Guyana Times_Monday, July 06, 2020

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

Issue No. 4338

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020

126 days since elections

Int’l community unlikely to wait much longer for lawful declaration – Ramkarran Page 3

... says more delaying tactics could risk sanctions

PSC lauds Caricom for “protection, preservation” of Guyana’s democracy Page 15

Questions raised over benefits G-77 chairmanship brought to Guyana Page 7

...as Guyana's Permanent Resident to UN decides to step down

CARICOM Day 2020

Caricom has demonstrated resilience in this "testing" time – SG Page 9

Border security amid COVID-19 lockdown focus of Guyana-Brazil Frontier Committee meeting Page 14

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Welder killed during row over bottle of Guinness P11 Horse racing, cockfighting in full swing in Berbice P16 amid COVID-19 pandemic

Lima Sands P10 shop owner thwarts robbery Lethem school P13 teacher dies after contracting COVID-19 ꟷ GPHC refutes claims woman contracted virus while being treated at facility

Mabaruma P9 doctors’ quarters fire electrical ꟷ Fire Chief

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MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, July 6 – 05:30h – 07:00h and Tuesday, July 7 – 05:00h – 06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, July 6 – 17:15h – 18:45h and Tuesday, July 7 – 05:35h – 07:05h.

126 days since elections

Int’l community unlikely to wait much longer for lawful declaration – Ramkarran ... says more delaying tactics could risk sanctions

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

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

Winds: South South-Easterly to South-Easterly to Easterly to East North-Easterly to East SouthEasterly between 0.89 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 17:28h reaching a maximum height of 2.48 metres.

Low Tide: 11:02h and 23:13h reaching minimum heights of 0.57 metre and 0.74 metre.

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$43.14/barrel

+2.57

Rough Rice

$220.59 /ton

-0.61

London Sugar

$351.00/ton

+0.20

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1769.70

$1770.70

Low/High

$1769.60

$1777.60

Change

-0.00

-0.00%

Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran

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enior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran has warned that judging from the tone and tenor of the international community, more delaying tactics from certain persons to delay the lawful declaration of the election results, could spark sanctions sooner rather than later.

Ramkarran made this observation in his “Conversation Tree” writings on Sunday. It has already been 126 days since General and Regional Elections were held in Guyana, the results of which have already been delayed by the machinations of persons in the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC).

According to Ramkarran, more delaying tactics are not likely to be countenanced by the international community.

He put persons like Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield and others on notice.

“It appears unlikely that foreign observers and governments will wait any longer for a lawful declaration of results. Secretary of State Pompeo’s statement said: “It is long past due for a transition of power…

They should get on with it.”

“Actions by the CEO or any other agency which delays a declaration of lawful results, or by their actions instigate further litigation, could invoke sanctions sooner rather than later. APNU+AFC does not seem unduly bothered,” Ramkarran said.

Elections were held since March 2, 2020, but a winner is yet to be declared. The certified results from the legally conducted recount exercise supervised

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

In fact, the recount almost perfectly matched the Statements of Poll (SoPs) that the PPP/C released since March. Despite clearly losing the elections, how-

ever, APNU/AFC have been dogged in their determination to hang on to power and delay the process, first going to court to block the recount and then blocking the declaration of the results based on the recount.

Lowenfield has also been prominent in the controversy. His attempts to disenfranchise over 115,000 voters by submitting a final report to GECOM that went against the Statements of Recount (SoRs) and the official Certificates of Tabulation that came out of the recount process have garnered three criminal charges and a court summons.

GECOM Chair, Retired

President David Granger

Justice Claudette Singh had instructed Lowenfield to prepare a final report based on the recount. But in the report Lowenfield submitted, he claimed that the coalition garnered 171,825 votes while the PPP/C gained 166,343 votes.

How the CEO arrived at those figures is unknown.

But they mirror the efforts

GECOM CEO Keith Lowenfield

of Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, who also concocted figures back in March… figures not reflected in the SoPs. The matter has now been overtaken by the court, however, as the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is set to rule on the issue on Wednesday.

APNU/AFC and President David Granger have nevertheless thrown their support behind the concocted figures. But there are rifts in the camp. It was only recently that coalition partner Justice For All Party (JFAP) founder CN Sharma, broke away from APNU/AFC’s dogged refusal to accept defeat in the March 2 polls. In a statement, he made it clear that enough was enough and it was time for the country to move on.

He had chastised those bent on dragging out the process and extended congratulations to PPP/C on their win. Sharma had pointed out that the National Recount was carried out and from the votes

counted, it is clear the PPP/C is the winner.

As such, he had urged that PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali be sworn in without delay.

Sharma had also called the last 108 days exhausting and said that the people are starving and suffering, due to the COVID-triggered economic slowdown.

Granger’s own sonin-law, former Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, also made a statement on the same day as Sharma, in which he conceded that APNU/AFC lost to the PPP/C and called out his party’s leadership for fooling supporters.

And incumbent Public

Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo

Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan was caught on a recording, conceding defeat to his Ministry staff, during a farewell speech he had given. In that speech, Ramjattan had acknowledged the PPP winning by some 15,000 votes and had told the gathering he was willing to move on.

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MONDAY, JULY 6, 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

Justice is not a cloistered virtue

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hether it was due to the COVID-19 restrictions or not, the CCJ hearing that dealt with the appeal by the Opposition parties against the Court of Appeal’s decision to accept and declare itself in sole possession of jurisdiction to issue the substantive order it did on the elections matter brought became a very public affair as it was conducted over the Zoom platform that was available to the public. This was a very crucial development not only concerning this case on which the entire Guyanese nation, domestic and foreign, was transfixed but also for bringing law to the masses and out of the courts that have become forbidding fortresses.

As noted jurist Lord Atkins famously pointed out, “Justice is not a cloistered virtue: she must be allowed to suffer the scrutiny and the respectful, even though outspoken, comments of ordinary men.” This point of view goes back to the foundations of English jurisprudence and it is solidly grounded in hundreds of years of practice. The great Lord Diplock concluded that, “if the way that courts behave cannot be hidden from the public ear and eye, this provides a safeguard against judicial arbitrariness or idiosyncrasy and maintains the public confidence in the administration of justice”. Ultimately, a public hearing ensures that no man is above or below the law and that every individual and organ of the State is accountable for his actions.

Public hearings on disputed issues before the Court builds confidence in the administration and dispensation of justice especially when, as in this instance, the issues affect every citizen in the land. In a larger sense, the wide publicity institutes a form of democratic control through the cynosure of the public gaze that should help to give confidence in the operations of our judicial system. At a minimum, there has to be some awareness by the bar and bench that they need to ensure their arguments and questions are grounded in the concrete reality on the issues of which the public is seized.

For instance, in the present matter, the ultimate issue is that the votes of the people must be counted to deliver a government that receives the majority of the votes.

While there can be a plethora of technicalities that can be raised procedurally and substantively in the courts, the facts of the matter cannot be lost sight of. As the erudite American Justice, Jed Rakoff, who is notoriously impatient with what he calls “legal gamesmanship”, noted: “An application of judicial power that does not rest on facts is worse than mindless, it is inherently dangerous. If its deployment does not rest on facts – cold, hard, solid facts, established either by admissions or by trials – it serves no lawful or moral purpose and is simply an engine of oppression.”

The CCJ will be issuing its judgement on Wednesday and we can be assured that there will be a cacophony of comments from the public, but more so, from the PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition. The latter have already conceded their weak case by their strident attacks on the CCJ by defining it as “extraterritorial”. They have taken the fact that Guyana is only one of four Caricom territories that have accepted its appellate jurisdiction as a sign of limited confidence in its impartiality. They have completely elided their founder leader Forbes Burnham’s point that the British Privy Council, which they have retained as their ultimate appellate court, is totally removed from the Caribbean reality and as such, would be challenged to observe Justice Rakoff’s admonition that all judgements must be grounded on the facts and context of the case under review.

It is our hope that the PNC and its partisans would remember the caution of Lord Atkins that preceded his above-mentioned aphorism: “The path of criticism is a public way; the wrong-headed are permitted to err therein, provided that members of the public abstain from imputing improper motives to those taking part in the administration of justice.”

Why APNU/AFC lost the elections and the future of Guyana

Dear Editor, There is no mystery regarding the electoral defeat of the APNU/AFC at the 2020 elections. The reasons for the party’s performance at these elections are apparent for the most casual observer. From the time it assumed office in 2015, the party committed a series of mistakes that conspired to make it unsuitable for managing our affairs. The most obvious ones are: 1. The increase in salary and benefits for Ministers that were first disputed then later justified with ridiculous explanations by Government officials.

2. The ruthless dismissals of the CSOs and sugar workers.

3. The discontinuation of the year-end bonus granted to the Disciplined Services’ members and initiatives that supported at-risk groups, eg, cash grants for school children, water and electricity subsidy for pensioners, and elimination of the basket of zero-rated goods 4. The secretive signing bonus that was also denied before later confirmed with outlandish excuses.

5. The total disregard for the party’s promise to fulfil its promise of more jobs, better living conditions, housing, and social services that motivated swing voters to support the party in 2015.

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The undemocratic traits such as the unilateral appointment of the Chairman of GECOM and refusal to accept the NoConfidence Motion and resign and call elections as prescribed by the Constitution.

7. The punitive tax mea-

sures that crippled the productive sectors, mining, agriculture, and manufacturing, invoked the Private Sector’s wrath.

8. The countless shady deals and non-value-added transactions (eg, dietary and travel that cost the treasury billions).

These mistakes painted the APNU/AFC as an uncaring, self-serving, and untrustworthy group of people whose value system was incompatible with the “middle,” that is, the 20 per cent of voters who will decide the Government now and in the future. This group of voters does not vote race but issues.

They are young professionals who are smarter than the people directly involved in politics but prefer to live quietly in the background. This group is not only here to stay but will grow in the future.

No political party can afford to ignore this group of voters since they will make ethnic voting an unfeasible strategy now and in the future.

From the mistakes of the APNU/AFC, the party obviously ignored this group of voters. They probably felt that since they controlled the three arms of the State, this group of professionals will be no match. They controlled Parliament by occupying the seats of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. They exercised total control over the bureaucracy and, to a lesser extent, the Judiciary where they were able to prevent an election petition from being heard after five years while obtaining decisions from the Appeal Court that tarnished the jurisprudence

in Guyana and Caribbean.

With that amount of control, it is understandable that the APNU/AFC ignored the “middle” and instead went down the road of creating a dictatorship that guarantees political office with the least effort. The signal was sent very early not only by the Machiavellian changes in the guards of the arms of the State and electoral body but a question the leader a group of supporters “How did the PNC gain and retain power?”

That question was intended to be rhetorical based on our recorded history.

While it was supposed to be smooth sailing to a dictatorship, the middle exposed the fallacy of the APNU/AFC at the right moment. They did not take their fight to the streets but engaged the APNU/AFC in the courts while establishing ties with the international community with the muscle to neutralise this party. The APNU/AFC never anticipated this response because they underestimated the intellectual prowess of the middle. Today they are backed into a corner where they are alone against the entire international community.

My prediction is that the APNU/AFC will not give up. The party has expressed this publicly through one of its powerhouses who said it would not concede. Too much is at stake. Based on the many shady transactions, a small group within the party’s leadership risks losing their freedom. The party will not be able to return to power in the short or medium-term because of its performance.

Even if the party manages to maintain its core support base, the APNU/AFC cannot gain electoral success without the middle that will remember the torment it endured since December 2018.

Losing power threatens the survival of a political monster, APNU/AFC, with control over the State’s coercive arms. In such a situation, the seizure of power by force is a viable option. Next week, the avenue for using the court will be reduced, and a decision will have to be made if this option should be utilised. Should this option be activated, the change will be swift. The geopolitical conditions render it extremely dangerous for Caricom and the West.

While the end to the political impasse is around the corner, it will not end the struggle for political space by the supporters of the APNU/ AFC. This group that makes up more than 30 per cent of the population and consists of persons from various ethnic, professional, and religious backgrounds will agitate for space within the political landscape. This group’s struggle will manifest in various forms necessitating a workable formula where it does not feel alienated. The new Government must, therefore, consider the fears and anxiety of this segment of the population as it attempts to navigate Guyana through the troubles of COVID-19 and a bankrupted economy bequeathed by the APNU/AFC.

Dear Editor, As Guyanese sit anxiously awaiting the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) decisions and the rulings Justice Adrian Saunders, President of the CCJ, we look forward to rulings that have all the necessary and detailed points to present a barrier against deliberate misinterpretations by the David Granger caretaker Government.

Lowenfield’s peculiar and contradictory actions invalidated 115,787 votes, which he conceived and calculated, fall within his self-inflated constitutional authority. The computations by Lowenfield knowingly and recklessly demonstrated bias by exercising authority that is not vested in him and beyond his scope of authority, throughout the 2020 electoral process.

Lowenfield was always an alleged suspect aligned with the APNU/AFC rigging machine.

One will remember that it was Lowenfield in 2015 who said that impersonation “Just

not possible” but he has now changed the narrative to a different song. During March 2, 2020 National and Regional Elections, these were the same safeguards which have been repeatedly pointed out to challenge belated claims

by APNU/AFC that there was impersonation and other acts of fraud that were alleged.

These were Lowenfield’s own words in 2015: “For you to vote at a Polling Station you have to be listed to vote there.

In that Polling Station, our Presiding Officer will have a list specific to that Polling Station. If you go to another Polling Station then your name will not be there.” Clear evidence that Lowenfield from the inception knew that the alleged anomalies submitted by Granger’s APNU/AFC were in fact - “big lies” but yet he used those anomalies to invalidate approximately 25 per cent of the ballots cast.

Every Guyanese must know by now that Mingo and Lowenfield were not act-

ing alone, and we also know these individuals are not stupid. They are simply part of a rogue group, trying to steal an elections and disenfranchise over 233,336 People’s Progressive Party/Civic supporters’ votes, similar to what the PNC did multiple times during their governance, based on rigged election results, using any means necessary; in just as callous, crass and clumsy manner as Mr President Granger is attempting to do now, Lowenfield has taken the meaning of words “valid votes” to new depths, he has shown that foolish acts are not constrained only to stupid people, with his pronouncement that only 344,508 were valid votes, instead of the approximately 460,000 valid votes as per “the Statements of Poll and Statements of Recount.”

