Guyana Times - Tuesday, April 28, 2020

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

Issue No. 4269

THE BEACON OF TRUTH TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

GECOM, APNU/AFC destruction of democracy: Day 57

PRICE

Caricom team to arrive on Thursday Page 3

…no recount start date, no GECOM meeting on Monday

Only 9 COVID-19 tests conducted in 24 hours …no positive cases in 48 hours See story on page 7

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Courts preserve wiretapping recourse during P10 COVID-19 lockdown …also remains open to election-related filings Canal No 1 murder

P11

Suspect apprehended, family recalls tragic details

Page 9

New management as Guyana Goldfields to be sold to Silvercorp

…workers told not to worry, but union questions severance

WCD family fearful after shots fired at P8 house

Guyana’s Elections 2020

Petition submitted to US for sanctions against persons involved in electoral fraud COVID-19 fight

Berbice labourer P14 charged for killing reputed wife See story on page 2

Caribbean, Guyana get additional US$1.7M from US Govt …“We can always count on the US to support us in difficult times – Dr Irfaan Ali See story on page 11

Cockfight P12 competition hosted during curfew

2 NEWS

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana’s Elections 2020

Petition submitted to US for sanctions against persons involved in electoral fraud

Trinidad-based Attorney-at-Law, a former US Embassy Consular Officer in T&T, Randy Depoo leaving the US Embassy in Kingston, Georgetown, after delivering the petition

‘S

ave Democracy Guyana’ on Monday formally handed to the US Embassy in Georgetown, a petition of over 6500 names addressed to US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, calling for that county to impose a range of individual sanctions against persons accused of electoral malfeasance over their involvement in the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

Trinidad based attorney-at-law, a former US Embassy Consular Officer in T&T, Randy Depoo delivered the petition to the Embassy shortly before noon on Monday amidst a heightened security presence on his arrival.

He later told the media that the persons implicated in the petition for whom sanctions are being called for include ‘caretaker’ President,

David Granger, a number of Ministers and Government and elections officials.

According to Depoo, the sanctions being called for are “personal” sanctions as against sanctions levied on the country.

He said the Government cabal was assisted in their electoral malfeasance by cohorts in the Guyana Elections Commission.

Depoo identified also, Moses Nagamootoo, Joseph Harmon, Basil Williams, Volda Lawrence, Amna Ally and Khemraj Ramjattan.

He said that those at the Guyana Elections Commission against whom the group is calling for sanctions include Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers, Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo and GECOM Chairperson, Retired Justice

Caretaker President David Granger

Claudette Singh.

The attorney also identified prominent coalition financier, Brian Tiwarie, the principal at BK International as another person for whom sanction is being sought.

Asked why the group did not seek to exhaust more domestic avenues towards its end, Depoo told media operatives “we tried to exhaust local means democratically but we have a regime, a dictatorship right now which is frustrating that so we’ve restored to going to the Secretary of State and asking him to impose sanctions on these people.”

Cancellation of visas

He told the media that personal sanctions being called for involve cancellation of visas for those persons identified in addition to their family members and for the revocation of a right to ever enter the US and the

freezing of all bank accounts and property held by those persons in the US. Asked to elaborate on what basis the group was leading the charge for sanctions, Depoo noted that it is now almost 60 days since the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

He used the occasion to recognise that the US Government has publicly expressed its reservations over the tabulation process in determining a final result for the election in addition to lamenting the protracted delays.

According to Depoo, this is in addition to the consternations raised by the British, Canadian and Norwegian Governments and Commonwealth Group of Nations, Organisation of American States, the Caribbean Community and the Carter Center, among a host of others.

“The condemnation of what’s going on here which is basically in colloquial terms, the attempted thieving of the elections” and has also accused the alleged perpetrators of foisting a new narrative by “accusing the Opposition of trying to frustrate the counting.”

The attorney also dismissed the notion of a credible recount process by GECOM, saying “how could we have faith when the results are known.”

He said that on the evening of March 2, the Statements of Poll from the various Polling Stations would have been dis-

Caretaker PM Moses Nagamootoo

seminated among the stakeholders including the political parties.

According to Depoo, by the following day, the political parties in possession of those SoPs would have known the results of the elections already.

He suggested that “they (APNU/AFC) realise that they get caught with their pants down so they have gone through this very deliberate amateurish process of trying to stall”.

The attorney pointed to a number of examples such as Mingo falling sick and having to be rushed off with an ambulance only to show up the following day, “but instead of counting the SoPs he came up with a spreadsheet….how could we have faith in a system like this.”

The lawyer said the group by its action—calling for personal sanctions—would lead to

an early resolution of the current electoral impasse facing the country and to have the rightful winner of the elections sworn into office.

“Our objective is not to determine the winner,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the recently formed political activism group, Deepoo said: “We have lost two months of democracy in Guyana right now, somebody has to pay a price for that.”

He was adamant that even if the election results were to be had at the end of this week it would not change the fact that

Region Four RO Clairmont Mingo

there was an attempt to steal the elections.

Depoo noted that the petition, launched a week ago, solicited online support and targeted members of the Guyanese Diaspora and was set up “to give expression to the frustration of the Guyanese people.”

NEWS

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TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana's elections recount

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, April 28 – 09:00h – 10:30h and Wednesday, April 29 – 09:00h – 10:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, April 28 – 06:50h – 08:20h and Wednesday, April 29 – 07:40h – 09:10h.

Caricom team to arrive on Thursday …no recount start date, no GECOM meeting on Monday

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be sunshine during the day. There will clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 20 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 07:29h and 20:08h reaching maximum heights of 2.51 metres and 2.32 metres.

Low Tide: 13:36h reaching a minimum height of 0.71 metre.

GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

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ecretary General of the Caribbean C o m m u n i t y (Caricom), Irwin LaRocque on Monday informed the Chairman of the National COVID-19 Task Force of

on the recount date is still pending.

When the team comes, it will be their second time attempting to lend their expertise to resolve Guyana's electoral crisis. After two declarations from Region Four’s Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, which lacked transparency, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and President David Granger had agreed back in March to have Caricom oversee the recount in a deal brokered by Caricom Chair, Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

The first high-level team that came was made up of its Chair, former Attorney General and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Dominica, Francine

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its impending arrival in the country.

The Caricom delegation was invited by the Commission’s Chair, Retired Justice Singh, to take part in observing the recount of the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

The invitation was communicated to LaRocque, however, his response was communicated with the Task Force instead.

Late Monday evening, the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) announced that the approval was given and the team will arrive on Thursday.

LaRocque indicated to the COVID-19 Task Force that arrangements would be made for the members of the team to be tested in their respective country, using the World Health Organisation’s approved PCR COVID-19 test.

Additionally, the Task Force was informed that Caricom is requesting approval for the departure and landing of a chartered flight from Guyana to collect the team members, as well as similar arrangements for their return upon completion of the exercise.

As Caricom gears up for the recount, there seems to be no progress locally. There was no meeting on Monday by the Guyana Elections Commission. A decision

Baron; former Minister of Finance of Grenada, Anthony Boatswain; Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government of UWI, Cynthia Barrow-Giles; Chief Electoral Officer of Barbados, Angela Taylor; and Chief Elections Officer of Trinidad and Tobago Fern Narcis-Scope.

But before the recount even got started, delay tactics by GECOM allowed

Caricom SG, Irwin LaRocque

APNU/AFC candidate Ulita Moore to go to the courts seeking an injunction against the recount. The granting of this injunction forced the previous Caricom team of observers to leave.

Following their departure, Mia Mottley had lamented that there were "forces" in Guyana who do not want the recount to happen.

The decision by Caricom to again field a delegation to

Guyana as part of the country’s electoral process comes on the heels of an earlier decision by National COVID-19 Task Force Chairman and caretaker Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, to subject Caricom and any foreign observer to a mandatory 14day quarantine on their arrival in Guyana.

That decision had led to widespread public outcry and a subsequent intervention by caretaker President David Granger to instead have the officials tested for COVID-19 in their home countries before leaving for Guyana.

It is now close to two months since the close of the March 2 polls and a decision is yet to be taken. GECOM has committed to a recount and has finalised a work plan but has said it would need an arrival date from Caricom in order to formally Gazette the order for the elections recount.

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 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

Another lost opportunity for GECOM Chair

T

here have been mounting criticisms against Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Rtd) Claudette Singh for voting against several of the motions put forward by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Commissioners at the last GECOM meeting – all aimed at ensuring that the electoral body gets back on track and seriously work towards delivering credible elections results to the nation.

Given all that had transpired in relation to the declaration of questionable results for District Four by Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, one would have thought that GECOM, more particularly the Chairperson herself, would have taken and supported all the measures she possibly can to rebuild public trust in the organisation since the general perception at the moment is that GECOM, in its present configuration, cannot be relied upon to run-off free, fair, and credible elections.

In our view, Justice Singh has lost yet another opportunity, to prove to the nation that she is serious about ensuring the electoral process is concluded in an expeditious, fair and transparent manner.

The proposals put forward by the PPP were all intended to bring greater transparency to the entire process. It, therefore, baffles the mind of what level of reasoning was used by the Chair to side with the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC)-aligned Commissioners to reject the proposals.

For example, after all the madness that took place with Mingo and others in relation to the tabulation of Statements of Polls (SoPs) for District Four and the Chairperson’s public commitment to act fairly and transparently, the Chair voted to reject a proposal to allow the Audit Office of Guyana or a private audit firm to aid and scrutinise the exercise, while at the same time retaining questionable staff members who were front and centre in their attempts to foist on the nation, fraudulent results aimed at handing a victory to the APNU/AFC. Equally baffling was the Chairperson’s rejection of the proposal for the Commissioners to be given the SoPs, to which they have a legal entitlement. Many have been asking what is there to conceal.

What’s the reason for not making the documents available even though they would have already been publicly posted outside the various polling stations at the close of polls?

Further, amongst the most baffling was the Chair’s rejection of a proposal to have the recount livestreamed. Almost every stakeholder involved in the elections had signalled support for going this route, more so, because it would have boosted public confidence in the process, which would have also made it easier for the results to be accepted by all parties.

In her justification for rejecting the proposal, Justice Singh cited Section 90 of the Representation of the People Act, which speaks to the maintenance of the secrecy of the count. That section states that “Every person attending at the count of votes shall maintain and not communicate any information obtained at the count as to the list of candidates for which any vote has been given” and according to Justice Singh, “Because of the secrecy, they cannot show the ballot but what they can do, they can show the results after the results would have been tabulated, I have no problem with that.”

However, legal minds, including Attorneys Anil Nandlall and Sanjeev Datadin have argued that GECOM is legally empowered to stream the national recount live for the benefit of the general public, and are of the view that Section 90 is not applicable to the live streaming of the recount in the way that the GECOM Chair is implying.

In any event, the recount is being done under Section 22 of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act and Article 162(1)(b) of the Constitution, both of which empower GECOM to issue such instructions and take such actions as appear to it necessary and expedient to ensure impartiality and fairness.

It must be noted too that Justice Singh herself, in her written submissions to the court, highlighted the importance of GECOM and the electoral process enjoying public confidence so that the election results would be accepted by all. The live streaming of the process and the other proposals contained in the PPP’s motions would have enhanced impartiality and fairness. The explanation provided by the GECOM Chair following her rejection of the proposals does not match her words.

The former Judge must be well aware that the law is not an ass and was never intended to prevent the usage of additional measures aimed at providing higher levels of guarantees for transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

Promptly declared, aboveboard election results

Dear Editor, Mid-May 2015, a day or two after the declaration of our May 11, 2015 General Elections, still stunned and dazed and bruised all over by our (PPP/C) surprised, narrow, declared loss: reminding, comforting and seeking to reassure myself that in life there will be ups and downs, occasions of winning and occasions of losing: that life must and will go on and that in the case of elections, there will come another day no more than five years away for our next elections.

Some say that the day the results of an election is declared is the day to begin working for the next. I took up myself, put my toughest elephant skin on and journeyed downtown to pick up what vibes I might, and as much to show that we, PPP/C had not into hiding gone, neither routed nor vanquished were we. In front of Stabroek Market, the usual high level of activities not yet restored, a group of Afro-Guyanese young men, such as I have heard described even by themselves as “deh about” and “knowing what is coming down” hailed out at me: “Outgoing PM, why you so glum? It is we who voted Granger in for a change, to see what that big man can do: and if he ain’t doing, we will vote him out in turn (at the next elections)”.

They made my day: I couldn’t ask for more – we talked. They restored my faith from my Linden, bauxite working days, that in quiet moments out of the limelight, with persons never thought possible, good and wise counsel could be shared. I would like to meet up with them again – not to hear how they voted on March 2, 2020 – my issue

would be the implied assumption in our discussions in May 2015, that elections would be run fair, who wins, wins; and if there is to be a change in Government, so let it be, another change can surely follow. I would like to know that they are not supportive of the frustration that we Guyanese have been enduring of the results of our 2020 elections.

I write this letter having just been looking at an FB post by fellow Guyanese, Roy Beepat, which I understood to be making the point (as many others have done) that there could be no more compelling evidence that the coalition had lost than that departure of RO Mingo from the accustomed open procedure of tabulating the votes from the SoPs and his refusal to return to that open tabulation.

Also, I write this letter, dismayed as to how the leadership elite of the PNCR/APNU/AFC has played out the dire expectations of them. I refer again to my readings of a number of Dr Henry Jeffrey’s Future Notes over the last five years: the leadership of the PNCR/APNU/AFC coalition are doing their own thing, not the people’s desires.

They must be depending on 1) whatever they do, even to their own people, they are not concerned about losing their vote; their traditional supporters not wanting to see a PPP/C win, would tolerate anything; 2) as a fallback, a captured election machinery would provide whatever addition (rigging) may be required. If this leadership elite can’t themselves change then their people should change them out. They are no good for Guyana.

Rather than throw in the towel on the obvious

farce to hang on to Office, the leadership elite of the PNCR/APNU/AFC have preferred to keep our people and country punishing during over 50 days of COVID, and insisting on procedures for a recount for which there might yet be no end.

I write this letter in an appeal to my fellow 217,614 Guyanese, each one of you individually and all together, who, as is your right, voted for the coalition on March 2: This is an appeal from fellow 232,805 Guyanese who voted for the PPP/C and 9485 other Guyanese who voted for the small parties. I call on enough of you to raise your voices and insist within the varied meetings of the various PNCR/APNU/AFC, that the change in Government, with the return of the PPP/C to Office, is not, and has no reason to be the end of the world. I call on every one of you who holds our Guyana endeavour dear, to insist: “Let the PPP/C have their just rewards and enter office: no rigging in my name (with fond memories of dear Andaiye)”.

I write this letter believing that the overwhelming majority of our people have been earnest in their desire to make a success of our Guyanese endeavour, of fragments from six peoples from around our world becoming in time, One People, One Nation with a common Destiny. Our problem has been, in my view, that the challenge therein is ten times as profound and as intense as would have first been imagined. Many of us, leaders and rank and file, would have given up early. Even so, I must recognise that the events since March 2 have been putting to a severe test the question whether there is be-

tween and amongst us the minimum essential to sustain that noble aspiration of becoming “One People, One Nation”.

There are again the many calls for us to bring about a change in the form of our Governance – but one must wonder whether persons frustrating our 2020 Elections would be any more ready for an annual rotation of a presidency when that day came. An honest declaration of the results of our 2020 Elections would open the door to rebuilding the essential trust for our Guyana endeavour and earnest consideration of alternative forms of Governance.

We of the PPP and PPP/C have been persevering in our commitment to the Guyana endeavour.

Although not satisfied with the declaration of the 2015 Elections, our commitment to the Guyana endeavour prevailed. Our Presidential Candidate conceded and we exited the Offices of Government within four or five days of that elections. It was not the end of the world for us, PPP/C, - indeed we have been refreshed and revitalised and it may well have been a blessing in disguise. There is no reason why accepting and coming to terms with their loss in 2020 could not do the same for the coalition and it will bring these days of torment of our people and nation to an end.

