Guyana Times - Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4276

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020

PRICE

GECOM, APNU/AFC destruction of democracy: Day 64

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

GECOM Chair finally agrees to have recount live-streamed …gazettes order for recount

City Hall to fine vendors $5000 for not wearing face masks

Carter Center observer left in Miami after APNU/AFC Govt refused entry permission

FITUG joins P15 calls for Govt to allow Carter Center’s return for recount

…$25,000 for selling in unauthorised areas

P8

See story on page 3

…ballot boxes to be shown before opening Pages 7 &17

Region 10 P17 forestry groups protest “unfavourable” land allocations

...Govt picketed over Carter Center’s denied entry decision

Caretaker President commits to acceptance of recount results

GTA will prepare for tourism rebound – new P16 Director

Page 14

…PPP challenges him to prove sincerity, bring in Carter Center

Forefathers were resolute in fight for democracy – PPP on Arrival Day

Page 13 …says Guyanese must now carry on fight …caretaker President pays tribute to East Indians’ contribution

10 new COVID-19 cases recorded in Guyana

…after 2 days of no testing

See story on page 7

Guyana’s 2nd lift of 1st million barrels of oil expected soon …price will be half of first shipment

P16

2

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

3

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, May 5 – 03:30h – 05:00h and 14:30h – 16:00h and Wednesday, May 6 – 04:00h – 05:30h and 14:30h – 16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, May 5 – 14:45h – 16:15h and Wednesday, April 6 – 15:35h – 17:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers are expected until the early afternoon hours. Sunny intervals should follow. There will be partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 15:16h reaching a maximum height of 2.73 metres.

Low Tide: 08:49h and 21:08h reaching minimum heights of 0.47 metre and 0.47 metre.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

LOTTERY NUMBERS I

03 06 09 19 20 21

FREE TICKET

7 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

01 14 16 24 25 LUCKY 3

7

0

0

2

Afternoon Draw

1

2

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

01

12

13 14

15 16 21

PAY DAY

SUPER PAY DAY FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2020

01 04 08 12 14

08 12 15 19 21

DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$27.20/barrel

+2.79

Rough Rice

$264.92 /ton

-0.01

London Sugar

$351.30/ton

0.00

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1699.60

$1700.60

Low/High

$1694.00

$1719.30

-2.90

0.17%

Change

GECOM Chair finally agrees to have recount live-streamed …gazettes order for recount …ballot boxes to be shown before opening

T

he Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has officially published in the Official Gazette, the order for the national recount of the March 2 votes, and included in the order is the provision for the live streaming of the tabulation of votes as well as a broadcast of the count.

The Commission met on Monday where the final details, namely the live streaming aspect, were finalised.

According to the order, dated May 4, “the recount shall commence with the allocation of ten (10) workstations as follows: District 1 - two workstations; District 2 - two workstations; District 3 - three workstations and District 4 - three workstations. The recount for Districts 5 through 10 shall be conducted based on the completion of, and the workstations assigned to, Districts 1, 2 and 3.”

It went on to say that each workstation will be equipped with facilities to capture and broadcast a picture of the ballot box, depicting the state in which it is delivered to the workstation, and an audio feed of the recount process.

The order further states, “There shall be installed an audio-visual facility in the Tabulation Centre which shall broadcast live the entire tabulation process.” It stated that, on the arrival of the ballot box at the workstation, “it shall be first examined to ascertain that the seals are intact. The contents shall then be emptied, and the election materials examined. Notes shall be taken, and records made in accordance with the requirements of the Ballot Box Checklist.” According to the order, any observation not catered for in the checklist provided shall be recorded on the Observations Report Form.

“The Ballot Box Checklist shall be signed by the workstation supervisor.

The Observations Report shall be signed by the supervisor of the workstation and representatives of each contesting party present. A copy of the completed Ballot Box Checklist and the Observations Report shall be given to party representatives.”

It stated that the result of the General and Regional Recount of each ballot box “shall be recorded as provided for on a Statement of Recount upon the completion of the recount of each box.” The Statement of Recount will then be signed by the person conducting the recount and by the representative of each contesting party present, in the presence of the Caricom scrutinising team, representatives of political parties that contested the elections, international and local observers accredited by the Guyana Elections Commission, and advisors to the Guyana Elections Commission. “These documents shall be lodged with the Chief Election Officer and copies distributed to the signatories thereto, the Caricom scrutinising team and the Chairman and

The Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where the national recount will take place beginning on Wednesday

Commissioners.”

The tabulation of the Statements of Recount generated will be done at a central tabulation centre in the presence of the Caricom scrutinising team, representatives of political parties, international and local observers and advisors to the Guyana Elections Commission as follows: “The Statement of Recount shall be projected on a screen to be viewed by all persons present and the information shall be input into a matrix, which process could be viewed simultaneously by all persons present. Information from this tabulation shall be broadcast periodically.”

Speaking to media operatives moments after the meeting, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) nominated GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj explained that while the tabulation process will be live-streamed, there are still arrangements to be put in place by the Secretariat in order to facilitate the order.

With regards to what will be broadcast to the public, he noted that what will be shown “is the state in which the ballot box is presented to the workstation before the process starts.”

The medium via which

this will be broadcast to the public will be determined and finalised by GECOM Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh.

The provisions were made following the petition by the parties that contested the election, with the exception of the coalition, A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC),

which had voiced disagreement with the live streaming of the process.

While it had initially been seemingly determined that there would be no broadcast or live streaming of the process, the parties met with Justice (retd) Singh on May 2 and urged that she reconsider the live streaming in the interest of transparency.

Following a subsequent meeting on Sunday with the Commission, it was announced that the Chairperson had reconsidered and is open to the live stream being undertaken.

In the wake of the developments, Governmentnominated Commissioner Vincent Alexander expressed reservations, questioning the logistics and technicalities that will allow for the live streaming of the process.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 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

Ineffective testing W

ith the steady increase of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, there are calls being made for health authorities here to accelerate and expand testing in order to obtain a clearer view of where the virus is circulating and how many people have been infected.

Health experts have underlined increased testing as one of the key actions that could be taken to win the battle against the deadly pandemic. Accelerating and expanding testing in the early stages of discovering the virus is very crucial so as to better guide policy makers, health partners and health-care workers in containing the spread of the virus.

We have seen in countries around the world where testing took a long time to take off how the virus was able to spread rapidly. On the other hand, there were huge success rates for countries like Germany, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and others, as they were able to test and isolate far more widely than some countries. They also rapidly stockpiled kits and made the test available to a larger number of labs which allowed for more persons to be tested and diagnosed early.

There are two main reasons for testing people early – to have individual diagnosis, and to determine how far the virus has spread so that the authorities could isolate and track those persons who may have come into contact with someone who was tested positive before others are infected.

Information garnered from testing could also be very useful in helping health-care partners plan to deal with the demand for intensive care units and other critical medical supplies.

There are media reports recently that the Ministry of Public Health in Guyana did not conduct any tests in two days. Statistics released by the Public Health Ministry on Sunday showed that the same figures have been repeated on its dashboard for 48 hours. It showed that 582 tests were conducted – the same number as the previous day.

If this is indeed true, it is unacceptable; especially considering the fact that the Government has extended the lockdown measures for another month on the basis that positive COVID-19 cases are rising and the country is not at a place where life could return to normalcy anytime soon.

In recent times, concerns have been raised that more persons might be carrying the virus unknowingly, since the virus can manifest asymptomatically. But the Ministry has contended that only individuals with signs and symptoms of the disease or those who had been in contact with a positive case are viable for testing.

Guyana is currently conducting COVID-19 tests at a rate of less than one per cent of the population. Even with limited testing, there has been a stark 110 per cent increase in the number of positive cases in less than one month.

Last month, a decision was taken to allow private institutions to conduct testing for the novel coronavirus.

We had said at the time that this was a step in the right direction as it would increase the number of persons being tested. However, soon after that decision was made, the Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) said that it would only be permitting reagents and testing kits approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) or “a serious reference authority”.

Every effort should be made by health officials to urgently investigate and take any report very seriously of persons experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. It is only by ramping up testing, stringent isolation and contact tracing that the authorities would be able to get a handle of the virus.

No one ever imagined dealing with a pandemic of this magnitude and certainly no country was prepared to give the kind of response that is needed in such a situation.

However, by now, there is quite a lot of information and models available that health officials here could find useful in order to modify and strengthen their response to the virus, especially as it relates to testing for the virus.

With another month of being under lockdown and the absence of any proper relief measures being offered to citizens, Guyanese will continue to face even more severe hardships. The Government seems to be deaf to the pleas by citizens for assistance. Limited testing to find out exactly where we are at the moment will only compound the problem as uncertainty and frustration will grow.

Democracy: The right of citizens to pick their leaders Dear Editor, Democracy is the right of citizens to pick their leaders.

Guyana went to the polls on March 2 to pick a President.

More than 2 months later, our electoral body, GECOM, after spending more than $8 billion to ensure free, fair and transparent elections was undermined by A Returning Officer, Mingo, who was determined to declare fantasy numbers. The money spent, the presence of international and local observers, the diplomatic corps and a Court Order didn’t stop him. The will of the Guyanese people remain hostage to his actions and the inability of GECOM to sensibly resolve chaos caused by his actions.

It is universally accepted even by Mr Granger that the declared results for Region Four are “problematic” and do not withstand scrutiny.

The tabulation process of the Statements of Poll for Region Four was not a smooth one.

It was so flawed and fraudulent that every observer

and even the political leaders of the two main parties agreed that a recount must take place. This recount was agreed upon for more than a month ago but APNU and its Commissioners have raised every possible hurdle and employed every delay tactic possible to not have that recount take place.

The current chapter of delay is promoted by Vincent Alexander who, now all of a sudden, suffering from a rare bout of transparency, seeks to have an electoral audit undertaken instead of a recount. GECOM wants to audit itself is the new mantra.

This desire ignores Section 89(2) of the Representation of the People Act (RPA) that expressly states “the Returning Officer shall not open the sealed packets containing tendered ballots, the marked copies of the official list of electors ...or counterfoils of used ballot papers.”

Whilst it is true that the recount is under GECOM exercising its constitutional (Art

162) and statutory powers and not the RPA the edict of RPA should not be easily ignored. What happens if a polling clerk made an error and did not cross off all the names who voted or was having lunch and missed a name? How is this to be resolved? Do we trust Mingo and his gringos to resolve it?

Do we expect Lowenfield and Meyers to get an attack of morality and resolve it fairly? The RPA codified the restriction because it was recognised that to do otherwise in a recount would be chaotic and take far too long. The opening of the “packets” is usually under the authority of a court in an Election Petition. These restrictions should not be easily ignored.

We must recognise that Alexander is only insisting on it because of the confusion it will likely cause and the length of time it will take.

Alexander also sought to rely on Section 90 of the same RPA to deny live streaming of the recount. He affords

himself the luxury to rely on the RPA when it suits him and ignore it otherwise.

To engage in anything except a recount of the ballots allows Alexander and his APNU cohorts to raise all manner of issues relating to the OLE and voters with no dispute resolution protocol in place – the recount process would be rendered paralysed.

