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AIETEUR NEWS
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Guyana vs. Venezuela border case… Saturday Edition
World Court to hold jurisdiction arguments via video conference
May 30, 2020 - Vol. 14 No. 21
Online: www.kaieteurnews.com
Price $80
p. 11
Online readership yesterday 133,044
Gunraj, Alexander give conflicting accounts of Claudette Singh’s actions
Investigation into APNU+AFC objections…
p. 3
Recount
p. 15
extended to 13th June - as 82 boxes counted on Day 24
Five-car accident on West Bank Demerara A five-car accident occurred yesterday afternoon at Schoonord, West Bank Demerara - luckily, there were no injuries (Sandra-dee Barker photos).
APA Executive Director calls on Indigenous communities to 14p. obey COVID-19 rules PAHO rep says lack of interest slowing pace of implementation ofp. tobacco control law 12
Woman, grand-daughter “Government only wants killed after tree falls foreigners in our affairs – Transparency Guyana on exclusion on camp during storm when it suits them” of Carter Center p. 7
p. 8
ExxonMobil encounters more issues, now flaring 15 million cubic feet of gas per day- EPA Head p. 8
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Kaieteur News
Saturday May 30, 2020
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 30, 2020
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Investigation into APNU+AFC objections…
Gunraj, Alexander give conflicting accounts of Claudette Singh's actions C
ommissioners representing the major sides of the political divide are giving conflicting accounts about what is being done by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chair, Justice Claudette Singh with regard to GECOM 's investigation into claims of irregularities being raised by the APNU+AFC Coalition. Commissioner Vincent Alexander said on Thursday that Singh wrote to the Chief Immigration Officer to seek confirmation of a list of names provided by the Coalition of persons it claims to have been out of the jurisdiction on Election Day, when votes were fraudulently cast in their names. On the other hand, Commissioner Sase Gunraj said that the Commission has not made any decision on how it will deal with the allegations being brought forward by the Coalition, and that he is not aware of such a correspondence being sent out. Gunraj said that the Commission has not even received any such information from the Coalition – let alone, to act on it, even though the Commission met as late as noon yesterday. On Thursday, when Alexander, a Governmentnominated Commissioner, approached the Media Centre outside of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, and told the press of a decision made to write to the Immigration Department. He said, “They [Coalition] have provided to us with names of persons who according to them, would have migrated and who would have been voted for.” He continued, “Those have been sent to the Chief Immigration Officer for verification. The Chief Immigration Officer under Regulation 40 of the National Registration Act has an obligation to periodically provide information to the Chief Registration Officer. So I think it is in that context that the CRO requested information from the CIO.” However, the National Registration Act only has 27
[from left] Commissioners Vincent Alexander and Sase Gunraj; APNU+AFC Representative, Aubrey Norton; PPP/C Representative, Anil Nandlall sections and it was not clear to the paper where the regulations Alexander referred to applied. When asked at another point in the interview, about who sent out the correspondence, Alexander responded, “The Chairperson has initiated the process of accessing the immigration records.” It is unclear whether the information being requested is only of persons who have migrated and had votes cast in their names, or whether it also includes persons who have not migrated but were out of the jurisdiction on E l e c t i o n D a y . Commissioners and party representatives have referred to those interchangeably. This is the first time that it was brought to the public's attention that there had been any actual decision or move to verify the claims being
made by the Coalition, as Singh had said before that, “he who asserts, must prove.” The matter came up again yesterday when APNU+AFC representative, Aubrey Norton told reporters “We have also contended and provided information that many persons out of the jurisdiction voted. I want to point out to you that we have sent a first batch of 600 such information to GECOM.” He then claimed that most of those claims have been confirmed: “… we are reliably informed that immigration has confirmed over 90 percent of them that were ticked, according to their records are out of the jurisdiction.” GECOM has not confirmed this claim. Alexander yesterday came after Norton and reiterated
his statement from Thursday that information submitted by the Coalition was forward to the Immigration Department. He said, “With specific reference to the migrants, information has been submitted, that has been forwarded to the Chief Immigration Officer, and depending on the returns, we'll be in a position to make a pronouncement. I think what the Chief Immigration Officer provides will be conclusive evidence on the m a t t e r. We c a n t h e n provide… quantify what has occurred in that circumstance.” At another point, he said “So they [Immigration] have, in fact, embarked on the process of discerning or determining whether the information is evidential.” Alexander did not tell reporters of any decision by
GECOM; if there were such, to investigate the Coalition's claims, but he did go on to speak about investigating the claims as they are received. “What I know is that one should not be waiting to investigate. As soon as those things are brought to our attention, an investigation should be embarked upon immediately. So I don't see us waiting until we come to the conclusion of a district, or of the district, to say let's go now and investigate,” he said. All of these accounts appeared to align, until Gunraj came to the Media Centre. The Oppositionnominated Commissioner stated, “GECOM has taken no decision – the Commission has taken absolutely no decision, insofar as it relates to three things. With any of the issues that have arisen or may arise
during this recount process, insofar as they are recorded either in individual observation reports or compiled observation reports. And I want to reject, as well…out of hand, any contention that GECOM has sought, or will seek information from any extraneous agency to deal with that, and to conduct any investigation on its own volition or otherwise, into these allegations that were raised during this period.” He said that he thought it important to note this, as GECOM is not clothed with the responsibility of investigation. “The ambit or the legal authority with which GECOM is clothed, and the wherewithal which it possesses to execute its functions does not include investigation of any of these (continued on page 16)
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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
Coronavirus and Colour Catastrophic circumstances demand unchallengeable fairness and clear-cut objectivity. Although the absence of such fairness and objectivity is a hard reality of life, it should be at this most frightening of times. Part of the official response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States conveys what is wrong, what leaves the most vulnerable in society more exposed to potentially more life-threatening situations. In a revealing article titled, “Most coronavirus testing done in whitest and wealthiest zip codes” (New York Post, April 16), it becomes clear that the haves are far more favoured than the have-nots. A study by the paper “found that more than two-thirds of the 30 ZIP codes with the highest per-capita rates of testing were either whiter or wealthier — and frequently both — than the city average population”. This means that early detection and consequential medical protections can be initiated to save those so helped. On the other hand, the downside of such selective utilisation of scarce resources translates to the harsh reality of what was pointed out by the city’s highest-ranking black official, Public Advocate, Jumaane Williams: “the COVID19 crisis is hitting communities of more color the hardest – while those same communities have less testing to diagnose the virus or resources to fight it” Advocate Williams recommended that a citywide task force is urgently needed to “rapidly implement an action plan to mitigate racial disparities in COVID-19 exposure, testing, access to resources, and fatalities.” To sift through Mr. Williams’ statement “communities of more color” means urban and immigrant, as in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. The reality is that those places, in large swathes, are poorer and very populated with many minorities. In there are large contingents of Guyanese. KN broke the news a while back that 34 Guyanese in New York City alone have been fatally stricken by the virus. It is hoped that that number would remain unchanged, but the odds are not encouraging, especially when hundreds of persons are still succumbing daily to the deadly plague. The hope and prayer are that none of this surfaces here, where well-known and embedded problems hurt and devastate. In this society where everything takes on an automatic racial taint, including unfounded suspicions, there are some lessons for our leaders and guides on how we approach and deal with what is before us. Here, the worst of racial distrusts could be easily triggered in Guyana for nothing, and those readily fed and incited along dangerous pathways. Thus, the greatest sensitivity and care should be employed to manage this by ensuring that patients are treated in a way that minimizes the effects of the virus to themselves, their families, their communities, and the wider Guyanese public at large. In aggregate, this does not necessarily mean equity in prioritizing attention, but what the urgencies of the medical circumstances and intelligence (maybe even commonsense) dictate and demand. Hard choices have to be made relative to the dispensing of scarce resources, deploying of efforts for contact tracing, and towards inducing much-needed confidence in any processes implemented, as well as the people spearheading such processes. In all of this, it must be remembered that all that is required is for one infected person to be moving back and forth unknowingly in our heavily mixed thoroughfares, and the damage would be done. As background, New York State represents the anger that rages between its Democratic Governor and the Republican leader of the Senate over declaration of bankruptcy by cash-strapped states. New York is at the head of the list. It does not vote Republican and the thinking is that it is being made to pay a hard price in a harder time. Our hope is that our own efforts addressing this fatal sickness be devoid of politics and race. We plead: let it be color blind and politically neutral.
Social distancing and curfew: What’s up with that? DEAR EDITOR, On Thursday morning, I turned on the laptop to be greeted by the sharp concerns of the CMO, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, over a menacing “runaway situation” relative to the spread of the dreaded coronavirus pandemic here (SN and KN May 28). I think the concerned CMO could have saved his breath, for all the responsible and cooperating attitudes and actions that his stark caution would generate from citizens. We are too chronically disorderly and proud of it, too. In many Guyanese minds and many local places, social distancing and curfew restrictions are a joke. My sense of the reactions: Social distancing and curfew: What’s up with that? As I look at the local plains, I offer a few insights, Solomonic they may not be, but I think that some rise to that of the basics, which trouble the CMO and others like me. Some snapshots of Guyanese realities should enlighten; they are a public secret. It was around 17:45hrs on Friday last in Georgetown. The corners (shops) are enjoying a brisk trade. Nobody should think that there are thoughts and preparations to call it a day. After a long hot one, closing out with one for the road (a long cold one, maybe north
of a dozen by this time) is not on the table; since Guyanese have earned a world-class reputation for lateness, the plan is to be late departing, and late in following any curfew timeline. Who cares? Worry, who me? Get real, will ya! I suggest rethinking, as the cars were pulling up, with groups of the boisterous and swaggering thirsty. Like I said, the night has just begun; nobody is complaining; let the music and the good times begin. In the rural areas, there are numerous extensions of the bright lights of the big, bad city. This is the life; let’s get it on. The merrymaking and inebriated of Guyana are having the time of their lives, as though living in a Titanic moment. In this, I detect shades of passive resistance, what my American homeys from another era would have called ‘sticking it to The Man’. In Guyana, this is demonstrated via lowintensity civil resistance and disobedience by the ignorant and arrogant, the intellectually vagrant, too. It happens all the time, this almost total disregard for any law or the law-abiding. It promises to hurt us with this pandemic creeping up in plain sight. Other Caricom neighbours have reopened or are preparing to do so; we better be ready to batten down for a while longer, and
for this we only have ourselves to blame, as in selfinflicted, through our indifference, recklessness, and endangering conduct. As examples, I tender Exhibits 1 through whatever, beginning with traffic rules that led to the standards for the social distancing of today: no spacing, no listening, no complying; the lines in offices, businesses, and other places ignored; the pregnant women and struggling elderly pushed aside. The lowdegree resistances from before are now manifested here, there, and everywhere, as social distancing and curfew limitations are ignored and trampled upon without a care. Thus, I have difficulty understanding how anyone in authority expects Guyanese to adhere to soft guidelines and harder limitations. It is just not part of our makeup anymore. Before, Guyanese spat upon and smirked at the visible-posted signs, official regulations, one-way streets, and waiting one’s turn-yet now and somehow, by some inexplicable reasoning, there are beliefs that citizens will observe and obey, when held back-indeed, denied and menaced-by the invisible. That is, this concoction and fairy tale about a virus blown out of all proportion (according to some thinking) for possible nefarious
objectives. In classic Guyanese fashion, the refrain is: ‘ah ain’t gat time wid dat’. We broke every rule before (guilty also) and now we want righteousness. Why now and how and from whom? And as I look at what is going on relative to elections, curfews, and social distancing, I ask why should we be different now? Following instructions is just not in our DNA anymore. That is, unless it is the white man or some foreigner passing the orders - for them, we jump. Locally, we elbowed those ahead of us before, but today we expect citizens to find religion when we preach discipline and orderliness and the safety that comes from social distancing. Remember what happened at CJIA when stranded relatives returned? When promises made to keep distance were nonchalantly broken? This is what we know and relish, like when we invade the sanctuary of schools and assault teachers. The CMO warned of a possible “runaway situation” looming. I think some damage has been done already, and it may be too late. Moreover, he will be rewarded with stone deafness for his official pains. It is just the way we were before and are today. Sincerely, GHK Lall
The actions of sugar workers are by no means unusual DEAR EDITOR, The GAWU refers to Mr. Sahadeo Bates letter titled ”Government is not solely to blame for the downfall of GuySuCo” which appeared in the May 29, 2020 Kaieteur News. At the outset, we must agree with Mr. Bates’ conclusion that the G o v e r n m e n t has ”…neglected the functioning estates and these are slowly deteriorating.” Our Union, on several occasions, has pointed out this reality as we have expressed our grave disappointment that though monies have been secured to improve the functioning of Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt Estates, nothing really has been done in that direction. The letter-writer also touches on the functioning of the Uitvlugt Estate in recent times. Again, we must share our agreement with him as we too have shared many times our serious concerns as it regards the malfunctioning of the Uitvlugt factory. More recently too, we saw, the Estate being unable to
