cash crop P

14 NEWS SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Court awards $10M to WCB cash crop farmers

…after Region 5 REO maliciously bulldozed farms

The High Court has property. history and circumstances Nevertheless, in addiawarded over $10 The farmers, along with surrounding their occupation to the financial relief, million relief to three cash crop farmers of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) in dozens of others, are occupying land in the Tract 3 X of Block 1A and Tract tion and cultivation of the land in question. “Given this evidence and she granted all four orders sought by the farmers. These include a declaraa lawsuit they had filed Y portion of Plantation of there being none to the contion that the claimants are back in September 2018 Naarstigheid, being part of trary, the defendant had no entitled to remain in possesagainst Regional Executive Officer (REO), Ovid Morrison, who had maliBath, West Coast Berbice (WCB). They were granted a two-year lease for 1.4 acres authority to evict the claimants from the land. The defendant is merely the Chief sion and occupation of the portion of land at Plantation of Naarstigheid, Bath, WCB ciously bulldozed their farmin March 2000 under the Administrative Officer of the - with buildings and ereclands and cut down their Social Impact Amelioration RDC. There is no evidence tions thereon unless and uncrops. The judgement was handed down by High Court Project (SIMAP) for largescale farming. Upon the expiration of the two-year that he was acting pursuant to the specific or general direction of the RDC (Section til their licence is terminated by the Mahaica-Berbice RDC. Judge, Justice Simone lease, the claimants con77 (3) of the Municipal and Another declaration was Ramlall, last month. tinued to cultivate the District Councils Act (“the granted to state that the The three claimants – Krishna Sewlall, Kristopher Sewnarine and Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall land with the permission of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), which owned Region Five REO Act”)) neither was he acting pursuant to any power or duty conferred upon or REO’s interference with the claimants’ possession and occupation of the said land Kaleel Jameer – had rethe lands. Ovid Morrison assigned to him by Part 1 in the months of April and tained Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall to approach the court seeking over $10 million in damages for what they contended was the unlawful destruction of their However, in October 2016, REO Morrison had demanded that some 50 farm- ers, including the three claimants, vacate the land of the Sixth Schedule of the Act or any other law. He was acting ultra vires his powers August 2018 constitutes trespass by him. The third declaration and threatened to bulldoze and as such his interference states that the removal of Tourism Committee pledges to their crops and forcibly eject them. The farmers complained to the Chairman of with the claimants’ occupation of land was unlawful. The defendant is therethe structures, fixtures, trees, crops and plants on the said land by the REO, deliver strategy to revive industry the RDC who, by letter dated March 21, 2018, instructed the REO to refrain from fore personally liable to the claimants for damages for trespass,” the High Court his servants, representatives, officers and/or agents collectively and individually T he Tourism Recovery Action Committee (TRAC) has begun formal operations, after it was established for the purpose of implementing strategies for the recovery of the tourism industry - a sector that has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent months, most interfering with the farmers’ occupation of the land. Upon the claimants’ refusal to vacate, Morrison went ahead to enter the land and bulldozed their crops and structures in April and August 2018. During the trial held, the RDC Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal, had testified on behalf of the claimants, conJudge ruled. According to Justice Ramlall, the claimants have been in occupation of, cultivating and developing the land with the RDC’s permission and their position is that of mere licensees who are entitled to remain on the land until their licence is validly terminated by the RDC. was illegal. And finally, the Judge also granted an injunction restraining the REO by himself, his servants, representatives, officers and/or agents collectively and individually and each and every one of them from entering or remaining, occupying, farming, bulldozing the land or in any manner whatsoever inhotels, resorts and lodges firming their occupation and To this end, the Judge terfering with the claimants’ have been at zero or near-zecultivation of the land. He did note, however, that the quiet and peaceful use, occuro occupancy for a number further told the court that farmers acquired no propation and enjoyment of the of months. Tour operators, he had written the REO inprietary rights in the land. said land. tour guides, tourism prostructing him to desist from She further ruled given that With regards to the reviders and a whole range of support staff along the tourism supply chain are either out of work or working on a vastly reduced schedule. As such, the Committee issued a statement on Thursday, noting that several stakeholder agencies have come on board to restructure the industry to suit the times. Representatives from the health, civil aviation, communities, foreign affairs, public telecommunications, Indigenous peoples, ports and frontiers, small business and communications industries were invited to define a tourism recovery strategy. “Thousands of workers in hotels, guest houses, restaurants and the transportation sector now find themselves without income… Recognising the current critical state of the industry, the Action Committee viewed as priority the pulling together of the right agencies to serve the entity,” the newly-established Committee said. Since its formation some three weeks ago, TRAC was able to define a structure and collect inputs from stakeholders involved. In approximately two weeks, these specialist inputs will be subjected to examination in order to put together and craft a workable tourism recovery strategy. Strategies to attract financial support to the sector are also a priority given the continuing hardships afflicting sector workers. “Priorities TRAC is of the view that Guyana shares many similar recovery priorities with sister destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America. One key priority is the creation of a tourism experience that is safe for the visitor while not putting at risk any local populations. For this reason, special urgency attaches to recommendations that will be coming from the health, security and civil aviation entities and one of TRAC’s earliest public pronouncements will be the measures proposed to eliminate, as far as possible, any possible health risks associated with travel to and from Guyana.” It is expected that within a few weeks, a plan will be presented that is tailored to suit the local tourism sector and also one that has “strategic national tourism objectives”. “This Plan will seek to position the industry to maximise the competitive advantages Guyana possesses as it markets itself in a postCOVID travel environment that brings new sensitivities and priorities. Over the long term TRAC intends to return tourism in Guyana to its place of prominence as a major contributor to the national GDP,” the Committee pledged. Director of Tourism, Donald Sinclair dispossessing the farmers or damaging their crops, and advising him that his actions were not grounded in any RDC decision. As such, in her decision, Justice Ramlall accepted the claimants’ evidence of the a bare licence can be withdrawn at any time by the licensor without any prescribed notice (provided that the licensee is given reasonable time to leave) it is now for the RDC to determine whether it wishes to determine the claimants’ licence. lief, Justice Ramlall awarded special damages to the tune of $5,374,000 (the sum sought) to the three farmers. In addition, they were given general damages in the nominal sum of $100,000 each for trespass along with another $200,000 in costs. P rime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Keith Rowley, has announced that General Elections will be held on August 10. After announcing that he had advised the President to dissolve Parliament as of midnight Friday, Dr Rowley said nomination day would be July 17. This gives political parties in the twin-island republic 38 days for campaigning. Meanwhile, General Elections in Suriname were held on May 25 and a new governance structure is already in place. The country’s President, Desi Bouterse, had conceded defeat for the sake of allowing his country to move forward, but it is the opposite for his counterpart in Guyana. President David Granger has tightened his grip on power even though the results of a National Recount have confirmed that his ruling party was massively defeated by over 15,000 votes. It is now close to four months since the electorate in Guyana voted but the results are yet to be declared even though they are widely known and certified by all stakeholders, including the parties themselves and local and international observers. The National Recount results, which constitute data generated from the 2339 Statements of Recount (SoRs), show that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won the March 2 General and Regional Elections with 233,336 votes cast in its favour. T&T General Elections set for August 10 Prime Minister of T&T, Dr Keith Rowley

GTA, THAG receive int’l funding to tackle wildlife trafficking

The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) and Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) have received funding from the Latin American Trade Association (LATA) Foundation to create a Counter Wildlife Trafficking Communications Toolkit.

