Guyana Times Monday July 13, 2020

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Albion Sugar Estate chips in to assist family following freak storm Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 4345

THE BEACON OF TRUTH MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020

Elections Declaration 2020

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Commonwealth SG urges GECOM to make declaration based on figures from National Recount ꟷ encourages stakeholders to accept results GECOM must deal with Lowenfield –Teixeira ꟷ PPP/C candidate says Guyana “fed up” with CEO See story on page 3

See story on page 7

Rioting inmates set Lusignan Prison on fire Page 14

Inconceivable for GECOM to continue tolerating Lowenfield – Ramkarran See story on page 2

...says CEO continues to flaunt ꟷ 15 prisoners sustain minor injuries insubordination, grasp at straws

Trotman under fire for telling Caricom States to "keep out" of Guyana's business See story on page 9

ꟷ reminded of President's own description of Caricom as "legitimate interlocutors"

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Remove P13 Lowenfield, end electoral process – FITUG

Attempt to set Umana Yana on fire thwarted P16

3 arrested at party in Linden for violating COVID-19 guidelines P16 P15 Guyana records 6 new COVID-19 cases ꟷ active cases now 126

Fire destroys P16 home of Essequibo security officer

Burma Access Road almost impassable – residents P12

2 NEWS Inconceivable for GECOM to continue tolerating Lowenfield – Ramkarran MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

...says CEO continues to flaunt insubordination, grasp at straws

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fter Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield’s latest act of defiance against Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, calls have mounted for the recalcitrant Lowenfield to be dismissed.

According to Senior Counsel and A New and United Guyana (ANUG) Presidential Candidate Ralph Ramkarran, it is inconceivable for GECOM to continue to tolerate Lowenfield, who has over the past few months submitted more than one fraudulent report to GECOM. Ramkarran called Lowenfield’s actions “gross insubordination” against Justice Singh, who as Chairperson of the six-member Commission has the deciding vote. In his writings in the “Conversation Tree”, Ramkarran referred to Lowenfield’s disobedience of Justice Singh’s clear instructions to him to submit a report based on the National Recount, which shows the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) winning by 15,416 votes.

“The CEO’s July 10 request of Justice Claudette Singh, the Chair of GECOM, for clarification of certain issues arising from the CCJ’s

decision, cannot be described as anything less than weird mumbo jumbo,” Ramkarran wrote.

“The Chair’s dismissive response of the CEO’s request is an indication of what she thinks of either the requests. But lest the arguments by the CEO be elevated to talking points and lead to the whipping up another round of frenzied propaganda, it is necessary to debunk them as soon as possible.”

Ramkarran noted that in justifying his insubordination, Lowenfield had cherrypicked sections of the Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJ) recent ruling on the Irfaan Ali et al v Eslyn David et al case to support his position. One of those sections dealt with paragraphs 41 and 45 of the CCJ judgement and according to Lowenfield, showed that order 60 of 2020 cannot be used to determine a final, credible count.

However, Ramkarran provided clarity.

“The CCJ did not endorse the view that GECOM cannot determine credibility, that Order 60 cannot be executed in its entirety and that a final count cannot be attained. This is an egregious distortion of what the CCJ said,” Ramkarran wrote.

“The CCJ determined that after valid and invalid votes

are determined during the procedures set out in ROPA, any further alleged irregularities, as claimed by Mr. Harmon, must be addressed by an election petition after the results are declared. This has been twisted by the CEO to allege that a credible count (credible according to his and not the CCJ’s ruling) cannot be attained by the CCJ’s ruling.”

Recount order

Lowenfield had also written the Chair asking her “how Section 96 of the Representation of the People’s Act (ROPA) could be properly operationalized”, since it says he must prepare his report based on compilations made by Returning Officers, who were not present during the recount.

Lowenfield had claimed that the Chair’s directions to him would, therefore, clash with the Act. But Ramkarran reminded him of Recount Order 60 of 2020.

According to Ramkarran, the Recount Order created special circumstances where Returning Officers were not required to compile the number of votes but rather, Secretariat staff. He noted that the Recount Order created modifications under Section 22 (1) of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, al-

ANUG Presidential Candidate and Senior Counsel, Ralph Ramkarran

lowing GECOM full powers to make the changes.

Ramkarran pointed out also that the Recount Order provided for the Statements of Recount (SoR) to be used to declare the final results. And as the Chief Elections Officer, Ramkarran noted that Lowenfield ought to be aware of this more than most.

“Why then this weird request? The statement by the CCJ that the Recount Order cannot create a new election regime was made in rejecting the claim by Justice Reynolds that the Recount Order did just that. The CCJ was referring to the Constitution and

not to ROPA. It upheld the Recount Order,” Ramkarran, who had also taken part in the case, said.

But perhaps one of Lowenfield’s most contentious statements in his letter was his claim that he must ascertain the results of the elections himself before submitting his report. Lowenfield, therefore, claimed in his letter that he needed “clear guidance” on Justice Singh’s instructions to him. But Ramkarran made it clear that Lowenfield is, at all times, under the direction of GECOM. “If proof were needed that the CEO was grasping for straws to place obstacles in the way of sending in a report, this unintelligible request for clarification demonstrates it. Section 18 provides that he is subject to the directions of the Commission.

The reference to Section 18 is merely to remind him that he is not independent and must comply with the Chair’s request.”

“The Chair is not required to make any reference to laws in her request. The CEO is presumed to know his duties, responsibilities and what he has to do and under what laws, even if the Chair’s letter is incorrect. Let us hope that by the time this letter appears in print he has

GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

complied,” Ramkarran also wrote.

In fact, GECOM has scheduled a meeting for today, where the intransigence of the Chief Elections Officer is expected to be discussed.

The national report had shown that the PPP/C won the elections with 233,336 votes while the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition garnered 217,920.

It is these results that everyone, from the international community to civil society to local and foreign observers, have called to be used to declare PPP/C the winner of the elections.

NEWS

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MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, July 13 – 11:00h – 12:30h and Tuesday, July 14 – 12:30h – 14:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, July 13 – 10:10h – 11:40h and Tuesday, July 14 – 11:25h – 12:55h.

Elections Declaration 2020

Commonwealth SG urges GECOM to make declaration based on figures from National Recount

ꟷ encourages stakeholders to accept results

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Commonwealth SG, Baroness Patricia Scotland

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ressure has increased both locally and internationally for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to use the figures emanating from the National Recount to make a final declaration of the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

This call was reiterated by the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland, on Sunday.

“I urge all political actors and stakeholders in Guyana to accept and respect the results of the National Recount and ensure that their words and actions promote an environment of peace, harmony and social cohesion among all Guyanese,” she said in a statement.

Baroness Scotland endorsed the July 9 missive from Chairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who had called on all stakeholders to respect the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Guyana’s final court of appeal.

The CCJ last Wednesday ruled that Guyana’s Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction to hear the matter filed

by APNU/AFC supporter, Eslyn David. As such, the

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regional court invalidated the Appeal Court’s decision that “more votes cast” in the Recount Order means “more valid votes cast” as well as the fraudulent report submitted by Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, who had dumped over 115,000 votes.

The Commonwealth SG on Sunday noted that in accordance with the applicable laws and the Constitution of Guyana, the CCJ exercised its final appellate jurisdiction and handed down a clear and unambiguous ruling.

She referenced CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders, who in delivering the ruling said: “It is for GECOM to ensure that the election results are swiftly declared in accordance with the Laws of Guyana.”

According to Baroness Scotland, Guyana is a muchloved and valued member of the Commonwealth. As such, on behalf of the entire Commonwealth family, she strongly encouraged the Elections Commission to follow the directions given by the CCJ and decisively conclude the March 2, 2020 elections based on the results of the National Recount.

“The will of the people as expressed in the 2 March 2020 General and Regional Elections must be respected for democracy to prevail in Guyana,” she contended.

Moreover, the Commonwealth SG went on to point out that Guyana’s destiny as a great nation rests on the shoulders of those men and women who are duty-bound to make the

right decision. This, she asserted, includes respecting the will of the people and the rule of law, and being ready to place the country before personal ambitions.

“The Commonwealth calls all leaders to be faithful to the common good, so that Guyana’s future may truly be forged today,” Baroness Scotland stated.

On Saturday, CEO Lowenfield submitted his elections report to GECOM but instead of using the recount figures, after being directed to do so twice by the GECOM Chair, he in-

President David Granger

cluded the fraudulent figures of embattled District Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, to give the caretaker APNU/AFC a win.

However, the certified 33-day recount exercise shows a landslide victory for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), which secured 233,336 votes while the caretaker coalition ob-

GECOM CEO Keith Lowenfield

tained 217,920 votes – a difference of 15,416 votes.

In Lowenfield’s latest fraudulent report, he gives the APNU/AFC 236,777 votes and the PPP/C 229,330 votes.

The seven-member Elections Commission is expected to meet today to discuss the report.

Only last month, the Commonwealth SG, who had deployed a team to monitor Guyana’s March 2 polls, had expressed concerns after Lowenfield had submitted yet another fraudulent report “…that do not reflect that which was certified at the end of the recount process.”

Baroness Scotland noted in the June 24 missive that this is contrary to the fundamental principles which are treasured by the Commonwealth family and enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter.

As such, she had called for stakeholders in Guyana to honour their constitutional duties by ensuring a fair and transparent political process.

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MONDAY, JULY 13, 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

PNC’s war of attrition continues

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ver since the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, led by David Granger, lost a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) brought by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on December 21, 2018, they launched a war of attrition to cling to power by hook or crook. It has been more “crook” than “hook”, since, even when the latter involved the Courts, their arguments bordered on the risible. To claim that 33 was not the majority of 65, when they had formed the Government because of that same majority in 2015 left no doubt that Granger was continuing Burnham’s cynical legacy on the rule of law.

Their success in dragging out the NCM’s constitutionallymandated elections from March 2019 to March 2020, emboldened the now Caretaker President Granger to believe he could continue his rear-guard action after they lost the elections of March 2, 2020. This loss was known to them as early as the night of March 2, when the 2339 Statements of Poll (SoPs) from across the country would have been transmitted to Congress Place, as they were to the PPP at Freedom House.

The latter released their SoPs on the morning of March 3, which showed them winning the elections by a margin of some 15,000 votes. The APNU/AFC coalition to this day have never released their copies of their SoPs, claiming they would do so when it was “appropriate”. Between March 3 and March 4, we and the rest of the world witnessed the “crook” of Mingo’s fiddling with the Region 4 SoPs to deliver a “victory” for APNU/AFC. The war of attrition went into overdrive.

Today, we are now five-and-a-half months after the Guyanese nation cast their ballots and we are nowhere closer to having the winner declared after more “hooks and crooks”. There was another sordid fraud with Mingo, this time involving a soiled bedsheet; an aborted recount organised

by Caricom that was brought back on course; COVID-19 instructions from Harmon that stretched the recount to 33 days; the announcement of arbitrary “irregularities” by APNU/ AFC agents with absolutely no evidence; the announcement of the valid votes from the recount; the recourse to the High Court, the Court of Appeal, then (finally everyone hoped) to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

This was the end of the line, most reasonable, law-abiding citizens thought: what else was there but to follow the clear instructions of the highest court in the land that the valid votes as ascertained by the recount and summarised in the Certificates of Recount be used to declare the winner of the March 2 elections? But with their “hooks” exhausted, the People’s National Congress (PNC) once again fell back to what they practised for 20 years between 1964 and 1992: crookery.

Even though the GECOM Chairwoman, Claudette Singh gave pellucid instructions to CEO Keith Lowenfield that he should compile his report on the elections results as required by law, but in accordance with the CCJ’s ruling from the Certificates of Recount, he wrote that he needed “clarity”. The Chair reiterated that he follow her instructions and present his report the following day. It was noteworthy that the Government Commissioners did not appear when Lowenfield refused to follow instructions and presented a Report that increased the total votes cast in the elections to “show” the APNU/AFC list winning the elections. The war of attrition continued.

Following Article 226, the Chair scheduled a meeting for today – that is two days from when the Report was presented – and if the Government Commissioners do not show up, she and the three Opposition Commissioners will constitute the necessary quorum. At that point, the Commission can then rectify the erroneous Report, as occurred once before in 2011 when Government Commissioner Vincent Alexander identified a defect in the CEO’s Report, and make a declaration.

In any other polity, one could hope that at long last the nightmarish war of attrition would have ended and Irfaan Ali would be sworn in. But unfortunately, this is the PNC we are dealing with and their war of attrition will continue.

Lowenfield’s delusion is that he’s a chess grandmaster Dear Editor, Lowenfield’s delusion is that he’s a chess grandmaster – and that the Chair and the people are pawns.

He seems to think he’s the sharpest pencil in the box, and is too big for his britches.

Where did you get the notion that you control all of GECOM? Or that you can put the entire country on hold at your whim and leisure.

He has no authority vested in him. GECOM order No 60 of 2020 made this abundantly clear. It states: 15. For the avoidance of any doubt, the Chief Election Officer and every person appointed or authorised to perform any act or function by virtue of this order, are and shall remain subject to the general supervisory power of the Commission.

As former Barbados Prime Minister and head of the Commonwealth Observer Mission to the March 2 elections said of Joseph Harmon, he should realise he’s a utensil in this matter.

Move past Lowenfield The country just has to move on at this point. Let’s get past Mr Lowenfield. He is an anomaly, a blip in history. A bump on the road.

GECOM staff and professional people can function just fine without him and other tainted officials.

There are many capable and impartial Guyanese who can replace Lowenfield in a flash.

This is evidenced by the recount and the March 2 election itself. Despite his efforts to undermine the process; and when that failed, to fraudulently alter the results, the system and staff at

large performed admirably – particularly given the circumstances and attempts to coerce.

