Guyana Times Thursday, July 23, 2020

Tropical storm warning issued for Guyana

P16 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4355

THE BEACON OF TRUTH THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020

GECOM must issue declaration on credible recount results – EU … as directed by Caribbean Court of Justice

See story on page 13

Cases blocking elections declaration

Page 10

Is APNU/AFC paying legal bills or are taxpayers? – Christopher Ram questions Attempt to block elections declaration

Appeal Court to hear arguments on Saturday Page 3

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

APNU/AFC rejects CCJ’s judgement on valid votes

…will only accept its own opinion P12

Pedal cyclist P14 dies, 2 injured in ECD accidents

Essequibo Coast man charged for setting fire to public buildings P13

Justice Dawn Gregory

Justice Rishi Persaud

Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry

Guyana’s international image has been “terribly” APNU/AFC’s attempts to damaged by deceive int’l community APNU/AFC – Teixeira “humiliating” – FITUG Page 11

PRICE

Page 9

OAS must not stand by while Guyana breaks from democratic principles – Brazil's Ambassador Page 7

...Caricom enforcing treaty, not interference – Ambassador

Porter dies after tractor topples P8 downhill 11 new COVID-19 cases recorded

…active cases stand at 166 P15

Police raid Rupununi ganja farms

P8

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, July 23 – 05:00h-06:30h and Friday, July 24 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, July 23 – 05:50h – 07:20h and Friday, July 24 – 06:35h- 08:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

There will be thundery showers and light rain showers during the day into the evening, followed by partly cloudy skies. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to South-South-Westerly between 1.78 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 06:18h and 18:47h reaching maximum heights of 2.75 metres and 2.63 metres.

Low Tide: 12:20h reaching a minimum height of 0.48 metre.

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$44.29/barrel

Rough Rice

$213.66 /ton

0

London Sugar

$359.00/ton

+1.04

Live Spot Gold

-0.07

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1868.80

$1869.80

Low/High

$1868.00

$1869.90

Change

-2.30

-0.12%

Attempt to block elections declaration

Appeal Court to hear arguments on Saturday T he Court of Appeal will on Saturday hear arguments in the new legal proceedings filed to challenge Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George’s recent decision that results from the national recount must be used as the basis for a final declaration of the March 2 elections.

This decision was handed down in the case brought by A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition agent Misenga Jones, who is seeking to block the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) from declaring the results of the General and Regional Elections using the recount figures.

However, Justice George on Monday ruled that the recount results were valid and hence, must be used as the basis of a final declaration by GECOM. As such, the coalition supporter is appealing the judgement.

The Appeal Court – which is being presided over

by Appellate Judges, Justice Dawn Gregory and Justice Rishi Persaud, and High Court Judge, Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry – held a case management hearing on Wednesday, where the timelines for submissions were outlined.

The parties were given up to Friday midday to file all written submissions and responses before the marathon hearing of arguments set for Saturday, commencing at 10:00h.

Justice Gregory has asked the parties in the matter to condense their submissions so that the hearing of the matter, which is of national interest, can be expedited. Following’s Saturday’s virtual hearing, the Court will indicate a date for ruling.

While Jones has appealed the CJ’s ruling, a cross appeal was also filed by People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali and General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo; and Attorney General Basil Williams has also indicated his intention to file a cross appeal as well.

Meanwhile, during Wednesday’s case management hearing, embattled Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield indicated that he would not be participating in the proceedings.

“I wish to inform the Court that the [CEO] does not intend to participate in this appellate process,” Senior Counsel Neil Boston, who is representing Lowenfield – the third named respondent, stated.

Despite being directed on several occasions to present his final elections report based on the certified results from the recount process, the CEO has failed to do so and his last report to

Appellate Judges Justice Rishi Persaud and Justice Dawn Gregory, and High Court Judge, Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at Wednesday’s virtual case management hearing

the Elections Commission included the fraudulent figures from the declaration of embattled Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, who was found to have heavily inflated the votes in the largest voting District in favour of the caretaker coalition.

However, the figures from the 33-day recount exercise show the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) with a landslide victory having secured 233,336 votes while the APNU/AFC obtained 217,920 votes – a difference of some 15,416 votes.

In her ruling on Monday, the acting Chief Justice dismissed Jones’ application and ruled that the only data that could be used for the declarations of the elections would have to be the recount results.

Justice George further contended that the CEO “cannot act on his own”: he has to act based on the direction of the Commission.

She also decided that the declarations made by the 10 Returning Officers have been set aside and overtaken by the recount results.

However, the APNU/AFC supporter in her appeal is contending that the acting Chief Justice erred in law when she ruled that the issues raised by the applicant were res judicata, that is, these were matters already adjudicated by the courts.

Justice George had also admonished the lawyers, who were involved in those previous cases, to stop wasting the Judiciary’s time.

This is not the first the APNU/AFC has come under fire for wasting the court’s time by filing a series of litigations. Many have seen this move to the Court of Appeal as one by the APNU/AFC to further prolong the election impasse and signal its determination to not leave office.

Only on Tuesday, Organisation of American States (OAS) General Secretary Luis Almagro had urged that the Judiciary stop being the refuge of those who want to do nothing more than delay the declaration of the results of the General and Regional Elections.

During a special meeting of the OAS Permanent Council that was convened to discuss the political situation in Guyana, the General Secretary said: “The current situation serves no purpose in Guyana. We call to stop using the Judiciary branch to avoid bringing a solution to the country. It’s time to make decisions and protect democracy and the will of the people expressed in the elections”.

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Hunger and the pandemic A

recent report compiled by leading UN agencies has pointed to the fact that the situation in the world regarding hunger and malnutrition has gotten worse over the past five years; and moreso, will continue along this line, considering the huge impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on countries.

The latest edition of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, published earlier this month, estimates that almost 690 million people went hungry in 2019 – up by 10 million from 2018, and by nearly 60 million in five years.

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World is the most authoritative global study tracking progress towards ending hunger and malnutrition. It is produced jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agriculture (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Writing in the foreword, the heads of the five agencies warn that, “Five years after the world committed to end hunger, food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition, we are still off-track to achieve this objective by 2030”.

According to the report, due to high costs and low affordability, billions cannot eat healthily or nutritiously. The study found that Asia accounts for the highest number of persons going hungry, but the rate is expanding fastest in Africa.

According to the report, Asia remains home to the greatest number of undernourished (381 million). Africa is second (250 million), followed by Latin America and the Caribbean (48 million). The global prevalence of undernourishment – or overall percentage of hungry people – has changed little at 8.9 percent, but the absolute numbers have been rising since 2014.

This means that, over the last five years, hunger has grown in step with the global population.

The authors explain that this, in turn, hides great regional disparities. In percentage terms, Africa is the hardest hit region, and becoming more so, with 19.1 percent of its people undernourished. This is more than double the rate in Asia (8.3 percent) and in Latin America and the Caribbean (7.4 percent).

On current trends, by 2030, Africa will be home to more than half of the world’s chronically hungry.

The authors outlined that as progress in fighting hunger stalls, the COVID-19 pandemic is intensifying the vulnerabilities and inadequacies of global food systems – understood as all the activities and processes affecting the production, distribution and consumption of food.

The report states that while it is too soon to assess the full impact of the lockdowns and other containment measures, it is estimated that, at a minimum, another 83 million people, and possibly as many as 132 million, may go hungry in 2020 as a result of the economic recession triggered by COVID-19.

The authors argue that once sustainability considerations are factored in, a global switch to healthy diets would help check the backslide into hunger, while delivering enormous savings.

According to the report, of critical importance is the need for a transformation of food systems, to reduce the cost of nutritious foods and increase the affordability of healthy diets.

The authors noted that while the specific solutions will differ from country to country, and even within them, the overall answers lie with interventions along the entire food supply chain, in the food environment, and in the political economy that shapes trade, public expenditure, and investment policies.

Several recommendations were made in the report which Guyana and other countries within the Region could find useful in tackling the issue of hunger and malnutrition.

The recommendations include the call for governments to mainstream nutrition in their approaches to agriculture; work to cut cost-escalating factors in the production, storage, transport, distribution, and marketing of food – including by reducing inefficiencies and food loss and waste; support local small-scale producers to grow and sell more nutritious foods, and secure their access to markets; prioritise children’s nutrition as the category in greatest need; foster behaviour change through education and communication; and embed nutrition in national social protection systems and investment strategies.

End of the rope Dear Editor, ‘When you are at the end of your rope tie a knot and hold on’. (Theodore Roosevelt (1882-1945) 32nd US President). These words of the longest serving president epitomize the current mindset of the Coalition gov’t as it goes about erecting judicial roadblocks on the journey towards the legitimate loss of the Presidency.

After Chief Justice Roxanne George’s clear and articulate ruling of the APNU’s case being hopelessly flawed the country can expect yet another appeal by the plaintiff.

Meanwhile, the infuriating ramblings of President Granger, coupled with the cesspool outbursts of his ministers and GECOM commissioners are as lethal to the mind as Covid virus is to the lungs. After five different declarations of the election result the conclusion is quite clear: GECOM is a circus, with Mr Lowenfield the chief acrobat; meanwhile Mr Granger performs the role of the clown. The no-show of the three commissioners and the CEO is the interlude before the comic show resumes.

After the press release of today (July 22, 2020) it is evident that the current caretaker regime will not relinquish office. In a

thinly veiled, yet potently lethal, pronouncement, Congress Place has never made its intentions clearer: The APNU+AFC Coalition is resolved to ensure that fraudulent votes cannot be factored in to represent the will of the electorate…we maintain that the Elections Commission can only make a ‘Declaration’ based on valid votes. Make no mistake, the Coalition is banking on a witches’ brew to invalidate votes and it has all the necessary ingredients in its 3 commissioners and the CEO. However, his power grab reeks of a well-conceived plan. Beginning with the No-Confidence motion in 2018, the injection of the 85 year old Patterson to head GECOM, new house to house registration and now through a series of unsuccessful litigation a bunch of misfits have steered Guyana into the doldrums of depravity and backwardness. But we can go further back to the days of the tyrant Forbes Burnham.

In 1974 in what became known as ‘The Declaration of Sophia’ the PNC Party usurped the role of government and declared itself superior to the gov’t where all state institutions became answerable to his Party.

Are we witnessing a déjà vu in GECOM? Two PNC stalwarts, Vincent Alexander

and caretaker President Granger, were party to this diabolical show.

The current manipulation has been condemned by the international community who are unanimous in their call for the declaration to be made utilizing the recount figures. There has been serious defiance from the obviously compromised CEO of GECOM who submitted five conflicting reports to the Commission despite direct instructions of what was required. His display of insubordination warrants dismissal and his continued falsification of the elections report warrants serious penalties for attempting to pervert the elections process and committing elections fraud. As pointed out by the Chief Justice Lowenfield is an employee of GECOM while, during the hearings GECOM’s attorney Kim Kyte Thomas indicated that the CEO cannot conjure figures at his whims.

His continued employment is subject to his contract and the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act. That Act provides for dismissal without notice where there is serious misconduct. It is hard to think of anything more serious than Lowenfield’s persistent attempt to subvert the Constitution and the Representation of the

People Act. Moreover, Mr. Lowenfield ‘revised’ and discounted from his prior 260,000 invalid votes to the new figure of 115,000 --- in the space of one week!

Back to the Press Release. The recount process which was conducted painstakingly for33 day’s revealed massive irregularities and extensive fraud…. that betrays the will of the electorate. Here again the implications are quite clear: The caretaker gov’t is tossing its own recount to the incinerator. But it is yet unclear how the fraud and irregularities was perpetrated as evidence of such is sketchy and unclear.

Bottom line: The APNU will remain in power regardless of any declaration of the election results!

The country’s second power broker Joe Harmon declares, in usual slimy manner, that Guyana is no longer a plantation. Well he is in order but fails to mention that Massa days have not changed --- only the color of Massa has changed.

Finally, name changes do not produce character changes. From PNC to PNC/REFORM to APNU the only reform has been the methods of rigging.

Sincerely, Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine

Karen Cummings, Basil Williams have humiliated Guyanese

Dear Editor, Guyana must again hang its head in infamy, and its citizens live with humiliation. Our country most certainly has entered the record books, as we now have the longest-ever election process in the world. Now, when Guyanese go abroad, they would be remembered for Jim Jones and the world’s longest election.

Never has our country, even under the ruinous days of Mr Forbes Burnham, descended to such low ebb. Our country

had the entire OAS convene a special meeting to discuss the Guyana situation. Such notoriety is reserved for the worst of the lot, and this is what Mr Granger has done to us.

As I looked at the OAS meeting, I could not help but feel ashamed, as a Guyanese, after I listened to the presentations of Attorney-General Mr Basil Williams and Foreign Affairs Minister Karen Cummings at a meeting of the OAS on July 21, 2020.

These officials went into the gutter and lied to the

OAS. It tells me that there is no shame the cabal would not endure or perpetuate in order to hold on to power.

It also seems to me that Mr Williams and Dr Cummings are not only telling lies, but they very much believe them. How else can we explain that they did not even flinch once as they sat stoically and addressed the OAS? Indeed, they are a special kind of human, who apparently lie without any remorse, no doubt intent on perpetuating their guilty

ways.

As I consider the actions of the ruling cabal, I am reminded of the stories I read and heard from the holy books. Whatever your faith, each religion has captured episodes of evildoers seeking to impose their reign and way.

But as those good books have taught us, evil never triumphs. I am sure that, as time has recorded and history reminds us, these evildoers also will not win.

Yours sincerely, Liebert Alleyne

PNC-led APNU+AFC have behavioural problems

Dear Editor, The PNC-led APNU+AFC have behavioural problems.

They misbehave in pretending that they got power.

The PNC-led APNU+AFC do not have

power over the majority of Guyanese, but only over their hapless supporters, who do not know better. It is obvious that they are attention-seeking. There will come a time for Guyanese to

rise up against the PNC-led APNU+AFC as they continue to try to subvert the will of the Guyanese people.

