Weekend Mirror 3-4 October, 2020

Independent CoI to conduct GECOM probe 3-4 October, 2020 / Vol. 11 No. 42 / Price: $100

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PAGE 3

Dialogue with Opposition hampered by talk of ‘illegal government’ – President Ali PAGE 8

Substantive Finance Minister to be appointed soon – VP Jagdeo PAGE 7

Scholarships to Hugh Wooding Law School available PAGE 2

SEE INSIDE

Payara offshore development approved with recommendations ‒ following intense review by local and international experts PAGE 10

Vaccine for new coronavirus 'COVID-19' could be ready in 18 months: WHO PAGE 23 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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Scholarships to Hugh Wooding Law School available

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he Government of Guyana is offering fully-funded scholarships for the Legal Education Certificate (LEC) at the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) in Trinidad and Tobago commencing from the 2020-2021 academic year.

'The scholarships are being offered by the Public Service Ministry. It marks the second consecutive year that scholarships are being offered to prospective and continuing students.

The LEC is the final academic certification which an LLB graduate from the University of Guyana must acquire to qualify to be admitted to practise law in Guyana’s courts, and any other jurisdiction party to the Agreement Establishing the Council of Legal Education

(CLE).

According to a notice, to be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be the holder of a Bachelor of Laws Degree with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.3. The applicant must be under the age of 35 and must have obtained the Bachelor of Laws Degree within the last five years. They must also have an acceptance letter from the HWLS. Present students wishing to apply must have passes in Year One studies with at least three courses passed with Grade A. Application forms are available at the Scholarships Division of the Department of Public Service at Vlissengen Road and Durban Street and online at the website http://scholarships.dps. gov.gy. The closing date

for application is October 7, 2020. The Hugh Wooding Law School offers a twoyear programme at the cost of G$6,292,568. Students would still have to foot the cost of boarding, food, and school-related expenses.

Each year, the top 25 students from the University of Guyana’s Department of Law gain automatic acceptance to the HWLS to read for their LEC. The remainder would have to sit the law school’s entrance examinations. Last year, four UG law degree graduates were awarded Government scholarships to pursue the LEC at the HWLS: Simran Gajraj, the Department’s best graduating student; Melissa Adolphus; Thalia Thompson and Nakesha Cosbert.

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

$25,000 household cash grant distribution starts in Regions 1, 9 O ver 8,000 Barima-Waini (Region One) residents were the first to benefit from the $25,000 per household COVID-19 relief cash grant announced by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali earlier this month.

Just one day prior to the laying of the Emergency Budget 2020 in the National Assembly, the President indicated that the grant was one of several measures designed to buttress households grappling with the effects of the pandemic.

The project was officially launched by Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, in Khan Hill. The Minister, who also holds Parliamentary responsibility for Region One, said the initiative demonstrates the Government’s commitment to the people.

Some residents of Khan Hill, Barima-Waini (Region One) dsplay their COVID-19 cash grants “Our President, when he addressed the nation, he spoke about ensuring the lives of our citizens are taken care of,

and this is one such exercise,” Minister Croal said.

He expects that the grant will ease some of the hardships that hinterland residents are facing following the halt on mining and other activities during the pandemic. The Minster also gave assurances that the distribution would be done fairly.

Residents expressed their gratitude to the Government for the initiative. In an invited comment to the DPI Mr. Remel Santiago said he was pleased to receive his package.

“We heard about this and I’m so happy for our new President of this country, for this budget, so that people across this country who need a ‘little thing’ at this moment can get it. I will try my best to get something with this for my home, because it is important,” he said.

Another resident of Khan Hill, Ms. Sharmaine Smith said the grant will be an addition to provisions made by Government to help her secure online education for her

daughter. “It could help me to buy credit for my [daughter] to help her with her school work [and] buy some things to use in the home that they need,” she said.

Meanwhile, distribution in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine), was initiated by Natural Resources Minister, Hon. Vickram Bharrat on Monday. The Minister said the exercise is a good start to revitalise the economy.

“You will have $200 million by the end of October circulating in this region. That is a significant boost to your economy in Region Nine. We will continue to ensure that we put money into people’s pockets,” Minister Bharrat said.

Distribution will be done in other far-flung areas including Regions Seven and Eight.

This is not the Government’s first COVID-19 assistance programme to help citizens countrywide since taking office in August. A number of hampers were distributed to vulnerable communities last month.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

Independent CoI to Public Servants’ salary conduct GECOM probe increases not ruled out

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he Government of Guyana is committed to ensuring the will of the people is secure, according to President Irfaan Ali. “There has to have a system to people trust in,” President Ali said, noting that the trust in the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Secretariat has been significantly eroded as a result of the events following the March 2 elections. That is why we said we have to get an international commission of inquiry (COI) to go in there independently to bring to us what occurred, where are the weaknesses and where the holes were,” he said.

President Ali maintained that an independent CoI is not overreaching as the entire aim of the exercise is to protect democracy and the

will of the people.

“This is an independent COI that goes there and looks at what took place not only on Election Day, it has to look at everything that took place. The world wants to know what took place,” the Head of State said.

Guyana’s democracy rests on the electorate being able to preserve the will of the people. The will of the people prevailed which allowed the PPP/C Government to assume office after five gruelling months.

“This Government is the beneficiary of the will of the people. This Government is here because the will of the people spoke. This Government is here because the people elected this Government. We are not the beneficiary of any system,” he

asserted.

Dr. Ali said they want the system fixed because it tried to take away the will of the people and derail democracy.

While the CoI will produce recommendations for reforms to fix the system, it will not interfere with the election petition filed by the APNU+AFC Coalition.

“The CoI has nothing to do with the actions filed; the judiciary will deal with that. That’s a separate arm of Government. It cannot influence the judiciary,” the President said.

During a recent regional interview, Dr. Ali stated the COI was necessary to ensure that the persons who attempted to obstruct democracy and the will of the people were held accountable.

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he Government has not ruled out salary increases for public servants, with Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill saying several factors must be taken into consideration first.

The Minister’s comments were in response to an Opposition MP’s question in the House about whether public servants would be getting an increase or a one-off bonus.

Bishop Edghill noted that the PPP/C has a track record and a standard that every year, once there is fiscal space and there is performance in the economy, consideration is given towards remuneration for public servants.

five-member team of investigators from the Regional Security System arrived in Guyana to assist local sleuths with their investigations into the brutal murders of teenage cousins, Joel and Isaiah Henry and 17-year-old Haresh Singh at West Coast Berbice.

The regional team is led

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ith effect from October 1, 2020, prices for the Guyana Oil Company’s (Guyoil) mogas (Super 95) gasoil, low sulfur diesel, and kerosene will be reduced to lessen the financial burden on consumers.

In a press statement, GuyOil said the reduced prices

will take effect at all their service stations across the country. “GuyOil is always committed to its strategic objective of being the price stabiliser for the nation.

Though the company saw no reduction in acquisition costs Guyoil is aware of the economic challenges being

faced by customers and businesses as the nation continues to battle COVID-19,” it said.

Guyoil expects the reductions to bring “significant ease” to customers and assured that the company will continue to provide its products and services at competitive prices.

have to wait for Christmas to deal with bringing relief to Public Servants and all Guyanese. We ensured they every Guyana had the $25,000 support in the COVID environment. We ensured that all of our people who are working, that they get the necessary PPEs,” the Minister stated.

He noted that while there is no present announcement of salary increases, Guyanese could rest assured that the Government would consider all factors once Budget 2020 is implemented.

Minister Edghill has responsibility for finance at this time in the absence of an appointed Minister for that portfolio.

Regional sleuths arrive to probe murders of Henry cousins, Haresh Singh A

GuyOil reduces prices to ease burden on customers

“I would like to assure the Honourable Members of this House that, even in the midst of underperformance in the economy, mismanagement, maladministration, and spending without due recourse, the PPP/C will at all times, at the appropriate time, consider whatever is workable even in the COVID pandemic environment to do what is good for public servants,” Minister Edghill said.

The Minister added that meeting the needs of Guyanese remains a priority and the government has demonstrated this in its emergency COVID-19 relief measures.

“That is why we did not

by an Assistant Commissioner of Police.

The officials met Commissioner of Police (Ag) Mr. Nigel Hoppie; Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum, and ranks of the Criminal Investigation Department and Major Crimes Investigations Unit.

Commissioner Hop-

pie assured the team of the “Guyana Police Force’s commitment to make available all the necessary resources to facilitate a conducive environment for their work.”

The collaboration follows a request from His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali for regional assistance.

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EDITORIAL Coalition’s rhetoric fail to take hold as Guyanese have their needs responded to

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he debates and detailed considerations of the amounts in Budget 2020 have been completed and approved.

During the two-week review process, words like “visionless” and clueless” were thrown around by the APNU+AFC Coalition, now parked on the Opposition benches. However, the Coalition’s rhetoric fails to take hold because the reality of the day is starkly different.

Within eight weeks of being in government, a national budget was prepared – in a record 21 days – and approved; major projects are now underway; and the delivery of key services to Guyanese are being improved.

Of note is that the initiatives like the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which put Guyana on the global stage as a leader, is being resuscitated and will be expanded. The visionary strategy, championed by Jagdeo during his tenure as President of Guyana, was able to earn over US$200 million for the preservation of its forests. It was discontinued by the former APNU+AFC Coalition government.

The LCDS will be resuscitated as part of Guyana’s national developmental agenda, one in a number of measures that cater to the country’s plan to work towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs, of which there are 17, are a number of goals intended to end global poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for everyone by 2030. Among plans for the reinstated LCDS are the strengthening of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Act, as well as improved measures for the National Protected Areas System (NPAS).

In terms of expansion, it will include the sale of biodiversity services, biodiversity management and management of water resources, given that these are areas where the Strategy can tap into new frontiers to earn resources for Guyana.

Launched in 2009, the LCDS was intended to place Guyana’s economy on a low-carbon, sustainable development trajectory, while simultaneously combatting climate change. The integrated strategy examined how Guyana could deploy its forests in mitigating climate change, while also gaining financial and other support for doing so.

Guyana was able to benefit because it is a carbon sink– any reservoir, natural or otherwise, that absorbs more carbon than it releases– and thereby lowers the concentration of CO 2 from the atmosphere, In other words, Guyana is a carbon sink and has the opportunity to leverage assets to bring money into this country to support economic development.

On the other hand the only visionless and clueless undertaking, in this area, was the Coalition’s Green State Development Strategy (GSDS), under which not a single project was conceptualized, developed or implemented.

The only moves by the Coalition, relative to its falsely touted GSDS, were international travel disguised as capacity building efforts and planting trees.

Development in Guyana is increasingly taking on a humanized approach and the people, who are served by the Government of the day, are having their needs responded to. On the economic front, as more advances are made, the country’s once booming economy is expected to be revived and expanded – also bolstered by the developments in the oil and gas sector.

What is clear is that Guyana, as well as the Guyanese people, are poised to benefit from better days that are ahead under the PPP/C government and the leadership of President Irfaan Ali and other leaders.

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

No Guyanese will be left behind in progressive moves forward Dear Editor,

M

any people still do not get how big this is. Come 2025, Guyana’s GDP will go up by 300 per cent, to 1000 per cent. This is gigantic. The lingering question is, can Guyana be the richest country in the hemisphere and potentially the richest country in the world?

It may sound far-fetched, but with a population of around 750,000, in per capita terms, Guyana’s wealth is set to skyrocket. The money would certainly be welcomed. Our country experienced high rates of unemployment and poverty between 2015 and 2020. That history carries a warning for all Guyanese. The discovery of big oil in other developing nations has exacerbated existing corruption, leading to the new oil wealth being squandered and stolen. It has become known as the oil curse.

However, Guyana follows another rhythm which has taken the last oil train and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to go wrong, at least in the short term: it will be the only country in the region that will avoid the recession in 2020.

