Guyana Times Tuesday March 17, 2020

P15

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

Issue No. 4228

ICJ postpones March 23 hearing of GuyanaVenezuela border case

THE BEACON OF TRUTH TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020

PRICE

GECOM, APNU/AFC destruction of democracy: Day 15

GECOM desperately

trying to sabotage Caricom recount agreement – Jagdeo

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

P9 Shuman challenges Harmon to ‘come clean’ on GECOM meddling

– MoU for Caricom to overlook recount drafted

– Recount never started despite containers with Region 4 ballot boxes at ACCC

– APNU/AFC heads to court to block Region 4 See stories on pages 3, 7 & 14 recount – Nandlall

Businessman arrested for indiscriminately discharging P8 firearm "More aggressive measures" P12 required to prevent spread of COVID-19 – AmCham Guyana …urges businesses to lower data costs to improve connectivity

Containers with ballot boxes from Region Four arriving at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Monday

Political parties slam GECOM – after party agents evicted for recount fiasco by Police Page 7

Police eject Commissioner Benn forcibly from Conference Centre

Appeal Court throws out P2 SARA appeal against GBTI – ordered to pay millions in costs

See story on page 13

...dragged on ground, manhandled, and injured

4 witnesses to testify in P8 Norton Street murder PI

2 NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Appeal Court throws out SARA appeal against GBTI – ordered to pay millions in costs

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The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry

he State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) has suffered another loss at the hands of the court, with the Appeal Court dismissing its appeal against the throwing out of its case for recovering money from the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI).

During a session at the Appeal Court on Monday, it is understood that the court dismissed SARA’s appeal against the local financial institution. Moreover, GBTI was also awarded the sum of $4.9 million in costs.

SARA had been seeking $274.1 million, plus interest, from the bank. The claim had to do with the acquisition of land at the Kingston Seawall, where GBTI built one of its branches. SARA alleged that when the bank bid for and acquired the right to purchase this land, it was the fourth-highest of 14 bids. SARA had claimed

that GBTI’s purchase price of $224 million is less than the most recent valuation of the property at the time.

However, the High Court had ruled in favour of the bank in November on the grounds that SARA did not present a well-grounded cause of action together with the fact that the Agency was not the properly constituted legal entity to bring the case.

The court ruled that since the case was not brought by a Managing Director or Deputy Director, as set out in the State Assets Recovery Act 2017 that formed SARA, the proceedings filed in the statement of claims were rendered void.

According to the court, such claims can only be brought by either of the aforementioned people. In an interview with this publication, one of GBTI’s lawyers had explained at the

time that since the process to appoint the SARA Director was flawed, its locus standi was also flawed.

SARA was created when the State Assets Recovery Act was passed in the National Assembly in 2017.

It is mandated to recover unlawfully acquired State assets through civil procedures. However, the parliamentary Opposition has also maintained that the cases it did pursue were aimed at harassing political opponents.

Both SARA and the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), which have both been hit by these accusations, have failed to successfully prosecute any case. In fact, GBTI featured prominently in one of several such cases to be thrown out by the court.

Back in March of last year, contempt of court charges brought by SOCU against eight top executives of GBTI were thrown out by the Magistrates’ Courts.

The matter stemmed from

the matter in October 2017, when SOCU charged the bank’s Directors with contempt based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The contempt proceedings stemmed from the bank’s alleged failure to comply with a production order made by acting Chief Justice Roxane George on August 29, 2017.

The bank had contended in its application for the variation of the order granted by Justice George that

countless efforts were made to gather all the documents requested but it was discovered that some were either destroyed or could not be found.

The documents were pertinent to the US$500 million Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) probe that was being conducted by SOCU. The GRDB case has also since been thrown out by the local courts.

GBTI was represented

by Luckhoo & Luckhoo Law Firm.

Fire that destroyed Lamaha Gardens house was electrical in origin – Fire Chief

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he Guyana Fire Service has concluded that the fire which destroyed a Lamaha Gardens, Georgetown home was electrical in nature.

This was confirmed by Fire Chief Marlon Gentle, who stated that based on the findings of the Guyana Fire Service’s investigations, the fire started as a result of an electrical issue.

It was reported that the fire started at about 10:00h at the Lot 178 Durbana Square, Lamaha Gardens, Georgetown house.

Within a short period, the flames had ruined the interior of the house, causing extensive damages. The

The aftermath of the blaze

flooring of the structure also collapsed, thus causing

damage to the lower flat of the house.

At the time of the fire, only the housekeeper was at home. She was alerted by an explosive sound and upon checking, she realised that the house was on fire.

It was reported that three fire tenders were deployed to the scene but due to the availability of a fire hydrant and water sources close by, the firefighters were able to douse the inferno and contain the blaze to one location.

The house is said to belong to Noel Shewjattan, who also operates Auto Fashion, Campbellville, Georgetown, and was out of town at the time of the fire.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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

Tuesday, March 17 – 12:00h – 13:30h and Wednesday, March 18 – 01:00h – 02:30h and 13:30h - 15:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, March 17 – 11:10h – 12:40h and Wednesday, March 18 – 12:45h – 14:15h.

GECOM desperately trying to sabotage Caricom recount agreement – Jagdeo – party agents threatened with arrest – MoU for Caricom to overlook recount drafted

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GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh

President David Granger

he recount of all the votes cast that was supposed to start on Monday has been delayed, first by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) insisting that an agreement be signed for the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to supervise the process, then by the Ministry of Public Health showing up to fumigate the location for “ants.”

Party agents refused to leave the location for the recount, the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC), since they were keeping watch on the containers containing ballot boxes. This led to them being threatened with arrest by Riot Police who were called to the scene.

At an emergency press conference on Monday night, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo slammed the attempts being made to frustrate the agreement he along with President David Granger reached with Caricom.

Jagdeo made it clear that as leaders with authority, both Granger and GECOM Chair Claudette Singh could have intervened to stop their underlings from causing confusion. Thus, he noted that Granger and Singh are ultimately responsible.

According to Jagdeo, GECOM Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers arrived at the Centre and informed GECOM Commissioner Robeson Benn that he could not keep watch over the containers. According to him, GECOM is set on moving persons away from the ballot boxes.

He was suspicious that this was part of a plan to prevent the recount from happening.

Court was being fumigated that very day.

“You would recall that on the day when Mingo made the second fraudulent declaration and we made a request for a recount, she [Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence] then sent people to fumigate the Chief Justice’s court.”

“Now, you don’t fumigate for coronavirus. You can fumigate for mosquitos, roaches and so. But only at that moment they decided to fu-

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He noted that the Public Health Ministry, led by People’s National Congress (PNC) Chairperson Volda Lawrence, has been seeking to frustrate the process.

“Roxanne Myers showed up and said to Robeson Benn, a Commissioner of GECOM who is appointed in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana, that he cannot watch the containers that have been moved to the Convention Centre. Imagine

GECOM Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers

the CEO, the same one who was fraudulently appointed, saying to a Commissioner of GECOM that he can’t watch the containers.”

“They know that the moment the recount is done in Region Four, that the truth about the fraudulent acts would be revealed. So many are fighting to prevent that from happening. That’s why you see the frustration of the Caricom agreement.”

Frustration

Jagdeo pointed to what happened on Saturday, when Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George was forced to use Diamond Magistrate’s Court to hear a case brought by the PPP to secure a recount because the High

migate the Chief Justice’s court. So, the Chief Justice did not have a court, they had to go to Diamond.”

“We selected the Convention Centre for the recount., This afternoon, Volda Lawrence sent another team to fumigate the Convention Centre for mosquitoes and roaches. So, they can’t use the Convention Centre. And they turned off all the lights. And the containers are there.”

Jagdeo was suspicious that this was all part of a

plot to tamper with the ballots, which are locked away in the containers. According to him, his party will nevertheless maintain a vigil outside the Centre.

When it comes to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), GECOM announced on Monday that a MoU would have to be signed between Granger, Jagdeo and Caricom officials in order for the recount to take place under their supervision.

Jagdeo made it clear that he has no problem with signing the agreement.

“I went up to Caricom earlier and I reviewed the MoU that was submitted to me yesterday, the draft MoU. And I said I don’t have an issue with it. I spoke to the Prime Minister and the Secretary General,” Jagdeo said.

“She’s going to call me back to tell me whether there has been any progress on the other side to conclude this MoU. I’ll get in touch with you as to the situation with the MoU, which I don’t have a problem with and I would willingly sign. We’re just awaiting word from the Prime Minister on that.”

This publication had visited the Centre on Monday morning, where we were informed that the Centre was inspected by GECOM and other stakeholders. It was also explained that arrangements for using the venue were being finalised.

GECOM Commissioner Robeson Benn had been hopeful that the recount would start at 13:00h.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 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

The fallacy of GECOM’s independence?

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resident David Granger has been consistent in his utterances that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is independent and that he has always respected the Constitution. All would know that the latter is completely false, given his unilateral appointment of Justice James Patterson as the GECOM Chairman and his efforts to nullify the constitutional process following the successful passage of the December 21, 2018 no-confidence motion (NCM).

His adamancy that GECOM is independent and he would not interfere has proven to be one of convenience given that it suits his overall agenda. This was clear when GECOM in itself defied the Constitution and did not hold elections within the three-month mandatory period following the NCM. Instead, it embarked on a protracted process to avoid holding elections until a year after they were constitutionally due.

During that time, GECOM found ways and means to try and justify its extension of that three-month constitutional period. Its position was openly articulated and supported by Commissioners appointed by the Government headed by Mr Granger. That was despite the fact that the rest of the country, the Speaker of the National Assembly, and the Chief Justice all agreed that the constitutional process must be respected.

From all that occurred, it’s difficult not to conclude that APNU/ AFC appointed Commissioners to GECOM have unambiguously dictated the Commission’s work; more especially under Justice Patterson’s unconstitutional tenure. Their efforts were reportedly aided by some staff within the Secretariat and those who are loyal to Mr Granger’s government. There was no relenting under the current Chair thereby confirming the suspicion of not wanting to hold the elections.

Had it not been for local and international pressure, Mr Granger may not have budged to announce the March 2 elections date. The point is, given the manner in which events unfolded over the past year and a half, it’s extremely difficult to separate Mr Granger’s intention from that of the three APNU/AFC-appointed Commissioners to GECOM. In other words, his claim of the Commission’s independence in the context in which he speaks is disingenuous.

A cursory examination of the verification and tabulation process for votes cast in Region Four will reveal an orchestrated effort to declare results that are not in keeping with the Statements of Poll (SoPs). With two weeks elapsed and no credible results announced, that belief is fortified with every passing moment. It is common knowledge that APNU/AFC and Mr Granger are aware of what the actual results are given their access to the SoPs. A worthwhile reminder is that some 421 SoPs for Region Four were verified without discrepancies – GECOM’s and political parties’ matched. That said, and with an irrefutable penchant through actions demonstrated publicly for wanting to stay in Government at the expense of democracy and consequences for Guyana and Guyanese, what subsequently played out during the verification and tabulation process for Region Four cannot be just mere coincidences.

With assigned staff claiming to be tired and the Returning Officer (RO) wheeled out on a stretcher, a deliberate delay and an avoidance of similar methodology used for the 421 SoPs cannot be disputed.

The deliberate attempt to impose an unverified spreadsheet in place of the remaining SoPs for Region Four and then the eventual halting of the process and declaration made speak to that seemingly orchestrated and collaborative effort to avoid transparency and to declare untrustworthy and inconceivable results in favour of Mr Granger.

The unashamed action of the RO to stand in the eyes of the world and halt the verification and tabulation process to make the declaration despite assurances from the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of its continuation was the pivotal moment when democracy and the integrity of one’s vote was subverted. However, the resoluteness of those who stood up for democracy and transparency led to an intervention from the High Court.

Even that did not deter the RO’s intent as his defiance seemed to have no boundary. He remained steadfast and unsurprisingly, there was no delay and no one sick or tired as he rushed through and made another declaration for Region Four in favour of Mr Granger. Had it not been for court action and Caricom’s intervention, Mr Granger possibly might have already been sworn in.

What is unmistakably absent is any objection to the RO’s action vis-à-vis unverified spreadsheet, delays through illness and tiredness from both Mr Granger and his subjects in the APNU/AFC coalition.

Despite what all others, including diplomats and observers, saw and objected to, conversely APNU/AFC officials overtly supported the RO under the pretext that he must be allowed to do his job and that GECOM is independent and must not be interfered with.

With the allegation that the signature of a very senior APNU/AFC official appeared on the RO’s declaration being uncontested, that belief of collaboration may be hard to dismiss. With that particular official and others in the APNU/AFC camp having seemingly unfettered access to GECOM officials during that process, those suspicions are strengthened and a fallacy probably exposed.

That in itself could debunk Mr Granger’s utterance of GECOM’s independence. Interestingly, were Mr Granger in the Opposition and had the exact scenario played out, would he still promote GECOM’s independence? Convenience has taken priority.

Fishermen catch fishes during the final of the revived Argungu fishing and cultural festival at Argungu Town, Kebbi State in northwest Nigeria, March 14, 2020 (AFP)

Election observations: the APNU-GECOM nexus Dear Editor, I am a local election observer accredited by GECOM. On election day, I visited 59 Polling Stations, morning and afternoon, and observed the voting process in more than 40 of them. I found order and peace in all except in Sophia Primary School, where there were people not voting hanging out outside the gates, especially around the food vendors. They were tolerated by the police. There were even persons in the compound, who when I asked who they were, replied they were “helpers”. When I asked to what organisation they belonged they said “no organisation”.

So after close of poll at 6 pm, I decided I would spend much of the evening at that polling place. At 6 pm all the Polling Stations in the compound took a dinner break for food catered for the staff

by GECOM and the police respectively. No GECOM staffer was not provided for and none were too tired to work. Counting began after 6:30 pm.

During the dinner break, persons wanted to be let into the compound as counting agents, but the security guard objected, until the Deputy Returning Officer (DRO) stationed there

looked out from her window, far from the gate, and said it was okay. I went to the gate to find out more. It turned out that someone, who identified himself to me as an APNU/AFC candidate, was sharing out letters to persons to enter the compound as counting agents. I asked to see the letters. They were applications addressed to the Chief Elections Officer signed by Volda Lawrence for the named persons to be counting agents. I pointed out that the letters were only applications, not authorisations, and he acknowledged that fact, but the APNU/ AFC “counting agents” were still allowed to enter. Some of them were from the group of people who I met in the compound earlier in the day and who had said they belonged to no organisation.

A little later, while the APNU/AFC candidate for that area - not the one giving out letters at the gate and I were sitting together in a strategic position to observe the Polling Stations in the compound, an Assistant Superintendent of Police came by and announced he had prevented the PPP/C candidate from entering the compound because he was causing a disturbance at the gate. The APNU/AFC candi-

date next to me said that he should have allowed him to get in. I got up and made my way to the gate where there were lots of people outside, but the PPP/C candidate had already left. The security guard said the PPP/C candidate was causing a disturbance and so was not allowed to enter, but in my opinion, it was the people standing around outside the gate who caused the disturbance, and whose opinion carried more weight with the security guard and the police than the one authorised person’s.

The people outside the gate moved away when they saw I was an observer.

