Guyana Times - Friday, July 3, 2020

NGSA records P 95% attendance 14

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4335

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020

It is impossible to vote for someone else – Lowenfield Page 12

PRICE

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Charlestown businessman shot during P10 robbery Porter dies after allegedly falling off P10 tractor

...yet deems 115,844 votes “invalid” due to impersonation in 2020

Unilateral invalidation of over 115,000 votes is electoral fraud – Manickchand See story on page 7

GuySuCo hog-tied with 'worthless' $30B bond See story on page 13

...blames APNU/AFC-appointed overseers for 'cash-strapped' position ...says if NICIL paid for lands it took, Corporation's debts would be repaid ...holding company took assets, left debts on Corporation's books

Ramkarran asks CCJ to rule recount results ...caretaker Govt publishes transactions as “valid results” in Official Gazette 4 months later Over 120 acres ECD land given to developers 1 week before elections Page 3

See story on page 14

– says Guyanese need “relief from this torment”

Young GDF Officer to study at US Coast Guard Academy P15

Gunmen P15 invade, rob Western Union branch at Little Diamond

Guyana records 14th COVID-19 P15 death …with 2 new cases recorded; cases climb to 250

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FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, July 3 – 03:30h-05:00h and 14:30h-16:00h and Saturday, July 4 – 04:00h-05:30h and 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, July 3 – 15:10h-16:40h and Saturday, July 4 – 15:55h-17:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times - 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions will prevail throughout the day. Clear skies are expected in the evening.

Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Over 120 acres ECD land given to developers 1 week before elections

...caretaker Govt publishes transactions in Official Gazette 4 months later

T

he de facto coalition Government, less than a week before elections on February 25, sold more than 10 acres of land to a housing developer registered in the law offices of Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes.

Hughes is the husband of Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes and is the former Chairman of coalition partner Alliance For Change (AFC). He resigned from the AFC in 2016, one year after the coalition assumed office.

The sale was executed by

Winds: East North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 15:17h reaching a maximum height of 2.48 metres.

Low Tide: 08:48h and 21:03h reaching minimum heights of 0.59 metre and 0.75 metre.

Trinuyana Chief Executive Officer John Aboud

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the State-owned National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), and signed off by caretaker Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

The information has since been documented in the Official Gazette published on June 11, more than four months after the sale of land was executed.

The transaction was executed between NICIL and The Residences at Earl’s Court Incorporated, a company with its registered offices at 62 Hadfield and Cross Streets, Werken-Rust, Georgetown – Hughes’ law offices.

The land involved in the transaction is identified as located at Block ‘CC’ Chateau Margot, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

According to the conditions of the sale, ‘A certified copy of this Order shall be deemed to be conclusive evidence that the Purchaser has absolute title to the property” and comprises 10.2 acres.

The sale is gazetted among a number of questionable transactions since raising eyebrows, given that the transactions comprised in excess of 100 acres of land sold one week before the elections.

Trinyuana Investments Inc, also registered at Hughes’ offices, also received the absolute title for in excess of 17 acres of land at Plantation Ogle and Goedverwagting, ECD. That company – only recently registered in Guyana – had earlier purchased 2.61 acres of land at Ogle for a proposed hotel project.

Navigant Builders Inc, registered at Peters Hall on

Sod turned in February 2020 for the construction of a hotel in Guyana by CMEI

the East Bank of Demerara cured the absolute title for purchased the smallest plot of 1.5 acres at Ogle, ECD. (EBD), also secured abso- eight acres.

Supergraphics, regisEach of the transactions lute title for 30 acres located at Plantation Goedverwagting and Sparendaam, ECD. Additionally, Premium Sales and Services Inc, registered at 199 Camp Street in Georgetown, was another of the companies to receive its absolute title for more than five acres on the ECD, a week before the March 2 polls.

Caribbean M a r k e t Enterprises Inc (CMEI), registered in Thomas Street, Kitty, secured the title for 22 acres of land also at Goedverwagting and Sparendaam.

A m e r i c a n The lands allocated to The Residences at Earl’s Court Incorporated, which Marine Services is located at Lot 62 Hadfield and Cross Streets, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown Inc, registered in Alexander Village, also got 20 acres of land tered in Alexander Street, were signed off by Winston while another company – Kitty, also secured for itself Jordan, in the capacity of Cardiology Services Inc of just over five acres while Finance Minister.

Plantation Pattensen, se- the Guyana Oil Company

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Not honest, not decent T

he mantra of A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) elections campaign leading up to the March 2, 2020 polls was ‘honesty and decency’. What has happened since then is by any stretch of the imagination far from honest and decent.

The blatant display of dishonesty and indecency are given in large doses to the Guyanese public daily by APNU/ AFC officials. The most recent of such repugnant behaviour was by the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate Khemraj Ramjattan, who met with the staff at the Public Security Ministry on the eve of what was supposed to be the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM’s) final declaration and conceded that his party had been defeated.

In bidding the staff farewell, he said, “The numbers were against us, I am prepared to accept and to move on…from all indications, the results of the recount and everything else, the PPP has beaten us by some 15,000 votes.” This audio recording went viral on social media, and was picked up by numerous local and regional media houses. So much so that Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) CCN TV6 host Fazeer Mohammed invited Ramjattan as guest on his morning talk show.

But the utterances of Ramjattan on the T&T talk show were far from honest and decent. With the lie of the century, Ramjattan, when asked about his statements of defeat, said: “I indicated because being Prime Ministerial Candidate, you would have to move out from the Public Security Ministry and I was aware that there was going to be an announcement…so I just went to thank my officers, all the heads of the unit of my security ministry, and that is exactly what I did. I indicated to them and thanked them for what they did, the results, one way or the other, are going to be declared soon, and we will respect that and we will move on. I will move on if we win the elections, certainly to the Office of Prime Minister”.

Ramjattan’s lie has insulted the intelligence of Guyanese, whom the APNU/AFC seems to believe are not educated enough to see right through their chronic lying since March 2. The habit of compulsively lying seems to be a trait that has frequently encompassed the coalition’s leaders.

Guyanese know that, in several instances, many of our politicians tell a white lie to wiggle out of uncomfortable situations. However, what has been happening in Guyana since the General and Region Elections is a birth of pathological liars. As if Ramjattan’s dishonestly was not enough, caretaker President David Granger told the local media on Wednesday that he has never claimed victory at the March 2 polls.

As this newspaper reported on Thursday, Granger’s utterance that he never claimed victory is completely opposite to what has played out since March, when the Coalition began claiming victory – something which the 33day National Recount has proven otherwise. According to the National Elections Recount, which was certified and supervised by GECOM staff and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) high-level team, Granger and his party lost the elections with PPP/C winning by 15,416 votes more than the APNU/AFC coalition.

As we have said before, Granger and his administration should stop the unprecedented level of gamesmanship, concede defeat, and respect the will of the Guyanese people. It is clear that the will of the Guyanese people was clearly to eject APNU/AFC from the helm of Government.

It is time Granger express his gratitude to the Guyanese people for his opportunity of being president, and with whatever grace and dignity he has left, concede. There is certainly nothing decent and honest about compulsively lying.

GECOM Chair must act to protect foreign relations

Dear Editor, In my recent studies of international relations, a country’s foreign affairs have become domestically electoralised; meaning, a country’s foreign or diplomatic or economic relations largely flow from the outcome of its elections. If its elections are not free, the implications are far-reaching, and affect every issue pertaining to (the future of) the nation, including domestic affairs.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM Chair, really) must therefore take note that the future of Guyana is in its (her) hands. If the outcome does not reflect the will of the voters, the Chair will be responsible for what happens to Guyana; and, of course, the sanctions (against her and many more) that would come from the US, as warned by Mike Pompeo on Wednesday.

What has been happening to the election in Guyana under GECOM’s watch, and the international attention given to it and the united global response against electoral fraud, has damaged perceptions (image) about Guyana.

It has also damaged the reputation of GECOM, and that of the Chair in particular.

(Global community is also looking down at Guyanese abroad; their reputation for hard work, industriousness, productivity, professionalism, moral fabric, intellect. Guyana has produced so many reputable scholars who are embarrassed by the electoral fraud in Guyana.)

The world is looking into Guyana as never before, because of oil and economic potential. And as reported in foreign media and witnessed by observers, never, in a country’s history, was there such a bold attempt (in public view) to rig an election. In addition, western nations feel vital interests are at stake in Guyana, and they cannot allow a rigged election. It is accepted that, in a globalised context, what

happens in Guyana affects the world (not discounting that Guyana is not even a small fry in world affairs).

Reversing the negative image of Guyana is now in the hands of the Chair of the Elections Commission.

Only she can alter the terrible image of the country, and Guyanese are appealing to her to do the honourable thing.

Unlike during the Cold War, when the Western nations did not care about electoral fraud in their backyard as long as their vital interests were not threatened, elections now are internationalised through foreign observers and morality. The Western world can no longer watch in silence when elections are rigged.

Democratic nations must condemn such blatant fraud.

In addition, fraudulent elections pose a threat to the basic interests of Western nations. They trigger domestic crises that lead to mass migration into the developed Western nations, thus burdening their economies. As experienced in several Latin countries, fraudulent elections have led to humanitarian crises. The West does not want to deal with another economic or refugee crisis that would flow from a government emerging from electoral fraud. As such, their unitary position is against fraud in Guyana.

For Guyana, fraud inevitably would affect foreign or international relations, investment, border tensions and disputes, treaty obligations, foreign aid, trade deals, security commitments, national security and defense, military and technical training, loans and the country’s overall development. No doubt, international negotiations and agreements would be under serious threat as a result of the failure to declare the right outcome of the elections. The fraud is bound to impact Guyana’s position at the World Court on the border dispute with Venezuela. In addition, nei-

ther Venezuela nor Suriname nor Brazil would want to ratify or recognize any border treaty or World Court ruling on territorial issues when the outcome of an election in its neighbour is under dispute.

Also, other countries would not wish to engage or assist a government that comes to power through electoral fraud.

International institutions would continue to hold off on loans. There would be an appeal to India to stall her soft loan for road development.

India’s financial assistance to Guyana is perhaps the largest in the world: loans, infrastructure, health, scholarship, technical assistance, and other aid.

Business initiatives would be curtailed. International pressure may force China to follow suit.

And the US would instruct the Federal Bank in Manhattan to freeze the oil money. The effects on the economy would be devastating, similar to what happens in Zimbabwe, a prime example of what happens to a resource-rich country that engaged in fraud.

Venezuela is currently experiencing a tough response to fraud. Guyana also had its own experience, during the 1970s and 1980s, of facing sanctions because of fraud and establishment of the dictatorship.

No amount of oil resources or funds arising out of oil or growth would change Guyana’s image as a country where the Elections Commission attempted to rig an election. And the negative image and its global effects are all attributed to the March 2 post-election count and the failure of the Chair (one person, the Chair) to make a declaration of the results.

Regrettably, GECOM (really, the Chair and three other Commissioners) has, since March 3, come across as the plotters of fraud. They are perceived as protecting the political interests of one side

over the correct declaration of results of what was a credible election. And this perception has come about because of countless efforts by so many global actors to get GECOM (the Chair) to do the right thing on the election.

The overwhelming number of Guyanese at home and in the diaspora are yearning to move away from electoral fraud, and have so appealed to the Chair to respect the recount.

They don’t want to return to fraud pre-1992. Guyanese remember too well how electoral riggings led to the 28 years of misrule that resulted in political and economic disorder that hampered national development and triggered widespread starvation and mass migration, so much so that more Guyanese make their home abroad than at home.

Does GECOM or the Chair want the nation to return to that era? The chair has a unique opportunity to rehabilitate the image of GECOM and that of her own. The whole world is telling the Chair to make a declaration that reflects the will of the electorate and is in accord with her own National Recount order; no voter must be disenfranchised.

She must end the defiance of the international community in making a declaration.

If the Chair does not act decisively in making a declaration of the elections based on the Caricom recount, it would be a squandered opportunity to place Guyana on the right path, which is a bad omen for Guyana’s future. And Pompeo may well include her name in a list of sanctions.

The Chair would be subject of ridicule and condemnation. Once she does the right thing, she would go down in history in elections in which her name will be written in golden letters.

Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram

Nothing prohibits Granger from conceding defeat prior to a lawful declaration by GECOM

Dear Editor, Reasonably speaking, nothing prohibits Mr. David Granger, as head of the Coalition ticket, from conceding defeat at the March polls prior to a lawful declaration

by GECOM. It has been four months since polling day, and more than two weeks since the recount was concluded. The recount reflected the will of the people: a PPP/C victory.

Granger’s statement made on July 1, that he cannot make a concession “unless” the GECOM Chair makes a formal declaration, is a stalling tactic which shows that, as Guyana’s premier fiduciary, he is not ready to act in its best interest.

Everyone is likely to know what GECOM would lawfully declare, which is aptly evidenced in a letter dated

June 16, 2020 and sent by its Chair to its CEO, as reported. The letter stated: “Pursuant to Article 177(2) (b) of the Constitution and Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act, you are hereby requested to prepare and submit your report by 13:00 hrs on June 18th, 2020 using the results of the recount for consideration by the Commission.”

The most important phrase here is, of course, “using the results of the recount” as the lawful basis for a report and a subsequent formal declaration. As the “results of the recount” show a PPP/C victory, GECOM is therefore lawfully required to formally declare only that party’s presidential candidate as the duly elected president.

It is not for electors to plead that he should con-

cede; as a fiduciary and premier candidate, Mr. Granger ought to know his duties.

Despite good-faith calls from voices near and afar, he is yet to be wise and prudent.

He can therefore man up and state his true intentions.

Instead, he slithers from one week to another, often in the shadows or hiding behind supporters’ frivolous petitions and GECOM. When he does appear, the public is treated to his uncharismatic penchant to deny or misrepresent commonplace facts.

As reported, he now claims (see SN 7/1): “I cannot claim victory, which I have not done; and I cannot concede to defeat, which I have not done; unless I am notified formally by the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission what the results of the elections…have been.”

On the contrary, Mr. Granger was seen in real time and via live video on or about March 4, at a victory celebration in the streets of Georgetown. He voluntarily thanked his supporters for taking the Coalition to victory.

No need for an audit here.

Action still speaks louder than words. Mr. Granger’s ill-advised presence at that celebration at that time, place, and date is making a clear statement that he and the Coalition had won the elections.

Having been poorly vetted as a presidential candidate in 2015, the electorate has finally caught up with Mr. Granger. Time to man up.

Sincerely, Rakesh Rampertab

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FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Mia Mottley gave Caricom a prestige and standing it never had before Dear Editor, Caricom has a rotating chairmanship in which the Head of State of each country has the opportunity to head the regional body for a six- month period. For the last six months, that honour fell to Barbados, whose Prime Minister is Ms. Mia Mottley.

In my view, this was one of the most significant terms, if not the most significant term, since the formation of our regional body.

Even though it is still early, this last six-month period was historic. Mia Mottley gave Caricom a prestige and standing it never had before. She first of all made herself available to the people of Guyana to help our country to stay on the democratic path. No other Caricom Chair had ever taken such a bold stand.

She engaged Mr. Granger and, on his request, she came to Guyana.

She was accompanied by four other Prime Ministers in the Region. At that time, she got agreement from both Mr. Granger and Mr.

Jagdeo to have a recount of the votes cast at the March 2, 2020 elections. She agreed to send a team from Caricom to observe that recount. In doing so, she played an important role in halting the rigging.

She quickly did so, and mobilised a high-quality team of professionals to observe the recount. At first Granger tried to frustrate the team by going to Court and delaying the process. His hope was that Mia would have become frustrated and abandon the whole project. That, however, was not to be.

