Guyana Times Thursday March 26, 2020

Use time in isolation/ P14 quarantine to elevate skillset, maintain healthy lifestyle – life coach Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 4237

THE BEACON OF TRUTH THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020

Transparent, democratic Govt needed before talks of new governance model – Gail Teixeira

See story on page 3

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

UN warns P10 of more Venezuelans fleeing COVID-19 into Guyana IRO calls for social distancing for 7 weeks P13 …as GHDS urges caution during Navratri observance

GECOM, APNU/AFC destruction of democracy: Day 24

GECOM will wait for, abide by court decisions – PRO

See story on page 11

…even as APNU-requested precedent exists for GECOM to hand over SoPs

17 Guyanese who arrived on chartered flight from Barbados quarantined GRA waives taxes on critical medical supplies for COVID-19 Page 14

See story on page 7

Lindener killed by falling log

P12

Illegal gun lands man on P9 remand Coronavirus

P7 Only 60 passengers to be accommodated on MV Kimbia – T&HD

Barber dies after crashing truck into trench P9

Stabroek P9 Market closed today for sanitisation

2

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

3

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

Thursday, March 26 – 05:00h – 06:30h and Friday, March 27 – 05:00h – 06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, March 26 –05:10h – 06:40h and Friday, March 27 – 05:35h – 07:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny conditions will prevail throughout the day, with clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 20 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to North North-Easterly between 0.89 metre and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 05:39h and 17:58h reaching maximum heights of 2.71 metres and 2.70 metres.

Low Tide: 11:33h and 23:47h reaching minimum heights of 0.47 metre and 0.56 metre.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020

LOTTERY NUMBERS C

01 02 13

21 26 27

23

FREE TICKET

Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

02 16 19 21 24 LUCKY 3

7

1

9

9

Afternoon Draw

4

4

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

05

09

11

12

13 17 20

PAY DAY

SUPER PAY DAY

FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2020

07 11 13 15 16

03 09 11 12 21

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

COMMODITIES Indicators Crude Oil Rough Rice London Sugar

US$ $29.70/barrel $245.52 /ton $338.90/ton

Live Spot Gold Bid/Ask Low/High Change

$1603.10 $1557.50 -9.80

Change % -1.63 +0.04 0.00

USD Per Ounce $1604.10 $1638.90 -0.62%

Transparent, democratic Govt needed before talks of new governance model – Teixeira

E

xecutive Member of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) and former Chief Whip thereof, Gail Teixeira, on Wednesday said that before Guyana can move to discussion on a new governance model to reflect inclusivity, there first needs to be a transparent and democratic transition of Government.

Her statement comes as social commentators increase the narrative of inclusive governance in recent days, even as Guyana continues to be in gridlock regarding the results of the March 2 General and Regional Elections, where there have been “deliberate” efforts by the caretaker APNU/AFC Coalition to block a recount of the contentious Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) votes after the tabulation process was marred with controversy and “credible evidence” of fraud at the hand of Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo.

According to Teixeira in a letter to the editor on Wednesday, “Guyana needs stakeholders in the electoral process, civil society representatives and ordinary Guyanese citizens, among others, to be a part of the process of addressing a new governance model for sustained progress and development of our country; not the divvying up of the spoils to a few who feel they have been born with some personal entitlement. But first we must ensure that there is a transparent and democratic transition of government.”

She noted that these continued commentaries over the past few weeks are coming from “self-styled defenders of good governance”, whom she believes have not only been vocal but “undeniably opportunistic” in their calls for executive power-sharing.

As an Executive Member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Teixeira questioned whether these same persons would have been calling for executive power-sharing had the APNU/ AFC Coalition won the recent elections, especially since they quite know what had happened when the

PPP Executive Member Gail Teixeira

Coalition took office in May 2015.

She pointed to 2011 when APNU and AFC, as combined opposition parties, held a one seat majority and controlled the Legislature.

Teixeira, who was the Government Chief Whip in that Parliament, noted that Guyanese were witnesses to the APNU/AFC’s approach of ‘total control’ and the flexing of their proverbial muscles regardless of the consequences to the PPP/Civic’s national development agenda.

“Cuts of $90B to the national budgets in 2012, 2013 and 2014 slowed down the economy, scuttled transformational projects, and denied citizens of infrastructural development and necessary social programmes…In the post-2015 elections, with less votes together than in 2011, and a margin of less than 1%, the APNU+AFC Coalition took office. I do not recall persons clamouring then for executive power sharing and a national unity government.

Instead the slogan was ‘a

majority is a majority’ and ‘it is a-we time’,” she asserted.

On this note, the PPP Executive surmised that one objective to this increased narrative of power-sharing is to shift the focus from the critically important issue at hand – a transition of government that is based on free, fair, transparent and credible declaration of results from the elections held more than three weeks ago.

“As Guyanese, we cannot afford to shift our attention from this, the most critical issue at hand –the maintained focus on protecting and preserving our democracy. The alternative is an illegal, undemocratic government; facing international condemnation as a “pariah” state; and consequent sanctions,” she contended.

Moreover, Teixeira pointed out that another reason behind this heightened call for executive power-sharing seems to be premised on ethnic insecurity.

She noted that for the period 2012-2020, there have been “no interest, indication, action or policy that the

Granger-led APNU/AFC has any interest in power-sharing. Rather, those vocal on the issue of executive power-sharing are essentially attempting to preserve their personal interests and power.”

To this end, the former Opposition Chief Whip outlined that the history of the PPP, both in and out of office, has been one that never closed the door to inclusive governance and constitutional reform.

In fact, she noted, the PPP has worked at the grassroots level to broaden its support base in an effort to ensure greater inclusivity.

“We are the only party that campaigned on a platform of national progress, with a multi-ethnic list of candidates of women, youth, religious, geographic and ethnic diversity,” she stated.

Teixeira further highlighted that even the party’s 2020-2025 manifesto clearly states that it is “aware that issues concerning constitutional reform, particularly in relation to a national, inclusive governance model” have been raised and discussed in the public domain; and therefore, it is “committed” to a national participatory process to addressing a new governance model.

“The PPP remains committed to this…[But] there can be no discussion of a new governance model and constitutional reform unless democracy is intact,” she posited.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 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

Funding for COVID-19 fight W orld leaders have recognised that COVID-19 is indeed an enemy to humanity, and they are taking very proactive measures at all levels to bring a halt to the further spread of the disease, and reduce its impact on people everywhere.

COVID-19 has really caught the world by surprise, and its massive economic and social impacts on countries will no doubt be felt in years to come. At the moment, the deadly disease has a foothold across the globe, and is now reaching countries that were already facing humanitarian crises because of conflict, natural disasters and climate change.

Many of these countries were also already facing tough economic times, and now, with the challenge of battling COVID-19, one could only imagine how some of them would survive this difficult period. In fact, experts have suggested that some countries would enter into recession as the economic toll would be very heavy due to job losses, closure of industries, and overburdened healthcare systems etc.

On Wednesday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, along with other top officials, launched a US$2 billion coordinated global humanitarian response plan to fight COVID-19 in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries.

The UN initiative is being viewed by international development partners as a major step to protect millions of people and stop the virus from re-circling the globe. The response plan will be implemented by UN agencies, with international NGOs playing a direct role in the response.

According to the UN, the plan seeks to: deliver essential laboratory equipment to test for the virus, and medical supplies to treat people; install handwashing stations in camps and settlements; launch public information campaigns on how persons can protect themselves and others from the virus; and establish airbridges and hubs across Africa, Asia and Latin America to move humanitarian workers and supplies to where they are needed most.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock, was quoted during the launch as saying that COVID-19 has already upended life in some of the world’s wealthiest countries. It is now reaching places where people live in war zones, cannot easily access clean water and soap, and have no hope of a hospital bed if they fall critically ill.

He added that to leave the world’s poorest and most vulnerable countries to their fate would be both cruel and unwise. He noted that if the coronavirus is left to spread freely in these places, millions of people would be at high risk, whole regions would be tipped into chaos, and the virus would have the opportunity to circle back around the globe. The UN’s priority is to help these countries prepare and continue helping the millions who rely on humanitarian assistance from the UN to survive.

We support the call for UN member states to act now, by committing to stem the impact of COVID-19 in vulnerable countries and contain the virus globally by giving the strongest possible support to the plan.

Certainly, individual country responses are not enough; there is need for a major international response, hence the initiative taken by the UN is laudable, as this now means there would be funding for crucial programmes aimed at bringing a halt to the disease. As stated by the UN head, COVID-19 is menacing the whole of humanity, and so the whole of humanity must fight back.

That said, Guyana must continue to be vigilant, and ensure that all steps as laid out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to prevent the further spread of the disease are followed. Citizens also have a very important role to play in ensuring they heed the advisories being issued by the health authorities. So far, there has been no new confirmed case, other than the five persons who were tested positive and quarantined last week. This is indeed good news.

Elections, sovereignty & observers

Dear Editor, This letter is written with the sole intention of enlightening the stubborn party loyalists of the APNU+AFC and those Guyanese who repeat the ill-advised talking points of the aforementioned faction.

The APNU/AFC have long seen the writing on the wall; since March 2nd, 2020, the numbers have been cemented in their brains, and it shows they have lost these elections.

Nevertheless, 22 days have passed and there is no official result.

Meanwhile, the Guyanese people have observed blatant attempts by APNU at stealing this election. These acts have been categorically denounced by not just the PPP/C, but by six new parties, local observers, and most importantly varying independent foreign observer groups inclusive of the OAS, Commonwealth, EU, and the Carter Center.

As a redress, APNU have sought to change the public narrative and peddle uncreative lies. Tragically, many

persons, even some who are deemed “intellectuals”, have adopted the “Guyana is a sovereign nation”, “We are independent, y’all only want we oil!”, “We don’t need any outsiders in we business” lines. These defenses are used in woeful ignorance to counteract the strong messages emanating specifically from these foreign observer groups.

Fellow Guyanese, permit me to give you a succinct history lesson that is evidently needed to cease this descent into mediocrity.

After the 1985 elections -- another one rigged by the PNC -- the PPP, WPA and three other small parties formed an alliance known as the Patriotic Coalition for Democracy (PCD).

Collectively, they pushed for an independent Elections Commission; counting of ballots at the place of poll; and, importantly, the presence of international observers. The alliance lobbied western governments, and international partners in the USA, UK, Canada and CariCom to pressure the

PNC administration to heed their request for electoral reform geared at free and fair elections.

Yes, this was done without a 34-million-dollar contract to Mercury.

Then President, Hoyte strongly resisted the calls for foreign observers to be present, describing them as interferers and meddlers.

Does this ring a bell? This was the same argument held by the “Lord of the Rigs” – Forbes Burnham.

Nevertheless, after much lobbying, in 1990, the US State Department, subsequently Democratic Members of Congress, and six senators requested that the Secretary of State’s US aid to Guyana be attached to FREE and FAIR Elections.

Later that year, the US withheld US$600,000 from Guyana in order to pressure the Hoyte administration into facilitating structural changes in the country’s electoral systems.

It was with such international economic pressure and astute negotiation by world leaders such as (US)

President Carter, all promulgated by Cheddi Jagan and the PCD, that Guyana saw its first free and fair elections in 1992.

The year is now 2020, and the signals and messages of our international partners are clear: Sanctions will come once a government is sworn in on the basis of these non-credible results.

Will we risk losing the much-needed international aid just to support an undemocratic cabal? Will we risk losing out on the magnanimous benefits of our oil resources for our generation and the next?

Fellow Guyanese, do not stifle your consciences, and I plead with you to not reject the help of our international brothers and sisters.

For without them Guyana’s fragile democracy could once again be hijacked and demolished by the execrable PNC regime.

Stand on the right side of history, speak out against electoral fraud.

Dear Editor, As Guyana continues to be crippled from a premeditated attack on its democracy by evil forces in the APNU regime, it is further compounded by the corona virus. Like a perfect storm, the APNU regime did very little to prepare for the virus. Now we are facing down the barrel of a quagmire, all because of an incompetent and selfish government that has no care or regard for its people.

Unlike everywhere else in the world, we have not seen a clear and consistent flow of updates informing the public on plans being put in place to protect us. It has been over two weeks since the WHO said every country must do what it takes to

protect itself or face certain devastation. What has this de-facto government done?

Can the MoPH confirm what supplies are readily available and in what quantities? Can they confirm that we have ventilators, masks, sanitizers, gloves, and other related supplies and medication? Have they set up facilities for housing patients? and where are these located?

The MoPH has proven to be very unprepared and lacking a proactive approach to mitigating the threat of COVID-19. The already useless former minister will just make things worse for us all.

On the financial side, is there any plan to remove VAT from items that can help fight the virus? We

should see a removal of VAT from items listed above, and other items such as cleaning supplies and food. We should see a reduction in cost for data plans, and support for the Private Sector so they can keep their employees on the payroll.

Instead, we are seeing that this unconscionable regime want to use the virus as a prop to achieve their diabolical objective of stealing a country through electoral fraud. They are willing to destroy this entire country just to hang on to power, even if it means the lives of thousands of my brothers and sisters.

It is time that we stand up and remove this illegal government from office, so that the PPP/C can claim

its rightful place and lead us out of this disaster that APNU has created. Our democracy and the corona virus are now linked, based on the need to have strong and competent leadership to steer us out of this global crisis.

Guyana currently have no ministers of government, and what’s left of the current regime has no solid plan to protect the people. And even before there were no ministers, they did nothing to protect us. APNU has become a disgrace to our country in every way possible, and there can be no other fitting end to mark their legacy of disaster that a corona virus.

Yours truly, John Edghill

No solid plan to protect Guyanese

Sincerely, Malcolm Watkins

Granger cabal has a serious comprehension deficit Dear Editor, Our nation is spiralling downwards, economically and mentally, as we reel under the consequences of COVID and David, twin terrors that have Guyanese firmly gripped and suspended in limbo. The appeals to the “honesty and decency” go unheeded; the threats of sanctions by foreign powers are uncomprehended; the dangers of the virus are underrated, and the vanishing on the oil windfall goes unnoticed.

