Guyana Times - Monday June 15, 2020

ERC calls for peace to prevail ahead of GECOM’s “significant” declaration

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4317

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020

"Functionary" Lowenfield cannot speak for GECOM ...Guyana looks to Chair Claudette Singh – ANUG Page 9

PRICE

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Pedal cyclist dies after collision with P18 CBR

Govt caused cancellation of flights for P17 stranded Guyanese – CAL

...failed to provide passenger list despite agreement with airline to do so

P14 School reopens for children writing exams

Granger has no powers to declare emergency or convene Parliament as hinted – PPP

ꟷ reopening is only to facilitate revision

See story on page 3

... says lawful elections result must be declared first ...Irfaan Ali already deemed as President constitutionally

No basis for APNU/AFC claims of voter fraud – GCCI Page 7

... says GECOM refused to show that names of alleged dead, migrant voters were ticked off … as businesses also bemoan loss of revenues due to elections limbo

GECOM to meet today to deliberate on Lowenfield’s report Page 18

1 arrested after CANU unearths ganja farm in St Cuthbert’s P2 Mission

Businessman brutally beaten, robbed by knife-wielding P10 bandits

2 NEWS

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

1 arrested after CANU unearths ganja farm in St Cuthbert’s Mission

cers conducted a seizure-aneradication exercise during which approximately 15.4 kilograms of dried cannabis plants was seized while some 1500 plants of an estimated height of three feet and total weight of 52.9 kilograms (275) pounds were destroyed.

The suspect found at the farm at the time was taken into custody and was assisting with the investigations. He is expected to make his court appearance later in the week.

The makeshift camp discovered by CANU ranks at St Cuthbert’s Mission

R

anks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Saturday arrested one person following a drug eradication exercise at St Cuthbert’s Mission on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

According to information received, CANU ranks, acting on intelligence, converged on a farm in the community, where they discovered a makeshift camp and extensive cultivation of cannabis plants.

The anti-narcotics offi-

A section of the cannabis farm unearthed by the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU)

NEWS

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MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, June 15 – 12:30h-14:00h and Tuesday, June 16 – 01:30h and 13:00h-14:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, June 15 – 12:45h-14:15h and Tuesday, June 16 – 13:20h-14:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Granger has no powers to declare emergency or convene Parliament as hinted ꟷ PPP ...lawful elections result must be declared first ...Irfaan Ali already deemed as President constitutionally

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

WEATHER TODAY Early-morning sunshine will give way to light to thundery showers in the mid-morning to late-evening hours followed by partly cloudy skies. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 12:20h reaching a maximum height of 2.20 metres.

Low Tide: 18:17h reaching a minimum height of 0.98 metre.

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Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

W

ith a declaration of the election results by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) imminent, President David Granger has hinted at the possibility of declaring a State of Emergency to allow him to govern notwithstanding the election results from the just-concluded recount.

Granger made this pronouncement during an interview with select media personnel at State House.

Responding to questions, he noted that a State of Emergency is a possibility considering the financial difficulties Guyana is in, the unresolved state of elections and the COVID-19 pandemic. He admitted that Government expenses are high while revenue is low.

“When the time comes and we hope it’s soon, we can return to Parliament and we can return to normalcy as quickly as possible. We have not yet reached a plateau in terms of COVID, but we expect the enforcement measures from the Police and other agencies will get us there very soon and we will be able to open up the economy. Maybe as early as July 1, so that revenue can start to flow back,” he indicated.

“For funds to be provided, there will have to be some mechanism for Parliament to reconvene. Right now, we’re not running on empty, but we’re running with very low funds. (Reconvening Parliament) will require some form of agreement, by which members of the 11th Parliament are prepared to resume.”

According to him, declaring a State of Emergency is a possibility in the context of whether GECOM nullifies the election. While Granger was of the view that Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield’s heavily subjective report makes a case for the elections to be nullified, none of the anomalies identified

PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali

have been proven. Nor has A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) presented a shred of evidence.

“I know it has been done before. It is not an option I would embark on without receiving the agreement of all the parties concerned. I don’t think it can be undertaken lightly or arbitrarily. I think it was done in 1990. It is uncharted territory,” he said.

“I would have to seek the agreement of the Opposition, but in the last resort constitutions make provisions for force majeure situations.

We are in such a situation in Guyana. I would consult the Leader of the Opposition and my partners before such drastic measures are taken.”

Delusional

However, Opposition Progressive

the

main People’s Party/Civic

(PPP/C) wasted no time in pouring cold water on the possibility of recalling the 11th Parliament. According to the Party, under no circumstances would it return to Parliament if GECOM did not declare a winner of the elections – a winner the recount has shown is its Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali. “President David Granger continues with his delusional outbursts. His latest episode was to some members of the Press (Sunday). Granger speculated about calling a State of Emergency. The Constitution confers no power on any President to invoke a State of Emergency after a General Elections and without a declaration of the results.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic

President David Granger

(PPP/C) wishes to make it abundantly clear that it will never return to Parliament or support the convening of Parliament unless the true results of the 2nd March 2020 elections, as recently recounted, is lawfully declared by GECOM.” TURN TO PAGE 8

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 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

GECOM is not the High Court D

isputes about elections are certainly not new to Guyana; and concomitantly, our laws and regulations have evolved painstakingly detailed rules to deal with almost any contingency. But laws and regulations assume that those affected by them will be persuaded that there will be sanctions if they are violated. The dilemma for a society that aspires to observing the rule of law begins when those appointed to enforce the law become complicit in breaking those laws. Who will guard the guardians?

One answer has been to create state institutions that are independent of the guardians, and which can act as checks and balances using powers clearly defined in the Constitution, the highest law in the land.

Today we have seen that David Granger, as President and head of a coalition in which his PNC is by far the largest component, has played fast and loose with the law – including the Constitution. He has had to be countermanded by the court at all its levels, including the Caribbean Court of Justice.

But unfortunately, those reprimands have not dissuaded him from repeating his transgressions – mainly because, as president, he is above the law: a contradiction in the very nature of the “rule of law”.

At this moment, Guyana is poised on a knife’s edge. We can either fall back into the authoritarian dictatorship of the first iteration of the PNC, in which its then leader could openly rig elections for decades and then warn his political bete noir, Walter Rodney, to “make his will” and proceed to assassinate him. Or we can consolidate the democratic gains ushered in by the PPP, which stepped out of office when defeated at the polls, even when they charged that those polls were flawed. They adhered to the laws and regulations governing our electoral system; to wit, to file an election petition in the High Court to challenge the results declared by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the authoritative body for issuing such results.

In a democracy, every individual or political party has a right to a remedy for the violation of their electoral rights, and the state has instituted rules and institutions to secure those rights – namely, GECOM and the courts. However, there is always the possibility that the courts and the electoral bodies like GECOM might be used by plaintiffs in a practice called “forum shopping”, so as to gain an advantage for their cause.

Because of Guyana’s sordid history of elections-rigging by the PNC, our laws have made a clear demarcation of the respective jurisdictions of GECOM and the High Court. And it is this demarcation which the present PNC under David Granger is seeking to breach by their insistence that the Report of the CEO of GECOM on the results of the recount -- illegally redolent with his opinions on the “credibility” of the elections based on mere assertions by PNC agents, most of which have since been rebuffed -- be used by the Commission to declare the elections invalid. The question before us, therefore, is: Who has jurisdiction to pronounce on the results of elections in Guyana and claims about the validity of those elections?

The law is clear: GECOM has the former function, while the High Court has the latter.

The Order for the recount, Officially Gazetted under 60/2020, is “subsidiary legislation”, and could not confer powers not granted to GECOM. It stated, “The matrices for the recount of the ten (10) Electoral Districts shall then be tabulated by the Chief Election Officer and be submitted in a report, together with a summary of the observation reports for each District, to the Commission on or before 13th day of June 2020.” It does not mention any evaluation of the objections raised by the PNC agents; that is a matter for the Courts.

Article 163 (1) (b) declares, “the High Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to determine any question (b) whether - (i) either generally or in any particular place, an election has been lawfully conducted or the result thereof has been, or may have been, affected by any unlawful act or omission.”

This was implemented by Chap 1:04 National Assembly (Validity of Elections Act) Sec 3.

Basil blunders again: GECOM bound to declare results

Dear Editor, Basil Williams’s misconception of the law is legendary. It is manifest in his latest missive, published in the Stabroek News on the 14th day of June 2020 under the caption “In light of evidence before it, GECOM ought not to request final report from CEO”.

Williams argues that Order no. 60 of 2020 empowers GECOM “…to resolve irregularities, discrepancies and anomalies occurring in the elections process.” He posits that there is “evidence” before the Commission, as contained in the Observation Report, with “supporting documentation”. As a result, he reasons, GECOM ought not to request the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) to submit a report under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act. He cites the case of Chilima Anor v Mutharika Constitutional Reference No. 1 of 2019, Malawi HC 431.

A convenient place to begin is to remind that Guyana’s legal system is that of a constitutional supremacy in which the doctrine of separation of powers inheres. The Constitution distributes the State’s responsibilities and duties unto various organs of the Constitution, with each organ being equipped with enabling legislation regarding its mandates and functional responsibilities. By virtue of the rule of law, none can exceed their individual mandate or jurisdiction.

Should any of these creations, whether they be institutions or Public Officers, exceed their power and make decisions or take actions outside of the scope of their authority, the High Court is resided with powers to review their decisions and actions, and strike those down as ultra vires, without and in excess of jurisdiction, and declare same a nullity. It is also the doctrine of “Separation of Powers” that keeps these constitutional organs within the four corners of the scope of their authority, and eschew their trespass onto the functional domain of other constitutional organs.

It is against this backdrop that Article 162 of the Constitution vests GECOM with only the following mandate: ART 162 (1): “The Elections Commission shall have such functions connected with or relating to the registration of electors or the conduct of elections as are conferred upon it by or under this Constitution or, subject thereto, any Act of Parliament; and, subject to the provisions or this Constitution, the Commission shall exercise general direction and supervision over the registration of electors and the administra-

tive conduct of all elections of members of the National Assembly; and shall issue such instructions and take such action as appear to it necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the provisions of this Constitution or of any Act of Parliament on the part of persons exercising powers or performing duties connected with or relating to the matters aforesaid.”

It must be noted that although those powers conferred upon GECOM are broad and wide, they do not include, either expressly or by implication, a power to investigate or to hear or determine complaints of any type.

Moreover, those powers are limited by the chapeau “subject to the Constitution”.

Not to leave the reader in any doubt, in the very next provision of the Constitution, its framers provide: ART 163 (1): “…the High Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to determine any question – “(b) Whether either generally or in any particular place, an election has been lawfully conducted or the result thereof has been, or may have been, affected by any unlawful act or omission;” The framers used the term “exclusive” to make it clear that no other agency is vested with this power, including GECOM and of course the Chief Elections Officer.

It is clear, therefore, that any attempt by GECOM or the Chief Elections Officer to investigate or hear irregularities or allegations of unlawful conduct in respect of an election would be in violation of Article 163, the doctrine of separation of powers, and would be ultra vires, as it would be encroaching upon the constitutional province of the High Court.

