Guyana Times Saturday February 29, 2020

ExxonMobil, other agencies continue oil spill response P20 readiness

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4211

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2020

Region 10 loggers up in arms against Govt's 164,000 acres land giveaway See story on page 6

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

GAWU renews calls for P19 retroactive payment for sugar workers …GuySuCo to consider new proposal

...plan protest action

Political parties sign on to GECOM's code of conduct – PPP/C says code of conduct will foster elections “free from fear” See story on page 3

PPP/C Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali (left) and APNU/AFC Presidential Candidate President David Granger (right) with Guyana Elections Commission Chair Retired Justice Claudette Singh after the signing of the code of conduct for the political parties contesting the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. The signing was done at GECOM’s headquarters, Barrack Street, Kingston, Georgetown on Friday

No “nightshift” in front Local authorities of polling stations – monitoring 18 persons for Police Top Brass ...assures PPP of adequate security measures See story on page 8

coronavirus Mahdia minibus driver shot dead by alleged drunken Police Sergeant Page 19

See story on page 6

ERC flays Harmon P17 over divisive campaign behaviour …says actions unhelpful to the process of promoting harmony, tolerance

GECOM agrees to more party agents scrutinising transport of P7 results Taxi driver jailed for fondling P20 young girl

EU deploys 20 more elections P17 observers across Guyana

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

Saturday, February 29 – 08:00h – 09:30h and Sunday, March 1 – 08:30h – 10:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, February 29 – 07:00h – 08:30h and Sunday, March 1 – 07:40h – 09:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunshine will prevail during the day. There will be clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 20 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 07:48h and 20:13h reaching maximum heights of 2.51 metres and 2.44 metres.

Political parties sign on to GECOM's code of conduct

– PPP/C says code of conduct will foster elections “free from fear”

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ine of the 11 political parties contesting Monday’s General and Regional Elections signed onto a code of conduct, with the majority expressing confidence that the agreement among parties would foment a more amicable environment before, during, and after the polls.

Opposition People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali, in brief remarks to the gathering following the signing of the agreement, expressed confidence that the

Presidential Candidates of the parties contesting the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections at the signing of the code of conduct on Friday

Low Tide: 01:25h and 13:45h reaching minimum heights of 0.73 metre and 0.70 metre.

PPP/C Presidential Candidates Irfaan Ali signing the code of conduct

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020

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code of conduct facilitated by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) would not only help to secure “free and fair elections” but an “elections that is free from fear”.

Head of State, President David Granger, who leads the list on behalf of coalition A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) congratulated the Commission for document and committed to abiding by its provi-

sions.

Representatives of A New and United Guyana (ANUG), The Citizens Initiative (TCI), Change Guyana, the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), the Peoples’ Republic Party (PRP), the New Movement Party and the United Republican Party were all on hand to place their signatures to the non-legally binding document and expressed similar sentiments to that of the leaders of the two larger behemoths in the

race.

At the Commission’s High Street, Kingston Office, the activity was held in the presence of GECOM Chairman, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield in addition to several of the party’s commissioners and overseas elections observers.

Justice Singh, in introducing the documents for the party representatives, reminded that the exercise was meant to develop the ethical principles that

would guide the political leaders and their supporters during the elections’ season.

She did use the occasion to point out that while some of the political parties were absent from the event, this was not their fault since the Commission had been late in sending out the invitations for the activity.

“I would urge all parties to adopt a responsible approach” and to refrain from hate speeches, incitement and provocation, the GECOM Chair urged.

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Crude Oil Rough Rice London Sugar

$52.18/barrel $244.53/ton $396.60/ton

Live Spot Gold

Change % -2.40 +0.11 0.00

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask $1585.50 $1586.50 Low/High $1562.50 $1643.10 Change 0.00 0.00

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guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 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

Moving on as one T

he two main political parties – the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC)— will soon wrap up their campaigns with each of them hosting their final rally this evening, marking an end of a fierce political battle between them.

In addition to hosting rallies across the country, both of them have presented manifestoes which detailed the plans and policies they hope to implement if they are given the mandate to form the next Government. Both parties have also had the opportunity to serve in Government before— first the PPP/C and now the incumbent APNU/AFC— so voters, no doubt, in making their decision, will compare their (parties’) track records while in office.

It could be recalled that in May 2015, using the ‘Change’ campaign slogan, the APNU/AFC coalition took the reins of power with an extremely thin majority – less than 5000 votes.

When the new coalition Government was formed, it enjoyed some amount of goodwill as persons wanted to give them a fair chance to deliver what they promised on the campaign trail.

However, most persons would agree that they squandered the opportunity to a great extent as many of the promises made were unfulfilled.

The Government, led by David Granger, was quickly caught up in one scandal after the other. It was also plagued by indecision and viewed as out of touch with reality, uncaring and even selfish. Many viewed the APNU/AFC members as opportunists and unsuitable for the ministerial positions they were offered. Barring a few, to date, many of them would have great difficulty convincing the nation that they were able to accomplish something tangible during their tenure. There was hardly any real plan or programme to create jobs, generate wealth, bring in new investors, improve social services or raise the quality of life for citizens.

In fact, the APNU/AFC’s almost five years in office will be remembered for the series of unpopular decisions made. For example, mere weeks after getting into office, ministers were given a 50 per cent raise in their salaries while public servants were literally begging for a decent wage. Then, there were the decisions to scrap the $10,000 cash grant for school children and to take away the water and electricity subsidies from pensioners. Also, not long after he was appointed Government’s point man on national security, Khemraj Ramjattan took a decision to enforce a 2 AM curfew for bars and night clubs. His justification for this move was that crime would be reduced.

We are all well aware that crime in Guyana has taken on new dimensions and hence, requires modern, strategic thinking and effective policy decisions matched by the necessary resources to confront it. To date, the Minister, nor his Government has come up with any concrete plan to address the various forms of criminality affecting citizens. If that was not enough, perhaps the most unpopular of them all was the unilateral decision to move ahead with closing four sugar estates without carrying out any proper social and economic impact assessments and engaging industry stakeholders. In addition to the thousands of sugar workers that were placed on the breadline, hundreds of families have been pushed into poverty. Businesses and the national economy as a whole are also feeling the impact. There were several other unpopular decisions which saw families and communities suffering, but because of space, we will not list them here.

On Monday, March 2, citizens will go to the polls to elect a Government that they believe is best suited to manage the affairs of the nation. Our hope is that they will be allowed to do so in the most peaceful and uninterrupted manner. The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has indicated its readiness and has given all assurances that all systems are in place to ensure the elections are free, fair and credible.

The national security agencies must also be on alert and fully prepared to deal with any disruption, not just for E-day, but the entire post-election period. We cannot allow our country to descend into chaos and confusion.

That said, having overcome the hurdle of holding the elections, it is hoped that the country; meaning all stakeholders including the new Government and other parliamentary parties, the business community and ordinary citizens will begin to focus on moving the country forward. We should demonstrate to the world that we can campaign and conduct elections peacefully, and when the results are out, we can then work towards achieving our development objectives as one.

Shanghai Ballet dancers wear masks during practice in a dance studio in Shanghai, China, as the country is hit by an outbreak of coronavirus [Photo by REUTERS/Aly Song]

Ridiculous APNU/AFC bogus claims – track record on health, agriculture shameful Dear Editor, A spade is a spade – APNU/ AFC did not reduce maternal deaths, did not improve availability and access to medicines and medical supplies and did not increase the numbers of nurses and doctors in the health sector. These are patented lies from pathological liars. Similarly, APNU/AFC did not create more jobs in agriculture, they lost jobs; they did not produce more because agriculture’s productivity plummeted; and they did not open more factories, this is nothing more than a willful, full-throated bogus claim.

