Guyana Times - Saturday, June 6, 2020

See Region 4 SoRs' comparison with released SoPs on pages 15 to 20 All SoRs are available on our website Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 4308

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020

Int'l community calls for peaceful acceptance of recount results Page 3

…US will support leaders, institutions that adhere to Guyana's democratic principles – Michael Kozak

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

PPP/C already P14 found in Guyana 210 voters whom coalition claimed had ‘migrated’ Opting out of NGSA will land students in schools closest to homes P10 Shyam Nokta P13 elected new GMSA President …calls for timely elections recount declaration

US Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Michael Kozak

United States Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch

British High Commissioner Greg Quinn

Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee

Ambassador of the European Union, Fernando Ponz-Canto

More of Mingo’s inflated figures unearthed See stories on pages 2&7

... Jagdeo vows to not allow fraud to be swept under the carpet …PPP leads APNU/AFC by 16,341 votes

Tainted Region 4 count compromised 2020 polls in Guyana – EU EOM Page 9

…says senior GECOM officials violated country's electoral laws

APNU/AFC now rejects OAS eyewitness reports as ‘foreign interference’

Page 12

… says only Caricom team credible for Guyana

Salesman P8 charged for killing Atlantic Gardens woman

M&TC flouts Health Committee’s recommendations to close Linden P11 markets APNU/AFC hysteria over wrongly-placed ancillary documents reeks of desperation – P12 Nandlall

2 NEWS

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Jagdeo vows to not allow APNU/AFC to sweep Mingo’s fraud under the carpet during a virtual briefing on Friday, on the East Bank of Demerara, 87 instances have already been highlighted wherein Mingo give the Coalition some 5000 votes that were not validly cast by either inflating their figures or reducing PPP’s. This pattern, he not-

inflation in the number of votes APNU got on the East Coast. We released some stations just [Thursday] and [Friday] morning just before midday, we had another seven boxes that had been inflated on the East Coast in favour of APNU,” he disclosed.

holders say is the reason behind Guyana not being able to have credible results more than three months after elections were held.

To this end, he vowed that his party would continue to expose these acts of fraud, which he described as a major heist and theft of

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

G

eneral Secretary of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic, Bharrat Jagdeo, says his party will continue to expose the fraud perpetrated by embattled Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.

The National Recount, which is nearing completion, with just some 165 ballot boxes from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) remaining to be counted, has already unearthed that RO Clairmont Mingo heavily inflated votes in favour of the APNU/AFC to give the incumbent Coalition a landslide lead over the PPP/C .

According to Jagdeo

ed, continues to be exposed even as more ballot boxes are recounted.

“Yesterday (Thursday) we started the East Coast, and again we saw the major

Jagdeo, who is also the Opposition Leader, further pointed out that the APNU/ AFC coalition has been absolutely silent on Mingo’s fraud, which many stake-

the March 2020 elections.

“Mingo was the only fraud perpetrated in these elections, and so we will continue to -- right down to the last box -- expose Mingo’s

fraud…and so if they think that they will just sweep it under the carpet, it’s not going to happen,” the Opposition Leader contended as he remind that the international community has already spoken out against these acts of fraud.

The Organisation of American States (OAS) only Thursday in a statement said it has no reason to doubt that the results emanating from the National Recount would be credible.

Meanwhile, the European Union Elections Observation Mission (EU EOM), in its final report to the Guyana Elections Commission, cited that the integrity of the entire electoral process was seriously compromised by the non-transparent and non-credible tabulation of results in the largest and decisive Region Four by senior GECOM officials acting in blatant violation of the law and High Court orders.

Nevertheless, with Region Four remaining to be counted, the national recount of the nine other regions shows the PPP/C in a landslide lead over the Coalition.

In South Georgetown,

Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo

the incumbent Coalition lost 37 votes while the PPP’s figures remained the same; and in North Georgetown, the Opposition PPP gained 18 votes while the APNU/ AFC lost 20.

Accordi to Jagdeo, the pattern in all these nine regions shows that the recount figures match the SOPs published online; and, as such, the party expects the same to come out of the count for the East Coast – where he says historically the PPP/C has won.

The recount exercise is scheduled to conclude on June 13, and GECOM is expected to make a declaration three days later.

3 Int'l community calls for peaceful acceptance of recount results NEWS

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, June 6 – 05:30h – 07:00h and Sunday, June 7 – 05:30h – 07:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, June 6 – 16:35h – 18:05h and Sunday, June 7 – 05:10h – 06:40h.

…US will support leaders, institutions that adhere to Guyana's democratic principles – Michael Kozak

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

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United States Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch

British High Commissioner Greg Quinn

Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee

Ambassador of the European Union, Fernando Ponz-Canto

ith the recount of ballots cast at the March 2 General and Regional Elections coming to a conclusion, the international community is calling on stakeholders to “peacefully accept the wishes of the Guyanese population”.

They say that “as this process concludes, it is important for all stakeholders to uphold the integrity of the process.”

Acknowledging “there will be disappointment for those who have lost”, diplomatic representatives for the United States, Canada and the European Union (EU) have called on party leaders to commit to constitutional reform and reconciliation, to ensure every Guyanese, regardless of party affiliation, sees how their Government would work in their best interest.

The sentiments were communicated on Friday in a joint statement issued by Ambassador SarahAnn Lynch for the US Government; British High Commissioner Greg Quinn for the British Government; High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee for the Canadian Government; and Ambassador Fernando Ponz-Canto for the European Union.

According to these plenipotentiary representatives, with the recount process concluded, “those who are elected must take on this responsibility with humility, and demonstrate that they will govern for the benefit of every Guyanese citizen.”

The officials used the occasion to “congratulate those who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to ensuring full transparency in the recount process”.

“We also commend President Granger and the Leader of the Opposition for their support of the recount, and for their clear commitment to abide by the results”, the statement said.

Additionally, the diplomats noted that “as friends of Guyana, we look forward to working with all parties to further support Guyana’s development for the benefit of all its people.”

The joint missive from the representatives of the ABCE countries coincided with an Observer Mission Report submitted by the EU being released to the public. In that document, it was acknowledged that “The 2 March General and Regional Elections took

place in a deeply polarised environment.”

According to the EU, legal uncertainty, unregulated political finance, biased state media, and lack of transpar-

and non-credible tabulation of results in the largest and decisive Region Four by senior Guyana Elections Commission officials, “acting in blatant violation of the law and High

ency in the administration of elections characterised the pre-election context; but overall, the elections were competitive and contestants could campaign freely.

Voting, counting and the tabulation of results in nine of Guyana’s 10 regions were well managed, according to the observer mission report, but the integrity of the entire electoral process was seriously compromised by the non-transparent

Court orders issued in this regard.”

That mission, the first to submit a final report on the still-to-be-concluded 2020 General and Regional Elections, has since recommended, among other measures, revamping of the country’s electoral laws in addition to codifying international treaties signed onto into domestic laws.

These include, but are not

limited to, Guyana’s electoral and human rights in the context of international treaties that the country has ratified to date.

Additionally, stakeholders were called on to incorporate into law the mandatory publication of all GECOM decisions, regulatory instruments and instructions, as well as all relevant data pertaining to the electoral process.

This because the Commission’s statutory meetings are in fact closed to the public, and there is no systematic publication of adopted decisions, issued instructions, and critical electoral update.

Additionally, the EU called on GECOM to undertake a thorough update of the decade-old register well ahead of the next election cycle, based on inclusive consultations and political consensus.

The bilateral party has also called on stakeholders to harmonise the legal status under which political parties operate, to ensure equal protection and accountability of political stakeholders.

W

4

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SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 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

World Environment Day: It’s time for nature

G

uyana joined the rest of the world on Friday and observed World Environment Day themed: “It’s time for nature”. General Secretary of the United Nations, António Guterres in his message this year remained that nature is sending the world a clear message. “We are harming the natural world – to our own detriment… To care for humanity, we must care for nature. We need our entire global community to change course.”

Here at home it has become apparent and more glaring, that we have become increasingly irresponsible in disposing our trash, which eventually ends up in our drains and waterways. The voluminous build-up of garbage in communities across the country speaks of a society that is yet to be trained on proper waste disposal. We are guilty of indiscriminate dumping of garbage.

A casual drive around many communities would reveal the shocking truth: in many areas, there are mounds of garbage strewn across the reserves and roadways. As an attempt to conceal the act of indiscriminate dumping, some perpetrators dispose of their trash at night and would go so far as to travel to neighbouring communities and villages to commit the act.

How sad that we have become so callously abusive of our environment. We only think of Mother Nature when calamity or disaster strikes. Every human being should go the extra mile of caring for our one and only Mother Earth.

Many of the smaller communities do not have regular garbage disposal services, and most private collectors would service these areas at least once a week; does this then excuse the action of residents to take their waste elsewhere?

There are so many other options for solid waste disposal.

In most developed and developing countries, like Guyana, with increasing population, prosperity and urbanisation, it remains a major challenge for municipalities to collect, recycle, treat and dispose of increasing quantities of solid waste, especially in a changing climate. Everyone is aware of the issues we are facing with solid waste management.

Isn’t it high time we took part in making our society garbage-free? Communities cannot rely solely on our Government to clean up the environment. A concerted effort is highly needed.

A cornerstone of sustainable development is the establishment of affordable, effective and truly sustainable waste management practices. We should, therefore, make it a daily habit to help control the floods and other problems caused by the mountains of garbage we throw away. What is lacking is discipline in disposing of our garbage properly.

It was reported that the carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the Earth’s atmosphere have surged past an important threshold and may not dip below it for “many generations”.

The 400 parts per million (ppm) benchmark was broken globally.

What is alarming is that experts say that the last time CO2 was above 400 ppm was three to five million years ago!

It is time to consider the reality facing the world today, and it is even more crucial to take stock of the individual responsibility for this global situation. It is highly improbable that citizens do not yet know the impacts of climate change and are unaware of current challenges across the globe, with regard to access to potable water, arable lands and in some severe cases, access to food.

The time has long since passed for affirmative action and the hour of reckoning is upon us; the Earth itself is sending a message and it behoves us to change our attitudes and behaviours. It is time we see the importance of becoming waste-wise and take the pledge to make a concerted effort to recycle more, and reduce the waste sent to the landfill. If not today, when would be the perfect time for action?

A drowning APNU/AFC clutches at me!

Dear Editor, My statement that: “fraud once committed, makes everything a nullity. Everything tainted by fraud is void ab initio”, has become viral. The APNU/AFC and their apologists now quote me liberally, invoking this statement manipulatively, to aid their political agenda. Expectedly, as desperation reaches fever-pitched levels with the National Recount winding down, confirming the magnitude of Mingo’s fraud, as well as a landslide PPP/C victory, APNU/AFC chose me to clutch at, as they drown in the ocean of electoral defeat.

I do not resile from these sentiments. They are axiomatic principles of law. Of course, they were hijacked from their contextual abode.

I made them in reference to Mingo’s declarations. It is more than passing strange, that the APNU/AFC cling to those two sentences but omitted the remainder of what I said in the same breath. I also posited that not only did Mingo commit fraud, but that APNU/AFC lost the elections by over 15,000 votes and by virtue of the rule of law, they must relinquish Government, forthwith. I may have made over a million other statements of a similar genre. They ignored them all but plucked that which suits their political agenda of election thievery. Needless to say, I remain flattered.

In a previous missive, I explained that although Article 162 of the Constitution vests a plenitude of power in the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), it proscribes them by way of the linguistic device of a proviso, rendering those powers “subject to the Constitution”.

Not to leave the reader in any doubt whatsoever, the very next ensuing Article - Article 163 - resides, exclusively, in the functional domain of the High Court, the jurisdiction to hear and determine whether: “either generally or in any particular place, an election has been lawfully conducted or the result thereof has been, or may have been, affected by any unlawful act or omission.”

It is undisputed that the myriad of allegations made

by APNU/AFC falls into the genus of matters provided for and contemplated by Article 163. If the framers of the Constitution intended for GECOM to deal with these matters, they would have so provided. In fact, they have expressly deprived GECOM of this power by residing it in the High Court to the exclusion of every other constitutional agency, including GECOM. The Constitution further provides that these matters must be placed before the High Court by an Election Petition, which shall be determined in accordance with the National Assembly Validity of Elections Act. The long title of that Act reads: “Any question referred to in Article 163...of the Constitution may, in respect of an election… and with a view to securing appropriate remedial orders, be referred to the Court and shall thereupon be determined by it, in accordance with this Act.” Any student of the law knows that this electoral legislative scheme is not peculiar to Guyana but it is what obtains, uniformly, throughout the Commonwealth. Therefore, Mr Vincent Alexander’s recent pronouncement to the press, that GECOM must “assess the credibility of the electoral process” by enquiring into allegations of malpractices, is wholly erroneous.

I wish to assure my detractors that I am not advocating that an inquiry must not be held into these allegations, but as a matter of law, it cannot be held by GECOM and can only be properly done by utilising the process provided for by the law and that is, only after the declaration of the results are made by GECOM. Perhaps it is important that I address some of the allegations made in respect of how they would be treated in a court of law. The allegations range from voters’ impersonation of dead and migrated persons, whose names remain on the voters’ list, to missing poll books, omission to make entries into poll books, erroneous entries into poll books,

unstamped ballots, inaccurate markings on List of Electors, to name a few. In an election court, moved by the proper procedure, each of these allegations will have to be proven to a certain degree and still yet, the petitioner must go on to show that the unlawful acts or omissions did affect the result of the elections. He must establish same to a certain standard of proof by the production of evidence, which will then have to be tested by cross-examination and witnesses will have to be called to rebut, in an adversarial construct.

