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New Amsterdam inundated after heavy downpour
Several sections of New Amsterdam, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) were on Sunday inundated after several hours of continuous rainfall. Those areas severely affected were the main shopping centre at Pitt Street and businesses in that vicinity and Vrymens Erven.
Some car parks were also under several inches of water as well as the municipal market.
At Republic Bank, persons had to walk through about two feet of water to get to the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) machine. Inside the ATM building, the water rose to six inches. However, in Vrymens
Erven, the water level rapidly rose to 18 inches on the street. In most areas, the water level continues to rise. Water also made its way into several stores but the owners could not have gained access due to the
municipality being on lockdown.
According to a forecast by he Hydrometeorological office of the Agriculture Ministry, New Amsterdam will experience reduced rainfall today.
Two more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in T&T. The following is a statement by the Health Ministry:
As part of the national drive to safeguard the health of the Trinidad and Tobago population in the face of the global COVID-19 outbreak, the Ministry of Health continues to provide up-to-date information on the country’s status in this regard.
As of the afternoon of Sunday, 29th March, 2020 the Ministry reports the following:
Number of samples submitted to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for testing for COVID-19 – 525
Number of samples which have tested positive – 78
Number of deaths – 3 Number of persons discharged – 1
The Ministry of Health provides the following update:
· Two additional positive cases have been confirmed.
Of the total number of positive cases, 49 of these positive cases came from the group of nationals who recently returned from a cruise:
· 46 positive cases from the group of 68 nationals who returned from the cruise together
· 3 positive cases from the group of nationals who returned from the same cruise separately from the other 68 nationals.
The Ministry of Health reminds the public that placing your hands on your face increases the risk of contracting the virus. The virus can transfer from your hands to your nose and mouth, and then enter your body. Protect yourself by washing your hands often with soap and water or by using an alcohol-based sanitiser that contains at least 60 per cent alcohol, if soap and water are not available. (Trinidad Guardian) Trinidad: 2 more test positive for COVID-19, cases now 78
Global Medical Response of Trinidad and Tobago (GMRTT) employees during a demonstration exercise with a COVID-19 victim during a press conference on COVID-19 at the Ministry’s head office on March 4
Court cannot negate GECOM’s role to...
FROM PAGE 13
The Opposition Leader’s Attorney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall expressed optimism at the notion of a recount based on Singh’s submission.
Opposition Leader Jagdeo had successfully applied to the court to halt Mingo’s declaration and has also applied to have the application brought by Moore denied.
Nandlall told media operatives the GECOM Chairperson’s submissions that were tendered to the court illustrated that she has finally assumed her role “and has indicated in those submissions that she is prepared to discharge her duties under the Constitution”. According to Nandlall,
the GECOM Chair in her submissions reiterated that it was that entity that was in charge of the electoral process and Moore’s application should not be granted “because it would force GECOM to make decisions that are not truly GECOM’s decisions”.
Nandlall pointed to the fact that Singh in her submission conceded that while the Caribbean Community was intended to play a role in the recount process the actual decision to facilitate the recount was in fact taken by the Commission.
Singh, in her submissions – a copy of which was seen by Guyana Times – observed that the most important order that was sought by the APNU/AFC candidate was that the recounting of the votes was unconstitutional and that the basis of the contention was that the Commission could not do so on the terms contained in an Aide Memoire signed by the President and Opposition Leader, or at all. She was adamant, however, that once there was
evidence that the electoral process was compromised, to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the provisions of the Constitution or of any Act of Parliament, the Commission is constitutionally mandated to intervene to ensure public confidence in the electoral process.
You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com
Setting up a fund for managing the COVID-19 disease outbreak in Guyana
Dear Editor, I wish to use this media as a means of appealing for a public fund to be established to finance the provision of materials and other support deemed necessary in the fight against the spread of the dreaded coronavirus COVID-19, here in Guyana.
We have been told that so far eight (8) persons have been confirmed to have been infected with the disease. However, it is very likely that there are more cases that have not been detected as yet, and there is no programme in place to conduct mass-testing for the disease. I know that our society has a high percentage of poor and vulnerable persons who just cannot afford to access the preventative measures recommended by the local and international health authorities. We would all have seen what a sudden spike in demand for sanitising and protective products would have done to their supply and prices. Thankfully, a few of our local manufacturers have stepped in to make some of these disinfectants, and to even provide them free of cost.
It is likely that very soon Guyana will have to follow the lead of other countries affected by this disease and implement more stringent measures. Should there be a countrywide lockdown, we have to understand the likely impact on the poorest in our society. How will they get the basics to survive when they cannot even leave their abodes to earn an income or ask someone better off to help them?
We the citizenry must come up with workable systems to help our fellow brothers and sisters in this time of need. I doubt that we could depend on the Government to do much for us. We would have seen that even in developed countries with stable Governments, some of the challenges they are facing. Here in Guyana, a worsening political crisis is threatening the very functionality of institutions and has created a terrible aura of fear and distrust for the very systems we would need to depend upon.
We know that our society has a small but affluent group of business entities and persons who have the means to assist the less fortunate among us. Among those who are better posi
Dear Editor, Ms Claudette Singh has finally informed our courts (Local Press, March 28, 2020) that she has the necessary authority to order a recount, ‘if necessary.’ With all of this authority at her disposal, she did not then, nor has she now, seen it fit to scrap the two sets of fraudulent results prepared and published by Mingo and company? Is Ms Singh aware that fraudulent results have been declared under her authority? And that she is soon expected to be coerced or influenced to approve those fraudulent results?
