Weekend Mirror 31 October - 1 November, 2020

G77 called on to work toward presenting unified position at next UN climate conference 31 October - 1 November, 2020 / Vol. 11 No. 46 / Price: $100

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‒ Jagdeo stresses need for increasing ‘ambition’ and ‘access’ PAGE 13

Prime Minister outlines plans to transform energy sector Procedural deficiencies in Coalition’s elections petitions PAGE 3

PAGE 15

Time to lead, elections are over – President to regional leaders PAGE 6

SEE INSIDE

Hire Purchase Bill, others for National Assembly soon PAGE 20

– Attorney General

Healthcare, other PAGE 23 frontline workers hailed for service to Guyanese SEE INSIDE

Lessons for Grades 1-3

Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) Worksheets Follow the Radio and Keep Learning [PAGE 16-17]

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WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

First Lady mobilises support ‘Operation COVI-CURB’ taken for vulnerable children, to Bartica differently-abled persons A F irst Lady of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Arya Ali, on Monday (October 26, 2020) met with U.S. Ambassador, Ms. Sarah-Ann Lynch and Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Mr. Nicholas Boyer in an effort to mobilise support for vulnerable groups across Guyana.

During both meetings, the First Lady outlined the tenets of her ‘One Guyana’ platform which moves beyond social and cultural inclusion to examine biological and environmental factors which cause individuals to be excluded from various aspects of society.

Particularly, the First Lady identified differently-abled persons and children to be among the most vulnerable, due to their inability to navigate structural barriers.

She explained that differently-abled persons must be empowered through col-

lective recognition and integration into society. As such, she provided a list of a few hundred differently-abled persons who are currently seeking employment, and lobbied the private sector to provide employment opportunities for those persons.

The list will also be provided to the Ministry of Labour for additional support in providing employment opportunities.

To support children, the First Lady is embarking on a pilot project to have businesses adopt an orphanage for a minimum of six months, in an effort to improve the state of those agencies and the lives of the children.

Mrs. Ali also committed her support to working with both the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown and the PSC on their initiatives, which seek to improve the lives of the Guyanese people.

For his part, Mr. Boyer shared that the PSC has a social responsibility to support initiatives and activities which are designed to benefit vulnerable groups, including women, children and those who are differently-abled.

To this end, he pledged support for both the adopt-an-orphanage initiative and for the PSC to assist in providing employment for differently-abled persons.

Ambassador Lynch said she was particularly pleased to know that the First Lady is actively pursuing these issues, particularly support for the differently-abled, since she has witnessed first-hand many of the challenges they face on a daily basis.

She added that the U.S Embassy will continue to support the work of the Government and the Office of the First Lady, in an effort to improve the welfare of people across the country.

mass sensitisation exercise took place at the Bartica Municipal Market last weekend, when Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, took ‘Operation COVI-CURB’ to CuyuniMazaruni (Region Seven).

The Minister and a team from his Ministry distributed masks and informed citizens about the protocols necessary for keeping safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brochures featuring content about the disease were

also distributed.

Minister Croal led the team to other communities in the region including Batavia, Four Miles, Five Miles, Agatash, Dagg Point and Mora Camp.

Operation COVI-CURB was officially launched by Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips on October 1 to ramp up efforts against COVID-19.

Since then, Ministers and other government officials, personnel from the Disciplined Services and

volunteers have spread out countrywide, with an aggressive awareness campaign to help Guyanese protect themselves and their families.

CoviCurb is part of the Government strategy to combat the dreaded disease.

The Government has been working assiduously to ensure the public is properly educated on the dangers of COVID-19 and how to protect themselves. [SEE RELATED REPORTING ON PAGE 23]

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WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

Prime Minister outlines Ministry revising legislation to tackle child labour plans to transform T energy sector ─power purchase from local sources ─construct 200MW gas-to-shore facility ─off-grid renewable energy stations

we have available through GPL will satisfy not only the domestic, but the commercial and industrial needs of Guyana,” the Prime Minister said.

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OFF-GRID SUPPLY Meanwhile, Prime Minister Phillips relayed that the construction of off-grid stations powered by renewable energy sources are high on the Administration’s agenda.

The facilities will be built mainly in hinterland communities that are not connected to GPL’s grid.

The Prime Minister has said that the use of solar, wind and hydroelectricity sources are critical to the energy mix the Government is working to establish.

Flagship hydropower projects such as those to be done at the Amaila Falls, Kato Village and at Kumu Falls are being pursued.

Aside from the construction of solar farms, US$10 million has already been allocated for the purchase of solar panels for Amerindian communities. President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali made this announcement in September.

The Government’s plans for the energy sector are in keeping with the PPP/C’s manifesto promise to deliver cheaper and more reliable electricity to the nation.

rime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips has outlined some of the Government’s plans to diversify the energy sector to end the scourge of blackouts that have for years plagued the nation.

In a recent interview, the Prime Minister said the Government has sought to address the challenges facing the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) from its first days in office, in a quest to end blackouts.

PURCHASE POWER FROM LOCAL SOURCES One of the first steps taken is to establish power purchasing agreements (PPAs) with local entities to fill in the gap for the present shortfall of electricity.

“We want to buy power that is available locally to supplement what is produced

by GPL. That, in the shortest term, will help us to have reserve power to minimise blackouts,” the Prime Minister said.

One month after the PPP/ C’s ascension to office more than 30 businesses submitted

Expressions of Interest (EOI) to supply power to GPL after a request from the Government. The Giftland Mall is one of those companies that is set to soon supplement GPL’s grid.

Prime Minister Phillips said Government is exploring other means to further increase GPL’s reserve between now and year end.

GAS-TO-SHORE FACILITY The establishment of a gas-to-shore facility is also on the cards. This major undertaking would be the first for Guyana and is expected to produce approximately 200 megawatts (MW) of power.

Already, the Government has tipped former Chief Executive Officer the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited, Mr. Winston Brassington to head the Gas-to-Shore Task Force.

Prime Minister Phillips anticipates the facility will be constructed by 2024.

“We believe if we can produce 200 megawatts of power from the gas-to-shore project, that along with what

46 CSOs benefit from IT training

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ome 46 Community Support Officers (CSO) have started training in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), according to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.

The trainees are drawn from the 46 communities that were selected for the wider CSO programme from which some 400 youths are currently benefitting. The youth are all engaged in training related to their various fields of interest and are being paid a monthly stipend of $30,000.

CSO Programme Coordinator at the Ministry, Mr. Besham Ramsaywak, explained that the programme has started in most communities and is running smoothly so far. He explained however, that a formal launch was not possible due to COVID-19 preventative measures in place.

Mr. Michael Thomas, Toshao of Aishalton, one

of the 46 villages selected, said the Village Council had selected 10 persons to participate in the CSO programme.

The selection process required that youth indicate their interest to the Council after which the most outstanding among them were selected. The youths were engaged in two sessions and they were informed of the Terms of Reference and other requirements of the programme. They have already started functioning in their different fields of interest.

The CSOs will serve their communities in the areas of Education, Health, Sport, Governance and Community Relations.

On its assumption of office, the PPP/C administration made good on its campaign promise to restart the programme, which it initiated in 2014 under the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP). YEAP had tar-

geted some 2,000 youth between the ages of 16-40 in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine. It formed part of the PPP/C’s work programme for the development and advancement of Indigenous youth.

The reintroduction of the CSO programme will replace the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme, which was introduced by the former APNU+AFC Coalition Administration. The HEYS programme ended in 2019.

When the PPP/C returned to office in August, it found that while there were a few successful businesses under the HEYS programme, the overall objective of the programme was not being realised.

Youths in the CSO programme will also be given an opportunity to interact with leaders of the National Toshaos Council in the near future.

he Ministry of Labour will be clamping down on child labour and is currently revising legislation in this regard, according to subject Minister, Joseph Hamilton.

He explained that measures would be put in place to train more officers to respond effectively to child labour.

“We are presently reviewing the labour legislation to amend or enact new laws guided by the Attorney General’s Chambers. Through this, employers who are employing children will be put before the law. Our officers

will be trained to work in the field in the ten administrative regions to ensure children are safe and are in school,” Minister Hamilton said.

There are also plans to develop and review protocols with several Government agencies, particularly the Ministry of Home Affairs.

“The Guyana Police Force will be working along with us every step of the way, not forgetting, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Childcare and Protection Agency and the Ministry of Education. We want to rescue those children who

are without parental support and have to go in search of a job to feed themselves,” he said.

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the COVID-19 pandemic can push millions of vulnerable children into child labour. “There are an estimated 152 million children in child labour, 72 million of whom are in hazardous work. These children are now at even greater risk of facing circumstances that are even more difficult and working longer hours,” the ILO stated.

Food security, poverty reduction a priority for Agri Ministry

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he Ministry of Agriculture has hastened its efforts to ensure food security and poverty reduction throughout Guyana.

Minister Zulfikar Mustapha made this statement Monday (October 26, 2020) when he opened a webinar to discuss ways of investing in agriculture for poverty reduction and sustainable development.

“Increased investment through international co-operation, public and private partnership are encouraged to increase the coverage of public goods and services, particularly in rural communities,” he said.

To this end, the Government has implemented suitable measures and has already allocated $18.4 billion to stimulate the sector.

General Manager of the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), Mrs. Ida Sealy-Adams believes that one way to reduce poverty is through agro-processing. The GMC has, over the years, helped several

agro-processors to transform their ideas and dreams into reality. Mrs. Sealy-Adams said the GMC will continue to provide training and will focus heavily on product development.

Meanwhile, Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to Guyana, Dr. Gillian Smith said agriculture locally, is way beyond providing a meal and a livelihood since it connects with the world’s agriculture system.

Dr. Smith said COVID-19 has proven how the global agri-food system is extremely vulnerable. For the nation to achieve zero poverty, there must be coherent policies, she said.

“If the Ministry of Agriculture has policies for food production that are not coherent with the policies of trade, that are not coherent with the low carbon development strategy, then we are going to run into issues of trying to ensure that we meet our results,” Dr. Smith said.

Adding to the panel discussion, Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Dr. Oudho Homenauth believes that the sector will see tremendous growth in the years to come.

Dr. Homenauth said there are 28,000 acres of coconut currently under cultivation and production is expected to expand by 1,000 acres annually.

He said NAREI plans to work closely with farmers to establish their plant nurseries in their regions. This, he said, will help increase production.

Emphasis will also be placed on intercropping.

Chief Technical Officer, Mr. George Jervis said through the flood risk management project, some US $10.6 million was exhausted to execute works including drainage and irrigation, to help persons practising agriculture on the coastal plain.

Another US$26 million is to be approved by the World Bank for continued works.

Removal of VAT, free water for pensioners effective this month A s Government continues to deliver on Manifesto promises, today the Minister of Housing and Water announced that systems are in place for citizens to have more affordable water.

Effective from October 5, 2020, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) customers are eligible to benefit from two significant measures.

“Every consumer that is paying for their water can expect that, the removal of VAT,” Minister Croal said in a recent interview.

GWI CEO, Mr. Shaik Baksh had said previously that consumers pay over $35 million per month in taxes on water. As such, the new measure brings immediate relief to the population.

For pensioners, the Minister said the Government will reinstate subsidies which were removed over the past five years. This is in keeping with Page 37 of the PPP/C Manifesto for improved access and quality of water and a fulfilment of promises made on the campaign trail.

Subsidies for pensioners will fall into two categories.

“With respect to our pensioners, there are some pensioners who are unmetered and then of course, there are some who are metered. For those who are unmetered […] there is 100 per cent subsidy […] they are not required to make payments on their water consumed,” the Minister said.

However, he added that “for the metered pensioners, the first ten cubic metres (Turn to page 15)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

EDITORIAL Guyana demonstrates laudable leadership on the global stage

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he potential human cost of climate change is catastrophic – about this there is no doubt. A rise in sea levels threatens hundreds of millions of people in coastal communities and cities across the globe. Food and water shortages and conflict over productive land will arise, while progress in global health could be rolled back by communicable diseases such as malaria reaching places they never existed before. Hundreds of millions of people are likely to be forced to migrate from their homes by 2050.

This week, Guyana, as Chair of United Nations grouping, hosted a Group of 77+ China ministerial and technical meeting that focused on climate change.

Leading the charge, President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo called attention to the need for action to be taken and highlighted Guyana’s national-scale model, the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

President Ali pointedly said: “This gathering will afford us the opportunity to facilitate awareness, build partnerships, share lesson-learning knowledge and experiences about climate actions amidst the COVID - 19 crisis and to discuss our key issues and concerns about climate change as navigate towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In short, we have an opportunity here to enhance our collective enterprise in order to strengthen the prospects for sustainable development, climate security and a COVID -19 free world.”

Meanwhile, Vice President Jagdeo stressed the need for the G77 block to hold a united front to not only increase access to climate change financing, but to also improve ambitions as it relates to the climate change response – all in an effort to ensure that the likely catastrophic human cost of climate change is mitigated.

Unlike the former APNU+AFC Coalition government, the current Administration has used the platforms at its disposal to not only improve the lives of Guyanese people, but also stand out as a global leaders in a critical area.

Such moves are undeniably laudable, given what is at stake.

The United Nations has noted that he effects of global warming are already bringing harm to human communities and the natural world. Further temperature rises will have a devastating impact and more action on greenhouse gas emissions is urgently required. According to the global body, further warming of our atmosphere is now almost impossible to avoid. The effects of that warming will depend on how high and how fast the temperature rises. Global warming changes weather patterns, causing severe weather events, heatwaves, droughts and floods. Climate change is already shrinking glaciers and ice caps, altering the availability of fresh water.

It contributes to ocean acidification, destroying coral reefs and other aquatic ecosystems. It makes places uninhabitable for some plants and animals, leading to extinctions and redistribution of species, threatening food production with alien pests and diseases.

