Guyana Times Tuesday April 7, 2020

Bar Association upbraids P Nagamootoo over "reckless" curfew directive 7

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4249

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

PRICE

GECOM, APNU/AFC destruction of democracy: Day 36

Keith Lowenfield gets 48 hours to create plan for elections recount …only Caricom re-invited to observe See story on page 9

Guyana's COVID-19 death toll now 5 …31 test positive, 7 in ICU Page 3

Dead: Deryck Jaisingh

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

COVID-19 P12 threatens to shutter 50% of local tourism ventures without Govt aid Belle West cattle farmer found P11 dead in backdam

COVID-19 outbreak

NDC Chairman issues BBQ P15 permit to himself …2 Berbice church leaders arrested after hosting services

Political instability not helping Guyana’s P14 cause internationally – Dr Persaud Cyclist killed by speeding P14 minibus

Volunteers at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD), who are part of the People’s Progressive Party National COVID-19 Stakeholder Forum making facial masks for free distribution. Inset: Members of the public rushed PPP volunteers who were distributing face masks at Stabroek Market on Monday

Calls pour in for Court of Appeal live broadcast ruling “disturbing” of recount – TT PM …GECOM Chair asked to bar …legal battle based on misinterpretation of recount agreement See story on page 7

…says Caricom was never going to usurp GECOM’s role

See story on page 10

Mingo, Meyers from process

UK PM moved to ICU as COVID-19 P18 symptoms worsen

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TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

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TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, April 7 – 05:00h – 06:30h and Wednesday, April 8 – 05:00h – 06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, April 7 – 15:55h – 17:25h and Wednesday, April 8 – 16:40h – 18:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Expect sunny intervals and light cloud during the day. There will be partly cloudy conditions at night. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 16:25h reaching a maximum height of 2.89 metres.

Low Tide: 09:58h and 22:17h reaching minimum heights of 0.33 metre and 0.33 metre.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020

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COMMODITIES Indicators Crude Oil Rough Rice London Sugar

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…31 test positive, 7 in ICU

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he number of coronavirus cases in Guyana has risen to 31 while the number of deaths has risen to five as the global figures continue to rise amid the pandemic.

The latest fatality is Deryck Jaisingh, 38, a drag racer of Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara (EBD), who succumbed on Monday evening. Jaisingh recently returned from Brazil and has been counted as an imported case of COVID-19.

His wife, son, and brother have been quarantined.

Earlier on Monday, caretaker Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence said that 115 persons were tested for the virus, an increase from the reported 29 cases, announced on Sunday.

Eight persons had been placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital, with one case – who turned out to be Jaisingh – listed as critical, Lawrence reported.

For the one inconclusive test, the results proved negative after the individual was isolated for two weeks.

Of the 35 persons in institutional quarantine, 10 are from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 22 from Region Four (Demerara Mahaica) and three from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The data shows that 23 persons are in institutional isolation, hailing from Regions One (BarimaWaini); Two (PomeroonSupenaam); Three; Four; Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Patient zero’s family

SUPER PAY DAY

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Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll now 5

$1663.30 $1688.40 +1.10%

Four relatives of Guyana’s Patient Zero, Ratna Baboolall – who died at the Georgetown Public Hospital on March 11 after being admitted one day prior, also tested positive for the virus. The infected persons were her husband, two sons, and granddaughter.

The caretaker Minister has since revealed that three of those persons have been cleared as they were retested and the results were negative.

“Three family members of the index case who tested positive had two post-isolation tests. Both tests for each of the three family members are negative. Eight cases associated with Guyana’s first case have recovered,” she stated.

Globally, the number of confirmed cases from 213 countries stands at 1,133,758 while the number of deaths is now 62,784.

Information from the World Health Organisation (WHO) states that in the Region of the Americas, there are 315,714 cases with 8187 deaths.

Just a few days ago, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Karen GordonBoyle stated that persons

were failing to implement the recommended measures to protect themselves from the virus. More concerningly, suspected patients are refusing to be quarantined at home.

“You continue to act as though it is business as usual. I wish to emphasise that everyone is at risk for contracting this disease … We are still having challenges with persons who have been in contact with the disease.

They are not providing us with accurate information, so that we can better manage the situation,” she was quoted as saying.

A total of 1495 persons have made calls to the COVID-19 hotline. The ministry will be launching an app, whereby persons can self-test and the information will be transmitted directly to the surveillance team.

For now, the 06:00h to 18:00h imposed curfew has resulted in reduced activity across the country, especially in central Georgetown.

An unsigned notice from the Minister took effect from April 3, and will last for one month, “unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Public Health after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions.”

It includes directives to stay at home, stating that “every person shall remain in the confines of his or her home and its yard space” except or as otherwise provided.

Deryck Jaisingh in his hospital bed at GPHC prior to his death

According to the notice, all persons employed within the public service, a statutory body or a State-owned enterprise shall work remotely from home, except as may otherwise be directed by the Public Health Minister, acting on the advice of the responsible Ministers and Heads of Agencies.

With regard to essential services, the Minister said these would carry on with 24-hour operations. These include hospitals; healthcare and medical services including pharmacies, drug stores and private veterinary services; nursing homes, orphanages, shelters and other related care centres; immi-

gration; the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA); electricity services; water supply services; the Disciplined Services; Guyana Prison Service; solid waste management, sewerage and janitorial services; air traffic control (ATC); the Demerara Harbour Bridge and Berbice River Bridge; hotels and accommodation; and factories, manufacturers or distributors of food supplies and essential goods, including medical supplies, where the Public Health Minister has determined that the continuation of these operations do not pose a risk to public health.

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

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

Where is the relief?

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s is currently the case with many other countries, Guyana is facing extremely tough economic times, with not only one but two major threats to our economic survival – the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and a stubborn APNU/ AFC Government fighting to the very end to stay on in power.

In spite of the Appellate Court’s ruling on Sunday dismissing the case which sought to block the national recount of the votes cast in the March 2 polls, the drama continues at the level of the GECOM Commission and within the hierarchy of the APNU/AFC. Government-appointed GECOM Commissioners and lawyers representing the APNU/AFC candidate Ulita Moore are giving all sorts of different, confusing interpretations of the Court’s ruling and the methodology that should be used to carry out the recount.

They are also providing their own view of what happens after the recount is completed and what the results of the recount mean to the parties that contested the polls and the nation as a whole. One GECOM Commissioner went as far as implying that even after having gone through the recount process, it is not certain that the results would be used to declare a winner. So, what’s the point in doing a recount in the first place?

It is clear as each day passes by, that there is a ‘diehard’ faction within the PNC/APNU/AFC who are not in favour of having a credible and well-supervised recount, or even if they have it, would use every trick in the book once again to thwart the process and create unnecessary controversy as their aim is to hold on to power at all costs, even if it means the country is kept at a standstill for many more months or destroyed altogether.

The nation’s patience is running thin. Citizens are already heavily stressed about having to deal with COVID-19. There is currently a situation where the caretaker Government has imposed a one-month partial lockdown on the nation to combat the spread of the virus without any planned economic relief measures in place for citizens.

At the moment, thousands of persons are unemployed, prices for basic food commodities have gone up and are rising steadily due to panic buying over the past few weeks, the utility companies continue to send bills that must be paid, households are forced to purchase additional items such as sanitisers and medical supplies to protect themselves against the coronavirus, and small businesses are forced to close, etc.

While many countries around the world have justifiably instituted partial or full lockdown and other measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, they have all taken steps to provide relief measures to citizens so as to avoid much bigger social and economic problems. Their Governments are well aware that families would need some form of support to cushion the impact of such drastic measures. As pointed out by Nigel Hinds, a local business executive and politician, in a letter to the media, over 45 countries have announced economic relief measures that were summarised and published by the Tax Foundation of the United States.

We support the calls being made for immediate action to be taken by all the relevant stakeholders to cushion the impact of the coronavirus on individuals and businesses. The Private Sector Commission (PSC) in particular has made some important recommendations in relation to various tax waivers and suspension of financial household commitments; these include removal of mortgage interests and payments during this time, and to immediately raise the threshold to accommodate no taxation for employees earning $65,000 to $100,000 who were sent off the job.

The PSC has also called for the Government to consider the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on food items, detergents, mobile data services and household and medical cleansers.

Along with this, the PSC has suggested a temporary removal of the requirement to pay income and corporation taxes upfront, reduced excise taxes on fuel, and emergency funding for small establishments or businesses at risk of closure.

Several other organisations have also made recommendations in relation to utility companies deferring payments and/or reducing charges by at least 50 per cent; the suspension of income and corporation taxes until September and direct payments to citizens, such as unemployment payments.

It clearly does not make any sense to implement a nationwide lockdown and there are no proper support or relief measures in place to assist households and businesses. This is causing severe hardships on everyone and must urgently be fixed.

Paralysing private health sector in fight against COVID-19 is reckless, foolish Dear Editor, When I was Minister of Health, I engaged in the private sector every time we had to respond to public health challenges. In 2005, the Private Sector played a significant role in the flood response. In 2002, although Guyana did not have to deal with SARS, Guyana was already prepared months ahead, and we had engaged the Private Sector. We did so again with the Avian Flu in 2009 and with MERS in 2012. For, example, the Private Sector provided support in leptospirosis testing in 2005. In 2005, in order to assist GPHC, we shifted all our maternity cases to the Private Sector, while we devoted all our resources, including beds and spaces for other medical cases.

Because, we needed more space for seriously ill medical cases coming in 2005, we shifted some of our ICU cases to private hospitals. The Government made arrangements for covering the cost for patients we asked the Private Sector to manage on our behalf. Throughout Guyana’s fight against HIV, the Private Sector provided critical support. It is, therefore, troublesome to see the Private Sector begging to be engaged in the fight against COVID-19. That there has been no formal meeting with the Private Sector up to this time, is reckless and putting Guyanese lives at risk.

The private health sector must be mobilised in the fight against COVID-19.

The private health sector has indicated their frustration that they have not been engaged to become part of the fight to crush COVID-19.

Dr Frank Anthony, who is a member of the National COVID-19 Forum established by Dr Irfaan Ali to support the national response has called for the mobilisation of the Private Sector. It is imperative, not an option, that the Private Sector becomes part of this fight. They are willing and waiting and national authorities must immediately, with much haste, engage the Private Sector. There are eight private hospitals - six in Georgetown, one on the East Coast Demerara and one in Region Six. There are more than a dozen private medical laboratories scattered around the country and there are now more than a hundred private doctors clinics in most of the regions of Guyana.

To leave them out of the formal arrangements in fighting COVID-19 is reckless. I, therefore, join my colleagues, like Dr Frank Anthony and the team in the National COVID-19 Forum, in urging the national authorities to engage the Private Sector. Too much time has elapsed and a critical component of the health sector has been sidelined.

The testing protocol in place more than one month since the first COVID-19 case was documented in Guyana is deadly flawed.

That Guyana is only now testing 100 people is an indictment. There are already about 30 people test-confirmed for COVID-19. There are four deaths. Given that about 1 per cent of COVID patients usually die, the four deaths indicate there are at least 400 cases in Guyana, and, therefore, a large number of asymptomatic persons walking around spreading COVID-19 SoV2 viruses. The fact that there are about 200 people in isolation and most of these have not been tested show that the testing capacity is seriously limited. The private health sector has shown the ability to procure and provide health services.

Since the public sector has shown it is limited in its ability to procure and provide wide-scale testing, the Private Sector must be allowed to proceed. It is simply stupid, but also deadly, that the Government has not seen the need to mobilise this critical capacity in the Private Sector to help in testing for COVID-19.

Gathering COVID-19 data is critical, but the public health ordinance, the Ministry of Health Act and the Health Facilities Licensing Act mandates the Private Sector in providing the data we need. There was

in 2005, and throughout the HIV response, so far and for all infectious and non-communicable chronic diseases, specific arrangements for The Private Sector to provide information for the national health statistics and for the epidemiological system.

The bureaucratic, autocratic approach in the COVID-19 response, where the Government has sought to control the overall response, where the Private Sector has had their hands tied behind their backs, is reckless and deadly. That Guyana has chosen to paralyse a critical part of our health sector is irresponsible. The time has long past for the national authorities to engage the Private Sector, not just the private hospitals, the private labs and the private doctors’ offices, but also the NGOs which have been a critical part of Guyana’s response to any public health challenge. Presently, it is these communities filling the vacuum for awareness and education, for getting the population adhering to social distancing and for proper hygiene and using of masks in public. Every citizen, every sector in Guyana is needed for the fight. The Government’s restriction is foolish and deadly.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Is David Hinds’ suggestion simply ridiculous or wicked?

Dear Editor, So our friend David Hinds said “Scrap this election. Destroy those boxes. Install an Interim Government led by Granger as President and the PPP man as Prime Minister.

Divide the Cabinet equally between the two sides. Go back to the old Parliament.

Set up an Independent Commission tasked with structurally overhauling GECOM, changing the governance architecture and the electoral laws to ensure outcomes that are in keeping with power-sharing. Give them two years to do that and then go back to elections.”

Would all of that not be unconstitutional, David?

Would the PNC not file fictitious, vexatious lawsuits if we did that? That would be nice for you David, won’t it? What’s in it for you? A Minister’s job? You must get credit for being a loyal unapologetic “black power” Africanist or as you put it having “fidelity to your ethnic identity,” notwithstanding the PNC kicked you and your friend, Lewis, out of the Chronicle. (Thanks to Mr Glen Lall for giving you

a home). You took a licking and keep on ticking for the PNC. Here are some questions for David. If your PNC has won, why would you want to scrap the elections?

If they won, they have a right to run the Government. The PPP would not have a problem with that. David, if the PNC did not win, and the PPP won why would you want the presidency to be given to “the man with the plan” Granger, and not to Dr Irfaan Ali? That would not be right. Is it? Or do you subscribe to Granger’s view that the “PNC is born to rule?” And you want us to do that to avoid “slo fiah, mo fiah?” Do you realise Dr Ali has more Government experience than the illegal, aloof, always missing-in-action illegal caretaker Mr Granger?

Dr Hinds, you became a national treasure in the late 70s and 80s when the struggle needed black voices to speak out, you and many in the WPA were among the decent Afro-Guyanese (along with Ogunseye, now a sellout) who fought against rigged elections and PNC dictatorship. That’s how you won the esteem and integrity you enjoyed up to

about 2015. At great personal cost, you fought against Burnham’s 28 years of dictatorship, where the PNC appropriated the PPP’s votes and made themselves absolute rulers through the most vulgarly rigged elections.

Remember they killed our hero Rodney. Your new solution goes against these principles for which you stood.

You should find it abhorrent that every time the PNC is in power we have to be fighting to restore democracy.

Don’t be on the side of the usual wicked, David. You had been a good man.

David, what you are suggesting is rigging. The SoPs show the PPP won, but you want to make Granger the President? That’s what Burnham did. Jagan won all those elections, but Burnham wanted to be President for life, so he stole it at every election. Surely, David, you share Granger’s view that the PNC somehow has some inalienable right to the throne, and that is similar to the biggest PNC rigger, Hoyte, who said his life’s mission was to make sure Jagan (PPP) never became President.

David, you said “destroy

the boxes” then “go back to elections.” And so what would happen when we have those elections? The PNC supporters in their “fidelity to your ethnic identity” who dominate the military, State agencies and courts would again collude with the people running the elections, and cheat for the PNC as they are doing now. Can you not see that the root of the problem is the PNC is on an agenda to stay in power no matter what, and they have the military, Police, Judges, and other State collaborators and conspirators, and complicit church people to help them rig. If they can rig the 2020 SoPs and not count them with the help of the election body in front of our faces, which is the singular problem now, how will it be different in future elections?

David, you need to make a clear statement that the original SoPs need to be counted as they were doing when Pastor Mingo, the magician and miracle worker, created his fictitious “rigsheet.” David, it’s not too late for you to repent!