Most Guyanese do not (DO NOT) consent to be ruled by the PNC- led

APNU+AFC. Word of advice to the PNC-led APNU+AFC: Get out, and stay out!

Democracy will prevail!

Yours faithfully, Sean Ori

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Recklessly transferring funds from Treasury Dear Editor, Transfer payments have systemic implications for the nation’s economy. If done recklessly, they can inject great harm. If one is to observe the actions by Team Granger since coming to office in May 2015, this is exactly what they did – recklessly transfer of funds out of the Treasury.

The graph below illustrates how the annual transfer payments from the central government to a variety of agencies (both locally and overseas) went up by an aggregated value of some G$107 billion since March 2015. In layman’s language, Team Granger met a budget that was transferring G$31 billion from the Treasury, and went on to stack-up on top of that a further G$107 billion between March 2015 and March 2020. That is more than two and one-half times the March 2015 transfers.

This begs the question: To whom are these transfers

being made?

Well, they are not being made to GuySuCo, since Team Granger severed some 6,000 sugar workers and then sliced the transfers made under the PPPC from G$6 billion in 2014 to ZERO as at the end of 2019.

Upon drilling down, you find a menu of strange organisations turning up on the ra-

dar.

Let us reflect on one agency, for instance – the National Data Management Authority (NDMA). In 2014, some G$33 million was transferred to this agency.

Over the last 5 years, there was a 5,500% increase in transfers to G$1,848 million.

If you peruse the Ministry of Public Telecommunications’ website, you find that the NDMA is tasked with advising the Minister on data processing, among some other opaque deliverables.

We are told by the NDMA that they are using this money to operationalise the EGOVERNANCE network; but, today, not a single Guyanese can apply for their passports, birth certificates, drivers’ licences, or pay a Police traffic ticket online.

So, what EGovernance platform are they talking about that is costing the taxpayers all these billions?

Mind you, in other countries, these sorts of transactions are elementary

stuff, but in Guyana, it is a multi-billion-dollar project with very little evidence of the output. Is this another example of the Statesponsored plunder?

If one further interrogates these numbers, one would find that some G$100 million was allocated for the Decade of African People in 2019. While any spend-

ing on projects that uplift our people is important, this style of picking and choosing who is in need of transfers is discriminatory and unfair.

What about the Amerindian people who are statistically the poorest in this land?

Where is there G$100 million? What about the people who are squatting on the river dam in plastic houses on the West Bank of Demerara from Vive-la-Force to Wales/ Patentia? What about the now-fired sugar workers at Wales Estate, many of who are in depression and still have not found full-time employment?

I was at the Wales/ Patentia area last Sunday as part of a team distributing hampers to ex-sugar workers on behalf of the National COVID-19 Task Force established by Dr. Irfaan Ali, and the level of poverty that I observed seems to have expanded many folds since I last visited that area. But this is the mentality of the suit-and-tie boys and girls

in Congress Place; they have little money for the poor and the most vulnerable, but lots of money for advisory services on data processes and overseas conferences which benefit only the inner circle of the Granger cabal.

This is the principal reason why they lost the elections; they are out-of-touch with the anxieties of the

common man. It is always about their personal pocket and their propaganda.

And as we are on the topic of propaganda, Team Granger has increased the transfers from the Central Government Budget to their propaganda machine in NCN/DPI by 125% over the last 5 years to G$497 million.

Can you imagine these people have almost half a billion for propaganda, and too little cash for face masks to save the lives of our people, and too little cash for food hampers to feed our people in this COVID-19 crisis? Is this what the next Government of Guyana should look like?

NEVER! As a people, we must combat this corrupt attitude of the minds that reside in Team Granger in the mountains, on the coastlands, on the streets; and as Winston Churchill advised, “we shall never surrender”. With the kind courtesy of your letter pages, I thank you, Editor, for publishing this letter,

so that more of our people can be motivated to combat this illegitimate and immoral Granger cabal with growing confidence and mental strength as we band together to defend our nation from these kleptocrats in Congress Place.

Regards, Sasenarine Singh

How nasty to the ‘legitimate interlocutor’

Dear Editor, It tells the level of desperation the caretaker Government has sunk to when its members would see it fit and proper to twist and falsify facts to suit their shallow narrative at no less a forum than the OAS. The most alarming of the falsifications was the one which said the Caricom Scrutineer Team did not stay to the end of, or complete, the Recount process. In so doing, members of the Government sought to dishonour and discredit the report. (“In bizarre twist, Foreign Minister calls Caricom Report a ‘fallacy’ “ Newsroom July 22).

How nasty to the trusted and ‘legitimate interlocutor’!

It is disappointing that the St Vincent and the Grenadines rep, whose Prime Minister is the current Chair of Caricom, did not refute this glaring and false misrepresentation touted as truth during her presentation.

Just what is hoped to be gained by this blatant untruth to the international community, at which Caricom was represented, is to be wondered?

This distortion Caricom will correct at its imminent meeting on Guyana.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

Public Christianity, but immoral acts

Dear Editor, How does Dr Karen Cummings reconcile her apparent public Christianity to her immoral acts as an APNU minister?

She disrespected and threatened international observers who were invited by her Government to witness the elections.

Was this the action of a Christian, one who believes in the teachings of Jesus Christ?

She sat alongside Basil Williams who lied to the OAS, and did not factcheck him; but then, she, too, joined the lies.

She said the APNU Government has not been a part of the court cases, but when they lost last

Friday, Joe Harmon immediately said they would appeal. They?

She said that David Granger has said he would abide by the Recount and the declaration of GEOCOM, and then the APNU pulls the strings for all the court cases.

How do her fellow church members feel about her lies? Do they worry that lightning may come through the roof and strike her down while at church on Saturday?

Dr Karen Cummings, a one-day Christian, is a bad reflection of the Adventist Church and all who profess the faith.

Sincerely, Name provided

More sanctions against Govt Dear Editor, The NY Guyana Democracy Project penned a ‘Thank you’ memo to Caricom and the OAS for their support to pressure the caretaker Government of Guyana to accept the will of the electorate expressed in the March 2 elections. The NYGDP has also called for implementation of more effective sanctions against what it calls “democracy busters”.

The NYGDP, headed by former UG Professor (Senior Lecturer) Dr. Tara Singh, is comprised of a group of academicians and other activists who champion democracy in Guyana.

The memo was sent to the Secretary General of the OAS, Mr. Luis Almagro, and Chair of Caricom, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves. NYGDP notes

that the APNU+AFC incumbent regime has been defiant in accepting the outcome of the elections, which showed that the Opposition PPP won 33 seats, as against 31 seats for the ruling coalition and one seat for a joint list of minor parties. It says, “The regime has been coming up with one gimmick after another, a new daily narrative to justify its intransigence. The regime has shown total disrespect for the country’s constitution as well as for the will of the people as expressed in their votes”.

The memo further notes that, “Legal experts say that all lingering questions about the elections’ result have been adequately addressed by the courts, and that furthering the legal process by APNU-AFC is an abuse of

process. For this reason, the Chief Justice will impose heavy costs on APNU-AFC”.

The NYGDP memo states that, “The de-facto Government has adopted a hardened position to undermine democracy, plunging the country into a prolonged constitutional crisis ever since elections were held on March 2, 2020. That was preceded by another major constitutional crisis when the APNU-AFC Government failed to step down from government within 3 months after the successful passage of a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against it on December 18, 2018”.

NYGDP charges “that the Government has been abusing the court process for over four months, to prevent he declaration in order to hang

on to power, irrespective of the destruction they are causing to the country”.

The letter thanked the regional organisations for their great efforts in trying to get APNU-AFC to respect the will of the Guyanese electorate. It notes, “If Caricom did not play a central role in the electoral process, the outcome would have been stolen”.

The memo notes that Guyana’s Chief Justice ruled last Monday that the Caricomverified Recount data must be used to declare the results of the March 2nd elections.

The CCJ similarly ruled two weeks ago. These data show that the PPPC won the elections by a margin of 15,416 votes. The Government has appealed the latest CJ ruling, further delaying the declaration. After the COA ruling,

there is likely to be another appeal to the CCJ. NYGDP writes: “The regime has shown no interest in capitulating. Their level of intransigence is buttressed by their support (from) the armed forces. Once again, we, Guyanese, depend upon Caricom and OAS in particular to pull us out of this election quagmire, and help us to protect and defend democracy in Guyana and the wider Caribbean region”.

NYGDP fears the rise of another Venezuela in the form of an authoritarian un-elected Government in Guyana. It pens: “It’s our considered judgment that OAS cannot afford to have another Venezuela in its backyard. Additionally, Caricom is deeply concerned that the Granger governing party is

setting a bad example for the rest of the Caribbean, in particular”.

NYGDP feels that “the behaviour of members the regime over the past week has shown that visa revocations will not necessarily be a deterrent to their bad behaviour”. The pro-democracy group has called on the OAS for imposition of phase II of sanctions, which would freeze assets of the democracy-busters to discourage them from abusing the courts.

The organization plans to similarly write the US Administration to step up sanctions against democracybusters by freezing their assets and those of their family members.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

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Foundation

Guyana Times is pleased to publish CXC English and Mathematics questions with specimen answers.

CXC QUESTIONS

MATHS

ENGLISH

B

The Tempest

By William Shakespeare

Act 1 Scene 2 Cont’d ARIEL: The mariners all under hatches stowed, Who, with a charm joined to their suffered labor, I have left asleep. And for the rest o’ th’ fleet, Which I dispersed, they all have met again And are upon the Mediterranean float, Bound sadly home for Naples, Supposing that they saw the king’s ship wracked And his great person perish.

PROSPERO: Ariel, thy charge Exactly is performed. But there’s more work.

What is the time o’ th’ day?

ARIEL: Past the mid season.

PROSPERO: At least two glasses.

The time ’twixt six and now Must by us both be spent most preciously.

ARIEL: Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains, Let me remember thee what thou hast promised, Which is not yet performed me.

PROSPERO: How now? Moody?

What is ’t thou canst demand?

ARIEL: My liberty.

PROSPERO: Before the time be out? No more!

ARIEL: I prithee, Remember I have done thee worthy service, Told thee no lies, made thee no mistakings, served Without or grudge or grumblings. Thou didst promise To bate me a full year.

PROSPERO: Dost thou forget From what a torment I did free thee?

ARIEL: No. PROSPERO: Thou dost, and think’st it much to tread the ooze Of the salt deep, To run upon the sharp wind of the north, To do me business in the veins o’ th’ earth When it is baked with frost.

ARIEL: I do not, sir.

PROSPERO: Thou liest, malignant thing! Hast thou forgot The foul witch Sycorax, who with age and envy Was grown into a hoop? Hast thou forgot her?

ARIEL: No, sir.

PROSPERO: Thou hast. Where was she born? Speak. Tell me.

ARIEL: Sir, in Argier.

PROSPERO: Oh, was she so? I must Once in a month recount what thou hast been, Which thou forget’st. This damned witch Sycorax, For mischiefs manifold and sorceries terrible To enter human hearing, from Argier, Thou know’st, was banished. For one thing she did They would not take her life. Is not this true?

ARIEL: Ay, sir.

PROSPERO: This blue-eyed hag was hither brought with child And here was left by th’ sailors. Thou, my slave, As thou report’st thyself, wast then her servant.

And, for thou wast a spirit too delicate To act her earthy and abhorred commands, Refusing her grand hests, she did confine thee, By help of her more potent ministers And in her most unmitigable rage, Into a cloven pine, within which rift Imprisoned thou didst painfully remain A dozen years; within which space she died And left thee there, where thou didst vent thy groans As fast as mill wheels strike. Then was this island— Save for the son that she did litter here, A freckled whelp hag-born—not honored with A human shape.

TO BE CONTINUED

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

OAS must not stand by while Guyana breaks from democratic principles – Brazil's Ambassador …Caricom enforcing treaty, not interference – Ambassador

T

he Caribbean Community (Caricom) has insisted that it is not interfering in Guyana’s domestic affairs, as being alleged by certain forces here, but is in fact participating in the Community’s affairs.

This was related to the Organisation of American States (OAS) Permanent Council at Tuesday’s special meeting by St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Permanent Representative, Ambassador Lou-Anne Gaylene Gilchrist.

Speaking on behalf of the other Caricom Members, Ambassador Gilchrist told the Council that in playing a role in Guyana’s protracted electoral process, the regional bloc is merely carrying out the requirements of the Caricom Treaty by which every Member State accepted all the various agreements, including the 1997 Charter of Civil Society.

At Article XI of the Charter, it says “The States shall ensure the existence of a fair and open democratic system through the holding of free elections at reasonable intervals, by secret ballot, underpinned by an electoral system in which all can have confidence and which will ensure the free expression of the will of the people in the choice of their representatives.”

It is against this backdrop that the SVG OAS Representative posited that, “Caricom’s role, therefore, is not interference in the domestic affairs of a foreign country; it is participation in Community affairs, which is the essence of the revised Caricom Treaty and the Charter of Civil Society that preceded it.”

This statement comes in light of criticisms that Caricom is interfering in Guyana’s internal affairs – something which has been dismissed by current Chairman of the regional bloc, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who had pointed out that the Community is also affected

SVG OAS Representative, Ambassador Lou-Anne Gaylene Gilchrist

by Guyana’s situation.

Only last week, in an opinion piece, Dr Gonsalves condemned vile attacks that have been launched against leaders in the region as well as staff of the Caricom Secretariat located at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

The Caricom Chair had stated that he was deeply disturbed at reports that politically-aligned persons in Georgetown have been threatening, defaming, and verbally abusing leading personalities in the Caricom Secretariat, including Secretary General LaRocque. This, he underscored, is wholly unacceptable.

To this end, Ambassador Gilchrist underscored that Caricom’s concerted efforts and willingness to assist Guyana reside in the Community’s desire for the country to reach peaceful solutions, and not to widen the current divisions.

As such, the SVG OAS Permanent Representative, in lamenting the fact that this impasse has gone on for more than four months, urged the relevant authorities in Guyana and all stakeholders to respect the rule of law and to make progress in finalising the legal processes, including taking account of rulings by Guyana’s apex court, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), in its July 8th decision.

