Guyana Times - Monday, May 4, 2020

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UNICEF enables local engagement through digital platform Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4275

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020

PRICE

GECOM, APNU/AFC destruction of democracy: Day 63

US to Guyana Govt: Let Carter

Center, IRI Global in for recount T he United States has called on the Guyana Government to approve the entry of the Carter Center and the International Republican Institute Global (IRI Global) in order to ensure a transparent electoral recount.

This was according to Acting Assistant Secretary for the US Department of State's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Michael G Kozak, who also noted on Sunday evening that a credible recount required robust international participation.

National recount set to commence on Wednesday

Page 3

– GECOM to live stream tabulated results, will open unused ballots – Chair wants ballot boxes shown to viewers before they are opened

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE: Camp Stephenson explosion

Dead soldiers were allegedly destroying defective P2 fireworks

Businessman demands Harris, Chronicle P8 retract allegations or face $200M lawsuit

Govt OK’s US planes landing but nixes Carter Center Observers Pages 9 & 7

– revoke visas of those denying Carter Center entry – former AG

Former Home Affairs Minister laid to rest

Page 12 Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo; People’s Progressive Party/Civic Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali; former President Donald Ramotar and other executive members of the Party carrying the casket of former Home Affairs Minister Feroze Mohamed on Sunday

Canadian top official calls for President to ensure return of observers Page 7

Zero COVID-19 tests done in 2 P10 days Mother of 3 dies in P12 2-vehicle collision at Vergenoegen

P8 Lethem quarantine facility burglarised; several items stolen

2 NEWS

MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Camp Stephenson explosion

Gun, ammo and ganja Dead soldiers were allegedly found during Police destroying defective fireworks raid in Berbice River

T

he three ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) who were killed during an explosion at Camp Stephenson on Thursday last were in the process of destroying pyrotechnics (fireworks), but reportedly used the wrong technique.

This was confirmed by multiple sources at Camp Stephenson, Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Guyana Times understands that several soldiers were tasked with destroying the explosives two to three days prior to the explosion. They were reportedly instructed to soak the defective fireworks in a drum of water after which they were to use a hammer to crack them open.

After that was done, the sulphur was to be removed and placed in a secured container. However, on the morning of the explosion, a group of soldiers had collected the necessary weapons needed from the armoury to perform a gun-salute exercise for a fallen colleague.

Moments after leaving the armoury, the explosion occurred. “When we left the gun-room, some ranks were

Dead: Private Shaqueel DeHarte

Dead: Lance Corporal Toohey Peneux

still trying to crack open the defective fireworks,” one source told this publication.

The defective fireworks were those that were recovered from the explosion at the Coast Guard base at Ruimveldt, Georgetown in February that had left one soldier dead and several injured.

The pyrotechnics were sent to Timehri following an investigation into that explosion. It is believed that one of the fireworks was not properly soaked in water and as one of the ranks hammered away, it ignited hence the explosion.

The ranks who died

as a result of the explosion were Lance Corporal Kevon Nicholson, 23, of Levi Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam; Lance Corporal Tooney Peneux, 28, of Orealla Village, Corentyne River and Private Shaqueel DeHarte, 20, of Paradise Village, West Coast Berbice.

Two others – Sergeant Quincy Threlfall, 43, and Lance Corporal Paul Peters, 29, were injured during the incident.

Sergeant Threlfall was admitted a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital while Lance Corporal Peters was treated at Base

Dead: Lance Corporal Kevon Nicholson

Camp Stephenson.

This was the second fatal explosion in the GDF for the year. In February, members of the GDF’s Artillery Unit were offloading pyrotechnics from a truck to a pontoon at the GDF Coast Guard base at Ruimveldt when they exploded.

In light of this second incident, President David Granger has ordered a Board of Inquiry (BoI) into the circumstances surrounding the incident at Camp Stephenson.

Attempts to get a comment from the GDF on the findings of its preliminary investigation proved futile.

The unlicensed shotgun, live cartridges and marijuana found at Maria Henrietta Village, Upper Berbice River

A

n illegal shotgun, along with 20 live cartridges and a large quantity of ganja, was found during an eradication exercise by ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) at an unfinished building located at Maria Henrietta, in the Upper Berbice River, on Saturday.

According to Police, upon their arrival at the area, a male was seen fleeing the building and as such, the area was combed, but the ranks were unable to locate the suspect. Stringent efforts are currently being

made to apprehended him.

Meanwhile, upon entering the building, the ranks discovered the illegal gun, ammunition, and the cannabis At the Ebini village, also located in the Upper Berbice River, more than 25,000 of cannabis plants (four acres) ranging from two to six feet in height were found and destroyed.

In addition, a makeshift camp with 5000 dried ganja plants was also discovered and also destroyed. No one was arrested during either of the raids.

NEWS

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MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, May 4 – 02:30h – 04:00h and 14:30h – 16:00h and Tuesday, May 5 – 03:30h – 05:00h and 14:30h – 16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, May 4 – 13:50h – 15:20h and Tuesday, May 5 – 14:45h – 16:15h.

National recount set to commence on Wednesday – GECOM to live stream tabulated results, will open unused ballots – Chair wants ballot boxes shown to viewers before they are opened

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers and thundery showers will prevail during the day. There will be light cloud at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 14:28h reaching a maximum height of 2.60 metres.

Low Tide: 08:00h and 20:23h reaching minimum heights of 0.65 metre and 0.57 metre.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

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GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj

T

he Guyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) has confirmed that the recount will start on Wednesday and that an order to this effect will be gazetted today, with Chairperson Retired Justice Claudette Singh making concessions to have certain aspects of the count live-streamed.

This was communicated after a lengthy and at times tempestuous meeting at GECOM headquarters that included shouting Commissioners, on Sunday.

The Commission had been deeply divided over the question of live streaming the recount, which many argue will restore confidence and credibility in GECOM. In his interview with the media, GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj explained that a concrete decision was taken to have the recount start on Wednesday. When it comes to the live streaming of the exercise, he noted that this is still being worked out and the methodology to be used will be finalised tomorrow.

In fact, Gunraj said it was the Chairperson who reintroduced the issue at the meeting following a meeting with political parties on Saturday at the recount venue where the parties petitioned for the live streaming of the process.

“At this point, there is divergence on the aspects of [live streaming]. What will be live-streamed and what will not be live-streamed.

From the onset, I said the entire process should be live-streamed, bar none.

However, the Chairman had a reservation about the identity of the persons conducting the process being

GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

broadcast.”

“I understand her point.

I can’t say I agree fully with it. However, if it is a compromise, she’s willing to make, life is a two-way street. Sometimes you get what you want. But any person who is opposed to this broadcast may have things to hide,” Gunraj said.

According to Gunraj, the disagreement on live streaming also saw input from Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield. Gunraj explained that Lowenfield, who missed a critical stakeholder meeting at the recount venue on Saturday, expressed concerns about

GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander

“We heard about 33,000 masks being needed. Within minutes of this being publicised, I saw dozens of people posting on Facebook that there are masks available by the thousands. Same with live streaming. As long as there is a will to get it done, it will be done. It cannot be that insurmountable a task to get done.”

M e a n w h i l e , Government-nominated Commissioner, Vincent Alexander disclosed that the GECOM Chairperson expressed a desire to have photographs taken when the containers containing the ballot boxes are opened

Arthur Chung Conference Centre

the live stream proposal.

Gunraj maintained that a live stream would benefit the process.

“I maintain that live streaming will inject the necessary credibility in the process. We have nothing to hide. As a Commissioner, I have nothing to hide. You described our meeting as being vociferous. Part of that vociferousness is me being adamant that GECOM has nothing to hide in this process.”

so that the public can see that they were not tampered with, adding that she is also open to an audio

broadcast of the recount.

“At the point of tabulation, there will be streaming, broadcasting of the tabulated results. She also said that she would wish to see the ballot boxes when they’re out of the container, a picture is taken so that it is clear to the viewer that nobody tampered with the seals.”

“In addition to that, she said she wishes to have an audio broadcast as the count proceeds and that is what she unequivocally said,” Alexander further explained. However, he noted that it is unlikely that these measures will affect the timeline of 25 days they are working with.

When it comes to the concerns raised by the Opposition, including calls for the unused ballots set aside in envelopes not to be opened, Gunraj said that the Chairwoman has not budged on this issue.

GECOM will thus relook at these ballots, something the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has argued is illegal.

On the issue of observers, Gunraj explained that since the election process has not ended, observers are still engaged. He explained that observers will soon be engaged, as well as political parties, on what will be expected of them.

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, MAY 4, 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

I

Let the observers in

n another sign of the coalition’s desperation to hold on to power via its rigging of the March 2 General Elections, the Carter Center is being denied permission to enter Guyana to observe the recount. Ever since Mingo was caught red-handed in his fiddling with the Reg 4 Statements of Poll (SoPs), it has been the presence of foreign observers who have played a critical role in highlighting the perfidy to the international community and censure on the caretaker Government of David Granger, who seeks to benefit by returning to office through fraud.

In the absence of these observers, the rigging would have been akin to the tree that fell in the middle of the forest, but with no one there to hear or see it fall, one could ask, did it really fall? It is a sad indictment on the underdevelopment of our political culture and institutions that we have not really moved forward since 1968, when Forbes Burnham and the PNC rigged the elections by manipulating the electoral list, the overseas votes, and the postal votes.

While the 1964 elections had been observed by a team from the Commonwealth – giving Guyana the dubious distinction of being the first to have its elections observed – sadly, this was not followed up in 1968. This was for the simple reason that the PNC did not give approval to any observer mission, which was a clear indication of its intentions, which were revealed in subsequent declassified US and British files. The electoral fraud, however, was the subject of two documentaries produced by Granada Television, “The Trail of the Vanishing Voters” and “The Making of a Prime Minister” which brought infamy on Burnham and his government.

Again, in 1973, there were no observers invited in and the PNC seized the opportunity to rig the elections by the simple but brutal expedience of having the army seize the ballot boxes, bring them to their headquarters and stuff them with pre-marked ballots. Dubbed as “fairy tale elections”, this was for the surreal insistence to go through the motions of democracy to give itself a twothirds majority rather than killing two civilians who sought to “protect” the ballots of the people.

Henceforth, being forewarned on the depths to which the PNC would sink to remain in power, the opposition parties led by the PPP insisted that foreign observers be invited in to witness the next elections, which were postponed to 1980, because the PNC wanted to promulgate a new constitution using its two-thirds majority to create an “Executive Presidency” for Burnham. To keep its hand in, it massively rigged the 1978 referendum.

Responding to a PNC boast that anyone was free to come to Guyana to observe the elections, the British Parliamentary Group was part of an International Team of Observers that included Lords Avebury and Chitnis, and other members from several countries. Lord Avebury later pronounced the 1980 elections “more crooked than barbed wire”. After Burnham passed away before the 1985 elections, Hoyte refused to have any observers for elections later in the year. The British Parliamentary Group had to “observe” from Trinidad where they were stuck after entry permission was refused, and they condemned the blatant rigging that exceeded even Burnham’s best.

With the change in the geopolitical situation after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the PNC once again gained another two years before elections were held in 1992 and this marked the entry of the Carter Center as observers.

Elements in the PNC – led by Hamilton Green and David Granger and other acolytes of Burnham, have never forgiven the Carter Center for the crucial role it played in returning democracy to Guyana.

In the subsequent elections of 1997, 2001, and 2006, there were a host of other observer teams joining the Carter Center since the PNC kept complaining of “electoral fraud” up to 2006. They did not complain to the Observer Groups in 2011 and 2015 since they came out on top.

Their complaint now speaks for itself. The observers must be allowed in.

A double rainbow is seen over the Thames Barrier on the River Thames in London, Britain (Reuters/Steven Watt)

A ban on cell phone use at a recount is a gag on free speech during the electoral process Dear Editor, In a landmark decision (see Riley v California) by the United States Supreme Court, written by its Chief Justice, Hon John Roberts, the court in 2014 unanimously held that the police must get a warrant in order to search someone’s cell phone.

After all, the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution requires that the “rights of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures,” not be violated.

However, the decision is celebrated for what the court said about the cell phone in relation to people’s physical bodies today, their daily life, and their privacy rights.

Justice Roberts noted that in today’s world, the cell phone is “now such a pervasive and insistent part of daily life that the proverbial visitor from Mars might con-

clude they were an important feature of the human anatomy.”

The cell phone is no stranger in Guyanese life. It is an integral part of our life and a primary tool for communication and free speech.

There can be no “transparent” elections if a recount involves a ban on cellphones. A ban on a cell phone is a gag on free speech during the electoral process.

A free and fair election is, after all, about free speech.

One cannot promote free speech when ballots are cast, but then suppress free speech when those very ballots are being counted or recounted.

Free speech must be consistent during the entire electoral process, or that process is compromised.

All persons, therefore, should be allowed to have their cell phones during any recount. Having a cell phone implies having a right to use it to enjoy free speech.

Further, in light of the health crisis and a concern for safety, all persons must be able to contact emergency services, their doctors, and their family members in case of any emergency, by having immediate access to their cell phone Indeed, the safety of all participants in an electoral process including the electorate must be secured. As such, live streaming is likely to bolster everyone’s safety by deterring those with a motive to create confusion that will result in further public injury.

The world already saw public injury, namely one death, street demonstrations, and school children being injured or traumatised. But for the deliberate mischief of certain GECOM individuals, no death would have occurred, no school children hurt or traumatised, no Police Officer injured, and no demonstration by the electorate.

In fact, while persons in-

cluding a Police Officer can argue that their safety was jeopardised as a result of this “deliberate mischief,” the public is yet to see GECOM employees or officials seeking medical treatment because their safety was compromised by technology.

Finally, those who are responsible for engendering unsafe conditions within and outside of GECOM by use of proxies, have unclean hands and lack both standing and credibility to now speak of safety within the electoral process.

The public and its courts would be on good ground to place an adverse inference against politicians who object to live streaming or cell phone use during a recount.

By “adverse inference,” one means that they have something to hide.

Sincerely, Rakesh Rampertab

GAWU mourns the passing of Cde Feroze Mohamed

Dear Editor, The GAWU was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Cde Sheik Feroze Mohamed on May 1, 2020, after a period of illness. Cde Feroze was a close friend of our Union’s President, Cde Komal Chand, who also passed on a few weeks ago.

The two of them worked closely alongside the Father of the Nation, Dr Cheddi Jagan and were among the many comrades of that era who made sterling contributions to the political, economic and workers’ struggles of the 1970s and 80s and beyond.

Feroze served his party – the PPP/C – faithfully and dedicatedly over the years and touched the lives of probably thousands of Guyanese.