In the Esther Perreira case, Justice Claudette Singh stated: “…I hold that the petitioner has to prove her case on the preponderance of probability…that an unlawful act or omission did affect the result of the election.”

Therefore, the contention being bandied that if one singular instance is found of voter impersonation, then the entire election is vitiated by fraud, is absolutely nonsensical. The ballot would be vitiated and then the petitioner must go on to prove that the vitiated ballot affects the result of the election in a material way, for example: where the PPP has a 15,000 lead, one invalid ballot would not affect the result of the elections.

Any person who has a fleeting familiarity with electoral litigation will confirm that the allegations, which are being made by APNU/ AFC, are not unique.

They preponderate in elections cases across the globe.

As a result, there are rulings from courts, in almost every jurisdiction, in respect of each of these allegations. Judges have culled a compendium of legal principles on how they are to be addressed. A clear distillation of the principles derived from these cases, bereft of their esoteric content, can be summarised thus: an election is a mechanism for an elector to choose a Government of his choice by placing a clear and identifiable mark on an authorised ballot paper, next to the par-

ty symbol which he endorses. Once that is done, the paramount legal principle is to ensure that the will of that voter prevails over every other thing which occurs at that elections.

In short, any irregularity or omission committed must bend and bow to the glory of an authentic authorised ballot paper properly marked by the elector. It is for this reason, that once a ballot paper is not authentic, improperly marked or unstamped, it must be rejected. Reciprocally, once these requirements are satisfied, the ballot must prevail.

In the case of Anthony Ribeiro v Kennedy Simmons 1979, the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal stated: “I do not think that the intention of the law is that an election should be won or lost on technicalities in court, but rather the wish of the people, expressed through the ballot box, should prevail. The court should put first and foremost, in my view, the intention of the electorate.”

In this case, inter alia, at an election held in St Kitts, a number of allegations were made similar to those currently being made by APNU/ AFC. For example, ballots not put into proper envelopes and sealed, pen used instead of pencil, entries, which were supposed to be made in poll books, not made. These irregularities, though established, were not permitted to invalidate any ballot cast. The court made it pellucid that no voter will be denied his/her franchise because of the negligent actions or omissions of any elections officer.

I can cite many more cases in support of my contentions, but this is not the forum to do so, nor would space permit me. The intent here is simply to bring public clarity on these important issues, as a drowning APNU/AFC continues their tirade of distortion in their futile attempts to stay afloat in the face of great turbulence created by Mingo’s fraudulent avalanche.

Sincerely, Mohabir Anil Nandlall Attorney-at-Law

Abuse of National Awards by APNU/AFC Dear Editor I would like to draw your readers’ attention to the misuse and abuse of the National Awards by the APNU/AFC Government.

This Government has ruthlessly used the National Awards to reward its supporters and, probably, party donors.

If one were to look at the awards given to medical doctors, one would find several anomalies. The first award, given in 2015, was to an ex-

tremely pricey neurosurgeon who lives in Jamaica. What yardstick was used to reward him? Recently, awards were announced as having been given to a famous ‘abortion’ doctor and his colleague.

His only claim to fame is the number of abortions he has done, including procedures on patients who weren’t pregnant at all.

The Government showed scant regard for the medical fraternity when they awarded this particular doctor. His

award was given just before the elections, and leads one to wonder if that particular hospital had made a hefty donation to the party.

Also questionable are awards given to senior members of the Judiciary; and those Judges should never have accepted awards from a Government which would be defendants and plaintiffs in their courts in the future.

Once the award is given after the Judge retires, the award is not so blatantly a bribe.

And Stanley Ming’s recent recruitment by the incumbent to discredit the elections with his ridiculous statement that the Official List of Electors was a “recipe for chaos” should come as no surprise to anyone. Mr Ming’s explanations can be seen in all the awards that he and his family have received from this Government.

Kind regards, Shazad Sookram

PNC’s occupation of office is over, Dr Danns

Dear Editor, The evidence being gathered in this recount exercise at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) is confirming the fact that the citizens of Guyana in these 2020 General Elections chose to vote Mr David Granger

and his PNC-led coalition, out of office. The majority of the people chose Dr Irfaan Ali and the PPP/C. Even in the community of Muritaro near Linden in Region 10, the PPP/C won convincingly with a poll tally of 121 votes vs APNU/AFC’s 18.

The Guyanese people have spoken, that is their decision and no amount of infantile ranting and raving from people like Dr Ken Danns in his unperceptive letter in the Stabroek News captioned “Guyana does not need a leader with-

out voice and agency” will change that fact. In making their decision, the majority of the Guyanese people want the rest of the world to see Dr Irfaan Ali as their new President and no one else; let us be clear on this fact.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020

5

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

Vacillation has become imbedded in PNCR’s politics of opportunism Dear Editor, We have never been taken onto a track of political opportunism of such magnitude as is currently being displayed by the APNUAFC leaders. As part of their new political strategy, they have succeeded in introducing into the Guyana political lexicon a key component called “vacillation.” This concept allows them to constantly change their narrative to synchronise with new situations as those arise. Nowhere is this approach more visible and pronounced than in the post-elections’ recount period (3/3/20-6/16/20).

Since their assumption of office (2015), the PNCR have focused mainly on consolidation and retention of power. In this regard, David Granger’s exhortation to the PNCR faithful in USA was the beginning of the conceptualisation of power consolidation and retention.

Combined with lack of a strong vision, this negative force has led to a precipitous decline in sectoral performance. The concept of party paramountcy provided the philosophical underpinning for their peculiar approach to governance.

The PNCR’s reluctance to engage others, including the PPPC Opposition, in the Exxon oil negotiations in 2016 was a clear sign that no one should encroach on their power. The PNCR’s defiance of the NCM (No Confidence

Motion) of December 2018 is a classic case of “might is right.” Then came another political bombshell: they unilaterally appointed James Patterson as the GECOM Chair, contrary to the Constitution. In respect to Patterson’s appointment, the narrative was, “He was fit and proper.”

In defying the High Court’s rulings, they claimed they were ready to hold elections, but had to be advised when GECOM was ready.

The Guyanese people, observer missions, the diplomatic community and the world were told by President David Granger that the elections on March 2, 2020 were free, fair and orderly. This position was shared by the GECOM Chair.

On March 3, 2020, all the political parties knew that, based on GECOM-issued SOPs, the PPP/C had won the elections, but the PNCR insisted that they had won the elections, purportedly based on Mingo’s false declaration. PNCR member Leonard Craig stated categorically that Granger should have been sworn in on the basis of GECOM’s (Mingo) declaration (KN: 5/13/20). There were two other attempts to install Granger as President on the basis of Mingo’s fraudulent figures.

Why Granger backed down was the stern message he received from the West, especially the US.

The narrative for this was that David Granger does not want to be installed under controversial circumstances.

Recognising that the installation of Granger as President would have serious consequences, the PNCR sought political shelter in a revised dossier issued in April 2020, which was sent to the Washington sanction- busting firm of JJ&B, LLC. This document wrongly states that the PNCR won the elections, but correctly indicates that the elections were free and fair. The PNCR had expected that this document, which paints an ugly picture of the PPPC, would soften the position of the West towards their attempts to steal the 2020 elections.

The narrative for this (mis) adventure was that PNCR are the “good” party and the PPPC are the “bad” party.

An extended period for the recount would have given the PNCR enough time to create an opportunity to tamper with the ballot boxes, as well as to extend their illegal stay in Government. That opportunity was blocked by the surveillance of the ballot boxes 24/7 by the Guardians of Democracy; thus, the PNCR’s Plan B collapsed.

With no opportunity to tamper with the ballot boxes, the PNCR continued with the narrative that they had won the elec-

tions. Up to May 18, 2020, Granger stated on a Mark Benschop radio programme that his party had won the elections; but, as the Mingo fraud continued to unravel, they have been forced to change their narrative over the past weeks by claiming, instead, electoral irregularities such as a bloated voters’ list and deceased and overseas Guyanese voting.

Hence, they have now turned to Plan C. They know that their embrace of the Mingo fraud can no longer conceal their defeat, so they have embarked on a programme to discredit the electoral process by making allegations of irregularities, even though those are unproven and would have no material effect on the outcome. Today, they have made public that they want the elections to be squashed.

There is no more talk about PNCR victory; all the previous narratives have withered away.

The elections cannot be squashed. GECOM has to announce the winner based on the tabulated SORs’ results. Alleged irregularities as stated by the PNCR’s Leonard Craig would be settled by way of an election petition. What would certainly remain in this post-election struggle is also the PNCR’s political opportunism, called “vacillation.”

Sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

How will Justice Claudette Singh vote on final recount results?

Dear Editor, Given everything that has transpired in the months leading up to her nomination, the appointment of Justice Claudette Singh as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) brought a sigh of relief to most Guyanese.

Much was expected of her before, during, and after what many deemed the “mother of all elections”; however, her actions and/ or inactions since then have raised many questions and concerns regarding her perceived partisanship, especially since the March 2nd elections. Her latest escapade seems to further undermine the prospects of bringing these elections to a fair, transparent, and credible conclusion.

This begs the question: How will Justice Claudette Singh vote on the final recount results?

In taking the oath of office, Justice Claudette Singh solemnly promised to honour three principal obligations to the Guyanese people: first, she swore true faith and allegiance to the people of Guyana; second, she promised to discharge her duties and responsibilities without fear or favour, affection or ill-will; and third, she pledged to honour, uphold, and preserve the Constitution of Guyana.

With over four decades of experience in the legal arena, Justice Singh has reasonably been expected to abide by the sanctity of her oath, and letter and spirit of the law. However, her tenure has been tainted by one faux pas after another.

By swearing to bear true faith and allegiance to all Guyanese, Justice Singh has inherently acknowledged that the sovereignty of the people cannot be denied or taken away. Hence, she has pledged unconditional loyalty to the people in discharging her duties and responsibilities. However, her actions throughout this ordeal have painted a less than flattering picture. Her overall reluctance to exude control and leadership during and in the aftermath of Mr. Mingo’s atrocious acts suggests a flagrant disregard for the will of the people. As a result, the true will of the people has so far been denied, and may never be respected following a credible recount.

In swearing to execute her duties and responsibilities without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, Justice Singh was reasonably expected to act impartially and without malice. More importantly, she was expected to pursue a common good for all Guyanese. Yet, her posture in the last few months

remains extremely controversial, and suggests a degree of prejudice.

For example, her vote against releasing GECOM’s Statements of Poll to the Commissioners has shown her disinterest in pursuing a course of action that was in the best interest of Guyana; and her failure to discard the fictitious and discredited numbers declared by Mr. Mingo suggests unjustified favour.

Similarly, her vote against removing Mr. Mingo and other questionable characters from the recount process illustrates her apathy and misguided intent.

Perhaps even more egregious has been Justice Singh’s cavalier attitude towards the Constitution.

Although the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) had cleared the way for Regional and General Elections to be held within ninety days, Justice Singh showed contempt for the Constitution that she had sworn to uphold and defend. Instead of ensuring elections were held

by September 18, 2019, her constant dithering meant that that deadline was missed; and the dissolution of Parliament on December 30, 2019 meant that the constitutional deadline for reconstituting Parliament was April 30, 2020, but, once again, Justice Singh’s inde-

cisiveness resulted in another constitutional deadline being ignored.

While the examples above are not exhaustive, they show a clear pattern of Justice Singh’s indifference towards the oath of office she duly swore to uphold. She has had multiple opportunities to redeem herself, but continues to let her people and country down.

This brings us back to the question: How will Justice Claudette Singh vote on the final recount results?

By secretly asking the Commissioner of Police for information regarding wild and unsubstantiated allegations made by the APNU/ AFC, Justice Singh has once again shown this nation that she cares less about her reputation and more about appeasing those who had conspired to rig the elections.

With GECOM commissioners divided along political lines and APNU/AFC proclaiming that the March 2nd elections were not credible, all eyes will be on Justice Singh. However, her track record does not bode well for Guyana.

Let’s all hope she does the right thing and restore a semblance of respectability to Guyana.

Yours faithfully, Omchand Mahdu

Veerasammy Permaul and Windies selection Dear Editor, A few hours ago, my attention was drawn to an article online on the selection of a 25-man West Indies squad to go to England for a three-Test series.

When I perused the list, I was shocked and simultaneously hopping mad when I did not see Veerasammy Permaul’s name on that list.

Imagine, a squad that consists of 25 players, not 15, and Permaul can’t find himself in that team?

Something is terribly wrong; nay, stinks! Editor, what more must Permaul do to make the West Indies Team?

I am bitterly disappointed in our own Roger Harper, who, only recently in an interview, said Permaul is right up there in the pecking order to go on the tour to England.

What went wrong, Roger? Why the change of heart? When I look at that list, there are so many players of less ability than Permaul’s that they should not have been there. What has happened to your stated policy and that of the West Indies Board: that players who perform consistently at the Regional level would be rewarded

with selection to the West Indies team? Has that policy been thrown out of the window?

Permaul has been the number one bowler in Regional cricket for the past five years. What more must he do to make the West Indies team, Roger?

Editor, one thing is clear: Over the years, Guyanese cricketers have always been given a raw deal by various West Indies’ selection panels, and I have no doubt this will continue into the future.