realise its 2020 First Crop target which was due in part to an absence of canes in the fields. We, however, fail to share Mr. Bates’ views as it regards the ongoing protests by the Uitvlugt factory workers. The GAWU was very much disturbed by the letter-writer suggestion that the workers ”…don’t have much work and some are sleeping, hiding and leaving the compound to drink alcohol…” This, we hold, is not a forthright conclusion. We say this against the background that the Estate has planned several activities to be concluded during the out-of-crop maintenance period. Those activities would have taken account of the available workforce, among other things. Moreover, it is these very workers, who an accusatory finger is being pointed at, that are required in and out-of-crop to operate, maintain and fix the factory. To seek to denigrate them and their efforts, we believe, is most unfortunate. Mr. Bates also seemingly was misinformed when he said the workers ”…working hours are reduced to 5 hrs…” This too is not factual. The workers of the factory are not afforded
that privilege. We must add that other sections of the workforce are being required to work for five (5) hours without any loss in pay. This policy obviously took into account the need to minimise the numbers of workers present in an effort to promote adequate social distancing. Certainly, shouldn’t the factory workers also equitably benefit from a similar arrangement? It seems only fair to us and the workers as we all seek to protect them and their families’ health and wellbeing. The workers are accused of ”…lying on the police.” We have no reason to doubt the concerns shared by the workers. Moreover, even GuySuCo acknowledged this reality. GuySuCo’s Corporate Communications Manager, Ms. Audreyanna Thomas on May 28, 2020 in another newspaper pointed out that special arrangements were being worked out for the workers. Certainly, to accuse the workers of being untruthful is most disheartening. Undoubtedly, the workers would, like all rational human beings, to maximise their incomes at this time, however, are daunted by the difficulties they face going to or coming from work during the curfew period. The letter-writer also asserts
that the workers are partially responsible for the downfall of the sugar industry. We find this statement most incredulous. Workers do not sit in the seat of the decision-makers. They have almost no influence on the industry’s direction, though they may have ideas or views given their experience. To ascribe blame to them, for us, is disturbing as they have always sought to give of their best. Why should one seek to castigate them when all they seek is to have their rights respected and gains protected? Sugar workers’ rights and benefits have never been freely given but won out of struggle as several martyrs and incidents remind us. It is incumbent on this and the next generations of sugar workers to continue to defend what has been won by those who came before them as they seek to advance their lot. The actions of sugar workers are by no means unusual and they are mindful of the road they walk on is paved with the heroism and sacrifices of many as they continue, like all workers, they yearn for a better tomorrow. Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU
Saturday May 30, 2020
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Police take Heed - Blacks do need to Breathe DEAR EDITOR, Gun violence is a deep and primeval component of American life, both on behalf of the State and on behalf of the individuals who make the State. Another day in the U.S,— —————another White cop around, another Black man face down on the ground, another mournful alert about failing breath, all translated into yet another death. Take it or leave it, strange but nevertheless true, police shootings in America is also an epidemic of gun violence, as the country remains in the grip of a long overdue reckoning with its love of guns. The recent death in Minneapolis of 46-year-old security guard George Floyd has been compared to that of Eric Garner, an unarmed Black man, who met his demise in 2014 after being placed in a chokehold by New York City Police, Daniel Pantaleo and was heard saying, “I can’t breathe”. His dying words later became a rally cry for justice. The circumstances surrounding his tragic death unfolded late Monday, when officers responded to a call from a grocery store clerk that claimed the deceased had used a forged cheque. Police said that Floyd matched the description of the suspect and, when located in his car, he “physically resisted officers” while possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Published video on social media shows Floyd
being removed from his vehicle by police. One video starts with the victim on the ground, his face against the pavement, with police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling, yes kneeling on the neck of a handcuffed man, for five minutes, totally ignoring his pleas. “Please, please, please, I can’t breathe. Please, man.” Floyd continues to moan. He is told by one of the officers “relax”. He calls for his mother and says, “My stomach hurts, my neck hurts, everything hurts … I can’t breathe.” As bystanders shout their concern, one officer says, “He’s talking, so he’s breathing.” Wonder what would have been the outcome if a public-spirited onlooker had pushed the police off the neck of the anoxic individual. The police officer, not identified thus far as suffering from any form of auditory dysfunction that rendered him unable to hear the pleas for help, has not only failed the litmus test for humane behaviour in its most basic sense, but by extension dealt a severe blow to the motto of the Minneapolis Police Department— To Protect with Courage, To Serve with Compassion. Instead, he performed his duty using his own credo “Protecting with rage and deserved passion”. And this also applies to the three officers who stood by and were complicit to the murder. However, new video has been released showing the
beginning of the confrontation that would ultimately lead to his death. Under the police officer’s restraint— knee on neck, Floyd slowly becomes motionless. Undeterred, the officer does not remove his knee until the paramedics put him on a stretcher. Several witnesses, some of whom were becoming increasingly agitated had gathered on a nearby sidewalk, recording the scene on their phones. One man repeatedly yelled, “He’s not responsive right now!” Two witnesses, including one woman who said she was a Minneapolis firefighter, yelled at the officers to check the man’s pulse. “Check his pulse right now and tell me what it is!” she said. At one point, an officer said, “Don’t do drugs, guys.” And one man yelled, “Don’t do drugs, bro? What is that? What do you think this is?” After a nationwide outrage on the killing of Floyd, the four officers involved in the incident were immediately fired by the Minneapolis Police Chief, Madaria Arradondo, with the full backing of Mayor Jacod Frey. Frey said in a statement that being Black should not be a death sentence, and that criminal charges should be filed against Chauvin, the officer in question. However, despite the swift dismissal of the officers, whether the death will be considered a criminal act or something less, like excessive force, is a more
Where is the current upholding of sovereignty? DEAR EDITOR, I write in response to the letter from Hamilton Green published in Kaieteur News on 19th May 2020, captioned “GUYANESE ON EVERY SIDE OF THE DIVIDE MUST NOT TOLERATE THIS EYEPASS”. Hamilton Green asserts that having the GECOM accredited “Carter Center” in Guyana is a violation of Guyana’s sovereignty. This despite the Carter Center Mission, as co-headed by the former Senegalese Prime Minister Dr. Aminata Touré, having been invited and duly accredited by GECOM to observe the 2020 election, and hence having a legitimate status under the
General Elections (Observers) Act. It is rather hypocritical of Green to be raising the issue of Guyana’s sovereignty given the fact that his PNC, for which he served as Prime Minister, was not only the creation of London and Washington acting in unison in the 1950’s to keep a supposed pro-Moscow Jagan from office, but further the American State Department’s non-redacted archives show that the PNC was funded by the CIA until at least the 1970’s! Mr. Green where was the issue of Guyana’s sovereignty then? Where is the current upholding of sovereignty when parties in Guyana,
including his party, try to lobby Washington in their favour by hiring high profile Washington Firms? Green’s mention of Manuel Noriega and his depiction of Noreiga as an imperialist victim, further adds to the ludicrousness of his letter. It is common knowledge that Noreiga was Washington’s agent in the Americas, openly assisting in the arming of the Nicaraguan Contras and other imperialist groupings, before falling out with his Pentagon paymasters over his share of drug money. All that Green is doing is showing his support for the PNC. Yours sincerely, Mr. Lalu Hanuman
complicated question that will likely take months to investigate. However, to fire them without charging, arresting, providing a trial and affording them justice for this crime would be an even greater injustice. If we are to “establish justice, ensure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity,” like the preamble to the American Constitution dictates, they must be held fully accountable for this crime against humanity. Two of the dismissed officers have a history of use of force. Careful ironic attention should also be paid to the fact that in the same country in which a current pandemic has claimed over 100,000 lives, and has also caused police departments throughout the U.S to change how they are doing work, yet none of the four officers in the video are wearing masks. Guess it’s a matter of ignore the mask and get on with the task. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, popular among African-American voters, tweeted that Floyd deserved better and his family deserves justice. He further added that he is grateful for the swift action to fire the officers involved and called for a thorough investigation by the FBI. For far too long, Black humanity has been denied on American soil. The ever gaping divide between law enforcement and the Black communities, which they are supposed to serve should be no surprise. For
Black American, policing is the most enduring aspect of the struggle for civil rights. It has always been the mechanism for racial surveillance and control. Each Black death at the hands of white police officers, send us scrambling for answers while we march and repeat age old chants—No Justice! No Peace! “Black Lives matter”. “Black Lives matter” over and over almost as if we expect a complete and instant change in the hearts of racists that will make them accept and believe those words. We labour under the belief that if we continue to proclaim the fact that “We are people”, it will penetrate the defenses of those who hate us for no other reason but the colour of our skin. It is plain to see that none of that has worked. The world is faced with one more true and horrible tale of another Black life lost, for doing nothing at all. In essence and reality, Floyd was nothing but an unarmed, innocent victim, who had his life taken by those sworn to protect and serve. Once again, America refuses to accept Black people as people. The country is also stricken by a serious pandemic, of dubious origin that specifically claims Black males as its victims but with identified perpetrators. In 2016, against the backdrop of the killing of Black men by law enforcement agencies, the FBI inquired as to likely changes, as they had alerted law enforcement agencies 10 years previously of the presence of white
supremacists in law enforcement. It is blatantly apparent that justice for Black people is almost an imaginary entity. It certainly does not exist across all of America. Have Blacks really made progress or should it be called by another name? Now America is leading the retreat back into an untenable position: where people are judged for the colour of their skin instead of the content of their character. Blacks are killed talking, not shooting, jogging, running, playing, walking, driving while Black, in the comfort of their homes, playing music, selling “loosies”, selling CDs, asking for help after being in a car wreck, holding a cell phone. As Khalil Gibran Muhammad, author of The Condemnation of Blackness, states, “White people, by and large, do not know what it is like to be occupied by a police force. They don’t understand it because it is not the type of policing they experience. Because they are treated like individuals, they believe that if ‘I am not breaking the law, I will never be abused’’. The lives of all people must be respected, no more strange fruits. White males are not the deadly victims of rogue police officers, at any level of comparison to the degree that we find Black men. They get to go home after traffic stops, but too many of us go to the grave after we have been stopped. It is time for systemic racism to be totally dismantled, for until America gets its act together, there will always be death on the street when Blacks and police meet. Yvonne Sam
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A perspective that was not taken into consideration before by many DEAR EDITOR, Nostradamus described the one that was once a “great enemy of the human race” and a master manipulator in the following quatrain: Out of the deepest part of the west of Europe, From poor people a young child shall be born, Who with his tongue shall seduce many people. His fame shall increase in the Eastern Kingdom. He shall come to tyrannize the land. He shall “raise up a hatred that had long been dormant.” The child of Germany observes no law. Cries, and tears, fire, blood and battle. A captain of Germany shall come to yield himself by false hope, so that his revolt shall cause great bloodshed. It’s no surprise that this is widely believed to be Nostradamus’s prophecy of the rise of Adolf Hitler, who was born in Austria in 1889 to a poor family. References like “tyrannized” and “raised up a hatred” and “observed no law” and “seducing many people with his tongue” are understatements to describe the psychopathic, sadistic, inhuman monster that “child of Germany” proved to be. – Taken from Sylvia Browne’s “End Of Days”. Take notice of these words: He shall “raise up a hatred that had long been dormant.” This reminds me of Ephesians 6:12:- For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Can you see that trying to fix a problem on the outside of ourselves will not effectively wipe out the
root cause of the problem from our lives, but that it will eventually return - having been built up again by the very same unresolved issues? Every problem has as its cause emotional disturbances. These disturbances are what is called impressions or samsara or negative karma and must be dealt with on the emotional level or its root cause before it can be dissolved- never to raise its head again. This is the reason why we must transmute our negative emotions, their cause and effect. When we do not, it grows and grows and becomes an entity that shows up which we will have to deal with time after time. Each person on the planet was born into these impressions passed down from their ancestors. It does not matter what “race” (a truly messed up human word which sole purpose is to divide and conquer you) you “belong” to. As children, we had no choice but accept what was passed on. As adults, we have to take the great responsibility to change this foolishness. We cannot keep living our childhood programmes and call ourselves responsible adults. It is time to learn the way of our ancient ancestors who lived in the previous Golden Ages. It is time to transmute all darkness into light. This is the easy way that has been hidden for too long from us- but no more! We cannot keep playing the “blame game” and expect to reap good. As we point our finger at another, let us look and see how many are pointing back at us. It is time
to heal our own pain and suffering. It is time to “humble ourselves” in the sight of God and be lifted up. We can only help others heal their pain when we have healed our own pain. Every little brick builds a huge wall. Those bricks we have placed there by our own negative beliefs for centuries. It is time to take down that wall for the wall not only keeps out the bad, it also keeps out the good- and therefore God. Whenever I feel upset about a thing, I always do the following: I stop and say: All that this is, its cause and effects, and all it is in myself and my ancestors, we now accept, embrace and transmute it all into divine love, light and peace, in all levels, dimensions and aspects of ourselves. All its residues should be transmuted in totality. So be it and so it is, I give thanks. This I do until I feel free of the fear/sorrow/pain and negative emotions that show up. It is a tedious task but it works excellently! Totally worth the effort to set free ourselves and all humanity, don’t you think? This I have been doing for the past 14 years and it has brought me great results in my life. The book “Tearing The Veil That Blindfolds” is my record of this inner journey and I am grateful that it happened. It set me free from all that kept me unhappy and I can honestly say that being free from “mind control” is great to experience. The many that have read this book and are in the process of reading- I have seen great results in. It is available on Libgen for free. All the challenges that we are all facing at this time