The Guyana endeavour needs the commitment of both large parties – one hand can’t clap.

Dear Editor, We, children of Guyana, many on this list who have voted for the first time, demand that our votes be tabulated and declared in a credible manner that reflects the will of the people. We are leaving this responsibility to fix this political mess in a timely manner, solely at the feet of Ms Claudette Singh, (the Chairperson of GECOM) because this is her job.

We all are fully aware that all of the electoral districts were legitimately declared save and except for District No Four. This district was not declared credibly because senior officials

in GECOM abandoned the law and decided to do their own thing to ensure that the APNU/AFC is artificially declared the overall winner of the 2020 elections. But irrespective of the action of these operatives led by Mr Clairmont Mingo, with active support from his seniors in the GECOM Secretariat, the buck for this proverbial fraud stops with the Chairperson of GECOM. Under the law – Act No 15 of 2000, the Election Laws (Amendment) Act 2000, the power to fix any difficulties that have arisen in the process is given to GECOM headed by the Chairperson.

To date, the Chairperson

of GECOM has failed to fix the difficulties that were created by these political operatives in the organisation, despite having said that “she is doing all that she can” when the evidence reveals she is not.

Madam Singh, as a former Jurist on the Appeals Court, you are amply educated and informed of the laws to make an order. It is disturbing to us to know that such a learned previous Judge will leave such a process to others. This is unfortunate.

It has been eight Mondays (8 weeks) since we held elections and yet week after week, Ms Claudette

Singh continues to not do her job. All she has done was sidestep the real issues and found secondary issues to populate her communications with the media.

This has given energy to the school of thought that the Chairperson is not asserting herself in the process enough and this is contributing to the results not credibly being declared.

We say no to any attempt to thwart the will of the people by way of rigged elections. We say yes to democracy.

Yours truly, Samuel AA Hinds Former Prime Minister and former President

Yes to democracy

With regards, Signed by Juan Edghill Jr and 24 others

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

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APNU/AFC’s COVID-19 Task The crystallisation of Force has neither respect the plan to steal Govt nor confidence of Guyanese

Dear Editor, COVID-19 is a killer.

It threatens the lives of every Guyanese, no matter what political party we support, no matter our ethnicity, religion or where we live in Guyana. The Government’s COVID-19 Task Force is not supposed to be a political tool, not supposed to be an opportunity for corruption. Moses Nagamootoo, as Chairman of the Task Force, utilised it in pursuit of electoral fraud, thus rendering the Task Force another political tool for APNU/AFC. Most Guyanese had no confidence or respect for the Nagamootoo-led COVID-19 Task Force from the very start because Nagamootoo has spent five years as a rubber stamp.

David Granger, who has not once been out leading the COVID-19 fight, even with 74 people confirmed with COVID-19 and eight people dead, has now appointed Joe Harmon as the COVID-19 Task Force Chief Executive Officer, the man with responsibility for the day-to-day COVID-19 response. He has a staff of persons who have presumably been seconded from other Government positions. The Task Force Secretariat, administrative and technical staff is still a secret. Most Guyanese are now finding out that the Task Force was not just a committee overseeing the response, but an actual response unit. Who are the staff members? How many staff members? Are they full-time employees?

If seconded, from which Government departments were they seconded? These questions concern the Guyanese people.

Now that Mr Granger has confirmed Joe Harmon is no longer the Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency and is now the CEO of the COVID-19 Task Force, the Guyanese people would like to know

what are the terms under which he is serving. What is his remuneration package for this newest of jobs?

While we are at it, we will like information about the rest of the staff. Who are they?

Information has reached us that the staff members of the Task Force are being paid about $300,000 per month as a top-up to their existing salaries for serving on the Task Force. Why is there a need for this topup? Are doctors and nurses and other frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19 benefitting from any financial incentive for putting their lives at risk every minute of the day?

Something is not right in the way the COVID-19 response is now an opportunity for a small group to benefit from, while many of our health workers must put their lives at risk every single day.

APNU/AFC has used the COVID-19 crisis for political purposes, but also for other corrupt purposes.

The $1 billion transaction for the rehabilitation of the Ocean View Hotel is a prime example. Outside of the rehabilitation cost, there is the rental cost of $22 million per month and the retrofitting cost as a hospital, if that ever happens. The choice of the Ocean View Hotel at that cost is highly suspicious. We could have extended Diamond Hospital for less and then that would have led to a long-term improvement of the Diamond Regional Hospital. We could have improved the Guyana School of Agriculture Dormitory or the Cyril Potter Dormitory or the UG Student Dormitory or any number of other dormitories that are presently empty because these institutions are under lockdown.

In the meanwhile, the COVID-19 Task Force and the Government have done

nothing meaningful since it was established and since the first case was identified almost 50 days ago. The CDC started a timid hamper distribution with foodstuff donated by the Private Sector. After distributing 1750 hampers, they stopped because the Government said it wanted a long-term plan. What does this mean?

People need help now, they cannot wait until tomorrow.

Japarts, a private company, has been able to distribute at least twice as much as the CDC. The Irfaan Ali-led COVID-19 MultiStakeholders’ Forum, established to help in the fight against COVID-19, has distributed more than 30,000 face masks so far and has distributed hampers with foodstuff and sanitisers to thousands of people. Other individuals and NGOs are doing the same, none of which was mobilised by the Nagamootoo/Harmon-led Task Force.

We need a genuine Government response.

All we have had from the Government is gamesmanship and show. The time has come for a reckoning.

We need a Government that can take leadership and fight COVID-19. We need to test, test, test, so that our doctors and nurses and other health workers can do their jobs. We need to provide health workers with PPE and with medicines and other things to provide safe, quality health care. We need proper quarantine facilities and isolation programmes. We need socio-economic support for the masses, for poor people who need support now, for small businesses that are threatened with bankruptcy. We need to energise the economy. We need the Guyanese people to be inspired by a legitimate Government.

We need these things now.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Preparation for election results

Dear Editor, In the absence of a Government and given the volatile history of violence after highly contested elections, especially when an injustice is perceived, it is necessary that the two major parties work on joint plans to mitigate the risk of after elections violence.

There is currently a high level of tension in the country, so comrades (PPP and PNC) please take the necessary steps to keep all Guyanese safe. One death is too many.

There will need to be a lot of caution taken on the roadways as election results come out and having an agreed-upon curfew and predetermined roadblocks along major roadways (for eg the Linden Highway and the Corentyne Road) and around Linden, Georgetown and other sensitive areas will help increase the level of safety for all Guyanese.

It is also important that each party is well organised and can keep their supporters safe while also maintaining control over their

supporters to ensure no rogue elements create mischief nor commit violent acts during a peaceful transition into the new administrative period.

We the law-abiding citizens of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana thank the major parties involved in the elections for ensuring the maintenance of a safe and secure civil society during this tense period of our history.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

SEE ADDITIONAL LETTERS ON PAGE 16

Dear Editor, With every meeting of GECOM, the contours of the PNC-led APNU/AFC plans to steal the elections and remain in power are becoming more pronounced. The total rejection of all the proposals made by the Commissioners appointed on the recommendation of the PPP/C by the three Government Commissioners and Claudette Singh, the Chairperson of the Commission, has demonstrated a serious lack of will to stand strong for our nation.

The Chair is wittingly or unwittingly facilitating the PNC riggers’ diabolical plans.

The PNC elite, including Granger, believes that it can still steal the elections.

That conviction on the PNC’s part is fuelled by the successes which they had in first placing the PPP/C in a minority position in the National Assembly after the 2011 elections and stealing the elections completely in 2015. The technique that they tried during the counting of the 2020 elections was the same used in the two previous elections.

In passing, in the interest of truth, the 2011 and 2015 elections should be audited sometime in the future.

The recent decision by the Commission is intended to discourage any independent participation in the recount. The minimum of twenty-five days is aimed at keeping away observers from Caricom, OAS, The Commonwealth and the Carter Center.

Indeed, they have many other places that they could use to count the votes, at the moment several large schools in Georgetown are available and could accommodate much more counting stations. This job really should not take five days.

As far as the local observers are concerned, the PNC cabal wants to exclude them completely. The alternative strategy to keep them away is to try to say that they are not impartial. Thus, the attacks on them and mainly on the most vocal among them.

Added to this is the frustration and intimidation that are also being employed to discourage the locals.

If their plan cannot be executed fully because of vigilance of the Guyanese people and the international community then the PNC-led cabal would resort to another plot.

That would be applying destructive tactics. With their control of the security forces, they will ensure that those put to do security will be carefully chosen to allow the PNC thugs to infiltrate the centre with the aim of destroying the ballots on some flimsy pretext or the other.

Already, we saw one of the staunch advocates of stealing the elections, David Hinds,

talking about burning the ballots ‘Mouth open, story jump out’.

What do they hope to gain by that?

It is a similar tactic they used to combat the NoConfidence Motion. Recall a statement made by another defender of this lawless regime, Mr Nigel Hughes. He had at a public outing, responded to those who were ridiculing his 33-34 gymnastic by saying but it got the Government a year more.

That was their objection in the first place.

These new tactics that they are clearly now putting into operation are designed to give them years in power without any mandate from the people.

If they can succeed in destroying the ballots by a staged disturbance using thugs from outside or even staff from within GECOM then they would claim that the results were inconclusive and call for new elections.

However, to extend their time in Government they would demand a new list on the basis of House-to-House Registration. That, they will ensure, would take not less than two to three years.

The new House-to-House Registration under the present Secretariat ensconced in GECOM would be a totally corrupt operation. Therefore, any new elections under these circumstances would be rigged at the initial stages from the list itself.

The insistence of keeping Mr Lowenfield and Mr Mingo in the system despite their clear bias demonstrates what they want to do. Those people, among others in GECOM, have displayed total insensitivity to public opinion and seem ready to do anything to keep the regime in place.

Those are the types of persons

that the PNC is counting on to lead their charge and keep them in power.

For those who may still think this is far-fetched, they should recall that in 1997 when the PNC called for a boycott of the counting in their attempt to stymie Janet Jagan’s swearing-in, some 90 per cent of the GECOM staff walked out on their call, demonstrating their political bias.

By disallowing every suggestion of the Oppositionappointed Commissioners, the fig leaf has fallen away, Claudette Singh has exposed herself is being totally weak and seems willing to hand over her mandate to the PNC cabal.

In preparation for this new assault the PNC has put their main ‘intellectual’ writers in overdrive. Their job is to try to disguise the sheer crookedness of the PNC cabal, their corruption and undemocratic character.

They are trying to move this from a struggle to defend democracy, to defend decency and to clean up public life into to a question of race. This is the last refuge of scoundrels.

It is racist from another position, that is, it is a terrible abuse of our Afro-Guyanese compatriots.

This last-ditch, desperate attempt at rigging/manipulating is not just an assault on the Guyanese people. It is an affront to our Caricom region, to the Commonwealth, the OAS, the Carter Center and the entire family of democratic nations in our hemisphere and beyond.

Together we must work to frustrate their diabolical plans of this corrupt, power-hungry clique. Our country, our people deserve nothing less!

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

6

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

Page

Foundation

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

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

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

SOCIAL STUDIES

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.

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

1. Which was the first group of people to settle in Guyana?

(A) Europeans (B) Africans (C) Chinese (D) Amerindians 2. The ethnic group associated with the village of Victoria is the (A) Portuguese (B) Africans (C) Chinese (D) East Indians 3. Which South American country is Guyana’s eastern neighbour?

(A) Venezuela (B) Brazil (C) Suriname (D) Chile 4. Which CAR1COM country is still ruled by Britain?

(A) Guyana (B) Barbados (C) Montserrat (D) Grenada 5 Which is the most populated natural region?

(A) Interior Savannahs (B) Forested Highlands (C) Low Coastal Plain (D) Hilly Sand and Clay 6. Guyana achieved Republican status on the (A) 1st August, 1831 (B) 19th December, 1953 (C) 26th May, 1966 (D) 23rd February, 1970 7. Who was the first Premier of British Guiana ?

(A) Forbes Burnham (B) Cheddi Jagan (C) Peter D’Aguiar (D) Authur Chung 8. Which National Award may be given to a soldier for bravery?

(A) Order of Roraima (B) Cacique Crown

of Honour (C) The Golden Arrow (D) Military Service Medal of Courage 9. Eight-year old Prem is sent by his parents to sell vegetables in the market every day. This is most likely a form of

(A) domestic chores (C) child labour

Here is an example done for you. letter next to the answer you have now Carbon dioxide is a chosen.

ANSWER SHEET (A) mixture (B) liquid A B C D 6. REMEMBER, each answer MUST only be shown (C) gas (D) solid by a heavy black line on your Answer Sheet.

A heavy black line has been drawn through the letter B on the answer sheet because 7. Remember only ONE answer must be provided Georgetown, the correct answer, is next to B. for each question.

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

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

(B) manual labour (D) physical abuse

10. To find out the direction from which the wind is blowing a/an______________ is needed.

(A) thermometer (B) wind-vane (C) barometer (D) anemometer 11. Which activity is not environmentally friendly?

(A) Dumping waste on the roadside (B) Burying waste in the backyard (C) Setting up an incinerator to burn garbage (D) Keeping waste in a safe place for disposal 12. Which is the best result a child could get for obeying homemade rules?

(A) Loss of parents’ (B) Separation from

trust friends (C) Receipt of more

privileges

(D) Withdrawn of allowances

13. Which group of settlements reminds us of the French settlers?

(A) Versailles, La Retraite, Mon Repos, Chateau Margot (B) Uitvlugt, Seosdyke, Stabroek, Beterverwagting (C) Georgetown, Victoria, Charity, Anna Regina (D) Aruka, Arakaka, Moruka, Mabaruma.

16. The body of water located at X is the (A) Indian Ocean (B) Atlantic Ocean (C) Caribbean Sea (D) Red Sea 17. The capital of the country lettered Y is (A) Nassau (B) Havana (C) Castries (D) Bridgetown

14. Emancipation Day signified the end of (A) immigration (B) slavery (C) indentureship (D) colonialism 15. The early settlements of Buxton and Hopetown were to the Africans as the early settlements of La Bonne Intention and Port Mourant were to the (A) Amerindians (B) Chinese (C) East Indians (D) Portuguese

18. The shaded area marked W is important because (A) the main economic activity is agriculture (B) cattle-ranching is the main economic activity (C) bauxite-mining is carried out there (D) the land is flat and below sea-level 19. The Fort located at X is (A) Fort Nassau (C) Fort Zeelandia

(B) Fort Kyk-over-al (D) Fort Island

20. One important benefit to be obtained from the hydro-electric project is the (A) flooding of hunting grounds (C) drainage of farmlands (B) increase in mining activities (D) provision of cheaper electricity

TO BE CONTINUED

7 New management as Guyana Goldfields to be sold to Silvercorp NEWS

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…workers told not to worry, but Union questions severance

A

urora Goldmines in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), which is owned by Canadian company Guyana Goldfields, looks set to be taken over by

sell the mine and all shares in Guyana Goldfields was brokered.

In documents seen by this publication, Guyana Goldfields Chief Executive

Silvercorp's deal with Guyana Goldfields is worth millions of US dollars

new management after a multimillion-dollar deal to

Officer, Alan Pangbourne announced that Silvercorp,

another Canadian company with an international footprint, will be the new management.

According to the arrangement, Silvercorp will eventually acquire all issued Guyana Goldfields shares.

The deal will be worth Canadian $105 million, but will be held up by a lot of paperwork and a special shareholders meeting scheduled for June.

In the meantime, Silvercorp, which specialised in silver and other metals, will be providing Goldfields with up to US$15 million in interim loans. This money will go to various corporate expenses, as well as the underground mine.

At a video conference meeting with Aurora Goldmine workers on Monday, Pangbourne assured them that they will keep their jobs and things

Sale of Guyana Goldfields must conform with law – caretaker Minister

I

n the wake of a multimillion-dollar deal to sell Guyana Goldfields and by extension, Aurora Goldmines, to another company, the caretaker Government is seeking to assure that workers will be protected.

