Guyana Times Friday March 27, 2020

CXC mulls July 2020 timeline for writing of CAPE, CSEC P

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4238

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

PRICE

US summons Guyana's Ambassador; warns against swearing in a president with "flawed results" See story on page 9

Jagdeo raps coalition over “duplicitous” stance on int’l sanctions

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

‘Ballot box P12 watchers’ do so at GECOM’s discretion

…law does not contemplate party agents as security

P10 Lethem farmer beaten to death during drinking spree

See story on page 3

GECOM’s Chair reneges on commitment to facilitate recount Page 7

Harmon denies Page 11 APNU behind recount injunction

ꟷ faces contempt of court, other ...expects "President" to be penalties—PPP Commissioner sworn in after case concludes

Coronavirus

Giftland Mall to operate pharmacy, supermarket only from April 1 Page 13

…as GCCI urges businesses to modify operations

Business P11 community demands copies of Region 4 SoPs

…reiterates need for urgent public disclosure of results

P10 Linden motorcyclist succumbs days after crashing into house

Taxi driver relieved of car, valuables by gunmen P8

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FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

March 27 – 05:00h-06:30h and Saturday, March 28 – 05:30h-07:0h.

Jagdeo raps coalition over “duplicitous” stance on int’l sanctions

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, March 27 – 05:35h-07:05h and Saturday, March 28 – 06:05h-07:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny conditions will prevail throughout the day, with clear to partly cloudy skies at night.

Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 0.89 metre and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 06:08h and 18:29h reaching maximum heights of 2.71 metres and 2.66 metres.

Low Tide: 12:03h reaching minimum heights of 0.48 metre.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020

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COMMODITIES Indicators Crude Oil Rough Rice London Sugar

US$ $28.97/barrel $248.52 /ton $350.40/ton

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Change % +0.32 +0.13 +3.39

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Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

APNU/AFC Campaign Manager Joseph Harmon

pposition Leader and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday called out the caretaker A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition over its recent stance on mounting calls for international sanctions to be brought against the political grouping.

While the coalition claims that the calls for international sanctions were anti-national, Jagdeo reminded that prior to the 2015 elections, both the APNU and AFC were vociferous in making similar demands. “[President David] Granger himself had requested sanctions in the past. A long diatribe in 2014 about the country must face sanctions from abroad if [then President] Donald Ramotar didn’t… [go through with] the prorogation of Parliament…

Now he doesn’t want sanctions when he is trying to steal a whole election. And that is the duplicity of Granger and the cabal,” Jagdeo stated at a press conference on Thursday.

Many of Guyana’s bilateral partners, including international organisations as well as countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, have warned of sanctions and serious consequences should a new government be formed here from an electoral process that lacks credibility and transparency.

This comes on the heels of results declared by the Returning Officer of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Clairmont Mingo, from a tabulation process that has been marred with controversy and “credible allegations” of fraud.

But APNU/AFC Campaign Manager Joseph Harmon on Thursday morning expressed concerns over these calls for international sanctions.

“I think that’s very anti-national, very anti-national and I don’t see any country in the world that actually want to invite that level of sanction on its country knowing fully well the developmental path in which we are,” he told reporters at a press conference when asked about the warnings from the US and UK about those who seek to benefit from electoral fraud.

In response to Harmon, however, Jagdeo argued that

“APNU just wants to hang onto to power at all costs … somehow in their heads, they think this will all go away. It will not go away. We will seek the toughest sanctions on these individuals and their families, and … they will not be able to run the country. They will have no access to money from bilateral or multi-lateral sources, they not gonna get access to the oil money, they will face individual sanctions, we’ll have restrictions from our exports and a whole range of stuffs that will harm Guyana [because of their actions], but it will also hopefully make them see the folly of their ways,” the Opposition Leader noted.

Moreover, Jagdeo went on to outline that the caretaker Government has recently been trying to change the narrative in Washington on the current situation in Guyana regarding its election results, which are yet to be credibly delivered more than three weeks after Guyanese cast their votes.

“I know that they’ve been actively working there to try to get people to move away, particularly in the US Government, the Congress and in some other countries,

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neither the PPP/Civic or the small parties were anti-national. In fact, he noted that it was the caretaker coalition that was anti-national by putting the entire country and its people at risk for sanctions because of its “lust for power”.

“They are the ones who are anti-national. The civil society organisations, the small parties, etc, we are still trying to avoid the sanctions by asking them to do the right thing, which is to have a recount done that would allow the rightful President to be sworn in, and then we can avoid all of the sanctions, personal as well as national sanctions that would affect all of our people and then we can move forward with the business of governing the country, dealing with the coronavirus and dealing with everything else,” he noted.

Jagdeo, a former Head of State, further noted that while they were trying to avoid sanctions that could affect the country, they were simultaneously asking the international community to be resolute and bring sanctions upon those individuals who are putting the entire country and its democracy at risk.

from the entire narrative about fraudulent elections, that the results of Region Four is not credible to one that this is something that has to do with the court and secondly, it has to do with some ethnic problem we have in Guyana. So, they’ve been busy putting people to work in trying to create that narrative,” he stated.

But Jagdeo noted that the coalition was only deluding itself since the entire world has seen what took place following the March 2 polling day and specifically, during the Region Four tabulation process. “…no matter what they do, they’re not gonna change that within the circles in Washington or elsewhere.

So, they are fighting a losing battle in that regard. People see this as an attempt to grab power,” the Opposition Leader stressed.

Only on Thursday, the US reiterated an almost weekly call for every vote from the March 2 elections to be counted accurately, further asserting that any government sworn in from flawed election results would not be recognised as a legitimate administration.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 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

Unconcerned about sanctions

G

uyana is presently at a standstill, with businesses, both large and small, feeling the squeeze due to the country facing two major setbacks at the same time. In addition to the threat of the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19), the political crisis gripping the nation following the most recent national elections seems nowhere close to ending.

General and Regional Elections were held on March 2, 2020, and, to date, there has been no declaration of a winner. In fact, the electoral process has been marred by a number of irregularities, which some stakeholders argue are clear attempts at rigging. The post-elections events have been a national embarrassment, and have made this country a laughing stock in the eyes of the wider Caribbean community. It clearly shows that after more than fifty years of Independence, some of our leaders have not matured politically, and are not willing to do the right thing in the national interest.

Due to the huge negative impact this situation is having on the daily lives of citizens and on the national economy as a whole, many are becoming fed-up with the actions of the APNU/ AFC Coalition in their quest to hold on to power. President David Granger has always claimed that he would abide by the Constitution, but he has done very little to convince the nation that he is a man of his words.

His firm grip on power following his government’s defeat via a no-confidence vote in December 2018, and now, more recently, his Coalition’s refusal to allow a transparent count of the votes cast in the March 2 polls raise even more questions about his commitment to what he promises he would do.

At the moment, there are a few election-related cases before the Courts, and from the way it looks, these matters would go on for some time. At the centre of contention is the declaration of questionable elections results for Region 4 by the Returning Officer. Serious objections were raised from the international community, local and international observers, and all other parties about suspicions of fraud during the declarations of the results by the RO. The Chief Justice subsequently ruled that the results were null and void, and the RO must return to the verification process using the SoPs and in the presence of persons who are legally supposed to be there. This did not happen, and, as expected, the political crisis deepened.

The Commonwealth Observer Group and others had withdrawn from the process, citing serious and persistent electoral malpractices and the failure of GECOM to stop the blatant disregard for the rule of law and electoral ethics.

In an attempt to calm the tension, Caricom Chairperson, Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley, fielded a five-member high-level team to supervise a national recount of all the votes cast, which was requested by Granger himself and agreed to

by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. The team was forced to withdraw from the process after an APNU/AFC candidate obtained an interim injunction from the High Court, blocking GECOM from conducting the recounting process. Granger has always insisted that the court action was independent and that Guyana should await the outcome of the legal process, which the country’s democracy allows interested parties to undertake.

However, what the President seems to be unaware of is that even if the court rules in favour of the APNU candidate by blocking the vote recount and directing the GECOM Chair to proceed in certifying the questionable results provided by the Chief Elections Officer in order to swear in the President, this would not remedy the situation.

President Granger could have intervened and instructed that the case seeking to block the regionally-supervised national recount be withdrawn, but instead he has allowed it to go through. To date, no one can give any plausible explanation as to the reason/s for the President and others in the APNU/AFC not wanting to have a transparent recount of the votes, moreso considering the fact that the APNU/AFC Coalition have claimed that they have won the elections.

The main contentious issue has to do with the questionable results declared for Region 4, and no government should be sworn in if the results are not certified to be a true reflection of the will of the people.

The international community has already warned that Guyana could face sanctions if a President is sworn in based on the flawed results. It seems as if the APNU/AFC officials, including President David Granger, are unconcerned about these impending sanctions.

There is only one way to bring an end to the political crisis, and that is by having the votes recounted in a transparent manner, to the satisfaction of all parties involved.

Deliver credible, correct results for March 2, 2020 elections Dear Editor, I was, on March 2, 2020, two weeks too young to vote at our national and regional elections. If I had met the age, I would have voted for the PPP/C. Please don’t blame me for doing that on the basis of race, since my DNA is deep in many races: East Indian, African, Arab, Amerindian, Portuguese, and God knows what more.

I would have done so because I followed the campaign of all the political parties on social media, the print and electronic media. I also did my research on elections issues and governments prior to and after Guyana’s Independence in 1966.

For the recent elections, the PPP/C ran a far superior campaign. The candidates on their list are younger, diverse, and educated. Their contents and policies were practical, with a clear vision.

Their appeal to the younger generation was more welcoming.

On the other side, the APNU/AFC campaign was more rhetoric-based. Their main focus was on Mr. Granger, their presidential candidate; and on baseless, untruthful, lowly, personal attacks of Mr. Jagdeo and Dr. Ali. From my research and discussions with the elderly, with whom I communicate frequently, I was provided

with some very disturbing information on rigged elections in Guyana. I found out that during the Cold War period, the West was in total support of the PNC, and so they plotted, supported and concocted schemes to keep Mr. L.F.S Burnham in power.

They turned a blind eye on Mr. Burnham’s total abuse of power. Guyana’s economy crumbled, political opponents were killed and banished, fear and uncertainty gripped the society, banditry became the order of the day, goods and basic merchandise were banned, foreign currency was in short supply, and people migrated in massive numbers.

Guyana was given the status of the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, and the finance Minister during that time declared Guyana a bankrupted state!

With the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the failure of the communist ideology, a New World Order was brought to the shores of Guyana. Mr. Burnham subsequently died, and Mr. Hoyte took power with the most blatantly rigged elections Guyana has ever seen.

He won by approximately 80% of the votes cast on December 9, 1985.

In spite of that, he started an Economic Recovery Programme and returned to the Co-op Society, shops and

market places many of the banned goods. he encouraged investors and entrepreneurship. He also jailed Mr. Burnham’s strongman Rabbi Washington. He expelled one of the Kabaka’s prime ministers from the echelons of the PNC – Mr. Green – and he removed Mr. Corbin for alleged wrongdoings.

Mr. Hoyte leaned more on, and became friendly with, the East Indians, and this angered many of the African leaders. Thus, the country started to show economic gains.

In 1992, the West intervened and Guyana had its first democratic elections after 28 years of rigged elections. H.E. Dr. Cheddi Bharat Jagan was sworn in as the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. it was indeed one of the greatest moments for most Guyanese. The PPP/C ruled for 23 years, and made significant progress in commerce and economics. The lives of the people improved significantly, even the ethnic divide was greatly improved. Regrettably, they became complacent, and coupled with wrongdoings, lost power.

In 2015, the APNU/AFC won the elections, and their 5 years were once again disastrous. They violated the Constitution of Guyana in the most blatant of ways.

They widened the racial gap; the economy plummeted into crisis; they closed sugar estates without doing an impact assessment; poverty increased; crime became rampant, and hope gradually diminished.

After the successful passage of a no-confidence motion in Parliament on December 21, 2018, and enormous pressure from the foreign and local powers, an election date was eventually set for March 2, 2020.

For the 2020 elections, Guyana has seen an unprecedented large contingent of foreign and local observers.

They were eventually bamboozled, stripped of their observer status, humiliated and embarrassed by members of the APNU/AFC. They have since left the country.

Three weeks have now passed, and we cannot get the results of the elections.

Like so many eminent persons locally and abroad, I, too, humbly call on the GECOM Chairwoman, Justice (retd) Claudette Singh, the executive of GECOM and our supreme courts to deliver the correct results of our March 2, 2020 national and regional elections.

May God Almighty shower His guidance and mercy on all of us.

Sincerely, Hadiyyah Mohamed

Persons behind manipulation of GECOM need to be placed under house arrest Dear Editor, It has now been in excess of three weeks since the March 02 polls, and virtually everything that can be said or condemned about the current crisis has been said.

The outrageous conduct of the GECOM staff and their declaration of two unmatched, unsupported, and unverified results; their contempt for the court ordering the process at GECOM be conducted according to guidelines; and Volda Lawrence’s signature on the first unverified declaration, evidencing the complicity of the PNC’s executive in the affairs at GECOM, have all been dealt with.

More recently, there has been the use of another judge (a family member of the PNC), who is willing to subvert due process and Guyana’s democracy in favour of the People’s National Congress in the hearing of matters related to our elections, which are already before our High Court.

There is, at this point, nothing more to be said other than that Guyana and our children are now be-

ing held to ransom by the People’s National Congress.

