Guyana Times - Tuesday, June 2, 2020

See Region 4 SoRs comparison with released SoPs on pages 14 to 20 All SoRs are available on our website Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4304

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020

Essequibo Coast residents expose APNU/AFC falsehoods See story on page 7

…names on coalition’s list of ‘migrated’ persons …but men were in Guyana, voted on E-Day

No proof ‘migrated’ persons voted; GECOM never checked

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Guyanese P2 students permitted to return face major difficulties …Govt will work towards addressing issues – caretaker Minister

1st set of laidoff Guyana Goldfields P11 workers paid severance No new COVID-19 cases, 40 tests conducted P10

Page 9

…admits request to Top Cop based on APNU/AFC’s demand

Atlantic Gardens woman murdered by ‘friend’ …cops fired tear gas to nab suspect hiding in ceiling

GAWU offers representation to oil sector workers P12 …willing to assist aggrieved workers

Page 8

Dead: Sattie Beekharry

The suspect being taken into custody

503 ballot boxes remain to be recounted …Region 8 tabulation certified …5 workstations now dedicated to Region 4

See story on page 3

Cops in drivers’ licence forgery case freed P7

GuySuCo being disingenuous on Uitvlugt workers' protests – GAWU P13

2 NEWS

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyanese students permitted to return face major difficulties …Govt will work towards addressing issues – caretaker Minister W hile the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF)

has permitted a number of Guyanese stranded abroad to return home, reports

have arisen of students in locations throughout the Caribbean encountering major difficulties.

According to reports received, over a dozen students in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) have encountered difficulties at the different ports.

Students have also complained of not enough assistance being rendered by the Guyanese consulates in these countries.

When contacted by this publication, caretaker Foreign Affairs Minister Karen Cummings at first referred this publication to the NCTF. However, she assured that the Ministry will look into and address these issues.

“Whatever the problem is, it must be solvable. And we will work assiduously to see how we can solve those problems,” Cummings also said.

With the onset of COVID-19, Guyana has followed the lead of other countries in shutting its airspace. However, over 300 Guyanese stranded overseas have made public appeals to be allowed home.

Many of them are in situations where they are running low on funds, have pressing matters to attend to at home or have simply overstayed their welcome at their place of abode.

Last month, the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) finally approved the conditional return of over 300 stranded Guyanese during a special meeting, signalling some definitive action by the highly politicised Task Force.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry subsequently laid down strict terms for Guyanese living overseas to return home, including screening and testing for the coronavirus at a port of entry upon returning.

This was revealed in a statement sent out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Public Diplomacy Department. In the statement, it was explained that Guyanese wishing to be repatriated can complete the form at the link https://www.minfor.gov. gy/…/…/05/RepatriationForm_Final.pdf and submit same to their closest diplomatic mission or directly to the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs.

A further notice by the Public Health Ministry stated that those persons returning can stay at the Government-assigned quarantine facilities or pay for accommodation at designated hotels. These hotels are Brandsville Apartments at Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown, and Bacanas Guest House at Charlotte Street, Georgetown.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has also indicated that it would phase out the process of persons returning. The Ministry has said that to control the spread of the virus, there are a few steps which persons would be required to take before and after entering these shores.

After mounting calls and accusations of leaving its people stranded, the Task Force has decided to allow over 300 Guyanese stranded overseas to return. Of these are 19 Guyanese students from the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and 70 Guyanese cruise ship workers attached to Royal Caribbean.

In addition, the Task Force approved applica-

tions from four Guyanese in St Vincent to return home via SVG Air. Applications from 10 Guyanese in St Maarten to return were also approved. However, the Task Force took pains to warn that any person who tests positive for COVID-19 would not be permitted entry into Guyana, and that all arriving passengers must undergo the PCR testing.

The Task Force warned that if a pre-test is not available, prior written consent is required from each arriving passenger for quarantine, if deemed necessary by the Public Health Ministry.

The Task Force also emphasised that the applicants or their employers have to bear all costs for their return. Guyanese can visit https://www.minfor.gov. gy/featured/travel-advisory-for-repatriation-of-guyanese-nationals-stranded-overseas/ for more information. Contact can also be made with Foreign Service Officer Comica Johnson on telephone numbers (592) 618-4929 or Office (592) 226-1606, ext 276 for email: cjohnson@minfor. gov.gy for more information.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, June 2 – 02:00h – 03:30h and 14:30h – 16:00h and Wednesday, June 3 – 03:00h – 04:30h and 14:30h – 16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, June 2 – 13:25h – 14:55h and Wednesday, June 3 – 14:30h – 16:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be sunshine during the day. Partly cloudy skies will prevail at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 13:59h reaching a maximum height of 2.54 metres.

Low Tide: 07:31h and 19:52h reaching minimum heights of 0.65 metre and 0.62 metre.

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$35.32/barrel

-0.03

Rough Rice

$332.55 /ton

-0.31

London Sugar

$362.20/ton

0.00

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1739.60

$1740.60

Low/High

$1726.40

$1748.00

Change

+0.80

0.05%

503 ballot boxes remain to be recounted …Region 8 tabulation certified …5 workstations now dedicated to Region 4

T

he National Recount exercise on Monday completed recounting 97 ballot boxes, bringing the total number of boxes recounted to 1836. There is a total of 503 boxes remaining to be recounted.

The outstanding electoral districts are Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), which has another 55 while Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) has 400 to be recounted. Region 10 has 48 more ballot boxes to be counted.

On Monday, Region Eight’s (Potaro-Siparuni) recount tabulation was certified. In the General Elections, the APNU/AFC received 2157 votes; PPP/C 2052; LJP 450 and TNM 11.

In the Regional elections APNU/AFC received 2091 votes; PPP 2050; LJP 450 and URP 39. Six of the seven completed regions have since been certified with each of the contesting parties, with the exception of APNU/AFC. The coalition had signed off on the Region One Certificate of Tabulation but refused to sign the others, instead protesting the use of the word ‘valid votes’ ascertained during the recount.

The completed regions have since allowed for counting stations to be reassigned.

As such, five of the 12 counting stations at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) are now dedicated to ascertaining votes cast for Region Four, while four stations have been assigned to Region Six and the remaining three are recounting Region 10.

Meanwhile, GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO), Yolanda Ward on Monday also addressed the matter of unstamped ballots in light of consternations raised that members of the Joint Services were disenfranchised since their ballots that were supposed to be stamped before being intermixed on Election Day at Polling Stations.

Speaking with reporters in the makeshift media centre on the sidelines of the recount venue—Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) — Ward related that of the results certified thus far, it was discovered that 1536 ballots had been rejected for General Elections while Regional Elections votes accounted for 1927 rejected ballots.

The GECOM PRO explained that on the Statements of Recount, unstamped ballots are not categorised independently but are categorised under the

broad heading with ballots being placed in that pile for varying reasons including unstamped ballots.

According to Ward, tabulated results for General Elections in Region One (Barima-Waini) show a total of 380 rejected ballots while votes cast for Regional Elections saw 328 ballots being rejected.

Region Two’s (PomeroonSupenaam) General

Election recount saw 251 ballots being rejected while the Regional count numbered 380.

The largest number of rejected ballots ascertained so far are for Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) which accounted for 485 rejected ballots for General Elections while another 618 were found to be rejected for the votes cast for Regional.

The two other ascertained regions both had lower numbers of rejected ballots.

Ward told media operatives ballots can be found to be rejected for a number of reasons including being unstamped but this category also accounts for “unmarked or void of uncertainty, marked for more than one party’s list of candidates or marked so that the elector can be identified.”

Speaking to the variances found in rejected ballots for the votes cast in General and Regional Elections, Ward explained to reporters that at the time of counting, the ballots are detached, separating the two categories of votes.

She reiterated as an example, cases where half of the ballot bore a stamp while the other half did not and that this could likely be an explanation for the variances.

At least one GECOM Commissioner had suggested this scenario to media operatives as a likely factor leading to some halves of the ballots being found to be unstamped.

She told media operatives that the Commission continues to discuss the matter of unstamped ballots in light of pervasive claims but noted: “I am not sure exactly the direction in terms of their discussion but I am sure that when a decision is arrived that we would formally communicate that.”

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 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

Youth and smoking

W

orld No Tobacco Day was observed on May 31. This year’s observances were held under the theme: “Protecting youth from industry manipulation and preventing them from tobacco and nicotine use.” This year’s theme is indeed quite relevant and timely, as increasingly we are seeing the tobacco industry utilising more innovative and attractive ways to lure young people into smoking.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 40 million young people aged 13-15 have already started to use tobacco. This, by any measure, is quite alarming, and one can only imagine the kind of impact this would have on our young people if urgent action is not taken to discourage such actions.

For this year’s observances, the WHO embarked on a global campaign to highlight the “strategic, aggressive and wellresourced tactics” employed by the tobacco industry to target youths and debunk the myths they create.

The campaign seeks to provide young people with the knowledge required to easily detect industry manipulation – from product design to marketing campaigns – and equip them with the tools to rebuff such tactics, thereby empowering young people to stand up against them. The WHO described this effort as a counter-marketing campaign as it will reinforce work in assisting countries in implementing effective policy interventions to reduce the demand for tobacco.

Dr Kavita Singh, Guyana’s Chronic Diseases Coordinator and Secretary of the Tobacco Control Council, lamented the fact that the tobacco industry was capitalising on new trends, targeting young persons. She noted that it was during this point in time that ‘big tobacco’ was using strategic marketing techniques to try to get young people to experiment with the new and emerging novel products like the e-cigarettes and the heated tobacco products.

While there is a myth that these products are safe, they are equally as harmful as the smoke of an actual cigarette.

According to WHO, smoking e-cigarettes and hookah pipes – marketed as “safer” alternatives to conventional cigarettes – is harmful, addictive, and increases the risk of developing heart and lung disease.

Of note is that these products have the same tobacco, which has cancer-causing cells among other deadly emissions. The WHO notes that most of the countless flavours on offer – such as bubble-gum and candy –- are there to attract youngsters who at least double their chance of smoking cigarettes later in life.

It should be stated that tobacco is responsible for over seven million deaths per year worldwide. This includes approximately 900,000 persons who die from diseases related to exposure to tobacco smoke. Over 40 per cent of all tobacco-related deaths are from lung diseases like cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and tuberculosis.

Guyana’s tobacco control law, enacted in 2017, follows several of the articles of the WHO Convention and mandates the adoption and implementation of a series of tobacco control policies that make it one of the most complete tobacco control laws. These include: 100 per cent smoke-free environments in all indoor public spaces, indoor work spaces, public transportation and specified outdoor spaces to protect people from exposure to tobacco smoke; a ban on all forms of advertising and promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products; health warnings featured on 60 per cent of tobacco product packaging, including images.

It also includes a ban on the sale of tobacco products to and by minors, prohibition on vending machines sales; and a ban on the manufacture and sales of toys and candies, and any other goods in the form of tobacco products.

However, there is still much work to be done to win the battle against tobacco as 78 per cent of all deaths here are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), some of which we all know are strongly related to tobacco use.

Having the necessary legislation in place is a good starting point, but there are many other challenges which health authorities here must address if Guyana is to really reduce the number of persons dying or becoming ill due to tobacco use or exposure. These challenges relate to monitoring and compliance, stricter enforcement of the legislation to ensure that the population is protected from the dangers of tobacco use and more recently, tackling the newer forms of cigarette substitutes which are proving to be very attractive to youths.

It will not end well for Claudette Singh’s reputation Dear Editor, Claudette Singh, GECOM Chair has now confirmed a statement

by APNU/AFC’s GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander reported in the media on Saturday, May 30. In that statement, Alexander had said that Singh had written the Chief Immigration Officer to seek confirmation of a list provided by APNU of persons who were out of Guyana on Elections Day but for whom votes were fraudulently cast. PPP/C Commissioner Sase Gunraj had been reported in the same media article as stating not only that GECOM had made no such decision, but that he as an Opposition Commissioner was not even aware of any correspondence from APNU. As the recount drags on, Singh’s integrity and competence are being called into serious question. It is now a matter of public knowledge that Singh had written the Commissioner of Police one week earlier for the very purpose stated by Alexander.

