Guyana Times Sunday May 3, 2020

Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 4274 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

Sunday, May 3, 2020

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GECOM, APNU/AFC destruction of democracy: Day 62

Opposition, political parties unite in call for live streaming elections recount See story on page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

P13 No new COVID-19 tests conducted in 24 hours

COVID-19 “not a joke, but a killer” – Police …urge persons to adhere to curfew, preventative regulations

P10

…as APNU/AFC rejects transparency measures

…PPP/C slams coalition for opposing every proposal to boost public confidence …GECOM CEO, Deputy miss critical stakeholders meeting

Carter Center blocked from returning to observe recount

…as Govt yet to grant permission for flight Order for recount World Press Freedom Day Page 9

likely by Monday – GECOM PRO

Prolonged electoral process, COVID-19 impacting media in Guyana Page 12

…says GECOM ready once order gazetted Page 7

Govt lists mining as essential service

P13

… rationale behind decision a ‘mystery’ – TIGI West Ruimveldt shooting

“We will get him” – Commander reassures

P8

…as wanted man goes into hiding

4 seriously injured in BV accident P17

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SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Sunday, May 3 – 02:00h – 03:30h and 13:30h – 15:00h and Monday, May 4 – 02:30h – 04:00h and 14:30h – 16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, May 3 – 12:45h – 14:15h and Monday, April 4 – 13:50h – 15:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY There will be sunny intervals during the day.

There will be partly cloudy skies at night.

Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 13:32h reaching a maximum height of 2.44 metres.

Low Tide: 07:03h and 19:32h reaching minimum heights of 0.85 metre and 0.70 metre.

Opposition, political parties unite in call for live streaming of elections recount …as APNU/AFC rejects transparency measures

…PPP/C slams coalition for opposing every proposal to boost public confidence …GECOM CEO, Deputy miss critical stakeholders meeting

T

he Guyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) met with political parties on Saturday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), the proposed site of the recount.

There, the parties united in calling for various measures, including live streaming, to make the recount more transparent.

Conspicuously absent were Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and his Deputy, Roxanne Myers, who reportedly had a personal matter to attend to and as such were unable to be at the meeting.

The Caricom high-level team of observers as they entered the Arthur Chung Conference Centre compound on Saturday

avoid skullduggery and the process is done accurately so that in the end we get an accurate result.”

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PPP executive Anil Nandlall after the meeting with GECOM

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The meeting went ahead nevertheless and the parties were able to raise their concerns. Chief among their concerns was the issue of live streaming. GECOM Chairwoman, Retired Justice Claudette Singh had previously voted against a motion sponsored by Commissioner Sase Gunraj, for the complete live streaming of the event.

On Saturday, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) representative at the meeting, Anil Nandlall emphasised the importance of the event being livestreamed. He pointed out that GECOM is not a private enterprise but rather, one that operates in the public interest and, therefore, more transparency should not be an issue.

However, the calls for increased transparency were rejected by A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), whose representatives at the meeting included David Patterson, Joseph Harmon and Amna Ally.

“Every single person in the room advanced the case for live streaming, explaining how it will enhance transparency, fairness and boost public confidence in the system. Not surprisingly, the only party that opposed live streaming was APNU/AFC,” Nandlall said.

“All we want is that the process must be conducted fairly, transparently; should be properly overseen by as many people as possible to

Meanwhile, Nandlall noted that concerns were also raised over the handling of security at the venue. According to him, the Guyana Police Force ought not to be solely entrusted with security at the venue, but rather, another agency should assist the police.

He pointed out that the Guyana Police Force has previously acted unprofessionally, such as when they sought to put out Gunraj, a GECOM Commissioner, from the Region Four Returning Office at the Ashmins building during the original count.

When it comes to Lowenfield being given the

power, according to the work

plan, to resolve disputes, Nandlall was less than happy. He lambasted the CEO for his absence and noted that his party lacks confidence in this provision.

“We questioned one part of the work plan, residing in the CEO the power to resolve disputes. We are not satisfied with that. The CEO and Myers refused to come to this meeting! This is the singularly most important meeting in the country for GECOM and the Chief and Deputy Chief Elections Officers did not see it fit to attend this meeting.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020

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

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

PNC sabotaging democratic politics

T

he PNC is once again paralysing the development of democratic politics in Guyana. When Guyana was about to receive independence from Britain, the latter introduced a Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system for citizens to exercise their franchise and elect a government of their choice. While they had their own reasons for jettisoning the First Past the Post (FPTP) system that was standard in their country and their colonies, PR did have the virtue of increasing the representation of minorities in Parliament.

This presented the PNC, in the first elections under PR in 1964, with the opportunity to enter into a coalition with the minority United Force, which was ideologically capitalist and aggregating a wide cross section of the ethnic spectrum as opposed to its predominantly African and Mixed Guyanese base. While the British accomplished its aim to exclude the PPP – which it concluded was pro-Moscow – the expectation was the PNC would be forced to moderate its ethnic and leftist orientation to retain the support of the UF to remain in Government.

The PNC’s fateful decision to rig the elections of 1968 resulted in the UF leaving the coalition but the decision was moot, since the PNC awarded itself a majority allowing it to rule exclusively. Democratic politics – in right of the people to chose their representatives in Parliament and Government was stillborn. Fast forward to 1992, when a confluence of international factors and a moderation of the PPP’s leftist line ushered in “free and fair elections”, the complaint from some quarters was that the PPP’s built-in majority from its Indian-Guyanese base did not offer any incentive for them to be inclusive in their governance.

The PPP insisted that it its policies were facially neutral and that their programmes helped to reduce the poverty levels among African Guyanese by a greater quantum than Indian Guyanese – as shown by Household Income and Expenditure Surveys (HIES) in 1992, 1999 and 2006. It was Indigenous Peoples who still lagged significantly in the rising tide created by the PPP’s economic policies. The PPP was able to raise Guyana’s standing from a low income, Highly Indebted Poor Country, into an Upper Medium Level Income country.

A higher rate of emigration by Indian Guyanese coupled with a lowered birth rate, however, served to move them from being a 51% majority in 1980 to a 39.5% minority in the 2012 census. Those numbers were exacerbated in the 2011 elections when the AFC managed to attract a significant percentage of voters from the Indian Guyanese demographic so that the PPP was only able to secure the Executive through the peculiar feature of the Guyana constitution that simply requires a plurality to accomplish this feat.

The PNC-as-APNU seized the opportunity presented and, in a repetition of the 1964 elections, coalesced with the AFC to secure the necessary majority to oust the PPP from office.

At long last, Guyana was now practicing democratic politics without the distortion of built-in ethnic majorities, which cause excluded groups to develop resentment against the political system and seek extra-parliamentary options.

The PNC/APNU/AFC coalition, however, launched disastrous policies in all areas of national life – especially economically and socially. While it launched a “social cohesion” program with an attendant ministry, its policies alienated groups outside its base because of the adverse impact of those policies on them. Particularly insensitive were its appointments in all areas of governance and the arbitrary closure of four sugar factories that threw 700 mostly Indian Guyanese workers into the breadlines.

These adverse factors of a stagnating economy combined with the alienation of a significant demographic, served to deliver a stinging defeat to the coalition at the Local Government Elections (LGE) which appears to have been repeated in the March 2 General Elections. The PNC’s resort to the ongoing “bare-faced” rigging attempt presents a clear danger to the development of a democratic political culture in our country.

It is clear that, as in 1992, only the intervention of the US can halt that retrogressive step.

Heads, PPP loses; tails, PNC wins...

Dear Editor, Recounting all the ballots using the SoPs for Region Four is all that’s needed to complete the tabulation for Guyana’s March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections in a manner that meets the requirements of the Representation of the People Act and rulings made by the Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George. Nonadherence to using the SoPs is illegal, suppressive and deplorable. What are the odds for the true winner of the March 2, 2020 Elections being declared using the recount manoeuvre? Virtually zero!

The persons who brought the adding and tabulation to a standstill are still in charge, persons such as the Chairperson and her three cohorts, plus the Chief Elections Officer, Deputy Chief Elections Officer, and a select group of support staff from GECOM that will execute any illegality asked of them.

It really is a breaking point of sanity to expect the same GECOM that committed major acts of fraud in March of 2020, during the Region Four tabulation - to not continue to drag out the process and make the vote recount into a complete fiasco by using a multilayered and circuitous recount path. While not using the SoPs for tabulation that are in their possession, which law and reason dictate be used. Everyone is aware that adding and tabulating the SoPs is in keeping with the Representation of the People Act, and will speedily halt the merry-go-round, now being called a recount.

In my opinion, the international community has abandoned us to the criminalised GECOM, to the point where the winning party, namely the PPP, has to yet again to depend on GECOM, an institution that has proven, even to our court system, their willingness to rig and rob.

The new scam being set up by GECOM is so unnecessary, so disrespectful, so convoluted and problem-prone that it provides the perfect means to engineer plots for a new election.

With PPP being the undeclared winner of the March 2, 2020 elections, and the party, having no influence over the “tainted four” that rule over GECOM, new elections will be welcome by the current illegitimate and

uncaring Government.

It is unpredictable for how long the international community will allow this rape of the democratic process to continue, suffice to say it has been going on in Guyana for far too long. Our local private media has tried with little success to question the wily Vincent Alexander after multiple GECOM meetings.

Alexander has responded by stating absurd platitudes with a straight face, saying GECOM has treated the legally required SoPs as old news or matters that have already been settled. His job is to defend the bizarre and irrational decisions taken by the tainted and partisan four - being the Chairperson and her crew of coalition Commissioners. The rational options are tossed aside

by Alexander as outdated issues that were nullified by his Commission as he toys with the media; the Chairperson and her three musketeers reign supreme.

To have a shred of confidence in Justice Claudette Singh is to believe she was unaware of the rigging

by Mingo. Mr Raymond Gaskin, our local commentator, was right all along. I was somewhat stunned when he stretched on tiptoe and at the top of his voice, said with absolute certainty at the Red House on September 21, 2019, that the elections will be rigged and rigged, repeatedly. My thinking then was that the mechanisms put in place by the Carter Center for the 1992 elections, such as counting at Polling Stations, posting the tabulated Statements of Poll at the respective Polling Stations, providing each political party represented at the polling place with a copy of the Statement of Poll and a copy to the Chief Elections Officer, among other measures, would prevent rigging. Rigging, in my mind, assumed covert and undercover operations. Mingo, with the full support of senior officers in the GECOM Secretariat and the tainted four, made up of the Chairperson and the three coalition Commissioners, displayed how rigging can be done overtly and in broad daylight. My apologies to Raymond Gaskin!

Mingo was the main character in the diabolical plot to rig the tabulation of votes in Region Four, the trilogy from spreadsheet to bedsheet, which started on

March 4, 2020, had Mingo displaying how in Guyana you can stop the tabulation of votes by acting sick.

March 5, 2020, was day two of the trilogy. The now resurrected and revived Mingo, reappeared with great vigour to make declarations from the balcony and elsewhere. Mingo seemed to have gained super energy by the presence of at least ten of the imposter Ministers from the APNU/AFC coalition. Special front-row seats were set aside for the former discredited Ministers by GECOM, the presence of the shunned Ministers certainly seemed to electrify the performance of Mingo. Thus, his ascent to the balcony, to the great delight of the coalition clique. Not far off, another disappearing act was being carried out by none other than the Chairperson of GECOM, however, her ability to vanish was outdone by Mingo’s ability to conjure numbers, defy logic and his general theatrics.

Mingo completed his trilogy from “spreadsheet to bedsheet” on March 13, 2020; bringing to the fore, his speed-reading acolytes, showing his obedience to the mouth stomping representative from PNC, use of social distancing to avoid the opposition parties from getting a peek at the Statements of Poll, changing his own pronouncements with frequency, his use of reversible logic, where whatever he said a minute ago could be discarded for whatever the mouth stomper demanded and his own inverse logic.

The Mingo show on March 13, 2020, was so disgusting that he quickly lost the audience of the US Ambassador, UK High Commissioner, EU Ambassador and Canadian High Commissioner, who were the first to fast walk out of Mingo’s theatre tent.

They left within a half-hour of Mingo’s obstreperous and lawless performance.

Mr Kit Nascimento representing the Private Sector Commission must have regretted not leaving earlier, as he was insulted by the mouth stomper from PNC, in the presence of numerous members of the Guyana Police Force and the other political parties and observers.

Except for one brief appearance to say she was waiting on the final orders from the Chief Justice, the Chairperson maintained her signature accomplishment

of vanishing when most needed. The purpose of the play only allowed one star performer at a time; it was Mingo’s time.

The refusal and failure of Justice Claudette Singh to publish GECOM’s SoPs, when there is a compelling legal basis to do so, which represents a measure used whenever there is controversy surrounding the tabulation of votes, means that we will be undertaking the recount without the SoPs sent to the Chief Elections Officer, Mr Keith Lowenfield. Mr Lowenfield has shown his willingness to accept whatever garbage he receives from Mingo and no initiative to perform his duties with a semblance of integrity.

The recount fandango, foisted upon the hapless Opposition is bullyism and psychological tyranny, as it leaves ample room to further abuse the victims of the election rigging, with more rigging opportunities, as containers are opened with ballots and ballot boxes exposed for an extended period of time. Why are we participating in this charade?

Because if we do not participate, the illegitimate will be made legitimate; the dictatorship will be able to claim they won the elections, even while bypassing the SoPs. The recount alley that Justice Singh is embarking upon and engulfing Guyanese in is not necessary, not rational and not credible; it is irresponsible and amounts to a denial of human rights for most Guyanese.

On April 2, 2020 - US Ambassador, Ms Sarah-Ann Lynch impressively spoke of her silence, breaking an oath she took, now it is clear to me that inaction by the US Secretary of State, Mr Mike Pompeo has facilitated this scrabbling and senseless recount mayhem that amounts to a destruction of Guyana’s democratic system.

Still, we can take some comfort from the words of America’s greatest freedom proponent, Thomas Paine: “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value.”

Sincerely, Nigel Hinds

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020

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

Devastating catastrophe looming It is not too late Dear Editor, Please permit me to share my predictions and recommendations for the upcoming recount and final declaration of Guyana Elections 2020. Every decision regarding this process has thus far been controversial.

GECOM has also been reactive rather than proactive towards a timely resolution for free, fair and credible elections. This makes it absolutely necessary for the recount process to be as expeditious and transparent as possible. This allows every stakeholder to accept the result or final declaration of GECOM. The key stakeholders are the people of Guyana who cast their votes on March 2, 2020. This brings the need for live streaming of said process. I predict that if the process is not transparent, nor televised then we will have civil unrest which will be further devastating to Guyana, amid the COVID-19 pandemic with rising cases and deaths.

Seeing is believing!

The recommendations are as follows: 1. Have 10 different news outlets stream one recounting station each. This eliminates any of the concerns by Vincent Alexander and by extension the PNC whereby they claimed that TVG is biased. NB TVG offered to live stream the process.

2. All current Statements of Poll (SoP) received by Chief Elections Officer from all 10 regions from the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections be published on the GECOM website, most importantly the SoPs from Region Four.

These are public documents, not the property of GECOM. 3. Ballot boxes removed from and returned to the containers must be accompanied by representatives from all competing parties and the Guyana Police Force. To avoid confusion and mix up of the boxes, a second set of empty storage containers must be obtained to store the ballot boxes that were recounted and resealed.

4. The Chair of GECOM

supervise the entire process and do what is right by the younger generations of Guyana and not by what political motive/influence she is leaning towards. Her office requires bipartisanism, nothing else will suffice.

It is also noteworthy to point out that Guyanese have not had a legal Government over a year now. This has had an enormous economic strain on Guyana that is unsustainable. On the point of economics, there are no statistics or key performance indicators showing poverty or unemployment rates and many other aspects of our country’s performance. We do know that some funds in the national treasury are depleted while we have funds that cannot be accessed unless there is a legitimate Government in place.

As evident in the past several months, we see all the gimmicks and antics of the PNC that point to them creating a much more sinister situation through threats of civil unrest to allow for Mr Granger to be sworn in under a state of emergency.

Seeing is believing!

Most of the decision-makers, including Madam Chair, are over 50 years old and have lived most of their lives. Their decisions have all been covered with contempt for the other party or race. We have a large younger generation that does not care about race unless you feed them the same hate you have been fed.

As a concerned law-abiding, tax-paying citizen of beautiful Guyana, I am confident that once the recount is free, fair, transparent and credible, Guyanese will accept the final declaration results.

I humbly and finally recommend to all persons involved to find it in your hearts to allow this process to conclude without hindrance or interference by any malicious person that wants to rip the very nimble thread of hope that every Guyanese has been holding onto since March 2, 2020.

Thank you.

Sincerely, Christopher Singh

Dear Editor, It is very selfless of the Caricom representatives to come to Guyana to help us out of our self-inflicted moral decay. We pray that no harm comes to them during the prolonged recount period and from the dangerous COVID-19. But would they bring an end to the election-rigging when dozens of international observers couldn’t do so in March?

The clumsy decision to recount several regions simultaneously, with a restricted number of personnel, leaves room for organised chaos to facilitate the successful rigging of the election results by those who have been relentless to do so.

During a TV interview last Wednesday, Mr Vincent Alexander, APNU GECOM Commissioner, agreed that the March 2 election was properly conducted until the debacle at the Region Four count. This being so, and agreed by almost all who oversaw the election, why is GECOM reluctant to deal just with Mr Alexander’s

debacle?