I therefore appeal to the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) to break away from Cricket West Indies Inc. and apply to be an ICC Associate Member. With a Guyana team consisting of Permaul, Bishoo, Motie, Bramble, Hetmyer, Paul, Johnson, Hemraj, Shepherd, Barnwell, Singh, Sinclair, Joseph and many other youngsters too numerous to mention, within two years, Guyana could become a full-fledged member of the ICC. Please, GCB, heed my plea and give greater opportunities to more of our cricketers.

Yours faithfully, Imtiaz Baccus

PNC’s occupation...

FROM PAGE 4

As a Guyanese who chose to stand for democracy in the ACCC, I am a first-hand witness to the work of Dr Ali. Like hundreds of others, he is toiling on 12 hoursplus shifts from the time he leaves his home to the time he returns to his front door.

What I am not seeing is the positive work from the likes of Mr Granger, whose presidential inaction has brought nothing but economic destruction and social implosion to this country.

It is unfortunate that Dr Danns chose not to expose the essence of the mal-administration under Mr Granger, but rather chose to pick on a youth who has a more solid track record at getting things done for the entire nation than more than half of the entire former Granger Cabinet. Let me share one example. In his six years in office as a Minister of Housing, he used that office to facilitate the delivery of over 38,000 house lots to the people. Mr Granger, on the other hand, has done less than one-tenth of that in his five-year tenure (part of which was stolen using political subterfuge).

If we want to know the true Mr Granger, one only has to examine the status of the checking account at the

Bank of Guyana upon which the Central Government encashes its cheques. When Mr Granger came into office, that account had $15.2 billion in solid cash in it.

As at the end of March 2020, after 5 years of Mr Granger, like King Midas inverse, that account now has minus (negative) $82.5 billion in it. His Government now has run up the largest overdraft ever to visit this account in the history of Guyana. In real fact, Guyana now has an additional debt due to the incompetent voice and ineffective agency of Mr Granger.

The age of the PNC’s occupation of office is over, Dr Danns. The majority of the Guyanese people just want to carry on with their lives.

What they do not want is this PNC cabal attempting to play with their intelligence by using racism as a tool of trickery to perpetuate this great national drama.

The way Ms Claudette Singh and Mr David Granger conduct themselves in the upcoming days in June 2020 will determine how the whole world looks not only at them personally but Guyana as a nation.

Yours faithfully, Sasenarine Singh

6

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020

Page

Foundation

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

Below are Mathematics Paper 2, 2016 and CXC English.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE SIX ASSESSMENT 1.

Write your candidate number clearly on each page.

2.

This paper contains six questions. You are required to answer question 1 and three others. Each question is worth 5 marks

MATHEMATICS

Note: You must answer only four questions.

Be sure to answer the four questions completely.

3.

Write the answer for each question in the space provided in this booklet.

CONTINUED

5. (a) The ratio of the number of girls to the number of boys in a sports club was 4:7. There are 18 more boys than girls in the club.

How many pupils are in the club altogether?

(2 marks)

What is the school’s championship record?

(1 mark)

(ii) The national record is 7.Sm. By what percentage must Kaydeen increase her personal best jump to equal the national record?

(2 marks) 6. A group of 30 Grade 6 pupils is asked which of two colours, red or green, they like. Of the 30 pupils, 6 like red only and 17 like green. The Venn diagram below shows the information.

5.

Each step of your work must be clearly shown in this booklet.

(a) If twice as many pupils who like red only like green but not red, find the value of a, band C. (3 marks) (b)

How many pupils do not like red?

(1 mark)

(c)

How many pupils like red or green?

(b) Kaydeen is a long jumper whose personal best is 6 m. Her personal best jump is 20% greater than the school’s championship record. (i)

4.

Answers must be written in complete sentences where possible.

(1 mark)

END OF TEST

CXC MATHS 1. (a) Solve for x 4(x=10) – 7 + 8x (b) Simplify (i) 9y2 – 1 (ii) 2p2 -4p – 20 (c) In 3C, there are 26 students. All students study Mathematics and English. No student failed.

Only 50 per cent got 80 per cent in Mathematics or English Ten students got 80 per cent in both Mathematics and English 2x students got 80 per cent in English only x students got 80 per cent in Mathematics only (i) Complete a Venn diagram where: U = {all the students in the class} P = {students who got 80 per cent in Mathematics and English} M = {students who got 80 per cent in Mathematics only} E = {students who got 80 per cent in English only} (ii) Calculate the value of x

6.

If you have to erase, do so cleanly.

7. look over your work when you have finished.

8.

Do not take away any part of this booklet.

CXC ENGLISH Ode on a Grecian Urn

BY JOHN KEATS

Thou still unravish'd bride of quietness, Thou foster-child of silence and slow time, Sylvan historian, who canst thus express A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme: What leaf-fring'd legend haunts about thy shape Of deities or mortals, or of both, In Tempe or the dales of Arcady?

What men or gods are these? What maidens loth?

What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape?

What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?

Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear'd, Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone: Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare; Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss, Though winning near the goal yet, do not grieve; She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss, For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!

Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu; And, happy melodist, unwearied, For ever piping songs for ever new; More happy love! more happy, happy love!

For ever warm and still to be enjoy'd, For ever panting, and for ever young; All breathing human passion far above, That leaves a heart high-sorrowful and cloy'd, A burning forehead, and a parching tongue.

Who are these coming to the sacrifice?

To what green altar, O mysterious priest, Lead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies, And all her silken flanks with garlands drest?

What little town by river or sea shore, Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel, Is emptied of this folk, this pious morn?

And, little town, thy streets for evermore Will silent be; and not a soul to tell Why thou art desolate, can e'er return.

O Attic shape! Fair attitude! with brede Of marble men and maidens overwrought, With forest branches and the trodden weed; Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought As doth eternity: Cold Pastoral!

When old age shall this generation waste, Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st, "Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."

(a) Summarise the poem (b) Discuss TWO devices used in this poem (c) Describe the overall mood of this poem, citing evidence from the text

NEWS

7

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

More of Mingo’s inflated figures unearthed ...PPP leads APNU/AFC by 16,341 votes

T

he Guyana Elections Commission on Friday completed tabulating votes cast for 2153 of the 2339 ballot boxes used during the March 2 polls. However, the results show that with 167 boxes remaining to be recounted, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has an unassailable lead of more than 16,300 votes.

Tabulated results thus far show that the PPP/C has so far had 210,280 of its votes recounted while the coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) has had 193,939 of its votes tabulated. This would see the Opposition PPP/C holding a 16,341 vote lead with the remaining ballot boxes to be counted all located primarily along the East Coast of Demerara, in traditional PPP/C strongholds.

The tabulation exercise on Friday also continued to unearth the inflated figures used by the Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo.

An analysis of boxes recounted at Beterverwagting (BV), ECD, illustrates where hundreds of votes were added to the APNU/AFC’s tally and for which ballots could not be found during the recount.

One such instance could be gleaned from a re-examination of ballot box 4655 containing votes cast at the BV Health Centre.

The Statement of Poll generated on elections night, recorded for that ballot box that the PPP/C had gotten 54 votes while the APNU/AFC had gotten 126 votes.

This was confirmed when recounted and reflected in the Statement of Recount (SoR) accounting for that box.

However, Mingo’s declared figures for that box gives APNU/AFC 176 votes or 50 votes more than what was actually cast for the party and corroborated using both the SoPs and SoRs. Another such instance was replicated in ballot box 4651 which according to Mingo’s figures saw the APNU/AFC getting 210 votes.

A recount of the ballots found in the box that was sealed on elections night by each party has since found only 160 votes for the party, the same number of votes that were tabulated for that party on elections night and reflected on the SoP. That ballot box represented votes cast in the BV Secondary School.

The same could be found in several other ballot boxes examined from BV which documents the figures inflated by Mingo by varying numerical values.

Breakdown of findings

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo Jagdeo explained that the Statements of Recount

(SORs) generated from the recount of those nine districts almost mirror the Statements of Poll (SOPs) that his party had published online from the initial count of the March 2 votes.

He noted that minor variances detected during the recount were largely from the review of the votes that were rejected during the initial count.

During a breakdown of the findings from the recount exercise, he revealed that APNU/AFC gained four votes in Region One (Barima-Waini) while PPP/C lost 20; both parties lost three votes each in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Coalition losing three more while PPP lost four in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); and in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), APNU/AFC gaining five and PPP nine votes.

Because of some errors in recording the figures from the tally sheet onto the SOP, the Coalition gained 61 votes and PPP 165 in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

In Region Seven, APNU/ AFC lost four votes while and PPP gained 8 votes; Region Eight saw both the Coalition and PPP gaining 66 and 11 votes respectively; while in Region Nine, APNU/AFC lost two votes and PPP/C gained two; and in Region 10, the Coalition lost 16 while PPP lost two votes.

With regards to the Region Four count, which is

ongoing, for the East Bank district it was found that APNU/AFC lost 10 votes and PPP/C gained 36.

Meanwhile, figures coming out of the recount exercise is also projecting the Liberty and Justice Party may occupy a place in the National Assembly.

Presidential Candidate, Lenox Shuman on Friday maintained, “based on the numbers that we have had previously and what are being confirmed in here, it points to one of two scenarios for us. It is either the Liberty and Justice Party won a seat outright or the joiner won that one seat.”

The party has so far had 2572 votes tabulated in its

favour.

According to Shuman, while he cannot at this point speak with finality, the Region Four count will provide a more pellucid view of the issue.

He noted that the LJP’s partner in the Joiner Alliance—A New and United Guyana—likely won more votes in Region Four than his party.

He told media operatives “I think ANUG in itself got a lot more votes in Region Four than LJP so we still have to see how those numbers fall and do keep in mind that in the end, it goes to the highest of the remainder.”

ANUG has so far seen 2064 votes tabulated in

its favour while The New Movement has had 229 votes ascertained for that party.

This would bring the total votes tabulated for the Joinder Parties thus far to 4865 votes collectively.

Reminding media operatives of the agreement between the parties in the alliance, Shuman said, “in terms of the arrangement, any seat that is won outright by any political party goes to that party. If it is won as a consequence of all of the parties coming together, what we do is share time in Parliament based on the percentage of votes that we would have attained.”

TURN TO PAGE 11

8 NEWS

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Salesman charged for killing Atlantic Gardens woman

Dead: Sattie Monica Beekharry

A

35-year-old salesman was on Friday hauled before the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court for the murder of 61-year-old Sattie Monica Beekharry.

Rafeek Khan, of Chandra Nagar Street, Prashad Nagar, appeared before Magistrate Marissa Mittleholzer via Skype and was not required to plea to the indictable charge.

The prosecution is contending that on June 1 at

around 15:00h, he murdered Beekharry at her Lot 152 Atlantic Gardens home.

Reports are that neighbours heard a heated argument between Beekharry and Khan after she refused to loan him money. Shortly after, the woman was heard screaming for help.

According to the prosecution’s case, the refusal to loan him more money allegedly angered Khan, who then bludgeoned the woman with a padlock and then slit her throat. Upon hearing the commotion, neighbours summoned the police, who found the woman’s body lying on the floor.

The suspect was at the time hiding in the ceiling of the house. This forced officers to use tear gas to extract him.

An autopsy conducted on the woman’s body by Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh at the Georgetown Public Hospital

Waiting to exhale…

N …on elections

Charged: Rafeek Khan

Corporation Mortuary (GPHC) revealed that the woman died as a result of brain haemorrhage caused by multiple traumas to the head, compounded by numerous fractures of the

right-side rib cage.

Magistrate Mittleholzer remanded Khan to prison. The case was transferred to the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court and will continue on June 20, 2020.

“Angel” charged for stealing jewellery from employer

P

opular transgender, 24-year-old Akeem Hodge also called “Angel” was on Friday slapped with a robbery charge when he made his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

He denied the charge, which alleged that between May 15 and 24, 2020, at Georgetown, he stole one white gold and diamond bracelet from Jennelle Blackman. The charge was read by Magistrate Rondell Weever.

The court heard that the defendant would normally clean the Virtual Complainant’s house, and she would usually pay him. However, between the aforementioned dates, Hodge reportedly removed a diamond and gold bracelet.

As such, the matter was reported to the Alberttown

Charged: Akeem Hodge, also called “Angel”

Police Station and an investigation was launched.

The Prosecutor objected to bail since there are other pending matters before the court against the defendant.

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

Aroaima man charged with larceny

A

n unemployed man of Aroaima, Upper Berbice River, was granted bail by Magistrate Wanda Fortune on

Wednesday when he made a virtual appearance at the Kwakwani Magistrate’s Court to answer to the charge of breaking and entering and larceny. Andra Christian, 23, of Maple Town, Aroaima, was arrested by Police in connection

Charged: Andra Christian

with the incident on May 28.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune and was granted $75,000 bail. The case will continue on July 3, 2020.

ow that all twelve counting stations at the ACCC are assigned to the remaining less-than-200 ballot boxes from the East Coast Demerara, these should be knocked off by tomorrow afternoon. The question, however, is what happens next? Can we expect those recount numbers to be announced by the Commission as the final and official results of the March 2 elections??

Don’t expect to exhale any time soon!!

Even if there isn’t a PNC deus ex machina lurking in the wings, those recount numbers are just another way station to a process that could be extended until “thy kingdom come”! The numbers will first be given to no other than Major (rtd) Keith Lowenfield, CEO of the GECOM Secretariat, for him to compile. Now, don’t forget that the numbers from the first COUNT, when Mingo did his thing over at Ashmin’s on his Reg 4 compilations, have already been compiled by the same Lowenfield…who chose not to make any comments on the Mingoed numbers!! This time, however, he’ll be including all of the wild allegations the PNC agents threw up during the recount process.