It is therefore interesting that Region Four Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo said: “no counting agents were properly appointed”. That may be so, but I observed that this lack of appointment was being selectively applied and did not hinder the APNU/ AFC “counting agents” on my beat. Disturbances were only created when the tried and tested procedures were discarded. Blaming the disturbances on the complainers cannot be right. Blame must accrue to those who ignored the law and agreed on procedures and courtesies.

It was my further ex-

perience when I visited the Region Four GECOM headquarters at High and Hadfield Streets after last Friday that I was unable to get past the police even though I showed my observer badge. This means that the ballot boxes were in possession of GECOM officials like the Region Four RO, who had the keys to all the Region Four ballot boxes, which were stored out of sight of election observers, under guard by a police force that saw nothing wrong with being partisan and taking instructions from the APNU/AFC party.

Therefore, in view of the long unaccountable time that was available for mischief, I call for a demonstration of just how tamperproof the ballot boxes are.

Because of GECOM’s own demonstrated lack of transparency, its voter education mandate must be extended to convince the public that the integrity of their system was independent of their personnel.

Sincerely, Alfred Bhulai Local accredited election observer Transparency Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI)

Evidence points to direct involvement by APNU/AFC members in GECOM’s operations Dear Editor, The complicity of certain GECOM staffers and officials of the APNU/AFC coalition – this is what has been causing the delays in finalising the results of the 2020 Elections and fraudulent declarations of results for Region Four on March 6 and March 13.

Yet, at a press briefing held on Saturday, March 14, the Co-Chair of the APNU/ AFC campaign, Mr Joseph Harmon sought to defend the coalition against allegations of electoral fraud.

He sought to distance the

coalition from GECOM, stating that they respect the independence of GECOM and that no fingers have been pointed at the APNU/AFC coalition with regards to electoral fraud and interference with the independence of GECOM. Mr Harmon is either living in a parallel universe or he is of the belief that we all were in another universe for the past two weeks.

There is enough evidence out there that points to direct involvement by members of the coalition in the opera-

tions of GECOM, especially at the Region Four headquarters.

First, maybe Mr Harmon can explain what the signature of Volda Lawrence, Chair of the PNC and a Minister of the coalition, was doing on the erroneous declaration of Region Four results.

In all of the other nine regions, only the signature of the Returning Officer was present, but for this region that was in dispute and that provided fraudulent figures, the signature of Volda Lawrence accom-

panied the stamp and signature of Returning Officer, Mr Clairmont Mingo.

Secondly, if that wasn’t enough to show direct involvement, Mr Mingo’s declaration form presented on March 13 was countersigned

by Carol Joseph, yet another member of APNU and a candidate of the coalition in the 2020 Elections. It should be noted once again that no other region’s declaration included any other signature, but that of the Returning Officer.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020

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Volda Lawrence and her Health Ministry ‘dropped the ball’ with COVID-19 Dear Editor, Never has it been more apparent the unacceptable levels of callousness and incompetence in Guyana’s modern healthcare system, than with the post and pre-events surrounding the discovery of ‘Patient Zero’ in the first confirmed case of the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Guyana’s shores.

The ruckus that ensued with the family before and after the death of Guyana’s first victim and the baffling health authority decisions that followed, only leaves gaping questions as to whether Business and Accounts Degree holder, Volda A Lawrence and the Health Ministry she runs, were ever prepared to handle this disease with the seriousness it deserves.

To frame the issue, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) describes COVID-19 as a respiratory disease.

It is deadly. It is aggressive and contagious. It is a pandemic of global proportions because there is little to no pre-existing immunity against the virus. It is spreading worldwide. We had two months to prepare.

We now know it is airborne.

Notwithstanding the fact that ‘Patient Zero’ and other members of her family

entered Guyana from New York – an area crawling with a massive COVID-19 outbreak – we learnt through the press that the case was first suspected by a private hospital, which has since quarantined a number of its staff.

The now dead woman was then referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for COVID-19 testing and based on reports, it was only after authorities at the GPHC were informed of the woman’s travel history, that COVID-19 tests were ordered on a fluid sample taken from her body after she died.

What are the policies or chain of command if any, for local private hospitals without COVID-19 testing facilities to communicate its concerns to the GPHC after referring patients? In addition, what prevented the private hospital in this scenario from reporting its suspicions to the GPHC or even the Health Ministry?

In epidemiology, the branch of medicine which is concerned with the incidence, distribution, and possible control of diseases and other factors relating to health, the discovery and tracking of ‘Patent Zero,’ is a landmark factor regard-

ing disease control.

As global infection rates and first-world death tolls in Italy, USA, Canada and other European counties rise, images and videos of health authorities grappling to contain the virus now flood our screens.

Europe is now considered the new epicentre of this aggressive and infections virus with its origin in the Wuhan district of China.

A predicament faced early by Italy in particular, was that health authorities were unable to identify ‘Patient Zero,’ early on, hence, an effective strategy to map and track the spread of the virus using data about its local origins proved challenging.

In Guyana, health authorities had the privilege of knowing exactly who ‘Patient Zero’ was, where she lived, when she arrived in Guyana, where she came from, her immediate family, and to some extent her whereabouts up unto death.

Why then, were the relatives of this landmark first case not placed into mandatory state quarantine?

Why then; that given the relatives of ‘Patient Zero’ were people who did not inform GPHC that they were referred for a COVID-19 test, and who denied both at the hospital and on social

media that their relative had the virus, were they entrusted with self-quarantine?

There are reports that the day after his wife passed away, the husband of ‘Patient Zero’ and his son – who has since tested positive for COVID-19 – visited the US Embassy to complain to officials about the wife’s death. There are further reports that a sick child from the home was sent to school and also makes frequent runs to the shop.

Were these people ever under any surveillance?

Who did this man, his son and the child come into contact with? How did they travel? Where else did they go?

Visits to the Good Hope, ECD, home last week by a social media user after the death of ‘Patient Zero’, furnished us with video evidence showing no signs of high-level quarantine or security presence at the home.

Rather, the family were entertaining guests and preparing for a ‘wake’, with neighbours walking in and out of the yard.

In essence, a family who should have been in mandatory state quarantine went about their daily lives, travelled, entertained guest at their home, held a wake and

Dear Editor, A lot of good people are watching in silence, the collusion between APNU/ AFC, GECOM and the police in what seems to be a never-ending series of attempts to rig the elections.

Everyone has seen with their own eyes the duplicitous behaviour of GECOM staffers and Granger’s silly pretence of non-intervention in the operations of the said organisation. Everyone knows Granger does not have to intervene personally.

All he has to do is pass instructions or stay silent if he approves of what GECOM is doing. The entire world

is watching. Even children are analysing what they, GECOM/APNU/AFC, will come up with next to manipulate the results to favour the incumbent. I wonder how parents who approve of these actions are going to justify or reconcile what their children are witnessing with right and wrong. Then again, we have people in this country that believe that 34 and not 33 is the majority of 65.

Many would have also seen the removal of the original SoPs from public places and their subsequent replacement with fake SoPs. They would have turned away and carried on with

their affairs. The good people have witnessed the attempts to deny citizens their right to elect a leader of their choice and have chosen to stay silent. Somewhere I have read that staying silent and doing nothing are decisions, which imply support, tacit or otherwise. Many of these good people are church-going and in a way their silence and inaction is equivalent to bearing false witness.

I wonder how they will reconcile that with the big man upstairs. I also wonder how the Chief Justice sleeps at night knowing that all of this could have been avoided had she treated Mingo and

GECOM condignly. I wonder if we have more surprises to expect from the now infamous Iron Lady, under whose control GECOM operates. A lot of good people are, therefore, not so good after all. When sanctions come, and that is a must if the results are rigged, every Guyanese without exception, including good people who chose to do nothing, will suffer.

Hats off to Dominic Gaskin, Supriya SinghBodden and others who have spoken up thus far.

Dear Editor, The International Center for Democracy (ICD) demands that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) stop playing games and do the work that they were mandated to do which is to complete the tabulation process for the General and Regional Elections in a free, fair and transparent manner.

The ICD, ABCE Ambassadors, international and local observers

and Caricom have all spoken out that the declaration for Region Four was not free, fair and transparent and the premature declaration for Region Four by the Returning Officer was fraudulent.

President Granger, Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo and Chairwoman Motley for Caricom negotiated and agreed to have a recount of the ballots. The recount of the ballots will be done in

the presence of the Caricom team, representatives from all competing parties, international and local observers.

This process was scheduled to commence on March 16, 2020. As of 15:30h, GECOM has not yet started the count.

It has been two weeks since the elections were held with no final results from GECOM. The people of Guyana executed their constitutional rights by casting their votes and as such, they

are entitled to choose their Government.

The ICD demands that GECOM immediately commence the recounting of the ballots and to stop playing games. The ICD also demands that this process be free, fair and transparent.

The ICD, the international community and observers will continue to monitor the process.

A lot of good people are not so good

Sincerely, Ravi Ram

Tell GECOM to stop playing games

Sincerely, Fazal M Yussuff, MPA

in the process, exposed hundreds of Guyanese to this deadly and aggressive virus.

We know for a fact that those at risk of dying and getting the sickest from COVID-19 are the elderly, older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease. We are not short of that in Guyana.

Volda Lawrence and her Health Ministry have ‘dropped the ball’ with COVID-19, and there is no excuse why that happened other than pure incompetence, carelessness, callousness and an inability to grasp the seriousness of this virus and the economic implications it would have should an outbreak happen in Guyana.

Important roles like the Minister of Health should never be appointments based on political merit, rather, should be an estab-

lished leader with the background and track record to understand the importance and seriousness of disease control and response, including what logistic measures ought to be in place based on data models and forecasting.

Guyana is now in deep trouble as the latest figures of our confirmed COVID-19 cases according to the Health Ministry is now four, inclusive of the one death with possible hundreds of Guyanese now having unnecessary exposure to the virus because of this one callous family and the inability of health authorities to take action when they had the chance.

Three weeks ago, Italy’s confirmed cases were just three. To date, that figure has grown to more than 24,700 and 1800 deaths as of the week of March 15.

Yours sincerely, Ron O D’Avilar

Ministry of Education closing schools Dear Editor, I must commend the Ministry of Education for closing all schools in the wake of the global epidemic which is coronavirus. It’s very important for us to be aware as a nation of the dangers surrounding this virus in schools for our children, teachers and the parents for these kids who will be picking them up from school.

The University of Guyana made a great decision to close its doors to stay clear of any spreading of this virus.

However, my concern is the school that my nephew is attending in Berbice (GuySuCo Training Centre) which is a live-in school for

all students, which remains open in light of the current epidemic.

I made contact with my nephew and he said nothing was related to them and that they are doing their normal training. I am calling on the necessary authorities to look into this situation and say if this is a wise decision not to close the school with these kids.

All over the world, you can see schools closing just to be on the safe side. I am calling on GuySuCo to respond because those kids are at a risk.

Sincerely, Concerned citizen

Evidence points...

Thirdly, to further dismantle Mr Harmon’s ridiculous assertion that the coalition respects the independence of GECOM, one only has to examine the behaviour of Roysdale Forde and Robin Hunte, attorneys who are candidates for the coalition.

The two individuals were openly assisting GECOM’s lawyer, Neil Boston, in the court cases held before Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George.

As candidates for the coalition, this demonstrates clearly, the incestuous relationship between GECOM and the coalition.

Finally, it was also a member of the coalition, Karen Cummings, who used the office of GECOM to meet

FROM PAGE 4

and threaten members of international election observer missions.

This even prompted one of the diplomats to enquire if she thought the GECOM building was an appropriate place to meet with them.

This clearly shows that the coalition viewed GECOM as an appendage of the APNU/ AFC. No amount of spin by Mr Harmon and others can repair the damage. It is widely acknowledged that all the shenanigans that took place at GECOM were orchestrated by the APNU/AFC coalition. These are matters of fact.

Sincerely, S Greaves

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TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020

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Foundation

Guyana Times is pleased to publish the Education Ministry’s 2020 National Grade Six Assessment Practice Tests, complete with answers, starting with English Paper 1 in two parts. Look out for the second part of Paper 1 and the entire answer key on Wednesday.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL GRADE SIX ASSESSMENT PRACTICE TEST

PAPER 1

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

March 11, 2020 Reading Time: 10 minutes Writing Time: 60 minutes

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. 1. In addition to this test booklet, you should have an Answer Sheet.

2. Write your candidate number on the answer sheet and underline the subject.

3. This test contains 40 questions. You are required to answer ALL questions. Four responses are given for each question. The responses are A, B, C and D. Only ONE response is correct.

4. On your Answer Sheet find the number which corresponds to your question and shade the same letter as the one you have chosen.

Here is an example done for you.

1. Anita received a ____________Christmas gift.

ANSWER SHEET (A) beuitful (B) buteful A B C D (C) beautiful (D) beauitful The letter C has been shaded on the answer sheet because beautiful, the correct answer, is next to C. 5. If you are not sure of the answer to a question then choose the one which you think is BEST. Shade the letter you have chosen.

6. If you want to change your answer, erase

For questions 1 and 2, choose the correct spelling of the word to complete each sentence.

1. Cycling is a form of __________ which many children enjoy.

(A) reloxation (B) relaxation (C) relaxacion (D) relaxashun

For questions 8 and 9 choose the set of words which is arranged in alphabetical order.

8.

(A) bladder bottom brownie buffet

(B) bladder buffet bottom brownie

(C) bottom bladder buffet brownie

(D) bottom buffet bladder brownie

2. Our school library has many __________ books.

(A) intresting (B) interestin (C) interesting (D) interresting

9.

For questions 3 and 4, choose the most suitable word to complete each sentence.

3. A __________ of African bees was spotted in the trees.

(A) flock (B) horde (C) crowd (D) swarm 4. ___________ A of books was presented to the headmaster.

(A) litter (B) class (C) library (D) bouquet For questions 5 to 7 choose the word that is similar in meaning to the underlined word in each sentence.

5. Have you completed the task I assigned you?

(A) begun (B) treated (C) finished (D) planned 6. Roger is so obstinate he will not change his mind.

(A) obedient (B) stubborn (C) naughty (D) mischievous 7. Mother prepared a delicious meal for the guests.

(A) tasty (B) large (C) quick (D) suitable

(A) siesta signal signet sickle (B) sickle signal siesta signet (C) signet sickle signal siesta (D) sickle siesta signal signet

For questions 10 and 11, select the correct order in which the names should appear in the telephone directory.

10.(A) Bibi Deen Alex Clarke Rick Samaroo Tessa Hooper (B) Tessa Hooper Rick Samaroo Bibi Deen Alex Clarke (C) Alex Clarke Bibi Deen Tessa Hooper Rick Samaroo (D) Rick Samaroo Tessa Hooper Alex Clarke Bibi Deen 11. (A) Susan Farley Eldon Fernandes Kim Foo Orin Fung (B) Kim Foo Susan Farley Eldon Fernandes Orin Fung (C) Eldon Fernandes Kim Foo Orin Fung Susan Farley (D) Eldon Fernandes Orin Fung Kim Foo Susan Farley For questions 12 to 14, choose the correct word to complete each sentence.