According to a statement from caretaker Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, while the Government welcomes the transaction, due diligence must be done to ensure Guyana's laws are upheld.

"Prior to approval being granted, the Government will be carrying out the necessary due diligence exercises as required by the laws of Guyana to ensure that there is legal compliance with the proposed transfer of interests, and that matters pertaining to workers’ rights especially, and other important obligations, are satisfactorily addressed," the caretaker Minister said.

He added that alongside Troy Resources, Guyana Goldfields has contributed significantly to annual gold declarations and the local economy.

Caretaker Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

for June.

In the meantime, Silvercorp, which specialised in silver and other metals, will be providing Goldfields with up to US$15 million in interim loans. This money will go to various corporate expenses, as well as the underground mine.

However, President of the National Mine Workers Union (NMWU), Sherwyn Downer has already raised

questions about the arrangement and whether workers will be paid their severance.

It would not be the first time Guyana Goldfields has had such issues with its workers.

Last year, workers downed tools and initiated strike action over grievances relating to their unionisation and severance payments. Things reached a point where the Government and the Labour Department had to be involved.

The workers had also claimed that they were threatened with having their Wi-Fi cut off, which is vital to ensure communication from their CuyuniMazaruni location to family members on the coast. The company denied this.

Workers eventually returned to their duties in July 2019 and received their second quarterly bonus, as well as commitments that they would get a Union of their choice, compensation and other issues that were raised when the workers initiated strike actions.

Difficulties

However, he also acknowledged that Goldfields has had its share of internal and other difficulties.

"The agreement for the acquisition was signed on Sunday, April 26, 2020, and will include a loan of up to US$15 million to Guyana Goldfields Inc to support continuation of the Aurora Underground Mining Project in Guyana."

According to the arrangement, Silvercorp will eventually acquire all issued Guyana Goldfields shares.

The deal will be worth Canadian $105 million, but will be subject to a lot of paperwork and a special shareholders meeting scheduled

news@guyanatimesgy.com

will remain normal for now.

Pangbourne did admit that Goldfields is not completely aware of what Silvercorp, which has operations in China, has in mind for Aurora. However, he informed workers that the underground mine at the mining site will go forward for now.

"We're not 100 per cent clear on all [Silvercorp's] plans at the moment. Our current plans will continue as normal. I am in conversation with Silvercorp about what are their next steps and where they want to go and the focus is underground development." "[At a later stage] one of the other investors, they're looking to do 30,000 metres of drilling once they can get their people in and back.

When the Government opens up the airport," Pangbourne explained to the workers.

Severance

But questions are being raised over severance for the workers, should management change hands. In an interview with this publication, National Mine Workers Union (NMWU) President, Sherwyn Downer raised questions about the arrangement.

When it comes to the workers, he stressed the need for them to be paid their severance once new management is taking over, even if they are retained. He cited past experiences where workers were denied severance after new management retained them.

Guyana Goldfields CEO Alan Pangbourne

NMWU President Sherwyn Downer

"With respect to severance for workers, we're going to make sure we apply the law and the books at AGM. We want to ensure the workers are paid their severance, because, in times past at two companies I will not name, workers were tricked and told they had their service rolled over to the new company," Downer said.

"One year and six months after, when workers began resigning and they were asking for their previous years of service, the new company said they can't pay them for those services because they weren't working with them for that long, they were working with the old company. But when the old company pack up and gone, how will the workers get their severance?"

In a subsequent statement, the NMWU put Goldfields on blast for failing to consult the Union on what systems will be put in place for the workers.

"The management of

AGM met with its workers during which they were informed of what the management termed as the transitioning of the company.

During the meeting workers questioned if the Union had any knowledge about the decision and they were told that the Union did not have to know."

"It is therefore regrettable that the management of AGM Inc would have found it unnecessary for the Union to be informed and involved in the said process. [We wish] to register [our] disappointment at the conduct of the management at this time and hope that there can be an amicable resolution between management and Union."

Guyana Goldfields has had a roller coaster past year, with former CEO Scott Caldwell resigning and a shareholders’ dispute. They have also had to contend with workers striking due to concerns over their severance.

8 NEWS

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WCD family fearful after shots fired at house

A

West Coast Demerara (WCD) family is now living in fear after shots were fired at their house two Sundays ago, and no investigation has followed.

The Lot 2505 Tuschen New Scheme home is owned

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

On April 19, the family of four was awakened by gunshots flying through their windows, breaking the glass and landing in the house. In a state of shock, they chose

to inspect in the morning, when it was found that one of the bullets was lodged in the wall.

“Sunday night, someone took a gun and they shoot at the window and pelt the glass window and break it.

My niece lives there with her husband and two kids.

She went to the Tuschen Outpost, and an officer took the statement. No one went to check what’s going on. I asked if anybody went the following day. Nobody went there. Nobody never investigate it. My niece and her family are very scared to live

Fifty ways…

B

One of the lodged bullets

there.”

A report was filed at the Tuschen Police Outpost, but no one came to investigate the matter. A few days later, they visited again to which an officer accompanied the family to the house. There, she deduced that it was just a rock and not a gunshot.

However, the family point towards the bullet, which was still lodged in the wall.

“So I drove over about 05:00h on Tuesday. I stopped at the outpost and the corporal said it is not a gunshot.

I told her if they pelt it, it would’ve broken the glass and this is showing clearly that there is a hole and it pass through and penetrate the wall inside the house,” she stated.

Sukhu indicated that a few weeks prior, her nephew, who was here on vacation, was beaten by persons from the area. The series of events has escalated their worries.

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

…to abandon the recount ack in the day, Paul Simon crooned a ballad that’s quite relevant to what’s gonna go down with this recount. It has to do with the fact that when folks really want to do something – in that case, dumping their lover – there will be tons of ways they can find.

The ballad was “Fifty ways to leave your lover” and from Claudette’s last “plan”, she’s given the PNC at least 50 ways to mess up the recount.

As the song went, “ I hope my meaning won’t be lost or misconstrued/ But I’ll repeat myself at the risk of being crude/ There must be fifty ways to leave your lover/ You just slip out the back, Jack/ Make a new plan, Stan/ You don’t need to be coy, Roy/ Hop on the bus, Gus/ You don’t need to discuss much/ Just drop off the key, Lee” From the word “go”, your Eyewitness has never given ANY shrift (much less “short shrift”) to any of Claudette Singh’s promises on getting the count –= then this recount – completed. And it’s not that she’s some kinda Manchurian Candidate or anything with the PNC suddenly saying “the code word” to get her to do the dirty –- with eyes all glazed and crazed. Nah…even with those heavy-lidded eyes, she ain’t no sleeper. Hell hath no fury like a judge bypassed – and revenge is being served cold!!

So, what can we expect?? Well, when are we ever gonna start, Bart?! After all, it’s up in the air whether the Caricom team that’s supposed to “watch over” the process will be willing to return when Claudette made the duration of the recount so open-ended. In this COVID season, can we really blame these persons if they baulk??

Someone floated a balloon that some personnel from the Caricom Secretariat might fill in. That could compromise the entire exercise since Mrs Granger worked in that institution for donkey years and surely has friends who’d turn a blind eye with the stakes being what they are.

Then there will be the actual counting. Can we really add, Brad? Remember when the count of the Reg 4 SoPs had to be halted on April 4 because of “disagreements” over the totals of the first eight SoPs after the resumption?? And this was without Mingo on the scene.

With Mingo now officially out, what has changed?? And yes, Brad: we won’t be able to add!! And the process will be halted every other minute.

And if we ever get past the addition, are we in the clear, Blair? Nah!!

There’s always a friendly High Court Judge waiting to issue a get-out-of-jail card!! …to buttress the Judiciary In our Westminster-based Government – especially with Burnham’s innovation of an Executive on steroids – the Judiciary is the last bastion of our democracy. After all, since the Executive selects its Ministers from the MPs in the legislature, they’re all slavering for promotion and would never cross the top guy – even if it weren’t for Whips and crossing-the-floor legislation. Just look what happened when Charrandas decided to vote against his APNU/AFC!!

Well, the passing of former Chancellor Keith Massiah reminds us of the days when Judges took their role in the check-and-balance governmental structure seriously.

From your Eyewitness’ perspective, Massiah’s finest moment was when, from the Appellate Bench, he stood up to Burnham’s naked attempt to bend the Constitution in the Teemal vs GuySuCo case.

After Burnham actually altered the Constitution – with his rigged supermajority – to get his way and the case was brought back to the courts, Justice Massiah – now the Chancellor – once again showed his mettle in the Mohammed Ali case – with Desmond Hoyte then President.

Your Eyewitness won’t quibble about him becoming Hoyte’s AG!! …not to fight COVID-19 The PNC coalition’s demonstrating every which way how NOT to go about fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Six weeks after the first COVID death, they’re only now establishing a SECRETARIAT?? Wankers!!

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

NEWS

9

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Only 9 COVID-19 tests conducted in 24 hours

…no positive cases in 48 hours

W

hile calls are being amplified for more COVID-19 testing to be conducted among the population, only nine tests have been conducted within 24 hours. Already, the virus has claimed the lives of eight persons locally, and without any containment, there could be dire health impacts.

On Monday the Public Health Ministry revealed its latest statistics, which showed that only nine tests were conducted, raising the total number of tests to 464.

It is unclear how many new persons were tested but all were negative. As such, the confirmed cases remained at 74, with eight deaths. In two days, Guyana has detected no positive cases and some 390 cases have shown negative results.

Meanwhile, there are five persons in COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 24 in institutional quarantine and 51 in isolation.

Mobile units

On Monday the Ministry launched its mobile unit at the East La Penitence Health Centre as well as the community COVID-19 facilities at Herstelling on the East Bank of Demerara and

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Karen Boyle

Paradise on the East Coast of Demerara, providing services to persons along those corridors.

This was mapped out in consideration of the fact that the capital city is the epicentre of the virus, with some 55 per cent residing in Central Georgetown.

According to Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Karen Boyle, anyone displaying the key signs and symptoms can make an inquiry where they would be screened or a sample will be collected.

Presently, they are looking at the demand to determine how long this service should last.

“It will depend on the

demand. We are not certain as to how long we will be here for, but we will be here as long as there is a demand for the services and likewise, at this point, we are thinking about regular working hours, but there is a possibility if there is a high demand for it to be extended, that can also happen,” the DCMO relayed.

However, she noted that they will seek to visit other locations which are considered to be hotspots for the virus. Marketplaces and other high traffic areas have been linked to many of the persons who tested positive.

“I think I should also mention that being a mobile unit, we also have plans for the unit to go into other areas what we consider hotspots, where we consider had a few cases emanating from just to go and check and see what is going on in that facility and we are also thinking places like the markets, where we recognise from our data that a lot of the contacts of our cases would have traversed certain markets places.”

Dr Boyle added, “So, it also worth our while I think for us to go and check some market vendors because they would be interact-

ing with the public and it is good for us to know how many or if they may be carrying or even symptomatic. We have some particular areas that we are interest-

ed in going and sampling to see what is going on.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are 2,804,796 confirmed cases worldwide

with 193,710 deaths. In the region of the Americas, the number of confirmed cases is 1,094,846 with 56,063 deaths.

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Court preserves wiretapping recourse during COVID-19 lockdown …also remains open to election-related filings

T

he Supreme Court of Judicature has announced that matters related to the General and Regional Elections and Guyana’s Interception of Communications Laws (wiretapping) are deemed to be urgent, for the purposes of the application of the COVID-19 emergency measures.

As such, applications to the court in relation to the election-related matters and wiretapping will be permitted despite other restrictions such as the stoppage of in-person court hearings.

Additionally, restrictions

imposed as part of the court’s COVID-19 emergency measures include the suspension of a range of filings and oth-

er parameters on the operations of the Judiciary.

The disclosure was made on Friday last, a day before it

was announced that former Head of the Guyana Defence Force’s Military Intelligence Unit, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Harmon— who up until the end of last week served as Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency (MotP) was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the National COVID-19 Task Force.

He was removed from the post of Director General, in which he served since May 2019 after it was revealed that he was a dual citizen and could no longer serve as a Member of Parliament or a Minister.

Additionally, it was announced that another Retired Colonel of the GDF, Lawrence Paul, Senior Executive Director of the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service has been seconded to the Task Force.

The National COVID-19 Task Force was set up by the caretaker A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government under Executive Order by President David Granger under the Public Ordinance Act.

Additional measures

According to the announcement by the court, the directions, in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, are in addition to the Supreme Court of Judicature Practice Directions, COVID-19 Emergency Directions gazetted on March 23 last, in addition to the updated notices at the beginning of April.

Those measures included the restrictions on a number of services, including in-person hearings in the court and the greater use of technology for remand hearings among other initiatives.

The Court said that the measures it has since outlined would take immediate effect and shall last for one month “unless revoked or extended by notice after an assessment of the prevailing public health circumstances”.

The COVID-19 Task Force, which has been tasked with leading the country’s fight against the pan-

demic is chaired by Moses Nagamootoo, but Granger has since had to intervene and overturn some decisions taken by the Task Force.

On Friday, he convened a meeting of that body where he directed that Harmon carry out the functions of CEO of the Task Force.

Harmon has since been placed in charge of setting up of a permanent National Task Force Secretariat in addition to assigning permanent staff to manage the national campaign.

The MotP in a statement to the media noted that the Task Force under Harmon would also be responsible for creating preventive measures against the disease to safeguard citizens’ health and collaborate with regional task forces and stakeholders to safeguard citizens’ health.

The CEO is also responsible, “for directing the NCTF operations and restarting interrupted activities; all important logistics measures necessary to prevent the disease from spreading further, directing rapid responses to unexpected and emergency incidents; developing shortterm plans for disease prevention and safety of the people and communicating directly with agencies, Ministries, regional task forces, agencies and stakeholders”.

Harmon, as CEO, will also be responsible for disseminating accurate information with regard to COVID-19 to the public.

Mother who allegedly approved teen daughter’s relationship with businessman on self-bail …Police awaiting DPP’s advice

T

he mother of the 14-year-old who was reportedly in a relationship with a businessman, with her mother’s approval, was released on self-bail as investigations continue.

Reports are the teen was in a relationship with a 25-year-old man in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The woman was arrested after she lodged a report at the Police Outpost that her teenager was raped by the businessman. The mother was grilled about the relationship and provided a statement to the cops about her involvement in it.

Though she was released from custody, she will have to report to the Police daily as they await advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on the matter.

However, the 25-year-old man, of Apaquia Backdam, is still in Police custody. On Tuesday last, the man was taken into custody after he was accused of sexually molesting the teen girl. According to information received, the teenager and the suspect became friends after she visited

her mother’s shop in Region Seven in December 2019. The man claimed that she told him that she was 16 years old.

He also claimed that he approached the teen’s mother and informed her that he had feelings for her daughter and as such, asked for consent to begin a relationship.

However, earlier this month, the teenager and her mother had a misunderstanding, and she left home and moved in with the suspect.

The mother then went to the Police outpost in the area and reported the rape. The man was subsequently arrested.

Guyana Times was told that after his arrest, the teen turned up at the station and informed the Police that the businessman would usually give her money and she would hand over same to her mother. She also told the Police that her mother had agreed to the relationship. When contacted, Region Seven Police Commander, Senior Superintendent Linden Lord stated that he was awaiting advice from the DPP chambers on the way forward with the case.

NEWS

11

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 fight

Caribbean, Guyana get additional US$1.7M from US Govt …“We can always count on the US to support us in difficult times - Dr Irfaan Ali

T

he world continues to grapple with the effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and in order to help mitigate the spread of the potentially deadly disease, the United States Government has committed an additional US$1.7 million to aid the fight in Guyana and the Caribbean.

