Guyana Times - Thursday, May 7, 2020

COVID-19 pandemic

P11

Men not adhering to restrictions – CMO

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

Issue No. 4278

THE BEACON OF TRUTH THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

GECOM recounts 25 ballot boxes in 10 hours

See stories on pages 3 and 13

…as APNU agent ends recount 2 hours early to head home …Region 4 SoRs confirm accuracy of PPP-released SoPs – Nandlall

Soaked ballots, missing polling books, other controversies mar Day 1 of recount See stories on pages 9 and 10

…COVID-19 requirements being abused to prevent scrutiny – GECOM Commissioner

Diplomatic community expresses regret over absence of foreign observers …full transparency vital to credibility – Commonwealth SG See stories on page 7

…“very important for Carter Center to be here” – Irfaan Ali …absence a devastating blow to democracy – mine workers

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Toddler, 12-yearold among Region 10 COVID-19 cases

P10

… citizens irresponsible – REO

Juveniles P2 attack Policemen, 12 escape from Sophia Holding Centre …5 recaptured

Miner who P2 was reported “dead” found alive rocking in hammock GPL contains “minor” fuel spill at Kingston P2

Brazilian P8 miner chops Venezuelans over cigarette

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Miner who was reported “dead” Juveniles attack Policemen, 12 found alive rocking in hammock escape from Sophia Holding Centre

T

wenty-four-yearold Vanir Nasio, a pork-knocker, of the Paramakatoi Village, North Pakaraimas, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), who was reported dead after being beaten by a female was found alive.

Police reports revealed that although the man was beaten by the 23-yearold female suspect who accused him of stealing her gun at Siparuni Backdam,

…5 recaptured

T

welve teenagers on Wednesday escaped from the Juvenile Holding Centre at Sophia, Greater Georgetown, after attacking the two Police guards who were on duty at the time.

It was reported that five of the 12 teens were recaptured.

Guyana Times understands that the escape occurred at approximately 23:30h on May 5.

Reports are the teens, who were housed in cell two and who have matters ranging from armed robbery to

rape and murder, broke out of their cells and attacked

The Juvenile Holding Centre at Sophia, Greater Georgetown

the security personnel who were guarding the entrance of the building.

During the attack, the unarmed Police Officers were relieved of the keys to

some of the other cells after which the juveniles sprinted

from the facility.

An alarm was raised and a search was conducted in nearby communities where five of the teens were recaptured and taken back to the facility.

Meanwhile, security has been reinforced at the Holding Centre, and a full investigation has been launched.

In recent times, several teens escaped from the Sophia Holding Centre, but were recaptured.

Juveniles between the ages of 14 and 17 are held at the facility once they are charged with a criminal offence. After they have reached the age of 18, they are transferred to the formal prison system.

he did not die. According to Police, on Sunday at approximately 14:30h, Nasio and the 23-year-old suspect were working together on a four-inch land dredge when the woman accused him of stealing her gun.

This led to a physical altercation and Nasio was beaten severely by the woman.

Reports are the woman of 111 Miles, Mahdia, Region Eight, dealt the pork-knocker several kicks and punches

about his body. The injured man was picked up by a female miner, who headed to Mabura, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) to get him medical attention.

There were reports that the man had succumbed to his injuries and that Police had launched a manhunt for the suspect. However, when Police turned up at the site where the incident occurred, Nasio was found rocking himself in a hammock.

GPL contains “minor” fuel spill at Kingston

A

n oil spill was discovered on Wednesday within the compound of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL Inc) Inc Kingston Power Complex.

A small amount of oil has seeped into the Demerara River, the company said in a press release.

Since the discovery, GPL personnel expedited industry-standard safety, health, and environmental procedures to contain the spill.

“The general public is hereby reassured that GPL’s efforts to contain the spill have thus far proven suc-

GPL’s Kingston Complex (file photo)

cessful,” the power company said.

GPL said it wished to advise the general public that the utility company em-

braced industry-standard fuel management practices and a thorough investigation would be conducted to prevent a reoccurrence.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, May 7 – 04:30h-06:00h and 14:30h-16:00h and Friday, May 8 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, May 7 – 16:35h-18:05h and Friday, May 8 – 04:55h-06:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Early-morning light rain showers should be followed by sunny intervals throughout the day. There will be partly cloudy skies at night.

Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.92 metres.

High Tide: 16:42h reaching a maximum height of 2.82 metres.

Low Tide: 10:15h and 22:30h reaching minimum heights of 0.27 metre and 0.43 metre.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

LOTTERY NUMBERS I

03 06 09 19 20 21

FREE TICKET

7 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

01 14 16 24 25 LUCKY 3

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Afternoon Draw

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PAY DAY

SUPER PAY DAY FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2020

01 04 08 12 14

08 12 15 19 21

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

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$29.72/barrel

-4.21

Rough Rice

$268.43 /ton

+0.12

London Sugar

$345.10/ton

-3.52

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1692.70

$1693.70

Low/High

$1680.20

$1708.20

Change

+8.60

…as APNU agent ends recount 2 hours early to head home …Region 4 SoRs confirm accuracy of PPP-released SoPs – Nandlall

D

ay one of the National Election Recount has been completed, and after 10 hours of counting, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has confirmed that 25 ballot boxes and 50 Statements of Recount (SOR) have been processed. These statements are for both General and Regional vote counts.

This was GECOM’s position at close of the count, as articulated by Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward. In an interview with the media, she noted that seven boxes were completed in regions One (Barima-Waini) and Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); six in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), and five in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

But in a day marred by several controversies, Ward explained that Wednesday’s hiccups are likely to be resolved and the pace increased today when the recount resumes.

“The exercise did not start on time for a number of reasons. Of course, we indicated from the start that it would be a very security conscious environment. It is important for us to have security at such an activity. Also, learning from our previous experience,” she said.

“We also had to do a briefing of all those present, to ensure persons know where the respective work stations are, to provide the details of the modus operandi and our expectations for this activity. So now that everyone is aware of what the expectations are, we anticipate that persons will arrive on time to go through security checks.”

Slow pace

DRAW DE LINE

01

GECOM recounts 25 ballot boxes in 10 hours

+0.51%

However, another factor in the slow pace of the recount was the premature stoppage of work at Station Nine - District Four (Demerara-Mahaica), where after counting just two ballot boxes, the station called it a day without opening the next box.

It has been reported that A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) agent Carol Joseph actually intervened to have the count stop shortly before 17:00h because of the distance she would have to travel to get home. The recount hours are fixed from 08:00h to 19:00h, with just 24 days left to count the boxes if GECOM adheres to the timeline set.

In an interview with the media, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) executive and accredited agent Anil Nandlall, slammed the premature stoppage. According to him, another ballot box could have been counted by time the actual close of the day.

“Once the issues of the first day are identified and corrected, then the speed will increase dramatically. But you have certain deliberate decisions which are being made that are not encouraging.

“Station number nine has closed operations already, two hours before the scheduled closure of today’s work, and that is totally unacceptable. I was told that Carol Joseph, who

Stakeholders during Wednesday morning’s briefing

was part of that station, indicated that she has to travel all the way to West Coast Berbice (WCB) and she requested that the operation close prematurely.”

APNU+AFC Commissioner at the Guyana Elections Commission, Vincent Alexander, (GECOM defended the move to stop the recount early, noting that it was done for security reasons. said if the station had started another box, the exercise would have lasted beyond the scheduled 19:00h time of conclusion.

Both Nandlall and Alexander have expressed concerns over the slow pace at which the recount on day one was done.

Statements of Recount

In his interview with the media, Nandlall was also confident that based on the SORs that have been compiled, the authenticity of the PPP’s Statements of Poll (SOPs) are being vindicated. He noted that they match the numbers coming out on day one of the recount.

“By and large, the process has confirmed the accuracy of the PPP’s Statements of

Poll. By and large, 99 percent of what has been done today vindicates the accuracy of the SOPs,” Nandlall informed the media.

Each party that contested the general and regional elections would have copies of the SOPs, the official record of votes cast at a polling station,

in their possession. As the two largest parties, the PPP and APNU/AFC are expected to have all.

However, only the PPP has released almost 900 SOPs, which show them winning the elections by more than 15,000 votes. The APNU/AFC has continued to keep theirs a secret.

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guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 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

Madam Chair must take a stand

W

ith some hiccups, the long-awaited National Recount began yesterday (Wednesday) morning. It is arguably the single most important activity happening in Guyana at the moment. As expected, all eyes are on the process, to ensure that it is credible and transparent. Nothing must be left to chance this time around, since the country’s future depends on what happens in the next few days.

Getting to this stage was an extremely difficult process, with many stumbling blocks being put in the way. There were quite a few legal challenges and other deliberate attempts to deny the voters, and the nation as a whole, from having a National Recount. After the various stakeholders relentlessly pursued their case for a recount, the nation is now finally at a stage where citizens have another opportunity to see their votes being counted in a transparent manner.

The Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice Claudette Singh, must now take a stand against elements who are bent on disrupting the process. She must reject any attempts by elements to operate outside of the Representation of the Peoples Act and the Recount Order itself.

Following the massive negative publicity she faced for her action or inaction in relation to attempts by Clairmont Mingo, in collusion with others, to declare fraudulent results for District Four, Justice Singh has another opportunity to stand up to her words: that she will do what is required to ensure the recount process is carried out in a transparent and expeditious manner.

More importantly, this is her chance to rebuild her image and change the negative perception many have of her at the moment.

With the recount ongoing, Justice Singh has a duty to seriously monitor and intervene in the process whenever necessary, by taking corrective actions and to see the process through to its finality. Already, we are seeing some concerns being expressed, which she must address immediately to allay the fears of all stakeholders.

One commissioner expressed concerns about the layouts and footprints of counting stations at the ACCC, which he said is preventing stakeholders and observers from satisfactory direct observation and verification of the recount process.

He also explained that the presence of the screen to project the packages, ballots and other materiel does not really help, because the fixed camera capture area is relatively small to ascertain the true condition of packages, ballots and the storage or fate of all items received and processed. He called for an urgent review of the operational setting and methodology in place, in order to allay concerns and to deliver a recount process which meets high levels of transparency in all respects.

One party leader also expressed fear over what he calls “chain of custody” of the Statements of Recount (SoRs), saying that there is a high possibility for persons to alter the figures on the documents, even though they carry the signatures of party agents. He reminded the nation of what occurred previously, when the figures on the Statements of Poll (SoPs) for District Four were altered to show inflated figures in favour of the APNU/ AFC, even though the documents contained the signatures of the various party agents. The Chair must take urgent action to protect the integrity of the SoRs, since it is from these that the final results would be tabulated.

Important to note also is that, from what we have seen so far, there are being raised all sorts of issues which do not fall under the purview of a vote recount. This, we know, is deliberate, as it has a direct relation to the push by Commissioner Vincent Alexander and others to have an ‘audit’, instead of a recount.

However, GECOM cannot legally audit itself.

One legal expert argued that to engage in anything except a recount of the ballots allows Alexander and company to raise all manner of issues relating to the Official List of Electors (OLE) and voters; and with no dispute resolution protocol in place, the recount process would be rendered paralysed.

In any case, when the matter regarding the elections recount first surfaced, it was meant to do just that - a recount of the votes. No one ever called for an audit. It was the understanding of all the stakeholders, including the Court, the international community and observers, that a recount of the votes was needed in order to arrive at credible elections results, which would be accepted by all parties, and which could stand scrutiny of the international community and international observers.

The nation expects Madam Chair to take a stand for what is right and in the interest of our democracy.

Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue is lit up as if wearing a protective mask in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (VOA)

Recount process is like a strainer, filled with holes Dear Editor, Elections are pivotal to the quality of a country’s governance, and can either greatly advance or retard a country’s long-term democratic development; as well as development of a country’s -- like our dear Guyana’s -- regional, and global foreign policy priorities.

The most fundamental principle defining credible elections is that they must reflect the free expression of the will of the people.

To achieve this, elections should be transparent, inclusive, and accountable, and there must be equitable opportunities to compete in the elections.

These broad principles are buttressed by several electoral process-related obligations as well as by a number of key rights and freedoms, each of which is derive from public international law. The electoral cycle approach depicts elections as a continuous, integrated process The caretaker Government must uphold democratic principles and

standards for our elections.

GECOM, over the past two months, has not shown the level of commitment and capacities in order to promote electoral integrity in these areas: election administration; political party support; parliamentary strengthening; civil society engagement, including citizen election observation; encouraging and supporting international observation throughout Guyana’s 2020 electoral system.

GECOM is constitutionally obliged to act with impartiality and fairness in the execution of its duties, but we have seen efforts being made by GECOM to undermine electoral democracy with the attempted fraudulent use of the SOPs. There is a lack of local and international confidence in the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to run off this recount.

GECOM, already lacking credibility from the controversies that surrounded the tabulation of District 4 votes, had raised concerns that the Secretariat has been infiltrated by the

APNU-AFC. GECOM has failed to adhere to statutory procedures; it had received criticisms from every agency, including the courts and the people of Guyana, who must not have to endure the dangers caused

by GECOM Commissioners and the Chief Elections Officer when they don’t follow the Constitution and the law of Guyana.

The GECOM Chairman was greatly appreciative of the Carter Center and the International Republic Institute, and indicated in April that they were both welcome back in Guyana for the recount in the interest of reinforcing a transparent and credible conclusion to Guyana’s 2020 Elections.

These international observers are an integral part of our democratic process, and also reinforce the credibility of the electoral process and the recount in general. The Carter Center is a longstanding partner and a friend of the Guyanese people. It has been important for bolstering the process

for a credible recount.

Why does the caretaker Government not want the observers here? Do they have something to hide and fear the Carter Center team will unearth it? there is a coordinated attempt by the PNCR to derail this recount. loopholes will be created by GECOM, since the SORs (statements of recount) will not be sent to the Tabulation Center until the district is completely counted. We must keep a watchful eye on it.

As we were originally led to believe, and made to understand: that once one district is completed, the recount will be taken to the Tabulation Center to be able to provide immediate data, this process is not transparent, it’s like a strainer filled with holes.

The ballots boxes are not being counted in sequential order, causing some political parties to believe that there is an attempt to derail the recount process, especially for District Four.

Dear Editor, From reports gleaned, the treatment meted out to reporters covering the National Recount is not only shabby and disrespectful, but tells of the esteem in which this group is held.

GECOM has to, and must, do better. In this twenty-first century, it is unbelievable that professionals would be treated so disdainfully and be belittled in such a manner -- as though the work this group

does is of no consequence.

A nation is depending on the media and reporters for timely and accurate reports on the National Recount, but this group of persons cannot be afforded basic courtesies, but unruly per-

sons with certain agendas are allowed front seat considerations.

Better is expected; better must come.

Sincerely, David Adams

Shabby treatment of professionals Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

5

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

Only group undermining Guyana’s democracy is APNU/AFC Dear Editor, “What new value can the Carter Center add to the process of recounting?” This is the headline in the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 for a letter by Royston King.

King claims he is “astonished at the extraordinary fuss being made” about the Carter Center being blocked from returning to Guyana for the recount of votes from the 2020 Elections. He also questions what the Carter Center can do that “teams on the ground” in Guyana cannot do.

Here is where I must

point out Royston King’s barefaced attempt to mislead Guyanese.

Who is on the ground, Mr. Royston King? The fact is that the recount is taking place without any of the major international election observer missions. Not the Carter Center! Not the Commonwealth! Not the Organisation of America States! Not the European Union! None of them is here!

Mr Royston King also insists that the “more the merrier” argument when it comes to international election observer missions is

not necessarily true. This is unacceptable. Greater scrutiny would add transparency and credibility to the recount process, especially in this case, when there was an attempt to rig the elections.

Also, using the COVID-19 argument to say Guyana does not need more people here has been identified by the United Nations Secretary General and other international organisations that deal with elections as the tool being used by authoritarians and dictators to subdue the will of the people.

Letter raises questions about a new plot being pushed by APNU/AFC Dear Editor, The letter by Mr. Sherwood Lowe, printed by the Guyana Chronicle, raised a number of questions about the new plot that the APNU/AFC Coalition seems to be pushing.

Mr Sherwood Lowe spouts talk about confirming an electoral victory for the APNU/AFC Coalition – saying there should not be any waiting for the recount process to be completed. Mr Lowe was being clearly dishonest with his ramblings.

The country knows that election results from 9 of 10 Regions were accepted, and the only trouble area was Region 4; and if the APNU/ AFC Coalition wanted to prove that it won Region 4,

all it had to do was release its statements of poll (SoPs) to the public.

It has refused to do this until now, and even had its Commissioners at GECOM block the attempt to have GECOM release the statements of poll to all the GECOM Commissioners; not the Guyanese public, like was done in 2011, but just to the GECOM Commissioners.

If Mr. Sherwood Lowe was worried about public relations narratives about “trends and evidence in the early recount results”, then why did he not advocate support for the return of the international election observer missions? What could add more credibility to the recount process than having

independent representatives from major global organisations? The answer is nothing.

Lastly, his talk about not chasing “vague evidence of PPP cheating” is so transparent. There is none. The election rigging attempt unfolded for the world to see.

The only election cheating that was attempted was done by the APNU/AFC Coalition. No obfuscation will diminish this.

The APNU/AFC Coalition cannot “proactively substantiate” its claim of victory, because it did not win the 2020 Elections. This is a fact.

Sincerely, Erin Northe

To his point about our democracy being undermined by Western nations, I wish to point out that the right to vote is a key element in democracies, and the only group that is undermining this is

the incumbent APNU/AFC Coalition.

Lastly, I would say that if this Royston King is the same discredited former official of City Hall, which has been under the control of the PNC/APNU/AFC

for decades, it makes sense that he would be one to object to oversight. After all, misdeeds are most often committed in the dark.

Yours faithfully, Attiya Baksh

Guyana is like Humpty Dumpty Dear Editor, As the recount progressed on day one, a realization of what we are engaged in hit home with some force: Guyanese are once again counting votes at a central location, as we did during the Burnham era.

The counting of votes at the place of poll and the posting of statements outside after the count has been concluded were done to prevent electoral fraud. In 2020, we have effectively abandoned that process, and are back to the old system; so much for the Rule of Law. Bypassing or ignoring the law has become the new norm under David Granger’s presidency, and we are a much poorer people for it. There will be no run for the court steps by political parties who recognise that there are breaches of the law, for the judicial system has declared that laws and the Constitution are only as good as the empowered actors; a rotten president spoils the whole barrel.

Isabelle De Caires wrote on 1st May that we cannot build a nation without trust: “Trust in government, trust

in public institutions, trust in public office holders, trust in each other. Trust is the thread that binds our social fabric. It has been depleted, almost to vanishing point, by the events of the last six weeks (some would say 18 months)”.

This is worth repeating, for when this count is over, a nation will have to be built, and actors who can be trust-

ed will be vital to that process, but they are in woefully short supply.

Guyana is like Humpty Dumpty, delicately poised on a wall, one slip and we become broken past the point where all the King’s horses and all the King’s men are of any use.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

news@guyanatimesgy.com

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

Page

Foundation

Guyana Times is pleased to publish the Education Ministry’s National Grade Six Assessment Past Papers. Below is the second part of Science Paper 1, 2009.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE SIX ASSESSMENT

SCIENCE

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

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

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

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

4. BE SURE THAT THE QUESTION NUMBER IN THE BOOKLET IS THE SAME AS THE ONE YOU HAVE USED ON YOUR ANSWER SHEET. Here is an example done for you.

1. Carbon dioxide is a

CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY 14. Which statement about insects is true?

(A) Insects are not animals (B) All insects can fly

(C) All invertebrates are insects (D) AU insects are invertebrates Study the diagram of a thermometer shown below, then answer question 15.

(A) mixture (B) liquid (C) gas (D) solid

ANSWER SHEET A B C D

A heavy black line has been drawn through the letter B on the answer sheet because Georgetown, the correct answer, is next to B. 5. If you make a mistake, erase the line cleanly, then draw a heavy black line through the letter next to the answer you have now

16. The structures that attract pollinators to the flower are

(A) (I) and (ii) (B) (ii) and (iii)

(C) (iii) and (iv) (D) (iv) and (v) 17. The structure labelled (I) is sticky so that

(A) insects stick to it. (B) pollen sticks to it.

(C) birds are attracted to it. (D) the petals cannot fall off.

Study the drawing of a food chain shown below, then answer question 18.

18. The grass is a producer because it

(A) starts the food chain. (B) is food for the rabbit.

(C) is monocotyledonous. (D) can make its own food.

15. What is the difference between the temperature shown on the diagram and normal body temperature?

(C) 22 °C (D) 35 °C Study the diagram of a section of a flower shown below, then answer questions 16 and 17.

19. Which statement is not true about the importance of the rain forest to humans?

(A) Rainforest assists in the production of oxygen.

(B) Carbon dioxide in the ozone layer is increased by the rainforest.

(C) Carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere by the rainforest.

(D) Rainforest increases the amount of oxygen available to the planet.

20. Which is a true statement about 'non-biodegradable' materials?

(A) They rot quickly (B) They cannot be recycled

(C) Most are useless to humans (D) They will not decay 21. It is easier to open a bottle with an opener because the

(A) amount of force we use is multiplied.

(B) human hand is too soft.

chosen.

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

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

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

(C) opener has a short handle.

(D) amount of force we use is divided

22. Mercury and Venus take less time than Earth to go around the sun because they

(A) are closer to the sun.

(B) are smaller planets than Earth.

(C) have their own gravity.

(D) have further to travel than Earth.

Below is the picture of a moving car. Use it to answer question 23.

23. The car has kinetic energy because it

(A) is painted black. (B) has four wheels.

(C) is moving. (D) is stationary.

24. Which is not needed for humans to see an object?

(A) Brain. (B) Light.

(c) Pupil. (D) Colour.

25. Which is not a benefit of rainfall?

(A) Providing water supply (B) Causing floods

(C) Helping plants to `grow (D) Increasing crop production 26. If the weatherman forecasts stormy weather, which would be expected?

(I) strong windls (ii) loud thunder (iii) constant drizzle

(A) i and ii only `4‘ (B) ii and iii only

(C) i and iii only (D) i, ii and iii 27. The process of weathering is caused by

(A) floods, rain and thunder. (B) wind, thunder and heat.

(C) sun, floods and heat. (D) sun, rain and winds.

28. Liquids and gases are different because

(A) gases change their volume, and liquids do not.

(B) liquids change their volume, but gases do not.

(C) gases change their shape, but liquids do not.

(D) liquids can change their shape, and gases do not.

29. The movement of particles of liquids as they are heated and cooled is the principle used in

(A) making breezes. (B) measuring rainfall.

(C) measuring temperature. (D) making solutions.

The diagram below shows the measurement of two masses before and after melting. Study the diagram, then answer question 30.