He also shared fraternal links

with the GAWU and over our years of association, he stood with the workers and the Union. He never wavered in lending his support and assistance to the Union in its varied and several activities and struggles.

He had a deep passion for education and helped to mould many comrades of the GAWU. In more recent times, he shared with us many articles on various matters of concern to the working people. He also lent his ideas to our educational classes for Union members.

He was a staunch ideologue who used Marxist analysis to consider our contemporary situation. He had a keen interest in international affairs and very much followed developments in the arena. Feroze, we know,

would spend hours digesting and analysing viewpoints and articles as he considered the present-day context of the world. In more recent years, he became even closer to the Union. He was known by several of our staffers and his affableness and humbleness endeared them to him. He shared good relations with very many of them and they themselves were also saddened when they learnt that he passed on.

Feroze made innumerable and indelible contributions to the country in several areas of national life. Undoubtedly, our nation is poorer with his passing but stronger for his work and contributions. We all owe an immense debt of gratitude to Cde Feroze Mohamed and the other stalwarts of his era. They collec-

tively rescued the nation from the clutches of dictatorship and ruin. Indeed, as we face new challenges to our democracy, we are certain that the work of Cde Feroze will serve as a guide in these troubling times. He has bequeathed to us all an admirable legacy worthy of emulation.

The working class has lost a staunch ally, his party a most outstanding comrade and leader and the country a committed and selfless leader. We of the GAWU extend our sincerest condolences to his wife, Kamla, and son, Avinash, and his other relatives and friends. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Sincerely, Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020

5

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

Planned GPL maintenance activities Do not participate crucial to prevent service disruptions in this recount Dear Editor, In response to a Guyana Times Article dated May 2, 2020; titled, “GPL announces power outages for next week”, the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) wishes to emphatically contextualise the article’s headline and its content, while also providing clarity for the author of the article, your readers and our valued customers.

From the inception of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, GPL employed several measures to soften the effects of COVID-19 on our valued customers which included, but was not limited to the delay of planned network maintenance.

Planned maintenance activities on the network are crucial to prevent service disruptions and to allow for a continuous and reliable sup-

ply of electricity to all served areas. It should be noted that GPL remains challenged with an aged Transmission and Distribution (T&D) network, therefore, such maintenance activities must be conducted in keeping with our annual maintenance plan and cannot be delayed any further.

Additionally, the MayJune rainy season is upon us and we wish to inform you that GPL is taking the necessary precautions to reduce the impact of localised faults; hence, network maintenance is of utmost importance for a stable and reliable supply of electricity GPL is cognisant of the shifts occurring nationally regarding employees working from home due to the risks associated with COVID-19 pandemic. With this in mind, the company has advertised these

interruptions across multimedia platforms with the intent of alerting our customers who will be affected by the service interruptions; to allow for sufficient time for alternative provisions to be put in place.

Finally, as mentioned earlier, several measures were employed to provide relief to our customers; these are: 1. Shift of numerous in-store services to our website www.gplinc.net; some of which are the submission of service applications, consumer claims and queries; 2. Additionally, we’ve suspended disconnections until further notice for all postpaid customers, coupled with decentralised payment services, thus making purchasing tokens and paying bills widely accessible to customers. These include online, electronically and in-store

services (both GPL and authorised agents); 3. Most recently, electricity consumption was exempted of the fourteen per cent (14%) Value Added Tax (VAT) for a period of three months; and 4. Alternative service options, which supplements for meter reading and bill delivery suspension were advertised across multimedia platforms as well.

Our company wishes to reaffirm that we remain committed to ensuring there is sufficient and available capacity to meet demand, while at the same time improving the quality of supply to all consumers.

Respectfully, Shevion Sears PRO Guyana Power and Light

My disappointment in Roysdale Forde

Dear Editor, I, like my fellow Guyanese brothers and sisters, have stood and watched in complete disgust the emanations of the March 2 General and Regional Elections. It has now been 49 days since I ventured out early in the morning to cast my vote for the party which I personally felt can restore this country to its former glory, a party which I truly believe won those elections.

However, what has taken place since, has enraged me to the point that I can no longer remain silent as silence in times of injustice only strengthens the oppressor. I am obligated to publicly vent my abhorrence for a truly indigestible concept as to why men I once held in such esteem and admiration have been blinded by the prospect of power and personal gain. Men who have elevated themselves above country, above truth and above justice.

One such man is the Right Worshipful District Grand Master and attorney at law Roysdale Forde. I am a member of the fraternity, the same as Mr Forde, an organisation founded on the very principles of justice and truth, cornerstones of which a compromise must never be sought nor must it be accepted. I have seen Mr Forde standing in our courtrooms in defence of the fallacy of a coalition victory in the March 2 elections, which, mind you, was condemned by every fore-thinking Guyanese and practically the entire world to be lacking credibility and transparency.

Brother Forde himself I believe, if he is as quick-witted as I once regarded him to be, must be aware that the shenanigans which took place during the tabulation

of the Region Four results, possessed too much drama on the part of the coalition to have not been rigged. I have seen him at the forefront of an unconscionable lie perpetrated by the hands of men who are devoid of the very principles the fraternity has taught us to embrace and emulate.

I have seen the politicising of the fraternity through brother Forde and a few others, which has effectively resulted in my stepping back from an organisation which I truly love and which continues to be contaminated with the ambitions of the unjust.

I have always believed that as human beings, we must never attach ourselves to our politics to the extent that truth and justice are relegated to mere secondary considerations.

I call on you brother Forde, do not abandon your integrity, intelligence and moral standing in defence of a flagrant lie, which I believe is intelligible by any Guyanese with an iota of brain. Justice must always be the very spirit and letter of the life of any free-mason, if it is not, he has forsaken the very right to be deemed a member of this most prestigious fraternity.

The idea of our own material benefit must never outweigh the concept of standing for what is right, regardless of the consequences, we are duty-bound by an unflinching oath to embrace equity and reject corruption and lawlessness whenever it rears its ugly head. The truth is yet to be unveiled, and decent law-abiding citizens shall continue to proclaim their indignation for wickedness and the subversion of democracy and also for those like yourself, who condone and enable these

atrocities.

I believe that there is yet time brother, a window in which you can redeem yourself. Speak out against what has been done and play your part in the restoration of our home, the country of our birth. Redeem yourself and your uprightness in not only my eyes, but the thousands of Guyanese who once regarded you as one of our great legal minds, as Mahatma Gandhi once said: “Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is still the truth.”

To you and those who are willing to perpetrate, encourage and defend this sin against our people, I also remind you of these words once uttered by former UN Secretary General Kofi Anan: “Whenever a Government loses the legitimacy to govern, the United Nations has the power to invade and restore law and order.”

The decision is yours brother, choose wisely.

Sincerely, A son of the soil

Dear Editor, In my humble opinion, what GECOM is offering is not a credible recount.

It is an opportunity to sow confusion and corrupt the original voting results to make it completely unusable and, therefore, force another election.

All political parties, all accredited observers and Caricom should withdraw from participation unless the following conditions are met: 1. Only one region is counted at a time.

2. Polling officers from each Polling Station present to open their box and to answer any queries that

may come up during the recount; including declaration if the box has been tampered. If there is evidence that any box was tampered, stop the recount.

3. The recount is livestreamed.

4. No GECOM personnel that was part of the Mingo declaration is allowed to participate.

Stand together. Stand firm. In unity, there is strength. Do not participate and give credibility to this recount unless these conditions are satisfied.

With regards, Sase Shewnarain

Impact of COVID-19 Dear Editor, The pandemic that we are currently facing has adverse effects on us both financially and mentally.

Focusing on the financial aspect, I would like to bring to light how some landlords are taking advantage of the situation at hand.

Yes, I do understand that everyone has to get their form of income during this ever so trying time but having to provide for your family in addition to paying a hefty amount of rent for your business is extremely

difficult.

Prices rising on your basic necessities coupled with not being able to work, begs the question of how? How will we be able to take care of our families plus pay rent to a rigid landlord?

I am a young business owner who is fearful of losing their business and is pleading with the Government for assistance as not all landlords are considerate.

Sincerely, Frustrated citizen

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MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020

Page

Foundation

Guyana Times is pleased to publish the Education Ministry’s National Grade Six Assessment Past Papers. Below is the first part of Mathematics Paper 1, 2013.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE SIX ASSESSMENT

MATHEMATICS

TIME: 1 hour 10 minutes 1. WRITE YOUR CANDIDATE NUMBER ON THE ANSWER SHEET AND UNDERLINE THE SUBJECT.

3. If you are not sure of the answer to a question, then choose the one which you think is BEST. On your answer sheet, draw a heavy black line through the letter you have chosen.

2. This test contains 40 questions. You are required to answer ALL questions. Four responses are given for each question.

The responses are A, B, C and D. Only ONE response is correct.

4. BE SURE THAT THE QUESTION NUMBER IN THE BOOKLET IS THE SAME AS THE ONE YOU HAVE USED ON YOUR ANSWER SHEET. Here is an example done for you.

1. The sum of 4 and 5 is

1. Which is an even number?

(A) 76 818 (B) 83 059 (C) 88 967 (D) 99 701

5. The figure is called a (A) cube. (B) cylinder.

(C) cuboid. (D) sphere.

2. What is the value of 6 in 25 673?

(A). 60 (B) 600 (C) 6000 (D) 60 000

6. The figure has sides.

(A) 4 (B) (C) 6 (D)

3. Which shows the operation of division?

(A) Include 6 more objects (B) Decrease 15 by 6 (C) Make 6 greater by 15 (D) Share 15 among 6 4. The sum of 10 and 407 is (A) 470 (B) 417 (C) 397 (D) 307 Study Figure 1, then answer questions 5 and 6.

(A) 1. (B) 9.

(C) 20. (D) 45.

ANSWER SHEET A B C D

A heavy black line has been drawn through the letter B on the answer sheet because Georgetown, the correct answer, is next to B. 5. If you make a mistake, erase the line cleanly, then draw a heavy black line through the letter next to the answer you have now

chosen.

6. REMEMBER, each answer MUST only be shown by a heavy black line on your Answer Sheet.

7. Remember only ONE answer must be provided for each question.

8. DO NOT TURN OVER THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO.

(C) 1/1000 (C) 1/10000 Figure 2 shows the favourite fruits of children in Grade Six. Study it, then answer questions 12 and 13.

7. A cricketer who scores one run less than a century has made runs.

(A) 19 (B) 99 (C) 101 (D) 111 8. The unit used to measure the mass of heavy objects is (A) degree (C) kilometre 9. Which is the symbol for 'not a member of?

(A) E (B) kilogramme (C) n (D) litre 10. Which pair are equal sets?

(A) {3, 7, 10, 8} {6, 17, 13} (B) {6, 10, 12, 5} {60, 6, 10, 5} (C) {3, 6, 8, 7} {7, 3, 8, 6} (D) {6, 0, 10, 7} {5, 7, 0, 6}

11. Which fraction represents 1%?

(A) 1/10 (B) 1/100

12. The graph in Figure 2 is called a (A) bar graph. (B) line graph.

(C) pictograph. (D) pie chart.

13. Which tally marks represent the number of children who like pineapples and cherries?

(A) 1f14-1 -41=11-14-1 . 14. (B) 11+1,71i+11tH-tfit I (C) 1H-1-11-14-1 I (D) 14. The number that comes before 7010 is (A) 7000 (B) 7009 (C) 7011 (D) 7090 15. The expanded form for 9074 is (A) 90 + 700 + 4 (B) 900 + 70 + 4 (C) 9000 + 7 + 4 (D) 9000 + 70 + 4 16. 1.900 - 0.149 = (A) 0.751 (B) 1.751 (C) 1.851 (D) 1.811

17. 60.5 + 100 = (A) 60 500 (C) 6.05 (B) 6050 (D) 0.605 18. What is the LCM for 12, 18 and 24?

(A) 6 (C) 54 (B) 24 (D) 72 Study Figure 3, then answer question 19.

19. How many lines of symmetry can be drawn on Figure 3 above?

(A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 6 (D) 8

TO BE CONTINUED

NEWS

7

MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Canadian top official calls for President to ensure return of observers

P

ressure is mounting from the international community following the denial of the Carter Center observer mission’s re-entry into Guyana to observe the national recount which is expected to commence on Wednesday, May 6.

On Sunday the United States Embassy issued a statement disclosing that permission was sought from the COVID-19 Task Force, headed by Chairman

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Director Joseph Harmon, and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for a flight to land today, May 4, and for the observers from the Carter Center to be allowed entry into Guyana on that flight.

However, the Task Force in response approved the arrival of the flight and not the observers.

Assistant Deputy Minister for the Americas

Assistant Deputy Minister for the Americas at Global Affairs Canada, Michael Grant

at Global Affairs Canada, Michael Grant in a tweet on Sunday evening stated, “We continue to watch the situation in Guyana.

Glad the Caricom mission has returned but President Granger should also immediately approve return of the Carter Center. They are duly accredited and want to complete their observation mission.”

His statement followed a similar statement by Canada’s High

Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee, who tweeted that the Carter Center team be allowed entry. “[Canada] funded the Carter Center Election Observer Team in Guyana.

I hope Guyana will allow them to return to complete their task. The Carter Center has earned the respect of Guyanese citizens & political parties for decades,” she had stated.

These calls mirror the sentiments from the

United Nations Resident Representative in Guyana, Mikiko Tanaka, who on Sunday also took to her Twitter platform to express similar concerns. In her tweet, Tanaka stated, “The @UN hopes for the timely return of the Carter Center @CarterGuyanaEOM to #Guyana to fully participate in the observation of the national recount and to help bring speedy and credible closure to the 2 March #GuyanaElections.”

Revoke visas of those denying Carter Center entry – former AG

W

ith the national recount expected to begin in two days, the Carter Center observers’ entry into Guyana has not been approved and former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall is urging the various High Commissioners and Ambassadors to have the visas of those responsible for this denial revoked.

Further, he said that these individuals should be blacklisted from travelling to the United States, Canada, Britain and European countries.

In a post on social media on Sunday night, Nandlall stated, “US Embassy, Canadian and British High Commissions and the EU must revoke the visas now of all persons responsible for denying Carter Center permission to observe the recount, including, members of the COVID-19 Task Force and blacklist them from travelling to their respective countries!”

His comments come on the heels of revelations from the United States

Embassy that a request for observers from the Carter Center to be allowed entry into Guyana on a May 4 flight was denied. According to the Embassy, a diplomatic note was sent seeking the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in “obtaining permission for flights on May 4, 2020, and May 30, 2020.”