It is equally clear that, in so far as the Order speaks to resolution of irregularities, discrepancies and anomalies occurring in the elections process, it conflicts with the Constitution and is therefore unconstitutional.

Article 8 of the Constitution declares the Constitution as the supreme law, and any law which is inconsistent with the Constitution is void to the extent of the inconsistency.

However, let us, for argument sake, assume that GECOM lawfully possesses a power to investigate, hear and determine allegations of irregularity. The right to vote is a most sacred legal right.

The cannons of natural justice mandate that no one can be deprived of a right, or can suffer any adverse decision, without that person being afforded a fair and adequate opportunity to be heard; this

includes the right to be represented by a lawyer of one’s choice, to be provided with the evidence against him, and the right to be allowed a fair and reasonable opportunity not only to test that evidence, but also to lead evidence of his own to rebut that evidence.

It cannot be disputed that Lowenfield carried out no investigation, held no inquiry, and afforded none of the voters nor their political party any opportunity to be heard, but yet invalidated tens of thousands of votes. He did so not on “evidence”, as Williams posits, but merely acting upon the baseless, false and untested allegations of APNU/AFC. Under no circumstance whatsoever can this be legal or proper, and a court of law will be bound to set aside those aspects of his Reports, ex debito justitiae. Most fundamentally, the Order, neither expressly nor by implication, confers upon Lowenfield any power whatsoever to do anything other than arithmetically tabulating the totals of each electoral district and summarizing; that is to say, briefing the Observation Reports. In expressing the various opinions, which he did, he acted ultra vires and perversely.

Basil Williams cites the Malawian case of Chillema anor v Mutharika Constitutional Reference No. 1 of 2019, Malawi HC 431, to support his contentions.

He deliberately and dishonestly omits to inform that in Malawi, the constitutional construct is radically different from ours. The Elections Commission in that country is specifically empowered to perform the quasi-judicial functions of hearing and determining allegations of irregularities. In the event that a person is aggrieved by a decision of the Commission performing this function, they have a right of appeal to the High Court of that country.

Clearly, that case is inapplicable to our circumstances.

An accurate exposition of the law was recently done by the Court of Appeal in Zimbabwe in the case of Nelson Chamisa v Emmerson Mnangagwa et al (2018).

Zimbabwe’s legal and constitutional system strongly resembles ours. In this case, an elections petition was filed challenging the election of Mnangagwa as President, as declared by the Elections Commission. The allegations were multiple and similar to those made by the APNU/ AFC. Notwithstanding, the Elections Commission declared the results based upon the count of the ballots cast. The results were challenged in the High Court by an election petition, as is the proper course in Zimbabwe, in Guyana, and in almost every other part of

the Commonwealth. In the course of its judgement, the Court adumbrated the following principles of law: “The general position of the law is that no election is declared to be invalid by reason of any act or omission by a returning officer or any other person in breach of his official duty in connection with the election or otherwise of the appropriate electoral rules if it appears to the Court that the election was conducted substantially in accordance with the law governing elections and that the act or omission did not affect the result.

As an exception to this general position, the Court will declare an election void when it is satisfied from the evidence provided by an applicant that the legal trespasses are of such a magnitude that they have resulted in substantial non-compliance with the existing electoral laws.

Additionally, the Court must be satisfied that this breach has affected the results of the election. In other words, an applicant must prove that the entire election process is so fundamentally flawed and, so poorly conducted, that it cannot be said to have been conducted in substantial compliance with the law. Additionally, an election result which has been obtained through fraud would necessarily be invalidated.

From the foregoing, the Court will only invalidate a presidential election in very limited and specific circumstances, if: 1. The results are a product of fraud.

2. The elections were so poorly conducted that they could not be said to have been in substantial compliance with the law.

It is for the applicant to prove to the satisfaction of the Court that the election was conducted in a manner which fell substantially below the statutory requirements of a valid election, and that the result was materially affected, warranting a nullification of the result or invalidation of the election.”

The above judicial pronouncements accurately reflect the legal position in Guyana; that is, it is for GECOM to declare the results as per the recount, and for any aggrieved party to challenge those results by way of an election petition to be filed in the High Court. Neither the law nor the Constitution offers GECOM the option of a non-declaration of the results.

The duty to declare the results as per a count of the ballots cast is a mandatory duty imposed upon GECOM by the Constitution.

Mohabir Anil Nandlall, Attorney-at-Law

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020

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Mr Lowenfield Lowenfield toppled Burnham from the PNCR’s rigging vortex strikes back

Dear Editor, Mr. Lowenfield has submitted “his” report on the deadline. His report has outlined statistics to represent allegations that are not proven, and that have been debunked on many occasions.

These allegations, termed “anomalies” and “voters’ impersonation”, riddled the reports for all the regions I’ve seen thus far.

He concluded his report by saying that, on the basis of the votes counted and information furnished from the recount, it cannot be ascertained that the results of each district met the standard of a fair and credible election.

Mr. Lowenfield knows that his stats cannot be proven, hence his conclusion. He has neither authority nor capacity to outrightly discredit an election, moreso based on allegations. He has no right to be judge, jury or executioner on these matters.

Mr. Lowenfield has acted out-of-bounds of the officially gazetted Order pertaining to the recount, and the laws that govern GECOM. Article 12 of the gazetted Official Recount Order, dated 5th May, 2020, states: “The matrices for the recount of the ten (10) Electoral Districts shall then be tabulated by the Chief Election Officer

and shall be submitted in a report, together with a summary of the Observation reports for each district, to the commission.”

The amended gazetted Order stated the same, but added that the deadline for submission of the report is on or before June 13th, 2020.

That being said, Mr. Lowenfield’s conclusion should bear no weight, and should be looked at as an opinion which should never have been included in the report.

The recount has indeed proven grand fraud, which has not once been mentioned in the report for Region 4. The addition of 17,000 votes when comparing declarations was never once questioned or brought up by GECOM. A real issue the recount solved.

I’m also appalled that Mr. Lowenfield was so willing, and was in such a rush, to produce a report based on Mr. Mingo’s figures. This can be compared to asking a member of a gang of thieves to write and give a report on the attempted robbery.

It all comes down to the votes of the Commissioners; well, the Chairwoman. I beg Madam Chairwoman, as a youth of this nation, to be the impartial and just key player that Guyana needs.

If not, this matter will have to be presented to the “Iron

Lady of Guyana”, Chief Justice Roxane GeorgeWiltshire. Then, and only then, will true justice prevail, and the lives of the Guyanese people be set free.

However, this entire process can come to a close if Madam Chairwoman disregards the opinions of Mr. Lowenfield at this point in time and vote to move to the declaration and swearing in based on the votes cast.

Mr. Lowenfield’s opinion can then be taken seriously in the court as an APNU/ AFC witness during their election petition. Even that I think they’ll lose; since, as I said earlier, many of their allegations have been debunked.

We wait again, with the deadline of June 16th, 2020; the trial of our patience being hopefully for one last time. I am not frustrated, and I am not worried; as good always overcomes evil.

I am not naïve either.

So, Guyanese, we are in for one last ride for our democracy and our rights to have a choice and exercise that right. Madam Justice (Retired) Claudette Singh, the fate of this nation lies in your hands again; will we prevail or will we fail? You tell us.

Respectfully, Dr Josh Kanhai, The New Movement Party

A Diaspora plea to the President Dear President Granger, It pains me to write an open letter to you, as I believe that, using the normal channels, my letter will not get to you on time.

When I was invited to visit Guyana as a member of the diaspora, to attend the 50th Anniversary National Symposium in May 2016, I had only a couple of days left after the symposium to return to my home in the UK. Your confidential secretary made urgent arrangements for us to meet, so I could personally present to you my book, “Recycling a Son of the British Raj”, and update you about my voluntary healthcare activities in the U.K. and about a conference I was arranging in London for the 50th Anniversary, with the Association of Guyanese Nurses and Allied Professions(AGNAP) in June of that year.

Mr. President, despite the considerable 50th Anniversary celebration pressures on your time, you found a slot to not only meet with me, a humble person who left Guyana in 1961, but to give me the full VIP treatment, with lots of photographs and videos; and in return for receiving my

book, you gave me several copies of historical short books you had written.

As I am two years older than you, we had a good Guyanese ‘gaff’ about our experiences of using slates at school and ways in which the saying “hand wash hand ‘mek’ hand come clean” could be applied.

I was absolutely bowled over by your warmth and sincerity.

When I returned home, I not only took every opportunity to say what a splendid person I had met, and that your presidency augurs well for the future development of the country and in the promotion of racial harmony, but being proud that you had met me, I also immediately uploaded the photographs on my website - Guycon Healthcare Management Consultancy(they are still there).

Mr. President, I have taken the unusual step to put in the public arena an example of your humility and graciousness in extending a welcome to a person not in the same league of the wide range of eminent persons, some being your friends, who have gone public in asking you to put Guyana first and avoid

the calamitous projections which many commentators have highlighted if the will of the electorate is not honoured.

Many of us in the diaspora have left the shores of Guyana many decades ago, but the pull of the navel string has kept us involved in the affairs of the country in a wide variety of nation-building, meaningful voluntary work. We have been saddened by the perpetuation of what one leading United Nations Guyanese-born figure described as a racialised society. This is despite the often-repeated motto, One People, One Nation, One Destiny, by all sides.

As Guyana is on the cusp of a glorious and prosperous new beginning, please, can I ask you to do your best to ensure that Guyanese do not continue to live in an environment of uncertainty and extreme anxiety, and contribute to healing a troubled nation by taking action which respects the will of the electorate?

Guyana deserves it, sir.

If, by chance, this letter is brought to your attention, thank you for reading it.

Yours sincerely Peter Ramrayka

Dear Editor, The observation report submitted by GECOM CEO Keith Lowenfield demonstrates how he has toppled LFS Burnham from the inner core of the PNCR rigging vortex.

Lowenfield has committed “the mother” of all rigging. What GECOM’s Clairmont Mingo had failed to deliver, Lowenfield is desperately trying to fulfill for his sponsors at Congress Place.

Whenever one spoke of elections-rigging within the Caribbean region prior to 2020, the PNCR party popped up, as well as two of its most celebrated architects: former Presidents Mr LFS Burnham and Mr Desmond Hoyte.

But if ever one thought that Burnham and Hoyte were adept at their craft, they must now know that PNCR’s and GECOM’s Keith Lowenfield and Clairmont Mingo have eclipsed their feat. They have staged two separate electoral coups d’etat of the March 2, 2020 elections in plain daylight and in the full view of the world, and hope that they would get away with it.

On March 13, 2020, Mingo made his second notorious declaration of Region 4 votes, and Lowenfield had no hesitation in using those fictitious Region 4 figures to declare the PNCR/ APNU coalition as the victor of the 2020 elections. The Elections Commission held that declaration in abeyance.

On March 14, 2020, Granger asked Caricom to send a team to validate the recount process. That activity once again revealed the duplicity of Granger, when one of his own candidates filed an injunction to block the recount that he had requested. The court subsequently allowed the recount to proceed.

While the PNCR failed in their bid to steal the elections on March 13, 2020,

they refused to give up.

