Guyana Times - Wednesday, June 17, 2020

P17

Erosion affecting nesting of sea turtles in Guyana Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4319

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020

Commission is not a court of law – Claudette Singh …GECOM to use recount results to declare winner of 2020 Elections See story on page 3

…allegations must be taken to a court as a petition

APNU/AFC to respect GECOM Chair's decision – Ramjattan OAS looks forward to formal declaration, GECOM gives Lowenfield swearing-in of 2 days to use recount district certificates to newly-elected Govt Page 8

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

P11 12 new COVID-19 cases detected …Region 2 records 1st case

P20 48 more stranded Guyanese return home from US

Accused drug mule “Dive and Shoot” P8 remanded “A weight has been lifted off the nation’s shoulder” P22 – GECOM Commissioner …as APNU/AFC’s lastditch attempt to annul elections defeated

See stories on pages 10 & 19

submit final report

Page 7

…Carter Center lauds Caricom’s report

PPP commends GECOM Chair for upholding Constitution Page 22

…anxiously awaiting swearing-in of Irfaan Ali as 9th President

GTU President sends home students – P6 Region 6 Chair …overall school attendance tops 90%

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, June 17 – 02:00h and 13:30h-15:00h and Thursday, June 18 – 02:30h and 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, June 17 – 14:15h-15:45h and Thursday, June 18 – 15:00h-16:30h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers will prevail throughout the day and the evening interrupted in the early to late afternoon hours by light rain showers.

Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to South Southwesterly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 14:03h reaching a maximum height of 2.23 metres.

Commission is not a court of law – Claudette Singh …GECOM to use recount results to declare winner of 2020 Elections …allegations must be taken to a court as a petition

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n a groundbreaking decision, Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette 'Iron Lady' Singh, has decided to use the results from the recently concluded elections recount and have the People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/c) declared the winner of the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

This decision was made on Tuesday afternoon, after a day of meeting between Singh and the six GECOM commissioners.

In a subsequent statement sent out from GECOM, it was explained that Singh has advised Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield to

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

asserted that the Commission does not have the powers of a Court of Law to examine and re-examine witnesses, or to procure official documents to determine the truth of the al-

Low Tide: 07:36h and 19:52h reaching minimum heights of 0.85 metre and 0.87 metre.

Certificate of District Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) Tabulation

use the valid votes cast for each party in accordance with Article 177 and Section 96 of Representation of the People Act (ROPA) to give a summary of these valid votes and to prepare a final report.

The statement noted that after considerable deliberations at the Commission on the report submitted by Lowenfield on the national recount of votes cast in the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, Singh has requested that the CEO prepare a report to ascertain the results of the elections under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03, and in keeping with Order No. 60 of 2020 and its addendum dated 29th May, 2020.

No power to interrogate, annul

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In her decision, Singh was very clear that GECOM does not have the power to interrogate witnesses and determine the credibility of an election.

This, according to her, is for the High Court and an election petition.

Similarly, Singh noted that GECOM is not empowered to annul an election under any law. This is something that APNU/AFC-nominated GECOM Commissioners had asked for in a motion moved before the Commission on Tuesday morning, and which was ultimately defeated.

“In her decision to the Commission, Justice Singh

legations contained therein,” the statement also said.

“The Chairperson posited that she is of the opinion that some of the allegations are of a serious nature and must be addressed. However, Article

163 (1) (b) of the Constitution confers on the High Court the exclusive jurisdiction to determine the validity of an election.”

Singh, a retired Appeal Court Judge, explained in her decision that GECOM conducted the National Recount under Article 162 (1) (b) of the Constitution “to take such action as appear necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality and fairness.”

High Court

This, according to Singh, does not mean that GECOM can assume powers to give itself the jurisdiction to determine the credibility or an election. In fact, Article 163 of the Constitution of Guyana is clear that the High Court has the exclusive right to determine the credibility of an election.

“In this regard, GECOM could not have thereby clothed itself with jurisdiction to establish itself as a Court of Law to determine credibility of an election, when Article 163 (1) stipulates that the High Court shall have exclu-

GECOM Chair, retired Justice Claudette Singh

sive jurisdiction to determine the legality of an election,” GECOM said in its statement.

Justice Singh also noted that the Commission cannot arrogate to itself a jurisdiction to annul an election, since no specific power was conferred on it under Article 162 (1) (b).

A perusal of Articles 162 and 163 of the Constitution shows that the Articles clearly and sharply separate the respective functions of GECOM and the High Court in matters of electoral process.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 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

All of Guyana are winners E very Guyanese can now breathe a sigh of relief, after waiting for over fifteen weeks for a credible winner of the March 2 General and Regional Elections to be declared. The nation’s patience was really tested as the drama of the political crisis which engulfed the nation following a blatant attempt to derail the electoral process unfolded on live television.

In a widely expected move, after intense discussions over the past two days, the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice Claudette Singh, yesterday instructed Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield to prepare his report for an official declaration of votes cast in the March 2020 polls based on the results of the National Recount. The National Recount was certified by the Caricom Observer Team and all other observers present as credible and reflecting the will of the people. Lowenfield is now required to act with haste and prepare his report for the Commission’s declaration under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03, and in keeping with Order No. 60 of 2020 and its addendum dated 29th May, 2020.

The Chairman’s landmark decisions will go down in history as not only being legally sound, in keeping with the Constitution of Guyana, but also very crucial in retuning this country to a democratic path.

We had said on many occasions that Guyana cannot claim to be a democracy when there is an absence of free and fair elections. In a democracy, citizens must have the right to vote for a party of their choice, their votes must be honestly counted, and a rightful winner must take the reins of power only on that basis.

The unsubstantiated claims made by the APNU/AFC Coalition, of voter impersonations and ghost voting etc., had created much controversy. Everyone knew that these were just “fishing expeditions” by the Coalition, to have the elections nullified after it was clear that they were badly beaten at the polls.

However, the Chair was on target with her decision in every respect. She asserted that the Commission does not have the powers of a Court of Law to examine and re-examine witnesses or to procure official documents to determine the truth of the allegations contained therein.

She also correctly reasoned that Article 163 (1) (b) of the Constitution confers on the High Court the exclusive jurisdiction to determine the validity of an election. She explained that in order to give itself the authority to conduct the national recount, GECOM resorted to Article 162 (1) (b) of the Constitution to take such action as appear necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality and fairness.

In this regard, GECOM could not have clothed itself with jurisdiction to establish itself as a Court of Law to determine credibility of an election, when Article 163 (1) stipulates that the High Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to determine the legality of an election.

Justice Singh also noted that the Commission cannot arrogate to itself a jurisdiction to annul an election, since no specific power was conferred on it under Article 162 (1) (b). A perusal of Articles 162 and 163 of the Constitution shows that the Articles clearly and sharply separate the functions of GECOM and the High Court respectively in matters of electoral process.

Justice Singh must be commended for taking a bold stand on the side of democracy. In the face of mounting pressure and threats, she has delivered, and as a result of her landmark decisions, Guyana will be a better place.

Our hope now is that outgoing President David Granger and his team would do all that is necessary to ensure there is a smooth transition of government. The nation now depends on Granger to do the honourable thing and concede defeat. It could be recalled that when the then PPP/C Government lost the elections by a razor thin majority in 2015, they provided the necessary assistance to the incoming administration and gracefully left office.

That said, while the PPP/C is the legitimate winner of the elections and will take the reins of power, the entire Guyana must see themselves as winners, since it means that after all of the political rivalry between the two main political groups, our democracy has prevailed.

Certainly, these elections have caused much division in our nation. It is now time for our leaders to act with a high level of maturity and work together to move our country forward.

Place national interest over partisan interest, Granger; concede

Dear Editor, Fifteen weeks following the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, it seems that the process is coming to a close. This is despite the release of two conflicting reports submitted to the Guyana Elections Commission within the space of two days: the first

by Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield, who has a statutory function under the Representation of the People Act; and the other by the CARICOM Scrutinising Team.

Guyana owes a debt of gratitude to the three individuals who slogged away for thirty-three days, without interruption or any sign of flagging, to help restore trust in our electoral system.

President Granger praised then as “the most legitimate interlocutors on the Guyana situation”, and the members of the team as competent to produce work of an international standard. Granger publicly expressed the wish that he would like them to succeed.

It was clear that Keith Lowenfield went way outside of his remit as set out in the Recount Order and made findings and conclusions that have no legal basis, even though his report was endorsed by no less a luminary than Attorney General Basil Williams. I want to be-

lieve that Lowenfield made an innocent mistake in failing to understand what a summary is or the scope of his report. Mr. Lowenfield is not an attorney, and is probably not aware of the provisions of Article 163, which make the High Court the exclusive arbiter on matters relating to elections.

More troublingly, however, is that Lowenfield felt it was in his power to disenfranchise close to 275,000 voters, or 60% of those who voted. He does not understand the principle of presumption of legality and the onus and burden of proof. Had he been better advised, those legally elementary mistakes could have been avoided, as well as the ridicule being thrown at him.

The Caribbean Scrutinising Team has now made Lowenfield’s report into a series of amateurish mistakes, and it is now up to GECOM how to reconcile the two. Both reports are now being “deliberated on”

by GECOM, whose chairperson is, coincidentally, a retired judge. Despite the origin of their appointments, she and the other six commissioners are under oath to honour, uphold and preserve the Constitution. She, more than they, would recognise that they do have a fiduciary obligation to the electorate, and to conduct themselves

without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.

As it is, the Commission is comprised of rank political appointments under an independent chairperson. It would be truly unfortunate and unhelpful to our democracy if the chairperson is forced to use a casting vote, and it would go some way in restoring trust in the factions of the electorate if the chairperson can persuade her fellow commissioners to avoid a vote and rather come to an agreement by consensus. As a longstanding Judge, she no doubt has years of experience in the adversarial court system, and persuading rival sides to compromise.

But there is one person who carries an even greater role and influence, and that the APNU+AFC Presidential candidate David Granger.

The elections were hard fought, but it is time to bring the fight to an end. It is in the nature of competitive politics that one side seeks to persuade the electorate that it is more deserving of their vote than the other side. While defeat is always painful, it must never be dishonourable, and Granger will go a long way in restoring his credibility and the dignity of the high office he holds if he would call the PPP/C’s presidential can-

didate to congratulate him, wish him well, but signify to him that the Opposition is a legitimate part of the head table called the National Assembly.

Granger must rest assured that all the young people whose voices came to the fore were fighting not for the PPP/C, but for democracy.

One thing that now seems certain is: screw up, and the electorate will not hesitate to remove you.

