Guyana Times Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Coomacka community deals with aftermath P of flooding

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

Issue No. 4325

THE BEACON OF TRUTH TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020

Court of Appeal on declaration of elections results

GECOM must determine “more valid votes cast” to elect President

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Alarming 21 new COVID-19 P10 cases recorded in 24 hours …18 new cases in Moruca

See story on page 3

Valid votes already determined

by GECOM – Jagdeo See story on page 7

Construction worker shot dead in P14 Agricola

Rice farmer, friend shot during P15 birthday celebration Teen dies, P10 brother critical after Enmore hit and run

…says nothing preventing declaration

Persons in corrupt GECOM to deals will face meet today ...expected to make declaration consequences – Jagdeo Page 16

See story on page 15

GPL under fire for purchase …purchase approved by of overpriced trucks ‘internal’ tender board Page 16

Peacemaker stabbed to death after intervening in husband-wife P14 fight

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TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, June 23 – 05:00h – 06:30h and Wednesday, June 24 – 05:00h – 06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, June 23 – 05:15h – 06:45h and Wednesday, June 24 – 06:00h – 07:30h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain and light cloud will prevail throughout the day. There will be partly cloudy skies and light rain at night. Temperatures should range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to North-Easterly to North North-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 18:13h reaching a maximum height of 2.52 metres.

Low Tide: 11:45h and 23:59h reaching minimum heights of 0.53 metre and 0.72 metre.

COMMODITIES Indicators

US$

Change %

Crude Oil

$43.08/barrel

+2.07

Rough Rice

$218.84 /ton

+0.15

London Sugar

$364.50/ton

-1.03

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1749.30

$1750.30

Low/High

$1739.90

$1765.90

Change

-5.00

-0.29%

Court of Appeal on declaration of elections results

GECOM must determine “more valid votes cast” to elect President

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he Appeal Court in a 2:1 decision has determined that it has jurisdiction to interpret Article 177 (4) of the Constitution of Guyana which it claims, speaks to the election of a President when the interpretation of the Constitution is being invoked but the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) must determine “if more valid votes are cast” for a list.

This decision was made by both High Court Judge, Justice Brassington Reynolds and Appeal Court President Justice Dawn Gregory; however, Appeal Court Judge Justice Rishi Persaud had ruled that the Appeal Court has no jurisdiction to address the claim of the plaintiff. None of the Judges granted the application for an injunction to block GECOM’s declaration but rather has granted a three-day stay on its orders.

This means that GECOM’s Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh could go ahead with her request for the final elections report as it is the Commission that decides what are the “valid votes” cast at the March 2, 2020 elections.

The case, brought by A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) supporter, Eslyn David sought several reliefs under Article 177 (4) of the Constitution and among them, it included the question as to whether “more votes are cast” in Article 177 (2) (b) can be determined as “more valid votes.”

Justice Persaud in his ruling stated David is, in essence, contending that the order required the determination that the elections were credible and ultimately urged the court to pronounce.

“I have perused the various pieces of legislation that governs the elections process and powers of GECOM and I am unable to find any provision which even suggest that GECOM is empowered to embark on what would be an evidential case of credibility exercise and by extensions annul an elections process. That jurisdiction falls exclusively within the realms of an Election Court and the Chair of GECOM so aptly determined,” he said in the summing up of his judgement.

Justice Persaud went on to note that the issues raised before the court are not concerned with the interpretation of the Constitution and opined that the issues fall squarely within the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court under and by virtue of Article 163 (1) (b).

“The unlawfulness or otherwise of an act of omission is clearly a matter for the Elections Court. It should be noted that I deliberately refrained from dealing with in any particu-

Justice Rishi Persaud

Justice Dawn Gregory

Justice Brassington Reynolds

lar detail those core and peripheral issues which have arisen here which may be the subject matter for consideration by an Elections Court. This is of course in an effort to avoid what may amount to pronouncements or opinions prejudicial to the Elections Court consideration of those issues properly before it…I find that this Notice of Motion is wholly misconceived and is according struck out for what of jurisdiction,” the Judge ordered.

However, Both Gregory and Reynolds said that the court has narrow jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter under Article 177 (4) which states: “The Court of Appeal shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any question as to the validity of an election of a President in so far as the question depends upon the qualification of any person for election or the interpretation of this Constitution; and any decision of that court under this paragraph shall be final.”

Nevertheless, Justice Gregory agreed with Justice Reynolds in his ruling that Article 177 (4) establishes separate exclusive juris-

diction to the Appeal Court in relation to the hearing of qualification of any person as President or the interpretation of the Constitution in regards to such matters.

Justice Reynolds went on to

state that the High Court does not have exclusive jurisdiction on the case since it was filed within the correct jurisdiction – the Appeal Court.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020

Views Nagamootoo clutching at thin air

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

Coalition’s knee on the necks of Guyanese

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he coalition Government clearly has its knee on the neck of the nation considering all that has happened in the last five years or so up to the point of the current legal battle, which was initiated by the coalition to block the rightful winner of the elections from being declared.

The de facto Government, led by its leader President David Granger, is fighting to the very end to hold on to power at all costs, even if it means taking the country down a path of destruction. The winner of the 2020 Elections is clear, yet there are impediments being deliberately put in the way to prevent the results from being declared so that the electoral process can come to an end to allow the country to move forward.

Even at a time when the nation should have been focused on fighting a pandemic, it has to be painfully occupied with dealing with a government who refuses to listen to the majority who have spoken in clear terms that the coalition’s time is up and it must make way for a legitimate government.

It must be noted that the coalition Government has been defeated and rejected not once, but twice by the majority in the past 18 months – first, via the no-confidence motion in December 2018 and then its massive defeat at the polls in March this year.

Following its defeat via the confidence vote, the Government forced itself to remain in power for over a year.

Elections should have been held three months later, but the APNU/AFC used every conceivable avenue to delay the holding of the elections. The polls were finally held in March this year resulting in the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic securing a convincing win. However, it is now almost four months since the polls were held and even though the results are known, it looks as if the nation is in for the long haul again.

With all the twists and turns, Guyanese are becoming fed up of all the machinations by the APNU/AFC to hang on to power. The meaning of the words “more valid votes” is now the issue they are seeking to create much confusion about. On Monday, citizens were expecting that the legal matter blocking the results from being declared would have been thrown out as the contention has always been that the Court of Appeal has no jurisdiction to hear such matters regarding credibility of an elections. These are matters which must form part of an elections petition after the results are declared and the Government is sworn in.

In any case, the issue of valid votes had already been settled by the Commission when it directed the Chief Elections Officer to present his report on the basis of the results coming out of the national recount. The votes from the various regions were added up and presented to the Commission as valid votes for each political party. These were figures certified by all the international and local observers and political parties, except APNU/AFC. It should also be mentioned that the law is clear on what a valid vote is; that is once the intention of the voter is clear, his/her vote must be counted as valid. Additionally, during the recount, each vote was carefully checked in the presence of all parties and other stakeholders, using modern technology, to ensure it was valid.

The recount process, which turned out to be an audit, could have easily matched any other electoral system anywhere in the world regarding its transparency. It was on this basis the results for each electoral district was compiled showing the PPP/C securing more valid votes than all of the other parties.

The coalition Government is now barefacedly working with others in the Elections Commission to push a false narrative in an attempt to discredit the recount process and the report by the independent Caricom Observer Team. Its aim is to invalidate the valid votes which would see over 285,000 voters losing their votes. We urge all stakeholders to speak out against this undemocratic and lawless action by the coalition. It has lost the confidence of the majority of citizens and business cannot be as usual.

The Commission is meeting again today to discuss the ruling by the Court of Appeal. Legal minds have proffered that there is nothing preventing GECOM from moving ahead and declaring the results of the elections. We had said many times before, the Chairperson has the power to act and bring this madness to a halt.

Dear Editor, Shortly after the decision by the Court of Appeal in the case brought by Eslyn David vs GECOM in which a number of others were joined, the Office of the Prime Minister issued a statement which concluded: “that on the basis of the valid votes, the incumbent coalition Government will be re-elected for a second term”. That is absolute and dangerous nonsense.

The Prime Minister is, of course, an attorney-at-law with some considerable experience.

He is, therefore, presumed to understand how to read and understand judgments of the court. He must be aware that the applicant, clearly financed and supported by the coalition, sought six separate orders and or declarations. Of these, five were dispatched in short order and rejected. Among those rejected were declarations that: 1. A declaration that GECOM failed to act in accordance with the terms of the recount Order No 60 of 2020 which was carefully crafted to favour the APNU/AFC. 2. An order restraining Lowenfield from complying with the direction of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission in relation to Article 177 (2) (b) which would give the Presidency to Dr Irfaan Ally.

3. An order restraining Lowenfield from complying with the direction of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission in a letter dated the 16th day of June 2020 to submit an Elections Report under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act without the Guyana Elections Commission de-

termining the final credible count and or the credibility of the results of the General and Regional Elections.

4. An Order restraining the Chief Elections Officer from submitting to the Guyana Elections Commission an Elections Report under Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution containing votes which are not credible within the meaning of Order No. 60 of 2020.

5. An order restraining the Chief Elections Officer from submitting to the Elections Commission an Elections Report under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act which allocates regional and top-up seats to the parties.

In other words, the court granted to David and the coalition nothing of substance or value. Nagamootoo is clutching

at thin air. What makes it dangerous is that he knows what he has said is complete baloney but that there will be persons who will believe what he says because he is the Prime Minister.

The only order which the court granted was that there be an interpretation of the words “more votes are cast” in Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution of Guyana. The Court ruled that this means valid votes while rejecting the attempt to have inserted the notion of credible votes. It is a bold thing for any court to insert any words in a statute and worse when that statute is the supreme law. Lord Mersey in Thompson v Goolds [1910] said: “It is a strong thing to read into an Act of Parliament words which are not there,

Dear Justice Claudette Singh, This is my first letter ever written to any public figure, even more doing so publicly.

This letter’s intention is not to be disrespectful or harsh in any way.

Many great writers have graced this newspaper with amazing pieces of literature that come from their archives of experience and no doubt great academic accolades. I am writing with no experience and definitively no fancy accolades, but as a young, humble citizen, most importantly from a place I would call instinctive parental desperation. Excuse me if my point strays little or even jumps around, at the end you will get my point. I’m in a position as a husband of three years and father of a mere baby, making my plea for clarity on the way forward as a citizen of this country.

You see Ms Singh, decisions of importance for my family’s wellbeing and life are now solely at your feet. Let me explain my heart’s concern. I have to raise a child in an environment where truth and integrity bear no weight, where morals and values have been eroded by precedents of selfishness and greed. The truth

now is what one or groups of individuals deem it to be. Let me explain. Pre 2015 elections, the PPP, a one (1) seat minority Government received hints that they could lose the forthcoming elections because they became complacent and neglected the people, they refused to listen and that’s the truth. People wanted change and believed that the APNU/ AFC was that genuine change, that’s the truth. In 2015, the people’s freedom of choice took effect and APNU/AFC became the new Government. You see, some of the very supporters of the PPP, mostly Indians, crossed the bridge of uncertainty with the hope of change for all Guyanese. And that’s the truth!

You see, for the first but not the last time, Guyanese like myself united by taking the power of choice to vote for whoever he or she wanted and voted for APNU/AFC. That’s the truth! Each used their constitutional right! You see, APNU now became a one (1) seat majority Government.

And they used it with fury, forgetting so quickly that they were there to first serve.

And that’s the truth. Now, as time progressed, that bridge of uncertainty was tested and

the people lost confidence in them. On December 21, 2018, that one seat made history in the first-ever No-Confidence Motion against the APNU/ AFC Government. That’s the truth! Despite what many might say about Charrandas Persaud, he spoke for me when he said the AFC had no voice, because that’s how I felt at the time as a die-hard Indian supporter of the AFC. From that date, the truth started losing value. The men and women I once looked up to became so desperate to hold on to power, that they manipulated the truth. And that’s the truth!

We were put to shame when the world laughed at us because the APNU Government went to the CCJ to find out what the majority of 65 is “OMG”, “wow” that’s the TRUTH! Refusing to have elections held in the constitutionally mandated time of 3 months, the erosion of law started. You see, if this story was the other way around, APNU would never have allowed PPP to stay in office if a vote of no confidence was passed against them. Hook or crook we would have had elections in the mandated 3 months. That’s the truth.

The back and forth and poli-

and in the absence of clear necessity (emphasis added) it is a wrong thing to do.” I recall Chancellor Massiah endorsing those words in the Mohammed Alli case and it remains sound advice.

I am not criticising the courts for doing so except to say that they must be aware that votes must mean valid votes since it would be an absurdity to think that an unlawful, illegal, fake or spoilt vote would be considered a valid vote. In fact, Section 87 of the Representation of the People Act spell out the votes which must be rejected as invalid and not counted for any candidate or party. Nagamootoo must be aware that both the Statements of Poll which showed that the APNU/AFC had lost the elections and the Statements of Recount which were endorsed by GECOM, local and international observers and the Caricom scrutineering team counted only valid votes as defined by ROPA. Nagamootoo – and his portfolio of Chronicle and Department of Public Information – are playing a very dangerous and opportunistic game in building the hopes of the supporters of the coalition when in fact even their court options are running out. The decision by the Court of Appeal has added nothing and has taken away nothing from the March elections. At the end of all these shenanigans and timewasting that is costing the country billions, Nagamootoo and his coalition will be seen as poor losers.

Sincerely, Christopher Ram

Open letter to GECOM Chair

ticians playing politics over a Chairperson for the Elections Commission carried on for months, then finally, you, Justice Claudette Singh, were selected. Because that title in front of your name has relevance and importance. Also, you were deemed to be a person of impeccable character.