The GECOM Chair cannot escape culpability in what is transpiring at GECOM, since she is ultimately responsible under GECOM’s guidelines for the management and declaration of election results. However, as we await the court’s (Holder’s) decision on its jurisdiction (it clearly has none), and as the incumbent administration continues to groom us into accepting their rigged elections results, with news about oil and the coronavirus, I submit that after coming this far, the PNC will not relent, and those individuals at GECOM involved in rigging our elections will persist in issuing fraudulent results until they are removed from the process.

But beyond removing those individuals, we need to consider the force behind GECOM, which is now obviously the People’s National Congress. As Guyana moves into the PNC’s end-game, where all avenues, including our courts, have been exhausted, we have to recog-

nize that GECOM will only proceed with a proper declaration of our elections results if we remove not the defaulting individuals alone, but the force manipulating the individuals in GECOM; namely, elements within the People’s National Congress.

I therefore urge civil society to take cognizance of our situation, and recognize that we as a people will have to make decisions above our courts in the interest of our democracy.

Since GECOM is being manipulated by elements within the People’s National Congress, I propose that civil society await the exhaustion of due process regarding the declaration of results, and move to establish a representative group to engage both the Guyana Defence Force and Guyana Police Force in placing those elements within the PNC involved in managing and subverting our democracy through their interference at GECOM under house arrest.

With these individuals removed, a second group of individuals comprising civ-

il society, the army, and the Police Force can now replace necessary GECOM staff, so that our election results can finally be properly counted/ tabulated, verified, and declared.

At this time, civil society, the army, and the Police Force will have a fair enough idea of who the perpetrators behind the manipulation at GECOM are, and no one is above removal and placement under house arrest.

They can prepare for this eventuality in the meantime.

At this time also, I urge all Guyanese to reflect that there will always be a loser in an election. This is the way of democracy. When governments fail, they are replaced. Change necessitates change, which produces progress. Many of us are already familiar with the costs of dictatorship and cowardice. Let us therefore unite, and commit towards maintaining and preserving our democracy! For Our Children!

Regards, Craig Sylvester

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

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

Congratulations to Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali as the President-elect of Guyana Dear Editor, I offer my congratulations to President-elect Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C). Based on the publicly declared statements of poll (SoPs) for District No. 4, I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that the PPP/C won the 2020 General and Regional Elections in Guyana.

District No. 4 had 879 polling stations. At each station, the votes were counted and the Presiding Officer (PO) documented those results on the SoP. The original SoP is secure for the Returning Officer. The PO also prepared several carbon copies of the original SoP, which are distributed to the political parties present (mainly APNU and PPP/C), the Police, and one copy is secured for the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of GECOM. The PO also safeguards one copy for their personal records.

Additionally, one of these carbon copies of the SoP is posted immediately outside of the polling station, close to the entrance, for the public to study and photograph, if necessary (This is what I meant by the phrase “publicly de-

clared”). In other words, as soon as the count is completed, the results are available for anyone to view.

The results for the other nine regions (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) were declared and accepted by both parties and reflected a tally of 152,121 votes for the PPP/C and 100,682 for APNU; a lead of 51,439. So, for the APNU to win these elections, they had to secure a lead of more than 51,439 votes in District No. 4. Awkwardly, for the APNU, based on the SoPs in the public domain, they did not win District No. 4 by more than 35,000 votes. In basic arithmetic, 35,000 can never be greater than 51,439.

I am well aware that the Returning Officer for District No. 4 attempted to produce some bogus number, but those numbers were arrived at from a process that did not follow Article 84 of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03. Rather, he invented a bogus administrative process outside of the law, to utilize an illegitimate spreadsheet to dictate a fabricated tally for the witnesses to the process, which was objected to passionately.

Therefore, I found it almost comical that the General Secretary of the APNU, Mr.

Harmon, had the audacity to state in a press conference of March 26, 2020, that “APNU stand guided by what the GECOM CEO submitted to the Commission on March 14, 2020, the final report for the Commission’s consideration”.

On what basis did the CEO of GECOM prepare this report, since the process to ascertain and tabulate the count was never completed in accordance with the law?

The audio and video recording will show that the CEO of GECOM was part of the process when the Returning Officer went rogue.

What we all saw was a public officer inventing the process as he went along, on many occasions acting outside of the law and totally disregarding the orders of the Chief Justice.

There is no need to repeat what the entire world saw, but it is a wonderment that the CEO saw any merit in any part of the bogus process perpetuated on this nation by a rogue Returning Officer. It is almost like a pathological scoundrel being called upon to count the church tithe.

What convinces me even more that the PPP/C won these elections is the reaction of APNU to this entire situation. These two rascal enti-

ties are trying their utmost to make everything more obscure and opaque for the people of Guyana around these elections results.

Does this strike you like the behaviour of people committed to accountability, the rule of law and transparency, and who have won elections in a free and fair manner?

From the empirical evidence in my possession, both documentarily and optically (as witnessed in the tabulation rooms of the RO), Mr. Mingo did not follow the requirement of Article 84 of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03 which requires him to “ascertain the total votes cast in favour of each list in the district by adding up the votes recorded in favour of the list in accordance with the SoPs….”

The video and audio records will illustrate that Mr. Mingo used a spreadsheet to declare his respective numbers.

Mr. Mingo never had an opening balance at the beginning of the process, and never declared an ending balance at the end of any of the sessions. The bottom line is that Mr. Mingo exhibited gross ignorance of basic arithmetic and the art of reconciliation, which illustrated how unfit

Do not abhor democracy

Dear Editor, I feel there is an urgent need to write to you; I have many reasons to. They begin with myself being a young Guyanese, my career, and finally a democracy. It is beyond the circumference of my comprehension to see educated young leaders of Guyana and young students perform like animals in their argumentum ad baculum.

How can one not see the electoral theft swimming right before their eyes? How can one sit and endorse these acts by simply remaining in the cocoons of their codas; or worse, spill bilge from their lips and fingertips ranging from tallies of their ignorance on the electoral processes?

The World has been observing our country’s flaws and successes. This has marked History already, and to what understanding? The domain of reality does not exist in the powers of a few individuals. Instead, there are rules de jure to follow; if we ever forget. If there is an election, there needs to be a verification, complete and ex cathedra count of the votes.

Time and time again, we have heard President Granger stating he is willing to follow the Constitution. I have observed that the same people who claim to abide by the Constitution of Guyana are the justified individuals eager to amend it behind Potemkin Villages. When the March 2nd, 2020 Elections were called, everything presumably appeared “Rhadamanthine”.

This was so until the alleged Uriah Heeps embraced the minds of what we term as “leaders”. If these leaders cared for the economy of Guyana as well as its people, then why are we not feeling

it? Authentic concern is felt; and even more so, it is shown.

There are businesses which need to continue. There are minds which continually need to be taught. There is a country’s economy which needs upliftment. There are 700,000 plus votes which need to be verifiably counted.

We youths are apperceived as the future of any country.

Why then do we not have sayings? The democratic right is instilled in our beings from the very day we gained independence. We have strived as a people to be one. However, there are still pestiferous urges to manipulate such a beauty. This has always been in the pockets of a doltish few.

Personally, when the Coalition announced their party, I felt that they were not authentic in their aims of conjoining the people. One simply does not decide to be on unified terms with someone; one needs to sit and iron out the complex issues which thrive beneath the surfaces of our consciousnesses in an attempt at conciliation. It is the same with two races having long and tender histories of antagonisms. Do you not see how evident it is, even in our voting systems?

I believe the Coalition Party was formed under the disguise of uniting the people and eventually manipulating their votes. Where is the unity they promised? It indicates that unity isn’t something you shop for, or desire; it needs to grow from within. Guyana isn’t quite ready for that; we need to prepare her for it. We do so through education.

I must add there is no solid bookstore in Guyana. When we read, we understand that we have differences and similarities in the circle of com-

passion. However, it seems reading isn’t even welcome any longer. It seems that the more you know, the less it is used. At least it is indicative of President Granger’s behaviour to highlight to us the flaws in our intellectual spectrums.

President Granger and his Cabinet of Ministers believe that the citizens of the nation are unaware of their rights.

They think so despite us being fully compos mentis and fully informed. This is at least described as “execrable”.

We are all influenced in differing ways during the day.

We need to have thorough communications in order for us to collectively and truly embrace the lights which emanate from each other. Forming a political party with the aim of heading towards high heavens of unity does not, and will never, work. Do you not see how the current President is grabbing on to power like it is his oxygen? He needs to allow the democracy of the country to choose its President.

Isn’t that what we know, or is the current President here to teach us otherwise? As the President, you do not only sign onto high-yielding, and economy-boosting contracts.

As a President, you are a walking, talking and a quiet-standing role model, especially for young minds now opening to learning. What does the President intend to teach the students of his country? Does he want them to write large theses on Guyana with chapters containing the headings of “Electoral Theft by a Compromising President?”

If this is his functioning, then there is a defining need to begin a trend of private schools, titled “To compromise

is our Right”. Is the President trying to say that direct democracy is a manipulatable sham which every two-bit Mussolini adopts as his own?

Explain to us where we have erred in understanding the basic concepts of voting and result expectations.

I see there is a Coalition consisting of other members of sitting parties. Why are we not hearing their views? Are the young people of Guyana expecting to hear from them when we no longer possess contracts with high transparent institutions? Would we, young thriving citizens of the country, hear from them when we are unmapped? Please, for the sake of happy storytelling unities, of which the Coalition is based, and democracy, let us attempt to live in tranquility. We have evolved to such an Arcadian right. Give it to us. Take a step back and urge the recount to take place, please! Please! Please! Please.

The President holds the conch of moulding for not only his families, but for a worldly family; a beautiful, strong and a merry history. The President is the powerbroker.

I urge the people who hold the pens of our national representative books to reassess, to reinforce, and to reinstate the beauty we all know every morning: Guyana. You have time. Get it corrected. Do not abhor democracy; embrace it.

Do not lead us to the highway of tyranny; our beings were not built for such a rough ride. We are no experts in psephology, but we are cognizant of the robbery of peace. I still have hope. We all do. Let us not remain disappointed.

Disappointed, A student of Guyana

he was for the role be was inserted.

What he did exhibit was how to raise your voice; how to knock your hands on a desk loudly to introduce fear into a room, and how to bully people in his presence. But none of these are skillsets necessary to function as a Returning Officer. In a normal society,

he would have been charged for mental abuse and threatening, animalistic behaviour.

But this is Guyana! So, in the final analysis, congratulations, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, as the President-elect of Guyana!

Regards, Sasenarine Singh

Count, or no recount?

Dear Editor, I’m NOT a lawyer, but I suspect I think logically.

I’ve been hearing ONLY talk of a recount of the ballots/ votes cast, and my question is: if the votes for a greater part of District (Region) FOUR were NOT counted, using the SOPs, how can THAT (the use of mysterious spreadsheets) be regarded as a count.

The votes for all districts can be recounted in accordance with the CARICOM agreement, but I would proffer that those ballot boxes for which the SOPs were NOT the instruments used NOW have to be COUNTED/tabu-

lated, the source document being the SOPs, as instructed by the Chief Justice, and the result for District FOUR legally and properly declared.

I say this anticipating an argument that the results for District FOUR have already been declared. This, in my opinion, is a situation fraught with danger, which the PNC would try to capitalize on.

Maybe an eminent lawyer or someone more qualified than I am can offer a comment.

Respectfully, HN Nawbatt

The courts have neglected democracy Dear Editor, The action or lack of action by our justice system is one of two main reasons we are facing election-rigging in 2020.

The other reason is collusion between APNU/AFC and GECOM, with strategic assistance from the Police.

The following are examples of shortcomings of our legal system in recent times: The PPP/C 2015 election petition has been gathering dust in the Courts since 2015.

After the NCM, Nigel Hughes invented a new majority for 65, which would have been considered nonsense and dismissed in any normal Court of Law. Instead, the Court allowed it, and this triggered a new low in ethics. Attorney General Basil Williams embraced Hughes’ math, and in the process, it was revealed that two Appeal Court Judges, Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Dawn Gregory Barnes, are also mathematically challenged, to say the least.

By taking this to the CCJ, Basil Williams made all Guyanese appear stupid.

After months of waiting, the CCJ came up with the correct majority for 65, but failed to name a date for the elections, and thereby failed to safeguard the democratic process.

In fact, they left it up to the APNU/AFC to do the right thing. This was to become the new theme for things to come.

Justice James Patterson, who accepted the unilateral appointment by Granger to the GECOM Chairmanship, in violation of the Carter formula, ought to have known better. In the ensuing legal challenge, Chief Justice Roxane George, to everyone’s surprise, upheld the unilateral appointment. It was then again up to the CCJ, and once

again the Court pronounced correctly, but did not lay sufficient ground rules to force adherence to the Constitution.

Granger then decided that he could both nominate and choose from his own nominees.

Jumping ahead to March 5, after the Mingo theatrics, the Chief Justice surprisingly did not reprimand him; and, in fact, bestowed upon him the powers of discretion. Feeling invincible, Mingo went back and broke the law even more blatantly. By then the diplomatic community must have been thinking that Guyana is indeed a messed-up country.

Then we come to Justice (retd) Claudette Singh, Chairperson of GECOM, who has done nothing to support Guyana’s fragile democracy.

She is ultimately responsible for everything that transpires within GECOM. The only question which remains is whether she is under some threat, or is part of the rigging mechanism by her own free will. It is looking more like the latter with each passing day.

