Guyana Times - Friday, May 29, 2020

See Region 4 SoRs comparison with released SoPs on pages 15 to 17 All SoRs are available on our website Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4300

THE BEACON OF TRUTH FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020

PRICE

“It was impossible to cheat” on Elections Day – EU Ambassador

…warns against “underestimating the intelligence” of people

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

1 dead, P11 3 injured following Rupert Craig Highway smash-up – 2 arrested for robbing injured passengers

See story on page 3

Granger pleads for greater concessional financing from int’l community

...while using “sovereignty” to deny their concern over democracy Commissioners still State blanks GECOM’s bid undecided to accelerate over recount …refuses permission for declaration date additional counting stations Police disperse protesting Uitvlugt sugar workers

P8 Family’s Attorney seeks answers from Registrar General on release of death certificate

See story on page 12

See story on page 7

Suriname P14 leader seeks recount after poll defeat

Page 9

See story on page 12

– GAWU says workers’ rights being trampled upon

Guyana records 11 new COVID-19 cases in 24 P2 hours 22-year-old arraigned for murder of female security P10 officer

2 NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana records 11 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours – total active cases now 72 – Region 1 residents urged to report entry of non-nationals

C

limbing at an alarming rate, Guyana’s COVID-19 statistics took a startling jump to 150 confirmed cases on Thursday, after 11 persons tested positive during a 24hour period.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud, who delivered the daily update, noted that the number of deaths remain 11.

Some 1559 tests were conducted thus far, with 1409 returning a negative result. In the designated facilities, there are 72 cases in institutional isolation, 11 persons in institutional quarantine and two patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU). To date, there have been 67 recoveries.

“Guyanese, we are a resilient nation, and this resilience was built on the wisdom of those who came before us. Let us take a page out of their book and act wisely. Let us invest in those who will come after us by adhering to the guidance provided to us,” the CMO said during his address.

Dr Persaud highlighted that Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) is the only administrative region that has not reported a single case of the novel coronavirus – an achievement which they are

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud

hoping to maintain.

“We applaud the residents of Region Eight and their efforts in putting measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as this disease continues to ravage the neighbouring country Brazil. Region Eight remains free of this disease and we at the Ministry of Public Health will continue to work with you to maintain this status,” the CMO declared.

However, he pointed out that authorities were especially worried about Region One (Barima-Waini), owing to the increased movement of people.

“You may have already

heard of the Ministry’s growing concern for this region, especially as there is a continuous movement of persons in and out of the Region, which makes residents extremely vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19.

So, residents of Region One and particularly our miners, I plead with you to take extra care and adhere to the guidelines for mining in order to protect your families and friends,” the CMO urged.

It was mentioned earlier that Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) is also facing an imminent threat from neighbouring Brazil – now considered South America’s epicentre for the coronavirus.

He advised persons to utilise the hotlines to make reports of suspected cases, and report instances where migrants or other non-nationals are entering the country through closed borders.

“Please report if you have information of non-nationals entering your region especially now that the border is closed. The non-official crossings are adding to the burden of surveillance.

We continue to plead with residents to call the hotline if you present any signs or symptoms consistent with

the coronavirus disease.”

Discrimination

In some sub-districts, the senior health official said there were reports of discrimination meted out to persons suspected to have the virus. Some persons in Region One are also refusing to cooperate with authorities.

“We ask in this crisis, that instead of shunning your fellow citizens that you use this opportunity to come together as one and be tolerant. Residents of the communities in Region One, the worst scenario will be your refusal to cooperate with the medical authorities and the guidelines.

This fight is for everyone and so I ask you to act responsibly: if a death occurs, then you should support the bereaved family, if someone recovers, you should reach out and give your total support,” he insisted.

Presently, permanent mobile units have been established in Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)

and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) to effectively deal with persons who came into contact with positive cases and also, to administer treatment to individuals presenting symptoms.

The CMO noted that while sample collecting caused some discomfort, it should be done correctly to yield accurate results.

“I understand that this process is somewhat uncomfortable; however, we beg you to cooperate despite

the discomfort. You will appreciate that if the process is not performed accurately and the sample is insufficient, we can have the wrong results. So, we ask all of you to give the testing team your full cooperation.”

Globally, the statistics show that the total number of COVID-19 cases is 5,488,825 with 349,095 deaths. In the Region of the Americas, there are 2,495,924 cases with 145,810 deaths.

3 “It was impossible to cheat” on Elections Day – EU Ambassador NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, May 29 – 09:30h-11:00h and Saturday, May 30 – 10:30h-12:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, May 29 – 08:40h-10:10h and Saturday, May 30 – 09:50h-11:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Heavy to light rain showers with occasional thunder are expected followed by cloudy to sunny skies in the afternoon hours. There should be partly cloudy conditions and light rain showers in the evening. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East to North North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 09:23h and 22:13h reaching maximum heights of 2.35 metres and 2.26 metres.

Low Tide: 15:34h reaching a minimum height of 0.84 metre.

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$35.29/barrel

+1.56

Rough Rice

$306.9 /ton

+0.36

London Sugar

$361.50/ton

-0.69

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1719.10

$1720.10

Low/High

$1718.70

$1721.50

+0.10

+0.01%

Change

…warns against “underestimating the intelligence” of people So far, he said, the process has adhered to the principles of credibility and transparency, but he lamented that the exercise could have been done at a better speed.

Nevertheless, the EU Ambassador said, once the recount process continues transparently and credibly, the results that would be generated would be accurate.

Emphasising that the

By Devina Samaroo

E

U Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Canto, has posited that it would have been “impossible” to cheat the systems that were in place on Elections Day some three months ago.

His comments come in light of claims being made by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition, which has been alleging that votes were illegitimately recorded; i.e: that persons who are either dead or migrated are listed as having voted on March 2.

But in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times on Thursday, His Excellency Ponz Canto – who is the Head of the European Union Delegation in Guyana – explained that “voting day was very good.”

“It was quite impressive, because when you were in one of those voting stations, you could see the agents from the different parties, you could see the presiding officers, you could see the members of the voting committee tables, and they were all extremely conscientious,” Ponz Canto explained, noting that he has participated in similar processes in other countries, including his homeland Spain.

He observed that in Guyana, when a person comes to vote, “he/she has to identify himself, but then also he has to be seen on the list, and then there are pictures, which in my country we never had pictures; so I was quite positively impressed.

“And at the end of the vote, he had to dip his finger in ink, which in my country we never did. So, it was safeguard after safeguard after safeguard. It was impossible to cheat,” the EU Ambassador stated.

However, he was quick to point out that “this is my judgment…I am not a professional observer”.

Nevertheless, he noted that “what is important is that this was the unanimous judgment of all the observation missions, including the EU; and those guys are professionals and they know when things are going right or not.”

In fact, he highlighted that the EU Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) had more than 50 observers all across Guyana on Elections Day, who all reported that “voting” went according to the rules.

Pointing fingers, underestimated intelligence

According to Ambassador Ponz Canto, the major flaw was observed during the tabulation process of the votes for Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), which was being led by Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.

EU Ambassador Fernando Ponz Canto

“We said it very clearly: the tabulation process for Region Four was not credible, [it] was not reflecting the will of the people, it was following a process that was not the right process. I saw it personally; I was there in the tabulation centre. [But] it doesn’t really matter that I saw it personally…all our observation missions saw it,” the EU Ambassador explained.

He reasoned that “it is a mistake to underestimate the intelligence of people, and the people of Guyana.”

Ambassador Ponz Canto also noted, “I am tempted to say we all know what happened, but I don’t want to focus on pointing fingers and say who did what and why; it’s not really constructive at this point.”

Accept recount results

What he said is important is the “window of opportunity” in the form of the recount exercise currently underway at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

results are respected,” he said.

“And when I say results, let me be very clear: I mean the counting of the votes, the quantitative counting of the votes, which in my humble understanding is the objective of any recount exercise.”

The EU Ambassador reasoned that, so far, the recount process has proven to be “excellent”, and if at the

“It is a mistake to underestimate the intelligence of people, and the people of Guyana…I am tempted to say we all know what happened, but I don’t want to focus on pointing fingers and say who did what and why; it’s not really constructive at this point.” purpose of a recount is to “count”, Ambassador Ponz Canto said there are other avenues to address other issues which may arise from the process.

“This exercise is about counting…it’s not rocket science; it’s just counting the votes. Whoever wins wins, whoever loses loses,” the Ambassador expressed, adding that if someone has objections, then there are “legal means to deal with those objections in due course”.

According to the EU Diplomat, he has no doubt that political leaders in Guyana would accept the results of the recount.

“The recount was decided and agreed upon by the top leaders of the Government and the Opposition, and I trust that they will do everything in their hand to make sure that the recount

end the recount is still excellent, “then the quantitative results are also accurate, and then they have to be recognised.”

Ambassador Ponz Canto said: “We all know that elections day was a good day of voting, and we are all witnessing that the recount is so far a good exercise. Need I say more?”

The EU Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) had announced on March 20 that it would depart Guyana due to a number of concerns, including the threat of COVID-19. The EOM, like many other international observers, was unable to return to Guyana for the recount.

However, Ambassador Ponz Canto, along with two expats from the EU Delegation in Guyana, has been observing the recount exercise.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 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

Minimal assistance measures O

ne day after the Public Health Ministry conducted a single coronavirus (COVID-19) test, and that result came back negative, there has been a record high of 11 new cases in Guyana. This has been the highest number of cases in 24 hours for Guyana since the virus was first detected here in March.

The increase in cases also comes on the same day that the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) submitted a four-stage blueprint for the reopening of the country’s airports to the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) for review. With COVID-19 cases increasing daily, there are calls being made for health authorities of the various countries, including Guyana, to accelerate and expand testing in order to obtain a clearer view of where the virus is circulating, and how many people have been infected.

Health experts have underlined increased testing as one of the key actions that could be taken to win the battle against the deadly pandemic. Accelerating and expanding testing is very crucial to better guiding policy-makers, health partners, and health-care workers to contain the spread of the virus.

We have seen, in countries around the world where testing took a long time to take off, how the virus was able to spread rapidly. Guyana’s next door neighbour, Brazil, is one of those countries. Brazil has recorded 1,086 new deaths from the coronavirus in the past 24 hours. The casualties have now brought the total number of deaths to 25,598. With 20,599 new cases, the number of infected people in Brazil is now 411,821.

Other countries, like Germany and New Zealand, have reported huge success rates, as they were able to test and isolate far more widely than others. They also rapidly stockpiled kits and made the test available to a larger number of labs, which allowed for more persons to be tested and diagnosed early.

Here, in Guyana, with our porous borders and the vulnerability of persons fleeing their countries to seek refuge here, it is imperative that we test continuously.

This would enable early diagnosis and establish how far the virus has spread, so that before others are infected, the authorities could isolate and track those persons who may have come into contact with someone who has tested positive.

As this newspaper had previously said, information garnered from testing could also be very useful in helping health-care partners plan to deal with the demand for intensive care units and other critical medical supplies.

