Guyana_Chronicle_Epaper_05_15_2020

FRIDAY 15th May, 2020

'

‘Cheap No.106000

politics’

SEE PAGE 03

GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander

…Alexander dismisses PPP/C’s electoral fraud allegations

---threatens legal action against Jagdeo Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson and PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali in discussion at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre where the national recount is taking place (Carl Croker photo)

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‘Quarantine in private’

…govt partnering with two hotels to offer paid quarantine services …for persons who do not wish to be housed in state-run facilities PAGE

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More than 400 ballot boxes processed to date …water-logged box from Region One still to dry

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CXC firm on July for CSEC, CAPE …warns against creating uncertainty in minds of students

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 15, 2020

‘Quarantine in private’ …gov’t partnering with two hotels to offer paid quarantine services …for persons who wish not to be housed in state-run facilities

By Navendra Seoraj THE fear of discrimination and isolation has dissuaded persons from reaching out to the local health authorities, if they experience signs and symptoms of the deadly Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, but in an effort to eliminate this occurrence, the Ministry of Public Health has partnered with two hotels to offer persons, privacy. Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Boyle, said the ministry has partnered with two hotels to offer a paid service to persons, who wish to be quarantined in their own private space. “You can have all the amenities you would like,

but you must remain in the facility…please be advised that packages except cooked food, alcohol and drugs can be dropped off at the Civil Defence Commission and these will be delivered to the facility, free of cost, wherever you are,” said Dr. Boyle during a COVID-19 update on Wednesday. This new initiative is a part of an effort to ensure that the risk of transmission is reduced and even eliminated. This point was stressed by Dr. Boyle, who said the transmission of COVID-19 could only be reduced or stopped if health authorities are able to separate those who test positive, from those persons who are not infected. “So, we ask you to come

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Boyle

forward, get tested and help us in this fight...I am sure that some of you have fears about

quarantining and isolation but be assured that MoPH has set up these facilities bearing in mind that you are away from home and so is trying to make you feel as comfortable as possible,” said the DCMO. In addition to the paid facilities, there are existing quarantine facilities, which are available free of cost to persons. Persons, who are quarantined at these facilities get three square meals per day, which are prepared by a certified cook and team. There are also games, free Internet connection and television. Persons in quarantine also have access to telephone services to call friends and family. Additionally, there is a doctor and team on hand to care for and monitor persons twice daily, and to conduct tests to determine whether persons have underlying medical conditions. There are also psychosocial support sessions. Similar services are offered in the isolation facilities, which house persons, who would have tested positive for the disease. In addition to Internet access, three meals and televisions, persons have outdoor space to move around. “Now that you have had a peek at the quarantine and isolation facilities, I hope this will lessen your fear of coming forward to get tested and disclosing your contacts who should be tested. This selfless act of going into quarantine is a tangible way of taking charge and protecting your

loved ones,” Dr. Boyle advised. Public health authorities tested 32 persons over past 24 hours, but recorded no new case. Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, during his presentation on virtual seminar, however, said tests conducted by private institutions over the past 24 hours, revealed that there was one new case. This new case took the total to 114. Dr. Boyle, in her update, said health authorities have so far tested 1,052 persons, with 939 of those persons being negative. The fact remains that Guyana has lost 10 lives to the disease, and as it is now, three persons are battling for their lives in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Additionally, there are 61 persons in institutional isolation and five persons in quarantine. To date, 42 of total infected persons have recovered, but the rate of infection is also climbing consistently. And, health authorities plan to ramp up efforts to detect more cases of the disease. “As we expand our testing, please be reminded to make use of the mobile units that are available in some communities. For the weekend and the upcoming week, our focus for this activity will be in La Parfaite Harmony on the West Bank of Demerara and South Ruimveldt. Please refer to our Facebook page for a more detailed location of these units. “Those of you who have come forward to visit the locations in Herstelling and Paradise, I commend you for this brave effort. We are pleased to announce that very soon, residents of Regions Three and Six will have similar facilities available for their residents,” said Dr. Boyle. Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), however, remains the epicentre of the disease, and there are a number of communities, outside of Georgetown, which have recorded cases. Among communities on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) where cases were recorded are: Atlantic Gardens, Friendship, Golden Grove, Good Hope,

Lusignan, Plaisance, and Strathspey. Among communities on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) where there were cases are: Diamond, Grove, Land of Canaan, Providence, and Timehri. “There are mobile units, especially in the epicentre of this pandemic, that are visiting various communities; we need you to access these units. We continue to provide updated information through daily briefings and our communications campaign that is countrywide. We have an app for you to report to, as well as the hotlines,” said Dr. Boyle. The measures can continuously be implemented, but it is up to the individuals, that is the average Guyanese, to adhere to those measures and think seriously about flattening the curve (reducing the spread). The disease, however, remains a serious issue, not just in Guyana, but globally. And, according to global statistics, there are over 4.1 million cases of COVID-19, with over 287,000 deaths. And with no approved treatment or cure, there is no assurance that persons will survive after contracting the disease. In the absence of approved medications, governments and authorities across the world have employed a number of preventative measures to contain the spread of the disease. “We must reiterate that there is no approved treatment for COVID-19, however, clinical trials are being done at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where the most severe cases are being treated,” said Dr. Boyle. On a national front, government has extended its emergency measures to combat the dreaded disease, with the imposition of a 12-hour curfew on citizens. These emergency measures were taken pursuant to Paragraphs (1) and (2) (b) of the directive issued by the President, in accordance with the Public Health Ordinance, Cap. 145, and published in the Official Gazette, Legal Supplement B, on March 16, 2020. These measures have been extended to June 3, 2020.

‘Cheap politics’

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 15, 2020

…Alexander dismisses PPP/C’s electoral fraud allegations ---threatens legal action against Jagdeo

GUYANA Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner Vincent Alexander has stated that he is in consultation with his lawyers following the public accusations of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo that he is involved in electoral fraud. “Vincent Alexander is part of the plot to rig the elections. Vincent Alexander was one of the architects of the plot to rig the elections and it’s being unfolded now,” were the words of Jagdeo on Wednesday. Jagdeo had claimed that Region Four Returning Officer (RO), Clairmont Mingo’s second declaration was deemed fraudulent when, in fact, the High Court has ruled only on the first. While on the matter, he turned his attention to Alexander displeased that he had upheld this position on separate occasions. I CAN STAND UP TO SCRUTINY Asked to respond to the opposition leader’s comments on Thursday, Alexander said: “These are what I call cheap political points at this time and, given what Mr. Jagdeo said, I’m in the process of conferring with my lawyers.” He pointed out that it is ironic that a draft Order which came from Commissioner Sase Gunraj and which PPP/C executive Anil Nandlall claimed in public to be a draft Order coming from the PPP/C, acknowledges the existence of Mingo’s second declaration. “We have an Order which recognises the existence of that declaration and so, how could one singularly accuse Alexander when collectively the commission has embraced the Order in so far as putting it into a legal document recognising its existence,” Alexander

reasoned. Alexander defines fraud as an act of deception intend-

not actively involved in the political landscape and my job, as I understand it, is a

GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander

ed for personal and financial gain. He said that it is not his belief that any cmmissioner is in the position to commit electoral fraud as the directives of the Commission come out of their collective deliberation. The Commission is made up of three government-nominated and three opposition-nominated commissionersc along with the GECOM chair. “No individual there can take information and deceive and bring about a false understanding in the pursuit of personal gain and or financial gain,” he said. “I am quite certain that there is absolutely no personal gain to be derived by me, I am

constitutional officer to work towards the realisation of the Constitution.” Furthermore, the commissioner stated that he has served on the commission for 13 years and, prior to that, worked at the University of Guyana for 35 years and his reputation can withstand scrutiny. PAST ELECTORAL FRAUD He said that when it comes to actual electoral fraud, he believes that such has occurred in the past and the commission has avoided addressing these matters head on. The person Alexander believes has displayed the

most glaring action in this regard is that of former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Go-

come from. But whether they had come from him or not, he was ultimately responsi-

Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo

cool Boodhoo. “Mr. Gocool Boodhoo reported to the commission in 2011 that no certificates of employment were being issued to parties’ polling agents. The commission took a decision that he should not act on that matter pending its determination and the ccmmission finally determined that it will not issue certificates of employment to party polling agents. I have evidence, having witnessed at the Alexander Village Nursery located in West Ruimveldt, that PPP agents were in fact issued with certificates of employment. I was subsequently advised by an employee of GECOM where the instructions had

ble. The commission took no action on the matter,” Alexander said. He stated further that in the same year Boodhoo brought false results to the commission and when challenged, argued that he was correct and it was only as a result of the capacity of commissioners on understanding the law that he changed the result. This too, Alexander noted, he has documented evidence of which he brought to the commission. However, he said that PPP/C Commissioners disregarded the incident on the basis that they were able to catch the ‘error’ and Boodhoo continued in the said office for 2-3 years.

He also spoke to the 2015 Local Government Elections incident, whereby proxy voting was approved using the wrong methodology in Region One and this was said to be under investigation by GECOM, but nothing became of it. Alexander believes that the biggest problem is the composition of the commission. “To a large extent, unless the chairman takes a position, people just line up on one or the other side and there’s no scope for a majority decision on the matter,” he said. Questioned on this matter, Commissioner Gunraj said that, in relation to the proxy matter, he is aware that an investigation was conducted and when it came to the commission it was declared to be a “non-issue.” The media also questioned Gunraj on the commission’s failure to investigate the report of former GECOM Chair Dr. Steve Surujbally that fake Statement of Polls (SOPs) were used in the 2015 General and Regional Elections. He said that although it has been five years since, he is still interested in its resolution. “I can tell you that issue was never raised with Justice Singh; it might have been raised only tangentially with Patterson [former GECOM Chair]… while I do not reject the idea that GECOM is not without blame and is perhaps very blame worthy in the diligent prosecution of that issue, perhaps, the court which is charged with responsibility of dealing with that also should take some blame, because five years later the petition which ought to have had those issues ventilated have not been heard.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 15, 2020

Richard Burr: Senate intelligence chief steps down for FBI probe (BBC) The Republican chairman of the US Senate intelligence committee will step down while an insider trading inquiry is carried out. Richard Burr of North Carolina said he had decided to do so because he did not want the investigation to distract the committee from its work. Mr Burr’s phone has been seized by the FBI as part of the inquiry. The senator, who denies wrongdoing, allegedly used inside information to avoid market losses from coronavirus. He and his wife sold as much as $1.7m (£1.4m) of equities in February, just before markets plunged on fears of an economic crisis. It is illegal for members of Congress to trade based on non-public information gathered during their official duties. Republican Senators Kelly Loeffler of Georgia and James Inhofe of Oklahoma, as well as Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, also reportedly sold holdings before the downturn, but are not

confirmed to be under investigation. Ms Feinstein said she had answered questions from the FBI regarding trades made by her husband, however. WHY IS BURR STEPPING BACK? Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Mr Burr had contacted him to inform of his decision to step aside temporarily. “We agreed that this decision would be in the best interests of the committee and will be effective at the end of the day tomorrow [Friday],” Mr McConnell said in a statement. Mr Burr said: “The work the Intelligence Committee and its members do is too important to risk hindering in any way. I believe this step is necessary to allow the Committee to continue its essential work free of external distractions.” He turned over his mobile phone to authorities after federal agents issued and executed a search warrant at his

Friday, May 15, 12:00hrs - 13:30hrs

Washington, DC, home. WHAT ARE THE ALLEGATIONS EXACTLY? The justice department began investigating Mr Burr, 64, in March. Public disclosures first investigated by ProPublica show the senator sold more than 30 stocks between late January and mid-February. Some of the stocks were in sectors now devastated by the coronavirus outbreak, such as the hotel, restaurant and shipping industries. As chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, Mr Burr receives nearly daily briefings on threats to US national security. He defended the transactions, saying he had “relied solely on public news reports” to instruct his decision to sell.

However, he was criticised for publicly downplaying the seriousness of the virus, even as he privately sold equities and warned a private North Carolina business group of the stark risks it posed. Mr Burr’s lawyer, Alice Fisher, said in March the senator welcomed the justice department investigation because it would “establish that his actions were appropriate”. “The law is clear that any American - including a Senator - may participate in the stock market based on public information, as Senator Burr did, she said. The bulk of Mr Burr’s sales occurred on 13 February, just before his speech to the wealthy business constituent group about the dire economic impact of the

coronavirus, at a time when the Trump administration was publicly downplaying the threat. In an audio recording, obtained by US outlet National Public Radio (NPR) he also told the group to curtail their travel. Mr Burr has accused NPR of “misrepresenting” his speech. WHO IS RICHARD BURR? First elected to the Senate in 2004, he chaired the Senate Intelligence Committee when it investigated Russian election interference in the 2016 presidential election. The committee endorsed intelligence community findings that Russia had interfered on Donald Trump’s behalf.

Senator Richard Burr has denied wrongdoing amid an insider trading probe Mr Burr’s six-year term ends in 2023 and he does not plan to run for re-election, the Associated Press reports.