The impending end of the electoral cycle solves only one of our country’s problems. We still have to deal with the coronavirus, and now we are told that our Treasury is empty. The World Court will soon be engaged in our long-festering issue with Venezuela. Our differences should end at our borders, and both Presidentelect Irfaan Ali and outgoing President Granger, as nationalists, must both work towards the preservation of our sovereignty and territorial wholeness.

There is a lot resting on the shoulders of the GECOM commissioners, and they need to put political differences aside and put Guyana first. But with Granger rests the opportunity and the duty to place the national interest over partisan interest.

Dear Editor, I am heartened by the turn of events, as the APNUAFC political masquerade and bullyism which threatened a storm has finally subsided. Over the last year or so, we endured a tolerance-testing journey; we have had to navigate political potholes, illogical math, legal battles, colossal power-avarice, devious manipulations of the SOP, and verification and reconciliation processes that ended with a money wasting national recount and tabulation. In the end, the truth prevailed.

In the words of Poet Omar Khayyam, “The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on, not all thy piety or wit shall lure it back to cancel half a line, nor all thy tears wash away a word of it.” While there are contextually profound meanings to such words, I have chosen to use the simplest version; that is, whatever is done cannot be undone.

The populace has spoken through the ballots; nothing can erase the collective

outcome. It’s a done deal, achieved through democratic processes, which we must all accept.

We must now positively embrace this change and collectively work to shape our country into the design that would be both physically pleasing and economically rewarding to us and our future generations.

We can all rest assured that the PPP/C has the nation’s best interests and socioeconomic well-being at heart. By extension, every Guyanese can look forward to prosperous times again; we did it before, and we will do it again. We have embraced a philosophy based on the idea that development is about people, and for people. Hence our focus on bettering the lives of all Guyanese, regardless of their religious, cultural or political affiliations.

Furthermore, the belief in peace, progress and prosperity collectively has always been our mantra. We shall not shirk from such responsibility. Let us now put

back our trust in our new administration, and be prepared to join hands across the ethnic, religious and political spectrum to lend support to a team which promises transformational leadership under our elected President, Dr Ali, and Prime Minister, Brigadier (rtd.)

Phillips.

In sum, let us relish the dawn of this new era of prosperity; one which would be forged on the rule of law

and egalitarian values and principles such as fairness, justice, equal opportunity, equal access; and correspondingly, citizens’ responsible conduct.

Fellow Guyanese, let our republic reign as we work to correct this disjunctive democracy and sweeten our bitter past.

Sincerely, Christopher Ram

The moving finger writes: time to sweeten our bitter past!

Sincerely, Ronald Singh Barrister & Solicitor

Where were the rallying voices?

Dear Editor, Where were the rallying voices in support of media houses which were not part of last Sunday’s presidential media interview?

Where were those same voices that upbraided the Opposition Leader when he refused to take a question from a certain media house, or the voices that stood with

their colleague when a leading light of one of the small parties refused to answer a follow-up question from a media house functionary?

Both events occurred at ACCC during the recent recount exercise. Where were the rallying voices?

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020

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Granger is the absolute mastermind of all machinations of PNC/APNU/AFC

Dear Editor, With the completion of the GECOM national recount of votes cast at the 2nd March, 2020 General and Regional Elections firmly placing the PPP/C as the winner with 233,336 votes, as against the APNU/AFC’s 217,920 votes, there is nothing to date that indicates acceptance of defeat on the part of the incumbent APNU/AFC. Instead, all the players in the PNC/APNU/AFC have jointly and severally embarked on a nasty, devious and obnoxious action plan to discredit the results of the recount. They have

conceitedly resorted to calling on GECOM to invalidate the elections based on their mind-afflicted imaginary anomalies and their spurious claims of fraud.

Caretaker President David Arthur Granger has no intention of demitting office; expect nothing better of him. Granger knows fully well that the PNC-led APNU/AFC Coalition has lost the elections. He needed no recount, but by no measure is he going to accept defeat. He agreed to the National Recount only to bolster his usual diversionary ploys for buying time and

creating long delays.

Faced with mounting calls from within Guyana, from past and present Caricom Leaders, and from the international community, Granger has doggedly stayed unyielding. Instead, he responded by unleashing his plethora of subordinates to heap scorn and besmirch the character of anyone who dares to call on him to respect and honour the will of the Guyanese people.

The vile display of lawlessness by the APNU/AFC has negatively impacted the daily life of Guyana, moreso since the first day of the com-

mencement of the national recount process.

Granger’s owning up to, and defending of, Harmon’s dismissive and outrageous personality assault on present and former distinguished leaders of Caricom countries on the ‘Straight up’ live talk show radio programme hosted by Mark Benschop on 12th June, 2020 spells danger in the making. Harmon’s unsubstantiated claims of unstamped ballots, destroyed ballots, lack of authenticity of the ballots, votes cast without ID cards, the number of proxies issued, statistical anomalies, breaches of

Dear Editor, On behalf of most Guyanese (and I hold no qualms with those who are not in agreement), more so the residents of Region Three -- especially the Demerarians, in particular the people from West Coast and West Bank -- we humbly wish to convey our profound and heartfelt congratulations to the People’s Progressive Party Civic and members on winning a sound and decisive victory at the last General and Regional Elections held on March 2nd, 2020, but only now having the confirmation of a declaration.

Based on the results, it is profoundly and transparently accepted that the results indicate more than 50% of the voting population showed their preference for the PPP/C to lead and govern this nation for at least the next five years.

At the time of writing, since the original counting of the votes commenced, the Mingo fiasco over fictitious numbers and imbroglio, the uncomfortable legal court proceedings, the CARICOM re-entry, the Carter Center refusal, Lowenfield’s 156 days’ recount process submission, the delaying tactics and antics, the frivolous interruptions, the thousands of unsubstantiated and ridiculous claims, the rebuttal from accusers, the revelation of facts over fiction, the actual recounting result, the embarrassing confessions from supporters of the Coalition Party, thousands of honest and sober-minded Guyanese have already shown their dislike for the former governing Party, and have indicated their full support for the PPPC by way of writing to the newspapers, calling in to radio programmes, or verbally expressing their choice to fellow Guyanese in the streets, at work, or at home.

This additional commitment reflects a majority and overwhelming support that extends far beyond the 50% plus and growing.

This increase in support may be due to several realistic factors; a few being: the unavailability of the use of the state machinery for the

Coalition Party to carry out their propaganda campaign; their inability to spread false rumours and lies; the nation witnessing their outrageous deceits; the discovery of their fraudulent methods; daily people are realizing that they were taken for a ride; the confessions from their own top party members; the growing distrust from global embarrassment; the diplomatic community’s refusal to recognise any illegal Government not democratically elected; the EU and Carter Center support for free and fair election; prominent dignitaries from the Caribbean, the Commonwealth, US, Canada and Europe condemning election fraud; the OAS report; and the CARICOM report, which was the final nail in the coffin for the Coalition Party.

It is without hesitation or reservation that we, the people of Leonora, extend our warmest and sincerest best wishes to Dr Irfaan Ali, the newly elected President of Guyana, and to Brigadier (retd) Mark Phillips, the newly appointed Prime Minister. We are so proud of the fact that these two distinguished gentlemen, backed by a supportive cast led by the prolific Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and the astute Mr Anil Nandlall, will lead this nation on to a road of recovery despite being saddled with the burn-

ing issues of a depleted economy, thanks to the bankruptcy gifted by the APNU/AFC Government, which has enjoyed squandering the country’s wealth at the expense of the people, and being beneficial only to the selected rogues and cabals who truly enjoyed the good life.

With youth and experience, intelligence and determination from the PPP/C, Guyana will once again overcome its pressing hurdles to establish stability and provide the happiness that the people finally deserve.

These two individuals should not fail us, but instead blaze a trail for development and construction, and forge a relationship that will bridge a gap between poverty and prosperity through unity, and not diversity.

May the Almighty look over the entire Guyana as we pray on our knees not to squeeze anyone, but for the good welfare of all; and that this nation will not be hurled to the ground and their lives and rights trampled on as they had previously experienced.

We fervently hope that this new administration will restore the true meaning of emancipation and not allow only one secular group to enjoy the privilege of courting freedom.

To our dear President: Sir, you have done great justice to the people of Leonora, coming a long way from the sacrifice of your grandmother and the other glowing contributions from the many stalwarts from this village, who have unreservedly sacrificed their lives for this Party and the people of this nation. Let us not forget the great Alice, a martyr who gave her live for the freedom of this country. You have a proven track record for success from your former ministerial positions, and we have no doubt that you will continue to shine again and better that record. We stand proud as “Leonorians” to acknowledge you as the first President Leonora has produced and the second from West Coast Demerara, the late Mr. Arthur Chung being the first.

To our friend Mr. Prime Minister, we say: Sir, you have also established yourself quite distinguishably as a military officer, and have won the admiration of this nation during your tenure. Leonora is proud to be associated with your selection, and know that you will perform to the best of your capacity and be a true statesman to represent the interest of all the people of Guyana.

Pride from Region 3

Respectfully, Jai Lall

counterfoil foils, missing poll books, boxes without records, and overvoting are all just wild accusations wittingly intended to rile up their support base.

The road talk shows hosted mainly by Christopher Jones and Sherod Avery Duncan, assisted by other accomplices at times, have been operationalised for that very purpose. On the completion of the GECOM national recount at the ACCC, they deliberately and wickedly ventured out into the other Regions to spread lies, lies, and more lies and distortions of the factual results from the National Recount already in the public domain. Their conspiracies know no bounds.

Caretaker President Granger’s recent sermons, which he has been spilling out to the nation on his supposed foreign interference in Guyana’s internal affairs, have no merit and are most spurious and despicable. His monotonous narratives, like a nursery rhyme since the passing of the No Confidence Motion against the government on the 21st December, 2018, reek of insanity. He has been saying such things as he has “always acted within the constitution”, he has “not interfered with the work of the GECOM”, and that he has “always respected the rulings of the Court”; but these are all laughable and disgusting.

The whole world knows differently, he does exactly the opposite. His utterances have become so asinine and insulting to the intelli-

gence of the Guyanese populace that they have gone far beyond the comprehension of all rational human beings.

There are those who would like to think that Granger is being pressured by some in his rigging cabal in the PNC, but that is far from the truth.

Granger is in full control; scheming, plotting and planning way ahead of time.

In his ramblings, he showered praise on Caricom, hoping that the three-member scrutinising team’s report would justify his claims of malfeasance at the 2020 elections. He avoids any mention of the blocking of the Carter Center Observer Mission, whose presence here would have given a tremendous boost to the transparency of the recount process.

