intense feeling that they were no longer in the brothel, but somewhere else; alone in a place of trees and rivers—a cave? “Still playing yuh games, Spanish girl?” The voice nearby, loud, contemptuous, startled him back to reality. Michael turned. A large-headed, red-faced man was standing near their table. He was staring at them—at Lucille, really— grinning and sneering at the same time. “Ankoko!” he said. “Near the Venez border! —Yuh still doan remember me?” Up close, the man looked more intimidating. Someone had cut him badly long ago

on the right cheek. He smelt of cigarettes and whiskey. The girl clutched Michael. He stole a quick glance at her. She was staring at the man, a slight frown suggesting puzzlement, the slanting eyes suggesting disinterest. The man grinned and rubbed his balding scalp. “I had all me nice, curly hair back then. I was looking at you whole night and saying, “No, Jason Marcus, it can’t be.” Now he shifted the empty bench away from the table and leaned to Lucille. “But I know is you, Spanish girl!” Despite the music, Michael sensed a perceptible lull in the sounds around him. Even the occasional clinking of glasses seemed to have subsided. Michael’s hand tightened around his empty ale bottle. This man was hunting trouble. Where was the barman? He wanted to turn around to see if the barman had noticed what was going on, but he didn’t want to take his eyes off the man. Then Lucille spoke: “Mister, I am not the one you want to make trouble with.” Her voice was soft, seemingly devoid of anger. The man’s grin wavered. He now seemed uncertain, puzzled, as if something in the girl’s voice had penetrated his drunkenness. But then he grabbed the girl’s hand. The cider bottle on the table crashed to the floor as he pulled her forward. Michael smashed his bottle into the man’s face. The interloper stumbled backwards, clutching at his nose, and Michael scrambled away from the table, and followed him. There was a roaring and a heat in his brain that blotted out everything else but the need to inflict pain. Now he smashed the bottle down on the man’s head. Glass flew as the bottle shattered. The man’s legs buckled, but he remained on his feet. Kill him! —KILL HIM! Michael dropped the remnants of the bottle, and punched viciously at a spot below the man’s belly. He heard the man emit a grunt of pain, and he knew that there wasn’t any fight left in him, but, like a wound-up, punching machine, Michael w a s hitting…hitting…hitting… Someone grabbed him from behind; he tried to scramble free, and then he heard the barman’s voice in his ear saying: “Easy friend, easy…” But still he tried to break free. The man was now leaning on the table near the punch-box, head lowered as blood streamed from his nose. The barman shook Michael. “Easy, dread,” and he heard the stevedore say:

“Cool yuh head, partner.” Abruptly, the rage faded, and he was trembling and breathing in harsh, ragged spasms. His jersey clung to him, sweat-soaked. His hands hurt. He stared at the faces surrounding him. The barman relaxed his grip. “Yuh alright, now, youthman?” “I…alright.” But he was still trembling. The barman seemed to hesitate, then released Michael. He watched as Desmond stepped towards the injured man, who was still sitting on the table, with blood dripping onto the floor. A tall, thin man with a receding chin stood near him. Desmond shook his head as he stared at the bleeding man. “Jason Marcus, I expect better from an old soldier like you, man. Me and you go a long way, and I just turn me back for one minute to take a piss, and you start trouble in my fucking place!” The injured man remained silent, head lowered. The tall man with the receding chin pulled a kerchief from his pocket. He pushed it towards his injured friend. “Jason…hay buddy.” As if in a trance, Jason Marcus swabbed halfheartedly at his bloodied nose, then dropped the kerchief. As if the act had revived him, he raised his head and stared at Michael. He tried to smile; winced instead. Still staring at Michael he said, through a bloody grin, “Sleep…with one fuckin’ eye …open… youth man. In fact, sleep with—” The barman stepped closer. “Marcus, you threatening my customer? — Wait! You want to brawl with me now?” The man with the receding chin laid a pacifying hand on the barman. “Ah right, Desmond, he ain’t mean nothing.” He turned to

Marcus. “Leh we get outta here now, squaddie.” The tall man mumbled an apology to Desmond, then put an arm around his injured friend. Wincing, Jason Marcus forced himself upright and Michael watched the two men hobble towards the stairs. Just before they headed down, Marcus turned to stare at him. “Ask…Spanish girl…about the…boy… by…the border…” Then he turned and disappeared down the steps. * Vibert Sealey watched as they walked down the c o r r i d o r. H e w a n t e d t o shout after the boy, to drag him back, but then the feeling subsided. He headed down the brothel stairs, feeling foolish. All the way home he thought of the girl, who looked, smelled, and acted like the girl from Kamarang: the girl that a drunk ex-soldier thought he’d known in his youth. It made him think of the boy, who he was sure was the same boy he’d passed in Lombard Street about two weeks ago. He thought of how, on seeing them sitting so intimately, something had seemed to fit together in his mind. He found himself worrying, once again, about the boy. He wanted to return; he regretted he hadn’t called out to him and told him something. He sucked his teeth angrily. What was he worrying about? Despite his cute looks, the boy could obviously handle himself. But hadn’t he said the same thing about the other boy, too? * The place he was in was blue-lit, and he was dancing; but he knew he wasn’t in a night-club, and there was no music—just a far-off mournful chanting. The chanting filled him with