This toolkit will be aimed at strengthening the knowledge of wildlife trafficking and the legal process of mitigating further poaching, the knowledge of the legal wildlife trade in Guyana, reducing demand for illegally traded wildlife, and inspiring action that will protect our wildlife for the country, communities and all travellers.

The project will be completed in a year in collaboration with the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWCMC) under the Ministry of the Presidency and other stakeholders. The Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWCMC) currently manages and regulates Guyana’s legal wildlife trade.

The Commission holds the responsibility for securing the future of Guyana’s wildlife through effective, sustainable management and conservation, and is doing so through a regulated licensing process that manages the wildlife trade to ensure it remains sustainable, and a Monitoring and Compliance Division responsible for addressing instances of wildlife trafficking.

Through collaboration with the GWCMC and other agencies, the GTA and THAG will develop a toolkit that can be adopted and used by locals and travellers to better identify areas of illegal wildlife trade and protect the amazing wildlife which is a vital part of our country and tourism product.

“Our wildlife helps to keep our pristine rainforest intact, helps our planet’s biodiversity systems to thrive, supports the livelihoods of our Indigenous peoples by being a regulated food source, through tourism and conservation work, regulated wildlife management, and completes the circle of life,” Director of

Guyana Tourism Authority, Carla James said.

Her statement was supported by President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, Mitra Rajkumar, who shared, “Our wildlife is one of our greatest attractions in Guyana and one that we need to ensure we, as humans, do all that we can to help protect them.”

M e a n w h i l e , Commissioner of Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWCMC), Alona Sankar added “Wildlife trafficking is a serious issue globally. Even with the regulations we have in place to help combat this in Guyana, we do need all citizens and travellers to play their part to help identify and reduce the amount of illegal wildlife trafficking instances that take place in Guyana.”

Illicit Wildlife Trade and Trafficking is estimated to be a multibillion-dollar business involving the unlawful harvest of and trade in live animals and plants or parts and products derived from them. Wildlife, globally, is traded as skins, leather goods or souvenirs; as food or traditional medicine; as pets, and in many other forms. Many countries have limited regulations, and those that do are not strongly enforced due to capacity constraints or because they are not known by the locals to help identify the instances of illicit activities.

The aim of the communications toolkit is to empower locals and travellers in Guyana to better identify signs of wildlife trafficking and the process of how to report this for further action by the relevant authorities.

Taxi drivers charged for Moblissa home invasion

Charged: Dishon Abrams

Two taxi drivers were charged and remanded to prison in connection with the home invasion at Moblissa, Linden-Soesdyke Highway. The men, Leon Omar and Dishon Abrams, appeared virtually before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Kwakwani Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Thirty-year-old Omar, of Lot 370 Kaneville, Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and 26-year-old Abrams, of Brickery Public Road, EBD, were each charged with four counts of robbery under arms committed on Maxine DeNobrega. They were not required to plead to the indictable charges.

The duo is accused of invading the home of a Mobissa family of five and making off with vehicles, cash and several other valuables while armed with cutlasses at approximately 19:45h on Sunday.

Reports are that after terrorising the family, the bandits made off with a number of items including a silver-grey Fielder wagon motor car, PTT

Charged: Leon Omar

4321, valued at $3 million; a Mitsubishi short base canter truck, GWW 5695, valued $2.4 million; four Stihl 51 chainsaws valued $900,000; a Stihl 160 grass cutter valued $100,000; a 50 inch TCL television set valued $68,000; a twenty-pound gas cylinder valued $12,000; four cellphones valued $207,000, a YZ grass track motorcycle engine and chassis; a Lenovo Laptop computer valued $80,000; a computer and printer valued $120,000 and $40,000.

Reports further indicated that the Linden-Soesdyke Highway family was making dinner in their kitchen when they were pounced upon by the perpetrators, who began assaulting them and demanding that they hand over their valuables. <<<Guyana Times>>> was told that the bandits ransacked the victims’ home and forced them into their bathroom and made good their escape with the articles. Meanwhile, after receiving information regarding the incident, the woman’s brother, who is a security guard, proceeded to the East Bank of Demerara

(EBD), where he spotted the car, PTT 4321, travelling in the opposite direction at Pearl Public Road, EBD. He began to follow the car which was reportedly being driven at a fast rate of speed. This caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle and crash into the curb wall opposite Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) at Diamond, EBD. Two male occupants then exited the car and made good their escape in some nearby bushes. The car was later taken to Golden Grove Police Station and lodged to be processed. Then, at about 21:45h, ranks attached to the highway patrol base and relatives of the victim, acting on further information, made checks along a trail at Haruni village, LindenSoesdyke Highway where they found a car parked and locked. The car was towed and taken to the highway patrol base. Police then found a chain saw and a television set in the front seat of the car. The duo was later arrested and charged in connection with the crime. The men will return to court on July 31.

16 NEWS SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Medical devices, OTC drugs, cosmetics importers need Free Sale/Health Certificates – GA-FDD

GA-FDD Director, Dr Marlan Cole

All importers of OverThe-Counter (OTC) drugs, medical devices and cosmetics will now be required to have a valid Free Sale Certificate/ Health Certificate to accompany their products whether importing for use or sale on the local market.

This is according to Director of the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD), Dr Marlan Cole.

The GA-FDD Head said in a statement on Friday that original copies of the Free Sale Certificate or Health Certificate issued by the National Regulatory Authority of the country

of origin of the products must be presented to the Department to facilitate importation.

The enforcement of this requirement will be effective from October 30, 2020.

This, he explained, is in keeping with the Laws of Guyana Chapter 34:03, and its supporting Regulations No 10 of 1977 which states that:

“Except as provided by the regulations, no article of Cosmetic, Over-TheCounter Drug and Medical Device shall be imported into Guyana unless the article wholly conforms to the Laws of the country in which it was manufactured or produced and is accompanied by a certificate in the prescribed form and manner that the article does not contravene any known requirement of the law of that country and that its sale therein would not constitute a contravention of the law thereof.”

According to the GAFDD Director, submissions to the Department after the enforcement date that lack the necessary corresponding original Free Sale/ Health Certificates will not be processed or result in entries being refused.

“The mandate of the GA-FDD is to protect consumers from unsafe or substandard products. A Free Sale Certificate or Health Certificate gives assurance that the products being imported are produced and/or manufactured under safe and sanitary conditions and are subjected to a degree of regulatory oversight in the country of origin. This further attests to a standard of safety, purity, and efficacy for use,” the statement from the Department Head detailed.

Meanwhile, the GA-FDD Director is urging importers to take cognisance of this notice and ensure that cosmetics, medical devices, and OTCs are accompanied by the requisite documentation by the stipulated deadline to avoid any negative repercussions.

Those who may have further questions, the GAFDD is asking that they make contact with the Department on telephone numbers 222-8857 and 222- 8859.

Police to restrict container trucks, lorries during rush hour

The Guyana Police Force on Friday announced that it will start restricting container trucks and lorries along the roadways during peak hours.

In a post on its Facebook page, the GPF stated that the trucks will be restricted from using the roadways in Georgetown, East Bank Demerara, East

Coast Demerara, West Bank Demerara and West Coast Demerara between the hours of 07:00-09:00h; 11:00-13:00h; and 15:00- 17:00h in order to ease traffic congestion.

Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Linden Isles along with Traffic Officer Regional Division 4 B, Assistant Superintendent Jermaine Harper met on Friday with owners and drivers of motor lorries/container trucks of East Bank Demerara at Soesdyke Junction where they put forward this new proposal.