Has the legal mind of Ms Claudette Singh sorted out the ramifications of her inaction thus far? Is she really waiting to see what will happen before she makes a decision to stop the fraud under her watch? Guyana is closing in on her recalci
trance, as are the ABCEs, not to mention the international renown she has achieved these last few weeks.
Ms Singh will very likely be unable to salvage her name or reputation should she approve the fraud that has transpired under her at GECOM. The time for her to act has long passed. She is currently trying to salvage whatever she considers important to her as a professional, and how she will be recorded in the history books.
Ms Claudette Singh has one option, which is not tied to anything that is transpiring in our courts: squash the two fraudulent results already declared and immediately issue an order for the completion of the tabulation/verification process for Region Four results, without Mr Clownford, since he is clearly not working in the interest of producing credible results.
There can be little dispute by now regarding the expected outcome of our verified and officially declared election results. While the coalition might have received a significant portion of our votes, these voters did not sign up for a dictatorship in the event of the coalition’s loss at the polls. Guyana has had enough of the PNC’s politics of stupidity - minority rule of incompetence in a democracy. The little thugs at the PNC’s beck and call do not run our country.
Harmon has got to be the nation’s biggest nincompoop if he seriously thinks that Guyanese do not know that the PNC is in fact behind the affairs at GECOM, that the PNC is in fact behind the rigging efforts at GECOM.
Sad to say, the PNC did not perform well enough to enable many of their dinosaurs to die in office, their life-long ambition. Their young ‘uns have disgraced themselves as national leaders of our future. Can we usher in our future together, please?
With regards, Craig Sylvester
tioned to help, are such entities and persons who only recently would have given generously to the financing of elections campaigns for the various political parties. It may not matter what your motivations were back then, but we do know your help is needed more now, as there is at this stage a real health crisis in Guyana, the real extent of which we may not know due to the secrecy that surrounds everything that is related.
In numerous other countries, societies have benefited from the kind support of the affluent. Here in Guyana, you who have been so generous up to recent times, we call upon you to follow the examples of Jack Ma, Bill Gates and others. Just dig a little deeper into your pockets and prepare to assist people who will really need your help.
I am only asking of you that you give in equal measure, what you would have given the political parties, to help establish such a health crisis fund. You may also want to be part of the management structure and process to ensure that your support reaches those most in need. I have every reason to believe that our country will be truly grateful to you.
Yours sincerely, Khemraj Tulsie
Dear Editor, Beware the proponents of electoral fraud who are covertly using the COVID-19 outbreak to gloss over APNU/AFC/GECOM rigging with a view of tricking well-intentioned people into accepting another PNC/APNU dictatorship. They are using beautiful language and invoking laudable concepts such as sovereignty and brotherhood.
These are well-known tricks of their trade. Citizens must remain vigilant and expose such impostors. Guyanese can take comfort in the fact that for the most part, despite our ethnic diversity, we have always lived as one. Like CPL Cricket and the Guyana Amazon Warriors, COVID-19 will bring us closer. However, this does not mean we have to accept a dictatorship in order to fight the coronavirus. Guyanese have the strength and wherewithal to fight both simultaneously.
The IMF deemed Guyana the least prepared country in South America so the new democratically elected Government cannot do worse. We did not arrive where we are overnight. Volda Lawrence and the Ministry of Public Health have displayed a total lack of emphasis for this mega health threat. The former Minister has been preoccupied with electoral fraud at our country’s expense. Many APNU/AFC supporters have seen through their electoral shenanigans and like the rest of us are waiting for a democratic transition.
Citizens are also aware that if the Government is not legitimate Guyana will not receive assistance from the international community and this means people are going to get sick and die in large numbers because of APNU/AFC stubbornness. Can anyone explain how APNU/AFC expects to borrow US$5 million from the international community at this 11th hour to fight COVID-19 while at the same time telling same to stay out of our affairs? Freddie hit the nail on the head when he said mad people are in charge. Sincerely, Ravi Ram Quite capable of fighting a dictatorship and COVID-19 at same time
The Hughes epistle
Dear Editor, What 'corn' is there to share Nigel? I was flummoxed to read a two-thousand-word epistle from Nigel Hughes (the sometimes politician) titled "How are we going to share the corn 2020". This diatribe is filled with inaccuracies and pseudo-historical facts to support the claims that there is an Indodominance in Guyana. Let me be pellucid in response. The disastrous period of APNU/AFC governance has moved Guyana's treasury from a surplus position of US$968 million to an over
draft deficit of US$400 million.
There will be no oil windfall or 'corn' to share and we are facing the very real possibility of LIZA 1 being capped if oil prices do not regain a position over US$28 per barrel.
All other sectors (pillars) of the economy have been decimated by the policies of the APNU/AFC
The refusal to accept the No-Confidence Motion loss in 2018 and the electoral defeat in 2020 are not based on anything other than an ignorant lust for power.
Your characterisation of a vote for APNU/AFC as hope and one for PPP/C as racial is an indictment of your mindset and is not reflective of the will of the people.
No one race can win an election; the PPP/C has made a clear effort to reach all Guyanese with its message of inclusivity. The APNU/AFC’s 2020 campaign was based on stirring racial sentiments and the post-election period has not done credit to the multi-ethnic character of the 'coalition'.