The blame for this untimely miracle lies in 18 fields discovered, since in 2008 a consortium led by the US ExxonMobil and Hess in collaboration with the Chinese CNOOC began the first prospects in the Stabroek Block, almost 200 kilometres offshore. Twelve years later, pumping is already above 120,000 barrels per day and should exceed 700,000 by the middle of this next decade, matching the mark of countries such as Argentina or Malaysia.

The IMF took off its dire forecasts at the end of 2019, just before the exploitation of crude oil began, with a figure that surprised: Guyana, it said, would grow by 86 per cent in 2020. Almost a year later, that figure has fallen sharply, up to around 50 per cent. The pandemic has also taken its toll there, but the reality is still much sweeter than in practically any other corner of the

planet: if that forecast is maintained, the Guyanese economy will double in size in just 24 months. One piece of data allows us to put into perspective the size of such progress: only in two of the last 70 years (1964 and 1965) has the South American country managed to grow at double digits and since 2013, it has not exceeded 5 per cent.

Guyana has “a unique opportunity for its economic development”. And yet the country, ravaged by a heavy history of corruption, still faces the challenge of harnessing it. It is a true race against time, as the PPP/C Administration promised “no one will be left behind” as we squeeze the goose that lays the golden eggs as much as possible before the definitive decline in oil, which many places before the end of this century.

Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali and his Government know how to manage these new revenues to avoid macroeconomic distortions such as an appreciation of the real exchange rate that erodes its competitiveness and drives out private investment.

In the form of a powerful injection of fiscal resources: almost 15 per cent of the oil revenues will go to the public coffers and secondly, with hard cash for the population: to face the COVID-19 pandemic. It is amazing that our new PPP/C has immediately launched a COVID-19 relief fund of $25,000 (almost a third of the minimum wage) to each household affected by COVID-19 that would hardly have been feasible if the bags of oil had not been found.

But what the Guyanese really expect from oil remains to be seen: an improvement in infrastructure in one of the worst endowed countries in the region and, above all, more jobs. “It was very difficult to find work between 2015 and 2020, especially for men.”

But the optimism is already evident under the PPP/C Government, with the script being fulfilled overnight, where Guyana will go from being one of the

poorest countries in South America to the richest in the area – and one of the richest in the world. We are about to embark on a stage of tremendous growth, something we have waited for a long time, but if the resources are not invested efficiently to stimulate our country, the risk of being infected by the so-called “Dutch disease” — which would mean that the oil fury would destroy other engines of the economy — is low in the case of Guyana. We were a poor country that mostly depended on agriculture and mining, which for the last five years under the APNU/AFC Administration, no other sector had flourished.

And yet the oil boom abruptly places it at a crossroads like our neighbour to the west, Venezuela, went through decades ago, now plunged into collapse after a long time of total dependence on crude oil. The parallelism is tempting: in four years, crude will go from having no relevance in the Guyanese economy to accounting for 40 per cent of the GDP. In the local press, there has been a lot of talk about this in recent months: they fear the curse of oil. They do not lack reasons. The Government has rushed to decree a National Oil Day that they will celebrate for the first time this December 20 – presumably, still in the midst of the pandemic – when the first anniversary of the date on which crude oil began to flow from the Liza field.

There is, however, reason to believe that the many lessons available in recent decades have been learned: most of the money that leaves the seabed will go to a Sovereign Wealth Fund built in the image and likeness of the Norwegian or Abu Dhabian. As the PPP/C Government has insisted time and again, “no one will be left behind”.

This is a promise our Government intends to keep.

Sincerely, David Adams

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

Guyanese people could have been better off if Coalition hadn’t squandered billions

Reopening sugar estates is a step in the right direction!

Dear Editor,

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he GAWU saw President Irfaan Ali, in the September 23, Stabroek News, saying that the trail of destruction in the sugar industry left by the Coalition was like a hurricane.

The President’s description is indeed fitting. It provides a jarring picture of the damage the APNU+AFC inflicted on GuySuCo, and more so on thousands of sugar workers and their families. And it is against this background that we believe the industry is probably at its lowest point.

With the last five (5) years of deliberate undermining, the true situation has now fully unveiled itself. We were aware that the situation was acute, but we were simply flabbergasted to learn that essential equipment and implements were simply not there. Our Union did disclose, sometime ago, that the NICIL and its creature called SPU were liquidating moveable assets at fire sale prices. Clearly, in our view, the ‘slash and burn’ approach to sugar was done with one sole intention; that is, to cripple the industry to the point of no return. This was achieved at Wales, and as the President indicated, the resumption of operations will see Skeldon, Rose Hall and Enmore Estates having to be rebuilt from the ground up.

On this score, we were heartened to learn that the President is more imbued to bring the estates back to life, and to put those sent on the breadline back to work. We hold that where there is a will there is a way, and the President has demonstrated his willingness not only to reopen the estates, but make the sugar industry viable and sustainable.

As the GAWU had pointed out time and again, the sugar industry has several worthwhile opportunities for a secure future. But while the President rightly speaks to the hurricane that swept through the estates, it was a massive tsunami which fell on the heads of thousands of workers and their families, who were placed on the breadline.

Arising from the GAWU’s representation, the ILO commissioned a socio-economic study on the closed estates. That report, which is presently being finalised, made some important findings. The data collected through focus groups revealed that incomes among those laid off have fallen by a staggering sixty-four (64) per cent.

At the same time, sixty-two (62) per cent of those interviewed revealed that their children’s educational pursuits have been compromised, as eighty-one (81) per cent of the workers interviewed hadn’t been able to find full time jobs. At Wales, for instance, three (3) years after that estate closed, as many as sixty (60) per cent of the workers remained unemployed.

The study found, unsurprisingly, that crime and alcoholism went up. When those interviewed were asked to express their apprehensions about the future on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being most worrisome, almost unanimously, those interviewed expressed their anxieties as a 10. It is a clear indicator as to how deeply the estates were to the workers

and how large of a vacuum closure created.

The study found, too, that many persons have had to leave the communities in search of jobs elsewhere.

The study, and more so its findings, is yet another indicator of the importance of the sugar industry to Guyana and Guyanese. It demonstrates the correctness of the decision to reopen the estates closed by the Coalition, and to revitalise, as a whole, the entire industry. It was, for us, most disturbing when we continue to see the anti-sugar venom being demonstrated by the Coalition, now in Opposition.

The September 18 Guyana Chronicle reported that Mr Khemraj Ramjattan labelled the reopening as the Government rewarding its base. It was that narrow, small-minded and perverted thinking that caused Mr Ramjattan to support hook – line and sinker – that closure in the first place. We would have thought that, having seen the full impact of that decision, he would have recognised the wisdom in the decision to resuscitate the industry. But it appears that the erstwhile gentleman is still blinded by his blinkers, and rather wishes to see thousands of Guyanese being pushed into misery and impoverishment. It is that sort of thinking that distinguishes so-called leaders from genuine leaders.

The Opposition’s spitefulness continued, as Mr Jermaine Figueira, according to a September 22 Demerara Waves report, wanted to speak about costs in the sugar industry.

We had to wonder to ourselves whether Mr Figueira was really serious. It was Mr Figueira’s party, when in Government, that brought sugar to its knees. It was Mr Figueira’s party which starved the industry of capital, although it borrowed billions. It was Mr Figueira’s party which discriminated against the sugar workers. It was Mr Figueira party which allowed GuySuCo’s assets to be used as personal belongings of some. It was under Mr Figueira party that sugar production plummeted 60% in five (5) years, and recorded last year the lowest production in more than eighty (80) years. And now Mr Figueira, with a straight face, wants to talk about costs after bastardisation of the sugar industry over the last five (5) years?

So, while the Opposition may want to engage in a hue and cry about sugar, it is the people that matter, it is they and their families who have lost, and have lost dearly, for that matter. The creation of thousands of jobs will provide massive spin-off effects not only for the sugar belt, but for the entire economy.

Billions of dollars more will flow through the economy. People will regain that pride they once had, and people will again be able to put their lives back together.

So, while there are an unimportant few who will try to denigrate the decision of the Ali Administration, the people are wiser, and will ignore their superfluous harping and needless buzzing.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine, GAWU General Secretary

Dear Editor,

H

ow do we rationalise the unconscionable attacks being meted out to our dismissed sugar workers from the APNU/AFC and its supporters? Those who are engaged in these attack must do an analysis of the billions squandered by the coalition.

Let’s look at this in perspective. We have seen that the same coalition who wanted GuySuCo to be the “sugar bowl” of the Caribbean had systematically and clinically begun a decimation of the industry since 2016, resulting in the dismissal of more than 7000 workers with a more devastating domino effect.

These are some of the same workers who assisted to put the coalition in power in 2015, having promised them that no estates would be closed, they would receive 20 per cent increase in wages and salaries, and the coalition held a conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in August 2015 where the former Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, made a vow that “Government will not abandon sugar in troubled times..the focus is to make sugar work. We have too many workers who stand to lose with the collapse of the industry. This government will not allow sugar to sink”. But by now everyone knows that that was just one of his trademark vacuous spins. In the same vein, the former Agriculture Minister, Mr Holder, had submitted that the CoI would provide a course for the industry for the period spanning 2016 to 2030 which would “improve the structure of the industry, including the environment for innovation and sustainability”. Can the coalition and its supporters recall this?

It is now a sad reminder that the findings of the multi-million dollar coalition-sponsored CoI were unceremoniously dumped and a meaningless White Paper provided for the closure of the estates. This caused the sugar workers to finally come to the realisation that the coalition was only for themselves and in the 2016 Local Government Elections, it was clear that many of those who voted for that coalition were moving away.

The PPP/C won 123,564 votes while the APNU/AFC gained just 98,670 votes, a defeat by 24,894 votes. This margin got bigger in 2018. The PPP/C won 122,307 whilst the APNU garnered just 68,060 and its dying partner could only muster 8719 votes. The margin of defeat for the coalition then was a whopping 45,528 votes! It was a clear signal that the populace had lost confidence in not only the AFC but the APNU as well.

It must be reminded that the coalition had controversially won the 2015 elections by just 5360 votes. In 2020, the PPP/C returned to power with an overwhelming majority of 15,416 votes. The coalition was quickly losing support.

It then dawned on the coalition that those who voted for the PPP/C must be punished and as a result, just after the 2016 Local Government Elections, Wales became the first victim. This was followed by Rose Hall Estate, which was scheduled to be closed in December 2017 but pushed back to 2018 and then quickly followed Skeldon Estate. One does not need a crystal ball to figure out why the coalition lost the 2018 LGE by a whopping 45,529 votes. This was not just sugar, the devastating tsunami of corruption and incompetence was engulfing all the sectors.

This massive corruption and incompetence were starkly highlighted during the just concluded 2020 Budget debate. The amount of taxpayers’ dollars stolen or ill-spent amounted to billions of dollars, yet the coalition can only see that $3 billion allocated to the reopening of the closed estates are monies

which have been thrust into a “dark hole”. It is disappointing that one group of workers will go against another group of dismissed workers who have been starving for more than 3 years, not counting the multitudes who depended on these estates. One of the nurses echoed the APNU/AFC’s stance on sugar by stating that, “Why open back a failing industry-sugar? You’re spending billions on sugar when the healthcare workers are not being addressed.

Come on! What is sugar doing for the public when healthcare workers are putting their lives at risk?” This is how callous and heartless one group of persons can be to another group who has been suffering for so long. Imagine these public servants have been receiving wage increases whilst the sugar workers who are employed have not been the recipients of such benevolence from the coalition.

President Ali justifiably asked the question: “Where was the solidarity when more than 7000 sugar workers were sent home?

What was the situation then? Where was the solidarity when 1000 bauxite workers lost their jobs? There was no socio-economic analysis of the impact of the closure of the estimates. We are missing that. We don’t want to answer that question anymore.”