Sincerely, Jerry Singh

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TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 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

Condemning electoral fraud is not interference Dear Editor, Guyanese at home and in the diaspora praise the position taken by the US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch (April 2) re-committing to free and fair elections.

Condemning electoral fraud is not interfering in the internal affairs of a State. Was apartheid in South Africa any of Guyana Government’s business? Why did it get involved in the internal affairs of South Africa? Human rights abuse, including electoral fraud, is the business of the world. The US and other countries are justified in condemning fraud and calling for an accurate count of ballots. The US statement is equated with those on rigged elections in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Bolivia, Venezuela, and elsewhere.

The US Ambassador, like representatives of all other countries, has been forced to abandon the traditional smooth and suave diplomatic language in the face of gruesome and barefaced elections theft that was being executed by GECOM in the full glare of the international community.

Glowing tributes are paid to Ambassador SarahAnn Lynch’s commitment in standing up for democracy in Guyana. But she has

faced minimal criticism from some Government defenders with the statement being described as interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state. Are these critics supporting electoral fraud?

Following the electoral fraud, the US reiterated its position on democracy in Guyana. As the Ambassador noted, neither she nor the US would compromise their position on electoral integrity. It would be duplicitous to condemn electoral fraud (May 2018) in Venezuela and not in Guyana; the US is preparing for military actions against Venezuela. Guyana and the US were among the twelve signatories of the Lima Declaration in January 2019 condemning electoral fraud in Venezuela. Yet, the Government of Guyana is condoning electoral fraud at GECOM. Guyana is fortunate to have her as US Ambassador.

In a very short period of time in Guyana, she has distinguished herself successfully advancing US-Guyana trade and humanitarian and cultural interests. US-Guyana relations have improved significantly under her watch: bilateral arrangements, visits by high-level American delegations of security strategists, Congress, inves-

tors, etc. She has also promoted greater trade links.

The American Chamber of Commerce has been formed under her stint.

The Ambassador’s statement is a reasonable explanation of the US’s position on democratic governance.

That is not interference in Guyana’s governance. It is a practice of countries when they see electoral injustice.

She has a right to express the opinion of her country on human rights affairs. She has distinguished her behaviour in the conduct of diplomacy. She has remained within the norms of diplomacy. She complied with all State Department rules and regulations. It is true that it is unprecedented for a diplomat to speak so forcefully on that subject in Guyana. She demonstrated publicly where the US stood at this critical juncture in the political life of Guyana. Nothing else is acceptable.

That statement has earned accolades. Guyanese see the statement as extraordinary and they endorse the call to count every ballot fairly and correctly. Those critical of the US position on democracy are misguided.

Guyana is a major recipient of US aid. Hundreds of thousands of Guyanese live in

America. The criticism of the US on democratic elections will only seek to harm relations.

As a political scientist, I study international diplomacy. The statement is appropriate and a rare wash down of a country by a diplomat in any part of the world. It sought to reinforce that right to people vote and their vote must be counted correctly.

The US will not close its eye to electoral fraud.

The statement of Her Excellency on US commitment to democracy has shone a bright light on the US foreign service that people are increasingly seeing as being different from the days of supporting some dictatorships through the 1980s including the PNC’s.

The statement has exuded renewed confidence among Guyanese that electoral fraud would not be condoned and that people can have a Government of their choice.

Guyanese are grateful to the US for its support for democratic elections. And they salute the great work of Ambassador Lynch to foster closer relations between the US and Guyana.

Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram

Doctors should rebel against politicisation of COVID-19 tests Dear Editor, I am quite troubled by the news that “When COVID-19 tests are conducted, doctors and nurses would be forced to wait for sometimes days before they are given the results. This delay is due to the fact that the test results move straight from the lab to former Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, and her “relevant heads.”

To start with, we seem to have a square peg in round hole Minister of Health (who might not have the status of a “Minister” now that we are in political gridlock) who is not a medical doctor or someone with medical experience.

This lady, Chairman of the PNC, was catapulted to the position after the previous Minister who was a real doctor was involved in a drug bond scandal and was re-

moved.

The blogger, “Bibi Haniffa,” wrote, “A non-medical personnel demands that all COVID-19 test results go to her. And the doctors don’t know if their patients test positive or not. What a country!” And another, “Sheik101,” wrote, “This lady is at the front of everything.

From the NCV (Charrandas gon dead tonite) all the way down to the present. Rabble rouser, instigator whatever but her actions speaks for her.”

This is also the lady who said, “The only friends I got is PNC, so the only people I gon give wuk to is PNC and right now, I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC,” Lawrence is quoted as saying. “The Minister has not denied mak-

ing the statements publicly …” the media quoted her as saying on December 4, 2018.

At this time of national instability and political gridlock when Ms Volda’s party is trying to steal the 2020 elections, now is not the time to also politicise the fight against the coronavirus. It seems plainly wrong, and I ask the Guyana Medical Council and Doctors’ Association to rebel against this practice. Go on a walkout if you have to so as to press home your message.

Let the professionals be professionals. This practice is simply unacceptable especially when the IMF said Guyana is among the countries that are least prepared, and the Government is clueless in dealing with the virus.

What are the compelling

operational, medical, health, or public policy reasons why a lame-duck Minister must have the lab results first ahead of the medical professionals? This makes no sense at all. What would happen if a top PPP leader or leader from another party has been tested? Would the results be languishing somewhere before interventions are made, or can there be tricks with the results? How about private hospitals not having access to ventilators and materials available to the Government services?

I call on Ms Volda to stop this silly practice of lab results going to her first, and call on the medical community to stand up for your professional rights and practices.

Dear Editor, In his Sunday column, after describing his historical role in the struggle for democracy and the political journey that led to his ethnic awakening, Dr David Hinds (KN, April 5, 2020), urged Guyanese to “Scrap this election. Destroy those boxes. Install an Interim Government led by Granger as President and the PPP man as Prime Minister.

Divide the Cabinet equally between the two sides. Go back to the old Parliament. Set up an Independent Commission tasked with structurally overhauling GECOM, changing the governance architecture

and the electoral laws to ensure outcomes that are in keeping with power-sharing.

Give them two years to do that and then go back to elections.”

His proposals for an Interim Government of National Unity, followed by constitutional and electoral reform must be seen as another earnest attempt by Guyanese to seek a political solution out of this quagmire.

But his suggestion to “scrap this election” and “destroy the ballot boxes” has other implications. One, Dr Hinds is a leader of the WPA, which has emerged as an apologist for the ruling coalition. Dr Hinds

is now accepting what most Guyanese suspected, namely, that the coalition lost the March 2 elections. Two, Hinds is suggesting that we now ignore the results of the elections and pretend as if it did not happen. Asking the main opposition to negotiate with a losing party means that negotiations for an Interim Government will take place under a cloud of suspicion, rather than good faith. Three, inherent in Dr Hinds’ bold statement is an awareness that the Opposition is impotent when it comes to effectuating change in the current political configuration. The

coalition has entrenched itself militarily and politically, with firm control of the coercive powers of the State. Any power-sharing arrangement, without first acknowledging the electoral results, will see the coalition continuing to exert its bullying tactics to produce a win-lose outcome.

I note that Dr Hinds has been a champion on power-sharing in Guyana (he wrote a book on it), but, like his colleagues Moses Bhagwan and Eusi Kwayana, he has abandoned that call since 2015. I suspect that if David truly believed that the coalition had verifiably

Sincerely, Dr Jerry Jailall

Will David Hinds be charged by the Police?

Dear Editor, Now that David Hinds, a senior candidate for the APNU/AFC coalition has made an open call for the destruction of the ballot boxes, “I repeat my proposal here.

Scrap this election. Destroy those boxes.” Will he be charged by the police? There can be no clearer dog-whistle to the supporters letting them know in no uncertain terms the election has been lost and destruction of the votes is a goal. I would not even venture to analyse the diatribe for racism; to touch

such filth leaves one feeling unclean for a very long time.

The Guyana Police Force has to perform, they may note that I never criticised their handling of the Bryan Mackintosh incident, all I ask is similar attention be paid to the writings of a columnist in a major newspaper as the ranting of a social commentator. Equality under the law is a principle that must be adhered to at all times.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

Start the recount now Dear Editor, The International Center for Democracy (ICD) along with the ABCE countries, Caricom, international and local observer groups/organisations have been monitoring the sequence of events before and after the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections in Guyana. It has been almost six weeks after the March 2, 2020 Elections - Guyanese are still in limbo not knowing the results and whether or not their constitutional voting rights have been executed in a free, fair and transparent manner to choose their next President and Government.

The tabulation process in the declaration of Region Four has been openly condemned by the ICD, ABCE countries, Caricom, international and local observer groups/organisations as not being free, fair and transparent. There have been several judicial interventions for the courts to determine and provide guidance regarding the recounting of the ballots.

All of the courts thus far ruled that GECOM has the constitutional rights and power to act as an independent body to move forward in doing a national recount of all the ballots and to make a final declaration. GECOM has made the decision to proceed in doing a recount of the ballots.

Despite the Judiciary interventions and GECOM taking the next step to move the process forward, the issue of trust in GECOM is still a lingering concern. Individuals

Destroying the ballot boxes is not the answer

won the 2020 election, power-sharing would be on the back burner. I end by reminding David of a pertinent fact: As a university lecturer in the US, he knows fully well that many people have died in the struggle to preserve the right to have their votes counted. But more pointedly, as an influential columnist, I fear David is offering a Plan B to the “riggers” – if the verification count shows that we lost, then let’s burn the ballot boxes, regardless of who is watching.

Sincerely, Baytoram Ramharack

within GECOM that were an integral part of the tabulation process knowingly and deliberately made decisions that were biased and not transparent that compromised the validity of the election results – those individuals should be excluded from the recount process. For GECOM to regain the trust of the people, the various political parties, the ABCE countries, Caricom and international and local observer groups, GECOM must be ready and willing to ensure that the staff that will be doing the recount is trustworthy, free and fair and do not have any political affiliation and/or biases.

There is a lingering perception that the Chairwoman of GECOM did not perform her duties that were free, fair and without bias. The ICD demands that the Chairwoman for GECOM, the Honourable Retired Justice Claudette Singh take charge of the recount process and do not allow any of the political parties and staff within GECOM to influence her decision - the ICD will be paying close attention to this.

The ICD demands that GECOM start the recount process as soon as possible without any further delay. The recount process should be free, fair and transparent and for it to be it must be done in the presence of representatives from all competing political parties, Caricom, International and Local Observer Groups. The ICD demands that GECOM televises the recount and tabulation process for the public to view – this will rebuild confidence in the process, the outcome and with GECOM. Democracy in Guyana must be restored and the people of Guyana must have a President and Government that is democratically elected in a free, fair and transparent manner. The ICD, ABCE countries, Caricom, international and local observer groups and the world at large will continue to monitor the recount and tabulation process of the ballots to ensure that the General and Regional Elections declaration is free, fair and transparent.

Sincerely, International Center for Democracy (ICD)

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TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

Page

Foundation

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

This is the second part of Social Studies Paper 1, 2012.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE SIX ASSESSMENT TIME: 1 hour 10 minutes READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. 1. WRITE YOUR CANDIDATE NUMBER ON THE ANSWER SHEET AND UNDERLINE THE SUBJECT. 2. This test contains 40 questions. You are required to answer ALL questions. Four responses are given for each question.

SOCIAL STUDIES

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

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

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

20. Which group of community workers is employed by the government?

(A) Farmers, policemen, bakers

(B) Priests, postmen, firemen

(C) Policemen, postmen, firemen

(D) Bakers, firemen, postmen 21. The National Flag, Coat-of-Arms and the National Anthem are referred to as symbols of

(A) nationhood.

(B) a plantation society.

(C) national struggles.

(D) a colony.

22. Which is the highest National Award that can be given to an outstanding Guyanese?

(A) Cacique Crown of Honour

(B) Order of Roraima

(C) Order of Excellence

(D) Military Service Medal

ANSWER SHEET The capital of Guyana is A B C D (A) Linden (B) Georgetown (C) Rose Hall (D) Lethem A heavy black line has been drawn through the letter B on the answer sheet because Georgetown, the correct answer, is next to B. 5. If you make a mistake, erase the line cleanly, 1.

26. The caption suggests that the earth is (A) getting larger. (B) getting hotter.

(C) losing heat.

(D) losing water.

27. Which·of the following is a consequence of Global Warming?

(A) Pollution from power plants (B) Rise in sea levels (C) Emissions from trucks (D) Pollution from cars Read the caption below, then answer questions 28 and 29.

Study the caption below, then answer question 25.

Mr. Simon jumped into the river and rescued the little boy.

25. Which National Award should Mr. Simon be given for his bravery?

(A) The Cacique Crown of Valour (B) The Cacique Crown of Honour (C) The Order of Excellence (D) The Order of Roraima Read the caption below, then answer question 26.

Scientists claim that the earth’s temperature is increasing

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

(iii) They were flogged for loitering on the job. (iv) They lived in logies.

(A) i, ii and iii only (B) i, iii and iv only (C) i and iii only (D) ii and iv only 32. Two benefits that can be derived from an extended household are: (i) Greater supervision of children (ii) All relatives living under one roof (iii) Pooling of resources (iv) Conflict among family members (A) i and iv only (B) i and iii only (C) ii and iii only (D) iii and iv only 33. The crops cultivated on a large scale on the Coastal Plain are: (i) sugar cane. (ii) peanuts. (iii) pineapple. (iv) rice.

(A) i and ii only (B) ii and iii only (C) iii and iv only (D) i and iv only

23. The village council receives large sums of money for developmental works from the

(A) central government.

(B) local government.

(C) neighbourhood council. (D) residents.

24. Which is a function of the judicial arm of the Government?

(A) Making laws (B) Repealing laws

(C) Amending laws (D) Upholding laws

then draw a heavy black line through the letter next to the answer you have now chosen.

6. REMEMBER, each answer MUST only be shown by a heavy black line on your Answer Sheet 7. Remember only one answer must be provided for each question.

28. The caption above suggests that (A) Johnny should be encouraged to use drugs.

(B) it is okay to use drugs.

(C) drugs should not be misused.

(D) drugs should not be bought over the counter.

29. A drug addict is one who (A) avoids drugs. (B) (C) used drugs.

(D)

34. Which of these resources are found in Guyana’s Highland Region? (i) Sand (ii) Gold (iii) Diamond (iv) Bauxite (A) i only (B) ii only (C) ii and iii (D) iii and iv Study the picture below, then answer question 35.

uses drugs sometimes. uses drugs regularly.

30. Paul’s classmates often reject him because of his shabby clothes. This is a form of ___________ abuse.

(A) economic (B) emotional

(C) physical (D) cultural 31. Which living and working conditions of the immigrants were similar to slavery? (i) Immigrants worked for long hours. (ii) Immigrants were paid labourers.

Dredging for Gold 35. Ways by which gold mining affects the environment (i) Environment is enhanced (ii) Forests could be destroyed (iii) Rivers could be polluted (iv) Wildlife could be poisoned

(A) i and ii only (B) ii and iii only (C) ii, iii and iv (D) i, ii and iv 36. Which of the following are functions of Cabinet? (i) Identifies appropriate policies and strategies (ii) Presents policies to Parliament (iii) Defends policies in the National Assembly (iv) Develops policies in the National Assembly (A) i only (B) i and ii only (C) i, ii and iii (D) i, ii iii and iv Use the graph below to answer question 37.