Keith Lowenfield as a senior officer at GECOM has conducted himself in a manner that does not reflect de-

cency and command the confidence of the Guyanese people, a manner that demonstrates no respect for the electorate, the Guyanese citizen nor the electoral structures and the institutions of law and the People Act that was meant to protect and safeguard the will of the people.

It was David Granger who tried twice to be swornin as President by proffered fraudulent votes projected

by Region Four’s Returning Officer (RO), Clairmont Mingo. The question is, were the proffered fraudulent votes used by Mingo “valid votes”?

Editor, these were the same votes GECOM mastermind Keith Lowenfield wanted to use in his attempt to swear in David Granger for a second term. The “incomprehensible” computations by “self-promoted constitutional office holder”, Lowenfield, both officials have made inapplicable, any room for irrationality.

With regards, S Pasha

Were the proffered fraudulent votes used by Mingo “valid votes”?

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JULY 6, 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

Khemraj Ramjattan, a man with Mr Moses Nagamootoo’s continued defiance of the truth two faces and a twisted mind

Dear Editor, About three weeks ago, Guyana’s Prime Ministerin-waiting, Khemraj Ramjattan, told his Public Security Ministry’s staff that he had conceded defeat to the March 2, 2020 elections.

The same week he was on the ruling APNU/AFC’s bandwagon trying to block the official declaration of the new President of Guyana, Dr Irfaan Ali. Every day, Ramjattan comes up with a devious tale. One such story told a long time ago was that he had provided security for the endangered politician Charrandas Persaud to Timehri Airport when the man actually left Guyana from Ogle Airport.

Then he said he had captured two Russians and deported them, but a third escaped.

Ramjattan also appeared on Trinidad’s CCN TV 6 saying that PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo has been

spreading racism. Wrong again!

Since 1964, former dictator President Forbes Burnham had used the tactic of “divide and rule.”

This is what APNU/AFC’s President David Granger, Ramjattan and their cabal are now doing.

They are telling lies to incite civil unrest. The APNU/AFC, the PPP/C and GECOM participated in the electoral process which was observed by Caricom and other international agencies.

Where was the opportunity for the Opposition parties to commit fraud?

There was not even one chance to do it with a fake ID How can there be 285,000 bogus votes?

The facts and evidence are glaring that the Opposition PPP/C won the elections. Yet Ramjattan is mischievously peddling these outrageous lies. The other is that the PPP/C had rigged the elections.

Why are Ramjattan,

Granger and their cabal holding a whole nation to ransom for four months, trying every trick to hijack the elections?

Since Burnham was President, the majorly of Guyanese were marginalised. And now Ramjattan is teaming up with the enemy, the same PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition.

The PNC has had its knee on the neck of the people of Guyana since 1964.

Shame on Ramjattan and his conspirators who are peddling fiction all the way to the courts to try to make it a reality.

Thank God for the intervention of the US Carter Center and other international observers.

The PP/C will liberate all Guyanese from the bondage of dictatorship.

Truth always triumphs over lies, and good will overcome evil.

Sincerely, Fatimah Mohammed Trinidad & Tobago

Dear Editor, It is now more than four months after the March 2 elections in Guyana and we are yet to have the correct declaration. Amidst all of the contentions and controversies, many persons are pushing the narrative that the coalition won the elections.

One such person, the de facto Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, is consistent in his belief that the PPP committed massive fraud at these elections. It is interesting to note that there has been no evidence to support the accusations of Nagamootoo.

However, Nagamootoo keeps peddling these untruths in the hope that the more he tells a lie, it will be believable. I want to remind Nagamootoo of the words of the Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard: “There are two ways to be fooled. One way is to believe what isn’t true; The other is to refuse to believe what is true.”

Mr Nagamootoo is guilty of the above. He conveniently ignores the Caricom-supervised recount results which show that the coalition lost the elec-

tions by more than 15,000 votes. In his column, “My Turn, Bungled Ballot Boxes,” Guyana Chronicle (2020-0607), Mr Nagamootoo wrote, “ As I see it, the Election Commission has the results of the ten electoral districts which show the APNU/AFC coalition has won by a narrow margin.”

Seriously, Mr Nagamootoo? You and your coalition members have refused to present your SoPs for verification by the GECOM and the other contesting parties. You are also willing to tow the coalition line and accept the fraudulent declarations by Mr Mingo and Mr Llowenfield.

With respect to Mr Mingo’s declarations, the former Jamaican Prime Minister, Mr Bruce Golding, had this to say at an OAS conference: “And permit me here to pause to make a comment. I have never seen a more transparent effort to steal the results of an election...You know it takes an extraordinary and courageous mind to present such fictitious numbers when such a sturdy paper trail ex-

ists.”

Mr Nagamootoo, Mingo’s horrendous act of trying to falsify the Region Four numbers in order to steal the elections for the coalition is the singularly most conspicuous act of fraud in the 2020 Guyana elections. Mr Nagamootoo, you also have an extraordinary and courageous mind to, as Kierkegaard said, “believe what is untrue.”

You concluded the above column being referred to with the words, “We can revisit our mistakes and we can correct them before they create schisms that we should be unable to heal, now or in the near future.”

Yes, Mr Nagamootoo, you can salvage some dignity by telling your coalition that they have lost elections or you can continue to peddle your untruths with which you will be consigned to the dustbins of Guyanese political history with reference to you being a maybe, a mere footnote. The choice is yours.

Sincerely, Mahindra Persaud Nassau, Bahamas

Hamilton Green, who was part of election rigging in Guyana, now lecturing about disenfranchised voters

Dear Editor, I read with amazement a letter written by Hamilton Green lecturing the Chairman of Caricom, Dr Ralph Gonsalves. I found Green’s letter ironic in so many ways. Green, who was part of election rigging in Guyana that disenfranchised voters for decades and who is also alleged to have been involved in many other atrocities against his fellow Guyanese, is lecturing Ralph Gonsalves for being very vocal and rightly so, in fighting for the will of the voters in Guyana to be respected.

Green is suggesting that Dr Gonsalves should take a page out of the book of many other Caricom Heads of Government and leaders of political and social grouping - to “maintain a level of cohesion and comradery within Caricom”.

Green goes on to do what many of his comrades in the PNC have done, he attempts to throw mud on Dr Gonsalves and to lecture us on democracy which is something that he obviously never believed in when he was a senior member of the PNC regime that stole democra-

cy from Guyanese. Is Green living in a fantasy world?

Doesn’t Green realise that Caricom and the free world are not accepting electoral fraud? It is unfortunate that dinosaurs like Green have not figured out that electoral fraud in 2020 is not acceptable and sticking together for some deprived higher cause is not an option.

Green and his ilk were directly responsible for the exodus of thousands of Guyanese and unlike Hamilton Green, many Guyanese in and out of Guyana are happy that Mia Mottley, Ralph Gonsalves,

Were the proffered...

Mingo and Lowenfield should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for their “wrongdoings “ It is over 16 weeks since Guyana’s General and Regional Elections have been held and the results cannot be declared. This is not a record to be proud of and if these elections have shown us anything, it is that Guyana badly needs reconciliation amongst its politicians and constitutional reform.

This has been highly controversial 2020 elections which have been challenged on several fronts and there needs to be a resolution for the good of the people of Guyana. The ongoing uncertainty has not been helpful and it has caused further divisions in our country. It is my humble belief that this will change after Dr Irfaan Ali is sworn-in as Guyana’s

9th Executive President.

He must make immediate provisions for constitutional democracy in every community across this great nation of ours, involving every Guyanese citizen, demonstrating goodwill and working on reconciliation amongst the political leaders and parties, showing support for constitutional reform since some of these issues that have led to the controversies in this election process is linked to the delay of the reform.

We are a country of great potential. Guyana can become the richest country in the hemisphere and potentially one of the richest countries in the world with a future of oil wealth that must benefit every Guyanese citizen. All grievances between our two main political parties must be immediately resolved if we are going to become a force in Caricom and

the Southern Hemisphere.

Guyanese, we must be hopeful that the orders coming out of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on July 8, 2020, will be clear and precise, with no room for semantic reassignment and repositioning by the Granger rigging machine.

Lowenfield and District four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo have been accused

EU, USA, Canada etc are standing up against electoral fraud in Guyana. Those dark days of election rigging of the PNC should not be allowed to return to our country and the voices of everyone fighting for democracy in Guyana including Caricom are welcome.

I remember Hamilton Green writing that he resides in the US. If he continues to do so, he should, like other Guyanese living in the US, embrace democracy especially on the weekend of July 4, and try and hope for the same in Guyana. He should

FROM PAGE 4

of trying in various ways to rig the General Elections for Granger and the APNU/AFC in the case of the CEO invalidating over 115,000 votes to arrive at a result different from the recounted votes which had indicated victory for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic.

Sincerely, David Adams

also repent for the many years that he participated as one of the leaders of the PNC in depriving Guyanese of free and fair elections and consider doing the right thing by calling upon the current leadership of the PNC to accept and respect the will of the voters and stand with the voices of democracy.

Maybe one day, those that were involved in the electoral fraud of the PNC during that dark period when Green was one of their leaders and those

involved now will suffer consequences for their unfortunate actions. Fortunately, unlike back then, Caricom and others are standing firmly on the right side of history.

I invite Hamilton Green to do the same.

Editor, It is my hope that the voices of those fighting for democracy in Guyana prevail and we keep democracy alive in Guyana!!!

Sincerely, C De Barros

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MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020

Page

Foundation

Guyana Times is pleased to publish CXC English and Mathematics questions with specimen answers.

CXC QUESTIONS

MATHS

ENGLISH

B This Is the Dark Time My Love

By Martin Carter

This is the dark time, my love, All round the land brown beetles crawl about.

The shining sun is hidden in the sky Red flowers bend their heads in awful sorrow.

This is the dark time, my love, It is the season of oppression, dark metal, and tears.

It is the festival of guns, the carnival of misery.

Everywhere the faces of men are strained and anxious.

Who comes walking in the dark night time?

Whose boot of steel tramps down the slender grass?

It is the man of death, my love, the strange invader Watching you sleep and aiming at your dream.

Questions

Summarise the poem What is the subject of the poem?

Who is the persona?

List and discuss the literary devices used in the poem Describe the mood of the poem and discuss how it is created List and discuss the themes of the poem Describe the form of the poem and discuss its effectiveness How do you feel about this poem?

Discuss your reaction Suggest an alternative name for the poem, citing evidence found within the text

NEWS

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MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Questions raised over benefits G-77 chairmanship brought to Guyana ꟷ as Guyana’s Permanent Resident to UN decides to step down

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ith reports arising that Guyana’s P e r m a n e n t Representative to the United Nations (UN), Michael Ten-Pow, has indicated a desire to not have his contract extended, questions are also being raised over what Guyana’s chairing of the 2020 G-77 summit actually achieved thus far.

It is understood that Ten-Pow communicated his intention to step down from his post effective July 31, 2020, in a letter he wrote to all Permanent Representatives from the G-77 Member States and China, to the United Nations.

Earlier this year, reports first started swirling that Ten-Pow had submitted his resignation to the Government. However, the Foreign Affairs Ministry had then issued a statement in which they had denied claims that TenPow had resigned.

According to Ten-Pow’s letter, he will be proceeding on annual leave from July 7 until the month-end, with current G-77 Coordinator in Guyana’s Permanent Mission, Ambassador

Neil Pierre, taking over the post until a successor is appointed.

The letter notes that this is in an effort to minimise any disruption to the ongoing work of the G-77 and China. However, concerns have previously been expressed by some whether the price tag of approximately US$1 million to cover activities related to the summit, which Guyana would have to pay, was justified.

The G-77 summit was held in January of 2020 and saw Guyana taking over the reins of Chairmanship from Palestine.

The summit was held at the UN and according to some persons at the time, it would have cost that

sum of money to chair the occasion.

Guyana, through its Foreign Minister, Dr Karen Cummings and other officials, participated in a round of discussions. However, the Ministry has never identified any tangible benefits that accrued from the discussions.

Tumultuous

Ten-Pow’s decision not to continue in his post comes at a tumultuous time in Guyana’s foreign relations, where the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) is under immense pressure from the international communi-

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

ty to comply with democratic norms. The United States (US), where Ten-Pow was stationed, has in fact made it clear that any unlawful declaration and illegitimate swearing-in of a President will be met by sanctions.

Elections were held since March 2, 2020, but a winner is yet to be declared.

The certified results from the legally conducted recount exercise supervised

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

In fact, the recount almost perfectly matched the Statements of Poll (SoPs) that the PPP/C released since March. Despite clearly losing the elections, however, APNU/AFC have been dogged in their determination to hang on to power and delay the process, first going to court to block the recount and then blocking the declaration of the results based on the recount.

Besides the election controversy, the Foreign Affairs Ministry itself has also undergone a shakeup in recent times.

Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Michael Ten-Pow

Last December, Ambassadors Hamley Case, posted in the United Kingdom; Bishwaishwar Ramsaroop, stationed in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; Clarissa Riehl, who was posted in Canada; Bayney Karran in China, Cheryl Miles in Venezuela, and JR Deep Ford in Switzerland, were all recalled and dismissed.

In addition to recalling the diplomats, Director General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Audrey Waddell was also replaced by a Permanent Secretary. She was cited as a possible recruit for a diplomatic position outside of Guyana. While she played a role as part of Guyana’s team to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the Guyana v Venezuela case last week, that new position has so far not materialised.

SYMPTOMS

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

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

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

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

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

(Adapted from BBC News)

Headache

Chills

Sore throat

Repeated shaking with chills

Muscle pain

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

8 NEWS MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020

| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cummings Lodge fatal fire

Suspected arsonist released on station bail

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he man who was arrested for deliberately setting the deadly fire at Sixth Street Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD) that claimed the lives of three has been released on station bail.