“These flights serve a dual purpose, with the inbound flight on May 4 carrying accredited international observer missions to Guyana for the recount process and the outbound flights serving to repatriate US nationals, legal permanent residents and third-country nationals,” the US Embassy explained.

Copies of this diplomatic note were dispatched to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority accompanied by a request to advance the issue to Guyana’s COVID-19 Task Force with assurances that the observers intend to comply with the COVID-19 testing and quarantine measures. “The US Embassy was informed on Saturday, May 2 that the incoming

May 4 flight had been approved by the Task Force, but not the arrival of the observers. Subsequently, we have sought reconsideration of this matter at the highest levels in recognition that the observer missions illustrate the commitment of the caretaker Government and the international community to a free, fair and transparent recount process,” the Embassy stated.

This move to deny entry of the diplomatic watchdog body comes days after US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch reiterated the US’ position when it comes to threats of sanctions against individuals in Guyana who benefit from electoral fraud.

During a televised interview on News Room on April 30, Ambassador Lynch stated, “You don’t just get to call yourself a democracy, ” later adding that the “US is certainly watching this unfold, and we are watching it carefully both here locally and back in Washington…the Secretary of State has said that there will be serious consequenc-

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

es if the rule of law is not adhered to.” She had noted that the specifics of the sanctions to be imposed, if any, would be dealt with

back in Washington “at the highest levels of the State Department.” Further, she had stressed, “We stand by our word.”

It should be noted that the Carter Center is among the group of international observers that have been publicly critical of the lack of credibility of the highly contentious Region Four count that is at the centre of Guyana’s current political turmoil. In its recount of the March 2 polling day and the events that followed, the Carter Center had stated that “Election day proceeded smoothly.”

However, they had noted that tallying went astray in Region Four when, after only half the results for the region had been tabulated

in the presence of observers, the Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo abruptly announced the rest of the results, “which indicated that the ruling party had come from behind to win the election.”

The Center, in addition to other international observer missions, subsequently denounced the declaration of unverified results, saying they lacked credibility, and called for a return to the verification process.

Due to concerns about their safety due to harassment by Government supporters and the COVID-19 pandemic, the team had departed Guyana but remained resolute that they are prepared to return to see the electoral process through to the end.

8 NEWS Businessman demands Harris, Chronicle retract allegations or face $200M lawsuit F MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ormer Kaieteur Editor-in-Chief turned Guyana Chronicle columnist, Adam Harris has found himself on the receiving end of a potential lawsuit, after writing a column in which he alleged, among other things, that a businessman who is a People’s Progressive Party (PPP) financier hosted diplomatic observers on election day.

The businessman, Tamesh Jagmohan of El Dorado Trading, alleged that in the column “PPP financier hosted the diplomatic mission on Election Day” published on May 3, Harris besmirched his reputation by alleging, among other things, that he was involved in the drug trade.

In a letter to Harris and the Guyana Chronicle, written on his behalf by his Attorney-at-Law Glenn Hanoman, the businessman noted that Harris also alleged that he “shipped US$1 million in gold to Canada to pay Charrandas Persaud, at the behest of the PPP, for Persaud’s vote on the No-Confidence Motion on December 18, 2018.”

Persaud, whose con-

N Guyana Chronicle columnist Adam Harris

Businessman Tamesh Jagmohan

science vote led to the collapse of the Government to a No-Confidence Motion, has been vilified by his former colleagues in the coalition camp.

Despite accusations that he was bribed and a police probe, no evidence was ever presented and even Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan admitted in June of last year that there is no evidence of a bribe, sufficient to seek extradition.

Nor is that all. Jagmohan in the letter highlight-

ed the fact that Harris alleged that the US blacklisted him and that he “was one of the three PPP financiers who each shipped $500 million to the United Kingdom to pay Mercury [the lobby firm hired by the PPP prior to the General and Regional Elections] - a total of $1.5 billion.”

According to Jagmohan, Harris’ column is a “manifesto of mistruths” and publishing it caused immense damage to his reputation and distress to him and his fam-

Lethem quarantine facility burglarised; several items stolen

A

refurbished building which is being prepared to be used as a COVID-19 quarantine facility in Lethem (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) was broken into on Sunday and several items are missing.

Based on reports received, the thieves stole 11 mattresses, a refrigerator,

Poking…

two 4-burner gas stoves, and a ceiling fan.

Police sources told Guyana Times that efforts are being made to find the perpetrator(s) following the incident which allegedly took place in the wee hours of Sunday.

Guyana Times understands that the final works

are being added to the building after which it will become operational.

It will be used to house persons who might need to be quarantined in Lethem.

Reports revealed that at the time of the robbery, no one was guarding the facility. Investigations are ongoing.

Guyana Chronicle Editor-inChief Nigel Williams

ily. Jagmohan alleged that Harris, a veteran media professional, made no attempt to fact check his claims and that the column “falls far below the standards of an experienced columnist in a newspaper owned and funded by the State.”

He demanded that the offending column be immediately retracted from online as well as the newspaper’s online archived newspapers.

In addition, Jagmohan demanded that any links or posts to the column be deleted from the newspaper’s social media pages.

He is also demanding a complete and unqualified withdrawal of the allegations and a public apology in terms he agrees with be issued and published in both the print and online version of the newspaper with the requisite prominence.

“Should you and the Chronicle newspaper fail to comply with my client’s demands, my client intends to initiate legal proceedings to conclude that the said article was malicious in intent and written with complete indifference to the truth in an attempt to besmirch his reputation.”

“My client will also be asking for substantial damages to be awarded against you and the newspaper in order to deter it and you from behaving in a similar manner in the future,” Hanoman wrote. This publication understands that these substantial damages may amount to $200 million.

When contacted on Sunday by Hanoman for an address to send the written document, Harris advised him to send it to BK Quarries, Water Street Georgetown.

Meanwhile, APNU executive member, James Bond in a posted that that he does not agree with the STATE MEDIA being used as a weapon.

“Whether it’s the Chronicle or NCN do not weaponize the STATE MEDIA. Feel free to do investigative journalism, feel free dig deep into the recesses of corruption and the ills in society but do not allow the STATE MEDIA to attack individuals for the sake of attacking individuals! We can do better and we must do better!” he added.

… the US in the eyes ow that the US Embassy has clearly indicated it has been working with the authorities to allow a flight from the States to bring in Observers from the Carter Center and yet permission has not been granted, there’s no getting away from the fact that the PNC feel that the US are like the boy who cried wolf. They’ve been threatening of “consequences” so many times from the US Ambassador all the way to the top of the State Department – but nothing is ever done, that they feel it’s all a bluff.

And if you look at the sequence of events, this is a very rational conclusion from their perspective. After every outrage following the Mingoed SoPs, BAM! Warning… but followed by absolutely no action. The PNC now see the US like “Christmas blow-blow”!! The latter’s latest humanitarian effort to allow some humanitarian aid in for fighting the COVID crisis was taken as a sign that the Americans aren’t really serious about their threats.

The bold attacks from PNC elements – and getting bolder by the minute – on the US diplomats for “interference” left no doubts about their conclusions on the helplessness of the US. In the Sunday Chronic, came the boldest attack to date. Adam Harris, the recently-sacked editor-in-chief of the KN (for his extreme partisanship to the PNC which he had served for decades), the man actually had the temerity to attack the US Ambassador of consorting with the largest gold exporter in Guyana – who he tagged as a “drug dealer”!!

These charges are repeated separately on the APNU/ AFC home page in even more libellous and scandalous words. (They also posted Harris’ article.) Cited from a “Guyana News Network”, the article is headlined: “Gouveia Wined And Dined ABC&EU Ambassadors At Home Of PPP Financier Under FBI Investigation For Funding International Terrorism, Money Laundering and Drug Trafficking”.

The post served to directly give the rationale for the PNC caretaker government refusing to allow the Carter Center to observe the recount: “The US Ambassador, who has been in contact with operatives from the PPP’s Washington DC-based lobbying firm, Mercury Public Affairs, and the other ABCEU Ambassadors, appear to have been coordinating their assault on the Government of Guyana and GECOM, with foreign observers from the Carter Center, Organisation of American States (OAS), Commonwealth and the PSC. Gouveia met again last week with at least one of the ABC&EU Ambassadors.”

The US cannot ignore these attacks any longer. It is clear that the PNC has bought into the Chinese narrative that America is fatally wounded and bleeding.

As a friend of Guyana, they must impose sanctions on the riggers!! …from the Chinese Dragon We know the PNC have assiduously cultivated ties with the Chinese Government, which they boast extends all the way before US President Nixon’s famous trip. Against all advice and evidence, they signed a MoU with the Chinese Government’s Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI) that has overwhelmed the indebtedness of several countries and allowed the Chinese to snap up assets across the world in exchange for the debt.

Whether China allowed the COVID-19 virus to slip out accidentally or deliberately, we will never know. But we cannot ignore that China has always been willing to play hardball to fulfil its dream of making the “Middle Kingdom” into the world’s leader.

One silver lining from the COVID-19 crisis has been to open up the eyes of several of the most developed economies to the danger of making China the factory of the world. The Japanese have led the way in seeking to diversify their investment portfolio in manufacturing out of China.

The PNC have backed the Dragon rather than the Eagle.

We cannot allow this! …the sugar bond Some salacious claims have surfaced as to the reason why the $30B bond was floated by NICIL putatively for GuySuCo. Yet after paying $3B in interest to date, no funds have been used to rescue GuySuCo. We’ll follow the money trail later!!

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

NEWS

9

MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt OK’s US planes landing but nixes Carter Center Observers …as UN calls for return of Carter Center to aid in credible closure for March 2 poll

T

he Guyana Government has refused permission to the United States Embassy in Georgetown, to have land in the country, observers from the Carter Center and the International Republican Institute (IRI) for the recount of the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

This information was

United Nations plenipotentiary representative to the country, Mikiko Tanaka

communicated to the US Government on Saturday following a request by that country to have observers from two accredited missions return to Guyana for the recount process.

The Center on Saturday said it has been unsuccessful in getting permission from the Government to fly into the country.

“The Carter Center is trying to get an observer on a Monday flight to Georgetown to observe the recount but

has so far been unsuccessful in getting approval from the Government of Guyana,” a social media post indicated.

The US Government through its Embassy has since “sought reconsideration of this matter at the highest levels.”

This is “in recognition that the observer missions illustrate the commitment of the caretaker Government and the international community to a free, fair and transparent recount process.”

The move by the coalition A Partnership for National Unity, Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Administration was swiftly weighed in on by United Nation’s plenipotentiary representative to the country, Mikiko Tanaka.

According to the UN official, it is the organisation’s hope for the timely return of the Carter Center to Guyana to fully participate in the observation of the national recount and to help bring speedy and credible closure to the March 2 polls.

The Embassy’s Public Affairs Officer, Violeta Talandis, in a statement on Sunday detailed that a request had been sent to the local Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a diplomatic note on April 29, for approval for two flights landing in the country on May 4, and an-

Cynthia Barrow-Giles, John Jarvis and Sylvester King

other on May 30.

According to the US Embassy Official, the flights serve a dual purpose, with the inbound flight on May 4 carrying accredited international observer missions to Guyana for the recount process and the outbound flights serving to repatriate US nationals, legal permanent residents and third-country nationals.

The official said that the May 30 flight was requested to return the observers to the United States along with US citizens, legal permanent residents and third-country nationals who wish to return to or transit to their homes.

It was explained that the inbound flight request was made on behalf of the Carter Center and the IRI with reference to other observer missions that also my wish to avail themselves of the requested flights.

Guyana Times under-

stands that the Organisation of American States has also signalled an intention of observing the recount process but are yet to be approved.

Speaking to the request on behalf of the US, it was noted that the Embassy sent a copy of the diplomatic note to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority accompanied by a request to advance the issue to Guyana’s COVID-19 Task Force.

According to Talandis, “we received the usual professional courtesies from all parties, as is characteristic of Guyana’s diplomats and civil servants” and that the diplomatic note referenced the observer’s intentions to comply with the COVID-19 testing and quarantine measures.

The Embassy was later told that while permission had been granted for the planes to land in the country, the observers from the Center and IRI had not been

cleared.

News of Government’s refusal to have the US-led missions return to Guyana came hours after a Trans Guyana flight landed at the Eugene

Canada’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee

F Correia International Airport with a three-member delegation of observers that are being fielded and funded by the Canadian Government.

Canada’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee, has since, using her online presence – Twitter – expressed hope that the Carter Center can eventually be granted the permission it needs from the Government. “[Canada] funded the Carter Center Election Observer Team in Guyana. I hope Guyana will allow them to return to complete their task. The Carter Center has earned the respect of Guyanese citizens & political parties for decades,” according to Chatterjee.

On Friday the Caribbean Community (Caricom) high-level observation team comprising of Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cynthia Barrow-Giles, Commissioner of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission, John Jarvis and Deputy Supervisor of Elections of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sylvester King, arrived in Guyana.

Caricom’s Secretary General Irwin LaRoque had sought and was granted permission by National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) Chairman, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo to fly in the team, within days.

10 NEWS Zero COVID-19 tests done in 2 days W MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

hile countries across the globe have been trying to locate and test suspected cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Guyana’s public health authorities have failed to conduct any tests in two days.

Statistics released by the Public Health Ministry on Sunday showed that same figures have been repeated on its dashboard for the past 48 hours.

It showed that 582 tests were conducted – the same number as the previous day.

This meant the number of positive cases remained at 82 with 24 recovered cases and nine deaths.

A total of three persons remained in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with 49 in institutional isolation. The only changes to the figures was a reduction in the number of individuals in institutional quarantine, from 18 to 7.

In recent times, concerns have been raised that more persons might be carrying the virus unknowingly, since the virus can manifest asymptomatically. But the Ministry has contended that only individuals with signs and symptoms of the disease or those who had been in contact with a positive case are viable for testing.

There are other secondary

factors which are deliberated upon also.

Some persons have even complained of experiencing symptoms associated with the virus but failing to receive medical treatment until days later.

Last month, a decision was taken to allow private institutions to conduct testing for the novel coronavirus. But soon after, the Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GAFDD) said that it would only

be permitting reagents and testing kits approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) or “a serious reference authority”.

Guyana is currently conducting COVID-19 tests at a rate of less than one per cent of the population. Just last week, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo pointed out that based on consultations with medical professionals, enhanced testing was needed in Guyana.

“We are testing too few people and…if you have the virus, there is a stigma attached to people. So many people are afraid of being tested and they are afraid that if they test positively, they’ll be placed in quarantine facilities that are not conducive to the non-spreading of the virus or in conditions that are not liveable,”

he was quoted as saying.

Caretaker Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence had disclosed that the Ministry continued to face the challenge of under-reporting from persons who have been in contact with COVID-19 cases because of the stigma associated with the coronavirus.