Coronavirus: State of emergency lifted in most of Japan (BBC) Japan has lifted a state of emergency imposed due to the coronavirus in 39 out of 47 prefectures, after a sharp fall in new infections. The order still applies in Tokyo, Osaka and on the northern island of Hokkaido, where new cases are emerging daily. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan’s rate of infection had reduced to one seventh of the country’s peak. He urged the public to be vigilant, wear masks, and

keep following distancing guidance. “If possible, before 31 May, we would like to lift the state of emergency for the other regions as well,” Mr Abe said. Japan faced early criticism for its handling of a mass outbreak on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, docked off the city of Yokohama, but appears to have avoided an epidemic on the scale of those seen in the US or Russia. There have been 16,049 con-

firmed infections in the country and 678 people have died with the virus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Doctors’ warnings in mid-April that Japan’s medical system could collapse under a wave of new Covid-19 cases have not come to pass. The country’s low level of testing has raised questions, but Mr Abe said its strategy of tracking virus clusters had worked in many areas. “We were able to contain (the spread of infections) to

the level at which it can be prevented with a thorough cluster-focused approach,” he told reporters. Unlike governments elsewhere, Japan’s leaders have no legal power to enforce a lockdown. While local governors can call on businesses to stay closed and suggest people stay at home, there are no punishments if they choose not to do so. Despite this, mobility data has shown a striking drop in public movement.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 15, 2020

TTMA wants manufacturing sector fully open, sooner (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) is making another appeal to Government to consider a full reopening of the sector, ahead of schedule, to ensure millions of dollars worth in export orders won’t be lost. In an official statement issued today, TTMA President, Franka Costelloe states there is an urgent need to secure jobs, stabilise the economy and protect families. She also argues that given this countryís success with slowing the spread of COVID-19, ìthere is no solid rationale for sustaining the closure or for denying her remaining members the opportunity to go back to work and to put their people back into employmentî. The full text of the TTMA statement, follows THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR HAS BEEN TRIED, TESTED & SAFE óTT$ Millions in Export Orders to be Lost The country has been on lock down since 30th March in order to curtail the spread of the dreaded Covid19 virus, whose damaging effects to health we are seeing globally. The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturersí Association (TTMA), applauds the governmentís swift response to closing our borders to deal with the threat and commends the Ministry of Health on the efforts taken to effectively control the spread locally. It must be noted that during this period of lock down, the food and beverage, agro processing, cleaning products, hygiene, pharmaceutical, food packaging and PPE manufacturers of the manufacturing sector have continued to operate as essential services. About 1,000 companies comprise the manufacturing sector. Of those, 530 are currently registered members of the TTMA and 273 are classified as essential businesses. This means that an average of 50% of manufacturers have been safely operating over the past eight weeks and have successfully managed to control the spread of the Covid-19 virus over a sustained period. The TTMA believes that this

valid sample group confirms that the robust guidelines and protocols that the sector has put in place across the nation, is workingóand working well. It is estimated that some 52,000 persons work in the sector and with the reduced headcount permitted to work, some 15,000 or 30% of essential staff have now been tested by the system during the mandatory lockdown period. An important proof-point in this regard, is the steady and sustained decline of Covid-19 cases while such a large percentage of member companies are already up and running. Research shows that Trinidad and Tobago has declined from 116 cases to 1, ranking second, behind only Vietnam in its readiness to roll back lockdown measuresóthis, according a study by Oxford Universityís Blavatnik School of Government at the end of April. To date there has been no known case of Covid-19 spread in a factory setting. The TTMA is therefore advocating that the remaining members be allowed to open and operateóespecially given that they are bound by the same guidelines and protocols under which the essential businesses have been operating. The TTMA believes that the litmus test undertaken by operating manufacturers supports the call for a reconsideration of the scheduled date and an immediate reopening of the sector. TTMA President, Franka Costelloe says there is no solid rationale for sustaining the closure or for denying her remaining members the opportunity to go back to work and to put their people back into employment. There is an urgency of securing jobs, stabilizing the economy and keeping families protected. Manufacturing workers are eager to get back to business. Costelloe believes that the delay is also weakening T&Tís hold on trade and earning much needed foreign exchange for our country. The essential manufacturers who have been working over the 8-week lock down period have in so doing, provided a blue print of safety protocols which includes: hygiene control, provision of shuttles where possible to minimize the use of public transport, no ex-

No new COVID-19 cases (NATIONNEWS) The Ministry of Health and Wellness said in a media release today that there were no new positive test results for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) among the 157 returned by the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory today. Additionally, no one will be released

from isolation. The number of confirmed cases for the viral illness remains at 85, with 13 people in isolation. Sixty-five people have recovered, and seven have died. The public health laboratory has completed 3 480 tests. (BGIS)

ternal visitors to the factories, working from home with the necessary platforms made available to employees, implementing a shift system for employees coupled with social distancing, use of proper personal protective equipmentócomplemented by training of staff according to the new protocols. These standards are to be adopted by non-essential members to incorporate into their HSE compliance processes. They fully understand the weight of responsibility and the impact on business sustainability. The TTMA believes that government should take into consideration that the manufacturing sector is well positioned to generate much needed foreign exchange at a time when the energy sector is under-performing due to prolonged suppressed oil prices. It seems the prudent thing to do at this time, is to leverage the capacity of the sector to bring about much needed economic stimulus. The TTMA has repeatedly expressed grave concern wherever it has been given a voice, about the effects of the lockdown on the competitiveness of the sector and loss of market share. While 13 other neighbouring

countries have been fully reopened their manufacturing sector (including Jamaica, Barbados, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic), the manufacturers deemed nonessential in T&T are awaiting re-opening to fulfil outstanding export orders. Among the membership of the TTMA alone as of 14th April, nineteen (19) non-essential manufacturers have export orders totalling TTD $103M. When the 2020 figures for the period 28th March ñ 29th April is compared to that of 2019, it shows an alarming decline in exports of 66% (just over TTD $283M). A continued loss in export revenue for T&T cannot be sustained, especially with the current TTD $934M spent by the government on COVID relief as of 12th May. The TTMA membership is making an appeal to reason and fair play to allow the other 50% of manufacturers to be allowed to reopen on Monday May 18th, 2020. President Franka Costelloe has written to the Recovery Committee, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health to support this call for necessary and urgent relief of its members.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 15, 2020

Bharrat Jagdeo and the Media Politicians have always enjoyed many privileges ascribed to them by way of the role that they play in government and society. By the very nature of their jobs, they enjoy far more privileges than any other group of workers, business owners or employees. Nonetheless, we must remember that politicians are public servants and in certain instances, they are duty bound to publicly comment on matters of public interest that fall within their purview as and when the need arises. Consequently, politicians and members of the media corps ordinarily work together in order to ensure that the public is kept abreast with all the latest news and relevant developments. Due to the ongoing nature of the March 2 Regional and General Elections and the subsequent National Recount, politicians and members of the media corps have been enjoying daily interactions with each other in order to achieve the goal of keeping the electorate informed on latest developments as it pertains to the National Recount. Not one to miss out on an opportunity to speak to the media, Mr. Jagdeo’s relatively low profile in the media over the last couple of weeks has caused much speculation. So, when Mr. Jagdeo returned to our

camera screens this week, this publication was eager to pose a number of questions to him regarding the National Recount. When pressed on the basis upon which he claims that the Returning Officer’s results for Region 4 were fraudulent, Mr. Jagdeo became clearly annoyed. What then ensued was a refusal by Mr. Jagdeo to answer questions posed by a Senior Reporter of this publication because according to Mr. Jagdeo; “Chronicle is ANPU’s mouthpiece and I am not taking any further questions from you because you are spreading the lies”. Thankfully, other members of the media corps objected profusely to Mr. Jagdeo’s refusal to answer the question posed by the Chronicle Senior Reporter and he eventually bowed to the pressure and provided an answer. Mr. Jagdeo’s attitude is troublesome and when confronted with the blatant lie in his assertion, he refused to be picked up on it by our Senior Reporter. To be clear, Mr. Jagdeo claimed that the Returning Officer’s results for Region 4 were fraudulent however when confronted with the facts of the Court’s ruling, Mr. Jagdeo did not wish to answer the question because if he provided an honest and factual answer, it would have undermined his narrative of electoral fraud. For clarity’s sake, the Court rule

that the Returning Officer did not comply with section 84 of the Representation of the People’s Act however the declaration made on the 13 March was not found to be fraudulent according to the official court ruling and as such has remained on the Guyana Elections Commission’s website. Following pressure from other members of the media corps, Mr. Jagdeo then posited that both declarations were fraudulent and that he has evidence of such wrongdoing based on written notes taken by other contesting parties and International and local observers. Mr. Jagdeo claims that he has demonstrated 20 cases so far that the PPP/C Statements of Poll match those of the Guyana Election’s Commission. Mr. Jagdeo further asserted that the Returning Officer’s declaration had been done in favour of ANPU and that in 20 boxes he had inflated the APNU figures by over 1500 votes and took over 175 votes from the PPP/C. Mr. Jagdeo remains confident that at the end of the recount we will have the tabulation and we will see what the final result is and whether or not it matches the Returning Officer for Region 4’s figures which are on GECOM’s website or those of the PPP/C. Members of the media corps clearly expressed disdain for Mr. Jagdeo’s allegation against this publication and the Senior

Reporter whose questions he refused to answer. The Guyana Chronicle takes issue with allegations that this publication is responsible for spreading lies when what clearly transpired was an attempt to fact check an assertion which was misrepresented as a matter of fact when in actuality, it was an opinion. Mr. Jagdeo’s opinions have helped to bolster the PPP/C narrative of electoral fraud and if it were not for astute and credible arbiters of the truth and fact, the PPP/C would continue to promulgate a false narrative which if left unchallenged may be mistaken for the truth. The Guyana Chronicle reports on the facts as have been determined by the relevant authorities which in this instance are the Courts of the land and the Guyana Election’s Commission. Mr. Jagdeo is of the ilk of politician who believe that they are not bound by the truth and may use the media to disseminate whatever agenda they wish to inculcate upon the minds of citizens. Indeed, there are publications where this strategy of alternative information is commonplace however the Guyana Chronicle is no mouthpiece for any contesting party.

We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters

--or perish together as fools Dear editor, I MAY not be living in Guyana, but Guyana is forever living in me. And to this I may add that living away does not in anyway diminish my love for my homeland. For if there is ever the perfect benchmark of true love, one only needs to revisit the biblical story of King Solomon, and the two women and the baby. For that narrative encapsulates the archetype of agape, love of a mother and her painful preparedness to give up her child rather than have him

come to harm. And this chronicle is précised in the statement, “No one would wish to harm what they love.” No patriotic Guyanese would wish harm on the country and the people they claim to love; no patriotic Guyanese would be demanding economic sanctions on their country and their people. Such economic sanctions, these so-called leaders are championing, would spell death and hardship on those who they count as their supporters. If in doubt about the dark consequences of

sanctions, simply take a look over your shoulders at what is transpiring in Venezuela. The starving eating out of garbage bins; the sick dying in hospitals because of the lack of basic medications. Anarchy’s the perfect breeding ground for gang warfare. Millions desperately fleeing across the borders to escape the living nightmare. Is that what you wish for your people? And the Newsroom journalist who apparently has the American ambassador’s phone number on speed dial, and ever so often needs reassurance that sanctions are still on the table,

is that what you wish for your supporters? Would you ever hear a Democratic supporter wishing that the North Koreans invade America because they dislike the Republican President? Would you ever hear the Labour supporter be wishing that the Russians invade Britain because they dislike the Conservative Prime Minister? Can your patriotism match theirs? We as a Caribbean people have the commonality of a painful history of slavery, indentureship, colonisation and exploitation. We recognised that no one but us can understand our internal political and economic problems, stemming from these tragedies. Out of this unique

need was birthed an institution which transcends our borders; a collective body in our eyes. A body that speaks for us all. A body to which we can turn to solve our problems. Brothers and sisters sitting together at the negotiating table as equals, with the only interest of betterment for all. No hidden agenda for exploitation. This our brainchild is our CARICOM: Our own; our very own. So it was with a deep lacerating pain that caused an indescribable ache to my heart when I read a letter from Marco Rubio, a Republican Senator who disparagingly wrote that we need “credible international observers” to validate our recount. Who

is Marco Rubio? Did he not get the ‘memo’ that we, the descendants of slaves and indentured labourers, no longer need the validation of ‘massa’? Why he thinks that they have prescriptive rights to solve our internal problems? Why should he feel that without their stamp of approval, our recount would not be credible? Do our black and brown faces in CARICOM preclude us from solving our own problems? What special skills Carter Center brings, that is presently absent in the ACCC that would make their presence an absolute necessity? Don’t black lives matter, as it pertains to COVID-19? TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 15, 2020

The end of the world as we know it --or another phase of evolution Dear Sir, WE in Guyana must continue to support measures put in place by government to keep us all safe from the coronavirus. One hundred-and-nine persons with COVID-19 signals the need for greater awareness of the debilitating effects of this disease on personal, community and national health. Government is doing its utmost to protect lives, but in order for it to be truly effective, every Guyanese must be complemented with a demonstration of personal responsibility to adhere to those measures, not only for their own good, but also the good of our entire nation. I suspect that, in the face of this creeping increase in the number of people being infected, the authorities would eventually have to take stronger measures to keep all safe. Indeed, as it is with the rest of the world, Guyana is experiencing significant change, and our local communities and the nation as a whole must be reorganised to adapt to and benefit from this change. I can recall that some years ago, there was a plan to network all public-health facilities in all ten administrative regions into a shared database. This would have created a single space with information, including things like medical history of patients, treatment, and responses to treatments. In the event of a patient relocating from one region to another, that healthcare administration would have access to such vital information. Apart from that, it would have encouraged data mining, which would help in national healthcare planning, and give the appropriate authorities the capacity to track the movement of certain illnesses. I am not sure what has happened to that plan. If it is in place, then excellent; if not then, perhaps, it is a

good project to activate at this time. I have had to confront a prejudice I had that nothing good can come from COVID-19. I have come to realize that, one of the profound things about the coronavirus is the way it is forcing us to reflect on our attitude towards life, in particular, and our communities, in general. The way we think about and do ordinary, taken for granted- activities at the personal, corporate and national levels. For example, one of the things we must now reconsider is our use of space. COVID-19 is now actively and aggressively occupying this very limited space in which we carry on our physical lives. We, humans, and this virus must now co- exist. And it is not a matter of choice but clearly the new reality of human society. This new state of affairs and the gradual inevitable acceptance of it would, in time, influence the full and complete reopening of the world economy even at the risk of many more deaths due to COVID-19. But we, in this natural world, cannot go on like this without witnessing the collapse of our society. In any case, the resilience of human society would not allow us to surrender, to the fear and aggressiveness of this pandemic, eternally. We will find a way, as we have always done, in times of other pandemics and very serious challenges to global healthcare, to sustain ourselves and to encourage progressive development. However, the emergence of this pandemic, which caught the world by surprise, surprisingly, has caused the world to pause, lockdown, rethink, and reconsider how it will move forward with full knowledge of this new reality of coexistence in the same space. It has also sharpened our sense of awareness and strengthened our ability not only to adapt

but also to innovate. Those two (adapt and innovate) have a reciprocal influence on each other. Reflecting on it, there are two interesting areas, which demonstrate our ability to adapt and innovate. One such field that immediately lends itself to deep thought is the way we stay connected, in this moment, to our families, social circles, communities, corporations and the world. Before the pandemic, travelling physically, to different states and countries, for work, business, education or pleasure, was seen as a routine activity. People traveled from place to place, as a matter of course, on personal, corporate or governmental business. For millions, of people, their mode of travel is by air. As a result, the aviation industry was booming with continuous creation of jobs for thousands, at different levels. Bigger and faster planes were being designed and developed. Now, with COVID-19, and strict measures put in place by governments around the world including, closing air spaces, people are unable and afraid to travel. The aviation industry and allied industries are suffering to the point where they are being decimated, in every sense of that word. The skies are almost cleared of air travel with about 75% of all planes grounded, at airports, around the world. This is very good for the natural environment, as it has drastically reduced pollution levels, in the air, but bad for the aviation and related industries because it means the loss of business, revenue and jobs. As we have seen, this has a knockon effect on the economies of the world in multiple ways. Even if all governments were to reopen their air spaces tomorrow, and allow flights in, it would take years before that industry even begin to show any sign