(personally and politically) is a result of what has gone on before. We cannot keep fighting it for “What we resist will persist”. It has become an entity that must be dissolved now. Each one of us must do this for we all have contributed to it. The beliefs, which we hold that are negative can go nowhere else but become that which we are seeing it as. The power of our thought and feeling is that great! Religions have not solved the problem of hate, fear and separation. In fact, most of them encourage it. Did you know that there are 2 sides to each religion? Did you know that one part is called esoteric (from within) and the other is called exoteric (from outside)? Have you noticed that the exoteric is divisive? And are you willing to know of the esoteric which is inclusive? Many of you reading this may already know of this. I give thanks for you. The simplest way to find your way “Home” to that “Peace that passes all understanding” is the way of transmutation. I have experienced it and it is my dearest wish that each one of you experience it also. Of course, there are many other ways, but this way that I used and still use is the fastest one, I have found. It is intense but totally worth it. The
Emerald Tablets of Thoth says: Darkness and Light are both of one nature, different only in seeming, for each arose from the Source of all. Darkness is Disorder. Light is Order. Darkness transmuted is Light of the Light. This, my children, your purpose in being; transmutation of darkness into light. Sathya Sai Baba said: Open the gates of wisdom. Tear the veil of ignorance. Enter the abode of Divine Bliss. Rest in peace forever. Many ancient Masters have said the same thing one way or another. Transmutation and repent means the same thing. It means “to change into”. Darkness (the hidden) must be changed into Light (the seen). We cannot change that which we cannot see. Let us be willing to see truly, for not everyone that has eyes can see, for the blind are leading the blind into ditches. Many are afraid to have their darkness seen. They wish to keep them hidden. Yet it is said: Matthew 10:26:- Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. It is not so bad to look at your so called “sins” and heal them. In fact, they were called sins to keep you from your own freedom. Intentionally. Only the strong of Spirit and Heart
will be determined to make the change. The Cosmic Plan is perfect, yet you must be willing to set aside your doubts to take the journey to your “Kingdom Of Heaven Within YOU!” Luke 17:21. Millions of people who are called “New agers” by most have been doing this work and we have survived another mass extinction because of this. The rest of humanity is being called to do their part. No one can clean up the mess you have been making for you but you. Your mess and my mess have accumulated and it is time we clean up - each one his own. Only after the veil has come off our eyes can we see truly once again. Then we will comprehend fully the works of our Creator. This is how we will fully comprehend that we are all truly one- brothers and sisters of one anotherand we are our brother’s keeper, not in division but in Oneness in God. All it takes is a little willingness to “Know the whole truth and nothing but that!” May your eyes be opened to see truly. May your ears be opened to hear truly. May your hearts be opened to comprehend and love truly and fully. God’s blessings be with you! With Peace, Love and Light, Patricia Ramphal
Let’s be rational DEAR EDITOR, The US Center for Disease Control (CDC) says the Fatality rate of COVID-19 is 0.4% and an asymptomatic rate of 35 %. According to the CDC, this put the actual fatality rate of at 0.26% similar to the fatality rate of the flu (0.1%). The World Health Organization usually put forward worst-case scenario as a precautionary measure. They predicted that the world’s population would be decimated by AIDS. Where life is concern, it is a prudent strategy. I am not saying ignore COVID-19 but I am saying, it is impossible for life to prosper under the rules enacted as a response to COVID-19. Although social distancing seems like a good
idea, there is no scientific peer review study to support this measure. Business profit will be greater with a crowd. Most restaurants will not be profitable with just 20 persons at a time. It will have to fire some workers. This is true for most businesses. In general, social distancing will cause thousands to lose their jobs. As a teacher, how will I help a student not understanding a concept without getting close and demonstrating the concept? In regard to mask wearing in public, it needs to be relaxed because it is difficult to breathe with a face mask on. Long-term use of mask is unhealthy because of the build-up of carbon dioxide. A better suggestion is face
shield. This will also enhance communicating with others especially for teaching. As resilient humans, we must adapt. Balancing the economic and health concerns is vital. People at risk should be encouraged to take precautions and good hygiene is a good idea but life must go on. We must eat so we must open the economy. In terms of international tourist, we must request a COVID-19 free test within 48 hours and check their temperature. COVID-19 will not just vanish. Humanity has face bigger threats like Ebola, Coronary Artery Disease, AIDS, category 5 hurricanes and thrives. Let’s be rational. Yours truly, Brian Ellis Plummer
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 30, 2020
PAGE 07
“Govt. only wants foreigners in our affairs when it suits them” - Transparency Guyana on exclusion of Carter Center
T
he Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI) is of the view that Government only requires foreign intervention into Guyana's affairs when the need suits them. This was in response to the government's exclusion of the Carter Center Observer Mission from the ongoing National Recount. In a letter, TIGI stated that the question as to whether the Carter Center should have been allowed to witness the recount process relates to a bigger problem of “constitutional breaches”. “We refer you to a report in KN of March 13, 2019 whose title says it all: 'Our
politicians only want to obey the law and the Constitution when it suits them'.” The same, according to the Transparency Institute, applies to the Carter Center situation. “They only want the Carter Centre to visit and in general, want the attention of foreigners in our affairs when it suits them,” the released noted. The Carter Center's exclusion from the National Recount of ballots cast at the March 2, 2020 polls received widespread attention after several requests made for permission to enter Guyana was denied on three consecutive occasions. On the third occasion, it
was confirmed that the President himself denied the request by the observer mission for permission, citing the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic precuations. Before that, the Carter Center had applied for permission from the government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF). The first occasion in late April, was not responded to prompting a second appeal from the US Ambassador, Sarah Ann Lynch on May 6. This application was also denied. The Foreign Affairs Minister in responding to the
US Ambassador's application cited the travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 lockdown as one of the underlying reasons why it was denied. She also stated that there is the threemember high-level scrutinizing team which was nominated by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) currently monitoring the elections, hinting that no other observer mission would be needed. A host of stakeholders had advocated for the Carter Center's return including the agents of several foreign governments and international organizations including: Assistant Secretary for the US
Department of State's B u r e a u o f We s t e r n Hemisphere Affairs, Michael Kozak; Organisation for American States (OAS) Secretary for Strengthening Democracy, Francisco Guerrero; United Nations Representative in Guyana, Mikiko Tanaka; European Union Ambassador, Fernando Ponz Canto; and Guyana's C a n a d i a n H i g h Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee along with the Opposition People's Progressive Party (PPP), smaller political parties and local observer missions in Guyana. Advocacy also emerged from a group of bipartisan
US Congressional representatives released a public statement lobbying for their return. In a joint statement, Reps. Albio Sires (D-NJ), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Francis Rooney (R-FL), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), and Jennifer González-Colón (R-PR) had said that while they appreciate the recount and the role of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in the process, they still want the Carter Center and International Republican Institute (IRI) back in Guyana. It was this request that was denied by the President himself.
Police again breaks up Guns, ganja seized, woman Uitvlugt workers protest arrested in Berbice River raids
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T
he workers of the Uitvlugt Estate were for the second day in a row asked to disperse by police. According to the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the workers of that West Coast sugar factory continued their protest actions “as they continued to demand measures to promote adequate social distancing at the workplace while ensuring that their hours-of-work remained outside of the curfew period.” It was disclosed that as the workers continued their protests, in keeping with the relevant conditions, a contingent of police officers again turned up. “In announcing their p r e s e n c e , t h e o ff i c e r s instructed the workers to immediately end their picketing and to disperse from the vicinity. When asked why they were being asked to end
their picketing, the police advised that the COVID-19 restrictions prevented such activities.” The workers and the union insisted that the workers were standing approximately six feet from each other and were wearing their masks. “Notwithstanding the explanation,” stated the Union, “the police insisted and the workers being respectful heeded their call though most upset and disturbed. We see the escalation of the issue to the point it has reached as being most unfortunate. Certainly, we hold that sober-minded discussions could well see an appropriate arrangement being reached in the interest of all parties.” The union made it clear that the workers' call has significant merit and is in keeping with policies that have been embraced in other
sections of the estate already. “All they are seeking is equitable treatment as they seek to remain safe at this time. At this time, the GuySuCo remains inflexible though at the commencement of the out-of-crop period it had agreed that workers would not work during the curfew period. At a meeting yesterday between the union and the estate management, the workers expressed a willingness to compromise to some extent. T h e E s t a t e , h o w e v e r, adamantly held to its position and insisted that the workers must work in the curfew hours notwithstanding the difficulties they faced.” GuySuCo, now reduced to three estates, is facing major financial issues with the Coalition closing four estates in the last four years. The remaining estates are Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion.
olice found two unlicensed firearms and a quantity of packaged cannabis during a search operation in the Berbice River. Kaieteur News was informed that the police acted on information and ventured to the home of a farmer at DeVeldt, Berbice River on Thursday to conduct a search for arms and ammunition. During the visit to the home, the farmer was not at the location but a female who resides at East Canje, Berbice was present. She handed over an unlicensed pistol and has since been taken into police custody. Police are trying to Items seized by the law enforcement officials locate the farmer who she said was her brother. She has since given a statement to police. Meanwhile, the ranks also ventured to another house up the Berbice River at Bartica Village and, during a search, unearthed twenty kilograms of suspected cannabis packaged in twenty-three parcels, as well as twenty pounds of suspected dried cannabis of which the total street value is $1,600,000, along with an unlicensed shotgun and several identification documents in favour of the occupant. Police are investigating further.
Saturday May 30, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 08
ExxonMobil encounters more issues, now flaring 15 million cubic feet of gas per day By Kiana Wilburg
H
ead of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams confirmed with Kaieteur News last night that ExxonMobil, despite its “best efforts”, has been unable to fix a troublesome gas processor, hence it is still flaring. The official explained that the company is now flaring 15 million cubic feet of gas per day instead of the 80 million cubic feet when it first started during start up last year on the Liza Destiny oil vessel. Dr. Adams said, “When they thought they
were at the end, they just encountered more issues but they are fixing those. The flaring rate went from about 80 million cubic feet per day and came down...So it is now up to 15 million cubic feet per day.” Dr. Adams said that the issues still pertain to the gas compressor and its seal. Asked to say if COVID-19 travel restrictions are affecting the pace at which ExxonMobil is expected to quickly address the matter or if there are other factors. This question was posed taking into account that Dr. Adams had given assurances that flaring would have been over since last week. In
- EPA Head response, the EPA official said Kaieteur News should pose that question to the operator. He noted however that the EPA, the Department of Energy and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) are working together with ExxonMobil on the matter. The official also stressed that there is nothing for Guyanese to be alarmed about where this matter is concerned. While the EPA Head holds that view, the Center for International
Environmental Law (CIEL) is convinced that Guyana's authorities are perhaps failing to understand the true magnitude of what is taking place. In a recent statement to the press, the not-forprofit law firm noted that flaring releases greenhouse gases and toxins which threaten the global climate, the local environment and public health. CIEL which was founded in 1989 also noted that the almost sixmonth duration of the flaring by ExxonMobil suggests more than a one-time,
EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams
technical glitch. In fact, the law firm said that the estimated nine billion cubic feet of gas, which Exxon said it flared thus far puts Guyana among the top 10 gas flaring countries in the world even though Guyana has only been producing oil for close to six months. CIEL said that the carbon dioxide emissions from that flaring are approximately equivalent to the amount generated by Guyana's entire population over three months. Adding to the organization's position, the Director of CIEL's Climate (continued on page 16)
ExxonMobil CEO rejects investors' call for full disclosure on lobbying activities By Kiana Wilburg
E
xxonMobil's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman, Darren Woods, has often said the American oil giant subscribes to the principles of transparency and accountability, but when it comes to the practice or implementation of those doctrines, ExxonMobil does have its limits. This was evident when shareholders recently called for ExxonMobil to make more detailed disclosures about its lobbying activities but that call was rejected by Woods. During the conference call that occurred on Wednesday, Ricky Brooks, a shareholder and an employee at ExxonMobil's Baytown Texas refinery, noted that Exxon's current lobbying disclosure is
ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Darren Woods inadequate. The President of the USW 13-2001, the largest Union at the ExxonMobil Chemical plant and Refinery, said that more transparency in state lobbying and involvement in trade association, as well as
social welfare organizations that can engage in unlimited lobbying activities, is needed. Brooks said, “When our company's lobbying contradicts its public p o s i t i o n , i t ' s problematic...For example, ExxonMobil is assisting COVID-19 relief efforts but the Chamber of Commerce of which ExxonMobil is an active and prominent member, is [lobbying] against using the Defense Production Act on medical manufacturing when essential workers like me and frontline workers face PPE shortages.” The Union President added, “Exxon discloses making a total of US$390,000 in contributions to the Chamber's charitable group in 2018 but shareholders have no way of knowing the company's payments to the
COVID-19 cases remain at 150
T
he Ministry of Public Health has reported that the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) remains at 150, inclusive of 11 deaths and 67 recoveries. To date, 1,586 tests have been conducted yielding 1,436 negative results. This was disclosed by Chief M e d i c a l O f f i c e r, D r. Shamdeo Persaud in the Ministry of Public Health's daily COVID-19 update.