The Traffic Chief, according to the GPF post, said that one of the major causes

of traffic congestion on our roadways is the increasingly high volume of vehicles that are being imported and registered every year.

He is quoted as saying that the apparent inability of drivers to cope with the overcrowded environment and overburdened infrastructure is indicative that our roadways are in a state of constant catastrophe and that the limitations of our roads force drivers to manoeuvre their vehicles of all classes, especially large motor lorries, in an often-dangerous manner to other road users.

Additionally, the Traffic Chief stated that further engagements would be made with companies and businesses that operate container trucks and motor lorries on a daily basis so as to apprise them of this new proposal.

According to Section 48 (1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act (MVRTA) Chapter 51:02, "The Commissioner of Police may, with the approval of the Minister, make orders for any of the following purposes: a) The specification of the routes to be followed by motor or other vehicles; b) The prohibition or restriction of the use of specified roads by motor or other vehicles of any specified class or description, generally or during particular hours; c) The prohibition of the driving of vehicles on any specified road otherwise than in a specific direction; d) otherwise in relation to the regulation of traffic.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

SYMPTOMS People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:

Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Or at least two of these symptoms:

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

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

Fever

Chills

Repeated shaking with chills Muscle pain

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness.

GCAA anticipates reduced airfares with resumption of international travel

Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Egbert Field is of the view that the resumption of international travel to Guyana will result in a reduction in ticket prices.

Speaking on NCN’s Context programme, Field noted that a few airlines may have had a monopoly on flights during the allowance of limited repatriation at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA); resulting in higher than average airfares.

With the airports reopening, the Director General posited that the present circumstance is likely to experience a change.

“As we begin the commercial schedule which should be next month, you will have Eastern on the run, you will have American back in, you’ll have Caribbean [Airlines]. I

think the competition will help in levelling off the prices,” the GCAA Director General is quoted as saying by the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Field explained, “there will not be the number of passengers wanting to fly initially because of the measures which are in place, because you have to get a COVID test and when you get there is quarantine isolation, and so airlines will be competing for the few passengers and they will be offering good rates.” Director General of GCAA, Egbert Field While the second phase of the reopening of the country’s airports to international travel is set commence August 1, the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) will continue to grant limited repatriation flights for stranded Guyanese, diplomats and foreign workers.

St Lucia announces campaign in support of Caricom UWI surpasses high reputation with new top 100 universities’ ranking

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is now among a list of the world’s top 100 Universities in new rankings released by Times Higher Education (THE).

On June 24, THE revealed its ‘Golden Age University Rankings’of established higher education institutions across the world that have been around for 50 to 80 years. Based on years of existence, this category compares institutions established between 1945 and 1967, using the same criteria and methodology as the World Rankings. According to THE, “the ranking takes its name from what was a ‘Golden Age’ in global higher education, characterised by rapid university expansion and increasing investment in research.” These results reinforce that in spite of being a relatively young institution, and having limited access to financial and development resources, in just over 70 years The UWI has successfully built a solid reputation as the higher education leader. Recently during the annual report presentation to its University Council, ViceChancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles noted that the academy is among the best in the world and its reputation has never been higher. This latest top 100 ‘Golden Age’ ranking performance affirms The UWI’s prestige and leadership as it is now a familiar and consistent name in the Times Higher Education’s rankings, yet remains the sole Caribbean university on all the lists.

Reacting to the news, Vice-Chancellor Beckles said, “Our astounding performance in yet another ranking table beseeches the question, again—how does The UWI maintain its elite ranking located as it is, in an economy that has not seen sustained economic growth in 30 years? The answer is—our deep stakeholder commitment, focused leadership, and the

power of dedicated, unwavering colleagues. It is no secret that for the greater part of its existence, The UWI has had to function with a significant measure of deficit financing as we deliver this public good, which is time and time again rated as world-class by international ranking standards. As we continue skilfully managing, we look forward to the roll out of a new financial model that will see the University soaring to even higher heights.”

Vice-Chancellor Beckles set out on a strategic path, five years ago, to globally transform The UWI’s reputation before going to markets to raise revenue. “We are now at this juncture,” he said, “and we are pleased with the outcomes to date.”

Back in April, The UWI also appeared on THE’s Impact Rankings 2020 which maps how universities are responding to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the only global performance table that assesses universities on their research, outreach and stewardship of the SDGs. Of the 768 universities from 85 countries on the table, The UWI ranked among the top 200 for its work on SDG3: Good Health and Wellbeing; SDG5: Gender Equality and SDG13: Climate Action.

The UWI’s Office of Global Partnerships and Sustainable Futures works to strengthen the regional university’s positioning and engagement with the 2030 global development agenda. Commenting on the Impact Rankings, the Office’s Director, DrStacy RichardsKennedy asserted, “This international recognition of The UWI’s contribution to advancing the 2030 agenda for sustainable development is a tribute to the hard work of our staff and students from various Faculties and Research Centres and Institutes across our five Campuses. (Antigua News Room)

Bolivia digs mass graves as cemeteries S t Lucia has announced the launch of a campaign that is aimed at increasing visibility and understanding of the 15-member regional integration movement, Caricom. The Regional Integration Unit (RIU) in the Office of the Prime Minister said it is collaborating with the Guyana-based Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat in the “I AM CARICOM' communications campaign here. It said the initiative also “seeks to engage and assist citizens of the Community to locate themselves within the Caricom construct – institutions, governance structure, policies and plans, and to take ownership and participate fully in the regional integration development agenda”. The 'I AM CARICOM' initiative emanated from a meeting of the Caricom Committee of Ambassadors, where it was agreed that as part of the process for the development of the Community's Strategic Plan the Secretariat needed to re-engage the Caribbean population. “This Strategic Plan will succeed the first Community Strategic Plan 2015-2019, and is aimed at defining the direction of the Community over the Plan's horizon, keeping implementing partners focused, and laying-out the strategies to secure the Community's future in a dynamic and often challenging global environment.” Caricom Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana The RIU said that the commemoration of Caricom Day on July 6 here serves as an ideal opportunity to highlight the commencement of the 'I AM CARICOM' communications campaign and that it would be undertaking a host of public education activities celebrate and reinforce the achievements on the Organisation and its institutions and to inform on the work that they continue to do. These activities include the launch of the 'I AM CARICOM' photo frame for social media, interviews with the island's Ambassador to Caricom as well as online games and quizzes and the development and implementation of the Community Strategic Plan. (CMC) L ocal authorities are digging mass graves at cemeteries across Bolivia to receive a new wave of victims from COVID-19, unnerving Bolivians as the outbreak rips across the Andean nation. Bolivia has registered 35,500 cases of the virus and 1,200 deaths. Though the tally is low in comparison with neighbors Peru, Chile and Brazil, new cases have spiked in recent weeks, overwhelming the country´s fragile health care system in some areas. Cochabamba, a central Bolivian city, has been especially hard hit. Back-hoes and trucks there are opening up large pits in which to bury the most recent casualties. Raquel Loaiza, a representative of the region´s fuThe landlocked country of 11.7 million people regisfill with coronavirus victims Employees of a funeral home and relatives carry a coffin wrapped in the Bolivian flag at the General Cemetery as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues, in La Paz, Bolivia July 3, 2020 neral homes, said residents tered its first novel coronaSeveral Caribbean countries exempted dying of natural causes had been buried but those who died of COVID-19 were in virus infections on March 10. But cases have since spiked as the country eased from Britain’s COVID-19 quarantine rules limbo. “Not one has been buried,” Loaiza told reporters. She said as many as up restrictions to allow its ailing economy to revive. (Reuters) B ritain on Friday listed Antigua & Barbuda among more than 50 countries exempted from its COVID-19 quarantine rules, but excluded the United States, which yesterday posted a record 53,000 new cases of the virus. This means travellers can visit the named countries for holidays without being quarantined for 14 days on return as of July 10, unless they have visited or stopped in any other country or territory in the preceding 14 days. The Caribbean countries on the list Jamaica, The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. The British Government said the list may be updated over the coming days following further discussions between the United Kingdom and international partners. Most travellers to the UK currently have to self-isolate for two weeks. (Antigua News Room) 135 bodies were awaiting burial. The predicament has alarmed local residents, who worry the mass graves could trigger new infections in the neighborhoods surrounding cemeteries. Caption: Employees of a funeral home and relatives carry a coffin wrapped in the Bolivian flag at the General Cemetery as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues, in La Paz, Bolivia. (Reuters)