Finally, we arrive at Justice Franklyn Holder. He should have recused himself from this case due to conflict of interest owing to family connections. Similarly, the Chief Justice should have taken over the matter, since she has already ruled on related aspects of the case and due to Holder’s conflict of interest mentioned above. The collective is now forced to wait and see what perversity is coming next.

The Guyana Bar Association, which fielded a local observer team, was however one bright spot in the sea of darkness.

Sincerely, Ravi Ram

SEE ADDITIONAL LETTERS ON PAGE 16

6

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

Page

Foundation

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

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE SIX ASSESSMENT PAPER 1

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Reading Time: 10 minutes Writing Time: 60 minutes

READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY 1. This test has 40 questions. You have 1 hour 10 minutes to answer them.

2. Each question has four possible answers: (A), (B), (C) and (D). Read each

question carefully then choose the correct answer.

3. On your answer sheet, find the number that matches the question you intend to answer.

4. Shade the circle which has the same letter A, B, C or D, next to the answer you have chosen.

Sample Question

In questions 1 to 3 choose the correct spelling of the word to complete each sentence.

1. At the farm, the sheep were from the goats.

(A) seperated (B) sepirated (C) separated (D) separated 2. They were asked to choose clothing for the outing.

(A) sootible (B) suitable (C) suiteable (D) suetable 3. Fishing is an exciting sport.

(A) truely (B) truly (C) truily (D) trewly In questions 4 and 5, choose the word that is opposite in meaning to the word underlined in each sentence.

4. The obstinate pupil refused to apologise to the teacher.

(A) adamant (B) eager (C) obedient (D) lazy 5. Citizens were asked to conserve water.

(A) waste (B) protect (C) maintain (D) disperse In questions 6 to 8, choose each sentence.

6. The announcer decided child.

(A) jail (C) page

the best word to complete to the parents of the lost (B) cheat (D) train

7. The young singer rose to very quickly.

(A) stardom (B) approval (C) haughtiness (D) superiority 8. The drug given to the sick patient was by the doctor.

(A) dealt (C) denied

1. The opposite of interior is ANSWER SHEET (A) inside. (B) below.

A B C D (C) outside. (D) above.

The letter C is shaded on the answer sheet because outside, the correct answer, is next to C.5.

If you want to change your answer erase it completely before you fill in your new choice.

6. When the supervisor tells you to begin, turn the page and work as quickly and as (B) dosed (D) dispensed

In questions 9 to 11, choose the sentence that is correctly written.

9. (A) None of the boys are coming.

(B) Jane has won the prize.

(C) He is the youngest of the two brothers.

(D) She hurled her leg.

ers, pencils, pens and books.

(B) The shopkeeper had these items in stock. rulers, pencils, pens and books.

(C) The shopkeeper had these items in stock; rulers, pencils, pens and books.

(D) The shopkeeper had these items in stock? rulers, pencils, pens and books.

In question 15, choose the set of words which are arranged in alphabetical order.

15. (A) salary, salute, saint, sale, sailor (B) sale, salute, salary, saint, sailor (C) salary, sale, salute, sailor, saint (D) sailor, saint, sale, salary, salute

10. (A) It was him you saw there.

(B) Is she worst than her sister?

(C) To whom does this game belong?

(D) Seeta cannot run no more.

In question 16, select the underlined word which has a suffix.

11. (A) They cycled to the finishing line.

(B) Those people too bad.

(C) Gave me my portion now, please!

(D) Where did you seen that?

In questions 12 to 14, select the sentence which has the correct punctuation mark.

12. (A) Jane’s mother bought mangoes: cherries plums at the market.

(B) Jane’s mother bought mangoes! cherries plums at the market.

(C) Jane’s mother bought mangoes; cherries plums at the market.

(D) Jane’s mother bought mangoes, cherries plums at the market.

carefully as you can.

7. If you try a question and find that you cannot answer it, leave it and go on to the next one.

You may return to that question later.

8. You must not use calculators for this assessment.

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

and

16. Ravi and his friends felt great excitement and delight when the floats approached.

A)Excitement (B)Delight (C)Floats (D)Approached Study the extract from a dictionary carefully, then answer questions 17 and 18.

and and and

13. (A) Were you at the concert yesterday, (B) Were you at the concert yesterday.

(C) Were you at the concert yesterday?

(D) Were you at the concert yesterday!

14. (A) The shopkeeper had these items in stock: rul-

17. Which of these words can be found on this page?

(A) Bend (B) Bellboy (C) Belittle (D) Below 18. The letter n at the end of the word ‘bellows’ indicates that it is (A) a noun. (B) negative.

(C) neutral. (D) a number.

In questions 19 and 20, what is the function of the word underlined?

19. Are you excited about going on holiday?

(A) Conjunction (B) Adjective (C) Noun (D) Adverb 20. The headteacher chairs the meeting.

(A) Adverb (C) Noun (C) Pronoun (D) Verb

SOCIAL STUDIES PAPER 1 ANSWER KEY

33. D 34. A 35. C

36. C 37. C 38. B

39. A 40. C

NEWS

7

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GECOM's Chair reneges on commitment to facilitate recount ...faces contempt of court, other penalties – PPP Commissioner

Opposition Commissioner Sase Gunraj

H

aving initially committed to facilitating a recount of the ballots cast in the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission, (ret’d) Justice Claudette Singh, seems to be backflipping on that position, because an Affidavit in Defence was on Wednesday filed on behalf of GECOM, and sworn to by her.

This new affidavit contradicts her initial commitment. However, after being called out on this by one Commissioner, GECOM issued a statement saying that the affidavit has since been withdrawn.

In a statement made on Thursday by Oppositionnominated GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj, it was explained that the Chair was named a party in the Ulita Moore matter, which, among other things, is seeking to block the Commission from con-

ducting a national recount, and as such, she has filed her Affidavit of Defence.

However, another Affidavit in Defence, filed on behalf of the Elections Commission, which is also named a party in the matter, differs. In fact, Gunraj noted that it not only diverts from the Chair’s own affidavit, but also from a previous commitment given in the contempt of court proceedings before the Chief Justice, as well as publicly, earlier this month, to facilitate a recount in the event there are unresolved discrepancies during the tabulation process.

In a letter to Justice Singh on March 23, before the affidavit was filed on behalf of GECOM, Gunraj had pointed out that the submissions undermine her previous undertaking.

“Further, the averments contained in that affidavit suborn perjury on your part, as they collide with your position…and as averred in your Affidavit of Defence. This exposes you to proceedings for Contempt of Court, among other penalties,” he added.

Following this statement from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Commissioner on Thursday, GECOM indicated that the affidavit in question was incorrectly filed, and has since been withdrawn.

“In an effort to meet strict timelines, an incorrect affidavit was filed on behalf of GECOM (and sworn to by the) Chairperson, Justice Claudette Singh. The affidavit has since been withdrawn

and the notice of withdrawal is being served on the Parties,” Public Relations Officer (PRO) of GECOM, Yolanda Ward, said in a brief statement.

Meanwhile, Gunraj’s missive on Thursday further cited the GECOM Chair, along with Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, as acting unilaterally regarding the Ulita Moore case.

The court matter filed by Moore — A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/ AFC) Candidate —challenges a recount that had been agreed to by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and President David Granger, and was being facilitated by Justice Singh.

However, the Opposition Commissioner insisted that there has been no meeting of the Elections Commission to give or approve any instructions regarding the filing of the affidavit in the matter.

Gunraj, with acquiescence of his colleague Commissioners Robeson Benn and Bibi Shadick, has since posed the question: “Is there an alternate Guyana Elections Commission of which I am not a part, or that meets and arrives at decisions?”

According to the PPP Commissioner, GECOM last met as a body on March 17, 2020, and “since then, no discussions were had, and certainly no decisions were taken as a body in relation to the myriad of issues related to the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, including the

GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

ongoing litigation.”

He observed that the affidavit filed by Justice Singh in her capacity as Chairperson of GECOM – a named party – was filed

by Attorney-at-law Kim KyteThomas, who is representing her in these proceedings.

But the affidavit sworn to by the Chair, which purports to be GECOM’s submission, is again drawn by Kim Kyte-Thomas at the request of the Chairman.

He noted, however, that “quite remarkably,” on March 23, 2020, the almost identical affidavit was shared with Commissioners for consideration, “except that it was drafted by Neil Boston, SC, who appears for the CEO.” In that March 23 letter to Justice Singh, Gunraj said he also informed her of his disagreement with the “affidavit [which] appears to be drawn by Neil Boston, SC, who appears for the

Chief Elections Officer and not on behalf of the Guyana Elections Commission.”

“You would recall that during the Court proceedings of March 20, 2020, I objected to the said Neil Boston, SC entering an appearance on behalf of the Guyana Elections Commission, as the Commission had not met and decided on this matter. Further, the Commission has not done so, up to the present time,” Gunraj intimated in his letter to the GECOM Chair.

According to the Opposition Commissioner, while he did not receive any response to his letter to the GECOM Chair, he later observed that an almost identical affidavit was filed by Kim Kyte-Thomas in Court on behalf of GECOM – the same which has now been withdrawn.

“I wish to make it abundantly clear that there was no meeting or decision of GECOM to retain Kim Kyte-Thomas as Attorneyat-Law for GECOM, neither did GECOM give any instructions for the preparation of that affidavit,” Gunraj contended on Thursday.

Additionally, he outlined that several press releases have purportedly been issued on behalf of GECOM, detailing its position on various issues. However, GECOM has not met since March 17, and therefore these outpourings through media releases do not, and cannot, reflect the official positions of the seven-member Commission.

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Taxi driver relieved of car, valuables by gunmen

A

Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) taxi driver was relieved of his motor car and other val-

uables by two bandits who had posed as passengers.

Twenty-five-year-old Blake Harden, who has been

working with a taxi service located at Diamond, around 20:45h on Tuesday, picked up the two passengers who requested to be taken to Eccles Industrial Site.

During the journey, one of the men who sat in the back seat whipped out a gun and held up the victim, ordering him to stop the car.

He then demanded the driver hand over all his valuables along with the key of his Toyota Premio bearing registration number PTT 7735.

Harden subsequently complied. He exited the car

and escaped the perpetrators by running into a nearby yard.

Regional Police Commander of Region Four B, Kurleigh Simon told Guyana Times that Police on patrol intercepted the vehicle in Timehri.

One of the perpetrators was driving the car at the time and upon seeing the Police he drove into a clump of bushes and escaped, leaving the car behind. The car was taken to the Timehri Police Station as investigations continue.

Real...

Y

…or surreal? our Eyewitness looked at an APNU/AFC press conference yesterday. At least he assumed it was an APNU/AFC press conference, since Joseph Harmon, the APNU General Secretary, and Raphael Trotman, the AFC Chairman, were at the head table. It was one of the most surreal experiences he’s had in a while -- and that’s saying something - after witnessing what unfolded at the Ashmin’s Building with Mingo and crew!

The subjects they were going to pronounce on were the stalled elections process and COVID-19. Since there’s a COVID-19 task force in place, which just today started to make what they assured the nation would be daily updates, your Eyewitness felt that segment was sorta like gilding the hibiscus. The media present obviously shared that sentiment, since their questions at the end focused totally on election matters.

The presser was dominated by Harmon, with Trotman merely supporting him on two occasions in a voice as raspy as sandpaper on steroids! The election’s been over for over three weeks, and even then, it wasn’t as if he’d been exactly hitting any high notes on the campaign stage!

Has he been working overtime convincing his AFC colleagues - after Gaskin’s announcement that he didn’t think much of Mingo’s numbers and “who vex, vex” - to bear strain on the rigging front?

Anyhow back to the main event that made your Eyewitness think he was watching an episode of “Twilight Zone”, Harmon’s spiel on the elections. The fella blithely blamed the delay on the announcement of the results of Reg 4 - and of the overall elections - on “Mercury” and “the Russians”! That’s right!

The “tiredness” of Returning Officer Mingo’s staff on the first night had nothing to do with it. The late show of Mingo the next morning, and his sudden “illness” that rushed him to the cardiology dept of GPHC, had nothing to do with it. His return late that afternoon with still nothing done, and forcing his boss CEO Lowenfield to promise a new timeline wasn’t it. And so on with the flash drive and entering data on a spreadsheet from SOPs that no one was permitted to see.

No, it was those pesky Mercury Lobbyists whom your Eyewitness assumed were massaging US politicians’ egos and pocketbooks up in Washington who’d dunnit! Did they have local lackeys who were massaging Mingo? Or was it them who hired those Russian hackers who were outed by our crack crime sleuth head Ramjattan? But then again, Ramjattan had (rather testily) informed the nation that he’d immediately deported the Ruskies; and we will never know how exactly they hacked our pencil-and-pen elections!!

Surreal as Dali’s moustache, that’s what it was! …intentions outed What your Eyewitness got from the “encounter of the third kind” experience, was that the PNC’s gonna be swearing in Granger as President, come hell or high water.

All the smarmy talk about “waiting on the Court’s decision” before doing so just means the PNC knows what the Court’s going to rule. Incestuous? So what??

And you can bet your bottom dollar that it ain’t gonna be no ordering of any recount!! Mingo’s mingoed numbers will stand! Harmon showed the PNC’s hand when he kept harping back about an elections petition as the path for the PPP. On being reminded that the International Community might just slap sanctions on any Government sworn in under the status quo, this was dismissed as serving to hurt the Guyanese people. Who will just have to sacrifice for “democracy”.