Thus, three months later, on the same date, June 13, 2020, they once again got GECOM CEO Lowenfield to perform one of the greatest electoral frauds in the history of Guyana and the Caribbean.

It was on June 13th forty years ago that the PNCR destroyed a shining symbol of democracy, Dr Walter Rodney. The PNCR have signalled that they are about to inflict a similar blow on democracy.

When one thought that Mingo was despicable, his boss, Lowenfield, is probably worse; as he proceeded to disenfranchise over 275,000 valid voters. Lowenfield scorned the notion that every vote counts. He produced a total countrywide valid vote count of 125,010 for the PNCR coalition and 56,627 for the PPPC. The count for the combined smaller parties was 3,363.

He and his sponsors hope that his voodoo mathematics would scare the PPPC and other political parties into submission and acceptance of the need for fresh elections.

The PPPC received 233,336 valid votes, the PNCR coalition got 217,920, while the smaller parties got a combined total of 9,000 votes. These are the real figures (based on SORs), and not those doctored by Lowenfield. The Commission has to make its declaration on these figures.

Many critics have said it, and I repeat it here: The PNCR has never won free and fair elections in Guyana, and will never so do in the near future because of its bullyism, self-serving runaway corruption, ineptitude, fiscal recklessness, and visionlessness.

Would Guyana, which has remarkably witnessed two daring attempts at electoral fraud in 3 months, create a precedent for electoral rigging in other Caricom and Commonwealth countries?

If this materialises, it’s possible that, in the future, any political party that loses an election could choose to walk on the same path.

Recognising the danger of this PNCR position, Caricom Ambassador to OAS, Noel Lynch, says that Caricom cannot afford to have an anti-democratic state in the community. And incoming Caricom Head, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Hon Ralph Gonsalves, was more forceful when he said the government must be declared on the basis of the recount, and if there are alleged irregularities, these could be raised via an election petition.

The Head of the Commonwealth Observation Mission, Former Barbados Prime Minister Hon Owen Arthur, says the recount figures are “incontrovertible,” and “must be the basis for a declaration of the winner of the March 2, general and regional elections.”

(NewsRoom: 6/23/20).

Lowenfield, Mingo, and Myers, along with elements of the PNCR cabal, have succeeded in crushing the moral and social fabric of Guyanese society. Their imbedded culture of lies, deception, and venality continues to suck others into this cesspool. The wounds that they are inflicting upon the nation will take decades to repair.

Finally, the PPPC won the 2020 elections, and this was established in two separate occasions (with SOPs and SORs). The time has come to install Dr Irfaan Ali as the new President and the PPPC as the new government. And GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh, can make this happen.

Guyanese need to breathe some fresh air again; they have been suffocating for too long.

Sincerely Dr Tara Singh

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MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020

Page

Foundation

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

Below are the conclusion of Mathematics Paper 1, 2012 and CXC Maths.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE SIX ASSESSMENT

MATHEMATICS PAPER 1

TIME: 1 hour 10 minutes READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

Only ONE response is correct.

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.

4. BE SURE THAT THE QUESTION NUMBER IN THE BOOKLET IS THE SAME AS THE ONE YOU HAVE USED ON YOUR ANSWER SHEET.

Use Figure 6 below to answer question 32.

Here is an example done for you.

ANSWER SHEET 1. The sum of 4 and 5 is (A) 1 (B) 9 1. AOC D 1. A B C D (C) 20 (D) 45 A heavy black line has been drawn through the letter B on the answer sheet because 9, the correct answer, is next to B.

33. The volume of a box = area of base x height. If the volume of a box is 600 cm3, and the length of the base is 12 cm and the height is 10 cm, what is the width in cm of the box?

(A) 5 (B) 60 (C) 120 (D) 6000

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.

5. If you make a mistake, erase the line cleanly, then draw a heavy black line through the letter

34. The diagram in Figure 7 represents a piece of pipe. The radius of the outer circle of the pipe is 13.5 cm and the radius of the bore is 7.1 cm. What is the thickness of the pipe?

(A) 20.6 cm (B) 7.4 cm (C) 7.1 cm (D) 6.4 cm 35. The ratio of the length of a school compound to its width is 2:1. If the width is 20 metres, what is the area in metres2?

(A) 20 (B) 60 (C) 80 (D) 800

32. What fraction of the whole shape is shaded in Figure 6?

next to the answer you have now chosen.

36. A marked price for a dress was $13 000. If 16% VAT is calculated on the marked price, what is the new price for the dress?

(A) $15 080 (B) $12 080 (C) $11 920 (D) $ 2 080

Set A has 20 girls with white socks Set B has 27 girls with black shoes 13 girls have neither white socks nor black shoes 37. The twelve girls can be described as all girls with (A) black shoes.

(B) white socks and black shoes. ((C) white socks only.

(D) neither white socks nor black shoes.

38. The average of ten numbers is 65. If one of the numbers is 56, what is the average of the other nine numbers?

(A) 66 (B) 77 (C) 594 (D) 706 The table below shows how exercise books were distributed at each level of primary schools. Use it to answer questions 39 and 40.

Use the Venn diagram in to answer questions 37.

Use Figure 7 to answer question 34.

39. What percentage of exercise books was distributed at the upper level?

(A) 6% (B) 8% (C) 30% (D) 60% 40. What percentage of exercise books does the middle level have more than the lower level?

(A) 1 (B) 20 (C) 29 (D) 30

END OF TEST

CXC MATHS

(i) Solve (ii) (iii)

If x+y = 4, solve the pair of equations 5x - 3y = 16 4x -5y = 5 Factorize completely x2 - 25

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No basis for APNU/AFC claims of voter fraud ꟷ GCCI ...says GECOM refused to show that names of alleged dead, migrant voters were ticked off ...as businesses also bemoan loss of revenues due to elections limbo

T

he Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has said there is no basis for the claims made by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC): that dead and migrated people voted, since no political parties and no observers were not given a chance to check whether ballots were issued for these alleged voters.

This is contained in the GCCI’s Summary Statement of Recount Report, which was released on Sunday. According to the Chamber, their efforts to verify APNU/AFC’s claims of voter fraud were blocked by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) agents; and that makes these allegations questionable.

“The objections made by APNU+AFC agents that, based on the ‘fieldwork of the APNU’, the voters had fraudulently impersonated someone who had either died or migrated, the GCCI’s Observers initially asked to visually confirm that the serial numbers listed as being ticked were in fact ticked, but this request was denied,” GCCI stated.

“Therefore, the GCCI cannot confirm that the serial numbers listed as ticked indeed were ticked.

In fact, none of the political parties visually confirmed which serial numbers were ticked and which serial numbers were not ticked; therefore, this information is questionable, and cannot

be used to form any opinion without further investigation.”

In general, GCCI noted that the recount was done in a professional manner.

In addition, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Observation Team, as well as representatives from the Organization of American States (OAS), were present at various work stations.

In observing the recount, GCCI identified what they looked for.

“Observers looked for compliance with the established legal provisions and GECOM’s policy decisions.

The Observers also looked for professionalism, efficiency, courtesy, alacrity, inclusivity, accountability, transparency and credibility throughout the entire recount.

“The Observers looked for political intrusion and interference and administrative humbug. Observers also looked at the security arrangements and the role of the police. The Observers also looked at the frequency and manner in which pertinent information was provided to the media by GECOM,” GCCI also said.

According to the GCCI, one of the things they observed was the constant checking of unnecessary information. He cited agents for APNU/AFC for flooding the process with a number of serial numbers belonging to voters they wanted queried. Again, GCCI noted that they were not given a chance to verify whether ballots were issued for

these persons, something that would be indicated by the serial numbers being ticked off on the OLE. “The supervisor, in return, indicated whether those serial numbers were ticked on the OLE or not.

It must be noted that the Local Observers asked in several instances whether they could view the Marked Lists to confirm the ticks, but that was denied. This was sometimes time-consuming and very frustrating, particularly in cases where some of the APNU/ AFC Counting Agents queried serial numbers not on the OLE for that station.

“During this exercise, the Counting Agents of the APNU/AFC made innumerable allegations that the serial numbers they called represented people they thought were out of the jurisdiction on E-day, or were deceased individuals. These objections were recorded on the Observations Report, as was agreed in the Basket of Issues. Similarly, objections to APNU/AFC’s claims by other Parties were also recorded in the Observation Reports.”

Other observations GCCI made were regarding 47 ballot boxes from the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), an area under Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo’s direction. Other anomalies were the instances where the voter’s intention became subject to question, or when votes that were deemed rejected were restored.

“Finally, the GCCI com-

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry

mends the Guyana Elections Commission, as it chose to apply the rule of law, ensuring that the March 2, Elections can be declared a free, fair and credible one, especially given the controversy surrounding the District 4 Declaration made by Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo,” GCCI said.

The curtains came down on the National Recount of ballots on Monday last, with the results for the final district to be counted, District Four, being certified the next day. The data generated from the 2,339

Statements of Recount (SOR) showed that the PPP/C, whose Presidential candidate is former Housing Minister Dr. Irfaan Ali, received a total of 233,336 votes.

This is 15,416 more votes than their nearest rivals, the incumbent APNU/AFC, which received 217,920 total votes. When one calculates, using the Hare formula, it means that PPP/C have secured 33 out of 65 seats in the National Assembly, and APNU/AFC have secured 31. The Chief Election Officer’s report has already been submitted,

and the country now awaits a declaration of results by June 16.

In the meantime, several individuals from the business community have been in communication with this newspaper to bemoan not only the more than $8billion wasted on this election, if it were to be annulled as the CEO and APNU/AFC are demanding, but that untold billions would be lost on top of the COVID-19 slowdown in business due to the uncertainties caused by the elections limbo in the present, and possibly going forward if prolonged.

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MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

DJ charged for raping 2 women at his WBD home

Roger Gibbons, also known as Roger Gibson

A

Disc Jockey (DJ) was on Friday slapped with two counts of rape when he appeared at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Thirty-five-year-old Roger Gibbons, also known as Roger Gibson, of Lot 54 La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD) appeared before Magistrate Zamina Ally-Seepaul and was not required to plead to the indictable charges.

Reports are that a 21-year-old woman, of Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), was searching for an apartment to rent to after encountering domestic issues.

On April 5, 2020, the woman saw Gibbons at Vreed-en-Hoop, and told him that she was experiencing difficulties in locating an apartment/house to rent.

As such, Gibbons allegedly assured the woman that he could take her to a house for rent. He reportedly took her to a single-flat concrete house in

La Parfaite Harmonie, and as they entered the house, he allegedly locked the door behind them.

There, he had sexual intercourse with the woman without her consent.

He then locked the woman into the building for three days before she eventually managed to contact a relative who came to her rescue.

It is also alleged that on June 1, 2020, Gibbons lured a 25-year-old employed female of Sisters Village, WBD, to his house under the pretence of securing a job.

The court heard that on the day in question, Gibbons approached the young woman at the Vreeden-Hoop Stelling and started a conversation with her about a “photo shoot” that was scheduled for the following day.

The young lady agreed

to take the job. As such, she was given the details, including an address to turn up for the event.

However, upon arrival at the address, she realised that she was the only one for the photoshoot and immediately enquired about the others. She was told that the others were on their way and that she must wait.