In closing, I suggest Nigel Hughes confine his fallacious arguments to use in consoling his spouse. The nation is faced with an enormously important task of fighting the COVID-19 outbreak with an empty treasury and an illegitimate Government and an obdurate outgoing President.
We are already starting to pull together to make the best use of resources available. Hughes would be better off advising Granger et al that they came to power democratically and it would be best to effect a transition of Government in the same manner, than in sharing imaginary corn.
17 Regional MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020
Uruguay and Bolivia have confirmed their first deaths related to coronavirus, as many Latin America countries go into lockdown in a bid to mitigate the impact of the global pandemic that has infected nearly 700,000 people worldwide and killed over 30,000.
Bolivia’s Health Minister, Aníbal Cruz said on Sunday that a 78-yearold woman in the lowland city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the region most affected, had died of severe respiratory distress after contracting the virus from a family member.
“We recommend that the population take care of our older adults who are the most vulnerable and sensitive to this disease,” Cruz told reporters.
Bolivia, which has 81 confirmed cases, has taken aggressive measures to slow the spread of the disease including a nationwide quarantine and closing the country’s borders.
Nearby Uruguay also reported its first coronavirus death, while total cases climbed above 300 in the grains and cattle producer, which has a population of around 3.5 million people.
The country’s Health Ministry said in a report that a 71-year-old former electoral court minister, Rodolfo González Rissotto, had died after contracting the virus.
An 82-year-old Uruguayan woman who died earlier in March was found to have had the virus, but her death was attributed to the terminal cancer she was suffering.
Chilean authorities reported a total of 2139 confirmed cases on Sunday after the number had passed one thousand on Wednesday. The copper-rich country has recorded seven deaths.
Neighbouring Argentina, which has imposed a nationwide quarantine, has 745 confirmed cases with 19 deaths, though the number of cases rose by the smallest margin in five days on Saturday, data from the Health Ministry showed. (Reuters) Bolivia, Uruguay confirm 1st coronavirus deaths Bolivian Health Minister Aníbal Cruz A s the world tries desperately to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, Brazil's President is doing his best to downplay it. Jair Bolsonaro has largely struggled to take it seriously. Going against his own Health Ministry's advice earlier in March, and while awaiting the results of a second coronavirus test, he left self-isolation to join rallies against Congress.
He shook hands with supporters in Brasilia and sent a message to millions that this was not something to worry about.
In a televised address last week, he repeated a now well-worn phrase. "It's just a little flu or the sniffles," he said, blaming the media once again for the hysteria and panic over Covid-19.
A few days later, he clearly demonstrated his prioritisation of the economy over isolation measures favoured by the rest of the world.
"People are going to die, I'm sorry," he said. "But we can't stop a car factory because there are traffic accidents."
"Jair Bolsonaro is alone right now," says Brian Winter, editor-in-chief of the publication Americas Quarterly. "No other major world leader is denying the severity of this to the extent that he is and depending on how things go, that approach could cost a lot of lives in Brazil."
Bolsonaro is frustrated. He came to power last year promising a better economy and coronavirus has put a stop to that.
Rio's beaches are deserted and the normally gridlocked streets of São Paulo are empty. Shops, schools, public spaces and businesses in many states have shut. (Excerpt from BBC News) Coronavirus: Brazil's Bolsonaro in denial and out on a limb F oreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith says the welfare needs of Jamaican students in Barbados are being addressed.
Providing an update on the students, in the Senate on March 27, Johnson Smith said Barbados has instituted daily curfews to minimise the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), and some of them are getting anxious. They are being accommodated at the University of the West Indies halls of residence, and they are in touch with members of the Jamaica/Barbados Association, which is offering counselling. “Their phones have been topped up and they have been provided with groceries,” she said.
The Minister added that the Honorary Consul was working day and night to ensure that everybody's needs have been addressed.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley said the curfew was slated to last until April 14.
The Foreign Minister urged Jamaicans at home and abroad to look out for each other and assist where possible. She reminded Jamaicans that travel has become “very risky” and called on them to be aware of their circumstances and surroundings.
“The consular teams overseas have been incredible and I want to place on record here the thanks of a grateful nation for their efforts for Jamaicans in distress overseas,” she said.
For her part, Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, Donna Scott Mottley urged Jamaicans to stay at home and abide by the rules of the Health and Wellness Ministry.
“We don't know who we are coming in contact with,” she said.(Jamaica Observer) Help for Jamaican students in Barbados Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith
Prime Minister Allen Chastanet on Friday thanked the Government and people of Cuba as 113 Cuban medical professionals arrived there to lend support to the ongoing efforts to strengthen the health system amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We know that every country in the world is facing their own challenges at this time – including Cuba and we are so very thankful for this immense show of brotherhood from this longstanding friend of St Lucia.” “On behalf of the Government and people of St Lucia, we thank the Cuban President and Cuba’s Ambassador to our island, Alejandro Simancas Marin for their efforts to assist St Lucia,” the Prime Minister said.
“This is a true show of unity and caring and we are proud that Cuba has been among the nations leading the charge to find treatment for COVID-19 and helping hard hit countries such as Italy.