Regional

Coronavirus: Brazil’s Bolsonaro waters down law requiring face masks

Brazil’s President, Jair Bolsonaro, has sanctioned a law making the use of masks in public obligatory during the coronavirus pandemic.

However, he has vetoed their use in shops, churches and schools.

In a social media broadcast, Bolsonaro said people could have been fined for not wearing a mask at home.

He has refused to acknowledge the gravity of Brazil’s COVID-19 outbreak, despite it having the world’s second-highest numbers of cases and deaths.

The virus has infected almost 1.5 million people and killed 61,884 there since late February, according to data collated by Johns Hopkins University.

BBC South America correspondent Katy Watson said Jair Bolsonaro has never cared much for masks - a health recommendation that has become highly politi

Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries have been urged to respond “positively” to a United States initiative that would allow regional countries to access funding from a number of international financial institutions as they recover from the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, the outgoing Caricom chair, told the 20th special virtual meeting of Caricom leaders on Friday that she had received correspondence late Thursday in her capacity as Caricom chair from Washington on the issue.

Mottley said the region had been saying that at the very least, those countries

There have been almost 1.5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil

cised, as has much of the handling of the coronavirus crisis in Brazil.

Even where mask use has been made obligatory not everyone has observed the rules, and enforcement is often pretty lax, our correspondent adds.

The bill passed by the Chamber of Deputies included an article saying that masks had to be worn by people in “commercial and industrial establishments, in the Caribbean that have been graduated from access to concessional funding from the World Bank, ought to be given access now, largely because the needs in a pandemic or the needs coming out of a hurricane “require that they have access to concessional funding that will allow us to meet the most urgent demands of survival first, and then thereafter, to begin the journey of transformation”. “For countries in the region not eligible for the debt service suspension initiative, but which face severe debt service constraints, the United States will support swift debt rescheduling through the Paris Club. We encourage potential recipients to develop an ecoreligious temples, teaching premises and also closed places where people are gathering”.

On Friday, Bolsonaro vetoed the article, arguing that it could lead to the violation of property rights.

He also vetoed another requiring the distribution of masks to the poor.

Congress has 30 days to overrule the vetoes by absolute majority vote. (Excerpt

Small tailings dam collapses in Ecuador, communities denounce pollution A small tailings dam associated with a mine Ministry said in a statement, without providing details on the incident. Camilo Ponce Enriquez, a traditional mining zone, said the company had not run by Ecuadorean firm The Ministry said it complied with the protoAustro Gold has collapsed, opened an investigation to cols and the collapse caused Ecuador’s Government said determine how the compasediment pollution in the on Friday, sending mining ny could be sanctioned. river. waste into a nearby river. Ecuador this month is “There was a collapse ...

A retaining wall colexpected to release guideand all this material, about lapsed at the Armijos taillines for the management 50 tons, went down the ings station, located in the of tailings dams, partly in mountain until it reached Camilo Ponce Enriquez response to high profile acthe Tenguel river,” City area in southern Ecuador, cidents including a 2019 Commissioner Cristian the Energy and Mines dam collapse in Brazil that Tomala told reporters. Ministry said. Nobody was killed more than 250 peoEcuador has been develinjured. ple. oping large-scale mining

“One of the immediate Reuters was not imsince last year and has been measures in the area will mediately able to contact exporting gold and copper be ... to prohibit mining acAustro Gold. from its two largest mines. tivities at that plant,” the Local authorities in (Excerpt from Reuters)

Caribbean countries urged to make full use of new United States initiative

from BBC News) nomic reform programme that can be supported by the IMF and to work with the non-Paris Club bilateral creditors and private sector creditors to provide appropriate and comparable treatment,” Mottley quoted the letter as saying, adding that Washington had also sought to encourage Caricom member states to “be aware that they can keep in touch with the Department of Treasury’s technical Assistant Office that is already standing by to give assistance in areas ranging from economic reform, tax administration, public financial management, capital market development and infrastructure”. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Caribbean leaders meet amid concerns over regional transportation and COVID-19

Ca r i b b e a n C o m m u n i t y (Caricom) leaders met virtually on Friday to discuss the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on their socio-economic future and the plight of the regional transportation with the decision to liquidate the financially strapped regional airline, LIAT.

The meeting allowed for the outgoing chair, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, to hand over the stewardship of the 15-member regional integration grouping for the next six months to St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne was notably absent from the virtual meeting, A 4 . 9 - m a g n i t u d e earthquake struck just southwest of Puerto Rico on Friday. There were no reported casualties.

The quake was felt across the US territory and is the latest in a series of tremors that began in late December and have damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes.

Ángel Vázquez, who oversees the emergency management agency in Ponce, said a house collapsed in the town of Lajas. The house was empty and slated for demolition, according to Kiara Hernández, spokeswoman for Puerto Rico’s Department of Public Security.

The US Geological Survey said the latest quake struck five kilometres (three miles) southeast of La Parguera, at a depth of six kilometres (3.7 miles).

Víctor Huérfano, having earlier expressed his disappointment at the decision of the shareholder Governments of the regional airline to have it liquidated.

In his address, Gonsalves, who apart from having lead responsibility for transportation within the Quasi Caricom Cabinet, is also the chair of the shareholder Governments of the airline, said he had already held talks with representatives of several airlines wishing to do business in the region.

Mottley, whose counDirector of Puerto Rico’s Seismic Network, told The Associated Press that the tremor is an aftershock related to the 6-4-magnitude quake that struck in early January, killing at least one person and causing millions of dollars in damage.

Several offices in the capital of San Juan and elsewhere were evacuated out of caution.

Guánica Mayor Santos Seda said there were a couple of small landslides but that no one was in danger.

try, Barbados, controlled the largest share in LIAT, said the decision to liquate the airline was a difficult one, noting “but the reality is that LIAT has been for us a critical part of our history, it has allowed Caribbean people to move, but there is also a time when those instruments that served us well in the past may not be the right instruments for us going forward”.

Mottley told the summit that “our commitment remains to safe, reliable, affordable travel within the Eastern Caribbean,” adding that a report prepared by the Caricom Secretariat had shown that as many as 38 airlines flying within Caricom, nine of which “come from outside.” (Excerpt from Jamaica

More than Bds$12M worth of illegal drugs destroyed

The Royal Barbados at the Port of Bridgetown, na plants found in parPolice Force dethe Grantley Adams ishes including St Lucy, stroyed more than International Airport and St Joseph, St James, St $12 million worth of illegal go-fast boat operators tryThomas and St Peter were drugs on Friday. ing to smuggle drugs into also burnt. They were con

Acting Superintendent the country. fiscated between 2017 and Elliott Bovell said these About 2635 kilograms 2020. substances were collectof cannabis valued at Bovell said all the cases ed over the course of five $10,500,000 and 50 kilowere adjudicated either in years (2015 to 2020). grams of cocaine valued at the Magistrates’ Courts or

Some of the drugs $2,500,000 were destroyed. the High Court. (Excerpt were seized from people About 13,625 marijuafrom Nation News)

4.9-magnitude quake hits near Puerto Rico, house damaged

Observer)

He said crews will continue to inspect buildings that have been further weakened by ongoing seismic activity.