30. Which is true of the mass after melting?

(A) It remains the same (B) It is increased

(C) It is decreased (D) It is 2 kg greater

TO BE CONTINUED

NEWS

7

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Diplomatic community expresses regret over absence of foreign observers …full transparency vital to credibility – Commonwealth SG

T

he diplomatic community has welcomed the start of the National Recount, which commenced on Wednesday. However, in commending the participation of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the diplomats have expressed regret over the absence of international observers.

On Wednesday, when the recount commenced, only representatives from the European Union (EU), a local observer from the Organisation of American States (OAS) and Caricom observers were noted to be present at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

In a public missive, the Ambassador of the United States of America, SarahAnn Lynch; the British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn; Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee, and the Ambassador of the European Union, Fernando PonzCanto, stated that they welcome the recount process.

According to the diplomats, “The results of these elections are long overdue, and it is incumbent on all to do what they can to ensure the democratic choice of the people is heard and acted upon.”

In emphasising that full transparency of the process is vital to establishing credibility, the ambassadors stated, “In this respect,

British High Commissioner Greg Quinn, EU Ambassador Fernando Ponz-Canto, US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, and Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee (file photo)

we welcome the role of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) although we regret that it has not been possible for a broader range of international observers to be present at the start of the process.” In view of this, they urged that livestreaming be used “to the maximum extent possible.”

“As friends of Guyana we encourage a swift, credible, and transparent conclusion to the recount process, which will allow us all to concentrate both on the

threat posed by COVID-19 and the development needs of Guyana,” the foreign officials stated.

These concerns come against the backdrop of the Carter Center being denied approval to travel to Guyana to participate in the recount.

The democracy watchdog had expressed hope to be there, and had attempted to travel to Guyana to observe the recount. However, despite still being accredited, their entry request to the COVID-19 Task Force,

which is headed by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and APNU’s Joseph Harmon, was denied.

The Center was among the foreign observers who were very vocal on the lack of credibility of the declaration that was made by the Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo.

Mingo’s unverified declaration would have placed the incumbent APNU/AFC back in office.

On Monday, the Center revealed that it had de-

ployed an Observer to Miami, who was prepared to travel to Georgetown to observe the National Recount.

However, that individual was unsuccessful in joining the flight due to the denial of the necessary clearance for travel from the officials from Guyana. The special flight was organised by the United States Embassy in Georgetown to come here to repatriate citizens of that country who wanted to return home. The democracy watchdog group had expressed that they continued to reach out to Guyana Government officials to understand what is required to allow their team to return to Guyana to observe the recount process. However, to date, there has been no word on any progress in getting the requisite approval.

The GECOM Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh, had committed to making queries from the COVID-19 Task Force in this regard, but there has been no report as to whether this was done.

Credibility

M e a n w h i l e , Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Patricia Scotland has welcomed the commencement of the recount of votes cast in the March 2 polls, saying that full transparency and adherence to the rule of law

Commonwealth SG, Baroness Patricia Scotland

are vital to the credibility of the electoral process in Guyana.

“I welcome the commencement of the recount process in Guyana today.

Full transparency and adherence to the rule of law is vital to the credibility of the electoral process,” she said on her twitter feed.

Scotland said the Commonwealth continues to support the process through its Senior Electoral Adviser to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The Commonwealth mission, which was deployed by the Commonwealth Secretary General to observe the March 2 polls, had withdrawn from the process over allegations of electoral fraud.

In particular, the Observer Group had stated that the vote tabulation process for District Four was “not credible”.

“Very important for Carter Center to be here” – Ali …absence a devastating blow to democracy – mine workers

PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali

T

he presence of the Carter Center at the ongoing National Recount is very important, Presidential Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Dr Irfaan Ali, has said as he expressed optimism at the possibility of the observer group being able to return at some point of the recount process.

Speaking at the Arthur Chung Convention Center on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the National Recount, Ali bemoaned the absence of the observer group that had been denied entry into Guyana by the Moses Nagamootoo

and Joseph Harmon-led COVID-19 Task Force.

“I think it was very important for the Carter Center to be here,” the PPP/C Presidential Candidate stressed, noting that the Party has been pushing for their return, but to no avail.

While he is pleased that other observer missions, including the Caricom team, the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the European Union (EU), have been able to participate, Ali expressed hope that at some point before what is anticipated to be a 25-day recount concludes, the Carter Center Observers will be able to return.

The absence of the notable Carter Center Elections Observer Group is as a result of denial of their request to travel to Guyana to complete the observer mission which they began in March. Since departing on March 20 due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic and harassment

by APNU/AFC supporters, the democracy watchdog group have continued to express their desire to see the electoral process through to the end. However, this objective was hampered by denial of their travel request by the

commitment to providing an independent assessment of Guyana’s electoral process, including the recount.

Devastating blow

Their absence has not gone unnoticed, with the National Mine Workers’ Union of Guyana (NMWUG) dubbing it a “devastating blow to democracy.”

to observe the National Recount which commenced today (Wednesday) is a devastating blow to democracy, and the darkest day for democracy in Guyana,” he stated.

The Union, he added, remains hopeful that the COVID-19 Task Force and the Foreign Affairs Ministry would reconsider their posi-

NMWUG President Sherwyn Downer

COVID- 19 Task Force.

On Monday, the Center had deployed a member of its team to Miami to travel to Georgetown for the purpose of observing the National Recount, but the individual was unsuccessful in joining the flight due to denial of clearance from Guyana’s officials for him to travel.

The Center have noted that they continued to reach out to Guyana Government officials to understand what is required to allow their team to return to Guyana to observe the recount process.

Despite these hindrances, the Center reiterated their

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Carter Center, Jason Carter

President of the NMWUG, Sherwyn Downer, in a letter to the editor on Wednesday, posited that there is still time for the situation to be remedied and for the observers to return to Guyana.

“The absence of the internationally recognised and reputable elections observer mission, the Carter Center,

tion and allow the Observer Mission to come to Guyana.

Downer emphasised, “It is still not too late to ensure the necessary clearance is granted for the team to travel,” as he called on civil society, trade unions and religious organisations to voice their concerns over this developing situation “which does not

augur well for the image of Guyana.”

Downer went on to say that, “As President of the above mentioned organisation, I wish to remind all stakeholders that Guyanese expect that the National Recount will be credible, and only on this basis a Government should be sworn in. My hope also is that whichever government is in power, they will govern in the best interest of everyone.” He remains hopeful and anxiously awaits the arrival of the Carter Center.

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Brazilian miner chops Venezuelans over cigarette

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wo Venezuelan miners are currently nursing chop wounds about their bodies while a Brazilian is nursing injuries to his face after he was punched several times about his body during an argument over a cigarette.

Reports are the incident occurred at a shop at Tamakay Backdam, Middle Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Guyana Times understands that about 00:15h on Tuesday, 33-year-old Alex Romero and 36-year-

old Marco Sanchez were imbibing with their Brazilian friend – a 23-year-old miner.

It is alleged that Romero asked the suspect’s father

for a cigarette. The man said he did not have any and this led to an altercation during which Romero in anger began punching the older man. The 23-year-

old miner was angered that Romero had hit his father and he in turn armed himself with a cutlass and dealt his friend several chops about his body.

It was reported that Sanchez intervened and he too received several chops to his hand. The men were taken to the Issenaru Health Centre, but were transferred to the Bartica Regional Hospital based on the severity of their injuries. The Brazilian miner has been arrested.

Investigations are ongoing.

Linden execution-style killing

2 suspects released from Police custody

T

wo persons who were held in connection with the execution-style killing of Linden clothes vendor Glenroy Chapman have been released from Police custody.

Forty-three-year-old Chapman, also called “G”, of Lot 130 Half Mile, Wismar, Linden, was shot seven times as he sat in front of his yard on the evening April 13, 2020.

Following up on leads, Police had detained two persons of interest about a week ago who have since been released. However,

Regional Police Commander, Superintendent Hugh Winter noted that investigations were still ongoing and legal advice would be sought on the way forward with the case. He said the persons were released as there was not enough evidence to link them to the crime and there were no eyewitnesses. The Regional Commander added that the arrests were made based on information gathered from investigations.

One day after one of the persons was detained, ranks discovered a grenade, bulletproof vest, and Army attire Glenroy Chapman, also called “G”

in a house in Linden. One of the persons held in connection with the murder was a 21-year-old unemployed male of ‘F’ Wismar Housing Scheme.

He turned himself in for questioning after he was sought by Police, who he managed to elude for some

time. Guyana Times understands that the young man was not considered the prime suspect in the case.

Ranks reportedly conducted numerous searches of homes in Linden as they hunted for a possible suspect.

According to Police, at the time of the shooting, Chapman, who was a father of eight was seated in the company of a male friend on a bench underneath a shed in front of his home when a lone gunman approached them and discharged several rounds in his direction.

Upon seeing this, the other man reportedly fled the scene. At the time of the incident, Chapman’s common-law wife and children were inside the house; however, no one else was injured.

When Police arrived at the scene, they examined Chapman’s body and discovered multiple gunshot wounds to the upper torso. At the scene, Police also discovered five 9mm spent shells and a warhead.

Several other persons were questioned in the initial stages of the investigation; however, the gunman, who was reportedly clad in a white T-shirt, slimly built and approximately 6’ 5” in height, remains at large.

Police have since called on anyone with information to come forward.

The state…

Y

…of the recount our Eyewitness woke up bright and early yesterday and plunked himself in front of his TV and his computer – yes, both – so’s to get a ringside seat to the long awaited “recount”. He hadn’t felt this excited since the last heavyweight bout between Fury and Wilder.

He even had his plantain chips and mauby ready. He’d been clamouring for “livestreaming”, and had been assured by Chair Claudette that he’d get live streaming.

He’d been wondering all night exactly how he was going to view all 10 counting stations simultaneously, but he figured it might be something like the Zoom platform, which he was now using like a pro to chat with long-lost relatives across the globe. What he was still confused about was how he’d keep track of 10 sets of activities on ten “windows”. Wasn’t it going to sound like the reincarnation of the old Tower of Babel??

Anyhow why worry in this day of a communication revolution, unfolding every day in the age of COVID??

A month ago, he didn’t know Zoom from Doom!! As he flicked on, reporters were kvetching about the horrible conditions they were being forced to operate under: one tent in an open field, with foot-long grass with God knows what could be crawling about!! No chairs or loos, portable or otherwise!! But your jaded Eyewitness wondered why the reporters were surprised. Did they think GECOM was going to make it easy for the group that exposed them to ignominy and shame after the Affaire Mingo?? As far as GECOM was concerned, this was war, and reporters who cover wars have to rough and tough it out!!

After about two hours or so, your Eyewitness returned from HIS look break and found, to his astonishment, the “livestreaming” was on. His exclamation can’t be reproduced verbatim in a family newspaper…What the ****? is about as close as he can get!! Livestreaming?? All he was getting was the GECOM logo and a babble of voices that sounded like it was coming from a fish market!! Was this going to be it??

After another couple of hours of scouring the computer for other sites that might have some video livestreaming, he glumly concluded that the PNC had won once again.

The PPP got livestreaming, but did not get video!!

This was a Pyrrhic Victory is every sense there was one. Where was the “transparency” in just hearing voices calling out numbers and arguing about them periodically??

Transparency references sight, not sound.

Later in the day, he did get one video – smuggled out guerrilla style via WhatsApp on one skirmish in the war. PNC’s harridan Carol Joseph was berating some unfortunate Opposition Observer!!

The recount was a going to be a repeat!! …of the pace of the recount Lots of folks were up in arms (including your Eyewitness) when Lowenfield assumed it would take two hours to count a single ballot box. At an average of three hundred ballots per box, even some Lil ABC kids could do better than that!! But sadly, after starting at 10am, by 4:30pm, when your Eyewitness was writing this up, just TEN boxes had been counted in the ten stations!!