He said although the island has only had three confirmed cases, “we are in preparation mode, setting up our quarantine and respiratory hospital facilities”. “Our local team has been working very hard and going above and beyond as our country tries to be as prepared as we possibly can.”
Chastanet said the Cuban team will be of great help in stabilising that initial transitioning phase to the new hospital and providing support in some of these areas.
Chastanet also thanked the Government of the Cayman Islands for the transportation arrangements in transferring the medical team from Cuba to St Lucia free of cost. (CMC) St Lucia thanks Cuba for medical team
Coronavirus-stricken cruise in race to transfer “healthy” passengers
Acruise ship carrying more than 1800 people off Panama has begun moving healthy passengers to another ship after four people died and two others tested positive for coronavirus.
The owners of the Zaandam, Holland America, said that more than 130 people on board had reported suffering "flu-like symptoms" and respiratory issues.
The Dutch-owned operator said it was transferring asymptomatic people to a sister ship.
It said this would avoid further cases. The Zaandam and its sister ship the Rotterdam are both off the Pacific coast of Panama. The Zaandam was planning to sail to Florida, but got stuck after the Panamanian authorities said that no vessel with confirmed coronavirus cases on board could pass through the Panama Canal.
However, both ships were later granted permission to continue their journeys in order "to provide humanitarian help" – although the Panamanian authorities added that no passenger could disembark.
The company first announced its plan to "transfer groups of healthy Zaandam guests to [the] Rotterdam" in a statement on Facebook on Friday, adding that it would follow "strict protocols".
It said that "four older guests" had died, but did not give further details about the causes of death.
"We received approval from Panamanian authorities to conduct ship-to-ship operations at anchor between the two vessels," the statement reads.
An unspecified number of passengers –- as well as medical supplies and staff – are being transferred between the vessels.
Holland America had earlier said that 53 guests and 85 crew members had reported influenza-like illness symptoms.
There were initially 1,243 guests and 586 crew on board the Zaandam, including four doctors and four nurses, the company said.
The Panama Maritime Authority later said that passengers who were not displaying coronavirus symptoms could be transferred to the Rotterdam. “It has been concluded that it does not represent any risk to our population since it will be carried out more than eight miles from the mainland,” the authority said, adding that the bodies of the deceased would remain on the Zaandam. (Excerpt from BBC News) St Lucia Carnival postponed The Zaandam has now been granted permission to pass through the Panama Canal (Reuters)
The Government of St Lucia on Friday announced that Carnival 2020 has been postponed in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
In a release, the Administration said the decision was made by taking into account the economic and public health implications associated with the virus.
“The Government of St Lucia held several consultations with representatives of the carnival community, regarding the best possible strategy for Carnival 2020. In so doing, the Government sought a broad consensus which would serve the best interests of the festival’s presenters, promoters, participants, producers and partners.”
Following discussions, the representatives agreed that with a highly unpredictable global environment “nothing should be done which would compromise local efforts at containment”. The issues that influenced the discussions included international travel restrictions, competing regional events and the availability of sponsorship support. (CMC)
18 MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020 Around the World
OILNEWS
The global oil market is broken, overwhelmed by an unmanageable surplus as virus lockdowns cascade through the world’s largest economies. Onshore tanks in many markets are full, forcing traders to store excess oil in idle supertankers. Refineries are starting to shut down because nobody needs the fuels they produce. In physical oil markets, barrels are already changing hands for less than US$10, and in a few landlocked markets producers are paying consumers to take away their crude.
Oil traders say it’s likely to get worse this week. The root cause is an accelerating plunge in consumption that’s without precedent since a steady flow of oil became essential to the global economy more than a century ago. The great crash of 1929, the twin oil shocks of the 1970s and the global financial crisis don’t come close. The world normally uses 100 million barrels of oil daily, and traders and analysts reckon as much as a quarter of that has disappeared in just a few weeks. The global airline industry is grounded, countless businesses and factories are shuttered and billions of people have been forced to stay home.
“Demand clearly is off, in some parts of the world, very dramatically,” Chevron CEO Mike Wirth told Bloomberg TV.
The immediate problem is a lack of storage in the right places. With demand running 20 million barrels a day below supply, the world won’t have enough tanks to store the surplus in two or three months. But the issue is even more pressing because global tank capacity, mostly concentrated in a few hubs like Rotterdam, the Caribbean and Singapore, isn’t available to every producer. For those without access to pipelines and ports, local storage will run out in days, traders and consultants say.
For those with access to the coast, one solution is to use the supertanker fleet as floating storage tanks, and that’s happening at an unprecedented rate. The CEO of the world’s largest tanker owner, Frontline Ltd, said on Friday that he’d never known such demand to hire ships for long-term storage. Traders could book ships to put 100 million barrels at sea this week alone, he estimated, but even that could account for less than a week’s oversupply.
In the US, one of the largest pipeline companies, Plains All American Pipeline LP, has asked oil producers to voluntarily cut output to avoid overwhelming the network that connects wellheads to refineries through thousands of miles of pipelines. The world is running out of places to put oil because the shutdown of vast swathes of the economy has been catastrophic for demand. The collapse in commercial air travel has cut jet fuel use by up to 75 per cent, or almost 5 million barrels a day. As for gasoline, American drivers are the single biggest source of demand, using more than 9 million barrels a day, according to the Energy Information Administration. As whole states, including California and New York, have told people to stay home, billions of car journeys have been lost. It’s a pattern repeated in Europe and Asia.