Seventy-two persons are housed in isolation at various facilities across Guyana while two patients remain in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Eleven persons are also in institutional quarantine. Dr. Persaud reiterated that everyone is asked to always practice social distancing in the workplace, public spaces, and while using public transportation
to reduce the spread of the coronavirus disease. He also reminded to practise frequent hand washing/sanitising and always wear a facemask if they have to go out. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization is reporting 5,593,631 confirmed cases, globally with 353,334 deaths; while in the Region of the Americas, the total number of positive cases is 2,556,479 with deaths climbing to 148,412. (DPI)
Chamber itself.” In providing another example, the shareholder said he has seen firsthand how dangerous refineries and chemical plants can be. In this regard, he noted that his union leads the National Old Boardman Programme, which helps address safety issues in the industry, and pushes for process safety management regulations in California that would make refineries and surrounding communities safer. Much to his surprise, Brooks said that t h e We s t e r n S t a t e s Petroleum Association which ExxonMobil contributes to lobbied heavily to roll back safety reform. In fact, this association he said has been in California in 2019 to directly lobby against regulations that protect workers like him and the community Exxon operates in.
Additionally, Brooks said that ExxonMobil claims it supports the Paris Climate Agreement and yet it was named by Influence Map as one of the top-three global corporations lobbying against effective climate policy. Because of this misalignment last year, he highlighted that Exxon was at risk of being banned from lobbying in the European Union. With the foregoing in mind, the Union President said it is time for ExxonMobil to do what is right and engage in full disclosure on its activities. I n r e s p o n s e , ExxonMobil's CEO said that the firm follows a strict review and oversight process to ensure its public policy positions are aligned with lobbying activities. He said that this process includes regular reviews of public issues of significance with the management committee and
the board. In addition, Woods said that the company's positions on key issues and grassroots lobbying communications are publicly available on its Web site. Further to this, he said that each year, the company's political contributions and lobbying expenditures are presented to the board. “We also issue public filings that include expenses associated with employee federal lobbying. This includes those portions of payments to trade associations, coalitions and think tanks that are spent as part of federal lobbying,” the ExxonMobil Chairman stated. To summarize, Woods said that the board believes the company's detailed disclosures are appropriate and therefore recommended that shareholders vote against the motion put forward by Brooks.
Woman, grand-daughter killed after tree falls on camp during storm
A
5 4 - y e a r- o l d woman and her n i n e - y e a r- o l d grand-daughter were killed after a tree, uprooted during heavy rainfall, fell on a camp at Imbaimadai, Upper Mazaruni on Thursday. Police identified the victims as Desiree John, a farmer, and her granddaughter, Cindy John, a student, of Kambaru Village.
The camp is owned by 55-year-old Benneth John, the dead woman's husband. He was in another camp at the same location when the mishap occurred. Police said that Desiree J o h n , h e r 2 1 - y e a r- o l d daughter, Romelia John; grandchildren Cindy John, aged 9; Fauya John, 9; and Rishauna John, 2, were having dinner in the kitchen
area at around 18:20 hrs on Thursday when a tree fell on the camp during a downpour. On rushing to the area, Mr. John found his wife and nine-year-old granddaughter motionless and pinned beneath the tree. He took them to the Imbaimadai Health Outpost, where Cindy John was pronounced dead on arrival at around 09:45 hrs yesterday.
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 30, 2020
PAGE 09
GECOM is on a fishing expedition A
disturbing report emerged yesterday. It is alleged that just as one of the ballot boxes was opened for counting, one of the agents of a political party randomly picked eight serial numbers and objected to them. It is further alleged that none of the numbers were ticked off as having voted. If this report is true – and it comes from a credible source – it would confirm that these objections are spurious, without merit and intended to frustrate the election process and unnecessarily cast aspersions on the elections. The APNU+AFC has been making these allegations from day one and none has so far been established to be true. The media has looked into some of the allegations and have proven them false. This report comes just as it is also being reported that t h e G u y a n a E l e c tions Commission is writing the
Chief Immigration Officer to verify whether migrants who were alleged to have voted were out of the jurisdiction at the time of the elections. This is a strange development from a number of points. Just how many of these allegations will the Chief Immigration Officer be able to verify. Verifying whether persons were recorded as being in the jurisdiction is a time-consuming exercise. And it will be a waste of the Officer's time since it is not likely that the allegations will be substantiated. GECOM will be acting irresponsibly and disrespecting the Chief Immigration Officer if it simply sends such a request to him without first establishing whether a prima facie case exists. You cannot ask public officials to provide information when there has been no effort to establish a prima facie case. The investigation, which GECOM is about to launch is not catered for under the
Order which was published by GECOM to guide the recount process. GECOM is not, under that order, required to investigate anomalies. But it seems as if this latest decision is all part of the game plan of GECOM which has already left the nation frustrated. Legal minds have argued, correctly, that any challenge to the validity of the elections – whether through fraud of administrative incompetence - should be the subject of an elections petition in the Court. GECOM has the authority to audit its own elections but this sort of audit which it is now undertaking is not contemplated under the Recount Order. The Chairperson of GECOM had also said, “He who asserts must prove.” It now seems as if GECOM is now undertaking the task for proving the allegations, which the APNU+AFC is making. The burden of proof has now shifted from the accuser. This
Dem boys seh...
Things does happen on June 13th
D
em boys feel dat de HAP-New + HAY-EFF-SEE nah look like dem wan come out from power. Is like Soulja Bai gat Crazy Glue pon he backside dat he stick down on de President's chair. Dem boys want know if Soulja Bai gon tek de country back to de past. Dem boys worry dat he gon return de country to Burnham days. Dat would be de wuss thing dat can happen to Guyana because Burnham was not three cents. He was a whole shilling. Forty years ago, Burnham's party go an ass-
ass-inate a bright man named Dr. Walter Rodney. He was de leader of de WPA. Burnham used to call dem de Worst Possible Alternative. Rodney give Burnham a false name…'King Kong'. Rodney get kill on de 13th June 1980. Dat is long before nuff of dem reporters wha deh bout now was born. De 13th June this year gon mek 40 years since he get kill. Incidentally, dat is de same day which GEE-CUM set as de deadline fuh end de recount. By den Guyanese should finally know who win de elections, after more than 3
months waiting in de wilderness. By den, too, dem boys gon know wheder like Rodney, democracy gon get ass-ass-inate. Right now yuh nah know who fuh trust in GEE-CUM. All kinds of plan hatching in deh. Dem boys nah gat too much trust in Claw-dette. She let dem boys down and but she also let down she own self. Talk half and hope Clawdette nah lock up in she office when de time come fuh declare de winner of de election!
complicates matters more since GECOM cannot undertake an investigation and then adjudicate on its own investigation. GECOM is engaged in a fishing exercise. And some may argue it is fishing on behalf of an interested party in the elections, one that has failed to produce any credible evidence to substantiate the fiction of fraud which it has invented. How is it that GECOM is going to establish that the persons who are alleged to have migrated and voted did in fact vote? Will they reopen each of the ballot boxes to establish whether the person's
name is ticked off on the OLE? It would not be unusual to find cases where a persons' name is not ticked off and voted. The ticking off is an administrative control, not evidence of voting. The evidence of someone voting is the staining of the finger with indelible ink. In any event, how will GECOM determine for which candidate the person voted and thus whether any fraud was likely to impact on the results of the elections? How many migrants voting would constitute substantial non-compliance with the election law – one of the tests
for determining the validity of any election? GECOM is taking us down a discredited path. It will now open itself to having to investigate any and all unfounded allegations. This will lead to an unending process, which could end up stalling a declaration. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Miner beaten to death following row… Dredge owner, police trap prime suspect
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olice have successfully managed to trap the prime suspect who allegedly punched David James of Port Kaituma North West District (NWD) to death last Tuesday evening at a mining camp located in Arranguy Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven. Police said that the man returned on Wednesday morning from his hideout and showed up at his
employer's camp. The dredge owner and other employees assured the suspect that everything was fine and told him to remain in camp and relax. Contact was then made with the police, unknown to the suspect and the arrest was made at around 17:40 hrs (in the afternoon). Initial reports carried by this newspaper stated that dead miner was involved in a row with the suspect's friend at a mining camp. The friend
had left the camp but returned shortly after with the suspect by his side. The suspect then confronted the victim and the confrontation reportedly turned physical. The suspect then punched the victim several times to the face and about the body causing him to collapse to the ground. The victim's body was found by police lying in a hammock with multiple marks of violence.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 10
Saturday May 30, 2020
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Nagamootoo typifies the degeneracy of our political culture
A
fter pointing out that there were foreign citizens serving in Guyana's parliament, Nagamootoo went on to add; “… one such foreign citizen voted with the parliamentary opposition to remove the d u ly elected n a tio n a l government.” This has to be political
depravity of the WORST kind; I emphasize the word “worst.” Nagamootoo had in mind, Charrandass Persaud. But this enfeebled, ceremonial, figure-head, prime minister whose political career has been blighted by crass opportunism and ostracization by all the
forces he has been associated with chose to hide the value Charrandass brought personally to him, Nagamootoo, when his government was de jure from 2015 to 2018 and had a one-seat majority – 33 versus 32. From 2015 onwards up to this day, Charrandass, the foreign national in parliament, through his vote allowed Nagamottoo to collect tens of millions of dollars from 2015 to the current year of 2020 because Charran's vote allowed for the passage of legislation that phenomenally hiked the prime minister's salary and pension retroactively. I am not going to write on Nagamootoo's morality because I don't have time with any libel writs from people like Nagamootoo but I can ask a question – if Charran was morally wrong, by virtue of his dual citizenship, to sit in parliament and vote in a no-
confidence motion (NCM) sponsored by the opposition then by logical moral standards, was he not wrong to vote in situations where the government of APNU+AFC benefitted? Therefore, it is incumbent on Nagamootoo to return those millions he has been collecting as salary and pension. For four consecutive years, this very Charrandass voted to pass four budgets of t h e A P N U + A F C governments parts of which no doubt caused APNU+AFC to lose the 2020 election. In passing, it should be noted that the turnout in a PNC stronghold –Plaisance - in the March election was 51 percent. Could one of the reasons be what those budgets contained? For example, Plaisance has a large fleet of anim a l - d r a w n vehicles. In one of those budgets, the license for these was raised by $10, 000. Let us examine other manifestations of Nagamootoo's political depravities. In 2011, neither the APNU nor the AFC won a majority of the votes in the general election, yet both parties conspired with each other to bring about an NCM. Nagamootoo and Granger benefitted from the intended NCM because it was fear of such a parliamentary process by President Ramotar that led to a national election before it was constitutionally due. Is it possible that APNU+AFC lost the 2020 poll because of the hypocrisy of both Granger and
Nagamootoo himself? Nagamootoo denounced the NCM openly stating in the Chronicle that Charran took a bribe to vote the way he did. Amazingly, Charran has not sued him as yet. Granger became president out of Ramotar's fear of an NCM. Yet in the final rally of the campaign, Granger told his bussed audience that if he is reelected, he would make sure the no-confidence clause in the constitution is removed (see my column of Sunday, January 19, 2020, “David Granger epitomizes the inherent flaws of Homo sapiens.” Let's examine more of Nagamootoo's political degeneracy. He writes, “When (Charrandass Persaud) voted with the parliamentary opposition to remove the duly elected national government! Guyana has since been plunged into an unprecedented situation of constitutional difficulties and political uncertainty.” But the APNU+AFC regime did not fall because of the NCM on December 21, 2018. It ignored all the constitutional requirements that should have led to its fall. The NCM had no effect on the government. The regime continued with business as usual. It even went into the direction of a masquerade. It removed its ministers who were dual citizens and effectively kept them in place simply by assigning them different titles. Cabinet was never
Frederick Kissoon suspended. Cabinet, under the pretext of “cabinet outreach” went about for months campaigning for APNU+AFC dishing out resources to all parts of Guyana. At one time, the outreached merged into a rally so you couldn't tell the difference. This was in Bartica where Nagamootoo donned the green colours of the PNC and not the AFC's yellow clothes. At that rally or retreat, he warned Guyana that the youths will go on a rampage if the house-tohouse registration (HTHR) was ended. At that same rally, in relation to HTHR being stopped by GECOM, the Finance Minister had exclaimed “war break”. It turned out that the Jordan's war break was “break wind.” The youths did not rampage. Nagamootoo went to his home village of Whim in Berbice and urged the youths to rebel if HTHR was stopped. The youths chased h i m a w a y. L i f e i s unpredictable. Granger will no longer be president. Nagamootoo will no longer be prime minister. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 30, 2020
PAGE 11
Guyana vs. Venezuela border case…
World Court to hold jurisdiction arguments via video conference A
critical phase of the International Court case that Guyana has filed against Venezuela is expected to be conducted via videoconferencing next month. The new arrangements are because of the precautions implemented to contain the COVID-19 pandemic globally. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs y e s t e r d a y, t h e p u b l i c hearings on the question of the court's jurisdiction in the case concerning the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela) will open on Tuesday, June 30 at 2 p.m. at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the court. “In view of the current COVID-19 pandemic,” the Court is cited as saying, “the hearings will take place in the Great Hall of Justice using videoconference technology and with the
physical presence of some of members of the Court.” The Ministry said yesterday that the members of the media and the public will be able to follow the oral proceedings on internet through a live web-stream. The programme of the hearings will be announced at a later stage –the proceedings will determine whether the court has jurisdiction over the case filed by Guyana on March 29, 2018. By that case, Guyana seeks to obtain from the court a final and binding judgment that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the location of the land boundary between then-British Guiana and Venezuela, remains valid and binding. Guyana wants a final judgment also that the Essequibo region belongs to Guyana, and not Venezuela. Guyana had brought its case
A critical stage of the court case at The Hague will be heard via video conferencing next month, it has been disclosed
to the court following the decision by the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, in January 2018, that the
controversy between Guyana and Venezuela should be decided by the International Court of Justice.
