Guyana Times Sunday, July 26, 2020

13 PP15

COVID-19 pandemic

Single mother of 7 worries about providing for family Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 4358 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020

To overthrow constitution and law is a coup d'état – Nandlall Page 25

…as Hamilton Green advises Granger

PRICE

$120 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

TMN rejects APNU/AFC calls for P23 dialogue …says will dialogue only with a legitimate Govt Death of geologist

Probe found Troy Resources “entirely P21 responsible” …recommended charges, EPA head reveals in damning letter to Granger

Validity of Recount Order

Court can intervene only to have CEO follow GECOM Chair’s directive – Senior Counsel …ruling set for Thursday

Do not be used as an instrument of fraud – GECOM Chair tells COA via lawyer

Page 12

…court can intervene to mandate statutory officers to follow law

…active cases stand at 160

Page 3

Election petition only option for APNU/ AFC – claim small parties Page 22

APNU/AFC Govt spent 5 years papering over cracks in economy – economist

…says elections impasse can cause economic collapse

8 new P24 COVID-19 cases recorded

Page 24

Farmer dies from snake bite in Region 9 P11 …rushed to 2 medical centres, but no help

1 dead, 2 seriously injured in separate P24 accidents

Bandits rob Good Hope family P8

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SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

Sunday, July 26 – 09:00h – 10:30h and Monday, July 27 – 10:00h – 11:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, July 26 – 08:15h – 09:45h and Monday, July 27 – 09:05h – 10:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light rain showers prevail during the day. There will be light rain showers and partly cloudy skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South South-Easterly to East South-Easterly to Easterly to East North-Easterly to North-Easterly to North North-Westerly to North-Westerly to Westerly between 1.34 metres and 3.12 metres.

Validity of Recount Order

Court can intervene only to have CEO follow GECOM Chair’s directive – Senior Counsel …ruling set for Thursday

T

he Court of Appeal was on Saturday told that with its narrow jurisdiction, it can intervene only in the ongoing electoral process, to ensure that it is completed; and in this case, that would include compelling Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield to adhere to the directions of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to use the figures from the National Recount to present his Elections Report.

This submission was made

by Senior Counsel Douglas

High Tide: 08:48h and 21:16h reaching maximum heights of 2.55 metres and 2.50 metres.

Low Tide: 14:46h reaching a minimum height of 0.70 metre.

Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes

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Mendes during the virtual hearing of arguments in the matter challenging Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George’s recent decision that results from the National Recount must be used as the basis for a final declaration of the March 2 elections’ results.

Lowenfield has consistently failed to comply with the instructions of the GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, and on several occasions, went ahead to present fraudulent figures to the Elections Commission.

During Saturday’s hearing, SC Mendes, who is representing PPP Presidential Candidate Dr Irfaan Ali and General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, argued that the court can intervene at this stage only to resolve the current impasse between GECOM and the CEO. “The High Court does have the jurisdiction to make such orders as may be necessary to resolve that impasse…[But] You are allowed to intervene in order to ensure that the process is completed; and in the circumstances of this case, the only intervention that you can make is to require Mr. Lowenfield to comply with GECOM’s direction to prepare his report in accordance with the Recount.

That is the only basis upon which you can intervene,” Mendes stated in response to questions posed by Appellate Justice Dawn Gregory.

Justice Gregory and her Appeal Court colleague Justice Rishi Persaud, together with High Court Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, are presiding over the case.

The Trinidadian Senior Counsel pointed out the various laws governing the conduct of elections in Guyana, and specifically referred to the Elections Law (Amendment) Act which, at Section 18, says the CEO “…shall…be subject to the direction and control of the Commission”.

He contended that, at this time, the appellant cannot seek any relief on GECOM’s functions, since it is precluded by Section 140 of the Representation of the People’s

Appellate Judges Justices Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud, in association with High Court Judge Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, at Saturday’s virtual hearing Act (RPA), which prohibits any review of the performance of GECOM’s functions except on an election petition, which can only be filed after a declaration is made.

According to SC Mendes, Section 140 does not apply to the CEO, because he is not a member of GECOM, and therefore the court can intervene on that “limited basis” to direct him to complete the process by complying with GECOM’s order.

“The court can intervene to ensure that the elections process is completed… That is not dealing with any question considering the validity of votes or not; it is just directing him to do what he has to do so that the elections can go forward… The court will not be commenting upon the validity of the elections or not; just require him to do his duty,” he asserted.

Premature On this note, the Senior Counsel went on to submit that any question regarding the validity of the conduct of the election ought to, and must, be dealt with by way of an elections petition.

Mendes further argued that the appellant’s challenges to the Recount Order (or Order 60, under which the National Recount was conducted) cannot be dealt with at this stage of the electoral process.

“Questions of constitutionality and the legality of the Recount must be taken up by

an elections petition. The (electoral) process must be allowed to be completed…otherwise there will be undue disruption in the process as we go along.

We must get to an end of the process, and if parties are unhappy with the results, they can take it up by way of an elections petition,” he asserted.

The Trinidadian SC noted that it is not unusual that elections are determined while there are allegations that the laws are unconstitutional.

He cited Gladys Petrie -v- AG (1968) and Seecomar Singh and Another v RC Butler (1973), where this had happened.

“The legal system did not crash. Democracy did not suffer, because it is an important principle of elections law that you allow the elections to be completed, and any question of invalidity you take up afterwards in an elections petition,” he contended.

Addressing the issue of res judicata, SC Mendes noted that the Appeal Court had previously, in the Ulita Moore case, clearly determined the court’s jurisdiction. He said this applies frontally to this current appeal. In the Moore case, the Appeal Court had declared the law; that is, the reach and ambit of Section 140, which he submitted that, like any declaration or interpretation of the law or the constitution, binds everyone.

“It is not a question of res judicata as much as it’s a question of stare decisis; this is judi-

cial precedence. This is part of the laws of Guyana until that law is overturned by a higher court, and all courts must abide by it, including this court, because the rule is the Court of Appeal in civil matters is bound by its own decisions until those decisions are overturned by the higher court,” Mendes outlined.

However, in an opposing position, Senior Counsel John Jeremie, who is leading the appellant’s legal team, contended that for the High Court to say that res judicata applies in this matter is to defy the established principles.

Jeremie argued that Order 60 is invalid, and that its provisions are in conflict with Section 162 (1) of Constitution, which details the powers given to GECOM. He posited that GECOM cannot be given the power to overturn the results of the initial declarations already made by the 10 Returning Officers.

In her ruling on Monday, Chief Justice George dismissed the application filed by Misegna Jones and ruled that the only data that could be used for the declarations of the March 2 elections would have to be the Recount results.

She also set aside the 10 declarations made by the Returning Officers. Jones is now challenging this decision.

Following Saturday’s hearing of submissions, the Appeal Court is expected to deliver its ruling on Thursday, July 30.

(G8)

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 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

Spinning judicial wheels

Y

esterday, the Court of Appeal heard oral arguments on why the judgement of Chief Justice Roxane George on the status of the recount of the ballots cast in the March 2 elections should or should not be reversed. That the issues involved have already been subjected to judicial scrutiny at all levels: the High Court, the Appellate Court and the CCJ, and as such are res judicata or “already adjudicated” -- and as such have already become stare decisis or “binding precedent” – are themselves being contested by the plaintiff, APNU/ AFC agent Misenga Jones. Removing any doubt as to who is behind the series of dilatory lawsuits aimed at preventing a declaration of the elections results to show the PPPC winning, Basil Williams, Attorney General and former Chairman of the PNC, has filed an appeal identical to Jones’s.

What they are claiming, among several, is that Order 60 of 2020, which authorised the recount that PNC leader David Granger had proposed for Caricom to broker, was unconstitutional. It was the fruit of Sec 22 of Act 15 of 2000, which they claim is also unconstitutional.

Justice George had dealt extensively with this issue, but the AG and Jones are contesting her judgement because, they claim, when the matter of the recount was first objected to in the Courts, Order 60 had not been promulgated. We would remember that the first Caricom team had already flown in, and was ready to supervise the Recount then agreed to by the caretaker President, Opposition Leader and GECOM Chair when PNC agent Ulita Grace Moore resorted to the High Court to prevent this, then to the Full Court, and finally to the Appellate Court.

The gravamen of the contention by the PNC then was the constitutionality of Sec 22 of Act 15 of 2000, Elections Laws Amendment Act 2000. Sec 22, which is intituled “Removal of difficulties”, and subsection (1) states expansively: “If any difficulty arises in connection with the application of this Act, Cap. 1:03 Cap. 19:08 Representation of the People Act or the National Registration Act or any relevant subsidiary legislation, the Commission shall, by order, make any provision, including the amendment of the said legislation, that appears to the Commission to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty; and any such order may modify any of the said legislation in respect of any particular matter or occasion so far as may appear to the Commission to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty.”

Justice (Rtd) Claudette Singh had pointed out to the Appellate Court that Sec 22 above was given Constitutional imprimatur by Art 162 (1) (b) which declared, “The Elections Commission shall issue such instructions and take such action as appear to it to be necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the provisions of this constitution or of any act of Parliament on the part of persons exercising powers or performing duties connected with or relating to the matters aforesaid.” Under this mandate, GECOM had Gazetted Order 60 as subsidiary legislation to have the ballots recounted to remove the difficulty in the count after Reg 4 RO Clairmont Mingo had refused to comply with the directive of the High Court to transparently display the SOPs as they were tabulated.

It is our contention that if the CCJ could declare that Art 162 (1)(b) begat Sec 22 of Act 15 of 2000, which begat Order 60 of 2020, the case of Basil Williams and Misenga Jones should be thrown out as frivolous and vexatious and an abuse of the court process.

We have gone in some detail to state the unembellished words of the law on this particular claim by Basil Williams and Misenga Jones, so that the ordinary citizen can understand that as the CCJ pronounced in the matter of what is the “majority” of the National Assembly, the law needs “no gloss” or explanation, as with the other claims that are of the same nature.

The Appellate Court must not conspire to make the law an ass.

Lowenfield’s game is at an end, and so is the PNC’s Dear Editor, I have, on several occasions, said in my letters that GECOM CEO Keith Lowenfield is compromised, and his actions would suggest he is a PNC agent who would do everything in his power, and even beyond, to rig the elections on behalf of the APNU/AFC. The recent exposure of what played out at the Magistrate’s Court confirmed this beyond any doubt. The very same lawyers who represented the PNC in the courts, Simona Broomes led the illegal protest in front of the courts in defiance of the COVID-19 restrictions, and Lowenfield was bailed by the PNC. If there is any doubt that he is a PNC agent, then let us rewind the past event which led to this conclusion. But is he not supposed to be impartial in carrying out his functions?

In February last year, it was reported that GECOM needed only 148 days to prepare for elections. According to Lowenfield, the Commission had to grant the Secretariat the approval to go into election mode. The Commission did not.

However, by now we are too keenly aware that the CCJ was used to delay the elections, so when it seems that GECOM was all ready to go to the Polls by July, 2019, the decision of the CCJ had to be awaited. The Commission cannot give the go ahead without the CCJ’s rulings on the No Confidence Motion.

The CEO made it appear as though he had a well-oiled GECOM machinery raring to go at that time. But it was all pretence!

In July last year, just before the CCJ’s decision that the NCM was successfully passed and that Patterson was illegally appointed, Lowenfield went into another delaying mode to support the APNU/ AFC’s quest to defer the elections as long as possible. He no longer waited on the CCJ’s rulings, but embarked on the GECOM-backed delay by foisting the house-to-house registration on the Guyanese electorate. This precipitated the call for another Court intervention, and more delay.

Lowenfield must support the PNC’s quest to delay the elections, and he did just that.

It must be recalled that the Private Sector Commission upbraided Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield for commencing and sanctioning ‘an unsanctioned, unverified’ house-to-house registration.

However, Lowenfield was never sanctioned, and neither was he intimidated in any way. He was fulfilling the PNC’s directives!

On July 24th of that year, it was reported that Lowenfield had admitted that the Official List of Voters which expired on April 30th, 2019 can still be used to execute free and fair General and Regional Elections, going back to what he said in February.

When asked whether the expired list was considered ‘bloated’, he replied, “We have a list that was expired…as of April 30…that was used for registration, etc. Bloat is not a word I’ll affix to it.” Now he is singing a different tune and wants to disenfranchise 115,787 legitimate voters.

Regarding the abortion of the HTH registration, Lowenfield then pushed the GECOM field staff to work overtime in an effort to extend the life of the HTH. It was clear that new registrants became the prime target for this extension. In many areas, eligible voters who are deemed PPP supporters were bypassed

by GECOM staff. Despite that, he is now of the opinion that the List of Electors is fraudulent. He has now changed his tune to suit the PNC’s narrative of “fraud”.

Again, at the beginning of October 2019, just before the starting of the Claims and Objections period, Lowenfield unilaterally extended the Claims and Objections period from the agreed 35 days to 49 days, and then to 42 days. He claimed he did that “in the interest of giving the electorate more time to have their claims and objections sorted out”.

Even though the Chair promised to correct the period to 35 days, it never materialised, prompting Commissioner Shadick to conclude, “We have another Chairman, who is go-

ing against decisions of the Commission…” Again, despite this extended period, Lowenfield is now crying foul, echoing what the PNC wants its supporters to believe.

Then Lowenfield made the decision to publish the list of registrants captured during the concluded HTH registration. The PPP-nominated Commissioners were adamant that no such decision was taken by the full Commission.

However, the HtH registration list was published and attached to the Preliminary List of Electors, and persons were advised that between the days of October 1st and November 11th, they should make a claim or objection.

According to PNC Commissioner Charles Corbin, these should be treated with “the same procedure used during claims and objections”. It must be recalled that this verified data was ‘merged’ with the National Register of Registrants Database.

With all that had happened to it, how can Lowenfield now claim that the list is ‘fraudulent’?

Then, after the March 2nd Elections were declared to be free, fair and credible, we have seen that the electoral process in the verification of the Region 4 votes has been hijacked by no other that the Returning Officer, a GECOM appointee who collaborated with the CEO. Mingo produced the infamous ‘spreadsheet’ which gave the Coalition a ‘win’ despite the SoPs giving the PPP/C an overwhelming majority.

Again, Lowenfield made a fraudulent report based on Mingo’s fraudulent figures, but his Coalition-sponsored game did not stop there. Again the matter went to the Court, and Mingo was instructed to abide by Section 84 of the Representation of the People’s Act. He defied this order, and contempt proceedings were filed against him.

Then came the Recount, which again saw the attempt

by Lowenfield to postpone the finalisation of the electoral process. He produced a Recount plan which would last 156 days. This lengthy ‘recount plan’ was to get rid of the

international observers, since it was deemed impossible for them to remain that long in the country. Lowenfield’s plan was to rig the Elections in favour of the PNC. After much protestation by the PPP/C and the other smaller parties, the Recount plan was reduced to 25 days, and was eventually completed in 33 days.

Lowenfield had wanted to buy in excess of 4 months’ time for the PNC. Unfortunately, this was then achieved by frivolous and vexatious court actions, which are still ongoing.

However, Lowenfield must complete his mission to rig the Elections, and after the Recount, which showed a landslide victory for the PPP/C, he foisted another false and fraudulent report despite being clearly instructed by the GECOM Chair in a clear and precisely mandated letter to use the Recount figures. He again used Mingo’s fraudulent figures, despite the recount clearly established Mingo’s fraud.

He was given three attempts to produce his report based on the recount figures, but he failed to do so.

Shockingly, Lowenfield, in his report on the Recount, said the results do not meet the standard of fair and credible elections. His report erroneously claimed 55% of votes cast on March 2nd stand to be negatively impacted due to either anomalies and/or voter impersonation or unreconciled ballots. Of this, he claimed 39.2 percent represented voters’ impersonation.

This is preposterous, given the strict voting process. He produced no evidence to support this. Like the Mingo figures, Lowenfield concocted his own anomalies.

It is a clear conspiracy by Mingo, Lowenfield and the PNC to rig the 2020 elections, and I am positive that, given Lowenfield’s actions, there is humongous evidence to support the criminal charges of fraud, misconduct in public office, and conspiracy to commit a felony laid against him.

Lowenfield’s game is at an end, and so is the PNC’s!

Dear Editor, I may not have attended the level of legal research completed by many of my esteemed, certified, and erudite colleagues. However, I have been around long enough to know, and be familiar with, the adage that “the law is not an ass”.

Indeed, those who adopt this posture, especially in this modern, technologically- advanced era, do so at their peril. The framework of selective convenience that Mr. Granger and his blindly indoctrinated following attempt to impose on the world and our Guyanese citizens is legally abusive, and is as asinine as it is hopelessly flawed and in direct conflict with this proven axiom.

The Chairwoman of

GECOM MUST therefore ensure that there is no further delay in declaring Dr. Irfaan Ali as Guyana’s Ninth Executive President.

Before and following the March 02, 2020 Elections, the Granger-led PNC/AFC agents deliberately influenced and induced many obstinate and abusive firsts that targeted suppression of the will and rights of the Guyanese people. When it became apparent that the wicked regime was rejected by the majority of citizens, the approach punctuated with a flagrant sense of vitriolic rancor that lacked rationality and reasoning. It is one that only serves to highlight the power-driven desperation of the confirmed dictator, who contin-

ues to prove that he is hell-bent on suffering our nation to fuel his personal aggrandisement and that of his cronies.

The David Granger cabal, including the PNC/APNU/ AFC and contaminated tools like Keith Lowenfield in the GECOM Secretariat, then and now demonstrate unabated recalcitrance, making it obvious that they had decided a long time ago to throw any decency out of the window. In their effort to derail the result of the March 02, 2020 National and Regional Elections, they have embarked on an extremely abhorrent attack on all of our international partners as well as civil-minded local eminent persons and institutions.

Notably, Mr. Granger’s ap-

parent suicidal and reflected self-destructive tendency is evidentially one that all Guyanese MUST join to counter in demanding democracy prevail.