12. Mr. Layne said he could not read Paul’s handwriting; it was (A) legible (B) illegal (C) eligible (D) illegible 13. Did your parents __________ you permission to go to the mall?

(A) offer (B) grant

your old answer completely, then shade your new choice.

7. When you are told to begin, turn the page and work as quickly and as carefully as you can.

If you cannot answer a question, go on to the next one. You can return to that question later.

8. This test contains 40 items. You will have 60 minutes to answer them.

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

(C) award

(D) obtain

14. As the coffee was hot, I __________ it.

(A) sipped (B) gulped (C) nibbled (D) gobbled For questions 15 and 16, fill in each blank with the correct answer.

15. The cows were brought to the ___________to be slaughtered.

(A) cabin (B) orchard (C) abbatoir (D) hatchery 16. Please collect your medicine from the __________.

(A) nursery.

(B) university.

(C) laboratory.

(D) dispensary.

For questions 17 and 18, choose the meaning of the phrase that is underlined.

17. Miss Taylor advised Brian and Diane to bury the hatchet.

(A) make peace (B) be outspoken (C) have a fight (D) create a row 18. My father was late for work because it rained cats and dogs.

(A) was raining (B) was very wet (C) became very cold (D) rained very heavily For questions 19 and 20, select the opposite of the underlined word in each sentence.

19. The men painted the interior of the building.

(A) exit (B) inferior (C) exterior (D) entrance 20. Local programmes are commonly shown on television.

(A) rarely (B) usually (C) familiarly (D) excitingly For questions 21 to 23, select the sentence in each group which is correctly punctuated.

21. (A) “Here’s the box of oranges I bought, said Farah.

(B) “Here’s the box of oranges I bought?” said Farah.

(C) “Here’s the box of oranges, I bought,” said Farah.

(D) “Here’s the box of oranges I bought,” said Farah.

22. (A) “Are you awake”? whispered Julie from the door.

(B) “Are you awake?” whispered Julie from the door.

(C) “Are you awake,” whispered Julie from the door?

(D) “Are you awake?” whispered Julie from the door?

23. (A) The vendor sells, boulangers, ochroes, bora and tomatoes every day.

(B) The vendor sells; boulangers, ochroes, bora and tomatoes every day.

(C) The vendor sells boulangers, ochroes, bora and tomatoes every day.

(D) The vendor sells boulangers, ochroes, bora; and tomatoes every day.

For questions 24 and 25 choose the correct form of the verb to complete each sentence.

24. Last September, my parents __________ to enrol my brother in the Technical Institute.

(A) decide (B) decides (C) decided (D) deciding 25. The journey to Lethem __________about seven hours.

(A) take (B) takes (C) taken (D) taking

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Recount never started despite containers with Region 4 ballot boxes at ACCC – as facility "fumigated for ants"

W

hile there were hopes that the recount of ballots cast on March 2 at the National and Regional Elections would have started on Monday, this projection was quashed after it was suspended, resulting in another delay.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

On Monday evening, officials from the various election observer missions and party agents converged at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, to commence the counting of the Region Four ballot boxes which arrived under heavy Police escort.

Stakeholders stood outside, waiting for hours as the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) made the logistic arrangements to commence the process but this never got underway.

After waiting for some time, Commissioner of the Guyana Elections Commission, Robeson Benn informed the media that there would be no re-

count. He said throughout the day, it was posited

by GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh that the process would commence soon. However, these phoney assurances ended after it was communicated to him

by Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers during an exchange, that no official announcement was directed to these stakeholders.

“I waited since 10:00h or so for advice on when a recount would take place.

I was told by the Chair sometime around 02:00h that there would likely be a start of a recount around 04:00h…I came here a bit after 04:00h. People were standing in the yard. I went into the building and nothing much was happening,” Benn recalled.

He added, “When I was sitting there about 06:30h or later, Ms Myers came into the building and asked me whether I was on container duty…I said to her ‘I don’t understand what you’re telling me’ and then she said ‘Well the building will be closed for tonight and there will be no recount for the night’. That’s the first time I heard of it.”

Soon after the ballot boxes were secured, all lights at the Centre were shut down, as the political parties assigned their agents to stand guard throughout the night.

Only one agent per party was permitted to overlook the secured containers.

Meanwhile, former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall stated that aide-memoire was yet to be approved by the President.

The document speaks to the undertaking of Caricom in the process and the role of other stakeholders.

However, President David Granger reportedly said he needed legal advice on the one-page document.

“That document was sent since last night and the Leader of the Opposition essentially approved it and it was sent to the President.

The President is apparently claiming that he needs legal advice. It's a one-page document and it essentially capture what the Caricom statement says. So, I don't know what is there to get legal advice on,” the former AG questioned.

Nandlall reminded that the document can be signed after the recount starts, amid claims from the GECOM Chair that she

A container of ballots entering the Conference Centre

used now as a basis for the delay of the recount. The aide-memoire was essentially supposed to facilitate the recount, not to frustrate the recount,” he shared.

"Utterly shameful"

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

is awaiting its completion.

According to him, this is not valid as a delaying tactic.

“She [the GECOM Chair] says again that she's waiting on the aide-memoire.

I explained to her that the aide-memoire does not prevent the count or the recount from beginning and that she gave an undertaking to the High Court and she said that public that the recount will begin…

The aide-memoire can't be

After waiting for several hours, local observer from the Private Sector Commission, Kit Nascimento stormed out of the Centre in disappointment, having exerted time without any results.

He lamented that it is “utterly shameful” on Guyana to have international stakeholders witness this type of debacle.

“Not a word has come out to us as to what is taking place…This is an absolute disgrace. It’s a disgrace to Guyana. It’s a disgrace

to our country. It is utterly shameful and I believe the Chairman and officials of GECOM should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. We have no idea if a recount is going to start. We have no idea when,” he said.

Nascimento viewed this shrewd act as an attempt

to ensure that the observers leave the Centre so that the recount is shrouded in secrecy.

“Clearly, this is an attempt to make us lose our patience and leave and do it in secret,” he further positioned.

8 NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

4 witnesses to testify in Norton Street murder PI

Collin Rodney, also known as “Glock”, “Troy” and “Cutty”

A

s the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) continues into the murder of Marlon Seon Rodney, called “George”, who was shot and killed earlier last year – four persons are expected to testify.

This was revealed when the matter was called in the courtroom of Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday.

On Monday Inspector Suraj Singh and Shaquille Dion were called to the wit-

ness stand where they told the court the role they played in the investigation.

Soon after, the prosecutor told the court that he will be calling four other witnesses before the summing up is done. The PI was adjourned for March 25.

Those charged for Rodney’s murder are Osafa Grundell, 39, called “Safo” of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, and James Fraser, 21, called “Dab” of Garnett Street, Georgetown.

The duo was not allowed to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that between April 25 and April 30, 2019, at Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, they murdered Rodney.

It was reported that on the day in question, 35-yearold Rodney, a taxi driver of Lot 71 Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, was involved in an argument with three individuals.

As the argument escalated, the men then pulled out guns and discharged several rounds at Rodney, who was hit in the left leg.

Recount…

S James Fraser

Osafa Grundell

An injured Rodney was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he succumbed to his injuries.

Three months ago, the burnt body of 36-year-old Collin Rodney, who was the cousin of Seon and the main

witness in the murder PI, was discovered in the trunk of his silver-grey Toyota Allion motor car.

The man went missing while making his way to court to testify in the PI. He was at the scene when his cousin was murdered.

Bail revoked for teen for phone robbery

O

ne out of the three teens who were caught on video of closed-cir-

Remanded: Daniel McArthur

cuit television (CCTV) cameras that was circulated after he snatched a man’s phone at Stabroek Market had his bail revoked when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday.

The matter was called before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly when it was revealed that Daniel McArthur is currently being questioned at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court in connection to another robbery.

To this end, the Senior Magistrate revoked his bail and as such, he was remanded to prison until April 28.

His accomplices remain out on bail.

On October 25, 2019, McArthur, Shawn Inniss and Hurrcarlaus Harris appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly and denied that on October 17, 2019, at Camp Street, Georgetown, they robbed Ethan Mookho of two cellphones valued $298,000.

Another charge against McArthur alleged that on October 11, 2019, at Georgetown, he stole one handbag valued $5000, a phone valued $65,000 and $2000 from Juliette Wills. To this charge, the teen also pled not guilty.

After the charges were read, Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh objected to bail being granted to the three teenagers on the grounds that Mookho was stabbed to the back with an ice-pick whilst giving chase to the defendants when the robbery occurred.

The court further heard that the teenagers were positively identified by the victims as the persons who robbed them, as it was captured on CCTV.

…or regroup? o, we have an agreement between the Caretaker President and the Opposition Leader that there’d be a full recount of the March 2 votes cast in all the regions by going into the individual ballot boxes. Or do we?? Word had just gotten out about the arrangement when the Government Commissioners of GECOM insisted the “COMMISSION hadn’t been OFFICIALLY informed about any such arrangement” … and in the end it is the Commission that will have to make the decision!!

They truculently lectured Granger on the requirements of the “the law” – as they saw it – on recounts. Since these worthies had been appointed by Granger to represent the interests of his government – were “creatures” of Granger to use Hoyte’s candid phrase – some conjectured we were witnessing a “hard line” faction of the PNC coming to the fore. “Forward ever; backward never!!” keeping power by any means necessary.

Your Eyewitness is neither fooled nor amused: Granger and these jokers are just trying out their “good cop, bad cop” routine! There’s no split or even a crack in the PNC. Don’t be fooled into thinking that as a soldier Granger was out of the PNC shenanigans. Granger himself confessed that he was always a PNC member – going back to 1965 when his career and the GDF were simultaneously launched by Burnham!!

He’d revealed that during an address to the 5th Biennial Conference of the PNCR’s North American Region in Atlanta, Georgia, back in Nov 2017. He didn’t realise the event was being streamed! But his other revelations are even more germane about what’s going down in front of our eyes.

“Whatever you will choose to discuss today and the weeks and months to come, I think there are several questions that you have to ask yourself as you look to the future. You have to ask yourself how did the PNC gain office in 1964. Ask yourself how did the PNC remain in office and what did it do during that period. Ask yourself how the PNC regained office in 2015 and ask yourself how would the PNC retain office after 2020.”

Well, we don’t need a soothsayer to explain what Granger meant!! The PNC got into power in ‘64 in coalition with a small party: so, did Granger in 2015. The PNC remained in office after that through rigging – and this is what Granger promised three years ago!! So that recount??

The PNC and Granger, its leader, are just regrouping for the next series of blatant manoeuvres to ensure the ballot boxes are “Mingoed”!!

Your Eyewitness repeats: Granger has nothing to lose.

America’s not about to land troops here. And he figures he can ride out sanctions.

Never mind the country can’t!! …is Mingoed Your Eyewitness got permission to “hold the press” till the recount began before he completed this piece. So here it was, at just after 7pm, he sees the leader of the Opposition explaining on TV that the recount still hasn’t started!! Luckily, he hadn’t been holding his breath!! But he would’ve never guessed what stunt the PNC would pull (GECOM, PNC same difference!) to throw a spanner in the works.

The Ministry of Health – headed by (who else?) Volda Lawrence – ordered that the Convention Centre where the recount was to be conducted BE FUMIGATED for coronavirus!! Can you believe this?? Now this was no “disinfecting” like you have in airplanes that can kill some viruses. Naah, this was malathion that kills pests!!

Earlier in the day, he’d heard GECOM wouldn’t start unless Granger and Jagdeo sign their agreement!! Imagine that. The day before, they’d said they had to delay, because the decision to recount was a GECOM decision – and there could be no “side deals”.

And now they want a signed side deal!!

And the Mingoing continues!! …the Caricom connection Could Granger and the PNC be so contemptuous of Caricom and its leader Mia Mottley that they could diss them the way they have?

Or is it all a carefully orchestrated tango??

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

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Shuman challenges Harmon to ‘come clean’ on GECOM meddling P residential Candidate for the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Lennox Shuman has called out Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP), Joseph Harmon, over claims that the coalition meddled in the operations at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in order to influence the outcome of the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

Shuman, in a video message broadcast on social media yesterday, told listeners that Harmon – an executive of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the largest coalition member – must “come clean” and “let the people know about the delay tactics being employed by the generals in PNC.” He called on Harmon, to provide an explanation as to the reason low-level GECOM staff would be calling him personally, in relation to anything election-related.

Harmon at a press engagement over the weekend had divulged to reporters that on March 11 last, he had received a telephone call from the Deputy Returning Officer (DRO) at Stewartville, who was com-

Businessman arrested for indiscriminately discharging firearm

A LJP Presidential Candidate Lennox Shuman

plaining about a directive received.

Shuman in another post also accused GECOM of “doing every single thing that they possibly can to stall, delay or boycott the process of getting the recount done.”

He was referring to the agreed to countrywide recount of the votes cast at the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

According to Shuman, the move to sanitise the Arthur Chung International Conference Centre was, in fact, another delay tactic being employed by GECOM and potentially coalition cohorts.

Retired Singh

Justice

Claudette

Shuman posited a suspicion that Head of State, President David Granger is being pressured by his generals to go down the wrong path.

Harmon was adamant, however, that “we do not intervene, neither do we interfere in the work of GECOM” and suggested that when the election process is completed, the coalition will have to get around to working assiduously to pull back opinion that seeks to suggest that as a Government they had a role in any sort of irregularity.

Meanwhile, Shuman, the LJP Presidential Candidate, in a brief tirade also called

Director General of Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon

out the Alliance for Change – the second-largest faction of the coalition – and said the party has morphed into the same evil it had fought under stringent circumstances to dislodge.

The LJP Leader was also critical of the Working Peoples’ Alliance (WPA) and alluded to the fact that Dr Walter Rodney was assassinated in trying to fight for democracy.

He said the current WPA, including the likes of Dr Rupert Roopnaraine have been silenced and have in fact betrayed the principles that their party’s founder leader had died fighting for.

South Ruimveldt, Georgetown businessman was arrested on Sunday evening after he discharged his firearm indiscriminately. According to Police reports, the incident occurred at about 19:56h.

Information received revealed that the resident of Congress Drive, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was discharging the loaded firearm unsystematically while his wife and two children were at home.

As such, the police were summoned and a team from Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) responded promptly. The businessman immediately surrendered to the police and he was taken into custody.

A .32 pistol along with several live rounds of ammunition and spent shells were retrieved at the scene.

Guyana Times understands that the 41-year-old businessman is an auto dealer and is also a licensed fire-

arm holder. No injuries were reported but the police have launched an investigation into the matter.

In January, another businessman was taken into Police custody after he unsystematically discharged a loaded firearm on Broad Street, Georgetown.

It was reported that Police ranks were patrolling the La Penitence, Georgetown area when they heard two loud explosions that appeared to be gunshots.

They proceeded to the area and upon arrival, they observed the intoxicated businessman holding a firearm in his hands.

The man was asked to produce his licence and did so without hesitation.

Guyana Times understands that the man was arrested after being told of the allegation.

His firearm, a .32 Taurus pistol, was seized and lodged.

Two spent shells were discovered in the area.