But, I’m glad to hear all the APNU supporters follow Alexander in his feigned commitment to transparency and fairness. They can all, of course, publish their SoPs for Region Four and also vote at GECOM to do the same ... let the world see. They could allow the Carter Center and all other observers into Guyana and allow them to bear witness. They can also stop holding the nation hostage by proceeding to do an audit in violation of the RPA and count the votes of its citizens.

Yours faithfully, Sanjeev Datadin

US Congress stopped rigging of Guyana’s 1992 elections and can stop it again Dear Editor, The period in Guyana’s history between 1968 to 1992 is notorious for the election scams that took place under the People’s National Congress (PNC), now morphed into A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and joined with its underlings, the now insignificant Alliance for Change (AFC).

In those dark days, after polling was completed, the ballot boxes were taken from the Polling Stations by the police and army to a central place in the capital, Georgetown, where the integrity of the boxes was violated: the seals were broken, the ballot boxes were tampered with and stuffed with fake ballots. On occasion, when the boxes were opened, they were found to contain wads of ballots wrapped with rubber bands! The rigging had no bounds.

In the 1973 General Elections, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party, in the interest of transparency, demanded the vote be counted at the place of poll. It summoned its supporters to surround the Polling Stations to prevent the ballots from being removed without first being counted. But this was a futile attempt to stop the authorities from removing the ballot

boxes. At one of the Polling Stations at No 63 on the Corentyne, Berbice, the police opened fire and killed two PPP supporters - Bholanauth Parmanand and Jagan Ramessar, who later became known as the Ballot Box Martyrs.

With the thaw in East-West relations in the latter part of the eighties, the Americans could no longer stomach the blatant election fraud that was perpetrated for over two decades on the Guyanese people. On July 27, 1990, members of the US Congress wrote to the US Secretary of State, the Rt Hon James Baker, expressing concerns about the upcoming elections in 1992 and recommended that any aid to Guyana must be withheld unless there is free and fair elections. In particular, they said: “votes should be counted at each Polling Station by civilian election officials under the scrutiny of poll watchers from all political parties and international observers.”

The letter also went on to say “the invitation of credible, independent international observers is the single most important step Guyana can take to demonstrate that it intends to hold free and fair elections”.

These two powerful statements, issued by the US Congress, are applica-

ble to Guyana today as they were in 1992. The US stopped the PNC from rigging the 1992 Guyana elections and can stop them rigging the 2020 elections. Like in 1992, when the US threatened the withdrawal of aid to Guyana, the US has now threatened that there will be consequences if elections are not free in 2020.

Only a few days ago the United States Ambassador to Guyana, SarahAnn Lynch, said the US stands by its words when it comes to threats of sanctions. The rigging cabal within the APNU/AFC and its functionaries must take note of this powerful statement.

The observers must be allowed to return to Guyana to observe the recount process. Justice Claudette Singh should demand that Granger remove the barriers preventing the arrival of all foreign observers for the recount and ensure the recount reflects the Statements of Poll. No amount of rigging of the recount will change the results. The PPP/C have won the elections.

Sincerely, Harry Krishna Beharry London, UK

Honouring and continuing legacy of our ancestors Dear Editor, Indians have over the years, since their arrival in 1838, evolved into one of the single largest ethnic groups in Guyana. Through tremendous difficulties, our ancestors persevered and carved a path for us into glory.

Today, as we honour and value the sacrifices of our ancestors, we, the Guyana Islamic Forum for Education, Peace and Religious Soliditary,

the Electric Mosque’s Presentation of the Teachings of Islam, in association with the Universal Peace Federation – Guyana, seize this opportunity to extend Arrival Day greetings to the nation of Guyana and to our fellow brothers and sisters of the Indian Diaspora.

Through tremendous fortitude, sacrifice, and unwavering resilience, our ancestors - like the ances-

tors from our other ethnicities - laid their bones on our shores so that we may live, that we may breathe, that we may achieve and that we may be what we are today.

We beseech you, oh people of Guyana, let us not allow their tears, blood, and sweat to go in vain, but rather we should build on the legacy they have bequeathed to us to further develop this beautiful nation.

Let us use the tools,

skills, and talents that were brought from these different territories and continue to build this nation upward to prosperity. Despite our individual talents, gifts, foods, dances, languages, and religious practices, let us never forget that we are a part of one identity, as we are “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.”

Sincerely, Roshan Khan Sr

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020

5

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

A salute to Indian Guyanese Dear Editor, May 5, 2020, marks the 182nd anniversary since the first group of Indian indentured labourers arrived in then British Guiana. This is one of the important dates in our country’s history since it could be safely regarded as the period which added to the multi-ethnic culture of Guyana.

Indians arrived at a very important junction in the history of our country. In less than three months after their arrival, the complete abolition of slavery took place. That created what the colonial powers were expecting and, by bringing Indians to our shores, were preparing for a massive exodus of slaves from the sugarcane fields.

The conditions that the Indians were placed in were not much different from those of the Africans who were held in bondage for centuries. They had to live in the same houses and toiled in the cane fields under the same conditions.

The Indian immigrants were brutally exploited. When the price of sugar went down on the world market, the planters compensated their losses by lowering the wages of the Indian workers. Indeed, in this sense, Indian immigrants were cheaper for the planters than slavery. The planters did not have to find food nor clothing for them, while being in a position to cut their wages.

It is important to note that from the time that Indians arrived in British Guiana, they became the most discriminated against in Guyanese society.

Many of the rights that were won by the freed slaves and their descendants and indeed the rest of the society did not apply to Indians.

A good example of this was education.

Even though legislation was passed in1876 for the compulsory education of children, it did not apply to the Indian children. In fact, from the point of view of the planters, Indian children were a source of cheap labour as they had to go into the fields early to assist their parents whose wages were insufficient.

Even after indentureship was abolished, Indians were discouraged from moving into the urban areas so that they could remain a source of cheap labour for the plantations.

It was because they were so cruelly exploited that they played such a revolutionary role in Guyanese society.

From very early on, they sought to promote unity in the working people. The shooting of Ruimveldt in 1924 was one case in point when they struck in solidarity with Water Front workers and marched to the city to

show their solidarity while also pushing their own demands.

It was the Indians who first raised the demand for universal adult suffrage as far back as the 1920s.

The continued discrimination and exploitation they faced and the position they held in the economy turned them into revolutionaries.

They have, in the main, always supported progressive causes.

They led the struggle for industrial democracy from the 1940s. the killing of the five at Enmore in 1948 could well be regarded as the beginning of the end of colonial domination.

Even in the 1960s when colonialism and imperialism together with local reactionary forces launched a massive attack on the independence movement led by the PPP, the vast majority of Indian Guyanese did not waver in their determination to end colonialism.

Even though the combination of forces, internal and external, fought to halt independence and attacked PPP supports, Black and Indians, but mainly Indians, did not respond in kind.

Under strong patriotic leadership of the PPP, Indians only took defensive actions. They recognised that a large part of the working people was being misled and fought against their own best interests.

The PPP supporters never stopped reaching out and working for national unity as the foundation of a strong and prosperous country.

The struggle is continuing today and the prospect is improving in this regard.

The fight today for the protection of democracy and its straightening is vital to the cause of freedom and democracy. Unity cannot be forged in an undemocratic atmosphere.

As we salute our IndoGuyanese brothers and sisters on their important achievements against great odds, we must resolve to continue the fight for real freedom, political, economic and social for all Guyanese!

This is how we will build a truly united and prosperous state!

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

Why can’t observer teams be present and why no cell phones?

Dear Editor, The saying that “old habits die hard” is ever so true especially when you consider the fancy dance footwork being displayed by the PNC and its associates. It is mind-boggling, to say the least, that so many excuses and so many impediments have to be put in the way for a simple recount to begin far less to reach completion. It is becoming woefully ludicrous to see how seemingly mature people are behaving since March 2. To think of it, two whole months have passed and still, we are no closer to the end of this long night of uncertainties, as one nonsensical excuse after another keeps cropping up. And it is all coming from one source - the PNC. Now, I have managed to put a few of these together and I am asking you to make your own conclusions. The

PNC is having grave difficulties with The Carter Center or with any other observer group being in attendance for the recount. Their excuse is that observers are really “meddlers” in our domestic affairs and should be kept out. They have also concocted another excuse that The Carter Center did not notify them early enough of their intention to observe the process.

This is utter hogwash. If you want me to give you a quick answer, because you are talking about The Carter Center who has been at the forefront of our democratic process as far back as 1992.

They represent the standard where elections are concerned; they are our guide or template to a transparent and credible process, so I do not see why they can’t be here. The PNC is operating

being counted) and we reserve the right to watch, observe or what you may want to call it, from start to finish. This is our constitutional and democratic right!

The fact is, if convicted felons or rank “criminals” can be afforded the privileged, prized possession of a tablet, why can’t persons guarding our democracy be afforded the same privileges? Are you telling me that a common criminal has more rights than an official at a recount, is this the nonsensical idea this cabal is promulgating?

Well, I’d be damned if this is the case, because as the ABC and European group of countries repeatedly said, if this process is not credible, dire will be the consequences.

Respectfully submitted, Neil Adams

It serves feminism no good promoting weakness or openly encouraging wrongdoings

Dear Editor, I must start off by saying I generally do not read the Guyana Chronicle unless someone sends me a news item. Such was the case yesterday, May 4, 2020, when I was forwarded an article headlined “Enough is Enough”, a headline that incidentally harkens back to a PNC campaign jingle. This article claims that an advertisement, that in my view provides clear evidence of the Chairwoman of GECOM, Ms Claudette Singh’s attempt to undermine/derail a recount process, was “cowardly, nasty and misogynistic” – I say to these professional women, really?

Where were these ‘professional’ women when three women (Bullen, Seelochan, Ramotar) from the Guyana Gold Board were daily, for almost a full month, attacked in the newspapers, slandered and stripped of their professional reputation for simply doing their jobs and what was required of them by law, to increase the gold declarations of this country – a declaration of 714,000 ounces of gold which to date has not been matched by the Gold Board? Where were these ‘professional’ women when three women were removed

from their jobs because of two their names (Ramotar, Seelochan) and their perceived political affiliations?

Why were these ‘professional’ women not lending support to these three women when the head of SOCU, who headed the investigation against them, was himself removed from office due to corruption? I will tell you where they were, they were nowhere because I dare say that the concept of professionalism has been eroded by the PNC in Guyana and those ‘professional’ women do not understand professionalism, they view the world through the prism of politics.

When it comes to issues of crime and corruption, women are mostly not seen to perpetuate these acts so when a woman perpetuates a heinous crime, the act is magnified. And what more heinous crime on democracy than rigged elections!

Most people in my generation would have heard from their parents and read about rigged elections of the 70s and 80s in Guyana. Many people who lived through those rigged days suspected the PNC would resort to their old rigging ways, but many, including me, dismissed those suspicious thinking that such cannot

The burning question is why?

Dear Editor, It was applauded when certain decisions by the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) concerning the recount and observers coming to observe the process were overturned and varied without coercion or intimidation.

Now the same consid-

under the misguided assumption that The Carter Center is a bunch of vagrants who walked off the street on to the election platform in Guyana.

They fail to realise that this is a well-respected international observer group with years of experience behind them and as such must be afforded the utmost respect they deserve.