In recent days, regional administrations have deployed their own contact tracing exercises to find undetected cases of COVID-19. Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) thusly was able to uncover two positive cases, which were later handed over to health authorities.

Even with limited testing, there has been a stark 110 per cent increase in the number of positive cases in less than one month.

Linden sex tape allegations

2nd sex tape surfaces as suspected taxi driver remains in hiding

A

s Police in Linden continue to hunt for a Linden taxi driver who is allegedly at the centre of a viral sexually explicit video involving a female minor, yet another one has surfaced implicating him and another man allegedly with another underage female.

Reports indicate that the new video was a few days after the first one went viral.

Following the first release, the taxi driver reportedly went into hiding.

Police continue their hunt for the man in relation to the first exposed incident. Regional Commander, Superintendent Hugh Winter noted that the first matter is under investigation and the minor and a parent has since visited the police and provided a statement.

The Regional Commander also disclosed that the Welfare Department was also informed of the incident.

He noted, however, that there have been no official reports as it relates to a second sexually explicit video but in the second video the suspect was seen seated in the front seat of a car filming while an underage female performed oral sex on another young man.

Police in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) have since launched a probe into the first incident af-

Regional Commander, Superintendent Hugh Winter

ter the video which shows the teen involved in the oral sex act with the taxi driver started circulating on social media.

In that video, which has since gone viral, the two can be seen sitting in the back of a car.

The minor is then videotaped performing the sexual act.

The male can be heard telling the minor to look at the camera to which she shakes her head in the negative.

Investigations into this incident are still ongoing.

According to police, ranks have searched various addresses for the suspect but came up empty-handed.

Police are urging anyone with information about the whereabouts of the man to come forward.

NEWS

11

MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

State must ensure return of international Observers for recount – PSC

F

oreign observers were invited by incumbent President, David Granger, to participate in the lead up to and tabulation of the March 2 General and Regional Elections, as such, it is now the duty of both the President and the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission “to facilitate the early return of the foreign observers by issuing such instructions and directions as are necessary.”

This was the stark warning handed down by Guyana’s business community when the Private Sector Commission (PSC) in a public statement declared that the “country has suffered long enough by the failure of GECOM to deliver on its

constitutional mandate.”

According to the PSC, “the President and the Chairman, Justice Claudette Singh, must, therefore, act immediately so that a credible recount can begin expeditiously”.

The Business Support Organisation (BSO), led by Chairman, Captain Gerry Gouveia, was at the time responding to a public statement by the Carter Center that it is awaiting approval from the Government of Guyana for it to travel to Guyana to observe the recount of the votes cast in the March 2020 elections.

Gouveia has since noted that the “PSC, itself an observer to these elections, is aware of the valuable contri-

bution of the Carter Center to democracy and free and fair elections in Guyana for more than 20 years”.

It was noted that the Carter Center is an accredited observer to the March 2020 election which remains incomplete until the declaration of the results.

GECOM Commissioners Sase Gunraj and Vincent Alexander have both publicly stated that all accreditations that had been given out to observers for the 2020 elections in Guyana remain valid.

As such, the PSC reminded that as the body constitutionally responsible for supervising elections, with the power to ensure fairness in the process, GECOM must

Chairman of the PSC, Captain Gerry Gouveia

ensure that the process is completed transparently and fairly and deliver results considered as credible by all fair-minded.

Since the enactment of the General Elections (Observers) Act No 17 of 1990, observers have been recognised as a vital part of the electoral process in Guyana. Just over a month ago, the democracy watchdog group reiterated their commitment to complete the process that they began in observing the 2020 elections.

The Center, in an April 1 statement, had reminded that their team had to make the difficult decision to depart Guyana on March 20, before the completion of the electoral process, due to several factors, including “harassment of observers by ruling party supporters”.

The team had also ex-

pressed concerns with regard to international travel restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 virus.

However, despite the current circumstances, the Center has reiterated that “as a trusted partner, it was important for us to observe this election”.

Associate Director of the Center’s Democracy Programme, Brett Lacy firmly stated, “We’re still committed to observing the entire electoral process…

Nonpartisan observers have an important role to play.

We report what we see and hear to the rest of the world.

Whoever wins the election should want to ensure that their victory is seen as credible.”

Tuschen family fearful after gunshots allegedly fired at house

A

Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) family is now fearful for their lives after gunshots were allegedly fired at their home a few days ago.

The Lot 2505 Tuschen New Scheme home is owned

by Poorandai Sukhu but her niece has been residing at the location with her family for some time.

Guyana Times understands that on the day in question, the family of four was awakened by a barrage of gunshots being fired at their home, thus breaking the windows and other items in their home.

In a state of shock and fear, they hid in their respective bedrooms until the next morning.

However, Police Regional Commander, Assistant Police Commissioner Simon McBean has refuted such claims, stating that ranks

One of the lodged bullets

visited the home and conducted a thorough investigation, where it was revealed that the damages were not caused by gunshots.

He further stated that another team of officers was requested to visit the house to ensure that the report from the first team is accurate.

“The police then processed the area where the alleged gunshot hole was seen. But based upon the Detective and his expert training, he concluded that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that there was any gunshot fired into the general area.”

The family had alleged that a report was filed at

the Tuschen Police Outpost, but no one came to investigate the matter.

A few days later, they visited the outpost again and an officer accompanied the family to the house.

During the visit, the officer tried to convince the devastated family that it was pieces of rocks that were hurled at the house and not gunshots. However, the family pointed towards the bullet hole in the wall.

One bullet was still lodged in the wood.

Police Regional Commander, Assistant Police Commissioner Simon McBean

Sukhu also indicated that a few weeks prior to the incident, her nephew, who was in Guyana on vacation, was beaten by persons from the area.

“My nephew went to spend one week with his sister. He and his wife were coming out to get a car to come home and he and four other boys hold him and beat him up. Anyhow, my nephew got to escape and because he is not from Guyana, he didn’t want to make a report.”

12 NEWS

MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Former Home Affairs Minister laid to rest

Former Home Affairs Minister Feroze Mohamed

F

ormer Home Affairs Minister under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Feroze Mohamed, who died on Friday at the age of 74, was on Sunday laid to rest.

Mohamed passed during the auspicious month of Ramadan due to an illness that caused him to be hospitalised.

Mohamed played an integral role in PPP's political struggle pre-1992, working alongside the party’s founder, Dr Cheddi Jagan, and was appointed Home Affairs Minister, the first under the PPP, after the party won those elections.

He also served as the party’s Chief Whip in the National Assembly.

In addition, he was also the first Secretary of the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) – the youth arm of the PPP. Mohamed served too as an advisor to several Presidents under the PPP Government

including Janet Jagan, Samuel Hinds and Bharrat Jagdeo.

As news of his death spread, several senior PPP members took to social media to extend their sympathy and condolences on his

Dead: Lovern Benn, also known as “Pinky Adams”

Isseneru, Middle Mazaruni, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) Based on information received, at about 22:30h, Benn along with a male friend were travelling in a motor car when a minibus ended up in their lane, causing the vehicles to collide head-on.

Benn sustained severe injuries to the head and leg.

PPP/C Executives carrying the casket of the late Mohamed at CIOG on Sunday

passing.

Among those was PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali, who said on his Facebook page that he was deeply saddened by the loss of Mohamed.

“He will be truly missed

and we will include him in our prayers daily. May God give his family strength in this difficult time,” he stated.

However, at the funeral on Sunday PPP/C’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo,

Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali and other top members of the party’s executive paid their last respects.

Mohamed leaves to morn his wife and son.

Mother of 3 dies in 2-vehicle collision at Vergenoegen

A

mother of three is the latest road fatality after the vehicle in which she was travelling collided with a minibus along the Vergenoegen Public Road, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), on Tuesday last.

Dead is Lovern Benn, 38, also known as “Pinky Adams” of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, and also of

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

The car that was involved in the accident

She was picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited persons and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where she succumbed one day later.

The driver of the minibus is currently hospitalised and is said to be in stable condition. Police are continuing their investigations.

SYMPTOMS

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

Fever People who think they may be affected by coronavirus need to call the Public Health Ministry hotline 227-4986/624-3067 for further advice. They should not go to their GP, A&E, pharmacy or hospital.

If you have come into contact with somebody who may be infected, you may be told to self-isolate. People needing to do so should take "common-sense" steps to avoid close contact with other people.

(Adapted from BBC News)

Headache

Chills

Sore throat

Repeated shaking with chills

Muscle pain

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have New loss of taste mild illness. or smell

13

MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Helping in fight against spread of COVID-19

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) National Covid-19 Stakeholder Forum continues to distribute face masks as part of its fight against the spread of the deadly virus. On Saturday, the team conducted a distributed exercise in Mabura, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

14 NEWS

MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Berbice Chamber can assist with NGO distributes 50 food hampers to vulnerable groups the 33,000 recount face masks ...as GECOM undecided on the type of face mask to be used

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Members of the Chamber during Saturday’s face mask distribution at Corriverton Market

he Berbice Chamber of Commerce and D e v e l o p m e n t Association (BCCDA) has offered to assist the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) with the 33,000 face masks required for the national recount but is awaiting the elections body’s response.

The announcement was made on Saturday by Vice President of the Chamber, Ryan Alexander during an outreach at the Corriverton Market, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

“We do not know if we will be able to donate any to

that agency, but we are still waiting to see the criteria in terms of a mask; they are still to decide on the type of face mask to be used. We will take that into consideration and see if we can assist and how we can assist once funds are available,” Alexander explained.

The Chamber has been distributing face masks on a weekly basis at markets in the region. Alexander said the distribution is being held in partnership with corporate Guyana.

In New Amsterdam, Port Mourant, Rosignol and Corriverton, 1000 face

masks were distributed in each community.

“We have now been able to complete all of the markets in Berbice – Both East and West Berbice,” Alexander noted.

Meanwhile, in Corriverton there was a high level of compliance as it relates to using a face mask in public places. Nevertheless, persons were very appreciative.

“Outside of New Amsterdam, we have not seen that level of compliance at the other markets.

The Corriverton markets seems to be one of the plac-

COVID-19

es which have rules in place so face mask use is being adopted more.”

There are also strict rules in place ensuring that anyone who attempts to enter the market without wearing a face mask reportedly being reprimanded by a Corporal attached to the Constabulary Department of the municipality.

Persons told Guyana Times that the Corporal was seen beating persons who do not adhere to the measures.

When this publication visited, the Corporal was heard speaking to an elderly woman in a stern manner while holding a bull pistol in one hand. The woman, at the time, was not wearing a face mask.

Upon inquiring, the Corporal denied the accusation that he was beating people.

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ifty families in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) who are severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday benefited from food hampers organised by the Silence Hides Violence Foundation – a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).

The areas that benefitted from the distributions are Pepper Street; Heathburn, East Bank Berbice; Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, and East Canje.

Head of the NGO, Camille Cox explained that the families were selected from homes with no source of income, those with single parents and large households. Consideration was also given to the elderly in the targeted villages.

“We are extremely proud that we can play a small part in supporting our communities and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who assisted us in making this possible,” Cox noted.

The COVID-19 outbreak has affected the entire population and is particularly detrimental to members of those social groups in the most vulnerable situations.

Early evidence indicates that the health and economic impacts of the virus are being borne disproportionately by the venerable people. Homeless people, as

Head of Silence Hides Violence Foundation, Camille Cox

they may be unable to find a safe place to shelter, are highly exposed to the danger of the virus.

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) through the Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD) said people without access to running water such as refugees, migrants, or displaced persons also stand to suffer disproportionately both from the pandemic and its aftermath The Department said whether due to limited movement or fewer employment opportunities, if not properly addressed through policy, the social crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic may also increase inequality and exclusion.

UNICEF enables local engagement through digital platform HIV contributes to increased

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he United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has partnered with the Public Health Ministry to launch a digital platform, enabling community engagements and concerns raised by the population during this pandemic.

In a statement, the organisation said that the aim is to improve the country’s fighting efforts against COVID-19 while protecting children from food shortages, a strained healthcare system, lack of education or violence.

The platform is being launched with a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) survey on COVID-19.

One of the focuses is to determine how much Guyanese know about COVID-19 and how they are responding to it.

and phone calls. Persons can visit the UNICEF or MoPH website to take the survey during the first and third week of each month.

All the information will remain strictly confidential and only used for the purpose of this survey. While participation is voluntary, support from all is needed.

It provides an opportunity

The survey will be conducted every two weeks in all 10 administrative regions. It will take about 10 minutes to be completed and persons are not required to give their names. They are seeking to use a combined method of online surveys

to inform efforts and strategies towards flattening the curve and stopping the spread of the pandemic.

Findings from these surveys will go directly towards improving the response to fight COVID-19 as well as UNICEF’s emer-

UNICEF Country Representative Sylvie Fouet

gency programmes, including through the provision of hygiene items, protective equipment, life-saving information and other support to healthcare systems.

A report issued this month by the United Nations warned that children risk being among the biggest victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. While children have been largely spared from the direct health effects of the disease up to this point, the crisis is having a profound effect on their overall wellbeing.

Children are being affected, by the socio-economic impacts and, in some cases, by the mitigation measures implemented to stem the spread of the disease.

In Guyana, UNICEF’s COVID-19 response focuses on working with partners to help reduce the transmission of the virus and mitigate its impact on children while ensuring that essential services for children continue.

UNICEF Country Representative Sylvie Fouet has been quoted as saying, “The coronavirus pandemic is the greatest struggle the world has seen in generations. Children and young people are among the most severely impacted by the knock-on effects of COVID-19, so it is critical to hear from children and families on how they adjust behaviours and are coping.”

herpes infections – WHO

…after half billion people living with herpes worldwide

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he World Health Organisation (WHO) has released updated statistics, showing that about half a billion of the global population is living with genital herpes, while several billion have an oral herpes infection.

These new estimates have reiterated their call for awareness and also, to scale up services for treatment and prevention of herpes.

About 13 per cent of the world’s population between the ages of 15 and 49 years were living with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection in 2016.

“HSV-2 is almost exclusively sexually transmitted, causing genital herpes.

Infection can lead to recurring, often painful, genital sores in up to a third of people infected. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is mainly transmitted by oral to oral contact to cause oral herpes infection – sometimes leading to painful sores in or around the mouth,” the statement indicated.

Around 67 per cent of the world’s population aged 0 to 49 had HSV-1 infection in 2016 – an estimated 3.7 billion people. Most of these infections were oral; however, between 122 million to 192

Director of the WHO Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STI Programmes, Dr Meg Doherty

million people were estimated to have genital HSV-1 infection.

