Guyana Times Saturday March 21, 2020

Observation of rule of law, strengthening of democratic principles are reinforced by free, fair, transparent P9 elections – ACP Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4232

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020

PRICE

GECOM, APNU/AFC destruction of democracy: Day 20

GECOM removes ballot boxes from Conference Centre without informing parties

See story on page 10

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Convicted prisoner sets fire at Camp Street Prison P16 …blaze quickly contained

Govt cannot P14 access US$55M placed in oil fund – BoG Governor

Tullow depreciates Guyana’s exploration assets

by US$60M P11 …cites unsuccessful exploration results in Orinduik Block

GPOC suspends international mail delivery

…action labelled as ‘deceitful’

P11

Opposition Leader files new application for recount

Brazil closes border with P13 Guyana amid Covid-19 spread

See stories on pages 3 & 12

…as 4 political parties join injunction proceedings …only selected media personnel granted access to court Guyana must have “free, fair and credible elections “ – US Secretary of State

…Unreliable election results will damage Guyana on Intl stage – US diplomat …sanctions include removal of visa privileges, seizure of assets, bank accounts Pages 12 & 14

Elections 2020

Security guard P8 on bail for unlawful killing of Mahdia miner

Page 7

Carter Center pulls out of Guyana over security concerns …reports harassment by APNU/AFC supporters, threats to Intl Community …remains committed to observing Electoral Process …Canada joins call for Guyanese will to be respected

COVID-19

Scotiabank offers 6-month loan deferral for customers P15

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SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

Saturday, March 21 – 03:30h – 05:00h and 14:30h – 16:00h and Sunday, March 22 – 04:00h – 05:30h and 14:30h – 16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, March 21 –15:05h – 16:35h and Sunday, March 22 –15:40h – 17:10h.

Opposition Leader files new application for recount

…as 4 political parties join injunction proceedings

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light cloud is expected until midday. Expect sunny intervals during the afternoon hours.

There will be clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 20 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 15:15h reaching a maximum height of 2.38 metres.

Low Tide: 08:50h and 21:12h reaching minimum heights of 0.93 metre and 0.79 metre.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020

LOTTERY NUMBERS E

05 07 19

23 24 25

FREE TICKET

08 Bonus Ball

FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2020 DAILY MILLIONS

12 14 19 20 26 LUCKY 3

7

7

9

6

Afternoon Draw

1

6

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

02

03

08

10

13 16 21

PAY DAY

SUPER PAY DAY

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020

01 04 10 11 17

03 09 11 12 21

DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

COMMODITIES Indicators Crude Oil Rough Rice London Sugar

US$ $28.47/barrel $239.4 /ton $337.90/ton

Live Spot Gold Bid/Ask Low/High Change

$1498.80 $1476.80 0.00

Change % +12.61 -4.45 +0.63

USD Per Ounce $1499.80 $1518.50 0.00%

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) as well as the representative of the party’s List of Candidates, along with private citizen, Reaz Holladar, has filed a court action for a recount of the results of the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

This new proceeding raises a number of issues connected to the electoral process and the elections results, specifically the manner in which the Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo conducted the tabulation exercise, his illegal declaration of the results and his denial of recounts requested by eight of the parties that contested the elections.

Speaking on this, PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali explained that the application is seeking to have the court direct a recount, citing the commitment of the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh and President David Granger’s own commitment in the aide-memoire signed by him and Jagdeo under the auspices of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), which had brokered the recount.

However, that recounting process was blocked by an injunction obtained by APNU/AFC candidate, Ulita Moore, on Tuesday.

Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall told reporters on Friday that an application has been filed to have this new matter be joined with the injunction proceedings, since “the issues are related.

They arise out of the same subject matter and they have great connection legally, pragmatically and politically...”

High Court Judge, Justice Franklyn Holder will be hearing that application to join the two cases on Monday at 13:00h.

Injunction

Meanwhile, at the hearing of the injunction on Friday, Justice Holder

Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall

Leader of LJP Lenox Shuman

granted applications from several opposition political parties, including the PPP/C’s Jagdeo, to join the proceeding that is blocking GECOM from conducting the national recount that was supposed to be done earlier this week and be supervised by a high-level Caricom team.

The other parties added to the proceedings were A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Liberty and Justice

ANUG Chairman Timothy Jonas

Justice Franklyn Holder

Party (LJP) and The New Movement (TNM), the three parties that had joined their Lists of Candidates to contest the elections.

They were presented by Attorney-at-Law Timothy Jonas and Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran in court.

Jonas, who is the Chairman of ANUG, told reporters that the Judge dealt with housekeeping matters on Friday ahead of the hearing of the substantive case on Monday.

In addition to Jagdeo, an application was also made for Reeaz Holladar to be added to the proceedings as well. Holladar had successfully filed proceedings earlier this month to block RO Mingo from declaring the results of Region Four as well as against GECOM and its officials from declaring the 2020 elections results.

However, the request to have Holladar join this case was denied by Justice Holder.

Nandlall explained that this was refused on the

ground that Jagdeo’s joiner of the proceedings cover the same issues that Holladar’s application sought to ventilate in court.

“The Judge felt that having Holladar and Jagdeo together would have been duplicating the proceedings because they seem to be canvassing the same interests,” he noted.

Nevertheless, the four added parties were granted leave to file their defence in the injunction proceedings

by Monday. The lawyers for Moore will then have up to Wednesday to file their response.

Thereafter, the court will hear submissions on the injunction.

Roysdale Forde/APNU/ AFC’s duplicity

On the other hand, Nandlall as well as Leader of LJP, Lenox Shuman, both raised concerns over the action of Attorney-atLaw Roysdale Forde, who is a candidate on the APNU/ AFC List of Candidates.

TURN TO PAGE 12

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guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 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

An ‘enemy against humanity’

T

he coronavirus pandemic is creating havoc around the world, with increasing numbers of deaths and infections daily. Many more countries have also reported new cases this past week, and, with each passing day, the level of fear and anxiety in societies everywhere is increasing, especially since there is no known vaccine for the disease that is readily available.

The number of people infected has soared past 200,000, and worldwide fatalities have topped 10,000. More deaths have also now been recorded in Europe, the new virus epicentre, than in Asia since the outbreak first emerged in Wuhan, China last December.

Guyana has thus far registered one fatality and has confirmed its fifth case of coronavirus disease this past week.

The health authorities here say they will continue to locate and quarantine other persons who came into close contact with the woman who contracted the virus and died a few days ago.

Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, recently referred to the virus as an “enemy against humanity”, as never before has the world been threatened and affected in this manner. Currently, many cities around the world are basically on lock-down, with the authorities placing tough restrictions on persons to stay indoors and maintain ‘social distancing’ so as to slow or halt the spread of the disease. Many schools, airports, shopping malls etc have been closed in order to prevent mass gatherings.

The big question on everyone’s mind is: When will this all end, and how soon will persons be able to get on with their daily lives? The reality of the situation is that no one knows for sure. Certainly, life will not return to normalcy anytime soon.

Experts have pointed out that even if the infection rates start to decline in the coming months due to the present measures being taken, it is still far from the end.

The current measures being taken to shut down airports, schools, shopping malls, sports venues and other aspects of national life are not sustainable in the long term. While this is needed at this stage, the social and economic impacts of this damage would be very heavy for countries to deal with.

On the other hand, if these restrictions are lifted, there is a high possibility that the infection rates would go up, and all the gains made would be reversed. The WHO has stated that the only way to suppress and control the virus is for countries to “isolate, test, treat and trace.” If countries fail to do that, “transmission chains can continue at a low level, then resurge once physical distancing measures are lifted.”

While the situation seems very bleak at the moment, it is hoped that countries would adhere to WHO guidelines on fighting the virus. The human and financial resources needed to respond to COVID-19 are massive, but every effort must be made to ensure they are provided.

That said, COVID-19 will have a huge financial impact on many individual households and their ability to survive this difficult phase. This is in addition to the slowing down of the economy here for quite some time now due to the elections’ climate. Some businesses were forced to close their doors, while others scaled down their operations, resulting in workers being laid off or having reduced work days etc. Certainly, these affected persons would find great difficulty in paying their mortgages, rents, loans, utility bills, and buy groceries etc.

We have noticed that neither the Government nor the private sector has so far come up with any support system to provide relief to workers and their families in order to cushion the impacts. What we have noticed instead, is the unconscionable act of raising prices at a time when it is already difficult for persons to meet their basic expenses.

In some Caribbean countries, the commercial banks and other financial lending institutions have already indicated that they would provide assistance to consumers by deferring loan payments and slashing interest rates, and so on. Private companies have also offered food supplies, baby formula, toiletries and cleaning items to less fortunate households.

We have also noted the calls being made for employers to offer alternative work-from-home arrangements, and to provide the tools for workers to engage in safe practices, considering the threat of COVID-19. These calls should not be ignored.

These are indeed tough times for families who are already burdened financially, and it is expected that the Government and private sector companies would step in and do what is expected.

Two women observe social distancing measures as they speak to each other from adjacent park benches amidst the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, in the center of York, northern England (AFP)

In Granger’s grand game, he may have miscalculated the finale

Dear Editor, I have two letters to the press which I did not send for publication because I believed that David Granger was beginning to show honesty, integrity, courage, and respect for the voice of the people expressed on March 2, 2020. Once again, I was fooled. I cannot allow myself to be fooled again -not by David Granger.

David Granger knows how to play with words – and with democracy. He took a solemn oath to uphold the Constitution, and he openly violates it -- more times than all his predecessor presidents combined.

He knows he has lost the Presidency, but clings to power. Despite no official or credible outcome, Granger misled his audience and supporters on March 5, 2020 that he would be their good life President’ for the next five years.

He knows the reason for the delayed declaration of Region 4 is so that his people in GECOM would know how many votes were necessary to rig the elections. He responded with his imperious diffidence.

He is fully aware that the Returning Officer fraudulently and unlawfully declared bogus results for Region 4. Despite this, he posted his unverified victory on Facebook.

And he knows exactly what he means when he says that GECOM are independent and he cannot tell them what to do. He does not need to, he made sure he appointed people who would appoint others to rig the count and the elections

for him.

This kind of duplicity is reminiscent of his presentation at the 5th Biennial Conference of the PNCR’s North American Region held in Atlanta, Georgia, United States in November 2017. He told them he never rigged elections. Indeed, he did not, but he was very much part of the Army that helped to stuff ballot boxes at Camp Ayanganna.

His duplicity was further exposed in the aftermath of the 2018 No Confidence Motion. He falsely claimed he would respect it, and then used the resources of the State to prolong the life of an otherwise expired Government.

He told the same Atlanta audience that he was not aware that “rigged elections were an ideal of Forbes Burnham”, his mentor and idol. No, it was not Burnham’s ideal; it was his way of life.

But Granger gave himself away in Atlanta when he appealed rhetorically to his Party faithful to “ask yourself how did the PNC gain office in 1964. Ask yourself how did the PNC remain in office, and what did it do during that period.

Ask yourself how the PNC regained office in 2015, and ask yourself how would the PNC retain office after 2020.”

Well, Mr. Granger, only by trickery and fraud.

Granger pulled another stunt when he invited the CARICOM Team to supervise the recount – not to do the recount. He invited a special team to ensure transparency of the result,

only to have his appointees on the Commission challenge the decision, and one of his own candidates take it to court!

Granger is either powerless or duplicitous. His repeated conduct is unlikely to allow a benign view.

I fear that we are witnessing a repeat of his antics over the No Confidence Motion – NCM Version 2. The Guyana courts sat idly by from 1968 to 1992 as elections were repeatedly rigged. Things have changed, but not enough to warrant too much confidence. After all, two of the country’s most senior judges could not work out the majority of 65! And even then, the Caribbean Court of Justice’s loose language allowed dangerous interpretation and continued occupancy by the Granger Administration.

I repose some confidence that Chief Justice (acting) Madame Roxane GeorgeWiltshire will take over the case brought by Ulita Grace Moore, the APNU+AFC candidate, effectively to uphold Mingo’s illegal, flawed, and not credible declaration.

The consensus among many, including lawyers, is that she will take over the case from Justice Holder, as she did from Justice Singh.

She is entirely familiar with all the issues, moves with energy, and possesses intellectual nimbleness. What Moore and the APNU+AFC are running from is what a recount will expose – fraud on a grand scale. Moore and her backers would do all in their

power to stop those ballot papers being recounted.

Before I close, I lend credit to the few APNU/ AFC people with courage. Rohit Kanhai of the WPA, Dominic Gaskin of the AFC, and Mr and Mrs Sharma of the JFAP. They stand in stark contrast to Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo, whose lust for power and privilege has left them with nothing but ignominy.

As I reflect on Granger’s conduct – or rather misconduct - since his election in 2015, I can arrive at no opinion other than this is Granger’s grand game. But he may have miscalculated the finale. If after all the chicanery he is sworn in, he will be taking the country down with him, along with the APNU+AFC. Burnham was conscious of the Cold War, the international environment, and the era in which he was operating.

This is a different world.

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Norwegians have given more than a hint of things to come: Guyana would become a pariah state with all the consequences for its currency; its trade; its seat at the international table; and, most of all, its people.

Despite the obvious decay in electoral processes, we thank him for reigniting the democratic fire in the country. For the disgraceful gift of fraudulent elections, I say thank you, but no thank you, David Granger.

Sincerely, Christopher Ram

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 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

Continue to fight for democracy Roman Catholic bishops alarmed,

Dear Editor, I am sure that there are many Guyanese who are worried about the future of our country, I must admit that I am not one of them.

I, on the converse, am very optimistic. I know there may be some who may criticise my optimism, but I remain hopeful as I recognise the outpouring and the deep commitment of many of our people, especially the youth, to uphold and protect our democracy.