You became the Chairperson of GECOM, responsible for free and fair elections. Answerable to no one.

Except, that title that binds you to the premise of integrity, the Constitution and the ultimate rule of law. You see Ms Singh, you have passed judgments throughout your career on mere mortals using that very Constitution. And that’s the truth. That’s why my clarity lies solely at your feet. You see, on March 2, 2020, every eligible Guyanese used their constitutional right to vote for a party of their choice. On the 6th of March to now, that constitutional right has been under threat by the same party that unified people 5 years ago to put them into power. That’s the truth. You see, I have seen a President and Government campaigning under a banner of truth and integrity. And that is nothing close to the truth.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020

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

A nation in disgrace The Court of

Dear Editor, A colloquial term famous in Guyana is “going to the water side” or “going to the sea wall.” Both of these expressions indicate an intention of the British “going to the seaside” and the American “going to the beach,” especially in the Summer and, immediately what is pictured in the mind is sun-bathing, swimming, barbecuing, fun, frolicking and games, strolling, picnicking or just lying or sitting on a folding chair under a beach umbrella with your sunglasses on, enjoying the scenery and the air with a book. In Guyana, the same trend of thought prevails with a requisite for “ going to 63 Beach” on Easter Monday, but, with a distinction that most of the beaches in the foreign lands are landscaped with clear (blue) waters and white sands versus most of our beaches, you will find the rich brown sand and the warm, murky-type water. It is so unravelling to walk on the beach in the water, barefoot, feeling the water circling caressingly around your ankles and your feet dipping threateningly into the sinking sands! But, a visit to the seaside or beach or sea wall, wherever and whenever, satisfies the lungs with the smell of refreshing salt air, free of toxins and rejuvenating the body when inhaled with invigoration.

At the time of writing, Guyana is imploding from the election ruckus, manufactured by the reckless coalition party and, a long and painful wait is still endured by the patient Guyanese patriots, glued to the media for the outcome of the Appeal Court’s decision on the mischievous “Motion” case that lacks the spirit of emotion and compassion, but strictly with a commotion seeking to deny the will of the people. In the interim, it is heartening and comforting to see, hear and read about so many Guyanese, openly pledging their support to the President-elect, Dr Irfaan Ali, indicating a commitment towards nation-building in unity and diversity. Many are coming aboard his bandwagon, discarding a bitter past from the election fiasco, realising how they were fooled and led astray by a syndicate of cahoots, led by no other than the head of the deceivers who continues to play the dangerous role of “Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.”

With the call of “enough is enough,” “refusing to wait quietly and politely,” being labelled as “devious crooks” and “sanctimonious gangster”, it is not surprising that daily, many conscientious individuals from all walks of life are confessing that they were misled by propaganda and by those greedy for power and money to satisfy the means of living a good life for themselves at the expense of the entire nation. It is not only refreshing but reassuring also that Guyanese are waking up and committing themselves to cross all borders that were hurdled viciously unto their paths for survival and turn a blind eye to the lurid call of a fraudulent claim of irregularities being echoed by an out of tune sym-

phony of tasteless musicians. It is without any component of shame that the majority of the coalition party continues to hide behind an inhibition of illusion, dreaming in a world fantasy, grasping to a floating feather, seeking refuge in desperation and hoping for a miracle that perhaps exists only in the movie world with a nickname of “Never Say Never.”

Despite the numberless calls and intellectual advice enumerated by the vociferous warnings from dignitaries, leaders, academics, professionals, parties, organisations and individuals both nationally and internationally, the callous caretaker charge d’affaires, Mr Granger, blatantly refuses to concede to the transparency of the election recount result, confirming that the PPP/C generated 233,336 votes and the APNU/AFC secured 217,920 votes, thereby mathematically earning a lead of 15,416 votes and paving the way for Dr Irfaan Ali to be legitimately elected as President of Guyana. His consistent denial of the RO of Region Four’s behaviour, precluding the smooth operation of the election process and hindering the transparency of its counting, stuns not only the entirety of Guyana but also the world at large and influences all with the firm conviction that he is determined to collude with fraudulent misgivings and support the dishonourable action of deceitful and dishonest behaviour, unacceptable to the global community that supports free and fair election.

A high number of the supporters of the coalition party have no alternative but to unhesitatingly and openly endorse all the derogatory remarks associated with the defamation of his character, including, reflecting his twisted tongues, repudiating established and verified affirmations, detracting from truth and honesty, backtracking of his words and promises, impeding the growth of this country and contributing towards the direct suffrage and survival of the struggling people. This shocking attitude of a man once perceived as religious, dignified and truthful, not only leaves much to be desired but more so, casts aspersions towards his credibility for continued leadership of the party and to question his soundness of mind in the ambit of sanity! The blind cannot lead the blind and his supporters are not naïve and/or gullible, not stupid or silly and should not be taken for granted. Rather, they are intelligent, truthful, honest, conscious and fully supportive of free and fair elections and can read, write, see for themselves and are culpable of differentiating right from wrong. They do not need anyone like him to poison their minds ever again and afford them the sad opportunity of committing a mistake that they will later have to regret and be ashamed of.

Guyana is a gorgeous country, filled with heartwarming people who deserve to live in peace and harmony with each other and casting no aspersions on caste, creed or ethnicity and wanting to bury

Open letter to...

You see Ms Singh, I have seen this Government of truth and integrity prepare and fight in the courts to accept a declaration that is an inflated lie; they have disrespected every Guyanese by trying to take our freedom of choice. They have lied and changed their story so often, they have disrespected your staff and their own party agents.

The recount was completed on June 7, 2020. The tabulation process soon followed.

And they have thrown their

agents at the recount under the bus by refusing to sign the various regional tabulation declarations.

Declarations prepared from SoRs that their agents signed. The numbers have spoken for themselves. You see, this is why the clarity I need for myself and family lies with you madam Chair. If you support the incumbent, Guyana will enter true hardship that will bring hardship for myself and family and many others.

Right now this delay is causing harm to many. The pro-

this demoralised monster; who only desire to strive for the benefit of raising a family that can prosper only under the umbrella of a justified and elected Government, wanting to work free and fair for all the people; who will love and cherish the prosperity provided by a Government that functions in transparency; who can respect and honour a Government that disbars itself from all discrimination; who can work and develop this country that maintains a Government that is committed to national unity and manages with professional integrity and who desire an uninterrupted lifestyle that does not inhibit peace and stability and a Government that upholds the true meaning of liberty and equality on a national distribution level.

As the turbulent rain descended with all its might, rancour and beauty on this fertile land and exceptional people, is it synonymous with the proceedings of the Appeal Court and the findings of the Judges who ruled by a majority of 2 to 1 this Monday afternoon? In a layman’s terms from the man in the street, the understanding of the court has jurisdiction to listen to the applicant’s case, this definition of more votes cast meaning more valid votes cast, the order does not take effect by way of a three-day stay and no injunctions granted, all these implications only add to more complications and the average person is probably more at sea than at land. Is it back to GECOM to validate the interpretation of what is “valid”? Is the report from the CEO of GECOM based on the required recount result as requested by the madam Chair or is it in concurrence with his analogy of valid votes allowing an advantage for APNU/AFC. What will be the stand taken by the madam Chair, the honourable Ms Claudette Singh? Will she agree or disagree with Mr Lowenfield’s submissions? Her seat is once again on top of a towering inferno. Will there be an appeal to Monday’s findings from the Appeal Court? Questions more than answers are being entertained and not in a welcoming mode, for Guyana again sits on a waiting list and the frustration and uneasiness builds a crescendo that fuels a shattered dream of solvent probabilities and a quick resolution! Who is surprised and who is not? The saga and sad state of affairs continue at the demise of the Guyanese people and a keen and attentive international audience continues to look on in dismay and disappointment.

The hearts are bleeding and the tears flow profusely, not from the rain! This nation goes to sleep, drenched in shame and disgrace from a ruthless deceptor!

This beautiful country needs a breath of fresh air as afforded by the cool and refreshing breeze from the Atlantic Ocean, still free and fair from inhibitions and controlled only by the power of the unseen.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

FROM PAGE 4

cess of unity started when the various parties united to fight the blatant attempt to steal the rights of the people.

Please do not allow wicked and evil men to forever bring your name to curse and disrespect for putting our beloved country to more shame and hardship. You have the power to give birth to truth, integrity and honesty. You can become the mother of this land by doing what is right. By honouring the will of the people and the Constitution. Let your legacy be one that says, “Justice

Claudette Singh, the mother of the land of Guyana”, “The woman that stood against dictatorship and preserved freedom of choice for all”. Let unity and our motto be preserved and more so restored where we truly become one people, one nation and one destiny.

Please give me the chance and my family the chance to live and make Guyana great.

To make a place I will forever love and call home.

Yours truly, Dr Kanhai

Appeal ruling

Dear Editor, Now that the Court of Appeal has given its ruling on “more votes cast” to mean “more valid votes cast”, one wonders at how GECOM intends to determine the validity of each and every vote for about 465,000 voters.

Clearly, GECOM would need to run an election and do a forensic audit to determine the validity of each

and every vote.

What happens when the voting population reaches 1 billion people? How does one conduct an election and do a forensic audit on 1 billion people?

We may as well do away with elections which subvert the will of people.

Yours faithfully, Sean Ori

Hoping NIS contributions for sugar workers are credited accurately

Dear Editor, The GAWU refers to an article titled “NIS denies cutting benefits to sugar workers” which appeared in the media on June 21, 2020, wherein the NIS’ Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ms Dianne Lewis clarified that the Scheme hasn’t suspended benefits to sugar workers from the beginning of this year.

On this matter, as we shared before, the Scheme’s local offices we interact with have communicated a 180-degree position from that of the PRO. We recognise that Ms Lewis did not specifically advise whether it is all claims, irrespective of the date of submission, that would be honoured or if there has been a restriction based on the date of submission as we have been previously advised. We presume

it’s the former rather than the latter and would not wish to engage in splitting hairs on the issue.

We nevertheless are heartened by this clarity and expect that this instruction will be clearly and unambiguously communicated to all local offices. The GAWU expects too that the several claims by sugar workers which have been held back on the supposed instruction will be quickly processed and payments prepared for the workers concerned. Similarly, from the utterances of the PRO, we suppose that workers’ NIS contributions are credited accurately to their records.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

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TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020

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Foundation

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

Below are the first part of Mathematics Paper 2, 2010, the conclusion of English Paper 2, 2016 and CXC Maths.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE SIX ASSESSMENT Reading Time: 10 minutes Writing Time: 45 minutes READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. 1. WRITE YOUR CANDIDATE NUMBER CLEARLY

MATHEMATICS

ON EACH PAGE.

2. This paper contains SIX questions. You are required to answer QUESTION ONE and THREE others. EACH question is worth 5 marks.

3. Be sure to answer FULLY the FOUR questions .

Question one is compulsory 1

1

2

1. (a) 4 5 + 3 – 1 6 (2 marks) (b) (7.2 + 5) x 0.6 (3 marks) 2. (a) After travelling 60 km, a motorist still had 50% of the journey to travel. What was the total length of the journey? ____________________________________________________ (2 marks) (b) If the motorist took 3 hours for the whole journey, calculate his average speed. ____________________________________________________ (3 marks) Use the Table below to answer question 3.

4. Write your answer in the space provided in the booklet.

5. Drawings and handwriting MUST be clear at ALL TIMES. 6. Each step of your work MUST be CLEARLY shown in the booklet.

3. (a) What is the difference in mass, between Sunita and Nancy? ____________________________________________________ (1 mark) (b) Between which two children is there the smallest difference in mass? _____________________________________________________

(1 mark) (c) Which two children will give a total of 85 kg? ____________________________________________________ (1 mark) (d) (i) Between which two children is there the greatest difference in mass? ___________________________________________________ (ii) What is the difference in their mass? ___________________________________________________ (2 marks)

TO BE CONTINUED

7. If you have to erase, do so cleanly.

8. Look over your work when you have finished.

9. DO NOT take away ANY part of this booklet.

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

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PAPER 2 SECTION A Answer ONE question in this section OR ONE question in Section B In about 120-150 words, write a letter based on the information below.

1. Write a letter to your headteacher requesting permission for your class to go on a field trip. Give three reasons which could convince him to give permission for the trip.

OR 2. A learning resource centre contains a library, computers and access to internet services. Write a letter to the chief education officer outlining three benefits of having a learning resource centre in your village.

OR 3. You did something hurtful to your friend. Write a letter apologising to your friend and giving three reasons why the two of you should make every effort to resume the friendship.

OR 4. Write a letter to the headteacher of the school in your area in which you complain about the pupils who steal mangoes from the tree in your yard. In your letter, outline three ways you are affected by the action of the pupils.

END OF TEST

CXC MATHS Solve for y

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Valid votes already determined by GECOM – Jagdeo …says nothing preventing declaration

G

eneral Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo has made it clear that nothing is preventing the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) from moving ahead to make an official declaration of the results of the March 2 General and Regional Elections since the issue of “valid votes” has already been “settled” by the Commission.

Jagdeo was at the time giving an initial reaction to the decision by the Court of Appeal regarding the issue of valid votes and the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case brought by A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For

directed Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, to present his report based on the figures coming out of the National Recount which show that the PPP/C secured more valid votes than any other party that contested the polls.

“Total valid votes have already been determined by the Commission…They didn’t do it on the whims or the fancies of the APNU or Lowenfield, they did it on the basis of documentary evidence presented to them by Lowenfield,” Jagdeo posited.