While the Public Health Ministry has revealed some communities in which persons were tested positive, it is critical that, every time these positive results are returned, the country is aware which communities these were detected in. This would greatly assist persons in those areas to take better precautions.

As a matter of fact, on Thursday, Guyana’s caretaker President, David Granger, told a high-level United Nations meeting, which aims to advance concrete solutions to the development emergency for the COVID-19 crisis, that the country has been strained to protect its population from the COVID-19 pandemic. This, he said, is as a result of migrants seeking refuge entering Guyana, and the need to divert our revenue to support them; and, as such, this has impacted the state’s ability to protect its people from disease.

Our caretaker President shied away from mentioning that Guyana has its oil money sitting in a United States bank account, and it can be used to assist Guyanese greatly affected by the virus; but this cannot be accessed because of the chaos the ANPU/AFC created following the March 2 General and Regional Elections, in which there was an attempt to rig Guyana’s elections with fraudulent declarations made by Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.

Until the National Elections Recount results are declared by the Guyana Elections Commission, Guyanese are at the mercy of a Government that has implemented very minimal assistance measures. We reiterate that Guyanese would continue to face even more severe hardships, as the Government seems to be deaf to the pleas of citizens for assistance. Limited testing would only compound the situation; the need for more testing cannot be over-emphasised.

The Amazing Senja by Wenchang Chen, one of the entries in the 10th EPSON International Pano Awards (The Atlantic)

Shameless coalition Dear Editor, The Coalition have tried every possible trick in their Rigging Book, and have attempted new ones as well.

They tried their utmost to nullify the successful No Confidence Motion; they had problems with the Official List of Electors, which Granger claimed was bloated and which could have been revived using the claims and objections period; they attempted to stall the impending elections by foisting on the nation the House-toHouse Registration which the court later aborted; they fiddled with the claims and objections period; they reduced polling places in PPP strongholds to disenfranchise voters; they messed up the voters’ list with their ‘merging’, and the list appears to be endless; They openly flouted the Constitution and rulings of the court under the pretext that they respected these.

One would have thought that the above scenario would change after the Elections on March 2nd, but in fact it got far worse. After more court action to get the recount off the ground, resulting from Mingo’s wilful and fraudulent manipulation of the Region 4 Statements of Poll, the Coalition is now hell bent on a course of action to abort the entire 2020 Elections, which they now claim lacked credibility.

This is in direct contrast with what Granger and his cabal had claimed after March 2nd.

What is amazing is that, now that the recount has unearthed the massive fraud perpetrated by Mingo on behalf of the Coalition, they are now claiming that the dead voted, those migrated before the date of the election voted, etc.

It must be recalled that Mingo submitted two declarations, and Granger was supposed to be sworn in on a few occasions. Now we can expect Basil Williams to be preparing for another frivolous court action.

However, Harmon’s comical and farcical statement beats all.

Harmon’s claim that more than 86,000 voters who voted in the 2020 Elections “lacked credibility” is by itself an incredulous statement which lacks credibility. The so-called evidences he put forward make him a mocking stock, and have now propelled him into the category of his associate, Basil Williams.

Williams had earlier claimed that the current recount is illegal, despite being agreed to by his Party and the courts. It must be recalled that the Coalition had claimed, based on Mingo’s fraudulent declaration, that they had won the elections by a slim margin; therefore, if Harmon’s conclusion is correct, then the Coalition should have lost the Elections by more than 86,000 votes.

Therefore, it would seem that the ‘rigger’ rigged on behalf of the Coalition.

However, in a feeble attempt to support the Coalition’s nonsensical claims of ‘electoral fraud’, one columnist claimed that there is a flip-side to the Carter Center statement that, “Even if pre-election and election day processes go well, a flawed vote count or vote tabulation can fatally undermine the integrity and credibility of the electoral process and decrease public confidence and public acceptance of the results”.

That flip side can read, “Even if election day processes and the vote count or tabulation go well, a flawed pre-election process can fatally undermine the integrity and credibility of the electoral process and decrease public confidence and public acceptance of the results”.

The columnist should recall that the Coalition accepted the results of the 2018 Local Government Elections, and the Official List of Electors which was used then had a life until April 2019. The List had no problem then, but the Coalition

used the excuse of a “list bloated by about 200,000 names” to delay the impending elections in order to remain illegally in office. They used GECOM’s illegal Chairman and the Chief Elections Officer to foist the House-to-House Registration on this nation when the List could have been revised by an extended claims and objections’ period.

However, even though the H2H was finally aborted, it had already captured in excess of 370,000 names, and it was finally revealed that 37,300 were “new registrants”. Of these, 17,000 were already on the voters list, and some had even voted in the past. The entire venture was an effort to buy time and produce a lot of duplications.

It must be recalled that the Coalition Commissioners of GECOM were against field verification of 20,556 names, since they knew that the list was “not bloated”, as was claimed.

Commissioner Alexander was also adamant that “duplications cannot result in fraud”.

Then there was the claims and objections’ period, which saw the Coalition attempting to disenfranchise many legitimate voters in PPP support base, but which was finally resolved.

It must be recalled that, at every turn, it was the PPP/C which called for measures to ensure the List was credible and free of errors. It must also be recalled that PPP/C scrutineers were not part of the H2H registration process, only those of the APNU/AFC accompanied the GECOM staff. So how could the PPP/C rig the List?

The columnist should be aware that “an objective effort” was indeed “made to fix the problem before elections”; and furthermore, there is no evidence to support the “possibility of fraudulent use of the bloated list”, if indeed the list was bloated.

On the contrary, there is ample evidence to support the fact that the claims made by

the Coalition: that the “dead” and “migrants” voted, are complete fabrications meant to annul the Elections.

There are no “irregularities” which are material enough to annul the Elections, and that is the reason why the Carter Center is not wanted by the Coalition to observe the Recount process. The Coalition, with the assistance of GECOM, feel that they could force an annulment, which may be supported by the CARICOM observers.

Moreover, the List was kosher to the Coalition up to when Mingo made his fraudulent declaration. I am wondering why the columnist failed to bring this evidence in his analysis, if indeed he is being objective. In addition, why has he not called on GECOM to cast the fraudulent declarations aside, rather than holding them “in abeyance”.

In addition, it would be a miraculous act for the PPP/C to rig the List when GECOM is controlled by the Coalition.

Did Lowenfield, Myers and Claudette Singh allow this to happen? It is a fact also that many who are employed by GECOM are supporters of the Coalition.

Indeed, the Carter Center cannot prevent elections from being “manipulated”, but it can report that the Recount process was credible and that the “claims and objections” now raised by the Coalition are frivolous and immaterial to the outcome. It must be recalled that the Center did report that Mingo’s declarations were illegal, since they did not follow the legally prescribed tabulation process.

In conclusion, no amount of whitewashing will erase the fact that the Coalition tried many blatant and shameful acts, not only to illegally hold on to power, but to barefacedly rig the 2020 Elections.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020

5

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Response to enquiry from the press The locust plague and Guyana on the exclusion of the Carter Center

Dear Editor, We respond to an inquiry as regards our position on the Carter Center’s exclusion from the Recount Process.

We had to take some time to respond, since the answer should be almost self-evident. We had to take the opportunity to examine the nature of these requests from the press, and at least the expectation from others for TIGI to comment on issues.

While it is reassuring to know that our opinions are sought, our mission also includes advocacy for change in laws, policies, and procedures that would eliminate corruption, regardless of which party forms the Government and practises it.

We had to ask ourselves why the press is eager to report what we say, and others what we do not say when we are silent; but take no action to follow up on exposures we make that have national implications.

During 2019, TIGI made several exposures on the oil contract that should have made the press push for comments from others – like the Bar Association. We are not aware that this has occurred. TIGI brought to the awareness of the nation certain issues about the contract that did not require a lawyer to understand. The press should have pressed for answers from other organisations. For example, the clear implication that was made was that the Procurement Commission did not know its job insofar as its officials claimed that the Procurement Act did not include petroleum exploration services in its scope, making Guyana the first country in the world to exclude petroleum, the mother of all corruption, from its scope.

Since those articles were published, coincidentally perhaps, SARA has claimed that two contracts signed since 2016 were in breach of the Act.

Clearly, the Procurement Commission (PC) should be made to explain the consistency between the two. Either the Procurement Act includes petroleum services in its scope, or it does not. And the Bar Association should have been asked for comment.

The question as to whether the Carter Center should have been allowed to witness the Recount Process relates to a bigger problem – constitutional breaches. We refer you to a report in KN of March 13, 2019 whose title says it all: “Our politicians only want to obey the law and the Constitution when it suits them” (https://www.kaieteurnewsonline. com/2019/03/13/our-politicians-onlywant-to-obey-the-law-and-the-constitution-when-it-suits-them-sanjeevdatadin/) Ditto for the Carter Centre.

They only want the Carter Centre to visit, and in general, want the attention of foreigners in our affairs when it suits them.

As TIGI grappled with a position on the electoral developments since December 2018, we were astonished by what we found. We asked the simple question as to why our partner Caricom countries did not have such problems with no-confidence motions.

The answer was simple. Their constitutions vested another functionary other than the head of Government and head of the party in power with the authority to put the head of Government out of office. The constitutions of our partners do not carry provisions that require the head of Government to fire himself as it were.

Clearly, whoever were the politicians and legal minds who put the revised draft of the Constitution together, they wanted the kind of arrangement that was going to await the day when the failure to separate the roles would explode in our faces as it has now.

Will you ask the great constitutional minds, such as are still alive, why they allowed this?

Guyana’s Constitution (Article 38A) requires that such actors of civil society that have mobilised be supported by Government. Article 32 puts a duty upon every citizen to combat violations of the law and protect public property. Surely, the Bar Association should be expected to take the lead in such a duty when there is a claim of breach of responsibility by state actors that have obvious national consequences.

If you are the press, you should press them for answers to the questions we have raised, rather than continually ask us to make comments which might fill pages for a time and then fade away.

Electoral impasses have been with us for decades. In fact, that is what brought the Carter Center here in the first place. Why you would feel that we would have any answer other than they should be allowed to extend their vigilance to this round of observation if they require it is a puzzle.

We end by pointing out that the failure of the Guyanese society to even appear to be following its own rules which it has set for itself trivialises our society before foreigners. If we cannot follow our own laws, how do we expect foreigners to be inclined to follow them?

But worse, TIGI has shown where successive Governments of Guyana have bent and broken our laws and Constitution to accommodate foreign multinationals. We see constitutional compliance as a continuum – a necessary habit; not a failure to be attended to only as it applies to electoral issues.

TIGI

Dear Editor, There is currently a devastating plague of locusts, which started in the Middle East and is moving across Eastern Africa and parts of Asia. For example: to date Kenya, India and Pakistan have been impacted, and crops have been wiped out.

Many are expecting the impact of the plague to last several years, due to the heavy egg-laying of the locusts. The plague also covers thousands of kilometres and, in some instances, has resulted in losses greater than two billion pounds for this season’s crops.