I wish to submit to these “re-awakened”’ politically-influenced nurses that the APNU/ AFC has squandered more than $1.5 trillion over their term in office with nothing tangible to show. This includes billions just blatantly stolen from the Treasury. I will just list a few: the nearly $400 million spent to rent a bond to store condoms; the ‘spending’ of $1.6 billion to commission the Ocean View ‘shell’; the nearly $1 billion in expired drugs; the astronomical prices paid for drugs; the CT machine stored at a cost of $174 million; the Larry London multi-million dollar swindle; the D’Urban Park swindle; the CJIA swindle; the Demerara Bridge feasibility swindle; and the list goes on and on. In every sphere of Government, there was thievery and corruption and these could have allowed the closed estates to remain open and pay everyone wages and salaries increase including these striking nurses.

This Government is a peoples’ Government which is chartering a course to benefit every Guyanese and some must realise that whilst their pots remained filled, many pots went empty and any caring Government must address the have nots as a priority measure.

Those whose pots have been filled must exercise some patience so that their brothers and sisters who are starving can be given some bread as well.

The 2020 Budget itself will see the return of more than $20 billion into Guyanese pockets and this will benefit every Guyanese.

How can any reasonable minded person castigate the Government for reaching out to bring bread on the table for a group of people who have been deliberately allowed to suffer immensely under the previous Government?

What wrong has these sugar workers committed? It is the coalition who have wronged these people and amends must be made. As the Minister of Agriculture had reiterated, sugar is more than the balance sheet and the sooner this is understood the better thinking some people will become.

It is time that we be our brother’s keeper and stop regurgitating the unconscionable political rhetoric spewed by the APNU/AFC. To cause division among our people should not be the agenda of a caring Opposition party.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

MONDAY OCTOBER 05 - THURSDAY OCTOBER 09, 2020 Time

Monday, October 5, 2020

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Thursday, October 8, 2020

Friday, October 9, 2020

NURSERY

NURSERY

NURSERY

NURSERY

NURSERY

Literacy

Literacy My Friend, Letter Ii

Literacy My Friend, Letter Ii

Literacy My Friend, Letter Ii

Literacy My Friend, Letter Ii

Numerical Numerals 7, 8 & 9 GRADE 1

Numerical Numerals 7, 8 & 9 GRADE 1

Numerical Numerals 7, 8 & 9 GRADE 1

Numerical Numerals 7, 8 & 9 GRADE 1

Numerical Numerals 7, 8 & 9 GRADE 1

Mathematics Greatest & Least

Science Life Processes of animals

Mathematics Greatest & Least Exercises

Science Life Processes of animals

Mathematics Greatest & Least Exercises

English Context Clues

Social Studies Caring for family members

English Syllabication

Social Studies Sharing with our family

English Sight Words & Syllabication

GRADE 2

GRADE 2

GRADE 2

GRADE 2

GRADE 2

Mathematics Basic addition & subtraction

Science Inside our body

Mathematics Basic addition & subtraction

Science Inside our body

Mathematics Basic addition & subtraction

English Interrogative Sentences

Social Studies Clothing worn by family members

English Interrogative & Declarative Sentences' Exercises

Social Studies Politeness & Respect

English Nouns

GRADE 3

GRADE 3

GRADE 3

GRADE 3

GRADE 3

Mathematics Skip Counting in 10s & 100s

Science The Digestive System

Mathematics Place Value

Science Digestive System Process

Mathematics Place Value Exercises

English Declarative Sentences

Social Studies Contributions of the Amerindians

English Interrogative Sentences

Social Studies Contributions of the Amerindians

English Imperative Sentences

GRADE 4

GRADE 4

GRADE 4

GRADE 4

GRADE 4

Science Features of Vertebrates

Mathematics Ordering numbers up to 10,000

Science Groups of Vertebrates

Mathematics Odd & Even Numbers

English Antonyms

Social Studies Ethnic Group: Europeans

English Digraph

Social Studies Ethnic Group: Africans

English Words & Meanings

GRADE 5

GRADE 5

GRADE 5

GRADE 5

GRADE 5

Mathematics Lowest Common Multiple

Science Groups of Invertebrates

Mathematics Lowest Common Multiple Exercises

Science Groups of Invertebrates

Mathematics Lowest Common Multiple Exercises

English Formation of nouns- 's' & 'es'

Social Studies Our Continental Neighbours

English Plural forms of words ending in 'fe' 'f'

Social Studies Our Continental Neighbours

English Formation of NounsExercises

GRADE 6

GRADE 6

GRADE 6

GRADE 6

GRADE 6

Mathematics Adding whole numbers

Science Pollination

Mathematics Subtracting Whole Numbers

Science Pollination

Mathematics Adding & Subtractings Whole Numbers

English Nouns

Social Studies Countries in Climatic Zones

English Nouns

Social Studies CARICOM

English Nouns

GRADE 7

GRADE 7

GRADE 7

GRADE 7

GRADE 7

Mathematics Subsets of a set

Science Measurement of Volumes of Solids

Mathematics Universal Sets

8:00am - 9:00am My Friend, Letter Ii

9: 00am- 10:00am

10:00am-11:00am

11:00am-12:00pm

Mathematics Comparing numbers up to 10 12:00pm-1:00pm 000

1:00pm- 2:00pm

2:00pm-3:00pm

3:00pm- 4:00pm

4:00pm- 5:00pm

Mathematics Equal & Equivalent sets

Science Measurement of Area

English Expository Writing

Social Studies English Organizations attached to the Writing Letters school

Social Studies Rules of the School

English Writing Letters

GRADE 8

GRADE 8

GRADE 8

GRADE 8

GRADE 8

Mathematics Rational Numbers

Science Feeding relationships in the ecosystem

Mathematics Base Ten

Science Respiration

Mathematics Base Two System

English Prefixes & Suffixes

Social Studies Norms in society & social control

English Prefixes & Suffixes

Social Studies Folk-ways in society

English Guyanese Fables

GRADE 9

GRADE 9

GRADE 9

GRADE 9

GRADE 9

Mathematics

Science Nourishment

Mathematics The Value of Digits

Science Enzymes

Mathematics Number Bases

English Prefixes & Suffixes

Social Studies Rights of the child

English Text Functions

Social Studies Rights of women

English Language Functions

5:00pm- 6:00pm Place Value

7

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

Substantive Finance Minister to be appointed soon – VP Jagdeo A

substantive Finance Minister will be appointed soon, according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who is performing the functions currently.

His comments came in response to queries during a media conference on Friday (October 2, 2020), where he added that the Office of the President will still have oversight of the work of the finance sector.

He explained too that his functioning in government relates to support President Irfaan Ali to “move the big things along” – a task that includes the reformulation of issues relate to financing on major development projects.

“In the first week we reformulated the project for the Ogle bypass road…the Ferry, we have solved the

problem and now the ferry will be built to benefit the people of North West…we have move the process to programme money to buy solar panels for the hinterland…we have managed to resolve many issues that were lagging for five years and move forward with de-

velopment,” he said.

Jagdeo added that on telecommunications reform, while the law was passed since 2016, nothing was done and this will be addressed in the coming weeks. “A secret deal has been signed, which we found out recently, which seems geared towards negotiation rather than liberalization…we hope this can be done next week, but there was a ton of technical work to be done,” he said.

The Vice President stressed that there is much work still to be done. “On my desk, there are some big issues to move forward and trying to programme resources for major projects…my job is to help the Ministries and the sectors move things along,” he said.

National Assembly passes Budget 2020

T

he $329.5B Emergency Budget was passed in the National Assembly Friday night after 10 days of debates and meetings of the Committee of Supply to consider the Estimates.

Prepared in a record 21 days, it was laid by Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, who was delegated the responsibility for finance during the budget period.

Some $183 billion for the period January 1 to September 30, 2020 had to be included in the budget to cover the previous administration’s spending which lacked parliamentary approval and oversight.

During debate on the Appropriations Bill, Minister Edghill rebuked the former administration for dodging snap-elections after the successful passage of the no-confidence motion on December 21, 2018, which led to the unauthorised spending.

Referencing the dissolution of the 11th Parliament, Bishop Edghill said the caretaker government’s spending should have been exclusively for public services. However, he cited glaring evidence of spending outside of the law.

“Public services can’t be new capital projects like an $823 million school to a financier of your party on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway,” Minister Edghill said, adding that “The intent and the spirit of the law was not followed.”

Other examples of the APNU+AFC unlawful spending, included the $1.6 billion spent to convert the

Ocean View Hotel into an infectious diseases hospital without approval. This project has led to the current Administration footing a $13 million per month rent.

According to Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Hon. Mohabir Anil: “We are putting back the accounting mechanisms in place, as is required by the Constitution.” The Attorney General also shot down statements made by the Opposition that former Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh had acted out of the confines of the law by illegally spending $4.4billion after Budget cuts in the 10th Parliament.

According to AG Nandlall, “Chief Justice Ian Chang ruled that we can restore the cut and bring it back into the Parliament for approval in the form of a Statement of Excess, in compliance with [Article] 219.”

The Attorney General maintained it is the National Assembly’s duty to correct the accounting record, after which it is up to the Auditor General to recommend actions to be taken, after an audit report of 2020 is complete.

Budget 2020 has been hailed a success, not only for the swift manner in which it was brought to the National Assembly, but because of the extensive measures included to alleviate the burdens placed on taxpayers by the APNU+AFC. Major takeaways include the $25,000 COVID-19 cash grant along with sweeping tax reliefs such was the removal of the 25% corpo-

rate tax on education and health and the removal of value-added tax on medical supplies.

Some of the most significant VAT removals are on electricity and water, hinterland travel, building and construction materials and cellular phones.

The Emergency Budget also saw $150 million set aside to support COVID-19 frontline workers along with the resumption and simultaneous increase of the cash grants for school children to $15,000 and doubling of the uniform allowance to $4,000.

Further, the extensive list of relief measures includes a $5 billion allocation to the Guyana Sugar Corporation to resuscitate the sugar industry after years of neglect and mass layoffs by the former Administration. Enmore, Rose Hall, and Skeldon estates will be reopened in a phase approach.

With much focus on fostering the growth of the small business sector, $100 million has been budgeted for the Small Business Development Fund, $212.1million for the Small Business Bureau, and a$105 million allocation was earmarked for the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development programme.

Budget 2020 was passed under the theme “Our Plan for Prosperity: Protecting our People in a COVID-19 Environment; Strengthening Democracy and the Rule of Law; Incentivising Economic Growth and Job Creation; and, Enhancing Welfare.”

PPP/C gov’t reverses taxes imposed by APNU+AFC Coalition

M

inister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira has said the passage of several amended bills reversing taxes today in the National Assembly will put money back into the pockets of citizens.

The Minister said this has proven that the administration of Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has kept its promises.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister noted that taxes were increased during the period of the APNU+AFC. “Their developmental approach was taxation, and so the Guyanese people paid heavily and the businessmen, the whole country paid heavily for all these enormous amounts of taxes that were brought on people. They reduced the purchasing power of our people by hundreds

of thousands of dollars every year,” the Minister said.

On the opposition’s absence from Tuesday’s sitting of the National Assembly, Minister Teixeira commented that this was a wise decision, as the previous Government

could not defend its performance over the last five years.

The bills passed included the Corporation Tax Amendment Bill, the Value-Added Tax Amendment Bill, and the Tax Amendment Bill.

8

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

Dialogue with Over 100 witnesses to Opposition hampered by called in Mingo case talk of ‘illegal government’ T – President Ali

T

alks, outside of what is constitutionally mandated, between the PPP/C government and the Parliamentary Opposition will be advanced once Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon, rescinds the remarks he made about the PPP/C government being an illegal government.

In comments on the matter, President Irfaan Ali, said, “If I am working with you, you have to be able to accept that I am the person you want to work with.

So there are a number of things going on, if you look at some of the statements that the Opposition is making and then the Opposition leader is saying that

he doesn’t recognize the government. “…you can’t speak with someone you don’t recognize, you can’t have a serious discussion with me because you are speaking to someone you don’t recognize. Therefore, we have to get it right. And I hope he (Harmon) gets it right very soon because if you come to me, you can’t come to me to tell me you don’t recognize me and if you are coming to me, it means you recognize me. “…what Harmon needs to do is make up his mind and make that very public…it seems that within the APNU, they are not talking

to each other, so if we can’t cross the hurdle in that party…what then?