He knew, but not the Opposition Commissioners.

The subject matter is a policy issue for a seven-person Commission not as Singh thinks, a one-person dictatorship. From the language and the details in the recitals to Order 60, it is clear

that its drafting required the knowledge and expertise of someone fully conversant with the detailed operational aspects of elections.

That someone is Vincent Alexander. It is hard to say which is correct but this matter reveals that Alexander is either Singh’s confidante or she is his poodle.

This issue is another example of Singh leading the electoral body like a circus. Here is why. APNU collaborated with its illegal MP and Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix to obtain from the Immigration Department travel information of certain persons on the Official List of Electors.

With the information thus obtained, APNU passed the information to its agents in the recount. Then the information finds its way on the observation reports which are then passed to the Chief Elections Officer. Confident that the information now forms part of the records of GECOM, Harmon then writes Singh officially while issuing threats and dog whistles publicly. To complete the literally vicious circle, Singh then writes the Chief Immigration Officer asking him to confirm the information of which he is the source!

Lawyers use the term “probative value” often to

challenge the quality of legal evidence. Auditors use the term “appropriateness” to measure the relevance and reliability of audit evidence.

Seeming intent on embarking on an investigation into whether or not GECOM has carried out its constitutional duty, Claudette Singh is creating another brand of evidence which will get her into the history books. But she is taking a dangerous path.

Here are a few reasons: Investigating any errors, flaws or deficiencies concerning the results of elections is for the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court.

Related to that is the wellknown principle that one cannot be a Judge in one’s own cause. As a retired Judge, Claudette Singh cannot not know that. Or has she fallen for Harmon’s dangerous threat about calm?

And now that she has evidence of questionable value from the Commissioner of Police, will her investigation dispense with the right to be heard rule?

Singh has ineptly reversed the burden of proof and kowtows to the APNU. So, with the authority or knowledge only of Alexander, she has assumed the onus of proof in that party’s fake allegations. Would she now call the Commissioner of Police and all the GECOM staff

and party agents involved to give evidence and how will she treat with any rebuttals from Harmon’s/James’ list of persons? And finally, would Singh tell us what standard of proof she will insist on in this clandestine inquiry and wonder whether she is aware of the House of Lords case, In Re B (Children) (Fc) Appellate Committee? I ask these questions to show the absurdity of the path that the self-described Iron Lady has secretly and illegally chosen.

Singh is trying her best to stretch this thing out. But as the Addendum to Order 60 acknowledges, GECOM is required to make a “declaration of the results on the final credible count of the elections”. There is no room for APNU’s David Hinds’ draw and thankfully, the possibility for realising his call for the destruction of the ballot boxes is fast disappearing. Once the tabulation of the Statements of Recount is completed, the Mingo/Lawrence/Lowenfield declaration for District Four will die a natural death. The day of reckoning is fast approaching.

It will not end well for Claudette Singh’s reputation.

Sincerely, Christopher Ram

APNU/AFC lied on rejected ballots Dear Editor, The APNU/AFC coalition continues to push the narrative that they lost votes due to the number of rejected ballots identified in the March 2, 2020 elections.

Listening to the coalition’s agents, one would be led to believe that there was some sort of conspiracy to take votes away from them by rejecting ballots that were cast in their favour. Nothing else could be further than the truth.

Ballots are rejected for basically four reasons.

1. Want of an official mark (the six-digit stamp).

2. Marked or void for uncertainty (no visible mark for any party).

3. Marked for more than one candidate (self-explanatory).

4. Elector identified (elector writing their name on the ballot).

An examination of the last three General Elections clearly shows that the number of rejected ballots has been reducing, as people become more educated about the voting process.

The rejection is as follows: In 2011 - 4481 ballots were rejected.

In 2015 - 4000 ballots were rejected.

In 2020 - 3983 ballots were rejected.

The 2020 figures clearly show that the numbers being bandied about by the coalition are a figment of their wild imaginations.

An examination for the reasons why those ballots were rejected clearly shows that roughly 90 per cent are for reasons 2 and 3. Reasons 1 and 4 are the least common reasons for the rejection of ballots. This clearly illustrates that the narrative being peddled by the coalition are all lies.

It should also be noted that for reasons 2 and 3, which are the main reasons why votes are rejected, there is no way of knowing who the voter intended to vote for.

One would wish that the coalition instead of spouting these fallacies would use the same energy to examine why they lost the elections and work on regaining the confidence and support of the Guyanese population instead of doing everything possible to divide us.

Yours truly, Sherwyn Greaves

Chris Ram’s numbers

Dear Editor, Christopher Ram’s missive of May 31 asked: “What is the statistical probability of not one of these 9589 persons detecting a single one of the many thousands who according to Harmon, Norton and Williams committed impersonation on March 2, 2020?” To that number, Mr Ram can add 2339 PPP/C agents, who certainly would not participate in any attempt to commit electoral fraud.

I have participated in numerous PPP/C poll agent training sessions and can testify that it is quite detailed in

Election Day procedures and fraud prevention tips. We have been lectured ad nauseam on keeping a meticulous record of the count, ticking, or drawing lines through the names of those who have already voted, and importantly, what rights we have as party poll agent.

These rights include asking to examine ID cards, asking a voter to come closer to compare folio pictures, and/or raising an objection to anyone we suspect to have voted previously as evidenced by remnants of indelible ink on any finger. Vigilance and vociferousness are the strongest themes in those

training sessions.

APNU/AFC poll agents have been characterised as incompetent by their party and can make their defence of their intelligence and integrity, for me, I can only restate my objection to the implication that I and my fellow PPP/C agents would participate in electoral fraud by any action, passive or active.

Mr Ram can revise his figure to 11,928 without fear of contradiction or being accused of using ‘Mingo mathematics’.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020

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APNU/AFC claims of electoral fraud are an indictment on the GECOM Chair

Dear Editor, Guyana’s General and Regional Elections held on March 2, 2020, was intensely scrutinised by all and sundry. The local and foreign observer missions and political parties including the incumbent APNU/AFC gave high marks to GECOM for conducting a free, fair, transparent and credible election.

It is firmly established that there was no room for skullduggery. In fact, the process was scrutinised long before E-Day. The contesting parties were given stretched out time to cleanse the PLE (Preliminary List of Electors) Their agents over a lengthy period armed with regular updated Lists of Electors were engaged in comprehensive fieldwork.

The Claims and Objections period was extended at the request of political parties and so there was ample opportunity to ensure that the OLE (Official List of Electors) met the required standard for the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Having accepted and participated fully in the elections, the APNU/AFC cannot now shed crocodile tears, point to bloated list and in the same breath, most baffling, maintain their claims of victory. Make no mistake, that hypocrisy is ingrained in the PNC, it is a veiled threat for the unleashing of their brand of behaviour once they are declared the loser.

The ROs’ declarations for nine Districts was well accepted by all the contesting

political parties. The largest voting bloc, District Four’s RO, Mr Mingo was doing well up until close to the halfway point when he diverted from using the SoPs to calling fictitious numbers from a spreadsheet of unknown origin and deliberately made not one but two fraudulent declarations.

The first was the subject of a court intervention, the Chief Justice issued clear instructions to the RO, Mr Mingo, on how to proceed with the tabulation using the SoPs. He went back and did worse in his second declaration and that has brought this nation down to its knees.

That action of Mr Mingo caused this country to be precariously placed on a precipice, a touch and go scenario. We are here today, close to three months and no clear declaration of a winner but the APNU/AFC continues to positively claim victory.

During the last of many court battles that flowed from Mingo’s fraudulent declarations, the GECOM Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh committed to a recount of the ballots cast for the 2020 elections but she never ceases to amaze. When the Orders were finally gazette, some obnoxious clauses were placed therein at the behest of Commissioner Vincent Alexander. The APNU/AFC continues to use the observation report to suit their nauseating narratives and spread fake news.

The ongoing recount exposes the extent of Mingo’s

fraud on a daily basis and also in the process has demolished the APNU/AFC claims of victory. With defeat staring them in the face, the APNU/AFC has launched a relentless and brazen attack on the credibility of the voting process on E-Day, March 2, 2020. They have wickedly zeroed in on feeding the nation with fabricated claims of the dead and the migrated voting, missing poll books and list goes on.

They have no interest in the recounting of the ballots as such and have displayed grave contempt for the tabulation process. From claims of victory, they have now shifted to electoral fraud and rigging perpetrated by the PPP. It is nonsensical to accuse the PPP of rigging when the elections were conducted by the GECOM. It is public knowledge that the GECOM Secretariat is stacked with APNU/AFC sympathisers.

So, one can counterclaim that their staff’s hiring for the March 2, 2020 elections would have been more sympathetic to the APNU/ AFC. Christopher Jones and Sherod Duncan on their daily APNU/AFC live shows from the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, supported by other presenters, claimed to have written the GECOM to investigate their thousands of unsubstantiated assertions of Presiding Officers and other staff conspiring with the PPP and rigged the elections.

The head of the EU Mission recently stated that there was ‘safeguard over the safeguard’ for the voting process on March 2,

2020, and maintained that all was well until Mingo performed his rigging stunt. On Friday the May 29, 2020, Mr Christopher Jones, during one of his regular outbursts, accused Presiding Officers of committing fraud and called for them to be jailed for that offence.

Every law-abiding citizen would agree that anyone who commits a fraud must be punished for their crime.

Mr Christopher Jones’ allegations of fraud on the part of Presiding Officers is unproven but he seems to be suffering from amnesia when it comes to the fraud committed by RO Mingo at the Ashmins building in front of the world. With the incriminating evidence provided by the ongoing recount of Mingo’s fraud, one wonders why the GECOM is not calling in the police to investigate the matter.

Harmon’s recent videoed sermon speaks volumes. He opens up and ends claiming victory for the APNU/AFC at the elections. In between and consistent with other presenters of the APNU/ AFC, he reels out the unsubstantiated avowals of dead, migrated and other malpractices on voting day.

He accuses the entire GECOM machinery on polling day of skullduggery and of conspiring with the PPP to commit fraud. It is insinuated that numbers of Polling Stations were staffed on March 2, 2020, by the PPP and not the GECOM. The APNU/AFC, by claiming that the PPP was able to pull off a feat of such magnitude, are accusing their own three

GECOM Commissioners of double-crossing them by conspiring with the PPP. He even went further with new claims of fake ballots.

It is utter rubbish to say which ballot a particular elector voted on. The voter identity cannot be known, the voting process protects the secrecy of the ballot. The intermixing of the Disciplined Services ballot nullifies that claim. So, when Mr Harmon speaks of the Disciplined Services ballot not being stamped with the six-digit numbers, he is out of touch with reality.

Him bringing in the Disciplined Services into the fray is treading on dangerous grounds. He is riling up the sentiments of the Disciplined Forces for some kind of sinister plots, it is signalling of the dangers going forward. One is reminded of the Hugh Desmond Hoyte ‘kit and kin’ sloganeering threats.

It is the same old PNC. Guyana has nosedived into an uncivilised world, back in time. Increasingly we are becoming the laughing stock of the free world. All this backwardness is with compliments of the type of leadership provided by the APNU/AFC, more so since the March 2, 2020 elections.

APNU/AFC claims of electoral fraud is an indictment on the GECOM Chair.

The deafening silence of the Chairperson, Retired Judge Claudette Singh, is not only mind-boggling but quite irritating and leads to a wide range of speculation. The silence from the GECOM is

playing into the hands of the APNU/AFC and is giving them a free pass to promulgate their mischief.

With the APNU/AFC vociferous and relentless attack on the GECOM staff, no response seems to be forthcoming from Madam Chairperson neither the PRO. The buck stops with the Chairman of the GECOM. The fraudulent acts of Mr Mingo have also gone unchallenged by the GECOM. The continued decimation of the diligent men and women hired by the GECOM for the March 2, 2020 elections by the APNU/AFC has fallen on deaf ears, no condemnation from the GECOM. Should there be any form of discontent at the final declaration of the National Recount process then the GECOM Chairperson will not escape blame.