of its high financial performance as it was in pre-pandemic times. In fact, many airlines have already gone bankrupt and other might never be able to make it back in the industry. Again, there is the on-going debate on remodeling planes to use space in a different way to maintain social distancing. The industry would never be the same again. Even with all of that, the global village remains connected to all of its parts. It is doing so virtually. We are inside and outside, isolated at home and yet in the company of all, local and global, all at the same time. This is facilitated by the use of the World Wide Web and the Internet with its various social media platforms and other applications. Without physical travel we can still see and talk to members of our family living overseas, be present at and participate in meetings, conferences and other events in and beyond our national frontiers. We can still buy, sell and do business. We are still very connected. Thinking about it, we are using space in a different way; not physically but virtually. Thanks to the internet that have collapsed space and allow us to communicate and stay in touch with the world, in real time, from any and every part of the world. Everyone is everyone’s neighbour. The underside to this, of course, is the loss of the human touch and the inconvenient restriction of our interactions to only those images what we can see and hear. But even this restriction is being removed by other kinds of innovations now being developed. The other area is science. This has a double effect. In almost every country, governments have said that they are relying on advice given by medical and other scientists to implement measures to combat this disease. They are consulting and listening to their medical scientists and doctors. And they are quite right to do so because only science can create the

path that can help us to safely navigate the dangers of this infectious disease; one that encourages innovation in hardware, software and medicines that would allow us to coexist with COVID-19. What is happening now is the development of a whole new regime of surveillance and medical technologies across the globe. Through these technologies, authorities can know, for example, the movements of individuals, groups of individuals or how populations are moving on aggerate levels. Authorities can trace and contact individuals, whom they believe may have contracted COVID-19, or have been in contact with people, who have the virus. People can also get in contact with the authorities for information and help if they start presenting symptoms of the virus. Interestingly, these applications are simple to use even on mobile phones. Incredibly, the mobile phone with its adaptability to multiple technological applications and platforms has become almost indispensable extensions of everything we are as humans; the world would be a totally different place without it. Then, there is Under the Skin technologies that can prob one’s thoughts and feelings, on various issues, at any time. Society can actually know an individual more than he/ she wants to be known. It is a frightening thought because such technologies erase the boundaries of privacy; everything become known, to everyone, even personal thoughts. The loss of privacy in an increasingly surveillance society is not without complex challenges. On the one hand, health authorities can obtain biometric data on individuals and groups of individuals. This information can be used to more accurately prescribe conditions or health requisites for individuals, with various health needs, in different environmental and social contexts. Or, to

track the spread of diseases, in communities. On the other hand, such technologies can be abused, by governmental bodies and corporate bosses, to control, whole swaths of people, or to maximize corporate profits and the bottom-line of companies. Clearly, there are economic and political consequences to this new series of technologies. Eventually, governments will have to consider what is the best approach to store, protect and use the ever increasing, everlasting amounts of personal and private health and other information of individuals all over the world. They will have to come up with enforceable laws and regulations to protect this vast reservoir of information. Perhaps, a global independent intergovernmental or corporate body under strict laws and regulations can help but it cannot be left to governments, particularly, those that have a tendency to be repressive and believe that they are omnipotent. Perhaps, too, this is one of the things we will see post COVID-19. Governments, global corporate, religious and other community leaders and stakeholders working together, with quite care and deliberation, to protect the abuse of our new global surveillance society. The central point of all of this is that this pandemic is pushing us, in this period of human history, to rethink, in a very deep way, the world in which we live; how we use space and recourse our activities, design, develop and repurpose technologies to help us with every day chores. It has changed the world as we know it. But the change is not necessarily a bad thing because, in essence, it is part of the evolution of human society, part of our unfolding, to understand, to adapt and to live side by side with things we can and cannot see in this shared space on earth. Regards, Royston King

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 15, 2020

In response to Kissoon's malicious article on ACDA's position on recount Dear Editor, THIS response to Mr. Frederick Kissoon should be sent to the Kaieteur News for the benefit of that paper’s readership, however, since I am banned from its letter pages, I seek the indulgence of your paper to publish my response. Editor, I am forced to engage Kissoon in yet another polemic something in recent times I consciously avoided doing. I now refer to his columns that dealt with ACDA and the 2020 elections, published in the Kaieteur News of May 11 and 12, editions, under the captions: “ The former two present Caricom Prime Ministers saw it”, and “ Please swear in Granger Tomorrow!” respectively. In these two columns, Kissoon demonstrates his nasty and dangerous machinations as a commentator and analyst on

the political and social life of the nation. To please his sponsors and to nourish his twisted ego, he has no qualms attacking African organisations and individuals even when they seek to promote harmony in the country. His standard is once they don’t subscribe to his dictates they will be “fair game”. And sadly in his recklessness, he does so in a manner that often can't stand up to scrutiny. In his May 11, 2020 column, he wrote: “ I start with ACDA. That organization spoke of re-colonization of Guyana by former colonial power. ACDA was saying that the West wanted to colonize Guyana again through its position of the election outcome….” And “ Since that foolish direction ACDA went into. It has reversed gears, called for a recount, remains non-committal on the election results and has gone silent…” Kissoon’s intellectual dis-

honesty and his attempt at deceiving the public is obvious. He knows that except for his reference to ACDA’s recolonization position and his observation of the organization’s present silence, that every other point he made in the above on what ACDA did or failed to do is a lie or was contained in the same statement which mentions recolonization of Guyana. Therefore for him to claim that the organization has reversed gear, etc. are deliberate inventions by his devious mind to discredit ACDA. It is appropriate for me, at this point to remind readers that ACDA was the first African organization in Guyana to acknowledge the unfortunate developments in the 2020 elections and supported calls for a re- count in all ten electoral districts. And it gave a commitment to call on the African masses and its political leadership to accept the results of

the recount. The organization also called for shared governance and an end to winner take all politics. In this context, ACDA’s present silence is appropriate – despite Kissoon feeling otherwise. Kissoon in the above-mentioned column threatens to “White Mail” ACDA. He writes, “In another column, I will explore this reticence of ACDA and show how afraid it is of sanctions because of ACDA ‘s connection to Guyana Goldfields.” In his following column, May 12, 2020, he made good on his promise. However, my concern is with his fictitious claim: “ When sanctions become a definite option ACDA went in backwards overdrive. It supported the recount avenue and agreed that the recount decision must be accepted. ” This is not a correction of his previous position that ACDA changed gear and called for a recount and was non-committal to accepting the results. Here again, Kissoon continues his deceptive endeavours: he is telling readers that the ACDA

position on recount and its acceptance came only after sanctions became “a definite option”. I have already pointed out that ACDA supported a recount and its acceptance in its statement that pointed to the recolonization of the country. The organization’s position on sanctions was also stated in that very statement. So Kissoon is attempting to rewrite history by falsely contending that ACDA had a change of heart when it realized that sanctions were a definite option. I found it laughable that Kissoon in all his “brilliance” failed to prove his thesis on what he called ACDA ‘s fear of sanctions. He pointed to Sister Violet Baptiste’s past and present relations with Guyana Goldfields. Without direct information on the shareholders of Guyana Goldfields, the fact that it raised its capital by selling shares on the Canadian and other Western countries stock markets, I can say without fear of contradictions that the company is predominantly foreign

and Western-owned. This fact will insulate it from the negative effect of any sanctions by the ABC countries. In such a situation I don’t see ACDA or Sister Violet have much to be concerned about. Without revisiting ACDA’s statement on the elections crisis, I recall that the point made by ACDA was that sanctions will affect all Guyanese. And I will add that given the insignificant African stakes in the economy, the impact from sanctions will have a greater effect on other ethnicities. Readers should not infer that in the present crisis that I support actions that can lead to sanctions. Editor, I must reiterate that I was forced to engage Mr Freddie Kissoon to expose his wickedness and to do so outside the letter pages of the Kaieteur News since I am banned from that newspaper. I suspect that Kissoon has contributed to that decision. Regards, Tacuma Ogunseye

We must learn to live...

FROM PAGE

The fact is that the ACCC is bulging at the seams, far exceeding the numbers recommended by our health experts. GECOM staff are spilling onto the lawns of ACCC. This is already a fertile ground for COVID-19 that the Carter Center is demanding a place at the recount table. What we are witnessing in Guyana is also playing out in Trinidad, another CARICOM country. They, too, have joined the choir of demanding sanctions on their country. My position is if such political players lack confidence in CARICOM, then they are free to proffer internal solutions for the betterment of our Institution. If they rather have external solutions, then they are free to migrate to a country under whose system they are imposing on us. For this, I am certain, they will painfully discover that those who are imposing their will and systems on us have worse problems that they completely ignore. And the sad reality is that those who are languishing in such problems don’t look like them; rather, they look like us. So you, the

sanction junkies, will just simply add to those numbers of third-class citizens. And if your party of choice was not elected, and you foolishly decide to have a public protest, wishing North Korea invades your adapted homeland and in the process kills and maims many, you can rest assure that you will be kicked right out, but not before you are given a painful reminder of the colour of your skin and your lack of patriotism. CARICOM is our own; it was our idea to bring us together as a people, promote our community and solve our problems. No institution is perfect. The EU is not perfect. NAFTA is not perfect. The UN is not perfect. NATO is not perfect. The Commonwealth is not perfect. The OAS is not perfect. Not because an institution is imperfect, we destroy it. We discredit it. We allow others to insult it. When we conduct ourselves the way we have over the past two months, then we will reinforce the misplaced belief to the external world that we cannot solve our own

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problem. Then they will present themselves, like vultures to a carcass, pretending to provide a solution for the fighting factions. The fact is that they care less about a solution, for they know all too well that united we stand, divided we fall. So they will set about widening the racial and political chasms, utilising a few unpatriotic internal agents. So while we fight amongst ourselves, they swiftly siphon off our oil. They have done this in the recent past. With our gold. With our bauxite. With our diamonds. With our rice. With our sugar. With our alumina. With our timber. Then word got to their opportunistic ear that we found oil, so they are back on our doorsteps to create chaos. As a kid, I learnt that it is important that I know my friends, but more important that I know my enemies. Be wise, or we will forever be the laughing stock of the world: Swimming in wealth, yet drowning in poverty. Regards, Dr. Mark Devonish

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 15, 2020

Op-Ed

LIAT is the real MVP of Caribbean integration

Dr. Kai-Ann Skeete

INTRODUCTION Conceptualised in 1956, LIAT predates the Caribbean Independence movement, although it became operational in 1974. Presently, it is comprised of a mere 10 aircraft, 5 ATR42s with 48 seats and 5 ATR72s with 68 seats which service 15 destinations among the English, French, Spanish and Dutch-speaking Caribbean around the clock. My parents’ generations had the Federal Palm and Federal Maple to traverse the Caribbean Sea; in 2020, my generation and future generations to come, will only know about LIAT which ‘has now become a household name.”1 However, at the turn of the year, the Caribbean is now battling with Covid-19, a novel influenza virus that has rendered us incapacitated and unable to function as a Single Market. We are unable to participate in the trade of goods or services. Across the Caribbean, many regional leaders have made the decision to close ports of entry and have decided to return to extreme isolation measures of every man is an island. However, well into national lockdowns, LIAT was operating facilitating trade within the region and shuttling persons and goods from country to country. Article 134 of Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas calls for a Community Transport Policy with the goal of providing ‘efficient, reliable, affordable transport services throughout the Community’ which is key to the path of achieving full, free movement of labour and by extension, critical to managing a Single Domestic Space. Thus, the LIAT remains integral to the functioning and movement of factors of

production within the CSME. This article seeks to add to the ever present LIAT discussion by introducing 2 points, comparing fares between LIAT and Caribbean Airlines, as well as a flight plan analysis of the air travel distance from Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados to Piarco International Airport in the Republic of Trinidad.

ANALYSIS Across the region, LIAT has been the main airline for destinations such as Roseau, Dominica and until a few months ago, Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines due to their lack of international carriers. For Barbados, LIAT transported the largest number of passengers in 2010 and 2011. According to the Barbados Air Transport Licensing Authority Annual Report 20112012, the majority of the Barbados air passengers came from LIAT ( an average of 41,000 passengers), followed by American Airlines (an average of 36,000 passengers) then Virgin Atlantic (an average of 25,000 passengers) for the period 2010-2011. Comparison of LIAT and CAL Fares between Barbados and Trinidad Using the Google ITA Matrix Software on February 20 2020, the researcher compared the prices of direct return flights between Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, March 15 until Saturday, March 21 2020 between Caribbean Airlines (CAL) and LIAT. The difference in fare was an astounding USD114.76 for the same distance between destinations. The CAL flight totaled USD210.15 with a base fare of USD88 going directly to CAL. The base fare represents a mere 41.8% of the ticket proceed-

ings going to CAL. The LIAT flight totaled USD324.87 with a base fare of USD130 doing directly to LIAT. Incidentally, LIAT’s base fare amounts to approximately 40% of the ticket proceedings. Aside from the base fares, both return tickets contained the same 7 taxes, charges and fees; all to LIAT’s Fuel Surcharge (USD8.75) and Booking and Security Surcharge (USD24.00) per route. Simply put, LIAT is bogged down with several taxes, fees and charges included within the cost of the ticket. The region needs to reconsider the utility of these taxes and more importantly, the potential multiplier effect of reduced taxes on intra-regional movement and CSME participating states.