•c mm 30 r- r-’ ,- ‘r----:,r- - -c-i--r- --,--:----r--’-,-----.--, 375

Annual Rainfall for country X MONTHS OF THE YEAR 37. Which would be the best two-month period to play test cricket in countryX? (A) January and February (B) September and October (C) March and April (D) July and August END OFTEST

NEWS

7

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Court of Appeal ruling "disturbing" – TT PM …legal battle based on misinterpretation of recount agreement …says Caricom was never going to usurp GECOM's role

F

ollowing the Court of Appeal's ruling on Sunday that the Caribbean Community (Caricom) cannot legally supervise a recount, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Keith Rowley has called the ruling disturbing.

Dr Rowley made these comments during a press conference on Monday morning, where he was asked about the ruling. Rowley said Caricom's intention was never to take power away from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

"There was a ruling in the court in Guyana and I find that ruling quite disturbing.

Because the ruling was that the actions of Caricom was deemed to be illegal."

"Now that finding of a court must be of concern to every member of Caricom.

Because it would be predicated on an understanding that Caricom had done something that a court has found to be illegal."

He noted that the word supervise was used loosely in the aide-memoire between caretaker President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. But

T&T Prime Minister Keith Rowley

according to Rowley, the use of the word allowed persons to take advantage and misrepresent it.

"There was some opportunity for misrepresentation. And that opportunity was seized upon. In the document's original paragraphs, it speaks loosely about supervising their [Guyana's] conduct in counting their votes. The understanding was Caricom would be there to see them do what they're supposed to do."

In fact, Rowley went on to read from a copy of the

agreement itself, the context in which the word supervise was used. It was even specified that GECOM, not Caricom, would do the counting.

Rowley, however, was still in favour of Caricom sending a technical team should their presence be requested by Guyana. However, he urged that steps be taken to prevent a misinterpretation of Caricom's role from happening again.

"It specifically says that Caricom would not engage themselves in the actual counting of ballots but because the word ‘supervise’ was used in the sentence before in an understanding that you will be there to see what they do, by the time it was argued in the court, the outcome was that Caricom had acted illegally and I have a problem with that."

"Once a Caricom presence is requested, that presence should be provided but in this case, we are recommending that presence be provided by the same technical team that was there before the Heads went to Guyana… and do not provide an opportunity for this kind of inter-

Bar Association upbraids Nagamootoo over “reckless” curfew directive

T

he legal fraternity on Monday upbraided caretaker Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo over his “reckless” remarks directed to ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on their enforcement of a national curfew as part of efforts to combat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Nagamootoo – in his capacity as Chairman of the National COVID-19 Task Force, during a video conference on Saturday last – suggested that the Disciplined Services may use “creative” means to enforce the COVID-19 Emergency Measures.

The Bar Association, in a strongly worded statement on Monday, responded to Nagamootoo and said his suggestion to pull persons by their ears taken together with alluding to examples he saw on social media of Police Officers in other countries beating persons and inflicting other public punishment “is reckless and ill-advised”.

According to the Bar Association, “it is not the role of the Police to determine and/ or ascribe punishment for an

Caretaker Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

alleged breach or enforcement”.

The lawyers’ association used the occasion to remind members of the Disciplined Services, including the Police Force, that as organs of the State, they are subject to the rule of law and the provisions of the Constitution of Guyana.

“We take this opportunity to highlight the right of every citizen under Article 141 of the Constitution not to be subjected to inhuman and/or degrading treatment.”

The association went further re-emphasizing “that the components of the right to secure protection of the law under Article 144 of the Constitution require that a punishment be prescribed by a court of law, after following all the hallmarks of due process.”

It was noted that the reminders, to prevent excessive authority and abuse, have be-

come necessary as a result of the statements and comments made by Nagamootoo.

The association pointed out that “Guyanese are human beings, not animals, and are thereby entitled to such fundamental rights and freedoms as enshrined in the Constitution”.

It noted that the Disciplined Services must at all times operate within the confines of the law, which we expect them to so do, and cannot employ extra-judicial means in the enforcement of the ‘COVID-19 Emergency Measures’, “the legality and enforceability of which we make no comment on at this time; the necessity of which we appreciate.”

Several videos showing ranks of the Police Force patrolling and using various means to enforce the curfew have been making the rounds on social media platforms and have been met with outrage. Police ranks could be observed closing pharmacies— categorised as essential – in addition to using whips on those who are alleged to have breached curfew.

The legal fraternity has since also called “on all Guyanese to be responsible in their conduct” saying “we owe as much, as a duty to ourselves, our families, our neighbours, communities and our country as a whole…

As we exercise our individual fundamental rights, this exercise is not to be in breach of our respective duties of care.”

Appeal Court Judge Dawn Gregory

Appeal Court Judge Rishi Persaud

Appeal Court Judge Brassington Reynolds

pretation to happen again,” he said.

On Sunday, Appeal Court Judges Dawn Gregory, Rishi Persaud and Brassington Reynolds ruled that a Caricom supervision of GECOM's recount would be unlawful. Their grounds for this reasoning was that GECOM would be ceding its responsibilities.

This was argued by lawyers for A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) candidate, Ulita Moore. The court, however, declined to restore the injunction they were seeking against the recount, putting the proverbial ball in GECOM's court.

After two declarations from Region Four’s (Demerara-Mahaica) Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo which lacked transparency, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and caretaker President David Granger had agreed to have Caricom oversee the recount in a deal brokered by Caricom Chair, Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

Following the agreement by the two political leaders, Moore moved to the courts to file an injunction against the recount. This forced the previous Caricom team of observers to leave. While President Granger has always expressed regret at the

team leaving, persons have cited the fact that it was a junior member of his party that caused their departure.

The high-level team was made up of its Chair, former Attorney General and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Dominica Francine Baron, former Minister of Finance of Grenada Anthony Boatswain; Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government of UWI Cynthia Barrow-Giles; Chief Electoral Officer of Barbados Angela Taylor; and Chief Elections Officer of Trinidad and Tobago Fern Narcis-Scope. As of Monday, GECOM had taken a decision to recall the team.

8

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Waiting for…

H

…the result ow to write about what is going on with these elections? That’s the challenge posed to your Eyewitness as matters become increasingly surreal.

Well, he’s tried Kafka and his allegory of the fella who wakes up one morning in the body of a cockroach. How the heck does he navigate his way in a world that’s out of joint to what he is – literally!! How do WE deal with a world where some 2220 SOPs are tabulated from 9 Regions to everyone’s satisfaction - but in Reg 4, after some 400+ SOPs are also counted OK, when everyone takes a break and returns after waking up the next morning – everything has changed!! Have we all become cockroaches, or was it the RO who suddenly decides to do his own thing??

Another perspective your Eyewitness thinks, that might give us a perspective on what’s unfolding is a genre of plays called “Theatre of the Absurd” (TotA) – exemplified by one called “Waiting for Godot”. TotA is: “A form of drama that emphasises the absurdity of human existence by employing disjointed, repetitious, and meaningless dialogue, purposeless and confusing situations, and plots that lack realistic or logical development.”

Think of what we’ve been witnessing since the counting froze at the Reg 4 Counting Centre at Ashmin’s on March 4. “Disjointed”? What could be more disjointed than the counting before and after they were Mingoed??

“Repetitious”? How many times can you go to court on matters that “require no gloss”?? “Show your SOPs and I’ll show you mine” says the law – but then Mingo refuses to show you his, and the Court has to be brought in not once but umpteenth times??

“Meaningless dialogue”?? What can be more meaningless than a Caretaker President answering every question about the blatant rigging being perpetuated to return him to office, with a coy “I will uphold the Constitution”?? “Purposeless and confusing situations”??

The confusing situations abound. Appeal Court Justice Gregory certainly confused PM Rowley of T&T when she based her judgement on a news release on Caricom’s role rather than the agreement which she had in her possession! In our case, however, the “purposelessness” is absent: the theatre of the absurd enactment is all about pissing on the Guyanese people to get back Granger into power!

But in the end, however, the plot of the PNC play “lacks realistic or logical development”. Does Granger, who’s been exposed to the US modus operandi in protecting its interest in the western Hemisphere, really believe they’ll let him thumb his nose at them and get away with it??

Having served under Burnham who did get away with it, he forgets that “Dis time na lang time”!!

…the Rodneyite response More than anyone else from the WPA, David Hinds has insisted on defining his praxis as “Rodneyite”. He resents those who insist that Rodney wouldn’t have “tied bundle with the PNC” – as the WPA did in 2011. Even though he admitted on numerous occasions that the PNC treated its so-called “coalition partners” like dirt and made unilateral decisions, he insists that Rodney would’ve also defended the union.

In his most recent defence, he outraged most by proposing that the solution to the PNC’s shameless rigging is to scrap the elections, the ballot boxes burnt (yes, burnt!) and Granger be installed to lead an “interim government” that’ll include some from the PPP. But your Eyewitness was intrigued by another statement where Hinds says a “cabal” wants to reinstate the PPP into office using “democratic rhetoric”: “Since there’s no dictatorial PNC to justify their “democracy crusade”, they had to create one.”

So, it was a PPP “cabal” that marginalised Indian Guyanese in the Cabinet and Govt boards? Or fired 7000 mostly Indian-Guyanese sugar workers?

Or is rigging elections?? …a COVID-19 plan The news that Britain’s PM Boris Johnson, is now in an ICU to deal with serious COVID-19 complications might finally bring home to the dilettante PNC that “all might be consumed”.

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

NEWS

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TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Keith Lowenfield gets 48 hours to create plan for elections recount …only Caricom re-invited to observe ...proposal laid to have Region Four RO removed

C

hief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield has been given 48 hours to come up with a plan of action for a national recount of the March 2, General and Regional Elections.

The decision was taken on Monday when the Commission met to discuss the modalities of the recount, and Lowenfield was given up until Wednesday when GECOM meets again.

Providing an update to members of the media following the hours-long meeting at the Commission’s Headquarters, High Street, Kingston, People’s Progressive Party Commissioner, Sase Gunraj disclosed that the entity has not identified a timeline as yet for the completion of the process, nor its start.

“As I speak to you, we do not have a specific or ballpark commencement date,” he said.

Gunraj noted, however, “I am happy that we are able to move forward to the point that the CEO at least have some instructions that he can utilise to come back to us to get this process un-

derway…I believe that it is long overdue and the closer we get to the commencement of the process the quicker we can start and the quicker we can finish and assuage the anxiety of this nation.”

According to the Commissioner, concerns raised by Lowenfield were addressed by the Commissioners. He said: “we went through every one of the concerns of the CEO and attempted as best as we could to provide as much clarity to him.”

At the close of the meeting, Gunraj told media operatives that the CEO confirmed that his concerns were assuaged and that he can now begin to draft a plan to move forward with.

He explained that it is contemplated that Lowenfield would have come up with the plan by the time the Commission meets at 11:00h on Wednesday.

into considerations the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Asked specifically about the Caribbean Community and its role in the process, if any, Gunraj responded by firstly pointing out that it had always been the intention of the Commission to have Caricom not supervise but observe the process.

He drew reference to the aide-memoire that had been inked between the stakeholders in relation to the Caricom Initiative for a recount and said the word supervised had been loosely used.

Gunraj told media operatives that at the time of the conclusion of the meeting there had not been any correspondence with Caricom but said: “I have no doubt in short order an approach will be made to the Caricom Secretary General with a view of re-engaging that team.”

Only Caricom

Removal of Clairmont Mingo

Speaking to the use of observers in the recount process, the PPP Commissioner said it was agreed in principle that such entities would be represented and that invitations will be sent taking

The PPP Commissioner disclosed too that there is a proposal on the table for consideration to have changes made at the level of the Returning Officer, specifically Region Four’s Clairmont Mingo.

He explained that the proposal includes having Mingo removed and replaced in addition to other GECOM employees that are considered to be working against the process.

Gunraj cautioned that the proposal has not been decided on as yet and reminded “that it was only District Four that issues arose in, the other nine districts there were no issues that were reported to us that would warrant the request for removal of those persons.”

Asked about the possibility of having the process televised live in the interest of transparency, Gunraj said while such a decision has not been taken, it is a proposal he intends to lay before the Commission for consideration when it next meets.

Meanwhile, Vincent Alexander, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Commissioner in his interaction with media operatives reported that the discussions centred on “how do we proceed with the recount…we have been dealing with modalities in relation to the recount.”

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

He divulged that it is the intention of the Commission to have the recount done ballot by ballot and that Statements of Poll (SoPs) would not be used but some other form of reporting mechanism to be developed.

The APNU/AFC Commissioner sought to point out to media operatives that a decision had not been taken over the inclusion or exclusion of ROs, namely Region Four’s Mingo.

On the matter of a Caricom intervention, he said the idea is to have the bloc of nations involved in the process since they can give credibility and valida-

tion to the process being set about by GECOM. He was adamant that it is only a Caricom team that could validate the elections recount and not observers.

“We have decided today that our preference in terms of an external body to give some validation that it’s Caricom…The others were never for validation, the others were observers,” according to Alexander.

He was adamant that “Caricom came into the process in a particular role, that role in a modified form, will be retained, the others were never under consideration for validation purposes; they are observers.”

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Calls pour in for live broadcast of recount …GECOM Chair asked to bar Mingo, Meyers from process

A

fter the Appellate Court cleared the way for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to go ahead with its recount of all ballots cast in the March 2 General and Regional Elections, calls have been pouring in for the process to be broadcast on live television.

The Private Sector Commission and Liberty and Justice Party are among the two latest voices in the call for a live broadcast. On Sunday, People’s Progressive Party Executive member, Anil Nandlall called for the measure to ensure the credibility of the process.

Leader of LJP, Lenox Shuman in a letter to the GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, recommended that the Commission adopt a policy to have the recount of ballots be broadcast.

“In recognition of the events that transpired at the RO’s Office for District Number Four from 3 March 2020 to 15 March 2020, the Liberty and Justice Party is hereby recommending that the Guyana Elections Commission swiftly adopts a policy that the: media must be present and provide live broadcast at/of the recount.

This provides the absolute greatest degree of transparency that would instil public confidence in the process

GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

and the results of these elections,” Shuman said in his letter to the Chair.

This call comes against the backdrop of questionable results emanating from Electoral District Four (Demerara-Mahaica) which was overseen by Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.

“Madame Chair, I wish to point out that coupled with Article 162.1 (b) of the Constitution of Guyana, is Article 161 B. ‘It is hereby declared that the role of the political parties and their nominees in the conduct of elections by the Elections Commission shall be limited to their participation in determining policy, monitoring the electoral process and the conduct of elections, but does not include active management of the elections’,”

Shuman said in support of his recommendation.

Following the relatively smooth voting process in nine of the 10 regions, the nation waited with bated breath on RO Mingo’s declaration. Mingo’s declaration was imperative to determining which of the two major political parties – the PPP/C or APNU/AFC, would take the presidency.

Strange things began happening as the tabulation got underway at the Returning Office at Ashmins building, at the corner of High and Hadfield Streets in Georgetown, with Mingo complaining of feeling unwell and being rushed to the hospital, his staff refusing to continue the tabulation for various reasons, a GECOM staff being whisked away by Police after surreptitiously going into a room with a flash drive and computer and eventually, the count being suspended.

Mingo then returned with a piece of paper and declared results over the objections of all the party agents present.

That declaration was subsequently declared unlawful by the High Court, but Mingo would return to make another controversial declaration, this time at GECOM’s office in Kingston.

Prior to his second declaration, agents at the GECOM office complained of being

impeded from observing the counting process. Mingo’s refusal to show agents the original Statements of Poll (SoPs) is reported to have hampered the transparency of the process.

A unified international community has already warned Guyana that it could be isolated and even sanctioned if a President is sworn in on the flawed results, resulting in an uneasy standoff between the international community and the Government.

Private Sector Commission

Joining the call was the Private Sector Commission (PSC) who are accredited observers of the elections process. The body called on GECOM to begin immediate preparations for the recount.

“The PSC considers that the reality of the restrictions placed on international travel by the COVID-19 virus pandemic demands that arrangements are made for the recount proceedings to be broadcast live on radio and television and live-streamed for international reception by those observer teams whom are unable to be physically present at GECOM for the recount proceedings,” the Private Sector posited.