The present generation and those to come will hold the GECOM Chairman responsible by refusing to do the job that is entrusted in the office she holds. Madam Claudette Singh will be judged by history.

The two weeks ahead of us are very critical for Guyana given the historical behaviours of the PNC and how well they can restrain themselves in the face of defeat this time around. It is incumbent on caretaker President Granger and his other top leaders to show maturity consistent with modern-day civilised behaviours to ensure Guyana wins.

Respectfully, Parasram Persaud

Guyana on a downturn from protracted election, COVID-19 Dear Editor, A section of the media published an article on May 28, 2020, “PSC requests no quarantine for stranded Guyanese with negative COVID test”. I agree with the point of the PSC where they attempt to address the affordability of Guyanese citizens stranded across the world and the further cost of coming home as opposed to staying wherever they are.

We appreciate the strategies and ideas discussed by your respected bodies and the constant fight to further protect the lives of the Guyanese people while supporting the business community during this economic slump. Gita Gopinath, IMF’s Chief Economist, referred to this financial crisis the entire world is going through as “The Great

COVID Lockdown”, now the real question is why is it that only two private facilities (the hotels which will serve as quarantine facilities) are a part of this initiative? Why aren’t more hotels being used?

How were these two hotels shortlisted, what criteria were used? Not only to give more options to the people who will be coming home but to help the economy. Why wasn’t it public knowledge that the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) was interested in allowing hotels to house persons who chose to do so?

The idea should be pitched to the Government representatives that are currently running the show.

Why not display another alternative, asking for other hotels and housing facili-

ties to have the opportunity to rent their facilities as these businesses are also attempting to survive during the pandemic and by doing so enables an equal opportunity for employees of the businesses which are mostly Guyanese to earn a living during these hard times.

The hospitality industry isn’t the only industry that could provide services to these citizens during their 14-day quarantine.

What about the food catering industry? Where these businesses are given the opportunity to provide services at a competitive price as these persons also need food to survive since different persons also have different food preferences.

Why is food being screened by the civil defence force? Why weren’t

contracts negotiated with businesses and market vendors to provide food items to persons while also certifying that these items have not been in contact with persons that had COVID-19? How can the Civil Defence Commission completely certify items delivered to them by families of the quarantined persons that the items do not contain COVID-19? (Which is encouraging congregations at their facilities I must say.) In an attempt at preventive measures, why wasn’t there an increase in health measures to allow the food industry the ability to still allow cooked food to these citizens?

Also, the transportation industry, known as “taxis”, could be allowed to deliver food items that the citizens prefer, whether it is

SEE ADDITIONAL LETTERS ON PAGE 22

from fast food enterprises or market stalls. This enables a further group of individuals to earn money to afford basic living essentials.

Articles further published by news agencies have identified the number of layoffs businesses are facing, however, no word from the Government of the day of cutbacks or measures that will enable the improvement our current standard of living situation. There is a worldwide economic downturn, some economists fear this global recession could last a very long time and that is is the worst recession since the Great Depression.

There is a need for opportunities. If the opportunity was presented to the public, it would enable price competition which is described by Cambridge

University as “the situation in which companies try to sell their products or services at lower prices than similar products or services sold by other companies”. In simpler terms, this would be allowing businesses to compete to produce at a lower cost which enables more persons to afford private facilities opposed to choosing the public facilities offered for “free”.

To be honest, if you could afford the cost of the private institution, would you choose it rather than the State facilities? Finally, we should remember Guyana is not only going through a downturn from the turmoil of the election, but now also because of COVID-19, and the world is in a recession.

Sincerely, Stephen Demille

6

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020

Page

Foundation

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

Below is the first part of English Language Paper 1, 2012.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE SIX ASSESSMENT TIME: 1 hour 10 minutes

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. 1. WRITE YOUR CANDIDATE NUMBER ON THE ANSWER SHEET AND UNDERLINE THE SUBJECT. 2. This test contains 40 questions. You are required to answer ALL questions. Four

responses are given for each question. The responses are A, B, C and D. Only ONE response is correct.

3. If you are not sure of the answer to a question, then choose the one which you think is BEST. On your answer sheet, 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.

In questions 1 to 3, choose the word which is spelt incorrectly.

1. (A) condem (C) random

(B) column (D) system

2. (A) argue (C) soceity

(B) opaque (D) label

3. (A) route (C) patient

(B) greif (D) function

In questions 4 to 6, choose the most suitable word to complete each sentence.

4. The President __________ a visit to the interior location.

(A) invented (B) cancelled (C) erased (D) levelled 5. When his teacher arrived, John _________ an excuse for arriving late.

(A) revealed (B) polished (C) suggested (D) fabricated

9. REFUSE (A) angry (C) accept

Here is an example done for you.

1. Red is Tim’s colour.

ANSWER SHEET (A) favrite (B) favarite (C) favourite (D) faveriteu A B C D

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

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

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

(B) deny (D) ask

In questions 10 and 11, identify the sentence in which a punctuation mark is omitted.

10. (A) I have no money left, said John. I have spent all I had.

(B) To make a profit, the factory must increase its production.

(C) The sick child had to be pushed in a chair.

(D) James got up, brushed his teeth and ate his breakfast.

11. (A) Are you the person the head-teacher is looking for?

(B) The register was placed on the teachers desk.

(C) Fire! Fire! shouted the old woman (D) Because he was careless, he lost his ticket.

In questions 12 to 14, a word is underlined. Choose the feminine of the underlined word to complete each sentence.

12. The bull attacked the man who was milking the (A) pup (B) sow (C) calf (D) cow

In questions 7 to 9, choose the word that is similar in meaning to the word in capitals.

13. Only one ram and one had the same colour.

(A) bitch (B) cub (C) ewe (D) filly

(B) side (D) middle

8. INACCURATE (A) correct (C) known

(B) wrong (D) detailed

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

A heavy black line has been drawn through the letter C on the answer sheet because favourite, the correct answer, is next to C.

6. The mother often had to ___________ him for lying.

(A) scold (B) detain (C) remind (D) deter

7. APEX (A) bottom (C) top

next to the answer you have now chosen.

14. Wherever there is a gander there is a (A) fawn (B) fowl (C) chicken (D) goose

TO BE CONTINUED

CXC ENGLISH La Belle Dame sans Merci

By John Keats

O what can ail thee, knight-at-arms, Alone and palely loitering? The sedge has withered from the lake, And no birds sing.

O what can ail thee, knight-at-arms, So haggard and so woe-begone? The squirrel’s granary is full, And the harvest’s done.

I see a lily on thy brow, With anguish moist and fever-dew, And on thy cheeks a fading rose Fast withereth too.

I met a lady in the meads, Full beautiful — a faery’s child, Her hair was long, her foot was light, And her eyes were wild.

I made a garland for her head, And bracelets too, and fragrant zone; She looked at me as she did love, And made sweet moan I set her on my pacing steed, And nothing else saw all day long, For sidelong would she bend, and sing A faery’s song.

She found me roots of relish sweet, And honey wild, and manna-dew, And sure in language strange she said— ‘I love thee true’.

She took me to her Elfin grot, And there she wept and sighed full sore, And there I shut her wild wild eyes With kisses four.

And there she lullèd me asleep, And there I dreamed—Ah! woe betide!— The latest dream I ever dreamt On the cold hill side.

I saw pale kings and princes too, Pale warriors, death-pale were they all; They cried—‘La Belle Dame sans Merci Thee hath in thrall!’

I saw their starved lips in the gloam, With horrid warning gapèd wide, And I awoke and found me here, On the cold hill’s side.

And this is why I sojourn here, Alone and palely loitering, Though the sedge is withered from the lake, And no birds sing.

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

7 Essequibo Coast residents expose APNU/AFC falsehoods NEWS

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…names on coalition’s list of ‘migrated’ persons …both men were in Guyana, voted on E-Day

T

wo persons, who A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) had accused of being out of the jurisdiction but voted, have come forward to debunk this falsehood.

In a video broadcast message, Compton Bacchus of Plantation Phillip, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), insisted that he voted in person. He was listed as having voted at Polling Station 221113A, ballot box 2045, with serial number seven.

“My name is Compton Bacchus and I live Plantation Phillips, Public Road, and I voted on March 2, 2020,” Bacchus informed viewers of the broadcast.

Meanwhile, Amos Bhola, who also hails from Pomeroon-Supenaam, and who voted at the very same Polling Station as Bacchus, also insisted that he personally voted.

“My name is Amos Bhola, living at Bounty Hall, Essequibo Coast, and I voted March 2, 2020,” Bhola also said.

The two men were on a list APNU/AFC submitted to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), of persons they claimed were migrant voters.

In a widely criticised move, GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh had written to Police Commissioner and Chief Immigration Officer, Leslie James, to have him verify

whether persons, on a list submitted by APNU/AFC were out of the country.

Of the list of reportedly 200 names, James subsequently informed the Chair that 172 persons were out of the jurisdiction at the time of the elections.

But there was no evidence that ballots were issued for these individuals.

APNU/AFC had previously claimed that a woman, also of the Essequibo Coast, had voted. Further checks had revealed, however, that a ballot was never issued on Election Day. In addition, GECOM, through Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward, confirmed that no checks were made to determine if any ballots were issued.

Nefarious

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP), has labelled this as a “fishing expedition” that APNU/AFC have sent GECOM on. According to the PPP, this is all part of the coalition’s “nefarious” political agenda of delaying the recount.

“We wish to highlight that a political party, APNU+AFC, not the Government, was provided by the Commissioner of Police/Immigration Department with the immigration records of citizens without their consent, which APNU+AFC is using for its nefarious political agenda. The matter is compounded by the Commissioner of Police

Cops in driver’s licence forgery case freed

T

hree members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) who were slapped with a total of 50 fraud charges in 2018 in connection to forgery of driver’s licenses have been freed of the crime as the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence.

It was alleged that on April 12, 2018, at the Felix Austin Police College, 25-year-old Corporal Ryan Gray and 31-year-old Corporal Shenese Fraser conspired with persons to forge 38 questionnaires on the theoretical examination.

Further, 51-yearold Alfred Park, of 1129 Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), had also appeared in court and denied the charge which alleged that on the same day in Georgetown, intending to defraud the public, he conspired with persons to commit a felony, to which he uttered 12 questionnaires, knowing them to be forged, in that they were not written by the 12 persons, whose

Shenese Fraser

Corporal Ryan Gray

Alfred Park

names they were in.

They were on trial before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, who upheld a no-case submission made by their lawyer Patrice Henry, and the charges were dismissed.

It was reported that on April 12, 2018, the trio was responsible for invigilating the examination. A total of 174 candidates were slated to write the theoretical ex-

amination.

The court heard that on the day of the examination, only 106 candidates showed up, However, on the conclusion of the exam, it was discovered that a total of 207 examination papers were submitted.

The prosecution had contended that on the conclusion of the examination, it was discovered that 207 examination papers were sub-

mitted to the invigilators.

However, after the test, pastors who allegedly invigilated the examination reported the wrongdoing to officers.

Hence an investigation was launched.

Amos Bhola of Region Two

purporting to verify the very information that he or his servants/agents supplied to that political party,” the party said in a statement.

According to the PPP, it is already on the public record that APNU/AFC is concocting these allegations. “One would recall a couple in Berbice who are in Guyana and voted for APNU+AFC, but APNU+AFC claimed that those persons were overseas on Elections Day. This issue was fully ventilated in the Kaieteur News,” the party said.

According to the party, they have found hundreds of cases where persons who APNU/AFC claimed were out of the jurisdiction but voted, were, in fact, present in Guyana at the time of the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

In fact, two of their own supporters, Shirley and Aubrey Nicholson of Kortberaadt Village, East Bank Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), were perplexed after the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition claimed that they were not in Guyana on Elections Day, and therefore the

Compton Bacchus of Plantation Phillip, Region Two

votes cast in their names should be invalidated. But the couple, who spoke with the media, presented their passports to show that they were in fact in Guyana and revealed that they voted for the APNU/AFC at Friends Primary School, which is situated at Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice.