Would this not expedite the verification of the election outcome, the outcome which is already in the public domain via the widely distributed Statements of Poll? And among other benefits, would this approach not show our Caricom friends that we do care for their health and welfare?

Nuff has been said by nuff people involved in the ballot count nuff nuff times: that they all want to ensure that the election result is the one that was voted for. So why is this not happening in the most efficient and transparent way?

It is not too late, it is humane and it will confirm the voters’ choice.

The simple reflection by US Ambassador Sarah AnnLynch, “where there’s a will, there’s a way and I think it can be done”, is not too much to ask of those responsible to pay heed to, and get the job done with the least inconvenience and risk.

Yours sincerely, Faiyaz Alli

Need to now bring home stranded Guyanese passengers Dear Editor, Passengers who were unable to return to their respective countries when the curfew/lockdown had commenced are being assisted by their respective Governments to return to their destinations.

The American, British, Canadian and now the

Trinidad Governments have been assisting their nationals to return home via chartered flights.

It is now 46 days since the lockdown became effective (on March 18) as it relates to Guyana. My understanding is that there are Guyanese who are stranded in Trinidad, Barbados,

Antigua and St Lucia. It is certainly not an easy task for our Guyanese nationals to be going through this prolonged ordeal. There is the likelihood that they are heavily stressed out, some may have lost their employment, and they are in financial (deficit) problems due to this extended stay overseas.

Trinidad recently brought home 70 of their nationals from Suriname.

Guyana authorities should now be addressing this issue. Hence, Editor, those in authority such as His Excellency, President Granger, the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the COVID-19 Task Force,

the Director of Civil Aviation Authority, etc should now have in place, arrangements to bring our Guyanese nationals home at the earliest opportunity. Financial and other arrangements such as being quarantined for a period of 14 days, among others, will need to be decided on.

That being said, it is expected that positive actions are required to be taken early. We must continue to display that we are a caring nation and follow what Trinidad did for its 70 nationals.

Sincerely, Concerned citizen

Let’s have a transparent recount once and for all!

Dear Editor, There is a sense of militant optimism as the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), finally heads towards the inevitable commencement of the recount of the votes cast on the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. While the exact commencement date is still unknown more than eight weeks following the elections, the conjured-up work plan for the process outlines the need for magnification of every aspect of the surreptitious undemocratic schemes.

Our citizens and the international community have become weary of the sustained attempts to design and craft stealthy conjuring mechanisms that may still advance the exposed dirty cheating at the hands of the PNC/APNU/AFC and GECOM corrupted agents.

So glaring is the obvious stealing roles and activities by high-ranking GECOM administrators that insulted Guyanese and affected parties can no longer trust the organisation given their faulty sleight of hands approach and decayed level of

transparency.

Following these recounts, the Guyanese people will be indeed eternally grateful for the support and firm stand taken by our international partners in support of the will of our people.

Particularly, the diplomatic envoys of the United States of America; the European Union; the United Kingdom; Canada; the Commonwealth and our Caricom partners have jointly stood tall in insisting fairness and upholding democratic principles.

Equally appreciated is the applaudable manner in which many international and local NGOs together with the local Private Sector, religious and observer groups have risen to the occasion of rejecting the looming dictatorship elephant in the room. The recent call by the Private Sector organisations for the live streaming of the process lends substantively to the reasonable request of making the process credible and transparent.

Whether pushed or through a rational review process, it is welcoming to observe that GECOM Chairwoman, Retired

Justice Claudette Singh has indicated a willingness to review previous shameless subterfuge regarding now necessary live streaming of the process. This is given the lost confidence and stained credentials caused by its leading tarnished and cheating staff members, as well as the widespread local and international condemnation facing GECOM and the PNC conspirators.

Although GECOM can determine its procedures, delivering credible results in the shortest possible time is the sole responsibility of the organisation, which has failed miserably in this respect. The Chairwoman should also swiftly re-look some of the many areas of review that will lead to a simplification of the process and easily achieve a fair outcome, without the complications advocated by Vincent Alexander’s cabal. Among these is the need to use all teams to count one region at a time in chronological sequence and produce the results for that region.

The time stymieing extravagance of disappointing accommodat-

ed Chairwoman, Retired Justice Claudette Singh has resulted in delays and overwhelming illegal extension of Mr Granger. However, all should recognise by now that no effort will be spared in ensuring the integrity of the ballot boxes by the PPP/C representatives at the recount time.

GECOM failed to establish acceptable transparent procedures. Every detail of the process must be treated meticulously to ensure that the process followed is not compromised by the new anticipated trickery.

The gravity of the situation facing our dear country has been made clearer with the emerged increasing number of cases of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There is a dire need for a legitimate and substantive Government in place to address synergistic strategies while addressing stabilising and developmental policies to the economy. There is a need for greater urgency and the commencement of the recount must be swift and immediate.

The GECOM Chairwoman ought to be

aware of her obligations in this respect and she has an opportunity of redeeming her flaying reputation by ensuring the roots of these non-transparent illegalities are severed. For too long this nation has been held at ‘ransom’ by the PNC/ APNU/AFC in concert with GECOM agents.

It is observed that political parties have been invited to a meeting on with GECOM on Saturday, May

2, 2020, and one would hope, therefore, that this meeting would be fruitful towards a recount which will conclude this election once and for all in a fair and transparent manner The Guyanese people thank and once again welcome the Caricom team and international observers to our shores.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

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SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020

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Foundation

Guyana Times is pleased to publish the Education Ministry’s National Grade Six Assessment Past Papers.

Below is the conclusion of English Paper 1, 2008 and Mathematics Paper 2, 2008.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE SIX ASSESSMENT

ENGLISH LANGUAGE & MATHEMATICS

TIME: 1 hour 10 minutes 1. WRITE YOUR CANDIDATE NUMBER ON THE ANSWER SHEET AND UNDERLINE THE SUBJECT.

3. If you are not sure of the answer to a question, then choose the one which you think is BEST. On your answer sheet, draw a heavy black line through the letter you have chosen.

Red is Tim’s colour. ANSWER SHEET ANSWER SHEET (A) favrite (B) favarite (C) favourite (D) faverite A B C D

2. This test contains 40 questions. You are required to answer ALL questions. Four responses are given for each question.

The responses are A, B, C and D. Only ONE response is correct.

4. BE SURE THAT THE QUESTION NUMBER IN THE BOOKLET IS THE SAME AS THE ONE YOU HAVE USED ON YOUR ANSWER SHEET.

A heavy black line has been drawn through the letter B on the answer sheet because Georgetown, the correct answer, is next to B.

Here is an example done for you.

5. If you make a mistake, erase the line cleanly, then draw a heavy black line through the

Study the map below carefully, then answer questions 36 to 40

Study Figure 1, then answer Question 2.

B

letter next to the answer you have now chosen.

6. REMEMBER, each answer MUST only be shown by a heavy black line on your Answer Sheet.

7. Remember only ONE answer must be provided for each question.

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

The Venn diagram below shows the number of Grade 6 pupils who play Dominoes, Cricket and Football. Study the Venn diagram, then answer Question 4.

Dominoes Cricket

Figure 1

2. (a) What is the name given to ABCD? (b) What is the sum of the interior angles of ABCD? (c) How many lines of symmetry has ABCD? (d) If AC = 10 cm and BD = 15 cm, what is the area of ABCD?

36. The church is located on (A) Pineapple Street (B) Wren Avenue (C) Nutmeg Street (D) Hibiscus Street

Figure 2 shows a cuboid. Study it, then answer Question 3.

37. Who lives closest to the school?

(A) Tiffany (B) Suresh (C) Ann (D) Sean 38. Who has to walk north from where he/she lives, and then proceed east, to get to the church?

(A) Tiffany (B) Suresh (C) Ann (D) Sean 39. Which building is west of the church?

(A) School (B) Fire Station (C) Suresh's House (D) Tiffany's House 40. In which street will Ann's father take his car for repairs?

(A) Pineapple (B) Dove (C) Mango (D) Nutmeg END OF TEST

24 cm 16 cm

4.

(a) How many pupils play all tt►ree games? (b) How many pupils play dominoes? (c) How many pupils do not play dominoes nor cricket? (d) How many pupils do not play any of the games? (e) How many pupils are in Grade 6?

5. A farmer planted 70 packets of lettuce and 110 packets of boulangier. (a) What is the ratio of lettuce to boulanger? (b) Reduce your answer at (a) to the lowest terms. (c) Find the total number of packets planted by the farmer. (d) Calculate, to the nearest whole number, the percentage of boulanger planted.

Figure 2

3. (a) Calculate the area of the surface marked A. (b) Calculate the area of the surface marked B. (c) Calculate the area of the surface marked C. (d) What is the total surface area of the cuboid?

Table 1 shows the after school activities of pupils in a school. Study it, then answer Question 6.

Table 1 Activity

No. of Pupils

Watching Television 60 Reading 50 Sleeping 40 Playing games 150 Helping parents 100 6. (a) Which is the most popular activity? (b) How many pupils spent their time reading, watching television, and playing games altogether? (c) How many pupils were in the school?

END OF TEST

7 Order for recount likely by Monday – GECOM PRO NEWS

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…says GECOM ready to conduct recount once order gazetted

I

t has now been two months since the General and Regional Elections were held and a credible winner is yet to be declared. The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is currently finetuning the technicalities of a recount and is hopeful of having the recount order gazetted by Monday.

This was according to GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward, who was interviewed following a meeting and tour with stakeholders on Saturday at the recount venue – Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

She related that following the meeting on Saturday, the draft recount order will be revisited and eventually published.

“What we have is a draft order. That order, based on the meeting this afternoon now that the Caricom team is on the ground, is intended to be revisited to focus on the start date for the exercise. And any other minor adjustments that will be made based on the deliberations of the Commission from this morning’s exercise,” she said.

“So, the outcome of today’s meeting is to really focus on the start date for the exercise. So that the operational things can commence.

Of course, once the start date is announced it means that we will definitely endeavour

GECOM PRO Yolanda Ward

to have the order gazetted

by Monday. Because it cannot commence without a gazette order.”

The meeting allowed party agents and Caribbean Community observers to become familiar with the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. Also, Ward explained that a suggestion was made to have copies of all Statements Of Poll (SoPs) made available to agents at the work stations to compare during the recount. Another issue is the way in which the ballot boxes will be counted.

“There are 10 work stations that will be in operation. And the proposal was to have two for Region One, two for Region Two, three for Region Three and another three for Region Four. So those would operate simultaneously.”

“What the parties had recommended was that doing the count like that, it should be done in numerical order. They anticipate it might cause confusion with four containers being simultaneously opened.”

Otherwise, Ward was confident that on an operational level, GECOM was ready to conduct the recount. She explained that all they are waiting on now is the order for the recount to be published in the Guyana Gazette.

GECOM took a significant step closer to announcing a date for the recount of the March 2 polls, with the arrival of a special team of scrutineers fielded by the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

The team landed at the Eugene F Correia International Airport shortly after 15:00h on Friday — one hour later than their originally scheduled arrival time — and is led

by Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cynthia Barrow-Giles.

The three-member team also comprises Commissioner of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission, John Jarvis and Deputy Supervisor of Elections of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sylvester King.

GECOM’s Secretariat on

Thursday conducted a simulation/training exercise involving the staff to be used — inclusive of Returning Officers — at the ACCC for the recount. Some 80 personnel had taken part in the one-day exercise.

While only 40 persons from GECOM would be allowed in the vicinity of the counting stations at any given time, it is the intention of the Commission to have the staff work on rotating days hence the need to train 80 persons for the exercise.

One of the counting stations that will be used for the recount

Man remanded for killing Canal No 1 elderly woman

A

21-year-old man of Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara (WBD), was hauled before the Vreeden-Hoop Magistrate’s Court for the murder of 62-year-old Tameshwarie “Laila” Sonilal.

Neville France appeared before Magistrate Crystal Lambert and was not required to plea to the indictable charge of murder when it was read to them.

The court was told that on April 27, 2020, at about 20:30h at Lot 2 Good Hope, Canal Number One, WBD, France stabbed the elderly woman several times about her body.

Reports are that neighbours heard the wom-

an screaming and rushed to the home but the door was closed from the inside. It took some time for public-spirited persons to break the door after they repeatedly called for Sonilal but got no response.

Upon gaining entry into the house, the neighbours heard a clatter and allegedly discovered the young lad hiding in the ceiling. He was armed with a cutlass and hurled it as they attempted to apprehend him.

Unfortunately, a power outage ensued, allowing the suspect to make good his escape. The police were summoned and the woman’s body was taken to the mortuary.

Magistrate Lambert re-

Dead: Tameshwarie “Laila” Sonilal

manded France to prison and the case will continue on June 25, 2020.

8 NEWS

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

West Ruimveldt shooting

“We will get him” – Commander reassures …as wanted man goes into hiding

T

he Guyana Police Force is confident that the teenager who is wanted for questioning into the fatal shooting of a West Ruimveldt woman on Friday morning will be apprehended.

One day after the incident, Acting Region Four Divisional Commander, Senior Superintendent Phillip Azore told Guyana Times that he is “100 per cent” certain that they will apprehend 18-yearold Timothy Evans, whose last known address is Lot 67 Front Road, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Florence Forde, 59, of Lot 24 Front Road, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was shot to the eye after leaving her house to witness a commotion between two neighbours - Brian Wiltshire and Timothy Evans.

Wiltshire, who was shot

Dead: Florence Forde

to the chest, has since been discharged from the hospital.

“The suspect is known and Police are in pursuant of that suspect. The other guy that was shot in the chest… was discharged from the hospital…He is known and we will get him,” the acting Divisional Commander af-

firmed on Saturday.

Initial reports are that the incident occurred at approximately 01:30h at West Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

After hearing sounds of a distant quarrel in the neighbourhood, Forde would’ve left her house to check on what was happening, but shots rang out and she was shot once in the eye.

The woman’s granddaughter, Nicola Castello told Guyana Times that around 23:30h on Thursday, the family reportedly heard loud noises and voices coming from the street. There, two neighbours were engaged in a heated argument during which they armed themselves with cutlasses; one of the men also had a gun.

According to Castello, other men from the community also ventured out of their houses to witness what

Rebellion…

W

Wanted: Timothy Evans

was transpiring. The commotion continued for some time, but relatives were unaware that Forde had opened the gate and gone outside. Castello said she stayed inside and the situation escalated when four consecutive shots rang out from a loaded firearm.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

…in the ranks? ell, well, well! Mout’ open and story jump out.

From within the belly of the beast comes an expose of the labyrinthine machinations of the PNC as it takes on the world to remain in power by rigging the March 2 elections. We’ve been getting bits and pieces for a while now, but, this time, this self-described APNU supporter named Shawn Simmons, from a “Preservation of the Coalition”, pilled the whole sordid tale.

Of course it could all be “fake news”, but, in the meantime, we can only bounce Simmons’s claims against what’s out in the public domain. The gist of the claim is that there’s a split down the middle in the PNC, with David Granger on one side and Harmon on the other.

The writer claims Granger is resisting the pressure of the Harmon clique to have himself declared the winner of the elections and be sworn in as president. Such a declaration, of course, could only be made by the GECOM Chair if she votes to accept the Mingoed numbers which Lowenfield has presented to the Commission. She, we know, has put those numbers in abeyance – not rejected them – and promised the recount, which Granger had already called for. And with that APNU candidate throwing her petition spanner into the works with Justice Holder to stop the recount, it does seem that we can’t reject Simmons’s first claim.

Granger, however, could still be playing both sides against the middle – but the question is, why’d he banish Harmon from the MotP?? Was it because of Simmons’s claim that “Granger is incensed that Harmon called a meeting to discuss succession planning”?? Or was it, as we’d speculated, that Harmon hired the Washington lobbyist without Granger’s knowledge, and then had him listed as a “US citizen” to boot?? Well, the two positions aren’t necessarily contradictory, and in fact buttress each other.

Now we come to some of the nitty-gritty of names being “called”: “Harmon has strong support from Amna Ally, Roysdale Forde, James Bond, Mark Archer, Vincent Alexander, and others who are against the opposition being declared the victor.” No problem here…these worthies have all been the public hardliners for the Mingoed numbers to be accepted – and obviously for Granger to be declared president.

On the “other side”, Simmons claims: “The hardcore faction of our party, led by Granger and Volda Lawrence, was angry that Harmon has been teaming up with the business class and sought to cut him down.” The word “hardcore” is very intriguing, since the said “business class” were all Indian Guyanese. This also fits in with Granger and Volda’s racist public statements and actions.

It does look like Simmons knows of what he speaks!! …against the recount farce We’ve arrived at a point – 62 days after the elections - where very few citizens really believe that anything positive will come out of the “recount” process which the Chairwoman said she wants – and is supported by the caretaker President and Opposition Leader. So, from this perspective, the PNC’s “war of attrition” against the voice of the people ever being heard might appear to have been successful.

But not really. The PNC might’ve won this battle – but they’ve lost the war. There is no way they’ll be allowed to get away with this daylight robbery. The more barriers they throw up to a quick resolution to this crisis they created, the more they’re sealing their fate.

At the time of writing this piece, the Chair held a meeting with the parties to agree on the “modalities”. But while all of them, excepting the APNU/AFC, insisted on live streaming of the proceedings, the latter didn’t even want smartphones brought in!!

If the PNC sabotage this recount, warnings will transmute into sanctions. …against COVID-19?

Some countries are more concerned with the fate of their economies than the fate of their people. How on earth can they “open up” when the virus curve hasn’t even flattened??

Woe to Guyana, which still hasn’t even been properly locked down.