Instead of asking for another term based on their track record in Government, APNU/ AFC opted for dishonesty and indecency - first, demonise and attack (“cussing out”) Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP and, second, just plain lie to the Guyanese people. APNU/AFC presently are running fullpage newspaper, radio and TV ads, not even trying minimally to be truthful, honest and decent. They stand a better chance doing the right thing - apologise and beg for another chance. Instead, they have chosen to openly and blatantly lie, claiming achievements that are non-existent. APNU/ AFC has desperately avoided any discourse on their track record, preferring the safe space of advertisements and brazen banners dotted with spurious claims and total lies.

In one full-page ad, they boasted they invested $127.4 billion in health and in another, they boasted of investing $98 billion in agriculture the last five years. For their investment in health, they claimed they improved maternal care, increased the numbers of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers and improved access to medicines. For agriculture, the lies are even more preposterous, claiming more

produce, more factories, more jobs. The lies for both health and agriculture are not just obnoxious, they are arrogant, insulting and disqualifying.

For health, the investment of $127 billion for the last five years is more than the PPP spent in 23 years, on an annual basis spending five times more than the PPP. Yet, there is no obvious improvement in health. The claim of improved maternal care is patently false and immediately dismissed - 26 pregnant women died in 2019, although the Ministry claimed that 18 of them were maternal deaths, insisting 8 pregnant women died of causes not related to their pregnancy. But maternal deaths are deaths of pregnant women and the fact remains, 26 of them died in 2019. Still, whichever of the two numbers, 26 or 18, is used this is more than was the rate under the PPP. Between 2008 and 2015, there were between 8 and 14 maternal deaths. The high maternal death number is totally unacceptable, especially since the number of pregnancies is significantly less now.

In the 23 years, the PPP reduced maternal deaths dramatically, recalling that between 1985 and 1992, the number of maternal deaths were between 65 and 100. The fact is that there has been no improvement in the last five years and the evidence is it has regressed. The boast of improved maternal care is a patented lie.

Even worse than the maternal care lie is the boast of improved access to medicines and medical supplies. This is, in fact, one of the most egregious shames for APNU/AFC in the last five years. They spent between 2015 and 2019, more than $37 billion for medicines and medical supplies, slightly more than the PPP did in 23 years. Their average an-

nual expenditure on medicines and medical supplies was 5 times more than the PPP. But it is indisputable, availability and accessibility to medicines and medical supplies in 2014 was far superior than it has been in the last five years. This has been a major disaster for APNU/AFC. They have spent five times what the PPP did and got less. APNU and AFC, if they are smart, should stay far from any discourse on medicines and medical supplies.

Right at this moment, there are shortages - several places in Guyana have no HIV testing kits, there are no juvenile insulin pens, there are major shortages for critical medicines for high blood pressure and diabetes, etc.

As for the boast of more staffing, they should publish the numbers. It was the Deputy Chief Medical Officer who not so long ago, as reported in the media, admitted that the Diamond Diagnostic Centre functions at less than 33 per cent capacity because of major shortages of staff.

This is not a PPP/C claim, it is from the Deputy Chief Medical Officer. In fact, patients and health centre clients across Guyana experience the shortage of staff on a daily basis. Any cursory visit to any hospital would reveal the truth - major shortages of nurses and doctors. The boast of improved staffing is bogus. The full-page ad on health is a total lie. They spent $127.4 billion and have nothing to show for it. They would be better off showing some remorse and apologise for the dismal failure in health.

The agriculture expenditure of $98 billion did not create more jobs as their full-page ad claims. In fact, in the last five years, agriculture has employed fewer people. More than 15,000 lost jobs because of the closure of four sugar estates, consisting of more than 7000

sugar workers and another 8000 who lost jobs or livelihoods resulting from the downturn in the economy of the sugar communities. Another 15,000 people lost jobs in forestry, mining and in other businesses. This claim, therefore, of creating more jobs in agriculture is a brazen lie.

The claim of more factories is clearly a figment of someone’s warp imagination adding salt to open wounds. Which factories are they talking about? Surely, they could not be talking about the four major sugar factories which they closed, firing more than 7000 sugar workers. We know some of the small-scale manufacturers went out of business. They must inform us of what factories were established. As far as more produce, they should be ashamed to even broach this subject.

Sugar fell below 100,000 tons for the first time in almost 100 years and the barely 90,000 tons was one of the lowest since 1886. While rice production has remained high, this has been in spite of the hardships APNU/AFC created for rice farmers. It is ugly and reprehensible APNU/AFC is claiming credit for the hard work and resiliency of rice farmers that this Government disowned. All other agricultural produce has recorded downward production. In fact, hundreds of fishing boats are idle today.

All six claims made on health and agriculture are totally bogus. Having spent more than five times as much as the PPP on health and agriculture, they have nothing to show and have shamelessly resorted to total lies. It will not work because the lies are just too plain for people to see.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2020

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

Open letter to GECOM Holes to fill

Dear Elections Commissioner, Already our beloved country is on edge over who will win and if there will be violence, the main parties have promised a win and we know that this cannot be, unless the Commission acts decisively and transparently to defuse this situation there will continue to be fear-mongering and possibly worst.

I am kindly requesting that the Commission considers the following.

1. At the end of every Polling Station closing and counts are verified by all parties and the Commission, that when station results are completed, they are communicated to your GECOM ICT Room, by the appropriate encoded devices, in this day and age this is not hard to do and can be set up within a day for all Polling Stations with the right staff.

2. That the incoming results are posted on your GECOM website and in your communications room, and these are updated every 30 minutes, by Polling Station name and numbers.

3. That on completion of all results, a preliminary result is there for all to see so any claims/objections can be reasonably dealt with.

If these simple steps are followed, you will have eliminated much worries, anxiety, and stress which accompany our elections.

When the actual ballot boxes arrive, you can verify

these results and declare a winner, and not have the country in suspense, wait-

ing for work that should have been done on day one with proper planning.

With regards, Roy Beepat

APNU/AFC policy direction diminishes hope for the future of our women and girls

Dear Editor, “The University of Women and Girls” – these were the first words in a photograph that caught my attention when I opened the Guyana Chronicle on Friday, February 28, 2020.

Naturally, I scanned the article, titled “First Lady lays out path for re-election of President Granger”, to read about this new university that the APNU/AFC coalition was promising.

As has been the case with the APNU/AFC coalition since May 2015, I was disappointed to find out that it was the fake university of the APNU/AFC coalition’s Volda Lawrence and Dawn Hastings-Williams and they presented a fake PhD to the coalition leader, David Granger, in what is nothing other than a promotional stunt.

The ‘fake’ degree talks about Granger’s “conscientious” and “committed” support to women and girls in Guyana.

To this I have a few questions: 1. Where were Granger’s conscience and commitment to women and girls when

thousands of families were pushed closer to poverty when his Government failed to create new jobs and presided over massive firings and layoffs?

2. Where were Granger’s conscience and commitment when our young girls in public school lost the cash grant – something he is not promising to put back in place, after a feasibility study of course (making this nothing but an election gimmick).

3. Where were Granger’s conscience and commitment to women when our mothers struggled to deal with and manage the increasing cost of living?