“Validity of the votes have already been determined. And they have already been determined and recorded in all the statuto-

Commission and vest it with Lowenfield or in Congress Place,” he added.

Jagdeo added that all of the international and local observers during the elections and recount have already determined that the recount was credible and the final declaration should be on the basis of those results.

Change (APNU/AFC) supporter, Eslyn David, which sought to block GECOM from declaring the elections results.

While the court did not grant the injunction, Appeal Court Judges Dawn Gregory and Brassington Reynolds ruled that the Court of Appeal has jurisdiction to interpret Article 177 (4) of the Constitution of Guyana.

However, Justice Rishi Persaud had ruled that the Appeal Court has no jurisdiction and as such, struck out the motion.

According to the Opposition Leader, the issue of valid votes had already been determined by the Commission and should set the stage for a declaration.

In his virtual broadcast, Jagdeo explained that the Commission had already decided what valid votes are.

They did this when they

ry form. So, there’s nothing that stops a declaration at this point in time. No court ruling, no order. They can’t take away the powers of the

Court of Appeal could not mean that Lowenfield or any single political party, and in this case APNU, can solely determine what valid votes

Credible

He pointed out that the Caribbean Community (Caricom) itself, which was given special provisions in the recount order to pronounce on the elections, has also made it clear that the recount results are credible.

“On the question of validity of votes, clearly the

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

are.”

“This has to be determined on a process…and we are contending that this is already catered for in our laws. Lowenfield and APNU are not trying to determine

valid votes, they are trying to invalidate valid votes.

That is the issue here,” Jagdeo argued.

The General Secretary

GECOM Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

said that the coalition is desperately trying to use all avenues, including the court system and elements within the electoral machinery, to hang on to power and continue pillaging the country’s resources.

Jagdeo noted that based on the narrative being pushed by the coalition, a narrative supported

by Lowenfield in his heavily opinionated summary of the Observation Reports, “285,000 voters will lose their votes.”

The Court of Appeal on Monday agreed by its majority decision to issue an order that the words “more votes are cast” in Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution of Guyana, be interpreted as more valid votes are cast.”

Among the things David had sought was an order from the court restraining the CEO from “complying with the direction of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission… to submit to the Guyana Elections Commission an Elections Report under Article 177 (2) ( b) of the Constitution of Guyana [and under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act] without the Guyana Elections Commission determining the final credible

count and or the credibility of the General and Regional Elections…” The court declined to grant such an order.

David had also sought an order restraining the CEO from submitting to GECOM, his Elections Report which “contains votes that are not valid and credible” within the meaning of Order No 60 of 2020, and under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act. Importantly, the Court of Appeal refused to grant this order.

The court was also asked

by David to make a declaration that GECOM has failed to “determine a final credible count and or the credibility of the result of the General and Regional Elections” in accordance with Order No 60 of 2020 and the amended order dated the 29th day of May 2020.

GECOM meets today, where a decision is expected to be taken on how to move forward with the court ruling. GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, has already made it clear that GECOM is not a court of law and cannot determine the veracity of allegations made by the coalition. Moreover, she has said that he who accuses must also prove.

8 NEWS

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020

| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Berbice teen was pregnant, died by drowning, blunt trauma to head – PME

Dead: Melissa Soman called “Lisa”

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n autopsy performed on the remains of 17-year-old Melissa Soman called “Lisa,” whose body was pulled from the Berbice River on Friday, proved that she drowned and suffered blunt trauma to the head.

The post-mortem was performed by Government pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh on Monday at the New Amsterdam Hospital Mortuary.

During the post-mortem, it was revealed that the teen was pregnant.

However, the teen’s 22-year-old boyfriend, who is

expected to make a court appearance soon, had confessed to the heinous crime during interrogation.

He reportedly told detectives that an argument erupted between him and the mother of one during which he assaulted her. In a bid to escape, the young woman jumped overboard and never surfaced.

He accused Soman of Lot 58 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), of being unfaithful with a cousin of his.

Initially, the suspect’s uncle, who was the captain of the boat at the time the woman jumped to her death, when questioned told investigators that Soman confided in him about the constant fights between his nephew and her. He noted that after the teen plunged overboard, the suspect went to save her but it was too late.

The 48-year-old labourer was nevertheless taken into custody shortly after the girl’s lifeless body was discovered.

However, the suspect in his confession to the police claimed that he had found out about the teen’s infidel-

A day of infamy…

J The suspects being escorted by Police after visiting the scene of the crime

ity and started beating her while travelling in the small wooden boat.

He told Police that the now dead teen jumped overboard to save herself from him but the boat captain rescued her.

He admitted that as they reentered the boat, he beat both of them and for the second time, the teen plunged overboard but the result was different this time around.

Her body was found floating 16 hours later, some 50 miles up the Berbice River.

Soman left her Stanleytown home in March

to spend time with her boyfriend and returned briefly for the funeral of her boyfriend’s mother in May. She had left her two-year-old son with her parents.

The girl’s boyfriend along with his uncle are currently in Police custody as lawmen await advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to determine the way forward.

Meanwhile, the Humanitarian Mission Guyana Inc has come forward to assist with Soman’s burial, which is slated for Friday.

One Mile store robbery

Suspect gets 4 years for armed robbery, unlawful wounding

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Linden man was on Monday sentenced to four years behind bars by Magistrate Wanda Fortune when he made a virtual appearance at the Linden Magistrate’s Court after he pleaded guilty to armed robbery and unlawful wounding charges.

Twenty-four-year-old Keon Harlequin also called “Peas” of One Mile, Wismar, Linden, pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on June 10, 2020, he robbed a store belonging to Herbert Campbell at One Mile, Wismar. In addition, he was charged for unlawfully wounding Campbell.

Nevertheless, he was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for the armed robbery charge and one year on the unlawful wounding charge. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Last Monday, Harlequin was sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment on a firearm possession charge.

The court heard that he had a .32 pistol and two .32 ammunition in his possession during the incident on Wednesday, June 10. The defendant, who is a labourer, was not the holder of a firearm license at the time.

Harlequin was arrested

by Police following the rob-

Robbery convict: Keon Harlequin also called “Peas”

bery which led to the death of his accomplice, 22-yearold Kevin Batson. He was reportedly shot and killed after robbing the “Sadam”

Hardware Store where they made off with several items including an undisclosed sum of cash.

After committing the robbery, they were pursued by the store owner and a friend, who discharged several rounds in their direction, thus hitting Batson.

Ranks were later summoned to the scene and also discharged several rounds in the direction of the perpetrators, killing Batson in the process. The police later managed to recover the store owner’s wallet and identification card along with numerous other items from their possession.

Judge orders Top Cop to release man posing with guns in social media video …72-hour detention period expired

Jermaine Kingston

H

igh Court Judge Simone MorrisRamlall on Sunday ordered Commissioner of Police Leslie James to release Jermaine Kingston from custody days after he

was arrested for displaying a cache of firearms.

The Top Cop was served with the court order last Sunday following a Zoom hearing in which the defence lawyers argued that the 72hour detention period had expired.

The Judge ordered that Kingston be released from custody immediately, and that $150,000 be awarded to the applicant. Failure to comply with the terms, one will be held in contempt of court and may be liable to imprisonment or have assets confiscated.

However, following the ruling, a habeas corpus was

The firearms on display

filed on Kingston’s behalf

by John Marcus through Attorney-at-Law Everton Singh Lammy.

Last week, 26-year-old Kingston was arrested, and a number of firearms be-

longing to a private security firm were seized following the circulation of a video on social media.

In the video, he was heard making threatening remarks.

…for the Judiciary ust when you thought that – with the PNC controlling the Executive and the legislature in caretaker mode more than a hundred days after the elections – things couldn’t get worse – it went to “disastrous”. The only institution standing between them and absolute authoritarianism was the Judiciary – with the Constitution as its lodestone – to protect “we, the people”.

However, with the just-announced 2-1 decision by the Appellate Court to even entertain the PNC’s case that they needed to interpret Art 177 (2) (b) – which simply states that the person at the head of the list for which “more votes are cast” becomes President – you know our “cork duck”!! The PNC wanted the phrase to mean “more valid votes are cast” – and Justices Gregory and Reynolds handed them their wish on a platter.

This, of course, was the end game for the PNC, the moment the recount was embarked on. THEY knew that Mingo had “cocked” the numbers for them – which would be uncovered during the recount. What to do?? They decided to cast doubt on the ENTIRE electoral process by claiming thousands of dead and migrated Guyanese had voted!! And not only that – but to assert that all of the ballots in each of the boxes that had these (unproven) “irregularities” were also “invalid”!!

Lowenfield went along with the plan and prepared a report that moved from the PPP winning by 15,000 votes, they were now losing by 68,000 – disenfranchising 270,000 voters in the process!! Checkmated by the Chair using her casting vote to tell Lowenfield not to “play the fool”, the PNC went forum shopping for a friendly court. We should’ve figured out the fix was in then and there when they ignored all precedent and went to the Appellate Court.

The same Appellate Court that had ruled 33 wasn’t the majority of 65!! As with that beauty, Justice Persaud pointed out the emperor was buck nekked!! While Gregory and Reynolds twisted themselves into pretzels to first find that the Appellate Court had jurisdiction to hear the case and that GECOM must now only pronounce on “valid” votes cast!!

Your Eyewitness isn’t going to waste your time with the shameful sophistry from the two affirmatives – you just knew from the way Gregory and Reynolds stumbled over their words, it was possibly the first time they were looking at “their” judgements!!

But the Iron Lady hasn’t sung quite yet. As the GECOM Chair had asked in her submission, if the court ruled for the plaintiff (which they did) “Is GECOM to hold court and take evidence?” to evaluate “valid” votes??

Can the Appellate Court transmute GECOM into an Elections Court?? Of course, they can’t. …must be blotted out But meanwhile the smirking PNC shouldn’t count their eggs quite yet. While the Appellate Court’s order calls for “valid” votes, isn’t this what Claudette Singh was instructing Lowenfield to put together after he arbitrarily wiped out hundreds of thousands of voters as if he were Thanos from the Avengers universe??

Let’s be clear about this “valid” votes business. Isn’t this what the recount produced?? Every Statement of Recount (SoR) declared that, using the rules from the gazetted order, some spoiled votes were added while some accepted votes were discarded, and the result declared VALID votes. At the end, the Certificates of Recount summarised all of the SoRs

by Regions and produced the report of all the VALID votes cast for the various lists.

The law says that the Commission must USE the Report prepared by the CEO (Lowenfield), but that simply means that the Commission must evaluate that report and make its own announcement.

We have the precedent when a calculation by a previous CEO Boodhoo was overturned.

The Chairwoman can show she’s nobody’s rubber stamp!! …that must be called out They say a people get the leaders they deserve. That’s not entirely true when leaders like the PNC will go as far as assassinating alternative leaders.

Stand up, Guyana!!

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

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GECOM must determine “more valid votes...

“The completion of the electoral process by a declaration of results is not a necessary precondition to invoke the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal under Article 177 (4) – that any person at any stage during the elections process may approach the Court of Appeal pursuant to Article 177 (4) seeking the interpretation of any provision of the Constitution so far as such an interpretation impacted, touched or concern the election of a President,” he said.

“In my respectful assessment of these submissions, the Constitution of Guyana establish separate elections for Members of the National Assembly and for the President even though those elections are taken together,” Justice Reynolds added.

He explained that Article 163 confers on the High Court an exclusive jurisdiction to determine questions as to the membership and elections to the National Assembly, furthering that Article 163 speaks nothing about the election of a President, opining that the Appeal Court is so empowered.

“The President is not a member of the National Assembly and so that distinction is being made consistently in the constitutional architecture. The President is being treated separately…it is clear from my review that there is no provision in Article 163 or the National Assembly Validity of Elections Act which is applicable to the President,” the Judge noted.

Justice Reynolds ruled the High Court, in Article 163 of the National Assembly Validity of Elections Act, does not hear matters in relation to the election of a President, explaining that the original jurisdiction lies with the Court of Appeal.

He furthered that the question of concurrent or competing jurisdiction as argued by Trinidadian Senior Counsel, Douglas Mendes for People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate Dr Irfaan Ali, and General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, does not arise.

“In my respectful view, the issue before the court is one that as to the validity of the President which in the instant circumstances depends on the interpretation of the Constitution namely Article 177 (2) and that Article 177 (4) affords jurisdiction in that regard in order to ascertain the true meaning of the words ‘more votes cast’ in Article 177 (2) necessary in this case for the valid election of a President. There is no provision in my respectful view in law in which this issue can be raised in any other court than the Court of Appeal. I have found and ruled accordingly that this issue falls squarely within the jurisdiction of Article 177 (4) of the Constitution,” Justice Reynolds ruled.

“I find that GECOM does have a responsibility to determine the final credible count of the results. It would be reasonable to presume that

final credible court would require both a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the reports and the summary of observations submitted to the Commission in compliance with Order 60 of 2020,” Justice Reynolds decided.

David also asked the court to make a declaration that GECOM has failed to “determine a final credible count and or the credibility of the result of the General and Regional Elections” in accordance with Order No 60 of 2020 and the amended order dated the 29th day of May 2020; an order restraining the CEO from “complying with the direction of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission… to submit to the Guyana Elections Commission an Elections Report under Article 177 (2) (b) of the Constitution of Guyana [and under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act]; order restraining the CEO from submitting to GECOM, his Elections Report which contains votes that are not valid and credible within the meaning of Order No 60 of 2020, and under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act. However, the Appeal Court noted that it could not provide those reliefs since it would mean stepping out of the narrow jurisdiction Article 177 (4) offers it.