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GPS implements measures to BrainStreet offers free safeguard against COVID-19 online educational services

Director of Prisons Services, Gladwin Samuels

I

n light of COVID-19 threats, the Guyana Prison Services (GPS) has reduced the visits by family members to those incarcerated at the various detention facilities to ensure that the vulnerable environment is safeguarded.

Acting Director of Prison Services, Gladwin Samuels on Monday stated that persons are being informed that the authorities will now permit only one visit per fortnight for those remanded and appellant prisoners. Previously, the prisoners could have been visited twice per week.

However, convicted prisoners will continue to have their one visit per month of 10 minutes duration.

Moreover, the prison authorities are advising persons desirous of lodging money for prisoners at the Tuck Shop to do so at specific areas set up outside of the various prisons, from Monday through Friday between 08:00h and 12:00h.

Family members who

wish to have items delivered to the Mazaruni Prison can deliver as usual at the Prison Headquarters, Brickdam.

According to the prison services, all precautionary measures implemented will take effect from Wednesday, March 18, 2020 and will remain in force until the coronavirus (COVID-19) is no longer a risk to the population.

In light of COVID-19 threats, the Guyana Prison Services (GPS) has reduced the visits by family members to those incarcerated at the various detention facilities to ensure that the vulnerable environment is safeguarded.

Acting Director of Prison Services, Gladwin Samuels on Monday stated that persons are being informed that the authorities will now permit only one visit per fortnight for those remanded and appellant prisoners. Previously, the prisoners could have been visited twice per week.

However, convicted prisoners will continue to have their one visit per month of 10 minutes duration.

Moreover, the prison authorities are advising persons desirous of lodging money for prisoners at the Tuck Shop to do so at specific areas set up outside of the various prisons, from Monday through Friday between 08:00h and 12:00h.

Family members who wish to have items delivered to the Mazaruni Prison can deliver as usual at the Prison Headquarters, Brickdam.

According to the prison services, all precautionary

…following suspension of school

I

Camp Street penitentiary

measures implemented will take effect from Wednesday, March 18, 2020 and will remain in force until the coro-

navirus (COVID-19) is no longer a risk to the population.

n order to keep students focused on their studies, given that all schools will be closed for the next two weeks, local technology provider BrainStreet is assisting by offering free online tutoring and practice questions in maths and English via its BrainCentral (www.braincentral.online) online learning platform.

BrainStreet is specifically focusing on providing these educational services to Grades Four, Five and Six during the next two weeks. However, the organisation will be offering sessions for other grades.

On Friday the Education Ministry opted to close all public schools for two weeks

as a precaution in light of the COVID-19 epidemic which was detected in Guyana.

The closure commenced on Monday and the Ministry stated that “this decision will be reassessed during this period and further guidance will be provided.”

Interested persons are being advised to contact the entity on telephone number 225-5353.

BrainCentral is managed and operated by the BrainStreet Group. A technology services provider based in Georgetown, Guyana, the firm has been existence since 1994 and has been offering online learning services since 2005.

NGSA postponed due to coronavirus threats

D

ays after announcing that all public schools will be closed for the next two weeks, the Ministry of Education has now announced that the 2020 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) will no longer be written on April 8 and 9, 2020, due to the coronavirus threat within the country.

The Ministry in a statement on Monday asserted that careful thought was given before the decision was made and as such, will advise stakeholders on the new dates set for the secondary school entrance examination.

“The Ministry of Education wishes to notify the general public that due to the current situation; careful thought has been given to the scheduled

dates for the administration of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) 2020. As such, please be advised that the previously announced dates (April 8 and 9, 2020) are no longer valid.

Adequate notice will be given with regard to the new dates,” the Ministry added in the statement.

Moreover, parents are being encouraged to continue working with their children in preparation for the examination, as well as students in other grades, by working practice test papers and tuning into educational programmes.

On Friday the Ministry opted to close all public

schools for two weeks as precautions heighten amid the COVID-19 epidemic across the world and confirmed cases in Guyana.

The MoE had initially advised persons to take the necessary precautions as advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in relation to COVID-19 but later recanted their decision of keeping these institutions open amid the threats.

Also, the Mayor and City Council had announced that all the municipal daycare centres – South Road, East Ruimveldt, Festival City and Industrial Site – will also be closed for two weeks.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

General and Regional Elections

Commonwealth, ERC laud Caricom’s intervention to recount ballots cast

T

he Caribbean Community’s intervention in the recounting of ballots cast in the March 2, 2020 National and Regional Elections has been lauded by the Commonwealth.

Secretary General Patricia Scotland in a statement on Monday, made reference to the ruling of Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George which stated that the District Four verification process was not credible. As such, commendations were given to the leadership of Caricom for their intervention.

The decision to have a recount for all ten administrative regions was agreed to by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and President David Granger, which paved the way for the Caricom team to swoop in.

“The Commonwealth Observer Group to Guyana informed me it is the clear view of the Group that the subsequent tabulation in Region 4 was not conducted in accordance with the judgement of the Acting Chief Justice and is therefore not credible. In this regard, I welcome and commend

Commonwealth Secretary General, Baroness Patricia Scotland

the regional leadership of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), at the invitation of President David Granger, to deploy a high-level mission to Guyana, to supervise a recount of the ballots cast in all ten regions of the recently concluded elections,” Scotland highlighted.

Mention was also made to the leadership of the two mainstream parties – the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and the A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) for fostering this process. In light of this, the Secretary General called

for stakeholders to act in accordance with the judgement of the acting Chief Justice.

“The leadership of President Granger and the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, in coming to this agreement on the way forward deserves to be lauded. I also note and welcome the public commitment from Justice Claudette Singh, Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), that she would facilitate the recounting of ballots; and her assurance that GECOM will cooperate fully with the Caricom ini-

tiative. I urge all relevant stakeholders and public officials to do the same, and in accordance with the unambiguous judgement of the Acting Chief Justice,” the official stated.

Scotland indicated that the Commonwealth is continuing its oversight into the events yet to unfold, and the expectation is that the country will adhere to its constitutional backing and other international obligations.

“The entire Commonwealth family look to the leaders and the people of Guyana to live up to the lofty aspirations set out in your Constitution, your electoral laws, and the Commonwealth Charter.”

Meanwhile, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) also welcomes the decision to have a recount, stating that the integrity of the ballot boxes should not be compromised. It stated that this will moreover bring an end to the tense political climate and uncertainty which currently envelopes the country.

“This, the Commission believes, would bring an amicable end to the current political impasse which has

ERC Chairman, Rev Dr John Smith

resulted in a non-declaration of credible final results even as two weeks have elapsed since Guyanese went to the polls to choose a Government of their choice.

The decision also demonstrates that meaningful and genuine collaboration across the political aisle is achievable and vital to help resolve inherent differences and challenges,” the Commission stated.

The ERC, which is responsible for promoting harmony among the Guyanese people, also underscored the need for tolerance and peace at this time.

“It also has tremendous

potential to heal the current unwelcome and prevailing divide among our people. The Commission remains optimistic that the full details of how the recount would be undertaken will be agreeable to all and the conduit to derive desirable credible results…

The Commission would like to reiterate its call for all Guyanese to act responsibly; to demonstrate tolerance, respect and restraint especially during this period and to heed the messages for togetherness, harmony and good relations,” the statement read.

12 NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“More aggressive measures” required to prevent spread of COVID-19 – AmCham Guyana

…urges businesses to lower data costs to improve connectivity

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he American Chamber of Commerce Guyana (AmCham Guyana) has called for stringent measures to protect against the novel coronavirus COVID-19, as the country continues to detect cases among its populace.

On Monday the Private Sector body indicated that while persons have been isolated from schools and other public gatherings, there is still more to be done by the health authorities to ensure that there are strict travel restrictions and quarantine guidelines.

Already, countries within the region have moved to restrict travel at their borders and airports to contain the spread of COVID-19 – a deadly disease that has developed into a global epidemic.

Here in Guyana, family members of the first case of the virus reportedly refused to stay under quarantine after insisting that they did not contract the virus. A few days later, the husband of the woman tested positive and was then isolated.

“We commend the authorities on steps taken to secure our children with the closure of schools and the regular information provided. However, AmCham be-

lieves that more aggressive measures are needed at this time. AmCham calls on the relevant public health authorities to follow the lead of our Caricom neighbours and other world leaders, in imposing strict travel restrictions and following the WHO guidelines on imposing quarantine,” AmCham indicated.

The organisation sought to zero in on the increased statistics of positive cases, stating that preparedness is important in the times to come.

“AmCham Guyana notes with deep concern the growing number of positive diagnosed COVID-19 cases in Guyana. The virus has spread worldwide with devastating consequences for many countries and the Chamber urges the Public Health authorities in Guyana and all citizens to adequately prepare for the inevitable spread of the virus…All precautions must be taken to slow the spread of this disease and protect our most vulnerable members of society.”

Moreover, Private Sector stakeholders were commended for allowing their employees to work from home or through online means. For this, communi-

AmCham Guyana President Zulfikar Ali

cation companies have been asked to reduce the cost for data and other internet plans, to bolster connectivity at this crucial time since it is the primary source of communication.

“We call on the Private Sector to support the national efforts by offering alternative work from home arrangements, engaging in sanitisation exercises in all businesses and providing the tools for workers to engage in safe practices. We encourage businesses to help make quarantine more com-

fortable for patients, such as reduced data and phone call charges so that persons can still be in touch with their loved ones, or donations of food, formula, toiletries and cleaners for less fortunate households,” AmCham directed.

On Saturday the Public Health Ministry informed that three other persons tested positive for the virus. This was less than one week after a woman who arrived in Guyana from New York tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus and subsequently died. Her husband, child and a close relative have all tested positive for the virus.

Local health authorities have advised that if anyone is experiencing symptoms of coronavirus, they should contact the hotline on 2274986 ext 215 or 624-3067 and a team would be sent to their location.

Meanwhile, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) also highlighted the far reach impacts which this virus could have on the business community. As such, the Chamber also advocated for measures to address the issue on a national level.

Some of the recommendations called for educational engagements about the virus to reduce pan-

ic among the population.

Adding to that, authorities should work to end myths by sharing factual information about the virus.

“As leaders, we should be cognisant of the information we share. Verify the credibility of information before sharing to team members and loved ones…The way to fight the COVID-19 virus is simple – keep clean. The WHO encourages organisations to sanitise working environments daily. For business leaders with available resources, we implore you to transfer the vigour of cleanliness to your wider community,” GCCI noted.

UG further suspends classes due to increased cases of COVID-19

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he University of Guyana has further extended the suspension of classes as threats from COVID-19 continue to reach new heights.

The Transitional Management Committee of the University advised staff and students of both Turkeyen and Tain campuses and the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) that the institution would be closed until March 30, 2020.

“The extension is now applicable to all staff and students of UG, with the exception of those essential services staff in the registry, bursary, maintenance, security and personnel divisions who will be deployed on service as required. This is a precautionary measure

in response to NCV-19,” UG stated.

Initially, the institution had made a decision to suspend all class activities until March 20 after a request from the University of Guyana Student’s Society (UGSS).

However, it positioned that scientific data shows a larger population of infected persons, which cannot be ignored.

“The University relies on scientific evidence emerging and based on modelling of the infection in large countries already affected, thus, the most effective means of managing NCV-19 is through mass containment procedures in the period of highest vulnerability, that is within 14 days of exposure,” the University indicated.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police eject Commissioner Benn forcibly from Conference Centre ...dragged on ground, manhandled, and injured

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eople’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Commissioner on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Robeson Benn had to be taken to the hospital on Monday evening after he was forced to the ground and dragged by members of the Guyana Police Force.

The riot squad was summoned to the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC)

after members of the various political parties assembled and were subsequently blocked from entering the facility where the national recount was supposed to take place.

Commissioner Benn explained that it is mandatory for one agent from each group to be present at all times near the ballots so as to protect its integrity. This was agreed upon at the lev-

el of the Guyana Elections Commission on Sunday night. However, the ranks still demanded that everyone remove from the location and exit the compound.

“They apparently came and wanted everyone to leave the compound. I told the police that there was an agreement at the level of the Guyana Elections Commission, affirmed last night at the stakeholder

PAC, NPC announce closure of Zoo – takes effect today

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ith the deadly coronavirus already confirmed in Guyana, and its death toll increasing around the globe, several public local entities have resorted to suspending services as precautionary measures.

The Protected Areas Commission (PAC) and the National Parks Commission (NPC) joined the list, as it announced the closure of the Georgetown Zoo. The PAC and NPC in a statement to the media on Monday advised the general public that the recreational facility will be closed from today until further notice, in an effort to protect both its staff and visitors from the spread of the virus.

“The Protected Areas Commission (PAC) and the National Parks Commission

(NPC) at this time would like to advise the general public that the Georgetown Zoo will be closed beginning Tuesday, 17th March 2020 until further notice. This move is a part of the Commission’s efforts to safeguard and protect staff and citizens from the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) threat.”

Nevertheless, persons who utilise the National Park and Botanical Gardens can continue to do so, as those public spaces will remain open. “Please be advised also that the

Botanical Gardens and the National Park will remain open as we take extra precautionary measures to ensure that all of our public facilities are fully sanitised.”

The Commissions are urging persons to adhere to safety measures to prevent a possible epidemic of the virus.

“The PAC/NPC further calls on all Guyanese to adhere to the rules, measures and advice coming from the Ministry of Public Health in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our country.”

meeting, that a representative from each stakeholder group had to be present with the containers 24/7. The police came and said they wanted me to leave the area of the container,” he explained.

After disagreeing to leave the boxes unguarded, the situation escalated when he was manhandled for failing to comply with these instructions.

“After 15 minutes of cajoling me to leave, two ranks proceeded to brace me out of the position. I was on the ramp at the back of the Convention Centre. I refused to leave and they laid hands on me and tried to physically remove me from the position.”

As he struggled to hold on to the rails, the Commissioner was forced to the ground and dragged some distance. The matter reached a point where the riot squad were contemplating the use of a shield to forcibly remove him.

“I held on to the rails and they dragged me along the ground to a point where I was lying on the ground.

They said they were going to get a shield to put me on it and remove me. I kept refusing all the time,” he said.

Throughout the ordeal, he would have tried to contact Chairperson Justice Claudette Singh of GECOM to provide some clarity on his presence. While this failed, Opposition Leader Bharrat

Commissioner Robeson Benn being attended to by Dr Frank Anthony after he was manhandled by Police on Monday evening

Jagdeo confirmed that indeed, persons were to remain with the containers at all times. Shortly after, former Members of Parliament Dr Frank Anthony and Priya Manickchand arrived.

However, as a result, Benn sustained serious injuries to his upper body.

“After our discussion and my lying on the ground, eventually I got Dr Frank Anthony and Ms Manickchand. My problem is that I have a problem in my shoulder now, from the elbow going up and some muscular or tendon problem as a result of the issues with the police…I can’t move or lift this arm without pain,” he

expressed.

The Commissioner articulated his dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Guyana Police Force.

“They ought to be simply aware of the position of a statutory Commissioner of an independent agency. And that by no possibility, could they be attempting to physically remove me from the position I was in,” he said, and was immediately taken to seek medical attention.