Meanwhile, the PPP is adamant that while they are not afraid but rather, stand ready to participate in any investigation, it must be done at the appropriate time and forum.

They also revealed their intention to seek a meeting with the GECOM Chair, regarding this development.

The party also predicted that APNU/AFC’s claims of electoral fraud will increase over the coming days.

Even as this is unfolding, GECOM is coming in for substantial criticism with questions being asked as to why the Chairperson has not asked the police to investigate Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, who has been implicated in fraud after the recount has already shown that he manipulated numbers to give APNU/ AFC a victory.

8 NEWS

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Atlantic Gardens woman murdered by ‘friend’ …cops fired tear gas to nab suspect hiding in ceiling

Following...

M

Undertakers removing Sattie Beekharry’s body

A

61-year-old businesswoman was on Monday murdered in her Lot 152 Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home by

Stabroek Market.

According to information received, the woman lived in the house alone, however, at about 15:00h, neighbours heard a heated argument be-

Dead: Sattie Beekharry

an outstanding sum for her and that she cannot loan him any more money. Reports are the annoyed man then picked up a piece of wood and dealt the woman a lash to her head before slitting her throat and stabbing her multiple times in the lower flat of the two-storey house.

As the woman screamed for help, neighbours called the police. When the cops arrived at the scene, the suspect was still in the house but it was locked. This forced ranks to fire tear gas in an effort to get him out. Police then broke open the door to enter the house – where the suspect was found hiding in the ceiling.

Troy Low, who was working opposite the house, recalled hearing the woman screaming for murder, which prompted him to inform his

me if I heard what took place with my aunt, and I said no, I got no idea. She said that somebody called and said that my aunt got murder, and I said to her, ‘what?’, and I left astonish for a minute,” he explained.

He further related that upon arrival at the scene he was asked by Police to identify the body. “…when I went, I see a few an area where they were some footmarks, and then I saw her lifeless body lying down in the kitchen.”

Police Commander of Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) Subdivision C (East Coast Demerara), Assistant Police Commissioner Royston Andries said that Police responded promptly to the call, which led to swift apprehension of the accused.

“The woman was heard

The suspect being taken into custody

a man who was identified by neighbours as her ‘close friend’.

Dead is Sattie Beekharry, a mother of four and a vendor, who owns a stall in the

tween her and the suspect after she refused to loan him money. This newspaper was told that during the argument, the woman was heard telling the man that he had

Lindener on firearm, threatening act charges

T

wenty- two- year-old Seymour Shepherd was on Monday released on $300,000 when he made a virtual appearance before Magistrate Wanda Fortune on charges of discharging a loaded firearm with intent and performing a threatening act.

Seymour, who hails from Lot 145 Half Mile, Wismar, Linden was not required to plea to the charges, which stated that he discharged a loaded firearm with intent to cause bodily harm to Judy Allicock and Shenika and Shequita Chapman. The incident occurred on May 28, 2020 at Half Mile Public Road, Wismar. Another charge also stated that he made use of threatening language against the trio. The

The Atlantic Gardens, ECD house in which the woman was murdered

Seymour Shepherd

case will continue on June 26.

boss, who immediately called the police. He said that “the young man would always drop her to and from if she has to go anywhere or so.”

The dead’s woman nephew, Bonny Singh, told the media that he was contacted by a relative, who informed him of the gruesome murder of his aunt and immediately rushed to the scene.

“Well, at about 15:45h, my aunt from Stabroek Market called me and asked

shouting for help, and when [we] responded, the woman went silent. As the police entered the yard, they observed a man or someone peeping from the window, and they asked him to open, but he did not open. So, the police broke the door and went in,” he told this publication.

The dead woman was described by neighbours as an adorable person who was very helpful to everyone.

(Shemar Alleyne)

...her masters’ voice ost of the country was blindsided when it was revealed that way back on May 22, GECOM Chair Claudette Singh had secretly written to the Commissioner of Police (COP) – who’s in charge administratively of the Immigration Department. What did she want from Immigration?? Well, either she fell for Harmon and the PNC’s huffing and puffing that the country will explode if their claims of folks out of the country voting on March 2 aren’t checked out and she’d better humour them. Or else she’s in on the con.

But whatever the reason, as a former Judge, Claudette Singh knows – unless she’s gone senile or batshit crazy – that she has no power – constitutionally or statutorily –to investigate these “objections” of the PNC. Everybody in Guyana knows – including their supporters – that the PNC’s “trying a thing” with these objections they’re throwing up like confetti. If they will come out into the streets it won’t be because of these claims – they’ll come out because the lumpen elements will be getting orders from their PNC ward bosses that it’s “slow fyaah; mo fyaah 2”.

So, nobody should waste a thought that Claudette Singh is humouring the PNC or holding off their dogs of war. The question then arises as to why would she make a decision all by her lonesome on a matter that’s out of her remit?? And the answer is another question: how do we know she made the decision all by her lonesome??

For one, Vincent Alexander, the PNC’s Majordomo, knew about her letter and informed the press corps. It’s just that everyone thought it was puffery on his part to suggest he had an inside track. It’s now clear that not only does he have the inside track, but it’s the one he’s beaten for her to follow! He’s not only the PNC’s front man – but Claudette Singh’s.

And we return to her illegal act. What exactly does she and the PNC hope to gain from it?? Stretching out the time for this infernal counting and recounting nonsense to end comes to mind. Now that the COP has reported (with alacrity!) that 172 of the 215 submitted names were out of the Jurisdiction, Claudette’s PRO announced, “Oops! We didn’t check to see if the names had been checked off on the Polling Stations’ “pink list” of electors to show they presented themselves to vote.”

Giving Harmon and the PNC the cue to yell that the boxes must be opened up again...or else all hell will break loose!! And this will take another month...after which Claudette will enquire about the dead voting!

Will the Caricom observer team wait for the war of attrition to end? Not if Claudette and the PNC have anything to do with it!! ...the end game So, what’s the PNC’s end game?? It would appear they’re convinced that the Western guardians of democracy aren’t going to make a move if their squatting in government is masked by their resort to the niceties of legal technicalities. They tried this after the NCM – when they dragged out matters in the courts with what everyone KNEW to be inanities (33 is not the majority of 65?!!) and served out their term. So, there’s a method to their apparent madness as they pull out one madcap objection after another to claim that the ENTIRE election (which they won!) was corrupted by those crafty PPP!!

Even if Claudette Singh doesn’t hand them victory on a platter after her dance of the seven veils, they have the courts – where they have several shoulders to cry on.

Don’t forget they convinced two Appellate Court Justices about that majority rigmarole!

And got one High Court Justice to look past Mingo’s fraud by claiming he had “no jurisdiction”!! ...the corn Some PNCites have been complaining that while the PPP, the small parties and the West have been focusing on “democracy”, they’re ignoring how “the corn” is going to be shared.

Never mind they’re burning the field.

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

NEWS

9

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

No proof ‘migrated’ persons voted; GECOM never checked …admits request to Top Cop based on APNU/AFC’s demand

T

he Office of the Commissioner of Police has responded to a request by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) seeking to ascertain whether a list of names of persons supplied by the coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) were in fact out of the country on Elections Day. The APNU/AFC list that was supplied to the GECOM Chairman listed some 207 persons said to have voted on Elections Day but were alleged to be out of the jurisdiction based on the coalition’s investigation. APNU/ AFC requested the GECOM Chair to use the State machinery to ascertain its claims. However, the Police have since confirmed that 172 of the persons on the list provided were in fact out of the country on Elections Day. GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward, on Monday confirmed, however, that the electoral body never checked to see whether ballots were issued for the names of persons said to have been out of the country on Elections Day. She told media operatives that the ballot boxes along with the corresponding List of Electors that would document whether ballots were issued had been resealed in the containers—in the Arthur Chung Conference Centre—and that the checks had not been made.

Speaking with reporters in the makeshift media centre erected outside of the ACCC venue, Ward disclosed that the Commission Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, did, in fact, write to the Police Commissioner—who also holds the portfolio of Chief Immigration Officer—based on the APNU/AFC’s request.

According to Ward, the coalition provided the Commission with a letter with an attachment of 207 names purported to be persons who were out of the jurisdiction and voted and that the Chairman wrote to

the Commissioner of Police on May 22.

She said a response was received a week later, on May 27, which stipulated that 172 of those names did return to Guyana by March 2.

Ward reminded media operatives of the meeting between APNU/AFC and the Commission some time ago, saying “they expressed some concerns as it relates to what they termed as irregularities or anomalies.”

She said, during this meeting it was pointed out that APNU/AFC should provide “evidence” to the Commission.

“Responding to that request, they would have provided a letter with an attachment with a total of 207 names.”

Ward related that the GECOM Chair subsequently wrote to the Police Commissioner and that the response was that 172 of the 207 names did not arrive or return to Guyana.

Asked whether GECOM sought to ascertain whether ballots were issued to the names or serial numbers that would have been identified as out of the jurisdiction, Ward told reporters “I would not be able to provide that detail.”

Asked whether the list would have been sent as was received by the APNU/ AFC before the Commission attempted to ascertain the veracity of the incumbent’s claim, Ward told reporters “that’s correct.”

Decision not to check

Defending the decision not to check with GECOM’s List of Electors to determine whether a ballot had been issued to those names, Ward said, “when a box has been counted the contents of the box is sealed back in that box including the list.”

She said a Statement of Recount (SoR) detailing the numerical aspects of the contents would be documented in that document “but the box with the contents of that box as received from the container is sealed back and place back into the

the level of the Commission; when the Commission has a position on how they move forward on this particular matter you will so be advised.”

Not sure

GECOM PRO Yolanda Ward speaking to the media on Monday

container.”

Asked whether the Commission could not authorise a return to the ballot boxes in order to check with the list to see whether any ballots had been issued, before writing the police to verify whether the persons were in the jurisdiction, Ward

said: “the Commission has not made a decision on the way forward on this matter.”

She did concede, however, that the ballot boxes are not inaccessible since they are in containers in the ACCC venue.

According to Ward “this issue remains a discussion at

Asked to speak on the rationale behind the request by the Commission Chair, the Public Relations Officer said: “I am not sure what is the purpose, the Chair has written to the Commissioner, I am not sure as to the reason behind the Chair’s request.”

Speaking to the decision taken, Ward said she knows Commissioners were made aware of the intent but could not say specifically how it was communicated formally.

Responding to widespread legal opinions that GECOM would be acting outside of its remit by seeking to have APNU/AFC present evidence to the electoral body and for it to re-

ceive it and investigate same, Ward said the discussions continue to engage the Commission.

According to Ward, “I think it would be appropriate, this is an issue the Commission is still discussing and when the Commission itself makes a determination on how to proceed on the issue it would be communicated publicly.

She then opted to not speculate on the decisions taken by the Chairperson or Commission, saying, “when they arrive at a decision that will be communicated.”

The Public Relations Officer posited: “I believe that as Chair of a Commission there is an amount of authority that a Chair has to act within her purview…. I do not want to speak on behalf of the Chair but I am sure there is some wisdom as to why she would have written to the Commissioner [of Police].”

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

No new COVID-19 cases, 40 tests conducted

I

t is the eleventh week since Guyana reported its index case of COVID-19 and now, the number of cases has remained at 153.

Director of Primary Healthcare Services, Dr Ertinesa Hamilton provided statistics on Monday, saying that out of 40 new tests done, there are no new cases – meaning that the number of confirmed cases to date remains at 153.

The COVID-19 deaths also remain the same, at 12.

To date, the total number of persons tested is 1658 with the total number of negative cases being 1505.

There are 70 recoveries, 71 active cases in institu-

tional isolation, two patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit and 23 persons in institutional quarantine.