Many Guyanese, from all walks of life and different political persuasions, are turning out and lending their support to guard our

people’s will at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) daily. I have seen many on social media too expressing their consternation and disappointment. I must admit that some friends who I never heard engaged in political talk are now making their voices heard. I think this augurs well for our country and our people. It also makes me confident to know that the next generation is most committed to our nation and this assures the success of our country.

I know there are still the misguided few who are swallowing the rhetoric of their so-called leaders, but

I know too that the grouping is growing smaller by the way. I know too that you may not be able to convince them all, but I am convinced that our people will succeed and overcome those forces who seek to hinder our Dear Land of Guyana. I am fortified in the view that our people will win out and a bright future awaits us all.

I continue to urge and to support those brave souls who are growing in number daily to continue to fight and I assure you the sweet victory will come.

Yours faithfully, Liebert Alleyne

Anxious about governmental authority Dear Editor, The arrival of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on our shores has only served to heighten the anxieties amongst the Guyanese people. Our citizens’ anxiousness was already high following the undoubted attempts to undermine democracy.

With now several confirmed cases in our country, the “Government”, in our view, belatedly sprang into action. The IMF, from data at its hand, concluded that our country was among the least prepared in our hemisphere.

Rather than seeking to catch up, an Executive Order was foisted on our people. That order has only, in our view, served to raise the already high temperature even higher given the sweeping powers it has placed in the hands of the “authorities”.

While the FITUG believes that all and every practical step should be taken, we fail to see how what the Government has approved itself to pursue can really be helpful. In fact, it is our considered view that it could force Guyanese who may contract the virus to become afraid to disclose their status given the wide-ranging and vast powers that the authorities now possess. While the officialdom has sought to downplay concerns, we believe, at the same time, the extreme measures are completely unnecessary at this time. Of course, it did not miss us that the extremities approved could be used as a pretext to further the nefarious activities regarding our votes. Given what has transpired over the last few days, it is hard to discount any possibility nowadays.

The order, apart from

wide discretion, has essentially given those empowered to write themselves blank cheques and spend without any oversight. This is a dangerous precedent which may not augur well for accountability and transparency. We also recognise it was recently disclosed that a request has been made for US$5 million support from the World Bank.

Incidentally, this request comes when certain members of the “Administration” are expressing negative thoughts about the views of the international community. But that aside, we hasten to ask:- Why must we approach the World Bank? Isn’t our Treasury in a healthy enough position to afford this expenditure?

This, we see, could be a telltale ominous sign, time will tell though.

Another concern the Federation has is with regard to the effect on employment. Already, one business has indicated that it will have to send employees home for some period. The economic slow down could linger for some time, yet it appears that there is no attention being paid on this front. In other nations, we have seen proactive public policies to alleviate such stresses on peoples and enterprises. This appears to be absent from our response though it is very much an important, and we daresay critical, element.

For the FITUG, our concerns rest foremost will the well-being of the Guyanese people, and indeed all peoples of the world. We urge everyone to heed the advice of the experts and to embrace all measures which will mitigate and staunch

the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are heartened by the news that some headway has been made to find appropriate treatments. We were also pleased to learn that one of the identified treatments can be manufactured locally and we urge that this be fast-tracked in the interest of the health of our people. We, at this time, encourage all Guyanese to remain safe.

Sincerely, Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana

dismayed at post-election governance crisis in Guyana

Dear Editor, We, the Roman Catholic bishops of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (English, Dutch and Frenchspeaking countries of the Caribbean) are alarmed and dismayed at the current post-election governance crisis in Guyana. In the words of our brother bishop, Bishop Francis Alleyne, in his response to an enquiry from the Bishops of the region, he said he is “saddened by the present impasse and Judges that delay in completing the electoral process is a great disrespect to the people of Guyana.”

We are heartened by the persistent efforts of the leaders of Caricom to facilitate a resolution of this issue by organising a delegation to supervise the recounting of the ballots of the General and Regional Elections of March 2, 2020. This is an admirable regional initiative and positive witness to our Caribbean identity and shared concern. In this vein, the bishops of the region express their concern and solidarity with the people of Guyana.

We take note, however, that the efforts of Caricom

have been thwarted by an injunction in Guyana’s top court restraining the Guyana Electoral Commission from recounting any ballots of the General Elections. We certainly agree with Sir Shridath Ramphal, a prominent Caribbean figure, “that Guyana is being deprived of regional and international approval and the opportunity for global respect at a time when it matters most.”

Therefore, we encourage them to persevere in their commitment to facilitate a peaceful resolution.

In this current fragile situation, we remind the political leaders of Guyana that there has been generally a history of fair and honest elections in the Caribbean; ones which have produced respected political leaders, ensured the preservation of our democracies, and contributed to the development of our people and its resources. We trust that the present election in Guyana will follow this tradition.

Added to this political stalemate, the people of Guyana, as other peoples of the Caribbean, are facing the global pandemic of the COVID-19. This needs

urgent attention and we earnestly appeal to those responsible for the verification process of the polls of March 2, 2020, to bring it to an early completion in order that a functioning National Assembly can see to the people of Guyana now under severe threat of COVID-19.

As Catholic bishops of the Caribbean, we urge the people of Guyana not to allow the flame of hope and resilience to be extinguished.

We believe that God has empowered and inspired you throughout your political history to overcome many political and social challenges – challenges that have “tested you like gold in the furnace” (Wisdom 3:6) to shine brightly in the Caribbean.

We invite all our Caribbean brothers and sisters to unite in prayer as we accompany the people of Guyana through these challenging times. May God bless the people of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

Yours faithfully, Roman Catholic bishops of the Antilles Episcopal Conference

Mingo walks among us a free man, with no consequence Dear Editor, Why did Chief Justice Roxane George take control of the injunction granted

by Justice Navindra Singh and not the one granted by Justice Franklyn Holder? I know of no impediment, and more than a few compelling reasons why the Holder case should have been transferred to Milady’s Court.

Given that the CJ took the reins of the Mingo case from Justice Navindra Singh; found the Mingo declaration of 4th March unlawful; gave specific direc-

tions as to how the process of tabulation should occur, and is currently considering a motion against Mingo for contempt of her order, it is only proper and fitting that an injunction against a recount of ballots should gain her attention, as the most senior High Court Judge.

As an aside, Mr Mingo walks among us a free man, with no consequence levied for his contempt of the CJ’s clear ruling; the evidence of this is abundant in the reports of the Observer missions.

Editor, it may be that there is a hierarchy among the Judges in the High Court of which I am unaware, or a procedure of which I am ig-

norant; Justice Singh may not be of the similar stature as Justice Holder. I stand ready to be advised.

Name withheld

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SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020

Page

Foundation

Guyana Times is pleased to publish the Education Ministry’s 2020 National Grade Six Assessment Practice Tests, complete with answers. This is the first part of Science Paper 1. The 2020 Paper Two Practice Test for all the subjects will be published in the Sunday Magazine of March 22.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE SIX ASSESSMENT PRACTICE TEST 3

PAPER 1

MARCH 11, 2020 Reading Time: 10 minutes Writing Time: 60 minutes

READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY 1. This test has 40 questions. You have 1 hour 10 minutes to answer them.

2. Each question has four possible answers:

SCIENCE

(A), (B), (C) and (D). Read each question carefully then choose the correct answer.

3. On your answer sheet, find the number that matches the question you intend to answer.

4. Shade the circle which has the same letter A, B, C or D, next to the answer you have chosen.

Question 1 refers to the diagram of the animal below.

Sample Question 1. Carbon dioxide is a (A) mixture ANSWER SHEET (B) liquid A B C D (C) gas (D) solid The correct answer is “gas”, so (C) has been shaded.

5. If you want to change your answer erase it completely before you fill in your new choice.

7. One example of a crustacean is (A) snail.

(B) shrimp.

(C) octopus.

(D) earthworm.

6. When the supervisor tells you to begin, turn the page and work as quickly and as carefully as you can.

7. If you try a question and find that you cannot answer it, leave it and go on to the next one.

You may return to that question later.

8. You must not use calculators for this assessment.

DO NOT TURN OVER THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO.

Questions 13 and 14 refer to the food web below. Study it carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Question 8 refers to the diagrams of the animals shown below.

1. To which of the following groups does the animal belong?

(A) Reptiles (B) Arachnids (C) Amphibians (D) Invertebrates

8. The animals above are all threats to humans because they (A) spread litter.

(B) damage crops.

(C) spread diseases.

(D) destroy properties.

2. Animals are used by humans mainly for (A) protection.

(B) food.

(C) export.

(D) shelter.

9. Which class of animals represents a group of invertebrates?

(A) Reptiles (B) Mammals (C) Arachnids (D) Amphibians

3. Which of the diseases below is not transmitted through sexual intercourse?

(A) Syphilis (B) Cholera (C) Chlamydia (D) Gonorrhea 4. What happens in the human body when someone exercises?

(A) More energy is needed.

(B) More oxygen is produced.

(C) The heart rate decreases.

(D) Less carbon dioxide is produced.

Questions 5 and 6 refer to the labelled diagram of the human female reproductive system.

5. The part where fertilization occurs is labelled (A) N. (B) M. (C) L. (D) K. 6. The parts labelled M and N are (A) ovary and uterus.

(B) uterus and cervix.

(C) cervix and oviduct.

(D) ovary and oviduct.

Question 10 refers to the diagram of a shrimp as shown below.

10. Functions of the part labeled X include (i) protecting the animal. (ii) covering the animal. (iii) moving the animal.

(A) (i) and (ii) only (B) (i) and (iii) only (C) (ii) and (iii) only (D) (i), (ii) and (iii) 11. All of the following have hairy coverings except (A) deer.

(B) toad.

(C) horse.

(D) whale.

12. In order to complete her assignment, Rita wants a material that is hard and transparent. Which of the following materials must she choose?

(A) Rock (B) Glass (C) Wood (D) Rubber

13. Which organism in the food web above is a herbivore?

(A) Plants (B) Snake (C) Lizard (D) Rabbit 7 14. Which organism in the food web above can be classified as a predator and a prey?

(A) Hawk (B) Snake (C) Rabbit (D) Mouse 15. The conditions and substances needed by plants to make food are (A) water, oxygen, starch, and warmth.

(B) carbon dioxide, chlorophyll, starch and sunlight.

(C) sunlight, water, carbon dioxide and chlorophyll.

(D) carbon dioxide, chlorophyll, starch and warmth.

16. The stomata in the leaves allow (A) oxygen in and water out.

(B) carbon dioxide and water in.

(C) water vapour and carbon dioxide in.

(D) carbon dioxide in and oxygen out.

17. In which of the following parts of the flower does fertilization occur?

(A) Ovary (B) Anther (C) Stigma (D) Ovules Questions 18 and 19 refer to the diagram of the flower shown below.

18. The male parts of the flower are labelled (A) P and R. (B) Q and S. (C) P, R and T. (D) Q, S and U. 19. The functions of the part labelled U are to (i) produce ovules. (ii) attract insects and birds. (iii) protect the reproductive parts.

(A) (i) and (ii) only (B) (i) and (iii) only (C) (ii) and (iii) only (D) (i), (ii) and (iii) 20. Which of the following are not characteristics of a wind pollinated flower?

(A) Long feathery anthers (B) Light and smooth pollen grains (C) Large coloured and scented petals (D) Large stamen dangling outside the flower

21. D 22. B 23. A 24. B 25. C 26. B 27. B

Mathematics PAPER 1 ANSWER KEY 28. D 29. C 30. B 31. A 32. C 33. D 34. D

35. A 36. A 37. A 38. B 39. C 40. D

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Elections 2020

Carter Center pulls out of Guyana over security concerns …reports harassment by APNU/AFC supporters, threats to intl community

Co-leader of the Carter Center Observer Mission to Guyana, Jason Carter (2nd from right) along with co-Chair, former Prime Minister of Senegal, Aminata Touré

A

nother international Elections Observer Mission has pulled out of Guyana, this time citing security concerns, in addition to the absence of an ongoing electoral process and increasing restrictions on travel because of COVID-19.

The Center had been observing Guyana’s election and its decision to withdraw from observing the electoral process any further comes after similar pullouts by the missions fielded by Organisation of the American States and the Commonwealth.

The Center announced its pullout from observing Guyana’s 2020 General and Regional Electoral process on Friday, saying, “in light of the current injunction and subsequent legal process, there is not currently electoral activity for The Carter Center to observe.”

According to the America-based Elections Observer Mission, “the security environment in Georgetown has [also] declined in the wake of the impasse created by the

non-transparent tabulation process in Region Four.”

It was reported that “observers have been harassed, and protesters supportive of the APNU/AFC [A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change] coalition have at times blocked international observers from doing their work.”

According to the Mission, which was led

by Jason Carter, “specific threats have also been made against the international community that are unacceptable and further undermine the credibility of the electoral process.”

It was noted, however, “the Center hopes that conditions will be in place for Caricom to return to Guyana to supervise a national recount.”

The Mission in announcing its departure recounted “Guyana’s electoral process began well. The Carter Center noted that the polling it observed on March 2 was well-administered and reflected international standards for democratic elections. The process was

sound and capable of delivering results that credibly reflect the will of the people.”

According to the Mission’s statement, while tabulation was well-conducted in nine of 10 regions, in Region four – by far the largest region – “the credibility of the tabulation process deteriorated when, after some delay, results were announced before the region’s full results were transparently tabulated in

The Center also recalled the Guyana Election Commission’s (GECOM’s) willingness to support the recount under Caricom’s (Caribbean Community) supervision and appreciated the measures taken to make that happen.