GECOM staff completed all the critical work of the recount. All that was left was for Lowenfield to sum up the votes from the 10 Regions.

Then based on the summation to fill in the form showing the number of seats for each political party.

This is a simple bit of arithmetic.

It does not require some special Lowenfield magic or recipe to do the addition and multiplication involved here. Any 11-year old National Grade Six Assessment student would be able to do it, given the appropriate instruction.

All the necessary forms are there. The assignment can be completed inside half an hour.

Over the span of over

four months, Lowenfield made 5 or 6 attempts.

Preposterously, he came up with a different answer on each occasion.

That’s a failing grade Mr Lowenfield. It’s disgraceful.

Your gross incompetence at rigging and now at doing simple arithmetic should make you unemployable in the most junior position.

You need clarification of the crystal clear CCJ order and the Chair’s explicit instruction? Please Mr Lowenfield, do not insult the intelligence of the Guyanese people.

It is time for Mr Lowenfield to be set straight.

The generous compensation and benefits he enjoys out of taxpayers’ dollars can be better employed.

Sincerely, Ron Cheong

GECOM must assert itself, swiftly declare Irfaan Ali as President

Dear Editor, Leading global institutions of integrity and fervour continue to call on the Granger Government to respect the Rule of Law, and on GECOM to hasten the swearing in of Dr Irfaan Ali based on the verified recount of votes cast at Guyana’s General and Regional Elections held on March 02, 2020.

Recently, UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres joined other international bodies, such as the Organisation of American States (OAS), the US Senate Foreign Committee, the Elders and the Carter Center, in denouncing the impasse and suppression of Guyana, created by a stubborn David Granger Cabal.

The nation and observers around the world have witnessed, with shock and abhorrence over the past four months, a desperate and seemingly alarming degradation of the rationality in some who were considered sane and educated, who publicly support the APNU/AFC’s seditious assault on the people of Guyana. It has taken a broad national cohesive movement of the PPP/C, led

by Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and President-elect Dr. Irfaan Ali, together with all contesting parties at these elections and other massive civil forces and international protectors of democracy, to confront this assault and bring us to this point by repelling our nation’s greatest threat.

The events, including the transparent recount of votes cast following credible Elections Day voting, serve to convince many, including the APNU/AFC Coalition supporters, that the PPP/C won

these elections. This is despite David Granger and his pit bulls’ shameless corroborated support of the unreserved naked display of partisan bias by the GECOM Secretariat and CEO Keith Lowenfield, who, in conflict with his role, continues to frustrate, hinder and suppress the democratic process in Guyana.

Diehard hopefuls sometimes display such behaviours and reactions before Elections, but never in our history were such trends knowingly protracted in the face of such overwhelming public evidence, even after billions of dollars of our taxpayers’ money was expended.

Editor, Mr. Granger’s raw “nakedness” has been uncovered with the exposure of his Party’s wicked plot of a blatant, unadulterated attempt of Electoral banditry, which our people must now bring to a swift end. It must have come as a shock to many of his praying supporters, who have followed him blindly, when he could no longer remain silent, and came out in public support of Keith Lowenfield’s flagrant theft of tens of thousands of Guyanese votes.

While many of us have, a long time ago, lost trust and confidence in Mr. Granger, many optimists accept blindly his promulgated false promises and kneeling posture which the state media circulates to camouflage his true dishonest and indecent disposition.

There has been growing local and international condemnation of the Grangerled cabal and its deceitfulness, which the coalition and its agents have so flagrantly imposed that it runs into di-

rect conflict with the platform of promoting education on which Mr. Granger campaigned. They have outrightly insulted the intelligence of the Guyanese people, and it is indeed worrisome that the situation has raised major concerns about its apparent deeper expanse than GECOM. Many have supported this conclusion, given the numerous emerging questions that are suggestive of unprofessional infiltration exercised through biased roots of discord shown by some judicial officers.

Too often we have witnessed matters abusive to the judicial system being acted on, and decisions delivered by some judges revealing biased results in favour of the PNC/APNU/AFC, before these decisions are judicially examined by our apex court and being consistently overturned.

In this regard, while we hope that we are wrong, the time is now for an exorcism of the apparent demons in these institutions. We cannot ignore that one life has already been lost, our citizens’ tolerance has been worn thin, and Guyanese are getting impatient. We urgently need the new Government to take its rightful place, and get on with the business of healing and reconciliation.

There is strong necessity to enable the operations of the National Assembly so that our country could put in place a comprehensive programme and a strategic plan of action to flatten the COVID-19 impact curve and support the peaceful and harmonious co-habitation of our people. The world is support-

ing and calling for an end to this history-making impasse, which stems from the unworthy power greed of this cabal which has been rejected by the votes of the Guyanese citizens.

The Guyanese people must halt Granger’s thirst for power by any means. We must not allow him to fool us and make a mockery of us through his created false hope that he can remain as President. His shameless talk about ‘voting dead people’ and those who migrated is unsubstantiated, and he is fully aware that many Guyanese still have imprinted in their memories his role in the Ballot Box Martyrs incident of 1973.

Further, the ‘rigging’ of elections and serious ‘fraud’ committed in those elections held in 1968, 1973 and 1978; the 1980 Referendum as well as the 1985 rigged Elections are fully documented. Today, the world is intolerant of such thievery, and transparency and democracy are the order of the day.

Mr Granger is now clearly seen as the wicked and vindictive devil that is keeping his knees on free and fair elections in Guyana.

Likewise, it is time to take the strongest actions against the likes of Keith Lowenfield, whose tarnished, partisan actions justify his swift removal from GECOM. The PPP/C is the clear winner of March 02, 2020 National and Regional Elections, and Dr Irfaan Ali must be sworn now as the Executive President of Guyana.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

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MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020

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Immunity for protection from Justice Singh must assume Guyana and the US granted her new role of “Iron Woman”

Dear Editor, Breaking News…Breaking News…On Friday, Guyanese present at the GECOM Headquarters were privileged to witness an espionage, secret agent, spy thriller type movie, enacted right in front their eyes with a James Bond setting, written by Alastair McLean and directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

It was an action-packed live engagement, with scenes depicting all the mysterious personalities, surprising and sudden movements and dialogues to create a frenzy and shocking display of running, retreat and exit with suspicious and shady characters and strange vehicles, appearing and disappearing before anyone could have caught their breath to know what hit them and to realise what exactly occurred.

After the crowd had recovered, bits and pieces of information unfolded and they were able to put the jigsaw pieces together but still missing are pertinent pieces to complete the estranged operation to leave all wondering if they can conclude correctly what is the true motive.

All they have remaining are circumstantial pieces of evidence but the key witnesses, players and actors are missing and regarded as hiding for obvious reasons. The CEO, Mr Low’s performance was excellent and is under consideration for an Oscar Award for best actor and the APNU/AFC as best director.

It was a well-scripted and rehearsed operation, no wonder the star of the show, Mr Low, had been practising, running, running and more running. Now we know why! Each scene orchestrated has been reported in the media since Friday.

Included in a trailer, one would see, Mr Low turning up at the GECOM’s meeting without the required report, claiming ignorance, dumb-struck and at a loss for understanding what the Chair’s requirements are, presenting a suspicious letter to the Chair asking for clarification, leaving the scene of the crime, a strange ambulance arriving, a flustered Low returning, a sudden outburst of a death threat on his life, running and scurrying out, reporters and the media dashing out of the way to save themselves from being run over by mad and enraged bulls, the rest of the crowd left dumbstruck and speechless, with their mouths open, tongues hanging out, eyes bulged and wide opened, voices lost for sound, secret service securities surrounding the runner and they all made a quick retreat to their waiting car, revving and waiting for the precious passengers, doors slamming and tires screeching as the racing car driver pulled out, followed by the disappearing act of the ambulance.

More Breaking News…Mr Low was last seen in the field and people thought he was running more for his life rather than the marathon training for the Olympics. But the word in the street is that he is running all the way to Venezuela where he will be granted immunity and protection from Guyana and the US. Were the 3 captured foreigners meeting with Mr Low to help guide him to his destination?

This latest news was relayed after the news broke out that he had sent a letter to the GECOM Chair, purporting Mingo’s false figures showing that the APNU/AFC had won the election instead of the PPP/C. As tongue waggers and rumour mongers would always be in receipt of all the juicy gossips and privileged underworld news, it was leaked that the death threat was issued by the Jumbies who voted and, (being upset because their votes were discarded by Mr Low) they were instructed to do so by the invisible Russians and, as luck would have it, eyewitnesses saw Mr Janjatan shaking hands with the Russians and bidding them goodbye as they departed on a helicopter that inexplicably landed at Rumzeight, West Coast Demerara, for the second time.

What goes up must come down. Dem boys were always suspicious of this guy who couldn’t look at Naggy straight in the eyes but always looking across the other side. This incident now throws a lot of light for the jumbies to see even in the day. Naggy suspect Janjatan crossed the floor and knock on the back door for another chance and he wants to “mek up.”

Remember the farewell speech when he confessed that the APNU/AFC lost the election and he was hauled over the hot, burning fire coals and had to repent by tongue-twisting a calypso tune over with dem Trinis? Yea man, what goes around, comes around and, Guyanese could do with some different kind of excitement for a change, to take their minds off this election result anxiety.

Again, over the past week, Guyana saw

numerous, substantial and potent reassurances from various prominent and powerful dignitaries and emissaries from the international community, pledging their support for the people of Guyana; urging GECOM to swear in the legitimate and legal candidate, PPP/C’s Dr Irfaan Ali, as the new President and the PPP/C as the new Government and calling on the APNU/AFC to concede to this election recount result.

UK Foreign Office Minister, Baroness Elizabeth Sugg urged GECOM to declare the results of the Caricom scrutinised recount.

UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres advised that the final official results must be recognised and accepted to bring about a quick end of the political impasse.

The OAS has appealed to GECOM to exclude those who display bias and thereby hinder the progression of the electoral process and that there must be no other figures other than the results of the National Recount and further made it clear that, fresh elections is “unacceptable.”

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Ex Liberia President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a member of Nelson Mandela’s Elders’ Group, has charged Guyana’s political leaders to reconcile and put the country above party interest.

The new Caricom Chairman, Dr Ralph Gonsalves called on all stakeholders to “respect the law” and to respect the verdict of the CCJ to allow the conclusion of Guyana’s 4-month-long electoral process.

The Acting Assistant Secretary for the US Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Michael Kozak stated in a tweet, “The will of Guyana’s voters cannot be ignored.”

The CCJ has ruled. It is time for Guyana to declare the winner of the Guyana elections results based on the National Recount vote.

Canada Assistant Deputy Minister for the Americas, Michael Grant, in a tweet said, “It is time for the election result to be announced

by GECOM based on the recount. No more delays.”

Former Jamaican PM, Mr Golding, expressed fear when he said, “The behaviour of the Government functionaries raised serious doubts whether they will accept the ruling of the CCJ.” Guyanese Sir S S Ramphal also called on GECOM to uphold its constitutional duty so that democracy prevails in the country.

Many individual Guyanese and organisations including the GCCI and many of the contested political parties are aggrieved and have openly expressed their frustration and disgust with the APNU/AFC party, especially the de facto caretaker, Mr “G,” for holding this country at ransom, thwarting the “will of the people.”

Guyanese from all walks of life are angry, astonished and bewildered with the recalcitrant CEO’s unsubordinated behaviour and that of the callous APNU/AFC party’s recalcitrant and obstinate actions.

For the third time, the Madam Chair, Ms Claudette Singh has been forced to summon a third meeting, scheduled for Monday. One would question why this further delay and tolerance for mischief, disrespect and outrageous game playing.

The entire national and international community is behind the Madam Chair and is ready, willing and prepared to protect her from any harmful interference, coercion, intimidation or vile influence. She has the full support of the nation and the people are relying on her to make the right call now. Not escaping the keen and watchful eyes of Guyanese were the two separate, strategic and important meetings with the diplomats from the ABCE and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Karen Cummings and the new COS of the GDF, Brigadier Godfrey Bess.

Much speculation and expectation are stirring in the air and the whiff of satiation from satisfaction, is slowly but surely being digested with a grain of salt. Are their cloak and dagger flouncing in the hallway? The patience of Guyanese is no longer wearing and thinning but has been exhausted.

It is time for the honourable Madam Chair to sing and the international diplomatic community has made the final announcement as the master of ceremony! Over to the Chair as the whole of Guyana sits in the audience, spellbound, but waiting anxiously to applaud your presence and intelligence for the essence of election encumbrance.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

Dear Editor, The people of Guyana have a right to democracy and the David Granger caretaker Government has an obligation to promote and defend it. David Granger and the APNU/AFC are taking advantage of the Guyanese people’s patience and understanding.

It’s past time David Granger and his current cabals take shame from their eyes and comply with the democratic responsibilities of the Chairwoman and allow the newly elected Government to take its rightful place.

No population should have to wait so long for an election result, despite many saying Guyana is on the edge of a bonanza and will become the richest oil country on earth as measured by income per capita, others are looking at Guyana as a country without principles and morals.

Either way, the impasse over the elections results may undermine investor confidence in Guyana. Guyanese, we cannot allow ourselves to become “the laughing stock” of the South Americas.

Guyanese, this is fresh in our minds as if it was yesterday. Despite widespread objections, including from international electoral observers - but not from the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) coalition of the defeated President Granger - the Returning Officer proceeded to make a declaration based on his numbers that were at odds with the figures on official documents.

