Guyana Times - Wednesday, July 1, 2020

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US seeks extradition of Maduro’s alleged dealmaker Alex Saab Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4333

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020

Granger disingenuously cherry-picks Caricom report – Jagdeo ...ignores conclusion that recount should form basis of declaration See story on page 9

Criminal charges filed against Lowenfield See story on page 11

...for wilful breach of public trust,conspiracy to commit fraud

Guyana demonstrates Venezuela explicitly agreed to judicial settlement

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE: Mabaruma inferno

Cuban doctors presently P13 housed at guest house

Lifeless body of Prospect man P13 found in canal 10 new COVID-19 cases recorded; P14 cases now jump to 245 …37 cases recorded in Region 7

Page 3

...as such the ICJ has jurisdiction to settle Venezuela's border controversy

In supporting Lowenfield, Granger supports Mia Mottley to hand over Caricom illegality – Jagdeo … says Lowenfield subservient to

GMSA calls for democraticallyelected Govt P15 to prioritise resuscitating sugar industry

Page 18

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GECOM, ‘not other way around’ …adds that only GECOM empowered to bring finality to elections process

chairmanship to PM Gonsalves on Friday

Miner arraigned for killing P10 “peacemaker”

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, July 1 – 01:30h – 03:00h and 13:30h – 15:00h and Thursday, July 2 – 02:30h – 04:00h and 14:30h – 16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, July 1 – 13:10h – 14:40h and Thursday, July 2 – 14:15h – 15:45h.

Guyana demonstrates Venezuela explicitly agreed to judicial settlement ...as such the ICJ has jurisdiction to settle Venezuela's border controversy

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be thundery showers and light rain showers during the day. Light rain showers and partly cloudy skies will prevail at night.

Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 13:31h reaching a maximum height of 2.41 metres.

Low Tide: 07:00h and 19:21h reaching minimum heights of 0.72 metre and 0.80 metre.

Sir Shridath Ramphal, the Attorney General during the signing of the Geneva Agreement, is now co-agent in Guyana’s case

By Jarryl Bryan

T

he hearing on jurisdiction in the Guyana v Venezuela territorial

International border dispute lawyer Paul Reichler is part of Guyana’s legal team

pretation that the only person participating in the selection of the means of solution will be the Secretary General of the United Nations and not the assembly.”

The ICJ had previously allocated the day for Venezuela to present its arguments against jurisdiction. However, the Spanishspeaking nation, through its current Foreign Affairs Minister, Jorge Arreaza, recently declared that it would boycott the hearing.

Nevertheless, it had submitted a memorandum last year, in which its reasons for not recognising the ICJ’s role were outlined. Reichler used this memorandum to reject Venezuela’s claims and point out how Venezuela had flipflopped on its own positions of 1966.

“The Foreign Minister left no doubt what Venezuela intended and that parties understood, by his insistence that judicial recourse be au-

Venezuelan Foreign Minister back in 1966, Ignacio Iribarren Borges, had communicated his country’s acceptance of the ICJ as a judicial arbiter in the border case

intended to ensure there would be a final resolution of the controversy, that the Secretary General was empowered to decide on the means of the settlement to be employed and the parties understood and intended that if the Secretary General so decided, the controversy would be settled by the ICJ. This was Venezuela’s understanding of the Geneva agreement,” Reichler told the Court.

No evidence

The International Court of Justice during Tuesday’s hearing

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case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) began on Tuesday with Guyana urging the Court to reject Venezuela’s “meritless and illogical” arguments that the Court has no jurisdiction to hear the case.

Making this call was international border dispute lawyer Paul Reichler, one of several lawyers on Guyana’s legal team. Reichler cited a number of documents which show that Venezuela itself agreed to terms in the 1966 Geneva Agreement that allows the United Nations Secretary General the sole responsibility to refer the case to the ICJ. As such, this is just what UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres did in January 2018, after the good offices process failed to resolve the border controversy.

At the time, the good offices process was going nowhere.

In fact, Guyana had made known its intention to opt out of the process and seek a final binding solution since 2014.

In presenting his arguments to the ICJ, Reichler cited Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs Minister at the time the Geneva Agreement was signed, Ignacio Iribarren Borges. Reichler presented the Court with a statement Iribarren made to the National Congress on March 17, 1966, in which he proclaimed that “due to the Venezuelan objections accepted by Great Britain, there exists an unequivocal inter-

In his address to the National Congress, Iribarren had gone on to say “in compliance with Article 4, if no satisfactory solution for Venezuela is reached, the award of 1899 should be revised through arbitration or a judicial recourse.”

thorised under the 1966 agreement. There is no doubt, Mr President, for either the terms of the agreement, the negotiating history or the contemporaneous statements by the parties immediately following its conclusion, that Article 4.2 was

The Attorney pointed out that Venezuela has failed to provide any logical arguments against the jurisdiction of the Court. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had written the ICJ back in 2018, insisting that the Geneva Agreement binds Guyana and Venezuela to a resolution through negotiations rather than the Court.

According to Reichler, this is a patently false statement.

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guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 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

“The worst is yet to come” T

he World Health Organisation (WHO) this week issued a serious warning that the “worst is yet to come” in the COVID-19 pandemic, which has created much havoc in countries around the world. WHO Head, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was quoted in a BBC report as saying that the virus would infect many more people if Governments did not start to implement the right policies. His message remained: “Test, Trace, Isolate and Quarantine”.

According to the BBC report, more than 10 million cases have been recorded worldwide since the coronavirus emerged in China late last year. The number of patients who died is now above 500,000. Half of the world’s cases have been in the US and Europe, but COVID-19 cases are rapidly growing in the Americas.

The virus is also affecting South Asia and Africa, where it is not expected to peak until the end of July. Even here in Guyana, almost daily, there is an increase of cases and the end of the virus seems to be very far way.

Dr Ghebreyesus told a virtual briefing on Monday: “We all want this to be over. We all want to get on with our lives. But the hard reality is, this is not even close to being over”. He said that although many countries have made some progress, globally the pandemic is actually speeding up.

COVID-19 has really caught the world by surprise, and its massive economic and social impacts on countries will no doubt be felt in years to come. The deadly disease has a foothold across the globe and is now reaching countries that were already facing humanitarian crises because of conflict, natural disasters, and climate change.

Many of these countries were already facing tough economic times, and now with the challenge of battling COVID-19, one could only imagine how some of them will survive this difficult period. In fact, experts have suggested that some countries will enter into recession as the economic toll will be very heavy owing to job losses, closure of industries and overburdened healthcare systems, etc.

UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock had said that COVID-19 has already upended life in some of the world’s wealthiest countries. It is now reaching places where people live in warzones, cannot easily access clean water and soap, and have no hope of a hospital bed if they fall critically ill.

He added that to leave the world’s poorest and most vulnerable countries to their fate would be both cruel and unwise. He noted that if the coronavirus was left to spread freely in these places, millions of people would be at high risk, whole regions would be tipped into chaos and the virus would have the opportunity to circle back around the globe.

We support the calls for UN member states to act now by committing to stem the impact of COVID-19 in vulnerable countries and containing the virus globally by giving the strongest possible support to the plan. Certainly, individual country responses are not enough; there is need for a major international response, hence the initiatives undertaken by the UN and other development partners are laudable as this now means there would be funding for crucial programmes aimed at bringing a halt to the disease.

As stated by the UN head, COVID-19 is menacing the whole of humanity – and so the whole of humanity must fight back.

That said, for us here, we are in a very unfortunate situation, where it is close to four months now and the results of the national elections are yet to be declared, even though it is clear as to who is the credible winner.

Our hope is that once the legal hurdles are crossed, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) would proceed immediately in making a declaration based on the figures coming out of the national recount. The current health crisis demands a legitimate government to be in place to get on with the task of providing relief for citizens, improving treatment and contact tracing, and expanding testing.

Guyana must continue to be vigilant and ensure that all steps are followed as laid out by the WHO to prevent the further spread of the disease. Citizens also have a very important role to play in ensuring they heed the advisories being issued by the health authorities.

Is David Granger banking on China to save his regime?

Dear Editor, The political crisis involving the 2020 General and Regional Elections’ timely declaration of results has given rise to several theories to explain and contextualise the PNCR’s intransigence at refusing to concede defeat, despite having lost (as confirmed by Caricom) the elections to the PPP/C by a margin of 15,416 votes.

A few analysts say that the PNCR cabal has too much to lose in terms of business deals, power, trappings of office, money, etc.

A few invoke the Burnham legacy which dictates: “once in power, the party should never lose it.” Burnham’s successor as President, Desmond Hoyte, deviated from that PNCR doctrine when he conceded defeat at the 1992 polls. Hoyte instantly incurred the wrath of his (PNCR) party leaders and followers. For this reason alone, Hoyte’s performance and his standing in the PNCR have been diminished considerably.

David Granger has been confronted with the same Burnham doctrine, but unlike Hoyte, he is not prepared to concede defeat or to give up power. He unconditionally embraces Burnham’s doctrine of continuous power and its consolidation.

Granger recently asserted, much to the bewilder-

ment of Guyanese and the world, that he is comfortable with the fraudster, Keith Lowenfield’s contrived results that were submitted to the Elections Commission.

Granger did not care that Lowenfield had arrogated onto himself the authority to disenfranchise 115,000 voters. Of this number were PNCR coalition voters. Granger and his cabal no longer say that “every vote counts.” Instead what matters to him, is the fictitious count of Lowenfield.

Granger has thus given Lowenfield the power to decide which party (in this case PNCR) should be installed as the next Government.

Mind-boggling!

A few analysts say that the PNCR cabal believes that only they could prevent the marginalisation of their people (Africans) by preventing the PPP/C party from taking office. Yet others say that the PNCR’s intransigence is (1) a function of the PNCR’s passion for bullyism and (2) the PNCR’s belief in the divine right to govern.

While I do not necessarily dismiss any of these theories (there may be some truth in each), I propose another theory that is pragmatic in nature. I had discussed this at a preliminary level in an article that was published a few weeks ago.

Mr David Granger and Mr Harmon, among other

PNCRites, are planning to replace America with China as their new “big brother,” and to drop the US from that status. They (PNCR) will continue to make superficial remarks about the good relations between Guyana and the US as well as with other countries of the West with a view to placating them. But these countries would not be deceived. Simultaneously, the PNCR has been developing stronger relationships with China, which has been making substantial donations and grants to the PNCR Administration.

With China holding a significant share in Guyana’s oil, as well as their continuous penetration into the Guyanese economy, the relationship has become symbiotic. The PNCR cabal has promised China the needed protection of their investments, properties and is offering opportunities for further expansion in Guyana.

Once this open policy towards China continues, we can expect, not long from now, that Guyana may become a colony of China as is Hong Kong! We will cease to become the colonial subjects of PNCR but instead become the colonial subjects of China.

Should the PNCR seize power and such illegality invokes sanctions from America and the West, the PNCR will turn to China to

fill the void left by the US and the West. Additionally, the PNCR believes (though I think wrongly) that Guyana’s oil revenues will more than offset western aid. Any deficit will be bridged by China, so they believe. However, this position ignores the geopolitical strategy of the West.

The PNCR cabal might be taking a cue (wrongfully) from neighbouring Venezuela where sanctions have not been able to bring President Maduro to his knees. The reason why sanctions are not having the full impact is the neutralising influence of the support that Venezuela receives from China and Russia. I believe that the Granger cabal might be emboldened by the Venezuelan experience of sanction-busting by China and Russia.

The major question for the US and the West is this: “can they afford to have another rogue State (making it 2) in the Caribbean-Latin American region?” Worst yet, the 2 rogue States will be next-door neighbours.

From a geopolitical strategic perspective, will China be able or allowed to exert the same level of influence in Guyana as it does in Venezuela? Interesting times are ahead!

Respectfully, Tara Singh

Time for President Granger to concede Dear Editor, We, the undersigned, hereby call on President Granger and the APNU/AFC to immediately concede the election held on March 2, 2020, to the PPP/C, and to facilitate the swearing-in of Dr Irfaan Ali as President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

What we have been witnessing over the past 121 days since Guyanese went to the polls is both a confirmation of the way in which democratic elections are supposed to be run, followed by an attempt to negate democracy, thereby thwarting the will of the Guyanese people. The election itself on March 2, was “perhaps one of the most outstanding, credible and well-run elections” ever witnessed by most of the election observers. Scrutineers from all political parties, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), along with external election observers from several countries, witnessed a process whereby all voters: produced photo identification or their National Identification Card; had their identity verified by a

Presiding Officer against a registry of legitimate voters; dipped their index finger in indelible ink to avoid voting duplication; folded their ballot so that the vote remained anonymous; and placed their vote securely into an official ballot box.

The election process was a cumbersome one, but commendably thorough, and every election observer, including those from the two main political parties, was impressed by the calibre and commitment of the Polling Stations’ staff, and by the relatively smooth way in which the entire election was handled.

The tabulation process at each Polling Station was meticulous, credible, and fair, according to the incumbent coalition officials, the opposition party officials, representatives of GECOM, and local and international observers. The Statements of Poll (SoPs) were placed at the entrance of each Polling Station, demonstrating the transparency of the count.

There were ten electoral districts and 2339 ballot boxes. The results of the tabulation of votes revealed that

460,352 valid votes were cast in the General Election, with the PPP/C opposition party securing 233,336 votes and the incumbent APNU/AFC coalition receiving 217,920 votes. This result, certified

by GECOM, whose mandate it is to determine the final credible count, indicated that the opposition party had clearly won the General Election. Yet, the outcome, as the case in Guyanese elections, was a sound victory for the PPP/C. Based on the certified results of the polls, the PPP/C, with 50.69 per cent of the vote would have 33 seats in Parliament and the APNU/AFC, with 47.34 per cent, would have 31 seats.

Yet, it was only after it became obvious from the SoPs that PPP/C had won the election, that the incumbent party was unhappy with the result and tried to fraudulently change the outcome.

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, who observed the election in Guyana, stated that he had “never seen a more transparent attempt to alter the result of any election”.

Owen Arthur, former Prime

Minister of Barbados and the Head of the Commonwealth observer team put on record immediately his observation that representatives of the APNU/AFC engaged in fraud and widespread rigging of the election, only after they realised that their party was losing to the Opposition. Mia Mottley (Prime Minister of Barbados), and Ralph Gonsalves (Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines) have also stated that the elections were free and fair, and the recount credible. The Carter Center, one of the most respected organisations when it comes to the observance of national elections around the globe, questioned the change in the tabulation of votes in Region Four, and also expressed concerns about fraud by the APNU/ AFC coalition. Similarly, the Organisation of American States Observation Mission noted a change in the vote count in Region Four and in a diplomatic statement concluded that “the process did not reach its proper conclusion as stipulated in the electoral code.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020

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

115,488 votes are not invalid???