In light of the most recent injunction filed in the High Court, the Center said it is hoped that any remaining legal issues hindering the recount can be addressed quickly to avoid

APNU supporters protesting the presence of the international community in Guyana

led by Chair of the Carter Center’s Board of Trustees, Jason Carter and former Prime Minister of Senegal, Dr Aminata Touré. the presence of party scrutineers and observers.”

The Mission reported the environment at the GECOM office where the tabulation was being conducted for Region Four, “was at times chaotic because of the large number of persons present and the efforts by PPP/C representatives and others to disrupt the declaration of results.”

It was pointed out too that, “when that process was resumed following litigation and a court order, it still did not comply with expectations set by Guyana’s Chief justice and failed to meet international standards…As such, the tabulation process in Region Four continued to lack credibility.

further delaying a satisfactory resolution to the electoral process.

According to the Mission, it is still hoped that the electoral process can still be concluded with credible results and that the will of the Guyanese people – as expressed at the polls on March 2 – will be carried out. ”Beyond the election, The Carter Center continues to believe that Guyana’s winner-takes-all system is in need of reform and encourages all parties to commit to national reconciliation and to completing key constitutional reforms in the near future.”

The Carter Center Elections Observer Mission team to Guyana was co-

The Carter Center first became involved in Guyana in the early 1990s and has observed elections in Guyana since 1992.

8 NEWS Security guard on bail for unlawful killing of Mahdia miner SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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Dead: Akeem Caesar

wo weeks after 24-year-old Akeem Ceasar was shot and killed, 40-year-old Devon Harris, a security guard of Friendship, East Bank Demerara (EBD), on Friday appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’

Courts arraigned on a charge of manslaughter.

The accused was not required to plea to the charge read by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The particulars detailed that on March 3, 2020, at Blackwater Landing, Kanawaruk, Harris unlawfully killed Caesar, a miner of Wismar, Linden.

According to the prosecution’s case, at about 15:30h on March 3, Caesar was consuming alcohol with friends at a shop, when an argument ensued between himself and the accused.

Things quickly escalated into a fight between the two, but was later parted by persons in the area. However,

Charged for Devon Harris

manslaughter:

the court heard that Caesar left for a short while but returned with broken bottles to harm Harris. It was then that the accused allegedly reached for his firearm and discharged a round which hit the now dead man to his left foot.

An injured Caesar was rushed to the Mahdia District Hospital at about 23:30h, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Defence Attorney Adrian Thompson presented a bail application in which he asked the court to release his client, citing that he is a father of four children.

The Chief Magistrate accepted the application and granted Harris’ pretrial liberty in the sum of $200,000 bail. As a condition of his bail, Harris was ordered to report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) every Friday until the commencement of the Preliminary Inquiry (PI).

The matter was adjourned to April 9.

Man confesses to B&E charge jailed for 9 months

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Jailed

fter admitting that he broke into the home of a woman and took a number of valuables, 23-year-old Ceon Singh was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment for the offence in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Singh appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly on Friday, and pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the dwelling house of Tenisha Edwards, and stealing two cellular phones valued $110,000, a bag valued $5000, a tablet valued $15,000 and $40,000 on March 17, 2020, at East La Penitence, Georgetown.

The court heard that the Virtual Complainant, on the day in question, secured her home and went to bed.

However, at about 05:45h, she was awakened by loud noises and ventured out to inspect. Upon doing so, she realised that the electronics and cash were missing.

A police report was later made and following an investigation, Singh was apprehended and taken into custody where he admitted to breaking into the home and removing the items.

After listening to the facts, Magistrate Daly imposed the nine months’ sentence on Singh.

War of attrition…

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…by the PNC

ven though he was entering his dotage in 2015 when he was squeezed into office by a whisker, it’s clear David Granger was determined to turn Clausewitz’ aphorism on war on its head. Rather than seeing “War as the continuation of politics by other means,” Granger was going to practise “politics as the continuation of war by other means”. Burnham had practised this type of “politics as war” after he took office in 1964 - following the riots of the previous three years. And Granger was right there, doing Burnham’s beck and call after he returned from Mons.

Granger took over the PNC three years after the “war as the continuation of politics” had been defeated, when “Resistance Fighter” Fineman Rollins and his men were all killed in a shootout in 2008. He brought in military squaddies by the hundreds as he staffed every Government department and Ministry with them.

Everyone knows that Harmon was a military man – but do folks realize that ex-Minister of Education Nicolette Henry is also one??

You can now begin to understand Granger’s policy in the political realm during that period which had most analysts scratching their heads. After all, if you’ve come into office on a coalition ticket that, for the first time, had the PNC with Indian Guyanese support, courtesy of the AFC, didn’t it make political sense to treat those new voters right so as to undercut the PPP’s support base?? Instead, Granger stacked his Cabinet from only his constituency; gave salaries to public servants; and not only stiffed sugar workers, but fired 7000 of them!!

This is politics as war by other means!!

And he continuously memorialised the period of war between 2000 and 2008, harping on the “400 Black youths” killed in the battles to rally his base. This became the core of his campaign – to bring the PPP to its knees for “what they had done to us”!! With this approach that alienated Indian Guyanese - the largest constituency in the country - it had to be clear to Granger he couldn’t get a majority in any free and fair elections. So, the rig was always in!!

But when that was stymied because of the international observers, Granger refused to pivot: he would wage “politics as war” in the Courts!! We are now in for a “war of attrition: a military strategy in which one side tries to cause so many losses that it wears down the enemy forces until they collapse. The side with more resources is the side that usually wins.”

Granger can count on the police, the army, the public service, and huge swathes of the Judiciary.

Granger believes these will wear the PPP down!!

…and the international community

After the PPP won the 1992 elections, Jagan graciously acknowledged the role of the Carter Center in holding Hoyte and the PNC’s feet to the fire so that they would respect the will of the people expressed via their ballots. If it were left to Hamilton Green, we would’ve had a chance to experience what we’re going through right now. Green wanted to defy the Americans. He, of course, violently opposed Hoyte’s decision, and had to be expelled from the party for his rear-guard actions post-1992.

Hoyte had weeded out all the other Burnhamites after 1985, not only in the party, but in other institutions – including the armed forces -- when he bypassed David Granger for Joe Singh as Chief of Staff. Granger’s present defiance of the International Community harks back to Green’s move in 1992: remember who he gave the first Order of Roraima to in 2015?? Notwithstanding his unctuous posture, Granger’s actually thumbing his nose at them “furriners”.

Maybe he should look at what happened to Maduro next door after sanctions.

…and Observers

The International Observers are slowly drifting off to their hearth and home. Granger knew this would happen – hence his move to the courts.

But he forgets, like MacArthur, they said they’ll be back!!

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

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Observation of rule of law, strengthening of democratic principles are reinforced by free, fair, transparent elections – ACP …as EU calls for credible, transparent completion of electoral process to the political situation in Guyana,” the Group said in a statement.

The ACP Group also reiterated its solidarity with the Guyanese people and pledged to support their efforts towards establishing an environment that promotes democratic governance.

EU

ACP Group Secretary General, Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti

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he African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP Group) has expressed its concerns as it relates to the current political climate in Guyana.

ACP Group Secretary General Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti appealed to the political leadership of Guyana to exercise its collective responsibility in pursuit of consolidating democratic governance in the country.

“The observation of the rule of law and the strengthening of democratic principles are reinforced by free, fair and transparent elections. The Secretary General commends the efforts by the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and its leadership in search of a solution

Meanwhile, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) left Guyana in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The mission in a short statement said, “The EU EOM calls on all stakeholders to complete the electoral process in a credible and transparent way in accordance with legal requirements.”

The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) is an organisation created by the Georgetown Agreement in 1975. It is composed of 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific states, with all of them, save Cuba, being signatories to the Cotonou Agreement, also known as the “ACP-EC Partnership Agreement” which binds them to the European Union. There are 48 countries from SubSaharan Africa, 16 from the Caribbean and 15 from the Pacific.

The ACP Group´s main objectives include sustainable development of its member states and their gradual integration into the global economy, which entails making poverty reduction a matter of priority and establishing a new, fairer, and more equitable world order; coordination of the activities of the ACP Group in the framework of the implementation of ACPEC Partnership Agreements; consolidation of unity and solidarity among ACP States, as well as understanding among their peoples; and establishment and consolidation of peace and stability in a free and democratic society.

The Group was originally created with the aim of coordinating cooperation between its members and the European Union. Its main objective was to negotiate and implement, together, cooperation agreements with the European community.

Over the years, the Group extended its range of activities. Since then, cooperation among its members has gone beyond development cooperation with the European Union and covers a variety of fields spanning trade, economics, politics and culture, in diverse international fora such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

10 NEWS GECOM moves ballot boxes without informing parties SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…action labelled as ‘deceitful’

PPP/C Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha

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decision to move ballot boxes stored in containers at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), sent political party agents scrambling on Friday afternoon to ensure that the containers were secured and not tampered with by anyone.

The containers were stored at the facility pending a countrywide recount of votes cast at the March 2 General and Regional Elections Under Police escort, the containers were transported from Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) headquarters

PPP/C candidate Juan Edghill

on High Street, Kingston, Georgetown.

Opposition parties would have camped outside of the Centre on a 24-hour basis to guard the containers while one party agent was allowed inside. However, despite their active role, the parties were not informed of the decision to have the containers removed.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Assistant Secretary for A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Kian Jabour said the situation is concerning since this decision was not communicated to the parties.

“You don’t want to raise any alarms but the big issue is that they didn’t let us know at all that this was being done

at this time. That’s where you’re seeing this scramble of everyone confirming that these containers are leaving from the Conference Centre and GECOM headquarters,” Jabour expressed.

As soon as the containers left the Centre’s premises, they were followed by a fleet of vehicles from the opposition parties, so as to ensure that all were held safe. He said that party agents will continue to watch over at the GECOM Secretariat. Thus far, the opposition parties have joined forces to watch over the ballots – which he underscored must be free from tampering.

“Every container that leaves here is going to have at least 10 people behind it…

The reason is that these are the last credible evidence of what took place in the 2020 elections here in Guyana…

Like everything else that has been done, things have been happening haphazard throughout this whole crazy process. That’s why all the opposition political parties have been able to pull their resources and work together because we need to make sure that these containers are secured,” he asserted.

One of the containers being transported from the Conference Centre

‘Psychological warfare’

Meanwhile, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) candidate, Juan Edghill also showed up at the Conference Centre, where he said that even GECOM Commissioners were unaware of plans to move the boxes. When the first truck appeared to transport the boxes, stakeholders watching from the streets shared the information.

“We got word from our representatives that were physically onsite that they saw haulers that would move the containers, arriving…We contacted our Commissioner Robeson Benn to find out if GECOM had made a decision.

Mr Benn had no knowledge of any GECOM decision and he had no knowledge that containers were being removed,” Edghill outlined.

He went on to say that there was an outright objection to this decision initially, after questioning the rationale and the person being this decision.

“Obviously, we objected.

We wanted to know where the containers were going, on who’s instructions they are being moved. Eventually, the police officer who was in

charge indicated that he had received instructions to remove them to Kingston.”

Under the umbrella of transparency, he labelled the shady move as ‘psychological warfare’. According to Edghill, it sends a statement that there is an impossibility in recounting the ballots, even though the coalition-sponsored injunction to block this process is still at the hands of the judicial system.

“This exercise here this afternoon is psychological warfare. A court case is being heard that blocks a recount.

These are the masterminds of the rigging machine that want to send a message to the Guyanese people. These containers came here for the purpose of a recount and the fact that they’re being picked up to carry elsewhere is to send a statement that the whole issue of a recount is over,” the candidate berated.

Deceitful

Over at the GECOM headquarters, Executive Secretary of the leading Opposition, Zulfikar Mustapha labelled the move of the containers as deceitful, owing to GECOM’s failure to make the process

ANUG Assistant Secretary Kian Jabour

transparent.

“It seems that everything that GECOM does since the elections is done in controversy, done against the law because they are not abiding by the law…I’m very disappointed. I think this is very deceitful on GECOM’s part,” Mustapha positioned.

He alleged that the Secretariat is flouting the laws and acting in contradiction to the Constitution from which it was birthed.

“If we want to build trust in GECOM as a body that has to be mutual and run this election free and fair, then they would have informed all the stakeholders which is provided by the law. It shows that GECOM is flouting the laws.”

GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj told the media that despite the fact that he is a Commissioner, he was never informed of the decision to move the containers. He noted that he was informed of the decision via the media.

For now, party agents will continue to guard the containers at the GECOM headquarters.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Tullow depreciates Guyana’s exploration assets by US$60M

GPOC suspends international mail delivery

…cites unsuccessful exploration results in Orinduik Block

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ollowing “unsuccessful exploration results or assessments” namely at the Jethro Well, Joe Well and Carapa Well No 1, Tullow Guyana has written down its assets by US$60 million, meaning its assets in Guyana would have depreciated by that amount as a result of the less than desired exploration results.

The UK-based company at the release of its financial results and investor documents earlier this month made the announcement that it has had to write down some US$1.2 billion in assets across a number of countries including Jamaica, Namibia, Mauritania, Uganda, Kenya and Guyana.

The company, following the Guyana discoveries in the Orinduik Block Offshore Guyana, had lamented that a combination of high sulfur at the Jethro and Joe wells along with low volumes discovered at the Carapa site has made commercialisation unfeasible.

The company is not expected to pursue any drilling activities in Guyana for 2020.

The company had reported that it now intends to integrate the results of the three exploration wells drilled at adjacent licences into its Guyana and Suriname geological and geophysical models before deciding the future work programme.

Meanwhile, the company has also announced that it has also fully written off its oil exploration licence for the WaltonMorant Basin offshore Jamaica, on which it has taken a US$36 million hit.