The cabal and cronies have singled out respected men and women of venerated character, including leaders of States, ambassadors, and representatives of key institutions who have helped carry our burdens, on which to spew their most vulgar concoctions. In so doing, they have cast a long-lasting stain and significant dent on Guyana’s international image, while attempting to annihilate those who are required to support us in the international financial institutions and other multilateral fora.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

All Guyanese must now demand that democracy prevails

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020

5

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

Audacity of the APNU/AFC Dear Editor, Once again, Guyana is at a crossroads in the March 2020 elections, and is slow-

cede. As a matter of fact, their peculiar position was documented in a press release dated July 22, 2020.

GECOM, all other political parties, observers & the international community’s Positions

APNU/AFC Positions

must be strategised and resolved.

The incumbent’s Machiavellian strategy: to

and manifestation of lies has been used as a delaying tactic, and it has been an uphill battle to bring resolution to these

Strategic Approaches

Will not accept the certified recount figures because those amounts include fraudulent (invalid) votes.

Instead, would accept unsubstantiated results declaring them as the winner.

• The recount was transparently done and scrutinized by independence observers.

• During the recount, votes were examined for validity in accordance with section 177 of the constitution. All invalid votes were excluded from the certified recount figures.

• No evidence of APNU’s allegations of fraudulent votes was presented during the recount

Democratic fighters should continue to emphasize and reinforce the FACTS surrounding these matters to relevant stakeholders and to the Guyanese public. This can be done through social media, official press, dialogue with the international communities etc. In doing so, freedom fighters need to highlight the absurdity of dead & migrants voting, point to the Caricom report, recount order and recount results as support, and emphasize the legal route for dealing with these allegations.

Democratic fighters should not be overly consumed with this as pathological liars and psychopaths feed off this sort of attention.

Instead, freedom fighters should use their resources and energies smartly toward getting a declaration. Their focus is therefore on GECOM.

Will not accept any court rulings (unless in APNU/ AFC’s favour) from the local or international courts because the constitution is being misinterpreted and the courts are biased

• The courts have determined that the recount order and execution thereof are valid and constitutional • The courts have determined that the certified recount votes should be the basis for the declaration • The courts have determined that any previously declared amounts should be voided and replaced by the certified recount figures

Democratic fighters need to call upon GECOM to acknowledge the documented position taken by the incumbent. As such, GECOM needs to change its prescient as it relates to court cases filed or anticipated to be filed. Rather than wait for those to go through due process, unless it is legally obliged to do so, GECOM should move forward with the lawful declaration. The court cases are futile as the CCJ have ruled in these matters and GECOM’s legal position has been consistent. Additionally, the incumbent has made it very clear that it will not accept the court rulings unless it declares them as the winner, and that will NEVER happen.

The local stakeholders and the international community need to set their expectations on GECOM and be persistent with them to make a swift declaration. GECOM also needs to understand the consequences of not doing so.

GECOM’s approach should be to: • dismiss the rogue CEO. No more chances should be afforded to Keith Lowenfield to further delay the process and act criminal • promptly appoint an alternate with a stringent timeline. If there is any doubt the alternate will not carry out their duties, the alternate should not be appointed. GECOM should go to the next person in line • provide clear guidance to the alternate, including exhibits, sample reports and/or an Excel spreadsheet that can perform the calculations • call a quorum to declare the results. If a quorum cannot be achieved, follow the protocols outlined in the constitution. If none exist, GECOM has the constitutional powers to develop its own processes to achieve its constitutional mandate.

• Declare the results. All this can be accomplished within 1-2 days. During this process, if any cases are filed or GECOM becomes aware of a case to be filed, GECOM should not halt otherwise it will become a suspect to the conspiracy and an agent of abusing the court system. It should continue moving forward.

These steps should be monitored by the relevant stakeholders, and delaying tactics should be called out and explained by GECOM. Worst case scenario, the declaration of certified recount amounts made by the chair with the support of 3 commissioners is unlikely to be deemed by the highest court as illegal. If challenged, the court would evaluate the basis of the declaration, the constitutional powers of GECOM and the facts and circumstances surrounding this election.

Will not accept PPP/C as the legally declared winner

Remain open to dialogue with other political parties and stakeholders on the way forward, hinting at shared governance and constitutional reform.

• PPP/C legally won the March 2020 elections, as evident by copies of their SOPs and the recount certified results of valid votes • GECOM is legally obligated, and has been explicit in its requirements and intentions, to declare the candidate with the most votes, in this case PPP/C, as the winner

Whether the incumbent is willing to accept the PPP/C as the winner is of no consequence to the declaration. Although political maturity by the incumbent is desirable, it should not delay the declaration.

In this hostile and unstable political environment, the winner needs to align and get the support of local authorities (viz., Guyana Police Force and Guyana Defence Force) to ensure a smooth transition. The international community should also be tapped in to obtain guidance and support.

Furthermore, the rigging cabal has committed numerous crimes related to the election and overall governance of Guyana such as electoral fraud, abuse of the legal system, misuse of funds, inappropriate sale of state assets etc. The legal system should therefore be sought to bring justice.

• Several political parties, including PPP/C have made it explicitly clear that they are not open for negotiations on shared governance or constitutional reform until after the declaration.

The bullies and wrong-doers cannot dictate the negotiations of shared governance or use it to stay in power. First, they are not legally entitled to do so. Second, they have shown the world their true colours by the way they have handled this election and other sensitive matters, and may not be a good fit for the future of Guyana.

Shared governance and constitutional reform are buzz words used by politicians to win votes and to sound inclusive and harmonious. The reality is developing such governance structures and putting them into practice takes planning, commitment and patience. It should not be something forced into or used as a bargaining tool. Most importantly, it should not be used to manipulate the will of the people or hold up the legally appointed government from executing its mandate.

ly becoming a failed state, like Somalia. After several court cases, a complete recount, more cases, several attempts to declare the results, sanctions, a hearing with the OAS, and more court cases, it is clear without a doubt that the APNU/AFC will not con-

Juxtapose this against the positions taken by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), all other political parties, the observers, the courts, and the international community, as summarised below, and we undoubtedly have significant conflicts that

create doubt in the electoral process, subvert the will of the people, and use bullyism to get what they want, will neither be tolerated by the Guyanese people nor in modern day democracy. Over the course of more than 4 months, every conceivable narrative

matters. But the end to this phase is hopefully in sight, with the fighters for democracy forging ahead with the implementation of key strategic solutions.

Warmest regards, Bibi Ramdayal

The fibres of communal struggle in Guyana

Dear Editor, In a letter which appeared in the news media on July 21, Mr Eusi Kwayana, aka Sidney King, expressed wonder at the USA's high activism in Guyana's affairs in the face of a global coronavirus epidemic of the present scale. He felt it was of some relief to some sectors of the US Empire to find diversions in the affairs of a ministate when faced at home with a unique uprising of a multi-racial nature in resentment to present-day lynching.

He further stated that the US State Department is not part of this uprising.

The unique uprising and mayhem presently ongoing in the USA are the result of policies and programmes being perpetrated particularly on Blacks and minorities to their detriment by the Trump Administration, of which the US State Department is a constituent part. Therefore, it is disingenuous for Mr Kwayana to state that the US State Department’s divisive policies are not contributing to the demonstrations and uprisings.

He was, however, cautious in his criticism of what appeared to him to be present-day lynching in the US, but was careful to note that the US State Department was not part of this terrible crime.

After all, as a 96-year-old Guyanese living in California, and probably receiving one or all of these benefits - Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid and, depending on his yearly income, a free phone, food

stamps, subsidised housing, etc. -- he has to play it safe in what he does and says, so as not to jeopardise his US income. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that Mr Kwayana chose to live in California not because of the atmosphere created by the vigilante organisations in Guyana, which he claims he detests, but because of all the free goodies and wonderful climate he is getting there, and which he would have never received living in the backwater country he came from unless he was a 'Hamilton Green'.

Finally, Mr Kwayana claims he is a Caribbean citizen of Guyanese origin living in the USA. In reality, there is no such title as a Caribbean citizen, since members of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) cannot work and live freely in any member state.

Further, Caricom does not issue passports to its members.

His Guyanese passport was issued by the competent authority in Guyana with the wording 'Caribbean Community' stamped on its top front cover for whatever benefit it stands for.

Mr Kwayana has every right to propagate the welfare of his community, and to ensure they receive their rightful slice of the economic cake they helped to bake. However, this should not be done with biased racial/political overtones to top the scale.

Yours truly, Charles Sohan

All Guyanese must...

Certainly, I call on all Guyanese to condemn this ill-conceived mass suicidal portion, which can be likened to the PNC’s partnership of death with Jim Jones in 1978.

Editor, it is outright unacceptable for any sort of attacks to be hurled at our apex court, the Caribbean Court of Justice, and also equally reprehensive for the unjustified APNU/AFC assault on our local Judiciary.

It is a first that we observe a political party seeking to hold campaign meetings after the elections and before the declaration is announced by the Chairperson of GECOM. This is indeed tantamount to the rationale of desperate diseased minds that our nation must not even contemplate following.

The outright rejection by the smaller parties of the dictator's call for dialogue at this time is generously applauded. It is this unified position of all the political parties that contested the elections that is sending shivers down the spine of the PNC. It is of national importance also that the Elections in Guyana were overlooked by Observers from CARICOM, OAS, Commonwealth, along with many prominent and distinguished ambassadors, who have pronounced definitively on the transparent manner in which the voting process was conducted. Equally significant is the fact that the just concluded elections were conducted under the watchful eyes of many local organisations. There is agreement by the Chief Justice, the Caribbean Court of Justice,

FROM PAGE 4

and the Guyana Elections Commission that the Recount declaration figures must be used to declare the winning list of the March Election in Guyana.

In this context, Guyanese must stay strong and united as our nation struggles for the acceptance of the Election results, and NEVER AGAIN must we allow this power-drunk cabal to stay in power illegally. The support of the international community to stand with the Guyanese people in support of democracy, truth and justice must also be highly praised.

One could imagine the brutality and chaos that would have emerged in the absence of such vital support. Our nation must never again fall prey to the sinister guile and untrustworthy melodrama of the likes of this evil Granger-led cabal, which time and time again demonstrated a propensity to defy the Constitution and abuse the decisions of the Courts.

The political situation in Guyana is getting very uneasy, and tension is precipitous. Our people have been very patient and willing to listen to the PPPC’s Leadership.

Meanwhile, Mr. Granger and his PNC’s threats and outburst that he is not going to concede is certainly a concern, given that they want the lone ranger Keith Lowenfield. However, this will not be accepted. Our people demand that democracy prevail!

Save Guyana now, Madam Chairwoman.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

SEE ADDITIONAL LETTERS ON PAGE 26

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8 NEWS

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Bandits rob Good Hope family

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Good Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) family is now left traumatised after four bandits invaded their Lot 618 Good Hope, ECD home in the wee hours of Thursday morning, and relived them of cash and jewellery.

According to 53-year-old Roopnarine Sukdeho also known as “Ghandi”, who is an occupant of one of the houses in the yard, he was over at his neighbour and had retired home at about 02:00h. He said while entering his home, he heard loud noises coming from his son’s house, which is at the back of his.

Sukdeho related that upon checking, he was confronted by four men, who tied him and his son up, and sprayed a substance in their faces, which caused them to doze off. This newspaper was told that the men then raided the houses in the yard. The family is alleging that the bandits made off with a quantity of jewellery and an undisclosed amount of cash that was taken from the houses on the property.

“My children work hard for what they have…. everything loss…me nah tek this suh”, the man said.

Sukdeho further added that none of his family members received any injuries, but they are fearful. In their bid to escape, Sukdeho said the bandits left a bicycle behind.

Divisional Commander, Royston Andries Junor when

One of the ransacked rooms

contacted said that no report was made about the robbery.

The Commander said he would not doubt that the family did make attempts to contact the Police Station, but no report was made, and therefore no record was taken of a robbery in that vicinity.

The Commander further explained though he is willing to commence an investigation into the matter but they need to report the incident. (G9)

PNC killing the nation…

T

…not so softly he PNC has certainly been on top of this COVID-19 pandemic. On top of making the fullest political use of it, that is!! They deployed it as far back as the week before the elections, when PNC Chairman Volda “Jobs only for the PNC” Lawrence sealed off the border with Suriname.

In her incidental role of Public Health Minister, she implied knowledge of Europeans – presumably infected with the disease – who’d cross the Corentyne River to infect us just during that elections period!! That neither Suriname nor we had recorded any COVID infections is neither here nor there!!

What it certainly did, however, was prevent all those Berbicians who reside in Suriname and would return to vote in elections – as is their legal right – from crossing. That they’d usually vote for the PPP was merely coincidental!

Volda wouldn’t prevent Guyanese from voting, would she?!! At the same time, however, the US CDC had declared a warning of the pandemic spreading in the US…but Volda, of course, didn’t stop any of those flights bringing back the faithful from Brooklyn and further afield to vote!

Now, we don’t want to reprise all the sordid details of how the COVID-19 Task Force was weaponised with the formation of its Secretariat being headed by Harmon. We know, to our cost, how he arbitrarily stretched out the Recount period to give his PNC comrades time to trawl the voters list to claim dead and migrant persons voted. Nor Volda’s still collecting test results before the doctors: talk about the power of life and death!!

But this last move by the PNC to schedule meetings across the country defies even the sickest political mind you could conjure up. There have been accusations that folks in some of our interior regions don’t “believe” that COVID-19 is “real”. You could possibly excuse them on the grounds that maybe they’re not exposed to all the info on how deadly this scourge is. But the PNC? Jeez!! They drafted one of the most draconian sets of regulations to combat the disease! They could pretty much violate any of the rights guaranteed by our Constitution by just saying “COVID-19”!!

But yet they want to call out their supporters to listen to them at this period, when our death rate from COVID-19 hasn’t shown the slightest sign of receding?? What manner of men are these?? Are they actually “men” – in the generic sense – to begin with? Have they no sense of responsibility to the lives, much less the well-being of their supporters??

As your Eyewitness concluded yesterday, the PNC are callously using their supporters to provoke civil unrest and an army intervention.

Lives lost are collateral damage! …but especially sugar workers Looks like firing 7000 sugar workers and putting them and their families – amounting to over 30,000 men, women and children – on the breadline hasn’t satiated David Granger’s hostility against sugar workers. And no, it’s not just because Guyana doesn’t have “breadlines” where those 30,000 persons could get a handout or a meal; it’s because Granger’s ensuring that the remaining 10,000 workers and their 50,000 dependents are also ground into the dust.

How can you have NICIL float a $30 billion bond - costing $1.5 billion in interest annually – to “rescue” the industry just sit around doing nothing. The retort that the bond wasn’t meant to deal with current expenses like workers’ wages doesn’t hold water; it was supposed to rehabilitate the industry and get the closed factories to a point of sale.

Are the workers to be punished for the PNC’s fair-haired boy in NICIL not doing his job??

No. This strangulation of sugar workers is no happenstance or coincidence. This is enemy action designed to destroy the PPP’s base. …by destroying communal harmony Guyana’s political fissures were at last being closed, as shown by the crossover votes in 2015 for the PNC (via the AFC) and in 2020 for the PPP. And now the PNC’s….

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

NEWS

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SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

India calls for political parties to respect election results

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Caretaker President David Granger

ne of Guyana’s major bilateral partners, India, has joined calls for the protracted electoral process in the country to come to an end.

In a statement from New Delhi on Saturday, India said it has been closely following the developments of the March 2 General and Regional Elections in Guyana.

The country said: “As a time-tested friend of Guyana, India looks forward to the early conclusion of the electoral process in the interest of democracy in Guyana.”

The country also expressed hopes that the outcome of the election is respected by all parties.

In a previous statement on Guyana’s electoral situation, India’s spokesperson of India’s External Affairs Ministry, Raveesh Kumar had stated that it is important for Guyana’s electoral processes to be credible, fair and transparent.

India joins a wide range of several other countries and international organisations including the ABCE (America, Britain, Canada and the European Union) powers in calling for a swift conclusion to Guyana’s prolonged elections.

Guyana’s unprecedented electoral impasse has attracted attention from as far as Norway and France – both previously urging a swift conclusion of the electoral process.

Regional nations situated in the Caribbean and South America have also weighed in – with the latest being the South American regional bloc Progress and Integration of South America (PROSUR) – comprising of countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru – calling for the swift conclusion of the elections in Guyana.

The Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has won the elections with 233,336 votes

and this was confirmed by a National Recount exercise which was agreed to by the caretaker President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

The recount, which was conducted under the auspices of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), was initiated following the discovery of massive irregularities in the tabulation process for the country’s largest electoral district, Region Four – where votes were being heavily inflated in favour of the incumbent APNU/AFC coalition.

But the coalition is refusing to accept the recount results and instead wants a declaration made on the basis of the fraudulent figures coming out of the tainted tabulation process.

But the international community has already made it clear that the only democratic solution to this electoral impasse is for the recount results – which were derived from a transparent process – be used as the basis for a declaration.

In fact, the APNU/AFC coalition has been accused of undermining democracy in Guyana and some of its members have been slapped with visa restrictions by the USA for failing to uphold democratic principles.

At this juncture, the election is presently being delayed by a legal challenge filed by the APNU/AFC coalition supporter Misenga Jones, who is seeking to bar the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) from declaring the winner of the elections using the recount results.

Guyana’s Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George had ruled on Monday last that only the recount results can be used as the basis for the declaration. Jones is challenging that judgment in the Appeal Court.

The Appeal Court, which heard the arguments on Saturday, has set Thursday, July 30, to deliver its ruling. (G11)

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NEWS

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SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Farmer dies from snake bite in Region 9 …rushed to 2 medical centres, but no help

The abomination of Creole Culture

T

he “Black Lives Matter” movement in the US has inevitably reverberated on our shores, since it is based on the lived experience of people of African descent, who had been enslaved and defined as chattel from the 16th to the 19th century. The following is excerpted from articles I wrote in SN in 1993, and illustrates the double bind they and other Caribbean groups face from Creole Culture.

The concept of “race” was created and transmuted into racist practice that systematically and systemically relegated and maintained African descendants as “inferior” and formed the basis of Creole Culture.

Emancipation in 1834 merely transmuted the Ravi Dev physical form of control into a more subtle process of mental slavery through a process well described by Antonio Gramsci as “hegemony”, or which Marley dubbed “mental slavery”. We may define hegemony as “the moral and philosophical leadership which a group seeks to establish in a society through the active consent of the major groups in the society.” These moral and philosophical ideas control people's perceptions and, consequently, their activities. These ideas, in a nutshell, form the basis of the popular culture in the Caribbean, dubbed “Creole Culture”, which the populace further accepts as "common sense".