No jurisdiction to determine CEO report’s credibility

Importantly, Justice Gregory found that the court could not determine the credibility of CEO Keith Lowenfield’s report submitted to GECOM. “This court has the jurisdiction in light of Order 60 of 2020 to interpret those words to mean valid votes. If more valid votes are cast. I make the point that this court has no jurisdiction to determine whether the Chief Elections Officer’s report was valid or not because in the first place the Chief Elections Officer was not present was not represented and all that this court can determine is whether it ought to place such an interpretation of Article 177 (4),” Justice Gregory noted.

The court also granted a stay of the order for three days.

Lowenfield in his report to the Commission, following the conclusion of the National Recount exercise, submitted that the total valid votes cast at the March 2 General and Regional Elections amounted to 460,352 with the PPP/C securing a victory with 233,336 votes, toppling the APNU/ AFC who bagged just about 217,000 votes.

The APNU/AFC, since the National Recount, has been crying foul while levelling unsubstantiated allegations of dead and migrated people voting. Lowenfield seemingly agreed with the contention and offered his opinion that the March 2 polls were not credible.

He revised the figures to reflect what he considered to be valid votes. Those re-

vised figures saw the total valid votes reducing to 185,260 with the APNU/ AFC winning a 2/3 majority with just over 125,000 votes.

The PPP/C numbers were re-

duced to 56,628.

Valid votes already counted

Meanwhile, PPP/C’s Anil Nandlall said that all the CEO is left to do now

FROM PAGE 3

is allocate the seats to be awarded to the respective parties, based upon the total valid votes cast in their favour and identify Dr Ali as the duly elected President of Guyana. He noted that this is based on the valid votes coming out of the recount and not Lowefield’s revised figures.

He noted that the National Recount exercise generated 10 certificates constituting the aggregate of the of valid votes cast in each Electoral District.

“It would be recalled that the Chairperson of GECOM, at a meeting of the Commission held

on the 18th day of June 2020, was very clear that GECOM can only declare a result based upon valid votes and found that the results generated by the National Recount exercise consist of only valid votes and that anyone who wishes to challenge the validity of any of these votes can only do so by way of an Election Petition filed in the High Court,” Nandlall said. He added that the Court of Appeal ruling on Monday changes “nothing in that the votes that GECOM has recounted, tabulated and totalled are only valid votes”.

10 NEWS TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020

| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Teen dies, brother critical Alarming 21 new after Enmore hit and run COVID-19 cases

T

ragedy struck for two teenage brothers on Sunday evening, after a vehicle crashed into them along the Enmore Public Road, leaving one dead and the other in a critical condition.

Dead is 16-year-old Sheldon Cleon Major, while his brother, 14-yearold Christopher Pollard is in a critical state at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

According to Police information, the accident occurred on Sunday evening at about 19:00h on the Enmore Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

It is unclear exactly what transpired in the fatal crash since the driver fled the scene, leaving the injured boys on the roadway along with pieces of debris from the vehicle.

When emergency services showed up at the scene, one of the young boys was discovered motionless on the northern edge of the road.

The other brother was found in a semi-conscious state on a nearby parapet.

With visible injuries about their head and bodies, the lads were transported to the GPHC where Major was pronounced dead and Pollard was admitted at the Accident and Emergency Unit. Pollard is nursing a severe head injury along with other wounds.

Up to Monday morning,

Dead: Sheldon Cleon Major

Police were still seeking the public’s help in identifying the vehicle involved along with apprehending the driver.

When Guyana Times visited the boys’ home at Enmore on Monday, relatives were inconsolable in their grief. An aunt, Jaisa James, explained that she left the teens at home just a few hours before the accident. At that time, Major was helping his mother with her cleaning.

She said that she subsequently received a phone call, and the caller informed her that the teenagers were involved in a serious accident.

James said after hearing the dreadful news, she immediately went back home.

“When we were at Ann’s Grove, we got a phone call saying that Sheldon got knock

down,” the aunt remembered.

According to James, eyewitnesses at the scene recalled seeing a silver car hitting the young brothers but could not identify the driver.

The teens had visited their grandparents and were heading back home when the incident occurred.

“They would’ve spend some time by Christopher’s grandparents and they were coming home…They [eyewitnesses] said they were coming back and the vehicle hit both of them while they were walking. But Sheldon died on the spot and they were both rushed to the hospital.”

Presently, the family is trying to source security footage around the scene of the accident to identify the motor car and driver involved.

These attempts have so far proved futile and the family has placed their trust in law enforcement.

“We go on the road and ask people about their camera but most of them on the road ain’t really facing the direction and we can’t get any proper information. Nobody ain’t get any proper information. We just hoping for the police to investigate. This is a hit and run and we lost a nephew, a son, a grandson, everything. Knowing he is a lost son for a parent, anyone would feel the same way,” she expressed.

Meanwhile, Major was de-

recorded in 24 hours …18 from Moruca, 2 NGSA students

A

Injured: Christopher Pollard

scribed as a loving and willing child. Relatives are remaining optimistic that the younger brother will survive.

“He is a boy that don’t go nowhere. The only place he would go is the ballfield and if you tell him ‘you can’t go’, he would just sit down. If you send him to do something, he wouldn’t even frown. He would just go. Sheldon is a really loving child,” the aunt stated.

The Guyana Police Force is continuing its investigations.

38 before court for breaching curfew in Region 5

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here are currently 38 persons before the courts for breaching the 18:00h to 06:00h curfew in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), one of only two areas in the country that have not recorded any cases of the life-threatening disease.

This was disclosed by Regional Commander, Superintendent Yonette Stephens, who told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the police in the region are strictly enforcing the curfew measures to ensure it continues to be free of the novel coronavirus.

“We have 38 matters pending before the court. However, there are further repercussions which are then handed down by the court. There were four persons sentenced to community service for one month,” Stephens explained.

Failing to do this, they will be sent to prison for one week.

“So, we have not had any cases of non-compliance,” the Superintendent noted.

Last Wednesday, the COVID-19 Task Force had announced that the country will embark on a phased reopening comprising six stages. This plan had catered for non-curfew measures to be lifted in Regions Five and Eight.

However, the Ministry of Public Health subsequently reintroduced the measures in those regions, without an explanation.

stark increase of 21 new COVID-19 cases has been reported in Guyana, raising the total figures to a whopping 205 positives.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud announced on Monday that 21 test results returned positive from a total of 39 samples.

This took the number of coronavirus cases in Guyana to date to 205. Only Sunday, that figure was just 184.

“The total number of confirmed cases is now 205 and the number of COVID-19 deaths remains at 12,” Dr Persaud confirmed.

Even as the country continues to experience an upward trend in the curve, the deaths remain at 12. To date, 2147 tests were conducted so far with 1942 being negative.

Additionally, some 103 persons have made complete recoveries. In the facilities, there are 90 active cases in institutional isolation and 24 cases in Institutional quarantine. The designated coronavirus Intensive Care Unit (ICU) remains free of patients.

In light of these increasing numbers, the CMO highlighted the situation in Brazil, which is now out of control – with over 50,000 deaths. As such, he advised that border-movement should cease completely and warned that Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) are now “extremely vulnerable”. For this, no migrants should be allowed to enter the communities.

“We wish to remind you of the runaway situation in neighbouring Brazil, that has climbed to the position of being the second country in the world to have reported cases with an alarmingly high number of deaths registered… Region Nine would have reported another positive case which is testimony to our call for you to be on your guard. Residents of Region Six, we are also advising you to be cognisant of the situation in Suriname whose cases have more than doubled in the last month,” he insisted.

Of the new positive cases, 18 of the 21 are from Moruca, Region One while two are students from Region Nine who are currently preparing to sit the National Grade Six Assessemnt (NGSA).

The National COVID-19 Task Force had announced a six-phase blueprint which the country would use to determine which services are reopened first. Guyana is currently in the first phase, and the public is still guided by a 18:00h to 06:00h (6 pm to 6 am) curfew.

Dr Persaud sought to recognise that Guyana is yet to

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud

witness any decrease in cases or indication that the curve is flattening, since new cases are reported every week.

The number of active cases is also at the highest ever experienced locally.

The CMO reiterated, “We are in Phase One of the relaxation of measures and we wish to emphasise the importance of making every effort to ensure that you follow the guidelines as outlined. Even within Guyana, we have not seen a reduction but a constant increase in the number of positive cases with our males continuing to be the sex most affected by this disease and the 20-29 age group being the most at-risk group according to our data.”

Emergency meeting

Meanwhile, an emergency multi-stakeholder meeting was held on Monday to dicuss the alarming increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases in parts of Regions One and Seven.

According to the Taskforce decisions were taken to implement enhanced containment measures within the affected areas in these regions and these will be gazetted shortly. “The enhanced containment measures will include cease work orders for specific areas in the mining sector, screening, wider testing, checkpoints and other measures in several locations within regions 1 and 7. Specific details will be provided subsequently. These measures are necessary and urgent by the medical experts so as to prevent the wider spread of COVID-19 in these two regions along with other regions,” the taskforce said on Monday evening.

Health authorities continue to plead with the public to wear a face mask and maintain physical distance.

They can also call the hotlines or use the mobile units or engage the COVID-site facilities if signs or symptoms are detected.

Globally, the total number of positive cases is 8,708,008 with 461,535 deaths. In the Region of the Americas, there are 4,015, 386 with 208,991 deaths.

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ast on March 2, 2020 General Election

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Peacemaker Coomacka community deals stabbed to death with aftermath of flooding after intervening in husband-wife fight

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Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD) man was stabbed to death on Sunday after intervening in a fight between a man and his wife.

The dead man was only identified as Rakesh. Based on reports received, the murder took place at around 16:30h at the Turtle Creek Landing, Mazaruni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), allegedly by a male who goes by the alias “Niggie”.

Police in a statement revealed that the suspect and his reputed wife were involved in a physical altercation during which the victim

intervened.

However, he was instead attacked by the suspect, who was armed with a knife at the time.

Police stated that it was then the suspect stabbed the man multiple times about his body and neck.

As a result, the injured man fell to the ground and remained in a pool of blood until he was picked up and taken to a medical facility where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The suspect has since fled the scene. Police have launched a manhunt for him but up until press time, no arrest was made.

Construction worker shot dead in Agricola

in the crowd. By the time Duesberry could have taken cover, one of the bullets hit the back windscreen and struck him in the back. The bullet exited his abdomen.

Shortly after, his wife realised that he was shot after seeing blood. The driver was informed that the father of one was shot and immediately sped from the area and took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

No arrests were made, but the Police are continuing their investigations.

Dead: Tyron Duesberry

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construction worker was in the wee hours of Monday killed after gunfire erupted in a crowd at Brutus Street, Agricola, Greater Georgetown. Dead is 27-year-old Tyron Duesberry of Kitty, Georgetown.

According to information received, the now dead man, along with his wife and two friends, had left a popular bar in Georgetown and took a drive on the East Bank to look for party spots that were opened.

However, in their search, they saw a massive crowd at Brutus Street, Agricola and decided to stop.

As the car came to a halt, loud explosions began emanating from with-

R

esidents of Coomacka who were adversely affected by severe flooding in the community last Friday are now trying to put their lives back together.

The situation, which occurred following just over one hour of intense rainfall, resulted in destruction to the community’s main access road as well as damages to over 30 residents’ yards and homes.

Residents and officials have since pointed to issues with a dam which was constructed to the tune of $48 million about 6 months ago as one of the leading causes of the situation, coupled with the overtopping of culverts in the area.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) have since visited the affected areas and distributed cleaning and sanitising agents. The agencies have also commenced works to rectify the situation.

Coomacka Community Development Council (CDC) Chairman Dexter Harding on Monday stated that an investigation revealed that

Erosion to the main access road caused by the flooding

the multi-million-dollar dam which was constructed through the NDIA was incomplete and therefore could not have withstood the intensity of the flow of water on Friday.

Residents have also expressed concerns following the flood, noting that parts of the dam had already started to break away. In the aftermath, sections of the community, including its main access road, have been partially eroded.

“One of the reasons why part of the community was so much impacted by this flooding is because of the dam, part of it was broken away so they contact the contractor...because the work was not finished... The dam was not finished because they claimed that they had to do some other work...

So they contacted the contractor to come and rectify the eroded area on the dam and to complete the job”, Harding noted.

He stressed that additional tubing is expected to be placed inside the dam so that it can take off the intensity of the flow of water.

“They only put 2 tubing in the dam and apparently it

couldn’t take off the water...so those are things they’re going to be working on and they’re going to open up the entire network of the drains in the community”, Harding said.

The CDC Chairman explained that as a result of collaboration between the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and the NDIA, excavators have been working in the community since Saturday to bring some relief to the residents.

“The excavators are going to be in here around 7 days a week to clear out the drains and so on...We had direct impact where the water go through the individuals’ homes and damage up a few things like sofa, things in the homes and through the yards”, he pointed out.

Harding related that residents were still trying to clean up their homes and yards on Monday. Over 30 homes in the community were at risk as residents expressed more concern given the current atmosphere surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Residents have also expressed concerns that water flow from a bauxite mining pit during high-intensity

rains has led to issues with culverts which they noted are unable to take off the level of water pressure.

This, they indicated, leads to overtopping on the roadway which results in flooding and severe damages.

According to Harding, they have not experienced such heavy rainfall in the community for some time.

“It’s couple years well, 4 or 5 years we haven’t had a rainfall like this. The rain, it really poured and it overtopped the culverts. The culverts couldn’t take off the water”, he reiterated.