That team went away, but another of the same high calibre returned when GECOM was forced to begin the recount. Mia displayed patience and staying power to the chagrin of APNU+AFC riggers.

The report of the team was detailed, brutally frank, and completely honest. The APNU+AFC had lost the elections.

Based on the report, Mia took a stand that was unambiguous and clear. She

took Caricom to another level, and added great respectability to our region.

Moreover, she gave the region’s peoples hope that Caricom was no longer prepared to stand aside and look when human rights and democracy in any one of its member states is threatened.

She drew the attention of the region to the danger that this poses. Caricom’s standing internationally would be seriously diminished if democracy is ever allowed to be subverted.

She took a principled position, she provided powerful leadership.

For that, the PNC-led APNU/AFC opened a vicious attack on this distinguished leader in our region. It was shameful to observe how low they could descend. They heaped abuse on her, but she gracefully and calmly shrugged it off.

Mia, of course, knows that the PNC/APNU/AFC team does not speak for the majority of Guyanese. In this regard, I am not speak-

ing just about the opposition to the regime, but also for many democratically-minded people who would have voted for the PNC but were also appalled at the vile attacks on this woman, who has displayed such courage to take a stand for what is right and just in the interest of the welfare of the people of one of its members, and in the interest of the region as a whole.

Mia Mottley has lifted the bar. The region is a far better place for the leadership she provided. It has given the region a new reputation of being intolerant to dictatorship.

Other leaders of the region who would follow and take up the job of Chair of the Region have a higher platform to stand on. Mia has left a solid foundation to take the region to ever greater heights.

For all of this, we owe a lot to the Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

Elections “wrongdoers” should be prosecuted to the fullest

Dear Editor, Guyanese were made to endure more pain and frustration after the CCJ announced that their decision would be made on Wednesday, July 8, 2020.

We were all disgusted with the release of preliminary results which sought to give Granger’s party the lead in the elections.

Then, adding to all the legal shenanigans which led to a recount, there was a recent report by Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, who tried to invalidate over 115,000 votes. That report was rebuked by CARICOM Chair Mia Mottley.

Now we are back in the courts, awaiting the CCJ’s decision. Despite all of this, the PNC-led APNU-AFC continues to disseminate a series of false narratives and misleading information, such as “thousands of members of the joint services were disenfranchised on Elections Day because the GECOM staff failed to stamp their ballots…”

That is ridiculous. The ballots counted on E-Day and during the recount process conducted during May/ June 2020 followed the lawful process and invalidated or rejected ONLY 4,213 of the votes cast in the presence of several non-GECOM stakeholders.

This process is in accordance with the law, and ensured that credibility was preserved. However, one must know that the ballots of thousands of our members of the joint services were intermixed with the civilian ballots. It is prema-

ture for the APNU/AFC to be spreading these lies.

There is also no process by which GECOM or any other source can determine if any of those rejected ballots were from the joint services or civilian ballots. What is unfortunate is that, months after this PNC fantasy surfaced, the APNU-AFC has failed to provide any “VERIFIABLE PROOF”, but recklessly continue to peddle this blatant untruth that anomalies, discrepancies, and irregularities were unearthed.

For one to properly understand the absurdity of this allegation made by the PNC in their attempt to create feelings of ill-will among the ranks, one has to understand the evil embedded in the minds of the members of the APNU/AFC. The claims of fraud were grossly exaggerated, and unfortunately were designed to fool the APNU/AFC party supporters, who had placed their faith in the Coalition.

The claims by the APNU+AFC were inferential in nature, relying on bold headlines, repetition, and the use of words such as ‘massive’, ‘gargantuan’, ‘widespread’ and ‘intense’ to scale up their impact.

The evidence provided by the APNU+AFC was either frail or insufficient to establish that there was fraud to an extent that could affect the outcome of the entire election in any region.

There was no real evidence of PPP-C involvement in any of the irregularities uncovered during the recount.

It is sad to say that the APNU/AFC will go to this

length to make their supporters believe that there was actual evidence of serious election rigging by the PPP/C. It must be known that the APNU/AFC hurt the Guyanese people, but this was remedied when the populace hurt them back at the polls.

In other words, all we have are a number of irregularities, many of which can be attributed to human error; unlike the Mingo declarations. And they do not show a result that is grossly inconsistent with normal voting patterns in Guyana.

Whenever the final declaration is made and the next president, Dr Irfaan Ali, is sworn in, we will urge that there be proper investigation, and all the wrongdoers should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The APNU/AFC will not succeed in its efforts to reverse the results of the national recount of all ballots cast in the March 02, 2020, General and Regional Elections which clearly show a win in favour of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C).

The reason is because

these elections in 2020 were free, fair and credible, as they have all been since 1992, notwithstanding the allegations that have been made by these same losers, or anyone else, after every election.

We must be reminded that as part of the Herdmanston Accord, there was an audit of the 1997 elections supervised

by Justice Ulric Cross of Trinidad and Tobago, and he found no fraud.

Granger, Harmon and the APNU+AFC cabal need to abandon the course of driving fear, despondency and false hopes into their supporters, and should gear up to provide a vigorous, creative, forward looking opposition which would defend the interests of the people and hold the Government to account.

I reiterate, a PPP/C Government will be installed with Dr Irfaan Ali as the 9th President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. Mr Granger, the time will come for you to concede.

Sincerely, David Adams

GECOM Chair should fire CEO, or demand his resignation immediately Dear Editor, It has been four months since Guyanese went to the polls and exercised their constitutional duty. It has also been four months since the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has failed to declare the true winner of these elections until this day.

First, there were the true/originally prepared Statements of Poll, which are prepared at the places of poll and signed by the Presiding Officers and the agents from all political parties, also known as counting agents, who were present at the count, and even throughout the entire E-Day process on March 02, 2020.

However, the Guyana Elections Commission had executed a National Recount of all Ten (10) electoral districts, in which they took thirty-one (31) consecutive days to complete. Mind you, at end of E-Day (March 02, 2020), each polling station had completed its count in a matter of hours, yet GECOM took thirty-one (31) days to “wrap up” a National Recount, the very same GECOM that did the count at each place of poll on E-Day. It is quite disgraceful how some main staff members of the Guyana

Elections Commission (GECOM) had acted in regard to matters that have arisen since the March 02nd General and Regional Elections were held, namely the CEO of GECOM. When an E-Day staff attends training to conduct elections on E-Day, investigations are done into the entire history of the trainee and their family, and if there is a slight chance that they were affiliated with any political party or have a party flag mounted at their home, that person gets fired immediately by the Deputy Returning Officer or Returning Officer.

The questions to be asked now are: What is the current Chief Elections Officer still doing in GECOM’s building? And why is he still holding his post? Isn’t he supposed to be treated the very same way E-Day trainee staff have been treated for past decades?

The Chair of GECOM should immediately “fire” or demand a resignation from the CEO, for he has shown no sign of NEUTRALITY and HONESTY, which are key components in order for him to hold the office he currently holds.

Yours truly, Randy Da Silva

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FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020

Page

Foundation

Guyana Times is pleased to publish CXC English and Mathematics questions with specimen answers.

CXC QUESTIONS

MATHS

ENGLISH

B Once Upon a Time

By Gabriel Okra

Once upon a time, son, they used to laugh with their hearts and laugh with their eyes: but now they only laugh with their teeth, while their ice-block-cold eyes search behind my shadow.

There was a time indeed they used to shake hands with their hearts: but that’s gone, son.

Now they shake hands without hearts while their left hands search my empty pockets.

‘Feel at home!’ ‘Come again’: they say, and when I come again and feel at home, once, twice, there will be no thricefor then I find doors shut on me.

So I have learned many things, son.

I have learned to wear many faces like dresses – homeface, officeface, streetface, hostface, cocktailface, with all their conforming smiles like a fixed portrait smile.

And I have learned too to laugh with only my teeth and shake hands without my heart.

I have also learned to say,’Goodbye’, when I mean ‘Good-riddance’: to say ‘Glad to meet you’, without being glad; and to say ‘It’s been nice talking to you’, after being bored.

But believe me, son.

I want to be what I used to be when I was like you. I want to unlearn all these muting things.

Most of all, I want to relearn how to laugh, for my laugh in the mirror shows only my teeth like a snake’s bare fangs!

So show me, son, how to laugh; show me how I used to laugh and smile once upon a time when I was like you.

Questions

Summarise the poem What is the subject of the poem?

Who is the persona?

List and discuss the literary devices used in the poem Describe the mood of the poem and discuss how it is created List and discuss the themes of the poem Describe the form of the poem and discuss its effectiveness How do you feel about this poem? Discuss your reaction Suggest an alternative name for the poem, citing evidence found within the text

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Unilateral invalidation of over 115,000 votes is electoral fraud – Manickchand P eoples Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Candidate at the March 2 Elections, Priya Manickchand, has alleged that Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield’s unilateral invalidation of over 115,000 valid votes in order to concoct figures to show a ‘victory’ for the caretaker APNU/ AFC Coalition amounts to electoral fraud.

Manickchand, who is also a lawyer by profession, during a recent interview with St Lucia’s Choice News Now, challenged Lowenfield to take legal action against her and others who have accused him of being partial towards the incumbent APNU/AFC Coalition, so that the issue could be “interrogated in Court”.

“We believe, and we are alleging strongly -- and I hope he sues me, so that we can interrogate this in a court -- this is electoral fraud that he is engaging in,” Manickchand told host Janeka Simon.

Last month, the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), retired Justice Claudette Singh, instructed Lowenfield to prepare his final elections report based on the results of the National Recount, which shows the PPP/C in a landslide lead over the Coalition by more than 15,000 votes.

However, the CEO, in his “fraudulent” report, went ahead and invalidated over 115,000 vot-

PPP/C candidate Priya Manickchand

ers to give the APNU/AFC a win with 171,825 votes while the PPP/C was given 166,343 votes.

The recount exercise, which was certified not only by GECOM, but by a special Caribbean (Caricom) Team as well as other local and international observer groups, put the PPP/C in the lead with 233,336 votes while the APNU/ AFC got 217,920.

During the interview on Thursday, Manickchand explained that Lowenfield provided two reports on two separate occasions, both of which contained figures which were different.

She explained that in his first

report, the CEO sought to invalidate 285,000 votes. “He did not tell us why, he did not tell us how, he did not tell us how he reached that number. He decided by himself the 285,000 votes from the people of this country would be invalidated,” she outlined.

Manickchand, a former Education Minister under the PPP/C Administration, argued that there was never any doubt about the votes being counted. “It was always valid votes, you can’t count invalid votes,” she said.

She detailed that on the night of the election, when all the votes were being counted, the valid votes were separated from those that were deemed as invalid or rejected. Invalid votes, she said, were placed in a separate envelope. Manickchand reminded that the process was done in the presence of party agents and local and international observers.

She pointed out that following the Court of Appeal’s decision, Mr Lowenfield took it upon himself and returned with a second report to the Commission, this time seeking to invalidate 115,000 valid votes.

“Again, he failed to tell us how he reached this number. Why is it that 115,000 votes are invalidated? Who told him to invalidate them?” she asked.

Manickchand further insists that no court would place that authority in Lowenfield to invalidate

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

votes in an electoral process.

“We are saying…the Court of Appeal did not give Mr Lowenfield any ability to determine by himself what valid votes are and what valid votes are not”.

Outgoing CARICOM Chair, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, a few days ago, expressed concern over the CEO’s latest report, in which he sought to present concocted figures in favour of the incumbent APNU/AFC Coalition and at the same time discard over 115,000 valid votes.

In a video statement, PM Mottley had asserted that

Lowenfield’s numbers cannot vary from those coming out of the National Recount. She had noted that, from the inception, CARICOM has been clear in consistently calling for every vote to be counted in a fair and transparent manner.

Similar calls have been mounted by stakeholders both locally and internationally.

However, despite facing backlash from numerous credible local and international organisations, Lowenfield last week defended his action to invalidate thousands of votes by claiming he acted constitutionally.

But many legal luminaries have argued that no law in Guyana’s Constitution empowers the Chief Elections Officer to invalid any vote, or disenfranchise any voter.

They further contend that the post of the Chief Elections Officer is a contractual statutory one, and not a constitutional one. It was created by the Representation of the People’s Act (ROPA) and not by the Constitution of Guyana, which created the posts of only the GECOM Chair and Commissioners.

As such, the CEO does not possess the power to invalidate any vote. This can only be done via an elections petition to the Elections Court, that is, the High Court, after the declaration of the final elections results.

8 NEWS FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020

| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Bartica, Lusignan Massacres convict admits to 2017 murders, armed robberies

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onvicted murder accused Michael Caesar, 34, also called “Capone” and “Deon Cort”, on Thursday pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter and two counts of armed robbery when he appeared before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall via Zoom at the High Court.

Caesar, who had been part of the notorious Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins gang, was initially indicted for the December 16, 2007 murders of Fazil Hakim, called “Boyee”, 25, and Rajesh Singh, called “Rabbit”, 35, at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Caesar opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter when he admitted that on the day

es were committed, along with the fact that firearms were used, Justice MorrisRamlall sentenced Caesar to nine years’ imprisonment for each of the two counts of robbery under arms and 13 years for the two counts of manslaughter. The sentences will run concurrently.

The Judge had initially sentenced Caesar to 36 years’ imprisonment, but reduced that by 12 years for his early guilty plea and another 11 years for the time he spent in prison.

Caesar will serve a 13year jail term for both the manslaughter and armed robbery charges.

Finally, the Judge ordered that the prison sentence of 13 years run concurrently with the 60-year

Guilty: Michael Caesar

vaded a liquor bar at Lot 82 Agriculture Road, Mon Repos, and carried out the killings and robberies.

Following the massacre,

played in the crime.

In December 2016, acting Chief Justice Roxane George sentenced Caesar to 60 and 45 years in prison respectively for unlawfully killing 20 persons during the Lusignan and Bartica Massacres.

In these two cases, Caesar was indicted for murder, but opted to plead guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.

He was sentenced to 45 years for each of the eight counts of manslaughter for the Lusignan Massacre – a total of 360 years. But more was to come. He was further jailed for 60 years for each of 12 counts of manslaughter for the Bartica Massacre – a total of 720 years.

This brought his to-

The Lusignan Massacre victims

in question, he killed both men.

Further, he also pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery under arms, which were committed on December 16, 2007. The prosecution team stated that Caesar, along with others, while armed with guns and cutlasses, robbed Singh and Hakim of their cash, jewellery, and other valuables.

Having considered the nature and circumstances under which the offenc-

prison term Caesar is currently serving for the Bartica and Lusignan Massacres.

The convict becomes eligible for parole after serving 40 years. The indictment against “Capone” was presented by State Prosecutors Tuanna Hardy and Tyra Bakker.

The prosecution’s case contended that at the time “Capone” told Police that he was the ‘lookout man’ of the group of men who in-

Caesar fled to neighbouring Suriname, but was apprehended two years later by Police.

The prosecution also contended that the killings and robberies were deliberate and Caesar’s sentencing should reflect the precise nature of the offences.

Caesar was represented by Attorney-at-Law Maxwell McKay, who asked the court to show some mercy given the fact that his client confessed to the role he

tal sentence to 1080 years; however, Justice George ordered that the 60-year and 45-year sentences be served concurrently.

Another man, Clebert Reece, called “Chi”, has also pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges following the killing of 12 persons at Bartica on February 17, 2008. Reece, however, was jailed for 35 years for each of the 12 counts; the sentences are to run concurrently.