Now, we come to the much talked about live streaming of the event as well as the use of cell phones.

Here again, the PNC/AFC cabal is pushing for a ban on live streaming and cell phone use. Again, I say in an age of technology and modernity, why should live streaming and cell phones be a problem for them? The two communication mechanisms add credibility and transparency to the entire process. This is a public event (our votes are

eration cannot be extended to the Carter Center even with all the appeals, for the team to return to complete its work which was paused due to circumstances not of its making.

The burning question is, why? Why was the invitation, and by extension, accreditation withdrawn/cancelled/

revoked/rescinded from an internationally recognised organisation which has been at the forefront of democracy here and elsewhere?

This definitely does not augur well and speculation will abound.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

happen in our 21st Century Guyana – what a mistaken thought!

Claudette Singh as the Chairwoman of GECOM has had over 60 days to deliver to Guyanese a free and fair election process which includes a credible, fair and transparent tabulation process but to date, 63 days later, she has not done so.

Instead, under her chairmanship a few days after the March 2 elections, and with cameras recording, there was a fraudulent declaration of those elections using a spreadsheet. The courts subsequently ruled that the SoPs must be used to declare District Four results yet under Claudette Singh’s chairmanship, GECOM ignored a court ruling and attempted once again to declare the results based on the same spreadsheet. This caused protests from the Guyanese population and the international community. The Opposition Leader, Mr Bharrat Jagdeo, and APNU/AFC’s Presidential Candidate Mr David Granger, attempted to save the election with an agreed Caricom witnessed recount of votes, but under Claudette Singh’s chairmanship, while she was reported to have undertaken such a recount, with her commitment being bolstered by a request of Mr Granger, she dragged a simple recount decision process out, putting up hurdles and to many she was perceived giving enough time for a PNC candidate to object to the recount. I will not even speak about the shame and embarrassment she has caused decent-minded Guyanese to have senior Caricom officials wasting their time sitting around for almost one week awaiting

for a recount to commence.

As Chairperson of GECOM, Claudette Singh has voted against every resolution proposed by the PPP that would lend transparency to this election process. The Mingo declarations have been rejected by the courts, yet Claudette Singh is not throwing out those declarations, instead, they are held in abeyance. Now, we hear that a recount will commence on Wednesday, May 6. Thanks to her past conduct, it will be very hardpressed to find any fair thinking Guyanese believing that the recount will actually begin on Wednesday.

Her conduct over the past 63 days speaks at best of her being weak and at worst it points to her harbouring some evil and sinister motive.

It serves feminism no good promoting weakness or openly encouraging wrongdoings of women.

If a woman commits an act that is damaging to a society, she must be roundly condemned because, at the end of the day, gender equality is done no favours when a wrong by a woman is given a free pass. It would have been heartening if those same women spoke up when my colleagues and I were baselessly slandered.

Alas, that time has passed, but there is still time for these and all us women to raise our collective voices for what is right and fair.

Let us demand that the people’s will be heard. Let us demand that this recount be credible, free, fair and transparent, so that our people, women and men, can live in a society that upholds democracy and the rule of law.

Yours faithfully, Lisaveta Ramotar

6

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020

Page

Foundation

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

Below is the second part of Mathematics Paper 1, 2013.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE SIX ASSESSMENT

MATHEMATICS

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

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

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

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

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

1. The sum of 4 and 5 is

Study Figure 4, then answer questions 20 and 21.

(A) 1. (B) 9.

(C) 20. (D) 45.

ANSWER SHEET A B C D

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

Study the Venn diagram in Figure 5, then answer questions 24 and 25.

chosen.

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

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

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

28. 12: 8 = 36: χ . What is the value of χ?

(A) 8 (C) 24 (B) 12 (D) 30 29. The average of six numbers is 14. If the total for five of the numbers is 70, what is the sixth number?

(A) 12 (B) 14 (C) 35 (D) 70 30. What is the next number in the sequence 1, 4, 9, 16, 25?

(A) 33 (B) 34 (C) 35 (D) 36

Figure 4 20. The value of the angle marked x in Figure 4 is (A) 138° (C) 66° (B) 72° (D) 42° 21. If the perimeter of Figure 4 is 3 m, the length of the third side is (A) 3.5 (C) 0.5 (B) 2.5 (D) 0.1 22. One face of a cube has a surface area of 12 cm2. What is the total surface area, in cm2 , of the cube?

(A) 72 (C) 24 (B) 48 (D) 12 23. How many subsets can be formed from the set {x, y, z}?

(A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 6 (D) 8

31. The largest number is (A) 8.893 (C) 8.763

Figure 5 24. The members in set P only are (A) 2, 8 (C) (B) 4, 5 (D)

6, 7 2, 5

25. What is the sum of the members in the Venn diagram?

(A) 19 (B) 22 (C) 23 (D) 32

(B) 8.889 (D) 8.762

32. 9, 12, and 15 is to 3 as 15, 20 and 35 is to (A) 2 (B) 5 (C) 7 (D) 10 Study Figure 6, then answer question 33.

26. What is 20% of 900?

(A) 450 (B) 225 (C) 180 (D) 80 27. A pair of shoes which costs $6000 was decreased by 40%.

What is the new price of the pair of shoes?

(A) $2400 (B) $3600 (C) $5960 (D) $8400

Figure 6 33. The value of y is (A) 20° (B) 117° (C) 120° (D) 243° 34. When Lalita poured 3 litres of water into an empty upright cylindrical metal drum, 1 cm of the bottom was covered. If the drum is 1 m high, what is the capacity of the drum in litres?

(A) 3 (B) 10 (C) 30 (D) 300 35. Fazil began doing his homework assignments at 17:05 h and finished at 19:35 h. The number of minutes Fazil took to complete his homework assignments was (A) 150 (B) 120 (C) 90 (D) 65 Study the Venn Diagram in Figure 7 below carefully, then answer question 36.

Figure 7 36. Which statement about the Venn diagram is correct?

(A) X is a subset of Y (B) Y is a subset of X (C) U is a subset of X (D) U is a subset of Y

TO BE CONTINUED

7 Carter Center observer left in Miami after APNU/AFC Govt refused entry permission NEWS

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) Head, caretaker PM Moses Nagamootoo

A

n observer from the Carter Center was unable to travel to Guyana on Monday as planned owing to the denial of approval to travel to Guyana from the COVID-19 Task Force to observe the national recount, which commences on Wednesday.

In a statement Monday morning, the democracy watchdog reaffirmed its commitment to providing an independent observation of Guyana’s electoral process; however, it stated: “The Center deployed an observer to Miami, who was prepared to travel to Georgetown today (Monday), but, unfortunately, his flight was denied approval to carry interna-

National COVID-19 Task Force CEO Joseph Harmon

tional election observers.”

According to the Center, attempts continue to be made to ascertain from Government officials what is required to allow Center’s staff to return to Guyana to observe the recount process.

The United States Embassy in Georgetown over the weekend revealed that permission was sought from the National COVID-19 Task Force – which is chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo with Director Joseph Harmon functioning as Chief Executive Officer (CEO)—and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for a flight to land on Monday, May 4, and

for the observers from the Carter Center to be allowed entry into Guyana on that flight. In response, the Task Force only approved the arrival of the flight and not the observers.

GECOM Chair to intervene

In light of this situation, Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission, Retired Justice Claudette Singh has indicated that she would address the National Task Force on this issue. According to People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)-nominated GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj, the matter is in the hands of the Task Force, but the Chairperson has undertak-

en to seek approval for the observers from the Carter Center to be granted approval.

According to the order gazetted for the national recount, “The following persons are entitled to be present: representatives of political parties that contested the said elections, the Caricom scrutinising team, international and local observers accredited by the Guyana Elections Commission, and advisors to the Guyana Elections Commission and members of the Commission.”

Commissioner Gunraj, in response to the fiasco, posited, “I am compelled to say that is particularly disheart-

ening, because these persons remain accredited. The Carter Center and the other international observer bodies remain accredited for the process.”

He further opined that these were deliberate attempts to prevent the observers’ access to the recount, saying, “I said earlier on in relation to the COVID-19 regulations, that what we are seeing here and what we are experiencing is a participant, an active participant in this process, persons who seek office as a consequence of these elections are allowed to take steps under the guise of administrative steps which affect persons’ participation in

of breath, and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death.

The Public Health

Ministry is calling on all citizens to heed the health advisories and observe the correct hygiene measures and precautions. Citizens are also asked to always practise social distancing in the workplace, public spaces, and while using public transportation so as to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

If anyone is experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus, they are asked to call the hotline on 227-4986 ext 215 or 624-3067, and a team would be sent to their location. The Regional hotline numbers are Region One (BarimaWaini) – 674-8047; Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam)

this.”

The Commissioner reiterated, “As far as GECOM is concerned, the Carter Center and all of the other international observers remain accredited. It is unfortunate that the Administration has a tether of those persons’ participation.”

Commenting on the Commission’s discussion of the debacle, A Partnership for National Unity-Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC)-nominated GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander admitted, “…the observers’ accreditation are still intact and, therefore, they have, more or less, an entitlement to be allowed to observe.”

10 new COVID-19 cases recorded in Guyana …after 2 days of no testing

G

uyana recorded 10 new cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after two days of not conducting any tests.

The figure was announced by caretaker Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence in her COVID-19 update on Monday. Based on the numbers released, the number of confirmed cases now stands at 92.

Meanwhile, the number of persons who have so far recovered has increased to 27 and some 639 persons have been tested. According to the Public Health Ministry, of the number of persons tested, 547 were negative. There are currently three persons in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), seven in institutional quarantine and 56 in isolation.

“As I reported on Friday, May 1st, 2020, which marked day 50 since our first index case was reported, the number of confirmed cases continues to climb, and in less than a month, we have had a 110 per cent increase. Our health-care workers continue to work selflessly in order to protect us all, but you continue to behave very selfishly, with total disregard for your own safety and for your own life. With regard to the social distancing guidelines, you have interpreted them to suit your own agenda. Not only are you continuing to

congregate in large numbers, but you are also there way past the curfew time and with no face mask for your protection and those around you,” Lawrence said.

She added that it was extremely “unfair” to those who were following the guidelines to be placed at unnecessary risk. “From the inception, you were all told that we can stop COVID-19 from spreading; by simply staying home and following all the precautionary guidelines; that advice is still in effect. You know all these guidelines, so please adhere to them so that we can get on with our lives and our livelihood,” she added.

While countries across the globe have been trying to locate and test suspected cases of COVID-19, Guyana’s public health authorities failed to conduct any tests for two days. Based on the statistics released by the Public Health Ministry on Sunday, most figures on its dashboard had been repeated for the previous two days.

In recent times, concerns have been raised that more persons might be carrying the virus unknowingly, since the virus can manifest asymptomatically. But the Ministry has contended that only individuals with signs and symptoms of the disease or those who had been in contact with a positive

case were viable for testing.

There are other secondary factors which are deliberated upon also.