In moving forward, the CDC Chairman said recommendations are being made for the RDC to take a closer look at the culverts in the community. There are also plans for works to be carried out in front of the yards of residents affected by erosion.

“I’m really happy to see the quick response...to see the immediate work being put out... I’m asking the authorities and the RDC to continue working with the CDC... work with the authorities in the community so that we can iron out these situations”, Harding urged.

UGSS complaints to be raised via protocols established by UG …rescinds instructions to students

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he University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS) has moved to rescind its previous statements, which resulted in a dispute between the body and the Economics Department Head.

The student body had initially published a notice to students, informing them not to conduct the Macro Economics (ECON 1200) survey. Some students had alleged that their concerns were not being addressed, to which UGSS had responded.

However, in a statement which posited that they will issue complaints via protocols established by the institution for such, an apology

was forwarded to the Head of Department.

The UGSS had contended that the lecturer of the subject, and by extension the Department Head, would have disregarded previous concerns by students during the last examination – a situation which ended in shambles.

After the last encounter, the body said the oppressive nature of the situation is the main reason for resisting new instructions. It went on to say that until the survey is adjusted to capture the concerns of students and “realistically” address them, the survey will remain undone.

In highlighting details surrounding the matter, the lecturer responded by saying in a social media post that he would have offered students the option of writing the exams at a later date until their issues were ironed out.

Since the closure of campuses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, online classes were facilitated in what was dubbed a ‘safe mode’ operation. It is the only platform where lecturers and students can communicate to finish the courses, since the university’s two campuses were completely shut down with exception to security.

UGSS President Jafar Gibbons

In a statement, it was indicated that this complete restriction became ef-

fective for security reasons.

This means students, faculty members, and auxiliary staff will not be allowed to enter the gates.

This inflexible condition will continue until stakeholders are advised further

by UG’s administration.

Since the lockdown, staff members and other key personnel were working as usual.

The University community is reminded to keep checking official channels: UG website, HRMIS and SRMS for updates. With the University closed since midMarch, it is unclear when classroom activity will resume.

NEWS

15

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Persons in corrupt deals will Rice farmer, friend shot during face consequences – Jagdeo drinking spree G T eneral Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo has put officials and beneficiaries on notice, that a new Administration will deal with corrupt backroom deals that were made in the waning days of the coalition Government.

Jagdeo made this pronouncement on Monday, during a video broadcast.

In his message, he zeroed in on reports the party had received of various rackets being carried out at a time when Government should be in a caretaker mode, plus transition.

“All those people who are now complicit, knowing that they lost the elections, knowing that the Ministers don’t have any authority to sign anything. They too will have problems with the new Administration,” Jagdeo warned.

He said that the PPP cannot allow the stealing of State assets, adding that “a lot of these issues will be addressed expeditiously.

Lands that were there for low-income housing, they’re busy giving out to their cronies at very cheap rates, at Ogle and on the East Bank.”

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

According to Jagdeo, they have even received reports of a gun licensing racket, whereby certain persons are being provided with gun licenses. According to him, the party was appraised of this.

This comes only days after the revelations that the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) agreed to pay almost $600 million for eight trucks; prices which local suppliers had described as inflated, in a deal it entered into after the Government lost power in a No-Confidence Motion.

It was only earlier this year that a massive 164,000 acres of prime State forest located along the Berbice River were allocated to a known Government financier. This allocation was made three days before General and Regional Elections and was criticised by several sections of society.

The elections and the National Recount of ballots had shown that based on 2339 Statements of Recount (SoRs), the PPP/C, whose Presidential Candidate is

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

former Housing Minister Dr Irfaan Ali, received a total of 233,336 votes.

This is 15,416 more votes than their nearest rivals, the incumbent APNU/AFC, which received 217,920 total votes. When one calculates using the Hare formula, it means that PPP/C would have secured 33 out of 65 seats in the National Assembly and APNU/AFC would have secured 31.

It, therefore, means that the PPP/C should form the next Government. In accordance with this, Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh had instructed Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield to prepare and submit a final report pursuant to Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03, to enable the PPP/C to be declared winners.

With the exception of a few key members, however, APNU/AFC has shown an unwillingness to concede defeat. Its coalition partner, Justice For All Party and the APNU/AFC Prime Ministerial Candidate Khemraj Ramjattan have since conceded defeat.

wo men are now injured after they were shot by gunmen who stormed a birthday party on Sunday at Friendship, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice Corentyne-Berbice).

The injured men have been identified as 22-yearold Joel Fraser, a rice farmer of Alness, Corentyne, and 36-year-old Bhoopaul Roopnarine of Lot 1585 Glasgow Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice.

Based on reports received, the two men along with others were attending a birthday party when an argument ensued between Fraser and four unknown men who were armed with a shotgun and pieces of wood.

An eyewitness, Melvin Nandlall, told Guyana Times that Fraser went out of the yard to urinate when four men entered the party and began hitting the posts of the house with pieces of wood.

Upon realising what was happening, Fraser reportedly approached the men with the aim of sorting out the issue but instead, he was attacked with bottle missiles.

However, this led to an argument between Fraser

and the four men, during which a bullet was fired, hitting Fraser and Roopnarine.

In addition, Nandlall said he went to Fraser’s rescue but was lashed to the head with a piece of wood.

Not satisfied, the men dragged Fraser onto the street where he was dealt several blows about his body. After the commotion, the suspects fled the scene.

The incident reportedly took place at about 22:15h. Both of the injured men were taken to the Port Mourant Hospital and were subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital where they were admitted.

There are reports that the four men were imbibing at another house and suddenly left and went over to the birthday party.

As the men made their escape, residents went in pursuit but did not catch up with them but an 18-yearold farmer was arrested and handed over to the police.

Guyana Times understands that Roopnarine underwent surgery on Monday afternoon and is recuperating. Both men are said to be in a stable condition as the investigation continues.

SYMPTOMS

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

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

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

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

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

(Adapted from BBC News)

Chills

Repeated shaking with chills

Muscle pain

Children have similar symptoms to adults and

Headache

Sore throat

New loss of taste or smell

generally have mild illness.

16 NEWS

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GECOM to meet today ...expected to make declaration

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PPP/C Commissioners: Robeson Benn, Sase Gunraj and Bibi Shadick

ollowing the ruling of the Court of Appeal on Monday, the seven-member Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is scheduled to meet today at 11:00h.

This was confirmed by several Commissioners when contacted by Guyana Times.

The meeting follows the

Court of Appeal ruling, in the case brought by APNU/ AFC supporter Eslyn David, that only valid votes must be used in the determination of the elections results.

At the last meeting of the Commission on Thursday, June 18, the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, was slat-

GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

ed to submit his final elections report, paving the way for the official declaration of the winner of the 2020 elections held more than three months ago.

Lowenfield was advised to submit the report after GECOM’s Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh decided that she would go ahead with the declaration

APNU/AFC-appointed Commissioners Desmond Trotman, Vincent Alexander and Charles Corbin

of the certified results from the recount exercise, which showed that the PPP/C won with 233,336.

However, on Thursday, Lowenfield was served with a mere Notice of Motion and as such, he opted to not submit the report.

Additionally, there was no quorum at the Commission meet-

ing following the absence of two APNU/AFC Commissioners.

Those circumstances resulted in the meeting being adjourned to the next day, Friday, June 19. However, that meeting was put on hold following the hearing on the Notice of Motion in the Appeal Court.

With the ruling deliv-

ered, the Commission will meet again today to discuss the way forward.

General Secretary of the PPP, Bharrat Jagdeo has already contended that there is nothing preventing GECOM from making a declaration since the issue of “valid votes” has already been settled by the Commission.

GPL under fire for purchase of overpriced trucks …purchase approved by ‘internal’ tender board

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he Guyana Power and Light (GPL) is now under the microscope, after documents surfaced showing that the company agreed to pay almost $600 million for eight trucks – a price local suppliers have described as inflated.

At the centre of contention is GPL’s procurement of eight bucket trucks for $587 million. The company was criticised for buying the trucks at what suppliers described as grossly-inflated prices.

Guyana Times spoke to

one popular supplier, who noted that the unit cost for one of these trucks is no more than half of what GPL paid. The company hit back in a statement, saying that the actual cost of the truck is only 35 per cent of the unit cost of over $63 million.

GPL, in defence of the purchase, claimed that each truck is retrofitted with lifting and ancillary equipment.

Added to this is the cost for retrofitting the trucks, operator training and maintenance for one year. In addition, GPL claimed that the freight and insurance costs to deliver everything from the United States and Europe carried up the price.

“The equipment being procured are modern mobile elevated working platforms comprising IVECO trucks retrofitted with VERSALIFT aerial lifts and ancillary equipment. The trucks will be manufactured in Italy and Spain, and the aerial lifts in the USA,” the company said.

The purchase order

According to GPL, the tender was advertised and

news@guyanatimesgy.com

GPL’s internal tender board approved the contract.

Moreover, the company added that owing to COVID-19 and travel restrictions, the contract has been delayed and no payment has been made to the contractor, Massy Motors.

The issue comes at a time when Government is supposed to be in transition, with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) having won the recent elections. In addition, the Government fell to a no-confidence motion in December 2018.

As a consequence, the approval of contracts is supposed to be on hold.

However, this contract was awarded in December 2019 and the purchase order, which was leaked to the media, is dated January 2020.

NEWS

17

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

T&T Judge grants bail to A quarter-billion children ship wanted in Guyana getting no education – UN

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High Court judge has set $1.8 million bail for the release of a ship that was arrested in TT waters.

Justice Frank Seepersad on Monday granted an order, setting bail for the vessel MV Mabrooka's release.

Bail was set in the sum of US$270,000. He also ordered that an appropriate bond or security in that sum must be provided by a reputable financial institution that will be furnished to a Jamaican ship repair company, German Ship Repair Jamaica, and a copy to the Registrar of the High Court.

In the interim, until the bond or security s provided, Seepersad gave permission for the vessel to be transported, under the supervision of the Admiralty Marshal, from its Pointe-a-Pierre anchorage to the Port of Spain anchorage. The location is to be provided to the marshal five hours before it is moved and after the bond or security is paid, the Mabrooka will be released from arrest.

The ship, a container vessel, was arrested on June 9

by Justice Kevin Ramcharan after German Ship Repair Jamaica sought an arrest warrant on a claim for payment of US210,000 which it said it was owed for repairs and equipment, including an anchor, provided to Mabrooka.

The Mabrooka is owned by a Panama-based company and is run by a company based in Istanbul, Turkey.

In its claim for payment, the Jamaican company said the ship was the subject of a warrant issued by the Guyana Supreme Court on May 29.

However, before the warrant of arrest could be executed, the vessel left Guyana’s territorial waters and, according to the claim filed on June 9, anchored in the waters of Pointe-a-Pierre.

Before Justice Ramcharan, the Jamaican ship repair company expressed fear that it was likely to leave TT’s waters after taking bunkers and its owners will try to take the ship out of the Caribbean, since it trades between Qatar and various

Caribbean territories.

German Ship Repair Jamaica was represented by attorney Nyree Alfonso. The owners of the Mabrooka were represented by attorneys Gilbert Peterson, SC, and Stacy Benjamin-Roach.

In support of their application for bail, the ship’s owners asked for permission to shift anchorage to Port of Spain,said the proceedings in Guyana were never served on the Mabrooka and they were not aware of the costs relied on by the ship repair company.

In the bail application, the owners said bail of US$270,000 would be more than reasonable and would cover the costs claimed by the ship repair company.

It added that pending the posting of bail, the vessel was accruing losses, costs and now that it is under arrest in Pointe-a-Pierre, there were daily customs duties and other harbour fees to be paid.

It claimed that the arrest of the vessel was wrongful and the claim by the ship repair company was overstated.

(T&T Newsday)

United Nations orders probe into human rights abuses in Libya

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fact-finding mission to Libya has been established by the United Nations’ top rights body after prosecutors from the International Criminal Court said that mass graves discovered recently may constitute war crimes.

The UN Human Rights Council on Monday adopted by consensus a resolution strongly condemning all acts of violence in Libya and urging UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet to dispatch a fact-finding mission to the North African country.

Libya, a major oil producer, has been mired in turmoil since 2011, when longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in a NATO-backed uprising.

Since 2015, a power

A member of security forces loyal to Libya's internationally recognised government points to a mass grave [File: Ismail Zitouny/Reuters]

struggle has pitted the UNrecognised government in Tripoli against eastern-based renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar, with both sides backed by rival foreign powers.

The UN resolution expressed concern at reports of “torture, sexual and gender-based violence and harsh

conditions in prisons and detention centres.”

The fact-finding mission experts will “document alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by all parties in Libya since the beginning of 2016,” the text said.

(Al Jazeera.com)

US pause on green cards, suspended visas for other foreign workers extended

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S President Donald Trump has extended a pause on some green cards and suspended visas for other foreign workers until the end of 2020.

High-skilled tech workers, non-agricultural seasonal helpers, au pairs and top executives will be affected.

The White House said the move will create jobs for Americans hurting economically due to the pandemic.

But critics say the White House is exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to tighten up immigration laws.

In a briefing for reporters, the administration said the freeze, in place through the end of the year, would impact about 525,000 people.

That includes an estimated 170,000 people

blocked by the decision to extend a ban on some new green cards - which grants permanent residence to foreigners. The White House first announced it was halting those visas in April, an order that had been set to expire on Monday. Existing visa holders are not expected to be affected under the new restrictions announced on Monday.