He said the latest earthquake caused panic once again in his town and beyond.

“It revives the fear of many people,” he said, adding that there are still three families in makeshift, temporary structures because they’re too scared to return home. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

OILNEWS

Oil prices fall as demand outlook worsens in US

Oil prices fell early on Friday amid surging new coronavirus infections in the United States, which had market participants worried about the US oil demand recovery trend.

As of 09:20 am EDT on Friday, WTI Crude was down 1.28 per cent at US$40.13, and Brent Crude traded down 1.23 per cent at US$42.61. Prices recovered somewhat later in the afternoon but were still trading about 1 per cent off.

Oil prices were still headed for a weekly gain this week as low supply from OPEC, encouraging economic data from the US and China, and a drop in US commercial inventories had supported prices earlier this week.

However, the US reported on Thursday its highest level of new daily coronavirus cases so far—at more than 55,000, raising fears that a surge in infections will dent the gradual oil demand recovery in America, which consumes 20 per cent of the world’s daily oil supply.

Nearly half of the US states have either paused or rolled back the easing of the restrictions, Texas governor Greg Abbot mandated statewide face-covering in public spaces, while Florida reported more than 10,000 coronavirus cases in a new grim record.

Earlier this week, oil prices rallied after the EIA reported a draw of 7.2 million barrels in crude oil inventories in the United States in the week to June 26, down from an all-time high level of inventories reached the previous week.

A Bloomberg survey of OPEC’s crude oil production in June showed that the cartel’s output fell to a three-decade low of 22.69 million barrels per day (bpd), as Saudi Arabia fulfilled its promise to cut an additional 1 million bpd on top of its quota in the OPEC+ pact.

Apart from tightening supply, oil prices were supported this week by optimistic economic news from the US and China. In the United States, the economy regained 4.8 million jobs last month, data showed on Thursday, which sent equity and oil markets rallying. In China, the manufacturing sector conditions continued to improve in June, the Caixin China General Manufacturing PMI showed, while the Caixin China General Services surveyshowed on Friday that China’s services sector activity expanded at its fastest pace in a decade and business confidence improved to a three-year high. (Excerpt from Oilprice.com)

Polish President accuses German-owned tabloid of election meddling

Polish President Andrzej Duda suggested on Friday that Germany was trying to meddle in the presidential election after a Germanowned tabloid newspaper reported on a pardon that he granted to a man who had served his sentence in a paedophilia case.

Duda, a conservative who faces a neck-and-neck race against a centrist opponent in a presidential runoff election on July 12, was angered by reporting by the Polish tabloid Fakt.

“Does Axel Springer, a company of German descent that owns the Fakt newspaper, want to influence the Polish presidential election?” Duda, an ally of the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS), said during a campaign rally in the western town of Boleslawiec.

The case, in which the pardon was granted in March, was initially reported by the Rzeczpospolita daily, but Fakt followed up with more details on Thursday.

Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, who also serves as Prosecutor General, confirmed the pardon was related to a paedophilia case but said it consisted only of lifting a restraining order and the man had served out his entire sentence.

Duda had applied the law of pardon following a request of a victim who was now an adult, added Ziobro, who was shown speaking by Polish state TVP.

Earlier on Friday, Duda’s re-election campaign spokesman, called on the German ambassador to Berlin to talk to the owners of Fakt.

Fakt denied meddling in the election, saying in a statement published on its website that it is run by Polish journalists and editors. (Excerpt from Reuters)

SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2020 19 Around the World

Global coronavirus cases rise to more than 11 million

Global coronavirus majority of states. Several cases exceeded 11 US Governors halted plans million on Friday, acto reopen their state econocording to a Reuters tally, mies in the face of a surge in marking another milestone cases. in the spread of the disease Almost a quarter of the that has killed more than half a million people in sevknown global deaths have occurred in the United en months. The number of cases is more than double the figure for severe influenza illnesses recorded annually, according to the World Health Organisation. Many hard-hit countries are easing lockdowns put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus while making extensive alterations to work and social life that could last for a year or more until a vaccine is available. Some countries are experiencing a resurgence in infections, leading authorities to partially reinstate lockdowns, in what experts say could be a recurring pattern into 2021. The United States reported more than 55,400 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, a new daily global record as infections rose in a A priest wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) walks in front of the body of a person who died of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as he collects woods to make a funeral pyre at a crematorium in New Delhi, India, July 3, 2020 States - nearly 129,000. A recent surge in cases has put President Donald Trump’s handling of the crisis under a microscope and led several Governors to halt plans to reopen their states after strict lockdowns. Latin America, where Brazil has 1.5 million cases, makes up 23 per cent of the global total of people infected. India has become the new epicentre in Asia, rising to 625,000 cases. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Zheng Yanxiong: China Jamal Khashoggi murder: appoints hard-line Hong Turkey puts 20 Saudis Kong security chief on trial in absentia

In 2011 Zheng (far left) accused protesters in mainland China of being too close to foreign media

China has appointed Wednesday has become the a hard-line figure as first to be charged under it. Head of its new secuHundreds were detained rity agency in Hong Kong. during the clashes.

Zheng Yanxiong is best The motorcyclist, accused known for his role in dealof riding into a group of ing with a protest over a Police while carrying a flag land dispute in the southern calling for the liberation of Chinese village of Wukan. Hong Kong, was charged

The new agency, answerwith inciting secession and ing directly to Beijing, is beterrorism. ing set up to enforce a dracoBeijing has dismissed critnian security law passed this icism of the law, saying it is week in Hong Kong. necessary to stop the type of

Opponents of the law say pro-democracy protests seen it erodes the territory’s freein Hong Kong during much doms. of 2019.

The law targets secession, Hong Kong’s sovereignty subversion and terrorism was handed back to China with punishments of up to by Britain in 1997 and cerlife in prison. tain rights were supposed to

Several leading pro-debe guaranteed for at least 50 mocracy activists have years under the “one counstepped down from their try, two systems” agreement. roles and one of them, oneBut China has rejected time student leader and local complaints by the UK and legislator Nathan Law, has other Western nations that it fled the territory. is in breach of these guaran

Separately, one of 10 peotees as interference in its inple arrested using the new ternal affairs. (Excerpt from law during protests on BBC News)

Jamal Khashoggi’s Turkish fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, told journalists: “We trust in Turkish justice.”