This means that each station took an average of five hours to count a single box!! Well, maybe your Eyewitness didn’t get all the statements of recount (SORs), but you can bet your bottom dollar that Lowenfield’s estimate will look modest!! The reason for the extraordinary timespan is that, as we figured out – this isn’t a recount, but an AUDIT!! The ever-voluble Carol Joseph insisted they have FACTS of dead and emigrated persons who voted, so they’d be making objections, each of which have to be checked out in the three-state process!

Will CariCom wait three months?? …of COVID-19 protection Your Eyewitness saw three participants in the recount process being interviewed – Broomes, Schuman and Joseph. The latter allowed her mask to slide to her chin.

And not a single reporter called her out!!

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

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Soaked ballots, missing polling books, other controversies mar Day 1 of recount

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ay one of the recount has concluded at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) with its fair share of controversies ranging from soaked ballots to missing poll books, and leaving persons asking, what next?

The initially proposed 08:00h start for the recount was pushed back due to the number of developments that occurred; among them the presence of mystery padlocks on one of the containers containing the ballot boxes.

It is understood that when questioned, none of the political parties’ present could account for the padlocks and chains, resulting in the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) having to cut them open.

There were also difficulties in opening the locks themselves on a container containing ballot boxes, since many of the locks were corroded as a result of exposure to the weather for the past two months. Eventually, these too had to be cut.

There was also disruptive behaviour of APNU/AFC Agent Carol Joseph during the vote recount process of Region Four (DemeraraMahaica).

Joseph began behaving in a vociferous manner, yelling at other stakeholders present at one of the work

Carol Joseph being warned about her disruptive behaviour during the vote recount process

stations.

She was heard telling another stakeholder: “Who the hell is you? He has to listen to me; I am a stakeholder here!”

Presidential Candidate of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) Lenox Shuman, during an interview with media operatives, expressed concerns about an apparent attempt by the APNU/AFC coalition to derail the process.

“When we were at Ashmin’s Building, there was a person who threatened (violence against other observers)…the lady and (other agents) all tried to disrupt the Region Four count at the very same time…So that could not just be something by chance…It is obvi-

ously an attempt to derail the count at this time.”

Joseph was already embroiled in controversy during the vote tabulation for Region Four when she allegedly provoked Executive member of A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Jonathan Yearwood.

On the day in question, Joseph had spent the afternoon haranguing and harassing other representatives from other political parties, including some GECOM staff.

Soaked

There was also an issue with a ballot box container having a hole in it. It is understood that the container contained ballot boxes from at least three regions. When

the container was opened, it was found that water had leaked into the ballot box and soaked the ballots.

At present GECOM is yet to determine a way forward regarding the contents of the box, doing little more than draining the water from the box. While there are concerns that the ballots are damaged beyond repair, others have said that the fact that pencils are used on ballots, would render them smudge proof.

Missing polling day books was another issue, with GECOM only realizing after the start of the recount that the poll books from District One (Region One: Barima/Waini) were not present. These books, which would contain details such as the proxy voters at the particular station, were previously in the possession of the Region One Returning Officer Trevor Harris. However, it has been alleged that he did not hand them over for the recount.

In her interview with the media, GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward revealed that the poll books have since been recovered and will be transported to Georgetown.

“There was an issue with the absence of poll books.

We’re looking particularly at Region One. We discovered that none of the

The venue saw a heavy Police presence. Every vehicle entering the Arthur Chung Conference Centre compound was subjected to a search by a Police sniffer dog

poll books were present. We have since made arrangements for these poll books to be transported from Region One, and we hope they will get here, maybe by today or Friday, when there’s a flight out from that area.

“We’re told one of the poll books may be missing from the total, but when they arrive, I’ll be able to give a proper update. But we had a situation where party agents were objecting to the absence of those poll books as part of their reconciliation.”

Ward, meanwhile, complained that persons in the recount breached the recount guidelines by using their cellphones to video and stream the various controversies that erupted inside the ACCC. According to the PRO,

persons found breaching the guideline will be warned and, if need be, evicted from the venue.

Caricom team

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) team were meanwhile present in the venue, scrutinizing the process. According to Ward, the three-member team spent the day inspecting the work being done at each of the work stations.

Absent from the recount, however, was the Carter Center, whose attempts to return to Guyana to observe the recount have been blocked by the APNU/AFC Government itself. In an interview at the ACCC, PPP Presidential candidate Dr. Irfaan Ali lamented their absence.

10 NEWS

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 requirements being abused to prevent scrutiny – GECOM Commissioner

GECOM Commissioner Robeson Benn

P

PP-nominated G E C O M Commissioner Robeson Benn has expressed concerns and highlighted a situation wherein the requirements of the COVID-19 Task Force are being abused by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and used in a way that does not allow for maximum scrutiny of ballots and other materials during the recount.

“As has been feared, based on observations of the layouts and footprints of counting stations at the International Counting Centre, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) appears to be making maximum perverse use of the COVID-19 situation to keep stakeholders and observers remote from satisfactory di-

rect observation and verification of the recount process for ballot boxes of the General and Regional Elections, 2020,” Commissioner Benn said in a letter to the editor.

Explaining his reasons for such a statement, Benn pointed to the logistics and layout of the recount venue. He noted that there is a two- trestle head table setup with a camera and screen, with four (4) seating places for staff. It was further related that the screen serves the purpose of projecting the packages, ballots and other materials. However, Benn pointed out, “…the distance to the first row of seats for stakeholders and observers is some fifteen (15) feet. The observed seating matrix is 3 by 4, making for the distance to the last row of seating from the table to be at least forty feet!”

This undermines the purpose of the screens, he continued to point out, “because the fixed camera capture area is relatively small to ascertain the true condition of packages, ballots, and the ultimate storage or fate of all items received and processed.

“One would have to continuously alter views between the screen and the table to keep track of disparate actions by the handlers at the distances on offer, to avoid any issue of claims of

switching or insertions. And then a resort would have to be made to going up to the table to make certain that what was indeed said or displayed from afar is indeed true, leading to delays in the activity,” the Commissioner highlighted.

He accused GECOM of “utilising the misguided or, worse, malicious, guidance from the Ministry of Public Health.” GECOM,

he stressed, is bent on enforcing a six (6) foot social distance requirement in a seating arrangement for stakeholders and observers who are equipped with the prescribed N95 masks, while the Secretariat’s staff at the head table are only operating within three (3) feet of each other.

The COVID-19 Task Force had submitted a report containing recommendations

to GECOM on the social distancing protocols to be observed during the recount, especially given the large gathering of persons at one location at a time. It should be noted that the order generated by the Task Force in relation to social distancing specifies that “persons maintain a physical distance of at least six feet.”

“How does one justify, in the circumstances, the large

separation distance between the counting table on one side and the stakeholders and observers on the other side?” Benn questioned.

The Commissioner is therefore calling for an urgent review of the operational setting and methodology in place, which he said is necessary to allay concerns and deliver a recount process “which meets high levels of transparency in all aspects.”

Toddler, 12-year-old among Region 10 COVID-19 cases …citizens irresponsible – REO

G

uyana has recorded its youngest COVID-19 patients, a one-year-old toddler along with a 12-year-old girl – both from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

They were detected among the 11 new cases confirmed this week.

This was revealed on Wednesday in a statement from the Regional Health and Emergence Committee (RHEC) in Linden, which noted that the number of novel coronavirus cases in Region 10 is now at nine, after increasing by six this week alone.

Currently, there are 93 COVID-19 cases in Guyana, with 10 deaths recorded.

Of these six new cases in Region 10, five of them have

already been transported to the quarantine facility at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, including the two children. Additionally, two others are at home awaiting further instructions.

Regional Executive Officer Orrin Gordon, who is also the Head of the RHEC, explained that five of the new cases, inclusive of the two children, are from one family. He noted that the region’s third case has now seen the man’s wife and close family members being infected. These include his one-year-old daughter and 12-year-old niece.

The sixth case is a woman with no relation to the five persons from that family. In fact, regional authorities are overly concerned as

it seems this is an imported case in the Upper DemeraraBerbice District.

Prior to the toddler being tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the country’s youngest case was an 11-year-old girl, who is the granddaughter of the first COVID-19 patient in Guyana.

Ratna Baboolall, 52, is listed as ‘patient zero’, and is considered an imported case after succumbing to

complications caused by the virus days after returning from New York.

Following her death on March 11, several of her family members, including her 11-year-old granddaughter, tested positive for the life-threatening virus.

While most of them have recovered, the girl’s mother took to social media almost two weeks ago to vent her frustration.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

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COVID-19 pandemic

Men not adhering to restrictions – CMO …no new COVID-19 cases as 34 more persons tested

A

fter recording a whopping 10 new COVID-19 cases on Monday and another one on Tuesday, the Public Health Ministry on Wednesday reported that no new cases have been confirmed.

This was revealed

by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at the Ministry, Dr Shamdeo Persaud, who delivered the daily update on Wednesday during which he noted that the number of confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Guyana remains at 93 – the same number as Tuesday.

However, he did note that 34 more persons have been tested for the deadly virus. This brings the total number of COVID-19 tests done in Guyana to 714, of which 621 were negative.

According to Dr Persaud, to date, 27 persons have recovered from the life-threatening disease. Guyana’s COVID-19 deaths also remain at 10 following the latest fatality on Tuesday.

The CMO further noted that six persons remain in institutional quarantine while another 56 are in isolation.

He added that there were still three persons in

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud

the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

That dedicated ICU has seen 29 COVID-19 patients to date. Of these, Dr Persaud disclosed, seven have died while 13 of the patients were transferred from the ICU. A total of three persons who were in the COVID-19 ICU have since recovered and were discharged.

Disregard for restrictions

Meanwhile, the CMO went on to explain that Georgetown continued to be the epicentre of the

COVID-19 pandemic in Guyana with majority of the victims being males, since they were the main ones not adhering to the guidelines and restrictions put in place to contain the disease and flatten the curve. “[They are] congregating way past the curfew hours as if it were a prolonged holiday. Have you stopped to think of the unnecessary risk that you are exposing your children, your wife/significant other, your mother or grandmother to?

Yes, you are exposing your entire family. As one male to another, I am pleading with you to do the practicable thing, which is to stay home and to be off the roadways. Do not think for one moment that you are invincible and that the virus cannot affect you, because your area has not been identified as a COVID-19 hotspot,” he posited.

According to Dr Persaud, everyone is at risk of contracting the disease and the only way to stop the numbers from increasing and persons from dying is if persons seriously follow all the advice and guidelines implemented. He added that if persons have to leave home,

Toddler, 12-year-old...

In a Facebook live video, Roshini Singh Baboolall disclosed that they have been in quarantine for some 40 days, and that after testing negative more than a month since contracting the disease, authorities claimed a mix-up in her daughter’s test result and said that the child was still positive and had to be further isolated.

Meanwhile, authorities in Region 10 further revealed on Wednesday that apart from the two confirmed cases, another child from Linden is currently awaiting results after also testing for COVID-19.

Nevertheless, the RHEC in Linden on Wednesday reported that in addition to the pending results for the one child, two additional persons who have been suspected of having COVDI-19 are also awaiting their test.

In light of the rising cases in the Region, authorities have renewed calls for residents of the region to be more vigilant and responsible.

Irresponsible

REO Gordon has stated that sections of the populace in Region 10 are “very irre-

sponsible” and are likely to create a major challenge to the residents living within the region. He said this is particularly so since it has been observed that the disease is now being imported into the region.