Benn has signalled intentions of seeing advice from Attorney Anil Nandlall on the steps further, as well as to voice his dissatisfaction with the Commissioner of Police, Leslie James.

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)

14 NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Political parties slam GECOM for recount fiasco – after party agents evicted by Police Representatives from var- ing party agents out of the “There are Police in riot ious small political parties Arthur Chung Conference gear who have formed a barhave joined in criticising Centre (ACCC). ricade of themselves in front the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) “They are now using Police in riot gear to bait us for its actions, or lack thereof, which led to to get angry. This is a fight for democracy. We’re the cancellation of the recount that was schedhere telling them, no we have to stay here with uled for Monday and the containers. And they’re physically removthe actual eviction of party agents who had ing us. They’re pushing us out of the compound. gathered to watch over They’re trying to bait us to react, but we said no, the ballot boxes.

A New and United we’re not going to react like that this time. We Guyana’s (ANUG) Kian Jabour highlighthave our locks on those containers. We’re not goed the issue in a video ing to fight this physically.” – Kian Jabour, ANUG streamed when Police dressed in riot gear arcandidate rived and began herd-

APNU/AFC heads to court to block Region 4 recount – Nandlall

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he rigging cabal within the APNU/AFC is doing everything possible to resist the recount and to undermine President David Granger’s commitment to the Caricom-led initiative to recount all the ballots cast at the March 2 2020 Elections.

This was according to executive member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Anil Nandlall, who contended that the public is fully aware of the delay tactics employed on Monday to frustrate the commencement of the recount and their further attempts at using the police to prevent the political parties from monitoring the ballot boxes at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

“I am now reliably in-

LJP Presidential Lennox Shuman

Candidate

of the containers and are now walking forward trying to remove people and getting everyone out. We’re not going far. We’re going to be around the area, watching the containers.”

“A lot of things came up from the Ashmins building and you heard a lot about how we are hooligans. Let me tell you what happened.

We’ve been here peacefully all day, calmly quietly. We waited patiently and when we heard that they weren’t doing the count, that we’re just going to stick around here and guard the contain-

ANUG candidate Kian Jabour

ers.”

Jabour made it clear that it has now become a fight for democracy, since the police are being used to frustrate what is supposed to be a transparent process.

According to him, they will not be taking the bait to react emotionally and then have the narrative twisted.

“They are now using Police in riot gear to bait us to get angry. This is a fight for democracy. We’re here telling them, no we have to stay here with the containers. And they’re physically removing us. They’re push-

ing us out of the compound.”

“This will cause tension to rise. They’re trying to bait us to react, but we said no, we’re not going to react like that this time. We have our locks on those containers. We’re not going to fight this physically.”

When he arrived earlier on Monday for the already delayed count, Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) Presidential Candidate Lennox Shuman, who was one of several other party reps at the location to oversee the process, had been very critical of the delay. He had attributed it to delay tactics.

“There has been a lot of back and forth, that really disturbs us. Initially, they had hammered out an agreement, only to find out they have to come here and sanitise the place. It’s all delay tactics,” Shuman had said.

“Obviously GECOM did not get ahold of us. But we were proactive. We are expecting GECOM to provide last minute notification to us and then we have to hurry up and get here,” the Presidential Candidate also said.

UG further suspends...

PPP Executive Anil Nandlall

formed that their next resort is to the High Court.

They plan to use an ordinary citizen to file proceed-

ings, seeking orders of court directing the Chief Elections Officer to accept the illegal declarations made by Mingo of Region Four results and to tabulate the final results and present same to the Commission and obtain further orders directing the Commission to declare the perverse final results,” Nandlall stated.

He further related that the move is obviously being executed to undermine the Caricom initiative.

“While such legal recourse will not succeed for reasons I will withhold at this point in time, it will certainly expose both Mingo and Justice Claudette Singh to Contempt of Court. The Contempt case against Mingo is already filed and pending. It will now have to [be] tried. The Chairperson has repeatedly admitted that she gave an undertaking to the Chief Justice that there will be a recount of Region Four ballots.”

He posited that an undertaking is as good as an order of the court and a violation of the same constitutes Contempt of Court while noting that President Granger will disregard these legal proceedings as a pretext for his usual deniability.

“This farce, like so many that they have tried, will not succeed.”

UGSS had noted in their request that security has been a factor of paramount concern, as many students have chosen to relocate to other locations. The extended break would afford persons enough time to establish proper mechanisms.

“We know these past few days have been uncomfortable for you all. Same goes for us. Some of us have been made to switch our locations due to security concerns for ourselves and our family… Secondly, let this not be known as an extension to a

semester break, but rather, the University closing down for a week so as to have proper and better systems in place where the security concerns of us all, can be guaranteed,” UGSS stated.

In sharing their motive for this request, the student organ said that campus should also be closed owing to transportation constraints. While that may be the issue for many, those travelling from Berbice have shown fear amid protest actions across the region.

“Let us vehemently

FROM PAGE 12

state, we strongly disagree with any suggestion that school be reopen as per normal for the coming week.

There has been, to us, little to no real assessment of the transportation burden that our current political climate has imposed on our students…A vast majority of our students (over 1000) comes from Linden alone.

Those who are coming from the Region Three area will now find it difficult to travel also as most buses have stopped working,” the statement indicated.

GPOC continues to protect its staff from COVID-19

W

ith the confirmation of the imported case of the novel coronavirus – COVID-19 – in Guyana. The Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) has provided its service agents, postal clerks and postmen and women with all the necessary resources to ensure that they are protested from the virus.

In a statement on Monday, GPOC stated that “protecting our customers and staff is a priority at the Guyana Post Office Corporation. Our customer service agents, postal clerks and postmen and women have all been provided with face masks and gloves to use while attending to our valued customers.”

Given the fact that hundreds of persons are using its services on a daily basis, GPOC stated that it will ensure that stringent measures are in place to deal with

the virus.

“It is a necessary precaution as we are conscious of the exposure and risks identified with the COVID-19.

We have also taken additional measures to continuously sanitise the customer service areas at all of our offices. We thank you for your understanding and support during this period as we

strive to create a clean, safe and comfortable environment,” GPOC added.

The novel coronavirus first emerged in Wuhan, China, during the latter part of last year. The virus has infected in excess of 100,000 people in more than 100 countries and over 4000 have reportedly died as a result.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ICJ postpones March 23 hearing of Guyana-Venezuela border case – cites spread of coronavirus; to make decision on new date

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he International Court of Justice (ICJ) has postponed the long-anticipated hearing of the Guyana/Venezuela border dispute case that was scheduled for March 23, 2020, citing the worldwide crisis of the coronavirus.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ICJ has communicated to Guyana that the oral proceedings that were scheduled to begin on March 23 have been postponed until a new date can be set.

“In the case concerning the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana V. Venezuela), the International Court of Justice has informed Guyana that the oral proceedings scheduled to begin on March 23, 2020, have been postponed due to the current worldwide health crisis. The Court has further informed that it will give a decision on a new date in due time,” the statement read.

Since Guyana recorded its first coronavirus case on March 11, there have been three more confirmed cases.

In a previous notice, the Hague, Netherlands-based ICJ had informed the parties of the schedules for the upcoming public hearings to determine whether the Court has jurisdiction to preside over the matter. The first round of oral arguments was supposed to be held on March 23, 2020, and Guyana would have been presenting

MoH tracks hundreds who mingled with relatives of dead coronavirus victim

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The International Court of Justice (ICJ)

its pleadings on that day.

The following day was awarded to Venezuela.

Hearings on both days were to commence at 10:00h and run until 13:00h (Netherlands time).

Meanwhile, the second round of arguments was slated for March 25 when Guyana would have been presenting from 16:30h to 18:00h. Venezuela would have then presented on March 27 from 10:00h to 11:30h. The sessions were to be streamed live on the Court’s website.

Guyana filed its case with the World Court on March 29, 2018, seeking a final and binding judgment that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the location of the land boundary between the then-British Guiana and Venezuela, remains valid and binding, and that Guyana’s Essequibo region belongs to Guyana,

and not Venezuela as is being claimed by the Spanishspeaking country.

The case was filed following a decision by Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, in January 2018, that the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela should be decided by the ICJ. The Secretary General made the decision by exercising the power vested in him in the 1966 Geneva Agreement between Guyana, Venezuela and the United Kingdom to decide how the controversy should be settled.

However, Venezuela had claimed, in a letter to the World Court, that the Secretary General exceeded his authority under the Geneva Agreement, and therefore, the Court lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate the lawsuit filed by Guyana.

(Jarrell Bryan)

he Public Health Ministry is working to locate and ascertain all the persons who would have been exposed to the novel coronavirus after coming into contact with the 52-year-old woman of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD), who died on Wednesday last.

Just a few days after the woman died, her husband, child and a close relative have all tested positive for the virus.

Despite the warning against public interactions, scores of people attended a wake held for the deceased at her Good Hope, East Coast Demerara home on Thursday last.

But persons were still in disbelief that the woman died of the coronavirus and went “to investigate whether the claims were correct.”

In fact, one young lady after the visit stated that “I didn’t want no hearsay, I wanted first-hand info.

Every member of the family was there along with neighbours and other relatives.

The daughter of the deceased said to me that nothing that the Ministry said on national television was true,” a young lady stated in a Facebook post after visiting the family.”

Last week, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Shamdeo Persaud stated that the

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud

Ministry is currently tracking down everyone that came into contact with the woman.

“We have started from the flight. Everyone who was on that aircraft, we know it wasn’t a full flight. We are making an effort with Customs Immigration who would have other contact information to make contact with all those persons,” the CMO had stated.

He further added that “we have continued the screening at the port, we at up to 120 persons so far.

We are taking their temperature and an information card, so if they do develop, we would really like to encourage to take a few mo-

ments and read through the information we are giving.

It can be life-saving for you and all your loved ones.”

Deputy Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Karen Boyle when contacted on Monday stated that as many as 200 persons could have been exposed to the woman, but the Ministry is still trying to confirm the identities of those persons.

“All the places we know she went to, the hospital, the taxi, the airport, the passengers, the family, the wake and so on.”

She noted that the laws of Guyana provide for anyone to be held accountable if they do not comply with the Ministry’s steps to stop the spread of the virus.

On Monday the Public Health Ministry issued a statement to passengers of the Caribbean Airlines flight BW 727 on March 12, 2020, from JFK, New York, to CJIA, Guyana, to call 592-624-6674 for urgent information.

The coronavirus has since left more than 4200 people dead and another 118,000 infected across the world.

Local health authorities have advised that if anyone is experiencing symptoms of coronavirus, they should contact the hotline on 2274986 ext 215 or 624-3067 and a team would be sent to their location.

Courts in Coronavirus: What are social distancing and self-isolation?

Essequibo closed until March 23

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Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court

I

n light of the COVID-19 threats, the Essequibo High Court, Suddie and Anna Regina Magistrates’ Courts will be closed with immediate effect and will be reopened on Monday, March 23, 2020.

In a release to the media, the Office of the Chancellor of the Judiciary stated that the decision was taken due to the possible exposure of a staff member to the coronavirus.

“These Courts will be fumigated and the Supreme Court protocols in relation to continued sanitisation and the Court’s response to the virus will be followed scrupulously,” the release added.

It further stated that constant review and assessment of the situation will be undertaken and court users will be provided updates. The Supreme Court of Judicature regrets any inconvenience the closure will cause.

ersons have been asked to stop non-essential contact with other people and avoid all unnecessary travel.

This is known as social distancing.

It follows people with flulike symptoms being asked to self-isolate at home, to avoid infecting others.

So, what do you need to know about social distancing and self-isolation?

What is social distancing?

Social distancing means trying to avoid contact with other people, staying at least three feet (one metre) away.

It means spending less time in public places, where a lot of people are around.

Some Governments have urged: People start working from home wherever possible

All unnecessary travel stop Pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues be avoided Anyone living with someone who has a cough or a temperature to stay at home for 14 days Special measures for people in at-risk groups to stay at home for 12 weeks. This affects pregnant women, people aged over 70 and those with underlying health conditions.

What is self-isolating?

Self-isolating means cutting yourself off from the rest of the world.

From now on, if one person in a household starts to display flu-like symptoms – defined as a fever of above 37.8C or a persistent cough – everyone living there must stay at home for 14 days.

That meant avoiding leaving

the house “even to buy food or essentials”; people could go out to do exercise, but only at a safe distance from others.

The person with the symptoms should stay in a well-ventilated room with a window that can be opened, and keep away from other people in the home.

They should ask for help for groceries, other shopping or medication, which can be dropped off on the doorstep by friends, family or delivery drivers.

The COVID-19 disease can cause a fever, cough and breathing problems. It takes five days on average for people to start showing the symptoms.

What if someone self-isolating shares a home?

If someone is self-isolating and shares a kitchen, they should try to avoid using it when other people are there and take meals back to their room to eat.

Clean all the surfaces at home with household cleaning prod-

ucts daily.

Although they might not be able to entirely separate themselves from family members or flatmates, the advice is to limit contact as much as possible.

If possible, stay at least two metres (six feet) from other people they live with and sleep alone. Keep away from vulnerable people.

People living with someone in isolation should wash their hands often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds – especially after coming into contact with them.

Other people shouldn’t share towels, toiletries or other household items with someone in isolation, who should have a separate bathroom. If that is not possible, the isolated person should use the bathroom last, cleaning it thoroughly afterwards if they are able.

Any rubbish that the isolated person has been in contact with should be double-bagged and kept. (Excerpt from BBC News)

16

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020

Regional

T&T shuts down borders, bars to be closed

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rinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley has announced that the country’s borders will be locked down to all outsiders for the next 14 days.

Dr Rowley made the announcement at a news conference at the Diplomatic Centre Monday morning following a special Cabinet meeting.

“Cabinet met this morning and has taken the decision that Trinidad and Tobago will cease to encourage and facilitate for the next 14 days, entry into this country except for people who are nationals of Trinidad and Tobago,” Dr Rowley said.

He made it clear that only nationals of this country will be allowed in.

Dr Rowley said that exemptions would be given to health workers who may need to enter the country.

“Other than that, we are basically disconnecting ourselves from the international community for the next 14 days,” he said.

He added that this would have significant ramifications for the national air-

El Salvador suspends flights, accuses Mexico of letting coronavirus patients board plane

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resident Nayib Bukele suspended passenger flights to El Salvador on Monday after accusing Mexico of allowing a dozen people with coronavirus to board a flight to San Salvador, an assertion quickly questioned by Mexico’s Government.

Bukele did not provide evidence for the claim, which he made on Twitter.

He described Mexican authorities as “irresponsible”.

“No passenger plane can

land on Salvadoran soil,” Bukele said. “Planes en route should change their flight plans.”

Mexico’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Latin America, Maximiliano Reyes, responded to the tweets by asking that Bukele reveal the source of his information and describing Mexico as a pioneer in handling epidemics.

Bukele said the people with coronavirus were set to fly on an Avianca flight leav-

ing Mexico City at 16:00h local time on Monday.

Avianca later said it had cancelled the flight and the passengers had not boarded, and were being informed of the cancellation.