Throughout all of this, David Granger sits in Pearl; unbothered. It is now clear that our ballahoo (of state) has ‘gone a falls’ and there will be great pain ahead when we hit the bottom. The citizenry will pay a terrible price for Granger’s hubris.

As predicted in my letter of March 22, the ‘red line in the sand’, initially set at the point where a Government is sworn in based on the electoral fraud, is not static. Predictably, it has now started to move towards the

feet of those actively thwarting democracy. On March 24, the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, Dominic Rabb, issued a press statement with the line “If the situation continues to deteriorate, this international response will include a range of serious consequences for those concerned.”

The Granger cabal has a serious comprehension deficit when it comes to diplomatic statements.

However, Carl Greenidge must know what this

means. The question is, given his (Greenidge’s) absence from the public light since the polls closed, is Greenidge providing any assistance with translation?

Either way, as traditional Guyanese wisdom would have it: “hard ears will feel”.

I wish the President, who “remains the President until the next President is sworn in”, the best of luck in his future endeavours.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020

5

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

Violating rights of fellow Guyanese rather than accepting truth

Dear Editor, The alteration of the vote count per party list by GECOM pushed the turnout in some areas to surpass the actual amount of registered voters on the voters’ list eligible to vote at some of these polling stations. As a real example, there is box 4082, which was situated in the village of Herstelling. On the statement of polls, the amount listed for the APNU was 14 votes but the GECOM official called 114 votes, which if tabulated would have caused 112% of the person on the official voters list to be voting. That translates to some 12% phantom voters all called by GECOM’s official Mr. Cummings as voting for the APNU. That is fraud, and is a criminal act on the part of GECOM. But why is GECOM and the PNC, by way of their candidate Ulita Moore, trying to deny the nation a complete, accurate and valid recount of the ballots? The table below will expose why. This table outlines some of the results

in the PPPC strongholds as ascertained from Statements of Poll that are in the possession of the Chief Elections Officer of GECOM, Mr. Keith Lowenfield.

From the table, it can be seen that the PPPC won handsomely some key areas in Region #4, and the more significant of them are on the East Coast of Demerara.

For example – Mon Repos/ Good Hope/Lusignan. In this area, there were some 13, 556 persons on the voters’ list, but only 75% or 10,161 persons actually voted. Of those

10,161 persons, 93% or 9,451 voted for the PPPC, while a paltry 580 persons, or 6%, voted for the APNU. This is what GECOM and the PNC folks in Congress

Place do not want to count, because of the impact of these votes on the outcome of the elections.

The same story continues at Enmore/ Foulis, where 88% or 4,439 of the actual voters voted for the PPPC. Even in the Amerindian villages of St Cuthbert’s and Waiakabra on the Linden Highway, the PPPC trounced APNU by winning 74% and 75% of the valid votes. What was surprising was that in his own home town of Pearl, the PPPC gave him a shellacking by winning 60% of the votes, while Team Granger was only able to scrape 38% of the votes.

So, when the facts are revealed, the only persons deluding themselves in these elections would be Mr David Granger and his supporters, who are prepared to rig an election and violate the rights of their fellow Guyanese, rather than accept the truth.

Sincerely, Sase Singh

Respected First Lady must convince There is still time to condemn attempts at corruption, fraud husband to do honourable thing Dear Editor, First Lady Sandra Granger must break her silence over treacherous attempts to subvert the true outcome of the election. People -- including members of her extended family, friends, relatives, and churchgoers -- are suffering, experiencing emotional and mental torture as a result of the electoral fraud and failure to have the right government in place.

Lady Sandra can, and must, bring an end to the suffering of the nation. Her son-in-law Hans Dominick Gaskin spoke against the fraud.

Behind every good, strong man, is a more courageous and better woman.

Gaskin must have been goaded by his beautiful wife Afuwa in speaking out against the fraud that was perpetrated by GECOM even though she recognizes that her father would be a beneficiary of the fraud. Lady Sandra needs to follow suit.

Lady Sandra and Afuwa are Godfearing people, and are very protective of the Granger family reputation of decency and speaking the truth.

For them, reputation is gold.

I have known the Chan-A-Sue family from Region 1 for many years; they are a brilliant, outstanding family. Sandra is a family friend. I always admire her beauty, poise and grace, and the pride they have had in honour in the family. All of this stands to go down the drain as a result of an attempted power grab by those mis-advising her husband.

The bold face attempt to ‘tief’ an election is destroying the reputation of the family. People have begun to question whether this is the Sandra they knew from church. She is standing by while nefarious characters and thugs are manipulating her good husband who wants to do the right thing.

She must put a stop to them by advising her husband to end the shenanigans in court and in GECOM. For the period she has served in public life, Lady Sandra has come across as a compassionate, decent, fair-minded woman. She was widely viewed as a humanitarian. People of all ethnicities and across the political divide admire her. She has tremendous standing in the party. She out-

shone all the Ministers. Her husband was also touted for his honesty and decency as an outstanding family man.

The coalition Government Ministers and functionaries were viewed as the most corrupt in Guyana’s history. The coalition Government performed well in the election because of the trust people had in the Davidand-Sandra-Granger team. The performance of the party is credited to them and not those tainted characters in the coalition.

As happened after the November 2011 elections, when Ms. Sandra Granger urged her husband David (as defeated APNU Presidential candidate) to put an end to the APNU organized street disturbances that were affecting normalcy, Lady Sandra must now take the high road and advise her husband to instruct his comrades to put an end to the electoral fraud being perpetrated at GECOM. She must make it clear she and her family will not be party to any illegitimate power grab. She must advise him that he has a moral responsibility to allow democracy to prevail, and allow the country to return to normalcy.

As an outstanding role model and a church-going woman, Lady Sandra knows that good will prevail over evil.

The delay tactics of her husband’s evil comrades will not change the outcome. The world community has signalled it will not accept fraud.

The morality of the respected Granger family must be upheld. Lady Sandra must not allow the Granger reputation to be destroyed by an attempted power grab at this age of the couple’s lives. Their children, grandchildren and other progenitors will have to carry that heavy burden.

By speaking out against the fraud at GECOM, and advising her husband to allow a real authentic vote or SOP count, Lady Sandra will go down in history as one of the most important contributors to democracy in Guyana. In your usual compassionate way, advise your husband to do the honorable thing!

Yours truly, Name withheld

Dear Editor, Unfortunately, in their recent video statement, the Pentecostal Assemblies of God of Guyana (PAOG) failed to address the dangerous political impasse that faces the country.

The leaders of the denomination focused only on the problem of racism. They spent substantial time on the COVID-19 health crisis, but avoided any mention of political dilemma, even though Bishop Dr. M. Raphael Massiah indicated that they would.

Bishop Dr John O. Smith made a weird and incomprehensible statement: “We need to move from ‘facts’ to ‘truth,’ to which Massiah responded by saying “Excellent!” after that statement was made. These gentlemen need to know that ‘truth’ is a generally an accepted outcome of reasoning, while fact is a proven truth.

Smith also stated, “The church is almost two-thirds of the nation, and we are the biggest constituency in this nation…” If that is the case, why did he not condemn the violence on opposition political forces?

Freddie Kissoon, in a recent column, cringes: “Windmills in my souls were spinning out of control when I saw video clips last Friday night in Kingston of APNU+AFC supporters

literally and visibly manhandling opposition party officials and media workers (both cameramen and journalists), and there were graphic video clips of policemen laughing as the victims ran from intended violence.”

If Mr Kissoon is stirred by such violence, what about Christians? Are they moonlighting, like Nero did when he played the fiddle while Rome burned?

Those church leaders emphasized the need to obey the Bible; but have they forgotten that God’s people were intricately involved in political goings-on of the day throughout history? Joseph and Daniel in the Old Testament were used by God to influence policies. Jesus was engaged in holistic ministry. He cared for the spiritual and physical needs of people, but also supported the idea that God’s people should be model citizens and do whatever it takes to embody godly responsibilities.

Jesus’s incarnated message was that of reconciliation. The apostle Paul affirms this message (Gal. 6:10, and Eph. 2:10). The “good works” mentioned by Jesus and the apostle include that of calling on people to do what is right and just (Micah 6:8) – not to sit on the fence.

Why is it that Christians in Guyana only seem to criticize those

in government when the PPP is in power? Is it because the PNC leader is always a good church-going person? The PAOG lost a glorious opportunity to be salt and light by ignoring the palpable political problem that could affect the economic, social, political, and spiritual lives of the Guyanese people for decades to come.

St Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan, rebuked the Roman Emperor Theodosius, and refused to allow the Church to become a political prop, despite concerns that doing so might endanger him. His Christian conviction and desire for holiness took precedence over political expediency.

The good news is that all is not lost; there is time to acknowledge our transgressions, as individuals and as a nation. This is especially true for us who label ourselves as Christians; we need to make the right move to do what is right and just (2 Chron. 7:14).

There is still time for all religious, civic, and forward-thinking Guyanese to condemn attempts at corruption and fraud, and espouse godly principles for the good of our peoples.

Yours truly, Dr Devanand Bhagwan

Degeneracy of Granger Administration Dear Editor, Friday the 27th March will be the first payday since the General and Regional Elections. Will Parliament produce paychecks for Ministers who served in the pre-election administration? Will the Consolidated Fund be tapped by the intervention of the Finance Secretary or the Accountant-General? Will the salary cheques be accepted by the former Ministers, and if so, would that be seen by the American and British governments as benefits derived from electoral fraud?

I look forward to the happenings on Friday with all the eagerness of a sports fan at a gold medal game.

In addition to ‘ministers’, there are other classes of political appointees. These include Heads of Missions and various contract workers. Is there lawful justification of payment of salaries to these persons? In the matter of salaries, an anomaly has surfaced with China reportedly paying the salaries and all expenses of Guyana’s G77 team; surely this arrangement violates our sovereignty and compromises our integrity and independence of thought and action.

Given the recent disgrace of having our nation’s affairs conflated with those of Iran and Syria in US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s

press statement, the news of our top diplomats and service staff being funded by the Chinese Government may seem to be of no great significance, but for me, it epitomizes the degeneracy of the Granger Administration, one compromised by avarice and lust for power.

I sincerely hope that enough money is in the treasury to pay the honest and decent civil servants their wages, and also that enough integrity exists to deny the requests of those impersonating ministers and seeking to obtain money.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

SEE ADDITIONAL LETTERS ON PAGE 16

6

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020

Page

Foundation

Guyana Times is pleased to publish the Education Ministry’s 2020 National Grade Six Assessment Practice Tests, complete with answers. This is the third part of Social Studies Paper 1 and the answers to questions 21-33.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE SIX ASSESSMENT PRACTICE TEST 3

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

2. Each question has four suggested answers: (A), (B), (C) and (D). Read each question

SOCIAL STUDIES

carefully then choose the correct answer.

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

4. Shade the circle with the same letter, (A), (B), (C) or (D), that matches your answer for each question.

Sample Question The capital of Guyana is

Study the map of the Caribbean below then answer question 34.

34. Which airport can be found in the country as indicated by the arrow?

(A) Piarco International Airport (B) Vere Bird International Airport (C) Norman Manley International Airport (D) Grantley Adams International Airport Study the list below then answer question 35. i Value Added Tax ii Income Tax iii Corporate Surcharges iv Licenses

ANSWER SHEET (A) Linden.

A B C D (B) Lethem.

(C) Rose Hall.

(D) Georgetown.

The correct answer is “Georgetown”, so (D) has been shaded.

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

(A) reduce oxygen in the atmosphere.

(B) provide places for leisure activities.

(C) protect the habitats of animals and plants.

(D) enhance our ability to use wood for construction.

Study the caption then answer question 38.

38. The caption above warns of the consequences of (A) lighting fires.

(B) smoking cigarettes.

(C) eating a lot of fried foods.

(D) using prescribed medication.

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

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

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

40. All the following are important reasons for listening to the weather report except (A) planning outdoor activities.

(B) planting and harvesting of crops.

(C) planning what to feed the animals.

(D) packing the appropriate weather gears.

SOCIAL STUDIES PAPER 1 ANSWER KEY

21. C 22. B 23. B 24. B 25. C

26. B 27. B 28. B 29. C 30. A

31. D 32. C 33. D

Study the picture below then answer question 39.

35. A suitable title for the list is (A) A household budget (B) Expenditure of a government (C) Sources of government revenue (D) Sources of revenue for a household 36. Ram’s parents refuse to send him to school. Of which right is Ram being deprived?

A right to (A) be loved (B) an identity (C) an education (D) be protected 37. An important reason for the conservation of forests is to

39. The instrument in the picture is used to (A) show the direction of the wind.

(B) measure the amount of rain fall.

(C) determine the amount of sunshine.

(D) measure the atmospheric pressure.

M

T Anderson was the former music critic at The Improper Bostonian or in his own words, “I did for a time, when I was young and foolish, write music reviews — reviews of classical music around Boston and CD reviews, that kind of thing.” There’s a lot of ground to cover when you write about music. First, it is like you’re almost translating from another language, turning sound into words so that readers can understand your listening experience.

But you also need to convey mood and meaning and how the music and the performance makes the writer feel.

Write a review of music you’ve listened to recently.

It can be a review of your school orchestra’s concert, a favourite song or album by a professional artist, or any live musical performance. (No critiques on your friends’ Rock Hero, Guitar Band or karaoke performances please.)

You can choose any genre. Make your review objective, pointing out not just what you liked, but what you didn’t like. Your goal is to inspire the judges to try the music for themselves or at least wish they’d seen the show. (startwithabook. org)

NEWS

7

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19

GRA waives taxes on critical medical supplies …taxes deferred for affected businesses that retain staff

T

he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has taken a number of measures in a bid to help combat the spread of the coronavirus. These include the waiving of taxes on certain critical supplies that have been subject to heavily criticised price gouging by some businesses.

According to the Authority on Wednesday, the value added taxes (VAT) and associated duties that are usually paid on medical supplies used in testing for, preventing, and treating the coronavirus will be waived.

GRA noted that this include, but is not limited to, “soaps; disinfectant sprays; hand sanitizers; sanitizing wipes; face masks; rubbing alcohol; and multivitamins and vitamin C tablets until June 30, 2020.”