Venezuela has claimed, in a letter to the Court, that the Secretary-General exceeded his authority under the Geneva Agreement, and
that the court therefore lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate Guyana's lawsuit. On this basis, Venezuela has (continued on page 16)
Saturday May 30, 2020
Kaieteur News
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PAHO rep says lack of interest slowing pace of implementation of tobacco control law
G
uyana has to get more serious about the implementation of its Tobacco Control legislation, Country representative for the Pan American Health Organization/ World Health O r g a n i z a t i o n (PAHO/WHO), Dr. William Adu-Krow has said. Dr. Adu-Krow shared those remarks during an event held yesterday in observance of World No Tobacco Day. While he lauded the efforts made to
have the tobacco control law, he also said that there is need for greater interest in its implementation and enforcement. “They have got be more proactive, take today for example, the departments in charge of enforcing the tobacco laws—the NonCommunicable Diseases (NCD) Unit and the Public Relations (PR) Department were a no show for this event,” he noted. According to the PAHO rep, it is this sort of attitude
that has stymied the pace of implementation of the tobacco law. Guyana's To b a c c o l a w s w e r e introduced almost three years ago but the Ministry of Public Health and other stakeholders have noted several hurdles to effective implementation. For one, officials attached to the Enforcement Unit have noted that a lack of funding has prevented it from embarking on any major campaign. Asked about the issue of funding, Dr. Adu-Krow noted that PAHO is committed to assisting countries with such hurdles. According to him, the organization has been putting up a budget from which countries that need assistance can benefit. “I understand that there may be some constraints but that should stop the efforts…if they need help, they should ask for it.” Guyana became a party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on December 14, 2005. The convention is focused on, inter alia, introducing legislation around the world to ban smoking in all indoor public places, and outdoor public
places; curtailing the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco; and ensuring that products are packaged and labeled with detailed health warnings. However, it was not until July 2017 and after a fiveyear process, these efforts culminated in the passage of the National Tobacco Act. With the introduction of the tobacco control laws came a new set of challenges, chief o f w h i c h w e r e implementation and enforcement. PAHO has noted that it is even more important to ensure that the measures outlined in the Act are implemented immediately, while at the same time countering the threats posed by interference from the local tobacco industry, aimed at reversing these public health gains. Meanwhile to mark World No Tobacco Day observed on May 31 this year, the global body has been appealing to young people in the Americas to recognise, expose and resist the deceptive tactics used by the tobacco industry and its allies to recruit new, younger customer. In a statement issued by the organization
PAHO rep Dr. William Adu–Krow Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO's Assistant Director, noted that the tobacco industry needs young people to buy their products, which may result in nicotine addiction, so that they become longterm consumers. She explained that, “This creates the opportunity to replace the 8 million people worldwide who die of tobacco-related causes every year. It is a matter of profits over people — an indefensible choice.” “We urge everyone to
become educated, raise awareness and help create a tobacco-free generation,” said Barbosa. “We each have a critical role to play.” According to the release, tobacco makers and their allies in the e-cigarette and related industries spend some $9 billion annually on aggressive marketing tactics, many of them specifically targeting children and youth. “Youth are a significant market segment for the industry, since studies show that 9 out of 10 smokers start before age 18. Globally, more than 40 million young people aged 13 to 15 have already started to use tobacco,” the statement added. Further, the release said that with this year's campaign, PAHO has joined t h e Wo r l d H e a l t h Organization (WHO) in seeking to debunk myths and expose the deception of marketing by the tobacco industry and its allies. “ T o b a c c o advertising—which includes product placement in films, TV and streaming —tries to make smoking and 'vaping' look modern, (continued on page 15)
Saturday May 30, 2020
Kaieteur News
More flooding in Region Nine
H
eavy rainfall in'Deep South' Rupununi, Region Nine, has caused creeks to overtop resulting in flooding in several communities. According to reports, the roadway at Aishalton Village in the vicinity of Kabanwau bridge, is flooded. Several farmlands are also currently under water with communities like Achawib and others under water as well; relief had to be
rushed days ago to flood-stricken Konashen. The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Monday travelled to Gunns/Masekenari Village in the Konashen District, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine), where it conducted a damage assessment and handed over 60 food hampers to the Toshao, Paul Chikema as residents continue to battle with rising waters in the village.
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File for an extension of stay APA Executive Director calls - US embassy advises Guyanese stuck in the States
T
here is an easy fix for Guyanese stuck in the United State and worried about over-staying their time, the US Embassy in Georgetown said yesterday – simply file an application for an extension. “Some non-immigrants may be forced to remain in the United States beyond their authorized period of stay because of travel restrictions stemming from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. If visa holders anticipate that they will be in the U.S. beyond their authorized period of stay, they should file for an extension of their stay through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by following the instructions at https://www.uscis.gov/i539,” the US Embassy said in a Facebook notice
on Indigenous communities to obey COVID-19 rules Executive Director of Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), Jean La Rose (right) along with APA executive Michael McGarrel
yesterday. The Embassy warned that lengthy stays in the United States on a visitor visa, and failure to request a timely extension of stay, can affect one's continued eligibility for a visitor's visa. Recently, the National COVID-19 Task Force approved the return of
roughly 300 Guyanese currently stuck in the US, once they take the test and are prepared for two weeks of quarantine. Under US law, it is illegal to overstay the time that immigration would allow at the time of stamping in at the ports.
E
xecutive Director of the Amerindian P e o p l e s Association (APA), Jean La Rose is calling on members of the various Indigenous communities across Guyana to desist from disobeying the Covid-19 rules. La Rose made the call during a telephone Interview with Kaieteur News last Tuesday. The Executive said that she was forced to make a public statement after she had received many reports that members of her hometown Santa Rosa, Moruca North West District (NWD) Region one have not been obeying the Covid-19 rules implemented for the nation's wellbeing. In fact, she said that many have not been cooperating with the local health authorities and some have even refused to be quarantined. La Rose also noted that rumours have also been circulating in Indigenous communities that the novel coronavirus is a political gimmick and not a real disease. Others, she added, have chosen to rely on cultural remedies such medicinal plants to protect
them against infection. She said that, misled by the rumours and over-reliant on their beliefs, Amerindian men and women have continued to traverse and intermingle with each other without adhering to the rules. They continue to visit the mines regularly and gather at bars for recreational drinks. La Rose told this paper that such ignorance must be fought and wants more education and awareness in the Amerindian communities. The executive hopes that the recent Covid-19 death of a highly respected individual, the Late Vincent Torres within the Santa Rosa Community of Moruca can serve as a wake-up call for many Indigenous people who reside in the hinterland communities. With travel restricted into the villages, La Rose has taken to social media over the past few days to both share information and make direct appeals to the Indigenous communities. “ To d a y I w a k e u p knowing,” La Rose posted on her Facebook page yesterday, “that my village Santa Rosa has multiple cases of COVID19. If this is not a wakeup call
for residents, then nothing will be. To those who are still in denial, think not of yourself, but of the other family members who could become infected by just one person who is careless. Think about the innocent people who you have put at risk. From the inception, I have been urging people to be careful and take all necessary precautions but this cannot happen when everyone else behave[s] like it is life as usual. Considering that no one is infallible.” According to recent figures coming out of the Ministry of Public Health, three out of the four hinterland regions across Guyana have reported positive cases of Covid-19. In a recent press release by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Seven, it was revealed that eight persons have tested positive within the district for the novel coronavirus. Meanwhile in Moruca, a sub-district of Region One, there have been two confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 with one death. Lethem and Mabaruma have also confirmed positive cases.
Kaieteur News
Saturday May 30, 2020
Five-car accident on West Bank Demerara
Recount extended to - as 82 boxes 13th June counted on Day 24
A five-car accident occurred yesterday afternoon at Schoonord, West Bank Demerara – luckily, there were no injuries (Sandra-dee Barker photos).
Barbados government spends over $26 million in benefits for needy
T
he government of Barbados has spent in excess of $ 2 6 m i l l i o n i n unemployment benefits and is supporting more than 1,500 needy families. Prime Minister Mia Mottley disclosed the strain on the government purse in light of the impact of C O V I D - 1 9 . Wi t h t h e country recording almost 40 per cent unemployment up from 10.5 per cent preCOVID, Mottley said: "As of today we had 41,836 claims for unemployment benefit and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) has in fact paid out already to 23,000 and those claims are not necessarily people, but this one is people they have paid out to 23,735 people advances on their unemployment benefit claims to the tune so far of $26.4million. That clearly is going forward." She was pleased to say that to date some 500 persons returned to work
after the ease in restrictions during Phase 3, but she noted that the demand for unemployment is still hefty as more businesses and sectors come back on stream from next Tuesday, In respect to the families that Barbados pledged to support, Barbados' leader said that the picture is dire for more persons than expected. Initially, back in March, on March 20 to be exact, the Prime Minister said her administration was looking to support 1,500 families in the Adopt-A-Family Programme, "that number. . . has gone closer to 2,000." And in explaining why they cannot be hard and fast with the 1,500 as a cutoff mark, she added: "The truth is that the government is going to have to make some adjustments because there is still a demand for some who are really still falling through the cracks." But she said that there are checks and balances to make sure that no one is
trying to beat the system and depleting more than one government resource. "Persons are asked to confirm that they are not receiving money from NIS and indeed if they are getting from Welfare, we do a topping-up rather unless the exigencies of the household have six and eight and nine people in it and clearly then you have to have a different approach and we use Welfare to help us with the additional benefits that they give out." Luckily, she reminded that there was an increase in all Welfare benefits from April 1 by 40 per cent. "Those benefits and amounts had not been increased for decades." The first COVID-19 cases locally were recorded on March 16, schools closed March 18 and Barbados implemented a curfew and a partial lockdown from March 28. Some persons have been unemployed since March 29 as a direct result of COVID-19.
PAHO rep says lack of interest slowing... From page 12 sophisticated, grown-up and cool. In reality, tobacco use causes not only serious illnesses like heart disease, cancer and lung disease, but also bad breath, discoloured teeth, and wrinkled skin. Tobacco companies also try to recruit new users by sponsoring scholarships, youth camps, concerts and
sporting events. Furthermore, smokeless and water pipe tobacco are also sold in sweet and fruity flavours to appeal to children and young people.” PAHO noted in the release that even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the tobacco and nicotine industry has continued to promote products that limit people's ability to fight
coronavirus and recover from the disease. The industry has offered free branded masks and their home delivery during quarantine and has lobbied for its products to be listed as “essential”. The Global Health Organization is therefore calling on young people to join together to become a “tobacco-free generation.”
PAGE 15
Table illustrating processed and outstanding ballot boxes
A
fter failing to complete the N a t i o n a l Recount within the 25 days initially allocated, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has extended the date of the exercise to June 13, thereby providing an additional 14 days to complete the recount. In a gazetted addendum, it stated that the recount shall be conducted continuously e a c h d a y, i n c l u d i n g weekends and holidays, from 08:00hrs to 19:00hrs at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) at Liliendaal on the East Coast. It additionally stated that the recount shall process with 12 workstations until its conclusion, an increase of two workstations from what was stated in the order. According to the order, the Commission shall, after deliberating on the report, determine whether it should request the Chief Elections
Officer (CEO) to use the data compiled in accordance with paragraph 12 as the basis for the submission of a report under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act Cap, provided that the Commission shall, no later than three days after receiving the report, make the declaration of the results of the credible count of the elections held on the March 2, 2020. Paragraph 12 of the order stipulates that the matrices for the recount of the ten electoral districts shall then be tabulated by the Chief Elections Officer and shall be submitted in a report, together with a summary of the observation reports for each district to the Commission. Meanwhile, on what was Day 24 of the National Recount exercise, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) managed to complete the recount of an additional 82
ballot boxes. This now increases the total number of recounted ballot boxes to 1,548, with 791 to be counted. GECOM's Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward, informed the media last evening that the distribution for boxes was 25 for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); 24 for Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); nine for Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni); 11 for Region Nine (Upper Takaku-Upper Essequibo) and 13 for R e g i o n Te n ( U p p e r Demerara- Berbice). She went on to state that of the total number of Statements of Recount 1,521 were tabulated for the General Election and 1,491 for the Regional E l e c t i o n . Notably, the recount for Regions One, Two, Three and Seven have also been completed, with Region Eight expected to be closed off tomorrow.
