Issuu

MONDAY 15th June, 2020

The art of ‘flaking off’

No.106030

SEE PAGE 03

–– President says opposition applied sly tactics to alter elections outcome

“I’m aware that the technique that was employed by the Opposition has been what is called ‘flaking off’. They don’t try to have grand larceny; when you calculate 2,339 [ballot boxes], they just want to flake off 15 there, flake off 20 here, flake off 50 there,” President Granger told journalists on Sunday during an interview at State House.

---bloated OLE was backbone for electoral wrongdoings

Over 265,000 votes flawed …Lowenfield says in report

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GECOM reviews CEO’s report today …President Granger says massive irregularities, electoral fraud could lead to nullification

One dead, another seriously injured ...in Corentyne smash-up

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President David Granger

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 15, 2020

GECOM to review CEO’s report today …President Granger says massive irregularities, electoral fraud could lead to nullification

GECOM Chairman, Justice Claudette Singh, S.C, CCH (centre) flanked by Commissioners of the Elections Commission. From left are: Robeson Benn, Bibi Shadick, Charles Corbin, Sase Gunraj, Vincent Alexander and Desmond Trotman (Adrian Narine photo)

By Svetlana Marshall DELIBERATIONs on the Chief Elections Officer (CEO)’s Report on the National Recount could result in the 2020 General and Regional Elections being nullified due to the widespread irregularities and allegations of voter impersonation that have been uncovered, a move that would, undoubtedly, land Guyana in “uncharted waters,” President David Granger has said. That deliberation is expected to commence today (June 15) when the Chair of the Elections Commission, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh meets with the six Elections Commissioners -- Vincent Alexander, Sase Gunraj, Charles Corbin, Robeson Benn, Desmond Trotman and Bibi Shadick -- at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)’s Headquarters on High and Cowan Streets, Kingston. In the Report, which comprises a tabulation of the votes recounted and a Summary of Observation Reports for each of the 10 Electoral Districts, Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield indicated that the General and Regional Elections held on March 2,

President David Granger 2020 lacked credibility due to 4,864 suspected cases of voter impersonation, and more than 2,000 anomalies that have impacted well over 200,000 votes across the 10 Electoral Districts. Due to the overwhelming number of anomalies, and instances of voter impersonation, he concluded that the Elections did not satisfy the criteria of impartiality, fairness and compliance with the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act. UNCHARTED WATERS While acknowledging GECOM’s independence, President Granger said that the Elections Commission could either instruct the CEO to compile a report for dec-

laration, on the basis that the information contained in his Report on the National Recount is factual and credible, in its view, or it could decide that as a result of the “huge body of irregularities” cited in the Report on the National Recount, the basis does not exist for a declaration to be made. “I think they can very well say that we cannot make a declaration, because the information indicates that the process has been badly flawed,” President Granger told journalists during an interview at State House on Sunday. Such a move, he posited, would land Guyana in “unTURN TO PAGE 11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 15, 2020

The art of ‘flaking off’

―President says opposition applied sly tactics to alter elections outcome ― bloated OLE was backbone for electoral wrongdoings By Lisa Hamilton WITH the report of the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, indicating that the elections were riddled with illegalities and anomalies, President David Granger said that his party has taken note of the “flaking off” strategy applied by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) - the primary beneficiary of the said wrongdoings. “I’m aware that the technique that was employed by the opposition has been what is called ‘flaking off’. They don’t try to have grand larceny. When you calculate 2,339 [ballot boxes] they just want to flake off 15 there, flake off 20 here, flake off 50 there,” the President told journalists on Sunday during an interview at State House. He continued: “They expect that somebody will ignore a 15 here but when you multiply it by 2,339 [ballot boxes] it’s more than flaking off; it is a practice which does tremendous damage to the integrity of the poll and that is why some people are happy with a bloated list.” The CEO’s report was submitted to the Elections Commission on Saturday. In each of the summary Obser-

vation Reports, it was stated that that due to the anomalies and instances of voter impersonation, the March 2, 2020 Elections did not satisfy the criteria of impartiality, fairness and compliance with the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act. The Elections Commission is now expected to deliberate on this report to decide whether the CEO should submit a final report for a declaration based on the information received. The President said that while the irregularities and anomalies highlighted during the recount process point to an “undercurrent of illegality”, the autonomy of the commission, in his opinion, has not been impacted. What he believes is the “real danger”, are those who attempted to manipulate the elections outcome. “It is not the Elections Commission, it is the people who went about attempting to engage in multiple voting; the people who went about collecting ID cards and pretending to be who they were not and the people who contributed to bloating results at certain polling stations. Those are the dangerous people, not the Elections Commission,” he said.

With 2020 General and Regional Elections being conducted on bloated Official List of Electors (OLE), the President reminded that his party, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), had lobbied for a credible list, while the opposition did the opposite. He said that those who were supporting an unrevised list were likewise supporting avenues for the very illegalities which have now been uncovered. CONSEQUENCES OF A BLOATED LIST “Once you see a voters’ list of 661,000 out of a population of 750,000, something has got to be wrong. When you take out 250,000 school children, the List is bound to contain anomalies; it is bound to exceed the possible voting population, the possible electorate. So, it was quite likely that there were names on that list which might have been used improperly and this is what the whole recount process was meant to determine,” he said. On August 31, 2019, the national house-to-house registration exercise came to a halt, a decision of GECOM Chair, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, who hoped to balance the need for a credi-

ble list and the call for early elections. The data garnered from the registration exercise was merged with the existing National Register of Registrants Database and, in January 2020, GECOM confirmed to the populace that it would be heading into the elections with a list of 661,028 eligible voters --- a figure many agreed was statistically impossible. Prior to its confirmation, commissioners nominated by the government, argued that under no circumstance could Guyana’s population of 750,000 plus persons produce such a large voters’ list, considering that the schoolage population is around 200,000. There were also issues regarding the presence of the dead and migrated on the list and, while efforts were made through the General Registrar’s Office (GRO) to remove persons who were deceased at the time, the court ruled that residency it is not a requirement for voting in Guyana. Even in accepting the decision, government-nominated commissioners had contended that with Guyana’s known history of accusations of rigged elections and calls for the recounting

of votes, heading into ‘the mother of all elections’, the most credible list should have been sought. However, the PPP/C opposed the continuation of the house-to-house registration exercise and made light the calls to remove the dead and migrants. Fast forward to post E-Day, the CEO’s report has highlighted a number of persons voting through impersonating those dead and migrant. “There has been wide spread abuse and this is what APNU+AFC has complained about publicly over the last 100 days,” the President told the journalists.

agents had pointed to several such cases of irregularities and anomalies throughout the recount process but the PPP/C argued that every election will produce margins of error and the ones discovered by the coalition are minimal. ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT Moving forward, while he believes that GECOM conducted its operations within the framework of the law, the Head of State said that there can be many improvements which should come through electoral and Constitutional

President David Granger

The ballot boxes in one of the containers which were opened during the national recount

The President said that it was not his expectation that the Elections would have resulted in a landslide victory for either of the two main contesters due to their large followings. However, he said that what was and still is non-negotiable is the conduct of credible elections. “The validity of any elections has to be based, in part, on credibility, especially when evidence has emerged that the totality of the votes is inconsistent with the likely voting population and the behavior of that population. If it is shown, for example, that more ballots are recorded in a polling station than there are [electors] on the List of Electors, it is incredible. It is incredible that you can have 380 votes when they are only 300 registered voters at that polling station,” he said. APNU+AFC party

reform. He pointed to age-old challenges such as delayed elections results which could possibly be eliminated through the use of electronic voting. He also recommended the regular cleansing of the National Register of Registrants Database (NRRDB) to cater for the possibility of snap elections. He noted: “Quite frankly, the process is very cumbersome. It calls for training of staff, the allocation of polling places --- that was subject to some dispute [regarding] the use of private residences. But we need to put the entire election machinery on a different footing but that can only come after election reform and also constitutional reform.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 15, 2020

Atlanta police chief resigns over Rayshard Brooks shooting (BBC) Atlanta’s police chief has resigned after the fatal shooting of an African-American man during an arrest. Rayshard Brooks, 27, was shot by an officer during a struggle at a drive-through restaurant late on Friday. On Saturday protesters set fire to the Wendy’s restaurant where the shooting occurred and police chief Erika Shields handed in her resignation. Atlanta is one of many US cities where the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police sparked protests. Mr Floyd, who was also African American, died after a white officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. His death has generated widespread anger against racism and police brutality. One of the Atlanta police officers involved in the latest shooting, Garrett Rolfe, has been sacked, and the other, Devin Bronsan, put on administrative duty. Erika Shields had served as Atlanta police chief since December 2016 after a long career in the force. Her resignation was announced by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

“Because of her desire that Atlanta be a model of what meaningful reform should look like across this country, Chief Shields has offered to immediately step aside as police chief so that the city may move forward with urgency and rebuilding the trust so desperately needed throughout our communities,” the mayor said in a statement. What happened on Friday night? The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI), which is investigating, says the officers were called to the restaurant because Mr Brooks had fallen asleep in his car, which was blocking the drive-through lane. Body camera footage released by the police department shows the officers administering a sobriety test and then a breathalyser test with Mr Brooks’ permission. The two officers then try to handcuff him - at which point their bodycams fall off. In security camera video, they can be seen struggling with Mr Brooks on the ground. He grabs an officer’s Taser and breaks free from the officers, running away. The

MON. June 15, 2020 - 12:30hrs ~14:00hrs

other then uses his Taser on Mr Brooks, and both officers then run out of the frame of the video. Gunshots can then be heard and Mr Brooks is seen

a non-lethal weapon. “You can’t shoot somebody unless they are pointing a gun at you,” attorney Chris Stewart said. This is the 48th officer-in-

ready been protesting following the death of George Floyd. The officer who killed him on 25 May has been sacked and charged with murder.

Rayshard Brooks died on Friday after being shot by a police officer

on the ground. He was taken to hospital but later died. One of the officers was treated for an injury from the incident. The Fulton County prosecutor’s office is conducting a separate investigation into the incident, it said in a statement. Lawyers representing Mr Brooks’ family said the officer had no right to use deadly force, saying the Taser which Mr Brooks had grabbed was

volved shooting the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has investigated this year, according to ABC News. Of those cases, 15 were fatal. Protests began outside the restaurant late on Friday and resumed in central Atlanta on Saturday. Images from the protest show demonstrators holding signs with Brooks’ name and Black Lives Matter signs. People in Atlanta had al-

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER US CITIES? Demonstrations have taken place across the US and across the world since Mr Floyd’s death. Many in the US are

calling for the police to be reformed. In Minneapolis, the city council passed a resolution on Friday to replace its police department with a community-led public safety system. The council said it would begin a year-long process of engaging “with every willing community member in Minneapolis” to come up with a new public safety model. In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo said he would stop financing local authorities that failed to adopt reforms addressing excessive use of force and bias in their police departments. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the chokehold method for restraining some suspects should, “generally speaking”, be ended. He also postponed his first post-coronavirus lockdown election rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma so it does not fall on 19 June, a date commemorating the end of US slavery. Mr Trump moved the rally to the 20th, following criticism. The location was also controversial, as one of the worst race massacres in US history took place in Tulsa, in 1921.