The resulting and forecasted food shortage will have a tremendous impact on the food supply and health of those in the affected areas. Many are worried about the prospect of extensive starvation, given the extent of the negative impact of the locust plague on their country’s agriculture sector, and the resulting increases in food prices.

However, these unfortunate international circumstances also present opportunities for our rice farmers and our agriculture sector to be able to help our global brothers and sisters during these difficult times: By working closely with the United Nations and the affected country representatives in Guyana, a number of long-term supply contracts can be established.

The current developing international food supply shortage will also provide opportunities to quickly expand and grow our agriculture sector, and Guyana will be able to play its part as a responsible global citizen with our allies, while also reducing the level of unemployment and poverty with-

in our nation. This presents a great opportunity for our laid off cane-cutters to re-enter the workforce.

Some may question why the need to send goods that far away, when our neighbours in Venezuela are facing similar food issues due to different underlying reasons. Hopefully, the time will eventually come when we can aid Venezuela, but we must first ensure that our border dispute is amicably resolved, and no international embargo is violated. Once this occurs, an UN-approved supply agreement could be established.

In regard to the discussion concerning Asia and Africa, a large portion of our citizens have their origins in those parts of the world. The situation in which Indians and Africans find themselves is not one of choice; as in the case with Venezuela, which can comply with the UN’s demands and change its current economic situation.

On the other hand, helping our extended family in those regions of our origin during these difficult times should be a top priority for us, given their inability to quickly change the developing food supply shortage and our strong historical & cultural connection. Any little we can do helps in this dire situation, and when one helps one’s extended family, it is as though one is also helping oneself.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

Recount process The dead and migrated refused to vote for the APNU/AFC

Dear Editor, GECOM’s additions to the lawful processes stipulated for a recount, as outlined in the Representation of the People’s Act, are going to impact future elections severely.

Had there been counting of ballots in a transparent manner and a credible system of verification and tabulation, not only would this election have been over, but some confidence in future elections would have been preserved.

As it is, Mr. Mingo’s fraud has been proven beyond reasonable doubt, but damage to the system of checks and balances utilised by GECOM is almost beyond salvage.

Let me explain: Each polling station has its Official List of Electors (OLE) who are eligible to vote. Copies are given to all GECOM polling day staff and any party’s agents present. There is no legal requirement to tick names, it is an accounting aid. Some Presiding Officers do periodic audits with all present to keep track of numbers, and some do not. In future elections, a PO may tick all the names or none, would this be enough evidence to invalidate the ballots in the box? What happens in the future when boxes are opened for a recount and there are no OLEs in the box? What happens when Ram N Balram is ticked instead of Ram M Balram (migrated or deceased)? This is the nonsense we have allowed to creep in and contaminate the process.

Mischief-makers can choose from a wide menu of actions to sabotage and even vitiate an

election with impunity.

In writing of best practices for a lawful election before March 2nd, I glossed over polling day activities by saying: “We will assume the following: ? Police protection is afforded each polling station all day (This is mandatory). ? Counting in the polling station is over. ? The statement of poll has been filled out by the GECOM presiding officer and has been signed by all polling agents present.”

I did so with the utmost confidence in the GECOM polling day procedures and staff. I stand by these assumptions, and can point to statements of support from every contesting party and observer mission, who all declared the polling day activity as credible and without fraud.

The only fraud that occurred in Guyana’s General and Regional Elections in 2020 is Mr. Mingo’s use of fictitious figures, and his subsequent declaration of District 4 results based on those numbers.

Given the more outlandish claims of fraud emanating from APNU/AFC sources during the ongoing recount, the only system that would satisfy those ‘forces’ would be live-streamed HD video of all polling stations, coupled with biometric scanners as used by international immigration agencies, and a Certificate of Life issued on the spot by a medical professional before the elector can proceed into the polling station. Anything less would certainly be open to question. Heaven forbid a

single Certificate of Life goes missing at any station, for that would mean fresh elections for sure. This absurdity is matched only by its impracticality.

Editor, the more excursions GECOM takes off of the lawful path prescribed for a recount, the further we will move from the position of trust and faith in the existing GECOM polling day systems. It may be useful for GECOM to remember the words of Chief Justice Desiree Bernard, who said, “The role of the Elections Commission and its staff is to take such action as appears necessary to ensure impartiality, fairness, and compliance with the provisions of the Constitution and any other acts of Parliament…

Confidence in the electoral process must be restored.

“This is absolutely essential if we, as a nation, are to move forward and strive to heal the wounds that divide us. Let fairness pervade all of our actions at all times; no effort must be spared to assure everyone that the process is fair and impartial. Lingering doubts that hang like a Sword of Damocles over the head of the Commission must be removed.”

The allowance of the incorporation of audit-like activities in the ongoing recount is a perfect example of the said sword; it should be left in its sheath for everyone’s sake.

There are reasons for laws governing recounts.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

Dear Editor, This letter is addressed in part to Mr David Granger.

Mr David Granger: just because the writing is on the wall that your APNU+AFC caretaker Government lost the March 02, 2020 General Election, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t keep on fighting for your ideals, and keep moving forward and making progress.

But it is embarrassing, disrespectful and distasteful when the APNU+AFC continue raising concerns of deceased and migrated persons voting in the March 2 General and Regional Elections. It is APNU+AFC member Aubrey Norton who said, “We did not find any occurrence of this in the Coalition strongholds.”

This says much for the leadership of the APNU+AFC Adviser to the caretaker President to make a statement like this to the world and the people of Guyana: “When you call the names of the dead, they didn’t vote in APNU+AFC strongholds, neither those who migrated. But when we did the same in PPP strongholds, the answer was, ‘Yes, it’s crossed off’, and so we concluded (that) in PPP strongholds they were allowed to vote, and there is no evidence that that happened in the APNU+AFC strongholds.”

Guyanese, this statement is preposterous; contrary to any reason; absurd and ridiculous. These are learned men that Guyanese entrusted our country to be governed by over the last five years. What is this saying to

the young people of Guyana?

I, for one, know that the dead and the migrated refused to vote for the APNU+AFC because of their stupidity.

All these allegations must be considered as trash talk; unfounded; without any basis, notwithstanding the garbage that is coming out of the mouths of these gentlemen day after day.

These are the irresponsible actions taken by the APNU+AFC leaders whom we thought were smart, intelligent men before 2015.

They are all making themselves a side-show for the Guyanese citizens and the international communities.

This caretaker Administration is being looked upon as a circus of clowns. There are many Guyanese people around the country and the world who are very disappointed with the blatant assault on the Guyanese people.

It is as clear as day that the APNU+AFC lost the 2020 General and Regional Elections, and their supporters are now considering them failures.

As such, they are creating political distractions in every form, and are trying to blame the People’s Progressive Party/Civic for their loss.

The concocted ‘Nancy story’ that the PPP rigged these elections is enough evidence that the David Granger-led caretaker Government has become clueless and blind to what is truly unfolding in front of their eyes.

Your attack on the oppo-

sition parties will not save you from your own ignorance. The people of Guyana are already of the opinion that the APNU/AFC is unfit to lead this country “now or ever”. They all know that David Granger and his cabal are not to be trusted, and they have deceived mostly their supporters and the people of Guyana.

The media houses were truthful in reporting and explaining to the Guyanese people what had occurred in Guyana from May 2015 to May 2020. All the skullduggery and the blatant depravities that the APNU/ AFC cabal have introduced in the electoral process, even Forbes Burnham, the Master Rigger of Guyana, could not have pulled off.

This APNU/AFC leadership has displayed the true sense of misery that comes from losing an election which has a wider impact. It is clear to the world and the citizens of Guyana that the APNU/ AFC leadership is now questioning the legitimacy of the election process itself, an act that has undermine their trust in basic institutions of democracy.

The APNU/AFC leaders have stopped trusting our political institutions and have begun looking for alternative forums to make themselves heard.

Mr David Granger: the people of Guyana advise you to take the loss, understand it, and get okay with it. We are too tired of your party’s ramblings.

Sincerely, David Adams

6

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020

Page

Foundation

Guyana Times is pleased to publish the Education Ministry’s National Grade Six Assessment Past Papers.

Below is Social Studies Paper 2, April 2016.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE SIX ASSESSMENT READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. 1. Write your candidate number clearly on each page.

2. Write on the lines provided in this

SOCIAL STUDIES

booklet. Use a pencil and write neatly and legibly.

3. . sections.

This

paper

contains

two

Section A contains one question. You must answer this question.

SECTION A

Section B contains five questions. You must answer three of these questions.

Note: You must answer only four questions. Be sure to answer all parts of the four questions fully.

4.

If you have to erase an answer, do so

You MUST answer ALL the parts of the question.

1. The illustration below shows a person being attended to by two workers. Study it carefully, then answer Parts (a) to (c).

(a) Give one example of an institution where this scene is likely to take place.

(1 mark) (b) Describe two ways in which the person being helped can maintain good health.

(2 marks) (c) If the person being attended to in the illustration is an alcoholic, give two pieces of advice which could help him to stay away from alcohol use after he leaves the institution.

(2 marks)

5. If you complete your work before the scheduled time, spend the remaining time looking over your work.

6. Do not take away any part of this booklet.

Central America.

Total 5 marks

This section contains ONE question with three parts.

completely and write your new answer clearly.

SECTION B

(1 mark)

(d) State one way in which CARICOM countries help each other.

This section contains FIVE questions.

(1 mark)

You MUST answer THREE of these questions.

2. A map of the Caribbean is shown below. Study it carefully, then answer Parts (a) to (d).

Total 5 marks

(a) (i) Name any one country that started the CARICOM family.

(a) State one activity carried out in the building shown in the picture.

(1 mark)

(1 mark)

(ii) Name the body of water that is labelled (P).

(1mark) (b) Identify one product exported by the country labelled (B).

3. The picture below shows an Amerindian community. Study it carefully, then answer Parts (a) to (d).

(b) Imagine the people in the picture live at Paramakatoi, name one economic activity in which they would be involved.

(1 mark)

(1 mark)

(c) State one contribution the Amerindians made to the development of Guyana.

(c) Shade the CARICOM member state that is located in

(1 mark) (d) If you were the Minister of Communities, state two actions that you would take to improve the lives of people living in hinterland communities.

(2 marks) Total 5 marks 4. The illustration below shows a policewoman on duty.

Study it carefully, then answer Parts (a) to (c).

(a) State one duty of the policewoman other than the one seen in the picture.

(1 mark) (b) Give two reasons why laws are important in our country.

(2 marks) (c) Suggest to the Minister of Public Security one action that could be taken to reduce crime in communities in Guyana.

(2 marks) Total 5 marks

TO BE CONTINUED

7 Commissioners still undecided over declaration date C NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ommissioners of the Guyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) on Thursday met again to discuss the timeline for the completion of the National Recount Exercise, and new battle lines have been drawn up, namely the time within which to declare the final results of the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The Commission is expected to resume meeting today (Friday), at which time discussions would continue over a likely June 13 completion of the exercise.