ONE-WAY FLIGHT PLAN FROM BARBADOS TO TRINIDAD To determine a relatively accurate depiction of the flight plan between Barbados and Trinidad, the author chose to use the Flight Aware website to chart and analyze the one way flight plan. At the time of writing, the Piarco airport was closed as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic and LIAT is no longer flying into Piarco. However, CAL the national airlines of Trinidad and Tobago continues to undertake repatriation flights. At approximately 8:58am the CAL flight takes off for Trinidad. The acceleration of the aircraft to become airborne is a very technical exercise and is specific to every flight. As the aircraft starts to climb it utilizes a significant amount of fuel to make the initial climb which takes approximately 8 minutes following take off, before the flight reaches its cruising altitude. According to Flightaware, for the CAL flight, the cruising altitude was

22,000ft.2 The CAL flight reached its cruising altitude at 9:07am and stayed there for 11minutes, at which point it began its initial descent. The flight’s descent starts at 9:19am, approximately 21 minutes from the initial take off. It lasts from 9:19am until the aircraft lands at 9:36am which is approximately 17 minutes. At the landing stage, this is a “…critical stage of flight where the aircraft slows to the such an extent that it literally falls out of the sky just inches from the ground.”3 Following the taxiing to the gate, the flight enters into the Post-Flight stage where the crews are replaced or ‘turn around’ and begin preparations for another flight. From a very basic analysis of the flight times, it is noteworthy that Caribbean citizens understand that approximately 23.6% of the duration of the CAL flight from Barbados to Trinidad was spent ascending, 31.5% spent at Cruising altitude but the largest component of the flight between Barbados and Trinidad was at the descent/ approaching stage comprising of whopping 44.7% of the entire flight. Thus, for one of the more popular flight routes in the Caribbean, the majority of the flight is spending descending/landing. CONCLUSION The aforementioned is used as an illustration to aid in understanding the true ‘Costs’ of having flights connecting the Caribbean. Due to the close geographical proximity of regional destinations, flights spend limited time in the air at cruising altitude but are either gearing up to take off or gearing down to land. Is it truly worth it to have twice daily flights between destinations for airlines that are not Government subsidized and paying the market price

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for jetfuel? The solution for the region may present itself as a double edged sword, where Governments cease to utilize LIAT as a means of revenue collection or the complete privatization of LIAT operating on a for-profit basis. It is time that CARICOM leaders avoid sending ‘mixed messages’ as it relates to the CSME and LIAT. The region cannot continue to approach regional transportation as a for-profit activity, while at the same time wishing to maintain commitments to the region and deepening the CSME. Therefore, the time is now for the region to remove ambiguity as it relates to its regional transportation policy by focusing on topics and matters that relate to citizens directly such as security, migration, climate, jobs and transport connectivity… that is, things that have the potential to make a considerable impact on the lives of regional citizens. Regional air transport is chief among them. (Dr. Kai-Ann D. Skeete is the Trade Research Fellow at the Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy & Services of The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill. Learn more about the SRC at www.shridathramphalcentre.com. ) 1 Liat.Com “Careers” – Accessed March 22 2019. https:// www.liat.com/navSource.html?page_id=117 2 Flight Aware – Flight Track Log - https://flightaware. com/live/flight/BWA791/history/20200407/1258Z/TBPB/TTPP/ tracklog 3 Phases of Flight – May 16 2017 https://www.infohas.ma/en/ phases-of-flight/

CCJ reduces jail time for rape convict

…urges Guyana Judiciary to establish clear sentencing guidelines in child sexual offence case THE Caribbean Court of Justice, on Thursday, reduced the jail time of a convicted child rapist and has urged the judicial authorities here to establish clear sentencing guidelines in child sexual offences. Linton Pompey was convicted on September 21, 2015 of three sexual offences against his niece, who was 14 years old at the time of each offence. The Trial Judge passed sentences of five years for the sexual assault and 15 and 17 years for the first and second rape convictions, respectively, and ordered that the sentences run consecutively. Therefore, Pompey’s total prison time would have eventually amounted to 37 years. The Court of Appeal here had dismissed Pompey’s appeal against both his conviction and the sentences imposed on him. The Court of Appeal noted that it was important to send a strong message that sexual offences, particularly rape of child family members, would not be tolerated. The CCJ only gave Pompey permission to appeal his claim that his sentences were too severe. The Court agreed unanimously

Convicted Rapist, Linton Pompey

that the overall prison time of 37 years was excessive. However, the Court was divided as to how that time should be reduced. The majority opinion was delivered by CCJ President-- the Honourable Mr. Justice Saunders-- on behalf of himself, the Honourable Justice Mme Rajnauth-Lee and Messrs. Justice Barrow, Burgess and Jamadar. They noted that although it was open to the Trial Judge to order consecutive sentences as the

offences arose from separate incidents, the Trial Judge did not sufficiently consider that the resulting combined sentence would be excessively high. The Trial Judge could have imposed a sentence for the second rape, the most serious offence, that fairly reflected the offender’s overall criminality. In this way, Pompey would have served the lesser two sentences simultaneously with the sentences given for the second rape. In applying this option, the majority held that the sentence of 17 years passed for the second rape was neither so lenient nor so harsh that it warranted being set aside by an appellate court. The majority, therefore, did not adjust that sentence but ordered that the other two sentences be served at the same time with it, resulting in an overall sentence of 17 years. In separate concurring opinions, Mme. Justice Rajnauth-Lee and Mr Justice Jamadar focused on the alarming prevalence of sexual offences against children and the robust approach that was required in respect of sentencing for such offences.

Messrs. Justice Wit and Anderson, in their joint dissenting opinion, considered that appellate courts are given wide powers to review sentences. As the cumulative 37 years in prison was excessive, the sentences imposed should be replaced by sentences that were warranted in all the circumstances of the case. These two judges considered that the sentences should accordingly be replaced with 9 years for the second rape, 6 years for the first rape, and 9 months for the sexual assault conviction. They would also have ordered that these sentences run concurrently. Mr C.A. Nigel Hughes and Mr. Ronald Daniels appeared for Mr. Pompey. Mrs. Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, Director of Public Prosecutions; Mrs. Teshana Lake and Ms Natasha Backer appeared for the State. The full judgement of the Court and a judgement summary are available on the Court’s website.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 15, 2020

PPP/C backs Bruce Golding ----says the former Jamaican PM wouldn’t risk reputation for Jagdeo’s friendship

THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) jumped to the defence of Bruce Golding, former Prime Minister of Jamaica, on Thursday, after he was called out by the coalition party for making conclusive pronouncements on Guyana’s elections before the process was completed. “It’s not about supporting the PPP. I see Harmon making some allegation about a friendship between Mr. Jagdeo and Mr. Golding. You think Mr. Golding would put his entire reputation on the line? You think Mr. Golding would put the OAS reputation on the line because of some alleged friendship with Mr. Jagdeo? Mr. Golding is not such an irresponsible person,” PPP/C Executive, Anil Nandlall, said to the media on the matter. Golding, who led the Organization of American States (OAS) Observer Mission to Guyana for the March 2020 elections, has deemed the declared Region Four results as grossly false. Only eight days into the national recount, expected to give Guyanese finality on the elections impasse, Golding — a known long-time friend of Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo — claimed that there was a “transparent effort to alter the results of an election” based only on 20 ballot boxes from Region Four. The entire recount process is not yet halfway through as a total of 2,339 are to be counted. Nonetheless, Golding made such statements during a report on Elections in Guyana made to the OAS Permanent Council on Wednesday. Responding hours later, Executive Member of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), Joseph Harmon had stated: “Mr. Golding’s partisanship and unquestionable links to the PPP compromise him and no longer can he be considered an independent observer.” Harmon said that it is no secret that Golding is a close friend and ally of Jagdeo and had been at the Opposition Leader’s private home, prior to serving as

head of the OAS Observer Mission to Guyana. He said that Golding has clearly demonstrated a bias for his close associates and appears now to have become an “unabashed co-conspirator of the PPP/C” as he joined them in the claim that Region Four Returning Officer (RO), Clairmont Mingo, had rigged the elections. STRONG DEFENCE However, on Thursday, outside the national recount centre, Nandlall took up strong defence of the former PM, stating he is an internationally recognized statesman chosen to head the OAS Mission because of his integrity. He said that Golding has a duty to report what he observed

count (SORs) coming out of the process.

Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer captured the then Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Bharrat Jagdeo at an event in Spanish Town on August 1, 2009

APNU+AFC member, David Patterson

during Guyana’s elections and doing otherwise would be dereliction of his duty. Furthermore, Nandlall said that GECOM needs to take responsibility for Mingo’s actions and went on to allege that Mingo, in his declarations, was “executing the political agenda” of the APNU+AFC. Questioned as to why then does his party have faith in GECOM to conduct the national recount, having accused the Commission of electoral fraud, Nandlall said that it was because the PPP/C has invested in the recount process and pushed to have it conducted. He continued the PPP/ C’s position since commencement of the recount that its Statements of Poll (SOP) were being justified by the Statements of Re-

David Patterson said that the party will instead be

Patterson said that the APNU+AFC will refrain from acts which can cause dispute during the recount process which remains paramount to previously released SOPs. “It is the Statements of Recount that matters now. We want a winner to be determined. This exercise is not a question of comparison, in my opinion, it’s a question of determining a winner and a next government,” he said. Meanwhile, Patterson, who said that his party will also be further addressing the numbers raised by Golding, noted, as Harmon mentioned, that the former PM ignores the many anomalies coming out of the recount. “It’s strange that Mr. Golding can jump, right away, to [speak on] the integrity

Executive Member of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), Joseph Harmon

of Mr. Mingo and the entire GECOM staff without mentioning even a fleeting reference to those particular issues,” Patterson said.

PPP/C Executive, Anil Nandlall

LET’S AVOID CHAOS Asked in a subsequent interview why the APNU+AFC has not released its SOPs for similar comparison, APNU+AFC member,

comparing the total tabulation from each completed region in the recount process with the previous declaration. Though the party has claimed victory based on the previous declaration,

A BLIND EYE The PPP/C has been pushing strongly against objection to a range of issues such as missing poll books, missing Official List of Electors (OLE), missing PE envelopes and unsigned oaths of identity within ballot boxes. They have also dismissed concerns that persons who are either deceased or who have migrated were recorded as voting. Harmon had also called to question Golding’s blind eye to the same, stating: “He [Golding]… ignores the numerous instances of irregularities, discrepan-

cies and anomalies which have been uncovered in the ongoing recount process amounting to fraud on the Guyanese people – dead people voting, persons who are not in Guyana voting, unsigned affidavits of identity in boxes. Mr. Golding instead focusses on a declaration which had already been ruled on by the court and other documents issued by the People’s Progressive Party. He seems to believe that whatever the PPP puts out is authentic, ignoring the fact that a full statement has not been made by the Guyana Elections Commission.” On the contrary, CARICOM --- which has fielded a scrutinising team as the lead observers to the recount process --- has acknowledged that the scrutiny being imparted to each ballot is “for the satisfaction of all the contending political parties, and each observer mission.” In a message through Permanent Representative of Barbados to the OAS, Ambassador Noel Lynch, the Regional body said that it has no interest in which political party wins the election but given that the two major political parties both believe that they have won the elections, there should be no fear of the current recount. In Harmon’s opinion, Golding’s statement, coming from a former CARICOM Head of Government, “smacks of gross disrespect for a sovereign state and for the ongoing process which has been supported by CARICOM”. Patterson told the media that just for District One --- completed today --- the anomalies found by his party thus far are within the hundreds. Meanwhile, Harmon has called on the all Guyanese to disregard the “distant voices” and pay attention to the unfolding of the recount.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 15, 2020

COVID-19 social protection coverage Plug social protection gaps in developing countries to prevent future crises––ILO says

GENEVA (ILO News) – The COVID-19 crisis has exposed devastating gaps in social protection coverage in developing countries, and recovery will only be sustained and future crises prevented if they can transform their ad hoc crisis response measures into comprehensive social protection systems, according to new analysis from the International Labour Organization (ILO). Two briefing papers released by the ILO warn that the current gaps in social protection could compromise recovery plans, expose millions to poverty, and affect global readiness to cope with similar crises in future. The papers take a detailed look at the role of social protection measures in addressing the COVID-19 outbreak in developing countries, including the provision of sickness benefits during the crisis. The brief on Social protection responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in developing countries, de-

scribes social protection as, “an indispensable mechanism for delivering support to individuals during the crisis”. It examines the response measures some countries have introduced, including removing financial barriers to quality health care, enhancing income security, reaching out to workers in the informal economy, protecting incomes and jobs, and improving the delivery of social protection, employment and other interventions. “While the virus does not discriminate between rich and poor, its effects are highly uneven”, the brief says, adding that the ability to access affordable, quality, healthcare has become “a matter of life and death”. “While the virus does not discriminate between rich and poor, its effects are highly uneven [...] The ability to access affordable, quality, healthcare has become ‘a matter of life and death’.” The brief also warns poli-

cymakers to avoid a singular focus on COVID-19 because this could reduce the availability of health systems to respond to “other conditions that kill people every day”.

ered by unemployment benefits, and in some regions the coverage is much lower. The other Social Protection Spotlight brief covers Sickness benefits during sick leave and

It cites the example of how, during the Ebola epidemic, a focus on this virus exacerbated mortality from malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. According to data in the brief, 55 per cent of the world’s population – as many as four billion people – are not covered by social insurance or social assistance. Globally, only 20 per cent of unemployed people are cov-

quarantine: Country responses and policy considerations in the context of COVID-19. It warns that the COVID-19 health crisis has exposed two main adverse effects of gaps in sickness benefit coverage. Firstly, such protection gaps can force people to go to work when they are sick or should self-quarantine, so increasing the risk of infecting others.

Wales canecutters receive outstanding severance payments FORMER cane cutters of the Wales Sugar Estate, on Wednesday, began receiving outstanding severance payments from the Guyana Sugar Corporation. According to a release by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), in December 2018, Justice Sandil Kissoon awarded to the cane cutters of Wales who took up work at Uitvlugt Estate following the closure of Wales Estates in December, 2016, one month’s pay in lieu of notice apart from their severance entitlements which is premised on their years of service to the sugar company. GAWU said GuySuCo abided partially with the Courts order as it relates to the workers severance entitlements but refused to pay the workers, who were entitled, their one month’s pay. The union said on two occasions early last year it had written the GuySuCo seeking its full compliance with Justice Kissoon’s decision. Notwithstanding the clarity of the Court’s order,

the GuySuCo remained adamant and refused to honour its legal obligations to the workers, the union alleged. As a result, the union, through its Attorneys-at-Law, Devindra Kisson and Natasha Vieira of London House Chambers, approached the High Court to have the outstanding section of Justice Kissoon’s decision enforced. “Our legal recourse saw Chief Justice (a.g.) Roxanne George-Wiltshire, on November 21, last year, approving a garnishment order regarding the outstanding sum owed to the workers. Through the order, the Corporation’s bankers – Demerara Bank Limited – were compelled to pay over to the Union, on the workers behalf, the sum of $7.5M which was owed to the workers.” According to GAWU, the Corporation subsequently appealed the Chief Justice’s decision and when that matter came up for hearing earlier this year, the Corporation withdrew its appeal after its attorney learnt that the order was enforced and

the appeal, therefore, became moot. The withdrawal of the appeal by the GuySuCo paved the way for the Union to finally pay over to the workers their outstanding monies. “The workers were most pleased to be receiving their outstanding payments and expressed their appreciation to the Union for their sustained efforts to bring justice to them. They also lamented the seemingly arduous and long journey they had to endure to have their lawful rights respected. Indeed, the struggle of the sugar workers of the closed estates to receive their severance entitlements represents a sad chapter in our history but, at the same time, a proud achievement for workers’ rights. It also demonstrates, too, the obstacles workers have to surmount to having their rights respected and is yet another reminder of the need for workers to be organised lest their rights be disregarded,” GAWU said.