These ideas and values, however, were disseminated by religious groups, schools, political groups, the law and the media, and all of the other socialism mechanisms of the society. These were initially formed and controlled by Europeans, and as such, the particulars of their culture were universalised while the African institutions and culture were relegated as “uncivilised”. We can understand how this process of hegemony operates by looking historically at the colonial period, when "Creole Culture" was formed.

The British White Colonial Bureaucracy controlled the state, while the planters and other Whites controlled the economy and civil society. This “Integral State” worked to ensure the slave or free African/Coloured actively accept his condition of subservience. Thus, sparing the funds, and anxiety, which would have been necessary with more direct coercion mechanisms. The slave had to be convinced that he was a "savage", and that he was being civilised.

Dysfunctional consumption patterns and family structures etc. from the slave period helped ensure he would remain at subsistence levels. The dissemination of religious beliefs exemplifies the operation of the hegemonic socialisation institutions mentioned earlier well.

The approved religion was Christianity, and its activities were funded by a combination of state, planter and private resources. The problem was not Christianity per se, but the manner in which it was interpreted by Whites and taught to the Africans.

Firstly, the African indigenous religions in which they saw and worshipped the Divine in many of His creations, such as rivers and trees, was derided as "animism".

Secondly, even the avowed intent generally was never the salvation of 'souls" of the Africans, but the achievement of the goal of creating a pliable work force.

Thirdly, Christianity was made into "White" religion in which the Black African would always be second class; Jesus would always be blond and blue-eyed…and he was in the image of God! Now, one important aspect in the concept of hegemony is that once the main purpose of the hegemon has been achieved [the acceptance of one’s inferiority as “natural”], the latter would be willing to allow innocuous compromises, depending on the specific circumstances.

Thus, after the Christianising experience was duplicated in other aspects of culture by the schools etc, and the framework of the debilitating Creole Culture was created, "suitable" Coloured and Black ex-slaves were accepted on the lower rungs of "society".

A

South Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) woman is now dead after she was rushed to two health centres on Thursday but both were closed. The woman was bitten by a snake on her farm.

Dead is Mathilda Ignacio, a farmer of the South Rupununi village of Achiwib Region Nine.

According to reports, the woman was on her farm with her children when she was bitten by a snake. After realising the severity, her children rushed her to the village for medical attention.

Upon arriving at the first health centre, the fam-

ily found the gates were closed, and decided to take Ignacio to the second health centre which is located several hours away from her village. Sadly, when they arrived there, that medical facility was closed too.

According to the woman’s relatives, the gates to the facilities, including one at the village of Karaudanarau, were locked, which caused the woman to succumb to her injuries on Friday morning.

In an interview with Guyana Times on Saturday, Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock said the regional health authorities received reports on this issue and are presently investigating.

“The gates have to be closed in the nights because it is crew time and these villages are on lockdown.

There are two or three persons who have keys for the gates and because they didn’t get contact with them, I guess that is what caused the delay,” he said.

Allicock said that it was alleged by the persons who had access to the keys of the gates of the health centres, that in the long efforts to locate the keys, the family left.

“Because of that delay that is why the lady passed away,” he told this newspaper.

Meanwhile, last Wednesday a patient died

after being rushed to the Lenora Cottage Hospital in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), in an emergency state, and was turned away.

According to the family in a Facebook post, when they arrived at the hospital, they were told by the nurses that the doctors were not working that day. They were further instructed to take the patient to the West Demerara Regional Hospital located at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Bank Demerara (WBD), for medical treatment.

However, the patient died before reaching that medical facility.

12 NEWS

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Validity of Recount Order

Do not be used as an instrument of fraud – GECOM Chair tells COA via lawyer …court can intervene to mandate statutory officers to follow law

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ttorney for the Guyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) Chair, Kim KyteThomas solidly argued that Misenga Jones and her lawyers are essentially asking the Court of Appeal to aid and abet fraud and strongly urged the Judges to desist from becoming complicit.

Kyte-Thomas proffered her arguments on Saturday before Appellate Judges, Justices Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud along with High Court Judge, Justice Priya Sewnarine Beharry.

She was at the time making oral submissions in the case of Jones where she is seeking to overturn the ruling of acting Chief Justice Roxane George.

Justice George dismissed Jones’ application for judicial review on the grounds that the issues were res judicata, which means that they have already been ventilated and pronounced upon by a competent court and cannot be relitigated.

In total, Jones had sought 28 reliefs from the court but all, save and except for the issue of jurisdiction, were dismissed.

She had reiterated that Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield is not a lone ranger and is subjected to the direction of the Commission. Additionally, she expressly stated that the figures from the 33-day Caricom-observed National Recount should form the basis for the declaration of the results.

Jones bases her appeal on the grounds of whether Section 22 of the Elections Laws (Amendment) Act, No 15 of 2000 pursuant to which GECOM issued Order 60 of 2020 is Constitutional; whether Order 60 and by extension the recount results obtained therefrom are valid such as to permit a declaration of the March 2, 2020 election results based on the said recount results; whether the declarations of the Returning Officers for the Ten Electoral Districts made pursuant to Section 84 of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03 should be acted on or be set aside; and whether Section 18 of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act of 2000 is unconstitutional in light of Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution.

Kyte-Thomas called for the case to be dismissed forthwith since the issues have already been litigated via the Eslyn David and Ulita Moore cases. She told the court that almost all of the reliefs sought by Jones

High Court Judge, Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry

Justice Dawn Gregory

Justice Rishi Persaud

were also sought and decided upon in the case of Ulita Moore et al.

tinction after she examined a line of cases. In Holladar, the Chief Justice said that the court can find jurisdiction to ensure that a statutory officer complies with clear provisions of the statute,” she said.

She reminded that even after the CJ had made specific orders in the case of Holladar compelling RO Mingo to use the Statements

modify any of the said legislation in respect of any particular matter or occasion so far as may appear to the Commission to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty.”

Kyte-Thomas argued that any relevant subsidiary legislation in the foregoing provision would include - a subsidiary legislation made under the Elections Law

Attorney General Basil Williams

Attorney-at-Law Kim Kyte-Thomas

Instrument of fraud

The attorney stated that if examined and anaylsed carefully, one would come to the conclusion that Jones is asking the court to be a party of fraud and urged the Judges to desist from doing this. She furthered, by simply asking the court to order GECOM to use the figures from the March 13 declarations of the Returning Officer and invalidating the National Recount would be tantamount to the court being used as “an instrument of fraud.”

She explained that Order 60 of 2020 (the Recount Order) was birthed from the issues following the case of Reeaz Holladar et al – which was brought by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) after RO Clairmont Mingo refused to use the Statements of Poll to tabulate the results for District Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

Mingo had tampered with the results of his Electoral District to reflect a win for the APNU/AFC coalition. In fact, on March 13, Mingo – in the execution of his statutory functions – declared that the APNU/AFC received 136, 057 votes in District Four when in fact the party accumulated just 116,941 votes.

The 33-day long national recount of the ballots exposed this clear attempt at altering the will of the electorate when it proved that Mingo inflated the Coalition’s number by 19,116 votes and deflated the PPP/C’s by just over 3000.

“A distinction has to be made between what is an elections dispute and what is GECOM is attempting to ensure and as you (the Court of Appeal) put it in Ulita Moore decision – GECOM managing the elections. A distinction has to be made. In Holladar, the Chief Justice made that dis-

of Poll to tabulate his district results, he still acted in defiance of those orders. Kyte-Thomas noted that Mingo’s declarations were made in breach of the CJ’s orders and it caused GECOM to step in and agree to the National Recount.

She noted that contention that Order 60 along with Section 22 of the Election Laws Amendment Act are unconstitutional should be frontally examined by an elections petition as ruled by the Court of Appeal in the case of Moore.

Section 22 provides that: “If any difficulty arises in connection with the application of this Act, the Representation of the People Act or the National Registration Act or any relevant subsidiary legislation, the Commission shall, by order, make any provision, including the amendment of the said legislation, that appears to the Commission to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty: and any such order may

(Amendment Act); a subsidiary legislation made under the ROPA; and a subsidiary legislation made under the National Registration Act. Therefore, the GECOM Chair contended that the power given to the Commission under the said Section 22 to modify by order relates only to subsidiary legislation and not to any parent Act. Importantly, she cited Section 20 (1) (C) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Act, Cpt 2:01 which states: “Where subsidiary legislation is in excess of the power under which it is made, it shall nevertheless be valid to the extent to which it is not in excess of that power.”

Statutory, not constitutional officer

It was furthered, given those provisions, Order 60 (the Recount Order) is therefore lawful and the results emanating from such is also within the confines of the law. On that ground,

she explained that the CJ was correct to order CEO Keith Lowenfield to use the figures from the recount as a basis for his final report to be presented to the Commission since that does not amount to adjudicating on an elections dispute.

“The Chief Election Officer is not a constitutional officer. He is a statutory officer. He’s an election officer. He is not shielded by Section 141 and that is why the court intervened to tell him how to act. He can act lawfully. He can act in accordance with the laws of this land which right now include Order 60 and that was the court telling the Chief Election Officer to act in accordance with Order 60 of 2020 which had not been set aside by our apex court or any other court. Which, I daresay, cannot be aside in an application of this nature and this type,” KyteThomas proffered.

She added that the CEO

GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

cannot flout the law nor can he act in excess of the law.

His report must be contained and in accordance with the law which also includes Order 60.

She explained that the argument that GECOM was trespassing on Article 163 when it undertook the recount is one that is flawed and wholly misconceived, adding that GECOM is empowered to manage the election process and by ensuring that its officers (which

includes the CEO) are acting in accordance with the statutory provisions, simply cannot be viewed as acting in excess or even trespassing on Article 163. The attorney furthered that the Constitution confers those powers on GECOM and pointed the court to Article 162 (1) (b) of the Constitution – the article gives GECOM its powers.

Kyte-Thomas noted that Jones’ appeal cannot and should not be entertained by the court since it is premature – in the light that the election process is still ongoing. It was noted that any challenge to the validity of an election and any dispute or claim of any irregularities or illegalities in relation to an election can only lawfully form the basis of an election petition after the result has been declared.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Basil Williams shared an opposing view on the role of the CEO. He said that CJ George erred in law and misdirected herself when she interpreted the provisions of Article 177 (2) (b) and read into that provision words that “he cannot act on his own”. He furthered that CJ George also erred when she found that the CEO does not have a constitutional mandate and when she also held that 177 (2) (b) means that GECOM is not to act on the advice of any person or body external to the Commission.

He posited that the role of the CEO under the Constitution must be seen as separate from to the day to day administrative functions where he is under the directions and control of the Commission.

Williams submitted that the position of the GECOM Chair is merely formal and she should simply follow the advice given and act on it. He noted that the Chair has no other role other than acting on the advice of the CEO and that the failure of Justice Singh to act on Lowenfiled’s fraudulent report was an “abdication of duty.” (G2)

FEATURE

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SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

er, allowing her mother to stay at home in their he complizinc house with cations that her four siblings. come with The teenager pregnancy have was taken out of forced Parbatie school after her Mahadeo to ask her mother stopped 14-year-old daughreceiving child ter to become the support payfamily’s sole breadments from her winner. father. She was The heavily a Grade Nine pregnant Mahadeo student at that of 10th Street, Rose time.

Hall Town, Region “It is tough Six (East Berbicebut I am makCorentyne), is curing out because rently a mother to Mahadeo and four of her children in front of their home my daughter is five children aged working…dobare.

14, 7, 5, 2 and 11 mestic work she is doing.

The family has been findmonths old. She lives with She said she would go and her children in a zinc house ing it hard to make ends work because I usually clean meet because of the fact with no rooms. shrimp at the market but In the house, there is a that Mahadeo’s husband is now, we not getting work single bed – which Mahadeo employed as a sugar work- because of the coronavirus,” sleeps on with her husband er but because it is current- the 30-year-old mother statand baby – a hammock and ly out of crop, he is unem- ed, a bench. The other four chil- ployed.

This publication was told that the teenager earns $7500 weekly, which goes directly into putting food on the table for the family. By going out to work at such a young age, Mahadeo’s daughter is now forced to take up the responsibility of taking care of her family without even enjoying the things that come with teenage life.

In addition to being deprived of the carefreeness of being a teenager, Mahadeo’s daughter is at Mahadeo in her small kitchen area the risk of being exploited because of her age.

This has placed an adddren are forced to sleep on Mahadeo’s first three the floor with just a sheet ed strain on the family and children are from her first to lie on. The house also has forced Mahadeo to send marriage and the other two a small piece of sheet vinyl her teenage daughter out along with the one on the covering the mud in certain to work. The teenager now way are her current husparts, while the rest is left works as a domestic work- band’s children.

By Andrew Carmichael

T

The house which the family lives in

“Me and the father for dem three leff (separated).

During 2017 we leff because he drink and he put me out,” she said.

Because of the abuse at the hands of her first husband, the woman was rescued by her mother and then she was allowed to erect a small structure in her mother’s yard to dwell.

However, she related that her sisters forced her to leave after she met her second husband.

“My sisters come and put me out because this boy father comes and stay with me because he says I don’t have nobody to assist me,” she explained.

The young mother and her four children then sought refuge at her husband’s father and were giv-

currently in need of betterment. The baby lacks the basic necessities for healthy development and the family

The only bed in the house

en a place to stay. However, the owners of that property subsequently removed them to the current location after constructing the zinc house.

With all that has happened, four children are

is in dire need of better living conditions.

Mahadeo is hopeful that they will get out of the current situation and be able to make better provisions for their children.

14 FEATURE

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Tony DeSouza, grandmother and three of the kids

By Andrew Carmichael

M

others are a pillar of strength not only for their children but for everyone around them. They provide warmth, kindness, and love to everyone, but, most of all, they are protective -- protective of not only their children but every child around.

That is exactly what 26-yearold Lottie DeSouza has been doing for almost one decade since she became a mother. The Kildonan Village, Corentyne mother of six spends at least 18 hours working every day so that she can care for her children and provide them with the life they deserve.

DeSouza's children are aged 17, 16, 13, 13, 12 and 9 and most are in school.

One may question how is it the 19-year-old can be the mother of a 17-year-old, but the answer is that three of the children are her husband's from a previous marriage and she came into

The house which

her myself. I lived with my husband at his mother's house until my grandmother who brought me up helped me to build a small house from there; we worked together to extend it little by little,” she said.

When Sunday Times Magazine caught up with the ambitious young lady, she related that she was only 17 years old when she got married. However, she became a mother to her first child when she was 16 and one year later, she was the mother to five.

When she started living with her husband, he had his three children and it was somewhat of a difficult process for the children to accept her as their new mother.

“It was difficult at first when I met him with three children, but then I got my first child and then it became even more difficult being a mother, being a young mother, with two young babies. It was hard for all of us. Me and the children and

the De Souzas sa

their lives after their mother abandoned them.

Now she works as a security guard and vends at the Port Mourant Market to subsidise whatever income is brought in by her husband Tony DeSouza.

In addition, she has taken in her grandmother, who raised her.

“I brought my grandmother to live with me, because she brought me up and I want to take care of

y needs extend

ing

so,” she recounted.

But DeSouza’s 42-year-old husband sees things differently.

According to him, there were no challenges with his children accepting a new mother and also no challenges with his wife accepting him with three children when she had one which belonged to both of them.

is going on the road every afternoon with the children, because you never took them with him every afternoon and he explained and told me that she [their mothLottie DeS er] left sayouza ing that she wanted to leave be free,” Lottie recounted when home to get to the speaking about the events that Market at 04:00h Monday to led to her marriage to Tony.

Saturday, and return home just Tony fishes and plants a kitchin time to get to her security en garden and when it is availguard job. able he works as a labourer on “Life is very challenging, and paddy trucks while Lottie works even though it is not enough we at a school as a security guard. are still trying to manage to provide the best life for our children,” she says.

The children, she says, are being deprived of some of the things she wishes she could have provided for them.

“Everyone normally use the Internet to do their school work and I cannot provide that service for the children. I wish that they had enough space. We have three rooms, two on the upper flat and one downstairs. The back room has two beds. My grandmother sleeps in the bedroom downstairs with my eldest son,” she detailed.

She added that all the children treat each other as equals and would get along great. They care for each other and ensure that they are kind and respectful. In fact, her youngest child spends more time with her husband's eldest daughter.

“I have a very small shop that I opened in my yard and I trying Lottie and her 11-year-old daughter Lashon to sell a little bit of everything “Somebody and the children help me there told me that a lot. Each one of them fights for Lottie does not view her the company has vacancies and their own day to sell,” she told husband’s children any differently than hers. In fact, she works extra hard to make sure that they feel no different. “... It is very difficult to get them to school. The first one is writing CSEC and I still have three more going to secondary school and my second daughter wrote the National Grade Six [Assessment], so it will be four attending secondary school and the last one will be in primary school,” Lottie explained.

Also, if one looks at the 17-year-old Vanessa and her mother at their vegetable stand at the Port Mourant Market children, they would immediately know that they’re this publication with a smile of from different mothers but she re- they took me on the same day satisfaction on her face. iterates that they are her children that I went. The next morning, For now, Lottie intends to conthey called me and I turned on to and no one can say otherwise. tinue working hard to meet the “I would see him in the after- work,” she said, while adding that needs of her six children, and she noon o n the road with the three she also sells fruits and vegetais sure that one day they would children. Two in his hands and bles at the Port Mourant Market be in a position to afford all the one on his neck every day. So, one daily. things they want.

According to her, she would day I asked him why it is that he

For him, the challenges he faces were when he was a single parent.

“Before I started living with the woman who is now my wife, there was not too much that I could not manage. At that time, I used to work with the Local Authority and it was hard, because I had an eight-month-old baby and two other kids,” he noted.

“She left the children on the street and just went away when I went to work,” he added, recalling how the mother of his older children abandoned.

Meanwhile, Lottie says things went quickly after she started living with Tony.

“After I take he, I got a second one (child) so fast, but nevertheless I never give up,” she says.

FEATURE

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SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

H

azardous materials and hazardous waste can be silent killers. These can be a single chemical substance, or a combination of chemical substances which, because of their quantity; concentration; or physical, chemical or infectious characteristics, may pose a substantial hazard to human health.