Dear Editor, As the Guyanese people lay mortally wounded, gasping for breath, the APNU/AFC continues to adamantly refuse to remove its knee from their throats but keeps on accelerating the pressure. Guyanese are crying out for reprieve but there seems to be only one conclusion: the coalition will rig itself into power using its stranglehold on GECOM, sanctions or no sanctions.

The recent utterances of Joseph Harmon and Granger leave no doubt about the outcome of the 2020 elections despite the echoing cries of the multitudes who requested Granger to concede defeat and allow for a smooth transition of a PPP/C Government.

Whilst Granger in his trademark duplicitous manner said that he is prepared to “live by” the elections results when it is declared by the GECOM Chair and will not interfere in GECOM’s work, he claimed that the Commission is “bound” by the fraudulent report submitted by the CEO,

Keith Lowenfield, which sought to disenfranchise more than 115,000 voters. He thus gave his direction to the CEO. I have always maintained that Granger is a deceitful man. In one of my letters, I had written: “Let Guyanese be not deceived! Granger is the leader of the Burnhamite faction which is resurrecting old tricks and creating new ones to rig the 2020 Elections”. This statement holds true despite some apologists stating that Granger is the “innocent altar boy”. The “sanctimonious gangster” is an apt label.

Granger’s statement came on the heels of a statement made by Joseph Harmon, who it seemed had set the tone.

Harmon had said that “For those persons who are calling for Mr Granger to concede, that is not going to happen”.

He questioned, “Concede to what? Concede to who? What is he to concede to?” and concluded that, “It appears to me, I’ll venture to say any right-thinking person, to be a

most ridiculous and nonsensical proposition”.

Is it a “nonsensical proposition” when it is pellucid for all to see that Mingo attempted to rig the elections? That two false and fraudulent declarations were made based on Mingo’s tabulation? That Lowenfield presented a fraudulent report disenfranchising 115,844 voters without giving any reason? That the APNU/ AFC allegations of dead voting and migration are without merit and substance? That the PPP/C won the 2020 elections?

Moreover, Harmon seemed to believe that a CCJ ruling in the coalition’s favour will allow for the swearing-in of Granger. What Harmon does not understand is that “valid votes” have already been determined by the laws which dictated the electoral process to be followed and which were followed. Section 87 of the Representation of the People Act clearly outlined the criteria to be followed in ascertaining a rejected or invalid

ballot. The GECOM counting officials followed this process and credibility was preserved.

It is these figures which must be used.

The GECOM Chair should recall her statement after the March 2 elections. She had unequivocally stated that “GECOM has delivered free, fair and credible elections”.

She emphasised that “the elections were well run” and “the CEO and his hardworking Secretariat did a fantastic job”. A headline caption in the State-owned Guyana Chronicle read, “Elections was free and fair”. Indeed not any of the political parties disputed that the polling on March 2 was imbued with those characteristics. Now despite a recount supervised by the “most legitimate interlocutor” there is a deafening silence and a hesitation to use the recounted votes.

The CEO is a contracted worker and is subordinate and subject to the directions of GECOM and his fraudulent report is not bind-

ing on GECOM. The Chair of GECOM gave directions to the CEO to prepare his report based on the recount results and he clearly flouted these directions. Why has the Chair remained silent on this illegal act of the CEO? Why has she so far remained silent of Mingo’s fraudulent activities with regards to the Region Four vote tabulations?

There is no doubt that she has the power and the intelligence to bring a speedy resolution to these repeated attempts to rig the 2020 elections, but does she have the will to do so? Will Lowenfield’s fraudulent report be used as the basis for the declaration?

What is the basis for the invalidating of 115,844 votes?

Why is Granger so confident that this report will be used?

There is no doubt that some officials in GECOM are on the coalition’s payroll.

This is so despite the conclusion of the Caricom report

Dear Editor, David Granger, still our country’s serving President, finally came out from behind the shadows on a staged Benschop radio interview to commit himself and his governing party to accepting and embracing their plan to rig the elections and remain in Government illegally.

It was blood-curdling to listen to Granger’s contrived deceit as he responded to the questions fed to him by Benschop. When asked for his reaction to the Caricom report, he unbelievably and duplicitously, having remained silent on it for days, ignored completely, the report’s clear and unambiguous confirmation that the recount had provided a valid basis for the declaration of the results, selectively referring to only those parts of the report which recommended future revision of the electoral process by GECOM. Here is what the Caricom report said that David

Granger chose to ignore: “Nothing that we witnessed warrants a challenge to the inescapable conclusion that the recount results are acceptable and should constitute the basis of the declaration of the results of the March 02, 2020, elections. Any aggrieved political party has been afforded the right to seek redress before the courts in the form of an election petition.”

The report also said: “The conduct displayed by some of the observed party agents (APNU/AFC) was totally unacceptable…The numerous requests for information on serial numbers were so bizarre, that on one observed occasion, an APNU/AFC agent was prepared to query serial numbers on the OLE in a work station where no one had voted”.

“The Team did not view the objections raised by the APNU/AFC as materially relevant to the recount of the ballot…Moreover, we simply have

no evidence as to who were the ultimate beneficiaries of the alleged ‘ghost voting’ and ‘voter impersonation’”.

“The Team does not view the irregularities identified, amounted to sufficient grounds to invalidate the tabulation of the votes at the recount and therefore these irregularities do not constitute sufficient grounds to challenge the integrity of the recount process…We found no intentional miscounting of the ballots which would constitute an election fraud necessitating further action”.

David Granger’s deliberate distortion in his presentation of the Caricom report last night was an insult to the work and integrity of the GECOM officials who dedicated their time and safety to come to Guyana and affront to the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley who made all of this possible.

David Granger also continued his sanctimonious claim

that he has not and would not interfere in the work of GECOM, but he did just that when he insisted that the discredited and unauthorised Lowenfield report must be accepted by the Chairman of the Elections Commission, in effect, seeking to direct the GECOM Chairman as to what she must or must not do.

It is pellucid that David Granger intends to remain in office regardless of the expressed will of the people and regardless of the declaration of GECOM, apparently secure in the belief that he has the security forces to sustain him.

In these circumstances, it becomes imperative that the Commissioner of Police and the newly appointed Chief of Staff and those under their command honour their pledge to which they are sworn under the Constitution.

Dear Editor, Mayor Ubraj Narine should focus on the numerous problems plaguing the City Council instead of venturing out on the propaganda trail and postulating on legal matters for which he is immensely unqualified and lacks the intellectual capacity to lecture anyone on complex legal matters.

To use the Office of the Mayor to call for the illegal swearing-in of a failed candidate, David Granger, who has lost the elections by 15,416 votes, is bordering on lunacy or pure ignorance or a combination of both and places the Mayor in that select group of corrupt individuals trying to thwart the will of the Guyanese electorate.

Ubraj Narine had already identified himself as a low-level PNC player in the rigging APNU/AFC coalition whose sole aim is to steal the elections to remain in power while continuing to destroy the economy and enriching themselves through corrupt acts.

Of note though, is the sentiment expressed by a number of people in the Mayor's own party, who stated that every time the Mayor opens his mouth, they are very worried because they do not know what "nonsense he will be spewing" and which they have to cover up.

Mayor Ubraj Narine claims that APNU/AFC won the elections based on the Chief Elections Officer Lowenfield's fraudulent report of June 23, 2020, which considered the ruling of the Court of Appeal in the matter of Eslyn David seeking clarification of valid votes Lowenfield used the ruling as authorisation, even though the decision of the court was stayed and made no reference to what votes were valid or not valid.

The Mayor should have paid attention to his masters at Congress Place who are now careful of any linkages between the Court of

which stated that “We are… of the unshakeable belief that the people of Guyana expressed their will at the ballot box and as a result…the recount results are completely acceptable”. The recount showed that the PPP/C won by 15,416 votes. Granger had said that “I’m very confident in Caricom’s ability and integrity…and is the most legitimate interlocutor”. Therefore, the question is: What is preventing the Chair of GECOM from declaring the results of the recount even if Lowenfield has failed to do so?

The Chair must use her office to stop these many nefarious attempts to rig our elections. We need to breathe freely once again. Our patience is waning. One last question: Will the courts facilitate the rigging of our election?

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Illegal swearing-in of David Granger’s staged radio interview President Granger

Time for President....

We note that only after the APNU/AFC realised they were losing the election did their representatives begin to complain about “irregularities” and “fraudulent votes” being cast. Attempts were made to disenfranchise a large number of voters through allegations of voting violations that have not been substantiated.

According to the Government-backed Lowenfield report, there are claims of breaches in polling procedures and alleged voter impersonation. Yet, no concrete evidence has emerged to support these allegations.

The alleged violations are of the sort that should have been caught by scrutineers of all the political parties present during the voting process and the tabulation of the votes.

Based on all the facts of the election, including the eventual recount, it is evident

that the democratic process in Guyana is being undermined by the incumbent APNU/ AFC. We, therefore, urge the coalition Government of the APNU/AFC to do the right and honourable thing and concede defeat in this election. We urge President Granger and Prime Minister Nagamootoo to promptly recognise the PPP/C as the winner in this hard-fought and tightly contested election, and congratulate Dr Irfaan Ali as the new President, and Brigadier Gen (Ret’d) Mark A Phillips as the new Prime Minister in a PPP/C Government. It is in the interest of all Guyanese that the APNU/AFC facilitates a smooth transition without further delay in order to uphold and preserve democratic governance in this wonderful country.

We take the judgement and words of several Caribbean

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

FROM PAGE 4

leaders seriously. There is no reason to doubt the consensus opinion and veracity of the Caricom observer team, the OAS, the Commonwealth Observation Mission, The Carter Center, the Embassies and Ambassadors of Canada, United Kingdom, European Union, and the United States.

Several independent bodies in Guyana, including the Guyana Human Rights Association, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, the Guyana Bar Association, and even partners within the APNU/AFC coalition itself have determined that the 2020 election was free and fair, and that the recount was credible. As Caribbean scholars and scholars with an interest in the region, dedicated to the production of authentic and socially responsible knowledge in our region and beyond, we feel compelled to call on the APNU/AFC to im-

mediately demit office and have the rightful winner, Dr Ifraan Ali, sworn in as President, so that the PPP/C can get on with governing Guyana at this critical time in its history.

Sincerely, Scholars on Guyana Elections Dr W Andy Knight (University of Alberta); Dr Faeis Jafar, (University of the West Indies); Dr E J Persaud (State University of New York); Dr Horace Bartilow (University of Kentucky); Mr Winston Dookeran (Author/former Deputy PM of Trinidad & Tobago); Dr Prem Podar (Roskilde University, Denmark); Dr Percy Hintzen (Florida International University); Dr Tarron Khemraj (University of South Florida); Dr Clarence Lusane (Howard University)

Appeal ruling and the fraudulent report presented by CEO Lowenfield to GECOM. The Mayor should have also informed himself of the verified and certified valid votes cast during the recount exercise which CEO Lowenfield had already submitted to GECOM Chairperson Justice (retd), Claudette Singh. This was reported widely in the media but apparently, the Mayor missed this, perhaps due to his preoccupation with APNU/AFC propaganda matters.

The Mayor must be reminded that all of the local and international observers, all contesting political parties (except APNU/AFC), the diplomatic community, the Caricom recount team, a number of current and past Prime Ministers of the Caribbean, many international organisations, Mr Granger's own sonin-law, Justice for All Party (coalition member) and numerous others have all agreed that the People's Progressive Party won the elections based on the actual election results and the subsequent recount of all valid votes cast.

This call by Mayor Ubraj Narine should be completely ignored and discarded by right-thinking Guyanese and those who support democracy, justice, decency and honesty (but not Granger's brand of decency and honesty).

The Mayor has wasted an entire press release to propose a fallacy that APNU/ AFC won, instead of showing some self-respect and care for our citizens by issuing a public call and press release for interim President David Granger to concede defeat and allow for a peaceful transition of power to the new Government headed by President-elect, Dr Irfaan Ali. Sincerely, Bishram Kuppen Councillor Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020

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Foundation

CXC English

The National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) exams are here, and we conclude our publishing of the past exam papers with the conclusion of Maths Paper 2, 2016. Hopefully, you have revised and prepared well. Good Luck. Remember to: 1) manage your mindset: it is natural to feel anxious about exams! If you do feel anxious, then direct that nervous energy into positive channels. Remember that some stress has a beneficial effect. It can help you to stay alert, focused on the exam and energised; 2) get to know your exam paper: Don’t race to start writing before you have checked through the paper. Read the instructions and all questions slowly and at least twice. Highlight how many questions you must answer from every section.

3) make every minute count: Once you are clear about the questions you will answer, plan your time.

Write down quickly the time that you will begin each section or question. Plan to finish at least ten minutes before the end of the exam, so you have time to check over your paper. Then, stick to your time plan. You are more likely to do well if you attempt all your planned questions than writing brilliant answers to some but not attempting others. and 4) Avoid the obvious mistakes: Every year, students lose marks unnecessarily for silly errors.

For example, they forget to check whether there are questions on both sides of the exam paper. They misread questions. They answer too few – or too many – questions. They number their answers incorrectly, which means they have the wrong answer against the test question. This exam tip is important because when this sort of thing happens, so many marks can be lost. (adapted from students.com)

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE SIX ASSESSMENT

MATHEMATICS PAPER 2

Read these instructions carefully before you attempt to answer the questions.

1. Write your candidate number clearly on each page.

2. This paper contains six questions. You are required to answer question 1 and three 4.

others. Each question is worth 5 marks Note: You must answer only four questions.

Be sure to answer the four questions completely.

3. Write the answer for each question in the space

(a) In the figure below, PQR is a straight line and TP = TQ.

provided in this booklet.

4. Answers must be written in complete sentences where possible.

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

6. If you have to erase, do

so cleanly.

7. look over your work when you have finished.

8. Do not take away any part of this booklet.

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

(b) Find the value of p in the diagram below.

Answer_________degrees (2 matrks) Questions: Summarise the poem Describe its form and whether it is used effectively Discuss two important literary devices

Find the value of (i) angle χ Answer _____________________________________degrees (2 marks) (ii) angle y.

Answer _____________________________________degrees (1 marrk)

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

How many pupils are in the club altogether?

Answer______________________________________pupils (2 marks) (b) Kaydeen is a long jumper whose personal best is 6 m. Her personal best jump is 20% greater than the school’s championship record. (i) What is the school’s championship record?

Answer_______________________________________m (1 mark) (ii) The national record is 7.5 m.

By what percentage must Kaydeen increase her personal best jump to equal the national record?