Stakeholders are deeply divided over the time that should be allowed for the electoral body’s deliberation on the recount results before delivering a formal election declaration.

The Opposition Peoples’ Progressive Party/Civic, through its tabulation agent Anil Nandlall, gave the overview at the end of Day 23 of the Recount Exercise, scheduled according to the Gazetted Order for completion on Saturday.

Sufficient time

With more than 900 of the 2,339 ballot boxes from across the country still to be recounted, Nandlall told media operatives on Tuesday that it is the PPP/C’s expectation that a one-week extension to the deadline would be adequate to complete the exercise.

According to the PPP/C tabulation agent, the party expected that, within another week, Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield would have tabulated and compiled his report in order for the Commission to make a formal declaration. This, he said, the PPP/C believes to be sufficient time to wrap up the 2020 electoral cycle and to have a winner declared; but, “lo and behold, we are now

num.”

Three months

PPP/C Executive Member Anil Nandlall

faced with a situation where the Commission wants the recount and Lowenfield’s report to be concluded in 16 days, and the Commission doesn’t want to put a stipulated time for the declaration of the results by the Commission.”

Nandlall has since surmised, “They want to leave the time open-ended for them to deliberate on Lowenfield’s report.” The PPP/C agent said this is unacceptable, “because everything that we have done here would be rendered nugatory if we don’t get the declaration in time.”

Underpinning the declaration of a winner as the most important aspect of the recount exercise, the former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs pointed to the Commission’s initial gazetted timeline of 25 days for completion of the process.

According to Nandlall, “Now we are at that stage of negotiating an extension of time, and the Government commissioners are arguing to leave the time open-ended for the declaration of the final results to be made.”

This he dismissed as an unacceptable directive emanating from Congress Place, “because it is something they want to try in that interreg-

According to Nandlall, it is close to three months since the March 2 polls, and the country is no closer to a timeline for a definitive declaration of the results, and the prevailing circumstances could very well lead to a violation of the laws of Guyana.

He elucidated the position by pointing to the provisions that cater for a recount, and said there is a tabulation and subsequent declaration of the results of the recount. “There is no break in time, or no inordinate break in time; it’s a fluid process.”

This he summarised as, “You recount, you tabulate, and you declare the results; it’s one process”.

The former Minister of Legal Affairs used the occasion to reiterate that GECOM cannot investigate the allegations that are being raised by the incumbent and being documented in Observation Reports.

Government-nominated Commissioner Vincent Alexander told media operatives that the observations must be deliberated on, and that would take time. He also suggested that GECOM Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh, has signalled an intention to write the relevant authorities with a view to requesting corroborating documentation. This position is, however, vehemently opposed by the political opposition.

Articulating the PPP/ C’s position on Thursday, Nandlall was adamant that the tabulated results must be used automatically. He told reporters, “I don’t know what they want to deliberate on.”

He was adamant that any attempt to morph the recount process into something beyond a numerical ascertaining of the ballots cast on

PPP/C Commissioner Sase Gunraj

March 2, would be stanchly opposed.

Nandlall told reporters that, as it is, there is no definitive timeline for a declaration of the results emanating from the recount process, and “we want them to tell us how much time…it cannot be for the rest of the year; they are not fixing a time. This country is on hold, people’s lives are on hold from this process.”

Duty to disclose

He was adamant that “any responsible commission has a duty to disclose to the population the timeframe, and it can’t be an unreasonable timeframe. Ordinarily, elections’ results are disclosed in two days.”

As it relates to the observation reports, Nandlall, denoted these to be summary of the objections being made primarily by the coalition

A partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), and he said, “The position is that GECOM can’t do anything with it.

GECOM cannot do anything with it in law.”

The former Attorney General was adamant that the Commission doesn’t have that mandate, or power, or structure to pursue the claims being made by the APNU+AFC agents, such as dead of migrated voters having voted. The observation report, he said, is being exploited, but the PPP/C was not too concerned, since GECOM could not pursue the claims legally.

“These are allegations that cannot be established because GECOM has no capacity to entertain or to allow their establishment or proof,” he declared.

Adamant that an election can be annulled only by the court, Nandlall reminded that GECOM is the institution holding the elections, and as such could not presume to be judge and jury in an inquest into itself.

Not permitted

“You have a problem how GECOM acted, you have to go to the court and they annul it. There is no position in the law at all for GECOM to deal with disputes,” Nandlall offered.

Asked to pronounce on his party’s course of action should the Commission go head and begin investigating

PNC Commissioner Vincent Alexander

the observations made, such as dead and migrated voters having voted, Nandlall told media operatives, “It will not be permitted; the court would stop it.”

He explained: “If at any time the Commission acts outside of its legal powers, the court will be there to correct it.”

Adamant that the PPP has nothing to hide, Nandlall told reporters that the PPP would not participate in an illegal exercise, and “if GECOM goes down a road that GECOM has no powers to travel, and wants to perform functions that GECOM has no right and power to perform, then the PPP will not participate in that process.”

Shying away from speculation, Nandlall told reporters the law does not permit GECOM to entertain those considerations.

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Family’s Attorney seeks answers from Registrar General on release of death certificate

What happens...

O

The document obtained by APNU/AFC

T

he Attorney representing the family of Chitnandani Ramdass, the deceased

Essequibian woman, who the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) claimed “vot-

An original death certificate issued by GPOC

ed” in the March 2 polls, has written to Registrar General Louis Crawford, requesting key information in relation to the release of the woman’s death certificate.

In his letter on behalf of Puran Manbode, the dead woman’s son, Attorney Glenn Hanoman has asked the Registrar General of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) to: provide copies of the application form requesting the death certificate, information on the identity of the person/s who requested the death certificate and copies of the payment of the $300 fee for the document.

During the course of the now three weeks-long recount, agents for the coalition have repeatedly raised objections to votes cast on the basis that the persons in question were either dead or have migrated.

These claims have since been debunked by the majority of political stakeholders.

The coalition came under severe fire recently for what many say is an abuse of State power – accessing persons’ confidential information in relation to migration and

death records.

Defending the coalition’s access to the death records, caretaker Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes had told media operatives that the persons were identified by the grouping through its fieldwork and that the certificates were later applied for and the $300 fee paid.

An article was subsequently published in the State media on May 20, which identified the late Ms Ramdass as having “voted”.

The coalition’s claims only ended when information came to light that the individual’s name had not, in fact, been ticked off as having been issued a ballot.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall has since been in contact with the family, who supplied him with a copy of the woman’s original death certificate.

That document juxtaposed against the one published by the State media, and held up as proof by the coalition, revealed that the published document was issued on January 31 of this year.

Notably, it does not bear the identification number for the dead woman while the original certificate supplied by the family does bear the name.

Nandlall was adamant that the records in question could only be accessed by family members and that this authorisation had not been provided.

Hanoman’s letter also outlined: “Pursuant to sub-section 33 (1) and 33 (5) of the Access to Information Act, 2011, documents are exempt from disclosure if its disclosure would involve the unreasonable disclosure of information in relation to the personal affairs of a deceased person. In the case of a deceased person, the next-of-kin is the person entitled to give consent to the disclosure of the document”.

According to Nandlall, the APNU/AFC, in addition to possibly breaching the Access to Information law, could very well be guilty of a range of other electoral-related legal infractions.

…after the recount? n the premise that “time is longer than twine”, your Eyewitness figures there will have to be an end to this recount; but it’ll definitely be later, rather than sooner! Even though we’re lurching dangerously towards that cliff where “no man’s land” begins, it does look like GECOM - meaning Chairman Claudette - might be tacking on another 16 days to her arbitrary 25-day deadline to complete the recount. So, no matter how you slice it, dice it, or purée it, we’re gonna be right back where it all began: waiting for the Reg 4 numbers to be completed, since Madame Chair has stuck doggedly to deploying teams who’ve completed the smaller Regions other than Reg 4.

So, can we expect some sort of Deus ex machina effect like the one Mingo pulled at Ashmin’s? Deja vu all over again? You know, like putting in a thumb and pulling out a plum. Nah…there won’t be any need for that, cause the stage has already been set to ensure we don’t get that result for a very, very long time! After all, when you have some 450,000 persons voting and the PNC claims through the peripatetic Lt Col (ex) Joe Harmon - that they have unearthed 86,000 instances of “anomalies” in the ballot boxes, you know that “things na regula”! And many of them were literally “unearthed”, since they claim may dead persons voted!

Now, dear reader, you might be saying that since the Chair has already said that “he who asserts must prove”, the PNC have their work cut out for them. But that just means you haven’t been paying attention!! After stoutly insisting they have all the proof of their assertions about migrants and the dead voting, as well as the disenfranchisement of all 8000 Disciplined Forces members who voted - and who’re all staunch PNC supporters, according to the good ex-Lt Col - PNC executive Aubrey Norton just stepped up to the crease to declare it’s the responsibility of GECOM to check out these claims.

And if we are to go by the history of Chairman Claudette, you know there’s never been a demand by the PNC when she doesn’t bend backwards to accommodate them. You’d think she was a limbo dancer in her earlier life, rather than a member of the Bench!! Remember H2H?? No need for it, but let’s MERGE the data so that the PNC get what they wanted!! Mingo’s declaration is illegal since she twice flouted the High Court’s instruction to show the SOPs?? Let’s hold his declaration IN ABEYANCE! So, your Eyewitness is willing to bet dollars to donuts that Chairman Claudette will cut the baby in half once again!! …to reason?

Your Eyewitness never fails to be shocked - not at how supposedly rational human beings would allow their reason to flee when their interests are affected - but at how they’ll try to justify their irrational reactions with “reason”!! Let’s take another look at what’s playing out in the political arena. And no…it’s not the rigging of the elections in front of everyone’s noses using the Mingo Manoeuvre; it’s really about getting our electoral system right!! We ought to be grateful to the PNC for sacrificing themselves to this most worthwhile cause - for the nation!!

Never mind that the PNC won the 2015 elections with the same system, the same list, the same GECOM staff etc.

All those things are horribly and irretrievably corrupted by the PPP, who’ve gamed the system so that they’ll always win, regardless. The system is unfair to the PNC; the list is “bloated”; the GECOM staff are corrupted etc.

So how come the PPP still lost in 2015??

Go to the back of the class!! You don’t understand the enigma of irrational reasoning!! …When the money runs out?

Granger has just made a stirring appeal for some money to be thrown our way, so his Government can “fight COVID”. Finishing Ocean View Hotel?

But what about our “sovereignty”??

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

NEWS

9

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Recount and final declaration State blanks GECOM’s bid to accelerate recount could be completed …refuses permission for additional counting stations

by June 11 – Ali

T

PPP/C’s Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali

he national recount of votes cast in the March 2 polls and a final declaration of the results can be done by June 11, 2020.

This is the view expressed by People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali, who on Thursday, during a virtual presentation, detailed that the target could be met using the “minimal average of what is currently being achieved” in relation to the ongoing recount at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is expected to make crucial decisions soon as it relates to the

completion of the electoral process, more particularly, the end-date for the recount of ballots and the declaration of the final results.