“People must understand that COVID-19 is deadly and people within this region must understand that they should remain responsible, as they continue to put themselves and every other person at risk. We were at one case long after other regions had announced theirs, and within a short space, we have now jumped to eight persons,” he pointed out.

The RHEC Head echoed sentiments made by the Deputy Police Commander, who said that the public seems uncaring of the danger and risks that they are putting the law enforcement officers at. He said that they do not have the benefits, like many others, to stay home, as they have a responsibility to come out and work. “…but we are all at risk,” he declared.

According to Gordon, he is very concerned that Guyana

FROM PAGE 10

has now recorded two child-infections, and as such, urged parents to be more vigilant and alert with their children.

“It hurts me to know that we have two children among those infected, as, prior to this, we had not reported any infections among children, and I hope that parents and guardians would recognize that children are not exempted from contracting this deadly virus.

Therefore, it is imperative that they take the required actions and precautions to safeguard children during this time,” he reiterated.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman Renis Morian also implored residents to recognise that COVID-19 is already in the region, and is making its impact known. He said that people should adhere to stipulated guidelines as, with numbers already increasing, the public should be very concerned.

“I will repeat what the REO is saying all along: that this is a fight that requires all stakeholders (to be involved).

Therefore, people must be responsible and recognize that this virus kills,” he posited.

it is a must that they wear face masks and keep six feet of physical distance between themselves and others when in public.

Moreover, he further pleaded with persons to step forward if they have been in contact with a positive case or experiencing any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19. He warned that seeking medical help at an advanced stage of the disease would place those persons at a disadvantage and there may be very little that could be done at that point to save their lives.

Another issue the CMO lamented was the lack of cooperation in the Ministry’s contact tracing efforts.

“We understand the fear of being isolated or hospitalised, the stigma and discrimination, but we cannot contain this disease unless we receive accurate information. My fellow Guyanese, it is imperative that we find those persons in our communities ASAP, who can spread COVID-19 without even realising it,” he implored.

In addition, Dr Persaud is urging persons to make use of the mobile COVID testing units whenever they go into their communities.

“We must test your con-

Persons in Rasville, Georgetown, on Tuesday despite restrictions on social gatherings such as ‘road limes’

tacts and the contacts of their contacts; we must conduct tests in our hotspot areas to uncover the symptomatic and asymptomatic persons. Testing is critical if we are to contain this disease and flatten the curve,” he explained.

Against this background, the CMO highlighted the fact the laboratory staff were working continuously to have testing done.

Recognising that persons were anxious to receive the daily results at a specific time, he remained that testing for COVID-19 was a complex process that took at least six to eight hours to complete. He added that it was the Ministry’s responsibility to the public to ensure that the results were accurate and as such, patience was required on this matter.

Dr Persaud further reminded the public of the im-

portant role they have to play to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“COVID-19 is no respecter of persons; no one will be spared once you are in its path. It is not a Ministry of Public Health’s affair, but one that concerns every one of us. So be appreciative of the herculean efforts of our frontline workers who are putting themselves at risk to protect you and me. We can beat this virus if all join forces and work with one focus and one accord,” he asserted.

In addition to urging persons to take protective measures when venturing out in public, the Ministry has already warned that patients with existing health conditions such as tuberculosis (TB), HIV, diabetes, cancer, and hypertension were more at risk of contracting the deadly virus.

12 SCENES FROM DAY 1 OF THE NATIONAL ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF RECOUNT

DISTRICT 4 STATEMENTS OF POLL RELEASED BY PPP/C

14 ELECTIONS 2020 RECOUNT THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

STATEMENTS OF RECOUNT

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ELECTIONS 2020 STATEMENTS OF RECOUNT

National elections recount

Media forced to work under tent without furniture, access to washroom

Media workers under the tent pitched by GECOM

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he Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) continued its disrespect for the work of the media through its lack of provision for the coverage of the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

With the current national recount of all ballots cast in the elections being, perhaps, the most important activity and all of Guyana looking towards the media for their updates, media workers are forced to conduct their duties under a shed without chairs.

GECOM pitched a tent on the Liliendaal Railway Embankment outside the Arthur Chung Conference Centre where the media is supposed to be accommodated. The tent had no chairs or tables to aid in the execution of media workers’ duties. The Commission also failed to provide washroom access for the Journalists stationed outside the ACCC. Additionally, with the current precautionary measures against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the tent is not large enough to practise physical distancing.

Following concerns raised by media workers on social media, proprietor of the Giftland Mall, Roy Beepat, offered his facilities to Journalists.

In a post on Facebook, Beepat said: “Dear Media, please contact our security Mr Baksh or Sutherland, we will provide

you washroom facilities and some basic hospitality items.”

The Giftland Mall is located close to the ACCC. GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward has since assured that she was working with the Commission on securing better accommodation. One option is the National Aquatic Centre; however, it is some distance from where the actual recount is being conducted and this has been cited as something that would make the media’s job harder.

Another option that can be available, Ward said, is the lawns inside the ACCC compound. However, she has indicated that this must be approved.

Since the conclusion of the voting process in the March 2 elections, GECOM has been accused of disrespecting the press.

Prior to the hosting of the elections, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) was assured by GECOM that provisions would be made for the media via a media centre.

The media centre was set up in the Ashmin’s Building at High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, but the media was not allowed to access it after March 5.

Since then, the media has been forced to brave the elements and even intimidation by political supporters, to bring updates to the Guyanese people.

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guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

News

“Unfavourable” land allocations…

GFC denies Region 10 forestry organisations' claim …groups contend allocation process remains questionable

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he Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) has denied allegations of unfavourable land allocations made by members of several forestry organizations in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) during protest action staged in front of the Kwakwani Forest Station on Monday.

Members of the various community organizations say they are dissatisfied with decisions as those relate to the last two land allocations close to Kwakwani, following the publication of lands in June 2019 and February of this year. In a statement issued on Monday, the organizations, including the Aroaima Forest and Agriculture Producers Association (AFAPA), the Upper Berbice Forest and Agricultural Producers Association (UBFAPA) and the Kwakwani Natural Resource Organisation, contend that in 2019 there were 15 parcels of land up for allocation within the Division, as compared to 4 in 2020. It was also alleged that none of those was given to any of the community groups.

However, the GFC on Tuesday refuted claims that the organizations were treat-

ed in an unfavourable manner. According to GFC, section 6 (4 & 5) of the Forest Act of 2009 mandates that the GFC evaluate the technical and financial qualifications as well as the compliance history of every applicant to satisfy itself that the applicant intends in good faith to fulfil the forest concession agreement and has the competence and resources to carry out the type of operations specified in that agreement.

The GFC further noted that Regulation 8(2) of the Forest Regulations of 2018 stipulates that no forest concession agreement is to be granted unless all outstanding fees have been paid or assured.

“Regrettably, some associations have been unable to meet the statutory qualifications set out above.

In and around 7th February, 2020, the associations in question made several respective applications for vacant forest concessions publicly advertised by the GFC between January and February, 2020,” a press release from the entity stated.

It continued by listing the records of those already holding concession, noting further that the GFC also adver-

A protester at Kwakwani Forest Station, Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) on Monday

tised a detailed list of criteria for consideration, which also highlighted that all outstanding sums due should be cleared prior to or at the date of the applications, in order for them to be considered.

Notwithstanding indebtedness of the associations, the GFC said, it did not weigh these debts heavily against them, since they were both signatories to Memorandums of Understanding with the GFC for the said sums.

According to the entity, it could not look past the numerous breaches of the Forest Act over the lifetime of the concessions, neither could it ignore the fact that UBAFAPA controlled 18 concessions, including three large concessions.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

“The GFC was of the opinion that UBAFPA needed to strengthen their management capacities to properly manage the concessions already awarded to them before they could be favourably considered for additional concessions”, the release stated.

The GFC indicated further that the AFAPA failed to submit any supporting document with its application to satisfy the organization of its competency or adequacy of resources to carry out another forest operation.

Forestry organisations

Meanwhile, in response to the press release, the UBFAPA is contending that GFC’s statements can cause readers to think that they

are in constant fault and are unable to pay debts, while contending that there are underlining factors to GFC’s contention. The UBFAPA firmly maintained that the land allocation process of 2019 and 2020 remains questionable and unfavourable to these groups.

“On the 14 of January, 2020 UBFAPA received correspondence from the Commission on fines and royalties owed. UBFAPA asked the Commission for some time to study the letter and compare and contrast with its records… A subsequent correspondence was received with a reviewed total amount. On the 21 February, 2020, the Forestry Commission and UBFAPA signed a Memorandum of Understanding for payments of the outstanding monies owed to GFC. In addition, 20% of the outstanding sum was paid to the Commission upon the signing of the agreement. It is the Association’s view that the Commission cannot place the fault on these groups by waiting after 3 years to inform these groups of their fines and compensation spanning as far back as 2017”, the UNFAPA said.

The organization continued that the Memorandum of Understanding with the GFC is a legally binding document which gives assurance that all outstanding monies will be paid. It outlined that, in the past, UBFAPA owed 7 times what it currently owes and paid off the amount far before the agreed deadline. “…the Commission is well aware of the fact that the Association has 185 members (who are) all residents of Kwakwani, and (are) direct beneficiaries of the services provided by these groups, along with their families.”

It continued: “UBFAPA has been a major contributor to Kwakwani’s development over the years, and has seen a 70% decrease in fines and compensation to GFC over the years. This, the organization noted, is testament that its system has improved.

“In addition, had it not been for our efficient system of management, we could not have highlighted GFC’s mistakes. However, the Commission’s statement on UBFAPA’s management is just an understatement, one intended to stifle the true potential of these groups”, the UBFAPA said.

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

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

News

EBD man nabbed with 1700g of ganja

A

36-year-old Craig, East Bank Demerara (EBD) man was on Wednesday nabbed with over 1700 grams of cannabis

by Police at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara.

According to Police, during a routine stop-andsearch operation in front of the Sparendaam Police Station, the man’s car was stopped and searched.

The cannabis that was found in the car

Police stated that a bag containing five taped parcels of suspected cannabis (weighing 1.7 kilograms in total), was found in the trunk of the vehicle. The driver, who was the lone occupant, told the Police that he purchased the prohibited substance to make medicine. He was arrested and was being processed for court.

1 year later

Corentyne mother calling for justice

A

of Eversham Primary was sent to a nearby shop to make a purchase and while in the vicinity of Eversham Bridge, the accident occurred.

The Police had stated that the pedestrian suddenly ran from West to East from behind a lorry that was proceeding north and came into contact with the front of the hire car.

The dead child’s mother, Oma Devi Bascom, says it seems as though authorities have written off the matter: “The first morning when we went to the Number 51 Police Station, they ask, ‘what we go to the Station for’? They say if they get anything, they will call we. Since then, they never call or say anything. We keep going and find out, but they say no Mother: Oma Devi Bascom paper come yet from Town It was on March 27, [Georgetown] and one year 2019, that five-year- past and nothing from anyold Arianna Lowenfield re- one.”

Bascom said it was after portedly ran across the Eversham Public Road her daughter’s burial that and was hit by a speeding she made her first visit to car. She was taken to the the Police Station and has Skeldon Hospital, but was since visited on five other pronounced dead on arrival. occasions.

The mother said she The former pupil Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) mother is calling for justice one year after her five-yearold daughter was killed in a road accident, as the driver has not been placed before the courts.

Dead: Arianna Lowenfield

has been told that the file on the matter was with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), but she feels that it is something a bit more than that.

“I want the paper to come and let us go to court. I need justice for my child. It is one year since she dead and nobody saying anything. Everything you talk something, she always come to you mind nd come to your thoughts,” the grieving woman said.