Coronavirus: India to use 500 train carriages as wards in Delhi (BBC) India is to convert another 500 railway carriages to create 8,000 more beds for coronavirus patients in Delhi, amid a surge in infections. Home Minister Amit Shah announced a package of new emergency measures for the capital, including a rapid increase in testing for Covid-19. Nursing homes will also be requisitioned. He met Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to address the crisis. India’s daily number of confirmed new cases has reached almost 12,000. The total number of 320,922 officially confirmed cases puts India fourth in the world - after the US, Brazil and Russia - in the pandemic. The death toll in India stands at 9,195, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University from official sources. The Hindustan Times reports that Delhi is the third worst-hit state in India after Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. It reports that Delhi’s bed capacity across private and government hospitals for Covid-19 patients stands at 9,698, of which 4,248 beds are vacant. Mr Kejriwal’s government plans to use 40 hotels and 77 banquet halls as makeshift hospitals. India began converting railway carriages into quarantine or isolation wards in April, when large parts of the railway network were suspended owing to the pandemic. Last month the national government announced plans to end a national lockdown that began on 25 March. Road and plane traffic increased as restrictions started to ease, and many businesses and workplaces reopened. Markets are crowded again. The lockdown has imposed huge economic costs on India, throwing millions of people out of work, especially migrant workers in precarious, meagrely-paid jobs. Food supply chains were also put at risk.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 15, 2020

140 students back home, quarantined at UWI (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) The UWI St Augustine Campus is the newest quarantine centre to be set up locally as 140 students returned from the UWI Mona Campus in Jamaica on Saturday. Canada Hall will be their home for the next 14 days as the students observe strict health and safety guidelines set out by the Ministry of Health. Their return is in keeping with the promise by Government to bring home students who had remained in various Caribbean territories after their exams are completed. The students reportedly landed at the Piarco International Airport around 4 pm Saturday and were met by health officials following which they were directed onto four Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) buses to be taken to the St Augustine campus. The students arrived just around 7 pm on the south-

ern side of the campus. Accompanied by both police and soldiers who will remain with them for the duration of their stay, the students were unable to freely disembark as they waited for Santec officials to set up misting machines for them to be sanitised along with their luggage. Directed by health officials who were clad in full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the students were given medical checks and assessments before they were allowed to go to their assigned rooms. It is expected that health officials will return to the campus on Sunday to continue carrying out assessments on the group, even as the second batch of students numbering between 20 and 30 are expected to return on Sunday as well. The Sunday Guardian understands that to ensure the students are comfortable during their enforced stay, a fan, along with groceries

such as tea, coffee, sugar, milk and oats; toiletries such as sanitary napkins, soap and toilet paper; as well as cleaning products

A senior official from the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) said this was part of the collaborative effort by the

the campus was asked to facilitate the students who will require internet access as some are still engaged in online exams.

Photo credit courtesy Abraham DIiaz (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN)

including brooms, pails and mops were also placed in each of the dormitory rooms.

Missing JDF M16 rifles still not found; soldiers to face disciplinary procedure

Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Rocky Meade speaking during this morning’s virtual press conference at Jamaica House

(JAMAICA GLEANER) Two M16 rifles that went missing from the armoury of the Jamaica Defence Force in February have still not been found. In a response to a question from The Gleaner’s Livern Barrett, Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Rocky Meade said two persons are to face disciplinary procedure. “We have still not located the weapons,” he confirmed. “We are working with the JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) to see if we can trace the weapons.” There was a lock down of Up Park Camp, the JDF’s headquarters, on February 15 to recover the weapons after an anomaly was identified in the armoury. The JDF had reviewed its weapons protocol after Corporal Doran McKenzie, who worked in the armoury, allegedly removed a weapon illegally that was later used to kill his girlfriend, Suianne Easy, at their Greater Portmore, St Catherine, home in January. The soldier then turned the weapon on himself.

Ministry of Health, the T&T Defence Force, the NCRHA, and the Country Medical Office of Health (CMOH) to assist the students before their parents could take them home in the coming days. Officials have said that anyone wanting to drop off care packages can do so at the Carmony Hall carpark daily between 9 am and noon. Senior campus officials said Canada Hall and Milner Hall were both handed over to the TTDF and the NCRHA for use during this part of the COVID-19 relief measures. They said

When the Sunday Guardian arrived at the campus around 2 pm on Saturday, MTS workers along with personnel from the NCRHA were seen removing trash and clearing the front of the building which was being patrolled by soldiers. Officials have said close to 300 students from both Cave Hill, Barbados and Mona, Jamaica, are expected to return home before the month ends. NCRHA officials said the rooms have all been refurbished and will provide adequate accommodations for this set of returning

nationals. Several curious passers-by last evening expressed happiness over the move by Government to allow the students to return home once their exams were over. A woman who works nearby said, “It is good they get to come back. They are children and would already be scared of being on their own and away from their parents. This way, at least they are here and will be going home after the two weeks. I’m happy for them.” A couple walking along the perimeter fence as they exercised said they were not bothered by the return of the students or worried that any of them could be diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus. A PH driver dropping off passengers in the vicinity of the campus southern gate was initially perturbed to learn that students returning from Jamaica were now being housed on the campus as his girlfriend was a student there. However, he relaxed after being told the campus remained closed to the student population and that online learning would continue until September when all schools and tertiary education facilities reopen. Meanwhile, some relatives took vantage points close to the Piarco Airport to welcome their loved ones with warm greetings written on placards.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday June 15, 2020

That Keith Lowenfield Report

IT should not come as any surprise to keen observers of the developments since the March 2 elections that GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield has concluded that the elections did not pass the credibility test. As this publication reported yesterday, “The Chief Elections Officer submitted his report on the national recount to Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, and the six elections commissioners -- Vincent Alexander, Sase Gunraj, Desmond Trotman, Robeson Benn, Charles Corbin and Bibi Shadick –- on Saturday. The report comprises a tabulation of the votes that were recounted during a period of 34 days (May 6-June 8), and a summary of Observation Reports for each of the 10 electoral districts.” The CEO observed that due to widespread irregularities and anomalies, he could only verify 185,000 of the 460,000 votes cast. This means that approximately 60 per cent of the votes have been contaminated by what appears to be a systematic operation by agents of the PPP working for GECOM on election day. This is by any stretch of the imagination a massive conspiracy by a party which has tried every trick in the book to cover its tracks. From its insistence that only the Region Four boxes should be recounted to the stubborn objection to an audit of the votes in the boxes, the PPP tried to frustrate the kind of report produced by the CEO.

Throughout the recount process the APNU+AFC kept reporting its findings to GECOM and the public. But, the PPP, much of the media and the foreign observers kept pretending that these findings never existed. Despite the unambiguous objective of the recount order, they kept pretending that the recount was a mere tabulation of the votes in the boxes. Since they obviously knew the mischief that lay behind the scenes, this was a deliberate effort to hide the truth. Now that the CEO has formalised what they sought to suppress, there is a lot of weeping and gnashing of teeth. They claim that he has overstepped his remit; that his opinion runs against the grain. This publication wishes to disagree. We continue to argue that if the recount order set itself the task of determining the credibility of the elections, then the CEO’s report is bound to answer that question. And that is precisely what he has done. The immediate effect is two-fold. First, it forces the PPP to withdraw its bogus declaration that it has won the election. If anything, it is the coalition which should be celebrating. But the latter has refrained from such reckless behavior and has instead insisted that it is GECOM that has the final call. The second effect is that some of the hostile media have been forced to come down from their high horse and acknowledge that there is more to this process than the PPP’s narrative. When the dust settles, this institution has a lot of soul-search-

ing to do. Never in Guyana’s modern history have the private media been so overtly partisan in its coverage of an election. The report is now with the commission. It is their responsibility to treat with it within the letter and spirit of the recount order. It is our considered opinion that the commissioners must consider the report on its merit and not try to ignore or sidestep its central findings. The two choices before them seem to be the strong case that the coalition has prevailed based on the credible votes identified and the even stronger case that the elections are too contaminated to form the basis for the declaration of the winner. The other factor that has not come into play yet is the CARICOM observers’ report. As we write this editorial it has not been shared with the commission. We know that PM Ralph Gonsalves has been accused of trying to influence that report through his very strident utterings three days ago. Here is hoping that the observation team paid no attention to the prime minister and brought to bear on the report the professionalism and impartiality that are expected from them. President Granger and his coalition have repeatedly stressed the importance of their report. Whatever happens in the coming days, we have come to a critical juncture in this long journey from March 2. We understand the frustrations that may have crept into the national consciousness, but we urge that this matter is worth the wait. Too much is at stake,

Another shameless hole in the fabric of local jurisprudence Dear Editor, THE recent public dressing down, for that is what it is, of attorney Anil Nandlall by the learned Madame Chief Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire has again exposed the politically-dishonest motives of this chief legal representative of the PPP/C, and the lengths to which some practitioners of this profession would go to misrepresent dubious ends for totally unjustifiable purposes. In re-stating this fact, one may refer to “Another desperate PPP/C attempt at legal distortion and dishonesty”, Guyana Chronicle, May 26, 2020. The following two paragraphs are here quoted in the

reiterating of this undeniable fact. “Editor, it is said that law is a noble profession, and for many reasons, because of its seemingly complex learning which regulates and pertains to all aspects of our lives, represented by men/women who are sworn to uphold its lofty tenets. But inherent in its practice is the fact that it reveals the dark side of humans. One supposes that this description pertains to those whose various acts of offences have been brought to light. But it is also fair to say that one must examine those who are its practitioners, and what they do, in terms of using its just dictums for totally dishonest ends.” And this has been the lo-

cal experience within recent times in matters of a political nature, where many of its retained legal practitioners, for the dangerously narrow ends of vested-interest politics and other blandishments have sought to misrepresent its many clauses for anti-national ends that have not been a blessing or a boon to the profession, its advancement, or to the wider society that has been pushed to the precipice of political stress. It is not for the latter to be repeated here, since the many examples have been graphically publicised during related matters before the nation’s court. “This applies to the Nandlalls of this country…” It was quite clear why Nandlall, acting for and behalf

of the PPP/C, filed contempt of court proceedings against GECOM at that extant time; to forestall the official declaration of the final electoral results for the second time. What had been very revealing about the March 14 declaration was that Mr. Mingo executed in detail what had been instructed by the Chief Justice, a fact later reiterated by a senior judge of the High Court. Therefore, from a layman’s view, Mingo had been wrongly cited. But here again, mischief had been afoot, clearly exposed by the Chief Justice, if one were to read into her comments, which, of course, would have respected the line drawn between the separation of powers.