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

NEWS

9

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Carter Center blocked from returning to observe recount …observer mission says Govt yet to grant it permission to fly in

D

uring its previous stay in Guyana, the Carter Center did not mince words in declaring the March 2 General and Regional Elections as lacking credibility. Now,

the Carter Center can eventually be granted the permission it needs from the Government. “[Canada] funded the Carter Center Election Observer Team in Guyana.

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) representative Anil Nandlall and A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) representative David Patterson had expressed ap-

The Carter Center team that was in Guyana during the March 2 elections. In the centre are former Senegal PM Aminata Toure and US politician Jason Carter

the Carter Center observer mission is finding its way back to Guyana to oversee the recount blocked by the Government of Guyana.

This was revealed in a short statement on its social media account on Saturday and it comes even as the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) gets ready to announce a start date for the recount.

With Guyana’s airport on lockdown due to COVID-19, the Center said it has been unsuccessful in getting permission from the

I hope Guyana will allow them to return to complete their task. The Carter Center has earned the respect of Guyanese citizens & political parties for decades,” Chatterjee also indicated.

On Friday, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) high-level observation team comprising of Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cynthia BarrowGiles, Commissioner of the Antigua and Barbuda

Government to fly into the country.

“The Carter Center is trying to get an observer on a Monday flight to Georgetown to observe the recount but has so far been unsuccessful in getting approval from the Government of Guyana,” the Carter Center Guyana Election Observation Mission said on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Canada’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee, also used her social media account – Twitter – where she expressed hope that

Electoral Commission, John Jarvis and Deputy Supervisor of Elections of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sylvester King, arrived in Guyana to oversee the recount.

Caricom’s Secretary General Irwin LaRoque had sought and was granted permission by National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) Chairman, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo to fly in the team, within days.

After Saturday’s tour of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, both

preciation for the presence of Caricom in Guyana to

oversee the recount, while Nandlall had gone further in expressing hope that the Carter Center itself can return to Guyana.

When the Carter Center’s observation mission in Guyana was here for the March 2 polls, the team was led by American lawyer Jason Carter, the grandson of former US President Jimmy Carter, and former Senegal Prime Minister Aminata Toure.

By March 20, the Carter Center had withdrawn from Guyana in the wake of discredited declarations from GECOM’s Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo, the widespread criticism from international and local observers of the lack of credibility in the process and the overall break down in political stability.

The observer mission had also cited specific threats against the interna-

tional community and being impeded from doing its work by APNU/AFC supporters as reasons for their withdrawal from the process.

NCTF for political purposes

The PPP/C has meanwhile long levelled accusations against the NCTF for being used for political purposes. They have often cited the fact that the Task Force, using coronavirus as its rationale, sought to im-

pose a 14-day quarantine on observers coming into the country.

In addition, the Task Force had also ordered GECOM not to conduct the recount beyond 17:00h, in light of the 18:00h curfew.

After much criticism from the political Opposition and other groups, caretaker President David Granger stepped in and overturned the stipulations set out by his caretaker Prime Minister.

10 NEWS

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 “not a joke, but a killer” – Police …urge persons to adhere to curfew, preventative regulations

R

egional Deputy Police Commander for Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), Wayne Dehearte has revealed that several residents in Region 10 have not come to the realisation that the novel coronavirus is “not a joke but a killer”, adding that they are putting many lives at risk, including the Police.

Dehearte expressed this view at a recent Regional Health and Emergency Committee (RHEC) meeting, urging other members that more stringent measures should be implemented.

He stated that with the nine deaths and over 80 infected persons, the police within the region need to take a more aggressive approach to those not adhering to the guidelines, especially taking into account that the national curfew has been extended.

Police pressured

He told the meeting that the Commander and ranks are feeling the pressure of the lackadaisical attitude of residents. He noted that many are continuing as if it’s business as usual, ignoring social and physical distancing, not wearing masks, and not staying at home.

“We continue to see mem-

as they continue to do what they like. We are called out to stop partying, drinking, liming and other activities that they should not be engaged, and this is highly irresponsible,” he said.

The Deputy Police Commander said that he wants to see the implementation of heavy penalties given the fact that when

“They must understand that the police ranks are human beings too and when they act irresponsibly, they are putting our ranks and their families at great risk and the Commander and I are extremely displeased over this kind of behaviour,” – Deputy Commander bers of the public continuing as if nothing is wrong and I firmly believe that many persons have not come to the reality that this a deadly disease that respects no one. They are making our work much more difficult

they inform persons that they are breaking the regulations many take it as a joke.

“People will only stop when we the police have the authority to lock up, charge and/or fine heavily as the

public seems unconcerned about their own welfare, thus showing scant regard for the lives of many and the ranks who are forced to maintain law and order.

They must understand that the police ranks are human beings too and when they act irresponsibly, they are putting our ranks and their families at great risk and the Commander and I are extremely displeased over this kind of behaviour,” the Deputy Commander alluded.

Dehearte declared that the police have been enforcing the curfew regulations more strongly now, noting that in the last few weeks they sought to use the soft approach which has not been effective, as such he noted that the Force has now resorted to being aggressive in their actions.

The Deputy Commander said that his personal view

is that those in the healthcare sector should relate the harsh reality of what COVID-19 is and its impact on lives and the region.

He also urged the RHEC Committee to continue using its influence and relationship with various sectors of society to help curb what he warned, if allowed to go unchecked, will have deadly effects for the region and Guyana as a whole.

Head of the RHEC Committee, REO Orrin Gordon expressed the view that persons entering the region after the curfew period should be stopped and held at the checkpoints until the following morning.

This, he stressed, is a deterrent to ensure that persons recognise that they must complete their activi-

Regional Deputy Police Commander for Region 10, Deputy Superintendent Wayne Dehearte

ties and movements by the stipulated 6 pm, as failure to take harsh actions will create the impression that no serious efforts are being made to curtail such actions.

“We will get...

“We heard a scuffle, but we didn’t get up to see what was going on and then after 12, we hear it again, but we still didn’t get up. I said I’m not going outside, because I don’t know what’s going on…“Then after, we hear a banging by the zinc and we got up, open the door and we see like some boys, some had cutlass… and one of the guys had a gun. Everybody else who had cutlasses start scatter,” the granddaughter recalled.

“One man was outside by the gate on a bicycle. He and the one with the gun had an altercation and then he start firing shots. The first shot hit the man cutlass

FROM PAGE 8

and he fire three shots after. I didn’t know my grandmother got shot until I hear my aunt say ‘you shot my mom’. She screamed out.

Then when I hear my grandfather screaming, then I run over and saw the blood and everything.”

The elderly woman was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she succumbed a few hours later, at about 06:00h.

Hours later, Police issued a wanted bulletin for the teenager in relation to the incident. Anyone with information that would lead to the arrest of Evans is asked to contact the nearest police station on 911.

NEWS

11

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Man nabbed after throwing

contraband into prison compound

PNC gambling for resurrection

L

ast week, I again participated in discussions with David Hinds on the background to the elections imbroglio, hoping to formulate a win-win exit strategy. The premise was you can’t fix something unless you know exactly what is broken. We both agreed that these elections won’t end “well”; we differed on why.

In 1990, I had proposed that Guyana had two “ethnic security dilemmas” (ESDs) structured by the extant political system as it impacted the two major groups, African and Indian Guyanese. For African Guyanese, in a polity where citizens voted ethnically, since their Indian Guyanese opponents constituted a majority (by 1980), they could potentially be excluded from the Executive in perpetuity in the majoritarian Westminster system. On the other hand, while the Indian Guyanese might win elections because of their numbers, governing would be problematic at best, since the strategic institutions of the state -- the bureaucracy, the army, the Ravi Dev police, etc -- were all staffed predominantly by African Guyanese supporters of the PNC. The ESDs played out after the 1997 elections, when widespread violence broke out after the PNC protested the elections results. Since then, the issue of “power-sharing” was thrust into the public space, but apart from ROAR, the players avoided discussing that it was ETHNIC power sharing being discussed. Various stratagems, such as a “grand coalition” of the PNC and PPP, were floated without explicitly declaring this would be addressing the fears of the African-Guyanese minority.

ROAR had proposed Federalism as a structural device to address wider ethnic exclusions, in addition to proposing a welter of distributive measures to address ethnic inequalities in valued areas of national endeavour for all ethnic groups, including Amerindians.

But, during the last three weeks, I pointed out that time had overtaken the premises of the African Ethnic Security Dilemma.

Indian-Guyanese were no longer a majority, and for either of the two ethnic- based major parties to win a general election, they would have to attract at least 10% of votes from outside their constituency. This was a happy moderating centripetal circumstance that theorists and practitioners had created a host of electoral innovations to encourage: discouraging “ethnic outbidding”, which increases ethnic polarization and conflict.

The PNC, a smaller minority than the PPP, were able to form the government in 2015 by coalescing with the AFC, which brought over enough votes from the Indian and Mixed segments to put them over the wire. The PPP government had been removed through the ballot box by the PNC - after a decade of armed insurrection by gangs of armed gunmen calling themselves “African Freedom Fighters”, who believed that was impossible. The Indian ESD was put to the test.

The PNC/APNU/AFC coalition, however, inexplicably refused to acknowledge the Indian ESD fears, and blithely proceeded with policies and appointments that completely alienated that community: the Cabinet, Permanent Secretaries, Boards of Public Corporations were dominated overwhelmingly by nonIndians; the strength of the disciplined forces was boosted, while the DFC recommendations re ethnic representativeness was ignored; and finally, 7000 mainly Indian sugar workers were fired.

The LGE results in late 2018 was an early warning that the coalition had lost its majority. After an NCM was successfully moved against them in Dec 2018, their response signalled the PNC was willing to deviate from democratic conventions to remain in power. When the results of the last district, Reg 4, indicated the PNC would lose the March general elections, they went fully rogue by having loyalists in GECOM rig the SoP count in front of the diplomatic community.

What was the PNC’s strategy?

They are “gambling for resurrection”. Here, leaders who see defeat staring them in the face of competition or conflict take high-risk actions that would be considered “irrational” in normal circumstances, because the high costs of defeat would outweigh the low probability of victory.

However, the PNC had already polarized their constituency with their mobilization strategy during the campaign: exploiting historical fears by “circling the wagons” against the PPP, presented as literally planning to exterminate them.

In this situation, while the PNC leadership is gambling for resurrection by almost certainly taking the country down the road to sanctions or a possible civil war or partition, they are counting on their kith and kin in the state institutions to take their side even as the country goes up in flames.

In their minds, they have nothing to lose, and everything to gain: pelf and power with oil and office.

Joseph Fifee after he was caught by prison officials

Q

uick response by members of the Lusignan Prison led to the arrest of Joseph Fifee, a man who was attempting to smuggle contraband into the penitentiary.

Reports are that at about 16:05h on Saturday, Fifee reportedly threw a parcel into the prison’s compound which contained cigarettes and a cellular phone.

Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels informed the media that Fifee, who is from a village on the East Coast of Demerara, was previously remanded to prison for robbery but was released on bail just over two months ago. He will be processed by the police.

Two weeks ago, a 40-yearold labourer of Lusignan Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara, was arrested after he attempted to throw a bag containing cel-

The items that were in the parcel

lular phones, 104 grams of cannabis and other items into the Lusignan Prison compound.

He was apprehended on the Lusignan Embankment and subsequently handed over to the police.

12 NEWS

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

World Press Freedom Day

Prolonged electoral process, COVID-19 impacting media in Guyana

T

he current political situation and public health crisis in the country have undoubtedly impacted the local media community, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) has noted in its message on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2020.

“Our unique situation of an active, elongated electoral process and the challenge of COVID-19 has without a doubt impacted the newsgathering process as well as the treatment of news and information,” the Association stated, noting

GPA – headed by Nazima Raghubir – recognised that media workers still “soldier on as part of our commitment to deliver truth to our audiences – the people our profession was designed to serve”.

The GPA noted that World Press Freedom Day 2020 comes at a time of extraordinary challenges to the lives and livelihoods of the people of Guyana, the Caribbean, and the world.

For the GPA and the community of media workers it represents, this has meant increased vigilance

ready had to contend with various levels of threats and violence during their coverage of the March 2 General and Regional Elections – with party supporters hurling offensive remarks and, in some cases, attempting to get into physical altercations with Journalists.

Reporters and cameramen have spent long hours camping outside various offices in a bid to deliver timely and credible news on all aspects of the elections.

With the electoral process still incomplete during this major public health cri-

Media workers interviewing a political party representative after camping out for hours outside the Arthur Chung Conference Centre – the venue for the countrywide recount

that the prevailing circumstances have also provided “unprecedented levels and varieties of risk”.

Notwithstanding, the

and deeper commitment to the profession.

Threats and violence

Media workers have al-

sis, media workers now face even more challenges and are forced to employ creative initiatives to still keep the nation informed while

keeping themselves safe.

“As our media community knows, this has been no easy journey. We have found among our ranks, some of the most devoted, conscientious colleagues you will come across anywhere. Journalists, photographers, videographers, editors sometimes defy all odds and obstacles to bring potentially life-changing news and information to our audiences,” the Association expressed.

Further noting that “this has not been a time for sleeping on the job”, the GPA recognised video and newsroom editors who dedicate their time and energy to packaging the news, radio and television engineers and technicians, and print operators, “without whose expertise we would have no news product and social media managers whose role continues to be to redefine delivery of content in accordance with the changing news cycle”.

Moreover, the Press Association said, “This edition of World Press Freedom Day thus marks a watershed in the news business of Guyana. It is difficult, but it is also laden with professional opportunity.”

The United Nations system has provided a theme of “Journalism without Fear or Favour” for this year’s observances and according to the GPA, this is “amazing for its ability to capture

to reflect on “where we are” and to consider “our options for the future”.

“Like our business, our country stands at a juncture in its history, the management of which has implications for generations to come,” the body said.

“Our tasks as Journalists and as a media community have everything to do with such a great assignment as a people and as a nation,” the GPA expressed.

Essential work

GPA President Nazima Raghubir

the essence of the challenge the media face in the current period”.

The GPA said the theme also attached significance to the fact of an increasingly complex media landscape.

“This is a phenomenon that predates the coronavirus challenge, but is coming increasingly into view as we combine the impact of the pandemic with inconclusive election results, and everything associated with their combined effect.”

It added that: “All of the features of this new media landscape now conspire to challenge the way we do our work, and the manner in which we ought to remain committed to its core values of balance, independence, and fairness.”

At this time, the GPA said media workers need

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU), in its message, also recognised that the COVID-19 crisis has brought the importance of the work of the press into sharp relief, since in times of uncertainty, access to reliable fact-checked information that is free from undue interference and influence is crucial and contributes to a more resilient society.

The EU also noted that despite the risks, media workers all over the world were continuing their essential work, sometimes in difficult circumstances.

It is against this backdrop that the EU used this occasion on World Press Freedom Day to reaffirm its continued support of the key role of independent and reliable media all around the world. “Press freedom is a right, not just of media professionals, but of each and every one of us,” the EU stated.

Opposition, political...

“We also questioned the security of ballot boxes itself. We [stakeholders] want to accompany the ballot boxes. We want when the containers are open, we accompany the ballot boxes into the rooms. When it is finished, the seals must be broken in our presence.

And when it is resealed, we must also be present to put our seal.”

Besides the two major political parties, representatives from The New Movement, Liberty and Justice Party and Change Initiative were present.

Also, in attendance was A New and United Guyana’s Chairman, Timothy Jonas.

Reject transparency measures

It turns out that not only was APNU/AFC opposed to live streaming the event, they also requested the restriction of cellphone use.

Coalition representative at the meeting and AFC executive, David Patterson said that “GECOM has made a statement that they’re not live streaming. Therefore, persons should not be going on live streaming [particularly] GECOM staff, without their permission. That’s

the point persons were making. You wouldn’t like someone coming into your workplace and videoing you without your permission.”

“If you say you can’t stream people live and GECOM has signed on to that, then that is for everyone. If you say you can do it live, then persons can do it but their consent has to be obtained first.”

Patterson claimed that the calls for live streaming the recount were nothing more than something to “name and shame”.

He also accused the PPP of planning to challenge the recount in court when the recount order is gazetted.

This accusation was sharply rebuffed by the PPP in a subsequent statement.

According to the party, it has no plans to block the recount from starting and moreover, they reminded that it is APNU/ AFC which has the track record of blocking the recount through its candidate, Ulita Moore, in the first place.

“It is the PPP which has led the struggle for the recount process to take place; while the APNU+AFC has been doing everything pos-

FROM PAGE 3

sible, including going to court, to prevent and derail the recount. The world knows that they have a vested interest in preventing the true results of the elections from being disclosed and would much prefer Mingo’s fraudulent declaration to prevail,” the party said.

“On the other hand, it should not surprise anyone that Joseph Harmon and Amna Ally, representing the APNU+AFC, were the only persons at the meeting held today by GECOM, who objected to live-streaming of the recount and called for a prohibition of the use of cellphones by persons participating in the process. Indeed, they objected to every proposal made by all the other political parties intended to boost public confidence in and add credibility and transparency to the recount process,” the PPP added.

When it comes to Patterson’s explanation for why APNU/AFC is opposed to live streaming, the PPP dismissed it as asinine.

They questioned why a livestreamed recount, done by GECOM staff, would be hazardous to them.

NEWS

13

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

No new COVID-19 tests conducted in 24 hours

C

alls for rapid testing of the population have fallen on deaf ears, with zero tests conducted for the novel coronavirus within 24 hours.

In the recently updated COVID-19 dashboard, the Public Health Ministry’s figures show that 582 tests were conducted – the same amount as the previous day.