“Let me tell you this, it is very easy, very simple, he has to fix what he has created, a misleading narrative to the people of this country…. this is a legitimately elected government.”

Ali stressed that he is willing to work with “every single Guyanese” to move Guyana forward.

The APNU+AFC Coalition and Harmon himself have continued to suggest that the government is “illegal” and “illegitimate” since the declaration of final election results since August 2, 2020.

he State is expected to call over 100 witnesses in the case against embattled Region Four Returning Officer (RO), Clairmont Mingo, regarding the electoral fraud which was reportedly committed during the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

Mingo, 69, of Calcutta, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, on Friday, September 25, 2020, made his second appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on four charges of ‘Misconduct in Public Office’.

State prosecutor Teriq Mohammed made a partial disclosure of statements.He also made an application for a summary disposal of the case, which would allow Mingo to plead to the charges. This was however met with strong objections from Mingo’s attorney, Nigel Hughes, who questioned whether the Police intended to bring additional charges against his client.

In response, the State Prosecutor disclosed to the court that since the case file is still incomplete, he wasn’t in a position to respond to the lawyer’s question. Mohammed informed that so far he has over 100 witnesses who are slated to testify.

The Chief Magistrate set

December 11, 2020 as the date for full disclosure.

Mingo is currently on $600,000 bail for the four indictable charges.

The first two charges against him allege that, on March 5, 2020, at High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, while being a public officer, he wilfully misconducted himself by declaring a result for District Four, without ascertaining the total votes cast in favour of each List in the said District in the Regional and General Elections. The case against him is that he failed to add up the votes recorded in favour of each List in accordance with the Statements of Poll, which, in the eyes of the Law, amounts to a breach of the public’s trust, without any reasonable excuse or justification.

The other two charges allege that he committed the same offences on March 13, 2020, at the GECOM High and Cowan Streets, Kingston Head Office, when he wilfully misconducted himself by declaring a result for District Four in the said March 2 General and Regional Elections.

In March criminal charges were filed against the duo by Charles Ramson Jr. in relation to the controversial

be

District Four results. The contention is that Mingo and Lawrence uttered a forged document with the intent of defrauding the public, contrary to Section 278 of the Criminal Law Offences Act Chapter 8:01.

It is alleged that Mingo, having been ‘procured’ by former government minister, Ms. Volda Lawrence, on or about March 5, 2020, at Hadfield and High Streets, Georgetown, uttered to the Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield, a Form 24 Representation of the People Act dated March 5, 2020, knowing same to be forged, with intent to defraud the people of the state of Guyana.

Earlier this month Mingo was jointly charged with former government minister, Volda Lawrence for fraud. It is also alleged that, in the course of Mingo and Lawrence colluding to forge the Form 24 document, the latter’s signature was affixed to the said document, which had shown a win for the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC).

Mingo was placed on self-bail, while Lawrence was released on $100,000 bail.

Lowenfield arrested as elections probe widens T

he investigation into electoral fraud widens and on Saturday (September 26, 2020), Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield was arrested in connection with allegations of criminal conduct and subsequently released on station bail. He invoked his right to remain silent.

In a press release, the Guyana Police Force spokesman Assistant Commissioner Royston Andries-Junor confirmed that Lowenfield was arrested yesterday and taken to the Criminal Investiga-tion Department (CID) Headquarters, at Eve Leary, in Georgetown. While there, Andries-Junor said, several allegations were levelled against Lowenfield in the presence of his attorney.

Throughout the process, he remained silent. “After being told of the allegations, Mr. Lowenfield exercised his right to remain silent,” the statement said. “There-

after, a confrontation was held between him and a witness and once again Mr. Lowenfield opted to remain silent,” it added.

The CEO is accused of attempting to undermine the will of the people by repeatedly refusing to submit the verified results from the National Recount to Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Retired Justice Claudette Singh, for a final declaratio Lowenfield is already facing fraud and misconduct charges which were filed by private citizens Desmond Morian and Daniel Josh Kanhai over the handling of the results from the March 2nd polls. The Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has since taken over prosecution.

Further, the Chief Elections Officer is likely to face additional charges over the role he played in the blatant attempts to rig the

March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, on Monday (September 28, 2020) that investigators are expected to wrap up their investigations shortly and once completed; the file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack with its recommendations for legal advice.

Blanhum related that the police have sufficient evidence at its disposal to warrant the institution of criminal charges against the CEO. However, he further stated that as expected, the CEO, who was placed on substantial bail, reported to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Monday where he was further grilled on the allegation brought against him.

The police have since arrested and charged several GECOM staffers in the investigation.

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

9

10

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

Payara offshore development approved with recommendations ‒ following intense review by local and international experts

T

he Government of Guyana and ExxonMobil earlier today signed the license for the Payara field offshore development in

Guyana. The Payara project approval was a result of several reviews and consultations by local and international experts.

Prior to the approval, the Government of Guyana had decided to review the work already undertaken by the Department of Energy

and Bayphase Oil and Gas Consultants on the Payara Project so that the interest of all Guyanese is protected and in keeping with inter-

national transparency and accountability standards.

Most importantly, the Canadian funded team of technical experts assessed the project to ensure that all relevant regulations are complied with and that they can be enforced. This included environmental standards and reservoir management to safeguard the interests of the people of Guyana and that their resources are developed in a sustainable and responsible manner to the benefit of the country.

Further, in the licensing agreement, the government has insisted that routine flaring is strictly prohibited without the approval of the EPA. Flaring to maintain oil production will not be permitted. Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) will pay the Government for the cost of gas wasted during flaring and will also be subject to fines under the EPA related to emissions from flaring. The EPA will establish a framework for a price on carbon to

conform with international standards.

Additionally, the government has insisted that EEPGL manage produced water to an international standard to minimize the effects of discharging produced water.

EEPGL is required to update its base design to include tie-in points and space for produced water injection equipment. EEPGL will carry out a study overseen by the Minister of Natural Resources to be completed by the first quarter of 2021 to examine the safe and efficient reinjection of produced water, including the effects on the reservoir. This is in keeping with government’s commitment to preserve marine life and water quality.

As such, the Government of Guyana remains committed to manage and harvest Guyana’s oil and gas resources sustainably in keeping with internationally recognized acceptable environmental standards and transparency for the benefit of all Guyanese.

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

11

12 SUNDAY

MONDAY

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

OCT 1st

9:00hrs Virtual Launch of Agriculture Month and Interfaith Ceremony NCN Television - Ministry of Agriculture

FRIDAY

OCT 2nd

SATURDAY

OCT 3rd

15:00hrs Field visit to a candidate Paddy variety plot, Hague & Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara - GRDB

9:00hrs Field visit to an Improved Agronomic Practice Plot and Distribution of the IAP booklets to farmers at Hague Back, West Coast Demerara– GRDB 10:00hrs Virtual Launch of Food Safety Authority’s Online Presence via Facebook ( htttps://www.faceook.com/foods afetygy ) and Twitter( https://twitter.com/foodsafetygy) - GFSA “Highlights in Agriculture in Region 9” via Radio - GLDA Distribution of ant bait in Regions 1-10 – NAREI Essay Competition on “ The Impact Climate Change poses on the D&I System” via media - NDIA Drawing competition of a D&I structure/ network via media NDIA

OCT 4th Public Awareness Articles via Print Media- PTCCB

OCT 5th 9:00hrs.

Virtual Presentation on Crop Production with focus on Climate Smart Agriculture via ZOOM. Meeting I.D. : 71444672858 Password : 1vY7AH – GSA

10:00hrs.

Video Introduction of Food Safety Authority via Facebook(htttps://www.faceook.c om/foodsafetygy)- GFSA

OCT 6th 08:20hrs Radio Programme on Extension Services provided 1. Kaieteur Radio (99.1 and 99.5 FM) – GRDB - GRDB

09:00hrs Ambulatory Services in Drill, Foulis, Lovely Lass, Ithaca and # 30 Villages, Region 5 - GLDA

09:00hrs Demonstration on mixing ration using TMR and feeding ruminants at GLDA Livestock Farm, Mon Virtual tour of NAREI’s commercial Repos, East Coast Demerara farm – NAREI GLDA Launch of Drawing Competition for students in Grade 2 to 4 and Forms 1 to 3Hydrometeorological Department

Pest Control Applicator Certification Programme (Basic Proficiency Level) - PTCCB

OCT 7th 09:00hrs Ambulatory Services in Drill, Foulis, Lovely Lass, Ithaca and # 30 Villages, Region 5 – GLDA IICA is Celebrating its 78th Birthday as an institution and 45 Years in Guyana.

10:00hrs Virtual forum on Climate Smart Agriculture partnering with BNTF, UG, NAREI, FAO via TV or Radio IICA 11:00 hrs Coconut Nursery Establishment and Management Webinar CARDI Pest Control Applicator Certification Programme (Basic Proficiency Level) - PTCCB

Public Awareness Articles via Print Media- PTCCB

OCT 12th ‘Virtual Scholastic Challenge’ Hydrometeorological Department “How it is Grown (Plantain)” NAREI Toxic Chemicals Training (ELearning) - PTCCB 10:00hrs.

Virtual Launch of Kitchen Garden Photography Competition Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with FAO

08:15hrs Radio Programme on Quality Control Service 1. HJ Radio (Gordon Moseley, 94.1 FM) 2. Kaieteur Radio (99.1 and 99.5 FM) 08:20hrs - GRDB

OCT 9th 9:00hrs.

Promotional activities on Television (RCA Ch8 Charity, Essequibo)- GSA 10:00hrs Virtual forum on Micro-enterprise Development in Guyana: impact, challenges and new opportunities in

OCT 10th

Launching of two Black Giant Projects in Rupertee and Crash Water, Region 9 GLDA

2021 and beyond via TV or Radio IICA 09:00hrs Ambulatory Services in East Bank Demerara and East Coast Demerara, Region 4 – GLDA 10:00hrs Demonstration on preparation of foundation wax for bee boxes in the Apiculture Laboratory at GLDA Head Quarters Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara- GLDA Pest Control Applicator Certification Programme (Basic Proficiency Level) - PTCCB

Launch of Photography Competition for Professional and Amateur Photographers – Hydrometeorological Department

OCT 11th

OCT 8th

10:00hrs.

Virtual Presentation on Careers in Agriculture via ZOOM. Meeting I.D. : 5998906853 Password: 4JAMhL - GSA 13:00hrs Virtual Fish and Invertebrates Gallery – Fisheries Department Commencement of two weeks sale on seedlings at all NAREI nurseries – NAREI 13:00hrs -14:00hrs Fish and Marine Invertebrates Exhibition -Fisheries Department

https://www.facebook.com/agriculturegy http://www.agriculture.gov.gy/ https://www.facebook.com/fisheriesdepg y

OCT 13th

OCT 14th

09:00hrs Ambulatory Services in Drill, Foulis, Lovely Lass, Ithaca and # 30 Villages, Region 5 - GLDA

09:00hrs Ambulatory Services in Drill, Foulis, Lovely Lass, Ithaca and # 30 Villages, Region 5 - GLDA

09:00hrs Ambulatory Services in West Bank Demerara, Demerara River and Essequibo Islands, Region 3 GLDA

09:00hrs Ambulatory Services in Bushlot, Onderneeming, Westbury and Dartmouth villages, Region 2 GLDA

10:00hrs.

Virtual Field Demonstration Exercise at Lightown, Region 6– GMC

10:00hrs Award of Bursaries at GRDB’s Head office, LBI, East Coast Demerara – GRDB

10:00hrs.

Project on MMA/ADA Conservancy via Facebook Page MMA/ADA

10:00hrs.

Virtual Cooking with Carnegie School of Home Economics - GMC

‘Virtual Scholastic Challenge’ Hydrometeorological Department

17:00hrs Field Inspection and Certification Video of a Decentralized Seed

09:00hrs Ambulatory Services in Bushlot, Onderneeming, Westbury and Dartmouth villages, Region 2 GLDA

OCT 15th

OCT 16th 11:00hrs Virtual World Food Day Exhibition Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with FAO ‘Virtual Scholastic Challenge’ Hydrometeorological Department Mini exhibition, GLDA Compound, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara GLDA Toxic Chemicals Training (ELearning) - PTCCB

OCT 17th ‘Virtual Scholastic Challenge’ Hydrometeorological Department

13

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020 SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

10:00hrs.