4. Where were Granger’s conscience and commitment to women and girls when VAT was put on basic medical supplies, increasing the cost for things like sanitary napkins and other necessities for women and girls?

5. Where were Granger’s conscience and commitment to women and girls when access to opportunities, such as the University of Guyana, was made more difficult with the increase in UG fees?

6. Where were Granger’s conscience and commitment

to women and girls when it came to addressing increasing crime – crime that he said was “bleeding the lives of our women and youths” in his 2015 manifesto?

7. Where were Granger’s conscience and commitment when it came to delivering on his 2015 promise to “maximise the role of women” in development?

Guyanese have been asking “Where is Granger and the APNU/AFC coalition” for the last five years. The response has been silence.

While there have been a few initiatives by the First Lady here and there, this ad hoc approach does not help or encourage the progress and development of all Guyanese women and girls.

One or two things done in isolation cannot help, when the policy direction of the APNU/AFC coalition diminishes hope for the future of our women and girls.

These are the facts. No spins or a photograph of Granger holding a fake degree will change reality.

Sincerely yours, Attiya Baksh

Curb the haemorrhage on our roadways Dear Editor, The GCCI, in solidarity with the United Nations, joins the call to end the “scourge” of preventable deaths. Increasingly over the past year, Guyana has witnessed a sharp rise in road fatalities primarily due to careless and reckless driving.

These wanton accidents have led to the loss of lives: children, young adults and elderly persons; leaving many behind to grieve. In

addition, many homes have become bereft of a provider especially for surviving children, creating social and economic hardship on relatives and friends, the community and even donors and Government agencies whose coffers might be strained.

As the World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General Jedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “it is an unacceptable price to pay for mobility.” Let us, therefore, pledge to be more

responsible road users and curb the haemorrhage on our roadways.

Let us respect the lives of

our fellow human beings.

Sincerely, GCCI

Dear Editor, Legitimate investments totalling millions of USD are not made without the involvement of lawyers, and no reputable lawyer would advise buying land from NICIL mere days before an election. The spate of sod-turning events on GuySuCo lands in Ogle are based on sales concluded well past any spectre of legality, these are just more holes left to fill by the Granger Administration.

Granger borrowed US$150 million to fix GuySuCo; he then promptly shut down four sugar estates, laid-off seven thousand plus workers and authorised the use of the sugar bond by a Special Purpose Unit. That money remains unaccounted for as NICIL has not submitted audited financial statements since the departure of Winston Brasington in 2015. To alleviate the shortfall in foreign currency caused by the closure of the sugar estates, Granger sold Guyana’s gold reserves at US$1150-1350 per ounce; Gold is expected to pass US$1800 an ounce shortly. The loss runs over US$500 million; in retrospect it may have been better to have kept the estates open, earn the foreign exchange and keep the workers employed. The decision to fire seven thousand workers is evidence of a hole where a heart should be.

The entire term of the Granger Administration can

be characterised as holes!

Five years of squander has left a massive hole in the treasury; five years of massive increases in taxation have left a hole in the pockets of citizens; a hole in the Constitution where ‘no gloss was required’. Holes in math and logic and of course the Exxon contracts; no discussion is had in Guyana without the US$55 billion loophole mentioned.

As with the Exxon exploration and PSA contracts, every story that breaks are full of holes, AC Marriott to be constructed, but Marriott Inc not aware, same for the Hilton, that group has an email they sent that was acknowledged. Surely that is not evidence to convince the Privatisation Board? Every Administration endures talk of square pegs in round holes, for Granger, pegs of any shape would be welcome; all we have to show for Guyana’s patrimony is an endless series of holes.

Now there seems to be a hole in the oil tanker that collected our profit oil, for years his supporters have touted David Granger as a ‘holy’ man, it would seem this is an error of spelling.

The filling of these holes will take hard work and determination by the next Government. On March 2, vote to fix it and let us rid ourselves of these holes.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

6 NEWS Region 10 loggers up in arms against Govt’s 164,000 acres land giveaway SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…plan protest action

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he massive giveaway of prime State forest along the Berbice River to known Government financier, Lloyd Singh, has sparked outraged among the country’s loggers.

On Friday Guyana Times reported that some 164,000 acres of prime State forest has been allocated to Singh, just days before the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

The areas under question were recently repossessed by the incumbent APNU/ AFC Administration.

Several loggers in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) have since reached out to this publication to express

their anger and disgust at the PNC-led caretaker Government allocation of the 164,000 acres of prime forested lands to AFC campaign financier.

The loggers explained that they had been trying for years to increase their allocations without success and it was therefore astounding that the Government would act so capriciously to show favouritism to an individual who has no prior experience in the forestry sector.

To this end, the loggers indicated that they will be protesting the massive giveaway.

Guyana Times was told that the last-minute allocation of Guyana’s State for-

Lloyd Singh

est was done via a rushed and uncompetitive process that was engineered to favour Singh.

In fact, a source at the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) told this newspaper that it is highly unusual that an area of this stocking and location had only a sole ap-

plicant.

Singh is a known financier of the Government – the minor party in the coalition Administration.

In fact, he had even funded the party’s head office located on the Kitty Railway and Embankment in Georgetown.

At the time, Party Leader Raphael Trotman said in reference to Singh’s apparent generosity, “Businessmen make investments in political parties and expect a return on their investments”. Trotman’s Natural Resources Ministry has responsibility for the forestry sector. Since getting into office, Singh has benefited from several contracts under the APNU/AFC coalition. However, these were

Forestry lands

not without controversy.

He was embroiled in controversy over the US$50 million Hope Beach Wind Farm project, which was

handed to him by Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, who is the General Secretary of the AFC.

Local authorities monitoring 18 persons for coronavirus

P

ublic health authorities are currently monitoring 18 persons for the deadly Coronavirus, who would have entered the country from high-risk regions of the world.

This disclosure was made by the Public Health Ministry on Friday, noting that 54 persons were initially under surveillance but 36 were given clearance.

According to the statement, since the commencement of active monitoring at ports in Guyana on January 18, a total of 54 persons arrived in the

country with a history of travel from high-risk areas. Some 51 persons arriving from mainland China or Hong Kong were screened.

Out of this number, 37 of these persons were Chinese nationals, 12 Guyanese and one each from Finland and the United States of America.

Two Ukrainians and one Singaporean travelled from Singapore through Europe to Guyana and were also cautiously screened and cleared for entry.

Thus far, 53 persons have been in contact with

the Ministry via telephone calls. While the traveller from Finland would’ve already left Guyana for Suriname, four persons indicated that they were not feeling well. Upon examination, all were diagnosed with other conditions and cleared of the Coronavirus or COVID-19 illness.

Along with ‘high-level’ monitoring for any suspected cases, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) was fully equipped with 14 bed units while Diamond and West Demerara Hospitals have the capacity to isolate and manage any con-

firmed cases.

The isolation areas are equipped and personal protective equipment, along with essential medicines and other supplies are in stock. Presently, the Ministry is in the process of developing its isolation capacity at a majority of the main health facilities but seven private institutions also have the capacity to do so.

Eight Medex were deployed to port health authorities, and through training, over 500 medical professionals inclusive of doctors, nurses and auxiliary staff are prepared

to respond. Immigration and Customs Officers have been apprised of what to look for, and additional supplies have been dispatched to all workers at critical points.

The Ministry in partnership with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) developed the capacity to test locally for the Coronavirus along with testing for Influenza A and B, similar to the COVID-19.