Nandlall’s actions, from a layman’s perspective, have been patently dishonest, and reminds one of a parallel reference that recall the case of a certain London-based barrister-at-law who had been appointed as Court of Appeal Judge during the Donald Ramotar regime, after which it was reported that he had been cited for giving a London client false expectation of success in an appeal matter. Of course, on receipt of such information, he was dismissed, forthwith, by the then Chancellor. So here again is Nandlall being caught misleading the Court, proffering highly dubious evidence for purely political ends, wasting the Court’s time and taxpayers’ money.

Though one holds that attorneys are morally bound to get the best that can be had for whatever client is represented, such actions, as perpetrated by Nandlall, will not lend to improved legal advocacy at the Bar. At best, it’s a continuous display of both legal deception and dishonesty which continues to degrade the local bar, especially those who also, for narrow ends, would have supported what is truly a legal hoax. In any other jurisdiction, apart from the legal penalty, he would have been severely censured, given the serious nature of the allegation. Regards, Carla Mendonca

OP-ED GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday June 15, 2020

By Lincoln Lewis

IT is important for us to recognise acting Chief Justice (CJ) Roxane George-Wiltshire’s exposure of the Opposition’s moves in court. The case brought by the late Reeaz Holladar against Region Four Returning Officer (RO), Clairmont Mingo, which sought to have the court imprison him on charges of contempt, was withdrawn last Thursday by Attorney-at-law Anil Nandall. In withdrawing the case, he admitted to the CJ there was insufficient evidence available at the time of the suit to buttress the charge. This drew a reprimand from the CJ, who told him he was wasting the court’s time. George-Wiltshire expressed shock that though she had already prepared her decision, she received notice from Nandlall, the day before, that his client had a weak case. It was her legal opinion that Anil knew this from the inception. Refer to 12th June media coverage of the ruling. Nandlall is no fool; he knew he was engaged in grandstanding, playing to the political gallery, and wooing the international community, who followed him like the Pied Piper on falsehood. There was no desire to have the 11th March ruling implemented, but a desire to create more chaos and confusion. Said ruling speaks to a case which was brought by the Opposition, resulting in the nullification of Mingo’s first declaration. Mingo was directed by the CJ to tabulate the count as outlined in Section 84 of the Representation of the People Act. On the 12th March, while this exercise was being conducted, the Opposition threw a fit, expressing

Opposition/Nandlall exposed by court --wilfully trying to mislead on election

dissatisfaction with the process utilised by GECOM to satisfy the court’s order, and returned to the acting CJ. The court held counsel with the Opposition and GECOM, and the parties agreed to a mechanism to tabulate the Statements of Poll. Reportedly on 13th March, the RO proceeded to do the count, consistent with the agreement. This was not allowed to proceed without another protest. Etched in our memory is the staged walk-out by the Ambassadors of the European Union and United States, and the High Commissioners of Britain and Canada, protesting that the tabulation process was flouting the ruling. How can we forget the spectacle? These public servants subsequently issued a joint statement that “they decided to leave the Region 4 tabulation process… as it was clear that a transparent and credible process was not put in place by the responsible officials.” The Commonwealth, European Union and Carter Center Observer Missions parroted, stating that “The order of the Honourable Chief Justice on 11 March was not followed. The tabulation process did not resume on 12 March as mandated by the court.” The Organisation of American States announced they were packing up and leaving. The international community should feel ashamed of themselves, if they were not part of this disruptive plot or allowed themselves to be fooled. Either way, it suggests lack of knowledge or disinterest in understanding our electoral system, and a comfort in relying on others to interpret for them. In so doing, they adopted a partisan position in violation of “good” diplomacy and international standard for observers

of an election. They have aided the polarisation and animosity we are witnessing. Readers would recall on 31st March, Justice Franklyn Holder, in addressing a case brought by Holladar to set aside Mingo’s second declaration, pronounced that “based on documents tendered before the Court, Mingo subsequently took the necessary steps to comply with the ruling of the Court, and more importantly, Section 84” (GC 1st April - ‘No jurisdiction’ | High Court throws out PPP’s challenge to Mingo’s declaration). Said article quoted Justice Holder as saying, “…as of Tuesday, March 31, 2020, there was no evidence before the Court stating that the Region Four Returning Officer breached the High Court Order handed down by Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire.” What we are witnessing in this election cycle is not only the tsunami of misinformation, the undermining of our independence and acts of self-determination, but also efforts to use the court to further political mischief rather than seeking peaceful resolution towards welding this nation. When initial contention with the Region Four votes was raised, Keith Lowenfield, Chief Elections Officer (CEO), offered an administrative resolution. He encouraged all to bring their statement, and do the verification, and “If, at the end of the day, that doesn’t work, the CEO will be involved with his statement to have a resolution to the issue” (DW, March 4, 2020GECOM resolves vote padding concerns, resume verification on Region 4). This was rebuffed. Chairperson Justice Claudette

Singh gave the court the commitment that she will have the votes recounted if there remains dissatisfaction. This commitment preceded the signed agreement between President David Granger and PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo for a National Recount. Those who lack the discerning capacity to recognise or chose to ignore the destabilising efforts in ensuring an orderly electoral process, thanks to the judiciary, we can use the power vested in GECOM to correct anomalies. This independent constitutional body doesn’t necessarily have to wait for an election petition to address “difficulties” associated with the election. The present phase of the electoral process continues to be governed by our Constitution and Election laws. These stipulate how we can proceed to produce “credible” election, and by extension result. The gazetted Order of 4th May expounded what this credibility entails, and how GECOM shall proceed in determining same. The Order is a public document. Where some are too lazy to read our laws, they have no excuse failing to read the Order, for this is what is guiding the present focus, and will bring finality to the current exercise. Last Wednesday, Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines had the audacity to say what GECOM must do. If he, the Western public servants, et al, refuse to take the time to acquaint themselves with the Order, their absence of knowledge, hence informed opinion, remain their problem; not Guyana’s. Notwithstanding efforts to rock the society’s core, the judiciary has withstood the test, proving its

independence. I say this, mindful of continuous efforts to undermine our laws and GECOM’s independence. Some continue to ignore one fundamental fact: Guyana is a sovereign nation. Our elections are governed by our laws, and we shall use our laws in the determination of our electoral processes and outcome. Whereas our international counterparts are demanding “credible result”, they are not singular in this regard. Guyanese are demanding the same. And whereas on this issue we may be of one accord, there exists uncertainty that credibility as determined within the confines of our laws, pervasive ignorance and malice could prove challenging, if the outcome does not favour the desire of either side. Labour is a stakeholder in the election. Outside of all combined political parties, Labour has the largest constituency. It is the trade union movement which, in 1926, initiated and led the charge for the one-man one-vote and internal self-governance. Trade unionists are not about to surrender our legacy; Labour is concerned about the equitable distribution of this nation’s resources to the benefit of the working-class. Our interest lies in the day-to-day good governance of this society. We want to see meaning given to Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution, which came out of the 1997 elections. We demand devolution of power from the Executive right down to the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils. We also demand fullest meaning to inclusionary democracy as outlined in Articles 75 and 76 that give greater financial autonomy throughout the existing de-centralised political system.

Gonsalves comments are undiplomatic, prejudicial and disrespectful

Dear Editor,

CERTAINLY, Ralph Gonsalves’ recent statements on the Gazetted recount exercise, rather than being helpful must have ushered in great cause for concern. At best, what the Vincentian leader emitted is a most brazen attempt at not only interfering in the domestic affairs of a sister CARICOM state, but specifically attempting to influence the considerations of the CARICOM TEAM,

currently in Guyana for the purposes of validating the RECOUNT EXERCISE. What is of even greater concern is the fact that one of the members of the CARICOM VALIDATING TEAM is also the Supervisor of the St Vincent national election body; he is also currently a witness in an elections petition case which also involves Gonsalves’ party. It is even worrying that he is reported to be accused of electoral skullduggery with regards to the petition involv-

ing Gonsalves’ party. One wonders whether such information had been known to the government of Guyana PRIOR TO THE TEAM’S arrival? In fact, one assumes that it would have had to be the CARICOM Secretariat which would have received Gonsalves’ nomination; if so, then it is certain that such data must have been known? Was this ever made available to the government? The entire scenario is highly disturbing, as it has now given cause

to rise in the minds of Guyanese very grave doubts on the question of fairness and objectivity of the CARICOM team’s assessment and final report. This latest vile intrusion is another tragedy in the litany of many to have again befallen Guyana. Again, these elements, no doubt courted by internal factors, cannot and will not advance our sovereign land out of its challenges; it can only further complicate an already charged situation. It is a tragedy as to what has been

occurring in Guyana, and as to whether those who continue to encourage this anti-sovereign behaviour understand the longer-term consequences of such ill-advised contrivance. The message must be loud and clear: KEEP OUT OF OUR COUNTRY! To those who are in bed with these forces; YOU DO NOT LOVE YOUR COUNTRY. Regards, Troy Garraway

One dead, another seriously injured --following motorbike-bicycle collision

ONE man is dead and another is fighting for his life following an horrific accident on Sunday afternoon on the Corentyne. Dead is 47-year-old Malchan Ramdanny, called ‘Rasta’, of Number 69 Village, East Berbice Corentyne. He reportedly died on the spot after swerving into the path of a motorcycle

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday June 15, 2020

Pandit, Bisram among 62 arrested --for breaching COVID-19 restrictions

middle of the western lane of the Public Road some 20 meters away, while the motorcyclist, having lost control of his machine, ran into a signboard. Public-spirited citizens who witnessed the accident rushed to the rescue of both men, but were too late to save Ramdanny, who was pronounced dead

Some of Bisram’s guests awaiting to be processed at the Springlands Police Station on Saturday afternoon

The motorcycle that was involved in the accident

on the Number 68 Public Road. According to reports, at around 16:20hrs on Sunday, Ramdanny was proceeding north on his bicycle when he suddenly turned into the path of a blue-and-white Suzuki Sports motorcycle, being driven by 30-year-old Police Constable, Navindra Jhodan. Such was the impact that Ramdanny was sent flying, before landing in the

on arrival at the Skeldon Hospital. Jhodan, on the other hand, was prepped by emergency medical team and transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where he remains in a critical state as doctors battle to save his life. At the time of the accident, Jhodan, of John Street, New Amsterdam, was

Constable Navindra Jodhan

reportedly on his way home after going for a regular weekend jaunt to Springlands with his biker buddies. Ramdanny’s relatives, who were shocked at his sudden passing, described him as a very resourceful person who did odd jobs around the community to make ends meet. The police have since launched an investigation into the accident.

A NUMBER of persons were detained on Saturday afternoon after they were found to be in breach of the emergency COVID-19 restriction that prohibits social gathering. The Guyana Chronicle understands that Bisram held a “jhandi”, a religious service at his Number 71 Village residence where a large number of persons attended. This publication was told that the ceremony was almost through when the police arrived and escorted the attendees, the religious leader and host to the Springlands Police Station.