a terrible sadness, but it was mixed with terror, too, and the fear was not from the music. It was because something was dancing with him. He wanted to push it away so he could see its face, but whatever it was, was fused to him; its arms tight around his neck, its head leaning on his shoulder. Now and then, its tongue slithered into his ear. Cold…cold…cold… His own hands were around slim, girlish hips, and he wanted to pull them away, because they were pressing into flesh that felt nauseatingly soft and boneless. He felt something like a woman’s pelvis pressed against him as the thing rocked him to the mournful chanting. And now, shadowed by the strange, blue light, he saw the others, and wanted to cry with relief. He wasn’t alone. But then he saw that they were like the thing holding him, and that each was dancing alone; hugging themselves. The thing poked its tongue again in his ear. “Lemme go,” he begged. “Lemme go.” The boneless thing laughed in his ear and wriggled against him. “No,” it said. “No. I want to dance with you.” Around him, he sensed the others shifting closer. Now he felt cold, boneless bodies pressing him from all sides, while their tongues touched his cheeks, slithered up his neck, pressing even closer, smothering him, smothering his soundless screams… * LAURA JONES stared at her son as he headed for the front door. During breakfast, he seemed tired…distracted…thoughtful. She wondered what had made him cry out in his sleep.

Several virtual activities... From page 8 indigenous village councils, youth, faith-based and community organisations as well as individuals, government and nong o v e r n m e n t a l organisations to submit nominations to the Department of Youth, the window for nominations closes May 26,2020. This year, National Youth Week is being observed as part of Guyana’s 54th Independence Anniversary celebrations, under the theme, “Celebrating Guyana’s 54th Independence Anniversary through the lens of Resilience, Innovation and Sustainability.” Minister of Social

Cohesion with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton posited that the youths of Guyana are resilient, innovative, and very much conscious about the sustainability of all sectors of the country, especially our environment. “This is why the Department of Youth remains committed to executing programmes and initiatives geared at enabling our young people to realize their true potential,” Dr. Norton said. The Minister noted that the Department will also celebrate the young people of Guyana by featuring youths who have been excelling in various fields. Dr. Norton warned that even though COVID 19

continues its wrath globally, Guyanese, particularly young people, must not allow the virus to keep them at a standstill. “We must fight this virus not only by maintaining social distancing and practicing good hygiene, but by also refusing to allow it to keep us stagnant,” Minister Norton noted. Minister Norton encouraged all Guyanese to take advantage of the available time by learning new skills and nurturing their talent. Many of the virtual outreaches being offered by the Department of Youth will continue even after National Youth Week 2020 has ended.

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Kaieteur News

Formula E driver disqualified for getting impostor to race for him

Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler’s Daniel Abt celebrates winning the race. (REUTERS/ Fabian Bimmer)

Monday May 25, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your head may be buzzing with activity, Aries. It seems like the spotlight suddenly has been turned on. Your mind is on stage and your brainpower is being tested. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Focus on the simple pleasures today, Taurus. Under normal circumstances, you'd be tempted to seek happiness and peace in far-off lands or through expensive recreational activities. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Focus on your creative mind, Gemini. This is a fertile time for planting hearty seeds that will be sure to grow up healthy and strong. You have the ability to prosper wildly, but it certainly won't come easily. CANCER(June21–July22) Motivation must come from within, Cancer. The only thing pulling you out of bed is your inner drive and determination. Too much partying can leave you drained and immobilized.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Feel free to take the lazy route today, Libra. Don't lift a finger if you don't really have to. It may be hard to get others moving as well. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your thinking is steady and reserved today, Scorpio. Your mind is in perfect sync with your ego, and you'll be able to accurately verbalize what's going on inside. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today is an excellent day for saying exactly how you feel, Sagittarius. Your thinking is sharp and clear. And once you start talking, you may never stop. The good news is that people will listen extra carefully to your words. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Your brain feels like it's chugging along in the slow lane today. It could even be gradually creeping over to the breakdown lane! Maybe that's why you're struggling to come up with your quick, witty rebuttals in conversations.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your mind is crystal clear today, and communication goes extremely well for you, Leo. You'll find that you'll need very few words to get your point across. You'll connect to people on many levels.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You might find that words aren't the best way to communicate today, Aquarius. Body language and the sense of touch and taste are much more effective.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Stronger forces are demanding that you to stand up a little straighter than usual. Keep your shoulders back and be proud. Don't think of yourself as any less of a person just because you're in a disagreement with your household or co-workers.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Things are apt to get intense for you today. There will be a lot of information coming your way, but all of it won't necessarily be great. Someone appears to be putting a roadblock in your path, making it difficult for you to pass.

