Guyana Times - Saturday, May 9, 2020

CSEC examinations to be held in July P15

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

Issue No. 4280

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020

Inflated fraudulent figures

by Mingo exposed in recount of Reg 4 ballots ...PPP says "vindicated"

See story on page 7

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

COVID-19 P2 cases increase to 94 …1 new case after 105 tests

Handyman dies in Aubrey Barker Road accident P2

Wanted man arraigned P8 for murder of Essequibo businessman, other charges

Ramjattan throws David G under the P9 bus

Lowenfield's Secretariat creating new rules to delay recount – Gunraj Page 13

…says it was he who denied Carter Center entry for recount

...as GECOM completes counting 3 more boxes than previous day

Timothy Jonas ordered APNU/AFC supporters target media during to get tested for COVID-19 election recount coverage Page 11

See story on page 13

– says move is sinister attempt to sideline him during recount

…endanger life of Guyana Times/ Evening News cameraman

PPP mulls using Cyber Crime laws against APNU/AFC provocateurs Page 3

4 nabbed with gun, ammo in P15 Ituni

2 NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Handyman dies in Aubrey Barker Road accident after he fell onto the roadway, and as a result, died on the spot.

Nikita Kennedy, sister of the now dead man, told Guyana Times that she was at home when she received news that her brother was struck down. However, she paid no heed until the second notification came, bear-

ing profusely.

“I see like my brother die. I asked for the driver and nobody can’t say who is the driver and I started to scream,” Kennedy related.

According to her, Gomes suffered from a disability and worked around the community doing odd jobs such as going to the shop

go. Nevertheless, he went along without fearing the worst.

“A girl sent him to buy some lemonade and somebody said that he didn’t want go and they were forcing he to go and this is what happen. He is not a thief.

He is not a bad person and he [is] well-known,” the sis-

Dead: Morris Gomes

A

pedal cyclist was on Friday struck down and killed by a motor car along the Aubrey Barker Road, Georgetown.

Dead is 33-year-old Morris Gomes of Lot 103 Arapaima Street, Tucville, Georgetown.

Based on reports received, on the day in question about 08:30h, the now dead man was on his way to purchase a bottle of lemonade and in the process, made a U-turn into the path of the motor car bearing registration plate PMM 2024.

He reportedly sustained severe injuries to the head

The scene of the accident

ing the same news.

The grieving woman said she decided to leave her cleaning behind and quickly headed over to the scene of the accident.

There, she saw her brother lying motionless on the roadway and he was bleed-

for residents.

However, owing to his infirmity, another sister and their mother would take care of him.

On the said morning, he was asked to make the purchase, but displayed some reluctance to

ter stated.

Neighbours described Gomes as a willing individual who was known throughout the community.

The driver of the vehicle has since been taken into custody where he is assisting with the investigation.

COVID-19 cases increase to 94 …1 new case after 105 tests

A

fter two days of constant results, Guyana recorded one new case of the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of victims to 94.

From Wednesday to Friday, 105 new persons were tested, but only one returned a positive result.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Shamdeo Persaud on Friday provided a breakdown of recent statistics, which showed that 785 total tests were conducted.

Total deaths remain at 10, 35 persons have recovered, with three persons in the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Intensive Care Unit (ICU), three in quarantine, and 49 in isolation.

“To date, our COVID-19 ICU has had 26 patients with seven deaths being registered. Thirteen persons have been transferred and three persons have recovered…Of all positive cases, children account for 5.4 per cent, adults 82 per cent and the elderly 12.6 per cent,” he added.

In previous weeks, Georgetown has been labelled as the epicentre for the

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud

virus, but the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara have also seen positive cases. On the East Coast, positive cases were reported in Atlantic Gardens, Friendship, Golden Grove, Good Hope, Lusignan, Plaisance, and Strathsphey.

Meanwhile on the East Bank, there were confirmed cases coming from Diamond, Grove, Land of Canaan, Providence, and Timehri.

TURN TO PAGE 8

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, May 9 – 05:30h – 07:00h and Sunday, May 10 – 05:30h – 07:00h.

PPP mulls using Cyber Crime laws against APNU/AFC provocateurs “I just want the APNU/AFC supporters to be realistic to do their own analysis to do their own thinking – don’t be carried away by the propaganda but to understand that the reality is coming home now,” – Dr Irfaan Ali

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, May 9 – 05:25h – 06:55h and Sunday, May 10 – 06:05h – 07:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali

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High Tide: 18:03h reaching a maximum height of 2.67 metres.

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he opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is preparing to activate Guyana’s Cyber Crime laws in order to take action against coalition supporters that have demonstrated a propensity of creating mischief, through various public posts on social media platforms which are meant to foment confusion.

PPP’s Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali and former Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall gave the views at the close of the third day of the National Recount of the votes cast during the March 2 polls.

Briefing media operatives on the day’s proceedings, Nandlall on Friday reported that another “important challenge also that seem to be gaining some momentum is the ongoing commentary of distortion that is taking place in the social media by persons who are not there.”

According to the attorney-at-law, the musings are, in fact, heightening tension and animosity in the society “because you have persons who are deliberately distorting issues, persons who are nowhere in the precincts of this Convention Centre…I don’t know who are feeding them this and what is their agenda but clearly, it is an agenda that would not augur well for the process.”

He was adamant, “if it succeeds it will derail the process” and pointed to “a few people who are constantly, dedicatedly executing such a campaign on Facebook, if you read it whole day four, five issues that are magnified, multiplied, distorted and causing all sorts of mischief.”

As such, the attorney disclosed that the PPP is “considering activating the provisions of the Cyber Crimes Act.” He told media that the Act does provide for such instances and that “our legal team is considering activating the provisions of the Act, making reports to the police and launching an investigation and if possible, write Facebook.”

According to Nandlall, if the situation is allowed to continue “in this way, it will end up not in a good way.”

Presidential Candidate for the party, Dr Ali later expanded on the PPP’s concerns over what he too termed mischief afoot, regarding the entire recount process.

He told media operatives, “…we continue to be concerned about the mischief and mischievous propaganda on social media by a few persons who are bent on creating a narrative.”

Speaking directly to the coalition base, Dr Ali said: “I just want the APNU/AFC supporters to be realistic to do their own analysis to do their own thinking, don’t be carried away by the propaganda but to understand that the reality is coming

home now.”

The PPP candidate also used the occasion to remind that his party would be posting the Statements of Recount (SoRs) generated each day from the Guyana Elections Commission’s counting teams and that these would be made available alongside the already publicly available Statements of Poll (SoPs).

The SoPs were created on March 2, by GECOM staff and copies were given to each party agent at a Polling Station.

Dr Ali had the day before called on the Guyana Police Force to look into similar complaints.

Describing that too as “mischief”, at the time Ali drew reference to widespread reports which have been circulating during the course of the day, about a ‘secret meeting’ between GECOM Information Technology (IT) staff and PPP officials, including Dr Frank Anthony.

Those reports were swiftly debunked by the Commission.

During the course of Friday, there could be observed, posts from known coalition supporters and formal members, describing events from inside the Conference Centre, such as the

stoppage of work at the counting stations.

These reports were quickly debunked by a number of representatives, inclusive of party representatives at the identified counting stations.

There were also fake reports that the PPP had pulled its SoPs from its website but

Former Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall

this too proved to be erroneous reports being peddled by the known coalition members.

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guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 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

Threats to media workers

T

he operation of the media in Guyana has been greatly impacted by the current prolonged political climate and situation since the passage of the NoConfidence Motion in December 2018.

Over the years, and on many occasions, it has been reported that threats have been made to media houses with the aim of silencing those entities from performing their duties as the fourth estate of democratic Government.

Guyana Times, along with its sister entity Television Guyana (TVG-CH 28), producer of the Evening News, has received a number of threats from persons in the past, who claimed to be agents of the Government, to stop publishing news items which are critical of the Administration.

Those persons have threatened that, should this newspaper continue to pursue articles which are critical of the Government, its owners, management and affiliate companies would face dire consequences.

On Friday, a Guyana Times/Evening News cameraman who was assigned to provide coverage of the national elections’ recount at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre was posted on the official APNU/AFC Facebook page with the label: “PPP/C sends cameraman to stake out APNU/ AFC.” This comes mere hours after media workers who were housed under a tent in front of the Conference Centre were literally chased and insulted by persons wearing APNU/AFC shirts at the National Aquatic Centre.

What are these persons doing at the National Aquatic Centre in the first place?

Since the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections -- as was rightly said by the Guyana Press Association on World Press Freedom Day on Sunday -media workers have had to contend with various levels of threats and violence during their coverage of elections, with party supporters hurling offensive remarks and, in some cases, attempting to get into physical altercations with journalists and their support media staff.

This latest attack on our Guyana Times/Evening News staff is candidly aimed at threatening our cameraman, and may not only spawn and incite violence against him, but is a violation of the Laws of Guyana.

Freedom of the press is protected by Article 19 of the United Nations Declaration. This article is explicit in its protection of freedoms, but, more significantly, stipulates that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

This is not the first time that this media house has been threatened by the APNU/AFC Government for its coverage of the news. Several lawsuits have been filed against this newspaper by a number of Ministers, some of which are still outstanding. Last year, there was a drastic cut in ads from the Government Ministries and agencies by the Department of Public Information, in addition to an even more drastic reduction in payments for outstanding bills.

As has been stated on numerous occasions: as an independent media house, <<Guyana Times>> has striven to express the views of all Guyanese, irrespective of religion, race, creed, or political background. This media house has, over the past 10 years, stood firmly as a watchdog of our democracy and against Government excesses.

Only on Sunday, World Press Freedom Day was observed under the theme, “Journalism without Fear or Favour”. This theme is apt, as Guyana Times can assure our readers and public that we will not be intimidated, and will continue to report and cover the news fairly and fearlessly as it unfolds. The journey of media workers to gather and compile the news is not easy.

Coalition’s effort to diminish absence of international election observer missions will not succeed

Dear Editor, The narrative seemingly being pushed by the propaganda arms of the APNU/ AFC coalition is one that seeks to convey the impression that the representatives of the local diplomatic corps have somehow been elevated to the level of international Election Observer Missions in the ongoing saga that is the March 2020 elections.

A Thursday, May 7, 2020 article by the Department of Public Information said that the de facto Foreign Affairs Minister, Karen Cummings, “conveyed that the Government of Guyana valued their participation, which, as international observers, could provide an effective means to verify the genuineness and transparency” of Guyana’s electoral process. There was, of course, silence on the chance that there will be a return of the international Election Observer Missions that were here in March 2020.

Editor, I wish to stress that the representatives of the local diplomatic corps are not international Election Observer Missions and cannot replace those groups.

In fact, the representatives of the local diplomatic corps were accredited by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) as local observers for the March 2020 elections.

The High Commissioner of Canada to of Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee; High Commissioner of the United Kingdom, Greg Quinn;

Ambassador of the United States, Sarah-Ann Lynch; and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the European Union (EU), Fernando Ponz Cantó, are all accredited by GECOM as local observers. This has been confirmed by GECOM itself.

There were five international Election Observer Missions that were invited

by President David Granger, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and accredited by GECOM – The Carter Center, the Commonwealth, the Organisation of American States (OAS), the European Union and Caricom.