Bukele said the Government was working on a new set of protocols to allow flights to resume through San Salvador airport, which is a connection point for flights to other Central American countries.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazil’s Foreign Trade Secretary says he has coronavirus Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley addresses the media after a Special Cabinet Meeting on Monday (Abraham Diaz photo)

line, Caribbean Airlines.

He said the Government would look at the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund to help sustain the country, but added that “the health and safety of the citizens of our country is priority number one”.

“We have to isolate ourselves from the supply, the source of the virus outside of Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.

“We are in a crisis. We

are in an emergency. There is no game saying that,” he said.

He said there were currently 75 elderly citizens in the Caribbean who were trying to come home and would be allowed to do so.

Locally, the Prime Minister added that all bars will be closed within T&T. He said the Government was also advising against all gatherings beyond 25 persons.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

B

razilian Foreign Trade Secretary Marcos Troyjo, who was part of the Brazilian delegation that recently visited Florida, has tested positive for coronavirus, his office said in a statement on Monday.

Troyjo, who is Brazil’s Deputy Economy

Minister, was in Miami for meetings, but did not attend a dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump nine days ago for Brazilian Government leaders. He is showing no symptoms and is working from his home in strict isolation, the statement said. (Reuters)

Military roadblocks, curfews: Latin America tightens coronavirus controls

Jamaican Govt announces new measures to stop spread of COVID-19

J

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness

amaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced new measures in wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in Jamaica.

Holness told a media briefing Monday evening

that he was exercising his powers under the Disaster Risk Management Act. All the measures will be for seven days, effective Wednesday, March 18, and will be reviewed after five days to make a determina-

tion whether there is need for escalation, Holness said.

These are that: All travellers from countries where there is local transmission of COVID-19 will now be required to self-quarantine for up to 14 days.

Government will institute a new policy requiring that all non-essential work be done from home or remotely in both the Public and Private Sectors. “We’re now formally requiring the Private Sector to do this,” Holness said.

Hospital visits are now reduced to once per day, and to one person, and outpatient clinics are to be scaled down. (Jamaica Observer)

St Vincent places Trinidad resident under quarantine

P

rime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said that a Nigeria-born Trinidad and Tobago resident had been placed under quarantine there after his arrival in St Vincent and the Grenadines from Guyana led to the closure of the domestic terminal of the Argyle International Airport (AIA) and the airline, LIAT, grounded for several hours.

Gonsalves, speaking on a radio programme, said that Port of Spain had initially said that it would not allow the LIAT aircraft to land or the man to deplane.

He said that the man, who is married to a Trinidad and Tobago national, was also turned away from a number of hotels before one decided to allow him to complete his quarantine at its facilities.

Earlier reports said that the man had left Guyana after having only been in quarantine for seven of the mandatory 14 days after he tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Gonsalves, who detailed the incident as he updated the nation on his Government’s plans to deal with the virus, said that he

was prepared to make his private home available for housing the man, if hotel accommodation had not been secured.

Gonsalves said that apparently, the Trinidadbased Caribbean Airlines (CAL), which had flown the man to Guyana, had identified him “as somebody whom they will have to watch because he came in on the flight, went to the Guyanese authority and he attempted to leave the night before the last (Friday night) from Guyana on CAL”. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Stranded migrants, mostly from Venezuela, are pictured at Rumichaca International Bridge between Colombia and Ecuador, after Ecuador’s Government closed its borders to all foreign travellers due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Tulcan, Ecuador, March 16, 2020

C

ountries around Latin America tightened restrictions on Monday to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, with Peru deploying military personnel on the streets, Costa Rica closing borders and Paraguay imposing a curfew.

The Region has yet to be hit as hard as Asia or Europe, and countries have moved aggressively to contain the virus that has shut down cities and international transport hubs and battered markets.

Nevertheless, not all of them are moving at the same speed, and a diplomatic tiff erupted when El Salvador’s President accused Mexico of allowing people with coronavirus to board a flight due to leave Mexico City for San Salvador.

In Peru, President Martin Vizcarra said leaders from Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil spoke via conference call on Monday to analyse the situation and coordinate actions against the pandemic.

“We have agreed that together we are going to join forces,” he told reporters at the governmental palace, adding countries would look to coordinate demand for medical supplies and to calculate the economic impact on the Region.

In Lima, masked military personnel blocked major roads, while Police restricted the movement of people, as the country rolled out a state of enforced “social isolation”.

Peru has suspended constitutional rights such as free movement and assembly, though the Government has assured it will guarantee the operation of supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, basic services and the transport of merchandise.

In nearby Paraguay, which has eight cases of the respiratory disease so far, the Government said it would enforce a curfew from 20:00h daily to restrict crowds.

Certain people, including those doing vital work, delivering food or transportation could continue to move around, Paraguay’s Interior Minister Euclides Acevedo told a news conference.

Meanwhile Panama’s Government said it had now reported 69 cases of coronavirus infection, up from 55 on Sunday.

Coronavirus has been slower to reach Latin America than much of the world. Some countries, including Mexico, have sought to minimise public disruptions. Others such as El Salvador have gone to considerable lengths to keep the virus out.

Venezuela entered the

first day of a quarantine on Monday, imposed by President Nicolás Maduro to stop the virus.

Chile cut interest rates to aid growth, while LATAM Airlines Group, South America’s largest carrier, cut 90 per cent of international flights due to weak demand.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said his country, which has 155 confirmed coronavirus cases, would close its borders to foreigners starting on Wednesday.

Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado declared a state of emergency that included shutting borders, and ordered educational authorities to close study centres for a month.

Guatemala suspended all flights and banned foreigners from entering the country for two weeks, while Honduras was in a state of near lockdown.

Honduras suspended various constitutional rights for a week, including freedom of movement, speech and assembly.

Separately, fast food chain McDonald’s Corp said on Twitter it was shutting its stores in Guatemala and El Salvador until further notice, appending a message in Spanish: “Stay at home”.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

OILNEWS Oil slumps below US$30 a barrel as coronavirus spreads, OPEC rancour remains elevated

O

il prices fell below US$30 a barrel on Monday after the worldwide coronavirus outbreak worsened over the weekend, exacerbating fears that Government lockdowns to contain the spread of the disease would spark a global recession.

Saudi Aramco reiterated plans to boost output to record levels to boost its share of the global market. Top global oil producers Saudi Arabia and Russia started a price war after failing to agree on a plan to curb supply as the global economic slowdown destroys oil demand.

The coming flood of supply from Saudi Arabia and other producers could result in the largest surplus of crude in history, said global information provider IHS Markit.

Brent crude LCOc1 settled down US$3.80, or 11.2 per cent, at US$30.05 a barrel. The international benchmark fell as low as US$29.52 a barrel, its lowest since January 2016.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 fell US$3.03, or 9.6 per cent, to end at US$28.70 a barrel, its lowest since February 2016.

Saudi Aramco is likely to sustain higher oil output in May, Chief Executive Amin Nasser said, signalling the top oilproducing company is prepared to live with low prices for a while.

The coronavirus outbreak, which has infected at least 174,000 people and killed around 6700, already has caused oil prices to plummet by 50 per cent this year. Many forecasters have lowered estimates on crude demand, as the virus disrupts business activity, travel and daily life.

With Saudi Arabia and Russia pledging to boost production, IHS Markit estimates that oversupply of oil could come to 800 million to 1.3 billion barrels — double or triple what existed in late 2015 to early 2016, when the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries pumped more oil to combat the growing US shale industry.

“The last time that there was a global surplus of this magnitude was never. Prior to this, the largest six-month global surplus this century was 360 million barrels. What is coming will be twice that or more,” said Jim Burkhard, Vice President and Head of Oil Markets at IHS Markit.

An OPEC and non-OPEC technical meeting planned for Wednesday in Vienna has been called off as attempts to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Russia made no progress, sources said.

Central banks globally took action over the weekend to try to quell economic fallout of the pandemic, but the measures did little to strengthen stock markets in freefall, as investors anticipate a sharp contraction in demand in coming weeks anyway.

The US Federal Reserve on Sunday slashed its key rate to near zero, triggering an unscheduled rate cut by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to a record low as markets in Asia opened for trading this week.

The Bank of Japan later stepped in by easing monetary policy further, while Gulf central banks also cut interest rates.

In China, where the virus began, daily refinery throughputs dropped 4.8 per cent in the first two months of the year, sliding to the lowest level since December 2018, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Monday.

Brent’s premium to WTI CL-LCO1=R narrowed to less than US$1 during Monday’s session, falling to its lowest since 2016, making US crude oil uncompetitive in international markets.

Numerous US oil companies have swiftly cut spending, with analysts anticipating consolidation or restructurings. US crude output has grown in recent years to nearly 13 million bpd, making it the world’s largest producer.

“Some of them (US shale oil companies) may not survive prolonged low oil prices, and in this event, US production would decrease. Less crude availability in the US is likely to reduce the WTI discount to Brent,” Societe Generale analysts in a note to clients.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday Washington would take advantage of low oil prices and fill the US emergency crude oil reserve. The move is aimed to help energy producers struggling from the price plunge.

The United States could begin purchasing domestically produced crude oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as soon as two weeks from now, and fill it in several months, an Energy Department source said on Monday. However, the purchases are not seen as likely to offset the drop in demand nor the increase in supply, Energy Aspects said in a note. (Excerpt from Reuters)

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020

17

Around the World

Coronavirus vaccine test opens as US volunteer gets 1st shot

U

S researchers gave the first shot to the first person in a test of an experimental coronavirus vaccine on Monday leading off a worldwide hunt for protection even as the pandemic surges.

With a careful jab in a healthy volunteer's arm, scientists at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Research Institute in Seattle begin an anxiously awaited first-stage study of a potential COVID-19 vaccine developed in record time after the new virus exploded from China and fanned across the globe.

"We're team coronavirus now," Kaiser Permanente study leader Dr Lisa Jackson said on the eve of the experiment. "Everyone wants to do

Employee Philipp Hoffmann, of German biopharmaceutical company CureVac, demonstrates research workflow on a vaccine for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a laboratory in Tuebingen, Germany, March 12, 2020. Picture taken on March 12, 2020 [Andreas Gebert/Reuters]

what they can in this emergency."

The Associated Press news agency watched as the study's first participant, an operations manager at a

small tech company, received the injection inside an exam room. Several others were next in line for a test that will ultimately give 45 volunteers two doses, a month apart.

"We all feel so helpless.

This is an amazing opportunity for me to do something," said Jennifer Haller, 43, of Seattle.

She's the mother of two teenagers and "they think it's cool" that she's taking part in the study.

Monday's milestone marked just the beginning of a series of studies in people needed to prove whether the shots are safe and could work. Even if the research goes well, a vaccine would not be available for widespread use for 12 to 18 months, said Dr Anthony Fauci of the US National Institutes of Health.

That is still important if the virus becomes a longterm threat. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Make us ventilators to fight coronavirus, UK asks Ford and Rolls Royce

B

ritain has asked manufacturers including Ford, Honda and Rolls Royce to help make health equipment including ventilators to cope with the coronavirus outbreak and will look at using hotels as hospitals.

Britain, which has reported 55 coronavirus deaths and 1543 cases, on Monday announced it was ramping up its battle against the coronavirus outbreak, shutting down social life and ordering the most vulnerable to isolate themselves for 12 weeks.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to more than 60 manufacturing businesses and organisations to ask them to help step up the production of “vital medical equipment” such as ventilators for the National Health Service, a spokeswoman for his Downing Street office said.

“The Prime Minister

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a news conference addressing the Government's response to the coronavirus outbreak, at Downing Street in London, Britain, March 12, 2020

made clear that responding to coronavirus and reducing the spread of the peak requires a national effort,” the spokeswoman said.

“He asked manufactur-

ers to rise to this immediate challenge by offering skills and expertise as well as manufacturing the components themselves.

Businesses can get involved

in any part of the process: design, procurement, assembly, testing, and shipping.”

Hotels will be used as emergency hospitals, retired doctors are being asked to come back to work and some elective surgery is being cancelled.

Many countries are trying to buy ventilators, used to keep people with coronavirus alive if they struggle to breathe.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there had been an enthusiastic response to the call for ventilator production.

It was, though, not immediately clear how a manufacturer of jet engines or cars could turn to producing specialist medical equipment, which international parts would be needed or what certification would be required. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Satoshi Uematsu: Japanese man who killed 19 disabled people sentenced to death

A

Japanese man has been sentenced to death for a stabbing rampage in 2016 which resulted in the death of 19 disabled people at a care home.

Satoshi Uematsu said people with disabilities who were unable to communicate well had no human rights, said broadcaster Kyodo.

The 30-year old had once worked in the care facility, located near Tokyo.

The Yokohama District Court on Monday ordered him to death by hanging.

Uematsu previously said he did not plan to appeal against any verdict or sentence.

During the trial earlier this year, the former em-

Satoshi Uematsu when he was detained in 2016

ployee of the Sagamihara care home did not dispute that he stabbed his victims.

But his defence team pleaded not guilty, citing their client's mental state.

They said he had been under the influence of drugs at the time.

Prosecutors though in-

sisted Uematsu was mentally competent and that the rampage was "inhumane" and left "no room for leniency".

On 26 July 2016, Uematsu drove to the Tsukui Yamayuri-en care facility outside of Tokyo, armed with several knives.

He entered one of the buildings by breaking a window and began attacking sleeping residents one by one in their rooms, according to the prosecution.

His 19 victims were aged between 19 and 70, according to Japanese news agency Kyodo. Another 25 people were wounded, 20 of them seriously.

Soon after the attack, Uematsu handed himself in at a police station.

It later emerged that a few months before the attack Uematsu had taken a letter to Japan's Parliament saying he would kill 470 severely disabled people if authorised. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

DILBERT

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

PEANUTS

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Think big and follow through with your plans.

Get whatever concerns you out of the way. Your effort will be impressive and will draw the help you need to exceed your expectations.

Easy does it. Be careful what you say and whom you trust. Look at your options and make a change that encourages professional, personal and financial success.

You’ll have more choices than anticipated. Refuse to let the number of options confuse you. Take a systematic approach to help you finetune an important decision.

Seek out what will bring you the greatest happiness.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Be honest with yourself and others to avoid walking down the wrong path. Just because something works for someone else doesn’t mean that it’s right for you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

If you network, you will make a connection with someone who interests you personally or professionally.

A trip or educational pursuit will give you a more extensive range of options.

LIBRA

Forget about your worries and do something with someone who makes you smile. Reminding yourself of all that you have will help you rethink how you want to move forward.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Look at the facts. Don’t get upset over something you cannot change. Either prepare to stand up and fight for what you want or get out of the line of fire.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Put your creative ideas and talents to the test.

Discuss an innovative partnership in detail. Draw up an agreement that will seamlessly blend what you and your partner have to offer.

Pick up skills that will SAGITTARIUS help you follow a path that (Nov. 23excites you. Don’t limit yourDec. 21) self just because someone is not in favor of the changes you want to pursue.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Don’t be so hard on yourself. If you stand up for your beliefs and do what you feel most comfortable doing, you will excel. An idea you have is worth fleshing out.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

Discretion will be required to avoid interference.

An authority figure may pose a problem for you if you don’t abide by the rules.

Don’t take a risk.