Deputy Returning Officer Roxanne Myers

Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo

The PSC said it believes that the recount, at this time, should only take place in District Four since that is the contended area. It noted that the process in the other Districts was not marred nor did they receive questions from any of the accredited observers and in post-COVID-19 Guyana, with travel restrictions, a total recount would be a colossal waste.

“The PSC, therefore, appeals directly to the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Organisation of American States, the European Union, the Carter Center and the Caribbean Community to return to Guyana for the commencement of the recount

by GECOM… Further, the restrictions to travel now imposed as a result of the

COVID-19 virus would make the implementation of a countrywide recount of the ballots an almost insurmountable exercise which, as we have pointed out, is entirely frivolous and unnecessary.

“The PSC is satisfied, from its own observations, that the involvement of the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo and the Deputy Returning Officer, Roxanne Myers, in the tabulation and verification process in District Four, materially contributed to the fraudulent tabulation and verification of the process and, it is, therefore, obvious that these Officers must not be involved in the process of the recount,” the PSC said in a statement.

Stabroek, Bourda Markets to reopen today – Mayor …guidelines outlined for selling of food items

T

he Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has moved to reopen the Stabroek and Bourda Markets today, after sanitising the surroundings and installing hygienic facilities.

Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine, during a virtual press conference on Monday revealed that markets are to be opened from 07:00h to 14:00h. These areas were temporarily closed to ensure that mechanisms were in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Other markets in the capital city will be opened for business activities later in the week.

“We will abide by the curfew and measures outlined in Government’s emergency measures. Therefore, food services and restaurants are only for delivery, drivethru and take away services.

Municipal markets and all stall vending with the hours of operation from 07:00 am to 02:00 pm,” Narine said.

In light of the coronavirus threat, the public is asked to wear a mask before entering the market places and practice social distancing to reduce any risk of contraction.

“For caravan operators, please ensure that systems is in place for persons, whereby a sink equipped with potable water and soap. For customers and citizens of Georgetown, please note that facemasks are mandatory to enter inside of the markets.

Firefighters washing the Stabroek Market on Monday

Before you step out to do any such business, please wear a face mask. “ Presently, there are guidelines established for vendors to abide by, regarding the storage of their produce and conduct when tending to consumers.

“Produce must be stored six inches above the ground, regularly sanitise commonly touched surfaces with bleach and water solution. Wearing of masks is mandatory to maintain our safety and that of patrons. All meats be sold in packages and not left in the open air. In the interest of social distancing, non-essential items will not be allowed to be sold,” the Mayor outlined.

Those persons experience flu-like symptoms or those associated with the coronavi-

rus were asked to desist from venturing outside.

“Stay home if you are ill and contact the COVID-19 hotline. Avoid close contact with people who have flu-like symptoms. Ensure that social and physical distancing is a practice at your stalls, caravans and in the markets.

Maintain at least two metres distance between yourself and others,” he added.

Mayor Narine would have indicated on Sunday that upon visiting the Stabroek Market, he was appalled with the state of affairs, having noticed large piles of garbage among other things.

On Monday officers of the Guyana Fire Service were tasked with washing sections of the market place in preparation for today’s opening.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Marcus Bisram to face Judge and jury over carpenter’s death

M

arcus Bisram was on Monday committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of Corentyne, Berbice carpenter Fayaz Narinedatt, which occurred between October 31 and November 1, 2016.

The committal came after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, instructed the Magistrate to reopen the case and commit Bisram.

Last week Magistrate Renita Singh upheld a nocase submission by the defence, thus discharging the murder charge. However, hours later, he was re-arrested.

He was taken back to court on Thursday where the Magistrate said she received a letter from the DPP instructing her to reopen the case and commit Bisram to face a Judge and jury in the High Court.

However, she said she was not going to commit him because she had found that there was not enough evidence.

But State Prosecutor Stacy Goodings argued that the Magistrate is a creature of the statutes and is obligated to adhere to the instructions of the DPP. The Magistrate adjourned the case to get further directions.

On Monday she returned to the Whim Magistrate’s Court and said she has received further directions that she has to comply with the order to commit Bisram to stand trial in the High Court.

However, Attorney-at-

order from the High Court to stay the proceedings.

As such, the Magistrate committed Bisram to stand trial in the High Court before a Judge and a jury.

Meanwhile, in the proceedings, which are before Justice Simone MorrisRamlall, the defence is contending that the first letter which was received by the Magistrate’s Court is an illegal one. Hence, the defence is asking the High Court to squash that letter.

The defence is also contending that the DPP cannot substitute the first letter with the second one.

The DPP and Magistrate

Murder accused: Marcus Bisram

Law Sanjeev Datadin, who is one of several lawyers appearing for Bisram, asked the court to hold the decision.

He said the court received two letters from the DPP and legally it cannot act on the first letter because it was unlawful.

He argued that after the second letter was issued, the defence is of the view that it has a right to be heard.

In the first letter, the DPP said that there is sufficient evidence and instructed Magistrate Singh to call on the defence. However, in the second letter, the DPP instructed the Magistrate to commit Bisram to stand trial in the High Court.

Datadin, speaking with reporters after Monday’s proceedings, said that he had earlier told the court that the defence had approached the High Court seeking to prove that the first letter was an illegal

one and urged the court to wait until that matter is heard on April 15 in the High Court.

He said the defence is not asking the court to disobey the order of the DPP but to stay until the High Court rules.

In his submissions to the court, he requested that the committal order be stayed, adding that it was only on Thursday that the court held out that there was not sufficient evidence to commit Bisram.

He also argued that the Constitution entitles the accused to a fair trial. Hence, he said the court is obligated to wait on the High Court’s decision.

However, in response, State Prosecutor Stacy Goodings reminded the court that the defence was asking the court to disobey the State’s directions. She noted that the court cannot apply a stay as there is no

Corentyne carpenter Fayaz Narinedatt

Singh have been named as respondents in the High Court.

On March 7, 2017, an arrest warrant was issued for Bisram, who was in the US at the time. The warrant was issued on the allegation that Bisram instructed five other men to kill Narinedatt because the carpenter retaliated when Bisram made sexual advances to him.

In November 2018, he was extradited to Guyana after a US Appeal Court two months prior ordered him be extradited after denying both a rehearing of his appeal and a motion to stay the extradition.

Belle West cattle farmer found dead in backdam

T

he body of a 68-yearold cattle farmer of Lot 69 Claybrick Road, West Bank Demerara (WBD), was dug up from a shallow grave on Monday.

Dead is Sohan Ramdial, also called “Nancy”.

According to reports, the pensioner left home on Sunday around 17:00h to head to his pasture also on the WBD to tend to his cattle – something he did on a daily basis – but he never returned home.

This resulted in worried family members launching a search for him on Monday.

As the family intensified their search, one of the man’s children saw a freshly cut bush and some disturbed dirt, which raised his suspicion and he started digging in the area where he made

Undertakers removing Sohan Ramdial’s body from the pasture

the gruesome discovery. The Police were called in and the man’s body was examined by ranks who found wounds on the chest which appeared

to have been inflicted by a sharp object.

The body is at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

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

INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF?

People who think they may be affected by coronavirus need to call the Public Health Ministry hotline 227-4986/624-3067 for further advice.

They should not go to their GP, A&E, pharmacy or hospital.

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

(Adapted from BBC News)

12 NEWS

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 outbreak COVID-19 threatens to shutter 50% of local tourism GNBS closes all offices ventures without Govt aid until May 3 …1/3 of workforce already laid off, …free calibration of clinical thermometers until May 30 he Guyana National another 3rd on unpaid leave Bureau of Standards

G

uyana stands to lose $100 billion this year as a result of lost export earnings and tourism as a result of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and the tourism association has since reached out to Central

Government for low-cost financial support and supplemental financing options.

This is in addition to other reliefs.

The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) gave the stark projections on Monday while reporting that by April 2020, that sector had already lost an estimated 46 per cent of its total revenue over a six-month period in contrast to the revenue earned for the same period in 2019.

According to the local tourism body, based on current projections, this could lead to 50 per cent of tourism businesses closing their doors permanently if no financial support is put in place.

It said that in terms of jobs, an estimated 30 per cent of those employed in Guyana’s tourism sector have lost their jobs and an additional 36 per cent had been furloughed or placed on unpaid leave.

Based on the sector analysis undertaken by the GTA, the body said that loss in direct expenditures within Guyana’s economy is es-

timated to be a minimum of $32.8 billion in 2020 in export earnings.

According to the GTA, based on the average Gross Domestic Product multiplier for tourism—which is two— the overall economic im-

pact from COVID-19 will be much higher totalling an estimated $98.4 billion in losses in 2020.

This excludes travel-related taxes from international arrivals and departures such as travel and departure taxes, among others.

According to the tourism body, based on the social and economic implications of this economic shock, it “is encouraging the Ministry of Finance and policymakers to work towards identifying low-cost financial support and supplemental financing options for the tourism sector over the near term, including those available from international financial institutions.”

Among the measures being called for is the waiver of payments on Value Added Tax (VAT), Pay As You Earn (PAYE), National Insurance Scheme or “extend the timelines by six months to make those payments through a reassessment of the recovery period to improve cash flow and allow businesses to use cash to save jobs and keep businesses afloat.”

Additionally, the organisation is calling on Central Government to provide a VAT exemption and to waive taxes on the travel and tourism sector with immediate effect for a minimum of 12 months or until the economic situation returns to normalcy to mitigate losses and allow businesses to use cash to save jobs and keep businesses afloat.

The semiautonomous governmental organisation, in its petition, is also calling for direct disbursements to businesses to cover employment costs, and/ or unemployment payments to qualified travel and tourism employees and other Guyanese who are earning less than $10 million a year and who are at risk for facing severe economic hardships.

The body has also proposed the reopening of the ports of entry after putting into place restrictions for passengers on flights to Guyana and adequate systems to facilitate the orderly medical screening and, as necessary, the quarantine and monitoring of arriving passengers who have or may have been exposed to the virus.

These are in addition to no-interest loans, loan guarantees, and loan forgiveness for tourism businesses as a stimulus to prevent them from closing their doors for an extended period and to support product improvements.

According to the GTA, “a failure to act will have adverse implications for the fiscal and debt sustainability of hundreds of tourism businesses and put at risk the hard-won gains achieved by the GTA and sector over the last two years.”

T

(GNBS) has announced that it will be closing all its offices effective immediately. The GNBS noted that this became imperative as Guyana and the rest of the world tries to come to grips with the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

GNBS in a statement said its offices would not be reopened until May 3, 2020, and all its officers would be working from their homes.

“The general public, stakeholders and customers can still reach out to us during this period via our 24/7 support service by WhatsApp messages and calls on (592) 692-GNBS (4627), our social media handles @GNBSGY, e-mail: info@gnbsgy.org and our website: www.gnbsgy. org. For Importers, our officers are currently handling releases of imports for warehouses through the ASYCUDA operating system remotely via online means,” the statement informed.

The Bureau is also encouraging importers to make their payment for product releases via the use of Mobile Money Guyana (MMG) or a direct deposit to their Republic Bank Account No 96295-6887467. If the importer uses direct deposit as a form of payment, they would be required to scan and e-mail proof of deposit to compliance@gnbsgy. org or WhatsApp (592) 692GNBS(4627).

Field operations for ver-

ification of all weighing and measuring devices used in trade will be postponed during this period. However, a point to note is that this is usually done twice per year in the months of JanuaryFebruary and NovemberDecember. Other routine activities will be placed on hold until further notice.

However, verification of measurement of crude oil on board the FPSO continues.

The general public can still review standards that are available for comments at www.gnbsgy. org (Standards for Public Comments) and submit these comments to the GNBS via the Comments Sheets on our website or by email: public.comments@ gnbsgy.org before the specified deadline.

Persons interested in making purchases of electronic standards or through the GNBS ISO webstore can do so via requesting by e-mail to standards@gnbsgy. org or WhatsApp. Payments can be made through direct deposits to the GNBS’s

Republic Bank account and the same procedure of submitting deposit slips applies.

Calibrations of all industrial equipment both onsite and offsite will be placed on hold except for clinical thermometers used in the health sector (digital, liquid-in-glass and infrared) with ranges of 35-40 degrees Celsius. GNBS announced that they would be calibrating those thermometers free of cost until May 30. However, persons would have to make the requests by sending a WhatsApp message or email labservices@gnbsgy.org.

All training programmes have thus far been postponed until further notice and updates will be provided in the coming months.

Additionally, all external audits have been rescheduled to a later date.

For all other and general inquires - 24/7 support service - WhatsApp messages and calls on (592) 692GNBS (4627) and various social media platforms are to be used.

NEWS

13

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FITUG reiterates calls for more comprehensive COVID-19 measures

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he Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) is continuing its call for more comprehensive measures to be implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.

FITUG said while there are commendable parts of the National Coronavirus Task Force’s (NCTF) response, the need to do more remains. In a press statement, the body said that it is time the Government considers a comprehensive social and economic package from which all Guyanese benefits.

This is a call the trade union body has been consistently making.

FITUG acknowledged the Government’s response in relation to hampers being distributed to needy citizens but questioned the criteria for determining who needs it more than the other person.

In this regard, the Union suggested that a sustainable distribution network be created with all Guyanese benefitting unless they refuse the assistance. They also called on persons in a position to assist the initiative, to do so.

Speaking to the point of the comprehensive social and economic package, FITUG identified some key areas which the Government

should look at since apart from feeding themselves, Guyanese have other obligations which COVID-19 may hinder them from meeting.

FITUG posited “That no worker suffers any loss of pay. We urge the Government to lead by example and to work together with private employers to ensure that their employees do not unduly suffer; to approve direct financial support to self-employed and the jobless to ensure they are able to sustain their obligations and maintain their families; a complete waiver of income and value-added taxes for at least six months to cushion the hike in the cost-of-living; a suspension of electricity, water, phone and internet tariffs for all households for the next six months.”

Additionally, FITUG said Government should work out arrangements with hire purchase, commercial banks and other lending institutions for a suspension of payments for six months and rescheduling of debt obligations of workers and for those unemployed to be afforded a write-off of their indebtedness.

The umbrella Union body also urged that masks, gloves and other necessities be distributed to all Guyanese.

They also called for citizens to be “exempted from duties and other fees and taxes of all items critical for our people’s wellbeing and to confront the COVID-19 virus; provision of appropriate and adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as free transportation to all frontline workers, especially those in the hospitals who are providing yeoman service; ensure that workers’ rights are protected and safeguarded and that no worker is exploited during this period, and extension of the deadline for submission of income and other tax returns.”

FITUG reiterated its calls for wide-scale testing, starting with the most likely to be exposed. They noted that this is a means of getting a better handle of the situation resulting in the

Over $1M worth in sinks installed across Region 2

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Some of the sinks donated to communities across Region Two

he New York-based Sobhraj Foundation in partnership with Zara Realty, the Guyana Police Force and local businessman Neil Sukhlall of Impression Design, donated 24 wash sinks to various communities in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The project, which cost over $1 million, was funded

by Jay and Sylvia Sobhraj, founders of JSSF, along with Zara Realty, and it is intended to help in the fight against COVID-19.

The wash sinks were installed in less than one week. One wash sink was installed in each of the 11 healthcare centres in the region, while others were installed at Suddie Hospital,

the police stations, the Anna Regina Bus/Car Park and the market entrance.

Under the leadership of the Commander of G Division, Crystal Robinson, the project was spearheaded by Sergeant Telston Hanover from the Richard Faikal Police College along with Neil Sukhlall and Nardeo Singh, executive members of the JSSF. The Regional Executive Officer (REO), Denis Jaikarran and the Suddie Hospital Administrator, Shelly Ambrose both expressed their gratitude for the initiative.