It was pointed out by the tax authority that waivers have already been granted on 15,000 litres of rubbing alcohol provided to the Public Health Ministry by Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL).

Deferred tax payments

Meanwhile, GRA also announced measures for businesses that will be hit by the economic after-effects of the coronavirus. According to GRA, these businesses will be able to defer the advance

Guyana Revenue Authority

payment of corporate and individual taxes until June 30, 2020.

There are conditions for such businesses to be eligible, however, as these measures apply to businesses such as those involved in the airline and tourism industries, as well as associated businesses, like hotels and transportation services.

In addition, GRA noted that such businesses must continue to employ their staff, or send them on extended vacation leave.

According to GRA, these businesses can pay their advance taxes on a current-year basis, without any penalties or interest.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had recently released an assessment in which it ranked Guyana among the few coun-

tries in the region least prepared to deal with the effects of the coronavirus epidemic, particularly the negative effectives it will have on the economy and tourism.

In that assessment, the IMF rated countries in the Americas from red (least prepared), to green (most prepared). Countries like the United States and Canada were in the green zone. However, Guyana, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras were not so lucky.

Neighboring Brazil was considered more prepared than average, while countries like Colombia were rated as less prepared.

According to the IMF, the virus is likely to have immediate economic impacts on the region, including financial restrictions, declining commodity prices, and reduced

tourism.

Some measures have been taken by authorities in Guyana to slow the spread of the virus. These include closing schools and the Bank of Guyana interceding with local banks to make conditions favourable to allow customers to stay home and practise social distancing without a financial blowback.

President David Granger had also written a ‘blank cheque’ for the Health, Education and Citizenship ministries in order to meet expenditure related to addressing the demands of the coronavirus disease.

A less popular measure taken by Granger was the Public Health Ordinance, which gave the Public Health Minister and other officials draconian powers to confront the pandemic, including the right to destroy property of those infected by the virus.

The Ordinance signed by Granger has no direct measures listed to combat the deadly disease, since the coalition Government just “copied and pasted” it from a 1945 health ordinance without having it revised.

This view was expressed by People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) former Member of Parliament Dr Vindhya Persaud during an interview with Guyana

Times wherein she explained that no changes were made to the ordinance, which according to her becomes evident when both the 1945 and present-day edicts are examined; and she said that no direct measure for COVID-19 is found listed, but rather those for other infectious diseases.

In addition, the Finance Ministry had disbursed to the Public Health Ministry $120 million from the Consolidated Fund, which,

according to reports in sections of the media, is to purchase medical equipment to outfit quarantine sites, and also to procure masks and oxygen tanks.

An application to the World Bank for a loan of US$5 million has also been made. Around the same time Guyana made its application, however, Venezuela was turned down after making a similar application.

Guyana’s application is still pending.

Coronavirus

Only 60 passengers to be accommodated on MV Kimbia – T&HD

O

nly 60 passengers to be accommodated on MV Kimbia – T&HD In an urgent notice via its Facebook page on Wednesday, the Transport and Harbours Department announced that only the first 60 passengers will be accommodated on the MV Kimbia, in light of the coronavirus pandemic. That vessel plies the Georgetown to Kumaka, Region One (Barima-Waini)

route. According to the T&HD, the vessel will depart Georgetown at 13:00h on March 28 and as such, the Department urged passengers to be on time so that the ticketing and sanitisation process can be conducted.

The T&HD management expressed regrets for the inconvenience caused by its effort to safeguard its employees and customers against COVID-19.

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

No new coronavirus cases in Guyana – MoPH …14 persons being monitored …1 person of interest being sought …543 calls made to hotline

T

he Ministry of Public Health (MoPH)on Wednesday announced that there were no new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Guyana; however, 14 persons are being monitored.

To date, there are five confirmed cases of the infectious disease in the country, inclusive of one death.

All cases trace back to one family, that is, relatives of the 52-year-old woman, who died from the disease shortly after she travelled to Guyana from New York, USA.

The four persons who tested positive for the coronavirus are currently isolated – three are adults under

the age of 60 while the other individual is a child.

In addition to the four confirmed cases, there are

nine persons under quarantine while there is one person of interest who is being pursued at the moment. Persons in quarantine may not necessarily display symptoms but they would have been in contact with the virus.

These announcements were made by caretaker Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence, who provided a brief update on the situation via a live six-minute broadcast on social media.

In addition to confirmed cases in the country, Lawrence revealed that over 500 persons utilised the Ministry’s hotline numbers for various purposes.

As of Tuesday, the Ministry’s hotline received 543 calls of which 90 per cent were from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

Psychosocial support

With regard to the number of persons receiving psychosocial support services, Lawrence disclosed that all persons quarantined and in isolation were to be provided with support from the Mental Health Unit, with support from the Social Protection Ministry.

Speaking to the country’s response to the pandemic Lawrence iterated that the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC), continues to implement the National Strategic Plan and is meeting every 48 hours for updates in an effort to monitor the COVID-19 situation, to mitigate the spread of the disease.

Kits/protective gear

Lawrence also used the occasion to reassure that there was an adequate supply of coronavirus testing kits and personal protective gear for medical personnel. However, this has been disputed by several doctors working in the public health sector. As a matter of fact, doctors who spoke to Guyana Times on condition of anonymity said that they were concerned about this statement made by Lawrence as it was not a reflection of the reality on the ground.

Additionally, it was reported that the MoPH has been engaged in continuous education of the public through various channels. COVID-19 awareness and mitigation messages have also been translated into four Indigenous dialects – Wapishiana, Makushi, Akawaio and Patamona.

Globally, COVID-19 has infected some 414,179, with the number of deaths globally surpassing 18,440.

Regionally, confirmed cases stand at 60,834 with 813 deaths in the Region of the Americas.

Appealing…

N

…to Granger ow that we know for sure nothing’s gonna happen with this recount for a while, your Eyewitness continues to reflect on the various methods being employed to get Granger to quit with the oh-soobvious rigging of the Reg 4 vote count. In these matters, there’s usually the “carrot and stick” approach – either singly or in tandem.

While, for obvious reasons, the proponents haven’t labelled it as such, the “power-sharing” proposals have to be seen as a “carrot” to Granger and the PNC. What else could you possibly call an offer to let him become part of a government after he’s lost the election?? Last time your Eyewitness checked, the PNC and Granger hadn’t even HINTED during the campaign that they’d bring aboard the PPP if they won, had they?? And he dares any of those “power-sharing” mavens to say with a straight face they wouldn’t have accepted the PNC as a legitimate government if they’d governed alone!

Even with the proposals now floated, has Granger or anyone in the PNC changed their tune to say they’ll even CONSIDER “power-sharing” with the PPP? All your Eyewitness hears is a doubling down on their pre-election vow to “not allow” the PPP back in!! So, we can safely say the carrot hasn’t worked.

Now, how about the stick?? In these matters, there are two ends to the stick – external and internal - and they go hand in hand. The internal, usually protests, have been shut down by COVID-19. Externally, there’s been a whole lotta threats of ‘consequences” from some big ones – including the US. But from the PNCites’ reaction, they seem to consider the US like the big bad wolf: merely huffin’ and puffin’ while they’re safely ensconced in their strong brick house. They obviously expect that “Big Bad” wolf will soon get tired and work out a modus vivendi with them.

But in addition to the carrot and stick approaches, we’ve seen, of recent, an appeal to Granger’s “morality”.

Not the consequentialist view of morality that would emphasise telling him his cheating ways would have dire“consequences” - for himself and the country. That’s already implicit in the “stick” approach. Nor is it the deontological view of morality that would call upon Granger to “do his duty”. That clearly wouldn’t work, since Granger’s made it clear that his only duty is to complete “Burnham’s legacy”!!

So, we’re left with “virtue ethics”, which is to appeal to Granger’s supposed “moral sensibilities”. And there’s been a slew of these recently. Sadly, the worthies taking this route are setting themselves up for a fall.

As your Eyewitness has been saying, Granger has NO moral sensibilities. The man’s a cynical, Burnhamite Machiavellian!! …to “higher powers” Your Eyewitness just saw this self-serving notice from GECOM: “Though it may appear that GECOM is silent and not taking all necessary steps to arrive at a conclusive decision; the fact that injunctions were granted restraining GECOM officials from proceeding with the national recount supervised by Caricom and setting aside or varying the declaration of the Returning Officers of the ten (10) electoral districts and from substituting or replacing the said declaration of the Returning Officers until the hearing and determination of the judicial review; the Commission cannot pronounce on this matter.”

Imagine that!! After there was no count of the Reg 4 SOPs, and CEO Lowenfield pledged to have the count resume – with a timeline - and this was violated, there was no injunction, was there? Ditto when Mingo was Mingoing the Reg 4 SOPs! And the GECOM Chair remained sequestered in a room while all of this was going on – without a squeak!!

Folks could be forgiven for concluding that GECOM has conspired to deliver, not a count, but a fait accompli!! …to health authorities Will the health professionals please stand up in this greatest health challenge to have confronted Guyana to date?

If Italy, Spain and the US are being overwhelmed, why is the caretaker Govt insisting “we’re prepared”??

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

NEWS

9

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Stabroek Market closed Illegal gun lands man on remand today for sanitisation

F

Firemen washing a street in Georgetown

T

Stabroek Market

he Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown has announced that the Stabroek Market will be closed to the public today to facilitate spraying and sanitisation.

According to the Council, stallholders and vendors will not be permitted to conduct business today. The exercise is being done as a measure to combat the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

“This exercise will be extended to the Bourda, Albouystown, Kitty and East Ruimveldt markets. The Council seeks the full cooperation of all vendors, stallholders, and citizens in this regard,” the M&CC said.

The Council said that it was important that it employed the necessary precautionary measures to safeguard the health, safety, and

well-being of the citizenry.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Georgetown municipality in collaboration with the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) commenced the sanitisation of streets in the city, to help combat the spread of COVID-19.

The streets were sprayed with solutions consisting of 10 per cent bleach and 15 per cent Jeyes Fluid.

Earlier this week, the Rotary Club of Georgetown Central in collaboration with the Guyana Water Inc (GWI), commissioned public handwashing stations at the Stabroek Market Square in an effort to prevent the

spread of the virus.

Rotary Club of Georgetown Central President Andrew Boyle, in a comment, said that the initiative was created with the aim of promoting handwashing at the Stabroek Market Square as a preventative measure to fight against the spread of COVID-19.

orty-eight-yearold Kent Isaacs on Wednesday made an appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and was remanded for having a firearm in his possession without having the required authorisation.

The charge levelled against Isaacs stated that on March 22 at Garnett Street, Georgetown, he had in his possession one 9mm pistol without being the holder of a firearm licence.

After the charge was read

by Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty, the defendant pleaded not guilty and was remanded to prison.

Police Prosecutor Delon Sullivan informed the court that on March 22, ranks on patrol observed Isaacs behaving in a suspicious manner, and approached him to con-

Barber dies after crashing truck into trench

A

36-year-old barber died on Tuesday after he lost control of the truck he was driving and crashed into a trench at Pumpkin Dam, Canal Polder Number One, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Dead is Ghansham Ravi Hardyal.

According to Regional Police Commander (ag), Assistant Commissioner Simon McBean, Hardyal was “proceeding south on Pumpkin

Dead: Ghansham Ravi Hardyal

Dam, Canal Number One at about 06:00h when he approached a wooden bridge and lost control”.

Reports revealed that the truck Hardyal was driving capsized when it plunged into the trench, pinning him underwater .

The father of one was pulled out by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where he

was pronounced dead on arrival.

Doll Hardyal, the dead man’s wife, told the media that Hardyal usually assisted a farmer in taking his workers into the backdam daily.

The accident occurred when Hardyal was on his way home.

Hardyal had been a barber for over 19 years, and was described by his family members as a “helpful person”.

Charged: Kent Isaacs

duct a search.

The prosecution is contending that upon seeing the officers, Isaacs quickly removed an object from his pants pocket and threw it some distance away from him.

Ranks searched the area and retrieved the object, which was revealed to be a firearm.

Isaacs was then taken into custody.

In an effort to defend himself, Isaacs told the court that he was intoxicated when the officers searched him. He also claimed that while being held in the lock-ups, he was assaulted by the ranks and did not receive any medical attention.

Objections to bail were made based on the serious nature of the charge and the penalty the charge attracted. The case will continue on April 22, 2020.

10 NEWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

UN warns of more Venezuelans North Ruimveldt fleeing COVID-19 into Guyana man slapped with …says illegal persons at higher risk of being left out of national response

T

he coronavirus (COVID-19) will bring increased illegal border crossings by neighbouring Venezuelans, looking to flee the already beleaguered state.

Guyana shares a 3000-kilometre largely unpatrolled and unprotected border with Venezuela and according to a recently-released United Nations report, “…with new or revised entry requirements imposed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability of refugees and migrants to regularly enter and stay in some countries has decreased”.

As such, this would result in “risks of increased irregular border crossings and heightened pressure in areas of concentration and available services” The “Global Humanitarian Response Plan COVID-19 United Nations Coordinated Appeal April-December 2020”, released this week by the UN, found that refugees and migrants, in particular those in irregular situations, are at high risk

of being left out of health responses and continue to be particularly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, including violence and discrimination, smuggling and trafficking, and negative coping mechanisms.

The UN, in its emergency approach, has since begun a review of the Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan (RMRP) by the Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Platform (R4V), working closely with 17 individual Governmentled responses, including Guyana’s.

According to the UN report, “it is crucial to ensure proper integration into the national health responses and to extend additional support to the particularly vulnerable group of refugees and migrants from Venezuela.”

With Venezuelans continuously crossing the border, leading to an increase in their numbers in particularly the Region One (Barima-Waini) district, Regional Chairman Brethnol Ashley has had cause to express worry over

the fact that the Region lacks resources to cater for the individuals who are seeking refuge there.

Documents seen by Guyana Times illustrate the Chairman’s claims, stressing the lack of human resources. He added that shortages of drugs and other medical supplies continue to plague the Region as a result of the high number of Venezuelans.

These matters were highlighted during a special meeting between Regional Executives with the intent of establishing collaboration between Regions One and Seven to address the number of issues birthed as a result of the increased influx of Venezuelans.