Some persons have even complained of experiencing symptoms associated with the virus but failing to receive medical treatment until days later.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

The novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is a new strain that was discovered in 2019 that had not been previously identified in humans. Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness

– 682-4210; Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) – 254-1261 and 254-0313; Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) – 2311166, 226-7480, 624-6674 and 624-3067; Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) – 6249000, 624-2000 and 6403000; Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) – 6823055 and 668-4449; Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) – 675-9131, 654-0405 and 6970656; Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) – 608-7517; Region Nine (Upper TakutuEssequibo) – 772-2206; and Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) – 444-3007, 4446127, and 444-6137.

8 NEWS

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

City Hall to fine vendors $5000 for not wearing face masks …$25,000 for selling in unauthorised areas

I

n an effort to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, (COVID-19), the Mayor and Councillors of Georgetown have implemented a series of fines for vendors who do not comply with safety guidelines.

The M&CC on Monday stated that as of Wednesday, all municipal markets will be opened from 07:00h to 16:00h. The M&CC noted that only one main gate will be opened at all the markets, adding that all stallholders/ vendors and their staff are required to wear a face mask throughout the duration of

The Stabroek Market

their operations.

Failing to comply with this directive, the Council said it will result in persons being charged a penalty fee of $5000.

Further, all shoppers enter-

ing the municipal market will not be allowed to enter if they are not wearing a face mask.

There will be no exemptions.

Meanwhile, a limited number of shoppers will be allowed

Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, and as such strict traffic regulations will be put in place.

The Railway Embankment, between UG Road and Conversation Tree, Bel Air, will be closed

to vehicular traffic from 06:00h today, May 5, 2020, until further notice.

Persons proceeding to Caricom Secretariat and persons residing to the east of the Convention Centre will be given access to enter the Embankment from UG

to enter each market at a given time and as persons exit, others will be allowed to enter.

Also, social distancing of six feet must be adhered to with absolutely no crowding or large gathering at the stalls. In fact, stallholders are expected to regulate this activity and will be held accountable for any breaches.

The M&CC added too that unauthorised vending is strictly prohibited and anyone found selling at any place that is not approved by the Council will be subjected to the payment of a removal fee of $25,000.

Railway Embankment between UG and Conversation Tree to be closed

T

he Guyana Police Force Traffic Department has advised members of the public that the Guyana Elections Commission will commence a recount of the General and Regional Elections 2020 ballots, on Wednesday, at the

Road, while persons residing to the west will be given access from Bel Air. The compound of the Aquatic Centre will be used to facilitate parking for the observers, agents and other officials.

Arrival…

W

…of Indian Guyanese ell, today is “Indian Arrival Day” in our dear land of Guyana. 184 years ago, on May 5th 1838, two ships – the Whitby and the Hesperus -- arrived off Port Georgetown bearing their human cargo from the other side of the world in India. They were joining the Portuguese from Madeira who’d arrived three years before on May 3rd 1835 and to be followed by the Chinese, who’d would land on Jan 12, 1853. They were all brought as “indentureds”, to labour on the sugar plantations after African slavery had been abolished on Aug 1st 1834 – but would be followed by 4 years of “Apprenticeship” during which they’d be paid like the indentureds.

Most of this is very well known, of course, but what is stubbornly – and deliberately – wiped out of our national remembrance is that a very large number of Africans – from both the West Indies and Africa – were also brought in as indentureds!! Overall, while 239,756 Indians were brought, 75,792 returned to India after serving their indentureship – meaning actually 163,964 remained. In comparison, 101,843 Africans, Portuguese and Chinese arrived to join the approximately 88,000 slaves who had been freed.

Continuing into the present, there’s been the claim that “Indians undercut the wages of the freed slaves and this is a cause for the hostilities between the two groups”.

But this account doesn’t do the freed Africans justice for the agency they displayed in seeking to be independent of the plantations – which had been such a scene for their humiliations. The Planters had started to bring in the indentureds even before the period of Apprenticeship was over: they were hedging their bets on cheap labour. Unlike the case of Barbados and the small islands where the free slaves had no alternative, in Guyana there was abundant land for them to move off sugar. And move they did in addition to striking for higher wages.

They were successful in their strike of 1842, but by the time they struck again in 1847/48, the 15,848 Portuguese, 12,898 Africans from the WI and 6957 from Africa plus the 8692 Indians broke the strike!! The Africans from the WI and Africa were the greatest number of “strike breakers”!!

Wages in Barbados were worse than in Guyana. Within another decade, most freed Africans had departed the plantations and there was no real competition between them and the indentureds. Those who remained were generally factory workers and other skilled tradesmen who earned more than the indentureds.

Today, we’ve come to a full circle in Guyana where the PNC has broken the back of the sugar industry and it is doubtful after this COVID-19 crisis, it will survive at all.

Imagine that: Indians without sugar!!

…denied to US Carter Center The PNC really has “spunks”!! The last time the US was treated so shabbily by them was during the Burnham years.

He could get away with murder since at the slightest hint of disapproval at some of his excesses – like rigging elections – he’d ask with a smirk, “Do you really want Cheddi back with his Russians?”

Burnham, who could boast he’d been horseback riding at President Johnson’s ranch in Texas, even ran roughshod over the then US Ambassador Delmar Carlson. But what’s the source of the PNC’s chutzpah now?? That the Americans are distracted by COVID-19??

Ironically, they couldn’t have denied entry to the Carter Center because they’re a client of the US Government. In 2012, when the US insisted Venezuela was a dictatorship, Carter had announced: “As a matter of fact, of the 92 elections that we’ve monitored, I would say that the election process in Venezuela is the best in the world.”

They just want to stick their fingers into the US’ eyes!! …and departure?

The PNC and its acolytes are really giving stick to the Canadian High Commissioner. And this could be a case of familiarity breeds contempt. The Canucks have traditionally been very low keyed.

But the PNC think they’re pushovers.

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

9

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

11

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

12

A

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

s our country once again observes Arrival Day, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) takes the opportunity to extend greetings and best wishes to the people of Guyana.

The observances always serve to remind us of the rich diversity and the unique multicultural composition of our nation.

Indeed, it adds to the specialness of Guyana that people of different backgrounds can co-exist in harmony and unity as they all seek to improve their lives, a goal linked to building our country which will surely augur well for the future generations.

While Arrival Day – May 5 – though largely associated with the arrival of East Indians, the day reminds us of all indentured immigrants brought to our land. Our research advises us that outside of the East Indians, the Madeiran Portuguese came in May 1835, the Chinese in 1853, as well as a few other ethnicities during that phase of colonialism. We are aware that the colonialists brought also labourers from Malta, Ireland, Germany, and England.

Arrival Day also reminds us of the reasons for the indentureship system.

The then immigrants who replaced the emancipated slaves were made to toil in the fields of the sugar plantations to enrich the foreign owners of the plantations.

Indentured labourers and their families were forced to exist in inhumane and atrocious conditions. And, like their compatriots, they were forced to engage in several struggles, which gave us several martyrs, in order to bring about small improvements and meagre benefits in their lives and work conditions.

Today as we celebrate Arrival Day, the GAWU cannot fail to observe that the industry that occasioned our diversity is finding itself in difficult times. We are disheartened to note that the sugar industry, a large source of sustenance for thousands of Guyanese, has been significantly minimised. For the workers and their families, the cane farmers, the shop owners, the market vendors, the bus drivers and others, their days are filled with hardship, misery and difficulty. Even worse, is that they have been left to fend for themselves as the powers-that-be have largely ignored their plight.

It is disturbing that, at this time when

our nation celebrates a day set aside to recognise the contributions of the indentured immigrants to our nation, that their heirs along with other fellow workers are forced to contend with harrowing circumstances arising from closure and the intended miniaturisation of the sugar industry. It is especially disturbing for the Union that such thoughts were entertained especially when they were unnecessary. Sugar, we reiterate, has all possibilities of success, but, among other things, requires the active and material support and confidence of the powersthat-be.

As we celebrate Arrival Day, the GAWU urges all Guyanese to spare a moment to reflect on how far as a people we have come, the challenges we overcame, and the successes we have recorded. At this time, when we ought to be looking to reach new and higher plateaus, we see concerted efforts that will very likely reverse much of the progress we have made and rightly can take pride in. Let us resist such efforts and get back on the development track.

GAWU joins with all Guyana to celebrate Arrival Day.

T

he Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) extends best wishes to all Guyanese on the observance of Arrival Day 2020, marking 100 years of the end of Indentureship. This Day, May 5, commemorates the profound historical period of Indentureship lasting from 1838 until 1920 – the year that the British Parliament officially ended the contractual scheme to then British Guiana.

The ERC, therefore, wishes to take the opportunity on this centennial milestone to reiterate the need for all to build together upon our gains and to continue robustly the process of fostering unity and harmony. Today, we celebrate the enrichment of diversity that Arrival Day embodies in the shaping of modern Guyana.

Arrival Day is most significant for what it represents in the context of the multifaceted mosaic it created and for which our country is known.

Our hodgepodge of multiculturalism was as a result of the untold sacrifices, desires, and steadfastness of our ancestors, to practise and preserve their rich and colourful cultural traditions, having come to this land from different parts of the world at different times in our history.

In doing so individually through the various ethnic groups, sharing and participation in each other’s traditions forged our dear nation to become multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multicultural. That is evident as all participate meaningfully in each other’s festivities, which have transcended religious and ethnic boundaries to become truly national observances.

Over time, that rich, beautiful and vibrant diversity has become our strength

and the common bond in the process of becoming one people in this – our nation, working towards a common destiny. While there have been challenges along the way, our Guyanese brothers and sisters have always found ways to foster togetherness through tolerance and respect. Herein lies the desire of all of our people for harmony and unity to be strengthened and for it to continue to prevail across this land that is home to all.

This is imperative in the interest of our nation and all its peoples so that our diversity must never be made a tool for division, but one that will continue to reflect our strength and bonds of togetherness.

May 5 also marks the anniversary of the arrival of our East Indian ancestors who reached these shores on that day in 1838 while two days ago on May 3, Portuguese Arrival Day was observed.

The colourful commemorative events across the country will once again serve to bring our people together, allowing opportunities to not only participate, but for the continuation of that important process of educating for a better understanding and appreciation of our cultural traditions.

This builds tolerance, which is the bedrock of harmony and unity as we strive for one people out of many cultures.

As Guyanese record another milestone amidst the difficult and threatening COVID-19 crisis, the ERC, nevertheless, emphasises the importance of continuing to observe all the necessary precautions and regulations.

Happy Arrival Day to all Guyanese here and in the Diaspora!

NEWS

13

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Forefathers were resolute in fight for democracy – PPP on Arrival Day …says Guyanese must now carry on fight …caretaker President pays tribute to East Indians’ contribution

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

T

oday's celebration of Arrival Day comes with it a responsibility to carry on the fight for democracy in the face of creeping dictatorship.

This is the view expressed by the People's Progressive Party (PPP), as they hailed the contributions of East Indians to Guyana.

In their Arrival Day message, the PPP alluded to the current political instability Guyana finds itself in, where deliberate attempts have been made to derail the electoral process and a credible winner cannot be declared after two months.

The party recalled that their forefathers faced similar trials and overcame them.

"In the face of many adversities, they were resolute in their endeavours to preserve their culture, traditions and values, which gave birth to a culturally diverse Guyana. Many of our fore-parents paid the ultimate price to ensure our freedoms as a people."