Twenty Saudi nationals Khashoggi’s Turkish fianhave gone on trial in cée, Hatice Cengiz, was alabsentia in Turkey for lowed to attend the hearing. the murder of the journalist She later told journalists Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. gathered outside the court

Khashoggi, a promiroom that she found the pronent critic of Crown Prince cess emotionally and spirituMohammed bin Salman, ally debilitating. was killed by a team of Saudi Turkey’s state-run Anadolu agents inside the kingdom’s news agency cited the indictconsulate in Istanbul. ment filed by Turkish pros

The defendants include two ecutors as accusing Saud former aides to the prince, al-Qahtani, a former sewho denies involvement. nior adviser to Crown Prince

Saudi Arabia, which rejectMohammed, and Ahmad ed Turkey’s extradition reAsiri, Saudi Arabia’s former quest, convicted eight people Deputy Intelligence Chief, over the murder last year. of “instigating a premeditat

Five were sentenced to ed murder with the intent of death for directly participat[causing] torment through ing in the killing, while three fiendish instinct”. others were handed prison The 18 other defendants sentences for covering up the are charged with carrying crime. out “a premeditated murder

The Saudi trial was diswith the intent of [causing] missed as “the antithtorment through fiendish inesis of justice” by a UN stincts”. Special Rapporteur Agnes The eight individuals who Callamard, who concluded were convicted of Khashoggi’s that Khashoggi was “the vicmurder in Saudi Arabia have tim of a deliberate, premedinever been identified by the tated execution” for which the Saudi authorities. (Excerpt Saudi state was responsible. from BBC News)

India to buy 33 Russian fighter jets for $2.43B

India’s Ministry of Defence on Thursday signed off on the purchase of 33 Russian fighter jets and upgrades to 59 others worth $2.4 billion, amid rising tensions with nuclear-armed neighbour China.

The purchase of 21 MiG-29 and 12 Su-30 MKI, as well as upgrades to 59 existing MiG29s, was to “augment” the Indian Air Force’s combat squadrons, the MoD said.

The Ministry also said it has approved local development of missile systems for all three branches of the military, and ammunition and upgraded infantry combat vehicles for the army.

The beefing up of India’s defence capabilities was taken up due to “the need to strengthen the armed forces to protect our borders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for ‘self-reliant India’”, the Ministry added in a statement.

The announcement followed Modi’s phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he “warmly congratulated” after a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms that could allow him to extend his rule until 2026. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

ARCHIE

DILBERT

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

ARIES (March 21- April 19)

TAURUS (April 20-

May 20)

GEMINI (May 21-

June 20)

CANCER (June 21-

July 22)

LEO (July 23-

Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23-

Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23-

Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-

Nov. 22) SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-

Dec. 21) (Dec. 22-

Jan. 19) AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-

Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20-

March 20)

If you speed things up a bit, you will accomplish what you set out to do. The less time you spend discuss- ing your plans and the more time you spend being con- structive, the better.

A positive change will come from a heart-to-heart discussion you have with someone you live or work with. Be honest and willing

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Pay more attention to how you look and feel. Spending more time on self-improvement will en- courage a healthier lifestyle and a positive attitude. Romance is featured.

Get your priorities straight. Refuse to let any- one mistreat you or direct you to take a path that you don't care for. Follow your heart and do what's best for you.

When in doubt, take a step back and do nothing. Take time to assess your sit- uation and to nurture your- self and your meaningful relationships. Romance is favored.

Implement changes that will make your life easier. Making domestic or life- style adjustments will im- prove your quality of life. Children and seniors will

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Be careful what you say. Problems will arise if you are inconsistent or if some- one you deal with is too de- manding. Keep the peace, go about your business and

CAPRICORN

avoid discord.

Everyone will want to offer advice. Listen to the information provided and use whatever works for you. A unique plan will encourage you to make an unexpected change.

Please someone you love. Make a personal change that will enhance the way you look, live or treat others. Physical activity will ease stress. Don't get involved in joint ventures.

Don't feel that you have to do everything all at once. Preparation and or- ganization will determine how much you accomplish. Adjust the way you live for

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Australian Open tennis championship 2021…

Melbourne is preferred venue despite spike in COVID-19 cases

The 2021 Australian Open will proceed in Melbourne – and Melbourne only – despite Victoria’s alarming COVID-19 spike. On Friday, another 66 coronavirus cases were reported in Victoria, making it the 17th straight day that double-digit infection numbers were recorded there, and prompting talk that the season-opening Grand Slam may need to be shifted to either Sydney or Brisbane.

That, however, will not be happening, according to tournament boss Craig Tiley, who is continuing to plan for six different scenarios, ranging from a worst-case broadcast-only event to as close to business as usual as possible, with strict biosecurity measures in place.

“Nothing has changed for us in terms of our planning,” Tiley told AAP. “The environment around us has changed, and will continue to change, as we’ve seen with the current spike in Victoria. We’re optimistic the additional measures currently in place will be successful, and restrictions will continue to be eased over the coming months.

“So, I’m confident we will run the Australian Open in Melbourne, and other events around Australia in January; and we’re working closely with all our authorities on the regulations regarding mass gatherings, physical distancing, and increased hygiene that are being put in place.”

The reality is that Melbourne Park and its 2km precinct, which houses not only state-of

the-art tennis facilities but also a plethora of bars and entertainment hubs, is the only location in Australia equipped to stage a slam. In total, 33 courts are used during the tournament, including three with retractable roofs, and an additional 18 are available at nearby venues. The biggest names in World tennis and their entourages enjoy a four-storey player pod with gyms, medical and treatment rooms, ice baths, warm-up facilities, change

Bayern Munich sign Leroy Sane from Manchester City

Bayern Munich have completed the signing of winger Leroy Sane from Manchester City.

Sane, 24, has agreed a five-year contract with the Bundesliga champions, who confirmed the transfer on Friday.

The Germany international will initially cost Bayern €49 million (£44.5m), rising to €60m (£54.5m), Stats Perform News understands.

Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said: "We're very happy to welcome Leroy Sane to FC Bayern. He is an outstanding player who has proven his qualities over the past few years, especially in the national team. "Our goal is to gather the best German players at FC Bayern, and the signing of Leroy emphasises this goal. I would like to congratulate Hasan Salihamidzic on successfully concluding the transfer."

Speaking ahead of the move on Wednesday, Pep Guardiola wished the player all the best at the City boss's "fantastic" former club Bayern.

Sane joining Bayern is a switch that has been mooted since last year; however, the German side were said to be unwilling to match City's previous asking price. He then suffered a serious knee injury in the Community Shield last August, and returned to the pitch only last month.

Sane joined City from Schalke in 2016 in a deal reportedly worth an initial £37m (€40m), and he went on to show flashes of immense ability during his first campaign.

He elevated his game to the next level in 2017-18 and won the Professional Footballers' Association's (PFA) Young Player of the Year Award as Guardiola's side clinched the Premier League title.

Sane helped City to another top-flight crown the next year, and scored 16 goals across all competitions, although links with Bayern became commonplace towards the end of 2018-19.

Much of Sane's time on

the sidelines through injury coincided with strengthening reports of him desiring a move to Bayern, and on June 19, Guardiola confirmed the club had been informed he would not be signing a contract extension. As such, Guardiola accepted Sane was either to be sold this year, or leave on a free transfer in June 2021.

City have at least avoided the latter scenario, though the fee of up to €60m is significantly less than the £137m (€150m) asking price they are alleged to have set in 2019.

For Bayern, the addition of Sane comes two days after they signed highly rated defender Tanguy Kouassi from Paris SaintGermain, his contract with the French champions having expired.

rooms, a beauty bar, concierge and transport reception.

“All this will be in one self-contained area, which will be crucial in COVID times,” Tiley

Li o n e l Messi's future is often a topic of discussion. Messi has an ‘early break’ clause in his Barcelona contract, and as Barca look to re-sign him, the 33-year -old superstar is reportedly ready to walk away next year.

WANTS TO EXIT BARCA

Lionel Messi will leave Barcelona when his contract expires at the end of 2020- 21, according to Cadena SER.