But respect must be due! The international diplomatic pressure, and voter anger, forced a 33-day full National Recount exercise, which ended in a victory for the opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). The recounted figures published on June 7 showed the opposition PPP/C winning the elections with 233,336 votes while the APNU/AFC received 217,920 votes But Guyanese and the world should have figured out that we were against the innocent sinner and the mastermind of the PNCR rigging machine when its Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, then submitted a report de-

nouncing impersonations and invalidating 115,844 votes – nearly a quarter of all votes cast – so giving the APNU/AFC a win of 5482 votes. The opposition PPP/C, initially credited with 233,336 votes, had its vote slashed by Lowenfield to 166,343, a reduction of 66,993.

Nothing we witnessed can challenge the thievery displayed by Lowenfield.

Justice Singh on Thursday wrote the Lowenfield, asking that he present a report by 14:00h on Friday, which would then lead to the declaration of a President.

The report was delayed, seeking further guidance and clarifications from the Chairman, in light of the recent ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Let me reiterate that there can be no justification for this action. As intimated by the OAS for the credible conclusion of the 2020 electoral process in Guyana, in its statement of July 10.

This confirms that the Chief Elections Officer was acting in the interest of the APNUPNCR rigger, trying to steal PPP/C victory and contrary to the interest of democracy in Guyana.

Justice Singh must assume her new role as Iron Woman and make the APNU/AFC/PNCR riggers dance to her song after she declares the PPP/C as the winner.

Guyanese, let us be very clear that Granger and his cabals must know that – the only democratic solution for Guyana at this time is respect for the results of the National Recount.

No other figures – neither those prepared prior to the recount, nor those recently invalidated by the Caribbean Court of Justice, nor any others that may be unilaterally devised by the Chief Elections Officer – can have any place in the final determination of results.

A new electoral process is also an unacceptable solution. The results must be declared showing a PPP/C victory, leading directly to Dr Irfaan Ali, PPP/C Presidential Candidate, being sworn in as Guyana’s 9th Executive President.

Sincerely, David Adams

Our local community should start kicking-in sanctions Dear Editor, Business establishments in Guyana should immediately stop conducting transactions with PNC-APNU/AFC list of candidates for March 2020 General and Regional Elections.

De facto Ministers must not be recognised as Government officials as their reign came to an end at midnight March 2, 2020. Hence, as former Ministers and those public servants who are on the APNU/AFC candidates’ list and did not resign from their position in the public service should only be treated as ordinary citizens but at the same time be viewed as part of a cartel of gangsters.

As such, shops, supermarkets and other traders should not sell them any ration supplies and their utilities’ services including mobile and internet services should be cut off.

The Guyanese people must act now with all seriousness and let the APNU/AFC regime know that their actions to rig the March 2020 National

Elections will not be tolerated at the local level.

Sincerely yours, Paul Ramrattan

6

MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020

Page

Foundation

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

CXC QUESTIONS

MATHS

ENGLISH

B

A Stone’s Throw

By Elma Mitchell

We shouted out ‘We’ve got her! Here she is!

It’s her all right’.

We caught her.

There she was – A decent-looking woman, you’d have said, (They often are) Beautiful, but dead scared, Tousled – we roughed her up A little, nothing much And not the first time By any means She’d felt men’s hands Greedy over her body – But ours were virtuous, Of course.

And if our fingers bruised Her shuddering skin, These were love-bites, compared To the hail of kisses of stone, The last assault And battery, frigid rape, To come Of right.

For justice must be done Specially when It tastes so good.

And then – this guru, Preacher, God-merchant, God-knows-what – Spoilt the whole thing, Speaking to her (should never speak to them) Squaring on the ground – her level, Writing in the dust Something we couldn’t read.

And saw in her Something we couldn’t see, At least until He turned his eyes on us, Her eyes on us, Our eyes upon ourselves.

We walked away Still holding stones That we may throw Another day Given the urge.

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

7

MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GECOM must deal with Lowenfield – Teixeira ꟷ PPP/C candidate says Guyana “fed up” with CEO

PPP/C Executive Gail Teixeira

PPP/C candidate Hugh Todd

he recent shenanigans of Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield must not be allowed to go unpunished by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). This is the view of People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Executive and former Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira.

In a recent panel discussion, Teixeira laid into the CEO for his defiance of GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, who had sent him clear instructions to use the results from the certified National Recount to prepare a final report to declare the winner of the elections.

Instead, Lowenfield engaged in a back and forth with Justice Singh that culminated in him reverting to using results that included the discredited declaration of Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.

In fact, it was Mingo’s non-transparent tabulation and declaration that pushed PPP/C and A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) to agree to a recount in the first place.

According to Teixeira, Lowenfield’s conduct has been of someone seemingly without a conscience. She said that Lowenfield could very well be guilty of high crimes and misdemeanours, a term used to denote crimes which are committed by persons in positions of authority and involved in pol-

itics.

“He has gone against the Constitution, the CCJ and the High Court of Guyana and has shown that he appears to be above GECOM. So, he deserves to be fired… nothing can redeem him,” Teixeira said.

Teixeira also noted that contrary to the rhetoric from the APNU/AFC camp and the excuse proferred by Lowenfield to the GECOM Chair, the CCJ at no point invalidated the recount and Order 60 of 2020.

“The CCJ never, ever, discounted, nullified or did anything to harm the recount.

What they clearly did is nullify what the Court of Appeal did and what Lowenfield did. That’s the two basic things they did.

And they went to great pains, in the actual ruling, to point out the whole issue of a valid vote and how it is counted.”

“The process that was designated by Order 60 was to ensure final, credible, election results. So anyone fooling people that the CCJ nullified the recount is actually guilty… there must be a penalty for being highly irresponsible and misleading people. The CCJ never nullified the recount results. In fact, they upheld the process that led to the recount.”

T

Fed up

Fellow PPP/C candidate Hugh Todd, who was also a panellist, meanwhile ex-

pressed his hopes that Lowenfield would be dealt with when GECOM meets. As he put it, both the Chair and GECOM have sweeping powers that can be put to use against the CEO. “This is a man who’s worked in the military. This is a man who understands instructions, authority, his job. He said so himself. We have clips of him talking about the fact that the CEO takes instructions from the Commission and he’s not a power unto himself,” Todd said.

“What I’m seeing in the environment, the people are tired of him. We’ve been patient, we’ve given him many opportunities to correct himself. The people of Guyana, the electorate, are calling for his removal.

And I think madam Chair, along with the Commission, will be taking decisive steps to ensure Keith Lowenfield does not stand in the way of the will of the people.”

The national report had shown that the PPP/C won the elections with 233,336 votes while the APNU/AFC coalition garnered 217,920. Justice Singh had written to Lowenfield and instructed him to prepare a final report based on the recount.

Instead, Lowenfield had submitted a report invalidating over 115,000 voters based on unsubstantiated allegations of dead and migrant voters, made by the APNU/AFC. Lowenfield’s actions caused an immediate uproar and the varying sides found themselves in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) for the Irfaan Ali et al v Eslyn David et al case.

Among other decisions, the CCJ ruled on Wednesday that the Chief Elections Officer must produce a final elections report as ordered by the Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh. The CCJ also

GECOM Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

ruled that Lowenfield’s report which arbitrarily disenfranchised voters was invalid and that the concerns raised by the APNU/AFC coalition must be addressed in an elections petition.

The GECOM Chair wrote Lowenfield again, instructing him to submit his report so that the President could be declared.

In his fraudulent report he submitted on Saturday, Lowenfield included the fraudulent declarations of the embattled Mingo, which inaccurately shows that the PPP/C gained 80,920 votes while the APNU/AFC received 116,941 votes in Region Four.

The inaccuracy of those numbers was widely proven during the recount exercise, as it was unearthed that Mingo heavily inflated the votes in favour of the APNU/ AFC to give them a false victory.

Lowenfield already has several private criminal charges pending against him in the High Court on the charge of misconduct in public office, for which Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty issued a summons to him after he failed to appear in court.

8 NEWS Suspect in Celltronicx Store robbery released on station bail MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…72-hour detention period expired

T

he suspect who was apprehended and questioned in connection with an armed robbery on the Celltronicx Store at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), has been released on station bail.

Regional Police Commander, Assistant Police

ered, a file was sent to the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The DPP, he noted, took some time to return the file, and due to the fact that the suspect’s 72-hour detention period had expired – Police were forced to release him on station bail.

…dividing Guyana

The perpetrators robbing the cellphone store at Mon Repos, ECD

Celltronicx Store at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara

Commissioner (DemeraraMahaica) Royston AndriesJunior explained that after the suspect was arrested and evidence was gath-

Initially, the station bail was $150,000, but the suspect could not afford that amount.

This prompted lawmen to drop the total to $100,000,

but still, the suspect was unable to reach that threshold.

It was finally reduced to $50,000, which he was able to pay.

The file from the DPP was returned, requesting investigators to do some additional investigation.

It was reported that on July 3, 2020, the suspect and his accomplice entered the cellphone store, pretending to be customers.

As one of the staff was about to assist them, one of the men whipped out a handgun, demanding that the staff remain quiet. The suspect then held the female staff at

gunpoint, while escorting her further into the store.

The female employee, along with a male employee, were later placed on the floor and gun-butted as one of the bandits entered the office.

In Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage, the suspects were seen emptying a glass case that was filled with cellphones.

In a subsequent interview, Imran Ali, owner of the store, told reporters that the men escaped with over 20 cellular phones and about $1 million in cases. The other suspect is currently on the run.

Ex-Policewoman found guilty of dousing lover with acid

A

n ex-policewoman, who was charged in 2018 for dousing her lover with a corrosive substance, was on Friday found guilty.

Thirty-one-year-old Cassandra Boucher of Lot 5 School Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

Boucher, on her first

court appearance, had denied the charge, which stated that on November 7, 2018, at Camp Street and North Road, Georgetown, she unlawfully and maliciously wounded Anthony Paul with intent to maim, disfigure or cause him grievous bodily harm.

During that appearance, the woman’s lawyer, Adrian Thompson, had told the court that his client

The hate merchants…

N

had made several reports against her lover for abusing her but nothing was done.

He told the court that on the day in question, his client was defending herself from the constant abuse, and there is a medical certificate to show that she received injuries.

Further, it was reported that Boucher and Paul shared a relationship that Guilty: Cassandra Boucher

subsequently ended after Paul found out that she was pregnant for someone else.

On the day in question, Boucher had called Paul and requested to be taken to the hospital since she was not feeling well.

However, when Paul arrived at the defendant’s home, she got into the backseat of his vehicle, and while taking her to the hospital, she delved into her purse and took out a small glass bottle and threw a liquid on his face and body.

Paul immediately drove to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was examined by a doctor and admitted at the medical facility.

The matter was then reported, and Boucher was arrested and charged. She was released on $300,000 bail.

Meanwhile, during Friday’s court hearing, Magistrate Daly remanded the woman to prison until July 16 for sentencing pending a probation report.

ow that we’re in the middle of the fifth month of the PNC’s elections heist – with no end in sight no matter what the Iron Lady rules today – we should begin to take stock of the effects of their endless “gamesmanship”, as Mia Mottley put it, on the body politic. We know that this nightmare will have to end one day and there will be the challenge to pick up the pieces of a society that has been shattered along the old lines of cleavages – and try to put them back together.

And that’s been the main effect of the gamesmanship purveyed by the propagandists over social media – divisions. Have we really reached the point to agree with Eric Phillips and conclude that partition is the only practical way out of our dilemma? Isn’t this a selffulfilling prophesy of their own artifice?? Are these fellas comfortable with the trauma that the upheaval of families in any “exchange of populations” would cause?? We don’t have to go all the way back to the partition of India…just look at what happened in Sudan less than a decade ago. Has partition solved anything?

But what the example of the extremist partition proposal has shown is that such “options” are the result of an intensification of the politics of hate that was launched as soon as the PPP was returned to office in 1992 after 20 years of rigged elections by the PNC. That politics of hate already resulted in armed attacks on the PPP Government between 1998 and 2008 – for which, amazingly the PPP is blamed for the spike in killings that occurred during that time!! Talk about blaming the victim writ large!!

This politics of hate has been facilitated by the explosion in the availability of social media that is streamed at the speed of light to almost every man, woman, and child in the country. One is reminded of the Rwandan radio station that in the 1990s dehumanised the Tutsis as “cockroaches” and so made it easier – if not salutary – to just kill them off to solve their ethnic “problem”. Eventually, more than a million of them were hacked to death.

Now most might thing this is an extreme scenario – and it is. But the point is, it did happen and the Hutus and Tutsis are humans just like us in Guyana and separated by ethnic divisions. Here we see the same dehumanising process going on over Facebook with one agitator calling folks across the divide “trench crapaud”. What do people do with crapauds? Kill them out, of course.

We know the ERC was formed to address these ethnic warriors. But they’ve abdicated their responsibilities.

‘Cause the Chair is friends with the Sanctimonious Gangster.

…and sophistry

One of the most devious of the extremists – who doesn’t mention he’s an APNU candidate – thinks he’s very clever. He hides behind the fig leaf of “shared governance” to insist he’s being “reasonable” in dealing with our divisions. He scoffs at those who insist that since the PNC entered the elections by jettisoning their 2015 “shared governance” spiel, Guyanese must accept the results of the elections. Meaning accepting that there has to be a winner and a loser – just like in 2015!!

He justifies his call for the elections to be scrapped by pointing out that after five months the system hasn’t produced a winner!! Can you believe this?? The PNC ensured there’d be no declaration of a winner by throwing all kinds of spanners into the system starting with Mingo, Eslyn David, and now Lowenfield and they must be rewarded by not just being brought into the executive, but GRANGER MUST REMAIN PRESIDENT??!!