There are multiple drivers of climate change. Overwhelmingly, emissions are produced by people in the richest countries, and industrial development and consumption patterns in the Global North are primarily responsible for the crisis we are in today. Technological solutions, personal lifestyle changes, policies to end fossil fuel use and develop alternative energy and potentially fundamental changes to our economic systems are all vital, especially as the timescale for preventing catastrophic climate change is so short - now less than a decade, according to the IPCC. The 2019 Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency, signed by more than 13,000 scientists from around the world, explicitly calls for "bold and drastic transformations" from policy makers.

What is clear is that the time for action is now and Guyana, under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration, has made good use of its leadership role on the global stage to advocate for said action.

All corrupt activities by officials at GECOM must be exposed Dear Editor,

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he recent daylight attack on the home of Chief Justice Roxane George bears all marks of the bullish brand and flagrant desperation that our nation and the world witnessed from the APNU/AFC cabal since the valid No-Confidence Motion. The terroristic “toy-gun tantrum” cannot be taken lightly! Rather, the occurrence and threats must be vehemently rejected and opposed, while every effort to ensure the arrest of culprit messenger must be used to expose the true authors of his mission.

It is a known fact that this brilliant and certainly sober-minded Chief Justice has in the past, acted decisively without fear or favour, in defending the autonomy of the Judiciary as a key pillar of our democracy and Government. The rulings of the Caribbean Court of Justice on her instructive decisions, confirm her esteemed judicial qualifications and exercise of judgement, which provides broad-based confidence. In this respect, it cannot be overemphasised that no effort must be spared in always protecting the pillars of impartiality, fairness, and transparency of our Judicial arm of Government.

Given the level of outlandishness we have seen from Senior APNU/AFC conspirators and their suspected agents in the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the situation demands the Government’s strongest considerations.

While we are confident in the fearless stand of our venerated Chief Justice, the nation’s highest trained team of security forces must provide the highest quality of service to her personal self, together with her immediate family.

Editor, it is no longer surprising that after fooling their supporters for months by highlighting and conveying an absolute refusal to exit the offices of Government, our citizens relegated Opposition are now attempting to persuade supporters that the PNC’s election petition will put the legal PPP/C Gov-

ernment out of Office. Except for a few clearly sadistic-minded individuals, the Guyanese people are ready and willing to move forward in harmony. These attempts at intimidation, therefore, will not work.

From the evidence derived from the vote recount process and results, it must be now crystal clear to all Guyanese that it was the same illegal, fraudulent spreadsheet used in 2011, which created the opportunity for the APNU/AFC to rig those elections. There are certainly many questions to be answered, and our nation deserves to know the truth.

Indeed, the answers to these questions inform the reasons why there is such a vehement public outcry for the injustice of the delay in hearing the PPP/C’s 2015 petition to be ventilated.

It is recalled that myself, among several duly appointed PPP/C officials, were at the GECOM building on High Street when GECOM Returning Officer Melanie Marshall agreed to revisit the Statements of Poll. In the process, she feigned sickness and the commenced process ended abruptly. This resulted in the Granger cabal being wickedly entrusted into Government. After five years, the PPP/C is still waiting for the 2015 election petition to see the daylight.

At those 2015 elections as well as those in 2020, strong evidence existed of GECOM officials being complicit in characteristic unsavoury biased roles.

In the former, several issues such as the dumping of Disciplined Services votes at particular Polling Stations; the tearing out of ballot sheets from one polling booth and transferring same to other polling booths by GECOM election officials without any record occurred.

The PPP/C still has a strong 2015 Election Petition and a remedy by the Judiciary is certainly anticipated, even if the results mean a revelation of the truth. Politically, this is significant and fair, given that there will be disclosure of the true character of those corrupt

actors who are continuous in their fraudulent attempts. Further, it will assist in cleansing the certainly contaminated and seemingly poisoned institution.

The hearing of the 2020 election petitions must be a transparent process. It is notable that smoothness of the voting process throughout the country generated no reported reasons for any queries.

It is, therefore, necessary to ventilate how some of the recount discoveries occurred without any intervention from Senior GECOM officials. Is it that they were creating a mechanism for query?

The most important document for the elections officials to confirm and validate the election results is the Statements of Poll (SoPs). It is on record that David Granger and the APNU/AFC 2020 elections Campaign Manager Joseph Harmon said that the 2020 National and Regional Elections was free and fair. The APNU/AFC was demanding that Granger be sworn in as President with the same results. So why did APNU/AFC and the Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield hide their SoPs? These positions must be thoroughly ventilated when the matters are called.

After five long months and the intervention of Caricom, the powerful international observers’ teams, the imminent international diplomats in Guyana along with the united Guyanese political parties, the opportunists PNC cabals were forced to accept that Dr Irfaan Ali was the truly winning and deserving candidate. Fortunately, the vote counts were significant enough to overwhelm the seemingly orchestrated errors. After the full scrutiny, all allegations of irregularities and improprieties must also be exposed, and the culprits condignly dealt with.

The two petitions must be used to expose all GECOM corrupt activities and officials, as well as other complicit conspirators.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

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WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

Coalition’s policy of neglect cannot be denied

Strength in unity Dear Editor,

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he great tragedy of Guyanese politics is the narrative of our division, propagated by self-interest politicians and an opposition party reliant on outrage to drive turnout instead of passion and inspiration. The more we believe that our struggles exist among ourselves instead of against wealthy corporate interests and unchecked power, the less able we are to unify around common values.

Leaders and residents in Region 10, and our nation in order to heal the wounds of manufactured division, we must re-discover a sense of purpose built around those shared values. We have to re-discover the courage of past generations that defeated fascism.

These moments of action were inspired by crisis and challenges. Our circumstances today are no different. COVID-19, massive inequality. Our path to unity and healing revolves around just that: extending our new Government’s dream and its promise of progress to every Guyanese who has been locked out under the previous APNU/AFC Administration.

However, our PPP/C Government’s national COVID-19 relief and support programme – $25,000 per a household – can be that new national project which will be built around our shared values — free from partisanship, guided by policy and principles. It means reckoning with our extreme inequality, our legacy of systemic racism and divisive system of politics. Our PPP/C Government guarantees healthcare, where every life matters, where education doesn’t come with lifelong debt, where housing isn’t out of reach and where everyone lives a life of dignity. We need to embrace our Government as a force for good.

Until we heal the anguish of our nation’s despair, we cannot bridge divides born of struggling to survive. Lindeners – Guyanese, we hold the power; we just have to re-discover it. Our current state of affairs is a self-fulfilling prophecy of despair and doubt. But it doesn’t have to stay that way.

Our Government has paved that path and

made that commitment to every Guyanese to break beyond party identity, empowering us to come together as a single collective voice of citizens. The question before all of us: How do we come together? How do we heal our divides?

First, we have to recognise that we’re more unified than we imagine. The truth is that politics shouldn’t be so confrontational or conflicted. The solutions are out there and Guyana is for all Guyanese and we must reject those who seek to divide us, those with the nefarious plans aiming to divide and cripple Guyana.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government over the past three months has been working to ensure that every Guyanese reaps the benefits of the development that is to come in the future and is already here.

Their primary objective is to ensure that every Guyanese is treated fairly and prospers under the PPP/C Administration, especially our young people. Let us grasp at every opportunity.

As our country prepares for further development, we must be reminded that Guyana belongs to every Guyanese and as leaders, we must put our country above selfish ideals which is imperative as we come together since “there is always strength in unity”.

We must, as a town, as a nation, ask ourselves the question, is this our destiny?

And we must take courage and answer definitively. Since our PPP/C encourages us daily to garner the strength and put aside the divisiveness in party politics, religion, class and elitism and work towards the creation of an egalitarian society that lacks social stratification with the exception of inequality based on ability and age which provides equal access to resources and prestige to all Guyanese.

Our elected Government is working tirelessly to deliver for our people and to ensure that Guyana is the place to live if we are going to prosper in a true sense.

Sincerely, David Adams

Dear Editor,

A

fter the 2015 Elections, the APNU/AFC embarked on an unparalleled egocentric course which had even thrust its own supporters and members into a state of oblivion and total abandonment when it comes to implementing social and economic policies to rescue them from a dire state of poverty and social ills.

This state of affairs does not surprise in the least, since I live in close proximity to Fyrish village and had witnessed many excursions from the Coalition, and yet, the condition of the people there had not been alleviated at all.

In April 2016, then President Granger visited the village for a second time, and in what had become his trademark ‘bowling’ delivery, urged the residents to strengthen the pillars: the church, the school, the home and the farm, to ensure the revival of the fortunes of the village, which once stood as an agriculture powerhouse and the ‘fruit bowl’ of the Corentyne.

It should be recalled that he had declared Region 6 as the ‘sugar bowl’ and ‘rice bowl’ on some of his ‘outreaches’. Unfortunately, the only ‘bowl’ he succeeded in delivering to Region 6 was the ‘begging bowl’. It is instructive to note that, more than one year after Granger’s ‘pillar and fruit bowl’ speech at the Village Day observances, the entire Fyrish farmland was inundated by flood waters, and all the fruit trees and plantain trees were laid waste.

On 17th October this year, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and his team held a well-attended meeting with residents and farmers at the Fyrish Primary School. I had expected that after Granger and Harmon had visited the village on numerous occasions, the residents would have had most of their problems resolved, but that was wishful thinking.

In fact, Minister Mustapha was bombarded with multiple problems which should have been resolved. It was clear that the Granger Government had neglected the very ‘pillars’ which he had philosophised about in 2016.

The visibly disappointed residents complained bitterly about truckloads of garbage blocking most of the drains, sanitation issues, and drainage and irrigation problems. It simply cannot be that all these problems just materialised after 2nd August 2020. It was evident that the ‘farm’ pillar was not properly erected, and was not given the transformative boost needed. It was clear that there will not be any plantains to manufacture the famous

plantain chips, and the attempts to grow non-traditional crops suffered many setbacks.

Fortunately, the Minister did not walk alone, since he was not on an ‘excursion’ trip. Minister Zulfikar, upon listening to these myriad problems, immediately instructed the various members of his team to set upon the issues raised, and resolve them as a matter of great urgency. The team comprised Dr Oudho Homenauth from NAREI, Nizam Hassan from GRDB, Frederick Flatts from NDIA, the Regional Chairman and Vice Chairman, and others.

In addition, residents raised the issue of an excavator being used as the personal asset of an APNU member, and the illegal distribution of over 800 acres of land to another.

Immediately, the excavator was transferred to the Region, and the land issue came under investigation.

I am sure that the Fyrish story is another replica of what had manifested itself in various other villages which had strongly supported the Coalition. It was evident that Granger and his ministers had just visited these villages to have fun unlimited. It was about big celebrations, pomp and pageantry, and the next day hungry bellies growling.

They never cared to uplift the residents from the social and economic quagmire which engulfed and threatened their livelihoods, and which became widespread after 2015.

They fooled and deceived the people. They destroyed sugar, and were in the process of doing so with rice, and then they placated the situation by dangling the ‘oil money’ in front of the people.

The residents were clearly happy that the closed estates are being reopened, and that Albion Estate, which provide employment to many residents from the village, was saved from the Coalition’s guillotine. This Agriculture Minister has already made a tremendous difference to the agriculture sector.

The Coalition never cared to put money in the pockets of the people. In fact, they took money out of the people’s pockets. Today, Santa Claus has arrived early from the North Pole, and each household is being given $25,000 to assist them during the pandemic.

It is a timely boost after the Coalition’s Grinch would have stolen Christmas from them since 2015. In addition, the 2020 Budget has ensured that $20 billion go back into the pockets of our people.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Tactics of intimidation and fear will not work Dear Editor,

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say this with the strongest conviction possible: Guyana and Guyanese will not; I repeat: will not, be intimidated by fear or violence of any sort. And I would further add that this country will move forward peacefully, progressively, and in accordance with law and order.

In light of the foregoing, I shall endeavour to discuss the latest in an ongoing saga in a hapless society called Guyana.

The question is: Why would a gunman go to the residence of the Chief Justice; or, for that matter, confront anyone with a gun – toy or otherwise? Is this a joke? Or,

is this the Guyanese version of Halloween?

You might very well say it is not, because Guyana does not celebrate Halloween. So, what is it? My dear readers, this is a clear, calculated move to drive fear in society; but I daresay it will not work.

It is strangely coincidental that all of these things are taking place at a time when certain major matters are taking place in Guyana. I am talking about the election petitions filed by the Opposition coming up for hearing before the very same Chief Justice.

These occurrences would lead anyone – even if that person has half a brain – to believe that there is a political motive behind

this. Things do not just happen in a vacuum.

What I am saying is that this visit by a man with a toy gun to the Chief Justice’s residence is a political vendetta to intimidate, and how much headway that had achieved is left to be seen. However, I am sending a warning to the political operatives on the Guyanese landscape to be very careful of their actions, because these goings-on are before an international community that would not exact any scruples should any injury or harm come to any member of the Judiciary. Further, the international community will not, in any way, shape or form, countenance instability in our country.

Be it known that strict attention, both at home and abroad, is being paid to the political developments here in Guyana. There will be serious consequences for those who do not want to abide by the law. In other words, those who would want to have Guyana slide into lawlessness and mayhem, where scenarios of violence and the ruleby-fear exist. That is not going to happen!

So, my advice is that we stay calm and allow the law to take its course. Guyana is still a country where the law rules supreme.

I rest my case.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

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WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

POSITIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Gov’t will invest in research and development to improve healthcare M

ore investment is needed in research and development if Guyana is to better its healthcare system, according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali. And he assured that his Government will be making substantial investments in that area.

President Ali was at the time delivering the feature address at the handing over of the $245 million Dr. Yesu Persaud Clinical Education Centre to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation last weekend.

The President said Guyana’s human resources have the potential to be innovative and to make their mark on the global stage, but he stressed that research and development are key. “We have to invest in primary healthcare and to fix that, we need to invest in community healthcare. You will see in the next budget; we are going to create a new programme for research and development at the primary healthcare level,” Dr. Ali said.

The Head of State added that “through a US$17 million investment programme, very soon we will commence the modernisation and expansion of the Suddie, West Demerara and Bartica hospitals.” Those funds will be sourced from the High Commission of India.