This meant the number of positive cases remained at 82 with 24 recovered cases and nine deaths. A total of three persons remained in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with 18 in institutional quarantine and 49 in institutional isolation.

In recent time, concerns have been raised that more persons might be carrying the virus unknowingly, since the virus can mani-

fest asymptotically. But the Ministry has contended that only individuals with signs and symptoms of the disease or those who had been in contact with a positive case is deemed a viable reason for testing. There are other secondary factors which are deliberated upon also.

Some persons have even raised complaints of experiencing symptoms associated with the virus but failing to receive medical treatment until days later. Meanwhile, other countries within the region have already ramped up testing significantly to reach a wider scope as Guyana continues to lag behind.

Guyana is currently conducting COVID-19 tests at a rate of less than one per cent of the population.

Just last week, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo pointed out that based on consultations with medical professionals, enhanced testing is needed in Guyana.

“We are testing too few people and…if you have the virus, there is a stigma attached to people. So many

people are afraid of being tested and they are afraid that if they test positively, they’ll be placed in quarantine facilities that are not conducive to the non-spreading of the virus or in conditions that are not livable,” he was quoted as saying.

Caretaker Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

had disclosed that the Ministry continues to face the challenge of under-reporting from persons who have been in contact with a COVID-19 case because of the stigma associated with the coronavirus.

Nevertheless, Jagdeo contended that the country needs to work on removing the stigma, thereby enhancing testing. He said that it is unbelievable that such a small amount of persons have been tested so far, almost two months since the first case was detected.

“When countries are boasting about testing several percentages of their population, we’re lagging not just behind but unbelievably way behind…,” he stressed.

This call was height-

ened by Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Dr Carissa F Etienne, who also lobbied for accelerated and expanded coronavirus testing in countries of the Americas.

In recent days, regional administrations have employed their own contact tracing exercises to find undetected cases of the coronavirus.

Region 10 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) was able to uncover two positive cases through this exercise, which were later handed over to health authorities.

Even with limited testing, there has been a stark 110 per cent increase in the number of positive cases in less than one month.

ic some 20 years ago. The act of illegal mining adds to these threats.

“Mining trucks penetrate all parts of the interior. Unlike HIV-AIDS in which contagion depended on the behaviour of miners and truckers, their presence alone is sufficient to drive COVID-19. Attempts by interior communities to control access to communities are being circumvented by truck drivers…To this extent, any commercial activities, including trucking, associated with illegal mining, compounds the threat of the COVID-19 virus.”

For now, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) remains vulner-

able to illegal visitors, despite the closure of the border with Brazil.

Recommendations were issued by the entities, calling on the National COVID-19 Task Force to remove gold mining from the list of essential services, as well as employing more robust enforcement measures to prevent interior traffic penetrating interior communities.

Legal action was requested against individuals and companies working on or supplying services to illegal mining or forestry operations; along with more rigorous enforcement of border closure and informal crossings with Brazil.

Govt lists mining as essential service …rationale behind decision a “mystery” – TIGI

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he designation of mining as an essential service has raised serious concerns among key organisations, as it fails to register as a service which is necessitated by all Guyanese.

This is according to Transparency Institute Guyana Incorporated (TIGI), and was approved by entities such as the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR), Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), Guyana Society for the Blind (GSB), Policy Forum Guyana (PFG), Red Thread and the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) among others.

In its revised list through an official gazette document in April, the Public Health Ministry had included “mining and petroleum” as an essential service. Raising serious concerns via a statement, the organisations stated that the rationale being putting mining on the list is a “mystery”, since it contributes to illegal mining and acts as an avenue to spread the virus.

“Designating a service to be ‘essential’ implies all

Guyanese in some way have a right to it. Even if that were the case with mining, the appropriate agency to protect that right would be the Environmental Protection Agency – not the mining industry.”

It went on to say that the reality is that the gold mining industry “does not recognise inherited ownership in patrimony of gold or other natural assets”. Instead, it is treated as ownerless until ‘discovered’ by miners.

The industry converts publicly-owned assets into private gain at a financial loss to both current and future generations. Moreover, the collateral damage of other natural assets perpetrated by gold mining extends to the destruction of other natural resources.

“To add insult to injury, the main beneficiaries of gold mining in Guyana are a handful of people who between them hold hundreds of large-scale mining properties disguised as medium-scale through licensing malpractice. The true value of the wealth generated by gold in Guyana is not known accurately. However, under-reporting of the gold produced is practiced widely. The historical abuses

associated with mining are justified by reference to the number of people employed in the industry while accountability for human and environmental health hazards is ignored,” the organisations penned.

The economic recession as a result of COVID-19 has sent the world price of gold close to US$1800 per ounce.

Combined with the “austerity” felt by the Guyanese population, it was indicated than an unprecedented expansion in the gold sector can be expected. For now, authorities in Mahdia are already complaining of illegal forestry and mining being experienced in the district.

In the statement, prec-

edents in the past have shown that trucking and other activities have led to a spread of viruses. This was experienced during the HIV-AIDS virus pandem-

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Single-use plastics (SUP) and human health

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o matter where we go, we will always come into contact with single-use plastics; they are a part of our daily lives.

This is scary, because we are often too blind to even notice their inherent dangers to the health of humans and the earth as a whole.

What are plastics?

Plastics are made from crude oil. Although there are new innovations wherein plastics are produced from non-oil sources, 99% of plastics are produced from fossil fuels. Further, according to researchers, about 91% of all plastics produced are non-recycled and single-use plastics.

Plastics are used throughout today’s economies and in numerous industrial sectors, including packaging, health care, construction, automotive, aviation, agriculture, logistics and storage, consumer goods, textiles, and many others.

Plastics are inexpensive, lightweight, easily shaped, and are durable. Plastics are valuable materials, and could be recycled to create fresh economic value if properly managed. However, a failure in the market-place and waste management policies to fully account for the external costs that plastic pollution brings, in addition to the indiscriminate disposal of plastic wastes by humans, has led to plastics becoming a major pollutant of the environment.

What are single-use plastics?

Single-use plastics are plastic items ideally used only once before they are thrown away. Some items classified as singleuse plastics are: bags, straws, plates, forks, food containers, cups, spoons, knives, etc.

What are the effects of plastics on human health?

Right from the stage of production, plastic plays the villain by providing an easier and low-cost commodity to humans; and, in turn, affects us negatively, since the major chemicals that go into the making of plastics are highly toxic and pose serious threats to human beings, animals, and the natural environment.

Plastics can enter our food chain In the marine environment, organisms at every level of the food web have been reported to ingest or interact with plastic, and these include higher-order consumers such as fish and humans. Consequently, ingestion of small plastic particles, called microplastics, may be physically harmful if the particles translocate across the cell membrane of humans into the circulatory, lymphatic, respiratory, and/or other biological systems.

Additionally, plastics can be chemically harmful due to the complex suite of chemicals which are added during their production. Many studies have highlighted the possibility of plastics acting as vectors for toxic chemicals and pathogenic agents.

Plastics can adversely impact our biological systems Some of the constituents of plastics, such as benzene, are known to cause cancer; neurological, reproductive, and development toxicity; impairment of the immune system, and more. These toxins have major impacts on skins, eyes, and other sensory organs; the respiratory, nervous, and gastrointestinal systems; and the liver and brain. Many of the plastics become micro-plastics and go right back into the waterways, where they are then consumed by fishes, and those fishes are consumed by us, humans.

Moreover, did you know that recycling of plastics can be harmful?

Recycling of plastics is also associated with skin and respiratory problems, resulting from exposure to, and inhalation of, toxic fumes, especially hydrocarbons and residues released during the process.

What can we do?

Single-use plastics have become such a global way of life that we seemingly simply cannot do without them. However, if we start reducing the use of SUP now, in small ways, together it will make a big difference.

We start reducing plastics by making the deliberate switches: * Choose reusable bags; * Choose reusable water bottles; * Choose reusable coffee mugs; * Choose reusable knives, spoons, forks, plates, straws; and * Choose reusable food containers, such as glass and ceramic.

“The Environment is Everybody’s Business” #592saynotoSUP. Sources: 1https://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/case_ studies/plastics.html 2- http://www.plasticfreechallenge.org/what-is-single-use-plastic 3https://www.ciel.org/project-update/plastic-and-humanhealth-a-lifecycle-approach-to-plastic-pollution/ You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: The Environmental Protection Agency, C/O Communications Department, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN; or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and You Tube.

NEWS

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Digicel collaborate with Rotary to purchase PPE for healthcare workers

D Surviving COVID-19: economic relief initiatives for consideration at the national level

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n last week’s edition, the author put forward an interim – creative solution that can be considered to render some degree of financial relief to firms – small and medium sized firms (SMEs) in particular, and individuals affected as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the political impasse.

To this end, it was suggested that the Bankers Association, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ministry of Business (MoB), National Insurance Scheme (NIS), and the Small Business Bureau (SBB), can establish a COVID-19 Relief Fund to the tune of about $10 billion.

The author wishes to dedicate today’s column to offer a critical analytical perspective in response to an article carried in the Guyana Chronicle on April 23, 2020 by Mr. Rawle Lucas, entitled “economic treatment by triage”. In that article, Mr. Lucas sought to address the economic impacts of COVID-19 on Guyana, which was a good read, save and except for his proposed solutions on how to address the pandemic, which he described as a national emergency. In this regard, Lucas suggested that the private sector with deep pockets should be part of the solution to rescue the economy by delving into their cumulative retained earnings in exchange for future fiscal and monetary benefits. Lucas went on to quantify this by arguing that a total of six such corporations’ cumulative earnings was equivalent to 40 % of the private sector’s deposits in the banks, using 2018 figures.

First, it is important for readers to understand that cumulative retained earnings do not necessarily mean that companies have that amount of liquid cash in the bank.

In fact, retained earnings do not represent surplus cash remaining after paying dividends. Rather, retained earnings demonstrate how companies utilized profits earned.

Now, let’s contextualize Lucas’s proposal: In 2018, total private sector deposits were $284.5 billion; therefore, he is suggesting that private sector companies have 40% of this amount sitting in the bank, which is $114 billion. This is not the case. If one were to peruse the Bank of Guyana report, under the table with Commercial Banks’ total Deposits, there is a column with total private sector deposits, confirming this figure. However, this total deposit is made of individual deposits, which amounted to $218.2 billion, and private enterprises’ deposits, which amounted to $66.3 billion.

Hence, this author is hard pressed to conclude that Mr. Lucas sought to intentionally mislead the general public and/or paint a disingenuous picture that the private sector has the capacity to bail out the economy during this crisis period. This is an absurd idea; and, moreso, that is the job of a Government. The private sector has already stepped up, evidently, in doing its part to help cushion the effects.

Second, if one were to peruse the Bank of Guyana’s Annual Report for 2019, income taxes paid by private companies for 2019 amounted to $40 billion, individual income taxes amounted to $29.2 billion, and withholding taxes amounted to $22.1 billion, giving rise to a total of $91.3 billion. This does not include trade taxes, which amounted to $25 billion, and VAT and excise taxes, which amounted to $96.5 billion.

The total Government revenue for 2019 amounted to $240.5 billion, of which corporation taxes and individual income taxes accounted for 29 percent of total revenues.

With this in mind, Mr. Lucas’s proposal is hugely impractical, and irrational when examined from the perspective of the uncertainty of the crisis and the potential gravity thereof, if the economy -- and by extension the global economy -- remains partially closed. This, in turn, will certainly affect international trade and the production of goods and services. At the end of the day, the private sector and individuals collectively pay billions of dollars in taxes, and therefore cannot be expected to do the job of a Government.

In next week’s edition, the author shall examine fiscal relief measures implemented by other countries around the world in response to the pandemic. This series will then conclude with a customized menu of options that can be adopted in the context of Guyana.

By: JC. Bhagwandin, MSc., Exec Ed. (The author is an experienced macro-finance and research analyst, Lecturer and Business & Finance Consultant. The views expressed are exclusively his own, and do not necessarily represent those of this newspaper or the institutions he represents. For comments, send to jbbankingadvice@gmail.com).

igicel Guyana on Saturday announced that they have collaborated with the Rotary Club of Georgetown to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers to the tune of $1,250,000.

The mobile service company said that the equipment will be donated across the country.

Also, in supporting doctors and nurses on the frontline amid the current COVID-19 pandemic, Digicel has provided healthcare workers with calls across the nation for social distancing.

In a statement, the company said more than 2000 medical professionals have received free 4G data bundles for three months. This is to help the front liners stay connected to their loved ones as they work around the clock to fight the deadly virus.

Gregory Dean, CEO of Digicel Guyana said: “Our aim is to assist in any way that we can. We know how important it is to stay connected to your loved ones, especially during times of uncertainty. So as our healthcare professionals work on the frontline to keep us safe, we want to

Louanna Abrams of Digicel hands over a cheque to Renata ChuckA-Sang from the Rotary Club of Georgetown

give them that sense of reassurance that comes with knowing their loved ones are also safe. They are the real heroes and we would like them to know that we are there with them.”

Digicel further said that calls to the Ministry of Public Health’s hotlines are toll-free and access to the Ministry of Education, PAHO, WHO, and the Ministry of Public Health websites also remains free.

The company encouraged its customers to stay safe and remain indoors to help stop the spread of the coronavirus and to only use information from trusted sites like PAHO, WHO, and

local Government websites The company has also introduced several measures that will allow customers to stay in touch and stay connected to loved ones during this time.

Some of these measures include Free Night Talk from 9 pm - 6 am, removal of Credit U transfer charges, and Top-Up bill payments by postpaid customers. Digicel’s Customer Care agents can be reached by dialling 100, using the Live Chat feature and via the various social media platforms, however, it is encouraged that customers use the Live Chat feature in the first instance.

Dean added: “Digicel is committed to assisting in the fight against the virus and will continue to support the Government of Guyana in their efforts to keep us safe at this time”.

He added that as a provider of essential services to the public, the company has a duty to keep their business running no matter what.

“Indeed, at a time like this, the services that we provide to customers could not be more vital or more needed. Our services are keeping hospitals, institutions, businesses, Governments, and people connected and we take that responsibility very seriously. We would also like to remind everyone to stay safe and keep practicing good hygiene like washing your hands with soap for a minimum of 40 seconds. When using hand sanitisers, use one with a minimum 70 per cent alcohol and rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds”, he noted.

Just recently, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) company started offering free mobile services to doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers, who are aiding Guyana’s battle against the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Chaotic scene in T&T as persons wait on food hampers

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esperation trumped fears of the covid19 virus as near to a thousand people – including the elderly, pregnant women and women with babes in arm – stood belly-to-back, in the hot sun Friday morning for food hampers from the Living Water Community (LWC) on Frederick Street in Port of Spain.

Social-distancing was non-existent as people pushed against each other outside the centre even as police tried but failed to get the mass to stand in some form of orderly fashion and social-distance themselves.

The chaotic scene outside the LWC on Friday was reminiscent of those on Friday April 17 when police had to disperse a crowd of hundreds who gathered at the Barakah Grounds in Chaguanas to collect hampers donated by broadcaster Inshan Ishmael.

The LWC and other similar NGOs have seen long lines whenever hampers are distributed, since covid19 restrictions meant businesses being forced to close and consequently, many people either losing their jobs or having their salaries slashed.

Newsday was told people began arriving at the corner of Frederick and Gordon streets as early as midnight to be first in the line.

By 06:00h when members of the LWC began giving out hampers, the lines stretched as far as Pembroke Street and Keate Street.

There were two long queues, one for elderly people and one for pregnant women.

Many of the people who gathered outside the Living Water Community on Friday had to be turned back as food hampers ran out. (Ayanna Kinsale photo)

Three police units arrived to try to help maintain some semblance of order, but they could do very little as the crowd continued to swell and then bloat.

At 08:30h, the police had had enough and decided to disperse the crowd. A police officer told Newsday they could not allow people to continue to breach public social distancing rules.

Reached for comment, Police Commissioner Gary Griffith said once the police receive prior notice of a hamper distribution there will be enough officers to ensure law and order and also enforce social-distancing rules.

At the time police started ordering people to leave, only those who were already inside the parking lot of the LWC building had received hampers. Many people left without hampers and those who were still waiting, were critical of athe police’s decision saying it was not fair to have been standing for hours only to be ordered to leave by the officers.

“I here from since four to get a food hamper. No one is working in my house and we no longer have anything

to eat, so I risked coming despite the stay-at-home orders,” a man told Newsday.

A woman complained that many people had paid no attention to the queue and just surged forward towards the LWC building.

“We are waiting from dawn as honest citizens and it is not fair that someone else is late and gets in front of the others. This is a disrespect for the rest,” she said.

The vast majority of people left immediately when told by police to do so but others stood in front of the building waiting for information on when next hampers would be distributed.

The LWC has been helping vulnerable people for many years, and especially now, refugees from Latin America who have come to TT because of socio-economic problems in their countries.

Because of the hunger crisis caused by restrictive, anti-covid19 measures, hundreds of families have asked for help from the LWC, which began giving out food hampers this week, from 6 am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Sources at the LWC,

speaking with Newsday on Friday, said on the first two days, 400 hampers were given out. On Friday, the number doubled, to 800.

On Wednesday morning, LWC head Rhonda Maingot posted on social media that LWC members arrived at 5.30 am “to find a line from our centre up Frederick Street across Keate and down Pembroke Street...It’s now 7.45. We have given out 400 parcels.” Unfortunately, she said, about 300 people had to be turned away and 120 refugees directed elsewhere that day.