"Unfortunately, as we celebrate Arrival Day today, there are some who are attempting to deprive our people of their fundamental right to elect a Government

of their choice and erode our freedoms and democracy," the PPP stated.

According to the party, it is important that Guyanese ensure the rights and democracy fought for are preserved and protected.

According to the party, attempts to return Guyana to the "abyss of dictatorship" must be resisted.

"Despite these adversaries to democracy and freedom, our party takes this opportunity to commend all those who have worked steadfastly over the years and who continue to do so in the promotion of activities designed to foster and preserve our history, values and cultural traditions which have become shared; demonstrative of the strength in our diversity."

"As we observe Arrival Day, our party urges reflection on the valiant efforts of all of our fore-parents so that we can continue to be inspired and to better contextualise the value of our gains. This will ensure that we remain determined to build upon our gains and that our country remains a place for all of its sons and daughters."

Historical significance

Meanwhile, caretaker President David Granger in his Arrival Day message paid tribute to the contributions made by East Indians in Guyana. Granger, a historian by profession, also gave some historical context to their arrival.

"Indian Arrival Day is celebrated each year on 5th May. The East Indians who arrived came largely from the Uttar Pradesh and Southern Indian regions of

Indian Arrival Monument at Palmyra, Berbice

India. The first ship to arrive in British Guiana – Whitby – sailed from Calcutta (now Kolkata) on 13th January 1838 with 249 immigrants and, after a voyage of 112 days, landed on 5th May

1838. This began their indentureship experience."

This year marks the 182nd anniversary of the arrival of Indians to Guyana, he said, adding that nearly 240,000 Indians immigrated

to British Guiana between 1838 and 1917 when indentured immigration ended.

“The majority of immigrants opted to remain and to make the country their home," he also wrote.

According to the caretaker President, Indian religious rituals, cuisine, customs and traditions have enriched Guyana's culture.

He also alluded to their business ventures and political and social contributions.

"Indians have achieved prominence in all aspects of national life. They cultivated respectful relations with other races and, in so doing, fostered the development of a more cohesive nation.

They are an integral part of the political system and, together with other ethnic

Caretaker President David Granger

groups, contributed to the evolution of Guyana’s demography, economy and society."

"Guyana pays tribute to the contribution of Indian indentured immigrants and their descendants. I extend best wishes to all Guyanese on the occasion of Indian Arrival Day," Granger also said in his message.

14 NEWS

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Caretaker President commits to acceptance of recount results …PPP challenges him to prove sincerity, bring in Carter Center

C

aretaker President David Granger has made a public commitment that he will accept the results of the national recount scheduled to begin on Wednesday, but the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has challenged him to prove his sincerity by intervening and removing the obstacles that are preventing the Carter Center observer team from returning to Guyana.

The PPP/C is also calling on Granger to temper the “rigging cabal at Congress Place” and the APNU-nominated

GECOM Commissioners and have them desist from trying to derail the recount.

Following the announcement by GECOM and the gazetting of the official order for the recount to begin on Wednesday, Granger in response issued a statement saying that he welcomes the announcement and that the coalition APNU/AFC would be accepting the results.

“The entire nation is awaiting the completion of the recount of the ballots and the declaration of the results by the Elections Commission,” the President said in a broad-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

cast message as he urged citizens to exercise patience during the recount. He reiterated “I have said, repeatedly, that I shall accept the declaration of the results by the Elections Commission, which will allow for a democratically elected Government to be sworn-in to office.”

Prove sincerity

However, the PPP/C responded critically to statement, saying that caretaker President

has his the has

“emerged from his slumber and has issued one of his usually sterile and placatory statements.” They have dubbed the statement as another attempt by Ganger to distance himself “from the fraud that his party has attempted to perpetrate in relation to the Region 4 results, through the instrumentality of Mingo; the subsequent violation of the Chief Justice’s Order granted on March 11,

by Mingo and encouraged by his party hacks which led to Mingo making a second false declaration.”

According to the statement from the PPP/C, “He speaks of a delay in the declaration of results as if he is unconnected with it when this very delay was caused by his own political party and his Commissioners at GECOM. He attributes this delay to legal challenges in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, without disclosing that these challenges were filed by Ulita Moore and Roysdale Forde,

both candidates of his political party, and when they lost in the High Court, they filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal, where they lost again.” Further, the party pointed out that while the President has sought to boast of his compliance with court rulings, “the world knows that he refused to comply with the Judgement of Caribbean Court of Justice in relation to the NoConfidence Motion.”

“He speaks of compliance with the Constitution and Laws of Guyana, although, no other Head of State in the English speaking Caribbean, over the past fifty years, has been found guilty of violating their Constitution, than him, including, his unilateral appointment of James Patterson as Chairman of GECOM and his refusal to comply with the Constitution, in relation to the No-Confidence Motion, just to name two.”

Bring Carter Center

Referencing these occurrences, the PPP stressed that his promise to accept the declaration of the Elections Commission, after the recount, “rings hollow and provides comfort for no one.”

The party once again brought to the forefront, the ongoing issue where the Carter Center observers were denied approval from the COVID-19 Task Force— headed by Chairman, caretaker Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and CEO, Joseph Harmon—to return to Guyana to observe the recount. This, even though the democracy watchdog group is still accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Guyanese are too acquainted with his record and strategy of making grand promises and giving solemn commitments on the one hand, while on the other hand, he instructs his po-

Caretaker President David Granger

litical lackeys to do everything possible, to undermine them. Only recently, we saw his commitment to the US Congressmen, Albio Sires, Gregory Meeks and Yvette Clarke to ensure free and fair elections are held and to accept the results. We also saw his commitment to Caricom, to have a recount done, expeditiously, under the scrutiny of a Caricom team, while instructing his Commissioners at GECOM to object to it and then ordering his candidates to rush to the High Court to prohibit it,” the PPP highlighted.

In order to prove his sincerity, the PPP/C said, “The President must demonstrate his bona fides by releasing APNU/AFC copies of the SoPs for Region Four and urge GECOM to do the same.

This will be consistent with the position that he took as Opposition Leader in 2011” and “Instructing the rigging cabal at Congress Place and his Commissioners at GECOM to stop undermining and attempting to derail the recount process.”

Pressing the challenge further, the party called upon Granger to intervene “to permit Carter Center and the other accredited international observer teams to return to Guyana to complete their mission of observing the March 2, elections.”

NEWS

15

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FITUG joins calls for Govt to allow Carter Center’s return for recount

T

he Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) said that it is appalled that the now de-facto Government of Guyana has not approved requests to allow representatives of the Carter Centre (CC) and the International Republic Institute (IRI)to participate in the soon to commence recount of ballots cast in the March 02, 2020 National and Regional Elections.

Over the weekend, the United States-based Carter Center disclosed that it was trying to seek permission from the Guyana government to return to Guyana on Monday on a flight that was leaving Miami for Georgetown to take home stranded US citizens. However, the organisation said the flight was denied permission to carry any international elections observers, which included representatives from the International Republic Institute (IRI), which had provided technical support to GECOM. According to a statement from the Federation on Monday, “The inexplicable denial is yet only further confirmation that the governing Coalition clearly has something to hide.

Certainly, how else could one explain the refusal of having more eyes on the process?”

FITUG pointed out that this denial of permission comes only days after the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition sought to have the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) consider preventing party representatives and other observers and officials from possessing their cellular phones during the recount.

“Apart from that, we have seen too their vehement opposition and the invocation of incredulous rationales regarding the live streaming of the recount.

For a political grouping which has, on several occasions, pointed out that it emerged victorious, their actions hardly confirm their utterances. The Federation wishes to remind, in this regard, that actions speak louder than words.”

Following high drama after the general and regional elections, the Returning Officer of Region Four (Demerara – Mahaica), Clairmont Mingo, had declared unverified results of the largest electoral district, Region Four, which many observer missions including the Carter Center has deemed as lacking credibility and called for a recount.

As such, FITUG is of the view that if the caretaker President believes that he won the elections, he

FITUG President Carvil Duncan

should approve the request for the observers to return to Guyana.

“We gather that the request for the observers’ presence has now been taken up at the highest levels. Presumably, we gather that to mean with President David Granger.

It was the President himself who sought the recount ostensibly to clear up any doubt regarding the victor.

Certainly, if the President were genuine, he would not hesitate in approving the request which were denied by his underlings.

Understandably, any winner would want to demonstrate beyond any shadow of doubt that they fairly and credibly won an election. To do otherwise tells another story in itself.”

Moreover, FITUG is urging that representatives of the Carter Center and the IRI be allowed to travel to Guyana and to participate in the recount.

“Clearly, they do not have the well-being of our people and nation at heart but just a lust for power, privileges and perks. We in Guyana have seen the consequences of such actions in the past. We have collectively worked to erase the legacy of that sordid period of our history and we should not return to such an ignoble time every again.”

Both Canadian and U.S. governments have been making similar calls with respect to the CC being allowed to observe the national recount which is slated to commence on May 6, 2020 at the Author Chung Conference Centre.

Only Sunday, another local organisation and accredited observer, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) wrote Chairman of the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) – the agency with responsibility for granting approval for commercial flights amid the closure of the borders, Moses Nagamootoo, pointing out that it is integral to democracy and a democratic process that the international observers, who reinforce the credibility of the election process, are present for the recount.

“The presence of the

Carter Centre, a recognised body for ensuring credibility of the democratic process internationally and a long-standing partner and friend of Guyana, will be important for bolstering the process in Guyana,” it posited. But was unsuccessful in its plead to have the observers return on Monday’s humanitarian flight.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020

News

Guyana’s 2nd lift of 1st million barrels of oil expected soon …price will be half of first shipment

S

ince oil production started in the Liza field in the Stabroek Block in December of 2019, Guyana has produced over eight million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), with plans to ramp up production by next month.

This was revealed by Energy Department Director, Dr Mark Bynoe, during a Zoom press conference where he fielded questions from the media on Monday.

Bynoe further said that since production started, Guyana produces an average of between 75,000 and 80,000 barrels of oil per day in the Liza field.

Moreover, production is expected to be ramped up to 120,000 barrels per day by next month. Bynoe also cautioned that with the current coronavirus crisis, there have been restrictions on drilling.

“To date, the Liza 1 field has produced over 8 million barrels of oil, with average daily production of between 75 – 80 kbd, with an expected ramp-up to 120 kbd by early June 2020,” he explained.

pected in a couple of weeks.

This comes on the heels of Guyana’s first lift of its one-million-barrel share of the crude oil in February of this year.

Payara development plan

Energy Department Director, Dr Mark Bynoe

Currently, he said, there are two active rigs, focused mainly on drilling water injection wells for the Liza Destiny. “[There are also] two Hot-stack Rigs: that are on standby as they require crew change and there has been some restriction on drilling operations as we all look to reduce our exposure due to the global pandemic and the state of the industry.”

Bynoe added that Guyana’s second lift of one million barrels of oil is ex-

When it comes to approval of Exxon’s Field Development Plan (FDP) for Payara, it’s third proposed oil field, Bynoe indicated that this is a work in progress.

“The review of the Payara FDP is fairly advanced with some preliminary issues raised with the operator.

The DE continues to engage with the operator in a collaborative manner before finalisation of the comments to be shared with the operator,” Bynoe said.