The Granger-PNC cabal and the APNU/AFC have imbued into their unsuspecting supporters the cold-hearted lie that they have been cheated at the 2020 General and Regional Elections by the PPP; whereas it is an indisputable fact that it was the GECOM that managed the elections, for which the Secretariat consistently compromised with the PNC/ APNU/AFC. Granger is the absolute mastermind of all the machinations of the PNC/APNU/ AFC. The truth is inevitable, and once that dawns upon the people, they continue to misinform. It will work towards their detriment more than anyone else.

Respectfully Parasram Persaud

SEE ADDITIONAL LETTER ON PAGE 20

6 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GTU President sends home students – Region 6 Chair …overall school attendance tops 90% … satisfactory turnout recorded in Region 10

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he overall turnout across Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne) for the reopening of schools has been in excess of ninety percent.

Schools were reopened only for students sitting the National Grade Six (NGSA), the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE); and classes are being held only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. There are 52 primary and 17 secondary schools across the region.

Students sitting the NGSS have two more weeks until those examina-

tions are held, according to the Education Ministry.

Regional Chairman David Armogan is of the view that children are prepared to attend school, “Because they only have about two weeks left, and they have a lot of revision that they will need to catch up with,” the Regional Chairman told this publication.

At the regional level, the Chairman said, they are putting safety first.

Facilities have been installed at schools to ensure that students wash their hands regularly, Armogan noted, and most of the students have been wearing their face masks in the

classrooms.

Flowing an announcement by the Ministry, that schools would be reopened this week, the Guyana Teachers Union called on teachers not to attend school, sighting the pandemic as its major concern.

“The teachers have turned out to ensure that the children will have some level of preparation to write this exam. The only school that we had some issues with is the Port Mourant Secondary School. The head of that school is Mark Lyte, and he is the President of the Guyana Teachers Union.

The children turned up, but only five teachers turned

Students in class at Vryman’s Erven Secondary up, and so they made some arrangements to do the online revision,” Armogan explained.

Students attending that school were advised not to return to school when they turned out on Monday, because teachers at that school were supporting the call by the GTU.

UG restricts access to campuses

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he University of Guyana (UG) has moved to block all access to its two campuses – at Turkeyen and Tain – allowing only security and staff with top-level security clearance to be present at the institution.

In a statement, it was indicated that this complete restriction became effective from 18:00h last Monday for security reasons. This means students, faculty members, and auxiliary staff will not be allowed to enter the gates.

The institution said, “The administration of the University of Guyana wishes to advise members of our UG community (faculty, Staff and Students) that we must immediately move to a hard lockdown of all UG campuses due to security precautions, which must be taken at this time.”

This inflexible condition will continue until stakeholders are advised further

by UG’s administration.

Since the lockdown, staff members and other key personnel were reporting to

working as usual.

The statement read, “No one other than security and staff with top-level security clearance will be allowed on any of our campuses. We sincerely regret that this action has become necessary.

We will be observing conditions with a view to removing these restrictions at the earliest opportunity.”

It went on to say the University will continue to operate online in ‘safe mode’. The University community is reminded to keep checking official channels: UG website, HRMIS and SRMS for updates.

With the University

closed since mid-March, it is unclear when classroom activity will resume. Over the past weeks, exams and other grading mechanisms were facilitated online.

Last month, UG had clarified that it would not be demanding tuition fees from student, amid signals that the institution has been requesting payment as per normal. The Transitional Management Committee (TMC) had noted that these fees would be relaxed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There is currently no enforced deadline for payment of fees and the University

has not and is not demanding fees at this time and in these circumstances. It is hoped that this clarification brings relief to any student for whom the situation was not clear,” UG had said.

It went on to say that those who have the means to pay can do so while others experiencing difficulties can make use of the relaxed deadlines. In explaining a possible ‘mix-up’, the University stated that deadlines should not be read as a demand for payment of fees.

Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin, who was recently appointed Vice Chancellor, underscored last week that they have carefully drafted a blueprint to trigger the transformation of the University.

She explained that the institution will see major developments which include the strengthening of the institution’s financial systems, improvement in the Turkeyen campus’s sewage system, the training of staff and improvement of security for students, among other measures.

Meanwhile, Chairman Armogan, in giving his opinion, said two weeks of revision might not be sufficient.

“But it might help in some way to bring the children up to speed,” the Chairman argued.

Region 10 has satisfactory turnout

Meanwhile, in Region 10, a relatively satisfactory turnout was recorded at schools on Monday, as students writing examinations returned to classrooms in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regional Education Officer (REDO) Rabindra Singh described it as being “exceptionally fantastic” for the first day following almost three months of closure of schools. A total of 814 candidates are registered to write the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) Examination within the Region, and hundreds more are registered to write the CSEC and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

On Monday, students from Linden were observed with their face masks on as they headed into school compounds, some even being accompanied by their parents.

In respect to prepara-

tion, Singh said all of the schools have been fumigated, given adequate cleaning detergents to sanitize, and compounds have been weeded. Citing previous issues with malfunctioning and faulty sanitary block facilities, the REDO is advising the Education Ministry to install industrial toilet facilities. He noted, however, that the few functioning facilities can be efficient to serve the limited number of students presently attending school.

“We have a high turnout of teachers. Some schools, like One Mile, had forty-something teachers. Regma (had) almost the entire staff turned out, Mackenzie High had a lot of teachers… In almost all the schools, the entire staff (showed up) …just lent their support,” he noted.

Having visited several schools, Singh said the students appeared a bit tense, but he noted that students are placed six feet apart in classrooms, with not more than nine students in each classroom. He explained that, in some cases, schools’ auditoriums are utilised, and he has advised that a PA system be used in such cases. (Utamu Belle and Andrew Carmichael)

Kuru Kururu housewife terrorised, robbed during home invasion

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housewife of Kuru Kururu, LindenSoesdyke Highway, was on Tuesday terrorised and robbed by three armed bandits who broke into her home.

Forty-four-year-old Joann Kellman was reportedly beaten by the armed men, who demanded money after making their way into the home.

Based on information received, on the day in question about 13:00h, the men held the woman at gunpoint while she was in her bedroom.

She was reportedly dragged from the bedroom as the men made their de-

mands.

As she was kept hostage by one of the bandits, the others collected a 49-inch TCL television, an HP laptop, a Nintendo PS4, and a yellow metal ring. Not satisfied, they also relieved the woman of a sum of cash.

According to Police, the men then made good their escape in a Nissan Tida motor car that belonged to one of the occupants of the home. The vehicle was later discovered by Police at Friendship on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD).

Up to press time, no arrests had been made, but the Police were continuing their investigations.

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GECOM gives Lowenfield 2 days to use recount district certificates to submit final report C

hief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield, has been given a strict deadline by which he must submit a final report to enable GECOM Chair, retired Justice Claudette Singh, to declare a winner of the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

A letter which Singh wrote to Lowenfield has advised him to prepare a final report based on the results of the recently concluded National Recount, which lasted for over 30 days at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC).

“Pursuant to Article 177

GECOM CEO Keith Lowenfield

(2) (b) of the Constitution and Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act, you are hereby request-

Commission is not...

Moreover, Article 163(1) (b) and Article 71 (1)(b) of the 1996 Constitution, coupled with the case of Gladys Petrie v. Attorney General (1968), were cited by the Chairperson in arriving at her decision that the court is the proper forum to pronounce on the credibility of an election.

The National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act Cap 1:04 was also cited.

“The marginal note to section 3(1) of the Act enacts ‘Method of questioning the validity of election.’ According to section 57(3) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Act, Chapter 2:01, the marginal note shall be construed and have effect as part of the Act,” GECOM explained in their statement.

“Section 3(1) of the Act provides, ‘Any question referred to Article 163(1) (a), (b) and (c) of the Constitution may, in respect of an election referred to in Article 60(2) of the Constitution, and with a view of securing appropriate

remedial orders, be referred to the court, and shall thereupon be determined by it in accordance with this Act, and every such reference shall be by petition (hereafter referred to as an election petition).”

Final report

In light of this, and Order No. 60 of 2020, the GECOM Chair has instructed Lowenfield to prepare and submit a final report pursuant to Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03.

While no definite timeline has been given, the CEO is expected to present the report to the Commission as soon as is possible.

The National Recount of ballots concluded on Monday last with the results for the final district to be counted, District Four, certified the next day. The data generated from the 2,339 Statements of Recount (SOR) show that the PPP/C received a total of 233,336 votes.

This is 15,416 more

ed to prepare and submit your report by 13:00 hrs on June 18th, 2020 using the results of the recount for consideration by the commission,” Singh wrote in her letter to Lowenfield. The CEO simply has to tabulate the 10 SoRs certificate to fulfil his constitutional and statutory obligations.

The results, which constitute data generated from the 2,339 Statements of Recount (SORs), show that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won the March 2 General Election with 233,336 votes cast in its favour. The APNU/AFC secured 217,920

FROM PAGE 3

votes than their nearest rivals, APNU/AFC, which received 217,920 total votes.

When one calculates using the Hare formula, it means that PPP/C would have secured 33 out of 65 seats in the National Assembly, and APNU/AFC would have secured 31.

Unwillingness to accept defeat

A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) has however indicated an unwillingness to concede defeat. In a live broadcast on Tuesday evening, APNU/ AFC campaign manager Joseph Harmon sought to argue that the Chair’s decision was “convoluted”.

This is despite the fact that the Chair was very clear in her decision that it is up to a court to determine whether counted votes are valid or not. In addition, the Chair was clear that the many unsubstantiated allegations made by APNU/AFC must form the basis of an election petition.

votes. For the new parties, the numbers are as follows: A New and United Guyana – 2313; Change Guyana –1953; Liberty and Justice Party – 2657; People’s Republic Party – 889; The Citizen’s Initiative – 680; The New Movement – 244; and the United Republican Party – 360.

In the Regional Elections, the PPP/C also won with 233,661 votes, while APNU/ AFC secured 217,055 votes.

Change Guyana – 2607; Fed-Up Party – 153, Liberty and Justice Party – 2935; Organisation for the Victory of the People – 448; People’s Republic Party – 927; and the United Republican Party – 1369.

Justice Singh on Tuesday voted to use the results from the recently concluded recount and have the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/c) declared the winner of the 2020 General and Regional Elections. This decision was made on Tuesday afternoon, after a day of meeting between Singh and the six GECOM commissioners. At one point during the Commission’s deliberations, APNU/AFC-appointed Commissioners Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin and Desmond Trotman made a last-ditch attempt to have the entire elections scrapped.

The APNU/AFCappointed commissioners presented a proposal for the elections to be nullified and for there to be fresh elections based on APNU/AFC’s unsubstantiated claims of irregularities. The PPP-nominated Commissioners, on the other hand, presented arguments in favour of using the results generated from the National Recount as the basis for an official declaration.