“We just don’t have anything more to pack right now for them,” she wrote.

“We will replenish today and pack for Friday. But friends, things are serious.

People are real hungry. Any support will be welcomed. I know people have been fantastic in supporting. We thank God for their generosity.” She said donations would be welcomed of “the packed $150 hampers from Massy...or anything else.”

Among the items in each hamper given out on Friday were rice, flour, spaghetti, canned goods, oil and bread.

Donations are collected at the LWC’s Frederick Street building from individuals, companies and charities. People who come for food are allowed inside the building, where sanitising measures are observed.

They are also given breakfast and snacks. It could not be confirmed if the distribution of hampers will continue next week. (T&T Newsday)

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NEWS

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4 nabbed for delivery truck robbery

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our men were arrested and are being questioned in connection with a daring robbery of a delivery truck that took place on Thursday at Rasville, Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown.

According to Region Four Divisional Commander, Senior Superintendent Phillip Azore, the four suspects were taken into custody on Saturday, along with the motorcycle that was used to carry out the robbery.

“Everybody was arrested. Four persons are in custody presently and we are currently investigating”, he explained.

Meanwhile, reports are that the truck was in that area to make a delivery

Still image from video footage of the robbery in progress

when the two bandits, one of whom was armed with a handgun, made their move.

The duo pounced upon the truck’s driver and two porters while threatening the trio with a firearm.

The suspects assaulted the men, relieving them

of personal items, and then demanded that the driver and porters hand over the cash that they were transporting on behalf of their company.

In fear for their lives, the men handed over what the bandits demanded. The

bandits quickly snatched the large sum of money and took off.

According to the police, the driver of the truck along with the two porters received medical attention for their injuries at the East La Penitence Health Centre, Georgetown, and were subsequently sent away.

One eyewitness, who also resides in the area, told this publication that there has been a surge in crime in the community.

“This is not the first incident; there has been a spike in the community and there are multiple incidents. Over the past month, four different incidents happened.

Only the other day, my neighbour got robbed,” the eyewitness relayed.

Coronavirus: Spain makes masks compulsory on public transport

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asks will be compulsory on public transport in Spain from Monday as the country moves to gradually relax its tough lockdown.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the government would distribute 6m masks, mainly at transport locations, and give another 7m to local authorities.

Adults in Spain were able to exercise outdoors on Saturday for the first time in seven weeks.

The lockdown was eased for children under 14 a week

ago.

Lockdowns in other European countries are also being eased, though social distancing remains in force. Some countries require mask-wearing in shops and on public transport.

Italy has Europe's highest death toll from coronavirus, closely followed by the UK and then Spain (though experts caution that countries do not record death figures in exactly the same way).

The UK's figures show hundreds of people are still falling victim to Covid-19 ev-

ery day - on Saturday the deaths of a further 621 people were announced.

Both France and Italy recorded fewer than 200 deaths in a 24-hour period.

Italy announced another 474 deaths on Saturday, a larger number than in recent days, but according to La Repubblica that figure includes 282 deaths outside of hospitals in April which were not included in earlier figures.

Sanchez said Spain was now reaping the rewards of the sacrifices made during

the lockdown, one of Europe's strictest.

He also said his government would approve a €16bn ($17.6bn; £14bn) fund to help regional authorities deal with the economic damage inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic. In Madrid, residents voiced relief to be finally exercising outdoors. "Happy, we feel free!" Susana Piego told Reuters.

Jesus Gutierrez said "it's basic, for physical and mental health, it is basic to allow people to do sport". (Excerpted from BBC)

4 seriously injured in BV accident

The motor car which slammed into the minibus

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our persons are seriously injured following an early morning collision on Friday at Beterverwagting (BV), East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The incident occurred at about 07:00h on the BV Public Road, opposite to the BV Police Station.

Reports revealed that the accident involved a Toyota Allion, which bore the license plate PWW 7216 and a Route 44 minibus, BLL 6809.

This publication understands that the driver of the motor car, who hails from Victoria, ECD, was pinned in the vehicle. However,

first responders arrived at the scene a few minutes later, and he was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he is currently hospitalised.

Meanwhile, the driver of the minibus, who also received minor injuries, said that he was attempting to make a turn into the BV main access road when the speeding car emerged from behind a truck and slammed into his bus.

Due to the impact of collision, the car was flung onto the northern parapet of the roadway.

Investigations are going.

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SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

1 year later

Nicholas Perion Bobb’s mother weeps for justice T

he saying “justice delayed is justice denied” has never been more applicable as it is in the case of Jacqueline Bobb, who is fighting tooth and nail to bring the perpetrators of her son’s murder to justice.

For the past year, Bobb, the mother of Nicholas Perion Bobb, has been fighting and with every passing day of the quest, the much-desired justice seems further from reach.

Nicholas, a young man from Carabese Hill in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), was shot in the stomach by a group of men on April 21, 2019. It was reported that the young man was employed as a driver and on the said day, at Kurubrong Trail, Potaro River, he and his boss, Emanuel Jeffrey, were shuttling dredging equipment when they observed a green truck proceeding in the opposite direction at a slow rate.

As such, Nicholas stopped his vehicle on the left side of the trail for the truck to pass. But instead, two loud explosions were subsequently heard, thus causing Jeffrey to take cover. Jeffrey said he heard a strange voice which ordered him to jump into the truck; he complied and entered the tray of the lorry where he saw about eight other men.

He further told Police ranks that he managed to escape by jumping off the moving truck. He made his way back to the area where Bobb had stopped, only to find him dead. A bullet wound was seen in Bobb’s right-side chest.

During an interview with Guyana Times, the grieving mother vented her frustration at the slothfulness of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in dealing with her son’s case.

“I visited the station and talk with the new Sergeant thinking that I would have get results and he told me

Dead: Nicholas Bobb

he would look into it and he also told me the file went to the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) 15 times and the police them still have to do some work, so, I don’t know,” the elder Bobb related.

Further, the mother broke down in tears as she stated that since the passing of her son, it has been diffi-

cult for the family to cope.

“It’s very hard, very hard because you know I does always say not like he was a bad person. He was working for his money and these people killed him. The whole story is that the police know who did the crime. I have an Inspector cousin and when the thing happened and he called the station to find out from the Inspector who was in charge he told my cousin that they know who was the person. They said they were looking for [name withheld] that he was the shooter,” Bobb noted.

The mother related that she is constantly in the police station, trying to garner information as to the progress of the investigation but they continue to give her the royal runaround.

“Up to now, I can’t hear nothing from the police and last time I talk with Inspector Henry they had to go for the man that was next to my son and that is the part that has me baf-

fled that there was somebody next to my son when my son was shot and they cannot hold nobody for my son’s shooting. I am not happy at all with the inception of the investigation because I was pushed around by the previous Commander. One time when I showed up at the Commissioner office, he had a lot of attitude and one time he said I was messing up the investigation.”

The heartbroken mother is contending that the police have been lax from the inception of her son’s murder.

She has been searching for the right answers ever since she got word of her son’s death and with each passing day, that quest becomes tougher.

Bobb asked every contact she has in the “bush” to find out what exactly transpired but the information she has been gathering has been conflicting. However, she is not giving up the fight any time soon and is calling on the police to be a bit more in-

vested in bringing her son’s murderers to justice.

The angry mother went as far as accusing the police in Bartica of attempting to bury the investigation since they have no interest in solving the murder. She said this was cemented in the earlier stages of the investigation since the police basically kept the family out of the loop of the investigation. She also remembered the police refusing to have the family accompany them to the murder scene to recover the body.

Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) Police Commander, Senior Superintendent Linden Lord noted that he was not the Commander at the time, but based on information he garnered from his Detective Inspector, the file was sent to the DPP three to four times and the file is at the Bartica Police Station because a directive of the DPP is that they need to continue the investigation. (Shemar Alleyne)

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SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Handyman shot multiple times in motorcycle row

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27-year-old handyman is currently battling for his life at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after his friend shot him multiple times over a motorcycle.

According to information received, Seon London, a handyman of Da Silva Street, Newtown, Kitty, Georgetown, was in the presence of his friend in Sophia, when a heated argument ensued over a motorcycle at about 18:45h on Friday.

Following the argument, the suspect reportedly

whipped out a handgun and fired four shots at London.

London was picked up by public-spirited persons and rushed to the city hospital where his condition is listed as critical.

When contacted, acting Region Four Divisional Commander, Senior Superintendent Phillip Azore confirmed that the incident took place but could not provide much information. He only said that an investigation is ongoing and ranks are currently interviewing eyewitnesses.

UG moves to set reopening at June 1

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The University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus

he University of Guyana continues to extend the closure of its campuses, with a new reopening date set for June 1.

In an issued statement, the administration noted that students continue to face challenges in accessing lectures online. Initially, the institution had proposed a reopening of May 6, but owing to the progression of the COVID-19 curve, this date was changed.

Presently, some 30 measures were taken to enhance hygienic practices on campus for when physical sessions commence.

Additionally, they have sought to expand the range of communication mediums to offer better online engagements.

“Despite challenges, the University has never stopped working. It has taken about 30 key measures in the last six weeks to help promote the importance of hygiene and safety and improve its capacity to deliver online. These range from addressing the physical risks by rapidly producing prevention protocols, including producing its own sanitisers, to installing sinks and sanitisation bays, to rolling out a slew of communication tools and applications to enhance the online experience,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the institution has created an internal task force to support its online system, along with integrating other devices on their teaching platform Moodle.

“Moodle was also integrated with plagiarism software for each student and the entity is about to test an

online proctoring software data from which may help to solve a long-term question of how to address online examinations. Additionally, 50 negotiated emergency cellphone plans were accessed from a local cellphone provider and given to all essential staff to work remotely from their homes. Policy and conditions of use were developed and these numbers were published on UG’s website.”

In order to test the experience of using these new tools, the University of Guyana’s Transitional Management Committee (TMC) deployed experience surveys (5000 respondents) and produced two reports. The institution is set to share the data in an online forum “Education after nCoV19” with other educational establishments.

Nevertheless, while these tools are available, they are still to tackle the issue of accessibility for all students.

The “Education after nCoV 19” report will be released Tuesday, May 12, via Zoom from 15:00h. Two online Turkeyen and Tain Talks will also be held on May 7 and May 14.

On March 11, the entity officially announced that it would start working in safe mode and would move its operations online as far as possible, for as long as the nCoV19 threat continued.

“The University has since been grappling with the challenges of how to keep its staff and students safe, while continuing to fulfil its national mandate as the nation’s premier tertiary level academic institution,” it later added.

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020

Around the World

Russia reports Venezuela prison riot leaves more than 40 dead almost 10,000 new

M

ore than 40 people were reportedly killed after rioting broke out at a prison in Venezuela.

Inmates at Los Llanos jail, near western Guanare city, were angry at a lack of food and water, according to the Venezuelan Prison Observatory.

The organisation called for an investigation, casting doubt on the official version that the prisoners had attempted a jail-break.

Prison staff including the governor were wounded in the incident.

The Prisons Minister Iris Varela told a Venezuelan newspaper that there had been an incident at the jail but did not give a death toll.

The incident was described as an escape attempt in

that report.

Riots in the unsanitary and overcrowded prisons of Latin America have been increasing as governments introduce containment measures to help slow the coronavirus outbreak.

Quarantine measures may mean that inmates

cannot receive food brought by relatives, on which they may depend.

The observatory, a prison watchdog, said 46 inmates had died and the local hospital's emergency department was overwhelmed with the number of wounded.

Opposition National Assembly member Maria Beatriz Martinez, tweeting from outside the prison (in Spanish), described the incident as a "massacre" and said relatives understood their loved ones would be buried in mass graves. They were demanding the bodies be returned to them, they said.

As well as the coronavirus pandemic, Venezuela is engulfed in a political crisis with two rival politicians claiming to be the country's legitimate leader.

Under President Nicolás Maduro the economy has collapsed and shortages of basic commodities have become widespread. Millions of people have fled to neighbouring countries. (Excerpt from BBC)

amaican diplomat, Andrea L M Wilson, is among 10 finalists for the position of Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression (RELE), which reports to the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).

The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression also works in coordination with the executive secretariat of the IACHR, and is based at the headquarters of the Organisation of American States (OAS) in Washington.

The IACHR said that during its internal session late last month, the 10 finalists were shortlisted and apart from Wilson, the others came from

the United States, Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil.

The IACHR said that in total it had received 81 applications and the short list is based on the criteria established in the call for applications, as well as on gender parity and the representation of the different regions of the Americas.

“We are very pleased with the interest in this contest on the part of highly qualified individuals with extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of the area of freedom of expression,” said IACHR president, Joel Hernández, adding “we had to choose from a large number of candidates of high excellence, as

reflected in the level of the finalists”.

The IACHR said that the process by which the commission selects the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression is governed by the relevant regulations.

“With the publication of the names of the finalists, a public consultation process is opened. In accordance with Article 15.4 of its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR will receive observations from OAS member states and civil society on these finalists,” it added.

It said that the deadline for submitting observations is midnight, June 15, and that the IACHR executive secretariat would contact the finalists to produce a

video to be published on the IACHR website within the next two weeks, explaining their proposals in the event that they are elected special rapporteur.

Following the presentation of comments, the IACHR will select five candidates from among the finalists who will be interviewed by the plenary session of the commission.

On July 13, the commission will announce the list of five selected persons who will be interviewed on September 14 and 15, with the new head of the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression being announced on September 15. (Excerpt from CMC)

The injured were brought to this hospital in Guanare (Reuters photo)

coronavirus cases

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ussia reported 9,623 new coronavirus cases - its highest daily rise since the start of the pandemic - bringing the total to 124,054, mostly in the capital Moscow.

The death toll nationwide rose to 1,222 after 57 people died in the last 24 hours, Russia's coronavirus crisis response centre said on Saturday.

Concern was growing in Moscow that hospitals might become overwhelmed after recording the new one-day high of infections, a 20 percent increase over Friday's count, which itself was a new daily record.

Despite lockdown measures, infection numbers have been rising at an alarming rate for days in the world's largest country by area.

Moscow is the worst-affected part of Russia, accounting for about 62,600 cases, about half of the nationwide total.

People there who have not obtained a special permit for free movement are only able to leave their homes to shop, walk their dogs, and dispose of rubbish.

President Vladimir Putin has ordered the restrictive measures, called non-working days, to continue until May 11 when the country finishes celebrating the Labour Day and Victory Day holidays. Despite a relatively low number of cases and deaths compared with the United States, Italy and Spain, which have been hit hardest by the disease, Russia's infection curve has not reached a plateau.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Jamaican diplomat on US free expression rapporteur shortlist Tanzania opposition MPs to boycott Parliament J after 3 MPs die

New York Governor warns against 'blindly' reopening states

N

ew York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Saturday pushed back against what he called premature demands that he reopen the state, saying he knew people were struggling without jobs but that more understanding of the new coronavirus was needed.

As governors in about half of the United States partially reopen their economies over this weekend, Cuomo said he needed much more information on what the pandemic was doing in his state, the hardest hit by the disease, before he loosens restrictions aimed at curbing its spread.

“Even when you are in uncharted waters, it doesn’t mean you proceed blindly,” he said. “Use information to determine action - not emotions, not politics, not what people think or feel, but what we know in terms of

People rest and enjoy the day at Central Park maintaining social distancing norms, in the Manhattan borough of New York City, US, May 2, 2020 (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)

facts.”

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy echoed Cuomo’s slow-go restart approach, even as he reported “positive trends,” including a decline in the number of hospital patients with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

While the number of deaths has trended lower in recent days, New Jersey’s toll, second only to New York’s, stood at 7,742, which Murphy cited as a key reason for maintaining his stay-at-home order.

“The family, friends and neighbors who we have lost are the reason why we can-

not rush our restart,” he said at a news briefing. “We need to keep seeing these lines moving in these directions before we can put New Jersey on the road back, and before we’re able to responsibly restart our economy.”

And many U.S. eastern seaboard residents enjoyed a perfect spring day on Saturday, those in New Jersey had access to more outdoor space as Murphy allowed the state’s parks and golf courses to reopen for the first time in a month, warning they would be shut again if social distancing requirements were violated.

“Anecdotal and preliminary” reports suggest that the rules were being observed, he said.

Georgia and Texas are leading the way in the partial reopening of businesses that had been shuttered by the pandemic. (Excerpt from Reuters)

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anzania's leading opposition party has called for a suspension of Parliament after three legislators died of unknown causes in the past 11 days.

Freeman Mbowe, chairman of the opposition Chadema party, has repeatedly accused the government of covering up the true extent of the coronavirus pandemic and implied the MPs had died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the pathogen.

"We regret to continue receiving the deaths of MPs and other Tanzanians caused by the COVID-19 infections," Mbowe said in a statement on Friday, calling on Parliament to suspend its business for at least 21 days and test all MPs, parliament staff and their families.

"We believe more strict measures are needed to protect the lawmakers as well as the wider Tanzanians.

As the authorities are yet to make decisions, we want our MPs to be safe by immediately isolating," he added.

Mbowe also asked his party's legislators to self-quarantine for at least two weeks and stop attending parliamentary sessions.

His comments came after it was announced that Augustine Mahiga, Tanzania's minister for constitution and legal affairs, had died earlier on Friday, with no official explanation for his death. The legislator was 74.

His death followed that of Gertrude Rwakatare on April 20 and Richard Ndassa on April 29.

The government has not commented on the cause of

President Magufuli has asked Tanzanians to continue religious and commercial activities despite the outbreak of coronavirus [File: Sadi Said/ Reuters]

their deaths, issuing statements only to announce their passing and convey condolences.