LONDON (Reuters) Audi Formula E driver Daniel Abt was disqualified and ordered to pay 10,000 euros ($10,900.00) to charity yesterday for getting a professional gamer to compete under his name in an official esports race. The German, who apologised for “having called in outside help”, was also stripped of all points won to date in the all-electric series’ Race at Home Challenge which features drivers using simulators remotely. “I did not take it as seriously as I should have,” said the 27-year-old, accepting the punishment for sporting misconduct. “I am especially sorry about this because I know how much work has gone into this project on the part of the Formula E organisation. I am aware that my offence has a bitter aftertaste but it was never meant with any bad intention.” Pro gamer Lorenz Hoerzing, Abt’s ‘ringer’, was disqualified from all future rounds of the separate Challenge Grid competition. The 15-lap race around a virtual Berlin Tempelhof track was won by Britain’s Oliver Rowland for Nissan e.dams with Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne second for Mercedes. Vandoorne had made clear on his Twitch stream during the race that he suspected

somebody else was driving under Abt’s name and pretending to be him. He was backed up by Jean-Eric Vergne, a two-times champion in real life. “Please ask Daniel Abt to put his Zoom next time he’s driving, because like Stoffel said I’m pretty sure he wasn’t in,” the Frenchman said. Abt, who had not featured on the virtual podium in any of the previous races, did not appear for online post-race interviews. Formula E’s real life series leader Antonio Felix da Costa appeared less concerned, however. “It’s just a game guys. We all know Daniel as a fun guy and a joker...,” commented the Portuguese on Twitter. Formula E did not explain how the deception had happened but the-race.com website, which runs a popular series of virtual races with Torque Esports, said it understood organisers had cross-referenced the IP addresses of competitors.

They realised that Abt, who had qualified second, could not have been at the wheel. The esports series features regular Formula E drivers competing from their homes in isolation and aims to provide some action for fans with racing on hold in real life due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The drivers are usually visible in their simulators on Zoom, but the-race.com said the face of the driver purporting to be Abt was hidden by some equipment while his Twitch stream stopped working. Vandoorne was seen calling Abt’s mobile but he did not answer. The Challenge Grid is made up “gamers and influencers” competing for a prize of real-life track time in a Formula E car at a race weekend. The disqualification meant series leader and compatriot Pascal Wehrlein moved up from fourth to third.

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Aaliyah Moore to join Munroe College Police Progressive Youth Club (PPYC) middle distance athlete, Aaliyah Moore, has joined the long list of Guyanese student-athlete alumni at New York’s Munroe College after recently being accepted to join that NJCAA institution that has nurtured the NCAA bound duo of Joanna Archer and Lloyd McCurdy among many other locals. During an interview with Kaieteur Sport Saturday, the former North Ruimveldt student shared that she will be studying Business Administration at Munroe. At just 18-years-old, Moore is the reigning National senior women’s 1500m champion, a title she hopes she can defend this year once the covid-19 pandemic can be put under control locally. This year, Moore was confident that she would have made her debut at the regional youth athletics showpiece; the CARIFTA games, but coronavirus fears had seen the Bermuda bound games being p o s t p o n e d . During the first Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) CARIFTA Trials, Moore came agonisingly close with a time of 2m 14.83s a mere three tenths slower than the CARIFTA standard. Moore described heading to Munroe as a, “Great opportunity. I have worked extremely hard to get to this point and I will continue

Monday May 25, 2020

Kaieteur News

Aaliyah Moore receiving a trophy following last year’s Police Sports. working hard for myself and everyone who believes in me.” She continued that, “(Munroe) will help me to showcase the budding talent I have, while nurturing me as an athlete as I further my studies.” Moore decreed that her goal is to run under two minutes in her pet event, the 800m, which will help her along the path of being one of the greatest middle distance runners to emerge

from Guyana, enroute to being a professional. However, she reiterated the importance of Education, citing that she has been mentored well and knows that she must prepare herself for life after a potential athletics career if her bid to do so fails or not. The lass gave praise and thanks to her mom, aunt and coach and mentor Emmanuel Archibald, who is Guyana’s long jump record holder. (Calvin Chapman)