“There continues to be shortage of drugs and medical supply as a result of the increased number of Venezuelans seeking medical and other attention,” the Chairman pointed out.

Even prior to the UN’s warning, the latest figures released have shown a steady increase in the migrant population.

The Chairman had noted that figures presented to him just before the meeting indicated that there continued to be an increase in the number of Venezuelan migrants, stressing that there was an urgent need for Government to take appropriate actions to lend valuable support while protecting the interests of Guyanese.

He had revealed, “For White Water, there are 640; in the community of Imberto, there is 74; there is also a new community under the radar called Black Water Barima with 40; Khan Hill has 101; Kamwatta has 65 while Yarakita has 64, so the numbers tell its own story that indeed there is an increase,” Ashley said.

robbery charges

A

35-year-old resident of North Ruimveldt, Georgetown landed before the courts on Wednesday for the offence of armed robbery, which he allegedly committed against three persons.

Osafo Denhart appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and was not required to plead to the three charges after they were read to him.

The first charge detailed that on March 21 at Jamoon Drive, Meadow Brook, Georgetown, while being in company of others and armed with a dangerous weapon – a gun, Denhart robbed Lawrence McKay of a 25-pennyweight gold chain valued $400,000, one ring valued $150,000 and a diamond bracelet valued $375,000.

Another charge stated that on the same day and location, while being armed with a gun, he robbed Sherwin LaFleur of a phone valued $26,000, followed

by Ulric Edwards, who he robbed of a cellular phone valued $26,000.

The court heard objections to bail made based on

Osafo Denhart exiting prisoners’ docks

the

the grounds that the defendant was previously convicted and sentenced to two years in prison for a similar charge in 2014, and a weapon was used to rob all three victims.

Magistrate McGusty upheld the prosecution’s submission and remanded Denhart to prison. The case will continue on April 22, 2020.

NEWS

11

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GECOM will wait for, abide by, court decisions ꟷ PRO …even as 2011 precedent exists for GECOM to hand over SOPs

GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

A

s calls continue to mount for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to fulfill their mandate and carry out the tabulation of votes as quickly as possible, the secretariat have said the matter is out of their hands, but they will wait for, and abide by, whatever decisions are made by the court.

GECOM’s Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward, in a statement on Wednesday, said the secretariat acknowledge calls for the commission to act.

However, the court cases are currently before High Court Judge Franklyn Holder.

“The Guyana Elections Commission has taken note of calls in the public domain by political parties and other stakeholders for the agency to take certain decisions aimed at ensuring the electoral process ends within the shortest possible time.

While the anxiety and frustration of the electorate is understandable, the commission is cognizant that the matter is sub-judice, and therefore awaits the outcome of the legal proceedings currently engaging the attention of the court to inform its deliberations and next steps.”

According to the statement, GECOM, as a constitutional agency, must be guided by a legal framework. As such, it must wait for, and comply with, whatever decisions are made by the High Court.

The secretariat admitted in the statement that it might appear as though GECOM is silent, and not acting as it should. However, the secretariat, which is party to the

court matter through Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, noted that it currently cannot pronounce on the matter.

According to the GECOM Secretariat, the court case also sets aside or varies “the declaration of the returning officers of the 10 electoral districts, and (prevents them) from substituting or replacing the said declaration of the returning officers until the hearing and determination of the judicial review; the commission cannot pronounce on this matter.”

Caretaker President David Granger had signed a Caricom Initiative after he and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had agreed for the regional body to supervise a recount of votes cast at the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

However, in the twist of events, one of Granger’s own candidates, Ulita Moore, moved to the High Court, and was granted an injunction by Justice Holder, blocking the recount.

SOPs

Following this, a fur-

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

ther action was brought

by PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, seeking to have Lowenfield present the Statements of Poll for Region Four (DemeraraMahaica). This action is being opposed by GECOM, including Chairperson retired Justice Claudette Singh.

At heart is uncertainty over the discredited results for Region Four, with the PPP, the other parties and the international community condemning the vote count and result as flawed.

When it comes to disclosure,

one of Jagdeo’s lawyers, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, has informed the media that compelling Lowenfield to produce his SOPs is the only way to resolve the confusion caused

by Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo’s declaration. Nandlall had said that with the party’s SOPs having one set of numbers, which differ from Mingo’s numbers, only GECOM’s SOPs can be trusted.

There is in fact precedent for this. Back in 2011, then opposition party A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) had protested for GECOM to hand over the SOPs in its possession following the November 28 elections that year. At the time, it was APNU that was calling for verification of the SOPs. GECOM in fact provided more than the SOPs. Following a statutory meeting of the commission on December 6, 2011, GECOM sent all the parties contesting those elections the electronic copies of the SOPs for all 2076 polling stations,

Under Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally GECOM had handed over the SoPs to the then Opposition parties in 2011 to clear up any doubts

as well as the documented compilation of the results.

At that time, the GECOM Chairman was Dr. Steve Surujbally.

Since the General and Regional Elections were held over three weeks ago, a winner is yet to be announced. Most of the international observers who scrutinized the tabulation process have pronounced it to have not been credible, and threats of sanctions are hanging in the air if an illegitimate president is sworn in.

12 NEWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt considering “extreme Lindener killed by falling log measures” to tackle spread of COVID-19

T

he National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) is considering “extreme measures” in light of the attitude of some persons in response to public advisories on the novel coronavirus.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Task Force acknowledged efforts of many Guyanese who have heeded the public advisories to adjust social behaviour in combating the spread of COVID-19.

However, it expressed serious concerns over the fact that some persons and businesses have been ignoring

the public advisories and warnings, and have been going about their daily activities as per normal and operating in a business-as-usual manner.

“As such, the NCTF is both monitoring the conduct of the citizenry and considering various measures, including extreme measures, which have been instituted in other countries, to impose restrictions on the movement

of persons for a defined period until the threat is abated,” the missive detailed.

This was discussed during a virtual planning meeting hosted by Chairman of the NCTF, caretaker Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, on Wednesday to continue the coordination of the work of the Task Force as Guyana intensifies efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19.

It was noted in the statement that consistent with public advisories, the NCTF has incrementally transitioned from in-person meetings to virtual meetings,

which it is now fully utilising.

On Tuesday, caretaker President David Granger was updated on several measures that were proposed and discussed.

According to the missive, a menu of fiscal measures was approved with caretaker Finance Minister Winston Jordan and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) tasked with making the

requisite public announcements.

Already, the GRA has announced a string of measures aimed at reducing the influx of large gatherings at its offices in order to ease the impact of coronavirus while maintaining its key functions. These measures include the wavier of ValueAdded Tax (VAT) and duties on medical supplies associated with the testing, prevention and treatment of the disease, and the suspension of a series of licensing transactions until April 30, 2020.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Guyana remains five, inclusive of one death. The other four persons are in isolation.

Guyana confirmed its first imported case of the novel coronavirus on March 11 – a 52-year-old woman, who died days after returning from New York. Health authorities have since confirmed that four other persons — including a child, all relatives of the dead woman – have been placed in isolation.

In light of these confirmed cases, authorities have rolled out a number of steps to prevent the spread of the virus, including the closure of schools and the University of Guyana.

Additionally, several private businesses have closed their doors while others and some public offices have remained open but with reduced working hours.

chion broke, causing a log to fall on the now deceased man. He was picked up and rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), where he was pronounced dead on arrival. An examination of the body reportedly revealed bruis-

A

Dead: Michael Paul

Linden porter was killed on Tuesday after he was crushed by a fallen log.

Dead is Michael Paul, of Lot 4582 Central Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden.

The incident occurred at 23 Miles Mabura Road in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

According to information, the 25-year-old man was at the time working for a Central Amelia’s Ward logger/businessman. Reports are some time between 14:00h and 15:00h, the businessman and four workmen, including the now deceased man, wrapped up loading logs on a truck, GWW 1868, and while they were about to strap the logs with chains the wooden stan-

es on the right side of the chest and the right side of his ribs which appeared to be fractured. The body was taken to the LSCA Pensioner Funeral Home.

A post-mortem examination will be conducted soon.

NEWS

13

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IRO calls for “Be proactive in execution of your social distancing responsibilities” – MoPH to minibus operators for 7 weeks F …as GHDS urges caution during Navratri observance

T

he Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) of Guyana is calling on various religious leaders and stakeholders to practise social distancing for the next seven weeks in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

This call was made following the advice of the Board of the National Commission for Non-Communicable Diseases on which the IRO is represented.

In a statement on Wednesday, the IRO said that this civil call was to all leaders and stakeholders of various religious beliefs to practise social distancing for the next seven weeks.

“This matter should be given serious consideration, since persons with the NCDs such

complications of the coronavirus. Persons who are sick and coughing should not attend.

Surfaces, puja items and other objects must be continuously and scrupulously cleaned as contaminated surfaces can transmit the coronavirus,” she noted.

Dr Persaud further advised that mandirs have sanitisers, and soap and water available for worshippers to wash their hands before and after entering the mandir.

She also urged mandirs on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) to be especially cautious as all of the confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus are from the East Coast corridor hence the risk of exposure to infected or exposed persons was particularly high.

as hypertension, diabetes, etc, are very much at risk,” the religious body noted.

Meanwhile, the IRO went on to extend its support for calls already made by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS), which has urged worshippers and mandirs not to have large gatherings during the current sacred Hindu festival of Navratri (nine nights of worshipping Mother Durga and her incarnations which started on Tuesday, March 24, 2020). GHDS President, Dr Vindhya Persaud has also advised social distancing or that worshippers stay at least six feet away from each other in mandirs. This is among a list of pertinent guidelines outlined by Dr Persaud for persons to protect themselves and prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“Mandirs may be open all day into early evening for devotees to pay their individual obeisance and avoid congestion and crowding. Elderly persons over 60 years old and those with illnesses like diabetes should avoid attending mandirs as they are particularly high risk for contracting and developing severe

However, the GHDS President noted that although this pandemic has imposed some restrictions and limitations on worshipping during this Navratri period, it should not prevent Hindus from praying, fasting and observing this sacred period with devotion and faith.

To this end, Dr Persaud suggested that pandits and mandirs broadcast pujas and satsangs live on Facebook at pre-advertised times so that devotees can join in from home.

“The collective vibrations across the country, throughout the period, will be powerful, healing and transformative.

Persons are also encouraged to sit with their families or alone at home and perform pujas, chant or sing bhajans; fasting and offering prasadam is also appropriate during this period,” she posited.

For its part, the GHDS has been sharing prayers, bhajans, pujas, messages from the scriptures and more on its Facebook page for those practising social distancing.

According to the IRO, in its release on Wednesday, the same should be extended for all gatherings of any kind during this time.

ollowing concerns over the overcrowding in minibuses, medical personnel from the Public Health Ministry, led

by Dr Lauren Bancroft, met with members of the United Minibus Union (UMU), including its President, Eon Andrews, and other executives.

During the meeting, public transportation providers were challenged to be proactive in the execution of their responsibilities to themselves and the commuters that they have to interact with during the course of their daily work schedule.

According to Dr Bancroft, this has become more necessary since we are faced with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The doctor further added that it was important for all stakeholders to develop partnerships, so that they could have civil discussions as a collective as to how best they could protect each oth-

Dr Lauren Bancroft (front row sixth from left); UMU President Eon Andrews (back row sixth from right) take a photo with members of the Minibus Union

er against the COVID-19 invasion. This is essential, she added, since by the very nature of the public transport operations, persons have to be compacted in a small space and more so, overloading the buses could further exacerbate the situation with dire consequences.

Dr Bancroft noted that there was a need for consistent and proper hygiene, especially as it relates to hand sanitisation, which was

demonstrated during the session.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO); Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and Ministry paraphernalia were also distributed to the attendees that comprised operators from Route 31 (Georgetown-Patentia); 32 (Georgetown-Parika); 42 ( Georgetown- Timehri); 44 (UG- Industry); 45 ( Main/ Lamaha/Hospital/Albert);

47 (East/ West Ruimveldt) and 48 ( Sophia).

Just recently, several complaints were made by commuters about minibus operators overloading their buses despite COVID-19 warnings.

In light of this situation, UMU President Andrews called on the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to take urgent action against those operators.

14 NEWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

17 Guyanese who arrived on chartered flight from Barbados quarantined

A

group of Guyanese who arrived on a chartered flight from Barbados on Wednesday evening have been quarantined at a location on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

In a statement made late Wednesday evening following media reports, the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) said a group of Guyanese who have been stranded in Barbados made representation through various means to the NCTF, and sought permission for a flight to repatriate them to Guyana.

Authorities here had shut down the two international airports – CJIA and Eugene F. Correia -- last week following confirmation of Guyana’s first imported case on March 11.

“The ‘mercy request’ was considered by the NCTF, and permission was granted on the condition that all the persons must submit themselves to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) protocols, and that this included, but was not limited to, screening and a mandatory 14-day quarantine period at a government facility.

It was specifically explained that the quarantine will not be either ‘self-quarantine’ or ‘home quarantine’. It was further explained that, should the need arise, the quarantine period could be extended,” the missive stated.

Guyana Times understands that the group, which

included 14 adults and three children, chartered a TransGuyana Airways aircraft by pooling their finances to cover the flight cost. Upon arrival at the Eugene F. Correia Airport at about 19:00h on Wednesday, they were immediately escorted to a location on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

However, some of these persons have complained about the conditions in which they are being placed to stay over the next two weeks.

A relative of one of them told this newspaper that there are not adequate arrangements in place at the quarantine facility to accommodate the group that arrived. In fact, it was noted that that group is being made to stay with persons who were already there,

The bathroom and toilet at the facility

three of whom appeared sick.

“They are all in one open dorm. So, the sick and the

‘well’ and everybody(are) together in one open area…

Whether you sick or not, they have to stay there for 14 days,” the relative explained.

This publication was told that while the males and females have separate sleeping quarters, there are two bathrooms and two toilets, with only one functioning sink, for everyone to use. It

was noted that they all have to use the same utensils.

Some of the persons who came in on the flight do not have necessities, such as towels, as they were allowed to fly only a 20-pound luggage on the light aircraft.