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

(a) If twice as many pupils who like red only like green but not red, find the value of a, band C. Answer: a = __________pupils

b = __________pupils

c = __________pupils (3 marks) (b) How many pupils do not like red?

Answer______________________________pupils (1 mark) (c) How many pupils like red or green?

Answer______________________________pupils (1 mark)

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

In supporting Lowenfield, Granger supports illegality – Jagdeo …says Lowenfield subservient to GECOM, ‘not other way around’ …adds that only GECOM empowered to bring finality to elections process

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo came out swinging against caretaker President David Granger for the ill-informed statements he made during a late-night radio appearance with A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) sympathiser Mark Benschop.

Granger, during his third such appearance on Benschop Radio in recent weeks, told listeners that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is bound by the fraudulent report submitted by Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield. In fact, he signalled his support for the report which discards over 115,000 (or 25 per cent) of all the ballots cast at the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

“The Commission is bound to accept the report of the Chief Elections Officer…there is no other authority to prepare such a report. He is mandated to prepare such a report, the report will include a tabulation and also the validation in the form of observations,” Granger said during his appearance.

Jagdeo in responding to the former Head of State noted that it was the inconsistency of Granger’s statements and blatant disregard for the facts of the current elections impasse that caused him to respond. He reminded Granger, via a virtual media briefing, that his support for Lowenfield’s recent report is in essence support for an illegality.

The former President reminded that there are no provisions in the Constitution that allow the CEO to determine the credibility of the votes and added that Lowenfield is in fact subservient to the Commission and not the other way round.

He urged the President to read

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

and keep abreast with the current affairs since it seems as though his advisory team is performing poorly.

“There seems to be a major confusion in his (Granger’s) mind as to the report that should be produced in accordance with the Recount Order, which says that the Chief Elections Officer must produce a report tabulating the valid votes cast, that is the ten certificates for the ten regions in the recount, and submit this, along with summaries for the ten regions of the observation reports.

And then the third stage is that the Commission will discuss this and decide the approach; what to instruct the CEO about what data to use. That is in contrast to the final report, the report that he has to produce after that instruction is given to him,” he reminded.

In an effort to jog Granger’s memory, Jagdeo reiterated that the report emanating from the National Recount of ballots was already presented to the Commission and discussed in accordance with the gazetted recount order. It was after that discussion that GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette

Singh wrote to Lowenfield and instructed him to prepare his final elections report with the data from the National Recount.

It was during that meeting that the APNU/AFC-nominated GECOM Commissioner proposed that the elections be annulled owing to allegations of dead and migrated persons voting. However, Justice Singh categorically rejected this proposition and directed the aggrieved parties to the High Court where they can file an elections petition. She reminded that the Commission is only empowered with the conduct of an election and not the nullification of it.

After that meeting, APNU/ AFC supporter Eslyn David sought redress in the Court of Appeal under Article 177 (4) of the Constitution and among the orders she sought was the interpretation of “more votes are cast.” The Appeal Court in a 2:1 ruling found that “more votes are cast” should be interpreted as “more valid votes cast”. However, it stated that the determination of valid votes lies solely in the hands of the GECOM. Following the ruling, Lowenfield prepared and circulated a report to the Commission which reduced the number of valid votes by 25 per cent and showed the winner of the 2020 elections to be APNU/ AFC and not the PPP/C as identified by the National Recount.

The recount figures showed that 460,352 valid votes were cast and that the PPP/C secured 233,336 while APNU/AFC got 217,920 votes. However, Lowenfield’s report slashed the PPP/C’s number to 166,343 and awarded 171,825 votes to the APNU/AFC, ultimately reducing the total number of valid votes to 347,509.

Guyana demonstrates...

“Venezuela’s current reading of the agreement is completely at odds with the interpretation given by its Foreign Minister, who negotiated and agreed to its terms and explained their meanings to the National Congress upon ratification. This current reading is set out in three documents Venezuela submitted to the Court. A letter from Maduro, a memorandum, and an annex that accompanied that memorandum.

“Notably, Venezuela has not submitted any contemporaneous documents to the Court. And although its pleadings occasionally quote from purported archival documents, none are provided and no full or formal citations are given. In sum, Venezuela offers no evidence to support its assertions. There are only arguments. And they are all demonstratable wrong.”

Sir Shridath Ramphal, the Attorney General when the Geneva Agreement was reached, is Guyana’s co-agent in the case. Ramphal, who like everyone else participated by video link, closed the arguments by making an appeal for the ICJ to rule that it had

jurisdiction to decide the substantive case.

“Guyana, respectfully, requests the Court, 1) to find that it has jurisdiction to hear the claims presented by Guyana and that these claims are admissible; and 2), to proceed with the merits of the case… history will commend the International Court of Justice of 2020, for your resolution in discharge of your high functions as the principal judicial organ (of the UN),” Ramphal said, thanking the Court for hearing the case under the current COVID-19 circumstances.

Guyana is also being represented at the ICJ by its agent, former Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge.

Also, part of the Guyana delegation is Opposition representative and former Chief Whip Gail Teixeira.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Rashleigh Jackson and former Director Generals of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Elisabeth Harper and Audrey Waddell are also listed as members of the Guyana delegation. The ICJ has, meanwhile, communicated that it will begin deliberations on

FROM PAGE 3

Guyana’s presentations, with a decision imminent.

The Geneva Agreement was signed over 50 years ago, shortly before Guyana’s independence in 1966, with the aim of amicably resolving the controversy. The controversy is rooted in the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899 on the frontier between Venezuela and what is now Guyana is null and void.

The 1966 Geneva Agreement conferred on the Secretary General of the United Nations the power to choose the means of settlement of the controversy from among those contemplated in Article 33 of the United Nations Charter.

But in 2015, the year in which Guyana found oil in the Stabroek Block, Maduro issued a decree purporting to lay claim to the majority of Guyana’s waters off the Essequibo coast.

The decree was, and still is, seen as a flagrant violation of international law and was inconsistent with the principle that all States should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other States.

Caretaker President David Granger

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

How Lowenfield arrived with those numbers is a question yet to be answered.

Nevertheless, he has defended his actions, noting that he acted in accordance with the laws. He went as far as saying that he is a constitutional officer, answerable to no one.

Turning his attention to the CEO discarding over 115,000 valid votes, Jagdeo said Granger “never for a single moment stopped to consider the 115,000 people who will lose…their vote simply because Lowenfield will not follow the instructions of the Commission.”

He added that “it definitely does not come from the laws of Guyana to unilaterally invalidate 115,000 odd valid votes on the basis on allegations by APNU.” The PPP General Secretary further stated that Lowenfield has no authority to invalidate the votes and reminded that he is in fact a statutory officer who was appointed by the constitu-

tional body that is GECOM. Jagdeo cited several Articles in the Elections Amendment Act as well as the Recount Order which clearly states that the CEO is subject to the direction and control of the Commission at all material times.

Section 18 of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act 2000 states: The Chief Election Officer and the Commissioner of Registration shall notwithstanding anything in any written law be subject to the direction and control of the Commission.

In addition, Jagdeo noted that Granger’s radio appearance with a party hack after dodging the independent media for the entirety of his presidency is one that lends credence to the nonsensical utterances of APNU/AFC Campaign Manager Joseph Harmon.

“So, I think the purpose of him coming out last night was to give support to Harmon’s vile rhetoric but in a more polished

form…and to lend support to the embattled Lowenfield, who has committed an act of fraud,” Jagdeo said.

During his press briefing, Jagdeo expressed that the courts have no role in determining the winner of an election since the task falls squarely in the hands of GECOM after the tabulation of the valid votes.

He pointed out that throughout the interview, Granger never acknowledged what the entire country knows; that is, Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, was the primary source of fraud that led to the delay in the declaration of the results. There is evidence that Mingo inflated figures in favour of the APNU/ AFC coalition by over 19,000 votes and reduced those of the PPP/C by over 3000.

Referencing the current case before the Caribbean Court of Justice, Jagdeo explained that the PPP/C is not challenging the validity of the votes rather they are challenging the Court of Appeal’s ruling on jurisdiction. He explained that the jurisdiction ruling has far-reaching implications on how an election and the election of a President can be challenged.

Foreign powers have called on GECOM to declare the results of the elections on the basis of the certified figures emanating from the National Recount. The National Recount, which was conducted under the scrutiny of a special Caribbean Community (Caricom) team shows the PPP/C in a landslide victory with some 15,416 more votes than its main political rival, the APNU/AFC coalition.

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All eyes…

I

…on CCJ n three days – July 4th, it’ll be 47 years since Caricom was launched by a group of leaders from the “British” Caribbean, which included the “founder leader” of the PNC, Burnham. It was ironic that they chose the anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence to launch the new “community”, which was to succeed the old “free trade association” – Carifta.

It was ironic ‘cause while Burnham wanted to signal the world that Guyana was going to follow the United States in charting a course to deliver real freedom to its people, he’d already set in train plans to deliver Guyana into bondage. Two weeks later, he’d pull off the biggest rigging exercise of his career to give himself a two-thirds majority in Parliament. With this he awarded himself the ability to change the Constitution at will to make himself “legally” the absolute dictator of Guyana! Some independence!!

The two citizens killed by the army that Burnham ordered to collect ballot boxes so as to stuff them with ballots that had been prepared beforehand (probably even as he was signing the Treaty of Chaguaramas) just happened to be collateral damage. David Granger, at the time in charge of political indoctrination of the army with Burnham’s totalitarian philosophy, pronounced the military intervention into civilian democratic affairs as a “splendid” operation.

As a founding member of Caricom, Burnham was given a free pass as he continued to rig elections until he died on an operating theatre at Georgetown Hospital in 1985. But the times were a changin’ since the Cold War between the US and USSR that had helped with the free pass was winding down. His successor Desmond Hoyte was summoned by Caricom Heads to a meeting at Mustique in Jan 1986, just months after he’d rigged the 1985 elections –- by an even larger margin than Burnham ever gave himself. He was told in no uncertain terms that Caricom wasn’t going to support rigging any longer in Guyana. It was antithetical to the culture and values of the Caribbean people.

In 1998, after Hoyte led violent protests against the results of the Dec 1997 elections – Caricom intervened to broker the Herdmanston Accord that addressed Hoyte and the PNC’s claims. Problem was the PNC was only interested in getting back into power, and was satisfied with nothing less. For the next decade the PNC was willing to have Guyana wracked by armed gunmen attacking the State and putative supporters of the PPP at will.

Today, we’re witnessing under the present PNC leader, David Granger, a frightening repetition of the PNC’s willingness to hold Guyanese voters hostage to hold on to power.

Can Caricom’s offspring, the CCJ rise to the occasion? …on CCJ’s order We’ll know by this afternoon whether, at least, the CCJ will accept jurisdiction to stop this barefaced hijacking of the March 2 elections by the PNC. As your Eyewitness has already said, he hopes this time the CCJ’s legal luminaries understand that this PNC lot aren’t folks who’ve got any respect for the rule of law – neither its strictures nor its traditions. They’ll have to unfortunately treat Granger and his minions as the criminals they are and issue very explicit sentencing guidelines.

None of this expectancy that the PNC will “do the right thing”. For them “might” is “right” and as such, they operate by the law of the jungle. To treat them otherwise is to be dismissed as “Christmas blow-blow”. For instance, the CCJ cannot just pronounce that “valid votes” has already been defined by ROPA and the Recount Order.

No…they’ll have to order that GECOM explicitly instruct their CEO Lowenfield to use the Certificates of Recount to create his Report.

Or that he’ll be flogged and jailed for life. …Caricom’s reaction PM Mitchell of St Vincent revealed that at Mustique, the Caricom leaders got Hoyte to agree to stop rigging by threatening to have Caricom expel Guyana if he didn’t quit his cheating ways.

Caricom must now repeat the treatment.

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

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Granger disingenuously cherry-picks Caricom report – Jagdeo ...ignores conclusion that recount should form basis of declaration

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo

The Caricom Observer Team comprising Cynthia Barrow-Giles, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government at the University of the West Indies (UWI); John Jarvis, Commissioner of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission and Sylvester King, Deputy Supervisor of Elections of St Vincent and the Grenadines

eople’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo is accusing caretaker President David Granger of being selective when it comes to his adoption of the high-level Caricom Observer Team’s report.

Both Jagdeo and Granger brokered an agreement with the Caricom Chair, Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley to have a high-level observer mission sent to Guyana to observe the national recount of the ballots of the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

The Team – comprising Sylvester King, Deputy Supervisor of Elections of St Vincent and the Grenadines; Cynthia Barrow-Giles, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government at the University of the West Indies (UWI) and John Jarvis, Commissioner of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission – arrived in Guyana on May 1 and departed in early June after the recount concluded.

They have submitted their report.

Granger and Jagdeo have both publicly committed to accepting the results of the recount as well as the report of the Caricom Team. However, that agreement has been one-sided since Granger and the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) are yet to uphold their end of the bargain.

Nevertheless, Granger

appeared on a radio programme on Monday and indicated that he accepted the report of the Caricom Team, but, in fact, it seems he does only partially.

Cherry-picking certain sections of the report, Granger said that the high-level Team acknowledged the irregularities and recommended the investigation of the missing reconciliatory documents.

Additionally, he pointed to the recommendations for future reforms where the Team urged a political audit and the restructuring of GECOM. Glaringly, he failed to identify the meat of the report where it was concluded that the recount was transparent and credible, and should form the basis for the declaration of the results of the March02 elections.

However, Jagdeo did not let that slide. In his virtual press briefing, the former President sought to remind the incumbent of the meat of the report.

“The report that he continues to say that he agrees with made it very clear in its findings and conclusions that the recount data forms a credible basis for the declaration of the results and every international organisation supports this. He read one section of the Caricom report where they spoke about what needs to be done in the future and he ignores the rest,” Jagdeo related.

Below are a few excerpts from the Caricom Team’s report that Jagdeo identified

P

and Granger completely ignored: “We are, however, of the unshakable belief that the people of Guyana expressed their will at the ballot box, and as a result, the 3-person Caricom Observer Team concludes that the recount results are completely acceptable.

“Despite our concerns, nothing that we witnessed, warrants a challenge to the inescapable conclusion that the recount results are acceptable and should constitute the basis of the declaration of the results of the March 2, 2020 elections. Any aggrieved political party has been afforded the right to seek redress before the courts in the form of an election petition.”

“The public utterances of some GECOM Commissioners, political pundits, and politicians may have sounded an ominous tone for the 2020 elections, with the partisan driven and distorted narrative on migrant voting, phantom voting, and implied voter impersonation. The recounting of the votes was conducted with as much precision as possible and with absolutely no hint of bias shown on the part of the GECOM station workers. Their impartiality with respect to the actual vote recount was outstanding.”