The 15-member regional bloc is expected to meet

sometime this week to discuss Guyana’s situation.

Meanwhile, at Tuesday’s OAS special meeting, several of the hemispheric nations also spoke out on the impasse, calling for the protracted electoral process to be brought to an end.

Guyana’s Portuguesespeaking neighbour, Bazil, was among those that made presentations calling Guyana’s situation “worrisome”, and noted that if can affect the stability of the country. Brazil’s Representative to the OAS Permanent Council, Ambassador Fernando Simas Magalhães, said the organisation cannot stand by while there is a break from the democratic principles that Member States have committed to in the Inter-American Charter.

To this end, he said the Brazilian Government en-

Brazil’s OAS Representative, Ambassador Fernando Simas Magalhães

dorses the appeals by the OAS and other regional and international bodies to put this electoral process to an end. Ambassador Simas also echoed concerns over the attacks and threats against stakeholders in Guyana.

The Brazilian Ambassador further noted

that at such a delicate time, it is important for the will of the popular vote to be upheld to ensure the swift announcement of the new administration in Guyana. He said this needs to happen as soon as possible for Guyana to rejoin those democratic countries in the hemisphere that are committed to the principles of democracy.

Also expressing similar sentiments was Ambassador Alejandro Ordoñez Maldonado – Colombia’s Representative to the OAS Permanent Council. He urged that Guyana finalise the elections that were held more than four months ago, adding that Guyanese have a basic right, when they take part in an election, to know the results in a transparent manner and without delays.

This, Ambassador Maldonado, said will avoid

uncertainty and damage to not only Guyana’s democracy, but the region’s as well.

He further noted that while the hemisphere has considerable challenges, which have now worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it can only be remedied if the democratic institutions in the region are solid and respected.

As such, he noted that Member States cannot be indifferent to Guyana’s current situation, and reaffirmed Colombia’s historic position of recognising that democracy, security and human rights are means to bolster development in the region.

Meanwhile, the other OAS member nations that also spoke unanimously at Tuesday’s special meeting include Mexico, Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Honduras and Nicaragua. (G8)

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Mazaruni prisoner nabbed with over 1400g of ganja

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convicted prisoner who is serving time at the Mazaruni Prison, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) was on Tuesday found with a large quantity of cannabis after he was searched by a prison officer.

According to information provided, the discovery was made about 07:45h after a prison guard patrolling the inner perimeter of the penitentiary noticed the prisoner acting in a suspicious manner. Reports are that at the time the inmate was in possession of a plastic bucket and upon seeing the officer, he dashed across to the prison chapel.

However, the guard immediately gave chase and he was apprehended. The bucket was checked, and 1472 grams (1.47 kilogram) of can-

nabis was found inside. The convicted felon was then processed for court.

One week ago, the detection of contraband on an inmate at the Lusignan Prison resulted in a riot, which subsequent led to the burning down of the structure.

The unrest started with the single search of an inmate, which led to the discovery of contraband, including two parcels of cannabis, a juice bottle containing alcohol, and a cellphone.

The situation escalated as inmates started a riot by breaking sections of the building and setting them alight. The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Guyana Police Force (GPF) both deployed ranks as prisoners were placed in a secured holding bay.

PNC’s threats...

The cannabis found in the convicted prisoner’s possession

With the Lusignan and Camp Street penitentiaries completely destroyed by separate fires within the last three years, the three other prisons remain overcrowded.

Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels on Tuesday noted that overcrowding now posed a serious challenge considering the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. (G12)

Police raid Rupununi ganja farms

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n intelligence-led operation at Moco Moco in Central Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) on Wednesday led Police ranks to two separate cannabis fields.

Reports are that ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) initiated their operation in the early morning hours at Moco Moco. The ranks swooped down on a 23-year-old farmer, whose house was searched leading to

Three unlicensed guns were found during the operation

the discovery of 314 grams of cannabis. The suspect also led

the Police to his farm, where a field containing 30 cannabis

plants was cultivated. Each plant measured between five and seven feet in height.

Meanwhile, a 59-yearold farmer was also arrested at his camp with three unlicensed shotguns. A search of his farm unearthed 41 cannabis plants measuring between one foot and five feet in height.

The plants were photographed and destroyed by fire. The suspects were taken into custody and charges would follow.

Porter dies after tractor topples downhill

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25-year-old porter is now dead after the tractor on which he was travelling toppled along the Arawai Trail, Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Dead is Mahendra Verria, while his co-worker, Sunny Noble, is seriously injured following the accident, which occurred around 10:30h on Tuesday.

According to reports, the tractor was towing a lorry and was proceeding north along the trail, but in the process of descending a hill, the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle, causing it to topple.

The driver of the tractor, along with the two porters, Verria and Noble, jumped on to the trail from the vehicle, injuring themselves in the process. The men were picked up by other co-workers, and taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital.

Noble was admitted at the Accident and Emergency Ward, but Verria, who had suffered severe head injuries, was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed.

An investigation has been launched. (G9)

Y

…to Guyana’s peace esterday, the PNC issued a press release for which they took off their gloves and masks literally and figuratively - in these COVID times.

They decided to tell the world in so many words they ain’t letting go of power, come hell or high water.

Hitting a most truculent note, they declared they don’t give a hoot who tells them they legally lost the elections – even if it’s the highest Court in the land, the CCJ. They’re in power; who don’t like that can take a hike.

What else could they be saying when they announce they’re gonna “ensure that fraudulent votes cannot be factored in” by GECOM to make a declaration??

Hasn’t the CCJ already decided -- after hearing all the arguments they threw up to the Chief Justice, and which she threw out! -- that the Recount votes are the valid votes that must be used for the declaration??

The only thing left for Granger to say to the CCJ is – like he once told the Chief Justice after a ruling he didn’t like – that “she has her perception and I got mine”!!

But why are we wasting time on this matter?? Your Eyewitness has been saying this from day one, hasn’t he?? He repeats it not to gloat…well, maybe a tad! – but for us, the Guyanese people, to prepare for the worst. Which is what the PNC always deliver!! And the worst was raised by the PNC when they said, “The APNU+AFC Coalition…WITH A VIEW TO MAINTAINING STABILITY AND PEACE, remains open to dialogue with other political parties and stakeholders on the way forward for our country.”

What’s threatening “peace and stability” in Guyana today if not the PNC refusing to accept the Recounted valid votes and exit stage left?? So, what they’re saying is that unless the PPP and other parties sit down to bargain with them, there will be “war and instability”.

That’s it…plain and simple, if brutal. But that’s how the PNC operate! What is there to discuss with the PNC?? The PNC went into an election in which there had to be a winner and a loser based on the votes cast by the people. And from the numbers already totalled up from the Recount, THE PNC LOST!!

And they have to go!! As to whether the Opposition should sit down with them is a matter for them. But your Eyewitness agrees with the Opposition Leader, who questioned the wisdom of sitting across the table from these blatant bandits. When they won the elections in 2015 with the same lineup, did they sit down to “dialogue” with the PPP??

The Opposition have to call the PNC’s bluff. They’ll fold like an empty paper bag. …and the courts Another day...another appearance in court!! Seems that’s what life in Guyana has boiled down to after the March 2 elections. And this following Basil Williams and Karen Cummings’s outrageous litany of lies to the OAS Permanent Council on Tuesday, when they were told - in no uncertain words - that the Granger Government was holding Guyana hostage and they should quit wasting the court’s time and allow GECOM to make its declaration.

But even as the OAS was conducting its meeting, the PNC had slinked back into the Appellate Court to appeal the Judgement of Chief Justice Roxane George.

If this wasn’t giving the middle finger to another international body, then your Eyewitness doesn’t know what is. But this is now crunch time for our Appellate Court. Back in the day, the PNC had literally flown their flag over this building to signal their contempt of the judiciary.

By questioning the CCJ’s judgement, this is what the Court of Appeal knows they’re doing once again.

And they have to draw a line.

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

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

APNU/AFC’s attempts to deceive int’l community “humiliating” – FITUG

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he David Grangerled A Partnership For National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) Coalition has once again come under fire – this time for trying to mislead the international community by propagating false information during the Organisation of American States’ Permanent Council Meeting on Tuesday.

De facto Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Karen Cummings and Attorney General Basil Williams were specifically blasted by this major trade union umbrella body for causing Guyana further embarrassment and humiliation on the world stage by peddling untruths about the current political climate in the country.

In a missive on Wednesday, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) shared their disdain and shock over the blatant falsehoods uttered by the two senior APNU/AFC officials at the meeting held to discuss Guyana’s prolonged electoral crisis.

“The contributions of both senior Government officials could only be described, in our view, (as) only (serving) to bring further embarrassment to our people,” FITUG said, adding that both Cummings and Williams peddled “clearly false narratives” in an attempt to “mislead the OAS”.

“This, we contend, is tantamount to seeking to insult the intelligence of the hemispheric body,” FITUG surmised.

Williams blatantly told the OAS that “the CCJ [Caribbean Court of Justice] never made a ruling that the results of the Recount must be used by GECOM to determine the results of the elections”, when such an assertion is clearly inaccurate, since in its written judgement in the Eslyn David case, the regional court said, “Unless and until an election court decides otherwise, the votes already counted by the Recount process as valid votes are incapable of being declared invalid by any person or authority.”

On the other hand, Cummings told the OAS that

De facto Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Karen Cummings and Attorney General Basil Williams at the OAS Permanent Council Meeting on the electoral crisis in Guyana

the APNU/AFC Coalition has not interfered in the electoral process; but it is the APNU/ AFC, through its supporters, that has been approaching the courts, time after time, to block the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) from making a declaration based on the Recount results, which show that the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) won the March 2 elections.

According to FITUG, it had to wonder whether the coalition Government sincerely believed that the OAS is unaware of the reality in Guyana. “We consider the OAS, and by extension its members, most informed about Guyana’s state-of-affairs. We do not believe for any moment that the OAS accepted the slanted opinions and cherry-picking of certain aspects of Court pronouncements by the Government.

The fact that the de-facto Administration thinks it can really hoodwink the OAS, and by extension the world, is most humiliating,” the trade union umbrella organisation asserted.

FITUG noted that the convening of that special meeting by the OAS is a demonstration of the seriousness of the situation that is currently unfolding in the country. In fact, the organisation expressed that, “The interventions of our hemispheric brothers and sisters was a vivid demonstration that they were not side-

news@guyanatimesgy.com

tracked or sucked in by the propaganda of the coalition regime.”

FITUG pointed out that, during the meeting, the country’s international partners were most forthright in their calls for the APNU/ AFC to accept the will of the people and exit office.

Indeed, presentations by countries like the United States of America, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, and even Venezuela, all had one united call for the coalition to concede defeat and allow for the democratic transition of government in Guyana.

FITUG said it shares the view that the prolongation of the process, which is quickly approaching five months, must be brought to a swift and peaceful end.

“There is need for a transition in Government as the economy tethers and the lives of thousands of Guyanese hang in the balance. The selfish ways of a greedy few should not be allowed to persist, but democracy must triumph,” FITUG affirmed.

The PPP/C has won the elections by 233,336 votes – as proven by a National Recount of all the votes cast in the country on March 2, but the APNU/AFC is refusing to concede defeat, wanting instead for the election declaration to be based on fraudulent figures deriving from a flawed tabulation process – a major anomaly which prompted the National Recount in the first place.

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cases blocking elections declaration

Is APNU/AFC paying legal bills or are taxpayers? – Christopher Ram questions

Attorney-at-Law Christopher Ram

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s the nation is being made to endure another round of legal battle seeking to prevent the declaration of the results of the March 2 General and Regional Elections, several questions are now being raised in regard to how the APNU/AFC Coalition is funding its huge legal costs.

There are concerns that this financial burden is being placed on the backs of tax payers, and answers are being sought to provide clarity.

Attorney-at-law and Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram has expressed that legal representatives of the APNU/AFC

are deliberately abusing the court system to drag out the electoral process, and hence to prevent the duly elected government from being installed.

According to Ram during an interview on local radio program Room 592, if it is indeed the case that the Treasury would have to foot this huge legal bill, this is against basic fundamental democratic practices, especially since the majority of citizens are against the actions being taken by the APNU/AFC coalition to prevent credible elections’ results from being declared.

Ram asked: “(Are) the APNU/AFC paying their legal bills, or are we, tax payers, paying those bills?” In this regard, Ram declared: “Governments do not contest elections, political parties do.”

Ram noted that Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield was also made a party to the Recount case, “and as immoral as it is”, the cost would have to be borne by the State.

The outspoken activist said that Government’s chief legal advisor, Basil Williams, claims he was involved in the matter to pro-

AG Basil Williams

The APNU/AFC candidate and Attorney Roysdale Forde

The APNU/AFC supporter’s Attorney, Mayo Robertson

T&T Attorney John Jeremie, SC

tect the Constitution, but “I am not sure how confident we should be to have someone like Basil Williams protect our Constitution”.

According to the attorney, it is clear that the saga of these election cases will themselves be the subject of an investigation. “That investigation may very well recommend some form of criminal action”.

Among her decisions handed down in the Misenga Jones v GECOM et al matter on Monday, Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire contended that the only valid results standing are those from the National Recount,

and hence those are the figures that must be used as the basis for a declaration of the winner of the March 2, polls.

The CJ dismissed Jones’s application for judicial review, since most, if not all, of the 28 reliefs she sought from the court were already litigated in previous matters brought by the Coalition in the cases of Ulita Moore and Eslyn David.

But moments after the CJ ruled, the APNU/AFC, through its legal representative Roysdale Forde, indicated that the Coalition will appeal the decisions.

However, several stake-

holders have expressed disgust at the decision of the Coalition, since these issues were already litigated by the COA and subsequently the CCJ. The CJ, in her ruling on Monday, based her decisions largely on the Court of Appeal’s ruling in the Eslyn David as well as the Ulita Moore cases, and on the CCJ ruling in Eslyn David cases.

Ram posited that both Roysdale Forde and Basil Williams are carrying out the agenda of APNU/AFC’s “strongman Joseph Harmon” in spite of all the evidence showing that the Coalition has lost power.