This was confirmed by Regional Police Commander Phillip Azore who told Guyana Time that the 72-

released, the case was “not yet over”, and ranks were awaiting the wrapping-up of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) investigation before they proceeded with theirs.

The man was identified as the grandson of the landlord. He was seen by residents leaving the premises moments before the fire started. Those who perished in the fire are Dawall

O The landlord’s grandson who was released

The Cummings Lodge home that was destroyed by fire

hour detention period had expired and as such, the Police had to release him.

Nevertheless, he noted that although the man was

Ifill, 14; his mother Beverly Miller, 40, and his step-father, Martin Lewis, 46.

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle, just a day after

the fire, had told the media that there were allegations about threats due to non-payment of rent, and there was some sort of confrontation between the tenants and the suspect.

However, sister to the now dead woman, Desiree Miller, who also lived in the apartment building, told reporters that the property was the source of a dispute between the dead owner’s son and the man who was arrested.

Miller said in 2019, she

and other relatives who were renting apartments were told that they would have to vacate the premises because the building had been sold.

Shortly after, they were told to stay and pay a reduced rent, since the owners were trying to refund the person who had purchased the building.

The woman’s rent was reduced from $46,000 to $40,000 while the rent for others was reduced to $35,000.

Still no sign of missing Police Constable

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devastated and heartbroken mother, whose son went missing on June 19, 2020 is pleading with the public to help her find him.

Police Constable Quincy Lewis, who is attached to the Agricola Outpost, Greater Georgetown, went missing after leaving home for work.

His mother, Charlene Jordan, when contacted on Sunday, said she was hope-

ful that her son would return safely. She is, nevertheless, pleading with anyone who has information about his whereabouts to inform his family.

The woman said she made several visits to the Police Station since her son went missing, with the most recent being on Saturday, but she was told that they were still investigating the matter and making every

Reading the PNC…

attempt to locate the young man.

It was reported that Lewis visited his home on the day he disappeared to uplift a few pieces of clothes, since he was supposed to be inline (present at the station for extended duty). After collecting the items, the officer boarded motor car PTT 7541 and left his Lot 4315 Westminster, West Bank Demerara (WBD) home.

Missing: Police Quincy Lewis

Constable

Since then, his family has not heard nor seen him. Lewis’s brother, Revon Jordan, had told Guyana Times that they learnt of Lewis being missing after the owner of the car in which he left came looking for him.

The brother added that Lewis’s family was under the impression that he was inline, since they normally do not hear from him when he is on the base. The frustrated brother underscored that it was strange for Lewis to leave without informing his family.

Meanwhile, ClosedCircuit Television (CCTV) surveillance recordings have since revealed that Lewis crossed the Demerara Harbour Bridge, which is less than 10 minutes’ drive from where he is stationed.

Anyone with information about Lewis’s whereabouts is asked to make contact with his family on 677-6547 or 680-1436, or contact the nearest Police Station.

…on elections ne interesting idiosyncrasy of Burnham was his instance that everything he did be recorded “for posterity”. Most megalomaniacs are seized of this characteristic. They were “making history”, weren’t they??

And how can you make history if it isn’t recorded? The tree that falls in the middle of the forest and no one hears it: did it fall? But one good thing that came out of his narcissism was that we can look at some of those records to explain the actions in the present, of some of his devotees. Like David Granger.

We all know that Granger uses the Constitution expediently – even as he swears by it at the drop of a hat.

Or a fall of a knee for a prayer!! Where’d he get that cynical attitude?? Burnham, of course. Back in the early sixties, when the PPP had been slotted to lead British Guiana to independence after winning the 1961 elections, they turned cartwheels to produce a constitution that they would take up to London and show the Brits how they intended to govern. Their legal genius, Dr Fenton Ramsahoye produced their constitution – which the PPP insisted was the best thing since sliced bread!!

Burnham didn’t even stir a finger. Why should he? he calmly announced. It didn’t matter what constitution the Brits gave to him – once he was going to be the leader after independence, he could change the damn thing to say whatever he wanted to say on what was legal!! And so, lo and behold, after he did lead Guyana to independence, he did change the constitution to legalise what he wanted – be a constitutional dictator!!

At their 1979 Biennial Congress, where he was to warn Rodney about his “sharper steel” – which we now know was no hyperbole since the plan to have Gregory Smith blow up Rodney six months later had already been launched – one of the Committees was arguing about whether some proposal or other was “democratic”. He dismissed their concerns with a wave of his hand and declared, “Comrades, the problem with you is you only read what’s on TOP of the lines! You have to also read BETWEEN the lines.”

And it’s against this background we have to evaluate Granger’s cavalier attitude to what’s sacred in other countries – their constitution. To Granger, our constitution is merely a fig leaf to cover whatever excess he’ll commit to remain in power. The Article on No Confidence Motions? That’s for “Judases”, not democratic accountability. “Majority”??

Whatever he says it is! “Votes to be counted”?? That’s actually “valid votes” which is transmuted to “credible votes” – produced by whatever Lowenfield says they are!!

So, don’t sweat what the CCJ will rule. That’ll be just their “perception”.

And it’s only Granger’s that counts. He reads between the lines!! …on going forward Burnham’s and Granger’s stance on constitutions is merely a subset of their Machiavellian politics which views power as the alpha and omega of what politicians should strive for. Burnham once remarked that if a politician says he’s not in it for power, he’s either a fool or a liar!! So those who’re asking what’s ahead after the CCJ’s ruling, we don’t have to guess: Granger and the PNC ain’t giving up power!!

And you, Dear Reader, can put that in your pipe and smoke it. Through your mask, if necessary!!

Some folks are banking on sanctions to force the recalcitrant minority PNC to change their minds. Not with this lot. Will sanctions bring more hardship to Guyana than what Burnham inflicted before he croaked in 1985?? Jeez!!

You couldn’t even get toilet paper!!

On a TV interview, Burnham was asked how long was he going to keep up his “experiment”.

Until there were no more Guyanese, he replied, blithely!! Over to Granger!! …the riot act After 244 years, the Americans don’t seem to understand how to deal with ex-British subjects like Granger.

You don’t read the Riot Act more than once.

You’re then seen as a “Christmas blow-blow”!!

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

NEWS

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Caricom Day 2020

Caricom has demonstrated resilience in this “testing” time – SG

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ecretary General of the Caribbean C o m m u n i t y , Ambassador Irwin LaRocque lauded the Community’s collective resilience during the time of COVID-19, which has aided in properly addressing the pandemic.

He shared these remarks in a statement on Saturday, in commemoration of the Community observing its 47th Anniversary.

According to LaRocque, the day is depicted like no other in the Community’s history, as it is celebrated in an environment that is dominated by health and economic effects thrust upon its Member States by the coronavirus pandemic.

“This is a time that is testing us as a people. We have done relatively well in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, we have demonstrated that capacity for resilience, which has been the hallmark of our response to the numerous challenges we have faced over time…

What we have demonstrated time and again in the face of persistent devastation from natural disasters is a steely resilience, and an ability to rebound and restart. The bedrock of that characteristic is the spirit and determination of Caribbean

people, and the banding together of our Member States in times of adversity,” the Ambassador said.

Throughout the decades of the Community’s existence, LaRocque pointed to strides which were made in improving the lives of people within the four pillars of integration movement – economic integration, human and social development, foreign policy coordination and security cooperation.

Moreover, the Community’s membership has become more diverse with Dutchspeaking Suriname and French-speaking Haiti added to the previous complement of all English-speaking nations.

“Their inclusion has certainly enhanced our diversity, which is a major strength of our Community. Another strength is the institutions of our integration, which were established to help implement the policies and programmes agreed to by our Heads of Government, and the various Ministerial Councils. They have served our Community well, as is being demonstrated in the so far successful management of our response to COVID-19.”

Caricom has managed to set up various organisations

coordination of our collective skill and spirit more than ever, as we take on the major challenge of rebuilding our devastated economies which have been ravaged by the effects of the pandemic.

We must exploit every opportunity provided by the

Caricom SG, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque

and frameworks to assist its Member States in various sectors. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), through its laboratory in Port of Spain, has been conducting tests for COVID-19 for several countries, proving its usefulness in these unprecedented times.

“A key role in the response is being played by the Regional Security System (RSS), whose aircraft are providing courier service by transporting samples for testing from some Member States to CARPHA in Trinidad and Tobago.”

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) is also functioning as the hub for

collecting medical equipment and supplies for distribution to the countries.

Furthermore, the Secretary General went on to say that Governments and the Ministerial Councils have been extremely active in leading the charge against this pandemic and its effects.

The Caricom Secretariat has also been instrumental in coordinating the response to the pandemic.

“That is Caricom at work for the benefit of the people of the Community. The success of the combined efforts in combatting the challenge of COVID-19 is evidence, not only of the competence and skill of our Caribbean people, but also of the value of a unified region. We need that

Caricom Single Market and Economy in rebuilding our economies.”

Caricom started its journey with four signatories: Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago and has grown to include another 11 countries to its bloc.

Mabaruma doctors’ quarters fire electrical ꟷ Fire Chief

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he Guyana Fire Service (GPS) has concluded its investigation into the fire that razed the doctors’ quarters at Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waimi), on June 29, and has since determined that the fire was electrical.

This was confirmed by Fire Chief Marlon Gentle during a telephone interview with Guyana Times on Sunday. He added that based on the findings of the probe, there were some issues with respect to the wiring of the building.

It was reported that the fire started at about 11:15h when no one was at home, hence all the personal items belonging to the doctors

were destroyed. After the fire, the displaced Cuban nationals were placed at a private guest house in the area.

In a report to the Public Health Ministry, Dr Stephen Cheefoon noted that there were no casualties, however, all of the doctors’ belongings along with household furniture and appliances were lost in the fire.

“The building was at the time being rented by the Regional Administration, Region One, on an annual contract,” the RHO added. He, nevertheless, related that the Regional Executive Officer (REO) had requested a thorough investigation into the fire.

TURN TO PAGE 10

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| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lima Sands shop owner thwarts robbery

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hree armed bandits on Saturday night invaded a Lima Sands, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) grocery store but quick thinking by the owner thwarted the robbery.

The incident occurred around 19:30h on Saturday at Nanda and Son Grocery Store in Lima Sands.

The shop owner, Patrick Mahase, told Guyana Times that his son had just arrived home and he opened the shop door to allow him in. The shop is attached to the house.

However, as he was about to close the door, Mahase recalled noticing a masked man

Nanda and Son Grocery Store in Lima Sands that was attacked by armed bandits on Saturday night

in the yard rushing towards him. Another bandit, armed with a handgun, was already at the shop door while the third man was at the back of the house.

The businessman related that upon seeing the two men, he rushed back into the shop and picked up two cutlasses which he used to “broadside” the walls in order to scare the

bandits. He then called out to the neighbours to alert them of what was transpiring.

During this time, the bandits managed to break the shop’s door to gain entry but as neighbours began rushing to the scene, they were forced to abandon the robbery and escape.

“I was shouting ‘Bandits!

Bandits! Help! Help!’ and neighbours starting coming out. But the bandits had already completely broken off the inner door of the shop which would have give them access [to the house]. But after seeing the crowd building up outside, the bandits like they get confused and decided to

The shop door was ripped out by the bandits

abandon the robbery and flee the scene,” the shop owner related.

A motorcyclist who was in the area at the time chased the suspects but had to retreat after he came under fire from the suspects.

The three bandits ran into an abandoned yard and made good their escape.

Mahase explained that prior to the attempted robbery, he had observed a car making a turn in front of his yard and some people exited before the vehicle drove off.

The man said at the time he was suspicious that the occupants could be bandits and were waiting for the opportunity to attack him.

Nevertheless, the matter was reported and the police are investigating the incident.

However, Guyana Times

was told that while the police were heading to the scene after receiving the report, they stopped a car going out of the community. One of the male occupants claimed to be disabled and showed the officers a clutch that was in the vehicle and so the police let the vehicle go.

But Mahase said that the person matched the description of one of the bandits that had pounced on the shop earlier. He described the person as short and fair-skinned, with a bald head.

Meanwhile, on Sunday morning after news of the incident spread, members of the Anna Regina Town Council, the former Mayor and Vice Chairman visited the home of the businessman, who is the brother of popular television host Richard B Mahase.

Mabaruma doctors’...

FROM PAGE 9

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

Field Seven South Sophia, Greater Georgetown wooden home.

Meanwhile, on Friday, millions of dollars in furniture and equipment were destroyed when the ND&S furniture store and factory, located at Gap Road, La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara (WCD), went up in flames.

In addition, an 81-year-

The Mabaruma doctors’ quarters engulfed in flames

(ECD). A total of 28 persons were also left homeless due to the inferno.

On the same day, a family of three was also left homeless after a fire ravaged their one-storey Lot 197 Section A

old Kingston pensioner was left to make alternative living arrangements after a fire swept through his house last week. That fire was also deemed as electrical by fire officials.

NEWS

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MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Welder killed during row over bottle of Guinness A

young welder was on Friday evening stabbed during a row over a bottle of Guinness but succumbed to his injuries on Sunday morning while receiving medical attention at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Dead is 23-year-old Nikosie Vankenie of High Dam Mount Sinai, New Amsterdam, popularly referred to as Angoy’s Avenue.

According to information received, the incident occurred at Patrick Dam - another part of Angoy’s Avenue - on Friday evening at about 23:40h as the victim along with the suspect and others were under a shed consuming alcohol.

However, after some time, an argument broke out between the two men over a bottle of Guinness.

The argument reportedly escalated into a scuffle during which the suspect armed himself with a knife and stabbed the young man to his neck, chest and abdomen.

The injured youth was taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where he received medical attention and was admitted in the ICU. He succumbed to his injuries at about 09:30h on Sunday.

The 27-year-old suspect,

thing’, and they had a heated argument.”

That, his aunt said, escalated into a scuffle during which the young welder was stabbed. There are reports that after the incident those who were present fled the scene.