It was only last week that Country Representative of the Pan American Health Organisation, Dr William Adu-Krow expressed concerns that authorities are conducting too many unnecessary tests. He had explained that too many persons who do not meet the criteria to be tested are being tested – which could explain why there are not enough confirmed positive cases coming out of the tests.

Meanwhile, with Guyana’s COVID-19 cases at 153, authorities continue to plead with Guyanese

Director of Primary Healthcare Services, Dr Ertinesa Hamilton

and be forthcoming with information to assist health officials with curbing the spread of the disease.

“Persons experiencing the signs and symptoms of this disease are asked to contact the hotline if you can or the closest health facility so that we can visit you and provide the necessary services. This is also being asked of all who have been in contact with someone who was tested positive.

We call on all other agencies and community groups to reinforce the guidelines to all residents.”

to follow the guidelines. Dr Hamilton pointed out that in coronavirus-free regions, persons are disobeying the guidelines intended for their safety.

“We are aware that persons residing in the regions where cases have not been reported are taking this situation for granted instead of taking all the necessary precautions to protect themselves. We continue to plead that your only protection is ensuring that you wear a mask, maintain physical distance if you are in public but most importantly follow the curfew and other measures,” she recommended.

Again, residents of Regions One (BarimaWaini) and Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) or those residing in mining communities were asked to practice vigilance

Also joining the update was Regional Health Officer of Region Five (DemeraraMahaica), Dr Desmond Nicholson, who informed that the region has established checkpoints for screening as persons enter.

Thus far, the region has not reported any positive case of COVID-19.

A public health surveillance system including early screening, rapid diagnosis and reporting, case management reporting, contact investigations, and the monitoring of trends was put in place.

“To this end, we are involved in robust surveillance reporting and follow-up of each case of Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) from all health institutions through the surveillance

team which shares its data with the department of epidemiology,” Dr Nicholson mentioned.

Meanwhile, an institutional quarantine facility was established with 22 beds and separate wards at the Mahaicony Hospital for isolation and management of patients.

noncommunicable diseases and infectious diseases like HIV, malaria and TB (Tuberculosis).”

“These measures also ensure that our healthcare system does not become overwhelmed by a surge of COVID-19 positive patients, and they also buy time for the development of medical

“To ensure a continuation of routine services, we have made strategic shifts relating to staffing at our facilities to ensure that our limited resources provide maximum benefit for the population: Continuation of routine vaccination; reproductive health services; management of mental health conditions as well as

countermeasures such as medicines with greater efficacy against the virus, vaccines and even a cure,” he shared.

Globally, there are 5,934,936 positive cases with 367,166 deaths. In the region of the Americas, the total number of cases is 2,743,793 with 157,702 deaths.

Checkpoints

NEWS

11

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 die on Berbice roads in 5 months

T

he Traffic Department in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) has recorded ten road deaths for the first five months of the year. This figure is the same for the corresponding period last year.

However, there was an overall decrease in traffic offences recorded in the region when compared to the figures for the same period last year.

Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus, while addressing the media on Monday, said that there has been an overall decrease in traffic violations between January and May when compared with the corresponding period in 2019.

For the period under review, there were ten serious accidents compared with 17

for the corresponding period last year, representing a 41 per cent decrease.

Overall, there were 55 road accidents recorded in the region so far for the year compared with 81 for the first five months last year.

“Our troubled area seems to the Upper Corentyne,” Brutus said.

The main contributing factors for the accidents were speeding and alcohol.

Slothful prosecution

Meanwhile, the police have been sighted for their seeming slothfulness in prosecuting some drivers involved in fatal accidents.

Back in February 2018, Rohan “Pompey” Pooran, 43, of lot 58 Stanleytown New Amsterdam, was run over by a 4x4 after he reportedly attempted to cross

Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus

the road.

However, family members of the dead man have been calling for the driver to be brought to justice.

In March last year, the body of 24-year-old Keyno Akeem Sinclair, a labourer of Lot 136 West Canefield,

East Canje, was found on the Main Access Road at Cumberland, East Canje.

Initial reports had suggested that he was hit by a molasses truck. However, family members came forward saying that they had video evidence that it was a car driven by the wife of a businessman, and shortly after, a traffic rank from Central Police Station went to the scene and after a while, drove the car to a secure location. The man’s body was not discovered until sometime after.

The dead man’s parents have been crying out for justice, saying that the police have only told them that a case file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. They too are calling for justice.

Meanwhile in April this

year, a Corentyne woman, sixty-eight-year-old Lalita Rambaran of Lot 33 Section B Number 73 Village, Corentyne, had her foot severed when she was the pillion rider and two cars crashed into the motorbike her husband was riding. Her husband was also injured in the accident. However, neither of the drivers of the cars has been charged.

According to the Regional Commander, they have been waiting for advice on the way forward. He explained that reports indicate that there was a collision involving the cars before the motorcycle got involved.

He noted that there might be an inquest before a decision is made as to whether any of the drivers will be held accountable for the accident.

“An inquest can take a long time because you have to prepare it, file it at the court, and then wait for a date for it to be called. They have to form the panel and so… it takes years, sometimes three years or four years to be heard.”

The Regional Commander admitted that the police have been continuously delinquent in providing information in a timely manner to family members who have been expecting matters to go to trial, when, in fact, there is an inquiry which will not get started until years after.

“Not only for accidents but in terms of crime and all other matters concerning the police we have not been very good with giving concerned persons updates,” Brutus said.

1st set of laid-off Guyana Goldfields workers paid severance

T

he first set of Guyana Goldfields workers, who were laid off by Aurora Gold Mine have received their severance payments. This is according to the workers’ union, National Mining Workers Union (NMWU).

According to NMWU President Sherwin Downer in a statement, workers reported that their severance payments were deposited into their bank accounts.

According to him, however, they were not paid as much as was expected.

“Guyana Goldfields Inc in an establishment set in the past has paid its employees under three weeks per year severance. Workers who went off under a voluntary departure over the last two months were paid two weeks per year but now the unionised workers who are being made redundant

are being paid a mere one week per a year severance,” Downer said.

Downer was of the view that these experiences with Guyana Goldfields expose the urgent need for a Labour Ministry, as was in place prior to the APNU/AFC taking office in 2015. This, he said, will allow for workers’ rights and issues to be more properly addressed.

“Mining companies come and go from Guyana and with mining remaining the largest contributor to Guyana’s gross domestic product (GDP), what are the success stories of mining and local workers? “It is hoped that the next party that forms the Government after the conclusion of the recount, will, through an established Ministry of Labour, address the issue of and review the one week per year severance payment for

employees as this is a disadvantage to workers,” he said, also expressing hope that a labour court will be established.

Only recently, Guyana Goldfields had announced it would be making largescale layoffs of its staff at the Aurora Gold Mine.

Goldfields had blamed COVID-19 and financial challenges for its decision.

This was communicated in a letter from Goldfields Chief Executive Officer, Alan Pangbourne, dated May 11, 2020. In defence of the decision, Pangbourne cited COVID-19 issues and other difficulties over the past few months. “… with great regret I am writing to all employees to inform you that we will be reducing the size of AGM’s workforce. This reduction in the workforce will take place at all lev-

els, including both national and expatriate employees as the company will transition its mining operation into a state of care and maintenance for an undetermined period,” the CEO’s letter to employees had stated.

A few weeks ago, this publication had seen a list of 42 unionised employees who were terminated.

They range from pump attendants and electricians to heavy-duty equipment operators and blasters.

At the time, Downer had

said that as many as 104 permanent workers were sent home and four had their contracts not renewed.

Guyana Goldfields has had a rollercoaster year, with former CEO Scott Caldwell resigning and a shareholder’s dispute. It has also had to contend with workers striking over concerns about their severance.

They had then entered an agreement to sell their operations to a fellow Canadian mining company, Silvercorp. However,

another company by the name of Gran Columbia then entered the picture in an attempt to outmuscle Silvercorp.

The company on May 11 had made a pitch to Goldfields by proposing to buy all its issued shares.

According to Guyana Goldfields, however, its Board reaffirmed its unanimous support for the transaction previously entered into with Silvercorp Metals Inc and thus, rejected Gran Columbia.

12 NEWS

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Suriname polls were “free, fair, transparent and credible” – Caricom …as observer team departs

A

s Guyana struggles to execute its electoral process which started since March 2, its neighbour, Suriname, has successfully pulled off a transparent polling process over the course of the week.

and speedily.

“The CEOM made it a point of duty to meet with and to listen carefully to virtually all of the entities that were involved in the electoral process, and in particular, to the many Opposition polit-

COVID-19 related delays, we concluded that we saw and experienced no evidence of fraud in the elections.

Furthermore, the CEOM determined that Suriname’s electoral system is fundamentally sound, and that there are many checks and balances built into the system.”

It went on to say that they were impressed with the transparency shown by contesting political parties to bring forward credible results, in spite of the constraints faced by the

COVID-19 pandemic.

“The CEOM was also impressed with the transparency that characterises the electoral system, and the fact that at every stage of the process, representatives of the political parties are permitted to be present to scrutinise the proceedings.

The CEOM congratulates the people of Suriname for the manner in which they conducted themselves in expressing their democratic rights, especially in a very challenging COVID-19 environment.”

At present, a three-member Caricom Mission is stationed in Guyana, to scrutinise the ongoing National Recount of votes from the March polls.

This was the second team to be sent and is led

by Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cynthia Barrow-Giles; and includes Commissioner of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission, John Jarvis and Deputy Supervisor of Elections of St

Vincent and the Grenadines, Sylvester King.

Prior to the delegation’s arrival in Guyana, Caricom Chair, Barbadian Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley in a public statement called “on all concerned, to ensure a credible and transparent recount process in order to provide legitimacy to any Government, which would be sworn in as a result.”

According to Prime Minister Mottley, “this [recount] process must be completed without further delay.

GAWU offers representation to oil sector workers …willing to assist aggrieved workers

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) on Monday noted that its Electoral Observer Mission (CEOM) which was sent to scrutinise the process will be departing today, after spending two weeks in the Dutch-speaking nation.

After the May 25 polls, Caricom said, “The CEOM is pleased to be able to report that its observations and experiences over the past two weeks confirmed that - up to this point in time - Suriname has successfully staged a free, fair, transparent, and credible election.”

To this end, the CEOM urged all entities that are currently engaged in completing the few outstanding tabulations of votes to commit themselves to concluding this process efficiently

ical parties, the Anti-Fraud Platform, the group of local election observers drawn from the Private Sector, and the Inter-Religious Council of Suriname,” it added.

The team would have noted concerns and reservations surrounding possible electoral fraud, each of which was resolved to carefully scrutinise the process for any evidence that would substantiate such concerns.

After completely addressing these issues, the team concluded that the country’s system is ‘fundamentally sound’.

Caricom insisted, “Now, after an extensive period of scrutiny, the members of CEOM are pleased to be able to report that, in spite of some administrative and logistical glitches and some

T

he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is broadening its base to offer representation to employees in the oil sector, having examined information where their rights are being “trampled” on.

GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine indicated on Monday that this decision was taken following an incident, which was reported online, involving a reputable oil company and two of its workers.

Through a social media post, they were made aware that the two individuals lost their jobs after allegedly raising questions regarding their employment status. The Union said if the post was veracious, it would move to represent these workers.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

“Apart from that incident, we saw too allegations raised about other infractions though no details were provided,” Narine said in the statement.

The representative body also shared concerns about the disregard shown for workers’ rights and assured that workers from any sector could seek assistance or advice.

“Having examined the information shared on social media, we cannot help but be concerned that workers’ rights seem to be trampled upon un-wantonly. The GAWU is prepared, at this time, to offer our assistance to those affected along with other workers employed in the oil and gas sector, or any sector for that matter, who are aggrieved or wish to seek advice regarding their rights

at work,” the Union said.

According to GAWU, many workers in unorganised sectors are faced with difficulties when their employers are ‘unreasonable’ or are ‘unknowledgeable’ about the country’s laws on workers’ rights.