The PNC’s counting on the COVID-19 crisis keeping the US preoccupied.

They should know the Yanks just charged Maduro for drug trafficking!! ...Claudette’s backflip As a retired Appellate Judge, you never though Claudette Singh could do a backflip, did you?? Well, that’s what she just did when she announced that the affidavit she’s filed with the Court “to facilitate a recount at the level of the Commission” was done in error!!

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

9 US summons Guyana’s Ambassador; warns against swearing in a president with “flawed results” NEWS

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Michael Kozak

G

uyana’s Ambassador to the US, Riyad Insanally was on Thursday warned that any government sworn in based on flawed results would not be recognised by the Trump Administration.

This is according to a social media statement made

by Michael Kozak, a diplomat in the United States Department of State, currently serving as acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Kozak said the Guyanese Ambassador was summoned to a meeting where the US reiterated its stance on the current political situation in Guyana.

“On behalf of the

US Government, today (Thursday), I summoned Guyana Ambassador to the US, Riyad Insanally to convey our firm position that any government sworn in based on flawed election results would not be legitimate. Every vote must be counted,” Kozak tweeted.

The US has previously warned that there would be “serious consequences” for those who seek to benefit from electoral fraud in Guyana.

This warning was even relayed by the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a press conference on March 17.

“The individuals who seek to benefit from electoral fraud and form illegitimate Governments, regimes will be subject to a variety of serious consequences from the United States,” Pompeo had stated.

The US National Security Council, the forum that decides the US’s national security and military policies, has also called for democracy to prevail in Guyana.

The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab had also warned of “serious consequences” for those who seek to benefit from electoral fraud in Guyana.

“Any Government sworn in on the basis of non-credible results will face strong

al.

But Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo pointed out that sanctions could be avoided if the APNU/AFC coalition did the right thing.

“They are the ones who

are anti-national. The civil society organisations, the small parties, etc, we are still trying to avoid the sanctions by asking them to do the right thing, which is to have a recount done

that would allow the rightful President to be sworn in and then we can avoid all of the sanctions, personal as well as national sanctions,” Jagdeo said.

General and Regional Elections

Jagdeo pushes for national recount, not new elections Guyana’s Ambassador to the US, Riyad Insanally

international condemnation. If the situation continues to deteriorate, this international response will include a range of serious consequences for those concerned,” Raab had stated on March 24.

Only on Thursday, A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Campaign Manager Joseph Harmon dismissed allegations of electoral fraud, saying “fraud is not a political term, it is a legal concept which requires specific averments that speak to fraud. You have to detail the particulars of fraud.”

He also stated that those who are endorsing calls for sanctions were anti-nation-

– calls on APNU/AFC to disclose SoPs

P

eople’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo is insisting that there be a recount of the ballots cast in the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, and not the holding of new elections.

This comment comes after APNU/AFC Campaign Manager Joseph Harmon on Thursday called on political parties to “sit and work out our differences”.

However, at a subsequent press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo pointed out that this is not a dispute over the elections’ results, but the stealing of an entire elections.

“We don’t want another election, because I heard some of them…trying to push that narrative, ‘Oh,

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo

why don’t we get together, work together for three or four years, and then go to an election together – a new election?”’ Well, we don’t want new elections; we want

the results for these elections to be counted,” he contended.

Just over three weeks ago, Guyanese cast their votes in what was described by international and local observers as an almost smooth polling day process; but there followed several disruptions and delays to the tabulation process in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica). Despite the other nine districts declaring results without any contention, the results for Region Four, the largest voting district in Guyana, have been mired in controversy and “credible allegations” of fraud from most of the parties that contested the elections, and even the observers. They are all pushing for a recount of the votes cast in the region.

TURN TO PAGE 15

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lethem farmer beaten to Linden motorcyclist death during drinking spree succumbs days after crashing into house A

farmer was allegedly beaten to death during a drinking spree on Wednesday at Kunuku Drive, Central Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper

Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Dead is 49-year-old Leron Ault, also known as “Junior” of Moco Moco Village, Central Rupununi.

The suspect, a 20-year-old

labourer, was arrested and was currently assisting with investigations.

Based on reports received, the incident took place about16:00h on the day on the day in question when the now dead man went to Kanuku Drive, Lethem to uplift money owed to him by a woman.

However, the woman reportedly told Ault that she was unable to make the payment. He then left and went to the backyard where he met the suspect and three other men imbibing alcohol.

Based on information gathered, the victim joined the other men and during the drinking spree, an argument broke out. The argument escalated and it was at that point, the suspect armed himself with a piece of wood and dealt Ault several blows to his head and stomach.

The injured man fell to the ground, and was picked up and taken to the Lethem

N

Murder suspect Fabian Abraham

Regional Hospital, where he was admitted, but later succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment.

The body is presently at the Lethem Regional Hospital mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination. An investigation has been launched into the murder.

ineteen-year-old Eon “Junior” Patterson who crashed a motorcycle into a house at Block 22, Wismar, Linden on last Thursday succumbed to his injuries while hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital on Wednesday evening.

According to family members, Patterson was being treated at the Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after suffering major injuries to his throat and jaw.

His sister told Guyana Times that her brother was scheduled to be transferred from the ICU on Wednesday and placed in the male ward after he demonstrated vital signs of improvement.

However, things took a turn for the worse even after Patterson, who had been in an unconscious state, had started breathing on his own and moving his eyes.

“The only thing about him is his legs, they keep shaking. So, they’re wondering if is spasms he got. But he’s coming around, better than before,” his sister had stated on Tuesday.

The young man was rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) in critical condition, after losing control of the motorcycle he was riding which then slammed into the house.

He was subsequently transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital owing to the severity of his condition. The accident occurred just a short distance away from his home.

According to the young man’s sister, who resides in

Dead: Eon “Junior” Patterson

the same home as he did, she had asked him to purchase an item at a nearby shop, but she was unaware that he had intended using her fiancé’s motorcycle.

She said it was not until shortly after he had gone downstairs that she heard him starting the motorcycle.

After some time had elapsed and he did not return home, the sister attempted to contact him, but his phone went unanswered.

However, shortly after, she saw her brother passing their home at a fast pace. It was then, he lost control of the motorcycle and slammed into the house.

At the time of the accident, he was not wearing a helmet. He was picked up and taken to the Linden Hospital Complex, where he was treated and referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. The young man leaves to mourn his parents, siblings, and friends.

NEWS

11

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Harmon denies APNU behind recount injunction ...expects “President” to be sworn in after case concludes

A

Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Campaign Manager Joseph Harmon has denied that the coalition is behind the injunction filed by its candidate, Ulita Moore, to block a national recount of the votes by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

At a press conference on Thursday, Harmon related that the injunction filed was independent and as such, the APNU/AFC could not instruct its supporter to withdraw the case.

Addressing questions raised about the injunction, which is now before the High Court, he claimed that the coalition joined the matter when the other parties did.

“Every citizen has a constitutional right… We became involved in the matter when other parties sought to be joined and just as the PPP wanted to be joined, we said we will be joined as well,” he said.

The injunction would have put a halt to the countrywide recount of the March 2 ballots – a process that was slated to begin under supervision of the Caribbean Community (Caricom). However, even now, Harmon has claimed that the APNU/AFC coalition welcomes a country-

APNU/AFC Campaign Manager Joseph Harmon

wide recount of the votes.

According to Harmon, the coalition will respect the ruling of the court while noting that it was anxiously anticipating the swearing-in of “the President”.

“We believe in the law, once the law provides for it, if it is by a declaration by the Chairman of GECOM, if it has to go to court by way of a petition…whatever is the outcome of it, we will support it…We will be bound accordingly,” Harmon said.

He added, “The APNU/ AFC are law-abiding and anxiously awaits their president being sworn in ...We are not hiding from anything. We have always

been upholding the law.”

The ex parte application, filed on March 17, was granted by Justice Franklyn Holder, whose daughter is married to the personal assistant of former Minister of State, Joseph Harmon. It sought to prevent GECOM officers from setting aside or varying the declarations that have already been made by the 10 Returning Officers (ROs) until the determination of the action on Friday.

It also sought the prevention of authorisation on the part of the Commission of any action in relation to the agreement that had been inked between President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin has since dismissed the injunction as preposterous, and intimated that the action pointed to factions within the APNU/AFC coalition.

He suggested that the development suggested that there were factions in APNU or that the President is “flip-flopping and he is deceiving people”.

Questioning the rationale behind the court action, Datadin had asked “why would you want to stop the recount” and said that

it was within the ambit of Guyana’s laws.

On Monday, litigants on both sides of the issue in the current court hearing on the matter challenged the jurisdiction of the court to even hear several pertinent matters.

Attorneys for Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield objected to the application by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, to have his client tender as evidence the entity’s Statements of Poll (SoPs) for Region Four and questioned the court’s jurisdiction to accommodate the request.

The Opposition Leader’s formal submissions were made by Attorney-atLaw Douglas Mendez via Skype from neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago.

Another of Jagdeo’s lawyers, Anil Nandlall subsequently told media operatives that it was Moore’s Attorney that first raised the issue of the court’s jurisdiction “about whether the court can order the SoPs and then we countered with a jurisdictional issue ourselves”.

Business community demands copies of Region 4 SoPs …reiterates need for urgent public disclosure of results

W

ith election results delayed by almost a month, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has now demanded that the contentious Statements of Poll (SoPs) for Region Four be made available to it and each of the contesting political parties. The demand was made

by PSC Chair Captain Gerry Gouveia, who, in a missive directed to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), reminded that the business organisation was an accredited local observer.

Captain Gouveia reminded too that the PSC, “as a leading member of civil society in Guyana, shares the observations recorded by the local and international observers contained in their public statements that the tabulation and verification process of the Region Four General and Regional Elections are flawed and have been unlawfully declared.”

The PSC Chair was adamant that “as a major civil society observer and stake-

PSC Chairman, Captain Gerry Gouveia

holder in the conduct and outcome of these elections, it is our bounden duty to report as accurately as possible on the fairness and propriety of the tabulation and verification of the General and Regional Elections as we have observed them“.

TURN TO PAGE 12

12 NEWS

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

‘Ballot box watchers’ do so at GECOM’s discretion …law does not contemplate party agents as security

T

he Guyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) has made it clear there is no law directing that party agents be part of the security apparatus safeguarding the ballot boxes holding the votes cast in the recently held March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

In fact, the Commission is of the view that the party agents that have been permitted to observe the ballot boxes at GECOM’s compound do so at the discretion of the electoral body.

The Commission on Thursday said it was responding to a WhatsApp message circulating with a claim that “GECOM is now restricting party agents from moving around containers to ensure that they are safe and have not been compromised.”

The Commission, as such, resorted to Section 141 of the Representation of the People Act, which states that in any indictment, information or complaint for an offence in relation to ballot boxes, ballot papers and other election material, the property in them may be stated to be in the custody of the Chief Election Officer.

GECOM, as such, is adamant that the law does not contemplate party agents being key stakeholders in the security of ballot boxes, once these have been deposited in the custody of the Commission.

According to the Commission, “Though there is no legal provision for party agents to act as security for electoral materials, in the present circumstance, Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission made

A group of PPP/C supporters

a decision on March 15, 2020 that one agent per political party be accommodated in GECOM’s compound for the sole purpose of watching containers with General and Regional Elections 2020 ballot boxes.”

It said, too, that pre-dating the General and Regional

Elections 2020, there is an administrative arrangement for all contesting parties to place a padlock on each container with ballot boxes.

It was noted, however, that only two main parties – A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) and the

Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) — have placed chains and padlocks on each container in the custody of the Commission.

According to the Elections Commission, it “recognized that the safety and security of its staff and compound were compromised by the presence of party agents.”

As such, as of March 25, 2020, political parties have been “asked to desist from photographing and taking videos of staff members and GECOM’s routine operations.”

A number of party leaders and representatives have, since the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, taken to monitoring the ballot boxes in the possession of GECOM stored in containers.

These include Presidential Candidate of the Liberty and Justice Party, Lennox Shuman; Kian Jabour and Mark

France of A New and United Guyana, and Rhonda Lam of The Citizenship Imitative, in addition to scores of PPP/C supporters and leaders.

Taking on the moniker “Guardians of Democracy,” some have set up camps at the corner of Cowan and Fort Streets Kingston, Georgetown, as well as at Cowan and High Streets, Kingston. They are out there all day and night, using a shift system for different groups.

This past week, the PPP publicly expressed sincere gratitude “to Guyanese for their overwhelming support in protecting our democracy by turning out in large numbers to show support and assist with protecting the integrity of the ballot boxes stored in the containers first at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal and now at High and Cowan Streets, Kingston.”

Business community demands copies...

FROM PAGE 11

According to Gouveia, it is clear to the PSC, from its observations, that the SoPs used by Region Four Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo “in tabulating the results of the elections, were never established as authentic”.

The business community’s representative body said the vote tallies being read out and presented for tabulation by Mingo and his staff were at significant variation from the SoPs in the possession of the contesting political parties and that the pace at which the numbers were presented made it impossible for the party agents and observers to follow and verify the process in a transparent manner.

According to Gouveia, GECOM’s records will show that the Commission “in the November 2011 General and Regional Elections, acceded to a request by the PSC to make scanned copies of the SoPs of that election available to the contesting political parties and to the PSC”.