The fact that all five groups were accredited as international Election Observer Missions was reflected in a notice made under the General Elections (Observers) Act (Chapter 1:10).

Stabroek News published this notice on February 20, 2020, and it was signed by the GECOM Chairperson, Claudette Singh on February 19, 2020.

Stabroek News published an addendum to the notice on February 29, 2020, and it was signed by Singh on February 28, 2020. The notice included the names of the persons who formed part of the five groups.

Having a team from Caricom in Guyana to scrutinise the recount process does not take away from the fact that the major international Election Observer Missions are not present in Guyana.

The article published by the Department of Public Information comes across to

many as an attempt to try to diminish the fallout from the coalition’s failure to grant approval for The Carter Center team to return to Guyana to observe the ongoing recount process.

Also, at the level of GECOM, the necessity of having international observer missions to observe the recount process was reflected five times in the May 4, 2020, recount order.

The recount order said: “…the recount process shall be conducted in the presence of representatives of political parties that contested the said elections and observed by international and local observers accredited by the Guyana Elections Commission and advisors to the Guyana Elections Commission. “…the following persons are entitled to be present: representatives of political parties that contested the said elections, the Caricom scrutinising team, international and local observers accredited by the Guyana Elections Commission “…the Statement of Recount shall be signed by the person conducting the recount and by the representative of each contesting party present, in the presence of the Caricom scrutinising team, representatives of political parties that contested the said elections, international and local observers accredited by the Guyana Elections Commission, “…the tabulation of the Statements of Recount gen-

erated after the aforementioned action at paragraphs 6 and 7 will be done at a central tabulation centre in the presence of the Caricom scrutinising team, representatives of political parties that contested the said elections, international and local observers and advisors to the Guyana Elections Commission “…the supervisor for tabulation shall ascertain and verify the entries therein and calculate totals for each column therein, in the presence of the Caricom scrutinising team, representatives of political parties that contested the said elections, international and local observers accredited by the Guyana Elections Commission.”

GECOM needs to explain why there was no follow through on the commitment to re-engage the international Election Observer Missions, even though a role for them, as well as their importance, was reflected in the recount order.

On the other hand, the APNU/AFC coalition needs to explain to the Guyanese people why they seem opposed to a strong international presence in Guyana. For a political party that keeps insisting that it won the March 2020 elections, the coalition’s actions scream otherwise.

Yours sincerely, Nalinie Singh, PPP/C national candidate, Political Science BA (York University)

Asinine use of COVID-19 to steal March 2, 2020 elections is international banditry

Dear Editor, If there is anyone in or outside of Guyana who is still not certain APNU/AFC and GECOM have worked together to thief the March 2, 2020 elections, then that person is someone who is pretending to be blind, deaf and dumb. The news on Friday afternoon that the Ministry of Public Health instructed Timothy Jonas, the Chair of ANUG, not to go to the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) until he has been tested and proven negative for COVID-19 is clearly another in the arsenal of devious tricks of APNU/AFC and GECOM to delay the recount and to thief the elections.

Stopping The Carter Center is only one way to ensure limited eyes are available.

Jonas is only the first of the undesirables that would be prevented from viewing things at the ACCC by advising them they might be victims of COVID-19. Now people understand also why a few weeks ago the rumours that Jagdeo, Ali and others in the PPP were sick with COVID-19 appeared. Those rumours were to ensure these persons were banned from

any recount. It did not work then. It will not work now.

As we still are hopeful The Carter Center would obtain permission to observe the recount, other disgraceful means of limiting the eyes watching GECOM will be introduced. In the meanwhile, they have kept the media far. Only NCN is allowed and NCN is not really the media, it is APNU/AFC. It is used to give the false impression that GECOM permitted live streaming. But NCN only shows what APNU/AFC and GECOM want them to show, nothing else.

The media is allowed only to be present outside of the ACCC compound. GECOM set up a tent on a patch of grass along the canal in front of the ACCC. There was no chair or table, no electricity, no restroom facilities. The media were treated worst than animals. Across the street is the Aquatic Centre. When some of the media decided to use the restrooms there, they were told that only the APNU/ AFC people can use that facility.

GECOM dismissed the proposal of using tents in

the ACCC compound to accommodate additional counting tables since public health officials advised that persons cannot be accommodated under tents for more than a couple of hours because of the COVID-19 virus. But the same officials have allowed a tent outside of the compound. Does this mean that the COVID-19 virus lives only in the open space within the fence of the ACCC? Clearly, it must mean that because it is safe for media personnel to be there for a period greater than 12 hours every day.

It has to mean that because it is safe for the GPHC to establish a patient tent to hold patients continuously for days and weeks if needed.

In the months to follow, Guyana will be cited as one of the countries that used the COVID-19 pandemic for sinister motives. It has politicised the pandemic and has used it effectively to rig and thief an election. APNU/AFC used COVID-19 to block Guyanese coming in from Suriname and Venezuela to vote and from travelling between Regions Two and Three to vote. They used COVID-19 to block ob-

servers from coming in for the recount and it is using COVID-19 to limit the pace of counting. Now it is using COVID-19 to ban people they do not want in the recount process. There is more to come.

Clearly, the numbers cannot be changed. As the recount drags on at snail pace, as they try to create as much confusion as they could, the numbers coming out with the Statements of Recount (SoRs) match almost exactly the numbers on the Statements of Poll (SoPs) prepared by GECOM itself and being hidden by both GECOM and APNU/AFC. But Stabroek News printed some of the SoPs weeks ago. The PPP has put all of the GECOMprepared SoPs that was legally given to them on E-Day on a public website. The SoRs are showing that the published SoPs are authentic. If there are differences, it is because in the recount some of the rejected ballots are shown to be valid ballots and almost all of these are PPP votes. Thus, for some SoRs, the PPP votes are increased by one or two more votes.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 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

Rigging is dead and buried

Dear Editor, It has been more than 67 days since our election but the new leader has not been installed as yet, reason being the loser refuses to accept defeat. It is a very strange situation, in that the losers, while refusing to accept defeat, are also laying claims to victory.

Well, the story cannot get more bizarre because how can you have lost an election and be a winner at the same time, it is either one or the other. But such is the story of a political party called the PNC/ APNU, which has had a history of such devious activities.

Rigging or the conduct of fraudulent elections has been a preoccupation of that party from the time we enjoyed self-rule. Elections in our country have had a

sordid history whenever and wherever this party is mentioned and elections 2020 is scarred by that legacy.

It is a malignant tumour that just wouldn’t go away. It is a complex situation that involves the falsification of figures followed by numerous legal procedures to defend it and the list goes on. Right now, they are trying to nullify an election that they claim brought them to victory by making all types of frivolous and vexatious objections. So, here we are in 2020 having to fight this monstrosity called rigging while safeguarding our hard-fought-for democracy.

Now the events surrounding this election point to two fundamental facts and these are: 1. Guyana must go the

route of electronic voting.

The Opposition Leader has made it clear in one of his campaign speeches that electronic voting is the way to go. It is a quick clean system that reduces the dependence on corrupt human hands. Fraud by way of the falsification of results is diminished, if not eliminated altogether.

2. At the conclusion of this exercise, those who are responsible for this massive fraud must be exposed as well as atone for their actions. An entire nation was held ransom by the brazen and barefaced actions of a select group of persons, this is unacceptable behaviour that cannot be condoned. In this regard, a total overhaul has to be done of the workings of the Commission and the culprits must face the

full weight of the law. Our country can ill afford this sort of thing and must seek to rid ourselves of this malady once and for all.

There is no denying that these things never happened because the facts are there to prove it. The fraudulent declarations of Mr Clairmont Mingo are undisputed evidence of this. So, Justice Claudette Singh, I urge you to keep those spreadsheets intact, they are valuable pieces of evidence for a court of law when the time comes.

A clear message has to be sent to all fraudsters and would-be fraudsters that no more would Guyana countenance rigging.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

We remain hopeful that the recount will produce the rightful winner

Dear Editor, The recount of the elections has started. The media have been shut out of the premises to camp on the roadside. What a disgrace. The Commission and its PR Officer should hang their heads in perpetual shame.

Full live video streaming of the process has been denied by the ruling of the Chairman, Claudette Singh. The flimsy excuse of concealing the faces of GECOM personnel is specious. If any one of them attempts to sabotage the process it should be exposed. If they all perform professionally, they should have nothing to fear from the world witnessing their good work.

The daily audio coverage of the recount by NCN is a joke. It’s selective. It only covers one station at a time and, so far, on each

occasion that a problem has arisen at a station, NCN has switched the coverage.

The Carter Center has been denied entry. David Granger should hang his head in shame as his Government has done this. The Caricom presence has been reduced to three persons to cover dozens of stations. All of this concealment from the public eye is the deliberate work of the combined vote of Chairman, Claudette Singh, and the APNU/ AFC Commissioners. So much for a commitment to transparency.

Of course, the recount forced upon the nation by the calculated action of Chairman Singh and the APNU/AFC Commissioners in support of the fraudulent behaviour of Clairmont Mingo and Keith Lowenfield, should

never have happened.

When Lowenfield embraced the fraudulent counting of Mingo in contempt of the order of the court, and submitted a fraudulent result of the elections to Chairman Singh, instead of putting it before the Commission and properly using her vote to reject it and returning to the completion of the District Four tabulation, she put the Lowenfield report in abeyance, keeping it alive while forcing a recount.

Already, after two days, we have heard and seen disruptive behaviour on the part of APNU/AFC party agents, particularly

by Carol Joseph, who, earlier, hurled insults in every direction when I was present as an observer at the tabulation, and false allegations by AFC Executives of secret meetings which

never took place.

The recount, even without these calculated attempts to derail it, is painfully slow and, at this rate, would last many weeks longer than 25 days.

We can only be eternally grateful to the international and local observers who, at present, risk their lives by exposing themselves to possible infection of the COVID-19 virus to keep the recount honest, but, for how long?

We can but now remain hopeful that the recount will produce the rightful winner of the elections and that David Granger will keep his promise and impose it on those in his party who would deny it, to accept the findings of a credible recount.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

My response to Hamilton Green Dear Editor, I wish to respond to a letter by Hamilton Green in the Kaieteur News on May 8th where he talks about the March 2nd Elections being the “worst rigged in our history” and that the “PPP hierarchy is not interested in the whole story” of this year’s elections.

When Hamilton Green says that there is no interest in the “whole story” of the March 2 elections, what is he talking about?

Everything, up to March 12 played out on live TV for all of the world to see and up until March 2020, the respected members of the international Election Observer Missions were in Guyana. If he wants to rehash talk about a bloated list when this argument has been exposed for what it was again and again for almost a year during

the House-To-House Registration debacle, he must consider that such talk belongs in an elections petition, not during a recount of ballots that were cast by Guyanese.

When Hamilton Green talks about the “worst rigged in our history”, surely, he is aware that the riggers are those in the APNU/AFC coalition. The entire world knows this by now.

How many times must these things be pushed in the faces of Guyanese, especially when the trust is so easy to discern? When will the likes of Hamilton Green and others understand that enough is enough?

Hamilton Green, instead, like the other ‘riggers’ in the APNU/AFC coalition, continues to peddle misinformation and create confusion in the recount

process that is underway; even when GECOM itself shut down the claims about a ‘secret meeting’, which is one of the things Hamilton Green pontificated about in his letter.