According to Ram, he believes there are enough people in the country, “including the Chancellor, and the head of the Defence Force that will not allow an unlawful Government to stay in place.”

The PPP/C has won the elections convincingly by over 15,000 votes, but President Granger and his APNU/AFC have largely remained unmoved by the mounting calls to step aside and allow for a smooth transition of Government.

Efforts to contact several of the attorneys for comment, including the Attorney General, proved futile.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana’s international image has been “terribly” damaged by APNU/AFC – Teixeira

PPP/C Executive Gail Teixeira

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fter Guyana established itself on the world stage for its vast petroleum and forest resources, its international image has now been stained by the seemingly never-ending elections deadlock, which has been fuelled by the David Granger-led Administration.

This was the posi-

tion shared by Executive Member of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Gail Teixeira, during an appearance on “Mornin’ Barbados” on CBC TV8.

Many countries across the Region and wider hemisphere have been observing the situation in Guyana, which started since early March. Teixeira insisted that there was a high chance of A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) supporter Misenga Jones’ case reaching the Caribbean Court of Justice – a consequence which was labelled a travesty.

She said the continued court matters coupled with calls for the coalition to concede have left Guyanese in a state of embarrassment.

“We will succeed. The issue is how long this will take, because obviously if they go to the Court of Appeal, there is also the

PYO pays tribute to Balram Khandai on 18th death anniversary

A PYO member places a wreath on Balram Khandai’s grave

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embers of the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) branch of the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO), on Wednesday, paid tribute to their colleague, Balram Khandai who was shot and killed on his way home after attending a Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) Congress in Berbice in 2002.

The members laid wreaths at the Memorial Site in Lima Sands on the Essequibo Coast.

Khandia, 18-years-old at the time, was driving along the Rose Hall Public Road when armed criminals opened fired at his vehicle, fatally wounding him.

The PYO member was an

Dead: Balram Khandai

observer at the PPP’s 27th Congress in Port Mourant, Berbice in 2002. (G14)

chance that we end back at the Caribbean Court of Justice, which would really be a tragedy and a travesty. As Guyanese, we are embarrassed by all this.

Our international image has been damaged terribly by what is going on. We are embarrassed by it as a people, even though we are not for this, that our dignity as a people is being thrown out the window,” the Opposition Executive asserted.

She reminded that the courts would have previously decided that the votes cast could not be invalidated until a declaration is made.

If there were any doubts or challenges, they would have to be dealt with later in an elections petition. In fact, there have been no precedents in any jurisdiction, even in a dictatorship regime, where such acts have occurred.

“That the Guyana Elections Commission nor the Court at this stage

CBC TV8’s “Mornin’ Barbados” host, Cassandra Crawford

with no declaration can invalidate or remove votes from the declaration.

Despite that, the Grangerled Government is trying to thwart the will of the Guyanese people. This is unprecedented. We cannot find and there is no case in the world where a parliamentary democracy, even

in a dictatorship, that anything like this has happened,” Teixeira said.

She reiterated that the PPP/C has won the elections and was backed by all international observers, the diplomatic community, regional and international organisations among others.

“We’re still on a treadmill, what I call a treacherous rollercoaster for the last 141 days … The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic has won and we have the support of the entire world…133 countries have called on the Granger-led Government to concede that they lost the election and stop trying to prevent the declaration of the results so that a legitimate government can be installed,” she insisted.

Upon the PPP/C’s return to office, she said, it will take some time to resuscitate the dying economy and restore jobs lost during the coalition’s one term in office.

“One is the issue of governance that is critical, the manner in which we govern, which we have made commitments to ensure that the quality and anti-discrimination procedures are in place; and also, of course, issues of righting the economy, which is in terrible state.

If we don’t do that, then we don’t have money to reduce poverty, provide jobs for our people…30,000 people lost their jobs in the last five years.”

She recalled that after the 1992 elections – which saw an end to the PNC’s 28-year rule – the country was in a collapsed state. Regrettably, she said, Guyana was almost back to that same position.

“We have to reconstruct.

We have to rebuild. We have to build trust and confidence of our people in institutions, because those have really been undermined,” the veteran politician expressed.

(G12)

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

APNU/AFC rejects CCJ’s judgement on valid votes

…will only accept its own opinion

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n its latest act of defiance, the David Granger- led APNU/ AFC Coalition has rejected the judgement of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in which the court stated clearly that the recount figures constitute valid votes and must be used as a basis of a final declaration of the results of the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

The CCJ, in its ruling, had contended that no person or authority can invalidate any vote, and had stated that questions in

relation to ‘invalid’ votes must be addressed by Guyana’s High Court via an elections petition after the results of the elections have been declared.

In any case, on the night of the elections, after the close of polls, and similarly during the Recount process, only valid votes were counted and tallied. Votes that were deemed ‘rejected’ were placed in a separate envelope. The process for this is outlined in the Representation of the People Act (ROPA).

However, APNU/AFC

in a release on Wednesday, restated its false claim that the Elections Commission can make a declaration based only on the Returning Officer’s figures, and not the National Recount figures.

It stated that the party has taken note of the ruling of Chief Justice Roxane George on Monday in the Misenga Jones v The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) et al case, and claims that that party remains committed to the judicial process.

However, in the same

File photo: Leaders of the APNU/AFC: Joseph Harmon, Dawn Hastings-Williams, caretaker President David Granger, Khemraj Ramjattan and Raphael Trotman

sentence, the APNU/AFC noted that an appeal has been filed on 18 grounds in the Court of Appeal. It is its own party agent, Misenga Jones, who is seeking to set aside the judgment handed down by Chief Justice Roxane George.

“The APNU+AFC coalition is resolved to ensure that fraudulent votes cannot be factored in to represent the will of the electorate. Any attempt to include fraudulent votes in a ‘declaration’ will constitute a violation of the Constitution and the fundamental prin-

that was never a decision of the CCJ,” Williams told the OAS Permanent Council, which called the meeting to discuss the electoral crisis in Guyana.

However, unlike what was peddled by Williams, the CCJ had in fact endorsed the Recount process, and made it clear that it must be the basis on which a declaration is made by GECOM. The CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders, in delivering the court’s judgement on July 8 in the Irfaan Ali et al v Eslyn

De facto Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

ciples of democracy. We maintain that the Elections Commission can only make a ‘declaration’ based on valid votes,” the party falsely claims.

The APNU/AFC statement went on to narrate its false claims of irregularities and fraud, but in the same breath claimed that it is prepared to “act responsibly to bring a resolution to the ongoing political situation.”

Only on Tuesday, the party’s members, de facto Foreign Affairs Minister Karen Cummings and Attorney General Basil Williams, has lied to the Organisation of American States (OAS) Permanent Council. Williams claimed in his statement to the OAS that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) did not rule that the Recount results must be used as the basis for the elections’ declaration.

“The CCJ never made a ruling that the results of the Recount must be used

by GECOM to determine the results of the elections.

David et al case, had said: “Unless and until an election court decides otherwise, the votes already counted by the Recount process as valid votes are incapable of being declared invalid by any person or authority.”

Williams also told the Permanent Council that caretaker President David Granger has given an undertaking that he would abide by the ruling of the courts. However, APNU/ AFC has done anything but abide by the rulings of the court, since it has rehashed and re-appealed matters that are in fact res judicata; that is, already adjudicated by the courts.

Meanwhile, Cummings told the Permanent Council that her APNU/ AFC Government, led by Granger, has not interfered with the electoral process.

But it is the Grangerled APNU/AFC coalition, through its supporters, that continues to approach the courts to block GECOM from making its declaration.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GECOM must issue declaration on credible recount results – EU …as directed by Caribbean Court of Justice

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he European Union (EU) has reiterated calls for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to issue a declaration of the March 2 General and Regional elections based on the credible results emanating from the National Recount process.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Nabila Massrali, pointed out that July 8 ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) – Guyana’s apex court – had paved the way for the declaration to be done. “…The clear ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice now provides a solid foundation for a peaceful and democratic solution to Guyana’s post-electoral crisis,” he stated.

According to Massrali, it is now up to the Elections Commission to rapidly issue a declaration based on the credible results of the Recount, certified by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), ensur-

ing respect for the will of the people of Guyana in line with the ruling by the CCJ. “We expect all Guyanese leaders and stakeholders to support such a declaration to conclude this long overdue democratic process. Only then can a legitimate Government be sworn in, which is urgent and essential for the country,” the EU Spokesperson asserted in Wednesday’s missive.

Earlier this month, the CCJ had ruled that Guyana’s Court of Appeal had no jurisdiction to hear the matter filed by another APNU/ AFC supporter, Eslyn David. As such, the regional court invalidated the Appeal Court’s decision that “more votes cast” in the Recount Order means “more validate votes cast”, as well as the fraudulent report submitted by Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, who had dumped over 115,000 voters.

The Trinidad-based regional Court also ruled that Lowenfield should now follow the directive from GECOM’s Chair, Justice

Claudette Singh; that is, for him to compile a final elections report based on the Recount results.

CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders, in delivering the ruling, had said, “It is for GECOM to ensure that the election results are swiftly declared in accordance with the Laws of Guyana.”

However, despite being directed to use the recount results, the

CEO again failed to comply, and instead submitted a report using the fraudulent figures from the declaration of embattled Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, who was found to have heavily inflated the votes in favour of the APNU/AFC Coalition.

In fact, the EU Election Observation Mission (EOM), in its final report that was submit-

ted to GECOM, said the integrity of the entire electoral process was “seriously compromised” by the non-transparent tabulation of results in Region Four, for which it blamed senior GECOM officials.

“Voting, counting and the tabulation of results in nine of Guyana’s ten regions were generally well managed… However, the integrity of the entire electoral process was seriously compromised by the non-transparent and non-credible tabulation of results in the largest and decisive Region 4 by senior Guyana Elections Commission officials, acting in blatant violation of the law and High Court orders issued in this regard,” the EU EOM report detailed.

The European Union had fielded 14 long-term and 20 short-term observers to monitor Guyana’s March 2 elections. The 14 longterm observers had been in Guyana since February, observing electoral preparations and the campaign across Guyana’s 10 regions. (G8)

Essequibo Coast man charged for setting fire to public buildings

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n Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) man was on Wednesday charged for setting fire to public buildings, and appeared at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

Keyon Davis, 24, of Lot 60 Hibernia, Essequibo Coast, appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court. It is alleged that the excavator operator set fire to the Guyana Defence Force Second Infantry Battalion Building at Maria’s Lodge,

Charged: Keyon Davis

Essequibo Coast, and the CID Building at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast.

Both incidents occurred on July 14.

He was placed on $200,000 bail for each of the charges. As a condition for his bail, he is required to report to the Suddie Police Station twice per week.

The case will continue on August 5.

Reports are that the CID building, located in the compound of the Anna Region Police Station, and the unoccupied building at the

Army Base Second Infantry Battalion at Maria’s Lodge were set on fire sometime between 03:00h and 05:15h on July 14. With respect to the fire at Maria’s Lodge, smoke was observed by neighbours emanating from the top flat of the building. This was followed by a blaze. However, public-spir-

ited citizens formed a bucket brigade and were successful in extinguishing the fire.

At the CID building, a Police constable was on compound duty when he observed smoke billowing from the Regional Detective Inspector’s Office, and as a result, the Guyana Fire

Service was immediately summoned. The fire was extinguished.

Also, in July, there was an arson attempt made on the Suddie Magistrate’s Court. After the fire was extinguished, investigators found several bottles with what is suspected to be kerosene at the scene.

14 NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Petrol bombs hurled at Surinamese Embassy R

anks of the Guyana Police Force have launched an investigation into repeated attacks on the Suriname Embassy in Guyana, located at the corner of Anira and New Garden Streets, Queenstown, Georgetown.

In the latest known attempt, which occurred on Wednesday at around 01:00h, Molotov Cocktails – also known as petrol bombs – were thrown at the building.

A security officer on duty recalled seeing two fireball objects heading in the direction of the embassy.

The Police were immediately summoned, and two bottles of suspected flammable liquid and a burnt-out tyre were found on the scene.

Guyana Times understands that this is not the

from the Government of Guyana, and they are monitoring the situation.

“We have no indication that it has anything to do with politics. Staff is safe,” the Surinamese Minister

is quoted as saying in a StarNieuws report.

Only two weeks ago, an attempt was made to burn down one of Guyana’s famed landmarks, the Umana Yana. Quick action by a female constable who was on guard duty prevented the fire, which was already set, from escalating.

Fires have also been set to other public buildings, like the Office of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in Linden, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice); the Suddie Magistrates Court, the Anna Regina Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters, and a GDF Base at Maria’s Lodge – all on the Essequibo Coast in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

Authorities had said it was too early to determine whether the fires were politically motivated. (G9)

of his vehicle hit the man.

As a result, the pedal cyclist fell to the roadway and sustained injuries to his head and his body. He was picked up by the driver in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The body is presently at the hospital’s mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination (PME).

Police have since conducted a breathalyser test on the driver. No trace of alcohol was detected.

Also, on Tuesday, on the ECD, two motorcyclists were injured around 18:30h along the Triumph Railway Embankment.

Guyana Times was told that motorcycle CJ 4694, owned and ridden by Dindial Rampersaud, 43, of Agriculture Road, ECD, and motorcycle CG 9857,

owned and ridden by Ryan Pire, 19, of Ogle Street Beterverwagting, ECD, were involved in the accident.

According to an eyewitness, motorcycle CJ 4694 was proceeding east along the northern side of Triumph Railway Embankment while a motor car was proceeding west along the southern side of the same road when the vehicle suddenly turned north across the road towards Agriculture Road.

Reports are the motorcyclist swerved south to avoid a collision with the motor car, but instead collided with motorcycle CG 9857, which was proceeding west along the southern side of the same road.

As a result of the collision, both motorcyclists fell to the roadway and sustained injuries to their heads and their bodies.

They were picked up by public-spirited citizens in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where they were admitted. Their conditions are listed as serious.