Director of the Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, Dr Ian Askew has stated, “Genital herpes is a substantial health concern worldwide – beyond the potential pain and discomfort suffered by people living with the infection, the associated social consequences can have a profound effect on sexual and reproductive health.”

People with HSV-2 infection are at least three times more likely to become infected with HIV, if exposed. As

such, it is a significant role in the spread of HIV globally. Women are more susceptible to both HIV and herpes.

Presently, there is no cure for herpes. Antiviral medications, such as acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir, can help to reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms but cannot cure the infection.

“Better awareness, improved access to antiviral medications and heightened HIV prevention efforts for those with genital HSV symptoms are needed globally. In addition, development of better treatment and prevention interventions is needed, particularly HSV vaccines,” the WHO said.

Director of the WHO Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STI Programmes, Dr Meg Doherty has iterated that “A vaccine against HSV infection would not only help to promote and protect the health and well-being of millions of people, particularly women, worldwide – it could also potentially have an impact on slowing the spread of HIV, if developed and provided alongside other HIV prevention strategies.”

NEWS

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MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GECOM demonstrates no commitment to a transparent, credible recount – political parties

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he Guyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) continues to demonstrate less than absolute commitment to a transparent and credible process of recounting of ballots.

Full statement below: The engagement between GECOM and the political parties revealed several issues that require the urgent intervention of the Chairman and Commissioners. These issues include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Live streaming of the entire recount process, including tabulation of results;

2. The sequence and manner in which the ballots of the various districts will be counted; 3. Security of the containers containing ballot boxes before, during and after the recount, the physical location of the recount and of persons involved in the process; 4. Accreditation of persons involved in the process, including party representatives.

5. The immediate approval of observer status for all international and local observers, which were involved from the start of Guyana’s 2020 Regional and General Elections process; and

Facilitating the attendance of the Carter and OAS representatives at the recount.

In relation to live-streaming, we wish to reiterate our position that every aspect of the process should be made available to the public as it provides a level of transparency that can only serve to inject much-needed credibility and integrity to the process.

The plan provided suggests a deviation from a previous position of GECOM that districts would’ve been counted in ‘chronological’ order. The proposal to count various districts simultaneously poses several serious issues related to security

and logistics and quite possibly, courts disaster. We, therefore, urge that the ballots be counted one district at a time, commencing with District 1.

It is critical to Guyana’s international reputation and recognition, that organisations such as Carter Center, OAS, Commonwealth, European Union, and local observer missions, such as PSC, AmCham, Guyana Bar Association, be granted observer status to ensure a credible recount process.

Finally, we call on GECOM to urgently address all of these outstanding matters and to put all systems in place to have the recount exercise commence,

COVID-19 – effect on persons living with other health conditions/chronic diseases Dr Tariq Jagnarine BSc, MD, MMed FamMed, CCFP

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mid the stress and confusion of coronavirus shutdowns and social distancing orders, it can seem as though everything is on pause, especially to those who are most vulnerable such as older persons, pregnant mothers, diabetics, asthmatics, persons with hypertension, heart problems, and other illnesses.

Patients have expressed worry about going to crowded pharmacies and even grocery stores in fear of contracting COVID-19. There is even recent research that shows evidence that people with serious issues such as chest pain, appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy are avoiding emergency rooms.

One important fact which should not be overlooked during this pandemic is – acute and chronic health conditions can still occur at any given time and requires attention and care while most clinics have postponed regular visits until further notice. Therefore, taking care of one’s health is even more critical right now, as the new coronavirus increases the risk for people with underlying medical problems.

Despite COVID-19 being a new disease and limited information regarding risk factors for severe disease, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicates that the following groups are most vulnerable and may experience severe illness from COVID-19: * Persons 65 years and older * Persons who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility * People of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, including: * Chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma, chronic smokers * Heart conditions that are unstable - recent heart attacks, heart failure, etc.

* Immunocompromised - diabetics, cancer, organ transplant, HIV/AIDS * Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher) * Diabetics * Chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis * Liver disease COVID-19 primarily affects the lungs, so people with lung diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), and lung cancer have less “pulmonary reserve,” which is like having a backup generator waiting to kick in if the power goes out. Therefore, what might have been a mild infection for someone else can develop into a severe infection for someone with these underlying lung problems.

Beyond the lungs, research indicates that COVID-19 may have devastating effects on the kidneys and heart. An extreme immune system response known as a cytokine storm - (too much cytokine produced as part of an immune response) can damage organs. In addition, mini blood clots have developed in some patients resulting in strokes, heart attacks and even pulmonary embolisms.

High blood pressure, congestive heart failure or diabetes can also increase the risk of developing severe symptoms from COVID-19.

In the CDC sample, 73 per cent of older patients hospitalised with COVID-19 also had hypertension, about a third had diabetes and just over half had cardiovascular disease.

Managing chronic conditions amid a pandemic is not easy. It requires adjusting

daily routines and dealing with new obstacles.

One of the challenges is meeting medical appointments and clinic visits. During the pandemic, most clinics have postponed in-person visits for routine check-ups to avoid exposing patients or staff to the coronavirus. Nevertheless, that does not mean your doctor is not there for you.

What can patients do?

* Call the nearest health facility and explain the underlining health conditions or symptoms to a nurse or doctor. * Video conferencing with the health facility * Health facilities can provide online waiting rooms and services to stable and non-urgent patients. * Have all medications refilled at the nearest health facility and avoid not taking medications regularly. * Use medications as prescribed by the doctors. * Continue to monitor blood sugars often. * Monitor blood pressure often * Avoid stress and try various relaxation methods such as – yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. * Avoid excessive alcohol consumption or drug use. * Avoid overeating and maintain a proper diet, as advised by health care workers - less salt, low fat, less starchy food. Lots of fruits, vegetables and protein. * Do indoor exercises * Once stable, avoid health facilities. * If you experience unexplained, severe, sudden symptoms, contact a health care provider immediately.

Chronic disease management is taking a backseat during the coronavirus outbreak, with patients avoiding doctor’s visits to prevent disease spread. As the virus continues to loom large over the nation, patients are fearful of engaging with the healthcare system, even for needs unrelated to COVID-19.

Strong patient engagement in care plans has long been the bedrock of chronic disease management, with frequent check-ins with primary care providers and specialists being a key component of that care. But now with the social distancing protocol and concerns about coronavirus spread in healthcare facilities, those management strategies may be at risk However, as the coronavirus outbreak stretches on, questions linger about how to treat these patients and individuals with chronic illnesses while avoiding disastrous health episodes among individuals who do not have COVID-19.

with dispatch.

A New and Guyana Change Guyana Liberty and Party

United Justice

People’s Progressive Party/Civic People’s Republic Party The New Movement United Republican Party

MMG launches bill payment promotion – $310,000 up for grabs

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obile Money Guyana (MMG) over the weekend launched a $310,000 monthlong bill payment promotion to encourage more customers to utilise this mobile method to pay bills.

“With the closure of many businesses and organisations and the call to curb the spread of COVID-19 via physical distancing, alternative bill payment options, especially those that utilise eCommerce and facilitate cashless transactions, become first choice – we’d like to reward lucky customers for making the right choice by utilising MMG for their bill payments,” said Orson Ferguson, VP Customer Experience and Quality.

During the promotion, one lucky MMG subscriber will win a total of $10,000 daily starting from May 1 to May 31, 2020.

MMG subscribers who pay any bill using their MMG wallet during the promotion period will be automatically entered for a chance to win the daily prize. The daily winner will be announced on GTT’s offi-

cial Facebook page.

To partake in the promotion and to benefit from the features of this mobile money application, register for MMG via https://mmg. gtt.co.gy/register/; existing MMG users can simply continue paying their bills from their already installed app.

GTT’s PR Manager, Jasmin Harris reminded that paying bills through this medium is fast, safe and convenient. She noted that there are more than 400 MMG agents across Guyana where customers can load their wallets – customers can also contact One Cart on 627-3977 or Hero Cart on 623-3500 to visit their location to top up on their MMG account.

Since the implementation of COVID-19 restrictions and protocols, more customers have turned to MMG to pay bills from the safety and convenience of their homes and businesses.

Details for this promotion can be found at https:// www.gtt.co.gy/win310Kwithmmg.

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020

News

New lows for deaths in France, WHO's Ryan says world is in “fight Spain and Italy Coronavirus:

of our lives”, but there is hope

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arts of the world are starting to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and to cautiously resume some sort of normal life, but the new coronavirus will pose significant risks until vaccines are developed, the top emergencies expert of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Sunday.

Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO’s emergencies programme, said while many countries are still in the eye of the storm, others were beginning to show it is possible to contain the disease to some extent.

“In that sense, there’s hope,” Ryan told Reuters in an online interview from

Geneva.

“At a global level the situation is still very, very serious, but the pattern of the disease and the trajectory of the virus is very different in different parts of the world right now,” he said.

“What we’re learning is that it is possible to get this disease under control and it is possible to begin resuming normal economic and social life, with a new way of having to do that, and with extreme caution and vigilance.”

However, some countries in Africa and in central and South America are still seeing “an upwards trajectory in cases” and although they may not appear to have a big

problem yet, the availability of tests remains an issue, Ryan added.

More than 3.44 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 243,015 have died, according to a Reuters tally as of Sunday.

Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December.

“We’re in the middle of the fight of our lives –- all of us around the world,” Ryan said. “There’s going to be a significant and extended risk until we reach a point where we have a safe and effective vaccine available to all.”

(Excerpt from Reuters)

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rance, Italy, and Spain have registered the lowest daily death tolls for weeks as they prepare to ease restrictions.

France reported 135 deaths; Spain's 164 were the lowest since mid-March; and Italy's 174 was a two-month low.

Meanwhile, a French doctor has claimed new tests on samples from patients show the virus was present in the country last year – weeks before the first officially recorded case.

In Russia, the virus appears to be advancing, with 10,000 new infections.

But Russia's mortality rate remains low relative to other countries. On Sunday, it recorded 58 deaths, taking its total to 1280.

The UK recorded 315 new

deaths and has the third-highest number of deaths behind the US and Italy. However, British officials say the outbreak has peaked and the number of new hospital admissions is declining.

Globally, the pandemic has seen nearly 3.5 million people infected and nearly 250,000 people have died.

The number of new recorded deaths is the lowest since late March, when only deaths in hospitals were being recorded. The new figures include deaths in care homes and have been declining for several days.

Meanwhile, an intensive care chief in the Paris region has told local media that the virus was present in France on December 27 – a month before the first cases were confirmed.

France is planning to lift its lockdown on May 11, when children will return to school in phases, some businesses will reopen and people will be able to travel within 100 kilometres (60 miles) of their homes without the need for a document giving a reason for their movement.

However, on Sunday, Health Minister Olivier Veran said this would depend on further falls in the number of new infections, particularly in the worst-affected areas like the Paris region and northeast France.

France also clarified that a rule requiring anyone entering the country to go into isolation for two weeks did not apply to people arriving from EU countries, the Schengen area, or the UK. (Excerpt from BBC News)

We need honest COVID-19 information Dear Editor, I have, since the first case, looked at the statics re-

WEEK NEW CASES TOTAL DEATHS TOTAL

Singapore and South Korea credit their effectiveness to the provision of informa-

MAR 12 - 18

1 5 5 1 1

leased by the Government on the COVID-19. What the record shows is that our curve may be declining.

We are now at week eight after the first reported case.

What numbers show is that in weeks 4 and 5 we had reported cases of 18 and 20 respectively. Weeks 6, 7 and 8 show the curve coming down.

What we have been told is that for the second month, we saw a 110 per cent increase. This is statistically correct, however, what is needed is a daily and weekly tracking and these graphs to be released. When one follows the COVID-19 around the world, in democratic countries, records and analysis, are readily given.

MAR 19 - 25

2 0 5 0 1

tion. In the worse hit country, USA, you receive daily updates and analysis.

What we had was the caretaker Minister using aggregate numbers for the first two months and then launch-

ing into a rebuke of people.

We are told where the hot spots are, what we need

MAR 26-AP 1 3 14 19 2 3

AP 2-AP 8

4 18 37 3 6

to know are the numbers across all areas of incidence in the city and country.

The lockdown is extended without any analysis and information of the fact-based considerations and timeline

A case for live streaming the recount

Dear Editor, Since the 1980s, the open concept has been the preferred choice for office layouts. This concept is preferred because it lends itself to improved communication amongst the workers, greater teamwork and enhanced supervision.

Along with those benefits, customers much prefer those types of offices. They prefer them as it gives them greater confidence in the workers that they are dealing with and they relish the fact that they can view their trans-

action as it is being dealt with. Banks, Insurance companies and generally every company that caters to the public utilise the open concept.

Even some restaurants utilise this concept. When one visits Government entities, they generally are met with an open layout and you can view the staff as they go about their duties.

That's why it was surprising to hear former Minister Patterson using the excuse of protecting the GECOM staff as the reason for not wanting the recount

to be live-streamed.

The majority of the persons who would be working during the recount are accustomed to working in full view of the public, so live streaming would not bother them one bit. In fact, a majority of those workers would prefer the live stream as it would work as free advertisement for them to hundreds of potential employers who would be able to view their work ethic and their professionalism as they engage in the recount.

It is transparent, however, why

for the way forward. The big question is, why?!

I am also attaching the

Patterson and the coalition are against the live streaming of the recount as it would show the world the true winners of the election or expose those who would seek to corrupt the recount.

I, therefore, implore upon the Chairperson of GECOM to acquiesce to the wishes of the majority of Guyanese and give us unfettered access to the recount.

With regards, Sherwyn Greaves

AP 9 - AP15

5 20 57 0 6

chronology of the releases since the first case.

AP 16 – AP 22 6 10 67 1 7

Respectfully, Manzoor Nadir

AP 23 - AP 29 7 11 78 2 9

APR 30 - MAY 8 4 82 9

Rigging is back on track

Dear Editor, Many Guyanese at home and abroad are quite sceptical of the recount plan which is prepared by GECOM and soon to be Gazetted. This plan again leaves loopholes for fraudulent overtures and it once again proves that GECOM’s Chairperson is not interested in delivering a free, fair, transparent and credible elections and at each and every opportunity she has deliberately failed to make the timely and appropriate decision to ensure these vital qualities.

GECOM’s Chairperson, being a retired Judge, must know fully well the qualities which are required to ensure transparent and credible recounting of the votes cast over two months ago. During this long and disgraceful period, she had witnessed and heard all the concerns voiced by all the stakeholders including the local and overseas observers and should have been convinced of the need for the recount to be imbued with those acceptable qualities.