The order also applies to H-1B visas, which are often granted to Indian tech workers and their families. Critics say these visas have allowed Silicon Valley companies to outsource American jobs to lower-paid foreign employees. H-1B visas are currently distributed via a lottery, but the Trump administration is proposing they instead be awarded by highest

salary. Last year, there were about 225,000 applications competing for 85,000 spots available through the H1-B visa programme.

The order will suspend most H-2B visas for seasonal workers, including those in the hospitality industry, except those in agriculture, the food processing industry and healthcare professionals.

The order will restrict J-1 short-term exchange visas, a category that includes university students and foreign au pairs who provide childcare. Professors and scholars are not included in the order. There will be a provision to request exemptions.

L visas for managers and other key employees of multinational corporations will also be suspended. (BBC)

N

early 260 million children had no access to schooling in 2018, a United Nations agency said in a report Tuesday that blamed poverty and discrimination for educational inequalities that are being exacerbated by the coronavirus outbreak.

Children from poorer communities as well as girls, the disabled, immigrants and ethnic minorities were at a distinct educational disadvantage in many countries, the UN's Paris-based education body UNESCO said.

In 2018, "258 million children and youth were entirely excluded from education, with poverty as the main obstacle to access," the report found.

This represented 17 percent of all school-age children, most of them in south and central Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

The disparities worsened with the arrival of the coronavirus crisis, which saw over 90 percent of the global student population affected by school closures, the report said.

And while children from families with means could continue schooling from home using laptops, mobile phones and the Internet, millions of others were cut off entirely.

"Lessons from the past — such as with Ebola — have shown that health crises can leave many behind, in particular the poorest girls, many of whom may never return to school," UNESCO's director general Audrey Azoulay wrote in a foreword.

'Pushed out'

The report noted that in low- and middle-income countries, adolescents from

the richest 20 percent of households were three times more likely to complete the first portion of secondary school — up to age 15 — than those from poor homes.

Children with disabilities were 19 percent less likely to achieve minimum reading proficiency in 10 of these nations.

In 20 poor countries, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, hardly any rural girls complete secondary school, UNESCO said.

And in richer nations, 10-year-olds taught in a language other than their mother tongue scored 34 percent lower than native speakers in reading tests.

In the United States, LGBTI students were almost three times more likely to have stayed home from school because they felt unsafe.

"Unfortunately, disadvantaged groups are kept out or pushed out of education systems through more or less subtle decisions leading to exclusion from curricula, irrelevant learning objectives, stereotyping in textbooks, discrimination in resource allocation and assessments, tolerance of violence and neglect of needs," the report said.

'Education segregation'

Two African countries still ban pregnant girls from

school, 117 countries allow child marriages, and 20 have yet to ratify an international convention that bans child labour.

Some 335 million girls attended schools that did not provide them with the water, sanitation and hygiene services they need to stay in class while menstruating.

In several central and eastern European countries, Roma children are segregated in mainstream schools.

And in Asia, displaced people such as the Rohingya are taught in separate systems.

"Many countries still practice education segregation, which reinforces stereotyping, discrimination and alienation," the report said.

"Just 41 countries worldwide officially recognised sign language and, globally, schools were more eager to get Internet access than to cater for learners with disabilities," it said.

UNESCO urged countries to focus on disadvantaged children when schools reopen after coronavirus lockdowns.

"To rise to the challenges of our time, a move towards more inclusive education is imperative," Azoulay said.

"Failure to act will hinder the progress of societies."

(AFP)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020

Regional

Venezuela’s Maduro Coronavirus cases soar in big countries, especially Brazil – WHO says “prepared” to talk to Trump

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oronavirus cases are soaring in several major countries at the same time, with “worrying increases” in Latin America, especially Brazil, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday.

The world recorded more than 183,000 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, the most in a single day since the outbreak started in December, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

“Certainly, the numbers are increasing because the epidemic is developing in a number of populous countries at the same time and across the whole world,” WHO’s top emergencies expert, Mike Ryan, told an online briefing.

“Some of that increase may be attributed to increased testing ... And certainly, countries like India are testing more. But we do not believe that this is a testing phenomenon.”

Global cases surpassed nine million on Monday, with the United States, China and other hard-hit countries also reporting new outbreaks, according to a Reuters tally.

Ryan said there had been a jump in cases in Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Panama, Bolivia and Guatemala, as well as Brazil, which had passed the one million mark – second only to the United States – and reported a record 54,000 cases in the previous 24 hours.

Latin America’s largest country has frequently recorded more than 1,000

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More than two million people across Latin America and the Caribbean are reported to have been infected with the coronavirus (Al Jazeera)

deaths a day over the last month.

President Jair Bolsonaro, sometimes called the “Tropical Trump”, has been widely criticised for his handling of the crisis. The country still has no permanent Health Minister after losing two since April, following clashes with the President.

More than two million people across Latin America and the Caribbean are

reported to have been infected with the coronavirus.

Bolsonaro has shunned social distancing, calling it a job-killing measure more dangerous than the virus itself. He has also promoted two anti-malarial drugs – chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine – as remedies, despite a lack of evidence that they work.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

enezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said on Monday he was “prepared” to talk to US counterpart Donald Trump, who earlier claimed he was open to meeting the socialist leader to discuss his exit from power.

“When the time comes, I’m prepared to speak respectfully with President Donald Trump,” Maduro told the State news agency AVN. Trump said he “would maybe think about” meeting Maduro in an interview with Axios published on Sunday, but he changed track in a tweet on Monday.

“My Admin has always stood on the side of FREEDOM and LIBERTY and against the oppressive Maduro regime! I would only meet with Maduro to discuss one thing: a peaceful exit from power!” said Trump.

Maduro made no specific mention of Trump’s quotes, but said that “in the same way I spoke with (Joe) Biden, I could speak with Trump”.

Democratic nominee Biden is running against Trump for President in November’s US elections.

Maduro met Biden in 2015 when the latter was Vice President to Barack Obama.

Washington has been one of the chief allies to Venezuela’s Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó, but that support has waned as the National Assembly President’s challenge to Maduro’s authority has lost impetus.

Guaidó caused a stir 18 months ago declaring himself acting president after the Opposition-controlled Parliament decreed Maduro a usurper over his 2018 re-election in a poll widely viewed as rigged.

The US was one of the first of more than 50 countries to recognise his claims and the Trump Administration ramped up sanctions on Maduro and his inner circle in an effort to starve him of revenue and force his resignation.

(Excerpt from AFP)

Nation photographer attacked and killed Holness makes Cabinet,

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Nation photojournalist Christoff Griffith

wo men were brutally slain Monday afternoon while in the line of duty.

One man was 25-yearold Nation photojournalist Christoff Griffith, who was responding to a report of a body in Bishop’s Court, St Michael.

Police reported the other body to be that of Glenroy James, of Grazettes, St Michael, who was contracted by the Anglican Diocese to carry out excavation work in the area.

Police public relations officer Inspector Rodney Inniss said they received the report around 11:00h from other contracted work-

ers who had previously come across James’ body.

“We received a report from workers from A&B Maintenance, who were in the area doing some planned excavation. They reported they had come across a body. Upon investigating, the officers confirmed this, but also came across a second body,” he said.

Griffith had arrived on the scene before the Police and was attacked and killed after going on the compound.

As news spread, many members of the journalism fraternity, both former and current, arrived on the scene in support, many with tears in their eyes. (Nation News)

Trinidad: Police Chief’s comments on killing of girl, 2, anger activists

“S

candalous” and “irresponsible”, were the descriptions some activists used to label Police Commissioner Gary Griffith’s Facebook post on Saturday in which he appeared to reference the non-protest by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in T&T, in response to the killing of a two-year-old, as “selective behaviour”.

They say shame on Griffith for strategically using the murder of two-yearold Aniah McCloud, an African girl, to attack BLM protesters.

McCloud was shot dead by gunmen along with her father Stephon in Tunapuna last Friday.

In Griffith’s statement, he argued there was an unequal outcry over the murder of McCloud by the same organisations and groups, who in recent weeks engaged in protesting in support of the BLM movement, raising issues of racism, prejudice, police brutality and other social injustices. The US police killing of unarmed AfricanAmerican George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May sparked global protests.

“I await the sound and fury by activists, politicians, and newspaper editorials, calling on communities to work with the Police to bring these perpetrators to immediate justice, along with de-

mands for justice and to ‘call their names’, or is this outburst, hurt and pain, conveniently felt only when the Police are involved,” Griffith wrote.

He added,” Every life lost is one life too many, and is and should be treated as heinous, however, when murderous gangsters, intentionally point their illegal weapons at their target and proceed to pull that trigger regardless of who their target may be, and takes the life of an innocent, a baby no less, demands equal outcry. If this doesn’t move us to work together, I am not certain what can.” (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Senate appointments

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overnor General Sir Patrick Allen on Monday swore in Member of Parliament for St Catherine North Eastern Leslie Campbell as Minister without Portfolio.

He is assigned to the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation.

As minister without portfolio, Campbell replaces Lester Michael Henry, who was last week promoted to Labour and Social Security Ministry, following the passing of Shahine Robinson.

Campbell is a businessman and a lawyer, who specialises in civil matters.

His appointment was recommended by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who has also given the nod for Tova Hamilton, an Attorney-at-Law, to join the Senate.

MP Leslie Campbell and Tova Hamilton

Hamilton has been practising law since 2007. She specialises in conveyancing, corporate, and entertainment law.

The Prime Minister said she is to be sworn in at the next sitting of the Senate.

The vacancy on the Senate follows the resignation of Pearnel Charles

Jr, who successfully contested the Clarendon South Eastern by-election earlier this year.

Holness said he believed these two appointments would further bolster the Government’s push to drive economic growth and aid the post-COVID-19 recovery efforts. (Jamaica Observer)

Mexican city of Celaya rocked by cartel violence

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he city of Celaya in the Mexican state of Guanajuato was the scene of violent clashes over the weekend between members of the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel and Mexican security forces.

Twenty-six people were arrested, including the mother, sister and a cousin of the cartel’s leader, José Yépez, known as “El Marro” (Stingy).

The gang had earlier torched more than 20 cars and set alight six shops.

The cartel has so far

mainly dedicated itself to fuel theft.

Celaya in central Mexico has seen a spike in violence as the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel has tried to defend its criminal enterprise in the central state of Guanajuato, which include extortion rackets and fuel theft.

The group has not only been involved in a deadly feud with its rivals, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, but has also seen heavy bloody infighting with José Yépez and his former sidekick, Noe Lara Belman,

better known as Puma, both claiming leadership of the gang.

More than 1000 people have been killed in gang-related violence in the state in the three months from March to June, according to a tally by consulting firm Lantia Consultores.

Security forces said the gang set alight more than 20 vehicles and a number of businesses across Celaya on Saturday as Police moved in to detain key suspected members of the group.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020

19

Around the World

OILNEWS Physical oil rally pauses due to weak margins

A

fter weeks of rising, prices of physical oil have begun to ease, traders and analysts say, as the rally succumbs to the reality of poor refinery margins and brimming storage tanks.

Refinery runs in Europe and China have been cut to allow time to sell off supplies of refined products before processing stored crude which is also stored in abundance, making the purchase of new oil shipments less attractive.

Meanwhile, refining profits for products have improved slightly but are still near their depths during the worst of the pandemic, as the world faces an uncertain recovery.

“Margins are not at the bottoms but they’re very bad that’s not going to help demand. We see these potential spikes in COVID-19, which are also not going to help matters,” one oil trader said. “The market was overdone and is going to need to retrace to reflect the realities now.”

The price slowdown is visible globally: offers for heavier Angolan Dalia crude and Congolese Djeno are down at least a US$1 from just a week earlier to around a US$1 above dated Brent.

Spot discounts for Abu Dhabi’s light sour Murban grade have widened nearly a dollar compared to their official selling price in just a few days.

Mediterranean crudes have also come off peaks: offers for CPC Blend have fallen by almost a dollar and Azeri crude is selling for a dollar less than earlier in June.

“We haven’t bought anything in the last several weeks as everything is so expensive. CPC is still the most affordable, but still 20-30 cents away from profitability,” a refiner said.

“Many Mediterranean refiners have cut runs, so hopefully weaker demand may push differentials down.”

In the United States, shale producers are now bringing back about a quarter of the volumes they shut as prices have improved, weighing on physical prices in the Permian and Bakken basins.

Much of the uptick in demand for physical crude deliveries came from China, but market sources say independent refiners there have shied away from the higher prices, cutting runs as they await new quotas from the Government for crude imports. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Canada’s biggest city, Toronto, to reopen businesses, ending 3-month lockdown

T

oronto, Canada’s most populous city and financial capital, will allow businesses to reopen starting on Wednesday, joining other regions in the province of Ontario in ending a three-month pandemic lockdown, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Monday.

Malls and restaurants in Toronto, along with Peel Region, which includes some of the city’s densely populated suburbs, will be able to open their patios, according to the Government’s plan.

Ontario, Canada’s largest province by population, started gradually reopening its economy this month, but Toronto was left off the initial list.

Ford said the Government would continue to monitor

An employee at Zara puts up a sign during a phased reopening from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, May 19, 2020

health trends and consult daily with the province’s medical experts, and asked people to stay vigilant.

Downtown Toronto is home to some of Canada’s

biggest banks and insurers, and many of them have agreed to allow their staff to work from home until at least September, Toronto Mayor John Tory said last

month.

Canadian provinces imposed lockdowns in March to contain the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed 8430 people in Canada and infected 101,337, according to the latest Government data. Toronto has recorded more than 1000 deaths.

Windsor-Essex, in southwestern Ontario near the Michigan border, is the only health region still in Phase 1 of the three-phase reopening, where an outbreak is hitting migrant workers on farms.