At the moment, sources have indicated that there is a June 16th timeline that is being floated for the completion of the recount and a declaration of the results, but Ali is adamant that “this timeframe is too long” and could be “cut short” considering the fact that it is close to three months now since Guyanese went to the polls.

Ali explained that the June 16 deadline floating around would mean that GECOM would be given a whopping 20 additional days to complete the recount exercise and make a declara-

tion.

“This is puzzling; it is our view that this timeframe is too long,” Ali said.

“If we continue to do an average of 80 boxes per day, then it would take us 12 days to complete this exercise,” Ali said.

“So, if we take 12 days to complete the recount, why GECOM needs eight more days to have a declaration?”

Ali questioned.

He explained that 12 days for the completion of the recount and an additional three days for preparation of the necessary reports and official declarations would add up to 15 days – taking the process to finality on June 11.

Meanwhile, Ali once again lamented the fact that Region Four, which has 57 per cent of the remaining ballot boxes to be recounted, is being starved of resources to get the task done. He related that this concern was raised with the Commission and the Party was hoping that a solution would be found soon.

As of Thursday, the recount had been completed for Regions One, Two, Three, Five and Seven. The outstanding regions are Four, Six, Eight, Nine and 10, which got underway on Thursday.

T

he Moses Nagamootoo-led National Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force has refused permission to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to house two additional counting stations at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC) in a bid to accelerate the National Recount process.

The Task Force decision was communicated to GECOM Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh, by Coordinator of the Task Force’s Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) Dr Colin James in a missive dated May 28. The Task Force’s response comes a week after the request was made by GECOM to set up the additional stations.

Addressing the GECOM Chairperson, Dr James noted thus: “Conscious of the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) nature and scope of activities at this time, the National COVID-19 Taskforce HEOC deliberations have arrived at the conclusion that public safety and wellness remains the primary focus to mitigate the negative impact and to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Dr James has said the Task Force “has diligently reviewed its Reports dated 21st April 2020 and 15th May 15, 2020 submitted to your Commission, and has determined that it cannot concede to the request for the installation and operation of additional workstation and increase in the number of persons to be in the ACCC during the period of Recount.”

The Commission is yet to make a public announcement, although the Task Force’s missive was shared with the media.

Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic

Head of the National Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force, Moses Nagamootoo

Commissioner Sase Gunraj is on record on numerous occasions reiterating his adumbrations that GECOM is an independent constitutional body and that it did not need permission from the Task Force in order to establish more counting stations.

He recently told media operatives, “While I recognise and appreciate the importance of COVID-19 and the effect it’s having on the world -- I have lots of respect for it, perhaps even fear -- however, GECOM is an independent body.”

According to Gunraj, “With the necessary medical advice, I believe we are free to make decisions in relation to the use of this building. From the outset, let me say -- and I have said this before -- I don’t believe that we should be seeking permission from the COVID-19 Task Force.”

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

22-year-old arraigned for murder APNU/AFC Councillor apologises for false remarks of female security officer about No 52/74 NDC

APNU/AFC NDC Councillor Lakeraj Singh

O

ne day ago Guyana Times reported that a Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) has not been providing needed services with the subvention it received from Central Government, which included a quantity of crusher run, and the Communities Ministry had taken one year to give approval for the Number 52/74 NDC to purchase laterite even as residents had complained about potholes.

The story featured an A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change NDC Councillor Lakeraj Singh saying that the supplier currently did not have laterite, which is used as a binding agent for crusher run (crushed stones), in stock because of the closing of the Corentyne River

by Surinamese authorities as part of measures being implemented by the Dutch-

speaking territory to stop the spread of novel coronavirus. Former Member of Parliament David Subnauth was also interviewed and said that the quantity of crusher run received in 2019 was not equal to the quantity currently being stored.

However, after the story was posted on Guyana Times’ Facebook page and residents criticised Singh’s comments, he subsequently confessed that he provided inaccurate information and apologised for remarks he made in the article.

In a social media post, Singh said: “I have learnt that auditors coming from the Auditor General Office to check on the quantities of crusher run that is currently lying in front of the Number 66 crematorium entrance.

“I was informed that the letter for the approval for the usage of crusher run was not never received. But

1 arrested, another on the run for murder of Port Kaituma miner

T

he Police have arrested one man and are looking for a second in connection with the beating to death of a miner at Aranguy Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) on Tuesday.

The dead man, David James, is reportedly from Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini).

Based on information received, on the day in question around 18:30h, James and another employee were imbibing at their worksite when an argument ensued between them.

During the quarrel, the other employee left, but re-

turned shortly after with a friend who attacked James, punching him several times to the face and body.

This resulted in James falling to the ground motionless. Ranks were summoned to the scene where James was found dead in a hammock.

Regional Police Commander, Senior Superintendent Linden Lord told Guyana Times that a five-man team was presently on the hunt for the suspect, adding that there were stringent measures in place to ensure that the perpetrator was apprehended and prosecuted.

was misguided by a staff in the office...I do apologise for making that error.”

Singh had said in the initial article there were other NDCs using crusher run without mixing it with laterite as a binding agent.

In fact, he noted that the Number 52/74 NDC had done so in the past and questioned why after one year the NDC had not utilised the part of its 2019 subvention which had come in the form of crusher run.

In another post on Wednesday, Singh said he was told that some of the material was used. He said the NDC Overseer told him that residents had removed some and he questioned whether permission was given for them to do self-help workers.

He added that the auditors would have to go to the areas where the Overseer said he gave residents permission to use the crusher run and determine whether they had used the equivalent of the quantity missing.

Some $2.3 million worth of the stones was placed at Number 66 and left lying there for months while residents complained of poor infrastructure.

O

Persons paying their last respects to Dawnson

ne week after a teenager was charged for the murder of 68-year-old Margarett Dawnson, whose partially nude body was found in the Le Repentir Cemetery, Georgetown, the prime suspect was arraigned for the heinous crime on Thursday.

The suspect, 22-yearold Jermaine DeJonge of Albouystown, Georgetown, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and was not required to pleas to the indictments which stated that on May 18, 2020, he murdered Dawnson.

DeJonge was shot to the leg during a confrontation with the Police after he was implicated in the murder.

He had reportedly whipped out a knife and at-

Dead: Margarett Dawnson

tempted to stab one of the Police Officers at Stabroek Market Square after he was cornered by the ranks.

He is a known character to the Police after he was previously implicated in several crimes in his community.

DeJonge was remanded to prison and was scheduled to make his next court appearance on June 25, 2020.

Days after the murder, a 17-year-old was charged and remanded to prison by Magistrate Dylon Bess.

Dawnson, a security officer attached to the Professional Guard Service (PGS) of Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD), left home for work, but her body was found lying between two tombs in the cemetery.

She was laid to rest on Wednesday, and family, relatives, and friends turned up at Sandy’s Funeral Home to pay their last respects to the woman.

Dawnson leaves to mourn six children and several grandchildren.

NEWS

11

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

1 dead, 3 injured following Rupert Craig Highway smash-up – 2 arrested for robbing injured passengers

A

20-year-old woman was on Thursday killed while three others including her mother were injured following a two-vehicle collision along the Rupert Craig Highway.

Dead is Sabita Sukhoo of 123 Lusignan Pasture, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The injured were listed as 44-year-old Anita Ramjit of Lusignan, ECD; 44-yearold Marlyn Wilson of Lot

at about 10:00h and involved a route 44 minibus and a RAV 4 luxury vehicle. The circumstances surrounding the accident remains sketchy but the police have launched an investigation.

At the home of the dead woman, her mother, Anita Ramjit explained that she had decided to travel to Georgetown to purchase some cleaning items and asked her daughter to accom-

Dead: 20-year-old Sabita Sukhoo

de going to town and look at what happened,” the mother cried.

The minibus driver however, claimed that he attempted to pull over in the corner when the RAV4 reportedly slammed into the side of the bus. As a result of the impact, the bus toppled several times before coming to a halt.

On the other hand, the driver of the SUV reportedly told police that the minibus swerved into his lane to pick up a passenger when the collision occurred.

However, Ramjit is con-

The private motor vehicle involved in the accident

10 Golden Grove, ECD and 45-year-old Mohan Mangal of Lot 273 Block 12 NonPariel, ECD. Based on reports received, the accident occurred

pany her.

“I asked my daughter if she is going with me, and she said wait till she finished eating. Then, she said ‘mommy, I am not going’, but after-

Anita Ramjit, the mother of Sabita Sukhoo

ward, she changed her mind, and she said she was going with me… and my baby

tending that the minibus was not speeding. “All I know is

The minibus involved in the accident (Abel Harris photo)

that the bus turned around and I watched back, and I saw the lady and my daughter and the door was on the conductor’s neck,” she explained.

She further stated that her daughter’s head was outside of the bus. “When I watched I see a blue vehicle that they said grazed the bus and that is how the driver spin around to save us but when he did to save us on the concrete on the road, that is when the bus toppled over from there.”

She recalled coming out of the bus window where people came and render assistance.

But she kept shouting for her

daughter! Daughter whose head was out of the bus.

“I helped myself to come out of the bus, and I come through the window, and people ran and helped me to come out the bus, and all I asking for is my daughter to take her to the hospital, but nobody helped me and [told] me that I have to wait until the ambulance comes and by the time my daughter reached the hospital they said she died,” the mother recalled.

Meanwhile, at the accident scene, two men were arrested after they were caught stealing from the injured passengers. (Shemar Alleyne)

12 NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Granger pleads for greater concessional financing from int’l community ...while using “sovereignty” to deny their concern over democracy

UN Secretary General António Guterres

E

ven while accusing the international community of “interfering” with Guyana’s sovereignty, caretaker President David Granger is now begging them to assist with financial aid.

Granger has been criticising the international community for speaking out against undemocratic processes in Guyana – whereby there were attempts to rig the elections and deny the will of the people.

In his message to the United Nations forum on Thursday, Granger pleaded for greater concessional financing from the international community.

“We commend and thank the Governments and institutions which have supported the flow of needed resources to small states like ours so

far. We recognize that more must be done,” Granger contended. said.

He further stated that the country has been strained to protect its population from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as migrants and the provision of effective healthcare to them added another facet to the situation.

He shared these remarks during a discussion with other Head of States, through the UN in efforts to advance concrete solutions to the development emergency posed by the COVID-19 crisis.

The high-level meeting was convened by Prime Ministers of Canada and Jamaica along with UN Secretary General António Guterres to tackle critical finance issues to address economic devastation caused by COVID-19 and resources for development beyond this era.

Granger said, “Guyana, one of the smallest States in the continent of South America, borders countries which have high incidence of COVID-19. Migrants seek refuge, enter our territories in areas which necessitate the need for effective health services over long distances and remote settlements. These factors impact the State’s ability to protect its people from disease and to earn revenue to maintain its economy.”

He went on to say that for now, a structural system was needed to save small States like Guyana. However, the

omy reopens, our public and private sectors would be capable of rapid production and progress. In the short term, however, we are obliged to respond to the urgent, unavoidable and unanticipated effects of COVID-19.”