Only recently, Guyana received almost US$55 million for its first one million barrels of oil sold and would have also received its first royalty payment for the first quarter of the year.

Guyana only became an oil-producing nation last year, with Exxon so far making 16 oil finds in the Stabroek Block. In 2019, the company made five dis-

coveries. These discoveries have pushed the total estimated recoverable barrels of oil equivalent to over six billion.

In addition, Exxon has its Liza Phase Two project, which will contain approximately 30 wells and which has already received the requisite approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Payara, meanwhile, is expected to have 45 wells that include production wells, water and gas injection wells.

But the onset of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has had a serious impact not just on lives but also the global economy and specifically, oil.

As of Monday, The Wall Street Journal reported that US crude futures for delivery in June closed up 3.1 per cent at US$20.39 a barrel.

The price gauge started the year above US$60 and has collapsed with the coronavirus sapping demand for fuel around the world.

Brent crude was being traded at US$66 per barrel when Guyana first started oil production in December 2019.

International Midwife Day

Midwives commended for efforts during COVID-19

M

idwives across the country have been commended for the work they do, especially as they carry out their duties amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, Guyana joins the world in celebrating International Day of the Midwife, and giving recognition to the work of these healthcare professionals.

This year, this day is celebrated under the theme: “Midwives with women: celebrate, demonstrate, mobilise, unite – our time is now!”.

President of the Midwives Association of Guyana, Maria Francois on Monday recognised that midwifery support groups have been established in all 10 administrative regions across the country. She said this day creates an avenue for the entire fraternity to recommit themselves to the profession.

“The Association continues to capitalise on the opportunities provided every year through the observance of the International Day of the Midwife for us to public-

ly demonstrate our commitment to support midwifery care and services, and to help to focus policyholders on the need to support us in our quest to provide quality care and services.”

Francois, who is attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, stated that their aim continues to circle around stopping preventable maternal and newborn deaths. However, this year, they have been met with another key factor; carrying out their duties effectively despite a global epidemic.

“The year 2020 is dedicated to nurses and midwives underscoring the invaluable care that we provide. As we unite with other health professionals in the fight against COVID-19, we must recognise the important role that we have to play. In the midst of this global pandemic, midwives have risen to this extraordinary challenge to support one another in the fight to protect mothers and babies.

While the times are tough, we need to be reminded of the overwhelming solidar-

Midwives Association of Guyana President Maria Francois

ity that has emerged from the maternity units around Guyana. The consistent members of staff are pulling all efforts to provide excellent care,” the Association’s President affirmed.

Meanwhile, caretaker Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence stated that midwives are being celebrated for their efforts in traversing the different areas in Guyana to ensure that patients are being tended to.

Now, they also play a key

role in detecting suspected COVID-19 patients.

“Even as we battle COVID-19, our midwives are part of the team in our communities helping to trace our case contacts - demonstrating that they are strong and brave and that their care extends beyond midwifery to the general health and wellbeing of all people. Worthy of note is the fact that midwives have a special role to play in the antenatal care, delivery and postnatal care of women who may be suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19,” she said in the address.

According to Lawrence, investment in midwifery is an advantageous endeavour and will ensure complete coverage of healthcare services.

“I am cognisant of the fact that achieving “health for all” will depend on there being sufficient numbers of well-trained and educated, regulated and well-supported nurses and midwives, who receive pay and recognition commensurate with the services and quality of care that they provide.”

GTA will prepare for tourism rebound – new Director

G

uyana’s budding tourism industry, mostly through the promotion of eco-destinations, was quickly dampened with the COVID-19 pandemic as strict restrictions were imposed on air travel and nonessential services.

The sector, which was beginning to make a dent in the country’s economy as a competitor and revenue earner, was dealt serious blows.

However, newly-appointed Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Carla James said in these challenging times, they will be preparing for the rebound and improving the quality of services offered to return stronger.

James was officially appointed via a virtual ceremony on Monday, replacing outgoing Director, Brian Mullis as his two-year contract came to an end. She takes up the role at a time when there has been zero tourism activity in the country as the coronavirus poses health threats.

Nevertheless, she stated that Guyana’s domestic market is expected to recover as soon as the pandemic is over.

“We do have to, in this moment, do what we can to prepare for the future. It is a difficult time and a lot of businesses would be extending the partial lockdown. It is understandable that they have to make hard decisions regarding keep employees and staying in business. But at the same time, I think it does present an opportunity to improve the products and services that we currently offer and in part of preparing for that future, we know that the local domestic market is the market that is going to recover first,” she said.

According to James, she will be working to build the GTA’s human resources capacity since there will be a greater need in the coming future. Presently, the semi-autonomous body is functioning with 26 individuals.

“We really do have an amazing and committed team of 26 persons who understands that our work plays a significant role in helping to protect all that makes Guyana special…I think, now more than ever is a time when community is needed the most.”

She added, “During this time and the next couple of weeks, I think the GTA is going to be focusing on helping the sector through this difficult period, preparing for recovery. Our team will continue to invest and build capacity in the GTA so that we can be a strong support for the stakeholders… I think our team’s capacity is something that I want to build.”

Expansion

The newly appointed Director said there are many unexplored avenues in

GTA Director Carla James

Guyana which can be used to attract visitors and even local travellers. According to her, there is a need for greater community input into the tourism sector, as well as locally produced products on the markets.

“In the last two years, the relationships in which we have built and planning as it relates to sustainable destination management is really on a path forward that we are leading the market in an international way…I do think that product development is one of the greatest areas that we need to build on…I do think that we need to expand a little beyond into the communities to involve coastal communities and even other products that are nearby, obviously because we know that our market is growing in some new ways,” James said.

Presently, it was indicated that there is a greater demand for quick getaways.

The GTA is hoping to open locations along the Essequibo River and on its coast for experimental travel.

Mainly, the promotion of local cuisine and improving presentations is also a key goal for the next few years.

She highlighted, “I think one of the other great areas is looking at cuisine or gastronomy. I think [in] Guyana, we have excellent food, organic etc. But I don’t think we have maximised the potential to showcase that from a country standpoint. I think from the simple thing of how we plate and deliver that service to visitors and even our locals, that’s one of the things that I want to focus on. There’s so much more we can do with that, from farm to table experiences, agro-tourism. It all ties in but it is an untapped area that we can certainly develop.”

Under the leadership of Mullis, Guyana copped the award last year for “Best of Ecotourism” destination in the world during the ITB global travel trade fair in Berlin, Germany.

The former Director, who has already relocated to the United States, positioned, “Guyana’s tourism sector, it’s greatest strengths is its resilience and resiliency.”

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020

17

News

Govt picketed over Carter Center’s denied entry decision A

fter the denial of permission by the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) for a representative of The Carter Center to come to Guyana to observe the national recount, a number of persons turned up with placards protesting the decision.

Headed by Raghunandan Singh, the protesters stood in front of State House – the President’s official residence, and then moved to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, saying that the voices of Guyanese must be heard. Holding placards, the group of picketers voiced their wanton dissatisfaction with a number of recent developments that unfolded.

“We are not satisfied with a couple of things especially with them blocking the credible observers to come in Guyana which is The Carter Center. We are not satisfied that they do not want live streaming… We want our voice to be heard in different form, different way and different directions that is what we are looking for,” Singh told this publication.

Singh said the only desire is for the recount to be conducted in a fair and transparent environment, so as to pave the way for a duly elected President.

“We are looking for a process that is above board in satisfaction with keeping with the laws and the agreement that was signed between [David] Granger and Dr Bharrat Jagdeo that good sense must prevail and to ensure that the ballot count accordingly,” the protester highlighted.

On Monday The Carter Center observer, who was ready to travel to Guyana to observe the recount, was left in Miami as the person was unable to board the Eastern Airlines flight to Guyana as a result of the Guyana caretaker Government denying permission.

The US Embassy in Georgetown on Sunday stated that it had sought approval, via official channels, for observers of The Carter Center to board a flight to Guyana but this was denied by the National COVID-19 Task Force headed by care-

Protesters in front of the Foreign Affairs Ministry

taker Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

The Embassy said it sent the diplomatic note to the Foreign Affairs Ministry on April 29 seeking permission for flights on May 4, 2020, and May 30, 2020. It also sent a copy of the diplomatic note to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) accompanied by a request to advance the issue to Guyana’s COVID-19 Task Force.

However, the Embassy was informed on Saturday, May 2, that the incoming May 4 flight had been approved by the Task Force,

Region 10 forestry groups protest “unfavourable” land allocations

N

umerous members of forestry groups at Kwakwani in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), on Monday staged a protest against what they allege is the “unfavourable allocation” of lands by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) within close proximity to the community. According to members of the community organisations, they are dissatisfied with the decisions as it relates to the last two land allocations, following the publication of lands in June 2019 and February of this year.

The protesters held placards which bore slogans such as “People who know nothing about wood work get lands over community organisations”, “More lands, more tags, more work” and “Without lands how will we work...How will our children eat”.

At the centre of the exercise were members of logging organisations, including the Upper Berbice Forest and Agricultural Producers Association (UBFAPA), Kwakwani Natural Resource Organisation and Aroaima Forest and Agricultural Producers Association.

Several residents and business people also joined the peaceful protest exercise.

Speaking with this publication, First Vice Chairman for UBFAPA, Juanita Thom outlined that the community organisations put together have approximately 290 members with more than 3000 families to provide for.

Thom said no more lands mean no tags, no work and no survival since some of the

A protester on Monday at Kwakwani in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice)

organisations’ members have almost worked out their quotas and there are no other alternatives, since the RUSAL bauxite company is presently closed and many other mining companies are laying off workers. In a joint statement by members of the various community organisations, it was alleged that the allocation of the lands was not in keeping with a democratic process.

“Residents are angry...

Over one hundred residents came out, but our full support in numbers were hindered by COVID-19 as there would not have been enough space for us to maintain six feet distance if more persons came out...Kwakwani and the community logging organisations were disrespected by GFC and its Board of Directors with their bias decision.

According to Section 11 Sub-section 4 of the 2009 Forest Act which gives preference to community groups that are in close proximity of the forest that the Commission plans to allocate..... this tells us clearly that the law in the allocation process were not followed by the Board...”, it noted.

The statement continued that in 2019 there were 15 lands up for allocation within the Division as compared to 4 in 2020. It was also alleged that none of these was given to any of the community groups.

“However, people with no logging experience and no credible competence was given preference to the lands...

In addition...lands allocated in 2020 was initially a suggestion made by the UBFAPA former Chairman, Mr Charles Thom so as to have more lands available for community groups...the past GFC Commissioner would write each person that apply to say why they did not get lands. But this did not happen in 2019 nor 2020...

There were no logical or substantial reasons for these community group to be denied land”, the statement said.

Members of the community organisations further indicated that they were not contacted with regards to this and further demanded that the Waico land be issued to the community groups, noting that it is right according to the law.

but not the arrival of the observers.