After identifying the key elements of the report, Jagdeo questioned as to why Granger has not yet conceded to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C’s) Dr

Irfaan Ali since he claims to respect the report. He went on to call Granger out on what he described as discrediting acts identifying that the incumbent seems

bent on believing that all forces, other than those in his coalition, seemed to be working against him.

On Sunday, APNU/AFC Campaign Manager Joseph Harmon noted that Granger would not concede.

“Concede to what?

Concede to whom? What is he to concede to? It appears to me and I would venture to say any right-thinking person, to be a most ridiculous and nonsensical proposition… for the persons who are calling for Granger to concede, that is not going to happen,” Harmon said on a radio programme.

The national recount had shown that the PPP/C won 233,336 votes while the APNU/AFC garnered 217,920. But in a report done

by Chief Elections Officer

Caretaker President David Granger

(CEO) Keith Lowenfield, it was claimed that the APNU/ AFC coalition garnered 171,825 votes while the PPP/C gained 166,343 votes.

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Man charged for Enmore fatal accident

M

ore than one week after the fatal accident at Enmore, East Coast Demerara, Steven Pierre was on Tuesday arraigned for the crime when he appeared at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court.

Pierre was charged for causing the death 16-year old Sheldon Cleon Major, failing to report an accident, failing to render assistance and failing to stop after an accident.

The man appeared at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Azore where all the charges were read to him. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of $575,000.

He is expected to make his next court appearance on July 14 for report and fixture.

On Friday last, Pierre along with another suspect

Dead: Sheldon Cleon Major

Injured: Christopher Pollard

were arrested and a car impounded, following the hit and run accident on June 21 at about 19:00h at the Enmore Public Road.

Reports are Major and his brother, 14-yearold Christopher Pollard, were found lying motionless on the northern edge of the road. Pollard was in a

semi-conscious state at the time. They both had visible injuries about their heads and bodies and were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where Major was pronounced dead.

A post-mortem examination (PME) done on the body of Major by Government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh

last Friday, confirmed that the teen died due to the impact of a vehicle.

Meanwhile, Pollard suffered a fractured hip, broken spine, and injuries to the chest and skull. The teen has been discharged and is responsive.

The boys were last seen at home by their aunt Jaisa James before she left to run an errand. Upon returning, the woman said she received a phone call informing her that the teenagers were involved in a serious accident.

When she arrived at the scene, James said she found the two boys lying motionlessly on the road. Relatives were informed that a silver car had hit the young men, but no one was able to identify the driver.

An update will be provided soon.

Remanded: Dionysius Macdeo

Police stated that on June 21, 2020, at Turtle Creek Landing, Mazaruni River, he murdered “Rakesh” of Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

It was reported that the accused and his reputed wife were involved in a physical altercation during which “Rakesh” intervened.

It was then that the suspect armed himself with a knife and turned on Rakesh, who put up a fight. During the scuffle between the men, the suspect stabbed Rakesh multiple times about his

body and neck.

As a result of the injuries, he fell onto the ground and remained in a pool of blood until he was picked up and taken to a medical facility in the area where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Macdeo had fled the scene but was subsequently arrested by lawmen and has since confessed to the heinous crime.

Magistrate Lambert remanded Macdeo to prison, and he will make his next court appearance on July 17, 2020.

Miner arraigned for killing “peacemaker”

A

miner, who allegedly stabbed a “peacemaker” to death after he intervened in a domestic dispute, appeared at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court where he was arraigned for murder.

52-year-old Dionysius Macdeo, also known as “Niggi,” of Lethem and of Turtle Creek, Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), appeared before Magistrate Crystal Lambert via Skype and was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

Murder accused pleads guilty to fatal stabbing of drinking buddy

Remanded: Imran Daniels

Dead: Alex Daniels

25-year-old man entered a guilty plea in connection with the murder of 18-year-old Alex Daniels when the trial continued at the High Court on Monday before Justice Brassington Reynolds.

The murder reportedly occurred on February 13, 2019, at Frenchman Backdam, Mabura, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

The accused, Imran Daniels, who was committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murder, reportedly told the court that he does not want to waste time and admitted to committing the act on the day in question.

State Prosecutors Teriq Mohammed and Tyra Bakker had told the court that on the day in question, the accused, the victim and another man were imbibing at a shop at Frenchman Backdam, Upper Demerara River.

However, Daniels and

the now dead man were involved in a heated argument which eventually turned into an altercation.

During the argument, the suspect armed himself with a knife and stabbed the victim. The stabbing was reportedly witnessed by Thakur Persaud, who told investigators that he heard the now dead teen telling Daniels, “Look ya jook meh!

Ya jook meh!”.

The prosecutors contended that Persaud got out of his hammock and went to the aid of the injured man and it was then he discovered a black-handled knife lying next to him.

After the ordeal, Daniels attempted to flee the scene but was pursued and apprehended by lawmen.

Daniels was represented by Attorney-at-Law Ravindra Mohabir.

The accused will return to court on July 20, for the presentation of a probation report before sentencing is handed down.

A

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Criminal charges filed against Lowenfield ...for wilful breach of public trust, conspiracy to commit fraud

A

citizen has filed private criminal charges against embattled Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, for wilfully breaching the trust of the public by submitting a fraudulent report to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) with fabricated figures that invalidated over 115,000 votes instead of using the results emanating from the National Recount as instructed.

The “Misconduct in Public Office contrary to the Common Law” charge was filed on Tuesday with the Guyana Police Force.

The citizen, Desmond Morian, is contending that Lowenfield, while performing his duties as CEO of GECOM, ascertained the results of the March 2 elections “knowing the said results to be false, the said willful misconduct amounting to a breach of the public’s trust in the office of the Chief Elections Officer of GECOM).”

In addition, another criminal charge has been filed against CEO Lowenfield for conspiracy to commit fraud.

This new charge, filed by Daniel Josh Kanhai, a member of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), reads that “the accused between the 5th day of March and 23rd day of June 2020 at Georgetown in

Desmond Morian

the Georgetown Magisterial District, County of Demerara, State of Guyana conspired with person(s) unknown to commit the common law offence of fraud, to wit, by representing to the Guyana Elections Commission, that tables attached to his Election Report dated 23rd June 2020 accurately reflected the true results of the said election, in order to materially alter the results of the said election with intent to defraud knowing the said tabulation to be false.”

In Lowenfield’s report, the CEO had claimed that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition garnered 171,825 votes while the PPP/C gained 166,343 votes.

How the CEO arrived at

those figures is unknown, since the certified results from the legally conducted recount exercise supervised

by GECOM and a high-level team from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) pellucidly show that the PPP/C won with 233,336 votes while the APNU/AFC garnered 217,920.

In fact, he was clearly instructed by GECOM Chair, (retd) Justice Claudette Singh to use the recount figures to prepare his final elections report, which would have paved the way

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

for PPP/C to be officially declared the winner of the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

Lowenfield’s attempt to alter the results of the results and deny the will of the people comes on the heels of two previous attempts he made to give legitimacy to the fraudulent declarations of Mingo.

Mingo, during the tabulation of votes following the March 2 elections, used figures which were heavily inflated in favour of the APNU/ AFC coalition – vastly differ-

Daniel Josh Kanhai

ing from the official numbers recorded on the Statements of Poll (SoPs).

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mabaruma inferno

Cuban doctors presently housed at guest house F ollowing a devastating fire at Mabaruma, Region One (BarimaWaini), which gutted the living quarters of three doctors on Monday, the Cuban nationals are currently being housed at a private guest house.

This was according to Regional Health Officer, Dr Stephen Cheefoon on Tuesday who also revealed that an investigation has

been launched into the origin and cause of the fire.

However, he noted that the doctors have been provided with the necessary personal items in order to continue executing their duties at the hospital. The fire reportedly started at about 11:15h on Monday. No one was in the building at the time.

In a report to the Public Health Ministry, Dr

Lifeless body of Prospect man found in canal

BODY FOUND

T

he lifeless body of a man was on Tuesday found floating in a canal at Prospect on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) suspected to have been drowned.

The dead man has been identified as Raybond Johnson, 35, a labourer of Lot 181 Prospect, EBD. Based on reports received, the body was discovered at about 06:40h by residents, who raised an alarm.

The Guyana Police Force was summoned to the area and started their investigations. His body was lying face down and it had no clothes.

A relative of the now dead

man reportedly told Police that the man was sitting under a coconut tree in the vicinity of the canal but soon after he was seen swimming.

Johnson’s relative said that he did not pay much attention to him and went about his business.

Sometime after he was alerted by residents that Johnson’s lifeless body was seen floating in the canal.

According to the man’s relative, Johnson suffered from epilepsy and it is believed that he might have had a seizure while swimming.

His body was taken to Lyken’s Funeral home awaiting a post-mortem.

Criminal charges...

On March 5, Mingo declared fraudulent results for District Four, prompting the PPP/C to move to the courts which scrapped those results and ordered that the process be done through the legally prescribed procedure. When the process was resumed, Mingo still proceeded to use concocted numbers, and he eventually made a second fraudulent declaration on March 13.

Mingo had declared that the APNU/AFC won 136,057 votes for District Four, while the PPP/C won 77,231. But the certified recount process clearly shows that for Region Four, the APNU/AFC won 116,941 votes while PPP/C won 80,920.

This meant the PPP/C won the March 2 polls by some 15,416 votes but these results were challenged by the caretaker coalition.

The Court of Appeal in Guyana ruled last week in the Eslyn David matter that “more votes cast” means “more valid votes cast” in the context of the recount order.

The PPP/C has since approached the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) contending that the Appeal Court’s pronouncements have “plunged the law in total confusion and it is now no longer clear how an election of members of the National

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Assembly is to be challenged and how the election of the President can be challenged”.

That matter comes up today before the Trinidadbased regional court for arguments.

However, while the APNU/AFC has publicly supported Lowenfield’s fraudulent report, the party’s Executive, Joseph Harmon, who joined the proceedings as an intervener on behalf of the coalition, in his written submission to the CCJ on Sunday confirmed that the Court of Appeal did not define the term “valid votes”.

In fact, in its ruling, the Court of Appeal had stated it is for the Elections Commission, and not the Chief Elections Officer, to make the determination of a final and credible result.

This meant that Lowenfield took it upon himself to unilaterally announce that he was mandated by his “constitutional” office and went ahead to disenfranchise over 115,000 voters in his recent report to GECOM. Lowenfield is expected to make an appearance at Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Friday at 9:00h where the charges will read to him by the sitting magistrate.

Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Stephen Cheefoon

Cheefoon noted that there were no casualties, however, all of the doctors’ belongings along with household furniture and appliances were lost in the fire.

“The building was at the time being rented by the Regional Administration, Region One, on an annual contract,” the RHO added.

He, nevertheless, related that the Regional Executive

Officer (REO) has requested a thorough investigation into the fire. As such, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle has agreed to send an investigator to probe the circumstances surrounding the fire.

In addition, the police were ordered to secure the site to facilitate the investigation.

In the past few days, almost one fire has been reported every day, leaving numerous persons homeless. On Saturday last, the charred remains of Beverly Miller, 40; Martin Lewis, 46, and their 14-year-old teen son Dawall Ifill were found after a fire suspected to be arson devastated an apartment complex at 6th Street Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD). A total of 28 persons were also left homeless due to the inferno.

On the same day, a family of three was also left

The doctors’ quarters in flames on Monday

homeless after a fire ravaged their one-storey Lot 197 Section A Field Seven South Sophia, Greater Georgetown wooden home.

Meanwhile, on Friday, millions of dollars in furniture and equipment were destroyed when the ND&S furniture store and facto-

ry, located at Gap Road, La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara (WCD), went up in flames.

In addition, an 81-yearold Kingston pensioner was left to make alternative living arrangements after a fire swept through his house last week.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 new COVID-19 cases recorded; cases now jump to 245 …37 cases recorded in Region 7

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nother 10 cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have been detected in Guyana, and the total figure has now climbed to 245.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud on Tuesday announced that the number of deaths is still 12. In one day, 26 tests samples were processed.

Nevertheless, there are 119 active cases in institutional isolation, 16 persons in institutional quarantine and one patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The active cases represent 47 per cent of total infected persons while deaths represent five per cent. A total of 2578 tests were processed thus far and 2333 returned negative.

“Fellow Guyanese, you can see what the current statistics are saying to us.

I wish to reiterate that we are a long way from returning to normal as a result of the continuous spread of

this disease. I must draw your attention to what I mean by this. With this disease being embedded in some of our hardest to reach areas in the hinterland region, and even along the coastland, the behaviour pattern which is a part of our culture that you choose not to change, continues to be the platform that is fuelling the transmission,” the CMO told Guyanese.

He further stated that that the longer the disease is around, the higher the impact on health, education and the general economy.

“Please note that the full effect of COVID-19 on the human body is not fully known; you can recover from the coronavirus disease but may develop other conditions that you previously did not have, which can result in possible death.

Therefore, it is in your interest to avoid getting COVID-19 altogether,” Dr Persaud insisted.

On Monday, Dr Persaud had lambasted ‘youths’ after many persons were seen congregating at the Georgetown seawall in large masses over the weekend. Despite multiple warnings, the curfew and guidelines continue to be flouted, especially in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica).

To date, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) leads with the second-most cases in the country after Region One (Barima-Waini).

Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Edward Sagala informed that 37 persons have now tested positive for the virus in various parts of the region.

He noted that another

individual from the mining town of Bartica tested positive.

Last Wednesday, Bartica recorded its first resident to test positive for COVID-19, after which four family contacts of the individual, including a threeyear-old child, tested positive.

This prompted another sixteen individuals including healthcare workers to also be tested. From

the samples, one test result returned positive, presenting a total of six COVID-19 positive cases in less than a week for Bartica.

“The total number of positive cases in the entire Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region now stands at 37, most of which were recorded out of Aranka, making our region second only to the BarimaWaini Region,” Dr Sagala stated.

The RHO said that res-

idents of Bartica appear to be carefree and casual toward the pandemic. As such, he urged them to stay safe and observe all the advisories being provided to the community from the Department of Health.

“Simply put, most residents seem not to care. This virus is not going away anytime soon, as many may want to believe. It has no respect for age, sex or sexuality, economic standing, etc. It kills,” he warned.

PPP/C Prime M i n i s t e r i a l Candidate, Brigadier Mark Phillips on Monday zeroed in on the current upsurge in cases, noting that the caretaker A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition neglected the health sector at a crucial time while focusing their attention on politics.

Globally, there are 10,021,401 cases with 499,913 deaths. In the Americas, there are 5,042,486 cases with 244,791 deaths.

UG receives donation of environmental ethics books from the WWF

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s the University of Guyana (UG) embarks on a journey to advance and excel in its curriculum, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on Tuesday made a generous donation of 13 books to the tertiary institution.