Meanwhile, the driver of the motor car was arrested, and a breathalyser test was conducted on him. No alcohol was found on his breath.

Investigations are ongoing. (G9)

The Surinamese Embassy, located at Anira and New Garden Streets, Georgetown

first incident of its kind to occur at the embassy.

On Saturday last, there

was a similar incident, but the flammable liquid hit a tree, which ended up being

Lusignan contractor’s killing

scorched.

Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, and International Politics, Albert Ramdin, commenting on the issue, said he received word

Suspect released from Pedal cyclist dies, 2 Police custody injured in ECD accidents A businessman who was arrested in relation to the execution-style killing of 47-yearold Kissoondatt Premsukh, a contractor, of Lot 138 Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD), has been released from Police custody.

Premsukh was fatally shot on Thursday last while he was at his D’Urban Street, Lodge worksite.

Following up on leads, Police had detained the businessman about a week ago, but he has since been released.

Regional Police Commander Phillip Azore told Guyana Times that the businessman was taken into custody after he was accused of contracting hitmen

Dead: Kissoondatt Premsukh

to commit the act.

“He was released. We cannot keep him in custody for more than 72 hours…,” the Commander revealed.

Azore noted that investigations were still ongoing and legal advice would be sought on the way forward

once the file was completed.

Reports are that about 17:45h on Thursday last, the father of three was shot multiple times – once to the head and at least twice to his upper body.

It was reported that while he was on his work site, two armed men pulled up and discharged several bullets in his direction.

Premsukh collapsed, and was picked up by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

On Father’s Day this year, the now dead man was shot twice in an attempted execution. Premsukh leaves to mourn his wife and three children. (G9)

A

pedal cyclist is now dead after he was struck down by a motor car on the Melanie Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Tuesday evening.

Dead is Wayne James, 53, a grass cutter, of Cinema Road, Melanie.

According to Police, around 18:50h, the car, PMM 8751, driven by a 22-year-old resident of Block 20 Haslington, ECD, struck James.

The driver of the motor car told Police that he was proceeding east along the northern side of Melanie Public Road when he saw the pedal cyclist proceeding east along the southern side.

He claimed that James suddenly swerved north across the road and into the path of his vehicle. The driver claimed that he applied brakes, but the right-front

Linden teen remanded on wounding, damage to property charges

N

ineteen-year-old Lindener Kim Giddings was remanded to prison by Magistrate Wanda Fortune on charges of unlawful wounding and unlawful damage to property when she made a virtual appearance at the Linden

Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

It is alleged that Giddings unlawfully wounded Shania Budburgh while at South Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden on July 2. The prosecution is contending that the teen also maliciously dam-

aged a Samsung Galaxy S9 cellular phone valued $189,000.

Giddings, who hails from the Blueberry Hill squatting area, Wismar, Linden denied the charges, but was remanded to prison. The case will continue on August 3, 2020. (G13)

NEWS

15

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

11 new COVID-19 cases recorded …active cases stand at 166

T

here have been five new cases of COVID-19 as at Wednesday, which increased the total recorded cases in Guyana to 350.

Five new cases were detected in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). The latest statistics show that the number of deaths remains at 19.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Karen GordonBoyle had indicated earlier in the week that 42 cases of the coronavirus were detected for just last week.

Linden housing solutions discussed by stakeholders …seeking to find alternative for squatters

Stakeholders at the meeting in Linden, Region 10

S

takeholders have agreed to a need for aggressive collaboration in dealing with the issue of widespread squatting in Linden and other parts of Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), as well as the urgent need for a systematic approach in providing legal housing alternatives for residents.

These were examined and discussed at a meeting hosted at the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) on Wednesday, and in attendance were representatives of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Regional Democratic Council (RDC), environmentalists, and the LM&TC. The meeting was hosted in response to an increase in squatting in the community, which recently prompted Linden Deputy Mayor Wainewright Bethune to seek collaboration between relevant entities. Bethune recently disclosed to members of the media that he was tasked with preparing a proposal for alternative areas which can be occupied by residents, in keeping with legal and environmental and safety guidelines.

At Wednesday’s meeting, these areas were outlined by the Deputy Mayor, along with numerous areas in the community presently affected by squatting and massive land clearing by residents to facilitate housing. The affected areas identified were Amelia’s Ward, Blueberry Hill, Dakoura Creek water site, and the ‘Mines’ areas, among other places. It has long been noted by officials that a majority of the lands in Region 10 are owned by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), which reportedly makes it difficult for

ordinary citizens to acquire same, whether for housing, commercial of farming purposes. This had even led to the officials of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) moving a motion to have the issue surrounding lands in the region investigated and addressed.

Squatters

Speaking at the meeting, Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell stressed that persons are occupying unsuitable lands and local government bodies are later faced with issues relative to placement of infrastructure and environmental challenges.

Arrindell noted that, at this point, agencies need to look at how they can collaborate and divert the amount of squatters, especially in the area of the Dakoura Creek, which is considered a conservation site.

She further urged the stakeholders to look at alternatives proposed by the Deputy Mayor, whom she noted has a better understanding of the terrain of the land.

Senior Land Administration Officer attached to the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Julian Benons, in his remarks, pointed to the short-lived Land Selection Committee which was in place at the RDC, and the role it was designed to play in terms of the allocation of lands within the Region.

Further, he indicated that the squatting issue is not one which is limited to Linden, but is pervasive in the country, and he stressed the need to deter persons from engaging in squatting and the need to create legal housing alternatives.

In looking at squatting at Amelia’s Ward, Benons alleged that there is someone behind it. He added that this person is allegedly collecting

monies for lands but is issuing receipts for the clearing and fencing of those lands.

Bethune, in his remarks, noted that based on what is happening now, there is need for agencies to be more proactive, and he made the call for a closer examination of what is happening on the ground with representatives of NICIL. The Deputy Mayor said while he understands residents’ frustration, there seems to be individuals usurping the authority of agencies and are taking money from residents for lands. As such, he said there is need to be more aggressive in moving towards positive intentions. He said alternative options must be outlined, or it will be a difficult task to prevent squatting, and collaboration needs to be very active, with some degree of urgency.

LM&TC Councillor Lawrence Simon also pointed to massive land clearing ongoing at Amelia’s Ward, which he said could have been halted had the authorities stepped in earlier. Simon said persons have expressed their frustration at having applied for land and encountering a “bottle neck” effect, which has resulted in them squatting.

M e a n w h i l e , Environmental Engineer Samuel Wright, who also spoke at the meeting, said there is presently a sense of urgency in regard to squatting, to which he believes the relevant agencies are not responding. He indicated that there is currently an organised approach to squatting, and questioned whether this is cultural or related to a failure of housing strategy.

The stakeholders have agreed to examine and identify squatting areas and alternative housing areas within the coming week.

(Utamu Belle)

Alarmingly, a high number of cases were recorded in Regions One (BarimaWaini) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

To this, the senior health official had posited that the Public Health Ministry has been intensifying its efforts in the hinterland region.

“Recognizing that our vast stretch of border leaves our residents in those bordering regions very vulnerable to imported cases, we also need to keep a watchful eye on our movement within and between our communities,

and I am talking directly to those persons who knowingly have been close to positive persons.”

On Tuesday, she also shared that Region One has the highest Incidence Rate of 363 cases per 100,000. This was followed by Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) with 38; Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) with 276, and Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) with 74.

This shows that even though Region One has an average population of 26,941 persons, the con-

traction rate is higher than in other population regions; like Four, which has 313,429 individuals residing there. As such, persons are 9.5 times more likely to be infected in Region One than in Region Four, and seven times more likely to get infected in Region Seven than in Four.

The regional hotspots are Moruca and Mabaruma in Region One; Aranka, Bartica and Sulphur Rose in Region Seven; Itabac and Mahdia in Region Eight; and Lethem in Region Nine. (G12)

16 NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Tropical storm warning issued for Guyana J$200M livelihood

T

he Agriculture Ministry’s Hydrometeorological Department has reported that Tropical Storm Gonzalo is expected to create over northern Guyana conditions that may result in thundershowers over the weekend.

The Department of Public Information reported that the Hydromet Department has stated that the National Hurricane Centre first reported the system as a tropical depression, but subsequently upgraded same to a tropical storm on July 22, 2020.

It is located approximately one thousand six hundred and fifty kilometres (1650km) to the east-north-east of Georgetown, and is moving in a westerly direction.

Meteorological models indicate that the eye of the storm may be positioned to the north of Guyana in the Atlantic Ocean as a hurricane between 20:00h on July 24 and 08:00h on July 25.

The storm is not expected to directly impact Guyana, unless the system chang-

development programme for Jamaica’s displaced sugar workers

A Current and forecasted area where the centre of TS Gonzalo would most likely be in the next 5 days (blue shaded area). The black line shows the most likely trajectory. Please note the size of the cone does not indicate the size of the system (Source https://www. nhc.noaa.gov/)

es its trajectory and begins to travel towards the south-west.

The Hydromet Department has assured that as soon as the extent of the thunderstorms and locations can be de-

termined, the public would be informed.

The Hydromet Department has said it would continue to monitor the situation, and has assured that updates will be provided as the need arises.

Brazil, Argentina hit coronavirus records as Latin America exceeds 4 million cases

B

razil and Argentina registered daily records for confirmed coronavirus cases on Wednesday, pushing the total number of cases in Latin America past 4 million and underlining the difficulty the region faces in controlling the pandemic.

Brazil registered 67,860 additional cases of the virus on Wednesday, along with 1,284 related deaths. That brought the total number of cases in Latin America’s largest nation to 2,227,514, while deaths rose to 82,771.

Neighboring Argentina

posted a daily record of 5,782 confirmed cases, the vast majority of them in and around the capital, Buenos Aires, taking the total number infected in the country to 141,900.

Peru, which has the second-highest number of cases in Latin America behind Brazil, added 3,688 previously uncounted people to its death toll on Wednesday, taking fatalities to nearly 17,500.

The Andean copper-producing country recorded 4,463 new cases for the day, taking its total to 366,550, double the number at the

start of June.

The numbers point to the struggles nations across the region have had in containing the pandemic, despite widely varying strategies to combat the outbreak.

In Brazil, right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro has consistently played down the seriousness of the pandemic, leaving mayors and state governors to implement a patchwork of quarantine orders that have been progressively relaxed.

On July 7, the former army captain tested positive for the virus and has since

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

said he is taking hydroxychloroquine, a drug he has consistently promoted despite little proof of its effectiveness.

He tested positive again on Wednesday, a development that could disrupt a planned trip through Brazil’s northeast this week.

Argentina and Peru adopted strict lockdowns early on, but never managed to eliminate community transmission of the virus, and, as in Brazil, leaders have faced increasing pressure to open up the economy as hunger and unemployment bite.

(Reuters)

udley Shaw, minister of industry, commerce, agriculture and fisheries, says Government has provided $200 million towards an alternative livelihood development programme for the displaced sugar workers in the Golden Grove Factory area.

Responding to media reports regarding payments made to the former workers, Shaw said the programme aims to mitigate the hardships that the cane farmers and factory workers from the St Thomas region are facing from the closure of the sugar factory.

“The intervention intends to cover five major components, including a production programme, skills training, cluster development, technical assistance and a cash grant,” he explained.

The cash grant component of the programme amounted to approximately $78 million and was to be paid out to three categories of workers, totalling 527 people, and included active sugar cane farmers who directly supplied the Golden Grove Sugar Factory, Golden Grove Sugar Factory workers, and cane cutters

contracted to the factory.

“The payouts have been made to most people, with the exception of 12 individuals who are still to collect cheques. These 12 include cane cutters and cane farmers,” Shaw said.

“An appeal has been made for payments to be made to other categories of persons employed to private cane farmers and contractors who supplied the factory. These persons were not involved in the direct operations of the factory, and therefore would not have fallen in the categories of persons previously considered.”

He said this payment, which would represent approximately $23 million, is now under consideration.

“The other components of the programme are ongoing.

Approximately 570 acres of lands have been identified for the programme; of which 150 acres are currently under production by some 120 farmers. Land preparation and cluster development initiatives are under way for the remaining portions. The programme also provides technical and other support to farmers,” Shaw said.

(Jamaica Observer)

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

17

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020

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

Guyana needs Dr Irfaan Ali now Dear Editor, Leaders of the APNU/AFC coalition, specifically David Granger, must concede defeat to respect the will of the Guyanese people! Surely, the AFC coalition leaders must understand that, by both local and international standards, they have lost these elections and their current actions are working against the best interest of the people of Guyana, their supporters, and their party.

If they continue to prevent a legitimate Government from taking office, they would have damaged their credibility to the extent that their future prospects of holding electoral office would be greatly diminished.

The situation in Guyana is disheartening, to say the least. After General and Regional Elections had occurred almost five months ago, Guyana is still without a legitimate Government at its helm, and has been more than a year without a Parliament. Much effort has been made during the deadly Covid-19 era to bring trans-

parency, fairness and rule of democracy to the March 2,2020 elections and their aftermath; however, all these efforts have been to no avail, as some people in the political corridor of our country and outside simply refuse to abide by the findings and pathways outlined by institutions like Caricom for peaceful and fair resolution to the conflict that sprung up immediately.

There is no doubt that this situation in Guyana needs to come to an end immediately; prolonging such a situation will not augur well for the future of the people of Guyana.

The restoration of normalcy and peace in Guyana should be an absolute priority now, and the rule of law as embodied in our Constitution must be allowed to run its course.

Nothing should derail that precedence.

It is true that elections in Guyana have a long history that extends way beyond Guyana’s borders, even producing a BBC panorama documentary featuring investigative reports suggesting the “horses may have voted in a

highly controversial poll back in the 1970s”.

In the year 2020, we have the dead voting from the grave. We have witnessed more than 18 months of chaos, ever since the December 2018 no-confidence vote in the National Assembly which brought down the Granger Administration. The no-confidence vote ushered in a period of political paralysis at a time that Guyanese leaders of all backgrounds could have come together to lay the foundation for a brighter, more prosperous future.