TURN TO PAGE 10

The CCJ…

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…in the firing line hey say that when you go to crab dance, you better not be afraid to get dirty!! And when you enter anything that the PNC’s involved in, you know for sure you’re at a crab dance, and it’s gonna get down and dirty!!

The CCJ haven’t even announced their decision on the PPP’s appeal, and already the PNC’s “cuss brigade” have started doing their thing like there’s no tomorrow!! The PPP, of course, have already bought out all the Justices on the panel – even the one who had to be rounded up at the last minute “due to unforeseen circumstances”.

Yep!! The PPP have their tentacles everywhere – with moneybags ready, into which they can slither!!

We’re now asked why would we proud and indomitable Guyanese even want these small islanders – which can all fit into the mouth of the Essequibo river - tell us what to do!! How dare they?? So what if, during the Burnham days, half of the Guyanese population had to flee to these same small islands to survive??

We were doing them a favour by exposing them to our cultured and sophisticated world view and activities. So what if Burnham drove the Caribbean Development into bankruptcy?? Or that Trinidad had to write off over US$400 million in our accumulated petro debt??

This morning, your Eyewitness was regaled – well, “bombarded” might be more apt! – with moanings and groanings on how biased the CCJ Justices were. Now, you’ve got to realise these arrogant Justices had the chutzpah to ask questions to clear up ambiguities in the testimonies.

Like asking that PNC lawyer Jeremie – who’d expatiated prolifically about how clauses similar to our Art 177 (2) had been interpreted elsewhere – to produce a SINGLE instance in the entire Commonwealth where such a petition had been filed BEFORE the declaration of a winner!!

Who were they to embarrass Mr Jeremie?? Didn’t they know that – like our own legal luminary Basil Williams – he’d been awarded silk? That they were both AGs when this was done by their head of government is irrelevant, excuse me!! The point, of course, is the CCJ pretenders couldn’t match the judicial perspicacity of the two Judges on our Appellate Court who had produced that classic judgement (rivalling Denning’s best!) that 33 wasn’t the majority of 65.

And now that “votes” in the Constitution means “valid votes”!! Which of these benighted small islanders could ever think so profoundly??

That they produced THREE Nobel Prize winners – Arthur Lewis, Walcott and Naipaul - is a complete fluke!!

Don’t they know that we produced the greatest genius the world has ever seen in Forbes Burnham??

Think it’s easy to ruin a country in a decade?? …is our last hope But seriously, folks, the CCJ’s our last hope to have a viable country before the PNC wrecks it all to high heaven.

And this time they won’t need a decade. In just five years, look what they did to our single biggest weakness – race relations – that’s prevented us from progressing – even though we’re so blessed with all the natural resources you could wish for.

Very…very…slowly, we’d progressed to a point that the PNC, in tandem with a small party like the AFC, could wrench away the government from the PPP. That was progress. For the simple reason that democracies have to get governments that alternate ever so often. The converse is to have ossification creep into even the most well-intentioned government – such as what Cheddi had left.

Then after 5 years of the PNC coalition, they were ousted by the same PPP, who’d confessed to the mistakes and hubris they’d succumbed to during their 23 years at the helm.

If the CCJ allows the PNC to get back via the rigging road, we’re doomed for another 28 years of devastation! …and irony Your Eyewitness happened onto a discussion on a PNCfriendly e-radio programme that railed against the CCJ and US “foreigners” meddling in Guyana’s “sovereignty”.

While their lobbyist Bart Fischer was asked to weigh in!!

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

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FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 NEWS FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020

| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Porter dies after allegedly Charlestown businessman shot during robbery falling off tractor

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44-year-old porter met his demise on Tuesday after he allegedly fell off a tractor on which he was travelling at Batocari Trail, Mazaruni District, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The dead man has been identified as Leonard Henry of Moruca Village, Region One (Barima-Waini).

Based on information received, the tractor bearing registration number 21376, which was at the time driven by a 44-year-old man, was proceeding along the Batocari Trail carrying three porters.

Henry was reportedly seated on the left side of the tractor while the other two porters were at the back. However, an allegedly drunken Henry reportedly fell between the left-side wheel of the vehicle and the chassis, and was subsequently run over. Although injured, Henry got up and climbed back onto the trac-

Charlestown businessman is now nursing gunshot wounds to the abdomen and right thigh following a robbery at his place of business on Wednesday.

The injured man has been identified as 56-yearold David Cameron of Howes Street, Charlestown, Georgetown.

Based on reports re-

ceived, the now injured businessman was in his cold storage bond, which is attached to the lower flat of his premises, when four men – two of whom were armed with handguns, attacked him.

The businessman reportedly attempted to put up a fight, but was shot twice.

The men then ransacked the bond and found $200,000 in cash after which they made

good their escape.

The injured man was subsequently picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was admitted. His condition is regarded as serious.

The Police have since launched an investigation into the incident, which occurred at approximately 17:30h on the day in question.

No arrests have been made.

Albouystown, Georgetown and Warlock Squatting Area, Georgetown.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Hyman is asked to contact the Police on telephone numbers 226-1389, 2266978, 225-8196 or 911, or at the nearest Police Station.

All information will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

Wanted: Aubrey Hyman, also called “Big Knee”

“Big Knee” wanted by Police for attempted murder

The motionless body of Leonard Henry that was discovered in a hammock

tor, which continued its journey to the mining camp.

He then went to sleep and was later found in a motionless state by a colleague.

An alarm was raised and eventually, Henry was rushed to the Bartica

was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty on Thursday. A report was made at the Sherima Police Station.

The driver of the tractor was arrested, and was currently assisting with the investigation.

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he Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a wanted bulletin for 27-year-old Aubrey Hyman, also called “Big Knee”, for questioning in connection with the attempted murder of Osaffee Johnson and for a series of armed robberies.

The wanted man’s last known addresses were given as Lot 71 Curtis Street,

Bartica, Lusignan massacres...

FROM PAGE 8

On Sunday, February 17, 2008, several gunmen attacked the mining community of Bartica, Essequibo, killing 12 residents and injuring several others. The group of about 20 armed gunmen arrived at Bartica by speedboat. They landed at the Transport and Harbours wharf around 22:00h (10pm).

Upon arrival, they attacked the Bartica Police Station, where they killed Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir, Constable Shane Fredericks, and Constable Ron Osbornes. After murdering the three Police Officers, the gang stole cash, arms, ammunition, and a vehicle from the Police Station.

Using the stolen Police vehicle, they drove through the streets of Bartica shooting at civilians, fatally wounding Irwin Gilkes.

They then proceeded to CBR Mining, where they killed Irving Ferreira; stole arms and ammunition, and removed two safes containing cash and gold. Next, they shot and killed Dexter Adrian before returning to the wharf. At the wharf, they executed Abdool Yassin Jr, Deonarine Singh, Errol Thomas, Ronald Gomes, Baldeo Singh, and Ashraf Khan. After their one-hour rampage, the gunmen departed Bartica by boat.

Caesar has also accepted that on January 26, 2008, at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, he unlawfully killed eight of the 11 victims of the Lusignan Massacre.

He said he was responsible for killing Clarence Thomas; his 12-year-old daughter Vanessa and his 11-year-old son, Ron; 32-year-old Mohandai Gourdat and her two sons, four-year-old Seegobind Regional Hospital, where he

Harrilall and 10-year-old Seegopaul Harrilall; 22-yearold Shazam Mohamed; and 55-year-old Shaleem Baksh.

On the morning of Saturday, January 26, 2008, gunmen stormed into the small village of Lusignan and murdered 11 people – five children and six adults.

Five families were affected by the massacre. The gunmen, armed with shotguns and AK-47s, entered Lusignan around 02:00h and invaded the homes of the families. Within 20 minutes, 11 people were murdered.

Mark “Smallie” Williams and Dennis “Anaconda” Williams have both been sentenced to death by hanging for eight and seven counts of murder respectively, concerning the Bartica Massacre. They were each sentenced to life imprisonment for four and five counts of manslaughter respectively, with regard to the said massacre.

Mark Williams and James Hyles were also charged in relation to the killings at Lusignan. Following a trial by a jury before a judge, both of them were found not guilty. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appealed their acquittals at the Court of Appeal on the basis that there were material irregularities during the trial.

The Court of Appeal agreed, allowed the appeal, overturned the men’s notguilty verdicts, and remitted the case to the High Court for retrial. The men appealed the Court of Appeal’s decision to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which allowed their appeal, set aside the conclusion of the Court of Appeal, and restored the jury’s not-guilty verdicts. (Shemar Alleyne)

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ramjattan flip-flops on conceding Hastings-Williams secures tenure for scores in presidential sector defeat during T&T TV Show

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aretaker Public Security Minister and Prime Ministerial Candidate of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition, Khemraj Ramjattan has strongly denied conceding defeat at the March 2 General and Regional Elections, although there is an audio recording being widely circulated on social media of him informing top security officers of his ministry that the coalition lost the elections.

Ramjattan was captured on audio saying during a “farewell speech” at his ministry, that the coalition was beaten at the March 2 polls by some 15,000 votes.

From making allegations of Russians interfering in the elections to claims of dead and migrated persons voting, Ramjattan had at the time admitted that “it is the end” of the APNU/AFC coalition Government.

However, during an interview on Thursday with Trinidad’s CCN TV6, he backpedalled, denying that he ever conceded the coalition’s loss.

This is what Ramjattan was quoted in the recording as saying: “It is with a little sadness that I want to say a couple of remarks to you. I don’t know…although I rather

Former Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

suspect that there will be a declaration. The numbers were against us, I am prepared to accept and to move on…”

“From all indications, the results of the recount and everything else, the PPP has beaten us by some 15,000 votes”.

However, when asked by the host Fazeer Mohammed to confirm the recording, Ramjattan had this to say: “That is absolutely not correct. I indicated because being Prime Ministerial Candidate, you would have to move out from the Public Security Ministry and I was aware that there was going to be an announcement just before this matter went to our Court of Appeal that there will be an announcement with a declaration.

“So, I just went to thank

my officers, all the heads of the unit of my Security Ministry and that is exactly what I did. I indicated to them and thanked them for what they did, the results, one way or the other, are going to be declared soon, and we will respect that and we will move on. I will move on if we win the elections, certainly to the Office of Prime Minister.”

Also, on April 21, the coalition’s PM Candidate had told media operatives that if the national recount shows that the PPP/C won the General and Regional Elections, he would be the first to congratulate the Party’s Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali. “I would immediately congratulate Irfaan Ali and tell him, ‘God bless’, and, ‘I am here to give as much support as possible’,” Ramjattan had said.

The national recount has since confirmed that the PPP/C won the March 2 elections by 15,416 votes over its nearest political rival, the APNU/AFC coalition.

Meanwhile, Ramjattan and his colleagues, both in the AFC and APNU, are yet to accept the results and concede defeat in spite of mounting calls and threats of international sanctions for them to concede and allow for a transition of power to the PPP/C.

ahead of elections declaration

De facto Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Chairman, Dr Patrick Williams Thomas

New Head of the Protected Areas Commission, Dr Raquel Thomas

he Guyanese caretaker Government has renewed contracts for scores of standing members of a number of environmental boards, including Dr Patrick Williams, as the Chair of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The renewal of contracts was signed off by de facto Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams and include members of the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWC&MC); the Protected Areas Commission; the Wildlife Scientific Committee and the Environmental Assessment Board in addition to the EPA. The EPA is the govern-

ment body responsible for the issuance of permits for large developments and projects that could pose an impact to the environment or society such as the development of the offshore oilfields in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone and in the mining communities, among others.

EPA Head, Dr Vincent Adams has since been retained as a board member with others including Martin Cheong, Godfrey Scott, Carlos Todd, and Denise Simmons.

Dr Raquel Thomas has been given approval to be appointed as Chair of the Protected Areas Commission for a year while other board members will include Sean

Hamer, Naseem Nasir, Shanomoe Rose and Denise Fraser while other members would come from statutory organisations such as the National Toshaos Council and the Tourism Authority.

Karen Pilgrim will head up the GWC&MC with Rawle Lewis, Odacy Davis, Karen Small, and Alona Sankar among the board members.

The appointments were made by de facto Minister Hastings-Williams a week ago on June 22 – more than four months after elections were held with a declaration still to be made.

The information has since been published in the Official Gazette.

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12 NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

It is impossible to vote for someone else – Lowenfield

...yet deems 115,844 votes “invalid” due to impersonation in 2020

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ive years ago, Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield made it clear that it was “not possible” for voter impersonation to take place within Guyana’s electoral system. Now, he has completely flipflopped on that position in order to give a false ‘victory’ to the APNU/ AFC coalition.

“I think we need to put to rest the concept that a man can leave polling station A in Cummingsburg and go across to Alberttown or Queenstown and hop around. It’s just not possible,” Lowenfield had explained in 2015 during the General and Regional Elections.

“It has to be a rumour that you can vote at more than one location. The reality is, for you to vote at a polling station, you have to be listed to vote there.

In that polling station, our

Presiding Officer and the party agents will have a list that is specific to that polling station… But if you go into another polling station, then (your name) will not be there. So, you’re not even having access to [that] polling station… because your name is not there,” the CEO had reasoned.

“Even if you impersonate [someone]… and you’ve removed the ink, when you go [to another polling station] in another name but you don’t have an ID card, then the folio has come into play where our staff, GECOM’s PO [Presiding Officer] and APO [Assistant Presiding Officer] have the folio for all of the persons listed at that specific polling station.

“So, you come and say, ‘I’m Troy Johnson’, and you don’t have an ID card, you have to pass through the process of probably having the features of Troy. And

our Presiding Officer will be asking you, since you don’t have an ID card, as the Chairman (at the time Dr Steve Surujbally) mentioned earlier, ‘What’s your name, and your date of birth and your mother’s middle name?’ So, there’re questions we have for you when you’ll be coming to impersonate ‘Troy’,” Lowenfield explained.

According to him, voter impersonation is “just not possible”.

This is the same CEO who has now dumped over 115,000 votes based on unsubstantiated allegations levelled by the APNU/AFC Coalition that votes in the 2020 elections were recorded in the names of dead and migrated people.

Lowenfield, on June 23, submitted a report to the Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice Claudette

Singh, with fabricated numbers which show that the APNU/AFC won the elections.

Lowenfield’s figures, however, are far from the truth, since the National Recount exercise, as certified by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and GECOM itself, shows that the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) won the elections with 233,336 votes.

The recount exercise, which saw every single ballot cast at the March 2 polls being recounted in the presence of party agents, elections officials, local and international observers, has been deemed transparent and credible by organisations like the Commonwealth, Organisation of American States (OAS), CARICOM, as well as the Governments of USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Norway, the European Union, among others.

In fact, they have all called for the recount results to form the basis of the declaration of the elections results, with some foreign powers warning of sanctions if the government of the day does not reflect the will of the people.

The GECOM Chair had made a decision to use the recount results as the basis of the declaration of the

Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield

winner of the 2020 elections, and had instructed Lowenfield to prepare a report accordingly.

Notwithstanding a court action filed by the APNU/ AFC to interfere with that process, Lowenfield eventually submitted the report with the fraudulent numbers. In fact, the CEO went further to defend his actions in the face of criticisms from both local and international stakeholders – including the CARICOM Chair, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

Lowenfield’s latest report to the Commission is being regarded as his fourth attempt to alter the results of the election in favour of the APNU/AFC Coalition.

The first two times were when he supported the fraudulent declarations made by Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo, for that district.

On March 5, Mingo declared fraudulent results for District Four, prompting the PPP/C to move to the courts, which scrapped those results and ordered that the process be done through the legally prescribed procedure.

When the process was resumed, Mingo still proceeded to use concocted numbers, and he eventually made a second fraudulent declaration on March 13.

