Guyana Times - Saturday, April 4, 2020

Persons selling substandard sanitising agents will be prosecuted P – GA-FDD

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

Issue No. 4246

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

PRICE

GECOM, APNU/AFC destruction of democracy: Day 33

GECOM finally votes to move ahead with countrywide recount …as Appeal Court denies application to block GECOM’s decision ...but considers whether Full Court had jurisdiction over recount appeal See stories on pages 7 & 11

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Father charged for killing daughter

P8

COVID-19 outbreak

P12 GAWU advocates for financial support for sugar workers …as GuySuCo examining estates' closure

…logistics meeting cancelled after OHS chairman orders 2-day sanitisation of office

IPED waives late fees; suspends P14 penalty, interest for late installments

COVID-19 cases in Guyana rise to 23 See stories on pages 3 & 10

…Govt imposes curfew with immediate effect

Security of ballot boxes crucial to transparent recount – Jagdeo See story on page 9

Recount of votes important step to “legitimacy” of electoral process – OAS …offers support for process See story on page 10

High Court P13 throws out application for release of student in quarantine

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SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, April 4 – 02:30h – 04:00h and 13:30h – 15:00h and Sunday, April 5 – 03:00h – 04:30h and 14:30h – 16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, April 4 – 13:10h – 14:40h and Sunday, April 5 – 14:10h – 15:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light cloud will prevail during the day. There will be partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 13:56h reaching a maximum height of 2.42 metres.

Low Tide: 07:28h and 20:00h reaching minimum heights of 0.93 metre and 0.71 metre.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

LOTTERY NUMBERS B

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FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2020

DAILY MILLIONS

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COMMODITIES Indicators

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COVID-19 outbreak

Govt imposes curfew with immediate effect

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s the number of COVID-19 cases in Guyana continues to climb, the caretaker APNU/ AFC Government has announced a 12-hour daily curfew, among other measures, for the next month to tackle the further spread of the deadly virus.

This was contained in a series of emergency measures rolled out on Friday by Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, who was bestowed sweeping powers by caretaker President David Granger on the Public Health Ordinance issued last month.

An unsigned notice from the Minister states that the measures took effect from Friday, April 3, 2020, and will last for one month, “unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Public Health after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions.”

The emergency measures state, “A curfew is hereby imposed throughout Guyana from the 3rd April, 2020 to 3rd May, 2020 between the hours of 6:00 pm and 6:00 am.”

It also includes directives to stay at home, stating that “every person shall remain in the confines of his or her home and its yard space” except or as otherwise provided.

According to the notice, all persons employed within the public service, a statutory body or a State-owned enterprise shall work remotely from home, except as may otherwise be directed by the Public Health Minister, acting on the advice of the responsible Ministers and Heads of Agencies.

With regards to essential services, the Minister said these will carry on with 24hour operations. These include hospitals, healthcare and medical services including pharmacies, drug stores and private veterinary services; nursing homes, orphanages, shelters and other related care centres; immigration;

Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA); electricity services; water supply services; the Disciplined Forces; Guyana Prison Services; solid waste management, sewerage and janitorial services; air traffic control (ATC); the Demerara Harbour Bridge and Berbice River Bridge; hotels and accommodation; and factories, manufacturers or distributors of food supplies and essential goods including medical supplies where the Minister of Public Health has determined that the continuation of these operations do not pose a risk to public health.

Telecommunications and media are also included in the essential services category.

Other essential services

Other essential services such as banks, markets, supermarkets, fruits and vegetable stalls and neighbourhood shops, food services and restaurants only for delivery, drive-thru and take away services, and gas stations are to be only open between 06:00h and 17:00h.

“Any service not listed… may only continue their services if their employees can work exclusively from home,” the notice states.

Moreover, these services mentioned are guided by strict social distancing and physical distancing protocols, which they need to make the necessary arrangements to facilitate.

According to Lawrence, they have to: ensure that all staff and other persons maintain physical distancing of at least six feet in or outside of their establishment, if in a line

to enter the establishment; determine the number of persons that may be permitted in the establishment at any one time by permitting one person for every 30 square feet of space; place distance markers at least six feet apart, indicating where each customer shall stand in a line at a checkout point or other line; place distance markers at least six feet apart on the outside of the establishment, indicating where customers shall stand while waiting to enter the establishment.

Social activities

Meanwhile, restrictions were also placed on all social activities at private parties; sporting event; a banquet, ball or reception; bar or rum shop; the seawall; a pool, creek or river; a wake or vigil; gym; beauty salon or spa; club or discotheque; and meeting of fraternal society, private or social club or civic association or organisation.

As it relates to weddings, no one other than the bride, the bridegroom, official witnesses and the marriage officer is to be present. While for funerals, no more than 10 mourners, one officiant and the funeral director and the necessary staff shall attend.

For religious worship, except for the conduct of funeral services and weddings, all churches and places of religious worship including mosques and temples shall be closed. However, this does not “prohibit any religious worship by virtual or electronic means provided that if virtual or electronic worship is being

carried on in the place of worship the number of persons in that place shall not exceed five persons and the social distancing of six feet between persons shall apply.”

Restrictions were also placed on visitation to any quarantine or isolation facility; a prison or correctional facility; and patients in a hospital, nursing home, senior citizens’ home or any other care facility.

Travelling

With regards to travelling, the two international airports remain closed to all overseas flights except for outgoing flights, cargo flights, medical evacuation flights, technical stops for fuel only and special authorised flights. However, for domestic travelling whether by land, water or air, those means of transportation are required not to carry more than half the number of passengers, which the motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft are licensed to carry. All operators and passengers are also required to have personal protective equipment.

The notice further outlined that a motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft shall not be used for a purpose other than for those ‘essential services’ mentioned above.

The caretaker Minister has also given the Guyana Police Force powers to stop any motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft and inquire as to the purposes for which that motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft is being utilised, and may arrest anyone found in violation.

For medical evacuation flights, only the patient, one health official and, where necessary, one family member is allowed in the aircraft.

According to the caretaker Minister, anyone who fails to comply with any of these measures commits an offence under Section 152 of the Public Health Ordinance and is liable on summary conviction to the penalty provided under that Section.

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guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

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

“Extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures”

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he coronavirus (COVID-19) infection rate continues to rise in Guyana, with the latest figures being 23 positive cases and four deaths. COVID-19 pandemic is creating havoc around the world, with increasing numbers of deaths and infections daily.

Many countries have also reported new cases this past week, and with each passing day, the level of fear and anxiety in societies everywhere is increasing, especially since there is no known vaccine readily available for the disease. In New York alone, the 24-hour death toll was 562 by Friday morning, with the city’s Governor, Andrew Cuomo, saying that this has now brought the total to 2,935 fatalities since the start of the outbreak.

The number of people infected has soared past 200,000, and worldwide, fatalities have topped 10,000. More deaths have also now been recorded in Europe, the new virus epicentre, than in Asia since the outbreak first emerged in Wuhan, China last December.

Guyana has thus far registered four fatalities, and has confirmed 23 cases of coronavirus disease this past week.

Around the world, we see the soaring figures of the lethal infection overwhelming hospitals.

Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, recently referred to the virus as an “enemy against humanity”, as never before has the world been threatened and affected in this manner. For weeks now, many cities around the world have basically been on lock-down, with the authorities placing tough restrictions on persons to stay indoors and maintain ‘social distancing’ so as to slow or halt the spread of the disease. Many schools, airports, shopping malls etc have been closed in order to prevent mass gatherings.

Guyana finally joined the rest of the world on Friday evening and called a national curfew which, when properly examined, has numerous loopholes. WHO has constantly said testing people with symptoms of the coronavirus lies at the heart of fighting the pandemic, but in Guyana, limited testing is being done. In First World nations, the virus is spreading like wildfire. Therefore, if Guyana does not act swiftly, our healthcare system will fail the most vulnerable in our society.

Already, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) is predicting that some 20,000 Guyanese may get infected.

The big question on everyone’s mind is: When will this all end, and how soon will persons be able to get on with their daily lives? The reality of the situation is that no one knows for sure. Certainly, life will not return to normalcy anytime soon. Experts have pointed out that even if the infection rate starts to decline in the coming months due to the present measures being taken, it is still far from the end.

The current measures being taken to shut down airports, schools, shopping malls, sports venues and other aspects of national life are not sustainable in the long term. While this is needed at this stage, the social and economic impacts of this damage would be very heavy for countries to deal with.

On the other hand, if these restrictions are lifted, there is a high possibility that the infection rates would go up, and all the gains made would be reversed. The WHO has stated that the only way to suppress and control the virus is for countries to “isolate, test, treat and trace.” If countries fail to do that, “transmission chains can continue at a low level, then resurge once physical distancing measures are lifted.”

COVID-19 will have a huge financial impact on many individual households and their ability to survive this difficult phase. This is in addition to the slowing down of the economy here for quite some time now due to the elections’ climate.

Some businesses were forced to close their doors, while others scaled down their operations, resulting in workers being laid off or having reduced work days etc. Certainly, these affected persons would suffer great financial difficulties.

These are indeed tough times for families who are already burdened financially, and it is expected that the Government and private sector companies would step in and do what is expected.

To quote Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres: “Extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures. We face a colossal test which demands decisive, coordinated and innovative action from all, for all.”

Old Burnham rigging virus Dear Editor, Our thanks to the Ministry of the Presidency (MoP) for assuring that Mr Granger --illegal president since the No Confidence Motion, now in a caretaker role -- does not have the coronavirus.

So, now we have to ask the question: Why is he acting in the irrational way he is, that has no logic or makes no sense whatsoever, in a time of a looming national health crisis?

How can a normal president ask a Caricom team to come and monitor the counting of ballots, and then have one of his candidates file court action against it, and the team has to return home? What is Caricom and the international community thinking about us as a nation and people? How does Mr Granger explain that the Full Court ruled that his candidate has no right to challenge the Caricom recount, and refuse to grant a stay as there is no merit in

their case, yet Mr. Granger’s candidate has filed an appeal? And Mr Granger looks at the nation in its face and says he supports a Caricom recount!

So, if the MoP says Mr Granger does not have some disease that makes him act irrationally, I say we need a second opinion.

What Mr Granger is suffering from is the old Burnham rigging virus, and that seemingly incurable disease is called “riggeritis.”

So, let’s look at the patient’s history. By itself, the PNC has never won an election. The greatest admirer of Burnham was the PNC’s rep on GECOM, Mr Alexander, who kept Burnham’s ideas going through the Burnham Foundation. But in comes Mr Granger, who bested that by giving over his personal house to various Burnham Foundation activities. Now, that’s a real fan! I almost did not vote for Mr Granger in 2015, because he never renounced Burnhamism

and that was a litmus test for me, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt and voted for him and the Coalition.

(My apologies to the nation.

Didn’t know they would turn out to be such a big failure!).

So while the coronavirus is a serious national emergency, we should not allow the PNC to use that to perpetuate their illegal rule.

They have already stolen a month since the election, and stolen a year in power since their defeat at the No Confidence Vote.

We must battle both the Corona disease and the riggeritis disease concurrently. I disagree with a line of thinking being peddled that we should focus on the Corona virus and let the riggeritis virus slide. (It took 28 years to defeat the PNC riggeritis virus. It will take less time to defeat the coronavirus.

So, let’s not gamble our future and leave the PNC in power). An illegal regime is in a weakened state to ef-

fectively lead or marshall international assistance at a time of crisis. If the PNC really cares about the country, the only choice available is for Mr. Granger to put an end to all the PNC’s shenanigans, come clean, and invite the Caricom team and any available international and local observers to observe the elections. If done in an open, transparent, honest process in front of the media and observers and televised live to the nation, the people will support the winner.

However, the GECOM Chair must send the Chief and Deputy Elections Officer and Reverend Mingo on administrative leave while the count is being done. It’s over to the GECOM Chair to act with decisiveness and utmost speed to wrap this up, so that the new Government can lead us forward. Stop traumatising the nation!

Sincerely, Dr Jerry Jailall

It is time for Ramjattan, Nagamootoo to leave politics Dear Editor, A month has passed and our nation is yet to receive the results of the polling exercise conducted on March 2.

At this point it is simply too embarrassing for our nation.

We have a global pandemic to worry our heads over; this matter should have been resolved weeks ago; yet, here we are.

I must note that I was quite amused upon reading Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s calls for an international inquiry into “foreign interference” in our electoral process. In the recent edition of his Guyana Chronicle column, “My Turn”, he expressed his belief that “foreign electoral engineers and their local lackeys” have attempted to “dislodge a democratically elected government”.

Bewildered as I was, my mind was taken back to March 5th, when Mr Khemraj Ramjattan made the allegation of the PPP colluding with foreign powers to interfere in the elections.

The Prime Ministerial hopeful claimed that a Libyan, an American, as well as a Russian were arrested and

later deported after their “intelligence realized that there was some conspiracy to tap into GECOM’s computer system”. He added that a Russian-American was still “on the run”. He continued by claiming that Mr Bharrat Jagdeo was speaking directly to the Russians by phone.

I would go on and ask why these nationals were not tried in court before being deported, but that would be aimless. It was almost too painful to watch him (Ramjattan) make this hilarious allegation, which was clearly fed to him. While I did chuckle, at the same time, it made me realize that this is what his political career has been reduced to.

The same can be said about Mr. Nagamootoo.

These were two individuals who claimed to fighting hard for the people of this country since the inception of the AFC. Now can we really call them anything but “yes men” of the PNC? I beseech these two individuals to revisit their memories of growing up under the dictatorship of the late Forbes Burnham and knowing the franchises of individuals dis-

regarded by fraudulent electoral processes.

Both Ramjattan and Nagamootoo were followers of the late Cheddi Jagan as he fought against injustice in Guyana. Have their political careers been reduced to this: pathetically masquerading the lies that have been fed to them by the PNC? Moreover, the AFC (led

by Ramjattan) is now calling for power sharing with the PPP, while still parading the claim that the coalition won our election. It seems to me that they have realized their loss and are desperately trying to grasp on to power.

Parading these claims of foreign interference and who won is only going to feed the blind coalition followers’ hostility. Can’t Nagamootoo and Ramjattan see that they will only indirectly contribute to the political divide in this country? It is disappointing, especially since these are two individuals who braved a dictatorship in the past.

To me, when they leave office, their political careers would be reduced to an embarrassing but pathetic footnote in the history of

Guyana’s politics. I strongly advise the two of them, after this election’s fiasco wraps up, to leave the field of politics entirely.