And this is where matters will get tricky with this wild card. The Lowenfield numbers and summary of allegations will have to be taken as definitive - just like Mingo’s previous numbers were - and then be considered by the full Commission. With this body split down the middle between the Government and the Opposition, the Commission really now becomes Chairwoman Claudette, who has the casting vote. So how will she proceed?

We don’t need to speculate when she’s already shown her hand. Remember her bold asservation from a week ago: “He who asserts must prove”? If you did, then you’d also remember that, the very next day, she executed a complete somersault when she received a list of migrantvoter “anomalies” from the PNC’s Harmon and proceeded to zip them over to the Commissioner of Police to be checked out.

This he had the Chief Immigration Officer do, and returned the list to Claudette, claiming that from the list of 205 persons, 172 shouldn’t have voted. Bingo!!

What that signals to us is that when Claudette reviews the Lowenfield numbers and caveats, she’ll find a “preponderance of the evidence” to show the election was fatally flawed! This will be hers and the Commission’s “announcement”!! This, of course, is what the PNC had been shooting for ever since Mingo’s sleight of hand was sighted by one and all!! So, what happens next??

It’s anyone’s guess, but the courts - eventually the CCJ - will certainly be brought into the picture.

As the 5-year clock winds down, you’ll have to exhale!!

…or GECOM to expire

The EU Observer Mission just released its report on the March 2 elections and its denouement. No surprise there, since the EU Rep has been pretty candid about what went down at Ashmin’s with the Mingo Manoeuvre.

The EU Mission’s summation, however, deserves to be quoted in full, since it’s remarkable that neither the GECOM Chair nor her CEO even alludes to it.

After complimenting the orderly election, the EU Mission noted: “However, the integrity of the entire electoral process was seriously compromised by the nontransparent and non-credible tabulation of results in the largest and decisive Region 4 by senior Guyana Elections Commission officials, acting in blatant violation of the law and High Court orders issued in this regard.”

“Senior GECOM officials” …plural!! And we know who those are, don’t we??

Lowenfield, his deputy Roxanne Myers and Mingo were there stirring up the witches’ brew (cackling and all!) with some employees with laptops and flash drives.

But we shouldn’t forget that the Madam Chairwoman was also there - sequestered in a room.

The EU suggests GECOM must go!! …on Harmon’s ultimatum Granger and the PNC types like to boast about the “independence” of GECOM. But then Burnham used to do the same when he had his poodles, Jackman and Bollers, as chairs back in the day.

Hence Harmon’s ultimatum to Claudette!!

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

NEWS

9

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Tainted Region 4 count compromised 2020 polls in Guyana – EU EOM …says senior GECOM officials violated country's electoral laws

F

ollowing a largely uncontested and transparent tabulation of the March 2 votes in nine of Guyana’s 10 regions, the electoral process was abruptly derailed into chaos and confusion amidst obstruction tactics by election officials in decisive Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) – the country’s largest voting district.

This is according to the European Union Elections Observation Mission (EU EOM) in its final report on Guyana’s contentious elections, held over three months ago and which is yet to produce credible results.

According to the EU EOM, voting and counting were well managed all over the country, as was the tabulation of results in nine of Guyana’s 10 regions. However, the tabulation process was abruptly stalled in Region Four, before being rushed through in a deliberately non-transparent manner. “…the integrity of the entire electoral process was seriously compromised by the non-transparent and non-credible tabulation of results in the largest and decisive Region 4 by senior GECOM officials acting in blatant violation of the law and High Court orders issued in this regard,” the mission said.

Embattled Region Four Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo had declared two sets of contentious results. The first, on March 4, was annulled by the High Court; and the second, on March 13, lacked transparency and blatantly violated the court order.

The EU EOM contend that the results declared by the RO are not credible, and surmised that “GECOM abdicated its constitutional duty to take all actions necessary to ensure compliance with the law and oversee a proper tabulation process.”

Tamper

In fact, the ongoing National Recount has unearthed proof that Mingo had heavily inflated the regional votes in favour of the APNU/ AFC Coalition, to give them an overall landslide lead over the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic.

“Among many other oddities suggesting that they have been grossly tampered with, without enough attention given to overall coherence, these results imply that the total number of electors who cast a ballot – valid or invalid – differed by 6,123 between the General and the Regional Elections. This is technically impossible, since electors mark their choice for both elections on a single piece of ballot paper, two parts of which are detached only during the count,” the EU EOM outlined.

According to the EU Mission, throughout the process, both the RO and GECOM staff deployed all possible efforts to make sure no stakeholder would ever be able to independently examine the Statements of Poll to ascertain the results. And following a tabulation process that was rushed through in deliberate opacity, there were consistent efforts to conceal other sources of veri-

fication of the declared results: not a single SOP in the possession of the RO, the CEO and APNU+AFC was made available to public scrutiny,” the foreign observation mission stated.

Further, the EOM pointed out that requests for access to SOPs in possession of the two main political parties were answered only by the PPP/C. The EOM’s final report, which was handed over to GECOM Chairman Justice Claudette Singh on Friday by Head of the EU Delegation, Ambassador Fernando Ponz Canto, covers the period up to the immediate post-election events, since the EU observers were unable to return for the National Recount as a result of Guyana closing its airports due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nevertheless, the Observation Mission concluded that, overall, the elections were competitive and contestants could campaign freely, even though the process took place in a deeply polarised environment. It added, too, that legal uncertainty,

unregulated political finance, biased state media, and lack of transparency in the administration of elections characterised the pre-election context.

Voting process

Moreover, the EU observers noted that the March 2 voting process was well managed and largely peaceful, allowing voters to exercise their franchise freely.

“Both APNU+AFC and PPP/C agents were present in nearly all polling stations observed by the mission. They seemed generally well prepared and equipped, contributing to the transparency of the process without exerting undue influence on voters. Newer political parties and citizen observers were rarely represented. A large majority of polling station officials and party agents were women,” the mission observed in its report.

This comes on the heels of the Coalition now claiming that votes were cast on March 2 in the name of dead and migrated voters – something which many stakeholders, in-

cluding other international observers, have disputed.

In fact, even Ambassador Canto, head of the EU Delegation here in Guyana, said in a recent interview that it was “impossible to cheat” on elections day, given the processes in place at the polling station.

The EU EOM was the largest mission, having deployed 55 observers to observe the opening, polling, counting and tabulation processes in all 10 regions. They visited 201 polling stations and assessed the polling process very positively, with the exception that some procedural safeguards were not consistently applied.

To this end, the mission made 26 recommendations to improve future electoral processes.

These include eight priority recommendations suggesting a review and consolidation of the fragmented election legislation; launching of a consultation process to overhaul the composition and functioning of GECOM; development of effective legislation to regulate political finance; fostering of transparency and accountability in online and offline campaigning; transforming the state-owned media into a genuine public service broadcaster; adopting clear, written procedures for transmission and tabulation of election results; accompanying any declaration of results by simultaneous publication of detailed polling station results and digital copies of all Statements of Poll; and establishing comprehensive election dispute resolution system.

10 NEWS

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Opting out of NGSA will land students in schools closest to homes …as Guyana keeps paper modality for CAPE, CSEC

M

ixed reactions have been shared by parents whose children will have to return to school for examinations, citing the health risks involved during the times of COVID-19.

It was in this regard that the National Grade Six Assessment and those under the Caribbean Examination Council – the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination – were postponed to later dates.

Now, the Education Ministry has employed new protocols for students to sit the exams in a classroom setting and those who opt not to write the NGSA will not be given any preferential alternative.

Speaking on the matter during a webinar on Friday, Chief Education Officer Ingrid Trotman said parents can decide whether they want their children to sit the secondary entrance examination. However, if they do not, these students will be placed at a school closest to their home. These

placements, however, do not include an ‘A’ or ‘national’ school.

The following year after completing the Grade Seven level, provisions will be in place for them to write a placement test. If they score above 70 per cent, a higher school will be awarded.

“If the parents opt not to have their children or child write this examination, there is nothing we can do to force them. However, in not doing so, they will be placed at the school closest to them.

If they are not satisfied or perhaps if they have any other questions about being placed at the school closest to them, there is what we call the placement examination and that is done during the July month,” she positioned.

Thus far, online learning has been implemented through several online platforms to keep students abreast with the curriculum.

With regards to concerns raised by the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) about access to hinterland students, these were taken into account and work papers were later issued by

One along with the submission of the respective School-Based Assessment (SBA). Private candidates will have to complete Paper One and the alternative paper instead. This structure does not apply for Modern Languages, Visual Arts and; Human and Social Biology.

For the NGSA, four core subject areas will be tested on July 1 and 2.

Protocols

Chief Education Officer Ingrid Trotman

teachers.

Modalities

Through approval from Caricom’s Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) and engagements with stakeholders such as the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the Guyana Teacher’s Union and others, all sittings were scheduled for July to August.

As in previous years,

the paper modalities continue for all examinations.

Trotman said Guyana and three other countries objected to the modified version of CSEC and CAPE. Since the country is ill-equipped to carry out e-testing, a paper will be allocated for them to complete.

A total of 11,998 students are registered to write the CSEC exams from July 13 to August 4, while 852 are registered to write CAPE from July 13 to July 31.

Candidates will be required to answer a Paper

The Education Ministry is assuring that all safety protocols will be implemented to ensure both students and educators are safe during this time. According to education officials, every scenario has been catered for ‘from the gate to the classroom and back’.

According to Director of the National Centre for Education Resource Development, Jennifer Cumberbatch, sinks were placed at the entrance of schools and students will not be permitted to enter without wearing a mask.

They will be given hygiene kits to use during these periods.

Their temperature will

be checked and if it is above the average mark, they will be placed in a sickbay.

Along with the fumigation of surrounding spaces, the furniture was rearranged to allow social distancing in classrooms with a maximum of 15 candidates. Only the authorised canteen will be allowed to operate at these institutions.

The CEO posited that teachers displaying any ailments or symptoms will be removed from the invigilating sessions.

She clarified, “I would like to say that teachers with ailments will be exempted once they can present evidence or proof of their illness. They will be exempted and given other duties.”

Since mid-March, 252 nursery, 453 primary, 139 secondary schools along with other technical vocational and special education centres have remained closed. Those who will be writing upcoming exams are expected to return to school from June 15.

A gazetted document provides all the necessary information needed for parents and students.

NEWS

11

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Streak of no new COVID-19 cases continues for 5th day

G

uyana is beginning to witness a positive trend in its COVID-19 curve, after no new cases were reported for the fifth day. For now, positive cases remain at 153.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Karen GordonBoyle revealed on Friday that no new cases have been reported since Sunday. This means that the total number of cases remains at 153, while the number of deaths is at 12.

Dr Gordon-Boyle has said that another 32 samples were tested, and to date, the total number of persons tested is 1,752, with 1,599 returning negative.

Some 77 recoveries were

recorded, she said, with 64 active cases being in institutional isolation, three patients in the COVID ICU, and 14 persons in institutional quarantine.

The DCMO reminded that if this trend continues and all guidelines are followed, the country would be on its way to flatten the curve completely. As such, she has asked citizens not to become complacent.

Cannot be complacent

“Even though there has been no new case over the past five days, we cannot become complacent. If we keep this up, following all guidelines, we will be on our way

to limiting transmission and flattening the curve, making the return to normalcy sooner than later. I exhort you, therefore, to do the appropriate thing and let us together defy the coronavirus disease,” she requested.

According to Dr GordonBoyle, Residents of Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) have an increased vulnerability to the virus, given the increased cases in Venezuela.

Village leaders have been asked to refuse persons entry into their communities if those persons have crossed the borders.

“We are calling on the toshaos and other authorities to ensure that residents do not

M&TC flouts Health Committee’s recommendations to close Linden markets

Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian

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s Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) continues to see an increase in the number of coronavirus cases, the Regional Health and Emergency Committee (RHEC) of Region 10 said that it is displeased that the advice that was given to the Mayor and Town Council of Linden, to close the markets for three days has not been accepted and is, therefore, asking the Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) to intervene.

The RHEC expressed that it had several discussions on the matter at their trice weekly meetings at which the Chairman of RHEC was man-

dated to pen a correspondence to M&TC formally expressing its concern and the need to act expeditiously.

They revealed that Mayor Waneka Arrindell responded through electronic means, stating that the M&TC will make every effort to sanitise.

RHEC indicated that the Mayor said that her Council has sought to do some sanitisation, stating that a number of places have been sanitised.

However, on the issue of market days, she didn’t respond, only stating that the markets are a main source of income for the Council.

“The markets will remain as it is, open every day of the week. It is clear that the issue of closing the markets for three days to maximise social distancing was not taken on board,” RHEC said on Friday.

Regional Chairman Renis Morian underscored that he is disappointed at the Mayor and the Council’s actions, taking into account that she was one of the persons from the inception who had suggested a number of stringent measures to be adopted by the town in combating the virus.

“The markets cannot be so important that people’s lives and safety do not matter and

the Council should be held accountable and responsible for their inaction on the issue,” Morian said.

Also, Head of the RHEC, Orrin Gordon echoed similar sentiments, arguing that while he understands that revenue is of paramount importance, the Mayor and her Council should remain cognisant that immediate and stringent action has to be taken as the lives and safety of residents are at risk with the continued non-monitoring of the markets where persons feel free to congregate in larger than provided for numbers.

President of the Linden Chamber of Commerce, Victor Fernandes stressed that all the Committee seeks to do is to ensure that non-essential activities/services are not permitted, especially considering the large crowds that gather in the markets to drink.