Last month, Parliament announced that one MP had tested positive for the new coronavirus.

By Wednesday, Tanzania had confirmed 480 coronavirus cases and 16 deaths, the only update it has given in the past nine days.

Regular updates were being given until President John Magufuli on April 22 said the Ministry of Health was "causing panic" with their announcements of cases and deaths.

Tanzania is one of a few countries in Africa that has not taken drastic measures against COVID-19, and Magufuli is among a handful of world leaders still playing down the seriousness of the disease.

Schools and universities have been shut, but markets and other commercial activities are still going on, with Magufuli urging citizens to continue working hard and not stop going to church or mosques. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020

21

Archie

ARIES

If you offer to lend a help(March 21- ing hand, you will gain expeApril 19) rience as well as a good connection. Strive for personal growth, self-improvement and romance. Success can be yours!

Don’t shy away from TAURUS change when you can embrace (April 20May 20) it. Take on a challenge that has a worthwhile reward. Don’t let uncertainty or fear cause you to miss out. Take care of whatever comes your way.

Handle emotional matters GEMINI with care. Don’t trust unreli(MAY 28- able sources. Put your enerJune 20) gy into personal pursuits that will increase your knowledge, improve your appearance or bring you joy.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Do things your way and keep moving forward. A change you make at home will help you do chores more easily. Discussions will improve a meaningful relationship.

Don’t let impulse take control. Avoid unwise purchases, ramshackle plans and risky joint ventures. Go over personal contracts and check for loopholes. Romance is favored.

VIRGO Don’t let the past hold you back. Learn from expe(Aug. 23rience and put your faith in Sept. 22) the future. Follow your instincts when dealing with your health and affairs of the heart.

LIBRA Take care of your responsi(Sept. 23- bilities without asking for help.

Oct. 23) Other people will slow you down, criticize and complain.

A change at home will turn out better than anticipated.

Peanuts

Use your charm, ingenuity SCORPIO and persuasive tactics to get (Oct. 24others to pitch in and help. A Nov. 22) partnership looks promising if you give each other enough space to grow personally and creatively.

SAGITTARIUS Face change and obstacles (Nov. 23- head-on. If you are up-front, Dec. 21) you will gain respect as well as the help you need to improve your life. Make love and romance priorities.

Get together with friends CAPRICORN or make changes at home (Dec. 22that will add to your comfort.

Jan. 19) A heart-to-heart talk with someone close to you will resolve pending issues and concerns.

Calvin and Hobbes

Don’t put up with threats AQUARIUS or ultimatums. Know when (Jan. 20to walk away from situations Feb. 19) that are detrimental to your health, finances or emotional well-being. Pay more attention to your needs.

PISCES The past will provide you with insight into a certain (Feb. 20situation. Connect with an Mar. 20) old friend or revisit an idea that you would like to pursue. A personal change will lift your spirits.

22

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he iBET Supreme FIFA 20 them, and that’s what’s been happen‘League of Champions’ eSports ing directly on the end of our competchampionship will enter into itors”. the tense rounds today, as eight reBarrow maintained: “The intermaining participants begin their first net is one of the biggest problems. leg of the quarterfinal.

Hopefully, that is going to get better The tournament, which got unin time. In the future, we will be lookderway just a week ago, is now at the ing to host tournaments throughout quarter-final stage, following comGuyana with technological improvepletion of the Round of 16 in the past ments. This is something we hope can week. advance, so that we can have bigger Eight of the best players have now and better tournaments. For exambooked their quarter-final spots, and ple, we could not have any contestwill be going toe-to-toe on the nights ants this time around from Bartica, of May 3 and 5 with an eye on securbecause of the terrible quality of ining for themselves a semi-final spot. ternet in that region”.

Among the favourites thus far are “I can safely say that iBET Tevin Bremner, Pernell Cummings Supreme is looking to get involved in and Akeem Allicock, who all booked all facets of gaming in Guyana. We their respective quarter-final spots will continue with the eSports drive, in convincing fashion. However, the and seek to get into live sports as other five all proved their class with well”. hard fought battles, and it will make The quarter-fiRound of 16 Results: for tantalizing encounters, all in all. nals will get underMatch 9: Akil Harper (FC Barcelona) 4-3 Marvin Bremner, who faced Vance way at 7:30pm on each Quarter-final Fixtures Johnson (Q) (Liverpool) (6-6 Aggregate) (M. Validum, won on a 7-4 aggregate, match night, and will Sunday (May 3) (1st Leg) Johnson through on away goals) with his Liverpool team playing be streamed via iBet Match 17: QF-1: Emuwnah Pross (Real Match 10: Jamol Thompson (Chelsea) 3-6 the first leg away. Bremner handSupreme’s Facebook Madrid CF) vs Lorenzo Forde (PSG) Shaquone Prince (Q)(Man City) (5-7 aggregate) ed Validum a 3-1 loss, and returned page.

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Match 23: QF-3: Jonathan Hutson (Man City) Bremner (Liverpool) (1st Leg) Juventus 2-1 before recording a 2-0 The third-place vs Akeem Allicock (FC Barcelona) Match 16: (Q) Tevin Bremner (Liverpool) 4-3 win in the return fixture. finisher will reMatch 24: QF-4: Tevin Bremner (Liverpool) Vance Validum (Liverpool) (7-4 aggregate) Commenting on the proceive $15,000, a case vs Shaquone Prince (Man City) gress of the tournament thus far, of Monster Energy iBET’s Marketing and Business Drink, and a Church’s because we are still learning a few things as we proDevelopment Coordinator Dustanni Chicken meal.

Barrow noted: “The level of competitiveness was in- gress in the tournament. This is the first time that Interested persons can register by calling 608credible in the Round of 16 games. All were very a tournament like this is being held in Guyana. The 7036. close, all the players were anxious, waiting to get biggest issue thus far has been the internet. We’ve Sponsors of the event are: Banks DIH, under their games done. There was also a level of camara- had some problems with internet speed for various their Monster Energy Drink; Church’s Chicken; derie amongst them. I expect an even more intense contestants, but we have been making it work.

A&A Gamespot; Smoke Shack; and NCN, who are “If persons have been looking at our livestreams, programmed to stream the semifinals, third place level in the upcoming quarter-finals.”

He also pointed out: “This initial setup is good, certain times there has been buffering in some of and final.

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he proposed NexGen Golf Academy was launched in an effort to ensure that the sport is made more fun and is accessible to students and new players.

This Academy, headed by Aleem Hussain and Rudy Ramalingum, plans to provide the best in entertainment golf (where both beginning and established golfers can win prizes), while also presenting for enjoyment a unique atmosphere of music, food and drinks, and training for students of all ages.

They said the idea of teaching golf in schools has been tossed around for many years, but will now become a reality, as the sport can be taught as a CAPE/CXC subject.

“We intend to have 300 students under instruction by end of 2020, and hope that we can provide golf as an entertainment alternative to thousands of people in Guyana,” Ramalingum said.

Students will be able to take the theoretical course in a classroom, and then come to the fields for their practical work. A top coach has been identified to become the technical advisor

to the program, and will be visiting from Trinidad on a regular basis until the local coaches are certified.

The entertainment model is similar to the branded Top Golf which has revolutionized the sport in the USA. It is designed to create a welcoming atmosphere for all levels of golfers; from those who have never touched a club to the well-versed players.

Two locations in the heart of Georgetown have been identified, and the Academy plans on having its grand opening within days of the Government’s decision to reopen the country after COVID-19.

Top-notch food, drinks, and lots of challenges under the lights will ensure that lots of persons become interested in the sport.

Several major companies, such as Cimgro, Macorp, Copa Airlines, Marriott, Scouts Association of Guyana, New Trend Auto, Nand Persaud Group, are among many who have indicated that they will be partnering with the Academy to provide exposure of the sport and their products to the players; and will roll out a marketing campaign in time for

the launch.

Nexgen is the exclusive marketing agency for the new 18-hole golf course currently being developed by CIMGRO in Mahaica. Can you imagine 20/20 cricket format being brought to golf? that’s what Nexgen is doing: less time, more skill, total fun packed into a period of half to one hour of excitement.

Hussain, in a statement, said: “Golf is probably the only sport that allows for the opportunity to exercise safely, since it is played in open air and has lots of distance between players. As president of the Guyana Golf Association, I advise all players follow the Government and PAHO safety guidelines. This is a serious issue that needs all of our efforts to overcome it, and we can use golf to pursue a healthy environment for exercise while maintaining social distancing.

“I have sought permission from the various ministries and organizations to permit golfers to be allowed to play if they follow the rules implemented by the Government. The response, while not officially con-

NexGen Golf Academy President, Aleem Hussain

firmed, has been favourable, and we could see a relaxing of the rules for golf in the coming weeks.

“From a health perspective, exercising is key to maintaining a good defence against infections, and we urge the Government and sports organizations to make provisions for safe performance of exercise and workouts.”

The new course will be the best in the entire Caricom region, and would attract more international golfers than any other tourist destination.

The proposed date for completion is the end of 2021.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020

By Jemima Holmes

F

rom a very young age, those who are destined for greatness are conditioned to work harder than their peers in order to achieve their goals. However, for most athletes in Guyana, the job of making their dreams a reality is twice as hard, having to balance the pressure of school and staying on top of their game.

Ask any track and field athlete around about the motto they live by and they will say “hard work beats talents when talent doesn’t work hard”, highlighting the need for a balance in their lives and athletic careers.

Since his days at the Tucville Primary School, Georgetown, Deron Roberts was identified as a star on the track and in the classroom. The young man was a permanent feature in the National School’s Track and Field Championships every year, while maintaining grades in the 90 percentile each school term.

As he moved on to his Secondary education at the Christ Church Secondary School, expectantly the balance became more difficult, but for the now 18-year-old athlete, determination and focus became his greatest assets.

In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Times Sport, Roberts a product of the Running Brave Athletics Club, shared a little about his journey in the athletics world.

“It has been very competitive, as it relates to persons training to come for me.

And being up top there, means I had to train twice as hard so that I could stay on top and be the best that I could be,” he noted.

Following his time at Christ Church, Roberts moved to the Morgan Learning Centre where he completed his secondary education, gaining passes in every subject written and moved on to Queen’s College, where he is currently a Lower Sixth student. Commenting on the need for balance in his life, Roberts shared some challenges that himself and other athletes might face in such a position.

“Challenges include, 1. Staying fit. 2, n the event of injury it tells a lot on your mind, so staying mentally fit as well and 3, just trying to be a normal student in school. ” “It’s all about determination. Because, school takes from 8 to three in the after-

23

noon, that’s studying and the I have to go and train as well. So, determination comes in when at nights after training you have to do homework, as well as prepare for the next training day,” the sprint athlete went on to share with this publication when probed about his coping mechanisms.

At the National School’s Track and Field championships in 2019, it was a tale of heartbreak for Roberts as he pulled up after about 25M into the 100M final.

This injury technically ruled the athlete out of the remaining week of competition.

Speaking on the set back, Roberts shared that it took a mental on him.

Deron Roberts going through the warm up paces

Roberts, following a sprint double achievement at Nationals 2018

Roberts in action

“The mental toll is immense, as it relates to coming back. Just the season before, we had some development meets and I wasn’t able to compete because I was still healing, but when I do get to compete, it’s a lot of licks.

But that all in the game and I hope to come out better next time,” he explained.

Back on the track in 2020, the teenager stepped up to the challenge of the Early Season Classic which was hosted by the

Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), in hopes to intermingle the senior and junior athletes. Coming up against the like of, Davin Fraser, Akeem Stewart and Emmanuel Archibald, the aspiring sprinter noted that it was a humbling experience.

“It was very discouraging; it broke me mentally. But thank God for coaches and the rest of people that support me so that I could move on,” he said.

In spite of those hurdles, the track star shared that he is still focused on his goals, with a clear plan in mind.

“It’s a chance of redemption. So that I can prove to myself and others that I am still here and I’m still working toward my goals,” Deron stated, as he explained his intention to qualify for the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) Games which are slated for Bermuda in 2021. After which, the aspiring medicine student has his sights set on schooling overseas and then on to the big stage.

“Firstly, it’s to get a scholarship, to be able to study overseas. After then, it’s to go pro, Olympics and medal.”

This publication the inquired about the struggles that Roberts may be facing in wake of the Coronavirus restrictions, to which he answered that it can affect an athlete’s fitness level.

“It is very strenuous due to the fact that we’re at home right now and the work that we put in last year to get ready for this year is gone. Fitness is a thing that goes very quickly, so it’s hard because we can’t go outside to do any long running so we have to stay at home. And even when you’re home, there isn’t adequate equipment or anything that you can use to maintain that fitness.”

“Just be obedient to your coaches or look online for some programs that your can uses, like some jump work, fitness work, high knees, even some push ups or some abs would be very beneficial,” Roberts went on to say, as he shared some tips for staying fit during this time.

For those who know Deron well, there is always a loud cheer whenever he takes the track, for this the athlete shared that he is grateful for his consistent support system.

“Well first of all, God, my parents my brothers, my coach and all the athletes of the running Brave athletic club.”

– anticipate call to return home

W

hile some local cyclists have the luxury to train with their masks in Guyana, top National cycling duo, Michael Anthony and Jamual John have been on total lockdown in the United States of America (USA). The dynamic cycling duo departed Guyanese shores on March 4 to ply their trade in the USA with the Foundation Cycling Club.

In addition to the hundreds of Guyanese stuck in the USA, John and Anthony are anticipating a call where they can return to their homeland. Having departed on March 4, this duo was expected to return to Guyana in September but with the Covid-19 having the world on its knees, with all borders being closed, the Foundation cycling team were trying to get the Guyanese home, since all races were postponed.

Anthony and John have not been able to ride but certainly they have Anthony and John (second and third left) with their team been keeping fit while staying indoors and practicing all measures against Covid-19. Prior to their departure, the duo received a

host of support. John, in particular, who was the top cyclist in 2019 in Guyana, recording eight wins and topping the Guyana Points Classification, was supported by DeSinco Limited.

Meanwhile, the lad from Linden, Anthony finished second on the Guyana Points Classification in 2019, recording five wins in the year. The impressive Anthony who also accompanied John to Cuba for the Elite Road Caribbean championship last November finished in the top ten in that event.

The Foundation Cycling Club that is based in New York are known for giving cyclists the opportunity to ride overseas. Raynauth Jeffery, a former top cyclist in Guyana is also on the 2020 Team Foundation roster. (Brandon Corlette)

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Guyanese cyclists John and Anthony stranded in USA Pg 23

– anticipate call to return home

Flashback! Anthony takes down John (Brandon Corlette photo)

Balancing books and track…

Deron Roberts has eyes set on success Pg 23

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uyanese, will on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 observe East Indian Arrival Day; an occasion commemorating the 182nd anniversary of their arrival, bringing with them their ancient customs, food and culture from India.

Under a system of agreement, an order in the Council of Britain was passed on July 12, 1838 making provision for indentured immigrants to travel to Guyana for a term of five years.

On January 13, 1838 the Whitby left the shores of India with 249 immigrants on board and arrived in Guyana on the 5th May 1838 after a voyage of 112 days. Five immigrants died during the voyage. The Whitby proceeded first to Berbice and landed 164 passengers at Hilbury, East Bank Berbice, nearly 12 miles from New Amsterdam.

East of the capital, the same day it returned

to Vreed-en-hoop, West Demerara and landed 80 passengers. Out of the 244 immigrants that came with the Whitby they were 233 men, 5 women and 6 children. The first man to step on shore in Berbice was Anant Ram while in Demerara the first man to disembark was Nutha Khan.

On January 29, 1838, the Hesperus sailed from Calcutta sixteen days later than the Whitby, with 165 persons on board. It arrived at Port Georgetown on the night of May 5th 1838, 13 immigrants died during the voyage including two persons who fell over-board. Out of the 152 immigrants that came on board the Hesperus, were 135 men, 6 women and 11 children.

On January 26, 1845 ‘Lord Hunger’ left Calcutta with 162 passengers on board, the ship arrived in Georgetown on May 4, 1845, and ten persons died on the way. Next ship was the ‘Success’, which arrived on July 21, 1845 with 231 passengers, 14 died on the way. Next was the ‘Nester’, which arrived on December 26, 1845 with 233 persons and brought 500 bags of rice.

On February 2, 1846 ‘Manchester’ then the ‘Thetis’ followed by the ‘Tamerlane’ the ‘Martin Luther’ and ‘Troy” in succession, then the ‘John Wickliffe’, the ‘Bussorary Merchant’, the ‘Aurora’, ‘Lady Mekennaway’ and lastly the ‘SS Ganges’, which docked in Georgetown on April 18, 1917. Bringing that period, 79 years238,979 indentured labourers journeyed from India to Guyana to work under colonial administration. They were distributed to various locations on the coastland of Guyana.

The plantation system and conditions were not favourable at all. The immigrants worked from sunrise to sunset and were so poorly paid that they were just able to exist. They slaved and provided luxurious living for their masters. They brought with them a rich culture and heritage together with a language.

The indentured immigrants were disciplined and found satisfaction in honest and productive work. They were kind, hospitable and generous and they lived contented lives.

They made tremendous sacrifices so that their descendants would be able to enjoy a better standard of living.

The foremost characteristic of the struggle of the East Indian

immigrants against indenture and plantation system was their unity. Their unity had been forged on shipboard. Those who came on the same ship were considered as ship brothers and sisters-“Jahaji”.