Instead, Justice (retd) Claudette Singh has once again, as is now expected, proven that she will do the biddings of the PNC. She has so far squandered each and every opportunity to deliver on her pledge to Guyanese and her constitutional and legal duties and responsibilities to our people.

The ‘decency and integrity’ of the coalition took another nosedive when they did

not support the live stream of the recounting process when all the other political parties did. Why are they opposed to this measure if they are honest and want transparency?

Will the security of the persons involved in the recounting be compromised when the Statements of Recount will have the names of the relevant persons? Why is the security of the ‘big’ players such as Lowenfield, Myers, Mingo and Singh not a major concern?

The mumbled and stupid response by Patterson has done nothing to once again erase the now indelible and growing perception that the rigging of the 2020 elections in favour of the coalition is drawing closer.

Transparency at all levels is a must and I will totally agree with Commissioner Sase Gunraj when he unequivocally stated that “fraud festers where there is something to hide”. This is fully supported by ANUG’s Timothy Jonas.

Jonas and Nandlall had further stated that Claudette Singh’s use of Section 90 of the Act to refuse live streaming is inapplicable. This yet another ploy by GECOM’s Chair to support the coalition in their quest to rig. Her ‘flip-flopping’ in favour of the coalition has now become her unique trademark!

Another treacherous display of trying to rig the recount is the fact the Carter Center has not been getting the caretaker Government’s approval to fly in for the recount. Why is the coalition deathly afraid

of the Carter Center? The answer is simple. This organisation will not condone any form of rigging or attempts to do so since they had observed what took place during the tabulation of the Region Four votes at the Ashmins mall.

Indeed, the Carter Center has earned the respect of Guyanese citizens and political parties for decades. This should be extended to include the world at large. It must be recalled that it was the Carter Center which observed the 1992 elections which was won by the PPP and the PNC hardliners were grossly disappointed and had vowed that this will not be repeated.

Therefore, this deliberate exclusion will ensure that the electoral fraud by GECOM will go on smoothly since most likely the EU observers will not be here as well. The Caricom team is not adequate, to say the least, and will not be able to thwart or observe all the tricks by some GECOM mercenaries involved in the recount. The ABCE countries should no doubt question this deliberate exclusion.

In conclusion, there will be many more tricks and twists in this recount and all will be the handiwork of the GECOM trio, Singh, Lowenfield and Myers. The recount will be rigged! I have seen too much cunning and deceitful manoeuvring to believe otherwise. I wish I am wrong!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020

Regional

Venezuelan Government says 8 killed in foiled mercenary “incursion”

Members of the special forces unit are seen at a shore, after Venezuela's Government announced a failed "mercenary" incursion, in Macuto, Venezuela, May 3, 2020

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enezuela’s Government said it foiled a marine incursion on Sunday by “terrorist mercenaries” who attempted to enter the country on speedboats from neighbouring Colombia, which Opposition Leaders dismissed as a staged incident.

President Nicolás Maduro frequently accuses political adversaries of attempting to overthrow him with the backing of Washington, which has vowed to force him from office through sanctions that have crippled the nation’s oil exports.

Critics of the ruling

Socialist Party often dismiss such accusations as stunts used as an excuse to detain opponents of the Government.

The group landed early on Sunday on the coast of La Guaira, about 32 kilometres (20 miles) from the capital Caracas, Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said in a televised address.

“They tried to carry out an invasion by sea, a group of terrorist mercenaries from Colombia, in order to commit terrorist acts in the country, murdering leaders of the revolutionary government,” he said.

Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó said the Government was seeking to distract from recent violent events including a deadly prison riot on Friday and bloody Caracas gang battle on Saturday night.

“The regime is seeking to divert attention with a supposed incident (in La Guaira) plagued with inconsistencies, doubts, and contradictions,” the press team for Guaidó, who is recognised by more than 50 countries as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, said in a statement.

Socialist Party leader Diosdado Cabello said eight people were killed and two detained.

Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino said one of the speedboats had sunk, and that military vessels were searching the coast for survivors.

The assertions by Maduro’s Government of Colombian involvement were “unfounded”, Colombia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement, and were an attempt to distract attention from “the true problems that the Venezuelan people are living”. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Total coronavirus cases in Brazil rise above 100,000

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here have been 4588 new cases of the novel coronavirus in Brazil and 275 deaths over the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry said on Sunday, bringing total confirmed cases in the country to over 100,000.

The nation has now registered 101,147 confirmed cases of the virus and 7025 deaths. The number of cases increased roughly five per cent on Sunday from the previous day, while deaths rose by roughly four per cent, the Ministry said.

Meanwhile, President Jair Bolsonaro attacked Congress and the courts in a speech to hundreds of supporters on Sunday, underlining the former Army Captain’s increasing isolation as he downplays the impacts of the pandemic.

Right-wing Bolsonaro has drawn widespread criticism from across the political spectrum for dismissing the threat of the virus in Brazil.

On Sunday, dozens of public figures signed an open letter

The nation has now registered 101,147 confirmed cases of the virus and 7025 deaths

to the Brazilian Government calling on officials to protect the nation’s Indigenous people, who often live in remote locations with limited access to healthcare.

At the same time, Bolsonaro faces the most serious political crisis of his mandate, after his popular Justice Minister, Sergio Moro, quit last week and accused the President of firing the Federal Police Chief in a bid to appoint a personal ally to the post and obstruct graft probes target-

ing his sons.

Brazil’s Supreme Court blocked Bolsonaro’s pick for a new chief on Wednesday, enraging the President.

On Saturday, former Justice Minister Moro, among Brazil’s most popular public figures due to his tough stance on graft, presented testimony regarding possible obstruction of justice by Bolsonaro. Hours before, the President called Moro “Judas” on Twitter.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Bermuda records 7th COVID-19 death as Finance Minister plans to rewrite budget

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ermuda recorded its seventh COVID19-related death on Saturday as Finance Minister Curtis Dickinson announced that he would need to rewrite this year's budget because of the battering from the coronavirus pandemic.

In making the announcement late Saturday, the Health Ministry said the victim would not be identified, but added that all 157 of the latest tests for the virus were clear.

To date, Bermuda has had 114 confirmed cases, 51 of whom have recovered while 40 people are being monitored by public health officials. There are 56 active cases, with 16 people aged between 57 and 91 in hospital.

Dickinson told viewers during a discussion on social media, that he expected to have to borrow more cash in the battle to reboot the economy.

rinidad Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley on Saturday dismissed as a “dishonest last gasp and gamble of a dangerously delusional woman”, a statement by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar calling on him “to come clean and tell this country the true state of this possibly illegitimate fuel shipment” to Venezuela.In a statement, Rowley said that the “rant” by the Opposition Leader “is not new” and that as “a desperate and failing Opposition Leader it has become abundantly clear that it is the UNC’s (United National Congress) position that for them to suc-

ceed, the country must fail.

“It matters not what they have to do to bring about such failure, but fail we must according to them,” Rowley said.

On Friday, Persad-Bissessar issued a lengthy statement in which she expressed “serious alarm” at a Trinidad Guardian newspaper report that the United States was “probing our country over a Trinidad and Tobago fuel shipment linked to Venezuela”.“If true, our country’s very economic survival is at stake. This since, as our longstanding and greatest global ally, any such rift could gravely damage our very beneficial

The national debt already stood at US$2.67 billion before the crisis started.

He said the Government faced an estimated loss in tax revenues of US$150 million to US$200 million because of the economic chaos caused by COVID-19 and the crisis had put the island's econo- Bermudan Finance Minister Curtis Dickinson my in “a new world”.

Minister, an estimated 8000 He added that the to 9000 people, about a quarGovernment was looking at a ter of the island's workforce, range of options, from an in- were unemployed as a result crease in financial services to of the crisis and he had been broadening the island's funds forced to break “a whole host business, as well as “differ- of rules” to get unemployment benefit payments to ent investment vehicles”.

According to the Finance people who had not received them. (Excerpt from CMC)

Reporters in Ecuador's Guayaquil risk it all to cover coronavirus

F

or journalists covering the coronavirus pandemic, getting the story comes with life and death risks. There is perhaps no place where that is more apparent than in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where at least 12 reporters have died during the pandemic, and more than a dozen have gotten sick, according to rights groups.

Guayaquil, a densely populated port city in the western part of the country, made international headlines last month as bodies piled up, in homes and at times on the streets, in what is believed to be one of Latin America's hardest-hit areas.

So far, at least 1300 people have died across the country and 27,000 have been infected, though experts fear the numbers are much higher. According to Ecuadorian authorities, more than 10,200 people died in Guayas province last month. The usual monthly average for Guayas is about 2000 deaths. It is unclear how many of the deaths were directly related to COVID-19, because many people died and were buried without being tested.

Among the dead are Olmedo Mendez, Victor Hugo Pena, Angel Sanchez, Manuel Varas, Paul Tobar, Carlos Loor, Omar Paredes,

Luis Alberto Flores, Roberto Roman, Augusto Iturburu, Omar Salvatierra, and Rosendo Escobar Cardenas.

All were Journalists on the front lines in Guayaquil as the death toll drastically rose. It is unclear how many were infected by COVID-19, as not all were tested.

"Most of the journalists are believed to have been infected while working. But you cannot be sure," said Cesar Ricaurte, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fundamedios, a NonGovernmental Organisation promoting press freedom across the Americas.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

PM's committee to recommend Clico assets for recovery

P

rime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley and his Cabinet will be told to move quickly and sell the Clico assets to raise

Trinidad PM denies breaking US sanctions

T

17

trade, national security, and foreign relations with the United States.”PersadBissessar said that since January 2019, the Nicolás Maduro Government in Caracas has been “deemed illegal, brutal and corrupt by the US”.“The US and 50 other countries have instead recognised the Venezuelan Opposition Leader, Juan Guaidó, as the country’s legitimate President. Further, the United States has imposed sweeping sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry, and last month charged Maduro and other senior Government officials with ‘narco-terrorism’. (Excerpt from CMC)

much-needed cash and also to float a major bond that could mobilise billions of dollars.

These are two major recommendations that the Prime Minister is to receive from his 22-member committee appointed to prepare a way forward to revive the economy, post the COVID-19 lockdown.

Several members of the committee who spoke with the Sunday Guardian on condition of anonymity have said the Government was being urged to raise cash in this way rather than significantly increasing the country's debt stock by massive borrowings, while providing much-needed stimulus for the economy.

Some members of the

committee are urging the Government to sell the assets in Clico that include majority holdings in companies like Republic Bank and Angostura, and raise the money for the stimulus and budgetary support.

The construction sector is also being looked at as a major area for investments.

This committee is also likely to give the Government ideas on what it can do to increase both demand and spending and to get people back to work.

Co-vice-chair of the committee and Public Utilities Minister Robert Le Hunt said he would neither confirm nor deny the information, but found it to be interesting suggestions.

(Excerpt from The T&T Guardian)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020

Around the World

North and South Korea in gunfire exchange after Kim Jong-un reappears

N

orth and South Korea have exchanged gunfire in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) which divides the two countries.

Seoul's military said shots from the North hit a guard post in the central border town of Cheorwon. It said it returned fire and delivered a warning announcement.

Such incidents across the world's most heavily fortified border are rare.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told US media the shots from the North were believed to be "accidental".

Meanwhile, South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted a Government offi-

It is not clear what provoked the initial gunfire

cial as saying the shots were not likely to have been intentional.

No injuries were reported in the incident. Military officials in the South say there was no sign of unusual troop movements.

The last time the North opened fire on the South happened in 2017 when a North Korean soldier made a dash across the military demarcation line to defect.

The Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) was set up after the

made or genetically modified. That statement undercut conspiracy theories promoted by anti-China activists and some supporters of President Donald Trump who suggest it was developed in a Chinese Government biological weapons laboratory.

“The best experts so far seem to think it was manmade. I have no reason to disbelieve that at this point,” Pompeo said. When the interviewer pointed out

that was not the conclusion of US intelligence agencies, Pompeo backtracked, saying, “I’ve seen what the intelligence community has said. I have no reason to believe that they’ve got it wrong.”

US officials familiar with intelligence reporting and analysis have said for weeks that they do not believe Chinese scientists developed the coronavirus in a Government biological

Korean War in 1953 in order to create a buffer zone between the two countries.

For the past two years, the Government in Seoul has tried to turn the heavily fortified border into a peace zone.

Easing military tensions at the border was one of the agreements reached between the leaders of the two countries at a summit in Pyongyang in September 2018.

Kim Jong-un's reappearance in public, reported by North Korean state media on Friday, followed an almostthree-week unexplained absence that sparked intense global speculation about his health. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Pompeo says “significant” evidence new coronavirus emerged from Chinese lab

S

ecretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday there was “a significant amount of evidence” that the new coronavirus emerged from a Chinese laboratory, but did not dispute US intelligence agencies’ conclusion that it was not man-made.

Pompeo then briefly contradicted a statement issued this week by the top US spy agency that said the virus did not appear to be man-

weapons lab from which it then escaped.

Rather, they have said they believe it was either introduced through human contact with animals at a meat market in the central city of Wuhan, or could have escaped from one of two Wuhan Government laboratories believed to be conducting civilian research into possible biological hazards. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Coronavirus: Tanzanian President promises to import Madagascar's 'cure'

T

he President of Tanzania said he will send a plane to Madagascar to import a herbal tonic which has been touted as a cure for coronavirus by the country's President.

Congo-Brazzaville's President has also promised to import the drink.

It is produced from the artemisia plant - the source of an ingredient used in a malaria treatment.

The World Health Organisation has said there is no proof of any cure and has advised people against self-medicating.

The drink was launched

It was launched after being tested on fewer than 20 people

as Covid-Organics and was being marketed after being tested on fewer than 20 people over a period of three weeks, the President's Chief of Staff Lova Hasinirina Ranoromaro told the BBC. In response to the launch

of Covid-Organics, the WHO said in a statement sent to the BBC that the global organisation did not recommend "self-medication with any medicines... as a prevention or cure for COVID-19".

International trials were

Netanyahu and his main rival Benny Gantz signed an agreement last month to form a unity Government under which they would take turns leading Israel after three elections that neither of them won.

The pact has support from a majority in Parliament. But several groups, including opposition parties and democracy watchdogs, have petitioned Israel’s highest court to nullify the deal and bar

Netanyahu from leading the Government, citing the criminal proceedings against him.

Some Israeli analysts have said the court, cast by Netanyahu loyalists as liberal and interventionist, was unlikely to bar the premier from heading a new Government.

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving Prime Minister, was indicted in January on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He denies any wrongdoing in all three cases

underway to find an effective treatment, the WHO added.

The drink has been picked up in other African countries.