Barca captain Messi – previously linked to Inter and Manchester City – has reportedly been in talks over a new two-year deal at Camp Nou. The six-time Ballon d'Or winner and Barca's all-time leading scorer is reportedly tired of being blamed for issues at the club, with the LaLiga champions set to be dethroned by

Apart from the Rod Laver Arena, which has a capacity for 15,000 spectators, the National Tennis Centre has four other show courts that seat between 3000 and 11,500 fans.

Melbourne Park versus Sydney Olympic Park or the Brisbane Tennis Centre is a firstround knockout. Sydney has nine match courts, with one roof still being completed on Ken Rosewall Arena; and there are six practice courts, smaller change rooms, and dining facilities.

Pat Rafter Arena, which has 5,500 seats but no roof, is one of 23 ITF-standard courts in Brisbane. The venue’s capacity is for around 10,000 fans, but this is not in the same ball park as Melbourne, which boasts a record daily attendance of 93,709.

So, the biggest event on the annual Australian sporting calendar would only go ahead in January in Melbourne, Tiley has said.

“The US Open and the French Open are exploring mandatory testing, varying levels of quarantine, and limiting entourages,” he said. “Of course, we are looking at all these options and more as part of our scenario planning. It’s difficult to predict exactly what will need to be in place, as guidelines and protocols are changing week by week, and sometimes even day by day.” (Sourced and modified from the Guardian)

said. Rumours circulating in international football… Messi to leave Barcelona, Xavi agrees to replace coach Setien

Real Madrid.

ROUND-UP

- Staying at Camp Nou and club, the legend Xavi has agreed to become Barcelona head coach next season. Mundo Deportivo journalist Francesc Aguilar says the Al-Sadd boss has agreed a €6million salary to replace under-fire coach Quique Setien.

Mundo Deportivo reports that Manchester United and neighbours, City, have asked Barca about the availability of out-of-favour forward Antoine Griezmann. A big-money signing from Atletico Madrid at the start of the season, Griezmann has struggled, and has found himself on the bench in recent weeks. However, the report claims Barca are not considering a transfer.

Liverpool are poised to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara, says Sport. Thiago is out of contract at the end of 2020- 21, and the Spaniard is not willing to re-sign. Liverpool are now believed to be in advanced negotiations as Bayern seek £31m (€35m) for Thiago.

Everton full-back Lucas Digne has emerged as a target for City and Chelsea, if they fail to land Leicester City star Ben Chilwell, according to ESPN.

Borussia Dortmund have completed the signing of Birmingham City teenager Jude Bellingham, Bild has reported. United were also chasing the 17-year-old sensation.

After signing Achraf Hakimi from Real Madrid, Sky journalist Fabrizio Romano claims Inter have opened talks with Chelsea for Italian full-back Emerson Palmieri.

Juventus are hoping to settle Paulo Dybala's new contract between July and August, says Calciomercato.

The Telegraph reports Chelsea are ready to step up their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz after Saturday's DFB-Pokal final against Bayern. Havertz has been linked to Bayern, Madrid, United, Liverpool and Barca.

Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga could be shipped out on loan to Sevilla, claims The Sun. The world's most expensive keeper has been criticised for his performances this season. (Sourced and modified from Sportsmax)

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West Indies assistant coach Roddy Estwick has admitted he is slightly troubled by the top-order's form ahead of the Test series against England, but he insists there is no concern over captain Jason Holder's form.

While many have made substantial scores in the two intra-squad matches at Emirates Old Trafford in the last couple of weeks, there was some alarm when their frontline batsmen capitulated to the first-choice bowlers on Wednesday. The top five West Indies batsmen: Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Shamarh Brooks, Shai Hope and Roston Chase, subsided to 9 for 3 and 49 for 5 in their final competitive innings before next week's first Test at the Ageas Bowl. "I would have loved to see the batsmen spend a little bit more time in the middle," Estwick told the PA news agency. "That would be one of the biggest worries, that none of the batsman in the Test squad got a score in this innings. "In the first game, players got scores, so it's not a major concern, but I would love to see a couple get

ting scores in this match. They've still got a little bit more time. "In England, you've got to get used to leaving the ball, especially early on. The ball's obviously going to nip around, so you've got to be able to know where your off-stump is, know what to leave and what to play at. We're obviously going down to a different surface at Southampton, we've got to assess that surface as quickly as possible, and hit the ground running," he said.

Holder's woes with the bat continued on Thursday, after his move to open the innings backfired when he says of comparison between current bowlers and ‘greats’

Regional Cricket Analyst Fazeer Mohammed has taken exception to recent comments made by Windies asstistant coach Roddy Estwick, who recently compared the current bowling unit to that of the famed West Indies pace attack of the past.

The current bowling unit, comprising Kemar Roach, Jason Holder and Shannon Gabriel, and on occasion Alzarri Joseph, has done well for the West Indies in recent series, leading an excited Estwick to claim that the West Indies were “beginning to get blessed again with fast bowlers”, and to say that the current crop “was the best group since the great days”.

But while agreeing that this unit does possess some amount of talent, Mohammed has insisted that Estwick’s comparison is a bit over the top. “I think there is too much being made about the quality of our fast bowling. Roddy Estwick made the point that this is our best fast bowling unit since the great era, (but) that is complete nonsense,” Mohammed told the Mason and Guest radio programme. “These four fast bowlers are really good, and show tremendous talent, but I think Roddy is getting a little carried away. There is no way this quartet compares with the like of Roberts, Malcolm, Croft, and Garner,” he added.The current crop of fast bowlers is also able to call on the likes of bowlers Chemar Holder and O’Shane Thomas, who have plenty of pace, if not the necessary experience. (sportsmax) was dismissed for 2 off 15 balls. He left a delivery from Anderson Phillip and it nipped back in and clipped his off-bail.

That means he has scored just seven runs and faced fewer than 30 deliveries in three innings, while he has bowled only five overs across the internal matches after an ankle niggle. Estwick, though, believes Holder, No. 1 in the ICC Test allrounder rankings, would not be undercooked at Southampton. "Anybody that knows Jason Holder well wouldn't be worried. He is a strong and tough competitor, and he's mentally very, very strong as well. Jason knows how to prepare for Test match cricket, he's been the number one allrounder for a number of years, so he'll be ready come July 8, no worries at all," Estwick has predicted. Joshua Da Silva was the star performer with the bat for the Holder XI in the drawn

four-day contest against a side led by Brathwaite. The 22-year-old followed up his unbeaten first-innings century with 56 not out in the second dig, as he amassed 189 runs without dismissal.

It will not be enough to catapult him into the Test squad from the reserves, but Estwick has been impressed by Da Silva’s performance. "He played very well in the game, and I'm sure that his time will come," Estwick said.

Estwick had been leading the side this week, as head coach Phil Simmons was self-isolating in his hotel room after recently attending his father-in-law's funeral. Simmons was back presiding over the warmups on Thursday morning, after testing negative for coronavirus for a third time. This test result has allowed him to link up with the rest of the touring party.

Estwick added: "We've missed him, obviously. But he's back now with us, and everything is good to go! It wasn't a disruption, because it happened in the game. You tend to miss more ‘hands on deck’ in practice, but if there's a game going on, you've only got to monitor preparation and the odd person going into the nets. "But, as our leader, we're happy to have him back, and it's very important that he's back for us, because now we can sit down, plan and prepare. We've been here now for three weeks, so it's all about good, solid planning and letting the players execute properly."

223-7230-1 (Ext 55) NOW!