Mingo had declared that the APNU/AFC won 136,057 votes for District Four, while the PPP/C won 77,231; but the certified recount process clearly shows that for Region Four, the APNU/AFC won 116,941 votes while PPP/C won 80,920.

Following the recount exercise, Lowenfield had submitted a report on the activity to the Commission, in which he included the certified figures which show a victory for the PPP/C as well as concocted figures which disenfranchised some 60% of voters.

In that report, Lowenfield claimed that the APNU/AFC won 125,010 votes while the PPP/C won 56,627; he claimed that the other votes were “invalid” based on the unsubstantiated allegations of the APNU/AFC Coalition.

Lowenfield’s latest report actually validates votes he would have previously invalidated; the CEO now claims that the APNU/AFC coalition garnered 171,825 votes, while the PPP/C gained 166,343 votes.

Private criminal charges have since been filed against Lowenfield for breach of public trust and conspiracy to commit fraud.

NEWS

13

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GuySuCo hog-tied with 'worthless' $30B bond ...blames APNU/AFC-appointed overseers for 'cash-strapped' position ...says if NICIL paid for lands it took, Corporation's debts would be repaid ...holding company took assets, left debts on Corporation's books

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he Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) says it is hogtied by the conditions associated with a $30 billion bond that was secured from a commercial bank by the state- owned National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), since the Holding Company "has essentially committed GuySuCo to a financial arrangement that has no real value to the Corporation in its current form.”

The Corporation, in a strongly worded missive on Thursday, lashed out at NICIL over its recent caution that GuySuCo must abide by the terms and conditions of the loan. In a public statement on Thursday, the entity insisted that its operations and financial management are being "derailed by NICIL’s ambitions and uncooperative and less than professional conduct, which have now placed the Corporation and its employees in the cash-strapped position it is in."

The Corporation has said it wishes to state that NICIL should approach reprimanding the Corporation

with much caution, and would like to remind the Holding Company of the following: “The Corporation has noticed that NICIL has launched a public awareness campaign promoting its success in implementing a number of projects which are the intellectual property of GuySuCo and its managers. It should also be noted that this is being done without any consultation or reference to these being the ideas of GuySuCo." The Corporation has said it is perturbed that NICIL has arrogated to itself the responsibility of managing the Corporation, this is to the peril of the Corporation and its employees.

The entity pointed to projects based on strategic company documents developed by current and former managers of GuySuCo on the new direction relative to diversification and divestment of aspects of the company, in order to ensure survivability of the remaining three estates – Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion.

According to GuySuCo, "When these company documents were provided to the Special Purpose Unit (SPU)

of NICIL, it was solely for the purpose of overseeing the divestment and possible diversification of GuySuCo’s four estates – Wales, Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon, with the understanding that the proceeds will be given to GuySuCo to be reinvested into the three remaining estates."

As such, the corporation is adamant that while its documents and intellectual property were handed over to the NICIL/SPU for the purpose of overseeing the divestment and diversification of the four estates, during 2017- 2018, "the Corporation learnt that some of these documents were used to transfer the ownership of Wales, Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates and other company property to NICIL without GuySuCo’s knowledge."

It was noted that, later in 2018, the Corporation learnt that NICIL/SPU had applied to a commercial bank and had successfully acquired a G$30B Bond by using the strategic plans developed by GuySuCo without any consultation with the Corporation as to the relevance of the sequencing for the Bond arrangement.

The Corporation said on Thursday that the NICIL/ SPU has since "brought no new thinking to the transition process of GuySuCo and the sugar industry, since the strategic plans or business plans that were used

by NICIL and submitted to the commercial bank for the G$30B Bond were developed by a group of managers from GuySuCo as part

of a task force that was led by the current Chairman of GuySuCo, Mr. John Dow, under the leadership of Mr. Errol Hanoman, a former Chief Executive."

Referring to NICIL's recent upbraid directed at the corporation, GuySuCo noted that "by some strange turn of events, having used the intellectual property of GuySuCo and its managers, NICIL now states, ‘We strongly advise the Directors of GuySuCo to obey the terms and conditions of the bond, and to seek to ensure compliance with same. In particular, we urge that it honours the reporting of its expenditure schedule to NICIL and the bond holders."

GuySuCo has since reported that the current Chairman of GuySuCo was the author of the strategic plan that was submitted to the bank for the G$G30 Bond; and had he or GuySuCo been consulted, the Bond arrangement would have had more relevance now.

"It should be noted that GuySuCo has proposed that the Bond arrangement be revisited and tailored, and be aligned with the phases of its business plan.

It should also be noted that the “terms and conditions” which were negotiated for the Bond without the involvement of GuySuCo are largely out of sync with the operational requirements of GuySuCo." As such, GuySuCo adumbrated the position that "NICIL has essentially committed GuySuCo to a fi-

Skeldon Sugar Estate

nancial arrangement that has no real value to the Corporation in its current form."

Referring to a recent public positon that “NICIL will, in the very near future, make available a further G$750,000,000," GuySuCo was adamant "this disbursement can only be possible when NICIL and GuySuCo can engage in solutions-driven discussions about making GuySuCo a commercially viable entity."

According to GuySuCo, it must be reminded "that Wales, Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon estates, with accompanying assets, both moveable and immoveable, were vested to the Holding Company without a penny being paid to GuySuCo." The corporation, in its missive, posits, "If NICIL should pay GuySuCo for at least the 4,600 acres of freehold lands which the Corporation had valued at G$80B, the Corporation will also agree for NICIL to deduct the G$9,970,759,568

that was disbursed from the Bond and the remainder could be disbursed into a Trust Fund for GuySuCo to carry out its recapitalization programme, pay its creditors, and address operating expenses."

It was noted additionally that while NICIL vested the assets from Wales, Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon estates, "all of the liabilities for those estates still remain on GuySuCo’s accounting records. If NICIL can take over these liabilities also, which include ex-gratia pensions and bank loans, this will definitely pave the way for the Corporation to become a commercially viable entity."

GuySuCo additionally reminded that it is patiently waiting on the Holding Company to submit copies of the Valuations for Wales, Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon estates for 2017, "since our external auditors are awaiting same to closeoff the 2017, 2018 and 2019 audits for GuySuCo."

NGSA wraps up with mixed reactions from pupils McGarrell stated. When asked what he wants to become, he responded quite positively “an engineer” Jada Wilson explained that it was a bit challenging for her, talking into consideration the COVID-19 pandemic which has severely affected her preparing for the exams.

“It was a bit challenging, to be honest. My study guide was very successful because

ping stone for the pupils as they enter into a new era of learning and growth.

However, pupils breathed a sigh of relief at the end of day two, with the hope that when the results are released, they would have secured a spot at some of the top secondary schools in the country.

On Thursday, Guyana Times visited a few schools in Georgetown, and the pu-

Devon Mcgarrell

Rehana Kennedy

Sasha Premio

s the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations wrapped up on Thursday, the students went home with bittersweet anxiety as they await the results.

The two-day examination covered four subject areas – Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, and English Language. The NGSA is considered a step-

pils stated that while they are elated that the exams are over, they have mixed reactions.

Devon McGarrell, who attends the Winfer Gardens Primary School, stated that it was “a walk through” for him.

“The examination was like a walk through; it was very easy. Mathematics was the easiest subject,”

I had an extended period to focus.”

Like McGarrell, she added that she would like to become an engineer, but first she wants to earn herself a place at the Bishop’s High School.

Another student, Rehana Kennedy, who is an aspiring teacher after completing her secondary education, stated that Social Studies paper

A

Jada Wilson

Micesha Osborne

two was the most straightforward exam.

“The examination was really easy, and I think Social Studies paper two was the easiest one, and I think I will get a 100 per cent in that subject. As for studying during the pandemic, it was a bit difficult, because I was away from school and there were some challenges studying from home,” she noted.

Over at St. Ambrose Primary School, Micesha Osborne, an aspiring doctor, noted, “The examination, for me, was a little challenging.

Due to the pandemic, I had to study at home with my parents,” Meanwhile, her colleague Sasha Premio related, “I feel good, but one thing I will be missing is my friends, teachers, and I feel very sad about it. As for me, I honestly do not know what I want to become.”

This year saw an increase in candidates from 14,715 to 14,730, with over 300 exam centres across the country

14 NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ramkarran asks CCJ to rule recount results as “valid results” – says Guyanese need “relief from this torment”

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enior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran on Wednesday asked the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to make a final determination as to what the “valid” results of the March 2 General and Regional Elections are, so that the protracted electoral process could finally be brought to an end.

During his argument at Wednesday’s hearing before the CCJ, Ramkarran, who is representing the three joiner parties: A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) and The New Movement (TNM), said the regional court should not only seek to set aside the Court of Appeal’s ruling, but also determine what the final valid results are.

“I respectfully seek Your Honours’ intervention to say what are the valid results of these elections. This case is about the elections, and this case is about the counting of the votes; and Section 96 [of the Representation of People’s Act] and everything else points to the recount results being the valid results in this case,” he stated.

According to Ramkarran, who is also Leader and Presidential Candidate of ANUG for the March 2020 elections, unless such a final determination is made, this matter would find itself before the Trinidad-based regional court again.

“There is disputation of what the valid results are, and unless this court takes a position on what the valid results of the elections are – if this court seeks to kick the election can down the road, and not to go down that road itself, we will be

Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran

here very shortly – the issue will be here very shortly for this court to once again pronounce on the elections in Guyana,” he contended.

The Senior Counsel further pointed out to the Court that it has been four months since Guyanese went to the polls, and they need this electoral process to finally come to an end. “…this a matter of great disputation in the country at the moment. I’m not asking Your Honours to seek any information outside of the parameters of this case. This case has all the evidence before Your Honours as to the disputation. I’m merely asking Your Honours to take this material before you and bring this matter to a close once and for all. It is four months now, and the people of Guyana need relief from this torment”, he said.

The CCJ is hearing the case brought by People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali and General Secretary Bharrat

Jagdeo, who are challenging the jurisdiction of Guyana’s Court of Appeal, which last week ruled that “more votes” in the Recount Order means “more valid votes” in a matter that was filed by APNU/ AFC supporter Eslyn David.

However, Ramkarran argued in court on Wednesday that the Appeal Court’s interpretation of more votes to be more “valid” votes can only be within the context of the Representation of People’s Act (ROPA), since valid and invalid votes are only referred to there, and nowhere else in the Constitution.

He further noted that the Recount Order which was used to guide the 33-day exercise is a subsidiary legislation. He pointed to the Interpretation and General Clauses Act at Section 20 (1) (b) which states “No subsidiary legislation shall be inconsistent with the provisions of any Act”.

As such, the legal expert asserted that “…final and credible” cannot be interpreted to mean anything else than valid. Final and credible cannot add an additional layer of credibility on the meaning of valid that Ms. David seeks that we apply.”

Moreover, Ramkarran told the Court that Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield used the Appeal Court’s interpretation as a guide and went ahead to dump some 115,000 votes which he felt were invalid.

“He feels court give him a license to determine what the term ‘valid’ means…

He certainly used what he understood what the court meant to take away 115,000

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

votes,” he stated.

To this end, he submitted that the CCJ “ought to have no hesitation in ruling that [the CEO’s report] be set aside and ruled null and void.”

According to the Senior Counsel, Lowenfield went against the instructions of the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), retired Justice Claudette Singh, who had directed him to use the results from the recount to prepare his filed elections report.

The National Recount showed that the PPP/C is the winner of the March 2 elections having secured over 15,000 votes more than its main political rival, the APNU/AFC Coalition. The exercise, which has been certified by a special Caricom Team and deemed credible by all international and local observers, revealed that the PPP/C obtained 233,336 votes while APNU/AFC garnered 217,920 votes.

However, Lowenfield instead submitted his report with figures that he considers to be “valid”, showing

NGSA records 95% attendance T

he National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), which was conducted on Wednesday and Thursday, has recorded some 95 per cent students’ attendance.

A total of 14,730 candidates were registered to write the Assessment this

Pupils of Virginia Primary School writing their examination on Wednesday

A medical professional stationed at the Sir James Douglas Primary School to test the temperature of pupils and authorised personnel entering the compound

year.

In total, there are 395 centres across Guyana where the NGSA was written.

Visits to some schools along the East Coast of Demerara such as St

Andrew’s Primary, Sir James Douglas Primary, Virginia Primary and Cane Grove Primary reported 100 per cent attendance of pupils to write their examinations.

On Wednesday, pupils wrote the English Language and Science examinations while Mathematics and Social Studies Papers One and Two were sat on Thursday.

At all centres, pupils and all authorised personnel observed the public health measures outlined in the Examination Order 73/2020.

The Education Ministry, in a re-

lease, stated that it was satisfied with the attendance of pupils and recognised the support given by the teachers, parents, and guardians to make the process work to have the examinations administered under the safest and strictest conditions to ensure everyone’s well-being.

The same level of support is expected for the administering of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), which will commence on July 13, 2020.

the APNU/AFC in the lead with 171,825 votes, while the PPP/C got 166,343 votes.

In court on Wednesday, Ramkarran argued that Section 96 of the ROPA, which Lowenfield claims he acted under in preparing his report, provides no opportunity for the CEO to make a judgement on the results of the elections.

“The Recount Order preserved the function of the CEO under Section 96, and the Chairman of GECOM wrote to him to provide the

results of the election on the basis of the recount results and under Section 96. The CEO, whether he ignored it or not, he certainly interpreted it of his own imagination, based on this case, lopping of 115,000 votes and reversing the results of the election to give APNU/ AFC the win instead of the PPP/C, which had been declared as obtaining 15,000 more votes than APNU in the recount results,” Ramkarran stated.

UK court recognises Guaidó as Venezuela’s President in gold dispute

Juan Guaidó arrived to a crowd of supporters chanting “Guaidó, Guaidó”

B

ritain has recognised Venezuela’s Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó as the country’s president, the English High Court ruled Thursday, in a case over whether Guaidó or Nicolás Maduro should control US$1 billion of its gold stored in London.

A four-day hearing last week had been the latest part of a tug-of-war over the gold reserves held in the Bank of England and centred on which of the two rival presidents Britain now views as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.

The British Government in early 2019 joined dozens of nations in backing Guaidó, head of Venezuela’s Opposition-controlled congress, after he declared an interim presidency and denounced Maduro as a usurper.

Guaidó, at the time, asked the Bank of England to prevent Maduro’s Government from accessing the gold, which the Opposition claims Maduro wants to use to pay off his foreign allies. In May, Maduro’s central bank, the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) sued the Bank of England to recover control, saying it was depriving the BCV of funds needed to finance Venezuela’s coronavirus response.

The Bank of England then asked the court to determine who the British Government recognised as Venezuela’s President.

High Court Judge Nigel Teare handed down a judgment ruling that Britain had “unequivocally” recognised Guaidó as constitution-

al interim president. Teare based his decision on the socalled “one voice” doctrine, in which the court must accept as conclusive an unequivocal statement by the British Government recognising the leader of a foreign nation.

“The Judiciary and the executive must speak with one voice,” Teare said. “There cannot be two Presidents of Venezuela.”

Sarosh Zaiwalla, one of the lawyers representing the Maduro camp, said Thursday that the BCV would be seeking leave of the court to appeal the judgment.

The BCV on Twitter called the decision “absurd” for depriving Venezuela “of the gold it urgently needs to confront the pandemic”.

If the BCV’s appeal is granted the accelerated pace of the case means it could go to the London Court of Appeal in the coming weeks.

If that appeal were to prove successful, it would then go up to the Supreme Court.

Guaidó, in a statement, said the court’s decision “contributed immensely to the protection of Venezuelans’ resources from the clutches of the corrupt dictatorship”.