In addressing primary healthcare, President Ali said

the same attention is needed for the development of district hospitals. “We have set aside resources for the upgrade of many district hospitals including Lethem, Paramakatoi, Diamond, Leonora and Linden. We are going to the community level.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony said the new facility will become the hive of undergraduate and post-graduate clinical training in Guyana. “This new facility, the Dr. Yesu Persaud Clinical Education Centre will allow

us to expand our current post-graduate training and provide the institute with better accommodation for simulation labs and other modern teaching aids. Also, we intend to use this building as the teaching hub to provide various online training to doctors and other medical personnel in all of our regions,” Minister Anthony said.

Government put $30 million towards the establishment of the Centre with the remainder coming from the Yesu Persaud Foundation.

Time to lead, elections are over – President to regional leaders

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he newly confirmed Regional Chairmen and Vice Chairmen to ensure that they serve everyone, regardless of which political parties they represent. President Dr. Irfaan Ali made these remarks, following the official swearing in ceremony, held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal on Monday (October 26, 2020).

He said, “Elections are over, you are now elected to lead… the task is to serve for all the people… this is the core message I wish to leave with you, service to all the people and other regions. “…it is not an easy task, but it must be a selfless task that we take seriously. Your oath of office today is one in which you would have committed yourself to serving the people …which means basically, that although we represent and you represent different political parties, your conduct and action have to be for all the people of the region.”

The President reminded the officials of the important role that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) representatives play in serving the people. “You are the bridge between the central government and the local government. The RDC’s are expected to be that important bridge which represents the

interests of all the people in the various regions; that bridge that seeks to improve the lives and condition under which the people of all regions live,” he said.

President Ali also assured the newly sworn in Regional representatives of his government’s full support. “I want to assure you that the central government will provide the necessary support to allow you and enable you to facilitate the development and upward movement of the people of our country, in every single region. Today, you embark on a journey of leadership, one that all of us have been entrusted with by the people of our country.”

He also pointed to the important role that the officials will have to play in returning their communities’ businesses and other sectors to financial sustainability in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The President reiterated the importance of Government’s holistic approach to dealing with the effects of the Pandemic, including the reprogramming of US$60M, which will be spent at both the community and regional levels to bring relief to all citizens. “Once again, congratulations. Good luck and know that you have a partner

in the government. You just have to reach out to us, and we are ready to work with all of you for the betterment of the people of our country and our country as a whole.”

The Regional Chairmen who took the oath of Office are: Mr. Brentnol Ashley- Region One (Barima -Waini) , Ms. Vilma Audrey Da Silva- Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam), Mr. Mohamed Inshan Ayube-Region 3 (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Mr. Daniel Seeram- Region 4 (Demerara-Mahaica), Mr. Vickchand Ramphal- Region 5 (Mahaica-Berbice), Mr. Permaul Armogan- Region 6 ( East Berbice- Corentyne) , Mr. Kenneth Williams - Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Mr. Bryan Allicock Region 9 (Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo) and Mr. Deron Adams - Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

The Regional Vice Chairmen included: Ms. Anasha Peters- Region 1, Mr. Humace Oudit- Region 2, Mr. Omesh Satyanand- Region 3, Mr. Samuel Sandy- Region 4, Mr. Reon Peters- Region 5, Mr. Zamad Housein- Region 6, Mr. Nageshwari Lochanprashad, Region 7, Mr. Bertie Xavier- Region 9 and Mr. Douglas Gittens- Region 10.

The Regional Chairman and Vice Chairman for Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni) have not yet been elected.

RSS report includes recommendations for additional work by Police Force

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali flanked by the Vice-Chairmpersons. From left are: Ms. Anasha Peters, Mr. Humace Oudit, Mr. Omesh Satyanand, Mr. Samuel Sandy, Mr. Reon Peters, Mr. Zamad Housein, Mr. Nageshwari Lochanprashad, Mr. Bertie Xavier and Mr. Douglas Gittens

he report by the CARICOM Regional Security System (RSS), investigating the murders of cousins Joel and Isaiah Henry and Haresh Singh made some recommendations for additional work to be done by the police, according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali. The President made this statement to journalists following the swearing-in ceremony of regional leaders on Monday (October 26, 2020) at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and The Regional Chairmpersons who took the oath of Office. From left are: Mr. Brentnol Ashley, Ms. Vilma Audrey Da Silva, Mr. Mohamed Inshan Ayube, Mr. Daniel Seeram, Mr. Vickchand Ramphal, Mr. Permaul Armogan, Mr. Kenneth Williams, Mr. Bryan Allicock and Mr. Deron Adams

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“As part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the RSS report should be submitted to the Guyana Police Force. They were satisfied with the work that the local police have been doing,” President Ali said.

The Henry cousins were found brutally murdered in Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice on September 6. A few days later, Singh’s body was found at a Number Two Village backdam.

The killings received

widespread condemnation in and out of Guyana.

Following the slayings, the President requested assistance from the CARICOM IMPACS, under the Regional Investigative Management Systems (RIMS) to help solve the murders.

The RSS team visited Guyana between September 28 and October 5, 2020. As part of its investigation, the team visited the crime scene, interviewed the relatives of the victims and examined evidence.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

POSITIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Gov’t exploring electronic ‘Do what’s right!’ medical records system ─ President Ali to Opposition Leader

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pposition Leader, Mr. Joseph Harmon needs to “do what is right in the interest of the country,” according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali. The Opposition Leader has been denying the legitimacy of the PPP/C Government, obstructing talks between the two parties, almost three months after the General and Regional Elections.

President Ali has said unless the APNU+AFC leadership recognises his Government as legitimate, there will be no talks.

“I cannot hold talks

with someone who believes that I am illegitimate. I have been speaking about issues regarding our country with the population. I have a duty to speak to the population, and that is what I am going to do,” the Head of State told journalists earlier today.

Though unsuccessful at the March 2 polls, the APNU+AFC Coalition has been claiming victory.

A five-month long election impasse saw the intervention of the regional and international community, which all called

on the David Granger administration to accept defeat and step down.

“The fact of the matter is that we have a legitimately elected Government and the Opposition Leader needs to get on board and do what’s right morally, ethically,” President Ali said.

The President said the Opposition Leader must understand that he could not act in the way he had in the five months following the elections, “when our country was dragged through an undemocratic path [….] You have a President who is willing and ready to work with all of Guyana.”

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he Government is exploring the implementation of an electronic medical records system. The President described the move as a major shift in modernising the delivery of healthcare in Guyana, according to President Dr Irfaan Ali. “We are discussing, right now, with the Indian High Commissioner the electronic medical records system that is from birth to death.

Every citizen of the country will have an electronic man-

agement of their medical records,” President Ali said.

The system will be available countrywide and accessible both at public and private medical institutions.

“So, whether you move from Georgetown to West Demerara, you do not have to move thick layers of files, your health records are there in the system and can be accessed at the private level and at the public level,” President Ali stated.

However, it was highlighted that the initiative cannot happen without the requisite human resources.

This is one of the reasons why the Government is advancing its plans to grant 20,000 scholarships countrywide in every field. President Ali said next year the Government will work to deliver the first 5,000 scholarships.

The Government is currently in discussions with more than 10 universities around the word to realise these plans.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

GuySuCo exploring $48M well for Diamond value-added, ethanol by December T production for diversification T

he Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) can explore several possibilities for sugar, including producing white sugar, and exporting to the Caribbean market and distilleries, among its plans to revive the industry, according to Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha.

The Minister made this statement at a recent meeting with cane farmers in Skeldon, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six).

GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Sasenarine Singh, who also attended the meeting, said the team crafting the turnaround plan for the company is including different options to ensure feasibility.

Value-added production is one of these. Mr. Singh said the goal is to make GuySuCo more efficient as the sugar industry will need to diversify to be successful.

“GuySuCo has to move up the value chain to sugar related value-added products.

The days of raw, brown sugar [are] going to be a challenge; we have to move to other products,” he said.

The CEO added that eth-

anol production and agro-energy are also being considered.

He also spoke of the important social role that the company plays explaining that “GuySuCo is not as big of a burden as people claim it was. GuySuCo puts into this economy about $4 billion in [drainage and irrigation] services across rural Demerara and rural Berbice; this is fundamental cash.”

The CEO told the farmers that a lot of work is being done to fix human resources and leadership challenges at the factories to “find out what is going wrong so we can refit it and make it better.

“I agree that GuySuCo has some levels of inefficiency, but we are driving an attitude … where GuySuCo will be more service oriented, more productivity oriented but at the same time serving that important principle that we cannot close GuySuCo because of the important social economic function it serves to rural Demerara and rural Berbice.”

The Government of Guyana in the Emergency Budget 2020 allocated a total of $5

billion to revive the sugar industry. However, currently, the company is strapped for cash.

“I want to make this absolutely clear, there is no excess cash in GuySuCo today. In August the Minister caused us to get $600 million from the Government to pay salaries, this is how difficult it is,” the CEO said.

When the previous administration closed several sugar estates, their assets were transferred to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited. At Rose Hall, the CEO said, “we left 22 functional tractors; we got back about three frames. We are starting from zero on some of these estates.”

However, Mr. Singh said he is optimistic about a turnaround as “Enmore started from zero, but today the Enmore Packing plant is packaging sugar for the local market, at a profit.”

Meanwhile, Minister Mustapha iterated that the assets that were transferred to NICIL under the previous administration will be returned to GuySuCo.

he Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) says the new $48 million well currently being drilled at Diamond, East Bank Demerara will be completed by December.

The well is the third to be established in the compound of the Diamond Water Treatment Plant. It is being drilled by Brazilian company Foxx Trading.

Chief Executive Officer of GWI, Mr. Shaik Baksh said the project forms part of the Government’s fiveyear vision to improve the quality of water provided to the public.

The CEO said he is satisfied with the work completed to date, following his visit to the worksite today.

“We are drilling an additional well. The other two wells are high producing wells and we are hopeful

that this one has the same outcome and it should be completed in another month’s time. Right now, we have 60 per cent coverage of treated water and we want to improve that over the next five years, so across the coastal belt we can have the population enjoying treated water,” he said.

Executive Director of Operations, Mr. Dwayne Shako explained that the well will be dug to a depth of 750 feet.

“It will be a good well.

We are looking at a production of minimum of 200 cubic metres [of water] per hour which will allow us to push the plant to it capacity,” he disclosed.

Mr. Shako told DPI the additional well will complement housing initiatives currently being undertaken by the Government. It will

also allow more people to access potable water.

“We want to ensure that we move the treated water in areas like Farm, Prospect and those newly developed housing schemes. It is a massive housing drive; we have seen the occupancy is now rising and we must be able to meet these demands,” the Director explained.

Other wells will be dug at Farm and Providence, East Bank Demerara, to provide 24-hour service and meet the housing demand in those areas.

The water company is also seeking to expand the Covent Garden Water Plant.

GWI is also conducting some loss reduction exercises in Diamond and Grove.

Once completed, this will help the company retrieve the 34 per cent of water currently being lost.

Occupational health, safety issues in Region Eight being addressed

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inister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton and a team met the Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight) Regional Health Officer, Ms. Chrissundra Abdool and Medical Superintendent (Ag.) Ms. Melissa Thomas to discuss interventions to ensure workers safety and health.

During that meeting on Tuesday (October 27, 2020), the Minister disclosed they were working towards placing two Occupational Safety

and Health (OSH) Officers in the region to work closely with the health sector.

“Too many incidences are occurring in far-flung communities that are taking the lives of persons plying a trade, and this must be dealt with,” he said.

In the meantime, a system will be in place to ensure protocols are observed at all times. The Minister also sought the support of Region Eight, Division Commander, Senior Superintendent

Michael Kingston to ensure enforcement by law officers.

Minister Hamilton said a joint workplace OSH Committee would be established to buttress efforts to ensure workers’ safety.

The Minister and a team are currently on a three-day visit to the region to evaluate and resolve labour issues.

This is in keeping with the Ministry’s work programme to identify and remedy problems affecting the nation’s workforce.

Seawall beautification project kicks off after stakeholders’ meeting

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irst Lady of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Arya Ali on Wednesday (October 28, 2020) visited the Kingston seawall following a stakeholders’ meeting which was convened to discuss the development of the area into a tourist hub.

The visit was conducted immediately after the meeting to identify sections of the seawall that need immediate restorative works.

The meeting, which was

hosted at the Ministry of Tourism’s South Road office, was also attended by: Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Hon. Oneidge Walrond; Minister of Public Works, Hon. Bishop Juan Edghill; Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Hon. Dr. Vindhya Persaud; and other stakeholders including the Guyana Water Incorporated local non-governmental organisation Seawalls and Beyond, and the

private sector.

The development of the seawall, stretching from Kingston to Vlissengen Road, forms part of the First Lady’s National Beautification Project.

After providing an overview of the project, the First Lady identified several issues that require urgent intervention. These include: vagrancy, improved lighting, improved solid waste col(Turn to page 15)

WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

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WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

Onus is on each individual to support fight against COVID-19 C

OVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact (within about 6 feet) for a prolonged period. The spread happens when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and droplets from their mouth or nose are launched into the air and land in the mouths or noses of people near-

by. The droplets can also be inhaled into the lungs. Recent studies indicate that people who are infected, but do not have symptoms (asymptomatic) are likely also play a role in the spread of COVID-19.

Despite the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic,

many are still not adhering to guidelines. This week, the Mirror Newspaper sought view on the importance of following the necessary protocols. The general consensus was that all Guyanese have a role to play in halting the spread of COVID-19.

NALINIE SINGH (CONSULTANT) said: “As the COVID-19 cases continue to increase, citizens need to behave more responsible in order to support the effort to stop the spread. In the fight to combat this virus, it is like a huge group test and you are only as strong as your weakest link.