In her decision, Singh said GECOM does not have the

The letter sent to CEO Keith Lowenfield power to interrogate witnesses and determine the credibility of an election. This, according to her, is for the High Court and an election petition.

Further, Singh noted that GECOM is not empowered to annul an election under any law. This is something that Government-nominated GECOM Commissioners had asked for in a motion moved before the Commission on Tuesday morning, and which was ultimately defeated.

“In her decision to the Commission, Justice Singh asserted that the Commission does not have the powers of a Court of Law to examine and re-examine witnesses, or to procure official documents to determine the truth of the allegations contained therein,” the statement also said.

“The Chairperson posited that she is of the opinion that some of the allegations are of a serious nature and must be addressed. However, Article 163 (1) (b) of the Constitution confers on the High Court the exclusive jurisdiction to determine the validity of an elec-

tion.”

Singh, a retired Appeal Court Judge, explained in her decision that GECOM conducted the National Recount under Article 162 (1) (b) of the Constitution “to take such action as appear necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality and fairness.”

This, according to Singh, does not mean that GECOM can assume powers to give itself the jurisdiction to determine the credibility or an election. In fact, Article 163 of the Constitution of Guyana is clear that the High Court has the exclusive right to determine the credibility of an election.

Justice Singh also noted that the Commission cannot arrogate to itself a jurisdiction to annul an election, since no specific power was conferred on it under Article 162 (1) (b).

A perusal of Articles 162 and 163 of the Constitution shows that the Articles clearly and sharply separate the respective functions of GECOM and the High Court in matters of electoral process.

8 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

APNU/AFC to respect GECOM Chair’s decision – Ramjattan

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ours after Guyana Elections Commission Chair, Claudette Singh, directed the Chief Elections Officer to prepare his final elections report using recount tabulation results, Leader of the Alliance for Change, Prime Ministerial candidate Khemraj Ramjattan, said the APNU/AFC would have to accept the declaration.

Ramjattan is quoted by local online news entity Demerara Waves as saying: “We’ll have to respect her decision. I have indicated that I certainly will; that’s my position, and we all agree that we are going to respect her decision.”

He is quoted by Demerara Waves as saying that the party is bound by the constitutional entity and, “…we are bound to by law, and we are bound by the procedures.”

“That constitutional entity is GECOM, and if GECOM makes the declaration, whether it’s by majority 4-3, or if it is a majority of seven; whatever it is, we respect that and we move on as a country. There’ll be lots to say by all politicians, but we’ll have to move on,” Ramjattan is quoted by the

Leader of the Alliance For Change and Prime Ministerial Candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan

local online news entity as saying.

On April 21, Ramjattan told the media that if the National Recount shows that Peoples Progressive Party Civic wins the General and Regional elections, he will be the first to congratulate the party’s presidential candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali. “I would immediately congratulate Irfaan Ali and tell him, ‘God bless,’ and, ‘I am here to give as much support as possible’,” Ramjattan had said.

However, while that party’s Prime Ministerial Candidate is ready to accept the declaration which

will show that the APNU/ AFC has been defeated at the 2020 polls, its campaign manager Joseph Harmon, in a social media live video, said, “no winner or loser” has been declared, and the party is awaiting the formal instructions given to CEO Keith Lowenfield for his final report.

On Tuesday, after considerable deliberations at the Commission on the report submitted by the Chief Election Officer, Chairperson of the Commission, Justice Claudette Singh, requested the CEO to prepare a report to ascertain the results of the elections under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03 and in keeping with Order No. 60 of 2020 and its addendum dated 29th May, 2020. Justice Singh asserted that the Commission does not have the powers of a court of law to examine and re-examine witnesses, or to procure official documents to determine the truth of the allegations contained therein.

The Chairperson posited that she is of the opinion that some of the allegations are of a serious nature

and must be addressed.

However, Article 163 (1) (b) of the Constitution confers on the High Court the exclusive jurisdiction to determine the validity of an election.

She explained that in order to give itself the authority to conduct the National Recount, GECOM had resorted to Article 162 (1) (b) of the Constitution to take such action as appear necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality and fairness.

In this regard, GECOM could not clothed itself with jurisdiction to establish itself as a court of law to determine credibility of an election, when Article 163 (1) stipulates that the High Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to determine the legality of an election.

Justice Singh also noted that the Commission cannot arrogate to itself a jurisdiction to annul an election, since no specific power was conferred on it under Article 162 (1) (b). A perusal of Articles 162 and 163 of the Constitution shows that the Articles clearly and sharply separate the functions of GECOM and the High Court respectively in matters of electoral process.

Accused drug mule “Dive and Shoot” remanded

Charged: Farook Baksh

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44-year-old Boat Captain who has been on the run for almost

two years for smuggling drugs into Guyana was on Monday arraigned on a trafficking in narcotics charge when he appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

Farook Baksh, called “Dive and Shoot’, of Mon Repos North, East Coast Demerara (ECD), appeared before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool and denied the charge when it was read to him.

The Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) stated that on July 14, 2018, Baksh attempted to smuggle a large quantity of drugs into the country on a vessel.

The court heard that on

The drugs that were seized in 2018

the day in question, ranks intercepted the fishing vessel that Baksh was in at Mon Repos.

During a search, some 82 parcels of cocaine weighing 91.132 kilograms, equivalent to 201 pounds, and 98 parcels of cannabis weighing 56.008 kg, equivalent to 123 lbs, were unearthed.

During the operation, Baksh managed to escape.

However, ranks were able to arrest his accomplice, 51-year-old Azim Baksh, called “Bato”, a furniture maker, of Good Hope, ECD.

“Bato” was later sentenced to five years in prison and fined $221 million after he found guilty of trafficking cocaine and marijuana.

CANU Prosecutor Narissa Leander objected to bail given that Baksh was a flight risk and more importantly, he was only apprehended a few days ago after being on the run for years.

Magistrate Liverpool, after listening to the prosecution’s submission, remanded Baksh to prison. He will make his next court appearance on July 8, 2020.

The Iron Lady...

T

...hasn’t sung yet he US gave the world, “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings” as its own variant of the stiff upper lip British’s “There’s many a slip between the cup and the lip”.

Well, with us being in the American Hemisphere and all, it does look like we’ll soon add our own twist: “It ain’t over till the Iron Lady sings!!” After all, with us now in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest running elections in the world without a declaration – way over 100 days – folks are all wondering if it’s finally over with the Iron Lady, Claudette Singh’s instruction to her CEO, Lowenfield to use the recount numbers to prepare his report for the declaration.

But after all we’ve gone through since March 2nd, we should realise that these are just HER wishes about the song she wants to sing – and, as we know to our cost, Lowenfield either has a mind of his own, or is being controlled by his PNC handlers, a la the Manchurian Candidate. Let’s put it this way, after that Caricom report, Lowenfield knows there’s an orange jumpsuit already laid out for him – so it’s quite possible he’ll say, “I might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb!” And refuse to follow her instructions!!

The point is, Lowenfield’s already given her his report with the numbers from the recount, which passed muster from Caricom. That he made all sorts of recommendations is irrelevant, immaterial and of no consequence. Such interpolations are above his pay grade and the very fact that didn’t even understand both his remit and that of the entire GECOM as opposed to the Courts, shows why he’s a mere “utensil” of the Commission!! Madam Chair should’ve made her declaration then and there at the meeting by just using the figures Lowenfield has tabulated!!

After all, in the GECOM release, she used her judicial background to clearly demarcate the responsibilities of her institution as limited to making a call for which list is the winner by just looking at the numbers. Any other concerns about the validity of those numbers is a matter for an elections petition to the High Court. As it is now, even if Lowenfield does (sullenly) produce a report bereft of his presumptuousness, and the Iron Lady sings from her song sheet, the PNC still has time to run to the Courts for an injunction to stop any swearing in – before she’s finished with the last stanza.

Your (quite jaded) Eyewitness has been around the block – and then some –- with this PNC lot.

And even Madam Chair’s dulcet tones won’t tame those savage beasts!! ...stayed the course Well, your Eyewitness would be a real hypocrite if he said he hadn’t doubted that Claudette Singh would do the right thing – as Spike Lee had advised back in the day. As he said once, The Iron Lady insisted on following the Solomonic rule literally – always hacking the baby in two – and handing the bigger portion to the PNC. Remember that H2H registration – which Stanley Ming now complained about being bloated after 270,000 names were culled and added on the behest of his PNC!!

But maybe there was a method in her madness. She most likely read through the PNC’s machinations all along –- after all she’s old enough to have experienced the PNC’s paramountcy that extended to flying their flag over the Court of Appeals – and gave them no excuse to now say she wasn’t fair to them.

So, she saved her best for last and your Eyewitness doesn’t give her his customary hat tip – but a round of applause.

The Iron Lady hasn’t rusted as was feared. She’s been forged into steel!!

Stainless steel!! ...and a new GECOM Even though it’s not all over, your Eyewitness endorses the Caricom Team’s recommendation that GECOM needs a root-and-branch overhaul.

It needs to be reconstituted along the lines of the Indian Elections Commission – totally apolitical.

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

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| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Carter Center lauds Caricom’s report on elections recount …reiterates need for constitutional reform

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he United Statesbased Carter Center has welcomed the submission of a report to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) by the team of scrutineers fielded by the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

That report says the results from the National Recount exercise are acceptable and provide the basis for a declaration of results from the March 2, 2020 General and Regional elections.

In a brief statement on Tuesday, The Carter Center commended GECOM for

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Carter Center, Jason Carter

completing the 34-day recount of the votes cast at the March elections.

Reiterating its disappointment that it was not allowed to return to Guyana to directly observe the recount, the Center said it is “encouraged by Caricom’s largely positive report on the recount process.”

The US-based organisation had previously stated that while electoral preparations and voting and counting procedures had met international standards, the March tabulation process for Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) – Guyana’s largSylvester King, Deputy Supervisor of Elections in 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 shares a moment with Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque

est voting district – had generated results that were deemed not credible, not just by the Carter Center, but also by other international and domestic observers.

Nevertheless, the missive further stated: “Going forward, The Carter Center calls on all Guyanese to prioritise efforts to strengthen Guyana’s democratic institutions, and advance constitutional reforms to move beyond the winner-takes-all system.”

The Carter Center, which had fielded a team of observers to monitor Guyana’s elections over three months ago, was blocked from returning to the country to observe the recount as a result of the closure of the airports here due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The David Granger-led incumbent administration had rejected two requests from the Center to return, saying it relies on the Caricom team as the most “legitimate interlocutor” in the recount process.