This was in response to a protest with regard to the credibility of the tabulation

of the election results from the then Opposition parties – A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC).

According to Gouveia, “that favourable response

by GECOM literally set a precedent for the voluntary release of the SoPs by this Commission”.

The PSC Chairman noted that given the fact that the tabulation processes conducted by the Returning Officer for District Four of the General and Regional Elections were found not to be credible nor transparent by all of the Accredited Domestic and International Observers, without exception, “we hereby formally request copies of all of the SoPs of every District and further propose that scanned copies of these SoPs are made available on request to all of the contesting political parties”.

According to Gouveia, the “request for copies of the SoPs is made purely out of the urgent necessity for credible public disclosure of the results of the elections”.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CXC mulls July 2020 timeline Giftland Mall to operate pharmacy, for writing of CAPE, CSEC Coronavirus

supermarket only from April 1 …as GCCI urges businesses to modify operations

T

he Giftland Mall has announced that it will be closing its doors in a few days, due to the coronavirus threat in Guyana. However, certain key stores will remain open.

In a statement to the public on Thursday, the Giftland Mall said the temporary closure will take effect from April 1, 2020.

However, the FoodMaxx Supermarket and Shoppers Pharmacy will remain open to facilitate basic shopping. Opening hours for these stores remain from 10:00h to 19:30h.

“This closure is due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which has placed our country and the world in unprecedented times. Given that the main counter against the spread of the virus is social distancing, the mall will be closing temporarily in the interest of its staff and customers,” the Mall said in a statement.

Customers, however, will be required to abide by the guidelines enforced in-store by the FoodMaxx Supermarket to combat the spread of the virus.

The pricing structure will remain the same throughout this period, but management has cautioned that prices may increase if the cost of the items rise.

Moreover, for now, all ATMs will be accessible, unless indicated otherwise.

The announcement by the Giftland Mall comes even as the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) is encouraging businesses to modify their operations to safeguard

their employees and customers during this public health crisis.

“Whilst waiting for directions from the National Authorities, the GCCI is encouraging members of the business community and the general public to voluntarily practise social distancing,” the private sector umbrella body has urged.

In addition to social distancing, businesses have also been encouraged to avoid large gatherings, and allow their employees to work from home where possible.

Businesses such as restaurants, bars and similar services should discontinue ‘dine-in’ services for customers and facilitate takeout, delivery and ‘drive-thru’ options, the GCCI said, while urging transportation providers (minibuses, taxis and speedboats) to sanitise their vehicles after every trip.

Moreover, the GCCI has asked that businesses disseminate guidelines on sanitation and hygiene to employees, in addition to providing them with sanitising

materials.

In another appeal, the GCCI urged businesses not to price gouge on materials needed during this time.

Meanwhile, the GCCI is pleading with citizens and the business community to take the advisories issued by the relevant authorities seriously.

“The private sector body called on citizens to change their behavioural patterns and adopt the approach known as Social Distancing; this means to avoid close physical contact with other persons so as to reduce the spread of the virus,” the GCCI said, as it pledged its willingness to assist the Government in its efforts to increase its resources to effectively fight the disease.

The National COVID-19 Task Force (NCFT) warned on Wednesday that it is contemplating the imposition of “extreme measures” to restrict the movement of people due to their “cavalier” approach to the guidelines being issued by authorities.

A

mid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has proposed a July, 2020 timeline for the sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

Registrar of the council, Dr Wayne Wesley, during a press conference on Thursday in Barbados,

stated that the Council formulated a revised strategy for the May/ June examinations, taking the health and wellbeing of involved stakeholders into first priority.

As such, they are planning to administer one common paper; that is, the multiple choice, along with School-Based Assessments (SBAs) to determine the final grade. For modern languages, Human and Social Biology and Visual Arts, other modalities will be followed.

Presently, the regional examination body is working with registrars across the countries to determine a way forward amid the pandemic, which has already resulted in multiple deaths.

Regarded as ‘unprecedented times’, Dr Wesley indicated that this timeline is tentative, owing to

the progression or retrogression of the virus. The Council has said it continues to be guided by national protocols throughout the region, and urges the utilization of e-learning platforms during this time.

Meanwhile, the submission deadline for SBAs is extended from the initial April date. CXC related that, with an earlier date in place, there can be a smooth transfer of students into the upcoming academic year. Adding to that, they are working to limit the wait for stakeholders who are seeking employment.

The decision to relocate the examination to another day was in light of the increasingly worrying circumstances brought about by the novel coronavirus, Covid-19.

In Guyana, five cases, including one death, have been recorded.

But in neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago, there were some 65 confirmed cases up to Thursday night.

Some precautionary measures outlined have requested that public gatherings and non-essential travel be discouraged; that competent agencies continue to patrol irregular border crossings; and that there be enhanced sensitization of key personnel at all air and seaports. Health authorities have indicated that one of the ways to prevent contracting the Covid-19 virus is by boosting the immune system while disinfecting frequently-contacted surroundings. It is advisable to sanitize or wash hands frequently, and avoid touching the face.

COVID-19 is affecting 198 countries and territories around the world, and one international conveyance - the Diamond Princess cruise ship harboured in Yokohama, Japan.

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NEWS

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FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GIT, CIOG concerned about gravity shown by some Guyanese to COVID-19 A s Guyana intensifies its fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Guyana Islamic Trust (GIT) and the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) have said they are deeply concerned with the approach of some Guyanese.

In a statement on Thursday, the Islamic bodies expressed “serious concerns” over the fact that some persons have been ignoring the public advisories and warnings, and have been going about their daily activities as per normal and operating in a business-as-usual manner.

“We, the Guyana Islamic Trust (GIT) and the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG), are deeply concerned that the recommended precautions being shared by medical experts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are so far not being treated with the gravity and seriousness they deserve.

Many people continue to go about their social life as per normal, without any restrictions, and this is not healthy for our families and the society

at large,” the missive posited.

P A H O / W H O Representative Dr William Adu-Krow last week stated that, based on statistics coming out of China, if that country had started practising social distancing three weeks before it had actually started, transmission of the virus could

have been reduced by 93 per cent. As such, he made a special call for Guyanese to immediately start practising social distancing.

However, the GIT and CIOG are echoing similar sentiments while noting that our health care system can be overwhelmed if the virus is declared an epidemic here.

“The counties which have been most affected by this pandemic have been those which were slow or reluctant to take these preventive measures.

Even if the majority can cope with the symptoms of the virus, continued and unrestrict-

ed social interaction will ultimately affect relatives/friends etc., who are more vulnerable and require special care, and the fear is very real that our health care system will become overwhelmed and unable to deal with the demands of a rapidly spreading epidemic.”

To this end, both organizations called on the citizens to refrain from certain activities in order to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

“Social distancing requires that we limit our interactions with those outside our household as much as possible, and maintain a relatively safe distance during such interactions; avoiding crowded areas and physical contact; along with (practising) regular washing of the hands and face etc.”

The missive further stated that “We therefore call upon members of the public to intensify efforts and take all measures necessary to practise social distancing in an effective way. Social events should be cancelled or curtailed to the bare minimum, so that crowding can be avoided, since the virus can be spread without symptoms manifesting themselves until it’s too late.”

Jagdeo pushes for...

FROM PAGE 9

In fact, an attempt by the Chairperson of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley, last week to supervise a nation recount, which was requested by caretaker President David Granger and agreed to by Jagdeo, who is also the Leader of the Opposition, had to be abandoned after an injunction was obtained to block the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) from moving ahead with the recounting process.

That interim injunction, currently before the court, was secured by APNU/AFC Candidate Ulita Moore.

According to Jagdeo, the caretaker Coalition must have a lot to hide, since it does not want to allow a democratic transition of government.

He alluded to Harmon’s statement made earlier in the day, that the Coalition had nothing to do with the court case filed, although the APNU/ AFC Campaign Manager noted that Moore had a “constitutional right” to file the legal proceedings.

Jagdeo has argued that anyone looking at the court case would show Coalition candidates involved in every aspect; that is, the applicant who filed the case and the lawyer representing her interests.

“This [court case] was carefully planned by APNU to sabotage the CARICOM Agreement. They didn’t want the CARICOM Agreement because that would have exposed the corruption and the fraudulent results. So Granger made CARICOM believe that he genuinely wanted to move forward, and then got his people to go and file this case, so then he can use this as an excuse to say, ‘Oh, I wanted to find a solution forward, but it’s not me, it’s the courts’, and so that is, again, very transparent. So, their position where they’re saying [they] have nothing to do with the court case is as hollow as everyone knows,” Jagdeo posited.

Moreover, the PPP General Secretary on Thursday reiterated calls

APNU/AFC Campaign Manager Joseph Harmon

for the Coalition to disclose their statements of poll (SoPs) as was done by his party to show.

Harmon maintained at the media engagement earlier in the day that GECOM is the only body required to submit the statements, which contain information of votes from each polling station.

While the PPP/C have uploaded the SoPs in their possession – some given to them by GECOM and others which they have secured from outside polling stations, where copies were posted by Presiding Officers – Jagdeo noted that the APNU/AFC are instead guarding their copies at Congress Place, Headquarters of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), leading party in the APNU fraction of the Coalition.

“Now, all you have to do is upload them. The best way to guard your SoPs is to put them online, like we did. But they have to physically guard their SoPs; it’s the same SoPs that GECOM has, and that was given to them and given to us. We’ve uploaded ours, they don’t want to release [their copies].

They don’t want GECOM to release their copies, and they expect this country to believe them,” Jagdeo asserted.

Region 10 establishes RHEC in fight against coronavirus

ꟷ curfew to be implemented in Linden from Saturday

T

hough there has been no reported case of coronavirus in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), Regional officials have moved to put systems in place in an effort to control any possible spread.

At a stakeholder meeting hosted at the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) on Thursday, a Regional Health Emergency Committee (RHEC) was established in this regard.

Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell, who was part of the meeting, indicated that the Linden community would move to establish a curfew which would be implemented from this Saturday.

“So, what we have created is a Regional Health and Emergency Committee that is under the RDC (Regional Democratic Council) with the Regional Executive Officer. That Committee’s responsibility is to report on issues and cases in Linden…,” the Mayor told <<Guyana Times>>.

The subcommittees of this committee include Health, Safety and Security,

Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell

Transportation and Business, Communications, Logistics and Welfare.

“All of these are created across the region, where we will be looking into all the issues related to COVID and be able to make a decision.

“We have also decided that on Saturday we are calling a curfew on Linden. All businesses are to be closed (from) 6pm to 6am, with the exception of supermarkets and pharmacies, which will be closed at 8pm. And anyone found loitering on the roadways after 8:30/9:00 (in the evening), they will be

subjected to Police checks”, the Mayor said.

In a press release issued by the Linden Municipality later on Thursday, it was noted that the Ministry of Communities has directed the formation of the RHEC, which will comprise of the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Deputy REO, Assistant REO, Linden Municipalities, RDCs, disciplined services: Police, Fire, Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and Customs.

The committee is a 24hour operation, and will conduct full committee meetings every 48 hours.

The release further advised that a regional curfew will be affecting the communities of Linden, Ituni, Kwakwani, Coomaka, 47 Miles, 58 Miles, Anarika, Rockstone, and all population centres in Region 10.

It added that all citizens, except essential workers with identification, (nurses, Police, military, water and electricity) must be in their homes from 8pm until 5am, and citizens found on the street may be detained.

“Businesses are directed

to offer only take-out and delivery services, and cease all dining and drinking-in services.

Please follow all sanitary guidelines, and wash and

sanitize your hands regularly and avoid crowds, and if you feel ill, You are advised to make contact with the following hotline numbers: 444-6127, 444-6137,

231-1166, 226-7480, 7180…

If you would like more information about this topic, please call Region 10 COVID-19 PRO at 6027389”, the release explained.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

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

Let’s speak out and stand What is GECOM for what is right and just being paid to do?

Dear Editor, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the voters across all ten regions of this great country of ours. I am honoured and thankful that every Guyanese had the opportunity to vote for democracy on March 2,2020.

It has been so encouraging during the campaign to meet so many Guyanese throughout the length and breadth of Guyana who believe in democracy.

The support we felt on Election Day was incredible; and we owe it to you, the people of Guyana, our supporters, party membership and friends. It is with your trust that our leaders would work tirelessly on the behalf of every Guyanese to try to resolve challenges, issues locally and nationally, and to secure lasting and meaningful improvements to the quality of life of every Guyanese.

I am thankful to all our candidates who offer to serve their regions and communities, and seek solutions for public problems. It is not easy to put oneself out there in such a public forum, so we give credit to those with the initiative to do so.

Over the last three weeks, the events taking place in Guyana after the regional and general elections of March 02, 2020 have been unbelievable and unacceptable to all.

As Guyanese, we had a very simple task to vote for the political party of our choice in order to elect a new government, which is a

provision in our Constitution. We are in a serious struggle, and this struggle is about saving our country from descending into dictatorship and becoming a pariah state.

It is a struggle for our future and the future of our generations to come. It is a struggle that we must endure to the end if we are going to save our country.

It is public knowledge that the Region #4 returning officer’s declaration on March 5,2020 was vacated and declared unlawful by the Chief Justice on March 11, 2020 on basis that he did not comply with procedure laid down in section 84 of the Representation of the peoples Act cap 1:03 and election laws (Amendment) Act 2000.

All Guyanese want to see a clear and transparent process that clearly identifies who won the election, and the only way to do that is to have the ballots for the disputed Region #4 recounted. By doing this, it will remove all the doubts about who won the March 02, general and regional elections.