The write-off relates to what the company indicated in its most recent earnings report was the relinquishment of the Walton-Morant licence due to “expiry or planned exit”, but Tullow has not explicitly said whether it plans to pull out of the oil exploration project.

The licence expires in July.

Its write-down to nil formed part of a wider US$1.2 billion of asset write-downs as the British company scaled back on its global operations.

Tullow holds 80 per cent interest in the Walton-Morant exploration project, while its partner, United Oil and Gas Limited, holds 20 per cent. They are seek-

ing a third equity partner to finance the drilling phase of the exploration, under what is referred to in industry terms as the ‘farming out’ of the project.

Tullow in recent months announced that it scaled back its exploration activities in various markets and appointed a new head of the division, Amalia Olivera-Riley, formerly of Repsol and ExxonMobil.

The oil company said its exploration portfolio was to be “balanced between proven basins, targeted frontier drilling and near-field opportunities”.

It comes amid US$1.8 billion of losses at Tullow last year, which exceeded revenue of US$1.7 billion.

Tullow concluded its business review in February, which included slashing its staff by up to 35 per cent. The company is still seeking to hire a new CEO. At the release of its financial results and investor documents earlier this month, Tullow indicated that it was in a better position following its restructuring.

Nowhere on its slides for exploration did it highlight Jamaica, beyond stating that the Walton-Morant licence exploration period expires on July 31; but it did highlight other regional assets in Guyana, Suriname, Argentina and Peru for exploration.

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he Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPO) on Friday announced that it will be temporarily suspending all international mail delivery.

This is in the wake of the rise in the numbers of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases around the world.

According to GPO, there is a current delay in mail delivery services to other administrations such as Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, Latin American and the Caribbean.

GPO said that though the international mail delivery will be temporarily suspended, packages coming from a few countries might not be affected.

“Customers are advised that international mail delivery continues uninterrupted to the USA, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Antigua, Tortola, Monserrat, Dominica, Jamaica, France, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Brazil, Belize, Bahamas, Grand Cayman, China, Costa Rica, Japan and India,” GPO said in a

statement.

The Corporation further encouraged that its customers await the reopening of the borders in these jurisdictions for the resumption of mail delivery.

Just recently, Guyana closed its port of entries to prevent the spread of the deadly virus as five cases were recorded locally.

Since Guyana began its fight against the deadly virus, schools and businesses have closed their doors to protect persons from contracting the disease.

In a move to protect the health and wellbeing of public servants in light of global concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Department of Public Service has also instituted a shift system.

Also, to contain the spread or COVID-19, every Ministry/ Department/Region has a responsibility to sanitise the work environment intermittently during working hours to protect all stakeholders.

12 NEWS

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Unreliable election results Recount injunction High Court imposes restrictions on will damage Guyana on intl stage – US diplomat attorneys, media accessing hearing …sanctions include removal of visa privileges, seizure of assets, bank accounts

US Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Assistant Secretary Michael Kozak

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ny announced result by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) that does not reflect the will of the Guyanese people will damage the Government’s standing in the international community.

The stark warning is the latest salvo fired against Guyana by the US Government, this time by Assistant Secretary for the US Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Michael Kozak.

According to Kozak, GECOM “has the responsibility to ensure that all votes are counted.”

The statement by the US Diplomat continues a thread of international threats against the Guyana Government over the current brouhaha surrounding the tabulation of results for the recently held General and Regional Elections.

Kozak had recently intimated that Guyanese deserve a “credible election” and transfer of power that reflects their will.

He had also said that “Democratic nations can’t ignore this blatant disregard for rule of law.”

He warned those who are impeding elections resolution in Guyana that the “world is watching.”

Kozak was adamant that “de facto regimes do not receive the same treatment from us as democratically elected Governments.”

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo had also earlier this week cautioned that “individuals who seek to benefit from electoral fraud and form illegitimate Government, [or] regimes will be subject to a variety of

serious consequences from the United States.”

Secretary Pompeo was speaking at a media conference on South American affairs, where he told reporters “The United States is closely monitoring the tabulation of votes in Guyana.”

According to the US’ Secretary of State, his country joins with the Organisation of American States (OAS), Commonwealth, the European Union (EU) “and other democratic partners in calling for an accurate count”.

He also commended the Caribbean Community’s (Caricom’s) role “in seeking a swift democratic resolution.”

The threat of individual sanctions by Secretary of State Pompeo was made amidst allegations of disruptive tactics being laid against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to delay or interfere with the tabulation of the elections results.

US sanctions on individuals generally commence and are not limited to the removal of visa privileges, seizures of assets in the US and a freeze on bank accounts.

These sanctions would extend to the families of these individuals.

Sources indicate that three prominent persons had been identified as being involved in the ploy to subvert the process in GECOM. They are on the list of those to be sanctioned.

Several observer groups in addition to a number of political parties contesting the 2020 Elections have lamented a lack of transparency in the process, with at least one set of results declared being thrown out by

the courts and a second declaration being set aside in favour of a recount.

This has since been stalled by the filing of yet another injunction by APNU/AFC candidate, Ulita Moore, in order to not have the recount and for the Commission to make a declaration using the previously thrown out results.

Norway has put the brakes on the release of NOK 393 million (US$36.2 million) climate aid to Guyana in light of the current political situation following the March 2, General and Regional Elections.

Development Today, an independent online journal specialising in political, business and environmental issues, reported that the Climate Ministry in Oslo stated on Friday: “No further decisions will be made on … planning or spending of this money until a legitimate Government is in place,” Development Today reported.

In December 2019, Government had announced that the remaining payments under the GuyanaNorway Agreement to the tune of $9.1 billion (US$50 million) have been released but Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had tempered expectations pointing out that Guyana will not have access to this money until the General and Regional Elections.

Those elections were held on March 2, 2020, but has been marred with discredited results in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

Meanwhile, the first feel of such sanction has already been felt with Norway’s Government announcement that given the volatile political situation in Guyana, it has put the brakes on the release of NOK 393 million (US$36.2 million) climate aid to this country.

Guyana had signed a historic forest protection accord back in 2009 with Norway, which saw the country receiving payments for sustaining its rainforests to absorb global carbon emissions. A total of US$250 million was to be paid to Guyana over a five-year period.

Opposition Leader files new...

It was pointed out that during the morning session of Friday’s proceedings, Forde had indicated to the court that he was just there in the interest of the APNU/ AFC. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the court was limiting the number of persons representing parties and as such, the Judge had removed Forde from the courtroom since his party was not a part of or seeking to be a part

of the proceedings.

But in a twist of events, Forde turned up during the afternoon session and claimed to now be a part of the team representing Moore, whose injunction is claiming that the APNU Leader, David Granger, is acting against the Constitution and the laws of Guyana by agreeing to a national recount.

Moreover, Shuman told reporters that only last week during the

…cites COVID-19 as reason …only selected media personnel granted access to court

A group of media workers who were restricted from entering the High Court

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embers of the local press corps, attorneys and stakeholders alike were left flabbergasted when they turned up at the High Court on Friday morning to witness the hearing of the injunction blocking the recount of ballots by the Guyana Elections Commission, only to be met by restrictions in relation to their access to the courtroom.

The recount, which was agreed upon by President David Granger and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, was challenged in court on Tuesday last by a candidate for Granger’s own party, Ulita Moore. Granger requested the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to supervise the recount process but that was halted after Moore, through her lawyer Mayo Robertson, secured an interim injunction blocking it.

Justice Franklyn Holder was the one who granted the injunction. The matter was called at the High Court before Justice Holder but only selected media personnel were granted access to the court’s compound while the others were left outside.

Selected access

The media houses that were granted access were NCN, Stabroek News, Prime News and the Guyana Chronicle.

According to a court

marshall stationed at the High Court’s entrance, the restriction was because of COVID-19 which requires the practice of social distancing. He also informed media operatives that the court wanted to prevent overcrowding hence their access being restricted.

Nevertheless, the issue of COVID-19 seemed non-existent when three employees from the Stateowned NCN were granted access.

There were complaints from media operatives since they were not informed of the restriction prior to turning up at the High Court from as early as 08:00h.

Reports are those who were allowed access to the building were prevented from entering the courtroom during the proceeding.

Additionally, attorneys were restricted to just two per party, according to PPP/C candidate and Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin.

Datadin noted that the courtroom being used was large enough to accommodate the lawyers and journalists but explained that the decision ultimately rests with the Judge in charge.

“We were told that the reason for the restrictions is that because of the COVID[-19] virus or so… we don’t understand the restriction of attorneys.

The Constitution guarantees you the right to coun-

sel of choice. It guarantees that those attorney at law are allowed to appear in court. That’s something that’s being dealt with and is being raised with the Bar Association and we will find out what it is. It is regrettable that the media that is out here and not permitted to go inside or there is not somewhere it is being broadcasted as it has in the past…People are interested. This concerns the whole nation and hopefully, this position doesn’t maintain all the while. I noticed that the state media is upstairs and permitted in. That again only leads to more distrust in a system but the Judge has directed that is what going to happen. He is in control of his courtroom,” Datadin said.

Unnecessary measures

In a statement on Thursday, Attorney Anil Nandlall argued that these measures are unnecessary.

“I do not believe that these instructions have anything to do with the Coronavirus, but are intended to restrict our fundamental right to retain and instruct our lawyers and to adequately represent and prosecute our legal interests in the litigation, which fundamental freedoms are guaranteed by the Constitution of Guyana. It is wholly unnecessary, and it is utterly unconstitutional and unlawful.”

FROM PAGE 3

Holladar court proceedings, Forde had sat on the bench advising and consulting with Senior Counsel, Neil Boston, who was representing GECOM. “If that is not a conflict of interest, I don’t know what constitutes a conflict of interest in Guyana…,” the LJP Leader contended.

Adding to this, Nandlall posited that this represents the duplicity of the APNU.

“So you understand the implosions and explosions that are taking place. So it would appear now that Moore and Granger are on the same side… The thing is all incestuous and all a political ploy to fool the Guyanese people and to fool the international community and to fool Caricom,” he asserted.

Nandlall went on to point out that apart from being a coalition candidate, Moore’s line-up of de-

fence lawyers included Grenadian Queens Counsel, Dr Francis Alexis, and two Senior Counsels from Trinidad and Tobago as well as the local team.

In the meantime, the orders that were granted on Tuesday to block the recount process remain in place until the hearing and determination of the substantive injunction.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19

M&CC, GFS collaborate to ‘wash’ markets

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ncreased sanitisation practices to prevent the spread the novel coronavirus COVID-19 has resulted in a collaboration between the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) to wash all marketplaces.

Mayor Ubraj Narine has said that this will be done at least once per week. Initially, a proposal was made to “wash all the streets” but this was declined due to limited resources.

“We have don’t have that kind of resources here at the Mayor and City Council to wash the streets…There are a lot of people interacting every day and…it will bring some kind of level of germs free in the atmosphere and where people dwell. I asked for the markets, to which I get the commitment to wash all the markets maybe two times per week or three

The Stabroek Market

times a week. That is yet to be decided by the Fire Chief and myself,” Narine said.

He related that stringent measures should be adopted by persons operating public restrooms, to ensure that there are facilities and supplies for persons to cleanse

their hands.

“There are people out there who also got washrooms renting to the public.

We must pay attention to it. We must put systems in place to have hand sanitiser, water, so that people can use after using the restroom.”

For now, market staffers have been put under strict surveillance to ensure that all hygienic practices are upheld. Presently, retailing at these locations has been limited for two weeks.

Restaurants and persons operating food caravans have been warned to practice the prescribed guidelines.

“Markets is under strict management. The administration run by the Town Clerk [has] put a system in place for staff and that took place last week…They can able to have rotations and proper systems in how to deal with the public because again, we got a duty to perform. All activities are suspended for now. We took a decision on that two weeks ago where we halted all activities on the Stabroek and several other areas,” Narine urged.

However, amid the sig-

nificant hike in prices for sanitary items amid the coronavirus outbreak, the Georgetown Mayor urged businesses not to practice such ethics. Instead, he called on these stakeholders to practice humanitarian efforts.

“I’ve seen on the news and social media where businesses actually raise their prices for hand sanitisers, Lysol and baby wipes and all these things. We must not go down that road.

We must remember we are human beings…I call upon the businesses. I beg of you, if you can assist the public, if you can assist the community or people out there, do so,” he expressed.

This high demand has also caused a significant increase in the prices of the commodities since most pharmacies were not prepared.

However, President of

the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Nicholas Boyer had slammed pharmacies and other businesses that hiked their prices.

He added that there will be no change in the prices of products sold by businesses under the GCCI umbrella.

“The Georgetown Chambers of Commerce [and] Industry for sure have encouraged our members as well as others to be ethical because at this point in time in the population is already in a panic state where people are rushing to buy hand sanitisers, disinfectant spray, mask.”

Boyer further appealed to suppliers to return to the regular prices while noting that the Chamber will be working with the Public Health Ministry to ensure that Guyanese do not fall into a state of panic.

thorities went ahead to suspend the ferry service which operates from Moleson Creek, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The suspension was effective as of March 14 and was called for by the Surinamese counterpart after they recorded

the first case of the novel coronavirus.

Earlier this week, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced the shut down of the country’s two main airports, Cheddi Jagan International and Eugene F Correira International.

This announcement was made by Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Egbert Field during a press conference by the ministerial task force, while noting that priority will be given to outgoing flights, cargo flights, medevac flights or technical stops of aircraft that require fuel and specially authorised flights. American Airlines also announced that it will be suspending its flights to several loca-

tions across the world including Guyana in a bid to slow down the rapid spread of the virus.

According to the World Health Organisation, Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

On Wednesday, the country recorded its fifth case of the virus. Local health authorities have advised that if anyone is experiencing symptoms of coronavirus, they should contact the hotline on 231-1166, 624-3067, 624-2819 or 624-6674 and a team would be sent to their location.