Holder thrilled with Gabriel return KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – West Indies captain Jason Holder says he is happy to see ace fast bowler Shannon Gabriel back to fitness and ready to return to international cricket if the proposed upcoming series in England takes place. Speaking on local radio here Saturday night, Holder reiterated that safety was paramount as officials continued discussions over the logistics and medical protocols for the first-ever series in a “bio-secure” environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gabriel has been one of the leading bowlers for West Indies in the last five years and has an impressive record of 133 wickets at an average of 30 runs per wicket. He had a stellar year in 2018 when he had match figures for 13 for 121 against Sri Lanka in St Lucia – the third best match figures in West Indies history. The 32-year-old missed the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Lucknow, India last November as he opted for corrective surgery on a long-term ankle injury. He last played against India in Jamaica last September. “I’m happy to have him back … he’s been able to get over the injury. I’m just glad he’s pretty much healthy again,” Holder told hosts Leighton Levy and Kimani Ffriend on Sports Nation on

Nationwide radio 90FM. “Shannon goes through a lot physically when he bowls … he is one of those bowlers who puts a lot of strain on the body so it’s good to see that he can now run in. “He was bowling through a lot of pain, he was pushing really hard … [it’s good he’s in] a lot less pain and be able to execute for West Indies again.” Holder, the world’s topranked Test all-rounder, said when the game resumed following the break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, bowlers would have exercise caution in their preparation. “Our bowlers have to be careful when we start back – we have to make sure we don’t push it too hard too fast,” said the Barbadian. “We will have a build-up leading up to that first Test match. These are all things that have been part of many discussions and we know we will have to gradually build things up leading into the first game.” Gabriel, along with Holder, Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph, currently for the nucleus of West Indies’ pace attack in the longest format. The final decision on whether or not West Indies will face England in the threeTest series is expected to be made later this week at a Cricket West Indies board of directors meeting. In preparation, CWI recently identified an

expanded list of 30 players for the tour. According to the regional governing body, this was to help its operations and medical departments, which were working to plan for the potential travel to the United Kingdom. With travel in the Caribbean at a virtual standstill because of the outbreak, CWI said it was critical it was aware of all home territories from which players embarked, while also understanding the COVID-19 testing capabilities of these territories, and ensuring visas and relevant documentation were secured. Under the current proposal, the tour would bowl off in July and feature strict social distancing and quarantine measures. “We fully expect the quarantine for two weeks, but within our discussions with the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) we would expect to be in a facility that allows us to train outdoors,” said CWI chief executive, Johnny Grave. “So we’re talking about cricket venues that have hotel accommodation on the site, and therefore the entire practice facility as well as hotel accommodation would be in a bio-secure environment.” The UK has been one of the hardest hit regions by the coronavirus, with 260,000 infections and nearly 37,000 deaths.

F1 stars will accept behind-closed-door races, says drivers’ chief Wurz Omnisport - Formula One drivers will tolerate ‘ghost races’ in front of empty grandstands this season out of an “obligation” to the sport. Grand Prix Drivers’ Association chairman Alex Wu r z d e l i v e r e d t h a t message, albeit insisting nobody in the paddock would relish the prospect of racing going ahead without spectators. It is out of necessity, during the coronavirus crisis, that Formula One is returning with races held at

circuits that will be as biosecure as possible. The delayed season is expected to start in Austria, with the first race on July 5. A u s t r i a n Wu r z , w h o drove for Benetton and Williams in his Formula One career, stressed the situation is far from ideal but will be embraced because it is all that can be achieved for now. He told Sky Sports: “Let me say that I think no one in motor sport, no driver, and personally me

definitely not, is a fan of ghost races. Because we live from the emotions which are shared together. “A football match, or athletics, they have a stadium, we have a race track and 100,000 spectators who share this great event together, and that makes a big difference to how you feel. “ H o w e v e r, a l l t h e drivers I have spoken to, and I’m constantly in talks with them, no one has said ‘No, I don’t want to do it’, or ‘I feel it’s the wrong thing to do’. “It’s actually the right thing to do because we have an obligation to our industry. “Motorsport, Formula One, is a global industry, and like every government in the world, we are all trying to kickstart the i n d u s t r y, t h e e c o n o m y, because people’s families and mortgages depend on it. And it’s the same in Formula One. “So ghost races are a means to get us back on

F1 stars will accept behind-closed-door races, says drivers’ chief Wurz. track earlier than if we wait for fan-attended races. Therefore we are looking for ghost races, and all the drivers accept that - fully.” Wurz said F1 has had a close eye on driver safety for many years, and protecting all involved from the COVID-19 threat is

an extension of that. And he vowed the sport would not visit nations where there is already a severe strain on medical systems. Looking at the case of Austria, he said: “In terms of medical treatment, medical space, emergency units around the Red Bull Ring, there is no problem.

“Then we have to ensure that we are not passing the virus on between the industry and the hosting nation. And equally within our circuit we have to ensure that we have distance between each other and we minimise the risk of passing on.”