Over the past two years, Maduro’s Government has removed some 30 tonnes of gold from its reserves in Venezuela to sell abroad for much-needed hard currency.

A member of Guaido’s legal team said they now expect the court to determine whether Guaidó has the authority to represent Venezuela’s central bank in another legal case to decide control over the gold itself.

(Reuters)

NEWS

15

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana records 14th COVID-19 death …with 2 new cases recorded; cases climb to 250

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he COVID-19 death toll in Guyana has risen to 14 – the second death recorded for this week.

On Thursday, 34-yearold Abdool Khan succumbed while being treated at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The businessman who hailed from Bartica in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) was admitted over one week ago after testing positive for the virus. He was the father of a threeyear-old child who tested positive along with several family members last week.

On Monday, Kevin Ridley of Albuoystown, Georgetown died after contracting the novel coronavirus. His death was announced on Wednesday.

It has been reported that the 42-year-old man was admitted to the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit after complaining of shortness of breath.

Prior to this, Guyana’s last COVID-19 death was recorded over a month ago, on May 30, when 78-year-old John Damon, a former resi-

Abdool Khan

dent of the Palms Geriatric Home, died at the designated ICU at the Georgetown Public Hospital. He was the second resident of The Palms to die from COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Guyana also recorded two new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.

According to Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle, the total number of COVID-19 cases has increased to 250.

Within 24 hours, 34 new tests were conducted. There are 117 recoveries, with 120 active cases in isolation,

16 persons in institutional quarantine, and 2 persons in the COVID ICU. The DCMO mentioned that many persons are still behaving as though they cannot contract the disease, even as cases continue to climb rapidly in Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

“Some of you still believe that COVID-19 is a gimmick, that you cannot contract this disease, and that if you are infected, you can easily recover and move on with your life. That may be so, but remember the trauma that your body undergoes when COVID-19 strikes,” Dr Gordon-Boyle emphasized.

Previously in Wednesday’s update, she implored, “Guyanese, I want you to know that COVID-19 is real. Stop mamaguying.

Please note also that the full effect of COVID-19 on the human body is not fully known; you can recover from the coronavirus disease, but may develop other conditions that you previously did not have, which can result in possible death.”

Navigant Builders claims land transaction awaiting new Govt

She said stakeholders will have to comply with the other agencies involved in the Ministry’s efforts to combat the virus. Presently, officials continue to plead with residents to practise proper sanitization measures and follow the guidelines.

To the repatriated Guyanese, she questioned, “I also wish to address our repatriating nationals, the terms of whose return includes an agreement to home quarantine for 7 days.

Why, on your arrival in Guyana, do you then choose to disregard this, and to saunter out into the public, knowing that you can potentially be putting at risk the lives of those you love the most? Just a reminder: provide accurate information at the points of entry, (and) remain at home for the agreed

period, so that the health officials can call and check with you.”

According to the World Health Organization, the

total number of COVID-19 cases is 10,357,662, with 508055 deaths. Regionally, there are 5,218,590 cases, with 249,318 deaths.

Gunmen invade, rob Western Union branch at Little Diamond

F

our armed bandits executed a daring daylight robbery on a Western Union outlet and a pharmacy located at Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Wednesday.

The owner, 39-year-old Parsram Prashad of Little Diamond, EBD, and 20-yearold Navindra Narine, a pharmacist of West Coast Demerara (WCD), were held at gunpoint as the men carried out the act.

According to information received, the robbery occurred at about 15:00h.

Prashad reportedly told investigators that the men invaded the business establishment and scaled the counter.

Whilst in the building the men ordered everyone to “lie flat” on the floor. One of the bandits, who was armed with a handgun, demanded that the cashier hand over the daily sales.

Out of fear, Narine com-

plied and handed over about $100,000 in cash. The bandits also carted off one Samsung Galaxy S9 cellphone, one LG cellphone, and an iPhone before departing on two motorcycles.

The Police were summoned, and an investigation has been launched.

Detectives are currently reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage with the hope of identifying the perpetrators.

Young GDF Officer to study at US Coast Guard Academy

S NICIL officials and representative of the Navigant Builders Inc turning sod at Ogle, East Coast Demerara (Photo taken in February 2020)

N

avigant Builders Inc, the developers of Windsor Estates, on Thursday reiterated that they have put on hold their luxury housing development project at Ogle, East Coast Demerara until there is a “credible resolution to the election” in Guyana.

“Of utmost significance, subsequent to the March 2nd elections, we have made no attempts to initiate any transfer of lands or advance this project. On March 6th, Navigant Builders-Windsor Estates issued a press release announcing (their) decision to suspend this project pending a democratic resolution to the elections.

“We wish to assure the public that we have not departed from that position, and we will continue to await a formal and credible pronouncement on the elec-

tions before proceeding with this or any new project,” the company said in a press release.

Following is a full statement from the company: It has come to our attention that there has been a gazetted order indicating a transfer of lands from NICIL to Navigant BuildersWindsor Estates in the Ogle/ Sparendaam vicinity dated Thursday, June 11th 2020 and published in the Official Gazette on Tuesday, June 30th 2020.

“Of utmost significance, subsequent to the March 2nd elections, we have made no attempts to initiate any transfer of lands or advance this project. On March 6th, Navigant Builders-Windsor Estates issued a press release announcing (their) decision to suspend this project pending a democratic

resolution to the elections.

We wish to assure the public that we have not departed from that position, and we will continue to await a formal and credible pronouncement on the elections before proceeding with this or any new project.

“In regard to the vesting order showing the pending transfer of 30 acres of land to Navigant Builders, we wish to state that we had no prior knowledge of this order. We received communication from NICIL on June 19th seeking full payment prior to publication in the Official Gazette (no payments have been made to date). In our response to NICIL on the said date, we indicated that we cannot proceed with this transaction until there is a credible resolution to the elections.

“We remain committed to working in Guyana.”

econd Lieutenant Orwin Austin departed Guyana on Thursday for the USA, where he will attend the United States Coast Guard Academy.

The 22-year-old officer clinched the opportunity to study Electrical Engineering at the Academy in a competitive process which involved two other applicants.

Hailing from Land of Canaan on the East Bank of Demerara, Austin is the youngest of four children, and gained his formal education from the Soesdyke Primary School, the Covent Garden Secondary School, and Queen’s College.

He gained passes in 12 CXC subjects and another 13 subjects at CAPE. Prior to his enlistment as an Officer Cadet in June 2018, Austin worked for ten months at the Guyana Water Incorporated.

He indicated that he had always felt drawn to service in the military because of his sense of patriotism.

“I wanted to serve my country and contribute in the noblest manner,” he expressed.

When it comes to advanced academic pursuits,

Second Lieutenant Orwin Austin

the young officer said he had set his sights on studying aeronautical engineering, but this opportunity presented itself instead. “While aeronautical engineering was my initial focus, I was not about to pass up this opportunity to gain higher academic training that will enhance my contributions to the GDF. So I applied, and here I am,” he said.

“During the Standard Officers’ Course 51, I learned how to adapt my thinking and behaviour, and

the ability to do so was responsible for my success on the course. Given this situation where I’ll be studying for four years in the USA, where COVID-19 is still problematic for everyone’s health and well-being, I am not worried. I will take the necessary precautions to ensure my safety and (that of) others,” he added.

Although unable to immediately project the significance of his contribution to the GDF in the future, Austin said he has committed himself to serving the Force and the citizens of Guyana.

He is confident that this opportunity to expand his academic and professional horizons would ultimately redound to the enhancement of whatever appointments he may hold in the future.

“I look forward to performing with excellence throughout my studies, and also to learning as much as I can about the culture and application of global Coast Guard knowledge, so that I may be of maximum benefit to the GDF and my country,” he said. (Extracted and Modified from a GDF Facebook Post)

16 NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lowenfield benefiting from APNU/AFC’s land “giveaway” explains his recent actions – Edghill

PPP/C candidate Juan Edghill

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ormer Junior Finance Minister under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, Juan Edghill says the fact that embattled Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield was a beneficiary of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change’s massive land “giveaway” explains his recent actions favouring the caretaker coalition.

Of recent, the APNU/AFC Government has come under severe fire for what some say was a “mad rush” to allocate prime State lands to key officials and alleged supporters of the coalition since the

December 2018 no-confidence vote – the period after which the Administration should have been in a caretaker mode until a new government was elected.

In fact, CEO Lowenfield has been one of the main beneficiaries of the land “giveaway” and according to Edghill, this explains the CEO’s recent controversial actions in which he dumped more than 115,000 valid votes and handed a ‘victory’ to the incumbent coalition, even though a national recount confirmed that the coalition has lost the elections.

“Mr Lowenfield as our Chief Elections Officer, after the passage of the no-confidence vote, [after] which we should have had elections within 90 days, became the beneficiary from the Government that had fallen, of two acres of prime residential land in a village called Mocha, and 100-plus acres of land at a place in Region 10 called Millie’s Hideout,” Edghill said during an interview on Thursday with St Lucia-based Choice News Now. “Mr Lowenfield became the gazetted beneficiary of two sets of land. So that explains Mr Lowenfield’s relationship with the current gov-

PPP/C candidate Priya Manickchand

ernment.”

Edghill reminded that this occurred under “a fallen government that had no authority to distribute land because of their caretaker status”.

Edghill, a PPP/C candidate, added that Lowenfield did everything within his power to delay the elections that should have been held within 90 days of the successful no-confidence motion by 14 months.

Providing viewers with a background to the current political impasse in Guyana following the March 2 General and Regional Elections, the former PPP/C MP summed it

up by saying: “The reality is the APNU/AFC Government do not intend to come out of office.”

“So Mr Lowenfield got the District Four Returning Officer to make two declarations – one on March 5 and the other on March 13 – both of those declarations for Region Four had different numbers, and both times the numbers bear no resemblance to the official documents generated at each place of poll, which is called the Statement of Poll.”

Edghill explained that after much unease and protest from all the stakeholders in the country, this led to the national recount, which was certified by the Caricom Observer Team and which confirmed that the PPP/C won the elections.

GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh had directed Lowenfield to use the national elections recount figures certified by the Caricom Observer Team pursuant to Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution and Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03 to compile his final report.

The CEO, however, did

not comply with the Chair’s directive. He, instead, unilaterally invalidated over 115,000 votes and handed a ‘victory’ to the APNU/AFC. Edghill’s colleague, Priya Manickchand, who was also a guest on the programme, explained that it was on this fraudulent basis that the coalition was hoping to remain in power.

Manickchand related that to date, Lowenfield has failed to provide any plausible explanation to justify his unilateral action – invalidating votes which were already deemed valid.

She detailed that on the night of the election, when all the votes were being counted, the valid votes were separated from those that were deemed invalid or rejected.

She added that the process was done in the presence of all the parties’ agents as well as local and international observers.

“Valid votes were counted and invalid votes were put aside in an envelope; they were called rejected votes,” Manickchand said.

She further added that the same process was applied

T

laboration with UNICEF, UNESCO and other entities, states that violence still affects the lives of up to one billion children, with long-lasting and costly emotional, social and economic consequences.

As such, the Commission said, a collaborative effort can reduce these high numbers and create better environments for youths.

“Together with these international agencies, we must all reaffirm a commitment to preserving the protection of the rights of Guyana’s children. These can be achieved by continuing to observe laws which protect children; establishing values and norms to promote child rights; creating safe environments for children; enabling parent and care- giver support; providing social protection services; fostering economic stability, and promoting education and life skills capacity. All of these actions are relevant to a societal approach to protecting children.”

It went on to shed light on two recent incidents wherein pregnant teenagers died in Guyana. Rehana Rahaman from Karawab village in the Upper Pomeroon had collapsed and died, while Melissa Somah from New Amsterdam was murdered and her body was later fished from the Berbice River.

These deaths, the RCC said, heighten the focus “on the stark reality of children being mothers, and their unfortunate deaths”.

“The best interest of the child must be observed by all stakeholders at the level of the family, community and nationally. We must, at all times, seek to consider and act in a manner that accords with observing the rights of children.”

Additionally, while addressing the Education Ministry’s partial reopening of schools for examinations, calls were made for no child to be left behind. Just Wednesday, in Region One, there were reports of children being denied the opportunity to sit the assessment.

The Commission insisted, “The MoE to ensure that no child is left behind due to the fact of missed classes or total absence of schooling, and to enhance preparations for start of school in September, should challenges with COVID-19 continue.

“Particularly, the Commission is concerned with all students, whether in urban, rural or hinterland areas, being afforded the capacity to access adequate tuition and to benefit from equitable attention being paid to the myriad of needs of all.

“Students in all locations, depending on their circumstances, are being affected, and must all be catered for.”

during the national recount, adding “only valid votes were counted and tabulated”.

Foreign powers have called on GECOM to declare the results of the elections on the basis of the certified figures emanating from the national recount.

The national recount, which was conducted under the scrutiny of a special Caricom team, shows the PPP/C in a landslide victory with some 15,416 more votes than its main political rival, the APNU/AFC coalition.

More stranded Guyanese return home

RCC concerned about spike in child abuse cases in Guyana he Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) has expressed concerns over published records from the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) highlighting an increase in child abuse cases for the first quarter of 2020.

The Agency had put together statistics garnered for the first three months of the year, and it showed a worrying upsurge of abuse-related cases involving children. As such, the RCC issued a statement on Thursday, noting that these situations have been compounded and exacerbated by the existential threat of COVID-19 to both children and care-givers.

“Note is also taken by RCC of the efforts of various stakeholders in responding to this situation, and recommends a more concerted and collaborative approach. The RCC believes that the considerable threat to life imposed by COVID-19 must be met with the continued resolve of all stakeholders to keep our children safe.

Such safety must involve protection from a deadly virus as well as from any form of mistreatment and abuse while they are at home,” the Commission identified.

A recent report titled “Global Status Report on Preventing Violence Against Children 2020”, which was produced by the World Health Organization in col-

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

Passengers being sanitised upon landing at CJIA

R

epatriated Guyanese who arrived on Eastern Airlines flight EAL 232 on Thursday have expressed their elation to be back on local soil, and have commended the stakeholders for ensuring this was possible.

Further, passengers say Guyana’s Consulate in New York, which worked hand in hand with the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF), went above and beyond the call of duty to get persons on the flight back to Guyana.

Passenger Giles Stephens said the staff at the consulate were very professional, and the process was smooth for him. “I think she (Consul General, the Hon. Barbara Atherly) did a marvellous job. You could have talked to her directly, and she would return your call if you called and she was not there,” Stephens said, and added that he was grateful for the advice received along the way until he boarded his flight.

Several other passengers reported that the length of time they had to spend over-

Government has thus far upgraded its health facilities to address COVID-19 cases; testing, quarantine and treatment. An infectious disease hospital is also nearing completion to address patients of epidemics.

The hospital at Ocean View is a first for the region.

In the meantime, another passenger, who requested anonymity, shared that he also is relieved to be home.

“I tested negative, but I am staying indoors as they instructed.”

Guyanese returning home

seas before Thursday’s repatriation flight was worrying, but they equally expressed their appreciation for Government’s assistance and guidance.

One woman who was abroad on vacation when the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was first reported in Guyana noted that “there is no place like home.” She told DPI that being on local soil again was the best feeling. “Being home, I feel relieved. I think being home reduces my chances of catching COVID-19. The figures in America are only going up,” she said.

He said he was thankful for the measures taken by the Government to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The direct flight from New York to Guyana arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport just after 2:30 on Thursday afternoon. A total of 195 Guyanese citizens returned home. This is the final repatriation flight in this phase of Government’s plan to bring home Guyanese delayed overseas due to COVID-19. All repatriation flights have to be approved by the National COVID-19 Task Force.