Hiked prices

Brazil closes border with Guyana amid COVID-19 spread

T

he Brazilian Government has moved to close its border with Guyana as precautions continue to take effect to monitor contraction of the deadly COVID-19.

The Portuguesespeaking country lines Guyana on the South and Southwestern side. Along the border is the Takutu River Bridge across the Takutu River, linking Lethem in Guyana to Bonfim in Brazil.

On Thursday the country’s Federal Government issued an extraordinary edition of the Official Gazette – an ordinance which determines the closure of all land borders in the country for 15 days. Since Wednesday, the Venezuelan border was partially closed, with the

exception of freight traffic.

The move came after Mayor of Bonfim, Joner Chagas stated that there was a large influx of persons of varying nationalities, coming from Guyana, Haiti and Cuba. Before the temporary closure, some 300 persons had already crossed over.

The decree now prohibits entry to foreigners from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru and Suriname. Brazil is South America’s largest country, with a population of 210 million. Presently, there have been over 425 confirmed cases with four reported deaths.

On March 13, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tested negative

for COVID-19. Later that day, their health authorities confirmed 25 new cases and recommended that any Brazilian or foreigner arriving in Brazil should stay in isolation for at least 7 days.

Meanwhile over on the eastern side, Suriname au-

14 NEWS

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana must have "free, fair and credible elections" – US Secretary of State

U

nited States Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo has reinforced the importance of free, fair and credible elections in Guyana. Pompeo in his congratulatory message to Luis Almagro on his re-election as Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS) on Friday said that as the world overcomes the threat to public health posed by COVID-19, the peoples of the Americas and the Caribbean face other challenges, such as the full restoration of democracy in Nicaragua and Venezuela; adherence to free, fair and

United States Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo

credible electoral processes in Guyana; and holding the Cuban regime accountable for its malign activities.

He added that under Almagro’s principled leadership, which the member states have now renewed, the United States will continue to work with partners at the OAS to promote and defend democracy, human rights, security, and economic prosperity for the people of the Americas.

“Today’s vote by OAS member states shows that even in the most challenging of times, such as what we are facing with the COVID-19

pandemic, our hemisphere of freedom remains steadfast in safeguarding our shared values,” Pompeo said. He added that with Secretary General Almagro continuing at the helm, he is confident about the future of the OAS and the Americas.

On Tuesday Pompeo in a blunt warning to Guyana said: “individuals who seek to benefit from electoral fraud and form illegitimate Government, [or] regimes will be subject to a variety of serious consequences from the United States.”

Speaking at a media conference on South American

affairs, Secretary Pompeo told reporters “The United States is closely monitoring the tabulation of votes in Guyana.”

According to the US’ Secretary of State, his country joins with the Organisation of American States (OAS), Commonwealth, the European Union (EU) and “and other democratic partners in calling for an accurate count”. The threat of individual sanctions by Secretary of State Pompeo was made amidst allegations of disruptive tactics being laid against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to delay or interfere with the tabulation of the elections results.

Several observer groups

Re-elected Secretary General of OAS, Luis Almagro

in addition to a number of political parties contesting the 2020 Elections have lamented a lack of transparency in the process.

Govt cannot access US$55M placed in oil fund – BoG Governor

G

overnment cannot access the US$55 million deposited in the Natural Resources Fund (NRF), held in the New York Federal Reserve Bank—monies earned from the sale of the country’s first entitlement of one million barrels of crude oil from the Stabroek Block.

This is according to Bank of Guyana Governor, Dr Gobin Ganga, who in a brief interview with Guyana Times on Friday, confirmed the deposit and reminded that the fund is governed by an Act of Law. As such, any spending from the special account requires prior approval from Parliament, he added.

It was noted that there is currently no functioning Parliament in Guyana, since the 11th Sitting of the National Assembly (Parliament), has been dissolved in order to pave way for the recently held elections.

Another Parliament will not be put in session until after a President is sworn in and a new Government put in place.

Further preventing the current Government from accessing the funds is the fact that the Act lists two committees – the Public Accountability and Oversight Committee and the Investment Committee – that are yet to be set up.

The political Opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic had decided to not participate in the appointments since the party did not recognise the David Granger Administration as legitimate – a result of the passage of a No-Confidence Motion that was passed a month before the bill was debated and approved in the National Assembly.

The BoG Governor told this publication the Administration is prevented from accessing the fund, even if it tries to in light of the coronavirus disease and the Public Health Ordinance Act recently signed into force

by President David Granger.

Under the Public Health

Bank of Guyana Governor, Dr Gobin Ganga

Ordinance signed by Granger, the Finance Minister shall expend from the Consolidated Fund such sums of money as may be necessary for the effectual carrying out of identified measures to be undertaken by the various Ministries.

According to Dr Ganga however, this would not be applicable to the NRF.

Royalties

Asked about the payment of royalties since ExxonMobil and its partners—Hess Guyana Corporation and China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC)—began producing oil in December last, the bank of Guyana Governor told Guyana Times the country is still to benefit from any royalty since the payments are to be made quarterly.

Guyana lifted its first one million barrels of crude oil which was sold on behalf of the country by Shell Western Supply and Trading, which is Barbados’ branch for Shell International.

That first shipment was transported using Greek oil tanker, Cap Philippe.

Guyana’s first three cargoes have been sold to Royal Dutch Shell Plc, and the Department of Energy has since invited Request for Proposals (RFPs) to recruit a marketing firm on a term basis to assist in selling Guyana’s crude entitlement.

The country is expected to receive approximately five million barrels of oil this year.

NEWS

15

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19

GWI warns of fake disconnection crew

Scotiabank offers 6-month T loan deferral for customers A

s Guyana continues its fight against the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Scotiabank (Guyana) has come forward to helping its customers by providing financial relief to those who need it most.

As the new week commences, the bank has announced, assistance will be offered to those customers who contact the bank to indicate they have been impacted by COVID-19. Those customers, the bank has said, can have their loan payments deferred up to six months (first for a period of three months, with the possibility of extension for a further three months).

This suspension covers loan repayments in regard to mortgages, auto loans, personal loans, credit cards, and lines of credit.

Country Manager of Scotiabank Guyana, Raymond Smith, has said: “We are committed to working with our customers to help support them during this time. We know that the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to some customers being in a challenging position financially, so we hope these measures will help them navigate this period.”

The bank, in a release, has said that for its retail customers, payments for secured and unsecured loans may be deferred for up to six months. Debt consolidation and Fixed Payment Plans would be available for customers requiring long-term

financial assistance.

“This offer includes mortgages, all Scotia Plan Loans, Auto Loans, Scotia lines of credit and credit cards, and will be available for 3 months, with the possibility of extension for a further three months. Loan fees and penalties for late payments will be waived on customer assistance facilities. We will also be implementing a reduction in credit card interest rates”, the release stated.

For its business banking customers, Scotia has said that payments for secured and unsecured loans may be deferred for up to six months. Debt consolidation and fixed payment plans

would be available for customers requiring long-term financial assistance.

The bank would also be offering support to its corporate and commercial banking customers who have been impacted by COVID-19 across various industries, in order to maintain their operations. The bank has added temporary principal payment relief on term loans of up to six months, with a corresponding extension on the loan; and has increased working capital lines of credit to cover payments and other business expenses.

There will be no loan fees for additional working capital for businesses impacted

by COVID-19.

Thousands of persons around the world, including Guyanese, have been affected by the outbreak of COVID-19.

COVID-19

GTT extends grace period for bill payments

T

he Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) on Wednesday announced that it has extended its bill payment period as a precautionary measure to assist in the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The company, in a release, has said that all bills that are scheduled to be paid on the 1st of the month from the month of April would become due on the 17th of every month.

Meanwhile, GTT Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Nedd has said the company would also be recruiting more Mobile Money agents to add to the existing stock of agents.

“As an alternative, we have over 230 MMG agents nationwide, which custom-

ers like you take advantage of each month to pay their bills. Many of these agents are right close to where you live and work. We also have over 45,000 MMG customers who can make payments on your behalf. Some of them might be your close friends or family”, the company has said.

With the safety of its employees and customers in mind, the company has said, it has moved to secure new and additional points-ofpayment for ease of access.

“To reduce the chance of

community spread, stores will be open for a shorter time, will have less staff, and a limited number of customers will be allowed in each location at a time”, the company announced.

Customers are also encouraged to make use of the Mobile Money platform for the payment of their GTT and other bills.

“We appreciate your need, more than ever, to remain connected. As such, starting next month, customers have until the 17th of the month to ensure bill payments,” Mr. Nedd has said.

GTT has also decided to reduce the opening hours at its retail outlets. As of now, all of its retail outlets will operate from 8:00hrs to 13:00hrs on weekdays.

Yoga Centre fire of electric origin – Fire Chief

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he fire which destroyed the Brahma Kumaris Yoga Centre in Kingston, Georgetown, was electrical, according to Fire Chief Marlon Gentle.

Gentle said they came to that conclusion based on their investigations.

The two-storey building housed the Yoga Centre - a worldwide spiritual movement dedicated to personal transformation.

Guyana Times understands that the flames erupted around 04:00h on February 29, while two sisters, Parbattie Singh and Usha were in the building meditating when the fire erupted. However, they

The Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Centre

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.

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

The company is encouraging persons with difficulties to contact the GTT’s tech support through its chat service and helplines.

The LiveChat feature has been extended to 23:00h.

he Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is advising its customers to be vigilant for persons purporting to be employees of the company’s disconnection crew and demanding payments.

During a press conference on Thursday, Managing Director Dr Richard VanWest Charles noted that these persons do not work for the company.

“We ask you to be aware of people who are moving around in communities attempting to say they are removing your service and asking you pay. They are not acting on behalf of GWI and therefore we want to ask our customers to ask people who are involved in this activity to identify themselves,” he told reporters.

Van-West Charles further advised customers to ensure that persons claiming to be GWI’s employees identify themselves. All GWI workers are furnished with badges which bear their name and photograph.

The Managing Director reiterated that if the crews are not properly equipped with the requisite identification then they should not be allowed onto your premises and the matter should be reported to the company as well as the police.

Reflecting on the importance of water to help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Managing Director stated that the utility company will be working with squatters to provide po-

table water during this critical time.

There have been reports of fake disconnection crews, claiming to be attached to the GWI, floating around for a while. A Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD) man had accused the company’s disconnection crew of extorting him after threatening to disconnect this water supply.

The same crew reportedly did that to a number of residents in the community.

Jaichan Jaikaran stated that he was visited by two GWI staffers who presented a list to him claiming that they were there to disconnect his water supply since he owed the company $5000.

However, the man had claimed that he received a GWI bill, which showed that the outstanding balance was $650 but when he showed the staff, they insisted that he was on the disconnection list.

He noted that he then told the men that he will go right away to make the payment, but he was told that because he is already on the list, they will disconnect him. He added that the men then suggested that he give them a part of the reconnection fee.

To avoid any altercation with the two men – one of whom he recognised, Jaikaran stated that he gave them the money and then visited a GWI office to make his payments where he discovered that he was defrauded.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020

News

Convicted prisoner sets DDL donates 12,000 litres fire at Camp Street Prison of sanitising cleaner to national COVID-19 fight

…blaze quickly contained

Police and prison officials outside the Camp Street, Georgetown Prison

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atastrophe was avoided on Friday when a fire set by a convicted prisoner was quickly extinguished.

Reports are convicted prisoner Odel Roberts, who is serving three years for trafficking in narcotics and who was also committed to stand trial for murder, set the fire after a fellow prisoner refused to lend him a cell phone and DVD player.

In a statement, Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels said that Officer in Charge of the Georgetown Prison, Superintendent Olivia Cox reported that at about 16:50h on Friday a fire was set on the catwalk of the solitary division of the prison.

“This was quickly brought under control by the officers on duty at the prison,” Samuels said.

According to the statement, Roberts lit newspaper and a piece of his mattress and threw these on the catwalk outside the door of the prisoner with whom he has the disputes.

“Officers of the Guyana Fire Service visited the scene. They have declared the prison compound safe.

The police are investigating,” the statement.

Over the past few years, the Prisons Service along with the Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Police Force have been grappling with inmates starting fires at various penitentiaries across the country.

However, the Camp Street facility experienced the worst of these back in 2016 and then in 2017.

Seventeen prisoners were burnt to death on March 3, 2016, after inmates had set several fires in their holding cell in protest of the conditions of the prisons. The following year in July, a second fire at the city penitentiary had completely destroyed and flattened wooden structures in the compound. That fire resulted in a riot at the facility during which five inmates escaped and one prison officer was killed.

However, Friday’s fire

comes on the heels of a previous attempt to break out of the Camp Street Prison back in January. That plot was thwarted by Prison Officers.

Meanwhile, in August 2019, committed prisoner Delon Butcher received injuries about his body after he set fire to his mattress in the security block of the New Amsterdam Prison, Berbice.

The fire was extinguished by Prison Officers on duty.

Some four months earlier at that same prison, another convicted prisoner who is serving a 25-year sentence for murder, started a fire.

Then on April 21, 2019, Devon Griffith started a fire in the solitary confinement area but the blaze was contained and extinguished before firefighters arrived at that location.

On July 14, 2017, prisoners incarcerated at the Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara (ECD), attempted to set fire to the wooden structure.

Administrator of Uncle Eddie’s Home Bonita Moore receiving the donation from DDL Brand Manager Larry Wills

T

o support the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) on Thursday donated 12,000 litres of alcohol-based sanitising cleaner to institutions around Guyana.

Some of the institutions that benefited from the company’s initiative were senior citizen’s homes, orphanages, night shelters, prisons, and other facilities similar to these.