Meanwhile, this publication understands that the now dead man could not find his alcohol and had accused the suspect of removing same. The sus-

pect and the victim had an old grievance from another social gathering at Smithfield. During that incident, Vankenie had reportedly assaulted the suspect.

According to reports, on Friday evening, Vankenie mentioned the previous encounter and his intention was to have it repeated, instead he became the victim.

The aunt noted that fol-

lowing a nine-hour surgery on Saturday morning, she visited the hospital but was not allowed to see her nephew until Saturday afternoon.

“I break down when I see him because his condition was not looking nice. The doctor said that we need to get some injections and we went and get them then the doctor said that they need ten to twelve big batteries to put in some machine to

pump the heart. The doctor said that he has stopped breathing and they tried to get his heart to work. So, every two hours they will have to put in a battery in the machine.”

The young welder was reportedly brain dead since Saturday. The former New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) student leaves to mourn his three siblings and his mother, who resides in Antigua.

Man killed in Nonpareil accident identified Dead: Nikosie Vankenie

a security guard of Pope Street, New Amsterdam, has since been arrested and is reportedly cooperating with investigators.

When Guyana Times visited the now dead man’s home on Sunday, his aunt Angilla Vankenie explained that her nephew was drinking a bottle of Guinness and put it down to do “something” but when he returned, it was not there.

“And he asked, ‘Who pick up my bottle’, and he responded saying, ‘Look the Guinness, I get it’, and then Nikosie tell him, ‘Me and you is not all that friend for you to pick up my

T

he man, who was fatally struck by a minibus at Nonpareil Public Road, East Coast Demerara, on Thursday has been identified as David Shepherd, a 24-year-old resident of Lot 260 Section C Enterprise, ECD. At the time of the accident, residents of Nonpareil had identified the deceased as only “Chucky”. However, ECD Commander, Assistant Commissioner Royston Andries-Junor on Sunday disclosed that the dead man’s cousin went to the Vigilance Police Station to identify him.

It was reported that minibus BXX 4563 was proceeding along the roadway at an alleged fast rate of speed. The driver claimed that he observed the now dead man ahead of him.

However, he told Police that as he was about to pass the bicycle, “Chucky” made a sudden turn and ended up in the path of the minibus, thus resulting in a collision.

As a result, the cyclist fell onto the roadway and sustained injuries about his body.

He was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital

Corporation (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver, a 29-yearold of No 28 Village, West Coast Berbice

(WCB), had undergone and passed a breathalyser test. Nevertheless, he was taken into custody to assist with investigations.

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MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MoPH continues to support babies born with microcephaly

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he Public Health Ministry (MoPH) last week gifted cash vouchers to the tune of $20,000 each to 22 mothers with children born with microcephaly to help brace them during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Officer, Dr Oneka Scott, the vouchers can be used at any of the Bounty Supermarkets

countrywide.

The beneficiaries are those mothers with children born with microcephaly between 2016 and 2018.

Microcephaly a rare neurological condition in which the circumference of a child’s head is smaller than normal.

Specialists have explained that the condition can occur because a baby’s brain was not developed

properly during pregnancy or has stopped growing after birth.

The Zika virus is blamed for the spread of microcephaly. The virus that causes the disease is transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes Egypti mosquitoes.

“We realise that these children will not meet normal developmental milestones,” Dr Scott said during a recent handing-over cere-

Davie Hussein with her three-year-old daughter Veena Kushera

mony for the mothers.

Scott said most of the local children were born with “severe microcephaly, meaning the head circumference is unusually small affecting brain development. These children do not speak and they do not move and turn normally and they do not respond to vision signals.”

The MCH official said caring for children with microcephaly can be quite draining on mothers, forcing some to quit their jobs and remain housewives.

“Feeding themselves is not an option, bathing is not an option, indicating to their parents when they wanted to fulfil a physiological need like using the bathroom or eating is not an option, hence these children require (constant) special care and special attention” she noted.

Scott reminded that the MoPH has also been providing financial assistance for mothers - especially for those living outside the capital city - to have their regular medical check-ups.

“Every three months they are required to go to the ophthalmologist, they

need to go to audiology and they need to see the neurologist maybe twice a year.

They are also required to do physiotherapy weekly depending on the severity of their condition”, she

through collaborations with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); monthly diapers through the Ministry of Education (MoE) Support Programme and milk from the MoPH’s monthly milk-feeding programme.

Meanwhile, one of the beneficiaries of the voucher, Davie Hussein, mother of three-year-old Veena Kushera, lauded the Ministry’s continued financial support initiative which supplements the earnings of her husband, now the sole breadwinner in the family since she was forced to quit her job to take care of her daughter.

“I am very thankful for it and whenever I pray I always thank God for them because it ease me of the having to buy milk every month...and to buy her pampers,” Hussein said.

Permanent Secretary (PS) of the MoPH, Collette Adams, who handed out two of the vouchers, empha-

PS Collette Adams hands over a voucher to one of the beneficiaries

detailed. The MoPH has also disclosed that it has been collaborating with the Social Protection Ministry for more than 18 months to help provide a special financial package (through the MoSP’s Social Assistance programme) to help the families. Each family is given $18,000 ($9000 for the child and $9000 for the mother).

The children also benefitted from tumble-form chairs

sised that the Ministry is always eager to provide quality health care, especially to children with special needs.

“As I always say, the health of the people is the business of the Ministry of Public Health. And so it’s always our honour and pleasure to ensure that every Guyanese is being treated equally and have equal access to health care,” Adams reiterated.

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MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lethem school teacher dies after contracting COVID-19 ꟷ GPHC refutes claims woman contracted virus while being treated at facility

Donna Ambrose Greaves and her husband in happier times

A

teacher of the Arapaima Nursery School in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo), is Guyana’s latest COVID-19 death.

Twenty-five-year-old Donna Ambrose Greaves, a mother of a 7-year-old boy, passed away early Sunday morning at the

Georgetown Public Hospital where she was a patient in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) since July 1.

The woman was reportedly flown to Georgetown from Lethem after she was complaining of severe headaches and weakness.

Franklin Greaves, Donna’s

husband, in a Facebook post said that she had fallen ill in Lethem late in June and was air-dashed to the city as her condition worsened.

The man said that his wife had initially tested negative for COVID-19 while in Lethem, but during her stay at the GPHC, her tests came back positive.

“She was suffering a long time now and it was not from the COVID. She was admitted at the Lethem Hospital, and was transferred out to the Georgetown Public Hospital. That is where we figure out that she was contaminated; because she did test here and all come back negative”, the man explained.

The teary husband added that everyone who came into contact with his wife in Lethem, including the doctors and nurses, tested negative for the deadly virus.

However, they were all placed in quarantine.

Greaves said that it has been more than a week since he had any contact with his wife.

So far, there has been no evidence that points to her contracting the virus in the Georgetown Hospital, but the husband said his wife had no exposure to the vi-

Police called in to investigate altercation at GTT

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customer visiting a location of GTT reportedly to conduct business ended up in an altercation with a security officer, resulting in the cops being summoned.

In a press release, GTT confirmed that the company was aware of the altercation in question which took place at its retail store located at Lot 54 Brickdam, Georgetown.

The telecommunications company underscored that the matter involved an officer employed by a private security firm and a customer.

“As a result of the incident, the security firm has taken immediate action and removed the officer involved from that lo-

cation. Upon the company’s immediate reporting of the matter to the Guyana Police Force, formal investigations into the altercation have commenced,” it stated.

rus as far as he knows.

Franklin also underscored that he will be following up with action against the Georgetown Public Hospital, since “they infected her”.

“This was done by accident, or their negligence …with over a span of the first day she out here she got infected and then her symptoms begin, she was then rushed to the ICU, where she spent the last five days in there battling”, the man noted.

Meanwhile, the Board of Directors and Administration of the GPHC refuted claims that the dead woman contracted the virus while being a patient at the institution.

“While our commitment to medical confidentiality restricts us from sharing details of Ms Greaves’ clinical records, we maintain that these claims are furthest from the facts, and wish to state in a definitive manner that Donna Greaves did not contract COVID-19 at the GPHC”, the release read.

The institution said it strongly condemns the proclivity to cast

blame on their hard-working and dedicated doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers who continue to risk their lives daily to care for patients in the wake of a deadly pandemic Since COVID-19 touched the shores of Guyana, the country has seen a continuous increase in the number of cases. Within the last week, there have been three deaths.

Guyana’s 14th COVID 19 death was 34-year-old Abdool Khan, a father of three of Bartica who succumbed while being treated at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on July 2.

Prior to the businessman’s death, Guyana’s 13th COVID-19 death at the GPHC was identified as 42-year-old Kevin Ridley of Albuoystown, Georgetown.

Ridley was admitted to the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit after complaining of shortness of breath. Doctors at the hospital then conducted a COVID-19 test which came out positive, and the man died just moments after at the hospital.

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Border security amid COVID-19 lockdown focus of Guyana-Brazil Frontier Committee meeting

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s Guyanese health authorities continue to grapple with curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus here and securing its porous borders, the Guyana/Brazil Frontier Committee on Friday discussed ways to further strengthen security at the closed border to prevent cross-border movement between the two countries, among other issues.

Officials from the two States focused on the impact of the pandemic on regional economic activity, Indigenous communities along the border, illegal crossings, security, joint patrols, support for vulnerable groups and trafficking in persons, among others.

Moreover, they discussed measures to coordinate efforts to support the health and safety of the region.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Charlene Phoenix (right) leads the Guyanese delegation and Senior Foreign Service Officer Vernon Robinson

Affairs, Ambassador Charlene Phoenix, as leader of Guyana’s delegation to the virtual summit, in her remarks, noted that “Given what we have been seeing with regard to the COVID-19 cases on both

sides, we should have a discussion to ensure that we are coordinating our responses to the pandemic as closely as possible.”

In that light, the two States committed to combining efforts for informa-

tion sharing, especially in local dialects as well as in English, Portuguese and Spanish, to all communities along the border. They also expressed the intent to explore additional measures to keep the communities safe throughout the course of the pandemic.

Furthermore, the delegations shared the challenges they faced in their respective efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the part of Guyana, according to the Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) Regional Health Officer, Dr Naail Uthman, while the region continued to adhere to the measures implemented by the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF), a major challenge was the effective monitoring of the lengthy border shared by Guyana and Brazil as many of the border communities have

illegal crossing points.

“Officially, we have facilitated on Thursdays only the movement of goods and services from Brazil on which we know Guyana depends heavily,” he said. Dr Uthman further explained that a team had been established at the port to sanitise those goods and ser-

vices.

The respective delegations were led by Ambassador Phoenix and Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Her Excellency Maria Duclos Carisio.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

NGO posts bail for woman accused of killing husband in 2018

T

Dead: Victor Roberts

Melissa Playter

wenty-seven-yearold Melissa Playter, a mother of three, will soon be released from prison after her bail was posted by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). She was accused of murdering her husband, Victor Roberts, back in 2018.

When the case was called, the woman was granted bail but due to financial constraints, she was unable to post bail and as such, she remains in prison at the New Amsterdam female penitentiary.

However, the “You Are Not Alone” (YANA) Foundation, and Women and Gender Equality Commissioner, Vanda Radzik went to the woman’s aid and will post bail when the woman reappears in court this week.

President of YANA, Melissa Atwell expressed great consternation that Playter was charged with

murder without any legal representation.

Further, she added that being a survivor of domestic violence, she thought it right to help Playter.

The mother of three has been on remand since December 5, 2018, when she was charged with the killing of 38-year-old Roberts - her abuser and the father of her youngest child.

Reports are that the 38-year-old man was reportedly stabbed to the chest by Playter after they were engaged in a heated argument on December 2, 2018.

Initially, Playter was unrepresented in December when she was charged, however, the Foundation was able to retain Sanjeev Datadin, who managed to get the woman to be charged with a lesser count of manslaughter.

As such, bail was granted in the sum of $500,000.

NEWS

15

MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

PSC lauds Caricom for “protection, preservation” of Guyana’s democracy

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s Guyana observes the 47th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which established the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has lauded the work of the regional bloc over the past months to help protect and preserve democracy in Guyana.

In its Caricom Day message, the PSC congratulated the 15 Member States on its anniversary. Guyana was among four founding nations that signed the treaty that gave birth to Caricom and the Common Market, renamed Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).

The Commission also extended congratulations to Secretary General of Caricom, Ambassador Irwin LaRoque, “on his sterling work in organising and supporting the Caricom Observer Mission for the March 2, General Elections and the delegation of high-level observers to scrutinise the GECOM (Guyana Elections Commission) election recount.”

“We would like to particularly express our appreciation to the members of the high-level delegation for the personal sacrifice they made in the completion of the mission and submission of a comprehensive and conclusive report,” the PSC added.

Moreover, the Commission also registered its unreserved ap-

preciation of and admiration for the “unstinted support and dedication” of Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who is the former Caricom Chair, and current Chairman, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, as well as all the Caricom leaders “for the protection and preservation of democracy in Guyana.”

The regional bloc has played an integral role in Guyana’s protracted electoral process. It has been four months since Guyanese exercised their franchise at the March 2020 polls but an official declaration is yet to be made.

This is despite the special Caricom team, which scrutinised the 33-day recount exercise and certified the results, saying in its report to the GECOM Chair, (ret’d) Justice Claudette Singh, “nothing we witnessed, warrants a challenge to the inescapable conclusion that the recount results are acceptable and should constitute the basis of the declaration of results of the March 2, 2020 elections.”

The GECOM Chair had directed Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield last month to submit his final elections report based on the recount figures, which show the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in a landslide lead with some 15,416 votes more than its main political rival, the caretaker

Current Caricom Chair, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves

APNU/AFC coalition. The PPP/C obtained 233,336 votes while the APNU/AFC garnered 217,920 votes.

However, in his final elections report, the embattled CEO submitted figures of what he deemed “valid votes” giving the caretaker coalition 171,825 votes and the PPP/C 166,343 votes – which meant he invalidated over 115,000 votes.

Lowenfield has come into for a lot of criticism over his dumping of these 115,000-plus votes.