Around the world, about 700 refineries turn crude oil into gasoline, diesel and other fuels. They are starting to dial down production and even shut outright because demand for the fuel they produce is so dire. In India, for example, where 1.3 billion people are under lockdown until mid-April, the nation’s biggest refinery has cut processing rates at most plants by as much as 30 per cent.
A small refiner in Italy, the epicentre of Europe’s virus outbreak, shut on Friday because demand for fuel plunged 85 per cent.
As the refining system withers, the crude oil market is suffering. Many crudes, especially sticky, sulfurous grades that refiners find hard to process, trade at hefty discounts to international benchmarks. Western Canadian Select, a tarry blend squeezed from Alberta’s oil sands, reached a record low ofUS$4.51 a barrel on Friday. The surprise, perhaps, is that benchmark futures are still trading as high as they are. Brent, the North Sea grade that sets the price for about two-thirds of the world’s oil, ended last week at US$24.93 a barrel, well above the historic low of US$9.55 a barrel in 1998.
Luckock at Trafigura said future prices are likely to fall another US$10. Black Gold’s Ross also said Brent and the US benchmark, West Texas Intermediate, will be trading in the teens within days.
The next stage of the oil market’s meltdown will be widespread production shutdowns as drillers decide the only option is to leave it in the ground until better days return. There are signs this is starting to happen. (Excerpt from Bloomberg) The global oil market is broken, drowning in crude nobody needs
Coronavirus: India's PM Modi seeks “forgiveness” over lockdown I ndia's Prime Minister has asked for his country's forgiveness after imposing a sweeping lockdown that he said had hurt millions of poor people.
Criticism has mounted over the lack of planning ahead of the coronavirus shutdown, which was introduced with less than four hours' notice.
Many of India's 1.3 billion citizens have been left jobless and hungry.
In his weekly radio address, PM Narendra Modi apologised for the impact of the strict stay-at-home measures.
But he said there was "no other way" to stop the rapid spread of the virus.
People are banned from leaving their homes for three weeks under the "total lockdown" measures announced on Tuesday. All non-essential businesses have been closed and almost all public gatherings are banned.
It has sparked an exodus from major cities such as Delhi, where thousands of migrant workers are setting out on long journeys back to their home villages after transport was stopped.
India announced a US$22 billion (£19 billion) bailout for the country's poor on Tuesday, including free food and cash handouts, but there are concerns this might not reach those most in need.
India has reported about 1000 cases of coronavirus and 25 deaths.
However, experts worry that the real number of infections could be far higher. India has one of the lowest testing rates in the world, although efforts are underway to ramp up capacity.
There are fears that an outbreak in the country - one of the world's most densely populated - could result in a catastrophe.
The country’s economy was already in the midst of a severe slowdown before the country went into lockdown. (Excerpt from BBC News) Migrant workers and their families have been crowding at bus stations as they try to get home
Thomas Schaefer, the Finance Minister of Germany's Hesse state, has committed suicide apparently after becoming "deeply worried" over how to cope with the economic fallout from the coronavirus, state premier Volker Bouffier said on Sunday.
Schaefer, 54, was found dead near a railway track on Saturday. The Wiesbaden prosecution's office said they believe he died by suicide.
"We are in shock, we are in disbelief and above all, we are immensely sad," Bouffier said in a recorded statement. Police and prosecutors said factors, including the questioning of witnesses and their own observations at the scene, led them to conclude that Schaefer killed himself.
Hesse is home to Germany's financial capital Frankfurt, where major lenders such as Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank have their headquarters. The European Central Bank is also located in Frankfurt. A visibly shaken Bouffier recalled that Schaefer, who was Hesse's finance chief for 10 years, had been working "day and night" to help companies and workers deal with the economic impact of the pandemic.
"Today we have to assume that he was deeply worried," said Bouffier, a close ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"It's precisely during this difficult time that we would have needed someone like him," he added.
Popular and well-respected, Schaefer had long been touted as a possible successor to Bouffier.
Like Bouffier, Schaefer belonged to Merkel's centre-right CDU party.
He leaves behind a wife and two children. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera) German State Minister kills himself as coronavirus hits economy Thomas Schafer belonged to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right CDU party
China defends against incoming 2nd wave of coronavirus A growing number of imported coronavirus cases in China risked fanning a second wave of infections when domestic transmissions had “basically been stopped”, a senior health official said on Sunday, while eased travel curbs may also add to domestic risks.
China, where the disease first emerged in the central city of Wuhan, had an accumulated total of 693 cases entering from overseas, which meant “the possibility of a new round of infections remains relatively big”, Mi Feng, spokesman for the National Health Commission (NHC), said.
Nearly a quarter of those came from arrivals in Beijing.
In the last seven days, China has reported 313 imported cases of coronavirus but only six confirmed cases of domestic transmission, NHC’s data showed.
Airlines have been ordered to sharply cut international flights from Sunday. And restrictions on foreigners entering the country went into effect on Saturday. Saturday marked the fourth consecutive day that Hubei recorded no new confirmed cases.
All airports in Hubei resumed some domestic flights on Sunday, with the exception of Wuhan, which will open to domestic flights on April 8.
Restrictions have also been eased on people looking to return to the capital, although the procedure still appears much more vigorous as it’s done on an application approval basis.