SOLUTION FOR YESTERDAY’S PUZZLE

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Take advantage of a financial opportunity that offers greater security. Someone from your past will be a stepping stone to a brighter future. Personal improvements will boost your ego.

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020

19

Coronavirus: Champions League and Europa League could be decided by mini-tournament

A

mini-tournament to decide the Champions League and Europa League will be one option put forward to ease fixture congestion caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

European football’s governing body, Uefa, is hosting a video conference with major stakeholders on Tuesday.

Euro 2020 is set to be postponed to allow league seasons to be completed.

A source close to the situation says all parties must be ready to sacrifice something to reach a solution.

All 55 Uefa members, the boards of the European Club Association and the European Leagues, and a representative of world players’ union Fifpro have been invited to Tuesday’s meeting.

The Uefa members will also hold an additional meeting to discuss their own reaction.

All Uefa competitions, including Champions League and Europa League, postponed

Euro 2020, scheduled to take place at 12 venues across Europe this summer, could be postponed to give European leagues time to complete their domestic seasons

How would a mini-tournament work?

As with the Premier League, who on Friday stressed their commitment to completing the season, Uefa wants the Champions League and Europa League to reach a conclusion because they also have major broadcasting contracts to satisfy.

Both tournaments are at their

Coronavirus: Team member of Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli tests positive

A

member of tyre supplier Pirelli’s Formula 1 team has tested positive for coronavirus in Melbourne.

It is the second positive test by an F1 team member, after a McLaren employee’s illness led to the cancellation of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Pirelli said the person is “following all the relevant procedures put in place by the health authorities”.

They had “not had any contact with third parties that required anyone else to take special preventative measures”.

Pirelli added it was “closely monitoring the situation in line with public health

policies and company guidelines”.

The coronavirus has caused havoc at the start of the F1 season, with the first four races in Australia, Bahrain, Vietnam and China all postponed.

The scheduled fifth and sixth races in the Netherlands and Spain, on 3 and 10 May, are set to be officially called off in the coming days.

F1 has said it hopes to start the season in Europe at the end of May, but it is working through a series of contingency plans that are all dependent on the development of coronavirus worldwide. (BBC Sport)

last-16 stage, with six matchdays remaining, including the final. There are still 14 last-16 ties across the two competitions to be completed.

Playing the quarter-finals and semi-finals as one-off games would cut two fixtures off the remaining schedule.

Playing them over a handful of days as a mini-tournament - in

Istanbul and Gdansk, host cities for this season’s finals - would concentrate the matches even further, cutting down on travelling and cause the least disruption to the domestic leagues.

It has not been ruled out these games could be played in conjunction with league matches - nor does the Champions League final have to mark the end of the club campaign as tradition dictates.

Moving Euro 2020, due to take place at venues across Europe from 12 June to 12 July, to next summer would also free up more time to complete domestic and European fixtures.

However, that would then impact on next year’s calendar.

Both the Women’s European Championship, hosted by England, and the men’s European Under-21 Championship, in Hungary and Slovenia, are scheduled for the summer of 2021. The Nations League, the draw for which was held earlier in March, is due to be completed next spring.

In addition, the first edition of the expanded Fifa Club World Cup is set to be held in China in June.

While the big domestic leagues have problems over television contracts to solve if games do not take place, most countries rely on the payments from Uefa that come out of major international tournaments to allow their own leagues to function properly. These would be at risk from any movement of the European Championship and are likely to form part of any agreement.

Uefa has an estimated 400 staff working on the Euros. It is unknown what will happen to them if the tournament does not take place for another 12 months.

The situation is not made any easier by not knowing when football will be able to resume.

Uefa accepts it is impossible to know when current travel restrictions will be lifted, but it cannot wait until they are to draft a plan.

(BBC Sport)

NBA hiatus could be 3 months plus T

he NBA’s season — on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic — could be suspended for at least three months, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday night.

Per the report, owners and executives are bracing for the possibility of mid-to-late June — a time when, in a normal year, the NBA Finals would typically be over — being the best-case scenario for play to resume.

When the season was suspended on Wednesday night, about a month’s worth of regular-season games remained. The postseason typically runs from midApril through early-to-mid June.

Wojnarowski reports fears exist that the season might not resume, but the league is considering a variety of creative options for a possible return. With the CDC recommending on Sunday that gatherings of 50 or more people should be avoided for the next eight weeks, one plan could involve a return without fans at games, perhaps even playing games in smaller venues like team practice facilities and a different television experience.

The report adds that teams are exploring the availability of venues through August for the playoffs, and that a financial report is expected to be presented to owners soon. That report would include projections on expected revenue that would be lost if canceling the rest of the season, resuming at some point without fans or holding the playoffs without fans.

Meanwhile, The Athletic reports the league has informed teams that players can begin traveling outside of their home market beginning Monday, with the requirements t h a t they provide their whereabouts, remain at home and practice social distancing.

According to a separate ESPN report, the league extended its ban on team practices indefinitely, though players remain allowed to work out at team facilities on their

own.

Earlier Sunday, ESPN reported that the G League, the NBA’s minor-league system, is expected to have the remainder of its season canceled.

The NBA was the first major sports league in America to suspend its season, doing so Wednesday after news emerged of Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert’s positive test for the virus. All other leagues in the U.S. have quickly followed suit. (Reuters)

Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitch drives to the basket against Houston Rockets’ James Harden (USA Today Sports)

20

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Coronavirus: Over-50s World Cup cancelled over demographics concerns T

he Over-50s World Cup has been called off into its third round after the tournament’s medical committee said “it is a public health risk decision” in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that is sweeping the world.

“The decision was taken for the protection of the players, given their age demographic, but also for the local population given that 95% of known cases in South African have come from travellers,” Dr Parag Pandya, the head of the medical committee of the tournament, said. The coronavirus’ fatality rate is highest among older adults, especially those above the age of 50.

A Cricket South Africa release said the decision was made when the third round of matches were ongoing, and the matches were abandoned after the first innings.

The release also stated that seven off the 11 visiting teams have been staying in the same Cape Town hotel and appropriate precautions have been taken. They will remain there until further arrangements are made.

CSK suspend practice, players sent home

Chennai Super Kings have suspended their practice and their players are set to return home, joining the rest of the cricket world

as they take precautions against the spread of the coronavirus. The three-time IPL champions have been training for the upcoming season since the start of March.

But with the severity of the outbreak growing, and with the

BCCI postponi n g t h e tournament itself to April 15, the Super Kings wrapped up their camp on Saturday even though it was only due to end on March 19.

Ironically, just as people are being advised not to gather together in large groups, the three stands in Chepauk that have been sealed for the past eight years are open for use again.

Ramaphosa declared a state of disaster of Sunday. Widespread measures across the country, which include a travel ban on people from highrisk areas, and a prohibition of gatherings of over 100 people, have now halted sporting events, with the Premier Soccer League, Super Rugby

and the T w o Oceans Marathon also suspended.

That means the ongoing franchise one-d a y c u p competitions

CSA suspends all cricket

Cricket South Africa has suspended all cricket, professional and amateur, for the next 60 days after the country’s president Cyril

Chris Lynn

semi-finals and final, which were due to take place this week, will not be played; neither will the final two rounds of the firstclass competition, scheduled to run from late

as well as amateur cricket such as club fixtures. In Cape Town, the Western Province Cricket Association office has been closed until further notice and the over50s World Cup called off. South Africa men’s ODI trip to India was postponed after just one match and they return home on Wednesday morning while the women’s side’s series against Australia, due to take place this month, has also been put back.

M a r c h into early April. CSA has yet to announce whether they will declare a winner for ei-

ther.

The Dolphins are atop the oneday cup table with seven wins from their 10 round-robin matches and were due to play the Warriors in the first semi-final, with the second-placed Lions scheduled to play the Knights. Those matches will not take place. In the first-class competition, thought to be particularly important as South Africa look to name a new Test captain following Faf du Plessis’ stepping down, the Lions lead the pack.

Semi-professional cricket, including the three-day first-class competition and provincial oneday cup, which are both at their closing stages, has been stopped

Lynn leaves PSL

Shortly after his matchwinning century for Lahore Qalandars, Chris Lynn said he was heading back to Australia and would miss the knockouts. On Sunday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced enhanced restrictions on all international travellers entering the country with them required to self-isolate for 14 days.

In an Instagram post, Lynn wrote: “Thoroughly enjoyed my time at the @thepsl unfortunately in these circumstances I’ve chosen to head home, I’ve always said there is more to life than cricket and this is certainly one of these cases. I have full faith in the @lahoreqalandars to go all the way but more importantly have fun lads! Thank you to everyone involved, Pakistan you have been a blast.” (ESPNcricinfo)

Olympic boxing qualifier goes ahead despite coronavirus fears O

lympic boxing qualifiers for fighters from Europe were taking place in London on Monday behind closed doors despite mounting concerns over coronavirus and enormous disruption across the

world of sport.

The Boxing Road to Tokyo event in London started on Saturday in front of paying spectators at the Copper Box Arena and is due to run until March 24.

It features around 350 male and female boxers from dozens of nations and is the first opportunity for boxers from Europe to qualify for Tokyo 2020.

The IOC Boxing Task Force, in a statement on Sunday, said the rest of the event, from Monday, would take behind closed doors “due to the changing situation with coronavirus and concerns for public, athlete and

volunteer welfare”.

Shortly before that decision, the head of European boxing told the BBC he was “very concerned” that the event was taking place.

European Boxing Confederation (EUBC) president Franco Falcinelli said he feared the risk of a boxer getting the virus was “very high”.

“In my opinion it’s very strange

that England -- and the competition -- is open at this hard time,” he said.

Falcinelli also said he was concerned that the athletes could struggle to return home because of flight restrictions.

Britain’s death toll from COVID-19 rose on Sunday to 35. Official figures showed the country has recorded 1,372 confirmed cases.

Organisers of the boxing qualifiers said before the event started that measures had been put in place to protect competitors.

“All of the teams have been told to adopt regular handwashing,” they said in a statement.

“If any of their group begins to exhibit cold or flu symptoms they are advised to self-isolate, stay indoors, avoid contact with other people and contact the LOC’s (local organising committee’s) chief medical officer.”

Additional measures include routine temperature testing as part of daily medicals.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday said the country would host the Tokyo Olympics, due to start on July 24, as planned.

(Hindustan Times)

O

Cyclists wearing face masks with the Tokyo Olympic logo in the background

lympic Games organisers will meet via teleconference on Tuesday to discuss the latest coronavirus developments and the impact on the 2020 Tokyo Games.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will talk with international sports federations - a second executive board meeting in the last two weeks.

On Saturday, Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the Olympics will go ahead from 24 July to 9 August.

The Japan section of the Olympic Torch relay is due to start on 26 March.

The main focus of the meeting is to discuss disruption to

qualifying events for the Games.

The coronavirus pandemic has wiped out most of the world’s major sporting events as authorities seek to limit the spread of the virus.

The recent torch-lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia was held without spectators, before the rest of the relay in Greece was suspended to avoid attracting large crowds.

Several Olympic trials events in the United States have been postponed, including wrestling, rowing and diving.

The boxing events in London are going as scheduled, but behind closed doors. (BBC Sport)

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21

Coronavirus: Carifta suspended

T

wo days after the local organising committee said it was going ahead with the April 10-13 staging of the 2020 Carifta Games, the event has been suspended. A letter from the head of the regional track and field federation has explained that the meet has been postponed as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus.

The decision was made by the North American Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) federation, and the Bermuda National Athletics Association. In a letter to NACAC member countries, NACAC President Mike Sands wrote: “This decision was not taken lightly but in the best interest of all stakeholders against the backdrop of the rapidly evolving situation with regard to the COVID-19 across the globe and supported by the World Health Organisation declaring a global pandemic, which has led several countries, regardless of size, political ideology or wealth,

The medals for 2020 Carifta event winners were unveiled in September 2019

to close their borders, cease travel and stop mass gatherings.”

Future developments

Sands, a retired Bahamian 400-metre runner, left the door open for the Games to be contested at a later date. “Your NACAC Executive Board, in collaboration with the Bermuda National Athletics Association will continue to

monitor all future developments with the view of the Bermuda 2020 CARIFTA Games being placed back on the calendar at the earliest possible date shortly after an all clear is given to resume normalcy,” the letter continued.

Bermuda has the distinction of hosting the games in 2004 when Jamaica’s Usain Bolt set a world under-20 200 metres record of 19.93 seconds. The record still

stands today.

The Sands communique included advice to coaches and athletes. “With this in mind, I urge you to maintain your athletes fitness level for this eventuality.

You are also welcomed to make suggestions for alternative dates,” it concluded.

Jamaica topped the 2019 medal table last year. Competing in Grand Cayman, the Jamaicans won 85 medals, 36 gold, 33

silver, and 16 bronze. In addition, a dominant under-20 sprint double earned Jamaica’s Briana Williams the award for being the most outstanding athlete at the games.

In closing, Sands wrote: “In the meantime, I once again encourage you to please continue following the advisories from your respective health and governmental agencies in a collective effort to overcome this temporary setback.”

In comments reported on March 11, Donna Raynor, the head of the Bermuda track and field association, said, “Most of the athletes are coming in from the Caribbean and flying in on charters, not flying through the United States. That’s a good thing as so far we haven’t heard any incidents of the coronavirus in any of the Caribbean countries.”

Coronavirus cases have emerged in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Both countries staged their Carifta Trials last weekend.

(Jamaica Star)

Belle Vue defeat Eccles in T20 encounter I n the latest cricket action to have occurred in Demerara, a team from Belle Vue, West Bank Demerara defeated their counterparts from Eccles, East Bank Demerara in a T20 match played over the weekend at the Belle Vue Ground.

Witnessed by a fairly large crowd, Belle Vue dominated the proceedings to emerge winners of the match by 6 wickets.

Eccles won the toss and batted first, posting 163-7 in their 20 overs.

They were able to flex their muscles in the powerplay overs by scoring at an alarming rate. But after the fielding restrictions were lifted, Belle Vue came roaring back into the game, and picked up a few quick wickets to turn the game in their favour by controlling their opponents.

Ryan Singh (35), another R Singh (28), A Aaron (25), N Dhanraj

(24) and A Khan (23 not out) were top-scorers for Eccles; while the Belle Vue top bowlers were Randy Ramrup (3-24), Curt Kipp (2-42) and Ryan Seecharran (1-19).

Belle Vue, in reply, scored 1664 in 19.1 overs, thereby winning the match by 6 wickets with 5 balls to spare. The Eccles side were overwhelmed by the style of play the Belle Vue side employed, and were forced on the back foot as the Belle

Vue side freed their hands and scored runs that took the game away from them.

Ryan Seecharran (65 not out) was Belle Vue’s leading run-scorer, and he was supported by Krishna Singh with 41, Ajula Bowman with 14, Randy Ramrup with 12 not out, and Nicholas Rajpat with 11.

Eccles bowlers T George, N Dhanraj, A Roser and K Singh each bagged one wicket.

WDCA President’s T20 tourney…

Zeeburg vanquish La Grange – as Dhanpaul, Renee, Seepersaud turn in sterling performances

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ction continued in the West Demerara Cricket Association (WDCA) President’s T20 competition with Zeeburg Sports Club vanquishing their La Grange counterparts in a one-sided affair played over the weekend at the Canal #2 Ground, WBD. The combined efforts of Yutesh Dhanpaul, Ronaldo Renee and Andre Seepersaud earned Zeeburg the win by the commanding margin of 173 runs.