The coronavirus has reached a global epidemic and just recently, Guyana’s Southern neighbour, Brazil, recorded its

first case.

While the World Health Organisation (WHO) has upgraded the global risk of the coronavirus outbreak to “very high”, the United Nations has reportedly contended that there is still a chance of containing the virus if the chain of transmission were to be ruptured.

According to the WHO, the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are “fever, tiredness, and dry cough”. But some patients may have aches, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea.

7 GECOM agrees to more party agents scrutinising transport of results NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana Elections Commission Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

T

he Guyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM), in yet another last-minute decision, has opted to have an additional layer of scrutiny be put in place for the conveyance of statement of polls from polling stations.

The announcement was given by Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield on Friday following the signing of the Commission’s elections code of conduct at the entity’s High Street, Kingston Offices by party representatives.

Lowenfield intimated that unlike what had taken place in previous years, Deputy Returning Officers (DRO) transporting the results will now be doing so with additional party agents alongside them.

According to Lowenfield, the decision was taken at the level of the Commission during a meeting on Wednesday last, where it was agreed, “…that there should be another layer of agents”.

He said they will be specifically accompanying the DROs from their offices as they uplift the statement of polls and boxes from Polling Officers (PO).

According to Lowenfield, the Commission has agreed that there should be another layer of agents as they receive boxes and statements, adding that it is the returning officers who will ensure that the statements are distributed in a timely manner.

Further explaining the rationale behind the decision, Lowenfield said that in the Commission’s view,

“as far as transparency goes, the Commission in its wisdom determined that every subset of our operations be monitored by party agents”.

Lowenfield noted, for example, the presence of agents at polling stations and that they are being provided with the list, provided with the folios, “provided with what we refer to as the strike-off list”.

He said too, party agents are also present for and participate in the counting of the ballots.

It was noted that the law stipulates that at the close of count at a particular polling station that the results be placed at a conspicuous location.

The Polling Officer, he noted, is also required by law to ensure that a statement of poll is prepared for the returning officer and for the CEO. He observed that ordinarily, from that point, it would have been a movement by the DRO unaccompanied by any agent.

Lowenfield suggested that all the Commission is looking to do is to have that process also be observed and monitored by a party agent, as is the case with activities of the Commission throughout the day.

The CEO also used the occasion to assure that Commission is ready for the holding of the 2020 General and Regional Elections and that preparation is advanced for the commencement of polls on time.

According to Lowenfield,

since elections apparatus would in some cases have to be flown in early while at other locations boxes and other needed equipment

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

as of yesterday, the Polling Officers were counting off the boxes and contents of respective boxes and that these will be secured in areas where they are to be deployed in some instances today, “based on geography”.

The CEO reiterated that in the two days ahead of election, there will be movement across the spectrum

would be deployed as early as 03:00h on Monday to the polling stations “to ensure we are there on time to commence voting”.

8 NEWS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

No “night shift” in front of polling stations – Police Top Brass ...assures PPP of adequate security measures

D

ays before the March 2 General and Regional Elections, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was on Friday given assurances that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is adequately prepared for the upcoming polls.

Only Thursday, General Secretary of the PPP, Bharrat Jagdeo, raised questions about the readiness of the Joint Services to ensure that the elections are conducted in a safe and secure environment.

However, on Friday, Jagdeo, along with PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali, and Prime Ministerial Candidate, retired Brigadier Mark Phillips met with Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, to discuss the Party’s security concerns.

During the meeting, the Top Cop was supported by Deputy Commissioner with responsibility for Administration, Paul Williams; Deputy Commissioner with responsibility for Operations, Maxine Graham; Head of Special Branch, Nigel

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo in the company of Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali and Prime Ministerial Candidate, retired Brigadier Mark Phillips at the Police headquarters

Hoppie, and acting Deputy Commissioner with responsibility for Law Enforcement, Michael Kingston.

Some of the issues discussed at the meeting included the Police Force’s operational readiness for Election Day activities, such as adequate transportation and personnel to provide security at Polling Places.

According to the PPP/C, its team specifically raised,

as a matter of concern to many voters, the risk associated with persons congregating in close proximity to Polling Places after they would have cast their votes or at the close of polls.

“The Police Commissioner gave the PPP/C team his assurance of the Force’s readiness to provide adequate security measures for the 2020 General and Regional Elections. He informed too that ranks of the Guyana Police Force will be deployed to secure all polling places, as well as en-

sure security arrangements for ballot boxes,” a missive from the Opposition party detailed.

It was noted that the Top Cop also assured that the Force will ensure that the provisions of the Representation of the People Act are enforced, relative to ensuring no congregation of crowds within 200 yards of polling stations; ensuring no unauthorised person obstructs or interferes with access to, or egress from, a polling place and that no unauthorised person obstructs or interferes with the movement of ballot boxes and other material pertaining to the Monday’s General and Regional Elections.

On the other hand, the Police Commissioner also raised the issue of political parties encouraging their supporters to act in compliance with the law.

In response, the PPP General Secretary made it clear that the Police Force can expect full cooperation on this from the leadership of the PPP/C. The PPP/C delegation thanked the Police Commissioner for the meeting and stressed that the Party is committed to a peaceful electoral process.

Unremorseful murder convict sentenced to serve Miner charged for 3 life imprisonment terms murdering drinking buddy

…hurls bottle at State Prosecutor

Sentenced to life imprisonment: Gavin Graham

T

hose gathered in the courtroom of Justice Sandil Kissoon for the sentencing of murder convict, 52-year-old Gavin Graham, were all taken by surprise when he brazenly hurled a bottle filled with liquid at a State Prosecutor whilst being escorted out of the courtroom.

The scene did not end there, as the mother of the convicted man picked up the said bottle and threw it again at the prosecutor - an action that landed her in handcuffs.

Prior to the commotions, Graham was sentenced to serve three life imprisonment terms after he was found guilty for the murders of 39-year-old Abola Abrams, Shawn Whyte and the woman’s 68-year-old stepfather, Clifford Sampson.

It was reported that on

January 2, 2015, Graham set alight Abrams’ Lot 636 C Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown home after she refused to reconcile their rocky relationship.

At the time, the now dead woman was in a new relationship with Whyte.

On that day, Whyte had visited the woman when Graham lit the fire and locked the doors to ensure they could not escape. Both suffered severe burns about their bodies.

Abrams’ stepfather, Sampson, who also resided in the home and tried to escape from the inferno suffered burns to almost 90 per cent of his body.

The trio died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after being rushed by neighbours.

Defence Attorney Ravindra Kissoon asked the court to be lenient with his client as he is the father of two children. However, State Prosecutor in the matter Tiffany Lyken strongly asked the court to consider the fact that three innocent lives were lost and that the now convicted man pre-meditated his actions.

An unremorseful Graham stood in the prisoner’s dock as the sentences were handed to him.

Justice Kissoon ordered that the sentences run concurrently, with a possibility of parole after the convict would have served 30 years.

Murder accused Oarl Benjamin arriving at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts

T

wenty-five-year-old Oarl Benjamin of Port Kaituma, North West District (NWD), was on Friday arraigned for the murder of his drinking buddy, who he is accused of stabbing to death during a disagreement.

Benjamin was not required to plea to the indictable charge which stated that between February 23 and February 24, 2020, at 14 Miles Arakaka, North West District, he murdered Joseph Calistro.

The accused appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and was remanded to prison until March 12, 2020.