New Amsterdam Hospital recalls body from funeral parlour in bizarre incident
A
rather bizarre story was relayed to Kaieteur News late last evening of an interesting occurrence between a funeral parlour and doctors at the New Amsterdam Hospital. A c c o r d i n g t o information received, the funeral home was contacted to uplift a dead body in Angoy's Avenue around 6pm. It was understood that the undertakers ventured to the location and uplifted the body of a man and
transported it to the New Amsterdam Hospital. The body was reportedly pronounced dead on arrival to the hospital and taken to the funeral home for storage until a post mortem examination was to be conducted. Kaieteur News was informed that half an hour after the body was placed in cold storage, a call was received from the hospital requesting that the body be returned to the hospital. The reason given was that the doctors may have felt
a pulse on the victim before he was sent back to the parlour. The body was immediately taken back to the hospital where checks were done. Thankfully, no mispronouncement was made and the man was indeed deceased before being placed into the freezer. It was said that the doctors wanted a blood sample from the victim to perform a test for the COVID-19 virus. The body was later returned to the funeral home where it awaits an autopsy.
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Saturday May 30, 2020
Kaieteur News
Gunraj, Alexander give conflicting accounts of Claudette Singh's actions
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From page 3 things,” Gunraj said. He added that if GECOM were clothed with such a responsibility, that it might have already investigated and made findings on the actions of the Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, “in relation to the fraudulent declarations that he attempted to perpetuate on this nation, thereby attempting to thwart the will of the electorate…” The Returning Officer's manipulation of figures which led to his declarations of March 13, 2020 has been verified and documented by this newspaper in a series of articles. Gunraj was asked, specifically, whether he was aware of any information supplied by the Coalition being sent by GECOM to the Chief Immigration Officer. He responded, “As far as I'm aware, at a Commission level, no information was received from any political party who contested this, the elections on March 2, 2020. And the Commission has taken no decision to investigate or to send it anywhere because, like I said, we have not received any such document.” Asked whether he was aware that any member of the Secretariat sent out such a letter, he said he is not. He added, however, that on the assumption that the Secretariat made such a move on its own, to send information to the Chief Immigration Officer, that those staffers “obviously are engaging in a frolic of their own, and will defi-
nitely face consequences, thereof.” P P P Executive, Anil Nandlall pointed to the divergence of accounts given by the Commissioners, last night. He said, “These are two members of the Commission representing different political interests and you would have heard Mr. Alexander make the startling disclosure that the Secretariat has written or is about to write certain public authorities requesting certain information relative to allegations which APNU+AFC have been making.” Nandlall said that the Secretariat is subordinate to the Commission, and so, if such a move was made, “that there is an unholy
collaboration between Government Commissioners and certain elements of the Secretariat acting in consort to carry out the agenda of the APNU+AFC.” He said that this is evidenced by what appears to be that the Secretariat is working on behalf of the Commission, even though some members of the Commission are unaware of what is happening. “Even if it is that the Chairperson may have sent the letter or the CEO, it must be a decision of the Commission,” Nandlall told reporters. Kaieteur News reached out to GECOM's Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward,
yesterday to determine whether she would be providing an in-person update at the media centre, as she has seldom done so in recent days. Ward said that she is attempting to arrange a Monday press conference. If that arrangement is not secured, she has committed to giving an inperson briefing today. Four subsequent calls to Ward, to seek clarity on the specific matter of the Commissioners' conflicting accounts, went unanswered. Reporters have repeatedly asked GECOM for a press conference with the full Commission or the Chair. The Chair, Justice Singh has not presented herself to the media at all, since the recount started.
ExxonMobil encounters more issues, now flaring 15 million... From page 8 and Energy Programme, Nikki Reisch, said ExxonMobil had not taken adequate measures to prevent this harmful and unnecessary practice in the first place. The official said, “…Exxon claims the flaring was temporary and exceptional, due to failures of equipment designed to re-inject the gas into the ground. If so, that bodes poorly for the company's capacity or willingness to mitigate other foreseeable environmental impacts, not to mention any potential disasters that could accompany deepwater operations.” CIEL's Senior Attorney, Erika Lennon is also concerned about the flaring in Guyana. In fact, Lennon is
convinced that ExxonMobil's whole plan to develop oil in Guyana threatens to transform the country into a carbon bomb. “Wasteful and harmful gas flaring is just one more way that is happening,” the Senior Attorney concluded. FLARING APPROVED According to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that the EPA approved for Liza Phase One, flaring is permissible at various intervals until 2040. In the document that Kaieteur News perused, ExxonMobil notes that flaring would actually be temporary and non-routine. In fact, its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) intends to re-inject all opera-
tionally, produced gas under routine conditions, except that which will be utilised for FPSO operations (e.g., fuel gas). It was further noted that a flare system will be provided for the collection and safe disposition of produced hydrocarbon gases resulting from unplanned, non-routine relief and blowdown events. The EIA states that relief events occur to prevent overpressure scenarios in the process equipment. It further clarifies that blowdown events occur to depressure the facilities in a controlled manner as a result of emergency shutdown events. In addition, the EIA states that temporary, non-routine flaring will occur during equipment maintenance, process upsets, and start-up.
World Court to hold jurisdiction arguments... From page 11 indicated that it will not participate in the proceedings. On November 19, 2018, Guyana submitted its memorial to the court refuting Venezuela's arguments and “demonstrating” that the court has jurisdiction. The Ministry pointed out that under the United Nations Charter and the court's own rules, its final judgments both on jurisdiction and the merits will be legally binding on Guyana and Venezuela, whether or not Venezuela participates in the proceedings. The case is being closely watched as Guyana has started producing oil. The border case can last up to five years, Government had said. Venezuela had a few years ago illegally projected its claims on the border and a
major part of the mineral-rich Essequibo to even the waters that ExxonMobil has been developing its oil field, about 100 miles from Georgetown. The APNU+AFC government has said that over two decades of talks between the two countries have failed and the matter must be settled once and for all. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It was established by the United Nations Charter in June 1945 and began its activities in April 1946. The Court is composed of 15 judges elected for a nineyear term by the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations. The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.
Saturday May 30, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Saturday May 30, 2020
Saturday May 30, 2020
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Kaieteur News
...U.S. college towns on edge as coronavirus threatens football season
Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Will Levis (7) scores a touchdown against the Maryland Terrapins in the fourth quarter at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. (Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo)
Saturday May 30, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) If you woke up this morning and just wanted to stay in bed rather than start your day, know that you aren't alone. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You may find yourself taking the high road today. Maybe you're even further aloft than that, like a bird soaring above the landscape. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today you'll feel as though your energy has come home. Living in lockdown has played into your tendency to hide at home when you aren't feeling 100 percent yourself. CANCER(June21–July22) Your wacky personality will be appreciated today, but don't take it too far. Leave room for seriousness to enter the picture. There's a dreamy, cloudy sensation to the day that might make it difficult for you to concentrate on any one thing. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Try to feel at ease today, Leo. Remember that inner peace is a big part of your health, and maintaining that baseline is critical during a pandemic. Find peace through reflection and a quiet review of where you are in life. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) It may be hard to find answers today, Virgo. It may also be hard for you to get your point across, especially since everyone's head is in the clouds. Don't be surprised if your own head takes a trip up there as well.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) This is your day. You may find that people gravitate to you for advice and support. They're apt to lower their guard and more openly accept things you believe in. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) It's important for you to be extra cautious today, Scorpio. If you absolutely must go out, make sure you're calm and collected before getting behind the wheel of a car. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You may not want to admit something today, although you know it's true. It becomes more obvious than you think if you're hiding behind a barrier. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Like playing a game of chess, think carefully about your next move, Capricorn. Maybe your opponent is taking a long time to make their next move. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Come out of your shell today, Aquarius. You'll notice that people are much more sensitive to your feelings because they seem to be more emotional themselves. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may feel a bit restless, because you feel something brewing but can't identify it yet. This energy is like a river rushing below while you stand on a bridge. The water is tempting, but you can't summon the courage to jump in.
From page 22 campus as early as June 1, if schools and local laws do not prohibit them. And this week, college football officials and TV networks extended a June 1 target for determining the season’s early game times. Asked about the upcoming season, Penn State Athletics said it would continue “planning for various scenarios.” Georgia’s athletics director declined to comment on contingency plans for the season. For the big programs, football generates the lion’s share of athletic revenues, and any disruption will feed through university budgets and local economies where the schools are major employers. More than $100 million of the Penn State athletics department’s $164.5 million operating revenue came from football during the 2018-2019 fiscal year, according to its annual NCAA financial report. Nearly $37 million came from ticket sales for games at the 106,000-seat Beaver Stadium. In Georgia it is even bigger, with the grid iron program accounting for $123 million out of total sports revenue of $174 million. Home game ticket sales totaled $34.6 million. The budget pressures from a canceled season will force tough decisions about other programs that count on a slice of the football pie, said
T20 World Cup fate... From page 20 at this stage. However, Roberts accepted that based on the Covid-19 situation at the time, the number of venues might be shrunk. “It’s still very early days,” he said. “The international season doesn’t start for some time. So you’d appreciate those plans will evolve. We are exploring all options, from chartered flights in from other countries through to creating bio-security bubbles in different venues, and it may well be as much as we’ve released the schedule and we have for example four Indian Tests scheduled for four states, that assumes that state borders are open to domestic travel. “It may be that circumstances dictate that when the time comes, maybe we can use only one or two venues. We don’t know any of that yet. We need to plan for all those scenarios. There are a lot of variables based on whether we have four venues.”
Ken Rodgers, a director at S&P. “That’s sort of the unfortunate reality.” Even pushing the football season to the spring comes with challenges: After losing the end of the lucrative basketball season in March, many colleges and universities will be reluctant to trample on the basketball schedule this season. ‘A SOCIAL RITUAL’ For the people who measure their lives in first downs, the uncertainty is a hard pill to swallow. “I wouldn’t even know what Penn State would be like without a football season,” said rising Penn State University senior Emily Sensale, a Champs waitress who has been attending
games since she was 13. “As much as I obviously, selfishly want the 110,000 people in the stadium,” said Sensale, “I just personally don’t know how it would affect people’s safety.” Brett Bawcum, acting director of Georgia’s Redcoat marching band, said the football season is an experience that would be difficult to replace for the roughly 430 students under his leadership, who brought Sanford Stadium to its feet with renditions of “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “Don’t Stop Believing” last year. “Honestly it’s as deep of a social ritual as you will find anywhere,” said Bawcum. “There are lives that revolve around it.”