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Kaieteur News

‘I will give my all to give Guyana a World title’ - Elton Dharry - Biggest disappointment was being robbed in Australia By Sean Devers USA-based Guyanese Boxer Elton Felix Dharry holds the World Boxing Council FECARBOX Super Flyweight Title and has a Pro record of 24 wins (14 KOs), 6 losses and 1 draw from 31 bouts. The 34-year-old Dharry is the WBC Caribbean Bantamweight Champion, Guyana National Bantamweight Champion, IBF Intercontinental Champion and WBU Americas Bantamweight Champion, and World Boxing Council FECARBOX Super Flyweight champion. Dharry has fought in NY, Washington DC, Vegas, LA, Boston and NC, while Internationally he has fought in Guyana, Mexico, St. Maarten, DR, Panama and Australia. In his last fight on November 15 last year for the vacant interim World Boxing Association World Super Fly Title at the Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne Australia against undefeated Australian Andrew Moloney, Dharry’s winning streak of 21 consecutive win since 2010 was broken in controversial circumstances. Dharry described that fight as the biggest disappointment of his career since he turned Pro at the end of 2004 in Guyana when he registered a unanimous decision over Mark

Fernandes in Guyana. “My biggest disappointment is having the World Title stolen from me in Australia due to many injustices,” lamented the 5 feet 6-inch pugilist. According to reports from Australia, the gutsy Dharry had Moloney (21-0, 14 KO) in serious trouble in the fifth round, landing a beautiful right uppercut counter that stunned the 28-year-old Aussie contender - in fact, Moloney’s right knee hit the canvas, and it should have been scored a knockdown, but referee Ferlin Marsh maybe didn’t see the knee touch and failed to rule a knockdown….and that was just the beginning of the questionable decisions. Moloney picked up an interim WBA belt with a win by RTD (retirement) in round six. All five of Dharry’s previous losses had occurred in the beginning of his career. “Boxing is a dirty sport and industry. My biggest challenge has been dealing with the politics involved in boxing,” said Dharry who has five siblings (3 brothers and 2 sisters). On May 31, last year Dharry beat Gilberto Pedroza from Panama at the Centro de Convenciones Vasco Núñez de Balboa (Hotel El Panama), Panama City for the vacant World Boxing Association

Fedecentro Super Fly Title. Dharry, who last fought in Guyana on January 20, 2018 when he beat Venezuelan Jesus Vargas at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, said he is hoping to come home after the Covid-19 outbreak and fight, adding that he was looking forward to the Guyanese fans continued support. Dharry was born on December 1, 1985 on the Essequibo Island of Leguan in Guyana to Everton and Enid Dharry and attended the Richmond Hill primary school in Leguan and the Franklin K. Lane high school in the US. “I grew up playing sports. In Guyana, I competed in running, jumping and cricket. In the US, I played handball and soccer in High School. I also played basketball and aikido,” said Dharry who fought as amateur and competed regularly under the guidance of the late Patrick Ford. Dharry fought in the US Nationals, the Metro Finals and the Olympic Box-Offs in 2003 and 2004 before turning Pro. Dharry migrated to the US in 1999 as a 13 year-old with his family and settled in Brooklyn, New York and explained how he became interested in Boxing. “I got involved in boxing because my dad and older

siblings are huge boxing fans. I was always watching boxing with them and I also grew up in a bad neighbourhood where I got into fights so boxing became a part of my life,” informed Dharry who trains at the famous Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, New York under Martin Gonzales. Dharry feels Guyanese can become World Champions. “Yes, Guyanese fighters can fight for a world title. I believe if they fight at a high level and they have experienced trainers to help them get there. I believe Peter Abdul (President of the GBBC) is in a good position to make that happen. The main benefit of campaigning overseas is the exposure to different styles of fighting as there are fighters from all over the world here. My advice to boxers is to always give 100%, know who your friends are, stay humble, respectful, disciplined and resilient,” said Dharry who is married but has no kids as yet. “Training for a big fight means putting everything else aside and focus only on training. I train two to three times a day, six days per a week,” explained Dharry who is a personal fitness and boxing trainer when not in the Ring himself. “Covid-19 impacted everyone. Me personally, I

Elton Dharry

had to step aside from a big fight opportunity on ESPN in June because I’m not getting the proper training that’s needed for that fight but I can’t complain as others are dealing with a much worst situation,” stated Dharry whose favorite food is all types of Guyanese food. “ To m y G u y a n e s e dealing with Covid -19, Please take all precautions and protect yourself at all times and stay safe,” Dharry continued. Away from boxing, Dharry enjoys spending time with my family and friends and taking

road trips. “The main people that helped me are my family, my trainers, supporters, my promoters HAVOC boxing, and all my sponsors. Big thank you to Hibiscus, Code Lounge, Tic Tavern, Tropical Fantasy Lounge, Lords of Stitch & Print, and Gemini Lounge,” informed the skilful fighter, who describes himself as humble, resilient and determined. “I would like to say to my Guyanese supporters, I will continue to represent and give my all to bring Guyana a world title.