The endgame seems to create an air of mistrust about the recount so that when it is concluded and exposes, with finality, that the APNU/AFC lost the March 2 elections then there could be some sort of recourse. With Guyana’s history with elections and losses by the PNC, no Guyanese, in 2020, wants to think too hard about what their recourse might be. What is clear, though, is that no right-thinking Guyanese wants to go down that road.

This entire debacle has been manufactured by the APNU/AFC coalition because of its unwillingness to accept an electoral de-

feat; something it was fully aware of by Wednesday morning, March 4 at the latest. It is this electoral loss that fuelled the machinations that have since unfolded; from fake declarations to talk about dead people and people who migrated voting at the March 2 elections.

In light of all of this, Hamilton Green should be the last to manufactures ghosts of things that are “improper”. He should join thousands of Guyanese who just want the recount process to be over, in a credible manner, so we can all move on. There are bigger and more important fights ahead with COVID-19, the fact that so many people are out of jobs and the fact that the economy is in bad shape.

Sincerely, Alvin Hamilton

Tacuma Ogunseye was fight against rigging, now supporting the riggers Dear Editor, Mr Tacuma Ogunseye is one of our national treasures who resisted the PNC dictatorship regime pre-1992 when a fair election was never held and rigging was the norm. At a time when we needed decent black people to speak out against the atrocities of Burnham whose regime killed Ogunseye’s hero, the much-loved Dr Walter Rodney, Ogunseye got “bad beat” from the PNC thugs for speaking out against the rape of democracy by the PNC. Now Ogunseye is with the PNC riggers, and to sing for his supper, instead of leaving the dirty work to the hardcore PNC people, he has taken on the job of cussing out Mr Nigel Hinds, who seems to be a very decent man who has done some well-written articles on our current political disaster resulting from the intransigence of the PNC refusing to concede they lost the 2020 elections.

At a time of GECOM/PNC versus the rest of the world, Ogunseye must be the only one who thinks Chair Singh is doing a great job and is to be admired. I don’t think Ms Singh herself would admit she is doing a great job. Mr Nigel Hinds has called on the Chair to do the right thing and ensure there is a speedy end to our long national nightmare. He represents the views of all Guyana, the local and international observers, and the diplomatic corps. Has Ogunseye been living under a rock?

The Chair would go down in history as the worst Chair ever, the most “do-nothing,” always siding with Alexander and the PNC’s playbook, and so more than two months later, under her leadership, the nation goes through great trauma caused by the GECOM/PNC axis of evil, while a devastating pandemic sweeps the world. While it may not be warranted, on the blogs the Chair is referred to derisively as “Fraudette,” and some feel she is aiding and abetting those within GECOM acting as “coup leaders” on behalf of the

PNC. Our current political impasse is directly because the Chair fails to take action to ensure credible elections. This madness could have been averted if the Chair had removed Mingo and finished off the Region Four count. Presidentelect Dr Irfaan Ali would have been sworn in already.

When she has the determining vote to make sure the recount is transparent, credible, and speedy, the Chair sides with the Alexander/PNC agenda, and GECOM has done everything to avoid a quick, transparent, fair process. So, there is no live stream of this matter of utmost national importance, no representation for the nonState media, the media is treated with the scantiest respect, and we are subjected to a meaningless audio feed that makes no sense whatsoever. Unless we are told which polling place is being counted, the audio feed is useless. It is not too late to add News Room, a most trusted media, to do live coverage. Our Parliament sessions are livestreamed. The Chair has the power to authorise live streaming since the audio now is totally useless. The Chair also has the power to ask Granger to allow Carter Center observers to come in.

To speed up the counting process so it does not go beyond 25 days, the Chair can remove the “audit” type activities, as well as add more counting stations. The Chair can go beyond what was gazetted as long as it makes the process better.

So Ogunseye, we understand you are now an old man, you have to live, you are getting good “coalition soup,” and like others such as Hinds, Thomas, Lewis, Trotman, Rupnaraine, etc, you have to hang your mouth where the soup is leaking. But know that everyone else agrees with Mr Nigel Hinds and his call for the Chair to do the right thing.

Sincerely, Jerry Singh

Asinine use of COVID-19...

For the sceptics, persons who want to be fair, the story is clear now. If APNU/AFC know they won, why would they not want the recount, why would they place so many roadblocks to start the recount, why would they now want to go at snail’s pace? It is because they know the numbers. They knew it since early morning March 3. Even if they were not as efficient as the PPP which knew the results since early morning March 3, as early as the “cock crow”, APNU/AFC knew before most people had their breakfast that morning. They tried at least three times to rig the results, tried thieving the elections in plain sight. They were caught. Now they want to repeat the thieving, but want to do so far from prying eyes.

FROM PAGE 4

They have found a convenient weapon - COVID-19. So COVID-19 is keeping the media far away. COVID-19 has kept The Carter Center and other international observers away.

COVID-19 is being used to ban people from the centre - Jonas is the test case. Soon others will follow. Other COVID-19 stupidities will emerge as the days go, as the gate begins to close on APNU/AFC, they will use more desperate measures. But thieving this election is not being permitted. This is not just a crime against the Guyanese people, it is international banditry. The time to stop them is now.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

6

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020

Page

Foundation

Guyana Time is pleased to publish the Education Ministryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Grade Six Assessment Past Papers. Below is the first part of Social Studies Paper 1, 2010.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE SIX ASSESSMENT

SOCIAL STUDIES

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

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

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

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

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

1. Carbon dioxide is a

(A) mixture (B) liquid (C) gas (D) solid

ANSWER SHEET A B C D

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

1. The Europeans came in search of a 'Golden City' called (A) Demerara. (B) Georgetown.

(C) El Dorado. (D) Essequibo.

5. Which of the following festivals is associated with the logo above?

(A) Carnival (B) Crop over (C) Mashramani (D) Carifesta

2. Cassava bread and farine are associated with the (A) Portuguese. (B) Amerindians.

(C) Chinese. (D) Africians.

6. A peer group consists of individuals who (A) are of the same age group. (B) are of different age group.

(C) belong to the same club. (D) play the same games.

3. The currency used in Brazil is called the (A) Bolivar. (B) Pound.

(C) Guilder. (D) Real.

4. The capital of Haiti is (A) Bridgetown. (B) Port-Au-Prince.

(C) Kingston. (D) Castries.

Use the logo below, to answer question 5.

chosen.

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

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

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

7. The main economic activity of the people of Region 9 is (A) rice cultivation. (B) gold mining.

(C) cattle rearing. (D) sugar cultivation.

8. One village that was established by the ex-slaves is (A) Sophia (B) Ann's Grove.

(C) Windsor Forest (D) Anna Regina.

11. Which leisure activity is reflected in the picture above?

(A) Basketball (B) Football (C) Hockey (D) Rounders

9. Which political leader travelled to London in 1963 for the independence talks?

(A) Janet Jagan (B) Forbes Burnham (C) Bharrat Jagdeo (D) Arthur Chung

Study the map below, then answer question 12.

12. The continent numbered A on the map is

10. The wind-vane is used to (A) measure the amount of rainfall.

(B) indicate the direction of the wind.

(C) measure the speed of the wind.

(D) indicate when a storm is approaching.

Study the picture below, then answer question 11.

(A) Asia. (B) South America.

(C) North America. (0) Europe.

13. The continent of South America consists of countries.

(A) 13 (B) 15 (C) 28 (D) 36 are

14. Two foods that the Portuguese contributed to Guyana (A) fried rice and wanton soup.

(B) chowmein and cook-up rice.

(C) stewed beef and garlic pork.

(D) pancakes and pepperpot.

15. 'The indentured immigrants were brought to British Guiana to (A) take the place of the freed slaves.

(B) give the ex-slaves a competition.

(C) ease the over population' in the immigrant's countries.

(D) encourage the Europeans to purchase more sugar.

16. Ravi wants to open a business entity in a Caricom member state but he has to learn Dutch. It is most likely that he will open his business in (A) Haiti. (B) Jamaica.

(C) Belize. (D) Suriname.

TO BE CONTINUED

NEWS

7

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Inflated fraudulent figures by Mingo exposed in recount of Reg 4 ballots ...PPP says "vindicated"

I

n a graphic comparison of six SOP's it had released, to the recount figures and the ones declared by Reg 4 RO Clairmont Mingo, the PPP stated that they and the oth-

er opposition political parties had been vindicated. The statements by Mimgo shows a consistent inflation of the votes for APNU/AFC. The latter, also David Granger have accept-

ed these numbers, as has GECOM CEO Keith Lowenfield, and have been clamoring for Granger to be sworn in as President.

One PPP leader said that there can be no

doubt now that a grand fraud was attempted on the Guyanese people and democracy. "Res ipsa loquitur - the thing speaks for itself, " he concluded.

8 NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IN THE COURTS

Wanted man arraigned for murder of Essequibo businessman, other charges

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wenty-three-year-old Leon Estwick also called “Swipey” was on Thursday remanded to prison

by Magistrate Leron Daly when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with the robbery and murder of Essequibo businessman, Deon Stoll.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on October 14, he murdered Stoll during a robbery in Georgetown.

In addition, the man, who resides at 640 South Amelia’s Ward, Linden, was jointly charged with his brother, Oneil Estwick, 21, for the offences of possession of firearm, ammunition and narcotics.

The duo pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them by the Magistrate and as such, both of them were remanded to prison. The cases were postponed to May 11, 2020, and transferred to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for report and reassignment.

Nevertheless, Oneil Estwick was also charged with the offence of harbouring his brother who had been dubbed a wanted person. He pleaded

Wanted murder accused: Leon Estwick

not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

It was reported that Police in Linden arrested the murder suspect, Leon Estwick, who a wanted bulletin was issued for in 2019.

According to information from the police, ranks acting on intelligence swooped down on a house at Lover’s Lane, South Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden, on April 30 where the suspect and his brother were found.

During the raid, the police also discovered an unlicensed pistol, four live rounds of ammunition and ten grams of suspected cannabis in their possession.

Leon Estwick was fingered in the murder of the Essequibo Coast businessman who was shot dead in front of El Dorado Trading at Da Silva Street, Kitty, Georgetown, last October.

Several other persons were also arrested in connection with the robbery and murder. The gunmen attacked Stoll and his driver just as they were about to enter the building to conduct business.

Stoll however, managed to return fire and reportedly shot one of the gunmen twice. His driver and a security guard at the business place were also shot and injured during the incident.

Ever since the incident, Leon Estwick has been on the run.

Suspect in murder of Linden clothes vendor remanded on ammunition charge

A

suspect in the Easter night shooting to death of Linden clothes vendor Glenroy Chapman was on Thursday remanded to prison on a charge of possession of ammunition.

The accused, Coby George, 21, of Lot 67 F Wismar Housing Scheme, Linden, appeared at Court 2 of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the charge of possession of ammunition, that is a grenade.

He pleaded not guilty

and was remanded to prison until May 11. The matter was reassigned to Court 1.

George, who was wanted for questioning, turned himself in to Police over a week ago after managing to elude ranks for some time.

Investigators attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) then conducted a search on his home where they reportedly discovered a grenade, bulletproof vest, a haversack, a camouflage uniform, a face mask and 10 small bottles of vaccine hidden in a pen

which was guarded by a pitbull dog.