This aid comes in addition to the US$3 million already allocated to the Caribbean region by the US to help strengthen the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The United States, via USAID, is providing life-saving support by coordinating with the Government of Guyana, in-

US Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch

ternational humanitarian partners, and other stakeholders to identify priority areas for investment,” the statement noted.

Through this assistance,

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will support infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities; communications to help educate people on steps they can take to prevent and respond to the spread of the virus, through country-specific media campaigns; and surveillance and rapid response with case-finding and event-based surveillance for COVID-19.

USAID also helps countries train and support rapid-response teams to investigate cases and conduct contact tracing.

“The United States Government is committed to assisting the people of Guyana to combat

Canal No 1 murder

Suspect apprehended, family recalls tragic details R elatives are now recalling the harrowing tale which they experienced on Sunday night, after 62-year-old Tameshwarie “Laila” Sonilal was brutally murdered by a known villager. On Monday the lad was taken into Police custody.

The elderly woman, who resided at Lot 2 Good Hope, Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara (WBD), was stabbed several times about her body, leaving the entire community in a state of shock.

Based on information received, the incident occurred sometime after 20:30h. The man, who is said to be in his early 20s, gained access into the upper flat of the building where he committed the act. The elderly woman, who lived with her brother, was alone in the house at the time.

Her cousin, Shiloom (only name given) told Guyana Times that she was at home when the incident

Dead: Tameshwarie “Laila” Sonilal

her, there was no response.

“She holler and her brother was on the dam.

There was some other people on the dam. When them hear the screaming, they tell her brother that something wrong…that Laila screaming. All of we run and come.

I calling for she and no answer. We go up the step and turn the lock and the door not opening.”

Upon gaining entry into the house, the group of men heard a clatter and quick-

The house where the incident occurred

occurred. Other persons on the Conservancy Dam recalled hearing a scream which alerted them to rush over to the property but the door was bolted shut. It took some time for public-spirited persons to break the door.

As they repeatedly called for

ly discovered the young lad hiding in the ceiling. He was armed with a cutlass and hurled it as they attempted to apprehend him. Relatives stated that he is well-known in the community.

The distraught woman said she rushed to her cous-

in’s bedroom, where she discovered the lifeless body lying face down on the floor.

As her eyes circled the room, she realised that there was a pool of blood and the bed was also stained from the assault. A bloodied knife laid on the ground, not too far away from the body.

“I tell the boy let we break the door and when they break it, they hear a scrambling. They look up in the ceiling and see the boy. When I go in the house, I know the room that she sleeping in. I go in the room and she was on the floor by the bed lying down. When I look good, then I see the blood all over in the place.

Then I scream out and holler for the boys,” the cousin detailed.

Unfortunately, a power outage ensued, allowing the suspect to make good his escape by jumping over a fence. The police were summoned and the woman’s body was removed from the scene.

Shiloom recalled that she would visit her cousin frequently and they would always have good conversations. It is the first time the family has experienced such tragedy. Sonilal was described as a “hardworking” person who sold fruits at the Stabroek Market.

“When I come out and I look up, the boy had a cutlass and wave it. I said this is Kevin. And I ask him why he murder Laila. The blackout come and the boy get to escape. He climb out by the verandah and get away.”

On Monday the suspect was apprehended and questioned by Police.

Investigations into the gruesome act are continuing.

the spread of COVID-19 to prevent illness and deaths associated with the dreaded pandemic and ultimately improve the quality of life and the economic outcomes of this wonderful country and its people,” US Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch said.

Previously in Guyana, the United States Government has contributed substantially to improving the healthcare services, systems and infrastructure with an emphasis on HIV/ AIDS, malaria, cervical cancer and Zika infections.

Support through USAID and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) resulted in Guyana being the first country in the region to attain the 1st pillar in the goal to achieve epidemic control of HIV; by diagnosing at least 90 per cent of those persons estimated to be living with HIV.

statement concluded.

Support for Guyanese

Meanwhile on Monday, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Dr Irfaan Ali said that the on-going efforts by the Government and people of the United States, through the hardworking and committed Ambassador Sarah Ann Lynch to support Guyanese in combating the COVID19 pandemic is timely.

“This recent humanitarian assistance is a reminder that we can always count on the Government and people of the United States to support us in difficult times and dark moments. I’m sure the humanitarian contributions will be valuable in allowing our country and people to cope with this crisis even as we seek struggle to save our country from becoming

People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali

COVID-19. This was as part of the US Government’s ongoing commitment to Guyana through the US Caribbean Resiliency Partnership and the Regional Caribbean Office of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The money is intended to aid in addressing priority areas of

US Embassy, Kingston, Georgetown

“Because an infectious disease threat anywhere can become a threat everywhere, the United States calls on other donors to contribute to the global effort to combat COVID-19,” the

a pariah State and an economic catastrophe,” Dr Ali posted on social media.

Just last week, Ambassador Lynch announced that Guyana received US$475,000 to fight

laboratory diagnostics and systems strengthening and supplies, surveillance, infection prevention and control, and emergency operation centres.

12 NEWS

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cockfight competition hosted during curfew the new measures commits an offence”, and shall be liable to summary conviction.

Some of the measures outlined in the Government directive include directives to stay at home, stating that “every person shall remain in the confines of his or her home and its yard space”, except or as otherwise provided.

Meanwhile, earlier in the month, a group of ‘cockfight’ lovers were attacked and robbed of their cash and other valuables by at least three armed men at Water Street, Agricola, Greater Georgetown.

Cockfighting is an illegal game that the police have been trying to stop, but it continues in several villages, including Friendship, Sarah Johanna and other areas on the East Bank of Demerara.

heated cockfight was hosted in an act which is deemed illegal.

Based on a video which surfaced, the incident occurred on Monday at about 08:00h at Tarla Dam, Meten Meer Zorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Persons were engaged in a large group even as calls for social distancing have heightened in recent days.

In fact, the gathering consisted of more than 20 persons who were seen closely together.

Moreover, only last week, the caretaker Government, through the Public Health Ministry, issued wide-sweeping restrictions and a national curfew to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Under the emergency measures directive, “any person who fails to comply with any of

Chancellor, Bar Association mourn death of fmr Judge

These persons breached the national curfew and hosted an illegal cockfight

D

espite lockdown measures across the country to avoid

the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), these restrictions were breached and a

C

ondolences have been pouring in as the country learnt about the passing of former Chancellor of the Judiciary and Appeal Court Judge, Senior Counsel Keith Massiah.

Former Chancellor Keith Massiah (second right) presented a petition on behalf of Attorney-at-Law Thandiwe Lyle (second left) back in 2013. Also in picture are the late former acting Chief Justice Ian Chang (left) and Thandiwe Lyle’s mother, Joylyn Lyle (right)

In a statement, Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards signalled her deep sadness at the passing of Massiah, once considered a key figure in Guyana’s legal fraternity. He would’ve died on Friday at the St Joseph’s Mercy Hospital at the age of 93.

“His long and illustrious career saw him holding the positions of Chancellor of the Judiciary, Attorney General and Professor of Law. He was a true legal luminary whose indelible contribution to the jurisprudence of Guyana is known throughout the Caribbean and the Commonwealth. He will always be remembered for his intellectual prowess, and his rich, passionate and poetic judgments. His many landmark judgments in constitutional and public law, as well as criminal cases, changed the legal landscape of Guyana,” the Chancellor penned.

While stating that the legal fraternity has lost a

great jurist and orator, it was indicated that a special Full Court sitting will be convened when Public Health conditions permit.

Meanwhile, the Bar Council of The Bar Association of Guyana also shared similar sentiments as they recognised Massiah’s stellar contribution. It went on to say that Guyana has benefitted significantly from his service to the law.

“A reading of any judgment written by the Former Chancellor highlights the importance of research, scholarship, industry and purity of writing. For those who walk the halls of justice in Guyana, and seek to ascend to the Bench, his is an example to be emulated…His legacy will leave an indelible impression on the manuscripts of his reported judgments, the content of laws passed in his legal service, and the minds of the legal profession in Guyana.”

Massiah served as Chancellor of the Judiciary from 1984 to 1988. He then

served as Attorney General from 1988 to 1992 under President Hugh Desmond Hoyte. He has also served as an Appeals Court and High Court Judge, as well as a law lecturer at the University of Guyana.

Following the death of the former Chancellor, there have been several tributes from his former students, some of whom have gone on to make their own impact in society.

Leading those tributes is former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, who in a social media post on Sunday expressed sadness on hearing of the loss of Massiah.

“It is with profound sadness that I learnt of the passing of one [of] our great Judges of that remarkable era. I was taught by him and practiced law alongside him. I never had the honour of appearing before him. He presided over a generation of which I was not a part. Perhaps his greatest legacy will remain his extraordinary literary prowess,” Nandlall said.

NEWS

13

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GWI records increase in water use …cost to produce water $400M monthly – Operations Director

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he Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) expends approximately $400 million per month in order to be able to deliver potable water to its consumers according to the company’s Director of Operations, Dwayne Shako.

Shako made the revelation on Monday during a Facebook live interaction with consumers as the company explained its role in the fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Chemical cost on the Coast, not talking about Regions One (Brima-Waini), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper TakutuEssequibo) …just on the Coast our chemical cost is about approximately $60 million per month for water and that chemical includes alum…So our chemical cost alone is around $60 million per month and if I should take in electricity cost it is somewhere around $245 million per month. If I should take in some other employment cost, I think we are heading to about $400 million a month in terms of labour and all these things,” Shako explained in an effort to give a breakdown of operational costs.

“When people say Guyana is the land of many water and why should I pay for water, I always make the point that you don’t pay for water. Water is free, you pay for the service. You can take any water that is available to you. You can go to any river any canal and have that water but for us to ensure that water is drinkable, that water is safe, that water comes to your tap then it comes with a cost. There are people working 24 hours a day to ensure that water is potable and that is what you pay for not the cost of the water but just the service to get the water,” he added.

He noted that with operational costs pegged at that amount, consumers have to realise the importance of paying for the service since the company would have to meet its expenses. Shako explained that if the company does not meet its expenses then it would be detrimental to the provision of services.

Increased water use

In the era of COVID-19, where water is the primary defence against the potentially deadly virus, GWI noted that it has recorded a staggering increase in consumption. While the increase would signal the domino effect of an increase in revenues, it also poses as a challenge for the company as well since the company now has to put measures in place to maintain water pressure to serve customers.

“We have seen an increase, we have recorded over 200,000 m3 in consumption per day and because we are not read-

GWI Director of Operations, Dwayne Shako

ing meters we can’t isolate which customers we have the increase from. But we know that is coming from areas where there is a lot of

increase in sanitising like in New Amsterdam, Linden and Georgetown and that is understandable but it also puts a strain on our system to keep up that pressure for delivery,” Shako noted.

At the time, as part of GWI’s COVID-19 safety measures for its staffers, meter readers are not visiting customers to take readings, rather bills are being estimated but persons are being urged to go in and pay their bills. He also related that they should take their meter readings for the correct bill.

At this time, GWI has ceased all disconnections but Shako said persons still need to pay their bills and advised persons who were disconnected earlier to vis-

it one of the GWI offices and work with the company for the restoration of their service.

He stressed the importance of having potable water in the COVID-19 era by relating that GWI has been working with unregularised communities so that they can have at least a standpipe for the delivery of potable water.

Also, GWI is working with the various schools and hospitals to ensure that their water supply is safe for consumption.

Submit own meter readings

Meanwhile, Customer Relations Manager, Andrea Khan reminded that the company is not sending its meter readers out during

GWI Customer Relations Manager Andrea Khan

the COVID-19 pandemic and as such urged persons to submit their meter readings in order to get the correct bill amount.

If that is not done, then they would be receiving an estimated amount based on their usage history.

In addition, Khan urged persons to utilise the various mediums – GWI app, the website, WhatsApp – to send in their meter reading and queries so that they could be addressed. She also pleaded with persons to pay their bills and do so in a safe way by either using the services of payment agencies, online banking or visiting GWI offices.

When asked whether the company is losing money due to COVID-19, Khan said “won’t say the company is losing money. Payment is slow and we understand and we are still hoping that persons will come in and pay”.

14 NEWS

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Local business supports PPP/C COVID-19 Response Forum O

dyssey Transport Service Inc, Odyssey Sightseeing Tours Guyana Inc and FAB Mining Company Inc have put together 100 hampers for distribution to vulnerable citizens within the TuschenUitvlugt area affected by the curfew measures implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Manager of the company, Azeem Khan explained that after seeing the creative initiatives that the National COVID-19 Multistakeholders’ Response Forum has embarked upon throughout the length and breadth of Guyana, the firm decided to come on board and assist.

“Since the pandemic had break out, like every other good heart of Guyanese we have been looking to see what is happening throughout our beautiful land of Guyana. We have noticed the [National COVID-19 Multi-stakeholders’ Response Forum] and we see the good work they doing and we decided to come on board and give them so donation,” Khan posited.

The manager also called on other business owners to follow suit in helping the less fortunate people at this time.

“This time, our three company is basically running at five per cent only working and we have a

large workforce and we have closed our main office in Georgetown since the day before elections and when you look around you see people working once a week or twice. So, by saying that, it is very hard on people,” he stated.

The hamper was then filtered down to the TuschenUitvlugt Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairman, Vishal Ambedkar, who is tasked with the distribution.

Ambedkar expressed heartfelt gratitude to the company along with the Forum in ensuring that Guyanese are not abandoned at this critical time.

The Forum was activated by the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Dr Irfaan Ali and has since established an online presence, with doctors offering advice and answering questions to ensure that all Guyanese, regardless of

their race, religion, or political affiliation, are protected against the deadly virus.

The Presidential Candidate noted that every Guyanese is paramount to him and as such, he is ready to work for the good of all Guyanese to ensure that they are protected.

To date, the forum has distributed over 1000 face masks and other essential items to citizens throughout the ten administrative regions. (Shemar Alleyne)

charitable institution situated along the SoesdykeLinden Highway. “We are committed to helping our dear children at this institution to grow and become a valuable members in our communities,” said SIS. Pictured above; SIS HR Manager Deepawattie Persaud handing over the

donations to Housemother of the institution Roylene Murray.

SIS had nothing but praise for the Girls’ Home, which it said has provided over 54 years of unmatched service to the less fortunate by providing the love of a real home to deprived and homeless children.

Manager of Odyssey Transport Service Inc, Odyssey Sightseeing Tours Guyana Inc and FAB Mining Company Inc, Azeem Khan

Berbice labourer charged for killing reputed wife

Dead: Vanessa Benjamin

A

labourer who attempted to take his own life after allegedly killing his reputed wife was on Monday slapped with a murder charge and arraigned at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court.

Jamal Angus, of Number

30 Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB) in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), was hauled before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh for murdering 21-yearold Vanessa Benjamin of Francine Street, Ithaca Village, West Bank Berbice (WBB), on April 16, 2020.

It was reported that the now dead woman and the 23-year-old suspect had separated as a result of domestic violence. The court heard that on April 16, Angus confronted Benjamin in the presence of her mother and begged her to get back together. However, after the woman rejected him, a heated argument ensued during which he reportedly whipped out a knife from his pants waist and dealt her several stabs about the body. Her mother, who intervened, was also stabbed.

Both women were rushed

Remanded: Jamal Angus

to the Fort Wellington Hospital, where Benjamin was pronounced dead on arrival. Angus then attempted to take his own life, and was subsequently hospitalised.

Magistrate Singh remanded Angus to prison.

The case will continue on June 10, 2020.

T

he Hauraruni Girls’ Home was a recent beneficiary from the continued benevolence of longtime supporters Silvies Industrial Solution (SIS).

According to SIS, it feels very privileged, during these times, to be making another donation to the

NEWS

15

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Brazilians divided on impeachment of President Bolsonaro – poll

B

razilians are split on impeaching President Jair Bolsonaro despite a majority believing accusations by the former justice minister that Bolsonaro tried to interfere with the federal police’s work for political gain, a poll conducted on Monday showed.