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020

17

Regional

Former Panamanian Presidents Cuba lifting some COVID restrictions face corruption charges

P

anama's last two presidents, Ricardo Martinelli and Juan Carlos Varela, faced questions from prosecutors Thursday, each on charges of corruption and money laundering.

Prosecutors have charged Martinelli with corruption over the so-called "New Business" case in which a publishing group was allegedly purchased with public money during his 2009-14 term.

Martinelli, 68, was in a combative mood when he arrived at the public prosecutor's office in Panama City.

"They are violating the law; they are violating the Constitution and international treaties. I hope they will do me justice," the former President told Journalists.

"They are fabricating these cases against me. It

Former Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela is surrounded by reporters as he arrives at the Prosecutor's office to be questioned over alleged illegal campaign donations from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, in Panama City, on July 2, 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic

really is a political persecution."

Martinelli was held in pre-trial detention for two years after he was extradited from the United States to face trial for spying on

his political foes. He was acquitted on those charges in 2019.

Varela, 56, meanwhile arrived at the special anti-corruption prosecutor's office to be questioned about

alleged illegal donations to his political campaigns from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.

"I have come to comply with the subpoena from the public prosecutor's office and to answer any questions they may have," said Varela, who left office last year.

Varela was previously questioned on Monday.

The appearance of the two former presidents "could mean, if there is any optimism, that... no one is above the law", Carlos Barsallo, Head of the Panamanian office of Transparency International, told AFP. But "being realistic and prudent and based on previous experiences, we have to wait and see real and definitive results, because in Panama, the perception of impunity has prevailed," he said. (Excerpt from AFP)

Brazil’s coronavirus death toll passes 60,000; high-flying face masks arrive at Mexican hospitals

B

razil surpassed 60,000 coronavirus deaths, the Health Ministry said, citing a recent wave of contamination in southern and midwestern areas of the country.

A total of 1038 additional deaths were registered in the previous 24 hours, taking the overall number of fatalities to 60,632, the Ministry said.

The number of deaths in the south and the midwest regions grew by 37 per cent and 36 per cent, respectively, in the epidemiological week ended last Saturday, the Ministry added, in contrast to setbacks seen in the north and southeast and a trend of stability in the northeast.

Meanwhile, in Mexico, to eliminate the risk of conta-

gion carried by human beings, a Mexican company has launched a drone delivery service to get clean medical supplies to hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mexico-City based-firm Sincronia Logistica has begun deploying unmanned drones to deliver personal protective gear and other essential equipment to public

hospitals in the central state of Queretaro, north of the capital.

Mexican healthcare workers have staged protests nationwide over the lack of Personal Protective Equipment. The drones help stem the spread of the novel coronavirus by allowing for quick, contact-free drop-offs. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

C

uba said on Wednesday it will begin easing a pandemic lockdown on Havana today, while most of the rest of the country will move to phase two of a three-phase process towards normalisation.

The capital’s 2.2 million residents will once more be able to move around on public and private transport, go to the beach and other recreation centres, and enjoy a seaside drive just in time for the summer break.

They can also dine and have a drink, although social distancing and wearing masks remain mandatory.

Optional medical and other services will also resume.

Only a handful of COVID-19 cases were reported in Cuba last month, all but a few in Havana.

Most of the Caribbean island, home to 11.2 million inhabitants, has been free of the disease for more than

a month.

Each phase of the reopening allows capacity at venues to increase from an initial 50 per cent.

Interprovincial transportation begins during phase two, while phase three includes schools reopening.

On Wednesday, the country opened a group of isolated resort keys to international tourism. Phase three broadens international travel depending on risk.

The lockdown began in March and, except for the western province of Matanzas and Havana, moved to phase one of normalisation two weeks ago.

Matanzas entered phase one a week ago.

The Communist-run country has been given high marks for its textbook handling of the pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

(Excerpt from Reuters)

IDB warns of “economic shock” to Caribbean

Political leader charged following protests in Trinidad

P

olice have charged the leader of the New National Vision (NNV) political party, Fuad Abu Bakr, with several criminal charges, including using violent language to provoke people to commit a breach of the peace following his arrest on Tuesday as people protested the killing of three people by Police last weekend.

Bakr, the son of the Muslim Leader, Yasin Abu Bakr, who in 1990 staged a failed coup there, remained in Police custody late on Wednesday night.

Media reports said that

Fuad Abu Bakr Guardian photo)

(Trinidad

the NNV leader had been

slapped with three counts of assaulting a Police Officer at the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest near the United States Embassy in June.

In relation to Tuesday’s protests, Bakr was charged with using violent language to provoke people to commit a breach of the peace and breaking the coronavirus regulations that prevents more than 25 people gathering at any one time.

His Attorney Kashif Gibson on Wednesday night confirmed that his client was still in Police custody and has not ruled out the

possibility of filing an application in the High Court to have him released on bail.

Bakr was arrested while doing a live video of the protest action in Port of Spain on Tuesday that Police Commissioner Gary Griffith and National Security Minister Stuart Young said was well-orchestrated and aimed at destabilising the country.

The elder Bakr told reporters that he had no indication why his son had been arrested and speculated it may have been “for telling people to calm down”.

(Excerpt from CMC)

COVID-19 cases in Haiti pass 6000

H

aiti became the first Caribbean C o m m u n i t y (Caricom) country to pass the 6000 mark as the French-speaking country recorded 65 new cases of the novel coronavirus over the past 24 hours.

While the figure appears to give the impression that the country was recording fewer cases of the virus in recent weeks, the Public Health Ministry said that

two more deaths were recorded, pushing the total to 107.

It said that since the first case of the virus was recorded there on March 19, Haiti now has 6040 cases with the majority being men.

Prior to the Wednesday figures, Haiti had recorded 42 cases on Tuesday, and the Ministry said that there were now 4901 active cases, while the number of suspected cases investigated

since the pandemic was first reported reached 12, 566.

Apart from Haiti, the other Caricom countries recording increased numbers of positive cases are Jamaica with 707 cases and 10 deaths and Guyana with 248 cases and 13 deaths.

On Wednesday, Jamaica said the five new cases were imported into the country with the persons having arrived on flights from the United States.

It said that the four men and one woman ranged in ages from 31 to 56 years and that two were foreign nationals.

“Jamaica’s 707 cases consist of 192 imported cases; 233 that are contacts of confirmed cases; 39 local transmission cases not epidemiologically linked; 236 related to the workplace cluster in St Catherine and seven under investigation,” the authorities said. (CMC)

A new IDB report examines the unprecedented effect of COVID-19 on the tourism sector in Latin America and the Caribbean (file photo)

A

new study by the Inter-American Bank (IDB) says Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) will suffer “an unprecedented economic shock” from a sharp downturn in tourism as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The report, “Extreme Outlier: The Pandemic’s Unprecedented Shock to Tourism in Latin America and the Caribbean,” launches a new global Tourism Dependency Index for countries, including 35 Latin American and Caribbean economies.

It urges Governments to take unprecedented measures to prevent the spread of the virus, and to support citizens and economies through this shock to the most tourism-dependent region in the world.

“Based on simulations, the direct impacts of the

shock to tourism flows for The Bahamas could cause an economic contraction relative to pre-crisis baseline estimates of between eight per cent and 13 per cent,” said the Washington-based financial institution.

It said that similar exercises incorporating the potential indirect contribution of tourism for economic activity would further increase these loss estimates.

While less dependent on tourism than many Caribbean economies, large economies like Brazil and Mexico could experience shocks to growth linked to this sector of between two and five per cent, respectively, relative to pre-crisis estimates, the IDB said.

The report notes that the Americas, including the Caribbean, are “home to many of the world’s most tourism-dependent economies”. (Excerpt from CMC)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020

Around the World

US Congress backs sanctions over China's Hong Kong security law

T

he US Congress has approved a bill penalising banks doing business with Chinese officials behind a tough new security law Beijing enacted in Hong Kong this week.

The bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent on Thursday, a day after the House of Representatives also passed it without opposition, a rare example of overwhelming bipartisan support reflecting concern in Washington over the erosion of autonomy in the former British colony.

"This is an urgent moment. Our timing could not be more critical," said Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, a lead sponsor of the "Hong Kong Autonomy Act", in a Senate speech urg-

Police stop and search people during a march on the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China from the UK in Hong Kong [Tyrone Siu/ Reuters]

ing support for the legislation.

"Through this bill, the US Senate makes clear which side we are on," said Republican Senator Pat Toomey, who also introduced the measure.

The bill would impose

sanctions on entities that help violate Hong Kong's autonomy and financial institutions that do business with them.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, speaking in Beijing, warned the United States

against signing or implementing the bill approved Thursday.

"Otherwise, China will resolutely and forcefully resist," he said.

China has already announced visa restrictions against the US "individuals who have behaved egregiously" on matters concerning Hong Kong.

The United States has also ended Hong Kong's special status under US law, halting defence exports and restricting the territory's access to high-technology products. The US Department of State meanwhile said it would bar officials responsible for rights abuses in Hong Kong from entering the country. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Jeffrey Epstein ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell charged

B

ritish socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, an ex-girlfriend of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, has been charged in the US after being arrested by the FBI. She is accused of assisting Epstein's abuse of minors by helping to recruit and groom victims known to be underage.

After being arrested in New Hampshire, she was brought to court and remanded in custody, for

transfer to New York.

Maxwell, 58, has previously denied any involvement in or knowledge of Epstein's alleged sexual misconduct.

Epstein died in prison on August 10 as he awaited, without the chance of bail, his trial on sex trafficking charges.

He was arrested last year in New York following allegations that he was running a network of underage girls – some as young as 14

– for sex. His death was determined to be suicide.

Prosecutors allege that between 1994 and 1997 Maxwell helped Epstein groom girls as young as 14.

The charges say she would build a rapport with them – including by taking them shopping or to the movies – and would later coax them into giving Epstein massages during which they were sexually abused.

"Maxwell played a criti-

cal role in helping Epstein to identify, befriend and groom minor victims for abuse," said Audrey Strauss, acting US Attorney for the southern district of New York.

Five of the six charges brought against her each carry a sentence of five years with the sixth – transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity – punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Coronavirus on the rise in 37 US states as Florida reports 10,000 new cases

M

ore than three dozen US states were seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases, according to a Reuters analysis on Thursday, the latest grim sign that the coronavirus pandemic, once thought to be waning, was again spreading rapidly.

Florida, among the states hardest hit by the June surge, reported more than 10,000 new coronavirus infections on Thursday, its largest spike so far and more new daily cases than any European country had at the height of their outbreaks.

California, another epicentre, saw positive tests climb 37 per cent with hospitalisations up 56 per cent over the past two weeks.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican who has previously resisted calls to

Texas reported nearly 8000 new cases on Thursday

make face masks mandatory, on Thursday ordered them to be worn in all counties with over 20 coronavirus cases.

“In the past few weeks, there has been a swift and substantial spike in coronavirus cases,” Abbott said in a videotaped message. “We need to refocus on slowing the spread. But this time, we want to do it without closing down Texas again.”

Texas reported nearly 8000 new cases on Thursday.

New infections were rising in 37 out of 50 US states in the past 14 days compared with the two weeks prior, according to a Reuters analysis. The United States has now recorded 128,706 deaths, nearly a quarter of the known global total.

The wave of new cases has several governors halting

or back-pedalling on plans to reopen their states after months of strict lockdowns, closing beaches and cancelling fireworks displays over the upcoming Independence Day weekend.

The sweeping business shut-downs earlier in the pandemic devastated the US economy and threw millions of Americans out of work, leaving Governors reluctant to take such draconian steps again, even if the lifting of restrictions likely touched off the new outbreak.

A US Labour Department report out Thursday showed the re-openings had a dramatic impact on hiring, with the United States creating jobs at a record pace in June.

However, employment remains 14.7 million jobs below pre-pandemic levels. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Hundreds arrested as crime chat network cracked

A

top-secret communications system used by criminals to trade drugs and guns has been "successfully penetrated", says the National Crime Agency (NCA).

The NCA worked with forces across Europe on the United Kingdom's "biggest

and most significant" law enforcement operation.

Major crime figures were among over 800 Europewide arrests after messages on EncroChat were intercepted and decoded.

More than two tonnes of drugs, several dozen guns and £54 million in suspect

cash have been seized, says the NCA. While the NCA was part of the investigation, it was initiated and led by French and Dutch Police, and also involved Europol – the EU agency for law enforcement cooperation.

Wil van Gemert, dep-

uty executive director of Europol, told a press conference in the Hague that the hacking of the network had allowed the "disruption of criminal activities including violent attacks, corruption, attempted murders, and large-scale drug transports".

(Excerpt from BBC News)

OILNEWS Oil climbs for a 2nd session, settles at highest since March

O

il futures rose for a second session on Thursday to mark their highest finish since March, buoyed by better-thanexpected US job growth in June, after data a day earlier showed the biggest weekly domestic crude supply decline since 2019.

The US added 4.8 million jobs in June and the unemployment rate fell for the second straight month to 11.1 per cent, according to Government data released Thursday.

“A strong US nonfarm payroll report suggests the US economic rebound continues and that crude demand should follow suit,” said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at Oanda, in a market update.

On Thursday, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for August rose 83 cents, or 2.1 per cent, to settle at US$40.65 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, after gaining 1.4 per cent on Wednesday. For the holiday-shortened week, oil saw a weekly gain of five per cent, based on the most-active contract close last Friday, according to FactSet data.

Global benchmark Brent oil for September picked up US$1.11, or 2.6 per cent, at US$43.14 a barrel on ICE Futures Europe, which will hold an abbreviated trading session today. Brent oil traded 5.2 per cent higher.

Both WTI and Brent futures on Thursday marked their highest settlements since March 6, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

(Excerpt from Market Watch)

Myanmar jade mine landslide kills 160

Police said some people had defied a warning issued on Wednesday not to work in the area after the rainfall, although the advice may also have saved many lives

A

t least 162 bodies have been found after a landslide at a jade mining site in northern Myanmar, officials say.

Rescue work has continued all day for people still missing at the site in the Hpakant area of Kachin state.

A wave of mud and rock triggered by heavy rain engulfed those collecting stones, the fire service said.

Myanmar is the world's biggest source of jade, but its mines have seen numer-

ous accidents, many involving people who scavenge for stones.

The country's fire service department said in a Facebook post (in Burmese): "The jade miners were smothered by a wave of mud, which hit after heavy rainfall."

It said that by 19:15 local time (12:45 GMT) "162 bodies were found and 54 injured people were taken [to hospital]". No figure was given for the number of people still missing. (Excerpt from BBC News)

South Africa to keep 20,000 soldiers on COVID-19 duty until September

S

outh Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has informed Parliament of his decision to extend the deployment of 20,000 soldiers, a drop from 76,000, until September 30 to help enforce COVID-19 restrictions as the country reported its biggest single-day jump in coronavirus cases.

Ramaphosa first deployed 2820 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) a few days before enforcing a nationwide lockdown in late March. The number was increased to 76,000 in April as

the health threat grew.

At the end of March, Ramaphosa announced one of the toughest lockdowns anywhere in the world, banning anyone but essential workers from leaving home except to buy food or medicine, and prohibiting alcohol sales, when South Africa had just 400 cases.

On Thursday, South Africa reported its biggest single-day jump in coronavirus cases, adding 8728 confirmed infections for a total of 168,061. Deaths rose by 95 to 2844. (Excerpt from Reuters)

19 Fashion icon to host virtual “Women Across Borders” event G NEWS

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

uyanese fashion icon, author, and entrepreneur Sonia Noel will host “Women Across Borders” between July 7 and July 10 virtually via Zoom as she presents three anthologies featuring empowering stories of Caribbean women from various backgrounds.