After some time, she decided to leave and return to her home, but Gibbons reportedly prevented her from doing so while enticing her to go rest on a bed while they awaited the arrival of the other women.

Still under the impression that a photoshoot would take place, the young lady was told to change her clothing and lie on the bed while arrangements were put in place for the “promotional photoshoot”.

Shortly after, the DJ al-

2 seriously injured after car turns turtle

Granger has no...

In addition, the Party lambasted the President for his “misconceived” view that GECOM could avoid declaring a result from the elections. According to the PPP, it is the Constitution that mandates GECOM to make a declaration.

“Further, Granger has already lost the presidency and Dr Irfaan Ali is deemed President, as established by the national recount of the ballots, pursuant to Article 177 of the Constitution, while we await the official declaration from GECOM,” the Party noted in its statement on Sunday.

“Mr Granger’s view that it is possible for there to be a non-declaration by GECOM is completely misconceived and wrong. We reiterate that neither the law nor the Constitution allows for GECOM not to declare the results of the elections.

Indeed,

legedly entered the bedroom, ripped off the young lady’s clothing, and started touching her private parts.

Despite the young woman putting up a fight, he reportedly engaged in sexual penetration with her without her consent.

After the entire ordeal, the woman was prevented from leaving the house.

The day after, she was released to go home and collect her documents to attend an event hosted by a well-known Dancehall artiste.

However, she visited the nearest Police Station and lodged a report, and Gibbons was arrested.

Magistrate Seepaul, after listening to the prosecution’s submission, remanded Gibbons to prison until July 23, 2020, and transferred the matter to the Wales Magistrate’s Court.

and to the contrary, the Constitution mandates GECOM to declare the results of the elections, in accordance with the national recount of the ballots just concluded.”

Recount

The curtains on the national recount of ballots came down on Monday last, with the results for the final district to be counted, District Four, certified the next day. The data generated from the 2339 Statements of Recount (SoRs) shows that the PPP/C, whose Presidential Candidate is a former Housing Minister, received a total of 233,336 votes.

This is 15,416 more votes than its nearest rival, the incumbent APNU/ AFC, which received 217,920 total votes. When one calculates using the Hare formula, it means that PPP/C has secured

FROM PAGE 3

33 out of 65 seats in the National Assembly and APNU/AFC has secured 31.

The Chief Elections Officer’s report has already been submitted and the country now awaits a declaration of results by June 16. In fact, Lowenfield’s own report attests to the numbers from the recount and the majority vote won by the PPP/C. Despite this, however, APNU/AFC has maintained its claims of dead and migrant voters – claims that have been debunked on several occasions.

Parliament was dissolved on December 30, 2019 by presidential decree to make way for elections on March 2, 2020.

There has not been a budget since one was passed in 2018, compounding the economic slowdown brought on by COVID-19.

The vehicle that turned turtle on the Happy Acres Public Road, East Coast Demerara

Two men are currently nursing serious injuries about their bodies after the car in which they were travelling turned turtle along the Happy Acres Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Injured are Vicky Seegobin, 35, of Lot 165 Better Hope, ECD, and Sakyanand Datt, 43, of Lot 70 Better Hope.

Reports are that about 20:30h on Saturday, Seegobin, the driver of motor car PTT 5339 was negotiating a turn when he reportedly lost control of the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle topped several times before slamming into a concrete fence of a private property.

The driver and the occupant of the vehicle were up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where they were admitted as patients.

Both are said to be in serious but stable condition.

Investigations are ongoing.

Living in…

F

…the (fictional) past or a man who supposedly dabbled in journalism – he spent the 1995–1996 academic year, when he was already fifty years old, as a Hubert H. Humphrey/ Fulbright Fellow at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland – David Granger has been quite leery of journalists. In the five years he’s been at the helm in Guyana, he faced, at the most, 4 open press Conferences; and those were all before our anaemic press corps received their shots of testosterone since the March 2 elections!!

But when you think about it, his aversion makes sense.

He’s really trained as a historian, where he could just conveniently choose whatever “facts” he wanted to pick, and string them into his preconceived narrative. This went all the way back to his youth, when he put together the early history of the Guyana Defence Force.

Starting with that, we can see that he was really good at fiction, since he played so fast and loose with the “facts” that you wondered whether he didn’t worry about being contradicted.

But then he was writing in the age of his mentor, the dictator Burnham, who taught him the Humpty Dumpty doctrine on “facts”. “When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.” For instance, reviewing the sordid history of Burnham rigging the 1973 elections by using the GDF soldiers to collect all ballot boxes and bring them back to Camp Ayanganna to “count”, Granger said one unit behaved “splendidly” when they killed two young men on the Corentyne who were tried to accompany the boxes as the law allowed.

Not surprisingly, he was in charge of politicising those same soldiers with the philosophy of Burnham - who insisted that all officers swore personal loyalty to him and the PNC’s Biennial Congresses.

But reporters are different: they deal with the present in which they’re all living, like other citizens. So, when Granger comes out with his oleaginous platitudes on the burning issues of the day, if they are worth their salt, they’d come back with the facts that are out in the public, even affecting them. For this reason, he avoided the free press like the COVID-19!! And played it safe with his sycophantic trained seals from the state media and their affiliates.

Like, for instance, when his pet Benschop asked his about the recount, and he claimed – unchallenged! – that it started after “anomalies were discovered!! An impossibility, since the said “anomalies” could only be invented by his agents DURING the recount!!

The free press woulda skinned him up!! Hence his living in his bunker! …la la land Just when your eyewitness thought Ramjattan had disappeared - along with those two Russian pencil hackers - the man surfaced in the Chronic!! Could it be that he’s being forced to do penance for destroying the PNC’s trump card, for pinning their present claims of more than half of the ballots being fiddled for the PPP??!! After all, most folks aren’t swallowing that tall tale – which would’ve been easier if he’d held the two Russians as evidence of the PPP’s hacking!!

Anyhow, he took over his colleague Nagamootoo’s day job with the latter’s column in the Chronic, but you could see his prolonged absence from the public eye has dulled his wit. The old bar crawler didn’t even offer his cautions on the 2am curfew – his greatest legacy as Public Security Minister – which is most relevant in this age of COVID-19!!

He offered a pained interpretation of Art 177 to claim that the party with the largest number of votes doesn’t get the presidency!!

Math was never the AFC’s strong point!! …Samurai code?

Did Granger instil into old soldiers like Major Lowenfield the Samurai code of Bushido, that included seppuku – falling on one’s sword – to save face??

Will he follow suit when Claudette announces his defeat??

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

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MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Functionary” Lowenfield cannot speak for GECOM ...Guyana looks to Chair Claudette Singh – ANUG

GECOM Chair Claudette Singh

C

Justice

hief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield continues to face backlash over the contents of his report delivered to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), with A New and United Guyana (ANUG) on Sunday calling him out for usurping the role of the seven-member Commission by making conclusions on the credibility of the March 2 elections on his own.

On Saturday, Lowenfield submitted his report on the recently concluded National Recount to the GECOM Chair, (ret’d) Justice Claudette Singh, and according to stakeholders, he went beyond his mandate to just present a tabulation of the votes garnered during the recount exercise and a summary of the observation reports and “illegally” proffered his opinions by saying that the election process may have lacked credibility and fairness.

The CEO came to this conclusion following a series of alleged

CEO Keith Lowenfield

anomalies raised by the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) during the recount exercise. The Coalition had made unsubstantiated claims that votes were cast in the names of dead and migrated persons at the March elections, but dozens of persons came forward to dispute those allegations and prove that they were in fact in Guyana on polling day and voted. As such ANUG, in a statement, pointed out that Lowenfield has taken it upon himself to decide that the “unproven and unsubstantiated bare allegations” of dead and overseas voters recorded by “complicit GECOM officials on the say-so of APNU representatives” are evidence that the allegations are true.

“He has concluded that the allegations ‘were of substance’.

Lowenfield concludes all by himself, as if he were GECOM and not simply a functionary within the Secretariat, that ‘it cannot be ascertained that the results… meet the standard of fair and credible elections’,” the ANUG

ANUG Jonas

Chairman

Timothy

party asserted.

According to the new party, which secured the third highest number of votes at the polls, with 2,313; after the recount had uncovered the blatant fraud perpetrated by embattled Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, who heavily inflated figures in favour of the Coalition, the incumbent party created a new lie, and is now pushing for the elections to be annulled.

“With the complicity of the rogue elements in the GECOM Secretariat, APNU has told the Guyanese people that there were so many anomalies in the conduct of the previously fair and credible electoral process that the election must be annulled,” the missive detailed.

In order to create this new deception, ANUG argued, the Coalition, with the complicity of the “rogue” GECOM Secretariat, evolved a five-stage plan. The first step was levelling the allegations, which the party said APNU/AFC could not substanti-

ate with evidence.

The second step was having GECOM officials record on the Observation Sheet that an allegation was made by APNU that specified voters were dead or resident overseas.

“The GECOM officials, with equal consistency, refused to re-

cord on the Observation Sheet the observation by any other party that no evidence was presented; that the allegation was a bare and unsubstantiated statement by a person who had no knowledge of the truth of his allegation; that GECOM’s own record showed that the individuals

have appeared and shown their ID cards, and been scrutinised

by PPP and APNU reps and GECOM officials before being permitted to vote; and recorded only that the opposition parties ‘object to the allegation’,” TURN TO PAGE 10

10 NEWS MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020

| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Functionary” Family of missing fisherman offering $100,000 to help find him Lowenfield cannot...

FROM PAGE 9

Missing: Bhagwandat

T

Lalbachan

he family of a missing fisherman is offering a reward of $100,000 to anyone who might have information about his whereabouts.

Twenty-nine-year-old Lalbachan Bhagwandat, also called “Jagan” of Lot 11 North Section, Canal Polder Number Two, West Bank Demerara (WBD), went missing on April 17 around 22:30h.

Yaswanti Bhagwandat, the man’s sister, told Guyana Times that family members were at an aunt’s home when he began having delusions that someone wanted to kill him.

“He said he was hearing voices inside of his head; in his head he was hearing these people planning to kill him. He was asking us if we were hearing the voices ... he even said he was seeing people with guns and cutlasses,” she said.

She added that her brother ran out of the house and into the backlands. He was never seen again.

Other relatives ran after him, but they were unable to keep up.

His sister added that this is the second time in years that her brother complained of hearing voices, but previously it had never reached this extent.

Since Bhagwandat’s disappearance, his family has repeatedly looked for him but in vain.

Searches were conducted in the backlands, Conservancy Dam and neighbouring villages such as Wales, Uitvlugt, Zeeburg, Parika, and on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD); a search was even done as far away as Bartica.

Police told Guyana Times that they were still making regular checks and were still unable to obtain information about Bhagwandat’s whereabouts.

Bhagwandat was last seen wearing a dark-blue jersey with black trousers and a black and grey

striped hat. His sister said that he has a tattoo on his face, with others on his arms, neck, back, and abdomen.

Anyone who may have seen Bhagwandat is asked to contact his family on 6305006 or the nearest Police Station.