There the 49 adults were advised that having committed an offence, they will be placed before the court shortly, while the 13 juveniles were warned and sent away. Bisram, who is accused of murdering Berbice carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt, was recently freed of the offence by the High Court, after finding that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP)’s committal order was unlawful. Over 100 persons in the East Berbice-Corentyne District were recently arrested and charged for breaking the guidelines on social distancing.

An amalgamation so obvious, it’s a conspiracy most foul Dear Sir,

IN my Letter that appeared in the Guyana Chronicle on May 7, I had queried a number of things that I found strange about the other political contestants that took part in the General and Regional Elections. This amalgamation with the PPP is so obvious that its conspiracy most high. These so-called groups, identified as political parties, just seemingly evolved out of nowhere. Did they have the necessary credentials to pass as a political party and become involved in the elections? Now we understand how important their collective votes are; I would love to know the person who gave them the go-ahead. This missive, by the way, is written before the Chairlady sings.

As the count wound down, they, the imitators, have stood shoulder-tocheque- book with the PPP. They voted continuously with them in the Claims and Objections period, just like parrots they concur. Talking about a coalition! The PPP has created their own; deviously, but they have now become one in a collection of seven, all bought and paid for. However, their attacks have become more strident; it’s like a gang fight with all and sundry piling on. Most prominent is the quantity of positive (but untruthful) ink that they the PPP get continuously from their kith and kin in the media houses. A retread politician who now disguises as a writer for one of the ‘rags’ had thrown out the probability and possibility that there was a six per cent of voters who have not

found a political home. In my earlier letter in relation to the six per cent, I had asked if it would be a collective six per cent or individual? I do not know the number that makes up 6%, but is it a probability that the imitators have gotten the magical six per cent, and that would possibly put their man/woman in the ‘BigHouse’. The rumour is that a man named Shuman is supposed to be the front-runner; that is all we need. The Chief Sleuth of the PPP/C has boasted about the international team that they have put together that is willing, at a moment’s notice, to give assistance if necessary. All of the people who came under the various disguises to officiate, to observe, to scrutinise, and to suggest sanctions as they so please, we have heard their comments and conclusions from near and

afar. People who have lost credibility are now in positions of authority in lofty organisations with great-sounding names that do nothing and mean nothing. Some have the authority to pontificate about fairness, and make jibes like ‘tek yo licks like a man’. We have seen this playbook before; we have seen this regime-change playbook before; it is not that clandestine. This playbook has been used often, and repeated times to remove creative administrations, and replace them with powerless people; people who can be easily manipulated; people who are always open to deal-making. The country falls into depravity and lawlessness, and the people suffer. Meantime, the PPP has told the world, (including Reuters) that they have won the elections. This claim

was made even before the chair-lady sings, so that if any other decision is given, their victory was stolen. They held a victory celebration party that the Coalition complained about, even though they had agreed that any overplay of party was forbidden. Now that all and sundry has heard the PPP boast, how do you get the horse back into the stable? No rubbing of its head will suffice. If we are to take a cue from their man who knows ‘the Christ’, he laid down a marker; he took it upon himself (and it was not even a Sunday) to preach a sermon, castigating the Guyanese workers (probably sinners) about things to come. Of course, he denied what he said the next day; all he wanted was to take away some of the spotlight from his leader. Now that he thinks that the coast is clear (sorry for

that cliche), the Leader of the Opposition has decided to lower the decimals on the volume of attacks against the Chair, commending it as an achievement instead of an apology. In his usual braggadocio way, he has shouted that he expects his man to be sworn in as President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana come this week; he even had a discussion with the Top Cop about security. Why? Is he snitching upon himself and his group? They are the only ones who have unleashed violence so far. In the immortal words of Saint Augustine: “The Saint requires PEACE to worship GOD, the sinner to ENJOY worldly pleasures.” Regards, Milton Bruce

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 15, 2020

Gov’t coffers low, not depleted – President Granger GUYANA has experienced a “massive shortfall” in revenue because of the COVID-19 epidemic; President David Granger said on Sunday however that though the country’s currently accessible finances are low, they are not depleted. Speaking to reporters at a press conference at State House, he said that the COVID-19 epidemic has increased the need for expenditure to fight the spread of the disease. With no 2020 budget due to passage of the no-confidence motion which placed the government in an interim state, all other government ministries have adjusted their spending, within the law, to meet the arising needs. “Money is there but in limited amounts and, of course, not for the purposes that we would like them because they have to be deployed to COVID. Naturally, the expenses are high but, unfortunately, the revenue is low.

We have not been able to collect as much revenue as we would have collected in normal times because many people are not working, some are working from home; production has declined; trade has declined; the airports have been closed; so there will be a massive shortfall in revenue and, similarly, there will be a massive increase in expenditure,” he stated. As of June 13, Guyana has recorded 159 cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths. The number of recoveries has increased to 95 and the increase in cases of the virus is beginning to slow. The President said that he is hopeful that a swift conclusion to Guyana’s elections which began on March 2, 2020, will see a new administration being sworn in and will permit the new Parliament to pass the budget the country so greatly needs. He stated: “In terms of finance, everything we’ve done so far is within the law and when the time comes --- we hope the time

GECOM debunks fake letter THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has debunked a letter circulating on social media which claimed that Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield has pinpointed police officers as being involved in electoral fraud. The letter falsely claimed that Lowenfield wrote the commissioner of police, stating that a number of police officers worked along with the APNU+AFC coalition to “inject” ballots into boxes and this was witnessed by several observe r

missions. However, on Sunday, GECOM Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Ward informed the media that the letter is counterfeit and does not reflect true correspondence between the CEO and the commissioner of police. A release from the commission later stated that the GECOM secretariat has noted with concern the contents of the fake letter. “The document which is being circulated on social media is bogus and tantamount to forgery, since the use of CEO’s letterhead and signature may have been copied from another letter and used by

the author to create mischief and cause confusion. In this regard, persons are urged to desist from such illegal and mischievous actions,” the release stated. This is not the first time that persons have sought to impersonate members of the elections commission for political gain. On June 1, GECOM Chair Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh noted with disgust a widely circulated letter which used her letterhead,

signature and office stamp to show fake correspondence between her and the police commissioner. Back in March 2020, GECOM also condemned a “malicious” attempt to accuse its staff, Personal Assistant to the CEO, Duarte Hetsberger, of destroying electoral information in relation to the contested Region Four results. This was after an email purporting to be sent by him was circulated. The commission has reminded persons to be vigilant and not to allow the misinformation peddled by a malicious few to cause distraction and chaos.

comes soon --- we will be able to return to Parliament…and we can return to normalcy as soon as possible. We [have not yet reached a plateau in terms of COVID cases, but we expect that the enforcement measures by the police and other agencies will get us there very soon and we’ll be able to open up the economy maybe as early as July 1 or very soon, so that revenues can start to flow back.” Though the government has already received almost USD $95M in revenue from the oil and gas sector now within the Natural Resource Fund (NRF), it cannot access the said finances except through Parliament. The President dissolved the 11th Parliament and the 10 Regional Democratic Councils on December 30, 2019. Meanwhile, with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) still to deliberate on how it will treat with the anomaly-riddled results of the March 2, 2020 elec-

tions, should it call for fresh elections and additional funds be needed by GECOM, the President said that agreement would be required with the opposition for the expeditious administering of said funds. “For funds to be provided they will have to be some mechanism for Parliament to be reconvened. Right now, we’re not running on empty, but we’re running on very low funds,” he explained. “I cannot, at this point, say what legal mechanism could be employed to reconvene the 11th Parliament, but the question of the 12th Parliament will depend on the elections results and if you’re speaking about a nullity... we’re moving into uncharted territory.” The President assured the public that he is interested in a speedy outcome to the elections so that Guyanese can refocus on future development.

100 million people facing extreme poverty due to COVID-19 ―World Bank

THE World Bank says that 100 million people could be forced into extreme poverty, as the global economy is expected to contract by 5.2 per cent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, the bank, based on calculations, suggested that around 20 million jobs will be destroyed in Latin America and the Caribbean Region this year. To this end, the international financing organisation is cautioning that countries in the region must “take action now”, to build more resilient and productive food

systems, to support food security during this pandemic and beyond, according to its June newsletter. The current crisis, though deep and painful, offers the unique opportunity to reach broad and social political agreements towards these goals. The global funding agency further noted that recovery from COVID-19 will be an opportunity for countries to build resilience, improve inclusion and ensure economic growth. On the issue of the shrinking of the global economy by 5.2 per cent this

year, the newsletter pointed out the swift and massive shock of the coronavirus pandemic and shutdown measures to contain it had plunged the global economy into severe constraints. Using the newly-launched growth forecast of June, from the Global Economic Prospects (GEP) as a basis for its prediction, the bank provided updated global estimates of the impact of coronavirus forecast, that 71 million to 100 million people will be directly impacted by extreme poverty. It noted that the Sahara-African

region is expected to be the hardest hit. The new GEP forecast also gave a particularly sobering picture for India, which has many of the world’s poor. Of the over 100 million people expected to be pushed into poverty, at the $3.20 poverty line under the baseline scenario, twothirds are in South Asia. Even before the global pandemic began, food security was already a serious concern throughout the sub-Saharan African region, the newsletter stated.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 15, 2020

Young girls must SPEAK OUT! AS a woman, how would you feel if you found out that someone you love and care for; whom you have built your life, family and home with, is guilty of child sexual abuse? It would be a hard pill to swallow, wouldn’t it? Your brain would automatically go into denial and you would probably end up making all types of excuses why the information is not true. Many women have found themselves in this situation and the next thing they have to do is make a choice. Is their daughter telling the truth about their partner/husband or exaggerating the facts? or is the man they have been intimate with (for so long) really nothing but a low-down, untrustworthy, sex fiend? Surprisingly, some women would blame their daughter and accuse the child of ‘trying to steal their man’ or they would rather believe that their daughter ‘threw herself at the man’ rather than accept the fact that the ADULT is ALWAYS accountable for sexual activity between an adult and a child and therefore the adult (male perpetrator) is to blame for this criminal offence. Even if the child appears to be a willing participant. Fathers have had incestuous relationships with their pubescent daughters, which have shocked families, and neighbours. Such debauchery leaves people asking, how could this happen? How could a man make a child with a woman and watch that child grow from

a tiny baby to a schoolchild and then into a teenager and harbour sexual feelings and desires toward that child? Not only is the very idea twisted, that any man would view his offspring in this manner, but imagine how confusing this is to the child? Her father who helped to raise her, who loves her and has provided for her is now making SEXUAL ADVANCES towards her; and when he is not doing that, he is finding reasons to be at home alone with her: trying to touch her inappropriately or brushing against her at every chance he gets. When you are a child, you love and respect your parents in a special way, it therefore, becomes hard for young women who find themselves in these predicaments, to make a judgement call and speak out about sexual advances from their fathers, uncles, stepfathers or other male family members. They know that speaking out would disrupt their entire family in a negative and devastating way. Added to this are the fallacies that perpetrators use to mute their victims – convincing them that they are to blame for what happened and/or no one would believe them if they disclosed. One young girl (17) said, ‘My dad was the nicest person, if he went out he’d come back with ice-cream for everyone, he treated us really well, but he sexually abused me and I would never forgive him for that’. Another

girl (15) explained that her step-father had abused her systematically and she didn’t want to talk about the actual sexual abuse, but she did want to explain how her mother found out. “My step-father saw me walking home with a boy from school and he got really mad. When I reached home he began to make a lot of fuss about it and no matter how my mother tell he calm down… he would not let it go. Eventually, he flew into a rage and began beating me…well, I was giving he little backchat as well, so that made it worse… but I’d lost respect for he and in a way, I wanted the story to come out. When I tell you this man beat me; he beat me so bad. I could hear my mother saying while he attacked– ‘Left she now nuh! left she’ – but my mother didn’t know why he was so mad and when he finished all I could do was go and lie down. It wasn’t the little backchat that gotten him so worked up, it was me and the boy, laughing and having fun, he was jealous. That night when everyone was asleep, even though my body ached, I put some clothes together in a bag and sneaked out of the house. I went to my mother’s friend, who did not live too far away and I stayed with her ‘til morning. The next day she took me to the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA). I spoke to a CPA officer and the whole story came out. The police were called in and an investigation began into my case. That was