This is just another version of a fixed coin toss, where “heads you lose; tails I win”!!

…benefactors

When, over a year ago, your Eyewitness described Granger as a dangerous acolyte of Burnham who’d try to replicate his master’s dystopian totalitarian nightmare, some scoffed.

What say you now??

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

NEWS

9

MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Trotman under fire for telling Caricom States to “keep out” of Guyana’s business ꟷ reminded of President’s own description of Caricom as “legitimate interlocutors”

Caricom Chairman, Dr Ralph Gonsalves

W

ith his Government under intense regional and international pressure, Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman Raphael Trotman is now under fire

Attorney-at-Law Ram

Christopher

for recent comments he made in which he told Caribbean Community (Caricom) member

states to “stay out” of Guyana’s business.

Trotman made these comments on Saturday, but they were quickly denounced by political commentator and Attorney-at-Law Christopher Ram. In a letter on Sunday, Ram reminded the de facto Natural Resources Minister of the importance of regional integration and moreover the important role these islands play in the region.

Ram also reminded Trotman that it was President David Granger himself who described Caricom as the most legitimate interlocutors in Guyana’s election controversy.

Ram also pointed out that two of the three members of the Caricom recount observation team come from small islands “Trotman must know that whether big or small, member states of Caricom all have equal standing and a single vote when it comes to voting. The same as with voting in the General Assembly of the United Nations. His statement is insulting not only to all members of Caricom but, at this particular moment, to St Vincent and the Grenadines which has just assumed the Chairmanship of Caricom.”

“Such undeveloped views of leading politicians of one country about other countries serve to undermine not only the cooperation and unity of our region but our own interest as well.

small islands, Ram drew reference to the formation of their own sub-regional Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

Former Caricom Chair Mia Mottley

Trotman ought to know that in seeking protection for our rice, sugar and other products under the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) it is those very countries whose

Former Trotman

Minister

Raphael

support we will need,” Ram said.

In highlighting the significant strides made by these

(OECS). He noted that these islands have their own stock exchange, Supreme Court and Central Bank and have over-

seen one of the most stable currency in the world over the past few decades.

TURN TO PAGE 13

10 NEWS

MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Plaisance woman gets bail for killing Family of deceased furious at “unreasonable” husband in 2018 Blackwater Backdam mining death

compensation offered

Dead: Louis Armstrong

M

ore than one week after Louis Armstrong, who was attached to a private mining company at Blackwater Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), met his demise after the pit in which he was working collapsed, his family has not received any compensation from his employer.

During a telephone interview with the dead man’s niece, Olivia Welcome explained that she reached out to her uncle’s employer who offered the family an “unreasonable” sum of money as compensation.

“I reached out to the guy that he was working with, and he said that he is going to give

us $100,000, so I told him that is not my decision to make because that is his brothers...

When the family sat down, they said that it was ridiculous,” Welcome stated.

The woman noted that the family has since been trying to meet the owner of the mining company to solicit additional information as to what occurred on the fateful day, since the reports that they would have received are not “adding up.”

“He is saying that he cannot meet because he had to spend more to send my uncle out here and a whole sort of stories and then he started to get arrogant, and he told us not to call back his (curse word) phone, and after that, we have not heard back anything from him,” she explained.

To this end, the family stated that they would have to stand the funeral expenses and then think about the next step.

According to information received, two Mondays ago Armstrong was working on a six-inch dredge when the pit caved in and pinned him.

It was reported that it took some time to get Armstrong from under the debris. His colleagues eventually managed to pull him out in an unconscious state.

He was rushed to the Bartica Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His body was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where a post-mortem was done and revealed that the man died from suffocation.

A

Dead: Victor Roberts

Plaisance woman, who is accused of killing her reputed husband back in 2018, was on Friday granted $300,000 bail by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall when she made another appearance in the High Court.

Twenty-seven-year-old Melissa Playter, a mother of three of 41 Prince William Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was charged on December 5, 2018, for the murder of 38-year-old Victor Roberts - her abuser and the father of her youngest child.

However, although she was granted bail, she could not have afforded it due to financial constraints but “You Are Not Alone” (YANA) Foundation, and Women and Gender Equality Commissioner, Vanda Radzik offered to post bail.

Further, the Foundation and Radzik were able to retain Attorney Sanjeev Datadin, who managed to get

Melissa Playter

the woman to be charged with a lesser count of manslaughter.

Reports are that the victim was reportedly stabbed to the chest by Playter during a heated argument on December 2, 2018.

As a result, Roberts fell to the ground and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The matter was then reported, and Playter was arrested and arraigned at the Magistrates’ Courts.

Following a Preliminary Inquiry (PI), the court found sufficient evidence to have the case heard at the High Court.

Nevertheless, Justice Ramlall, in granting bail, ordered the accused to lodge her passport.

However, she explained to the court that the deceased burned her travel documents when she tried to leave him. As such, her birth certificate was the only document that was lodged.

NEWS

11

MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

UN Resident Rep in Guyana concerned over protracted electoral process

U

nited Nations Resident Coordinator in Guyana, Mikiko Tanaka has expressed concerns over the fact that Guyana is yet to figure out an end to its elections held more than four months ago at a time when the region is facing its worst recession in the last 10 years.

In a tweet on Sunday morning, Tanaka said “As Latin American and the Caribbean face the worst recession in a century, #Guyana is still figuring out how to conclude the 2 March elections. @UNGuyana”.

Her statement came on the heels of UN Secretary General, António Guterres saying that the coronavirus pandemic will trigger the worst recession in a century in Latin America and the Caribbean, and push the number of people living in poverty up by 45 million.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the region of the Americas has over 6.5 million coronavirus cases with more than 283,000 deaths. Currently, Guyana has just over 290 cases with its COVID-19 death toll now at 17.

Only last month, the UN Resident Coordinator bemoaned the fact that essential service providers are under more pressure as COVID-19 cases in the country continue to surge.

She tweeted on June 23, “A credible end to the elections is urgent for the elected government and parliament to fully attend to their wellbeing and resource needs to serve the people.”

Meanwhile, last Friday, the UN joined calls for the final declaration of Guyana’s elections results to bring an end to the current political impasse.

That statement was made by Stéphane Dujarric, who serves as the Spokesman for the UN Secretary General.

According to Dujarric, Secretary General António Guterres took note of the July 8 ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as a final instance.

“He stresses the importance of announcing final official results of the 2 March General and Regional Elections to the Guyanese people as soon as possible to end an impasse that has lasted more than four months,” the SG Spokesman stated.

Dujarric went on to say that the Secretary General also calls on all political leaders and their supporters to recog-

UN Resident Representative Mikiko Tanaka

nise and accept the final official results and refrain from any act or statement that may fuel tensions or incite violence in Guyana.

Last week, the CCJ ruled that Guyana’s Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction to hear the matter filed by APNU/AFC supporter, Eslyn David.

As such, the CCJ invalidated the Appeal Court’s decision that “more votes cast” in the Recount Order means “more validate votes cast” as well as the fraudulent report submitted by embattled Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, who had disenfranchised over 115,000 voters.

The Trinidad-based regional court in its ruling, which was delivered by President Justice Adrian Saunders, further stated: “It is for GECOM to ensure that the CEO submits a report in accordance with his directives of 16th of June in order to proceed along the path directed by the laws of Guyana.”

This refers to the instructions by GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, who had directed Lowenfield in a letter dated June 16 last month to submit his final elections report using the figures from the National Recount.

The 33-day exercise confirmed that the People’s

Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won the March 2 elections with 233,336 votes while the caretaker APNU/AFC coalition obtained 217,920 votes – a difference of 15,416 votes.

Since Wednesday’s CCJ ruling, the GECOM Chair, (ret’d) Justice Claudette Singh, had to instruct the CEO twice to submit his report based on the recount figures. While Lowenfield did present his elections report on Saturday, it contained fraudulent figures to give the coalition a win.

However, the seven-member Elections Commission could not meet on Saturday to discuss the report because there was no quorum. The meeting has since been rescheduled for today to determine the way forward.

12 NEWS

MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Burma Access Road almost impassable – residents T

he Burma Access Road at Mahaicony, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) is in its most deplorable state and farmers are now overly frustrated, owing to their struggles to access hundreds of acres of rice for many months.

Guyana Times was contacted by residents on Saturday, who were up in arms about the current situation. The roadway is filled with large crates, and this coupled with the rainy season is now causing the holes to accumulate rainwater. As such, it is extremely difficult for equipment and other large vehicles to traverse the area.

Time is also lost since it takes nearly twice as much time to traverse the access road to prevent any major damages. It was noted that while part of the road is partially covered with asphalt, other sections are made up of silt – which disintegrates after a shower of rain.

“The water just wash away the top layer on the road and it’s one big mess.

The road soft and when

Current state of the Burma Access Road, Mahaicony, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice)

the tractor drive over, that’s what causing the big [holes]. People have crops there and it’s a real frustrating situation we facing as farmers. Since 2018, we ask for them to fix it and nothing till now,” the one resident said.

The Burma Road provides access to 450 acres of cultivated land, while the Mahaicony Branch Road al-

lows access to 25,000 acres of land. Both roads are in a deplorable state, with countless pleas by farmers for it to be rehabilitated.

Residents said they were promised a complete restoration of the structure, along with the placement of street lights along the stretch.

However, Central Government and the regional officials have

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

failed to do anything about the situation.

Last October, these farmers had complained that they were disenfranchised from accessing viable markets due to the situation at that time.

Regional Vice Chairman Rian Pieters was then asked by this publication about the lack of initiative by the regional administra-

tion to assist rice farmers in the region but he said the issue is not one the region can solve nor take the blame for.

According to Pieters at that time, it is not the regional administration that must be blamed but rather the Finance Ministry. He said that the regional administration has been trying to get the roads fixed

but the Finance Ministry has not allowed them.

Meanwhile, former Regional Chairman Bindrabhan Bisnauth, himself a rice farmer, had told this publication that they are losing money because they are unable to take their paddy to preferred markets.

“We do not have access to get to any other mill.

Because of the impassable state of the road, farmers are now caught between a hard rock and I do not know what else, but we do not have access to get to any other mills… And because of the competition, we as farmers are losing because we cannot compete for a better price.”

According to the former Regional Chairman, they were only getting $3000 for a bag of paddy from the mill at Burma while other mills in the region are paying $3100 per bag. This means that farmers are losing in excess of $30,000 for every ten acres of rice being cultivated.

Now, they are describing their woes as “two times worse” than it was last year.

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

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MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Remove Lowenfield, end electoral process – FITUG

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

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he Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has joined mounting calls for Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield to be removed from his post after he submitted yet another report with fraudulent figures to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

This is despite Lowenfield being specifically directed twice since Thursday by GECOM Chair, (ret’d) Justice Claudette Singh, to submit his elections report using the certified results from the National Recount.

The 33-day recount exercise revealed that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won the March 2 elections with 233,336 votes while the caretaker APNU/ AFC coalition secured 217,920 votes – a difference of some 15,416.

However, in his report on Saturday,

Lowenfield included the fraudulent figures of embattled Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, which were already proven as heavily inflated in favour of the APNU/AFC, to give the caretaker coalition a win.

The CEO’s actions have been and continue to be widely criticised with increasing calls for his removal. In a statement on Sunday, FITUG posited that Lowenfield’s antics have demonstrated beyond any shadow of a doubt that he cannot be expected to discharge his responsibilities in an impartial and fair manner.

“By his very actions, he has undermined the trust placed in him as he has taken on, inexplicably, a partisan demeanour. Whatever are his motivation/s, they ought not to supersede our democracy and the will of the Guyanese people. It is against this background that, we of the FITUG join the many voices to call for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to act proactively and have Mr Lowenfield, without further delay, removed from his post,” the Federation stated.

According to the Union body, the CEO must no longer have anything to do with the current electoral process, which has been dragged on for more than four months now.

FITUG further noted that Lowenfield’s actions have certainly contributed to the state of affairs the country finds itself in. It noted that he has refused, on more than one occasion, to comply with clear instructions that were communicated to him in writing, and has sought to shield himself by an imagined constitutional cloak.

“This clearly does not exist and he is

Trotman under fire

Additionally, Ram noted that one of these small islands produced two of the three Nobel Laureates from the Caribbean, the other being Trinidad and Tobago. This is a reference to Dereck Walcott and Sir Arthur Lewis.

“He knows too that the President of the wider regional court is from a small island and that that court has continually saved Guyana from miscarriages of justice. In other words, Trotman should not be blind to the fact that there is much we can learn and benefit from those small islands,” the attorney at law said.

“At a personal level, Trotman should be the least of the Cabinet and the rigging cabal to disparage the small islands. His father Donald Trotman served in high office in two of those countries – St Vincent and Grenada – while his sister is currently part of the establishment in Grenada.

And lest he forget, it is in one of those very small islands that he chose for his second marriage following his signing of the lopsided petroleum agreement with ExxonMobil.”

Ram also laid into Trotman’s defence of Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield’s fraudulent report, which he submitted to Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, on Saturday.

While

Trotman believed that the Representation of the People Act would not allow Singh to overturn the report, Ram warned Trotman that laws must be read in their entirety and not in a vacuum. He also reminded Trotman that the so-called constitutional crisis Guyana is in is all A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change’s doing.

“In any case, after the pain through which the APNU+AFC is putting Guyanese, the likelihood of the imposition of sanctions on Guyana, the potential for the embarrassment they are causing Caricom, and the setback for democracy for the wider community of nations, Granger, Harmon and Volda Lawrence, among others, are undeserving of trust by anyone or the engagement in any conversation. The “constitutional crisis” Trotman refers to has arisen from the unwillingness to play by the rules of democracy. It is that simple,” Ram said.