Apart from washing our hands as a COVID-19related preventive measure, we should make this

hygienic practice a daily habit in our lives.

They both expressed confidence that the wash sinks will be put to maximum use and assured the donors that they will continue to maintain them and provide the soap supplies as needed throughout the year.

Only recently, authorities in the region also installed sinks at various hubs across the district, like markets, and car/bus parks.

Moreover, several major businesses in the region are closing their doors in an effort to protect their employees and customers against the spread of the deadly virus.

ability to overcome the crisis in a shorter period.

“This approach we are aware has been pursued

elsewhere with great success and should be an essential component of our national response. We also urge too that the tests results be known to medical professionals as soon as they are available. This, we believe, will prevent a lag in treatment which could be critical in saving lives,” the body noted.

“At this time, it did not escape our attention that the lockdown comes as there was a decision to engage in a recount of the votes cast in the March 2, 2020 election. This is also a most pressing issue of our times.

The FITUG contends that it should be concluded in short order for our country and people to move forward and for us to better address the COVID-19 issues that will linger on even after the health crisis is behind us. The uncertainty that prevails is unhelpful and a count that is credible and supervised by reputable individuals and organisations should be pursued without any further delay,” the statement added while urging all Guyanese to take adequate precautions and heed the advice of medical experts.

Supreme Court Registry closes until May …as Court updates COVID-19 practices

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he Supreme Court of Judicature has updated its practice protocols as the cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to rise in Guyana. This time, the Court announced the closure of its Registry until May 4, 2020.

According to a statement, operations at the Supreme Court Registry in Georgetown, Demerara and the Sub-Registries at New Amsterdam, Berbice and Suddie, Essequibo, are suspended until April 30, 2020.

Unless otherwise advised, these Registries will reopen to the public on Monday, May 4, 2020.

The Court is advising that filing of urgent matters, or pleadings for the Court of Appeal and High Courts as directed by the Court until May 3 must be done via email. Those emails can be sent to the Judicial Registry, High Court, Georgetown, Demerara – supremecourtguyana@gmail.com; SubRegistry, New Amsterdam, Berbice, High Court - subregistryberbice@gmail. com; Sub-Registry, Suddie, Essequibo, High Court – subregessequibo@gmail.com; Family Court Registry, High Court, Georgetown – registryfamilycourt@gmail.com; Land Court, High Court, Georgetown - landcourtgy@yahoo.com; and Probate Registry, High Court, Georgetown – probateregistrygy@gmail.com.

Additionally, litigants and/or their counsel must file an undertaking to present hard copies of their matters and pay the requisite filing fees on the date designated by the Registry, which shall be on or after May 4, 2020.

The statement noted that in relation to the operation of the Magistrates’ Courts offices during the period April 6 – April 30, 2020, the following measures will be put in place: * Magistrates will be holding court utilising electronic means – Zoom, Skype or Whatsapp video - and Magistrates’ Courts’ offices will be open to the public on the following days from 08:30 am – 12:30 pm.

* Georgetown Magisterial District – GMC – Mondays and Thursdays * Georgetown Magisterial District – Diamond/Golden Grove – Mondays and Wednesdays * Berbice Magisterial District – New Amsterdam, Tuesdays and Thursdays, * Corentyne Magisterial District –Whim, Mondays and Thursdays, * West Berbice Magisterial District – Fort Wellington, Mondays and Wednesdays, * East Demerara Magisterial District – Vigilance, Mondays and Fridays, * West Demerara Magisterial District – Vreeden-Hoop, Mondays and Thursdays, * Upper Demerara River Magisterial District – Linden, Mondays and Fridays, * Essequibo Magisterial District – Suddie, Mondays and Fridays * Rupununi Magisterial District – Lethem, Mondays and Thursdays Filing of all urgent court matters must be on the dates the court offices will be open. In the event that urgent matters need to be filed on the days when the court offices are not open, contact can be made with the

Clerks of Court for the particular Magisterial Districts.

Notices with contact information are posted at each court office.

Periodic review and assessment of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic will continue and where necessary, these directions will be altered.

For persons seeking clarification, queries or additional information on sittings of the courts, contact can be made with the Registrar/Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court, the Chief Magistrate, or the Principal Clerk of Court on telephone numbers: High Court, Demerara – 226-7947; Chief Magistrate – 624-8910; Registrar of the Supreme Court – 227-1223; Secretary to the Registrar of the Supreme Court – 2268487; Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court – 2257771; Principal Clerk of Court – 616-0231.

Or by email to: Registrar of the Supreme Court – regsupct@gmail.com; Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court deputyregsupctgy@ gmail.com; Supreme Court COVID-19 Response Team – teamsupremecovid19response@gmail.com; Chief Justice’s Chambers – victorialawcourts@gmail.com; Court of Appeal – courtofappealguyana@yahoo.com.

14 NEWS

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Political instability not helping Guyana's cause internationally – Dr Persaud …says Guyana needs all the help it can get against COVID-19

R

ated as one of the least prepared countries for COVID-19, Guyana needs all the help it can get. But the country did not benefit from the first tranche of funds from the World Bank and it is felt by some that the political instability may be affecting Guyana's chances.

In an interview with this publication, People's Progressive Party (PPP) Executive, Dr Vindhya Persaud expressed concern over the lack of a stable Government and the harm this is doing to the country's ability to access help.

It has been over two weeks since Guyana requested help in the form of funds from the World Bank. That help has so far not been forthcoming, with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo confirming a few days ago that the World Bank was still "processing" the request.

Meanwhile, Guyana's coronavirus cases continue to rise.

"Definitely we are in a state where we need so much more to address the needs of the citizens. Because what we're seeing is poor handling of the COVID crisis in Guyana. There is a lack of testing. There is controlled testing being dictated by the Minister. And also, poor dissemination of information, not only to the healthcare system, but also to the

Dr Vindhya Persaud

public which is resulting in a risk situation for the country,” she told this publication. According to her, in addition to the mismanagement of this entire situation by the Government, “we are being excluded from [international help]. The political situation isn't helping, because we have been in limbo for the longest while and because of the illegalities that have been causing serious questions to be raised around the world."

Persaud, who is on the National COVID-19 Task Force set up by the PPP, pointed to the outpouring of statements from countries and international organisations, which have criticised the lack of transparency in the electoral process and have even threatened sanctions if an illegitimate

President is sworn in.

"Many statements addressing this, by countries, by organisations as to the political scenario may have had an impact on the World Bank's decision to not include us in this first tranche that we badly needed when we cannot adequately and we have not been meeting the needs of the population as we deal with COVID-19," Dr Persaud added.

She pointed out too that, “not only in health care, but in other areas where we will see the effect of COVID-19, if it hasn't already made an impact. Areas like jobs and job security, socio-economic areas, as well as food and food security. Medication.

These are things that will be sorely needed. And we don't see plans from the Government to address

these key and critical areas."

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had released an assessment in which it ranks Guyana among the few countries in the region least prepared to deal with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly the negative impact on the economy and tourism.

Guyana is in the red when it comes to coronavirus preparations. In the assessment, the IMF rated countries in the Americas from red (least prepared) to green (most prepared).

Countries like the United States and Canada are in the green zone.

However, Guyana, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras were not so lucky.

Neighbouring Brazil was considered more prepared than average while coun-

tries like Colombia were rated as less prepared.

According to the IMF, the virus is likely to have an immediate economic impact in the Region, causing, among other things, financial restrictions, declining commodity prices, and reduced tourism.

Guyana had approached the World Bank last month for a US$5 million loan to tackle the coronavirus, which has so far claimed four lives and infected 31 locally. Guyana is in a tricky

situation, however, having conducted elections over a month ago with a winner yet to be announced.

The majority of observers who scrutinised the tabulation process has pronounced it to have not been credible.

The international community has warned Guyana that it could be isolated and even sanctioned if a President is sworn in on the basis of the flawed results, resulting in an uneasy standoff between the international community and the Government.

Cyclist killed by speeding minibus the bus was proceeding north on the eastern drive lane of the same road when the accident occurred.

“As the driver of the bus was in the vicinity of Rahaman's Park, the pedal cyclist reportedly proceeded to cross from the western side of the road to eastern side and in the process of doing so he ended up into the path of the vehicle where the front left side came into contact with the pedal cyclist,” the police said in a statement. According to the police, as a result of the collision, the pedal cyclist fell onto the roadway.

A

The man’s body on the parapet

cyclist was on Monday struck down and killed by a speeding minibus at Houston, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Dead is pedal cyclist Rudy Nurse, of Lot 188 Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown.

Reports are the accident occurred at about 15:45h in the vicinity of Rahaman’s Park, East Bank Demerara.

According to Police, the 32-year-old man was struck by minibus, BYY 1311, driven by a 25-year-old resident of Diamond, East Bank Demerara. Police enquiries disclosed that the pedal cyclist was proceeding south (northbound traffic only) on the extreme western side of

The bicycle which was ridden by Rudy Nurse stuck under the front of the minibus

Houston Public Road while

When Guyana Times arrived on the scene, the body was covered as police and the minibus driver awaited the ambulance. Nurse was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead.

The driver, who passed a breathalyser test, is in custody assisting with the investigation.

NEWS

15

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

COVID-19 outbreak Woman nabbed with illegal gun Temporary measures in after threatening to kill partner place at Wismar Hospital for suspected cases – MS A W Berbice woman was nabbed with an illegal firearm along with two live rounds of ammunition after she threatened to kill her partner.

According to Police, the woman, a staff of a medical institution, threatened to shoot her male partner with an unlicensed pistol at about 12:10h on Monday at Chapel Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

The weapon that the woman used to threaten her partner

Police said she was disarmed and the weapon was handed over to the police at Central Police Station.

According to Police, the woman, who has since been detained, told investigators that she borrowed the weapon from a New Amsterdam barber, who has since denied the allegation. He too has been arrested. An investigation has been launched.

COVID-19 outbreak

NDC Chairman issues BBQ permit to himself …2 Berbice church leaders arrested after hosting services

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espite implementing a curfew among other measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, a Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairman issued a permit for a resident to hold a barbeque while two pastors held church services.

All three persons have since been arrested by Police. Police in Berbice,

Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), were forced to arrest two religious leaders after they held services whereby more than 50 persons attended. Under the curfew as announced by caretaker President David Granger, public gatherings are limited to five persons.

The arrest of the leaders came after a church in New Amsterdam and another one at Edinburgh on the

East Bank of Berbice were found to be in violation.

Meanwhile, Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus told this publication that the police were not issuing permits for dances, barbeques and other social events. This is to ensure that persons comply with the concept of social distancing.

However, one

Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairman issued a permit for a resident to hold a barbeque.

The event was stopped by the police. More surprising is that the Chairman also issued a permit to himself to hold a mini barbeque.

Meanwhile, the offenders have been placed on station bail pending further legal advice.

Guyana Post Office temporarily closes office

I

n light of the deadly coronavirus, the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) has announced that it will be closed from Thursday until further notice.

The GPOC said that as such, bulk mail will be accepted on April 16 and 17, 2020, in which notices will be publicised and sent to the relevant agencies.

Further, the post office corporation stated that the treasury pensions will be paid on April 22 and 23, 2020, at all post offices

from 09:00h to 15:00h.

Only recently, GPOC stated that it will be temporarily suspending all international mail delivery.

This is in the wake of the rise in the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases around the world.

According to GPO, there is a current delay in mail delivery services to other administrations such as Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, Latin American and the Caribbean.

GPO said that though the international mail de-

livery will be temporarily suspended, packages coming from a few countries might not be affected.

“Customers are advised that international mail delivery continues uninterrupted to the USA, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Antigua, Tortola, Monserrat, Dominica, Jamaica, France, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Brazil, Belize, Bahamas, Grand Cayman, China, Costa Rica, Japan and India,” GPO said in a

statement.

The Corporation further encouraged that its customers await the reopening of the borders in these jurisdictions for the resumption of mail delivery.

In March, Guyana closed its ports of entry to prevent the spread of the deadly virus as five cases were recorded locally.

Since Guyana began its fight against the deadly virus, schools and businesses have closed their doors to protect persons from contracting the disease.

US$6M: United States helps fund 2000 COVID-19 tests for Antigua & Barbuda

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he United States has quickly mobilized US$6 million to provide test kits to Antigua and Barbuda and more than 60 other countries to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Each test kit contains supplies for 2,000 testing samples, including non-consumable equipment that can be used to conduct additional testing.

This emergency assistance is part of an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) response to requests for support in controlling an increasing number of infections worldwide. The IAEA’s role in combatting COVID-19 stems from its expertise and experience in detecting outbreaks of certain viral diseases and in using nuclear-derived techniques in diagnosing them.

One such technique is Real-

Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), which makes it possible to identify the COVID-19 virus within hours.

IAEA member states have so far announced more than US$10 million in financial contributions to emergency IAEA COVID-19 assistance, including US$6 million from the United States. It is part of a multi-national IAEA ef-

fort to provide dozens of laboratories in the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America with diagnostic machines, reagents, and laboratory consumables to speed up national testing, which is crucial in containing the outbreak. Countries will also receive biosafety supplies, such as personal protection equipment and laboratory cabinets for the safe analysis of collected samples.

“These testing kits are just one example of how the United States is deploying the full range of resources to prevent the spread of COVID-19 both within our own country and across the globe”, said U.S. Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda Linda Taglialatela.

“This is a challenge without precedent in our lifetime, but we are committed to fighting it together.”

(Antigua News Room)

Mainland China reports 32 new confirmed cases of coronavirus

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ainland China reported 32 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus, down from 39 cases a day earlier, the National Health Commission said on

Tuesday.

All of the new confirmed cases reported on Monday involved travellers arriving from overseas, bringing the overall number of imported infections so far to 983, the

health authority said in its statement.

The total number of confirmed cases in mainland China stood at 81,740 as of Monday, according to the authority. (Reuters)

ith the number of cases of persons diagnosed with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Guyana increasing, the Upper Demerara Hospital (UDH) at Wismar, Linden, is currently putting systems in place to deal with any suspected cases. So far, the hospital in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) has not recorded any cases. According to the Medical Superintendent (MS) of the institution, Dr Steve Mark, a temporary isolation area has been set up to deal with any suspected COVID-19 cases.

“We have a quarantine [isolation] area set up just in case, if we have a suspected case...that we have to place in holding. That is not to keep them here. [If] we suspect them, we put them in holding, we call the hotline and then they come... that is the guideline,” Dr Mark stated.

The area, which he explained is just a “holding” place, is equipped with basic amenities. In the instance of a suspected case, he said contact will be made with the National Task Force for further advice since Linden is not equipped for testing.

“As far as I know, we have no testing in Linden.

So all testing would have to be done when we make contact with the National Task Force. They would come for the patient or they would advise us or send a team...

So, we’re working within that framework. If we get a patient, we put them in the isolation room and call the Task Force. They [would] guide us from there,” Dr Mark explained.

Additionally, he noted that systems are currently in place which limit the amount of non-emergency services and traffic at the hospital. These include regular or routine checkups which have since been placed on hold.

“In relation to services, we are offering all services except a few that requires a lot of invasive non-emergency services. Like people might come for a simple extraction or so – it is not an emergency. So most of our service we are triaging and prioritising so that the amount of contact and the amount of movement of patients we try to monitor.

If the case can be deferred for a next time, we defer it. If it’s a case that can be dealt with, we deal with it”, Dr Mark said.

The MS added that a few medical services at the hospital have also been modified. He pointed out that there is a tent set up at the gate which allows for inqui-

ries by a nurse. The hospital has been handing out extra supplies of prescription medications to avoid regular patients from visiting the hospital often, Dr Mark explained. This, he noted, is in an effort to avoid crowding.

“Non-essential trafficking, we limit and we have been doing well”, he said.