We’ve seen them enter the political arena and we have seen what power can do to them; or, in this case, say what will keep you in power.

We’ve had enough of them; they both are qualified professionals, so let them actually contribute positively to our country’s wellbeing.

If the two of them had any desire to salvage what is left of their political careers, they would have come out, like their contemporary Dominic Gaskin, and condemned the now widely believed to be fraudulent results for Region 4, originally declared by Clairmont Mingo.

They could have even joined C.N. Sharma of the Justice For All Party and called for a recount. Yet they have stayed mum on the matter, only clearing up any doubts in mind that they are charlatans for the PNC.

Dear Editor, Two greedy rats were trying to divide a piece of cheese to make sure that each one gets half. They decided to use a scale, but still could not settle this simple dispute, so they invited an old wise rat, who was happy to accommodate them. He bit from each piece to arrive at two equal pieces, and ended up eating the entire piece of cheese.

Does this story sound familiar to what is happening in Guyana?

Election was held in Guyana on March 2nd 2020.

The two major political parties did not trust Guyanese to monitor this simple process, so they invited a host of high-powered, credible international observers, who spread themselves all across our nation to monitor

our election, and they were all satisfied that the election was conducted in a fair and honest manner; which brought high praise from all contesting political parties.

The votes were counted and everything seemed to be going well, until we got to Region 4; and that is where the “truth went on trial”.

Now, before I proceed, I want to make it abundantly

clear that I am not, and have never been, an active supporter of any political party.

I am 74 years old, and have never been granted any favour from any politician or party because of affiliation, and no one can ever prove that I have ever made a racist statement. Therefore, I think I can qualify myself to speak as an independent.

Yours faithfully, Nikhil Sankar

The truth on trial in Guyana

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

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

FITUG remains most concerned for our nation’s workers Dear Editor, The FITUG saw in the April 01, 2020 Guyana Chronicle a two-page, full-colour centre spread featuring the message of Minister Keith Scott on the occasion of World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

The Minister’s message coincided with commencement of Occupational Safety and Health Month, which is celebrated in April every year. The message, which appeared only in the Chronicle, must have been very costly, given its prominence and glossy presentation.

This expenditure comes at a time when our resources, in our view, would be better used to confront the COVID-19 epidemic. In fact, we saw the Minister, in his message, saying, “…no effort should be spared to minimize and control the spread and ultimately the elimination of the disease”.

We have no disagreement here, but we believe we need to set our priorities

at the same time.

The Minister, in his missive, reminded us of the deathly and haunting effects of other pandemics and epidemics. It’s a clear wake-up call of what could befall us if we do not, in a meaningful manner, seek to address proactively what is now staring at us all. The Minister shared that the Ministry of Public Health has taken the lead. The Federation has recently expressed its deep concern and sincere worry about the leadership of the Public Health Ministry during the current crisis, as we contend that more ought to be done.

We, like many in the public, were appalled to learn of the treatment of one of the infected persons, who ultimately passed on.

At this time, the FITUG extends its sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of the four (4) Guyanese who lost their lives as a result of COVID-19. Clearly, the situation is deteriorating, but it appears that those in the

lead have little to no grip on the situation. This is a worrying development not only for us, but for all Guyanese.

But coming back to Minister Scott: In his message, he also shared that every Government agency is involved in the ongoing fight. The Minister himself is charged with an important responsibility as the political head of the Department of Labour. With charge to ensure that workers’ rights are respected and that they are protected at this time of threat, it is dismaying to say that it appears to us that there has been a lack of response from the Department which he leads.

We did see the Minister speaking to some sort of advisory, which he says is intended to assist employers, but we ask: Where is the evenhandedness? To the best of our knowledge, there has so far been no advisories or similar information coming from the Department to our nation’s workers.

Shouldn’t workers be aware,

What nonsense is Alexander asking?

Dear Editor, What does Alexander mean when he says, “It is a GECOM Commissionsupervised recount, if it occurs”.

Everybody is asking what new tricks the PNC side will come up with now.

They expect the PNC to take their frivolous and vexatious lawsuits to the CCJ to stall the process, to rig more time in power. The PNC and Mr. Granger has become such big jokes and an embarrassment to Guyana. Even primary school children are laughing at them, as the PNC is teaching our young that it is okay to steal. The PNC moves from the ridiculous to the more ridiculous, from dumb to dumber, from clowns to clownier, and there is no end in sight to their madness. The PNC world is one where the man who argues that 33 is not the majority of 65 (and gets big pay for it) gets a senior counsel award. Mudwata probably has a more appropriate term for the PNC that I, a righteous man, cannot repeat here.

A section of the local media reported on April 3 that “The national recount ordered by Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), retired Justice Claudette Singh will be supervised by the Commission.” And Mr. Alexander, who has Ms. Singh as a puppet on a string, reportedly said “it is a GECOM Commission supervised recount, if it occurs.”

Equally disturbing is the news that the recount will not start until after a decision has been made in the court case. So what will happen if the PNC appeals the case to the CCJ? Will the Chair wait for a decision

and not start the recount?

Gecom can recount independently under its powers and does not need court approval. Why is the PPP not activating the contempt action against the Chair and the Gecom people?

What is Alexander (Burnham’s protégé and number 2 fan and defacto Chair) saying here? Is he saying the Caricom team and observers will not be invited? What does it mean by “if it happens” when the Commission has already voted on that, including Alexander? Does Alexander know something, we don’t?

We understand that Gecom supervises everything. Caricom and international observers were invited because the PNC has a long history of running fraudulent elections and cannot be trusted. Caricom’s role is that of a glorified observer. Is Alexander saying only Gecom people in collusion with PNC operatives on staff will be handling the ballots, documents, boxes, Statements of Poll, and they will do the recount in the accustomed crooked ways?

The PPP and contesting parties must not stand for such nonsense and must protest vehemently to prevent this fraud and secure a fair process.

For starters, Lowenfield, Myers and Mingo must not be involved. Representatives of the contesting parties must be allowed to attend.

Foreign and local observers must be allowed, and “virus” excuses must not be used to bar stakeholders from being present. I suggest these conditions: 1. Party reps must be allowed to verify the SOPs being presented as authentic as they are being presented. 2. The counting process

must be transparent and open with observers being close to the action and be able to see and hear what is going on. (No one trusts the PNC and their colluding operatives within the Gecom staff. Their track record is their ability to hold elections “as crooked as barbed wire,” according to the Lord Avebury Report). 3. The parties must ask for the media to be present and televise the count. 4. An observer or two must be sitting next to the person calling out the numbers to make sure the correct numbers are being given. 5. The ballots must be held up or shown on a clear screen where the numbers are readable and noticeable, in a slow pace, not rushed through. 6. All observers and representatives present must be able to take pictures; phones and recording devices must not be prohibited. 7. Parties must have the right to make objections as they happen and objections must be resolved before moving forward with the count. 8. The Chair must be present to make rulings pertaining to the count and move the process forward.

Lowenfield is not an honest broker. 9. Lowenfield, Myers and Mingo, and those who produced the fake spreadsheets with fraudulent numbers must be banned from coming near to 5 miles within the building.

10. Foreign embassies must be invited as observers.

Also, what nonsense is Alexander asking about what is the purpose of the recount, if not to announce the winner? The PNC and Gecom is crossing the red line and pushing people to the brink.

Sincerely, Jerry Singh

or reminded, of their rights?

Or is it that their rights do not matter? We sincerely hope this is not the case.

But apart from safety and health concerns at this time, which must remain paramount, we ask: What about other rights of workers, which are apparently nakedly disregarded too, in this crisis state? Many businesses have shut shop and workers have been put on the breadline.

There is a clearly spelt out procedure in our statutes that requires the involvement of the Department. It is, for us, most disappointing that these protections offered to workers have been thrown to the wayside.

More dismaying is that the Labour Department appears to be helpless to assist these Guyanese. We believe that this is not the treatment our workers deserve at any time, and even less so at this time. Several workers have approached us and shared

that, without any warning, they have been sent home and their rights trampled upon remorselessly, it seems. Yet there is a deafening silence from Minister Scott and his Department of Labour.

The Minister also rightly advocates appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for our health sector workers. We agree, too, that these workers are providing laudable service at clearly a distressing time, and that some consideration should be given for them to receive additional reward for their yeoman work.

While we share his advocacy, we contend that it should not end there. We ask what about our Policemen and women, security guards, and all workers generally?

Shouldn’t they receive and benefit from adequate protections too? What measures have Minister Scott’s Department taken in leading this call? Certainly, we

The truth on trial...

Now, I am going to put truth on trial, and as a Christian, I would like to hold this trial against a verse from the Bible, which I am sure all parties will accept because it does not embrace a religious view. It is found in John chapter 8 and verse 32: “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free”.

This verse makes it abundantly clear that truth brings freedom, while dishonesty brings hardship, keeping people in bondage.

May God have mercy on any person or group who attempts to peddle anything that is not the truth, as dishonesty comes with divine consequences, which we do not want on our nation.

As we proceed, my advice to our politicians and every Guyanese citizen is: “Truth is more valuable than the new oil discovery. Embrace it, as this is the only way we can expect God’s blessing on our nation.”

I am going to list the sequence of events following the elections, and would apologize in advance if the dates and/or quotes are incorrect. But I would like to invite every Guyanese to be a fair juror and judge truth as presented in this case.

THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS March 04: Local press reports state that after declaration of 8 regions, except Regions 4 and 8, the Opposition leads by roughly 52,500 votes.

March 05: GECOM declares APNU/AFC Coalition winner of Region 4 by 59,077 votes. All opposition parties, all local and foreign observers declare that this result was not transparent and had not been verified.

Opposition obtains injunction against declaration of election results.

March 11: The Chief

Justice rules that there had been substantial non-compliance by the Returning Officer for Region 4 in his purported declaration of results for that region, and that the results are therefore null, void and vacated. The Chief Justice said the Returning Officer for Region 4 must produce the Statements of Poll (SoPs) during the tabulation of votes for his electoral district.

March 13: International community walks out on Region 4 counting, and GECOM declares Region 4 results similar to previously declared results.

March 14: A P N U / AFC Coalition and Opposition leaders agree to a CARICOM-supervised recount of the ballots in all ten administrative regions.

This was a complimentary move, and it was praised by all parties.

March 15: Senior CARICOM personnel arrive to monitor the recount.

However, the start of this was delayed for various reasons.

March 17: CARICOMsupervised recount aborted because of injunction granted to APNU/AFC Coalition representative to stop the recount.

March 31: Full Court determines that injunction was wrongfully granted.

There is much more to be said on this subject, which I am sure you have been obtaining through Facebook,

cannot believe that a nice message would be all.

FITUG remains most concerned for our nation’s workers at this time. This is not the first time that the Federation has shared publicly its concern in regard to the Labour Department’s functioning. It appears to us that those who have responsibility to ensure workers are protected have dropped the ball, and many workers are left to drift on their own.

This is most saddening for us, and the situation needs to be quickly and urgently corrected. The risks are real and the consequences are high; and, at this time, we urge Minister Scott and his Department to play their role and live up to their responsibilities to our workers.

Yours faithfully, Dawchan Nagasar General Secretary FITUG

FROM PAGE 4

the newspapers, WhatsApp and telephone calls, and many of you have come to your own conclusion, but I will like each one to revisit everything that has brought us to this stage as we put “the truth on trial”.

Guyana is being threatened with sanctions if a President is sworn in without a transparent counting of all votes. If sanctions are instituted, they would bring serious damage to our country. Sanctions aside, the international community wants the truth, and I am sure that once truth is presented and we have evidence to support our presentation, they will compliment us, support and help our country on our journey to development.

In the Book of Acts, chapter 9 and verse 5, Paul the Apostle was warned with these words from God, “It is hard for you to kick against the pricks, which equates to fighting against God.” In fact, he was advised to “stop being stubborn and surrender to the truth.”

Without fear or prejudice, I would like us to call on our politicians, the Judiciary, GECOM, and all others involved to embrace the truth, as this is the only way we can move forward as a nation and be favoured with God’s endorsement.

What is your verdict?

Yours sincerely, Harold Beharry

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SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

Page

Foundation

Guyana Times is pleased to publish the National Grade Six Assessment Past Papers. This is the third part of Science Paper 1, 2013 and first part of Science Paper 2, 2012.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE SIX ASSESSMENT PAPER 1

TIME: 1 hour 10 minutes READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. 1. WRITE YOUR CANDIDATE NUMBER ON THE ANSWER SHEET AND UNDERLINE THE SUBJECT. 2. This test contains 40 questions. You are

36.

SCIENCE

required to answer ALL questions.

Four responses are given for each question.

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

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, shade the letter you have chosen.

4. BE SURE THAT THE QUESTION NUMBER IN THE BOOKLET IS THE SAME AS THE ONE

YOU HAVE USED ON YOUR ANSWER SHEET. Here is an example done for you.

1. Carbon dioxide is a (A) mixture.

ANSWER SHEET (B) liquid.

A B C D (C) gas.

(D) solid.

Note: The letter C is shaded on the answer sheet because gas, the correct answer, is next to C.

Study the food chains below, then answer question

5. If you make a mistake, erase the shaded letter cleanly, then shade the letter next to the answer you have now chosen.

6. REMEMBER, each answer MUST only be shown by the shading on your Answer Sheet.

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

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

SCIENCE PAPER 2

Study the diagram of the tomato plant below, then answer question 1.

37. The part labelled A is called the (A) fulcrum. (B) lever.

(C) effort. (D) load.

38. The sun appears to rise in the east because the (A) sun moves from east to west. (B) sun moves from west to east.

(C) earth spins from east to west. (D) earth spins from west to east.

36. Which is true based on the information given above?

(A) Corn, lettuce and caterpillar are consumers.

(B) The pelican , leaves and algae are producers.

(C) The mongoose, chicken and man are consumers.

(D) The cow , herring and man are producers.

The diagram below shows a simple machine in use.

Study it, then answer question 37.

39. Which gas found in the atmosphere is used to make fertilizers and explosives?

(A) Oxygen. (B) Hydrogen.

(C) Nitrogen. (D) Freon.

40. The renewable sources of energy are obtained from (i) crude oil. (ii) wind. (iii) solar. (iv) hydropower.

(A) (i), (ii) and (iii) (B) (ii), (iii) and (iv) (C) (i), (iii) and (iv) (D) (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)

1. (a) Name the group of flowering plants to which it belongs.