The anthologies – Fulfilling Purpose, With a Mission and Rising from the Ashes were compiled and published in 2018 and 2019.

The captivating stories are of women from Guyana, Trinidad, St Lucia, Antigua, Suriname, French Guiana, Venezuela, Africa, and the United States.

These phenomenal women are from various ethnicities and careers but have a common characteristic –a heart for humanity. The inspiring journeys from 27 courageous co-authors serve to remind their readers that no matter where you are from, challenges are inevitable.

“Initially, I was apprehensive about writing, but became very enthusiastic during the process as I shared my voice and claimed ownership of my life. Between 21:00h and 1:00h was the time I was most creative and the words simply flowed as I told my story. I felt fulfilled and grateful for the experience to collaborate with some phenomenal women on the project,” said Dr Desiree DeFlorimonte, who is Guyanese but resides in the USA. The other co-authors are Dr Jackie Evan Philips, Alizé Utteryn, Jacque Phillips, Tavie Hunte, Roshini Boodhoo Persaud, Dr Latoya Gooding, Bethany Love, Christine Neblett, Linda Felix Johnson, Chan Tale Flood, Isabellee, Essenese Sambury , Ediclia Basdardo, Dr Hilda Bournes, Jaymie Bowles, Shanon Paar, Slyvia Diane Ward, Lynette Laveau Saxe, Walerine Mc Leod, Dr

Colleen Bovell, Renneann Hodge, Phillipa Morrish, Nateica Garraway and Dr Safeeya Mohammed.

Caribbean fashion evangelist Richard Young was the creative director and editor for this project. He professes: “I believe in authentic testimonies as our way of forging and crafting our identity branding, so important to unearthing and discovering our independent sense of self, our national sense of pride, and our regional sense of integration. These revelations are psyche-shifting and life-altering to all who experience them.”

The unique covers were the output of two talented Guyanese creatives. The memorable ?façades were? designed by graphic developer Shiv Dindyal, from an original painting done by visual artist Compton Babb.

Forewords were done by three outstanding contributors: 1) the first African-

American to anchor a newscast on WJTV, a CBS affiliate – Dr Elayne Anthony from Jackson, Mississippi; 2) the CEO and founder of A Company of Women – Dr Linda Wallace; and 3) the founder of Global Women Media – Dr Anna Mc Coy. The virtual event will feature these amazing women sharing their riveting stories, intentionally fashioned to motivate the audience and to instil in each of us the desire to pursue the best version of ourselves.

The event will be hosted on Zoom from 07:30h to 21:00h and will be streamed via Facebook and on NCN Radio in Guyana, NIO FM Suriname, Caribbean Power Jam in New York, and on CBN Radio (90.9FM) in the British Virgin Islands which covers BVI and USVI. This event is timely, seeking to motivate persons affected by the global pandemic ?across borders?.

Maya Angelou once said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you” and taking this lead, Noel has realised one of her dreams.

She says, “It was an absolute? honour to witness so many compelling stories birthed. One of the main objectives for these anthologies is for these women to realise they all have significant stories that can impact the world. I am elated that some of the ladies went from a chapter to scripting their own books. I am super excited to host this virtual event, because the reach can be wider and the impact even more tremendous, God’s willing.”

Shanon Paar from Arizona contributed her chapter to Rising from the Ashes: “Today, I see the light so to speak, because of how many people I could touch through my stories. Some say I am a late bloomer, while that may be; some things are better left

Guyanese fashion icon Sonia Noel

in the desert until they are ready to bloom.”

Interested persons can register for free on the Women and Men Across Borders ?FB pages https://www.123formbuilder.com/form-5498865/ The books can be found on Amazon in English, Spanish, and French in e-book form and hard copy.

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Can you for once be truthful and honest, even to yourself?

Dear Editor, Brazilian lyricist/writer /novelist Paulo Coelho de Souza, best known for his novel “The Alchemist,” wrote, “Telling the truth and making someone cry is better than telling a lie and making someone smile.”

In Guyana, this beautiful and rich country of heart-warming people and fertile soil, the landscape is also contaminated with sprinkles of ugliness that tend to dampen an almost picture-perfect portrait of beauty beyond the boundary of nature’s charm. Is beauty decided only on an outward appearance, without consideration for the hidden looks of the mind, concealed inwardly?

Diminished beauty is not necessarily translated in terms of physical glamour, but also the personality that inhibits good behaviour and the unacceptable impediments that hinder society’s norm for law and order. Then, again, “beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”, and so everyone is physically beautiful, because man was made from an image of the Creator.

“Covet not/bear no false witness against your neighbour/do not steal,” these are the pillars that laid a foundation to which the caretaker President subscribes. Guyana remains a hostage in the grip of greed, covetousness, dishonesty and power hunger.

The love for lies, deceit and corruption remains high on the agenda of those embroiled in conspiring to fool the people and misguide them. It is said, “Do not mix truth with falsehood, or hide the truth when you know it.”

You would expect that the leader of a nation would set the perfect example for the people to follow, and he or she would remain almost flawless. But that is definitely not the case in Guyana; and is, in fact, contrary to the rule. Here we have a situation where the

caretaker president sets a precedent and enjoys himself in indulging in tongue twisting, back-tracking and lying between his teeth, flawlessly and constantly too. His campaign of “honesty, decency, integrity” is as sour as green tamarind, and all the sugar cane in Guyana (unfortunately limited now, he closed 3 estates) cannot change the taste of fallacy for dishonesty.

Remember that on the election night of March 2nd, at their HQ, victory was declared by the APNU/AFC Party, and now he is denying that he ever claimed victory?

Still playing hide-and-seek with the SOPs? Those very SOPs dictated the installation of Plan B! That was just the beginning of the trend that he created, and what followed is a trail of a genius at work, displaying his mastery at lying.

Really, a fact-finding exercise would disclose that there isn’t enough paper to record the amount of lies he has uttered in quality and quantity. Is this the kind of leader we want to lead this nation?

Never again would Guyana allow this monstrous behaviour.

It is written, “A humble leader, before ruling people, has to rule their hearts,” that is a sign of a true leader. Mr. “G,” you have been called out by your own kith-and-kin, by the people of Guyana and the international community, especially your own brothers and sisters in the Caribbean.

They once held you in good standing, but now they see you for what you really are, and it is not honourable.

They want to have nothing to do with you and your cabal. You are a disgrace to the ethics of free and fair election, and they are ashamed that you chose to support fraud and deny transparency of a legitimate and valid result.

Now, your propaganda programme, including using the state machinery -- an expense to the people -- is so vile that it

is laced with everything that is missing in any of the holy books! COVID-19 is here, why not use that money for a better purpose? Did you forget that people are literally starving? You are spending over a billion dollars on a building that will probably become a white elephant. That money could have been spent on relieving the people who are currently suffering. That money could have been spent on a programme that can prevent and contain the spread of the coronavirus.

There are many makeshift buildings that can be structured temporarily to accommodate this need. But no, this is another avenue through which this syndicate found possible to funnel exorbitant expenses without transparency, dollars flowing to itchy palms, all at the last moment before departure.

Refusing to build a multipurpose hospital that could have served this very need shows a classic example of hindsight at its best. Only one with a mind that is heartless, merciless and unscrupulous would function in such a cruel capacity and remain aloof of the reality of the gravity of the situation!

Gandhi said, “Truth stands, even if there be no public support. It is self-sustained.”

Mr. Granger, sir, you are an ardent reader, a religious person, a God-fearing individual, a poet, writer, author, a family man, husband and father. As a historian, how would you like your legacy to be written? In particular, being a president for Guyana, you have associated yourself intimately with the works and lives of Martin Luther King JR., Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Kofi Annan, Ban KiMoon, Barack Obama, Stalin, Hitler, Saddam Hussein etc.

Man’s nature is such that he is remembered by the 1% of bad things he or she did, and not the 99% of good

things performed. You have created history and broken a number of records, all flatteringly positive, negative or both, depends on who is looking through the lens. Can you for once be truthful and honest, even to yourself? Here is an interesting quote that has influenced many world leaders like yourself: “Carefully watch your thoughts, for they

become your words.

Manage and watch your words, for they will become your actions. Consider and judge your actions, for they have become your habits.

Acknowledge and watch your habits, for they shall become your values. Understand and embrace your values, for they become your destiny.”

It is never too late for any-

thing, a lesson all of us can adhere to. Do the right thing, sir, so that you can regain pride and dignity in the eyes of all. Guyana sleeps with her eyes wide open, tears flowing, waiting and hoping. Sanctions are not coming, they are here already!

Dear Editor, I guess the question on everyone's mind would be: Who is in charge at GECOM? Is it Mingo, Vincent Alexander or Lowenfield? Which one of these?

I guess that, with the question posed, the only logical answer would be, "All of the above," which naturally excludes the Chairwoman.

And this has been the situation at GECOM ever since elections were held at that entity. The mentioned trio has been given free rein, or a free hand at the Commission, with no restraint whatsoever. Claudette Singh has not, for one moment, acted in accordance with her mandate as Chairwoman of GECOM. She has only been standing in the wings, leaving enough room for the incumbents’ illegal moves.

The point I am making is that Miss Singh's failure to act gives credence to the belief that she is part of this conspiracy to rig. I may be wrong, but, so far, all the indicators are pointing to that very point I have raised; that is: a weak, vacillating leader who has allowed this foolishness to continue for far too long.

You are talking about 120 days and still counting, with no declaration of a winner when all the results are there to prove a clear, unequivocal PPP/C win. We are talking from the SOPs at

the end of the election to the SORs of the recount, all telling the selfsame story, and still no action on the part of the Chairperson. This is ludicrous and reprehensible, to say the least!

Guyana has now become the laughingstock of the Caribbean and the entire world. And to think of it, these individuals are still on the payroll of the taxpayers, being paid to deny them of their sovereign right to choose a government of their choice. Can you fathom this?

From the moment Mingo gave that barefaced and outrageous declaration, the Chairwoman should have acted forthwith. She should have issued a warrant for his arrest, for committing a fraudulent act, but what she did was just a gloss over of his outrageous act, giving the APNU/ AFC ample time to file those idiotic lawsuits. The resultant scenario is that a nation languishes.

I am absolutely sure that had I -- a humble, simple, citizen -- been caught in an act of fraud, my fate would have been sealed. Long before now, I would have been resting uncomfortably in prison. So why Mingo wasn't met with some stiff jail time? The answer is that he was shielded by the GECOM Chairwoman.

These transgressions of hers gave Lowenfield the audacity to continue where Mingo left off, when he made

that glaringly fraudulent report of an APNU/AFC win in the elections. This was the sum total of open theft of an entire election in public view, with no redress whatsoever.

So what Claudette Singh is waiting for is the question.

Is she unsure of her role, or is she a co-conspirator doing Congress Place's dirty work?

Whichever is the answer to the probing questions I have asked, the stark reality does not look good on her behalf.

Or is it her mistaken belief that the threat of sanctions is all a joke? I think not.

The fact is that she risks the comfort of our lives at the altar of her own political biases. Make no mistake, Claudette Singh is sacrificing the will of the people at the altar of a politically corrupt few.

What I hope would come out of this -- and I am speaking from Claudette Singh right down to Lowenfield -- is that when you step into the Commission, it is not about fulfilling your own partisan party desires, it is doing the will of the people, or acting on behalf of the people, end of discussion!

This is the clear cutting-edge of the language of public office; the sooner the Chair acts, the better it would be for all of Guyana. I rest my case.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

Who is in charge at GECOM?

Respectfully, Neil Adams

20

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020

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CALVIN AND HOBBES

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SUDOKU

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

If you take on a creative project, it will enhance the way you live. Don't trust someone to give you valid information. Verify all data you receive to avoid mistakes.

Use your imagination and find a way to get things done on time without subjecting yourself to an unhealthy environment.

Choose to be practical, not stubborn or illogical.

Inconsistency and fickleness will cost you.

Incorporate discipline into whatever you do, and you'll avoid jeopardizing your reputation or position. Make fitness and health priorities.

Do the best job possible.

It's what you accomplish that will count, so don't waste your time on petty disagreements. Don't miss out on an opportunity because it entails change.

Make the physical and mental changes required to build confidence and raise your self-esteem.

Don't waste time arguing. Success will result if you stay focused and work alone.

Avoid outside influences or controlling individuals. Obtain facts and figures before making a decision.

Don't rely on others when you can invest in yourself.

Avoid situations and people who could be harmful to your health.

You have the right idea, and if you are patient, you will see excellent results.

Your charm and intelligence will ensure that you receive the help you need.

The more you do to help others, the more you will get in return. Develop new skills and pay more attention to changing economic trends. Stand by the people you love.

Caution will be necessary SAGITTARIUS when dealing with manip(Nov. 23ulative people. Believe verDec. 21) ified facts instead of paying attention to hearsay. Avoid joint money deals and outside interference. Put your health and integrity first.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

A logical approach to a situation that involves how you earn your living and your health and safety will give you greater leverage when dealing with your superiors. Share your point of view.

Be understanding and offer positive solutions. Reach out to someone you are worried about, but don't take on responsibilities that may jeopardize your reputation or position.

A situation isn't likely to go the way you expect.

You'll do best if you stick to the truth, especially where emotional issues are concerned. Make adjustments to your lifestyle.

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020

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West Ham win an anomaly in meek relegation battle U

ntil West Ham United’s 3-2 home win over Chelsea on Wednesday, restart had certainly not amounted to a fresh start for the club’s languishing at the wrong end of the Premier League.

In fact, it was almost disingenuous to label it as a ‘battle’ for survival, so meek were the performances of Norwich City, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Watford and West Ham. Until West Ham finally displayed the necessary resolve required when attempting to beat the dreaded drop, the grand sum of points accrued in the 15 games played by the bottom five since the resumption of the season was three.

It makes grim reading. Bottom club Norwich have lost all three, scoring none and conceding eight.

Bournemouth, now 19th, have lost all three, scoring once and conceding seven. Aston Villa, in 18th, picked up two points from their four games while Watford, the only team to beat Liverpool this season, appear to have fallen back to their early-season form, also picking up one point from nine.

Shortly before West Ham kicked off against Chelsea, Norwich were hammered 4-0 at Arsenal and, more shockingly, Bournemouth were demolished 4-1 at home by Newcastle — a result that suggests Eddie

West Ham United's Jack Wilshere and Andriy Yarmolenko celebrate after the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Julian Finney/Pool

Howe’s south coasters are sinking fast. Which is why substitute Andriy Yarmolenko’s 89th-minute breakaway winner for West Ham

felt so massive.

The roars of joy inside the empty London Stadium from West Ham’s players, coaching crew and assorted security staff could have

been heard right up their Thames Estuary heartland. In the context of a relegation ‘battle’ more akin to lemmings headings for the cliffedge, West Ham’s win felt like nine points

rather than three. It moved them up to 16th place with 30 points, three above Villa.

Manager Davis Moyes was quick to point out that one win was not enough, although his suggestion that his side might need three more victories might be overly cautious.

They go to mid-table Newcastle on Sunday with a chance to establish a safety cushion. While adrift Norwich’s home game against sixthfrom-bottom Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday offers perhaps a last chance to kickstart a late escape bid, the fixtures look grim for the others.

Villa are at record-seeking Liverpool, Bournemouth are at Manchester United and Watford, one point above the trapdoor, go to a chastened Chelsea side. This is the first Premier League survival scrap played out in empty stadiums — perhaps a mitigating factor in the lack of spark displayed by those near the bottom. Vociferous home support when the stakes are high can make a difference.