In fact, PM Mottley had questioned his action, asking “On what grounds and by what form of executive fiat does the Chief Election Officer determine that he should invalidate one vote, far less 115,000 votes?”

The Caricom Chair said that it was regrettable that the Community was now witnessing an unprecedented level of “gamesmanship” that has left much to be desired.

However, her remarks had earned her a barrage of attacks by the caretak-

er APNU/AFC and its supporters.

Despite previously deeming Caricom as the most “legitimate interlocutor” in Guyana’s electoral process, the APNU/AFC had issued a statement, which was subsequently withdrawn, saying “We believe that Prime Minister Mottley’s statement is both ill-informed and ill-advised… We view the Hon Prime Minister’s statement as not only untimely but, in fact, as interference in a matter on which the Constitution of Guyana is clear.”

In response, however, PM Mottley posited that the Community should never avoid upholding its shared principles.

“The truth hurts. But what we must never do in Caricom is avoid the truth and avoid our principles,” she said briefly at a subsequent press conference.

Adding to this, the former Caricom Chair on Friday said that it is “regrettable” that on July 3 – more than four months

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley

after the General and Regional Elections were held in Guyana – a credible winner has still not been declared.

PM Mottley made these remarks as she formally handed over the Chairmanship to Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, during a virtual ceremony on Friday. The new Caricom Chairman defended her firm stance on ensuring Guyana’s democracy is preserved.

“Her helpful initiatives [to] assist in the preservation of democracy in

Guyana within the terms of the Caricom Charter of Civil Society will be long remembered, despite unwarranted, vulgar and opportunistic criticisms of her from jaundiced sources who ought to know better,” Gonsalves said on Friday.

This is not the first time Dr Gonsalves has spoken out about Guyana’s situation.

During an NBC Radio programme last month, the St Vincentian PM had warned that the regional bloc will not tolerate the “stealing” of an election, nor allow the results from the recount process to be set aside.

“I am satisfied that Caricom will not stand by idly and watch the recount which was properly done for the results to be set aside,” Mr Gonsalves, who was a part of the high-level delegation of regional leaders led by PM Mottely that visited Guyana back in March, had expressed.

However, he too had come under attacks for his comments.

Border security amid...

Guyana’s delegation also comprised Ambassador to Brazil, His Excellency George Talbot, Consul General to Boa Vista, Shirley Melville, and a number of representatives from the Ministries of Public Health, Communities, and Social Protection and the

Department of Citizenship.

The previous meeting of the Guyana/Brazil Frontier Committee was held in Bonfim, State of Roraima, Brazil, on October 30 and 31, 2018.

Guyana was scheduled to host the eighth meeting.

However, due to challenges caused by the COVID-19

FROM PAGE 14

pandemic in both countries, the Government of Guyana recommended the organisation of this extraordinary meeting.

The Guyana/Brazil Frontier Committee was established on September 14, 2009, to address joint action between the border communities.

16 NEWS

MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

1 new case; 10 patients now in COVID-19 ICU ꟷ active cases now at 148

virus pandemic, Region Four remains the epicentre of the outbreak in Guyana.

However, there has been a significant rise in COVID-19 cases in the hinterland regions of Barima-Waini and CuyuniMazaruni – the latter recording its first death from the virus just days ago. The victim was 34-year-old Abdool Khan of Bartica, who succumbed in the designated ICU located at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).

To this end, medical teams were deployed to the hard-hit communities in these regions.

According to a report from the Department of

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s the number of COVID-19 cases continues to climb in Guyana, the Public Health Ministry reported another new case on Sunday.

This now brings the total number of confirmed cases in Guyana to 273, according to the Ministry’s updated COVID-19 dashboard. A total of 27 tests were conducted since Saturday’s update.

Meanwhile, the number of active cases is now at 148 – 138 in institutional isolation and 10 in the dedicated COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Compared to Saturday’s figures, there are now seven new coronavirus patients in the ICU. Guyana Times understands that the new case is from Region One (BarimaWaini). On Saturday, the Region had recorded three new cases. This from a total of 16 new cases recorded on that day.

According to Sunday’s updated dashboard, there are still 16 persons in institutional quarantine while the country’s COVID-19 death toll has also increased to 15 following the death of a 25-year-old teacher.

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Regional Democratic Councils and Health Emergency Committees of Regions One and Seven among others.

While under lockdown, no one will be allowed in or out of these areas for one month, commencing July 6 to August 3, 2020.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the region of the Americas has recorded over 5.6 million cases with more than 262,000 deaths.

Globally, the number of COVID-19 cases has surpassed 11 million while the deaths are currently pegged at over 528,000.

Horse racing, cockfighting in full swing in Berbice amid COVID-19 pandemic Donna Ambrose Greaves, a mother of one, died in the COVID-19 ICU located at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Saturday night. She was a teacher attached to Arapaima Nursery School in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper TakatuEssequibo)

The Region had recorded two more positive cases on Saturday.

To date, 2806 persons have been tested for the novel coronavirus of which 2533 are negative.

As local health authorities continue to grapple with flattening the curve of the corona-

ERC urges stakeholders to de-escalate political tensions s Guyana enters the fourth month of electoral impasse, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has reiterated calls for peace and responsible behaviour by everyone as the nation awaits the final declaration of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

In a statement on Sunday, the Commission said, “There is no doubt that the historically long period it has taken for the declaration to be made has exacerbated tensions and discontent while unfortunately fostering ethnic strife, especially on social media platforms.”

The ERC further posited that there is no doubt that public utterances, including the building of expectations by some officials and their political subjects, have and continue to contribute to the heightening of tensions and a further widening of unwanted division among Guyanese.

“This is not only extremely worrying due to the potential danger it poses as our electoral history so regrettably reminds, but woefully unhelpful to the daunting and crucial task of forging harmony so vital at this juncture. The Commission, therefore, reiterates the need for all leaders and stakeholder groups to act in a much-needed responsible manner and to ensure those, whom they influence, do likewise. At the same time, it commends those who have and continue to act responsibly,” the missive stated.

Public Information (DPI) on Saturday, the mandatory lockdown which has been imposed at Aranka in Region Seven and Moruca in Region One allowed the health teams to conduct mass screening and testing of individuals living and working in these areas.

Agencies collaborating with the Public Health Ministry to ensure this process is conducted effectively include the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF),

Meanwhile, the Commission has disclosed that it will officially write to the leaders of all political parties, urging them and their constituents to work towards de-escalating tensions and adherence to law and order.

“The desire for peace and good relations will take genuine and collective efforts by stakeholder groups and individuals. These efforts would also include acceptance of the elections results when they are declared by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM),” the ERC stressed.

According to the body, the agreement by caretaker President David Granger and Leader of the Opposition, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, for a National Recount of ballots with the participation of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), further demonstrates that paths can be found to help resolve our political gridlock.

“The Commission, having been birthed out of political discord, values and commend the efforts of all stakeholders who have and continue to work tirelessly in the interest of safeguarding peace and democracy in Guyana. Let us, therefore, work together in the best interest of our nation, for there can be no option to peace and unity which ultimately reside in our hands. With all hands-on board let us promote harmony and good relations,” the ERC stated.

This plea for peace to prevail by the Commission comes days after the People’s Progressive Party/Civic

(PPP/C) lodged a complaint against APNU/AFC’s Prime Ministerial Candidate Khemraj Ramjattan over racially incendiary remarks he recently made during a live television programme broadcast in Trinidad and Tobago.

The complaint was filed on Thursday by PPP/C Executive, Anil Nandlall, who said that during the “Morning Edition” programme which was broadcast on CCN TV6 in the twin-island republic earlier that day, Ramjattan alleged that there was a political advertisement published in Guyana that states Afro-Guyanese “can’t run oil money, you have to have East Indians doing that”.

Nandlall complained to the ERC that these words were intended to and are capable of inciting “racial hostilities” amongst the people of Guyana, particularly between Indo and Afro Guyanese.

He noted that this may constitute an offence under the Racial Hostility Act, Chapter 23:01, Laws of Guyana, and are not protected by Article 146 of the Constitution of Guyana which guarantees freedom of expression and free speech, excepting, inter alia, “expressions, in whatever form, capable of exciting hostility against any person or class of persons”.

To this end, Nandlall requested the Commission to launch an investigation into this matter and take the necessary and appropriate actions against Ramjattan immediately.

H

orse racing and cockfighting on the Corentyne continue despite the restrictions on social events and social gatherings that are set out by the COVID-19 National Task Force. These events are being kept on Sundays at the Port Mourant Race Track.

In fact, on Sunday Guyana Times visited the Port Mourant Race Track and it turned out that the sources were actually correct. At the arena, scores gathered to be part of the money-making events. In the morning, there were several horse races followed by the cockfight in the afternoon.

On Sunday, one police patrol vehicle was seen entering the arena. The officers were seen exiting the vehicle after it came to a halt. Soon after they were observed re-entering the vehicle along with a

“There is frequent activity and a lot of strange people are seen flocking the facility because of the activities going on there,” McDougall, who has a clear view of the facility from his backyard, said.

He said the activity which

Horses racing on the Port Mourant Race Track on Sunday

he has noticed is endangering the entire NDC. “Because of that I had brought it to the attention of

Scores of persons attending the illegal events

civilian.

After talking for a while, the civilian exited and the vehicle drove off the scene.

In light of this development, a senior police rank in the Region was contacted and promised to address the issue.

Meanwhile, a Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Councillor with responsibility for the constituency, Orin McDougall explained that he is concerned about the illegal activities and believes that the facility has now become a haven for drug dealers.

“Because it is abundant, some people have made it into a tenement facility.”

McDougall noted that residents have made numerous complaints to him since the COVID-19 lockdown and although he would have reported the situation to the higher authorities, nothing has been done.

concerns over the fighting of birds at the facility.

“I have also not spoken with my NDC but with the animal cruelty organisation and they told me that that they have contacted the GLDA (Guyana Livestock

the Council and proposed a meeting which would be led by the Chairman where we could discuss the Council approaching the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) for us

Development Authority) to work towards getting this fowl cockfighting addressed and bring it to a stop. This is animal cruelty.”

He noted that he had also raised the issue with the office-in-charge of the Sub Division and has gotten a positive response.

“The activities on Sunday is not only illegal but it is also illegal in the eyes of the law where ether is a huge congregation of people unmasked in this COVID 19 period. So far, the OC has been very cooperative. I have gotten back reports that the OC did send out his patrols occasionally to the facility, but it is still going on. Apparently, they are not finding enough evidence to arrest people even under the COVID law. So, it is still going on,” McDougall related.

The Police patrol vehicle leaving the facility on Sunday

to take over custody of the facility… So, we can take care of it and make it secure and alleviate this drug problem.”

The NDC is yet to meet and discuss the issue. The Councillor has also raised

When contacted on Sunday evening, Regional Commander Calvin Brutus promised to address the issue of Police involvement and more so promised to reinforce the COVID-19 guidelines.

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020

17

Regional

House Speaker Dominican Republic votes in Caymanian denies charges of assault election postponed over virus S

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eople in the Dominican Republic have voted for a new president, in a poll overshadowed by the coronavirus crisis.

The election, which was postponed from May because of the country's outbreak, could end the Dominican Liberation Party's 16 years in power.

Opinion polls suggest Luis Abinader of the opposition Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) is likely to win – after recovering from COVID-19.

Dominicans will also be choosing members of both Houses of Parliament.

Incumbent President Danilo Medina is ineligible to stand for re-election, having served two consecutive terms since 2012.

If no candidate wins more than 50 per cent of the votes in Sunday's first round, a run-off will be held.

Opinion polls have consistently put Abinader ahead of all other candidates.

Social distancing and other hygiene measures are in place for the vote

Abinader, whose family is of Lebanese descent, is a US-educated economist.

He is Executive President of Grupo Abicor, a firm owned by his family which operates major tourism projects in the Dominican Republic.

He ran for President in 2016 and made it into the second round, but lost to Medina, who beat him by almost 27 percentage points.

Abinader and his wife

announced on June 11 that they had tested positive for coronavirus and he had to temporarily stop campaigning while he recovered.

The Dominican Republic is one of the worst-affected countries in the Caribbean, with more than 35,000 confirmed cases and more than 775 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Abinader surged ahead in the opinion polls after a split in the governing party.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Coronavirus: Mexico's death toll passes 30,000

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exico has recorded more than 30,000 deaths from its coronavirus outbreak, as the disease continues to ravage one of Latin America's worst-hit countries.

The Health Ministry said deaths rose by 523 on Saturday, pushing the total to 30,366.

The country now has the world's fifth-highest COVID-19 toll, passing France, where more than 29,000 have died.

A daily record of 6914 new infections was recorded in Mexico, bringing the total to 252,165, officials said.

However, the true number of fatalities and infec-

tions is thought to be much higher because of insufficient testing.

Mexico has Latin America's second-highest death toll after Brazil, which has recorded 64,000 fatalities and more than 1.5 million infections to date, according to Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the disease globally.

Mexico's President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is eager to restart the country's flagging economy. His Government announced a phased plan to lift restrictions in May. In Mexico City, the capital, hundreds of thousands of factory workers returned to their jobs in mid-June.

Some non-essential busi-

nesses were then allowed to reopen at the start of July in the city, the epicentre of the country's epidemic.

But on Friday, Mexico's Deputy Health Minister, Hugo Lopez-Gatell, said coronavirus deaths could rise if the country opens up its economy too soon.

"As we're in an active epidemic, the risk is that as we try to reopen social activities... we may have more infections and the transmission could be maintained or increase," the Minister told a news conference.

Critics say Obrador was slow to impose the lockdown measures and now has been too quick to lift them. (Excerpt from BBC News)

peaker of the Legislative Assembly, McKeeva Bush, on Friday denied charges of assault and being drunk and disorderly, when he appeared via video link in court.

Bush, 65, a veteran politician, is accused of beating up the bar manager at a bar in February.

However, no trial date has been set for the case because Bush's Attorney is waiting on forensic analysis of CCTV footage.