(1 mark) (b) (i) Name the type of root system found in the plant.

(1 mark) (ii) Name the type of leaves found in the plant.

1 mark) c) Name the type of reproduction of this plant.

(1 mark) (d) How is the seed dispersed?

(1 mark) Study the food web below, then answer question 2.

2. (a) Name the omnivore in the food web.

(1 mark) (b) Complete the food chain shown in the food web.

(2 marks) (c) What does the arrow in the food web represent?

(1 mark) (d) Name the third order consumer in the food web.

(1 mark)

NEWS

7

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GECOM, APNU/AFC destruction of democracy: Day 33

GECOM finally votes to move ahead with countrywide recount …logistics meeting cancelled after OHS Chairman orders 2-day sanitisation of office

GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

T

he Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission on Friday voted for the entity to move ahead with a countrywide recount of the March 2 ballots, in keeping with her public commitment and undertaking to the acting Chief Justice, Roxane George.

After one month of delays, the Commission decided on Friday that the recount will be facilitated in numerical order, starting with Region One (Barima-Waini) and then on to the other nine districts.

GECOM in a statement revealed that the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield was asked to provide a framework for the opera-

tionalisation of the recount.

However, the Commission said the CEO “requested guidance from the Commission on a number of legal and procedural issues in relation to the recount and once clarified, he will proceed to operationalise the plan.”

The Chair in voting with the three Opposition-nominated Commissioners for the recount stated that this decision is against the backdrop of Article 162 (1) (b) of the Constitution, which mandates the Commission to “take such action as appear to it necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the provisions of the Constitution.”

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Opposition-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj indicated that modalities surrounding the process are yet to be “ironed out.” This includes re-engaging the elections observers to return.

“Even though I believed all Commissioners seemed to be in favour of a recount, we were moving one step forward, one step backward in relation to the process. The Chairman finally ruled that this is what we are going to do and this is the decision and we have to take steps to operationalise that now,” Gunraj pointed out.

“We are trying to work out the modalities…There were some issues raised by the Chief Elections Officer that he would like to be resolved before we put plans in place to do so. These issues include re-engaging the observers, role of the Commission in the process so we are trying to do that,” he added.

He expressed that a timeline to get these

issues sorted was not rolled out, but it should be done expeditiously.

“There’s no engagements in terms of timeline but we are trying to work that out, bearing in mind the anxiety of the nation and bearing in mind that a month has elapsed already since this process is ongoing.”

Gunraj went on to say that this process will determine the final results to be declared by the Secretariat.

“The method of the declaration is what has to be decided on but obviously, the results of the recount shall be the results of the election…The whole point is to establish the results of the elections because of the flawed process that we currently have on our hands,” the Commissioner asserted.

Sanitisation

The logistics meeting was scheduled to occur at 14:00h on Friday following the decision to recount. However, a memo was prepared and sent to all staff of GECOM including the Commissioners by the Occupational Health and Safety Chairman stating that the entire building had to be sanitised in light of COVID-19. This process, according to the memo, will conclude on Sunday.

After the declaration of unverified results from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), an agreement was brokered by President David Granger and Opposition Leader, Bharrat

Jagdeo to have a Caribbean Community (Caricom) supervised recount.

A five-member independent high-level team was deployed to Guyana on March 15. Two days later, the regional team was forced to withdraw its services after an A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) candidate, Ulita Moore, had obtained an injunction from the High Court, blocking GECOM from commencing the recounting process.

On Tuesday acting Chief Justice Roxane George, who presided in the Full Court along with Justice Nareshwar Harnanan, ruled that the Court has no jurisdiction to hear the application filed by Moore.

The Full Court took into account the fact that the GECOM Chair had given a public undertaking that the votes would be recounted to ensure that the results of the polls were credible and accepted by the various stakeholders.

8 NEWS

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Father charged for killing daughter

A

construction worker, who allegedly killed his 11-year-old was on Friday remanded to prison on a murder charge.

Ganesh Ramdain of Lot 14 Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Marissa Mittelhozer at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.

The 33-year-old man was not required to plead to the offence of murder, which stated that between March 25 and March 27, 2020, at his home, he murdered his daughter Varshanie Ramdain.

Police Prosecutor,

Remanded: Ganesh Ramdain

Corporal David Goodridge told the court that on March 25, the victim was in her bedroom alone while her mother was in the lower flat of the family home.

It was further alleged that the man entered his daughter’s bedroom and began choking her and then reportedly tied her to the roof and went downstairs.

Goodridge further stated that Ramdain then raised an alarm and her father went back into the room and cut her down from the roof.

The child was then rushed to the Georgetown

Public Hospital, where she was admitted as a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in an unconscious state.

However, the child succumbed to her injuries on March 27.

According to the prosecution’s case, during a video interview with the police, the father confessed to killing his daughter.

Magistrate Mittelhozer ordered that the accused undergo a psychological elevation while on remand.

The case will continue on May 11.

Department stated that importers and distributors of sanitising agents must first obtain an Import Permit to import or distribute bactericidal liquid and soap or sanitising agents locally.

Adding to that, labels attached on these products must satisfy or be consistent with the labelling requirements of the GA-FDD, stating clearly the bactericidal agent or strength of sanitising agent used through percentage.

For manufacturers, a license must be obtained from the GA-FDD before releasing these items on the local market. Labels of locally manufactured bactericidal or sanitising agents must first be approved by the agency and must also state clearly the bactericidal

agent and strength of the ingredient.

Close monitoring will be placed on these products and sanitising agents will be examined based on its alcohol percentage. The required content should be no less than 60 per cent ethyl alcohol or 70-75 per cent Isopropanol.

“The Department will actively monitor bactericidal agents by use of standard methodology such as the phenol coefficient test to determine efficacy in our microbiological laboratory…

This is to ensure that these items are safe and efficacious, particularly during this period when bactericidal liquid/soap and sanitising agents play a key and critical role in hand hygiene,” GA-FDD indicated.

The Department recommended that manufacturers act in compliance with the requirements to guarantee effectiveness against microbial contaminants as the COVID-19 pandemic persists. It cautioned that any stakeholder found guilty of diluting or producing substandard products will be prosecuted.

“Any manufacturer, importer, wholesaler, distributor or retailer found in the practice of diluting any sanitising agent or marketing a sanitising agent that is substandard [less than 60 per cent ethyl alcohol or 70-75 per cent Isopropanol] will be prosecuted according to the laws of Guyana Food and Drug Act Chapter 34:03 Part III Section 10 and the Food and Drug Regulation, Regulation 72,” it stated.

In light of the epidemic, the washing of hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is essential, especially before eating, and after coughing, sneezing or blowing one’s nose.

In cases where soap and water are not readily available, an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60 percent alcohol is also effective. Persons are also advised to wear masks, preferably the N95, to prevent contamination through droplets.

Persons selling substandard sanitising agents will be prosecuted – GA-FDD

T

he Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) has sent a strict warning of the consequences attached to selling substandard sanitising agents, as distributors across the

country muster to supply the population’s increasing demands.

With threats from COVID-19, the need for these cleaning and disinfecting supplies have increased tenfold. As such, the

How many turns…

T

…will GECOM take? he Americans have a saying that’s very apropos to what we’re facing with GECOM and elections’ results: “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings!” And it sure doesn’t look like there’s any fat lady on the horizon about to belt out a number to end this farce that just keeps going on and on and on. Now, dear reader, you may be protesting, “Hold it!! Hold it!! Hasn’t Claudette Singh finally decided to grab the bull by its horns and voted for a recount, rather than going with her CEO’s Mingoed results??”

Well, that she has…but what makes you think it’s the end of this long and tortuous road that started back on Dec 21, 2018?? Haven’t we been here before?? Fool me once, shame on you: fool me twice, shame on me…but fool me a dozen times?? Jeez!! Your Eyewitness would have to be a sucker for punishment…a certified member of the whips, chains and garter-belt crowd!!

Let’s look at the latest announcement that has everyone in raptures: the above-mentioned decision by the Chair. But by now we should’ve learnt the importance of context, shouldn’t we?? After all, how many times haven’t you heard Granger unctuously insisting that he always acts in conformity with the Constitution?? By now, hopefully, you’ve learnt that his “conformity” was always in line with his “perception”!!

So, what’s the context of Claudette suddenly growing a pair, donning her suit of armour, and getting ready to play the “Iron Lady” role at long last?? Well, first of all, you have the Court of Appeal still in play, with the appeal by the APNU candidate Ulita Moore protesting any recount – even though she wasn’t given leave to appeal by the Full Court. Now, don’t worry, dear reader, your Eyewitness isn’t going to subject you to another disquisition on the rules of procedure on appeals in our legal system!!

As we know, in Guyana, nothing has anything to do with the institution, but all about the PEOPLE manning the institution! So, can you say what the Appellate Court will rule come Sunday – having already made sure that the recount will not start before then?? Like Dylan crooned, “the answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind!!”

And in case you’re not sure what that means, we’re told that “the answer is so obvious and self-evident that it’s in plain sight, blowing everywhere. But it can also mean that the answer is indeed in the wind, and trying to understand is like trying to chase the wind: pointless.”

Pointless, because the PNC doesn’t operate on any moral or legal basis: it’s seizing power by any means necessary!!

But it ain’t over till it’s over!! …will the actual count take??

The GECOM press release announcing the “recount decision” had an interesting caveat: “Consequent to the foregoing, the Chief ElectionOfficer (CEO) was asked to provide a framework for the operationalization of the recount. However, the CEO requested guidance from the Commission on a number of legal and procedural issues in relation to the recount, and once clarified, he will proceed to operationalize the plan.”

Now, as your Eyewitness is writing this, GECOM is in a second meeting to address these matters, but we’ve already sensed how the matter could play out. For instance, let’s say after the count of Reg 1, the PNC goes to the court, since for sure some discrepancies will found, as it’s inevitable in any forensic count? And they do this for every Region as we go down the line??

In the very best of circumstances, a total recount will take a month – which won’t start until some Foreign Team comes in to Observe. And we haven’t even touched the “legal” matters alluded to by the CEO!!

When will it end?? The answer is blowin’ in the wind!! …will the Americans take?

US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch didn’t mince any words to the APNU acolytes who told her to “Butt out!”

“Guyana certainly isn’t Venezuela: let’s keep it that way”!

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

NEWS

9

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Security of ballot boxes crucial to transparent recount – Jagdeo

O

pposition Leader and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, Bharrat Jagdeo, is extremely concerned over the safety of the ballot boxes which are currently being housed at GECOM Headquarters on High Street, Kingston.

This in light of a decision made by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to proceed with a national recount of the votes cast in the March 2 poll.

Speaking during a virtual press conference on Friday, Jagdeo noted that his concerns stem from the series of past attempts made by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) and the continued attempts to sabotage the completion of a credible election following the May 2, 2020 poll.

Jagdeo is adamant there is “a criminal cabal, I suspect very fearful of the consequences of what any legal or investigation could reveal, trying to stage a coup d’état; and this criminal cabal is made up of some former ministers and others from the APNU and AFC, a small group of Ministers and officials from APNU/AFC, those who have benefited the most from the criminal acts over the last five years—large scale acts of thievery and corruption — and some of their business partners, joining with some elements within GECOM and some members of the legal fraternity, and a few others who are part of this criminal cabal that will do whatever it takes to try to alter the results of the elections.”

The Opposition Leader was adamant that there is a new struggle and hurdle in the path of credible elections and a legitimate president being sworn in.

“They will continue to the very last day to try to get a president sworn in on the basis of fraudulent results that were announced,” he stated.

Jagdeo used the occasion to also warn that APNU+AFC officials are in fact “trying to judge-shop, hoping that they can get a favourable judge to give a decision that would stop the recount. Look at the extent

that they have gone to, contrary to their public statements, that they have gone to, that they want the recount…”

He went on to point to the cases filed by the APNU/ AFC before the Courts to prevent the national recount. “They have gone to a great extent to stop this recount, and even now they have another case filed before the Court of Appeal. So, that criminal cabal is hoping that somehow, through the judicial process, that the recount would be stopped and then Justice [Claudette] Singh and the Commission would have no choice but to declare a president on the basis of these fraudulent results,” he posited.

While optimistic that the Election Commission has decided to move forward with the recount, Jagdeo expressed concerns over the safety of the ballot boxes, saying, “They will continue to try to sabotage and undermine it, and that is why we think the safety of the ballot boxes is crucial for us and the integrity and transparency of the recount process; whenever it happens is of paramount importance to us.”

Noting that a month has elapsed since Guyanese took to the polls and a legitimate president has not been sworn in, Jagdeo assured the public that the fight for credible results “has become, for us, an existential struggle.

“Not a struggle of the People’s Progressive Party, but a struggle for all decent-minded Guyanese here and abroad for the future of our country, for the condition in which we want to live the rest of our lives; whether we will allow bullyism and dictatorship, and criminal behaviour to win out in this period, or whether the decent people of this country will wage the fight for freedom and for democracy and for decency to be the governing condition in which we live. And that is the fight that we are waging, and there is no giving up on this fight,” he stressed.

The PPP General Secretary once again opined, “Most of Guyana would by now know that the People’s

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Progressive Party won the elections that were held on March 2. Almost all the

small parties have conceded that.” He pointed to the statements of poll and tally

sheets that they have published for Region Four that would have cemented their victory. He also reminded Guyanese of the declaration made by the international community, diplomatic community and observer groups: that the declaration made by Returning Officer of Region Four, Clairmont Mingo, was not credible.

“Have moved several times to get the president illegally sworn in, but they’re the ones that have decided to make a declaration to say that they have won the elections, in total breach of the entire Memorandum of Understanding”.

When the recount commences, Jagdeo is hopeful

that the Observers will be present, and that considerations would be made to have the process televised, as he said the GECOM Secretariat staff is compromised.

These concerns come two days after international democracy watchdog The Carter Center issued a statement which alluded to the APNU’s fight to maintain power being tied to control of Guyana’s newfound oil wealth, and noting that court proceedings being filed by APNU candidate Ulita Moore were part of attempts to frustrate the electoral process.

The Center has also reiterated its commitment to oversee the completion of the electoral process.

10 NEWS

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Recount of votes important step to “legitimacy” of electoral process – OAS …offers support for process

A

ttention from foreign states and the international community has been undividedly placed on Guyana throughout the past month, as a series of electoral mishaps followed after the March 2 Regional and General polls.