“I believe that the Council is seeking sympathy from the vendors and workers so when we (RHEC) take action and forced closure of the markets they may use it as an excuse for being unable to pay employees but they must be cognisant that we are seeking to take preventive actions that help our residents’ wellbeing,” he said.

More of Mingo’s...

As such, he continued, “If the Liberty and Justice Party can account for 20 per cent of that seat, then we spend 20 per cent of the time in Parliament and the rest is allocated differ-

ent percentages.”

This has never been done before in Guyana, and while the laws make provision for such an alliance, it does not dictate how the division of the

FROM PAGE 7

seat among the signatories to that alliance occurs.

As a result, Shuman said that the Election Commission will have to provide guidance on this.

Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell

The Committee further expressed the view that if the infection numbers increase in

Region 10, the Mayor and her Council’s inert response would be dubbed as contributory.

RHEC recently started intensifying its efforts to eliminate the spread of the deadly virus in Region 10, by adding a new health and safety feature, which is a temperature testing site that is presently set up at the entry into Linden at Bamia, along the LindenSoesdyke Highway.

Vehicles are now being sprayed at the checkpoint, which serves as a main security entrance into the region.

On Wednesday, the region recorded its 10th COVID-19 case, with one death linked to the virus.

cross borders, and that persons from those other countries are not entering your community.

Community members, (you) must report any migrant entering your community, and anyone who has signs and symptoms; and immediately bring this to the attention of the health authorities,” she pleaded.

Persons experiencing symptoms or those who had had contact with a positive case can call the hotline; make contact with the health facility nearest, or visit one of the COVID-19 facilities.

Global figures have reached alarming heights, with 6,416,828 cases and 382,867 deaths. In the Region of the Americas, the total number of cases is 3,022,824 with 168,553 deaths.

Depleted blood reserves

With blood drives having been cancelled, the DCMO has informed that the reserves are depleted. She pleaded with donors to visit the blood bank or other supplementary centres where they can contribute to saving lives.

“The need for blood donations from voluntary donors will remain throughout the pandemic. There is a need to continually replenish the blood supply and ensure its availability for our patients. Most blood drives are being cancelled due to the COVID-19 measures, and so our supply is depleted,” she explained.

Guyana will, on June 14, join the world in celebration of Blood Donor Day.

12 NEWS APNU/AFC hysteria over wrongly-placed ancillary documents reeks of desperation – Nandlall SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Former Attorney General and PPP Executive, Anil Nandlall

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ormer Attorney General and PPP Executive, Anil Nandlall on Friday said that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) is making a mountain out of a molehill in relation to the wrongly placed ancillary documents from several elections Polling Stations along the East Coast Demerara corridor.

Nandlall, who along with other members of his party, worked along the East Coast on March 2 for the General and Regional Elections, said that they became aware of the issue the very night of March 2.

He explained that Deputy Returning Officers for Polling Stations between Vryheid’s Lust and La Bonne Intention, ECD, took it upon themselves to uplift certain documents – polling book, marked and unmarked list of electors, folios, used seals and others from the Presiding Officers.

This should not have happened because those documents should have been

placed in the corresponding ballot boxes for the polling place.

Nevertheless, the POs sealed the ballot boxes with the votes for their stations.

Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, upon the insistence of the PPP/C, prepared a document where he outlined the rules that govern the operations of the POs but according to Nandlall, those were disregarded.

“In these areas, the Deputy Returning Officer I don’t know either deliberately or unintentionally decided to arrogate onto themselves the power to lay down some new rules. They disregarded the CEO’s direction and they put all these materials in a separate package or in separate packages and transmitted them to the Returning Officer and what was left in the ballot boxes were only the ballots,” Nandlall told reporters on Friday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

The party raised this issue with the then Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, who assured them that it was a mistake and would be addressed administratively.

He noted that the party felt that the issue was dealt with and they went about their work.

APNU/AFC narrative

However, the APNU/ AFC in pushing the narrative of electoral fraud raised the issue of the missing ancillary documents for the polling places.

This prompted the PPP/C to engage Lowenfield on Friday where he promised to resolve the issues since the documents are in his possession. Nandlall said he was assured, by Mingo, that

The Presiding Officer of the Montrose Primary School took to social media and explained what occurred on elections night

Lowenfield has knowledge of the actions of the DROs. “Mr Lowenfield confirmed that he has custody of all these documents and they were wrongly excluded.

But somewhere, yesterday [Thursday] someone from the Secretariat mischievously advised the operators of the work stations to insert, into the observation report, language to suggest that the votes and the recount are invalidated,” Nandlall said.

He said that with the exception of ballots being bogus, having extra marks and not stamped, no one at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has the power to invalidate a vote. The attorney explained that from the inception of the recount exercise, there have been issues of missing poll books, improperly sealed ballot boxes or envelopes among others but the

recount went on and votes were tabulated.

“But suddenly we are hearing of a narrative constructed by Joseph Harmon speaking about invalid votes. And suddenly, I don’t believe coincidentally, someone in the Secretariat advised the work stations that this peculiar language must be constructed and expressed in the observation report which purports to say on its face that the votes are invalid and the recount is invalid. That is totally wrong and we believe it is part of an unholy conspiracy and we have drawn that to the attention of Mr Lowenfield and the Commission,” he related.

Secretariat investigating

The Guyana Elections Commission took the step to put aside the tabulation of those disputed boxes until

the Secretariat can investigate and submit a report to the Commission, according to Government-appointed Commissioner Vincent Alexander.

The report of the Secretariat is expected to be presented today and the Commission will determine the way forward.

“Here we have this apparent cluster so what has been decided is that the Secretariat needs to do an investigation into this matter and to render a report on this matter before we proceed to make a determination in relation to those ballots,” Alexander said.

“We said to the Secretariat ‘tell us what is the status’ and if that is so [that the documents are in the possession of GECOM] then the Secretariat should be able to tell us. For the time being at the level of this operation, the information was not available and it was not in the place where it should have been,” he added.

Presiding Officer

However, a Presiding Officer at the Montrose Primary School – one of the disputed polling places, took to social media to explain what exactly happened there.

“Throughout this entire election shenanigans, I chose to remain quiet but now that the polling place which I worked at was brought into question, I cannot keep quiet anymore. On behalf of the Presiding Officers that worked at the Montrose Primary School, please note that this is a lie!... All documents for the four (4) Polling Stations were submitted to the DRO as per instructions by the Clerk to the RO... The

APNU/AFC GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander

original SOP attached would explain the desperation to lie! This is beyond ridiculous now!

“PS: The Presiding Officers were given specific instructions not to seal the ballot boxes without the DRO being present to verify what was placed in the boxes and these instructions were complied with,” Wendy Ann wrote on her Facebook page.

Nandlall said he is hopeful that Lowenfield can submit those documents to the Commission so that the process is not delayed.

“They [the POs] received instructions to put these things separately and they complied with those instructions. So, it is a mere innocuous irregularity which is being magnified, in a desperate attempt, to gigantic proportions to suggest that there is some wrongdoing.

There is no wrongdoing. The ballots are in the box and the Statements of Poll are accurate. The ancillary and miscellaneous documents were wrongfully separated and conveyed separately to the Returning Officer and is in the custody of the Commission as they should be,” Nandlall noted.

APNU/AFC now rejects OAS eyewitness reports as ‘foreign interference’

…says only Caricom team credible for Guyana

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eneral Secretary for the coalition A Partnership for National Unity, (APNU), Joseph Harmon on Friday called the Organisation of American States’ (OAS) most recent statement on Guyana’s electoral process ‘foreign interference.’

Harmon was at the time speaking with reporters in the makeshift media centre erected at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) and was asked to respond to the OAS’s damming report in light of faith placed in the scrutineers from the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

Those observers are still to make a pronouncement on the recount process and according to Harmon, their report is expected to be persuasive to the outcome of the process.

The APNU/AFC Executive was at the time speaking to the litany of allegations being raised by the party and purportedly now being probed by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

He told reporters “they [Caricom team] having been here

General Secretary of APNU/AFC Joseph Harmon

for the entire period, they like us would have seen on a daily basis the genie that is emerging out of these boxes when they are opened.”

According to Harmon, APNU/ AFC trusts that the Caricom team “will make an honest assessment of what they saw” and that they

would submit a report to GECOM that speaks to the credibility of the process.

Asked to respond to the OAS report since those observers would have also been on the ground at the ACCC venue witnessing the activity from day one, Harmon suggested this not to be the case.

Lambasting the OAS, Harmon indicated to reporters that the OAS observers were not as involved in the recount process as the Caricom team, but declined responding to the specifics raised, saying, “I don’t know where they got that from.”

According to Harmon, GECOM has, in fact, begun deliberating on the concerns raised by the party, saying, “We recognise the Elections Commission as being the competent authority, we recognise the Caricom mission that is here as a credible interlocutor in the affairs of Guyana and, therefore, we would rely on those processes.”

Referencing the OAS, he told media operatives “other persons who are sitting on the outskirts observing things and making declarations even while the process

is still going; to preempt a ruling of a Chairman of the Elections Commission is in my view stepping beyond just international relations and is stepping into the bounds, in my view of interference.”

Peaceful transition

That body in its report on the Guyana elections and subsequent recount of votes cast had called for a peaceful transition of power.

According to the OAS in its report earlier this week, “the people of Guyana have been patient and they now deserve a peaceful transition of Government based on the majority vote as reflected in the recount and in support of democracy and the rule of law, which all OAS member states expect to be upheld.”

The 33-member bloc of nations which has maintained a local presence at the ongoing National Recount said it has no reason to doubt that the results that will come out of the process will be credible.

In a statement on Thursday, the OAS, of which Guyana is a

OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro

member, concluded that “despite some inconsistencies in the electoral materials reviewed during the recount, as is normally the case in any electoral process, the OAS Mission has no reason to doubt that the results emanating from the recount will be credible.”

As such, it said, “a declaration based on these results would lead to the installation of a legitimate Government.”

NEWS

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SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Necessity” for legitimate Shyam Nokta elected new GMSA President Govt growing – FITUG …calls for timely elections recount declaration …urges political leaders to accept results as assured M

FITUG President Carvil Duncan

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he Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has called on political leaders to keep their word of accepting the recount results, and allow for the smooth transition of a legitimate Government.

This statement comes shortly after the incumbent APNU/AFC coalition sought to claim that the election results were not credible, even though stakeholders on the other side of the spectrum claimed otherwise.

FITUG maintained that the entire recount exercise was done in transparency, producing credible results.

It remained hopeful that this prolonged elections process will be put to rest in the near future.

“The FITUG, at this time, calls on our political leaders to accept the results that will emerge. Indeed, we urge our leaders to engage their supporters to embrace the results. From the reports we

have recovered, the recount process has been conducted credibly and professionally, while we must lament the record-breaking time it has taken to reach this point, we nevertheless, we are hopeful that the end is near,” the press statement urged.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it went on to list several challenges which necessitate the need for a legitimate Administration.

Again, FITUG called for a peaceful transition into Government for the party that emerges victorious.

“We have the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, among several other challenges, still in our crosshairs and the necessity of a legitimate Government is growing by the day. Both main political leaders had previously committed to accepting the results and we must trust that they will stay true to their undertakings. Indeed, a peaceful transition of Government

is necessary at this time. We desire statesmanship and not brinkmanship and like all democratic societies, the will of the people must be respected.”

Before the coalition backpedalled on its word, caretaker President David Granger had reiterated his commitment to accepting whatever declaration is made by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

“Whatever declaration is made by the Chairman of the Elections Commission would be regarded as legitimate by the coalition Government,” he was quoted as saying during a media briefing.

As the coalition now questions the credibility of the process, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said this week that the nation should not be surprised by the APNU/AFC’s effort to discredit the March 2 polls, since it was clear that the coalition has been defeated.

“They fought determinedly for Mingo’s fraudulent declarations to prevail. They never wanted a recount of the ballots. They even went to the court to stop it. They tried at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to stop it. In the end, all their efforts failed. They knew that once the ballots were recounted, it would confirm the accuracy of the Statements of Poll (SoPs), which they continue to hide from public scrutiny,” Jagdeo, who is also the party’s General Secretary, noted on his Facebook page.

anaging Director of Environmental Management Consultants (EMC), Shyam Nokta was on Friday elected to serve as President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) for the third time.

During their Annual General Meeting for the fiscal year 2020-2021, the baton was handed to Nokta from outgoing President, Clinton Williams. On May 27, the Association would have elected a 13-member Board of Directors and the remaining members were later chosen.

The new President was elected unopposed and is supported by Ramsay Ali of Sterling Products Limited as First Vice President, Ramesh Dookhoo of Banks DIH as Second Vice President and Autamaram Lakeram of NAMILCO in the capacity of Third Vice President.

In his remarks, Nokta recognised that the country and the business sector are facing challenging times, with COVID-19 and ongoing national circumstances.

He said, “One of our primary tasks will be to work with the GMSA membership to get a good picture of the situation facing members and the interventions needed across the various sub-sectors to put businesses back on their feet”.

According to him, he is looking forward to a timely conclusion of the recount process and the declaration of a winner from the March polls.

This process, he noted, should elect a Government that is re-

Wismar Market suffers severe leakages – vendors

Newly elected GMSA President Shyam Nokta

flective of the will of the people.

Highlighting future plans, they are looking to establish a better partnership in the manufacturing industry while strengthening key drivers of the economy.

“As we did during my previous term as GMSA President, between 2017 and 2019, the GMSA would look to establish a strategic part-

Labourer nabbed with smuggled goods at Takutu River

The alcoholic beverages that were smuggled into Guyana from Brazil

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s the May-June rains advance, vendors at the Wismar Municipal Market in Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), are grappling with the effects of severe leakages caused by faulty roofing.