Separately, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pushed back on Monday against pressure from airlines to reopen the nation’s borders.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Trump held off sanctioning Chinese over Uighurs to pursue trade deal

P

resident Donald Trump said he did not sanction Chinese officials further over the detention of Muslims in Xinjiang as he was in the “middle of a trade deal”.

Trump told the Axios news site that achieving a “great” deal meant he could not impose “additional sanctions”.

China has held about a million Uighurs and other ethnic groups in camps in Xinjiang for indoctrination and punishment but denies mistreating them.

The issue arose after allegations in a book by exTrump aide John Bolton.

Bolton had alleged that at a summit last year Trump

Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met during a G20 meeting in Japan last year

gave Chinese President Xi Jinping the green light on building the camps in its western region, with the US leader saying it was “exactly the right thing to do”. Trump denies the allegation.

As part of a bitter trade

war, the US imposed tariffs on more than US$360 billion (£288 billion) of Chinese goods and China retaliated with tariffs on more than US$110 billion of US products before a “phase one” deal was signed in January.

Asked why he did not use the Global Magnitsky Act passed by Congress in 2016 to counter human rights violations - Trump said: “nobody’s mentioned it specifically to me with regard to China”.

Axios also pressed Trump on the allegation from Bolton, his ex-national security adviser, that he had asked President Xi to help him win re-election by buying agricultural produce from US farmers.

“No, not at all. What I told everybody we deal with, not just President Xi, I want them to do business with this country. What’s good for the country is good for me.”

(Excerpt from BBC News)

US: 2 killed, 7 Coronavirus: Saudi Ivory Coast arrests armed injured in Arabia bars international group leader behind Charlotte shooting pilgrims for Hajj border post attack

T

wo people have been killed and seven others wounded in a shooting in Charlotte, North Carolina’s largest city, Police have said.

Five others were hit by vehicles after the shooting that happened around midnight at an “impromptu block party” that was a continuation of Juneteenth celebrations, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Deputy Chief Johnny Jennings told reporters early on Monday.

Police responding to a call about a pedestrian hit found hundreds of people in the streets, Jennings said.

As emergency services arrived, several shots were fired, scattering the crowd.

Jennings said there was evidence of multiple shooters but no one was in custody as of Monday morning.

The five people were hit by vehicles while running away, Jennings said.

The conditions of the 12 people hospitalised with injuries were not immediately clear.

Further details were not immediately available.

Juneteenth, for which celebrations started on Friday, commemorates when the last enslaved African Americans learned they were free 155 years ago.

Tensions are high across the United States as a wave of massive protests against racial inequality and police brutality grips the country.

Many protests have seen clashes between demonstrators and Police, and officials have arrested some people accused of trying to incite violence. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

S

audi Arabia has banned international visitors from making the Islamic pilgrimage, or Hajj, this year in a bid to control coronavirus.

Only a very limited number of people currently living in the kingdom may take part, an announcement on state media said.

An estimated two million people would otherwise have visited Mecca and Medina this summer for the annual gathering.

There had been fears the Hajj might be cancelled altogether.

In normal times the pilgrimage is one of the most significant moments in the Muslim religious calendar.

But only citizens from countries around the world who are already resident in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to at-

tend this year.

The authorities say this is the only way they will be able to make plans for social distancing that will keep people safe.

Saudi Arabia has recorded 161,005 cases of infection and 1307 deaths. It only lifted a nationwide lockdown at the weekend.

Making the pilgrimage at least once is one of the Five Pillars of Islam - the five obligations that every Muslim, who is in good health and can afford it, must satisfy in order to live a good and responsible life, according to Islam.

Pilgrims gather in Mecca to stand before the structure known as the Kaaba, praising Allah (God) together.

They perform other acts of worship too, renewing their sense of purpose in the world.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

I

vory Coast said it has arrested the leader of an armed group that last week carried out a deadly attack on a military post near the border with Burkina Faso.

“The commander of the team who led the action was taken yesterday,” Minister of Defence Hamed Bakayoko said on Monday at a military camp in the main city of Abidjan.

“We will go further as the investigation progresses.

We will know who he was in contact with, who is behind it,” said Bakayoko without identifying the individual or giving further details about the capture.

His comments came during a speech honouring the victims of the pre-dawn June 11 attack, when at least 10 soldiers were killed and six others wounded after doz-

ens of fighters assaulted the post at Kafolo, on the northeastern border with Burkina Faso.

Other sources put the death toll at 12, comprising 11 soldiers and a gendarme, and described the raid as a reprisal for a crackdown on armed groups.

The assault was the deadliest carried out in the country since gunmen from al-Qaeda’s North African branch stormed the beach resort of Grand Bassam in March 2016, killing at least 19 people.

On June 18, the Ivorian army said it had carried out a sweep in the Kafolo area and in the neighbouring Comoe National Park.

Troops picked up 27 people, destroyed logistical materiel and seized communications equipment, it said.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

20

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020

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Go about your business and finish what you start.

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An opportunity to improve your situation at home or work will arise. Don’t miss out because you are too busy making unnecessary changes. Concentrate on what’s essential and excel.

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Go over personal documents and make adjustments. Staying on top of your finances and working out a plan that will help you cut your overhead will ease stress.

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Adapt to the inevitable, but don’t initiate a change without sufficient information or verification. Choose to make self-improvements instead of trying to change others.

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Handle money matters cautiously.

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Discuss your plans with the people you live with to ensure that you’re all on the same page.

Fix up your surroundings to suit your needs.

Personal gains look promising if you proceed with your plans carefully. Romance and physical improvements are favored.

Reach out to people you haven’t seen for a long time and set up a virtual reunion.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020

Andy Murray shares concern after COVID-19 positive tests at Djokovic event A

ndy Murray wants to play in the rescheduled US Open at the end of August, but he shares the concern spreading rapidly through tennis since Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric, and two trainers tested positive for coronavirus in Croatia at the weekend.

Murray drew back from outright criticism of his long-time rival and friend, Novak Djokovic, after the world number one was forced to abandon his troubled Adria tournament moments before Sunday’s final in Zadar, because of the shock withdrawal of world number 14 Dimitrov. But Murray could yet decide not to fly to New York if there are further outbreaks of COVID-19 – or complacency among other players.

Having seen clips of players partying in a Belgrade nightclub last weekend, and more mingling in Zadar, Murray said he wondered how the USTA will police player movement at Flushing Meadows, where players will have to keep to themselves and resist the bright lights of New York.

“In a bubble – if that’s what people are doing – what’s the punishment for people who are not sticking to the rules there that have been put in place?” Murray said. “You imagine a situation where you’re in the last

stages of the US Open, but, because someone’s gone out [of] that bubble and broken those rules and gone into Manhattan or done something he shouldn’t have been doing, and you then contract the virus and are not able to compete in, you know, the quarter-finals and semis of the US Open. It would be extremely frustrating. So how do they police that exactly? I don’t know how they go about it.”

When news broke on Monday that world number 33 Coric, Dimitrov’s coach – Chris Gro – and Djokovic’s fitness coach – Marko Paniki – had also tested positive, while Djokovic had returned to Belgrade without having a test or making a formal statement, concern among many players and fans switched to anger.

The British number one, Dan Evans, speaking in London before the Battle of the Brits, which starts at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton today, slated Djokovic, who is Chairman of the ATP players council.

“I don’t think you should be having a players’ party and dancing all over each other and then two very good players test positive. He should feel some responsibility for his event and how it has transpired.

“It is a poor example to set, even if the guidelines

in that country are not two metres. It is not a joke, is it?

There has been a total disregard for that. It is very unfortunate that Grigor has it, Coric has it. But, if you strip it back, is it a surprise? That is the question we should all ask. I hope there is no second-guessing now on the US Open because of [these] unfortunate events.”

Murray acknowledged that the virus had eased in Serbia and Croatia, but pointed out tennis is a global activity. “Once you start to bring international travel into it,” Murray said, “with players and team members from all different parts of the world coming in, you need to make sure you’re taking all the correct measures, safety measures, all the precautions that you can, to try avoid a situation like they got into over there.”

Murray is keen to resume at the highest level, having

not played since the Davis Cup finals in November.

“The grand slams will be my priority,” he said. “The proposals that the USTA have made, I don’t know if all of them are set in stone. They seemed to have changed quite a bit over the last couple of weeks.

“I don’t mind what the situation is, providing it’s safe. If I was told I could take one person with me, for example, you can make that work. I would probably go with a physio in that situation, with some coaching done remotely. That’s not a perfect situation, obviously. From a performance perspective, that’s tricky.

But I also appreciate that these are unprecedented times, so you have to make do with what’s possible.

That sort of thing wouldn’t bother me much. For me, it’s more about safety.” (The Guardian)

Could you be a future Para-cycling champion?

Scott launches search for new partner for Tokyo

B

ritish cyclist Helen Scott is hoping her dreams of getting the chance to retain her Paralympic title in 2021 will be realised after launching a search to find a new partner.

It comes after Sophie Thornhill announced her retirement, ending a six-year partnership which yielded eight world titles and the Paralympic gold.

She said: "Hopefully, the person we get will be up for the challenge."

Scott, who won the time trial B kilo title in Rio with Thornhill, is hoping to attract a tandem 'stoker' – the blind or visually-impaired rider at the back of the bike.

Pilot Helen Scott (left) celebrates winning Commonwealth gold in 2018 with Sophie Thornhill

The 29-year-old from Birmingham added: "To find visually-impaired athletes is quite difficult because most of the top athletes are already in their sports and heading to Tokyo, but you'd

be surprised.

"I think we're going to have five or 10 for sure who are going to be able to test, and who knows what will come off the back of us putting out a wider announce-

ment."

Scott also revealed she and her new partner would face a race against time to make the team for next year's rescheduled Paralympics.

"Sophie and I had qualified for Tokyo – our bike was on that plane – but this is different and we'd need to qualify for the World Championships, which will hopefully go ahead in January, so there is a time limit on when we need these performances," she said.

"It is going to be tough, but what a story it could be.

It's such an inspiring place to be. I'm biased, but who wouldn't want this opportunity?" (BBC Sport)

21

Frankie Dettori to ride favourite English King in Derby at Epsom

I

n-form Frankie Dettori has been booked to ride the favourite, English King, in the Derby at Epsom on July 4.

The 49-year-old, who was leading jockey at Royal Ascot, will seek his third Derby triumph on the horse trained by Ed Walker.

Tom Marquand was on board for English King's past two runs, including an impressive victory at Lingfield.

English King is a general 7-2 chance ahead of 4-1 Kameko, the 2000 Guineas winner trained by Andrew Balding.

"Frankie obviously has a wealth of big-race experience and raises his game to stratospheric heights for the big races. We feel very privileged to have him on board," said Walker.

The Derby, which nor-

mally attracts more than 100,000 racegoers, is being held without spectators this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Postponed from its original date on June 6, the new fixture will also stage the Oaks on the same day.

Dettori rode Stradivarius to a third consecutive Gold Cup win at Ascot on Thursday in the black and yellow silks of Bjorn Nielsen, who also owns English King – a son of 2012 Derby winner Camelot.

The Italian jockey won the Derby at the 15th attempt on Authorized in 2007 and triumphed again on Golden Horn in 2015.

Briton Marquand, 22, is considered one of racing's rising stars and claimed his first Royal Ascot winner with Who Dares Wins on Saturday. (BBC Sport)

Losing Beijing gold medal “will hurt for the rest of my life” – Michael Frater

O

lympic relay gold medallist Michael Frater said it hurt him badly that he had to give up the gold medal he won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics because a teammate was determined to have been taking a prohibited substance.

In China, Frater, who was sixth in the men's 100m final in 9.97s, was in imperious form in the 4x100 relay final, scorching the backstretch before handing the baton to Usain Bolt, who dominated the curve before passing the baton to Asafa Powell, who stormed down the homestretch to bring Jamaica home in a world-record 37.10.

It was Frater’s first Olympic gold medal and Bolt’s third, the latter having won the 100m and 200m finals in world record time just days earlier.

Four years later, Frater was once again on Jamaica’s team at the 2012 London Games that lowered the world record to 36.84s and for a while, it seemed as if he and his teammates would go into retirement with at least two Olympics gold medals.

However, in 2016, news emerged that lead-off runner Nesta Carter’s urine sample

from 2008 had turned up the presence of the stimulant methylhexanamine.

“Everybody was shocked.

It was a surreal moment for me. I couldn’t actually believe what was going on.

I just thought that something would have come out to show that it was a mistake or something like that,” Frater said during an interview on SportsNation Live on Nationwide Radio on Saturday.

Carter contested the charge before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but, in 2018, CAS upheld the charge and Jamaica was subsequently stripped of their gold medal. The news was devastating to Frater, who is still in a state of disbelief.

“To this day, I am always thinking that they will go back and find there was something wrong or something like that because it was that first moment, that first Olympic gold, that special moment in my life,” he said.

“I will always think that we won that gold medal, nobody can tell me otherwise. I don’t know exactly what happened, but it was a shock. It will hurt me for the rest of my life.” (Sportsmax)

22

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W

icketkeeper Shane Dowrich hailed the quality of West Indies’ pace attack and believes it can be the decisive factor in next month’s threeTest series against England.

The Caribbean side have travelled with five seamers in their main 14-man Test squad, but have access to a further six – including the experienced Shannon Gabriel – in 11 reserves who are also on tour.

On Sunday, Dowrich said the Windies attack was now more experienced than ever and capable of making the adjustments that were so critical when bowling in English conditions.