Bournemouth player tests positive for COVID-19 LONDON (Reuters) - A Bournemouth player was one of two people working for Premier League clubs who tested positive for COVID-19 following a second batch of testing, the club said yesterday. Bournemouth did not disclose the player’s identity but said he would self isolate for seven days in line with league protocols before another test is conducted. “AFC Bournemouth can confirm that one of its players has tested positive for COVID-19, following the club’s second round of testing,” Bournemouth said in a statement. “Following strict adherence of the Premier League’s return to training regulations, the club’s

General view of a corner flag before the match AFC Bournemouth v Chelsea at Vitality Stadium. (REUTERS/Hannah McKay)

training ground remains a safe working environment for players and backroom staff, who will continue to be tested for COVID-19 twice per week.” Since players returned to limited group training on Tuesday, eight positive tests for the virus have been confirmed at England’s topflight clubs. Six individuals, including Watford defender Adrian Mariappa and Burnley assistant manager Ian Woan, were positive in the first round of testing on May 1718. No matches have been played in the Premier League since March, but the government has given the goahead for elite sport to resume from June 1.

The Premier League’s “Project Restart” envisages a return to competitive action in June, although no date has been fixed. More than 250,000 people have contracted the virus in the United Kingdom and over 36,000 have died. Hull City of the second tier Championship said two of their players had tested positive. The English Football League (EFL) announced earlier that two individuals from one club had tested positive out of 1,014 players and staff tested over the last 72 hours. Hull said the unnamed pair were both asymptomatic and feeling no ill effects and would self-isolate for seven days before being tested again.

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Monday May 25, 2020

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Werner hat-trick helps Leipzig crush hosts Mainz 5-0 BERLIN (Reuters) - RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner scored a hat-trick as they demolished hosts Mainz 5-0 yesterday to reclaim third place in the Bundesliga with an emphatic victory after three straight draws. Germany international Werner, a target for several top European clubs this s u m m e r, o p e n e d h i s account in the 11th minute a n d Yu s s u f P o u l s e n nodded in the second goal in the 23rd. Marcel Sabitzer killed off the game before the break, flicking in from close range as Mainz collapsed. Werner scored again three minutes after the restart and the 24-year-old forward chipped the ball over keeper Florian Mueller in the 75th for his 24th goal of the season and 91st in all competitions for Leipzig to become their all-time top scorer. “ Ti m o We r n e r h a s developed a very good sense not to move only on the wings but to go over to the 10 position,” said Leipzig coach Julian

Nagelsmann of his striker’s work in a more central attacking role. “Coupled with his speed, that makes him a more versatile player and makes it harder for his opponents to control him.” Leipzig, who crushed Mainz 8-0 earlier this s e a s o n w i t h We r n e r grabbing a hat-trick, moved back into third on 54 points, one point ahead of Bayer Leverkusen and two clear of Borussia Moenchengladbach in the battle for a Champions League spot. Leipzig also set a club record with 68 goals scored this season, more than in any other entire campaign since their promotion to the Bundesliga in 2016. Mainz put bodies in defence but were unable to m a t c h L e i p z i g ’s s p e e d down the wings and they failed to launch any sustained attacks of their own until late in the game. Bayern Munich lead the standings with 61 points, four ahead of Borussia Dortmund who they face tomorrow.

RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner in action with 1.FSV Mainz 05’s Florian Muller, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/Pool) The Bundesliga became the first major sports league to resume last week, with no

Indian government to decide fate of IPL, not cricket board - minister

India’s junior home minister Kiren Rijiju pauses during an interview with Reuters inside his office in New Delhi, India, September 29, 2015. (REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee) MUMBAI (Reuters) - India’s sports minister yesterday said any decision to allow the Indian Premier League to go ahead this year would be taken by the government, not the Indian cricket board, and would be based on how well the country has contained the novel coronavirus. Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said the IPL would go ahead only if there was no risk to public health. “In India the government has to take a call and it will be depending on the situation of the pandemic, how we progress as a nation,” Rijiju told the India Today television channel. “We can’t put health of the nation at risk

just because we want sporting events to be held. Our focus is fighting COVID-19.” The BCCI, the richest cricket body in the world, had said it would consider staging the lucrative IPL in October/November if the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Australia during those months, did not go ahead. The IPL is worth almost $530 million to the BCCI and attracts the best international and Indian cricketers. It was scheduled to start at the end of March but was indefinitely postponed because of the pandemic. India has reported 131,868 infections from the new coronavirus, with 3,867 deaths.