Secondly, the related loss of income increases the risk of poverty for workers and their families, which could have a lasting impact. The brief calls for urgent, short-term measures to close sickness benefit coverage and adequacy gaps, pointing out that this would bring a three-fold benefit: support for public health, poverty prevention, and promotion of the human rights to health and social security. The proposed measures include extending sickness benefit coverage to all, with particular attention given to reaching women and men in non-standard and informal employment, the self-employed, migrants and vulnerable groups. Other recommendations include increasing benefit levels to ensure they provide income security, speeding up benefit delivery, and expanding the scope of benefits to include prevention, diagnosis and treatment measures, as well as time spent in quarantine or on the

Renewal of Arts Scheme seeks to boost Guyanese spirits

—Dep’t of Social Cohesion to unveil proposal

Minister of Social Cohesion, Hon. Dr. George Norton

THE Department of Social Cohesion is planning to unveil a proposal titled, The Renewal Arts Scheme, which seeks to maintain national morale and heighten public spirits amid the COVID-19 pandemic, through the Arts. This was disclosed by Minister of Social Cohesion, the Hon. Dr. George Norton in an interview with DPI. “The proposal seeks to comprehensively cater for cultural expressions in all forms of art and refers directly to the performing arts, dance, theatre music, Literary arts, prose poetry, culinary arts, particularly our local dishes, visual arts, painting, sculpture, digital arts, photography and, of course, craft,” he detailed. Additionally, the proposal will focus on Guyanese folklore, architecture, monuments, history and religion. The Social Cohesion Minister pointed out

that Renewal of Arts Scheme will be hosted in conjunction with the online observations for Guyana’s 54th Independence. “Our 54th Independence anniversary celebration will be held aside from this. We would also be taking consideration of our other national days or national events,” he said. Taking into consideration the necessary measures that have been implemented by the National COVID-19 Taskforce, the department will be hosting these activities online on various social media platforms. They also plan to utilise print and electronic media. Minister Norton noted that while the COIVD-19 pandemic has caused many to restructure their lifestyles, it has also provided the opportunity to showcase the talent of various professionals.

care of sick dependants. “The COVID-19 crisis is a wake-up call. It has shown that a lack of social protection affects not just the poor, it exposes the vulnerability of those who have been getting by relatively well, because medical charges and loss of income can easily destroy decades of family work and saving,” said Shahra Razavi, the Director of the ILO’s Social Protection Department. “The examples from around the world clearly demonstrate once again that countries with robust and comprehensive social protection systems are in a much stronger position to respond to, and recover from, a crisis. Policymakers need to build on the momentum generated by growing public awareness of the importance of social protection and the urgency of investing in it as a society, to ensure preparedness for future crises.”

NIS announces amnesty on arrears payment this year due to COVID-19 THE National Insurance Scheme has introduced an amnesty on the payment of contributions owing at January 15, 2020 to May 15, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, there will be a waiver of interest on the amounts owing. The new deadline for payment of the contribution without interest is June 30, 2020. Employers and self-employed persons who have existing agreement to pay outstanding contributions with the National Insurance Scheme’s Debt Recovery Unit are not entitled to the waiver of interest. For further information, please call telephone numbers 226-8376/2273461.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 15, 2020

Recount results to trump previous declarations –– Alexander, Gunraj say unlikely commission will revert to previous declarations GUYANA Elections Commission (GECOM) Commissioner Vincent Alexander has stated that it is highly unlikely that the commission will revert to the previous declarations of Region Four Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo after the recount is completed. The topic of discussion comes up as Mingo’s second declaration --- not ruled upon by the court --- have been held in abeyance. GECOM Chair Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh had made it clear in April 2020 that the said declarations cannot be replaced until after the recount. This led the media to question whether Mingo’s declaration, in any case, could supercede the result of the recount. “If the recount is com-

Commissioner Vincent Alexander pleted, that doesn’t appear to me to be a likelihood,” Alexander said on Thursday in response to the media’s

request for clarity According to the gazetted recount Order, the commission, having already established that one collective declaration will be made at the end of the process, will discuss the 10 regional reports before they are acted upon by Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield. Alexander explained: “Based on that discussion we will say to the CEO, now that we’ve seen these 10 reports and expressed our views on these 10 reports, please proceed to the next stage. It’s kind of procedural.” The Order further states that the commission shall determine whether the CEO uses the data to submit a report, under Section 96 of the Representation of the People Act, for the general and regional elections to be

Commissioner Sase Gunraj declared. Although the Order states that the commission shall

make this determination, Alexander said that he does not foresee that there would be a situation the commission would not ask Lowenfield to present the report. He also doubts whether a case could arise whereby the commission would utilise a mixture of the second declaration by Mingo and the recount data. When it comes to the anomalies realised during the process on which the commission is yet to deliberate, he said that he foresees them being dealt with expeditiously. Speaking subsequently on the matter, opposition-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj said that he believes the opinion is floating about that the Observation Reports coming out of the recount will be used to discredit the recount data.

As such, he stated: “I dare say that the numbers generated by the recount are and will be the results of these elections. There is no room for consideration etcetera. If a contrary position is presented at a time subsequent to now, then I will deal with it. As I stand here, the results of this recount will be the results of the elections.” On the question of whether the political divide of the commission could lead to a different case, Gunraj said that he prefers not to deliberate on such a matter unless such a case arises. He stated: “The discussions in the commission which we have publicised is that the results of this recount process shall replace those declarations that are currently in the possession of the chair.”

GHRA urges clampdown on miners, Brazilians … to reduce spread of COVID-19 in Indigenous villages

INDIGENOUS villages are highly vulnerable to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and this vulnerability could be exacerbated if persons, particularly miners and residents of neighbouring Brazil, who test positive for the disease, knowingly enter those villages. It is against this background that the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) is suggesting that legal charges be instituted against miners and persons, who test positive for the disease in Brazil, and purposely visit Indigenous villages in Guyana. Just recently, a Guyanese man with Brazilian citizenship, who is the Rupununi’s first confirmed COVID-19 patient, fled the isolation facility at the Lethem Regional Hospital compound. The man, Hamlet Da Silva, lives in Brazil and he would make frequent trips across the border. The man discharged himself from the isolation facility during Monday night and crossed the border illegally. He was arrested in the town of BonFim on Tuesday morning by Brazil’s federal police. The Guyana Chronicle reported that news of Da Silva’s case has created much worry in sections of Region Eight. Concerns in the villages of Monkey Mountain and Paramakatoi spiraled on Tuesday, since the man travelled to those areas in a sick state a week ago to sell ‘tasso’ among other commodities. He was actively communicating with persons within the two villages, medical sources in the region noted. Reports are that the man spent six days at Monkey Mountain and he informed residents that he had malaria. As a consequence of this and other prevailing issues involving miners and truck-drivers, the GHRA, in a press statement, said the COVID-19 Health Emergency Committee of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) made a decision to reduce movement in South Rupununi. “Thanks to resolute action by Toshaos in the South,

national authorities are beginning to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation,” said the human rights body. The association believes that this realisation has its origins in the stand-off between communities and the authorities over miners being prevented from transiting the communities en route to their mine-sites. GHRA cited an incident last Sunday, when a truck driver/ miner forced his way through checkpoints on the basis of being given permission by the Regional Executive Officer (REO) and the Lethem police. The decisions taken at the level of the Region Nine committee, tacitly acknowledge the legal authority of Toshaos and Village Councils to determine who should access their communities. The association said the Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Nine, Carl Parker had acknowledged issuing passes to facilitate truck-drivers avoiding the curfew and criticised the Toshaos for exceeding their authority. Although the REO is reported as stating that such letters were only issued to persons in possession of a prior letter issued by either the Ministry of Natural Resources or Guyana Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC), senior spokespersons in the ministry told the GHRA that they are unaware of any such letters having been written. “The action of the Toshaos is hopefully setting the pace for the COVID-19 task force to adopt a far more stringent approach to the problem of Brazil being the most vulnerable and porous route for a major COVID-19 invasion in Guyana.” “The Bolsonaro Government’s irresponsible behaviour in dismissing the virus as a ‘slight flu’ has sent Brazilian death rates to be the seventh highest in the world, a current average of 1000 + per day, with Manaus an epi-centre,” said the GHRA. Moreover, the “ease” with which people can cross

the Takutu River and enter Guyana despite the border being officially closed, suggests that the security problem is still being addressed in a reactive, rather than pro-active manner. ESSENTIAL SERVICE “The controversial issue of mining being declared an ‘essential service’ is also at the centre of this problem. Many ordinary Guyanese are struggling to provide for their families while abiding by the lockdown, while miners driving 500 miles through Amerindian communities, putting many people at serious risk en route is considered an essential activity,” said the GHRA. This kind of contradiction discredits the official anti-COVID-19 strategy, fosters indignation and needs to be addressed urgently. The situation described reinforces the need to remove mining and mining-related activities from the list of essential services, which are exempt from some COVID-19 restrictions. GHRA, therefore, called on the COVID-19 task force to take immediate steps to address all of the issues which have surfaced in Region Nine. As with its initial response to the Toshaos, the authorities needed the stimulus of the COVID-19 infected Brazilian, who passed through many communities, before taking action. It is also noteworthy that the police in Lethem have warned they will start to prosecute people who break the curfew, said the GHRA. The association believes that should the virus really take hold in the Rupununi it will then definitely spread to the entire country. The association said the call for a complete lockdown of Lethem from coastal contact reflects the only realistic strategy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 15, 2020

CXC firm on July for CSEC, CAPE …warns against creating uncertainty in minds of students

STANDING firm with its decision to host the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) in July, the Barbados-based Caribbean Examination Council stated that there will be no further postponement of the exams since the decision was finalised by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). During a press conference via zoom with reporters, Dr. Wayne Wesley, the Registrar and CEO of Caribbean Examination Council, on Thursday, disclosed that council’s decision is final and there is no need to create uncertainty about the date. “The decision from CARICOM is clear is there is a date for the examinations now and this is not a time to create any level of uncertainty with the students or candidates who are being prepared, the examinations are July,” Dr. Wesley emphasised. Nevertheless, Dr. Wesley reassured that the examinations will be admitted via

E-paper (electronic paper) as well as paper-based to candidates who may not have access to the internet or any other form of technology. “As it relates to technology, where the infrastructure challenges are insurmountable, then those persons will have access to the paper-based modality to write their examinations so no one will be disadvantaged if they do not have the E-testing capabilities,” he stated. ELECTRONIC TESTING During the briefing, the council revealed that the electronic testing is nothing new and has been used by the council on several occasions to administer examinations, however, it has been modified to accommodate the current situation. The council further stated that the system is secure and have systems in place to ensure the integrity of the paper. “We have all the systems in place to facilitate and to ensure that we do not have any cheating incidents.” Additionally, to accom-

modate all scenarios, the council reassured in cases of power outages or any other

Following the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus, the council had postponed the

Dr. Wayne Wesley, the Registrar and CEO of Caribbean Examination Council

form of technical difficulties and emergencies the paper-based test will be on stand for students. The council also added that candidates and teachers alike can access a preview or an example of a model E-testing paper on the examination’s website.

exams which were originally set for May/June to a later date. The council revealed that the inaugural paper will not be administrated, and the grades will be determined by the candidates school-based assessments (SBA’s) and their performances on paper ones.

The Caribbean Examination Council revealed on Thursday that the integrity of the CSEC and CAPE examinations remains intact. This follows the recent decision by the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) to hold the exams in July. The Guyana Chronicle reported on Thursday that Guyana and at least three other countries, including Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, have raised concerns about the omission of the Paper Two component of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) this year, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Jamaica Gleaner reported on Thursday that earlier this week, Minister with responsibility for Education, Karl Samuda, said that Jamaica could not endorse the decision of its CARICOM partners, owing to the impact that COVID-19 has had on the education sector locally. The Jamaica Cabinet is to deliberate on the matter and arrive at a position. At a media briefing this

afternoon, CXC registrar Dr. Wayne Wesley said he was unable to speak on the stance taken by the Jamaica Government. When asked about what arrangements could be made for territories which have stated their inability to meet the July date, Wesley said: “All of those concerns would have been taken into consideration and where countries would have indicated serious challenges as it relates to COVID-19, then of course bi-lateral talks can be held as indicated in the press release from COHSOD,” the registrar explained. Further, he said countries have “sovereign authority” to determine their own course of action. The registrar noted that exams will be held in accordance with national health protocols on social distancing, sanitisation and the wearing of masks. A provisional timetable for the July exam is available on the council’s website.

300 Linden seniors benefit T&HD publishes COVID-19 from hamper distribution guidelines for maritime travel

APPROXIMATELY 300 hampers were distributed this week to senior citizens residing in Linden, Region 10. The distribution exercise, which forms part of the town’s golden jubilee celebration, was arranged by the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LMTC). The township of Linden turned 50 on April 29, however, most of this year’s activities are being hosted virtually as a result of the measures implemented to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. Mayor, Waneka Arrindell, told DPI that it is customary during Linden Town Week celebrations, to host a senior citizens’ luncheon where they would also distribute hampers, but as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the hampers will be delivered to the elderly residents. “It was truly an honour to be able to provide for our seniors and we are looking into receiving additional support to conduct a second phase,”

Some of the hampers that were distributed

Mayor Arrindell said. The Linden Mayor disclosed that the LMTC collaborated with Bosai Minerals, DEMBA Trade School, Hope is Rising Guyana, NAMILCO, Nand Persaud and Company, Republic Bank Limited and other local businesses to make the distribution a success. Additionally, an online

essay and reading competition are also being held in recognition of the anniversary. Several virtual entertainment events were held last week. Linden is celebrating its 50th anniversary under the theme, “Reclaiming our strength through unity.”

In compliance with COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No. 3) made pursuant to the Direction by the President given under the Public Health Ordinance cap 145, the Transport and Harbours Department wishes to reiterate the implementation of the following stringent measures to monitor domestic movement of persons to and from the islands, with specific emphasis on the Parika to Supenaam route: Two vessels will be allowed to travel between Supenaam Parika (RETURN TRIP) Supenaam – Parika Monday to Friday First departure (scheduled) 7:00 am Second departure (unscheduled) between 8:30 am – 10:00 am. Parika - Supenaam Monday to Friday First departure (unscheduled) between the hours of 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Second departure (scheduled) 2:00 pm To ensure the health and safety of all persons, please be further advised of the following that: 1) Priority will be given to CARGO vehicles, Medical/Emergency vehicles and vehicles authorized to travel by Management. 2) Small vehicles travelling on pleasure WILL NOT be allowed. 3) Passengers are asked to wear their

mask at ALL TIMES while onboard the vessel and maintain social/physical distancing. Failure to comply with these requirements, will result in a passenger (s) being denied re-boarding of the vessel. 4) Passengers will be subject to additional assessment on the purpose of their trip before being given permission to board the vessel. Please be reminded that once your travel is for pleasure or you DO NOT have CARGO you will be denied entry by authorities, including the Guyana Police Force. 5) Any persons permitted to travel to work for essential services under the COVID-19 Emergency Measures Notice shall have in his or her possession an official identification document and official work identification document or proof of workplace which must be supplied if requested by the Guyana Police Force prior to boarding. Please be reminded that the Transport and Harbors Department will continue the aforementioned schedule unless otherwise publicly informed. Please note that such restrictions on travel are for national health, safety and protection and persons are reminded to remain at home and adhere to the COVID- 19 Emergency Measures. The Management of Transport and Harbours Department sincerely regrets any inconvenience caused and wishes to thank the travelling public for their continuous cooperation as we seek to curb the spread of COVID-19.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 15, 2020

More than 400 ballot boxes processed to date … water-logged box from Region One still to dry

By Svetlana Marshall WITH over 400 ballot boxes processed to date since the start of the National Recount, of which 98 are from Region One (Barima-Waini), the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) may now have to make a difficult decision on how it will deal with the contents of the final box from that district, if they cannot be retrieved having been soaked. The ballot box, in question, came from Kariako, Moruca, Region One. Upon the opening of one of the containers on Wednesday May 6 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), the box was discovered with water in side due to a hole in the container. In making the disclosure then, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward said the contents of the box inclusive of ballots had been submerged in water. A decision was taken to drain the water out but not to open the box until it was time to count the votes from that polling block. Kariako has a voting population of less than 200 electorates. On Thursday, more than one week after the discovery was made, the Elections Commission took a decision to open the ballot box with the intention of completing the recounting process for Region One. There are a total of 99 ballot boxes from Region One. During a press briefing on the outskirts of the Conference Centre, where the recount is unfolding, Ward said the contents of the box were placed in the sun, a secured spot to dry. “So as we speak those contents are out of the box and placed into the sun, to see what we might be able to discern later this afternoon,” Ward said. Once dried, the Elections Commission, led by Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, will examine the contents of the box so as to determine whether the Secretariat can proceed to count the ballots therein. Asked what are the options available to the Commission in the event that the water damaged documents cannot be salvaged, Ward, in her response, said it is not for her to preempt the decision of the Elections Commission. “I think the Commission in its wisdom would have some fruitful deliberations on what would be the best decision in the interest of those electors whose votes are contained in that box.