The National Recount has shown that Opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) winning the elections with a landslide victory of some 15,416 votes more than the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition. The PPP/C garnered a total of 233,336 votes, while the APNU/AFC secured 217,920 votes.

In its report to the GECOM Chair, (ret’d) Justice Claudette Singh, on

Tuesday, the Caricom Team said, “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 02, 2020 elections.

Any aggrieved political party has been afforded the right to seek redress before the courts in an elections petition.”

The report went on to say that despite some of its administrative failings and minor flaws, “…the Team categorically rejects the concerted public efforts to discredit the 2020 polls, up to the disastrous Region 4 tabulation.”

Another section of the report reads, “Overall, while we acknowledge that there were some defects in the recount of the March 02, 2020 votes cast for the General and Regional Elections in Guyana, the team did not witness anything which would render the recount, and by extension the casting of the ballot on March 02, so grievously deficient procedurally or technically (despite some irregularities), or sufficiently deficient to have thwarted the will of the people and consequently preventing the election results and its declaration by GECOM from reflecting the will of the voters. The actual count of the vote was indeed transparent.”

The three-member high-level Caricom Team was present here for the entire 34-day recount exercise – with the permission of the GECOM Chair - following an agreement by caretaker President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

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

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020

12 new COVID-19 cases detected

…Region 2 records 1st case

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uyana has recorded an alarming 12 new COVID-19 cases in one day, increasing the total number to 171.

According to Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Shamdeo Persaud, another 12 samples turned up with positive results. However, the number of deaths is still at 12, after 32 tests were conducted.

This whopping rise in cases comes after the country’s cases remained constant since last Saturday.

The total number of tests conducted to date is 1995 and of that number, some 1822 were negative. There are 60 active cases in institutional isolation and 24 cases in quarantine. For now, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) remains free of any patients and there are 99 recoveries.

The CMO also reported that Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) reported its first case of the virus. It is one of eight administrative regions to record positive cases of the virus thus far. The patient is a 28-year-old min-

er of Charity, who previously worked in Aranka, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni, which had been declared to be one of the COVID-19 hotspots in Guyana.

As such, the CMO called on the mining community to follow the necessary guidelines.

“We continue to call on our mining community to recognise that you can only be safe if you always follow the guidelines of wearing a mask when you are in public, washing your hands as often as possible, and maintaining physical distancing,” he urged.

During this time, there are strong warnings against self-medication to treat symptoms related to the coronavirus disease. Instead, persons experiencing symptoms are asked to seek proper treatment at a medical fa-

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud

cility, where their symptoms can be analysed and treated.

“Please remember that there is no cure so the temptation to self-medicate if you have symptoms of COVID-19 is not recommended. We ask that you seek medical attention by contacting the nearest health facility, so that they can bring services to you. The message is not only for the miners within the hinterland region, but for

those who are at home on the coastland and have plans of returning. Please remember that you cannot provide for your family if you are sick,” Dr Persaud highlighted.

Repatriation

In recent weeks, Guyana has welcomed two repatriation flights for persons stuck overseas owing to the current pandemic. The CMO sought to highlight procedures which apply to any traveller arriving through the country’s international airports by commercial or private means.

A summary of the criteria for travel by air includes PCR testing for COVID-19, temperature checks, symptom screening and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

“Persons returning by airlines will be screened at check-in and boarding by

the airline. Temperature, symptoms checks, health assessment and other COVIDspecific exit/entry screening will be applied in accordance with IATA [International Air Transport Association] guidance. Travellers should provide proof of negative PCR tests not more than 48 hours before travelling. If testing is done on same day, testing must be done by PCR method and travellers must arrive at least six hours before the departure of the flight,” he asserted.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the total number of cases is 7, 823, 289 cases with 431, 541 deaths. In the Region of the Americas, the total number of positive cases is 3,781,538 with 201,848 deaths.

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Enmore Martyrs left an “indelible mark” on country’s history – GAWU

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reaths were on Tuesday laid by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union at the Enmore Martyrs’ gravesite in the Le Repentir Cemetery in remembrance of five sugar workers who died while advocating for better working conditions.

Former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee also joined the act of showing

solidarity in remembering the martyrs. Some 72 years ago, on June 16, five men: Harry, Lallabajee, Pooran, Surujballi and Rambarran, were fatally shot at the Enmore Sugar Estate, East Coast Demerara (ECD), after protesting the harsh conditions faced at the workplace and calling for better wages.

Against this backdrop, GAWU said, there were many erupting incidents

during that time – all circulating around the mining sector and sugar industry.

Workers were faced with discrimination and other ills by the colonial masters, which were left unheard. However, this incident resulted in the advocation of better rights for the working class and lower-level ranks.

According to the Union, the death of these workers was the ‘awakening’ needed

Erosion affecting nesting of sea turtles in Guyana

Shell Beach has been experiencing beach erosion, which affects nesting

A

vailable nesting grounds for sea turtles have been dwindling in recent years due to erosion on Guyana’s coastal protected area, Shell Beach.

Site Coordinator at the Protected Areas Commission, Samuel Benn, on Tuesday noted that this has negatively impacted nesting activity within 2015 and 2018. As at last year, there was a small deposition in these figures.

The topic came under light during a ‘Sea Turtle Conservation’ webinar in commemoration of World Sea Turtle Day on June 16.

The nesting data summary shows there is a decreasing trend, from 353 in 2015 to a significant drop of 151 in 2018.

“Some of the challenges that sea turtles face are accidental capture in fishing nets, poaching of eggs, and the slaughtering of an adult female for consumption. The main challenge is beach loss due to erosion…

The summary is showing a decreasing trend from 2015 to 2018. All of this is coupled because of the loss of nesting beach,” he outlined.

Because of this, the Commission is tasked with conducting a survey at the start of every nesting season to select suitable areas where these exotic creatures can continue their species.

Shell Beach is one of five protected area systems, namely Iwokrama, Kaieteur, Kanuku and Konashen Amerindian settlement. It is Guyana’s only coastal protected area, spanning some 123,055 hectares with 120 kilometres of beach and mudflats.

The beach is known primarily as the main nesting site for four of the world’s seven sea turtle species.

During the nesting period of February to August, the leatherback, hawksbill,

Oliver Ridley and green sea turtles return to the shores to continue the existence of their species.

Sea turtle sighting statistics from the Commission show there were 618 turtles in 2015; 373 in 2016; 579 in 2017; 417 in 2018, and 419

nets and the mechanisms in place to protect these animals. Presently, there is a Turtle Excluder Device (TED) which is specifically designed to allow turtles to escape unharmed. In 2018, Guyana achieved a 94 per cent technical compliance rate by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – higher than the required 87 per cent standard.

“All trawlers are required to have TEDs on their fishing equipment, and carry a spare on board.

This is a requirement by law,” Bumbury voiced.

There are other regulations in the Fisheries Act 2000, General Marine Regulations 2018, Guyana Marine Fisheries Management Plan 20132020, Seabob Fisheries

Nesting data shows decreased activities from 2015 to 2018

last year. Benn highlighted that fluctuation is understandable, given that sea turtles nest within three to four years’ intervals.

During the nesting period, the Commission and World Wildlife FundGuianas are tasked with ensuring that sites are stable. In some cases, the eggs are moved to a superior location.

“The Protected Areas Commission, with financial and technical support from WWF-Guianas, has been actively monitoring sea turtles on the main and isolated beaches along the protected area since 2015. The monitoring is conducted by PAC rangers, with other staff from the communities that are hired during the nesting season…If a turtle nests in an area that is prone to erosion or that is likely to erode before that nest has hatched, that clutch would be relocated to a safer spot.”

Fishing inspections

Fisheries Officer Randy Bumbury also highlighted incidents in which sea turtles are trapped in fishing

Management Plan 20152020, and others which mandate penalties for any contravention by fishermen.

The leatherback turtle, officially declared an endangered species some time ago, can be found in only a few locations around the globe. According to WWF Marine Conservation Officer Sopheia Edghill, the Guianas – comprising of the Republic of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, has been battling to save other endangered marine species; namely sharks, stingrays and marine mammals.

As part of the regional approach, they are seeking to adopt new technologies, such as flexible TEDs, as well as advocation for the mandatory use of these devices in shrimp trawlers.

During nesting seasons, stakeholders are asked to report any sea turtle sighting to the PAC; WWF; Guyana Wildlife; Conservation and Management Commission, Department of Fisheries; or the Guyana Marine Conservation Society.

Wreaths laid at the Enmore Martyrs’ gravesite

for workers in the other sectors.

“The brutal repression of 1948 did not daunt the workers nor dampen their spirit.

Indeed, militancy in the industry grew, and political awareness and activities expanded. Sugar workers’ right to be represented by a union of their choice was won in 1976. Sugar workers, under the aegis of GAWU, have taken part, along with other working people, in the struggles for political independence. They championed the nationalisation of the sugar industry; they stood up and fought for the restoration of democratic elections. These struggles took place side by side with other struggles to improve wages and working conditions throughout the industry, and for other workers,” the Union said.

While reflecting on this historic period, GAWU said there is a present crossroad

which the country must leap over to uphold democracy.

The current political climate, it said, shows that the legitimate government should be sworn-in.

“While we see their fervent efforts, we see too, the thousands of Guyanese who have stood up, and are standing up, to protect and uphold our democratic culture.

Indeed, it tells us that the spirit of the Martyrs is alive and well; as many, like them, are standing up to those who seek to oppress them and to take away their rights.

At this time, the GAWU remains firm that the elections were credibly conducted and the legitimate Government should take the reins of State.”

This year, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) also pledged not to let the sacrifices of the five Enmore Martyrs be forgotten on their 72nd death an-

niversary.

The PPP/C recalled the silent pledge its founder, the late Dr Cheddi Jagan, made at the graveside of the five slain workers at the Le Repentir Cemetery in Georgetown: to dedicate his entire life to the cause of the struggle of the Guyanese people against bondage and exploitation.

Dr Jagan subsequently founded the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in 1950.

This incident added motivation and propelled Dr Jagan and the PPP to fight against colonialism and for the betterment of the lives of all Guyanese.

According to the Party, those unrelenting struggles, during which Dr Jagan became a political prisoner, have characterised the PPP in its efforts to advance Guyana and the lives of Guyanese, as is evident from the unprecedented growth and development that hallmarked the various periods while it was in government.

To this end, the PPP/C said, the sacrifices of the Enmore Martyrs therefore have tremendous relevance in today’s context, given renewed and unremitting struggles that intensified following the historic no- confidence motion (NCM) against the APNU/AFC Government on December 21, 2018; struggles which continued to prevent a most uncaring regime from subverting democracy.