The politician's Attorney, Michael Alberga, told the court that he had dispatched the tapes, which he received from the Crown in discovery, to Miami for analysis.

He, however, stated that with the COVID-19 pandemic raging in Florida,

work at the lab had been stalled, and given the circumstances caused by “the health crisis there”, he did not know when the analysis would be done.

The case has been set down for a management hearing on August 14, and Bush was bound over to return on that date.

The politician has denied that he attacked a woman who was managing the bar on the night that Bush was said to have engaged in excessive drinking.

He also denied being drunk at a licensed premises, using offensive language, and refusing to leave.

Bush has claimed that he went to the bar, said to be partially owned by a close relative, to get food.

He said he fell and because he was disorientated,

Speaker of the Caymanian Legislative Assembly, McKeeva Bush

he lashed out at people trying to assist him.

But the politician admitted that he does have an issue with alcohol abuse as a result of never dealing with the grief surrounding the tragic loss of his daughter nine years ago. (Excerpt from CMC)

Bolivia's Health Minister tests positive for COVID-19

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olivia’s Health Minister María Eidy Roca has tested positive for COVID-19 though is in stable condition, the Ministry said on Sunday, as a sharp rise in cases of the novel coronavirus strain hospitals and cemeteries in the South American country.

The landlocked Andean nation of over 11.5 million people has registered some 38,000 confirmed cases of the disease and 1378 deaths.

Its daily burden of cases makes Bolivia currently one of the worst-affected countries per capita in the world.

Latin America has become the epicentre for the virus, with Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru particularly hard hit, while Argentina and Bolivia have seen the number of new cases rise in recent weeks despite early lockdowns.

“The fight against the virus continues relentless-

Bolivian Health Minister Eidy Roca

ly and I wish the Minister a speedy recovery to rejoin this battle for the health of Bolivians,” interim President Jeanine Anez said in a post on Twitter.

Bolivia’s Health Ministry estimated that the peak of infections would hit between

August and September.

The country is heading towards a general election on September 6, a delayed rerun of a fraught ballot last year that sparked widespread protests and led to the demise of leftist leader Evo Morales. (Reuters)

TTPS uncovers plot to kill CoP Argentina to unveil new debt offer to creditors, push O deadline to late August fficials within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) have uncovered an alleged plot to kill Police Commissioner Gary Griffith, Superintendent Roger Alexander and members of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT).

According to intelligence, the assassins are allegedly former members of the Venezuelan military (national army of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela).

The information which was contained in a confidential document – titled Alert, Plot To Kill TTPS Officers – was forwarded to senior security officials with the recommendation that "A duty of care should be performed on

the Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith, Superintendent of Police Roger Alexander and senior and junior Police Officers attached to the Special Operations Response Team (SORT)."

The plot, the intelligence revealed, was hatched by gang members targeting officers "for retaliatory violence".

It was revealed that leaders of criminal gangs in T&T have allegedly contracted Venezuelan hitmen to assassinate the officers.

The document read, "It is unknown when and where the planned executions would take place; however, their modus operandi includes the use of overt surveillance on their intended targets, most likely

utilising motorcycles."

SORT intelligence analysts advised that the intended targets should be informed of this pending threat against their lives. They further advised that the CoP, the Superintendent and SORT officers, "along with their families exercise extreme situational awareness when carrying out their day-to-day activities".

They also noted that "threats like these should not be taken lightly."

They claimed this latest intelligence "signalled a frightening new escalation in the already heightened tensions" between Police and gangs. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

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rgentina is set to unveil a new debt restructuring offer that will be kept open until the end of August, President Alberto Fernandez told local radio on Sunday, as the Government seeks to strike a deal despite rising tensions with creditors.

“The offer will be known today and will be open until the end of August,” the centre-left Peronist leader said in an interview with Radio

Milenium, suggesting a current July 24 deadline for a deal would be further extended.

“The proposal we are making is a huge effort, but it is the maximum effort we can make,” Fernandez added. “I hope that the creditors can understand that.”

Argentina is racing to revamp US$65 billion in foreign bonds after tumbling into its ninth sovereign default in May. A deal is key

to avoiding a messy and protracted legal standoff that would lock the country out of international credit markets.

The debt talks had progressed well, helping lift local bond prices, until hitting turbulence in mid-June.

Two key bondholder groups have since criticised a lack of engagements with the Government and pushed for stronger legal protection in any deal. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020

Around the World

Hong Kong security law: Pro-democracy books pulled from libraries

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ooks by pro-democracy figures have been removed from public libraries in Hong Kong in the wake of a controversial new security law.

The works will be reviewed to see if they violate the new law, the authority which runs the libraries said.

The legislation targets secession, subversion and terrorism with punishments of up to life in prison.

Opponents say it erodes

the territory's freedoms as a semi-autonomous region of China. Beijing rejects this.

Hong Kong's sovereignty was handed back to China

by Britain in 1997 and certain rights were supposed to be guaranteed for at least 50 years under the "one country, two systems" agreement.

Since the security law came into effect on Tuesday, several leading pro-democracy activists have stepped down from their roles. One of them

- one-time student leader and local legislator Nathan Law has fled the territory.

At least nine books have become unavailable or marked as "under review", according to the South China Morning Post newspaper. They include books authored or co-authored

by Joshua Wong, a prominent pro-democracy activist, and pro-democracy politician Tanya Chan.

Beijing has dismissed criticism of the law, saying it is

necessary to stop the type of mass pro-democracy protests seen in Hong Kong during much of 2019, which at times exploded into very violent clashes between protesters and Police.

It has rejected complaints by the UK and other Western nations that it is in breach of guarantees it made to protect Hong Kong's unique freedoms as interference in its internal affairs. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Uneasy calm in Ethiopia Libya Govt vows after protests, official response after base hit death toll doubles by “foreign air force”

Ethiopian military ride on their pick-up truck as they patrol the streets following protests in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia July 2, 2020

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ore than 166 people were killed during anti-Government protests in Ethiopia last week, the Government said on Sunday, as the capital and other hotspots remained closely guarded by security forces and a blanket Internet shutdown entered its sixth day.

Large protests broke out in Addis Ababa and spread to the surrounding Oromia region on Monday night after popular Oromo musician Haacaaluu Hundeessaa was shot dead by unknown gunmen in a killing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said was “an evil act”.

Haacaaluu sang in the Oromo language of Ethiopia’s biggest ethnic group. His killing tapped into grievances fuelled by decades of Government repression and what the Oromo describe as their historic exclusion from political power.

The unrest is the deadliest since Abiy, who is Oromo, took

power in 2018 with the promise of wide-ranging reforms.

Jibril Mohammed, Head of the Oromia Security and Peace Bureau, said more deaths might be reported due to the number of injuries being treated in hospitals.

Another 10 people were killed in Addis Ababa, a source in the national police service said.

The military, called in to quell the protests Wednesday, were out in the streets of Oromia towns, two residents from the town of Adama and another from the town of Shashemene told Reuters. Authorities shut down the Internet after the protests began, and they are yet to switch it on again, residents said.

International human rights watchdog Amnesty International has called on the Government to bring Haacaaluu’s killers to justice.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

GNA troops inspect the al-Watiya airbase after it was recaptured from Khalifa Haftar's fighters in May

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ibya's UN-recognised Government on Sunday condemned overnight air raids against a recently recaptured airbase in the west of the country saying the attack was carried out by a "foreign air force".

Fighters loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA) seized back the al-Watiya airbase, 140km (90 miles) southwest of the capital Tripoli, from troops aligned with renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar in May. Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) alleges Turkey - a key GNA backer subsequently made use of the base to help GNA soldiers repel an offensive it launched against Tripoli in April last year.

Al-Watiya's recapture marked the start of the sudden collapse of the LNA's 14-month assault to seize the capital and led to its hasty retreat along

the coast.

"The raids last night against Al-Watiya base were carried out by a ... foreign air force in support of the war criminal [Haftar] in a miserable and desperate attempt to achieve a morale boosting victory," GNA Deputy Defence Minister Salah al-Namrush said in a statement.

Plunged into chaos by the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed its longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi, oil-rich Libya has two rival administrations in the west and east of the North African nation.

Haftar's forces are backed

by Egypt, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

His fighters withdrew from the southern outskirts of Tripoli and the entire west of the country in June after a string of battlefield defeats to the Turkishbacked GNA. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Lebanon's top Christian clerics blast politicians as hunger, hardship bite

L

ebanon’s Christian authorities slammed politicians on Sunday for failing to remedy an economic meltdown that has left many poor, piling pressure on the country’s leaders as it spirals deeper into crisis.

In a sermon, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros AlRai, the top Christian cleric, accused politicians of thinking only of their own vested interests and urged the President to take action.

“It appears politicians want to hide their responsibility in emptying the treasury and not enact any reforms,” he said.

Hopes of salvation through an IMF deal have retreated,

with the Government unwilling or unable to enact reforms, hamstrung by the conflicting agendas of sectarian leaders who don’t want to yield power or privileges.

The crisis, which has decimated the local currency and raised fears of mass hunger, is seen as the biggest threat to Lebanon’s stability since its 1975-1990 civil war.

Lebanon’s sectarian political system parcels out state posts based on religious sect, with the presidency reserved for a Maronite Christian.

The largest Christian bloc, President Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement, is close to the Iran-backed Shi’ite

A man searches through a garbage bin in Beirut, Lebanon, June 30, 2020.

Hezbollah movement. Both backed the current Cabinet, which took office in January.

In another sermon in a central Beirut church, Greek Orthodox Archbishop Elias Audi also lambasted the political elite on Sunday.

“Oh respected leaders, I address whatever conscience remains in you,” he said. “Do you sleep comfortably at night while those under your care starve, and die of thirst and by suicide?” (Excerpt from Reuters)

OILNEWS Saudi Arabia is bullying OPEC members into compliance

F

irst, they said it nicely: play along and cut to your quotas, or we’ll all suffer low oil prices for longer.

Then they put their foot down: start cutting deeper or else. And now it has emerged what the “or else” part was—a new price war.

The Wall Street Journal’s Benoit Faucon and Summer Said reported earlier this week that Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Saud had threatened Nigeria, Angola, and Iraq with another oil price war if they didn’t get in line with the production cuts, according to OPEC delegates. If they kept producing more than their quotas, Saudi Arabia would start selling its crude at a discount on these three countries’ key markets, stealing market share. In a phrase reminiscent of some of the best crime dramas, bin Saud reportedly told Angolan and Nigerian delegates, “We know who your customers are.”

OPEC’s crude oil production last month fell to the lowest in thirty years, at 22.69 million bpd. However, Iraq, Angola, and Nigeria still fell short of their quotas: Iraq only managed to achieve 70 per cent compliance, Nigeria did a little better at 77 per cent, and Angola even better at 83 per cent. But that was not good enough.

It is understandable why the OPEC leader has had enough. The Saudis were not only the driver behind the latest agreement. They also voluntarily deepened their own production quota, pledging to cut an additional one million bpd on top of the more than two million bpd they agreed to cut, shouldering the largest part of the total 9.7-millionbpd OEPC+ cut.

Brent crude traded at more than US$51 a barrel in early March, a few days before Saudi Arabia declared its first price war of the year against Russia for its refusal to sign up for an extension of the previous round of cuts, agreed on last December. On March 9, the benchmark plummeted below US$35 a barrel.

After a further plunge in April on the back of the coronavirus lockdowns, Brent has to date recovered to about US$40. So, if Saudi Arabia makes good on its threat, this time Brent—and WTI—will be falling from a lower starting point. This is the only thing we can be sure of.

Of course, the threat of a price war remains hypothetical.

Perhaps it would prove to be enough to get Iraq, Nigeria, and Angola to mend their ways and start cutting production like they mean it. It would be the safer choice because Saudi Arabia has more oil, and it can afford to sell it more cheaply than the three laggards, at least for a while. But what if they don’t?

Well, if they don’t, we’ll likely have a new price crash, and it could turn out to be worse than the first one as it would come amid a rising fear—and perhaps some evidence—of a second wave of COVID-19 infections in the world’s largest consumer. Meanwhile, demand has been slow to rebound.

There have been some good signs such as a pickup in gasoline production in the US and a drawdown in floating oil storage. And yet, most analysts warn that people around the world would continue to be cautious in commuting and travelling, which will continue to affect oil demand.

If, in such an environment, Saudi Arabia decides to make good on its threat, oil will fall sharply. Just how low it would fall is anyone’s guess, but it is safe to say such a development would hardly benefit anyone, including Saudi Arabia.

It could do it for a short while, to make its point. And then Iraq, Nigeria, and Angola could continue under complying because there would be nothing else Saudi Arabia could do to stop them. And that’s not all. Earlier this week, Russia’s Energy Minister said there had been no discussions in OPEC+ to continue cutting deep after the end of July.

As per the agreement, the cuts would be relaxed from 9.7 million bpd to 7.7 million bpd after the July extension. But it’s still early July, and there is a problem with compliance.

That Saudi Arabia could propose another extension is not out of the question because oil continues to be way too cheap for it. And then we will have another OPEC+ drama brewing and, should the Saudis’ patience expire, a second price war.(Oilprice.com)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020

19

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

Reopening plan when less than 1% of population has been tested Dear Editor, We have been hearing about the Government’s plan of reopening the country, but the decision is based on what? Thus far [as of July 4, 2020] they have only conducted 2779 tests. Assuming our population roughly stands at 700,000, that number does not even reflect 1 per cent of our current population! What is even more troubling is that no one seems to be questioning this ‘Government’ and their reopening plans.

How can this Government propose a reopening plan, when in reality they have not been conducting sufficient testing to determine the severity of this virus? The US, for example, has been con-

ducting 248,000 tests daily on average. Of course, we are no US in terms of population, but the WHO recommends that doing rigorous testing is the only way to determine whether or not the curve is flattening. I am no Mathematician but if 2779 conducted tests produce 272 confirmed cases, then what about the remaining 697,221 walking around?