The donation, which is a representation of environmental ethics, seeks to make a robust impact on students by enhancing their knowledge for the benefit of humankind and the natural environment.

Recently appointed Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin, during her address via Zoom said that the University’s Natural Sciences and Earth and Environmental Sciences departments are set to pursue goals in social and environmental justice.

The Vice Chancellor underscored that the aim of the University is not to be another educational institution, but to serve as a model and problem solver for the nation.

Mohamed-Martin added that the aim is to plot and create a thought-leadership plan for the country.

“We want to produce students who are not only technically proficient but can also work towards being the future of the country.”

Meanwhile, Country Manager for WWF Guianas,

The University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus

Aiesha Williams related that the WWF runs on social principles and policies that aim to cease environmental degradation while promoting a harmonious future for humans and nature.

Williams noted that WWF is in the process of expanding its programme, that will see progress and continued engagement in social and environmental justice.

Some of the books that were donated by the WWF to the institution were: Environmental Justice as Social Work Practice, What Is Critical Environmental Justice, Ethics and the

Environment Mountain of Justice, Flint Fight Back, Environmental Justice in a Moment of Danger, among others.

Present at the webinar were Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Engagement, Professor Michael E Scott, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Dr Troy Thomas, Dean of the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Lecturer for the Natural Sciences Department, Tameka King, who commended and thanked the WWF for their contribution, that will see a better University of Guyana.

15 Ramsammy’s Ruminations GMSA calls for democratically-elected Govt David Granger to prioritise resuscitating sugar industry removes the veil and admits he is the leader T NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

of the rigging cabal

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s I write this column (Tuesday, June 30), Guyana’s representatives are making Guyana’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Guyana is our country and, in spite of our many challenges, we love every inch of our beautiful country. We have chosen an international court to defend our country’s borders, rather than choosing a military confrontation.

Guyana has maintained a strong, international partnership as we reject Venezuela’s illegal and immoral attempt to walk away from the Dr Leslie Ramsammy 1899 settled agreement. The international team representing Guyana at an international court demonstrates the importance of Guyana’s global partnership and our commitment to global diplomacy.

By the time this column is read (July 1) tomorrow, we will be at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) defending our democracy. Just as Guyanese will not be intimidated by Venezuela, we will not be intimidated by David Granger’s APNU/AFC. Just as we have used all legal and civilised means to defend our country against Venezuela, we will also vigorously defend our freedom and democracy from local dictators. Just as we nurtured an international solidarity to thwart Venezuela, so too we will use global partnership to stop dictatorship.

There is local and international consensus a rigging cabal has been trying to thief the elections of March 2. While there is consensus that since March 2, the rigging cabal has prevented the will of the people, there has been some confusion as to who is the leader of the rigging cabal. There have been many persons who believed that David Granger was a hostage of the rigging cabal and that what has been happening in Guyana is because of a rogue group in APNU/AFC, which has a rogue group installed within GECOM. Everyone knows that the rogue GECOM group is led by Keith Lowenfield.

But many believed that persons like Joe Harmon and Volda Lawrence were the leaders of APNU/AFC’s rigging cabal. Many persons wanted to believe that Granger was too decent and too honest to be leading the rigging cabal.

From the inception, however, I knew that David Granger was the leader of the rigging cabal. For anyone who doubted this, Granger revealed the truth last night on a radio show hosted by one of his sycophants. On that show, just two days before the CCJ’s proceedings, Granger made clear he accepts Lowenfield’s fraudulent report which fraudulently named APNU/AFC the winner and, therefore, David Granger as the person to be sworn in as President. Granger ignored all four of Lowenfield’s reports so far are illegal, fraudulent, none representing the true results of the March 2, 2020 elections. That Lowenfield has presented four different sets of numbers demonstrates he is picking out results from a bag hoping one will stick, one will be palatable enough for the international and local stakeholders to accept.

The vast majority of Guyanese, including a significant number of Granger’s own supporters, know that Lowenfield’s numbers are bogus. The whole world, including Caricom, the OAS, the Commonwealth, ACP, UN, and the ABCE countries, has rejected Lowenfield’s wicked disenfranchisement of Guyanese voters. Yet Granger came out forcefully, unequivocally, to inform Guyanese and the world that he accepts Lowenfield’s report and expects to be sworn in by this weekend. Granger’s arrogance and his total barefaced acceptance of Lowenfield’s criminal report removed the veil he has kept on since March 2, 2020. Up to last night, he has led the rigging cabal from hiding. He allowed his surrogates, like Harmon, Lawrence, Nagamootoo, Ramjattan, Cathy Hughes, David Patterson, Amna Ally, James Bond, Lampy and Pampy, and other sycophants to be in the forefront while he hides behind them.

It is interesting his timing for the removal of the veil. It follows the sinister admission by Harmon that Granger has no intention to concede defeat to Irfaan Ali and the PPP. It comes just two days before the CCJ’s hearing. It comes soon after Prime Minister Mottley called on all stakeholders to accept the results of the recount.

What is evident is that the leader of the rigging cabal wants to send a message to the CCJ – he has no intention of giving up the presidency, he has no intention of accepting the real results of the elections, he will only accept the rigged, fraudulent results as presented by Lowenfield and that he will not wait any longer, that he will use the Lowenfield report to swear himself in by this weekend, by hook or by crook.

Bharrat Jagdeo, Irfaan Ali, and the PPP and other stakeholders have used all civilised and legal options to stop the dictators. It is now 121 days since the elections. There have been multiple attempts to use rigged results to swear in Granger as an illegal President.

The one planned for this weekend, as revealed by the leader of the rigging cabal, will fail, just like the others. It will fail because we do not stand alone. The vast majority of Guyanese are standing with the legitimacy and strength of a global solidarity. The PPP won and, if there is a swearing-in of a new President this weekend, it has to be President Irfaan Ali.

he Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) has expressed grave concerns after at least one major beverage manufacturer announced that it is contemplating increasing commodity prices due to a shortage of molasses.

As such, it has called for a democratically-elected Government to give priority to the resuscitation of the sugar industry through an approach which involves public-private partnership.

Only recently, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) announced that prices for its signature El Dorado Rums might have to be in-

creased due to a shortage of the commodity throughout the country.

In a statement on Tuesday, the GMSA expressed worry over this trend, as it renewed calls for urgent action to safeguard the sugar industry. It was emphasised that the manufacturing sector is heavily influenced by the sugar industry, through its mutual relationship.

Through the non-availability of molasses on the local market, beverage-giant DDL is now footing the high importation bill to meet its demands.

“The Association notes with concern that at least one major manufacturing entity has had to import molasses from over-

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

GMSA President Shyam Nokta

seas to meet its demand for the last two years… While GuySuCo had been able to maintain this supply of approximately 32MT per

month for small manufacturers, this has not been the case for at least one major manufacturer,” the release said.

It added, “Demerara Distilleries Limited has had to resort to importation of molasses to meet its de-

mand and this importation has increased due to the inability of the sugar industry to supply. This situation, and the continued decline of the sugar industry, is a major concern of the GMSA.” The Association further detailed that many key manufacturing entities across the country are dependent on molasses for rum making, food processing and pharmaceuticals.

As such, for production to increase, the supply of raw materials must be readily available. At the moment, this situation could affect the country’s competitiveness.

“The GMSA believes that if Guyana’s manufacturing sector is to grow in the future, urgent attention is needed to ensure the supply of raw materials – in this case, molasses. The importation of molasses, while a short-term measure to meet demand, clearly is not sustainable and could affect Guyana’s competitiveness

in the long run.”

Downsizing the sugar industry, the GMSA noted, is a move which should be reversed and a new Government should focus on resuscitating the sector.

“The Association believes the downscaling of the industry, with the closure of four of seven sugar estates, has had dire consequences to the economy and other sectors which depend on the industry.

In 2018, the Association had written the APNU/AFC Government to guarantee the supply of molasses to small-scale manufacturers.

The three remaining estates – Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion – were projected to produce a total of 52,000 tonnes of molasses in 2018.

However, DDL’s molasses requirement for that year was some 70,000 tonnes.

Nevertheless, as a longterm solution to this challenge, the company had submitted an Expression of Interest (EoI) to NICIL and the Government for the potential purchase of the now closed Enmore Estate. This would have allowed the company to have a guaranteed steady supply of molasses.

Former Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy had commented that this confirmed the Opposition’s warning that the closure of sugar estates would have costs way beyond the temporary subsidy Government was making to the industry.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Only Ali can be elected President – Ramsammy tells Granger …swearing-in will halt APNU/AFC’s corruption

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ormer Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy has postulated that the only way to stop corruption and bring about progress in Guyana is to allow for the swearing-in of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali. By nature of the recount, which ended since early June, the parliamentary Opposition would have secured more votes, dethroning the APNU/AFC from office.

As Ramsammy called out the coalition Administration for hampering the transition into new governance on Tuesday, he did not spare caretaker President David Granger for insinuating that he would be sworn in this weekend.

The PPP/C Executive affirmed that only Ali could be constitutionally elected as Guyana’s ninth Head of State.

“David Granger on Tuesday sinisterly declared the swearing-in of the President will be this weekend. I know he meant

Former Health Minister, Leslie Ramsammy

Dr

he would be sworn in. I do hope there is a swearing-in of Guyana’s President this weekend, but I know if that happens it can only be President Irfaan Ali,” the former Minister insisted.

Dr Ramsammy, who served under the previous Administration, contended that with every delay, negative ripples are being created by the coalition in the form of corruption and other unethical practices.

“Every day that the swearing-in of President Ali is delayed, the rip-off intensifies, the corrupt transactions become more frequent, and important Government initiatives get deferred… The swearing-in of the 9th President of Guyana, the swearing-in of the new Government and the commencement of the Parliament are imperatives, every day we delay these things, it is an assault on Guyana and on every single Guyanese citizen.”

He went on to say that the Caribbean Court of Justice’s intervention should bring an end to the ongoing fiasco, paving the way for Ali’s swearing-in. He contended that more than 51 per cent of Guyanese voted for the PPP but another 20 per cent who did not vote in favour of them are now backing Ali’s appointment, after witnessing their commitment to democratic rule.

The former parliamentarian said, “The vast majority of Guyanese, including some who did not vote for the PPP, actually want to

“Lola Doll” avoids imprisonment by settling court matter

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he assault charge against Guyanese makeup artist Lolita Callendar, popularly known as “Lola Doll,” and businesswoman Onika Pompey came to an end at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after Callendar forked up $800,000 as settlement.

Pompey had demanded the total to fix her “edges” and offset other damages caused by the fight between them.

During a sentencing hearing for Callendar on January 17, 2020, she had told the court she had to sell her car due to financial constraints. As such, she was given additional time to pay Pompey.

Initially, Callendar’s lawyer had told the court that she could only afford to pay Pompey $100,000.

However, Pompey refused that sum.

On December 17, 2019, Callendar was found guilty of assaulting Pompey by

Lolita Callendar, known as “Lola Doll”

Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty after the completion of the trial.

Callendar, 28, of Lot 231 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown, had pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on April 6, 2018, at Leopold Street, Georgetown, she caused grievous bodily harm to Pompey.

Onika Pompey

It was reported that on the day in question, Callendar and Pompey had a misunderstanding, which led to a scuffle that resulted in Pompey receiving lacerations about her body, including several bites.

Callendar was recently released from prison after being sentenced to six months behind bars in the British Virgin Islands for falsifying her HIV test in June 2019.

It was reported that in April 2019, the woman had a male take an HIV test under the name “Lolita Callendar.”

When the individual went to collect the results, he was in the company of the actual Lolita Callendar.

At this point, the duo, upon obtaining the results, informed the staff that they needed the “Male” to be replaced with “Female.”

This caused the health workers at the medical institute to call in the police, and Callendar was arrested, charged, and found guilty of the offence.

move on, with Guyana’s new Government. But 120 days after the March 2 elections, the swearing-in of Guyana’s new President, our new Government and our 12th Parliament have become an imperative for reasons more than fulfilling our democratic destiny.”

According to him, Guyana’s new Government and a new Parliament are now imperatives to stop the “wholesale ripping-off” of Guyana. In the past few weeks, he said the Guyanese people continued to focus on the elections results and the way Granger’s “PNC in disguise” has been taking corruption to unbelievable levels.

He pointed to one example, where the national assets were being ripped off through the handling of a contract to market Guyana’s oil share.

The Energy Department had announced that in response to their solicitation for companies to ship and market Guyana’s share of oil, 35 companies expressed interest.

Last week, the Energy Department shortlisted 19 companies for consideration, 15 of which have long lists of “corrupt and scandalous international records, including briberies and jail terms for many officials of these companies”.

Dr Ramsammy shared, “Dr Mark Bynoe is the Head of the Energy Department, an agency under the direct supervision of the President.

He has no idea why these 19 companies were shortlisted, does not know if the corruption record of these companies were taken into consid-

PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali

eration, nor does he feel it is important for Guyanese to know who shortlisted them.

The company that sells Guyana’s share of oil will be responsible for most of Guyana’s oil revenues. This oil revenue will be critical to help Guyana recover from the major economic regression in the last few years”.

The country, he stated, will now have to use its oil money to revive from a heavy debt burden created in just one term of the APNU in office. In the Bank of Guyana, there is a $100 billion overdraft, which he noted is increasing at more than $1 billion per week.

“Already, more than $US400 million in the international reserve has been squandered. Already, also, Guyana has accumulated a loss in import revenue of more than $US150 million in the first half of 2020.

It is, therefore, an imperative for Guyana to secure our oil revenues, since all of it must now be used to fill holes APNU+AFC is leav-

ing Guyana with. Instead, Granger’s APNU+AFC is allowing an unbelievable ripping-off of this important Guyanese asset. Every day there is a delay in swearing in the new Government, Guyana’s oil assets are being ripped off.”

Along with the exploitation of the oil assets, he alleged that there is a “frenzy ripping-off” of Guyana’s valuable land assets.

“Hundreds of acres, in fact, have been given away in the last several months.

Much of the GuySuCo land is being given away while GuySuCo itself is dying because of the lack of resources to meet its obligations. The longer Guyana wait for its new Government, the worst the ripping-off of Guyana’s assets will become. The Ocean View $1 billion reconstruction when fully exposed will shock everyone to the core. Not only are taxpayers paying $1 billion in corrupt rehabilitation cost, Guyana will be paying almost $20 million per month in rental cost, electricity and air-conditioning.”

While these shady projects continue to surface, the former Minister said important projects to be undertaken under the PPP Government continued to be delayed until their presidential candidate takes office.