As scientists worldwide scramble to fight the battle against the coronavirus, a Chinese research institute said this week it has developed a nanomaterial that can absorb and deactivate the coronavirus, and that it is looking to work with companies to apply the technology in making air purifiers and face masks.
Lab tests by a CDC branch in China’s Anhui province showed the material deactivated 96.5-99.9% of the coronavirus, the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics under state think tank Chinese Academy of Sciences said in a statement. (Reuters) A man wearing a face mask skateboards on a street in Wuhan, Hubei province, the epicentre of China's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, March 28, 2020
CALVIN AND HOBBES
SUDOKU
SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE
ARIES (March 21- April 19)
TAURUS (April 20- May 20) Listen to others, but don’t let anyone make decisions for you. Be true to your be- liefs and needs, and follow through with your plans. Charm, not stubbornness, will help you reach your ob- jective.
Personal gain can be yours if you share your ide- as and collaborate with like-minded people. Let go of regrets and know enough to walk away from emotion- ally manipulative people.
GEMINI (May 21- June 20)
CANCER (June 21- July 22)
LEO (July 23- Aug. 22)
(Aug. 23- Sept. 22) VIRGO
LIBRA (Sept. 23- Oct. 23)
SCORPIO (Oct. 24- Nov. 22) Avoid getting into a dis- cussion with someone who exhausts you. Focus on the good you can do, not on neg- ative people or someone pressuring you to take a risk.
Don’t deny yourself the de- sire for something new or different. Refuse to let fear stop you from experiencing what life has to offer. When oppor- tunity knocks, open the door. Romance is favored.
A dead-end project should be cut loose. Think twice be- fore you pursue an unrealis- tic endeavor. Concentrate on the people and projects that will enhance your life instead of those that hold you back.
You’ll face opposition if you aren’t willing to meet someone halfway. Don’t ig- nore the signals someone is sending you. If you neglect your personal or profession- al responsibilities, problems will occur.
Don’t allow anyone to use you as his or her pup- pet. You’ve worked hard to get where you are, and it’s time to recognize your val- ue. Stand up for your rights.
Spend more time building a solid foundation. Learn from your experiences and branch out in a direction that excites you. Romance is in the stars.
(Nov. 23- Dec. 21) SAGITTARIUS Changes to how or where you live will turn out bet- ter than anticipated. Listen to your heart, not to what someone else tries to lead you to believe.
(Dec. 22- Jan. 19) CAPRICORN
(Jan. 20- Feb. 19) AQUARIUS
(Feb. 20- March 20) PISCES Reconnecting with some- one will prompt you to re- visit a goal you have yet to reach. Make a personal change that will add to your appeal and boost your confi- dence.
Think about what you have, what you want and the best way to achieve your goal. Take a closer look at your motives and future, and make a change.
Season could be
lost, says Uefa boss
beginning of the next [season], starting the following one later. We will see the best solution for leagues and clubs."
As it stands there are nine games to be completed by the majority of Premier League clubs, and up to 12 in the Football League.
All football in England is suspended until at least 30 April.
Ceferin says that playing remaining games behind closed doors would have to be an option across Europe.
Even in MotoGP's virtual world, a Marquez still rules
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin says the current football season could be lost if it cannot be restarted by the end of June.
Most leagues in Europe are suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, with this summer's Euro 2020 tournament postponed for another year.
Ceferin says seasons could be finished behind closed doors. "If we don't succeed in restarting, the Liverpool are 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League
season will probably be lost," the Slovenian said.
He told Italian newspaper La Repubblica: "There is a plan A, B and C.
"The three options are to start again in mid-May, in June or at the end of June. "There is also the possibility of starting again at the
"It's hard for me to imagine all the matches behind closed doors, but we still don't know whether we'll resume, with or without spectators," he said.
"If there was no alternative, it would be better to finish the championships." (BBC Sport) Repsol Honda's Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez pose for pictures during a launching ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia
Alex Marquez celebrated a first MotoGP win — even if only virtually — in a ‘#StayAtHomeGP’ esports race featuring 10 top riders including older brother and six-time world champion Marc.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic that has brought live sport to a standstill, the 23-year-old Moto2 champion is still waiting to debut in the top category after moving up to partner Marc at Repsol Honda. The opening race in Qatar on March 8 was canceled and all other races up to May 17 have been postponed, with more likely to be stalled.
Sunday’s light-hearted online race, with riders joining remotely, was put on by MotoGP organizers to give fans something to watch while reinforcing the message about staying safe at home.
“I am really pleased to win my first race!” joked Alex, whose brother has won the last four MotoGP titles and triumphed in 12 of last year’s 19 races with single-season point and podium records.
The Spaniard said Indonesian esports racer Putut Maulana had given him some useful tips, which he had kept to himself out of sibling rivalry.
Italian Francesco Bagnaia was second for Pramac Ducati with Yamaha’s Spaniard Maverick Vinales third in a crash-strewn race over six laps around the virtual Italian Grand Prix circuit at Mugello. Marc Marquez was fifth.
“I enjoyed it a lot and I hope everyone who watched also had a good time,” said Alex Marquez. “Let’s hope that everyone continues to follow the advice of the doctors and scientists so that we can return to a more normal life, seeing friends and
family, enjoying the outside and going racing.”
Second only to Italy in fatalities, Spain is preparing to enter its third week under neartotal lockdown with most of the population housebound as the country tries to curb the virus.