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Ramsammy’s Ruminations OAS looks forward to formal declaration, President Irfaan Ali must begin moving Guyana forward to our prosperous destiny

G

ECOM has now done the right thing - declared the PPP the winner of the March 2, 2020 elections. It has been a long wait, but GECOM has done what it should have done since the first week of March.

The Guyanese people have been patient, but now GECOM has brought this shameful journey to an end. We must proceed expeditiously to swear in President Irfaan Ali. On June 16th, 1948, seventy-two years ago, the British Police shot and killed innocent sugar workers from the Enmore Sugar Estate. The Dr Leslie Ramsammy Enmore Martyrs have been honoured every year since by the leaders and members of the PPP. Far from ending the agitation of sugar workers for better treatment, the killing led to a movement that resulted in Guyana gaining independence in May 1966, about 18 years later. Far from denting the fire in people’s bellies for freedom and democracy and for human rights, the deadly bullying by the British on June 16, 1948 in Enmore inspired Cheddi Jagan to form the People’s Progressive Party. This political party has led Guyana’s struggle for freedom and democracy ever since. In 1950, Cheddi Jagan’s PPP united the races in Guyana, even if fleetingly. But the PPP also led the struggle against imperialism; the struggle for independence, which Guyana won in 1966; and led the struggle against Forbes Burnham’s dictatorship after independence. David Granger tried to re-impose Burnhamstyle dictatorship since 2015, and tried desperately to use the March 2 elections to restore dictatorship in Guyana. The PPP led the struggle to stop him.

The March 2, 2020 elections, therefore, have been more than an election to decide which political party will govern Guyana for the next five years. It has become a battle for Guyana’s freedom, and a struggle for democracy to survive. For more than 106 days now, David Granger’s APNU+AFC, Burnham’s PNC reincarnated, has wickedly tried to thief the elections. While they succeeded in preventing President Irfaan Ali from being sworn in for more than 100 days, we are now at a point to swear in our President. Unlike the Burnham-and-PNC rigging in the 1960s, 1970s and the 1980s, when the world stood by silently and even aided and abetted the blatant rigging of elections, in 2020, the world is standing with the people of Guyana to denounce the ugly thieving of the elections.

But more importantly, Guyanese who did not vote for the PPP are standing in a united resistance to David Granger and his rigging cabal.

On June 15, the CARICOM Observer Team, the team David Granger claimed are the best interlocutors to observe the recount, the only international team Granger wanted, presented their report of the recount. They concluded that the elections were free and fair, that the recount proved that the Statements of Poll were accurate, that the PPP won the elections, and that GECOM must declare the winner of the elections in accordance with the recount figures. The Commission has now done the right thing and declared the rightful winner. The time has come for Guyana to move forward. We knew for a long time who was the winner.

We now have further confirmation that the PPP won, and that Guyana’s new President is Dr. Irfaan Ali. Guyana’s economy has been on a freefall. Sugar, the main platform for Guyana’s economy for 400 years, is on its deathbed.

The rice farmers have kept rice alive and provided the Granger government with a lifeline. Mining and local businesses are struggling. OIL is here, but with low price, oil is not making up for the losses Guyana has suffered. In fact, with flaring of gas, Guyana is squandering our carbon credits and, therefore, the loss in carbon credit is far more than we will presently earn from oil. While the economy is reeling, Guyana’s macro-economic framework is also under assault. Our debt has risen faster than at any time since 1990. We have accumulated more than $US1B in new loans in the last five years. At the same time, Guyana’s reserves have been totally exhausted. From more than $15B gold reserve, Guyana is now near zero. From almost $10B in local currency reserve, Guyana squandered it all and accumulated an overdraft of almost $100B. We cannot account for $US18M EXXON bonus.

We cannot account for $30B GUYSUCO loan. There is an ugly trail of corruption. Health, education, housing, water, electricity and security are all in trouble. Guyana is itself sick. We need to move on. The last five years have squandered all our gains since 1992.

The swearing in of President Irfaan Ali is therefore not only the right thing to do, because he won the elections, it is critical to ensure Guyana has a chance to recover in a reasonable time.

With President Irfaan Ali leading his new Cabinet, Guyana has a chance to breathe again. Sugar, on this significant day, the Enmore Martyrs Day, can breathe again. The economy, with OIL, is now going to be flourishing again. We are about to begin a new day.

None of our goals would be as significant as bringing our people together, nurturing a unity that Cheddi Jagan achieved in 1953.

swearing in of newly-elected Govt

T

he Organisation of American Sttes (OAS) says it is awaiting the swearing in of Guyana’s newly elected Government, while offering its continuous support to the new administration during this period of transition.

In a landmark decision on Tuesday, Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice Claudette Singh, directed the Chief Elections Officer to prepare his final report using the figures from the National Recount for the declaration of the results of the March 2 elections.

Figures from the recount show the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in a landslide lead over the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) by more than 15,416 votes.

To this end, the OAS, in a statement on Tuesday, welcomed the decision by the Elections Commission to declare results of the General and Regional Elections held over three months ago based on the data from the recount exercise.

“The OAS looks forward to the formal declaration of the results and the eventual swearing in of the newly elected government. In this regard, the Organization remains available to provide such support as is required as the new administration addresses the issues and challenges emanating from the 2020 electoral process,” a missive from the 34-member organisation detailed.

It went on to remind that the decision to conduct a na-

President-elect, Dr Irfaan Ali

tional recount of all ballots cast on March 2 was supported by stakeholders in the electoral process as a means to determine a final credible result that was acceptable to all parties.

According to the OAS, the majority of these stakeholders, as well as local and international observers present for the recount, have confirmed that the process was impartial, transparent and reliable, and delivered a result that reflects the will of Guyanese voters.

“The OAS commends the people of Guyana for their patience during this extended electoral exercise, and thanks the electoral workers for their diligence – both on Election Day and during the recount – in ensuring that the voices of all Guyanese voters were heard and respected. The constant vigilance of political parties and the service of local and international observers were also key to the final outcome, and must be acknowledged and applauded,” it stated.

On Monday last, the

OAS called on the APNU/ AFC Administration to begin the process of transition so that the legitimately-elected Government can take its place. This call came hours after the Caribbean Community (Caricom) high-level team of scrutineers had said in its report on the elections recount that the process was conducted in “a professional, transparent and impartial fashion”, which allowed GECOM, political parties and other stakeholders to accurately determine the results for each polling station.

The OAS reiterated that there is no reason not to support the results of the recount process.

“OAS further takes note and wholly supports the findings of the Caricom team of scrutineers that the results of the recount were transparent and credible, and nothing prevents the Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission from now declaring the election based on these results,” the Organization said in the Monday missive.

It added that elections are held to determine the will of the people, and once the people’s wishes are clearly stated, they must be upheld, not only in instances where they favour the incumbent.

“In this case, the results published in the report of the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) himself make it clear that the Opposition PPP/C [People’s Progressive Party/Civic} has won the favour of the majority of Guyana’s eligible voters.

Their will must be respected,” the OAS had stated.

The 34-member Organisation had fielded an

OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro

Elections Observer Mission that was led by former Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding, to monitor Guyana’s March 2 elections.

The team was among the five international observation missions, along with domestic observers and other stakeholders, which had deemed the tabulation of the votes in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) – Guyana’s largest voting district – as not credible.

It was subsequently discovered during the national recount exercise that embattled District Four (DemeraraMahaica) Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo had heavily inflated the figures in favour of the APNU/AFC Coalition.

Presenting his preliminary findings of the EOM to the OAS Permanent Council on May 13, Golding said, “I have never seen a more transparent effort to alter the results of an election…it takes an extraordinarily courageous mind to present fictitious numbers when such a sturdy paper trail exists.”

Silvie’s facing huge losses due to flooding

Flooding in front of Silvie’s store

P

opular hardware, electrical, and industrial store Silvie’s Industrial Solutions are counting losses due to the constant flooding of their High and Hadfield Street, Georgetown store during rainy seasons.

Health and Safety Manager of the establishment, Henry Manerio, told this publication that they are becoming frustrated, not only because of their losses, but because their employees are becoming sick.

“We are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars and this is a horrible situation. Every time a little rain falls, this whole place gets flooded. This is happening especially in our Repairs Department, where we do repairs for customers; that entire place gets flooded. We are even experiencing situations where some of our

workers are becoming sick,” he said.

Manerio underscored that they have reached out to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) several times, with the recent date being around the 13th of May, and to date, there has been no satisfactory action taken.

“We are suffering losses, especially in manpower, with the amount of time the team has to take to bail out the water from the store. Our business performance on the days the area is flooded acts within a loss, because it is unsanitary and difficult for our customers to enter the premises, and their shopping comfort gets disturbed”, Manerio said.

The health and safety manager alluded that the business has been experiencing this is-

The flooded Repairs Department at Silvie’s

sue for more than four years, and it is becoming worse year after year.

Late last year, the Mayor and City Council had said that when flooding occurs in the city, the M&CC is not the only one to be blamed. Ubraj Narine, Mayor of Georgetown, had pointed accusing fingers at the residents of the city, saying that they are also responsible. He added that the flooding is becoming worse because residents of the city

are littering. The Mayor said sofa sets and old pieces of cloth were found among items clogging the drainage system.

Also, in 2019, drainage works were done in Georgetown to increase the drainage capacity and significantly reduce flooding throughout the city. An allocation of G$274 million was spent on Georgetown’s drainage, yet residents and businesses of the city are still complaining.

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48 more stranded Guyanese return home from US …73 US citizens depart

then placed under home quarantine for seven days with representatives of the Public Health Ministry checking on their well-being on a daily basis through visits or telephone calls.

Senior Government officials, including the caretaker Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence and Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Director General Egbert Field,

Murder of cattle farmer continues to baffle detectives

A passenger being disinfected upon arrival at CJIA

Mohammed Khan

King Solomon

By Shemar Alleyne

A

fter some delay, 48 Guyanese returned home on Tuesday from the United States of America after being stranded owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The passengers arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) via Eastern Airlines flight 182 from the Miami International Airport.

However, upon its departure, the aircraft will carry 73 citizens of the United States who were stranded in Guyana following the closure of Guyana’s borders, including airspace, from March 18, 2020.

At the CJIA, Guyana Times caught up with some of the elated Guyanese who stated that “it is great being back home.” Some of them were stranded in the US for more than four months.

“It is great being back home; a lot of confusion first to get on the flight, but once

Dione Basdeo

you get your name of the list, then everything was smooth from there. I am just happy to be back home, because there is no place like home,” one passenger, Mohammed Khan stated.