It is clear that Guyana is far behind when it comes to dealing with this pandemic. It is soon going to be four months and this Government has still not addressed the fact that all Guyanese have been forced to pay utility bills, rent, etc. Sure, they have attempted to distribute ‘hampers’ to the impov-

erished, but realistically speaking, how long would a hamper last a family?

What about the others that do not live in an impoverished community but are still struggling?

Consequently, people are forced to go out to work to provide for their families and it appears that the Government will never truly go on a total lockdown because they have no intention of providing economic relief measures for those that would be required to stay home. This Government has once again failed the people of Guyana and for that, we will suffer tremendously.

With regards, Concerned citizen

A tale that can aptly be described as “fantasy”

Dear Editor, On Sunday, I was sent a piece of propaganda that featured Captain Gerry Gouveia and clandestine flights to Trinidad with Bharrat Jagdeo! A tale that can aptly be described as “fantasy” as it is poorly conceived and premised on the ignorance of the reader, I could not work out who would be the intended audience.

Imagine my surprise to see this story posted on Joe Harmon's Facebook page, it is one thing to see this kind of tripe as a WhatsApp message; it is quite another to see it endorsed as credible by the one-time Minister of the Presidency.

Has Joe Harmon's fall from that high office to the secretarial position

to the COVID Taskforce unhinged him mentally? Does Harmon believe Gerry Gouveia defied the airport closures and flew Bharrat Jagdeo to Trinidad? Joe Harmon is beginning to sound like Jamaica's Aloysius, who had the amazing ability to talk to anything, including trees, cows, and cricket balls.

Given the overt displays of psychosis by Harmon and the brazen volte-face by Khemraj Ramjattan on the subject of his farewell at the Ministry of National Security, I must ask what fresh hell the Granger Administration got in store for us as they do this very public “Danse Macabre”.

Suddenly all the seemingly far-out conspira-

cy theories making the rounds no longer seem improbable nor incredible. Can it be true that Harmon has pushed out the PNC Chairman and is holding meetings at Congress Place and sharing out “Cabinet” positions? Is it possible that preparations are being made to swear in Granger and “sanctions be damned”? Surely, there is a modicum of sanity left in David Granger's inner-circle; if not we can expect to hear shouts of "extreme unction!" … "Call de priest!

Me need extreme unction!" as the Bush howled to Aloysius in Anthony C Winkler's classic, The Lunatic.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

Condemn ad on CCJ jurisdiction Open letter to ‘caretaker’ over Court of Appeal ruling President Granger Dear Editor, Reference is made to an advertisement (Trinidad Guardian page 10, July 5) on the jurisdiction of the CCJ over the Guyana Court of Appeal. The cited paragraphs of the Constitution in an ad on COA and CCJ jurisdiction are deliberately cited to mislead readers and presumably to influence the judgment before the CCJ. The ad violates basic norms of justice and must be condemned by all lawyers, Judges, and the media.

In my understanding of law, having taught American constitutional and international law for decades, any matter before the court is considered sub judice, meaning the parties should not engage in public discourse on the matter till the court has pronounced judgment which is slated for Wednesday afternoon. The media is also restrained from attempting to influence the court’s judgment. Lawyers make their case during oral arguments and submissions; they (or their agents) cannot litigate outside of the court.

Lawyers cannot engage in publicity stunts to prejudice the court – this is a principle that is more important than law itself.

An advertisement on the CCJ’s jurisdictional issues and/or how it should rule on a matter should not be entertained. The ad seeks to corrupt the course of justice. The court fixed a ruling for Wednesday.

Clearly, the ad seeks to prejudice the outcome. It is scandalous and unacceptable by pro-democracy and freedom-loving people and those who value impartial justice.

The ad violates the foundation of the sub judice principle, which is a cornerstone of “justice is blind”. All lawyers know this principle and swear their practice by it. Moreover, the ad seeks to compromise

the integrity and independence of the court. In addition, it seriously and deeply offends the intellect of the Judges of the court and law-abiding people as well as those who practice law. It is troubling, illegal, wrong, and unethical and must be condemned.

The court and the public must not pay heed to the ad whose contents are selective and taken out of context. On the face of it, the cited paragraphs would suggest that the Court of Appeal ruling of Guyana is final and the CCJ has no jurisdiction in overturning the COA judgment.

That is not factual.

As a student and teacher of constitutional law, I researched the language and intention of the framers when the Act was passed in Guyana’s Parliament in 2004.

I also spoke with several parliamentarians who clarified the intent of the legislation.

The first paragraph refers to cases that were already determined by the COA and that were brought before the COA prior to the assenting of the CCJ treaty in 2005. It did not involve matters brought before the COA court thereafter. All matters before the COA, unless specifically stated, are “appealable”.

Democracy and jurisprudence in Guyana were undermined and compromised for decades. Elections were rigged in 1968 to give the Burnham party a two-thirds parliamentary majority that was used to abolish appeals to the Privy Council in 1970.

The rigging of the 1968 election could not be challenged at the PC because the COA became the final court. In 2004, then President Jagdeo signed on to the CCJ treaty with the expressed intention that it is the final court for all matters pertaining to Guyana, thereby giving the

CCJ jurisdiction.

Even where an apex court lacks specific jurisdiction over a superior court, the court can exercise original jurisdiction where fundamental (natural) rights are violated. The PC and final courts in the Commonwealth and in the US, India, Canada, etc set aside unjust rulings that violate fundamental voting rights. Moreover, when a superior court rules incorrectly or accepts jurisdiction of a matter beyond its remit, its ruling can be reviewed and set aside if it violates basic natural laws or if it accepts jurisdiction under the wrong clause.

The election matter is currently before the CCJ – it is the exclusive domain of the court to rule on whether it has jurisdiction. An ad should not have been proffered to influence its ruling. It must be condemned Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram

Dear President Granger, The Caribbean Hindu Cultural Society (CHCS) London, UK, is very concerned that It is now four months since the General and Regional Elections were held in Guyana and there is no declaration of the results since the count and then the recount.

The international Caricom observers and ABCE diplomats have all vouched that Guyana 2020 elections were free, fair and credible, and that all votes cast were valid. With almost one voice, you were urged to accept the result of the recount, concede defeat and arrange for a peaceful transfer of government.

This you have steadfastly refused to do. We urge you to accept their recommen-

dations and act without further delay, to restore peace, harmony and confidence in our leaders by the people of Guyana.

Elections must be conducted on the basis on Dharma, and must give importance to justice, uprightness, rectitude, purity in thought, words and deed.

Guyana is potentially a rich county but faces serious socio-economic and health problems if the “democratic will” of the majority is ignored.

It is in the national in-

terest that the main political parties are able to work in co-operation to deal with these.

The wealth of Guyana belongs to all its people and we need a stable Government that governs in an equitable manner so that all its citizens may enjoy the future economic success of the country.

Sincerely, Moti Sukhlal President Deo Jairam Secretary

20

MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020

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ARIES

(March 21April 19)

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DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

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PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

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CALVIN AND HOBBES

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SUDOKU

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Strengthen your body, mind and soul. Strive for balance, equality and harmony. Choose to work with the trends, not against them. Be kind instead of divisive.

Consider what's doable and put your energy where it counts the most. Voicing your opinion may be met with opposition, but it will also show your strength of character.

Make today about you.

Research self-help books that you can relate to and start working toward a goal that encourages you to look out for your best interests.

Physical improvements are favored.

Back away from anyone trying to start a fight. Keep your papers, possessions and cash in a safe place. Pay more attention to self-improvement and happiness.

Reconnecting with someone you used to know through social media will lead to memories that bring back powerful feelings. You will be inspired to make a lifestyle change.

An unexpected change will lead to a window of opportunity. Explore new possibilities and touch base with people who are heading in a direction similar to yours. Personal growth is encouraged.

Distance yourself from negativity, demanding people and anyone looking for a fight. Treat yourself to something that will put a smile on your face. Promote peace, love and happiness.

Keep your emotions under control and your mind on what you want to accomplish. A chance to take your plans further than anticipated looks promising. Stay focused and reach for the stars.

Remember the way SAGITTARIUS things were. It will serve (Nov. 23you well to dwell on the pasDec. 21) times and people who were an integral part of your life.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Make a personal change that will enhance your relationship with loved ones and improve your outlook and lifestyle. Change begins with you.

Pour your heart into something that makes you feel good about yourself and your life. An affectionate gesture will encourage someone to reciprocate. Praise will follow a physical improvement.

Your imagination will conjure up unique ideas. Choose to do something that will benefit others as well as yourself. Don't take a risk that could lead to ill health or injury.

MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020

21

Lewis Hamilton penalised for collision as Valtteri Bottas wins Austrian GP V

altteri Bottas survived reliability worries to win an incident-packed Austrian Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton took fourth after a penalty. Four months after the scheduled first race was called off because of the coronavirus crisis, Mercedes' win was anything but the cruise that had been expected.

Gearbox concerns slowed the cars and Hamilton was penalised five seconds for a collision with Red Bull's Alex Albon. Charles Leclerc came second after a stirring drive in the uncompetitive Ferrari while McLaren's Lando Norris took his first podium finish, just holding off Hamilton.

The world champion appeared to be the fastest car on track, but the safety car periods threw multiple curve balls into the mix and the race came alive in a chaotic final 16 laps. And the haremscarem action took place after a moment's silence on the grid to reflect the fight against racism. All the drivers wore T-shirts saying 'end racism', but six of them – including Leclerc and Red Bull's Max Verstappen –- chose not to join their 14 colleagues in taking the knee alongside Hamilton.

Until two late safety cars in quick succession in the closing stages, Bottas and Hamilton were cruising to a relatively comfortable one-two in the delayed first race of the season, despite nursing their cars. But when George Russell's Williams retired with an engine problem and the second safety car of the day was deployed, everything changed.

Mercedes kept their cars out, while a number of cars came in for fresh tyres, among them Albon, Leclerc and Norris. Albon now had fresh soft tyres on which to attack the Mercedes in front of him, and after a second safety car, this time caused by a wheel falling off Kimi Raikkonen's Alfa Romeo, the Anglo-Thai did just that.

Albon went for a move around the outside of Hamilton at Turn Four on lap 60, with 11 to go, and appeared to have it done, only for Hamilton's front left wheel to tag the Red Bull's rear right and send him spinning into the gravel trap.

It was the second time in three races the two had collided. Hamilton's reckless lunge in Brazil last November deprived Albon of his first podium, and

C

onde Riley has been asked to withdraw his statement that West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons has endangered the lives of West Indies cricketers by leaving the bio-secure bubble to attend the funeral of his father-in-law in England.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) Vice President, Dr Kishore Shallow describes the comment as reckless and insists that Riley should withdraw the letter. "It is rather unfortunate that Conde would make such an irresponsible statement that the Head Coach has endangered the lives of cricketers on tour.

"With regards to the comments that there were three board meetings and no information was given, this is also a misrepresentation of the facts, which are that the Board approved the protocols presented by our medical experts. The presentation clearly outlined the protocol for entry and exit of the bubble and also every aspect of safety for the tour.

"Once such approval

issues, they were still allowed to fight, but then chief strategist James Vowles – who only comes on the radio when it is an urgent request –- warned them of "critical" gearbox issues.

That looked to be the end of the battle – but it proved to be just the start of a thrilling climax to the race. And it means Hamilton starts his quest for a record-equalling seventh world title with a 13-point deficit to the only man who seems to have a chance of beating him, given the apparent superiority of the Mercedes car.

Another race is in Austria next weekend – the Steiermark (or Styrian) Grand Prix. If it's anything like this, it is a prospect to savour.

There may have been no proper podium or thousands of cheering fans, but the champagne was still flowing

also earned a penalty, and now he has done it again.

Albon said: "I am a bit depressed right now, so I have to be careful what I say. I really felt like I could have won the race. Mercedes had the outright pace, but the guys did a great job with the strategy.

"There is always the risk of overtaking on the outside, but I gave it as much space as I could. I was right on the edge, if I gave him all the space I could give him, it is up to him if he wants to crash or not."

Hamilton said he felt it was a "racing incident".

Hamilton was penalised five seconds for the incident and now it was a question of whether he could make up enough ground on Leclerc and Norris to keep second place. Leclerc had progressed with daring and clinical overtaking moves on Racing Point's Sergio Perez and then Norris, to take a second place that few would have predicted after a dismal qualifying for Ferrari.

Norris recognised the threat from Hamilton and put it all on the line on the final lap, setting the

was given, the Board should divorce itself from getting into the day-to-day operations, which is the case of Coach Simmons attending a funeral on tour. This is consistent with President Skerritt's policy of empowering management."

"My disappointment is that Conde's letter to the Board did not aim to clarify whether permission was given to Simmons. He was presumptuous and acted hastily in suggesting that the Coach should be fired.

As a senior member of the Coard and an experienced cricket administrator, this has undoubtedly been a miscalculation on his part, and I remain hopeful that he will withdraw his letter."

CWI President Ricky Skerritt said he was not going to get into any public fight with anyone at the moment.

"The ethics code of CWI, the same code that Calvin Hope refers to in his recent letter of complaint to the CWI ethics committee, prohibits Directors from having such public confrontation about Board-

fastest lap of the race to hold off Hamilton by just 0.2secs for his first career F1 podium.

Hamilton's day started badly when a threeplace grid penalty was imposed on him less than an hour before the race after stewards reviewed an incident in qualifying when he had not slowed for yellow caution flags. But he was up to second by lap 10, following the retirement of Max Verstappen with an engine problem, and began to close in on Bottas.

Hamilton had closed to within three seconds of his team-mate by lap 25, and was much faster, when the first safety car halted his attack in its tracks. Mercedes stacked their cars in the pits and refused Hamilton's request for softer tyres than Bottas was given.

At the restart, Hamilton made it clear he was determined to attack for the lead, but soon Mercedes were radioing their drivers to say they had problems. After being told they had sensor

A

Conde Riley

related matters.

"I will not allow myself to be drawn into public cockfights with either Calvin Hope or Conde Riley, especially at this time of sad farewell and celebratory respect on the passing of the legendary Sir Everton Weekes.