Seven of Sunday’s 10 riders were Spanish.
Petronas Yamaha’s French rider Fabio Quartararo came fourth, and set the fastest lap, after starting from pole position but taking out future team mate Vinales at the first corner of a chaotic opening lap.
“You need a different style in these kinds of races so I had to adapt my strategy a little bit during the day,” commented Marc Marquez, who also crashed.
“A good time and I am really happy to be able to do something for the fans.” (Reuters)
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Coe says delaying 2020 Games
Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, says the decision to postpone the Tokyo Olympics was made for the wellbeing of athletes.
Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, says the decision to postpone the Tokyo Olympics was made for the wellbeing of athletes. Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/ AFP via Getty Images
Sebastian Coe has said the postponement of the Olympics was necessary in order to safeguard the psychological wellbeing of athletes because many were in “mental turmoil” not knowing if the Tokyo Games were to proceed as scheduled.
The 2020 Olympic Games were postponed last Tuesday in response to the coronavirus pandemic following talks between Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, and the International Olympic Committee president, Thomas Bach.
Two weeks ago Lord Coe, the president of World Athletics, had been circumspect, saying “anything is possible” and emphasising the difficulties of moving the Games to 2021. He now concedes events necessitated action. “We’re no different from everyone else out there but I think we just concluded that sport, on this occasion, had to take a back seat,” Coe told TalkSport. “We didn’t want to have the athletes in a position where they were countering government advice, maybe even breaking the law.
“And of course in the back of their minds was always that concern, it wasn’t just their own training programme, but that they ran the risk of effectively infecting themselves, their families, their kids, grandparents or parents, and we just wanted to take them out of that mental turmoil as quickly as we possibly could.”
Bach has setup an IOC taskforce called Here We Go whose brief is to work with 33 international sports federations about setting new dates for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Among the considerations is staging the Games in the spring of next year. “The agreement is that we want to organise these Games at the latest in the summer 2021,” Bach said. “This is not restricted just to the summer months. All the options are on the table including the summer 2021.”
The new head of UK Athletics has vowed to restore belief in an organisation that has been mired in controversy. Joanna Coates, appointed chief executive late last year, is well aware of the negative focus triggered by the results of its independent review into the handling of Mo Farah’s former coach Alberto Salazar. Neil Black, the UKA performance director, became the latest senior figure to leave his role before another review was launched, this time by UK Sport.
IOC president Thomas Bach has created a taskforce. The IOC president, Thomas Bach, has created a taskforce to come up with new dates for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
“The board has given me the remit to make changes to ensure this organisation gets back to where it should be,” Coates told the Sunday Telegraph. “There will be major change in the organisation, and that doesn’t just mean people. That means policy, procedures, how we liaise with other organisations.” “I do not want medals at all costs. I hope Dina [Asher-Smith] wins. I believe she will and we want her to. But it’s about her story, her journey in athletics and what athletics can bring to anybody that participates. That’s what it should be about.” (The Guardian) relieved "mental turmoil" of athletes World Athletics President Sebastian Coe
ECB readies financial rescue plan, but no cuts for Root and Stokes
Joe Root and Ben Stokes during a nets session in Colombo in early March before England’s tour of Sri Lanka was abandoned Joe Root (right) and Ben Stokes during a nets session in Colombo in early March before England’s tour of Sri Lanka was abandoned. Photograph: Gareth Copley/ Getty Images
The England and Wales Cricket Board is preparing to unveil an emergency financial package to support the game during the costly delay to the season but pay cuts for centrally contracted players are not being discussed.
The postponement of
Ben Stokes and Joe Root the 2020 campaign is set to place a huge strain on the sport’s fragile finances, with no cricket before 28 May at the earliest and potentially well beyond that. The ECB spent much of last week in talks with several key stakeholders – including the 18 first-class counties, the Professional Cricketers’ Association and broadcasters – to map out measures that could be taken to keep the game afloat at a time when the usual summer revenue taps have run dry.
An action plan is likely to be delivered for board approval in the next few days but the bumper deals commanded by England’s top all-format players such as Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler will not be targeted. They earn in the region of £1m from their ECB contracts, with red- or whiteball specialists on a sliding pay scale. With savings being sought across the board it is not impossible they will end up on reduced terms but it is understood any such move would have to be a voluntary one considering the terms of their agreements. Instead the ECB is likely to use its cash reserves – which have slipped considerably in recent years to around £11m – and offer support for clubs as they seek to access government schemes. The eventual funding package is due to cover the recreational game as well the county system, with the ECB particularly eager to protect grassroots cricket as part of its promise to grow the game in the wider community. (The Guardian)
Turkey's legend in hospital with coronavirus
Rustu Recber was part of the Turkey side who reached the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup
Turkey's most capped player, former goalkeeper Rustu Recber, is in a "critical period" in hospital with coronavirus.
The ex-Barcelona and Fenerbahce keeper, 46, won 120 caps and was one of the players of the tournament when Turkey reached the 2002 World Cup semi-finals. "We are still in shock by the sudden and rapidRustu Recber was part of the Turkey side who reached the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup
ly developing symptoms," his wife Isil Recber said on Instagram.
Isil and her two children have tested negative for the virus.
Rustu retired in 2012 after a five-year stint with Besiktas.