According to the company, the sanitising cleaner will also be distributed to agencies that provide public services to assist in keeping counter surfaces clean.

These include post offices, police stations, health centres, and public hospitals.

DDL’s Chairman, Komal Samaroo posited that: “It was imperative that DDL supports the national effort

because we are all at risk”, he added that “alcohol-based cleaners are among the best defences against the virus causing COVID-19 so this was natural for us to do.”

A release by the company stated that the sanitising cleaner that has about 70 per cent of alcohol will be distributed in bottles of 19 litres (5 gallons) and in barrels.

Uncle Eddie’s Home in Tucville, Georgetown, was the first to receive the alcohol-based sanitising cleaner, branded Environ.

Handed over to the Administrator, Bonita Moore, by DDL Brand Manager Larry Wills, the home received five bottles measuring at approximately 100 litres.

In addition to these donations, DDL is also supporting the efforts of its own team. Each of their staff

members will be given one bottle of the product.

DDL also announced that they have activated their crisis management team and has employed strict protocols for mitigating the spread of the disease at any of their facilities. DDL currently employs more than one thousand persons.

The company said: “Deliveries are being made today and will continue until all the product is at facilities and institutions where it is needed”.

Ever since the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease, countries worldwide have been experiencing a shortage of sanitising supplies. In light of the current shortage, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has been encouraging persons to make their own sanitising disinfectants.

Repeat offender lands on remand for robbery, illegal firearm and ammo charges

Charged: Carlton Bourne

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36-year-old man, who is no stranger to the court, was on Friday remanded for robbing, shooting an elderly woman, and having an illegal firearm and ammunition in his possession which was used to carry out the act.

The defendant, Carlton Bourne, was slapped with four charges, all of which he denied when he stood before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly on Friday.

The first allegation levelled against Bourne read that on March 16, 2020, at Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown, in the company of another and armed with a dangerous weapon – a gun – he robbed Lorraine Brower of two gold chains valued $85,000.

It was further alleged that on the same day and location, the defendant discharged a firearm towards Brower, causing her grievous bodily harm.

The final charges stated that on March 17, 2020, at East La Penitence, Georgetown, he had in his possession one .32 firearm and two live rounds of .32 ammunition without being the holder of a firearm license.

According to facts presented by Police Prosecutor Christopher Morris, the victim, who is a 62-year-old woman, was at her residence painting her fence, when the defendant and his accomplice quickly ap-

proached and grabbed the two chains she was wearing, it was then that the elderly woman attempted to get a look at Bourne’s face when he shot her to the left leg.

The following day, Bourne was apprehended and a search carried out on his person revealed the illegal weapon and ammunition.

Prosecutor Morris made serious objections to bail on the grounds that the victim is presently hospitalised, along with the serious nature of the charge and the penalty it attracts.

As a result, Magistrate Daly upheld the prosecution’s submission and remanded the defendant to prison until May 15, 2020.

Bourne was charged with murder, attempted murder and a series of armed robberies in 2018 and early in 2019, as well serving jail time for assaults and threats, which he recently completed.

guyanatimesgy.com

OILNEWS ‘Demand destruction’ - analysts race to lower outlooks for oil

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raders and analysts are struggling to revise down their forecasts for oil demand fast enough, as Government lockdowns to contain the coronavirus outbreak have rapidly cut fuel consumption.

At the start of the year, forecasters had expected demand to edge up or stay flat. But, in the space of a few months or even weeks, the most bearish outlooks seem hopelessly out of date.

“Demand destruction this year depends on how many countries follow an Italian-style lockdown,” said Giovanni Serio, Head of Research at Vitol, the world’s biggest oil trader.

“If you extrapolate to the rest of Europe and particularly the United States, then you can get as bearish as you like.”

Based on widespread lockdowns in Europe but more limited US measures, Serio sees demand falling by more than 10 million barrels per day (bpd), which is equivalent to 10 per cent of daily global consumption of crude of about 100 million bpd.

IHS Markit and Standard Chartered bank have also predicted demand could drop by as much 10 million bpd by April.

But many analysts are wary of extending predictions for daily demand beyond a few weeks, given the uncertainty about how long the virus will take to contain and the full extent of its economic impact with Government policy shifting by the day.

The authorities in the United States, the world’s biggest economy, have been ratcheting up measures to stop the virus spreading. California told its 40 million residents on Thursday to stay at home. US restrictions on travel across the Mexican border could follow, adding pressure on fuel demand.

“This is the most dismal oil demand picture we have witnessed in a long time with a simultaneous collapse in jet fuel, gasoline, shipping fuel, petrochemicals, and oil used for power generation,” Rystad Energy analyst Louise Dickson said.

But, even forecasts made less than two weeks ago, now seem outdated.

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on March 11 it saw demand rising by a modest 370,000 bpd in 2020, while the International Energy Agency (IEA) flagged a small 90,000 bpd contraction on March 9.

In a report on March 17, Standard Chartered said it expected average demand in 2020 to fall by 3.39 million bpd, which would be a new record, exceeding the 1980 drop of 2.71 million bpd in terms of barrels although not as a percentage of total demand.

“Economic growth and oil demand will weaken further before they recover, which can only happen once social distancing measures are lifted,” said Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at Energy Aspects.

Typically, tumbling oil prices help push demand back up.

But even a slide in benchmark Brent LCOc1, which has halved in value in two weeks to trade below US$30 a barrel, is unlikely to stimulate appetite amid industry shutdowns.

Sen said Brent could dive to US$10, a level last seen two decades ago, due to sliding demand and record supply from Saudi Arabia, which has been chasing market share after a deal between OPEC and Russia on curbing supplies collapsed this month.

If Saudi Arabia maintains “that pace the only near term floor on oil price is zero”, said Jason Gammel at Jefferies.

The deal between the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and others, a group known as OPEC+, fell apart over how best to respond to the coronavirus, with Riyadh and OPEC seeking deeper production curbs, while Moscow resisted.

But promises of extra crude from Saudi Arabia, which has said it will add more than 2 million bpd to the market, and from other producers still look like modest additions when compared to the scale of the drop in demand.

“The market must remember that the tsunami of demand losses from the coronavirus will likely be four to five times as large in the second quarter than the flood of oil coming from OPEC+ producers,” said Rystad Energy’s Head of Oil Markets Bjornar Tonhaugen.

Goldman Sachs, which on March 18 predicted global demand dropping by 1.1 million bpd in 2020, cut its secondquarter Brent forecast to US$20.

Bank of America Global Research saw it falling below US$20.

“The current prices will inflict severe pain on high cost oil producers and quite a few of them will go bankrupt,” said Tamas Varga, oil analyst at London brokerage PVM Oil. Jim Burkhard, Vice President and Head of Oil Markets at IHS Markit, added: “If this situation persists amidst a recession, it points to the possible buildup of the most extreme global oil supply surplus ever recorded.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020

17

Around the World

Coronavirus: UK Govt to pay up to 80% of workers’ wages

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he Government is to pay the wages of employees unable to work due to the coronavirus pandemic in a radical move aimed at protecting people’s jobs.

It will pay 80 per cent of wages for employees unable to work due to the coronavirus pandemic, worth up to £2500 a month.

The “unprecedented” measures would stop workers being laid off due to the crisis, chancellor Rishi Sunak said.

Firms have warned the virus could see them collapse, wiping out thousands of jobs, as life in the UK is

Rishi Sunak: “The Government is going to step in and help to pay people’s wages”

put on hold.

Sunak said closing pubs and restaurants would have

a “significant impact” on businesses.

It is understood that the wage subsidy will apply to firms where bosses have already had to lay off workers due to the coronavirus, as long as they are brought back into the workforce and instead granted a leave of absence.

The chancellor said the move would mean workers should be able to keep their jobs, even if their employer could not afford to pay them.

The wages cover, which relates to gross pay, will be backdated to the start of March and last for three months, but Sunak said he

would extend the scheme for longer “if necessary”.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell criticised the new job retention scheme, saying it needed to “go a lot farther and a lot faster.”

But employers’ body the CBI said Sunak’s announcement was “a landmark package”.

“It marks the start of the UK’s economic fightback - an unparalleled joint effort by enterprise and Government to help our country emerge from this crisis with the minimum possible damage,” said Director General Carolyn Fairbairn. (Excerpt from BBC News)

WHO message to youth on coronavirus: ‘You are not invincible’

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oronavirus can sicken or kill young people as well and they must also avoid mingling and spreading it to older and more vulnerable people, the World Health OrganiSation said on Friday.

With more than 210,000 cases reported worldwide and a death toll of 9000, each day brings a “new and tragic milestone”, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

“Today I have a mes-

sage for young people: You are not invincible, this virus could put you in hospital for weeks or even kill you.

Even if you don’t get sick the choices you make about where you go could be the difference between life and death for someone else,” he said.

Amid global shortages of protective gear for health workers and diagnostic tests, Chinese producers have agreed to supply the WHO, he said.

Arrangements are being finalised and shipments coordinated to restock its Dubai warehouse to ship supplies where they are needed most, he added.

The WHO has distributed 1.5 million lab tests worldwide and it may need potentially 80 times that for the pandemic, Dr Mike Ryan, the WHO’s top emergency expert said.

Mass gatherings “cannot only amplify the disease but they can disseminate the

disease very far away from the centre”, he said.

The WHO has shifted to recommending “physical distance” instead of social distancing to help prevent transmission of the virus, officials said.

“We are changing to say ‘physical distance’ and that’s on purpose because we want people to remain connected,” said Dr Maria Kerkhove, a WHO epidemiologist.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazil declares COVID-19 state of emergency as Bolsonaro approval slips

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razil declared a state of emergency on Friday, freeing up funds for the Federal Government to fight a coronavirus crisis that has hurt the popularity of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro’s Government.

The Senate approved a measure letting the Government waive fiscal targets this year, with senators voting remotely after two of them tested positive for the virus causing the COVID-19 respiratory disease.

Bolsonaro is facing criticism as he seeks to balance major public health concerns with protecting Brazil’s long-ailing economy. The pandemic poses serious political risks for the populist, who initially labelled it a “fantasy.”

A view of empty restaurant tables amid the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil March 20, 2020

In comments to journalists on Friday, he slammed state governors for taking “extreme measures” that hurt the economy.

Sao Paulo state Governor João Doria said a statewide public emergency would go into force today, aimed at allowing the Government to

better fight the virus. All parks and non-essential public services will close until the end of April.

Doria defended the move and criticised Bolsonaro.

Approval of Bolsonaro’s Government fell to a record low this week, according to XP Investimentos poll released on Friday. Just 30 per cent of those surveyed rated his Administration “good” or “great,” compared with 36 per cent calling it “bad” or “awful.”

A record-high 17 per cent said his Government is to blame for the current economic situation, as blame attached to the previous three Administrations slowly evaporates, the poll showed.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

St Lucia shuts down non-essential commercial services

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shutdown of St Lucia’s non-essential commercial services and an 11:00pm to 5:00am (local time) curfew are among the latest initiatives announced by Prime Minister Allen Chastanet as the island seeks to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

“What we are proposing is to close down all non-essential commercial services and in doing that, we believe that the Government will be able to reduce the amount of public interaction at this point,” Chastanet told a news conference on Friday.

“The programmes will begin on

Monday, March 23 until Sunday, April 5 in the first instance, and certainly depending on its success and what’s taking place and through the advice of the Chief Medical Officer and the collaboration of Government, we will determine whether, in fact, we believe that should be extended or whether we can pull back,” he added. According to Chastanet, the commercial entities that will remain open are going to be expected to put in new social behaviours.

He said the banks are also going to limit the number of individuals in the lending institutions at any one time.

Chastanet said Government agencies will be looking at protocols to diminish the number of people on call in any office at any one time.

In terms of essential services, the PM announced that utilities and the telecommunications companies will remain open, but with a revised protocol.

He said sanitation collection and disposal, the supermarkets and pharmacies, mini-marts, bakeries and petrol stations as well as the air and seaports will be open, albeit to a significantly reduced number of services. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Diplomacy will work wonders for you today. If you offer solutions and help people, an unanticipated reward will come your way.

Romance will enhance your life.

Be straight with whoever you deal with today. If you mislead someone, you will end up in a compromising position. Emotional situations will escalate quickly.

Protect your reputation.

Don’t hesitate when it comes to profitable situations. Be sure to take advantage of an opportunity.

Positive changes at home or in meaningful relationships are featured. Celebrate with a loved one.

Busy yourself with home improvements. Look at real estate or invest in something you believe in, but don’t compromise your financial situation. Time is on your side, so don’t feel pressured.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Indulge in exciting conversations. Listen carefully and consider what’s valid and what isn’t. An idea you have will go over well with someone you like. Romance is encouraged.

LIBRA

You can make significant headway in your plans.

An innovative approach to something you’ve been working toward will bring new meaning to your life.

Communication and travel are favored.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

An emotional matter will surface if you are required to deal with a problematic individual. Get your facts straight and use diplomacy to avoid backlash. Focus on creative pursuits and a healthier lifestyle.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Social events will lead to a chance meeting with someone you find inspiring. You will realize what you’ve been missing and make adjustments that will encourage positive change.

Romance is featured.

Don’t be fooled by someSAGITTARIUS one using manipulative tac(Nov. 23tics.

Ulterior motives are Dec. 21) present. Before you engage in a partnership, you should find out what you will have to contribute.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR YESTERDAY’S PUZZLE AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

If you are quick to react, you will get what you want.

Positive changes in your personal and professional lives will lead to new beginnings. A makeover will lead to compliments.

An experience will remind you of something from your childhood. Use memories to reinvent something you used to enjoy doing. A heart-to-heart conversation with a loved one is encouraged.