Shortly after the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) made a decision to have a nationwide recount of the votes, the Organisation of American States was one of the first entities to welcome the move.

Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro said on his Twitter page on Friday that this decision is an important step to ensure legitimacy in the elections process as the body offered its support once again.

“OAS General Secretariat supports GECOM decision to carry out an integral recount in Guyana. It is an important step to grant legitimacy [in the] Guyana elections and we hope the process encounters no obstacles,” the high-level official posted.

He also commented on the work of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in supporting the country during this serious affair.

The OAS Elections Observer Mission to

Guyana, headed by former Jamaican Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, withdrew from the process on March 13. This move came on the heels of never-ending drama as it relates to the tabulating of Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) votes.

During that time, the organisation stated that the process used by District Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo lacked transparency.

“The process being conducted by the Returning Officer for Region Four to ascertain the results of the National and Regional Elections held on March 2 does not meet the required standard of fairness and transparency.”

While the execution of the elections was commended, the statement had said that the tabulation would not bear credible results.

“The OAS Election Observer Mission was pleased to have declared that the March 2 poll was, in almost all respects, well executed…However, the process employed by the Returning Officer for Region Four is not transparent and, based on the numbers that have emanated since the process was first disrupted, is unlikely to produce a re-

server groups would have warned, the entity positioned that the legitimacy of a Government under the aforementioned circumstances would be a “terrible blow to the country’s democ-

racy”, adding that the “legitimacy of any Government that is installed in these circumstances will be open to question. The people of Guyana do not deserve this.”

A high-level team was put together after Caricom’s Chairman, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados intervened to oversee the recount of the ballots; but the team had withdrawn from the process following a court injunction to block the process.

The team comprised of former Attorney General and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Dominica, Francine Baron, and former Minister of Finance of Grenada, Anthony Boatswain; Senior

Lecturer in the Department of Government of UWI, Cynthia Barrow-Giles; Chief Electoral Officer of Barbados, Angela Taylor; and Chief Elections Officer of Trinidad and Tobago, Fern Narcis-Scope.

United States Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo in a statement had also reinforced the importance of free, fair and credible elections in Guyana. He had sent a blunt warning saying: “Individuals who seek to benefit from electoral fraud and form illegitimate Government, [or] regimes will be subject to a variety of serious consequences from the United States.”

have failed to implement the recommended measures to protect themselves from the virus. More concerningly, suspected patients are refusing to be quarantined at home.

“The persons placed on home quarantine are either refusing the instructions or recommendations given by the surveillance officers or are downright refusing to go on quarantine. I am pleading with all of you citizens to be responsible, to take this situation seriously and to assist us,” the DCMO said.

In some cases, Dr Boyle indicated that the Public Health Ministry is provided with incorrect information.

“You continue to act as though it is business as usual. I wish to emphasise that everyone is at risk for contracting this disease…We are still having challenges

with persons who have been in contact with the disease.

They are not providing us with accurate information so that we can better manage the situation.”

She indicated that provisions are being examined for health workers to be relocated to another place of residence, as they continue to fight the pandemic.

“The Ministry is looking at provisions for housing for those health workers, dealing with critical persons so

as to reduce the risk of infecting their family members,” she informed.

OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro

sult that is credible and is able to command public confidence,” the mission said as it withdrew from the process.

Like the diplomatic community and other ob-

COVID-19 cases in Guyana rise to 23

T

he number of COVID-19 cases in Guyana has raised by four, as persons continue to be tested for the disease.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Karen Boyle gave the update on Friday, which brings the total number of cases to 23 with the previously reported four deaths.

So far, some 83 persons were tested, to which there was one inconclusive case.

Zeroing in on the epidemic, she stated that persons

App

On Sunday the Ministry will launch an app, whereby persons can self-test and the information will be transmitted directly to the surveillance team. As of Thursday, some 1315 persons have called the COVID-19 hotline.

The Ministry has placed 34 persons in institutional quarantine, 12 in institutional isolation and 149 in home quarantine.

“Our environmental health officers across the country have been working assiduously to ensure that wash facilities have been erected at all spaces, private and public. I’m asking you not to venture out unless it is absolutely necessary.

If you must go out, ensure your nose and mouth are covered,” the DCMO urged.

While many persons have continued their usual activities, Georgetown Mayor and City Council announced the closure of public facilities and mandated that gatherings should be limited to just five persons amid the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus.

In a press release, the Council stated that with the exception of the City Constabulary or stakeholders engaged in essential services, no more than five persons would be allowed at once in public gatherings.

Apart from essential services, gymnasiums, movie theatres, libraries, play parks and other recreational facilities are to be closed until indicated otherwise.

11 Appeal Court denies application to block GECOM’s recount decision NEWS

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Justice Dawn Gregory

T

he Appeal Court on Friday morning denied an application by lawyers for APNU/AFC candidate Ulita Moore to prevent the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) from making a decision on whether to proceed with a national recount or not, before the legal proceedings are completed.

Appellate Judges, Justice Dawn Gregory, Rishi Persaud and Brassington Reynolds are presiding over the appeal filed by APNU/ AFC candidate Ulita Moore, challenging a decision by the Full Court.

On Tuesday the Full Court dismissed an injunction, seeking to block GECOM from conducting

the Caribbean Community (Caricom) supervised recount, that was granted by High Court Judge, Justice Franklyn Holder, who had previously ruled he had jurisdiction to hear the case.

This was successfully challenged by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo in the Full Court. Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, who presided in the Full Court along with Justice Naresh Harnanan, ruled that the High Court has no jurisdiction to hear the application filed by Moore.

The Full Court took into account the fact that the Chair of GECOM, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh, had given a public undertaking that the votes would be recounted to ensure that the results of the polls are credible and accepted by the various stakeholders.

As such, the interim injunction blocking the recount was discharged, paving the way for GECOM to go ahead with the process.

However, this led to Moore approaching the Appeal Court to challenge that decision.

At the commencement of Friday’s hearing, which was set for oral submissions, one of Moore’s battery of lawyers, Attorney Roysdale Forde, made the oral application for

Justice Brassington Reynolds

an interim order to prevent GECOM from making a decision until the court rules on the appeal.

But Attorney Kim Kyte, representing the GECOM Chair, indicated that she was hearing about this application for the first time and could not present a position in court without any instructions from her client.

“In respect to such important issues, I would prefer to have clear instructions from my client…,” she told the court, adding “I would’ve been placed in a much better position if my learned friends had served this application on me – even here in court. I would’ve been able to call my client… I was totally taken by surprise by this ap-

plication.”

While the Judge did not grant the interim order sought, she, however, indicated that the court intends to hand down its decision on Sunday at 11:00h. As such, Justice Gregory asked that the Court be informed of any developments from GECOM, where a meeting was being held simultaneously.

Subsequently, before the hearing ended, Attorney Kyte informed the court that the seven-member Elections Commission has decided to do the national recount, but assured that this will not commence before the Appeal Court’s ruling on Sunday.

“I have been instructed that a decision was made to conduct a recount. However, the execution of that decision or the process will not commence before Sunday.

So, in the circumstances, I believe neither of the combatting parties here will be prejudiced in any form or manner,” Attorney Kyte stated. Attorney Forde had accepted this arrangement, later telling reporters that they do not have an issue with GECOM going ahead with preparations but them conducting the recount when the matter was still pending in court.

Meanwhile, during Friday’s session, the

Justice Rishi Persaud

Appellate Court heard submissions from the parties.

Among the issues raised during the submissions by one of Moore’s lawyers, Dr Francis Alexis, was that the agreement between President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to have a Caricom team supervise the national recount is usurping the power of the elections commission and its Chair.

However, Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, arguing on behalf of the Opposition Leader, contended that it was GECOM that had made a decision to conduct the recount and this was evidenced in the fact, that it had tasked Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, with pre-

paring a plan on conducting the recount.

“The Commission decided to have a recount. Mr Lowenfield has testified that an order was prepared and he exhibited the order, indicating that the Commission was invoking Article 162 of the Constitution and Section 22… and the body of that law indicates that a recount is to be held and the modalities of that recount was set out there…

So the evidence, therefore, indicates that what the Commission was doing is exercising its power, as it saw fit and as it interpreted its powers under Article 162 and Section 22… they were exercising their interim power as it were to correct difficulties that had risen,” the Trinidadian Senior Counsel argued via video conference.

Furthermore, Mendes went on to point out that whether that recount is unlawful because it breaches the representation of People Act or it breaches the Constitution “must be raised in an elections petition.”

That point was reiterated by Attorney Timothy Jonas, who is representing the joiner parties – A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) and The New Movement (TNM).

CORONAVIRUS HOW TO HANDWASH? (COVID-19) WASH HANDS OR USE HAND SANITISERS

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

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)

12 NEWS

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 outbreak

GAWU advocates for financial support for sugar workers …as GuySuCo examining estates’ closure

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he Guyana Sugar Corporation is examining closing its estates and suspending the crop, indefinitely, as it takes measures to protect its works from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, according to the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU).

GAWU along with National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) on Friday met with several senior GuySuCo officials in an effort to discuss a way forward to tackle the effects of COVID-19.

GAWU has written to the Corporation asking that all operations be temporarily suspended and workers be supported until the COVID-19 crisis is overcome.

At the meeting, the Corporation’s CEO, Dr Harold Davis informed the workers’ union that the situation was regrettable but the company understood

Agriculture, Noel Holder.

“He [Dr Davis] is, however, unsure of how the Minister will address the matter, or if he will address it at all. The GAWU nonetheless reiterates that sugar workers should, like all employees of the State, suffer no loss in pay. We believe that it is incumbent for the Administration to provide such support. We believe that in the absence of any support, workers would be forced to make ends meet and could find themselves in harm’s way.

At this time, our Union calls on Minister Holder to

the Corporation will continue to be engaged in discussions regarding retroactive payments for 2019.

GAWU strongly contends that the workers ought to be paid from January 1, 2019, and promised to continue to follow this issue up with GuySuCo. The company, on this score, has said it will consider the proposal as it remains committed to its offer and will accordingly advise the Union.

Only on Thursday, hundreds of sugar workers protested the Albion Estate, calling on GuySuCo to put

sincerely address this burning concern of the workers.

We remind him that five (5) years of no pay rise has eliminated the possibility for them to have any cushion in this crisis time and we urge that he proactively and strongly pursue this matter,” GAWU said.

GAWU indicated that it proposed to GuySuCo that the proposed pay raise be implemented with effect from January 1, 2020.

However, the Union and

measures in place to safeguard them against the deadly coronavirus along with one month’s leave with pay.

Arjuna Veersammy stated that the company has 50-60 persons huddled inside the estate truck despite many calls for social distancing. Another worker said that he is very worried about his health and the conditions that he might have to continue working under.

Sugar workers during the protest action on Thursday

the workers’ apprehensions at this time. Dr Davis informed that apart from sanitisation and other measures embraced to staunch the spread of the coronavirus, the company was examining providing reusable masks to all its workers.

GuySuCo is also in the process of acquiring apparatus to take employees’ temperature before com-

mencing work as a means to identify possible infected persons and preventing them from working.

“He nevertheless shared that if the workers were uncomfortable coming to work, then the company would have no other choice than to suspend the crop for an unknown period. He said such an examination would be done on an es-

tate-by-estate basis and in consultation with the workers,” GAWU said in a statement.

GAWU explained that they were appraised of the Corporation’s financial position and told that it does not make such support possible. However, the CEO informed the union leaders that he did share their concerns with Minister of

Shot labourer remanded for illegal gun, ammo

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25-year-old labourer, who was shot last week by a member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), was on Friday slapped with three charges and remanded to prison.

Shemar Bobb of Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, was hauled before Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The first charge stated that on March 27 at East La Penitence, Georgetown, he had in his possession a fire-

arm when he was not a holder of a firearm licence.

It was alleged that on the same day at the same location, he discharged the firearm at Trenton Webb with the intention to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm.

The last charge stated that on the same day at the same location, he had in his possession 14 live rounds of ammunition when he was not the holder of a firearm licence.

Bobb pleaded not guilty

to all of the charges.

His lawyer, George Thomas, in an unsuccessful bail application told the court that the police mistook Bobb for someone named “Osafo Johnson” and shot him.

The lawyer further stated that his client was with family members when ranks showed up and began discharging rounds in the air.

The lawyer in the bail application stated that a policeman then shot his client to the leg after which he was

rushed to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Prosecutor Annalisa Brummell informed the court that Bobb was wanted for a series of robberies. She added that on March 27, ranks received information that he was at East La Penitence and went to arrest him.

Prosecutor Brummell objected to bail, citing the seriousness and nature of the offences.

Magistrate Bess remanded Bobb to prison. The case will continue on May 11.

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SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

High Court throws out GTA gets new Director as Mullis departs application for release T of student in quarantine

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Khalid Gobin

ustice Brassington Reynolds has struck out an application by Khalid Gobin, a Guyanese student, who has been quarantined at a facility along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

Gobin, a student of York University in Canada, through his lawyer, Sanjeev Datadin, had approached the High Court seeking an order for him to be released from the facility, arguing that not only is he being wrongfully detained, he is also being held in deplorable conditions.

The university student said that he is made to share bathrooms and beds with other persons and does not have access to sanitation facilities, except for the one bar of soap that was provided.

His lawyer further argued that the State has breached his client's fundamental right to free movement and liberty and subjected him to inhumane conditions. By way of a writ of habeas corpus, Datadin approached the High Court seeking his client's immediate release.

Gobin was among several passengers who arrived in Guyana from Barbados

via a Trans Guyana flight last month and was immediately taken into quarantine although being told that he would be tested for COVID-19 at the Eugene F Correira Airport and would be allowed to go home to self-quarantine.

According to Gobin, he was never informed that he would be quarantined at the said location. Further, he contends that the order for quarantine only applies to those who have tested positive for COVID-19 and stated that he was not tested.

However, according to the affidavit Gobin filed, he is being kept in unsanitary and deplorable conditions and is concerned about the safety of his health as the facility does not meet international standards outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The ruling by Justice Brassington Reynolds, in refusing the order for Gobin's release, cited the Public Health Ordinance signed by caretaker President David Granger after conferring with Volda Lawrence, giving her new ministerial powers in order to confront the coronavirus pandemic while noting that it establishes the required facilities.

Further, Justice Reynolds ruled on the fact that he is satisfied that the measures invoked under the Public Health Ordinance were not arbitrary, and the facility in which the young man is being kept meets international standards.

Datadin stated that he is not challenging the Public Health Ordinance but the condition in which his client is being held.