Two other persons who were held in connection with the Easter night execution-style killing of the father of eight have since been released from Police custody.

Chapman, also called “G”, of Lot 130 Half Mile, Wismar, Linden, was shot seven times as he sat in front of his yard on the evening of Easter Monday.

Investigations are still ongoing.

COVID-19 cases increase...

On Thursday, Dr Persaud cautioned Guyanese to maintain vigilance in the border regions, especially Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) given the alarming number of cases detected in Brazil.

The Portuguesespeaking country, which borders Guyana on the south, had confirmed another 6925 new cases bringing the total to 114,715 with 7921 deaths. He appealed to residents to desist from traversing the borders and

to adhere to the coronavirus

measures.

In the previous update, it was shared that the global fatality rate according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) stands at four per cent while Guyana’s fatality rate is a whopping 10.8 per cent. As such, the CMO indicated that many persons are asymptomatic which compounds the issue.

He highlighted, “This simply means that we must detect those in our commu-

Dead: Glenroy Chapman

FROM PAGE 2

nities showing no symptoms but requiring medical intervention. From information provided globally, many healthy younger persons infected with COVID-19 do not display the usual symptoms. These persons can continue to transmit the virus to other vulnerable persons in our society by not practising control measures such as hand hygiene, physical distancing and the using of masks.”

On Wednesday, Guyana recorded its 10th COVID-19 death – a patient of the Palms Geriatric Home.

In the Region of the Americas, the number of confirmed cases has increased to 1,542,829 confirmed cases with the number of deaths increasing to 84, 804 in the last 24 hours.

Globally, there are 3,672,238 confirmed cases with 254,045 deaths. These statistics were published by the WHO.

Botching…

I

…the ploy du jour t’s only the fourth day of the recount, but the PNC’s already confirmed that, when it comes to rigging, they’ve really let Burnham’s “hand fall”! As your Eyewitness said from the onset, the “fix” was always in – no one needed to guess about that. As one analyst described it, with defeat staring them in the face midway through the Reg 4 SOP tabulation at Ashmin’s, Granger and the PNC decided to “gamble for resurrection”.

Meaning: with nothing to lose and everything to gain with rigging, they might as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb. Burnham had expressed the move a bit more earthily: “Back to back; belly to belly. Ah doan give a damn; ah done dead a’ready!” But surely, he would’ve never had somebody like Mingo do the dirty in front of all those cameras. And Ambassadors!! Ow man!!

In 1973, after Burnham had his soldiers bring all the ballot boxes to Camp Ayanganna, he could’ve easily had them announce whatever numbers he wanted. But he had them painstakingly fill out new ballots to give him the twothirds seats wanted. He could always show doubters the ballots: deniability!! How the heck can the PNC ever deny the “Mingoing of High Street at High noon”??

Well, they were given a get-out-of-jail card by the Chair when she agreed to a recount; saving them from the agony of personal sanctions that would’ve been slapped on their sorry a55es by the West if they’d gone ahead and sworn in Granger. Now, you’d think they would’ve learnt from that blunder and try to be a bit slicker as they try to game the recount, wouldn’t you?

Yet, on day one, they ostentatiously brought out a birth certificate – issued just a couple of days before by Felix – to show, as they crowed, a “dead man had voted” in Reg 1!! Well, after more than fifty years of Burnhamite rigging, when not only the dead, but horses voted, jaded Guyanese figure anything can happen. But since dead men tell no tales, how’d the PNC know who the dead fella voted for??

The fact they were able to identify the dead voter pretty much proves he was PNC. He who calls out the dead owns the dead!! If he was PPP, the PNC would’ve snagged him the second he tried to vote. Burnham’s hand fall!

On the second day, the ploy du jour was to claim that an SOP was at great variance from the SOR at Yarrowkabra – reducing PNC votes.

But, within the hour, this was disproved by the PPP just by showing their original SOP!!

How many times will they allow Burnham’s hand to fall?? …Granger’s unctuous claims Granger just doesn’t know when to stop with his unctuous pose, that have by now been worn so thin that its transparent to one and sundry. Take his dropping to his knees at the drop of a hat in whatever church he happens to be passing. Does he really believe anyone believes he’s a God-fearing fella after he could allow his own candidate to try to block his “agreement” with Caricom for the recount without issuing a squeak?? That was her democratic right to go with her conscience, they trumpeted.

But Granger’s too clever for his own good. If he could allow the PNC candidate Moore to go against his solemn agreement because that’s the democratic right of the latter, how come he and his myrmidons called Charandass “Judas” when he voted his conscience on the NCM?? What’s (democratic) sauce for the goose is not (democratic) sauce for the gander??

Old people do say all smart flies end up in cow’s backside!! …the end game Even before the recount started, your Eyewitness explained that the PNC would try to derail it by dragging it out while simultaneously making all sorts of objections – such as the aforementioned dead men voting – and insist they be included in the record of the “recount”.

Cumulatively, they’ll claim these vitiate the recount!!

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

NEWS

9

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ramjattan throws David G under the bus …says it was he who denied Carter Center entry for recount

I

t was not the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Task Force that was written to and denied the travel request for the observer from The Carter Center, but caretaker President David Granger. The pejorative revelation about the reason for the absence of the USbased democracy watchdog group came from caretaker Minister of Public Security and A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Prime Ministerial Candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan.

Ramjattan is part of the COVID-19 Task Force, which also comprises of Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence;

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan; Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Karen Cummings; Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, and Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry.

Recently, The Carter Center revealed that while they were willing and hoping to return to Guyana to conclude their observer mission in the 2020 General and Regional Elections by observing the recount, this was being impeded by the lack of approvals for their observers to travel to Guyana.

On Monday the Center issued a statement where they disclosed that one of their ob-

Protracted electoral impasse severely impacting Guyana’s economy – Gouveia

P

rivate Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman, Captain Gerry Gouveia is of the view the current protracted electoral impasse enveloping the country has had a devastating impact on the national economy and has “actually affected investor confidence in astronomical ways and it could have a long-lasting effect on what is happening”.

Gouveia gave the overview outside the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), where the PSC is represented as an observer to the National Recount of the General and Regional Elections held on March 2, 2020.

The PSC Chairman told Guyana Times that the economic impact of the electoral impasse was being compounded by the advent of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which he reported has been forcing many persons out of a job, with the possibility some businesses could go bankrupt.

“We need a legitimate government in place urgently,” Captain Gouveia urged.

According to him, we need to get this with, so a legitimate government can work “with the support of Guyanese who will respect a legitimate elections and then support our government by joining hands and putting our shoulders to the wheel ... to beat this virus and to beat the economic decline that is coming”.

While not being in a position to give a dollar amount in terms of the impact of the electoral crisis, Gouveia did indicate “we have heard about investments being affected”.

Speaking with reporters encamped outside the ACCC for the National Recount, on the Commission’s expecta-

PSC Chairman Gerry Gouveia

tions, the PSC Chairman said he was hopeful each of the political parties would react in a responsible manner.

According to the PSC Chairman, “There are a lot of young people who need to get on with their lives, this country’s economy needs to move on, we need to have a legitimate government in place, a legitimate recognised government.”

The local entrepreneur drew reference to the fact countries across the world are being ravaged by the impacts of COVID-19.

He noted too that “the international community is funnelling money to help all the countries around the world except us, because we are in this no man’s land”.

The PSC Chairman said, “I am hoping that the political parties would embrace this in a legitimate way; the process must be legitimate, must be transparent; we must continue what is happening here until the end”.

Speaking generally to the recount process, the PSC Chairman told media operatives that while the process is being viewed as slow, “we need to legitimately answer the queries of parties”.

TURN TO PAGE 13

Caretaker President David Granger

servers travelled to Miami in hopes of coming to Guyana on a flight that came to Guyana to take US citizens home.

The observer, however, was unable to travel to Guyana.

The United States Embassy had said that permission was sought from

the COVID-19 Task Force through the Foreign Affairs Ministry for the flight to land and for the observer to enter Guyana on the said flight.

However, approval was granted for the flight but not the observer.

On Friday when asked about the reason for the Task Force denying The Carter Center’s travel request, Ramjattan disclosed that it was not the Task Force that was responsible for the denial but the President.

“I am part of the National COVID-19 Task Force…As far as I am aware, there was a request, not to the Task Force, but to the President from The Carter Center,” he told media operatives, moments after exiting the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where he had been observing the recount process briefly.

According to Ramjattan, “I understand that there was a ruling in relation to flights coming into Guyana,

APNU/AFC Prime Ministerial Candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan

then there was an IRI [International Republican Institute] issue and that is above me right now…some other Ministry is dealing with it,” he said, adding, “that was in relation to some flight that was coming in from Eastern Airlines.”

Ramjattan opted not to speak further on the mat-

ter saying, “I do not want to get too much into that at this stage.”

The fettering of the observer group—which still has accreditation—had attracted great criticism from the international community and local groups.

It ought to be noted that The Carter Center was one of the observer groups that were very vocal in speaking out against the attempts to declare the results of the March 2 election based on the “fraudulent declarations” that were made by Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo.

The Center had also candidly stated that the elections were very important as control of the newfound oil revenues were at stake, adding that the court case that was brought up by APNU candidate Ulita Moore against a National Recount was an attempt to frustrate the electoral process.

10 NEWS Govt denies request for Brazilian nationals nabbed Komal Chand’s body to smuggling goods into Guyana be returned to Guyana F SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

T

he David Granger-led Administration has reportedly denied a request for the body of the late Komal Chand to be flown out of Havana, Cuba – to return home in Guyana.

Chand, a veteran trade unionist, died one month ago whilst receiving medical attention in Cuba.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) – the organisation which Chand headed up until the time of his demise – lamented that the Guyana Government has “abandoned” him and his family.

“A glimmer of hope emerged when it was learnt that the Government has arranged an aircraft to take packages to Guyanese in Cuba over the coming weekend. Requests were made for Mr Chand’s body and widow to be accommodated on the return flight. Those requests were not approved as the Government said it could not afford such a request,” GAWU said.

“We understand that the request would not have been a princely sum but yet the family was told that the Government, astoundingly,

Veteran trade unionist Komal Chand

would have to seek to raise the required sum through donations from the society,” the Union added.

Chand’s widow also remains stranded in Cuba.

It noted that another reason for the denial is that had they allowed the body to be flown in, it would open the door to other requests for citizens abroad to be repatriated back home.

“We ask what is wrong with such requests as we have seen many other countries doing the same for its

citizens. We believe it would have been much more prudent of our scarce financial resources for the flight arranged to bring home Guyanese who wish to return from Cuba once they undergo the necessary tests and take appropriate precautions during the flight.

But it seems warped thinking has enveloped the minds of our decision-makers,” the Union lamented.

The Union has since written caretaker President David Granger to appeal to him for some proactive action on the part of the Administration to alleviate, in some respect, the pain suffered by Chand’s relatives.

“We are hopeful that the President would consider our request and swiftly address them to bring closure to this sad chapter confronting the Chand family.

Certainly, he is deserving of the assistance of the State recognising that he has been a national leader for many years and worked tirelessly in the advancement of the rights of the downtrodden of this country he loved so dearly,” GAWU said.

our Brazilian nationals were arrested and deported after they were caught trying to smuggle uncustomed goods into Guyana via the Takutu River Bridge that links Guyana and Brazil.