Persons can also contact the hospital if they develop respiratory or any suspected symptoms.

“In relation to respiratory symptoms, we ask people if they can call, if they have the ability to call via phone... and we can be able to advise them”, he noted.

Dr Mark advised that members of the public call the hospital’s emergency number 442-0900. He further explained that the hospital has been working with limited resources.

“In terms of resources, we’re limited like anywhere else. We don’t have enough. Sanitisers, we have but limited amount...limited amount of masks...We’ve received a few protective gears but they are not completed with the headwear...”, Dr Mark stressed.

Also in an effort to prevent any possible spread of the virus, staff have installed sinks around the hospital and everyone is mandated to wash their hands upon entry. Dr Mark noted that there has been no suspected case so far but indicated that patients who show signs of respiratory symptoms will be given masks. He said the hospital has also been utilising social distancing techniques and clinics are now being conducted in more ventilated areas. Additionally, he explained that work units are being sanitised at least 3 times daily.

Dr Mark advised persons in the community to stay at home, wash their hands often, practice social distancing, ventilation, etiquette while coughing and to sanitise their environment.

He pointed out that there are no ventilators at the hospital nor an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as he advised residents to continue to take precautionary measures.

“If a lot of people get sick and they have to go on these ventilator machines it would be difficult. So my public health message is that people need to take it serious... adhere by the guidelines... I can still see people at shop corners, road corners...at places socialising”.

Dr Mark also advised residents to take care of their immune system by use of vitamins and staying hydrated.

16 NEWS

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Coronavirus: How much of the world is staying at home?

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illions of people around the world have been ordered to stay at home to help curb the coronavirus pandemic.

Governments around the world have ordered citizens to stay at home and practise physical distancing to help curb the pandemic.

In an attempt to contextualise how people's movements have been affected, tech giant Google recently released its COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports tracker, which makes use of anonymised mobile phone data from 131 countries around the world.

The tracker shows how visits and the length of stay at different places have

changed since the widespread introduction of physical distancing guidelines and lockdowns, compared to each country's average during a five-week period in January and February.

While the data could help public health officials understand patterns of movement in the age of physical distancing, Google has stated that the data is not intended to be used for medical diagnostics or personal travel planning.

The company has produced reports that show how visits and length of stay vary across different locations including residential areas, retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies,

Google recently released its COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports tracker, which uses anonymised mobile phone data from 131 countries around the world to contextualise the movement of people [Francois Lenoir/Reuters]

outdoor areas, workplaces and public transit stations.

It is clear that almost the entire planet is spending more time at home. At 35 per cent above its average, Bolivia is the country

James Bond actress Honor Blackman dies aged 94

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onor Blackman, the British actress who played “Pussy Galore” in the James Bond film “Goldfinger”, has died at the age of 94.

In a statement, her family said she died peacefully of natural causes at home in Lewes, East Sussex.

Blackman was also known for playing Cathy Gale in the 1960s TV series “The Avengers” opposite Patrick Macnee.

The pair had a novelty hit with 1964's “Kinky Boots”, which reached the Top 10 in 1990.

Her other roles included Hera in “Jason and the Argonauts” and Laura West in 1990s TV series “The Upper Hand”.

The statement issued

by Blackman's family said: "As well as being a muchadored mother and grandmother, Honor was an actor of hugely prolific creative talent.

"With an extraordinary combination of beauty, brains and physical prowess, along with her unique voice and a dedicated work ethic, she achieved an unparalleled iconic status in the world of film and entertainment.

"With absolute commitment to her craft and total professionalism in all her endeavours she contribut-

European countries including Italy, Spain, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein have all seen

I

Honor Blackman played Pussy Galore opposite Sean Connery's James Bond in 1964's Goldfinger

ed to some of the great films and theatre productions of our times.

"We ask you to respect the privacy of our family at this difficult time."

Comedian and Bond fan David Walliams said Blackman would "live forever" as Pussy Galore.

Director Edgar Wright, meanwhile, remembered her as the "ultimate Bond girl and original Avenger".

Born in Plaistow in East London in 1925, Blackman trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Blackman's martial arts training helped her win the role of Pussy Galore, an associate of criminal mastermind Auric Goldfinger in the third James Bond film.

"I was already a James Bond fan but I asked to read Goldfinger before taking the part," she once re-

vealed.

"By the time I had read it, I was convinced it was absolutely me."

Yet the role was not a particularly glamorous one for the actress.

"Everyone thinks I went to exotic locations on Goldfinger," she recalled at a celebration event at Pinewood Studios in 2008.

"But the furthest I got was RAF Northolt, just up the road."

Aged 39 when Goldfinger was filmed, Blackman was actually five years older than Sean Connery and, at the time, the oldest actress ever to play a Bond girl.

In recent years, Blackman toured the UK with her show “Honor Blackman As Herself”, which saw her reflect on her long career. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Guatemala asks US to limit deportees on planes

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Retail and recreational activities

increase followed by Finland (48 per cent); Sweden (43 per cent); Belarus (41 per cent) and Denmark (35 percent).

Mobility trends for places of work also show a considerable decline. At 72 per cent below its usual baseline, Jordan has seen the highest decline in workplace visits.

The Middle Eastern country, which was under a nationwide curfew recently, began easing travel restrictions for essential trips from 10am to 6pm.

The biggest decline worldwide has been the amount of time spent in subways, in buses and on trains.

The entire world has seen a decrease ranging from six per cent in Zimbabwe to 92 per cent in Bolivia.

In addition, several national airline carriers have grounded their fleets and have asked Governments for billions of dollars to survive.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Coronavirus “could wipe out Brazil's Indigenous people”

COVID-19

uatemala has asked the US to limit the number of people it puts on planes for deportation to Central American countries to 25, down from 60 to 90.

Two people had to be taken to hospital after they tested positive for corona-

spending the most additional amount of time at home.

On March 25, the South American country declared a public health emergency and completely locked down its borders.

Here's how much more time people are spending at home across the world:

a decrease of over 90 per cent in visits to and time spent at recreational locations –- including places like restaurants, theme parks and movie theatres.

Spain and Italy are currently the hardest-hit countries in Europe with over 250,000 confirmed cases and 28,000 deaths between the two of them.

For many of those living in lockdown, a visit to the supermarket for supplies has become one of their only interactions with the outside world. But visits and time spent at supermarkets and pharmacies have decreased significantly over the past few weeks.

For most people, the lockdown has also meant fewer visits to parks, beaches and public gardens. However, for a handful of countries, mostly in the northern hemisphere, outdoor visits have increased with the warmer spring weather. South Korea has seen a 51 per cent

virus upon getting off a deportation flight.

Guatemala says it is concerned deported migrants from the US – which has the highest number of cases in the world – will spread the virus to Guatemala.

Guatemala has had 70

confirmed cases.

In an attempt to prevent the virus from spreading throughout the country, Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei has banned travel between the different regions before and during Easter. (BBC News)

ndigenous communities in the Amazon region and elsewhere in Brazil are in danger of being "wiped out" by the coronavirus, according to health experts.

Respiratory illnesses – such as those that develop from the influenza virus – are already the main cause of death for native communities.

By Sunday, April 5, Brazil had reported more than 11,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 486 deaths.

Infections were initially concentrated in the industrialised state of São Paulo.

However, they have now spread across the country, including to Indigenous territories in the Amazon basin that are the size of France and Spain combined.

The first case among Indigenous peoples was recorded in Amazonas state.

"There is an incredible risk of the virus spreading across the native communities and wiping them out," says Dr Sofia Mendonça, a researcher at the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp).

Dr Mendonça is the coordinator of a university-led health project among Indigenous peoples in the Xingu river basin in the Amazon rainforest.

She fears the coronavirus could have a similar impact to previous major outbreaks of highly contagious respiratory diseases such as measles.

In the 1960s, a measles outbreak among members of the Yanomami community

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, some communities are planning to split into smaller groups and seek refuge inside the forest. That is how they avoided extinction during past epidemics

living near the border with Venezuela killed nine per cent of those infected.

"Everyone gets sick, and you lose all the old people, their wisdom and social organisation," Dr Mendonça says. "It's chaos."

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, she adds, some communities are planning to split into smaller groups and seek refuge inside the forest. That is how they avoided extinction during past epidemics.

"They will gather materials needed for hunting and fishing and will set up camps, waiting there until the dust settles," she says.

Many communities lack the means to reduce the risk of contagion, such as washing hands with soap and water, or using hand sanitiser.

People also often live in close quarters with each other and share bowls and glasses, both of which help infectious diseases spread more quickly.

They are now being advised to stop sharing utensils and to use traditional seclusion practices – such as those applied to women after they give birth –- to iso-

late people with the symptoms of Covid-19.

Indigenous communities also live in areas where there is limited access to healthcare, particularly intensive care beds.

But as the virus spreads across Brazil, many are questioning whether the Government will seek to protect indigenous groups, which make up 0.5 per cent of the population.

In the face of Government inaction, several Indigenous organisations have asked their communities to suspend trips to cities and prevent visitors from entering their territory.

"Whoever is a true friend understands our fragility. Let's keep the coronavirus away from the villages," said a banner posted on a road in Mato Grosso state by members of the Karajá Indigenous people.

Even with such precautions, experts say it is likely COVID-19 will eventually reach some villages and that it will be necessary to isolate the sick before they infect people in contact with them.

(Excerpted from BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

17

Regional

Trinidad: Stay-at-home Positive cases of COVID-19 order extended, PM says all reach 60, 2 dead in Barbados restaurants will be closed S ixty people have now tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Barbados.

Four people tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the total number of people who have tested positive for the viral illness since March 16 to 60 – 31 females and 29 males.

A

ll restaurants in Trinidad and Tobago will be closed from tomorrow.

This was one of several new restrictions announced

by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley as he extended the stay-at-home order to April 30.

“We are today, closing all restaurants until April 30th, so what I said about that arrangement for collecting food at restaurants and so on, please disregard that. We are not permitting food services of any kind until the 30th of April, “ said the Prime Minister.

Previously, the Government had issued restrictions on dining in at restaurants, allowing for patrons to enjoy curbside pickup or home delivery.

The Prime Minister also announced that effective immediately, all members of the public are to wear masks over their mouths and nostrils once outdoors. He said the Government would work to distribute masks to the public.

He also announced adjusted hours for several

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old female and an 84-yearold female, who travelled abroad.

A total of 30 tests were done yesterday at the Bestdos Santos Public Health Laboratory, and 557 have been carried out since testing started on February 11.

(Nation News)

“Nothing left”: Venezuelans head home amid coronavirus pandemic

Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley

stores.

“This is the point at which we could lose control, because we do not know how many persons or who they are, who might be in that category of non-travel, but we do know that they are out there, “ said the Prime Minister concerning the thinking that lead to these changes.

“We expect that by the 15th of April, it is quite likely, certainly that we are gonna be in a worst situation than we were when we first started out with for stay home.

And we will take additional action to intensify to compliance with that instruction, not relax it, “ he said. (Excerpted from Trinidad Guardian)

Ecuador city resorts to using cardboard coffins

he authorities in Ecuador’s most populous city, Guayaquil, say they are handing out 4000 cardboard coffins amid a shortage of traditional wooden caskets.

Forensic services have struggled to cope with the number of people who have died in the city of three million since the coronavirus pandemic started and funeral directors say they have

Of those, 52 remain in isolation; six have been released and two have died.

The ages range from seven years old to 95.

The new cases include a 95-year-old male, who is critically ill. The others are a 47-year-old female, who was infected by a known contact; and a 57-year-

run out of caskets.

The official number of those who have died after contracting the virus nationwide stands at 180, but President Lenín Moreno has said that number probably fell short as only the cases which have been tested were included.

Guayaquil, a port city, has been at the centre of the outbreak and residents say they have had to wait

for days for the dead to be picked up.

Bertha Salinas told BBC News Mundo that it took four days for the bodies of her sister and brother-inlaw to be removed from their home. The family wrapped the bodies in plastic sheeting, which they burned after their loved ones’ remains were finally taken away.

(BBC News)

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Venezuelan migrants walk along a road leading out of Bogota, Colombia [Manuel Rueda/Al Jazeera]

ichard de Jesus walked along a highway leading out of Colombia’s capital city, along with his pregnant wife. They carried their belongings on a small baby stroller covered by a sheet of cardboard that read: “We are going back to Venezuela … any help you can give us will be a great blessing.”

The couple said they had been on the road for five days, travelling about 400 kilometres (248 miles) from Cali, where they started their journey. They had more than 600km (373 miles) to go before reaching

the Colombian-Venezuelan border.

“There is nothing left for us to do here” said de Jesus, a Venezuelan migrant who had been living in Cali for the past year selling sweets on buses. A three-week lockdown imposed by Colombia to slow the spread of the coronavirus left him without any customers, and with no cash to spare.

“We were going to be evicted from our apartment,” he told Al Jazeera.

“What could I offer my wife and child if we stayed?”

Thousands of Venezuelan migrants who work in the

Minister said he was not racist. He also redoubled his attacks on China for its handling of the pandemic, accusing Chinese manufacturers of profiteering.

Weintraub said he would only apologise in exchange for a bargain on mechanical ventilators for university hospitals.

“Have them deliver 1000 ventilators to my hospitals and I’ll go down to the Embassy and say, ‘I’m an idiot,’” he told Radio Bandeirantes on Monday morning.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put renewed pressure on Brazil’s relationship with China, its largest trading partner and the world’s main producer of medical supplies, underscoring deep fault lines in Bolsonaro’s government. (Excerpt from Reuters)

he European Union is providing a grant of €8 million or US$8.6 million to help the Caribbean fight the coronavirus outbreak.

In a release on Monday, the EU said that the funds would be used to purchase COVID-19 test kits, masks and other personal protective equipment, testing reagents, and other materials required for coronavirus testing.

It will also increase the capacity of regional countries to carry out laboratory testing for COVID-19, support coronavirus quarantine and isolation procedures, as well as contact tracing.

The EU assistance will also support laboratory testing and epidemiology training, strengthen surveillance at ports of entry, and sup-

informal economy have lost their jobs – and in some cases been evicted from their homes – as Colombia and other nearby countries impose strict social distancing measures.

With no other options, some are starting to make the journey back to Venezuela on foot or rides from cargo trucks as their savings give out and they find no other options to return to Venezuela. Public transport between cities has been shut down in Colombia due to the coronavirus lockdown.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Brazil-China diplomatic spat escalates EU provides €8M grant over coronavirus supplies to combat coronavirus in the C’bean R enewed attacks on China by a member of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s inner circle soured diplomatic relations again on Monday as the Education Minister accused Chinese medical equipment makers of profiteering from the coronavirus pandemic.

Brazil’s Education Minister Abraham Weintraub suggested in a Twitter post, which he later deleted on Sunday, that the disease would help China “dominate the world”.

He referenced a cartoon character with a speech impediment to mock Chinese accents.

The Chinese Embassy in Brazil, which had traded barbs last month with Bolsonaro’s son for comparing China’s handling of the disease to the former Soviet Union’s Chernobyl nucle-

Brazil’s Education Minister Abraham Weintraub attends a session at the plenary of the Chamber of Deputies in Brasilia, Brazil, May 15, 2019

ar disaster, denounced the Minister in a statement on Monday.

“These completely absurd and despicable declarations, with their racist character and unspeakable objectives, have caused negative influences in the healthy de-

velopment of bilateral relations,” the Chinese Embassy tweeted early on Monday.

Brazil’s Education Ministry declined to comment on the matter, and Weintraub did not respond to a request for comment.

In a radio interview, the

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port and promote the use of COVID-19 guidelines and protocols among health professionals.