The missive further highlighted, “Our Union having considered this matter wishes to offer its assistance with a view to have those affected being treated fairly. We are hopeful that our offer would assist to bring justice to those workers who may have been wronged and have no one to turn to.”

Last year during the centennial anniversary of trade unionism in Guyana, it was recognised by Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) President Carvil Duncan

GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine

that a large bracket of the working-class population remained unrepresented.

There are promises of job openings in the oil sector, from which hundreds of people can benefit. While specialised recruits are likely to be sourced overseas, a sizeable volume of jobs can be opened for Guyanese.

SYMPTOMS

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

Fever People who think they may be affected by coronavirus need to call the Public Health Ministry hotline 227-4986/624-3067 for further advice. They should not go to their GP, A&E, pharmacy or hospital.

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

(Adapted from BBC News)

Headache

Chills

Sore throat

Repeated shaking with chills

Muscle pain

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have New loss of taste mild illness. or smell

NEWS

13

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GTA develops business support GuySuCo being disingenuous on Uitvlugt documents for tourism sector workers’ protests – GAWU I

Workers outside the Uitvlugt factory (file photo)

T

he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union has called out the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) for being disingenuous about the ongoing standoff with Uitvlugt sugar workers.

Since last Wednesday, sugar workers attached to the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate have stood on the protest line, demanding that the company implement adequate social distancing protocols and their work hours fall outside the 18:00h-06:00h curfew.

After the company called out GAWU for standing by workers, the Union responded by questioning if it should abandon its members at a time when they were facing adversity at the workplace.

The workers’ representative body declared that it would continue to act in defence of these affected persons.

The Union said, “It appears that the company is seeking for us to abandon our members when they are facing adversity and difficulty at the workplace. We thought, given our more than 40-year relationship with the Corporation, the management would know by now that the Union will continue to provide principled leadership and guidance and will defend our members and workers generally.”

After claims were made that the workers began picketing without adherence to the Collective Labour Agreement, GAWU clarified that protest action ensued after the company took a decision without any engagement with the Union or workers.

The statement outlined, “It appeared that the GuySuCo has dismissed or wilfully ignored that soon after the commencement of the out-of-crop, our Union, at the local level, engaged the Estate hierarchy and some consensus was reached.

Subsequently, there was apparently a change of heart by the GuySuCo and it sought to impose its will without consulting the workers or re-engaging the Union as was initially done. To now seek to chastise the Union and the workers is misleading, at the very least.”

The Union said that GuySuCo appeared to be critical of the workers’ deci-

sion to protect themselves against COVID-19 and its threats. The body said it had already reached a consensus with the company on ceasing operations, which was later backpedalled on.

“GuySuCo speaks about production being interrupted, but yet it fails to disclose that the cessation came against the backdrop of workers merely seeking to avoid contracting the coronavirus. Certainly, given all we have read and heard, the workers had every right to protect their health and well-being. On this score too, the Corporation did not say that it engaged the Union on the matter and agreed to the cessation of operations for some period. Now to engage in an obtuse obfuscation of the facts is disturbing,” GAWU said.

It was disclosed that while the Corporation claims that the work period ended at 16:00h, it failed to mention that there were two shifts – one of which ended during the curfew hours.

“Regarding the employees’ request to be organised into two five-hour shifts, the Corporation failed to indicate that this practice is embraced in other areas of its operations at the very estate. We are supportive of that policy by the GuySuCo as it minimises the number of persons present at any one time and thus, in effect, promotes adequate social distancing. We ask what is so wrong with the factory workers demanding similar measures?” the Union questioned.

At this time, GAWU said it was only focused on addressing the plights of these workers, taking into account that thousands have already fallen on the breadline. While workers have remained ‘open-minded’, it concluded that the company “has closed its mind, ears and eyes to any rational suggestion or sober discussions”.

Unresolved problem

Another issue which has been plaguing the Uitvlugt factory is the constant mechanical breakdowns recorded in the past months.

Recently, the Corporation came out to address these issues, claiming that it has still kept the operations alive.

But the Union responded, “It is to the credit of the very

workers the Corporation is now disparaging, that they have kept the operations running in spite of the very difficulties they have had to contend with. We are hopeful that the factory maladies which have plagued the estate for a few crops now can be resolved, but this must be done in an environment whereby workers can be safe.”

While the Corporation touts its COVID-19 policy, GAWU said the apprehensions of workers could not be disregarded, especially when account was taken of the many asymptomatic COVID-19 cases locally.

“At this time, the GAWU seeks, once more, that better sense prevails and that the workers’ concerns attract an open-minded approach. We believe this will be helpful as we move forward in these unusual times.”

n recognising the need for support during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) has created a series of documents to guide the operational and resource development of businesses.

In a release, the tourism body theorised that travellers would pay more attention now to health and hygiene while choosing less-crowded destinations. For this, tourism enterprises would need to align their services to suit this new paradigm.

“The Guyana Tourism Authority acknowledges that a number of small and medium-sized tourism enterprises are in need of necessary support to further develop their capacity within the sector. We know that multi-stakeholder collaboration is more important now more than ever to continuously strengthen the quality of service provided, which will, by extension, improve Guyana’s tourism offerings.”

In this light, three documents were created to serve as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in keeping with the new norm.

The first is the Sustainability Policy and Documentation Best Practices, which was designed for managers and operators across the various tourism categories who have responsibility for sustainability and operations.

“As a guideline, it will aid in the improvement of the sustainability standards within companies as well as implementing GTA’s new regula-

tions and guidelines. It has also been compiled to minimise risks and negative impacts by using documented systems to implement, measure, monitor, and disseminate environmental and social performance, both within organisations and the broader community,” the release said.

The second is the Community Ecolodge Operations Manual, intended to be used by Government officers, planners, industry players and community leaders as a guide to ensure Community Based Tourism (CBT) is developed.

It aims “to ensure that the level of service promised to guests is properly and consistently delivered, that customer ratings are monitored and that the staff is equipped with the relevant skills and resources to deliver excellent customer service, which will contribute to a complete experience. The recommendations outlined are practical

and based on best practices derived from the case studies.”

Lastly, a Tourism Business Toolkit was created as a business support tool to assist micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism sector in establishing and operationalising their tourism business.

“Hoteliers, lodges and resort managers, tour guides and outfitters as well as tour operators and destination marketing companies can all benefit from this toolkit. The toolkit, to be disseminated via Eblast to registered members of the tourism sector and our partners, is organised into three sections: before you receive your guests, during your guest’s trip [and] after the guest departs.”

The Authority identified that an assortment of diverse tools – including general operational procedures, risk management and emergency procedures, booking and cancellation forms among others – are readily available within this guide.

The GTA continues to serve as a semi-autonomous governmental organisation responsible for developing and promoting sustainable tourism in Guyana through collaboration with sister agencies and the Private Sector in order to maximise local socio-economic and conservation outcomes and improve the travellers’ experience.

This initiative comes just a few weeks after local tourism authorities came together to address constraints occasioned by COVID-19 and how to keep the sector alive.

pandemic.

The municipality is also seeking to clamp down on shopkeepers who do not adhere regulations in place as it relates to wearing face masks during hours of work, as she pointed out that there have been complaints.

“We’re also facing a problem whereby some shopkeepers are not using masks...and so I know the Council is looking into having persons to observe and start to fine persons if they are not selling with their masks,” the Mayor said.

Additionally, she explained that there have been issues as it relates to an increase in public transportation costs in the community.

In keeping with the social distancing guidelines, some drivers of public transportation are now opting to transport fewer passengers. This has led to increased costs in some cases.

“The other challenge I believe is the fare on the taxi park has gone up, bus fares have gone up,” Arrindell related.

She noted too that there are unconfirmed reports indicating that in some cases, the transportation costs have doubled or increased by at least 50 per cent. In light of

this, Arrindell said she has spoken with the Business Ministry and President of the Minibus and Car Associations in an effort to meet with various transportation organisations this week so as to find a balance with regards to transportation costs.

“We have got to find a way to sit down with these drivers.

Everybody is in this pandemic together. So we have to see how we could not [put] strain [on] the populace. So that is what we’re looking at”, she stated.

Arrindell also urged persons to limit their movements at this time, as she highlighted that there is still too much movement by Lindeners during the day.

“I think our greatest challenge is that we still believe that during the daytime there’s too much movement of people around and so our call to the residents is to as much as you possibly can, stay at home. Cases are rising and if we’re going to stop it we need to at least attempt to make a strategic lifestyle change. So we’re asking those persons who don’t have to be on the roadways to stay at home and if you have to just come quickly out, do what you have to and go back home”, she said.

GTA Director Carla James

Linden faces increased transport cost, pop-up non-essential businesses – Mayor

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he COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased challenges for the municipality of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC), Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell has disclosed.

With months of countrywide curfew and social distancing restrictions, which has led to challenges in the social and economic environment, members of the community have been seeking alternative measures. According to Arrindell, one of the challenges currently being experienced by the municipality of Linden is an increase in non-essential business activities. Presently, the social distancing guidelines which are in place give more priority to essential businesses. As such, the Mayor said some stallholders in Linden, who are not sellers of essential items have now moved to incorporate items such as rice and sanitisers in order to remain open. Additionally, she noted that there has been an increase in non- essential businesses such as footwear and clothing stalls, as residents seek to make a living.

“We’ve had an increase in non-essential businesses opening, as persons are saying that there’s no package in

Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell

place for them. And so they’ve started to work in order to garner to survive. So that has been a challenge for us, we are working with the police to see how we can curb this behaviour,” Arrindell said.

She added that while the current financial situation of residents is understandable at this time, they are being asked to desist from such practices. Arrindell admitted, however, that the Council presently does not have enough resources to assist these persons. Nevertheless, she highlighted the importance of not getting involved in such practices in light of a

14 ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT

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TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

16 ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT

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TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

18 ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT

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TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

20 ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020

OILNEWS Oil steady; US-China tensions weigh, possible output cuts support O

il steadied on Monday as rising US-China tensions weighed on sentiment, but prices drew support from reports that OPEC and Russia were close to a deal extending output cuts.

Brent futures LCOc1 rose 48 cents, or 1.3 per cent, to settle at US$38.32 a barrel. US crude CLc1 fell 5 cents, or 0.1 per cent, to settle at US$35.44 a barrel.

Prices found support after news that the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and Russia, known as OPEC+, were moving closer to a compromise on extending oil output cuts and were discussing rolling over the curbs one to two months.

Algeria, which holds the rotating OPEC presidency, has proposed that OPEC+ hold a meeting on June 4 rather than the previously planned June 9-10.

Stockpiles at Cushing, Oklahoma, fell to 54.3 million barrels in the week to May 29, traders said, citing a Genscape report on Monday.

Bank of America said Monday it believed that North American oil shut-ins peaked in May. “Oil prices have strengthened to levels where shuttingin no longer makes sense and should actually encourage producers to quickly restore production,” according to a BofA Global Research report.

Investors have turned more cautious, however, after China warned of retaliation on US moves over Hong Kong.

China has asked its State-owned firms to halt purchases of soybeans and pork from the United States, two people familiar with the matter said, after Washington said it would eliminate special US treatment for Hong Kong to punish Beijing.

“The possibility of heightened tensions does pose a risk for the recent rally in oil prices,” said Harry Tchilinguirian, head of commodity research at BNP Paribas.

Economic concerns and questions about fuel demand recovery also weighed on oil futures. Manufacturing data on Monday showed that Asian and European factories were struggling as Government-imposed lockdowns tempered demand. (Excerpt from Reuters)

21

Around the World

WHO and other experts say no evidence of coronavirus losing potency

W

orld Health Organisation experts and a range of other scientists said on Monday there was no evidence to support an assertion by a high-profile Italian doctor that the coronavirus causing the COVID-19 pandemic has been losing potency.

Professor Alberto Zangrillo, head of intensive care at Italy’s San Raffaele Hospital in Lombardy, which bore the brunt of Italy’s epidemic, on Sunday told state television that the new coronavirus “clinically no longer exists”.

But WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove and several other experts on viruses and infectious diseases, said Zangrillo’s comments were not supported

Martin Hibberd, a professor of emerging infectious disease at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said major studies looking at genetic changes in the SARS-

CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 did not support the idea that it was becoming less potent, or weakening in any way.

Zangrillo, well known in Italy as the personal doctor of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, said his comments were backed up by a study conducted by a fellow scientist, Massimo Clementi, which Zangrillo said would be published next week.

Experts and representatives of Johns Hopkins University, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, George Washington University and Northwell Health also said they were not aware of evidence suggesting that the virus had changed. (Excerpt from Reuters)

orate the deadly 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

In mainland China, the authorities have banned even oblique references the events of June 4, which came after weeks of mass demonstrations that were tolerated by the Government.

Whether the commemoration will be allowed to go ahead in Hong Kong next year - when the new law targeting what Beijing considers to be terrorism and subversion in the territory will most likely be in force - is unclear.

The proposed law has come under widespread international criticism, with seven former UK foreign secretaries urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson to form a global al-

liance to coordinate the response to what they called “flagrant breach” of SinoBritish agreements.

Hong Kong was handed back to China from British control in 1997 under the “one country, two systems” model.

Lee Cheuk Yan, the chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, said the “unreasonable” ban on this year’s vigil means the end to Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems”.

The alliance said people could come to the Victoria Park in a group of eight people - allowed under coronavirus regulations - and hold candles while observing social distancing. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Technical Lead for the World Health Organisation (WHO), Maria Van Kerkhove attends a news conference on the situation of the coronavirus (COVID-2019), in Geneva, Switzerland, February 28, 2020

by scientific evidence.

There is no data to show the new coronavirus is changing significantly, either in its form of transmission or in the severity of the disease it causes, they said.

Tiananmen: Police ban Hong Kong vigil for victims of 1989 crackdown

This photo was taken two days before the crackdown in Tiananmen Square

H

ong Kong Police have banned a vigil marking the Tiananmen Square crackdown for the first time in 30 years.

Authorities said the decision was due to health concerns over coronavirus.

However, there are fears

this may end the commemorations, as China seeks to impose a new law making undermining its authority a crime in the territory.

Currently, Hong Kong and Macau are the only places in Chinese territory where people can commem-

Canada’s Trudeau, opposition leaders vow to fight racism at home Iran calls on US to "stop violence"

C

anadian Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his rivals in the opposition vowed on Monday to fight racism at home as violent protests continued in the United States following the death of a black man in Police custody in Minneapolis last week.

Thousands staged a peaceful protest on Saturday in Toronto to demand answers in the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, a 29-year-old black woman who fell from her 24thfloor apartment balcony last week while Police were present.

Vancouver and other Canadian cities also held peaceful protests over the weekend, but tensions flared after a march in Montreal on Sunday when protesters smashed windows and set fires.

Trudeau addressed “young black Canadians”

during his daily news conference, saying: “I want you to know that I am listening and that your Government will always stand with you.

Together, we will keep taking meaningful action to fight racism and discrimination in every form.”

The Prime Minister went on to condemn the vandalism in Montreal.

Trudeau has long spoken about the need to end racism, but his re-election campaign was almost derailed last September after pictures of him in blackface from years earlier emerged.

When asked if demonstrations could trigger a spike in coronavirus cases, Health Minister Patty Hajdu said people should bring hand sanitiser, wear a mask and try to maintain a safe distance if they attend a protest. (Excerpt from Reuters)

against its own people

T

he Iranian Foreign Ministry has called on the United States to “stop violence” against its own people in the face of large protests sweeping the nation following the police killing in Minneapolis of another black man.

“To the American people: the world has heard your outcry over the state of oppression. The world is standing with you,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said at a news conference in Tehran on Monday.

“And to the American officials and Police: stop violence against your people and let them breathe,” he told reporters in English.

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets

across the US in recent days to protest against Police brutality and demand tougher, first-degree murder charges and more arrests over the death of George Floyd in Police custody on May 25.

Floyd died after a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, pressed his knee on the handcuffed black man’s neck for nearly nine minutes, until he stopped breathing.

Chauvin has been fired and was charged with third-degree murder on May 29.

“We deeply regret to see the American people, who peacefully seek respect and no more violence, being suppressed indiscriminately and met with utmost violence,” Mousavi told report-

Remarks from Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Abbas Mousavi came as a senior Iranian lawmaker said that 230 people were killed and thousands injured in Iran’s November protests

ers in English.

He also accused the US, a longtime foe of Iran, of “practising violence and bullying at home and abroad”.

The sometimes violent protests in the US have re-

ceived widespread coverage in Iranian media, especially on state television, which recently aired a programme accusing the US of institutional racism. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

22

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020

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

M&CC COVID-19 measures confusing Dear Editor, The Georgetown municipality’s measures to combat the COVID-19 crises and the lockdown policy of our capital city is confusing at best, and is creating considerable uncertainty and consternation in the minds of business owners, residents and visitors to our Garden City.

At first, the Mayor of Georgetown said that he did not have the authority to institute a curfew or lockdown in the city, in spite of the fact that it was pointed out to him that Section 31 D of Municipal and District

Councils Act gave him the power to control and manage businesses in the city subject to a public health emergency.

Shortly after, however, the Central Government announced a countrywide lockdown with a restriction on services except for those deemed essential. Nationally, all shops were ordered shut except those selling food or medicine, private vehicles were barred from the roads after 6:00 pm until 6:00 am without special permission, leaving the streets empty and silent.

It should be noted that it has already been about two months now since the lockdown has been instituted without any relief measures being implemented by the municipality to either business owners or residents.

The residents are still to benefit from the many items donated to City Hall such as masks, foodstuff, sanitiSers, cleaning agents etc. Will they be using everything for and by themselves?

Georgetown is overwhelmingly a city of small businesses, petty traders and itinerant vendors

which are particularly vulnerable to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Few have the savings to cover things like rent and pay wages as lockdowns across the city see businesses close, customers dry up and employees let go. Small business owners are quite terrified by what is going on right now – the uncertainty of how long this lockdown will continue and how long the economy will take to rebound after this.

Yet rather than taking steps to cushion the blow of the coronavirus pandemic,

the Mayor and City Council has embarked upon a campaign of charging and fining 51 vendors for not wearing a face mask, while plying their trade, temporarily closing the Stabroek Market after customers refused to sanitise before entering this facility and arresting persons found after 6:00 pm moving around the city.

Even more egregious and insensitive is the recent attempt by the Mayor to publicly name, identify and badger the owners of a modern shopping mall for property rates that are purport-

edly outstanding and owed to the Council at this time of serious business and economic implications of the coronavirus pandemic to businesses.

Instead of committing to improving the provision and development of urban services through the use of modern technology and greater efficiency, the Georgetown municipality instead continues to attempt to reach the goals of modern cities by thinking backwards.

Dear Editor, The Ministry of the Presidency condemns two letters penned by Ms Gail Teixeira, titled, “Concede defeat and make an honourable retreat for the sake of Guyanese” and “Granger’s Administration has taken Guyana down a treacherous path” which were published in the May 30 and 21 editions of the Guyana Times respectively.

These letters contain several inaccuracies and misinformation. * Teixeira’s claims that the Executive embarked upon “a series of acts that laid the basis for the whittling away of the constitutional and legal restraints on the President and the Government,” is a distortion of the facts.

The Ministry of the Presidency reminds Ms Teixeira that President David Granger, on December 22, 2018, the day after the passage of the NoConfidence Motion in the National Assembly, said the Government would abide by the stipulations which were imposed on it; that it would engage its coalition partners and the Leader of the Opposition. The President committed also to doing everything necessary to facilitate the smooth functioning of General and Regional Elections bearing in mind the need for normal governmental functions to continue uninterrupted and in keeping with Article 106 (7) of the Constitution of Guyana.

The Government had a legal right to seek judicial clarification on the validity of the no-confidence vote and for it to interpret certain issues relating to the vote that are enshrined in the Constitution.

These challenges were neither frivolous nor calculated to frustrate the implications of the no-confidence vote as is being alleged.

The Government never had as its objective to “whittle away” the Constitution.

It has, at all times, operated within the confines of the

Constitution and the rule of law. * Teixeira’s claims that the Government has “dismissed 1872 Amerindian Community Service Officers (CSOs) and those “aligned to the PPP/C” are lies.

Ms Teixeira is aware that the PPP made no budgetary allocations for CSOs beyond April 2015.

A Cabinet decision dated March 18, 2015, approved the sum $234,240,000 to provide a stipend for the CSOs from January to April 2015.

The PPP made no provisions for the CSOs thereafter.

President Granger, in September 2015, initiated the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme. HEYS aimed at eliminating the gap in development between hinterland youth and those on the coast.

From its genesis to present, the Government has invested approximately $2.5 billion to provide educational, entrepreneurial, skill, technical and vocational training for hinterland youth, including the CSOs, so that they could obtain employment.

To date, 3444 from 220 villages across all ten administrative regions have been trained and empowered with the financial and other resources to help them to enjoy a satisfactory standard of living and to add to their village economies.

In addition to the training, each youth received a stipend of $30,000 per month and a one-off grant of $50,000.

To date, the beneficiaries of the programme have established 3467 businesses, in retail and distribution (1015 businesses); crops and livestock (1635 businesses) among others. The young business owners also benefit from financial stimulus grants to boost their respective businesses.

Youth were also given the opportunity to pursue training and access financial grants through another David Granger initiative

- the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurship Development (SLED) programme. Youth entrepreneurs were able to access grants ranging from $3 million to $20 million, which in the medium term is expected to create about 200 jobs.

To date, over 160 youth from rural communities in West DemeraraEssequibo Islands (Region Three); Demerara-Mahaica (Region Five); East BerbiceCorentyne (Region Six) and Upper Demerara-Berbice (Region 10) have benefited from the SLED programme.

SLED has since been expanded to cater for youth in Bartica and Jawalla in Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven); Mabaruma, BarimaWaini (Region One) and Shulinab, (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo (Region Nine). * Teixeira’s allegations that the Government has “terminated thousands of public servants for their ethnic and/or political affiliation and that it had introduced anti-working people tax measures, thereby increasing levels of poverty” are also fallacies.

President Granger, since 2015, has repeatedly noted the importance of a proficient Public Service for Guyana’s “economic prosperity, institutional stability, national security and social cohesion”.

The Administration, from 2015 to 2019, has implemented salary increases that have amounted to an overall 77 per cent increase in the minimum wage, which was $39,540 when it entered office.

During the coalition’s first four years in office, Public servants benefited from more than 60 per cent increase in wages and salaries and more than 50 per cent increase in the minimum wage.

In 2018, the Administration approved increases for all public servants ranging from 0.5 per cent to 7 per cent, and presented a $300.7 billion budget for

2019, which reflected an increase of 12.6 per cent when compared with 2018.

In November 2019, the President announced taxfree increases retroactive to January 2019, including, a nine per cent increase in wages and salary for public servants earning less than $100,000 per month.

Sweeper-cleaners in the public education system, who were often on the lowest rung of the salary scale, now receive the new minimum wage of $70,000. Public servants earning between $100,000 and under $1 million received an 8.5 per cent increase.

President Granger also announced increases in station allowances, which moved from $2800 to $10,000, reflecting an increase of 260 per cent; hinterland allowances, which moved from between $4000 and $12,000 to $24,000, reflecting an increase from between 100 per cent to 600 per cent; risk allowance, from $500 to $5000, an increase of 900 per cent and uniform allowance for health sector workers, which increased from $13,000 and $22,135 to $15,000 and $30,000.

The Public Service Ministry, in November 2019, announced that public servants hired during 2019 would also benefit from retroactive increases from the date of their assumption of duty.

Persons who were promoted would also benefit from the increases in accordance with their previous salaries from January 1, 2019, to the date of their promotion. The Ministry also committed to eliminating the normative three-month waiting period for new staff to access their salaries.