Pollster Datafolha found that 48% oppose impeaching Bolsonaro while 45% of those surveyed want to see him impeached, a difference within the margin of error of the poll.

Sergio Moro, a popular minister because of his re-

involving family members.

Bolsonaro said the accusations were unfounded.

For 52% of those polled

by Datafolha, Moro was telling the truth and only 20% said they believed Bolsonaro’s account.

While Brazilians are split on Congress removing the president by impeach-

President Jair Bolsonaro

cord fighting corruption as a federal judge, resigned as justice minister on Friday, accusing the president of attempting to interfere in sensitive police investigations

116 confirmed COVID-19 cases – T&T Health Ministry

T

here are 116 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Trinidad, as of Monday afternoon, according to the latest update from the Health Ministry.

The Ministry also confirms that at present, there has been no change in the number of persons who have not survived COVID-19 infection, with the death rate

still at 8 persons.

1532 = Number of samples submitted to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for testing for COVID-19.

116 = Number of samples which have tested positive.

8 = Number of deaths.

59 = Number of persons discharged. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

ment, the number that believe Bolsonaro should resign has risen to 46% from 37% in the previous poll at the beginning of April.

Those opposed to his resigning have decreased to 50% from 59%. A main reason for discontent with Bolsonaro has been his handling of the coronavirus epi-

demic, whose gravity he has downplayed as the death toll rises in Brazil. The poll found 45% consider his handling bad or terrible against 27% who think he has done a good or excellent job.

The Datafolha poll showed that Bolsonaro has hung on to his core support, with the positive approv-

al rating of his government rising to 33% from 30% in December. Its negative numbers have risen to 38% from 36% four months ago.

Datafolha polled 1,503 people by telephone on Monday. The poll has a margin of error of 3 percentage points up or down.

(Reuters)

More US states ease pandemic shutdowns

G

eorgia, at the vanguard of states testing the safety of reopening the U.S. economy in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, permitted restaurant dining for the first time in a month on Monday while governors in regions with fewer cases also eased restrictions.

Eager to revive battered commerce despite warnings from public health experts about the lack of testing, a handful of states from Montana to Mississippi were also set to reopen some workplaces deemed to be nonessential.

Alaska, Oklahoma and South Carolina, along with Georgia, previously took such steps, after weeks of mandatory lockdowns that have thrown millions of Americans out of work and led to forecasts that an economic shock of historic proportions is at hand.

President Donald Trump and some local officials have criticized Georgia Governor Brian Kemp for forging ahead to add restaurants

An employee bags up an order right before closing at a Waffle House on the day restaurants and theaters were allowed to reopen to the public as part of the phased reopening of businesses and restaurants from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Smyrna, Georgia, US

and movie theaters to the list of businesses - hair and nail salons, barber shops and tattoo parlors - that he allowed to reopen last week, albeit with social-distancing restrictions still in force.

No companies are required to reopen, and it remained to be seen how many merchants would choose to return to business and how many customers would show up if they do.

Some owners and man-

agers of eateries in Atlanta, the state’s largest city and capital, were less than enthusiastic.

“It’s not safe,” said Brian Maloof, owner of Manuel’s Tavern, a fixture for more than 60 years. “I don’t know when we’ll open, but I’m afraid it won’t be anytime soon.”

But Moe’s Original BBQ by the Georgia Tech campus hung an open sign on the door for the first time in

a month. In the hardest-hit states of New York and New Jersey, part of a metropolitan region of about 32 million people, governors signaled that even limited restarting of business activities was at least weeks away.

Even though Georgia has allowed movie theaters to reopen, three major movie theater chains - AMC, Regal and Cinemark - as well as most if not all smaller exhibitors have no plans to reopen anywhere for the time being.

“We don’t feel it’s safe enough for our staff or our customers to just open up for regular business, even with sort of preventive measures,” said Christopher Escobar, owner of the Plaza Theater, billed as Atlanta’s only independent cinema.

Drive-in theaters may be an exception. The Swan Drive-In Theatre in Blue Ridge, north of Atlanta, planned to open this weekend, with new rules for parking and concessions to assure social distancing.

(Reuters)

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

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

People who think they may be affected by coronavirus need to call the Public Health Ministry hotline 227-4986/624-3067 for further advice.

They should not go to their GP, A&E, pharmacy or hospital.

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

(Adapted from BBC News)

16

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

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

Politics without principles Dear Editor, There is a famous quote of Anglican Priest Frederick Lewis Donaldson and later immortalised by MK Gandhi which says that one of the “seven deadly social evils” is “politics without principle”. Gandhi had urged that these “deadly evils” must not be known merely through the intellect but “to know them through the heart so as to avoid them”. This great soul had experienced first-hand what “politics without principles” can do to a nation. We are now stepping back into that zone.

Moreover, we have heard it being repeated innumerable times that “politics is a dirty game” but not once probably have we reflected on the fact it is the dirty politicians who have created this ineradicable perception.

In Guyana, many of us were weaned on the dirty politics which began with the advent of the PNC in 1957 and had since grown exponentially. The PNC wreaked havoc on the socio-economic fabric of this country since 1964 when it formed a coalition Government with the United Force.

It is instructive to note that the PNC has never won an election in this country on its own. The political situation became worse after the rigged elections in 1968 and continue to get increasingly worse subsequently after repeatedly rigged elections.

No one can deny this fact.

Fortunately, this came to an end in 1992 but has now resurfaced.

It seemed that in 2015 some people suffered acute amnesia that the PNC is alive and well, cunningly lurking under various bap-

tismal names change. The Alliance for Change in its quest for power and money at all cost has now forgotten what it had claimed in its Action Plan in 2006 and 2011. Among other things, they had pledged never to coalesce with the PNC. The AFC’s founding leaders in the Action Plan have spoken about being “weary and bruised” by both the PNC and PPP who have been taking Guyana in the “wrong directions”. However, these same leaders of the AFC shamelessly sold their lofty “founding principles” to the same PNC they had despised in order to live the ‘Cadillac lifestyle’. Soon after they had become just another head in the PNC hydra.

I saw this innate propensity of the AFC leaders to be corrupt and I spoke out against this since 2012 and even though I was unceremoniously expelled I continued my crusade against the deceit and corruption of the AFC. It became increasingly clear that power and money were paramount concerns of the AFC leaders.

Moreover, I was witnessing the continued gravitation of the AFC towards the PNC especially when they voted with the PNC in Parliament to stymie and kill socio-economic development such as the speciality hospital, the Amalia Hydro Project and even the Anti-Money Laundering Bill which caused Guyana to be blacklisted. In 2012 the budget was slashed by $21 billion by the APNU/AFC’s ‘coalition’ in Parliament in order to frustrate the PPP/C Government’s developmental plans.

That then became the

norm until the prorogation of Parliament brought about by the No-Confidence Motion piloted by the then vociferous Moses Nagamootoo in August 2014. Then in 2015 the AFC came out in the open and signed the Cummingsburg Accord which saw an unholy alliance being birthed. It was the end of the AFC but the beginning of another PNC dictatorship and unprecedented high levels of corruption and cronyism. I had expected this since I know the PNC and the AFC is a dangerous cocktail.

The AFC leaders soon began an insane acceleration to get rich. The CJIA Expansion Project, the Demerara Harbour Bridge Feasibility Study, the giving away and gifting of the vast acreage of lands and contracts and above all, the mother of all corruption - the Exxon oil contract perpetrated by Trotman.

It was Trotman who had declared in the Action Plan of the AFC in 2011 that the AFC will not be “disappointing and betraying its citizens and allowing for an unfair distribution of the country’s wealth and the rich get richer while most Guyanese continue to remain poor”. Guyanese have now seen how they enriched themselves just after having given humongous salary increases. The AFC proved that they were dirtier politicians than the PNC. Ramjattan had boasted in that same manifesto that Guyana needs “quality leadership, integrity and fearlessness” and the AFC can provide these. In addition, it must be recalled that after the signing of the Accord, this same man had said that if the APNU gets “out of hand”, the AFC will join with the PPP/C

to throw them out with a NoConfidence Motion.

Unfortunately, when AFC’s parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud did exactly that, he was crucified by Ramjattan and others in the AFC. We have now seen that apart from the numerous acts of corruption and cronyism committed by the AFC, the leaders of the AFC have now embarked on a humiliating journey to destroy democracy in our country.

Since 2015 the AFC unabashedly supported all the illegal acts committed by Granger and GECOM, gradually eroding our democracy. Again, only one man displayed “quality leadership, integrity and fearlessness” not unlike Charrandas Persaud and that person is Dominic Gaskin. He openly spoke against the attempts to rig the elections by falsifying the Region Four votes. What has happened to Nagamootoo and Ramjattan, the “champions of democracy” when they were with the PPP? I could understand Trotman’s silence, he is always PNC. History will be most unkind to these AFC leaders who have deceived the very people who supported and voted for them in the past.

These people need to salvage whatever ‘integrity’ they have remaining and fearlessly confront the blatant attempts by the PNC to rig the 2020 elections and plummet this nation once again into the dark abyss of dictatorial rule. These dirty politicians should know that “non-co-operation with evil is a sacred duty” (MK Gandhi).

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Remembering Komal Chand

Dear Editor, It is with profound sadness that I feel compelled to add my bit on the passing of Mr Komal Chand in Cuba where he was undergoing medical treatment. Our last chat was late last year at a funeral at Canal No 1 and although he was not as robust as in earlier years, he still exuded the camaraderie and spirit that characterised him since I knew him in the early seventies.

Candidly, we were never on the same side of the fence. I was Economic and Statistical Advisor to the Manpower Citizens Association (up to Crane Arbitration Tribunal of 1974) when GAWU was battling to dethrone it as the recognised Union for filed and factory employees in the sugar industry.

Komal officially joined the Union in 1975 and at year’s end, GAWU trounced the MPCA by almost 80 per cent (there was no need for a recount!) when there was arguably the best combo of Minister of Labour and Chief Labour Officer (Winslow Carrington – Freddi Eytle).

His tutelage under GAWU’s President, Ram Karran (Snr), then became the genesis of what we now regard as his legacy. Alas! We were again on opposite sides of the fence, since I became Secretary of the Corporation’s Industrial Relations Committee for a year, which included the famous 135-day general strike.

Thereafter, I served on five sugar estates as Personnel Manager so we still were very much engaged along with the Union’s officials – Albert Boodhoo in Berbice and Jewan Jankie at Uitvlugt

readily come to mind. Komal’s leadership qualities were always at the fore as General Secretary by then, and often kept over-zealous followers in line.

The central point in the above is that Komal has always put principles above personalities and his ardent pursuit of workers’ welfare and upliftment later saw him playing a pivotal role in the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and on the world stage as well when he became a member of the World Federation of Trade Unions’ (WFTU) Presidential Council.

While I could never be mistaken for a Marxist– Leninist, some conversations I have had with Komal on my visits (most when GAWU was still headquartered in Regent St) often veered into politics but there was never any animosity; his keen intellect and sociable personality always prevailed.

In view of the current pandemic, I am sure the appropriate authorities have what it takes to arrange Komal’s remains to be brought for a decent funeral. I note a Guyanese boxing contingent is also stranded in Cuba along with a number of students who wish to return home for now. Additionally, I understand specialist personnel are being sought (hopefully in immunology, epidemiology and pulmonology among others) who will also have to be flown here.

I share his family’s grief and look forward to a speedy closure.

Yours sincerely, Jagdat Persaud, BSoc Sc, MBA

Iron Lady, my foot

Dear Editor, Former Conservative Prime Minister of Great Britain, the late Margaret Thatcher was dubbed the Iron Lady by her opponents, especially by members of the British Labour Party because of her tough stance on a number of issues espoused by her and her party. Indeed, the word iron signifies toughness, but some folks in Guyana have made the colossal mistake when they conferred the title “Iron Lady” on the retired Judge, now Chairperson of GECOM, Claudette Singh. As Guyanese would say, the proof is in the pudding, but Claudette Singh’s horrific behaviour proves otherwise. She has not even announced a date for the recount of the votes of the March 2 elections even after the High Courts in Guyana have made such ruling more than a month ago.

Out of respect for the nation, Claudette Singh should apologise for her sudden and perhaps deliberate disappearance during the spurious recount of the votes in Region Four by Mingo and Lowenfield.

Whatever was her motive for abdicating her responsibility, it cannot be ethical. And this is enough proof that she is no Iron Lady. The caption in Kaieteur News on April 24,

“Elections 2020 – Day 52… GECOM spends another day in meeting pussyfooting about recount details” depicts the absolute failure of Claudette Singh as the Chair of GECOM. The public expected Claudette Singh to be fair and impartial due to the equal number and partisan role of the PPP and PNC Commissioners.

Many, including members and supporters of the opposition parties, are of the opinion that Claudette Singh is not impartial as required by the Representation of the People Act and the Constitution and that she is in cahoots with the powers that be.

Her failure to execute her duties in a fair and responsible manner has resulted in a loss of all claim of the credibility of GECOM by a large section of the population.

It seems that her actions and behaviour at GECOM are similar to those as when she was a Judge.

All the hype of her being an upright Judge should be taken with a grain of salt. I can recall vividly a land title case: Vernon E Rose vs Sherlock A Rose (my father and brother) which she presided over in Berbice during the early 1990s. What you are about to read will shock you but it seems to fit neatly with her behaviour of procrastination and poor leadership

at GECOM. You do not have to believe me but the record is there as proof. The first time the case was called, she postponed it for more than a year. The second hearing was again postponed but this time for two years. The third trial lasted for less than 20 minutes when it was adjourned indefinitely with no set date to resume. Claudette Singh retired in 2007 without recalling the case and rendering a decision. It was the classic case of justice denied by no other than Claudette Singh.

Claudette Singh’s position as the Chairperson of GECOM is a constitutional appointment which means that she cannot be removed from office, irrespective of what she does.

That said, she has ignored many requests from the opposition parties, local and international organisations and foreign missions in Guyana to have the recount done swiftly, fairly and transparently. She voted with the PNC Commissioners against a live streaming of the recount of the votes, which is not only proof of transparency and an end to controversy, but is also a public good.

Further, her decision to recount Regions One, Two, Three and Four simultaneously is infantile. Even a schoolchild would know that such a

move will create doubt and confusion and would undermine the credibility and transparency of the election. Claudette Singh continues to play games and in doing so, she is insulting the citizens of Guyana with her silliness, nefarious and suspicious actions. This suggests that she is more a part of the problem than a solution. Her performance is a clear indication that she does not have what it takes to be an Iron Lady. The truth is the title of Iron Lady should not be bestowed on weak, insipid and poor leaders. “Wimp” is a more suited title for such individuals.

It is time for the Chair of GECOM and its Commissioners to stop their idleness, stop being partial and publish the Statements of Poll (SoPs) of each district that was tabulated, verified and submitted to GECOM by the Returning Officers. The Chair of GECOM ought to know that these SoPs were posted publicly outside each Polling Station on the day the recount was completed, so by not making them public shows that she is duplicitous and has something to hide.

For almost eight weeks, the citizens of Guyana have been deprived of the March 2 elections results by GECOM, which is a violation of

their fundamental rights to have their votes counted in a fair, transparent and credible manner. We believe that the Chairperson and top brass of GECOM, including its Chief Executive Officer and the PNC-appointed Commissioners are bent on stalling the recount process and are responsible for this bizarre and appalling state of affairs. They have turned GECOM into a Mickey Mouse institution. They cannot be trusted. Remember Lowenfield, the 156-day man.

We call on the Chairperson of GECOM to immediately take all necessary steps to set a start date for the recount of the votes and let it be done in the presence of international observers including the OAS, the Commonwealth and the Carter Center and the high-level Caricom team, all of which have stated that they are eager to return to make sure the votes are recounted fairly and in a transparent manner and the will of the people respected.

Attempts by the Chair of GECOM to thwart the will of the people has resulted in the saying, “Iron Lady… my foot.”