Elections Commissioner Vincent Alexander I am sure that they will be able to make a wise decision on that,” Ward told reporters when pressed for answers. It’s all up to the Elections Commission she iterated. REVERT TO THE SOP Weighing in on the issue during a separate interview with the press, Elections Commissioner Sase Gunraj confirmed that the majority of the Commission inspected the waterlogged documents that were in the ballot box from Kariako. “The contents are being dried and as optimistic that I would like to be I am not sure how much would be retrieved or how much of the content could be retrieved from that box to ascertain, for the purposes of a recount,” Gunraj said. He proffered, however, that in the event the documents could not be salvage, the Elections Commission could revert to the Statement of Poll (SOP) for that electoral block. “So in the scenario that we cannot retrieve the contents of the box after it would have dried, etc, to count it then we can resort to the Statement of Poll,” Gunraj suggested. According to him of the 98 ballot boxes processed from District One, there has been no significant change in the contents of those boxes when compared with the Statements of Poll, initially published, and that of the Statements of Recount. “If you look at the trend, there have been no significant changes in the results particularly from that district in relation to the Statements of Poll and the Statements of Recount,” he submitted.

GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward BY-ELECTIONS BEST OPTION But Elections Commissioner Vincent Alexander disagreed with the proposal made by Gunraj while offering another school of thought. “I must confess that I have not been conclusive in my thought on this matter. A thought was brought up that probably in the case of that box we should go back to the SOP. My response was that that is a very practical approach,” Alexander said when asked what would be the Commission’s next steps in the event that the documents cannot be recovered. However, he added: “It’s a practical approach that would run in the face of the objective of the exercise. You can’t be doing a recount and for one reason or the other resort to the old count as a basis of determining that which you are recounting.

Elections Commissioner Sase Gunraj

So there is a contradiction there. So while I accept it is a very practical approach, I see a difficulty with that because it flies in the face of the very concept of a recount.” Pressed for another solution that could be possibly considered by the Elections Commission, Alexander suggested by-election within the electoral block from which the box came. “It is not impossible,” he posited while noting that the number of electors in the area is approximately 200 or less. But this proposal did not sit well with Commissioner Gunraj, who told reporters “I don’t believe the law caters for it.” Nonetheless, the Elections Commission is likely to deliberate on waterlogged documents today with the hope of arriving at a decision on how to proceed soon.

THE START OF A NEW REGION Notwithstanding that challenge, GECOM Secretariat is increasing the pace at which it is recounting the ballots within the ballot boxes, and with Region One almost completed, on Thursday, it commenced the counting of ballots from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice). “So now that Region One has been completed with the exception of that box, the two workstations that were initially assigned for the counting of Region One, they have commenced the count for Region 5,” GECOM’s PRO explained. On Thursday – Day 9 of the National Recount of the votes cast at the General and Regional Elections – a total of 54 ballot boxes were processed from Region One (Barima-Waini), Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Region 5 (Mahaica-Berbice). Of that lot, 5 were from Region One, 11 from Region Two, 17 from Region Three, 14 from Region Four and seven from Region Five. When added to those completed days prior, the figures show that 421 ballot boxes have been processed to date from a total of 2,339. As one region is completed, another region is added. There are a total of 10 Electoral Districts with Region Four being the largest with 879 ballot boxes, and as such, that district’s votes will continue to be simultaneously tabulated alongside the other regions.

Ward said in addition to the steps being taken to increase the number of workstations so as to increase the pace at which the ballot boxes are being processed, the Elections Commission revised the Checklist for the Recount, thereby removing three items that are considered irrelevant to the process. It has also compiled a list of 28 issues, which have arisen since the start of the recount, and offered solutions, so as to reduce the time spent on a single ballot box. “And so now that everyone hopefully is on the same page, we are closer and closer to minimizing and eradicating a lot of those issues that came up in the first week of this activity. So going forward we do not anticipate any major challenges in this regard. We hope that the decision of the Commission will really help us to position our self to really accelerate this process so that it comes to an expeditious exercise,” Ward told reporters. The Elections Commission decided on a National Recount having faced a number of challenges. In its order, gazette on May4, it explained that though the declarations of the results were made in accordance with Section 84 (1) of the Representation of the People Act, requests for recounts in a number of electoral districts were rejected, aborted, or held in abeyance. Further to that, a report detailing the results of the elections was submitted to the Chairman of the Elections Commission but that too was held in abeyance, and aspects of the election process challenged in the Court.

COVID-19 | Medical team to screen persons at several Region Eight communities

FOLLOWING reports that a Lethem resident, who tested positive for COVID-19 this week visited several Region Eight communities within the past two weeks, a team of medical officials are expected to undertake contact tracing in the region starting this weekend. The man, a Guyanese with Brazilian citizenship, tested positive for the virus after he turned up at the Lethem Regional Hospital on Friday feeling unwell. One day after his test returned positive, he fled the isolation facility at the hospital on Tuesday but was nabbed in Brazil hours later. Reports are that the man lied to medical staff at the Lethem Hospital

about his travel history as well as about his condition. He was tested days earlier in BonFim, Brazil for malaria and as his condition worsened he crossed the border illegally to Lethem on Friday. Following the man’s arrest in Brazil this week, details about his travels in the villages within Region Nine and Region Eight emerged. According to reports, the man travelled to the Region Eight village of Monkey Mountain from April 1-5 to conduct business which included the sale of the food item ‘tasso’ to persons there. On the way there, he stopped at another village and persons from oth-

er areas in the region also conducted business with the man. Reports are that medical officials in the villages which the man visited, have placed persons who were in contact with the man, on home quarantine. A full medical team will undertake an assessment of their conditions .The team is expected to arrive today. Guyana’s COVID-19 cases spiked over the weekend with 16 cases being recorded within a fourday period. To date, the country has recorded 113 positive cases from 1052 tests conducted since the first case was reported on March 11, 2020.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, May 15, 2020

Task Force to give report today on adding more recount stations By Gabriella Chapman

REPRESENTATIVES from Guyana’s National COVID-19 Taskforce, including a virologist, visited the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), on Thursday, to conduct their assessment on the possibility of expanding and increasing the number of workstations for the national recount of the March 2 elections. The intervention of the taskforce was requested by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), to ascertain whether or not the ACCC can accommodate an expansion and still be in keeping with the COVID-19 health ordinance. The interest in expanding is as a result of a slothful recount process, and GECOM wanting to increase the pace so as to stay within the allotted 25 days for the completion of the process. Following the site visit by the team, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward, told the media that no initial feedback was given by the team, but rather, a report will be prepared and submitted this morning to GECOM’s Chair. She said that even though no decision was made by the commission as to the number of workstations to be established, they still identified other areas in which they can save time. “Based on the guidelines and further discussions at the commission meeting today, we will be able to concretise the number of workstations

Elections Commissioner Vincent Alexander to be established and the methodology going forward, as to how these workstations will be allotted for the duration of this exercise…Just after the site visit by the task orce, the commission met and was exploring some of the possibilities as to how some of the time spent on any box, could be reduced. And we were examining some of these things on the check list. We have decided in cases where the official list of electors is absent from the box, the folio used by the presiding officer, be used in such an instance. So rather than there being a pause or delay and so on, in the process, to ensure that the process continues, that folio could be used since it will confirm the total as compared to the official list of electors,” Ward explained. She said that as part of this process, there is a ballot

box check list and the commission was also exploring how to reduce the time spent on going through that checklist. It was also mentioned that a few envelopes will no longer be checked, which have no relevance to the count or process as a means of minimising time. A meeting was to be had with the commission and the parties on Thursday, but that was no longer necessary, as the parties said that some of their issues were already resolved but they’re waiting to see the decision that will be made today. Adding to what Ward had shared with the media, GECOM’s Commissioner, Vincent Alexander said that there is a possibility that the added amount of new stations will be six, but is still to be confirmed and approved by the COVID-19 taskforce. “[The] COVID-19 [taskforce] is now to return the report and the feasibility of those sites, when that report is returned, then taking into consideration, security advice, and availability of the relevant equipment, then a decision will be made. That notwithstanding, the commission met and again reviewed certain aspects of the operation and has decided that we will not wait on the COVID-19 [taskforce] report to operationalise the things which we think can be done. And so for example, we looked at the checklist and determined that the last three items were not required, so there is no need for us to go to those envelopes to do checks. Whether the seal is returned

GECOM Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward or not, it has no impact on the count,” Alexander echoed. He said that in addition to COVID-19 and these prospective locations for the new site, he is also concerned about security. “...there is the matter of security. For example, on the southern side of the building there’s an entrance which allows the ballot boxes to come in and to be delivered to the various workstations. And there was a suggestion that the area there could be used as a workstation. And I think security is important so I wouldn’t recommend there,” Alexander said. However, he also noted that he is open to the advice of the people who are experts in that area. “I’m inclined to work with what is proposed by the people who are qualified,” he said.

Fallen soldier given teary-eyed send-off –– with full military rites in hometown New Amsterdam THE life of the late Lance Corporal Kevon Samuel Nicholson was celebrated on Thursday with a moving home-going service in his native New Amsterdam, where face masks and social distancing was the order of the day, and the doors of the Grace Temple Assembly of God Church were opened for the very first time since COVID-19 restrictions were imposed on the East Berbice township. Nicholson, 23, of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amster-

dam, along with fellow soldiers and Berbicians, Lance Corporal Tooney Peneux, 28, of Orealla Village, on the Corentyne River; and Private Shaqueel Denheart, 20, of Paradise Village, West Coast Berbice, died in the line of duty on the morning of Thursday, April 30, 2020, when a stack of pyrotechnics accidentally exploded at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF)’s Arms Store Complex at Base Camp Stephenson at Timehri, on the East Bank Demerara. He was the second of the

three soldiers who perished in the tragedy to have been buried so far, and like his colleague, Peneux, who was buried on Tuesday in his native Orealla, was accorded full military rites. During the course of his funeral service on Thursday, Nicholson’s climb up the military ranks, which began on June 7, 2017, was recounted by Lieutenant Colonel Selwyn Austin. Having completed the Basic Recruit Course, he See page 16

Deceased: Lance Corporal Kevon Nicholson

40 Lindeners placed before the court for curfew violation FORTY Lindeners were arrested and charged for breaking the 18:00 hours to 06:00 hours curfew, as ranks of Region Ten’s Police Division continue to be proactive in enforcing the mandatory regulation. Many of these curfew breakers were caught as a result of roadblocks, community patrols and responding to calls of persons breaking social distancing regulations for entertainment purposes. Speaking to DPI, Prosecutor Vernette Pindar, explained that the arrest campaign commenced on May 8 and since then, 40 persons have been arrested and placed before the Linden Magistrate’s Court through virtual hearings. They were fined. Pindar underscored that failure to pay the fines will result in persons being remanded to prison for up to three months. Those who refused to show up for court were charged in absentia. The prosecutor also disclosed that reports have been made of persons hosting house parties and other social gatherings indoors after curfew hours. She warned that the police will continue to respond to reports of these breaches and that the roadblocks and community patrols will be ongoing. Roadblocks are usually established at the Bamia Police Outpost, in Amelia’s Ward, the Wismar-Mackenzie Bridge and key sections in Wismar. Pindar reiterated the call for residents to adhere to the advisories implemented by the Public Health Ministry. “If you do not need to be on the road, stay at home. Stay sanitised because when we have to answer these reports, we are putting ourselves at risk.” Commander of Region 10, Hugh Winter, echoed Pindar’s call for compliance with the curfew and other regulations, reminding that the region has the second-largest amount of COVID-19 cases. Linden has recorded nine cases thus far with one death and one recovery.