“Obviously, home advantage will come into play [for England’s bowlers], but if you look at our pace attack, most of the guys have played here already, so I think they have an understanding of the conditions,” Dowrich told reporters via Zoom from quarantine at Old Trafford.

“We’ve got Kemar Roach, Jason Holder, Shannon Gabriel, and those guys are in the top 20 in the world.

They understand their games and they know how to adjust well to different conditions, so I think that will work well for us going into the series.”

He added: “I’m not one to compare eras, but if you look around at the statistics, it will show that these

Shane Dowrich

guys are quality and they can come up against any team in the world and perform.”

West Indies quicks have improved leaps and bounds in recent times leading to a significant improvement in their respective International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings.

Captain Jason Holder is the highest ranked at number three; he is also number one in the all-rounders charts while Roach lies 11th and Gabriel, 19th.

Uncapped 22-year-old Chemar Holder is on his first West Indies tour, but impressed in the recent First-Class championship with 36 wickets, bowling with pace and hostility.

Dowrich said the strength of the pace attack

was the diversity it presented.

“If you look at the main four – Shannon, Kemar, Jason, and Chemar – I think they all present different skills,” explained the 28-year-old Dowrich.

“Kemar is probably the most skilful out of all of them in terms of being able to hit a consistent line and length and move the ball both ways.

“Shannon and Alzarri have a little more pace, and Jason is ‘Mr Consistent’ – he can put the ball on a tencent piece – so I think we bring a whole dynamic.

“And obviously now, we have young Chemar Holder now coming up, who’s an exciting talent and the way he bowled in First-Class cricket this season shows that,

so I think we have a wellversed attack. In fact, I’m excited to see them go in this series.”

Dowrich, who averages 30 from 31 Tests since making his debut five years ago, also has a point to prove in the upcoming series.

On his last tour in England, three years ago, the pint-sized gloveman endured a wretched time with the bat, scraping a mere 24 runs from six innings.

Since then, Dowrich has notched three hundreds – including one against England in the Caribbean last year – and conceded the failures on the 2017 tour had been a turning point in his career.

“The last time I was here it was very tough for me and

I think it was a series that really changed around my career,” he explained.

“I was young, I was in unfamiliar territory to be honest and I really didn’t cope well with it, but since then I’ve been able to go away and I’ve learnt a lot from experience up here last time and I consider myself a different player to what I was three years ago.

“Obviously, it’s still going to be a challenge. Playing in England [and] batting will always be a challenge, but I think I’m ready and up for that challenge.”

He continued: “I’ve always considered myself as a genuine wicketkeeper/ batsman but obviously that innings (hundred against England) did a lot for me and gave me a lot of confidence, but going forward I think I just need to continue to be consistent and do what is necessary to help the team win.

“I would love to score a Test hundred in England.

Obviously, scoring runs away from home is always a challenge, but I think if you’re going to rate yourself as a player, you have to be able to do it and I think I’ve been putting in enough work to come out with something during this series.”

West Indies take on England in the opening Test at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton starting July 8. (CMC)

England and West Indies to honour key workers in #raisethebat Test series E ngland and West Indies will pay tribute to Britain's key workers during the forthcoming Test series, which has been named the #raisethebat Test series in recognition of the sacrifices made by doctors, teachers, carers, and other vital professions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the build-up to the first Test, which begins on July 8 at the Ageas Bowl, England's players will wear the names of selected key workers with cricketing backgrounds on their training shirts, while the #raisethebat initiative – which has already featured on 300 billboards across the country, and featured in a short film narrated by Stephen Fry – will be rolled out to a wider audience from June 29.

The decision to dedicate the series to key workers comes after the England and Wales Cricket Board's Test sponsorship deal, a two-year agreement with Specsavers, elapsed at the end of the Ashes last summer with no replacement lined up.

"We've waited a long time for this moment, and we wouldn't be here without the West Indies – we

tough time and I can't wait until we can get playing at my club again. Until then, hopefully Joe Root and the team can give us something to cheer about. Summer isn't summer without cricket."

ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said: "As we stage the first international sporting competition in the UK since COVID-19 began, we want to pay tribute to the people who have brave-

are so grateful to them for making the tour happen," said Joe Root, England's Captain. "As we get back to playing the game we love, we want to take the time to honour the brave key workers who went into bat for their country under the toughest circumstances.

It's only fitting that we use this series as an opportunity to 'raise a bat' in their honour. We'll wear their names with pride."

The people named on the shirts include Dr Vikas Kumar, a Specialist in Anaesthetics and Critical Care at Darlington Memorial Hospital, who plays for Cowgate Cricket Club in his spare time. All of

the names have been nominated by their local cricket clubs, and their stories will be amplified across the ECB's digital platforms.

Emily Blakemore, a fulltime nurse and volunteer at Astwood Bank Cricket Club, is another of the chosen players.

"It's going to be an absolute honour to see one of the England Men's players come out while wearing my name on the back of their shirt," she said. "It has been such a difficult time for so many people, and there's still a lot of hard work ahead, but it's exciting that we'll be able to see some cricket again.

"The cricket family has really pulled together at a

ly played their part during this crisis. Through the #raisethebat Test Series, we will show our gratitude to key workers.

"It has been a long and challenging journey to cricket's return and while this pales in comparison to what the country has faced, we hope the #raisethebat Test Series will bring some enjoyment and light relief to people's lives." (ESPNcricinfo)

Simmons confident...

FROM PAGE 23

He also relayed that the reserve players would come into the 14-man main squad if someone got injured. He said that it was more than likely for the first Test, the squad would be selected from the 15-man squad, placing special emphasis on Shannon Gabriel, who has returned from injury and has been named in the reserve squad. Gabriel has been at full tilt and has been training hard in preparation for the first Test.

The West Indies will be looking to carve out their own piece of history as they have not won a Test

in England since 1988. The current Test squad reads: Jason Holder (Captain); Jermaine Blackwood; Nkrumah Bonner; Kraigg Brathwaite; Shamarh Brooks; John Campbell; Roston Chase; Rahkeem Cornwall; Shane Dowrich; Chemar Holder; Shai Hope; Alzarri Joseph; Raymon Reifer and Kemar Roach.

Reserve players: Sunil Ambris, Joshua DaSilva, Shannon Gabriel, Keon Harding, Kyle Mayers, Preston McSween, Marquino Mindley, Shayne Moseley, Anderson Phillip, Oshane Thomas, and Jomel Warrican.

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

23

Roston Chase: “Won't be happy if I don't get at least one century” R

oston Chase has played as much of a part as any of his team-mates in West Indies' recent improvements as a Test side. He has scored five hundreds since his debut in 2016, including a six-hour rearguard against India in his second Test, and another in his last encounter with England. Two Tests before that, his eight-wicket haul condemned England to defeat in Barbados and set Jason Holder's side on their way to reclaiming the Wisden Trophy.

Chase also did his bit when West Indies won at Headingley in 2017, although that was an underwhelming tour generally as he averaged 13.33 with the bat. Perhaps that is why he has set his sights on scoring "at least one century" this time around.

"Once you do well in England, I think your stock as a cricketer goes up on the international scene," he said.

"I've always wanted to score a century in England.

I scored a century against England in the Caribbean, but I would love to get one in England. As I said, when you score hundreds in England, I think, as a batsman people take you more serious and rate you a bit higher. I'm looking to have a good series with the bat, score as many runs as pos-

sible. I will not be happy if I don't get at least one century."

The onus on Chase to provide a sturdy bulwark at No. 5 or 6 has only increased in the absence of Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer, who batted either side of him against England in 2018-19. Certainly, runs in the forthcoming threematch series would bolster Chase's overall record, which has seen him enjoy the majority of his success at home, with only one century – in India in 2018 – and an average of 24.75 in away Tests.

Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope led the way in Leeds three years ago, while both Chase and Jermaine Blackwood have experience of English conditions, and the ability of a reshaped West Indies batting line-up to put up fighting totals will likely go a long way to determining their chances of success.

"It's fair to say that we haven't had the best time as a top order," Chase said.

"But I think some of the guys have played 30 or more Test matches, so the guys are experienced and know how to get runs at that level – so we are ever improving.

It's just for us to get that confidence and belief back in our batting in the top order and I think that will be fine, because the guys know

Rahkeem Cornwall celebrates a wicket with Captain Jason Holder

they have the ability."

While Chase was England's destroyer with the ball at the Kensington Oval 18 months ago – his second-innings 8 for 60 perhaps aided by some "complacent" batting – he is happy to stand in the not-inconsiderable shadow of Rahkeem Cornwall when it comes to spin-bowling duties on tour.

Depending on whether West Indies choose to deploy a four-man pace attack or not, Chase will fill in as required and aim to keep England on their toes.

"Yeah, he's definitely the number one spinner, but I have no problem with that," Chase said of Cornwall, who

made his Test debut last year. "I'm always willing to do whatever it takes for the team, if I have to back him up or if I have to be the main spinner, it doesn't really matter to me. Once we're going in the right direction and winning games and series, that's all that really matters to me. Doesn't matter if I'm number one or number two or number three, just want to go out there and do well for the country and for myself.

"I'm comfortable with my role, batting in the middle order and bowling some overs when need be. The unit, it’s a very close unit, all the guys are friends,

we came up playing cricket from youth cricket days.

We're comfortable and just like to enjoy our company and enjoy the cricket and look to be successful.

"In the first game [in Barbados last year], my lines and lengths and variation were spot on. And I guess the England batsmen –- I wouldn't want to say they underestimated me, but they were a bit complacent playing me. As the series went on, they got a bit tighter. Having lost that first game, I thought they really tried to knuckle down and cope with my bowling and they did a good job."

One significant change from the previous meetings between these two sides is the addition of Jofra Archer

England v West Indies:

Jason Holder and Ben Stokes rivalry “huge” for series

Simmons confident of Windies’ performance ahead of 1st Test W

West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons

T

he West Indies will be on the hunt to retain the Wisden Trophy as they clash against England in three Test Matches. The first Test match will be played at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton – July 8-12.

As such, West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons in an interview with the media shared his views on the upcoming clash.

Simmons started off by stating that Kraigg Braithwaite would be Vice Captain during the series, and noted that with the absence of Shimron Hetmyer, who bats at number three, management would be tasked with the restruc-

turing of the batting order.

This can only be done based on the two practice matches that will be played today at Emirates Old Trafford until June 25 and a four-day match at the same venue from June 29-July 2.

When asked if there were any niggles in the camp, Simmons said, “No, thank God everyone seems to be ok, the Captain seemed to have a little problem with his ankle, but that is better now. Over the years, we have seen that our bowling has been our strongest suit of our game as a Test nation. The batters have looked well on the surface and even in the nets. But when we head out to play the three- and fourdays game, I think then we will be able to see.”

When asked his take on the fast bowling setup, Simmons related that it spoke for itself as Jason Holder is the number one Test all-rounder, and Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel are high up on the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings.

He noted that the youngsters were eager to learn, placing special emphasis on Alzarri Joseph, who he believes would be one of the best in

time to come.

On the issue of whether to use four pacers or include Rahkeem Cornwall in the line-up as the Ageas Bowl has been known to benefit spinners, Simmons said, “When we get down there for the practice matches, we will see what the condition is like. I mean this will all be determined on how the wickets play out in our two warmups and also looking at the

test wicket as this can play different from what we are practising on.”

Simmons has said that the three-day game would be a mixed-up game of the current squad and the reserve list. However, he noted that it would not be the same for the four-day game, as the squad featured would be finer tuned along the lines of a First-Class squad.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

to England's bowling ranks.

Like several of West Indies' strong Bajan contingent, Chase came up against Archer during the young quick's formative years – but their most recent meeting came when the two appeared on opposing sides in the Sussex Premier League in 2015.

"I do remember the game we played against Jofra," Chase said. "This was before he even played for Sussex or anything like that. He actually got five wickets, he got me out as well. He pulled up after he got the five wickets and batting became a lot easier for us.

"He was always a good talent, but he wasn't as rapid as he is now."

(ESPNcricinfo)

est Indies Coach Phil Simmons says the rivalry between Jason Holder and Ben Stokes will be "huge" during the upcoming Test series against England.

Windies Captain Holder is ranked as the number one all-rounder in Test cricket, while Stokes was named as the leading cricketer in the world by Wisden.

"Ben is the type of person who wants to be number one. He'll be doing his best to get Jason's position," said Simmons.

"I know Jason wants to be number one and wants to keep that."

Holder, 28, was the leading runs scorer on either side when West Indies defeated England 2-1 in the Caribbean in early 2019.

That was the beginning of the defining year of Stokes' career, in which he was named Man of the Match in the World Cup final and followed that with a magnificent 135 not out that gave England a one-wicket victory in the third Ashes Test at

Headingley.

"The rivalry will be there throughout the series," added Simmons, who played 26 Tests for West Indies.

"Whenever the two guys are playing, they want to be competitive in all aspects."

The first match in the three-Test series, which will be played behind closed doors in a bio-secure environment, begins on July 8 in Southampton.

Before that, West Indies start the first of two warmup matches between players in their squad today at Old Trafford, while England's 30-man training group will gather in Southampton.

All England players and management staff will be tested for coronavirus on arrival, then will isolate individually for the first 24 hours as they await the test results.

They will begin training on Thursday, building up to an internal three-day warmup match on July 1, after which a squad for the first Test will be named. (BBC Sport)

How they compare

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 20200

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England v West Indies: Roston

Chase: “Won't be happy if I don't get at Jason Holder and least one Ben Stokes rivalry century” “huge” for series Pg 23

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Simmons confident of England might have Archer, Windies’ performance but Shane Dowrich likes Windies’ attack just fine ahead of 1st Test Pg 23

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