Sincerely, Dr Asquith Rose

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

Regional

Argentina imposes toughest travel ban in the Americas, sparking outcry

A

rgentina on Monday banned all commercial flight ticket sales until September, one of the toughest coronavirus travel bans in the world, prompting an industry outcry that the new measure will put too much strain on airlines and airports.

While the country’s borders have been closed since March, the new decree goes further by banning until September 1 the sale and purchase of commercial flights to, from or within Argentina. The decree, signed by the National Civil Aviation Administration, said it was “understood to be reasonable” to implement the restrictions, without elaborating.

Many countries in

Aerolineas Argentinas’ passenger planes are seen parked on the runway of the Jorge Newbery airport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Buenos Aires, Argentina April 21, 2020. Picture taken April 21, 2020 (file photo)

South America, including Ecuador, Peru and Colombia, have banned all

commercial flights for the time being, but none have extended their timeline as

far out as Argentina. The United States, Brazil, and Canada have imposed restrictions, but not outright bans.

“The problem was that airlines were selling tickets without having authorisation to travel to Argentine soil,” a spokesman for President Alberto Fernandez said.

The ban would put a strain on LATAM Airlines Group, which has a significant domestic operation in Argentina, and has been seeking help from multiple governments. Argentina’s largest carrier, Aerolineas Argentinas, is state-owned and could survive as long as the Government is willing to subsidise it. (Excerpt from Reuters)

NPTAJ condemns brutal attack on children

T

he National ParentTeacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ) has condemned Saturday’s shooting in Craig Town, St Andrew which left two teenagers dead and five others injured, including a sixyear-old.

Dead are 15-year-old Alan Thompson and 17-year-

old Jevaughn Christie.

The NPTAJ said this followed another senseless murder/injury of two children in Barkers district in St Mary almost two weeks ago.

“We offer condolences and prayers to the families of all the victims, and call on all Jamaicans to pray for the full recovery of the in-

jured children,” the association said.

“At a time when our country is facing a global pandemic and front-line workers are trying to keep our nation safe, when families are trying to maintain balance in their lives, there are individuals who dare to hurt our children — our leaders

of tomorrow,” NPTAJ continued.

The Association also called upon the security forces to leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

It also implored communities to support the Police in their efforts. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

gled fuel imports, prompting Venezuelans to either wait hours outside gas stations or turn to the pricey black market.

Venezuelans reported paying above US$2 per litre (US$7.57 per gallon) for gasoline last week, one of the world’s highest rates and a dramatic reversal for an Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) nation that long boasted of having the world’s cheapest fuel.

El Aissami replaces Manuel Quevedo, a national guard general who had no industry experience when he took on the dual role of

PDVSA President and Oil Minister in 2017. His appointment marks a blow to an era of military control at PDVSA, a period that has coincided with a dramatic drop in output from over two million barrels per day in 2017 to around 700,000 today.

In March, the US Justice Department charged El Aissami and 14 other current and former Venezuelan officials with narco-terrorism, corruption and drug trafficking. El Aissami’s indictment said he violated US sanctions and received payments for facilitating drug shipments. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Venezuela appoints alleged drug trafficker El Aissami as Oil Minister

V

enezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday appointed his Economy Vice President, Tareck El Aissami, who has been indicted in the United States on drug trafficking charges, as Oil Minister, amid acute fuel shortages across the country.

Maduro named Asdrubal Chavez, cousin of the late President Hugo Chavez, as interim President of State oil firm PDVSA, according to the appointments published in the Government’s official gazette.

Venezuela’s 1.3 millionbarrel-per-day refining network has all but collapsed

Tareck El Aissami

after years of under-investment. US sanctions aimed at ousting Maduro have stran-

El Salvador authorises use of lethal force against gangs

E

l Salvador President Nayib Bukele on Sunday authorised the use of “lethal force” by Police and military against gang members to crack down on heightened violence amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Central American country reported 24 homicides on Friday, the worst one-day toll since Bukele took office in June, prompting him to order a 24-hour lockdown in prisons housing gang members.

17

By late afternoon on Sunday, Police had registered another 29 murders, prompting Bukele to introduce tougher measures against gangs he said were taking advantage of the fact security forces were busy helping to contain the virus outbreak.

“The Police and armed forces must prioritise safeguarding their lives, those of their companions and of honest citizens. The use of lethal force is authorised in

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele

self-defence or in defence of the lives of Salvadorans,” Bukele said.

The Government this weekend also ordered members of rival gangs into shared cells in a bid to break up lines of communication between members of the same group, and carried out searches in at least five prisons.

Some 12,862 gang members are incarcerated in El Salvador, prison authorities said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

“Another pandemic”: In Latin America, domestic abuse rises amid lockdown

A woman enters an office of Bolivia's Anti-Violence Task Force FELCV, after accusing her partner of domestic abuse, during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in La Paz, Bolivia April 22, 2020. Picture taken April 22, 2020

L

ockdowns around Latin America are helping slow the spread of COVID-19, but are having a darker and less-intended consequence: a spike in calls to helplines suggests a rise in domestic abuse, in a region where almost 20 million women and girls suffer sexual and physical violence each year.

In cities from Buenos Aires to Mexico City, Santiago, São Paulo and La Paz, families and individuals have been confined in their homes in an unprecedented way, often only allowed out for emergencies or to shop for essentials.

Prosecutors, victim support teams, women’s movements and the United Nations all say this has caused a rise in domestic violence towards women. They cite increasing numbers of calls to abuse hotlines.

In some countries, like Mexico and Brazil, there has been a rise in formal reports of abuse, while in others, including Chile and Bolivia, there has been a drop in formal complaints. Prosecutors and UN Women said the latter was likely not due to a decline in violence, but because women were less able to seek help or report abuse through normal channels.

“The jump in violence has not surprised us, it is the unleashing of a violence that was already there in people,” said Eva Giberti, founder of

the Victims Against Violence program in Argentina, who helps runs a hotline for women to report abuse.

“Under normal social circumstances that had been limited to some degree.”

Argentina’s emergency 137 line for abuse victims, supported by the justice department, has seen a 67% rise in calls for help in April versus a year earlier, after a nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 20.

UN Women in a report on Wednesday said there was evidence of rising violence against women in Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia, and a doubling in the number of femicides in Argentina during the quarantine, citing a women’s observatory in Mar del Plata.

Pre-pandemic, the Argentine government estimates that a woman was killed every 23 hours.

Domestic violence “seems to be another pandemic,” said Lucía Vassallo, a film maker whose documentary “Line 137” looks at the issue.

‘They dare not go out’

Rising concern over domestic abuse has been global, with fears victims are being silenced in Italy, calls for help from women rising in Spain, and systems to prevent child abuse in the United States hampered by the lockdown. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Jamaica’s COVID-19 cases pass 300

O

ver 300 Jamaicans have now tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with the addition of 17 new cases over the last 24 hours.

On Saturday, the Ministry of Health said the 17 new positives are comprised six males and 11 females, bringing the total to 305.

Sixteen of the 17 range in age from 21 to 59 years. In addition, 12 of the 17 are employees of Alorica, the business process outsourcing entity located in St Catherine.

One of the 17 new cases is the contact of a confirmed

Prime Minister of Andrew Holness

Jamaica

employee, two are contacts of a confirmed case, and two are under investigation.

To date, 167 of the 305 confirmed cases to date are employees of Alorica. (CMC)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

Around the World

OILNEWS

Coronavirus: New Zealand claims no community cases as lockdown eases

N

ew Zealand said it has stopped community transmission of COVID-19, effectively eliminating the virus.

With new cases in single figures for several days - one on Sunday - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the virus was "currently" eliminated.

But officials have warned against complacency, saying it does not mean a total end to new coronavirus cases.

The news came hours before New Zealand moved out of its toughest level of social restrictions.

From today, some non-essential business, healthcare and education activity will be able to resume.

New Zealand brought in very tough restrictions on travel and activity early on in the pandemic

Most people will still be required to remain at home at all times and avoid all social interactions.

"We are opening up the economy, but we're not

opening up people's social lives," Ardern said at the daily Government briefing.

New Zealand has reported fewer than 1500 confirmed or probable cases of

coronavirus and 19 deaths.

New Zealand's Director General of Health, Ashley Bloomfield, said the low number of new cases in recent days "does give us confidence that we have achieved our goal of elimination".

He warned that "elimination" did not mean there would be no new cases "but it does mean we know where our cases are coming from".

Ardern said there was "no widespread undetected community transmission in New Zealand", adding: "We have won that battle."

But she said the country "must remain vigilant if we are to keep it that way".

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Iran: Over 700 dead after drinking alcohol to cure coronavirus

M

ore than 700 people have died in Iran after ingesting toxic methanol, erroneously thinking it can cure the new coronavirus.

The national coroner's authority said that alcohol poisoning killed 728 Iranians between February 20 and April 7. Last year there were only 66 deaths from alcohol poisoning, according to the report.

Alcohol poisoning has seen a 10-fold increase in Iran in the past year, according to a Government report released earlier in April, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Iranian Health Ministry

Health authorities say that a total of 5011 people had been poisoned from methanol alcohol [Ali Khara/Reuters]

spokesman, Kianoush Jahanpour, said 5011 people had been poisoned from methanol alcohol, adding that some 90 people have lost their eyesight or are suffering eye damage from the

alcohol poisoning.

Hossein Hassanian, a Health Ministry adviser, said the final tally of people who lost their eyesight could be much higher.

Iran is facing the worst coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East with 5806 deaths and more than 91,000 confirmed cases.

Methanol cannot be

smelled or tasted in drinks.

It causes delayed organ and brain damage. Symptoms include chest pain, nausea, hyperventilation, blindness and even coma.

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump raised the possibility of injecting disinfectant into patients, causing an international uproar with manufacturers, doctors and Government agencies rushing out warnings against consuming disinfectants like bleach.

In Iran, the Government mandates that manufacturers of toxic methanol add an artificial colour to their products so the public can tell it apart from ethanol, the kind of alcohol that can be used in cleaning wounds.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Italy, UK explore possible COVID-19 link to child inflammatory disease Global coronavirus cases pass three million as lockdowns begin to ease

I

talian and British medical experts are investigating a possible link between the coronavirus pandemic and clusters of severe inflammatory disease among infants who are arriving in hospital with high fevers and swollen arteries.

Doctors in northern Italy, one of the world’s hardest-hit areas during the pandemic, have reported extraordinarily large numbers of children aged under nine with severe cases of what appears to be Kawasaki disease, more common in parts of Asia.

In Britain, doctors have made similar observations, prompting Health Secretary Matt Hancock to tell a coronavirus news briefing on Monday that he was “very worried” and that medical authorities were looking at the issue closely.

Kawasaki disease, whose cause is unknown, often afflicts children aged under five and is associated with fever, skin rashes, swelling of glands and, in

severe cases, inflammation of arteries of the heart.

England’s national medical director, Stephen Powis, told the British briefing he had become aware of reports of severely ill children with Kawasaki-like symptoms in the past few days but stressed it was too early to determine a link with coronavirus.

In Italy, paediatricians are also alarmed.

A hospital in the northern town of Bergamo has seen more than 20 cases of severe vascular inflammation in the past month, six times as many as it would expect to see in a year, said paediatric heart specialist Matteo Ciuffreda.

Ciuffreda, of the Giovanni XXIII hospital, said only a few of the infants with vascular inflammation had tested positive for the new coronavirus, but paediatric cardiologists in Madrid and Lisbon had told him they had seen similar cases. (Excerpt from Reuters)

G

lobal confirmed coronavirus cases surpassed 3 million on Monday, as the United States neared 1 million cases, according to a Reuters tally.

It comes as many countries are taking steps to ease lockdown measures that have brought the world to a standstill over the past eight weeks.

The first 41 cases were confirmed in Wuhan, China, on Jan 10. The 3 million confirmed infections in less than four months are comparable in number with the roughly 3-5 million cases of severe illness caused by seasonal influenza around the world each year, according to the World Health Organisation.

An average of 82,000 cases have been reported per day in the past week. Over a quarter of all cases are in the United States, and over

43 per cent have been recorded in Europe.

The death toll from the virus stood at more than 205,000 as of Monday, and almost one in seven reported cases of the disease has been fatal.

The true mortality rate is likely to be substantially lower as the tally of infections does not include many mild or asymptomatic and unconfirmed cases.

Total cases rose 2.5 per cent on Sunday, the lowest daily rate in almost two months, and down from a peak in late March when the total was rising by more than 10 per cent a day.

The United States has reported an average of more than 30,000 new cases a day in the past week, and now represents around a third of all new cases. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US crude prices tumble as world’s largest oil ETF cuts stake

U

S oil prices fell sharply on Monday after the world’s largest oil-backed exchange-traded fund began offloading all its short term contracts on fears of another plunge into negative territory. West Texas Intermediate, the US oil price benchmark, fell below US$0 last week for the first time ever in response to the slump in global demand for fuel triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. The benchmark has recovered since last week’s fall, when sellers were paying buyers to take oil off their hands, moving back into positive territory. But it fell sharply again on Monday when United States Oil Fund, the largest oil ETF, said it would sell all its futures contracts for the delivery of oil in June — 20 per cent of its US$3.6 billion portfolio — over a four-day period. WTI settled about 25 per cent lower at US$12.78 a barrel, following the regulatory filing by the fund. The latest fall underscores how speculative trading can disrupt an increasingly fragile oil market while demand for the plentiful commodity is so depressed. Oil futures do not trade like equities because contracts expire each month as buyers take physical delivery of the crude.

Last week’s plunge to negative prices came the day before the May WTI contract expired, with the June contract now the most actively traded. “By selling shorter-dated future contracts and investing into longer-dated contracts, they are putting pressure on the front WTI contract,” said Giovanni Staunovo, a commodities analyst at UBS. USO said it made the move due to “evolving market conditions, regulatory accountability levels and position limits being imposed on USO with respect to oil futures contracts”. Its move reflects growing concerns from regulators and the CME Group, the futures exchange, about the size of USO’s positions in benchmark futures contracts, given that a drop below zero risks wiping out investors’ funds. The CME has imposed limits on the amount that USO can hold in the June contract, as well as in subsequent months. Twice this month, it has told USO not to exceed “accountability levels” in some types of oil futures. Last week CME said USO could not take a long position of more than 15,000 contracts for June, of more than 78,000 in July, 50,000 in August and 35,000 in September. The fund had 150,000 June contracts before Monday. An acute lack of available oil storage at Cushing, Oklahoma — a key oil tank storage hub for US shale — has put especially heavy pressure on US oil prices. With little space to hold oil, potential buyers are wary of buying more of the commodity than they need.

But the downward pressure on prices is clear around the world. The international Brent crude price, which is less constrained by storage problems, dropped to US$19.62 per barrel on Monday, down 8.5 per cent. Some analysts said that placing restrictions on the trading of short-term futures contracts would do little to reduce turbulence in US crude markets. Without significant cuts to production volumes to ease congestion at storage hubs, some fear lasting disruption to the market globally. Oil production has already begun to falter due to lower prices. Drillers cut 60 operating oil rigs in the week to April 24, reducing the total count to 378, the lowest since July 2016, according to a regular report released by energy services company Baker Hughes on Friday. Saudi Arabia is also reported to be slashing production, ahead of cuts agreed by OPEC and its fellow producers that are due to begin on May 1. Analysts said the cuts had not been enough to compensate for the huge hit to oil consumption from measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Commodity trading houses say demand could drop as much as 30 per cent as many economies have in effect shut down. (Excerpt from Financial Times)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

19

ARCHIE

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Offer help and show compassion. Patience and tolerance may not come easy right now, but they will be necessary if you want others to reciprocate. Choose to bring about positive change.

Information will be offered, but deciphering what’s fact and what’s false will be difficult. Pause at the first sign of instability or uncertainty to avoid being put in a vulnerable position.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Share your thoughts and be open to constructive suggestions. Work alongside people with more experience than you or those who have different skills and knowledge, and you’ll make progress.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Don’t feel that you must make a decision or take sides if a dispute breaks out among friends or colleagues. Concentrate on your achievements and on doing your best, not on what others are doing.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Jump in and get things up and running. You’ll have plenty of ideas, and you’ll attract a lot of attention. An open mind and a practical approach will lead to victory.