He added that the condition is a threat to his client's health and that of others, as should anyone test positive, everyone else will contract the deadly disease.

Notwithstanding the ruling, Datadin has moved to the Court of Appeal against the decision which was filed with the Full Court.

he Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) on Friday announced that Deputy Director, Carla Chandra will replace Brian Mullis as Director of the tourism body with effect from May 1, 2020.

Brian Mullis’ two-year contract will come to an end on April 15.

According to GTA, Chandra was unanimously agreed upon as the most suitable candidate after a rigorous four-stage selection process. Chandra is the first woman of Indigenous origin to be appointed to lead GTA in its 18-year existence.

“This is a fact to be noted by social historians and certain to be celebrated by Indigenous peoples and women of all ethnicities throughout Guyana. In the capacity of Director, she will bring to the job a breadth of managerial and industry experience that truly belies her age”, a release from the GTA stated.

Chandra is a graduate of President’s College and began her tourism career in 2001 in the then Trade and Industry

Ministry as a Research Assistant.

From 2003, her career at the Guyana Tourism Authority took off vertically as she assumed more and more positions of responsibility as well as seniority – Statistics and Research Officer, Senior Statistics and Research Officer, Logistics Manager and Personal Assistant to the Director of the Authority, Marketing Manager of the Authority, Deputy Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority.

GTA stated that in order for Chandra to function effectively in these positions, she underwent an array of professional training both locally and internationally.

The new Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Carla Chandra

“These include Experiential Tourism Development, GTA/IDB Training Programme (2020); Documenting and Implementing ISO 17020, Guyana National Bureau of Standards (2015); Internal Auditing, Jamaica National Accreditation Agency (2015); Management / Administration of MIST (2006) among others.”

The new Director will be assuming leadership during what is easily the most severe and painful crisis facing the tourism industry – COVID-19.

“Her task will be to lead her team through the implementation of an industry-recovery strategy”, GTA stated.

Nevertheless, the Board of the Guyana Tourism Authority said that they are confident that the current Deputy Director’s leadership capabilities and strong support team, will allow the GTA to overcome the current challenges and build upon the tremendous successes achieved during the past two years under the outgoing Director, Brian Mullis.

The current Director, Brian Mullis has served Guyana for two years, starting from 2018. He has not only helped to strengthen Guyana’s Tourism Industry, but has also helped to push Guyana to many of its tourism achievements which include Guyana being awarded the best eco-tourism destination, and having won several other awards.

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COVID-19

Guyanese put their lives at risk to provide for family

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s the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to claim the lives of thousands around the world, Guyanese are still not comprehending the seriousness of the pandemic and as such, they are risking their lives trying to provide for their families.

Guyana has so far recorded four deaths and has experienced a reduction in the build-up of persons in the capital city. However, vendors continue to ply their trade despite the massive drop in sales, all with the aim of making ends meet.

Guyana Times took to the streets of Georgetown to get first-hand information about how Guyanese are treating the threats of the deadly virus.

One vendor, Micheal Willis, explained that it is very hard for him and his colleagues who have to be on the road on a daily basis to provide for their families.

“After people started dying in Guyana from this virus, that is when I realised how serious this thing is.

We have to take a stand… we have to take this thing in our own hands and forget about the political situation.

We need to cooperate,” Willis noted.

Simone Hollis, another vendor at the Stabroek Market, related, “this is very hard for us, how will we survive? Every day I risk my life, and my family’s life to come out here. If I don't do that how will we eat? I don't have a Government job that will pay me if I don't work. I have nobody to go to for food.

And the thing is, these politicians are fighting for power when people are dying.

Stabroek Market

Squash the political drama and let us Guyanese live, we want to live and we need the help of a Government.”

Another business owner in Georgetown said that the seriousness of the virus is now beginning to hit him since the cases and deaths in Guyana are rising on a daily basis.

“I have been taking the necessary precautions but that people are dying. It is now getting to me. The only reason I am out here is that I need to provide for my family. I am scared that when this place shuts down what will happen to people like us? Guyana’s political issue is stressing us out, swear in a President and let us fight this thing. People hardly have much money, much less food in their houses. This thing is serious and we must be ready to face what it will do to Guyana. We are playing with something we don't have a cure for,” he noted.

At this time, the PAHO/ WHO has recommended social distancing as a mean of curbing the virus and this was evident in several sections of the city on Thursday.

Customers at Bounty

Supermarket, Water Street, Georgetown, were seen in orderly lines making their way into the facility. As they entered, they are provided with hand sanitiser to cleanse their hands.

Most of them were also seen wearing face masks.

Meanwhile, on the East Coast of Demerara, Minis Bus Park operators were seen constantly sanitising their hands and minimising the number of commuters entering the buses.

On Thursday former Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence expressed concern that many Guyanese have been breaching the advisories promulgated to keep the population safe.

During her daily update, Lawrence explained that persons do not realise the seriousness of the virus because they are continuing their daily activities without adhering to the precautionary measures promulgated.

PAHO initially has stated that it estimated a total of 1400 people to contract the virus but a recent update revealed that up to 20,000 persons can be infected by the first week in May.

CH&PA closes off all field visits amidst spread of COVID-19 – urges visitors to use protective gear

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s the number of cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) increases in Guyana, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has urged persons visiting its office to equip themselves with protective masks.

The CH&PA in a recent release stated that in wake of the dangers posed by the recent rise of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic, it has opted to implement precautionary measures to protect visitors and stakeholders.

“This is an additional measure that supports an earlier initiative where officials have erected a pipe at the western entrance of the

Brickdam offices to facilitate the handwashing procedure.

Similar initiatives are being implemented at our regional offices,” the release added.

This move, the CH&PA noted, forms part of the precautionary measures implemented by the agency to protect its staff as well as citizens.

However, the agency has suspended all field exercises, processing of application forms and planning permission applications.

The CH&PA has urged Guyanese to continue to observe the precautionary measures as outlined by the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO)

and the Public Health Ministry.

As a result of the spread of the deadly virus, organisations and businesses across Guyana and around the world are either shutting their doors or implementing strict precautionary measures.

Guyana continues to battle with the deadly novel coronavirus as cases moved from 12 to a whopping 24 on Thursday. There have been five deaths recorded thus far.

The country recorded its first case of the coronavirus on March 11 following the death of a US-based Guyanese who returned home on vacation.

IPED waives late fees; suspends penalty, interest for late installments

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he Institute of Private Enterprise Development Limited (IPED), a lending agency for entrepreneurs, will be putting measures in place to ease the burdens of its clients during this difficult time.

IPED on Thursday announced that all late fees generated after February 29, 2020 will be waived as well as penalty interest for late or deferred instalments.

“We understand the difficulties which many of them [clients] are currently experiencing in the various enterprises they manage and operate. We wish to assure them that it is our intention to continue providing the necessary support that they may need to overcome this difficult period,” the financial institution

noted.

According to IPED, restructuring, rescheduling, refinancing, deferred instalments and payment arrangements will be determined on merit for each loan beneficiary.

The Institute said it would continue to monitor the situation and develop solutions to these challenges as they continue to emerge.

Moreover, IPED has taken steps to increase the frequency of sanitisation of its facilities across the country.

“We have placed wash basins at our offices for you to wash hands before entry, and we have implemented the protocols of physical distancing which we encourage all to strictly follow on our premises and at all times in every public place,”

the organisation noted.

Additionally, IPED is encouraging all persons wishing to transact business to call their various officers and branches before visiting the office.

Visits to the office will only be accommodated by appointment, IPED said, as few employees are at work while others are at home.

“Please call or send your messages to ... 608-4096 or 608-8920 for assistance if you are unable to make contact with your regular loan officer or manager,” IPED urged.

Already, commercial banks have implemented similar measures such as the deferral of loan payments and waiver of late fees for customers amid the coronavirus threat in Guyana.

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SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Kwakwani, Ituni residents Hire car operators increase fares, reduce support imposed curfew Police monitoring businesses that number of passengers being transported –attempt to flout curfew regulations COVID-19 impact on local travel

A passenger’s hands being sanitised before entering a Route 56 bus

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mid concerns of the spread of the coronavirus and the concept of social distancing, some hire car operators in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) are adhering to the concept but have jacked up their fares.

Hire car operators plying the Georgetown to New Amsterdam route have begun to limit passengers per trip but the journey now costs $2000 as against $1500 previously.

“Two passengers in the back and one in front so everyone has a window and there is still three feet between each passenger. We are still making our money and the passengers are safe,” one driver told this publication.

Operators at other car parks expressed different views – some related that passengers will have to make that request while others said it is not only for the safety of the passengers.

Operators plying the East CanjeNew Amsterdam route have not implemented such a system, saying that fares will have to be increased if they adhere to the call for social distancing.

“Passengers don’t want to travel with just three in the car and pay for the extra seat because they say it is a short drop. If that is something that could be implemented it will be good,” Harry Paul explained.

One of the operators, Chitandra Harrypersaud noted that steps are already in place to assist in reducing the spread of the deadly virus.

“We are willing to carry less passengers if the passengers are ready to pay more. We have to pay the toll for the Bridge so we will not be able to carry less passengers for the same price.”

He noted that each passenger will be required to pay $400 to cross the Berbice River instead of the $280 that is currently being charged.

In addition, operators ply-

Drivers waiting on passengers at the New Amsterdam-East Canje car park

Meanwhile, those operating along the Lower Corentyne-New Amsterdam route expressed similar views.

D h a r m a c h a n d r a Harrypersaud, who operates along the New Amsterdam-Rose Hall Town route, said if they are only going to carry three passengers, they will have to up the fare from $200.

“With three passengers they will have to pay $300 each. If we don’t do that, we would just be making back gas money. What happen to wear and tear?”

Another operator expressed some doubt but said it is a decision that individual passengers will have to make on the spot.

The only minibuses that operate in East Berbice for public transport are from the Number 56 Park; New Amsterdam-Rosignol, they are ensuring all passengers are sanitised before boarding.

ing the New AmsterdamCorriverton route have reduced the number of passengers they are carrying but did not increase the fares.

The fares remain at $700 from New Amsterdam to Corriverton.

Drivers explained that they were instructed to reduce the number of passengers they carry in the back seat from three to two.

On the other hand, Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Calvin Burnet told Guyana Times that the minibus operators were not instructed by the police to reduce the number of passengers they transport.

“We are a part of the Task Force which has been set up in Region Six and we are following the guidelines set out by the Ministry of Public Health. There is no regulation dealing with public transportation,” he told Guyana Times.

Doctor in Charge at Kwakwani Hospital, Gregory Harris; Environmental Officer for Sub Region Two, Michelle Stewart; Regional Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph, and NDC Vice Chairman Cort Simon

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he recent curfew that has been implemented by the Regional Health Emergency Committee (RHEC) in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) has been endorsed by the residents in that region. The curfew stipulates that no one should be seen on the roadways between 20:00h and 05:00h on a daily basis.

Regional Vice Chairman, Elroy Adolph, who represents Kwakwani and Ituni on the Regional Committee, stated that residents are very supportive of the imposed curfew but noted that some businesses have attempted to flout the regulations.

“Thus far we have been receiving significant support and we have a few and I say a few because it’s just a couple of businesses who feels that because they sell the rum and beers that they shouldn’t close at the stipulated time. However, thanks to the police for their active role in the subregion we have been curbing it significantly,” he posited.

He disclosed that the top brass of the Guyana Police Force in the region along with the RDC hosted a public lecture on Wednesday with the Doctor in Charge of the Kwakwani Hospital, Dr Gregory Harris and other stakeholders to get feedback on the reaction of residents with regards the curfew.

“People have to recognise the urgency and importance that this disease is not only killing people out of Guyana but we are seeing persons in

this country also dying thus we must take all required precautions if we are going to fight this together. Our death toll is currently small but if we do not take appropriate action then it has the potential of being large numbers,” he stressed It was disclosed by the Overseer of the region’s Neighbourhood Democratic Council, Clairasa Hohenkirk that the police intend to be more proactive with some of the businesses that blatantly ignore the curfew regulations, noting that the residents may call for a boycott of these businesses if they continue to operate irresponsibly.

“Region 10 has all come together and implemented measures that seeks to protect all of us and we can’t allow a few who are stubborn or bent on being disobedient to destroy what we are seeking to achieve. If they do not care about our welfare and those within the community and by extension the region, then we would return the favour of not being interested in supporting their businesses,” Hohenkirk lamented.

The NDC Overseer stressed that with the collective approach being taken by all, she urged business owners who continue to offer resistance that their support is pertinent to the overall success of this initiative.

It was further highlighted that the three river crossing services are in operation from 06:00h to 18:00h each day.

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US doctors, nurses on coronavirus Supreme Court of Judicature suspends all ‘in-person’ hearings front line beg for critical PPE

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Supreme Court of Judicature

n light of the COVID-19 threats, the Supreme Court of Judicature announced that all ‘in-person’ hearings are suspended with immediate effect until further notice.

In a release on Friday, the Supreme Court of Judicature stated that the operation of the Supreme Registries, Court Offices and departments will be open to the public between 08:30h and 12:30h on April 7, 9,14,16, 20 and 24, 2020.

Further, the Supreme Court stated that filing of urgent matters, or pleadings for the Court of Appeal and High Courts as direct-

ed by the court, must be done by email in accordance with paragraphs 30-33 of the Emergency Practice Directions.

“In consonance with Part 7:02 of the Civil Procedure Rules, 2016, all Fixed Date Applications must be served by the applicants,” the release stated.

Magistrates’ Courts

The Magistrates’ Courts will hear cases and its offices will be open to the public from 08:30h to 12.30h.

In reference to the filing of cases, all urgent court matters must be done on the

dates in which the court offices will be open.

In the event of urgent matters, contact can be made with the clerks of court for the particular magisterial districts.

The court has also made a decision to suspend the mediation sessions and the supervised visits at the child-friendly room of the High Court, Demerara, until further notice.

During this period, the court is urging for access visits to be arranged by counsel and/or the parties utilising the telephone or electronic means such as WhatsApp, Zoom, FaceTime, and Skype.

he deaths of healthcare workers from the coronavirus are inevitable. That is how Nurse Sean Petty says he believes hospital and government leaders across the United States sees it.

“That makes us feel like our lives are expendable and we know that they are not,” says Petty, who works in the pediatric emergency room at Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx, New York.

Petty and dozens of his fellow nurses protested outside the hospital earlier this week, pleading for more personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks, gloves and gowns.