fans in attendance, after being suspended for more than two months due to the COVID-19

pandemic. Results yesterday:

of

matches

Schalke 0 – Augsburg 3 Mainz 0 - RB Leipzig 5 Köln 2 – Düsseldorf 2

Angus is only Guyanese to make First-Class debut as... From page 22 were the good old days. I was fanatical about the game. In the school yard we played ‘Get the ball bowl, out the man bat and one tip 2 tip,’” Angus reminisced. “When my mother returned to live in the village I went to live with her but she was a strict Seventh-DayAdventist so every Saturday I had to go to church. I would often pretend to be sick on a few Saturdays which got me out of attending church. As everyone made their way to church, I headed to the ball-field to play and got home before the family returned from church.” “My former brother-inlaw, the late Lennox King, was one of the older cricketers in the village who inspired me and supported my love for the game. I take this opportunity to express my sincere condolences to his family and friends. The first time I wore a cricket boots it was loaned to me by Lennox. What was interesting and funny about this was that I wore a size eight shoes and Lennox wore size 10. Again I was required to be innovative because I had to wear three pairs of socks to compete in my first Guyana U-19 trial game in 1976 at the Fort

Canje ground. I made the team and under captaincy of Timur Mohamed and the management of the late Stephen Camacho, we won the tournament in Jamaica.” Angus’ most memorable moments were being on the victorious Guyana Geddes Grant Harrison line 1980 team under the leadership of the late Roy Fredericks when Guyana beat the Leewards in Antigua. Freddo made 119 of a total of 327runs in 50 overs. He got 2-36 in that game. That record of the highest total in a Regional 50over game lasted for 18 years until the Leeward made 330-4 against the USA in Jamaica in the 1998 Red Strip bowl, while in 2001 T&T became the first team to reach 400 when they made 409-6 against Northern Windward in Jamaica. Being on the successful 1987 Guyana Red Stripe team was another memorable occasion for the crafty Angus despite not playing any game. He also remembers leading Berbice to victory in a 50 overs game at Rose Hall Canje against Demerara. Angus ran out three batsmen with direct hits and was voted the man of the

match. “I played and captained the West Indian Cavaliers in Nottingham in England for quite a few years. Colwin Cort, Andrew Jackman, Gavin Johnson and quite a few other Guyanese played under my leadership. I migrated to England in 1996 and when I departed at the time I was the Captain and Coach of the GDF. At that time, we had a few talented youngsters such as Rodrick Lovell, Robin Brown and Jermaine Neblette who all played for Guyana,” said Angus, who was in Guyana last January for his son’s birthday. “I can say that one of my proudest moments of my career was when Ray Joseph (Josie) made his debut for Guyana U-19 at Bourda when I was Captain. It is significant because we were two boys from the ‘country’ with limited resources rising to the level of competing for our Country. Despite all the trials and tribulations that came with pursuing one’s career as a cricketer, my love for Guyana and those involved in cricket in those days remains strong and if I had to live my life all over again I wouldn’t change a thing,” concluded Angus.

Kaieteur News

Monday May 25, 2020

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Angus is only Guyanese to make First-Class debut as Captain By Sean Devers Continued from Sunday... “The standard of club cricket in the 70s/80s was of the very highest. It was very competitive and tough cricket. It was not for the weakest of hearts. We are talking about different eras, however in my view, many of the players I played with and against in that era who did not represent Guyana would no doubt have made the team today. One of the bedrock of playing in that era was that you had to be mentally tough because you were playing against clubs such as the Demerara cricket Club (DCC), which had players like Roy Fredericks, Mark Harper, Bill White, Lennox Hunt, Stephen Bamfield and the late Andrew Lyght to name a few. Then in later years facing up to the likes of Roger Harper, Lynden Joseph and Gavin Johnson was always a massive challenge for batsmen. Police had Carrington, Burnett, McRae, Pydanna, Malteenoes had Rex

Jerry Angus

Collymore, Victor Dias, Ray Joseph and in later years Colwin Cort, Barrington Brown and Neil Barry. I was privileged to have played against the late Basil Butcher in a case cup game in the 70s. As an up and coming cricketer I was fearless of the batsman. Mackenzie was seen as a not so strong side and Mr Butcher was getting on in age. In that game I bowled

with six fielders on the off side and three on the onside. I remember Mr Butcher kept hitting me through wide-mid wicket and, widesh mid-on. I was so confident that sooner rather than later he was going to play across the line and hit one back to me. That never happened and he scored a hundred against GCC,” Angus noted. In Berbice, Angus represented his village team