“We have observed too many Guyanese disregarding the protocols in place. In stores they have demarked positions to enable social distancing, many times people are still disregarding this. The use of mask have been one of the protocols that I have seen been completely disregarded. Some people will have it on, but pull it below their chin; others will think once they are around people they ‘know’ they can take it off and breech all protocols. Also, the importance of sanitization seems to be lost on some as well. If we all follow these protocols, and just stay home as much as possible we can score well on this group test COVID-19.

“As the cases are rising, and we need to protect our physical health, we also need to remember our mental health. Take time to check in with loved ones, ensure you are okay and remember this too shall pass. Nothing last forever and together we can overcome this. We all just need to follow the Ministry’s guidelines and be safe.”

DEVINA PERSAUD said: “Guyana has already recorded 120+ deaths so far since the first case and death in March 2020. The seriousness of what we face must be understood if we are to be successful in combatting the spread of COVID-19.

“We must follow the guidelines and protocols at all time. This is the first step towards playing our part in curbing the spread of the virus. Understanding that COVID kills is of paramount importance.”

KISHAN GHARBARAN (ACTIVIST) said: “The seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic, I think, has not been fully grasped by Guyanese. Too many are taking this matter for granted and this affects our ability to more effectively curb its spread.

“A demonstration of this is a simple look at how persons on the streets, going about their daily business, behave. Guyanese are leaving their homes without heeding any of the COVID-19guidelines implemented by the Government of Guyana (GoG) and World Health Organisation (WHO). They are gathering in public areas in large numbers, not using any mask or sanitizing themselves accordingly. In the meantime, the number of COVID cases is increasing.

“Much more is needed from Guyanese in terms of personal actions. While there are many who are following the guidelines and protocols, much more adherence is needed.”

HEMA MANNIRAM (SECRETARY) said: “We must all take COVID-19 seriously and must try our best to prevent the spread of it as much as possible. Wearing a mask is not the only preventative method, it's also about knowing what to touch, how long you can be interactive with others and proper sanitisation methods.

“Proper enforcement of protocols in place is also necessary, along with other methods to ensure persons adhere to the rules and guidelines. Guyanese cannot afford to not take this matter seriously. We need to take care of ourselves for the sake of our family, friends and loved ones. Mask up and help prevent another death today!”

ANJANIE NARINE said: “With the global effects of the novel coronavirus, the Government of Guyana has implemented several mitigative health measures by international standards to curb the spread and contamination of this deadly virus.

“Amidst these measures and guidelines, citizens have a major role to play to ensure that the government's measures are adhered to. Each person's actions can either prevent or contribute to the increasing numbers of Covid-19 related deaths in Guyana.

“Persons in public life can follow these simple, yet effective measures: Only leave your home unless essentially necessary, wear your face mask at all times, practice social distancing at all times, wash and sanitize your hands after coming into contact with open spaces, cough, and sneeze into your elbow and, avoid crowded spaces. If we each play our role by educating our peers, then I am sure we can fight this virus together as a nation with the help of Government's assistance.”

ODAYSON ASHBY (PROSPECTOR) said: “With the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths, it is clear that we need come compliance with the guidelines and protocols in place. The onus is on every individual protect themselves and vulnerable family members, in particular older persons and those who suffer of various medical complications.

“While the Government will provided the necessary support system to assist in safeguarding people, during the fight against the pandemic, each citizen must ensure they assist in the fight against the deadly pandemic. We cannot afford to anything else.”

DEORAJ NAUTH (EDUCATOR/ENTREPRENEUR) said: “The COVID 19 cases is rising increasing at an alarming rate in ratio to our population. They government is currently doing its utmost to flatten the curve. However, we must take cognizant of the fact that as citizens of this beautiful land of ours, with tremendous potential of growth, development and being the bread basket of the Caribbean we should all play our part.

“I strongly recommend that all of us be each other brothers and sisters keeper by always encouraging them to stay as much as possible at home and avoid social physical interaction, wear our masks, wash our hands thoroughly, sanitize regularly, exercise to maintain physical and mental health not forgetting the importance of a balance diet. Let’s protect our valuable human resources and aid our country economic prosperity.”

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Teachings of Prophet Muhammad still relevant today – PM Phillips P

rime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips on Thursday (October 29, 2020) joined the Islamic community in the observance of Youman Nabi (the birth of Prophet Muhammad), at the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex, West Coast Demerara.

The Prime Minister in his remarks underscored the importance of religious

tolerance and said that the teachings of Prophet Muhammad are most relevant in addressing challenges faced by society today.

“Lessons such as mercy, forgiveness, love for humanity, seeing the best in our neighbour, humility, being slow to anger and indulging in good health and continuous knowledge, these are all practices that can serve as

immeasurably useful for us as we face the world today”.

He added that as people try to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic they can used these teachings as a message of hope.

“These occurrences can have massive effects on our physical and mental health and even affect our social and economic wellbeing. It is at these most trying times

that we need outstanding examples such as those taught by the Prophet Muhammad”.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson (JR), during his remarks said that religion is included in the Government’s work programme under his ministry.

“The President has implored upon me to include all of the religions in our cul-

tural programme…one of the things you will see us doing on behalf of the Government of Guyana and through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, is that we are not only going to spread the message of tolerance, but we are going to spread the message of appreciation and we are going to celebrate the cultural diversity that Guyana has as our rich national

treasure”.

Also present were Minister of Human Service and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Mr. Deodat Indar and former President and Prime Minister, Mr. Samuel Hinds. [SEE MESSAGE FROM THE PPP ON THE OCCASION OF YOUMAN NABI ON PAGE 21]

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WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

President Ali addresses G77 meeting (OPENING ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, DR. MOHAMED IRFAAN ALI, PRESIDENT OF THE COOPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA, ALI AT THE VIRTUAL NATIONAL FLAGSHIP EVENT, IN COMMEMORATION OF GUYANA’S CHAIRMANSHIP OF G-77 AND CHINA – OCTOBER 29, 2020) Mr. Chairman, His Excellency António Guterres- Secretary- General of the United Nations, Honourable Ministers of Government, Your Excellencies, Executive Secretaries, Ambassadors, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Morning,

I

t is a distinct honour for my country, Guyana – a coastal low-lying developing country from the Caribbean sub-region – and for me, as Executive President, to welcome you to this virtual conference on climate change.

This event has been convened under the theme “Maintaining a Low Carbon Development Path towards the 2030 Agenda in the Era of COVID- 19”. This theme causes us to examine the interrelation between the pandemic, climate change and sustainable development. In the context of the world’s extant challenges, these three areas must be addressed in an integrated manner if we, as developing countries are to redefine our path for the future.

This gathering will afford us the opportunity to facilitate awareness, build partnerships, share lesson-learning knowledge and experiences about climate actions amidst the COVID - 19 crisis and to discuss our key issues and concerns about climate change as navigate towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In short, we have an opportunity here to enhance our collective enterprise in order to strengthen the prospects for sustainable development, climate security and a COVID -19 free world.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE PANDEMIC Mr. Chairman, The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic threatens the fight against climate change by diverting our attention from the gravity of the environmental dangers we face while threatening to reverse the gains made in our quest towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

The COVID-19 pandemic has coincided with a series of unrepented hazards – storms, wildfires, floods and droughts – all linked to unacceptable levels of global warming and climate change. The immediate task of containing, mitigating and eventually eradicating the COVID-19 coronavirus must NOT force us to ignore the challenges of protecting the environment and the need for collective action.

Unfortunately, the pandemic has led to the cancellation and postponement of numerous high-level climate-focused talks and events including the United Nations Climate Change Conference, (COP 26).

Nonetheless, I wish to use this opportunity to applaud those who have remain steadfast in their commitment to the global climate and environmental crisis even in the face of

this deadly pandemic.

For many of the United Nations member states, the pandemic has adversely affected the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and threatens the successes gained in SDG milestones. Resources allocated for climate action and advancing progress for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals have had to be redirected to combat the pandemic. It is for this reason that Guyana supports the call for placing the SDGs at the center of the pandemic recovery efforts.

Climate change and sustainable development

Climate change is another potent threat to sustainable development. The devastating effects of climate change are real. Extreme weather events and other natural disasters have adversely impacted our environment, our economies and our societies, including the reversal of development gains.

Climate change therefore must be placed properly in the context of the discourse on sustainable development. In this regard, as G77 countries, we must consider the impact of climate change on issues such as poverty eradication and economic and social development.

Sustainable Development Goal #1 commits us to “End poverty in all its forms everywhere.” Poverty remains a monumental global challenge, but one which has to be overcome.

Poverty shackles human development and impairs human dignity. We must continue our efforts to reduce poverty, including through climate mitigation which helps to protect the poor.

The Rio principle of common but differentiated responsibilities allows each of us to play a part within our means.

This principle, now enshrined in international environmental law, recognizes that all countries have an obligation to address problems concerning the environment. But it also acknowledges that not all are blessed with the same capabilities.

Pandemic and Sustainable Development The interrelation of current pandemic and sustainable development goals is a source of concern for all, since the pandemic is depleting our financial and human capital assets. Our strategies to combat the impact of covid-19 pandemic have forced countries to increase their internal and external debts.

This is likely to lead to negative growth and acerbate poverty.

When these happen, destruction of our fragile natural resources will be the first casualty. We should not allow our gains in sustainable development to be eroded by the pandemic. Poverty alleviation programmes should be actively funded so as to protect the natural environment.

GUYANA’S LOW CARBON DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Mr. Chairman, Guyana as a net carbon sink, is ‘particularly vulnerable’ to climate change because of its geography and historical settlement patterns. The adverse, and potentially catastrophic, impacts of climate change are already conspicuous. The country has suffered from extreme weather events such as the Flood of 2005, which destroyed 60 percent of the country’s GDP. It has also experienced several localized extreme weather events, including intense rainfall and droughts in the hinterland regions. These have endangered livelihoods and food security.

My Government intends to be more proactive in its efforts to combat the effects of climate change while at the same time advancing our development aspirations.

In this regard, I wish to highlight the role of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). The LCDS is aimed at transforming Guyana’s economy to better deliver greater socio-economic benefits to our people by following a low carbon development path while at the same time mainstreaming climate resilience. As part of the LCDS, and working in partnership with the Kingdom of Norway, Guyana was able to develop and implement one of the first national scale payment for forest climate services through avoided deforestation and sustainable management of our forest resources. We remain committed to advancing the LCDS and to collaborate with international partners to expand our work on REDD+ and payment for forest climate and ecosystem services.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE Mr. Chairman, I make the call here today for an integrated response to the threat posed by the pandemic, the climate crisis and the adverse effects of these on the sustainable development goals. As I have pointed out, the pandemic is diverting attention and resources from climate action and the SDGs, even as climate change is undermining the SDGs. It is necessary therefore for the response to the pandemic and to the climate crisis to be placed at the center of advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In response to these challenges, I call on the international community to ensure greater financing is provided to meet the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era.

Adaptation to climate change is of vital importance and a key component for the implementation of the Paris Agreement for developing countries within G-77 and China. In this light, adequate capacity building, financial support, and technology transfer are critical.

As Chairman of the Group of 77 and China, I call for greater access to climate financing for developing countries.

Many developing countries, due to high indebtedness, are constrained in their efforts to generate sufficient resources towards achieving the ‘2030 Agenda’. I call on the international financial community to explore and implement ways where debt can be reduced so as to allow developing countries the fiscal space to achieve the SDGs. (Continue on page 13)

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G77 called on to work towards presenting unified position at next UN climate conference ‒ Jagdeo stresses need for increasing ‘ambition’ and ‘access’

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uyana hosted, virtually, a Group of 77+ China ministerial and technical meeting on Thursday (October 29, 2020). And speaking in the session that facilitated ministerial interventions, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo charged that the outcome of the session must not go over “trodden” ground, but should focus on an outcome that enhances “ambition” relative to reaching targets necessary for decarbonizing economies and “access” to climate financing.

The meeting was held under the theme ‘Maintaining a Low Carbon Development Path towards the 2030 Agenda in the Era of COVID-19’.

He said, “We are not here to prove the science of climate change. That has been proven and accepted. We are not here to debate the outcome, or the impact, of climate change because most people in this room and across the world have been witnessing and experiencing this first hand…through hurricanes, rising sea levels, droughts and a whole host of other activities.”

Jagdeo stressed that countries, the world over, are facing an “almost existential threat” – where the impacts are already being felt. According to him, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this. “The Paris pledges, as welcomed as they were, were never enough to achieve the outcome that we desire…we also know that even before COVID-19, many countries were not on track to achieving those pledges, although they were inadequate,” he said.

The Vice President added that to date the pandemic has forced half a billion people into unemployment, billions into “absolute” poverty and hundreds of millions are facing starvation – an impact that will likely exceed 100 trillion dollars.

concerns of all of these countries then we can go forward from a position of strength “…if we are to go to COP (the UN Climate Change Conference) next year in Glasgow, this engagement today is to say that we have to find some level of solidarity in this group if we want to achieve higher levels of ambition and dedicated and adequate financing….we have to find consensus to address the centrality of why we are here, which is to address ambition and financing…as we move forward, this group must work to build a sense of solidarity.”

Jagdeo also called attention to the fact that several agencies, including the World Bank, are sitting on funds that could be made available to countries. “Where there are pools of resources at various institutions that are intermediating climate funds, they are just sitting for too long on these resources. There has to be a speeding up of these resources to be intermediated to the countries, particularly countries with limited capability,” he said, adding that countries in need of financing for adaptation and other climate change related action are reduced fiscal capacity and debt burdens caused by a need for diversion of resources to respond to COVID-19.

Jagdeo also said, “We need financing at scale now, not in the future, but now and there are already pools of money where pledges have been made that we have to work as a group to unlock. We will need the solidarity of the Group

FEAR Jagdeo alerted global leaders to that fact that it has been recognized that the economic strains caused by COVID-19 may be used an excuse to weaken ambition, relative to target for decarbonizing economies, and weaken financing.

“We are extremely worried now because of COVID-19 and because of its widespread impact….the fear is that because of the impact on the economy, this will be used as an excuse to weaken ambition and weaken financing,” he said, noting that this has happened before in the mid-2000’s when the global financial crisis hit.