Another incoming passenger, King Solomon, stated that he was “optimistic” that things would change in Guyana, so that the country can return to

normalcy.

“I feel relief and relaxed that I am home now, and it is time to get back to business and see what I can do now.

Hopefully, everything changes, and the country is able to return back to normal,” Solomon posited.

Also, businesswoman Roshanie Lyub stated that she was “stressed out” after being stuck in the US. “I went in the US since March 12, and I supposed to return on April 3, but when the airport shut down, I got stuck for three months one week. It was so stressful because you have your family back home, and I have my business and just sit there doing nothing and is my husband alone, and he needs me, and it was so stressful,” Lyub explained.

“I have been in the United States for five months. That experience has been suffocating. It was terrible. I love my country, and now it feels that I can breathe. I give thanks to all those who made it possible for us to return home. It still has Guyanese who are suffering, and I would like them to get help too, especially those in New York,” another passen-

pledged weekly flights to have stranded citizens reunited with their families in Guyana.

The National COVID-19 Task Force had approved the controlled re-entry of approximately 300 Guyanese through the nation’s international airports, providing they follow a series of strict guidelines, including securing a negative COVID-19 test and agreeing to self-quarantine.

Roshanie Lyub

ger, Dione Basdeo stated.

Earlier in the week, it was reported that two Caribbean Airlines flights that were supposed to repatriate Guyanese stranded overseas were recently cancelled as the Foreign Affairs Ministry failed to submit the list of passengers to the airline 48 hours before the flight was scheduled to depart.

The first batch of stranded Guyanese was repatriated from the US on June 6 on a flight from Miami, USA via an Eastern Airlines flight.

However, once cleared, the repatriated passengers were

Dead: Sohan Ramdial

T

wo months have passed and investigators probing the murder of 67-year-old Sohan Ramdial who was found buried in a shallow grave on his Belle West, West Bank Demerara (WBD) farm is yet to prosecute the perpetrator.

In the initial stage of the investigation, detectives had arrested two men, but they were later released for lack of evidence.

The lawmen were working on the theory that Ramdial

might have stumbled onto the suspect(s) cultivating marijuana on his farm and raised objections.

The cattle farmer was said to own a large plot of land, where cops discovered illicit plants being cultivated.

There are no cameras in the area and the farm is isolated, so there are no eyewitnesses,” a source in the probe said.

Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner Simon Mc Bean told Guyana Times that the case was not closed and they were working with any information that would help bring closure to the case.

Ramdial had left for his farm the day before his body was found, to milk his cows.

When he did not return home, his children went out to look for him the following morning and made the shocking discovery.

According to reports, the now-deceased man was strangled before he was buried in the shallow grave.

4 basic facts about Hong Kong’s National Security Legislation

Dear Editor, Recently, my colleagues and I noticed that there have been some articles about Hong Kong’s National Security Legislation in Guyana’s newspapers and on Facebook.

However, some authors deliberately interpret the legislation in a wrong way, or simply do not understand the “One Country, Two systems” principle, and draw incorrect conclusions; therefore, I feel it necessary to introduce the following four basic facts to Guyanese friends, to ensure a correct understanding of Hong Kong and the legislation.

1: Hong Kong is part of China To understand Hong Kong, we must first recognise the basic fact that Hong Kong is an integral part of China. Hong Kong is located in the south of China, and neighbours Guangdong Province. It has been the territory of China since ancient times. In 1841, it fell into the colonial rule of the British. On July 1st, 1997, China resumed exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, and the colonial rule ended.

According to the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Hong Kong Basic Law, Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China, directly under the central Government and the “One Country, Two systems”. “Hong Kong people rule Hong Kong”, and a high degree of autonomy is implemented.

It is important to point out that “One Country” is the premise and foundation of “Two systems”. Some people only emphasise “Two systems” and ignore “One Country”.

This is a deliberate distortion of

facts. Although Hong Kong has a special status on China’s territory, it has never been an independent political entity, and it is also very different from the overseas territories in the Caribbean region.

2: China’s central Government governs Hong Kong in accordance with law “A high degree of autonomy” does not mean “complete autonomy”. The high degree of autonomy enjoyed by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is granted by the central Government.

The HKSAR shall be responsible to the central Government which grants such autonomy. I believe this is something that elementary school students can understand.

Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law stipulates that, the HKSAR shall “enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People’s Government, or theft of state secrets, to prohibit foreign political organizations or bodies from conducting political activities in the Region, and to prohibit political organizations or bodies of the Region from establishing ties with foreign political organizations or bodies.”

However, because of the obstruction of anti-China forces inside and outside Hong Kong, who schemed to destabilise Hong Kong, the constitutional responsibility and legislative obligation to maintain national security that the HKSAR must undertake has never been carried out since China resumed exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong 23 years ago.

In recent years, chaos in Hong Kong has been more and more frequent. “Hong Kong secessionists” were even received by foreign politicians, and mobs constantly attacked innocent civilians and destroyed public facilities. The “Oriental Pearl” of Hong Kong has lost its prosperity and peace.

To fill the legal vacuum of national security, on May 28th, the National People’s Congress - China’s top legislative body - adopted a decision to establish and improve the legal system and enforce mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to safeguard national security. This is China’s act of governing the country according to law. When other countries do this, they all think it is justified. How can some people in some other countries react violently when China does the same, and even threaten to sanction Hong Kong and China? Isn’t it strange? Why should people suspect it is not the original intention of China’s legislation to maintain national security and manage Hong Kong’s affairs according to law, but respect the sinister intentions of those countries that have a large number of national security laws with wide coverage and harsh implementation, but shout out loud that China should not legislate to maintain national security?

3: It is a false proposition that Hong Kong’s National Security Legislation violates the “Sino-British Joint Declaration” Which article of the “Joint Declaration” has been violated by Hong Kong’s National Security

Legislation? No one has ever pointed it out. In fact, the core of SinoBritish negotiations and the signing of the “Joint Declaration” is to resolve the issue of China’s resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong.

China’s basic Hong Kong policies elaborated in Annex I are “unilateral” declarations on the part of China, not China’s international obligations to the British side. China has long stated that the issue of sovereignty and governance over Hong Kong cannot be discussed. The implementation of “One Country, Two systems” is China’s own business.

Which sovereign country would tolerate other countries in any form having so-called “responsibility” over its local administrative region?

4: The fundamental rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents are fully protected After China resumed exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, the Constitution and the Basic Law ensured that residents of the HKSAR enjoy wider democratic rights and freedoms than at any time in history.

For the first time, Chinese nationals among the residents of the HKSAR have the right to participate in the management of state affairs, according to law. In the face of demonstrations, the restraint and peaceful law enforcement of the Hong Kong Police are in stark contrast to the abuse of force and violent law enforcement by Police in certain countries.

But any rights and freedoms are not absolute, and must be exercised within the scope of law. National se-

curity being effectively guaranteed is the prerequisite for Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, and for Hong Kong people to live and work in peace and contentment.

Hong Kong’s National Security Legislation would only make the “One Country, Two systems” principle more complete, and would not affect Hong Kong’s implementation of the capitalist system and independent judicial power under the “One Country, Two systems” framework.

It would not affect the rights and freedoms of speech, press, and publishing or assembly that Hong Kong residents enjoy in accordance with the law. The decision of the National People’s Congress clearly pointed out that Hong Kong’s National Security Legislation only targets a very small number of acts that seriously endanger national security, such as splitting the country, subverting state power, and organising and carrying out terrorist activities; as well as activities of foreign and overseas forces interfering in the affairs of the HKSAR. It would only punish the very few organisations and individuals who are engaged in the above activities. As long as people do not engage in those activities, what do they have to worry about?

China is a unique country, worthy of study and research. I sincerely hope my Guyanese friends can read more objective, instead of biased, reports about China, and would not be incredulous and misguided.

Sincerely, Chinese Ambassador CUI Jianchun

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PPP commends GECOM Chair for upholding Constitution

…anxiously awaiting swearing-in of Irfaan Ali as 9th President

President-elect Irfaan Ali

T

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has lauded the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), retired Justice Claudette Singh, for upholding the Constitution in her recent landmark decision to use the results from the National Recount for a final declaration of the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

On Tuesday, the GECOM Chair directed Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield to prepare a final report using the recount results, in keeping with Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act Chapter 1:03; thereby paving the way for the official declaration of the Election’s Results and the subsequent swearing in of

PPP/C’s Dr Irfaan Ali as the ninth Executive President of Guyana.

The 34-day National Recount confirmed a landslide victory for the PPP/C, which secured 15,416 votes more than its main political rival, A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition.

According to the PPP/C in a statement, Tuesday’s decision is in line with its earlier position that GECOM is not a court of law, therefore it has no jurisdiction to hear allegations of irregularities. In any case, the party noted, these claims have been totally discredited by the Caribbean Community (Caricom) team of scrutineers, which also reiterated that aggrieved parties can seek redress by way of an election petition to the court.

“The Commission agreed that GECOM has no jurisdiction to annul an election, since no such power was conferred on it under Article 162 (1) (b) of the Constitution.

The PPP wishes to commend the GECOM Chair, retired Justice Claudette Singh, for standing on the side of the rule of law and upholding the Constitution of Guyana,” the missive detailed.

The Party also congratulated President-elect Irfaan Ali, and noted that it “anx-

iously awaits” his swearing in as the ninth Executive President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

“The move towards a speedy transition to a democratically elected government will allow our nation to focus on the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment, and issues related to the economy, among others,” the PPP/C asserted.

Ready

Over the past week, Ali, during a local radio programme named ‘Room 592’, indicated that he was ready to take the reins of office and lead Guyana.

“I’m not nervous…I’m ready! Our team is ready!

And we’re ready to move forward with a broadened approach, a widened approach, a collective approach in building this country,” he posited.

Vindicated in its struggles

Meanwhile, PPP/C General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo on Tuesday evening told party supporters that while the party has been vindicated in its struggles, they need to stay claim and not disparage supporters from the other side.

“We are happy for ourselves, but we don’t need to be in their faces and so on…

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo

Right now I know people are happy, and there’s cause for jubilation, but let’s be measured in our celebrations. We have a country to transform; we have a lot of work to do.

Too many people are suffering for too long because of these guys hanging on to power. They don’t care about our country, they’re just hanging on for their own personal benefits,” Jagdeo contended.

According to the Opposition Leader, Guyanese should not be fooled by Coalition’s claims of caring for the people.

“They didn’t care while in office, and they don’t care now.

They just want to use people to keep them in office…

[The PPP/C] has a history of working for all the people of Guyana – all Guyana

- and we will continue to do so. People of all races, all religion, all of our people will have a fair share in the new government,” he noted.