“There is not proper accommodation. So, if anybody in there is sick [with the coronavirus], everybody will get sick…and this is my fear,” the relative argued.

This publication understands that most of those persons came from the University of the West Indies’ Cave Hill Campus, and although the university is closed because of the COVID-19, the students – some of whom are in their final year – are still required to complete their assignments and papers to submit at a deadline. However, there are no facilities there at the quarantine location for them to work.

The relative related that since they were told of the quarantined arrangements, around 17:30h before the flight took off from Barbados, they have tried contacting health authorities, but are only being told that the quarantine arrangements are “secret”.

Earlier on Wednesday, caretaker Health Minister Volda Lawrence confirmed that four persons, including a child, are infected with the novel coronavirus, and are in isolation while another nine are quarantined.

Use time in isolation/quarantine to elevate skillset, maintain healthy lifestyle – life coach

A

s citizens practice staying indoors as one way to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), they are being encouraged to use this downtime wisely, and invest in the development of their skillset and lifestyle.

Guyana Times spoke with Chief Executive Officer of Action Coach Guyana, Dr Vishnu Doerga, during an exclusive interview, where he expounded on what persons could do to better occupy themselves during this period of social distancing and self-isolation.

Self-isolation means staying indoors and completely avoiding contact with other people. As such, this time can get a bit boring for persons, especially extroverts who are used to a busy lifestyle.

Dr Doerga, who has earned a reputation as a life coach, shared that persons should focus on elevating their career skills and adapting a healthy lifestyle during this time. “ There’s a lot of training available online that

Dr Vishnu Doerga

you would be able to access, but whatever your profession is make sure that you take some time as well to elevate your skills…Make sure that you get your body fit as well, this is the only vehicle you will get to take you through your life, so invest some time in making sure your body is very healthy. Many of us because of our day-to-day activities, we don’t get the time to get healthy,” he noted For students, parents are being advised to utilise local technology providers to keep their brains active, especially those

students who will be sitting the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), given that the Education Ministry has extended the closure of all schools until the new term. “Let your parents get your curriculum from the school, and work out how you are going to get access to the learning materials … you also have institutions like BrainStreet Learning that prepares kids in the primary and secondary school level; I’ve already heard sentiments over the past two weeks that some kids have been learning even better when they’re at home,” he expressed.

While he advises persons to view the time in self-isolation as an opportunity, Dr Doerga noted that more ideas on how to use time productively can be found on ActionCoach. com.

“This crisis that we’re in, we should also see it as an opportunity: what is it allowing us to learn , we’ve for a very long time not embraced technology to the level as we should,

now we’re actually forced to start using technology to a level where it can help us maintain some amount of

productivity and normalcy.”

Like the rest of the world, Guyana continues

the fight against the coronavirus. Five cases, including one death, have already been recorded so far.

NEWS

15

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

T&T records 1st death US slashed CDC staff inside China from COVID-19 prior to coronavirus outbreak

T

he Trinidad and Tobago government Wednesday night confirmed the first death as a result of the coronavirus, saying that the person was “an elderly male with a pre-existing medical condition.

“It is with great sadness that I announce that a patient, from Trinidad and Tobago, who tested positive for COVID-19, unfortunately died today, Wednesday 25th March 2020. I offer my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the patient,” Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh said in a statement.

He said in deference to the feelings of the family,

the Ministry of Health delayed the public release of this information so that the family would have ample time to receive and process this information.

“While this is a sad moment for all of us, we can only imagine how difficult this must be for the family. I urge everyone to take a humanistic approach and respect patient confidentiality and the family’s right to privacy at this time. Please allow them to mourn in peace,” Deyalsingh said, thanking the medical team “who acted professionally and continue to provide the highest level of care to this and all other patients”. Trinidad and

Tobago has recorded 60 positive cases of the virus that has killed more than 16,000 people worldwide since it was first detected in China in December last year.

Deyalsingh appealed to the population “to remain calm and to diligently adhere to all the public health recommendations of the Ministry of Health relating to personal hygiene, social distancing, sanitization of frequently used surfaces, quarantine measures and other advisories outlined by the Ministry of Health.

“I assure you all that, together, we do have the power to overcome this health challenge,” he added. (CMC)

New Zealand mosque shootings: Gunman pleads guilty to 51 murders

A

man accused of deadly attacks on mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch a year ago has pleaded guilty to 51 charges of murder.

Brenton Tarrant, 29, also admitted the attempted murder of another 40 people, and one terrorism charge.

He had previously denied the charges and was due to go on trial in June.

The gun attacks at two mosques sent shockwaves around the world. In the wake of the killings, New Zealand brought in stricter gun laws.

New Zealand is in a state of lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak and the plea was made at a scaled-down court hearing in Christchurch High Court on Thursday.

No members of the public were allowed in to the hearing and Tarrant, from New South Wales, Australia, and his lawyers appeared via video link.

A representative of the two mosques that were at-

tacked was allowed to attend the hearing to represent the victims and their families. Judge Justice Cameron Mander said: “It is regrettable that the Covid-19 restrictions that presently apply do not permit victims and their families to travel to be present in the courtroom when the defendant entered his pleas of guilty.”

Sentencing on the 92 charges will take place at a date yet to be set. Tarrant was remanded in custody until 1 May when the court hopes to be able to set a sentencing date.

Justice Mander added: “There is no intention to sentence the defendant before the court returns to its normal operations and at a time when the victims and their families can attend court in person.”

Farid Ahmed, who lost his wife Husna in the attack on Al Noor Mosque (Masjid AnNur), told TVNZ that many would be relieved they did not

have to go through the trial, but others would feel very sad, still thinking about their loved ones.

Speaking of the gunman, he said: “I have been praying for him and he has taken the right direction. I am pleased he is feeling guilty, it is a good start.”

Minutes after Brenton Tarrant changed his plea, families of mosque attack victims began finding out on the rumour mill.

And to everyone it seems to have been a huge shock and surprise.

I was in Christchurch just a couple of weeks ago for the first anniversary of the attacks. The trial looming in early June was something many told me they were dreading.

Witnesses being forced to revisit what happened; graphic CCTV and the head-mounted camera of the attacker being played frame by frame.

(BBC)

T

US President Donald Trump

he Trump administration cut staff by more than two-thirds at a key US public health agency operating inside China, as part of a larger rollback of US-funded health and science experts on the ground there leading up to the coronavirus outbreak, Reuters has learned.

Most of the reductions were made at the Beijing office of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and occurred over the past two years, according to public CDC documents viewed by Reuters and interviews with four people familiar with the drawdown.

The Atlanta-based CDC, America’s preeminent disease fighting agency, provides public health assistance to nations around the world and works with them to help stop outbreaks of contagious diseases from spreading globally. It has worked in China for 30 years.

The CDC’s China headcount has shrunk to around 14 staffers, down from approximately 47 people since President Donald Trump took office in January 2017, the documents show. The four people, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said

the losses included epidemiologists and other health professionals.

The material reviewed

by Reuters shows a breakdown of how many American and local Chinese employees were assigned there. The documents are the CDC’s own descriptions of its headcount, which it posts online.

Reuters was able to search past copies of the material to confirm the decline described by the four people.

“The CDC office in Beijing is a shell of its former self,” said one of the people, a U.S. official who worked in China at the time of the drawdown.

Separately, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the global relief program which had a role in helping China monitor and respond to outbreaks, also shut their Beijing offices on Trump’s watch. Before the closures, each office was staffed by a U.S. official. In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA) transferred out of China in 2018 the manager of an animal disease monitoring program.

Reductions at the U.S. agencies sidelined health experts, scientists and oth-

er professionals who might have been able to help China mount an earlier response to the novel coronavirus, as well as provide the U.S. government with more information about what was coming, according to the people who spoke with Reuters.

The Trump administration in February chastised China for censoring information about the outbreak and for keeping U.S. experts from entering the country to assist.

“We had a large operation of experts in China who were brought back during this administration, some of them months before the outbreak,” said one of the people who witnessed the withdrawal of US personnel.

“You have to consider the possibility that our drawdown made this catastrophe more likely or more difficult to respond to.”

The White House declined to comment or respond to questions from Reuters regarding the US withdrawal of staff in China.

The CDC did not respond to detailed questions submitted by Reuters about the cuts. It has insisted its staffing levels did not hinder the U.S. response to the coronavirus.

“There are many factors that go into decisions around staffing,” the CDC said in a statement.

Some health experts were skeptical that more CDC employees operating inside China would have made a difference in stemming the outbreak. Beijing has been widely criticized for silencing its own public health officials who warned of a deadly new respiratory disease. China’s embassy in Washington, D.C. declined to comment. (Reuters)

16

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020

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

The ghost of Burnham still looms large

Dear Editor, The turmoil that has arisen since the recent General Elections in Guyana is reminiscent of the machinations under the Burnham regime. His ghost still stalks the land. Having contested the 1973 elections, I remember Mr. Burnham very well.

Two people were killed, and I was subsequently charged for sedition because I was in possession of an official Government document with directions to the Elections Commission, army and Police how to control the ballot boxes, contrary to the assurances given to the political parties a few days before: that counting would be done at the polling stations in the presence of representatives from all the contesting parties.

Guyanese will recall that the ballot boxes were hijacked to the GDF Headquarters and to the Eve Leary compound, where there was much manipulation before counting.

We are truly grateful and highly appreciative of the efforts of the International Community for sending observers. However, we need a truly independent Elections Commission to prevent the Government of the day from thwarting the will of its citizens.

The situation in Region Four is a brazen attempt by those in power to drown the legitimate voices of the electorate. The APNU and its political hacks have constantly shown a blatant disregard for the rule of LAW. They have flouted the rulings of our local courts and of the CCJ, and continue to thumb their noses at the International Community, who agree with the simple mathematical truth that 33/65 is a majority.

This is not surprising, since scholars under the Burnham regime argued vigorously that it was mathematically possible for 110% of the Buxton population to have voted in one of our

Dear Editor, I offer my congratulations to President-elect Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, the political party which to the best of my knowledge gained the majority of votes at Guyana’s General and Regional Elections held on March 2, 2020.

It is very unfortunate that the fraudulent conduct of some representatives of GECOM, enabled by the incumbent regime and with the continuing abuse of the court process, has delayed a democratic transition and the swearing in of a new President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

The Father of the American Revolution, Thomas Paine, once said: “He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.”

I am in favour of no precondition as a prerequisite for Dr. Ali to be sworn in as President of Guyana; it is sufficient that we have a democratic transition that is in keeping with the legislative mandates of our electoral system.

What I look forward to is a new government that is inclusive, consultative, transparent, and participatory, in keeping with the type of democratic governance that Guyana desperately needs.

One aside that I feel necessary to include in this congratulatory note is an extract from page 41 of the “1997 National Development Strategy” anchored by The Carter Center, Former

President Desmond Hoyte, then President Cheddi Jagan and then Finance Minister Bharrat Jagdeo, re: “Afro-Guyanese dominate state-run agencies and the public service - the targets of privatization and downsizing; Indo-Guyanese dominate agriculture and the private sector - the main beneficiaries of economic liberalization. Local actors better understand such structural realities.”

It is my fervent hope that after being sworn in as President of Guyana, the new administration takes a no-vendetta approach to governance and focus on working assiduously towards bringing our people together by creating an environment and dynamism that will foster the accelerated economic and social development of Guyana.

To my friends in leadership positions in APNUAFC-WPA, I plead with you to take swift action and align yourselves for a democratic transition. We Guyanese will be so much stronger when our major political parties can accept an election loss, use it as an opportunity to learn from mistakes made, and prepare for the next elections.

As we struggle to put Guyana’s fledgling democracy back on track, I close by using the wise words of the slave-born Epictetus, the Greek Philosopher: “No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.”

President-elect Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali

Sincerely, Nigel Hinds

previous elections.

Math has never been their strong point!

The PPP accepted their ONE seat defeat in the 2015 elections. APNU/AFC/WPA should be mature enough to accept the will of the people in 2020. That is what happens in democracies. You win some and you lose some, and when you lose, you reorganize and rebuild.

The last Government failed on several counts.

They increased taxes, voted themselves a Parliamentary raise, removed subsidies to the needy, lacked a cohesive economic plan, and abruptly closed the sugar estates

without an alternative employment plan for the workers, who have yet to receive their severance package; and by all accounts, they signed a disastrous agreement with EXXON. Tell me, why would the majority of Guyana re-elect such a Government?

There has been a call by some respectable Guyanese, including Mr. Eusi Kwayana for whom I have the greatest respect, for a Unity/Coalition Government. This is a noble sentiment indeed. Such a Government would go a far way in easing racial tensions and insecurities. However, under the present circum-

stances, this would amount to a capitulation to fraud.

The APNU team insists that it has won the elections, and continues to place obstacles in arriving at a valid recount.

Even if the animus between the two major parties can be overcome, how will the power be shared?

Who will get the vital ministries of Finance, Defence and Home Affairs?

We cannot morally object to the sentiments of the International Community under the guise of sovereignty. If so, how can we agree with past International efforts to end Apartheid, and for support for the Civil

Rights Movement in the USA. We must establish Law and Order, and lay the framework for a valid recount for at least Region Four, or for all the Regions, if required. But this must be done under strict scrutiny by the contesting political parties and the teams of International Observers. We cannot, and must not, repeat the travesties and injustices of the past to avoid becoming one of the FAILED STATES in the world despite our resources.

Sincerely, Dr Ganraj Kumar

Respect for Constitution is vital to a normal society

Dear Editor, The PNC-led APNU+AFC was caught red-handed attempting to steal the 2020 General and Reginal Elections. Even though thoroughly exposed, the regime pushed ahead shamelessly.

The reason is clear: over the last five years, the PNC/AFC cabal abused public office, and most have become enormously rich in a short while.

That elite wants to continue that kind of behaviour, and has tossed Guyana’s interests aside. Under the threat of sanctions from the international community, including the US, the small cabal continues to try to stifle the will of the people as they explore every crack to prolong their illegality.

In the face of this betrayal of our country, some of the PNC allies and friends have come out with the call for ‘power-sharing’. They manufacture all kinds of arguments to perpetuate PNC in power.