Further, the Administration also reduced the personal income tax from 30 per cent to 27.5 per cent; increased the personal income tax allowance from $600,000 to $720,000 or 1/3 of the gross income, whichever is higher; removed in-

come tax from the employee’s contribution given to the National Insurance Scheme and has given equal treatment to vocation allowance across the public and Private Sectors. * Teixeira’s claim that the President “gave himself and his Ministers 50-100 per cent increases in salaries, benefits and allowances” is also false.

Had President Granger received an increase in salary, there would have been a corresponding increase in the pensions received by the three former Presidents – Bharrat Jagdeo, Samuel Hinds and Donald Ramotar. * Teixeira’s allegation that the Administration “introduced anti-business tax measures” is also false. On the contrary, the Administration introduced several reforms and adjusted its policies, rules and regulations to ensure that the local investment climate is more favourable.

The coalition Government has undertaken a comprehensive reform of the tax system and has reduced company tax for non-commercial companies from 30 per cent to 25 per cent; reduced the value-added tax (VAT) from 16 per cent to 14 per cent; increased the VAT threshold from $10 million to $15 million and implemented a special income tax rate of 25 per cent for small businesses, the latter of which is in addition to several other tax concessions available to small businesses. It has also increased the threshold for filing a property tax return from $0.5 million to $40 million; reduced the property tax rate on chargeable property; implemented exemptions from Customs Duty and Excise Tax and VAT on a range of capital equipment and other goods, among other measures. * Teixeira’s claim that the Administration “terminated 99 per cent of Guyana’s representatives at our Foreign Mission” or “terminated 99 per cent of all

Permanent Secretaries”. The Administration retained several of its representatives at foreign missions and other senior officers in the Public Service in keeping with a campaign promise not to retrench workers when it was elected to office.

Permanent Secretaries have worked in the Public Service over many years and, since 2015, several were promoted because of the skill and the institutional knowledge that they possess. They have also received training and other opportunities to enhance their competencies to better serve the public. * Teixeira’s allegation that the Administration, “Held up appointments of Judges for almost a year in violation of the Constitution” is disingenuous.

The alleged shortage of Judges was not occasioned under the Granger Administration, which inherited excessive delays in hearing civil and criminal matters, resulting in a crippling backlog of cases in all courts.

The life of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) expired on September 30, 2017. After almost two years, in June 2019, advances were being made to reconstitute the JSC after the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments agreed to a nominee, whose name was submitted by the Guyana Bar Association.

After the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in the No-Confidence Motion case, the National Assembly was not reconvened, putting the process on indefinite hold.

The Opposition PPP stymied this process by refusing to participate in the work of the said Appointments Committee and significantly reduced the likelihood of this matter reaching the floor of National Assembly.

Sincerely, Mark Roopan

MotP responds to Gail Teixeira

Sincerely, Ministry of the Presidency

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South Africa cricketers could resume training next week after Government nod S ubject to government approval, South Africa's national and franchise cricketers could be back in training from next week, and may be involved in an exhibition event at the end of the month. The country moved to Level 3 of the five-stage lockdown today, which allows non-contact professional sports training and matches to take place, after consultation and approval from the sports ministry.

That means national sporting bodies are required to present the ministry with their return-to-train and return-to-play protocols which should include details around social distancing.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) hope to submit their plans this week, with a view to resuming training next week.

In its first stage, the return-to-training plan will see franchise cricketers training at their home grounds, in accordance with set guidelines. That includes a prohibition on the use of saliva on the ball as well as regulations around the use of changing rooms - which will not be allowed - and the number of players and sup-

port staff who will train at the same time.

At a later stage, CSA will look into whether it is possible to obtain permits to allow for players to travel across provincial borders for camps and eventually matches. Currently, South Africans cannot move between provinces for any reason other than a funeral or the transportation of children between par-

ents or to schools and even those trips require a permit.

Inter-provincial travel will be allowed at Level 2 of the lockdown, but there is no indication of when that will be.

However, CSA still hope to be able to put on some live action at the end of June. An insider told ESPNcricinfo

title defence against Real Mallorca on June 13

he prospect of facing towering West Indies batsman Chris Gayle is enough for most bowlers to break into a cold sweat, not veteran Indian veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh, however, who recently admitted that he never had any apprehension facing the often brutal left-hander.

The 40-year-old Windies superstar is renowned for being an equal opportunity destroyer of all types of bowling attacks and has racked up some big scores in all three formats of the game. Singh, however, insists that he always had a strategy that was effective in keeping the big lefthander under wraps.

“Warner is very good on the back foot - he will cut you. He can switch-hit, he can sweep pretty nicely, he can hit you over cover. He can step out too. Compared

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that the plan is to put on "something which we have not seen before," which rules out a T20 festival or any other kind of franchise competition. CSA intend to reveal more in the next few weeks.

South Africa are not in a rush to return to training or playing as they enter the winter period. Their next as-

signment is a two-Test and five-match T20 series in West Indies in July-August, which is set to be postponed with West Indies due to be in England until the end of July. CSA and Cricket West Indies remain in talks about when to schedule the series and are considering all options, including playing it in South Africa later in the year.

South Africa are also due to host India for three T20s at the end of August and are looking at creating a bio-secure bubble for the series, which will take place behind closed doors. That series is particularly important for CSA finances, as it will help bolster their bank balance, amid forecasted losses of R645 million (approx.

US $36.9 million) over the next four years. With South Africa's Covid-19 cases expected to peak around July, it is possible the India series will have to take place later in the summer but CSA are confident it can happen before the end of the financial year in February 2021.

(ESPNcricinfo)

"I never worried about Barcelona to resume bowling to Gayle" – Harbhajan

Barcelona beat Real Sociedad in their final La Liga match before lockdown (Getty Images)

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arcelona will resume their La Liga title defence against Real Mallorca following the coronavirus shutdown.

Football was suspended in Spain on 12 March but Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said it can restart.

Leaders Barca will travel to Mallorca on 13 June (21:00 BST kick-off), two days after the season gets back under way with Sevilla v Real Betis (21:00).

Real Madrid, two points behind Barca after 27 games, resume their campaign at home to Eibar on 14 June (18:30).

Organisers have only released scheduling details for the first two rounds of fixtures, although La Liga chief Javier Tebas confirmed there will be matches behind closed doors every day of the week until

the season is completed on 19 July.

Barca also host Leganes on 16 June and Real play at home to Valencia on 18 June.

Weekday matches will kick off at 18:30 and 21:00, while weekend games will begin at 16:00, 18:30 and 21:00, with an extra slot at 12:00 if it is not too hot.

Applause from fans across the world will be played in stadiums in the 20th minute of matches to "show support for the heroes of the Covid-19 pandemic", Tebas said.

La Liga will be the second of Europe's top five leagues to resume after the delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Germany's Bundesliga started again in May, while the Premier League in England is set to resume on 17 June. (BBC Sport)

T

Harbhajan Singh and Chris Gayle share a light moment

to Gayle, Warner is more difficult for me to bowl to,” Singh told Espncricnfo’s Cricket Monthly.

“Gayle, if someone bowls quick to him, he will keep hitting sixes. If someone bowls slow to him, he’ll have to come out of the crease, which he is not comfortable with. I have never ever felt it difficult to bowl against Gayle,” he added.

“I have bowled a lot at

him in powerplays. He did not have the sweep. He did not have the shot over midon.”

The Indian spinner can point to some tangible success against Gayle, having dismissed the West Indian 5 times in One Day internationals, which makes him statistically the third most successful bowler to have faced the batsman in the format. (Sportsmax)

Silver, NBA shift focus to fighting racism N BA commissioner Adam Silver asked all 30 teams to encourage and embrace the push for social change.

Silver issued a memo to every NBA team late Sunday as nationwide protests surrounding the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, all of whom were black and unarmed, raged for another night.

“As a league, we share the outrage and offer our sincere condolences to their families and friends,” Silver wrote in the memo. “Just as we are fighting a pan-

demic, which is impacting communities and people of color more than anyone else, we are being reminded that there are wounds in our country that have never healed. Racism, police brutality and racial injustice remain part of everyday life in America and cannot be ignored. At the same time, those who serve and protect our communities honorably and heroically are again left to answer for those who don’t.”

Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James and Jayson Tatum are among the chorus of

NBA legends and current stars calling for public support to meet the need for social change.

“This moment also requires greater introspection from those of us, including me, who may never know the full pain and fear many of our colleagues and players experience every day,” Silver said in his memo.

“We have to reach out, listen to each other and work together to be part of the solution. And as an organization, we need to do everything in our power to make a meaningful difference.”

(Reuters)

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Adelante programme to “Talented Windies youth to make transition” unleash next generation –failing Arthurton calls for more focus of female leaders F T he world basketball governing body FIBA’s mission to develop women basketball leaders is under way with New Zealand’s first female Prime Minister, Jenny Shipley, and Dallas Mavericks Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Cynthia Marshall having delivered inspirational and informative talks as part of the new Adelante programme developed by FIBA’s Regional Office in the Americas.

Sileena Arjune had been identified, together with the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), to participate in this project. In addition to personal education from international keynote speakers, Arjune will learn skills and ideas for implementing the project.

There will be quarterly phone calls and an ongoing mentorship programme, with plans to have a culminating experience during the week of the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Sydney, Australia (September 22-October 3, 2022) for successful participants. Arjune will be able to spread her knowledge to future female leaders in the National Federation and the basketball community when the programme has concluded.

Arjune’s project will be the incorporation of 3x3 and 5x5 basketball into the Secondary Schools’ Physical Education Curriculum, with provisions for coaches and mentors to liaison with schools’ educators to provide guidance on drills and skills and hosting of competitions by volunteering their services as officials.

Sileena Arjune

With the engagement of players at a young age, this enables participation at the grassroot level and can foster development throughout the high-school years allowing students to have the game of basketball transcend into their lives after school with the opportunity to play for a club, or pursue a sports-based scholarship.

With the advent of basketball being actively played at all levels, this can increase the interest of sponsors and the establishment of a female league.

One of the strategic pillars for FIBA in the 20192023 cycle is to develop and grow the participation of women in basketball. Two of the strategies for this priority are to develop future female basketball administrators and increase gender diversity in FIBA and National Federations.

Adelante will help put qualified women in the pipeline so that when FIBA and/or a National Federation looks for a staff or volunteer leader, they will have numerous, qualified choices from both genders.

South Africa cricketers could resume training next week after Government nod

ormer West Indies middleorder batsman turned youth coach Keith Arthurton has urged the regional body to put more effort into making sure talented youth cricketers go on to transition into successful senior players.

Arthurton, the left-handed batsman who made 33 Test and 105 ODI appearances for the West Indies, was appointed as coach of the region’s under-15 squad in 2008. Having seen a lot of promising youth players during his time, he believes there is no doubt that the talent is abundant but too many players for one reason or the other are unable to take the next crucial step.

“Because we’re so gifted, we are naturally able to play the sport.

At the youth level, you will always see the talent but for some reason, there is a transition [problem].

Based on the experience I have doing academy work and grassroots work and so on that transition is normally made at the age of 16 and it's a crucial transition that will either build you or break you,” Arthurton told the Good Morning Jojo radio program.

One solution, he believes, is to develop avenues that serve to provide consistent exposure

WI U-15 Coach Keith Arthurton

and high-level competition for players at that critical stage of their development. The coach revealed that the issue had already been broached with Cricket West Indies but, as it stands, concrete plans are yet to be fully fleshed out.

“You may hear about an under-21 team or an under-23 team but there is no continuation so it may happen for one or two seasons and then it is gone,” Arthurton said.

“We have to understand what we are trying to achieve and what the main purpose of trying to help these guys, the same guys who would be leaving youth cricket and looking to go into senior cricket and how we can maintain that important continuity for players to make the transition a lot easier for them.” (Sportsmax)

Barcelona to resume title defence against Real Mallorca on June 13

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South Africa has allowed non-contact professional sports training and matches (AP)

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