If you take a look around, it doesn’t matter where: it could be in your household or workplace, you would be able to find different amounts of chemicals that, if spilled or combined, would cause various degrees of physical discomfort, or even death. It is important to have basic knowledge, and be aware of, hazardous waste and the different forms of hazardous materials and waste. Some examples of basic household hazardous materials are: · Household cleaners; · Abrasive scouring powders; · Aerosols; · Ammonia and ammonia-based cleaners; · Chlorine bleach; · Drain openers; · Furniture polish; · Glass cleaners; · Outdated pharmaceuticals; · Oven cleaners; · Shoe polish; · Silver polish; · Spot removers; · Toilet bowl cleaners; · Upholstery and carpet cleaners; · Personal care products; · Hair-waving lotions; · Medicated shampoos; · Nail polish remover; and · Rubbing alcohol; Each one of these hazardous materials exhibits its own characteristics.

Toxic substances: These are either poisonous or would result in long-term illness if inhaled, ingested, or allowed to penetrate the skin. Some examples of toxic waste are chlorine gas, Malathion, and lead and paint thinners. They usually have warning labels such as ‘Use in well-ventilated spaces.’

Flammable substances: These easily ignite. Products include paint thinners and other solvents. Substances that are flammable usually carry warning labels such as ‘Combustible; Do not smoke during use of product; Not to be used near heat or flame’.

Corrosive substances: These, such as acid in car batteries, cause disintegration of materials. Corrosive substances usually carry warning labels such as ‘Causes severe burns on contact; Can burn eyes, skin, and throat.

Reactive substances: These instantly ignite, or produce poisonous vapours when mixed with other substances; or can explode when exposed to heat, air, water or shock. Warning labels include ‘Danger; Combustible; Not to be used near heat or flame’.

Infectious waste: These are known, or are reasonably expected, to contain a pathogen. (e.g. bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi) or other agents that can cause disease in humans or animals. Infectious wastes are usually found in hospitals and health clinics. Infectious waste includes blood-soaked materials, sharps, etc. and would usually be labelled with the BIOHAZARD SIGN.

What do you think happens when you DON’T dispose of dangerous waste properly?

You should NEVER put hazardous household wastes into your rubbish bins, or even within your garbage collection system. These types of wastes are not to be disposed of in the sink, or toilet or gutters, or buried in the ground.

This is what can happen if you don’t use correct disposal methods: • If you bury your hazardous waste in the garden, the dangerous chemicals and poison can leach into the surface or groundwater. This can affect the soil, plants and water for a long time.

• If you pour your hazardous waste down the sink, the waste may corrode the pipes or block storm-water drains, and cause problems at water treatment plants.

• If you put your hazardous waste into the garbage bins, this can put the health and safety of garbage collection workers at risk. It may also pollute waterways and drinking water if sent to normal landfills.

Hazardous waste should be stored ONLY in specially designed landfills.

• If you put your hazardous waste into plastic shopping bags, these can create an ugly litter problem if not recycled or disposed of properly. If these bags get into waterways, they may become a threat to wildlife. Most supermarkets now collect plastic bags for recycling.

Illegal disposal, dumping or misuse of wastes is a serious offence, and is subject to large financial penalties.

WARNING!!

Hazardous waste is dangerous to our health and the environment.

Always ensure you read labels carefully, and follow the safety precautions before using any substance. It can save your life!

Wondering how you can manage your hazardous waste? Stay tuned next week for more information!

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@ gmail.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram

By Andrew Carmichael

T

he novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has, without a doubt, put a pause on every aspect of the world. It has caused industries to shut

down, development to come to a standstill, countries to close their borders, and massive job loss among other consequences.

COVID19’s impact is tremendous and every day we hear of the struggles of the most vulnerable. We hear from those barely managing to make ends meet and those who absolutely cannot make ends meet.

One such person battling to ensure food is on the table is 25-yearold Madhuri Devie Orilall.

Orilall is a single mother of seven and constantly worries about where the next meal is going to come from.

The young mother lost her husband just about one year ago after he took his own life. She was three months pregnant at that time and already had six children. Also, she was living with her mother-in-law, but less than two weeks after her husband’s death, tragedy would strike again.

A mere 10 days after Orilall lost her husband, her mother-in-law demanded that she and her children leave the house. It took two

days before the young mother could have found somewhere to take her children.

During the 12th day prayers for her late husband, Orilall took her children, packed her bags and moved from her mari-

tal home in Port Mourant, East Berbice-Corentyne to a squatting settlement at

Nigg – another village in the Corentyne area.

“When I went to Nigg to live with the children, it was in a small zinc house. The four sides and the roof was all zinc and it used to leak when the rain falls,” she recalled.

Back then, perhaps, one of the most difficult things for her was the fact that she was unemployed and had no source of income. She was dependent on the community to assist her and her young children, with her number one priority at that

time being food for her children.

“I was there for like three months and then I get a house at Port Mourant and I used to stay in the house and then the people say that they want the house, so I had to get a Food For The Poor house, because I didn’t want my pickney [children] go nowhere and leff me and I know if I get a Food For The Poor house, nobody can’t put me out from there,” she said.

She started the process of applying for a house from the Food For The Poor organisation.

She had met with a Welfare Officer after her husband’s death and she linked her to

the St Francis Community Developers (SFCD) which

while later, she would receive a positive response from the organisation, and her house was subsequently constructed.

The house was officially handed over just over a week ago, and Orilall and her 10-, nine-, seven-, six-, five-, and four-year-old along with her eight-month-old baby have taken residence.

However, apart from owning her own home now, life has still been unfair to the single mother and the COVID-19 pandemic is further compounding her struggles. The young mother would work as a domestic for a number of persons in the village, but owing to COVID-19 and the physical distancing guidelines they are not calling her for work.

“But you still got to try.

I have my seven children to look after. I do any housework: wash wares, clean, wash clothes and do everything. I don’t get work every day now; due to the virus, people not calling me to do work,” she said.

Meanwhile, Orilall is delighted with her new home, but she is a far way from where she wants to be.

“I am happy to have a

was involved in vetting persons seeking assistance from Food For The Poor. A

house of my own, so my children could be under a roof,” she said.

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Deo Persaud

built his life from scratch in Guyana, then did it again in America

…the former real estate investor died of complications from the coronavirus in May. bauxite mining town and found work as a stock boy at a general store. Over the years, he moved up to supervisor, then started his own shop with the help of his old boss.

After surviving an outbreak of political and race-based violence, he moved back home and started a small store in the town of Annandale, about 30 minutes from Guyana’s capital, Georgetown.

At 24, in an arranged Hindu marriage, he met Sylvia, Pictured in back row, left to right: Amar Jairam, Annette then 17. He loved her Persaud-Jairam, Prem Persaud, Janet Persaud, Gregory at first sight. She wept Persaud and Ryan Jairam. Front row: Deo Persaud, Kevin but came around.

Jairam and Sylvia Persaud (Courtesy Annette Persaud-Jairam) Together, they

By Kristen Hare for Tampa Bay Times worked 20-hour days running the store, then building another in a nearby village. It n the final hours of Deo “Mohan” never had a sign but was known to everyone Persaud’s life, as his oxygen levels as Mohan Store. They sold everything from dropped and his kidneys shut down and ice cream to tires. his heart rate slowed, he was not alone.

The couple had a daughter, then anothThe phone by his hospital bed sat off the er, then a son. In 1985, in the midst of pohook. On the line were his wife of 56 years litical persecution of IndoGuyanese, in the and their three children and grandchildren. middle of a sweltering day, armed soldiers They talked to him through the night, rearrived, sent customers away and pulled a cording part of their conservation. truck up to the back of the shop. They left Intubated and sedated, he could not rethe shelves empty. spond. But he could hear them, the doctor Soon, Mr. Persaud and his wife packed promised, so they kept talking. their suitcases, got their children and visas “All the years that we count is gone,” said and left for the United States. his wife, Sylvia Persaud, sniffing through He’d started from scratch once already. sobs. “All the years that we count together He was prepared to do it again. is gone, honey.”

Mr. Persaud was a native of Guyana who built a life in two different countries and two different industries. His American dream Mr. Persaud’s oldest daughter was to raise his children in a safe place where they’d learn to work hard. cried through the phone from her He did, and they did. home in New Jersey that last He died on the morning of May 30 after getting the coronavirus in a St. Petersburg night. In the background, manursing home a month before. He was 80.

I

For a few minutes before switching to the bedside phone, a nurse called the family via FaceTime so they could see Mr. Persaud. “I’ll never see this face again,” Sylvia said. “Look at you. You still look handsome. All I have left is a picture. All I have left is a picture, honey… I love you.”

Mr. Persaud made his family the center of his life, but he grew up mostly on his own.

His father died soon after he was born in Strasveay, Guyana, on South America’s eastern coast. His mother remarried and, at 8 or 9, pulled him from school and sent him to work to help support their growing family.

Mr. Persaud worked for a tailor and still loved to read. As a teenager, he traveled to a

chines interrupted with stuttered beep-beeps. “Daddy, I love you.

It’s Janet. I love you so much,” she said. “We have all these good memories together, and I want to continue having more good memories with you. You’re such a kind person. You’ve helped so many people in this world.”

Annette Persaud-Jairam was 12 the summer her family moved in with relatives in the Bronx. Her dad was determined to figure out the city’s subway system and she, always his shadow, wanted to go with him.

Someone told them to go to 14th Street in Manhattan to shop. They got a subway map, which they didn’t understand, instructions from family and bought their tokens.

In the middle of the city, the two congratulated themselves for moving from Guyana’s minibuses to New York’s mass transit. They bought things for the baby. They walked around a bit.

Then, they got very, very lost.

Deo Persaud was active with the Lions Club when he lived in Guyana. On his 80th birthday, his family brought his Lions Club vest to the nursing home for the party. It is covered in patches and medals from a lifetime of service. (Courtesy Prem Persaud)

Mr. Persaud kept asking for directions, ry about a 17-year-old who knew to ask dad in a Caribbean dialect not everyone under- for his first car and came home with a white stood. It took Mustang.) several subway Persaud and his rides and three sisters all graduated or four bus trips, from college. His sisbut her dad nevters started families er looked panof their own. And he icked. watched the strict paFor Persaudtriarch who never forJairam, it was a got a mistake become, great adventure. well, a teddy bear.

After that, After convincMr. Persaud deing him to move to cided the city St. Petersburg to be was not for them. with their two youngHe visited a est, Mr. Persaud family member picked his grandsons in New Jersey up each Saturday and and found the drove them to Dunkin’ pace closer to the Donuts. Once they were unhurried vilold enough to drive, lage they came they came for him and from. A week afinsisted on paying. ter moving, he Mr. Persaud also bought a car. At Deo and Sylvia Persaud, left, with their daughters loved when his son Janet and Annette, helped family, friends and first, family drives neighbors in Guyana with loans. He made sure came by to take him for stuck to the main his nieces and nephews had money for uniforms long drives. Persaud, who roads with familiar and could finish school (Courtesy Prem Persaud) worked in and later left landmarks scatthe corporate world, now tered like breadowns and runs two busicrumbs to lead them home. nesses. He sees that his dad gave him everyHe found work, too, as a stock boy, be- thing he needed. fore deciding that he did not, in fact, have And a few years ago, Mr. Persaud started to start all over again. Mr. Persaud talked to say, “I love you.” to family who introduced him to friends who eventually helped him discover real estate investment.

He bought a house and managed properties and settled into life with the comforts of his wife’s curries and rotis and the knowledge that they had very little, but they were safe.

Unlike his sisters, Prem Persaud’s memories of his dad are all American ones.

He had to get straight As. As a teenager, he had to help with the business, fixing leaky pipes and other small disasters at the rental properties. His dad didn’t play baseball. He wasn’t cuddly or affectionate. He never said, “I love you.”

He worked hard and expected the same from his children, even the one who grew “I love you, Dad,” he said. up with Saturday morning cartoons and air Soon, the family switched to the bedside conditioning. phone, and they talked to Mr. Persaud until (His mother, it’s worth noting, tells a sto- the next morning.

On FaceTime that night, Persaud-Jairam spoke to her brother. “Prem, do you want to say anything more to Dad? The very nice nurse is going to have to probably...”

FEATURE

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having habits that are healthy and safe.

TIPS on how to stay safe and healthy while living with diabetes

Dr Tariq Jagnarine

T

here are different types of diabetes, and no two people with diabetes are the same, so there is not a one-size-fits-all 'diabetes diet' for everyone with diabetes.

However, there are tips that can help the diabetic to make healthier food choices. These health tips are general, and can help persons to manage their blood glucose (sugar), blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

They can also help to manage weight loss and reduce the risk of diabetes complications, such as heart problems and strokes, and other health conditions, including certain types of cancers. * WATCHING CARBOHYDRATE INTAKE Persons with Type 1 Diabetes (insulin dependent), ‘CARBOHYDRATE COUNTING’ is important to keep the blood glucose levels steady. This is where persons estimate how many carbohydrates are in their meal and match it with how much insulin they need to take.

In Diabetes Type 2 with weight issues, finding a way to lose weight is important, as it improves diabetes management. This is because it can help to lower blood glucose and reduce the risk of other diabetes-associated complications. There are different ways of doing this, like: * Low-carb diet-less rice, flour and provisions (Cassavas, eddoes, yams) * Mediterranean Dietvegetables, fruits, herbs, nuts, beans, and whole grains Losing weight can help to lower blood glucose levels, and once consistent, this can put some persons with Type 2 Diabetes into a stable remission state.

Whether Persons are Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes, everyone needs to lose, gain, or maintain their weight in keeping with their body mass index, by making healthier food choices and

1: CHOOSE HEALTHIER CARBOHYDRATES All carbohydrates affect blood glucose levels, so it is important to know which foods contain carbohydrates.

Choose the healthier foods that contain less carbs, and be aware of portion sizes.

Here are some healthy sources of carbohydrate: * Whole grains like brown rice, buckwheat and whole oats * Fruit * Vegetables * Pulses such as chickpeas, beans and lentils * Dairy like unsweetened yoghurt and milk.

At the same time, it is also important to cut down on foods low in fibre, such as white bread, white rice and highly processed cereals.

2: EAT LESS SALT Eating lots of salt can increase the risk of high blood pressure, which in turn increases risk of heart diseases and stroke. Moreover, having diabetes increases the risk of all of these conditions.

Try to limit to a maximum of 6g (one teaspoonful) of salt a day. Many pre-packaged foods already contain salt, so remember to check food labels and choose those with less salt. Cooking from scratch will help you keep an eye on how much salt is being used. Be creative and swap out salt for different types of herbs and spices, to add that extra flavour.

3: EAT LESS RED AND PROCESSED MEATS By cutting down on carbs, there is a tendency to start having bigger portions of meat to remain full.

However, it is not a good idea to do this with red and processed meats, like ham, bacon, sausages, beef and lamb. These all have links to heart problems and cancers.

Try swapping red and processed meats for these: * Pulses such as beans and lentils * Eggs * Fish * Poultry, like chicken and turkey * Unsalted nuts Beans, peas and lentils are also very high in fibre, and do not affect blood glucose levels significantly – making them a great substitute for processed and red meats, while making the user feel full. Fish in gen-

eral is a good meal choice, but oily fish like salmon and mackerel are even better.

These are rich in something called omega-3 oil, which helps protect our heart. Try to aim to eat two portions of oily fish a week.

4: EAT MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES It is always good to aim to eat more fruits at mealtimes, and have them as snacks when hungry.

This helps as a vitamin, mineral and fibre source for our body, keeping us healthy and fit.

Most persons might be wondering if they should avoid fruits because it is sugary. The answer is no. Whole fruit is good for everyone, and with diabetes it is no different.

Fruits do contain sugar, but it’s natural sugar. This is different from the added sugar (also known as free sugars) that are in things like chocolate, biscuits and cakes.

Products like fruit juices also count as added sugar, so go for whole fruit instead.

This can be fresh, frozen, dried or tinned (in juice, not in syrup). Moreover, it is best to eat it throughout the day, instead of one bigger portion in one go.

5: CHOOSE HEALTHIER FATS We all need fat in our diet because it gives us energy. However, different types of fat affect our health in different ways.

Healthier fats are in foods like unsalted nuts, seeds, avocados, oily fish, olive oil, grapeseed, and sunflower oil. Some saturated fats can increase the amount of cholesterol in our blood, increasing the risk of heart problems. These are mainly found in animal products and prepared food like: * Red and processed meats * Ghee * Butter * Lard * Biscuits, cakes, pies, and pastries It is still better to cut down on using oils in general; so, try to grill, steam, or bake foods instead.

6: BE SMART WITH SNACKS When choosing a snack, choose yoghurts, unsalted nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables instead of crisps, chips, biscuits and chocolates, while watching portions’ intake, which helps to

keep an eye on our weight.

7: DRINK ALCOHOL SENSIBLY Alcohol is high in calories. Frequently and excessively drinking while trying to lose weight at the same time may be counterproductive. Think about cutting back. Try to keep to a max-

imum of 14 units a week.

However, spread it out to avoid binge drinking, and go several days a week without alcohol.

Persons taking insulin or other diabetes medications should be careful, since alcohol can cause episodes of low

blood sugars, hypoglycaemia, more likely to happen.

8: DON’T BOTHER WITH SO-CALLED DIABETIC FOOD To say food is a "diabetic food" is now against the law. This is because there is not any evidence that these foods offer any special ben-

efit over eating healthily.

They can also often contain just as much fat and calories as similar products, and can still affect the blood glucose level. These foods can also sometimes have a laxative effect.

9: GET YOUR MINERALS AND VITAMINS FROM FOODS There is no evidence that mineral and vitamin supplements help you manage your diabetes. Therefore, unless you have been told to take something by the healthcare team -- like folic acid for pregnancy -- avoid taking supplements. It is better to get the essential nutrients by eating a mixture of different foods. This is because some supplements can affect the medications, or make some diabetes complications worse, like kidney disease.

Diabetes prevention is as basic as eating more healthfully, becoming more physically active, and losing a few extra pounds.

It is never too late to start.