This is just one of the numerous issues plaguing vendors of the market area which is situated along Burnham Drive, Wismar, and vendors are presently calling on the relevant authorities to have it rectified.

Sections of the Wismar Market

With many of the services offered by the market considered as essential, vendors in many instances are forced to work under these conditions. As the rain poured in heavily on Thursday, vendors were forced to place large plastic barrels at strategic locations so as to catch the water and to prevent sections of the market from flooding.

In other areas, vendors were forced to close their stalls or remove items to prevent

them from being soaked. A vendor told this publication that this has been the harsh reality for some time now, describing the situation as quite an “uncomfortable” one. It was explained that the market has been experiencing leakages for years but it has been getting worse in recent times.

Even the roadway outside the market has been experiencing flooding whenever it rains heavily.

While the municipali-

ty of the Linden Mayor and Town Council is responsible for the upkeep of the market, Mayor Waneka Arrindell recently disclosed that the Council has been experiencing revenue losses owing to measures put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19. According to Arrindell, the municipality, which utilises approximately 10 million dollars monthly to carry out its routine functions, is currently unable to do so as a result.

nership with Government and to work closely with other stakeholders to advance and grow the manufacturing and services sectors. Emphasis will be placed on strengthening important sub-sectors covering agro-processing; services; chemical and pharmaceuticals; construction and engineering; forestry and wood products; and minerals and related products.”

The new President expressed his strong interest in seeing the GMSA play a leading role in Private Sector development and adopting approaches that embrace enhanced competitiveness and sustainability.

The GMSA has over 145 member companies covering the manufacturing and services sectors. The Board includes Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL), Sterling Products Ltd, Banks DIH Ltd; Edward B Beharry Group; National Milling Company of Guyana, Guyana National Industrial Company, KSM Investments Incorporated and Brass Aluminum Cast Iron Foundry among others.

36-year-old labourer was on Wednesday morning nabbed at the Guyana-Brazil border crossing at Mango Grove, Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), with a quantity of items he smuggled into the country.

The man has been identified as a Mango Grove, Lethem resident.

Police acting on information received went to the crossing at Mango Grove, where they saw the man pushing a wheelbarrow with several items.

Upon seeing the Police, persons who were in the boat which was used to smuggle the items into Guyana from Brazil made good their escape and headed for Brazil by crossing the Takutu River.

However, Police nabbed the Lethem man, who admitted that the items were smuggled from Bonfim, Brazil, for himself and other persons. Among the items found which were seized were 40 cases of Black Stone Brazilian rum, 52 cases of

Brazilian beers and four boxes containing a quantity of cosmetics. The man was immediately arrested and is currently in Police custody.

Just a few weeks ago, four Brazilians were arrested by Police at the Takutu Crossing, with a quantity of smuggled goods.

The foreigners were identified as Roger Felix Duarte, Francisco James Dias, Aegre De Souza Marques and Ingrid Li Madocarmo.

The group was nabbed with 10 long track pants, 10 pairs of socks, 23 pairs of footwear, 30 bottles of cologne, three Gillette sets, 33 vials of skin cream, five bottles of shampoo, 10 bottles of body spray, 55 vials of medication, six bars of soap, 25 boxes of syrup medication, six boxes of dye and six bottles of nail polish.

The Brazilian nationals were escorted to the Lethem Police Station where the items were lodged. They were deported and handed over to the Brazilian authorities.

14 NEWS

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PPP/C already found in Guyana Berbice schools to be fumigated 210 voters whom Coalition before students, teachers return claimed had ‘migrated’ S

Opposition Leader and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic, Bharrat Jagdeo

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he desperation of the APNU/AFC continues to be exposed as more of their claims that votes were cast in the names of migrated persons are being disputed.

During the ongoing National Recount of the March 2 votes, the Coalition have been claiming that ‘dead’ and ‘migrated’ persons had voted on Elections Day, and their elections agent Joseph Harmon had written the Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission, Justice Claudette Singh, to probe these claims.

The GECOM Chair had, in turn, passed the names of those more-than-500 persons over to Police Commissioner Leslie James, who is also the Chief Immigration Officer, to verify their records.

However, Opposition Leader and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, Bharrat Jagdeo, has disclosed that of the two lists submitted by Harmon, comprising of some 517 names, the PPP/C has already found a total of 210 of these persons in Guyana, and they confirmed that they were here and voted on March 2.

“And we’re still finding; because it’s only couple of days ago that we got the list, and we’ve found already nearly half of those that Harmon says were out the country and couldn’t have voted – we’re finding them in Guyana. So, it just shows how much of a fishing expedition they’re sending us on, and therefore we have to reject this,” Jagdeo posited.

He noted that this shows how much Harmon and his party are panicking with the recount nearing completion.

The exercise has, moreover, shown the PPP/C in the lead.

Fake, spurious, ridiculous

Only Wednesday, the Coalition claimed that the results generated from the recount cannot be credible because of the high incidence of fraud. As such, they called for the elections to be nullified.

But according to Jagdeo, those claims by the Coalition are “fake, spurious and ridiculous”, and are designed to

trap the GECOM Chair into responding to their claims in order to given them some legitimacy.

He pointed out that, despite having no jurisdiction to probe the claims, the GECOM Chair went ahead and wrote the Immigration Chief, who found that, from the first list of 210 names, some 35 persons were in fact in Guyana. However, the Immigration Chief has said that the 172 others were out of the jurisdiction - something Jagdeo is disputing.

The Opposition Leader disclosed that, in just four days, the PPP/C found in Guyana 32 of those 172 people whom the Top Cop had said his records show are out of the country. To this end, Jagdeo has called for James to withdraw his response to GECOM. “In the face of this expose and the people coming forward, the Commissioner must now consider withdrawing that letter that he sent to Claudette Singh, because the information that he supplied was incorrect, and

the information to GECOM is without consequence, because GECOM is not a court of law.

“The Guyana Elections Commission cannot annul the elections, and they cannot validate or invalidate a single vote. That has to be done in court and in an elections petition after the declaration is made. They know they are on weak ground… so now we have to go find 400 more people to find out if they were here and voted…It is ridiculous,” he added.

The Opposition Leader pointed out that Harmon’s claim: that 90,000 people had voted when they shouldn’t have, is even more ridiculous.

“Everybody knows this is impossible, totally impossible… I don’t think anyone in Guyana, even APNU supporters, could ever comprehend this. How could 90,000 people vote who’re not supposed to vote? And then you were claiming victory only a couple days ago. When did you discovered these 90 thousand people?” he questioned.

According to Jagdeo, the

chools in Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne) will be fumigated in preparation for the return of students and teachers on June 15, Region Six Chairman David Armogan said on Friday.

The Education Ministry recently announced that both the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) examinations would commence later this month; and Armogan has said that, based on information he has received from the Education Ministry, all schools would first have to be fumigated.

“Those classrooms that will be involved in housing these children for the revision purposes, those classrooms will have to be fumigated. The schools will only be open for the National Grade Six and for those doing CSEC and CAPE. I have not seen any document, but I understand that they will be having fifteen students in each classroom, spacing them six feet apart,” the Chairman said.

The reopening of schools

Region Six Chairman David Armogan

will not be for new academic instructions. It is being presumed that the students would have gone through the syllabus already.

Armogan said those who are in NGSA and CSES classes were expected to have been receiving information via the internet; but poor internet connection in some communities and the unavailability of that service to others have made that process a failure. However, the Chairman feels that

most of the students would be ready for the exams.

Armogan has said that all of the teachers he knows personally have been in close contact with their students.

“The teachers also have an interest in these students too, because it will reflect on their performance. All of these teachers that I know have been engaging the students almost on a one-to- one basis by telephone or whatever other means, to make sure that they are pushing ahead,” the Chairman noted.

However, a student of the Berbice High School, who will be sitting 10 subjects at the CSEC, has said her experiences are somewhat the opposite.

“In most of the subject areas, you are not getting teachers sending work to you, but some teachers are forwarding links on past papers that you don’t have, so that we could work along and keep up with the studying; but you are not getting no feedback from some teachers,” she explained.

Stranded Guyanese having ‘issues’ with COVID-19 tests – Patterson

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vastly so… The list is flawed and has flawed information,” he said.

Jagdeo furthered that even if these persons were out of Guyana, there is no way to show that they had actually voted, and GECOM itself cannot verify this assertion.

This situation, he added, is further compounded by the fact that a Guyanese man overseas is now asking GECOM to investigate whether indeed someone had voted in his name while he is abroad. Jagdeo said more requests like this one can further complicate the issue.

GECOM not court of law

Jagdeo further contended that even the submission of

polling day process was robust, and party agents from both main political parties were in almost all polling stations.

“If anything, this recount has uncovered how robust our system is, and how fraudproof it is; because a lot of the widespread allegations by APNU – wild-wild allegations by APNU -- have been proven wrong and false on so many occasions; and so it shows how robust polling day procedures are,” he stated.

Moreover, the Opposition Leader reminded that most international organisations and all observers, even caretaker President David Granger himself, had all lauded the polling day activities.

ost of the stranded Guyanese that are hopeful to depart Miami for Guyana aboard an Eastern Airlines flight are facing a setback in their efforts to return home due to “issues” with their COVID-19 tests.

Caretaker Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson said on Friday is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying that while some of the passengers have been deemed ineligible, the Government will continue to facilitate the repatriation of the eligible persons.

Patterson encouraged stranded Guyanese to continue to register with the Foreign Affairs Ministry along with Guyana’s embassies and consulates in the respective countries.

Other flights to bring home stranded citizens over the coming weeks will de-

part Barbados, Trinidad and Miami.

On May 22, the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) approved the repatriation of nearly 300 Guyanese nationals. Each person is subjected to a list of strict guidelines.

Under stringent instructions, the returning nationals will be subjected to a 7-day quarantine at their respective residences. None of the persons will be permitted to leave their homes during the 7 days except to seek emergency medical services.

The NCTF has extended the emergency measures from June 3 to June 19.

Guyanese who will be repatriated home will be mandated to spend one week in self-quarantine at home.

This was decided by the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) on Tuesday, clarifying that this quarantining is to be done at the

respective homes of these persons. Over the course of seven days, they are not permitted to leave their homes for any reasons, other than to seek emergency medical attention. To return home, persons must complete the repatriation form and submit a COVID-19 PCR test 48 hours prior to arrival. Only persons with negative results will be permitted to enter Guyana.

This new revelation means Government has ditched the idea of quarantining these persons at guest houses or hotels. Initially, a notice by the Public Health Ministry had said that persons returning home could stay at the Government-assigned quarantine facilities or pay for accommodation at designated hotels. The hotels listed were Brandsville Apartments at Pike Street, Kitty, and Bacanas Guest House at Charlotte Street, Georgetown.

ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT

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SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

16 ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT

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SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

18 ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT

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SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

20 ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020

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Around the World

OILNEWS Global oil demand to fall to levels not seen since 2014

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rude oil demand this year will fall to around 90.6 million bpd, OPEC’s Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo said ahead of the next OPEC+ meeting, as cited by Trend.

This level of demand was last seen before 2014, when the oil market again swung into an oversupply and prices tanked as the Gulf producers fought US shale.

“World oil demand growth in 2020 is expected to drop by a staggering 9.07 mb/d, with the worst impact seen in this quarter. We expect demand for the year to be around 90.59 mb/d – back to levels last seen before the 2014-2016 market downturn,” the top official said.

This is not good news because oil in storage remains high, according to the latest data from analytics firm OilX. Oil in floating storage has begun to be drained, OilX said, but oil in onshore storage was still rising in May. To date, total oil in onshore storage is above 4.5 billion barrels. Of this, some 1 billion barrels flowed into storage in the past couple of months and will take a lot longer to clear up.

The drawdown in oil stocks may accelerate as economies recover from the COVID-19 crisis, but since OPEC+ will today be discussing a one-month extension of its deepest production cuts, the sentiment in the cartel seems to be still largely bearish. However, Russia may be more optimistic: Energy Minister Alexander Novak said earlier this week that he expected the oil market to swing into a shortage in July.

Whatever happens, the effect of the crisis has already been devastating for the industry. Barkindo noted that investment in oil and gas could fall by as much as 23 per cent this year from last, to about 50 per cent of the record-high US$741 billion invested in 2014. There will be bankruptcies and layoffs in what the official called a repeat of the 20142016 scenario. (Excerpt from Oilprice.com)

Biden: Trump 'despicable' for invoking George Floyd

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S President Donald Trump has been condemned by his likely Democratic challenger for invoking George Floyd's name as he touted US jobs figures.

He spoke out after Trump said Floyd, who died last month while being arrested in Minneapolis, is "looking down" and "saying this a great day".

Former US VicePresident Joe Biden said the remark was "despicable".

Trump spoke while cele-

brating a surprise US jobs rebound and calling for "equal justice under the law".

Floyd, who was unarmed and in handcuffs, died after a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. His death has sparked protests against racial discrimination in cities across the US and the world.

In response to the killing, Minneapolis officials on Friday formally banned the police neck restraint used on Floyd, and California pledged to follow suit.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro is seen before the inauguration ceremony of a temporary field hospital, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Aguas Lindas de Goias, state of Goias Brazil, June 5, 2020

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razil reeled on Friday at a record daily number of COVID-19 deaths, pushing the toll past Italy’s ahead of planned protests over the weekend against the Government of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

In an editorial running the length of Folha de S Paulo’s front page, the widely circulated daily said just 100 days had passed since Bolsonaro described the virus now “killing a Brazilian per minute” as “a little flu.”