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Kaieteur News
- Cricket Australia chief T20 World Cup fate under ‘very high risk’ executive Kevin Roberts ESPNcricinfo - The ICC may continue to insist that this year’s men’s T20 World Cup in Australia has not yet been postponed, but Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts said yesterday there’s “a very high risk about the prospect” of the tournament taking place as planned in OctoberNovember. Roberts’ comments came a day after the emergence of a communication from CA chairman Earl Eddings to the ICC in which he asked for Australia to be able to host the event in the same window next year. The tournament, featuring 16 teams (including eight qualifiers for four spots), is scheduled to be held between October 18 and November 15, but as reported earlier this week, there is a strong likelihood of the event being postponed, something the ICC said on Wednesday was “inaccurate.” On Thursday, the ICC board was meant to discuss the postponement and contingency planning, but eventually deferred that discussion to June 10. “The timing of the men’s T20 World Cup is really a matter for the ICC,” Roberts said yesterday in a virtual media briefing. “Obviously, we’ve been hopeful all along that it could be staged in October-November. But you’d have to say that there’s a very high risk about the prospect of that happening.” In case the World Cup does get postponed, Roberts said there were a few potential windows to stage the event in 2021 and 2022, some of which were listed by ESPNcricinfo on Wednesday. “In the event that that doesn’t happen, there are other potential windows in the February-March period, October-November the following year.” However, Roberts stressed that the ICC would have to “deal with a lot of complexity” in order to work out an alternate window, especially since India are scheduled to host the 2021
Local T20 World Cup organisers and cricket fans at an event in Sydney. (Getty Images) men’s T20 World Cup (scheduled for OctoberNovember) and the 2023 men’s ODI World Cup (scheduled for FebruaryMarch). “There’s implications for ICC events over a number of years,” Roberts said. “They need to be thinking about when to stage the men’s T20 World Cup that’s planned for Australia. There’s another one planned in India a year later and then in 2023 there’s the men’s cricket World Cup for India as well. And not to forget on the women’s side of the ledger, you’ve got the cricket World Cup in NZ early next year. The ICC is juggling a lot of balls there and looking at the windows that are possible over the coming years.” Roberts’ comments come on the back of Eddings writing to the ICC to say it would be “detrimental to cricket” in case the “cancellation” of the World Cup in Australia this year is “replaced by award of” the tournament in OctoberNovember 2022. Contents of Eddings’ correspondence
with the ICC were reported by the Times of India on Thursday. Eddings instead suggested that Australia host the event in OctoberNovember 2021 and India stage the tournament on roughly the same dates a year later in 2022. Doing that, Eddings said, would financially help all the member countries. “Australia has thankfully managed to flatten the (Covid19) curve, meaning there is greater certainty of being able to play in Australia in 2021 (which is key to maintaining member distribution). This would give India another year to resolve any Covid-related problems,” the paper quoted Eddings as saying in his communication, which it said was only addressed to the ICC’s Finance and Commercial Affairs (F&CA) committee. The F&CA is headed by former ICC president Ehsan Mani, who is currently the chairman of the PCB as well. The other members of the F&CA are Imran Khawaja (ICC deputy chairman), Colin
Graves (ECB chairman), Chris Nenzani (CSA chairman), former Pepsico CEO Indra Nooyi (independent women’s director) and Eddings. Shashank Manohar (ICC chairman) and Manu Sawhney (ICC CEO) sit as exofficio members in the committee along with Ankur Khanna (ICC chief financial officer) as the secretary. Test venues for India tour could be cut to ‘one or two’ Roberts said that in case the World Cup is ruled out this year, CA would suffer a potential loss of approximately A$20 million (US$13.3 million approx.). As far as the international summer is concerned, CA has forecast a shortfall of around A$80 million (US$53.3 million approx.). Roberts said that about A$10 million (US$6.66 million approx.) would be spent on creating the biosecure environment that is being considered for cricket to resume with precautions. On Thursday, CA released the home schedule for 2020-21, which includes India playing three T20Is in October
Roger Federer is the world’s highest-paid athlete OlympicTalk - Roger Federer is the world’s highest-paid athlete, the first time a tennis player took the No. 1 spot in Forbes’ annual list of the 100 top earners since its inception in 1990. Federer, the 38-year-old, 20-time Grand Slam singles champion, earned $106.3 million in the last 12 months — $100 million via endorsements, according to the report.
He edged Cristiano Ronaldo ($105 million) for No. 1. They were followed by fellow Olympians Lionel Messi ($104 million), Neymar ($95.5 million) and LeBron James ($88.2 million). Messi and Ronaldo were Nos. 1 and 2 in 2019, when Federer was fifth. The highest-ranked woman, as reported last week, is Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka at No. 29 ($37.4 million), who
supplanted Serena Williams ($36 million), who is No. 33. They are the lone women in the top 100, marking the first time multiple women made the list since Williams and Maria Sharapova in 2016. The breakdown of the 100 athletes: Basketball — 35 Football — 31 Soccer — 14 Tennis — 6
Boxing — 4 Golf — 4 Auto Racing — 3 Baseball — 1 (Clayton Kershaw) Cricket — 1 (Virat Kohli) MMA — 1 (Conor McGregor) Tiger Woods was No. 1 for 11 straight years from 2001-11. Michael Jordan was No. 1 for six years in the 1990s.
followed by four Tests (starting December 3) and then three ODIs in January 2021. Zimbabwe, West Indies, Afghanistan and New
Zealand are also scheduled to feature in men’s bilateral series with several venues across Australia pencilled in (Continued on page 19)
Jamaican bobsleigh team push a Mini to keep Olympic dream alive PETERBOROUGH, England (Reuters) - The Jamaican bobsleigh team is used to training without snow, but the coronavirus lockdown has seen its male athletes resort to pushing a car around the streets of an English city to stay in shape, with an eye on Olympic qualification. Some residents of Peterborough have offered their help to Shanwayne Stephens and Nimroy Turgott as they push a Mini down the road, before realising it is part of a new training regime to work around the closure of gyms in England. “We had to come up with our own ways of replicating the sort of pushing we need to do. So that’s why we thought: why not go out and push the car?” Stephens, 29, told Reuters. “We do get some funny looks. We’ve had people run over, thinking the car’s broken down, trying to help us bump-start the car. When we tell them we’re the Jamaica bobsleigh team, the direction is totally different, and they’re very excited.” The couple said they had been inspired by the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics men’s bobsleigh team, immortalised in the 1993 film
Cool Runnings. But they said they aimed to qualify for the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022 and then outperform the 1988 team, who did not officially finish the four-man bob competition after crashing. “Those guys set a legacy, and a movie came out of it. For me personally, I want to surpass that level, and even go beyond that,” Turgott, 27, said. Turgott, who normally lives in Jamaica, has been staying with Stephens since January, and the pair had always planned to do summer training in Britain, albeit in gyms rather than on roads. “If you’re able to do the same sort of training without the same equipment, then you should be able to achieve more with the right equipment,” he said. The pair are focused on qualifying for Beijing 2022. While the woman’s team competed for the first time in 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea, the men’s team failed to qualify. “The last Olympics, we missed it by one slot. And now we are using that experience as our motivation moving forward,” Turgott said.
Saturday May 30, 2020
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Percival is most successful Regional U-19 Captain - But never fulfilled his immense talent shown at 16 By Sean Devers Guyana dominated Regional U-19 cricket in the 1990s winning an unprecedented six consecutive 3-day titles from 1992 to 1997 and Berbician Andre Ricardo Percival is the most successful U-19 Captain in the Caribbean, winning from 1992-1994. Mahendra Nagamootoo (1995 Grenada), Vishaul Nagamootoo (1996 Jamaica) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (1997 Guyana) were the other Captains to win Championships honours during that period. Clive Lloyd is the most successful West Indies Test Skipper, while Leon Johnson is the most successful Regional First-Class Captain and Percival, who led the West Indies at U-19 level, joined his Countrymen as excellent tacticians on the cricket field. In 1992 the pair of lefthanders, Percival and Shiv Chanderpaul, made their FirstClass debuts as 16-year-olds and rest is history. In a 31-match career which lasted up to 2005, Percival batted 54 times, scored 1,271 runs with a highest score of 96 at an average of 27.04 with seven fifties including 96 in 2002 and 91 in 1997. Percival enjoyed his best years in First-Class Cricket in 1996 and 2003 when he scored two fifties in those seasons. Percival favoured the Bajan attack and three of his
Coach Percival and-Keeper Melanie Henry during a fielding drill at the Providence nets. seven fifties were made against them including his 96 and 91 when he was dismissed with a beauty from Ian Bradshaw. In Regional 50-over cricket, Percival made 234 runs from 22 matches from 14 innings between 1994 and 1999 with a highest score of 45 in 1995 and an average 21.27. The 45-year-old played four T20 games in the 2006 Stanford T20 tournament in Antigua. He also played two T20 games for Suriname in Florida in 2013. Percival has a highest score of 195 against Essequibo and two centuries
and nine half-centuries after making his debut for Berbice as promising teenager. Percival has three FirstClass wickets and one each in Regional 50-over format and T20s, bowling right-are medium pace. He played 22 matches in five years at the youth level and scored three fifties and a century before leading the West Indies colts in five Youth Tests and three ‘ODIs’ against England. The former Berbice and Guyana batsman was born January 5, 1975 to Gordon and Easter grew up in Rose Hall Town. Percival, who has two
Staging of IPL critical to country’s morale, says Delhi chairman NEW DELHI, India, CMC – Delhi Capitals chairman, Parth Jindal, believes the return of the Indian Premier League would help boost the morale of a nation fighting to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic. India closed its borders last March in an effort to contain the spread of the virus which has so far resulted in 158,000 infections and 4,531 deaths nationwide. The lucrative IPL, which features a galaxy of West Indies Twenty20 starts, was expected to bowl off in March but has been suspended indefinitely. “COVID-19 has put live sports in a difficult spot, especially in terms of fan engagement,” said Jindal, whose franchise boasts the West Indies pair of allrounder Keemo Paul and
stroke-maker Shimron Hetmyer. “The need for live sports has never been felt in this way before, and it’s vital to bring it back to heighten the morale of the population.” Media reports here say the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) is eyeing the OctoberNovember window for the hosting of the tournament. T h e T 2 0 Wo r l d i s scheduled to be played during that period but the International Cricket Council is yet to confirm it will go ahead. And while not calling outright for authorities to push ahead with the staging of the IPL, Jindal said India needed to look to the example of countries like England and Germany where live sports were resuming amidst the ongoing threat of COVID-19. “Globally, there are countries worse affected than
India who are gradually resuming their national leagues like the Premier League in England, and Bundesliga in Germany,” he pointed out. “Talks have begun on the NBA’s comeback in America too. I feel the IPL has a huge role in uplifting the spirits of the country.” He added: “There can be no substitute for live sport. Fans may not have access to stadiums this year, but that will give the franchises and broadcasters an opportunity to innovate their fan engagement even more.” Several of the IPL’s biggest names hail from the Caribbean with the likes of veteran batsman Chris Gayle, all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, off-spinner Sunil Narine and West Indies white-ball captain Kieron Pollard down to participate.
sisters and one brother, attended Rose Hall Primary, Lower Corentyne Secondary and then moved on to Corentyne Comprehensive. “I first got interested in cricket from playing in the school yard and on the street. I was told to join a club that’s how it all started,” informed Percival who began playing at the first division level as a school boy. A hard worker, Percival was an attractive middle order batsman who played for Malteenoes in Georgetown and Port Mourant, Albion and Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports club in Berbice. He also represented Church Cricket Club in the Transco Lancashire League in 2002. After good performances for Berbice at the U-19 level, he made the Guyana U-19 team at age 15 in the 1990 Northern Telecom Regional Youth Championship, played in Trinidad and Tobago. He scored his only century in his fourth and last year in youth cricket, against Trinidad and Tobago at the Wanderers ground in Barbados, in 1994. “My most memorable match was getting that hundred against Trinidad in my final year in youth level, while my most memorable game for West Indies U-19 against young England, the team was in trouble and I made a match winning innings,” Percival disclosed. With the pressure mounting and the balls running out Percival hit a cameo unbeaten 17 from nine balls and hit the winning run against Jamaica in the inaugural Stanford T20 in Antigua before Guyana beat T&T in the final to make Percival and his team-mates Millionaires. Percival was
Gajanand Singh and Percival (right) bats for New Line Cavaliers. then 31. “At the senior level for Guyana in the Stanford T20 Tournament, finishing off the game against Jamaica and winning the title are some of my most my most unforgettable moments,” informed Percival, who has two kids. “The fastest bowler I ever faced was Nixon McLean. We were playing a Regional tournament in St Vincent and he bowled really fast that day…so yeah he is the fastest I faced,” said Percival who played football but just at club level. “Back in our days in club cricket we used to put a lot of effort into the game and played for pride but it is mostly about the money now and many players are not doing what they are supposed to be doing. We need more cricket constantly at both the club and Franchise level. It’s like you play now and another few months after you play again, we need more competitive cricket, better facilities with better pitches,” said Percival whose favourite player is Gordon Greenidge. Percival, whose biggest disappointment was not playing Test cricket, advised young players to take the game serious, focus on their role and remain disciplined. A Coach and part time Taxi driver, Percival enjoy socialising with friends and family and loves Curried Chicken. In 2018 the new executives of the Hilbert Foster led Berbice Cricket Board appointed Percival and Delbert Hicks as manager and coach respectively of the
Berbice U-17 team. Percival is a Berbice and National Women’s Coach. As a National Women’s Coach, Percival is dissatisfied with the way the Women’s game in Guyana is being treated. “Not enough is being done for Women’s cricket. For Women’s cricket to improve we need more matches. They need to get together more, we just can’t pick a team a few days before a tournament and have very little time to prepare and hope to be successful. When you looked at the female school cricket tournament which is supposed to be a feeder for the Guyana U-19 team, the standard was very poor with some of them playing cricket for the first time. I think Coaches or National players should be sent to work with the boys and girls and then help to pick the various school teams,” said Percival. He commended the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports club for being the only club in Guyana with systems which caters for female cricketers. “There is no hardball cricket for females to play in Demerara and Essequibo and I believe that in Georgetown the only cricket they get to is for softball teams as preparation for the Women’s inter-county tournaments,” concluded Percival. At the Ceremony to celebrate the Berbice Cricket Board 80 anniversary last year, Percival was among those who were honoured for their contribution to Berbice and Guyana’s cricket.