Their demands have been echoed across the US, where health workers continue to grapple with the critical PPE shortages as the COVID-19 coronavirus hits towns, cities and states nationwide.

More than 250,000 people have been infected with the virus in the US, with more than 5,000 deaths.

New York is the hardest hit, with more than 100,000 coronavirus cases and over 2,900 deaths.

Petty says that he and his fellow nurses are constantly exposed to the virus without enough PPE to protect themselves. His hospital lost a nurse, 50-year-old Freda Ocran, last week to COVID-19, the second nurse in New York to die from the virus. Two more nurses are currently being intubated at his hospital, according to Petty.

“We can’t help but think that being healthcare workers and not having what they had in other places, like what the PPE is like in China and South Korea … they’re just worlds apart,” Petty says.

Before Petty’s 12-hour shift begins, he reports to the new command centre set up outside his hospital to receive a packet containing a regular surgical mask, some paper scrubs and a light gown. Sometimes he gets a

face mask. He also receives a new N95 mask for every shift and is expected to use the same one throughout the day.

Responding to the concerns of the nurses, NYC Health + Hospitals, which operates public hospitals and clinics in the city, said in a statement that the nurses’ safety is top priority.

“We currently have the supplies needed for all of our staff, but are fully cognizant that there is a nationwide shortage of supplies,” the statement said.

“Because of the national picture, we have taken serious measures to conserve what we do have. However, every healthcare worker in our system who needs PPE is able to receive what they need.” When healthcare workers are sick, it not only puts a strain on the individual hospitals, but also the entire system.

Dr Calvin Sun is an independent emergency medicine doctor who works in about a dozen hospital emergency rooms across New York City. In the last 21 days, he’s worked 18 shifts.

On some days, he sees up to 41 patients.

“I’m heeding a calling to cover the hole that’s been created by my colleagues, my friends, who were all calling in sick or are being hospitalised by being exposed to this virus,” says Sun, who recently had to intubate a nurse he knew after she contracted the virus.

That nurse later died.

Sun says emergency rooms are overcrowded with COVID-19 patients with nowhere to go.

“They’re all languishing in the hallways, stretchers lined up like [the video game] Tetris in this giant emergency room where you really can’t get from patient to patient,” he says. “You walk through a packed waiting room of people not maintaining the six-foot social distancing separation rules because the waiting room is small and all 30, 40 peo-

ple are packed like sardines, coughing on each other, spreading COVID-19 even further.”

Sun cobbled together his own PPE gleaned from his personal stockpile and other emergency rooms he’s had access to over the last few weeks. He keeps his face mask in his backpack and brings it to wherever his work takes him.

“You’re only as strong as your weakest link in terms of your protection,” he says about the importance of having a complete set of PPE, which include a surgical gown, gloves, eye protection or face shield, N95 mask or other type of respirator mask and hair and ear covering. However, Sun says on top of this, he and other health workers should ideally have a powered air-purifying respirator and Tyvek hazmat suit.

In neighbouring Suffolk County, Long Island, a nurse says her hospital ran out of PPE about a week ago.

“Now it’s just been completely a whole different world and everything that we were taught as far as PPE and infection control, everything has gone out of the window,” says the 35-year-old nurse, who wishes to remain anonymous because she is not authorised to speak on hospital conditions.

She says she received one N95 mask two weeks ago, which she keeps in a paper bag at her hospital after the end of each shift.

“We know it’s not safe,” she says about reusing her PPE. “It’s not safe for us and it’s not safe for the patients either.”

“It’s just the beginning of it. And then we are scared for ourselves, too. We are scared for ourselves and we are exposing ourselves to it and not being protected properly.” She recently helped a 91-year-old patient say goodbye to his family through a Zoom chat with around 20 of his family members. (Al Jazeera)

Chile’s President sparks outrage with visit to quarantined protest square

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mbattled Chilean President Sebastian Pinera sparked outrage on Friday by posing for photographs at the plaza that was the centre of anti-government protests before it was put under quarantine to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Photographs of Pinera in the now empty Plaza Italia on Friday afternoon, sitting in shirtsleeves on the steps of a monument plastered with graffiti calling for his resignation, went viral on social media.

At least 31 people died, 3,000 were injured, and 30,000 were detained in the protests, which started in October over a hike in public transport rates and broad-

ened to include grievances over pensions, healthcare, education and elitism.

The area around Plaza Italia is covered by a strict quarantine covering large parts of Santiago that prevents people from leaving their homes without specific permission from the authorities. Chile has 3,737 confirmed cases of the coronavirus so far, and 22 people have died.

The centre-right president`s actions were “divisive at a time when the country needs unity,” said Heraldo Munoz, president of the center-left Christian Democratic Party.

“President Pinera goes walking in Plaza Italia while the government is

asking people to stay at home - this is a provocation, improper for a head of state in the midst of a pandemic,” he wrote on Twitter.

Pinera said the visit had been a spontaneous decision on his way home from work.

“I took a photo and continued on my way. I regret if this could have been misinterpreted,” he said on Twitter.

Illapu, one of Chile`s bestloved bands, said Pinera´s actions risked sparking further protests once the coronavirus crisis is over.

“The square belongs to the people. We will come back with more force and we will be millions,” the band tweeted. (Reuters)

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Regional

Brazilians scorn Bolsonaro’s In parts of Latin America, water shortages coronavirus efforts, back undermine battle with coronavirus health officials – polls E

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razilians are increasingly against President Jair Bolsonaro’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak, and overwhelmingly support governors and health officials he has attacked for advocating social distancing measures, two polls showed on Friday.

The surveys suggest Bolsonaro’s attacks on Governors and even his own Health Minister may have backfired, although he continues to rail against state and municipal shutdowns, calling them economically disastrous responses to an overhyped risk.

Bolsonaro’s coronavirus performance has been “bad” or “awful” according to 39 per cent of respondents surveyed this week, up from 33 per cent last month, according to pollster Datafolha. Those who

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro reacts while meeting supporters as he arrives at Alvorada Palace, amid coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Brasilia, Brazil, April 1, 2020

consider his response to the health crisis “good” or “great” slipped to 33 per cent from 35 per cent previously.

Bolsonaro has shocked many around the world by

persistently playing down the gravity of the pandemic, calling COVID-19 “a little cold” exaggerated by the media and his opponents - even after his political role model US President Donald Trump walked back his own scepticism about the outbreak.

Another poll released on Friday by XP Investimentos showed that Brazilians overwhelmingly favour social distancing measures, with 80 per cent of respondents supporting them and just 12 per cent calling the policy exaggerated.

Bolsonaro said on Friday that Brazilian society will not be able to stand two or three months of economic shutdowns to fight the coronavirus, denouncing social distancing measures enforced by states and municipalities across the country. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Venezuelan migrants flee Colombian quarantine for their shattered homeland

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arrying small children in their arms or lugging suitcases, the Venezuelan migrants trudged along the shoulder of the highway that runs northeast out of Colombia’s capital Bogota, the first steps on a long and unexpected journey home. Hundreds of poor Venezuelans are heading back to their economically-devastated country on foot - chased out of their adopted home by a coronavirus quarantine that makes it impossible for them to earn a living.

Colombia has become the top destination for Venezuelans fleeing their country’s crisis - some 1.8 million have arrived in recent years - but a 19-day nationwide lockdown has halted the informal sector where many work, plunging them into poverty and prompting an abrupt reversal in migratory flows.

Despite hardships in

Venezuelan migrants try to catch a ride to get home after Colombia’s Governmentimposed quarantine against the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has made it impossible for them to earn a living, in Chia, Colombia, April 3, 2020

Venezuela, which is gripped by hyperinflation and a sixyear recession, many migrants said that at least in their homeland they will not

have to pay rent or utilities and will be reunited with family.

The Venezuelan border is about 550 km (340 miles) from the Colombian capital, which sits high in the Andes Mountains.

Long-distance bus services have been halted because of the quarantine, so migrants said they have no choice but to walk.

The journey takes between two and three weeks.

With fear of coronavirus raging in Venezuela, where many hospitals lack running water and medical equipment, the migrants face an uncertain welcome. Some people returning from Colombia told Reuters they had been bused to cities in Venezuela and then forcibly quarantined in dire conditions. In the Venezuelan border state of Tachira, all returnees will be required to quarantine, officials have said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

very day, Fontus Pierre Raymond wakes up at the crack of dawn to get in line to fill buckets of water at the communal tap in his densely-packed Port-au-Prince shantytown so that his mother and seven younger siblings can wash before work and school.

Often, though, it runs dry and the 24-year-old has to trudge further to a cistern with dirtier water. So he wonders how he is supposed to follow the recommended hygiene measures to stave off the deadly new coronavirus, like frequently washing hands and social distancing.

Millions across Latin America face a similar dilemma. While underinvestment in infrastructure has long been a problem in certain parts of the region, the spread of the highly contagious disease makes poor access to water a matter of life or death.

The situation in Haiti, the poorest country in the

A woman looks at a woman washing with water from a communal tap during an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, April 2, 2020

Americas, is the most dire by far. Most homes do not receive piped water and rely instead on communal taps, water trucks or often contaminated springs.

Less than a quarter of households have basic handwashing facilities with water and soap, according to data compiled by the United Nations.

“Since they announced the pandemic (in Haiti two weeks ago), the tap has had

water twice,” said Mimose Pierre Raymond, 44, Fontus’ mother. “But we can spend weeks without water.”

Haiti has only confirmed 18 cases to date, but experts fear the COVID-19 respiratory disease caused by the virus would be more deadly there than other countries if it took hold given the widespread malnutrition and its overburdened healthcare system. (Excerpt from Reuters)

PAHO appeals for US$94.8 million to help Caribbean cope with COVID-19

T

he Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) is appealing for US$94.8 million from donors to fund priority public health measures to help Caribbean and Latin American countries face the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

PAHO said the funds will be used to carry out its COVID-19 Response Strategy, which, it said, is in alignment with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The response strategy “aims to save lives and slow transmission of the virus to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on health systems and population health, with a focus on countries

that most need help”.

The organisation said the requested resources will support the strategy through September 2020; as the pandemic evolves, the needs are expected to increase.

PAHO said Brazil reported the first imported case in Latin America and the Caribbean on February 26, 2020.

Within a month, PAHO said the virus had spread to 48 countries and territories in the hemisphere.

As of April 1, it said 51 countries and territories in the Americas, including the Caribbean, had reported 216,912 confirmed cases and 4565 deaths from COVID-19.

In the past 10 days, PAHO said confirmed cases have increased tenfold.

PAHO said its strategy has five priority lines of action: Early detection of COVID-19 cases through existing surveillance systems; ensuring capacity and sufficient tests and reagents for timely laboratory diagnosis; infection prevention and control in health services; optimising the capacity of local health systems to manage cases and provide care safely, and information dissemination to help people understand their risks and motivate them to take measures to protect themselves and their loved ones. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

In Communist-run Cuba, the private sector Murders rise in Mexico despite coronavirus restrictions helps the needy as coronavirus spreads

U

pmarket restaurants are delivering free meals to the elderly, while a fashion firm donates face masks. A business consultancy calls on its clients to donate hygiene products and artisanal soap shops gift their wares to low-income households.

In Communist-run Cuba, the fledging private sector is rushing to set up solidarity initiatives for those most vulnerable to the coronavirus outbreak, demonstrating the state no longer has a monopoly on helping the neediest.

Sometimes the two are

even joining forces to combat the common invisible enemy.

Cuba, which has so far confirmed 269 cases of the new virus, has one of the oldest populations in Latin America. The virus appears to be particularly deadly for the elderly, who throughout the world are seeking ways to stay safely at home rather than go outside and risk contagion.

The CDR now helps Bella Ciao deliver its pizzas and pastas directly to the homes of the elderly.

“It’s a small gesture of solidarity,” Grisell said, not-

ing that it paled in comparison with the help Cuba sent to his home country of Italy last month in the form of medical staff.

Cuba has also long provided subsidised food at eateries for the elderly nationwide, and is now dishing out free meals for those on low incomes.

“It’s admirable,” said Ines Perez, 75, digging into a plate of donated Bella Ciao spaghetti. “Let’s hope everyone comes onboard and cooperates in the same way to overcome this difficult moment.”

(Excerpt from Reuters)

M

exico registered more murders in March than in any other of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s months in office, preliminary figures show, suggesting that coronavirus-related social distancing measures were not enough to curb raging violence.

The country saw 2585 murders in March, an average of around 83 per day, according to data on victims reported by state prosecutors and the Federal Government. That was the highest monthly number since June 2019.

Lopez Obrador, who took office in December 2018, acknowledged on Friday that violence driven by organised crime had persisted in March, despite the Government’s introduction of measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, such as suspending classes and urging residents of the capital to stay home.

“It seemed in late March, when the coronavirus had become more widespread, that we would have a considerable reduction (in violence),” he said during his regular morning news conference.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out that way.”

The President said that crime rates fell overall in the first quarter of the year, but that they did not decline as much as he would have liked. Final figures show murders dipped in January and February.

Lopez Obrador has adopted a security strategy that emphasises attacking the root causes of crime, such as poverty. The approach has been criticized by some as Mexico continues to be rocked by outbursts of staggering violence. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

Around the World

OILNEWS

US suffers worst daily death toll in the world at nearly 1200

Oil jumps 12%, posts best week in history as traders expect big production cuts

O

il prices surged again on Friday on the hope that a production cut deal will soon be reached after OPEC and its allies announced they will hold a virtual meeting on Monday, and after Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly said that the county wanted to see global action on cuts of around 10 million barrels per day.

US West Texas Intermediate crude jumped 11.93 per cent, or US$3.02, to settle at US$28.34 per barrel. At the session high, WTI gained more than 12 per cent to trade at US$28.56. For the week WTI rose 31.7 per cent in its best week on record back to the contract’s inception in 1983. International benchmark Brent crude rose 13.9 per cent to settle at US$34.11 per barrel.

Russia initially rejected additional cuts proposed by OPEC in early March, but Reuters reported on Friday that Putin said production needs to be cut by around 10 million barrels per day, but that the US must also take action.

“In our view, there is no OPEC+ choice involved, the rhetoric is window-dressing, the market will deliver cuts, and they will be deeper than any OPEC+ agreements,” Mizuho Managing Director Paul Sankey said in a note to clients Friday.

On Thursday WTI and Brent posted their best day on record after President Donald Trump told CNBC that he expected Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to announce a deal to cut oil production by 10 million to 15 million barrels, although the exact details of the cut remained unclear.