"We convey our wishes for a speedy recovery to our former national team goal
keeper Rustu Recber, who sported our jersey for many years; we wish for him to regain his health as soon as possible and hope to receive good news from him," Fenerbahce said on Twitter. Barcelona wrote on Twitter in Turkish: "Get well Rustu! We love you and we as Barcelona stand with you!" (BBC Sport)
Some players are simply unlucky. In terms of not actually playing for West Indies after putting in some solid performances at the domestic level, Anthony Bramble sits on top of that list. In the past few seasons, Bramble has recorded some strong performances with bat, and his glovework continues to get better daily.
In the 2017-18 season, Bramble racked up 613 runs for the Guyana Jaguars. The lad, who plays for Albion locally, backed up his aggregate with 42 catches and three stumpings in that memorable season. After averaging 47.15 with the bat, Bramble had one century, a high score of 196*, and four half-centuries.
The right-handed batsman then proved his consistency, following up in the 2018-19 4-Day season with 580 runs at a stunning average of 52.72. Bramble scored two centuries in that season and again was in top form with the gloves. He accounted for 42 catches and one stumping. After those back-to-back season efforts, Bramble earned selection for the West Indies T20 team, but did not play a single match. In Bramble's most recent 4-Day season, he had promising outings; however, but his performance was not as impressive compared to the previous outings. He scored 339 runs at an average of 26.07, including two half-centuries with a high score of 91, just missing out on a century.
Shane Dowrich has established himself as the first-choice Test keeper, but Jahmar Hamilton was given an opportunity in 2019 397 minutes of Tagenarine Chanderpaul in Tests, ahead of Bramble. H a m i l t o n has also been in the runs at the Regional 4-Day level, but from 2017-18 to the 2020 season, his numbers were inferior to Bramble’s.
H a m i l t o n ' s dream season was in 2016- 17 where he scored 648 runs in nine matches at an average of 46.28, includ - ing two centuries and two half-centuries. The busy right-handed Hamilton then had a poor 2017-18 season, scoring 237 runs in eight matches with only one half-century at an average of 16.92. In 2018-19, Hamilton then scored 385 runs in seven matches at 29.61 with three half-centuries.
The most recent Regional 4-Day season saw Hamilton scoring 372 runs at 28.61 with four fifties. If Dowrich misses a Test and Shai Hope is not given the opportunity to keep in Tests, will Bramble be tipped ahead of Hamilton or will he continue to be unlucky? (Brandon Corlette) Yarde says his father has died with coronavirus Anthony Bramble a determined Bramble
Guyana Jaguars opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul has been known for his solidity at the top of the order. His innings of 66 not out against Barbados Pride in the second round of the 2020 Regional 4-Day, where he carried his bat in the innings of 209 all out, came off 280 balls and 397 minutes.
Bridgetown, Barbados witnessed a painstaking innings in one of Jaguars’ poor batting efforts in the season. Despite his poor 2020 season, the young Chanderpaul had been in the runs in the 2017-18 and 2018- 19 season. Chanderpaul scored 315 runs in the eight matches he played this season at an average of 24.23. He recorded three half-centuries, all of which came early in the tournament. He had a highscore of 68, and his three half-centuries were in the 60s.
Prior to the start of the 4-Day season, the young Chanderpaul had hopes of scoring heavy runs in this 2020 Regional 4-Day season to press a case for selection to tour England. However, this season did not reflect on his solid performances in previous seasons. In the 2018-19 season, Chanderpaul scored 542 runs at 33.87. The defensive batsman had recorded one century and one half-century with a high score of 117. Meanwhile, in the 2017-18 season, where Chanderpaul played nine matches; he made 459 runs at an average of 38.25. He had one century and three half-centuries, with a high score of 101. Some may say that the young Tiger has a style for Test cricket, some may argue that he is not ready for the highest level of cricket. To date, Chanderpaul has played 43 FirstClass matches and made 2072 runs.
He is still a work in progress; he has a batting average of 29.18 with
two First-Class centuries in his career and 10 half-centuries. The 23-yearold, who was a former West Indies U-19 player, has a long career ahead. With his great temperament, Test cricket is not far from his reach. Given he develops his scoring ability at the higher level, he will certainly follow the footsteps of his father, the great Shivnarine Chanderpaul. (Brandon Corlette)
British boxer Anthony Yarde says his father has died after contracting coronavirus.
The 28-year-old light-heavyweight has urged people to stay at home, saying his father had been "fit with no health issues" before becoming ill.
"I'm still in shock but maybe this can help people stay at home," Yarde posted on social media.
"The more people go out and mingle, the longer this isolation will last and the more it will spread."
The total confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK on Sunday had reached 19,522, with 1,228 deaths.
Yarde's promoter, Frank Warren, expressed his "sincere condolences to Yarde and his family".
"Coronavirus is an issue affecting all of us, but that doesn’t make the individual casualties any less tragic," he said.
"We hope that his fans listen to Anthony’s heartfelt plea for people to take the government's advice seriously so we can try and minimise the suffering of others."
Yarde's next fight was set to be against Britain's Lyndon Arthur on 11 April, but the event has been delayed until 11 July because of the pandemic. (BBC Sport) Anthony Yarde has won all 19 of his professional bouts, including 18 by knockout
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Coe says delaying 2020 Games relieved “mental turmoil” of athletes
397 minutes of Tagenarine Chanderpaul
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Blackwood to curb aggressive approach to batting See story on page 21