LIBRA

Speed things up. Your aim should be to complete what you start and then move on to pastimes geared toward self-improvement and better health.

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Strive to reach a position that gives you the freedom to make yourself happy. A simple lifestyle change will be fulfilling mentally, physically and financially. Romance is on the rise.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SUDOKU

Your insight and imagination will pay off. Fine-tune whatever you are working on before you present it to others, or you will face criticism from someone jealous and vindictive.

Take action and finish SAGITTARIUS what you start. Don’t trust (Nov. 23someone else with your reDec. 21) sponsibilities. Be open and honest with a loved one.

Don’t act on hearsay when you can get the facts.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

A personal adjustment will be helpful. The more you do to keep the peace and ensure that you and your family are comfortable, the less stress or conflict you’ll endure.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Keep moving toward your goal and spend as little time as possible laboring over what others do, say or want.

Personal improvement will lift your spirits and boost your confidence.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Make a positive change to the way you handle or earn your money. Don’t limit what you can do because you are afraid to use your skills in a new way.

20

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

"Project Restart": Premier League ramps up plans for resuming season P

lans to resume the Premier League season will step up this week in what has been labelled "Project Restart".

Arsenal, Brighton and West Ham have opened their training grounds to players for individual work on Monday.

The league is hopeful of a potential June 8 restart and finishing at the end of July to fit in with Uefa's European competition plans. This would require full training to begin by May 18.

Top-flight clubs will meet on Friday to discuss options for the restart.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said he has been in contact with clubs about restarting the Premier League "as soon as possible".

"I personally have been in talks with the Premier League with a view to getting football up and running as soon as possible in order to support the whole football community," Dowden said during a parliamentary questions session for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, "But, of course, any such moves would have to be consistent with public health guidance."

It comes as details emerge of a cross-sport working group set up to discuss options for returning to training.

The Premier League has

Alexandre Lacazette pulled up to training with the first five players on Monday morning

been suspended since 13 March because of the coronavirus pandemic and all clubs remain committed to playing this season's 92 remaining fixtures.

All games are expected to be held behind closed doors and the league is considering making some available on free-to-air TV. One issue under debate on Friday will be what "approved stadiums" will be used and whether that will be a limited number of grounds or neutral venues.

However, a return to action still depends on the government's five tests being met, especially an increase in testing, and meeting social distancing guidelines.

It also hinges on the conclusions reached by regular cross-sport meetings of senior medical officials discussing the health protocols

for competing behind closed doors, which are set to start late this week.

The BBC reported on Saturday how the government has plans for a series of these meetings to help elite sport resume.

The move was described by a source close to the plans as a "quickening of the pace" and intended to help sport resume "within weeks", if progress was made.

More than 20,000 people in the UK have died with coronavirus.

BBC Sport understands the EFL is expected this week to further develop its contingency plans before the potential resumption.

The EFL is in conversation with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on a regular basis and there is a sense that things are start-

ing to move more quickly.

"Project Restart" is a Premier League-specific plan, but there is close collaboration between the Premier League, EFL and FA over restart plans.

On Sunday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said it would be "difficult" for amateur sport to return this summer because of the "level and scale of interaction" but that professional sport may be able to return "because of the scale of testing" that could be introduced.

On Monday, Watford chief executive Scott Duxbury said "football, for me now, just needs to be put to one side".

"I feel uncomfortable at this stage even talking about football as a narrative, because there are people dying every day," Duxbury said.

"There are stresses on the NHS and that has to be our priority.

"When it is safe and the government say it is absolutely fine for players and support staff to return, then I am 100% behind that."

Clubs in Germany's Bundesliga have already returned to training and the top-flight season is ready to restart on May 9 if given approval by the government.

In Italy, Serie A sides can return to individual training on 4 May and team training on 18 May after the Italian

prime minister announced the first steps in lifting the country's coronavirus lockdown.

World players' union Fifpro says the return of football risks sending a "bad signal".

"There is a huge logistical and medical/scientific question about testing and protocols but also a social one," said secretary-general Jonas Baer-Hoffmann.

"We need guidance and protocols on how to return in a healthy and safe manner. Football is a contact sport and we feel very high protection standards are required.

"Are we sending the right message to society, and are we encouraging a healthy return to normal life? Or are we sending a bad signal that football has different rules to the rest of the world?"

What about other sports?

In addition, the major stakeholders across Olympic, Paralympic and professional sport have been asked to contribute to a working-group consultation, led by funding agency UK Sport, with the aim of compiling best-practice guidance for a return to full training once social distanc-

Formula 1 plan to start season in Austria ‌as French GP called off F ormula 1 boss Chase Carey says he plans to start the season in Austria in July, after France became the latest country to postpone its race.

French Grand Prix organisers said on Monday the race at Paul Ricard on 28 June was off because of the country's ban on major events until mid-July.

But Carey said he was "increasingly confident with the progress of plans to begin the season this summer".

He said the first race was expected to take place in Austria on 3-5 July.

Carey added: "September, October and November, would see us race in Eurasia, Asia and the Americas, finishing the season in the Gulf in December, with Bahrain before the traditional finale in Abu Dhabi, having completed between 15 and 18 races. We will publish our finalised calen-

dar as soon as we possibly can.

"We expect the early races to be without fans but hope fans will be part of our events as we move further into the schedule.

"We still have to work out many issues, like the procedures for the teams and our other partners to enter and operate in each country.

"The health and safety of all involved will continue to be priority one and we will only go forward if we are confident we have reliable procedures to address both risks and possible issues."

Why is France off? And what about Silverstone?

The cancellation of the French event had been considered inevitable since President Emmanuel Macron expanded the country's ban on mass gatherings until mid-July earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Silverstone

has said the British Grand Prix cannot be held with spectators but the track is in talks with government "on the viability of an event behind closed doors".

Under current plans, the old British Grand Prix date of 19 July would be the first of two races at Silverstone, with the second a week later on 26 July.

The season would start with two races in Austria, the original date of 5 July followed by a second race at the Red Bull Ring on 12 July.

French Grand Prix managing director Eric Boullier said in a statement that eyes "were turning towards the summer of 2021".

But a race at the event's home, the Paul Ricard track in the south of France, could yet be revived at a later point this summer - the statement calling off the race said only that organisers "take note

Arsenal’s players will have their own pitch to work on and they will not be allowed to socialise

ing restrictions are lifted.

BBC Sport has learned that British Cycling has been asked to represent the Olympic and Paralympic sports, with a first meeting having taken place last Thursday and been chaired

by UK Sport chief executive Sally Munday. It also included athlete representatives and the English Institute of Sport. (BBC Sport)

of the impossibility to maintain the Formula 1 Grand Prix de France on 28 June".

Races behind closed doors

Austria is one of the first European countries to have begun to gradually ease its lockdown, and F1 bosses have been in talks with authorities in the country as to how a race might safely be held.

The first four races at least would be behind closed doors - and it could be that many more will follow.

Professor Devi Sridhar, professor and chair of global public health at Edinburgh University and director of the global health governance programme, said on Twitter on Saturday: "Hate to be bearer of bad news don't see any international sporting events with spectators going ahead in 2020 or early 2021.

"Goal is to establish some sort of economic/social activ-

Le Castellet has staged the French Grand Prix since 2018

ity while keeping Covid cases low and big events could upset this fragile balance going forward."

Silverstone said in a statement on Monday: "We are unable to stage this year's British Grand Prix in front of the fans at Silverstone.

"We have left this difficult decision for as long as possible, but it is abundantly clear given the current conditions in the country and the Government requirements in place now and for the foreseeable future, that a Grand Prix under normal conditions is just not going to be possible.

"We have consistently said that should we find ourselves in this position we will support Formula 1 as

they seek to find alternative ways to enable F1 racing to take place this year.

"Following this weekend's news from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, we are now working with them on the viability of an event behind closed doors."

F1 bosses have taken a series of measures to try to insulate the sport from the worst effects of the global health emergency.

These include postponing a major rule change by a year from 2021 to 2022 and forcing teams to race the same cars next year as this.

Bosses are also in the midst of talks on lowering the sport's planned budget cap when it comes into force in 2021. (BBC Sport)

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21

Saliva or artificial substance?

5 former quicks have their say I

and the ball has become a bit soft.

Umpire is refusing to replace the ball. Now if you put too much spit on SG Test the ball gets more and more softer. Then you don't get the zip as a fast bowler or even as a spinner.

Also you have to make sure that your team-mates are not using too much sweat or spit in such a scenario. I was told by [Javagal] Srinath when I was young when to shine and not to and similarly I passed the tips to other youngsters - that it is better to keep the run-rate tight and once the ball starts to reverse when it is a bit more Not allowing sweat or saold then we can apply liva, murdering the bowlMitchell Starc has a chat with bowling coach Allan Donald sweat or spit to faers – Ashish Nehra cilitate further ment. They were saying cricketers, vent a bowler using his sweat or saWhat is swing. ball-tamfor instance, would have to isolate liva.

So le- themselves for two weeks to make pering? g a l i s - sure that everything was fine for When you Interested to hear what big-name batsing use when they got to the venue before scratch men have to say – Allan Donald of some the match started. And everyone inthe ball I absolutely agree with legalising a r t i f i - volved (with the match) will have to ball-tampering. I said so in an artion one cial sub- do the same thing. s i d e cle sometime in the 2000s. It hapstances w i t h Now if you are saying everyone pens anyway. We see guys throwing to shine is in the bio-secure environment, the ball on the ground and umpires your the ball you are staying in the same hotel, say to throw it up and it's pretty obnail, under su- you are not moving for the length of vious what they are doing. bottle pervision time you are playing the matches, if c ap , It could work if it is well-moniAshish Nehra is not sud- that is the case, why are you wor- tored. There's no reason why, if you w i t h your spikes or any other means. But denly going to help swing the ball. ried about someone's saliva? That are really struggling at the SCG and that does not make the ball reverse. Because you are used to working person, according to what you are you are looking for reverse swing, You have to use saliva, sweat, mur- on the ball naturally using spit and doing, should be free of COVID-19. you shouldn't be able to try and get ray mints etc. to not just shine the sweat at different points on differ- If the ICC thinks that the some by working the ball. It evens ball, but also make the other side ent balls in different conditions on two-week period the game out. heavy. That is how you traditionally different surfaces. to prove that I don't mean you should be able I feel a better choice could be to get reverse swing. you are free of to bring bottle tops onto the field or The other significant thing to allow a team to pick one player who COVID-19 is bite the ball, but I genuinely think keep in mind is fast bowlers need will be specifically in charge of usnot foolproof, there is scope for working on the to practise using the artificial sub- ing saliva on the ball when there is then that ball, if it is well controlled. For exstances that will be permitted a need to shine. That is a much betmeans you ample, maybe you could throw the during a match under the umpire's ter alternative because that way we a r e ball into the ground for a period of supervision. You can't just expect can continue to naturally work on time and that that time elapses. I fast bowlers to arrive at a Test the ball. had never thought of shoe polish. I By permitting artificial submatch and suddenly start swinging suppose you'd take a whole box stances to aid swing, the ICC is gothe ball even conventionally. out there and get buffing.

Bowlers need to have the expe- ing back on its own rules. But as When I first started, I had rience of using these artificial sub- far as I am concerned allowing wax, a chat with the great Imran stances, like wax or shoe polish, you vaseline etc on the ball is not exKhan and he told me they lent to ball-tamare talking about to shine ball and actly equivaused to wet one side of tually says understand its behaviour. Also dif- pering. If it acthe ball a lot, with moisrough ferent balls - Kookaburra, SG Test, go ahead and ture, with sweat and get Dukes - will behave differently on t h e it heavy and keep the othdifferent surfaces. So there are plen- b a l l er side shiny. It was hard ty of unknowns as far as I am con- from work and it took a long t h e cerned. time, so if there's another Michael Holding talks during an interview with ESPNcricinfo How many times am I allowed to o t h e r way, that might also work. approach the umpire to use the ar- s i d e , putting everyone in that environ- We know in baseball they use sometificial substance to shine the ball? then probably the bowlers will wel- ment in jeopardy? Why would you thing, I think it's still a mystery, to When we put saliva, at times I would come the move. Because with a bit want to play cricket under those cir- get the ball to swing in and dip. rub that after every second or third of practice, the bowlers will domi- cumstances? It's either safe or it's I'm quite surprised to hear this is delivery. There are different ways nate the batsmen, who are bound to not. No guessing, please. being considered. It's quite enlightto shine the ball. Sometimes you say it is unfair. But if you are saying ening. I'd be interested to hear what As told to Nagraj Gollapudi don't shine the other side complete- the artificial substance is allowed to the big-name batsmen have to say ly, especially if your ball has land- be used only on the shiny side and about this because I am sure there Not possible to prevent a bowler using ed on the seam. Sometimes the ball the other side cannot be touched, will be a few comments. But I say if his sweat or saliva – Waqar Younis goes to boundary or into the stands then you might see more instances As a fast bowler, I reject this be- there's anything that can work, we and comes back damaged, then you of teams piling huge totals. cause this [using saliva and sweat] might as well give it a crack.

Personally I feel not allowing the is a natural process. A ball exchangshine the ball in a different way.

As told to Firdose Moonda You shine a Kookaburra in a dif- use of sweat or saliva is once again es hands all day. You run in, huffing ferent way, a Dukes in a different murdering the bowlers. and puffing, so you sweat and that How will they monitor what subway and you shine SG Test in a difgets on the ball. Also, using saliva is stance to be used – Azhar Mahmood ferent way. You shine a new ball I don't understand the logic natural rather than on intent. It's a I don't mind such a move aldifferently. When the ball is old and – Michael Holding habit and you just can't control this though I am more interested in how it is reversing. sometimes you put I have read that ICC is con- aspect. they will monitor what the submore sweat. When the ball is not templating preventing people from I don't know how this discussion stance to be used is. I think the ball reversing you are only using spit. using saliva on the ball due to came up, but I feel people who want manufacturers could have a big role When there is a new ball you only COVID-19 and allowing them to the game to be played are frustrated to play in what is used, as they will put very, very little spit wherever use foreign substances on the ball to with the lockdown. They are over- know best what kind of substance is there is a scratch. What I'm trying keep the shine on but in front of the thinking it. I doubt this new idea of best suited to the leather that is beto say is there are several different umpire. I don't understand the logic using (artificial) substance instead ing used on the ball. It could be that ways of shining the ball. behind that. of saliva is a solution. You can make bowlers are allowed to use a small Let's say a Test match is on and Before they got to that point they a bowler use a predefined substance bottle, like a hand sanitiser bottle, the ball, SG Test, is semi-new, about said, if they restart cricket, it has to on the ball, but at the same time, of the substance to use as shine on 25 overs old. But it is not reversing be played in a bio-secure environ- practically it's not possible to pre- the ball." (ESPNcricinfo) n the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, to avoid the dangers of rubbing saliva on the ball, cricket is deliberating the use of an artificial substance like wax or shoe polish to facilitate swing bowling.

Effectively it is ball-tampering under the current set of Laws but the proposal says it will happen under the strict supervision of the umpires. ESPNcricinfo asked five former fast bowlers their thoughts on replacing spit or sweat with an artificial substance. This is what they had to say.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PCB hands Umar Akmal 3-year ban from all cricket

U

mar Akmal's troubled cricket career has hit its biggest roadblock yet, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) handing him a ban from all representative cricket for three years after he failed to report details of corrupt approaches made to him ahead of this year's Pakistan Super League (PSL). During the hearing on Monday, Akmal accepted that the incidents which formed the basis of the two charges pressed against him by the PCB had taken place, but pointed out that the circumstances were such that they did not merit reporting to the board.