Virtual Market Information Centre Open Day- GMC 10:00hrs Demonstration on Semen extraction and processing in Artificial Insemination Laboratory at GLDA Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara - GLDA

THURSDAY

Paddy Field via Television OCT (NCN,1 Little Rock Television Station 9:00hrs (18:00hrs), TVG (18:00hrs) and Virtual LaunchFacebook of Agriculture RCA (18:30), (//www.

Month and Interfaith Ceremony facebook.com/grdb.gy ) and NCN Television - Ministry of Youtube Agriculture https://www.youtube.com/chann el/UCGI5paWz2xzIZxPXPBG6vCw 9:00hrs – GRDB Field visit to an Improved Agronomic Practice Plot and Distribution of the booklets to Radio quiz for fifthIAP form farmers at Hague Back, West – Agricultural Science students Coast Demerara– GRDB NAREI

Toxic Chemicals Training (ELearning) - PTCCB Panel Discussion on the future of rice - GRDB

10:00hrs Webinar on "New Strategies for the Management of Major Rice Diseases in Guyana" via Zoom; Meeting I.D.: 958 0350 3602 Password: 847613 and Facebook; //www.facebook.com/grdb.gy - GRDB

st

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

OCT 2nd

OCT 3rd

15:00hrs Field visit to a candidate Paddy variety plot, Hague & Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara - GRDB

10:00hrs ‘Virtual Scholastic Challenge’ Virtual Launch of Food Safety Hydrometeorological Department Authority’s Online Presence via Facebook ( Public Awareness Articles via Print htttps://www.faceook.com/foods Media- PTCCB afetygy ) and Twitter( https://twitter.com/foodsafetygy) - GFSA

10:00hrs Visit to a Shrimp Processing Plant and Tuna Processing Plant Fisheries Department at Pritipaul Singh Investments Inc, Mc Doom, East Bank Demerara, Guyana and Providence, East Bank Demerara, Guyana

“Highlights in Agriculture in Region 9” via Radio - GLDA Distribution of ant bait in Regions 1-10 – NAREI

10:00hrs Virtual forum on Food Safety systems in Guyana: Procedures and Benefits partnering with FDD, CAHFSA, FSA, PAHO-WHO via Radio or TV – IICA

Essay Competition on “ The Impact Climate Change poses on the D&I System” via media - NDIA Drawing competition of a D&I structure/ network via media NDIA

Virtual launch of Pest Management booklet - NAREI ‘Virtual Scholastic Challenge’ Hydrometeorological Department OCT 4th

OCT 5th

Public Awareness Articles via OCT 18 Print Media- PTCCB ‘Virtual Scholastic Challenge’ Hydrometeorological Department

OCT 6th

OCT 19 9:00hrs.

Virtual Presentation on Crop 09:00hrs with focus on Climate Production FoodAgriculture and Agriculture Organization Smart via ZOOM. (FAO) Regional Conference for Meeting I.D. : 71444672858 Public Awareness Articles via Print Password Latin America and Caribbean : 1vY7AH Media- PTCCB (LARC) – FAO – GSA th

th

10:00hrs Virtual Fisheries Information Session via MoA’s Facebook Page – Fisheries Department

https://www.facebook.com/agriculture gy http://www.agriculture.gov.gy/ https://www.facebook.com/fisheriesde pgy *Newsroom Guyana - E-Networks

10:00hrs.

Virtual Guyana Shop Anniversary Celebration Promotion - GMC

OCT 7th

OCT 20 08:20hrs Radio Programme on Extension 09:00hrs Services provided and Agriculture 1.Food Kaieteur Radio (99.1Organization and 99.5 (FAO) Regional Conference for FM) – GRDB Latin America and Caribbean - GRDB (LARC) – FAO

09:00hrs Ambulatory Services in Mara to #7 Villages, Region 6 - GLDA

“How it is Grown (Peppers)” NAREI

10:00hrs.

Virtual Social Media Marketing ‘Virtual Scholastic Challenge’ Hydrometeorological Department Training - GMC 10:00hrs.

Fisheries Information SessionFisheries Department

OCT 8th

OCT 21 09:00hrs Ambulatory Services in Drill, 09:00hrs Foulis, Lovely Lass, Ithaca and # 30 Food and Agriculture Organization Villages, Region 5 – GLDA (FAO) Regional Conference for Latin America andits Caribbean IICA is Celebrating 78th (LARC) –asFAO Birthday an institution and 45 Years in Guyana.

09:00hrs 09:00hrs Ambulatory Services in West Bank Ambulatory Services in Drill, Demerara, Demerara River and Foulis, Lovely Lass, Ithaca and # 30 Essequibo Islands, Region 3 Villages, Region 5 - GLDA GLDA 09:00hrs 09:00hrs Ambulatory Services in Mara to #7 Ambulatory Services in Drill, Villages, Region 6 - GLDA Foulis, Lovely Lass, Ithaca and # 30 Villages, Region 5 - GLDA th

Virtual forum on Agri-Trade partnering with GMSA and Caricom – IICA ‘Virtual Scholastic Challenge’ Hydrometeorological Department Toxic Chemicals Training (ELearning) - PTCCB

st

9:00 hrs.

Virtual discussion with Farmers and other members of the public via Zoom Conference (ZOOM I.D. and Password will be circulated on the MMA/ADA’s Facebook Page) - MMA/ADA 10:00hrs Webinar on “Paddy Bugs and Paddy Bug Management” via Zoom ; Meeting I.D.: 96956946405 Password: 652423 and Facebook (//www.facebook.com/grdb.gy ) - GRDB 11:00 hrs CARDI’S Disaster Risk Management using Satellite Data Webinar - CARDI 18:30hrs Virtual forum on Modernizing the Agriculture Sector in Guyana; hosted by Rotary Club of Guyana featuring the MOA and IICA – IICA

‘Virtual Scholastic Challenge’ Hydrometeorological Department Virtual Webinar on “Investing in Agriculture for Poverty Reduction & Sustainable Development” Ministry of Agriculture

OCT 22 08:15hrs Radio Programme on Quality 09:00hrs Control Service Clinic in Lethem, Region 9 1.Animal HJ Radio (Gordon Moseley, for Companion Animals - GLDA 94.1 FM)

nd

2. Kaieteur Radio (99.1 and 99.5 10:00hrs FM) 08:20hrs - GRDB Virtual Basic Cost of Production training via TV or Radio – IICA

OCT 9th

OCT 23 9:00hrs.

Promotional activities on Television 07:00hrs.

(RCA Ch8 Charity, Essequibo)- GSA Promotional activities on Radio and Television (NCN Guyana Today) 10:00hrs GSA forum on Micro-enterprise Virtual

rd

Development in Guyana: impact, 09:00hrs and new opportunities in challenges Virtual Fitness and Health Programme - Ministry of Agriculture

10:00hrs.

09:00hrs Virtual ‘Let’s Talk Pack House’ – Animal Clinic in Lethem, Region 9 GMC for Companion Animals - GLDA 10:00 hrs.

Talk Show on responding to and mitigating environmental disasters in livestock (Zoom Conference) GLDA 10:00hrs Webinar on “Presentation on Infomercial on Coconut Tissue Improved Agronomic Practice Culture - NAREI Findings of Second Crop 2020 - and Analysis” via zoom: ‘Virtual Scholastic Challenge’ Meeting I.D.: 95648252470 Hydrometeorological Department Password: 941387 and Facebook( //www.facebook.com/grdb.gy ) Toxic Chemicals Training (E- GRDB Learning) - PTCCB 10:00hrs.

Virtual Promotional activities at Coss Cutters Supermarket - GMC 14:00hrs Sustainable Fisheries Forum – Fisheries Department

https://www.facebook.com/agriculturegy http://www.agriculture.gov.gy/ https://www.facebook.com/fisheriesdepg y *Zoom Link will be sent to invitees*

‘Virtual Scholastic Challenge’ Hydrometeorological Department

OCT 10th

OCT 24th

Launching of two Black Giant Projects 09:00hrs in Rupertee and Crash Region 9 -Region AnimalWater, Clinic in Lethem, 9 for Companion Animals GLDA GLDA

‘Virtual Scholastic Challenge’ Hydrometeorological Department

14 SUNDAY

MONDAY

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Public Awareness Articles via Print Media- PTCCB 9:00hrs Virtual Launch of Agriculture Virtual Webinar for AgroMonth and Interfaith Ceremony processing- IICA/GMC NCN Television - Ministry of Agriculture

OCT 25th 19:00hrs.

Demonstration of Activities from the Intake of Paddy at Mills to Export at ports - Video via Television NCN, Little Rock Television Station (18:00hrs), TVG (17:30hrs) and RCA (18:30hrs) , Facebook( //www. facebook.com/grdb.gy ) and Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/chann el/UCGI5paWz2xzIZxPXPBG6vCw – GRDB ‘Virtual Scholastic Challenge’ Hydrometeorological Department Print Media and Television Launch - PTCCB

OCT 26th

Public Awareness Articles via Print Media- PTCCB

OCT 2nd

THEME: “PPE FOR COVID. PPE FOR

10:00hrs Webinar on “Red Rice, its Economic Importance and Management” via Zoom; Meeting I.D. : 98790855945 Password: 578980 and Facebook (//www. facebook.com/grdb.gy) - GRDB 10:00hrs Analysing nutrient content in feed using the Foss Analyser in the Nutrition Laboratory, GLDA Head Quarters, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara - GLDA

09:00hrs.

Ambulatory Services in West Bank Demerara, Demerara River and Essequibo Islands, Region 3 GLDA

OCT 28th 9:00hrs OCT 29th Field visit to an Improved Agronomic Practice Plot and Distribution of the IAP booklets to farmers at Hague Back, West PESTICIDES!! HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR Coast Demerara– GRDB

09:30hrs Virtual Tourism forum entitled " Linking with Agriculture for a more sustainable Tourism Sector in Guyana beyond COVID partnering with ACP, CTO, MOA and the Ministry of Tourism in Guyana”.

– IICA 10:00hrs.

Virtual Training on Meat Processing Technology via ZOOM Meeting I.D: 3287387640 Password : 816637 - GSA/GMC

‘Virtual Scholastic Challenge’ Hydrometeorological Department Steering Committee Meeting (NIP Project ) - PTCCB

10:00hrs.

Virtual Meeting of the Director OCT 5th OCT 6th General of IICA, Dr. Manuel Otero with new Caribbean Ministers of 08:20hrs 9:00hrs.

Agriculture- IICA Radio Programme on Extension Virtual Presentation on Crop Services provided Production with focus on Climate 1. Kaieteur Radio (99.1 and 99.5 Smart Agriculture via ZOOM. FM) – GRDB Meeting : 71444672858 ‘VirtualI.D. Scholastic Challenge’ - GRDB Password : 1vY7AH Hydrometeorological Department – GSA Toxic Chemicals Training (ELearning) - PTCCB "Women in Agriculture" via TV and Radio – NDIA

10:00hrs.

Webinar “On the Findings of the Testing of Candidate Paddy Variety” via Zoom; Meeting I.D.: 92516127144 Password: 173287 and Facebook (//www. facebook.com/grdb.gy) - GRDB 10:00hrs.

Virtual Training for Product Development for Agroprocessors via ZOOM. Meeting I.D: 3287387640 Password : 816637 - GSA/GMC

18:00hrs.

10:00hrs “This week in Agriculture” - NDIA Virtual Launch of Food Safety Authority’s Online Presence via ‘Virtual Scholastic Challenge’ Facebook ( Hydrometeorological Department htttps://www.faceook.com/foods afetygy ) and Twitter( Toxic Chemicals Training (Ehttps://twitter.com/foodsafetygy) Learning) - PTCCB - GFSA

“Highlights in Agriculture in Region 9” via Radio - GLDA Distribution of ant bait in Regions 1-10 – NAREI

10:00hrs.