I have admired and respected your patience and restraint over the past weeks. Guyanese, now is the time for us to speak out and stand for what is right and just.

We all know that it is never easy having disputes with our peers, but when the future of our country is at stake, we must react and stand up and defend our country against the few who are willing to sacrifice everyone else for their own ambitions.

My fellow Guyanese, you have all heard what the international communities speak out against the attempts to steal our democracy. These communities are on our side; we either stand for what is the truth and justice, or stand on the side of injustice, lies and false rumours. This is not about any party or race; this is about all Guyanese and Guyana’s future.

We must not allow this situation to happen in Guyana. We have leaders making personal sacrifice and working tirelessly to ensure our democracy is not stolen. We must join them and support them; it is our support that will continue to motivate and assure them in this fight. This is a battle we cannot lose; because, if we do so, there is no future for us and our children.

Guyanese, all the political parties outside of the APNU-AFC are working for the peaceful and legal resolution recount and the democratic norms to prevail in this situation, and remain committed to respecting the results emanating from the recount.

I call on all citizens to remain calm and peaceful as these matters continue to engage the attention of the courts and as our leaders continue to work with the local and international communities to ensure the recounting of the votes cast at Guyana’s General and Regional Elections held on March 02,2020.

Sincerely, David Adams

Dear Editor, The departure of foreign observers and the inhibition of their return by the pandemic virus has made it incumbent on me and other local observers to continue our work here more urgently.

Last Tuesday evening I went to observe the ballot box containers in GECOM at High and Cowan Streets. I took along my binoculars, but they were not necessary, as the Police on duty at the barricades readily allowed me to pass.

They were all courteous.

There were three groups of watchers. Two were in Cowan Street, one east and one west of the barricades. I parked near the eastern one and discovered they were a multi-party grouping, some with the ‘Guardians of Democracy’ shirts.

The western one had more people, and more wearing the ‘Guardians of Democracy’ shirts.

The third group was in High Street, on the pavement in front of the Ministry of Finance parking lot. They were identified as APNU/AFC from the sign hanging from their red shed.

I walked around, visited each group thrice, and encountered civility at all times, except on the third occasion I visited the APNU/ AFC group. That group had hitherto consisted of elderly ladies and gentlemen, with a few children, but on this occasion, they were joined by younger comrades.

They asked loudly what I was doing here. When I replied, showed my observer badge and proffered my card, they said they didn’t care who I was, that I had no business here, and that I should go back over there, pointing to the eastern Cowan St group, from where I had come from my second visit there.

This rejection was done with tirades of obscenity without demur from the elders present; so, I left them without saying anything further. The Cowan St groups accepted my cards.

The loss of my national ID card shortly before election day caused me to visit my nearest GECOM branch office to apply for a replacement in my capacity as a citizen, not an election observer. I was not allowed in by the security guard after she had consulted with the staff in the building, during the first week after elections.

I checked every subsequent week, but the answer was the same: they are not doing ID cards at the moment, and cannot say when the service would resume.

On the second occasion, a helpful staffer gave me a telephone number to call that office. This begs the question of what they are being paid to do.

Sincerely, Alfred Bhulai Local election observer Transparency Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI)

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

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

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

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

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

(Adapted from BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

17

Regional

Brazil’s Governors press Bolsonaro US indicts Venezuela’s Maduro for “narco-terrorism” for more coronavirus support

B

T

he US Government on Thursday indicted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and more than a dozen other top Venezuelan officials on charges of “narco-terrorism”, the latest escalation of the Trump Administration’s pressure campaign aimed at ousting the socialist leader.

The State Department offered a reward of up to US$15 million for information leading to the arrest of Maduro, whose country has been convulsed by years of a deep economic crisis and political upheaval.

The indictment, a rare US action against a foreign Head of State, marks a serious new phase against Maduro at a time when some US officials have privately said President Donald Trump is increasingly frustrated with the results of his Venezuela policy.

Attorney General William Barr, announcing charges that include narco-terrorism conspiracy, corruption and drug trafficking, accused Maduro and his associates of colluding with a dissident faction of the demobilised Colombian guerrilla group, the FARC, “to flood the United States with

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro speaks during a news conference at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, March 12, 2020

cocaine”.

But Trump Administration officials are mindful that their chances are slim of getting Maduro or the other major figures in custody anytime soon, a person familiar with the situation said on condition of anonymity.

“While the Venezuelan people suffer, this cabal lines their pockets with drug money and the proceeds of their corruption,” Barr said.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said the charges and rewards being offered showed the Trump Administration’s “desperation” as well as its

“obsession” with the South American country aimed at benefiting Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign.

Trump’s pressure on Venezuela has gone over well among Cuban Americans in South Florida, a key voting bloc in a major presidential swing state.

The US government has previously lodged criminal indictments against members of Maduro’s family and inner circle. He and his allies have dismissed such allegations as a smear campaign, and argue the United States is responsible for drug trafficking, given its role as a leading consumer.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

razil’s Governors pressed President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday for more federal support in the coronavirus battle after he blasted them as job-killers and undermined their orders with a decree keeping churches open at evangelical preachers’ request.

Bolsonaro has increasingly echoed the view of US President Donald Trump that jobs should be prioritised over restrictive measures to slow the outbreak, as world health experts suggest.

In a public letter, Brazil’s Governors argued that the federal government had not done enough

to fund the fight against the virus that has infected some half a million people globally.

Confirmed cases in Brazil had roughly doubled in four days to 2915 on Thursday, according to the Health Ministry, with 78 dead from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus.

In the state of Rio de Janeiro, which relies on dwindling oil tax revenue to keep public services running, Governor Wilson Witzel said he may have to loosen an order closing business if the federal government does not offer aid.

“The people will only accept confinement if they’re

able to eat. Business leaders will only pause activity if they have conditions for financing,” Witzel told Reuters. “I can’t ask people to go hungry.”

The Governors’ letter listed eight proposed measures for Bolsonaro to take, such as suspending state payments to the federal government and helping states buy medical equipment.

São Paulo Governor Joao Doria, who campaigned alongside Bolsonaro in 2018, but has become one of his chief critics during the public health crisis, said he expected to see concrete federal aid measures implemented within 72 hours.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

HRW slams “reckless” Mexican leader over COVID-19

H

uman Rights Watch accused Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of setting a “dangerous example” amid the coronavirus pandemic by failing to respect social distancing.

Lopez Obrador had initially maintained his routine of public appearances and con-

tact with supporters despite health authorities calling on Mexicans to take more precautions.

“President Lopez Obrador’s behaviour in the face of the COVID-19 crisis is a profoundly dangerous example that threatens Mexicans’ health,” said Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at

Human Rights Watch.

Late in February, after Mexico’s first case had been confirmed, the President “blatantly misinformed the Mexican public, saying: ‘According to the information available, it is not terrible or fatal. It is not even as bad as the flu,’” HRW said. (Al Jazeera)

Montserrat announces 10CXC implements modified hour curfew, closure of borders

examination process

T

he Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has announced changes to its regular examination schedule in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement on Wednesday, CXC said it has made a policy decision to offer a modified examination process.

It said: 1. Administration of at least one common paper (Multiple Choice Assessments); 2.

School-Based Assessments (SBAs) and Paper 032s (Alternative to SBA) for private candidates; and, 3. Award final grades based on the moderated SBAs and Multiple-Choice Papers.

The following are exceptions to the aforementioned process where candidates will be required to complete additional components: Modern Languages (Spanish, French, and Portuguese); Human and Social Biology and Visual Arts.

It said, “This strategy will employ the e-Testing modality (online and offline) in order to reduce the administration of the examination processing time re-

People waiting to register to sit CXC (file photo)

sulting in the shortest turnaround time for marking and the release of examination results.”

In addition, CXC said, it will provide an opportunity for the timely presentation of grades to facilitate matriculation to higher education or to access employment.

It added that this also minimises disruption to the 2020/2021 academic year.

Before presenting the modifications, CXC explained that it stood in solidarity with the region and the international community, “as we grapple with the impact of COVID-19 on our way of life.”

It said during the past two weeks, it has been monitoring developments

across the Caricom Region and working closely with representatives from the Education Ministries and tertiary institutions to arrive at a regional consensus for the administration of May/June 2020 examinations.

The Council said it recognises the impact of COVID-19 on the education system in general and, more specifically, on the schedule of CXC’s regional examinations.

It said accordingly, the proposed revised examinations strategy is meant to yield valid grades and minimise the disruption to the education system during these unprecedented times.

(Trinidad Guardian)

M

ontserrat has announced a 10-hour curfew and a closure of its borders from Thursday, as the British Overseas Territory reacts to the confirmation of two cases of the COVID-19.

Premier Easton TaylorFarrell said that the borders would be closed to non-residents from 18:00h (local time) and that the curfew would be from 19:00h until 05:00h.

The Government has also said that all non-essential businesses will be closed for a 14-day period and that the exception to the total shutdown would be medivacs, and vessels bringing food and related supplies.

There will also be no public gatherings of more than four people, but funerals can have up to 15 people in attendance.

During the curfew, per-

mission to move around will be granted to persons travelling to and from work, shopping, and “as exercise is a necessity for many, groups no larger than four”.

Taylor-Farrell said companies will have to work out the logistics for their organisations and that essential service providers were required to close by 18:00h daily to allow workers to be home before the curfew kicks in. (CMC)

Grenada records 6 new cases of COVID-19

G

Health Minister Nickolas Steele announcing new cases

renada on Thursday announced six new cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and urged the population to continue to follow the guidelines outlined by health officials in a

bid to stop the spread of the virus that has killed more than 20,000 people worldwide.

Health Minister Nickolas Steele told a news conference that among the six cas-

es were people who came in some form of contact with the island’s first recorded case. The ages of the one man and five women are between 50 and 80 years old.

“The six new people are now in isolation and being monitored by health officials. The Ministry continues with aggressive contact tracing in an effort to ascertain and mitigate further spread of the virus,” he said.

Steele said that at least one of the new cases is imported, and that the person “was on the same flight, within a six-foot radius, of patient zero, our original case. The other cases are from the same household as patient zero”. (Excerpt from CMC)

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FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

Around the World

OILNEWS

Oil headed to US$10 a barrel as virus lockdown eradicates fuel demand

O

il prices have collapsed by more than half this year, to US$23 per barrel Thursday for West Texas Intermediate crude. But now is not yet the time to buy oil – because the worst is yet to come. Gasoline demand is set to plunge 50 per cent, while jet fuel consumption has all but evaporated, with 87 per cent fewer flyers taking to the air than a year ago.

Every doomsday forecast is more dire than the last. Amrita Sen at Energy Aspects this week forecast a 10 million barrel per day drop in petroleum demand this April. Jim Burkhard at IHS Markit sees a gap between oil supply and demand widening to 12 million bpd in the second quarter. Analyst Damien Courvalin and his team at Goldman Sachs now see a worldwide drop in demand of nearly 19 million barrels per day. Worsening the glut, Saudi Arabia and Russia are only beginning to ramp up their oil output in a fight over market share.

Oil companies have begun to respond to the crash, already slashing more than US$40 billion off 2020 capital spending budgets, half by US shale frackers. Occidental Petroleum on Wednesday announced a second cut to its 2020 cap-ex this month, now down by half to US$2.7 billion. Oxy will cut its drilling rigs in the Permian Basin from 20 to 4.

But it’s not enough to just reduce investments. Big oil is going to need to shut in oil wells altogether—because soon they will run out of sufficient storage tanks and floating tankers in which to put the stuff. “Production is going to have to be reduced or even shut in. It is now a matter of where and by how much,” wrote Burkhard of IHS this week.

The deterioration of conditions in the Lower 48 is only just getting started, with 100,000 bpd of production cuts so far, according to Tudor, Pickering & Holt. On Wednesday the Dallas branch of the Federal Reserve released its survey of conditions in the oil and gas sector, and included anonymous quotes from industry execs. “We are now expecting an almost total stop in business,” wrote one. “My outlook on the domestic oil and gas industry has never been bleaker,” from another. The expectation is for a “bloodbath at most firms”.

The domino effect is beginning. People travel less. So refineries are unable to sell their fuel, which builds up in storage tanks. Wholesale gasoline is selling at less than 50 cents per gallon. Refineries are losing money on every barrel they process, with Gulf Coast gasoline crack spreads plunging to a –US$17 (that’s minus 17 dollars) per barrel. Unwanted crude oil will in turn fill up the big storage hubs like Cushing, Oklahoma. During the 2016 downturn, output of US shale oil fell by 1.1 million bpd. This time around the expectation is for a cut of at least 1.5 million bpd, to 11.3 million bpd at the end of 2021.

In order to adequately incentivize these shut-ins, look for oil prices to go below “cash costs”, that is, the outlay a producer has to make today to run its existing wells and pay workers to get the next barrel out of the ground. Today those thresholds are about US$9 per bbl for OPEC nations and US$15 for non-OPEC. According to a note from Goldman Sachs analyst Damien Courvalin (and team), “US crude saturation will likely lead WTI prices to fall well below US$20/bbl.”

Regions far inland, with complex logistics, will be the first to shut in. The Canadian oil sands producers have reduced their output by roughly 100,000 barrels per day; producers in western Canada have been paid just US$7.50 per bbl for their crude this week. While in the Bakken shale, producers are only getting US$15/bbl, according to Lynn Helms at the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources.