Tanzania's delay in enforcing stricter measures to prevent further spread of coronavirus in the country could have led to the spike in positive cases, according to the WHO. The country has 480 confirmed cases of coronavirus but Magufuli said that number may be exaggerated and that he doubted the credibility of the national laboratory. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Israel's Supreme Court discusses Netanyahu's fate as Prime Minister

I

srael’s Supreme Court began a two-day hearing on Sunday to determine whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s indictment on criminal charges disqualifies him from forming a new Government.

A ruling against Netanyahu would likely trigger a snap election, the fourth since April 2019, as the country grapples with the coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout.

against him and said he is a victim of a political witchhunt.

Netanyahu’s trial is due to start on May 24.

Israeli law says a Prime Minister under indictment is not obligated to step down until a final conviction. But legal some experts say there are legal precedents suggesting elected officials indicted with charges that carry moral turpitude should resign.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

OILNEWS Global oil demand starts a long, painful and uncertain recovery

F

ew have a better watchtower over oil demand than Joe Gorder, Chief Executive Officer of major US refiner Valero Energy Corp. But this week Gorder didn’t even need his business insight to know that fuel consumption was starting to recover in America.

He only needed to look at the streets of San Antonio, the Texas city where he’s based, to see traffic emerging after weeks of lockdown.

From the streets of San Antonio to Barcelona and Beijing, traffic data, sales at fuel stations, and pipeline flows all suggest that the slump in oil demand probably bottomed out around the middle of April, and has now started a modest -- and very tentative -- recovery. The signs matter beyond the petroleum industry as they provide a glimmer of hope after a torrent of negative economic data.

But the recovery is extremely slow. Oil traders believe it’s likely to take more than a year, and perhaps much longer, before global demand reaches the pre-pandemic levels of roughly 100 million barrels a day. A growing minority even speculate it may never get there again.

The sheer scale of the demand destruction -- about 30 million barrels a day in April -- means the comeback is going to be a painful process. The International Energy Agency estimates that consumption will be down 25.8 million barrels a day in May, and 14.6 million in June. In December, it would still be 2.7 million a day below 2019 levels.

“We’re seeing improvements really across all three markets, we’ve seen in May volumes trending up in Europe, we see that happening in the US, and we see that also in Asia,” Darren Woods, CEO of Exxon Mobil Corp, told investors on Friday. “There are some, I’d say, encouraging early signs.”

The very gradual improvement comes just as producers, from the OPEC+ alliance to drillers in Texas, accelerate their output cuts. Together they could progressively push supply and demand into balance over time.

“Globally, we are at the inflexion point where we are past the worst for oil demand destruction but not for supply destruction,” Olivier Jakob, Managing Director at consultant Petromatrix GmbH. “This should help price stabilisation.”

The process will take time, with unsold crude and oil products likely to accumulate well into June and perhaps even July. Storage tanks are nearly full, and brings with it the risk of New York crude gyrating wildly again when the June futures near expiry in the middle of this month, mirroring what happened when the May contract ended and sent prices below zero.

Even so, the physical oil market, where actual barrels change hands, is showing tentative signs of recovery, particularly in Europe. Urals, Russia’s flagship export grade, has risen to a premium over Brent after Moscow cut exports to a 10-year low.

The epicentre of the oil recovery is the same as where the public health crisis started in January: Wuhan. Weekday traffic in the Chinese city has almost returned to pre-crisis levels, although it remains depressed on weekends. It’s completely back to normal during rush hour in other major cities including Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai, according to data from navigation company TomTom International BV. In the oil industry itself, the recovery is patchy, and many worry that it could quickly reverse if a second wave of infections hit after lockdowns are relaxed. Even when demand strengthens, crude consumption may remain low because refiners will have first to get rid of the millions of gallons of oil products that have piled up over the past weeks.

As with many economic indicators, oil demand data comes with a significant lag. So traders rely on proxy estimates for a near real-time view. One is highway traffic. Another is the amount of gasoline and diesel that’s trucked out from pipeline terminals into fuel stations.

In the US, the amount of gasoline supplied to the market increased last week to nearly 5.9 million barrels a day, up from 5.1 million in the first week of April but well below the typically more than 9 million before the virus, according to the official data The data show that the recovery is only marginal. But it also indicates that consumption has, at the very least, bottomed out.

Where demand goes, prices follow, and Torbjorn Tornqvist, head of commodity trading giant Gunvor Group Ltd, thinks the worst of oil’s slide is over.

Echoing a widely held view in the market, Tornqvist warns, however, that these subdued prices and demand may remain for a while. Prices aren’t likely to go much above US$40 a barrel before the end of 2021, Tornqvist said. (Excerpt from Bloomberg)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020

19

ARCHIE

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Don’t fold under pressure.

Strive for equality in all your relationships. Show compassion and understanding, but refuse to let your emotions be your downfall. Your spontaneity will keep everyone guessing.

It’s up to you to make a good impression if you want to position yourself favorably. A responsible attitude will win favors and encourage others to pitch in and help.

Concentrate on working, making money and getting ahead professionally. Add skills, courses and licenses to your resume, and rethink your long-term objective. Personal improvements will pay off.

Romance is encouraged.

A positive attitude will affect how your day goes. Look for investment opportunities, and talk to people who can offer a different perspective on current trends and new possibilities.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Talk less and do more. Be proactive and don’t waste time. Proceed with your plans, and don’t worry about what others do. Work alone and do what’s best for you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Reminiscing will prompt you to get in touch with old friends. Spend time doing something that you once enjoyed. Let the past guide you toward a healthier and happier future.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SUDOKU

Get your priorities straight and focus on accomplishing personal goals.

Make a focused effort to take part in physical activity that will encourage durability and better health.

Romance is featured.

Rely on creative resources to help you come up with ideas, solutions and a unique way to overcome any obstacle you encounter.

A personal change will help lift limitations.

Follow through with perSAGITTARIUS sonal plans regardless of (Nov. 23interference. Consider the Dec. 21) motives behind someone’s actions. Pay attention to the person you love most. A romantic gesture will improve your own life.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SATURDAY'S WORD

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Put your ideas, plans and skills to work for you.

Positive domestic, lifestyle and financial changes are heading in your direction.

Experience will help you make the right choice regarding domestic relationships. You will have the discipline to make physical improvements that will result in a healthier future.

Keeping secrets from a loved one will backfire, and so will sharing too much information with someone you don’t know well. Trust will be important when interacting with others.

20

MONDAY, MAY, 4 2020

W

ithin 24 hours of being re-elected as World Rugby’s chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont has admitted there is no sign of Six Nations officials making the radical concessions necessary to create a synchronised global fixture calendar that would transform the sport.

Beaumont, who also insisted World Rugby cannot force richer European unions to share their gate receipts with less wealthy visiting unions in future, has also made clear that efforts to revive the Nations Cup concept are still at the “embryonic” stage.

One possibility is the July and November Test weeks could be combined into a twomonth window in October and November but Beaumont has poured cold water on the idea of the Six Nations opting to shift from its traditional slot to April and May to dovetail with the southern hemisphere’s Rugby Championship.

“No one has ever mentioned to me that the Six Nations would move,” said Beaumont, who edged out his challenger, Augustín Pichot, 28-23 to remain as chairman thanks to the unanimous backing of all the Six Nations unions.

“What would move, in my opinion, would be the July and November windows. There could be an appetite to put the windows together but why would you move the Six Nations? It is not affecting anyone else’s window on the global calendar. It’s a six-week tournament that’s been played in February and March since I was a lad. It doesn’t affect anywhere else around the globe.”

T

Beaumont has also made clear that, while the home unions are open to the concept of a Nations Cup which would involve home and away fixtures against Rugby Championship sides in every two years of a four-year international cycle, there is still no sign of it involving relegation and promotion from the Six Nations.

“The Six Nations is owned by the Six Nations and has been going for 150-odd years,” Beaumont said. “Certainly that

yson Fury has backtracked on his initial retirement plans and the world heavyweight champ i o n is now planning to fight until he is 40.

The 31-year-old has two fights remaining on his current contract and had previously spoken of his desire to walk away from boxing at the conclusion of that deal to spend more time with his family.

Having stopped Deontay Wilder to win the WBC title in February, Fury was set to fight the American for a third time this year before the coronavirus pandemic put boxing on hold.

And now, with talk of a unification bout against fellow Briton Anthony Joshua continuing to gain traction, Fury has suggested he is not hanging up his gloves any time soon.

"I'm going to fight on 'til I'm 40 years old," he told ESPN. "I've been thinking about it, and there isn't much else to do anyways. So yeah, I may as well keep fighting.

"I don't see anyone out there that can challenge me anyway. I just flattened the best one out there, the toughest opponent out there is Deontay Wilder, and we all saw what happened to him the last time out."

Fury has fought 31 times as a professional, winning 30 of those fights and drawing just once, in his initial bout with Wilder. (Sportsmax)

would not be the intention currently. But we will be looking at the global season and maybe looking again at a variation of the Nations Championship. That was one of the big regrets that I wasn’t able to put away (last year) but we have learned from that experience.”

The only certainty is World Rugby’s reaffirmed desire to bolster the competitions involving countries from outside the world’s top dozen. Reviewing regulations to permit

P

Pacific Islands players to revert to representing Fiji, Samoa or Tonga once they are no longer being picked for New Zealand or Australia also forms part of Beaumont’s manifesto but there is widespread dismay in the southern hemisphere that Pichot’s campaign fell short. New Zealand rugby’s chief executive, Brent Impey, said his union was “disappointed” and urged Beaumont to “heed the calls for change to the game”.

The 68-year-old former England captain is promising to try to involve players more closely in determining the game’s future.

“We need to take more heed of the players – I am committed to getting them involved in any decision we make.”

He also wants to replace the divisive tier one and tier two terminology by referring instead to “emerging nations” and believes the coronavirus pandemic is encouraging countries to work together for the greater good. “We are at a crossroads,” Beaumont said. “The pandemic has [led to] a real desire from north and south to reunite our game. One thing I will be desperate to do is pull this game together.”

Beaumont added he was “fully committed to undertaking a wide-changing governance review” after the British Olympic Association chairman, Sir Hugh Robertson, was selected to chair the committee. A former Conservative MP, Robertson was sports minister during the London Olympic Games in 2012. (The Guardian)

aul Pogba could have fewer suitors in the coming transfer window as clubs struggle to fund deals, according to Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici.

Former Juve star Pogba has long been linked with a move away from current club Manchester United, with the Bianconeri, Inter and Real Madrid mooted as potential destinations.

However, football has been suspended and, in some cases, abandoned for the season in Europe's top leagues amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Elite clubs have been forced to seek agreements with players for wage cuts or deferrals in order to save money, with income from television deals in the balance and ticket sales unlikely to return soon.

Paratici suggests Pogba is one example of a star name who could find his pathway blocked in the market. "[Pogba] is a great footballer, but this type of player could struggle to have the same interest as before," the Juve chief told Sky Sport Italia.

Stressing a need to be "creative" with moves, Paratici explained: "In the near future, the transfer market will have less money.

"We are going through a complicated time globally. We will have to rely on exchanges, on long loans. If you cannot buy a house, you rent. The same thing will happen in football.

"It is a formula that will be used to dilute the payments and take advantage of the players required.

"If we talk about the top 10 or 20 teams in the world exchanging players, the market values will not go down.

"On the other hand, wages will drop, while if you sell a single player, his value could drop."

World Cup winner Pogba is in his fourth season back at United, having returned to Old Trafford - where he came through the academy - after a successful four-year stint at Juve.

While with the Serie A giants, Pogba won a quartet of Scudetti, two Coppa Italias, two Supercoppa Italianas and reached the 2014-15 Champions League final. (Sportsmax)

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he final two weekends in May have been earmarked for some big races if British racing is given the go-ahead to resume.

Racing has been suspended since 17 March because of the coronavirus crisis and key contests, including the Chester Vase, are set to be cancelled.

But some could be saved, with 16 Group races provisionally planned to be run behind closed doors this month.

The Craven Stakes would be on 23 or 24 May, with the Dante a week later, along with the Lockinge Stakes.

Plans are part of a 'best case scenario' and dependent on government approval for racing's resumption.

It is hoped that the season's first two Classics - the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas w i l l

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be held on the first weekend in June a f ter being postponed from their original dates at Newmarket this weekend.

Race planners have warned that some contests may need to be staged

at alternative racecourses to their usual venues.

"Under our best-case scenario planning, and subject to advice from public health authorities, the aim is to rescue a number of lost events from the early part of the spring and stage them during the second half of May and early June, if possible," said a statement issued by the British Horseracing Authority.

Under a provisional schedule from the Flat Pattern Planning Committee, the following races would b e held on weekends in late May and early June (their

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

A

NOW!

H

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

traditional venues are in brackets).  23-24 May: Pavilion, Sagaro, Paradise Stakes (Ascot); Nell Gwyn, Craven (Newmarket); Greenham, Fred Darling, Aston Park (Newbury); Brigadier Gerard (Sandown); Conqueror (Goodwood); Pinnacle (Haydock)  24-31 May: Lockinge (Newbury); Palace House (Newmarket); Yorkshire Cup, Dante, Musidora, Middleton (York); Cecil Frail, Spring Trophy (Haydock).  5-6 June: 2,000 Guineas, 1,000 Guineas, Pretty Polly, (Newmarket); Coronation Cup (Epsom); Bronte Cup (York) Some of the leading races that would be abandoned are the Cheshire

afthor Bjornsson is best known for portraying 'The Mountain' in hit TV series Game of Thrones but he was not playing around on Saturday.

The 2018 World's Strongest Man winner set a world record with a 501-kilogram deadlift in front of a small gathering of people in a Reykjavik gym.

After lifting 420kg and 465kg in his first two attempts, the 6ft 9in, 200kg bodybuilder made history.

Bjornsson appeared to complete the deadlift comfortably and after locking into position the iron was thrown to the floor.

"I'm absolutely speechless. I'm

just so happy and thankful that I got the opportunity to do this, even though the world is going through what it's

going through," said Bjornsson.

"Everything went according to plan.

I'm over the moon.

"I believe today I could've done more, but what's the point? I'm happy with this, my family and friends were happy with this and I decided to call it." (Sportsmax)

growing number of Premier League clubs are open to playing the remaining fixtures at neutral venues but with the threat of relegation removed.

Top-flight clubs have been told that using up to 10 neutral stadiums will be the only way to complete the season.Brighton say they are "not in favour" of using neutral venues because it may affect the "integrity" of the league.Clubs near the bottom of the table feel it is unfair to play in such different conditions when at risk of relegation.The Premier League has been suspended since 13 March because of the coronavirus pandemic but all clubs are committed to playing the 92 remaining fixtures of the 2019-20 season if and when safe to do so.Clubs accept matches may need to be played behind closed doors for an extended period and that it may well not be financially viable to wait until normal playing conditions, such as having fans attending, can resume.