It was reported that the victim and suspect were imbibing at a shop when Caslistro reportedly became intoxicated and want-

ed to fight the accused, who ignored him and walked away.

However, the now dead man, who was armed with a pair of scissors, pursued Benjamin and assaulted him.

The accused became annoyed, disarmed Calistro and dealt him one blow with the same pair of scissors.

A wounded Calistro was subsequently taken for medical treatment at the Arakaka Health Centre where he was treated and sent away.

However, hours later, the victim returned to the said facility, this time with a breathing problem.

The health workers administered oxygen but he succumbed in the process.

The dead man’s body bore a wound to the middle of the chest and another to the right arm.

Getting serious…

W

…about rigging hen it comes to rigging elections, the PNC has done it so many times, they probably can’t even help themselves – even if they wanted to.

Rigging is their default “factory setting” when it comes to elections. You remember that old ditty, “Fifty ways to leave your lover?” Well, just going by their record, the PNC has at least EIGHTY ways to leave their opponents in the dust at elections time via rigging!!

And just when you think you’ve managed to head them off from one route, they come up with another!! They set the ball rolling back in ’68 when Burnham decided he wasn’t going to be second-guessed by his UF coalition partner – even though they could’ve most likely won the elections.

But the overseas and proxy votes that did the trick then was “given up” in 1973 when he moved on to having all counting done in Camp Ayanganna in Georgetown.

The army was conscripted to transport the ballots, and of course, could “take care” of any pesky citizen who wanted to ensure his vote was counted!!

But the National Register which was launched in 1968 – and then sprung at the last moment at the Opposition that the voters’ list would be extracted from it after insisting that it wasn’t going to be!! – is still around to offer some elections rigging.

While the Opposition has been given the royal runaround to sanitise the voters’ list through its PLE, C&O, and OLE incarnations, have they checked to see whether the NRR has been fiddled with?? Back in ’68, quite a few youthful PNC supporters had their age accelerated so they could vote. Have we checked exactly what Felix has been doing with the birth certificates and other records that maintains the NRR? Then, of course, there’s the old standby that’s pulled out at every election – rushing the place of poll just as they’re about to close. If the Owl of Minerva flies at night, so does the PNC “nightshift” at the close of polls!! So we really don’t need the wisdom of Minerva to know this is in the cards this go around: Volda kindly reminded us of it some time ago!! We might also have moved away from the army transporting ballot boxes to be counted. But we now have the challenge of getting the equivalent “Statement of Polls” – conceded after a herculean struggle – physically up into the GECOM place of counting, don’t we??

Then, did you know that in the private-houses-aspolling-stations in the city, they always have a 100% turnout?? Every little bit helps!!

Like your Eyewitness’ been saying, he doesn’t know exactly HOW, but he KNOWS rigging’s in the cards!! …about coronavirus Over in Shenzen province, the authorities have banned the consumption of cat and dog meat. Now while we may snicker, we should realise that the consumption of foods is a culturally induced behaviour. What do you think about all those Frenchies who down frogs legs with gusto!! But what the Chinese action has signalled is we’d better get serious about the coronavirus which is now a pandemic – that is, an epidemic that has spread to several countries, including our neighbour Brazil.

Now, there’s absolutely no need to be coy about the fact that the virus will sooner rather than later pop up here.

And even though the Minister has assured us that “we’re ready”, the truth of the matter is we aren’t. And this is not a case of blaming the Government of the day – like foreign affairs, coronavirus isn’t a partisan issue! There’s so much that isn’t known about the virus at this stage, that while we shouldn’t panic…we must take precautions, like washing hands fastidiously.

And avoiding crowds. After March 2!! …about political investments When Ramjattan gave a shoutout to a businessman who’d paid for their new HQ, Raphael Trotman pointed out that these are “political investments” which have to deliver returns.

Well, the fella just got 164,000 acres of land!! Some returns, eh??

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

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NEWS

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ERC flays Harmon over divisive campaign behaviour …says actions unhelpful to the process of promoting harmony, tolerance

F

ormer Minister of State and Director General in the Ministry of the Presidency (MotP), Joseph Harmon, has been found by the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) to be the most errant of the public officials on the

campaign trail recently with regards to actions, “unhelpful to the process of promoting harmony and tolerance”.

The Commission this past week, as such, had cause to officially write to “a few political parties contesting the upcoming March

2 General and Regional Elections, to cite them for public utterances, behaviours and advertisements deemed unhelpful to the process of promoting harmony and tolerance”.

The ERC, in a subsequent public missive, said

that “through its elections monitors, whom have so far monitored a high percentage of the public meetings of all the political parties, it has been observed that the use of ethnically divisive language and the use of religion to disparage, racial and po-

EU deploys 20 more elections observers across Guyana

The Chief Observer, Urmas Paet, (second from left) along with other members of the EOM at a media engagement earlier this month

T

he European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) on Friday had deployed 20 short-term observers across the country ahead of Monday’s General and

Regional Elections.

They will be joining the 14 long-term observers, who have been observing electoral preparations and the campaign across Guyana’s 10 regions since February 4,

the EU said in a statement.

“The short-term observers will cover on Election Day, all 10 regions, observing in both urban and rural areas. They will be the eyes and the ears of the mission

during polling, counting and tabulation of results,” the missive detailed.

It was noted that prior to their deployment, the shortterm observers received a three-day in-depth briefing in Georgetown on all aspects of the electoral process.

The EU observer mission will be also joined by eight diplomats from EU member states accredited to Guyana.

In total, the EU EOM will comprise on Election Day, 55 observers from 25 member states and Norway.

TURN TO PAGE 19

litical profiling/stereotyping and disruption, were generally found to be used on various occasions”.

The ERC noted that from the numerous incidents flagged, 21 warranted official responses.

Of these, the ERC said, 11 had to be directed towards Harmon, General Secretary of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

The ERC said two of the incidents are still under active investigation, while eight letters were also directed to Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo.

The Commission said, through its Media Monitoring Unit, they also monitored the Facebook pages of various news agencies, print media and television programmes.

According to the ERC, it was found that numerous persons made ethnically of-

Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon

fensive comments under the posts made by the various news agencies.

The Commission, in response, cautioned those persons for making such comments and has called on the Editors-in-Chief of INEWS, Demerara Waves, HGP TV Nightly News and NCN News to stringently monitor their Facebook pages so as to ensure ethnically offensive comments are removed in a timely manner.

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NEWS

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Mahdia minibus driver shot dead Early morning fire destroys by alleged drunken Police Sergeant Raja Yoga Centre

A

minibus driver who plied the MahdiaGeorgetown route was shot and killed on Thursday, allegedly by a rank of the Guyana Police Force in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Dead is 37-year-old Clevy Gomes of 11 Miles, Mahdia.

Reports revealed that the incident occurred at about 21:00h on the night in question.

According to reports, the GPF rank was allegedly under the influence of alcohol when he allegedly shot Gomes.

Based on reports received, it is alleged that there was a confrontation between Gomes and another man over a woman which quickly turned physical.

The police officer who was at the time drinking at a

Dead: Clevy Gomes

nearby bar, witnessed the altercation and later drew his gun and discharged a round, hitting Gomes in the process.

Gomes was picked up and rushed to the Mahdia Hospital where he was admitted but later succumbed to his injuries.

Guyana Times understands that after the shooting incident, relatives of the now dead man were pleading with those in authority to bring in a medevac team to fly the man out to Georgetown but this was not done.