However, it was clear that the APNU/AFC never cared about people then. The pernicious actions of a few have wreaked considerable damage on Guyana’s image and reputation, and even if this debacle is soon and satisfactorily resolved, it will perhaps take a generation and significant institutional reform for that damage to be fully repaired.

Guyana needs Dr Irfaan Ali now as President, to put Guyana back on track. No court can undo “the people’s

will, which was demonstrated in the National Recount results.

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire ruled that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) endorsed the recount of votes, and that the ten old declarations from March 13 cannot be “resurrected”, as she threw out a case filed by another supporter of the incumbent A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change, (APNU/AFC).

Justice George ruled that the Recount results arising out of Order 60 are valid as already decided by the CCJ, while stating that the submissions by the applicant, Misenga Jones, are “hopelessly flawed.”

Jones wanted GECOM Chairperson Claudette Singh to be prohibited from using the results of the National Recount to declare a winner. The CJ said that Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield is not a “lone ranger” and has to come under the direction of GECOM and its Chair. She said that there can no longer be an im-

passe between the CEO and Chair. The CJ also said that the CEO is not a constitutional officer, that status resides with the GECOM Chair.

Lowenfield has thrice defied the GECOM Chair’s instruction to deliver the Recount results to the Commission.

Despite losing, Roysdale Ford on Tuesday filed an appeal in the Court of Appeal, which would be another string of global embarrassment for their party and its dwindling support base, fighting to hold on to power at all cost.

The CCJ Justices were clear in their ruling on July 7, 2020, which stated that Chief Election Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission, Keith Lowenfield, must produce his report as already directed by Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice Claudette Singh, based on the results of the validated Recount.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is seeking to make a declaration of the March 2 polls based

on the certified Recount results, which show that the PPP/C won the elections with 233,336 votes.

The only democratic solution for Guyana at this time is respect for the results of the National Recount. This is fully in keeping with Guyana’s commitments under the Democratic Charter, “…there is no way to minimize how flagrant the actions of APNU/ AFC leaders have been.”

A Partnership for National Unity – PNCR and their leaders – face a stark choice: Do they want to be a leader in the hemisphere and a democratic example? Or do they want to be an international pariah?

Does The people of Guyana want to have a functioning Executive and Legislature so it can pass the laws it needs to encourage the development of our people? Or do we want to remain a country whose leaders cannot travel and are subject to sanctions? These are the choices facing our country today.

Sincerely, David Adams

CJ’s ruling demolishes PNC’s shameless attempt to derail recount results Dear Editor, Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George, in her decision on Monday, pretty much bitch-slapped the PNC on their head over and over, as she told them their case was hopelessly flawed.

When you thought the PNC would be ashamed and embarrassed to show their face, the PNC lawyer who got a Senior Counsel award from Granger for arguing 33 is not the majority of 65, without any shame, announced they would appeal the decision.

There was a collective sigh of, “Here we go again,” from all those watching across the world at this latest PNC intransigence and refusal to give up power, having been walloped at the December 2018 No Confidence Vote and the March 2 election.

You would think that with sanctions in place and additional sanctions looming, and the OAS and CARICOM scheduling meetings to discuss the “Guyana election problem,” good sense and reason would prevail in the PNC camp. You hoped they would understand that the gamesmanship is over and they must concede. But that was not to be. The PNC did not take this exit offered to them.

The PNC seem committed to a course of self-destruction that would bring all Guyana down with them.

None can convince the PNC that they did not win.

It will be the PPP’s burden to rebuild the country and Guyana’s reputation once again. Additionally, on Tuesday, while the OAS meeting was going on and they were being rebuked for prolonging the elections, the PNC side filed an appeal of the Chief Justice’s well-reasoned decision.

Someone has said that if Jesus and the angels were to come down and tell the PNC that they lost the elections, they would give Him a good cuss down. A Guyanese proverb says, “When cows

are going to the slaughterhouse, they don’t care where they sh**”.

It is very callous, ruthless and selfish for the PNC to only think about their own lust and greed for power, and to hell with the national interest and to hell with the poor people punishing and unable to make ends meet in these perilous times of a bankrupt economy, unemployment, and great difficulties in meeting needs during the current pandemic.

History will be unkind to Mr. Granger and the PNC for torturing the nation in this fashion. This torment is nothing short of a coup attempt. The PNC have now moved to the realm of a political dictatorship, as they continue to refuse to give up power, although being defeated.

The whole world is watches as the clumsy antics of the PNC are on full, open, vulgar display and as the attempt to delay and rig unfolds further.

To be clear, the Chief Justice’s ruling entrenches that only the Recount results are valid and are in play, and this is not reversible at this point. So there is no scenario under which the “sanctimonious gangster” can be sworn in. That hope is dead. No amount of wukking obeah at Seven Ponds or at the Cuffy Monument can change that. Invoking “Odo” to help is so laughable, as it is sad that the party of the sanctimonious one has turned to witchcraft for assistance with rigging.

So much for our “Christian” President and party.

A matriarch of the Church, Sis. Bernice Walcott, issued a public rebuke of Mr. Granger, asking him to repent. Other prayer groups are also praying against witchcraft in Guyana.

Essentially, the courts’ ruling recognises that Dr Irfaan Ali, with more votes cast, has been deemed to be the President Elect, waiting

to be sworn in.

The Chief Election Officer was also bitch-slapped, as the court ruled he cannot be a lone ranger going off on his own frolic. Lowenfield was always under the control of the Commission, and many don’t understand why he has not been fired as yet.

The PNC have clumsily concocted “Nancy stories” that they won the election. At first, they said the elections were well run, and they won based on the Mingo fraudulent declarations for Region 4. When it became clear the Recount was showing they lost, the PNC changed their story to say that the PPP bought out everyone, and made baseless claims that dead people and migrated people fraudulently voted, notwithstanding there is a video in circulation showing Mr Lowenfield saying that with the new biometric design of the voters list with photos and personal information included, it is not possible for voter fraud to take place.

During the initial count at the close of polls, there were zero complaints about dead and migrated voting, all voting materials were accounted for, and there was no reported issue by anyone.

Some election day materials were placed in the ballot boxes and some were placed in separate packaging.

The Chief Elections Officer and Returning Officers know where those materials are, and must be made to give account for them. That’s not a PPP problem or problem of any other party. The PPP did not have control of the materials; that’s a GECOM function, and Lowenfield must be made to answer. By now it is quite clear which party Mr. Lowenfield wanted to win.

Lowenfield has had so many versions of fraudulent results that it ain’t funny.

For what it has done to the country, we must help

the PNC out of their misery and make sure they never form the Government again.

Any ideas for power-sharing is DOA, as the PNC can never be trusted and have no redeeming value as a party that cares for the national interest.

My hope is that PNC supporters would be ashamed of what their leaders are doing to the country and there would be a massive exodus

from the PNC to the other parties. Already, the PPP’s “big tent” approach in welcoming and valuing diversity has attracted a sizeable following of people who previously supported the PNC. The smaller new parties have also attracted attention, as the long agony of the PNC’s refusal to give up has increased their profile.

For the long haul, the PNC have destroyed the

moral fabric of our society, as they are teaching our young people fraudulent math and showing our young people how to commit fraud. This is unforgivable.

For a party calling itself A Partnership for National Unity, the PNC have gone to the dark side, and are a big disgrace to Guyana

Dear Editor, I have concluded that the GPSU must have observed a different election from everyone else for it to reach the conclusions it recently disclosed.

According to what I saw in the media, the workers union said it determined that there were irregularities which marred the voting process. I had expected to learn more from the Union about its conclusions, and I thought it would have offered specific examples of the irregularities it claimed occurred. Rather, the GPSU offered abstract and empty statements as it sought to justify a hardly justifiable call for the elections to be annulled. It begs the question that, having knowledge of such occurrences, what prevented the Union from making its views known earlier? Did it have to wait on any master/s?

The GPSU’s findings indeed stand out, as it is the only observer grouping that has found such issues during the election. It comes back to my statement that the Union had to be observing a different election.

There exists no evidence that upholds this conclusion, and the elections were given a clean bill of health; that is, until the actions of Mr Mingo, which has gotten us where we are presently.

I am saddened that a long-standing Union like the GPSU would throw cau-

tion and its credibility to the wind and unashamedly lend a voice to the Government.

Principles are principles, and they ought to remain sacrosanct, and not compromised on any whim or fancy.

The actions of the GPSU cause me great unease, and causes me to wonder how it

can really, and on principled grounds, represent its members. Clearly, the GPSU has shown its hand, and its members need to take notice.

Sincerely, Jerry Singh

Actions of GPSU cause me great unease Yours faithfully, Patricia Persaud

18

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020

Regional

Mottley shuffles Bolivia’s September vote in doubt as virus death toll rises Cabinet B P

rime Minister Mia Mottley made several changes to the Cabinet of Barbados, shuffling out some of those who were appointed in May 2018 and promoting others from the back bench or the Senate.

In an address from Ilaro Court on Wednesday evening, Mottley said it was time to make changes to the team which would direct Barbados’ policy in a “postCOVID” environment, even as she acknowledged the virus was here to stay.

Parliament will be prorogued on August 8, 2020 and a new session will take effect on September 15.

Mottley said she com-

Prime Minister Mia Mottley

municated this to Governor General, Dame Sandra Mason in their meeting on Wednesday and there would also be a new Throne Speech. (Nation News)

olivia’s plan to hold elections in September, seen as a key to stabilising its democracy after a year of political tumult, is increasingly in doubt amid rising coronavirus deaths, including grim reports about Police in two cities finding the bodies of suspected victims of COVID-19.

Police said they have recovered 420 bodies from streets, vehicles, and homes in the capital of La Paz, and in Bolivia’s biggest city, Santa Cruz, in the span of five days.

Between 80 per cent and 90 per cent of them are believed to have had the virus.

A committee that advises the Health Ministry on out-

break containment measures said in a letter this week to Bolivia’s top election official that holding the elections as scheduled would not be advisable because of the rapid spread of the virus.

Most researchers agree that “to plan activities such as an election, you must wait for the epidemiological curve of active cases to have a sustained decrease for a period of 14 days, so the date of September 6 is not appropriate,” the committee, made up mostly of doctors, wrote to Salvador Romero, President of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.

Bolivia has reported nearly 2300 confirmed deaths from COVID-19, although

Bolivia has reported nearly 2300 confirmed deaths from COVID-19, although the real number is believed to be higher [David Mercado/ Reuters]

the real number is believed to be higher.

The election tribunal, which has not yet commented on the letter recommending a postponement of the vote, decides on the date with the endorsement of the Congress, currently dominated by the

Movement for Socialism party. The group was led by Evo Morales, who was forced to resign as President last year after protests over an election that international observers said was marred by irregularities. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Brazil’s Government sees US$154B deficit Grenada cancels carnival holidays this year, to issue official outlook next week

B

razil’s Government on Wednesday revised its 2020 primary budget deficit forecast to 787.4 billion reais (US$154 billion) in its latest bi-monthly revenue and expenditure report, from a 540.5 billion reais shortfall projected in the last report in May. The wider deficit is almost entirely a result of the emergency spending measures taken to mitigate the coronavirus-related shock to the economy, with the outlook for revenues barely changed from two months ago.

This implies a deficit, excluding interest payments, of 11 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, according to the figures in the report. Waldery Rodrigues, special secretary to the ministry, said this would likely be reduced in new official forecasts to be published on July 31.

“That 787.4 billion will be used as an input into the new forecasts. Our expectation is the deficit estimate from earlier this month will be lower,” he said in an online response to Journalists’ questions.

Fluctuations in the exchange rate, inflation and oil prices, as well as the Government using its central GDP outlook of -4.7 per cent as the basis rather than the recent market consensus of -6.5 per cent, should result in a narrower 2020 deficit, Rodrigues said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

CAL begins flights to Eastern Caribbean

C

aribbean Airlines (CAL) was scheduled to begin flying between the Eastern Caribbean and Barbados on Wednesday.

Even though the flights are “subject to regulatory approvals”, CAL said it will initially operate between Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada with other destinations to be added once clearance is granted.

CAL said the route expansion to the Eastern Caribbean was part of its strategic plan, and it has acquired additional aircraft and resources including pilots and cabin crew to support the initiative.

“Transport is a main pillar of Caribbean States, where it provides a space for the facilitation of trade, investment, and the movement of people, CAL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Garvin Medera said in a statement.

“Regionally and internationally, there is a

T

he Grenada Government on Wednesday said that the cancellation of the annual Carnival celebrations, Spicemas, this year because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, has also resulted in the loss of the two days observed as public holidays.

“We can’t have it because if we do, if you have a holiday what are you going to do, just sit home…a lot of people will, in fact, use it to feel it’s a holiday let’s have fun and not necessarily within the confines of the COVID protocol we have established,” Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell said as he confirmed that August 10th and 11th were no longer public holidays as gazetted at the start of 2020.

“We better be safe than sorry,” he said as he justified the cancellation. Grenada has recorded 23 cases of the

virus that was first detected in China last December.

“We have seen enough holidays; we have had to lock down this country for almost three months…we have to get back to business, get back to some form of serious economic life in the country,” Dr Mitchell said.

Dr Mitchell said that the country had lost a significant amount of revenue during the lockdown period between March and midMay. “We cannot continue that mindset of free time; I don’t think it’s right. I don’t en-

joy telling people that we have to forego the Monday holiday, half-day Tuesday, but hopefully next year we [are] going to have a bumper time,” he said.

“Hopefully by the time the vaccine comes on stream and we can protect ourselves, we will be much safer, I believe that we are sacrificing today for a more successful 2021,” Mitchell said.

On May 5, Grenada officially announced the cancellation of 2020 Carnival celebrations. (Excerpt from CMC)

Jamaica to implement Child Labour Risk Identification model

T

CAL’s move into the Eastern Caribbean comes on the heels of the announcement of a plan by the Antigua and Barbuda Government to keep LIAT in the skies

lot to restart, and subject to regulatory approvals Caribbean Airlines is resuming our 2020 plans to expand routes in the Eastern Caribbean. This will begin from Barbados, as its borders are now open to commercial services. For us, improving connectivity is a strategy that has been in the making and we have carefully planned for this expansion, using data and other research to guide our decisions.”