The Vice President said, “Many countries, particularly in the developed world, used that as excuse not to raise ambition, nor to raise the financing or meet the pledges that they had already made.”

He made clear that, notwithstanding COVID-19 and its economic impacts, countries must not lose sight of the importance of climate change action.

and the bigger countries in this Group to help us to do that.”

The G-77 Group, which is the largest negotiating group of developing countries in the United Nations.

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS On that note, the Vice President stated that the G77 is a powerful group and as a block – even with countries that have varying interests and priorities – there is strength in numbers.

He said, “This group is made up of disparate set of countries – from Small Islands States to some very large developing countries and each of us may have our own priorities and often in climate change negotiations we contradict each other, but if we can find an outcome that accommodates the

but they need financing…this group has to help each other,” he said, reiterating the need for strong focus on increased ambition and access to financing in the response to climate change.

Notably, the objectives of Thursday’s (October 29, 2020) meeting were: • To provide a space for awareness, partnership building, knowledge sharing and lesson learning among the G-77 and China’s membership on climate action amidst the COVID-19 crisis while recovering towards the 2030 Agenda; • To reinforce the Group of 77 and China’s position on key issues in the Climate Change discussion including climate finance and ecosystem-based approaches while also contributing to maximizing SDG co-benefits; and • To produce a Communique that highlights the main concerns and actions of the Group.

In November 2019, Guyana was elected as Chair of the G-77 Group. The134 Member States of the Group elected Guyana by acclamation without preconditions at a November 22nd plenary. The period is for one year, commencing January 2020.

The Group of 77 (G-77) was established on 15 June 1964 by 77 developing countries signatories of the “Joint Declaration of the Seventy-Seven Developing Countries” issued at the end of the first session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva.

The Group of 77 is the largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries in the United Nations, which provides the means for the countries of the South to articulate and promote their collective economic interests and enhance their joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues within the United Nations system, and promote South-South cooperation for development.

GUYANA’S PRIORITIES On Guyana’s priorities, the Vice President told the gathering that despite now being an oil producing country, the commitment to climate change action has not changed.

“In Guyana, we have a national scale model on climate change for decarbonizing the entire economy and adapting to climate change…but we have recently become oil producers…does this change our position on climate change?

Carbon pricing? Or say the (From page 12) Mr. Chairman, removal of subsidies from Guyana proudly accepts its share of responfuel? The answer is no. Although we would be an ex- sibility for climate action, fighting the pandemporter of oil, our position ic, and advancing along the path to sustainable has not changed….we have development. In this regard, Guyana’s forest to find a livable outcome,” resource is one of the principal natural assets which can be utilized to generate the revenue he posited.

Jagdeo reminded of the needed for the growth and development of our need of sustainable medi- country. We can maintain our forests to help um-term economic coun- in the global fight against climate change if we try plans. “We have to use receive adequate financial resources, especially this period to plan for the during this era of COVID-19.

Mr. Chairman, everyone is acutely aware future…a lot of countries of the need for collective action to protect our have great plans for decarplanet and humanity. As I have said before, bonizing their economies, “Multilateralism is the key to unlocking solu-

tions to humanity’s problems.” Issues of poverty, physical and social vulnerabilities, lack of adequate financing, inadequate preparedness, and economic retrogression can be addressed effectively if we act together. And the G-77 is so positioned to act.

As I conclude, I would like to urge all of us to reflect on ways in which we can make our countries stronger and more responsive to combating the challenges posed by climate change in the current era of COVID-19.

I would like to assure the international community of Guyana’s commitment to advancing the movement against climate change and achieving the ‘2030 Agenda’ through concerted action and shared responsibilities.

I thank you.

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COVID-19 highlights link between health, sustainability – Todd T

he link between health and sustainability is among the lessons to be learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the fight against climate change, according to Foreign Affairs Minister, Hugh Todd.

The Minister said those lessons must be documented, analysed and implemented where applicable. He made these statements today in his address at the virtual flagship event hosted by the Government of Guyana, in its capacity as Chair of the Group of 77 and China.

“COVID-19, even as it threatens, it also teaches. The link between health and sustainability has been sharply underlined, and we are learning by force of necessity, that much more can be delivered even today with a smaller carbon footprint,” Minister Todd said.

The Minister, who chaired the summit, said the circumstances of the meeting illustrate the challenges the world faces as a result of COVID-19. At the same time, he said, there are opportunities inherent in those challenges.

Minister Todd said countries must overcome “this menace if we are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and rise to the promise of the Paris Agreement.”

He added that the Group of 77 and China has significantly reduced the carbon footprint associated with its meetings during 2020.

Further, he said, while the pandemic has claimed more than one million lives in a mere ten months, with over 42 million cases worldwide, “It is possible that some of the best lessons in the fight against this pandemic might well be drawn from within our Group.”

Guyana hopes that the G77 and China will contribute thought and action to a healthier and more sustainable world, keeping the existential threat posed by climate change at the centre

of global attention. “It is a threat that leaves no room for delayed actions or backsliding on commitments,” the Foreign Affairs Minister stated.

The Group of 77 and China is met under the theme “Maintaining a Low Carbon Development Path towards the 2030 Agenda in the era of COVID-19.”

The meeting focused on more ambitious climate actions through climate finance, lessons learnt from COVID-19 experiences and implications for combatting climate change and achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Some COVID-19 strategies can be used to fight climate change – Health Minister tells G77+China summit

T

here are strategies which can be adopted from the COVID-19 pandemic and used in the fight against climate change, according to Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony.

The Minister was addressing the virtual flagship event being hosted by the Government of Guyana, in its capacity as Chair of the Group of 77 and China.

Dr. Anthony said there has been strong leadership from global and regional bodies, and national Governments have been able to mobilise an unprecedented amount of resources to combat the coronavirus.

“Leadership is necessary, and we know we have had these long battles of trying to get conventions

in place so that we can reduce the impact of climate change. And despite some setbacks, we have had persons who are leading in the right direction, and we need to import some of what we have just done with the COVID pandemic and bring it to the fight for climate change,” Minister Anthony said.

The Minister also said one of the lessons from the pandemic that can be applied to tackling climate change is to intensify research and adapt the necessary findings.

“We … have been able to mobilise scientific talent and we know that we can go faster with innovation and research so that we can be able to mitigate some of the effects of climate change,”

he said.

Dr. Anthony noted that climate change would affect health and the lives and livelihoods of billions of people over the next few decades.

“We have already seen that with climate change disease patterns are changing and the spread of vector-borne disease to places not known before and we have seen recent epidemics of zika and chikungunya spreading to other parts of the world, and all of this is being attributed to climate change.”

Climate change has also intensified heatwaves to which the elderly are particularly vulnerable.

Dr. Anthony stated that the fight against climate change must be infused with the same urgency adopted to combat COVID-19.

WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

G77 Communique [Issued at the conclusion of the Flagship Event on the occasion of Guyana’s Chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China]

T

he virtual Flagship Event under the theme “Maintaining a Low Carbon Development Path towards the 2030 Agenda in the Era of COVID-19” was convened on 29 October 2020 by His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, on the occasion of Guyana’s 2020 Chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China.

The Event brought together Ministers and senior policy makers of developing countries to facilitate awareness and partnership building, knowledge sharing and lesson-learning with respect to climate action amidst the COVID-19 crisis, while recovering towards the 2030 Agenda; to reinforce the position of developing countries on key issues on climate change, including climate finance and ecosystem-based approaches, while contributing to maximize Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) co-benefits, and, to highlight the main concerns and actions of the Group.

The discourse was informed by a keynote message

by His Excellency Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary General.

This Communique highlights key messages emanating from the Flagship Event.

Key Messages: 1. Five years ago, all Parties agreed to keep global warming to well below two degrees and to pursue efforts to work towards 1.5 degrees, reflecting the principle of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. Noting with concern the serious gaps in pre-2020 ambitions and implementation by developed countries, Developing countries including small islands and low lying coastal developing states are facing increasing challenges imposed by climate change, but are least equipped to respond to these impacts.

2. While countries have pledged to implement policies and measures through their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Parties have different responsibilities and capabilities.

Developed countries are not only obliged to act, but they also have the financial and fiscal capabilities to raise mitigation ambition and emission reduction targets to a level that will enable achievement of the goals under the Paris Agreement, and to provide finance, technology development and transfer,

and capacity building support to Developing Countries. Developing countries, including those of the Group of 77 and China, are stymied in realising their ambition to act because they face unsurmountable financing challenges.

3. The COVID-19 pandemic is having increasingly serious impacts on all countries and have exposed underlying vulnerabilities of health and social systems and the fragility of economies, especially among developing countries.

All countries have been affected with shrunk economies and diversion of resources to fund health related economic stimulus. It is also recognised that both climate change and COVID-19 can impact progress towards the SDGs. It is therefore critical that there be a commitment to affirmative action on climate change rather than a lowering of ambition.

4. Against this backdrop, financing for mitigation and adaptation to climate change is more critical today than ever before. To date, developed countries have failed to live up to their obligation to provide new, additional, predictable and adequate climate financing to assist Developing Countries in realising their ambition to grow along low carbon pathways and develop resiliency. Developed countries have also not lived up to their obligation to promote, facilitate and finance the transfer of, or access to, environmentally sound technologies and know-how to Developing Countries.

5. The goal of mobilising $100 billion annually by 2020 remains on the distant horizon and there is a lack of transparency in efforts to track it. Tracking methodologies have been determined without the involvement of recipient countries. It is essential that developed countries recognise that it is in all countries’ interest to address this issue, and find solutions with urgency. In doing so, the countries of the Group of 77 and China have to be included in devising the methodology for tracking climate finance. Shortfalls that are identified need to be communicated openly and honestly. This means that by CoP 26 in Glasgow, trust can be built and the finance gap can be reduced significantly. Developing Countries remain committed to investing in renewable energy sources and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, but most countries can only do this if adequate finance

and financing mechanisms are available to overcome obstacles that are currently preventing countries from realising their ambition.

6. If the obligations and commitments by developed countries are fully delivered, developing countries have an opportunity to unleash the potential of many nationally-led solutions proposed by the Group of 77 and China, including the energy transition in small states (including SIDS), as well as larger countries’ proposals on incentivising affordable private finance investment in renewable energy. Rainforest countries also remain willing to reduce and avoid deforestation and practice sustainable forest management and conservation with the proper financial incentives. In order for many of the aforementioned opportunities to come to fruition, it is essential that the provisions agreed in the Paris Agreement for Internationally Transferable Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) be operationalized by CoP 26.

7. Apart from ensuring the significant public-funded component of climate finance by developed countries, more resources can be leveraged and mobilised from other sources. It is essential that collaboration is boosted through urgent action to update the policies and financial tools of the international system to incentivise private sector participation in ambitious climate action.

8. It should be recognised that a few countries have pioneered workable, home grown models that have incentivised moving to a low carbon growth trajectory while also addressing emission reduction and removals for example through avoided deforestation. Guyana’s efforts in this regard are recognised through its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and payment for forest climate services model between Guyana and Norway which has incentivised sustainable forest management and avoided deforestation. This represents the first national scale model of REDD+ and one of the first national level strategies on low carbon development.

The success of the LCDS and Guyana-Norway model helped support the development of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which provided the opportunity for the trading of internationally transferable mitigation outcomes. Work is underway (Turn to page 15)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

Procedural deficiencies in Coalition’s elections petitions T

he election petitions filed by the APNU+AFC Coalition has already been marred by procedural deficiencies that could potentially see its dismissal if the court is dissatisfied.

Parties in the proceedings met virtually on Thursday (October 22, 2020) for the Case Management Conference led by Chief Justice (Ag.) Roxane George. The preparatory conference has already unearthed some deviations from best practices, which could impact the outcome of the case.

Senior Counsel (SC) Douglas Mendes, who is representing the fourth respondent, Vice President, Hon. Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo contended that his client was not properly served with the petition.

“We understand that an Order was made that the petition be served on Mr. Jagdeo by registered post. Our inquiries so far, have indicated that they have not yet been delivered by registered post. We have been attempting as best as possible to obtain copies of the document that was filed in support of the application that was made. We are concerned that the application that was made in relation to [petition] Number 88 did not

comply with the rules and the Order that was made in [petition] Number 99 did not comply with the rules,” the Trinidad-based lawyer told the court.

The attorney said the lack of proper procedure could nullify the petitions.

SPECIAL PROCEDURES Meanwhile, Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs. Hon. Mohabir Anil Nandlall said election petitions fall under special types of litigations that require special procedures.

“A part of the compendium of rules governing elections petitions is a rule that if there is non-compliance with any of the procedural steps or procedure or if there is any violation of any of the timeframes prescribed for the proceedings to be done or steps to be taken, those deviations and non-observations of rules or regulations can be fatal and cause the petition to be dismissed without any further hearing,” the AG said moments after the hearing.

While the petitioners have claimed that the VP was served the petition by registered post, which is still to be verified.

The Attorney General said

registered post is not an automatic option of service. One has to lead evidence to show that there were attempts to serve the matter personally and that there was evidence of evasion of service before the registered post service could come into play.

Given the importance of that issue, the Chief Justice set November 24 and 25 to hear an application by Counsel Mendes, before any other decision is made on the substantive hearing of the matter.

Chief Justice George had also raised some concerns that the second respondent in the matter, former President David Granger, was also not served the petition within the required timeframe.

Justice George also raised questions about the former President’s role in the matter.

It is unclear if the former Head of State is contesting or consenting to the petition.

AG Nandlall said these are all issues governed by law and that one cannot be a respondent and at the same time opposed to the petition, and within the petition, an order is claimed, making you a beneficiary to the petition.

The Coalition has filed two separate petitions over the results of the March 2 General

Special Purpose Unit Head terminated with immediate effect

‒ Illegalities and serious failures in performance identified

T

he Government of Guyana has terminated the employment of Mr. Colvin Health-London with immediate effect.

London was employed by the Government to head the Special Purpose Unit (the SPU) for the privatization and divestment of identified assets of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and was later tasked with the responsibility of performing of duties of the Chief Executive Officer of National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (“NICIL”).