A further contributing factor to unity was that everyone came with an inter-faith mind of mainly Hindus and Muslims and there was also a belief that the caste system has been lost through the crossing of ‘Kaala’ Pani (Black Water). Through the years the community spirit has manifested itself in various situationsforming groups singing Ramayan, Bhajanas reading of the Holy Quran and observing the various festivals and holi days etc.

The plantation owners and the colonial administration feared the unity of the workers and used several techniques to destroy it. By January 1830, there was evidence that the Indian labourers were being mistreated. Far more significant were the uprisings, which frequently led to tragic deaths of immigrant workers protesting illegal wages, bad conditions and the exploitation of their women.

There were eight main disturbances on sugar plantations leading to shooting by colonial police from Devonshire Castle in 1872 to 1948 at Enmore. At Vreed-en-hoop, West Bank Demerara an English nurse Betsy Ann testified that she had witnessed the flogging of immigrants with the cat-o-nine tails, and another woman Elizabeth Caesar witnessed the flogging of immigrants under the manager’s house after which, salt pickle was rubbed on to their backs.

Figures show that one out of every five immigrants were brought before the courts; not for offences of a criminal nature but for resistance to a plantation system, which was supported by the judiciary and colonial administration.

There were no trade unions until recent times.

The East Indians have contributed in a significant way to build Guyana’s economic and social structures. It was indeed the unity of principle and action among East Indians that brought overwhelming success to our dear land of Guyana. (Adapted from an article by Shan Razak; 2013 Guyana Times newspaper)

guyanatimesgy.com

MAY 3, 2020

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Feature

O

ne of the survival mechanisms of the Indian immigrants was to exchange their right of a return passage to India for small plots of lands on which they planted rice. The land was invariably worth less than the return passage but they accepted the exchange since they would have by then made the decision to remain in Guyana.

This crop was first cultivated commercially at Plantation Edinburg on the West Coast of Demerara.

The group plans to demonstrate the early method of rice cultivation where stalks of paddy were first cultivated in a small “biyari” and then transplanted laboriously by hand to the “rice beds”. Today, the rice industry - which includes the milling, packaging and shipping of rice is the largest employer in Guyana and brings in huge amounts of foreign currency.

such that by 1917, when shipments of rice from Burma was interrupted due to WWI, they supplied the total needs of the country (more than 20,000 tons) was as well as exporting 14,000 tons to the Caribbean Islands.

In 2015, Guyana produced over 600,000 tons of rice, most of it by Indian farmers, and this is now the largest agricultural product far exceeding sugar.

Cattle, coconut and Vegetables

Because the vast majority of the Indian immigrants were from the agricultural castes - 90% from North India, primarily Bihar and Uttar Pradesh - and 10% from the Madras Presidency - they also initiated several other agricultural ventures. These include coconut, vegetable, and cattle and dairy farming to such a level that exports markets were also opened up once the domestic market were satisfied. The Indians created an agrarian revolution in Guyana and into the present has ensured that food prices are the lowest in the Caribbean region.

Guyana earned the title “breadbasket of the Caribbean” Manufacturing

The Indians entered the manufacturing sector when they bought and operated factories to mill rice and produce coconut oil. They increasingly diversified the economy to become resilient to external shocks.

Jewellery

Among the Indian immigrants were a number of persons who were skilled in crafting filigree jewellery especially in gold and silver. This was produced in Guyana in increasing quantities especially from the 1890’s and now forms a significant sector of the Guyanese economy.

Shopkeepers, hucksters and markets

While the Portuguese and Chinese immigrants entered the retail trade before the Indians, the latter soon exceeded them in numbers. According to one source, by the first quarter of the 20th century, there were already 238 Indian jewellers; 445 shopkeepers; 845 hucksters; 259 milk-sellers; 12, 465 rice farmers and 13, 700 landed proprietors, agriculturists and cattle farmers. Today Indians are dominant in the retail trade including operating modern shopping malls.

Political

The Indian-Guyanese contributions to Guyana

The indentured Indian immigrants and their descendants, who came to British Guiana between 1838 and 1917 constitute the largest group in the population - albeit down from 51.9% in 1980 to 39.5% in 2012. They played critical roles in all spheres of national life: economic, political and cultural.

Indian Indentureship to British Guiana started on May 5, 1838 to work on the sugar plantations, since it was anticipated by the planters - and proven true - that the emancipated African slaves would decamp. Half of them left within a decade of emancipation and sugar production plummeted.

Between 1838-1917, with several stops and starts, 239, 909 Indian immigrants arrived while 75,547 returned to India. The remainder who survived the high death rates, made Guyana their home and a better place.

Saving sugar and country

Their first contribution was to save the sugar industry and even expanded it by a factor of three. In doing so they rescued the entire country since the drainage and irrigation that made the coastland where 90% of the population live, demanded huge expenditures that only a revenue generator like sugar could sustain. The alternative was that like Haiti, Guyana would have degenerated into a subsistence economy.

Creating the RICE Industry

Because of their scanty wages which even the freed slaves refused, many Indians turned to cultivating rice on small plots of marginal, swampy land they relieve in exchange for their contracted return passage to India. Later they were to purchase larger plots and expand cultivation

Overseers sexually harassing Indian woke also caused these protests. Over 600 strikes and protests were recorded starting from 1869 during Indentureship up to 1948, which resulted in the killings of 50 Indians and the wounding of hundreds. These were the most sustained efforts to claim civil rights before the introduction of the

Up to 1953 there were restrictions on the franchise such as being able to speak English, and having a stipulated income etc, which acted to exclude most immigrants from voting representatives to the Legislature. In 1911, there were only 251 Indian voters out of a total of 4408 (5.69%) even though they were 42.74 of the population. The first Indian was elected into the Legislature in 1916 and three by 1931.

In 1950, with universal franchise on the horizon, Dr Cheddi Jagan ushered Guyana into the modern political age in the struggle for independence. He has been called “father of Independence”. He formed the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) in that year and won 18 out of 24 seats at the 1953 elections. Britain’s PM PM Winston Churchill, removed him from office after 133 days because he felt Jagan was a communist. Elected again four later after they split the PPP, he was ousted from office in 1964 through CIA inspired riots.

He was out of office as the Leader of the Opposition for 28 years until 1992. His successors were Bharat Jagdeo (1999-2013) and Donald Ramotar (2013-2015).

During the post-WWII era, several attempts were made to establish political parties based on Indian support: Lionel Luckhoo - National Labour Front (1957); Justice Party Balram Singh Rai and Jai Narine Singh; Guiana United Muslim Party (GUMP) - Hoosein Ghanie, both in 1964.

Rise, Organise and Rebuild Guyana (ROAR) movement of Ravindra Dev was the only one to win a seat (2001) from Indian votes.

Resistance, Labour activity and unions

The Indentured Labourers came to Guyana consequent to a Labour contract that spelled out the conditions of work, if it was violated then they (Indians) were subject to criminal penalties. The converse was difficult for the immigrants to prove so they resorted to strikes and protest when they occurred.

universal franchise.

In 1937, Ayube Mohamed Edun established a labour union – the Manpower Citizens’ Association (MPCA) in the sugar industry. The killing of five protesting workers in 1939 pushed membership to over 20,000. Unfortunately, it was “bought out” by the Sugar Producers and was challenged by Joseph Lachhman-singh’s Guiana Industrial Workers’ Union in the 1940s and, from the 1960s, by the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union both of which were affiliated to the Peoples Progressive Party of Cheddi Jagan.

Social groups and Plural Society

The Indians brought their distinctive culture into Guyana and helped to make it into a vibrant multi-Cultural land by heroically maintaining their practices even as they were adapted to their new circumstances.

The British Guiana East Indian Association (BEIA) was formed in 1916, and until the formation of trade unions and political parties in the 1940ms and 1950’s was the main vehicle representing Indian interests. Other organisations were formed such as the Susamachar East Indian Young Men’s Society; Balak Sahaita Mandalee (Children’s Welfare Society); Dharamsala; British Guiana Dramatic Society and helped to present Indian culture to the rest of the society.

Culture - Food and Music

The dishes of the Bhojpuri belt of north India have now become staples in the Guyanese diet - Dhall, rice, curry and sweetmeats.

Indian music - especially of the Bhojpuri variant remain popular and a fusion music derived from the Indian folk tradition called “Chutney” has been introduced and is widely shared by other groups. Traditional Indian wear such as saris, kurtas, shalwar etc are worn especially at cultural events and weddings and add to the colour of the Caribbean milieu.

Religion

The Indian immigrants also maintained their religious orientation against great odds as strangers in a strange land.

On arrival there were approximately 86% Hindus and 14% Muslims with not more than a smattering of Christians. On the plantations, they were offered land to construct Mandirs and Masjids and by the end of Indentureship there were at least fifty of each strung along the coast. Indians made Guyana into a multi religious society and even though there was intense proselytization by the government-supported Christian Churches both religions have remained strong.

Divali, Holi, Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha are all public holidays that receive wide public participation.

Several religious organisations, most prominently the British Guiana Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha and the Sad’r Anjuman E-Islam were established in 1927 and 1937, respectively.

Indians have left a rich legacy of art, dance, literature and music.

Sports

Very early on Indians began to play cricket and established the East Indian Cricket Club in Georgetown during the 1930’s. In the rural areas the sport became organised in the 1940’s when teams from Guyana visited and competed in Trinidad and Suriname.

In the modern era, Rohan Khanai and Joe Solomon were the first Indians to be selected for the West Indies team and made their mark on world cricket. They were followed most famously by Alvin Kallicharran, Shivnarine and Ramnaresh Sarwan. Recently, there were several other Indian cricketers in the WI team, such as Bishoo, Chandrika, Fudadin and Permaul.

The Guyanese of Indian Ancestry Association would take the month of May to highlight some of the contributions of Guyanese Indians and to maintain the Jahaji Bond.

-GIAA Committee Visit us on Facebook (Guyanese-of-Indian-AncestryAssociation-GIAA) for the full article.

4

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

MAY 3, 2020

Feature

Photo #1

A

s promised in last week’s PET CARE Column, we will deal today with snake bites from poisonous snakes, within the context of emergencies.

General

SNAKE BITES

1. Below are some pictures associated with the text that some readers might find disconcerting. You may wish not to focus on them, but please read the accompanying material.

2. Fatal snake bites are much more common in dogs than in cats and domestic livestock.

3. Dogs with long, thick, fluffy hair seem not to get the full brunt of the snake bite, compared to short-haired dogs.

4. My smart textbooks and internet browsing reveal (and I am sharing the wisdom with you) that the caregiver, wherever possible,

Photo #2 should: (a) ascertain what type of snake actually bit the dog - via a photo; verbal description by phone; bringing to the vet the actual dying/dead snake, which the owner may have butchered and (b) describe the bite markings on the dog.

This latter advice has to do with the fact that non-venomous snakes leave behind horseshoe-like bite markings, while poisonous snakes make puncture wounds in the skin, The poison is contained in glands which are connected by canals leading to the fangs (=teeth) in the top jaw.

5. It has been mentioned in previous PET CARE columns that dogs in general and puppies in particular are curious and therefore love nothing better than to make playful contact with another strange ani-

Photo #3 mal – be it a scorpion, a centipede, a frog or a snake. This penchant can have some painful, even deadly, consequences.

6.

Where confrontation/interaction with snakes is concerned, our canine wards are lucky, in that not many snakes are poisonous. Also, snakes generally do not want to get into a fight with dogs of any size or participate in playful aggressiveness; they would much prefer to slither away.

However, once a serious contention has begun, that which may have begun as a playful episode can have dire sequelae.

7. I must confess, that over the many decades practising veterinary medicine in snakefilled territories, I have not seen many horseshoe markings on a bitten dog, even after meticulous search on the skin, and/ or questioning of the owner about the history of the incident. Usually, the obvious symptoms are evident.

8. Snake venom almost exclusively attacks the Central Nervous System (CNS). The symptoms, therefore, are analogous to disturbances of the CNS.

Symptoms

Obviously, the severity of the poisoning and the magnitude of the symptoms are associated with the number of bites the dog received, and how much venom has been injected into the poor pooch. Since, as was mentioned above, it is the CNS that is assaulted, it is logical that the following symptoms are noted soon after the venom has entered the animal’s body: * Incoordination of movement (staggering). * Paralysis. * Cramps/seizures (convulsions). * Excessive panting and drooling. * Swelling at the bite location. * Expressions of pain (howling) Vomiting and diarrhea can also follow later, as a result of the toxin (venom) that the snake has injected into the dog.

Treatment

Even as you make preparation to get the dog to the vet, try to implement the following: 1. As soon as possible, try to wash the wound with a lot of water. Use a hose pipe, if one is available.

2. Restrain the dog. Snake bites are painful; and you do not want to be on the receiving end of your pet’s bite reaction.

3. If you are not squeamish and are courageous enough, you may wish to use a razor blade to make cuts where the fang marks are. Not too deep; a ¼ inch would suffice. Squeeze the cuts (blood should ooze out; do not panic at this point).

Sop up the oozing discharge with cotton wool/tissue.

4. If the bite wounds are on the extremi-

Photo #4 ties, you should place a tourniquet above the bite site. Release it every 15-20 seconds. You see where we are going with this. We need to stop the poison getting into the blood stream (and thence to all the body organs and tissues).

5. Try to placate the dog as much as possible. Nothing that you do should create too much excitement, before and during the trip to the Vet’s Clinic. Too much struggling will increase the rate of absorption of the poison.

Some veterinarians advise that you could put your mouth to the bite wound and try to suck the poison out; spitting the liquid immediately out of your mouth and rinsing after each attempt. This maneuver is clearly risky, especially if there is an inflammatory condition (sore lips, gum disease, etc.) in and around your mouth. It is, also, unaesthetic.

Treatment

I do not know if any Vet Clinic has stocks of polyvalent antidotes relative to snake bites. Hospitals for humans usually have these drugs in their medication arsenals.

Your veterinarian would be able to contact such medical facilities and try to acquire the pertinent antivenoms.

Once your dog arrives at the Vet Clinic, the staff will act promptly and administer the necessary medication (including antibiotics and anti-inflammatories) and wound treatment/dressings.

Having documented all the above, it would be remiss of me not to mention that, over the years, I have noticed a marked decrease in the amount of snake bite cases arriving at my Clinic. Allow me, nevertheless, to share with you an account of a case that came to me a few weeks ago.

The dog “Champ” had a confrontation with a snake. The snake got in the first bite, which resulted in the swelling and lesions to the mouth and tongue (see photo # 1). [The swelling of the tongue must be reduced as continued swelling will block the entry of air to the windpipe (trachea) and the animal would die of suffocation (asphyxiation). In such a state, the vet would have to make an emergency incision in the windpipe]. “Champ” was able to bite the snake in half, killing it (see photo #2); after 10 days of prescribed treatment which the owner dutifully and painstakingly administered, “ Champ” was recovering well (see photo #3). Two weeks thereafter “Champ” has fully recovered (see photo #4).

The dog is happy, the owners are happy; and the vet – well, it reminds me of what veterinary practice is all about. The pictures are courtesy of the “Lord” family from Patentia, West Coast Demerara.

Next week, we will address the issue of frog/toad poisoning.

Happy Arrival Day!

guyanatimesgy.com

MAY 3, 2020

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Feature

I

n the sugar belt of colonial Guyana, the Man Power Citizens’ Association (MPCA) was formed under the leadership of Ayube Edun, a goldsmith and publisher of the Guiana Review newspaper, and Mr C.R. Jacob, a successful merchant and member of the existing Legislative Council. Its general secretary was Harri Barron. All three of these people had certain prominence in the struggle for greater political rights for East Indians, and Jacob was not only a merchant but also president of the East Indian Association.

The MPCA was officially registered on November 5, 1937, and it concentrated its energies on organizing primarily among workers in the sugar industry. At the same time, the British Guiana Workers League also solicited members within the industry with emphasis on factory and clerical workers.

The sugar strikes of the early and middle 1930s occurred without there being in existence any organized union to direct them. Although, as we have seen, the British Guiana Labour Union had some influence, it had little formal organization outside the city of Georgetown.

Not until 1936 was the Man Power Citizens’ Association (MPCA), which concentrated its principal attention, at least in the beginning, on organizing the sugar workers, established. The MPCA grew rapidly. By 1939, it claimed 10,000 members and 20,000 by 1943. When a new wave of strikes broke out in 1938, the MPCA became involved in negotiating an end to them, although it had not formally called any of the walkouts. The Sugar Producers’ Association denounced the MPCA for making the workers “more and more truculent.”

Ashton Chase wrote of the MPCA: “The brilliant start was due to the absolute confidence which the sugar workers reposed in the inspiring leadership of Mr. Ayube M. Edun, the founder/president. . . . Previous to its formation, Mr. Edun had established himself as an undoubted champion of the rights of sugar workers by pungent articles in the ‘Guyana Review’ and later in the ‘Labour Advocate’ of which he was the editor and pro¬prietor.”

Chase also noted:

The Sugar Workers saw in the MPCA their long awaited saviour. ... In comparison with the other Unions it was a giant among pygmies. . . . Two contributing factors to this were firstly, the fact that it was operating in an industry that then and even now is the mainstay of the economy. . . .

Secondly, the rate of subscription was nominal. . . . This reflected a poor financial status and the Union’s inability to even make a pretense at servicing branches. With all its large membership it was not until 1953 that its bank balance reached the $ 1,000 mark and then only after overseas assistance had been received.

The Turbulent History of Organized Labor in Guyana—Part I

The most important strike in this period was that on Plantation Leonora, which broke out in February 1939.