These include the Amaila Hydroelectricity project, the Demerara Harbour Bridge, the Corentyne River Bridge, the Deepwater Harbour, the Specialty Hospital, the Demerara Railway Project, the Georgetown Bypass Road and the gas line to bring Exxon gas to the coast.

17 cancer patients receive treatment through GTT’s Pinktober grants

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s the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) continues to support cancer patients in Guyana, 17 cancer patients were privileged to access treatment locally through a $2.2 million grant from GTT’s Pinktober funds.

GTT’s Pinktober Coordinator, Diana Gittens underscored that of the 17 cases, 50 per cent were diagnosed with breast cancer, 33 per cent with cervical cancer, and six per cent with eye, colon, and anorectal cancers respectively.

“We are happy that these patients were able to receive treatment or diagnosis over the past few months through our monthly grants.

For those who were able to receive the treatment, over 50 per cent of the cancers were at stage III or above,” said Gittens.

Gittens continued to stress the importance of “early detection”, reiterating the fact that “early screen-

GTT Pinktober Coordinator Diana Gittens

ing is important because early detection can save lives and reduces the impact on patients, both financially and emotionally.”

The Pinktober Coordinator explained that as the company continues to execute monthly Pinktober initiatives, several more patients are expected to re-

ceive grants for treatment/ diagnosis during July.

For World Cancer Day in February 2020, GTT allocated close to $3 million in grants to cancer patients.

These grants allowed for diagnostic screening via a Computerised Tomography (CT) scan and radiation treatment.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Venezuela never had evidence to overturn 1899 Arbitral Award – Guyana’s legal team tells ICJ ...shows that Award was always meant to be final, binding settlement

On Guyana’s legal team, international lawyer and author, Professor Payam Akhavan (BBC Photo)

By Jarryl Bryan

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enezuela has contended since 1962 that the 1899 Arbitral Award confirming Essequibo as part of Guyana was null and void.

In the 58 years since, however, Venezuela has failed to provide a shred of evidence to show why the arbitral award should be vacated.

This point was hammered home by Guyana’s legal team, that appeared via video con-

British Guiana. Britain’s claim extended to the mouth of the Orinoco River,” Akhavan, who is a part of Guyana’s legal team before the ICJ, said.

“By 1895 the boundary dispute escalated into a diplomatic crisis. In 1895, under threat of war with the United States, Britain agreed to arbitration to resolve the boundary. The Washington treaty between the Great Britain and Venezuela was concluded on February 2, 1897. The preamble set out its purpose, as an amicable settlement.”

Akhavan pointed to Article 1 of the treaty, which provided for the creation of an arbitral tribunal. Article 3 meanwhile set out its jurisdiction to decide the boundary line between British Guiana and Venezuela. Article 8 of the Washington treaty also described the Tribunal of Arbitration “as a full, perfect and final settlement of all the questions referred to the arbitrators.”

Demarcation

In fact, it is a matter of public record that the United States proposed two jurists for the tribunal, Britain proposed two and between the two sides, a fifth jurist for

The 1905 map submitted by the legal team on Tuesday, showing the Guyana-Venezuela boundary drawn by commissioners appointed by Great Britain and Venezuela

given the exclusive dominion over the Orinoco, which was the principle aim which we sought to achieve through arbitration’,” Akhavan said.

“The following year, Britain and Venezuela estab-

The 1897 Washington treaty between Great Britain and Venezuela sets out that the 1899 Award was meant to be a binding and final one

ferencing before the 15 Judges of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Tuesday for the public hearings in the Guyana v Venezuela border case. According to international lawyer and author, Professor Payam Akhavan, the treaty that led to the Arbitral Award of 1899 was clear in that it was a binding agreement.

“Upon Venezuela’s independence in 1810, the boundary had not yet been determined. By 1840, however, with the discovery of gold in the upper Cuyuni River, Venezuela had proposed a treaty claiming the Essequibo River as its boundary with

the tribunal was appointed.

Akhavan pointed out that the tribunal decided unanimously on the boundary, a decision that was accepted by all parties in particular Venezuela, for the next 63 years. In fact, Venezuela through a joint commission helped draw the boundary of what is now the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

“The result was widely hailed as a victory for Venezuela. The Venezuelan Minister in London described it to his Minister of Foreign Affairs in these words: ‘greatly indeed did justice shine forth, when in the determination of the frontier, we were

lished a joint commission to undertake the physical demarcation of the boundary. By 1905, after years of work, the boundaries were demarcated with pillars and geographic features… the commission produced a clear boundary map with the specification of the boundary line within the arbitral award.”

The commissioners who demarcated the boundary were British-nominated Harry Innes Perkins and Charles Anderson and Venezuelan-nominated Dr Abraham Tirado and Dr Elias Toro. The four commissioners signed the map on January 7, 1905, officially giving effect

to the 1899 Award and demarcating the current boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.

Flip-flop

Then came the flip-flop.

Akhavan pointed out that in 1962, Venezuela suddenly claimed that the 1899 Award was null and void and cited a mysterious Anglo-Russian conspiracy and the correspondence of a deceased lawyer who had taken part in the 1899 Arbitral Award process.

On these shaky grounds, the issue of the Award was reopened.

But in 1963, when the time came for Venezuela to present evidence that the 1899 Award was indeed null and void, the Spanish-speaking country failed to present anything of substance to Sir Geoffrey Meade, the British expert who was sent by the tripartite

committee to Venezuela to examine their “evidence”.

“The only evidence invoked by Venezuela was a document published posthumously, allegedly written in 1944 by Mr Severo MalletPrevost, an American lawyer who had served as Junior Counsel to Venezuela 45 years earlier in 1899. It was published upon his death, in July 1949 issue of the American journal of international law.

The memorandum did not identify, much less produce any evidence to support an Anglo Russian conspiracy,” Akhavan told the court.

“The tripartite examination was conducted by experts appointed by the parties.

Between July and September 1963, the Venezuelan experts conducted an exhaustive examination of British documents in London. The next step was the expert act-

ing on behalf of Britain to visit Caracas to examine documents in the Venezuelan archives. In December 1963, they travelled to Caracas. A British memorandum dated February 25, 1964, observed that the Venezuelan authorities were unable to supply a single shred of evidence!”

The public hearing into whether the ICJ has jurisdiction to hear this substantive issue was conducted without the participation of Venezuela, which has declared that they will not take part in the process.

Venezuela argued that the ICJ does not have jurisdiction and that United Nations Secretary General Antonio Gutteres exceeded the provisions of the 1966 Geneva Agreement by referring the matter there. A decision from the ICJ on its jurisdiction to hear the case is imminent. Guyana’s Foreign Secretary Carl Greenidge has also expressed optimism that a judgement on the substantive issues will be made by year-end.

Guyana is seeking a final and binding judgment that the 1899 Arbitral Award remains valid and binding on all parties, and legal affirmation that Guyana’s Essequibo region, which contains much of Guyana’s natural resources, belongs to Guyana and not Venezuela.

Guyana is also seeking Venezuela’s withdrawal from its occupation of the eastern half of the Island of Ankoko.

In addition, Guyana is seeking an order that Venezuela refrains from threatening or using force against companies operating in Guyanese territory, land or maritime. A case in point is last year, when Venezuela attempted to land a helicopter on a vessel contracted by ExxonMobil to do work in Guyana’s Stabroek block.

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News

Caricom affiliate urges declaration based on recount – important for getting over political impasse in Guyana

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he Caribbean Community (Caricom) Private Sector Organisation (CPSO), an affiliate of Caricom, has noted that for there to be legitimacy to the process, the declaration of results from the March 2 General and Regional Elections in Guyana must be based on the recount.

The CPSO made this pronouncement in a statement on Tuesday, in which they noted the danger the political impasse poses on Guyana and its social fabric. According to the organisation, the current impasse can also be an opportunity to chart a fair and inclusive path forward.

“There has clearly been a breakdown in the election process and systems in Guyana and the current dispute should serve to increase

our resolve to strengthen the governance and operations of the Guyana Elections Commission to ensure that never again would an election in Guyana be enveloped in such dispute over the validity of the results,” the CPSO said.

“The ruling party APNU+AFC has declared victory based on a June 23rd report issued by the Chief Elections Officer which showed 171,825 of the votes deemed valid for the ruling party and 166,343 of the votes deemed valid for the opposition PPP/C party.

However, over 115,000 votes were deemed invalid, which if counted would show the opposite result as reported by independent observers.

The current conundrum is set up for rejection and invalidation of any result that eventually prevails.”

The CPSO is an affiliate of Caricom

According to the CPSO, the deadlock can be broken by the various parties accepting the outcome on the basis of the will of the people. According to the organisation, it is the will of the people and the use of the re-

count results that will confer legitimacy on the President that is sworn in.

“A failure to lawfully and definitively resolve this issue will leave some 50 per cent of the people in Guyana certain that the elections were stolen by one party or the other. Guyana is a founding member of the Caricom and hosts its Secretariat Headquarters. Both parties agreed to rely on Caricom Observers to monitor the conduct of the elections pro-

cess as well as the recount of votes cast.”

The group also lauded the role being played by the Caribbean Court of Justice in resolving the issue. According to them, the CCJ’s role as arbiter is an appropriate one. Moreover, they noted that the time is now for political leaders to come together and ensure that stronger Government institutions are built.

“We have faith and confidence that the leaders of

both the ruling party and the opposition recognise the need for their leadership to be validated by the voice of the people of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana; and that must be ruled upon by an independent and trustworthy institution,” they said.

The CPSO was created in accordance with Article 22 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC), when the Heads of Government, at the Fortieth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in July 2019, designated the CPSO an Associate Institution of Caricom. The CPSO is designated as one that can act as the “apex” Institution for the Private Sector in Caricom, with a mandate to contribute to the full implementation of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME).

The membership of the CPSO is comprised of Private Sector entities operating in the Caricom space, including Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs).

RHEC credits reduction in COVID-19 cases to teamwork among stakeholders Mia Mottley to hand over Caricom

Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Pansy Armstrong

T

he Regional Health and Emergency Committee (RHEC) of Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) is of the firm belief that the perceived success it has gained thus far in containing the spread of COVID-19 is as a result of the enormous work done.

This was disclosed by the Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Pansy Armstrong, who declared that the region took responsibility in ensuring that it remains safe despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Armstrong noted that a number of initiatives were executed with the primary objective of safeguarding the health and safety of residents.

“One of the first things that the region did was to institute a curfew, which was done a week or two before the national curfew and thus limited the movements of persons, thus resulting in the spread also being limited,” Dr Armstrong said.

The RHO stressed that

several other things were taken into immediate consideration as they were cognisant that if the residents were going to be protected, then quick and drastic measures would have had to be implemented.

She boasted that they were the first region that commenced screening at its entry points with the help of health facilities throughout the region.

“We were the first region that commenced screening at the point of entry into the region while we also commenced screening at all health facilities immediately, which helped us significantly,” the RHO added.

She further stated that contact tracing was an initiative that was put into action after they discovered their first case, stressing that health officials continue to fight this deadly disease through contact tracing.

“We also had our rapid response team, which helped us in garnering the samples, and with a constant education drive, it had helped to boost our overall efforts in this fight,” Dr Armstrong asserted.

However, the region’s COVID-19 Coordinator, Dr Michael Marks, stated that the region had developed an education programme and found out that there is a lot of knowledge perception of COVID-19, declaring that it is influenced by the actions internationally.

“Nationally we have been preaching one thing about COVID 19, but we are seeing that from other countries they are adapting to

chairmanship to PM Gonsalves on Friday

Region 10 COVID Coordinator, Dr Michael Marks

other views of coexisting with the disease, what also contributes to the cavalier approach to COVID-19 is that there were phases being placed and as such, persons were anxious.”

Dr Marks, however, expressed sincere and deep concerns about people becoming vulnerable and carefree in their behaviour because they are eager to get past these phases.

“This is one of greatest concerns as it maximises our task, and it will make our work very harder,” he noted.

Dr Marks disclosed that 106 tests were conducted in the region and they are awaiting the results of six.

He also said that there was only one death with seven recoveries and only two active cases now.

This, he stressed, is a testimony that more than half of the region’s cases have recovered. He added that efforts in ensuring that residents remain safe are evident in the enormous and continued hard work by all.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves

H

eads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) will host a special conference on Friday, July 3, which will see Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley handing over the reins to incoming Chairman, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Twentieth Special Meeting of Caricom will be held via video conference throughout the region beginning at 10:00 am.

Caricom Heads decided at their Ninth Special Meeting in April this year to stage the handing-over ceremony at the beginning of July.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the Forty-First Regular Meeting of Heads of Government to be rescheduled to September 2 and 3 in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

During Friday’s virtual meeting, Caricom leaders are expected to also address a number of procedural matters.

As Caricom Chairman, among other things, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley hosted the 31st Intersessional Conference of Heads of Government of Caricom, from February 18 to 19 in Barbados, and held a number of Special Meetings in March and May to map out a strategy to deal with the

COVID-19 crisis.

In addition, as Conference Chairman, Mottley was able to facilitate a high-level meeting between Caricom Heads of Government and owners/Chairmen of leading cruise lines to discuss mutual matters of interest.

The relationship which was established between the cruise ship principals and the Conference of Heads enabled the members of the Community to have frank and cordial discussions with cruise industry representatives about the impact of COVID-19 on cruises in and around the Caribbean.

Prime Minister Mottley also has lead responsibility for the Caricom Single Market and Economy in the region’s quasi Cabinet.

The Caribbean Community has 15 member states – Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

It also has five associate members – Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. (Barbados Government Information Service)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020

19

Around the World

OILNEWS OPEC, Russia seen easing oil production cuts from August – sources

O

PEC and Russia will likely ease record oil production cuts from August as global oil demand recovers and prices have bounced back from their lows, four OPEC+ sources told Reuters.

OPEC and its allies including Russia, known as OPEC+, have agreed to cut production by a record 9.7 million barrels per day, or 10 per cent of global demand, from May to support oil prices as demand plunged because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Record cuts were meant to last until the end of June but then had been extended into July. The sources said no discussions have taken place so far about extending the record cuts into August, meaning they were most likely to be eased to 7.7 million bpd until December.

“A further extension is unlikely unless there is another downward move in demand,” one OPEC source said.

Key OPEC+ Ministers will meet in mid-July at a panel, known as the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC), to recommend the next level of cuts.

Oil prices have recovered to above US$41 a barrel from a 21-year low below US$16 a barrel in April, helped by OPEC+ cuts and a recovery in demand as Governments ease coronavirus lockdowns.

Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s de facto leader, and Russia have to perform a balancing act of pushing up oil prices to meet budget needs while not driving them too high to avoid a resurgence of US shale production.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said this month Moscow was happy with the current oil price. US output has plunged by a record 2 million bpd, but there are signs it is recovering quickly. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Sudan protesters return to streets to demand more reforms

China passes sweeping HK security law, heralding authoritarian era

B

eijing on Tuesday unveiled new national security laws for Hong Kong that will punish crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison, heralding a more authoritarian era for China’s freest city.