CAL’s move into the Eastern Caribbean comes

on the heels of the announcement of a plan by the Antigua and Barbuda Government to keep LIAT in the skies following a sale agreement with Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadians. The Governments on Monday agreed to sell their shares in LIAT to Antigua, which plans to sell three aircraft to help recapitalise the cash-strapped airline which has been the main airline for the Eastern Caribbean. (Excerpt from Newsday)

he Labour and Social Security Ministry says Jamaica will be the first country in the Caribbean to participate in the Child Labour Risk Identification (CLRISK) model.

According to the Ministry, CLRISK is a preventative tool developed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Economic Commission to identify geographical areas and sectors with the highest probability of child labour.

During his sectoral debate presentation Tuesday, portfolio minister Mike Henry noted that the model will allow the implementation of measures aimed at disrupting child labour.

He said that the country was at an advanced stage of the model, with completion

expected next month, and immediate implementation of the measures thereafter.

“We discovered after much consultation across 14 parishes that there is a uniqueness of child labour within each parish and this has to be taken into consideration as we target and tackle the root causes,” he

said.

Henry also lauded the work of the National Steering Committee on Child Labour, the United States Department of Labour and the ILO for putting Jamaica at the forefront of the Region in the fight against child labour.

(Jamaica Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020

19

Around the World Global coronavirus cases exceed 15 million G

lobal coronavirus infections surged past 15 million on Wednesday, according to a Reuters tally, with the pandemic gathering pace even as countries remain divided in their response to the crisis.

In the United States, which has the highest number of cases in the world with 3.91 million infections, President Donald Trump warned: “It will probably, unfortunately, get worse before it gets better.”

The top five countries with the most cases are rounded out by Brazil, India, Russia and South Africa. But, the Reuters tally shows the disease is accelerating the fastest in the Americas, which account for more than half the world’s infections and half its deaths.

Globally, the rate of new infections shows no sign of slowing, according to the Reuters tally, based on official reports.

After the first COVID-19 case was reported in Wuhan, China, in early January, it took about 15 weeks to reach two million cases. By contrast, it took just eight days to climb above 15 million from the 13 million reached on July 13.

Health experts stress that official data almost certainly underreports both infections and deaths, particularly in countries with limited testing capacity.

The official number of coronavirus cases at 15,009,213 is at least triple the number of severe influenza

OILNEWS Oil prices end with slight loss after unexpected build in US supplies

O

A healthcare worker wearing protective gear takes a swab from a woman for a rapid antigen test amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak at a roadside testing centre in Ahmedabad, India, July 20, 2020

illnesses recorded annually, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) data, while the death toll of more than 616,000 in seven months is close to the upper range of yearly influenza deaths.

With the first wave of the virus still to peak in several countries and a resurgence of case numbers in others, some countries are reintroducing strict social distancing measures while others relax restrictions.

Stung by low approval ratings for his handling of the epidemic and down-

playing the risks during the early stages, Trump made a significant shift in rhetoric on Tuesday, encouraging Americans to wear a face mask.

In Brazil, more than 2.15 million people have tested positive including President Jair Bolsonaro, and more than 81,000 people have died. While Bolsonaro has played down the outbreak, its scale has made Brazil a prime testing ground for potential vaccines. (Excerpt from Reuters)

iation.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington had received “bomb and death threats” because of “smears & hatred” fanned by the US Government, spokeswoman Hua Chunying wrote in a tweet.

“The US should revoke its erroneous decision,” she said. “China will surely react with firm countermeasures.”

Communist Party rulers in Beijing were considering shutting the US consulate in the central city of Wuhan in retaliation, a source with knowledge of the matter said.

US-based China experts said Beijing could also opt to target more important

consulates in Hong Kong, Shanghai or Guangzhou, something that could hurt American businesses.

The Houston move comes in the runup to the November US presidential election, in which President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, have both tried to look tough towards China.

Speaking on a visit to Denmark, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo repeated accusations about Chinese theft of US and European intellectual property, which he said were costing “hundreds of thousands of jobs”. (Excerpt from Reuters)

il futures finished slightly lower Wednesday, pulling back a day after settling at their highest since March, pressured by an unexpected weekly climb in US crude stockpiles, as rising tensions between the US and China raised the potential for a decline in energy demand.

“At this time of year, we usually see larger draws on crude oil from demand and it is becoming quite clear that is slowing down, especially air travel,” Tariq Zahir, managing member at Tyche Capital Advisors told MarketWatch.

The Energy Information Administration reported Wednesday that US crude inventories rose by 4.9 million barrels for the week ended July 17. That compared with an average forecast by analysts polled by S&P Global Platts for a decline of 1.9 million barrels. The American Petroleum Institute on Tuesday reported a climb of 7.5 million barrels.

“On the bearish side, the 500-pound gorilla is the virus and any new shutdowns [of the economy] and overall less demand for crude oil,” Zahir said.

Oil prices, however, only tallied a modest decline for the session. Among supportive factors, Zahir said the market is in the middle of the Atlantic hurricane season with potential for output disruptions, the US dollar has weakened, and positive results in trials for a COVID-19 vaccine could lead to a return in energy demand.

On Wednesday, September WTI crude, which is now the front month contract after the August contract expired Tuesday, lost two cents, or 0.05 per cent, at US $41.90 a barrel on New York Mercantile Exchange after trading as low as US$41.14.

September Brent crude gave up three cents, or 0.07 per cent, for US$44.29 a barrel, following a 2.4 per cent gain in the previous session. (Excerpt from Market Watch)

US gives China 72 hours to shut Houston Trump to send “surge” consulate as spying charges mount of hundreds of federal T agents to cities

he United States gave China 72 hours to close its consulate in Houston amid accusations of spying, marking a dramatic deterioration in relations between the world’s two biggest economies.

The US State Department said on Wednesday the Chinese mission in Houston was being closed “to protect American intellectual property and Americans’ private information”.

China’s Foreign Ministry said Washington had abruptly issued the demand on Tuesday and called it an “unprecedented escalation”. The Ministry threatened unspecified retal-

Don’t expect 1st COVID-19 vaccinations until early 2021 – WHO’s Ryan

R

esearchers are making “good progress” in developing vaccines against COVID-19, with a handful in late-stage trials, but their first use cannot be expected until early 2021, a

World Health Organisation (WHO) expert said on Wednesday.

WHO is working to ensure fair vaccine distribution, but in the meantime it is key to suppress the virus’s spread,

said Mike Ryan, head of WHO’s emergencies programme, as daily new cases around the globe are at near-record levels.

“We’re making good progress,” Dr Ryan said, not-

ing that several vaccines were now in phase 3 trials and none had failed, so far, in terms of safety or ability to generate an immune response. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Yemen’s children starve amid rising fears of famine

W

eighing just nine kilograms at 10 years old, Hassan Merzam Muhammad is so emaciated by the severe malnourishment plaguing hundreds of thousands of Yemeni children like him that he can no longer walk.

Fears of famine in Yemen are resurfacing, the United Nations says. A UN report Wednesday said Yemen was returning to “alarming” levels of food insecurity.

“My son is sick and I don’t A doctor measures the arm of malnourished boy Hassan know where to take him. He has Merzam Muhammad, at a hospital in Aslam district of fever and I’ve nothing to treat Hajjah province, Yemen, July 18, 2020

him, I can’t even get water,” said Zaina Muhammad, mother to Hassan and his six siblings.

“Sometimes we go days without washing.”

Coronavirus restrictions, reduced remittances, locusts, floods, and significant underfunding of this year’s aid response have compounded an already dire hunger situation after five years of war.

Resurgent violence in recent weeks between warring parties, despite UN peace efforts, is also killing and injuring civilians.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Federal agents in Portland on Tuesday night

P

resident Donald Trump is to send “a surge” of federal security forces to US cities in a crackdown on crime.

Chicago and two other Democratic-run cities are being targeted in the Republican President’s move, amid a spike in violence.

But federal deployments in Portland, Oregon, have proved controversial. Local officials say they have raised tensions amid anti-racism protests.

Critics say Trump’s initiative is part of his re-election campaign.

US Attorney General William Barr, who joined Trump at Wednesday’s announcement, said they had sent about 200 federal agents to Kansas City, Missouri, would send a “comparable” number to Chicago, and about 35 others to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

There have been protests – sometimes descending into civil disorder – in scores of US cities since May, following the

death of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, in Police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Meanwhile, gun violence has spiked in cities including New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago and Milwaukee.

On Tuesday night, federal agents fired tear gas, pepper balls, and flashbangs at demonstrators in central Portland, which has seen 54 consecutive night of protests.

The officers quickly used crowd-control munitions in an attempt to disperse hundreds of people gathered outside a federal court.

The agents have been accused of driving in unmarked vehicles around Oregon’s biggest city while wearing military fatigues and arbitrarily arresting a handful of demonstrators.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot confirmed on Tuesday that federal agents would be deployed to her city to beef up local Police.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

20

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

ARIES

Focus on making personal improvements and skillfully using what you have to offer.

Keeping busy and being productive will get you further than being argumentative.

Keep the peace.

TAURUS

Listen carefully, gather information and prepare to make changes based on your findings. Take what you learn and share your thoughts and opinions with someone who has something to contribute.

(March 21April 19)

(April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Keep an open mind, but don't let anyone take advantage of you. Don't ignore a change someone makes behind your back. Do what's necessary, and don't look back.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Using your skills differently will open up a window of opportunity that can lead to a steady income or a partnership with someone who recognizes your talent.

Negotiations and contracts look promising.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Keep your private life and opinions to yourself. Let your actions speak for you.

Taking charge and getting things done will impress someone influential.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Stay out of situations that are sensitive or unstable. If you want to make a difference, do so from afar. Put your safety first to avoid learning the hard way.

LIBRA

Don't buy into a scam someone is offering. Invest in yourself and avoid joint ventures. A change at home may not be welcome, but it will end up being beneficial.

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SUDOKU

You've got the right idea, so don't let anyone criticize your plan. A partnership with someone like-minded will bring about the changes you want to make fast and efficiently.

Make a personal imSAGITTARIUS provement. A domestic or (Nov. 23lifestyle change will give Dec. 21) you peace of mind. Share your feelings with a good friend or loved one.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

A financial opportunity looks promising. Invest in something that will improve your domestic situation. It may be time to trade up or to downsize. Make sure you know which.

Pay close attention and be sensitive to what loved ones are going through. A hobby or activity that helps reduce stress is encouraged.

Pamper yourself and those you love.

A change of attitude or to the way you take care of your responsibilities will help you get ahead. Look for unique ways to use and promote your skills.

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020

21

Cash-strapped Rugby Australia denies US$3M offer for teenage NRL prospect

R

ugby Australia has denied splashing out US$3 million to poach teenage star Joseph Suaalii from under the noses of the NRL. RA, on Tuesday night, claimed a deal was “not done yet,” after seemingly convincing the 16-year-old sporting sensation to turn his back on a US$1.7m offer to remain with South Sydney for three more years.

Like super-coach Wayne Bennett, Suaalii is contracted to “Souths” until the end of next season; but the Rabbitohs had hoped to lock down the so-called next Greg Inglis long-term before new Wallabies coach Dave Rennie swooped, having hotly pursued Suaalii since first trying to sign the prodigy in February.

With “Souths” not allowed to register the contract with the NRL until Suaalii turns 17 on August 1, Rennie and RA made their move, and are now poised to win the tug-ofwar for his services. The Sydney teenager and 2019 Australia Under-18s representative has starred for The King’s School’s first XV for the past two years.

“I met him when I was here in January.

Impressive athlete and a very mature kid for 16,” Rennie said last month. “Guys like Joseph, they command a lot of attention, and clearly Souths are very interested in him, and have thrown some serious money

in front of him. So, he’s just an example of the type of kids that we want to keep in our game; but it’s a competitive market and it’s not easy.

“We’re going to miss out on some of these kids coming out of school, but I think

Team Ineos to be renamed Ineos Grenadiers for Tour de France C

ycling's biggest team will become the Ineos Grenadiers, named after a new model of car, an SUV being released by billionaire Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in 2021.

Ineos recently announced they would not renew the contract of four-time Tour

Under the leadership of Sir Dave Brailsford, the team have won seven of the past eight Tours ꟷ six out of seven as Team Sky, and again last year as Ineos in the form of their new star, 23-year-old Egan Bernal.

The team, which have the biggest budget in cycling at

privately owned company, and in 2018 posted annual pre-tax profits of £2 billion.

In other news, last year's Tour winner Bernal arrived in Madrid on Monday on a specially chartered flight from his native Colombia.

Colombia has restrictions on

it’s important that we keep in contact with them and keep that relationship going, so that when they’re making the next decision around a contract, our game is still an option for them.”

But crippled financially by the coronavi-

rus, and having laid off 40 per ce of its staff, RA says promising Suaalii US$1M a year is crazy.

“Financial offers being speculated in the media presently are totally fanciful, and are being propagated by the usual suspects whose sole interest it is to inflate and misrepresent contract values,” said RA interim CEO Rob Clarke.

“At this stage, there has been no agreement between Joseph, his family, or his representation. Joseph Suaalii is an upstanding young man and a talented rugby player. We have made it no secret that we would like to keep Joseph within the rugby pathway.”

A gifted all-round sportsman who has also excelled at AFL and basketball, Suaalii stands a towering 196cm, weighs 96kg, and spent the off-season training with the Rabbitohs NRL squad. “Souths” great turned assistant coach, Sam Burgess, last month hailed the hulk as “incredible”.

“Look, I hate rapping young kids,” Burgess told Fox Sports. “I’ve seen him firsthand training with the first team; and forget his athletic ability: what I saw inside Joseph Suaalii that day, I saw [how] we took him to the edge of the cliff, and he hung on for dear life and he had the courage of a 25-to-28year-old man.” (Guardian)

Ferrari restructure technical department ꟷ after slow start to season

F

errari have restructured their technical department in the wake of a disappointing performance at the start of the 2020 season.