and Fort Canje Hospital team that was captained by former National selector, the late Leslie Amsterdam. The late Stephen Camacho encouraged him to join GCC who had Faoud Bacchus, Camacho, Freddie Hartman and Rupert Gomes. “I was excited to know that I was playing amongst that calibre of cricketers. I played for GCC from 1977 to 1981 when Orin Bailey was instrumental in me joining the GDF in 1982 after being away from the game for one year. I was welcomed by the late Colonel McPherson and the GDF players like Leslyn Lambert, Milton Pydanna a n d S k i p p e r Vi c t o r Benjamin (Jack). I enjoyed representing the GDF and I have some fond memories playing for both clubs,” Angus, a level 2 Coach, informed. “I think one of the major differences now is the money that is involved. Players sign lucrative contracts and one has to question whether the players can remain focused and committed when they are financially secured within two years; say for example an IPL contract. They are so many T/20 franchises that players are able to make decent money over a very short period. Patriotism to one’s Country seems to be a thing of the past. Frankly I cannot criticise the young cricketers because it is important that they secure their future financially especially since cricket has a very short shelf life. West Indies cricket today have had fluctuating success, but the milliondollar question is how do they maintain consistent success?

In my opinion, the focus and emphasis has to be on grass root coaching and cricket development in s chools. The school’s curriculum must include cricket as a core subject which would allow kids the time to be formally coached by quality coaches. Organising proper inter house cricket and selecting the best to represent their schools. We have to make the game attractive to youngsters.” “When I was in Guyana in January, I did some coaching sessions with the youngsters. There are some talented players but the problem I identified was that they didn’t have proper cricket gears. Whenever I visit Guyana I would take a suit case full of cricket gears for the youngsters however, I feel more needs to be done. It would be a great boost to the cricket if the Ministry of Sports would offer some help to players in the Village of Belladrum,” Angus continued. Angus informed that two of his grandsons (Collis and Colwyn Noble) attended trials in 2017 for U-17 & 19 Guyana selections. Angus said his Dad was the breadwinner and his passing had a significant impact and affected the family dynamics. “Because no other siblings at the time was old enough to pick up the mantle, my mother made the tough decision to send my brother Joslyn and I to reside with our Grandmother in Belladrum. I lived there from nine to seventeen when I returned to Georgetown,” said Angus, whose youngest son Jamal Angus, is the

National Rugby captain. “Growing up in Belladrum, the first year was difficult. I was still mourning the passing of dad and moving to a new environment and being away from my mother and my other six siblings was a tough learning curve for me. My late grandmother Ena Mingo, who I loved d e a r l y, w a s a s t r i c t disciplinarian who did her best to support us with lots of love and attention. Over a period of time I fell in love with life in the country,” stated Angus, who is employed by Nottingham City Homes as a Rent Account Manager since 1997. “We made cricket balls from Corrie seeds. We would cut bicycle tubes and wrap it over the seed to make a ball and made bats from branches of Coconut trees. Back in those days we had to be creative because cricket gear wasn’t as prevalent as today,” Angus remembered. Angus was Captain of his school team and along with Ray Joseph, would often dismiss teams for less than 20. “I believe our environment and our innovative approach to cricket, my skills was developed naturally. We were never formally coached. I had a ‘good arm’ and I believe I was able to develop such skills from pelting mangoes from the trees and chucking stones into trenches (Duck and drake). We would put a bottle on a post and compete to see who can hit it. Nothing was conventional about my cricket development. Those (Continued on page 22)

Officer in Charge of Sub Division No.1 of the East Berbice Police Division 6, Chief Inspector Michael Newland receives the gloves from Roy Jaffarally of the Grill Master Cricket Club as other police officers share the moment.

Cricket club assist Police with gloves

T

he Grill Master softball cricket team of East Canje, Berbice recently donated 500 pairs of hand gloves to the Central Police Station at New Amsterdam. The donation was made to the Officer in charge of sub Division No1 Chief Inspector Michael Newland of the East Berbice Division. According to Newland the objective is to help the Police who are first responders to the public, in their fight against the Covic 19

Pandemic. Newland himself a Berbice all-round cricketer, who represented the county in both hard and softball cricket, express his thanks to members of the Grill Master cricket club. He also used the opportunity to call on other organisation to come forward and assist the police in their fight against the pandemic. The presentation was done in Newland’s Office at the Central Police Station. (Samuel Whyte)

Guyana Youth team won the 1976 youth tournament in Jamaica (Angus is 2nd from left).

rt o p S Aaliyah Moore crosses the finish line way ahead of the pack in a 10k race.

Aaliyah Moore to join Munroe College

Holder thrilled with Gabriel return

Captain Jason Holder (right) is thrilled by the return of Shannon Gabriel.

RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner (centre) in action with 1.FSV Mainz 05’s Moussa Niakhate, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/Pool)

Elton Dharry (right) in action.

Werner hat-trick helps Leipzig crush hosts Mainz 5-0

‘I will give my all to give Guyana a World title’ - Elton Dharry Biggest disappointment was being robbed in Australia

Elton Dharry with his mask in a Supermarket in NY which is the hardest hit state by C0VID-19.

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