The past year, she added, has been a difficult one for the family.

Police had carried out

WHO to send mission to China

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he World Health Organization is considering a new mission to seek the source of the coronavirus in China, amid growing controversy over the origin of a pandemic that has killed more than a quarter of a million people.

“Without knowing where the animal origin is, it’s

Talk of a new mission comes as debate grows over the source of the outbreak, which was first identified in Wuhan, China, more than four months ago. U.S. President Donald Trump says the virus likely escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a laboratory that studies dan-

hard to prevent it from happening again,” Maria Van Kerkhove, a WHO epidemiologist, said at a press briefing Wednesday.

gerous pathogens. Some intelligence agencies are casting doubt on that theory. The WHO has come under fire from Trump, who

has moved to cut off funding to the Geneva-based United Nations agency, saying it was overly deferential to China as the virus spread in that country and beyond.

Van Kerkhove in February participated in a previous mission to China, which concluded that the virus was zoonotic in origin.

Bats appeared to be the “reservoir” for the virus, but an intermediate host could not be determined, the report said.

“There is discussion with our counterparts in China for a further mission, which would be more academic in focus, and really focus on looking at what happened at the beginning in terms of exposures with different animals,” Van Kerkhove said.

(Bloomberg)

a breathalyser test on the 34-year-old driver of the car bearing licence plate number HC 2523, but no trace of alcohol was detected.

“When she died and before we bury she, the family for the car man come one time and say that they would come back for the funeral, but since then when they come the first time I never see them back, but the boy still driving on the road. “ Meanwhile, since Arianna’s death, Bascom has become a mother of three again.

India coronavirus: Massive evacuation operation to begin from 12 countries

India will operate 64 flights over the next week

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he first of more than 60 flights repatriating thousands of Indians stranded overseas by the coronavirus lockdown is to arrive home on Thursday.

Nearly 15,000 Indians are expected to return on special Air India flights from 12 countries over the next week.

Passengers will pay their own fares and be quarantined on return. Indian navy ships are assisting in the exercise.

India suspended all international travel in March before it went into lockdown to curb Covid-19 infections.

Since then, the country has operated a few flights to bring back Indian citizens. But the latest exercise, which has been dubbed the Vande Bharath (hail India) mission, is the most organised effort so far.

Eventually, about 200,000 Indians will be brought back, report local media. If successful, this would be India's biggest evacuation mission since 1990, when it rescued 170,000 civilians from Kuwait during the Gulf War. Air India, the country's national airline, will carry out the mission and fly planes to the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Qatar and Malaysia, among other countries. The Indian mission in the UAE alone

has received 197,000 applications to be repatriated so far.

Most of the flights are expected to land in the southern Indian state of Kerala, from where tens of thousands go to work abroad.

Indians wanting to return will be expected to pay for their tickets (the prices will vary based on the port of departure) and will only be able to board if they're not showing any symptoms of Covid-19.

Details issued by the government said each flight would carry 200 to 250 passengers.

The crew will be in protective gear, while all passengers will have to wear masks and follow social distancing norms and other health protocols. Anyone who shows symptoms during the flight will be moved to an isolation zone in the aircraft.

The passengers will also be subject to extensive screening when they return, and will then be quarantined for at least 14 days.

States are preparing quarantine beds in hospitals and temporary care homes.

Officials told the BBC that the elderly, pregnant women, those requiring medical attention and those who are "stranded in difficult situations" will get first preference to board the flights. (BBC)

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guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

Regional

Brazil's Bolsonaro facing “crisis moment” as coronavirus spreads

Detained American tells Venezuelan State TV he plotted Maduro's capture W V

enezuelan State television broadcast on Wednesday a video of captured American Luke Denman, in which he said he was instructed to seize control of Caracas’ airport and bring in a plane to fly President Nicolás Maduro to the United States.

Venezuelan authorities on Monday arrested Denman, another US citizen Airan Berry, and 11 other “terrorists” in what Maduro has called a failed plot coordinated with Washington to enter the country via the Caribbean coast and oust him.

US President Donald Trump has denied involvement. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that the US Government would use “every tool” to secure the Americans return, if they were being held in Venezuela.

Denman, 34, in the video from an undisclosed location, answered questions from a person off-camera speaking in English. Denman said his mission was to secure the airport and establish outer security, though it was unclear how they planned to get Maduro on a plane.

In March, the US Department of Justice charged Maduro and a dozen other current and former Venezuelan officials with “narco-terrorism” and the

Personal documents are shown by Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro during a virtual news conference in Caracas, Venezuela, May 6, 2020

Trump Administration offered a reward of US$15 million for information leading to his arrest.

“I was helping Venezuelans take back control of their country,” Denman, a former special operations forces member, said in the video.

Denman said he and Berry were contracted by Jordan Goudreau, an American military veteran who leads a Florida-based security company called Silvercorp USA, to train about 50 Venezuelans in Colombia in January for the operation. Goudreau supplied the group with equipment,

Denman said.

Denman said Silvercorp had signed a contract with Venezuelan Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó to seek Maduro’s removal. Guaidó’s team, in a statement, said they had “no relationship with any company in the security and defence branch,” including Silvercorp.

Venezuela would seek Goudreau’s extradition, Maduro said. Goudreau has confirmed his role in the operation, and could not be immediately reached for comment on Wednesday. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Colombia readies new state of emergency to ease pain of virus lockdown

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olombia’s Government on Wednesday said it was preparing to declare a second state of emergency to support sectors of the economy that will remain shut down for an extended period to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The state of economic, social and environmental emergency allows the President to issue decrees without prior authorisation from the Andean country’s Congress during times of crisis or a threat to Colombia’s security.

Under the Constitution, the Government can declare a state of emergency for up to 30 days. The total peri-

od of rule by presidential decree cannot exceed more than 90 days a year, however.

The first state of emergency expired in April, although a separate health emergency – which ordered mandatory isolation for the elderly until the end of May among other measures –- remained in place.

Under the initial state of emergency, President Ivan Duque issued a raft of economic measures worth around US$4 billion. The measures include support for family social welfare programmes and the elderly as well as credit guarantees for some businesses.

But Finance Minister

Alberto Carrasquilla said more was needed, including support for businesses that will remain sidelined longer than expected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are drawing it up,” Carrasquilla said of a new state of emergency, speaking to a congressional commission during a virtual session on Wednesday.

Although he did not go into detail, calling it “something we have to do”, he said subsidies for small and medium-sized businesses were being considered to pay workers.

The country is under a nationwide lockdown until May 25. (Excerpt from Reuters)

aving and pumping his fists, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro cheered hundreds of his far-right supporters outside the presidential palace on Sunday, who called for the return of military rule in the country and an end to the quarantine measures imposed to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"This is a spontaneous demonstration," he said in a Facebook livestream that lasted more than an hour.

"The people are with us, the armed forces who are in line with the law, order, democracy and freedom are also on our side," he said, amid the sound of a bullhorn and the loud roar of protesters huddled together, many not wearing masks, while cheering and waving large Brazilian flags.

Following the comments, the Defence Ministry put out a rare statement countering Bolsonaro's claim, saying that the armed forces were on the side of democracy, the separation of powers, and Brazil's Constitution.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro gesturing as he leaves Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, Brazil [Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters]

This latest fracture comes as Bolsonaro faces widespread criticism over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and amid a political crisis that has triggered calls for his impeachment.

Analysts say that while the former Army Captain still maintains enough support to head off the impeachment threat, he is treading lightly and continues to risk further isolation.

Bolsonaro, who has referred to the coronavirus as “a little flu" and interacted with supporters without a

face mask, has argued that the economic fallout of lockdown measures would be deadlier than the virus itself.

He has also actively encouraged people to defy social distancing measures put in place by state governors, calling on people to return to work and take part in large gatherings, even after the number of COVID-19 cases in the country surpassed 100,000, with more than 7,900 deaths.(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Mexico receives ventilator shipment from US

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exico has welcomed a planeload of medical ventilators from the US to help treat COVID-19 patients, says Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard.

The 211 machines were purchased from a US firm following an informal agree-

ment between the neighbouring nations' leaders in midApril.

Last week, several hospitals in Mexico City said they were turning patients away because of a lack of equipment.

President Donald Trump has previously called the US

"the king of ventilators".

In early April, President Trump said that the US would have 110,000 ventilators by the end of June.

He also said at the time that some of the machines could go to countries that were "desperate" for the machines. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Caribbean Airlines prepares for reopening of borders

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egional carrier Caribbean Airlines (CAL), says measures are being put in place for the reopening of borders in Trinidad and Tobago, which have been closed since March 22.

The airline, based in the twin-island republic, revealed that it has already had social distancing protocols in place for domestic flights that will contin-

ue when borders reopen to international flights.

In a statement on Tuesday, the airline said social distancing on flights “will be practised at checkin, on board and other areas once international service resumes”.

The statement said CAL's cabins are currently being cleaned with chemicals that “meet the requirements of the World Health

Organisation, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Centre for Disease Control,” as being effective against the COVID-19 virus.

“We assure you that Caribbean Airlines' aircrafts are sanitised above international standards,” said Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Garvin Medera.

(Excerpt from CMC)

Peru's confirmed cases of Caricom Education Ministers COVID-19 exceed 50,000 meet to discuss CXC exams

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eru registered 51,189 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 3817 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health (Minsa) said on Tuesday.

Minsa stated in its official daily report that as of day 51 of the state of emergency, the country has registered a total of 1444 deaths.

President Martin

Vizcarra said at a press conference that Peru was going through difficult times and urged Government authorities to continue in the effort to contain the pandemic.

"We are not, at any time, going to decrease our efforts, because we know that this is a long-term job," he said.

According to Minsa, of the total cases report-

ed, 5509 people have been hospitalised and 709 are in intensive care units.

Nationwide 406,579 tests for COVID-19 have been processed.

Health Minister Victor Zamora announced that new protocols are being enacted to improve the government's response to new cases and to increase the number of specialists in critical areas. (Xinhua)

T

rinidad and Tobago's Education Minister, Anthony Garcia, along with other Education Ministers in the Region, is meeting with the Caricom Secretariat to discuss CXC’s Strategy for the administration of regional examinations.

According to a re-

Trinidad and Tobago's Education Minister

lease from the Education Ministry, the concerns of parents, teachers and students over CXC exams will be addressed at the regional meeting, and a way forward will be determined

by Caricom Education Ministers. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

OILNEWS Morgan Stanley says the worst is over for oil

T

he worst for oil is over, but the road to recovery will be long and windy, Bloomberg’s Javier Blas tweeted, citing Morgan Stanley analysts.

According to them, April was the worst month for oil demand, which from now on will begin to recover, albeit slowly. Oil inventories will continue to rise, however, which suggests it will be a while before oil prices could post any palpable improvement.

Because of this, the Morgan analysts kept their price forecasts unchanged, with Brent seen at US$35 a barrel in the fourth quarter of the year, up from US$25 during the current quarter.

Last week, Morgan Stanley’s analysts warned that oil demand was unlikely to return to pre-crisis levels until the end of 2021.

“The demand recovery will be somewhat muted, and we could see some structural changes to people’s behaviour,” Martijn Rats, head of oil research at the investment bank, said.

In that, he reflected what seems to be the dominant opinion: that a quick recovery for oil prices is impossible because of the gradual relaxation of national lockdowns that would in turn lead to a slow and gradual recovery in oil consumption.

Meanwhile, prices have been rising, supported by an acceleration in oil well shut-ins, notably in the United States, and early signs of demand return. In North Dakota alone, oil production was down by a third following the shut-ins, at 400,000 bpd less at the end of April from March.