At the time, they claimed that Mahdia Hospital was not well equipped to treat the injured man. Instead, they were asked to wait for the medevac but despite promises, no plane arrived to take Gomes to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The man’s relatives believe that it was a deliberate act to ensure that Gomes died without being able to identify the person who shot him.

An investigation was launched into the fatal shooting.

The Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Centre

A

lmost every inch of the Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Centre, in Kingston, Georgetown, was reduced to debris after a fire of unknown origin ripped through the two-storey structure in the wee hours

of Friday.

The Brahma Kumaris is a worldwide spiritual movement dedicated to personal transformation. It’s now

ed around 04:00h, when two sisters were in the building meditating. However, they both managed to escape in the nick of time after realising that the building was engulfed.

Firefighters who responded to the scene, managed to save only part of the building’s lower flat, since the raging fire quickly demolished the upper flat.

When this newspaper visited the scene, smoke could still be seen emanating from among the thick debris.

A few chairs and tables which suffered just water damage were the only things salvageable from the bottom flat.

Nevertheless, the Guyana

Orinduik oil discoveries similar to Venezuela, Brazil crude

…as operators eye 2 dozen leads for 2020

T

ests carried out on samples from the recent successful oil discoveries by Tullow and its Joint Venture (JV) partners in the Orinduik block in Guyana’s offshore Exclusive Economic Zone have found that the oil is not dissimilar to the commercial heavy crudes currently in production in the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, the Campos Basin in Brazil, Venezuela and Angola.

As such, a third-party consultant with heavy oil development and economics expertise is being engaged “to help conduct preliminary evaluations related to production schemes and commercialisation”.

This was announced this past week by Eco Atlantic Oil and Gas Limited—15 per cent share partner in the Orinduik block.

According to that company, JV partners are eyeing at least 22 wells in the com-

ing year with half of those holding greater than 30 per cent chance of success.

The Orinduik JV partners are Eco Atlantic, Tullow Guyana – which is the operator with a 60 per cent stake— and Total Exploration and Production Guyana, which holds the remaining 25 per cent.

The minority partner this week in providing its most recent Unaudited Results and Corporate Update, claims to be ready to put in its US$120M share of the investments needed for this year.

It was noted too that technical and commercial evaluation work is ongoing and the company is considering alternatives for further drilling and testing and a number of development scenarios and production alternatives.

Providing an outlook for the Guyana operations, it was reported that the block operator has proposed a fur-

ther fine-tuning analysis of the upper cretaceous reservoirs, and the operator has announced a plan to incorporate the Carapa well data into Orinduik’s existing geological models and technical analysis over the coming period.

Further, the partners are said to have a plan to integrate the discoveries at Jethro and Joe with the Carapa discovery with the rest of the regional data now available and to incorporate this data into a reprocessing of the 3D seismic already shot on Orinduik.

“The intent is to provide further definition to the Cretaceous interpretation and target selection for drilling”.

According to the company, “multiple prospects are currently being reviewed with high-graded candidates under consideration for the next drilling programme.

Eco is fully-funded and is

EU deploys 20 more elections...

FROM PAGE 17

According to the missive, the EU EOM observers will be visiting Polling Stations to observe and take note of how the voting is conducted, assessing issues such as respect of the right to vote, secrecy of the vote, performance of polling staff, the role of party agents and domestic observers and women’s participation.

During the counting, it added, observers will assess the transparency, accuracy and integrity of the process. They will also observe the tabulation of results by Returning Officers in all 10 regions until the announcement of the results.

The EU EOM will issue a preliminary statement of its initial findings on March 4. However, a more comprehensive final report, including recommendations for

future elections, will be presented approximately two to three months later.

The mission is independent in its findings and conclusions and EU observers adhere to a strict code of conduct for international observers that require they maintain strict neutrality and impartiality in the course of their work and do not interfere in the electoral process.

The EU deployed its core Elections Observation Mission, which consists of nine election analysts, since January 24, which will remain here until the completion of the electoral process.

Earlier this month, the 14 long-term observers joined the core team and were deployed across the country, and are now joined by the additional 20 short-term ob-

servers.

The EU EOM is being headed by Chief Observer Urmas Paet, a Member of the European Parliament.

During a press conference earlier this month, Paet urged that elections day should be free of violence, intimidation and interference.

“The European Union attaches great significance to these elections. We stand ready to deliver an impartial, objective assessment of the electoral process and call on all stakeholders to respect the rules and refrain from inflammatory language and violence… This election process should be free and fair. Every person with common sense should understand that violence, for example, is no solution. Not in any case,” he asserted.

pushing to drill a minimum of at least one upper Cretaceous target as soon as practically possible for its partners”.

It was disclosed too that consideration is being given to prioritising a stacked multi-target well.

Some of the damaged items inside the building

destroyed centre in Guyana would’ve offered meditation courses and other activities.

Guyana Times understands that the flames erupt-

Fire Service has since launched an investigation to determine the cause of the blaze.

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ExxonMobil, other agencies Taxi driver jailed for continue oil spill response readiness fondling young girl sponse plan ready well before a well is drilled. The exercise and previous ones such as the regional response exercise in August of 2019, ensure that while we prevent and prepare, employees and relevant agencies are able to practice.

Mitigating risks

A

A section of participants during the ICS training exercise at the Pegasus Hotel

s part of its ongoing efforts to ensure enhanced capacity to respond to an oil spill, ExxonMobil Guyana has staged another training exercise for employees and relevant stakeholder agencies.

The response drill was the culmination of a threeday training course on the Incident Command System, a standardised on-scene, allrisk incident management structure.

ExxonMobil Guyana employees and contractors were joined by representatives from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Maritime Administration (MARAD), Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy in an all-day simulation exercise.

The exercise provided participants with the oppor-

tunity to perform and execute current response management concepts and procedures detailed in ExxonMobil Guyana’s Oil Spill Response Plan.

Captain Salim October, CDC operations and training officer noted that participation in such exercises tests the readiness of the CDC and related agencies to respond to an oil spill – should this become a reality.

“It is critical that we engage in these preparatory exercises that help to enhance our capabilities and skills to execute the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan. We have to anticipate issues and problems and work them out in a framework of support and learning. Prior to this exercise, we’ve been involved in others led by a number of operators including ExxonMobil. We’ve benefitted

from industry-specific training which includes deployment of oil spill equipment, Incident Command Systems and Risk Communication among a number of other topics,” Captain October said.

He added that participation in these types of exercises helps the CDC, which is the national coordinating body in the event of an emergency to understand the capacity of the various governmental agencies in order to identify existing gaps.

ExxonMobil stated that it is committed to conducting its operations in a safe and environmentally responsible manner and preventing a spill is a top priority.

As such, the company has ensured that all necessary preventative measures are in place. The company further highlighted that it is important to have an emergency re-

Moreover, as part of the EIA process for various projects, ExxonMobil Guyana had undertaken studies to understand Guyana’s Physical, Biological, and Socioeconomic Resources.

These baseline studies and others allow us to identify potential risks and ensure the appropriate mitigations are in place.

These include a turtle-tagging and telemetry programme, a fish study through which several new species were discovered, nine marine bird surveys and an extensive Ecosystem Services Study along Guyana’s coastline from the Barima-Waini (Region 1) to the East Berbice-Corentyne (Region 6) involving more than 700 community leaders.

The studies were conducted by Guyanese and international experts who participated in an ‘open house’ at the Pegasus Hotel in September 2019. They shared the findings of the studies and were available to answer all related questions and concerns from participants who were mostly students from the University of Guyana. The findings of the various studies have been submitted to the EPA.