According to a report in sections of the media, Trotman on Saturday told Caribbean island nations to keep out of Guyana’s business and allow Guyanese to solve their own problems. According to Trotman, such islands would not be able to understand Guyana.

“I am all for Caricom, I am all for regionalism but no people with constituen-

FROM PAGE 9

cies with four and three hundred people could understand… I hate to say it but some of the countries in the region just cannot, unfortunately, provide the kind guidance that we need at this point in time. We wish them well.

I know some of them think that they are doing well but they are not helping their own causes and they are not helping certainly the Guyana cause by issuing instructions and pronouncements,” Trotman was quoted as saying in the report.

One of the foremost advocates for the declaration of the election results using the recount figures has been former Caricom Chairperson and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley. Mottley, who had previously denounced the “dark forces” in Guyana who did not want the recount to proceed, was highly critical of a previous report from Lowenfield, which disenfranchised over 100,000 voters and was subsequently ruled as unlawful by the Caribbean Court of Justice.

New Caricom Chairman and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonzales, has also supported his predecessor’s efforts in this regard. He had also leapt to Mottley’s defence after she endured vitriolic attacks from persons aligned to APNU/AFC for her position.

subordinate to the GECOM and, therefore, is required to comply with every lawful instruction given to him. Our laws are very clear on the consequences of refusal to comply with lawful instructions. Mr Lowenfield as an administrator, for many years, would, undoubtedly, be familiar with these repercussions,” the missive from the Federation detailed.

Moreover, it went on to bemoan the fact that the current electoral process has gone on for far too long and called on GECOM to ensure that there is a declara-

tion based on the recount results. “…there is no obstacle that prevents the GECOM from taking decisive action and declaring the results in keeping with the results of the National Recount. No other result is acceptable and people of Guyanese deserve nothing less. We urge in the coming hours that a competent and impartial Chief Elections Officer be appointed and prepare the results paving the way for declaration in keeping with the National Recount,” FITUG said in a media release on Sunday.

14 NEWS

MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Rioting inmates set Lusignan Prison on fire − 15 prisoners sustain minor injuries

mates were quickly relocated to a secure area in the compound under heavy guard.

Several areas in the facility were completely destroyed as a result of the fire. This development will affect close to 300 inmates.

De facto Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan told sections of the media on Sunday that none of the inmates was seriously injured or escaped.

He noted that after the fire started, he received telephone calls from both Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels and Police Commissioner, Leslie James, who informed him

Members of the Guyana Defence Force were deployed to the area (Newsroom photo)

located. “The entire thing is destroyed so we have to find accommodation for about 300 prisoners…,” he relat-

er systems are being implemented. The fire is completely extinguished and several inmates who sus-

ed.

tained injuries are receiving medical attention.”

Meanwhile, at the scene, the mother of one of the prisoners said that her son sustained burns

The Lusignan Prison on fire

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andemonium broke out at the Lusignan penitentiary, East Coast Demerara (ECD), on Sunday after a fire was reportedly set in one of the holding areas by protesting inmates after a team was dispatched to probe the discovery of narcotics.

The fire was reported set just after noon on Sunday, thus leaving several inmates trapped in the inferno.

Police later confirmed that at least 15 prisoners received minor injuries and were being treated. <<<Guyana Times>>> understands that the inmates might have suffered from severe smoke inhalation with a few being rushed

to the Georgetown Public Hospital to receive further medical attention.

When Guyana Times attempted to visit the area, the news entity and others were blocked by a barricade that was set up some distance away from the prison.

It was particularly difficult to see what was happening.

However, based on information gathered, the fire, which started in one section of the facility, quickly spread to other areas, thus causing chaos among inmates.

As a result of the riot coupled with the fire, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) and Joint Services were immediately summoned to maintain order. The in-

of the situation.

“There apparently was a discovery of a quantity of marijuana and after that, there was an argument among inmates; seems the persons who owned the marijuana, and others.

It was during that [argument] that the fire started,” Ramjattan said.

The former Minister added that the 280-300 prisoners will have to be re-

The police in a brief statement stated, “the situation is contained at this time and logistics and oth-

to his back and shoulders. He was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in a stable condition.

On July 10, 2017, a massive fire destroyed most of the Georgetown Prison, thus resulting in the escape of several prisoners.

One prison officer was shot and killed.

The prisoners on the run had included Bartica and Lusignan massacre convict Mark “Royden” Durant aka Royden Williams and Uree Varswyck aka Malcolm Gordon.

It was reported that the capital section of the Georgetown Prison was completely burnt, thus hundreds of prisoners were evacuated from the facility and taken to Lusignan, Timehri, New Amsterdam and Mazaruni.

Police seek legal advice on Linden suspected arson case …as suspect undergoes medical evaluation

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The aftermath of the fire

egion 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Commander, Senior Superintendent Hugh Winter has indicated that legal advice will be sought in relation to suspected arson, which occurred in Linden two Sundays ago.

The suspect, 22, who is reportedly mentally unstable, is the son of the homeowner, 39-year-old Jennel Campbell.

He was taken into Police custody following the incident which destroyed the family’s home at Second

Alley Hillfoot, which displaced seven persons. He has since been released and taken for a mental evaluation in Georgetown.

The family's two-storey concrete home went up in flames at approximately 22:00h on July 5. It was reported that the suspect and family members had a disagreement prior to the fire.

Campbell had told reporters that after her son went out and returned later that evening, she heard him calling out for her and sometime later she heard spark-

ing sounds followed by a loud explosion.

Her mother and other family members were in the house at the time. However, shortly after, she heard the cries of "fire" and upon checking, she observed that the building was in flames.

She managed to escape and sought shelter at a nearby house. The rest of the family also managed to escape the inferno but nothing was saved.

The woman's son was reportedly seen exiting through a window and was subsequently arrested by Police who responded to the scene.

Following the incident, Campbell, who indicated that she was unsure if her son had anything to do with the incident, had made an appeal for assistance with him as she deemed him mentally unstable.

"Although I do go at the hospital and explain these things, nobody never said well 'we get a place where they can keep he’. I'm appealing for assistance with him. I won't press charges against he. I just need help with him", the woman had related.

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MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana records 6 new COVID-19 cases

ꟷ active cases now 126

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uyana has recorded six new cases of the novel coronavirus as of Sunday, which brings the total confirmed cases to 297 thus far.

Statistics from the Public Health Ministry indicated that deaths remain at 17 - the latest of which was announced on Saturday.

Meanwhile, there are 126 active cases in institutional isolation, 20 individuals in institutional quarantine and five patients in the designated Intensive Care

Unit.

Thus far, health officials have conducted 3252 COVID-19 tests and 2955 have returned negative.

From the positive cases, 154 persons have recovered.

Last Saturday, 69-yearold Geerjadai Jagnarine of 7th Street Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD), passed away in the wee morning hours – three days after being transferred from the GPHC to the West Demerara Regional Hospital. She is the latest

death. During an interview with Guyana Times, the woman’s family cast blame on the public hospital for infecting the elderly woman with the virus.

According to the family members, Jagnarine was taken to the GPHC on June 30 just after midday, since she was having a number of complications and was a patient of the hospital’s heart clinic.

After Jagnarine was admitted, a COVID-19 test was conducted. On July 2,

COVID-19 impact

Stranded Guyanese in Antigua call for Govt’s intervention

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ore than 20 Guyanese are reportedly stranded in Antigua and Barbuda as a result of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic that has devasted the world.

Presently, all international carries are grounded but more so, the ports of entry remain closed.

On June 27, 2020, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, announced that LIAT would be liquidated following a series of unsuccessful months due to COVID-19.

Prior to that, LIAT

No COVID-19 testing in Antigua

Yonette White, one of the many Guyanese stranded in Antigua

Guyanese on the island.

“I came here to celebrate my anniversary which was on March 15. I was to leave on March 22. It was only for

The VC Bird International Airport in Antigua on total lockdown

had suspended all flights into and out of Dominica, Guyana, Trinidad, Martinique, Guadeloupe, St Maarten, Grenada, Tortola, BVI, St Lucia and St Kitts due to travel restrictions and border closures imposed by several countries.

However, there are over 10,000 documented Guyanese living in Antigua and they make up 20 per cent of the population of that island.

On the other hand, many go to the island for vacation. One such person is 46-year-old Yonette White, who is originally from New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

She left Guyana on March 13, 2020, and is now a part of the scores of stranded

a couple of days here, but Guyana airport was closed on the 18th. We went to LIAT the day before which was the 17th,” she told this publication.

However, on March 17, airline officials in Antigua went ahead and made arrangements for White to travel the following day March 18.

According to White, when she got to the VC Bird International Airport to board a flight back to Guyana, she was told that the airports in Guyana were closed.

“They said they only knew about Trinidad; they didn’t know about Guyana.

So, I am stuck here since then.”

In order to reenter Guyana, one of the regulations is that persons must be tested for the virus.

White has since contacted the Guyana Consulate in Antigua to make arrangements for her travel back home.

“What they are saying is that they don’t have the COVID test being done in Antigua. They don’t have a private lab doing it either.

So, what they are saying is that they want to know if the Guyana Government can waiver the test so that when we come into Guyana, we can get the test done in Guyana instead of being out here all the time until; I don’t know when.”

The island only offers the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT), which is not being accepted in Guyana. The results are considered to be not as accurate as viral tests.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), based on experience with antigen-based RDTs for other respiratory diseases such as influenza, in which affected patients have comparable concentrations of influenza virus in respiratory samples as seen in COVID-19, the sensitivity of these tests might be expected to vary from 34 per cent to 80 per cent.

Apart from Antigua, there are other Guyanese stuck in Montserrat, which falls under the Guyana Consulate in Antigua. There are no interconnecting flights from Antigua to any Caribbean island.

With the airports in Guyana closed, only approved chartered flights are being allowed in and out.

White and the other stranded Guyanese are seeking the intervention of the Guyana Government for help which the Consulate there has failed to provide.

2020, family members received a call from the Public Health Ministry, informing them that Jagnarine was tested positive for the virus.

Alarmingly, over the past two weeks, a whopping five deaths were recorded. The last COVID-19 death was recorded five days ago when 76-year-old May Portsmouth – a resident of Friendship, ECD, succumbed while receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the GPHC. During last week’s COVID-19 daily update, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle revealed that for a country with less than one million people, Guyana has recorded a “very high” COVID-19 death rate.

A survey conducted by the Public Health Ministry in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) sought to assess the behavioural pattern of the population. It showed that respondents

from all 10 administrative regions have indicated that the level of fear of becoming infected with COVID-19 has decreased from 81.6 per cent to 53.5 per cent over a period of four weeks.

Meanwhile, 30 per cent of respondents reported that they were unwilling to give up their daily practice and adhere to guidelines pro-

vided, and over 70 per cent indicated that they wear a mask when out in public.

Holistically, 58 per cent of persons indicated that they observe the six feet social distancing recommendation as per the guidelines, and 76 per cent of the respondents indicated that they wash or sanitise their hands frequently.

Albion Sugar Estate chips in to assist family following freak storm

A contractor doing his measurements on Sunday

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he Albion Sugar Estate has signalled its intention to assist the family whose house was partially destroyed by a freak storm on Wednesday last.

Roopranie Latchminarine called “Sharda” told Guyana Times on Sunday that officials from the Estate and a contractor visited her at her Section B Number 67 Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) home on Saturday and offered to assist her family.

The contractor said he was asked to provide an estimate of the materials needed to rebuild the house while the official said the administration wanted the necessary information, hence the reason for taking the contractor to the site.

Last Wednesday a freak storm caused widespread damage across Guyana’s coastal Regions. Many reported loosing zinc sheets

while there were temporary power outages in some communities.

Latchminarine lost her house after it was blown down by the storm. The single mother of three, who survives on public assistance, told this publication that she was staying at a neighbour with her four children.

The neighbour had reached out to assist after the incident.

According to Latchminarine, among the items destroyed was her son’s computer. Her 16-yearold son is set to commence writing the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, and used the computer to do his studies.

Apart from that, several pieces of electrical items were also destroyed. She said it is difficult not being able to live in a home of her own.

“Me nah sleep night

Roopranie Latchminarine

time. Whole night me does sit down.” She said her son is also unable to sleep at nights. “Abee two does sit down all the time. When me nah sleep, he too nah sleep.”

The widow said some of her son’s teachers visited the family and tried to reassure him that things will be okay and encouraged him to concentrate on his studies.

The woman is unable to work because of a medical condition. The family can be contacted on telephone number 602-4571.

16 NEWS No arrests made for murder Fire destroys home of of Kuru Kururu pensioner Essequibo security officer A MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

A

The aftermath of the fire

security officer is now homeless after a fire of unknown origin completely destroyed

his home at Riverstown Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on Sunday.

According to information

received, the owner of the house, 27-year-old Kumar Mohamed, a security guard, left his home around 06:30h

and went to work.

According to Mohamed, he later received a telephone call from his uncle, Madho Persaud, who informed him

that his house was on fire and he had already contacted the Guyana Fire Service (GFS).

Firefighters attached to the Anna Regina Fire Service were deployed to the scene, but by the time they arrived, the raging fire had already gutted the building.

However, they managed to contain the blaze, preventing it from spreading to nearby buildings.

Mohamed estimated his loses to be around $1.4 million.

He stated that he was unable to save anything, and a refrigerator, computer, bed, gas stove, flat-screen television, garments, and other valuables were all destroyed in the fire.

The GFS is currently trying to ascertain what might have caused the fire. Only four days ago, an attempt was made to burn down the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

s Police continue their investigations into the death of 66-year-old Terence Alstrom of Track B Kuru Kururu, Linden-Soesdyke Highway, who was found dead in his yard, no arrests were made.