In Texas, producers are also shuttering production, leading the commissioner who wanted to impose obligatory output cuts to drop the idea.

After gaining some 20 per cent on Tuesday on the news of the gradual reopening of the economy that would stimulate fuel demand, US oil prices started sliding back down again, following API’s release of its weekly inventory estimate, which showed yet another build, of 8.44 million barrels. (oilprice.com)

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

19

Around the World

Coronavirus worse for US than Pearl Harbour, 9/11 – Trump

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resident Donald Trump said Wednesday the coronavirus pandemic has been worse for the United States than Pearl Harbour and 9/11 and renewed his criticism of China, saying the outbreak should have been stopped there.

As Germany unveiled plans for a return to near-normality – including a May 15 restart of the Bundesliga – the EU forecast a historic recession on the virus-battered continent.

Countries in Asia joined Europe, meanwhile, in easing the lockdowns that have kept swathes of humanity indoors for weeks and pummelled economies, tipping the world toward a recession not seen in decades.

Trump said fallout from the pandemic has hit the United States harder than the December 7, 1941

Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbour or the September 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington.

"This is really the worst attack we've ever had," Trump told reporters at the White House. "This is worse than Pearl Harbour.

This is worse than the World Trade Centre."

The surprise Japanese attack on the Pearl Harbour naval base in Hawaii drew the United States into World War II. The 9/11 terrorist attacks killed about 3000 people, triggering two decades of US wars and anti-terrorism operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries.

Trump also lashed out at China, continuing a war of words over the origins of the deadly virus that emerged in Wuhan last year.

"It should have never

President Donald Trump said the coronavirus pandemic has been worse for the US than Pearl Harbour or 9/11

happened," he said. "Could have been stopped at the source. Could have been stopped in China."

China hit back Wednesday at US

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over his claims the virus originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, saying he does not have any evidence. (Excerpt from AFP)

Coronavirus spreads among Indian Police enforcing world's largest lockdown

H

undreds of Indian Police have tested positive for the coronavirus in recent days, raising alarm among an over-stretched force as it attempts to enforce the world’s largest lockdown to contain the pandemic.

Some three million Police are trying to ensure that the vast majority of India’s 1.3 billion people stay home.

TV footage early in the crisis showed Police beating back migrant work-

ers as they tried to board city buses to reach their villages, making a mockery of social distancing.

India has been under lockdown since March 25 and confirmed nearly 50,000 coronavirus cases and some 1694 deaths.

A senior officer in the western state of Maharashtra said the number of cases had nearly doubled in the Police Force there in the last week.

Maharashtra, the hardest-hit state,

has reported a total of 15,525 infections as of Tuesday.

“More than 450 people from the State Police Force have now tested positive and four have died due to the virus,” the officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Control rooms were being set up exclusively to deal with health issues faced by Police in Maharashtra, according to the state’s home minister, Anil Deshmukh. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Oil futures settle Coronavirus: Nigeria's death lower on storage penalty by Zoom “inhumane” capacity concerns

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rude-oil futures settled lower Wednesday, with the US benchmark snapping a five-session streak of gains, pressured by concerns over tightening oilstorage capacity even though weekly crude inventories rose less than expected and domestic production declined.

The build in weekly US crude inventories reported by the Energy Information Administration was smaller than anticipated, while the Energy Department continued to buy oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and “at a faster pace week-over-week”, said Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research. The EIA reported a rise of 1.7 million barrels in the SPR to 637.8 million barrels last week.

“Those figures caused a knee-jerk rally when the number hit, but an unexpectedly large build in distillate stocks offset a modest draw in gasoline, which triggered a wave of profit taking across the energy space after a massive, more than 100% rally in WTI over the last week,” Richey told MarketWatch.

On Tuesday, WTI finished nearly 21 per cent higher, marking its highest close for a most-active contract since April 17, as investors keyed in on signs of slowdown in production and the ease of business lockdowns across the globe that suggested that demand might yet return as economies recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Global benchmark July Brent crude declined by US$1.25, or four per cent, at US$29.72 a barrel on ICE Futures Europe, following an almost 14 per cent gain in the previous session. (Excerpt from Market Watch)

Judge Mojisola Dada sentenced Olalekan Hameed to death by hanging for the murder of his employer's mother

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he sentencing to death of a Nigerian driver via Zoom is "inherently cruel and inhumane", Human Rights Watch has said.

It comes after Nigeria issued a death penalty ruling using the video chat app because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lagos Judge Mojisola Dada sen-

tenced Olalekan Hameed to death by hanging for the murder of his employer's mother.

The hearing lasted almost three hours and was virtually attended by lawyers, including the Attorney General.

They all participated in Monday's session from different locations as part of efforts to stop the spread of

COVID-19.

It was the first day of the easing of lockdown restrictions in Lagos, allowing people to go back to work – although all but urgent court sittings have been suspended.

The Judge was in the Lagos High Court in Ikeja, Hameed was at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, and the lawyers joined from elsewhere.

Hameed had pleaded not guilty to killing 76-year-old Jolasun Okunsanya in December 2018.

"The sentence of this court upon you, Olalekan Hameed, is that you be hanged by the neck until you be pronounced dead and may the Lord have mercy upon your soul. This is the virtual judgment of the court," Justice Dada is quoted as saying.

It is not clear if Hameed will appeal against the sentence.

The BBC's Celestina Olulode says under Nigerian law, State Governors must approve death sentences before they can be carried out.

The death penalty is not commonly carried out in Nigeria – although courts continue to impose the sentence. (Excerpt from BBC News)

20

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

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ARCHIE

ARIES

Patience will be required if you plan to get things done correctly. How you handle your money will affect your quality of life. A long-term investment is favored.

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

Strive for success and you will find it. If you are compassionate but realistic, everyone will listen to what you have to say.

(March 21April 19)

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CALVIN AND HOBBES

Set up an interview, answer online job postings that appeal to you and put your plans in motion. Offer your skills and services, and don't be afraid to brag about your accomplishments.

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Learn all you can. Take an online course, listen to experts and make adjustments that will improve your lifestyle. An unusual partnership will encourage personal growth. A commitment looks promising.

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Look at every angle, take precautions when dealing with others and change only what's necessary. Put greater emphasis on your appearance, fitness and health.

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Plan to do something unfamiliar, exciting and entertaining. A change you make will encourage someone close to you to join in and explore the possibilities. A different lifestyle will intrigue you.

Address your current ecoSAGITTARIUS nomic situation and make a (Nov. 23change. Cut your overhead, Dec. 21) sell things you don't need or arrange to share your expenses with someone in a similar position.

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Suggest positive changes, alternatives and ideas for future contributions.

Taking a unique path will offer a different perspective regarding lifestyle and relaKnow when to say no.

Don't get involved in someone else's venture. Put more time and thought into what you want and whom you want to work alongside. Romance is in the stars.

Use your skills to make a difference. Reaching out to an old friend will be enlightening and will encourage you to make a personal change that will result in added stability.

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

T

he German Bundesliga season can resume this month, Chancellor Angela Merkel has confirmed.

It will become the first major league in Europe to return to competition, with a date for resumption to be confirmed by the German Football League (DFL) on Thursday.

All matches will be played behind closed doors.

With nine games remaining, Bayern Munich are top of the table, four points above Borussia Dortmund.

Bayern chairman Karl Heinz Rummenigge said: "I would like to thank the politicians for giving today's decision [and for] the opportunity to finish the Bundesliga season.

"We are now looking forward to resuming play, ideally from mid-May. This ensures that the sporting decisions are made on the pitch.

"I appeal to everyone involved to follow the requirements, which are the basis for resuming games, in an exemplary and extremely disciplined manner."

Christian Seifert, chief executive of the DFL, added: "Today's decision is good news for the Bundesliga and the Bundesliga 2.

"It is associated with a great responsibility for the clubs and their employees to implement the medical and organisational requirements in a disciplined manner.

"Games without spectators are not an ideal solution for anyone. In a crisis threatening the very existence of some clubs, however, it is the only way to keep the leagues in their current form."

The announcement comes a day after clubs in the top two German divisions returned 10 positive results from 1,724 coronavirus tests.

The DFL had warned that many top-division teams would be

Bayern Munich lead the Bundesliga table by five points

in an "existence-threatening" financial position if play did not resume by June.

Players returned to training last month, with the DFL initially saying the league would be ready to return on 9 May. Germany has banned large events with crowds until 24 October, so games will be behind closed doors, but the DFL has developed a health and safety plan that would see only about 300 people or near the pitch during matches, to minimise the risk of infection.

According to official figures, just under 7,000 people have died in Germany from coronavirus, a much lower figure than in other western European countries including the UK, Italy, France and Spain.

It was also announced on Wednesday that the Turkish Super Lig will resume on 12 June with the aim being to complete the season by the end of July.

The country's football federation chairman Nihat Ozdemir said Turkey intended to host the Champions League final in Istanbul in August as planned.

21

T h e Croatian topflight is also poised to resume - without spectators - with cup ties to take place on 30 May, followed by league action on 6 June, pending government approval.

Spain's La Liga has announced plans for a June return and president Javier Tebas said the league was "pleased" with the Bundesliga's decision.

"This is good news for European football and for the return to the new normal after this crisis," he added.

Analysis John Bennett, BBC World Service Over the years we've come to expect German football success on the pitch but this feels like a victory for their clear, detailed and, above all, collective planning off the pitch.

Back on 23 April, DFL president Christian Seifert revealed the league's proposals for matches behind closed doors, collaborating with five laboratories and involving around 20,000 tests and it appears to have impressed the local and national government.

That's despite some setbacks over the past week, such as Salomon Kalou's social media video, which showed him flouting social distancing rules at Hertha Berlin, and the fact that 10 players or members of staff have tested positive for coronavirus.

The clubs have put a huge amount of work into this though and Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes assured me this week that his players feel safe now that there is testing every three or four days and temperature checks every day as they arrive at the training centre.

They are certainly under pressure to make this work, with vital TV money at stake. One player told me he felt a duty to play again because in the Bundesliga clubs don't have rich owners who can bail them out.

It will be interesting to see whether this news can give the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga extra impetus in their efforts to resume. One thing the German football authorities have demonstrated is that it needs to be a collective and unified effort from clubs, league and players. (BBC Sport)

Sport’s response to coronavirus…

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ales team manager Martyn Williams says it will be "surreal" for international players if they have to play behind closed doors in the autumn.

The strategy is one of those being considered to minimise financial problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Playing an international with no crowd will be very be strange," said Williams, "but if that's what the government insists on to maintain safety, everybody has to work with that."

A former flanker, Williams has won 100 Wales caps, and is hopeful the severe restrictions would only be for a limited period, if needed to get the sport going again after the Six Nations ground to a halt in March.

The postponement of Wales' summer dates in New Zealand and Japan now appears a formality.

World Rugby is considering a variety of fixture options, with or without crowds some of them cutting out travel between northern and southern hemispheres - to cope with whatever public health and global travel restrictions are still in place by the autumn.

"If that's what it takes initially, that's how it is. We know it's not going to be longterm, just a short-term fix," Williams told BBC Sport Wales, "but particularly on a home international day in Cardiff, when the city lights up, that would be surreal to have nobody there."

T Martyn Williams (right) succeeded long-serving Alan Phillips as national team manager in January, as Wayne Pivac's reign began in earnest

Where would Wales play?

Restrictions of 200-300 people in stadiums in contrast to the usual crowds of 74,000 in Cardiff have been discussed for professional sport with players, coaching and medical staff, match officials, safety officers and broadcasters. If the Principality Stadium is still being used to house the Dragon's Heart NHS hospital, that could entail internationals being staged on other professional grounds with broadcast facilities.