WTI gained 24.67 per cent to settle at US$25.32, while Brent rose 21 per cent to settle at US$29.94.

But some have questioned whether a cut of the magnitude Trump is suggesting is possible, especially if the US doesn’t participate.

According to a report from Reuters, the Administration does not intend to ask US companies to scale back production. “President Trump might have been shooting from the hip when he Tweeted about oil yesterday, promoting the idea of a deal too early on negotiations of high complexity that need more time to blossom,” Rystad Energy’s Head of Oil Markets Bjornar Tonhaugen said in an email.

Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton said that the state would potentially agree to curb production in an effort to prop up prices.

“This will be part of a singular deal. We’re following the President’s lead on this … If this is part of that international agreement, in light of the fact that we are in arguably the worst economic pandemic in mankind’s history, then we will participate in extraordinary measures due to those extraordinary circumstances,” Sitton said Friday on CNBC’s “The Exchange.”

Outlining what could possibly come next, Eurasia Group’s Ayham Kamel said the most likely path forward is a “large OPEC+ supply cut that is complemented by a US cut.” Alternatively, he noted that talks could conclude with no deal. The least likely outcome of all is OPEC+ cuts without some form of US participation.

“Even if OPEC+ producers reach such an agreement [without participation from the US], the volume of cuts would be much more limited and below 10 million barrels per day,” Kamel wrote in a note to clients.

Despite Thursday’s jump, WTI is still down more than 40 per cent during the last month.

Demand has evaporated as the coronavirus outbreak has halted travel worldwide and slowed business activity, just as a price war broke out between powerhouse producers Saudi Arabia and Russia.

In March OPEC de facto leader Saudi Arabia recommended cutting production by 1.5 million barrels per day as the pandemic slowed demand. But OPEC ally Russia rejected the proposal, sparking the price war. On Wednesday Saudi Arabia ramped up its production to a record high of more than 12 million barrels per day, after previous OPEC+ production cuts expired at the end of March.

As oil prices cratered — WTI is coming off its worst month and quarter in history — the US sought to intervene.

US producers have been among the hardest hit as companies struggle to break even with depressed oil prices. On Wednesday, Whiting Petroleum became the first major US shale producer to declare bankruptcy. On Friday, executives from at least seven US energy giants including Exxon and Chevron will meet with Trump at the White House to discuss energy policy.

But even if a deal is reached, many argue that prices could fall back into negative territory due to the unprecedented demand destruction caused by the coronavirus. In other words, the supply side is a secondary story to the demand hit.

“The energy sector is facing its most challenging fundamental period since the Great Energy Depression of 1981-1995,” RBC’s coHead of Global Energy Research Kurt Hallead said. “On the oil front, demand is set to decline by amounts never before seen driven by the COVID-19 global economic shock while supply is surging due to the Saudi-Russia oil price war,” he added. (Excerpt from CNBC)

The US disaster response agency has asked the American military for 100,000 body bags

T

he United States recorded the single deadliest day during the coronavirus pandemic with nearly 1200 people killed.

The Johns Hopkins University reported early on Friday there were now 6057 deaths in the US and more than 245,500 confirmed cases.

The grisly statistics came as the

number of confirmed coronavirus cases around the world soared past one million, with deaths topping 53,000 globally.

Despite more than half the planet living in some form of lockdown, the virus continues to spread rapidly and claiming lives at an alarming pace with the US, Spain and the United Kingdom

all seeing their deadliest days yet.

As the death toll rose, so did the economic fallout.

The pandemic will cost the world economy as much as US$4.1 trillion - or nearly 5 per cent of all economic activity, the Philippines-based Asian Development Bank said on Friday.

At least one million people in Europe are estimated to have lost their jobs over the past couple of weeks. Spain alone added more than 300,000 to its unemployment rolls in March. But the job losses in Europe appear to be far smaller than in the US because of countries’ greater social-safety nets.

Estimates of those in China, the world’s second-largest economy, who have lost jobs or are underemployed run as high as 200 million.

World leaders have announced huge financial aid packages to deal with the crisis, and the World Bank on Thursday approved a plan to roll out US$160 billion in emergency cash over 15 months. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

China mourns thousands who died in country’s coronavirus epidemic

C

hina on Saturday mourned the thousands of “martyrs” who have died in the new coronavirus outbreak, flying the national flag at half-mast throughout the country and suspending all forms of entertainment.

The day of mourning coincided with the start of the annual Qingming tomb-sweeping festival, when millions of Chinese families pay respects to their ancestors.

At 10 am (0200 GMT) Beijing time, the country observed three minutes of silence to mourn those who died, including frontline medical workers and doctors. Cars, trains and ships sounded their horns and air raid sirens wailed.

More than 3300 people in mainland China have died in the epidemic, which first surfaced in the central province of Hubei late last year, according to statistics published by the National Health Commission.

Some 2567 people have died in the city of 11 million people, accounting for more than 75 per cent of the country’s coronavirus fatalities.

Authorities in the city banned all tomb-sweeping activities in its cemeteries until at least April 30, curtailing one of the most important dates in the traditional Chinese lunar new year calendar which usually sees millions of families travel to tend to their ancestral graves, offer flowers and burn incense.

They have also told residents, most stuck at home due to lockdown restrictions, to use online streaming services which will allow them to watch cemetery staff carrying out those tasks live.

Some resident burned joss paper, a tradition which they believe sends money and wealth to deceased relatives, on sidewalks and within the confines of their barricaded housing compounds. (Excerpt from Reuters)

The Chinese national flag flies at halfmast at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, as China holds a national mourning for those who died of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), on the Qingming tombsweeping festival, April 4, 2020

Canada blasts US block on 3M exports of masks as coronavirus cases set to soar

C

anadian officials on Friday blasted a move by President Donald Trump to block 3M Co’s export of N95 respirator masks for use by doctors and nurses as coronavirus cases were projected to soar in the country’s most populous region.

Ontario health officials projected 80,000 coronavirus cases and 1600 deaths in the province by month-end under current public health measures, and urged people to restrict their movements.

Ontario has reported 3255 confirmed cases and 67 deaths.

Late Thursday, Trump slammed 3M in a tweet after earlier invoking the Defense Production Act to get the company to produce protective face masks. N95 masks, essential for protecting healthcare professionals from breathing in the coronavirus, are in short supply.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference at Rideau Cottage as efforts continue to help slow the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, March 29, 2020

said blocking the flow of medical supplies across the border would be a

“mistake.”

Asked whether Canada would retaliate if the US blockade goes ahead, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Ottawa would “do whatever it takes to defend the national interest.”

3M said on Friday it would boost respirator production and import more masks into the United States, and it warned that blocking exports could result in retaliation by other countries that could ultimately reduce the amount of equipment available.

Deaths surged to 208 from 127 on Thursday while positive cases rose to 12,375 from 10,132, according to provincial announcements compiled by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

On Friday Ontario halted all industrial construction, except for critical projects, and banned new residential construction to limit social contact. (Excerpt from Reuters)

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SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

19

ARCHIE

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SUDOKU

Take control of your future. Put your financial needs first and ease stress.

Rebuild and update your resources to fit current trends.

Positive change requires planning and preparation.

Change begins within and shouldn't require you to spend a lot of cash. Expand your mind, focus on personal growth and spend more time with someone who brings out the best in you.

Keep your thoughts to yourself and avoid getting into a battle with someone who doesn't share your opinions. Take a disciplined approach to health and fitness. Romance is favored.

Explore unfamiliar territory. Try new things and meet interesting people. A cultural event will change your perspective regarding people who come from different backgrounds.

Stick to what and who you know. Avoid getting into emotional battles you cannot win. Pay attention to the way you look and feel. Make health a priority.

Grant yourself a well-deserved break. Spend time doing something you've always wanted to do. A day trip will lead to a positive lifestyle shift.

Make a positive change at home. Do the work yourself to avoid expensive expenditures. You can commit to someone and put a new beginning in play. Romance is in the stars.

Be careful what you promise someone. You should offer only suggestions when someone asks for help. You owe it to yourself to do what makes you happy.

A lifestyle change will SAGITTARIUS be a step in the right direc(Nov. 23tion. Back away from people Dec. 21) who try to manipulate you or pressure you into doing things that you shouldn't do.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Refuse to let a last-minute change ruin your day.

Do what's best for yourself, and don't feel guilty for not giving in to other people's demands. An unexpected opportunity will come your way.

Put more emphasis on how you feel and on things that you enjoy doing. A reunion or reconnection with someone from your past will be memorable. Romance is favored.

Spend time with people who can offer you mental stimulation. An intellectual challenge will promote greater creativity and lead to a good plan. Set a tight budget before you begin.

20

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

P

remier League clubs will ask players to take a 30% pay cut in order to protect jobs as it was announced the season will not resume until "it is safe and appropriate to do so".

All clubs have agreed to put the proposed "combination of conditional reductions and deferrals" to players.

The Premier League will advance £125m to the EFL and National League, and give £20m towards the

NHS. Clubs still intend on completing all league and cup fixtures.

The EFL, Women's Super League and Women's Championship have all suspended play without setting a target return date, meaning the entirety of English football is on hold indefinitely.

"It was acknowledged that the Premier League will not resume at the beginning of May - and that the 2019-20 season will only return when it is safe and appropriate to do so," a Premier League statement said.

"Any return to play will only be with the full support of government and when medical guidance allows."

Players had faced scrutiny, notably from health secretary Matt Hancock, to take a cut in wages and "play their part" in offering support during the coronavirus pandemic.

Some clubs had furloughed non-playing staff as a result of the shutdown of the sport.

Before the Premier League statement was released, club captains - led by Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson - held discussions over the creation of a charitable fund which could benefit the NHS. The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) has previously written

to its members urging them not to agree any reduction or deferral in wages until they have spoken to the union.

After a meeting of clubs on Friday, the Premier League proposed a cut in wages in order to "protect employment throughout the professional game".

"This guidance will be kept under constant review as circumstances change," the Premier League said. "The league will be in regular contact with the PFA and the union will join a meeting which will be held tomorrow (Saturday) between the league, players and club representatives."

Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend had spoken of his frustration with Hancock "deflecting blame on to footballers", stating players were an "easy target" and often supported charities.

The Premier League said it was aware of "severe difficulties" throughout the football pyramid and with clubs unable to play fixtures, moved to help "immediately deal with the impact of falling cash flow" at EFL and National League clubs.

Julian Knight, chair of the government's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, welcomed the financial help for smaller clubs but said as the wage cut had not yet been agreed by players, the situa-

A T

he U.S. Women’s Open has been postponed and moved from June 4-7 to Dec. 10-13 due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, said the United States Golf Association (USGA) on Friday.

The tournament had been scheduled to be held on the

Jackrabbit Course at Champions Golf Club in Houston but will now also be played on the Cypress Creek layout because of the reduced daylight in December.

“The USGA remains committed to hosting the U.S. Women’s Open in 2020,” said USGA CEO Mike Davis in a statement. “Our priority remains ensuring the safety of all involved with the U.S.

Lee Jeong-eun is the current U.S Women’s Open champion

Women’s Open, while still providing the world’s best players the opportunity to compete this year.”

Qualifying for the major is expected to be held on rescheduled dates and potentially some new locations.

The U.S. Open becomes the second

women’s major to be postponed because of the outbreak.

The ANA Inspiration, which was scheduled for April 2-5 at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California was earlier moved to Sept. 10-13.

While the U.S. Women’s Open has been postponed the men’s U.S. Open, scheduled for June 18-21 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York, remains unchanged. (Reuters)

ustralia is due to host the men's Twenty20 World Cup in October and November, before a lucrative Indian tour that follows. Cricket Australia (CA) have reportedly drawn up scenarios for the 202021 season that feature losses of 25%, 50% or 100% of projected revenue, while also seeking a $200 million line of credit from banks to be used if required.

These plans suggest not only the possibility of Cummins' IPL deal being placed on hold by global events, but also a significant pay reduction for the players under their revenue share model with CA. ww"There are so many scenarios. It always seems to change. I guess the lucky thing is we have time on our hands here in Australia with cricket," Cummins said. "The World Cup is still six months away, at least seven months away, and the big Indian tour is still 8-9 months away. So lots of things can change. Imminently, obviously the IPL, the Bangladesh tour and the one-dayers over in England are the ones that we are probably more focused on at the moment.

"I guess the lucky thing is, coming off so much cricket, we feel like it won't take too long to get up to speed again. So just trying to tick things over at the moment. Yeah, be really openminded that things might change and they might change pretty quickly so just being aware of it, I think this year's going to look

tion was "not much further along".

Knight had previously said clubs that furlough non-playing staff without imposing cuts on player wages should be subjected to a windfall tax if they do not change their approach by Tuesday.

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: "It is absolutely right that a reduction of players' wages is on the table when there are lower-paid staff at some clubs being furloughed.

"The football authorities must all be aware of the strength of public feeling on this and I expect them to show leadership on the matter.

"It is important that the Premier League helps the national effort in response to the coronavirus pandemic and I will continue to work closely with the football authorities."

The league's statement also expressed "huge appreciation for the heroic efforts of NHS staff and all other key workers who are carrying out critical jobs in such difficult circumstances" with £20m immediately committed "to support the NHS, communities, families and vulnerable groups during the Covid-19 pandemic". (BBC Sport)

very different to what we've seen before.

"Obviously, we got some word through last week about contracts to say with so many

Pat Cummins

unknowns, the CA are just going to delay that by a couple of weeks than what they'd normally do. It was three years ago that in our MOU negotiations players wanted to make it clear that we wanted to be partners in the game, and sharing in the upsides and exactly the same as in moments like these. We'll take some of that pain if things don't quite go right."

As for how the crammed intentional calendar can be adjusted for the time being lost, Cummins was clear that something would likely have to give. Though he has plenty of desire to fulfill his IPL deal, Cummins said the T20 World Cup and looming Test series

towards the back end of the world championship would need to take priority.

"The T20 World Cup is something we've spoken about for the best part of two or three years," he said. "Here in Australia to play a home World Cup, we know the ODI World Cup in 2015, that was absolutely a career highlight for me and I wasn't even playing. I'd love to see that go ahead. That's the big tournament this year for international cricket.

Cummins has maintained daily contact with Knight Riders as all IPL clubs wait for further clarification after the tournament was initially delayed until April 15 by the BCCI. That decision predated a national state of lockdown to limit the spread of coronavirus, with strict international travel restrictions also imposed.