Brazil’s Health Ministry

A great day for him. It's a great day for everybody."

While the President's critics suggested he was crassly suggesting Floyd would be posthumously celebrating positive jobs figures, his defenders said the context of his comments make clear he was referring to his call for equal treatment of all Americans during police encounters.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Kenyan Police 'killed 15' since start of Grenadians urged to wear coronavirus curfew masks as country gears up for 2nd wave of COVID-19

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ealth Minister Nicholas Steele on Friday urged Grenadians to be prepared for the second wave of the coronavirus (COVID-19), urging citizens to comply with the public health regulations that require them to wear masks.

“We have achieved a significant milestone, in that three of our remaining four active COVID-19 cases are now medically cleared, which means that Grenada is now down to one active case of COVID-19,” he told a news conference.

Grenada has recorded 23 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The last person who tested positive was one of the 45 cruise ship workers who

were repatriated here last Sunday.

Steele, who gave credit to the dedicated health professionals for the island's status, said that the battle against the virus, which has killed more than 390,000 people and infected more than 6.6 million others worldwide, has not yet been won.

“We cannot drop our guards. We have seen from world examples how unpredictable this disease is, and how, just when it's believed to be under control, it can resurface and again pose significant challenges for health systems,” he said, warning citizens to be prepared for the second wave of the pandemic. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Brazil's COVID-19 deaths surpass Italy's, daily toll hits record high Iran enriched uranium reported late on Thursday that confirmed cases in the country had climbed past 600,000, with 1437 deaths registered within 24 hours.

With its official death toll now above 34,000, the pandemic has taken more lives in Brazil than anywhere except the United States and United Kingdom.

Bolsonaro’s efforts to minimise the public health risks and lift state quarantines have emboldened critics, some of whom have accused him of using the crisis to undermine democratic institutions.

But many of those same critics are divided about the safety and effectiveness of anti-government demonstrations in the middle of a pandemic, especially after one small protest was met with an overwhelming show of police force last weekend.

On Friday, Bolsonaro called opposition protesters “terrorists” and encouraged public security forces to act swiftly “if by any chance those delinquents go beyond the limits of the law.”

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Speaking in the White House Rose Garden on Friday, Trump said: "Equal justice under the law must mean that every American receives equal treatment in every encounter with law enforcement regardless of race, colour, gender or creed.

"Hopefully George is looking down and saying this is a great thing that's happening for our country.

stockpile almost eight times 2015 limit – UN

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ran has continued enriching uranium beyond limits set in the 2015 nuclear deal it signed with world powers, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog has reported.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which has been in jeopardy ever since the United States unilaterally withdrew in 2018, set a limit of 300kg (661 pounds) of enriched uranium in a particular compound form, which is the equivalent of 202.8kg (447 pounds) of uranium.

In comparison to the latter number, the stockpile stood at 1571.6kg (3,465 pounds) on May 20, at nearly eight times the limit, according to a confidential report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) distributed to member countries and seen by

the AFP news agency on Friday.

The IAEA reported that Iran has also been continuing to enrich uranium to a purity of 4.5 per cent, higher than the 3.67 per cent allowed under the JCPOA. It is also above the pact's limitations on heavy water.

The 2015 nuclear deal, which was also signed

by Germany, France, the United Kingdom, China and Russia, promised Iran economic incentives in return for the curbs on its nuclear programme.

Since President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the deal and reimposed crippling economic sanctions against the Iranian economy as part of a "maximum pressure" campaign, Tehran has been scaling back its compliance with the accord. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The complaints included deaths, shootings, harassment, assaults, robbery, inhuman treatment and sexual assault

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olice in Kenya have reportedly been involved in the killing of 15 people since the Government imposed in March a duskto-dawn curfew as part of a series of sweeping measures to combat the spread of novel coronavirus.

The Independent Policing Oversight Body (IPOA) said in a statement seen by AFP news agency on Friday that it had received 87 complaints against Police since the curfew and heightened security measures were rolled out on March 27.

The complaints included deaths, shootings, harassment, assaults, robbery, inhuman treatment and sexual assault.

"After preliminary investigations, 15 deaths and 31 incidents where victims sustained injuries have directly been linked to actions of police officers during the curfew enforcement," the policing oversight body said.

Kenya's police force is often accused by rights groups of using excessive force and carrying out unlawful killings, especially in poor neighbourhoods.

In April, Human Right Watch (HRW) accused the police of imposing the curfew in a "chaotic and violent manner from the start", sometimes whipping, kicking and tear-gassing people to force them off the streets.

In early April, President Uhuru Kenyatta apologised for the violence following the enforcement of the curfew.

"I want to apologise to all Kenyans for ... some excesses that were conducted," he said at the time. "But I want to assure you that if we work together, if we all understand that this problem needs all of us, and if we pull in the same direction, we will overcome."

To date, Kenya has confirmed 2474 coronavirus cases and 79 related deaths.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Arctic Circle oil spill: Russian prosecutors order checks at permafrost sites

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ussian prosecutors have ordered checks at "particularly dangerous installations" built on permafrost after a huge oil spill in the Arctic.

An emergency was declared after 20,000 tonnes of diesel leaked into a river when a tank at a power plant near the city of Norilsk collapsed last Friday.

Initial Russian inquiries suggest ground subsidence as the cause.

The plant is owned by a subsidiary of Norilsk Nickel, which is the world's leading nickel and palladium producer.

Delays over reporting the collapse prompted criticism from President

Vladimir Putin and the power plant's Director, Vyacheslav Starostin, has been taken into custody.

The Russian Investigative Committee has launched a criminal case over pollution and alleged negligence.

Arctic permafrost has been melting in exceptionally warm weather for this time of year.

Russia's chief prosecutor, Igor Krasnov, gave orders for regional and environmental prosecutors to conduct a "thorough check" of "particularly dangerous installations" located on "territories exposed to permafrost melting".

The aim is to prevent a repeat of the incident at the plant near Norilsk. (Excerpt from BBC News)

22

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020

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

Chair MoE cannot be allowed to put lives of GECOM must end our young students, teachers at risk national trauma Dear Editor, Several weeks ago, the Ministry of Education (MoE) assured parents that it would reschedule the sitting of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations to a date that would not cause panic, but would allow adequate time for children whose preparation for these exams was disrupted by the arrival of the COVID-19 virus in Guyana.

These children, of course, have since not been able to return to their classrooms to formally resume their preparation; yet, the MoE’s announcement a few days ago: that the NGSA would be held on 1st and 2nd July, 2020; and further, that examination-level students would return to their classrooms on 15th June, 2020 amidst the country’s battle to curb its climbing number of COVID-19 cases, has instead truly caused panic and fear in many children, parents and teachers.

Social media is awash with reactions from deeply concerned and distraught parents following the MoE’s announcements: • “Why put the students’ lives at risk?” asked one parent. “Kids will be kids. They will not adhere to social distancing, as they were away from their friends for a long time…I don't think the chil-

dren’s lives should be endangered just for some exams. Papers can't bring back lives.”

• “As a parent, I am scared for my daughter, because she is diabetic, and sometimes she has trouble breathing. How will she be able to wear her mask?” another parent asked.

• “Why?? All other exams across the globe have been cancelled. Why are you risking our lives for these exams? Do you have funding to provide assistance for each of these families in case a child gets sick? Is there counselling set up for children going through this system with a pandemic going on to channel their thoughts and emotions? I doubt there is. Please, for the health and safety of the children and the future of this country, rethink,” pleaded a parent.

• Another parent concluded that, “This is totally irresponsible and reckless.

You are endangering the lives of students and staff.

Stop this foolishness now.”

Indeed, this decision to bring students and teachers across the country together in classrooms when our Chief Medical Officer recently described Guyana’s COVID-19 situation as “almost break-away” (Stabroek News, 27th May, 2020) is in-

credulous, to say the least.

It also comes at a time when citizens of regions Six and Nine are on high alert following alarming increases in COVID-19 cases in neighbouring Suriname and Brazil. Thousands of our young children would have to use public transportation to get to and from their schools. They would be exposed to many other persons using public transportation, and at bus or car parks. It is a known fact that an asymptomatic person (child) can take home this deadly virus to parents, grandparents and siblings.

Added to these health concerns, the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) recently disclosed that hinterland students are not prepared to write examinations in July, having had little or no access to learning for almost three months. Surely, this must be the situation of many of our less-fortunate students. What would be the psychological impact on those children who are so inadequately prepared to write this important examination? It is easy to say that those students should have been preparing with the assistance of their parents; but, in reality, there may be many difficulties that did not make this possible. The Ministry’s solu-

tion of providing half-day sessions every other day for two weeks before the NGSA exam (at most, a total of 7 half-day sessions) is ludicrous.

The National COVID-19 Task Force recently denied GECOM’s request for the addition of two workstations for the ongoing National Recount on ground that the request did not meet the standards of safe guidelines for operation at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC). It is difficult to believe that this same Task Force would approve of the Ministry of Education’s plan to bring together thousands of students and teachers all over Guyana. At a time when many more developed countries have decided against reopening their schools for the rest of the year, there are critical and compelling reasons for the Ministry of Education to delay the holding of these examinations and to rethink its approach to doing so.

The Ministry’s ill-advised plan for the sitting of the NGSA 2020 examinations cannot be allowed to happen. We cannot do this to our 11- and 12-year-olds.

Yours faithfully, Muriel Jones,

In the end, all their deceitful efforts failed

Dear Editor, Guyanese, if for some reason there is disregard for the recounted votes and an accompanying attempt to ignore democracy and the rule of law by the David Granger caretaker Government, the international community will come down hard on an illegitimate Government. Guyana has been in a prolonged constitutional crisis since Dec 18, 2018. That’s when the Government of President David Granger and his ruling coalition, A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) lost a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) vote against it in the National Assembly, then failed to step down within three months as mandated by the Constitution and a ruling of the regional Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

The constitutional crisis endured through all of 2019, with various legal disputes, and effectively launched the country into an election campaign. Eventually, per a Supreme Court decision, the APNU/AFC called for General Elections on March 2, 2020, Now that the recount is soon coming to an end, the APNU/AFC Caretaker Government’s strong arm, Joseph Harmon openly demanded and issued an ultimatum on GECOM to

pronounce on APNU/AFC's recount allegations on June 5, 2020.

Joseph Harmon has clearly demonstrated to the Guyanese people that he cares less about them, he is concerned more about the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Executive members clinging on to power.

Mr Joseph Harmon, it is disrespectful and unacceptable for you and the APNU/ AFC to give GECOM an ultimatum. GECOM is an independent constitutional body and every Guyanese including you must respect the rule of law. This is an act of desperation, in the face of an electoral loss.

The coalition lost these elections….we are confident that the conclusion of the recount of the ballot boxes will result in a true representation of the will of the people of Guyana.

Guyanese, we know what is at stake here - the oil and natural gas reserves. Eight billion barrels of oil which the APNU/AFC strong arms are fighting to remain in power to control. Guyanese, let's "speak it as we see it ", there must not be any divide along ethnic lines here, we have all seen that the People's Progressive Party/ Civic elected Government in 1992 took a bankrupted

Guyana, moving it to a respectable country when they left office in 2015, which was all done without "oil money".

Can you imagine what a PPP/C elected Government in 2020 will do when oil revenues become available?

Guyana was truly blessed to have men with perhaps the most brilliant brain in financial management serving the people and country as Ministers of Finance.

Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and Dr Ashni Singh. I am proud to say as a Guyanese that those men transformed Guyana's economy from bankruptcy in 1992 to the thriving economy in 2015 that the APNU/ AFC received when it came into power. To achieve eight consecutive years of economic growth at a time when economies throughout the world were going through a recession is unheard of, which is an outstanding achievement.

The people of Guyana know it has been the APNU/ AFC’s desperate mantra the moment Clairmont Mingo was caught attempting to perpetrate massive fraud in the tabulation of Electoral District Number Four (4) to their benefit, the APNU/ AFC cabal fought determinedly for Mingo’s fraudulent declarations to prevail. They never wanted a recount of the ballots. They even went to the court to stop

it. They tried at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to stop it. But “in the end, all their deceitful efforts failed”. The caretaker Government knew that once the ballots were recounted, it would confirm the accuracy of the SoPs, which they continue to hide from public scrutiny which will confirm victory for the people of Guyana and the People's Progressive Party/Civic.

The EU said the integrity of the entire elections process was compromised when Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, began the non-transparent and non-credible tabulation of Electoral District Four (Demerara-Mahaica) results. This sentiment was expressed by the European Union Elections Observer Mission (EU EOM) in its final report presented to Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Retired Justice Claudette Singh.

My fellow Guyanese, it’s important to note that “the individuals who seek to benefit from electoral fraud and form illegitimate governments will be subject to a variety of serious consequences from the United States,” – US Secretary of State.

Sincerely, David Adams

Dear Editor, The GECOM Chair does not cease to amaze in the way she is handling the elections.

When you think she cannot go any lower, she surprises you.

Madame Chair, the Guyanese people are tired, and poverty is staring us in the face, as the GECOM/PNC shenanigans continue and are destabilising our nation. Madame Chair, please bring an end to our long national nightmare on or before June 13. This national trauma has depleted us of our energy. You have given the PNC a long rope; please do the one right thing now and declare the PPP as winners once the count is finished. The PNC will ask you to nullify the election on the pretext of frivolous, minor clerical errors and filing errors of some election documents and materials, but you have to just say no. A declaration showing the PNC’s defeat again would be a fitting tribute to our dear Walter Rodney felled by the PNC assassin’s bomb on his death anniversary.