"We're not sure where we would play. Could we play at the national stadium because of the temporary hospital set up there?

There's lots of discussions as to where and how many people it would take to put a game on," Williams said. “It's just in limbo at the minute.

"But I watched one of the (football) Champions League games just before lockdown, PSG against Dortmund, and

it was really strange watching on TV without any crowds," he said.

Strange or not, it could be the 'new normal' whenever the Wales squad are permitted to emerge from their individual lockdowns, and Williams says the uncertain schedule will have to balance the game's financial crisis with the players' capabilities after their lay-off. "[The pandemic] puts sport in perspective. You just want to get back to normality as healthy and safe as possible.

Some players will benefit [physically] from the break, but you have to be careful you don't throw a lot of international matches straight at them.

"It's a huge balancing act, because the game's going to take a huge financial hit.

Organisations, sponsors and broadcasters want to see games as soon as possible, but it's difficult from a player's perspective to turn out week-in week-out." (BBC Sport)

ennis' governing bodies have confirmed the creation of a Player Relief Programme to support players affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The fund, which is already worth at least $6m (£4.8m), will target around 800 singles and doubles players from the ATP and WTA Tours.

The figure is likely to rise as donations from players, including Briton Andy Murray, will also be added.

Novak Djokovic has been campaigning for all of the men's top 100 to donate.

The programme has been set up by the men's ATP, the Women's Tennis Association, the International Tennis Federation and the sport's four Grand Slams - the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.

The ATP and the WTA will administer the distribution of the money, with eligibility determined by both a player's ranking and previous earnings. The fund will be split equally between men and women.

World number one Djokovic - as president of the ATP Player Council, and in collaboration with Roger Federer a n d Rafael Nadal - had initially hoped the top male players

would contribute to a separate $1m fund for men ranked outside the top 250; but he admitted it was difficult to "pressure players into giving money, whatever their ranking is".

Dominic Thiem, who was runner-up to Djokovic in this year's Australian Open, had expressed his reservations.

"I've seen players on the ITF Tour who don't commit to the sport 100%. Many of them are quite unprofessional, I don't see why I should give them money," he told the Austrian newspaper Krone. players can now make donations directly to the Player Relief Programme, and the fund will further benefit from auctions and virtual tennis tournaments.

When Murray won last week's Virtual Madrid Open, he donated half of his prize money to the NHS, and the other half to the fund.

In an interview on CNN on Friday, he explained why the money is so important, and how more could be raised.

"Hopefully, in a few months' time, there might be some events we can put on as well to help raise some more money for those players, as they will be the ones feeling it the most just now," he said.

"The players ranked in that ranking bracket will also be the future of our sport. There will be some young players coming through just now that will go on to be Grand Slam champions and the number one and top 10 players in the world, so it's important that we try and support those players just now in any way we can."

Professional tennis is suspended until at least 13 July, and a decision is expected next week about the European clay court tournaments which take place in the three weeks to follow.

It seems inevitable all will be cancelled, because government restrictions on large-scale gatherings remain in place in virtually all of the countries in question.

The US Tennis Association will then decide in June whether the US Open can go ahead in New York from 31 August. (BBC Sport)

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

Fury vs Wilder boxing rematch…

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B

oxing must "avoid being left behind" amid the coronavirus pandemic, but there is "no chance" of bouts like Tyson Fury v Deontay Wilder going on behind closed doors, promoter Frank Warren says.

Warren was speaking after details emerged of the British Boxing Board of Control's plans for a July return. The 68-year-old added that the first UK fights to get the go-ahead are likely to be "British-title level".

"There’s not going to be big-name fighters out there," Warren said as he spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live. "There is no chance of Fury vs Wilder (happening) behind closed doors." He added: "We’re talking British-title level, and the undercard will be the kids, whom I don’t want to go away from the sport because they can’t get a living from it."

In a five-page consultation document sent to UK promoters and seen by BBC Sport, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) says a planned July restart would initially see events contain no more than five bouts, and no "championship contests".

Fights would be behind closed doors, and would follow “strict government guidelines".

Warren says the ideas in the BBBofC documents - which he says were "leaked by someone” - are “98% spot on” and were the result of consultations with a number of promoters.

However, fellow promoter Eddie Hearn said the proposals provided "huge barriers to overcome", while another industry insider described the document as "farcical".

The proposed new rules include boxers on British fight shows being required to wear protective masks during ring walks, and they could also be banned from using a spit bucket between rounds.

The BBBofC contacted BBC Sport on Wednesday and said none of the proposed rules was binding, and that the views of promoters would be considered over the coming weeks.

Asked if July was too soon to return, Warren

T

he highly anticipated Orlando Cup 3 was scheduled to be hosted in March,2020 in Florida. However, with the current COVID-19 pandemic, all sports have been halted until further notice. It is also the hope of the Orlando Softball Cricket League (OSCL) that the tournament can be hosted in the fall of 2020 (21 September - 21 December).

The Orlando Cup three was hosted in March 2018, emerging as winners were Regal All-Stars in the Open category, while Floodlights stormed to victory in the Master’s category.

In a release by the OSCL, it was said that, “The OSCL wishes to advise all participants and guests that in view of the current coronavirus spread

said: “We are all in the same boat as rugby, cricket, football…we are trying to stage sport behind closed doors. As far as boxing is concerned, there are some fighters who are struggling at the moment; they haven’t got a living, no dates to train for.

“We don’t want to get left behind while other sports appear back on TV. We don’t want to

T h e 33-yearold former WBA lightweight champion, also speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, said: "We have the best boxing board around the world, and they

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get lost; we want to be out there,” Warren said.

Warren added that boxing shows would only have “50 or 60” people involved, compared to many more for a football or rugby match.

“For us, with five fights per show, that’s 10 participants in total plus their trainers,” he said. “As things get safer, then things can expand.”

On Wednesday it was announced the UK now has the highest number of coronavirus deaths in Europe.

Boxing, but not as we know it

Manchester fighter Anthony Crolla says he expects boxing will "not run smoothly" under strict guidelines put forward by the BBBofC.

VEHICLE FOR SALE are trying to do their best. No matter how hard they try, those rules won't be followed to the letter; it will be impossible. A boxer can't spit in a bucket? What if that fighter has a mouthful of blood?"

Crolla says event organisers will "do their best", but bouts without fans will be "very strange".

"I want to see boxing back more than anything, but I'm not sure how smoothly it can run," he added. "Officials and boxers having to self-isolate after or before it?

There's so many fighters that feed off an atmosphere, and there will be no atmosphere in a studio with a handful of people there." (BBC Sport)

disappointment to many, we have to follow the directive and advice of those who are tasked with maintaining the welfare and good health of the citizenry of the USA. The OSCL will be in touch with all teams, and based on consultations with the relevant authorities, will make the pertinent decision as to the fixtures for the said tournament.

“It is our fervent hope and prayer that the present virus will not affect any

The teams consist of the Masters Category (Over 45), All-Stars category and Legends Category (Over 50), thus far, a total of 24 have registered. In 2018 Safraz Esau struck a robust 53 off 23 balls to guide Regal All Stars to a seven-wicket win over Assassins in the Open final in front of a large crowd. While, in the Masters category, Ramesh Narine guided Floodlights Masters to a 12-run victory over nemesis Regal Masters. Narine

of our members and their families, and this epidemic will soon become a distant memory.”

slammed three fours and nine sixes in an even century which came off 56 balls, as Floodlights posted 192-9.

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prevailing in the United States, we, in the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment, have decided to move the tournament to fall 2020.

“While this decision is a

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23

Caribbean Premier League

…Ramdin signed

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he St Kitts and Nevis Patriots are the second Hero Caribbean Premiere League (CPL) franchise to release their list of retained Caribbean players for this year’s edition of the tournament.

The St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots after reaching the final four of the Hero CPL in 2019, sought to do some shaking up this year while holding on to a handful of their explosive talents.

While it is important to note that teams this year can retain as many players as they would like, and could also transfer players to other teams and sign emerging players, the St. Kitts Franchise held on to opening batsman Evin Lewis, Allrounder Fabian Allen, and bowlers Sheldon Cottrell, Alzarri Joseph and Rayad Emrit. In addition, the team has announced the signing of former Trinbago Knight Riders wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin and emerging player Dominic Drakes.

While some questions lingered about the team’s captaincy, since Carlos Brathwaite has not been retained, the franchise also took the time to announce their new captain is Rayad Emrit and new Head coach is Simon Helmot.

The entire line up of retained players

for a second season. I think that the team that is selected this year is going to be a very exciting one. I am very excited to be named as captain. It's always an honour and a privilege to lead a franchise. Our new coach, Simon Helmot, knows the CPL and

St. Kitts’new Head coach, Simon Helmot Emrit

St Kitts & Nevis will be Ramdin's third franchise in the CPL, having been part of Knight Riders and Guyana Amazon Warriors in the past.

Emrit has vast experience playing T20, having played 136 matches and picking up 149 wickets at an economy rate of 7.70.

Helmot, also, brings rich T20 experience, having been part of Sunrisers Hyderabad (IPL), Trinbago Knight Riders (CPL), and Melbourne Renegades' backroom staff.

Ecstatic about the appointment, the very experienced Emrit stated, “I am very excited to be part of the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots

he knows how to win titles.

He and I are going to work very hard to get the team to the finals.”

The CPL is scheduled to take place between 19 August and 26 September, but organisers are closely watching the current situation with COVID-19, and are liaising with medical advisors and governments. A decision on whether the tournament can proceed as planned, or at a different time, will be made as soon as possible.

Switch it up! Former and new appointed

Patriots’ Captains, Carlos Brathwaite and Rayad Emrit

− sets sights on Academy contract

F

or those who followed Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-19 tournament in 2018, Berbice premier left-arm spinner Keith Simpson was simply amazing with ball in hand.

He registered some stunning performances for Berbice at the inter-county level, including a ‘player of the match’ performance in the final of the tournament. After all his heroics, he was left out of the Guyana U-19 squad due to various reasons, none of which he is responsible for.

After such unfortunate circumstances,

Flashback: Simpson in an inter-county fixture

Simpson did not give up cricket. He moved from strength to strength, and is currently seen as one of the best spinners in the ancient county. The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club player reflected on his stellar efforts at the junior inter-county dream tournament. He also believes that he has

what it takes to succeed at the senior level.

"I was disappointed and shocked at my omission from the Guyana U-19 squad.

Throughout that tournament I did very well, and I knew that I should have played in the Guyana U-19 team. I worked towards my game and did my very best, had two ‘player of the match’ efforts, had a lot of support behind me from Coach and Manager," Simpson posited.

Despite all this unlucky scenario, Simpson still remains positive while dominating the local scene with his Keith Simpson bowls for Rose 'tight' left-arm spin.

Hall Town "My aim is to play franchise cricket, get a contract and work towards a Jaguars call-up in the future.

I want to showcase my talent and register strong performances and someday play for the West Indies," Simpson added.

His spell of 4-33 in the final of the U-19 inter-county back in 2018 was certainly a top performance. That spell was pivotal in Berbice completing the double. Prior to that, he had a man-of-the-match performance against the mighty Demerara team, which included Bhaskar Yadram and co. In that contest, Simpson claimed 4-23.

Simpson bats in a local fixture

It is without doubt that some youth cricketers that perform at their optimum best are often overlooked when it comes to selection at the Guyana Youth teams. Simpson is among those unlucky youngsters who suffered non-selection after strong performances at a Junior inter-county tournament. (Brandon Corlette)

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

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

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Caribbean Premier League

…Ramdin signed

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