‘The CEO stuck to the order’

THE contents of the Chief Elections Officer’s (CEO’s) report on the national recount have been making the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) uneasy, having already proclaimed that it won the 2020 Elections based on the numerical count of the votes. But while the recount shows that the PPP/C secured the highest number of votes, the report points to more than 7,000 anomalies and alleged cases of voter impersonation. In the words of the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, the elections were not credible, and in part, were in breach of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act. The PPP/C, in particular its General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, has accused the CEO of being part of ‘rigging cabal.’ According to the PPP/C, Lowenfield’s report was subjective and a violation of the order. In the CEO’s defence, the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs,

Basil Williams SC, said that Lowenfield complied with the provisions of paragraph 12 of Order No. 60 of 2020 made under Article 162 (1) (b) of the Constitution and Section 22 of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act. “He has submitted the matrices for the recount of the 10 Electoral Districts and a summary of the Observation Reports (ORs) for each district, together with his report to the commission for their deliberation,” the Attorney General said. In its attacks on the CEO, the PPP/C contended that it was not for the CEO to “offer a view, opinion or judgment, either in the Observation Report or matrices to be tabulated” but Minister Williams said this contention is far from the truth. Outlining paragraph 12, he said, “The matrices for the recount of the 10 Electoral Districts shall then be tabulated by the Chief Election Officer and shall be submitted in a report, together with a summary of the observation

reports for each district, to the commission.” He pointed out that the word “report” is defined in the Oxford Dictionary of English as a written account of something that one has observed, done or investigated. “It is pellucid that it is contemplated that the CEO, in addition to tabulating and summarising, is expected in giving his ‘report’ to express his views, opinions and judg-

ments on his observations and investigations done, in that dual process. Moreover, it is implied in summarising the ORs, that the CEO is expected to bring his mind to bear on what he would include or exclude and would be therefore expressing a view or opinion on the ORs. On a proper reading of paragraph twelve (12), one cannot find such restrictions on the exercise of the CEO’s functions thereunder as contended

how my mum found out – and how I ended up in care.” Both stories were told by girls who are now women. They probably have their own families, homes and careers, but what is their outlook on life? And how much has their traumatic past affected their present lives? And will it affect their future? Lots of women have stories of child sexual abuse or near misses during their childhood that have never come to light. More sites should exist where they can share their stories. In so doing, they might benefit from some form of therapeutic relief and healing; it most definitely would help their sense of well-being. Although we may not like to admit it, child sexual abuse is happening all the time and will continue to happen in households and situations where adults are not astute, vigilant, or do not pay enough attention to the TYPE of people they have around their children. Protect and empower children to speak out and listen to what your children have to say. If you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL PROTECTION

…AG defends Lowenfield’s report …says CEO executed duties in conformity with provisions of gazetted order by the PPP/C,” Williams argued. He maintains that the PPP/C’s allegation that the CEO’s report is ultra vires, unconstitutional and the like, is reminiscent of the wild recourse to the High Court, claiming that the Returning Officer of Electoral District Four was in contempt of the court, but which was thrown out by the learned Chief

Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission, Keith Lowenfield

Justice, Madam Roxane George-Wiltshire. “In light of the foregoing, any reasonable person would conclude that the CEO executed his duties with professionalism, integrity, impartiality and in conformity with provisions of paragraph twelve (12) of the O r d e r, ” the Attorney General said.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 15, 2020

Over 265,000 votes flawed …Lowenfield says in report

…Region Six sees highest percentage By Lisa Hamilton OVER 265,000 ballots cast in the General and Regional Elections have been impacted by anomalies, irregularities and voter impersonation with Region Six seeing the highest percentage of ballots being affected. These are the findings coming out of the report of the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield from the recently concluded national recount of votes cast in the March 2, elections. The information was included in a summary of the numerous observation reports coming out of the process which has led the CEO to note in his report that the elections did not satisfy the criteria of impartiality, fairness and compliance with the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act. GLARING ISSUES In Region One (Barima-Waini), where there were 99 ballot boxes counted, the total number of affected ballots stands at 4,194 or 34. 6 per cent of the ballots cast in that region. In Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), where there were 135 ballot boxes, 19,913 votes were affected, representing 74.8 per cent of all ballots cast. For Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) where 355 ballot boxes were present, there were 49,286 or 67.9 per cent of ballots affected. Home to the highest number of ballot boxes , 879, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) saw 112,039 or 55.4 per cent of ballots cast being affected.

Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) saw 16,737 or 50.5 per cent of its ballots cast being affected out of 158 ballot boxes. In Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) where there were 378 ballot boxes, there were a total of 49,952 or 77.4 per cent of ballots cast affected, the highest percentage witnessed. In Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) with only 82 ballot boxes, there were 6,763 or 70.5 per cent of ballots cast affected. Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo)) had only 55 ballot boxes and saw 2,507 or 53.7 per cent of ballots being affected. In Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) with 125 ballot boxes, had 3,873 or 17.per cent of ballots cast affected. LOWENFIELD ACTED LAWFULLY Although the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has accused Lowenfield of violating the national recount order in his report, the APNU+AFC has pointed to the Constitution to show that the CEO acted within the law. In a media release on Saturday, the PPP/C stated that Lowenfield has no authority to offer a view, opinion or judgement of any type, either in the Observation Report or the matrices to be tabulated. They quoted that section of the Order which states: “The matrices for the recount of the 10 electoral districts shall then be tabulated by the chief elections officer and be submitted in a report, together with a summary

GECOM to review ... charted waters”. The Head of State added: “It is widely known that if a declaration is made, and an interested party feels aggrieved, it can go to the Courts, but, if there is no declaration, I think we are [going to be] in a legal noman’s land.” With the country running low on funds due to the absence of a National Budget, President Granger said that should the Elections be nullified, a mechanism would have to be put in place to reconvene Parliament to allow for finances to be appropriated to keep the country afloat, as it manoeuvres the “uncharted” territory. The Parliament was dissolved on December 30, 2019 to pave way for the 2020 Elections. However, the president noted that any move to reconvene Parliament would require “some form of agreement” among the Members of the 11th Parliament. “I cannot at this point say what legal mechanism could be employed to reconvene the 11th Parliament,” he posited while noting that not much progress would be made in the absence of a Parliament, should the elec-

tions be nullified.

STATE OF EMERGENCY Asked whether such a situation could result in a ‘State of Emergency’ being declared, President Granger responded in the affirmative, but was keen on noting that it would have to be done in consultation with Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo and other critical stakeholders. “It is possible,” he said, in responding to the question, while adding,“It is not an option that I would embark on without receiving the agreement of all the parties concerned. I don’t think it should be undertaken lightly, or arbitrarily.” Guyana’s Parliament was reconvened in 1991 to treat with a number of issues of national importance, including elections-related matters, due to a delay in the elections. THE FINAL DECISION But arriving at a final decision would be no walk in the park for the Elections Commission, as while the Government-nominated Commissioners have argued that credibility cannot be estab-

of the observation reports for each district to the commission on or before the 13th day of June 2020.” The PPP/C therefore accused the CEO of “arrogating unto himself the role of an investigator, judge and executioner” in stating that the elections did not satisfy the necessary criteria. However, the APNU+AFC pointed out that the Representation of the People Act is clear in Part X1, which addresses the ascertainment of election results while Article 96 of the Constitution empowers the CEO to “calculate the total valid votes of electors cast and thereupon ascertain the results.”. “It is reprehensible and appalling that the PPP irresponsibly continues its campaign to malign Mr. Lowenfield who has acted within the ambit of the law as he is required to do, and is in strict compliance with the Gazetted Order. The CEO in his report, as he is obliged to do, considered the numerous fraudulent discoveries contained in the painstakingly detailed Observation Reports as outlined by the Gazetted Order, which was agreed by both

the APNU+AFC coalition and the opposition PPP,” the APNU+AFC stated in a release. On Sunday at a press conference held with the media at State House, the President said that he too has heard of the criticisms against the CEO which he believes are unfounded. “My understanding is that he has not exceeded his authority; he has not done anything abnormal or unlawful…I accept that what I read about what he wrote indicates that there has been widespread abuse and this is what APNU+AFC has complained about publicly over the last 100 days,” he said He also stated that this is not Lowenfield’s final report as once the report is deliberated upon, it will determine whether he should use the data to compile a final report for the possible declaration of results by GECOM Chairperson Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh. The President said that he does not know what steps the commission will take next, following its deliberations, but expects that all forthcoming actions will be within the confines of the law.

CARICOM team completes report on national recount

FROM PAGE 2 lished without taking into account the massive irregularities that have been unearthed, the Opposition-nominated Commissioners have been resolute in their position that the results of the elections should be declared, based on the votes tabulated during the recount. It is not the role of GECOM to deliberate and pronounce on the irregularities that surfaced, the Opposition has always maintained, while failing to take into consideration the ruling of the High Court Article 162 (1) (b) gives wide powers to the Elections Commission to ensure an impartial and fair elections process. Based on the Statements of Recount (SORs) which were generated and tabulated at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) secured 233,336 votes, while the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU+AFC) raked in 217,920. But while the recount shows the PPP/C in the lead by 15,416 votes, massive irregularities and alleged cases of voter impersonations have affected well over 229,000 votes.