The grant will be implemented by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and overall is expected to improve the detection, surveillance, prevention, control and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Specifically, it will increase the capacity of CARPHA and CARPHA Member States to respond to outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus, strengthen public education and behaviour change programmes on communicable diseases, as well as strengthen regional coordination and the institutional capacity of CARPHA in preparing for and responding to public health emergencies. (CMC)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

Around the World

OILNEWS

Oil price falls on doubts over SaudiRussia supply deal

O

il prices fell 12 per cent when markets reopened for the week before paring some of those losses in volatile trading that reflected investors’ doubts as to whether Saudi Arabia and Russia can reach a supply deal to repair some of the damage to the sector of their price war and the coronavirus pandemic.

Brent crude fell in early trading to just over US$30, losing more than US$3 a barrel but holding on to the bulk of the gains made last week when Donald Trump, the US President, sparked a rally after suggesting that Saudi Arabia and Russia would agree to remove 10 million-15 million barrels a day of oil supply.

Crude prices then recovered to change hands at around US$33 a barrel by late afternoon in London on Monday after Dan Brouillette, the US Energy Secretary, said Saudi Arabia was trying to convene a G20 meeting on Friday to discuss new production cuts. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate was trading at more than US$26 a barrel, down almost 7 per cent for the session.

But producers remain far apart. OPEC’s meeting with Russia, initially scheduled for Monday, was postponed until Thursday as a war of words between Moscow and Riyadh deepened over the weekend, with both accusing each other of sparking the price war to hurt the US oil sector. Brent prices still remain down by more than half since January.

The Kremlin on Monday stressed that any deal would require the participation of countries that had not previously taken part in any co-ordinated cuts with OPEC, in an obvious reference to the US. “In order to stabilise the market, it will also require the participation of those countries that did not previously participate in co-ordination,” Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, said. “Indeed, those who are now in working contact are talking about this.”

But Putin did not plan any discussions in the near future with Trump or King Salman of Saudi Arabia, Peskov said, and had delegated to his Energy Minister any consultations with Russian oil companies.

Saudi Arabia moved to flood the market last month after Russia refused to make further cuts to production, before the extent of the demand collapse from coronavirus lockdowns was fully known.

Trump’s comments over the weekend, saying that he preferred the “free market” to resolve the price collapse, but hinting that the US could impose tariffs on Saudi Arabian and Russian oil supplies, also weighed on prices as traders discounted rumours that Texan oil producers might formally join OPEC cuts.

Trump said on Sunday: “I would do tariffs, very substantial tariffs, because we’re independent and we want to have our own oil. And if I did the tariffs, it would make sense, it would be saying we don’t want foreign oil.”

Brouillette confirmed to Fox News on Monday that the US was studying the possibility of applying tariffs to foreign oil imports and said President Trump had also asked him to find additional capacity to store more US oil.

Crude demand has fallen by roughly a third because of the coronavirus pandemic, the biggest drop in history, with the loss of more than 30 million barrels of day of global demand threatening to quickly overwhelm the industry’s ability to store it.

Saudi Arabia has called for a host of western oilproducing countries to co-operate in output curbs. Norway and Alberta, Canada’s largest oil-producing province, said they would participate in the OPEC meeting.

The Financial Times also reported on Saturday that US and Canadian officials had discussed imposing tariffs on Saudi oil imports to North America to press the kingdom to abandon its price war and boost prices.

Trump said on Saturday that he would do “whatever I have to do” to protect the US industry, which is facing the prospect of mass job lay-offs and production shut-ins, especially in the local shale sector.

He has also hinted that US military aid to Saudi Arabia could be on the line, reflecting the depth of the schism with one of its closest allies in the Middle East.

“The opening move down reflects the reality that even if there was to be a deal, which now seems to be postponed, the overwhelming loss of demand will keep driving prices lower until storage is full and production is shut in,” said Andrew Gillick, Energy Sector Strategist at consultancy RS Energy Group in New York. (Excerpt from Financial Times)

UK PM Johnson moved to intensive care as COVID-19 symptoms worsen

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ritish Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved to an intensive care unit on Monday after his coronavirus symptoms worsened though his Downing Street office said he was still conscious.

Britain has no formal succession plan should the Prime Minister become incapacitated, but Johnson, 55, has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to deputise for him.

Johnson, 55, was admitted to hospital on Sunday night and had been undergoing tests after suffering persistent coronavirus symptoms, including a high temperature, for more than 10 days.

Downing Street had said he was in good spirits and still in charge, though his

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves Downing Street, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues.

London, Britain, March 25, 2020

condition deteriorated in the early evening and he was transferred at about 1800 GMT to an intensive care unit - where the most serious cases are treated - at St

Thomas’ hospital in central London.

Johnson received oxygen, a source said.

Downing Street said he had been moved to the in-

tensive care unit as “a precaution should he require ventilation to aid his recovery”.

Queen Elizabeth had been kept informed by Downing Street, Buckingham Palace said.

Johnson tested positive for the virus on March 26 but after 10 days of isolation in an apartment at Downing Street, he was still fighting the virus on Sunday evening with a high temperature and persistent cough.

British and world leaders wished Johnson well.

Theresa May, Johnson’s predecessor as Prime Minister, said: “My thoughts and prayers are with Boris Johnson and his family as he continues to receive treatment in hospital.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

US coronavirus death toll surpasses 10,000

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he United States death toll from the novel coronavirus topped 10,000 on Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University statistics.

The US has the third-highest number of reported deaths from the disease in the world, only exceeded by Italy with 15,887 and Spain with 13,055.

White House medical experts have forecast that between 100,000 to 240,000 Americans could die as a result of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, even if sweeping orders to stay home are followed.

The US had entered what an official called the “peak death week” of the coronavirus on Monday,

Healthcare workers wheel the bodies of deceased people from the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York [Andrew Kelly/Reuters]

while a watchdog report said hospitals were struggling to maintain and expand capacity to care for infected patients.

“It’s going to be the peak hospitalisation, peak ICU

[intensive care unit] week and unfortunately, peak death week,” Admiral Brett Giroir, a physician and member of the White House coronavirus task force, told ABC’s Good Morning

America programme on Monday.

He raised particular alarm for the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the city of Detroit, Michigan.

More than 90 per cent of Americans are under stayat-home orders issued by state governors while eight states are still holding out on imposing such restrictions.

The watchdog said “inconsistent guidance from federal, state, and local authorities” was confusing hospitals and the public, while widespread shortages of personal protective equipment put hospital staff and patients at risk. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Italian regions testing for signs of coronavirus immunity

A woman uses an exercise bike on her balcony, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Milan, Italy April 6, 2020

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uthorities in northern Italy have begun testing health workers for antibodies that may help identify individuals with immunity to the coronavirus as they look for ways to ease the lockdown imposed a month ago to contain the epidemic.

On Monday, the northeastern region of Veneto, which saw one of Italy’s earliest outbreaks of the disease in February, started blood tests on health workers, following neighbouring Emilia Romagna, which began testing last week.

Following an initial phase of test-

ing on 2000-3000 health workers, tests are to be extended to staff and residents in nursing homes and workers in contact with the public.

Zaia said the aim would ultimately be to allow authorities to issue “licences” for individuals with proven immunity to the virus to return to work.

The tests come as the number of deaths and infections has flattened out and the Government has begun considering the so-called phase 2 stage of the crisis, when businesses and industry closed during the lockdown can start to reopen.

The total number of confirmed cases increased by just 3599 on Monday to 132,547, the lowest daily rise since March 17, while the number of deaths rose 636 to 16,523 - just under a quarter of all the fatalities registered so far in the world.

The blood tests, which produce results much more quickly than swab testing, aim to identify two types of antibodies - one which shows contact with the virus and a second which would indicate whether the body has developed a defence against it.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

19

ARCHIE

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SUDOKU

Be receptive to new ideas. Friendships will develop into exciting partnerships.

Don’t sit back; take advantage of whatever comes your way. Romance is in the stars. Focus on fairness and equality.

Don’t agree to anything until you have what you want in writing. A change is in order, and negotiating on your behalf will be in your best interest Too much talk will result in you sharing information that’s best not discussed in public. Passion, not arguments, should be your focus.

Don’t neglect a loved one.

If you aren’t precise regarding your intentions, someone will misinterpret you. How you conduct business will make a difference. Stick to what’s doable and promise only what you can deliver.

Voice your opinion. Your insight and assessment will instill confidence in others. How you ask for things will determine what you get. Romance will improve your life.

Bending to demands will put you in a vulnerable position. Take care of your own needs first. If you’re not happy, you won’t be able to make a difference in someone else’s life.

A change of scenery will give you a new lease on life.

Travel for business or pleasure and break up the monotony. Take time to do something that makes you happy.

Someone will be jealous of your success. Keep your thoughts and intentions private. You’ll advance if you stick to plans and strive for perfection.

Your emotional well-beSAGITTARIUS ing may be in jeopardy if (Nov. 23you give someone the wrong Dec. 21) impression. Listen to complaints and offer honest and constructive suggestions.

Romance is on the rise and personal gain is within reach.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Work on projects that don’t require a lot of travel or communication. Expect delays or problems with shipments, mail or equipment. Be prepared to make a last-minute change.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Update your look or your image, and it will give you the confidence to take a position of leadership. Spend time with a loved one. Focus on self-awareness.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Don’t take on someone else’s problem. You can offer suggestions, but then move on to matters that will benefit you, not someone else.

Develop an idea and reap the rewards.

20

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

Charities face crisis during UK shutdown as sports fundraising dries up

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he postponement of major sporting events during the coronavirus pandemic has left some British charities concerned about their survival, representatives have told Reuters, while others are worried about delivering services to vulnerable people.

The London Marathon last year raised over 66 million pounds ($81.21 million) for more than 750 charities but its postponement from April 26 to Oct. 4 has left charities facing a shortage of funds at a time when services are under pressure.

The postponement of other major sporting events such as the Premier League is also hitting organisations hard at a time when charity shops have been forced to close during the lockdown to fight the virus, which has infected 47,806 people and killed 4,934 i the United Kingdom.

The concern in the charity sector is widespread, with

50% of respondents to a survey from the Directory of Social Change reporting that their organisations would go bust within six months without additional help.

Seventy percent said they would go bust by the end of the year without financial assistance if the lockdown continues.

Daniel Fluskey, head of policy for the Institute of Fundraising, said charities were facing an “unprecedented crisis” due to a lack of activity, with some 550 saying Britain’s shutdown would see them lose 48% of voluntary income.

Organisations that rely on community events and collections at high profile sporting events would be in “severe trouble”, he added, with services being hit as organisations are forced to make redundancies and are unable to fill vacancies.

Fluskey said the government’s furlough scheme was of little use to charities that

General view at the start of the London Marathon’s men's elite race

needed staff to provide support during the crisis, and suggested the administration provide a stabilisation fund to help organisations through this period.

“It’s a very worrying time for the sector, no organisation will come through this

US Open postponed due to coronavirus, new dates for Masters, PGA T he U.S. Open golf championship, which was set for June 1821 at Winged Foot in New York, has been rescheduled due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, the U.S. Golf Association said on Monday.

The new dates for the year’s third major are Sept.

17-20 also at Winged Foot.

“We are hopeful that postponing the championship will offer us the opportunity to mitigate heath and safety issues while still providing us with the best opportunity to conduct the U.S. Open this year,” Mike Davis, USGA CEO, said in a statement.

“We are incredibly thankful to the membership and staff at Winged Foot for their flexibility and support.

“We are also grateful for the wonderful collaboration among the professional tours and other majors in working through a complicated schedule.”

The USGA’s announcement means three of golf’s majors have now been postponed and one — the British Open — scratched.

Earlier on Monday the R&A announced that the

untouched,” he added.

“At the moment all income has dried up, but we’ve got to meet increased demand because of charities stepping up to respond.”

Services in danger

Catherine Bosworth, director of income generation for Hospice UK, said the organisation earns around 500,000 pounds each year from the London Marathon, over 70% of its annual income from fundraising.

She added that hospices

Phelps urges athletes to take care of mental health after Games delay

O

Gary Woodland is the current US Open Champion

149th Open Championship scheduled for Royal St George’s from July 16-19 had been cancelled due to the pandemic.

Augusta National Golf Club earlier on Monday identified Nov. 9-15 as a rescheduled date for the Masters, which was to begin on Thursday, while the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, slated for May 11-17, will now take place from Aug. 3-9.

“This is a difficult and challenging time for everyone coping with the effects of this pandemic," said golf's governing bodies in a joint statement here “In recent weeks, the global golf community has

come together to collectively put forward a calendar of events that will, we hope, serve to entertain and inspire golf fans around the world.

“We are grateful to our respective partners, sponsors and players, who have allowed us to make decisions – some of them, very tough decisions – in order to move the game and the industry forward.

“We want to reiterate that Augusta National Golf Club, European Tour, LPGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, The R&A and USGA collectively value the health and well-being of everyone, within the game of golf and beyond, above all else.” (Reuters)

had reported a dip in income worth 70 million pounds since the start of March and many would have to start cutting services if fundraising events continued to be cancelled.

“We really are in crisis mode,” she said.

“If events cannot run later in the summer I fear we’ll see services closing so we won’t be able to help all the people who need it at a time that demand is increasing quite dramatically. There will come a point

when funds are just going to run out.”

The indefinite postponement of sporting events is also having a knock-on effect on organisations that provide services for Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) such as St John’s Ambulance.

A representative for St John’s Ambulance said it had been affected by the absence of the Premier League, which provides it with 1.27 million pounds per year for first aid cover.

The organisation recently launched a 6 million pounds emergency appeal.

“We are pulling out all the stops to help tackle COVID-19, but there are harsh financial realities to switching off our two main sources of income – our first aid training courses and the first cover we provide for events all over the country,” said chief executive Martin Houghton-Brown.

“Our fundraising activity is ramping up and I hope people will dig deep to support St John’s Ambulance, so we can keep helping them and supporting the NHS through this crisis.”

(Reuters)

lympic great Michael Phelps has skills. voiced his concerns over the Phelps added that he had enornegative impact on athletes’ mous empathy for athletes grapmental health of the Tokyo Games pling with the delay, with the postponement prompted by the Olympics now scheduled to be new coronavirus pandemic. held from July 23-Aug. 8 2021, Last month the International and said it was imperative they Olympic Committee decided to were “taking care of their mental delay the Tokyo Games for a health.” year as the global health He raised his concerns crisis prompted by the just days after compaCOVID-19 outbreak triot and four-times hit the professional Olympic champion sports calendar and gymnast Simone brought daily life to Biles said she a grinding halt for had cried at millions. news of the “You go through postponement. something for four “It’s our life,” years and we kind of said Phelps, the know exactly when most decorated it’s going to come and Olympian of all our bodies are ready time. “I’ve tried for it, then we have to to replay what I wait,” the retired swimwould be going mer, who won 28 Olympic through emomedals, told NBC in an intionally at this terview on Monday. very time if I The 34-year-old was still comMichael Phelps of the US smiles during the medal presentation ceremony after winning American urged athpeting – it’s the men's 400m individual medley swimming letes to use the downhard to really final at the National Aquatics Centre during time as an opportunicomprehend it.” the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games ty to further hone their (Reuters)

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Formula 1: Ron Dennis creates £1.5m NHS free meals scheme

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Dennis says his foundation has put in place a £1.5m budget and joined forces with a number of companies to supply 1,000 meals a day to health workers.

"I wanted a big solution to a big problem," the 72-year-old said.

"It is an amazing effort, which I think is reflective of my reputation. If I say I'm going to do something I do it."

Dennis was prompted to take the action after a family meeting with his children.

His daughter, Dr Charlotte Hall, said: "We were talking about how we as a charity could help everyone in the current coronavirus crisis.

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Ron Dennis won multiple F1 world championships with McLaren

ume. We now have volume and as we speak we are ramping up. The first meals are being prepped to go to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and we're looking at 1,000 meals a day. It will be challenging, but we will get there."

Dennis' intervention is the latest in a series from figures associated with F1.