All genuine cricket lovers should be focusing on cricket, not petty politics, especially in our support for the West Indies Test team about to go into battle in England." (TT Guardian)

conflicto f interest complaint has been filed against Virat Kohli for his positions in two business ventures.

Complainant Sanjeev Gupta, a life member of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, wrote an email to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ethics officer-cum-ombudsman Justice (ret’d) DK Jain and a number of BCCI executives, including President Sourav Ganguly and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rahul Johri, arguing that Kohli's various posts were in violation of the BCCI Constitution.

In his complaint filed on July 4, Gupta said that Kohli's co-directors at Virat Kohli Sports (LLP) and Cornerstone Venture Partners (LLP) were also Directors in Cornerstone

What they said Valtteri Bottas: "That was definitely quite a bit of pressure. One safety car was still OK, with the last one I was like 'come on' – there were so many chances for Lewis to come through if I made a small mistake. I managed to keep it together and control the race from my side and it's a good start to the season."

Charles Leclerc: "It was a huge surprise but a good one. We did everything perfect today, had a bit of luck with Lewis's penalty and a few crashes here and there, but that's part of the race too. We just wanted to take every opportunity to find the pace to finish where we were. There's still a lot of work to do, but anything is possible. We will work as a team and we can come back strong."

Lando Norris: "There's a few moments where I thought I fudged it. I dropped to fifth with a few laps to go and Carlos [Sainz] nearly passed me and I managed to get back past Checo and I ended up on the podium. It was a good race, a hard last few laps to push as hard as I can. I'm so happy for the team to achieve what we have given where we were a few years ago." (BBC Sport)

Sport and Entertainment Private Limited, a talent agency that contracts Indian cricketers and handles their branding and commercial interests. Justice Jain said he was examining the complaint.

"Shri Virat Kohli is occupying two posts at a time in blatant violation to BCCI Rule 38 (4) approved by Supreme Court of India. As such, he must relinquish his one post at once in compliance. His two posts are covered as under: A – 38(4) (a) – Player and B – 38(4)(o) – Contractual Entity, to be read with BCCI Rule 38(1) (iii)," Gupta's complaint said.

Rule 38(4) of the BCCI Constitution prevents individuals from holding more than one of 16 posts: player (current); selector/member of cricket committee; team official; commentator; match official; administrator/office bearer; electoral officer; ombudsman & ethics officer; auditor; any person who is governance, manage-

ment or employee of a franchisee; member of a standing committee; CEO & managers, office bearer of a Member (state association); service provider (legal, financial etc); contractual entity (broadcast, security, contractor, etc) and owner of cricket academy.

"I have received a complaint," Justice Jain told PT on Sunday. "I will examine it and then see if the case is made out or not. If yes, then I have to afford an opportunity to him (Kohli) to respond."

Gupta had previously filed conflict-of-interest complaints against Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman and also Rahul Dravid.

In each of those instances, the ethics officer had served notices based on the complaints, but the former cricketers were eventually cleared. (ESPNcricinfo)

22

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M

arch 20, 1994 was the last time a West Indies fast bowler reached the milestone of 200 Test wickets. Kemar Roach was five then, when Curtly Ambrose bowled Michael Atherton in Georgetown in the second Test of that 1994 series.

Roach turned 32 last week. This month he could become only the ninth West Indies fast bowler to get to 200 Test wickets. Former West Indies bowling great Andy Roberts, currently eighth on that list, reckons Roach is currently the best fast bowler against left-handers in Test cricket.

Of Roach's 193 wickets so far, 79, or nearly 41 per cent, have been of players batting in the top three; that figure is the third highest among active bowlers.

In this interview, Roach talks about his journey – from bowling at 150-plus kilometres per hour (kph) to mellowing down to fast-medium, which he says has been the best phase of his career.

Back home in Barbados, you tweeted about how impatient you were getting during the pandemic. To the point where you said you were willing to pay fines for people to deliver you food at home.

You are home all day, so there is a

little bit discussion, little bit of thought.

But the West Indies cricket board and the ECB, they assured us that we'll be safe. I trusted the boards, so I came over.

I wanted to defend the [Wisden] Trophy as well. It was a pretty tough decision, but all in all I was pretty confident with all the information that was passed over to me and I was pretty sure I would be safe when I got over to England.

You're on the verge of 200 Test wickets. How proud are you of being on the cusp of leaping into the bracket of bowling greats?

It is a great honour. We have a fantastic history of fast bowlers in the West Indies, going back to Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding and Andy Roberts and those guys. It is a really good feeling to get in the bracket with those greats. I would like to play as long as I can, move higher up that ladder to be one of the top fast bowlers for the West Indies.

What is the joy of fast bowling to you?

Taking wickets. That's me. I always like to celebrate, be in the huddle with the guys. And the good feeling of winning

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Pt 1 Kemar Roach:

level is so high. His consistency is amazing.

And the way he has played for so long, to keep himself so fit; it is pretty amazing what all he has done for England and for cricket all over the world and for fast bowling. I watch his videos a lot. I would love to emulate him some day.

What is it about him?

His art: being able to move the ball both ways, and he is consistent with lengths and lines. We all know fast bowling is very hard. It is very tough on the body and he has done a fantastic job of playing over 150 Test matches. For me, it is something you want to emulate.

Hopefully, I can get close to some of his achievements.

Have you ever had a chat on fast bowling with Anderson?

Not really.

I had a short conversation with him in the Caribbean after the series [in 2019]. Very short –- he is not really an approachable guy. But you admire him, listen to his interviews, you watch his videos and his highlights. You just try to understand what he tries to do with the ball and how he gets batsmen out.

So would you like to meet him before you head back home if there's an opportunity?

Roach after narrowly missing out on a hat-trick against India last year (Associated Press)

of something?

Yeah, fear of driving. Fear of fast driving. Fear of anyone driving me as well, I guess. Even in a taxi. I was a little bit sceptical about how I was being driven.

Did you like to drive fast?

As a young guy, being a fast bowler, I

Roach bowls on the final day of West Indies' warm-up, at Old Trafford. "We did a fantastic job in the Caribbean, and I don't see why we can't do it here in England as well" (Getty Images)

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOW!

lot of cooking involved. It was a little frustrating. We all got to eat, so you miss on your cheat days to get fast food and stuff. It was pretty tough being at home, having to cook every day.

What was the first thing you ordered once the lockdown was over?

KFC (chuckles). They say it is not good for you, but I needed it, man. I really needed it.

What was the one cricketing sound you missed most during the lockdown – stumps being hit, ball thudding into pads, taking the outside edge… ?

I will have to say [ball] taking the edge.

And definitely the cheering from the crowd. That is something we are going to miss for a while as well – someone chanting your name in your stands and stuff. It is going to be tough when the series starts and not having the crowds around.

Speaking of crowds, against England in 2019, on your home ground, there were plenty of people dancing in the aisles when you took that five-for in one spell in the first innings.

It was a fantastic experience.

Obviously, I love playing at home. Being a home boy, you have some fans, you have some family, chanting your name and cheering you on. We won that Test match as well. That's probably one of the best Test matches I've played in my whole career.

How long did it take for you to decide to come to England?

The health issues over here [England] and all over the world as well – it took a

a Test match for the team as well. Being a part of it. That's probably one of the biggest joys I have as a cricketer.

And as a fast bowler?

In my younger days when I was bowling much quicker, yeah, short bowling and seeing the fear in batsman's eyes, that brought a little bit joy as well to me.

Was there a fast bowler you enjoyed watching growing up?

I am a great fan of Corey Collymore. Went to the same school. We're both from the north of the island [Barbados].

We communicated really well.

From a young age, he took me on board, he showed me a lot about bowling. We have a lot of

Did someone say pace quartet? Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jason Holder, and Shannon Gabriel (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Oh, definitely. Have a long conversation with him. I am sure he has a lot of knowledge to pass on, and anything he tells me will make me better.

Let us talk about your car crash in 2014. How long did it take for you to recover completely?

The mental part of it took me quite a while. I didn't drive for two-three months. It was a very close call for me. An eye-opener as well. Physically, it wasn't too bad.

conversations.

Growing up, he was my idol. I always wanted to Best of: Roach counts the emulate what he did for five-for against England the West Indies, and in in Bridgetown last year England and Australia as as his most memorable well, where he played performance (Getty Images) some cricket in the leagues. He was definitely one of the guys, growing up, I wanted to be like.

Who do you enjoy watching now?

James Anderson. I'm a huge fan of James Anderson. His skill

was accustomed to things going fast. I like cars. I am a huge fan of cars. Speed was my adrenaline. It was one of my favourite things to do. Luckily, I have got over that phase.

How fast were you going when you crashed?

Not too fast. I am guessing about

Luckily, there were no major injuries, but the mental part of it was pretty tough. It took me about a year to really get over it.

I am grateful that things worked out for me, and I am healthy and still playing cricket for the West Indies.

When you say mental, was it the fear

80mph.

Something like what you bowl now?

Ahem, yeah, pretty much (laughs).

Were there any people in particular who helped you regain confidence?

Corey Collymore was there by me through the accident, after and everything. Also, Vasbert Drakes, he played a fantastic part, helped me get back to a stage in my bowling where I was confident. I also had a lot of conversations with my past coaches, including my school coach, Peter Vaughan. I had a very good support system and that's why I am back to being a pretty good bowler.

I had lost some pace. I relied on pace when I was younger, but after the pace went a bit, I had to develop some more skill and be more consistent.

(ESPNcricinfo)

MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Carlos Brathwaite for BBC Sport...

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England v West Indies: Holder v Stokes and a breakout star their batting. They will hope to come in at seven or eight, knock the bowlers off their stride and counter-attack, or support the middle order before helping the tail to wag.

West Indies are not a team that often score 500, so it is important their middle order of Shane Dowrich, Holder and Cornwall or Reifer bat well and push the first-innings totals towards 300.

West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite will be part of the BBC TV and Test Match Special commentary teams for the Test series in England.

It has been a long wait for cricket because of the coronavirus crisis and I cannot wait to see it back. he three-Test series between England and West Indies, which begins on Wednesday, is set up to be an exciting restart. West Indies may not have won a series in England since 1988, but they are being underestimated on this tour. They are the holders of the Wisden Trophy after all.

I have picked out the players who will be central to the tourists' chances of pulling off another series victory.

T

Jason Holder – a man with a point to prove First on the list is the West Indies Captain. Holder scored 229 runs and took seven wickets in two Tests against England in 2019, but has never scored a Test fifty in England.Holder is part of a very successful bowling attack and also plays an important role in the middle order. We saw that when he scored a double hundred against England last year. He may not have reached double figures in three innings in the warmup games, but that is not cause for concern. You do not want to peak in a practice match.When discussing great all-rounders in the world at the moment, you talk about Ben Stokes or people mention Mitchell Marsh. No-one mentions Holder, who is top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings. His consistency and calmness as a bowler and a batsman set him apart.

That calmness also helps him as a captain – he is very levelheaded, even in hectic situations – although off the pitch he is the joker of the group.He is not one for big speeches, but on the field he can be stubborn.

That is because he knows what he wants and that is to get the best out of you as a player. The first Test is set up perfectly as a crucial battle between the two all-rounders and captains, Holder and Stokes.

The lack of acknowledgement for Holder as the number one allrounder in the world will drive him to prove it in this series.

Shamarh Brooks – the breakout star of the series West Indies have not had a consistent opening partnership for several years, but Brooks is the perfect batsman to come in at number three. If they have a bad start, Brooks is very dependable – he can soak up the pressure and transfer that pressure once the ball gets older and the spinners come on.He is the nicest bloke you will meet

and as a player is very elegant – as elegant as Shai Hope, but with not quite as much flair. Brooks is very driven to get some big scores on this tour and I expect him to be the breakout star.

India legend Rahul Dravid spoke to me about Brooks two years ago after he scored 122 not out and 91 for West Indies A against India A in England. Dravid made a note of him and said he was destined for big things.

Dravid is my idol and for him to endorse Brooks just cemented what I have known about him growing up. I expect people to be asking "who is this guy?" and doing a bit more research into his background.

Roston Chase – top class with bat and ball As an established batsman who has proven he can hold his own as a frontline spinner, Chase provides West Indies with much flexibility, allowing them to play an extra seamer or spinner. Also, if Shai Hope does not perform at number four, Chase can slot in there or bat at five or six.

He loves batting. He may not be the easiest on the eye, but he is mentally strong, very disciplined, and can counterattack or play the long game.

Chase's match-winning 8-60 against England last year showed what he can do with the ball. A tall guy, his biggest asset is bounce. He is not a massive spinner of the ball, but if he can draw a batsman forward, he brings short-leg into play. He also has a very good arm ball which he uses a lot to left-handers.

England batsmen, watch out.

Raymon Reifer or Rahkeem Cornwall – the bonus player Cornwall has 13 wickets in two Tests at an average of 22.61. The flexibility Chase gives West Indies will allow them, depending on conditions, to play another spinner in Rahkeem Cornwall or left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer. Reifer gives West Indies something similar to Sam Curran with England – he swings the ball and can be dangerous with the bat. Reifer took five wickets in West Indies' first intrasquad warm-up game.

Cornwall is a very effective off-spinner. He may have played only two Tests, but he already has a 10-wicket match haul.

He gets lots of revolutions on the ball, so much so that when you face him, you can hear it whirring through the air.He is also a gentle giant. He is not outspoken and will not tell you how good he is, but there is an inner confidence and he believes he can do anything.

I n 2016, Virat Kohli asked Cornwall, then aged 23, for a net session after the spinner dismissed him in a tour game.There will only be room in the team for

Cornwall or Reifer, but whoever is picked will be instrumental.

They will have an important role when the ball gets old – being stingy and picking up the odd wicket. But their bowling will be of a less importance than

Will West Indies win?

West Indies outbowled England the last time they met – a 2-1 series win in the Caribbean – and it is important they do so again. If they can do that, then 350 in the first innings becomes acceptable from the batting lineup.

There are fine players on both sides and England are a tough team to beat at home. I predict a 1-1 draw – and West Indies should be proud of that.

(BBC Sport)

MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020

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