Zeeburg, having won the toss, elected to bat on a pitch where, in the past, they had scored countless runs and had maintained a reign of success. Their openers took to the crease and began an aerial assault on the weak La Grange bowling, smacking balls out of the ground with ease. The La Grange unit did not stand a chance, as Ronaldo Renee, continuing his fine form in the tournament, picked the gaps with consummate ease. A few wickets did fall, but this did not hamper the Zeeburg 1scoring rate.

At the end of their 20 overs, Zeeburg had posted 270 for 5, with Ronaldo Renee contributing 73 (7×6,3×4); Andre Seepersaud 51 (5×6,2×4); Yutesh “Avi” Dhanpaul 44 (2×6,7×4), and Malcom Hubbard 43 (4×6,3×4).

Needing a mammoth total of 271 for victory off 120 balls at a net run rate of 13.5 runs per over, La Grange faltered the entire match. With Zeeburg’s Dhanpaul being practically unplayable because of the turn and bounce he was extracting from the pitch, the La Grange team found themselves unable to fight their way out of this dilemma, especially as the run rate kept on climbing inexorably.

Eventually they capitulated under pressure, and were bowled out for 97 runs scored in 15.2 overs. Their top-scorers were J. Ramroop with 30 and J. Mohabir with 20.

Zeeburg bowler Yutesh “Avi” Dhanpaul bagging 4 for 13 with his off-spin, and medium-pacer Bisram Thomas bagged 2 for 20.

Zeeburg won the match by 173 runs.

Ronaldo Renee with 73; Yutesh Dhanpaul with 44 and 4 for 13; and Andre Seepersaud with 51 were instrumental in Zeeburg’s victory

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TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IKO Karate Academy

hosts 1st grading exercise Students of the Springlands Dojo with Shihan Jeffrey Wong, 7th Dan Black Belt, after the grading session last Sunday

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i t h t h e

grand launch of the International Karate Organization’s Karate Academy of Guyana taking place recently at the New Thriving Restaurant on Main Street, Georgetown, local karatekas have already begun to benefit from a much higher level of martial arts training in the country.

The branch of the IKO Karate Academy of Guyana that is located at Springlands, Corriverton, Upper Corentyne Berbice (Region 6), conducted in collaboration with the Radha Krishna Foundation and with more than 50 students who have been training for several months now, held its first grading examinations last Sunday. It was a very successful affair.

Speaking to the kara-

tekas, who were clearly exhausted after a gruelling grading session, the Chief Instructor and Vice Chief Instructor warned the students that, with the IKO Karate Academy, testing would not be a proverbial walk in the park, but students must first have gained the appropriate amount of continuous experience at their current rank, fulfill the certification requirements, and successfully complete the testing procedure before they are promoted.

There will be no undue haste to promote karatekas from one belt rank to another; there would rarely be the skipping of belts; and kyu rank examinations would be conducted every six months, rather than the three months allowed by some other karate schools.

For the Dan-grading sessions, traditional time requirements would be enforced, like a sixth dan having to wait seven years at sixth dan before being tested

for seventh dan ranking.

The world karate governing body is the International KarateDo Organization that is headquartered in Miami, Florida. It is headed by American Eighth Dan Black Belt Shihan Adrian Ellis, a seven time United States National Champion, World Champion, Gold Medallist in the Goodwill Games, and an inductee into the Hall of Fame; who has been involved in martial arts for over forty years, and has taken the decision to found a traditional Shotokan karate academy in Guyana to propagate the goals of Master Funakoshi, the father of modern karate.

Unlike many karate clubs and organizations which are currently operating locally with just one or two centrally located dojos -a situation which often forces their students to travel long distances in order to train, much to their incon-

venience -the International Karate Organization’s Karate Academy of Guyana has opted instead to take karate-do to the people, and shall be setting up multiple dojos in all ten regions of Guyana to make karate-do accessible to all Guyanese.

The dojo in Springlands is just one of several which would be established in Berbice in a relatively short span of time.

The IKO Karate Academy of Guyana has as its Chief Instructor and Chairman Seventh Degree Black Belt Shihan Jeffrey Wong, a respected and highly active Shotokan Karate practitioner and instructor

for more than fifty years. He is ably assisted by Professor Aubrey Mendonca, the Vice Chief Instructor and Vice Chairman.

Together, their plans for the new academy include having special ‘Kinder Karate’ classes that would focus on children between the ages of four and 12 years old; dedicated ‘Teen Karate’ classes that would cater for youths between the ages of 13 and 19; scheduled ‘Adult Karate’ classes for persons 20 years old and above; and specially arranged ‘Senior Karate’ training for mature persons who wish to become involved in, and benefit from, the fitness and self-defense advantages that participants derive from this combat sport.

Additionally, plans have been put in place to provide special corporate karate training to persons in the private and public sectors, and the expatriate community; training to schools countrywide, both

public and private, whereb y instructors would visit and conduct training at the schools’ facilities, since Karate-Do is a part of the syllabus of the Physical Education subject of the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council [CSEC]; and the academy would also be providing special training to schools and NGOs, including youth correctional facilities, orphanages etc.

Because Shihan Wong resides in Guyana, he intends to routinely visit all IKO Guyana Dojos and personally provide expert training to all karatekas, with the assistance of other skilled instructors attending each of the academies all year round, whilst Shihan Ellis shall be making consistent visits to the dojos in Guyana with the key objective being to sustain the high IKO standards throughout the entire local system.

WDCA Beacon Cafe 50 Overs competition…

Cornelia Ida defeat McGill Superstars to lift title T

he final match of the West Demerara Cricket Association (WDCA) Beacon Cafe 50 Overs Competition was contested between Mc Gill Superstars Sports Club and their Cornelia Ida Cricket Club (CICC) counterparts over the weekend.

Dubbed “The Battle of the Titans” because it involved two of the best teams on the West Bank of Demerara, this encounter was a thrilling matchup which eventually saw CICC winning by 3 wickets to take the trophy and bragging rights when the action culminated at the Wales CDC ground.

Having won the toss, CICC elected to bowl first in overcast conditions on a damp wicket.

Predictions were that the team batting first would go on to win the game, but a damp wicket was not factored into that equation. It was also expected that the CICC would struggle to cope without the services of their experienced captain Akshaya Persaud, who is cur-

The victorious CICC team

rently on duty with the Guyana Jaguars.

The CICC side, however, pre-

vailed against all those odds to pull off a stunning win against their much more experienced

counterparts. Utilizing the damp wicket to their advantage, they restricted Mc Gill to a paltry 97

all out in 37 overs by their practically unplayable deliveries bowled on a pitch that was unfavourable to batting from the get go.

Struggling to read the line and length of each delivery, Mc Gill failed to register 100 runs, Travis Persaud’s 22, Balram Aron’s 15, Troy Persaud’s 14 and Diquan Murray’s 12 being their best scorers.

Bowling for CICC, Muhammad Wazidali and Harry Bissondyal each took 3 wickets for 7 runs.

Needing a below-par target of 98 for victory, the CICC side initially struggled to read the deliveries bowled, but by a string of luck managed to put up a fight to scrape a win. CICC ended on 1007 made in 35.4 overs, with Vickash Dhaniram’s 25, Arshad Azim’s 27 and Richard Sukhdeo’s 15 all contributing to the win.

Bowling for Mc Gill, Diquan Murray returned figures of 2-20, Abdul Razack 2-21, Kheshram Seyhodan 1-9 and Sudesh Persaud 1-7.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020

AAG pulls off successful Early Season Classic

23

Running Brave, PPYC, GDF dominate

Adriel Austin bagged gold in the 400m and 800m races Story and Photos by Jemima Holmes

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ocal athletes were able to flex their muscles in spite of coronavirus restrictions when the final track event for the foreseeable future was contested over the weekend.

Despite the disappointment occasioned by cancellation of the CARIFTA Games lingering in the air, the nation’s junior athletes showed up at the National Track and Field facility at Leonora over the weekend, and posed stiff

Attoya Harvey cruised to the finish line in the 3000m event

challenges to the seniors during the Athletics Association of Guyana’s Early Season Classic.

The seniors and juniors were encouraged to compete in the same pool in order to develop the youngsters and acquaint them with tougher competition.

The female 100m dash was dominated by the experienced Running Brave Athletics Club (RBAC), which swept the podium and the top six spots. Ruth Sanmoogan came in first with a time of 12.02s, while Princess

Browne and Alisha Fortune clocked 12.30s and 12.41s for second and third respectively. Karese Lloyd, Shequita Marcus and Krystal Morris, all of the RBAC, occupied 4th to 6th positions.

Police Progressive Youth Club’s (PPYC’s) Hannah Reid shone in her pet event, the 200M race, clocking 25.14s for first place. The Guyana Defense Force pair of Euzeka Williams and Deborah Thorne were second and third with respective times of 24.23s and 25.58s.

In the male versions of

Coronavirus reaction…

NSC announces closure of public sports facilities

those events, Davin Fraser of the PPYC crossed the line on 10.26s to beat a field of experienced contenders in the 100m dash. His club mate Emmanuel Archibald was second on 10.32s, while GDF’s Akeem Stewart completed the podium with 10.42s.

Stewart improved his showing in the 200m event by clocking 21.03s for first place, while New Amsterdam’s Nicholas Denheart came in second with 21.98s, and PPYC’s Stephon Boodie was third with 22.05s.

Top female athlete Adriel Austin had a marvellous two days on the track, bagging gold in the 400m and 800m events. In the 400m event, this RBAC athlete clocked 56.61s for the win, finishing ahead of Deborah Thorne who clocked 1.01.47s for second.

And at dusk on Sunday, Austin won the 800m event by crossing the line ahead of Upper Demerara’s Tia Azore and GDF’s Maria (Chiney) Urquhart, who completed the podium.

Courtley Bobb of the PPYC was the man to beat in the male 400m event. He clocked a winning time of 48.64s to defeat Running Brave’s Daniel Benjamin (49.08s) and GDF’s Godwin Humphrey (49.63s) into respective second and third places.

GDF’s Devaun Barrington, who missed the podium in the 400m event, had his moment of redemption in the 800M race when he crossed the line in a winning time of 1.53.74s,

I

n its bid to combat the spread of the coronavirus, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has moved to close a handful of public sports facilities.

“Considering the presence of the COVID-19 virus within our country, the NSC hereby announces the immediate closure of all of its facilities for a period of two (2) weeks, to facilitate sanitation work.

The list of facilities includes Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, National Gymnasium, National Aquatic Centre, Colgrain Pool, National Racquet/Sports Resource Centre.

“This is in keeping with guidelines from the ministries of the Presidency and Public Health, since these facilities are generally under mass usage.

Any queries/concerns could be addressed by calling the office at Homestretch Avenue on 225-6340/225-3560 between the hours of 08:00 and noon.

“The Department regrets any inconvenience caused, but would like to thank the public for their support and understanding,” A statement from the National Sports Commission has advised.

while PPYC’s Courtley Bobb clocked 1.55.13 for second and GDF’s Marlon Nicholson was third with 1.56.03.

RBAC’s Attoya Harvey opted for one distance event and aced it, clocking 11.27.03 for the 3000m gold. Her clubmate Rosemond Harvey was second with 12.25.57.

Odida Parkinson contested the male 3000m event with the sole intention to better his timings, as he was the only contender. Parkinson clocked 10.39.79.

In the field events, Leslain Baird of the GDF kept his slate clean with a Javelin throw of 71.77m for the win. Running Brave’s Randy Hamilton and Upper Demerara’s Joshua Tappin were second and third with respective throws of 54.14m and 52.33m.

Emmanuel Archibald took

home the gold in his pet event, the long jump. He leapt 7.93m to defeat Tremaine Browne and Anthony Williams, whose leaps were measured at 7.80m and 7.64m to complete the podium.

Annalisa Barclay won the female long jump event with a leap of 5.65m. PPYC’s Odessa France leapt 4.87m for second while Savannah Adams leapt 4.86m for third.

Princess Browne of RBAC added a triple jump gold to her collection with a leap of 12.59m. Annalisa Barclay was close, but had to settle for second with 12.09m.

Shainana Liverpool, also hailing from Upper Demerara, leapt 11.26m for third.

GDF’s Virlyn Gibson, lone athlete in the high jump event, cleared the bar at 1.56m.

CWI/PCL 4-Day Championships…

Pride occupy pride of place

– after mauling Jaguars in 8th round

T

The National Aquatic Centre at Liliendaal, ECD

Devan Barrington crosses the line (Jemima Holmes photos)

The points’ standings following the eighth round

he Barbados Pride of young lions have decimated the brooding felines known as the Guyana Jaguars, five-time defending champions of the CWI/PCL 4-Day Championships.

The Pride have surged to 134.8 points to consolidate their position at the zenith of the Professional Cricket League 4-Day tournament’s points table, while the Jaguars have been left in the proverbial dust to lick their wounds and contemplate on what might have been had they put in a better performance.

Bagging 18.8 points from their eighth-round encounter with the Jaguars, the Pride have copped 12 match points for bowling out the home team twice: for 55 and 94; and have also secured 3 first innings’ bowling points, and 3.8 pace bowling points.

A commendable bowling performance on the Jaguars’ part ensured they would pick up the consolation of 3 first innings’ bowling points and 3 pace bowling points for a total allocation of 6 points.

The Jaguars now have 91.8 points.

The majestic win that the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force pulled off in the eighth round has propelled them to second place on the points’ table.

They obtained 12 match points, along with 5 batting points (maximum), 3 first innings bowling points, and 2.4 pace bowling points, for a 22.4 points’ boost. The

Red Force now sit in second place, with 94.6 points to their credit.

The losers in that match, the Windward Islands Volcanoes, bagged only 4.4 points and have slumped to fifth place, after holding the third position at the end of the 7th round.

The Jamaica Scorpions also scored big in the eighth round, copping 23.2 points through the masterclass performance of Jermaine Blackwood et al. They obtained 5 batting points, 3 first innings’ bowling points, 3.2 pace bowling points, and 12 match points for the win. They have thus rocketed to a third position tie with the Guyana Jaguars on 91.8 points.

The Leeward Islands Hurricanes have bagged 4.4 points, which did little to move them from the bottom of the points’ table.

While all regional cricket has been suspended because of fears regarding the coronavirus, the ninth round of the PCL 4-Day tournament will see the Guyana Jaguars taking on the Windward Island Volcanoes at the National Stadium at Providence, while the Jamaica Scorpions would go head-to-head with the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at Sabina Park in Jamaica, and the Barbados Pride will battle the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020

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

guyanatimesgy.com

AAG pulls off successful Early Season Classic

Page 23

Nine-man race! The start of the 800m male event (Jemima Holmes photo)

Running Brave, PPYC, GDF dominate Coronavirus reaction…

Page 23

NSC announces closure of public sports facilities

Page 23

CWI/PCL 4-Day Championships…

Pride occupy pride of place – after mauling Jaguars in 8th round

Coronavirus: Carifta suspended Page 21

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