The Embassy also sought the intervention of caretaker President David Granger but there has been no intervention by him. As such, the US, Canadian Governments, and the EU had urged the Government

to reconsider its position.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry is the official Government agency that responds to such requests. On March 5, three days after the General and Regional Elections, in a move that completely stunned stakeholders and attracted the wrath of at least one Elections Observer Mission, caretaker Foreign Affairs Minister Karen Cummings threatened to revoke the accreditation of foreign organisations here to observe the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The threat was issued during a meeting with some observers at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Command Centre at High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, amid much commotion follow-

ing a dramatic delay in the verification of the results for Region Four (DemeraraMahaica). Cummings, a candidate for the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), was accused of trying to intimidate the international missions that are keenly observing the electoral process in Guyana.

She told the international observers that she was instructed to withdraw their accreditation, but she was not in agreement that it should be done; she did not reveal who gave her those instructions and why.

However, her comments were quickly countered by observers in the room, who argued that her remarks are considered a form of intimidation.

COVID-19, political situation impacting oil & gas sector – Energy Dept

T

he onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the prevailing political situation, have impacted Guyana’s oil sector and caused delays in a number of areas, according to the Energy Department.

This was revealed by Director of the Energy Department, Dr Mark Bynoe, during a Zoom interview with the media on Monday. Bynoe explained that a number of operators, especially Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), have had to adjust their work plans due to the circumstances.

“The major challenge for all operators, whether it be Repsol or CGX or EEPGL, is the issue of having to change out their workforce. Given that they’re supposed to be working 28 days on, 28 days off,” Bynoe explained.

“With airports being closed out, some of these workers are coming from different parts. In fact, I think the last estimate was 45 different destinations for EEPGL alone. This caused an impact on their work plan.”

He cited the fact that since many of these workers come from all over the world, travel restrictions in place to combat COVID in Guyana and other countries will directly hinder them from flying in.

Another impacted area is the contract for the cost oil audit being done on Exxon, which was awarded to UK firm IHS Markit last year.

According to Bynoe, they have had to extend the period for the audit owing to the travel restrictions.

Similarly, the Department has had to extend the time for interested firms to respond to a tender for a marketing firm for Guyana’s oil. At one point in time, 34 companies had expressed an interest in snagging the contract.

“We did extend [the tender] twice. And the reason

we extended it had nothing to do with a lack of interest. It had to do with the ports being closed off, to allow firms an opportunity to place a bid, we had to extend that time.”

“COVID-19 is new for all of us. So we are basically treating this like trial and error. The airports were closed for one month, another month and we did not know when it would open up back.”

Bynoe explained that a number of companies nevertheless sought to use unconventional means to deliver their bids to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), such as couriers.

Delays

With the subject Minister’s signature needed on various documents including Field Development Plan (FDP) approval and the unresolved elections, Bynoe noted that this has also had an effect on the Department’s work.

“However, what I have said and am doing is that we are providing EEPGL with line of sight. [There are issues] that have to be addressed before one can discuss approval of FDPs. So in large measure, we have provided [them] with a list of matters to be addressed before we can consider Payara further.”

The National Oil Spill Contingency plan has been not been spared. While Bynoe directed this publication’s queries to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), he admitted that the situation has held up collaboration on the plan with overseas counterparts.

Elections process and uncertainty

It has already been over two months of controversies and a credible winner for the 2020 General and Regional Elections is yet to be declared.

However, only last week,

ExxonMobil, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Darren Woods, said that with Guyana’s electoral process dragging out now for two months without a credible result being announced, the political crisis has led to delays in approvals for the development of ExxonMobil’s Payara project in the Stabroek Block.

Woods reported that the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is presenting a challenge to the company in terms of rotating its crews in Guyana.

He said, “due to the impact of COVID-19 has temporarily slowed our drilling campaign.” Woods told investors, “…we expect a delay in our future developments [in Guyana] of roughly six to 12 months”. Speaking directly to the impact of the delayed transition of a new Government locally on the company, Woods lamented that “unfortunately, the ongoing elections process and uncertainty around the next Administration has slowed Government approvals of the Payara Development Plan.”

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the Chairperson came in for much criticism for allowing Region Four’s (DemeraraMahaica) Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, to make two declarations which lacked transparency.

In fact, the first declaration was thrown out by the court. The second one currently sits in abeyance, with the parliamentary Opposition expressing fears that it could be used should the recount GECOM is embarking on be derailed.

In the meantime, coronavirus cases are steadily rising in Guyana. As of Monday, Guyana recorded 10 new cases, its steepest 24-hour increase yet, bringing the total number of cases to 92 out of 639 tests.

18

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

19

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

20

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020

Around The World

OILNEWS

EU spearheads US$8B virus fundraiser

C

elebrities, world leaders and philanthropists pledged some 7.4 billion euros (US$8.1 billion) on Monday for research into coronavirus vaccines, treatments and testing during an European Union-led videoconference that was snubbed by the United States.

European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen, who hosted the conference, said a vaccine was the best chance of beating the COVID-19 disease, which has so far killed nearly a quarter of a million people around the world – 140,000 of them in Europe.

Major European powers, along with Japan and Canada, made the biggest pledges but the lack of US

More than 100 vaccine research projects are under way around the world according to an analysis

representation raised the prospect of an uncoordinated competition to develop and produce a vaccine.

Some wealthy American individuals did take part, and pop star Madonna's million-dollar contribution

was feted by EU officials.

The conference narrowly missed its target of 7.5 billion euros – although a handful of contributors did not put a sum on their pledges – but United Nations Chief Antonio

Guterres warned that much more would be needed, putting the final sum required near 38 billion euros.

"These funds are a kind of down payment for the development of new tools at the speed needed," Guterres told the conference. "But to reach everyone everywhere we likely need five times that amount."

Nonetheless, World Health Organisation (WHO) Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the fundraising as a powerful show of "global solidarity".

The donations came from around 40 countries, the UN, research institutes and philanthropic bodies including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

(Excerpt from AFP)

Global coronavirus deaths exceed quarter of a million – Reuters tally

G

lobal coronavirus deaths reached 250,000 on Monday after recorded infections topped 3.5 million, a Reuters tally of official government data showed, although the rate of fatalities has slowed.

North America and European countries accounted for most of the new deaths and cases reported in recent days, but numbers were rising from smaller bases in Latin America, Africa, and

Russia.

Globally, there were 3062 new deaths and 61,923 new cases over the past 24 hours, taking total cases to 3.58 million.

That easily exceeds the estimated 140,000 deaths worldwide in 2018 caused by measles, and compares with around three million to five million cases of severe illness caused annually by seasonal influenza, according to the World Health Organisation

(WHO).

While the current trajectory of COVID-19 falls far short of the 1918 Spanish flu, which infected an estimated 500 million people, killing at least 10 per cent of patients, experts worry the available data is underplaying the true impact of the pandemic.

The concerns come as several countries begin to ease strict lockdowns that have been credited with helping contain the spread of the vi-

rus.

“We could easily have a second or a third wave because a lot of places aren’t immune,” Peter Collignon, an infectious diseases physician and microbiologist at Canberra Hospital, told Reuters. He noted the world was well short of herd immunity, which requires around 60 per cent of the population to have recovered from the disease. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Bolsonaro picks new top cop after clashing with Brazil's Supreme Court

B

razilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Monday picked a new head of the Federal Police following a Supreme Court decision to block his effort to appoint a family friend – a tactical retreat a day after he and supporters threatened the court in anti-democratic protests.

The new appointment showed Bolsonaro moving quickly to install a trusted appointee to the top law enforcement role as mounting investigations and his lax handling of the COVID-19 pandemic erode his popularity and feed talk of im-

peachment.

The Government’s official gazette said Bolsonaro had tapped as Federal Police Chief, Rolando Alexandre de Souza, who had worked as a close aide to his original choice, Alexandre Ramagem, at Brazil’s intelligence agency Abin.

Bolsonaro dismissed as “gossip” accusations by former Justice Minister Sergio Moro that the President had tried to interfere in sensitive investigations by naming Ramagem, a friend of his sons, as top cop.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Goldman Sachs predicts US$51 oil in 2021

G

oldman Sachs raised its estimate for WTI Crude prices in 2021 to US$51.38 per barrel from US$48.50, expecting a gradual recovery in global oil demand, and production cuts and shut-ins to support oil prices next year.

“Oil production has started to decline quickly from a combination of scaleback in activity, shut-ins and coreOPEC/Russia production cuts,” Goldman Sachs Equity Research said in a note carried by Reuters.

“Demand is also beginning to recover from a low base, led by a restarting Chinese economy and intersecting transportation demand in developed market economies,” analysts at Goldman Sachs said in the note.

Together with raising its forecast for WTI Crude, Goldman Sachs revised up its estimate for Brent Crude prices to US$55.63 a barrel from US$52.50 per barrel previously expected.

At 10:30h EDT on Monday, Brent Crude was up 1.89 per cent at US$26.94, and WTI Crude was trading at US$20.19, up by 2.22 per cent on the day, as some US states and countries in Europe eased lockdowns days after Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries-plus OPEC+ began their pact to remove 9.7 million bpd from the market in May and June.

Even though oil producers finally agreed to cut production by nearly 10 million bpd, the deal will fail to support oil prices in the coming weeks as the agreement, albeit historic, is falling short of the enormous demand destruction and expectations, Goldman Sachs said after the OPEC+ deal was sealed.

After WTI Crude futures dipped to -US$37 on April 20, the day before the May contract expired, Goldman’s head of commodities Jeffrey Currie said that the recovery in US oil prices was still weeks away.

While Goldman Sachs doesn’t expect oil prices to jump too much in the coming weeks, it remains fairly bullish about oil demand in 2021 and the fact that major oil producers would slash production –OPEC+ because of their collective pact, and the US and Canada, for example, because of market conditions. (Excerpt from Oil Price)

Cuba calls attack on Washington Embassy terrorism; Police say Chinese State media calls Pompeo gunman heard voices Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro shakes hands with the new Head of the Federal Police, Rolando Alexandre de Souza as Justice Minister Andre Luiz de Almeida Mendonca and Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo applaud at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, May 4, 2020

coronavirus claims “insane”

C

hina's State broadcaster CCTV attacked US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's recent remarks on the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, calling them "insane and evasive".

Pompeo, speaking on Sunday, said "enormous evidence" showed the virus originated in a lab in Wuhan, China, doubling down on previous claims from US officials and right-wing groups,

which have been repeatedly denied by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and various scientific experts.

The theory has been heavily pushed by the Administration of President Donald Trump, who has been increasingly critical of China's handling of the outbreak that first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, continuing to ratchet up a war of words between the two countries.

Last week, Trump said he saw evidence that gave him confidence the virus emerged from a lab in Wuhan, without offering support to his claim.

To date, the pandemic has killed about 250,000 people globally, while 3.6 million have been infected.

Titled "Evil Pompeo is wantonly spewing poison and spreading lies", the harshly-worded commentary on CCTV referred to state-

ments by WHO Executive Director Mike Ryan and Columbia University virologist W Ian Lipkin, who has repeated that all indications are the virus is natural in origin and was not man-made or leaked from a laboratory.

"These flawed and unreasonable remarks by American politicians make it clear to more and more people that no 'evidence' exists," the commentary said.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

C

uban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Monday called a gun assault last week on its embassy in Washington a “terrorist attack”, while US court papers said the suspected gunman was a psychotic Cuban emigre who heard voices.