Businessman brutally beaten, robbed by knife-wielding bandits

A

57-year-old businessman was on Saturday evening beaten and robbed by four men armed who stormed his Section C, Block Y Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) home.

The businessman operates a grocery store at his premises.

Based on reports received, around 21:00h, the man closed off business for the day and was in the process of securing his building when the armed men confronted him. Three of the men placed knives to his body.

Guyana Times was told that the fourth bandit then placed his hand around the businessman’s neck and choked him while making his way into the home.

The businessman was severely beaten about his body, sustaining injuries to his left shoulder and ribs.

During the ordeal, the bandits demanded that the businessman hand over his cash and valuables, but he refused.

It was then the men choked the businessman until he lost consciousness.

They later ransacked the man’s house where they found $363,000 in cash, one black LG cellular phone and one black Samsung Galaxy cellular phone in the businessman’s bedroom.

They later made good their escape, leaving the man in an unconscious state.

The injured man reportedly told Police that he regained consciousness the next morning, and went straight to the Police Station to lodge a report.

He was subsequently taken to the Diamond hospital where he received medical attention. No arrests were made as Police continue their investigations.

This was followed by the GECOM staff refusing to permit any Opposition party or observer to look at the List of Electors from the box, to verify whether the named individuals had in fact voted; so that that question remains unknown.

In the meanwhile, the new party said, the incumbent Coalition promoted the narrative that the election, which had given them a victory with the Mingo count, was now not credible.

“The fifth and final stage of the plan involved the Chief Executive Officer of this rogue Secretariat, Keith Lowenfield, who had been directed by GECOM to prepare a report showing a tabulation of the recount and a summary of the Observation Sheets, seeking to lend credence to the nonsensical “allegations” in that report.

The words ‘tabulation’ and ‘summary’ are not ambiguous; the former means, in this context, to add up. Lowenfield has added up the recount, and the result - as the whole country had known for three months -is that PPP won the election by 15,000 votes; that Mingo was guilty of fraud; and that APNU lied to the nation and to its supporters,” ANUG outlined.

But, the party noted, Lowenfield did not provide a summary of the Observation Sheets.

According to ANUG, “GECOM has replaced Mingo’s false spreadsheets with Lowenfield’s equally false opinions and conclusions

in submitting a ‘report’ to the Commission. It now remains for the Chairman, Ms. Singh, to decide how to treat this report.”

The new party, whose Presidential Candidate is legal giant Ralph Ramkarran and whose Chairman is the outspoken lawyer Timothy Jonas, pointed out that the GECOM Chair, as a legal mind herself, would know immediately that Lowenfield has exceeded his remit and has relied on unsubstantiated “allegations”.

ANUG noted that any reference to information from third parties, such as Immigration Chief and Registry records, would be impermissible, as it is not only external to GECOM, untested by cross examination, and unverified by anyone; but can only be raised in an Election Petition, and not be referenced lawfully by the Elections Commission.

It went on to note that, at the level of the seven-member Commission, the three Government-nominated Commissioners would try to pretend that Lowenfield’s opinion carries some sort of weight, while the three Oppositionnominated members would disagree. “…their votes will cancel out each other, and the decision will rest solely with Claudette Singh. The correct and lawful course of action is clear – only one party has won the elections, and the recount has unambiguously identified that party. The country waits,” ANUG has declared.

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MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

School reopens for children writing exams ꟷ Reopening is only to facilitate revision

Kumarie Algu

S

chools across the country are expected to reopen to-

day for the children writing the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA),

the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE); but the question that is left unanswered is whether they will be ready for those exams in two weeks’ time.

The reopening, the Education Ministry has stated, is to facilitate the students preparing for the exams after they had been away for more than three months. During the closure of schools, done to stop the spread of COVID-19, students were expected to study at home, with the supervision of their teachers via Zoom and other means

of internet connection.

Over the next two weeks, the children will turn up for mere revision in schools.

Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) Chairman David Armogan, in an invited comment about this new development, said, “I understand the teachers would have telephone numbers for the students. They could also do it online, but not everybody has access to computers and the internet.

“Then we also know that even if you have internet service, how difficult it is to have a proper service.”

He added that, from feedback received, the teachers have been in con-

Shawna Henry

stant contact with their students.

“The teachers also have an interest in these stu-

then all of a sudden your internet goes off and you are out of the call. Another challenge we are having is

John Cao

dents, because it will reflect on their performance.

All of these teachers that I know have been engaging the students almost on a one-to-one basis by telephone or whatever other means, to make sure that they are pushing ahead.”

On the other hand, Tshuna Benjamin, a student of the Berbice High School who will be writing ten subjects at CSEC, said that was not that case. “In most of the subject areas, you are not getting teachers sending work to you; but some teachers are forwarding links on past papers that you don’t have, so that we could work along and keep up with the studying; but you are not getting…feedback from some teachers,” she explained.

Another student, John Cao of the same school, said while he was at home, there was no sort of encouragement. “Sometimes you just feel lazy when you are at home,” he explained.

Another major stumbling block for these students was the unreliable internet connection and electricity in the ancient county.

Kumarie Algu, who wants to become an obstetrician, stated, “You are on your class Zoom call and

a lot of blackouts.”

Algu says she sometimes finds it difficult to focus on her studies because of the numerous distractions at home.

Shawna Henry, a student of the New Amsterdam Secondary School who will be sitting five subjects at CAPE, explained that she has not been meeting with her teachers to have certain concepts explained, and this itself poses some difficulties.

Henry also made mention of poor internet access, but noted that WhatsApp has been used effectively to send school work to her teachers.

The National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) will be conducted on July 1 and 2.

NGSA, popularly known as “Common Entrance”, was initially scheduled to be written on April 8 and 9.

The Education Ministry had earlier in the month announced the timetables for NGSA, Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

CSEC has been set for July 13 – August 4, 2020, while CAPE examinations have been set for July 13 – July 31, 2020.

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17 Govt caused cancellation of flights for stranded Guyanese – CAL NEWS

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…failed to provide passenger list despite agreement with airline to do so

C

aribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) has cleared the air on the cancellation of flights that would have repatriated stranded Guyanese back to their homeland on June 11.

According to the airline, the blame for the cancellation can be laid squarely at the feet of the coalition Government and its aviation authority.

In a statement on Sunday, CAL revealed that it had been in communica-

Aviation Authority (GCAA), regarding the repatriation of Guyanese stranded overseas owing to the closure of Guyana’s airspace.

According to CAL, it received approval from the Government to operate in Guyana’s airspace on June 11 and was moreover told that it would receive a listing of all the Guyanese nationals with permission to return. But while the airline was ready to move forward with the flights, the

Guyana and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority with a proposed schedule of repatriation flights and received approval to operate a service between Trinidad, Barbados and Guyana on June 11; with the Guyana authorities committing to provide a listing of pre-approved Guyanese nationals to the airline,” CAL said.

“Subsequently, on June 9, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority advised that the necessary process-

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport

tion with the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) and the Guyana Civil

Government was not.

“Caribbean Airlines supplied the Government of

es were not yet completed by the Guyana authorities and they were unable to provide the listing of na-

Berbice Chamber calls for smooth conclusion to election process

BCCDA Vice President Ryan Alexander

I

t has been 103 days now since Guyanese went to the polls to elect a Government, and the process of announcing a winner of the March 2 General and Regional Elections is yet to be concluded.

The recount of votes cast at those elections have been completed, and now the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA) is calling on all

Guyanese to ensure the election process continues smoothly.

“We are calling on all parties to allow the reconciliation and the smooth transition of Government,” Vice President Ryan Alexander said.

He noted that the Chamber was one of the accredited observers during the recount process at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. The Chamber had come under the umbrella of the Private Sector Commission (PSC).

Alexander said the Chamber was of the view that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has so far shown its commitment to upholding democracy.

“We wish to express our heartfelt thank you to Madam Chair, the entire Guyana Elections Commission [GECOM], and the Private Sector Commission for giving us the opportunity of physical-

ly being on the ground at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre for the recount. The Chamber is happy to see that the tabulation exercise of the recount process has come to an end,” Alexander said.

The elections were scrutinised by international observer missions from the Commonwealth, the Organisation of American States, the European Union, and the Carter Center.

The local observer teams came from the Guyana Public Service Union; the PSC; the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the American Chamber of Commerce in Guyana (AmCham).

The PSC had representatives from several Chambers, including the Berbice Chamber.

According to Alexander, the Berbice Chamber is now hoping to see Guyana move forward with a smooth conclusion to the process.

Caretaker Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Karen Cummings

tionals for repatriation to Caribbean Airlines, which would facilitate the advertising of the flight and booking of passengers.”

Notwithstanding the setback, CAL reiterated its desire to repatriate citizens of Guyana and the wider Caribbean. In fact, the airline noted that it was currently arranging flights for citizens in other Caribbean countries.

“Caribbean Airlines remains committed to supporting repatriation efforts for the citizens of Guyana and looks forward to the completion of the processes and the provision of the necessary approvals from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority,” CAL said.

“Caribbean Airlines is currently facilitating repatriation flights for nationals of Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Antigua and Bahamas through June 16 and will support further repatriation efforts of Caribbean nationals throughout the Region.”

Guyana Times had reported on Saturday that two Caribbean Airlines flights which were supposed to repatriate Guyanese stranded overseas have since been cancelled and persons who were supposed to return home were left unsure of their next steps.

There was a Caribbean Airlines flight planned for June 11 for stranded Guyanese in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados; and another flight from the USA, originating from the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York on June 13. However, both flights were cancelled.

Efforts by the media to ascertain why were futile.

John Ramsingh, one of the Guyanese who had returned home on the first repatriation flight from the United States, had revealed via a press release that the stranded passengers were not given any explanation for the cancellation of the flights.

On behalf of the strand-

GCAA Director General, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Egbert Field

from Miami, USA. The Eastern Airlines flight landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in Georgetown at approximately 16:30h with 109 citizens who were all sanitised and screened upon entering the airport.

A Caribbean Airlines flight

ed Guyanese, Ramsingh had called on the Guyana authorities to honour their commitment to allow them to return home.

“Our fellow Guyanese are desperate to return home with some barely surviving. They have met the criteria to return even under difficult circumstances but are still left in the wilderness. Our decision makers need to allow our brothers and sisters to come back home,” Ramsingh had expressed.

The first batch of stranded Guyanese were repatriated on June 6 on a flight

Once cleared, the passengers were then placed under home quarantine for seven days with representatives of the Public Health Ministry checking on their well-being on a daily basis through visits or telephone calls.

After the incident-free repatriation, senior Government officials, including the caretaker Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence and GCAA Director General Egbert Field pledged weekly flights to have stranded citizens reunited with their families in Guyana.

Gun-toting bandits relieve painter of cash, other valuables

A

2 0 - y e a r - o l d spray painter of Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD), who was in the vicinity of the M&M Snackette, Peters’ Hall, EBD with two friends, was robbed of his cash and valuables by a motorcycle bandit and his gun-toting pillion rider on Saturday.

The incident reportedly occurred around 20:10h when the victim, Christopher Paraz, and his two friends were walk-

ing along a street known as “Small Corner” next to the M&M Snackette.