I am amazed at this call in the light of an attempt to steal the elections, an attempt at fraud against all the people of our country.

Clearly, to speak about power-sharing in these circumstances is putting a premium on PNC/APNU cabal’s crookery and the violence they are unleashing on our people, using – rather, misusing -- our Police to daily harass PPP/C supporters.

This is an attempt to reward the PNC elite for all their wrongdoings. This is akin to a banker bringing

crooks to work at the bank after they committed a robbery of his bank.

Not one of them has out-rightly and unconditionally condemned this atrocity.

One of the arguments used is that we are a multi-ethnic society and we should ‘share power’.

Guyana is not the only multi-ethnic society in the world, or in the region. None of the others has the same problem as is created in Guyana by the PNC/APNU. Take Trinidad & Tobago, for instance. That country’s demographic closely approximates ours, but those questions never arise there. Trinidadians do not go through what we have to endure because of the corrupt elite that controls the PNC/ APNU+AFC. Therefore, that argument does not hold water.

Moreover, it should be pointed out that talking about ‘power-sharing’ as a means of dealing with the racial/ethnic issue will not work. In my view, it will institutionalise racism in Guyana. It would be telling us that PNC owns Afro-Guyanese, and that no matter how corrupt the leadership of the PNC is, no matter how much they abuse black people, black people will still support the PNC. That is a position that no right-thinking Guyanese can tolerate.

The reason why Trinidad & Tobago does not experience this trauma is because it has created a normal, civilized society. All the political parties

and civil society players respect and uphold the constitution, and respect the laws.

Its institutions, including the judiciary, are independent; its courts would never give the outrageous decisions as would often emanate from our courts. The Elections Commission there displays a genuine sense of fair play. The integrity of the officers is intact. The outcome of elections is rarely questioned.

That is where our main problem lies. The PNC has never shown any respect for our Constitution or the rule of law. To them, the Constitution is just a piece of paper that is to be violated. In their Sophia Declaration, the PNC sees the Government as the Executive Arm of the PNC. Another important matter is the question of leadership.

The PNC has never given proper leadership in this country. They have misled ordinary people, instigating and inspiring them to violence over and over again. They organize fundamentally on racism. They have been guilty of misleading their supporters and fostering division in our country.

The PPP has always sought to promote unity of our people. It is this stance of the PPP and PPP/Civic that has limited the PNC anti-national, racist practices.

That policy has been paying off. This last election, the PPP/Civic would not have won if every single IndoGuyanese voted for it, because no racial group has a majority

in this country. The PPP won because it got crossover votes from Afro-Guyanese and from the Amerindian community.

Its hard work to promote national unity has been paying it big dividends, and will pay even greater benefits in the future.

Inclusivity will not come about with the crude constitutional engineering being proposed, even if some do so honestly. Inclusivity will grow in a democratic atmosphere in a normal society, which must be based on respect for our Constitution and the rule of law. A normal society must also have a system in which the institutions of Elections Commission, the Judiciary and others must not be subverted, and must discharge their functions freely, without political bias; just on the basis of the law.

The attempt by the PNC to rig the 2020 elections shows us that that path is a dead end. It leads to dictatorship in the political arena, and poverty in the socio-economic sector.

The best service that the PNC can do for the country is to allow a transparent recount, and respect the will of the people. If they do so without being forced, that would show that the regime is willing to begin a process of reforming itself, which is so important for national development.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

A warning to those contemplating more rigging Dear Editor, GECOM and APNU/AFC are keeping their own SOPs hidden, for if either set is released, it would ruin whatever plans they have to commit further fraud. In addition, it would confirm earlier electoral fraud and PPP/C victory.

I am sure the riggers in APNU/AFC and GECOM are considering altering the SOPs and tampering with the ballot boxes, but these things are easier said than done. The objective is to get the various pieces to fit seamlessly together, which in my opinion is not possible.

First, at least two sets of the authentic SOPs with signatures of the presiding officers, party representatives and observers are in the public domain, and those have not been challenged, for obvious reasons.

Secondly, there are many, some unknown, logistical and arithmetical challenges to overcome with the ballot boxes. The known I will not itemize for obvious reasons.

Thirdly, the diplomatic community would never take such a strong position, unless they did their homework.

APNU/AFC and GECOM’s

earlier attempts at rigging have already been exposed.

Two egregious examples were revealed at Soesdyke and Herstelling, where votes cast exceeded registered voters.

In the current scenario, if further electoral fraud is committed, it would be easy to spot, and likewise easy to identify the perpetuators.

Potential riggers are therefore warned of the futility of any such attempt, and to resist enticement; unless they wish to share the fate of Mingo and others, who are far too invested to change course now. On this note, I would

be disappointed if Mingo and others are not prosecuted for electoral fraud.

Potential riggers should also take note of how Granger has insulated himself, which means others will have to take the fall when the time comes.

If the Grangers are the decent and forthright people they claim to be, the family should assemble all of APNU/ AFC’s SOPs and tabulate the result of the March 2 election for themselves.

Kind regards, Ravi Ram

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020

17

Regional

Peru arrests 16,000 for failing Trinidad reports 60 COVID-19 cases as citizens stranded in Barbados to observe social distancing to be quarantined in T&T

T

Police Officers patrol the streets of Lima, Peru

M

ore than 16,000 people have been arrested in Peru for ignoring compulsory social distancing measures announced in the country, President Martín Vizcarra has said.

They were taken to Police Stations where they were detained for a few hours and reprimanded. The Government is considering a fine for repeat offenders.

Vizcarra declared a state

of emergency on March 15 and imposed an overnight curfew in many cities between the hours of 20:00h and 05:00h.

Those living in the areas under the state of emergency are only allowed out to buy food or to go to the hospital.

Videos shared on social media showed residents of the capital, Lima, openly flouting the measures by drinking on the streets and playing football.

Meanwhile, more than

1000 Britons have been stranded in the South American country after it closed its borders and stopped all flights amid the coronavirus outbreak.

United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said special flights will be laid on later this week to bring them back.

Peru has recorded 480 cases of the virus so far, and nine deaths. (Excerpt from BBC News)

he Trinidad and Tobago Government said on Wednesday that the 33 nationals stranded in Barbados, will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine period on their arrival there for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) despite having done so while in the sister Caribbean Community (Caricom) country.

National Security Minister Stuart Young, speaking at the daily news conference by the Health Ministry where it was disclosed that the positive cases there had risen to 60, told reporters that anyone who enters an international airport or a plane would be

subjected to the mandatory quarantine period on arrival in Trinidad and Tobago.

“Once you go to an international airport and you enter onto an international flight, you are now back up to maximum amount of risks,” Young said, noting that “persons who have travelled to Miami to New York to all of those international airports need to self-quarantine”.

“Moving around as we have seen happened by personalities has led to serious contact spread risk. The virus does not respect your status.”

Young said that the 33 people now in Barbados, if after their quarantine pe-

Grenada declares limited state of emergency

As coronavirus hits Venezuela, Maduro further quashes dissent

O

n March 13, Melquiades Avila, an indigenous leader and Journalist in the remote Venezuelan state of Delta Amacuro, asked on his popular Facebook account: “Will our hospital be ready for coronavirus?”

Earlier that week, as Venezuela confirmed its first infections by the novel coronavirus, President Nicolas Maduro’s Health Ministry on its website had listed Delta Amacuro’s Luis Razetti Hospital as one of 46 medical centres “prepared” to receive COVID-19 patients.

Avila enumerated vari-

ous reasons, all confirmed

by Reuters in interviews with physicians at the hospital, why the claim was false: The facility has no blood pressure monitors, syringes, or reagents to diagnose coronavirus infections.

“What a joke,” Avila wrote.

A day later, Lizeta Hernandez, governor of Delta Amacuro and a member of the ruling Socialist party, called on local radio for Avila’s arrest, accusing him of “inciting hatred” and denouncing him as “criminal.” She ordered the state Army deployment to detain Avila “so that I can give him

a masterclass in the meaning of public duty.”

In a voice message to Reuters, the Governor this week said she only wanted to “orient” Avila and ensure he was being “serious and responsible” as a journalist. She declined to answer questions about the hospital, its readiness or previous clashes with Avila, who for years has criticised health care in the state.

Raquel Ruiz, the hospital director, denied the facility is unprepared. State authorities, she added, are readying a nearby building to treat coronavirus patients.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

twin-island Federation who had returned there on March 18 and were tested two days later.

They have been in quarantine since their arrival, Phipps said, adding that among the measures now underway was in-depth contact tracing.

“We wish to remind the public, want to remind the public that the infection of both patients is travel related, meaning that the cases of COVID-19 were imported into the country. Every effort is now being taken to prevent the possibility of community or local transmission,” the health minister said.

She said that among the key measures now being taken include in-depth contact tracing “in an effort to correctly assess the persons with whom both patients would have interacted” as well as quarantine and monitoring of the contacts of the patients in order to ensure they are handled in keeping with World Health Organisation (WHO) approved protocols.

She said based on data collected from contact tracing “containment of the infection would be executed in order to restrict spread of the infection in the local community”. (Excerpt from CMC)

St Kitts-Nevis records 1st cases of coronavirus

S

t Kitts and Nevis, the only Caribbean Community (Caricom) country not to have recorded a case of the coronavirus in recent days, on Wednesday announced two cases as a result of the patients having recently travelled to the United States and urged nationals not to panic or be fearful.

Health Minister Wendy Phipps said the cases were confirmed late on Tuesday night and that the patients, a 57-year-old female and a 21-year-old male, both had a recent travel history to the US. She said both individuals were nationals of the

riod “and they make their way to Trinidad, they will be put into quarantine by the State”.

“We need to protect all of you who are within our borders here in Trinidad and Tobago. Understand it cannot be a loophole that we accept that persons make their way from wherever they are in the world on few remaining international flights to any Caricom country, including Barbados and then think that is a jumping point to break the barrier that we have put to protect the population of Trinidad and Tobago and the people within our borders.”

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell

P

rime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell on Wednesday advised said he had asked the Governor General, Dame Cecile La Grenade, to declare a limited state of emergency (SOE) as the island seeks to reduce the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Mitchell, in a radio and television broadcast, said that the SOE would remain in effect for 21 days and will start at 18:00h (local time) Wednesday.

In providing justification for the limited state of emergency under the 1987 Emergency Powers Act, Prime Minister Mitchell said that failure to take appropriate action to protect citizens could result in the country paying a price.

“There are no heroes in war,” he told the nation almost 72 hours after Grenada confirmed that it had recorded its first positive COVID case, a 50-year-old female who had returned to the island from the United

Kingdom. She is presently at the General Hospital where her condition has been described as serious.

Mitchell said that limited SOE is not meant to punish but to tolerate as little damage as possible.

As a result, there will be a curfew from 19:00h to 05:00h (local time) daily, while essential workers including medical/ healthcare professionals, public servants in specific divisions including the Accountant General Office and the Ministry of Social Development as well as the media will be allowed some exemptions.

According to the regulations, in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus “every person shall remain confined to their place of residence…to avoid contact outside of their family except for essential travel to the doctor, grocery store, bank, credit union, money services businesses, pharmacy or to refuel”.

Mitchell said other measures would be announced later. (CMC)

Several Caribbean countries to benefit from IMF/World Bank initiative

S

everal Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries are among 76 named by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank for a suspension of debt payments as a result of COVID-19.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, the IMF and the World Bank said that they have made representation to the G20 countries concerning debt relief for the poorest countries.

“The coronavirus outbreak is likely to have se-

vere economic and social consequences for IDA countries, home to a quarter of the world’s population and two-thirds of the world’s population living in extreme poverty.”

Among the International Development Association (IDA) countries named by the two Washington-based financial institutions are Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti and St Lucia.

They said eligibility for IDA support depends first and foremost on a coun-

try’s relative poverty, defined as Gross National Income (GNI) per capita below an established threshold and updated annually at US$$1175 in fiscal year 2020.

“IDA also supports some countries, including several small-island economies, that are above the operational cut-off but lack the creditworthiness needed to borrow from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).”

(Excerpt from CMC)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020

Around the World

OILNEWS

Oil climbs as US pushes for an end to the price war

O

il prices continued to rise for the third day in a row, recovering earlier losses as US lawmakers pressure Saudi Arabia to end the oil war.

The ongoing oil war, in which Saudi Arabia and Russia are the key players, has exacerbated the already tremendous glut in oil markets, and demand destruction could end up reaching 15-20 million bpd in April.

According to Russell Hardy, Vitol’s chief executive, the supply overhang could end up filling storage tanks at a very high pace as India, the world’s fastest-growing oil consumer, now faces a nationwide lockdown.

Oilprice.com’s Julianne Geiger wrote yesterday that Washington is growing increasingly concerned that the current situation in markets is doing serious damage to US shale producers and that a series of high-profile bankruptcies in the US oil patch could end up crushing the Administration’s dream of energy independence.

The Trump Administration is now facing a difficult task as large shale producers such as Continental Resources and industry bodies such as the API are asking for help, but direct intervention in the form of subsidies to heavily-indebted oil companies is facing serious political opposition.

Last week, President Trump said that he would get involved at ‘’the appropriate time’’, but as oil prices continue to languish around US$25 per barrel, time is quickly running out.

Today, Washington decided to step in, with Secretary of State Pompeo speaking with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, addressing the effects of the coronavirus on the global economy and the oil markets.

Pompeo called on Saudi Arabia to stabilise markets as he stressed “that as a leader of the G20 and an important energy leader, Saudi Arabia has a real opportunity to rise to the occasion and reassure global energy and financial markets when the world faces serious economic uncertainty,” As previously discussed, increased pressure on Saudi Arabia or Russia is unlikely to work as neither of the parties in the oil war is happy to back down without bringing back home at least some kind of victory.

The most important question now for oil market observers is this. If Washington fails to inspire Saudi Arabia and Russia to stop the oil war by asking nicely, will it use the ‘nuclear option’? (Excerpt from OIlprice.com)

World’s largest oil trader says demand could plummet by 20 million bpd

A

dramatic change in oil demand coupled with an unexpected increase in production has upended the industry, Vitol’s chief executive Russell Hardy told Bloomberg in an interview.