As the law came into force, authorities were set to throw a security blanket across the heart of the city’s financial centre today after activists vowed to defy a police ban and rally against the measures.

Local media said up to 4000 officers would be deployed to stamp out any protests.

China’s Parliament passed the detailed legislation earlier on Tuesday, giv-

Police Officers ask people to leave during a protest after China’s Parliament passes a national security law for Hong Kong, in Hong Kong, China, June 30, 2020

ing Beijing sweeping powers and setting the stage for radical changes to the global financial hub’s way of life.

Beijing had kept full details shrouded in secrecy,

giving Hong Kong’s 7.5 million people no time to digest the complex legislation before it entered into force at 11:00 pm (1500 GMT) on June 30.

Britain and some two dozen Western countries urged China to reconsider the law, saying Beijing must preserve the right to assembly and free press.

Washington, already in dispute with China over trade, the South China Sea and the coronavirus, began eliminating Hong Kong’s special status under US law on Monday, halting defence exports and restricting technology access.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, in a video message to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, urged the international community to “respect our country’s right to safeguard national security”. (Excerpt from Reuters)

72 arrested, 1 dead, as Trinidad Police say plot foiled

Vehicles have been turned back due to the protest (Trinidad Guardian)

T

he Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Tuesday said that they had foiled a “well-orchestrated plan to destabilise the country”, and had arrested 72 people as protesters blocked roads and fired gunshots demanding that the officers involved in the deaths of three men last weekend by Police be brought to justice.

The Police confirmed that one per-

son has died as a result of the protest on Tuesday, and said that “investigations are underway to determine the cause of her death”.

Media reports identified the woman as Ornella Greaves, 30, who died while being treated at the Port of Spain General Hospital for gunshot wounds. There were also unconfirmed reports that one man also died as a result of the protest.

The Police said that “so far, 72 persons have been arrested, and others are expected to be charged when investigations are completed”, adding “intelligence has revealed that this was an orchestrated plan that was led by several gang members, whereby the intention was to use the shooting of the three young men a few days ago, as a front to cover the planned plot to shut down the country”.

Police Commissioner Gary Griffith is quoted in the statement as wanting to remind the public that he was clear just a few days ago, when he stated that any Police Officer charged for a violent crime should be removed from the Service, as “we are expected to be at a higher standard”.

“However, it is unacceptable that some, in their desire for justice, can expect any law-abiding citizen to justify this demand by condoning others to break the law, as was done today.

(Excerpt from CMC)

US seeks extradition of Maduro’s alleged dealmaker Alex Saab

Sudanese demonstrators march while smoke billows from burning tyres during a protest on Sixty Street in the east of the capital Khartoum

T

ens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Sudanese cities despite a coronavirus lockdown to demand greater civilian rule in the transition towards democracy after the removal of longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir last year.

Waving Sudanese flags, demonstrators on Tuesday gathered in Khartoum and its twin cities Khartoum North and Omdurman after the Government closed roads and bridges leading to the centre of the capital.

Police used tear gas to disperse protesters marching on a road leading to the airport in the capital, Khartoum.

There were no immediate reports of causalities.

Similar protests also took place in Kassala in eastern Sudan and in the restive region of Darfur. They chanted “freedom, peace and justice”, the slogan of the anti-al-

Bashir movement.

Some protesters blocked streets with burning tyres.

The “million-man march” was called by the Sudanese Professionals’ Association, and the so-called Resistance Committees, which were instrumental in the protests against al-Bashir and the Generals who took over power for months after his removal.

Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, a technocrat, governs the country in tandem with the long-dominant military that helped remove alBashir after mass protests against his 30-year rule.

An opposition coalition agreed to joint governance with the military in a twoyear transition towards free elections but key parts of the deal have not been implemented, such as appointing civilian state governors and establishing a Parliament.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

T

he US is asking the African island nation of Cape Verde to extradite Alex Nain Saab Moran, the Colombian businessman charged by US authorities as a dealmaker for President Nicolás Maduro’s regime in Venezuela.

The US wants Saab to face charges on money laundering, and has sent a formal extradition request that includes documents and sworn statements related to a federal indictment last year in Miami, two people familiar with the matter said. Saab was arrested in Cape Verde on June 12 when the private jet he was travelling in stopped during what Venezuela has described as a humanitarian mission.

Spokespeople for the US Department of Justice and the office of the Prime Minister in Cape Verde declined to comment. The Cape Verde Attorney General’s office didn’t respond.

President Nicolás Maduro and Alex Nain Saab Moran

In Cape Verde, Saab’s lawyers unsuccessfully challenged his detention on an international arrest order, the people said. Saab also sought to be placed under house arrest instead of held in a prison, but that request was also denied, one of the people said.

A lawyer for Saab didn’t respond to a request for comment on Monday.

Saab was indicted last July of bribing Venezuelan officials and funnelling more than US$350 million to overseas accounts as part

of a food programme intended to serve those going hungry in Venezuela.

He’s also suspected of helping Maduro orchestrate a swap with Iran as part of a plan that has brought oil, workers and supplies to Venezuela in exchange for about 9 tons of gold worth US$500 million. Last month, Saab’s lawyer denied Saab had any participation in the events and described his client as a “food business entrepreneur.”

Saab was at the cen-

tre of a successful effort to strengthen Venezuela’s relationship with Turkey, which included shipments of at least US$900 million in gold to the nation in 2018. US officials allege that some of the gold made its way to Tehran in violation of American sanctions.

Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Saab was in Cape Verde on a layover as part of a mission to acquire food for the Government’s subsidy programme as well as medicine for the coronavirus pandemic and his arrest is part of US “hounding and aggression against the Venezuelan people.”

In a rare interview in 2017, with the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo, Saab described himself as “an open book” and denied being involved in corrupt contracts with Venezuela. “My accounts are clear and my conscience is clean,” Saab was quoted as saying.

(Excerpt from Bloomberg)

20

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020

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

Not politics – sheer gangsterism Dear Editor, Since the No-Confidence Motion was passed in the National Assembly in December of 2018, the real nature of the PNC leadership has been revealed in all its ugly nakedness. Here is demonstrated the selfishness, the corruption and the total disregard for laws by this cabal that captured our State and is conducting a mafia-style operation.

Some of us were from the early stages pointing out to the public the direction that the country was taking. It was not accidental but a plan set in place probably even before the PNC/AFC elite captured power.

The first act that gave an indication as to the cabal’s intention to perpetuate itself in power was in relation to the formation of the Cabinet.

Why was it necessary to create a separate Ministry of Citizenship? Clearly from the inception the cabal’s plan to use that Ministry to rig elections. Its plans were upset by the No-Confidence Motion.

The way it conducted the affairs of the country also gave a clue to what they were planning. It was clear that they were not depending on the people to vote for them to stay in power.

How else do we explain the imposition of VAT on almost all the essential items that the PPP/Civic Administration had zero-rated? So, most of the essential food items were taxed, educational materials, medicines, electricity, water all were forced to pay VAT. It is apposite to point out when the PNC-led APNU/AFC were in the opposition, they said they would have reduced the VAT to 8 per cent. It took

them two years to reduce it to 14 per cent and then they removed almost all the zero-rated items that allowed them to rake in even more money from the VAT. In addition to that, the regime piled up scores of new taxes on the people that extracted some 80 billion dollars more than was ever collected by the PPP/C Government.

All of that went to maintain the bureaucracy.

By its policies, it caused some thirty thousand persons to lose their jobs in all sectors, but mainly sugar and forestry. The destruction of sugar was criminal. The reason is twofold. One the one hand, racial politics, and on the other, greed.

The racial/political is clear, sugar workers were largely supporters of the PPP. The criminal acts were taking the land for speculation, to enrich the tiny cabal that owns the Government. The group is made up of Government Ministries, some other senior Government personnel and some contractors.

The corrupt cabal in alliance with unscrupulous business people has raided the assets of our country.

I had pointed out very early that the PPP/C Government had taken a container of steel from Surendra Company which had defaulted on a contract to build the Specialty Hospital. That was handed to BK International just days after the regime assumed office.

The deals with the oil companies that have been universally criticised and need no further elaboration here. Recall the drug bond rented for $12 million

a month which was just a house, the procurement of drugs violating tender procedures, the massive stripping of State assets, all suggest massive corruption, kickbacks and bribery reaching high up in the regime.

The picture became clearer when a new Chairperson for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) had to be appointed. President Grander rejected the names of some of the finest Guyanese and unilaterally appointed James Patterson to the position. That led to the complete takeover of GECOM by the cabal.

It was pellucid that the PNC-led APNU was working towards the rigging of the 2020 elections.

It is extremely unfortu-

nate too that several decisions and non-decisions of our courts suggest political bias or incompetence or both.

When one examines some of these decisions one would be hard-pressed not to form an opinion that sections of the Judiciary are working hand in glove with the cabal.

I have not heard a single explanation of why the elections petition case of 2015 has never been fixed for hearing. I am aware of many cases that have been languishing in the courts for years and cannot be heard. I am also aware of one case that has been concluded years ago but no decision given to this date. I am sure that that case is not the only one in that limbo.

Compare that with the

indecent haste with which cases brought by the APNU/ AFC cabal are heard in our courts. Moreover, we get very questionable decisions.

All of this pales in the face of what occurred on March 4, 2020, during the counting of the votes of the March 2, 2020 General Elections and continuing to the present.

Why this resistance by the cabal?

It is to protect their ill-gotten gains in the first place and to be able to continue to rape the nation’s assets for this small corrupt cabal.

For this, the PNC elite doesn’t care how much damage they do to this country’s economy and its standing internationally.

They are blinded by greed and power.

Clearly, this is no longer

just routine politics. This is a group that has degenerated into a mafia-style organisation, hoping to seize power for their criminal enterprises.

They are failing because other political parties in the opposition and civil society have stood up to put an end to this fraud. In this process, the tremendous support from our region and the international community has been very important. For this, our people must be grateful.

We must stay on the democratic path; we must not allow our country to become a failed State run by mafia-style bosses.

Dear Editor, Guyana has endured enough of the PNC, APNU/ AFC‘s scams, treacheries and downright fraudulence for too long. There has been no let-up since the successful passing of the No-Confidence Motion on December 21, 2018, against the Grangerled Administration.

After first accepting that the Government had fallen, we have since witnessed the back-peddling with their erroneous schemes to remain in Government illegally. Court battles ensued, non-stop litigation with the deliberate distortion of the age-old math formula and extreme misrepresentations of court orders and the Guyana Constitution.

The people have been

made to suffer the relentless bombardment of Granger’s duplicitous narratives and absurdities. He barefacedly repeats his melodramatic chorus and injudiciousness in all his speeches, that he has never gone outside of the Constitution, always abided by the rulings of the court, never interfered with the work of the GECOM etc, insulting the intelligence of the Guyanese people.

Mr Granger cited Caricom as the “most legitimate interlocutor” to observe the GECOM National Recount and demanded that GECOM take into account the Caricom team’s report.

Well, the Caricom team’s report certified the elections to be fair and credible and labelled the allegations by the

APNU/AFC to be false and unsubstantiated. It went further to point out that the APNU/AFC Agents at the National Recount were collectively on a fishing expedition in relation to their unproven lengthy objections.

It was all time-wasting and aimed at dragging out the process.

The PNC, APNU/AFC together with their intellectual backers by their own doing have descended into demonic plagues. Together they need to knock into their heads that PPP/C did not run the 2020 General and Regional Elections, it was GECOM with their man at the helm, Mr Keith Lowenfield. Suffice it to say that the President-elect, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s Government will not get involved with which hunting but public officers like Lowenfield, Myers, Mingo and the others must face the full force of the law so that Guyana will never again be shackled with electoral fraud.

Every Guyanese at home and in the diaspora, Caricom and the international community has had enough of the Granger-led PNC, APNU/AFC cabal unrelenting attempts to steal the March 2, 2020 elections.

People’s lives matter, not race-baiting and blatant lying to the support base by the PNC to have them incensed. The PNC, APNU/ AFC cabal fully well knows that they lost the elections.

Mr Granger needs to cut the crap; the coalition is crumbling. He needs to do the honourable thing, take the decent road and bow out humbly. Do not be stubborn, stop hurting the very people he claims to stand for. Put the people first, not his narrow-minded scheming wicked cabal using every conceivable avenue to hijack the elections of March 2, 2020, and thwart the will of the people.

Tell them the truth, the PPP/C won the elections handsomely by in excess of 15,000 votes. Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali is the legitimate President. Granger must concede and let the country move forward with dignity; the unshakable dream of every single Guyanese. Give it up and focus his party’s attention towards 2025 The pomposity and the buoyancy with which the PNC, APNU/AFC actors and their racially-charged intellectual backers and other sympathisers divulge their wicked intentions in the public domain is most chilling. With the final legal battle in the hands of the CCJ, their options to remain illegally in Government has been vastly minimised and like a cornered lion, the outlook seems very, very ominous.

Let us all continue to pray for Guyana, there is peace beyond the horizon.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

Granger must concede and allow country to move on

Respectfully, Parasram Persaud

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020

21

ARCHIE

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Stay calm, focus on your responsibilities and do your best to avoid conflict. A disciplined approach to health, money and getting along with others will pay off.

Be open to suggestions, but do what works best for you. Your memory and intelligence won’t let you down. Discuss your plans with a loved one.

Pay more attention to how you feel, look and respond to others. Get your priorities straight and put more time and effort into changes you can make to improve your life.

You’ll have plenty of ideas regarding how to get ahead during dire times.

Explore the possibilities and find out what it will take to reach your goal. Trust in your ability to excel.

Plan to do something physical. If you let your emotions take charge, you’ll face setbacks. Discipline, strategy and brute force will get you the results you desire.

Romance is favored.

A demonstrative approach will ensure that everyone knows what you think and how you feel.

Follow your own suggestions, even if others do not.

Live by your rules.

Stop procrastinating and start doing something that will make a difference. Your happiness is up to you, so take action and do whatever it takes to improve your life.

Be resourceful, disciplined and innovative. Use your power of persuasion to influence others to do what’s right. A show of confidence will make it easier to get your way.

Do what’s right. If you SAGITTARIUS want things done correctly, (Nov. 23do them yourself. Personal Dec. 21) improvement will encourage you to take better care of yourself.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Disappointment will surface if you count on others to pitch in and help. If you want things to change, you should implement plans that you can carry out on your own.

Don’t get discouraged.

Consider what will make you feel good and then pursue it.