According to information received, on Tuesday last at about 17:00h, members of a mobile patrol unit observed the Brazilians with several bags crossing the bridge. This prompted the police to conduct a search on the bags and the illegal goods were discovered.

A total of 10 pairs of long track pants, 10 pairs of socks, 23 pairs of footwear, 30 perfumes, three Gillette sets, 33 skin lotions, five shampoos, 10 body sprays, 55 medication, six soaps, 25 boxes of syrup medication, six boxes of dye and six nail polishes were all confiscated during the operation.

The men, Roger Felix Duarte, Francisco James Dias, Aegre De Souza Marques, and Ingrid Li

The nabbed Brazilians along with the seized items

Madocarmo were immediately escorted to the Lethem Police Station where the Brazilian nationals were profiled and handed over to the Brazilian authorities.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s Customs Act 82:01 states that “ Any person who imports or brings, or is concerned with bringing into Guyana any prohibited

goods, or any goods, or is in any way knowingly concerned in any fraudulent evasion, or attempt at evasion or any import or export duties of customs; shall be liable to a fine triple the value of the goods, and imprisonment for one year. All goods in respect of any such offence committed shall be forfeited”.

NEWS

APNU/AFC supporters target media during elections recount coverage …endanger life of Guyana Times/Evening News cameraman

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everal members of the media fraternity have been targeted by supporters of the APNU/AFC coalition as they provide coverage of the ongoing national recount outside the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

On Friday a cameraman attached to the Times Media Group (TMG), who was assigned to provide coverage of the recount, was taking footage of the coalition supporters, who have been camping outside the Conference Centre daily. On the APNU/ AFC Facebook page, the Guyana Times/Evening News cameraman was posted and captioned: “PPP/C sends cameraman to stake out APNU+AFC”.

Editor-in-Chief of the Times Media Group, Tusika Martin has since expressed her outrage over the attack on a member of her staff, noting that this could direct hostility towards him especially during this period when political tension is high in the country. She added that media workers have over the past months, faced much hostility and threats over their coverage of the elections, and such an action by the persons posting on the APNU/AFC Facebook page has endan-

The erroneous Facebook live on APNU/AFC’s page

gered the life of her member of staff.

Martin reminded that freedom of the press is protected by Article 19 of the United Nations Declaration.

The editor subsequently called a senior Government official to lodge an official complaint about the issue and he pretended it was not him but rather someone else answering his phone. She was nevertheless assured that the post will be removed. However, the company has since sought legal advice and has also informed the Guyana Press Association (GPA).

In fact, GPA President

Nazima Raghubir indicated that she spoke with senior coalition member, Christopher Jones, about this incident and further pointed out to him that this is a continued assault on media operatives.

Only on Thursday, a group of media operatives including several senior journalists had a confrontation with some coalition supporters at the National Aquatic Centre when they went to use the washroom facilities there. The supporters were preventing the media workers from accessing the washroom facilities.

Prior to the commencement of the recount at the

Conference Centre, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward, had informed reporters that arrangements were made for the media to have access at the Aquatic Centre.

Since the March 2 elections, media operatives both local and foreign, who have been covering the events which have unfolded, were being assaulted verbally and in one case, almost physically by supporters of the APNU/ AFC coalition.

This occurred on the evening of March 13 when embattled Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo declared the contentious results for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

Reporters who were attempting to access the GECOM Headquarters at High Street, Kingston, after being invited by the GECOM PRO, were met with insults and threats by coalition supporters, with one reporter almost being physically assaulted.

Over the past weeks, these supporters continue to gather at GECOM Headquarters where the seven-member Commission held almost daily meetings in preparation for the national recount and continued to harass representatives of rival political parties as well as civil society members.

11

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19

Govt releases over 50 prisoners

…to make space as pandemic deepens

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels

he caretaker Administration has moved to release over 50 prisoners from three penitentiaries across the country in an effort to create space amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Guyana Times understands that these persons were released a few weeks ago from the Camp Street Prison in Georgetown, Mazaruni Prison in Bartica and Lusignan Prison on the East Coast of Demerara.

From the list of offenders released, a majority were jailed for possession of nar-

cotics, assault and larceny while others were found guilty of more serious offences.

The decision was taken

by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan with assistance from Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels.

Those persons released would have served one-third of their sentences.

Last June, Samuels had revealed that the prison population stood at 2069 inmates, while reiterating that there continues to be overcrowding at the various penitentiaries.

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TURN TO PAGE 16

12 NEWS

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Shuman hammers APNU/AFC Indigenous leaders over Baramita showdown …alleges Police undermining village’s COVID-19 battle

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eader of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Lennox Shuman on Friday lambasted coalition Indigenous leaders, namely Sidney Allicock, Valerie Gariddo-Lowe, Dawn Hastings and the National Toshaos Council (NTC) among others, over what he described as their inaction over Police overreach in Baramita, Region One (Barima-Waini).

The LJP Presidential Candidate and prominent local Indigenous leader high-

Liberty and Justice Party Leader Lennox Shuman

lighted what he called an undermining of the Village Council and its efforts to battle the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

He was at the time speaking with reporters outside of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) and related that Police ranks have, in fact, actively sought to undermine the Council’s efforts in combating the pandemic.

Speaking directly to A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change

(APNU/AFC), “Indigenous, so-called Ministers,” Shuman voiced his displeasure over their silence on the matter, those “who have said absolutely nothing about it”— the Police actions in the community.

According to Shuman, “we are hopeful that [issue] could be resolved very quickly.”

The LJP leader’s comments were made in the wake of reports published in the media that the Baramita Toshao, Sharmain

Former Minister Dawn Hastings

Former Minister Sidney Allicock

Rambajue was alleging that she and a Village Councillor were threatened with arrest by ranks of the Guyana Police Force, having insisted that they comply with measures put in place by the Council to protect the community.

Among the measures that were put in place by Rambajue —according to media reports—is the limiting of access to the village by those transporting food supplies and fuel.

According to reports, one such individual ended up in a confrontation with the villagers over their denial of access into the community after the curfew would have come into effect.

It was related in the media that on one occasion, the individual involved in the confrontation with the villagers arrived at the gate at about 21:00h and demanded to be allowed into the vil-

lice intervened and threatened to instead arrest the Indigenous leader.

Rambajue is also reported to have said the officerin-charge also threatened to break down the gate and checkpoint hut before ask-

Baramita Toshao Sharmain Rambajue

lage.

The situation, according to media reports, escalated to the point where the po-

Former Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe

ing her if it was even legal for them to construct a gate at the entrance of the village.

The gate to the community was constructed, reportedly with the approval of the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministers with a presidential grant.

Describing the incident as an unfortunate circumstance, Shuman told reporters on Friday, “currently in Baramita there seems to be an undermining of the Village Council by the Guyana Police Force by not providing support to the community in combatting the coronavirus.”

According to the LJP leader, the police are, in fact, actively undermining the efforts of the community.

NEWS

13

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lowenfield’s Secretariat creating new rules to delay recount – Gunraj ....as GECOM completes counting three more boxes than previous day

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he Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) Secretariat, headed by Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield is being accused of not only carrying out the instructions and decisions taken by the Commissioners and Chairperson but instead creating and implementing new rules that are only meant to delay the recount.

The damning allegations were levelled against the Secretariat by opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj, who on Friday at the close of the third day of the National Recount stated that decisions taken by the Commission appear to have been “deliberately miscommunicated to the staff.”

The PPP Commissioner explained that the decisions related to the preparation of the observation report from each of the counting stations as part of the process.

According to Gunraj, on Thursday the Deputy CEO, Roxanne Myers, had requested that the report be shown and read out as part of the Statements of Recount being broadcast live for the tabulation.

He recalled too that on Thursday some controversy had erupted when attempts

PPP GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj

had been made to include elements of the observations made and documented in the report at the counting stations to be included in the SoRs. Gunraj explained that the Commission subsequently took the decision to not have the observations presented on the SoRs but rather accompany the document but this did not obtain.

The PPP Commissioner explained that direct instructions were subsequently given to the GECOM staff at the counting stations that the observation reports be included on the face of the SoRs. He was adamant that this was not reflective of the decision of the Commission, saying “I don’t know why that was

communicated to the work stations by the Secretariat.”

According to Gunraj, such action by the Secretariat “was clearly erroneous and it was a clear violation of the decision that we took in relation to that.”

Reaffirming its decision to the Secretariat, according to Gunraj, was the first order of business for the day for the Commissioners at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

Additionally, the PPP Commissioner lamented that the Commission had to, in fact, sit at a formal meeting to deliberate on what the contents of the observation reports should be.

He noted, for example, that party agents were attempting to introduce death certificates as part of the observation reports to be made.

The Commissioner was adamant the recount process is akin to a second layer of scrutiny since results for the elections run on March 2, 2020, had already been generated and that the exercise being conducted at ACCC is, in fact, only a recount.

The Commissioner suggested that some party agents are, in fact, attempting to inject into the reports, issues that are extraneous to the matter at hand and suggest-

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

ed that the report in question should contain “observations made.”

These, he said, relate to aspects such as the state of the ballot box at the time of their opening for the recount, its contents therein and nothing else.

“Anything else would be considered extraneous” he insisted.

It was reported too that while the GECOM Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh has agreed to have the observations such as unverified death certificates and claims of dead votes documented in the report, she made the point “at the end of the day whether or not that is

Timothy Jonas ordered to get tested for COVID-19 – says move is sinister attempt to sideline him during recount

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hairman of A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Timothy Jonas has been asked to get tested for COVID-19 – a move which he believes is a “sinister” attempt to sideline him from the ongoing national recount.

Jonas has been outspoken on the events that unfolded since the March 2 polls.

Only Thursday, he was at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, where the recounting is being conducted, and expressed concerns during an interview with the media over the pace at which the recount of the March 2 ballots was moving, noting it may exceed the proposed 25-day timeline.

While he did not return to the Conference Centre on Friday, in a social media video Jonas disclosed that he has since been informed by the Public Health Ministry that it has received a report of him showing symptoms of the novel coronavirus. “[Friday] morning, having participated in the count [Thursday], I was at work and I got a call from an official of the Ministry of Public Health, saying that it had been reported that I had respiratory symptoms,” an amused Jonas stated in the Facebook Live as he took a deep breath, holding it in for a few seconds before releasing.

According to the ANUG

ANUG Chairman Timothy Jonas during his Facebook Live on Friday

Chairman, he insisted that the Ministry write him a letter on the issue and he even offered to uplift the correspondence.

“I told them to save time, I will go and pick up the letter. And I went to pick up the letter and it says that it has been reported that I am demonstrating respiratory symptoms. This is amazing,” he asserted.

Jonas said that he then spoke with an official from the Ministry, whom he noted was a professional and opted not to divulge his identity.

“I said to him, you’re a doctor; here I am, there you are.

As you see I have no symptoms,” he recalled.

In response, however, the doctor told him that some persons are asymptomatic although they may have the virus.

An explanation which

Jonas rubbished. He pointed out that how can he “asymptomatic” when there is a report in the first place claiming that he is displaying “respiratory symptoms”.