Cricket Analyst Fazeer Mohammed

(Cricinfo)

Sam Curran has tested negative for COVID-19, after illness had forced him to withdraw from England's intra-squad three-day warm-up match at the Ageas Bowl.

Curran, who made a brisk 15 on the first day but did not get a chance to press his case for a Test place with the ball, has been self-isolating in his room at the team hotel, after coming down with “sickness and diarrhoea” on the second day of the match. He underwent a COVID test during the lunch interval on Thursday, and would have been required to spend a further seven days in isolation had it turned out he was positive, which would have had implications for the rest of the squad ahead of the first Test against West Indies on July 8.

However, he will now return to training over the next 24-48 hours, but will continue to be closely monitored by team doctor Mark Wotherspoon. Curran will receive a further COVID-19 test on Sunday, along with the rest of the playing and management group.

The news of his negative result comes as a relief for the ECB, who last week had reported a total of 703 negative COVID tests at the Ageas Bowl and at Emirates Old Trafford, the West Indies base, in the lead-up to the Test series.

There, however, will be concerns if another sickness bug is making its way through the England squad, after the team's build-up to the first Test in South Africa in December was ravaged by illness.

There were some concerns about the health of Dan Lawrence -- one of the likelier candidates to stand in for Joe Root during the first Test -- who did not come out to bat in the top six in Team Buttler's second innings at the Ageas Bowl, after having made a fluent fifty on the first day.However, the likelihood of any transmission has been reduced by the social-distancing measures being taken within the team environment, and a team spokesman has confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that Lawrence is fine.

BACK HOME AT LAST!

Garfield Benjamin et al return home after 135 days in lockdown in TT

By Brandon Corlette

There’s no place like home! And Garfield Benjamin can support this assertion after spending 135 days in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, where the

Sport Journalist Brandon Corlette speaking to Garfield Benjamin

Guyana Under-19 cricketer was in lockdown brought on by the sweeping tentacles of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

Benjamin was all smiles and bonhomie as he touched down at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri on June 19, and was very relieved to have completed his one-week home quarantine.

This excitable Berbician had departed his home turf on February 4, wheeling out his gear bag with the aim of scoring runs while playing for the Cosmos Sports Club in Trinidad & Tobago’s Premier Two Division. He had expected to score a multitude of runs, but the COVID-19 pandemic scuttled his ambitions and thwarted his plans.

In an exclusive interview with this publication, Benjamin recalled his first experience of being on lockdown in unfamiliar territory. "It is a great feeling, after being away from my family for so many months… to return home (and be) among familiar faces,” he first of all acknowledged.

“For the first month or so, the cricket was really good,” he continued. “I like the way the cricket is structured over there; it's a shame, actually, (my) not being able to finish the season, (although) I was not going through the best of patches; but it was a good experience, and I found myself getting better every day. So, I know the tournament would have been a good one for me," Benjamin explained.

Benjamin noted that being on total lockdown around unfamiliar faces was very hard for him to endure, especially since this was his maiden stint in Trinidad and Tobago. "They showed me good hospitality for the time being,” he confessed. “(But) even though the country reopened around the starting of May, I could not go anywhere; so, it was tough," Benjamin recalled.

Asked if at any point in time he had lost hope, Benjamin told this publication that he had lost hope many times, because he had on multiple occasions been promised that he would have a flight home, but those flights had been cancelled due to various reasons. He described that as a tiresome circumstance.

Benjamin, who played for the Guyana Under-19 Team in the last Regional Under-19 tournament, noted that transitioning from playing cricket at the junior level to playing at the senior level has not been the best of experiences for him. "Every day you learn something new. It’s kind of rough, that transition from junior to senior, with not a lot of senior cricket being played at the inter-county level; it's just the franchise. And last year I did not really get a chance to show (my ability) in that. Hopefully, when cricket resumes, I can do something good," Benjamin posited.

Although cricket is not being played locally, Benjamin noted, he is keeping himself fit by attending the gym and doing sprints in the afternoons on the basketball court in his home village of Courtland, Corentyne. Benjamin is aspiring, within the next two to three years, to see his career achieve great heights; and accordingly, he is putting in the hard work and steeling his determination, because this humble Berbician knows the sky is the limit for him. Besides Benjamin, K a n d a s a m m y Surujnarine and fellow Berbican Demetri Cameron returned home on the same June 19 flight.

Benjamin bating in an inter-county fixture Garfield Benjamin

JAMES CHANDLER HAS PASSED

MMZ Cricket Club mourns the loss of former club captain

The present and pass members of the West Meten-Meer-Zorg Cricket Club on the West Coast Demerara is mourning the death of their former club Captain and a dynamic lefthand all-rounder James Chandler, who passed away on Sunday 28th June, 2020, during a brief illness at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

James Chandler who only returned to Guyana in January this year was member of the Guyana Police Force and would have served in ‘B’ and ‘D’ Division area, proudly wearing the Guyana Police Force Uniform. Chandler who was also an outstanding Cricketer started his Cricketing Career at the West Meten Meer Zorg Cricket Club located a few buildings from his home.

He then went on to represent the senior West Demarara Team, West Demerara Police Georgetown Police during his assignment with

the force in Berbice.

Chandler would have played with the Berbice Police and several other Clubs in the first Division league before migrating to United States of America in the year 2000, where he would have connected with his former Meten Meer Zorg/Police and National wicket keeper Ejaz Asgarally where he continued on playing the game in which he took pride in for the New york Meten Meer Zorg Cricket Club according to former Meten Meer Zorg Club Member Troy Khan.

WI players say Holder’s form not a concern

West Indies batsmen Kyle Mayers and Joshua Da Silva are not concerned about the form of captain Jason Holder lead

ing into the three-match Test series against England; although, as the number one all-rounder in the world, Holder has been short of runs in the intra-squad warm-up matches.

Ranked just ahead of Englishman Ben Stokes in the world Test all-rounder rankings, Holder has found runs hard to come by in England. In the final warm-up match, which was completed on Thursday, Holder scored five and two runs respectively.

In the first warm-up match, the Windies captain scored duck in his only innings.

As a fast bowler, Holder has been experiencing a niggle with his ankle, and bowled only five overs leading up to the Test series, in which he took one wicket.

Kyle Mayers, one of the ten reserves, cracked 74 not out on Thursday to help the Kraigg Brathwaite XI score 178 in the first innings in response to the Jason Holder XI’s score of 272. The Holder XI closed the second innings on 171/4 as the four-day contest ended in a draw. The entire first day of the match was washed out.

Mayers, however, is not worried about Holder’s form.

“Not at all!” Mayers has said. “He is a very quality player, number one all-rounder in the world! A few practice matches not scoring runs would not change his mindset at all. Coming into Test cricket i s a different feeling. Hopefully, he contributes as usual and leads the team as good as he could.”

Holder was instrumental in helping the West Indies to a 2-1 Test series win over England to retain the Wisden Trophy in the Caribbean last year. He scored 229 runs in three innings, including a knock of 202 not out; and contributed with the ball by grabbing seven wickets in the two matches he played.

Joshua Da Silva, who scored 133 not out and 56 not out in the final practice match, is also not concerned about his captain’s form.

“Not at all!” he said. “We back him 100 per cent! Not at all!” Da Silva is also a reserve in the team.

Mayers has said the team is optimistic heading into the first Test. “I think the group is really prepared and willing to go. I think every aspect of the game is being covered well here in preparation (for the Tests), from fielding to batting to bowling; and I think everything is being done well and the guys are very confident going into the first Test,” he said.

The first Test match bowls off on July 8. (Sourced from TT Newsday and modified)