Essay Competition on “ The Focus on Fisheries– Marketing and Impact Climate Change poses on Trade; Export Species - Fisheries the D&I System” via media - NDIA Department https://www.facebook.com/agriculture Drawing competition of a D&I gy structure/ network via media http://www.agriculture.gov.gy/ https://www.facebook.com/fisheriesde NDIA pgy *Newsroom Guyana – E-Networks*

“How it is Grown (Boulanger)” NAREI

OCT 7th 09:00hrs ‘Virtual Scholastic Ambulatory ServicesChallenge’ in Drill, Hydrometeorological Department Foulis, Lovely Lass, Ithaca and # 30 Villages, Region 5 – GLDA Eliminating Lead in Paint via Print IICA is Celebrating its 78th media - PTCCB Birthday as an institution and 45 Years in Guyana.

OCT 8th 08:15hrs Radio Programme on Quality Control Service 1. HJ Radio (Gordon Moseley, 94.1 FM) 2. Kaieteur Radio (99.1 and 99.5 FM) 08:20hrs - GRDB

SATURDAY

OCT 3rd

15:00hrs Field visit to a candidate Paddy variety plot, Hague & Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara - GRDB OCT 30th

PESTICIDES AWARENESS WEEK.

10:00hrs.

Virtual Training on Plant Sanitation via ZOOM .

Meeting I.D: 85294254012 Password: 438116 – GSA/GMC

OCT 4th

OCT 27th

FRIDAY

OCT 1st

OCT 31st ‘Virtual Scholastic Challenge’ Hydrometeorological Department

ALL.” 10:00hrs Virtual training on Good Manufacturing Practices and HACCP via ZOOM .

Meeting I.D: 85294254012 Password: 438116GSA/GMC

Focus on Developing Laboratory Services in Guyana via Print Media- PTCCB

10:00hrs Virtual Presentation on the care of pigs via ZOOM. Meeting I.D.: 6227968442 Password: 118810 – GSA ‘Virtual Scholastic Challenge’ Hydrometeorological Department Judging of Virtual Kitchen Garden Photography Competition Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with FAO D&I conference engaging all stakeholders with some responsibility in the D&I Network NDIA

OCT 9th 9:00hrs.

Promotional activities on Television (RCA Ch8 Charity, Essequibo)- GSA 10:00hrs Virtual forum on Micro-enterprise Development in Guyana: impact, challenges and new opportunities in

OCT 10th

Launching of two Black Giant Projects in Rupertee and Crash Water, Region 9 GLDA

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

15

16

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

17

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

POSITIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Press Statement on the participation of Guyana at United Nations Summit on Biodiversity

P

resident Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali on September 30, 2020, delivered a statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China at the virtual Summit on Biodiversity convened by the President of the 75th Session of UN General Assembly. This event was held under the theme “Urgent action on Biodiversity for Sustainable Development” to highlight the need for urgent action at the highest levels in support of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework that contributes to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and will place the global community on a path towards realizing the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity, “Living in harmony with nature”.

H.E. President Ali observed that although we have

reached the end of the UN Decade on Biodiversity 2011 – 2020 progress in achieving biodiversity targets including in the SDGs, has been unsatisfactory. Therefore, this Summit should galvanise the necessary political will for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework in line with the 2030 Agenda and energise stakeholders for the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity under the theme “Ecological civilization: building a shared future for all life on Earth.”

Relaying the concerns of the G77, President Ali stated that our development challenges have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact will continue to be felt well into the future.

The pandemic is also jarring reminder of the important relationship between people and nature. There must be urgent and significant actions to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt biodiversity loss, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. The international community must strengthen efforts to counter these trends and protect the ecosystems, on both land and water.

Speaking in his national capacity, President Ali reminded of the important ecosystem services provided

by Guyana’s forest and our commitment to low carbon development. Since 1929, Guyana has used our protected areas as models for sustainable livelihoods and living in harmony with nature.

254 South Road & Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown, Guyana In closing, he informed that Guyana has made progress in mainstreaming biodiversity in priority sectors and going forward in accordance with the Low Carbon Development Strategy and 2030 Agenda will ensure the country’s biodiversity is “sustainably utilized, managed and mainstreamed in all sectors, contributing to the advancement of our bio -security, and socio-economic and low carbon development“.

Gov’t committed to improving the livelihoods of frontline workers

P

resident Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali says his government is “committed to improving the prospects and livelihoods of nurses, doctors and clerical workers, especially those on the frontline.”

The President made these statements, this afternoon, in response to questions about the nurses’ protest, on the sidelines of his visit to the proposed site for the new Harbour Bridge in Peter’s Hall.

Dr. Ali gave the assurance that provisions have been made to enhance the lives of all citizens.

“In the five-year programme, we are looking at

resident Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali says while the petroleum sector has emerged as one of the most important to Guyana’s economy, the Government is focusing on expanding and making the traditional sectors more competitive.

The Head of State made this disclosure during an interview, this evening, with Jamaica’s CEEN TV – ‘The Conversation.’

“We have been focussing heavily on building the nonoil sector and that is where we will see a number of policies geared – towards making the non-oil sector more competitive, giving them comparative advantages and ensuring that we build a

knowledge economy that is driven by a strong technological backbone. These are things that form part of the broadened economic plan,” President Ali said.

Revenues from the oil and gas sector will be invested in the agricultural, construction, tourism, manufacturing, and other sectors to boost competitiveness, he explained. In fact, the Emergency Budget 2020 focuses heavily on revitalising and expanding the agriculture sector through investment and the removal of several burdensome taxes.

“These are all sectors that we will pay heavy attention on inclusive of our traditional sectors of

mining, rice and sugar,” the President said. Most of the 50,000 jobs the PPP/C government will create, in keeping with its Manifesto promise, are based in the non-oil sector.

Further, the President dismissed claims that the recently passed 2020 Emergency Budget was one for the private sector, saying that the budget sets out how funds will be invested in policies and programmes that benefit the people. Citing planned investments in the housing sector, the President said the industry has greater leverage than most in terms of its spin-off effects of job creation and revenue.

do in one category will affect what you do in another category,” President Ali said.”

The Head of State noted too that while “there are some strong independent actors looking to exploit the circumstances,” everyone will benefit as the PPP/C Manifesto promises are realised.

The President also defended his Administration’s decision to spend $95 million on buying vehicles. He explained that the budgeted sum is for vehicles across the government sector to assist technical workers and Ministers to get their jobs done.

Wider discussions needed on living in a COVID-19 environment

Guyana’s economy will not hinge P

solely on oil and gas P

assistance in the housing programme. We are not only looking at increases in salaries, but better working conditions, better add-on benefits … We are assuring that all categories of workers at the end of the day have a better standard of living, better opportunities and greater prospects in the future,” the Head of State said.

Further, President Ali said, the government has taken a holistic approach which will benefit everyone.

“In running a country and a system, you can’t only look at one category of workers, you have to look at the broad spectrum because what you

resident Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali says there is need for wider discussions on how to live in the COVID-19 environment since it is impractical to live under lockdown conditions indefinitely.

His comments came during an interview with Jamaica’s CEEN TV- ‘The Conversation’ Sunday evening.

“It calls for broader consultation and broader response but as President I think that the time has come for us to discuss protocols that will allow us to live and manage in a COVID environment.

“We have to be able to manage in a COVID environment but we cannot do so being continuous-

ly locked away… If we continue in this lockdown mode, hopefully the vaccine comes, after that, the magnitude of the economic and social impact would create another nightmare for us,” President Ali said.

He added that as a developing country, Guyana will need to ensure that measures continue to be in place to deal with the health aspect, but business must restart as part of a comprehensive plan for economic recovery. The pandemic saw a shutdown of Guyana’s ports, causing a massive shortfall in revenue.

“There are a lot of investors from Trinidad that call me on a daily basis in relation to movement and the same for Guyanese in-

vestors,” Dr. Ali related.

He noted that Guyana has been building capacity to effectively deal with the pandemic over the past five months. Guyana has moved from conducting 40 to 80 tests per day to now having 300 tests done on some occasions. Additionally, the country’s healthcare system is now producing COVID-19 results within two days.

Further, the country has embarked on providing training and retraining of education and other professionals to do their jobs utilising information and communication technology and other innovative methods and, in some instances, it has led to the creation of new types of employment.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

POSITIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Gov’t will work towards revitalising tourism sector

P

resident Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali says the government will continue to implement policies and programmes designed to revitalise and bolster the tourism sector, which is one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his message to mark World Tourism Day 2020, the President noted that the sector has taken a loss of an estimated 46 per cent over the last six months when compared to the same period last year.

It has also seen an estimated 30 per cent employed in the tourism sector lose their jobs, and an additional 36 per cent have been furloughed or placed on unpaid leave.

Nevertheless, the President noted that the Government is committed to supporting all stakeholders through this very critical recovery process.

“We will also implement policies to strengthen and

grow the workforce in the Tourism sector to cater to the influx of visitors expected as a result of the focused marketing as well as the emergence of the oil and gas sector. This will also help to create more opportunities, which will lead to the economic empowerment of men, women and youth in rural communities,” the Head of State said.

Additionally, the government, in keeping with its Manifesto promise, included a series of measures in Emergency Budget 2020 to bolster the sector. They include the reversal of value-added tax on hinterland travel and special incentives for new hotels and businesses.

Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Hon. Oneidge Walrond in her Tourism Day statement efforts are being made not only to bring relief to the sector but also to “craft the kinds of strategies that will accelerate tourism

recovery and create the new reset needed in the sector.”

The Ministry is also collaborating with the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana and the Guyana Tourism Authority on other measures that will not only grow the tourism workforce, but make leisure visits attractive to travellers and explorers again. Tourism of the future cannot and will not be business as usual.

“The post-COVID traveller will be a person with the highest expectations of enjoying safety in a destination that will provide experiences that are unique, enriching, and original. Guyana must be ready to provide that quality and level of safety. Work is already in train by the various local tourism agencies to prepare the industry for this new role,” Minister Walrond said.

The theme for World Tourism Day 2020 is “Tourism and Rural Development.”

Construction, service sectors to drive job creation

P

resident Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali is confident that there will soon be new opportunities for jobs in the construction and service sectors in Guyana as plans are implemented with the passage of Budget 2020.

During a recent interview with Jamaica’s CEEN-TV, ‘The Conversation’, the Head of State said he expects those two sectors to become the leaders in job creation as the work programme is implemented, and the economy starts to recover. He is confident the Government can deliver 50,000 jobs in keeping with its election Manifesto promise.

“You will see greater emphasis on the construction sector. For example, we are looking at having

50,000 new house lots out of which there will be 25,000 home construction. So, the construction sector is going to a greater segment of the employment,” President Ali said.

The Head of State noted too that steps are already being taken to revitalise the hard-hit service industry, with plans to provide training, in collaboration with the Tourism sector, and special incentives for new hotels and businesses.

“We have just launched an Expression of Interest for new hotels, but we are looking in the next five years to have four new branded hotels in Guyana,” President Ali said.

The President also outlined plans for infrastructural

development.

“You have the infrastructure transformation that will take place, including the new Demerara River bridge, the Corentyne River bridge linking us by bridge to Suriname; the opening up of new agricultural lands, the building of business incubator services.

Those are some of the new things that you will see. So, the services sector would see an up-flow in terms of employment,” Dr. Ali stated.

Further, the Government’s drive to diversify and produce cheaper electricity, will also see the jobs opening in the manufacturing sector.

The Government will also be offering 20,000 scholarships to prepare its human resource for the jobs of the future, the President said.

Manufacturing sector to benefit from reduced energy costs

P

resident Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali is confident that Guyana will become a destination for major investment within the next four years.

During a recent interview with Jamaica’s CEENTV, ‘The Conversation’, the Head of State said the cost of electricity would be slashed by more than half given the prospects of bringing gas to shore.