At its peak, oil demand could slump by 15 to 20 million bpd over the next few weeks. On an annual basis, Hardy said, this would contribute to a demand decline of five million bpd.

“It’s pretty huge in terms of anything we’ve had to deal with before,” Vitol’s chief executive said.

More bad news is coming, too. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi just ordered a nationwide lockdown in response to a spike in new coronavirus cases, which, Hardy noted, will translate into a further decline in oil demand, and a substantial one, at that.

Asked by Bloomberg about where oil prices will be going from here, Hardy noted that more oil and oil products were being churned out than the world can consume, so stockpiles in the US, Europe, and India will rise, with refineries cutting output.

So far, he said, the cuts amount to about seven million bpd.

Even so, storage is filling up, especially for oil products.

While there is some free capacity yet for crude oil, it will likely fill up fast, putting additional pressure on prices.

Oil analytics firm OilX earlier this week calculated there were about 750 million barrels of crude in storage globally, with analysts expecting this to rise to as much as 1 billion barrels. (Excerpt from Oilprice.com)

As global deaths pass 20,000, WHO says countries must not squander chance to control coronavirus

C

ountries that have locked down their populations to prevent the spread of coronavirus need to put a premium on finding new cases and doing everything they can “to suppress and control” the virus, the World Health Organisation said on Wednesday.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director General, said US President Donald Trump had displayed “political commitment” and “leadership” to fight the growing epidemic in the United States.

The WHO had warned on Tuesday the United States could become the global epicentre of the pandemic, as India announced a full 24hour, nationwide lockdown

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

in the world’s second-most populous country. New York reported more than 25,000 cases, but the Governor says social distancing appears to be working.

Global deaths from the vi-

rus have passed 20,000 with 450,00 cases confirmed. A quarter of the world’s population is now living under some form of lockdown Meanwhile, the death toll in Spain has overtaken China, and in Italy cases fell slightly from Tuesday. With 3434 fatalities, Spain now has the second highest number of deaths globally after Italy’s 6820.

Tedros, speaking at a news conference, also praised the “difficult but wise decision” taken on Tuesday to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, saying it aimed to safeguard the health of athletes and spectators.

He said some countries had wasted time in marshal-

ling resources to combat the outbreak, however.

“We have been saying to the world that the window of opportunity is narrowing and the time to act was actually more than a month ago, two months ago,” Tedros said. “But we still believe that there is opportunity.

I think we squandered the first window of opportunity.

This is a second opportunity which we should not squander and do everything to suppress and control this virus.”

WHO officials warned again the world faced a “significant shortage” of personal protection equipment for health workers, particularly masks, gloves, gowns and face shields. (Excerpt from Reuters)

UN launches virus aid plan, Prince Charles tests positive for coronavirus, says “all of humanity” at risk Queen Elizabeth in P good health

P

rince Charles, the 71-year-old heir to the British throne, has tested positive for coronavirus but is in good health and is now self-isolating in Scotland with mild symptoms.

Charles, eldest son of Queen Elizabeth, is displaying what Clarence House said were mild symptoms but remains in good health and has been working from his Birkhall residence in Scotland. His wife, Camilla, 72, tested negative.

“The Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus,” Clarence House said. “He has been displaying mild symptoms, but otherwise remains in good health and has been working from home throughout the last few days as usual.”

“The Duchess of Cornwall has also been tested, but does not have the virus,” Clarence House said. Queen Elizabeth who is currently at Windsor

Castle is in good health, Buckingham Palace said.

A royal source said the Prince of Wales, who was tested on Monday and got the results on Tuesday, was advised the condition was unlikely to escalate into a more serious case.

Charles has spoken to both Queen Elizabeth and to his sons, Prince William and Harry.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson wished the prince a speedy recovery and was due to hold his weekly audience with the queen by telephone, Johnson’s spokesman said.

The United States wished Prince Charles a speedy recovery, a senior Trump Administration official said.

Charles last saw the 93-year-old monarch on the morning of March 12 following an investiture, before the earliest time he is likely to have been infectious. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Taliban says prisoner release

by Afghan Government to start by end of March

T

he Afghan Government said on Wednesday that it would free 100 Taliban detainees on humanitarian grounds at the end of March, raising uncertainty about the fate of a prisoner release deal with the insurgents, who have demanded that 5000 detainees be freed.

The deal announced earlier in the day by the Taliban would have re-

moved a major hurdle to the convening of peace talks between the sides as part of a US-brokered process aimed at ending America’s longest war and bringing peace to Afghanistan.

But the announcement by Ashraf Ghani’s Government cast fresh doubt on the prospects for the deal, as well as the stalled US peace effort.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

oorer countries need US$2 billion of international humanitarian aid to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said in launching a major donation appeal on Wednesday.

“COVID-19 is threatening the whole of humanity – and the whole of humanity must fight back,” Guterres said in announcing the initiative. “Global action and solidarity are crucial. Individual country responses are not going to be enough.”

Just last week, as the novel coronavirus spread to more and more countries, killing thousands and infecting many more, Guterres warned that unless the world came together to curb the spread, millions of people could die.

In recent days, Guterres has called for much stronger global coordination on the response to the pandemic.

In a Monday letter to the G20 group of leading economic powers, he pushed for

a “war-time” stimulus bill “in the trillions of dollars” to help poor countries.

According to the UN chief, the plan “aims to enable us to fight the virus in the world’s poorest countries, and address the needs of the most vulnerable people, especially women and children, older people, and those with disabilities or chronic illness”, said Guterres.

If fully funded, “it will save many lives and arm humanitarian agencies and NGOs with laboratory supplies for testing, and with medical equipment to treat the sick while protecting health-care workers”, he added.

The amount of money sought by the plan is small compared to the US$2 trillion that the United States Congress is poised to approve as a rescue effort for devastated US consumers, companies and hospitals as the world’s largest economy grinds to a sudden halt.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Turkey charges 20 Saudis over Khashoggi’s murder

T

urkey has charged 20 suspects over the murder of Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in October 2018.

Prosecutors said an indictment accused former Saudi Deputy Intelligence Chief Ahmad Asiri and former royal aide Saud al-Qahtani with instigating the murder.

The 18 others are accused of carrying out the “deliberate and monstrous killing” inside the Saudi Consulate.

Western intelligence agencies believe it was ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – something he denies.

A United Nations special rapporteur says Khashoggi was “the victim of a deliberate, premeditated execution, an extrajudicial killing for which the State of Saudi Arabia is responsible”.

At the time of his death, the 59-year-old worked for the Washington Post and had become a prominent critic of the Saudi government.

Saudi authorities blamed a “rogue operation” for Khashoggi’s death. In December, a court in the Kingdom sentenced five unnamed people to death and jailed three more over the murder. (Excerpt from BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020

19

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

DILBERT

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

Others will judge you on your performance as both a leader and a team player. Be prepared to take full responsibility and to fine-tune the ultimate product.

Don't lose sight of your goal, or you will end up procrastinating instead of accomplishing. An unexpected question will leave you in a vulnerable position. Be honest and concise with your response.

If you use your imagination on the job, you will impress someone overseeing what you do. Take an authoritative stance if you want to receive more responsibility. Personal gain is apparent.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Attend events to connect with people in higher positions. The more contacts you make, the easier it will be to get ahead. Being in the right place at the right time will lead to success.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Reevaluate what you want.

Being precise when working toward personal or professional goal will help you implement a successful plan. A romantic encounter will spice up your life.

LIBRA

Take a mental health day, or learn something that will help you find a more enjoyable job. Keep in mind that you can be moderate and still have a good time.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

An objective attitude will help you avoid trouble.

Listen and assess situations before you share your opinion. Approach new topics with curiosity and the desire to learn. Adopt a healthy lifestyle.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Let your heart rule your head, and follow your intuition. A noteworthy change at home will also bring you closer to someone you love.

A healthier lifestyle is encouraged.

Don't let stubbornness SAGITTARIUS ruin an excellent opportuni(Nov. 23ty. Be prepared to take adDec. 21) vantage of an offer. An adjustment will improve your life and give you the freedom to try something new.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Refuse to let your emotions get the better of you.

Look at what you can do and follow through with your plans. Personal growth will attract the attention of someone extraordinary.

Stick to a budget and avoid making hasty decisions. Joint money matters will lead to a stressful situation. A responsible attitude will stop others from taking advantage of you.

Do what comes naturally. Communication and honesty will be necessary if you want to be successful in love, life and finance. A clear conscience will ease stress.

20

A

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020

THENS (Reuters) - The head of the global Olympic movement said on Wednesday that the rescheduled Tokyo Games faced “thousands” of logistical and financial problems, but could go ahead before summer 2021.

Though most people have assumed the Games will be held roughly around the same July-August timetable as they were planned for this year, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said earlier dates in 2021 were possible.

“The agreement is that we want to organize these Games at the latest in the summer 2021,” he told a conference call. “This is not restricted just to the summer months. All the options are on the table, including the summer 2021.”

The IOC agreed with Japan on Tuesday to the first postponement in the Olympics’ 124-year history, due to risks from the coronavirus impact. It is the last major international sporting event of 2020 to be cancelled, and many have questioned why a seemingly inevitable decision took so long to be made, as the coronavirus epidemic rages around the world. Given the disruption to their training, athletes were sad, but were nevertheless largely relieved.

The decision has been a huge blow to Japan, which has invested $12 billion in the run-up, and it presents a massive headache to reorganize logistics, funding and sponsorship.

Bach said he could not guarantee all elements of the Games would remain as initially planned. For example, he did not know what would happen with the Athletes’ Village, where apartments were set to be sold after the Games this year.

“This is one of the many thousands of questions this task force will have to address. We hope, and we will do whatever we can, so that there is an Olympic Village; the village is where the heart of the Games beat,” he said.

R

fencing champion, also said outright cancellation was discussed, even though the IOC had long insisted that was not an option.

“Of course, cancellation was discussed and considered, like all options on the table; but it was very clear from the beginning that cancellation should not be something the IOC would in any way favour,” Bach said.

In recent weeks, the IOC had come under heavy criticism from athletes and teams calling for the Games to be postponed, and those callers were unhappy with the slow decision-making compared to other sports events.

Asked by a German reporter whether he considered resigning over his organization’s handling of the issue, Bach said, “No”.

In talks with athletes’ representatives and national Olympic International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach committees last week, no-one opposed the IOC’s stance, he add(Reuters) ed.

After repeatedly insisting that the Games were on as scheduled, the IOC at the weekend announced a month of consultaBach also warned the $12 billion price tag for the Games tions over possible postponement, before seemingly bowing to would rise further, with additional costs for everyone involved. global pressure for a faster judgment.

The body is due from Thursday to start talks with other glob“Wonderful Games” promised “Our mission is to organize Games and make dreams of ath- al sporting bodies, as moving the gigantic Olympics event has a letes come true,” he added. “We have no blueprint, but we are knock-on effect for many other competitions.

“We are in an unprecedented situation. I guess these postconfident we can put a beautiful jigsaw puzzle together and, in poned Olympic Games will need sacrifices, will need comthe end, have wonderful Olympic Games.”

(Reuters) Bach, a 66-year-old German lawyer and former Olympic promises by all stakeholders,” he added.

oger Federer has joined the list of sports stars helping out the needy during the coronavirus pandemic. The former world number one and his wife have donated one million Swiss Francs ($1.02 million) to assist vulnerable families in his native Switzerland.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola have each donated one million euros ($1.08 million) to help clinics and medical centres fight the pandemic.

Portugal and Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo and his agent, Jorge Mendes, also came together to donate lifesaving equipment to Portuguese hospitals.

"These are challenging times for everyone, and nobody should be left behind," Federer wrote in a statement posted on Twitter here on Wednesday.

“Mirka and I have personally decided to donate one million Swiss Francs for the most vulnerable families in Switzerland.”

Globally, more than 420,700 people have been infected by the novel coronavirus, and 18,820 have died, according to a Reuters tally.

Switzerland has nearly 9,900 confirmed cases, of which 122 persons have died.

“Our contribution is just a start,” Federer added. “We hope that others might join in supporting more families in need. Together, we can overcome this crisis.”

Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam winner, is currently recovering from a knee surgery he underwent last month, and was targeting a return in June, in time for Wimbledon. The tennis season is, however, suspended until June 7, due to the pandemic. (Reuters)

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY MARCH 26, 2020

21

CLASSIFIED ADS ACCOMMODATION Aracari Hotel, W.B.D. Accommodation Rates from USD$25. Amenities: Pool, Bar, Restaurant, Gym, Free Parking, Free WiFi. Spend 7 Nights and Get 1 Free. Tel: 264-2946.

Government had committed to providing stipends for athletes while they train for the Games under the Athlete Assistance Programme.

However, “We will pay the sums up to the end of March, as our athletes put their training programmes on

ASTROLOGY & SPIRITUALITY Work done by : Djuka. For all Purposes: Healing, Upliftment for Business, Court Matters, Visa, Evil Sickness, Togetherness for lovers, Pregnancy, Jobs, Money Readings, Husband/Wife Seperation. 633-4487 Relationship problem, Pregnancy, Removal of Evil Spirit, Sickness, Jobs, Nature Problem, Skin Problem, Business Upliftment, Blockage, Family Problem, Education and much more. Call for Appointment: Tel# 633-7396/683-5228 Having Problems with Marriage/ Love Relationships, Health, Job, Money, Removal of Obstacles of any kind. Meet me once and change your life. Call 688-2135 Are you suffering from Health, Money, Job, Marriage Relationships problems, Removal of Blockage/ Evil Spirits, Clear Negative Energy, Permanent Protection. Call: 6961857 for appointment.

FOR SALE Mix Breed Puppies for Sale. Contact: Tel- 253-3114/692-0126.

LAND FOR SALE W.B.D, Versailles, Gated Community Lot 14 - 10214 SQ FT. Ph # 264-2948 / 615-2270.

NOTICE

APPLICATION FOR MONEY LENDER CERTIFICATE. PURSUANT TO SECTION 4 OF THE MONEY LENDER ACT. I, Cedric Joel Weekes, of Lot 8 Den Amstel Old Road, West Coast Demerara, Guyana is hereby given Notice that I have applied to the Magistrate of West Demerara Magisterial District for a Certificate under the Money Lender License.