Information received revealed that the two suspects on a motorcycle bearing registration number CY 1623 intercepted the friends.

The pillion rider reportedly came off the bike and whipped out a handgun, demanding that Paraz hand over his cash and other valuables.

Out of fear, the victim handed over his haversack,

which contained his wallet, cash, driver’s licence, and national identification card.

After committing the robbery, the bandits jumped on their motorcycle and rode off. A report was made, and Police have since launched an investigation into the matter.

In fact, only Sunday last, two gunmen executed a daring robbery on the M&M Snackette at Houston, Greater Georgetown, carting off an undisclosed sum of cash.

18 NEWS GECOM to meet today to deliberate on Lowenfield’s report MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020

| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo

T

he seven-member Guyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) will be meeting today to deliberate on the report submitted by Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield ahead of its much-anticipated final declaration, on June 16, of the March 2 elections.

The meeting will commence sometime around 11:00h at GECOM’s High Street, Kingston Headquarters.

According to the amended Recount Order, “The Commission shall, after deliberating on the report…, determine whether it should request the Chief Elections Officer to use the data complied… as the basis for the submission of a report under section 96 of the Representation of the People Act, Cap 1:03, provided that the Commission shall, no later than three (3) days after receiving the report, make the declaration of the results of the final credible count of the elections held on the 2nd day of March 2020.”

Lowenfield submitted his report on the recently-concluded national recount of the votes cast at the March polls to the GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh on Saturday. The report has since been shared with the six Commissioners at GECOM. In the report, the CEO confirmed that the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) secured a majority of the votes cast at the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.

He presented figures to show PPP/C in a landslide victory in the General Elections with 15,416 more votes than its main political rival, the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition.

The PPP/C garnered a total of 233,336 votes while the APNU/AFC secured 217,920 votes.

For the new parties, the numbers are as follows: A New and United Guyana (ANUG) – 2313; Change Guyana (CG) – 1953; Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) – 2657; People’s

Republic Party (PRP) – 889; The Citizen’s Initiative (TCI) – 680; The New Movement (TNM) – 244; and the United Republican Party (URP) – 360.

However, Lowenfield has come in for criticism from stakeholders, including the PPP/C, after he strayed from his mandate – that is, presenting a tabulation of the votes garnered during the recount exercise and a summary of the observation reports – and went on to illegally proffer his opinions, saying that the election process may have lacked credibility and fairness.

In fact, in his summation of the observations for each of the 10 Electoral Districts, Lowenfield wrote: “Finally, the summation of anomalies and instances of voter impersonation (insert Electoral District) does not appear to satisfy the criteria of impartiality, fairness, and compliance with provisions of the Constitution and the ROPA (Rights of the People Act) Cap 1:03.

Consequently, on the basis counted and the information furnished from the recount, it cannot be ascertained that the results (insert Electoral District) meet the standard of fair and credible elections.”

The CEO, who had no qualms about submitting and accepting the fraudulent declaration from embattled District Four Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo, came to the conclusion following a series of alleged anomalies raised by the APNU/AFC. Lowenfield seemingly agreed with the incumbent and its unsubstantiated allegations.

After the recount started, the APNU/AFC went on a fishing expedition and started to randomly point out serial numbers from the Official List of Electors, and either claimed that those persons were dead or had migrated. These claims were recorded in the Observation Reports which Lowenfield was supposed to summarise and present to the Commission.

The coalition has failed to provide substantial evidence of its claims. In fact, APNU/AFC General Secretary Joseph Harmon had presented to the GECOM Chair two lists of names of persons he claims were not present in Guyana, but votes were cast in their names.

However, dozens of the persons on the lists have since come forward to dispute the claims, proving that they were not only in the country on Election Day, but also voted themselves – some for the coali-

CEO Keith Lowenfield

tion.

The PPP/C has since said it was not surprised at the CEO’s apparent teaming up with the coalition to peddle these unsubstantiated claims of electoral fraud.

In a strongly-worded statement on Saturday, the Party said, “Undoubtedly, in one swipe, Lowenfield has acted ultra vires, in excess of and without authority, in violation of natural

justice, in abrogation of the separation of powers doctrine, unlawfully, unconstitutionally; and the pronouncements that he has made are certainly null, void and of no effect. That his pronouncements and tabulations bear a striking resemblance to the contentions and calculations of the APNU+AFC have not gone unnoticed. He would make an excellent witness for the APNU+AFC at the trial of an Election Petition.”

The PPP/C explained that it was clear from the Recount Order that Lowenfield has no power, authority or mandate to offer a view, opinion, or judgement of any type, either in the Observation Reports or the Matrices to be tabulated.

It further accused the CEO of arrogating unto

himself the role of an investigator, judge and executioner in clear violation of the Order, since he made conclusive findings.

The findings were in relation to the “baseless allegations made by APNU+AFC, and he rendered a judgement on them by concluding that they were established, without doing any investigations, hearing no one affected, and applying principles only known to himself”.

Meanwhile, PPP General Secretary and Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo pointed out that Lowenfield also included in his Observation Report false allegations made by the APNU/AFC, which he elevated to anomalies, and which, if taken seriously, could reduce the number of valid votes recounted from 460,352 to 185,260 (60 per

GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

cent), thereby disenfranchising 275,092 persons.

“In addition, he seeks to cast doubt on the credibility of the elections with the use of words such as “does not appear to satisfy” and “cannot be ascertained”. Neither the Recount Order nor the laws of Guyana allow him to make that judgment. Only a court, by way of a petition, can do so,” Jagdeo argued.

E-Networks donates body temperature detection camera system to CJIA

I

n support of Guyana’s efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19, E-Networks Inc – Guyana’s leading TV, Internet and ICT provider – has donated a thermal camera system to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

With temperature checks forming an integral part of containing the spread of COVID-19, the need for a quick, efficient and less invasive way of screening passengers is critical. In recognition of this, E-Networks made the donation to Guyana’s larger international airport, of the latest thermal camera system, manufactured by Dahua Technology.

This system is capable of real-time body temperature measurements with medical grade accuracy and issues an alert when it detects some-

one with a fever. With builtin AI algorithms, it can measure multiple persons from up to three metres away, without the need to touch a thermometer to each traveller’s forehead, enabling fast and no-contact access, and addressing the concerns of Guyanese in admitting international travellers to the country during the pandemic.

Valued at $3.5 million, the system is already in use and was first successfully tested with the arrival of the first repatriation flight from Miami, USA on June 6, 2020. CJIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ramesh Ghir commented that the donation was timely, and they were happy to partner with E-Networks to test this new technology that aligned with the airport’s plans for COVID-19 readiness as

Guyana begins to ease restrictions and reopen its international borders.

This donation was made possible by E-Networks’ partnership with Dahua Technology, the world’s second largest camera manufacturer, and a leading global provider of video-centric intelligent IoT solutions and services. The do-

nation also forms part of E-Networks’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, which is now focused on leveraging technology and connectivity to enable Guyanese consumers, businesses and organisations to become accustomed to the “new normal” of living and working in the age of COVID-19

Pedal cyclist dies after collision with CBR

T

he Corentyne Highway, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) claimed the life of yet another pedal cyclist on Sunday.

Dead is 47-year-old Malchan Ramdanny, called “Rasta”, a labourer, of Number 69 Village, Corentyne.

Reports are that Ramdanny was proceeding north along the roadway in front of a motorcycle that was being ridden by a Police Constable.

According to information received, the Constable was behind a motor car which was travelling at a fast pace.

The driver of the motor car reportedly passed the now dead man and suddenly made a turn in front of the

Policeman.

This led to a collision between the now dead man and the Policeman. Both fell to the roadway and sustained injuries. They were picked up and taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital where Ramdanny was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Police Constable, of 12 St John Street and Strand, New Amsterdam, was subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital for further treatment. His condition was listed as serious.

Meanwhile, villagers say that every Sunday bikers would speed along the Corentyne Highway to Corriverton to hang out before returning to their homes.

The CBR that the Policeman was riding at the time of the accident

The Policeman is part of the bike convoy Corriverton, when he is off duty. Police gave the registration plate of the bike as CJ 8224.

At the New Amsterdam

Hospital on Sunday, several bikers had gathered, but all of them were silent when asked about the accident.

Police are continuing to investigate.

NEWS

19

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Linden ambulance attendant sent on leave for alleged “ill-treatment” of patient some “unfavourable” remarks about the woman and a man who had interviewed her on his page. It is also alleged that the attendant sent

unfavourable voice messages to the man via his Facebook page.

Following complaints to the hospital, the attendant

was reportedly sent home for two weeks, and an investigation has been launched into the incident by hospital officials.

ERC calls for peace to prevail ahead of GECOM’s “significant” declaration

W

A

Linden Hospital Complex

n ambulance attendant attached to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) has landed herself in hot water over alleged “ill treatment” of an elderly patient.

The attendant has reportedly been sent home, and an investigation has been launched following complaints made by a 67-yearold female pensioner of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

According to pensioner Megan Amsterdam, she recently visited the hospital after feeling unwell; she was experiencing symptoms of vomiting, diarrhoea, and pains in her chest. The woman, who has since gone public with the allegations, claims she went to the medical institution via taxi, since she was unable to secure an ambulance after a neighbour had made repeated attempts to get one.

Upon arriving at the hospital, the woman claims, while

she was no longer feeling the pain, she began to experience weakness in her body, and was tested for the coronavirus, which proved negative. She said she was given saline and fell asleep. When she awoke, she was instructed to go home by a nurse.

She noted that she was reluctant to do so, since she was still feeling unwell and was experiencing difficulties making contact with her family. She claims that while she was given adequate medical attention, she was not treated with much care at the medical institution. She further alleges that she almost collapsed at the hospital, but was still sent home.

“The ambulance come, drop me in front of the pink house. I had to walk and come in without a help. I was very, very, very weak…I didn’t want to go home because I was so sick…I tell them I can’t make it home, but they insist I must go home…I don’t like how they

do me at the hospital”, she alleged.

The woman said she was the only patient in the emergency ward at the time, and opined that she should have stayed for a while more, until she was feeling better.

She said she was later transported to her home by the ambulance. In her sleepy state, she was ordered out of the ambulance and left to walk some distance to her home without assistance from the staff. She claims that she was still feeling weak, and had to be assisted by a neighbour who saw her walking home. As such, this woman is calling on doctors and nurses to be more caring to patients.

This publication understands that following the woman’s complaints, which were streamed live on Facebook, the ambulance attendant who was in the ambulance with the woman at the time reportedly took to her Facebook page and made

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

ith the Guyana E l e c t i o n s Commission (GECOM) expected to make a final declaration of the March 2 elections on Tuesday, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) is calling on Guyanese to let peace prevail during this significant time.

In a statement on Sunday, the Commission said, like all Guyanese, it is mindful of the extended period it has taken for the results of the General and Regional Elections – held more than three months ago – to be declared.

The ERC added that it was also mindful of the discontent the wait for the declaration has inevitably precipitated among Guyanese and concerns that eventually led to a national recount of ballots cast.

As an agency birthed out of political discord and which is constitutionally mandated to foster harmony and good relations, the ERC noted it was heartened that incumbent President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo agreed to the national recount under the auspices of Caricom.