(From left) Ambassador Colin Granderson, CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General for Foreign and Community Relations; Mr. Sylvester King, Deputy Supervisor of Elections of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Ms. Cynthia Barrow-Giles, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government at the University of the West Indies (UWI); and Mr. John Jarvis, Commissioner of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission

THE CARICOM scrutinising team has completed its report on Guyana’s recently concluded national recount of votes cast at the 2020 General and Regional Elections and will be presenting the report in short order to Chairperson, Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Retd) Claudette Singh. The report will join that of Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, who submitted his on June 13, 2020. The two reports will serve to guide GECOM on its final decision as to whether a declaration is made

based on the data gathered from the recount. Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Sunday, CARICOM Secretariat Communications Programme Manager Kendol Morgan said that the media will be informed when the report is handed over to Justice Singh. According to the gazetted Order which paved the way for the national recount: “The CARICOM Scrutinising Team shall submit a report to the Commission which may include their observations, recommendations and conclusions.” The CARICOM scrutinis-

ing team arrived in Guyana on May 1 and includes Senior Lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Cynthia Barrow-Giles; Commissioner of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission, John Jarvis; and Supervisor of St Vincent Electoral Commission, Sylvester King. They received support from the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown and are guided by the intent of CARICOM Chair, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, to see the recount process be conducted in the spirit of transparency.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 15, 2020

‘We never colluded with anyone’ ...President rubbishes claims of coalition attempting to steal elections

By Svetlana Marshall AMID allegations of electoral tampering, President David Granger, in no uncertain terms, made it clear that the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) did not collude with the Region Four Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo or any elections official to rig the 2020 General and Regional Elections, as he dismissed the allegations being peddled by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) and its allies. “…the coalition, of which I am the chairman, never colluded with anyone to interfere with the electoral process,” President Granger said in response to a question posed by Guyana Chronicle during an interview at State House on Sunday. In vouching for the political agents of the APNU+AFC, the President said they were not complicit. Since the close of polls on March 2, there have been repeated calls for the APNU+AFC to make public its Statements of Poll after both sides had claimed victory. President Granger said based on a spreadsheet shown to him following the elections, the APNU+AFC was in the lead. “What I can say is that the spreadsheet that I was presented with of the SOPs indicated quite clearly – I haven’t seen the individual SOPs myself – indicated quite clearly that the numerical advantage was in favour of the APNU+AFC. I never saw the SOPs myself but I saw the spreadsheets, and I was satisfied that the spreadsheets, they had, were

accurate,” the APNU+AFC leader said. Nonetheless, like any other political party heading into an election, the APNU+AFC, President Granger noted, campaigned vigorously ahead of the March Elections, and once the polls were held, it awaited the declaration of the results by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

It was President Granger who, despite leading the electoral race by more than 7,000 votes, agreed to a national recount after the electoral process was bogged down with a series of legal actions filed by the PPP/C, through a private citizen, Reeaz Holladar, over allegations that the Region Four Returning Officer had not complied with the Representation of the People Act in

following an intervention by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). “I was concerned also, as early as March 6, that were there not some intervention on the part of the Caribbean Community, there could have been a degeneration in the public security situation, and this is what we saw in West Berbice, in which a school bus was stoned and school

there was electoral fraud of any kind. “I participated in a process to find out whether there was fraudulent voting, and I don’t think that you could have asked a Head of State to do more,” President Granger said. “So from a legal point of view, from an operational point of view, and from a political point of

On Sunday, President David Granger sat down for an interview with four journalists – Nazima Raghubir (Prime News), Denis Chabrol (Demerarawaves), Svetlana Marshall (Guyana Chronicle) and Gordon Moseley (News Source Guyana)

But the electoral process, he admitted, was marred by allegations of electoral fraud, disruptions and even violent protests that resulted in a number of school children being injured after the bus they were in was stoned by irate PPP/C supporters in West Berbice, Region Five.

tabulating the Statements of Poll for his Electoral District. Justifying his decision, the Head of State said, in part, it was based on the allegations of electoral manipulation, that he agreed to facilitate a national recount of all the ballots cast at the General and Regional Elections,

children were injured, and I certainly, as a Head of State, did not want the security situation to degenerate,” he explained. Iterating that it was he who had agreed to the recount, the President said the exercise was intended to establish whether or not

view, I did everything necessary or possible,” he said, while noting that it is for the Elections Commission to treat with allegations of fraud. Wi t h t h e f i r s t t w o phases of the recount process completed, it has been revealed that there

were massive irregularities, anomalies and suspected cases of voter impersonation. The Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, in his 10 Observation Reports to the Elections Commission, pointed to more 2,000 cases of anomalies and another 4,864 suspected cases of voter impersonation. According to Lowenfield, well over 229,000 votes have been compromised. While the APNU+AFC has been pushing for these irregularities to be investigated by GECOM, the PPP/C and a number of the smaller political parties have been up in arms against any decision by GECOM to deliberate on these electoral breaches, contending that it must proceed with the declaration. President Granger said the repeated cases of missing statutory documents, and voter impersonation were enough to convince him that the poll was fraudulent. “I don’t know who perpetrated the [fraudulent] poll, but certainly it was not the APNU+AFC; we had no interest in doing that,” he made clear, while iterating that the irregularities have impaired the credibility of the electoral process. Nonetheless, with the CEO’s Report now before the Elections Commission, chaired by Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, the President is hopeful that within the matter of days, the elongated electoral process will come to an end, much to the satisfaction of the Guyanese people.

ERC appeals for peace ahead of GECOM’s declaration of March 2 elections results

THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), on Sunday, called for peace to prevail as the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) prepares to make a major announcement on the March 2, 2020 general and regional elections. In a press release, the ERC said that it is mindful of the extended period it has taken thus far for the results of the March 02, 2020, General and Regional elections to be declared. “The commission is also mindful of the discontent the wait for the declaration has inevitably precipitated among our people and concerns that eventually led to a national recount of ballots cast,” the ERC said. It said that as a commission birthed out of political discord and which is constitutionally

mandated to foster harmony and good relations, “it was extremely heartened when H.E. President David Granger and Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, agreed to the national recount of ballots under the auspices of CARICOM.” The ERC said that despite challenges, the recount has ended, the obligatory report by the Chief Elections Officer submitted and the nation awaits an announcement by the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). “The commission therefore wishes to take this opportunity to urge all Guyanese to remain calm and to demonstrate a profound sense of tolerance and respect in view of the significant announcement expected from GECOM.” The commission reminded that in a press

statement on March 04, 2020, which alluded to its initial findings having observed the electoral process in some polling stations in parts of Regions, Three, Four, Five, Six, and 10, commended the collective efforts of all involved for ensuring that democracy was safeguarded and prevailed during the said process. “In addition, the commission, having pointed out that overall on elections day voters were able to freely cast their ballots in an atmosphere of peace and that the few instances which necessitated the intervention of law enforcement, were timely resolved, the voting and counting processes observed, were found, despite some minor hiccups, to be free, fair and transparent,” the release said. It noted that the adherence of those

processes to the basic tenets of democracy is vital to the promotion of unity, national harmony and good relations. “While anxieties unavoidably prevail over the impending announcement and what it can possibly derive, the commission calls upon the leaders and members of all political parties, civil society organisations, constitutional bodies and Guyanese in general, to act in a responsible manner in an effort to safeguard the interest of Guyana and all of its citizens,” the ERC pleaded. The ERC also urges that the results, when announced, be respected and reiterates its call for the implementation of a necessary collective effort from all national stakeholders endeavouring to build a cohesive and prosperous nation.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 15, 2020

Four more persons recover from COVID-19 ―Guyana goes two days without any new recorded cases of COVID-19

GUYANA continues to record positive developments in its fight against the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), as four more persons recover from the disease and were medically cleared by local health authorities between Saturday and Sunday. The indicators, though subtle, show that Guyana is slowly winning the fight against COVID-19. But the fight is far from over, as health authorities have to contend with 48 known active cases of the disease. Guyana was, however, spared the COVID-19 scourge over the past two days, with no new cases recorded within that time. There was no increase in

cases, even though health authorities tested 32 persons between Saturday and Sunday. Some 1,959 persons have been tested so far, and according to the results, 1,800 were negative and 159 persons were positive. The total number of infections has since decreased, as some 99 persons have recovered, and 12 have lost their lives. All of the remaining active cases are in institutional isolation, with no one requiring intensive care treatment. Health authorities here continue to work towards strengthening the healthcare system to respond to COVID-19 on a long-term basis. The

potential and existing activities are part of a plan to have a comprehensive COVID-19 health network, whereby patients across the country’s 10 administrative regions will be able to access these services. Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) is still 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 Demerara (ECD) where cases have been recorded are: Atlantic Gardens, Friendship, Golden Grove, Good Hope, Lusignan, Plaisance, and Strathspey. Among communities on the East Bank Demer-

Wanted man to be charged for drug trafficking AFTER being on the run from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) for almost two years, 44-year-old boat captain, Farook Baksh, called ‘Dive and Shoot’, is finally in custody for trafficking $110M worth of cocaine and cannabis. Baksh was arrested at his Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara home, on Friday, June 12, by police who received a ‘tip-off’. He was then handed over to CANU and an investigation is ongoing. He is expected to be arraigned at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court for the offence.

Farook Baksh called ‘Dive and Shoot’

The seized narcotics

ara (EBD) where there were cases are: Diamond, Grove, Land of Canaan, Providence, and Timehri. Health authorities are also placing emphasis on the four hinterland regions, especially now that three of them have recorded cases of COVID-19. The need for surveillance in those regions is also important, because Guyana’s South American neighbour, Brazil, is now rated as the COVID-19 epicentre of the Americas. “We continue to plead with the residents of Regions One, Six, Seven, Eight and Nine to remain on high alert, recognising that our neighbours, Brazil, Venezuela and

Suriname, are reporting new cases,” said Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Boyle in a past report. “Residents of Region Seven, with the new cases in Venezuela, and the upsurge in your region, your vulnerability is increased. We are calling on the Toshaos and other authorities to ensure that residents do not cross borders, and that persons from those other countries are not entering your community. Community members must report any migrant entering your community and anyone who has signs and symptoms, and immediately bring this to the attention

of the health authorities,” Dr. Boyle advised. As is evident, COVID-19 remains a serious issue, not just here in Guyana, but globally as well; and, according to global statistics, there are 7.5 million cases of COVID-19, with over 423,000 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 preventive measures to contain the spread of the disease.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 15, 2020

One person arrested following CANU raid on ganja farm

A section of the marijuana farm The makeshift tent

CUSTOMS Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks on Saturday, June 14, 2020, arrested a man during a raid at a cannabis farm at St Cuthbert’s Mission (Pakuri), off the Linden Soesdyke Highway. According to reports, o n S a t u r d a y, C A N U

ranks, acting on intelligence gathered, descended on a farm to find a makeshift camp and extensive cultivation of cannabis plants. The ranks conducted a seizure and eradication exercise on a quantity of cannabis plants along with 15.4 kilograms of dried

cannabis plants. Approximately 1500 plants, which were approximately three feet in height and weighted 275 pounds, were destroyed. One person was found and arrested at the raid and is in custody. Investigations are still ongoing.