Authorising the Grant to me of a Money Lender License to carry on the business of a Pawn Shop at Lot ‘Y’ Blankenburg Public Road West Coast Demerara.

Notice of any objection to the application should be sent forthwith to the Clerk of the Court of the West Demerara Magisterial District and a copy of such notice should be sent to the subscriber Cedric Joel Weekes (Applicant) Dated at Georgetown, Demerara the day, March 2020.

Jamaica won the 4x100m Women’s Relay at the 2019 World Championships

J

amaica’s Sports Minister Olivia Grange believes that the decision to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will provide the clarity the athletes needed, even though they will be disappointed.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the organisers in Tokyo released a joint statement on Tuesday revealing their decision to postpone the Olympics until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The virus has infected more than 400,000 people across the globe, and

U

FC star Conor McGregor became the latest sports personality to help in the battle against the Coronavirus pandemic. Ireland has seen over 1500 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

These have caused the deaths of 7 people in the country.

The Notorious responded to the relief efforts and announced a €1

has killed approximately 19,000. It is against that background that the Games have been postponed, as the health and safety of the athletes and spectators are of paramount importance.

Minister Grange, who oversees Jamaica’s Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports Ministry, said the country welcomed the decision.

“We have received confirmation from the International Olympic Committee and the Japanese gov-

ernment that the Tokyo Olympics have been postponed. We accept this decision, and we think it is a good move,” she said. “For one thing, it provides well-needed clarity for our athletes.

“It is difficult to prepare for international competition in the best of times, so we can imagine how much more difficult it has been for them during this time of uncertainty.”

Minister Grange has said the

get in these troubled times.

McGregor joins a host of other sports stars who have decided to support the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.

These include Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who set up an online fundraiser, with all proceeds going to hospitals in Northern Italy.

Italy, which is the worst hit country in Europe, has also seen Valentino

the Agnelli family. One of their subsidies, the Ferrari team, will make F1 technology available to help combat coronavirus.

The Ferrari team seeks to double the production of fans to make respirators.

It is a good initiative to see sports personalities use their resources to take care of their fans. This gesture will win hearts, maybe even earn McGregor some

VACANCIES Office Assistant - Maths and English required, knowledge of Excel and Quickbooks would be an asset.

Apply to Mima Décor, Lot 8 Sheriff St, GTown or mimadecor12@gmail. com (227-0186) Pump attendant-680-3863, Store helper-624-003, Driver for water canter-680-3863, Porter for water canter-680-3863, House keeper-624-0033 Call or Whatsapp One (1) General Domestic to work in the interior to cook, clean, wash, etc. Accommodation and meals provided. Please contact: 680-2702 Office Assistant - Maths and English required. Knowledge of Excel and Quickbooks would be an asset.

Apply to Mima Décor, 8 Sheriff Street, Georgetown, Or Email: mimadecor12@gmail.com. Tel: 2270186/227-0176 Pump attendant -680-3863 Store helper- 624-003 Driver for water canter- 680-3863 Porter for water canter- 680-3863 House keeper- 624-0033. Call or Whatsapp.

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

Conor McGregor

million donation in “personal protective equipment” to hospitals in Ireland’s Leinster region. This is said to be the worst affected region in McGregor’s homeland.

McGregor is the first ‘big name’ UFC fighter to announce a donation to assist in providing healthcare to fighting the pandemic. One certainly hopes that he will not be the last to do so. This is because medical healthcare professionals need all the financial assistance they can

Rossi collaborate with several entrepreneurs and donate to the ’Together for Marche Nord’ Association. This helped in purchasing new respirators for the Marche Nord Hospital.

Italy has also been assisted by a huge €10 million donation from

hold,” she said.

“I know the disappointment that athletes feel, but I know they understand the reasons for the postponement.

We look forward to them resuming training and representing Jamaica with distinction when it is safe to do so. At that time, the Games will also be a celebration of humanity’s triumph over this virus,” she said.

She encouraged the athletes to take steps to keep themselves safe, by practising social distancing and washing their hands regularly with soap and water.

(Sportsmax)

new fans. The decision to donate €1 million worth of healthcare equipment also has the potential to trigger a chain where more UFC fighters come forward to help the world with the battle against the Coronavirus. The fans are certainly saluting McGregor’s noble gesture.

(Essentially Sports)

22

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020

A

midst the global pandemic of coronavirus, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games have been rescheduled by the International

B

riana Williams and her handlers are taking a positive outlook on the postponement of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The International Olympic Committee and the organisers in Japan announced on Tuesday that they have postponed the Games for about a year because of the coronavirus pandemic that has forced the cancellation or rescheduling of major sports across the globe.

The COVID-19 virus has infected more than 400,000 people, and killed almost 19,000 in more than 150 countries.

What this means is that the 18-year-old sprinter now has to wait an extra year before she gets to compete in her very first Olympic Games against the world’s best sprinters. Not surprisingly, she posited a mature outlook.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

O l y m p i c s Committee (IOC) for staging in 2021, and the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has

“The postponement of the Olympics is a great decision, because it’s for our health & safety.

I’ve been looking forward to making the team for Tokyo 2020 with all the hard work I’ve put in, and the daily struggles that all of us athletes have to face,” Williams said, while adding that all the athletes affected must still keep that Olympic dream alive.

“But these things happen for a reason. We just have to keep safe and take care of ourselves,” she said.

Her coach Ato Boldon has said the postponement simply means that his athlete has more time to prepare to take on the best female sprinters on the planet.

“Briana would have been ready to surprise many in Tokyo 2020, but now she gets another year to get stronger, fitter and faster. She has

expressed its relief at that decision.

Explaining that the AAG has been relieved of a heavy burden in regard to crunch time qualification and planning, AAG president Aubrey Hutson, via telephone interview with Guyana Times Spor, detailed some of the concerns the AAG had prior to receiving news that the Olympic Games had been postponed.

“The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) was constantly reviewing our position, and supplying comments to the South American Confederation as well as World Athletics as it relates to how we qualify our track and field athletes to the Olympics under the prevailing conditions, since there were no international meets going on, and even locally; all the countries were asked to shut down their championships or track meets,” Hutson explained.

Expressing elation at this recent development, Hutson explained that it would have been an uphill task for Guyanese to qualify for participation if the Games were to be held this year.

“So, with the limited time frame we had between now and July; as a matter of fact, we would have had to submit our final team, and make qualifying standards by mid-June; so we knew it was an uphill task, and we’re really and truly happy that the Games have been pushed back,” Hutson explained.

Highlighting his concern for the athletes’ safety, Hutson revealed that local sportsmen and women have been advised to take precautions, but to remain consistent in their training.

“All in all, I think it’s a good thing to push it

improved her 100m time every year for the past three seasons, so waiting another year for the Olympics should be beneficial,” Boldon said.

Williams has been in Jamaica for the past two weeks, during which she celebrated her 18th birthday. She will soon be back in full training as she prepares for the possibility of meets later on this season and for 2021.“Our facility here (Florida) has been on lockdown, but the restrictions will be lifted soon. She will continue to train with the expectation that there will be some late season meets in 2020. Her training will be altered significantly, though,” Boldon has said. (Sportsmax)

back. I mean, the athletes’ safety comes first, and also, we’ve been advising our athletes to stay as sharp as possible by finding new and innovative ways to train even at home.

Whether it’s their pushups, their squats, your skipping, or early morning runs in the AAG President Aubrey Hutson neighbourhoods, (it’s okay) once they maintain that social distancing,” he noted.

Huston also revealed that the AAG is patiently awaiting the new dates for staging of the international event, and is ready to formulate a plan geared at securing maximum qualification.

“Once we get word of the new dates as it relates to all the other championships, the AAG will sit down again, look at its calendar, and see how best we can put together a schedule that will have our athletes up and running and well prepared when those championships come around,” he affirmed.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), in a release on Tuesday, also welcomed the rescheduling of the Tokyo Games.

Jamaica’s Briana Williams powers home

Region One 15-Over Friendly Hardball Cricket Competition…

The victorious Barabina XI

B

arbina XI, a cricket team from the Mabaruma sub-region of Region One (Barima-Waini), defeated their Sebai XI counterparts by 7 wickets to win the 15 Overs’ Friendly Hardball Competition which was contested last Sunday at the recreational ground in Sebai, a village of Port Kaituma in Region One. Witnessed by a massive home crowd of Sebai spectators who braved the unrelenting brilliant sunshine, the Barbina XI won the toss and inserted the

Sebai XI to bat.

On a lively pitch with a fast outfield, Sebai posted 95-6 off their allotted overs. In trouble from the first ball bowled, they struggled to find their groove, and made a mess of their powerplay overs as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Opening batsman Danny Benjamin made a fluent 33; Devon Benjamin made 16; middle order batsman Randolph Benjamin made 13 not-out, and Sherlon Rodrigues made nine runs before retiring hurt.

Owen James was Barabina’s most successful bowler with 2 for 15 off 2 overs; while Orison Sealy and Adrian Hernandez each took 1 for 10, Elwin De Souza took 1 for 15, and Ozell Campbell took 1 for 23; each off 3 overs respectively.

In reply, the Barbina XI raced to 96 for 3 off 10.5 overs.

Unlike the Sebai team, they found chasing the target easy, as they practically manhandled Sebai's weak bowling unit. They read the lines and lengths of the deliveries with precision, and Orison Sealy proved to be the most destructive batsman against a hapless bowling attack.

He produced an unbeaten 55 (6×6,1×4), for which he was later adjudged “man of the match”.

Barabina’s opening batsman Ainsworth Pritchard made a well calculated 16, and Anthony Brown at the other end contributed a quickfire 11 to help Barabina seal the victory.

These two teams are expected to play a friendly rematch this weekend at Mabaruma.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020

CWI PCL 2020 Regional 4-Day Championships…

23

C

ricket West Indies (CWI) today confirmed that the Barbados Pride have been declared winners of the 2020 Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional 4-Day Championships.

This following a Board of Directors’ teleconference held this afternoon in which, acting upon advice of the CWI Medical Advisory Committee, a decision was made to cancel the last two rounds of matches in the first-class season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With Barbados Pride topping the points table after the eighth round, the Board unanimously agreed to award the Headley/Weekes Trophy to Barbados (Trophy is named in honour of West Indies pioneers and icons George Headley and Sir Everton Weekes).

The tournaments and camps immediately affected by the decision made in respect to the coronavirus pandemic are as follows: Colonial Medical Insurance Women’s Super50 Cup, which has been postponed to later this year; Regional Under-19 Women’s T20 Championship, which has been postponed to later this year; Regional Under-15 Boys Championship, the 2020 staging of which has been cancelled; West Indies Under-15 Tour to England in the summer, which has been

Barbados Pride Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Guyana Jaguars Jamaica Scorpions Windward Islands Volcanoes Leeward Islands Hurricanes

“O

134.8 points 94.6 points 91.8 points 91.8 points 78 points 52.8 points

n behalf of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), I must express deep sadness on the death of our friend and supporter Robert Selman, who died on Monday last in his native homeland of Trinidad.

“We knew that he was ailing, but his death has left a huge (loss) that would be very difficult to replace; and, personally, I have lost a true friend, father figure, and a mentor, who is one of the main reasons why my work at the RHTY&SC, MS, and BCB has been so successful.

“I first met Mr Selman in 2003, when he asked the RHTY&SC to organise the Busta Champion of Champions 40 overs tournament in Berbice for his company.”The club and the BCB, according to president Hilbert Foster, have since hosted a total of sixteen editions of the very popular tournament, while their relationship with the company has

Barbados Pride are the Regional 4-Day Champs cancelled for 2020; West Indies High-Performance and International preparation training camps, which have been postponed until at least May 31, 2020.After the teleconferencing, Johnny Grave, the CEO of Cricket West Indies, confirmed: “All around the sporting world, we are faced with the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Cricket, cricketers and all our stakeholders involved in the game have been affected at various levels, and we must continue to work together and act responsibly in containing the spread of the virus.

“Ten days ago, we suspended our tournaments and camps

for 30 days; and now we have extended that suspension until the end of May, as well as reluctantly cancelled some tournaments and tours in their entirety. We will continue to monitor and assess the situation, and make further decisions and announcements in due course.”

Grave added that the health and safety of everyone concerned is paramount, and he noted that CWI has put all systems in place to make sure its staff are observing the necessary protocols as outlined by the CWI Medical Advisory Committee and the World Health Organisation.

CWI has also reinforced the importance for all Territorial Boards and Local Cricket Associations to follow the advice of their respective Ministries of Health. (CWI)

touched and changed thousands of lives in the Ancient County.

“He was a remarkable human being, who was caring, humble and down-to-heart despite his position. He had a strong passion to make sure that sport was used to improve the lives of less fortunate youths, and to promote the importance of education and discipline. The cricketing careers of numerous RHTY&SC members were made richer because of his love and encouragement.“Robert Selman never said no to any of our requests, and he was always available to give advice when we sought it. Players like Esuan and Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Shemaine Campbelle and Eon Hooper all benefited from the support he provided for over 15 years. “In October 2015, he became the first recipient of our highest award - The Dolphin Award of Excellence -for his contribution to sports and youth development.“Despite not

been a Guyanese, there are very few of our countrymen who could match his contribution to sports in our country. His support for cricket, football, cycling and other sports during his time in our country is well recorded.“The club (RHTY&SC), along with the BCB, would make sure that the memory of Robert Selman is kept alive by organizing a memorial. On behalf of the Management and members of the RHTY&SC, MS, and the BCB, we would like to express our deepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of Robert Selman. It is our sincere hope that God would guide and protect you during this difficult time. May his soul rest in peace. “Farewell, dear brother, and thanks for the rich memories you left behind.”Those were the words of tribute penned by Berbice Cricket Board President Hilbert Foster upon learning of the regrettable passing of the late Robert Selman.

CORONAVIRUS HOW TO HANDWASH? (COVID-19) WASH HANDS OR USE HAND SANITISERS

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

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)

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Page 23

Barbados Pride are the Regional 4-Day Champs

Page 22

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.