"They obviously haven't cancelled it or anything like that yet. It's still a bit of a holding pattern, so we're in contact with our teams every few days," Cummins said. "And obviously everyone is still really keen for it to go ahead, but the priority is to minimise risk of it spreading and everything else.

"Everybody is still really confident and hopeful it'll be played at some stage. But obviously it's going to be pretty tight, I think the [Indian] travel ban is in place until April 14 so I don't expect anything too soon to happen.” (Espncricinfo)

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he Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has postponed the start of its 2020 regular season and training camps because of the coronavirus outbreak, the league said on Friday.

The WNBA, whose regular season was originally scheduled to run from May 15-Sept. 20, is the latest league forced to either cancel or postpone games because of the coronavirus.

“While the league continues to use this time to conduct scenario-planning regarding new start dates and innovative

formats, our guiding principle will continue to be the health and safety of the players, fans and employees,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a news release.

While a new start date for the 36game regular season was not given, the WNBA said it will continue to prepare for its virtual draft on April 17 where top prospects will take part remotely.

“This virtual draft allows players who have worked so hard to have their dreams realized when they hear their names called and provides teams the opportunity to build their rosters in anticipation of the day that we are able to move forward with our season,” said Engelbert. (Reuters)

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Some reports on Friday suggested the 33-year-old was considering walking away from the sport.

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Joshua and Pulev at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Getty Images) ritish heavyweight Anthony shoulder injury.

Joshua’s defence of his IBF, All fights overseen by the British WBA, WBO and IBO world titles Boxing Board of Control until the end of against Bulgaria's Kubrat Pulev has been May have been suspended because of postponed. the coronavirus pandemic.

The fight was scheduled to take Promoter Eddie Hearn had previously place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on said Joshua v Pulev could be moved to Saturday, 20 June.

July because of the uncertainty of when A statement from Joshua’s promoter Tottenham's remaining home Premier Matchroom Boxing said a new date for League matches would be played. the fight "was being worked on".

The statement from Matchroom Matchroom added it was "continuing Boxing comes shortly after the Premier to explore the possibility" of hosting the League announced that the football bout at the same venue at a later date. season would be suspended indefinitely.

Joshua, 30, has not fought since Britain's Tyson Fury, the holder of December, when he gained a unanimous the WBC heavyweight belt - the only one points victory over Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Joshua does not hold - is contractually Arabia to regain his belts after losing to obliged to have a third match with the American-Mexican in New York last American Deontay Wilder.

June.

Fury beat Wilder with a seventhPulev, 38, is the mandatory round technical knockout in Las Vegas challenger to Joshua's IBF belt. He was in February and promoter Frank Warren scheduled to fight Joshua in October has said they could fight again in 2017 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium October. (BBC Sport) but had to withdraw less than two weeks before the bout because of a

B

A tune-up fight then Manny Pacquiao Khan's last outing was in July 2019, a fourth-round stoppage win against Australian Billy Dib in Saudi Arabia.

The Bolton fighter, a former lightwelterweight world champion with the WBA and IBF, says although he would like to go straight into a world title fight, he may first take a tune-up bout against a top-10 contender.

"Because of the coronavirus lockdown, I wouldn't mind a fight to get back into the groove of things, before a big fight against someone like Manny Pacquiao," the 2004 Olympic silver medallist added.

Khan has called out Filipino Pacquiao,

the current WBA 'super' welterweight champion and the only eight-weight champion in history, many times before.

The two know each other well, having sparred countless rounds together when they trained under the tutelage of Freddie Roach in the Los Angeles' Wildcard Gym, before Khan split from Roach in September 2012.

"The Manny fight is something I've always wanted," Khan said.

"If it happens, great, but if not we'll look at other options."

Khan offers four-storey Bolton building to NHS While retirement may not be an immediate option for Khan, he has welcomed the chance the current lockdown has provided to spend more time with his family and children.

He has also offered one of the buildings he owns to the NHS in Bolton.

"I kept seeing reports on the TV saying they needed support and help. I have a 60,000 square foot building which is water-tight and a roof on top of it. I said they can take that and make that into a hospital.

"The NHS said the numbers in Bolton are low at the moment but if they need it, they'll get back to me." (BBC Sport)

Amir Khan

Lara captain, Gayle opener for Warne’s best West Indies XI

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ustralia spin legend Shane Warne has named Brian Lara as the captain of the Best West Indies XI he has ever faced, with Chris Gayle named an opening batsman.

The crafty ball-turner has spent some of the COVID-19 lockdown naming best XI’s of players from countries that he has faced. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was Lara who seems to have made the biggest impression on the spinner. Lara had the penchant to be brutal against Australia, who he averages 51

against in Test cricket, and scored a best of 277 in Sydney in 1993. The innings has often been described as one of the finest ever played in Test cricket.

"Lara and Sachin (Tendulkar) were the two best batsmen of my time, his 277 run-knock against us was one of the best innings I saw him play," Warne said on Instagram.

Also making the cut were Desmond Haynes, who was picked to open with Gayle. Next up was Richie Richardson. The middle-order featured the likes

of Carl Hooper, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ridley Jacobs.

The bowling line-up was led by Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh and feature Ian Bishop and Patterson Thompson.

Warne’s XI: Desmond Haynes, Chris Gayle, Richie Richardson, Brian Lara (c), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Carl Hooper, Ridley Jacobs, Ian Bishop, Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Patrick Patterson.

(Sportsmax)

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ricket West Indies (CWI) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have agreed to postpone the planned West Indies U19 tour of England, scheduled for August and September 2020 due to scheduling clashes.

With the West Indies U19 team being unavailable to tour England during the proposed window, CWI and the ECB have worked together to investigate all alternative scheduling options but unfortunately, it has not been possible to find a time for the tour that would work for both Boards in relation to the respective domes-

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tic tournaments and player availability.

The scheduled programme had included one IT20, three ODIs and two Youth Tests against England U19s, which had been set to run between 16 August and 3 September 2020.

As the current environment makes it impractical to plan to host alternative opposition, the decision has had to be taken not to run a competitive England U19 programme this summer.

“CWI and the ECB have agreed to cancel a proposed U19 tour of the UK due to scheduling issues. The situation is an unfortunate one as we had planned for the tour to be the end of a twoyear development cycle for this group of U19 players,” said CWI Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams.

“This tour to the UK added to the recent World Cup in January, and the tri-series that we hosted in Dec of last year would have given this cohort an excellent competitive component to cap their 2-year U19 program.

“That said, we will continue to follow up on the cohort, especially those

UG Trojans responds to COVID-19…

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n response to the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Guyana, the University of Guyana Trojans Cricket Team has suspended all its practice and fitness sessions until further notice.

The Trojans Team recognizes the severity of the pandemic and the imperative of all stakeholders being safe; thus, in a

Trojans’ Coach, Kenroy Joseph

statement released to the media, Trojans’ management has said: “We encourage you to take every precaution to protect yourself and your loved ones”.

The statement further detailed: “To the Guyanese Public at large, we plead with you to practise the necessary measures of social distancing, sanitizing and quarantining, as the relevant authorities try to nip (progression of the virus) in the bud.

“To our brothers and sisters in the healthcare profession, we salute you and appreciate your kind service as we battle the virus (now and in the foreseeable future).

As this off-season period is upon us, we ask our players to continue self-training in fitness and areas of the game that need to be worked on. Remember to grab your vitamins, stay hydrated, and stay inside.

If you or anyone you know are experiencing symptoms of the virus, please contact the Ministry's Hotline immediately.”

Speaking with Trojans’ head coach Kenroy Joseph, this publication asked him about this release, and his response was: “The decision (to suspend all activities) was expected, and is truly appreciated. The safety of my players is paramount, and the COVID-19 is no joke. We, as a team, are taking all necessary precautions to prevent this pandemic. Presently, we are using our WhatsApp Group to motivate everyone to stay indoors and work on our fitness.

“I daily post fitness workouts so they could follow, and ask for videos or pics of them doing it, so as to ensure they are doing it. We, as a team, are asking our country to please follow the prevention guideline so that we can keep the spread of this virus limited. All we can do now is pray so that we can move forward safely, hence we can play cricket again.”

not contracted to franchises, through our Emerging Player program, which has so far facilitated many of our upcoming players who fall in the 19-23 category.

Thankfully, while the tour to the UK will not proceeds this year, the ECB are committed to hosting our U19s at a mutually convenient

time in the future.”

Mo Bobat, ECB Performance Director said cancelling the summer programme for their U19 side was not an easy decision to take.

“But with it not having been possible to identify a window for the tour that works for both Boards - and

i n the current climate - it is certainly the most appropriate step,” he said.

“Our young players benefit greatly from these competitive matches against their peers from around the world, not just in preparation for the biennial U19 World Cups, but also to prepare them for the rigours of international cricket.

“The squad learned a lot from their tri-series in Antigua in December 2019, so we look forward to welcoming the West Indians back to the UK in the future.” (Sportsmax)

GCA responds to COVID-19…

Before onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, cricket matches were slated to resume on March 14, but developments in regard to the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections caused that resumption to be delayed; then the COVID-19 pandemic hit these shores, and the situation deteriorated to what currently obtains.

However, the GCA has said it is monitoring the situation, and is asking everyone to adhere to the various COVID- 19 protocols.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, Chairman of the GCA Competitions Committee, Shaun Massiah, detailed the following: “Concerning the day that we are looking to restart, it is all based on how the virus will come to an end. Once that is cleared, we can start as soon as possible. We are currently trying to finish off our 2019/2020 season of cricket; however, we had plans to start the 1st Division 50 overs cricket, and we were set to run off a number of competitions in the month of April. Some of these competitions were: the Under-19 50-overs, which was sponsored by the GCA and USA Tri-State; an Under-23 T20 competition; Under-15, sponsored by Toucan Distributors; and the Under-13 competition.”

Massiah noted that the GCA is currently looking for sponsors as it seeks to run off a 2nd Division T20 competition. He relayed that when the 1st Division 2-day tournament concludes, the GCA would be looking for sponsors to restart the 2nd Division tournament.

Chairman of the GCA Competitions Committee, Shaun Massiah

By Timothy Jaikarran

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he Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) has had a successful season of cricket in 2019, and a similar season was anticipated for 2020, but the situation that currently obtains in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic has forced that association to halt all cricketing action over the weekend.

Massiah has predicted that “things will be tough”, as the COVID-19 pandemic has caused everything to be put on hold, and if the current situation persists into May, when the rainy season normally commences, cricket would have to be suspended again.

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SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

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est Indies female player Hayley Matthews is an overcomer. At age 12, Matthews was diagnosed with diabetes. During the recently concluded ICC Women's World Cup, Matthews opened up on playing cricket with diabetes.

The 22-year-old Matthews recalled that one summer she was on vacation with her family, and found herself going to the bathroom "maybe five times in the night, eight/nine times in the day; drinking a whole lot of water," Matthews disclosed in a Cricket West Indies (CWI) interview.

She disclosed that her father, who is also a diabetic, was the first to figure out the symptoms.

Matthews highlighted that this has been a challenging journey; but, for her, it's about good management.

At the inception, the talented Barbadian, who played 93 matches for West Indies across formats, noted that there was nothing that was going to stop her from playing the game she

loves, cricket.

The right-handed top-order batter and off-spinner made her debut in 2014 for the West Indies. Her team mates are fully aware of her condition, and they know what to expect.

Matthews has represented the West Indies in 43 ODIs and has 1046 runs to her credit. She has one century and four half-centuries. She has participated in exactly 50 T20 matches, and has a high-score of 107, with one century and four half-centuries.

Matthews, who has been in the top-rankings for an all-rounder, has been a top off-spinner over the years.

She has taken 45 and 46 wickets in ODIs and T20s respectively.

her first international wicket, in the first T20I of the tour of Australia, was Meg Lanning, and she went on to take 3 for 26 in that game.

Of the players on either side of the competition, Matthews

Matthews has been recognized as one of the talented players from the Caribbean. She featured in the Women's exhibition matches in India, the Kia Super League in England, and the Women's Big

was the one who took the most wickets in both the ODIs and T20Is during West Indies' 2015 tour of Sri Lanka.

She was a surprise selection in the inaugural Women's Big Bash League. Sought after by Hobart Hurricanes as one of their overseas players, her standout performance in the competition was a 51-ball 77 against Melbourne Stars, but more importantly, she worked with coach Julia Price and gained invaluable experience against international opponents.

It was an undertaking that was to serve her well in the 2016 Women's World T20, where she would make her name.

Matthews made her most telling performance in the final, where West Indies were up against three-time champions Australia. Having had her 18th birthday in the middle of the tournament, Matthews took on the Australian bowlers with the audacity of youth, hitting 66 off 45 balls to help her team chase down 149 and win their first world title.

Matthews is certainly defying all odds and making the most in her cricket career.

Bash in Australia.

Matthews had captained her boys school team. By the time she was 12, she had made her debut for the Barbados senior women's team. Faced with a choice between track and field and cricket -- she won a gold medal for javelin at the 2015 CARIFTA Games - Matthews, fortunately for West Indies, chose cricket, and subsequently made her international debut in September 2014 in a Twenty20 against New Zealand.

Her ODI debut against Australia swiftly followed, and Matthews impressed right from the outset, making 55 in the first game and a total of 241 runs - the highest for West Indies - in the four-match series. Her off-breaks also proved effective:

T

he Hilbert Fosterled administration of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has hosted numerous tournaments in 2019. However, of some 25 tournaments planned for staging in 2020, only 12 or 13 would be staged, because the global coronavirus pandemic has found itself on these shores.

Despite the bad news, however, there is still hope. A former official of the BCB had made contact with BCB President Hilbert Foster to inform of his interest in sponsoring a second twoday first division tournament for cricket clubs in Berbice.

BCB are currently working on a proposal to respond to this prospective sponsor, but it must have his consideration and approval.

The BCB believes this impending sponsorship is very good news, because several major sponsors are expected to cease sponsoring cricket in 2020 be-

cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. One major sponsor of first division cricket has already informed the BCB that the entity’s sponsorship would continue only until 2021, and sponsorship for this year would be skipped.

The Hilbert Foster-led BCB is assuring all that it would be working very hard to host at least twelve or thirteen tournaments in the year, as it would be impossible now to fulfill plans to host at least twenty-five cricket tournaments.

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Flashback: Banks Beer sponsoring BCB two-day first division cricket

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

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

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Flashback: Banks Beer sponsoring BCB two-day first division cricket

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