Regions 3 and 6 to establish COVID-19 testing facilities –– as MoPH expands testing efforts

THE Ministry of Public Health will be establishing COVID-19 facilities in Region Three, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara and Region Six, East Berbice-Corentyne. The Ministry of Public Health has noted that confirmed cases of COVID-19 were recorded in both regions where the initial cases died. Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle, in the daily update on Thursday, commended the residents who have been utilising the COVID-19 facilities that were recently established at Paradise on the East Coast of Demerara and Herstelling on the East Bank of Demerara. Dr. Gordon-Boyle noted that as Region Four is the epicentre of the virus, the ministry specifically established these facilities to encourage more persons to come forward to learn their COVID-19 status and stop further transmission. “Those of you who have come forward to visit the locations in Herstelling and Paradise, I commend you for this brave effort… transmission can only be reduced or stopped if we can separate those who test positive from those who are not infected. So, we ask you to come forward, get tested and help us in this fight,” the DCMO said. Meanwhile, the Mobile units which were launched in April will be visiting the communities of La Parfaite Harmony on the West Bank of Demerara, and South Ruimveldt in Georgetown on May 16-17. Persons desirous of taking advantage of the opportunity can refer to the ministry’s Facebook page for a more detailed location of these units. (DPI)

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‘Protect the vulnerable –– FITUG urges gov’t, as fight population’ against COVID-19 continues

THE effects of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have been far-reaching, affecting persons directly and indirectly, so as the fight against this scourge continues, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has advised government to focus on protecting the vulnerable population. “Essentially, we must seek to protect the unemployed, the vulnerable, the poor, the elderly and others in need,” said FITUG in a press statement on Sunday. The federation believes that there is an urgent need to address the plight of this section of the population, especially given that there has been a consistent rise in the number of confirmed cases. This call from the federation also comes at a time when there has been talk about a possible “lockdown” of the country, something which health authorities denied having knowledge about. FITUG, nevertheless, said they learnt from several sources that the authorities are seeking to slow the spread of the disease through a “full lockdown” of the country. According to the federation, on the surface, it may appear to be a prudent idea but such a policy also is “fraught with severe challenges” as well. A lockdown for the poor can be most harmful, said the

federation. “Already, the crisis has seen many workers being rendered jobless, while for other Guyanese, their incomes have been significantly curtailed. With a lockdown, many of those who find themselves in such situations and now dependent on others for their sustenance, could well now see their bad situations taking a turn for the worse. Indeed, it could well aggravate further the perils that many are facing now-a-days,” said FITUG. The federation believes, a lockdown, if it is really being considered, cannot occur in abstract and divorced from present-day realities. The federation, very early in the crisis, had suggested several initiatives aimed at easing the woes of the Guyanese people, who are significantly challenged at this time. FITUG, however, argued that government did not act on the suggestions. And, again, the federation listed a plethora of things, which could be implemented by government to improve the lives of vulnerable persons during the pandemic. Among the suggestions was the distribution of hampers comprising food, cleaning, medicines and vitamins, masks and other essential items to every vulnerable household. Government had already acted on this front, and through the National

COVID-19 Task Force and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), had distributed hampers to hundreds of households across the country. The federation also advised government to pay all utility bills for vulnerable households for the remainder of the year; provide stimulus grants to all Guyanese; and assist vulnerable Guyanese in their obligations to financial institutions and hire purchase creditors. While payment of utility bills has not been ongoing, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) had announced the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on utilities, and financial institutions have offered moratorium of up to six months, to their clients. Additionally, government had announced that a stimulus package is being considered, but it would only be a possibility after the protracted electoral process is completed. Another suggestion by FITUG, which government has already employed, is transportation for frontline workers and the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to those workers. Government has already initiated the process of “bringing home” Guyanese students, who are studying abroad, something which FITUG also suggested.

Among some of the things suggested, which government has not already acted on, are the waiving of all taxes and duties on all food and other essential items for the remainder of the year; an increase of the income tax threshold to $200,000 per month and the waiver of value added taxes on electricity, water, telephone and internet services for the remainder of the year; and the approval of certain additional payments to all frontline workers, especially those in the medical sector, who are providing dedicated service in this time of crisis. “The federation, at this time, wishes those affected a speedy recovery as we have high expectations that they would benefit from appropriate and timely treatment. We, at the same time, must express our deep worry and concern regarding the prevailing situation. “We, at this time, believe that we can surmount the COVID-19 crisis but it requires us to work together and to adhere to all the precautions. Our adherence, we recognise, for many is easier said than done but could be realisable with the assistance of the State. Indeed, the administration has let us all down. We, nevertheless, urge everyone to exercise caution and seek to stay safe,” said FITUG.

Fallen soldier ... From page 15

was posted to the Fourth Engineer Battalion, where he was afforded the opportunity to participate in the construction of roads, bridges, and airstrips among other infrastructural projects. On sucessfully completing the Grade Three Combat Engineering course, he primarily functioned as a Field Engineer. “A very quiet, disciplined, friendly, and hardworking individual, who

was always willing to respond to the call of duty,” were some of the qualities Lieutenant Colonel Austin recalled that Kevon brought to the job. He related that as the Unit continued to train ranks to improve capacity and competency, Kevon was selected to attend the Battlefield Engineer’s Course conducted by British Royal Engineers in June 2018. Then, in 2019, when the South Rupununi was facing

a drought, he was part of a joint humanitarian operation conducted in conjunction with military counterparts from both Guyana and Brazil, which saw the building of eight artesian wells and the upgrading of 30 kilometers of roadways. And, during Guyana’s Independence celebrations, Nicholson was involved in the journey to Mount Ayanganna in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) to construct a monument there.

GDF ranks bearing the casket in which reposes the remains of Lance Corporal Kevon Nicholson

The late Lance Corporal Kevon Nicholson’s siblings comfort each other as they gaze at the unopened casket bearing the remains of the baby of the family

Lieutenant Colonel Selwyn Austin

“His strength and determination was evident, as he endured the challenges. Kevon’s hard work, dedication and discipline was further recognised, as he was recommended and promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal,” Lieutenant Colonel Austin said in closing. “We have lost a team-player, a dedicated, committed, extremely friendly, and hardworking soldier. Lance Corporal Kevon Nicholson, as we bid you farewell, we salute you for your service to the Fourth Engineer Battalion of the Guyana Defence Force, and Guyana at large,” he added, before going on to extend

his condolences, on behalf of Chief of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West; Officers, Warrant Officers other ranks and civilians of the Guyana Defence Force to Nicholson’s parents, siblings and other relatives and friends. The funeral service, which was conducted by Army Chaplain, Rev. J Nicholas Corbin, was punctuated by selected scripture readings, and special renditions by Otaphia Brushe, and members of the Grace Temple Worship Team. The late soldier was interred at the Stanleytown Cemetery, on East Bank Berbice, just outside of New Amsterdam.

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Making lemonade out of lemonslemons-literally ‘Kidpreneur’ starts business at the age of 10

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eing an entrepreneur in today’s society is being highly promoted across the world, because of the plethora of benefits it has on an individual’s life and their contribution to their families and their country. Apart from the financial benefits, there are other positive outcomes of entrepreneurship. But is there an

age criteria for a startup business? An 11-year-old Guyanese boy believes that no one is too young to start a business since he started his own venture at the age of 10. Last year, Orion Dolphin founded his own lemonade business "Orion's Elemonator Stand" which is based in Georgetown. In an interview with ‘The Buzz’, Orion said that he was inspired by his mom to take the entrepreneurial leap. “I was encouraged by my mom to sign up for a business camp hosted by the Small Business Bureau, and started to develop my business plan and researched on a product, lemons, that is so essential for our health,” he said. “My Fresh lemonade drink is sugar-free but is sweetened with honey and infused with fresh fruits… I originally sold my first batch of lemonade at a local expo which became a big hit.” And from that expo, his business became popular

Story continued on Page 20 Orion Dolphin

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Orion Dolphin and his mom, Sophia Dolphin

The calm in the storm 18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 15, 2020 Chief Executive Officer of Zen Events, Surida Nagreadi

Zen Events promoting self-care

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ith many now at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, remaining calm and keeping active can be a challenge, however Owner of Zen Events, Surida Nagreadi is spreading peace of mind to as many homes as she can with her business. The woman’s business is a well-known ‘Sip & Paint’ event, where attendees taste wines and create paintings. However, due to the pandemic, persons are not allowed to congregate as such this as prompted Nagreadi to take Zen events to her customers home instead with at home painting kits and self-care packages. “What we offer, is a one of kind crafting experiences that we bring to individuals, to couples, to families, basically anything that we do self-care is fundamental so we are bringing different events which we could have not done now because of the Covid-19 situation [to people’s homes],” she stated. The self-care baskets which vary in prices come with scented candles, novels, journals, stylish pens and markers, luxury soaps, colouring books, bathing salts, facial masks, and body care products. Meanwhile, the at-home painting kits consist of a canvas, several brushes and acrylic paint along with instructions. Nagreadi is also offering painting kits for children to help them keep busy while exploring their creative skills amidst the closure of schools. Noting that Zen events is above the norm, Nagreadi told the Buzz that her business is not only about just sipping wine and painting but is more about letting go of the anxieties and depression of the day to day life by

promoting self-love and self-improvement. “There are so many things that go into Zen Events. It’s not just about business, it's not just about profit, it's honestly helping people to be better…I came up with the idea to do Zen events to give persons the chance to try something new and allow persons to indulge in an activity where they can focus on themselves,” she stated. The 30-year-old entrepreneur revealed that her business’s success came as a surprise nevertheless it has become a family-friendly activity that are bringing families and friends together in the current health crisis and for that she is grateful. “The moment since we launched it has been such a success because so many persons have been reaching out to us for the kits and it has become something that persons can do as a family,” Nagreadi told the Buzz. Nagreadi stated that soon, Zen Events will be mixing things up by adding different products including books to keep the mind busy during the pandemic, she added that she will soon be offering discounts and special deals for nurses and other health care workers who have been working tirelessly on the frontline in the pandemic. Aside from Sip & Paint, Zen Events have planned children’s Spelling Bee competitions and Scavenger Hunt and Camping before the COVID-19 outbreak in Guyana. Nagreadi, had recently added a crafted culinary experience to her ‘Sip and Paint’ events where her customers were served with delicious food while sipping on some fine wine and exploring the arts.

A scene from one of Zen Events popular “Sip and Paint”

The self-care packages being offered to customers during the pandemic

Sweet treats right to your home

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Young entrepreneur uses ingenuity during pandemic

S om e cu pc ak es made by Gianella

17-year-old Gianella Gajie

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ith the global pandemic having adverse effects on citizens, some are finding ways and means of riding the wave. These efforts are commendable as our people, even the young, are striving to have productive lives through this pandemic. Young Gianella Gajie has recently started her cupcake business and is delivering orders to homes of families, even as we are in the face of a deadly virus. The 17-year-old young woman said that it has always been her desire to start the business, and this downtime came as the opportune period to afford her the time to make a start. Gajie said that growing up, she was exposed to two different lifestyles, as she spent half of her life in Region Nine, a rural community, and the other half in Georgetown, and urban city. “Growing up I found going on adventures amusing. Remember it’s region nine where you’ll find vast savannahs and mountains, so I really liked the adventures. Now living in town with my grandmother was totally different. I found being in the kitchen and learning new things quite awesome. Baking was the first thing I learnt to do in the kitchen and I grew fond of that… You can say I lived a double life which moulded me into the individual I am today,” she said. Being passionate about being successful,

reaching the top, achieving all her goals in life and making the people around her proud of what she can or will accomplish, are the reasons the young woman said she is driven to be an entrepreneur. “I don’t like to be discouraged and I don’t like negative people around me. I love to motivate others to aim for the stars and be the best they can be. At the age of 12, I noticed that these are the things I’m constantly talking about and doing, to have my own business and be successful, and I was out with mom getting some stuff and I noticed that even during the pandemic people are still making an effort to have an income, they are selling from home,” she said. “Now starting a cupcake business was one of my goals but I wanted to wait until after this is over but I don’t know when that will be. So I figured why not start now. I came home and actually started working on it. I find that I’m good at baking cupcakes and I’m a lover of them.” And now that people will be home and they wouldn’t have to leave to go out, she said her business can come to their aid through her delivery service. Even though her love for baking and being a businesswoman is at the forefront of her current list of priorities, Gajie said her ultimate career goal is to be a general surgeon.

Making lemonade out of... of...

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Continued from Page 17

and started to grow rapidly over the years. Little Orion, who is a straight ‘A’ student at Mae’s Schools, said that he enjoys being a ‘kidpreneur’ because he can meet amazing customers and interact with them one on one, and provide a healthy and satisfying drink reminding people of the many health benefits of lemons. “I strongly believe that ‘when life gives you lemons, make lemonade’, and that encourages optimism and a positive ‘can-do’ attitude in the face of adversity or misfortune... So get out there and be awesome and don't forget there is power in the juice of laughter,” he said cheekily. His mother, Sophia Dolphin said that as a single mom of three, her goal is to teach all three of her kids about entrepreneurship and create opportunities for them to start earning at an early age. “I believe entrepreneur-

ship is a huge but underused option, especially in our school curriculum. Teaching entrepreneurship to young kids equips them with the indispensable foundational knowledge and skills such as risk-taking and emotional intelligence. It also develops their appreciation for self-employment and financial stability,” Dolphin said. And since the startup of Orion's Elemonator Stand, she said she noticed significant changes in her son. “He is more responsible and driven and can manage money better and he communicates well with his clients. He comes up with the ideas for his business, he does his own posting and even encourages his customers in this pandemic,” Orion’s mom said. The ‘kidpreneur’ said his future plan is to expand promoting and providing more natural products and have his

products bottled and on the shelves of all leading outlet. Notwithstanding his entrepreneurial dreams, Orion also aspires to be a pilot and own his own plane so he can help children in remote areas, and still run his own business. Currently, the business works by orders and deliveries and he supports the local fruit/ lemon and honey farmers to make his lemonades. “We currently sell the lemonade in reusable containers especially glass containers to promote recycling and protecting the environment so labelling/packaging is in the pipeline. And just a little secret, we have a new flavour coming soon - Blueberry Lemonade,” his mom disclosed. His business falls under a division of Glosee Marketing Agency and that’s the website people can go to follow his business and journey.

‘United We Fight’

ICCR releases musical rendition promoting peace The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) released a beautiful motivational musical creation titled “United We Fight” on May 12, 2020. In a statement by the organisation sent from the High Commission of India in Guyana, the ICCR stated that the project brought bringing together famous composers, musicians and singers from across India, contributing recordings from their homes. “This song is a rendition weaving English lyrics into the notes and beats of Indian classical music, spreading the essence of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - the world is one family. It carries with it the message of hope, joy, resilience, fighting spirit and never say die attitude of all in our collective fight against COVID 19,” the release stated. The organisation acknowledged that the coronavirus has impacted the world and has affected persons beyond boundaries, class, colour, religion and belief systems. “This composition is an expression of our

deep appreciation and gratitude to all brave COVID-19 warriors world over risking their lives to protect ours. It is a homage to all the artists and performers who represent the cultural legacy of our countries and who contribute to keep our cultural heritage vibrant and alive, especially in these difficult times. It is a tribute to and recognition of the countless individuals who are silently helping neighbours, strangers and people around them in these times of distress. A message to the world that together we shall surely win the fight against the Coronavirus and many such challenges that humanity and the human race faces,” the release stated. The organisation encouraged persons to light a candle, cheer the frontline workers, donate to the needy, spare time for the elderly, volunteer- or do something that helps to inspire people in this difficult time. A link to the song can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/ folders/1S43i-c6VloSiz_edsy9TB5BEwlEj3fiL

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 15, 2020

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (FRIDAY MAY 15, 2020)

COMPLIMENTS OF XTRA ENERGY DRINK - STABROEK BAZAAR (Tel: 683-9500) &CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Mahmudullah-5/51 (St. Vincent, 2009) (2)Pedro Collins-5/26 (Dhaka, 2002) Today’s Quiz: (1) What is the highest individual Test score made by a BANG player against the WI to date?? (2) What is the highest score made by a WI player in a Test against Bangladesh to date? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

CWI open to Windies... CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

sion from our board of directors whether to go through with that tour or not.” Grave said the West Indies has not set a deadline for the ECB to decide on its end whether the tour is still possible. However, he said there are some specific arrangements which need to be made. “We fully expect the quarantine for two weeks, but within our discussions with the ECB we would expect to be in a facility that allows us to train outdoors, so

we’re talking about cricket venues that have hotel accommodation on the site, and therefore the entire practice facility as well as hotel accommodation would be in a bio-secure environment,” he said. “We’ve said to the ECB we want four weeks minimum, from landing, to prepare and to acclimatise and get used to the conditions. Obviously, that would involve testing and quarantine as well. So, there’s really no deadline from us, as it’s very much an England home tour. Any deadlines would really be dictated by the ECB and their calendar,” added Grave who said he was hopeful the series would be held. CWI chief selector Roger Harper who also appeared on Mason and Guest, said thought was being given to the composition of a squad for the series. “We’ve contacted a number of players to tell them that there’s a possibility that this tour could be on, keep yourself in shape and that you’ll be considered,” he said. The ECB announced late last month that no professional cricket will be played in England and Wales until at least July 1, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It said the start of the season remained subject to ongoing advice from government and health experts, and continued consultation with all broadcast partners to determine the optimum way to fulfil fixtures both domestically and internationally. Apart from hosting West Indies, England are scheduled to play Pakistan, Australia and Ireland this summer.