“With natural gas coming to shore, by the time we get up to year four, our plan is that the electricity cost or the energy cost would

reduce by 50 to 60 per cent, which is going to make us a destination for major investment,” President Ali said.

The Head of State disclosed that his Government is already pursuing those opportunities.

“So, you will see also an upswing in manufacturing and industrial development, the services sector and construction,” he said, adding that this would also create jobs and revenue in the region.

“A lot of what will take place would require movement of labour, addition-

al capacity in contractual players operating in Guyana. Those opportunities are going to extend and expand.”

President Ali noted that the manufacturing sector would blossom once the cost of energy is reduced.

Just recently, the government announced that a petroleum task force would soon be set up and will explore the possibilities of bringing natural gas to shore as the administration advances its plans to diversify and expand power supply.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

LCDS to be resuscitated, expanded – Jagdeo L

ow Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) will be expanded to cover the sale of biodiversity services, biodiversity management and management of water resources, given that these are areas where the Strategy can tap into new frontiers to earn resources for Guyana, according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.

His comments came during a news conference on Friday (October 2, 2020) at the Arthur Chung Conference Center, where he added that there was no project implemented under the former government’s Green State Development Strategy (GSDS).

Jagdeo had said, “We have started to engage Norway to move forward again.”

RESUSCITATION During the Budget 2020 debates it was revealed that the LCDS will be resuscitated as part of Guyana’s national developmental agenda, one in a number of measures that cater to the country’s plan to work towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs, of which there are 17, are a number of goals intended to end global poverty, protect

the planet, and ensure prosperity for everyone by 2030.

Among plans for the reinstated LCDS are the strengthening of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Act, as well as improved measures for the National Protected Areas System (NPAS). The visionary strategy, championed by Jagdeo during his tenure as President of Guyana, was able to earn over US$200 million for the preservation of its forests. It was discontinued by the former APNU+AFC Coalition government.

Launched in 2009, the LCDS was intended to place Guyana’s economy on a low-carbon, sustainable development trajectory, while simultaneously combatting climate change. The integrated strategy examined how Guyana could deploy its forests in mitigating climate change, while also gaining financial and other support for doing so. To that effect, Guyana, in the said 2009, signed a multi-year Forest Protection Agreement with Norway, which saw the Norwegian government committing to providing Guyana with up to US$250M by 2015 for avoiding deforesta-

tion, once certain performance indicators were met.

GRIFF In signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Guyana on November 9, 2009, the Government of Norway had committed to providing financial support of up to US$250 million for results achieved by Guyana in limiting emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

As part of the agreement, the two countries had agreed to establish the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) as the financial intermediary mechanism for the performance-based payments from contributors to Guyana.

The GRIF represented an effort to create an innovative climate finance mechanism which balances national sovereignty over investment priorities, while ensuring that REDD+ funds adhere to the Partner Entities financial, environmental and social safeguards.

Norway in December had announced the release of $393.4 million Norwegian Kroner or G$9.1 billion, its final disbursement to the

Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund. The fund, administered by the World Bank, is used to finance developmental projects here in Guyana.

MONEY ON HOLD In response to the volatile political situation in Guyana following the presidential election March 2, Norway had blocked NOK 393 million in climate aid.

“No further decisions will be made on … planning or spending” of this money until a legitimate government is in place, the Climate Ministry in Oslo said.

Earlier this year, with the David Granger-led AP-

NU+AFC Coalition boasting that Norway would release all final payments – a total of US$50M – the country’s Director of the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI), Per Fredrik Pharo, had made clear that the monies will remain off limits until General and Regional Elections are held.

The Norwegian official had explained that the monies were being paid into the GRIF, for which the World Bank is a trustee. Of the payments by Norway, around US$80 million was set aside last year for renewable energy projects. It had

originally been earmarked for an equity stake for Guyana in the proposed Amaila Falls Hydropower Project but this was not proceeded with by the APNU+AFC government.

On continued engagement Pharo had said, “The Government of Norway is still fully committed to Guyana’s green development.

How that plays out in future remains to be seen… but as long as the essential meeting of minds on keeping deforestation to a minimum and working towards green, low carbon development, we have a good basis for our partnership.”

The US$50M represented the final tranche to be paid as a result of a forest protection accord that the two countries signed in 2009.

According to the Vice President, Guyana was able to benefit because it is a carbon sink– any reservoir, natural or otherwise, that absorbs more carbon than it releases– and thereby lowers the concentration of CO 2 from the atmosphere. “Guyana is a carbon sink and we have to leverage assets to bring money into this country to support economic development,” Jagdeo stressed.

PPP/C did more with Payara development agreement than Coalition did with Liza developments – Vice President O pposition Leader, Joseph Harmon, was put on blast for commenting on the finalization of the Payara Development plans, without understanding what he is talking about – a “shameful” incident given that he is an Attorney-at-Law. And Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, during a news conference stressed that the agreement on this development is now much closer to international

standards in some areas, while in others Guyana has gone beyond that global standard.

He noted that the PPP/C government, in one of its first major acts in the oil and gas sector, has managed to ink an agreement with ExxonMobil for a license that looks that a license and a permit that looks like a permit, as per international standards.

Jagdeo added that there are substantive difference, relative to environmental issues, auditing and reporting aspects of the license.

“These are major improvements,” he said, comparing what the former APNU+AFC Coalition government did with the Liza Development agreements. The Vice President noted that because of the differences there is are more rigorous re-

porting standards – all aimed at ensuring a better deal for the Guyanese people.

Highlighting some of these differences, he pointed to: Local Content, where the requirement is regular reporting and updating of activities to align with the current Local Content Policy; Flaring, where routine flaring is strictly prohibited without the approval of the EPA and any such action will see the imposition of two sets of fines; Cost Estimates, where ExxonMobil has 90 days to provide development cost and operational cost for assessment by the government; Produced Water, where there is a requirement for produced water to be addressed based on international standards; Independent Audit of Safety Critical Drilling and Production Operations, where Exx-

onMobil will pay $2million to the government of Guyana to cover expenses related to an independent audit; Oil Spill Response, where there is a requirement to mobiliser capping stack within 5 days to respond to a major oil spill; and several other areas.

EXXONMOBIL OPERATIONS ExxonMobil has made its 18 discoveries offshore Guyana. These include: 1. Liza 1 2. Payara 3. Snoek 4. Liza 2 5. Turbot 6. Ranger 7. Pacora 8. Longtail 9. Hammerhead 10. Pluma 11. Tilapia 12. Haimara 13. Yellowtail-1

14. The Tripletail 15. Mako-1 16. Urau 17. Yellowtail-2 18. Redtail-1 Agreements for development at Liza 1, Liza 2 and Payara have been inked – the latter by the PPP/C government.

ExxonMobil’s exploration and finds are in the Stabroek Block. The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres).

ExxonMobil affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, is operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds 25 per cent interest.

[SEE RELATED REPORTING ON PAGE 10]

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

Over 400 sugar workers to be rehired by year-end – GuySuCo CEO T

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government is forging ahead with the phased reopening of three of the four sugar factories which have been closed by former APNU+AFC Coalition.

And the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has commenced the rehiring process of some of the retrenched sugar workers, according to the corporation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sasenarine Singh.

“With the three estates (Skeldon, Rose Hall, Enmore), I can tell you now, according to the work plan that we have, 442 people will be hired back by Christmas this year. Which is just a matter of 11 weeks away. They were actually already hired, about 200 of those people have been on the books.

They are incrementally hir-

ing as the work expands, ‘cause we doing it as a business now. We are not just going out and hire, we are hiring as needed,” he said.

Back in 2016, the former Coalition government closed the Wales Estate, and the following year, shut down the Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates, putting over 7000 sugar workers on the breadline. The downsizing of the sugar industry saw only the Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion Estates in operation.

Singh has said it is the plan of the administration to revert the operations of GuySuCo to six factories, as opposed to the current three.

He noted that the plan is there, and it is one that will see the industry being led down the path of profitability. He said, “GuySuCo has to move up the value chain.

It is a two-pronged process.

Revenue stream has to go up, and the only way we can get revenue stream to go up is to move to higher-value sugar-related products. For example, GuySuCo has in its possession a feasibility study for a white sugar refinery.

That is something that is under serious consideration right now by the administration. Packaging sugar, we have to go more into packaging sugar, because we get a greater value. We can get packaging sugar as high as US$700 a ton, and we sell sugar on the bulk sugar market and we get almost US$300 less than that. We are moving everything up the value chain. Bag sugar, packaged sugar, a refinery is a big focus.”

According to the CEO, the PPP/C administration is currently examining GuySuCo’s books in an effort to

“deep dive” into all the cost elements to find out where the Corporation’s money is going. He said that after they would have identified where the money is going, they would put mechanisms in place to redirect the funds to areas that bring value to the entity. “While we are adding value, we are pushing down expenses, and we are doing the modelling that we can make this industry a going concern, which is the mandate that the President

has offered to us. He said that you guys have to make this place a going concern,” he said.

The PPP/C, during its campaign for office, promised to ensure that every retrenched sugar worker is rehired when the estates reopen. In an effort to bring back the sugar sector to its previous state of profitability, the PPP/C Government had approached India for assistance with the reopening of the closed estates. The In-

dian Government had, in the past, offered technical assistance to Guyana in the sugar sector, but this was never capitalised on by the former coalition Government.

In the 2020 Budget, GuySuCo has been allocated $3 billion. According to the CEO, another $2.2 billion will be pumped into the reopening of the estates, while $0.8 billion will go towards maintenance of the existing estates at Uitvlugt, Albion and Blairmont.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

COMMENTARY

Tangible commitment to health workers shown during COVID-19 fight

By Dr, Leslie Ramsammy, Advisor to the Minister of Health

T

he PPP Government has shown its commitment to health workers in tangible ways in the COVID-19 fight. President Irfaan Ali spearheaded the allocation of $150M in Budget 2020 for health workers. Further monies will be made available in the 2021 Budget. The government and the health sector will continue to determine further ways to recognize the contributions of health workers. For those of us in the fight against COVID-19,

we honour the work of the health workers across the country. There must be no doubt of the high esteem, the Government and the people of Guyana have for health workers, particularly at this time.

In addition to allocation of $150M in Budget 2020, the PPP government immediately upon assuming office in August ensured adequate access to PPE and other supplies for the protection of health workers. Since the beginning of August, more than $500M in additional PPE supplies have been procured from Government resources.

This adds to the more than $300M in supplies that have been further provided from partner countries and organizations.

We continue to improve and expand the fight against COVID-19. For example, not only has the government increased PPE availability, we have expanded from an average of less than 25 tests per day before August, to more than 150 per day.

We are expanding laboratory capacity to more than 1,000 tests per day within 2 weeks. Besides the public health laboratory, at least three private sector labora-

tories will be in a position to test with PCR technology for COVID-19. The laboratory is conducting more tests around the country and improving the turn-around time and there will be even further expansion. We have started to expand ICU capacity and non-invasive oxygen therapy for COVID- 19 patients, not just in Georgetown, but in selected hospitals around the country. Guyana is now fully utilizing the latest medicines, such as remdesivir in treating patients.

Prior to August, no special provisions were made for health workers. There was

no recognition that health workers deserved additional support. Not only no financial provisions were made, there was a chronic shortage of PPE to protect workers. The government has changed this dispensation.

In addition, the Government has begun the distribution of $25,000 per household and many health workers will benefit. There is also a distribution of hampers that some health workers will benefit from.

Health workers are valuable resources in any country.

The PPP Government recognized and has acted in accor-

dance with this commitment.

Given the difficult times we presently face, we would like to do more. In time, our interventions will further expand.

Health workers have remained resolute in Guyana’s fight against COVID-19. We will continue our advocacy for more support for health workers. We will continue to explore different options so that health workers are protected and can benefit. We can only be grateful for the health workers of Guyana and we must remain in solidarity with them.