The elderly man was found on Friday with a chop to his head and bruises about his body.

It has been two days since the man’s lifeless body was found, and Police stated that they were still clueless as to what led to his demise.

Regional Police Commander Kurleigh Simon told Guyana Times on Sunday that ranks were not able to attain any new information about the murder, but they were making further enquiries as to what might have led to the man’s death.

Alstrom’s body was discovered around 22:30h on the day in question.

Dead: Terence Alstrom

The man’s children told Police that he lived alone at his farmhouse, which is about two miles in the Kuru Kururu backdam.

They said they last heard from him on Thursday morning.

At the time of the dis-

covery, the man’s house had not been ransacked, but his cellular phone was missing.

His body remains at the Lyken Funeral Home awaiting an autopsy.

Investigations are ongoing.

3 arrested at party in Linden for violating COVID-19 guidelines

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hree persons were arrested by Police in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) on Saturday evening after they were allegedly caught at a party at One Mile, Wismar.

According to Police, the trio is expected to be charged

Attempt to set Umana Yana on fire thwarted

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olice are probing an attempt to burn down one of Guyana’s famed landmarks, the Umana Yana in the wee hours of Sunday.

Quick action by a female constable who was on guard duty prevented the fire that was already set from escalating.

According to reports, around 02:00h, while the Constable was on duty, she

observed a man scaling the north- eastern fence of the compound with a black tyre and a bottle in his hands.

The law enforcement officer told investigators that she observed the perpetrator running to the western side of the building, where he set the lower branches of the thatched roof on fire.

The suspect, upon seeing the Constable, jumped the eastern fence and proceeded

Deputy Regional Police Commander Wayne Dehearte

The section of the roof where the fire had been set

east to Battery Road on foot, making good his escape.

The Constable quickly raised an alarm, and Police ranks on patrol were alerted. They managed to quench the flames with a fire extinguisher before the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) arrived.

Police said that they were investigating the attempted arson, and were seeking Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage to identify the suspect.

They are also looking for a red GWW series pickup truck that was reportedly parked north on High Street, Kingston with three occupants.

The vehicle was seen parked in front of the Umana Yana before heading south on High Street after the fire started. On September 10, 2014, the Umana Yana was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt two years later.

and placed before the courts for violating COVID-19 restrictions, which are currently in place countrywide.

According to reports, ranks swooped down on the location at approximately 22:00h and made the arrests. The promoter of the event is also being questioned.

Only last week, Deputy Regional Police Commander Wayne Dehearte said the Police were not fully satisfied that residents were taking all required precautions, but were somewhat pleased that fewer persons were breaking the curfew-related measures that were implemented to combat the COVID-19 outbreak.

He admitted that the Police in Region 10 continued to battle with persons congregating at various creeks; however, when information on such is passed on to law enforcement, they would act immediately.

He added that the GPF continued to maintain a no-nonsense approach towards these gatherings as they were aware of the impact of the dreaded virus.

The Deputy Commander reminded that not only medical personnel were frontline workers, stressing that the Police themselves were frontline workers.

He noted that the public must be more cognisant that the Police ranks were risking their lives on a daily basis. “It’s important too that we adhere to the regulations as I continue to say that our law men and women are exposed,” Dehearte further added.

He urged residents to be proactive and vigilant of the dangers that the virus posed, stressing that failure to adhere to the health guidelines would result in the numbers continuing to increase.

He emphasised that a lack of self-discipline was what was creating the increased challenges.

“If persons realise that by flouting regulations, they are exposing themselves and others to the effects of this disease, they will stop, as we firmly believe that some persons will only begin to get serious when the death rate begins to increase drastically.”

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MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lowenfield must not be allowed to frustrate the completion of the electoral process – ANUG − says conduct warrants summary dismissal

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ollowing Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield’s clear insubordination of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Saturday, A New and United Guyana (ANUG) said that he should not be allowed to further frustrate the completion of the already protracted electoral process.

This is after Lowenfield failed to submit his elections report based on the results from the National Recount, as directed twice by the GECOM Chair, (ret’d) Justice Claudette Singh, since Thursday. Instead, he presented a report on Saturday using fraudulent figures to give the caretaker APNU/ AFC coalition a win.

However, the 33-day certified recount exercise shows a landslide victory for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) by over 15,416 votes more than the coalition.

To this end, ANUG called on the GECOM Chair to dismiss the CEO, in accordance with the powers vested in the Commission under Section 161 (a) (1) of the Constitution and under laws which govern employment.

According to the party, which contested the March 2 elections, it is critical for Guyana at this edge of the precipice that the Elections Commission does not permit the CEO to continue to defeat the lawful conduct by GECOM of its function within the parameters set out by the July 8 decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

The Trinidad-based regional court had invalided

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

Guyana’s Court of Appeal’s ruling that “more votes cast” in the Constitution means “more valid votes cast” as well as Lowenfield’s previous report last month in which he dumped more than 115,000 votes to give the APNU/AFC a win.

“The CEO’s conduct, including most recently his refusal to adhere to the instructions of the Chair, his defiance of the CCJ ruling, and his failure to attend the meeting scheduled on Saturday 11th July, warrants summary dismissal. It is clear that he has no intention of carrying out the lawful instructions of the Commission, and he must not be permitted to frustrate the completion of the process,” ANUG said in a statement on Sunday.

The new political party, whose Leader is former House Speaker Ralph Ramkarran and Chairman is renowned Attorney-atLaw Timothy Jonas, contend-

ed that GECOM should, as a matter of administrative necessity, identify a nominee as Lowenfield’s replacement before the next meeting of the Commission. This, it noted, will ensure there is no delay after his dismissal to require the final elections report from the new CEO under Section 96, and to declare the election result based on that lawful report based on the recount as mandated by GECOM, and approved by the CCJ. Moreover, ANUG went on to remind the Elections Commission of its duty under Article 162 (1) (b) to ensure “impartiality, fairness and compliance” with the Constitution. It further pointed out that GECOM’s continued indulgence of Lowenfield’s criminal conduct is a direct breach of constitutional duty, and a disregard of the will of the people as expressed in the National Elections.

The CEO is currently facing several private criminal charges for “Misconduct in Public Office” over his June 23, 2020 report to the Elections Commission, which has been discarded by the CCJ. After failing to turn up to court to answer to the charges, a summons has been issued for him to appear before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on June 24.

ANUG is not the only party to call for Lowenfield’s removal. Several of the other political parties that contested the March 2 elections have similarly called on GECOM since Saturday to remove the CEO. These parties include the PPP/C,

Cyclist escapes horrific crash with minor cuts

F

ormer cyclist Mario King on Sunday escaped with just minor cuts and bruises about his body after his car crashed into a lantern pole at Houston, Greater Georgetown.

The accident occurred just before 14:00h. When Guyana Times arrived at the scene, the car, PTT 1215, was wrapped around the pole in the median in the middle of the road. He was the lone occupant in the car.

At the time, King was

removed from the wreckage and placed in an am-

bulance. This newspaper understands that he suffered a slight concussion.

Persons at the scene related that King lost control of the vehicle and slid on the road, which was wet as it was raining at the time.

Nevertheless, residents nearby commended the emergency response services, including the Ambulance and Guyana Fire Service, for their prompt response to the accident. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was treated and sent away.

PPP Commissioners

Govt Commissioners

Liberty Justice Party (LJP), Change Guyana (CG), The Citizenship Initiative (TCI), The New Movement (TNM) and the United Republican Party (URP).

Meanwhile, as pressure continues to mount from the international community for GECOM to use the recount figures as the basis for the declaration of the March 2020 elections results, the

Organisation of American States (OAS) on Saturday also reiterated calls for the CEO’s removal for his direct opposition to the instructions of the GECOM Chair.

“There can be no justification for this action. As intimated in our statement of July 10, this confirms that the Chief Elections Officer is acting in bad faith and contrary to the interest of democracy in Guyana. Let us be very clear

– the only democratic solution for Guyana at this time is respect for the results of the National Recount. No other figures… can have any place in the final determination of results. A new electoral process is also an unacceptable solution,” the hemispheric body, which had fielded an Observation Mission to monitor the March 2 elections as well as the recount exercise, said in a statement.

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guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020

Regional

BVI announces new measures to renew work permits

Brazil sees 631 new coronavirus deaths, approaches 2 million cases T

he Government of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) has announced new requirements for the renewal of work permits.

“Effective immediately, all work permit renewals being submitted to the Department of Labour & Workforce Development are to be accompanied by the company's good standing from the Social Security Board, Inland Revenue Department and the National Health Insurance as well as,” said Immigration Minister Vincent Wheatley.

Speaking in the Legislature on Friday, he said that work permit holders will also need to submit

Passengers wearing protective face masks stand inside a train at a subway station in the Taguatinga neighbourhood amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Brasilia, Brazil, July 8, 2020

B

razil, the world’s number two coronavirus hot spot after the United States, registered 631 new deaths on Sunday, with a new total of 1,864,681 confirmed cases, the Health Ministry said.

Brazil now has an official total of

72,100 deaths, the Ministry said. The numbers of deaths and cases are usually lower on the weekend because of patchy reporting. Experts say the true totals are likely far higher owing to a lack of testing. (Reuters)

Jamaica: All in place for rescheduled CXC exams — OEC

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he Overseas Examinations Commission (OEC) is assuring that all plans are in place for the execution of the July 2020 Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations.

The Commission said in the last three weeks the following activities have been set in motion: Training and deployment of examiners for French and Spanish orals for the examinations which have begun and will end by Friday, July 17, 2020; Training and deployment of examination supervisors

for examinations beginning July 13, 2020; Training and deployment of quality assures who will monitor centres; Training and deployment of readers and writers for candidates who have received arrangements for special assessment; Training and deployment of moderators for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Sciences and Industrial Technology, CSEC Music, CAPE Performing Arts and

Physical Education and Sport.

OEC noted that paper based, online and offline examination options are available to all candidates. It said schools have indicated their preferred approach for the examination based on different factors such as Internet connectivity and reliability, etc.

The Commission added that the uploading of School Based Assessment (SBA) samples and the submission of scores is advanced and should have been completed

by Friday, July 10. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

T

During the television and radio broadcast, he said, "Tonight I can stand on this platform and tell you without fear of contradiction there is nobody in my Government who is running from the Police."

The PM said his Government was about solving problems. Questioning what was their role, he added, "And then you will realise that their solution in this election is to spend as much as the money they thief to come into constituencies and pay you $300 for your vote."

He reminded citizens that under T&T’s laws, it is an offence to pay somebody to vote.

Rowley added, "But secondly, your vote is worth more than $300. And anyone who is paying you to vote is insulting you and your intel-

B

arbados’ borders reopened Sunday and the stars are return-

ing.

One of the first to reach the island is rapper/actor Drake. The 33-year-old Canadian arrived around 10:00h Sunday on Air Drake.

After three-months of lockdown, curfews and restrictions to fight the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19, commercial flights are also resuming at the Grantley Adams International Airport.

The Government of Barbados last month announced the phased return of airlines from Canada,

Rapper Drake’s private aircraft, Air Drake

England and Europe, the United States and the rest of the Caribbean.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley has also been appearing on various radio and

television networks touting the benefits of the Barbados 12 Month Welcome Stamp which allows people to live and work here for a year.

(Nation News)

Mexico set to surpass Italy's coronavirus tally as death toll nears 35,000

M

exico’s death toll from the coronavirus pandemic is

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley

ligence, and your children's future is at risk in the hand of any such person."

Rowley said the one question citizens must ask themselves is, "Where is that money coming from? We know the answer already,

residing in the BVI for at least five years and have not received a conditional permit in the last three years.

“The reality is [that] some will not be able to find alternative jobs. And without financial or family support, will be required to leave the territory,” Wheatley said.

The Immigration Minister advised peoples to register with the Immigration Department by email and giving the particulars of their departure to allow for their exit to be 'properly recorded'.

He said this would assist “in a smooth re-entry when opportunity presents itself”. (Excerpt from CMC)

Drake in Barbados as border reopens

PM accuses UNC of buying votes

rinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley has accused the United National Congress (UNC) of buying votes for $300 as part of their attempt to ensure success in the August 10 General Election.

He alleged that the source of these funds came from ill-gotten gains during their time in office.

The PM made the allegations during the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) first virtual political meeting Saturday night at the Bagatelle Community Centre, Diego Martin.

Rowley boasted that no one in his government was running from the Police, nor had anyone used their position to further their own interests during the past five years.

certificates of earning from the Social Security Board adding that the department will not accept any applications for renewal if they are not accompanied by those documents.

The policy changes have been implemented amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has caused multiple lay-offs locally.

Work permit holders who have been terminated and would like to seek alternative employment can apply for a conditional permit from the Chief Immigration Officer.

That permit is valid for three months.

However, people are only eligible for this conditional permit if they were

but ask them the question.

That is the money they thief that now coming out. Their friends who helped them thief it paying them to get back in office to continue to thief it." (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

poised to overtake Italy’s and shoot above 35,000 on Sunday, with the Latin American nation set to post the world’s fourth highest death toll, according to Reuters data.

Mexico on Saturday recorded 539 additional fatalities to bring its coronavirus toll to 34,730, with 295,268 confirmed cases. Italy has recorded 34,945 deaths and 242,827 cases.

While Italy appears to have tamed the virus, the pandemic is showing no signs of slowing down in Mexico, where the Government has faced criticism for reopening its economy too soon.

Mexican authorities have gradually raised the projections of total fatalities and as recently as June forecast up to 35,000 deaths through October.