“I don’t want to be unkind to the gentleman but if his letter says that it was reported that I have respiratory symptoms, it’s difficult for me to understand that I don’t have symptoms…”

The ANUG Chairman went on to assure that he has not displayed any symptoms associated with COVID-19. “…but there is this letter and that leads us to a more sinister question – is an attempt being made to sideline people who may be inconvenient to the authorities. You judge for yourself… I wanted to go live because going live means that I’m not in a position to edit out any cough or any sniffles,” he posited.

To further highlight how ludicrous this entire episode is, Jonas explained that before he went into the Conference Centre on Thursday, health authorities took his temperature and he was told he is fine, hence he was allowed to enter the building.

He added too that his temperature was even tested earlier this week when made a trip to Berbice.

Authorities have stepped up the testing unit at the Berbice Bridge and according to the ANUG Chair, he was tested twice – while going and on his way back – and was told he was fine both times.

“So what respiratory symptoms are these people talking about?” he questioned.

Nevertheless, Jonas committed to seeking a medical examination from his personal doctor to prove that he has no symptoms related to COVID-19.

“I will get a certificate from my doctor that I’m not showing any symptoms and I will respond to the Ministry of Public Health in that regard.

I asked you to all stay safe as I have been staying safe and I ask you to make your own assessment as to the truth…” he asserted.

He added that once he is given medical clearance, he will return to the Conference Centre to participate in the ongoing national recount.

included in the observation report it does not affect the vote count.”

He was adamant that the exercise being conducted is a recount of the ballots in the boxes and that the result of that will form the results of the election.

Speaking to some of the issues that the Commission was called on to sort out as the count proceeded into the third day, Gunraj insisted that they were orchestrated to delay the process.

“They were meant to delay this process to make it as long and cumbersome as possible,” Gunraj noted.

He cited as an example a requirement introduced by the Secretariat where during the counting process, “instead of counting the number of persons that are ticked off on the Official List of Electors in the box they are calling out the serial numbers of every tick.”

Gunraj suggested, “that was taking an inordinately long time.”

He told reporters that the Commission had unanimously agreed that it was a useless exercise “but it was a directive that was passed down this morning in relation to that by the Secretariat.”

According to Gunraj, this did not obtain on previous days. As such, Gunraj questioned, “why is the Secretariat introducing measures to delay the process.”

The Commission nonetheless managed to resume the counting process, completing just three more boxes than the previous day.

GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Ward at the end of the evening, in providing an update on the day’s activity, reported that for day three of the National Recount, a total of 43 boxes would have been completed— three more than the previous

GECOM Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

day.

According to Ward, 10 boxes were completed for Regions One and Two while another eleven were completed for Region Three.

As it relates to Region Four, the GECOM PRO told reporters the counting teams managed to count 12 boxes.

This would mean that over the course of the three days, GECOM would have completed counting a total of 108 ballot boxes at an average of 36 per day. At that pace, it would take 70 days or two and a half months to complete the total 2339 ballot boxes.

Additionally, Ward reported 74 SoRs of the 108 boxes for the General Elections result and 63 for the Regional Elections.

She noted that the Commission is mulling whether to increase the tabulation time by starting an hour earlier but a firm decision is still to be taken.

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Captain Gerry Gouveia had earlier in the day lamented the short space of time allocated for the daily tabulations--between 17:00h and 18:30h—and suggested that this should be extended.

Protracted electoral...

FREOM PAGE 9

He sought to contextualise the process by explaining “this is a count; it is a recount of the ballots and so I believe that is the important thing”.

The PSC, in fact, lauded the work of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), and noted that the staff undertaking the exercise appears to be welltrained “and they are being very diligent and very professional and very courteous”.

He likened the activity to that which obtained on March 2, by the Commission.

He said that “on March 2, when we did the observation, we found no discrepancy, there was no report of irregularity and the vote on March 2 was perfect”.

He noted importantly that when it came to the recount and the Statements generated after completing each box, those assessed thus far have not deviated from Statements of Poll already in the public domain, “we have

found no discrepancies”.

Despite the slothfulness, the PSC Chairman told media operatives: “I believe that the process as it is is a good one and I think as they go on, the process will speed up…. certainly political parties have a right to their due diligence and I don’t have a difficulty with that.”

According to Gouveia, “the big thing now is the time of course.”

He posited that it would be difficult for the Commission, based on the pace at which the recount is proceeding, to complete the exercise in the 25-day timeline that had been approved by the Commission.

The PSC observer was adamant, however, that the answer to that predicament could have and should have been more counting stations, since 10 stations to count 2339 ballot boxes “is a stretch … it is going to be difficult.”

14 NEWS Guyanese students in Cuba GWI aims to boost water supply with new drilling rigs receive care packages SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…eight new wells to be drilled by May 2021

The care packages for Guyanese students in Cuba being loaded onto the Caribbean Airlines flight

A

fter some delay, Guyanese studying in Cuba were sent care packages to help normalise their situation, as the COVID-19 pandemic worsens.

On Friday the Department of Public Service sent some 77 packages to the students. Via a cargo, it was taken to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and loaded onto a Caribbean Airlines flight.

Caretaker Public Service Minister, Tabitha SaraboHalley was present during the process and blamed the lateness of their efforts on

the fact that the Department was seeking clarity on the situation. According to her, they decided to reach out to these persons after realising that they could not return home.

“The officials in Cuba announced that school was not closed completely; and that there are different ways they are dealing with it given the COVID-19 situation. We, therefore, realised that the students could not come home at this particular point and it would be best if the care packages could be sent,” Sarabo-Halley asserted.

For now, classes have continued using distance learning and these sessions will come to an end in July.

From August, academic activities will cease.

Meanwhile, Director of the Educational Department at the Cuban Public Health Ministry (MINSAP) emphasised that mechanisms will be implemented for the courses to be completed, as well as to continue with the others. Those students who continue their studies will be evaluated through a specially designed final exercise.

Special Constable found dead in barrack room

T

he lifeless body of a 53-year-old woman was discovered in the Special Constabulary (SC) Headquarters barrack room on Princess Street, Georgetown on Thursday.

Dead is Pamela Wilson of Lot 22 One Mile Wismar Linden, Region Ten (Upper

Demerara-Berbice).

She was attached to the SC Headquarters in Georgetown.

Reports revealed that the woman’s body was discovered between 8:00h and 11:45h in the barrack room.

When contacted, Commander of Region 4(A), Senior Superintendent Phillip

Azore, explained that following the discovery, the body was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary to await a post mortem.

There were no marks of violence about the body. Her colleagues said she had suffered from hypertension and diabetes.

Labourers burnt following fire in cemetery

T

hree labourers are currently nursing serious burns about their bodies following an explosion in a cemetery at Little Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) on Wednesday.

Reports reaching Guyana Times revealed that the men were contracted to clear the bushes in the cemetery, when they came under attack by bees. However, one of the three men was not able to escape and was trapped in the cemetery for a few hours.

He was said to be unconscious during that period.

Meanwhile, in an attempt to rescue their workmate, the two other men went back into the burial ground and lit a tyre to ward off the bees, but a loud explosion was heard.

The three men managed to escape the fire but would have sustained burns about their bodies.

One resident who witnessed the entire ordeal said that after the man was trapped inside the cemetery, his two friends threw gasoline “all over the place and then light it.”

The new $160 million drilling rigs along with a compressor

T

he Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has acquired two new drilling rigs which will boost the company’s efforts in digging wells at an affordable cost which will ultimately increase the water supply throughout the country.

One of the rigs cost a whopping $160 million from Brazil while the second one was acquired at the tune of $120 million and will be operating in the interior locations.

Speaking to the media at a simple ceremony, Managing Director of GWI, Dr Richard Van WestCharles highlighted that improving capacity through groundwater production is part of the company’s strategic plan.

In the era of COVID-19, where water is the primary defence against the potentially deadly virus, the Managing Director stated that GWI is an organisation strategically placed to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I think for everyone, COVID-19 highlights the critical importance of water and this is where GWI as [a] strategically placed organisation has got to respond,” he asserted.

He noted that as of January 2020, the company would have seen a 20 per cent increase in water consumption. Due to this, he believes that the rigs came in a timely manner.

While the rig is expected to strengthen the company’s in-house capabilities, the Managing Director also pointed out that GWI is expecting equipment out of Holland that will be used to maintain and sustain wells across the country. This, he said, will address any exist-

Managing Director of GWI, Dr Richard Van West-Charles

ing gaps in serving the population.

“From January to date there has been a 20 per cent increase in water consumption and this rig has come at the right time. GWI will be in a much better position at the end of this year and as we break into 2021 in terms of ensuring our population across the country [bridge] the gaps in equity,” Dr Van West-Charles said.

Meanwhile, the company’s Director of Operations, Dwayne Shako explained that the rig will allow them to drill wells in Region Six where wells are about 1400 feet deep.

Shako also revealed that some eight new wells are in the cards to be drilled on the coastland between now and 2021.

The first site identified for a new well is Central Ruimveldt. This will allow areas such as Roxanne Burnham Gardens, East, and West Ruimveldt, which are currently receiving 12 hours of service, to be brought up to 24 hours.

Other areas that can expect new wells are Fyrish Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), Tuschen, Farm – Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara),

- Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) and Amelia’s Ward - Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Shako also explained that the rig will allow GWI to complete drilling within a much shorter timeframe on the coast along with being cost-effective.

Vice-Chairman of GWI’s Board of Directors, David Dewar said the acquisition of the rig is history being remade since the utility once possessed a rig back in the 1980s. He congratulated management on this achievement, noting that it would significantly help to reduce the cost of drilling wells.

Chair of the Board’s Water Resources and Technical Committee, Gavin Todd said that as a body, the Board would have embarked on a number of capital projects aimed at providing safe water to the nation.

He added that this signals the company’s ability to act in light of the nation’s growing demand for water.

The rig, which was purchased with funding from the Government of Guyana, has the capacity to drill 1000 metres deep and was procured from Fox Trading, in Brazil.

Govt releases over...

One of the labourers injured after the fire

“The man was in there almost two to three hours unconscious. We all thought he died and maybe he was burnt to death because we

weren’t hearing him, but they later got him out and took him to the hospital,” she added.

Just last month, the Director of Prisons said a request was made to the Public Health Ministry to establish the facility to house some 250 prisoners. However, at that time, they were still awaiting a response from the Ministry.

Samuels had told Guyana Times that the facility would help to combat the spread of the virus if there is to be an outbreak in any

of the five prisons across the country.

Asked about social distancing being practiced among inmates within the prison system, he pointed out that this is posing as a great challenge since the prison is currently overpopulated.

“We have been practicing many activities of the guidelines that were given as possible, but in an overcrowded

FROM PAGE 11

prison, social distancing is something you can’t strictly adhere to. But wherever possible, it is being practised,” he was quoted as saying.

The COVID-19 emergency measures enforced by the Public Health Ministry on April 3 to curb the spread of the deadly virus states that “No person shall visit or be permitted to visit… a prison or correctional facility…”

NEWS

15

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Europe Day 2020…

€9M granted to Caribbean for fight of COVID-19 A s Guyana joins the rest of the world in celebration of Europe Day 2020, being observed today, the European Union Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Canto, reaffirmed his country’s support to the Caribbean countries that are battling with the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

Europe Day, held on May 9 annually, celebrates peace and unity in Europe. The date marks the anniversary of the historic ‘Schuman declaration’. At a speech in Paris in 1950, Robert Schuman, the then French Foreign Minister, set out his idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe, which would make war between Europe’s nations unthinkable.