Self-improvement and personal challenges build your confidence and encourage new beginnings. Romance is on the rise.

You will be in a prime professional position. A couple of changes will help you put a safe and profitable plan in place.

22

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020

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Root is due to leave the team bubble to be with his wife for the birth of their second child, and he will require a seven-day period of self-isolation before returning to camp.

That means Vice Captain Stokes is set to deputise as skipper, despite concerns

from former Captain Kevin Pietersen that such a role would curb the all-rounder's attacking instincts.

Stokes is determined to remain the same man, though, even if he admits it will be hard to get the ball out of his hand when he is on a roll.

Stokes said: "If it's flat, I'll just chuck the ball to Jofra [Archer] and Broady [Stuart Broad] and Jimmy [Anderson] and say, 'On you go!'

"It is a tough one because when Joe asks me to come and bowl… if I'm not bowling well I know, right, I'm probably going to be taken off here.

"But then when I feel like I'm in a really good rhythm

and don't want to be taken off, Joe doesn't say, 'Keep going.' He sort of looks and goes, 'One more?' And he'll say that for another four or five overs.

"I guess I might have to be a little bit more mindful as I'm the person who's making that decision, but if I've got the ball in my hand or I've got the bat in my hand, I would like to think I'm still going to have to that same mentality as I always do. " I ' v e been in so many different situations in the field as a batter and as a bowler that I can always relate back to them and think, 'Right, what did Joe expect of me in this situation?' But it's a tough one, isn't it? To know if you are feeling good as a bowler when to keep yourself on."

While others such as Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss and Root had been earmarked to be England Captain long before they were eventually handed the role, Stokes acknowledged few would have considered him as a skipper-in-waiting.

However, the 29-yearold believes he is ready for the position having played in 63 Tests since his debut in 2013.

"I've been a senior player since 2016 u n der Cooky and since J o e ' s been in charge," he added.

throw ideas off.

"I would like to think I would be quite an open captain and wouldn't want my way is the only way. I don't think that's the best way to operate.

"There's 11 guys out in the field, so why not get 10 other opinions on something that you're thinking about?" (Sportsmax)

"Being able to learn f r o m Alastair Cook and Rooty in terms of different situations throughout the game has rubbed off on me and will put me in good stead for all the different situations that a Test match can throw at you.

"At the same time, we've got some really experienced guys out in the field who I can use. We've got Jimmy, Broady, who've just got ample Test matches and wickets between them.

There's so many people that you can

Former CONCACAF boss Alfredo Bonner keen to make Hawit sentenced to time served impact on Test scene

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he former President of soccer’s governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean was sentenced to time served for his role in accepting US$1.66 million in bribes in the FIFA scandals and will return to Honduras after four and a half years in the US. Alfredo Hawit, of Honduras, CONCACAF’s President from May 27, 2015 until December 4, 2015, was given the sentence on Monday

by US District Judge Pamela K Chen in Brooklyn during a video hearing.

The 68-year-old Hawit also was sentenced to two years of supervised release and barred during that time from holding a title in FIFA, CONCACAF or any professional soccer organisation. Chen deferred a ruling on restitution for 90 days, and said forfeiture would be US$950,000 and Hawit must pay US$400 in special assessments.

Hawit, a lawyer, teacher and former professional soccer player, will be deported when the coronavirus pandemic eases and Honduras reopens its border. Prosecutors said his family was working with the Honduran consulate to arrange transport, and Chen recommended that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement allow him to self-deport.

Hawit pleaded guilty on April 11, 2016, to two counts of wire fraud conspiracy and one count each of racketeer-

Alfredo Hawit

ing conspiracy and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Each count carried a possible sentence of up to 20 years.

His sentence showed the impact of a guilty plea early in the case rather than risk a guilty verdict at trial.

Former South American governing body president Juan Ángel Napout is serving a nine-year sentence following his conviction and former Brazil Federation President José Maria Marin was sentenced to four years after his conviction. Marin was given compassionate release about eight months early in April, shortly before his 88th birthday.

Chen said Hawit tried to conceal bribes and even used the name of his wife, a superior court judge in Honduras.

He also tried to cover up the payments by directing co-conspirators to create a sham contract.

“The Government’s inves-

tigation and prosecution in this case has rightfully served as a wake-up call to the entire professional soccer world and to all of its associations that business cannot be conducted in this manner,” Chen said.

She said Hawit did not warrant additional jail time, given that he voluntarily accepted extradition, spent two months incarcerated and about four years under house arrest, and he expressed remorse.

“While it is clear that Mr Hawit faltered badly by agreeing for a number of years to take bribes of a significant amount on multiple occasions and covering that up through elaborate schemes," Chen said, "he did recover after being caught and has since tried to make amends.”

Hawit became CONCACAF’s President after Jeffrey Webb was arrested while attending a FIFA meeting in Zurich, but Hawit was arrested in Switzerland on December 3, 2015. He was extradited to the US the following January 13th and released on bond February 2 that year.

He was banned for life by FIFA on December 19, 2016, after the adjudicatory chamber of its independent ethics committee found him guilty of violating FIFA's code of ethics provisions on general rules of conduct; loyalty; duty of disclosure, cooperation and reporting; conflicts of interest; and bribery and corruption. (Sportsmax)

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krumah Bonner is enjoying his first Test tour with the West Indies and is excitedly looking forward to the start of the series against England.

The middle-order batsman from Jamaica was speaking on Monday after the opening day of the fourday warm-up match was abandoned owing to wet weather.

Bonner, 31, believes the preparations have been going very well since the squad arrived in Manchester three weeks ago. After the end of the warm-up fixture, they will travel to Southampton for the first Test at the Ageas Bowl, starting July 8.

“I played two T20s back in 2011 and 2012, so I have a little bit of a feel for what it’s like at the international level. My first T20 was here in England at the Oval, back when Daren Sammy was captain, so that’s a while ago, but I know the English

conditions and I know to be successful here, you have to adapt quickly,” he said. “One of the keys to batting is that you have to play the ball late, it different to what you get back home in the Caribbean.”

Bonner acknowledged that the batting would be under scrutiny when the West Indies defend the Wisden Trophy in the three Tests, but was confident they would be able to put up good scores, as they did when they won on home turf last year.

“There is great camaraderie in the camp. There is great unity and we know the goal ahead of us is to win back the Wisden Trophy.

Well, over the past year, the batting has been struggling, the bowling has been holding up its end of it; I think with the batting if we can score the runs and put it on the board, that would give us the best chance of coming out successful on this tour,” he said. (Windies Cricket)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020

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Jermaine Blackwood keen to prove himself against England attack J

ermaine Blackwood believes he has something to prove against the world's leading bowlers, should he find himself back in the West Indies' line-up for the upcoming Test series against England.

A measured 112 not out against England in April 2015, in just his sixth Test,

remains Blackwood's only international three-figure score. Having been dropped two and a half years after that century in Antigua, he was a concussion substitute last August and regained his place in the Test squad to tour England after topping the runs-charts in the Caribbean's domestic four-

day competition.

Earlier this month, Blackwood told ESPNcricinfo his "new way going forward" was to "bat as long as possible". Now that he is in a position to make the XI for the first Test at the Ageas Bowl on July 8, Blackwood said that remained the plan, rather

Da Silva shows up with unbeaten 60

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oung T&T Red Force wicketkeeper-batsman Joshua Da Silva showed his class on a difficult batting strip as rain affected play for the second successive day of the West Indies four-day warm-up clash at Old Trafford in Manchester, England on Tuesday.

With the first day lost entirely to rain, Jason Holder's XI took first strike against the Kraigg Brathwaite's XI, and when stumps were drawn, they had struggled to 120 for the loss of five wickets. Da Silva scored half of those runs, finishing the day unbeaten on 60.

Young Barbadian speedster Chemar Holder created problems in nice seaming conditions and addressed the on-tour selectors ahead of the first Test against England, by claiming 2-15.

Holder's side slipped from the relative comfort of 79 for one to 108 for five, before Da Silva and Raymon Reifer took them to 1205 when bad light ended play 45 minutes into the final session.

Da Silva looked good with a number of crisp drives off the front foot, as he and Sunil Ambris were the only batsmen to look comfortable. Nkrumah Bonner was dismissed for a duck while Jamaican Jermaine Blackwood counted only one. Skipper Jason Holder continued his struggles with the bat as he made only five before he was picked out by pacer Anderson Phillip. The Couva man bowled very well, returning figures of 6-3-9-1.

T h e match will enter its third day today, weather permitting, as the team prepare for the threematch Test series against England.

The West Indies will be defending the Wisden Trophy that they won in the Caribbean last year.

The openi n g Test Joshua Da Silva

match takes place at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton from July 8.

SCORES: Jason Holder’s XI 120-5 off 34 overs (Joshua DaSilva 60 not out, Sunil Ambris 25; Chemar Holder 2-15) v Kraigg Brathwaite’s XI.

than going gung-ho from the off.

"Over the years, people have got the wrong impression about me, like I'm a ball-beater or whatever," Blackwood told the Press Association after the first day of West Indies' four-day intra-squad warm-up match at Emirates Old Trafford was washed out on Monday.

"But it's just natural for me; I'm from the Caribbean: it's only natural for me to score runs. I want to add a little bit more to my game and bat time. I'm really pushing hard for that and I'm really putting the mental work as well in to bat time. Once I bat time, I will score runs.

"It's been two-and-a-half years that I've been out of the Test team. This opportunity has come out and I have to grab it with both hands.

I have something to go out there and prove against all the best bowlers in the world; I want to score runs against them."

Blackwood's ton came against an attack featuring James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes, a trio who will almost certainly line up for England in Southampton.

A career average of 30.26 in 28 Tests swells to 55.33 in six matches against England, so it is little wonder Blackwood is relishing the chance to face the same opposition.

"I always love to play against England, because they are one of the best teams in the world and they have one of the best attacks in the world as well," Blackwood said.

"Anderson and Broad are two world-class bowlers so whenever I get the chance, once I bat some time against them, I know I will score runs. They are wonderful bowlers, but once I can wear them down and let them bowl spell after spell, that is going to be the key thing for me in this series."

Blackwood made 3 and

15 in West Indies' first intra-squad warm-up last week and his hopes of pressing his claims in the second practice match were dented as intermittent showers conspired to frustrate the squad's preparations.

The match represents the final chance for those on the fringes of the side to push their case for the first Test.

Whereas the first practice game between Kraigg Brathwaite's XI and Jason Holder's XI was played out amid a heatwave last week, several downpours and a strong gust were the order on a dreary Monday in Manchester. Any prospect of play was officially ended just before 15:00h (3 pm) and it is understood that the idea to award the match First-Class status has been scrapped, potentially allowing all 25 members of the squad to feature at some point.

The initial team-sheet was missing wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich, who hurt his side in the first warm-up match, and fast bowlers Oshane Thomas and Keon Harding, but there is now no reason why any of the trio should be ruled out of contention altogether.

Harding suffered a facial cut when he was struck while attempting to field the ball during that earlier game.

West Indies have announced that a Black Lives Matter logo will be displayed on their shirts in the series against England, but, for this contest, they will line up in the maroon and navy training kit they wore last week. (ESPNcricinfo)

KFDA Guyana provides COVID-19 England v West Indies: Ben Stokes hamper relief for Kingston, New to be Captain for 1st Test with Joe Market St, Tiger Bay communities Root absent

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arly last week, the Kingston Football Development Academy (KFDA) reached out to some businesses and Kingston residents near and far on an initiative to help provide COVID-19 relief hampers for the Kingston, New Market Street, and Tiger Bay communities.

Some immediately answered the call along with Alex Bunbury, the founder of ABSAA Inc; Toucan Distributors; Kingstonian Keiona Porter (USA); and Donna Grocery Shop as part of their corporate and community responsibilities.

This is KFDA’s fourth wave of food hampers to families.

On Sunday, at 16:30h, the KFDA team distributed 30 hampers to families in the Kingston and New Market Street communities. Overall, the KFDA has distributed 120 COVID-19 relief

Organiser Junior Forrester

hampers.

The KFDA noted that it was very grateful to all the sponsors and contributors who have supported the initiative so far with timely donations in the midst of this global pandemic, including: Digicel Guyana, SuperBet, Toucan Distributors, The Outdoor Pet Store and Pet Shop, Sim Concept

Travel, Donna Grocery Store, the Hennessy Family, Patricia Brown, Keiona Porter, Malinda Lawrence, Andy Atkinson, Junior Forrester, and Paul Persaud.

The KFDA will not be posting on social media photos of anyone collecting hampers. But a few will be sent to sponsors privately.

Anyone who wishes to contribute to the ongoing COVID-19 Kingston food drive, please contact 696-0658. The KFDA is also asking persons to continue supporting the businesses. Another distribution exercise of hampers (50) is planned for Sunday, July 5, 2020 for the Tiger Bay community. For more information, individuals are asked to contact organisers Junior Forrester (592-696-0658) or Aubrey Denny (592698-7194).

B

en Stokes will captain England for the first time next week after it was confirmed Joe Root will miss the first Test against West Indies to attend the birth of his second child.

Root, 29, will leave England's training camp in Southampton on Wednesday, with the birth expected later this week.

With the series being held in a bio-secure environment, Root will have to self-isolate for a week after leaving hospital before re-joining the squad. Root, who will also miss England's intra-squad warm-up match which begins on Wednesday, will rejoin the squad on July 13 before the second Test at Old Trafford, which begins on July 16.

Stokes will become the 81st man to lead England in a Test, and the first all-rounder since Andrew Flintoff.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler will serve as his Vice Captain.

Stokes has no professional captaincy experience, saying on Monday the last time he

led a side was during his time with the Durham academy.

Stokes has had two spells as Vice Captain, having taken up the role when Root was made Captain in 2017.

He was stripped of the role following an incident outside a Bristol nightclub in September 2017; he was charged with affray, but later acquitted.

He was reinstated in 2019 during a stellar year which included leading England to victory in the World Cup final and playing one of the all-time great Test innings in the remarkable one-wicket Ashes win over Australia at

Headingley.

On Monday, he said he would not alter his style of play if he was confirmed as Captain.

Speaking before Tuesday's announcement, he said: "Getting the opportunity to captain England is a huge honour - even if it's only the once you can still say: 'Yeah, I've captained England.'

"It's a huge honour to think about, and something I'm really looking forward to if the opportunity presents itself, but also at the same time, I know I'm only stepping in for the one game because of Joe's personal situation." (BBC Sport)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020

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

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Jermaine Blackwood keen to prove himself against England attack

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KFDA Guyana provides COVID-19 hamper relief for Kingston, New Market St, Tiger Bay communities

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Bonner keen to make impact on Test scene

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Windies shouldn't expect less aggressive Stokes as England’s captain

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