In early May, the estimate was 6000.

The coronavirus death toll per million residents

in Mexico, whose population numbers about 120 million, is the 16th highest in the world, according to data by research firm Statista.

But Mexican officials say the true toll is likely much higher due to limited testing. A Reuters analysis of funeral homes data in May indicated a toll more than double the reported figures.

Hugo Lopez-Gatell, Mexico’s Deputy Health Minister and coronavirus czar, this week said the virus was “slowing down”.

But several former officials have criticised President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s Administration for its handling of the epidemic.

Former Health Minister Salomon Chertorivski earlier this week said the Government had reopened the economy before globally-established criteria for doing so were met.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020

19

Around the World South Africa reimposes alcohol ban, curfew as coronavirus cases spike

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visits the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) treatment facilities at the NASREC Expo Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, April 24, 2020

S

outh Africa will reimpose a ban on the sale of alcohol and a nighttime curfew to reduce pressure on its hospitals as coronavirus infections rise

rapidly, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday.

R a m a p h o s a ’ s Government imposed one of the strictest lockdowns in the world in late March and

delayed a surge in infections, but it has since eased many restrictions over fears for its struggling economy.

South Africa has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Africa and is now recording the fourth-largest daily increase in new cases worldwide.

Ramaphosa said in a televised address that the country could not afford for its hospitals and clinics to be burdened with avoidable alcohol-related injuries.

The nighttime curfew will last from 9 pm to 4 am and take effect from Monday, apart from for those travelling to or from work or seeking medical help.

Regulations on the wearing of masks will be strengthened, but the coun-

try will remain on the third level of its five-level coronavirus alert system.

Family visits and social activities remain banned.

Ramaphosa said current projections showed different provinces would reach the peak of infections between the end of July and late September.

He said scientists had presented models that forecast between 40,000 and 50,000 coronavirus deaths before the end of the year, adding: “We must make it our single most important task to prove these projections wrong.”

The Health Ministry reported 12,058 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing the total to 276,242.

Deaths rose by 108 to 4079.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Coronavirus: Florida Jordan presses sweeping sets new state daily tax evasion crackdown case record of 15,299 to aid ailing economy

J

F

Florida has seen protests over shutdown measures

lorida has registered a state record of 15,299 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours - around a quarter of all of the United States' daily infections.

The state, with just 7 per cent of the US population, surpassed the previous daily record held by California.

Florida, which began lifting coronavirus restrictions in May, has proved vulnerable due to tourism and an elderly population.

Its figures eclipse the worst daily rates seen in New York in April.

Florida also registered an additional 45 deaths.

The state would rank fourth in the world for new cases if it were a country, according to a Reuters analysis. More than 40 hospitals in Florida say their intensive care facilities are at full capacity.

The latest figures were released a day after Walt Disney

World in Orlando, Florida reopened, but with safety measures including mask-wearing and widespread use of sanitiser.

The caseload in Florida has continued to rise despite Republican Governor Ron DeSantis ordering some bars to close again last month.

The top adviser on the White House coronavirus taskforce, Dr Anthony Fauci, had criticised lockdown easing in the state, saying the data on infections did not support the move. DeSantis has also declined to make mask-wearing obligatory.

The issue of masks has become highly politicised in the United States, with opponents saying having to wear them encroaches on personal freedom. There have been demonstrations against masks and other coronavirus measures in several states. (Excerpt from BBC News)

ordan’s Prime Minister Omar al-Razzaz promised on Sunday to deepen a crackdown on tax evasion that officials say has deprived the country’s cashstrapped economy of billions of dollars’ revenue in recent years.

The Government has gone after senior businessmen and former politicians suspected of tax dodging, money laundering and customs evasion in a weeks-long campaign that has gained greater urgency with the hit to state finances from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tax authorities have raided around 650 companies so far, sometimes accompanied by security forces, according to officials who say this is the biggest campaign to combat tax evasion in decades.

The Government said it had frozen the assets of dozens of companies and businessmen on suspected tax evasion charges. It added that it would track offshore havens where wealthy Jordanians have long parked cash to avoid

taxes.

Some critics have accused the Government of using the campaign to carry out a witch hunt against its political enemies, including some of Jordan’s leading business figures, including former Ministers and senior politicians.

Officials deny that, saying the goal is to ensure justice and that no one is above the law.

The Government has been using its wider powers under a state of emergency since March to give prosecutors and the main anti-corruption agency greater powers, and stiffen penalties.

A two-month coronavirus lockdown has crippled Jordanian businesses and slashed State revenues by tens of millions of dollars, leading to the sharpest economic contraction in two decades.

The aid-dependent country, already undertaking a tough three-year IMF reform programme, tapped international debt markets this month to borrow $1.75 billion. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Coronavirus: 3 generations of Bollywood Bachchan family infected

T

hree generations of a high-profile Bollywood family have tested positive for COVID-19, officials in the Indian state of Maharashtra said.

Results on Sunday showed the actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, a former Miss World, and her

daughter Aaradhya, eight, were infected with coronavirus.

Her husband Abhishek and father-in-law Amitabh, both also actors, were taken to hospital on Saturday with the virus.

Both men were said to have mild symptoms.

Abhishek Bachchan

tweeted that they would remain in hospital "till the doctors decide otherwise".

Aishwarya Bachchan, 46, is one of Bollywood's most famous faces both in India and abroad, featuring in several Bollywood and Hollywood films.

She won the Miss World pageant in 1994 and is

Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS. In 2003 she was the first Indian actress to be a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival.

Aishwarya and her daughter are said to be asymptomatic. Her husband tweeted to say they would be self-isolating at home.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

OILNEWS Libya's NOC accuses UAE of being behind oil blockade

L

ibya’s National Oil Corp (NOC) on Sunday accused the United Arab Emirates of instructing eastern forces in Libya’s civil war to reimpose a blockade of oil exports after the departure of the first tanker in six months.

The UAE, along with Russia and Egypt, supports the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) of Khalifa Haftar, which on Saturday said the blockade would continue despite it having let a tanker load with oil from storage.

“NOC has been informed that the instructions to shut down production were given to (the LNA) by the United Arab Emirates,” it said in a statement, resuming force majeure on all oil exports.

There was no immediate comment on NOC’s accusation from either the LNA or the UAE. Haftar has been on the back foot after Turkish support helped the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) turn back his 14-month assault on the capital Tripoli.

After the GNA gained ground, NOC also tried to restart production at the Sharara oilfield, but said this effort was quickly shut down and accused Russian mercenaries fighting alongside the LNA of deploying there.

On Friday the Vitol tanker Kriti Bastion docked and loaded at Es Sider port before sailing on Saturday, the first legal export of Libyan oil since the blockade was imposed in January. NOC said Russian and Syrian mercenaries fighting alongside the LNA now occupied Es Sider.

Under international agreements, only NOC can produce and export oil and revenues must flow into the Central Bank of Libya. Both those institutions are based in Tripoli, seat of the GNA. The LNA said on Saturday it would keep up the blockade until a list of conditions were met, including channelling oil revenue into a new bank account based outside the country to then be distributed regionally.

On Sunday the United States’ Libya embassy said the resumption of the blockade came after “days of intense diplomatic activity” to let NOC resume output, and said it “regrets that foreign-backed efforts” had impeded this.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Trump Admin resumes school reopening push amid coronavirus surge

T

he Trump Administration has continued to press on for full school reopenings in the fall (autumn), with Education Secretary Betsy Devos insisting such action is necessary, despite record surges of coronavirus infections in the country.

DeVos, in two television interviews on Sunday, insisted on the need for schools to reopen, even as several states were registering record numbers of coronavirus cases and hospitals in many cities were struggling to cope. Florida on Sunday reported a record in the highest daily spike of any US state since the pandemic began, with more than 15,000 infections.

"Kids need to get back to school, they need to get back in the classroom," DeVos told CNN, while acknowledging that local conditions should be taken into account.

"Families need for kids to

get back in the classroom.

And it can be done safely."

The statement came even as a Trump Administration health official warned that "everything should be on the table" as deaths in the US were continuing to rise.

To date, the country has recorded at least 3.1 million cases and 135,000 deaths.

"We're all very concerned," Admiral Brett Giroir, the Assistant Secretary of Health, told ABC's This Week programme, as he called for the reclosing of bars, greater spacing in restaurants and the near-universal wearing of masks in the areas most afflicted, largely in southern states that reopened aggressively.

The pressure to reopen schools has come from the top, with President Donald Trump threatening to withhold federal funding from schools that refuse to reopen - a stance that DeVos reconfirmed on Sunday.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

20

MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Emotional matters will rise to the surface. Refuse to let someone rile you with insensitive comments. Avoid getting into an argument and let your actions speak for you.

Someone will reveal a secret you share with him or her. Be smart, do your own thing and focus on getting ahead. Surprise others with your skills, professionalism and insight.

You may feel like going against the rules, but think twice before you get involved in something that can leave you in a vulnerable spot legally, physically or financially.

Your personal life is likely to be disrupted by job-related matters. Don't ignore or neglect someone who supports you. Take responsibility for your actions and hold others accountable for theirs.

Certain rules will be upsetting for older relatives.

Do something to make someone's day a little bit better.

Your kindness will lead to unexpected rewards.

Uncertainty will make it difficult for you to concentrate on what you need to achieve. Consider your motives as well as the nature of who or what you are fretting over.

Don't get angry; get moving. Push yourself to do something conducive to improving your health, appearance and emotional state. Make interesting plans with someone who appreciates you.

Expect others to take advantage of you if you are gullible. Avoid gossip and meddling, and don't trust someone to give you accurate facts or figures. Don't rely on others; take care of responsibilities personally.

Socialize at a distance.

SAGITTARIUS More digital gatherings (Nov. 23will help you maintain your Dec. 21) sanity and avoid jeopardizing your health. Do what's best for everyone.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Don't avoid the inevitable.

If you are up-front about your feelings and wants, it will be easier to cut to the chase and resolve stressful issues.

Set up a routine that aims to improve your health, financial situation and relationships with loved ones. A makeover will lift your spirits, and romance looks promising.

You'll find it easy to move forward with intelligent suggestions and persuasive tactics. Refuse to let personal matters interfere with your success.

Do whatever is necessary, and don't look back.

MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020

M

ercedes driver Lewis Hamilton cruised to a comfortable victory in the Styrian Grand Prix. The world champion’s first victory of the year was founded on a stupendous performance in wet qualifying, in which he took pole by more than 1.2 seconds.

Hamilton led from pole position, headed only at the pitstops, as team-mate Valtteri Bottas overtook Red Bull’s Max Verstappen late on for second. The Ferraris retired early after colliding with each other on lap one.

It was another dark day for the Italian team, after another uncompetitive showing in qualifying, as Charles Leclerc apologised for a rash move on the first lap that took out both cars.

No problems for Hamilton

Hamilton, who has pledged to continue the fight against racism this year in parallel with his quest for a re-

er, while Bottas was left out 10 laps longer than the Dutchman.

The aim was to give him a tyre off-set and greater pace at the end of the race. And it worked.

Bottas crept up on Verstappen and was with him with five laps to go.

Bottas looked to have the move down on the straight down to Turn Four on lap

A

66, but Verstappen fought back around the outside of the corner and held on to the place. But his valiant defence lasted only another lap before Bottas was able to storm past to complete a Mercedes one-two. He retains the championship lead over Hamilton, but it is now down to eight points. (BBC Sport)

Lewis Hamilton

cord-equalling seventh world title, was in total control of the race from the start. He converted his pole position into a lead at the first corner, survived an early safety car period following a collision between the two Ferrari drivers, and never looked back.

The fight was all behind him, as Mercedes sought to get

Trezeguet (left) had scored only three goals in his previous 30 Premier League matches

ston Villa can handle the pressure of a relegation battle and have given themselves a chance of staying up by beating Crystal Palace, says boss Dean Smith.

Trezeguet scored twice as struggling Villa secured a first league win since January 21 to move to within four points of safety with three games to go.

"We have found it hard this season and there is no getting away from that," said Smith after his side's first win in 11 league games. "I know these players can play under pressure. We have been playing tournament football since we came back.

"We haven't got the points we need, but we're still in the

21

tournament."

In an eventful game at Villa Park, Mamadou Sakho thought he had put Palace ahead when the ball appeared to strike the defender's shoulder on its way into the net – but it was ruled out for handball after a lengthy delay, much to the visitors' dismay. Villa then took the lead just before half-time when Egypt winger Trezeguet sidefooted the ball into the net at the back post after Palace had failed to clear a free-kick.

Shortly after the break, the hosts were awarded a penalty by referee Martin Atkinson after Patrick van Aanholt's challenge on Jack Grealish, but the decision was overturned after another long VAR check.

Bottas ahead of Verstappen.

The Finn had qualified fourth in the rain, 1.4s slower than Hamilton, passed McLaren’s Carlos Sainz by lap six, but was not able to make much progress towards the Red Bull.

When Red Bull made Verstappen’s pit stop for fresh tyres on lap 24, Hamilton was brought in three laps lat-

Villa sealed the points when Trezeguet toe-poked home his second goal and, after the final whistle, Palace forward Christian Benteke, who was playing against his former club, was shown a red card as tempers boiled over.

Palace, who have now lost their last five league games, started with Wilfried Zaha, who revealed before the match he had received racist abuse on social media. Palace manager Roy Hodgson described the abuse of the 27-year-old Ivory Coast forward as "cowardly and despicable".

Villa are running out of time to pull off a miraculous escape, but a battling win at least gives them a fighting chance of avoiding the drop. After victories for fellow strugglers Watford and West Ham United on Saturday, the visit of Palace was a must-win game for Villa and Smith's side delivered – even if they did require a slice of luck to achieve it.