His vision was to create a European institution that would pool and manage coal and steel production. A treaty creating such a body was signed just under a year later. Schuman’s proposal is considered to be the beginning of what is now the European Union.

Guyana and the EU have

European Union Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz Canto

signed two important contracts, one of which is for a project that would provide protective services for people at risk of suicide, and the other is to help protect the rights of Indigenous communities.

The EU has also provided $2.4B to Guyana to improve its sea and river defence, and $5.5B to help the local sugar industry improve its competitiveness and/or diversify its operations.

Also launched, a sea-

port cooperation programme would train and equip inter-agency units to identify, search, and interdict all forms of illicit maritime trafficking.

Ambassador Canto has said the EU is about peace, unity, and democracy, factors that have brought Europe to its longest period of peace.

“This is why, in these very trying times, it is so important to reflect and celebrate Europe Day. Europe Day is held on 9 May every year. The date marks the anniversary of historical Schuman,” Canto posited.

Given that unprecedented times currently prevail, Canto explained, this year’s celebration will be focused on navigating these trying times.

“The EU, like the rest of the affected countries, is focused on navigating these stubborn times, but also to help each other to get through; and we will emerge together stronger and better,” Canto stated.

The ambassador also lauded the bloc’s historic ties with the EU member states.

“We value, more than ever, partnership with Guyana, with Suriname, along with the other six countries and territories; and we will continue to work together, and to support their development as we move into the future,” he said.

He added, “We are in this together, and together we will get out.” His country made a contribution of Nine million Euros to help contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Caribbean.

“In addition to our development cooperation programme, the EU is now providing a grant of 9 million euros to have the Caribbean fight this coronavirus outbreak. It will be implemented by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), and is expected to improve detection, surveillance, prevention, control, and response to COVID.” This financial boost will also pave the way for detection, treatment and surveillance, among other things, in order to eradicate COVID-19. (Shemar Alleyne)

Guyana Foundation brings muchneeded assistance to Santa Rosa …village appeal for assistance during COVID-19

A volunteer working on completing face masks

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iven their limited medical resources, Santa Rosa is appealing for detergents and sanitising agents as supplies are running low as the village continues to battle the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Toshao of the village, Whanita Philips explained that the village is desperately in need of assistance during this pandemic, as the villagers have minimal funds while noting that the village is a remote area and transportation is very expensive. Phillips stated that the village has few sanitising products, and masks, etc.

So far, the Guyana Foundation has come on board to assist the village – since the Foundation has been working in the village since 2013 – by providing better drinking water and toilet facilities for the primary school students along with providing supplies to the

A volunteer displaying the fabric which will be used to make the face masks

dormitory where many children from outlying areas stay to attend school. They also donated to the secondary school.

Founder of the Foundation, Supriya Singh stated in a press release to the media that “the Foundation has put on hold a new sewing centre we were about to open and we have redirected funds to sew masks and provide much-needed supplies to this and other villages. Our first shipment of foodstuff and masks left Charity today (Friday)”.

The missive stated that the Foundation’s team members will be working perpetually at the Guyana Foundation’s Sunrise Centre to complete the sewing and packaging of masks while adhering to the social distancing protocol.

“I am very encouraged and inspired by all of the goodness that

exists among the majority of the people of Guyana. We are a great people, we are loving, caring and a God-fearing people, these difficulties too shall pass and our nation will be well again. Let us all keep praying and keep hope alive.”

With the emergence of the novel coronavirus here in Guyana and the numbers continuing to climb, there is increased in anxiety and worry among the population which has led to the Foundation putting on stream two trained counsellors - Madonna Adams Paul, and Miriam Hinds to volunteer their time to assist those who need psychological support during this time.

In addition, Krish Nath of the British Association of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy has been counselling persons from the village remotely.

4 nabbed with gun, ammo at Ituni

F

The guns and ammunition that were found in the vehicle

our men are now in Police custody after they were nabbed with illegal guns and ammunition along the Ituni Public Road, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) on Friday.

Based on reports received, Police ranks acting on information intercepted a vehicle at Ituni with four occupants including the driver. A search was conducted during which a .22 Smith and Wesson pistol; a Glock 19 pistol; ten (10) live

.22 ammunition and a magazine with twenty (20) live 9mm ammunition were unearthed.

The suspects, who hail from Grove on the East Bank of Demerara, Tuschen Housing Scheme on the East Bank of Essequibo and Bamia on the LindenSoesdyke Highway, were arrested.

They are assisting with investigations but charges are expected to be laid shortly.

CSEC examinations to be held in July

T

he Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) students will be sitting their examinations in July 2020.

That was the decision coming out of the First Emergency Virtual Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) - Education on Friday.

The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Education from Antigua and Barbuda Hon Michael Browne.

In a release issued by Caricom, it stated that the Registrar of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Dr Wayne Wesley, made a presentation at the meeting where he explained the administration of the modified examination process for the award of valid grades and preserving the integrity of the examinations involved the administration of Paper 1 (Multiple Choice Assessment), School-Based Assessment, and where applicable additional assessment components along with appropriate modelling accounting for historical data and teacher predicted information.

He said while the proposed revised administration schedule for examinations is July 2020 (results released in the 1st week of September 2020), there was need for a regional consensus considering the impact of COVID-19 and the respective national protocols.

The COHSOD also agreed to have examinations administered via an e-Testing modality in countries that are equipped with the requisite infrastructure. However, where there were infrastructure challenges, candidates would be allowed to sit paper-based examinations.

The CXC in collaboration with the UWI presented another propos-

al at the meeting in relation to requirements for CAPE applicants for 2020 admission. Their proposal to accept CAPE Unit 1 plus previous results to serve as matriculation to UWI for the next academic year was accepted by the Council.

The Council adopted Public Health Guidelines for the reopening of schools, as proposed in the report from Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Dr Joy St John.

The report from CARPHA included initial guidance on the development of protocols for the re-opening of schools in the response, recovery, and resilience phases of the crisis by the education sector. She also spoke to the need for mental health considerations during a public health crisis. Dr St. John reminded the COHSOD of the complexities of the education system in Member States and the challenges for social distancing.

Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago registered concerns regarding the decisions in relation to the date and modification of the CXC examinations, however, the CXC indicated that further bilateral discussions in relation to special considerations could be explored. The Caribbean Union of Teachers also raised concerns regarding the health and safety of stakeholders.

16 ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Random comparison of Friday's SoRs with PPPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SoPs DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF RECOUNT

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT

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SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Random comparison of Friday's SoRs with PPPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SoPs DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF RECOUNT

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

STATEMENTS OF RECOUNT

18 ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

STATEMENTS OF RECOUNT

ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT

19

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

STATEMENTS OF RECOUNT

20 ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

STATEMENTS OF RECOUNT

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020

CLASSIFIED ADS

F

ighters taking part in Saturday’s UFC 249 card in Jacksonville, Florida have been tested on arrival and many have been isolating in their rooms as the mixed martial arts promotion prepares to to get back to business in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event was scheduled for April 18 in Brooklyn, New York, but postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. A bid to stage the card on tribal lands in California was aborted when UFC came under pressure from Disney, which owns broadcast partner ESPN. With lockdown restrictions being lifted in some U.S. states, the stage is set for the UFC’s return at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Florida, with an interim lightweight title bout between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje topping the bill.

The usual media-day mingle between fighters, journalists and camera crews was replaced by an online event at the hotel housing the fighters, with Ferguson appearing on the UFC webcam wearing a black face-mask as he fielded questions.

“I don’t feel any different. Myself, I always went to and from work... I’m not paying attention to anything else besides smiling and making sure that people understand that we’re here for everybody else,” he said.

“Obviously it’s a little bit more quiet, and obviously we don’t have any fans. The only reason everything else is like this, the only reason we’re fighting, is for the fans. Nothing else is changing - if anything else, my game is more serious.” Henry Cejudo, a former Olympic wrestling champion who puts his bantamweight title on the line against Dominick Cruz in Saturday’s co-main event, said he was tested within 15 minutes of arriving at his hotel.He added that the lack of a crowd would not bother him, saying: “It doesn’t matter if there’s two people in the stands, or nobody in the stands, or two billion people in the stands, I’ve got to get the job done.”The UFC did not respond to a Reuters request for information on health and safety procedures but Cameroonian heavyweight Francis Ngannou did not enjoy the COVID-19 nasal swab test. “I think I’d rather take a punch than take that (again),” he said. (Reuters)

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eams will be allowed to use five substitutes when the season resumes after a Fifa proposal to help with fixture congestion was approved.

The change applies to competitions due to be completed within this calendar year, and the decision on wheth-

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ottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min has completed his three-week mandatory military service in South Korea - and won an award for the best performance.

Officials said the 27-year-old excelled in shooting skills and was the top performer among 157 trainees.

Son had returned to his homeland in March to continue his recovery from a fractured arm while the season is suspended because of coronavirus.

All South Korean men must complete military service by the age of 28.

Son had earned exemption from the mandatory 21-month military service after helping South Korea win the 2018 Asian Games.

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The temporary change to the laws of the game is designed to safeguard players (Getty Images)

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er to implement the changes is for each relevant competition organiser.

There is also an option to stop using the video assistant referee system.

Most leagues around the world have been halted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Germany's Bundesliga is due to resume next week, while the Premier League's Project Restart has a prospective resumption next month.

The International Football Association Board (Ifab), football's rule-making body, has agreed to a temporary change to the laws of the game in order to protect player welfare.

"The temporary amendment comes into force with immediate effect, and has been made as matches may be played in a condensed period in different weather conditions, both of which could have impacts on player welfare," Ifab said in a statement.

Ifab and Fifa will decide at a later stage whether to extend the ruling to the 2020-21 season. (BBC Sport)

Son Heung-min with his award

He graduated at a ceremony on Friday at a Marine Corps unit on the island of Jeju in the south of the country.

His military service included shooting and bayonet skills, chemical, biological and radiological training, individual battle skills and first aid training.

"He received the 'Pilsung' prize, which is one of five types of awards for best performers," an officer said, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.

"All the courses were judged in a fair and strict manner, and his military training officers have said he went through the training faithfully."

Spurs congratulated their player on social media and said he will return to London next week.

Son had surgery in February after fracturing an arm during Tottenham's 3-2 victory at Aston Villa.

Spurs boss Jose Mourinho said he did not expect Son to play again this season, though that was before the Premier League's shutdown.

Although he has now finished his military training, Son will still have to complete 544 hours of community service over the next 34 months. (BBC Sport)

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020

Effect of COVID-19 on travel…

-40 days and counting since…

By Brandon Corlette

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he long wait to return home for veteran Guyanese Sports Journalist John Ramsingh continues, and like many other Guyanese stuck abroad, he finds this simply frustrating.

Having departed Guyana since March 5, 2020 to go to Cape Town, South Africa to perform the role of Media Manager of the Over-50 World Cup Team, Ramsingh has

Team West Indies Over-50s

Ramsingh rocking his West Indies Over-50 blazer

since been caught in the global lockdown brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic, and on May 2, expressed his frustration in a post on his Facebook page.