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Kaieteur News
Usain Bolt on Carl Lewis tweet: I will Premier League says ‘home and away’ venues remains wish never complain about everything
Usain Bolt and Carl Lewis aren’t exactly close friends. NBC Sports - Usain Bolt and Carl Lewis aren’t exactly close friends. It’s been almost 12 years since Lewis publicly questioned the legitimacy of Bolt’s record-setting performances at the Beijing Olympics in a sport “that has the reputation it has right now.” It’s been almost eight years since Bolt said of Lewis, “Nobody really remembers who he is.” It’s been six years since Lewis reportedly said, “He needs to back up now and maybe respect me a little bit more.” More recently, Lewis tweeted on May 4, “It’s time we have an honest conversation about the future of our sport. The present
financial model is unsustainable. The global pandemic has changed the future of sport forever. We need to discuss the federations and the number of athletes competing.” The tweet was followed by a link to a Financial Times article on the financial impact of a delayed Tokyo Olympics on World Athletics. In a Gazzetta dello Sport interview published Friday, Bolt was asked to comment on the first sentence of Lewis’ tweet, noting Lewis has often questioned aspects of today’s track and field. Bolt, in response, said that in retirement he will never become one who complains about everything and makes comparisons with the past,
according to a Google Translated version of the Q&A. All sports must evolve with the changing times. Bolt has expressed opinions on sprinting since his 2017 retirement. Notably, on the dearth of young, male Jamaican prospects. “I’ve walked away from the sport, and no one is there to pick it up, pick up the pieces, keep the level,” Bolt said last summer. “It’s embarrassing for the country. Every time I see people, [they say] come back. We need you. But you have so much talent in Jamaica.” “I don’t think it is going to get any better because I think these youngsters are a little bit spoiled,” Bolt added then, according to Reuters.
Over-50s Cricket World Cup Committee says next tourney maybe until 2022 In a statement from Stirling Hamman, Chairman of the Over-50s Cricket World Cup Committee, the body has indicated that the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced a major rethink of the sporting world and the next scheduled Over-50 tournament could be held until 2022. “It seems like yesterday that we were all together at the Over-50s Cricket World Cup in Cape Town. However, just two months later we are in a totally different place facing a totally different future, at least for the next year. When we said our “bon voyages” in Cape Town, which saw everyone apart
from three members of the Sri Lankan contingent (Mahes and Tina de Zoysa, and Suranjith Dharmasena) make it safely home, your Over-50s Cricket World Cup Committee advised that we would announce the future of the event by 1, September 2020, with it most likely to be held in Cape Town in March of 2021. However, the rapid pace and dramatic effect of COVID-19 on the world’s health and economies has forced us to reconsider this as we now have enough facts and likely scenarios to guide us in our decision making,” he stated in the release. Hamman continued in the release, “Hence, we advise all of the Over-50s Cricket World Cup participating countries and those who may consider applying in the future that the next Over-50s Cricket World Cup will not be staged until at least 2022. We also advise it is the Committee’s intention to hold the event in Cape Town in
March 2022 and this will be confirmed by 1, January 2021. In the meantime, as all countries will be at different stages on the recovery curve over the next year or so, we sincerely encourage as many bilateral and trilateral Over-50s International series between neighboring member nations as possible. Please advise Jim Morrison (over50sworldcup@gmail.com) of any such fixtures ASAP for publication on www.over50scricket.com and the Facebook page so we can all enjoy your matches.” The release noted that, “…the stranded members of the Sri Lankan group are being safely cared for by Roger Moult and our VCASA colleagues in Cape Town until their pending departure home. We will be in contact with everyone in due course. In the meantime, stay safe,” the release concluded.
MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - The Premier League, which will resume on June 17, says its aim is for the remaining games to be played on the usual home and away basis but that they have a contingency plan for neutral venues. The initial suggestion from the UK government had been for the closed-door matches to be played at neutral venues but some clubs have expressed opposition to that idea — views that have been put to the government by the league. Some media reports have suggested that select games which may have a risk of fans gathering outside grounds, such as the Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool, would still be held at a neutral venue even if most matches are held on a home/ away basis. “The Premier League’s ambition is to complete all of our remaining fixtures this season home and away, where possible,” the league said in a statement yesterday. “We are working with our clubs to ensure risks are assessed and minimised, while co-operating with the police at a local and national level.
General view of the Premier League logo on a match ball before the match Burnley v AFC Bournemouth. (REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo) “Discussions with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and UK Football Policing Unit have been positive and are continuing. We are prepared for all outcomes and have a neutral venue contingency,” the statement concluded. Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters told Sky Sports News: “We’ll have a clearer picture in the next seven to 10 days but we hope the amount of games (at neutral grounds) will be low.” “...(the police) have legitimate concerns but we
think we can mitigate some of the issues they’re trying to deal with. “Ultimately, we want the season to be played out on the pitch and we’re discussing a number of options to make it as fair as possible.” The Premier League was suspended on March 13 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic but teams returned to small group training last week and on Wednesday voted unanimously to return to contact training, including tackling.
U.S. college towns on edge as coronavirus threatens football season (Reuters) - In 2019, Dante Lucchesi and his Champs Sports Grill in State College, Pennsylvania, were on a roll. The 400-seat restaurant his father opened in 1986 was full every weekend when Penn State University’s powerhouse football team took the field. The downtown location he added in 2017, with roughly twice the capacity and just over a block from campus, was the runner-up in Barstool Sports’ Best College Bar contest and host to a surprise Jonas Brothers concert featured on the Today Show. But now, like thousands of local business owners in university towns across the country, Lucchesi faces the unthinkable: A year of college football wiped off the calendar because of a pandemic that has torpedoed the economy and may rewrite the rules for mass public gatherings. On seven or eight weekends each fall, thousands of fans and alumni pour into State College, a town of fewer than 45,000, to watch the Nittany Lions football team. In a region that
saw no economic growth in 2018, the last year for which local-level data is available, football weekends are vital. “I don’t have the answers. I’m not going to pretend like I do,” said Lucchesi. “My business hinges on this, on the football season and everything.” Seven hundred miles south in Athens, Georgia, Peter Dale is anxiously awaiting word on season plans for the Sugar Bowlwinning University of Georgia and what it might mean for his three restaurants – the National, Seabear and Maepole. “People are just now starting to think about what are some of the options, but none of them are very good,” he said. David Bradley, head of the local chamber of commerce, estimated 220,000 out-oftowners descended on Athens - nearly twice the city’s population - for the Bull Dogs’ nail-biting win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish last September. “For home games, you’re probably talking about a $3 to $4 million economic impact
into the community, on a positive side when you’ve got games and on the negative side when you don’t,” Bradley said. “So it’s a really big deal.” ‘THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY’ Like major professional leagues, college programs are weighing options for salvaging a season, which typically kicks off in earnest in September. Possibilities include requiring fans to space out in stadiums, holding games without spectators, even postponing the season until the spring. In many cases, the football season decision hinges on whether campuses reopen to students. The University of Michigan, a Penn State rival in the Big 10 Conference, will not field a team if students did not return to campus in the fall, its president told the Wall Street Journal. There is uncertainty about when college football will be back. The NCAA has said student-athletes can resume voluntary activities on (Continued on page 19)
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Saturday May 30, 2020
FA Cup final to be held on August 1 Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling celebrates winning the FA Cup final with the trophy at Wembley Stadium. (REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo)
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FIFA issues guidelines on penalisation of spitting and other related actions In an effort to prevent the possible spread of the Corona Virus, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has issued guidelines relative to penalisation of spitting and other related offences during play in response to organisers who “have issued protocols recommending that players refrain from spitting and similar actions such as noseclearing during matches.” In a correspondence dated May 27, FIFA advised the following: “Spitting at someone is a sending-off (red-card) offence under the Laws of the Game. However, where spitting does not fall into this category, it would be impractical to make it a yellow-card (YC)
offence because it is impossible for the match officials to detect every incident, as spitting can occur anywhere on the pitch, at any time and often away from play (e.g. as players move to take up a position before the next sequence of play). Consequently, treating ‘general’ spitting and other such actions as a YC offence during matches would lead to inconsistency and unfairness.” As a result, FIFA noted, “where a competition wishes to enforce protocols regarding spitting (and other related areas), any disciplinary decision should be taken by the relevant competition organiser or member association after the match.”
NBA GMs split over whether to finish regular season MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - The FA Cup final will be held on Aug. 1, the Football Association announced yesterday, after the Premier League said on Thursday that its season will restart on June 17. The quarter-finals of the FA Cup will be held over the weekend of June 27-28, with the semi-finals earmarked for the weekend of July 1819. The knockout competition, like the rest of English football, had been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The FA said that the dates for the games, which will be played behind closed doors, were “provisional” and dependent on all safety elements being in place for the games. “We are pleased to agree the provisional restart date for the 2019/20 Emirates FA C u p , ” s a i d FA C h i e f Executive Mark Bullingham. “The competition has been an integral part of the English football calendar for nearly 150 years and we’d like to thank the Premier League executive and clubs for their support in
scheduling the remaining matches during this unprecedented time.” Bullingham emphasised the provisional nature of the proposed dates, adding that “the health and wellbeing of players, staff and supporters remains our priority”. The schedule for the Emirates FA Cup quarterfinals (originally drawn on 4 March): Leicester City v Chelsea Newcastle United v Manchester City S h e ff i e l d U n i t e d v Arsenal Norwich City v Manchester United
David Rudisha set back again in track return
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BC Sports David Rudisha, the two-time O l y m p i c champion and world-record holder at 800m, will miss another three months of training after fracturing a left ankle and requiring surgery. Rudisha was injured walking on uneven ground at his rural Kenya home, according to his manager’s Twitter account. The surgery put a tubular plate and screws into the ankle, according to the tweets. “Rehabilitation will start as soon as doctors think is fit,” was tweeted from manager Michel Boeting‘s account. Rudisha, 31, last raced July 4, 2017. Since, he missed time after a quad
David Rudisha muscle strain, back problems and, in 2019, his car collided with a bus, causing minor injuries. It’s unknown if he will miss any significant races given the coronavirus pandemic halted top-level track and field meets until at least midAugust. Rudisha owns the three fastest times in history, including the world record 1:40.91 set in an epic 2012 Olympic final.
In his absence, American Donavan Brazier emerged as the world’s best 800m runner, sweeping the 2019 World and Diamond League titles. Brazier, 23, can become the first American to win an Olympic 800m since Dave Wottle did so wearing a hat in Munich in 1972. “I think the target’s on my back just because I won 2019, but it’s definitely not as big of a target as [Rudisha] had on his back post-2012,” Brazier said in February. “I’m not thinking that I’m like this David Rudisha takeover, because I’m not really damn near close to his times, but I think, for now, I’ve got that small target on my back. I guess I’m just trying to make it as big as possible.”
NBA general managers reportedly are split over whether the league should finish the regular season when it resumes action after the shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic or if the playoffs should commence immediately. The league sent out a survey to all 30 GMs last week, and commissioner Adam Silver revealed the results Thursday to the same people who were polled, TheRinger.com’s Kevin O’Connor reported. O’Connor published the results Thursday, citing anonymous sources: —Half of the GMs want to see the regular season continue. —A little more than half of the GMs would like to see the 16 playoff teams seeded first through 16th without consideration of conferences. —Given a choice of a play-in tournament to determine the final playoff teams or a World Cup-type group stage that would take the place of the remainder of the regular season as well as the first round of the playoffs, 75 percent opted for the play-in event and 25 percent for the group-stage option. An anonymous general manager told O’Connor of the Thursday call with Silver, “There was zero commitment to any one plan. But it was a call to gather more information.” An unnamed team
An NBA logo is seen on the facade of its flagship store at the Wangfujing shopping street in Beijing, China October 8, 2019. (REUTERS/ Tingshu Wang)
executive told O’Connor earlier this week, “Adam isn’t taking the results seriously. Every team is obviously gonna vote for what’s best for them.” The NBA announced last weekend that it was in negotiations with Disney to restart the season this summer at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla. It would be a “single site for an NBA campus for games, practices and housing,” league spokesman Mike Bass said. However, the NBA has yet to commit to a format for
games when they do resume. The 2019-20 season was suspended March 11 when Utah Jazz All-Star center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. At the time, NBA teams had played between 63 and 67 of their scheduled 82 regular-season games. Earlier this week, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban proposed having all teams return for five to seven r e g u l a r- s e a s o n g a m e s , leading into a 20-team postseason that would include a six-team play-in tournament. (Field Level Media)
Keemo Paul is poised to turn out for Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
rt o p S
Percival is most successful Regional U-19 Captain - But never fulfilled his immense talent shown at 16 Andre Percival became a Stanford T20 Millionaire in 2006.
Staging of IPL critical to country’s morale, says Delhi chairman Jamaican bobsleigh team push a Roger Federer Mini to keep Olympic dream alive is the world’s Jamaica Bobsleigh team members Shanwayne Stephens and Nimroy Turgott push a Mini Cooper. They have been pushing the car around the streets of Peterborough as part of their training following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Peterborough, Britain, May 29, 2020. (REUTERS/Paul Childs)
T20 World Cup fate under ‘very high risk’ - Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts
I will never complain about everything
highestpaid athlete
Usain Bolt on Carl Lewis tweet:
Roger Federer
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