With the game goalless, it appeared a harsh VAR decision to deny Sakho a goal because of handball as Luka Milivojevic's looping ball appeared to come off the defender's shoulder on its way past keeper Pepe Reina. (BBC Sport)

Hamilton celebrated his first win of the season by raising his fist on the podium, reminiscent of the 1968 Olympics, when two African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised a blackgloved fist during the US national anthem

A

12-year-old boy has been arrested by Police investigating racist messages sent to Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha on social media.

Zaha revealed he had received several abusive messages on social media before Sunday's trip to Aston Villa, a game they lost 2-0.

His manager Roy Hodgson called the abuse "cowardly and despicable". The Premier League called the abuse of the 27-year-old Ivory Coast winger "completely unacceptable".

West Midlands Police tweeted Zaha to say they would look into the abuse and hours later confirmed an arrest. "We were alerted to a series of racist messages sent to a footballer today and after looking into them and conducting checks, we have arrested a boy," read a WM Police tweet. "The 12-year-old from Solihull has been taken to custody.

Thanks to everyone who raised it. Racism won't be tolerated."

Speaking to Sky Sports before the arrest, Hodgson added: "It's been highlighted at the moment anyway with the Black Lives Matter movement and everyone

Wilfried Zaha received abusive messages on social media before Sunday's match at Aston Villa

seems to be making such an effort to eradicate this behaviour. "It is very sad that on the day of a game, a player wakes up to this cowardly and despicable abuse. It's right Wilf has made people aware of it and I don't think this is something you should keep quiet about.

"He wants to put off one of our best players from playing well today, but to do it in the way he has chosen is totally inexcusable."

The Premier League said: "This behaviour is com-

pletely unacceptable and the Premier League stands alongside Wilfried Zaha in opposing this, and discrimination in any form.

"We will continue to support players, managers, coaches and their family members who receive serious discriminatory online abuse."

Players in England's top flight have been kneeling in support of the Black Lives Matter movement before every match, since the season restarted in June. (BBC Sport)

22

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Jermaine Blackwood and Jason Holder in the first Test match

By Brandon Corlette

A

fter the first innings when Jermaine Blackwood, who is known in the West Indies camp as "Big Dadz", failed to score heavy and was dismissed making what has been described as a “rogue shot”, many would have questioned his place in the team, especially with Test double centurion and the world's number one all-rounder, Jason Holder batting at eight.

Some may have called for the inclusion of the extra spinner in Rahkeem Cornwall and the promotion of new and improved wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich and Holder respectively.

Come the second innings when it mattered the most, the lion-hearted Jamaican Blackwood silenced all the surrounding noise with a match-win-

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

NOW!

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ning 95 on the final day of the historic first Test match post-COVID-19. Blackwood had narrowly missed out on his second Test century after he completed the double of being dismissed in similar fashion – caught at mid-off, attempting to go over the top after a brain fade.

Captain Holder, sharing his sentiments on Blackwood's stellar efforts, noted that the little right-handed Jamaican is simply a team man. "If I had 12 Jermaine Blackwoods, those are the kind of guys I want step on the field with me. These are team guys through thick and thin."

Holder, who played a lot of cricket with Blackwood, including a Youth World Cup, explained that Blackwood could not be kept in a shell.

"When things happen like how they did in the first innings for him (Blackwood), it is disappointing, but a player like him needs all the support. He is a team man; he is just a humble team man and he puts his team at heart," Holder explained.

Blackwood, who featured in the Sky Sports Player Zone after his 95, noted that at no point in time he was focused on scoring a century. He had his eyes set on the prize of winning and winning only.

When asked if Blackwood would have played in the starting XI if Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer were on tour, Holder said he would n o t get into selection, but pulling Blackwood's number has spoken for itself. The Windies Captain noted that Blackwood had made a strong case for himself after scoring the most runs at the Regional 4-Day tournament, including a double century in one innings.

Holder also gave credit to Shannon Gabriel, who took five wick-

ets in the second inning adding to his four in the first inning, at the virtual post-match media conference. "I'm happy that Gabriel came back well and Blackwood too. They put their hands up and led the charge.

"It was a nerve-wracking start after losing quick three wickets and Campbell to injury. But Roston and Jermaine put on a good partnership and settled the nerves. From there, we could build on.”

Holder is extremely happy with this winning performance, but 10 more days of cricket are ahead.

The Test skipper noted that the Test group has matured and he was delighted with the team spirit.

This win in the first Test is not a series win, but perhaps it is the start of something special for the West Indies. The men in maroon deserved all the credit, but heading into the second Test, beginning Thursday, July 16, consistency must be maintained for the Caribbean men to clinch the series. Time will tell where Holder and his upbeat team go from here.

Flashback: Holder and Blackwood in an instrumental partnership

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) is partnering with The Duppy Share Caribbean Rum as its new Official Rum Partner in the United Kingdom for the duration of the Sandals West Indies Tour of England 2020.

The partnership will engage fans to choose and vote for the West Indies player of the match following each of the #RaiseTheBat Test matches as West Indies defend the Wisden Trophy in three Test matches against England.

West Indies fans will be able to vote on the @windiescricket Twitter page for their #MeninMaroon Player of the Match, with the fans’ chosen player receiving an exclusive Duppy Share rum pack featuring a personalised bottle.

West Indies fans who purchase a bottle of The Duppy Share through the special promotional link will have the chance of winning a Test match shirt signed by the West Indies squad from this historic, bio-secure, behind-closeddoors series.

The Duppy Share is the UK’s fastest-growing rum brand bringing the energy and sense of fun of the Caribbean to life. The rum is a perfect blend of a fiery, punchy Jamaican threeyear-old rum from Worthy Park distillery and a smooth, oaky five-year-old rum from Barbados's Foursquare distillery.

CWI Commercial Director Dominic Warne stated: “CWI is always excited to partner with brands that have an authentic Caribbean story. Working with The Duppy Share and our fast-growing social channels is a great way to give West Indies fans the opportunity to choose and celebrate their player of

the match.”

The Duppy Share founder, George Frost said: “The Duppy Share could not be more proud and excited by this relationship. Every drop of The Duppy Share rum is inspired by the amazing energy, excitement and fun of the Caribbean – and nowhere is this more evident than in the mighty West Indies cricket team.”

The fans’ Player of the Match polls will start following the conclusion of each of the three Tests in the #RaiseTheBat Series. The first Test Match at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton, concluded on Sunday, July 12. The West Indies will then travel from Southampton to Manchester today for the second Test, starting July 16. (CWI)

MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020

. The winning moment! Jason Holder and John Campbell celebrate

W

est Indies went 1-0 up in England for the first time since 2000 thanks to a superb 95 from Jermaine Blackwood which guided them to a target of 200 on the final day with four wickets to spare.

Their seamers had set up the win with a burst of five wickets on the fourth evening just as the game had started to look as though it was petering out into a draw, but it was Blackwood who dealt the killer blow with a superb knock on the final day.

Coming in at 27 for 3 with John Campbell retired hurt soon before lunch, Blackwood made England pay for their misses. He was put down twice, on 5 and on 20, and offered regular run-out chances at several points in his innings. But he batted brilliantly, pulling and cutting his way out of short-ball barrages from Jofra Archer and lofting drives over extra cover as he grew in fluency. He gave away a chance for only his second Test hundred on 95, but the returning Campbell scrambled a single into the leg side just before 6pm (18:00h) to take West Indies over the line.

England needed their tailenders to hang around on the final morning and Archer in particular obliged, flashing hard to pick up three boundaries to push the target up to 200. But Mark Wood edged a cut through to Shane Dowrich backing away before Archer gloved a short ball behind, giving Shannon Gabriel a five-wicket haul and nine in the match in his first First-Class game for 10 months.

That left 200 to win. Phil Simmons had stressed on the fourth evening that Kraigg Brathwaite would be "the glue" in the fourth innings, with others batting around him, so there was immediate pressure on the openers.

But perhaps Simmons hadn't counted on Archer. Campbell survived an lbw shout when Archer speared a yorker in at his feet, but his big toe did not: he hobbled off two overs later, and spent most of the day with an ice pack on. Archer sensed

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

an opening and burst through it, piercing Brathwaite's tentative defence shot as he dragged one on before trapping Shamarh Brooks plumb in front with a full inswinger.

Shai Hope got up and running with a pair of elegant cover drives off James Anderson as if to tempt West Indies supporters into dreaming of a Headingley repeat, but a loose drive soon followed which Wood burst through with a full ball that seamed in to clean him up.

That left West Indies 27 for 3 moments before lunch, with Campbell retired hurt, and it was difficult to envisage any other result than an England win.

But Roston Chase and Blackwood came out after lunch with determination and enough positive intent to keep the equation ticking down. Blackwood in particular rode his luck. On five, he edged a cut shot to Stokes at slip, but was reprieved by England's Captain outsmarting himself, running round towards point in anticipation only to be wrong-footed when the chance came to his left.

Blackwood, who had spent the best part of two-and-a-half years out of the side going into this series, had looked his old, frenetic self in the first innings, playing what Dom Bess said was a "rogue shot" when running down the track and slashing to mid-off. But in the run chase, he instead managed to settle into a rhythm.

He and Chase were given testing examinations against the short ball. Jos Buttler dropped a chance off Stokes when Blackwood gloved down the leg side on 20, before Zak Crawley fumbled a run-out chance in the covers to offer another reprieve. A third in as many overs arrived when Rory Burns shelled an edge in the gully – though it would not have counted as Stokes had overstepped - and Blackwood made England pay for their profligacy.

In particular, he cut and pulled purposefully, scoring the majority of his runs behind square. An upper-cut off Archer was the pick of the bunch, and he survived a brutal spell from him that accounted for Chase, caught behind off a lifter aimed at his chin. Chase's struggles against the short ball have been well-documented, and it was a classic, calculated set-up; a yorker fired in outside off, followed by a steepling bumper he failed to evade.

But Dowrich joined Blackwood in the middle and saw them through to tea, starting busily before settling into his innings and ticking over calmly and comfortably.

There was time for a twist after tea. After Blackwood fired Wood through the covers and over mid-off for two boundaries in four balls, Stokes decided that it was up to him to make the breakthrough. He looked furious when he realised he had overstepped after Dowrich poked to slip, but made up for it next ball, reversing one away from the outside edge as Buttler took the catch behind the stumps.

Blackwood looked intent on reaching three figures, itching to take singles leading to several mix-ups with the new man Jason Holder, but continued to time the ball beautifully, upper-cutting Stokes over the cordon to move to 95. He threw away a golden opportunity for a ton, caught at mid-off for the second time in the match, but nobody was asking questions of his spot in the side after this "rogue shot".

Campbell walked out at No. 8, eking out singles to take the equation into single figures, before he slashed a cut past gully and snuck a single off the pads to take West Indies to a famous win, with Holder, the inspirational captain, running through to seal the victory. (ESPNcricinfo)

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Holder and Gabriel were the most instrumental bowlers

SCOREBOARD England 2nd Innings RJ Burns c Campbell b Chase 42 DP Sibley c †Dowrich b Gabriel 50 JL Denly c JO Holder b Chase 29 Z Crawley c & b Jose 76 BA Stokes (c)c Hope b JOHolder 46 OJ Pope b Gabriel 12 JC Buttler † b Joseph 9 DM Bess b Gabriel 3 JC Archer c †Dowrich b Gabriel 23 MA Wood c †Dowrich b Gabriel 2 JM Anderson not out 4 Extras (b 4, lb 10, nb 3) 17 TOTAL (111.2 Ov, RR: 2.81) 313 Fall of wickets: 1-72 (Rory Burns, 36.1 ov), 2-113 (Dom Sibley,

Shane Dowrich faced the Jofra Archer music

J Blackwood c Anderson 51.3 ov), 3-151 (Joe Denly, 64.3 ov), 4-249 (Ben Stokes, 89.4 b Stokes 95 ov), 5-253 (Zak Crawley, 90.4 SO Dowrich † c †Buttler ov), 6-265 (Jos Buttler, 94.2 ov), b Stokes 20 7-278 (Dom Bess, 101.2 ov), JO Holder (c) not out 14 36 8-279 (Ollie Pope, 101.6 ov), 9-303 (Mark Wood, 109.3 ov), Extras (lb 7, nb 1, w 5)13 10-313 (Jofra Archer, 111.2 ov) TOTAL (64.2 Ov,RR:3.1) 200/6 BOWLING O M R W Did not bat: AS Joseph, KAJ Roach 22 8 50 0 KAJ Roach, ST Gabriel ST Gabriel 21.2 4 75 5 Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 5.4 ov), 2-7 JO Holder 22 8 49 1 (Shamarh Brooks, 7.3 ov), 3-27 RL Chase 25 6 71 2 (Shai Hope, 11.4 ov), 4-100 AS Joseph 18 2 45 2 (Roston Chase, 35.4 ov), 5-168 KC Brathwaite 3 0 9 0 (Shane Dowrich, 52.5 ov), 6-189 (Jermaine Blackwood, 60.4 ov) WEST INDIES 2ND INNINGS (TARGET: 200 RUNS) BOWLING O M R W KC Brathwaite b Archer 4 JM Anderson 15 3 42 0 JD Campbell not out 8 26 JC Archer 17 3 45 3 SD Hope b Wood 9 MA Wood 12 0 36 1 SSJ Brooks lbw b Archer 0 DM Bess 10 2 31 0 RL Chase c †Buttler BA Stokes 10.2 1 39 2 b Archer 37 Shannon Gabriel leads the team off after his fifer

Jermaine Blackwood missed out on his second century

MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020

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