“Despite challenges, the recount has ended, the obligatory report by the Chief

Elections Officer has been submitted and the nation awaits an announcement by the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). The Commission, therefore, wishes to take this opportunity to urge all Guyanese to remain calm and to demonstrate a profound sense of tolerance and respect in view of the significant announcement expected from GECOM,” the missive detailed.

This crucial call for calm and peace, the ERC explained, comes within the historical context of what unfortunately transpired during elections; the vitriol, divisive and inciting rhetoric on social media; undesirable public pronouncements by some involved and in keeping with the Commission’s own call prior to and immediately after March 2.

The Commission referenced its March 4 statement of initial findings having observed the electoral process in some Polling Stations in parts of Regions Three, Four, Five, Six and 10, and commended the collective efforts of all involved for ensuring that democracy was safeguarded and prevailed during the said process.

“In addition, the

Commission, having pointed out that, overall, on elections day voters were able to freely cast their ballots in an atmosphere of peace and that the few instances which necessitated the intervention of law enforcement, were timely resolved, the voting and counting processes observed, were found, despite some minor hiccups, to be free, fair and transparent. The adherence of those processes to the basic tenets of democracy is vital to the promotion of unity, national harmony, and good relations,” it noted.

While anxieties unavoidably prevail over the impending announcement and what it can possibly derive, the Commission is calling upon the leaders and members of all political parties, civil society organisations, constitutional bodies and Guyanese in general, to act in a responsible manner in an effort to safeguard the interest of Guyana and all of its citizens.

Furthermore, the ERC also urged that the results, when announced, be respected and reiterated its call for the implementation of a necessary collective effort from all national stakeholders endeavouring to build a cohesive and prosperous nation.

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

New loss of taste or smell

Muscle pain Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness.

20

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020

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

Lowenfield’s final attempt Rodney most likely would have rejected the coalition to rig the 2020 Elections Dear Editor, Everyone knew all along that Lowenfield, Myers and Mingo are in cahoots with the APNU, alias PNC, to rig the 2020 Elections. The evidence is so much that the common man in the street can repeat the evidence from the heart.

I, as well, wrote several letters outlining the fact that Lowenfield and many in GECOM are doing the bidding of the PNC. Hereunder are some facts.

In July last year, just before the CCJ’s decision, Lowenfield went into delaying mode to support APNU/AFC’s quest to defer the elections as long as possible.

He no longer awaited the CCJ’s rulings, but embarked on the GECOM-backed delaying tactics by foisting house-to-house registration on the Guyanese electorate. This precipitated the call for another Court intervention and more delay.

Lowenfield was in charge, and he made full use of his usurpation of the power of the Commission. It must be recalled that the Private Sector Commission upbraided Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield for commencing and sanctioning an unsanctioned, unverified house-to-house (HtH) registration. However, Lowenfield was never sanctioned, neither was he intimidated in any way. He was fulfilling the PNC’s directives! In fact, he made it plain by his action that he was in charge, even after the appointment of the new Chairperson, Justice Claudette Singh.

Since the HtH, he fiddled with the Claims and Objections, the Voters Lists, and the Polling Places, but the PPP/C withstood this onslaught by tirelessly counter-attacking every one of Lowenfield’s tricks. And lo and behold! Then came the 156-day Lowenfield Recount Plan. This was finally thwarted again by the ever-vigilant PPP/C, supported by the smaller parties.

Until that time, Dr Jagdeo ensured that he effectively broke

the rigging machinery which the PNC had brought into motion since the passing of the No Confidence Motion.

I had written in one of my letters to the press that Mingo, Myers and Lowenfield should be fired immediately and replaced with independent and capable people. Guyana cannot risk placing its future in the hands of these clearly corrupt persons, who are evidently compromised.

To adamantly persist on involving these people is a travesty of the notion of free and fair elections in Guyana, now and in the future.

It is now clear for all to see why Roxanne Myers was chosen above Vishnu Persaud, even though the latter is more qualified; and why Lowenfield’s contract was renewed just before these Elections. The illegally- appointed Chairman Justice Patterson had done his job well in appointing Myers, and current Chairperson Justice Claudette Singh did hers in ensuring that Lowenfield’s contract, which was supposed to come to an end in March 2020, was renewed.

That there is a correlation between what happened then and now is undeniable.

However, Lowenfield’s report has finally obliterated any remaining doubt that he is part and parcel of the PNC’s rigging machinery, and had probably been doing the needful since 2011, when the PPP began to lose its majority Government and finally gave the Coalition the winning edge in 2015.

It is beyond a shadow of a doubt that Lowenfield acted outside of what he is legally empowered to do. Section 12 of the Order states: “The matrices for the recount of the ten (10) Electoral Districts shall then be tabulated by the Chief Election Officer, and shall be submitted in a report together with a summary of the observation reports for each District, to the Commission.”

There is no place for Lowenfield’s personal and subjective judgment, but he did

so when he concluded thus: “Finally, the summation of anomalies and instances of voter impersonation (insert Electoral District) does not appear to satisfy the criteria of impartiality, fairness, and compliance with provisions of the Constitution and the ROPA (Rights of the People Act) Cap 1:03.

“Consequently, on the basis counted and the information furnished from the recount, it cannot be ascertained that the results (insert Electoral District) meet the standard of fair and credible elections.”

Lowenfield has converted allegations by APNU/AFC agents into ‘anomalies’. This ‘report’ is the final attempt by Lowenfield to rig in favour of his masters, or to annul the elections as per the directions of the Coalition.

What is not surprising is the fact that he skillfully and conveniently ignored the massive and transparent fraud perpetrated

by Mingo, which amounted to nearly 20,000 votes in favour of the Coalition. This speaks volumes for his attempt once again to rig in favour of the Coalition.

What is barefaced and shameful is the fact that he is now giving the Coalition a ‘win’ by a landslide of more than 68,000 votes, ignoring the fact that the recount tabulation gave the PPP/C a win by more than 15,000 votes, which actually agreed with the original SoPs. How can mere spurious and unsubstantiated allegations be used to change the recount result? This again speaks volume of Lowenfield’s complicity with the Coalition’s shameful attempt to rig.

Finally, Chairperson Claudette Singh must ignore the subjective inputs of Lowenfield and use the recount results to make her declaration. Anything else must go by way of an election petition, as provided for by the law. As a retired Judge, she is no stranger to sifting facts from fiction.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Dear Editor, Dr. Walter Rodney would most likely not have joined with the Coalition. I respectfully disagree with Mr. Frederick Kissoon, who said: “I believe he would have accepted the PNC/ WPA merger, but he would have argued that, just as the dialectics make the human, the human makes the dialectics” (KN 6/13/2020).

I agree that Rodney would have parted company with the PPP. He would have rejected the PNC for similar reasons. Indeed, he would always have rejected the PNC as an anti-democratic, race-based organisation that is the premier obstacle to progress for blacks in Guyana.

More specifically, trying to mix Rodney with the PNC is akin to mixing oil and water. The PNC would be too incongruous to Rodney’s disciplined thinking, as reflected in his writings. Rodney built a world steeped in certain democratic principles.

Rodney and David Granger are like night and day; Granger’s refusal to release the Rodney CoI Report easily attests to this. But here are some other reasons (notably from the 2001-2006 period) underscoring why Rodney would have run from the Coalition: 1. His ability to attract votes across the race divide meant he did not need the PNC. 2. The genuine historian streak in Rodney would have prevented him from swooning over the chant for “change.” He would have separated a need for PPP replacement from any PNC substitution.

3. He would have thoroughly vetted David Granger and, after reading some of Granger’s flawed writ-

A trap neatly set for the Chairperson of GECOM Dear Editor, The Chief Elections Officer has submitted his report on the recount of the March 2nd Elections to the Chairwoman of GECOM. That report is the most hotly debated topic right now, because at the centre of what he has presented is another twist to the ongoing elections saga in our country.

Simply put, it shows CEO Lowenfield’s penchant for rigging. What this man could not achieve at the Mingo fraud attempt he believes he can now achieve through the back door, and herein are the subtle workings of his plan.

While admitting that the certified and verified results of the recount show the irrefutable fact that the Opposition PPP/C have won the election, Lowenfield has still taken the liberty to highlight the concerns brought on by the loser, incumbent PNC/ AFC Coalition.

In fact, he was at pains to

again fiddle around with the figures on a “spreadsheet”, showing us what he thinks the results should look like.

If that is not rigging, then tell me what is?

Further, he gave the nation a diagrammatic illustration of those claims, which gave a landslide victory to his party, the PNC/APNU. Now what Mingo failed to achieve with his spreadsheet, Lowenfield subtly brought back to the table, hoping this time to coax the Chairwoman into an agreement with him.

But, like I’ve said repeatedly, if persons the likes of Lowenfield have their way, then democracy as we now know it is doomed.

So, let me pause at this juncture to ask a few questions: Who gave Lowenfield the right to inject his opinion on the electoral process? From my understanding of this process, votes determine an election, and not opinions.

What place do opinions

and allegations have on a recount process? Is the CEO allowed to tamper with the recount figures? If so, who made those rules, and where in the Constitution? GECOM is a statutory body, is Lowenfield vested with such powers?

Now I am looking beyond Lowenfield and his rigging nonsense; I am focusing my attention on what he hopes to achieve in all of this.

The objective is to corral the Chairwoman into an annulment of the election; that is his ultimate aim. To this end, she is headed into a neatly set trap; because, at the end of the day, she would be the one who would have to face the stern rebuke of condemnation and burdensome sanctions. Our entire country will be brought down with that one wrong move by the Chairperson.

Lowenfield is already in the dumps, and he could not care less who goes down with him. This is another way to gather company

to go down with him. I urge Madam Chair to take keen note of what she is about to do; Claudette Singh has one choice, and only one: to follow the strict rules that govern a recount.

However, if she plays the fool and votes in favour of an annulled election, then dire will be the consequences. If she departs from the straight and comfortable road of following the Constitution, then she would be very uncomfortable in jail.

Lowenfield and those of his ilk are relics of the past Burnhamite era. They think they can barefacedly use public office to fulfill their rigging exploits, but those days are long gone.

So, in closing, I send a strong message to them using a line from The Mighty Gabby’s song, “This can’t happen hey in this country.”

Respectfully, Neil Adams

ings, would have easily dismissed David Granger.

4. He would have examined the history of the PNC, and would have reminded the Coalition that the PNC should not be placed in high office on account of its dismal record as a parliamentary opposition that depended entirely upon race politics.

5. He would have pointed to the 2001-2006 period and dismissed much of the ideas and narratives peddled as bona fide political literature in the black community.

6. Rodney would have rejected the unlawful attempt to remove the democratically elected Jagdeo Administration of 2001. He would have bluntly rejected Granger’s attempt to disguise the attempted coup d’etat as something nonsensically called “troubles”.

7. Rodney would have objected to a PNC-led Coalition with such baggage, and would have told the nation that it was impossible for seasoned black criminals to occupy a PNC constituency (Buxton) for years without some approval from Congress Place.