Gird yourself for devastation. The US oil sector is now straining under US$160 billion in distressed debt. Rystad, a consultancy, expects losses of more than 200,000 energy-related jobs in the US this year.

Could we get some relief if President Donald Trump manages to convince the Saudis and Russians to call off their price war? Probably not, as the scale of their additions to the market (about 1.5 million bpd) is dwarfed by the destruction in demand caused by coronavirus lockdown.

“If anything, the Kingdom is going for Russia’s jugular, with Aramco not only pushing huge volumes onto the market, but specifically trying to displace Urals as a feedstock for European buyers,” writes Sen of Energy Aspects. The Saudis did the same thing in 1998, she notes, flooding the Gulf Coast refiners with heavy sour crude in order to rebuff a Venezuelan grab for market share. The move sent WTI down to US$10/bbl in late 1998.

Perhaps worst of all — shutting in oil wells can cause permanent damage to reservoir rock and make it impossible to regain previous output levels later, leading to significant capital impairment. As a result, when the world returns to normal we may find there’s not enough oil ready to come back on line. According to Goldman Sachs, that could cause trouble for a world economy struggling to emerge from recession, “with a normalisation in activity increasingly likely to be accompanied by a large inflationary oil shock”. (Forbes)

Coronavirus pandemic: Half a million infected overtaking both Italy and China, the Johns Hopkins University tally showed.

China had 81,782 cases, and Italy had 80,589 cases.

G20 pledges US$5 trillion to defend global economy against COVID-19

The US has reported more than 82,400 COVID-19 cases as Italy’s death toll surges past 8000

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ore than 510,000 people around the world have been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University.

Over 120,000 have recovered, while more than 22,000 people have died.

The number of coronavirus cases in Europe topped 250,000, more than half of which are in hard-hit Italy and Spain.

Spain registered 655 fatalities from coronavirus – down from more than 700 on Wednesday, while Italy re-

ported another 712 deaths.

More than three million Americans filed new claims for unemployment insurance last week amid the pandemic, breaking the previous record as the first wave of layoffs battered the US economy.

Here are the latest updates:

US overtakes Italy, China in number of virus cases

Confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States reached 82,400 on Thursday, more than any other country,

Leaders of the Group of 20 major economies pledged on Thursday to inject US$5 trillion in fiscal spending into the global economy to blunt the economic impact of the coronavirus and “do whatever it takes to overcome the pandemic”.

Showing more unity than at any time since the 20082009 financial crisis that led to the G20’s creation, the leaders said they committed during a video conference summit to implement and fund all necessary health measures needed to stop the virus’s spread.

The United States “may well be in recession”, but progress in controlling the

spread of the coronavirus will determine when the economy can fully reopen, US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said in a rare network television interview on NBC’s Today Show.

Powell spoke just about an hour before federal data showed a record-breaking spike of unemployment claims to 3.28 million, evidence that “social distancing” to fight the pandemic has taken hold, and may have ended the country’s more than decade-long economic expansion.

As world struggles to stop deaths, far right celebrates COVID-19

A leader of the Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM), a neo-Nazi movement based in northern Europe, said that he welcomed the pandemic as a necessary step to help create the world that his group wants to see. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Yemen’s warring parties Britons show love for back UN truce call, as carers with national cheer US starts aid reduction

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emen’s warring parties welcomed a United Nations call for an immediate truce on Thursday as the country entered its sixth year of a conflict that has unleashed a humanitarian crisis, rendering it more vulnerable to any coronavirus outbreak.

In response, the UN’s Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths said he would call the parties to a meeting to “put their words into action”.

A Saudi-led military coalition said late on Wednesday that it backed the Yemeni Government’s acceptance of the UN appeal. Their foe, the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, welcomed that stance, but said it wanted to see implementation on the ground.

The US Agency for

International Development (USAID) meanwhile said it had started to reduce aid to areas controlled by the Houthis, on concerns the group hinders the delivery of assistance, a spokesperson told Reuters.

The new coronavirus has yet to be documented in the impoverished Arabian Peninsula nation where conflict has killed more than 100,000 and left millions on the brink of starvation.

Following his call for a global ceasefire to focus on combating the pandemic, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday urged Yemen’s parties to end hostilities and restart peace talks last held in December 2018.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

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ocked-down Britons all over the country took to their balconies and door steps on Thursday evening to applaud health workers who are battling the spread of coronavirus – an emotional show of solidarity during the nation’s worst crisis since World War Two. Clapping, banging pots and pans, cheering and waving at neighbours with whom they are no longer able to shake hands, vast numbers of people took part in the “Clap for our Carers” initiative, which mirrors similar events in other countries.

Italians, who have been the hardest hit by the virus and have been under strict lockdown for much longer, began the trend by singing and playing music from their

balconies and applauding their doctors and nurses. The phenomenon soon spread to Spain and France, and has now reached as far as India.

With the United Kingdom in day three of its own lockdown and millions stuck at home watching videos of what has been happening elsewhere, “Clap for our Carers” exploded on social media on Thursday.

Encouraged by celebrities, politicians and even the royal family, Britons dropped their usual reserve at 2000 GMT to partake in the moment of unity with the beloved National Health Service (NHS). Britain has reported 578 deaths and more than 11,000 confirmed cases of the virus. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Public distrust hampers Africa fight against virus misinformation

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frican nations fighting the novel coronavirus face a foe as stealthy and dangerous as the microbe itself: misinformation and apathy, fuelled by deep distrust of government.

Bogus news and indifference to official warnings are emerging as giant obstacles in a region where poor healthcare infrastructure, sanitation and overcrowded slums provide fertile ground for COVID-19 to spread.

Africa has recorded nearly 2800 cases and at least 70 deaths, according to an AFP compilation as of Thursday.

The tally may lag far behind that of other continents, but the World Health

Organisation (WHO), backed by the top names in medicine, has bluntly warned: “Prepare for the worst”.

African countries have begun to implement strict rules including lockdowns, curfews and even prison terms for those sharing false claims. But such measures appear futile in stopping the spread of misinformation.

AFP Fact Check in Africa has debunked dozens of claims in various languages that have fanned out across the continent via social media platforms and messaging services. Viral messages on Facebook and WhatsApp carry unfounded advice that gargling with vinegar elimi-

Grassroots against coronavirus: A Kenyan group called Shining Hope for Communities promotes hand hygiene in the Nairobi slum of Kibera

nates the virus or that black people are resistant to it be-

cause of their skin colour.

(Excerpt from AFP)

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

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ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

DILBERT

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

Do what's right and you will make a difference. Don't labor over what you cannot achieve when it's what you can do that counts. Plan a romantic evening with a loved one.

Your power of persuasion will work on some, but not on everyone. Expect to face opposition if you can't back up what you are asking for with facts and incentives.

An inevitable change will turn out better than anticipated. Don't waste time; take advantage of an opportunity to explore what's transpired. A financial gain is heading your way.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Sign up for something you love doing or look for an experience that will help you better understand someone you like. Compromise, and you'll be surprised what you get in return.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

If you follow your instincts, you will find your way to the top. Embrace change to find something or someone that enriches your life. A joint venture will shake things up.

LIBRA

Look at every angle before you make a decision. Avoid getting involved in someone's melodrama. Discipline and hard work will help you achieve something you've been putting off doing.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Aggressive action won't get you what you want, but having the willpower to turn your idea into a reality will lead to a better future.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

You'll have an exciting thought that will help you expand on a creative project you left unfinished. The time is right to explore, try new things and adopt a lifestyle change.

You'll face opposition if SAGITTARIUS you are pushy or you can't (Nov. 23back up your statements Dec. 21) with facts. Don't pass along secondhand information or exaggerate if you want to avoid backlash.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

An adjustment you make at home will have long-term effects. Invest time and money into something that will bring you closer to the people you love.

Take care of your responsibilities. Don't let others' actions upset you. A change someone makes may not be to your liking, but carry on and don't let it ruin your plans.

Take control, do your own thing and show everyone what you have to offer. Share your feelings and intentions with a loved one and find out where you stand.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

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ix members of boxing teams who attended an Olympic qualifying event in London in March are said to have contracted coronavirus.

The Turkish Boxing Federation said two fighters and a coach tested positive since returning from the event.

Marko Marovic of the Croatian Boxing Federation also claims a fighter and two of its coaches have the disease.

He told BBC Sport: "Our epidemiologist says they were most probably infected during [the] Tokyo 2020 qualifier."Marovic, secretary general of the Croatian Boxing Federation, added: "Our first concern is the health of our boxing family. We are still praying that everything ends well and there will be no other positive tests."He said both Croatian coaches and the fighter were "stable" and in quarantine.Earlier, organisers of the Road to Tokyo competition at the Copper Box - including an International Olympic Committee (IOC) Boxing Task Force - were branded "irresponsible" by the Turkish Boxing Federation after three of its team tested positive.

The event was called off after three days because of the pandemic.

Turkish Boxing Federation president Eyup Gozgec told BBC Sport that organisers failed to take the outbreak seriously enough and "didn't care".

He added: "I just want to know, when the whole world was on high alert, why they hosted this event?"We didn't see any hygienic standards there. There were no preventative measures."The IOC said its Task Force was "not aware of any link between the competition and the infection".It added that at the time of the competition there were no governmental restrictions in place,

but expressed its sympathy for the affected athletes.The local organising committee also said they had applied extra precautions and that no teams had reported symptoms at the event.

In a scathing letter sent to the board members of the European Boxing Confederation (EUBC), and seen by the BBC, Gozgec wrote: "Two of our athletes (and a coach) have tested positive for (Covid-19) after returning to Turkey from London. All of them are in treatment now and thankfully are in good condition."This is the disastrous result of the irresponsibility of the IOC Boxing Task Force."Gozgec says he now intends to write to all European boxing associations asking if any of their teams at the event have since tested positive.

"The organisers were irresponsible, and I think they didn't realise the severity of the issue so they just didn't care," he said."They just didn't take this

outbreak seriously and they didn't care about it. They did no tests for us. They just told us to go. They dropped us at the airport and that was it."He added: "They knew they were going to have to cancel - why go with it? The health of our athletes and staff is our priority."It is not clear whether the fighters and coach contracted the virus in London or once they returned to Turkey.

Organised by the IOC's Boxing Task Force (BTF) following the suspension of international federation the AIBA last year, the European qualifying event started on 14 March with full crowds at the Copper Box, the day after major sporting events including all professional football in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland had been suspended.

After the first two days of the event, the BTF decided that "due to the changing situation with coronavirus and concerns for public, athlete and volunteer

welfare", the event would take place "behind closed doors".

However, following the third day of competition, the event was suspended.

In a statement, the IOC said: "The BTF wants to express its sympathy for the affected athletes and officials and wishes them a very speedy and full recovery."The BTF is not aware of any link between the competition and the infection."Many participants were in independently organised training camps... before the competition started... and have returned home a while ago so it is not possible to know the source of infection."At the time of the European qualifier in London there were many sports and other events going on in Great Britain because there were no governmental restrictions or advice on public events in place."Precautionary measures before, during and in the follow-up phase of the event were implemented and the event was suspended when the Covid-19 situation developed further."Safeguarding the well-being of the athletes, officials and all other participants has always been a top priority for the BTF." A spokesperson for the event's Local Organising Committee said: "Extensive measures were put in place to protect the health and welfare of participants during the competition."Our medical team was in daily contact with Public Health England throughout the tournament and provided regular guidance to all of the teams which reflected the Government's advice."A range of extra measures were put in place to support teams which included

the provision of hand sanitisers throughout the competition spaces and routine temperature tests which enabled the medical team to track and identify any underlying changes during competition.

"Teams were advised on the steps they should take if any members of their delegation showed symptoms of the virus."During the competition there were no recorded instances of teams contacting the medical team to report symptoms."Gozgec's letter continued: "This virus has been around since December 2019. Therefore, it is inevitable to ask why the European Qualification event was not postponed before it even took place?"The price of excluding AIBA and EUBC will be a hefty one for the IOC Task Force. Do they possibly think that their problems with individuals grant them the right to put athletes and their families in such jeopardy?"Henceforward, I ask the IOC Task Force for why they hosted an event that they were going to cancel merely after three days?

"It is evident that nobody put forth a slight effort to organise this event in a hygienic way to protect athletes, coaches and the staff involved. They did not consider anyone's health, which led them to organise this horrible event."

Gozgec also criticised the IOC Task Force for "requesting a full upfront payment from all of us boxing federations in Europe for 15 days".

Following the suspension of the event after three days, he has requested information on whether they will be reimbursed.(BBC Sport)

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

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uyana's most promising badminton player, current national men’s champion Narayan Ramdhani, continues to excel while studying and competing in Canada.

For the second consecutive year, he has been recipient of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Year Award at the Kings University at Edmonton, Canada.

Ramdhani first received the award in the 2018-2019 season, and has now repeated the feat in the 20192020 season, following some stellar performances on the court, and after finishing fourth in the Canadian Collegiate National Badminton Championships.

The Kings University had this to say about Ramdhani’s stellar achievement: “In the sport of Badminton, the Singles discipline is the most coveted, but also the most difficult. Simply put, a great singles player must be physically fit, mentally strong, and have a mastery of the racquet and shuttlecock. Our award recipient once again has gone above and beyond to make his teammates, coaches and the Kings University very proud. Whether it was late night fitness sessions or extra off-campus training, he took no shortcuts. He also places a great deal of pressure on himself to be the very best. His backto-back National’s appearance is a first for the Kings Badminton, and we know he strides to extend that streak. His hunger to succeed on and off court is evident during practice, as he is always asking for more drills. His teammates and coaches know what he is capable of, and we are excited to watch his continual growth.”