Making a few simple changes in our lifestyle now may help to avoid the serious health complications of diabetes in the future, such as nerve, kidney and heart damage. Be fit and stable by thinking of healthier choices.

18 FEATURE

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FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) ABOUT PUPPY FEEDING – CONTINUED FAQ # 7: How can we feed/hand-rear orphaned puppies?

A: Over the years, during every whelping season, vets are confronted with requests from anxious pet owners, whose mother

The portions that are underlined are of especial importance.

A high degree of success can be attained, if careful attention is focused on the basic principles involved in the artificial rearing of

freedom from disturbance.  Adequate warmth, uniformly maintained is basic to life – particularly during the first week of the puppy’s life. (Studies at Cornell

by the natural inquisitiveness of the children in the home or by other pets who will from time to time want to actively pay their respects to the new arrivals, I would suggest that the puppies be placed in special room away from the comings and goings and general hubbub that is found in any normal home.

If no room is available, then they can be placed under the bed or in some other warm, draught-free, secluded place.

THE FORMULA

dogs have deposited litters which they have abandoned soon after birth. There are several possible reasons why the dams reject their puppies: (i) She might be a first time mother and really seems not to know what to do with these puppies.

Instinct to nurse the pups just seems to be lacking.

She might even begin to eat the pups. (ii) Milk is not being produced. (Your vet can help with this physiological problem) (iii) The mother dog might have died while giving birth, or shortly thereafter. (iv) She might have a severe case of breast infection (Mastitis).

The advice given below is to pet owners who are faced with the challenge of hand-rearing part or all of a litter of newborn puppies.

motherless puppies.

These are: 1) Providing a suitable hygienic environment 2) Offering a nutritionally adequate formula 3) Instituting a satisfactory feeding programme 4) Managing a daily routine

A SUITABLE ENVIRONMENT

It is of paramount importance that we provide an environment with a proper temperature, isolation and

University in the USA indicate that a temperature maintained between 85℉ and 90°F (29°C - 32°C) is most desirable during the period from birth to the fifth day. In our climate, it is not too difficult to maintain these temperatures. In case the temperature gets colder, an electric bulb could be hung over the boxes with

In mammalian milk within a species, one expects a prototype of a nutritive substance formulated to meet the optimal requirements of the young of that species.

Bitch’s milk is considerably more concentrated than cow’s milk. It has twice the level of protein, almost double the caloric content, and more than twice the content of calcium and phosphorus of cow’s milk.

Evaporated milk reconstituted at 20 per cent solids

the puppies). The room in which the orphaned pups are kept must be draught free.  Isolation and freedom from unnecessary disturbance.  Many smart books advise that orphaned puppies should not be placed together, because they then tend to suckle or otherwise disturb each other. For this reason it is argued that each puppy should be placed in a box of his own. In this way, the owner can also evaluate the quantity and quality of each puppy’s stool. My own empirical observations, however, lead me to believe that pups placed together give each other warmth and a sense of security and comfort. They tend to flourish better when together. Also, when kept separately, they tend to cry more.  In order that the puppies not be disturbed

more closely approximates the composition of a bitch’s milk. Research experience shows evaporated milk was comparable to any other formula tested.

For those of us who do not have evaporated milk, we will have to use cow’s milk. It is possible for the owner to modify the cow’s milk to an acceptable homemade formula by adding fat and protein sources such as egg yolk (not the egg white).

Indiscriminate additions of sugars, particularly sucrose or lactose, to increase the caloric content of cows’ milk, is not recommended.

Of course, if the owner can procure any of the successful commercial formulations (e.g. Esbilac or SPF-lac etc.), that would be best.

Next week we will discuss a proposed feeding schedule and the management of a daily routine for orphaned puppies.

The likely implications on the local banking sector of personal sanctions imposed upon politically exposed persons (PEP)

T

he United States Government announced recently that it has begun imposing sanctions on Guyanese politicians who are engaging in anti-democratic behaviour stemming from the political impasse following the elections’ results of March 2, 2020.

These sanctions include revocation of visas, thus restricting travel to the United States, and can also lead eventually to the freezing of assets (if any) owned by those persons in that country.

In this regard, a senior dignitary recently posited in sections of the local media that each such individuals (depending on the various stages of sanctions applied) can be regarded as an economic “non-person”. This, in turn, would have serious implications for the local banking sector within the framework of anti-money laundering legislation, which could affect correspondent banking relations with local banks.

This is a deeply troubling development for the local banking sector, and by extension the economy. The consequences of these sanctions on a small and fragile state like Guyana ought not to be taken for granted. These politically exposed persons (PEPs) who have recently been subjected to sanctions have now automatically exposed the local banking sector to the extent where the local banks can be severed from international correspondent banks if these persons attempt to conduct transactions through the local banking system within and/or connected to the United States.

This is premised on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act 2009, wherein a PEP is defined as “any individual who is or has been entrusted with prominent public functions on behalf of a State, including a Head of State or of Government; senior politicians; senior Government, judicial or military officials; senior executives of state-owned corporations; important political party officials, including family members or close associates of the PEP, whether that person is resident in Guyana or not”.

These persons are categorised within the framework of this specific legislation as high-risk persons, and so banks and other financial institutions, in keeping with Anti-Money Laundering regulations, are legally bound to categorise these persons as high-risk.

The local banking sector would have to be extremely cautious with the accounts of high-risk PEPs, because if the local banking sector is severed from international correspondent banking, this would have the identical effect as if economic sanctions have been imposed.

Why? The reason is simple. The global trading currency and the reserve currency of Guyana is the US dollar, and a cutoff of correspondent banking relations would translate to the local currency becoming worthless, and international trade would virtually cease because the country would not be able to receive payments in US dollars; that is, payment received for exports and payment for imports, and of course foreign direct investments. In other words, Guyana would experience a crisis similar to what obtains in Venezuela, and this in turn would cripple the economy. The savings of depositors, which include those of householders and firms in the local banks, would become worthless, and hence these potential consequences need to be taken seriously.

While proponents may argue that these are not economic sanctions, Guyana is such a small and fragile state that, with a weak domestic currency, weak international reserves, and climbing sovereign debt, a complete cut-off from the international financial system would hurt the economy and every Guyanese of all walks of life.

Put differently, Guyana does not even need to be sanctioned economically before the economy collapses, because the exposure of the financial sector to the risks outlined herein would have an impact equal to that of economic sanctions, which is gruesome.

It is imperative that, henceforth, commercial banks exercise great caution in the handling of such accounts, in order to avoid the manifestation of these inherent and potential risks with which the local financial system is now fraught in light of these unfortunate developments.

About the Author: JC. Bhagwandin is a macro-finance and research analyst, lecturer and business & financial consultant. The views expressed are exclusively his own and do not necessarily represent those of this newspaper and the institutions he represents.

For comments, send to jbbankingadvice@gmail.com.

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FEATURE

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cherry Frozen Yogurt INGREDIENTS • 3 cups pitted fresh or frozen cherries • 2 Tbsp lemon juice • 3/4 cup sugar • 1/4 cup whole milk • 1 1/2 cups full fat yogurt • 2 Tbsp almond liqueur such as Amaretto Place the pitted cherries, lemon juice, and sugar in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved.

While the mixture is heating, use a potato masher to mash up the berries in the pot which will release some of their

moisture. When all of the sugar has dissolved, remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.

Mix cherry purée, milk, and yogurt together in a bowl. Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour; the longer the mixture chills the better (can chill overnight). Process the mixture in your ice cream maker for 25 minutes.

Transfer to freezer to set and serve.

20 FEATURE

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ACROSS 1 Seals a package 6 Cattle stalls 11 Pickup 16 Kickboxer Jean-Claude Van - 21 Habitat 22 Cliffside refuge 23 UFO captive?

24 Drama awards 25 Mukluk wearer 26 Pop fly 27 Historic shrine 28 Fender benders 29 Logical half (2 wds.)

31 Anagram for “steam” 33 Peat source 35 Fair-hiring abbr.

36 Next year’s alums 37 Adventure tales 38 Milady’s 39 Entice (2 wds.)

41 Aberdeen’s river 42 Garlic juicer 44 “-- and Shout” 46 Cop’s photo (2 wds.)

51 Pocket bread 52 Greek sandwich 53 Cheryl or Alan 57 Darth’s real name 58 Bounded along 59 Ceramic squares 60 Fritz’s lang.

61 Retiring 62 Party poopers 63 Crow cousin 64 Ridiculous comedy 66 Monsieur’s summer 67 Classroom fixtures 68 Greasy spoon 69 Bevels 70 Half the checkers 72 Follow orders 73 Pantyhose brand 74 Shirts or cows 75 Curly coifs 77 Hazy 78 Cratchits’ dinner 79 Night owl need (2 wds.)

82 Rudner and Moreno 83 Animal stomach 84 Qtys.

88 Walrus hunters 89 Golf strokes 90 Does pull-ups 91 Cash substitute

92 93 94 95 97 98 99 100 101 103 104 105 106 108 110 111 114 115 117 120 121 123 125 127 129 131 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 wds.)

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Attacks on the fridge Video companion Outer garments Henry VIII’s house List shortener Become edible Frightens a fly Sniffing around Catches a glimpse of Gen. -- Bradley Happy shouts Polish Dotted fabric Like daylight?

Rig the boxing match Springlike Ticket info Deejay’s medium Hi-tech scan Chef’s phrase (2 wds.)

It ends in Nov. Censor Tinsel cousin (2 wds.)

Pounce On -- -- (hot) Non-com nickname Prima -Psychic -- Cayce Wish granter Piece of paper That is (2 wds.)

Bristles with Celerity Overdue Helena rival Opossum grippers Daisy Mae’s man Hassocks Prevent errata Save for the future (2 Nightclub Do a brake job Presses Profile, for short 30-day mo.

Oxford’s river Sovereigns Amherst sch.

Trippet Handle Leaps aside Homer’s dad Worked a claim Ditto (2 wds.)

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD -- NOCTURNAL (NOCTURNAL: nok-TURN-ul: Of, relating to, or occurring in the night.)

Average mark 49 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 63 or more words in NOCTURNAL? TODAY’S WORD -- NOCTURNAL

nocturn noun octal ocular oral orca outran cannot canon cant canto canton cantor carol cart carton

clan clot clout coal coat cola colt conn contra coral corn count court cult curl curt

taco talc talon tarn taro tonal torn toucan tour trona tuna turn ulna ultra unto rant

roan rout runt acorn actor alto annul anon aunt auto loan loran lorn lout lunar

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of "s," such as "bats" or "dies," are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a "d" or an "s" may not be used. For example, if "bake" is used, "baked" or "bakes" are not allowed, but "bake" and "baking" are admissible. 4.

Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

20 30 32 34 40 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 54 55 56 58 59 62 63 64 65 67 68 69 71 73 74 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 85 86 87 89 90 93 94 95 96 98 99 100 102 105 107 108 109 110

Ruhr Valley city Dangerous gas Out in front Mishmashes It borders Fla. Conduits 66 and I-80 Mary -- Moore Little chirper Preppie’s mom Combine Frequented casinos Zoom on runners Lay low Petunia’s suitor Forks over Think alike Strongly denounce Attire oneself Forfeits Zestful Jazz genre King’s tennis rival Flat-needled trees Befuddled (2 wds.)

Quad quarters Painter of ballerinas Cat calls “Cheers” in Chihuahua Sweepstakes Rivers and Baez Suet and tallow Feel at home (2 wds.)

Holds tightly Tells all Raise spirits Ground crew order More discourteous Pandemonium Calf-length skirts Saturday morning fare Voltage jump Cocoon dwellers What three equals Objectives Cowpuncher’s shout Won -- soup Do something with Stirs up Took a vow Undeliverable mail Common ID Restless Angler’s boots -- Holiday Walked unsteadily Like cobras

111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 122

Parking attendant Slip past Gamut Steak cut (hyph.)

Harder to find Chuck Berry tune “Boating” painter Dentist’s request Really ticked License plates

124 126 128 130 132

Discreet summons Mortar troughs Herd of whales Gym iteration I knew it!

SEE SOLUTION ON PAGE 18

NEWS

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SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Death of geologist

Probe found Troy Resources “entirely responsible” …recommended charges, EPA head reveals in damning letter to Granger

Dead: Geologist Ryan Taylor

T

he results of two investigations into the death of Geologist Ryan Taylor, previously not released to the public, have found that mining company Troy Resources Guyana was culpable for Taylor’s death, and had even recommended that charges be laid against the company.

This came to light in a letter written by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) head, Dr Vincent Adams. The letter, dated June 16, and addressed to Chief Executive Officer of Troy Resources, Ken Nilsson, with copies going to a slew of other officials, including the caretak-

er President David Granger, has been seen by this publication.

In the letter, Adams refuted Nilsson’s claim that the Ministry of Social Protection and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) had found no fault against Troy Resources when they investigated Taylor’s death.

“Sir, unfortunately, both agencies tell a starkly different story,” Adams wrote. “The (Ministry of Social Protection) unambiguously concluded that (Troy Resources) is entirely responsible for his (Taylor’s) death, identified several causes - all attributable to Troy Resources -- and recommended charges against Troy Resources.”

According to Adams, charges were recommended against Troy Resources for “obstructing an officer in the execution of his official duties…refused to permit the officer to visit the site…refused to submit documents formally requested, and (2) failing to report 12 cases of occupational diseases.”

The GGMC report was not much better. According to Adams, the GGMC report

Fallen rubble

Caretaker President David Granger

“definitively ascribed fault to Troy Resources for its act of negligence and irresponsible behaviour” that caused the death of Mr. Taylor.

Besides Granger, the letter was copied to GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison; de facto Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman; de facto Minister Dawn Hastings; de facto Social Protection Minister Amna Ally, her Junior, Minister Keith Scott; and Director of the Department of the Environment, Ndibi Schwiers.

Efforts to contact Nilsson for a comment by this publication were futile.

Taylor was killed while working on the construction of a “bench” in a mining pit operated by Troy’s Karouni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) operation on October 8, 2019. It was reported that a slippage occurred, thus leading to Taylor being crushed by fallen rubble.

Immediately after the accident, mining operations at Troy Resources were closed. Both the Social Protection Ministry and GGMC carried out their investigations, with the revenue shortfall causing Troy to fire almost 400 workers.

The investigations were completed, but the reports were never made public.

This publication had reported, back in March of 2020, that since the accident, the family of Taylor were yet to receive compensation. In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times, Taylor’s mother June Taylor had related that she has been receiving the “royal run around” from the Social Protection Ministry to ensure that Troy Resources is held accountable for her son’s

EPA Director Dr Vincent Adams

Troy CEO, Ken Nilsson

death, and moreso get them to offer a financial settlement, since the now dead man had been sole breadwinner for the family.

“All what I do, I aint get no help. I am not hearing nothing, nothing, nothing; everything just left, and that was it. Nobody aint coping because he was the breadwinner of the family. He was the breadwinner for the children, he was the breadwinner for me. I am struggling to get things done. People don’t know, so it is a struggle for me to get finances to get things done.

I does work, but my salary cannot meet up to it,” the grieving mother had stated.

According to her, she met with Nilsson on November 8, 2019, who assured her that he would intervene, but since then, no contact was made with her or any member of the family. With the entire process being frustrating, the woman had explained that she visited the Social Protection Ministry’s Occupational Safety and Health Department, but was told to take a lawyer to fight the case privately.

She had then met with Trotman, who promised to organize a lawyer to handle the case, but she never heard from him again.

According to her, however, Trotman subsequently retracted his offer and advised her to go to the Legal Aid Department.

22 NEWS

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Election petition only option for APNU/AFC — claim small parties …rally for conclusion to election process

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he smaller political parties that contested the March 2, 2020 elections held a united front during Saturday’s proceedings in the appeal case Misenga Jones v the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) et al, and submitted that the issues raised are best dealt with via an election petition before a duly constituted election court.

Attorney for The Citizenship Initiative (TCI) and Change Guyana, Kashir Khan submitted that the issues raised in Jones’ appeal are at best a “thinly guised”

attempt to relitigate issues that have already been determined in a competent court. He added that the act of attempting to relitigate is tantamount to an abuse of the court’s process with the sole objective being stymieing and delaying the consequences of the court’s ruling.

It was on those grounds that Khan, on behalf of his clients Shazam Ally and Abedin Kindy Ali, sought to have the Jones appeal dismissed.

Jones is seeking to have the July 20 ruling of acting Chief Justice Roxane George overturned by the Appeal

Attorney-at-law Sanjeev Datadin

Attorney-at-law Kashir Khan

Attorney-at-law Kamal Ramkarran

Attorney-at-law Timothy Jonas

Court on the grounds that the CJ erred in law when she dismissed the application for judicial review.

The CJ had ruled that the issues raised in Jones’ ap-

plication – which, among others, sought to have the court order GECOM to utilise the declarations of the 10 Returning Officers as the basis for the declaration of

the results of the March 2 polls – were res judicata.

She had expressly stated that Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield is subservient to the Elections Commission and cannot act as he deems fit in addition to ordering that the results emanating from the National Recount be used as a basis for the declaration of the results.

Not satisfied with her defeat in the High Court, Jones approached the Appeal Court for relief. She based her appeal on the grounds of whether Section 22 of the Elections Laws (Amendment) Act, No 15 of 2000 pursuant to which GECOM issued Order 60 of 2020 is Constitutional; whether Order 60 and by extension the recount results obtained therefrom are valid such as to permit a declaration of the March 2, 2020 election results based on the said recount results; whether the declarations of the Returning Officers for the 10 Electoral Districts made pursuant to Section 84 of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03 should be acted on or be set aside; and whether Section 18 of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act of 2000 is unconstitutional in light of Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution.

On the issue of Section 22 of the Elections Law Amendment Act, attorney Khan told the court that the issue has already been frontally dealt with in the case of Ulita Moore as well as many of the others raised

by Jones. He also noted that the “impasse” that exists between the CEO and Commission is one that the court is duty-bound to make specific orders as was the case when CJ George ordered the recount results be used.

“We are in uncharted territory (with this series of litigations) and more often than not it is the resort to the basic principles that obtain from the common law which ultimately will guide the court. I believe that the Chief Justice, while she may not have said that, is essentially relying on basic common law doctrine to say that as a court of superior record we are entitled or duty-bound to say this is how this is interpreted, this is how it should be understood, this is how it should be applied,” Khan forwarded.