A review of NICIL’s and SPU’s operations revealed the following illegalities and serious failures by Mr. London in the performance of his duties, which have had a detrimental effect to the Government’s and NICIL’s business.

These include but are not limited to the following: • The issuance of various leases of various NICIL properties located in Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara without (i) public tender, (ii) valua-

tions, (iii) board approval, (iv) Cabinet approval, (v) review by approved NICIL counsel and (vi) ensuring that the issued leases contained the standard and customary provisions relating to termination and non-assignment and other protections to NICIL. • The issuance of approximately 14 agreements of sale and leases for NICIL lands located at Ogle, East Coast Demerara (the “Ogle Transactions”), and the subsequent vesting of 7 tracts of lands without ensuring that full payment was received for those lands in accordance with the terms of the relevant agreements, and without ensuring that the vesting orders issued were drafted by approved NICIL counsel or contained the usual and customary language sufficient to protect NICIL’s interests.

• Procuring the execution and gazetting the aforementioned vesting orders without first ensuring that payments were made in accordance with the terms of the various agreements executed by the parties.

• Failing to facilitate and procure the auditing SPU’s accounts by the Auditor General.

• Failing to facilitate and procure the necessary NICIL account reconciliations in order to allow the Auditor General to audit NICIL’s accounts from 2014 to 2019, these reconciliations being performed within six (6) weeks of the appointment of new management.

A statement from the Office of the President on Thursday (October 30, 2020), said: “London’s failure to properly perform his duties and referenced transgressions constitute serious misconduct and dereliction of duty generally, not only breaching applicable laws and violating policies established by the Government and NICIL, but causing NICIL and the Government to lose millions of dollars. His actions also amount to a breach of the fiduciary duties and duty of care owed to NICIL imposed by the relevant provisions of the Companies Act 1991 and generally, warranting his immediate termination.”

and Regional Elections, which shows the PPP/C winning the polls.

Data from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) shows the PPP/C acquiring some 233,336

votes, while the APNU+ AFC gained 217,920. The Coalition, which has claimed to be the winner of the polls, is asking among other things, for Mr. Granger to be declared the rightful winner of the

elections.

Vice President Jagdeo, the PPP/C respondent, is also being represented by Attorneys-at-Law Devindra Kissoon, Hon. Sanjeev Datadin and others.

Seawall beautification project kicks off after... (From page 8) lection, increased security, washroom and solid waste disposal facilities, a freshwater source, and regularisation of vending.

Once these issues are addressed, phase two of the project will involve landscaping of the area, restorative works to the Police Bandstand, and repainting of the seawall itself.

“The idea of the project is to develop the area in such a way that it safeguards the scenic qualities of Guyana, promote sustainability, and build the country’s tourism capacity,” the First Lady said.

Minister Edghill expressed how pleased he was to learn of the First Lady’s ambitious plan to embark on a project of this magnitude.

With the Public Works Ministry having responsibility for the management of the seawall, the Minister outlined several ongoing

efforts to improve the condition of the area.

Additionally, Minister Edghill committed financial resources to the project, and immediately instructed his team from the Ministry to begin installing lights and cleaning the area.

Minister, Dr. Persaud addressed the issue of vagrancy, highlighting that the issue is much more complex than it seems.

She noted that while many of the vagrants suffer from mental health problems, others are drug and substance abusers and so any attempt any institutionalising them would require consent and a collaborative approach by her Ministry and the Ministry of Health.

The Minster added too, that the Human Services Ministry has already taken steps to reduce the number of vagrants on the streets, and will increase its efforts in the coming months.

Regarding solid waste management, a commitment was made by the private sector to supply more bins around the area, while Director of Solid Waste at the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, Mr. Walter Narine committed to ensuring that waste is collected on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Walrond expressed her support for the project and committed to offering technical and other support to realise its objectives.

She was keen to note that the Tourism Ministry will aggressively pursue tourism development in Guyana as the country prepares for economic transformation, which will lead to an influx of tourists. As such, she said the Tourism Ministry will offer its resources to support any idea which supports the Government’s development agenda.

Removal of VAT, free water for pensioners...

(From page 3)

of water consumed is zero rated and above ten cubic metres then they will be required to pay the difference consumed at the rate that is being charged for [other] consumers.”

Ten cubic metres of water equates to approximately five 400-gallon black tanks, which is expected to adequately supply water for each pensioner and a partner, once

managed properly.

On September 7, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, announced a number of sweeping budgetary measures including the removal of VAT on water and free water for pensioners as part of provisions in the 2020 Emergency Budget.

The implementation of this initiative means that more than 50,000 pensioners

in Guyana can now enjoy improved livelihood and hundreds of thousands of citizens can now have more money in their pockets with the removal of VAT. Further, the Budget allots a total of $2.8 billion to undertake several water improvement projects in rural and urban areas nationwide, so that all Guyanese can access potable water.

G77 Communique (From page 14) to operationalise this, which could realise wider participation by forest countries in REDD+. Guyana will be realigning its LCDS to take on board payment for ecosystem services while redoubling efforts at building climate resilience and

diversifying and growing the economy along a low carbon growth path. A wider range of financing options will be pursued to include bilateral, multilateral and private capital.

9. Given that CoP 26, which was originally scheduled for November 2020, has been

postponed a full year, it is essential that comprehensive, balanced, and meaningful dialogue continue. The Group of 77 & China will use the opportunity to work with all Parties to enable the Glasgow CoP to deliver successful and meaningful outcomes. (October 29, 2020)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

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WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

MONDAY NOVEMBER 02 - FRIDAY NOVEMBER 06, 2020 Time

8:00am - 9:00am

Monday, November 2, 2020

My Sense (Tasting) Height (Short and Tall)

The Numeral 6

My Sense (Tasting) Height (Short and Tall) Identify The Numeral 6 short objects

Literacy Every boy and girl has a family

Literacy The letter 'O'

The Letter 'O' Initial Sound on, ox, owl, orange, onion...

The Letter 'O' Medial Sound mop, hot, pot, pop, dog, log, mom...

The Letter 'O' Storyline.

GRADE 1

GRADE 1

GRADE 1

GRADE 1

GRADE 1

Science Common plants in the environment

Mathematics Money Pricing items using money

Science Identify and name atleast 5 plants

Mathematics Money Recognize the usefulness of money

English Short vowel

Social Studies Politeness (importance of courtesy rules)

English Gender Nouns

Social Studies Politeness (The five magic words)

English Facts & Details

GRADE 2

GRADE 2

GRADE 2

GRADE 2

GRADE 2

Mathematics Geometry & Measurement

Science Animals (Changes in animals as they grow)

Mathematics Geometry & Measurement (Exploring 2 and 3 dimensional shapes)

Science Animals (stages of growth of animals)

Mathematics Geometry & Measurement (Exploring 2 and 3 dimensional shapes)

English Verbs

Social Studies Neighbours & Neighbourhood

English Verbs (identify verbs in sentences)

Social Studies Places in the neighbourhood where people shop

English Antonyms

GRADE 3

GRADE 3

GRADE 3

GRADE 3

GRADE 3

Science Features of Animals (Animal Diet)

Mathematics Number concept (Multiplication Table , 4 & 5)

Science Features of Animals (Animal Diet)

Mathematics Number concept (Multiplication Table , 2-5 and 10)

English Capitalisation (Capital Letters)

Social Studies Politeness

English Predicting (Making predictions)

English Social Studies Single Vowels (long and short) Politeness (Showing Respect) a,e,i,o,u.

GRADE 4

GRADE 4

GRADE 4

GRADE 4

Science Growth of Plants

Mathematics Operations, Relations and Science Properties (Multiplying up to 4 Parts of a leaf digit numbers by 2 digit numbers)

Mathematics Operations, Relations and Properties (Multiplying up to 4 digit numbers by 2 digit numbers)

English Inference (Picture Study)

Social Studies

English Inference (Picture Study)

Social Studies

English Parts of Speech (Possessive Nouns)

GRADE 5

GRADE 5

GRADE 5

GRADE 5

GRADE 5

Mathematics Addition and Subtraction

Science Photosynthesis

Mathematics Addition and Subtraction

Science Photosynthesis (be aware of the importance of chlorophyll in leaves)

Mathematics Addition and Subtraction

3:00pm- 4:00pm 4:00pm- 5:00pm

5:00pm- 6:00pm

English Letter writing GRADE 6 Mathematics Fractions: Multiplying fractions and mixed numbers English Synonym GRADE 7 Mathematics English GRADE 8 Mathematics English CSEC

Social Studies GRADE 6 Science Pollination

English Homophones GRADE 6 Mathematics Fractions: Multiplying fractions and mixed numbers

NURSERY

Friday, November 6, 2020

NURSERY

Mathematics Operations, Relations and Properties (Multiplying whole 12:00pm-1:00pm numbers by 2 digits)

2:00pm-3:00pm

Thursday, November 5, 2020

NURSERY

Mathematics Number concept (Multiplication 11:00am-12:00pm Table , 2 & 3)

1:00pm- 2:00pm

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

NURSERY

Mathematics Money 9: 00am- 10:00am Coins and Notes

10:00am-11:00am

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

NURSERY My Sense (Tasting) Height (Short and Tall)

GRADE 4

GRADE 6

English Letter writing GRADE 6

Science Pollination (Agents of Pollination)

Mathematics Fractions: Multiplying and Dividing fractions

Social Studies

GRADE 7 Science English GRADE 8 Science English CSEC

English Word Functions GRADE 7 Mathematics Social Studies GRADE 8 Mathematics Social Studies CSEC

Physics Density

Mathematics Area of Simple plane figure

Physics Forces

Mathematics Area & Perimeter of complex compound shapes

English Summary Writing

English Summary Writing

Social Studies Introduction to the Family

Mathematics The Circle

Social Studies The Family continued..

Mathematics Area of Simple plane figure

Social Studies

Social Studies GRADE 7 Science English GRADE 8 Science English CSEC

English Word Functions GRADE 7 Mathematics Mathematics GRADE 8 Mathematics Mathematics CSEC

WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

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WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

Hire Purchase Bill, others for National Assembly soon – Attorney General A

n important piece of legislation that will reform the hire purchase sector is the Hire Purchase Bill, according to Attorney General, Anil Nandlall. And he contends that the Bill will provide protection for people who are buying items on credit in the form of hire purchase.

“The law says currently, that if you default in any single payment, the owner is entitled to forfeit all the previous payments and repossess the item. That can bring and has brought catastrophic hardship on people,” Nandlall said.

He pointed out that hire purchase in Guyana is governed by a common law where you pay a sum of money monthly, as rent towards the purchase price.

When the final purchase

price is paid, the customer then becomes the owner of the item.

For example, the Minister said, under the current legislation, if you buy a car on hire purchase and you miss the final payment because of an unforeseen circumstance, the company has the right to repossess the item.

The Bill that will be laid in National Assembly will offer a number of protections to customers before businesses can exercise their right to forfeit the item.

“This Hire Purchase Act will put a stop to that and protect the interest of the hirer because the law as it currently stands is tremendously harsh and leaves no remedy to a defaulting hirer. This Bill offers some form of protection and when you pass a certain

number of payments, the item cannot be repossessed from you,” the Attorney General underscored.

The Hire Purchase Bill, Minister Nandlall said is one of several to be laid in National Assembly soon.

OTHER MATTERS The Attorney General also explained that his office has several legislations in the pipeline which will be laid in the National Assembly shortly.

Among them is the Law Reform Commission Bill, which will amend the Law Reform Commission Act. While the previous administration established the Act, it never set up the Commission, the AG said.

Further, he said the Act has some glaring deficien-

cies that must be corrected.

“The Act, for example, does two things that are offensive.

First, it resides in the President the power to appoint the entire Commission, consulting only with the minister.

We feel that that is bad.

A law reform commission represents the wider society, and therefore, consultations must be had with the private sector, labour movement and religious community among others,” the AG told DPI in a recent interview.

Under the current law, only legally trained persons are allowed to be part of the Commission. AG Nandlall said that stance gives a “very myopic” view of what a law reform commission should be. He said the commission embraces different facets of society and should have

included, an economist and a sociologist along with individuals from other academic disciplines.

The Attorney General’s Office will also lay a Small Business Bill before the National Assembly, to cover small businesses through financing and a regime of protection, as they move from stage to stage.

The Bail Bill, which is currently in circulation for consultation, will also be placed before the National Assembly.

The Attorney General also noted the Hire Purchase Bill, which will give wider latitude and cover consumers who are making purchases on credit.

The Minister of Legal Affairs revealed that an amendment to the Insurance

Act is currently being crafted. The amended act will allow third parties in a motor vehicle accident to have greater coverage.

“Right now, if you are a passenger in a minibus and it gets into an accident, you are not covered adequately.

This intervention, in the form of an amendment, allows for greater coverage of third party,” he said.

In the meantime, AG Nandlall said various ministries are also working on their bills. Guyanese can look forward to the Natural Resources Commission Bill, and the Solid Waste Management Bill, currently being fine-tuned by their respective ministries.

The Cabinet is currently constructing the 2021 legislative agenda.

Gov’t will only Contracts for major housing projects accept high quality to be signed early November – Croal work - Edghill P

T

he PPP/C Government will only give its approval for high quality works from the ongoing Sheriff-Mandela road expansion project, according to Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill.

While he is satisfied with some of the outcomes to date, Minister Edghill maintained that the process needs to be accelerated since it is way behind schedule.

The Minister highlighted concerns about the delays and inconveniences residents and businesses are faced with due to the unfinished work.

“While we do infrastructural development and maintained economic activity, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our people is paramount importance … we have a very competent project engineer on-site and the supervisory consultant.

I am continuing to engage them,” he said The project now has six sub-contractors; five of whom are Guyanese. The last is a Trinidadian company focusing mainly on drainage works.

Minister Edghill said milling and installation of

the first trial of 300 square metres of asphalt should have already commenced and this will allow for the paving of the thoroughfares to begin shortly.