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Hamilton named Britain’s wealthiest sports star

Mercedes driver Hamilton won a sixth world title last year.

(BBC) - Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton has been named Britain’s wealthiest sports star in the 2020 Sunday Times Rich List. The 35-year-old’s wealth increased by £37M in the past year, to £224M, making him the wealthiest

sportsperson in the list’s 32-year history. Golfer Rory McIlroy - worth £170M - was the only other sports star in the main list of Britain’s 1 000 richest persons. Sport dominated the Young Rich List with 18 of the 50 places.

Boxer Anthony Joshua is the only non-footballer on the list, made up of those aged 30 or under. The 30-year-old is worth £107M with Real Madrid and Wales forward Gareth Bale - also 30 - the only sportsperson ahead of him.

Gayle’s possible sanctions to be used as general warning to other players By Clifton Ross AFTER Chris Gayle decided to reveal a few skeletons in the Jamaica Tallawahs closet following his axing from the franchise, recent speculations about possible sanction could pose as a warning for other players who might be interested in taking such a route in the future. Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Ricky Skerritt recently said that he believed the veteran left-hander could face some sort of sanction as his actions were deemed disruptive in accordance with the rules of the game. A few weeks back, Gayle called out Tallawahs owner Krish Persaud, coach Ramnaresh Sarwan and team executive Jeff Miller, as co-conspirators behind his ousting from the franchise he once helped to two Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) titles. Now, with the ‘Universe Boss’, being the first high-profile cricketer to ever come out over the 7 editions with such allegations towards management or/and coach, his backlash could set the benchmark for any other player who would likely risk such a move. The legendary 50 Overs and T20 opener is somewhat of cricket royalty, considering his immense contributions over the years in all

formats and of recent T20 Leagues of cricket. Such a godly figure in the world of cricket being caught up in such a fiery fiasco could see Gayle being used as a prime example for the other players who might consider such a move should things go sour in the future. Skerritt said that due to Gayle’s affiliation or any or Regional player’s with CWI, it’s necessary for the board to keep one eye fixated on the situation. Should Gayle pull up a big sanction of some sort, any other cricketer rated or ranked below will now have second thoughts on blowing the whistle on shady behind-thescenes moves. Also, given the Jamaican’s stardom it will be interesting to see how the man himself handles any sort of punishment dished out to him by the League, whose officials are said to be currently exploring options regarding what should be done. While this situation could have more twists, the next key move will be to see how the CPL authorities handle such a seemingly interpersonal battle between a player and his former franchise. Meanwhile, the Tallawahs have already cleared the air on the issue, citing the move as strictly a business deal with no personal vendettas or mismanagement behind it.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 15, 2020

England return to training next week as West Indies series moves closer

(ESPNCricinfo) - England men’s players will move one step closer to a return to international cricket next week, when they resume training in controlled environments at a range of venues across the country. The announcement comes in the wake of official government advice, published on Wednesday, which sets out the safety protocols and social-distancing measures necessary to safeguard the players and staff during the COVID-19 outbreak. And with a possible seven weeks to go until the delayed first Test against West Indies is earmarked to get underway behind closed doors, a squad of 30 players - with a red-ball focus at this stage - will begin to assemble at seven venues across the country from Wednesday onwards, to resume individual skills-based training programmes. The move is intended to mitigate the potential of injury for England’s players, who have not set foot on a cricket field since the abandonment of the Sri Lanka tour, midway their first warm-up match in Colombo on March 12. The players’ initial focus will be

on “individual field-based skills”, with full nets sessions deferred for a further two weeks, until the bowlers have reached their desired workload after having their fitness regimes interrupted by two months in lockdown. Although the venues have not yet been confirmed, it is understood that Trent Bridge, Edgbaston, Emirates Old Trafford, Kia Oval, Chester-le-Street, Taunton and Hove are among those that have been earmarked for the initial period, with four more to be utilised when batting and wicket-keeping practice resumes. At first, the players will be required to train individually on a staggered basis, with a coach, a physio and, where possible, a strength and conditioning coach in attendance. To assist with these one-on-one activities, ECB will fund the short-term appointment of several county coaches, many of whom are currently furloughed. “These are the first steps for players’ return to training ahead of international cricket potentially resuming later this summer,” said Ashley Giles, England men’s managing director.

“The safety of players, staff and our community is our first priority throughout this protocol. We are committed to adhering to public health guidelines and Government directives intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “To be clear, we will only train and potentially play cricket behind closed doors if we know it is absolutely safe to do so and is fully supported by the Government. “We are in constant dialogue with players, coaches and counties to determine what is possible during this period and what facilities will be available to us. We are thankful that we have a united front across all of cricket’s stakeholders to prepare the players in a safe and secure environment.” To minimise the risk of infection during this period, strict social-distancing and hygiene protocols will be observed. The temperature of all participants will be taken before they are allowed to take place in training sessions; public areas such as dressing rooms and venue facilities will be closed, and the players and support staff will be asked to arrive at the venues in their training gear.

In the event of injury to any player during the training sessions, medical officers will be required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), which will be sourced and funded by ECB. No media outlets will be permitted to attend the sessions, although ECB’s communications team will distribute imagery and video where appropriate. Giles admitted that the circumstances for England’s players remained “far from ideal”, but he acknowledged that the timing of the government guidelines had been helpful in framing the conditions for their return to action. “We are working back seven weeks from what could be the first Test match,” Giles said. “We know that isn’t confirmed at this point but we have to give our bowlers enough time to get their loads up and get some overs back in their legs. “We are going to be asking approximately 30 players to go back to training so there is no official selection process at the moment. We will need a larger group of players, given we are planning for the strictest of conditions behind closed doors.

McGregor ‘praying’ for Khabib’s father

Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov has coached his son Khabib for most of his life.

(BBC) - CONOR McGregor has put rivalries aside by “praying for the recovery” of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father. Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, who is also Khabib’s coach, is in a critical condition in their native Russia. The 57-year-old is reported to be in a medically induced coma after suffering complica-

tions with pneumonia. McGregor criticised Khabib this week but tweeted: “Very saddened on hearing this news. A true martial genius!” McGregor was beaten by Khabib at UFC 229 in October 2018 and the pair have often been linked with a rematch. Khabib remains unbeaten after being unable to fight Tony

Ferguson at UFC 249. Having been treated initially in his native Dagestan, army veteran Abdulmanap was flown to a military hospital in Moscow when his condition worsened. The former wrestler has not just coached Khabib, 31, for most of his life but several other world champions across different combat disciplines, including current UFC fighter

Islam Makhachev. In a statement, UFC president Dana White said: “Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov is a true martial artist who lives a life of pride, honour and respect. “I’m saddened to hear about his current state. My thoughts are with Abdulmanap and the Nurmagomedov family as he continues to fight.”

“We will need to take a bigger group of players in with us whether that be to cover injury, for net bowlers, or for practice matches.” As per the government’s protocols, all players and support staff will have to have “actively opted in” to the training programme and should not be penalised if they feel uncomfortable with the conditions. However, Giles insisted that no-one had yet come forward to express their reluctance to take part. “It may happen and that’s fine,” he said. “These are different circumstances and there will be no prejudice. It is what it is, it’s an individual choice, but I hope we can put things in place and an environment that’s safe enough for guys to trust us that they can go back and take those first tentative steps to cricket.” ECB would continue to liaise with the 18 first-class counties to ascertain when a ‘back-totraining’ protocol could be rolled out for the county game. Further updates are expected towards the end of the month, with all professional and recreational cricket remaining on hold until July 1 at the earliest.

CWI open to Windies players ‘‘quarantined quarantined’’ for England tour (CMC) – Cricket West Indies (CWI) is open to West Indies players being quarantined for the tour of England to come off, but it would want four weeks of preparation and has outlined that and other considerations to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). That confirmation came Tuesday from CWI CEO Johnny Grave who said the ECB would report next Monday, May 18, on their proposals for the tour going forward. West Indies were scheduled to begin a three-Test tour of England on June 4 but the COVID-19 pandemic has forced a postponement. No new date has been announced but media reports have indicated that the ECB is looking at July 8 for the start of the series. Monday’s virtual

meeting between the ECB and CWI will come a week after the United Kingdom government released a document entitled ‘Our Plan to Rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Strategy’ which stated that sport behind closed doors for broadcast could resume on June 1. “In light of what UK government announced a day or so ago, we expect to hear from the ECB in terms of much more progress in developing their plan for what would be, in their opinion, a safe tour,” Grave said on the Mason and Guest radio show here on Tuesday night. “Obviously, the first thing that the ECB needs to get is the UK government clearance on that tour and then it will be for us to consider the plan, consult with the players and ultimately get a deciSEE PAGE 23

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday May 15, 2020

CWI refutes claims of abandoning injured player

(CMC) – Cricket West Indies (CWI) has refuted claims by former bowler Shaquana Quintyne that she was abandoned by the region’s governing body for cricket after being injured three years ago. CEO Johnny Grave on Tuesday night described her allegations, levelled in an interview with the Barbados Today online publication here, as “hugely disappointing and … massively damaging to our reputation”. Far from leaving Quintyne to fend for herself after she sustained a “dreadful” injury during a West Indies Women’s training camp at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua in 2017, Grave said CWI footed the bill for her surgeries. The 24-year-old former Barbados and West Indies cricketer recalled that the cruciate ligaments in her right knee tore when she dived to stop a ball while fielding at extra-cover during a practice session. The devastating injury

brought the right-arm legspin bowler’s promising international career to an end, and she claimed that although the incident occurred while she was a contracted player, CWI had abandoned her. However, Grave denied that was the case and described the Barbados Today article as “misleading”. “It’s hugely disappointing for me to read a story that is so far removed from the truth,” he said on the Mason and Guest radio programme, insisting that CWI had gone to great lengths to care for West Indies players. “I’ll refute it in the strongest possible terms. We have provided enormous financial support and medical support for Shaquana…. I won’t go into details but it is fair to say we have provided significant financial assistance and medical support and paid huge sums of money for her to try and get her career back and get back to full fitness.” However, Grave did admit that the injury sustained by the young cricketer, who

Former Barbados and West Indies cricketer Shaquana Quintyne

made her debut for the West Indies in 2011 when she was just 15, was one from which it is extremely difficult to return to full fitness. “A cruciate knee ligament injury is one of the worst any sportsperson can get. And,

therefore, to come back from injury like that she had to do more than one operation. A horrible situation for her - one that you would never want any player to go through in one’s career,” he said. “She required multiple

operations and CWI paid for those operations. That’s a fact.” Grave pointed out that while there was no insurance policy in 2017 that would have covered Quintyne’s injury, as there is now, CWI dealt with the-then 21-yearold as if such a policy was in place. Quintyne had also complained that she lost her contract a few months after the injury, after having scored 482 runs and taken 35 wickets in 40 ODIs and playing 45 T20 matches in which she amassed 182 runs and took 39 wickets for the regional team. “She did get injured and when it came to awarding the new 15 contracts to players she wasn’t part of that 15,” Grave acknowledged, although stressing that CWI still continued to take care of Quintyne, paying her for 52 weeks after the injury. Quintyne told Barbados Today that she has filed a lawsuit against CWI, but

Grave said while there had been exchanges with her representatives previously there had been no discussion in over a year. “Certainly, we’re not aware of any legal action filed by her or on her behalf,” he said. Quintyne played her last International match against India at the Vijayawada Stadium in November 2016. She said she is making preparation for life after cricket, with the hope of becoming a personal trainer at some point. “In that way, I will still be associated with sports and will be making a contribution to persons who are playing some form of sports or those who are just interested in pursuing a healthy lifestyle,” she told Barbados Today. That, Grave said, was the “only positive” he had taken from the article. “It sounds like she’s recovered from her injury and is making the transition to the new career,” the CWI CEO said.

Four players retained by Jamaica Tallawahs THE Jamaica Tallawahs have announced the Caribbean players they will be retaining for the 2020 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL). International retentions and signings will be announced at a later date. This year teams can retain as many players from their 2019 squads as they wish. They could also transfer players to other teams and sign emerging players. The Tallawahs have chosen to retain or sign four Caribbean players ahead of the CPL draft in Andre Russell (Jamaica), Rovman Powell (Jamaica), Oshane Thomas (Jamaica) and Chadwick Walton (Jamaica) Jefferson Miller, CEO of the Tallawahs, said, “The Tallawahs organisation will be seeking to rebuild in 2020. We are extremely excited to have Andre Russell back for another year. Andre was recently named as the leading T20 cricketer in the world by the 2020 edition of Wisden

Cricketers’ Almanack.” He added, “We are delighted for the opportunity to retain Oshane Thomas and Rovman Powell, both rising stars in West Indies and world cricket. I’m looking forward to having the veteran Chadwick Walton back in the dressing room, Chadwick brings a wealth of leadership experience to the team and has been a dominant player over the years in the CPL. Overall we are looking forward to a successful CPL 2020 and to returning the championship to Jamaica.” The CPL is scheduled to take place between August 19 and September 26 but the tournament organisers are currently watching the current situation with COVID-19 closely and are liaising with medical advisors and governments. A decision on whether the tournament can proceed as planned, or at a different time, will be made as soon as possible.

In this handout image provided by CPL T20, Oshane Thomas (Jamaica Tallawahs) celebrates the dismissal of Carlos Brathwaite (St Kitts & Nevis Patriots) during Match 26 of the 2017 Hero CPL at Sabina Park on August 30, 2017 in Kingston, Jamaica. (Photo by Randy Brooks - CPL T20 via Getty Images)

Gayle’s possible Gayle’ sanctions to be used as general warning to other players players

Chris Gayle

See story on page 24

England return to training next week as West Indies See story series moves closer on page 26

Cricket West Indies CEO Johnny Grave PAGE 26

CWI open to Windies players ‘quarantined quarantined’’ for England tour

Jos Buttler practises his glove-work at England training session. (Getty Images) Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020