If you exaggerate or mislead someone, the truth will come out. The quicker you put an end to pending problems, the sooner you will be able to move on.

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020

19

Tom Brady joins Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ꟷ seeks more Super Bowl plunder

S

ix-times Super Bowl winning quarterback Tom Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday, transforming the team into a championship contender.

The face of the New England Patriots for two decades, Brady will have a new home after agreeing a one-year deal worth $30 million according to a report on NFL.com.

“Excited humble and hungry,” Brady said on an Instagram post with a picture of him signing what appeared to be a contract. “If there is one thing I have learned about football, it’s nobody cares what you did last year or the year before you earn the trust and respect of those around through your commitment every single day.

“I’m starting a new football journey and thankful for the @ buccaneers for giving me an opportunity do what I love to do.”

Florida may be the retirement capital of the United States but Brady, who has said he wants play until he is 45, still has work to do.

“Tom is a proven champion who has achieved greatness on the field because he demands the best out of himself and his teammates,” said Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht, who was a scout for the Patriots in 2000 when they drafted Brady.

“I’ve known Tom since we drafted him in New England 20 years ago and through this process it became very clear that his desire to be a champion burns as strong today as it ever has.”

The Buccaneers have not made the NFL postseason since 2007. In two decades with the Patriots, Brady led the team to six Super Bowl championships in nine appearances, along with a record 30 playoff wins.

No other NFL player has switched teams after 20 years with one employer and now Brady will try to become only the second quarterback to win Super Bowls with two different teams.

Brady, who turns 43 in August, will lead a Tampa Bay offense that ranked third in scoring last year under quarterback Jameis Winston. The number one overall pick in the 2015 draft, Winston had a strong arm but threw a league high 30 interceptions.

It has been years since Brady has had as many explosive athletes at his disposal as he will have in Tampa. His weapons will include 1,000-yard receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and pass-catching tight ends in O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate.

Tampa hosts the Super Bowl next February and it is clear Brady believes the Buccaneers provide him the best opportunity to add to his trophy case, which also includes four Super Bowl most valuable player awards.

On Feb. 3 the day after this year’s Super Bowl, the Buccaneers were given 66-1 odds to hoist the Lombardi trophy next season.

Those odds dropped as low as 12-1 as news spread of Brady’s impending signing with Tampa, according to sportsbetting.ag.

A certain first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer when he becomes eligible, Brady was a lightly regarded prospect coming out of

college, t h e 199th pick in the 2000 Tom Brady

NFL Draft.

In the second game of the 2001 season, Brady took over as Patriots quarterback after veteran Drew Bledsoe went down with an injury. Brady led that team to the franchise’s first-ever Super Bowl victory and went on to put together one of the greatest careers in NFL history. (BBC Sport)

Slovenia latest to call for 2020 Games' delay because of coronavirus T he Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games should be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the president of the Slovenian Olympic Committee Bogdan Gabrovec told national news agency STA on Friday.

Gabrovec’s intervention is the latest in a growing chorus which has called for the event’s suspension.

Despite suspen-

sions of sports leagues and Olympic trials around the world, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said it does not intend to cancel the Games, set to begin July 24.

“Olympic Games cannot be held in July in line with the Olympic principle. Aside from other things, sportsmen simply do not have

Three-time Olympic gold medalists Tadahiro Nomura and Saori Yoshida light the Olympic Flame at the Olympic Cauldron during a ceremony at Japan Air Self-Defense Force Matsushima Base in Higashi-Matsuhsima, Miyagi prefecture, northern Japan (Reuters)

equal opportunities in these conditions to prepare for the Games,” Gabrovec said.

“There would be nothing wrong with holding the Games in 2021, by then conditions will calm down. If that would not happen, the Olympic Games would not be important as a fight for

survival would dominate,” he added.

Slovenian athletes are unable to train in groups after the country’s government earlier on Friday prohibited all socializing in public spaces. [nL8N2BBA2W] Slovenia, which borders Italy, Austria, Hungary

and Croatia, has so far confirmed 341 coronavirus cases, one person has died.

The Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 24-Aug 9.

Colombia adds to the call

The 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo should be post-

poned if the coronavirus epidemic is not under control soon, the head of Colombia’s O l y m p i c Committee said, joining a chorus which has called for the event’s suspension.

Despite suspensions of sports leagues and Olympic trials around the world, the IOC has said it does not intend to cancel the Games, set to begin July 24.

“The most prudent and of course the most respectful decision of the International Olympic Committee and of the organizers in Tokyo is to postpone the Games in case they can’t give the guarantee of risk-less participation,” Baltazar Medida, head of the Colombian Olympic Committee told Reuters late on Thursday.

“If they don’t achieve that they undoubtedly will have to be postponed,” he said.

Delaying the Games was not discussed on a recent phone call with national Olympic committees, Medida said, though it should be if the outbreak continues over the coming months.

Japan is expected to wel-

come 600,000 overseas spectators and athletes to the event, which has seen sponsors pump in billions of dollars and at least $12 billion spent on preparations.

The coronavirus, which emerged in China late last year, has killed more than 10,000 people worldwide.

“In my personal opinion I would say yes (it should be postponed) and I’m sure that the International Olympic Committee would do it because it’s a way of acting responsibly,” he said. “We cannot, to comply with the scheduling of some Games, put at risk the health of 10,500 athletes and all the people with them.”

If the Games go ahead on the scheduled dates, the performance of athletes is likely to have been damaged by the suspension of training, Medida said.

“In the case of the Games taking place, it could be that the competitors don’t arrive at their top technical level because they have had to interrupt their preparation process,” he said.

So far 29 Colombian athletes have qualified for the Games. Once qualifying competitions resume, the number could reach 95, Medida said. (Reuters)

20 “Tokyo Olympics 2020 Cancellation Not on the agenda” – IOC U SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020

nless you were in hibernation or living under a rock, you know about the coronavirus pandemic that has gripped the planet. To counter the spread of the virus, organizers had little choice but to cancel most sporting events. Unfortunately, all this is happening during an Olympic year. While there is a general consensus that the Tokyo Olympics 2020 will not happen, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has other ideas.

With the COVID-19 pandemic throwing the world into chaos, the world of sports has suffered heavily too. Public gatherings are a complete no-no while fighting the virus. And what fun are sports without spectators?

The Tokyo Olympics 2020, in Japan, is scheduled to start on June 24. Given the current scenario, there are doubts about the possibility of going ahead with the multisport event. However, the IOC is determined to stand firm with their schedule.

A few days ago, Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, reiterated that the Tokyo Games will go ahead as planned.

Thomas Bach, the President of the IOC had this to say.

“The cancellation is not on the agenda.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

We are committed to the success of these Games.”

A key point in their decision is the fact that the Games are still some ways off. They are hopeful of the scene changing in the next three months or so.

“Of course we are considering different scenarios. What makes this crisis so unique and so difficult to overcome is the uncertainty. Nobody today can tell you what the developments are tomorrow, what they are in one month, not to mention in more than four months.”

Going ahead with the event would mean somehow managing to welcome an astonishing figure of around 600,000 spectators and athletes in Japan. The Olympics village will have to follow and ensure strict health codes.

That is not all, since, the committee will also have to deal with the fact that athletes from many countries will not be able to travel due to the various travel sanctions across the globe.

Perhaps it is too early to make a decision right away, and we could certainly do with some optimism right now. However, the scenario will have to change drastically in the

Thomas Bach, the President of the IOC

coming months if there is any hope of the Games going ahead.

I do not see how it is possible, and there

is no point in taking undue risks when fighting such a virus.

Do you think it can happen? Or it should happen? (Essentially Sports)

Ferrari set to produce fans, David Warner opts out of Hundred, citing 'family respirators to help combat the and personal reasons' coronavirus pandemic

F

errari said they are ready to make Formula one technology available to combat the national emergency in Italy. The Coronavirus pandemic devastatingly hit the European nation and decimated the Italian healthcare system. However, they could receive timely support from Ferrari.

The prancing horses plan is to contribute and help in providing machinery needed for intensive care i.e. fans and respirators. They will use the Maranello plant to achieve this objective. The idea will solve the lack of hospital appliances. It aims to increase the production of fans and breathing apparatus to provide respirators to hospitals. Ferrari aims to increase the production of appliances for safe breathing.

They will provide 300 instead of 150 respirators per week. The idea is under study

by Ferrari and FCA in collaboration with automotive components manufacturer Magneti Marelli. It could turn into reality in the next few days. This will provide a shot in the arm for the struggling Italian healthcare system. This move will help the national supply chain in the upcoming days.

This is not an isolated decision by Ferrari. This is part of a larger plan. One which re-iterates the ‘Make in Italy’ theme to support the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic. Earlier, the Agnelli family that owns Ferrari made a 10 million Euro donation to the Italian department of Civic Protection. This was to help them purchase essential hospital equipment needed to provide care to Coronavirus patients.

In the absence of Formula 1 racing, Ferrari’s gestures will surely win the hearts of people all over the world.

When will Formula 1 action return?

The Formula 1 season is suspended due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic. Races in The Netherlands, Spain and Monaco are postponed.

Subsequently, the Monaco GP was canceled. The next race on the F1 calendar is at Baku, Azerbaijan in June. However, there is no official word about it.

(Essentially Sports)

The Ferrari factory in Italy

D

avid Warner has withdrawn his name from the inaugural edition of the Hundred citing "family and personal reasons", ESPNcricinfo understands. The tournament is also set to clash in part with Australia's three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe, which is included in the ODI League that will serve as a qualification pathway to the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

Australia were originally scheduled to host Zimbabwe in June, but Cricket Australia's revised dates of early August will overlap with the Hundred, which is supposed to run from July 17 to August 15 - although there remains a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the English season due to the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic.

James Erskine, Warner's manager, confirmed on Friday that the opener's decision to pull out had nothing to do with the outbreak.

Warner had been due to be a part of the Southamptonbased Southern Brave side, which had picked him at the maximum fee of £125,000 during the draft last October.

Warner's fellow Australia international

Marcus Stoinis is understood to have been lined up as a replacement.

Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith and Mitchell Starc are some of the other Australians who signed up for the Hundred, while Andrew McDonald was roped in as the coach of Birmingham Phoenix.

As reported by ESPNcricinfo, the

ECB could prioritise the Hundred and the T20 Blast to salvage something from the 2020 season, which is set to be curtailed by the coronavirus threat. Several rounds of talks between counties, players and broadcasters have resulted in a raft of recommendations that will be discussed by the ECB board on Friday. If those discussions proceed without complication, the ECB will make an announcement within the coming days.

Warner will play IPL if it's on

As for the IPL, which has been pushed back to April 15 because of the concerns around COVID-19, Warner's manager James Erskine was quoted by The Age as saying, "If the IPL is on David Warner's planning on going. If things change dramatically, which can happen in the space of an hour, the answer is you change your mind. It's no different to everybody else."

Warner is among the highest-paid Australians in the IPL, and a mainstay of the set-up at Sunrisers Hyderabad, who he led to the title in 2016.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

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T&T Pro League board supports FIFA takeover T

he board of the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League has unreservedly thrown its support behind the decision by football’s world governing body FIFA to take over the running of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).

After a recent investigation, FIFA took the unusual step of removing the recently appointed TTFA board of directors and replacing it with a normalization committee.

The parent body cited concern over the TTFA’s “low financial management methods” and massive debt.

FIFA went on to explain that the decision was backed up article 8:2 of the organization statutes that states, "Executive bodies of member associations may under exceptional circumstances be removed from office by the council in

consultation with the relevant confederation and replaced by a normalisation committee for a specific period of time."

The decision has expectedly not gone down well with newly appointment president William Wallace, who called the move an attempted coup. The body has vowed to explore its legal options by taking the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

It will not have the support of the Pro League board.

“The Board of the TT Pro League has unanimously accepted the decision by FIFA to establish a Normalization Committee to steer the financial and statutory affairs of the Trinidad & Tobago Football Association,” the Pro League board said via a press release.

“As a football company that have invested over two

Former TTFA President David John-Williams (left) and former Finanace Manager Tyril Patrick

hundred million dollars into the national economy over the last 18 years, the TT Pro League stand ready to work alongside the Ministry of Sports and the FIFA appointed Normalization Committee for the continued development of the game,” it

ARIBBEAN Chemicals and Agencies Ltd will no longer sponsor the TT Football Association (TTFA) after learning that Tyril Patrick will be in charge of the local football body before a normalisation committee is set up to handle the affairs of TT football.

On Tuesday, Fifa disbanded the TTFA led by William Wallace, who took over the presidency of the local football body in November 2019. According to an article on the Fifa website, the decision came after a Fifa/

Since being elected in November, Wallace and his team secured some sponsors including Avec UK, Caribbean Chemicals and Sports and Games.

On Wednesday, chairman of Caribbean Chemicals Joe Pires said if Fifa decides to go back to the “same old” the company will not be willing to continue its support of the TTFA. Patrick was an employee in the JohnWilliams TTFA administration, which is blamed for putting the TTFA in debt by $50 million.

On Thursday, after hearing

will suspend everything now,” Pires said on the plans put in place between Caribbean Chemicals and TTFA. On March 9, TTFA announced TT’s leading sports retailer Sports and Games as a partner. The fouryear arrangement made was set to include collaborations on marketing campaigns and fan engagement programmes that will add extra value to fans, who purchase official merchandise.

The partnership will also include ticket giveaways and opportunities to meet players

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went on.

“We have instructed our representative on the former TTFA Board, Mr Brent Sancho, that the TT Pro League will not support any move by the former administration to engage in any legal battle

against FIFA over their removal from office."