The engagement gave world leaders an opportunity to express their commitment to decisively facilitate global solutions to address the global economic crisis and its effects on the most vulnerable.

Most of them recognised that poverty was rising where unemployment soared, neces-

Caretaker President David Granger

country can only focus on a response system to the coronavirus pandemic and work on a plan for future happenings.

“Guyana is a small developing State, whose many challenges have been compounded by its need to combat COVID-19 pandemic.

Small States need structured and sturdy systems to save lives and support lives and livelihood. In the medium and long terms, [they] must build capacity to respond effectively and efficiently when faced with health crises which are predicted to occur more frequently in the future,” the caretaker President said.

He added, “In the long term, you must achieve food security by sustaining agriculture, manufacturing services so that when our econ-

sitating urgent intervention.

The pandemic has also impeded investments in almost every sector. Most of them highlighted the need for effective financing solutions, which was at the core of this engagement.

Six issues were the focus, namely to: expand liquidity in the global economy and maintain financial stability to safeguard development gains; the need to address debt vulnerabilities for all developing countries to save lives and livelihoods for billions of people around the

world: the need to create a space in which Private Sector creditors can proactively engage in effective and timely solutions; prerequisites for enhancing external finance for inclusive growth and creating jobs, including lowering the transaction costs of remittances; measures to expand fiscal space and foster domestic resource mobilisation by preventing illicit financial flows and ensuring a sustainable and inclusive recovery by aligning recovery policies with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Police disperse protesting Uitvlugt sugar workers – GAWU says workers’ rights being trampled upon

Workers protesting outside the Uitvlugt factory

A

s sugar workers attached to the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate, West Coast Demerara (WCD) continued to protest against their work hours and outstanding payments, they were forced to disperse after Police clamped down on them Thursday morning.

The workers downed their tools on Wednesday and continued their protest on Thursday as they remain staunch in their request for appropriate measures to be in place to promote social distancing while ensuring their hours-of-work remained outside the national 18:00h-06:00h curfew.

However, in a statement on Thursday, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) said that the workers were continuing their “legitimate and peaceful protest” action when they were confronted by a contingent of Police Officers who instructed them to end their activity.

The Union described this development as most disturbing. “…it seems attempts are being made to trample on the rights of the workers. While we are unsure of how the Police arrived at the scene, the workers were most upset that their peaceful activity was abruptly and forcibly terminated,” GAWU said in the missive.

According to the Union, it has observed an increased Police presence at protest activities involving sugar workers and could not ignore that

a certain trend was emerging.

“We certainly hope that security services are [not] being utilised to minimise workers’ voices as they seek to have their rights and gains respected,” it asserted.

The Police presence at the protest followed a meeting between the Union and the Uitvlugt estate management earlier Thursday morning.

At the engagement, GAWU said the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) remained adamant that the workers be organised to work two shifts though the second shift would conclude in the curfew period. Workers have been complaining of facing difficulties with the Police on their way home from work during the curfew period.

GAWU argued that its and the workers’ concerns regarding the difficulties the workers faced on their return home appeared to have been ignored or did not attract the Sugar Corporation’s concern.

“Quite rationally, it was felt that the workers’ principled concerns would have been taken into account. Moreover, bearing in mind that other sections of the workforce are already enjoying similar work arrangements, the workers affected would also be treated equitably as they merely seek to protect themselves and families from the dreaded COVID-19 virus. It sadly seems this is not to be the case,” the Union asserted.

It went on to reiterate calls for better sense to prevail and for an amicable and workable arrangement to be arrived at.

GAWU said it believed that a “sober and sincere consideration” of the workers’ views should be pursued and recognition paid to the harm they could face at this time.

“Our surmounting of this difficult period can only come through our collective actions to take protective and preventative actions to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus and it is against such a background the workers call should be respected,” the Union contended.

The workers are also protesting over the delay in their holiday-with-pay payments for those who have 10 or more years of service.

Sugar workers employed in the fields and the factories receive holiday-with-pay payments in lieu of annual leave – an arrangement that is among the benefits set out in the extant Collective Labour Agreement between the Union and GuySuCo. However, GAWU said the payment has been delayed for two weeks now. On Wednesday, the Union was informed by GuySuCo during the day that the workers would finally receive their outstanding monies on May 29, 2020 (today). “…It appeared hadn’t the workers raised their voices in protest, they may have continued to see their payments withheld. The GAWU is heartened that the workers can receive their outstanding entitlements, though it is saddened that they were forced to take protest actions to have their rights respected,” the Union stated.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US continues to lend support in High tide, flood warnings Guyana’s fight against COVID-19 issued by Hydromet Office – donates $2.4M in supplies to GPHC

The donation made by the US Embassy

M

embers of the US Embassy in Guyana have donated KN95 masks and infrared notouch thermometers valued at almost US$12,000 (G$2.4 million) to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The locally-procured items are part of the US Department of Defence’s commitment to support its partners through the Humanitarian Assistance Programme amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The US Government has already made several donations to Guyana to help in its fight against this life-threatening virus.

On May 19, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) had received a donation of several items from the Government of the United

States of America and its military.

The donation, which consisted of sanitisation, personal care and hygiene items as well as baby supplies, totalled approximately three million dollars (US$15,000).

Five days prior, the US Government – through the Department of Defence’s Humanitarian Assistance Programme, donated to the Georgetown Public Hospital personal protective equipment and supplies valued at more than US$3000.

These supplies, consisting of masks, gloves, hand sanitisers, wrist monitors, and others, were procured locally and are part of the larger US efforts to assist the local authorities in confronting the COVID-19 outbreak here.

On April 23, the US Embassy here announced

that as part of the ongoing commitment to Guyana through the US Caribbean Resiliency Partnership, the Regional Caribbean Office of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was releasing US$475,000 to help address Guyana’s priority areas of laboratory diagnostics and systems strengthening and supplies, surveillance, infection prevention and control, and emergency operation centres.

Several days later, the US announced an additional US$1.7 million ($357 million) to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean.

As Guyana continues to battle the novel coronavirus locally, several agencies and private entities have lent their support towards the cause.

A

s the rainfall season persists, the Hydrometeorological Office of Guyana has issued warnings of expected floods and above-normal high tides.

These high tides, the agency said, are expected to last from June 1 to June 8.

The highest peaks are projected to reach 3.13 metres on June 4, 3.16 metres on June 5, and 3.14 metres on June 6.

Meanwhile, the situation has been compounded by a flood warning, issued especially for flood-prone areas in coming days. The Hydromet Office predicts that rainfall accumulation will range from 15 to 60 millimetres (mm).

Persons residing in floodprone areas were directed to take precautions against possible flash floods while those residing in hilly areas are to be on the alert for possible landslides. Abovenormal rainfall has been forecasted until the month of July across all administrative regions, with the possibility of extreme events.

Meanwhile, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is urging residents in communities that are prone to flooding to take all the necessary precautions. They can contact the Commission on the round-the-clock National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) on 6231700, 600-7500, or 226-1114, or leave a message on its social media page.

Just one week ago, several families were forced to rebuild sections of their homes after the structures were damaged by a freak

storm. The eerie sounds of the rushing wind mixed with heavy rain swirled through Number 36 Village in Berbice.

Villagers described the storm as “frightening; this thing just coming and zinc sheets flying…”

This is not the first time that a storm has hit the village.

Earlier this month, the Public Health Ministry sent out warnings to the public, as the possibility of flooding rises. Health authorities have asked persons to pay special attention to health, special precautions, personal hygiene, vector control, and food and water safety.

Persons living in floodprone areas should stay out of contact with the water as much as possible, to reduce the risk of contracting an infection. Direct exposure can expose individuals to several germs.

“If you are living in flood-

prone areas and there is any flooding, stay out of the water as much as possible, as it can greatly reduce your chances of contracting diseases such as skin infections, leptospirosis, diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases … Keep children out of the water as they are most at risk of contracting diseases.

Avoid swimming in flooded canals and trenches. During the rainy season and floods, these become contaminated and can make you sick,” It is said that during the rainy season, respiratory infections, including COVID-19, can occur and may become worse. Daily intake of fruits and vegetables high in Vitamin C can help to maintain a healthy immune system and enhance the ability to fight infection.

If circumstances arise that a person must go out into the dirty waters, there are steps which should be followed to protect themselves.

Salute the “Caricom Three” for their sacrifice

By Sir Ronald Sanders

H

ere are three heroes of democracy in the 15-nation Caribbean Community (Caricom): Cynthia Barrow-Giles (St Lucia/Barbados); John Jarvis (Antigua and Barbuda) and Sylvester King (St Vincent and the Grenadines). Their names must not be forgotten.

These three persons have devoted 22 days of their lives so far to scrutineering a recount of the votes cast in the Guyana general elections of March 2. In a period of COVID-19 with exposure to the perilous coronavirus and amid a curfew, they have done little else, from daybreak to nightfall, except to scrutineer an exhausting recount of the votes with all the challenges and demands that are being made by some political party agents.

At the end of all this – whenever that comes – these three persons deserve a special award as Champions of Caricom Democracy. And the Caribbean Community should bestow it upon them. They are not doing their jobs; this exercise is not their jobs; it is an act of self-sacrifice and dedication to democracy. Sadly, it appears far from over.

Barrow-Giles is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government at The University of the West Indies; John Jarvis is a

Commissioner of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission and Sylvester King is the Deputy Supervisor of Elections of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Each of them left their homes and their families during the eruption and spread of COVID-19 to carry out this arduous task.

What was expected to be a 25-day recount process, ending on May 30, has been stretched out by obfuscation and by dilatory tactics, not by any inefficiency of the persons doing the recount, but by constraints imposed on the process. A big part of the constraints is the protocols demanded by the Guyana COVID-19 task force which is, essentially, a political body headed by the caretaker Prime Minister left-over from the former government.

The protocols, imposed by the COVID-19 task force, limit the number of counting stations and persons who can be present for a count. Whether such an obvious political body should have been charged with this responsibility is another matter that will feature in later analysis of the entire general elections.

In any event, the task force’s protocols have contributed to the delays, by not allowing more counting stations with appropriate protocols. At the end of day 21 of the recount (May 27), only 55 per cent of the 2339 ballot boxes were recounted, leaving a bal-

Sir Ronald Sanders is Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organisation of American States

ance of 1049 boxes. While local observers of the recounting process from the Private Sector have given it high marks for transparency and accuracy, including revelations of huge discrepancies between the Statements of Poll at polling stations and poll tabulation results offered by the Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, the recounting period has to be extended to accomplish the full recount.

Eighty-seven days after it was

held on March 2, Guyana’s election result remains shrouded in uncertainty and incredulity. The Guyanese people deserve every commendation for their patience and tolerance and for not being lured into strife that would further harm them and the country.

The Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) had proposed an extension of the recount period to June 16.

A meeting of the Commission was held on May 28 to decide on a date, but at the time of writing, no announcement had been made.