Although the MPCA leaders sought to intervene, the plantation management refused to allow them to come on-to the

plantation grounds. Police who were called to “protect” the plantation ended up firing on the crowd, killing four and wounding several others. Finally, Ayube Edun was able to talk with the strikers at a nearby Hindu temple, and the following day the workers returned to their jobs.

The tragic results of the Leonora strike perhaps helped convince the Sugar Producers’ Association to change its strategy. On May 2, 1939, the SPA agreed to recognize the MPCA “for purposes of collective bargain-ing, giving it the right to negotiate in any case of dispute, and to hold meetings on the plantations.” After this decision, the Man Power Citizens’ Association grew rapidly and for several years was the genuine representative of the country’s sugar workers.

Ashton Chase observed.

“The MPCA started off on the same plane as its predecessors. Its first objects showed that it was established to represent the cause of its members and endeavour to obtain their just, equitable, economic, political and social rights from the state and their employers.”

Although the membership of the MPCA was concentrated to a large degree among the East Indian sugar workers, in its early years it also organized a number of other groups. By 1949 it had collective contracts with both the Demerara and Berbice bauxite firms, most of whose employees were of African descent—and had a virtually closed shop arrangement with the former. It also had a collective agreement with the Board of Control of the Mahaicony Abery Development Scheme, a semiofficial government rice growing enterprise. It like-wise had union members in the government’s Public

Works Department, although those workers had recently established their own un-ion, and the MPCA members had been transferred to a new Sawmill Workers Union, headed by Theophilus Lee. The MPCA’s penetration of the two bauxite companies came as the culmination of a struggle of the workers in the Demerara Company to establish a union. Starting in 1942, the British Guiana Labour Union had sought to establish a branch there but faced strong resistance from the employer, and. as a result of a strike in 1944, its local there had disappeared.

The bauxite workers then turned to the Man Power Citizens’ Association to help them establish a local union. It also met strong employer resistance, but after a partial strike in December 1946 and the intervention of the government Labour Department, an agreement was signed between the Demerara Company and the MPCA in December 1946.

However, this did not end company resistance to the union. Several local union leaders were dismissed by the company, precipitating a further strike in April 1947, which was not finally settled until October of that year, when a new collective agreement was signed between the MPCA and the company, providing for a wage increase and improvements in working conditions.

Subsequently, without any major conflict, the second bauxite company, the Berbice Bauxite Company, also recognized the MPCA as the bargaining agent for its employees.

Some time later, through a friendly arrangement with the national leadership of the MPCA, its bauxite miners’ locals broke away to form their own independent union.

As the country’s largest union, the MPCA in its early years won the friendly attention of many middle-class people who had sympathy for organized labor. These included Cheddi Jagan, who joined the union soon after returning home from studying in the United States and who in 1945 became treasurer of the MPCA. However, he was removed from that post within a year, for reasons that we shall note subsequently. ( Excerpts from A History of Organized Labor in the English-speaking West IndiesBy Robert J. Alexander, Eldon M. Parker, The Leonora Incident of 1939 by Tota Mangar)

6 Sunday Times Magazine

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MAY 3, 2020

Feature

I

t’s been a bad week for Indian cinema. A day after Irrfan Khan’s death, Bollywood suffered its second loss with the news of another legend’s death. Rishi Kapoor passed away in a Mumbai hospital Thursday at the age of 67 following a two-year battle with leukemia.

Irrfan Khan

Irrfan Khan was one of Indian cinema’s finest actors and among its most successful exports to Hollywood.

A veteran of nearly 80 films, he almost gave up acting in his 30s - after an unrewarding decade in TV soaps. However, Khan lacked the looks for a traditional Bollywood romantic lead but made his name as a character actor in Hindi cinema and in Hollywood productions like Life of Pi, Slumdog Millionaire and Jurassic World.

He was born Sahabzada Irfan Ali Khan on 7 January, 1967 in the Rajasthan village of Tonk. His mother’s family had a royal lineage and his father was a wealthy, self-made businessman who owned a tyre business.

Khan dropped the “Sahabzada” from his name as it pointed to his family’s privileged past - he felt this would get in the way. He also changed his name from “Irfan” to “Irrfan” not for any noble motive - but simply because he preferred the way it sounds.

When his father died, he side-stepped expectations he would go into the tyre business.

He was determined to become an actor, although it was not a future his family and friends could easily foresee.

In 1984, he applied for a scholarship to the National School of Drama in Delhi. He lied about his previous experience in the theatre and got in. He was keen to work in film but the early roles were in India’s TV soap operas. For a decade he got stuck in hundreds of uninspiring parts “chasing middle-class housewives” on the Zee and Star Plus networks. He thought seriously about quitting acting.

His big screen debut was a further disappointment. Cast as one of the younger characters in Mira Nair’s Oscar nominated Salaam Bombay!, he was devastated when his character hit the cutting room floor.

His breakthrough came in the British-Indian film The Warrior. It was shot in the high Himalayas and the roasting deserts of Rajasthan. It was the first feature from British director Asif Kapadia and Khan starred as the eponymous warlord who attempts to give up

the sword.

The film won the Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film at the Baftas. The critical success of The Warrior launched his film career, and for the next two decades he would make as many as five or six films a year.

In 2008, he teamed up with Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire. Khan played the police inspector who beats Dev Patel’s character, Jamal - believing him to be a cheat. Boyle described the performance as “beautiful to watch”.

In 2011, he was awarded the Padma Shri - India’s fourth-highest civilian honour for his contribution to the arts.

A year later, he would play the adult Piscine in Life of Pi - Ang Lee’s film version of the Booker Prize-winning novel of a ship-wrecked boy forced to share a lifeboat with a zebra, an orangutan and a ferocious Bengal tiger. In 2015, he also starred in the blockbuster Jurassic World.

In 2018, he was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumours - which affects cells that release hormones into the bloodstream. He sought treatment for his condition in London and posted a poem to his followers on Instagram suggesting his religion was playing an important role in coming to terms with the disease.

Rishi Kapoor

Rishi Kapoor was one of the most popular romantic heroes of Bollywood. He came from an illustrious family of four generations of stars who were “born to act”, according to a biographer of the family. The Kapoor family hailed from Peshawar in modern-day Pakistan, and migrated to India after Partition in 1947.

Rishi Kapoor’s grandfather ran a prominent theatre company. His father Raj Kapoor was regarded as one of the greatest actors and directors in Bollywood. He was also called the “showman of Indian cinema”. Rishi Kapoor - or Chintu (“sweet one”) as his family called him - was “forever youthful”.

He played a child sleeping on a cot in one of his grandfather’s plays. As a four-year-old, he appeared briefly in a romantic rain-drenched song sequence in his father’s film Shree 420. Rishi Kapoor debuted as a child actor in 1970 in Mera Naam Joker, a film about the life of a clown and his romances.

The film, directed by his father and produced by the family’s studio in Bombay (now Mumbai), flopped at the box office, but over time became one of the most-watched Indian films. In 1973, the then 20-year-old actor was drafted as the main lead in Bobby, a film made by his father.

The musical love story of two city-bred teenagers changed Kapoor’s life. Bobby was a sensational hit. At a time when Indian heroes were playing angry young men or tragic heroes, Kapoor’s youthful vivacity and his on-screen chemistry with the debutant heroine, Dimple Kapadia, enthralled the audience.

Working in more than 100 films, Rishi Kapoor had the longest run in Bollywood as a romantic lead from the 1970s to the late 1990s. Kapoor was also part of Bollywood’s milestone films like Kabhi Kabhi, Amar, Akbar, Antony, Naseeb, Coolie and Ajooba.

He married actress Neetu Singh with whom he acted in a bunch of breezy romances.

Their son Ranbir Kapoor is now one of Bollywood’s top reigning stars. In his middle age, Kapoor reinvented himself, playing the roles of avuncular and quirky patriarchs, gangsters and cameos in slapstick comedies.

The actor, whose career in Bollywood spanned over four decades had undergone treatment in New York for a year following his cancer diagnosis in 2018. He had been admitted to hospital after suffering from breathing problems a day before his death.

guyanatimesgy.com

MAY 3, 2020

Sunday Times Magazine 7

‘L

akshmi out of India’ is another gem of Guyanese literature. Primarily written targeting a children readership intent on entertaining and educating, it is also a source document for research, and a way of extending the dialogue on the subject especially through imaginative literature. It is not easy to secure all the pieces in this history so oftentimes the missing pieces are fleshed out by our imaginative writers.

As a source document, the ‘Preface’ to the book, declared that the author, Walter Rodney, ‘painstakingly checked ...for accuracy...and the ‘editors also made checks on place names, historical and other facts, and Hindi spellings in the text’ and no effort was spared in ensuring that ‘the story of Lakshmi’s life prior to her Indentureship is rooted in an accurate historical geographical and cultural context’.

However, to put the story of Lakshmi in context it is useful to know how Indentureship came into force. The plantation economy demanded an abundant and stable labour force. Enslaeved African was that source of labour. However this system of enslavement came to an end in British Guiana in 1838. Emancipation led to a shortage of labour on the plantation.

In order to counter this shortfall in labour which would cause a shortfall in production and profit, the planters devised a system of importing labourers from India and other places. For persons coming from India to Guyana, Indentureship started in 1838 and ended in 1917.

The book tells the story of Lakshmi’s life prior to her Indentureship in Guyana. This story is told in a series of flashbacks which is not a unique technique to storytellers and here it works well in the telling of Lakshmi’s life and the framework of history within which her life unfolded.

The book ends on a somewhat beautiful and romantic note. Lakshmi was at the emigration depot wavering in her decision whether or not to embark on the life changing venture to go ‘to Demerara to work for a big wage’. It was her meeting with Prasad at the depot that helped her decide. The strange thing about Prasad was that instead of carrying a jahaji bandhar (Georgie bundle) of personal possessions, he had on him only a special type of drum called the ‘dholak’ which was Lakshmi’s favourite musical instrument. ‘Without stopping to think about it, Lakshmi began to sing softly when Prasad’s fingers spoke through the dholak’.

Lakshmi and Prasad were married right there in the emigration office.

As mentioned before, the story is told in a series of flashbacks as a literary device. In chronological order, the story of ‘Lakshmi out of India’ goes like this: Lakshmi was born in 1847 on Chaitra – the first month of the Hindu year. She was born in Rajipur, Bihar, on the Northern plains of India, of the Kurmi caste. The caste system plays a

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significant role in India. People of this caste were peasants and agricultural workers who formed the backbone of the country, according to the book, which explained the situation this way – due to overpopulation, there were limited agricultural land. The agricultural land was mainly in the hands of the Zamindars who exploited those who worked the land. So the peasants were caught in a vicious cycle of poverty as was the case of Lakshmi and her family.

But life continued despite the poverty on one hand and wealth on the other hand. Life continued because it was a society of rituals and customs – things that made life bearable. Some of the festivals that added colour and brightness to drab existence were Holi and Divali. Lakshmi loved those festival and other religious celebrations because she became acquainted with the songs, rhymes and proverbs inherited from her ancestors.

Life continued for children of the time because of the games and pastimes that were really apprenticeship to real life situations.

For instance, the rains brought pools of wa-

ter in which the children made play.

They played with the earth making mud dolls and other things of interest.

This play in the mud led to building of huts. Mud was the main building material for the people of Lakshmi’s time.

The mud also encouraged art – the designing of earthen floors and earthen walls. The rains also brought springs of flowers with craftsmen and women who make garlands. To some, garland making was a profession and those garland makers were called malakara. The rains also brought a change in the life of Lakshmi. Life changed drastically for Lakshmi after the great Floods of 1860. She lost her family and was left destitute having to seek shelter with her Chacha (father’s brother) and his family. With this family she lived a life of misery for five years so when the talks of emigration surfaced, it fired her imagination – it was a way of escape. And the recruiters were enticing with their stories of riches in Demerara.

And that’s how come she boarded the ship ‘Clarence’ heading to British Guiana and a new way of life.

‘Lakshmi out of India’, according to the ‘preface’, ‘is the second in a series of five books Walter Rodney had planned for the children of Guyana’. The first such book was ‘Kofi Baadu out of Africa’. The other proposed titles were ‘Fung-A-Fat: out of China’, ‘Adriaan Hendricks: out of Holland’, and ‘Joao Gomes: out of Madeira’.

This series of books was birthed ‘so that the children, at least, might better understand themselves and each other’.

This book, ‘Lakshmi out of India’, has done just that and more in an entertaining and elucidating manner.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

SYMPTOMS

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

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

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

(Adapted from BBC News)

Headache

Chills

Sore throat

Repeated shaking with chills

Muscle pain

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have New loss of taste mild illness. or smell

8 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

MAY 3, 2020

Puzzles

88 Groaner, maybe ACROSS 89 The basics 1 Spring 90 Feathers 5 Scarab, to Pharaoh 91 Bedding plant 11 Antenna user 17 Wooden’s sch.

92 Mississippi mud 21 Opera box 93 Tijuana “Mrs.” 94 Chilling out 22 Really fancy 95 Swiss capital (var.)

23 Go softly 96 Monsieur’s daughter 24 A grand 97 Boards 25 Dwarf buffalo 26 Minerva, at the Parthenon 99 Sturm -- Drang 27 Emits vapor 100 Like the beach 101 Bill squelcher 28 James -- Jones 29 Kirk’s command to Scotty (2 102 Nervous tree?

103 License plate wds.)

104 Mountain folk of Asia 31 Steel plow inventor 105 It may be decorated 33 Mixed thoroughly 106 Mdse.

35 Coach 107 Sentimental 36 “That Girl” star 109 Baldwin and Guinness 37 Paddock youngsters 110 Kiwi language 38 HP wares 112 Cordial 41 Cousteau’s domain 115 Look embarrassed 42 -- -- worms 116 Jazz’s “-- -- Blues” 43 History book verb 120 Green-egg layers 44 Jeweled coronet 121 Freak out (2 wds.)

48 Mandrake’s sidekick 123 This second (2 wds.)

50 Galvanizes 125 Muffin spread 51 Cousins of “um” 126 Mayberry kid 52 Emulated Gallup 53 Mr. Goldfinger 127 Not digital 128 Figure out 54 Char 129 El -- (ocean current) 55 Albion, now 130 Mach 2 fliers 57 MD employer 131 Night flight (hyph.)

58 Tax pros 132 Lease signer 59 Opposite of neo 60 Speaker’s spot 133 Crackle

61 Designer label DOWN 62 Yale alumnus 1 Crowbar end 63 Makes taffy 2 Dame -- Chaplin 64 Everest descriptor 3 Borodin prince 65 Wind about 66 Drilling experts 4 Pounced 5 Plug add-on 68 Slow pitch 6 Falling star 69 Is, to Fritz 7 Lead down the aisle 70 On the lam 8 Fibbed, plus 71 Stiff and sore 9 Urn homophone 72 Half-star movie 10 Afternoon affair (2 wds.)

73 Kind of farm 11 Back to normal 74 Pear throwaway 75 Kind of pony or pooch (var.) 12 The N in TNT 13 “Graf --” 78 Labor org.

14 Airport info 79 Codgers’ queries 15 Small bands 80 Lantern fuel 16 Physicist Nikola - 84 Foxes’ dates 17 Piece of cutlery 85 Cleopatra’s jewelry 18 African lake 87 Long for

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD -- DIALOGUE

19 Traditional tales 20 Year-end word 30 Wild shrub 32 Mythical archer 34 “Crocodile Rock” name 36 Tropical fruit 37 Winner of a sprint 38 Set down 39 Twosome 40 Overexert 42 Movies 43 Snowiest 45 “Java” trumpeter (2 wds.)

46 Dislodge 47 Lit incense to 49 That guy’s 50 Oud’s companions 51 Waifs 52 Wrestler’s coup 54 Brackish 55 Panhandle 56 Museum contents 59 Rudely assertive 60 Ad -- (wing it)

61 View from an oasis 63 Ancient Scots 64 Slangy motorcycle 65 Leslie of “Gigi” 67 Schmoozes 68 Prairie 70 Feel uneasy 72 Beavers’ business 73 Sighs of relief 74 Halt 75 Volcanic California peak 76 Pride 77 Pitch tents 78 Montevideo locale 79 Bastille Day season 80 Loggins or Rogers 81 Novel closer (var.)

82 Canceled 83 Walks in 85 HS math 86 Turtle-to-be 87 Football gain 90 -- capita 91 Hangs fire

92 Make a lap 94 Where it’s at 95 Kind of graph (2 wds.)

96 Boat for cars 98 Mystifies 100 Hires a lawyer 101 Raging, as a storm 103 Seat of power 104 Inelegant solution 105 Peregrine 108 Diner freebie 109 Steel or pewter 110 Brainy bunch 111 They’ll curl your hair 112 Many August people 113 Rascals 114 Go cold turkey 115 Digestive juice 116 Rocker -- Jett 117 Dutra of golf 118 Comic-strip hyena 119 Belt holder 122 Gob of bubblegum 124 Casual wear SEE SOLUTION ON PAGE 6

(DIALOGUE: DYE-uh-log: A conversation between two or more people.)

Average mark 36 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 55 or more words in DIALOGUE? TODAY’S WORD -- DIALOGUE

dale deal deli dial dialog diel dogie dole dual duel idea ideal idle idol

adieu aged agile ague aide ailed aloe aloud audile audio lade laid laud lead

lied lieu load lode lodge loge loud luge ogle oiled oldie gale geld gelid

geoid gild glad glade glide glue goad goal goalie gold guide guild guile

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.

WALK