Some of the achievements that were taken into

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consideration in order to present Ramdhani with the coveted MVP prize were: his finishing in the top three at all the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) tournaments; his silver medal at the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference (ACAC) Provincial championships; winning the All Conference Award; and finishing in the top four at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championships.

Ramdhani’s 2019-2020 Season achievements are as follows: Guyana Current National Ranking: No.1 Canada Current CCAA National Ranking: No.4 AB Canada Current ACAC Ranking: No.2 AB Canada Current Kings University Ranking: No.1 4-Times Athlete of the Week Kings University (AB Canada) 2019-20 2-Times ACAC All Conference Award (AB Canada) 2019-20

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the world on Tuesday, agreeing to push back the Games by as much as a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Thursday, the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee launched a taskforce to resolve issues linked to the postponement, such as reviewing dates for the Games and securing venues.

No specifics have been discussed yet on the timing of the delayed Games, but a date needs to be decided as soon as possible, Hidemasa Nakamura, a senior official at Tokyo 2020, told reporters after the taskforce’s first meeting, IOC President Thomas Bach said on Wednesday “all options” were on the table for rescheduling, including holding the Games before the Japanese summer. (Reuters)

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he International Olympic Committee (IOC) is working with sports bodies to arrange a July-August window for the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and hopes to confirm the schedule within a month, Japan’s Yomiuri newspaper reported on Thursday.

John Coates, the IOC’s Coordination Commission chief for Tokyo, told the Yomiuri the Games would have to be held between the tennis Grand Slams of Wimbledon, slated to end in mid-July, and the U.S. Open, which starts in late August.

“We want to more or less finalize the dates in four weeks’ time,” the paper quoted Coates as saying.

Coates, who is also president of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), said the summer scheduling would be dependent on avoiding clashes with the world championships for swimming (July 16-Aug. 1) and athletics (Aug. 6-15).

World Athletics boss Sebastian Coe has said the world athletics championships in Eugene, Oregon could be moved back to 2022 if necessary.

Coates told the newspaper the hope was to follow the same arrangements next year that had been planned for 2020, including holding the marathon in the northern city of Sapporo instead of Tokyo to escape the heat.

The AOC confirmed the Yomiuri report’s veracity and also told Reuters in a statement that Coates had “proffered a view but confirms a range of options are on the table for the IOC”.

The IOC and Japanese government succumbed to intense pressure from athletes and sporting bodies around

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FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

W

ith the COVID-19 pandemic locking the world down, the ICC, like all global sports organisations, has been busy working on contingency plans for their events this year: the men's T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be hosted in Australia later this year, the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) and the new ODI League - the pathway for teams to qualify for the men's 2023 ODI World Cup - which was scheduled to start from May. ESPNcricinfo understands the ICC has already started jotting down early back-up plans but these aren't concrete yet, as the pandemic remains a fluid situation. But below are some of the options under consideration.

Will the 2020 T20 World Cup be cancelled?

As of now, the ICC is not considering what would be the worst-case scenario.

But in the event that the tournament cannot take place this year, a more feasible option could be pushing the event to next year and defer the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled in India next October, to 2022.

Cricket Australia's chief executive Kevin Roberts sounded optimistic about the event going ahead as per schedule (in Australia in October-November), but in case it does not, the biggest challenge the organisers could face will be the absence of free space to accommodate the tournament later in the year in Australia. Immediately after the T20 World Cup, Australia are scheduled to host Afghanistan for a one-off

F

ittingly, after a stellar Regional 4-Day season, Barbados Pride have emerged champions of the 2020 tournament, dethroning five-time defending champions Guyana Jaguars.

Pride looked a dominant outfit throughout the tournament, even though they were without the services of West Indies players Roston Chase and Shai Hope.

A pleasing sight for Pride was the rich crop of young fast bowlers, while the senior men stood out. Kemar Roach and Kraigg Brathwaite each played their part, but the resurrected Kyle Mayers was destructive with the bat, filling the Chase-Hope void.

Over the past 4-Day seasons, Chase and Hope have been the top strokemakers. The duo has 139 first-class matches between

Test in late November followed by a fourTest and three-match ODI series against India which is scheduled to stretch until January 2021.

Another option the ICC might think of exploring is utilising the gap year that is 2022 which currently does not have an ICC global event. But for that alternative, the ICC along with Cricket Australia and BCCI, the hosting boards for the next two T20 World Cups, would need to sit down and carve out an alternate window which then would need to be synced with the larger Future Tours Programme (FTP).

What happens to the WTC?

India occupy the top slot on the WTC points table, but a 2-0 defeat in New Zealand recently has thrown the race wide open. But now, many series that form part of the WTC will need to be adjusted and deferred. Bear in mind the first cycle is due to end next March, with the final scheduled at Lord's in June. What happens if there is not enough time to accommodate all the series each of the nine teams are supposed to play (six each)?

Will the top two teams, in terms of WTC points table currently, play the final when cricket resumes? Or should the WTC model be reworked to restore parity? It will not be easy given several teams have barely played one series so far under the WTC. Should the WTC final then be deferred to allow all teams play equal number of series to stand an equal chance to make the summit? That would have implications for the

themselves, and 7841 runs combined, including 17 centuries.

With only eight rounds possible, the remaining two rounds being cancelled because of COVID-19, Barbados Pride have finished atop the standings with 134.8 points.

Pride last won the Regional 4-Day title in 2013. Despite Pride being the second-best team for most seasons, they have produced the most players in the West Indies teams over the past seasons.

Pride’s most m e m o ra b l e win in the season came against

Roston Chase

Shai Hope

their arch-rivals Guyana Jaguars.

Barbados trounced the Jaguars in their own backyard by a whopping 235 runs.

Meanwhile, the biggest find for Pride this season has been the magnificent Mayers. The all-rounder has resurrected himself with the bat, scoring 654 runs, with two centuries and five half-centuries. He has a high score of 140 and an average of 50.30.

With the likes of Chase and Hope not playing a single match i n the Regional 4-Day season, other players had stepped up to the plate.

Meanwhile, Shayne Mosely has been a quiet performer with 490 runs, while captain Brathwaite made 468 runs. West Indies Test wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich has scored 360 runs, while young pace sensation Chemar Holder has been the man with the ball.

He has taken 36 wickets, with three fivewicket hauls, while Kemar Roach has taken 30 scalps in only five matches. Keon Harding, another youngster, has taken 29 wickets. The fastbowling points for Pride have been a huge bonus this season. (Brandon Corlette)

India and Australia are the top two sides on the World Test Championship table (Getty Images)

second edition of the WTC which was meant to be played from 2021-23. More likely, the current FTP, which runs until 2023, will need to be re-looked at in its entirety.

The ODI Super League is scheduled to be played between May 1 this year and March 31, 2022, serving as the qualification pathway for the 2023 World Cup. There are 13 teams, including the 12 Test-playing countries along with Netherlands, who will play eight series over a two-year cycle on a homeand-away basis against mutually-agreed opponents. The Super League was put in place to add context to ODI cricket. The administrators will need to decide if it should be postponed altogether, or reduce the number

of series when cricket resumes.

The most drastic step, which cannot be ruled out, is doing away with the Super League. In such a scenario the qualification process for the 2023 World Cup would need to be reworked.

When will the ICC decide on these matters?

There is no cut-off date yet chalked out by the ICC. The issue is listed on the agenda for the ICC quarterly meetings scheduled for May 8 to 10, potentially in Dubai based on government regulations, when the chief executives committee and the ICC board are scheduled to meet in person. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Flashback: Former Guyana Beverage Company Inc. Managing Director Robert Selman and staff at the launching of the inaugural Petra/Turbo Knockout Tournament, with Petra Director Troy Mendonca and GFF President Wayne Forde

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he untimely death of sports stalwart Robert Selman has rocked the Guyanese sporting fraternity and plunged many sporting disciplines and associations into a state of mourning.

Many of those individuals and groups have expressed their sadness at Selman’s passing, the most recent being the Guyana Football Federation (GFF). Conveyed through their social media page, the GFF’s message highlighted Selman’s commitment to sports, and his hardworking nature that ensured a myriad of tournaments were sponsored and contested.

The GFF statement read, “The passing of Mr. Robert Selman is a heartbreaking loss for the Football Fraternity.

This enduring friend of Guyana’s football cast no boundaries to his benevolence and generosity. Beyond the vast span of investments

in tournaments, development programmes, and players’ welfare, Robby was a true friend who genuinely cared about making a lasting impact on the lives of the young people of Guyana.

“His most famous line, “It is not who is right, but rather what is right”, engendered a quality of principled leadership that was anchored in fairness. He always saw what was possible, and for that I would be forever thankful for the moments I spent in his counsel and the precious memories I must now carry for the rest of my life.

“His legacy lives on through the GFF Kool Kidz Grassroots programme, PETRA Turbo Knock out, and Fruta Conquerors Football Club.

“On behalf of the Guyana Football Fraternity, I wish to convey my deepest condolences to his Family and Management and Staff of the Guyana Beverage Inc”

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

By Brandon Corlette

C

ombating the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) calls for self-isolation, hence all sporting events are being postponed as athletes the world over hunker down to wait out the passing of this dangerous disease. This is a time when survival is paramount around the world, thus the hectic cricket season in Berbice inevitably had to run into a serious roadblock called COVID-19.

This publication had a chat with Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster about the situation in Berbice relative to steps being taken to fight the Hilbert Foster dreaded COVID-19 pandemic, and Foster first embraced the opportunity to continue urging cricketers to educate themselves about the historical aspect of the game while they stay fit at home.

Foster had this to say: "We have not been playing any cricket because of the advice that was given from medical personnel. The last match BCB held was a month ago; that was the female team preparing for the Female InterCounty."

He said the BCB had eased the playing of cricket prior to the onset of COVID-19 because the General and Regional Elections were imminent.

He disclosed that among the several tournaments that are outstanding from 2019 are: The Banks Beer two-day first-division tournament, which is at the semi-final stage; the two U-15 tournaments; the NBS second division tournament; Asphalt Premium 100 balls tournament, and the Friends of New Amsterdam 100 balls tournament.

Foster disclosed that several other tournaments were slated to begin, among which were the Ramnaresh Sarwan U-17 and U-19 tournaments, which were set to be bowled off shortly.

He noted, also, that the BCB is seeking another sponsorship for female cricket, and is seeking to host its first ever

W

hat is probably one of the most anticipated events on the calendars of local athletes and those in the wider Caribbean region will now hang in the balance as Aliann Pompey considers the suspension and rescheduling of her namesake track and field meet.

It was recently announced that the decision to suspend the fifth edition of the invitational was taken pending announcement of the new date for the Olympics by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

This year's AP Invitation was originally scheduled for June 6 at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

Bearing in mind that the API was recently added to the World Athletics Continental Tour back in February of this year, added consideration was given to have the perfect scheduling of the event, since it is a gateway to the Olympics for many hopeful athletes.

“Given the fact that this year’s API forms part of the World Athletics Continental Tour for the calendar year, and is a major part of the preparation for athletes looking to qualify for Tokyo 2020, we want to ensure that the event offers athletes from around the world the best possible way, without hindrance; a chance to make their Olympic dream true,” a statement from Pompey

read.

As the situation was further explained, this publication understood that the Invitational may come far after its usual timing, or until the following year, based on whether or not the IOC makes the decision to host the Olympic Games before or during the summer of 2021.

“The IOC announced the postponement of the Games to take place no later than a year from the scheduled date, and, as such, API wants to leave the door open to the possibility of having the meet, should the Games be held sometime sooner than next summer.”

The statement further revealed that the necessary stakeholders will be consulted in order to arrive at the perfect date. In the meantime, the API plans to stick strictly to the advice on battling the COVID-19 outbreak, leaving its June 6 host date in the dust.

“Nonetheless, API will follow the lead of World Athletics, CONSUDATLE, National Sports Commissions (NSC), and the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) to adhere to the requirements and recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as regional and local health officials; joining the rest of the sporting world battling the dreadful COVID-19 pandemic.”

23

third division cricket tournament.

"We have the NBS second division (tournament), which is the premier second division (tournament). In that tournament, there are about 90 teams involved, and there are about 30 teams which in our opinion are not of the standard to play second division. So, what we want to do is to play a

Albion, Rose Hall Town, Young Warriors and Tucber Park are the semi-finalists of the Banks Beer two-day cricket tournament third division (tournament, in which) the top eight will join

Team RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour the top 60 in the NBS tournament," Foster explained. He noted that a third division tournament would inspire lagging teams to do better.

Foster is advising cricketers to remain fit and focused.

"Although the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club has closed cricket practice for the last two weeks, there are still cricketers who come out and do personal training. You can also train at home. I would like to advise all cricketers to use this time to know more about the game," Foster posited.

Further, he noted that a lot of active cricketers lack historical and traditional knowledge of the game. With cricketers being at home due to self-isolation, Foster is urging them to use the Internet to conduct research on the game in order to edify themselves.

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

Sports is no longer our game, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our business

guyanatimesgy.com

Page 23 Albion, Rose Hall Town, Young Warriors and Tucber Park are the semi-finalists of the Banks Beer two-day cricket tournament

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Page 23 Aliann Pompey

Narayan Ramdhani

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