If the recount is extended to June 16, the three overburdened Caricom scrutineers, who are already in highly-pressured circumstances away from their homes and families, will be in Guyana for 37 days altogether.

All of this has damaged Guyana’s standing in the global community. The public remarks of the diplomatic community accredited in Guyana, the statements made by the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organisation of American States (OAS), the European Union (EU) and high representatives of the United States and Canada, have all urged GECOM in particular to conduct a transparent recount that leads to a credible result that is acceptable to the Guyana society and the international community. In that way,

Guyana, as a nation, can claim a legitimate place in the world and in international institutions that will have to make determinations that could hurt or harm the country.

Therefore, it should be clear that the “Caricom Three”, scrutineering the elections with only the support of the resident representative of the OAS, is striving not only to uphold Caricom’s commitment to democracy but Guyana’s as well.

Repeatedly, the Governments of Caricom countries, with Guyana included, have expressed, through various public instruments, “their commitment to democracy and popular participation”, and they have “pledged to work together to maintain and strengthen the institutions and processes essential to democratic government”, including “respect for the will of the people, as expressed through free and fair elections on a regular basis”.

The “Caricom Three” are striving to ensure that those commitments mean what they say to the people of Caricom and the world. Neither they nor Caricom Governments could ignore their obligations to the reputation and values of Caricom, Guyana included.

The contribution of the “Caricom Three” must be acknowledged and appropriately honoured.

14 NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Phased reopening of airports being considered – GCAA Head

– Private Sector welcomes move, laments impact on local sectors

Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri

T

he National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) is considering a phased reopening of Guyana’s airports which have, since March 18, been closed to incoming commercial flights as part of efforts to curb the importation and local spread of the novel coronavirus.

This was revealed by Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lt. Col. (retd) Egbert Field, who told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that a draft four-stage blueprint for the reopening of the two international airports - the Cheddi Jagan International (CJIA) and the Eugene F. Correia - has been submitted to the National Task Force for review.

Field explained that Phase 1, the planning stage, will see the continued closure of the airports to international travel, with only repatriation, cargo, and other special flights approved by the GCAA being allowed.

This initial phase also entails establishing standard operating procedures

(SOPs) on health, safety, and security; which would be drafted through multi-stakeholder meetings and are expected to cover areas such as sanitisation, social distancing, and use of masks among other things.

However, Phase 2, the implementation stage, would see the resumption of regional travel along with regular reviews of the SOPs and further consultations with stakeholders.

The third phase entails expanding the reopening of the airports to foreign nationals, and this phase would run from August to December.

The final Phase would see an extension of the airports’ reopening into 2021, with a possible resumption to normalcy in the aviation sector.

According to the GCAA head, full reopening of the airports would be dependent on the evolving pandemic in regions of the world where flights to Guyana may originate. Nevertheless, this phased reopening of the airports has been welcomed by the Private Sector.

During a virtual briefing on Thursday, stakeholders lamented the impact of COVID-19 and the resultant closure the country’s borders have had on local industries, especially those in the tourism sector.

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Captain Gerry Gouveia, stated that the entire tourism industry has been “completely flattened”. He added that because of the airports’ closures, coupled with the social distancing guidelines imposed by authorities, all the restaurants, hotels and resorts have been closed.

“So, right across the [tourism] sector, it went from 100 miles per hour to zero almost immediately; and so there is a wider spread of job loss in the tourism industry in Guyana. All our tourist attractions – Kaieteur Falls, Orinduik Falls, Iwokrama – have all come to a grinding halt. Certainly, I believe it will take some time to be restarted. The first thing we have to do is flatten the curve, and then we have to ensure that people follow all

the protocols,” he said.

Chief among these protocols, Gouveia noted, are those that would be implemented as the country reopens its airspace to incoming commercial flights. In fact, with plans afoot for the phased reopening of the airports, the PSC Chairman, who is also the local representative for a number of international airlines, disclosed that American Airlines and Eastern Airlines, which started operations in Guyana only back in March, are both ready to recommence flights.

“I think we are all awaiting this time to finish the protocols. Every Friday, we’re having a meeting and discussing the protocols of opening up the airspace and the airport, and all the things that need to be done; things like having people tested before they get on the plane,” Gouveia explained.

Hotelier Robert Badal,

Director General of GCAA, Lieutenant Colonel Egbert Field

people, and despite the fact that we haven’t been getting business, we continue to pay staff. But imagine paying 200 staff in March, April and now May. There is a limit to which we can continue going forward like this into June and July,” he stressed.

Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle

who own the Pegasus Hotel, also spoke of the impact the lack of tourists has had on his business. He said there has been no business in the past few months, and the hotel has had to foot a salary bill for some 200 staff.

“We definitely need that the flights be reopened as early as possible, so that we can turn the engine of tourism again… At Pegasus here, we have just over 200

The domestic aviation sector has also been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with guidelines implemented to curb its spread.

Spokesperson of the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Kit Nascimento, disclosed during the briefing on Thursday that the airport has lost some 80 per cent of its reve-

PSC Chairman, Captain Gerry Gouveia

nues from both international and domestic flights.

“It’s barely keeping its head above the water. You have to maintain the staff in order for the domestic airlines to function,” he contended.

According to Nascimento, the domestic airlines, for instance Trans Guyana Airways which has recommenced flying its beechcraft into the Rupununi in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), are now operating at a loss, since they can carry only 50 per cent of the aircraft’s capacity.

“You’re virtually flying at a huge loss of money, even if you increase your airfares. So, it’s highly probable that we will not be able to maintain our flights to the Rupununi. A lot of passengers on those flights were Brazilians, and we cannot fly foreign passengers at all; and it will probably be undesirable to fly Brazilians anyway, given the implications of COVID in Brazil,” he stated.

Nevertheless, the airport spokesperson noted that the domestic airlines are taking extensive precautions, including sanitising of the aircraft and checking the temperatures of passengers before and after each flight.

Suriname leader seeks recount after poll defeat

S

uriname's ruling party is calling for a recount of votes in Monday's general election, the party leader and President Desi Bouterse said Thursday, after preliminary results showed the Opposition winning.

Defeat would likely end a decade in power for Bouterse, a former military strongman who was convicted months earlier of ordering the murder of political opponents in 1982.

Early results showed the main Opposition Progressive Reform Party (VHP) poised for a historic win.

But the count process in the oil and gold-exporting South American country quickly descended into chaos, with both Government and Opposition parties claiming irregularities.

"There will be a protest.

We are going to request a recount and ask that all the

Surinamese President Desire "Desi" Delano Bouterse

people can see who won and lost where," Bouterse said in his first public comments after the election.

The controversial 74-year-old proposed the recount be broadcast on tele-

vision to allow for full transparency.

National Democratic Party (NDP) spokesman Melvin Bouva said it would request a recount in two or three of the 10 electoral dis-

tricts.

Four Opposition parties held a press conference earlier Thursday to raise concerns about irregularities.

However, VHP leader Chan Santokhi called on

the Government to accept its electoral defeat, which opinion polls had predicted.

"Government, accept your loss and give us space to move to a transition situation. Let the authorities do their work," he said.

Santokhi, meanwhile, began talks with two other Opposition parties on forming a coalition.

Santokhi's party was set to win 20 seats in the 51-member Parliament which elects the President.

Meanwhile, the NDP's vote collapsed, likely to keep 16 of its previous 26 seats, ending Bouterse's majority.

Opposition parties have ruled out forming a coalition with Bouterse.

In a preliminary report on Wednesday, observers from the Organisation of American States noted "scenes of disorder, along with elevated levels of tension" at the main polling station in the capital

Paramaribo.

It also described as "worrisome" what it called "an interaction" between the President and the electoral authority on Election Day. Bouterse was first elected President in the former Dutch colony in 2010 after initially seizing power in 1980 and ruling for seven years. He seized power briefly a second time in a bloodless coup in 1990.

In November, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a military court for ordering executions during his first period in power, in 1982.

He was convicted of having 15 political opponents -- including lawyers, Journalists and businessmen -- rounded up and executed.

The incident, known as the "December killings," was investigated by Santokhi in his previous roles as Justice Minister and Police Chief.

(France24)

ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT

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Comparison of Thursday’s SoRs with PPP’s SoPs DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF RECOUNT

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

16 ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Comparison of Thursday’s SoRs with PPP’s SoPs DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF RECOUNT

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT

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FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Comparison of Thursday’s SoRs with PPP’s SoPs DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF RECOUNT

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

STATEMENTS OF RECOUNT

18 ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

STATEMENTS OF RECOUNT

ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT

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STATEMENTS OF RECOUNT

20 ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

STATEMENTS OF RECOUNT

ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT

STATEMENTS OF RECOUNT

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020

C

r i c k e t Australia (CA) has announced a full international schedule for the 2020-21 summer, underlining the organisation's growing confidence that the season would be able to proceed amidst loosening COVID-19 restrictions.

The full schedule includes international cricket in every month from August to February, with CA Chief Executive Kevin Roberts adding it is subject to change amidst the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic.

"While acknowledging the difficulty in navigating a global pandemic, we are nonetheless encouraged by the progress Australia is making in combating the coronavirus and the positive impact that is having on our ability to host an exciting summer of cricket in 2020-21," Roberts said in a statement.

"We know that circumstances or events beyond our control could mean that the final schedule potentially may look different to the one released today, but we'll be doing everything we can to get as much international cricket in as possible this summer.

"We will communicate any changes to the schedule if or when they are required."

The men's schedule announced today confirms details of Tests against India and Afghanistan; reveals ODIs against India, New Zealand and Zimbabwe; and T20 Internationals against India, New Zealand and the West Indies.

Australia's World Cup-winning women's side are scheduled to play T20s against New Zealand, and ODIs against both India and the White Ferns; as they look ahead to the One-Day World Cup across the Tasman early next year.

"We are working closely with the BCCI to deliver the eagerly anticipated men's and women's tours, and we are looking forward to staging the important series against both the men's and women's New Zealand sides," Roberts has said. "These are in addition to the scheduled men's Test against Afghanistan and a T20 series against West Indies."

The International Cricket Council was set to meet last night to discuss the fate of the men's T20 World Cup that is scheduled for October and November, while the crown jewel of Australia's summer is undoubtedly the four-Test series against Virat Kohli's Indian side, which Roberts last week rated "a nine out of 10" chance of going ahead.

Australia are scheduled to begin their bid to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at their Gabba fortress, with the Brisbane ground edging out Western Australia for the coveted fixture.

The Aussies are also scheduled to play Afghanistan in a one-off day-night Test at the Perth Stadium ahead of the Indian series, but the WACA has reacted with anger at missing out on hosting India.

Australia's recent record at the Gabba, which hosts the series-opening Test from December 3, is the longest active unbeaten streak in Test cricket, one that has now reached an impressive 31 matches dating back to 1988, when Australia lost to the great West Indies side of that time.

Captains Allan Border, Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Steve Smith and Tim Paine have all since maintained the undefeated run, and the home side has claimed an incredible 24 wins and seven draws in that time.