The PCB had formally charged Akmal with two breaches of its anti-corruption code for two unrelated incidents on March 20.

The charges come under Article 2.4.4, which deals with: "Failing to disclose to the PCB Vigilance and Security Department (without unnecessary delay) full details of any approaches or invitations received by the Participant to engage in Corrupt Conduct under this Anti-Corruption Code".

Akmal represented himself at the hearing, while the PCB was represented

Pakistan’s Umar Akmal

by lawyer Taffazul Rizvi.

ESPNcricinfo understands that Akmal told Justice Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan, the disciplinary committee chairman, that the two incidents did take place, the conversations he had were questionable, as were the individuals present at the time, but he had his own reasons to not report them to the PCB. Rizvi argued, saying that Akmal was trying to deploy the "heads-I-win-tails-youlose" approach, which is not acceptable in any court of law.

Akmal's case had gone directly to the PCB disciplinary panel after he opted to forego the right to a hearing before the anti-corruption tribunal, where he could have plead-

ed his innocence and contested the charges. His decision not to do that meant, in effect, that he would accept whatever sanctions Justice Chauhan imposed on him.

Afterwards, a PCB statement said that Akmal had been heard "at length" before the verdict was passed.

Lt Col Asif Mahmood, PCB's director of anti-corruption and security, said, "The PCB doesn't take any pleasure in seeing a promising international cricketer being declared ineligible for three years on corruption charges, but this is once again a timely reminder to all who think they can get away by breaching the anti-corruption code.

"The anti-corruption unit regularly holds educa-

tion seminars and refresher courses at all levels to remind all professional cricketers of their obligations and responsibilities. And even then, if some cricketers decide to take the Code into their own hands, this is how things will pan out."

While Akmal has never before been sanctioned for breaching any anti-corruption codes, this might not be the first time he had faced a corrupt approach. In 2018, he claimed in a TV interview that he had been offered money to spot-fix at the 2015 World Cup, separately claiming that he had also been made an offer to skip certain key matches against India. It wasn't clear whether Akmal had reported these alleged approaches to anti-corruption authorities, but he has never before faced sanctions from either the PCB or the ICC for the same.

The ban comes as the most significant setback to 29-year-old Akmal, whose career has been littered with ups and downs. Repeated incidents of indiscipline since his debut in 2009 have meant that he has been fined and suspended, and an inability to stay fit has led to pen-

R

the line just ain Bolt crosses

Us

to put together a 28-race win streak.

“I was totally not the favourite this time; I could tell that,” Bolt said in an interview with India media

ahead of USA’s

Justin Gatlin

outlet Power Sportz.

“This was the first time Justin Gatlin was going to have me chasing after him (wearing favourite tag). But, when I knew he was nervous was when I

FIFA proposes 5 substitutions to help with fixture congestion

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eams will be given "temporary dispensation" to make five substitutions to help with the congested schedule they could face when the season resumes, FIFA has proposed.

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

The dispensation can be implemented by organisers for competitions scheduled until the end of the 2021 season.

A FIFA spokesman told BBC Sport "health comes first" and no competition is

"worth risking a single human life".

They added: "Football should only resume when the health authorities and governments say it is absolutely safe and non-disruptive of health services being delivered to the populations.

"Safety of the players is one of FIFA's main priorities.

One concern in this regard is that the higher-than-normal frequency of matches may increase the risk of potential injuries due to a resulting player overload."

The proposal will need

to be approved by the International Football Association Board (Ifab), football's rule-making body, and whether it is implemented is at the "discretion of the relevant competition organiser".

BBC Sport understands Ifab will respond positively because this was already being discussed as an important way to assist player welfare.

How it will work

– In competitions where

the issues. When it seemed like Arthur had sidelined him for good, he was handed a surprise call-up for a home T20I series against Sri Lanka last year, in what was Misbah-ul-Haq's first assignment as Head Coach.

He was dropped again after consecutive golden ducks, but strong domestic performances meant the possibility of another call-up was never far away. (ESPNcricinfo)

Jamaican Matt Peart's NFL draft a dream come true

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Recently-drafted Matt Peart

he New York Giants selected Jamaican Matt Peart, a 318-pound tackle out of the University of Connecticut as the 99th overall pick in the NFL draft on Friday and he couldn’t be happier.

Standing at six feet and seven inches, Peart’s first love was basketball and the New York Knicks, but when he moved from Kingston, went into the warm-up area Jamaica as a child, everyand he was talking to me. thing changed.

That was strange, he never Peart moved to New speaks to me. So, it clicked York and went to Governor’s to me that he was nervous Academy courtesy of the as well, because this was Oliver Scholars programme the first time we were ever for high-achieving students. going to compete and he There, he fell in love with was favourite.”

American football, and most In the end, Bolt only just importantly, the Giants. came past a faltering Gatlin "Just watching them on at the death to snatch vic- the TV, just the culture and tory by one-hundredth of a everything the Giants stand second. Well short of his for was something that was best, but good enough for appealing for me as a young gold. kid," said Peart in an inter“I happy, but you view with giants.com’s Dan couldn’t see it on my face Salomone. because it was so much "Especially growing up, pressure that came off me. especially that moment in I just thought, thank you. high school when they had For me, that was one of the that Super Bowl (XLVI) win hardest races I’ve run in my my freshman year. That was life.” (Sportsmax) a very, very fun time for me," he said.

The offensive tackle is a fan of Eli Manning and while he won’t be protecting him, missing out on that honour by a year, at least he less than five substitu- will have the opportunity tions are currently allowed, to play in front of the same teams can now use up to fans.

"My favourite player, five substitutions during my favourite Giant always the match.

– The five substitutions would be Eli Manning, for would be allowable within a sure," Peart said. "The man maximum of three slots, as is just tough, tough as nails.

I respect his game and I just well as during half-time.

The possibility of an ad- respect everything he does ditional sixth substitution for the game. You know, during extra-time will re- he's definitely my favourite Giant, 100 per cent." main.

At his height, it isn’t sur– Dispensation will be given to all national team prising that Peart grew up games until 31 December playing basketball in the Bronx where he lived, es2021. (BBC Sport) pecially because of how

Bolt rates Beijing grind-out win over Gatlin as “one of toughest races ever” etired Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt has listed the 2015 Beijing World Championships 100m struggle against American Justin Gatlin as one of his toughest-ever races.

Heading into the championships, Bolt, who was recovering from injury, was short on fitness with many doubting his capacity to hit top gear. It would have taken a brave man to bet against the Jamaica sprint king, but some were convinced an upset was on the cards as the American had looked imperious. Heading into the event, Gatlin had dominated opponents all season

alties as well. Recently, in September 2017, he copped a three-month ban for publicly criticising then Pakistan Head Coach Mickey Arthur, and earlier this year, he was reprimanded by the PCB for misbehaving after failing a fitness test, reportedly exposing himself to a trainer in frustration at one point.

However, his quality as a batsman meant that Akmal stayed in contention despite

few green spaces there are for playing a game like American football.

"You know, Jamaicans call it 'The Concrete Jungle,'" he said. "So, it's easier to pick up a ball and shoot some hoops, because there weren't really that many fields open," he said.

When Peart went to Governor’s Academy, he played both sports, but soon found his love for American football greater.

Playing both sports has helped him both physically and technically.

"I feel like when it comes to basketball, you have to have real fine footwork," said Peart.

"I really feel like that helped correlate on the field when it comes to football.

Being a post player, you have to be able to have good footwork to work in the post.

It's just what you have to have. I really feel like that helped me correlate over to football. Just being a tough and dominant player in the post as well helped me be a dominant football player as well."

At 318 pounds, Peart still paints a lean, very athletic figure, not at all what you would expect from somebody his size.

"It's rare to describe someone as 315 pounds and skinny, but that's what he is," said Giants Coach Joe Judge.

"He's an athletic guy, he has a lot of length to him," he said.

According to the Coach, Peart’s raw materials leave him with a lot of improvement still to be made.

“He's got tremendous work ethic; he's got a great attitude. I think we are going to see a lot better football in the future than we've seen from him already. That's what makes us really excited,” he said. (Sportsmax)

23 iBet Supreme CWI CEO Grave insists body remains flexible for England series FIFA 20 League of Champions …but will put players’ health first under way C TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

ricket West Indies (CWI) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Johnny Grave has continued to insist the body will put the players' health first but remains flexible regarding the scheduling of the West Indies versus England series.

The series was originally expected to begin in London on June 4, followed by matches at Edgbaston and Lord's starting on June 12 and 25 respectively. With the world, however, yet to assert any significant measure of control over the spread of the novel coronavirus, sporting activity remains suspended. Even if the series between the teams is played later in the year, rules banning mass gatherings would likely still be in force, meaning match-

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CWI CEO Johnny Grave

es would have to take place behind closed doors. Grave insists the CWI would remain guided by the best medical advice available and discussions surrounding the issue are already under way.

"Clearly, playing in June is now not possible and we will continue our discussions with the ECB and other international boards on trying to find new dates," said Grave in a statement from the governing body.

"Our respective medical teams are beginning to discuss how this (England) series could be played whilst guaranteeing the health and safety of our players and support team,” he added.

"We will be as flexible as we can without compromising the safety of our team.” (Sportsmax)

Massiah urges cricketers to make use of isolation period … to return to the basics of “ball and socks”

By Timothy Jaikarran

T

he ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has wreaked havoc on the health system of Guyana, and all forms of sport are postponed indefinitely.

As such, Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Competitions Committee Chairman Shaun Massiah is urging all players to make the most of their time during isolation.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sport, Massiah boldly stated that it was his belief that cricketers should return to basic training, since they were unable to gather and practice with their fellow cricketers.

“I want to use this opportunity [to say] to all the cricketers to use this time

to push in work at home. Go back to the basics, the use of ball and socks is recommended; they can push in the hours and see as many as they can get such as facing 1000+ balls. This will help to improve their handeye coordination, so when the COVID-19 has passed, it would somehow help them with their scoring. If this is done, a lot of runs will definitely be scored,” Massiah noted.

He also went on to state that he felt for the bowlers, because if they did not have the yard space necessary, they would not be able to use their run-up or even put the ball in the right areas. He said it was his belief that the bowlers would have it tough when they hit the field.

Massiah also pointed out that he was urging all play-

ers to maintain their work ethics and keep on training.

“If they have a lot of yard space, they can go through their paces; if they don’t, they can do a lot of push-ups, pull-ups, skipping, basically just getting yourselves in tune. So, when the season resumes, they are not lazy or overweight,” Massiah opined.

The Competitions Committee Chairman went on to relay that he believed that a lot of centuries would be scored when cricket resumed. He stated Georgetown Cricket Association Committee that he was currently using Competitions the “ball and socks” method Chairman Shaun Massiah of training and he was aiming to hit 1000 balls per day was pleading with the bowlas it has aided him in im- ers to use this time to do a proving his timing. lot of strengthening so when In closing, Massiah re- sports resume, everyone iterated that while the bat- would be in the best shape ters may have it easier, he of their lives.

Virtual Madrid Open: Nadal asks to postpone charity match because of "back issue"

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afael Nadal has suffered more than a fair share of injuries during his tennis career but his latest is a first for the Spanish great.

The 19-time Grand Slam champion asked to postpone a virtual tennis charity match against a gamer on Monday because of a "back issue", according to Madrid Open Virtual Pro tournament director Feliciano Lopez.

Nadal is one of 32 stars competing in a video game version of the Spanish capital's clay-court event, which should have taken place next week.

After beating Canada's Denis Shapovalov in his opening match of the main tournament between ATP players, Nadal was set to play Spanish YouTuber

What the virtual Madrid Open court looks like

DjMariio in a separate charity match.

But Lopez says Nadal messaged him earlier on Monday asking for his match against the gamer be postponed.

"He had an issue on his back and was a bit injured so he requested to play DjMariio tomorrow," Lopez said on the tournament's live YouTube stream.

"I got a text from Rafa

before he played Shapovalov saying he injured himself. I don't know if he was working out or what it was. But he was worried about the injury.

"He said 'let me play the match against Shapovalov and that's it for today, then tomorrow I will try to play against DjMariio'."

Nadal, 33, has also been drawn in the same group as Britain's Andy Murray, who

beat France's Benoit Paire in his opening match.

The group phase of the event, which has a separate WTA tournament, continues on Tuesday and Wednesday before the semi-finals and finals take place on Thursday.

British number one Johanna Konta, who is among the 16 players in the WTA event, had a difficult start with a 3-0 defeat by Romania's Sorana Cirstea in her opener.

Matches consist of one set in a first-to-three format, with a tie-break to decide the winner if they are locked at 3-3.

Swiss world number seven Belinda Bencic won plaudits for an impressive 3-1 win over Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro, plus the effort she put into an 'on-court' walk before the match. (BBC Sport)

– exciting matches expected

I

Marvin Johnson

n an effort to give avid sports fans some much-needed entertainment, iBet Supreme launched its FIFA 20‘League of Champions esports tournament two weeks ago.

The tournament, which is aimed at keeping sport enthusiasts indoors, commenced on Saturday night with two thrilling encounters, including one featuring Caribbean table tennis men’s singles bronze and U-21 men’s silver medallist, Shemar Britton.

The tournament, which will see over $100,000 up for grabs, will run over two weeks with competitors battling out on the PlayStation 4 platform.

The opening game saw Marvin Johnson (Liverpool FC) facing Akil Harper (FC Barcelona) and coming out victorious with the score at 3-2. Meanwhile, Britton (FC Barcelona) took on Jonathan Hutson (Manchester City FC) and that match finished at 2-2.

The tournament is presently at the Round of 16 stage and will see the participants playing home and away fixtures with the aggregate (away goals rule) deciding the winner.

Meanwhile, iBet’s Marketing and Business Development Manager Dustanni Barrow noted; "We had two competitive games, especially the second one and we are looking forward to the games tonight (Sunday night), we had a bit of a difficulty streaming the live videos, but we have fixed that and we are at the green light for tonight's fixtures.

Everybody is excited so far and iBet is happy to bring this new form of entertainment during this time, and we continue to encourage people to stay at home and take all the necessary precautions needed to fight the COVID-19."

The winner of the event

National table tennis player Shemar Britton

will pocket $50,000, two pennyweights of gold, a trophy, a case of Monster Energy Drinks and a special Church’s Chicken meal. Meanwhile, the second-place finisher will collect $25,000, a case of Monster Energy Drinks and a Church’s Chicken meal.

The third-place finisher will receive $15,000, a case of Monster Energy Drinks as well as a Church’s Chicken meal.

Persons who are interested in looking at the matches can check the iBet Supreme Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ iBetSupreme/ where all the games will be streamed.

Sponsors of the event are Banks DIH under its Monster Energy Drinks, Church’s Chicken, A&A Gamespot, Smoke Shack and NCN, who are programmed to stream the semi-finals, third-place and final.

iBet League of Champions FIFA 20 eSports Tournament Day 1 Results

Marvin Johnson: Liverpool 3-2 Akil Harper: FC Barcelona (First Leg) Shemar Britton: FC Barcelona 2-2 Jonathan Hutson: Manchester City (First Leg)

Day 2 Fixtures (April 26)

Match 3: 7:00pmTariq Dakhil (Juventus) v Lorenzo Forde (PSG) Match 4: 7:30pm- Dane Haynes (FC Barcelona) v Emuwnah Pross (Real Madrid Match 5: 8:00pm- Vance Validum (Liverpool) v Travis Hart (FC Barcelona) Match 6: 8:30pmCarlton Cummings (FC Barcelona) v Tevin Bremner (Liverpool) Match 7: 9:00pm- Akeem Allicock (FC Barcelona) v Osase Barclay (Juventus)

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CWI CEO Grave insists body remains iBet Supreme flexible for FIFA 20 League Champions England series ofunder way iBet’s Dustanni Barrow

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…but will put players’ health first

Saliva or artificial substance?

5 former quicks have their say Page 21

– exciting matches expected

PCB hands Umar Akmal 3-year ban from all cricket

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