Jailed for sexual assault: Rishi Seepersaud

F

orty-one-year-old Rishi Seepersaud of Station Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was on Friday found guilty and sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for sexual assault by city Magistrate Sherdel Marcus-Isaacs when he made anoth-

er appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Seepersaud was found guilty of the offence during

a trial heard by Magistrate Marcus-Isaacs.

The accused had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on September 8, 2018, at McDoom Public Road, East Bank Demerara, he engaged in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 years old.

Reports are that on the day in question, the minor was a backseat passenger in the defendant’s car when he stretched out his hand and touched her inappropriately.

The victim, after being dropped off at her home, related what had occurred to her parents who then reported the matter to the police.

GAWU renews calls for retroactive payment for sugar workers …GuySuCo to consider new proposal

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fter a protest action that yielded little result, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) and GuySuCo met on Friday to continue negotiations for sugar workers’ salary increases to be retroactive as of January 2019.

According to GAWU, this is the tenth time both parties are meeting to hammer out issues relating to retroactive salaries for the workers and as such, the Union has proposed measures to come to a consensus.

“During the engagement, the Union suggested that the Corporation examine settling the retroactive payments to sugar workers through several instalments in 2020. We put forward that a reasonable timetable could be agreed to between the Union and the Corporation.”

GAWU is contending that its suggestion for retroactive salary for 2019 has not been taken serious-

ly given the fact that the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL) has been selling prime land.

In fact, on Thursday NICIL turned the sod for the sprawling Windsor Estate located at formerly Sugar Plantation Ogle at a budget of US$83 million, as such, GAWU noted that monies from these lands can assist with the payment for sugar workers.

“We also drew to the Corporation’s attention that its land was being sold

by NICIL, at high costs, and representation should be furthered to obtain support to offset the payments to the workers. The GuySuCo team undertook to share our proposal with the management before meeting again sometime in the coming week,” GAWU outlined.

Moreover, the Union stated that the Corporation used the meeting to bash them for the protest action taken on Tuesday last outside of the Ministry of the

Presidency.

“The Corporation also used the meeting to apparently criticise the workers’ protests on February 25, 2020. The workers of the Blairmont factory were particularly singled out and it appeared to us that the GuySuCo was seeking to determine when, and possibly if, workers could strike.

The Union further added that “we had to point out to GuySuCo that the workers, with the intent of safeguarding the Corporation’s assets, and out of an abundance of caution and concern, proceeded to properly bring operations of the Blairmont factory to a halt.

Notwithstanding what we felt was a cogent explanation, the Corporation’s team, surprisingly, informed they could not accept the explanation.”

Moreover, “It appears to us that the Corporation would want a situation where the workers vacate their posts and allow the situation to go awry. This,

Sugar workers during a protest on Tuesday last in front of the MotP

of course, is not a position our Union and the workers could condone nor uphold.

The workers’ right to take part in protest actions is upheld by the Constitution.

We do not believe that the GuySuCo, more so as a State-owned organisation, should seek to constrict or constrain this important worker right or any right of the workers for that mat-

ter.” GAWU stated while noting that the Union will go to all lengths and breadths to ensure that their demands are met.

To this end, the Union underscored that the sugar workers just want to be treated like all other public servants who were able to benefit from a retroactive salary increase last year.

“We believed that the

workers of Blairmont, like all workers, demonstrated a high degree of responsibility and only are seeking to be treated like their colleagues elsewhere in the State. They are not asking for special or unique treatment and the apparent decrying of their principled and justifiable actions is upsetting for us.”

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2020

21

GCB-Rubis Bel Air U17 Inter-County Tournament…

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Demerara set to retain title D

efending champions in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Rubis Bel Air Under-17 Inter-County tournament, Demerara, are widely expected to retain their title.

Having already defeated arch-rivals Berbice by eight wickets in the second round of play, they are now set to oppose Essequibo in the final round, scheduled for play today (Saturday, February 29) at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground at Bourda.

In this tournament’s other fixture, Berbice will oppose the Guyana Select U-15 Team at the Everest Cricket Ground.

After Demerara had defeated Berbice, player of the match, Alvin Mohabir, was delighted at picking up a match winning five-wicket haul, which was his first against Berbice. He disclosed that he had kept his game plan simple by sticking to line and length and waiting for the batsmen to make a mistake. He also expressed confidence that his performance would earn

Isai Thorne is the fastest bowler in the tournament

him selection to the Guyana U-17 Team.

Meanwhile, West Indies youth batsman Mavindra Dindyal, who scored an unbeaten 50, declared his intention to finish the inter-county tournament with

Milo Schools U-18 Football Tournament…

Play resumes from today

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Action ongoing in the Milo schools’ tournament

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he Republic Day festivities have concluded, and the Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue will return to being a hive of activities as play in the Milo Schools Under-18 Football

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the most runs. This classy, right-handed batsman noted that were he to go to Trinidad and represent Guyana U-17, he would be aiming to finish with the most runs and help Guyana win that unfamiliar Regional U-17 title.

He is doubtless one for the Guyana U-17 Team.

And Jaden Campbell, another sweet timer of the ball, has said he is happy with the unbeaten innings of 48 he scored against Berbice.

A former Guyana U-15 batsman who is now a Demerara U-17 batsman, Campbell has said he considers himself as having some chance of making the Guyana U-17 Team. He has said that, if selected, he would want to help Guyana to victory in the Regional U-17 Tournament, and finish the season with the most runs.

Berbice, on the other hand, would want some of their star players included in the Select U-15 Team. With national selectors carefully observing play throughout the tournament, this final round

Tournament resumes from today.

Today’s action will feature what are expected to be three highly

Gender B a s e d Violence’ campaign, patrons will be treated

to “a firm stance against abuse”, as the captains of each team will be sure to make a statement before each game begins.

The first match of round robin 2 will commence at noon with South Ruimveldt Secondary taking on St Joseph High, after which Annandale Secondary would oppose East Ruimveldt from 13:45 hrs. Thereafter, Lodge Secondary would oppose Carmel Secondary from 15:30 hrs.

In tomorrow’s action, St John’s College would battle Golden Grove Secondary from noon, after which Bishops’ High would take on Tucville Secondary from 13:45 hrs, then Queenstown Secondary would battle New Central High from 15:30 hrs.

This competition, which will be run over a 10-week period at the Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue, has attracted 24 teams. These will be divided into six groups of four, and play a series of round-robin matches before the top two teams from each group and the best four third-placed teams would advance to the quarter-finals. Thereafter, the youths would battle through the knockout stages to make it to the top.

The school finishing in first place would receive $400,000, while the second placed school would pocket $200,000. Third and fourth-placed finishers would receive $100,000 and $50,000 respectively.

Jonathan Rampersaud will be aiming to record memorable performances

of play can be considered a match in which they should endeavour to score as many runs as possible or take as many wickets as possible.

The Select U-15 Team have suffered narrow defeats, and have shown their

ability to play good cricket. The likes of Rampertab Ramnauth and Salim Khan are likely to put in sterling performances for the Berbice team when the teams battle at GCC, Bourda. (Brandon Corlette)

CONCACAF 2020 U-20 Women’s Championships …

Mexico defeat Guyana 3-nil

E

l Tricolor, the Mexico women’s U-20 football team, recently opposed the Guyana Lady Jags in a contest to determine which team emerges winner of ‘Group D’ in the CONCACAF 2020 U-20 Women’s Championships and earn the three points at stake.