Head of aerodynamics, Enrico Cardile, will lead a newly created performance development department, and there is a more prominent role for Rory Byrne, who was

they were "instituting a chain of command that is more focused and simplified, and provides the heads of each department the necessary powers to achieve their objectives".

Ferrari had previously been operating a flatter management structure, with shared responsibility, but have abandoned this idea to ensure

into a more background role since being brought out of semiretirement to help Ferrari with the design of their car when Formula 1 last brought in a major regulation change in 2017.

Byrne will now focus mainly on the design of the 2022 car, when F1 is introducing arguably the biggest regulation change for decades, with an entirely new

Rory Byrne (far right) first became Ferrari's chief designer in 1996

champion Chris Froome beyond this year. The team are yet to announce the squad that would ride at the Tour, which starts on August 29. It is expected they will race in a new strip and colour scheme, little more than a year on from the transition from Team Sky to Team Ineos.

The team will officially unveil their new look in the week leading up to the Tour in Nice.

more than £25m a year, have the strongest squad in the sport, and are again favourites to win this year's race ꟷ delayed from July by the coronavirus pandemic.

The company is also further increasing its presence in sports sponsorship, including Formula 1 and sailing's America's Cup. Ineos, primarily a chemicals company, is Britain's largest

flights until at least September, to limit the effects of the coronavirus.

Approximately 150 athletes were flown back to Europe to enable them to compete, including 2014 Giro d'Italia winner Nairo Quintana of Arkea Samsic, who has recovered from being knocked off his bike during a training ride earlier this month. (BBC sport)

chief designer when the team dominated the early 2000s.

The idea is to "speed up the design and development on the car-performance front," team boss Mattia Binotto said.

The moves come after Ferrari started this season with a car more than one second per lap slower than that of the world champions and pacesetters Mercedes, and are a recognition that the team's design structure was flawed.The idea is to create a more vertical organisation and clearly assign responsibility.

Ferrari said in a statement

specific people are clearly in charge of each area.

Ferrari believe their team has now shifted to a more similar structure to those employed at Mercedes and Red Bull.

Under Binotto, the key figures alongside Cardile are power-unit boss Enrico Gualteri, sporting director Laurent Mekies, and chassis engineering boss Simone Resta.The return of Byrne to a more prominent role is especially notable. The 76-yearold South African, regarded as one of the great designers of the last 30 years, had moved

aerodynamic approach aimed at making the cars able to race more closely together.

Binotto said: "We have started to lay the foundations of a process which should lead to a new and enduring winning cycle.

It will take some time, and we will suffer setbacks like the one we are experiencing right now in terms of results and performance. However, we must react to the shortcomings with strength and determination to get back to being at the very top of this sport as soon as possible."

(BBC sport)

22

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Trinbago Knight Riders Manager Paul Skinner

General

G

eneral Manager of the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR), Paul Skinner, has said that despite these uncertain financial times because of the COVID-19 pandemic, sponsors are still showing interest in supporting the three-time champions for the upcoming 2020 Hero Caribbean

W

NOW!

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

est being shown by sponsors, despite challenges with COVID-19.

“We’ve had repeat sponsors, we are in talks with some new sponsors as well. We must admit it is a challenging year for everyone. A lot of unexpected challenges with the COVID coming on from March.

“There are challenges all around, but (we’re) pretty confident that we will get a decent amount of sponsorship again this year, and we are having some returning sponsors and we are thankful for those who have returned this year.

“Still some ink to go on paper, but we have had confirmations but we (are) just finalising arrangements with some of those sponsors at the moment.”

National Lotteries Control Board and Radio 90.5FM are two companies that have supported TKR in the past.

No fans would be allowed in this year’s tournament, because of the virus.

Asked if he thinks CPL sponsors would be satisfied with the mileage they get through matches on TV, Skinner said, “I think largely that will depend on what’s happening with the respective businesses. Every company or agency that we may be involved with (is) maybe evaluating where they stand at this current time, and what they

are looking to do for the rest of the year.”

Skinner said the local franchise has a strong brand worldwide. He said TKR give their sponsors a lot of social media visibility, and the team have a strong following, which encourages sponsorship.

The calibre of players on TKR also helps. “We carry high-profile players. We have the Kieron Pollards, we have Dwayne Bravo, we have Sunil Narine, who are always crowd pullers. Bringing young and exciting new talent to the fore is a great stage for them to perform on, and I think that attraction factor still will focus on TKR. That will be a positive for any potential sponsor, or that is a reason why our sponsors have returned this year to sponsor again, even though things in the business may not be as robust as it would have been in previous years.”

TKR normally take part in off the field activities, including matches with special needs children and meet-and-greet sessions with fans.

Skinner said all activities this year would be within the COVID-19 guidelines. “What we do will be within what is allowed with the protocols established by the Government, so we won’t be doing anything outside of that.” (TT Newsday)

Windies Coach Simmons CPL agrees with T&T's expects fired-up COVID-19 restrictions C Roach for final Test est Indies coach Phil Simmons expects Kemar Roach to be fired up for the third and decisive Test against England, after the pace bowler finally broke a long drought.

Roach ended the second Test with

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

Premier League (CPL) T20 tournament.

The tournament, which would be played in Trinidad from August 18 to September 12, was up in the air for months due to the pandemic. The organisers have decided to host the tournament in Trinidad because the country has controlled the spread of the virus. To date, TT has recorded 139 cases of the virus, with eight deaths. TT was also chosen to host the CPL because two venues of international standard are available – Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair, and Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.

The CPL has taken a financial hit this year, and players are expected to take a cut in pay.

Last month, a cricinfo report said, “…top-paid players (are) expected to accept a salary cut of up to 30 per cent when compared to 2019 levels. There will be no salary cut for players below the US$20,000 bracket.”

Players who normally earn US$160,000, $130,000, $110,000, $90,000, $70,000, $60,000, $40,000 and $30,000 are expected to be asked to accept a 30 per cent cut; and players who would have made US$20,000 will accept a ten per cent cut. Players in the $15,000 bracket or less will not receive salary cuts.

Skinner has said there is inter-

overall figures of 4 for 95, but that did not tell the full story. Prior to that, the pace bowler, despite crafting excellent economic spells, had failed to claim a wicket for the entire first Test. In fact, Roach’s dismissal of Ben Stokes ended a wicket drought going back to August 31, 2019 and lasting 521 deliveries, or 86.5 overs.

It was strange for the fast bowler, who had starred for the West Indies team the last time the teams had met in the Caribbean, claiming 13 wickets, with one fiveand two four-wicket hauls. Now that he has got the monkey off his back, Simmons expects more wickets to come, which would be good news for the Windies.

“It’s great to see him getting wickets. It’s been a while since I have seen him bowl so well and not get wickets,” Simmons told members of the media on Sunday.

“I’m glad he is back in the wickets; that will just fuel his fire for the next Test match.”

The West Indies will play England in the decisive Test at Old Trafford, beginning on Friday.

(Sportsmax)

aribbean Premier League (CPL) officials have decided to stick with the COVID-19 protocols as outlined by Trinidad and Tobago's Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Roshan Parasram, and will be arriving in the country very soon to start putting things in place for the August 18 start of the tournament.

After the Government approved the proposition that the tournament be held exclusively in Trinidad and Tobago, it is understood that some team owners and international players were not too happy about the strict COVID-19 protocols that were put in place for foreigners coming into the country.

As laid out by the Ministry of Health, those coming in would have to provide a negative COVID-19 test on arrival. They would then be sent into self-isolation at the Hilton Hotel for seven days. On day seven, they will be tested, and if once negative, they will be allowed to join other players in small groups to train for the tournament. After another seven days, another test will be administered, and once this is negative, the player would be able to join the rest of his teammates ahead of the tournament.

After discussions between health officials and CPL, it was decided that the strict protocols would be adhered too for the tournament to come off. This means that, over the next two weeks, players and officials will be flying into T&T for the start of their quarantine period ahead of the tournament.

When Guardian Media Sports spoke to a few of the team managers of the franchises, they said it has been a challenge

T&T CMO, Dr Roshan Parasram

mapping out routes for their international players to come into T&T. Barbados opened their international borders on July 12, and will be a hub for those coming into Trinidad.

The officials and teams will all stay at the Hilton Hotel in what will be a bio-secure bubble for the duration of the tournament.

The opening week of the tournament will be staged at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in South Trinidad, while the second week will be held at the iconic Queen's Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.

In the third week, the tournament returns to the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, and will stay there for the knockout matches ahead of the finals, which will be played on September 10.

(TT Guardian)

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020

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23

Shai Hope is walking on thin ice that in order for a reserve player to feature in the Test squad, he must be called into the Test squad and be picked in the starting XI. "Technically speaking, no, they could not. They need to call up that reserve into the Test squad, and from that, pick a new XI," Grave explained.

When asked if the squad could have been bigger, Grave said 15 players is enough. "Every time a player is called into the squad, there is financial implications," Grave added.

For Hope, it may not be the end, but he will have to count himself lucky if he is given another run in the third and final Test match on Friday.

By Brandon Corlette

H

ave you ever witnessed totals of 20 or 30 being scored by the prettiest of strokes?

Look at Shai Hope in Test matches, he plays the sweetest drives and looks like a textbook player at the crease, but runs scored by this class act in the game’s longest format have been limited.

In the ongoing Test series against England, Hope recorded scores of 16, 09, 25 and 07. His form has been a concern for everyone, including West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons and lead selector Roger Harper.

Hope has a Test batting average of 26.35, and he scored two centuries back in the golden days of 2017 at Headingly.

That is certainly history.

However, his One Day International (ODI) record is up there with the best. After 78 ODI matches, Hope averages 52.2, with nine centuries and 17 fifties. Test cricket is a different game, and after all his failures, the impressive batsman is walking on thin ice.

Harper, as West Indies lead selec-

Shai Hope is clean bowled by Stuart Broad

tor, has said Hope’s performances in the series are a bit of a concern, but the team has looked to him as a leader in the batting group.

"We know he has been consistent in the ODI game, so we expect him to deliver, and I am sure that can't be too far away," Harper has said.

With indications that John Campbell would be the unlucky batsman to miss out on Friday, Harper has hinted that Hope should deliver.

Meanwhile, Head Coach Phil Simmons, in his virtual briefing on Monday after the team’s defeat, said he is also concerned that Hope has an average of 14.2.

"Yes, I am concerned,” he admitted. “It is gone four innings without a score, which is in contrast to how (Hope) has played in the last sixth months in the other formats.

I am concerned about his form, and we

will be sitting and having a chat over the next couple of days,” Simmons revealed.

In looking at the other names in terms of batting replacements for Hope and John Campbell, Nkrumah Bonner is another bats-

man in the 15-man squad, while the in-form Joshua Da Silva, Sunil Ambris and Shayne Mosely are other reserve batsmen on tour.

The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Johnny Grave, who spoke on the Mason and Guest Show on Tuesday, said

Guyanese boxers, Coaches nominated for awards

W

Hope plays a textbook drive

hile the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has restricted sport and its celebrations all over the world, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) has found a creative way to celebrate the sport and those athletes who work consistently to uphold its quality.

In celebrating International Boxing Day on July 22, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) has made a request that all national federations select and nominate individuals from their federation to be awarded for achievements and performances.

As such, the Executives of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), in collaboration with its coaches and Referee/Judges Commission, on Wednesday released a list of local athletes and stakeholders whom they wish to acknowledge for their sterling performances and contributions to the sport.

The list includes two AIBA Three Star coaches and two reigning Caribbean boxing champions. In addition, one AIBA One Star Referee/Judge has received the nod.

Those persons include: Keevin Allicock (Best Elite Male Boxer), Abiola Jackman (Best Youth Female), Mark Crawford (Best Youth Male), Sebert Blake (Best Coach), Terrence Poole (Best Official) (National Technical Director) and Lawrence Caribbean Boxing Champion Keevin Allicock is among the awardees Assanah (Best Referee/Judge).

CWI in discussions to host South Africa C

ricket West Indies (CWI) have been in discussion with Cricket South Africa regarding hosting South Africa in a bio-secure environment in one Caribbean territory, with Barbados being the most compelling option.

According to CWI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Johnny Grave, the two cricket boards had made three calls in the last seven days. Grave noted that the plan is to welcome home the players from England on a Wednesday, when they would have the weekend at home, and the Hero Caribbean Premier League players will move to Trinidad and Tobago on or around August 3.

Grave is hoping for the South Africa tour to start soon after the CPL ends on September 10.

"We hope South Africa will follow soon after that, whether we can get the full tour in, or split the Tests and T20s. It will be depending on the IPL, since South Africa has a number of Test players with IPL contracts, and we would not be able to play Test cricket with South Africa players in the IPL”, he explained.

At this stage, Grave is unable to confirm, but noted that the Caribbean has the ability and facility to host this tour in a biosecure environment.

"We have the expertise, as seen by the ongoing works in the CPL. We will be looking to host South Africa in one country, since changing countries would be a huge operational challenge," Grave highlighted on the Mason and Guest cricket show on Tuesday.

Confident, Grave has also hinted that the bilateral series would be of less complexities in contrast to CPL. While Grave did not confirm that Barbados is the host country for the prospective South Africa series, he said it is a compelling option.

Grave noted that Barbados has two First-class grounds in the 3Ws Oval and the Kensington Oval, making it a standout hosting option. "The fact (is) that there will be BA flights coming from the UK into Bridgetown and the medical facilities are some of the best in the region," he explained.

With the full CPL tournament

set to be played in Trinidad, that country would not be considered, but Grave noted that CWI must discuss with the Barbados Cricket

CWI CEO Johnny Grave

Association (BCA) on hosting South Africa.

South Africa last toured the Caribbean in 2016 for a TriNation ODI series involving West Indies and eventual champions Australia. The Proteas’ last Test and T20 series was back in 2010, when they won the three-match Test series 2-0 and also both T20s. (Brandon Corlette)

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020

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Sponsors on board for CWI local T&T franchise in discussions to host South Africa Pg 22

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Shai Hope is walking on CPL agrees with T&T’s COVID-19 restrictions thin ice Pg 22

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