He explained that Order 60 of 2020 (the Recount Order), as per the ruling of the Caribbean Court of

Justice (CCJ) in the case of Irfaan Ali et al v Eslyn David et al sought to fill a gap.

“Order 60 has a presumption of legality. Before you decide to throw out Order 60 you have to see and decide whether Order 60 can be interpreted in such a way that it is not inconsistent with either the Representation of the People Act or the respective constitutional provisions. The CCJ did exactly that and it came up with a formulation which said that Order 60 must be viewed as filling the gap,” he noted.

He argued that when one ally Order 60 with the powers set out in the Constitution then it gives GECOM the authority to conduct the recount.

Election petition

Meanwhile, counsels for A New and United Guyana (ANUG) – Kamal Ramkarran, Liberty & Justice Party (LJP) – Hari Ramkarran, The New Movement (TNM) – Timothy Jonas, and United Republican Party (URP) – Sanjeev Datadin all argued that if one wants to frontally examine the issues in Jones’ application then it should be done by way of an election petition.

Kamal Ramkarran forwarded that the time has come for the Court of Appeal to set clear parameters on a principled basis for the exercise of its special jurisdiction to hear election matters outside of a petition. He furthered that the court should fashion its ruling to uphold the principles of Section 141 of the Representation of the People Act which clearly prohibits any court from inquiring into the functions of the Commission.

Additionally, he urged the court to uphold the election petition regime recreated by the Constitution and National Assembly Validity of Elections Act but leave very narrow and limited jurisdiction to the courts to scrutinise where laws may not be complied with.

Democracy on its knees

Datadin, in furtherance of his contentions on behalf of the URP, said that Guyana’s democracy is on its knees and that finality should be brought to the elections process. He reminded that outside of an elections court, no other court can enquire into the operations of GECOM and as such the court should throw out the appeal.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

NEWS

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SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TMN rejects APNU/AFC's call for dialogue …says will dialogue only with a legitimate Govt

A

nother political party has joined with its fellow parties in the opposition, to reject A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change’s (APNU/AFC) calls for dialogue, making it clear that it will only have a dialogue with a legitimate Government, not a sanctioned one.

On Saturday, The New Movement (TNM) General Secretary, Dr Josh Kanhai explained that it is not open to dialogue with the People’s National Congress (PNC)dominated APNU/AFC. He reminded that TNM has been calling in vain on APNU/AFC to respect the will of the Guyanese voters since March 5.

TMN, he added, has noted the games APNU/AFC and its political organisation has been playing since the successful passage of NoConfidence Motion (NCM) on December 21, 2018.

“Those games have now diminished into child’s play after the 2020 General and Regional Elections. We are of the firm belief that your leadership is not genuine and therefore conclude that any form of dialogue with your organisation will [be] like that of a stillbirth at this point in time.”

Prior to the General and Regional Elections, TNM had formed an agreement with two other parties, Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) and A New and United Guyana (ANUG), to join their lists.

Together, they had won 5214 votes, which by using the Hare formula for seat allocations means they are expected to get one seat. Both LJP and ANUG had rejected APNU/AFC’s overtures for “dialogue.” Kanhai also echoed their sentiments.

“We will join with our Joiner of List partners and reiterate that we will only entertain dialogue with a legitimate Government and not a sanctioned Government. We see and foresee the games you are trying to play and the straws you’re trying to

Dr Asha Kissoon

clutch at and we are proud to say that will not be one of them.”

“We urge you to respect all of the court’s decisions, in other words, we are simply asking you to accept defeat at the 2020 GRE, respect the international community, respect GECOM and we urge you to release this country from your damaging grips,” he wrote.

Currently facing pressure from the international community and civil society in Guyana to concede defeat, the caretaker APNU/ AFC had issued a statement on Wednesday in which it said that “…in the national interest, and with a view to maintaining stability and peace, [it] remains open to dialogue with other political parties and stakeholders on the way forward for our country. The APNU/AFC coalition is prepared to act responsibly to bring a resolution to the ongoing political situation.”

Both ANUG and the LJP said on Friday that they will only have a dialogue with a legally elected Government, parliamentary opposition, other political parties and stakeholders in finding a progressive path forward for Guyana with issues such as constitutional and electoral reform high on the agenda.

This, ANUG had said, can only be brought about through the declaration of the elections by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) using the votes tallied by the National Recount process, which the

Election petition...

J

onas called out Jones’ application for its similarities to that of Ulita Moore’s and Eslyn David’s which were also brought by the same legal team. He said that an impasse cannot exist at GECOM for the basic principle that GECOM is Lowenfield’s employer and that he is bounded by their instructions. The attorney insinuated that if Lowenfield fails to deliver then the logical step of replacing him must take its course.

“The Chief Justice correctly came to the conclusion that the Chief Election Officer should comply with the instructions of GECOM.

FROM PAGE 22

He is an administrative functionary,” Jonas said.

He noted that thus far the CEO has not complied with the instructions of GECOM while alluding to his latest fraudulent report presented on July 11.

Based on the recount of all the votes, the PPP/C won the March 2 polls with 233,336 votes cast in its favour. APNU/AFC secured 217,920, A New and United Guyana – 2313; Change Guyana –1953; Liberty and Justice Party – 2657; People’s Republic Party – 889; The Citizenship Initiative – 680; The New Movement – 244; and the United Republican Party – 360. (G2)

leadership of both APNU/ AFC and the main political Opposition, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) agreed to.

Already, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has indicated that the PPP/C will not be having any dialogue with APNU/AFC before the election’s declaration is made. The 33day recount exercise shows PPP/C with a landslide victory of 233,336 votes while the caretaker coalition obtained 217,920 votes – a difference of some 15,416 votes.

TNM General Secretary, Dr Josh Kanhai

LJP, which is led by former National Toshaos Council (NTC) Vice Chairman Lenox Shuman, was the third highest-grossing party with 2657 votes.

Coming in fourth was ANUG, led by former Speaker of the National Assembly and PPP/C Executive, Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran, which received 2313 votes.

The votes obtained by the other new parties that contested the March 2 elections are Change Guyana –1953; People’s Republic Party – 889; The Citizenship

APNU/AFC leader and caretaker President, David Granger Initiative – 680; TNM – 244; and the United Republican Party – 360. (G23)

24 NEWS

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

APNU/AFC Govt spent 5 years papering over cracks in economy – economist

…says elections impasse can cause economic collapse

Economist Dhanraj Singh

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s Guyana is in the midst of an economic slowdown, economist Dhanraj Singh has warned that the COVID-19 pandemic is not solely to blame, but rather the coalition Government’s mismanagement of the macroeconomy for the past five years.

Singh, who is the Executive Director of Guyana Budget Policy Institute, in a letter to the editor, cited the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government’s closure of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) sugar estates, the consistent selling off billions of dollars’ worth of foreign assets and burdensome taxes, as some poor decisions.

Prominently among ill-conceived schemes of the Granger Administration, he said, was the dismantling of

GuySuCo and the downsizing of the sugar industry. He added that this ill-advised series of actions immediately created massive unemployment and a significant loss of export earnings and foreign currency.

“As if that were not enough, the totally unimaginative Granger administration sought to ‘tax its way to prosperity” by imposing burdensome taxes on households through the elimination of critical VAT exemptions and the exponential increases in service fees,” Singh also wrote.

The economist also cited the Bank of Guyana’s first-quarter report and statistical bulletin for 2020. In the bulletin, the bank revealed that Guyana’s foreign asset holdings declined by 5.6 per cent during the period under review. In fact, Singh noted that foreign assets have declined by more than 18 per cent since 2015.

Selling off foreign assets

According to him, it means that over the last five years the APNU/AFC Government liquidated $23 billion worth of foreign asset holdings. Singh questioned why foreign assets would be sold off to such an extent if the economy is as solid as Finance Minister Winston Jordan has given the impression.

“While there are few good reasons to sell foreign assets in times of a growing economy, when you consider the sale of these assets alongside

the other policy decisions, such as those mentioned above, it is quite evident that the likely reason for doing so was to replace lost foreign currency earnings in the foreign exchange market to keep the exchange rate stable,” Singh said.

Singh also used the example of non-performing loans, that is loans for which debtors are in default and cannot pay off. According to Singh, non-performing loans increased by 10.1 per cent between 2015 and 2020. And it’s likely to get worse.

Another problem that Singh highlighted was that $12 billion has been added to the deficit in the public sector savings account. According to him, this brings the total deficit at the end of the first quarter to approximately $83 billion.

Reserves

Economists generally recommend that countries have enough money in their international reserves to cover three months of their import bills. But Singh highlighted that in Guyana’s case, international reserves at the end of the first quarter fell short of this recommended amount. In addition, the balance of payment deficit worsened.

“None of this is surprising,” Singh wrote. “Sugar exports which in 2014 earned foreign currency equivalent to over G$18 billion have gradually declined to less than G$6 billion in 2019 and well on its way to earning less in 2020.

Rice exports which have been one of the main foreign currency earners over the last five years still earn less in a year than it did in 2014.”

“In fact, from 2011 to 2014, both the quantity and value of rice exported grew uninterruptedly. The same is true of timber exports. From 2011 to 2014, the value of timber exports grew uninterruptedly and peaked at G$11 billion but has gradually declined to less than $7 billion in 2019 and is likely to continue down this path,” he added.

He noted that this all combines to impact Guyana’s foreign currency market. And notwithstanding the improved production of gold, which accounted for US$38.8 million in export earnings during the first quarter, Singh cautioned that gold is high risk and unreliable as a revenue earner.

“Despite good performance in the mining and quarrying sector, it is not a major employer and therefore cannot replace the jobs and income losses from the other sectors. The same is true for the oil sector; it is a highly machine-driven sector and would not be a major employer of labour or a source of household incomes.”

The distressed state of the economy at the end of the first quarter of 2020, he pointed out, was the result of years of policy decisions, albeit poor ones, of a legitimate

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Caretaker President David Granger

Government (for the most part), a sitting Parliament, and multiple national budgets.

It has been almost five months since General and Regional Elections were held, yet a winner has not been declared. While a recount has shown that the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) won the elections, APNU/AFC has made a concerted effort to delay the transition of Government.

During this time, the country has been in a standby mode amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Government has provided no stimulus package for the economy and little help for those who have lost their jobs.

The situation is com-

pounded by the fact that since there is no Parliament or fully functional Government, oil monies held offshore Guyana cannot be accessed. Singh, therefore, stressed that elections must be resolved as quickly as possible or all will suffer and sectors of the economy will collapse.

“If this election crisis is not brought to finality, entire sectors of the economy will collapse, unemployment will set historical records, the pace at which livelihoods are already being destroyed will increase even more acutely and unfortunately, lives will be lost, abject poverty in its worse forms will rise sharply, and decades of progress will be wiped out in almost an instant,” Singh noted. (G3)

1 dead, 2 seriously injured 8 new COVID-19 cases recorded in separate accidents …active cases stand at 160

T

he COVID-19 outbreak in Guyana’s hinterland regions continues to worsen, as, on Saturday, eight new cases have been confirmed from 131 tests conducted in 24 hours.

This now brings the total number of coronavirus cases in Guyana up to 360, the Public Health Ministry's updated COVID-19 Dashboard revealed.

Guyana Times understands that all of these eight new cases are from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

There are now 160 active cases in the country. In institutional isolation, there are four other cases in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).

Additionally, 33 persons are in institutional quarantine.

However, the COVID-19 death toll remains at 20.

Guyana’s latest COVID fatality was announced on Friday; but the victim, 56-year-old Roger Martindale of Bartica, Region Seven, died since Tuesday, and his family are refuting the Ministry’s claim because they had no prior information of this.

Meanwhile, two more persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease, bringing the total number of recovered cases up to 180.

Additionally, to date, a total of 4,188 persons have been

A

tested for the novel coronavirus, of which some 3,827 are negative.

Saturday’s COVID-19 statistics reflect a worrying trend of increasing coronavirus cases in the various hinterland regions.

The regional hotspots are Moruca and Mabaruma in Region One; Aranka, Bartica and Sulphur Rose in Region Seven; Itabac and Mahdia in Region Eight; and Lethem in Region Nine.

Brazil currently has over 2 million coronavirus cases, with deaths exceeding 80,000.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the total number of COVID-19 cases in the Region of the Americas is more than 8,292,000 while the number of deaths has exceeded 329,000.

Globally, there are in excess of 15.5 million coronavirus cases recorded, while the death toll has reached over 635,000.

(G8)

Emergency medical technicians (EMT) at the accident scene at Hadfield and Lime Streets, Georgetown preparing the injured for transport to hospital

n East Coast Demerara man is now dead after he was involved in a multiple car smash-up on the Montrose Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Saturday afternoon.

Dead is Trevor Mangal, called “Whistle”, of Crown Dam, Industry ECD. While details are still sketchy, Guyana Times understands that at about 15:20h on Saturday, motorcar PXX 2522, which Mangal was driving, was travelling in an easterly direction at a fast rate on the northern carriageway when it slammed into parked vehicles PWW 6978 and GWW 6244.

It spun multiple times before hitting the median and coming to a halt. Mangal was flung out of the car, and fell onto the roadway.

He died on the spot.

The ambulance was summoned, but after paramedics had examined Mangal’s motionless body on the ground, the Lyken Funeral Home was contacted.

Others who were injured in this accident were taken to the hospital for medical attention.

Meanwhile, two young men were hospitalised following an accident at Hadfield and Lime Streets in Georgetown on Saturday.

Injured are Akeem Sandy and Sheldon (only name given), who are nursing broken arms and other injuries. They are both patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Reports are that the men were driving a motorcycle when they observed a Police vehicle behind them and they increased their speed.

In a CCTV footage seen by this publication, the duo failed to stop at the intersection, and consequently crashed into a vehicle. As a result of

The car that was involved in the accident at Montrose, East Coast Demerara

the impact, they were both flung from the motorcycle.

Investigations into both incidents are ongoing. (G9)

NEWS

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SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

To overthrow Constitution and law is a coup d'état – Nandlall …as Hamilton Green advises Granger

Former AG Anil Nandlall

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ormer Attorney General Anil Nandlall on Saturday lashed out at former Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green for urging caretaker President David Granger to set aside Guyana’s Constitution and the rule of law and take matters into his own hands in order to remain in government.

Green, a former Prime Minister under the People’s National Congress (PNC) regime, during an interview on local radio programme ‘Straight Up Live’, said in a public message to Granger to “…do what is necessary. Put aside the Constitution [and] put aside the laws. You are, at this moment, and will be for a long time, Commanderin-Chief. Take action so that your people, our people and the people of Guyana, will honour you, no matter what it costs.”

However, in his weekly opinion piece, The Unruly Horse, Nandlall posited that

by calling upon Granger to toss aside the Constitution and the laws, and to remain in office, Green is not cognisant of the consequences of his reckless follies.

“He is urging Granger to govern by tyranny, and not through the will of the people; to commit a coup and rule by executive edict, not by law and the Constitution. Such rule will necessarily see a suspension of the Constitution, including the fundamental rights and freedoms of the citizenry, and a highjack of the rule of law. In a word, there will be anarchy in this land,” the former Attorney General contended.

He noted that there is a bunch of extremists within the fringes of the PNC – the leading party within the APNU faction of the Coalition -- who are exploiting a vulnerable Granger and are pushing him in a dangerous direction.

Nandlall, an Executive member of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), reminded that, in the past, both former PNC leaders Desmond Hoyte and Robert Corbin had successfully managed to neutralise such “wild men” within the party, some of whom were even expelled, while others were disciplined and sidelined. This group, he noted, is at again.

“A part of the strategy of this group is to stoke Mr. Granger’s fragile ego. In so doing, they build up in his head that the path which they are encouraging him to traverse will achieve for him not

Body of late Komal Chand finally returns home

The body of the late Komal Chand being offloaded from the plane (DPI photo)

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he body of the late trade unionist Komal Chand arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on a Caribbean Airlines flight from Cuba on Friday evening.

Chand died in April while receiving treatment in Havana, Cuba. He had been accompanied there by his wife.

The National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) had in May granted approval for the body of the late trade unionist to return to Guyana from Cuba, after initially having denied the family’s request for the body to be returned to Guyana.

Chand joined the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) in 1975 as the union’s organising secretary, and had later served as the organisation’s

The late Komal Chand

President up to the time of his passing.

Described as an individual who was committed to his work, Chand had dedicated his career to fighting for the protection and rights of workers in the sugar, rice and numerous other industries in Guyana.

Caretaker President David Granger

only self-greatness, but will also ‘deliver his people to the promised land’. The sanctimonious persona that he is, Granger is imbibing the KoolAid, hence his current intransigence,” Nandlall posited.

The PPP/C Executive stressed that what the caretaker Head of State needs to understand is that it is he

who is on national and international trial, not these “wild men” within the PNC, of which he is the leader.

In fact, Nandlall has brought to Granger’s attention the impact his actions would have on his legacy, which would be left for future generations.

“History may not even footnote the existence of these radical elements, let alone record their diabolical schemes.

As a historian, Mr. Granger should understand that his legacy will be the only footprint by which he will be judged by future generations…But the human being is a cruel species. (Humans) will simply forget those few public statements and will judge based upon their own sufferings,” he asserted.

Already, the United States, on July 15, imposed sanctions on a number of Government and electoral officials who were found to be un-

dermining Guyana’s democracy. The United Kingdom subsequently announced that it has already started the process of putting “consequences in place” against individuals in Guyana; while Canada is likely to follow suit.

Against this backdrop, Nandlall posited, “What I know Mr. Granger may personally endure would be the ignominy of international alienation and the punitive regime of sanctions which he will attract for his family and his people. Those very ones who are encouraging him now will avoid him like a plague then, as they will not wish what he will have to suffer upon their worst enemy.”

He went on to point out that these radical acolytes are being driven by self-interest more than by anything else, these specific individuals within the party and caretaker administration.

Nandlall contend that

Former Georgetown Mayor, Hamilton Green

President Granger is precariously poised at the juncture of two roads; one that can lead to possible personal redemption and a future for this country, and another that can lead to complete perdition.