Jagdeo went on to assure persons in the public sector that they do not have to be worried about their jobs, as he reiterated his party’s position of not embarking on a witch-hunting expedition. However, he pointed out that there are a few persons at the top level who will have to face the consequences of their actions.

While the GECOM Chair has directed the CEO to compile his report for the declaration, the timeline when this is expected to be done has not been made public.

In total, from the recount exercise, the PPP/C garnered 233,336 votes, while the APNU/AFC secured 217,920 votes in the General Elections. In the Regional Elections, the PPP/C also won with 233,661 votes, while APNU/AFC secured 217,055 votes.

Using the Hare formula, it means the PPP/C secured 33 out of 65 seats in the National Assembly, and the APNU/AFC secured 31. The remaining one seat has been obtained by the joiner party consisting of three of the new parties – A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), and

“A weight has been lifted off the nation’s shoulders” – GECOM Commissioner

…as APNU/AFC’s last-ditch attempt to annul elections defeated

GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj

W

ith the Guyana E l e c t i o n s Commission (GECOM) Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh, making a landmark decision to have the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) declared winners of the General and Regional elections, the decision is being compared to a weight having been lifted off the nation’s shoulders.

Making this comparison was PPP-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj in an interview with the media outside GECOM on Tuesday, and it comes after the nation had waited for more than three-and-a-half months for a credible winner of the March 2 General and Regional Elections to be announced.

“I have no doubt that a weight has been lifted off the shoulders of all Guyanese,”

Gunraj told media operatives.

After deliberations on Tuesday by the seven-member Commission, Justice Singh instructed Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield to prepare his report under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03, and in keeping with Order No. 60 of 2020 and its addendum dated 29th May, 2020.

The data generated from the National Recount show the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won the elections with a total of 233,336 votes. This is 15,416 more votes than its nearest rival the APNU/AFC, which received 217,920 total votes.

Addressing the issue of set timelines, Gunraj responded, “In 2015, a declaration of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), which was the last region, was done on Friday, and by noon on Saturday, a meeting was called, at which a report of the CEO was presented.

That meeting lasted 15 minutes, and at 02:00pm that afternoon, there was a swearing in of the President.”

The commissioner added that he expects the same alacrity to be applied now.

Not a court

Gunraj reiterated the decisions by Justice Singh, in which she ruled that GECOM does not have the powers of a Court of Law: to

GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

The New Movement (TNM).

For the new parties, the numbers in the General Elections are as follows: A New and United Guyana – 2,313; Change Guyana – 1,953; Liberty and Justice Party – 2,657; People’s Republic Party – 889; The Citizen’s Initiative – 680; The New Movement – 244; and the United Republican Party – 360.

Meanwhile in the Regional Elections, Change Guyana secured 2,607; Fed-Up Party 153; Liberty and Justice Party 2,935; Organisation for the Victory of the People 448; People’s Republic Party 927; and the United Republican Party 1,369.

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examine and re-examine witnesses, or to procure official documents to determine the truth of the allegations contained therein.

In her ruling, the GECOM Chair cited Article 163 (1) (b) of the Constitution, which confers on the High Court the exclusive jurisdiction to determine the validity of an election.

Justice Singh also noted that the Commission cannot arrogate to itself a jurisdiction to annul an election, since no specific power was conferred on it under Article 162 (1) (b).

She cited Articles 162 and 163 of the Constitution, which show that the Articles clearly and sharply separate the respective functions of GECOM and the High Court in matters of electoral process.

Meanwhile, Gunraj also commended the CARICOM Observer Team for the man-

ner in which they carried out their mandate.

“These are persons who executed their mandate with dispatch, with diligence, and at a time when we were facing and continue to face a pandemic. They have done extremely well, and I believe the people of Guyana owe to those persons, and by extension CARICOM, a debt of gratitude,” he said.

Efforts to annul

Gunraj also disclosed that during the Commission’s deliberations on Tuesday, APNU/AFC Commissioners Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin and Desmond Trotman had made a lastditch attempt to have the elections annulled.

The Governmentnominated commissioners presented a proposal for the elections to be nullified and for there to be fresh

elections, based on APNU/ AFC’s claims of irregularities. The PPP/C-nominated Commissioners, on the other hand, presented arguments in favour of using the results generated from the National Recount as the basis for making an official declaration.

Meanwhile, the three APNU/AFC-aligned commissioners have expressed disappointment in the decision, and sought to justify their attempts to have the elections scrapped.

However, Guyana has a long history of political parties who were dissatisfied with an election result filing an election petition in court.

When the three commissioners were asked if there is any record of GECOM ever determining the credibility of an election instead of a court, Alexander admitted that there is no precedent for GECOM to do so.

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23

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CPL deal looks solid

M

ore than likely, the 2020 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will be played entirely in the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, as the Government and CPL officials are very close to signing off the deal.

Guardian Media Sports understand from someone close to the discussions on Monday that most boxes have been ticked and it seems like the Twenty20 (T20) competition, expected to start on August 19 in T&T, is a go.

The CPL is proposing double-headers for one week at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) in Tarouba, San Fernando; and the next week, the same number of matches at the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair, Port-of-Spain; and then back to BLCA until the 33 matches are completed.

The final of the tournament was always carded for T&T, as has been the case for the last two editions.

The organisers are proposing to create, at the

Government has welcomed the proposal, and a lot of hard work has been going on behind-the-scenes to get the tournament started. Once it comes off, the massive viewership that is expected to witness the first T20 franchise tournament to be played since COVID-19 took

Hilton Trinidad, a bio-secure environment for players and officials, and all protocols concerning the COVID-19 regulations are expected to be met.

With the Caribbean not badly affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the tournament may well contain only regional players and no internationals. No spectators will be allowed in the stands, as the matches will be played behind closed doors.

Originally, CPL organ-

isers had hinted that they may have to play the tournament in two or three countries. There has been a change of heart, and T&T has now been given the opportunity to take the entire tournament.

Up to Friday, there were just some minor details to be worked out, and Guardian Media Sports understand that this has been done, and an announcement is expected by Friday of this week.

Trinidad has dealt with the virus situation brilliant-

ly, and has capability to stage the entire tournament with the two World-class venues.

In addition to being an economic shot in the arm for T&T, the owners of the tournament stand to get financial ease by hosting the tournament in just one country.

The logistics in hosting the tournament among six Caribbean countries have been testing since the inception of the tournament in 2013.

It is understood that the

International Remote Archery Competition…

Archery Guyana members continue representation at 11th stage

N

inety-three archers from twenty countries competed in the 60X ISOL remote shoot competition in yesterday’s 11th stage of the International Remote Archery Competition. In keeping with the WHO COVID-19 measures, Archery Guyana’s number of competing archers is increasing and they are showing resilience and adaptation to this growing sport, as was evidenced on Sunday 14th June, 2020.

Competitor Robert Singh scored

539/720, placing him 7th of 15 in the 30-metre recurve bow category. Newcomer Samira Duncan recorded 379/720, placing her 2nd of two in the 25-metre recurve bow category.

Winnette Lawrence, with a score of 642/720, placed 9th of 13 in the compound bow category.

Singh reiterated that at this standard of the international competition, he needs to improve his ability to have consistently high scores. Nevertheless, he said he enjoys, and continues to benefit from, this level of competition.

Samira Duncan had this to say about her 1st time experience: “I participated in my first international competition online, and I was not prepared for the level of those in other countries. I know that I shoot well, but my skills were not as great as those who participated in the competition.

It gave me a preview of how much I need to improve to compete at international levels, giving me the motivation to improve my skills way more for the next time; and I will definitely do better in the next competition.”

As mentioned previously, registration is done online, and athletes choose which session and division they would shoot. Scaled-down target faces are used to suit the specified distanc-

es for those shooting from home with limited space.

Equipment inspection is done by taking a photo of bow and arrows as well as target faces, which a r e sent o n line.

A QR code is then sent for archers to log in and send scores after every end, along with pictures of arrows in target for scoring.

The competition continues with Stage 12 next Sunday, June 21, 2020, and Archery Guyana is urging its archers with access to ranges or home facilities to participate.

All archers are mandated to observe their national health and safety requirements and the PAHO/ WHO guidelines for prevention of COVID-19.

over the globe would work to T&T’s advantage.

CPL are expected to announce the date for the draft, once they get the goahead that the tournament is taking place. So far, all six franchise teams have announced their Caribbean retentions. (TT Guardian)

Simmons says Windies team spirit high despite quarantine

P

hil Simmons, head coach of the West Indies Cricket Team currently in the UK for a three-Test series in defence of the Wisden Trophy, says the team have shown great character over the first week of their quarantine.

The 25-man contingent, comprising a 14-member Test squad and 11 reserves, have been locked away at Old Trafford since touching down in the UK last Tuesday, and have also been undergoing intense training amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Under protocols adopted for the seven-week tour, the tourists will be isolated from the public in what have been termed “bio-secure” facilities at Old Trafford and the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

“Training has been going good, it’s been going very good,” Simmons told media via Zoom.

“The facilities at Old Trafford are second to none, so we’ve been enjoying that.

To be honest, the bio-secure (environment) is a little bit similar to what we would’ve done for our training camp, so we’ve not had to do much different to that.”

He continued: “I think we’ve been ‘good’ from the point of view that we have everything here so far. The lockdown, as you would call it, has been eased, because we all have been locked down for a number of months, whichever part of the world you were in.

“Now part of the lockdown is coming out to practice in the morning, and having lunch and practice in the afternoon, and having dinner playing some games with some of your colleagues. So, I think this part of lock down is better than what we’ve had in March/April. But it’s early days, and it’s been very educational; because you have some characters here, includ-

West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons

ing the captain, who keeps everything lively,” he said.

The United Kingdom has been particularly hard hit by the pandemic, with authorities here recording 296,000 infections and more than 41,000 deaths. The public health crisis has unsurprisingly forced the England and Wales Cricket Board to postpone the series from last month, and after negotiations with Cricket West Indies, settled on new dates in July.

The first Test will be played at the Ageas Bowl from July 8-12, while the second Test is scheduled for Old Trafford from July 16-20, and the final Test is set for the same venue here, starting July 24.

Simmons, who resides in England and linked up with the squad upon their arrival, said team spirit is high and players are making the most of in-house entertainment.

“There’s always dominoes, and if you’ve ever been to the Caribbean, it’s a highly explosive form of entertainment, especially when you’re getting six-loved; so that’s been part (of the entertainment),” the coach and former West Indies player explained.

“We have a golf simulation centre, we have cards, we have a few things that guys are playing and enjoying themselves; and like I said, when you have characters like Jason Holder, everyone’s always laughing and having fun.” (CMC)

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