A first-ever day-night Border-Gavaskar Test looms for the Adelaide Oval in the series' second Test, in what would no doubt be a must-watch event in prime-time from December 11. The traditional Boxing Day and New Year's Tests are scheduled to fol-

low.

Australia's inaugural Test against Afghanistan is scheduled to be played under lights at the Perth Stadium from November 21, ahead of the Border-Gavaskar series.

WACA Chief Executive Christina Matthews on Thursday said contractual obligations mean the Test would be played at the 60,000-seat venue – which is also sched-

part of the ICC's Future Tours Programme for this year have also been scheduled for well before the summer heats up.

After a 12-year absence of international cricket in the Top End, a whirlwind three-match ODI series between Australia

past 140-plus years." (CRICKET.com.au)

FULL MEN'S & WOMEN'S 2020-21 INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULE (Subject to change)

Gillette Men's ODI Series v Zimbabwe First ODI: August 9, TBC Second ODI: August 12, TBC Third ODI: August 15, Riverway Stadium, Townsville CommBank Women's T20 Series v New Zealand First T20: September 27, North Sydney Oval Second T20: September 29, North Sydney Oval Third T20: October 1, North Sydney Oval Gillette Men's T20 INTL Series v West Indies First T20: October 4, Riverway Stadium, Townsville Second T20: October 6, Cazaly's Stadium, Cairns Third T20: October 9, Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast CommBank Women's ODI Series v New Zealand First ODI: October 5, Riverway Stadium, Townsville Second ODI: October 7, Cazaly's Stadium, Cairns Third ODI: October 10, Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast

CA CEO Kevin Roberts is confident a strong summer of cricket is ahead (Getty images)

uled to host several T20 World Cup matches if that tournament proceeds – rather than at the WACA Ground, which is left without any scheduled international cricket in the 2020-21 season.

Following the end of the Indian Test campaign in Sydney, there is a four-day break before the two sides meet in the first match of a three-game ODI series at the Perth Stadium. The series continues with matches at the MCG (January 15) and the SCG (January 17).

The all-conquering Aussie women are set to play their first matches since their T20 World Cup win with three T20s against New Zealand at North Sydney Oval, to be played on September 27 and 29 and October 1.

They will then play three ODIs against the White Ferns on October 5, 7 and 10 in Townsville, Cairns, and the Gold Coast respectively, in what would be important clashes ahead of the One-Day World Cup. The ODI squad are also scheduled to take their World Cup preparations up a notch with an important series against India, with games on January 22 at Manuka Oval in Canberra; January 25 at Melbourne's Junction Oval, and January 28 at Hobart's Blundstone Arena.

Meg Lanning's team are scheduled to begin their 50-Over World Cup campaign on February 7 in Auckland.

The Aussie men are also scheduled to resume the Chappell-Hadlee One-Day showdown with New Zealand on Australia Day in Adelaide, with two more ODIs to follow in Canberra and Hobart.

Australia played just one of three matches – in retro kits – against New Zealand in March, before the COVID-19 pandemic took full effect.

The home men's international summer is then scheduled to end with a one-off T20 against New Zealand on February 2 in Sydney.

Men's international matches that are

and Zimbabwe has been scheduled between August 9 and 15. The venue for the first two matches remains to be confirmed.

Darwin has been floated, given the time of year, while the third has been scheduled for Townsville.

Due to begin in just 73 days, the series may be at risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic, putting a cloud over what would be the first tour to Australia by the Zimbabweans since the 2003-04 summer.

CA's statement said: "Final details will be confirmed in the coming weeks after consultation with relevant stakeholders."

The series would also mark the first ever visit by a senior Australian men's team to Townsville's Riverway Stadium.

A total of six T20s have also been scheduled for October, ahead of the men's T20 World Cup, which is meant to start on October 18.

While the fate of the World Cup remains in the balance, CA have scheduled matches against the Windies in Townsville, Cairns, and the Gold Coast on October 4, 6 and 9 respectively; as well as games against India at the Gabba, Manuka Oval, and the Adelaide Oval on October 11, 14 and 17.

Roberts has said it was not yet clear if crowds would be able to attend matches during the summer, or if games would be played in front of empty stadiums, as was Australia's ODI against New Zealand at the SCG in March.

"We will continue to assess whether it is possible for them to attend matches in person; however, if it is not deemed possible, we already have a solid blueprint in place," he said. "We will not rush any decisions; however, it's crucial for us all to have a blueprint to work from to deliver cricket safely.

"Australian cricket will survive and thrive after the coronavirus pandemic dissipates, just as we have after World Wars, depressions, recessions, and the many other challenges that have confronted us over the

Gillette Men's T20 INTL Series v India First T20: October 11, the Gabba, Brisbane Second T20: October 14, Manuka Oval, Canberra Third T20: October 17, Adelaide Oval Men's T20 World Cup The men's T20 World Cup is scheduled from October 18 to November 15.

Men's Test v Afghanistan Only Test: November 21-25, Stadium (day-night)

Perth

Men's Test Series v India First Test: December 3-7, the Gabba, Brisbane Second Test: December 11-15, Adelaide Oval (day-night) Third Test: December 26-30, MCG Fourth Test: January 3-7, 2021 SCG Gillette Men's ODI Series v India First ODI: January 12, 2021 Perth Stadium Second ODI: January 15, 2021 MCG Third ODI: January 17, 2021 SCG CommBank Women's ODI Series v India First ODI: January 22, 2021 Manuka Oval, Canberra Second ODI: January 25, 2021 Junction Oval, Melbourne Third ODI: January 28, 2021 Blundstone Arena, Hobart Gillette Men's ODI Series v New Zealand First ODI: January 26, Adelaide Oval Second ODI: January 29, 2021 Manuka Oval, Canberra Third ODI: January 31, 2021 Blundstone Arena, Hobart Gillette Men's T20 v New Zealand Only T20: February 2, 2021 SCG

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he Albion Community Centre Cricket Club (ACCCC) last Tuesday distributed food hampers to its needy members and senior citizens of that Corentyne community.

This distribution activity, which occurred at the ACCCC's Main Hall, is part of the Club's continued efforts to assist those in

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need as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Funding for this most magnanimous activity was made possible by contributions from the Club's national and international cricketers; executive members; sponsor of the Under-15 Team, Permaul's Trading and Distribution; and sponsor of the Club's First Division Team, Ajit Mootoo.

ACCCC President Vemen Walter has said the club is aware of its members’ situation, and that was taken into consideration when the persons who were recipients of these hampers were selected. Some cricketers whose families are experiencing difficulties with their jobs, among other situations, were considered.

The ACCCC also distributed face masks to its members during last month.

Among the best cricket clubs in Guyana, the ACCCC is also urging everyone

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An ACCCC member who has benefited from receipt of a food hamper

Veerasammy Permaul, making a presentation

he U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has announced that six members of the Tigers’ Track & Field programme have earned All-American honours following their qualification for the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships this past March.

Among those six individuals is Guyanese middle-distance sensation Andrea Foster. The other recipients are Devon Brooks, LaFranz Campbell, Marcus Parker, Laurie Barton, and Rebekah Smith, all US-based athletes.

This is the first NCAA Division I Indoor AllAmerican honours for Foster, who is currently a student athlete at the Clemson University in South Carolina, USA. Foster and Barton have made Clemson the only school with multiple athletes in the women’s 800-metre event for this year’s Indoor National Championships. The two were set to enter the meet following their 1-2 sweep of the event at the ACC Indoor Championships, with Barton winning the event in a season’s best time of 2:04.04 and Foster earning a new personal best with her result of 2:04.98.

These results have made Barton the fourth-best performer in program history, while Foster is now tied for sixth-best on the programme’s all-time list. Barton and Foster also rank fourth and fifth respectively on the all-time list for the women’s 1,000-metre event, following their performances earlier in the season.

This is the second time in programme history that two women have earned AllAmerican honours in an event in the same season. The first occurrence was in 2018, when Kamryn McIntosh and Fellan Ferguson combined for second-team All-American honours.

Rebekah Smith earned All-American honours in the women’s 60-metre event after running the fourteenth-best time in the country with her mark of 7.23 secs, which she ran at the LSU Twilight, as well as during

to take the necessary precautions to avoid contracting coronavirus (COVID-19), and pray that the Almighty would soon end this unwanted situation in our country and in other affected countries.

The ACCCC has said that the situation in regard to the coronavirus would continue to be monitored very closely, and assistance would be provided to ACCCC members and, by extension, the community at large, as the need arises.

Having already implemented measures to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, the club, a few weeks ago, temporarily suspended all cricketing activities until further notice. A release from the Club in this regard also stated that with the negative impact that the coronavirus would likely have on businesses -- and moreso sponsorship in regard to Berbice cricket -- all possibilities would be explored to further assist the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) with sponsorship.

the preliminary round of the event at the ACC Indoor Championships. Smith’s mark served as a personal best and made her the No. 3 performer in programme history for the event. Following Smith’s performance at the LSU Twilight on Feb. 21, she was named the

Guyana’s middle-distance Andrea Foster

sensation

ACC Women’s Track Performer of the Week.

This is the first time in Clemson’s history that All-American honours have been earned in the women’s 800- metre and 60-metre events in the same season.

In accordance with the decision made by the USTFCCCA Board of Directors, all athletes declared as a part of the post-medical scratches start list have earned All-American honours for the Indoor Season. There is no distinction of first-team, secondteam or honorable mention with this year’s recognitions.

A total of 671 honours were handed out to 119 different institutions on Tuesday.

P

rime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, the honourable Dr Ralph Gonsalves, has given his blessing to the proposed West Indies tour to England in July, once Cricket West Indies can establish that the players representing the region would be safe.

Dr Gonsalves made this disclosure on the programme ‘Mason and Guest’ on the Voice of Barbados station on Tuesday night.

Following discussions that began at the start of the month between CWI and the England and Wales Cricket Board, it now seems likely that the tour would go ahead. CWI CEO Johnny Grave alluded as much when he spoke with Sportsmax.TV recently.

“The ECB (are) confident that they can deliver a safe plan for bio-secure, behind-closed -doors cricket that will meet the UK Government’s guidelines and will therefore likely secure their board's approval,” Grave said.

The CWI Board was expected to arrive at a decision in this regard yesterday.

Meanwhile, Dr Gonsalves has said that if CWI decides to greenlight the tour, the CWI would have his full support.

“Once the CWI is properly ad-

Dr Ralph Gonsalves

vised by the relevant epidemiologists and other persons dealing with the science in England and the Caribbean, laying out the facts of the circumstances and the protocols to be applied; and once they are satisfied -- and upon a proper interrogation of those protocols -- we can send the young men representing the senior West Indies team, that they can go off in cricket battle, I have absolutely no problem with it at all,” Dr Gonsalves said.

Should the tour go ahead, the West Indies would play three Tests against England in defence of the Wisden Trophy.

(Sportsmax)

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An ACCCC member who has benefited from receipt of a food hamper

Guyana’s middle-distance sensation Andrea Foster

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