“It’s very easy from the outside to think (the players are not giving all), especially with the manner of the games at the moment. With the lack of a crowd impacting perceived efforts, I think,” Howe said after defeat by Newcastle. (Reuters)

Hamilton says “silence” criticism ICC expresses sadness at the was not aimed at F1 rivals passing of Sir Everton Weekes

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ix-time world champion Lewis Hamilton says he was not targeting Formula One rivals when he condemned the sport’s (governing) silence on racial injustice and the lack of FIA need to do more. We all need to do more. diversity. Hamilton, who starts his bid for a So that was really what the message was record-equalling seventh title in the season- about.” opening Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, has Formula One drivers who responded to been vocal in support of the Black Lives Matter Hamilton’s initial comments with their own movement and racial equality. messages against racism are expected to show The 35-year-old Mercedes driver will be in further support this weekend. black overalls and driving a black car with the McLaren’s Lando Norris has suggested they message ‘End Racism’ on it this season. could ‘take a knee’ as a gesture before the race Last month he criticised those who failed to at the Red Bull speak out. “I see those of you who are staying Ring. (Reuters) silent. Some of you (are) the biggest of stars, yet you stay silent in the midst of injustice,” the Briton said, referring to the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a white U.S. police officer knelt on his neck.

Hamilton, the sport’s only black driver, explained in a video released by Mercedes’ parent company Daimler as part of a ‘We Care, We Do, We Move’ series on Thursday that he was addressing the world of motorsport as a whole.

“People perceived it as (if) I was targeting drivers,” he said. “I really wasn’t. It was targeted at the whole industry, and it’s been something I’ve been aware of for a long, long time and not really seen anyone doing anything about it. People, being silent is something that I’ve experienced for such a long time, and now is not the time to be silent. This is a time to help spread the message, the time to pull together. We need as many voices as we can to push for change.

“That was really a calling to people within the industry for accountability for all the brands. They need to do more.

Lewis Hamilton The sport needs to do more. The

T

Manu Sawhney

he International Cricket Council has offered its condolences following the death of former West Indies batsman Everton Weekes at the age of 95. In a statement, ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney remembered ICC Cricket Hall of Famer Weekes as a top batsman of his era and one whose performances will be long remembered.

Manu Sawhney: “Weekes is a distinguished name in cricket and he was an integral member of one of the best Test sides ever. We all know of the ‘The Three Ws’ that comprised Frank Worrell, Clyde Walcott and Weekes, and the reputation they had during the 1940s and 50s.

“His attacking batting contributed in making the West Indies such an attractive side to watch. To be in that team itself was such a big honour, but there were times when Weekes really stood apart with his distinct style. On behalf of everyone at the ICC, I send our sincere condolences to his family and friends.”

Weekes played 48 Test matches from 1947 to 1958, aggregating 4,455 runs at an average of 58.61. Known to show quick footwork and fluent stroke-play, Weekes slammed 15 centuries, which included a record five in consecutive innings in 1948. One of those centuries came at home against England and four on a tour of India. He almost got a sixth consecutive century but was unlucky to be run out for 90 at Chennai.

Weekes’s cousin Bam Bam Weekes and son David Murray played international cricket while a few other relatives played first-class cricket. Weekes officiated as an ICC match referee in three Tests and four one-day internationals, all in 1994. (ICC)

22

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West Indies Batting Coach Floyd Reifer

By Brandon Corlette

T

he first Test match between West Indies and England looms, and during the dramatic build-up, the batting has been placed under the fire more than ever. Cricket pundits and former West Indies players have noted that the batting group is the weak point, in contrast to the strong bowling department.

Appearing on the Mason and Guest radio programme earlier this week, current West Indies batting coach Floyd Reifer explained that

there are no concerns for the West Indies heading into the first Test match.

"I keep hearing everyone saying that they are concerned about our batting. We have some experienced guys here, the boys have been working very hard, and they understand the English conditions now," he offered.

Reifer added that the likes of Shai Hope and Kraigg Brathwaite, who were here before, are now players experienced in English conditions. "Brooks has also been practising hard, Dowrich is looking good so, we are working on playing the ball as late as possible, and trying to leave alone as well,” the batting coach explained.

Further, he noted that the batting group has been engaging in many discussions about rotating the strike, how to build that innings, and capitalising on getting big scores. With most of the Test batsmen getting starts and showing glimpses of form, Reifer posited that the warm-up matches have placed the batsmen in game scenarios, and they would be eager to get going when the first ball of the first Test bowls off.

Consistency has been lacking for the West Indies batsmen. Hope has displayed consistency in the ODI format, but is yet to transfer that into the Test format. Head Coach Phil Simmons had earlier called for the team to post targets of 400-450 in order to give the team a strong chance at obtaining victory.

With Darren Bravo and S h i m r o n Hetmyer opting out of the tour, many believe this has left grave deficiency in the batting order. Bravo has played

Shai Hope

in 54 Test matchKraigg Brathwaite es and has an average of 37.6.

On tour, the inexperienced Shamahr Brooks has the best batting average:34, but is only three Test matches old into his career.

Brathwaite, has a batting average of 33 in 59 Tests, and is the most experienced batsman on tour.

Captain Jason Holder has a batting average of 32 in his 40 matches, while Roston Chase has a batting average of 31 in Bonner has constructed his innings 32 Tests. Jermaine Blackwood, re- well in Regional 4-Day cricket, and turning to the Test squad, has an av- this tour would be the perfect opporerage of 30, as does Shane Dowrich. tunity for him to announce himself Opener John Campbell averages to International cricket and cement 29, while Hope has the poorest Test a place in the West Indies team.

Only time well if the batting average among the Test batsmen in the team at 27, similar to Hetmyer, would click against the likes of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and who opted out of the tour.

Uncapped Jamaican Nkumrah Jofra Archer.

CWI pays tribute to Sir Everton Weekes ꟷ a founding father of West Indies cricket excellence

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOW!

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Sir Everton Weekes

ricket West Indies (CWI) paid tribute to Sir Everton Weekes, the legendary West Indies batsman and pioneer.

Sir Everton was one of the most significant figures in the history of the sport – as a batsman of the highest quality, he played alongside other forefathers of West Indies cricket for a decade at the international level.

He was part of the famous Three Ws – alongside Sir Frank Worrell and Sir Clyde Walcott. He was also a highly respected coach, a knowledgeable analyst on the game for the regional and international media, as well as a former Team Manager, Match Referee for the International Cricket Council, and a member of the ICC Hall of Fame. He passed away on Wednesday at the age of 95.

Ricky Skerritt, President of CWI said: “On behalf of CWI I want to publicly express our deepest sympathy to the family of this remarkable Iconic sportsman and gentleman, who

passed away earlier today. I also send condolences to former CWI President Sir Wes Hall, and his family, who were all extremely close to Sir Everton. I never had the opportunity to see Sir Everton bat, but I had the opportunity to get to know him a little in his later years. I learned about his incredible career by reading about him and looking at old videos when I could. His performance stats were excellent as he set tremendously high standards for his time.

Sir Everton was therefore a most amazing pioneer in West Indies cricket; a gentleman and quite simply a wonderful human being. I got to spend a couple hours with him last year just sitting at his home and talking with him, at a time when he was recovering from a serious illness. I have never known a more humble and gentle human being. I grew to appreciate his sense of humour and his love of people, and witnessed the love and respect that so many held for him in Barbados and across the entire region.

I am so privileged to have known this amazing West Indian Legend and gentleman. Sir Everton Weekes was truly one of the founding fathers of West Indies cricket excellence. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

Born, Everton DeCourcey Weekes, he was a member of the famous Empire Club in Barbados, which was also home to several other legends of the game including Sir Frank Worrell, Sir Charlie Griffith and Sir Conrad Hunte.

He made his Test debut at age 22 against England at Kensington Oval in 1948 under the captaincy of George Headley. His final match was against Pakistan in Trinidad a decade later. In his career, Sir Everton played 48 Test matches and made 4455 runs at an average of 58.61 per innings. This included a world record five consecutive centuries in 1948 – scores of 141 against England in Jamaica, followed by scores of 128, 194, 162 and 101 in India. In his next innings, he made 90. (CWI)

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Jason Holder's lean run continues; Mayers, Da Silva among runs; Coach Simmons out of isolation W

est Indies captain Jason Holder underwhelmed with the bat once more, as head coach Phil Simmons officially rejoined the team after his latest negative coronavirus test on the final day of their drawn intra-squad match.

In a bid to get some time in the middle, Holder promoted himself to open the batting for the side he was leading against a Kraigg Brathwaite XI, but the move backfired as he made just two off 15 deliveries.

Holder's cheap dismissal means he has made just seven runs and faced fewer than 30 balls in three innings across these two intra-squad matches ahead of the start of next week's first Test

against England at the Ageas Bowl.

There was better news, as Simmons rejoined the camp, having been self-isolating in his room at the team's on-site hotel at Emirates Old Trafford after leaving the bubble to attend his father-in-law's funeral.

He has watched the

majority of this rain-interrupted four-day game from his balcony, but presided over the warm-ups on Thursday, after his third negative test for COVID-19.

Before play, the Windies marked with a minute's silence the pass-

Joshua Da Silva

ing of the great Sir Everton Weekes, who died on Wednesday aged 95, and wore black armbands when they took to the field under lights, which remained on all day. Less than an hour of play was possible on the last morning because of overnight rain as the Brathwaite XI advanced their position from 112 for 7 to 178 all out, with Shannon Gabriel taking 4 for 42.

Gabriel will almost certainly be catapulted into the Test squad from the

Coach Phil Simmons

Jason Holder

GCB Assistant Secretary Anil Persaud passes on A nil Persaud, former member of the Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club and Assistant Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), died on Wednesday afternoon, leaving the local cricket population in shock. The 48-yearold had complained of feeling unwell prior to his death.

The GCB, the Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, and the Queen’s College Old Students Association have expressed their condolence to a true servant of the game of cricket.

The following is what each had to say:

Guyana Cricket Board: “It is with great sadness that the executives of the GCB extend condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Anil Persaud, GCB’s Assistant Secretary, on his sudden passing. Anil was known to the cricket fraternity for his active participation in the growth of cricket in the fields of coaching, selection and administration at the association, county and national levels.

Anil’s positively impactful knowledge and unwavering commitment will be truly missed. The executives and cricket fraternity mourn the loss of a valuable board member and long-standing friend.”

Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club: “The Enmore CCCC extends sincere condolence to the immediate family and friends of Anil Persaud. Anil was part of a team which resuscitated our club in 2013, and he had made significant strides in the cricket fraternity thereafter.

He was a serving executive member of the Club, a national youth cricket selector,

cricket coach, and also the GCB Assistant Secretary.

“Anil was the livewire of cricket, and he was at the forefront of the development of cricket on East Coast Demerara. His off-field energy and dedication had certainly translated into outstanding cricket performances at the national level by youth cricketers from the Coast. We join others in praying that the family(would) remain strong during this most difficult period.”

Berbice Cricket Board President and Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club’s Hilbert Foster: “On behalf of the RHTY&SC, MS, BCB and my family, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the late Anil Persaud of Enmore.

Mr. Persaud was a member of the Enmore CC and was also actively involved in the game at the national level. May God bless his family, and please be assured of our prayers. We mourn his loss and salute his contribution to the development of the game. May his soul rest in peace.”

Queen’s College Old Students Association: “The Queen’s College family mourns the sudden passing today of alumnus Anil Persaud. Anil entered Queen’s College in 1982, Form 1A. Among many other things, Anil will be fondly remembered for his valuable contributions to the sport of cricket in Guyana, serving as the Assistant Secretary to the Guyana Cricket Board at the time of his passing.

“The Queen’s College Old Students Association (QC-OSA) extends deepest condolences to the family and friends of our dearly departed colleague. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

reserves list soon, and he ended the innings by disturbing the stumps of Chemar Holder, who broke his bat from the previous delivery. Kyle Mayers counter-attacked his way to 74 not out from 56 balls but he ran out of partners, with Alzarri Joseph pinning Marquino Mindley in front from the third ball of the day and Kemar Roach bowling Keon Harding.

That gave the Holder XI a first-innings lead of 94, although at this stage getting under-cooked players middle practice seemed to take more of a priority than the result. That was emphasised when Holder strode out alongside Shayne Moseley to commence the second innings. The allrounder survived a couple of tight lbw shouts off Phillip, who had his man with a peach of a delivery. Holder shaped to leave but the ball swung back in at him and trimmed the off bail.

Holder did at least bowl five overs last night, showing no discomfort after a recent ankle niggle, but while he struggled with the bat again, Jermaine Blackwood belatedly found some form.

Hoping to earn a first Test start in nearly three years, Blackwood timed the ball nicely in his 43 from 48 balls, which was ended when he was bowled

by Roston Chase's first delivery of the match.

Blackwood's knock means most of the front-

Kyle Mayers

line batsmen currently in the Test squad have had at least one innings of substance across these two matches, and perhaps underlined the lack of urgency in a sleepy afternoon session.

That continued after tea as the spin of Chase and Rahkeem Cornwall operated at either end. Cornwall accounted for Nkrumah Bonner, who departed three short of 50 after misreading a straight one and edging to slip.

First-innings centurion Joshua Da Silva picked up where he left off, following up his unbeaten century with 56 not out as he took his tally in the match to 189 runs without dismissal.

It is unlikely to elevate him from the reserves but if there is an injury over the next few days, then he is well placed to be called up after helping his side to 170 for 4 and a lead of 264 when an early finish was agreed. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Shannon Gabriel added to West Indies squad for England Tests

W

est Indies have officially added fast bowler Shannon Gabriel to their squad for the Test series against England. Gabriel had been part of the reserve personnel on tour but has proved his fitness and comes into the 15 vying for contention at the Ageas Bowl next week.

Gabriel underwent ankle surgery last year and has not played a first-class game since September, but he claimed figures of 8 for 122 across West Indies' two warm-up games in Manchester.

"I am delighted that we are able to add Shannon to the Test squad," CWI lead selector Roger Harper said. "He has shown that he is fit and ready, he will add experience, firepower and potency to the bowling unit."

The addition of Gabriel to the full squad means West Indies will be able to call upon the same attack that helped them to a 2-1 series win over England in the Caribbean last year - although there have been concerns over the fitness of captain Jason Holder, who has been suffering from an ankle niggle and only bowled five overs so far on tour.

(Cricinfo)

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020

Sport is no longer our game, it’s our business

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Man City thrash champions Liverpool

L

iverpool’s Premier League title-winning celebrations were slightly dampened after being thrashed by deposed champions Manchester City. Jurgen Klopp’s side ended an agonising 30year wait for the top-flight title when City lost at Chelsea last week, but were resoundingly hammered on their return to action.

The Reds, who were given a guard of honour by the hosts before kick-off, could have taken the lead at Etihad Stadium, but

Mohamed Salah’s low drive cannoned off the post. It proved costly, as Pep Guardiola’s men took complete control with a devastating first-half display in which they scored three goals within 20 minutes.

The sublime Kevin de Bruyne converted the opener from the penalty spot after Joe Gomez hauled down Raheem Sterling, and the England international finished off a swift counter-attack for the

second.

Midfielder Phil Foden further enhanced his reputation as a star in the making when he coolly slotted home before half-time following a quick one-two with De Bruyne.

City scored their fourth in the second half when Alex OxladeChamberlain inadvertently slid the ball into his own net from Sterling’s low drive. (BBC Sport)

GCB Assistant Jason Holder’s lean run continues; Secretary Anil Mayers, Da Silva among runs; Coach Simmons out of isolation Persaud passes on

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