The official who will make up the normalization committee are yet to be announced, or the time period it will maintain the affairs of the football body. (Sportsmax)

Caribbean Chemicals Walton not worried, pulls out of TTFA deal but dreads isolation upon return to Jamaica C J

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21

Former TT Football Association president William Wallace (R) stands alongside Caribbean Chemicals Chairman Joe Pires and senior men’s head coach Terry Fenwick

Concacaf fact-finding mission to TT. “The mission found that extremely low overall financial management methods, combined with a massive debt, have resulted in the TTFA facing a very real risk of insolvency and illiquidity. Such a situation is putting at risk the organisation and development of football in the country and corrective measures need to be applied urgently.”

On Wednesday, the TTFA learned that Fifa appointed former TTFA finance manager Tyril Patrick to lead the local football body on an interim basis.

The decision ended the short run of Wallace, who took over from David John-Williams in November 2019. John-Williams held the position for four years.

the news that Patrick was hired to lead the TTFA, Pires said, “We will be withdrawing our sponsorship until this clears up.

We taking a decision that this is a step backwards and that it did not make sense doing this.

We are a little bit shocked at the move and confused. We have a lot of information from outside of TT coming to us wondering also what Fifa is doing and why they are doing it. A lot of our suppliers who would come on board are now not interested. We will be suspending our sponsorship until we get further details and when we can understand what Fifa is trying to do.”

Caribbean Chemicals and TTFA agreed to a four-year partnership worth $1.5 million two weeks ago. “We have made commitments to them but we

and management. Director of Sports and Games Ltd Omar Hadeed was contacted to determine if the TTFA-Sports and Games agreement will also end after the TTFA was broken up.

He said, “To be honest with you I have had absolutely no contact with any of the (TTFA) representatives thus far.

We have neither reached out to them because obviously in light of the world’s crisis (coronavirus) and the global economic implications our focus has been on our day-to-day operations. I have not had the opportunity to confirm what is the transparency going forward in regard to the TTFA and our agreement with them.”

Hadeed said he is willing to discuss with TTFA to come to a decision. (T&T Newsday)

amaica wicketkeeper-batsman Chadwick Walton will have to face a spell in isolation as he returns to Jamaica after the Pakistan Super League was suspended and an overseas player had shown symptoms of COVID-19.

Pakistan have recorded 454 cases of COVID-19. There have been two deaths.

The country doesn’t have any critically ill patients from the Coronavirus with 13 already recovered, but they did record 147 new cases in a day.

Despite that, Walton, who is returning to Jamaica, doesn’t believe there is much to worry about.

“From the start of the tournament due to the security protocol we had limited contact with the wider society so as a result of that we had limited contact with the virus,” said Walton.

While he doesn’t think he has had any contact with COVID-19, Walton is completely aware of the pro-active stance of the Jamaican government in keeping the virus in check.

Jamaica has had 15 cases of the Covid-19, recorded one death, and seen two recoveries.

“Heading home is always a great feeling for me but this time there are some mixed feelings because I think I will have to be in isolation for 14 days,” said Walton.

Walton believes that while there must be an impact on athletes around the world, the level of that impact has much to do with how well governments manage the situation.

“As it relates to the livelihood of athletes across all disciplines, there has been an impact. How big of an impact will depend on how quickly the relevant authorities can get this under control,” he said. (Sportsmax)

22

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BARTICA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION SEEKING CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP ꟷ much still in store for football in Bartica, says BFA President Alden Marslowe

By Timothy Jaikarran

B

artica Football Association (BFA) President Alden Marslowe has said that, despite the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic that has put a halt to all sporting disciplines in Guyana, the BFA is aiming to complete its goals for 2020, as there is a definite role for football in the community with the recent installation of lights at the Bartica Community Centre ground.

Under Marslowe’s leadership, the Bartica community has seen substantial increase in football activities, and the emergence of new talent among the ranks of the BFA

in 2019.

The goal of the BFA had been to kick-start football activities in February 2020, but this was not possible because of the tension that gripped the nation following the 2020 General and Regional Elections, the results of which have not yet been declared; and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport recently, Marslowe disclosed: “Our league was due to start in March, after the elections.

In terms of what we still hope to accomplish, well, the dust has settled; well, we have access to

the community ground now, with lights; so, we are expecting to play more football than last year.

“We have to run off our leagues; get the grassroots (programmes) up and running; and also promote as many matches against visiting teams as we could, to give maximum exposure to our players.”

He noted that, with the new facility in place, he is expecting much improved performances from the various clubs in the region.

“Well, with more playing time, everything should improve. Once we are up and running again, we have to look seriously at structure, and correct the functioning of clubs. The (Bartica) Football Association will promote capaci-

WDCA U-19 Cricket Tournament…

ty-building programmes to help (clubs) to function better on and off the field,” Marslowe said.

Marslowe is of the firm view that football in Bartica needs the input of corporate partners to be successful. He said the response of the corporate community has been really slow, but the BFA is looking forward to partnering with any business to boost the game in Bartica.

“For sponsors out there, who would be interested in coming on board, I'd like to say that the sport of football the world over is the best vehicle for business promotion, because the game attracts persons of every walk of live. Football is now a household sport because every

BFA President Alden Marslowe

player eventually takes it into the home, and that is where the benefit rests for our partners,” he declared.

Malvern T20 Tournament…

WALES SLAUGHTERED Rising Stars blow away La Grange in one-sided affair ON HOME TURF

ꟷ as Belle Vue triumph in 15-over affair

The Victorious Belle Vue U-19 Team

I

n recent cricket action sponsored by the West Demerara Cricket Association, a Belle Vue U-19 Team thrashed a Wales U-19 Team before the disappointed eyes of their spectators in a match played at the Wales Community Centre Ground.

Reduced to 15 overs a side because of various reasons, including rain, Belle Vue won the toss and opted to bat first.

Led by Ryan Seecharran, who played with ease in showcasing his batting prowess, this side played with enthusiasm and aggression.

They performed well in the powerplay overs, a n d managed to post 146 all out in 1 4 . 5 overs.

Seecharran, though, was the only one to pass the 30-run mark. He contributed 65 to the score, which included six boundaries and three maximums; and he was ably supported by Dev Seepersaud with 29, Wazim Rahaman with 17, and Daniel Roberts with 16.

Bowling for Wales, A. Ramphal took 2-17 off 3 overs, and D. Singh and S. Kanhai each claimed a wicket.

Needing 147 to win off 90 balls, Wales had their work cut out for them, since they needed to score at an alarming rate of 9.8 runs per over against a quality bowling lineup. They never got off to a good start, lost a couple of wickets early, and were in dire need of a saviour.

Rain interrupted the game after 3.3 overs and with the score at 8-3, and the game was later adjusted to 5 overs with a target of 49 for victory. Wales were, however, able to make only 11 runs, for which they lost 6 wickets as the Belle Vue bowlers scythed through their innings.

Dev Seepersaud took 2-3 off one over; Seecharran claimed 2-5 off 2 overs, and Daniel Roberts took 1-3 off 2 overs to give Belle Vue the win.

I

n the second round of the Malvern T20 Cricket Tournament, the Rising Stars cricket club took on their La Grange All Stars counterparts at the Canal #1 ground, and blew them away in a one-sided affair.

This is the Rising Stars’ second consecutive win of the tournament.

The Rising Stars have had the upper hand against the La Grange side in past encounters, but with La Grange showing some level of improvement in recent times, the challenge was worth the wait.

Rising Stars won the toss and asked La Grange All Stars to bat first. La Grange made excellent use of their overs in the early part of the game, setting a stable f o u n d a t i o n with runs flowing at a constant rate.

However, in the latter part of their innings, they began to falter as they looked to up the ante. Wickets fell in clusters, and they were bowled out for 133 scored in 18.5 overs.

The La Grange principal scorers were

Having restricted La Grange to a simple total, the Rising Stars side commenced their innings by unsettling the La Grange bowlers, who seemingly could get nothing right as they struggled to find the right line and length.

Rising Stars reached their target in 16.1 overs, with Duane Gouveia contrib-

The victorious Rising Stars team

George Carrington with 23 and John Blair with 18; while the Rising Stars’ principal bowlers were left-arm spinner Shane Persaud, who captured 4-20 in 4 overs; Darren France, who claimed 2-20; and Nikosi Major, who took a wicket for 16 runs.

uting the top score of 33 even as Elroy Fernandes added 20 and Shane Persaud 19. Bowling for La Grange, who could not prevent the 6-wicket triumph, Greg Singh returned figures of 2-25 and C. Thomas 2-18.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020

23

CWI/PCL Regional 4-Day Tournament…

‘2 centuries by our batsmen is simply poor,’ says Coach Crandon

By Brandon Corlette

C

ricket is regarded as a game of glorious uncertainties; no team will, on every occasion, dominate the opposition or even win the game. This season of the CWI PCL

third on the points’ table with the Jamaica Scorpions, who also have 91.8 points.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Jaguars’ most successful Head Coach, Esuan Crandon, it was revealed to this publication that the batting

Leon Johnson

Christopher Barnwell

4-Day Tournament has regrettably been "one of those days" for five-time defending champions Guyana Jaguars, who were in unfamiliar territory on the points table throughout the season. After eight rounds, the Jaguars have recorded just three wins, and stand at joint

performance has not been this team’s best.

"I am disappointed with the return by our batters, most are senior guys. To only score two centuries as a

team is really poor," Crandon decried, as he highlighted that most of the guys had good starts but were not able to convert them into hundreds.

"As champion team, you capitalize on those opportunities; and, for some reason, we did not do it this season.

It's a reflection of where we are on the table, we didn’t play the style of cricket we should have played," Crandon lamented.

He, however, gave due credit to table leaders Barbados Pride, who utilized their fast bowlers well, while their batsmen put up decent totals.

It's been a season of mixed fortunes for the Jaguars, with more negatives than positives emerging. Looking on the brighter side, Veerasammy Permaul's 50 wickets in eight rounds has been the big plus.

"Permaul has been an outstanding performer for the team, and his contribution would have had a great impact," Crandon added.

Another positive for the Jaguars has been the advent of Nial Smith, who impressed with his pace in the first few games. Smith has taken 20 wickets, the second-highest after Permaul for the Jaguars this season.

Crandon is hoping that the Jaguars will be able to work with Smith and improve his skills and attributes as a fast bowler.

"Our bowlers were able to take 20 wickets on most occasions, but it is evident that we missed some of the guys who performed well over the years," he declared.

Not making excuses, Crandon and his Jaguars have missed the services of Romario Shepherd, Keemo Paul and Clinton Pestano, who had done well in past seasons.

Crandon regards Keon Joseph as an experienced bowler. "He looked like himself, but he was unlucky not to get more wickets," Crandon has said.

The Jaguars’ Head Coach noted that Raymon Reifer has not performed as well as he had done in the past few seasons.

Speaking on the emergence of Kevin Sinclair, Crandon highlighted that he has room for improvement, although the off-spinner had picked up crucial wickets from time to time.

In an overall assessment of the season thus far, Crandon posited that the Jaguars have proverbially shot themselves in the leg.

"We put down some vital catches, (and) we were not able to win some key moments in the game and capitalize," he said.

Although the Jaguars had ‘covered the hard yards of work’, Crandon disclosed that perhaps the guys did not stay focused and in the game.

Jaguars leading run-getter this season is captain Leon Johnson, who has 472 runs with a high score of 189* and an average of 36.30.

Christopher Barnwell, with 435 runs, is both the only other man to cross the 400-run mark and as well to score another century for the team. In addition to the two centuries scored, 15 half-centuries were scored by the Jaguars this season.

"It's now about how the Jaguars reflect on their performances, and work on their game moving forward," Crandon concluded.

CWI/PCL Regional 4-Day Tournament…

Caribbean youngsters showing great promise W est Indies Cricket is apparently in good hands, and there seemingly are great prospects on the rise.

In Cricket West Indies (CWI) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional 4-Day Tournament, some youngsters have announced their presence by immediately impacting the game. Although some veterans have topped the respective charts, the performances of 22-year-old Chemar Holder and 21-yearold Joshua Da Silva have compared favourably with the best available in terms of taking wickets and scoring runs respectively. Holder, the former West Indies U-19 player who is rocking the Barbados Pride colours this season, has taken 36 wickets in the eight matches he played. Veteran left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul is the only bowler who has taken more wickets

than Holder.

Holder is a rightarm speedster who has taken three five-wicket hauls, with best bowling figures of 6-47 at an average of 18.91.

Joshua Da Silva has been putting in good performances for Trinidad and Tobago Red Force. He is fifth on the runs table with 507 runs at a staggering average of 50.30. He has one century and three half-centuries under his belt, with a high score of 113*.

The Red Force left-arm spinner Akeal Hoesin has 36 wickets, while Preston McSwean, another former West Indies U-19 player, has 31 scalps this season.

Twenty-three-year-old fastbowler Keon Harding of the Barbados Pride has taken 29 wickets. Having played for the West Indies Emerging Players team in the Super50 Cup, like

Da Silva did, Harding has bagged two fivewicket hauls in his promising season.

Guyana's new kid on the block, Nial Smith, has also announced himself with a bang.

He has taken 20 wickets from the seven matches he played, and has two five-wicket hauls under his belt, including a best of 6-55 on debut.

Red Force 24-year-old off-spinner Bryan Charles, another former West Indies U-19 player, has taken 17 wickets in the season.

Although he has not been dominant, he has shown great promise with ball in hand.

More youngsters made strong statements in the 4-Day Tournament, and even more have shown great promise. If these players are nurtured, West Indies Cricket should continue to rise.

Joshua Da Silva

Chemar Holder

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2020

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

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See story on page 23

CWI/PCL Regional 4-Day Tournament…

Coach Crandon

‘2 centuries by our batsmen is simply poor,’ says Coach Crandon Page 22

Malvern T20 Tournament…

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