“Because it’s a seven-kilometre stretch of work, there is still room for more human resources. Both in terms of the Chinese experts as well as local sub-contractors to get some work done,” the Public Works Minister added.

Moving ahead, he said there would be a revised date of completion after a full assessment of the project is done. He hopes to arrive at a reasonable timeline.

“We have lost some months because of COVID-19. We have to take that into consideration. They were unable to get some of their experts who went home to China. We are going to have another in house meeting,” the Minister said.

There are ongoing works at several sites en route to the ending point. The project begins at the junction of Sheriff Street and Rupert Craig Highway and finishes at DSL junction, Ruimveldt Industrial Estate.

rojects under the belt of the Ministry of Housing and Water, for 2020 capital and current projects are moving ahead.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, noted that he is satisfied with the progress to date.

“I am happy to say that all of our projects were tendered. […] All of our capital projects slated for this year under the housing programme, those evaluations are to be completed for the award next week, and we’ll have the contract signing within the first week of November,” he indicated.

The contracts are all expected to be signed at a single event as the Minister intends to charge the awardees with meeting the Ministry’s expectations.

“There are some bottlenecks I see in the system that I want to address with any new contractors that are coming on board to engage the Ministry and Central Housing and Planning Authority because we take our timelines seriously and we have strengthened our Monitoring Department for the execution of projects,” the Minister stated.

Concerning the development of new housing areas

catered for in the 2020 budget, Minister Croal said the first phase development is on the calendar.

“This initial phase for the two months left in the year is intended for land preparation; that is the clearing for a number of land area and the construction of the main access bridges,” he explained.

“This will allow the opening up of a number of areas in our first quarter, to continue the programme for the construction of a number of streets and then those [investors] can commence construction [on housing units],” Minister Croal added.

For development in existing areas, the Minister said those communities would continue to see the installation of LED street lights to promote safer neighbourhoods.

These moves come just under one month since the passage of the 2020 Emergency Budget. They include the provision of potable water and the necessary works for road upgrades in existing housing areas, as well as land acquisition to undertake new housing projects.

COLLABORATIONS The Ministry of Housing

and Water is working with the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd. (NICIL), Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) and Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) to boost Guyana’s housing sector, according to him.

Further, several areas have already been identified for land acquisition in some regions with funds available from last month’s Emergency Budget.

Minister Croal reminded Guyanese that despite a system backlog, “your government is working every single day to ensure that we put the necessary infrastructure in place to commence our new allocations for a number of regions.” “Immediately, that will include Regions Three and Four while we acquire lands for some of the other regions including Region Two,” Minister Croal added.

The 2020 work programme offsets significant plans for the 2021 budget and the Minister further assured citizens that an aggressive allocation process would commence in the not too distant future. “[In]2021 you can look forward to a massive programme by our Ministry,” Minister Croal

said while noting that land preparation in key areas will begin in the same year.

Additionally, the Ministry recently published an Expression of Interest (EOI) for a private-public partnership to construct housing units, which has received much traction from investors. “That Expression of Interest, of course, is closed.

In fact, they are finalising the evaluation and very shortly we will have shortlisting for those contractors whom our developers would be engaging for the construction of our initial first set of houses,” the Housing Minister said.

The initiative will help stimulate the economy and foster employment in a range of sectors.

The Government’s removal of taxes from construction materials will also make it easier for many citizens to become homeowners at a cheaper cost.

Also complementing the housing sector for massive development in 2020 and the coming years is the raising of the low-income threshold for corporate tax relief from $8million to $10million and the reverting of the income tax relief ceiling from $15 million to $30 million.

21

WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

DPP withdraws private Positions from Freedom criminal charges, attorneys to prosecute other pending House this week (A look at the latest statements made by the People’s Progressive Party) charges against Lowenfield Youman Nabi’s significance has T benefits for all of mankind

[A MESSAGE FROM THE PPP ON THE OCCASION OF YOUMAN NABI]

O

n the occasion of Youman Nabi, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) wishes to extend greetings and best wishes to all Guyanese, more particularly, our brothers and sisters of the Muslim communities both here in Guyana and overseas.

Youman Nabi is a very sacred occasion to Muslims across the world since it marks both the birth and death anniversaries of Islam’s Holy Prophet Mohammad, (OHBP). Its observance allows for worship and reflection on his exemplary life and inspiring teachings.

The messages that are associated with Youman Nabi, offer guidance to all of mankind and are invaluable to the realization of universal peace and togetherness thereby enabling opportunities for forgiveness. Youman Nabi, like other national observances, is invaluable to the promotion of unity through participation and increases the potential for the building of tolerance which is vital to the realization

of national harmony. This will take a collective effort and will redound positively for our country.

Cognizant of the teachings of the Holy Prophet (OHBP), the PPP also believes that the occasion of Youman Nabi allows for the renewal of mindsets to follow the path of virtue and peace as epitomized in the religion of Islam.

All are therefore urged to use the occasion for meaningful reflection, for spiritual advancement and to heed the many lessons of humility, contentment, respect and love among mankind. Our Party is also aware of the impact the ongoing COVID19 pandemic has on events associated with national observances.

The Party is confident that, despite the challenges, the spirit and significance that Youman Nabi embodies will remain vibrant and relevant to our personal and collective development. Once again, best wishes. (October 28, 2020)

he Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Hack, last week, withdrew the private criminal charges filed against Chief Election Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, and issued fiats for six attorneys to prosecute the charges still pending against him.

He was slapped with three private criminal charges regarding conspiracy to commit fraud, breach of trust in public office, and misconduct in public office. The charges were filed by Josh Kanhai and Desmond Morian, private citizens.

Kanhai, a member of The New Movement (TNM) party, filed a charge claiming that Lowenfield between March 5 and June 23, 2020 conspired with person(s) unknown to commit the common law offence of fraud when he submitted his Election Report dated June 23 which included figures that altered the results of the elections.

Meanwhile, Morian is

contending that Lowenfield, while performing his duties as CEO of GECOM, ascertained the results of the March 2 elections “knowing the said results to be false”, the said wilful misconduct amounting to a breach of the public’s trust in the office of the CEO. Morian subsequently filed a third charge contending that Lowenfield conspired with person or persons unknown to use Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo’s fraudulent figures to prepare a report that was submitted to GECOM Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, back in March.

The trial in relation to Morian vs Lowenfield was scheduled to begin on November 13, 2020. While, the trial in relation to Kanhai vs Lowenfield was scheduled to begin on November 20, 2020.

PENDING CHARGES The pending charges are those that were filed earlier this month.

Lowenfield, on October 12, 2020, was slapped with six new charges relating to forgery and misconduct in public office.

Lowenfield was summoned to the Criminal Investigations Department Headquarters (CID) on Monday morning for questioning as the Guyana Police Force continued their probe into allegations of electoral fraud.

He was then arrested and escorted to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he was arraigned on six charges.

Represented by Senior Counsel Neil Boston and Attorney Nigel Hughes, the embattled Chief Elections Officer was charged with three counts of forgery and three counts of misconduct in public office. He was placed on $50,000 for each charge, amounting to $300,000.

On this matter, Lowenfield first appeared in court on July 24, 2020 where he was granted $450,000 bail; $150,000 bail on each of the three charges.

he partnership between Guyana’s Agriculture and Tourism sectors will be strengthened to enhance the resilience and sustainability of the agro-tourism economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond on Tuesday (October 27, 2020) said that agro-tourism is a viable mechanism to develop the tourism sector.

To this end, she said an agro-tourism working group will be created with representatives across the various sectors to establish collaborations between agriculture and tourism.

The Minister was addressing a webinar hosted by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), themed ‘Linking with agriculture for a more sustainable tourism sector in Guyana beyond COVID’. “Guyana is known to have one of the largest agriculture economies. It is also one of the top eco

destinations with our pristine non-touched lands, and agro-tourism will continue to contribute to the economic development as farmers receive additional income, local and rural infrastructure, enhanced with utilities and communication,” she said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha who was among the panellists, said the joint efforts by the two sectors will increase productivity and create more jobs.

“Agro-tourism offers farmers the possibility of diversifying and generating additional income on farm tourism activities in order to help supplement their agricultural income and maintain the viability of farms and rural community,” Minister Mustapha said.

He reiterated his Ministry’s importance to Guyana’s economy, while noting his determination to return Guyana as the bread basket of the Caribbean.

In 2019, US $352.6 mil-

lion of Guyana’s export earnings came from agriculture. Due to the pandemic, 70 per cent of cash crop farmers and fisheries reported an overall reduction and a 20-50 per cent income loss in 2020, compared to 2019.

Despite the adverse impacts of the pandemic, it has also provided avenues to create innovative ways to develop the sector in a sustainable manner, the Minister said.

Meanwhile, Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) Secretary General (Ag.) Mr. Neil Walters explained that based on information received from member countries between January to August, the CTO’s estimates a 63.7 per cent decline or 14.3 million fewer trips of international arrivals into the Caribbean, compared to 2019. Cruise arrivals also declined by 58.7 per cent with 8.5 million cruise visitors to the region.

There is a projected 50-70 per cent reduction in arrivals by year end.

Coalition gave away prime lands at Wales Estate, Ogle Government working to boost and Peter’s Hall – AG Nandlall agro-tourism in Guyana T T he distribution of State lands by the Coalition saw prime commercial and agricultural lands given away. This was done at the Wales Estate, West Bank Demerara; Ogle, East Coast Demerara and Peter’s Hall on the East Bank Demerara.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Hon. Mohabir Anil Nandlall made these statements in an interview with the Department of Public Information on Monday.

“These are lands that are valued millions of US dollars and have been gifted away by leases and or by title for peppercorn consideration, meaning nothing compared to what they are actually valued,” the AG stated.

The AG said it was discovered as the administration is currently conducting a review of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC),

over the last five years.

What is more appalling, he said, is that the lands have since been divested from the original recipients to third parties.

It was highlighted that 15 acres of commercial land located at Peter’s Hall was leased to Life One Farms Incorporated. The company, the Minister said, owns no assets and pays US$11,700 plus value-added tax annually for a period of 20 years.

When State lands are leased, the AG said, it should say that the lessee should not part with the land without consent of the landlord as outlined in the State Lands Act. However, the land was divested to another individual, without consent, for GY$100. The same thing occurred with other lands which were leased in the area the Minister said. He also noted that most of the leases were written up by one lawyer.

“These files are going to be passed to the police and an explanation will have to forth come because I cannot imagine how a person would pay US$11,000 which by itself is a great undervalue for the land, the lease is altered that does not reflect the standard provisions in state land leases which allows the lessee to divest and does not divest for more but divest for $100 Guyana dollars,” the AG stated.

The actions by the Coalition clearly point to money laundering and fraud, which is the reason why an investigation will be carried out, the AG said.

Nevertheless, the Minister said, the investigations are not meant to deter persons who genuinely want to acquire land for the right purposes. However, he stressed that the transaction must be transparent and companies must be able to deliver on projects they propose.

22

WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

Preliminary issues in Coalition’s elections petitions to be argued from November 24th ‒ no date set for actual hearing of two petitions

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rguments on preliminary issues raised in the two election petitions filed by the APNU+AFC Coalition will commence on November 24, 2020 before Chief Justice, Roxanne George-Wiltshire.

The decision came after a virtual case management conference (CMC) on Thursday (October 22, 2020), which was presided over by the Chief Justice.

Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes is representing President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who are listed as respondents in the case.

Roysdale Forde SC and Mayo Robertson are representing the petitioners.

The Chief Justice also informed the parties that the two elections petitions will be hear together.

Notably, no date has yet been fixed for hearing the actual petitions.

NOT SERVED Mendes noted that his client, Jagdeo, was not served on time in accordance with prescribed Rules and, as such, the petitions may themselves amount to a nullity.

According to him, while service was to be effected on Jagdeo by registered post, he is yet to receive anything.

Mendes said that while they have been attempting to garner copies of the documents which were filed in support of the petitions the petitioners did not comply with the Rules for service. Medes added that what the Rules require is that an order be sought from the court which in turn must be satisfied that the actions thus far taken are sufficient for service purposes by which service would be deem to have been effected.

The Senior Counsel, it does not appear that the order so reflects. His position is that because the Rules were flouted, proper service was not effected.

Medes stated too that the application and order were not in accordance with the Rules even as he argued that in election petition matters the Rules are required to be strictly followed “certainly in relation to service.” He said that the opportunities allowed to a petitioner who does not serve within time can result in the entire petition being a nullity. He said

that the remedy to this is for the petitioner to make an application under the Rules.

The lawyer stressed that the application and/or the order did not comply with the Rule and therefore service cannot be regarded as having been properly effected.

In response, the Chief Justice said that this preliminary issue will be dealt with first, before any orders are made as to the fixing of dates in the substantive petitions before the court.

SOPS LIKELY TO BE PRODUCED Further, the Chief Justice indicated that parties are allowed to make applications for electoral documents to be produced during the hearing.

She pointed to Section 19 of Chapter 1:04 of the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act, which provides for the documents and papers to be inspected or produced upon an order of court for the purpose of an election petition.

“The provisions say that a Party would have to apply with supporting evidence to satisfy the court if such inspection or production is required for the purposes of the election petition… I do not consider that another party can object to an application for the production of election documents or papers, or to inspect election documents and papers,” the Chief Justice stated.

This would mean that the APNU+AFC Coalition can be mandated to finally reveal its Statements of Poll (SOPs) from the March 2020 General and Regional Elections – which it has been hiding from the public despite claiming victory based on those very electoral documents.

The SOPs contain the votes tabulated at each of the 2339 polling stations at the close of polls; and, when tabulated, would indicate the winner.

REFUSAL TO PRODUCE SOPS Notably, after the controversy erupted over the results for Region 4, calls were made for the release of the SOPs by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). However, the APNU+AFC Coalition-nominated Commissioners rejected a proposal for the Chief

Elections Officer (CEO) to release GECOM’s Statements of Polls for Region 4 to all the GECOM Commissioners.