A consortium of Britishbased teams have become involved in increasing the capacity of ventilators to the NHS, while in Italy F1 tyre

supplier Pirelli has donated 100,000 euros to charities fighting the crisis.

Last month, the Agnelli family that controls Fiat and Ferrari donated 10m euros to the Italian government to help with the coronavirus effort.

Dennis issued a plea for people to respect the official advice on social distancing.

"We have to think what is the likely outcome," he said. "It is an incredibly infectious disease.

"The real loss of life is

going to come in the townships, the favelas, central Africa, where there is no running water, no chance (for people) to wash their hands.

"As people look at their own countries, they have to be prepared for something much bigger.

"The only thing that is going to stop this waving across the world and causing phenomenal loss of life is a vaccine.

"It is going to get horrendous in the third world and we are struggling to get people to do fundamental things like stay indoors, and they don't appear to understand why.

"They will have it reinforced in the future. We are [in danger] of seeing the biggest lost of life this world has ever seen. We need to focus on getting a vaccine. Be mindful of what's coming this is a long, long way from being over." (BBC Sport)

Premier League leaders reverse furlough decision & apologise to fans

iverpool have reversed their decision to place some non-playing staff on temporary leave and apologised to fans.

On Saturday, the club said they were going to apply to the government's taxpayer-funded job retention scheme, sparking a fierce backlash.

But in a letter to their fans, chief executive Peter Moore said: "We believe we came to the wrong conclusion last week and are truly sorry for that."

He added that the Reds have "opted to find alternative means" to pay staff.

Liverpool had become the fifth Premier League team

T

"We can't help medically but we could perhaps make the situation just a bit more bearable - being in the hospital, taking away the stress of getting food, having something hot and nutritious to eat or having something to look forward to when you get home.

"I never doubted him.

We know he would rise to the challenge and he certainly has."

Dennis says he made a series of phone calls to contacts and other business leaders and put together a taskforce to kick off the project.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It all started to unfold, but the real breakthrough was when I phoned Dave Lewis [the chief executive officer] at Tesco and 20 minutes later he phoned back and said: 'We're behind you.'

"We had great logistics in place but we needed vol-

21

The Premier League has been suspended indefinitely with Liverpool 25 points clear at the top

to furlough non-playing staff with the season suspended indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Staff affected were to

receive 80% of their salary through the scheme and the club would make up the difference, despite making a profit of more than £40m

last year.

The decision was criticised by former Liverpool players Jamie Carragher and Stan Collymore.

Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Bournemouth and Norwich City had already announced they will furlough some non-playing staff.

"Despite the fact we were in a healthy position prior to this crisis, our revenues have been shut off yet our outgoings remain," said Moore.

"And like almost every sector of society, there is great uncertainty and concern over our present and future.

"Like any responsible

employer concerned for its workers in the current situation, the club continues to prepare for a range of different scenarios, around when football can return to operating as it did before the pandemic.

"These scenarios range from best case to worst, and everything in between.

"It is an unavoidable truth that several of these scenarios involve a massive downturn in revenue, with correspondingly unprecedented operating losses.

"Having these vital financial resources so profoundly impacted would obviously negatively affect our ability to operate as we previously have." (BBC Sport)

Transfer window set to move & player contracts to be extended

he summer transfer window will be moved and contracts ending on 30 June will be extended for a short period under proposals agreed by football's major stakeholders.

BBC Sport understands talks initiated by world governing body Fifa and including confederations, federations, clubs, players and leagues have reached agreement over a number of issues arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

All parties now accept that completing the 2019-20 season by 30 June, as initially hoped, will not happen.

Aleksander Ceferin, president of European gov-

Football across Europe is currently suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic (PA Media)

erning body Uefa, has spoken of the campaign being concluded in August, but with domestic leagues and

cups, plus European competitions to fit in, there is no guarantee of that given football across the continent re-

mains suspended.

As the crisis is global, agreement has been reached that contracts due to expire on dates before the expected end of this season, do so when it actually ends instead, with new deals beginning before the 2020-21 campaign eventually begins.

New dates for the transfer window - which had been moved back to 1 September in England - will be sanctioned by Fifa providing they fall between the two seasons, with the organisation pledging to try to harmonise the dates as much as possible so clubs and leagues are not unfairly disrupted.

Fifa has also urged clubs

to protect jobs if at all possible, including pay cuts and deferrals, and the use of government schemes.

If asked to settle disputes, Fifa will, among other things, assess whether there has been a genuine attempt to find a resolution, what the economic status of the club concerned is, the net income of the players and whether the players have been treated fairly.

While it is accepted this advice is for guidance only and could be challenged legally, all parties hope it will be accepted in the spirit the contracts were agreed in the first place. (BBC Sport)

22

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TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Advice for athletes during the COVID-19 outbreak

s the world copes with the unprecedented and continuously evolving threat of the novel coronavirus, athletes all over the world have faced training and competition disruptions that would undoubtedly play a role on performance.

Here are a few tips for the athletes at this time: • Take the spread of the illness seriously. In observing the guidelines by the World Health Organization you are not just protecting yourself, but doing your part to protect your community. The great challenge with this illness is not so much the treatment of the virus but rather the rapid rate of spread, especially by those who do not show symptoms.

• Take care of your aerobic system. Evidence shows that training your aerobic system at least once a week helps to maintain your level of fitness. As an athlete, now would be a good time to focus on getting in those long runs you may or may not enjoy. Public training facilities in your area

• Minimize training groups and observe the 3 feet or more rule. If you do need to get in technical work and it becomes unavoidable, then keep your training groups to 5 persons or less and as far as possible observe the 3 feet rule. A lot of your coaches could be at a higher risk of having a more significant reaction to the illness so do not be selfishkeep your distance.

• Where weight training is essential- sanitize before and after use.

could be closed at this period to limit public gatherings, but running 4-5 miles a few days a week can have several benefits beyond giving you a sound aerobic base such as helping to keep a strong immune system and building focus, self-discipline and other key traits to athletic success.

• Self-train. Several countries have advised closures of gyms and with good reason. Keeping public gatherings to a minimum are proven ways to slow the spread of viruses such as these. This does not have to spell the end of your strength training. There are hundreds of exercises out there (many of which can be

found on YouTube) to safely build strength using just your bodyweight or minimal equipment. Now would be a good time to bring out your resistance bands and other portable exercise tools, but also setting simple targets like getting in 100 push-ups and 500 abdominals per day are still highly beneficial.

England Managers Gareth Southgate and Phil Neville to take 30% pay cut

E

ngland men's manager Gareth Southgate and women's boss Phil Neville are to take a 30% pay cut to their salaries as two of the Football Association's highest earning employees.

• Utilize the additional time to learn about your game and other facets of training. For a cricketer or footballer this could mean spending time reviewing footage or practicing a new drill.

• Take the time to focus on aspects of training you might not have had the time to work on before.

Different variations of the bodyweight plank and the Bodyweight Bridge are excellent tools to prevent injury and enhance performance

by strengthening the glute, inner thigh and hips. A simple YouTube search can reveal a lot of safe demonstrations of those exercises.

• Sleep is in some ways is the human superpower. It plays an important role in physical healing, pain management and in maintaining a healthy immune system • Athletes and all persons should continue to focus on nutrition. There's a focus on vitamin C, you should be aware that too much can also cause health problems, so stick to daily recommended doses which is up to 500mg. A serving of citrus and other fruits each day should provide enough vitamin C In closing, keep in mind that the guidelines for you are no different to the rest of the world. As an athlete you are likely a role model in your community so the example you set can influence others and play a major role in the outcome of this situation. So keep your distance and wash your hands.

Former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola has been at Manchester City since 2016

Southgate earns £3m a year while Neville reportedly earns up to £300,000 as head coach of the Lionesses.

Chief executive Mark Bullingham said it was "challenging times" and did not "take these decisions

Pep Guardiola's mother dies after contracting coronavirus Southgate and Neville were England teammates during their playing careers (Getty Images)

lightly."

The government's furlough scheme is being looked at as a contingency plan.

The FA said employees earning £50,000 or more a year will take a temporary pay reduction of 7.5%, while senior management agreed a 15% cut.

Bullingham also said the financial impact of postponements including England international fixtures, FA Cup matches and Wembley events will contribute to a loss of about £100m, but it could increase to £150m depending on "the government's necessary medical measures."

Bullingham, who earns about £400,000 a year, added: "Along with many oth-

er organisations across the country, we are currently reviewing our financial model during this challenging period.

"We want to take prudent and appropriate steps to help protect and support the FA and our employees during this unpredictable time."

Meanwhile, West Ham boss David Moyes has told the Premier League club he is willing to a take a pay cut due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Bournemouth's Eddie Howe and Brighton's Graham Potter have already volunteered for a cut in salary as clubs try to find a way of limiting their losses amid games being suspended. (BBC Sport)

M

anchester City manager Pep Guardiola's mother, Dolors Sala Carrio, has died aged 82 in Barcelona after contracting coronavirus.

"Everyone associated with the club sends their most heartfelt sympathy at this most distressing time to Pep, his family and all their friends," said Manchester City on social media.

Monday's increase of 637 coronavirus deaths means 13,055 have died in Spain.

Last month, Guardiola donated 1m euros (£920,000) to help fight the outbreak.

The money will be used to purchase medical equipment and protective material for staff involved in treating those admitted to hospital.

Barcelona is in

Catalonia, which is one of the areas in Spain with the most concentrated number of cases.

Manchester United posted on social media to say the club was "saddened to hear this terrible news", adding: "We send our heartfelt condolences to Pep and his family."

Spaniard Guardiola, 49, has been in charge of Manchester City since July 2016 after spells as manager of Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

La Liga side Barcelona posted on Twitter: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Dolors Sala during this difficult time, and we would like to express our most heartfelt condolences, especially to Pep Guardiola, his family and his friends." (BBC Sport)

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

23

Rugby President urges all Guyanese to be safe

– looking forward to great season

By Timothy Jaikarran

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has definitely caused a standstill in all sporting disciplines in Guyana, including a full-contact sport like rugby.

Newly-elected President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), Ryan Dey was set to make big changes to the sport; however, the pandemic has forced the sport to be put on indefinite hold.

With the Public Health Ministry advising everyone to maintain social distancing (six feet), the GRFU boss is asking everyone to take the necessary precautions until it is safe to make extended social contact.

In an interview with

GRFU President Ryan Dey

Guyana Times Sport, Dey discussed all necessary procedures that should be taken and what’s next for the GRFU. When asked what the association is doing to ensure the safety of players during this season, Dey

said, “The GRFU is using this time to reconstruct the outlook of rugby in Guyana, also giving the players and the country at large tips on how to stay safe in these troubling times. You know as a former player I would like to encourage all players to remain fit. They can do their workout at home, free-handed exercise can do a lot in terms of strength and conditioning. I would also encourage them to use social media to their advantage by watching sevens rugby since by the time the we get to play, would be in the form of sevens.”

He went on to state that after the pandemic has died down, the GRFU’s first order of business is getting the grassroots programme

Dey is a former rugby player

in order, as it is his vision to take rugby to the schools and also travel the country to start recruitment of male and female players.

In closing, Dey reiterated the importance of adher-

Guyana Golf Association plans to launch Academy

I

n recent years, the sport of golf has risen to new heights and the newly-formed Guyana Golf Association (GGA), in coordination with NexGen Golf Academy, has seen the opportunity to use this developing arena to create a special programme that will encourage persons of all ages to engage in physical activity.

According to a release from the Association, the first facility will be in Georgetown, close to Queen’s College with a second scheduled to follow shortly thereafter. The GGA hopes to establish three regional locations by the end of the year so that more persons could be exposed to the sport.

GGA President Aleem Hussain was visibly excited in announcing the project, "I see the benefits of exercise in combating the effects of stress, diabetes, and hypertension. The fact that many people are not into team sports prevents them from getting involved in physical activities and this is a solution."

Over three years ago, Hussain discussed the idea of this project with major companies and various ministries and it became a subject of considerable interest, but logistics and implementation were a concern.

en their skills and prove to their friends, just how good they really are!"

The Academy plans to add floodlights to the ground which will be opened daily and will have extended hours late at night to accommodate persons who prefer to practise in the cool evening breeze, hotel guests, students, and business owners.

There will be lots of prizes if persons can hit the targets, and the Academy plans to have hit unlimited GGA President Aleem Hussain players balls for a small fee (chil"Today, we have re- dren and beginners free solved those issues and of charge) and will proI am proud to be in a po- vide access to coaching sition to launch the pro- to all interested persons. gramme as soon as things Equipment will be availreturn to normal." able at no cost.

"This is not tradiPa rt nership s tional golf!" said GGA with local supTreasurer Rudy pliers mean Ramalingum. t h a t "It is a way tasty to learn the f o o d sport, inand all types teract with of healthy family and beveragfriends es will and have be availlots of able for fun while visitors getting who want some exto play or ercise. At simply specthe same tate. time, for experienced golfThe goal of the ers, it provides them with Academy is to have at the opportunity to sharp- least 300 students active-

ly involved in the sport by year end and it hopes to field an Olympic team in the next five years.

It is important to note that golf is a recognised Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) subject that is now approved for teaching in all schools, and the Academy hopes that this will lead to more and more students all over the country getting involved.

GGA Vice President Rajindra Persaud said, "I am a fan of golf, but never played and now this gives me and a lot of other interested persons the opportunity to start. I also learnt that scholarship opportunities are available, especially for girls and women who are involved in golf and feel that we should take full advantage of such."

The GGA added in its release, “Members of Team Macorp, Marriott, New Trend Auto, Assuria General Insurance and other major supporters of the Academy will be on hand for the launch and eagerly demonstrate their skills for the crowd.”

For more information on the upcoming launch or how to sign up for the Academy, visit Nexgen Golf Academy Facebook page or call 645-0944.

ing to the COVID-19 protocols, urging his Guyanese brothers and sisters to be safe.

“Please stay safe, listen to our health officials, know that COVID-19 isn’t a joke

or to be taken lightly, wash your hands, stay indoors as much as possible and please refrain from sharing posts on social media that aren’t true or not from reliable sources.”

Dillon confident of keeping Red Force job despite post being advertised

T

rinidad and Tobago Red Force coach Mervyn Dillion insists he is confident of keeping his job, despite the post recently being advertised by the TTCB. The 45-year-old former fast bowler took charge of the twin-island republic team in January of last year and has done a commendable job to date.

After taking over a faltering Red Force team in the 2019 edition of the West Indies Championship, Dillon, led the team to a fourth-place finish with a record of three wins, one draw and two losses.

In the following Regional Super50 competition the Red Force went as far as the semi-finals but were defeated by the Leeward Island Hurricanes. In this season’s edition of the West Indies Four-Day Championship, the Red Force finished second to champions Barbados Pride.

His spell in charge has, however, not been without controversy with Windies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin of throwing him out of the team and not using proper channels of communication, which hurt the team. Ramdin officially filed a complaint with the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) but was told the matter could not be looked into until the end of the season.

With Dillon’s contract coming to an end at the end of this month, the position has been advertised. The coach, while insisting that he was not aware the post had been tendered, is confident he will be seen as the right man for the job.

T&T Red Force Coach Mervyn Dillon

“I am quite confident. I think I am probably in a better position than anybody else to retain the job,” Dillon told Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

“Funny enough I heard about it after one of the (media) guys called me (on Thursday) morning. That’s when I found out about it, which was kind of disappointing because even if it is being advertised I would think I would be one of the first people to be notified,” he added.

Dillon said the president of the TTCB Azim Bassarath told him on Thursday that he was previously informed that the position would be advertised, he does not, however, recall that conversation.

(Sportsmax)

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Rugby President urges all Guyanese to be safe – looking forward to great season

See story on page 23

Guyana Golf Association plans to launch Academy

Page 23

Page 23

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