Tourism action body to examine sector recovery strategies …in light of COVID-19’s impact THE central body of the recently-established Tourism Recovery Action Committee (TRAC), will convene its inaugural meeting to map out the immediate strategies it will seek to undertake as the industry faces difficulties in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. TRAC’s operation is being monitored by Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar, and its base is at the ministry’s South Road headquarters. The body, formed as a result of the disruptive impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the tourism industry, will have the participation of the public and private sector, communities, municipal and regional entities as well as international organisations. The body is tasked with examining and recommending research-based solutions, as well as defining viable strategies for Guyana’s tourism sector, a release stated. The collaboration and participation of the multi-sector agencies, is therefore aimed at accelerating recovery from the adverse economic and other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, over the next 12 months, the committee will focus on a variety of areas that have been affected by the virus. The committee members will, during this period, benefit from the assistance of several specialist advisory sub-committees. These advisory committees will explore and propose solutions in areas such as safety and sanitation, strategic marketing, technical innovation, international partnerships, finance and resource mobilisation, communication management of ports and frontiers, product resilience and research and data collection. Guyana’s tourism industry suffered a serious setback, when, as result of the COVID -19 pandemic, the country was forced to implement strict health guidelines, which included closing of all its ports to international travel.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, June 15, 2020

‘Let us continue doing what we need to do’

―Says president of mini-bus union; urges commuters, minibus operators to uphold COVID-19 rules PRESIDENT of the United Minibus Union, Eon Andrews, has urged that minibus operators and commuters maintain the necessary COVID-19 guidelines as the country sees a slow in the spread of the deadly disease.

that minibus operators and commuters should have a mutual understanding and to remind each other of the necessary precautions; for example, he stated, “Commuters must be able to tell bus drivers that you have to do the right thing or the bus

Meanwhile, the Education Department of Police Traffic Headquarters during the week visited several minibus parks in Georgetown, ensuring that drivers and conductors alike are aware of the COVID-19 emergency measures in keeping with the

that being a face mask, at all times and they should ensure that both passengers and mini-buses should be properly s a n i tised.

President of the United Minibus Union, Eon Andrews

Ranks of the Education Department of the Traffic Headquarters urging minibus operators on the route 44 bus park to adhere to the COVID-19 measures

He noted that Guyana has seen an all-time low in the number of coronavirus cases and to maintain that, it is critical that both commuters and operators continue to observe the social- distancing rule -- taking two passengers per seat -- and wear the necessary protective gear such as masks to avoid a second wave of the epidemic. Andrews stated that a visit to several minibus parks showed that operators have been living by the necessary rules; however, he added that, “What you find there will always be persons who set out to break the law who has [sic] no respect for anything or anybody and it will happen and there is where the police will come.” He further stated that, “It is expected as responsible persons and as transportation providers that you comply with the health requirements outlined by our local ministry and PAHO.” Additionally, he added

driver must be able to tell the commuter my bus is moving yes, but I’m not going to take you if you don’t have on a mask.” TOUTING STILL PREVAILS However, Andrews revealed that he is still very deeply disturbed by the number of bus touts who are still active at the various parks since the outbreak of the disease. He added that he had hoped that the epidemic would have seen a decline in the number of touts operating. “ I am still disturbed that touting is still prevailing, especially at the Georgetown bus parks; these people are still touting and they may or may not have on masks and I was hoping that this would have been a good opportunity for the police at least to get rid of that touting and after this would have finished and work out a [system] so they could sustain it.”

Public Health Ordinance, Chapter 145. The act makes provision under section No.7 for social-distancing and physical-distancing protocols which dictate that persons should maintain a distance of at least six feet in order to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Sergeant 21613 Kenyatta Bishop, Sergeant 18177 Sheldon Wickham, Lance Corporal 23154 Tiffini Lawrence and Constable 24733 Javell Frazer sensitised the mini-bus operators to the number of passengers that should be on board. This amounts to half of the amount that they were previously allowed by law to transport. For example, a 15-seater vehicle should not carry in excess of eight passengers at any given time and that includes the driver. The mini-bus operators were also instructed that each passenger and driver must wear protective gear,

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday June 15, 2020

Elliot Vieira snags first CSBK Pro 600 win

Elliot Vieira picked up his first win on the Canadian circuit with a first place finish at the Canadian Superbike Championships (CSBK) Regional yesterday at Grand Benn. The Guyanese, who is studying in Canada, qualified third on Saturday but

quickly made his way to the front of the pack by lap two, where he dominated for the remaining six laps. This represents his best performance yet in the North American circuit. Details in tomorrow’s edition

IOC rule against kneeling breaches human rights - Global Athlete (BBC) - An International Olympic Committee (IOC) rule that bans competitors from kneeling in support of anti-racism protests breaches human rights, says an international athlete-led movement.

Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter states political, religious or racial propaganda is not permitted in Olympic sites and athletes could face bans. IOC guidelines issued in January said this included taking a knee. Global Athlete said this was “a clear breach of human rights”. A statement from the movement, in which British Olympic gold-medal cyclist Callum Skinner and world champion Para-powerlifter Ali Jawad are involved, said: “The IOC and IPC’s [International Paralympic Committee] recent statement that athletes who ‘take a knee’... will face bans is a clear breach of human rights. “Athletes around the globe were awestruck with this statement and demanded change.” The pressure on the IOC to change regulations comes amid protests following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man who died in police custody in Minneapolis after a white officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. The IOC said last week that athletes will decide how best to support the core Olympic values “in a dignified way”. In the United States, the NFL has said players should be allowed to protest during the anthem and US Soccer has overturned a ban on players kneeling during the anthem.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday June 15, 2020

Windies ready to defend trophy

West Indies fielding coach Rayon Griffith wears PPE while conducting a drill CWI Media

(ESPNCRICINFO) - NOT since their 1980s heyday have West Indies won a Test series in England, but two aspects of the forthcoming three-match encounter could work in their favour, according to head coach, Phil Simmons. First, due to the behind-closed-doors nature of the Tests, in response to Covid-19, there will be no supporters in the stands to cheer the home side on; and second, instead of being halfway through their summer, England have not played competitive cricket for several months. That might “even things out a little bit”, Simmons said via video conference from the team’s training base in Manchester, where West Indies are currently serving a 14-day quarantine period and continuing their preparations for the rescheduled tour, after agreeing to ECB proposals for stag-

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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)Andy Roberts (2)Majid Khan Today’s Quiz: (1) Who is the first Pakistani to deliver a ball in an

ODI against the WI? (2)Who faced it?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

ing “bio-secure” Test matches. As well as the absence of crowds, there will be significant departures from normal playing conditions - including a ban on using saliva to shine the ball, and the possibility of Covid replacements for players who display symptoms of the disease. The first international series to be contested since the coronavirus pandemic escalated in mid-March promises to be a trip into the unknown for all involved. “I don’t know if it will increase our chances, because both teams are under the same umbrella - for want of a better word,” Simmons said. “The nice part for us is that 20,000 Englishmen raving for England, and that crowd support, it’s not there for them. So that in a way will help us, so it’s good from that point of view.” Asked about the standing start for both teams, he added: “It’s a plus, because England hasn’t come from a tour recently, and we’ve just been playing cricket at home. Because in a normal situation we would have been coming from camps and England would have been halfway through their season and the series would have been going on right now. So I think that is a plus for us, because it evens out things a little bit, with the fact they haven’t been playing competitive cricket for a while also.” Having beaten England 2-1 in the Caribbean 18 months ago, a draw would be enough for West Indies to retain the Wisden Trophy. And while they travelled to the UK earlier this week without three players who took park in that 2018-19 victory - batsmen Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer, and allrounder Keemo Paul Simmons was happy with the players at his disposal. “I think we have the best squad we can have,” he said. “Unfortunately a few guys decided not to come but we are here with the best squad that we can have here. And from the way we’ve started our work, the guys have been putting in, I think we’ll be ready and looking to defend our trophy. “Even with everything around and having to be conscious of the whole situation and the way the world is now,

we still have to be mindful that we are preparing for a Test series against one of the top Test nations in the world. So we still have to put everything in place and do everything correctly.” The absence of Bravo and Hetmyer will likely increase the focus on the tourists’ batting line-up, in particular Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope, whose runs were integral to victory at Headingley in 2017 - West Indies’ first Test win in England for 17 years. “There’s a lot of pressure on the batsmen to perform because the bowling unit have been carrying the Test team for a while now,” Simmons said. “It’s something that we have been on a lot, not to put extra pressure on but we need to get that total of 400-450 in order to give this bowling unit - which I think is a top-class bowling unit, the fast bowlers especially. So we need to get that 400-50 on a regular basis in order to give ourselves a chance of winning Test matches. “We understand the quality of these two individuals [Bravo and Hetmyer] and we know what we’ll be missing. But in situations like this we have to work hard with the guys who are here and make sure that what we’re doing is putting them in a position to fill those two shoes for the series. Hopefully whoever fills the shoes can go on and be as great as they want to be.” England well know the prowess of West Indies’ pace-bowling resources, having been blown away for 77 in Barbados last year, and Simmons suggested his hand could yet be strengthened by the time the first Test begins on July 8. Although Shannon Gabriel is not officially part of the 14man Test squad, he is among the back-up personnel on tour and could come into contention for selection if he can prove his recovery from a knee injury over the coming weeks. “Shannon as we know has come back from injury, and being a senior member of the squad in the past, I think we would definitely have a look at him coming into the [squad] if he’s up to that fitness level leading into the first Test.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday June 15, 2020

Norwich city player latest COVID-19 positive test in PL (BBC) - A Norwich City player is one of two people to test positive for coronavirus from the latest round of 1,200 Premier League tests. Testing took place on Thursday and Friday, with the unnamed player involved as Norwich beat Spurs 2-1 in a friendly at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, also on Friday. Spurs confirmed they have no positive tests and

said the Canaries player had “no close contacts” with their team. He will self-isolate for seven days. The Premier League, suspended since 13 March, is set to resume behind closed doors on 17 June when Aston Villa host Sheffield United at 18:00 BST, with Manchester City v Arsenal at 20:15. The Canaries - six points from Premier League safety

- host 14th place Southampton on Friday, 19 June at 18:00 in their first fixture of the restarted campaign. The player who tested positive for Covid-19 will miss that match. There have now been 16 positive results from 8,687 tests in total. A Spurs statement on Saturday said the club was following the government’s definition of “close contact” as being within two metres

There have been eight rounds of testing in the Premier League

of a confirmed case for 15 minutes or more. The club added: “The

Norwich player in question has confirmed he had no ‘close contacts’ with our

team yesterday and our squad has also verified this.”