There were no injuries in the attack last Thursday, but gunshots riddled the facade and some penetrated the building. Police arrested Alexander Alazo, 42, around 14:00h after he fired an AK47-style semi-automatic rifle

32 times at the Embassy, according a memorandum filed on Sunday in support of pretrial detention.

Alazo told investigators he would have shot the Ambassador if he had come out, because he was “the enemy”. Voices in his head had told him to protect his family from what he believed were Cuban organized crime groups affiliated with the Cuban Government that he claimed were following them and wanted to harm them.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020

21

ARCHIE

ARIES

If you take charge and finish what you start, you’ll raise your profile, improve your reputation and receive a perk that will help boost your standard of living.

Romance is featured.

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

Finish what you start.

Being productive will help deter criticism and arguments. Work to become more financially secure. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

(March 21April 19)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Be careful how you allot your time. Acquiring knowledge and taking care of your health and physical needs should be priorities. Don’t trust anyone with your passwords or possessions.

Do whatever brings you joy, and it will ease stress.

Give others space if you want to receive the same privilege. A worthwhile contribution will lift your spirits.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Do what you do best and stay out of trouble. Refuse to get lured into someone else’s drama or get-rich-quick scheme. You’ll do best if you do your own thing.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

If you add a unique twist to the way you do things, you’ll discover a new way to use your skills. Focus on making money and expanding your interests.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SUDOKU

Don’t take on additional responsibilities. Move at a comfortable speed in order to ease stress. You don’t have to keep up; you just have to do what’s best for you.

Speak up, as what you have to say will make a difference. The people you encounter will offer you a connection that can help you prioritize your goals.

Help yourself first. If you SAGITTARIUS let someone take advantage (Nov. 23of you, it will disrupt your Dec. 21) life and a relationship with a loved one. Focus on home, family and romance.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Bring about change for the right reason. Refuse to let your emotions get in the way of an important decision. Don’t let hesitation limit your options. Be receptive to group discussions.

Consider the reasons behind your desire to make a purchase. Look around, and you’ll discover that you can make do with what you’ve got. Channel your energy into physical work, exercise and romance.

Relationship issues should be handled with care. Push for a change that is beneficial to everyone, not just to you. If you want a positive response, offer a fair solution.

22

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

T20 World Cup build-up

‘Door not shut' on Alex Hales, says Eoin Morgan

E

oin Morgan, England's white-ball captain, says the "door is still open" for Alex Hales to earn a recall to the T20 World Cup squad, but only if he can rebuild the trust that was lost when he was axed from last summer's 50-over World Cup squad for failing a second test for recreational drug use.

Prior to his fall from grace, Hales was a member of the England side that reached the final of the last T20 World Cup, in India in 2016, and had been a key player throughout the 50over team's rise from ignominy after the 2015 World Cup - including a then-record 171 against Pakistan in 2016 and another century in England's world-record 481 for 6 against Australia two years later.

Having previously stated that he was targeting an England return for the 20over World Cup in October and November, Hales demonstrated his enduring value as a T20 batsman with impressive stints for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash and Karachi Kings in the PSL prior to the Covid-19 outbreak.

However, he has not been considered for England selection since March 2019, and speaking at the launch of the Abu Dhabi T10, which is scheduled to take place after the T20 World Cup

in November, Morgan reiterated that Hales would be required to rebuild that lost trust before he could be included in any future international plans.

"In terms of what that looks like, practically, it's human nature, it's about developing trust," Morgan said. "I don't think you can put a time limit on gaining back that trust, and that's not just with me, that's with every member of the squad, the backroom staff, the selectors.

"And that does take time. We're in May, so it's 11 months ago that the incident happened with Alex, so it's actually not that long ago that it happened.

"What happened was actually quite considerably harmful to the environment, which obviously led to the breakdown in trust between Alex and our players, so to say, how long that will take to regain, we don't know, but certainly the door is still open for that trust to be built back up."

Hales' hopes, however, are likely to be hit by the lack of opportunity to impress in the build-up to the tournament.

The ECB have been in discussions in recent weeks with the government and other sports over the feasibility of events taking place in bio-secure environments, and on Tuesday Tom Harrison, the chief ex-

ecutive, will appear before the Department of Culture, Media and Sport select committee to discuss the board's findings.

Morgan added that England's players were due to be briefed by the ECB later on Monday, to be brought up to speed with the latest developments.

But, with the season already postponed until July 1 at the earliest, he conceded that the ECB was likely to prioritise its two Test series against West Indies and Pakistan, and that his white-ball squad may have to "make do" with whatever opportunities come their way.

"For the last month, everybody has struggled to get a sense of what's possible and what might or might not happen," Morgan said.

"But the news in the last week has been more positive about sport returning than it has been in the previous three weeks.

"There was a stage when the idea of playing any sport over the next four or five months seemed impossible, but so long as the options given are government-approved, it seems a lot more likely that there might be some cricket. I've not given up yet!"

With doubts about the feasibility of Australia's ODI and T20I tour in early July, England's likeliest chance of internation-

Holding heaps scorn on "ridiculous" ICC Test Championships

L

egendary West Indies fast bowler turned commentator Michael Holding has heaped criticism on the newly introduced International Cricket Council (ICC) World Test Championships (WTC) series.

The competition, which was introduced in August of last year, is meant to be the premier championship for Test cricket.

The tournament features nine of the twelve Test-playing nations, each of whom plays a Test series against six of the other eight teams. Each series consists of between two and five matches, so although all teams will play six series (three at home and three away), they will not play the same number of Tests. Each team will be able to score a maximum of 120 points from each series and the two teams with the most points at the end of the league stage will contest the final.

Holding has however taken exception with both the format of the competition and its established points system.

"It doesn't work," Holding was quoted as saying by Wisden. "First

CLASSIFIED ADS ASTROLOGY & SPIRITUALITY Having Problems with Marriage/ Love Relationships, Health, Job, Money, Removal of Obstacles of any kind. Meet me once and change your life. Call 688-2135 Are you suffering from Health, Money, Job, Marriage Relationships problems? Removal of Blockage/ Evil Spirits, Clear Negative Energy, Permanent Protection. Call: 6961857 for appointment.

FOR SALE Mixed-Breed Puppies for Sale.

Contact: Tel- 253-3114/692-0126.

TAXI SERVICES GR TAXI, 24 HOURS. PHONE: 225-7878, 219-5000, 227-2100

TO RENT Eoin Morgan congratulates Alex Hales after his half-century in the T20 Blast quarter-final

al opposition ahead of the T20 World Cup could be to repurpose their three ODIs against Ireland in September, and play T20Is instead.

"We have to make do," he added. "If Tests were going on, there would be ways and means we could have meaningful practice games in and around those Ireland games in a similar environment.

"We could have proper opposition and maybe use the England Lions there too in order to make it as highly competitive as possible."

However, given the current uncertainty all around the world, he insisted that all teams would be in the "same boat" going into October's tournament.

"I think if the T20 World

Cup goes ahead in the slot that it's been allocated at the moment, we will have certainly have played a limited amount of cricket before then," he said.

"One of the big positives before the outbreak of the virus was that the guys were going to play all of the Pakistan league, all of the IPL, all of the T20 Blast, and get a lot of exposure to T20 cricket in the build-up and hence lots of opportunity for positions.

"But I think given the circumstances, we'll have to wait and see how much cricket we play and the opportunities that land on guys' laps. They'll have to make the most of them because they are very limited ones at the moment."

(ESPNcrinfo)

Bottom Flat to Rent. 25 Oronoque St / North Road. Fully Furnished, A.C, Windows / Door Grilled or Mesh, 3 Rooms. Tel. 226-7012

VEHICLE FOR SALE 2018 Toyota Prado, Black, Fully Loaded, Leather Seats, Gas, Excellent Condition. Contact # 6623725.

La Liga aiming for June restart …clubs return to training this week

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOW! Barcelona are at the top of La Liga, two points clear of rivals Real Madrid

L Former Fast bowler and commentator Michael Holding

of all, the points system is ridiculous.

You can't play five Test matches and get the same amount of points if you play two Test matches,” he added.

"And secondly, at some point, you're going to have teams who know they cannot get to the final and so those Test matches aren't going to be all that entertaining. People know it's just another game." (Sportsmax)

a Liga organisers are aiming for a June restart to the season, which was halted by the coronavirus crisis, as clubs return to training this week.

Players from the top two divisions will train individually after an agreement with Spain's sports and health authorities that guaranteed the safety of both players and staff.

Players must undergo test before they can return to training facilities.

Football in Spain was suspended indefinitely in March.

The country's top division has created detailed protocols for the return to training so proper health safeguards are observed. Part of

this involves training sessions progressing from individual to small groups and then team training.

"These measures cover a period of approximately four weeks with different phases that, in any case, will be subject to the de-escalation process established by the government," a La Liga statement read.

"Together with the medical tests carried out by clubs, a staggered return to training has been implemented that will start with players training alone and with group activities prior to the return to competition, scheduled for June."

There are 11 rounds of matches remaining, with Barcelona top of the table, two points clear of rivals Real Madrid. (BBC Sport)

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

on how athletes can stay fit at home

By Timothy Jaikarran

G

uyana’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases have gone past 80, and the pandemic continues to cripple health systems all over the world.

It has even gone on to

cripple sports in general as the entire sporting world is at a standstill. This is the same for sports in Guyana – basketball, cricket, hock-

ey, volleyball, etc, have been placed on hold, but with the athletes now at home, what can they do to maintain their fitness?

In this piece, the aim is assisting athletes during this isolation period to keep off the weight and come out

fitter than they have ever been when sports in general resumes. One would suggest a gym, but with gyms closed and people asked to

maintain a social distance of six feet, what will sports look like when this is over?

But there is always light at the end of the tunnel, or to put it in better terms, every cloud has a silver lining, because athletes can now turn their living rooms or even backyard spaces into fitness areas.

Traditional bodyweight exercises such as push-ups, situps, squats, and planks have become necessary staples.

Household items like jugs and cases of bottled water have been used as makeshift weights since some individuals may not have dumbbells in their homes. But, nevertheless, even those who have fitness equipment at home still must improvise to a certain degree.

In this day and age, the transition hasn’t been easy for everyone. For someone

who was going to the gym before COVID-19, the transition can be tough as they are now forced to do bodyweight exercises. But with the power of improvisation whether it be five-gallon bottles of water or even rice sacks,

one can perform a full body routine.

This would allow them to feel like they were in the gym giving them some form of relief; while exercising at home is not the same as at a gym, it will definitely keep you fit. So, when the quarantine ends, it will not take a lot of effort to get back to where you were in your gym life.

There are lots of options to keep fit if you have to remain at home. The guide-

lines recommend 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity five days a week for adults, but short bouts of physical activity (even 10 minutes at a time) can quickly add up to 30 minutes.

The important thing is that no matter what your age or circumstances, you need to keep moving, so make sure to include some physical activity in your daily plan. A simple workout routine to follow that can be done is the Crank Workout, which can be done in three rounds and will definitely leave you feeling the burn.

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Page 23

Tips on how athletes can stay fit at home

Holding heaps scorn La Liga aiming on “ridiculous” ICC for June restart Test Championships

Page 22

Page 22

…clubs return to training this week GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.