“Whichever one he chooses, he must be assured that the world will know that he made that choice with eyes wide open,” Nandlall has asserted. (G8)

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020

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

A message to caretaker President Granger Dear Editor, It is with utmost urgency that I call on caretaker President David Granger to salvage whatever dignity he has left. Our regional and general elections were held on March 2nd of this year, and now we are coming to the end of July, almost five long months of agony and torture with back and forth court matters, and the elections’ results are yet to be officially declared.

Mr Granger, the results of the elections are no secret to you or your unconstitutional Government ministers. The figures that were declared on the night of March 2nd are those exact figures returned at the Caricom-scrutinised National Vote Recount, which saw the main Opposition party, PPP/C, gaining victory.

President Granger, you are adamant that you do not interfere in the work of GECOM, but let’s be realistic to the fact that GECOM CEO Keith Lowenfield is a human asset to your Coalition Government. The fact also remains that this election itself

was “perhaps one of the most outstanding, credible and well-run elections” ever witnessed by most of the election observers. Scrutineers from all political parties and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), along with external election observers from several countries, witnessed a process whereby all voters produced photo identification or their National Identification Card; had their identity verified by a Presiding Officer against a registry of legitimate voters; dipped their index finger in indelible ink to avoid voting duplication; folded their ballot so that the vote remained anonymous; and placed their vote securely into an official ballot box.

There is no reason to doubt the consensus opinion and veracity of the Caricom Observer Team, the OAS, the Commonwealth Observation Mission, the Carter Center, the embassies and ambassadors of the European Union and the United States, the High Commissioners of Canada and the United Kingdom, representatives from Norway, the

Elders Group, and the ABCE foreign powers.

Several independent bodies in Guyana, including the Guyana Human Rights Association, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, the Private Sector Commission, and even partners within the APNU+AFC coalition itself, have determined that the 2020 election was free and fair, and that the Recount was credible. All of these observers can’t be wrong.

President Granger, you have taken Guyana into a place where there is uncertainty about tomorrow. The nation is fed-up, and until you get up off your throne and concede defeat, our country will not move forward in the direction called the best interest of Guyanese. At present Guyana is at high risk of becoming a pariah state, with serious consequences looming overhead for subverting democracy, and also imminent danger of being expelled from the OAS, UN, CARICOM and other reputable funding organisations.

Prior the March 2nd elections, as you were on the cam-

paign trail, you spoke about honesty, decency and integrity. I say without reservations that the dishonesty and indecency that are being portrayed today have no boundaries. We continue to see on a daily basis more and more of your lies being exposed. There is no more damage that can be done.

I urge you, Caretaker President Granger, to call off your surrogates for interfering in the work of GECOM. GECOM is obligated to declare a winner without being intimidated. GECOM and its entire staff knew of the results on the night of the elections. The ballots were counted twice, and showed the main Opposition party, the PPP/C, winning with over 15,000 votes.

We have suffered too long as a nation because of dishonesty by just a handful of people who have been holding Guyana at ransom because of the lust to hang on to power. Then, on the other hand, we are battling the global COVID-19 pandemic. The time has come for this drama to be put to an end. In the words of

the Caricom Chairman and Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines “the loser of the elections should take his licks like a man”.

In closing, it is not too late to salvage whatever little dignity you have left as a president of this dear land of Guyana. Generations to come will remember you as the President of Guyana who broke all the laws of the Constitution just to remain in

power undemocratically. Do you want that to be your legacy, President Granger? It is not too late to walk away with your head held high, and return in the next five years.

Knowing when to walk away is wisdom; being able to is courage. Walking away with grace and your head held high is dignity.

Regards, Timothy A Bhagwandin

Support for Opposition’s rejection of shared governance Dear Editor, There is overwhelming support for the Opposition political parties’ rejection of the proposed shared governance proposal of the ruling coalition as a solution to the political crisis.

The nation shares the view of the Opposition: that the coalition must first concede defeat, and then stop the endless intervention of the court to make rulings that would result in victory for the coalition.

People also recognise that this proposal for shared governance comes only after the coalition has realised that there is no avenue left to make a claim for an electoral victory. The highest court has ruled against the regime – only the Recount can be used to declare the outcome, and it shows that the incumbent coalition lost. It was prepared all along to govern alone, and even claimed victory. But now against the wall, it says there should be shared governance.

In general, power sharing is proposed for pluralistic societies like Guyana, so that one race does not become dominant. It has been a longheld position that, in a plural society like ours, one racebased party should not rule a country to the exclusion of other parties that represent other races. It is a recipe for instability, and even ethnic disturbance.

In Guyana, however, the 2020 election campaign was not over shared governance.

And a case can also be made that the PPP received support from across the racial categories in order to get 51% support.

Preceding the election campaign, I appealed to the parties to embrace shared governance. I lamented that the political parties had failed to come up with a plan for shared governance that included all parties. There were no takers of the idea, except ANUG and other small parties. The PPP spoke about inclusive governance during the campaign, and now also say that after the swearing in, there would be inclusion of other parties in government formation.

In opposition, the APNU+AFC coalition spoke of inclusive and shared governance in 2015, but abandoned the idea when in Government. They hogged everything, and even alienated those who championed their cause and helped them to victory.

Since shared governance was not a campaign issue,

it would be unprincipled to bring it up now, after defeat, as an opportunity to grab a bite of the mango. A country cannot reward a party that tried rigging its way into office. It would set a bad precedent for the future of democracy and good governance. It is also a terrible principle. It means one can be intransigent and/or rig elections and then demand to be part of a government.

Shared governance over time is inevitable. It would happen, and must happen by law. It is a positive development that the PPP has committed to the language of ‘inclusion’, and that the coalition now wants a piece of the mango instead of all of it, which it claimed on March 4 with a fraudulent count.

The PNC’s supporters should get a share of the mango, but this can come through legitimate representation in the PPP under inclusive government.

For any discussion on shared governance to proceed, the PNC must first concede defeat, end the judicial abuse, allow the declaration of the election results, and allow the swearing in of Irfaan Ali as the President -- who has already been so deemed President as per the recount numbers announced

by GECOM. After that, there can be discussions on inclusive governance. Laws can be passed to amend the constitution.

There is no reason why the PPP would not want to work with the other parties in a big tent arrangement to advance the development of the nation and to construct a constitution that serves the interest of the nation. The PNC should take note that all of the opposition parties have been united on their stance that “the coalition must concede before any other discussions take place”.

The PPP also said it would consider the idea of shared governance with the coalition, provided it ends its court shenanigans. The coalition should note that response from the minor parties and the PPP! Guyanese are frustrated and want an urgent resolution to the political crisis. The country is suffering, with the economy shrinking and thousands losing their jobs since the election. The coalition should bring the election to closure. And the court must reject further appeals and filings on frivolous issues.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020

Around the world

OILNEWS OIL NEWS India’s Reliance overtakes Exxon as second most valuable energy firm

I

ndia’s oil-to-telecoms conglomerate Reliance Industries surpassed on Friday Exxon as the world’s second most valuable firm doing business in energy after Saudi Arabia’s oil giant Aramco.

Reliance Industries is the most valuable company in India and has diversified operations, including oil refining. Its market capitalisation hit US$189 billion (14.1 trillion Indian rupees) on Friday, overtaking Exxon’s market capitalisation, Indian media report.

Early on Friday, Exxon’s market capitalisation was US$185.58 billion.

Reliance Industries became the first Indian company to hit a market capitalisation of more than 14 trillion Indian rupees, equal to US$187 billion. Its shares have been rising in recent weeks after tech giants such as Google invested in Reliance’s Jio Platforms, while Amazon is reportedly considering buying a stake of 9.9 per cent in Reliance Retail.

Over the past five weeks, Reliance Industries has added US$39 billion to its market value, according to The Economic Times. In the past 14 trading sessions alone, Reliance Industries’ shares surged so much that they added US$29 billion to the company’s market cap.

The Indian conglomerate, however, is not an energy firm per se, and most of the market rally in recent weeks was thanks to its digital and retail operations, not the oil industry.

Regardless, Reliance Industries became the second most valuable company involved in the energy business in the world.

Saudi Aramco of Saudi Arabia, which has been trading on the Saudi Stock Exchange, Tadawul, since December 2019, has a market capitalisation of more than US$1.7 trillion and is not only the most valuable energy company in the world but also the most valuable company in any sector. Saudi Aramco is more valuable than the likes of Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, or Alphabet.

Earlier this month, Apple was close to overtaking Aramco when its market cap jumped to just over US$1.7 trillion, compared to Aramco’s US$1.78 trillion based on current exchange rates. Early on Friday, Apple’s market cap was US$1.58 trillion. (Excerpt from Oilprice.com)

New COVID-19 test came back negative — Brazil's Bolsonaro

B

razilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Saturday that he has tested negative for the novel coronavirus after weeks quarantined in his residence due to an infection.

In a photo posted to social media, Bolsonaro appeared with a box of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug he credited for his recovery despite a lack of scientific evidence about its effectiveness. In an accompanying text, he said his RT-PCR test for Sars-Cov 2 was negative.

He did not say when he took the test nor did he provide any further details.

Bolsonaro reported test-

ing positive three times this month, including an initial diagnosis on July 7 for COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus.

Since then he has been in partial isolation at the presidential residence, filling his

official agenda with videoconferences. He was spotted outdoors occasionally, including at a rally where he greeted supporters, removing his mask occasionally when at a distance of a few metres.

Bolsonaro’s coronavírus

infection was one of more than 2.3 million cases in Brazil, second only to the United States. The pandemic has killed more than 85,000 people in Brazil.

Bolsonaro has played down the risks of the virus he called “a little flu” and defied public health experts and fought against Governors and Mayors imposing lockdowns to fight the pandemic. The right-wing populist has warned such policies are worse than the virus itself and urged businesses to reopen quickly.

Bolsonaro has said he would start travelling around the country after recovering from his illness. (Excerpt from Reuters)

In April of this year, the Government announced the mandatory wearing of masks in public spaces as part of measures to contain transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Wearing the protective device is particularly important for per-

sons who are coughing and sneezing; those quarantined or isolated at home with or without respiratory symptoms, and people who care for or live in the same household with those individuals; persons who have had COVID-19 and have been discharged from hospital; the elderly and those with chronic illnesses.

Addressing a digital town hall hosted by the Ministry on Thursday, Minister McKenzie pointed out that the Government is prepared to take action if persons continue to flout the mask-wearing order.

“Under the Act the police can prosecute an individual for not wearing a mask, [but] I don't think we want to

go that route to be using that level of force. We want people to understand and appreciate that the measures have been put in place to safeguard their own personal interest and that of their families,” he noted.

McKenzie emphasised that while the Government has a responsibility to put the necessary measures in place to protect Jamaicans against COVID-19, citizens have a role to play in safeguarding their own health.

He said he will raise the issue of mask-wearing at an upcoming meeting of the Cabinet's subcommittee to see what additional measures can be put in place to encourage the practice. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Bolsonaro announced he has tested negative for the novel coronavirus on Twitter

People could be prosecuted for refusing to wear masks

M

inister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie said citizens who refuse to wear masks in public could soon face prosecution under the Disaster Risk Management Act.

Iconic US TV host Regis Philbin dies

Record numbers of coronavirus cases in every global region – Reuters tally

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A nurse works inside a field hospital built on a soccer stadium in Machakos, as the number of confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases continues to rise in Kenya, July 23, 2020

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lmost 40 countries have reported record single-day increases in coronavirus infections over the past week, around double the number that did so the previous week, according to a Reuters tally showing a pick-up in the pandemic in every region of the world.

The rate of cases has been increasing not only in countries like the United States, Brazil and India, which have dominated global headlines with large outbreaks, but in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Bolivia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Bulgaria, Belgium, Uzbekistan and Israel, among others.

Many countries, especially those where officials eased earlier social distancing lockdowns, are experiencing a second peak more than a

27

month after recording their first.

“We will not be going back to the ‘old normal’. The pandemic has already changed the way we live our lives,” World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this week. “We’re asking everyone to treat the decisions about where they go, what they do and who they meet with as life-and-death decisions – because they are.”

The true numbers of both cases and deaths are almost certainly underreported, particularly in countries with poorer health care systems, health experts and officials say. For this report, the Reuters data was restricted to countries that provide regular daily numbers. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Regis Philbin blows a kiss as he departs Live! with Regis and Kelly in 2011

eteran American broadcaster Regis Philbin has died at the age of 88, a family statement says.

The talk show host, actor and presenter started work in TV in the mid-50s, and became famous with the national talk show "Live! with Regis", first with Kathie Lee Gifford, then Kelly Ripa.

He announced in 2011 he was retiring from the weekday show, after he had hosted it for more than 25 years.

He also presented the US version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

A family statement to People magazine read: "For his warmth, his legendary sense of humour, and his singular ability to make every day into something worth talking about. We thank his fans and admirers for their incredible support over his 60-year career and ask for privacy as we mourn his loss."

He died on Friday of natural causes, People said.

President Donald Trump tweeted his condolences, calling Philbin "one of the greats".

Regis Philbin was hon-

oured multiple times in his career, taking home three Daytime Emmy awards, and a Lifetime Achievement.

He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2006 and received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2003.

As he announced his retirement from Live! with Regis and Kelly, he said: "There is a time that everything must come to an end for certain people on camera - especially certain old people." The New York City-born Philbin also presented the US version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and the first series of America's Got Talent.

A Guinness World Records entry says: "The most hours on US television is 16,746.50 hours by presenter Regis Philbin (USA) whose career spans 52 years as of 15 September 2011."

Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel tweeted: "Regis was a great broadcaster, a good friend and a tremendous amount of fun. He leaves behind a beautiful family and a TV legacy that will likely go unmatched." (BBC)

Rowley: Commonwealth observers can't make election

T

here won’t be any Commonwealth observers coming for Trinidad and Tobago’s General Election on August 10 – but there's the possibility of Caricom observers, Prime Minister Keith Rowley indicated on Friday night.

Rowley was replying to a query about the observers during the People’s National Movement’s “Friday Night Virtual Lime with Dr Rowley” presentation, spotlighting Rowley.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar had written to him recently asking for election observers from various forums, including the Commonwealth, Caricom and Carter Center.

Rowley immediately fired off letters to the Commonwealth and Caricom requesting delegations.

Persad-Bissessar again raised the issue on Friday, noting the election was just over two weeks away and pointing out the observers would need to get into T&T

by this weekend to undergo the mandatory quarantine and get out in time to observe the election.

But on Friday during the Facebook live event, the PM said the Commonwealth had replied saying they didn’t think they would be able to come because of the cost.

He said Government couldn’t even say it could assist in bringing in the team in the event they did a favourable report and then the PNM might be accused of paying for the team. “We’re not doing that …,” he said.

Rowley said Government also invited Caricom observers and Caricom’s Secretariat said three countries had agreed to provide a team.

However, he said the Caricom team will also have to get here by this weekend.

But he said if T&T doesn’t get them, “We’re no banana republic and overly troublesome – we conduct ourselves.

Unless someone intends to misbehave.” (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020

Archie

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Keeping busy will ward off anxiety and the possibility of getting into a senseless fight. Don’t overreact when something doesn’t go your way -- find a physical outlet to ease stress.

TAURUS Delve into something you (April 20enjoy doing. Avoid a clash May 20) with someone close to you.

Go on a learning spree that will open your mind and clear your head.

If you want something, GEMINI (MAY 28- go after it wholeheartedly. Maintaining a jovial atJune 20) titude, showing interest in what others do and making personal adjustments that boost your ego are encouraged. Focus on romance.

Look for unusual ways to CANCER improve your home environ(June 21- ment. Invest more time and July 22) money into something that will make your life easier.

Don’t let someone younger or older bring you down.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

VIRGO Listen to what someone has to say, but don’t believe (Aug. 23everything you hear. Don’t Sept. 22) let your emotions mess with your intelligence. Recognize when someone is taking advantage of you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Peanuts

Do what makes you happy. Put a smile on someone’s face. What you have to offer will make you feel good about who you are and what you achieve. Romance is present.

Tempers will mount. Take a step back and consider the effects an argument will have on a relationship. Look for a peaceful solution. A physical outlet will ease stress.

Research something that interests you. What you discover will lead you closer to a lifestyle that offers peace of mind. Learn as much as possible and map out your dreams.

SAGITTARIUS Plan a fun-filled day. A (Nov. 23physical challenge will moDec. 21) tivate you to designate more time for fitness, health and that special someone.

Romance is in the stars.

CAPRICORN Concentrate on domestic (Dec. 22matters.

Make changes that Jan. 19) bring you closer to your loved ones. Share your wisdom and learn from others.

Calvin and Hobbes

Let experience be your AQUARIUS guide when dealing with per(Jan. 20sonal matters and important Feb. 19) relationships. Recognize if something isn’t right and make changes to counter negativity and bad influences. Choose love over discord.

PISCES Deception is apparent.

(Feb. 20- Don’t believe unverified inMar. 20) formation. When in doubt, go directly to the source. Talk matters through to find solutions. Don’t let outsiders interfere in your personal life.

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020

29

Rahkeem Cornwall: Cricket's gain, nearly the NFL's loss I

n May 2019, just three months before his Test debut, Rahkeem Cornwall had piqued the interest of the San Francisco 49ers. A senior official at the NFL franchise had heard about the heavy-set 6' 6" tall Antiguan from his manager Emma Everett.

Ironically it was Cornwall's "right size and build", which many in the Caribbean believed would work against him playing cricket at the highest level, that attracted the 49ers, even if he had little to no experience of playing American football.

Everett was informed that the San Francisco outfit, runners-up at the 2020 Super Bowl, had signed up a 24-year-old greenhorn of a similar build to Cornwall that same season, purely based on his physical presence.

The 49ers ultimately never got to meet the West Indian all-rounder, or give him a trial. Cricket had intervened at the right time, fortunately.

Though, if anything, it was more a case of Cornwall finally receiving his just reward. It was when his eye-catching talent with bat and ball eventually got recognised in the form of a Test cap. It was when his size and appearance were finally rendered to being purely incidental. And in his two Tests to date, Cornwall has already shown that once he has a ball in his hands, it is difficult not to stay focused on his guile and skills as an offspinner.

While it is his cricket again that would do the talking over the next five days at Old Trafford, there's a very strong likelihood that there would be some who'll be talking solely about his appearance. Either way, the 27-year-old will horde a lot of attention in Manchester.