8. He would have told them that Desmond Hoyte was out of order when he said Buxton had no criminals. Rodney would have conducted field studies in Buxton, interviewing all the women and girls who were violently and sexually molested by these same non-existing criminals while the PNC refused to intervene.

9. Rodney would never have shared a Coalition platform with a number of prominent Coalition leaders who had deep ties to what transpired in Buxton.

10. Rodney, having done his research, would have told the Coalition that they are not genuine because they are yet to disclose to the public many things; for example, that one of their top leaders went quietly to a neighbouring country to get replacement weapons for those 30 AK-45s that were stolen from the GDF, without informing the public.

11. He would have reminded David Granger that at least one second-tier PNC figure well known for his power-sharing views wrote that the PNC first needed political concessions before it did anything to stem the violence.

12. He would have told the Coalition that one of their AFC supporters, columnist Mr. Kissoon, upbraided one of these second-tier leaders, sometime in 2002/03, when this leader complained that the violence was now affecting, yes, PNC supporters.

Kissoon’s position was: Do not complain about a “monster” you helped to create.

13. Rodney would have rejected the PNC because, at their first meeting, he would have asked: “What has the PNC done lawfully to cure for their claim of “marginalisation”?

14. Finally, he would have asked why, after half a century of failed political leadership and losing elections, he should submit himself to be led by a political group that is the epitome of political failure in Caribbean politics, the PNC? It made no academic sense.

Sincerely, Rakesh Rampertab

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020

21

West Indies Test tour to England…

Asks Brandon Corlette

O

n this Test tour to England, the Coach Phil Simmons, in his virtual press West Indies will certainly miss the conference on Saturday, detailed the top trio of Keemo Paul, Shimron importance of the players returning Hetmyer and Darren Bravo. solid batting performances on this tour.

The batting department will He highlighted that the bowling unit had certainly be very weakened carried the team in recent times, but the with Hetmyer and Bravo batting would be under pressure on this out for sure, but those tour. batsmen on tour "We need to get that total of 400should see this 450 in order to give this top-class as opportunity bowling unit a chance," Simmons for someone to posited. He declared that management take on the added would just have to work hard with the responsibility guys on tour and put them in a position of stepping up to fill the shoes of Bravo and Hetmyer in to the plate and the series. contributing in a In the West Indies monumental win meaningful way. They against England, centuries Darren Bravo certainly are capable were scored in the Headingly of standing in the affair back in 2017. Shai proverbial gap, Hope had scored twin centuries, while but the question Kraigg Brathwaite had scored a first to be asked innings ton, and followed that up is: Whose with 95 in the second innings. star will On this occasion, the players shine this will have to make statements season? with their bats, and not with West their mouths. The Kemar RoachIndies led West Indies fast bowling Head group had caused some troubles in recent times, especially against England in

Hetmyer and Bravo are a dynamic duo

the Caribbean last year; but they would most certainly need “something to work with” on this tour.

Among the batsmen present in the 14-man squad, none boasts a better Test average than Darren Bravo, who is simply an experienced candidate and is arguably the best batsman in the Caribbean in terms of skill and technique.

Bravo played in 54 Test matches, and has an average of 37.6. On tour, the inexperienced Shamarh Brooks has the best batting average, 34, but is three Test matches old. Brathwaite has a batting average of 33 in 59 Tests, and

averages 29, while the gifted Shai Hope has the poorest Test average among the Test batsmen: 27. His average is similar to Hetmyer’s, who opted out of the tour.

Hope, however, has made great strides in the ODI format, but is yet to enjoy similar success in the Test format.

He will certainly be reminiscing on his twin centuries at Headingly back in 2017. This tour will be of great significance for that Barbadian class act, and he will have to “pull more weight” in the absence of Bravo and Hetmyer.

Uncapped Jamaican Nkrumah is the most experienced batsman Bonner has on tour. Captain Jason Holder constructed his has a batting average of 32 innings well in his 40 matches, while in Regional Roston Chase has a 4-Day cricket, batting average of 31 in and this tour will 32 Tests. be the perfect The red-hot opportunity Jermaine Blackwood, for him to who is returning to announce himself to Shimron Hetmyer the Test squad, has International cricket and an average of 30, cement a place in the West as does Shane Indies team. Only time will tell who Dowrich. Opener fills the shoes of Bravo and Hetmyer.

John Campbell

o f

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) will host the West Indies professional players draft for the Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup and the West Indies FourDay Championship today, Monday June 15, 2020, via Zoom meeting.

The draft will be conducted over two rounds, and each franchise must pick a player in each round.

Based on CWI’s draft

15 players, 13 pre-selected and two from the players pool during the live draft.

The event will be monitored by CWI’s auditors, KPMG, to ensure that the process is carried out efficiently and smoothly.

CWI’s Cricket Operations Manager Roland Holder has said, “The draft, now in its seventh (7th) year, demonstrates that CWI remains committed to our professional cricket structure and system even in these times of uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Team Guyana Jaguars

structure, each franchise would contract a minimum

The ninety (90) regional players who will be award-

ed regional franchise contracts, will be able to train and practice professional-

ly, as CWI hopes for a return to regional cricket later this year.”

For the 2020-21 season, each franchise will be allocated a pick number according to their final league position and performance of the franchise in the 2019-20 West Indies Championship.

They will have 90 seconds in each round to make a pick. Where a selection is not made within this time period, the franchise will miss their turn, and will have to wait until all of the other franchises have made their selection in that round before mak-

ing their selection.

The sequence of where and when each ‘franchise picks’ will take place is shown in the table below, and will be repeated for each selection round, provided that a selection is made within the stipulated time.

T h e C W I Board of Directors h a s agreed that the requirement to contract at least two players

from outside of the franchise territory would not apply to the 2020/21 season. In keeping with a wide range of short-term recommendations from the CWI Financial Strategy A d v i s o r y Committee that was approved by the Board of Directors at the end of May, all contracts will be awarded for a 6-month term at a 50% reduced value. (Released from CWI)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020

West Indies Test tour to England… opment to the Caribbean pitches, which he believes have improved in recent times. s leader of the West Indies pace attack, "The curators have done a fantastic job in Kemar Roach believes that once the men preparing bouncy and greener pitches, so it in maroon stick to their plans and exe- breathes more fast bowlers. We always had a cute same well, there is a real possibility they history of fast bowlers, but we just needed a could beat England in their own backyard and pitch to bowl on; so, cudos to the curators back retain the Wisden Trophy. home," he said.

In a press conference held virtu- a l l y Roach feels that once the pacers put in the on Sunday, Roach explained that work, greater days are ahead. West Indies had adapting to COVID-19 measures shown great pace and hostility in the Caribbean has been the biggest challenge for when England visited. With cond i the team, but the focus in now on tions favouring swing in what cricket as the first Test looms on Roach describes as July 8. "pacers parThe Barbadian speedster, adise," the who enjoys playing in England, modus operandi will be adjusted.

"Our mode of attack wouldn't change a lot, but we saw them (England batsmen) in believes the Caribbean, so that will be fresh on that working hard and being our minds," Roach highlighted. consistent is a necessity. With Now 31 years old and seven wickets the use of saliva being prohibaway from a career- defining 200 Test ited, fast bowlers will encounscalps, Roach has been Kemar Roach dominated the England ter challenges, and speaking on working hard, and rebatting line-up last year in the that factor, Roach said the folmains focused on putCaribbean lowing. ting in some great per"It's pretty tough. We had some formances for the West net sessions here and the atmoIndies on tour. sphere is chilly, hence there is not With the menacing Jofra Archer in much sweat you can produce, so the England team, Roach is looking we are coming up with some ways forward to this battle between pacers to get more gloss on the ball." with Barbadian roots.

In the West Indies’ thumping seThis three-Test series between ries win over England last year in the England and the West Indies is set Caribbean the bowling had stood out, and to be played without spectators in this had been evident in the West Indies’ the stands, and Roach believes this past few Test series; thus Roach believes creates a more level playing field, there is no pressure from expectations besince England will be without their ing high that the bowlers would perform at strong home support. their best.

Roach who, with figures of 5-17, be"I think we have fantastic bowling gan the wrecking job in the Caribbean plans to have Shannon (Gabriel) back in when West Indies won the Wisden the squad. Hopefully, he can prove his fitTrophy, had rated that series win as ness and work himself way into the Test the highlight of his career. "We side. I am looking forward to learning and have moved on from that, but now trying to teach as well," Roach posited. it's time for us to repeat that With some young and talented fast performance," Roach added. bowlers who are coming through the ranks being on this tour, Roach has credited this devel-

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Roach arriving in England

Pitch invader who tried to get selfie with Lionel Messi…

T

he Racers Grand Prix – Kingston Continental Tour Gold Meet, one of the biggest international meets in the Caribbean -- has officially been cancelled for the 2020 track and field season.

Glen Mills, Chairman of the Racers Grand Prix Organizing

sustainable engagement protocols for large sporting events in light of COVID-19.”

Originally scheduled for Saturday June 13, 2020 in Kingston, Jamaica, the Meet was one of ten meets in the new series designed to accommodate athletes from several

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOW! NOT RECEIVING

Mallorca said they were investigating how the fan had got into the stadium

L

a Liga says it will take legal action against a pitch-invader who breached security to get a selfie with Barcelona's Lionel Messi at a behind-closed-doors game.

Wearing an Argentina shirt with Messi's name and number, the fan appeared on the pitch early in the second half of Saturday's 4-0 win away to Mallorca, and managed to pose for a picture within a couple of metres of Messi before being grabbed by security staff.

La Liga has said it considers the incident "to represent a criminal

act". In a statement, the Spanish league said it made clear its "total condemnation" of the incident.

"This type of conduct puts the health of others at risk, and risks damaging the integrity of the competition," it added.

The fan claims he scaled a twometre-high fence to gain access to Mallorca's stadium. "I had planned this ever since I knew the match was happening,” he said. “I wanted a photo with Messi, and to meet him because he's my idol," the French Mallorca resident told radio station Cadena Cope. (BBC Sport)

Committee, made the tough decision after careful observation of global sporting trends in relation to the novel coronavirus. This was highlighted in a letter to the World Athletics (WA) dated Thursday, June 11, 2020.

“We are deeply disappointed to announce that the 2020 staging of the Meet has been cancelled,” Mills noted, “especially after receiving such a great commendation from the WA. However, for the health and safety of all participants and stakeholders, we must look ahead to 2021 for the return of Racers Grand Prix. Hopefully, by then we will have

disciplines that have been cut from the Diamond League for 2020.

Racers Grand Prix is currently in dialogue with World Athletics, Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), the Kingston and St Andrew Metropolitan Corporation (KSAMC), sponsors Adidas and Richard Mille, and other key partners to confirm the proposed date of Saturday, June 5, 2021. The move is in tandem with the rationale of the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics, now tentatively slated for July 23, 2021 August 8, 2021. Fans of athletics can look forward to an exciting year of track and field events. (Sportsmax)

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MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020

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West Indies Test tour of England...

Pg 21 Team Guyana Jaguars

Pg 22 Kemar Roach dominated the England batting line-up last year in the Caribbean

West Indies Test Tour to England ...

Asks Brandon Corlette Pg 21

Dynamic duo: Hetmyer and Bravo

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