On March 14, 2020, during a news conference, the Coalition’s campaign manager, Joseph Harmon, said, “We have taken the position that our SOPs that we have are our SOPs. We have the experience in the past when these matters have to go to court and so on… it is in our interest to have our SOPs secured. The law required that the SOPs that is declared is that declared by GECOM, therefore, there is no other requirement for us to match anything.”

This position was repeated by the Coalition’s co-campaign manager, Raphael Trotman, at a news conference on Thursday (March 26, 2020). He said, “The SOPs, these are to be closely guarded. If there is an elections petition, these are to be presented as evidence. We are preserving out SOPs and they will be made available at the appropriate time when we get there, which is what we expect.”

When the tabulation of results in Region 4 from the March 2020 Elections were derailed by fraudulent actions, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) released its GECOM-issued Statements of Poll (SOPS) to the public.

The PPP/C on March 5, 2020, released all of its GECOM-issued Statements of Poll for Region 4 online.

This was followed, a week later, on Thursday (March 12, 2020), but the released of the related Tally Sheets, to support the Statements of Polls. The PPP/C said, “Each tally sheet is signed by the presiding officer and can be used to corroborate our copy of GECOM's Statements of Poll that we uploaded last Thursday…we are still tracking the remaining tally sheets from our polling agents.”

The PPP/C documents have not been publicly challenged GECOM, the APNU+AFC Coalition, nor any stakeholder in the electoral process.

RECOUNT RESULTS The certified recount of votes from Region 4, completed on Tuesday (June 9, 2020), validated the numbers presented by the PPP/C

and confirmed that Mingo manipulated the results to favour the APNU+AFC Coalition.

For Region 4, the results that were declared on March 13, 2020 by Mingo, looking at the two major political parties – the PPP/C and the APNU+AFC Coalition – were: • PPP/C (General) – 77,231 • PPP/C (Regional) – 74,877 • APNU+AFC (General) – 136,057 • APNU+AFC (Regional) – 130,289 The results that were declared after the recount were: • PPP/C (General) – 80,920 • PPP/C (Regional) – 81,279 • APNU+AFC (General) – 116,941 • APNU+AFC (Regional) – 116,403 The difference meant that Mingo inflated the APNU+AFC votes by: 19,116 at the general level and 13,886 at the regional level.

At the same time he decreased the PPP/C votes by: 3,689 at the general level and 6,402 at the regional level.

PETITION ONE In the first petition, the APNU+AFC Coalition — through petitioners Claudette Thorne and Heston Bostwick – wants the court to determine among other things, questions regarding whether the elections have

been lawfully conducted or whether the results have been, or may have been affected by any unlawful act or omission and in consequence thereof, whether the seats in the National Assembly have been lawfully allocated.

They depose through their attorneys that the elections were unlawfully conducted and/or that its result, “(if lawfully conducted)” were affected or might have been affected by unlawful acts or omissions and that what was therefore declared by the GECOM in pursuance of Section 99 of the Representation of the People Act (ROPA) was not lawfully conducted.

Thorne and Bostwick note that Order No. 60 of 2020 by which the recount was facilitated was pursuant to Article 162 of the Constitution and Section 22 of the Election Law (Amendment) Act. They, however, contend that Section 22 is unconstitutional in that it violates the separation of powers and impermissibly usurps the legislative powers of Parliament.

PETITION TWO Petitioners Monica Thomas and Brennan Nurse, for the APNU+AFC Coalition, in the second petition are contending that the elections were unlawfully conducted and/or that the results, (if lawfully conducted), were affected or might have been affected

by unlawful acts or omissions.

They say that the national recount of votes uncovered numerous discrepancies and irregularities which affected the integrity of the entire electoral process, thus rendering it null, void and of no effect.

Among the contentions raised are that GECOM failed to discharge its constitutional functions, exercise general direction and supervision over the registration of electors and the administrative conduct of all the elections of members of the National Assembly.

The women argue, too, that GECOM failed to discharge its constitutional and statutory duty to complete the house-to-house (h-t-h) registration process and to create, maintain and use for electoral purposes a “credible list of electors.”

They also want the court to specifically order the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to declare its Presidential Candidate, David Granger “the duly-elected President of Guyana in accordance with Article 177 of the Constitution” and to nullify the outcome of the polls and to declare President Irfaan Ali to be illegally holding office.

The final results of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections were declared.

CDC volunteers strengthen National COVID-19 response

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articipants of the Civil Defence Commission’s Volunteer Emergency Response Team (CDC VERT) have been integral in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic here in Guyana.

CDC Mitigation and Recovery Manager, Ms. Allana Walters said the Commission relied on the support from the specially trained VERT members, especially in the initial stages of the relief effort when its own capabilities were strained.

“We have volunteers who were trained in certain skills such as mapping and those volunteers were able to support the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) and Health Emergency Operations Centre in developing maps that were used to track

where the hotspots are for COVID-19 cases,” she explained. “Our volunteers hail from diverse backgrounds; they are some of the best and brightest minds from across the country, who came to us with skills already. There are skills in agriculture, urban planning and development, engineering…nurses and doctors and some other skills that really bring together the whole gamut of disaster risk management.”

According to the CDC, the volunteers were able to support a variety of activities including assembly of units for isolation of COVID-19 positive persons. “Volunteers have worked at the highest level of the COVID 19 response – at the National COVID-19 Task Force in

developing policies. They also helped with smaller but not insignificant tasks such as putting hampers together,” said Community Based Disaster Risk Management Officer, Ms. Mariea Harrinaraine. She called the volunteers some of the CDC’s “greatest assets.”

The volunteers and coordinators have called on more citizens to come forward and greater corporate support to strengthen the work of VERT. The Voluntary Emergency Response Team Programme began in 2018 with support from ExxonMobil Guyana, the University of Guyana, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency and the Guyana Defence Force.

23

WEEKEND MIRROR 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER, 2020

Guyana’s COVID-19 cases pass Government to study long-term the 4,000 mark ‒ Deaths up to 124 health impact of COVID-19

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he Ministry of Public Health disclosed that Guyana now has over 4,074 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The country’s record of deaths stands at 124. The first COVID-19 death was recoded on March 11, 2020.

To date, a total of over 18,900 tests have been administered. Additionally, there have been over 3,083 recoveries to date. Guyana’s cases have shown that persons between the ages of 20 to 29 are mostly affected, unlike the trend in other countries.

Cases have been reported in all of Guyana’s 10 Administrative Regions.

Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers 231 1166, 226 7480 or 180/181 for assis¬tance.

Further, a study done released on April 1, 2020, by the Pan American Health

Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) and the Ministry of Public Health indicated that Guy¬ana could see over 20,000 cases of the coronavirus.

To date, the virus has hit over 210 countries globally and over 43 million people having been confirmed as victims of COVID-19, while there have been over one million deaths.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new¬ly discovered coronavirus.

Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moder¬ate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people and those with un¬derlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.

The incubation period

for COVID-19, which is the time between exposure to the virus and symptom onset, is on average 5-6 days, but can be as long as 14 days. The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is be well in¬formed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face. The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).

At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19, although trials are being conducted.

Healthcare, other frontline workers hailed for service to Guyanese T

he efforts and professionalism displayed by frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19 have been commended by Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony.

According to him, the contributions from these workers have been “terrific”.

“When you look at our numbers, we are not doing too badly. We would all want it to go down very quickly, but I think because of the efforts of our frontline workers and the care that they have been giving to people, we have

been able to make that difference,” Minister Anthony said.

The Health Minister is confident that frontline workers will continue to work in the best interest of the nation.

“Healthcare workers, generally, when they come to this profession, it is all about to help people and improve their health. The efforts that we are seeing now, it’s giving of themselves, sacrifices and making sure that the general public is doing well.”

The Minister said the

Government would ensure that these medical professionals are provided with sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and that they are appropriately deployed to safeguard their health.

Frontline workers will also benefit from additional clinical training, including the use of ventilators and providing psychosocial support to identify patients who may be suffering from mental disorders during the pandemic.

Dr. Balram Doodnauth (centre) with staff of the Accident and Emergency Department of the GPHC

− recovered patients to be monitored

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valuations of the long-term effects of COVID-19 on recovered patients have so far unearthed signs and symptoms of heart disease in younger patients.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony said it is important to note that these younger people only had mild symptoms of coronavirus. “In some cases, they were never even hospitalised and then three months after they noticed that younger people were coming into the hospitals with typical signs and symptoms of heart disease, which is not the norm for a young person and when they go back into the history, they notice that these persons actually had a mild form of COVID-19,” he said.

Similarly, older recovered patients have reported breathing issues, cogni-

tive difficulties, depression, anxiety, continuing headaches and sometimes severe Lymphadenopathy (swollen or enlarged lymph nodes).

“It is something that we would have to monitor, we might want to interrogate to see whether they had a clinical history of COVID-19.

This is relatively new and we are learning more about this disease, and this is just another area that has surfaced.

We’ll have to put more efforts into learning and investigating what is happening,” the Minister said.

A report by Britain’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) showed ongoing illness after infection with COVID-19. Similarly, a study by Oxford University showed that two to three months after the onset of the COVID-19, 64 per cent of

patients suffered persistent breathlessness and 55 per cent suffered from significant fatigue. MRI scans also showed abnormalities in the lungs, kidneys, hearts and liver.

Dr. Sarath Raju, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine said though more research is needed, doctors are finding recovered COVID-19 patients with symptoms long after the initial infection has passed. These include shortness of breath and fatigue.

The US’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also said it is actively working to learn more about the whole range of shortand long-term health effects associated with COVID-19.

It said one health effect it is watching closely and working to understand relates to COVID-19 and the heart.

Electoral system must be one that Guyanese can trust – Ali

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eiterating the need for restoration of public confidence in the electoral machine, President Dr. Irfaan Ali charged that the identified weaknesses and threats in the electoral system must be addressed.

He said, “…GECOM itself, that is an independent commission and they have to address this also. The CoI (Commission of Inquiry) and so on would help to highlight weaknesses, challenges, opportunities, threats in ensuring that the system is fixed.

“What we have to do is to fix what is there first.

We have to ensure we have a system that is working, a system that we can trust. A system that is professional and operates in an unbiased manner, so that the people of our country can have confidence,” Ali said. “…I’ve received letters from many stakeholders in our country. And they all told me that they do not want to go back to the process they went through in those five months. And that is of uttermost importance in the minds of our people. And that is what we have to address.”

His comments came in response to questions about Local Government Elections (LGE), which is expected to take place in 2021.

The Head of State made clear that the five-month delay in finalizing the declaration of results from the March 2020 General and Regional Elections cannot be ignored. “I will not override anyone’s right to vote…the general consensus in this population and that is of uttermost importance in the minds of our people, and that is what we have to address and the commission has to address this also,” Ali said.

Those who have been charged with offences relating to electoral fraud and misconduct in public office are: Chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Volda Lawrence; Opposition activist, Carol Joseph; Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers and Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield, along with his clerks, Michelle Miller, Denise Bob-Cummings, Returning Officer for Region Four,

Clairmont Mingo, GECOM Elections Officer, Shefern February and Information Technology Officer, Enrique Livan.

DIALOGUE ON COI Recently, the President announced that the Government of Guyana is in talks with the international community regarding a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the events of the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.

When asked about this on Monday (October 26, 2020), he said, “I would like it (the CoI) to happen quickly…the COVID-19 pandemic also (forced) some restrictions on international stakeholders, but I am in constant dialogue with them.”

Notably, in prior comments, Ali had stated that the panel for the CoI could be drawn from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organisation of American States (OAS), and The Commonwealth.

“Between the OAS, Commonwealth and CARICOM, I think we will have a great opportunity to determine a good panel to look at the CoI,” he had said.

The first mention of an investigation into the elections was made by President Ali during his inauguration speech on August 8, 2020. “All of us have an obligation to the nation and to ourselves to ensure that, never again, should any generation of our people be subjected to such unlawful behaviour. Therefore, a review of events related to the electoral process over the last five months will begin shortly to determine forensically exactly what transpired and to hold accountable any person who sought to pervert and corrupt the system.” The Head of State had said too that all necessary reforms will be pursued to make democracy stronger, and the electoral process more transparent.

GECOM NOT READY Further, on the question of GECOM’s readiness for Local Government Elections, Commissioner Sase Gunraj explained that the Commission is not in a state of readiness.

He explained that there are several issues which need to be addressed in

order for GECOM to be in a state of readiness, and those include reviewing the voters’ list, completing the issuance of new identification cards (IDs), among other things.

He said, “There are also matters of public notarising…plus a lot of shenanigans went on recently, and seven officers with responsibility for operationalising, maintaining and supervising the machinery have been charged…it is my hope that all of those things will have to be taken care of before any election is called…it is also my hope that these things are done in a timely manner.”

LAST LGE The last Local Government Elections were held in 2018 in 80 Local Authority Areas – 10 towns and 70 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils – and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), secured wins in 52 of the LAAs. Another five areas were tied. The tied areas are: Moruka/Phoneix Park, Region 2; Lamaha. Yarowkabra, Region 4; Wood lands/Bel Air, Region 5; Adventure/ Bushlot, Region 6; and Macedonia/ Joppa, Region 6.

In the 10 towns the PPP/C secured big wins in five of Guyana’s 10 towns: winning all the seats in Anna Regina, Rose Hall (12 of 16 seats), Corriverton (14 of the 16 seats), Lethem (6 of the 10 seats) and Mabaruma (eight of the 12 seats).

In the 70 NDCs, the Party was successful in not only holding on to its support base, but also saw an increase in votes in areas that were seen as the traditional support bases of parties like the APNU. The PPP/C won the Buxton/ Foulis NDC, Region 4.

The results showed that the PPP/C almost doubled the margin of votes between the Party and APNU and AFC combined – moving from about 24,000 at the 2016 Local Government Elections to over 45,000 at this year’s Local Government Elections.

The difference of votes between the PPP/C and the AFC was a whopping 113,000 votes. Between the PPP/C and the APNU, the difference of votes was over 50,000.

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