There will be memes, there will be gifs, and there will be a whole lot of subtle and masked body-shaming in relation to most things he does on the cricket field. But it will have no effect on Cornwall, though; for the Rockstar of Liberta like he's known in his hometown - doesn't really care much for the cult figure status that has been assigned to him ever since he broke on to the scene last year.

"It don't really matter to me! I just put it behind me and go forward. At the end of the day, I still have to go out there and perform. I can't be burdened down with what people say. If I don't perform, I will still get bashed," is how Cornwall dismisses the hype around him in a chat with Cricbuzz.

It's not like Cornwall has ever been surprised about turning heads merely by his physical presence every time he's stepped on to a cricket field anywhere. He's also honest enough to admit that he expected that attention to "get bigger when he moved to a bigger stage", like it has since his Test debut against India in 2019. The Leeward Islands all-rounder is, after all, aware that the respect and admiration that comes his way back in Liberta is a lot more "genuine". But in a way it has prepared him to deal with being scrutinised by the world's gaze.

"I always want to be a respectable person in the community. People look at me as a role model, so I just have to make sure I stay disciplined. I know how to deal with the attention, because I'm used to it," says Cornwall, who showed his promise with a 10-wicket match haul in his second Test against Afghanistan.

For those close to Cornwall, and the many among the 2500-odd in his hometown who look up to him, his physique is just a part of the package they all love and adore. For them, he's just their Jimbo, the shy, humble, cricket-mad kid who grew up to be a potential star. Not to forget his sense of humour and the ability to produce a comeback line to any joke cracked at his expense.

His early days in cricket were shaped by his uncle, Wilden "Polo" Cornwall, who played as a batsman for the Leeward Islands for over a decade. And the former opener made sure that fitness was as important a part of his nephew's training as were the necessary cricket skills.

A young Jimbo Cornwall would accompany his uncle and the senior members of the town in the local leagues, where his initial focus was purely on batting.

"He always was there for me. I see them practise, and I always had to throw extra balls at him. Now I get on to the field and the favour has returned back to me. He has to put in a lot of work with me, always coach me and make sure I do the right things. He would come and take me running in the morning, and we'd go to the beach and swim. He always pushed me to get out of my comfort zone, to make sure I am always ready whenever the call would come," he says.

Another important influence on his young life was another uncle and neighbour, Vaughn Walsh, a former fast bowler, who would always bring back t-shirts from England for Cornwall. He would also later play club cricket under Walsh, whom he refers to as "a very knowledgeable cricketer who I learnt a lot under".

Cornwall is understated when you ask him about being the "most hilarious" person in the dressing room. Cornwall's cricketing heroes were South Africans Allan Donald and Jacques Kallis.

But growing up, when he wasn't out playing cricket, he was watching it on TV. It's an obsession that hasn't left him yet. He's still known to park his car by the side of the road to spend some time watching a bunch of kids play a game of tape-ball cricket.

"Yeah, I love cricket! I will watch any kind of cricket, from under-15 to anything. I will at least watch them for 5-10 minutes, and only then move on," says Cornwall.

And when there's no cricket on, he's generally found by the water, indulging in his favourite pastime, fishing.

Another aspect of Cornwall's personality that hasn't changed much since his younger days, according to those around him, is the knack of

coming up with one-liners that crack everyone up when you least expect it. No wonder he's considered the best company to keep while waiting for a flight at an airport.

There's a story about a safari trip in Sri Lanka that some members of the West Indies A Team decided to go on during their tour there in 2016.

After insisting on sitting on the passenger seat in front, Cornwall is said to have become rather harried with the pedal-happy driver's insistence on driving on the wrong side of the road and at a fairly rapid speed.

"Is this man trying to kill us?" Cornwall's

believed to have said with a straight face and in such a matter-of-fact tone that it left the rest of the crew in splits.

It was on that tour, though, that he announced himself as a future Test player, taking 23 wickets at 19.82.

Cornwall is equally understated when you ask him about being the "most hilarious" person in the dressing room. "I don't see myself as the funniest person, but till the time I am enjoying myself, things fall into place with my cricket and my life," he says.

Cornwall has always recognised the humble beginnings of his life, and remains grounded even if money has started to come into his life. He takes it in his stride, along with the burgeoning fame.

Supporting his parents and family, and giving back to the Liberta Sports Club, remain his main priorities at the moment.

It's not always been an easy ride, however; but, to his credit, Cornwall has never shied away from any challenge that he's been asked to overcome in order to prove his credentials. It included having to deal with being put on a strict diet by Cricket West Indies last year, which at one point led to a loss of 10kg.

Back home, Cornwall also started putting in a lot of gym time, where he gained a reputation for lifting some significant weights. But he dismisses claims from his clubmates that he could even challenge for an Olympic medal someday.

"I do that more for my strength, and I'm not going to become a body builder. My strength work is for my cricket. No Olympics for me," he quips.

Despite all the external focus surrounding his weight, Cornwall has never believed his size has had any impact on his cricket, his bowling in particular. Those really close to him would tell you, though, that Cornwall is sensitive about his weight. Ask him about it, and he provides a rather prudent explanation on why he does need to keep an eye on it.

"I think once you stay fit, there is a longer life.

You can stay healthy and pass away. It gives you a better chance to live longer, and it's something that I try and do a lot, and make sure I maintain it." (cricbuzz)

Genoa 0-3 Inter Milan: Romelu Lukaku & Alexis Sanchez score as Inter go second in Serie A

J

Lukaku has now scored 23 times in Serie A this season

uve will win the league with two games to spare if they beat Sampdoria on Sunday, but have only won once in their past five games.

Lukaku opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a header from a Cristiano Biraghi cross, before Sanchez struck in the

83rd minute, and Lukaku added his second in stoppage time.

Inter went above Atalanta with the win, while Genoa remain fourth from bottom, four points above the relegation zone having played a game more than Lecce, their rivals for the final relegation place.

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020

QC Alumni boost golf in Georgetown CLASSIFIED C

olin Ming is an avid golfer who attained a single-digit handicap whilst winning several tournaments over the years, and has served in executive positions at the Lusignan Golf Club. He has been an advocate of growing the game of golf for many years.

Several years ago, together with his friend Neil Jones of the USA, a plan to introduce the game to students of their Alma Mater, Queen’s College, was set in motion; and over two dozen junior golf sets were acquired for the purpose.

However, until now, it has been difficult to put all of the pieces of the puzzle together in a manner that h e felt would work, until Ming was approached by fellow QC

alumni Aleem Hussain of the Nexgen Golf Academy with a plan to introduce the game to schools in Georgetown, and he immediately felt that it was a great opportunity to

25 sets of children’s clubs available (due to the generosity of Mr. Ming and Mr. Jones) on a daily basis, we can now introduce this incredible sport to hundreds of kids in a manner that truly tests their abilities to concentrate and perform under pressure. The goal of the Nexgen Golf Academy is to allow many players to become familiar with the sport, and by bringing the game into Georgetown, more new players can have the opportunity to try it for the first time.”

In the coming months, the Academy plans to host several training camps for children and newcomers to the game, along with several COVID-compliant activities that would allow players to compete for a variety of prizes and awards!

Mings Products and Services also plans to collaborate with several other major companies that plan to participate in a variety of initiatives at the Academy, where target practice for prizes would be encouraged.

For reservations or information about the Academy, its services and programmes, those interested are invited to visit the Academy’s Facebook page: Nexgen Golf Academy, or call 645-0944.

Pollard and company in star-studded CSL

put the golf clubs to use.

The Nexgen Golf Academy is conveniently located on Woolford Avenue, in the schools’ zone in the heart of Georgetown, and offers classes for all ages and levels of play. The golf range

is fully lighted and opens until 8pm. A safe, fun environment is provided for everyone to learn the game.

President of the Guyana Golf Association and Nexgen Golf Academy, Aleem Hussain, has said that “with

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NOW!

Kieron Pollard

he star-studded Central Super League (CSL) bowled off with strict COVID-19 guidelines at Pierre Road Recreation Ground in Charlieville, Trinidad on Friday, July 24.

World renowned cricketers such as Kieron Pollard, Darren Bravo, Sunil Narine, Lendl Simmons, Nicholas Pooran, Rayad Emrit and Evin Lewis are all expected to compete at this year’s shortened edition. The annual competition has been reduced from a T20 to a 10-over tourney, to limit the length of matches and on-field contact among players.

Additionally, due to sponsorship challenges courtesy of the global coronavirus pandemic, the grand prize has been reduced to $15,000.

However, COVID Strikers and Central All Stars got the competition under way on Friday, with four more matches set to bowl off on Saturday and Sunday from 2pm.

There also was no official opening ceremony on the opening night. According to organisers, the Pierre Road

pavilion is restricted to players and match officials only.

Spectators are allowed to view matches from the outskirts of the ground, but must maintain the required social distancing measures in accordance with Ministry of Health regulations.

Signs have been erected around the ground as a reminder to spectators of the necessary guidelines. After every over, an announcement would be broadcasted reminding viewers of these strict protocols. Sanitizers have also been provided for players and officials. The new rules implemented by the International Cricket Council regarding play during the pandemic have also been included at the 2020 CSL. Primarily, the use of saliva to shine the ball has been banned as part of its interim playing regulations to tackle the threat posed by the novel coronavirus.

Defending champions Barrackpore United will not defend their 2019 crown because of the unavailability of several key players. (TNT Newsday)

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020

Broad inspires England with bat and ball as West Indies come unstuck A

throwback performance with the bat and a more modern turn with the ball from Stuart Broad have put England in control of their destiny after the second day of the deciding third Test against West Indies.

James Anderson weighed in heavily as part of an enviable England seam attack, launched in favourable conditions at Emirates Old Trafford, that left West Indies on 137 for 6, still 33 short of avoiding the fol-

featured, nor did the rain, which was expected to wipe out all of Saturday’s play, but which didn’t make an entrance at all.

Shannon Gabriel ignited West Indies’ charge with the second new ball - which was only 3.4 overs old before bad light had stopped play the previous evening - when he had Pope out without adding to his overnight score in an eventful spell.

Gabriel twice overstepped while hitting Buttler on the pad, with replays also

middle and off.

Kemar Roach then claimed his 200th Test wicket when he had Chris Woakes out, chopping on.

Having waited the best part of 11 months and 521 deliveries before breaking his wicket drought in last week’s second Test, Roach became the ninth West Indies player to reach the milestone.

Gabriel had Buttler out for 67 to a sharp, low catch

by Jason Holder at second slip then, and Roach and Holder combined to dismiss

Blackwood is bowled all ends up

low-on when bad light stopped play. England’s position was not nearly as promising after a mini-collapse had sent them from 258 for 4 at the start of play to 280 for 8 inside the first hour.

The scene was set for Ollie Pope, resuming on 91 not out, to reach his second Test century; and Jos Buttler, who contributed an unbeaten 56, to convert a confidence-boosting knock into a statement-making big score.

But neither of the protagonists from the previous day

suggesting he’d found an inside edge both times. He then had Pope put down at slip by Rahkeem Cornwall, who had taken a blinder there the previous day, and whose slips’ fielding is highly rated. On this occasion, Cornwall got both hands to an outside edge from Pope at waist height, but shelled it to hand the batsman a life.

However, with the first ball of his next over, Gabriel got his man when Pope aimed to whip a straight ball into the leg side but it whizzed past his bat and crashed into

Jofra Archer, Holder taking another good slips’ catch.

That brought Broad to the crease, and it was the Broad of old, the one known for his batting ability and regarded as a genuine all-round talent before he was struck by a Varun Aaron bouncer on this ground in 2014. On this occasion, he raced to fifty off just 33 balls - equal third-fastest by an England batsman.

He sent a thunderous six off Roach high over midwicket, and drove Gabriel intently for four; but took a particular liking to Holder’s

bowling, picking up three fours from one over and two consecutive fours off his next.

Broad also brought u p his half-century with a blazing stroke over backward square off Holder.

It was Roston Chase who got rid of him, Broad sending a low full toss straight to Jermaine Blackwood at deep midwicket, but not before he had put on a very handy 62 from 45 balls.

It was Broad’s 13th Test half-century, but his first since 2017.

In keeping with the nostalgic theme, old heads Anderson and Broad opened the bowling for England.

Broad, 34, may object to being put in the same age category, having recently stated his intention to emulate Anderson, who turns 38 this month, and keeps taking wickets well into his late 30s.

Broad started well, enticing an edge from Kraigg Brathwaite that went to Joe Root at slip with his fourth ball, the 10th of the innings.

Anderson then watched as Ben Stokes produced a rare fumble to put down John Campbell at second slip. The outside edge reached him at a decent height, but Stokes went low, and dropped it as the under-pressure opener, on 10, survived.

It was a while before England made another breakthrough, but they did it in style, with Archer setting Campbell up with a series of full-length balls be-

fore unleashing an unplayable short one at his ribs, the ball flying off the bat handle and looping to Rory Burns at gully.

John Campbell

Campbell was gone for 32.

Anderson got his reward with an excellent delivery that straightened late to have the struggling Shai Hope caught behind just before tea, and he removed the in-form Shamarh Brooks three balls after the resumption, this time finding the inside edge to give Buttler another catch.

Broad had Chase out lbw to match Anderson’s figures of 2 for 17, and when Woakes flattened Jermaine Blackwood’s middle stump, West Indies were left needing a big partnership from captain Holder and Shane Dowrich. (ESPN Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD England 1st Innings RJ Burns c Cornwall b Chase . 57 DP Sibley lbw b Roach . . . 0 JE Root (c) run out (Chase) . 17 BA Stokes b Roach . . . . 20 OJ Pope b Gabriel . . . .

91 JC Buttler † c Holder b Gabriel 67 CR Woakes b Roach . . . . 1 DM Bess not out . . . . . 18 JC Archer c Holder b Roach . 3 SCJ Broad c Blackwood b Chase . . . . . . . . . 62 JM Anderson c Cornwall b Holder . . . . . . . . . 11 Extras (b 12, lb 4, nb 6). . . 22 TOTAL (111.5Ov, RR: 3.29) . 369 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Dom Sibley, 0.6 ov), 2-47 (Joe Root, 21.3 ov), 3-92 (Ben Stokes, 34.6 ov), 4-122 (Rory Burns, 47.4 ov), 5-262 (Ollie Pope, 89.1 ov), 6-267 (Chris Woakes, 90.6 ov), 7-272 (Jos Buttler, 91.4 ov), 8-280 (Jofra Archer, 92.4 ov), 9-356 (Stuart Broad, 107.2 ov), 10-369 (James Anderson, 111.5 ov) BOWLING O KAJ Roach 25.4 ST Gabriel 23.2 JO Holder 24.5

M 4 5 5

R 72 77 83

W 4 2 1

RRS Cornwall 27 RL Chase 11

5 3

85 36

0 2

West Indies 1st Innings KC Brathwaite c Root b Broad 1 JD Campbell c Burns b Archer 32 SD Hope c †Buttler b Anderson . . . . . . . . 17 SSJ Brooks c †Buttler b Anderson . . . . . . . . 4 RL Chase lbw b Broad . . . . 9 J Blackwood b Woakes . . . 26 JO Holder (c) not out . . . . 24 SO Dowrich † not out . . . . 10 Extras (b 4, lb 5, w 5) 14 TOTAL (47.1 Ov, RR: 2.9) . 137/6 Yet to bat: RRS Cornwall, KAJ Roach, ST Gabriel Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Kraigg Brathwaite, 1.4 ov), 2-44 (John Campbell, 16.6 ov), 3-58 (Shai Hope, 23.2 ov), 4-59 (Shamarh Brooks, 25.3 ov), 5-73 (Roston Chase, 34.2 ov), 6-110 (Jermaine Blackwood, 42.3 ov) BOWLING JM Anderson SCJ Broad JC Archer CR Woakes

O M 11 4 10 3 13.1 1 13 1

R 17 17 55 39

W 2 2 1 1

A heartwarming feeling for milestone man Roach — joins elite company

By Brandon Corlette

W

est Indies premier Test fast-bowler Kemar Roach has joined an elite group of West Indies greats after he picked up his 200th Test wicket on the second day of the final Test match against England.

He has become the first man from the West Indies to reach this milestone in 26 years. After the match, Roach, satisfied, described the milestone feeling as “heartwarming”.

“I worked very hard to get to this stage. I have been through a lot, cricketing-wise, my body and injury. Today was heartwarming to get to a significant milestone. It’s quite pleasing, and let’s see how long it can go; probably 300 on the cards,” Roach highlighted.

Roach, who has modelled his career on the basis of milestones, noted that this is evidence he is doing well, so he will continue to push himself to the limit and stay motivated.

The 32-year-old Barbadian had been involved in a car accident and had suffered shoulder and ankle injuries. He noted that this journey was touching so see where he had come from and where he has arrived in his Test career.

With the aim of pushing West Indies to the highest point at the Test level, Roach has added that the great fast bowlers have paved the way for him.

“The journey has been amazing. I have come through the system, and my biggest aim is to perform. Fast bowling is not easy, it is all about hard work, and you have to enjoy it. I have some good times here, so I just have to keep pushing and performing,” Roach said.

With West Indies currently behind the eight-ball at 137-6, Roach remains positive and has noted that personal milestones are secondary.

He says the goal for the West Indies this series is to take the Wisden Trophy back home.

Roach has been an important

Kemar Roach and his West Indies team mates celebrate a moment to savour

asset to the West Indies Test team over the years. He is fully confident that the team would bounce back on the third day.

“There is nothing to be concerned about, really. I am just sure tomorrow we come out again, confi-

dent and ready to go and take the fight to the English again,” he has said.

This right-arm speedster has also set his sights on 100 Test matches. Leading wicket-takers for the West Indies in Tests are:

Courtney Walsh (519), Sir Curtly Ambrose (405), Malcolm Marshall (376), Lance Gibbs (309), Joel Garner (259), Michael Holding (249), Sir Garry Sobers (235), Sir Andy Roberts (202), Kemar Roach (200) and Sir Wes Hall (192).

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

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

Pg 31

Broad inspires England with bat and ball as West Indies come unstuck

A heartwarming feeling for milestone man Roach

QC Alumni boost golf in — joins elite Georgetown company Page 30

See story on page 31

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