"The US Government is responsible for their citizens, so they are sending yet another airline to Guyana on Monday May 4 to evacuate Americans. The Eastern Airlines flight will be leaving Miami International yet again with no passengers. This hurts. I have no ties to any other country, yet I remain locked out of the motherland since March 19. Is this legal? Is this a violation of my human rights? I am at

the mercy of another government. I feel betrayed."

Appearing on a telephone interview last week on the Mason Guest Radio Show, Ramsingh shared his experience being in unfamiliar territory. He said the Over-50 tournament was cancelled on March 15, and the team was trying to make its exit since then.

"That was the instruction from the organisers, and we left on March 18 but we did not arrive in the USA until a day later, March 19.

“Unfortunately, I was trying to get to Guyana, but the airports in Guyana were closed the day before. I have a close friend living in Boston, Massachusetts, so I took the opportunity to go stay with him for a few days," Ramsingh explained.

He added that the airport was reopened in Guyana on April 1. "So I thought this would be pretty much like a vacation for me, so I went down by my friend. Just as we were approaching April 1, the Guyana Government took a decision to extend that closure to May 1, and recently into May 3", Ramsingh detailed.

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ast bowler Mark Wood says players would be willing to go into isolation in order for England matches to take place this summer.

Plans to play in a bio-secure environment could involve players staying together for a number of weeks and being subject to regular coronavirus testing.

"Everybody in the squad, as long as the conditions are right, would be willing to come back and play some cricket," said Wood.

"I know it would be a long stint and it would be hard but it would be good to get back out there."

There will be no cricket in England and Wales until at least 1 July, which has meant the postponement of England's Test series against West Indies.

To reschedule those matches, and host subsequent visits from Pakistan, Australia and Ireland, the England and Wales Cricket Board is exploring the possibility of using bio-secure venues.This could mean grounds like Old Trafford and Southampton, which each have a hotel on site where players, staff, media and anyone else required to be at a match could stay.England players have been briefed by director of cricket Ashley Giles and the ECB's chief medical officer Dr Nick Peirce as to what the plans could mean for them."You sort of get used to being away on tour for long periods of time," said Wood, who has played 15 Tests for England and was part of the team that won the World Cup in 2019."It would be very hard but as long as the environment is safe, my family are safe and everybody else there is safe then I'd be willing to do it."If all of England's summer schedule is saved, that would mean a total of six Tests, six one-day internationals and six Twenty20s.That would probably mean a large squad being chosen, even if the Test and limited-overs teams would be separated at times.Still, it is likely that any players who do not feature in certain matches would not be able to leave the team environment."I imagine they would have a pool of players that we'll dip into if the Test matches come thick and fast," said Wood."We've never been in these circumstances before where we don't know what's going to happen on the down days – I guess you can't just go home so maybe you'll have to train in small groups.”It will be interesting to see how it does work.”

(BBC Sport)

He noted that it has been a long isolation, “but I have been very safe with my friend, who was born in Guyana. I have been very much welcomed here, and I am monitoring what's happening (in) Guyana. I sent a few emails, gotten a few responses out of Guyana.

“They are working on evacuation plans, but Guyanese are scattered around the world that are willing to go back home right now. I am awaiting my final boarding pass to get back in Guyana," Ramsingh posited on the Mason and Guest show.

This popular Guyanese media manager for the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW), as the media manager of the Over-50 West Indies team, had the luxury of performing commentaries on live streams, write articles, prepare match summaries, engage in photography, and have a say in team selection.

The West Indies Over-50 team was comprised of players whose roots are in the Caribbean. These players were not required to play first-class or international cricket in the past.

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t Kitts and Nevis Patriots newly appointed head coach Simon Helmot said that he is looking forward to capitalise on Dinesh Ramdin's experience as he believes it will come in handy in the upcoming Caribbean Premier League.Helmot replaced Robin Singh as St Kitts and Nevis Patriots head coach while the franchise also made several other changes in their line-up as they opted to release their captain Craig Braithwaite and signed Windies wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Ramdin. Despite the swap, it will be Ryan Emrit who will be leading them in the tournament.Ramdin joined St Kitts after spending four years in his home franchise Trinbago Knight Riders where he won the title in 2017 and 2018."Ramdin is a quality player and individual," Helmot told Cricbuzz. "His experience and leadership will be valuable for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. Both captain Emrit and l know him well and look forward to working with Dinesh again and I commend owner Mahesh for securing Ramdin this CPL season."Helmot believes that they have got the right brand of cricketers in the likes of Evin Lewis, Dinesh Ramdin in action during the Hero CPL Sheldon Cottrell, Fabian Allen and Alzarri Joseph while refusing to comment on the departure of Braithwaite. "We will be looking to construct a well balanced squad that will be competitive against all opposition at all venues," he remarked."To win a CPL you need a strong batting group and versatile and miserly bowling group coupled by agile and dynamic fielding unit along with united and respectful team ethos and collaborative players - support staff - administration - ownership. I am looking forward to working with Mahesh and our team to achieve the ultimate success."The full squad will be compiled once the draft is completed as the international retentions and signings are expected to be announced at a later date but balance will be key and we are looking forward to it," he said.CPL is set to commence on August 19 but whether the event will go ahead as planned is doubtful with the spread of COVID-19 across the globe.CPL organizers are watching the developments closely and will be making a decision on the tournament as soon as possible after taking everything into consideration. "We are guided by the CPL," Helmot noted. "We are all hopeful the Caribbean Premier League can proceed as scheduled." (Cricbuzz)

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

- Paul’s episode next to air

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he Hero Caribbean Premier League has worked with Trombone Productions and Sunset+Vine to create films that tell the stories of three of the most exciting Caribbean cricketers. The films focus on Oshane Thomas, Keemo Paul and Rovman Powell.

In each film these talented young men travel back to their home towns and meet the people who helped them become the cricketers they are today. We also hear from some of the superstar cricketers who they have played with in their career, with the likes of Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Shoaib Malik giving us their thoughts on these players.

Oshane Thomas visits the site of his brother’s murder, talks about how this impacted on his life and how he overcame this to become an international cricketer.

Keemo Paul grew up in a tiny fishing village on the Essequibo River. His house had no running water and no electricity. It is more than 30 miles from the nearest road.

Keemo Paul

Rovman Powell and Mahmadullah converge a catch

This is where he first learned to play cricket, and we go back to visit the community that made him the man he is today, and somewhere he still calls home.

Rovman Powell takes us to meet his mother who raised him and his sister on her own, sometimes working three jobs to give him the start he needed to excel at cricket.

Speaking about this films CPL’s Head of Production, Paul Pritchett-Brown, said: "When documenting sports people it is their on field talent that is usually the focus, but behind every successful athlete is a story of where they came from, the people who made their careers possible and the defining moments in their lives that give them the drive and focus to become the best in the world at what they do. It was a privilege to be able to go to where these impressive young men came from and to tell their stories."

All three films will be available on the Caribbean Premier League YouTube and Facebook pages. Thomas’ episode was the first to premiere on May 8 while Paul’s film will be released on May 22 and Powell’s on June 5.

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he name Stanton Rose Jr is popular among avid basketball fans, both young and old, in Guyana.

As everyone would recall, Rose’s career took flight when he led Guyana to its maiden Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) title in 2018.

Rose has recently been signed with the St Mary’s University in the USA, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, everything has been put on hold until resumption of play is safe. Rose is urging everyone to stay indoors and adhere to the protocols governing the fight against this dreaded disease.This is a young man whose natural skill and talent have distinguished him when he played for Panola College in Texas, USA. In 2019, Rose had said it was his goal to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA), noting that it didn’t matter where or whom he played for, once the opportunity given to him allowed him to play for the NBA. He had relayed that, to do so, he must play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 2, and with him now being signed to St Mary’s University, he will be able to compete therein.In an interview with Guyana Times Sport, Rose was asked his views on the current COVID-19 situation, and his response was: “My view on the COVID-19 is to stay home, stay inside, adhere to the quarantine rules. Doing this is good; it will help you to focus more on yourself. I really think these precautions are good. “As for me, I am indoors,

Oshane Thomas

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ricket West Indies new investment and focus on emerging and Under-19 players has begun bearing fruit with the success of the West Indies Emerging Players team being crowned the 2019 Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup Champions in only their second year of competition.

At just age 20, Kevin Sinclair is a budding young off-spinning all-rounder who has since forced his way into five-time West Indies Championship winners, Guyana Jaguars.

He did so on the back of his exploits in the Super50 and he offered solid bowling support to Veerasammy Permaul, who was the leading wicket-taker in the four-day tournament.

Sinclair, fondly remembered for his acrobatic wicket-taking celebrations during the Super50, spoke to CWI Media as he recapped his 2019/20 season.

The Interview

Stanton Rose

following the rules of social distancing. As you know, we Guyanese have our own methods (of addressing sickness).

We have our fever grass etc, we can use that to help do our body good and keep it safe. I mean, one of the main things in the morning is getting up and exercising. This will be beneficial, as it builds your immune system. “I want to urge everyone to please stay off the road. As long as the death rate

drops and it is safe once again, we will be allowed to be outside. But if we disregard this (advisory) and continue to socialize, the death rate will increase and we will be indoors longer. So, please, I’m urging everyone, let us stay indoors and be safe.”Whenever this pandemiccomes to an end, Rose will be anxiously waiting to play his first pro-basketball match and attain his dream of playing in the NBA.

In your maiden season of domestic cricket, you were part of a winning West Indies Emerging Players in the Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup and became a fixture in Guyana Jaguars four-day team. ”It’s been fantastic because all my hard work paid off being part of a team that won the Super50 and getting picked in the five-time defending champions, Guyana Jaguars team.”

The successful Guyana team had spinners such as Verasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Gudakesh Motie and Jamaican Ramaal

Lewis. After the Super50, were you confident that you could break into the team?

Looking back, how would you describe this experience so far? ”My mindset at the time was that we had trials coming up and not to be complacent and try to put my best foot forward. I scored a fifty and took four wickets and everything progressed from there.

Considering that the West Indies Emerging Players team consisted of players who just missed out on national team selection, for you personally how big was the experience of playing Super50 in preparing you for the eventual Guyana team call-up?

It was a great experience playing and getting to showcase my talent. So I would say the preparation coach Floyd Reifer gave us in the Super50 was a great platform going into the four-day matches.

Describe your life in cricket for fans in the West Indies?

“Basically, I started playing at the age of seven. I felt great playing against Shane Shillingford in the Super50, because as I told him he was the person that inspired me to play cricket as an off-spinner because he was dominating at the time. My grandfather, Carlton Sinclair, who also was a cricketer, was also a big inspiration.”

“I am a member of the Rosehall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) and I consider myself to be an all-rounder that can bat and bowl. Of course, I won’t overrate myself just aiming to keep working hard until I can ac-

And ecstatic Kevin Sinclair does his trademark backflip

complish my dream of wearing the maroon colours.”

What have you learnt about your all-round game in the 2019/20 season that you are seeking to improve on?

I don’t believe I need to change much of my basics other than working on a few technical areas having got a taste of regional cricket this year.”

How have you been keeping active during the lockdown in Guyana? ”I’ve been trying to hit a few balls just to keep my hands active and doing all my regular fitness work. I was selected in the CPL this year so I can’t relax despite the uncertainty.”

SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

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- Paul’s episode next to air PAGE 23

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