Can the Chair explain why she acted on the basis of mere allegations from the PNC’s Anancy stories about the dead and migrated voting although being away from Guyana? And is the Police Commissioner in collusion with the PNC providing inaccurate information? Did the Chair not see the video where Comrade Amna Ally actually said the dead got up and went to vote then went back to sleep? And Volda talking about flying ballots.

And Harmon is the man with the many lists. These people are providing much material for shows such as “Link Show” and “Laff til you belly bust.”

The PNC party is filled with magicians since the days of founder rigger Odo Burnham and Hoyte. For 28 years, when people voted for the PPP, the votes magically turned to PNC votes and in some elections, to the magnitude of a two-thirds majority for the PNC. Should the Chair not be pressing charges against all those PNC agents who have made false charges that people dead and migrated have voted? Already people are refuting the information provided by the Immigration Chief’s office that they were abroad on Election Day. (While it did not make any sense, you now understand why Granger pulled off birth and death certificates and immigration under a separate Ministry un-

der Felix. This has come in handy now, and as Granger said, he is the “Man with the Plan”). Why are Chair Singh and Lowenfield allowing their staff to be accused of all manner of electoral fraud by APNU without refuting it?

The people that GECOM is siding with are now throwing them under the bus! Or is all of this part of the act? In my view, Alexander has been the de facto Chair telling the titular Chair what to do and getting her to do all that the PNC side wanted.

Why are the PNC and their Commissioners not interested in whether Apostle Mingo rigged the Region Four count? Granger said he did not want to be sworn in if elections are not credible. Why are GECOM and Chair Singh not interested in finding out if Mingo committed fraud? Why has she not asked the Police Commissioner to investigate with all the evidence that has emerged so far? Can the Chair explain that? Why is Apostle Mingo still employed

by GECOM? Can the Chair explain why the GECOM’s initial Statements of Poll should not be seen by the Commissioners when this information was released publicly all over Guyana on election night?

How do you explain to the world that the Commissioners of the national elections body charged with running the elections cannot see the election documents which are public information? Does that make sense to you? Whose interests are being protected by non-disclosure? (GECOM is a good example of why power-sharing will not work in Guyana. You have three Commissioners from each major party and a supposedly independent Chair, and they hardly agree on much. Do we want that at a macro scale?).

Does the Chair not understand that the PNC’s new “Nancy” stories about the dead and migrated voting is in effect throwing the Chair and GECOM under the bus? Why is GECOM not explaining to the public that no poll books are missing, and that other election documents and materials are safe in their possession? Why are they letting the PNC get away with false propaganda?

Sincerely, Jerry Singh

The barefaced robbery

Dear Editor, The imbroglio of the March 2020 elections is caused by those who were put to oversee those elections, by their immorality and others. Human beings are the highest evolved beings.

They possess clearly reflected consciousness and this makes them superior to animals. Human beings can distinguish between good and bad with the help of their consciousness and when in trouble they can find a way out with its help.

Those who make false and mischievous statements about dead and migrated

people voting in the elections have degraded themselves below the animals.

That includes those who turned a blind eye to all the wrongdoings in the said elections. They all do this for power and pelf. May I remind them that we all have to come back again (re-born again) to recompense for things we do in this present body. The proof of this will take more than a short missive as this, suffice to say, is confirmed by all of the major religions of the world.

Frustrated, Seenanan Sooknanan

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020

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23

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The GCB has written CWI CEO Johnny Grave

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GCB President Fizul Bacchus

eerasammy Permaul's omission continues to puzzle the entire nation. The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) in a release on Friday evening, hereby expresses its bewilderment on the omission of Veerasammy Permaul from the West Indies upcoming tour of England. Permaul's outstanding performances over the years have spoken for itself, and the GCB perceive performances as the strongest criteria to selection.

In so doing the GCB acknowledges that Permaul’s performances year after year has not only been exceptional but unquestionable; and as such we are of the opinion that he should have been selected in the Windies squad.

In fact, the GCB finds Permaul’s omission from a West Indies Test squad of 25 is very disturbing and as a result, the President of the GCB Fizul Bacchus has since written to Johnny Grave, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cricket West Indies (CWI) requesting a logical explanation.

The GCB implores Veerasammy Permaul to stay motivated and committed and wishes him continued success in his cricket endeavors. (GCB)

he Hero Caribbean Premier League have released the third episode of their Life Stories series. This episode features Jamaican all-rounder Rovman Powell and his early life growing up in Old Harbour.

Rovman grew up in a single- parent family for which it was a struggle to get by.

His mother often worked three jobs to enable ends t o meet.

We meet the teachers and coaches who first identified in Rovman the talent to make it as a cricketer, and they tell how the sport has changed his life and the lives of his family members.

This is the third film in the CPL Life Stories series. The other two films featured Oshane Thomas and Keemo Paul. All

three of these films are available to be watched on the CPL’s Facebook and YouTube channels.

Paul PritchettBrown, CPL Head of Production, said: “It is always such a pleasure to spend time with someone’s family when working on these projects, and it was so great to get to know Rovman and his mom and sister. Their story is an inspirational one, and one that we are sure people will enjoy watching.” (CPL.COM)

Windies’ July Test tour to England…

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C

oncerns about their families are understood to be the primary reason behind Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul declining to participate in the West Indies Test tour to England in July 2020.

The prospect of leaving their families for seven weeks, and concerns about how quickly they would be able to see them on their return to the Caribbean at the end of July are understood to be key factors in the players' decision to decline participation in the tour; with uncertainty about quarantine requirements that may be imposed by their respective governments upon their return to the Caribbean being an added consideration.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) last Wednesday announced a 25-man squad that included 11 reserves for the three-Test series in England, which is scheduled to start in Southampton on July 8, subject to the UK Government's approval. The three players who declined participation were named in that squad.

However, CWI has said it "fully accepts and respects" the decision taken by Bravo, Hetmyer and Paul to opt out of the tour, and would "certainly not hold it against" them in future selections.

Speaking with ESPNcricinfo, Johnny Grave, CWI Chief Executive, said the board wanted players who were "comfortable" travelling, without any "nagging doubts"; as, otherwise, it might impact their performances.

Grave has said he totally understands the doubts and fears expressed by the three players, after speaking with Bravo last Friday and receiving emails from the other two players over the weekend.

Grave said Paul, the 22-year-old all-rounder, wrote an email to CWI, explaining how difficult a decision it was for him to not travel to England.

"Keemo Paul is the sole breadwinner in his entire household and wider family," Grave said. "He was really concerned (that) if something happened to him, how his family would cope.

"He wrote a personal note to us to explain (that) it was with a heavy heart that he had decided not to tour, but that he just didn't feel comfortable going to England.

“He wrote passionately about how hard a decision it was for him, and how much he loves playing for West Indies; but, with consultation with his family, he doesn't feel he can leave them, and doesn't want to go on the tour."

According to Grave, Hetmyer said he "didn't feel comfortable, from a safety point of view, leaving his home, leaving his family and heading over to England".

Paul and Hetmyer both come from Guyana, where the number of COVID-19 cases is under 200; Bravo lives in the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.

Grave said Bravo was concerned about the situation in the UK. "Darren Bravo had concerns about his health, and any consequences that it may have on his young family. He also mentioned he made his decision with great remorse, as it was always a huge honour for him to play for West Indies. So, yes, (those are) perfectly valid reasons, and ones that we fully respect. We were never going to force or try to coerce (anyone), and we didn't ask them to reconsider."

Bravo, Hetmyer and Paul

are centrally-contracted, all-format players.

Among the three, only Hetmyer has consistently featured in the Test team since his debut in 2017, but all three have struggled with form in the last year.

Last year, Bravo Bravo managed just 106 runs at an average of 13.25, which included the two-Test series against India.

The selectors dropped him for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, with Chief Selector Roger Harper saying Bravo needed to be "away" from international cricket to find his form back.

Hetmyer, too, had a forgettable 2019 in Test cricket, scoring 244 runs at 24.40; while Paul has played three Tests in his career, with six wickets to his name.

Grave had, in May, pointed out that he understood why players who come from smaller Caribbean islands would be nervous about going to England, which was seen as "one of the eyes of the storm" with the official death count due to the virus nearing 40,000. Subsequently, the players grew more confident once they heard of the "robust and safe plan" the ECB had put in place to conduct the tour within a bio-secure environment behind closed doors.

On June 1, both ECB and CWI medical experts had another call before the tour schedule was made public. On

Hetymer

the same day, CWI had a call with the wider pool of players from which the final squad was picked, to update them on the final arrangements.

"We gave them all the most-up-to-date information on the tour," Grave said. "All I clarified to them on Monday on the call with Professor Nick Pierce (ECB’s Chief Medical Officer) and our medical practitioners was: ‘Were they happy that they had all the information?’ and, ‘Did they have any further questions?’

"I then explained that Roger Harper, CWI lead selector, would contact them regarding whether they were selected or not, and that they had until the following day, having slept on it, to confirm their position.

"Ultimately, we want a group of players that are comfortable to be there, so that they are not worried about these things, and therefore they have got a chance to perform at their best. If they have got nagging doubts or worries about their families, they are not going to be performing at their best.

"It is in everyone's inter-

Paul

est if you are not comfortable to say so, and not tour; and be certain that it is not going to be held against you. Rather than go, be worried, and ultimately don't perform, or want to come home. So, it is a good decision all round. We are still taking a strong Test side to England."

CWI is now awaiting the test results for the squad to be returned from Miami; they are expected within the next 48 hours. Anyone who tests positive

f o r the virus would almost certainly not be on the chartered flight that is set to leave on June 8 from Antigua.

(Cricinfo)

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Windies’ July Test tour to England…

-disappointed at again being snubbed by Windies’ selectors

By Brandon Corlette

omission from the squad.

In an exclusive interview with this publication f “being humble last Thursday, Walter posited that Permaul had and strong” were even stepped up his preparation since he was an individual, that included in the 30-man provisional squad. individual would be the inimitable, indomitable, “As we all know, he is a very committed mesmeric bowler Veerasammy Permaul. young man (who places) much emphasis on West Indies have on Wednesday announced his cricket. He was very optimistic about this their squad to tour England in July 2020, and England tour, and he is very disappointed (at Permaul has again not been considered for not being selected). He is a tough customer, selection. In fact, he has not even been listed (but) within he is hurting because, when you among the 11 reserves; a circumstance that put in a lot of effort into something and you are is unbelievable, considering his “unbeatable not rewarded, obviously you are going to be record” listed below this article. disappointed,” Walter disclosed.

The day after that touring squad was Walter also noted that, as a consistent announced, a “fit and ready” Permaul was performer, Permaul will put this at the back seen at the Albion Community Centre Cricket of his mind and move on by working harder Club (ACCCC) training with intensity and on his game. “He has been accustomed to this purpose. (snubbing)”, Walter explained.

While Permaul Given his extreme consistency at the refused to respond regional first-class level for the past six years, to questions, ACCCC and his most recent success in grabbing 50 President Vemen wickets in the 2020 truncated 4-day season, Walter did all the Walter believes there is no valid reason why venting for him.

Permaul had not been considered for the Walter has been England tour. close to Permaul from “We need to know exactly what is the the inception of his reason for Permaul’s continuous omission cricketing career; and or non-consideration for selection. Here is since Permaul was not the case w h e r e Permaul has been contacted by Windies’ performing, Chief Selector Roger and the Harper, the ACCCC regional are calling for a first-class valid explanation tournaments in regard to In this Brandon Corlette photo taken on Thursday, June 4, are supposed Permaul ’s Permaul is seen going through a stretching routine at Albion to be the

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yardstick used by the selectors for selecting players to the West Indies senior team; and performance matters!” Walter explained.

Walter is convinced that Permaul has merited a place in the Windies team.

The ACCC have instilled in their cricketers the importance of working hard to attain success, Walter explained. “What has happened to Permaul is certainly not inspiring to young cricketers, not only at Albion or Berbice, but in Guyana and the Caribbean,” he declared.

Like many other Guyanese at this time, Walter is seeking answers to Permaul’s nonselection, and has directed his queries to the Chairman of Selectors, Guyanese Roger Harper: “What is the reason for this (Permaul’s omission)? What is it that he is doing wrong?

What does he need to do better?” he asks.

That, the intelligent and sympathetic Walter says, is the only way Permaul would know what areas of his game he has to improve on.

Permaul’s unbeatable record In the 2014-15 season of the Regional 4-Day Tournament, Permaul took 67 wickets in ten matches, but that record-breaking performance did not earn him a recall to the Windies Test team.

However, he continued to show his skill and consistency year after year.

In the 2015-16 season, Permaul played eight matches and claimed 40 wickets. He then followed up that season with 41 wickets in the 2016-17 season, and 50 wickets in the 2017-18 season. In the 2018-19 season, Permaul took 42

ACCCC President Vemen Walter (Brandon Corlette photo)

wickets; and in the 2019-20 season, the most recent, Permaul took 50 wickets in only eight matches.

After his last Test, Permaul played 55 firstclass matches and took 290 wickets. He has a best bowling figure of 8 for 18; a best match haul figure of 15 for 77; and has taken 18 fivewicket hauls and seven 10-wicket hauls at an average of 16.90.

Permaul has played in 121 first-class matches, and has taken 536 wickets. He has a best bowling figure of 8-18 at 20.65, with 29 five-wicket hauls.

Is that not sufficient to earn him a recall to the Windies Team?

Permaul’s omission from Windies’ Test tour to England…

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