The Mexicans triumphed 3-nil against Guyana, but the scores belie the way the match was played. For the most part, it was a stalemate between the two sides, and the breakthrough did not come until the 78th minute, when Joseline Montoya scored the opener. Montoya struck again nine minutes later to hand Mexico a commanding

2-0 lead, and Mariel Roman Pacheco then capped off the win with a goal scored in the time of 90+3 minutes for E l Tricolor.

In play in the Round of 16, Mexico will meet Grenada, Guyana will take on the C a y m a n Islands, and Puerto Rico will clash with Trinidad and Tobago. (Concacaf) Group D Final Points Standings Country G W D L Gf Ga +/- Pts Mexico 33009189 Guyana 32015506 Puerto Rico 3 1 0 2 3 4 -1 3 Nicaragua 3 0 0 3 1 8 -7 0

The teams that will fight for a spot in the FIFA U20 World Cup

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CWI PCL Regional 4-Day Championships…

GCB Rubis Bel Air Inter-County U17 Tournament…

Foster berates Singh in sight of century as Jaguars umpiring decisions lead by 71 I V

By Brandon Corlette

ishaul Singh made his bat do all the talking against the Scorpions on the second day of the sixth-round match of the Jaguars’

Regional 4-Day tournament being played in Jamaica.

Singh is standing tall on an unbeaten 93 made from 171 balls as the Jaguars

Chandrapaul Hemraj

Vishaul SIngh

ended the day on 287-6 in 92 overs after the Scorpions had posted 216 all out in their first innings.

Chandrapaul Hemraj had earlier fallen for 82 while he was closing in on a century.

Resuming the day without any runs or wicket to fall, Guyana Jaguars began in cautious fashion, with Chandrapaul Hemraj and Tagenarine Chanderpaul adding 21 runs together.

When Chanderpaul was clean bowled by part-timer Alwayne Williams, Captain Leon Johnson and Hemraj took the score to 75-1 at lunch; Hemraj, who was dropped on 34 at deep backward square, riding his luck after a slow start.

The very next ball, a chi-

naman bowled by Dennis Bulli, drew the technically correct Leon Johnson forward and he was swiftly stumped.

Johnson had made a 73ball 35, which included four

boundaries, after adding 60 runs with Hemraj.

A positive Vishal Singh, who is returning to the starting XI after being replaced by Shimron Hetmyer in the previous round, got off the mark with a boundary.

The left-handed duo of Hemraj and Singh added 98 runs together before Hemraj threw his wicket away when the Jaguars were on 179-3, made in 57.3 overs.

Hemraj, who played and missed the previous ball, edged one to Jermaine Blackwood at first slip after scoring 82 from 173 balls, decorated with three fours and three sixes.

Christopher Barnwell followed suit the very next ball, hitting left-arm spinner Patrick Harty to cover and getting caught for a golden duck.

Jaguars were then at 179-4 after Harty struck twice in his over.

At tea, Jaguars were 183-4 after 60 overs. Singh watched Raymon Reifer (16) and Anthony Bramble (25) fall, but he found a reliable partner in Kevin Sinclair (20), who ensured Jaguars closed the day without further hiccups.

Jaguars will resume the third day on 287-6, having a lead of 71 runs.

SCOREBOARD Jaguars 1st Innings Tagenarine Chanderpaul b Williams 8 Chanderpaul Hemraj c Blackwood b Harty 82 Leon Johnson st Smith b Bulli 35 Vishaul Singh not out 93 Christopher Barnwell c Campbell b Harty 0 Raymon Reifer c Mindley b Bulli 16 Anthony Bramble c Bonner b Bulli 25

Kevin Sinclair not out 20 Total (6 wickets, 92.0) (8 extras) 287 Bowling Jamie Merchant (18-4-35-0) Patrick Harty (20-3-67-2) Marquino Mindley (18-1-60-0) Nicholson Gordon (0.5-0-6-0) Alwayne Williams (11.1-2-27-1) Dennis Bulli (20-1-84-3) Nkruma Bonner (3-0-4-0) Jermaine Blackwood (1-0-3-0)

t is normal and understandable for persons, being human, to make mistakes; but when umpires officiating at important matches err continuously in their decisions, especially against one side in a contest, it certainly creates a situation in which competence is called into question.

In the second-round match played recently between Demerara and Berbice in the ongoing Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Rubis Bel-Air InterCounty U-17 Tournament, the persistent recurrence of questionable decisions that were deleterious to the chances of success of the Berbice side have moved Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster to express grave dissatisfaction with the outcome of the match.

“Every time I speak to Berbice teams, I warn them about the umpiring, especially in matches against Demerara. The umpiring standard is very poor, and

Umpires having a discussion county U-17 tournament

the BCB is worried (about this). When I speak to players, especially the senior players, (I find that) they (also) have this fear”, Foster explained.

He added that if a ball touches a player’s pad, the fear of being given out comes quickly upon the youngsters, thereby affecting their self-confidence.

Recalling some occasions when he had witnessed some below-par umpiring, Foster said that when Berbice played Demerara in the U-15 tournament, there were at least four bad decisions, including a stumping.

He said that West Indies U-16 batsman Rampertab

BCB President Hilbert Foster

Ramnauth was given out caught behind when the ball had brushed his pad, and he could recall four poor decisions made in the recent U-17 match against Demerara.

“While these decisions may not have changed the entire course of the match,

He said the manager had been told to clarify this with the match referee, and the manager was told to do whatever pleases him in terms of enforcing a bowling change.

Foster said it is apparent that not every individual of authority engaged in this U-17 tournament is singing from the same proverbial page, thus he questioned whether the tournament is coordinated in an equitable manner.

“Generally, the players are worried about the level of umpiring, and we at the BCB are asking why two umpires from Demerara have to be engaged when these two teams play?

Why not one from Berbice and one from Demerara?”

Foster expressed.

Given that some of these cricketers playing at the junior level may represent Guyana in the future, Foster is calling for the best umpires to officiate in these important matches.

“One bad decision could stop a youngster from playing cricket. It is strange that the umpire who made poor calls (against Berbice) in the U-15 match against in the GCB/Bel Air Rubis Inter- Demerara turned up (to officiate) in the U-17 match”, Foster mused. it leaves one to wonder Foster is again calling if our senior batsmen in on the GCB to get their proBerbice teams are target- verbial house in order. ed”, Foster declared.

He is also wondering Foster also disclosed why the Berbice players that one umpire had have been asked to wear stopped the Berbice team hats of a different colour from making a spin bowling when the customary colour change in the first round, of the Berbice hat is red, saying that fast bowlers and has been so for a numhad to ‘bowl the first ten ber of years. overs in a row’ (consecuHe is adamant that the tively). best interest of every crick“In the second-round eter in Guyana must be upmatch, which featured dif- held, and that the adminferent umpires, a call had istrative issues affecting been made to the Berbice the various Cricket Boards manager that the bowling should not be ventilated on change can be made when the cricket field. His firm the team (wants it), and the conviction is that, at the fast bowlers can bowl how end of it all, cricket should (many) overs they want”, always be the winner.

Foster noted.

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Singh in sight of century as Jaguars lead by 71

GCB-Rubis Bel Air U17 Inter-County Tournament…

Demerara set to retain title Pg 21

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Foster lashes out at poor umpiring at inter-county level

Mexico defeat Guyana 3-0 Page 21

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