Novak brought to tears after Adria Tour victory

(BBC) - World number one, Novak Djokovic, was brought to tears after he bowed out of his Adria Tour with victory over German Alexander Zverev in front of home fans. The 4-0 1-4 4-2 win sent fellow Serb, Filip Krajinovic, into the final. Djokovic’s event -- the first elite men’s tennis since it was suspended by coronavirus -- attracted 4,000 fans. “I am just overwhelmed by emotion because this reminds me of my childhood,” he said as the Belgrade crowd gave him a standing ovation. “It’s been an emotional few days and I want to thank everyone who made this possible. The important thing after this match is that we have one of our own in the

Novak Djokovic hosted the first leg of the Adria Tour in Serbia

final. I love you all and thank you so much for turning up.” Djokovic, 33, set up the

tournament to help players get back to match fitness after several weeks without

competition. Players were split into two groups of eight and

played each other in a round-robin format, with the two group leaders competing in a final later on Sunday. Players need four games to win a set, with a tie-break at 3-3, and matches are best of three sets. Djokovic, Krajinovic and Zverev all won two of their matches and five sets each, but Krajinovic had the best games differential. The 28-year-old world number 32 will face either Austrian Dominic Thiem, ranked third in the world, or Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in the final. The next leg takes place in Zadar, Croatia from 20 June but the tournament’s third leg, scheduled for Montenegro, has been cancelled because Serbian citizens are

banned from entering the country amid the coronavirus pandemic. The final event is in Bosnia-Herzegovina in July. Several top 10 players are also competing in the Ultimate Tennis Showdown, an event created by Serena Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou in Nice, France. Matches are being held without spectators. Australian 20-year-old Alexei Popyrin beat France’s Elliot Benchetrit in the opener. Italian world number eight Matteo Berrettini defeated Dustin Brown and Feliciano Lopez, Stefanos Tsitsipas and David Goffin are among those yet to play. The regular ATP Tour is suspended until at least 31 July.

Costa pays tribute to women’s player Torrecilla (BBC) - Diego Costa marked his first Atletico Madrid goal of 2020 by paying tribute to Virginia Torrecilla - a midfielder for their women’s team - who had surgery for a brain tumour. Costa celebrated equalising in a draw with Athletic Bilbao by holding a shirt with Torrecilla’s name and number. Torrecilla had a successful operation to remove a brain tumour in May. Bilbao captain Iker Muniain had opened the scoring in the 37th minute only for

Costa to level two minutes later. This was Atletico’s first match since knocking holders Liverpool out of the Champions League at Anfield on 11 March. Diego Simeone’s side remain sixth in the table but are now level on points with Real Sociedad, who sit fourth and in the final Champions League qualifying spot. Athletic Bilbao fans greeted the team coach before the match at the San Mames Stadium In their first game back

Diego Costa scored his first goal since 19 October - and celebrated by holding aloft Virginia Torrecilla’s shirt

since La Liga resumed after being suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, Atletico were denied all three points when Bilbao keeper Unai Simon produced a fine late save to keep out Santiago Arias. Atletico, who included former Tottenham defender Kieran Trippier, are at mid-table Osasuna on Wednesday (21:00 BST). Bilbao, who still have to face leaders Barcelona away on 23 June and second-placed Real Madrid at home on 5 July, remain 10th in the table.

CWI PCL draft on today Cricket West Indies will stage the players draft for the upcoming Professional Cricket League season Today, as they press ahead with plans for the new domestic season despite the uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will be held via Zoom and will feature just two rounds, with each of the six franchises already pre-selecting 13 players. For the upcoming season, the requirement obligating franchises to select at least two players from outside of their territory has been discontinued. Cricket operations manager, Roland Holder, said hosting the draft was a sign CWI was still focused on cricket development despite the current challenges. “The draft, now in its seventh year, demonstrates that CWI remains committed to our professional cricket structure and system, even in these times of uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Holder. “The ninety regional players who will be awarded regional franchise contracts, will be able to train and practice professionally as CWI hopes for a return to regional cricket later this year.” As announced previously, player contracts will be slashed by 50 per cent, and will only be awarded for a six-month period. This is part of an overall restructuring plan outlined recently by CWI which also sees international player contracts and all CWI employees taking a 50 per cent hit pay cut. Franchises’ draft pick will be based on their position in the last first class championship. As such, Leeward Islands Hurricanes who finished last, will have the first draft pick, followed by Windward Islands Volcanoes who ended one from bottom. Champions Barbados Pride will have the final pick in each round. CWI’s domestic programme has been hard hit by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic with a number of tournaments already postponed or cancelled. The first class championship was also aborted after eight of the 10 scheduled rounds as territories moved to lock down in order to mitigate against the threat of the virus.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday June 15, 2020

La Liga to take legal action against pitch invader

(BBC) - La Liga says it will take legal action after a pitch invader breached security to get a selfie with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi at a behindclosed-doors game. The fan, wearing an Argentina shirt with Messi’s name and number, appeared on the pitch early in the second half of Saturday’s 4-0 win away to Mallorca. He managed to pose for a picture within a couple of metres of Messi before being grabbed by security staff. La Liga said it considers the incident “to represent a criminal act”. In a statement the Spanish league said it made clear its “total condemnation” of the incident. “This type of conduct puts the health of others at risk and

Mallorca said they were investigating how the fan had got into the stadium

risks damaging the integrity of the competition,” it added. The fan claims he scaled a two-metre high fence to gain access to Mallorca’s

stadium. “I had planned this ever since I knew the match was happening. I wanted a photo with Messi and to

meet him because he’s my idol,” the French Mallorca resident told radio station Cadena Cope.

Soccer star Bobb training relentlessly, following safety rules as lockdown continues By

Clifton

Ross

NATIONAL winger, Trayon Bobb, said he’s keeping safe while staying fit during the pandemic, but admits he dearly missed playing football. Chronicle Sport caught up with the Guyanese-born Caledonia FC star, who said the ongoing state of lockdown was treating him fairly well, but he’s desperate to get back on the field. Arguably one of the best soccer players Guyana has ever produced, Bobb was adamant that his training during downtime will keep him at an optimum level as he awaits his return to action. “I’ve been exercising every day and I have also been doing my own personal workouts to ensure that I keep fit during quarantine”,said the 27-year-old left-winger. Like most athletes, Bobb has been forced into isolation due to Covid-19 for the last 3 months. From a mental standpoint, the Guyanese, who had a successful stint in Finland with a few clubs, said he was in high spirits despite the lack of game time but says his training regiment keeps him focused. “Yes, it does affect me a

National winger, Trayon Bobb, said he’s eager to get back on the field post-COVID-19

lot (lockdown) but I still continue to do my normal exercise on a daily basis”. He said. With safety and health being a key factor in daily living since the pandemic took effect, Bobb, who made two additional appearances for the U-20 team during its qualification attempt in the 2013 CONCACAF Championship, believed sticking to the current regulations was a key part of being an athlete during these times. “I don’t be in crowds, I tend to stick to the safety precautions, but I try to do my best to make up for the time spent away from training with my teammates”, He said. Looking to the future, with the silver lining appearing to be more visible with each passing day, and Guyana possibly set to resume action by the summer, the soccer star was adamant that he had done enough to make a solid return to the sport he loves. “Since I’m doing my normal exercises at home, I don’t think I should have that problem in terms of performance, but overall,I just really miss playing football so much”, Bobb ended.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Monday June 15, 2020

Reifer happy to be back in Caribbean side coaching unit CMC – FORMER interim West Indies head coach, Floyd Reifer, says he is thrilled to be back in the Caribbean side’s coaching set-up, and is hoping he can contribute to a historic series win over England next month. Reifer has replaced batting coach, Monty Desai, who was unable to travel to the United Kingdom due to lockdown restrictions in his native India. “It’s always good to be back on the international circuit and working with the best cricketers we have in the Caribbean,” Reifer said prior to his departure earlier this week. “I’m excited. I’m looking forward to getting back into doing some work. “I’m thankful for the opportunity coach [Phil] Simmons has given me and he had the confidence in me as well, so it’s just for me to go out there and do the job I know I can do.” West Indies will defend the coveted Wisden Trophy when they face England in a three-Test series starting July 8 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. And the Caribbean side’s batting, which has struggled in recent time, is expected to come under the microscope especially in English seam-friendly conditions. Reifer said his role in the coaching unit would be critical in getting the best out of the side’s batting group. “Phil is a very good coach, very experienced and has been doing well with the team over the last few months,” he noted. “I’m looking forward to working with Phil and adding my value and my knowledge to make sure the team does the best they can in England.

“Obviously, my job is to prepare the batters to make sure they’re mentally and skillfully as ready as possible [for] those Test matches.” Reifer was appointed interim West Indies head coach last year April, taking over from Englishman Richard Pybus. However, he presided over a disastrous World Cup in England where the regional side managed just two wins in nine matches to finish ninth of 10 teams – their worst ever result at the global 50-over showpiece. Having also served as head coach of West Indies A and led the successful Emerging Players side which won the Super50 Cup last November, Reifer said he was already acquainted with many of the players in the large 25-member contingent. “I worked with the guys at the World Cup, worked with guys in the A-team as well, and one or two of the guys [in the Test contingent] are from the Emerging Players, so I’ve worked with most or all of the guys in the team, so it’s just to continue and build those relationships,” he stressed. Reifer said while his long term ambition was to work within the West Indies coaching step up, his immediate focus was the England series. “Everything in time. I’ve had a taste of it already and I’m positive that I’m going to be there again, so I’m taking everything in stride,” said Reifer, who once enjoyed a stint as West Indies captain. “Right now it’s just this series coming up, so I’m going to put my best foot forward and make sure that the guys are prepared well and do my best.”

Interim batting coach, Floyd Reifer.

No friendships during test series – archer (BBC) - There will be “no friendships” between the West Indies players and England’s Jofra Archer during the sides’ upcoming Test series, says bowler Kemar Roach. Barbados-born bowler Archer, 25, played three times for West Indies Under-19s before opting to play

for England. He played against West Indies at the 2019 World Cup but this summer’s series, starting on 8 July, would be the first time he will be facing them in Tests. “It is all about winning and playing hard cricket,” fellow Bajan, Roach, said. “Jofra has made his deci-

sion and is doing a fantastic job for his career. “There is no friendships with this series.” Archer has friends in the West Indies’ 30-man touring party, notably batsman Shai Hope and bowler Chemar Holder, and played alongside bowlers Alzarri Joseph and Preston McSween

for West Indies Under-19s. Asked whether there would be extra words for Archer on the field during the Test series, Roach said: “We will see when that comes around. We will definitely see.” The three-match series will be played at bio-secure venues in Southampton and

Manchester without spectators, something Roach said could help West Indies as the hosts will be without their usual vocal support. Roach expects the tourists to employ the same aggressive, hostile bowling methods used when his side beat England 2-1 in the Caribbean last year.

“I don’t think our mode of attack will change much,” he said. “We saw [England’s batsmen] in the Caribbean and it is pretty fresh in our minds. “Once we get stuck into them we stand a great chance of beating England.”

IOC rule against kneeling breaches human rights Global Athlete

Windies ready to defend trophy

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See story on page 20

Alzarri Joseph bowls in the Old Trafford netsÂ CWI Media

Elliot Vieira

The practice of kneeling during the anthem was started by former NFL star Colin Kaepernick (right) in 2016 to highlight racial inequality Reigning champions Barbados Pride.

PAGE 19

snags first CSBK

Pro 600 win

See story on page 22

Elliot Vieira rides in with the chequered flag

CWI PCL draft on today

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MONDAY,JUNE 15, 2020