Coalition’s technocrat Ministers received salaries, benefits despite court ruling – Teixeira

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he Court of Appeal on January 23, 2020 ruled that former APNU+AFC Coalition Minister within the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott, and Citizenship Minister Winston Felix illegally occupied seats in Parliament – seats they took up after the May 2015 General and Regional Elections. The court ruled that their appointments were in contravention

of the Constitution.

Despite the ruling, Scott and Felix, who were at the time Minister within Ministry of Social Protection and Citizenship Minister, respectively, continued as Ministers until August 2, 2020, when the PPP/C was declared winners of the March 2, 2020 elections, receiving their salaries, and benefits such as security, driver and a vehicle.

This was revealed by Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira during the budget debates. She said, “They continued as Ministers until August 2, receiving their pays and benefits and security and driver and car. So, not only did they flouted the Constitution, they flouted the courts.”

This ruling reaffirmed the

late Chief Justice Ian Chang’s ruling in February 2016, which the APNU/+AFC administration had appealed contending that Chang’s was bad in law and a breach of the principles of natural justice.

The Appeal Court, after hearing and reviewing lengthy arguments on the case in December 2019, delivered the ruling on Thursday afternoon to Solicitor General Nigel Hawke and his deputy, Deborah Kumar, who represented the Government.

Meanwhile, Attorney-at-Law Rajendra Jaigobin appeared on behalf of former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, who had initially represented the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) when the hearings began.

The appeal was heard at the bench of Justices of Appeal Rishi Persaud and Dawn Gregory and High Court Judge Franklyn Holder. The decision handed down was a unanimous one.

In the rulings the Justices made clear that Ministers Felix and Scott cannot become Technocrat Ministers under Articles 103(3) and 105 of

the Constitution and as such, not allowed to vote since they were not elected by the people.

HIGH COURT DECISION In February 2016, the High Court ruled Felix and Scott cannot sit in the National Assembly as Members of Parliament.

This decision was later appealed by government.

Subsequently, the Court of Appeal granted an interim stay of execution, which allowed for the ministers to take up their seats. The stay was granted on February 26, 2016 by former acting Chancellor Carl Singh and will last until the appeal has been fully heard and determined.

In the court ruling, handed down by former Chief Justice, Ian Chang, it was explained that Felix and Scott were on the successful “topup” list of candidates for the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition, but their names were not extracted by the representative of that list to hold any of the seats allocat-

ed to their list. Therefore they cannot enter the National Assembly as holders of seats on behalf that list of Candidates. Despite that the two were appointed as executive Ministers by President David Granger they are not entitled to hold seats in the National Assembly.

Chang also noted that he does not expect for House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, to not act in accordance with the law and the Constitution.

The High Court ruling came after a Constitutional Motion was filed in 2015

by Desmond Morian, in his capacity as a political leader and Guyanese citizen.

Articles 60, 103, 105, 160 and 232 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Chapter 1:01 were cited as the legal grounds for the challenge.

The Constitution, as well as provisions of the Representation of the People’s Act, Chapter 1:03, dictates what qualifies an individual to act as an MP. The Constitution, being the supreme law of Guyana, supersedes any other local law.

23

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 OCTOBER, 2020

Guyana’s COVID-19 cases at 2,968 ‒ deaths up to 85

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he Ministry of Public Health disclosed that Guyana now has 2,968 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), of which 1,581 are men and 1,387 are women.

The country’s record of deaths stands at 85. The first COVID-19 death was recoded on March 11, 2020.

To date, a total of 14,520 tests have been administered. Additionally, there have been 1,776 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, with the following cases recorded: • Region 1 – 449 • Region 2 – 36 • Region 3 – 226 • Region 4 – 1,337 • Region 5 – 18 • Region 6 – 44 • Region 7 – 288 • Region 8 – 78

• Region 9 – 355 • Region 10 - 97 Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers 231 1166, 226 7480 or 180/181 for assistance.

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 Guyana could see over 20,000 cases of the coronavirus.

To date, the virus has hit

over 210 countries globally and over 34 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 newly discovered coronavirus.

Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people and those with underlying 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 informed 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.

Vaccine for new coronavirus 'COVID-19' could be ready in 18 months: WHO (Reuters) - The first vaccine targeting China’s coronavirus could be available in 18 months, “so we have to do everything today using available weapons”, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Geneva on Tuesday (September 29, 2020).

He said the virus had been named COVID-19, explaining that it was important to avoid stigma and that other names could be inaccurate.

STANDARDS Further, nine leading U.S. and European vaccine developers pledged on Tuesday (September 29, 2020) to uphold the scientific standards their experimental immunisations will be held against in the global race to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

The companies, including Pfizer PFE.N, GlaxoSmithKline GSK.L and AstraZeneca AZN.L, issued what they called a "historic pledge" after a rise in concern that safety and efficacy standards might slip in the rush to find a vaccine.

The companies said in a statement they would “uphold the integrity of the scientific process as they work towards potential global regulatory filings and approvals of the first COVID-19 vaccines”.

The other signatories were Johnson & Johnson JNJ.N, Merck & Co MRK.N,

Moderna MRNA.O, Novavax NVAX.O, Sanofi SASY.PA and BioNTech BNTX.O. The promise to play by established rules underlines a highly politicised debate over what action is needed to rein in COVID-19 quickly and to jumpstart global business and trade.

Partners BioNTech and Pfizer could unveil pivotal trial data as early as October, potentially placing them at the centre of caustic U.S. politics before the Nov. 3 presidential election.

"It is playing out to be a very bitter and emotionally-charged election," said Joseph Kim, chief executive officer at San Diego-based vaccine developer Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc INO.O, which was not asked to sign the document. "The pledge, without being political, is saying we are going to put the safety and health of the public forward as the No. 1 priority."

The head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said last month COVID-19 vaccines may not necessarily need to complete Phase 3 clinical trials - large-scale testing intended to demonstrate safety and efficacy - as long as officials are convinced the benefits outweigh the risks.

This prompted a call for caution from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Developers globally have

yet to produce large-scale trial data showing actual infections in participants, yet Russia granted approval to a COVID-19 vaccine last month, prompting some Western experts to criticise a lack of testing.

The head of China's Sinovac Biotech SVA.O has said most of its employees and their families have already taken an experimental vaccine developed by the Chinese firm under the country's emergency-use programme.

Chinese companies or institutions, which are involved in several leading vaccine projects, did not sign the statement.

PROMISE ON SAFETY AND EFFICACY “We want it to be known that also in the current situation we are not willing to compromise safety and efficacy,” said co-signatory Ugur Sahin, chief executive BioNTech.

“Apart from the pressure and the hope for a vaccine to be available as fast as possible, there is also a lot of uncertainty among people that some development steps may be omitted here.”

President Donald Trump has said it is possible the United States will have a vaccine before the November election.

The nine companies said they would follow established guidance from expert

regulatory authorities such as the FDA. Among other hurdles, approval must be based on large, diverse clinical trials with comparative groups that do not receive the vaccine in question. Participants and those working on the trial must not know which group they belong to, according to the pledge.

BioNTech’s Sahin said there must be statistical certainty of 95%, in some cases higher, and that a positive reading on efficacy does not come just from random variations

but reflects the underlying workings of the compound.

The development race has intensified safety concerns about an inoculation, polls have shown.

Western regulators have said they would not cut corners but rather prioritise the review workload and allow for development steps in parallel that would normally be handled consecutively.

Sahin declined to comment on regulators specifically or on what events prompted the joint statement.

The chief executive of

German vaccine developer Leukocare, which did not sign the pledge, was more forthright.

“What Russia did and maybe also there are tendencies in the U.S. to push the approval of a vaccine which has not been sufficiently developed in clinic – bears a huge risk,” said CEO Michael Scholl. “My biggest fear is that we will approve vaccines that are not safe and that will have a negative impact on the concept of vaccinations in general.”

Reduced curfew hours under new COVID-19 emergency measures

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overnment has adjusted the curfew hours to 9pm – 4am, under the new COVID-19 Emergency Measures.

The previous curfew ran from 6pm – 6am.

While essential services are allowed to operate without any time constraints, several key services have had their operation hours extended between 4am to 8pm daily.

These include markets, supermarkets, beauty salons and barbershops, maintenance services and gas stations, and clothing stores.

Additionally, food and restaurant services are permitted to operate daily within the 4am to 8pm time frame. Those services can continue with accompanied delivery, drive-through, curb-side and takeaway services.

To this end, social distancing must be

maintained for outdoor dining. Indoor and buffet dining are prohibited.

In addition to the other measures gazetted, the restriction of non-essential travel to Regions Seven and Nine was also extended to October 31, 2020. Further, gatherings should not exceed five persons and the requisite social distancing measures applied.

Mining operations are allowed to continue within the established protocols.

With regard to international travel, the closure of the Eugene F. Correia International Airport (EFCIA) and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to commercial flights will continue until October 11, 2020.

The new protocols were gazetted on September 30, 2020 and will remain in effect until October 31, 2020, after which subsequent measures may be instituted.

Prime Minister launches national operation to fight COVID-19 T

his week Prime Minister, Brigadier Mark Phillips, launched operation COVICURB, an initiative by the National COVID-19 Task Force to ensure compliance with the gazetted COVID-19 emergency measures.

The Prime Minister, during a Press Briefing at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, said that the operation will be based on education, moral- suasion and enforcement, and will see collaboration between the Joint Services, civil society, community groups and volunteers, to ensure that the public complies with the gazetted order.

“Over the next seven days we will have over 5000 persons operating in a multisectoral, interagency setting, working throughout Guyana to curb the spread of COVID-19,” the Prime Minister said.

He added that the adjusted curfew, now from 9:00 pm to 4:00 am, is not to cater to social activities, but to accommodate persons whose livelihoods have been affected by the long imposed 6:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew.

“We have not reduced or relaxed the measures for anyone to go out there and party and socialise… [we did it]

so that people could conduct their activities, whether it be work, their place of business or farming, and get home to their families, and get up early in the morning to start their activities again,” the Prime Minister said.

He said that businesses that fail to adhere to the guidelines will be closed if they do not comply after their first warning; adding that the Government will also introduce a hotline so that the public can report non-compliant persons.

The Prime Minister iterated that since this Administration assumed office, there has been a significant increase in the country’s capacity to respond to COVID-19. These include boosting capacity for testing, securing a substantial amount of personal protective equipment (PPEs) for frontline workers and providing relief support to persons whose livelihoods have been affected.

“When we came into office just about 20-25 tests were being done per day, today 300 tests are being done per day and that will be increasing as we go along… we have a donation of one million N95 masks that is coming to Guyana very soon, thanks to the Demerara Distillers

Limited and the Doobay Medical and Research Centre” the Prime Minister said.

Also present at the Press Briefing were, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Nigel Hoppie, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Godfrey Bess and Director General of the Civil Defence Commission, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, said that in responding to COVID-19, the Government primarily considers health concerns, socio-economics and enforce-

ment of the COVID-19 guidelines.

Concerning health, he said that the Government has agreed to participate in trials

for vaccination being conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and will also benefit from COVAX, a global facility that will ensure Guyana’s access to tested and reliable vaccination, once available.

He added that the Government has also ensured that local Doctors have access to medication being utilised in other parts of the word to treat COVID-19, including drugs such as Ivermectin and Remdesivir.

The Minister said not only has the Government strengthened the capacity of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to respond to COVID-19, but it has also expanded the capacity of all Regional Hospitals.

According to Minister Anthony, the Government will receive 21 ventilators

by October 12, which will be distributed to regional hospitals. “We have already commenced training for the doctors at the Regional Hospitals so that once these machines are in and distributed, they would be able to utilise them,” he said.

The Minister added that very shortly, the Government will be adding two Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines to the National Public Health Reference Laboratory. The machines will boost testing capacity with regard to the processing time for DNA samples. [SEE ADDITIONAL COVID-19 REPORTING ON PAGE 23]

PUBLISHED BY NEW GUYANA Co. Ltd., Freedom House, Robb Street, Lacytown, Georgetown, Guyana. Tel: [592] 226-2042 / 227-2095 / 627-7432 / 655-0459