However, those near the bottom are concerned playing matches at neutral stadiums, behind closed doors and with the ongoing uncertainty over the availability of players whose contracts expire on 30 June makes for a vastly different situation to that in which their first 28 or 29 fixtures this season were played.They argue

21

Oaks, t h e Dee Stakes and Ormonde Stakes at Chester, Lingfield's Derby and Oaks Trials, Haydock's Temple Stakes, the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket, plus Goodwood's Cocked Hat and Height of Fashion Stakes.

The Chester Vase was won by subsequent Derby victor Ruler of the World seven years ago, and the 2017 Chester runner-up Wings Of Eagles went on to also win at Epsom.

Racing's leaders are keen that any return limits demands on the under-pressure NHS, and initial plans include a maximum of 12 runners per race with senior jockeys only to reduce the risk of injuries and help with social distancing.

Organisers of the Royal Ascot meeting are planning for it to go ahead, without spectators, from 16 June while the Oaks and the Derby have been earmarked for July.

One suggestion for the resumption of racing is the use of racecourse 'hubs', such as Lingfield, Newcastle and Newmarket where jockeys, stable staff and officials could stay close by or on site in hotels.

Racing has continued behind closed doors at tracks in Hong Kong, Australia and the United States.

(BBC Sport)

it is impossible to uphold the integrity of the competition under these circumstances.Brighton chief executive Paul Barber said the club "fully appreciate why playing behind closed doors is very likely to be a necessary compromise to play our remaining games".However, he added: "At this critical point in the season, playing matches in neutral venues has, in our view, potential to have a material effect on the integrity of the competition."Clubs who risk losing large amounts of money if relegated are also worried their finances could take a further hit if they still have to play matches behind closed doors in next year's Championship.If there was no relegation from the Premier League, two or three teams could still be promoted from this year's Championship and a 22- or 23-team top flight run next season.A major factor in the decision to require neutral venues is reducing the chance of fans congregating, and the selection of grounds will be largely based on a rating from the police and the Sports Grounds Safety Authority.Not all of the proposed eight to 10 neutral venues will necessarily be Premier League grounds, although the vast majority will be.

Premier League clubs will discuss these issues again after the government's review of the lockdown restrictions on 7 May. (BBC Sport)

22

MONDAY, MAY, 4 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Forde speaks

W

ith CONCACAF signalling its intention to establish a Caribbean Professional League by setting-up of a study group, how would this influence the Guyana Football Federation’s work to improve structure and management of local clubs?

A sustainable Caribbean Professional League that is modelled from the unique circumstances of the Caribbean football reality would be the realisation of a shared vision of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Member Associations family. I wish, therefore, to commend President (Victor) Montagliani for following through on his commitment and to assure my colleagues, that as a member of the CONCACAF Competitions Committee – I will do my utmost to contribute to the work of the subgroup.

As it relates to Guyana’s football – let me be clear, the GFF’s focus is on investing in the professional management of the game and NOT on developing a professional league. We simply do not have the fundamental building blocks at this time for a sustainable professional league. Any professional football model – that has to be heavily bankrolled by the GFF will not be sustainable. In addition, to this model being unsustainable, it will also consume vast amounts of finances and other critical resources that are badly needed for the cultivation of a sustainable model for youth development programmes, coaching education, referees’ development, capacity building, national team programmes, infrastructure development projects, etc. These are the fundamental priorities that the GFF must remain focused on for the next four to eight years.

Until then, the national football machinery must remain focused on helping Regional Associations and Clubs to get better at organising football competitions at a consistently good standard, developing a better registration and data management systems, developing a marketing, CSR and PR platform and facilitating technical development of their Coaches, officials and most importantly, their players.

infrastructure development projects. This is what we have been doing at an unprecedented rate over the past four years.

However, this alone is not sufficient and will not have a lasting impact unless the elected leaders at the Club and Regional Associations embrace their constitutional obligations with commitment and dedication.

The GFF will be establishing a membership department in the very near future, which will allow us to be closer to our members and work with them to develop solutions to the challenges they might be facing in implementing their programmes.

GFF President Wayne Forde

We have to remind ourselves that globally, professional football is played by professional clubs, with the financial resources to fund their operations. In Guyana, and like most of the CFU region, we do not have professional clubs. This is mainly because of the scale of Guyana’s economy at this moment in time. The Trinidad professional league is a good example of what is required to create the semblance of a professional football league. Despite Trinidad’s relatively strong economy and corporate community, the league exists ONLY because of a Government grant that is used to pay the players as part of a social programme geared towards crime reduction. This is not the Guyana reality.

At the core, the GFF role is to build management capacity at the Club and Association level, by providing training programmes for Club management, competition management, marketing, coaching, providing football equipment and supporting

What additional steps will the GFF be taking to improve the competitiveness and quality of the Elite Leagues and Association Leagues?

The investment that is presently being made in coaching education will continue to influence the quality of the players we are producing as is evident in our national youth teams’ international performances. However, what is critical but difficult is to replicate the quality of coaching that is taking place in the national teams’ programme across Guyana.

The Academy Training Centre (ATC) programme will help with this, but in order to really see the returns on these investments, we have to do more in educating the Coaches in every club across Guyana – from the hinterland to the coastland.

We have seen many new programmes and changes during the period of your tenure as President of the GFF, has this contributed to the structure of local football and what will the future of Guyana look like in 4 years?

I believe the evidence firmly supports a bright future for the game. While we continue to grapple with some inherent challenges at both the national and regional levels, the body of work of my administration has laid a solid foundation for the future of the sport.

The r e s toration of the GFF’s image within Guyana and throughout the regional and global community is, in par- t i c u lar, a personal source of pride. I believe the fraternity’s departure from the wasteland of political turmoil to a more progressive football-oriented posture is a marked accomplishment that should never be taken for granted.

Politics is inevitable in football, but it must remain as a seasonal phenomenon as we had witnessed in the run-up to my re-election in November. The future of Guyana’s football is inextricably connected to the future of our country and while COVID-19 has reminded us all of the simple things we took for granted, I remain extremely optimistic that Guyana will emerge out of this crisis as one of the strongest economies within the Region.

In more specific terms, on the national front, our goals for the future are: the completion of GFF National Training Centre at Providence, completion of the GFF Football Complex at Durban Park, improving football facilities across the country, making football equipment more affordable and accessible, increasing the number of qualified Coaches and being able to fully execute our National Football Calendar among others. Finally, much of this will not be possible without the support of the entire football fraternity, corporate Guyana, and the Government of Guyana. On the international front, we would like a second appearance at the CONCACAF Gold Cup; I would like to see our youth teams advancing beyond the group stage of regional competitions consistently and the Golden Jaguars quali-

FULL LIST OF APPLICANTS

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ormer West Indies left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn is seeking to become Head Coach of the T&T Red Force senior cricket team.

Applications for the post closed on Thursday afternoon and up until then, the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) had received 18 applications for the position which became vacant on Thursday.

Also among those applying was 2019-2020 head coach Mervyn Dillon, who held the position from January 2019 until Thursday. The former West Indies fast bowler carried the team to second in the West Indies Championships, their best finish since 2014 and will be hoping that this sways the TTCB appointed committee conducting the interviews in his favour.

Also among those applying is the coach of the national Under-17 team Rayad Emrit. Former West Indies leg-spinner Samuel Badree has thrown his hat into the ring as well as former T&T opening batsman Imran Jan. Keshava Ramphal who coached the T&T Under-15 team in 2018 is also interested in the job as well as the former T&T wicketkeeper Gibran Mohammed.

Barbadian Benn, 38, who made his first-class debut in 1999, played at formats for the Caribbean side. Former national under-17 coach Gregory Davis has also applied as well as current national under-15 coach Brian Browne. Current Red Force manager and former Queen's Park coach David Furlonge has also decided to apply having been around the team for a couple of seasons.

The job has attracted international attention with former Pakistan Test batsman Atiq-Uz-Zaman also applying.

Zaman was good enough to play one Test and three ODIs for Pakistan in 2000 and do a more than adequate job in them (he took five catches in his only Test against Sri Lanka).

Much of his good work had come in the preceding domestic seasons; he broke a longstanding record for the highest number of dismissals in a season in 2000-01 with 76 victims.

He now lives in England, where he is involved in coaching.

Sri Lankan Pasindu Liyanaarachichi has also applied for the post as well as Asadullah Khan of Afghanistan and Heinrich Malan from South Africa. The TTCB will now look

Rayad Emrit - Trinidad Bhoodesh Dookie - T&T Gibran Mohammed - T&T Davindra Singh - T&T Imran Jan - T&T Samuel Badree - T&T Gregory Davis - T&T Mervyn Dillon - T&T David Furlonge - T&T Vinood Maharaj - T&T Sulieman Benn - Barbados Keshava Ramphal - T&T Brian Browne - T&T Pasindu Liyanaarachchi - Sri Lanka Asadullah Khan - Afghanistan Heinrich Malan - South Africa Atiq-Uz-Zaman - Pakistan Roland Sampath - T&T to appoint a committee to interview the 18 applicants before taking their recommendations. The board is expected to put the committee in place by mid-May after which they will wait on directions from the government as to when it is safe to open up their offices again and then interviews will be scheduled. (TT Guardian)

MONDAY, MAY, 4 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Corlette's players to watch (Part 5) ...

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By Brandon Corlette

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uyana seem to have the strongest core of players to select from in the Region, given the unavailability of firstchoice players.

Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) duo and former West Indies youth players Qumar Torrington (West Indies U-16) and Raymond Perez (West Indies U-19) are often present at Jaguars net sessions or practice matches where they have been gaining some invaluable experience.

Perez is a solid top-order batsman and Torrington is a strong right-arm fast-bowler, both of whom play in the Cricket Guyana Inc (CGI) Franchise League for the city side, Georgetown.

U - 1 9 tournament scoring 348 runs in six innings, including three unbeaten ones, ending with an average of 116 and a high score of 77, which Raymond Perez in his West Indies Qumar Torrington earned him the Most U-19 outfit Torrington bowls with venom Valuable Player Raymond Perez (MVP) award in the over matches for The top-order batsman had a One-Day format. That performance Guyana and picked breakthrough year at the Regional earned Perez selection to the West up eight wickets at Indies U-19 World Cup 12.63. team that toured New Torrington, who gained against Zealand in 2018. experience bowling at reHe also scored 243 gional players in net sesruns in the three-day forsions ahead of Four-Day Diplomats and fol- clashes, claimed a Playermat in that memorable 2018 season in St Kitts lowed up that with 159 against of-the-Match award in the and Nevis. Perez, who is Police. Perez has his eyes set on CGI Franchise League known as the 'crisis man' a Jaguars call-up, and featured in when he took a four-wickin local cricket, did not has Jaguars three-day practice match- et haul against the West a dream season for the ma- es and had good starts. If Perez is Demerara team. roon boys due to an ankle nurtured and invested in wisely, With the dream of injury. He only played one he will certainly be one for the fu- playing First-Class crickwarm-up match against ture. et, Torrington continues PNG, and did not feature to work hard. The paceQumar Torrington in any of the team's three man is among the few The promising right-arm cricketers in Guyana who group-stage games. He was further replaced after speedster has also come through have been balancing crickthe ranks at the junior level. et and academics. He is he was sent home.

In the local arena, Torrington played in the 2018 and currently a student at Perez has been dominat- 2019 Regional U-19 tournaments, the University of Guyana ing for DCC, churning out but missed out on an opportuni- (UG). Given his top-notch centuries in Georgetown ty to rock the maroon colours in abilities as a seamer, he Perez bats in a Jaguars 3-Day Practice match Cricket Association (GCA) the International Cricket Council also handles himself with Perez was the MVP in the Regional U-19 Onefixtures. In the latter part (ICC) Under-19 Cricket World Cup. the bat in local cricket. certainly on the radar for a Guyana day tournament of 2019, Perez stroked 192 In 2018, Torrington played four 50- Invested in wisely, Torrington is Jaguars call-up in the future.

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epresentatives from England and West Indies, including Test captains Joe Root and Jason Holder, have been involved in "positive ongoing discussions" about rescheduling their forthcoming series, the ECB has said.

West Indies were due to arrive in the UK this month ahead of a three-Test tour, but that has now been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The English season is currently on hold, with no cricket planned before July 1 and the ECB working on contingency plans to try and fulfil its international fixtures once lockdown restrictions are lifted.

CWI chief executive Johnny Grave has previously outlined how the series could be moved to July.

That would have involved a clash with the Hundred, but the ECB has subsequently put back the launch of its new tournament until 2021.

Any moves to put on Tests behind closed doors will need the approval of the UK government, however. Meetings with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport were held during the week, with the ECB understood to be taking a lead role in assessing the viability of "bio-secure" venues for the resumption of professional sport.

On the cricketing side, Root and

England's coach, Chris Silverwood, took part in a video conference with their West Indies counterparts, Holder and Phil Simmons.

"Positive ongoing discussions with the ECB and CWI continued on Friday," an ECB spokesperson said. "Both boards were represented including captains, coaches, administrators and the chief medical officers from the respective boards.

"Discussions were wide-ranging including dialogue around revised schedules and COVID-19 medical and biosecurity planning.

"Meetings will be ongoing over the next few months to reach an outcome of when international cricket could potentially return.

This is a long and detailed process and is very much in the early stages of planning. The guidance from the government will emphasise what we can do."

CWI has also kept the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) in the loop on the England tour.

CWI and WIPA had a call on Wednesday and both parties committed to have more discussions

on the possibility of the tour going ahead.

Speaking in a recent interview with Caribbean TV channel CNC3, Holder said that all sides were involved in a "waiting game" but hopeful of a positive outcome despite ongoing worries about the coronavirus.

"We're still sitting back and waiting. I just think it's a situation where we're all monitoring the situation over in England, particularly in Europe as well," Holder said. "I've seen a few things in oth-

er sports where they've pushed the schedules back and not having fans ‌ but it's a waiting game. We can only sit tight and hope and pray we resume some type of normalcy in the not-too-distant future.

"This thing has been really, really serious, as we all know, and has claimed quite a few lives throughout the world, and that's the last thing any of us would really want. I think we've got to play the safety card first before we can even think about resuming our normal lives." (ESPNcricinfo)

MONDAY, MAY, 4 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

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Corlette's players to watch (Part 5)...

Perez bats in a Jaguars 3-Day Practice match

Torrington bowls with venom

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GFF President Wayne Forde

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